Sometimes there just aren't words....

I can only imagine what those who are affected by the bombings at the Boston Marathon are going through. As a mother, I love to have my family at races cheering me on, to be honest, I think races are wonderful events that hopefully will inspire my daughters to want to be active. My heart breaks for the families of the injured and for the three who lost their lives.

I think there is something very special about the Boston Marathon. It is inspiring to me that so many every day runners work their tales off to qualify to run those 26.2 miles. I watched this year's marathon on line (in fact, I happily skipped my scheduled 3-5 mile run to watch) and watching the elite runners pound out mile after mile at their insanely fast pace was beyond impressive. I was bummed that the coverage ended so completely after the elites finished and the interviews were over. I would have loved to have seen footage of the runners who have careers outside of running. I totally understood why Marathon Monday is the best day in Boston.

I know the blogosphere is filled with many different Boston Marathoner's stories about this year's marathon. Kate's personal experience was really touching and heartfelt.  

A New Challenge

I am a Mother. I had 4 kids in 5 years. My body is not what it used to be. Now, I don't want to be the size I once was, even the weight. I want to embrace my Mommy body, I want to own it. I want to tone it up and be proud of who my kids have made me, who I am now because of motherhood.

Running was a HUGE obstacle for me to overcome. I am still shocked that I claim to be a runner and that my legs get jittery when its been a few days between runs.

BUT- now, I have a stress fracture. The last two months my runs have been few and far between. Someday soon (shouldn't it have been here by now?) the cold snap will actually hit the midwest and running will definitely not be an option anymore as I don't own a treadmill and honestly, I have not the time or money for the gym.

Enter Stage Left: P90x.

Oh jeez. What have I gotten myself into? Am I REALLY going to do this? REALLY? I'm officialy insane.

My friend Inna invited me to join her on this 90 day voyage. She did it 2 years ago and her results are truly remarkable. And, as I said, I'm not so much in it for the weight loss, but the idea of toning my stomach and getting stronger for the Spring when I can hopefully run again consistently is alluring. I have goals for the spring and summer race seasons and I feel this sort of crazy-intense strength training will help me not just reach those goals, but exceed them.

BUT- 90 days. 6 days a week. I'm certifiable.

So, my hope is to post here each Monday on my progress. Did I actually do all 6 workouts? Can I really finish what I've started? Running has shown me that I have the strength inside to go longer, further, harder... lessons I will try to remember as I'm gargling my heart after too many pushups.

And I start..... today! Yikes!

Thankful for the litte things

I have so very much to be thankful for, really the list is endless, but in the chaos of everyday life the things tend to get over looked. It is sad because the things that I lose sight of are things that would seriously be a great loss to me. This time of year is a great time to slow down and think of how very fortunate I am.

I am tremendously blessed to have a healthy family. I have two healthy and happy little girls. My hubby is in good health and will hopefully stay as healthy as he can too! Our extended family is also doing very well this year and that is truly something to be thankful for this year.

I feel so thankful to have such a supportive family. My hubby not only helps drag the girls to runs/races for me, but he tells me he is proud of me! My sisters have watched my girls so that I/we can run and my family even reads the posts I write. :) Really, I couldn't ask for more!

I am incredibly thankful for a school/teachers that let me be as involved as I wish in my daughters' education. They are at school for so many hours and when I think of it over the course of a school year I feel so sad that I miss so much. Being able to go in, even just weekly, and interact in their school setting makes me feel so much better about their schooling.

I am thankful for my Sole Sisters! They are a great group of women who not only support each other as blood sisters would but they also are always eager to help the community as a whole. It is such a blessing to have these women who started out as my mommy friends become more than just friends. Thank you, Sole Sisters! :)

Pumpkin Run

As I have transformed into a runner and "running advocate", what has become exciting for me, is watching my children become excited about running and fitness! They want to run with me and are super stoked when I sign them up for races just for them! One mile seems so huge to them, an enormous goal and challenge to overcome and I am totally inspired by their will and determination to cross the finish line.

My second son asked that I run with him this past weekend for our town's annual Pumpkin Run and what he said to me at the starting line melted me. He looked at me with sweet eyes, grabbed my hand tightly and said "Mom, I"m a little scared, but I"m going to run anyways." Ah, bless you, my child.

My oldest ran his little heart out, but he also stopped when a classmate of his became tired and needed  to walked. He walked with her and even encouraged her across the finish line. My second son ran 3/4 of a mile gripping my hand with all of his might. When his sister spotted us, she dashed under the course flags to join us. I let go and told him to run on his own and that kid sprinted the last 1/4 mile while I jogged/ran with my oldest daughter who was so proud!

It was a fantastic run and such a fun experience for all of us! I'm so proud of them! I made my boys pumpkin medals when we got home and they wore them proudly the rest of the day!

First Graders

K anticipates the starting gun

Crossing the finish line

E and I take off

Moments before little sister runs to us

Look at that form!

Running with H

We did it!

Medals for the finishers

Weary

Most Moms I know are tired. Their plates are full with jobs, chores, children, meals to make, floors to clean (again), nursing babies, shopping, car pooling... The list is literally endless. We are, by the true definition of the word, weary.

Weary: 1. Physically or Mentally exhausted by hard work, exertion, Strain, etc.; fatigued, tired 2. Impatient or dissatisfied with something

As Moms, we are pulled in zillions of directions, often physically AND mentally exhausted and, in the moment, can be dissatisfied by the state of our minds, bodies, houses, children's attitudes... WEARY.

Lately, I have been weary, too. I haven't wanted to even put a clean shirt on, let alone lace up my sneaks and pound the pavement- where would the energy even come from?

I love the verse from Isaiah: run and not grow weary, walk and not faint

It is often my mantra as I'm out on the road forcing myself forward. I thought of these words the other day as I debated whether actually doing my long run for the week. It would be my longest run to date, beating my previous long run record by 1.5 miles. I was too tired. I had a headache. My period had just started. I was feeling a bit more than weary, I was on a hormonal crash course.

But, just as the Bible promises we are renewed in Jesus, I grabbed my mp3 player, blasted some awesome tunes and found that as I ran, I too was renewed. I had a goal, I had something to accomplish and it was only for me- no one else in the entire world was facing that exact route, that exact mileage as I was. I ran, and I was not weary... in fact, I even walked some, and I did not faint. 

I'm still tired today, and I'll likely start making some excuses here soon to try and avoid my tempo run this evening, but I know once I get out there, even if the time is brief, that run is mine. It belongs to me. My muscles may get sore, my lungs may burn, but my heart will not be weary, because I made the time to run, just for me. 

Another Fuel Up With Color Story

This past Saturday, I also participated in the Fuel Up With Color kids 1 mile fun run with my little boy. Ever since I started this journey back into running in April 2012, and especially since my first race in June, he has wanted to "race with mommy." So on September 8th, he finally got his chance! I didn't know what to expect from him, but I was determined not to carry him at all. We walk around the neighborhood quite a bit, so I knew he could handle that much at least. Well, he surprised me! We ran the whole first quarter mile up to the first physical challenge station (weaving through cones)! After that, we walked and ran the next half mile and decided that we would run the whole way left when he could see the finish line. He saw it before I did, and he took off! We ran through the final station (sprayed with water guns!), past Grandma R, Grandpa A, and Daddy, and zoomed past the finish line to hug Grandma D and little sister! He loved it!

After the race, we asked him what his favorite parts were, and he said the water guns and beating me! We finished with a 15:30 pace and enjoyed our post-race snacks. It was a perfect first race for my son's foray into, I hope, a lifetime of physical fitness.