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Showing posts from December, 2011

Glad I Didn't Listen

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Today I have some glimpse in to what it feels like to be my 13 year old son and my 86 year old grandmother at the same time. I have been working up my mileage in hopes of running just a wee longer (Marathon?) next year and today I ran 10 miles.  Normally, if I'm not training for anything, I will do 5 or 6 on the weekends.  Those distances are longer than the weekday 3 and don't take much time. But, today, I ran for almost 2 hours. And my body feels it. I am hungry and tired like a teenager and I feel old and creaky like my grandmother might.  I know, from experience, that tomorrow will be slightly worse.  I will do some yoga and take some ibuprofen.  Then by the time I hit the pool on Monday, all will be forgiven. Today, for the first time, my mind tried to play tricks on me during my long run.  The last mile was hard, and my mind kept telling me that this wasn't worth it, that I was spending to much time away from my family, that I will never be able to run ove

Not Imagining Things

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It's funny. When you run or cycle, it's hard to tell - just by watching - who is a good athlete.  I mean, you can watch a fancily clad cyclist zoom by on an expensive bike and he could have just broke it all out of the package and taken it for a spin. Same goes for runners.  Even if you watch a person on the treadmill for an extended period of time, it's hard to say if they are a back of the packer or if they are going for a Boston qualifying time in the near future.  Runners come in all shapes and sizes, and a even two professional runners won't have the same form. Swimmers are totally different.  I don't know a whole lot about anything - but it I know even LESS about swimming.  It's a very technical sport.  The way an athlete grabs and pulls the water, moves his body, and works with the water is like watching a beautiful dance.  The same dance up and down the lane.  Its fluid, efficient, beautiful. I just started swimming in October of this year.  Ye

What I Learned Last Year

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Okay, not really.  No body really cares about my year...or not every little detail anyhow.  What really matters as we look back at the previous year are questions like: Did I learn anything?  Did what I went through matter at all.  Did I simply put in my time existing, or did my time on this planet matter? I didn't save the world or accomplish any amazing feats in 2011, but I did learn a few things. I learned that I don't want to be injured by running anymore.  Sure, having 1-2 "training halting" injuries each season is lots of fun, but I'm all done with that.  I decided to read some books (yes, I read "Born to Run") and do a little research in to the mechanics of running and the reasons for running injury.  What I found out was that human beings really were created for running, and we don't have to get hurt while doing it.  In May, I started the slow process of re-training my stride and working down from support shoes to minimal shoes and eve

Goals and Treats

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What is it about this time of year that makes me want to eat junk food?? HONESTLY. I'm still getting my workouts in - but just can't seem to stay away from the junk.  Oh well, trying to push more veggies to balance it out and STAYING OFF THE SCALE until January 1st. Nothing is a as good of a reason to over indulge than an extra pound or two on the stupid scale.  Not. Playing. That. Game. Moving right along...let's talk goals for 2012. This year, for the first time, my goals will have nothing to do with the pull of gravity on my body or the composition, thereof.  Here's the way I figure it: 2009 - lost 20 pounds 2010 - lost 20 pounds 2011 - lost 10 pounds 2012 - I'm due for 10 more, right? Keep sweating, keep working, keep NOT worrying.  I sometimes think that I am the world's slowest loser.  OH WELL.  I lose. I do have a couple of goals for the new year.  In 2011, I learned to swim and started cycling.  In 2012, I will be completing my fir

Pompeii

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Today at about 5pm, I was thinking about Pompeii.  Pompeii is an Italian city near Mt. Vesuvius that was extinguished in a few hours in August 79AD.  The volcano erupted and everyone was killed.  Food still on the table, work unfinished.  Pompeii and her sister city, Herculaneum are two of the most important archaeological discoveries ever.  After careful excavation, historians can determine exactly what life was like in the first century. I wondered what historians would think if they discovered our city under the same conditions.  What would they think that life was like in the 21st century by going through our home?  Do my surroundings reflect what I think is important?  Is it evident what I treasure? So, I decided to stop what I was doing and take pictures of some of the spaces in our home.  For better or worse - here's what would have been found in my home on this day in the 21st century. Our room - bed is made! Still hadn't put away nap mats and cribs from this af

My Worth

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In my Financial Peace University class tonight, I learned that I should have a life insurance policy. As a stay at home Mom with a little daycare gig on the side, I've never thought much about the financial impact of my demise.  My income is enough to buy groceries each week and maybe buy a tank of gasoline. Tonight, my economic contribution was valued at nearly $100,000.00.  While I don't quite believe that figure, I can now see the value of having my life insured.  If I go out for a run and get smacked by a vehicle, my husband is going to bear a tremendous burden.  The funeral arrangements notwithstanding, David would likely take some time off work to deal with a grieving family.  Simply addressing his loss of income from the event, itself, is a responsible choice. I don't like to think about such things - but FPU has been teaching me that I do need to face things.  I need to make out a will, in case Dave and I are BOTH on a run and get mowed down.  I need to go o