It's been one month since Ragnar and while I have continued run, I sort of lost my motivation along the way. The first 2 weeks post-race I was nursing a sore hip and a damaged toenail so I focused a little more on strength training and yoga. Both were great and challenging but when running, I wasn't pushing myself anymore. I would run a bit and then take a water break and walk for awhile. I told myself it was ok because I was still moving and then I realized that I was making excuses. Oh that's right...EXCUSES!!! What kind of hypocrite am I? I don't allow my children to make excuses so why am I allowing that behavior from myself. When Ashley was training for Ragnar and she said she was "trying" to run but she was busy I would give her the no excuses line..."Do or do not, there is no try!" So last night as I was checking my emails I came across an amazing blog called, "Carrots 'n' Cake". It was just what I needed. I felt like I found a new best friend and loads of motivation! She focuses not only on running but on how to fuel her body. That is one thing I learned so much about while training for Ragnar...fuel! She even gained 10 pounds while training for her first marathon and I noticed it was much harder to keep my weight where I liked it while training. Instead of the usual 2 pound fluctuation I like, it was more like 5-7 pounds. Definitely not ok!
So here we are on Monday morning. It's a new week and rather than using the extreme heat as an excuse I got up really early and ran 3.6 miles. I carried my water but didn't let myself take a drink until I really felt like I needed it and I pushed myself harder than I have pushed myself in a long time. I let my mind wander and I reflected on all that I have done over the last month...it is summer after all! I've gone to the pool and caught up on some reading. I've smiled when Austin comes to me and says, "Mom, are we going to the pool today?", because he's 17 and can go to the pool by himself if he wants and what he wants is to still go with his family on occasion. I've laughed as I look at the boys laying out poolside because I remember when they were 2 and 5 and wore matching flag swimming trunks because it made locating them so much easier. The girls and I have gone to the movies and Bob and I have managed to squeeze in a few dates (and celebrate our 25th Anniversary) along the way. Abby has been to Des Moines to visit her cousins and then she and Bailey (a Cali-Jaeger) came back to Kansas for a few days of fun. Ryan survived another DU Summer Chapter with lots of stories and Ashley started her big girl job after graduating from K-State and finally bought her first car. We've begun a Harry Potter marathon in anticipation of the last movie coming out this week and we've all signed up to be on the National Bone Marrow/Be the Match registry because Fitzgerald is no longer free. (please consider joining as well because you never know when you might be the one match that can save a life!) And tonight, my sweet baby girl returns from her youth trip in Colorado just in time for the 3rd movie, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and 7am cheer practice in the morning.
It would be very easy to get caught up in excuses but that's not who I am anymore. Ragnar taught me that I am stronger than I ever knew. Now it's time to start training for that 1/2 Marathon on my bucket list. I still haven't decided if it will be the Monumental in Indy or the Waddell and Reed in KC because I am waiting to hear an official date for Abby's cheer competition this fall. Either way I will be out there training (minus my TuTu sisters this time) because this time I have to run the distance all by myself and there will be no one to hand my slap band off to at the next exchange. However, I know that while this one might be solo we will all be right there for each other with our never-ending love and support.
And tomorrow...it will begin just like today...a piece of toast with a smear of peanut butter and a 4 mile run because I don't have time for excuses!
