Thursday, February 28, 2008

Running in a Snowstorm

Yes, I was the crazy lady out there running in the snowstorm today. It was not my intent, but 8 miles into a 14 mile run it started snowing pretty hard. At first it was fun, then it got 'slippy' as they say here in Pittsburgh. My car was waiting for me at the Sears, so I could not really go anywhere other than there. Felt good to be done.

14 miles in 2:19-- slower than usual, but I got it in!

We have a hockey tournament this weekend, so I hope to get up early Sunday (before the game)

The only thing constant is change

Today I dropped the minivan off for state inspection, and ran home 2.5 miles. Will run back to pick up car. Recovery =5M total.

Did my run home without watch or Ipod-- just me in the 20 degree weather. Got to thinking about how things are changing again with the boys' schedules, and how it seems like whenever I get things under control, something happens to shake things up a bit.

When they were babies, the change was constant: new feeding schedules, new sleeping schedules, playdates, etc. We were kept hostage by the ever-changing needs of the boys as infants, then toddlers. I was able to carve time out for myself due to naps, help from family, and sitters. Some days it was all I could do to hang in there until-- ahhh.. bedtime, which held constant for years between 7:00-7:30. Time after the kids were in bed was precious: time to workout, hang out with Bob, or get the ugh.. laundry done.

Now, however, this has all changed. 7:30 got pushed back to 8:00, and then Tommy often had trouble falling asleep- lying up there sometimes until 10:00 pm. So, in an effort to assist him with getting to sleep, combined with his newly-acquired ability to read, Tommy now gets 30-45 minutes at night to read. The caveat, however, is that he need someone to help him with words.

Don't get me wrong- I LOVE lying beside him and reading-- it is relaxing, and he truly enjoys his books, as do I. The adjustment part is that he is not usually tucked in/lights out these days until 9:00. Again, time to readjust MY schedule. Truth be told: I'm still held hostage by the schedules of everyone else in the family, but there is more time overall.

With the marathon training taking up a great deal of my 'free' time, 2 hr. delays and schedules changes figure much more strongly into the overall equation of our family dynamic. Learning to roll with it does not come easy, but I'm getting there.

Change is good, isn't it?

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Another 2 hr. delay and VO2 workout

Ok- ANOTHER 2 hr. delay for the boys today. In some ways it is nice- we get to sleep in, have a great cuddle, a leisurely breakfast and they get to relax a watch a show (current favorite: the Mr. Men Show) before Tommy heads off the school.

The down side: it cuts in MY day-- only had 2 hrs. today bus to bus.

Workout- VO2 3.5 M warmup
5 x 600 at 7:03/6:58 pace- 2 min. recovery
2M warmdown: Total 8.5 miles

The 5 x 600s felt pretty good- it would be interesting to see how this workout would be on the track or bike trail-- I tend to think in some ways it is cheating a bit by doing the speedwork on the treadmill, but it works for me!

Gotta go- I hear th bus--

Blog Post #1


Hi- I am going to give this a go! I hope to use this blog mainly to record my running and training, with a sampling of 'deep thoughts' thrown in. One of the benefits to running for me is time alone: far from the other demands on my time: family, work, the house and all the little daily dramas that seem to occur at the most inopportune times. I tend to have all these great ideas/thoughts/self-reflections during my runs, and no where to put them.

I am currently training for the Flying Pig marathon, which is May 4, 2008; or more importantly, nine weeks and 5 days from today. I am following Pfitzinger's 18/55 plan, but have modified it to sort of a 19/50 plan, to suit my needs and schedule.

Today was to be 8 miles, but due to our final Paddle Tennis match and party, along with ANOTHER 2-hr. delay, I only got in 6.5 miles on the treadmill over at the Fitness Center at the Country Club. Had to get it in at 6 am, since the rest of the day was booked.

I am starting this blog today also because my baby turned 6 years old today! Officially I have children, not babies nor toddlers. The reality of this hit me in full force, and I will address this in more detail some other time. Danny has his friend Will over to play, and we are having a special menu for dinner tonight that he selected: chips, mexican pizza (quesadilla), pineapple, cake and ice cream. Bob is out of town tonight for work: it is 'attack season' again.

My sweet little guy has had a great birthday celebration: party for friends at the Zoo, family party here, Penguins game with Daddy and Tommy, and now a special playdate/dinner. It is great to treat him to special events- he really appreciates them!

Happy Birthday Danny!