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.

Running for Sherry Arnold...

Saturday, February 11th, I ran a 5K on my treadmill at home, in honor of Sherry Arnold.  I truly wanted to run outside; BUT there were a lot of things I had to factor in; one my husband was at work, two, I don't think dragging a 6 year old out in bitter cold weather was appropriate.  So go ahead call me a sissy, but I had a chance to run, so I ran on my treadmill, while my son played the Wii.  I love the Wii, it's a built in babysitter.
 Lots of thoughts were whirling around in my head about Sherry.  I kept my thoughts in check and wondered how many people that Sherry never met, or friends/family were running in her memory.
My run for 3.1 miles was a pretty good run  It felt good knowing that I was running "with",  per se, so many other people in the world, that were doing the exact same thing I was:  Running for Sherry.  It felt really good.  I felt like I WAS running for courage, strenth and grace,for not only Sherry but for every woman.   I will never forget what I ran for Saturday, February 11th.  I put my bib in my "Race" folder that I keep all my other race bib's in, and one of these days, I'm going to make something to display all of my bibs in, and among all of the other bib's will be the the bib I wore for Sherry Arnold.
Peace, strength and courage to all women who are battling fear to run alone.
Jenni

There are Far, Far Better Things AHEAD than any we leave Behind.

Simply put by C.S. Lewis. 

If I could make my oldest son, who is 22 years old, see that the bumps and hitches in the road are not meant to destroy him, they are there to guide him and make him a better person.  The reality of all the struggles in life is;  if there were no struggles, then there would be nothing to WIN at or TRIUMPH over, and there would be no VICTORY or that sense of accomplishment.  One day I hope he learns what this sentence means; in the mean time I cannot compare my self to him with my past struggles; and I cannot say "I've been there done that", I just have to keep my mouth shut and watch him struggle...because this in essence is what he wants, me to be quiet and listen and let him, and make his own mistakes.   This is the hardest thing as a mother to do...I have to remind myself that I cannot possibly fix the things he struggles with, and keep telling him what to do.  He will need to figure this all out on his own, and if he wants my advice, then I will give it to him.  In the meantime; I will try to be quiet. 

Dentist

I don't know about you; but I was seriously traumatized as a little girl/teenager by the dentist.  I can go to the dentist as an adult for a cleaning; but if the words "you need a filling, or a crown" or any other major work, you will see me run out the door,  leaving my dust behind me.  It's really hard for me to hold in my anxiety, and say nothing about how I am feeling, because I try so hard to make my 6 year old's dentist visits and impression of the dentist a positive one.  Our family dentist is the sweetest man EVER, and is so GOOD to my son; however, I really like him; but he KNOWS it will be a cold day in hell to get me  into the office to get work done.
A few years ago, I had a cavity, and needed a filling; and of course my dentist says; you better get it done quickly; I have time right now; UM...I don't think so, I need a couple days.  Because I waitied it out, I ended up getting an abcess and then bad tooth pain, and one thing led to another and was in need of a  root canal.  I was quite suprised that I went ahead and had the root canal done, probably because I was in pain.  It went off without a hitch; I didn't feel anything; but because of my fear; and the fact that I didn't think we could afford the money out of pocket for my crown, I put it off.  The inevitable happened; which was my tooth prepped for the crown broke completely off down to the gum line; so NOW I really have to have MAJOR 4,000 worth of work done.  I'm severly petrified of the dentist/needles or whatever it is; but suprisingly, I was on my way to keeping my appointment with the same endodontist that I have known for years, and worked with in surgery, he did, in fact pull all 4 of my wisdom teeth at the same time.  He's a pretty smart fella; I think he knew, he would not see me again.  So what am I worried about right?  I have no idea; I'm sure it's all psychological, hence the first 6 letters in the word; PSYCHO-logical.  LOL.
Today was supposed to be the day to have the rest of the tooth removed; I was definately on HIGH ANXIETY alert when I got up this morning; so much so that I thought I was going to vomit.  I was all worked up, and was going to keep my appointment and BLAM, I get a phone call cancelling my appointment, YES, I'm sure, it was cancelled because I was WISHING that I could cancel it; but I was being a BIG girl and I was going to go to the appointment.  So now,  in 3 weeks; I will go through the same emotionally riddden HIGH anxiety roller coaster prior to the tooth being removed... sometimes you best be cafeful what you wish for; but am grateful that I have yet another 3 weeks to put this experience behind me; I will be as brave as I can be, and not show how I really feel in front of my 6 year old; because I truly want him to believe that the dentist is a good guy; which he is. 
stay tuned to the life in times of my dental appointments.  :)

Chicago Marathon...

IT'S OFFICIAL!  I'm a participant in the, the Chicago Marathon, October 7th 2012, with my running BFF, Ninja too, from http://chocolatemarathonsandninjas.blogspot.com/ WE ARE totally crazy; I know, but this is it; no backing out now!  I have been on the verge of vomiting since registration opened; now that registration is completed and I am a confirmed participant; I am happy, elated and now thinking; WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN US INTO?
It's time to focus on the first race at hand right now, which is the Indianapolis 500 mini marathon; I'm focused  and training and even added strength training because I know my body needs the added strength for a full marathon.  I am super excited, and grateful that not only do I get to run this marathon with my BFF Ninja too, my husband and son, along with Ninja too's family are coming along to cheer us on.  There is a first for everything.
Ninja

My Addictions...watch out...

Seriously. I must confess.  I have just a few addictions:  On the top of the list is; Chocolate.  Since when does a person decide it's a must to HIDE chocolate? It's not like nobody could find it, it's cleverly hidden just inside the island door , nobody really looks there except my hubby, and well he's my number one sabatuer anyway bringing Oreos, chips, ice cream around these parts when I'm training. He KNOWS I have a chocolate weakness and his comment is: " where is your will power to say no?  I'm helping you find willpower"? Wha? Mmmm hmmm! Another addiction is  coffee.   I  must have coffee otherwise;  talk to the hand until I get it. Imagine a woman with messy hair & coffee, that is me; so just hand the coffee over.  The other addictions I have are; twitter and Facebook although I'm decreasingly interested in Facebook, and find myself a Twitter fool. I AM a social media goddess, my husband has no idea just how lucky he is!   The final addiction, well it's more like a fever that lingers; It's RUNNING.  It's that adrenaline rush just signing up for the race... initially; then every time I run I'm getting that adrenaline rush over and over.

Today I'm signing up for my very first marathon, my first marathon with my running partner aka ninja too, @ chocolatemarathonsandninjas.com/

I'm so glad we started running together. Although she gives me all the credit, it's her young butt that keeps me motivated. I look forward to our runs to talk about our husbands, yes behind their backs, talk about our kids and life in general. She is my source of socialization with an adult, that has young children that I can relate to.  I also have other friends that I socialize with,  one at work, another friend who's son has been around since daycare days; but Kelly is my running BFF; the one that I connect with on every level; including running. It's funny that I've known Kelly for 11-12 years and never KNEW she was a runner, yay for me! I can't even begin to tell you how I would possibly run without her and our ninja moves kicking each marathon in the ass; one by one.

Ninja