on running. Alone.

Howdy friends and blog readers,
Perhaps I should make it my resolution (except I don't do resolutions) to blog more.   My blog has been silent for far too long.   I keep thinking about my favorite posts and miss doing that more often.   Incidentally my favorite post has to be Steve running into a cow (literally) when we lived in Falcon Heights/St. Paul/Roseville.   Begs the question-where did we live for 4 months?   I still don't know.

I digress.

Hey, by the way, I ran a half marathon in December.   Yeah, I did it.  Maybe you thought my silence was because I had died.   Nope, though let me tell you I haven't been able to set foot on Campus in 2 months without cringing or feeling like I was going to yack because Miles 8-10 were through Campus and that was some wall.   Did I mention it was 44 degrees and pouring the entire race?   So anyhow, I finished.   Yep.   Maybe some day I'll be able to fully talk (ie blog) about the entire thing.   But, for now, know I did it and given the monsoon I was happy with my time and though I learned a lot and paid the price for not coming home and eating enough the 24-48 hours afterwards, I am planning on runnin 1 or 2 more half marathons this year again.  

So, let's talk about today's regularly scheduled blog.   Being an introvert.   Specifically an introvert that runs.   Alone.   One of the things that happens when you both: run, and have friends is that you get asked to run with friends.   Sure, in theory it sounds good.   But to me I cringe.   I love my friends, I seriously have the best ones ever-ode to best friends ever.    But, running with someone else makes me want to not run.   I try to explain myself in about 89 345 words every single time someone asks, but I really need to just boil it down to one easy explanation:    I.  Am.  An.  Introvert.   If you are one-high five, we just get each other.   You get why I love Monday nights when Steve plays hockey and I can be alone to watch the Bachelor in silence.   You get why I adore long road trips with music. But, if you aren't an introvert you think I'm kind of weird, but maybe you think that anyhow because I'm that silly Canadian that talks too much hockey.   None the less, I'm an introvert (though an outgoing one-I think it sounds less weird) and I literally recharge by running alone.   I recharge by doing a lot of things, and usually it's alone, but running alone recharges me a lot quicker and effectively then most other things.   It's my quiet, alone time.   I even get annoyed when the cows moo a little too loud.  

And you know what?   This is all okay.   It's okay being an introvert.   Thankfully you can be one and have lots of friends.   You just can't have running partners sometimes.   And that is okay.

until next time,
sure, wave to me if you see me running, but don't stop me to talk.   I'm not interested.  :-)

on running

Howdy friends and blog readers,

I've been busy.   For the last 3 years I've been busy (Anna) but I'm still here.   And in the last 9 months, I added training for a half marathon to my schedule so I'm even busier.

Next weekend, I attempt something I've never done before: run 13.1 miles (that.1 miles sucks by the way).   And I don't know how I'll do, but I'm not nervous or worried.   I'm excited to get it over with so I can eat a bag of Doritos, it's been a long 9 months.   But the truth is, even if I die or puke during the race (hopefully neither), I've won already.

In the last nine months I've:

• run more then 2 miles at one time away from the treadmill.  I've been active for the last 11 years, but never been a runner.   
• Gotten up to a 10 mile run in training and been tired, but still alive at the end.  Victory for sure.
• given up sugar in my coffee.
• My child LOVES to run just like her Mommy.   Whether we are going to the park, to get the mail, to the neighbors to see her best friend, or at Target, she is ALWAYS running.  She doesn't walk, she thinks it's just normal to run.    I am proud that I'm setting a healthy example for her early.   She thinks it's fun and normal that our house exercises the majority of days.   Sure, we like our ice cream too, sometimes, but we LOVE our exercising and know it's something we just will do.   
• And when she sees someone running as we drive by, she yells, "go runner go".   Sunday mornings on our way to church there's a lot of yelling.  
• I'm so much healthier then I ever thought I'd be.   So long blood pressure medication.
• My knees are actually pain free.   Yes, this is interesting because my official diagnosis 5 years ago was "Runner's knee" and the Doctor assured me that the more you carefully exercise, the better your knees will be.   Truth.   
• I'm confident if I can do this, I can probably do anything.   My body is pretty amazing.   It housed a human, got opened up to take the human out, healed, lost that weight, and now can run 10+ miles.   Well done body, well done.
• I'm so very proud of myself.   Yes, I'll give myself a pat on the back when I finish.   Then, I'll come home, crack open the Doritos, beer and ice cream, eat myself silly for a day, then go back to it all again because you can bet I'm signing up for another half marathon again, soon.

until next time,

find what you love, and do it.   No excuses.   You might be surprised.   

reality-and not the Bachelor kind

Howdy friends and blog readers,

Today's post is about reality.   The reality of parenting.  

