From Fog to Fire: How Tired Mom Runs Was Born

Let’s be real, motherhood is not for the faint of heart. It’s a gauntlet of sleepless nights, single parenting while your partner is away, and constantly putting yourself on the back burner. It’s a marathon with no medals, just endless laps around the kitchen counter, breaking up sibling fights and keeping tiny humans alive.

Back in 2015, I was deep in that fog. I had three kids under five, a husband working overseas, and a life that felt like an endless treadmill set to max incline. I was physically depleted, mentally checked out, and emotionally bankrupt.

Choosing Adventure, Losing Myself

I had built a career, earned an MSc in Sports Science, and had big plans for my future, but I found myself in survival mode, thousands of miles away from family, friends, and my sense of self.

I was alone in Newfoundland, a place known for its thick fog, gale-force winds, and the kind of isolation that can swallow you whole. It’s the kind of place where even summer comes wrapped in a down jacket. I had left behind the life I loved in Norway, trading mountains and fjords for the brutal, unpredictable North Atlantic coastline.

I chose this life, I had said yes to every move, every relocation, every leap into the unknown. But in that fog, I felt like a stranger to myself. I had gone from being a fierce, ambitious woman to a ghost in my own life.

Life's burdens feel lighter when you don't sit idly, shivering in the cold summer while wearing your down jacket (yes, the middle picture was taken in June 2015 in Newfoundland)!

Movement is Medicine

And it got dark. Really dark. I would stand on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, the wind whipping my face, and think about how easy it would be to just let go. But I also had three little ones at home who needed their mom. That day, as I stood at the edge, I made a choice. I turned away from the cliffs, and I ran. I ran until my lungs burned, my legs shook, and the weight of my world felt a little lighter.

Life seemed like a road to gloom and doom for me

Why was I feeling this desperate?

There’s a science to this, you know. Movement is medicine. When you push your body, you release endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine—the body’s natural antidepressants. You reset your nervous system, shake off the stress, and reconnect with your power.

It’s not just about burning calories or building muscle; it’s about reclaiming your sense of self.

When Motherhood Feels Like a Marathon, Run Anyway

Running didn’t just save my life that day; it reawakened my fire. It reminded me of who I was before I became ‘Mom’—a strong, capable woman who could handle whatever life threw at her. It became my therapy, my meditation, my battle cry.

Over time, I clawed my way back. I got stronger, both physically and mentally. I set bigger goals, pushed myself further, and rediscovered my grit. I went from being a worn-out mom of three to an Ironman finisher and a coach for other women who refuse to disappear into the fog of motherhood.

So, if you’re in that dark place right now, if you feel like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of raising kids, know this: you are stronger than you think. Movement can be your way back. It can light the fire inside you that you thought had gone out.

Welcome to Tired Mom Runs. You’re not just a tired mom. You’re a damn warrior.

With fire and grit, Marjaana, aka Tired Mom Runs

I had to live for these monkeys, and to do that, I had to sort my life out. I had to find myself, and make room for self-care.