So far I have not managed to keep up with my training, not one week! It worries me because this is the least demanding part of the training schedule, so how am I going to keep up a couple months from now?
Adam had his vasectomy last Friday, which went fairly smoothly except for some minor complications this week. It was nice to have him home all weekend and have time to actually talk to each other. But it's been rough trying to take care of Brenden and manage the cooking and cleaning mostly on my own, plus try to make up lost time at work. It only got worse this week when Adam and Brenden came down with the stomch flu early Thursday morning. They were so miserable, and Adam and I missed even more time from work.
I have had to remind myself many times this week that I can only do what I can do. As much as I wish I had time to rake leaves, air up my tires, and get in a good run, it was impossible this week. I seriously had zero opportunities to accomplish these things. Which is part of what convinced me that I am not meant to have another child. Some people shrug off the limitations of being a parent, but it drives me insane sometimes when I find myself stuck in a grind of responsibilities. It's the downside of waiting a while to start a family - it's hard to give up that freedom after you spend a few years developing your interests. I remember the first time I realized how grueling parenthood was going to be - I was lying in bed with Brenden in his bassinet next to me, and I heard the bus I used to take to work go by outside our house. I was insanely jealous of my ex-fellow bus riders. I knew those jerks were headed downtown to their Starbucks coffee and their solo bathroom breaks, and I was going to spend my day exhausted, with every minute dictated by an infant.
Not that it wasn't well worth it. Brenden is the most funny, intelligent, and thoughtful little boy. This morning I put his coat and gloves on, and because I was in a hurry I just threw on a sweater as we ran out the door. Brenden looked at my hands and said, "Mommy glubs?" So sweet.
Now that I have vented some frustration over this week, I can look forward to next week in hopes that I get in a little more running and maybe even a minute of R&R. I'm cautiously optimistic.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
All According to Plan...or maybe not
Last week was pretty hectic. I managed to keep my training schedule until Friday, when I came down with an infection in my thumb from a hangnail. It was really sore and swollen, and by Friday night I was starting to feel like I was getting the flu. I'm on antibiotics and it's already much better. It's wild to think that a couple hundred years ago I could be on my death bed right now.
Between that and throwing a baby shower on Saturday, one of my 30-minute runs was reduced to a measly 10 minutes. So even in this easy beginning stage, I couldn't stay on schedule. But I should probably learn to cope with that now.
Especially since Brenden had his first trip to the ER and xrays today. One of his teachers accidentally smashed his finger in a door at daycare, and it was red and swollen up twice the normal size. He had stopped crying by the time I got there, and other than telling me it hurt, he was a big tough guy. He seemed to enjoy our tour of the ER, where he got a new book, stickers, a "bracelet," and lots of attention from the nurses. Nothing makes the ladies swoon like a two-year-old with good manners.
My training schedule for this week, barring any more swollen fingers, is:
30-minute runs after work on Tuesday and Friday, plus another 30-minute run Sunday morning. Adam has actually had every other Sunday off lately, and I'm looking forward to some morning runs now and then.
Along with the curve balls in my training schedule, I'm having trouble finding the right running shoes. I went to a specialty running store a couple weeks ago and shelled out $130 for some well-cushioned shoes. That cushioning backfired and ended up cutting off the circulation to a couple of my toes. So I went back last week and exchanged them for a different pair, and I still don't think they're the ones. My feet slip forward in the shoes and I imagine after 13 miles my toenails might end up ripped off. My $20 Payless sneakers aren't looking too bad at this point.
Between that and throwing a baby shower on Saturday, one of my 30-minute runs was reduced to a measly 10 minutes. So even in this easy beginning stage, I couldn't stay on schedule. But I should probably learn to cope with that now.
Especially since Brenden had his first trip to the ER and xrays today. One of his teachers accidentally smashed his finger in a door at daycare, and it was red and swollen up twice the normal size. He had stopped crying by the time I got there, and other than telling me it hurt, he was a big tough guy. He seemed to enjoy our tour of the ER, where he got a new book, stickers, a "bracelet," and lots of attention from the nurses. Nothing makes the ladies swoon like a two-year-old with good manners.