Reality is you can in fact wait (mostly) patiently for your baby for 4 long, miserable, life changing, God trusting years and promise about 8934 times to God that you will NEVER ever lose your patience for your kid and then alas, the kid comes and you do lose patience.  

And not only do you lose patience sometimes (gasp), you want a time out.  And when you get one in June in the form of a 4 day vacation alone to Canada you soak it up and sure you miss your kid, but man do you have a good time.   But, you don't sleep in because your body clock is permanently wacked up and on toddler time.

And, that you can be so thankful one day that your kid is the sweetest, most sensitive, most tender hearted kid you will ever ever meet, and then in a second when you drop her off at Moms Day Out, where she has gone for 3 years and melts down at the door because her heart is actually breaking to be away from you, you wish she wasn't tender hearted at all.  

And, you can swear your kid will never watch TV, eat goldfish crackers, or fruit snacks, but you end up bribing her to stay in the classroom at MDO and not run into the hallway after you with 2 jellybeans.

That sometimes, on bad days (and you have them), you count the months until she/he starts kindergarten (35, but who's counting)?   I already have plans with my neighbor that day (Anna's best friend's Mom).   We drop our girls off at school and hit the spa for an entire day.   Probably will include alcohol.  

Speaking of alcohol, sometimes, you want to crack open a beer by Noon.   But, you wait until nap time at 1pm.

But, the truest reality of all of parenting is you look at yourself, almost 3 years after you ventured into this parenting gig by the sheer Grace of God and answered prayers, and you realize that you're stronger, most patient, more loving and so much more complete then you were 3 years ago.    Thank you Anna.   You are quite simply the best thing to ever happen to me, though I'm glad I have access to beer at nap times some days.

until next time,
happy parenting

8 miles-and not the movie

Howdy friends and blog readers,

A funny thing happened last Saturday morning.   Ready for it?

I ran 8 miles.   Consecutively.   In a decent amount of time.   By choice.   And, I survived, though my hamstrings are still slightly sore-but also because I was back to 125% effort at Stroller Strides yesterday and today.

Turns out that I not only have paid for this half marathon in December, but that I might actually finish it.   I have paid for it, I'd like to get that darn finishers medal, t-shirt, and most of all the post race beer.   Yes, beer at 9am on a Sunday morning sounds fabulous after a long run.   Trust me-I've done enough 5K's now to know it's true.  

15 years ago I was more then chubby, inactive and unhealthy.   So, believe me when I say if I can do this, anyone can.   You need a few things:  willpower, stubborness and a bit of dedication to say the least.   But, if a 38 year old Mom can run 8 miles on a random Saturday in August in Texas, then anyone probably can.

until next time,
that's my motivation for today.   You can do it.   Your welcome.  

travelling with my Anna

Howdy friends and blog readers,

From the North Pole, AKA Winnipeg.   Anna and I have been happily here since June 21.   We've been enjoying cooler weather, family, good food and some good friends.   Mostly we've been pretty low key since Steve is still in Costa Rica and doesn't get here until Monday.
Today's blog is about flying.   Flying with a toddler.   Flying with a toddler alone.   And how to survive.   The truth is, Anna and I had a great flying day, she is a fun travel buddy and makes it easy.   Seriously.   So here are the keys to my success:

• fly and travel as much as you can.   Anna has been on an airplane 7 times I think now.   She is used to driving places in the Van.   She has stayed in hotel rooms a lot.   I grew up in a family where we traveled together and Anna will certainly be in that type of family.   I learned so much about life by traveling, it's made me who I am.
• Forget about what your child "normally" eats.   So Anna had 4 fruit snacks, instead of her normal 2 (MAX) a day.   So she ate 2 bags of Delta Pretzels.   She had some apple juice in her cup when the only time she gets it now is if she needs some help unblocking if you know what I mean.   We ate deep fried food for dinner which neither of us do but Chick Fil A seemed a good option in the Airport.   Forget all this knowing it's only one day of the year and eat what works.
• She's not going to nap so just realize that.   Anna is the best sleeper.   Last time she missed her 2 hour afternoon nap?   The day we flew here to Winnipeg at Christmas.   So if she misses it once, we're all good.
• IPad.   Key.    Sure, we colored and read, and talked.   But the girl got bored sitting still.   This is a girl that is used to being outside and exercising and being active all day long.   She just needed some Hot Dog.   We watched 3.25 episodes of Hot Dog and normally, unless she's sick, we watch no more then 45 minutes of TV a day.   Why would we need to watch more?   We're busy having fun together.   So, break the 45 minute rule, or whatever your rule is.   Let the kid watch Hot Dog.   The fellow passengers will thank you.
• Bring new things.   Stock up at Target and Kohl's for new stickers, crayons, books, toys whatever.   Your carry on bag is not actually for YOUR stuff anyways once you have a kid.   Fill it with fun things.   Did you know a new activity/sticker box can kill 1.5 hours on a plane?   I do now.
• When you have to go to the bathroom in a busy airport and your toddler loudly yells "mommy, are you pushing it all out of your pagina"? -just realize no one will ever see the two of you again.
• Above all else, realize how much fun this is, and stay easy going.   That's an easy one for me.   

until next time,

happy travels.

on flying. Alone.

Hi there friends and blog readers,

Two weeks from today I will be getting ready to drive myself to Austin, get on a plane and fly by myself to Winnipeg for 4 nights of fun, friends and family time.   By myself.

Am I nervous to leave Anna for 4 nights?   Nope, Steve and Anna are going to have a great time.   Am I sad to leave her for 4 nights?   Sure, a bit.   But, I realize how important it is to do things for yourself, and by yourself when you're a Mom.   Steve makes it easy for me to do those things on a regular basis, and I make myself a priority to do those things so for the last 2 years I have felt really balanced and great.   I love my Anna more then anything else, but I loved me before her.  

I miss traveling a lot.   I used to get to travel for work a lot and I miss a quiet hotel room by myself.   I miss reading on an airplane, or watching a movie.   I miss buying the newspaper or a magazine during my layover in Chicago.   Is it more fun to fly now somewhere with Anna?   Sure, but of course I miss the me time too.

So, I'm excited to get 4 days to do it.   Last summer some of my favorite girlfriends and I left our kiddos with the husbands and went to Austin for a night away.   We had a great time.   But I am really looking forward to 4 days.

And, I haven't even left yet and I'm already looking forward to coming back to Anna.  

until next time,
balancing gracefully (or attempting to) my me time with the best thing in the world-being a stay at home Mom to my favorite girl.  

it's paid for!

Hi there friends and blog readers,

I did it.   I registered, and paid my $80 to enter the B/CS Half Marathon in December.   I'm already extremely proud of myself and I haven't even done the thing yet.   15 years ago, I'd have laughed if you would have told me I would be a runner-I had an extra 75 pounds on me then I do now.   Let's give an ode to losing weight here by the way, and keeping it off.

Back to the regular scheduled blog.   Why do I run?   Some of you think I'm crazy.   But I'm about to list all the reasons I run.  

• I am in the best shape of my life at 38 years old and after a baby.   It seemed a good challenge.
• I want to show Anna you can do something you set your mind to with some hard work.
• I absolutely love that Anna is growing up in a house where exercise is normal, and fun.   Nothing makes my heart happier then seeing her do a plank, or a jumping jack, or want to run to soccer practice because her Mommy runs a lot.
• When I went to the Dr this week for my annual exam the very first question he asked me after we caught up (we attend the same church), was "tell me how and often you exercise".   The 2nd question was if we eat fast food (yuck), but the first was exercise.  It's that important.
• I went off 1 blood pressure med last year.   I was given the okay to go off the 2nd.   Because I exercise 6 days a week.
• I would be 300 pounds if I didn't exercise.   Not exaggerating.
• Finally, there is nothing better then thinking you can't possibly go any further, but pressing on, and then realizing you've just run 6 miles, and you turn the corner exhausted and on your way home, and you see your daughter clapping for you.  Or, feeling like you're going to yack any minute going uphill to the finish line of the 5k and seeing Anna, clapping for you.   There is.  Nothing.  Better.

until next time,

it's okay if you don't love running.   Just find something you love, and do it.   It's okay if it's not running, I'm just glad mine is running and I love it.