Constantina Dita on bringing up a teenage son

Olympic Marathon champion Constantina Dita spoke exclusively to spikesmag.com about how she combines the demands of marathon training and bringing up her 14-year-old son, Raphael, in their home in Boulder, Colorado.

What are the main difficulties of bringing up a teenage son and your training demands?
CD: He is always very busy playing soccer, basketball and tennis. And I must be all the time with him for practice and the games and to drive him to and from practice. What I often do is when I drop him off for practice I carry out my second training session of the day. So if he is soccer training, sometimes I run around the soccer pitch for my second training. It is sometimes hard for me to be mother and runner, I can’t do everything but I want to do everything the best that I can do.

Does Raphael show any interest in running?
CD: No, he doesn’t, although last year he ran in the Boulder Boulder 10km race. It was the first race for him and I was proud of him because he finished the race. It was his first time, but he finished the race. He did it in 67 minutes and I was very proud of him. I cheer him from the side of the road.

Is he a good soccer, basketball and tennis player?
CD: He is good at soccer and basketball, but he doesn’t have too much time for tennis. He loves soccer.

Do you find time to help him out with his homework?
CD: Of course, he is my son. When I have time. It is hard but I must do it. I want the best for him.

Is it tough when you are travelling abroad to leave Raphael behind?
CD: Yes, and sometimes he takes advantage of this. He says 'I cannot do my homework because she is not here'. It was after the Olympic Games when he says my mum she makes me proud she won the Olympic Games and he took advantage and he did the wrong thing (by not doing his homework). But when we contacted the school and spoke to the teacher everything was fine. After this I talked with him and now he is no problem.

Does he ever come to any of the events?
CD: He has been to many of the events. He was in Chicago, New York for the half marathon, Japan, Australia and in London when I finished second. He was very happy.

Do you speak to him every day?
CD: I speak to him every day and he tells me about if he has a game (of soccer) that day. When I’m away my sister stays to help look after him in the USA.

Now he is a teenager is he harder to deal with than when he was a youngster?
CD: Yes, I know this problem, but he is a nice kid. He’s a little bit shy.

How did having a child, aged 25, help your running career?
CD: I started running again after I had him. I think I have to run for him and work a bit harder because I have a son and have responsibility.

*Pictured above are Dita (right) and her son, Raphael (centre). Pictured left, is Raphael's father and Dita's ex-husband Valeriu Tomescu.