I would think the correct way to do that is in software. Declare a variable before you setup function (global variable) like boolean running = false;
Then any time you perform a:
digitalWrite(outPin, HIGH); // turn motor on
follow it immediately with a
running = true; // capture that motor is on
and any time you perform a:
digitalWrite(outPin, LOW); // turn motor off
follow it immediately with a
running = false; // capture that motor is off
Now your sketch has a variable called running that you can test any time or where in your sketch to see the present state of the output pin that is controlling your motor.
Lefty