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Back in the fall, I wanted to set a goal to run a 1/2 marathon. I thought if I signed up for a 1/2 in a really great location I’d be more motivated to do it. But it turns out the really great location costs money and we didn’t have money and I didn’t train so I didn’t go. The date came and went and on the weekend of the event, I was home, sitting my ass on the couch.
So a few weeks ago I started to research 1/2 marathons in the spring. Again, I was looking at “exoctic” locations but it turns out those same exoctic locations still cost money. And, I felt like some of them were too soon, they didn’t really give me enough time to train. I then stumbled across the website for the Zooma Half which is just north of here at the end of April. AND, it’s all women!!! Bingo! Local, inexpensive, the end of April, no men ZOOMING by me as I stumble up some hill – seems like the perfect trifecta of thingsto get me going. AND THEN, I was contacted by Zooma and they asked me if I’d like to be a Zooma Coordinator – and VOILA! A race (for me) is born!
Now I’m committed and I’d love for you to run with me!! The race is April 22nd and there’s a 5k option as well. AND, I have discount codes!! Who doesn’t love a discount??? (The discount is good for $10 off the half and $5 off the 5K.) What do you say? This is a run for all levels and trust me, I’m no speed demon who’s ever run more than a 10k before. If I can do this, so can you. Oh, and there’s a meetup on Saturday the 28th to run and meet other participants. So if you’re interested but aren’t completely sure, come to the meet up!!!
You can register here: http://zoomarun.com/atlanta/atlanta-registration/ and the discount code is: ATLCON4
*This is a sponsored post. The fine folks at Zooma are paying my entry and giving me schwag, like a free car and a pony. OK, they aren’t doing all that but it’s still sponsored.
As I sit and write this, Courtney is in her room screaming, not sleeping, and Patrick is going down to bed. It’s that time of day where you sink into the couch, happy to have survived the day and having had no one die on your watch. You sit and think, I’m done. I can’t do this for another minute. When do these kids go to college?
All day, every day, we parent our kids and nurture their souls. We play with them. We feed them. We clothe them. We bathe them. We tickle them. We clean their wounds and put bandaids on them. We clean goldfish out from under the couch and smoothie out of the nostrils of their noses. We clean the kitchen and fold the laundry. We vacuum the dog hair and maybe make some doctors appointments. We go to the grocery store, drive the carpool and shuttle kids to gymnastics or ballet or soccer practice. The day is a cacophony of small voices that make loud noises. “Mommy mommy mommy” and “I want my daddy” all day long. Cries and tears and skinned knees and bumped heads. The never ending words from Jingle Bells and Old McDonald, all rolled into one.
These are the noises that make up my life. They go on and on and on. Some days they seem to never stop. And you long for that moment of silence. When the kids are sleeping and you can sit and catch your breath and maybe have a thought of your own about something other than, ‘did he eat that rock?’ Or maybe, you can be totally crazy and have a conversation with your spouse. Uninterrupted.
Sure, these days are short. The kids will get older, there will be less hanging on to my leg. Or my every word. The desire to sit in my lap or to hold my hand or to tell me they love me will become the days that I long for. The need for me will become less as their need for independence will grow. I get all that and I don’t look forward to it. But then I do.
The sounds of silence are rare. They’re desired and sometimes longed for. Needed, even. But rare. Some day I will long for the singing and the dancing and the running and the crashing and the never ending chorus of ‘mommy mommy mommy’s’. But today. Today. I’d just like some quiet.
As of the 16th day in 2012, I’ve done a pretty good job keeping moving. The number I saw on the scale the other day was one that I hadn’t seen since 1985 or some such. OK, I have no idea when I last saw that number but it doesn’t stand out as something I’ve seen recently. I haven’t seen it again but that doesn’t mean that it’s not achievable. But I don’t necessarily want my fitness goals to be tied to weight loss goals, I want them to be tied to fitness and getting into better shape. I’ve decided what I’m going to do is divide the first half of the year into several goals/events to work towards.
- End of April, 1/2 marathon – more to come on this
- End of May, participate in the 10th Anniversary of Action Cycling 200. I expect to only ride maybe 50 miles a day but we’ll see what happens between the 1/2 marathon and the ride.
- July 4th – Peachtree Road Race 10K. I’d like to better my time on this by at least 15 minutes and do it all without stopping.
Three goals. If I can stick with it, those goals will carry me through the beginning of July. From there I can come up with a second half of the year goal. But I think it’s doable. I know it is. I would like to intersperse all that cardio with some weight training as well. I bought some Living Social package deal for a gym and have been going to body pump. I don’t love it but damn I’m sore so I know it has to be doing something for me. I’m hoping for 5 days a week of some kind of activity. Keep it moving and keep in shape. And keep it honest.
I’m tired just thinking about it. But I’m fired up. I have a goal to work towards and assuming my almost-40-year-old body doesn’t fall apart between now and then, i would hope to be in kick ass shape!
We all have a story like this. OK, not all of us. Just those of us that are HUGELY lucky. And by lucky, I mean, not home. Out with the girls.
On Monday night, I went to book club. I left the house just before bath time and went on my merry way. I’m at a friends house, drinking wine and eating enchiladas and my damn phone keeps beeping. Text. Text. Text. Bing. Bing. Bing. So I finally check and this is what’s awaiting me:
If you can’t tell, that’s a lovely picture. Poop in the tub. Ha!! I was having such a nice time. Poop in the tub! HA!! POOP IN THE TUB!!
Paul’s not an overly active Facebook poster. He shares the real gems with his friends, kind of like this:
I know you’re thinking, thanks Karen, I wanted poop in the tub with my coffee on a Friday morning. You. ARE. WELCOME. Ah, the joys of parenting and children and the risks that arise when you get them naked. Never a dull moment.
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