My training schedule for this week, barring any more swollen fingers, is:
30-minute runs after work on Tuesday and Friday, plus another 30-minute run Sunday morning. Adam has actually had every other Sunday off lately, and I'm looking forward to some morning runs now and then.
Along with the curve balls in my training schedule, I'm having trouble finding the right running shoes. I went to a specialty running store a couple weeks ago and shelled out $130 for some well-cushioned shoes. That cushioning backfired and ended up cutting off the circulation to a couple of my toes. So I went back last week and exchanged them for a different pair, and I still don't think they're the ones. My feet slip forward in the shoes and I imagine after 13 miles my toenails might end up ripped off. My $20 Payless sneakers aren't looking too bad at this point.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
This is the easy part...
I just sat down and made up my training schedule for next week, and it was a little tight even considering that I'm only fitting in (3) 30 minute runs. 20 weeks from now I'm going to be cramming in 9-milers somehow... But one step at a time.
My snippets of free time are during lunch and after work. The upside of Adam's retail work schedule is that he goes in later, and thus Brenden doesn't go to daycare until 8:30 at the earliest. I go in at 7 and get off at 4, so I don't have to feel guilty after taking an hour to train or run errands before I pick Brenden up at 5.
Monday:
Lunch - Target shopping
After work - 30 minute run
Tuesday:
Lunch - Home with Adam
After work - 30 minute run
Wednesday:
Lunch - Consultation appt. w/Adam (we're meeting with a urologist about a vasectomy-more about that later)
After work - home with the guys right after work
Thursday:
Lunch - 30 minute walk
After work - grocery shopping
Friday:
Lunch - Free time
After work - 30 minute run
I'm looking forward to getting more fit during my training, but I also hope it has a calming effect mentally. I know plenty of people who manage multiple children gracefully, but I have just one sweet boy who makes me feel like I should check myself into the state hospital some days. Like today, he had a meltdown before naptime, which was my fault because we were out too long this morning and he was overtired. So between kicking myself for that, and feeling like I had zero control in the situation, I was extremely frustrated. Being a parent really highlights your best and worst features. When I have my head in the game, I am dedicated and can do just about anything. But if I feel like I don't have control or start to beat myself up for not being as good and I "should" be, I'm a mess.
I read an article in Yoga Journal about how yoga and meditation aren't the only ways to calm your mind. You can use just about any method to help develop focus. I'd like to use running as a way to manage anxiety and the mental churning that sometimes drives me nuts. If I can focus all my energy on running a few more yards when I'm getting tired, surely I can focus on pushing through a few minutes of screaming without losing my composure.
My snippets of free time are during lunch and after work. The upside of Adam's retail work schedule is that he goes in later, and thus Brenden doesn't go to daycare until 8:30 at the earliest. I go in at 7 and get off at 4, so I don't have to feel guilty after taking an hour to train or run errands before I pick Brenden up at 5.
Monday:
Lunch - Target shopping
After work - 30 minute run
Tuesday:
Lunch - Home with Adam
After work - 30 minute run
Wednesday:
Lunch - Consultation appt. w/Adam (we're meeting with a urologist about a vasectomy-more about that later)
After work - home with the guys right after work
Thursday:
Lunch - 30 minute walk
After work - grocery shopping
Friday:
Lunch - Free time
After work - 30 minute run
I'm looking forward to getting more fit during my training, but I also hope it has a calming effect mentally. I know plenty of people who manage multiple children gracefully, but I have just one sweet boy who makes me feel like I should check myself into the state hospital some days. Like today, he had a meltdown before naptime, which was my fault because we were out too long this morning and he was overtired. So between kicking myself for that, and feeling like I had zero control in the situation, I was extremely frustrated. Being a parent really highlights your best and worst features. When I have my head in the game, I am dedicated and can do just about anything. But if I feel like I don't have control or start to beat myself up for not being as good and I "should" be, I'm a mess.
