I Needed That!

I knew I needed a break, but I don't think I knew just how badly I needed it until I was laughing my butt off last night. Some members of the Wed/Fri Burke Lake group got together last night at Jami's house and we had a great time eating (Jami makes amazing food!), drinking, talking, and laughing. And laughing. And laughing. I am thoroughly exhausted today -- I can't believe it was 11:30 by the time I got to bed!! -- but it was very well worth it. Thanks, girlies -- I needed that!

Numbuns

Note to self: when running in frigid temperatures, it is NOT necessary to fill your water bottles with nice cold water from the fridge. Room temperature water would be just fine. Especially when you are going to put the aforementioned nice cold water bottles (did I mention they were cold?) into your #&%@ Fuel Belt and therefore have freezing cold things bouncing around on your butt being even more annoying than usual!!

On the up side, though, due to the combination of the freezing cold air and the freezing cold water bottles, my butt was soon almost totally numb. And numbuns don't mind the #&%@ Fuel Belt as much.

It's all a numbers game

Last weekend I turned 39. For the first and only time. I won't be one of those "39-and-holding" types. When I was younger, I thought I might be one of those -- after all, I did turn twenty-eleven instead of 31. Now that I'm here, though, I'm proud to say I'm 39. I am in the best shape I've ever been in. I have two beautiful children and a loving husband. I have two marathons* under my belt and, God willing, another on the horizon. I have been blessed with the ability (and the sense!) to surround myself with amazing, strong, supportive women -- something I wasn't smart enough to do in my younger years, hence the desire to be twenty-eleven! So I'm all for 39! And then 40! Life is good -- and I'm just getting
started!

* I have to confess to a little Freudian typo -- I actually typed "marathongs" and nearly spit Coke out my nose when I re-read this before posting!!

It ate my blog....

I sat down last night and sent my fingers flying across the keyboard, blogging about how it was somehow colder than it felt yesterday morning. I don't know what happened but I lost the blog, so here's the recap...

It didn't feel terribly cold, but one of the doors of my car was actually frozen shut. It didn't feel terribly cold, but there were so many icy patches that I felt like I was taking 8 steps for every foot of pavement I covered -- and I was actually faster (and safer) walking sometimes rather than running. It didn't feel terribly cold, but the condensation inside the "bubble" of my double jogger actually looked like it was frosting over (the kids were happy, though -- always a bonus!). But I didn't let any of that keep me from getting out or staying out.

I stuck with it and did all 6 miles that were on our training plan for this Saturday's run. Because when it comes down to it, I just keep repeating to myself "The only way to run far is to run far." Except when I'm repeating, "The only way to run fast is to run fast." It just depends on the type of workout. But what always matters is that I feel better when I run. Always.

I hate the cold!

I'm trying not to wimp out this winter, but MAN I hate the cold!! It's especially hard (or perhaps the problem is that wimping out is even easier) when the kids are involved. I truly do believe that I am setting a good example of fitness for my kids each and every time I drag them along for a run. But when there are runny noses, sore throats, cranky toddlers, and freezing temperatures it becomes a whole 'nother ball game. Not to mention the fact that I don't happen to have a lot of coordination, so avoiding icy patches or slushy puddles on my own can be tough. Doing that while pushing a double jogger? No way! I'm making sure I work a little harder in my Boot Camp class and I'm trying to push myself to get out alone when I can. But I sure will be glad when things warm up a bit!! How is everyone else doing in these chilly times??

Pushing Each Other

I love that we push each other, in sometimes subtle and sometimes more overt ways. And I love that we support each other in the same fashion. Today we discussed our distance plans before we started, but a few of us were somewhat noncommittal. We run an out-and-back route and as we approached the point that would make a total distance of about 4.5 miles, Sarah decided she was going to turn back rather than go the full 6 we had discussed. I said I would turn back with her, leaving the other two to continue a bit further. But then MaryLu said she would turn back, too, which would have left Heidi alone. Not that Heidi can't handle running alone. But if we're out for a group run there ought to be group, right? So I stayed with her and, as always, I'm glad I did. I'm a better runner for the friends with whom I'm blessed to run. They sometimes make me run further or faster than I had planned, but never push me past where I truly feel I can't go or make me feel like less for having limits. I could have sat down right now to add 4.5 miles to my log, but I would have been a bit disappointed in myself for not going farther. Now I can log my six miles, as planned, and feel good about it. Thanks, Heidi -- I owe you one!

I don't want to beat myself up.

Really I don't. It's only January 5. But I hate how this year is starting for me, fitness-wise. I have yet to really run. Or do much of anything else. I did a half-assed run/walk on New Year's Day, but there were so many other factors involved in that I won't even get started. I hadn't pushed the double stroller in a while and was seriously upset/sad/pissed off about personal stuff that running with the stroller in the cold on a muddy trail was not very smart. I must have been running with my shoulders hunched up tight, because I've been sporting an incredibly sore neck/upper back since. That kept me from my usual boot camp class on Thursday. That, along with my sore throat and the freezing cold temps kept me from running Wednesday and Friday. So I really was planning to run today. Really. But my husband works weekends, so Saturday runs are no different than those during the week: wake the kids, feed them, dress them, bundle them into coats to get to the car to bundle them further into the stroller. All of this after getting myself up and dressed and fed. Today I just don't have it in me. So we're staying in, where it's warm. Maybe the kids will even sleep in a bit (hey, I can dream!). And I'll try again tomorrow. After all, it's only January 5 -- I don't want to beat myself up.