... When No One Else is Watching

Mommy Did What!?!?!?!?!?!

   

Yes... I finished my 5k. And I finished it in under an hour. Actually, I finished it in virtually the same amount of time it took me to finish my first 5k. 39:03. Not too horrendous I guess, but I was hoping to do better. I've been really working hard on my treadmill but I have to say it is much different for me once I get out on the road. Due to the fact that I was having trouble with my gear (read: I wore too many layers) and repeatedly dropped my MP3 player (I'm clumsy, I should have used my arm holder) I'm not too disappointed. I keep reminding myself that I just had a baby three months ago and I'm not a natural runner so I will definitely take 39:03.

Now I'm on to training for the half-marathon and I'm excited about it. My friend Brenna, whom I'm training with, said on the drive home from the 5k, "I don't know about you but 13.1 miles is seeming like an awfully long run!" And I couldn't have said it better myself. Like I've said, I'm not a natural runner, I could always pass the fitness tests in high school and run my laps during softball practices but it was never something I was terribly fond of. Now, I'm learning to enjoy running... thirteen years later. More than anything it is a time for me to be alone with my thoughts and do something good for myself and not be making a thousand and one decisions a mother needs to make in a day. It's my break from the world and I enjoy it more than I ever thought I would. It also gives me a goal to accomplish and I seem to do well if I have something to look forward to. I can't wait to say I ran a half-marathon... I know that seems odd since most people would love to say they ran a full marathon, but I'm okay with the half... at least for now.

I need more time!

I'm running a 5k on Thanksgiving Day morning and I'm a bit scared. I know I can mentally challenge my way through it but wow! Where has this month went? It feels like yesterday that I told myself I had a good month to really get ready for it and now it's only three days away! I guess I better make the two training sessions I have left before Thursday completely worth it. Thank goodness I have Dancing with the Stars to power me through my workout session tonight. Nothing is better for me while running than a good distraction! Tomorrow I am going to load a play list on my MP3 player... I'm thinking only disco and pop will get me through on Thanksgiving morning. No ballads for me!

What will I be thankful for on Thursday? Hmmmm.... getting through the 5k without it taking me an hour to finish.

Duuuuude!

This past weekend we - okay 'we' is pushing it... Rob painted the guest room which we are turning into Avery's new bedroom. I'll post pictures in about a month once we've purchased all the new furniture and re-decorated it for our high maintenance toddler. Ever since we've invited ridiculously potent fumes into our house our dog, Laila, is in love with the bedroom. If I get up in the middle of the night I find her sleeping in the middle of the room. I shoo her out to a more pleasant smelling area only to find her in the morning right back in the bedroom. What's up? Can she just not resist how amazing paint fumes smell? Does she enjoy getting stoned? Who knows... maybe Avery has been getting up in the middle of the night (she's a sleep walker) and doing this.

 

Don't put it past her... she's a bit bossy!

Life at it's Best

A look through my living room at the end of the day.

Play Doh. Toy shopping cart with baby doll and fake groceries. Play-mat for Hadleigh on the floor. Lots and lots of books scattered about. Baby swing in the corner. Assorted toys that Avery has drug out of her room. A sleeping labrador retreiver. Pottery Barn magazines with photo layouts torn out. Rachel Ray magazines with recipes torn out. Runner's World magazines. Something's Gotta Give playing on the DVD player. Candle burning on the end table. Boots on the floor by one of the chairs. One tired mommy and wife lying on the couch... who loves her life.

Can I get a Whoot Whoot?!

It ain't a fluke y'all! I ran 3.1 miles tonight; the equivalent of a 5k. I'm thrilled and more than anything, I'm realizing that it is more mental for me than physical. Now... I don't know if 13.1 miles (half marathon) will be all mental. No, that is going to take a hell of a lot of long workouts, but I think I'm getting there.

Pluggin' Right Along

On Thursday of last week I was thrilled because I was actually able to run a mile without stopping. I know that seems really lame since I was able to run five miles without stopping at this time last year, but when I got pregnant and became insanely sick, I had no ability to exercise. I would say I had no desire to workout but that wasn't the case... the desire was there, my body was the problem, it literally had no ability to exert the kind of energy running takes.

Once I gave birth to Hadleigh I was determined to get back to running as soon as possible so that I could start training for the half-marathon in April. I didn't get going nearly as quickly as I wanted to. Finally, two weeks ago, I decided I really needed to get serious about running because I have been telling everyone I am going to be running a 5k on Thanksgiving morning. Figuring I don't want to embarrass myself on the 27th of this month and more importantly, wanting to eat anything I want without feeling guilty, I have committed myself to not only running but also eating better. My actions are being rewarded with a small decline on the scale and much more endurance while running... because tonight, not only did I run a mile without stopping... I ran three!!! Whoop Whoop!!! I'm back!

And here is who I think about while running, because more than anything, I want to be the best example I can be for them.

 

Worth the Wait

Yeah, I completely dropped the ball on posting Halloween pictures. Better late than never, right? And believe me it's really late... I've been up watching election results. By the way... YAY!!!!!!

This was the first year Avery really did the major halloween trick or treating. I was pretty sure she would understand the whole thing but I still hesitated on taking her out. Why? Because she LOVES greeting the kids at the door and handing out the candy, it's so cute that she has more fun giving away candy rather than receiving it. BUT, Rob and I did our duty as parents and took the girl trick or treating, leaving my mom and sister at our house to deal with the droves of children that knock on our door every year. Here is our halloween in pictures.

This year Avery wanted to be her hero: Minnie Mouse - and so she was.

 

Her sister was supposed to be a peppermint but mommy was lazy and didn't get her costume done in time. She was MAD!

 

But don't worry, Avery soothed her and told her it would all be okay.

 

Avery soon tired of dealing with her baby sister and wanted her obligatory picture with the pumpkins... or as Avery calls them, pun-kins.

 

Once we tore Avery away from her punkins, mommy wanted her obligatory picture with her family... and the wish was granted.

 

But all this picture taking isn't what Halloween is all about... it's about the candy! And we were on our way to beg for some from the neighbors. We have no shame.

 

We finally returned once mommy decided her daughter had received enough sugar to alter her behavior for a good solid week. And once the candy had been inspected and deemed clear of any melamine inclusive candy it was time to dig in!

 

This is how Hadleigh felt about not being able to partake in the goodie fest.

 

Daddy is always happy to have some fun at his daughter's expense!

 

And so it went for Halloween 2008. Bring on Thanksgiving!

Our Privilege, Our Duty

If there is one thing you do today:

V O T E