Vacation Is Almost Over

 We will be leaving soon but we've had a ball.  E has loved playing with his cousins.  He finally got use to the ocean enough to walk down to the edge and let the waves lap over his feet.  He'd giggle apprehensively.  It's so much fun to watch him learn.  We talked about shells and sand and everything in between.  So much fun! 

Today the entire family went down to the pier today.  It was a little brisk but still always a lot of fun.  Check us out!

We looked liked a stroller brigade walking down the street.  Don't mess with the "gang". 

 

E also seems to be having some issues with teeth.  He's been very clingy.  Seems that when all he wants is me, there's usually something wrong.  We might even run by urgent care tomorrow just to make sure it's nothing major.

Because of the clinging, I haven't been able to run as much as I'd like.  Sometimes you just have to choose family.  I know that so I'm trying not to beat myself up over it too much.  It sucks but not as much as watching E suffer.  

We wanted to give you a little glimpse of the great weather we're having here so E and recorded a couple small vlogs.  Hope you enjoy!

Day 1 on the Beach

I look forward to this week every year.  It's the one time of year where I get to just relax.  I don't worry about anything.  We're surrounded by family and we have NO set plans.  We just hang out.  Today the weather was gorgeous in the morning so we took the kids to the beach.  They loved it.  Then I got to run.  It rained but I loved it.  I can't tell you the last time I ran in the rain.  It was just the perfect mist.  I just felt so rejuvenated.  Wonderful.  Here's a few fun pics from the day.  Enjoy!

Getting ready to go outside!

The cousins playing in the sand

 I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!  I can take a good picture every now and then.

 This is fun.  Can you tell I took it?

 This is cousin Jack.  He's pretty much adorable!

Career or Home? What Would You Chose?

Over the past couple of weeks I've been grappling with a decision that I have to make and it's not an easy one.  Basically, I've been offered a different position in the company that provides a different type of challenge but is as important as the work I currently do from the companies perspective. 

New Role Positives:
1. More Day to Day Stability.  It's more in keeping with that "clock in/clock out" work model.  The group is more supportive of work/life balance.
2. The group, as a whole, is more supportive of each other.
3. Some gratification from being able to make a difference.
New Role Negatives:
1. The work itself can be thankless.  More often than not I'd be delivering an undesirable message.
2. Opportunity for advancement is not as good.

In my current role, I'm in a high profile role.  You've probably read about it in the newspaper.  It's that big.  It's constantly changing and because of that, requires constant contact.  Even on vacation next week, I've got 3 meetings scheduled that I can't miss. 

BUT, I'm playing with the "big boys".  I'm getting a good understanding of the company rather than just a segment of it. 

So the question in my mind becomes...is it career or family?  If you have been reading my blog, you know that I'm already taking on quite with this demanding job, graduate school, family, blogging/social networking and organizing a charity event for 1100 (Celebrate Fitness, check it out!!).  So the idea of adapting to a new role might be more than I can take.  Yes, my current role is crazy but it's a known entity.  The other isn't. 

If I'm looking to take the next step, I'm in the right place.  That means though that there will be sacrifices.

If I'm looking to be more of a homebody, than I chose the new role.  My fear though is that my personality wouldn't adjust well to the new role.  I always want more.  And that dissatisfaction at work would effect my home life.  See what I mean?  I'm torn.  I think, in my heart of hearts I know but it's not the easy answer, but it is consistent with my approach to my career now. 

I know this is very vague but I was hoping that writing it down would change my opinion but I'm starting to notice the calm come back and that's how I know I'm going in the right direction.

Ok.  Thanks for listening.  Any advice or tips?  I'm always looking for new perspectives. 

14 Months and Crazier Than Ever

E turned 14 months yesterday and he seems to be following the milestones pretty well.  He's started throwing tantrums which I'm choosing to avoid when possible.

Need an example?  I decided that E needed a new car seat.  So at 5:30 on a Sunday night the week before Christmas (yesterday), I decide that we are going to embark on a trip to the Toys'R'Us just up the street from our house.  (ROOKIE MOM MISTAKE #1).  I didn't realize that it would be crazier than the zoo on a summer day.  Nor did I realize that the people in that store were going to act like the animals at the zoo.  I should've turned around at the door. 

Then, I get a cart, the last one there.  You know the one, the one that has the bad wheel and is all rusted.  Yep, I put my child in that.  (ROOKIE MOM MISTAKE #2). 

Then we bob and weave our way to the VERY back of the store where the car seats are and then I realize I've made ROOKIE MOM MISTAKE #3.  Here's a hint, the car seat boxes are bigger than the cart, which is containing my crazy child and I told my husband he didn't need to go because "I can handle it"  Crap!!

So after some finagling, I get the box which I'm sure we could turn into a small condo for E when we get home in the cart and attempt to hold E, who is squirming and screaming to get down, and push this cart, which I can't see over due to the large box.

