Life SO Gets in the way...

I have been jonsen to go outside for over a week and run; however, I have been resigned to the treadmill because my husband works late.  Monday I ran on the treadmill because I was tired, this daylight savings time is wrecking havoc on my sleep cycle, so I knew that if I did not run right away on the treamill it was not going to happen.  By wednesday, the temperature was 80 degrees and  I was getting outside no matter what it took; so I bribed my 6 year old son into riding his bike with me for 5 miles (it turned out to be 4.19) for ice cream and starburst when we returned home and a Ben 10 action figure that I promised to purchase on thursday after he got off the bus (yes I did purchase the toy)...I was thinking YES, I'm actually going to run outside.   

 

So we started out from our home which we live out in the middle of nowhere, so there is not a lot of traffic on our roads, we get to the stop sign which is a half mile and my son is good, he's ready to go; by the time we reached our 1 1/2 mile mark, he needed to pee; Pit stop #1. 

Pit stop #2 came at 1 3/4 mile where he just needed to get off his bike and run with me; albeit, it was very windy so riding and running in the wind was not pleasurable, and neither was running and pushing a youth bicycle.  By the time it was all said and done, we had probaby stopped 10 times, (of course one of those we "had" to stop to listen to the pigs squeel at the pig farm, and/or smell their stench),  over the course of the 4.19 miles that I ran.    At first I was upset with myself because I knew my husband was coming home at a reasonable time and I didn't have to cook; so I could have ran outside by myself; but then I decided not to be upset.  It was an incredible day and I was able to run OUTSIDE, while  my 6 year old rode his bike for 4.19 miles, even if he had to stop along the way. I decided that it was fun to run with him, and that I loved  his talking about random stuff about his dream he had about having bubbles that shot out of his finger tips.  This all helped me keep my mind off how incredibly hot it was outside.  I feel great about the run, I felt like I was teaching him  invaluable lessons about exercise and that all things are not easy, even if we are on two wheels, it can be hard and we don't give up.  We inevitable walked the last one mile home because I just couldn't force him to ride his bike any more for my benefit.  So we held hands and walked along the country road while I pushed his bike...It was so awesome to be outside with my son and to hold his hand, and just BE IN THE MOMENT, which made smile. 

So my advice to any mom with kids is; Life IS going to get in the way, we just need to learn how to "GO WITH THE FLOW" and not get upset.  To either shuffle our day/run/gym time, or incorporate our kids into our routine, to get out the door to exercise.  I'm happt to just go with the flow, and do the best I can, because it is LIFE, and I'm going to enjoy every minute I can.  Happy Friday! 

Here's What's Been Happening....

So I guess I've been a little negligent writing on my blog.  Here's what's been happening; as you recall I broke off a prepped tooth for a crown down to the gum line; after two cancellation; and only one was from me cancelling by the way; I  finally went to the dentist last Monday, to have the "rest" of the tooth extracted, and it really wasn't that bad; I didn't feel anything.  My oral surgeon is the BEST! Thank you Dr. Gerald Kerr!  He cannot ever retire and that is exactly what I told him.  I worked with this Dr. Kerr for years at my old job as a surgery nurse back in the day; so it's not like he has had to take a lot of teeth out, just my wisdom teeth and this one little tooth. I was just so happy that I did not have one complication and the entire process was pain free.

I have been struggling to get out the door on a daily basis to run, but in my mind I KNOW I have to run, so I lace up my shoes and get on the dreaded treadmill and run.  I hate running on my treadmill, but it's either run on the treadmill aka dreadmill; or run in the dark after my husband gets home, and then make dinner.  If I'm lucky then I might be able to help my son with his homework,  then go to bed.  I hate that my husband is working late; but I can't complain since I get summers, every holiday, weekends off!   Once I get on the dreadmill, I feel so much better; so I'm always glad after I'm done that I got off the couch.

 Last week after my extraction, I did not run until Saturday.  On Saturday, I ran a 10k training series with my husband's cousin and wife, and I had the best PR with a 10K yet.  I really pushed myself beyond my limits past one mile;  (yes one mile because this is where I poop out and drop my 9:30-10:00 min/mile) but too knew that I could do this in one hour.  I ran the 10k in 59:42 WOO HOO.  Here's the thing I'm a skosh upset about, if I had not stopped to stretch my hammy out, I would have been with my husbands cousin wife  with a time at 58:24.   Dammit! HOWEVER, I am SO stinking happy with my time despite not running the whole week before the race.  I really believe that my strength training is improving my leg strength therefore; I feel as though I'm running faster.  Of course this could all be in my head, but I'm just going to keep cross-training and strengthing all my muscles including my core and go with it and get my 2 hour half marathon in May! 

Then came Wednesday:  I didn't run this past Monday because I had a stomach bug and was just exhausted, so when Wednesday came rolling around, I knew I needed to run or I would be in trouble come Saturday.  I finally got on the dreadmill and it literally was all I could do to run the 50 minutes.  My legs felt like lead, so i'm not sure if I was still not over my sickness, or it was from not running on Monday, or maybe it's REALLY time for new shoes...I love my Brooks GTS-11's so much that I hate getting a new pair!  I'm pretty sure I have put over 400 miles on my shoes since I have ran 3 half marathon's in them PLUS all the training for each of the half marathons! 

I will try to do a better job to keep up with my daily/weekly activities and the struggles I face each day.  I know that there are way busier people than me and have the same struggles to get motivated, or to find the time to run.  I find motivation usually within myself, by picking my booty up off the couch and just running.  Just knowing that I am showing up for myself, then I can totally take credit; which makes me feel really good.  I do go around telling everyone what my race plans are so that I have to be accountable; and because I don't want to let anyone down, so it makes puts that little bit of fear in me not wanting to let my partner down,  by not being prepared come race day; or having to tell my co-workers that I didn't run, or didn't finish a race.  I just can't have that; I'm way too competitive, because once I'm out the door running with the pack, or on the treadmill I DO NOT GIVE UP!
Have a wonderful day, and remember, we all come to the table with stuggles, it's what you do with them that get's you to the finish line.