Finding ways....

...to get it done may take an extreme amount of determination and a little creativity from time to time.


So, let me set the stage for you - husband is out of town for a couple weeks, which means I've got the kids, work, activities, and running to sort through, schedule and get done with only one set of hands.  No problem.


During the week, much of that is easily accomplished because the kids are in school/daycare.  Come the weekend, however, scheduling the running workouts can be a little more challenging. 


Usually, for me, weekends alone with the kids means getting in my miles on the treadmill in the garage.  I loathe long runs on the treadmill, so I thought I'd be clever and do 5 miles on the treadmill yesterday and 5 miles on the treadmill today instead of all at once.


That plan flew out the window pretty quickly yesterday evening when I went into the garage to get started, only to find out something was wrong with the electrical outlets, so my treadmill had no power.  Triple grrrr.


On to plan B.  Luckily, the base has a nice, rubber-surface track around the pretty turf football field.  And next to that track, even more luckily, is the super-duper playground.  On the down side, though, there is only one thing I hate more than doing a long run on the treadmill - doing a long run on the track.  So I had to cut my miles back today to 5 miles (though the kids wouldn't have allowed any more than that at any rate because they tire quickly on the big playground).


Off to the playground we go. 

Now, as some of you other mama runners know, kids can be very needy at the playground, which ultimately makes track miles next to the playground look more like an interval workout.  Run two laps, push the kids on the swings, run three laps, figure out why one is crying, run three laps, help one reach the monkey bars...you get the idea.

So many times today it would have been easy to just throw in the towel, because, well it was just easier to not do the run than to balance the run and the kids.  Well screw that.  Nothing in life worth having is easy, so this buttercup sucked it up and made it work.

And then, when you least expect it, your kids are standing in front of you on the track right before your last lap, ready to run it with you.  And all you can do is smile and be happy you found the way to make it happen, because the kids are watching and learn more from you pushing through than quitting.

What creative ways do you use to get your workout in when life happens?

Here's to looking forward to the return of my husband next weekend, though I love having my kids to myself sometimes, to share in helping me find ways to keep getting it done.  Happy trails!!!

2017 miles to date: 534.07 miles

Observations:  Two more weekends of kickball, and then I can devote my muscles to running.  The constant change back and forth has caused my training to suffer a bit, since they aren't like sports, but kickball has been a fun extra activity this spring.

BONUS - what exactly does 5 miles on the track, with a couple of trips to the playground throughout, look like?  Here you go!

 

Dedicated and determined...

Milestones are important.  They demonstrate forward progress.  They are an acknowledgement of achievement.  They validate and reassure.  Passing by the 500 mile mark (and 600 miles before this weekend is up) evinces my dedication and determination to be a better runner.

I may not be the definition of a dedicated and determined runner.  Sometimes I pass up a run to take the diva and baby K to the playground.  Sometimes a workout session gets sidelined because the office calls.  Sometimes the weather app on my phone tells me it's just too hot outside and I'd rather read a book. 

But here's why I believe I'm the picture of a dedicated and determined runner.  I love running and, no matter what, I always come back to my running shoes.  It's as simple as that. 

That love of running sends me back out in my running shoes time and time again.  The thrill of finishing a race strong...the knowledge that my body and mind work together seamlessly...the setting of and hitting goals...the joy of excitement when my daughter asks how my run went. 

Tying on those running shoes and taking that first step out the door day after day, in cold weather and hot weather (it was near 100 degrees yesterday when I ran), through sickness and during stressful days - that is dedication and determination.

So today, as I head out for yet another hot run, I'm digging deep to find that determination to keep going and relying on my dedication to my sport to push all the way through to the end of the run.  Happy trails!!!

2015 miles to date:  586.86  (I'm still in the hole against where I believe I should be for the year so far, but I'm closing that gap as my monthly mileage totals are back to pushing over 100)

Observations:  Right now I'm battling pain in my SI joint.  This flair up of the old injury happens a couple times a year.  It doesn't stop me from running.  Actually it pushes me out the door because running is one of the few activities that seems to ease the pain...seems contradictory.  It will pass.  It always does.  In the meantime, I'm feeling like I've finally hit my stride for the year and am on an upward trajectory toward hitting my goals.