Somethings just hit you...

Running is a road to self awareness and self reliance. You can push yourself to extremes and learn the harsh reality of your physical and mental limitations or coast quietly down a solitary path watching the Earth spin at your feet. But, when you are through, exhilarated and exhausted, at least for the moment everything seems right in the world.
-Author Unknown

This was in a newsletter from my running club today. I am struck by just how true it is and how I will be learning my physical and mental boundaries as I train for my next 4 big races. I am going to be pushing my body to the brink. I am going to take on 3 13.1 mile races in 2 1/2 months and then focus on the marathon. I will be running some 5Ks and 10Ks while I train, some before and after the big runs. I know my body will feel things it hasn't felt before and it will tell me to stop and this is where I have to become mentally strong. If my body wins, my mind loses.

I will be thinking about this tonight as I rest my legs from a nice tempo run today. I feel so much better after I run, everything seems right in the world.....

A day off...

I ran 4.25 yesterday at 5:30 am.  It was 78 degrees with 97% humidity.  It was hot!!!  It's the longest run I've done since the hip issue.  I met Sueann at Snap, we parked, geared up and ran, I was running ahead and found some trails (paved) so we explored them.  The run felt good and I really missed the feeling, I don't like the hot, humid part of it though.  I was dripping sweat, hair matted to my head, etc by the time we were done.  Wow, 43 minutes at an easy pace, so the heat wouldn't kill me, you'd think I'd have only been a little sweaty!  I stretched while I waited on Sueann to finish her run, then we went into Snap for a lower body session and a cool down.  We went through the whole regimen, glutes, hamstrings, quads, calves, hips, abs and back before ending our 3 hour outing with a 30 minute bike ride, doing hills.  

Later, we met back up at the beach and took the boys out into the ocean since it was eerily calm.  Brendan loved it.  Cody who flipped out when he couldn't see his feet went back into the shallow.  We had pods of dolphins feeding just out from us, tossing fish in the air.  I've never got to witness this so close!  After a couple of hours in the sun, it was time to head home, where I almost got caught up with laundry and did some odds and ends around the house.  

Today though, I took the day off.  I'm tired, I didn't eat healthy at all today, I decided I was blowing it all and tomorrow, I would get up and run and go back to healthy.  I bought several flats of berries; strawberries, raspberries and my favorite, blackberries.  I also got some bananas, so tomorrow the focus is fruit.  I also have some baby arugula for a salad, I'll toss in a little chicken, some raspberries and a light raspberry vinaigrette for lunch.  

Boring, I know, but one day when I'm not so exhausted I'll have to write the way my head wants to, not my fingers, flying through so I can go lounge on the couch with my 2 favorite cuddle buddies.  As I speak, they are playing in a bubble bath together.  

Good night!

Sneaking in a post

I got up this morning, hit the closest gym and ran 3.5 miles, my longest run on a treadmill and my longest run post injury.  I did fine and could have ran a little longer.  I had to get home and showered and ready for work.  Work was chaos, I was ready for 5!  I came by the house before picking up the boys, grabbed Kevin's new HRM to check it out, ran 1/2 mile in 90 degree heat, no idea the heat index!  I got the boys, we went swimming like we do every evening when there is no rain.  They just asked for their bath, so here I sit!

I am going to hit the gym tomorrow, get a 4 miler in if I have time and then Sunday I'll run another 4-4.5.  I am going to keep at it...that half marathon is creeping up!  Well, the fish want out of the tub, so time for everyone to get ready for bed!

Busy, busy and busier still

I can't think of the last time I was so obsessed with the gym.  I was in there Saturday and Sunday by 6 am and working out for 2 hours straight.  I can't go to said gym during the week due to childcare, but I am staying focused at home.  Last night, I swam for 30 minutes and then followed that up with an hour of kickboxing.  I was going to get up and go for a run this morning but we had horrible storms last night and the heat and humidity is just too much to bare.  I did get a swim in today when I wasn't being landed on by a belly-flopping Cody or a dare devil Brendan.  I am however planning on getting up tomorrow at 4 am to be at the gym by 4:45 and work out until 6:30 at which time I will need to hit the shower and head to work.  I really wish they had a 24 hour gym closer to home so I could get ready in my own house.  I am running again and it is awesome.  I am maintaining my sanity while raising to very crazy little monkey boys.  

Speaking of crazy boys, Brendan at 21 months is starting to potty train (he actually jumped up while getting his diaper changed and got on the potty by himself!) and has successfully escaped the confines of his crib.  We have resigned to the fact the kid is half monkey and converted his baby bed to a toddler bed.  

Cody, now 4 and very opinionated has moved into the world of super heros!  Batman this, Spiderman that, I am Iron Man and I love Superman.  He now has batman pjs, batman blanket and batman bedding.  He enjoys youtube.com and lego.com and actually knows how to power up his computer and launch the sites and type in choo choo in the youtube search box.  I got him one of our old laptops from work so he would leave ours alone, but he prefers to sit in here on his big computer or hover over us if we have the laptop begging to watch the trailer of Up, one more time.  I'm hoping when I take him to see Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs he doesn't break down screaming but I want to see Up AGAIN!  This movie has made its way to the must get movie in our house.  He loved it.  He couldn't sit through Wall E, but Up, he begged immediately to see it again.  

The boys are a handful and keep me busy 90% of my time with them.  I wish they harassed their father half as much as me or each other.  

Rebuilding after an injury

I've run 4.35 miles this week. This is a HUGE improvement as I haven't been able to run since Gecko. My hip is still injured, but I'm learning to run with it. I got better, then the pain returned. I'm meeting with a personal trainer on Monday to strengthen up the area to help rebuild the area. I'm 45 1/2 weeks out from the OKC Memorial Marathon. I'm less than 5 months away from my first 1/2 marathon. I need to rebuild, get stronger, get faster. I want to run pain free again. I don't know how long it will take me to get back to my 9 mile long run, but I hope soon. I think I'm going to try and race again on the 4th of July. I will update more later!