By Megan Sprague

The August YMCA triathlon is drawing nearer, so Tara Owens and Julie Nardella are kicking it up a notch in their training.

“I’ve been running more and, twice a week, I run the length of a 10K,” Owens said. “Now that the weather is nice, I’m definitely going to start cycling more as well.”

Owens also takes a cycling class that meets twice a week to prepare for the event.

Nardella is kicking it up by adding more activity.

“I’ll bike, and then immediately after, I’ll run, even if it’s a short distance,” she said. “I can run a little over three miles now.“

The two said they can already see and feel the difference their training has made.

“I think I’m doing very well,” Owens said. “I think I’ll start swimming better once the endurance class starts and I participate in the training course in June.”
“I have a lot more energy and I can exercise for a lot longer,” Julie added.

Between work and children, the duo is carving out time whenever they can to fit in some fitness. Nardella and Owens did have a few tips for other working moms trying to start up a routine.

“You have to have a plan,” Owens said. “Just like any other appointment or meeting, you need to mentally schedule it in your day, whether it’s one hour before work or in the afternoon.”

“Exercising doesn’t have to be at a specific time,” agreed Nardella. “You just have to do it whenever you have off. I used to think I could only work out in the mornings, but now I swap my kids with neighbor so we can both work out, or I’ll have my husband watch them.”

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