Embracing The Present & Looking To The Future!

It has been quite some time since I had a blog post that wasn’t a race recap. Honestly, life has proven to be so busy lately, that even showering is sometimes a scheduled task! I remind myself constantly that this is a season & this is exactly how life is supposed to be, when you have two 4-year-olds. I started this blog post over a week ago, then after a few random statements from a few random people, I felt like maybe I should just delete the post all together. Then I remembered that life isn’t always rainbows & butterflies; & anyone who acts in that manner, is simply just as crazy as the rest of us. I did however put myself in check & decided I’d continue with the post, but keep the complaining to a minimum…. or what I consider to be complaining. I am human after all, right?

If I can’t use my blog as a place to release feelings without remorse, where can I?!

While running with two close friends the other day, I remembered just how much I had enjoyed blogging in the past. I recalled how good of a release it is—to write down your thoughts, feelings, & goals. While sharing said thoughts, feelings, & goals to the entire world via the Internet can be scary, I hope it also shows just how real of a person I am.

So what has been going on?? Before we get to the current & future….

Well, the Monument 10K bib & medal has been laying on the edge of my soaker tub, visible to the eye, as a reminder that I needed to write the recap. Almost a month since race day, I undoubtedly can say that the recap will never come to fruition. I have happily tucked that medal away; surmising that the recap just wasn’t meant to be. I am allowing myself a “pass” on things in life that aren’t vital at this point. One day, I will have more time. But for now, the twins, sleeping, & surviving will trump a 1,000 word essay about hitting the pavement. If you care, the race was a blast—thanks to staying with my friend Christian & hanging with him + his friend Ben. My official finishing time was 47:43 {7:41/mile}. Not a PR, but a solid time & a great race that I would certainly do again!

So what else is keeping me busy? The short & sweet answer is the twins. If you don’t care to read about that, continue on to the next paragraph… no hard feelings. Primarily, I have transitioned from a “50% mother” to a “95% mother”. What exactly that means, you may wonder? Basically, in the past, I had help via my amazing husband, about 50% of the time. He is still awesome, in case you care. Thanks to a lost contract, resulting in a lost job, my husband took an awesome new job a few weeks ago. Only caveat, I lost a lot, well most 45% of my regular help since the new position is a strict 9a-5p, which is really like 8a-6p. I continue to work full-time, maintain the house, buy the groceries, take care of appointments, feed 2 growing boys, play robots; etc. I don’t put all of that out there to complain, just simply to explain how I am surviving day-to-day. So if you call, message, text, or email… give me a hot minute to get back to you! I work my 24-hour shifts, & then get 2 hours of sleep before retrieving my wild munchkins from their 3-hour-a-day preschool. An optimist might say, well, at least you have that time! Amen. It can always be worse. Yes, I could always hire a nanny, but I am so protective of my precious cargo & can’t fully trust a stranger, at this point, in my home & with my babies. Call me crazy, but it’s just how I feel. This phase will end come summertime, when my sister rejoins our gang, as the twice a week help. God bless her soul. I am sure I could sleep for 2 days straight by the time that point arrives. Regardless, I am blessed with so much, which I do know, so I continue to look at the positives during this sleep deprivation time & enjoy 45% more robot playing time.

As for running, oh yeah, that is still happening. Without running & my Grande lattes, I am certain I would not be surviving, at least with my sanity intact. God bless Starbucks & their crack-caffeinated-beverages! With the demands at home, my workouts are on a pretty regimented schedule. Each week, I am shooting for 30-35 running miles, one yoga class, one personal training session, & sometimes, if I am lucky, one additional strengthening class at the gym. God bless those women at the YMCA Stay-n-Play! As each summer goes, I just hope to trudge on through the humidity, maintaining endurance & steadily working on speed; all to prepare for my favorite times to run—Fall & Winter!

Speaking of Fall & Winter, that is a nice segway to my future goals part of this post. I have never been secretive in the past about plans & aspirations—so I don’t plan to start now. In short, my Fall goal is a sub-1:40 half marathon {Harbor Lights}. This is about a 2.5 minute PR from my crazy Shamrock half marathon this year—I think it is doable, with the right training. Time will tell though! This goal will give me confidence going into my next ambition.

My big running goal, established the week before Boston this year, is to Boston Qualify {BQ} at the 2017 Shamrock Marathon. This is a big goal, which is a little {A LOT} scary. It will be an 11 minute PR {Tokyo Marathon was 3:41:28}. Deep breaths, I keep telling myself! My BQ time is 3:35. But in order to actually get into the marathon, I will need a few minutes of time cushion. If I want a solid shot at entry into the 2018 Boston Marathon, I want to run a flat 8:00minute/mile pace at Shamrock—to finish in 3 hours 30 minutes. I have friends on board to help me with this giant aspiration, & without them, I am not sure I would be brave enough to tackle it alone. God bless running friends, who have become REAL LIFE friends!

So. I have a hotel booked at the Oceanfront, training plan preparation on paper begun {16-week official start date will be 11/28/16}, vital friends have been informed…….. now, I just need to bite the bullet & register for the race. So intimidating! I am not afraid of the 26.2 anymore—I know I can tackle it. I am now afraid of pushing myself to the limits & failing.

I am a firm believer in karma…. & Internet motivation {hehe!}. I think putting my time goals out there to the world/friends/naysayers, while frightening & opening me up to possible ridicule, will actually be helpful in the long run {pun intended!}. Hopefully, along with great/intense/tough/hardwork training, the two components of karma & Internet motivation will propel me to 3:30 on the finishing clock when I rock the Boardwalk next March!!