Three Years

Today is my son's third birthday. Three years ago today, I was meeting sweet Noah for the first time! Time has flown by and it is hard to believe that I have been a Mom for three years now. It has also hard to believe that I have been a runner for three years now.

Running was always something that I played around with. In high school I joined, and then promptly quit, the track team two years in a row. Hill repeats? Running three miles at a time?! I though those coaches were sadistic. Then in college I tried to go out for our school's crew team but what I didn't realize was that a large part of their workouts involved running. (I know, I know, I guess I thought that rowing didn't count as a cardio because you were sitting down. I didn't say I was smart...). Anyway, I quickly realized that I wasn't going to join after all because of all the running. After I got married I went through little fits where I was convinced that I needed to drop a few pounds so I would tag along with my husband on a "run". Translation: I would run maybe a 1/4 mile before stopping, out of breathe, hands on my knees, and declare how much I hated running. And then...I had Noah.

Thirty hours of labor, close to 2 and 1/2 hours of pushing and you realize what pain really is. What exhaustion means and what it feels like to be utterly spent after something. The thing is though, I also realized that my body was capable of much more than I ever gave it credit for. I could persevere and be strong through pain and that was a revelation. So, when it came time to lose my baby weight and get into shape, and I picked running, it just didn't seem as awful this time. Sure it was hard, and it has taken a long time for me to even try leaving the comfort zone of ten minute miles, but it is something I can do. Even enjoy doing.

I love Noah for so many reasons. He is an amazing little guy - smart, funny, curious, slightly cocky (like his Daddy) but able to back it up! He is compassionate and caring and I just know he is going to keep wowing me with who he is as he grows up. I am so grateful to have him. And, I will always have him to thank for my running. He is the one who showed me I could do it. He gave running to me on his birth day three years ago.....boy, I better do a good job with his presents today. I owe him!

Really Boring Running Log

It has been raining for a hundred days. Okay, maybe not, but that is what it feels like. Really just since the middle of last week. Although, I am happy to report that the rain did nothing to detour my running last week. I hit my goal of 15 miles for last week and also managed to fit in some core work and push ups. This is what my week looked like:

Monday: 5 miles easy; 10 minute pace. Up early!

Tuesday: 3 miles; 1/2 mile warm up, 2 miles at 8:45, 1/2 mile cool down. Did this at the gym on the treadmill right before picking Noah up from school.

Wednesday: off

Thursday: 30 minutes of upper body strength and core work, 2 miles easy

Friday: off - my sister was in town so we were a little busy, hence a few off days this week.

Saturday: 5 easy miles - first half miserably hot, second half in the pouring rain (which felt awesome at that point!)

Sunday: off - Noah's 3rd birthday party!

I am happy that despite a busy week and lots of rain I managed to hit my goal of 15 miles. This week I hope to add on a few more miles and include another day of strength training.

Early Morning Running

Yesterday was mother's day and my plan had been to go for a run. Of course I slept in instead and enjoyed a pancake breakfast in bed, prepared by Wes, and a homemade card made by Noah. I justified it by telling myself that I would go that afternoon. Well, around five o'clock when it was still pouring down rain I was thinking, Oops.

So my mileage for last week totaled...drum roll please...8 miles.

When I realized this, oh my word was I in a funk! After several hours of self loathing and deciding that I had most decidedly lost all fitness because of my crummy 8 miles I decided that I needed a plan. I started thinking about how Wes had been in a bit of a running funk, but for the past month or so had managed to hit around 20ish miles a week. He did this of course, by waking up early and running before the worries of the day got in the way. And better yet before the temperatures hit 85 degrees. With a sigh I realized that it was time. Time to become (gulp) a morning runner. Morning running has never been my thing and up until now I have avoided it like the plague. But with my three year old and the ever increasing summer temperatures there is just no getting around having to embrace it.

So this morning my alarm went off at 6:00 and I made myself get out of the bed. I didn't really have to be out the door until 6:30 but I had taken a gamble and allowed enough time for a bowl of cereal, cup of coffee, and some quiet time with a book. If I was going to drag myself out of the bed I needed some sort of buffer between the comfort of my pillow and the pounding of the asphalt.

Long story short, it worked. I enjoyed my thirty minutes of "waking up" time, made it out the door at 6:30 and got in 5 miles with enough time to visit with Wes before he left for work. And I felt good. Energized and ready to start my day. I am very reluctant to admit it, but I am thinking that all those morning runners may have been on to something. Waking up early should definitely help me break double digits this week!