The Good... The Bad... and The In Between...

The Good:

It's been a while since we've last spoken (I'm happy to report that my K's are alive and well and still at each others throats... Happy Summer).  While not much has changed on the home front, my running has continued to stay pretty steady.  Usually during the summer months I tend to slack in my fitness regiment.  Husband works 3rd shift during these months so it's hard to find time when he's not sleeping and I'm not working so that I can leave the K's and head out for Mommy Run Time.  Thankfully we've got a system that seems to be working and I'm able to get out the door each morning for a 3 mile run before having to get ready for work. 

I don't know about the rest of you but, for me, the best time to get my workout/run/endorphin fix is in the morning.  I know that if I wait until I get home from work or until later in the evening I end up skipping it.  I'm too tired... it's too hot outside... I just *stomp, stomp* don't wanna. Which brings us to...

The Bad:

The other day Husband was off so I skipped running in the morning opting to do my run when I got off work.  He had taken the K's to a local state park to fish and hike and do all that other father/child stuff that good daddy's like Husband do.  That left me the evening to get out for my run.  It was awful.  It was one of those runs where I felt as if each one of my feet weighed 100 pounds, my shins were killing me, and it was hotter than, well you know.  I hate runs like those.  When you're hating every minute... every step... every drop of sweat.  Runs when you just want to quit.  So for the past few days I've opted for the gym and the elliptical.  Which brings us to...

The In Between:

As I mentioned my shins have been hurting during my runs lately, and for me I know this means only one thing...  Momma needs a new pair of shoes!

Every runner has their shoe.  They will always get the same brand and same style. Sometimes the makers of shoes will make the same style in different colors.  My shoe is the Saucony Omni 9.  I love these shoes... I know what size I need to fit me just right and can order them online.  The only thing I dislike about these shoes is that the only color choice was blue or green.  Don't get me wrong, I like blue but I have a few other pairs of Saucony's that are blue.  I wanted something different... so when my shins started hurting I started hunting for shoes.  That's when I came across this...

My shoe in Pink.  I love pink... I'm really not all that girly... but I love pink.  For now I'm working on convincing Husband that I truly do need new shoes so that my shins stop hurting and I can get off the elliptical and back on the pavement.  Ladies... you know my dilemma here... it's a matter of need not want.  Do ya feel me?

Inspiring Thoughts from my Favorite Blonde...

Not this one...



This one...

That's right... a quote from Miss Elle Woods herself.  It goes something like this...

"Exercise gives you endorphins. 

Endorphins make you happy.

Happy people don't shoot their husbands.

They just don't."

Or their kids for that matter.  So, tonight as Lady 'K' and Little 'K' were at each other's throats I thought of this quote.  And thinking I needed an extra large dose of endorphins I did what any good mother would do in a situation like this *the situation being keeping my children alive and me out of a lifetime in the slammer* I put them in front of the tv and told them I needed a mile...  Just a mile. 

One time around our neighborhood. 

One mile without Lady 'K' yelling, "GET YOUR OWN POPCORN."  and Little 'K' yelling back, "I DON'T HAVE TO."  And then both of them yelling, "MOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM."

One mile of quiet... just the sound of my feet hitting the pavement.

So, standing in front of my two K's I made sure they understood that if they even so much as moved from the spot I set them in while I was taking my mile that things would not be good.

And off I went...

It was a quick mile because I didn't know how long the K's would last without waking up their sleeping father *Note: he sleeps during this time because he works 3rd shift* to let him know that Mommy took off and might never come back.  Although that thought crossed my mind I knew I needed to hurry home.

Thankfully, I came home feeling a whole lot better and my K's were actually laughing together as if they really loved each other.  Maybe I passed some of those endorphins on to them... or maybe they thought mom finally lost her marbles and were making fun of me.  Whatever the case... they're happy... I'm happy... and tomorrow Daddy is off work so Mommy can get a nice long run in. 

Ah... there... don't you feel better now?  I know I do.

A 10 Year Old's Resolution.

My Little Lady 'K' is the only 10 year old I know that set New Year's resolutions for herself.  Most adults don't set them, and if they do they don't end up keeping them.  I'm guilty of that and I'm pretty sure you are too.  This year one of her resolutions was to run a 5K.  I was really surprised when she came home that cold day back in December and told me.  When I asked her why she wanted to do a 5K she said, "I want to be a runner like you, Mom."  Blinking back tears I told her we would make her resolution happen.

Back in March we got a flyer home from her school about the Girls On The Run program that they were going to form a team for.  In short, it's a program that teaches girls about living a healthy lifestyle and also trains them to run a 5K.  There was an opening for 15 girls so we needed to act fast.  I filled out the paper work and told her to turn it in A.S.A.P.  A week later she got her letter of acceptance (well it was just a note that said she was one of the 15) and in April she started her training.

I was so excited to learn that for the actual race the girls would need running buddy's.  Someone who could make sure the girl didn't get lost or didn't finish.  Someone who would encourage them and help them cross the finish line.  When she came home and asked me to be her buddy I, again, blinked back tears and said, "Of course."

Me and Lady 'K' before the race.

Here we are at the beginning of the race.

Here's Lady 'K' with her finish medal.

She ran a good race... finishing in 43:26.  At the end she cried tears of joy and I let a few slip also. I'm so proud of her and can't wait to run many more races with my little running buddy.

How I steped out of my Comfort Zone...

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone."

-Neale Donald Walsch-

Too many times in life we say, "I can't"  or "I won't," simply because we are too afraid to step out of  that soft little bubble we live inside of.  If we do happen to step out of it things get hard... unfamiliar... uncomfortable!

The same goes with running.  Three years ago, with the help of a friend, I stepped out of my comfort zone and onto the pavement!  She had picked up running after the birth of her second child and had been pushing me to try it as well.   "Hi, Friend.  Would you like to go on a run with me today?"  She would say.  "Oh, no thank you, Friend!  You see, I'm just not a runner!"  Would be my response, and would then watch her run off into the sunset... ok maybe that's not exactly how it went, but you get the drift! 

While she was pregnant with her third child we would go for walks together.  Nice, easy, comfortable walks!  After a while she would say to me, "Hey, do you want to run to the corner?"  I would, in my mind, judge the distance to the corner, look at her with her little basketball tummy pushing her older two kids in the double jogger stroller, and think, "I guess she won't be running that fast."  "Sure,"  I said.  And that was it... That was how I started running!

I think most people who say they aren't runners, like I used to, say it because they've never tried it!  I mean really tried it.  Sure they might have gone out and tried to run, but then they got uncomfortable, started breathing hard, their legs started to hurt, got a cramp in their side, and quit!  "That's it, my body just wasn't made for running," is what I picture them saying!

The word 'RUNNER' alone is intimidating!  I used to picture tall skinny Kenyans who could run faster than I could drive my car.  I am in no way a fast runner!  I like to think of myself more as a jogger.  I like to go out for jogs... some days it feels like I'm trotting... But the fact of the matter is that I'm out there! 

So, my challenge to you, my faithful reader, (if there is anyone out there actually reading this) is to step out of your comfort zone!  Give running (or jogging or trotting) a try!  Start by going for a walk and pick a point to start running and another point to end running.  After a while add a little distance between your starting point and stopping point.  Then just run!  You'll have good days and bad days.  Days when you feel as if you could run forever, and days when you feel like you are literally going to die... but whatever you do... DON'T GIVE UP!

Happy Running!