Meet Lucinda.

Lucinda Tokarski is a proud mom of 2 gorgeous boys, Hayden, 6 and Asher, 4. Despite living in Vermont, Lucinda is not a fan of cold weather running. Playing ice hockey, though? Loves it! This Fit Mama is devoted to showing her boys how to live a healthy lifestyle and how to make working out fun.

So, tell me a little bit about yourself – are you a stay-at-home-mom? Or do you work outside the home?

I do work outside the home – I am the Office Manager for a non-profit called Farms For City Kids Foundation.  I am very lucky, though, to have a great, flexible schedule which allows me to pick my children up from school and enjoy afternoons with them. I love having such balance between being Momma and being Lucinda. I am in a fantastic relationship with my boyfriend, John Hull, who the boys sweetly refer to as ‘Our John John’. John and I, along with the boys’ dad, do the best job we can at co-parenting. We all play a crucial role in their lives and I feel fortunate that they have so many loving and supportive parental figures in their lives.

That’s awesome, Lucinda. Now, I know you’re a Fit Mama now – were you fit prior to having kids? 

Absolutely. Fitness has been a priority in my life since, well forever! It has always brought me peace, balance and strength, in so many ways.

Did you work out during pregnancy?

Not as much as I would have liked to. During my pregnancy with Hayden, I walked a lot and was involved in yoga until about week 37, when I suddenly felt as though moving was more than difficult. My mom would walk behind me with her hands on my back to get me up the hills!! We always got such a giggle out of it. WhenI was pregnant with Asher, it was very different. I still walked, but with a toddler by my side, it was fitness enough. At 32 weeks I was put on bed rest, so let me tell you, I wanted to be able to exercise. I am thankful that I was as fit as I was though, because 5 weeks in bed without it would have been 10 times more damaging if I hadn’t already been so fit and healthy.

So, now you’re a busy mama, what do you do for exercise now? 

I get lost in the worlds of running, yoga and biking. With running, I love the way I feel during a run (as much as I might curse at the hills) as well as the great feeling afterwards. I also play ice hockey. I am on a great team that I play with once a week as well as in tournaments throughout the year. A workout always gives me such a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.  Plus, it seems to be keeping my backside in the place I would like it to be!

I love that you play ice hockey! It’s so bad-ass! Is it as exhausting as it looks watching NHL games? 

It is the BEST workout I have every experienced. For me, I would skate every day if I could. It’s hard and exhausting but the fun of it makes it more than worth it. I can’t get enough of it.

Do you play in shifts? How long is a shift? I know in the NHL it seems like the players are totally gassed after a couple minutes on the ice.

We do play in shifts. Generally, when we have ten players, we have 2 forward lines.  A shift can last up to 2 and a half minutes for us. There are times that we only have 6 or 7 players. At that point, you play as long as you can. I have played all but a couple of minutes of each period numerous times. I fell like the gooey blob that falls out of the egg when kids open it, but I have to say that I love it so much that I won’t complain. I get more irritated when I have to sit on the bench for longer periods of time than 2 minutes.

Do you find you have to do any strength training for hockey? Have you sustained any injuries you’ve had to rehab from?  

No, I don’t do any strength training for hockey. I actually find that cardio has been most important for my playing. Also, time on the ice brings out muscles that no strength training can! Thankfully, no injuries!

Okay, enough with the hockey questions! Probably not everyone is as interested in ice hockey as I am!! So, you do running for cardio – as a Vermonter, do you have any cold-weather running tips?

Actually, I am not comfortable running in cold weather! I absolutely won’t run outside if it is under 40 degrees! So there are days that I will strap my yak tracks onto my shoes and hit the road, but it is rare. I am on the treadmill when it’s freezing out. As well as running just for cardio, I also run two or three races a year. I always tell myself that I should sign up for more. 

What is your workout schedule like? 

A workout schedule seems to be when I can fit it in. My favorite time to work out is in the early morning, before the world wakes up! But I will fit in it whenever I can.

Do you face any challenges to keep up with your fitness routine? 

As much as I love to work out, sometimes my motivation to do so needs a good kick in the rear. I am always thankful that I let that kick throw me into it. It can be hard to find the time with my peanuts running around. They are great about understanding that I love it and ‘need’ it, but I don’t want to take away from them. That is why I try to do so when they are still in dreamland. I don’t want to feel selfish about taking the time to get fitness into my day, but I also know that it’s important for me to do so. It’s a benefit to everyone.

That’s so true. It’s hard dealing with mommy guilt about working out, even when you know it’s the best thing you can do as a mom. Along those lines, how has being fit benefitted you specifically for motherhood?

The fact that I can run around with my boys and play with them and enjoy every minute of it is one of the greatest benefits. I can also honestly say that I am a more patient person when fitness is a regular part of my routine, compared to when I fit it in sporadically.  And I love that I am helping teach my kids about the importance and benefits of fitness and that it’s fun to be fit!

That’s great that you’re sharing that with Hayden and Asher. Has your healthy lifestyle rubbed off on your family?

I think so. My kids are very active, and we often talk about their muscles and how to keep them growing and strong. Hayden has started to ride his bike with me on some of my runs. He has already hopped on my hamster wheel, as the treadmill is known in our house, after I have finished running.

Hayden and I also did our first 5K together last November! We finished in 39 minutes. He was awesome and I LOVED every minute of running with him. Crossing the finish line with him brought tears to my eyes. The thought of it still does. Asher did the race too, he walked with my mom and John’s mom. When I went back to meet them, about a ½ mile out, he decided he wanted to run the rest of it, so Jayne (John’s mom), Asher and I ran the rest – Asher was beyond thrilled to cross the finish line. We continuously talk about other runs we will do together. So I do think that it is rubbing off and I love that.

My favorite part of being a mom involved in fitness is having the support of my family. They often come to my hockey games and cheer me on and wait at the finish lines. They make me feel like a world class athlete! I can’t get enough of them cheering me on the way I would cheer on one of my athletic hero’s.

That’s wonderful! 🙂 So, what’s next for you, Lucinda? Any goals or races coming up?

Yes – I am currently planning on running a road race on July 4^th. It is a 7 miler that is hard but rewarding. Last year I took the women’s second place finish – this year I would like to do just as well, if not better, but will be happy with just succeeding in my training and participation.  And anything else that might fall in my lap. I certainly know that I am looking forward to running with my family again in November. I will also be riding 50 miles in The Prouty, an annual fundraiser for Norris Cotton Cancer Center, which raises money for cancer research. This will be my 6^th year involved in the event.

Lucinda, thanks so much for being featured on Fit Mama Friday! (Also thank you for indulging my hockey interrogation!). Good luck with your race July 4! You rock, Mama!