I always joke that my motto is "I run so I don't run away." And it is mostly a joke, but there is definitely some truth to that. I became a consistent runner to help me survive postpartum depression. So, when Patty, April, and I decided on the topic "Why do you run?" for this week's Tuesday on the Run, I knew exactly what I was going to write about. … [Read more...]
Step AWAY from the chocolate
Do you have a trigger food? Or something you always crave when you are stressed (or hormonal)? Mine is chocolate. No surprise there - most women would say the same. Yesterday, I lost track of how much chocolate I ate. And it wasn't even *good* chocolate - just chocolate chips and Annie's chocolate bunnies. But the combination of stress while waiting for Congress to get its head out of its butt + my monthly peak in hormones (why, yes, I do have one day each month where the cravings are nearly unstoppable), meant I spent most of the day searching for anything chocolate to put in my mouth. While this month was worse than some thanks to external stress, this is a monthly occurrence. So, I've come up with some strategies to … [Read more...]
Over it
Just wish I knew what "it" was. We just started week 4 of the school year and I still feel like we are getting our feet under us. I've managed to get our mornings down to a routine, but that's about it. Jones is still working on keeping himself organized. Shoo is still learning to deal with nightly homework. I'm working extra hours and struggling to make running a priority again. I would like everyone to settle in. But mostly, I'd like to start feeling like I have things (relatively) under control. I need more sleep. I need to get meal planning back under control (and I need it to be soup weather as I'm so tired of our "summer" menu.) I need my ankle to stop aching after runs and for my legs to get some energy … [Read more...]
I’m so fickle
Apparently I'm in love with running again. Or not. But tomorrow I might be. I feel like a 13 year old girl with her first crush. It seems I only love running when the weather is perfect and the timing is right. And, as one might expect from Virginia in August, it's hot and humid again. I tried to do everything right yesterday: I woke up and put on running clothes. I didn't shower. I even planned when I'd run. And then I just didn't do it. I could blame it on my crazy day: two work meetings, calls with insurance (both car and house), meeting with a contractor about house repairs, a call with the county about the car, the maid service, Jones' cello practice... I could blame it on being tired: I haven't slept well for the last … [Read more...]
Falling in love again
It's been unusually cool here since I returned from Wisconsin. This has resulted in two things: the campfire smell in my house is diminishing and I'm in love with running again. Know what love means? It means I want to do crazy things like run fast and run hills and run lots of miles. I want to sign up for every.single.race. I want new shoes and new skirts and new socks. Luckily, I'm not completely insane. I'm taking it easy and building slowly. I did 4.2 miles yesterday at a pretty decent pace and didn't think I was going to die! Yes! Time to figure out my training plan. (Did any of us really believe I wouldn't jump back in the saddle at some point?) Some other randomness from my life: Saturday night we were given … [Read more...]
TTT: Running!, Randomness, & Foodie Penpal Reveal
1. I ran! 3 whole miles!!! I even sort of followed the rules my chiro gave me. I felt like I was hyper aware of what was going on with my body, which can be kind of depressing when you feel tons of little twinges and random pains. Thankfully, for the most part, my calf was fine. I had a couple moments of "does my calf feel tight?", but it felt fine. After I ran my three miles, I walked a fourth with about a quarter mile of running mixed in. I wanted to see how much I'd need to run to run/walk a 13 minute pace. After I came home, I foam rolled my calves and my quads and tried not to cry like a baby from all the random hot spots. 2. Some random things: When I foam rolled my calves, I got a full on cramp in my abs. Seriously … [Read more...]
TTT: SAD, kid feet and gecko poop
1. I generally do ok emotionally during the winter. I prefer to be cold over being hot. My kids are in school, so I have the flexibility to run during the day. I get outside enough that I get a fair amount of sun. That is not the case this week. It's been doom and gloom for days now. Just gray and damp and gross. I'm still running in it - 7 damp miles Sunday, 3.5 out of 9 outside on Tuesday, 7 cold and wet on Wednesday - but I'm getting grumpy. Even worse, I'm trying to eat the grump away. I find myself just wandering around the kitchen searching for something to put in my mouth. We need to get sun soon or I'm going to out eat the miles I'm running. 2. Today the rain is supposed to be replaced by snow. Usually the first snow of … [Read more...]
It’s not pretty here
I am a much better mom/wife/human being when I'm running on a regular basis. From a mental health standpoint, 3o minutes of running 5 times a week is the best thing I can do for myself. 30 minutes at whatever speed my body feels is right that day seems to "flip the switch" in my head. When I'm not getting that, I'm a lot less patient, I'm a little bit angry at the world, and stress affects me more. For the last year and a half, I've had to broaden my exercise routine. I'm happiest when I'm running, but with some extra time and effort, yoga, my bike and the gym can keep me going. It's not the same, but it takes the edge off. Running is my anti-depressant. Other exercise is like taking a slightly too low dose. I ran on Monday. … [Read more...]
Hello, Depression. Let’s go for a run.
The last few months have been really challenging for me. I'm overcommitted and stressed out. I'm finding the transition to the kids being in school more hours a lot more difficult than I expected. Not because I wish the kids were with me more (don't get me wrong, I love them, but we get along a lot better when I get a break), but because I'm finding myself a lot more isolated. When I have the kids, we get out of the house a lot, usually with friends. When they are at school, I find myself at home by myself for the majority of the time. I'm either working, running, or doing chores, not getting out and meeting up with other moms. The extrovert in my is not enjoying that. Add in lack of sleep, a cold, and hormones and you get a mom … [Read more...]
If I coud go back…
As I mentioned in my "cherry on top" award, I wouldn't really change much about my life experiences because everything that happened led me to where I am today. And today is a pretty good place. What I'd really like to do though, is go back and give some words of wisdom to the new mom that I became nearly nine years ago. Because she really needed to know that "today" would come. As a new mom, I suffered from postpartum depression (PPD). Comparatively speaking, my case was pretty mild and running eventually pulled me out of it. I consider myself very lucky in that regard. Anyways, I spent the better part of the first months of Jones' life sitting on the couch crying. I was exhausted (he was a poor sleeper). I was worn out (he … [Read more...]
“That” point
As of Tuesday afternoon, I had not run in 5 days. I did have moments of activity in those days, but there were also too many moments of doing nothing active. I don't think I've missed 5 days of running since the week after my first marathon, but circumstances conspired to make running impossible this past week. Tuesday afternoon, I reached "that point". You all know it. I'm sure most of you have felt the same feeling at least to some degree. I had to run. Running was no longer an option. It was a requirement. It was a matter of life or death (or at least a matter of having any ability to be a decent mom. For those who don't know, running is what keeps me from needing anti-depressants. If I don't run, I get depressed and it … [Read more...]
Near miss
Yesterday I managed to go out for a "run". It was one of the few times when I felt like I was a jogger, not a runner. What's the difference? It's not speed. You can be a slow runner. It totally had to do with form and energy. I barely lifted my feet off the ground and my arms didn't really participate in the run at all. I was glad I did it, but it wasn't a real run for me and it did not have any of the benefits that I usually expect from a run. I didn't feel energized from it, in fact, it just wore me out.I realized last night how desperately in need of a real run I was. It had been a week since I last ran. A week of fighting the flu, not getting enough sleep, and generally just feeling crappy. When we went out to dinner, I'm … [Read more...]
