Keepin' On, Keepin' On

64 Days To Go

What a great week this has been! For many reasons, some of which (of course) I am going to share. My little chunky monkey is becoming more of a little person each day. He took his first steps recently. His expressions, laughter, mimics, and gestures show me how much more aware he is becoming of the world around him. It is a blissful time in mommyhood. On the running front, I have found further support pop up in encouraging places. This feature on the Athleta Chi website was a true honor.

If you are not familiar with the Athleta Chi blog, head over to their site and check it out. I have been drooling over Athleta active apparel for quite some time, but the community they have built on their Chi site is something every athlete/mother/woman/ _____ (insert your own self-description here) should peruse for inspiration on living a healthy lifestyle.

Running has been quite enjoyable this past week. There have been a few sneak peek Fall breezes that make my evening runs a refreshing and crisp experience. I am feeling my legs become more powerful and my will more determined as I grow closer to the big day in November. We've decided to take advantage of the trip down to St. Pete and also make a v-line to Disney for the monkey's first Mickey Mouse experience (that's aside from Playhouse Disney on TV, of course. Can you say "meeska, mooska, Mickey Mouse!") before heading to the half. (P.S. I am also soliciting any advice from experienced mamas on the Disney experience. What should I bring? Where should we stay? What should we do? It will be a one-day trip, most likely. After all, he'll only be one-year-old and mama has a race to prepare for.)

Another week of Stroller Strides (or Strollercise, as my husband calls it) three days this week and I have the sore muscles to prove it. Hurts so good! I am looking forward to my long run on Sunday and testing my new Amphipod hydration belt I purchased. I'll let you know how it goes.

Happy running, friends!

My Latest Inspiration

112 Days To Go

I've talked many times before about my son being my primary inspiration for striving to complete November's half-marathon. And it is true, he is. I want him to be able to look back and realize I was able to be a strong, healthy, be-all-she-can-be woman who reaches for big goals, as well as a nurturing mother. I think that if he realizes this, he will also strive for his dreams and work hard to achieve them. However, moving forward in this journey I have also picked up other bits of inspiration along the way that have helped me keep up the motivation to stumble out of bed each morning and fall directly into my sneakers, despite sore muscles and excruciating heat. It's this network of other runners, particularly mother runners, that I have found serve as an alliance to help fuel my spirit as I move closer to my goal. From seasoned marathon vets who can tear up a 5k in 21 minutes, to the mother who is lacing up her first pair of running shoes in hopes of finishing a 5k on no particular date, but someday, that each provide encouragement and support to their fellow mother runners. Each make it seem possible. Each make it seem relevant. They understand the balance, desire, and often struggle that it requires to continuously nourish this ambition - to be a runner...and a mother.

I know you must all want to hold hands and sing "Kumbaya" by the campfire now, right? Here's the point I was leading up to. My latest inspiration has been this book I recently stumbled across, Run Like A Mother. Now, I'm a college instructor and mother to an 8 1/2 month old - so leisurely reading most often consists of a marketing textbook that I'm using as a refresher for an upcoming class I'm teaching or an instruction manual on how to install child safety locks on my cabinet doors. However, this book has served as my retrieve from necessity reading and turned into my fuel that I use each night to recharge. I read a chapter each night. It's an easy read written by two runners who have numerous marathons under their belt (don't worry, they don't take themselves too serious which can be such an intimidation to us novice-ites). They are relatable and share their story as beginning runners to advanced marathon vets. They actually look to other mother runners, the wanna-bes (like me) to the seasoned experts, who offer advice ranging from what sports bras are best to picking your best running distance, all in a light, conversational, and humorous approach. I truly appreciate the laugh-out-loud candor from the authors and contributing mothers that make this read relatable. I have always said, if you can't laugh at yourself, well, then your likely missing out on some pretty big laughs.

It's for this reason, I decided to represent my latest inspiration at the 5k I attended today (despite the heat advisory with 100+ heat index temps). I was sans a babysitter so I decided to push my jogging stroller with pride and sport my motto (see below). I ran the entire race (not without a roaring internal battle with the non-runner in me that still maintains 75% of my being) and actually got quite a kick as I approached the finish line, battered and exhausted, and heard a man yell, " Go, Mother!" I wish I had the strength to turn my head and find his face - but I didn't. But I finished.

Highlight of the Week: Knocking another 5k out and successfully completing my first week of the new Hal Higdon training program (well, tomorrow I complete the week).

Lesson of the Week: I had to think hard about what to share for this week but I think I am going to go with remembering to appreciate all of the strong women in my life - both new and old. Also, the beauty of knowing that empowering others leaves you with no less power (an Eleanor Roosevelt quote, I believe).

Power Song of the Week: Live Your Life by T.I. and featuring Rhianna. Great beat and great live your life for you message. Good running song!