My almost-three year old daughter, Stella, woke up at 4:00am this morning and crawled into bed with us, soaking wet diaper, shirt and pants included. We have always had a “no kids in the bed rule,” but with our second child, and only recently, we have found that just tolerating her in the middle is easier than fighting her back into her room. She’s a spunky one.
After changing her from head to toe, and glaring at the clock, (4:15am), I gritted my teeth, knowing the 11 mile run wake-up call was coming at 6:45.
Stella kicked me for the next two hours. The Expert retreated to the couch around 5:30, where he was greeted with the wafting down the stairs sounds of our almost-four year old son, James, singing Twinkle, Twinkle at the top of his lungs.
Needless to say, we were not heading out the door feeling particularly spunky this morning.
Well, I was a little spunky. I had coffee and I had my arm warmers. I love my arm warmers. They make me happy. First, because it was pretty chilly today, and second… well, because arm warmers cover my arms. If only arm warmers were socially acceptable… cocktail party arm warmers, swimsuit arm warmers…
And the Expert was pretty excited about wearing his Camelbak and his Fuel Belt. Just in case there’s a natural disaster. Or shortage of electrolytes in the world. He had it jam packed. Today was a big day for him – a PR distance. Not to mention he is looking particularly thin lately.
It took us a while to get started. We walked for about a half mile before starting to run. Before that, I had to crawl into the woods and practice my natural potty skills. I am never very good at this, but at least this time, I avoided my shoes. Such is not always the case.
The Suwanee Greenway is lovely. Beautiful scenery, and with the cool weather this morning, the run was amazing for the first 5 miles. The trail started climbing into the woods about this time, and I started feel less than amazing and crossed over more into the crying/suffering arena for about 1.5. You coulda played a little Johnny Cash on my hamstrings, they were so tight after these hills.
Somehow, the 11 miles was over, and another day of tri training was in the books.
The Expert finished, and applauded himself for his PR. I know the feeling. I want to applaud, but I’m not really the clapping type. I’m more of a thumbs-up kind of gal. Good job, mister.
I had hit Mile 10 in the usual Big Fat Sissy style…. running in tears, ugly cry face and a little bit of heaving sobs. I don’t know why I cry on every long run. But I do. Something about suffering and sweating in nature, and pushing through all the “I can’ts” flying through my head makes me so grateful and happy.
I am always grateful to be finished, but I love the feeling of being grateful to be running. Moments like that are exactly the reason the wake up and do it all again.
I hope you all have a great week. Just remember…. all we’ve gotta do is keep moving forward.
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I did 11 today too. New distance for me. So far all that hurts is my feet. Way to keep it up Mere! ~Sara
Oh wow, those bridges/walkways are amazing.
And what is it with kids in bed needing to use you as a punch/kick bag, mine do it as well???!!!
~pushing through all those "I can'ts" flying through my head~
That's pretty much the sum of it! It's pretty amazing what the body can do when the brain gets out of the way. I have been dealing with a lot of "I can'ts" lately and I wish I could say I was doing a good job of pushing through them. I have been pondering why I have been giving in to them lately, hoping for an answer before I have to explain myself to DW!!
Great post, as usual!