As we start back up the isle in the store, I realize I'm leaving a trail of casulaties behind me because this store crams the isles with every crap toy they want you to buy right into the isle.  As E is screaming, I decided to grab whatever stuffed thing I can reach and hand it to him in hopes that it will calm the toddler.  It does (Rookie Mom Mistake #4). 

Finally, we get to the checkout.  I'm sweating, E's not screaming, momentarily and I realize I have to get through the maze of checkout desks.  Seriously?!  Finally I spot an open lane, E and sprint over there, the lady scans the car seat so I don't have to take it out of the cart and I pull the toy out of E's hand (which I never had intentions of buying) and ask the lady to restock it.  (ROOKIE MOM MISTAKE #5).  I quickly became the mom of "that child" yesterday.  You know the one you use to judge under your breath because she couldn't control your child.  Yep.  That was me. 

I hand the lady a wad of money and head for the door.  The Second we get outside, E turns back into a normal kid.  I start to question what they are pumping into the air of that god foresaken place.  We get in the car, and head home.  I turn on some Christmas music and my little monster promptly starts to sing.  As we head home, I'm convinced that was an isolated incident and my child would never do that..  Yep, that's what I'm telling myself.  (Rooking Mistake #6). 

Oh well.  I didn't get one of those cute pictures of E sitting with a stuffed animal or anything because I'm an unorganized mom but I did get one of hiim opening gifts with his cousin and then the standard angelic sleeping picture.  Enjoy!

2012 Race Schedule Part 1: Scheduling How To's

You've waited with baited breath to see exactly what races are on my 2012 calendar.  The wait is over. 

Before I unveil though, I have to say, it was really time consuming to put this together.  Two years ago, when I did this, I flew right through.  I just jotted them down and started planning my training plan.  This year, with a family and school and already  known engagements, I had to reference and cross-reference every calendar I could find to see what Absolutely wouldn't fit.  I haven't showed this to S yet.  I figure he will want to know the training schedule as much as the race plan so that we can plan babysitting duties accordingly.  More to come on balancing the training plan. 

The way I plan for a race season starts by asking:

1. What known events do I have to work around?
• For me, this year, it's weekend classes, birthdays, weddings and other currently known events.
• Then I mark off all races that conflict.
2. Then, it's determining what my goals are going to be and aligning the races to those.
• For me, my goals are very simple...stay active.  Again, with school and homework and family, this year just participating will be enough to make me happy.  I set my goals optimistically first then I layer on some reality. 
3. After I've identified the races that align to my goals, I look at the things I just want to do.  usually for me it's the shorter races/events that are sprinkled in along the way. 
4. Then I prioritize.  Sometimes the races conflict with each other or lay out in such a way that makes you have to choose.  That's where the A,B and C come in.  A's are the ones I'll try my HARDEST to get to.  If I do nothing else, I hope to come back to you next year and report that I completed my A races.
5. I also look at the entry fees and note the races that have early registration discounts and put a reminder on my calendar to make a decision by then.
6. Once I've figured out what I want to do, I share with the support team (family and friends) and get their buy in.  With a child this is a CRITICAL step.  I can't take E with me swimming and biking so someone has to watch him.
7. Last but not least, plan to train.  Now that I know what I'm doing, it's time to lay out how I'm going to get there.  How much training and when.  I have a library of books at home I use to help me.  I've never hired a trainer (I'm too cheap).  I just lay it out and do everything possible to get there. 

All of this is laid out nice and neat in a spreadsheet (imagine that).  If you'd like to see the details, leave me a comment with your email and I'll pass it along.

Some of my favorite books and resources are:
Triathlete's Training Bible, by Joe Fiel
Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide: Advice, Plans, and Programs for Half and Full Marathons, By Hal Higdon

I also follow a lot of other athletes and coaches through the Blogiverse and twitter.  They also have great tips and tricks.

Ok, that's it.  What do you think?  What's your plan look like? What are your favorite resources?

Wordless Wednesday: Santa Round 2

Last year, E was pretty young so sitting on Santa's lap was a non event in his little life.

This year was a little different story.

Poor kid!

 

linking up to A Good Life Blog

A Run in with an Awakening

I've been trying to blog about something that happened to me at the gym for almost a week and am finally able to sit down and write it. I had gone to the gym to get a quick run in and while I was on the treadmill, I looked over and saw a girl crying on the bike. I'm not one to get into other people's business at the gym but something about her compelled me. I decided to jump off the treadmill to make sure she was ok. I had no idea what I was about to get.

Turns out, she is anorexic and struggling to stay strong that day. She was fighting the overwhelming urge to go step on the scale for fear the meals she ate that day had been too much. (um...I was expecting to hear about a soar knee,not this) I was blown away and speechless. Then I remembered having run into her a few moths back when the hydrostatic weighing van had come to the gym. She was ahead of me and had asked the lady running it not to tell her the weight, instead just wanted to be told if she was in a "healthy" weight range.  She was but had slipped off the bandwagon some. 

When I ran into her again at the gym last week I did the only thing I knew to do, I tried to offer her my support and commended her on her inner strength and the drive to fight it. So from now on, anytime I see her (I still don't know her name),I plan to provide whatever motivation I can.

