The Things People Did NOT Tell Me

This week I decided to be a superstar. School has started back and so has multi-tasking. I had a great run on Tuesday-over FIVE miles...and although I thought they may need to amputate my legs from the knee up, I was pretty proud of myself. So proud that I decided to walk my daughter to school and then walk across the street to the gym. I then proceeded to do maybe a hundred lunges-with weights of course-and then squats. My once sprightly gait has been replaced with my "old lady and the walker shuffle." Holy mother-f-ing shit I am sore.

But this is not the worst part...since I have been upping my miles-and thanks to a serious KICK ASS running play list on my iPod, I have really picked up my pace too. My running partner definitely has taken note when I've got a great beat going. If you know me, and if you are reading this blog I hope you do, then you know I am not shy so I am just gonna spit out. Running makes you sick to your stomach. Not like "ugh, I don't feel like going today" sick to your stomach, I am talking "there better a bush nearby or I need to wear a diaper" sick to your stomach. You know how no one told you what exactly was going to be coming out of your body for the next few weeks after you had a baby? This is the same deception...I had no idea but have come to find out this is pretty common. I asked around...and evidently crap and running go hand in hand. So, that kinda sucks ass if you know what I mean!!:)

The second thing I have learned, is the days I run I am so hungry I could eat my young and probably yours. Again-I was looking at this as a weight loss program...but I guess between what I am taking in and what is coming out-literally-maybe I am Even Steven.

All in all it has been a good week and I am freaked out about the really long run tmw morning. This is the start of the serious ones and I am tired already thinking of it. Thank goodness where we run is lined with hotels and apartments-do you think they will let me in to use the bathroom?

If you want to support me, I would LOVE it. Go to:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sfl/wdw10/ksingerxn7

Week One-Ready, Set, Holy Shit I Can't Breathe or Feel My Legs

Ok...so when you know you have to wake up at 5am, you tend to think every time you get up to pee in the middle of the night that it is 5am so you are kind of laying in wake of the anticipation.  Yes I have kids, but let's just say my kids sleep later than even I do.  Right now it is Sunday morning at 9:30...they are still sleeping.  Don't hate on me-I worked hard to get great sleepers.  So this is why the waking up early thing is a big deal to me. 

But, when I hear the  beep I  bound out of bed and am ready to go.  I have decided to run with a friend for fear of abduction, rape, murder-the normal variety of things that can happen to you when not a single witness is out on a very dark street in practically the middle of the night. The great thing about her is that she does not want to talk.  When I am running, I don't want to talk.  It is the only time in my life this is true.  I just really want to stay alive and breathe and that is what I have to focus on.  So, we agree to don our headphones and not even pretend to be interested in anything we have to say to one another.  A perfect partnership.  

The first day we set out it is uneventful-we feel pretty good after about three miles and although I am dying for new sneakers as I feel like an old woman-oy vey my ankles, my knees...we decide to meet again two days later. 

So-for those of you who know me-you know that I operate in only two modes-black or white.  I have no gray.  I don't like anything rather I love it or hate it.  Things are either right or wrong-you get the idea.  Did I also mention that I tend to throw myself into something rather quickly without really thinking about the consequences?  Yeah-I do that too.  I am the best starter on any project.  I am your go to girl for "OMG Let's totally do this" and then I pretty much peter out and quit.  Like I said, besides my kids, husband, and my job, I commit to nothing.  But I recognize it, so it is all good.  It is only a problem when you don't realize it, right?

So, if I am going to run 13 miles, well, damn-I expect to do it that day.  So we set out and we are feeling great, so great in fact that we decide to keep going.  Uh...not the best idea.  Especially when one of us has three kids at home and has to be at a very important job at a very specific time.  I learned that walking a mile home on a mosquito infested morning is the price I pay for being too ambitious.  That and the feeling that I was going to literally stroke out, along with the fact that I am so sore I cannot sit on the toilet.  We decide to be more realistic, get new shoes, actually eat or drink something before we run and have a plan. 

The required run by the beach on Saturday was beautiful.  I am by no means a joiner-I hate groups and I will pretty much run away from anything "organized."  However, my team mates in TNT are pretty cool I have to say and it is sad hearing many of their stories of people in their lives.  Some people have some serious shit to bear.  I mean, how do you get Hodgkins and Cervical Cancer diagnoses in the same month?  It really motivates me and although in any other part of my life I would never single these people out, we are all there at 6:45 on a Saturday to do something.  Before you think me of having turned over a leaf of overall friendliness, let me say my first order of business was signing the Headphone Waiver.  Yeah, I don't want to talk to them either while I run.  A high five in passing in all they are getting for now.  

Feel motivated to help me get to week two???  

go to: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sfl/wdw10/ksingerxn7

Holy Crap

So, what the hell did I get myself into? For the past seven years, my mind has been a steel trap of homework, playdate schedules, a running inventory of every teeny piece of crap (i mean treasure) while being suffocated in the reams of paper filled with flower gardens, rainbows, and happy shit that I have to throw away in the shroud of darkness so as not to be discovered as the horrible Mom that I am that I DO NOT WANT all this well...garbage.

So-what to do? Hmmm....I was on the fence. I am a HUGE procrastinator with a complete lack of follow through. Excellent combo, huh? Even so I have been positively going stir crazy the past few years. When you have babies/toddlers, it is so easy to put yourself on the back burner. After all, the kids need you. Who else is going to wipe their snot, clean their asses, prepare healthy foods, and nurture the entire mind, body, and spirit of your child if not for you? Well, all that was good for a while. Needless to say I have had this insatiable desire to actually do something for myself. Crazy I know...but I can't help but feeling that life is fleeting and you gotta try to live it a bit.

So where does running a 1/2 marathon come into this? Well, I have had the goal of completing a marathon for many years and have successfully managed to come up with awesome excuses not to do it and not make myself feel badly about it either. But, like a bad case of herpes, it keeps coming back. It was either that or get my Ph.D and a very simple cost analysis told even my borderline retarded math self "go for the marathon."

Well, if I was going to wake up REALLY early in the morning to actually run, I figured I may as well help someone besides myself along the way. I am a huge believer in karma and paying it forward. So...what has affected me the most personally? Probably what has affected most people-cancer. The Big C. My bff, my amazing father-in-law, my family-usual list of suspects as cancer seems to know no age, race, or reason. So I decided to run for Team in Training. They help me help others. It's a win-win. When I think about all the people I know have been through with cancer, getting my fat ass out of bed at 5am (after a few too many cocktails the night before) hardly seems like a big deal. If you know anyone suffering through cancer-no matter what kind-or have lost someone to it...I hope you will consider helping me to change the life of someone living with the battle right now.

So-keep checking back and see how I am doing. Average housewife just trying to make a difference...feel free to share comments, suggestions-you can keep your criticisms to yourself-and inspirations.

Not charging you to read my blog....but feel free to donate to the cause at:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sfl/wdw10/ksingerxn7

Kim