Responsibilities (and other annoying things about life) that get in the way of running!

It has again been way too long since I’ve blogged!  Although I haven’t been at my best (darn numbness issues,) I do have a few race reviews to get up and lots of other running-related issues on my mind.  There have been SO MANY non-running occurrences in life lately that I haven’t had an abundance of time left over, so when I’ve had any time, I’ve tried to utilize it for actually running (instead of writing about it!)

In no particular order, here are my list of annoying (and often times very, very important) aspects of life that get in the way of running:

Me Looking Very Annoyed 🙂

Happy New Year – Goals for 2015

Happy New Year (a few days early!)  I’m currently home ill, yuck, but I’ve decided to use the time to focus on my goals for 2015.  (2015?  How is that even possible?  I remember chanting ’01 as a child for the year I would graduate high school.  I still feel like it should be about 2001!)

Air Force Marathon 2014 – Recap – My First Marathon!

The 2014 Air Force Marathon took place on September 20, and I am just finally getting around to writing my recap of the race!  Life got incredibly busy for me right around it was time to taper for the marathon (so thankful I got through the majority of training without the craziness that has been my life since!)  The Air Force Marathon was my first ever marathon.  While it didn’t go exactly as I planned (what does?!), it was a wonderful first experience!

How to Keep Running When Life Gets Busy

I haven’t blogged in months.  Life has been very busy.  With graduate school and two jobs, in addition to the already hectic life of being a wife and mom of three very active, awesome kids, life has been non-stop since the end of summer!  While I haven’t kept up on my blog – something I’m planning to change – I HAVE managed to keep on running.  It hasn’t been easy, and sometimes I do NOT want to go run.  (Even though I love it and have never, ever regretted it.)

While I haven’t been blogging, I have ran my first marathon (woohoo!), set a personal best in a half-marathon (another woohoo!), and am in the process of training for my first 50k (currently a “what the heck am I thinking?!” but hopefully soon it’ll be another woohoo! 😉 )

How to keep running when life gets busy:

Keep Runnin’ Runnin’ and Runnin’ Runnin’

So, I’ve had that Black Eyes Peas song stuck in my head since my last run!  I’ve been catching myself singing it all day.  (It unfortunately didn’t harmonize very well with the song people were actually singing in church this morning.  Don’t worry, I only softly hummed.)

Marathon Training

I’m continuing to chug along with my training.  I had my second 20 miler last week.  It went really, really well.  I felt really strong.  On my fallback 16 miles this week?  (I mean 14 miles because I was DONE.)  Not so well.  I felt really good the following day for my recovery run though, so I’m just trying to go with the flow!  I have three more long runs before I get to taper.  (Yes, I said “get to” taper.  I never really taper for half marathons because it makes me antsy.  I am VERY MUCH looking forward to tapering for my marathon!)

Marathon Training Continues as Big Life Changes Creep Closer

A lot of changes in my personal life are on the horizon. All of my children will be in school within the next month, and I will be returning to school for my Master’s degree! Although I do have an awesome part-time job, I’ve considered myself a stay-at-home mom for the past 10 years. I am sad to be putting an end to this chapter of my life but very excited to enter a new phase.

I will be pursuing my M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in Autism. I find human behavior incredibly interesting (my undergrad is in psychology), and the broad range of symptoms and abilities associated with autism fascinating. My goal for the future is to positively affect the lives of children and young adults with autism by planning and providing quality, worthwhile behavior therapy.

So what does all this have to do with running? EVERYTHING! All the big life changes creeping closer have upped my stress level. Training for my upcoming marathon has been the perfect outlet! Running clears my mind, calms me down, and reminds me that regardless of where the finish line is, sometimes it’s best just to focus on the next step.

Marathon Training – Developing Mental Toughness

Marathon training is, overall, going very well. I’ve slowly been adjusting to running in the heat and humidity. I’m trying hard to follow the recommended pacing on my plan, which has been a big adjustment for me (I’m used to just running whatever speed I feel like!)

Yesterday, on the July 4th holiday, I had my first 20 mile run scheduled. (The plan I am following has three peak runs in it. I always do my long run on Friday; I enjoy having only a recovery run on Saturday morning and a rest day on Sunday! I like my weekends. 😉 )

How did my first 20 miler go? Well, it didn’t. I had a strong 18 miles and then my phone, with limited battery life remaining, stopped playing my Pandora workout station. I stopped. I honestly didn’t even consider finishing my last 2 miles without my music. I drove home, took a shower, and a nap. When I woke up about thirty minutes later, I was SO very annoyed with myself. I went back out and ran 3 miles to finish (did the extra mile for giving up earlier.)

Color Me Rad 2014 – My Experience

For the second year in a row, I participated in the Color Me Rad 5k.  Last year, my middle daughter and I ran the event.  (To read about our previous experience, go here.)  This year all three of my children joined me.  All of them were very excited to participate in the Color Me Rad and get color bombed!

As you can tell by our photo, I purchased a few items when I picked up my packet.  For the girls, I bought two “RAD” headbands, and for my son, a handkerchief / bandana.  I also bought knee socks for myself.  I paid $30 for all the items.  My packet included a shirt (a non-white one, not to be worn for the run) and sunglasses.  (I’m also wearing the Color Me Rad tutu that I had purchased the previous year – washed up just fine- and my son is wearing last year’s sunglasses.)  I LOVE dressing up for runs!

Summer is So Close (Ready or Not!)

Summer break is almost here.  I remember being so excited as a kid.  My children are SUPER ready for their days off from school.  As a parent, I have totally mixed feelings.  On one hand, I’ll be able to spend so much more quality time with my children.  On the other hand, re-read that last sentence.  (Seriously, I am very excited about spending more time with my kids.  School takes up SO much time.  I am not looking forward to their sibling fights.  Anyone have tips on putting a halt to the in-fighting??)

Why Don’t Cupcakes Count as Clean Eating?

I love to run.  Love it.  SO keeping a running schedule is not difficult.  Even when it’s hard, even when the weather is awful, even when it downright stinks – I still enjoy it.  Strength training and I don’t have the same love affair as running and I, but I still enjoy it.  I like getting stronger; I enjoy seeing new muscles.  Clean eating and I?  Well, we don’t really like each other.  In fact, at times, we downright hate each other.  I love food.  Even healthy food.  I just also really, really, really (etc.) enjoy food that isn’t good for me.