I left the gym that day realizing that above all else, you HAVE to love yourself. You're not so bad after all.  Sounds easy enough but for some of us, it's easier said than done. We have those days when we're just not feeling it but I challenge you to put it in perspective. Don't be so hard on yourself. I think you can only improve when you accept where you are.  I'm going to learn how to better support someone with this sort of issue so I'm better prepared.

Day In The Life of a Crazy Busy Running Mom

I've been asked a couple times to share my "typical" day.  I don't know if there is anything "typical" about it but here it is for your enjoyment. 


6:13 - Alarm goes off. I set it at this time because I know I can hit snooze at least once and still manage to get out the door in a reasonable time. Usually by 6:30 or so I'm up and getting ready for work (on a good day, E will still be sleeping up till the time we have to leave.)

Not pretty but this is my reality. :)






7:30 - Hopefully by 7:30, I've packed the car, gotten E up and ready, made myself look presentable, let the dog out and packed my breakfast, which you'll see in just a minute.

I drop E off at the babysitter and head to work. 

 On my way, I enjoy my breakfast.  And yes, that is a Diet Dr. Pepper and a Planters Nut-trition energy bar.  I'm obsessed with them.  Then I finish it all off with a nice piece of gum.  What a wholesome breakfast but It does the trick.









Today is a particularly crazy day at work, we have an all day meeting.  Started at 8:00 A.M. and finished around 3:00.  Oh did I mention I'm coordinating and facilitating this meeting of 30+ people?  Oh yeah, makes for a very exhausting day.  But when 5:00 hits, I'm out the door.  Usually getting home around 5:45 or so. 

S usually pics E up and so that when I get home I'm greeted by the biggest smile ever.  Then we all change and head to the gym.

Usually we're at the gym by about 6:30 or so, stay for about an hour and head home.  Today I get to do some speed intervals on the treadmill, and weights.  There is NO slacking at the gym.  My theory is that if I'm going to be away for E any more time in the day it better be worth it otherwise, I head home.  That's it.

Once we get home, I usually start on dinner right away and S and E bond.  Now normally there is more activity going on but E's teething (molars) so he's in a very cuddly mood so this is was the peaceful scene while I cooked. 

On the menu tonight...Sloppy Joe, Organic fries, and Steamed broccoli.  I know, we're real sophisticated eaters.  Usually it's about speed, and what can I get made quickly.  We're usually eating by 8:30, tonight it's 8 so E can squeeze in his bath before 8:30 bed time.

Bath time is so much fun.  Usually he plays for about 10 minutes or so then gets cold and wants out.

Then we start the routine..Vitamins, brushing our teeth, reading a book, saying our prayers and rocking while drinking a little milk.  After he's had enough, I usually get to cuddle with him for a while.  Now, I know I should probably put him down right away but after working for 8 hours, and then the gym, this is the most time I get to spend with him so guess what..we cuddle and I LOVE IT.  So what!


Once I've gotten adequate cuddle time in, I lay him down, take a deep breath, thank God for what I have and move on to the next item on my list...shower and studying

 

I think most of you know but I've gone back to school to get my MBA. Why? I'm not exactly sure but I am and all in all, I like it but I do have to do some studying every night. Tonight it's Business Communications oddly enough. I have a big test on Friday that I have to be ready for. So I'll study for about another hour and a half then call it a night around 11:00 or so.




 
That's my day in a nut shell. It's not glamorous but it's honest. If I was being honest, what I'd tell you is that I wish I could get up and workout in the morning but I'm just not that person. Never have been never will be. I can't do it. What is your day like? Tell me I'm not the only crazy person out there.
Link up, let me know!!

Do You Remember Your First Time...

Running that is.  Get your minds out of the gutter.  I was thinking about this today on my drive home from my parents.  Now I'm not talking about the first time you ran laps around the gym in high school or college.  That doesn't count.  No, I'm talking about the first time you went for a "run".  The nerves, the anticipation and the feeling when you were actually going.  Do you remember?

I do.  I'll never forget it.  I was fresh out of college and trying to get over the burn out I was feeling after participating in sports my entire educational career.  I could barely must enough motivation to go to the gym and when I did go, I wasn't very productive.  I just felt like there was something missing.  I wish I could remember who recommended it but the idea of a "run" was brought up.  Up to this point, the longest run I'd ever done was the 1 mile time trial that I had to do each week to qualify to play ball each week.  It was essentially punishment so the thought of recreational running seemed comical but I decided it was worth a shot.

So with no preconceived notions about what I was about to do, I set out.  No music, no GPS, just me and the road.  I did a 5 minute walk warm up and then just went.  I started running and found myself loving the consistency of each step.  After about 10 minutes, I had found a groove and was loving it and I haven't stopped running since.

The reason I bring it up is that sometimes we get ourselves so involved in training for the next race, timing intervals or running hills, that we forget about the enjoyment that made us want to start in the first place.  Feeling like you need a little pick me up?  Take a trip down memory lane and remind yourself of your "first time"..