Keep It Simple

Hi.

Wow, what a few days it has been in our world.  I don't think an hour goes by that the children from Newtown don't enter my mind.  While my heart aches for what they went through it is their mother's who I am feeling the most sorrow.  The mother's who have to endure the pain of Christmas without their precious babies.  You send your children to school to learn and grow in a safe and warm environment and that sense of security was stolen from all of us Friday.  The whole nation is grieving with the families and I know for one  I'll never be the same. 

With it being Christmas and knowing how hectic this time can be for everyone I have been intentionally working towards simplicity.  I have re-read my Organized Simplicity book and was thrilled to see she had an E-book out now too.  It was a quick download to my Kindle and only hit my account with a small $5 charge.  Her 2nd book is titled One Bite At A Time and I am excited to take it on next.  I crave a simple life, a quiet life with my husband and my girls.  My best days are the ones where we are all together as a family just being together, nothing on the agenda and no where to be. Granted everyday can't be like this because then how you could really appreciate those special days but we need more of them in our life.  I don't want "Simplicity" to be a resolution or a fad, I want it to be a main priority in our family.  If you are also looking for some change in your life and want to slow down and just enjoy the days I really recommend her books.  If you are like me you'll take from them what works for your individual situation and politely decline anything that wouldn't work for your current season of life.  

OK now onto to running, this is a running blog right?!  Well for me running helps me keep sane, it helps me through times of grief and stress.  So why wouldn't running also help me keep things simple?  Don't let your running become another stress in your life, running is to enhance your life!  I was feeling a little overwhelmed a few weeks ago by running and just let myself take a little break from a strict schedule of training.  I realized now was not the time to be taking on a stringent training schedule.  It is Christmas time which means lots and lots of extra things to do on top of our already very full lives.  I decided to cut myself a break and run casually, take the stress out of it.  Since literally telling myself out loud that I cannot be expected to do EVERYTHING and I need to slow down and enjoy this time I have felt like a new person.  I have found I am still able to run/cross train 3 times a week which is great for maintenance   I won't be ready for any half marathon come January/February but I will be a lot more sane!  I am glad I am giving myself some slack and really appreciating all Christmas has to offer this year.  

Sarah and Katherine are so stinking excited for Santa to come that I may burst from the cuteness.  We adopted our Elf Buddy this year and it is a tradition that we'll enjoy for years to come!  I personally wouldn't mind if Buddy stuck around year around, they listen to him better than me.  We had the girl's tumbling recital this last weekend and it was so cute I almost died.  Now it is already the week before Christmas and I have just a couple little teeny items to pick up and I am basically ready for the fat guy in his red suit to come down our chimney.  

I hope you all are enjoying your holiday season, it is a special time of year and if you have young kids at home slow down and enjoy.  As you are experiencing it all just goes so fast.   

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? 

Anyone running any fun holiday races?  

What is your big race for 2013?  

- I would like to do another marathon, maybe 2 or 3!  

Keep'n It Real!

Good morning! 

So I started a blog because I have always really enjoyed reading blogs, especially since becoming a runner (love saying that).  I like to see how other runners do their training and reading about their experiences.  My favorite blogs are the ones that keep it real and honest about their expectations for themselves.  Honestly my favorite blogs to read, minus Skinny Runner, are mother runners.  I feel like unless your a mom you can't fully understand the challenges you face as a mother and a runner.  I love MsFitRunner because she keeps her days with her kids so honest and she is pretty funny about their quirks.  Plus she is a huge inspiration, she is fast and so motivated and can accomplish so much with her 3 little kids at home.  What is my point with all of this, I don't really have a point I just want to explain to myself that we all can't expect to keep up with the running Jones'.  Since the Portland Marathon I have taken it easy with my runs and since the time change I have had a difficult time getting up at 5:30 to head out for my run.  Not ashamed to say that I am afraid of the dark and even with my headlamp I just don't feel comfortable out there in the pitch black.  What that means is that right now my runs are now happening while the girls are at preschool on Tuesday and Thursday, Saturdays and my treadmill.  Since I don't have the reason to get up at 5:30 I haven't been getting up and that is frustrating.  In order to be strong enough to reach my marathon goals next year I need to make cross training a priority too.  Add in Christmas obligations on top of being a mom to really busy 3 year old girls and wife to a workaholic husband I've been feeling just a tad overwhelmed.  

I know running helps me with all of these feelings but I haven't been making it a priority for the last couple of weeks and hence the circle goes round and round.  Plus I had half a bag of baked lays last night...ya that was super helpful.  I've been trying to slow things down but that is much easier said than done especially this time of year.  I decided it was time to dust this book off and read through it again, it did a lot for me a couple years ago when I first bought it.  

I don't have a ton of books in actual copy anymore because I buy them mostly through my Kindle, which I love.  I am really glad I have this book in non-Kindle form, it is a pretty book to begin with and its more of a life manual which should be out for constant reference.  I think we should all have life manuals given to us at high school graduation along with the diploma.  

I am going to shoot for 45 minutes on my treadmill this morning before we head off to Preschool, Costco, etc etc etc.  We'll see how many miles that ends up being today!  

Also tomorrow is the First Friday Holiday Run in Old Town Sherwood!  We are meeting at Sympsium at 4:45 and heading out for the run at 5:00.  I hope to see home of you there, its going to be a great fun and easy run and afterwards you can check out all there is to see at First Friday.  Wine tasting...need I say more?