I read an article in Yoga Journal about how yoga and meditation aren't the only ways to calm your mind. You can use just about any method to help develop focus. I'd like to use running as a way to manage anxiety and the mental churning that sometimes drives me nuts. If I can focus all my energy on running a few more yards when I'm getting tired, surely I can focus on pushing through a few minutes of screaming without losing my composure.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Here I Go!
I have committed to running the Southern Indiana Classic Half Marathon next April 15! A half marathon is 13.1 miles, which is a measly 7 miles longer than I've ever run in my entire life. BUT I have half a year to train, and a determination to make it happen despite all of the demands on my time, and my age.
I was one of those kids who was picked almost last when choosing teams during gym class, and I usually earned myself a D grade when running the mile. There was very little running involved - as soon as I started jogging I felt like I couldn't breathe. I was convinced I just wasn't athletic until I agreed on a whim to train for a 60-mile breast cancer walk with a friend. It was a great experience and I learned that with a plan and a goal, I can really surprise myself. Next step was the Couch Potato to 5K program, and 12 weeks later I was able to run 3 miles, a huge accomplishment for me.
Since then I've been busy moving cross country and being a new mom. Our son is 2 now, and all the sudden I'm 30. A lot of people talk about how it's all downhill from here physically, and I've found that in some ways they're right. I get dizzy easier and I'm starting to notice lines around my eyes. But I'm not going to plop down on the couch and give up. We have enough people like that around here, living in the fattest city in the US.
On the flip side, I have to acknowledge my limitations and learn to work with them. A typical half-marathon training schedule, even for first-timers, is 12 weeks. Yeah right!! I spread the schedule out over twice that amount of time so I can increase my mileage more gradually. It's also going to be tough to carve out time to train. I work full-time and my husband works an erratic schedule, so I'm going to have to take it week by week, scheduling in my training time.
It won't be easy, but having to work a little harder will make it more rewarding when I cross the finish line. I'm planning to keep track of my progress on this blog, which I'm sure will be rife with entertaining stories about the challenges of managing my family life, work, and training. (Just to give you a sample of recent life at the Fortneys, our son flushed a mega block down the toilet a week ago, and just a few days ago he locked himself in a car and we had to call the fire department to get him out.)
Training tips (and parenting tips, which we obviously need) are definitely welcome!
I was one of those kids who was picked almost last when choosing teams during gym class, and I usually earned myself a D grade when running the mile. There was very little running involved - as soon as I started jogging I felt like I couldn't breathe. I was convinced I just wasn't athletic until I agreed on a whim to train for a 60-mile breast cancer walk with a friend. It was a great experience and I learned that with a plan and a goal, I can really surprise myself. Next step was the Couch Potato to 5K program, and 12 weeks later I was able to run 3 miles, a huge accomplishment for me.
Since then I've been busy moving cross country and being a new mom. Our son is 2 now, and all the sudden I'm 30. A lot of people talk about how it's all downhill from here physically, and I've found that in some ways they're right. I get dizzy easier and I'm starting to notice lines around my eyes. But I'm not going to plop down on the couch and give up. We have enough people like that around here, living in the fattest city in the US.
On the flip side, I have to acknowledge my limitations and learn to work with them. A typical half-marathon training schedule, even for first-timers, is 12 weeks. Yeah right!! I spread the schedule out over twice that amount of time so I can increase my mileage more gradually. It's also going to be tough to carve out time to train. I work full-time and my husband works an erratic schedule, so I'm going to have to take it week by week, scheduling in my training time.
It won't be easy, but having to work a little harder will make it more rewarding when I cross the finish line. I'm planning to keep track of my progress on this blog, which I'm sure will be rife with entertaining stories about the challenges of managing my family life, work, and training. (Just to give you a sample of recent life at the Fortneys, our son flushed a mega block down the toilet a week ago, and just a few days ago he locked himself in a car and we had to call the fire department to get him out.)
Training tips (and parenting tips, which we obviously need) are definitely welcome!
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