Slow and steady ... but mostly just SLOW!

I haven't found much time to blog lately ... well, at least about running.  Quite honestly, I have been pretty lacking in motivation for the last couple of weeks.  Then I caught a glimpse of the calendar the other day and realized my big race is only a month away.  No time for putting off running and diving back into the Reese's peanut butter eggs -- there are hills to conquer!



This means ATTACK more hills Yvonne...
 not see if you can stuff one more peanut butter egg in your over-full belly!!

I have been doing all the usual stuff ... at least one long run a week, hill programs on my elliptical, hiking and running trails.  But I would be lying if I didn't say I've felt a little burned out.  For one thing, I think I might have adult ADHD, hehe.  And for another, I have been annoyed with my lack of speed.  Despite working pretty consistently for a couple of months, my speed is still not where it used to be.  But, I think I might have figured out why!

I have been so proud of myself for doing all my running outside -- haven't been on a treadmill in maybe a year!  As I was discussing this with another runner the other day, it dawned on me ... I think the regular treadmill training I used to do really helped me build up my speed.  Out on my own, it's way to easy to slow my pace when I get tired, whereas on the treadmill, I program in my speed and just fight through it.  I'm excited about this "a-ha" moment.  Of course now the weather has taken a recent turn for the better and I want to be outside as much as possible, but I am going to do my best to work in at least one treadmill run a week.  In the spirit of working on my "fastness" I also did a little speed training today ... sprinting and timing myself on a straight-stretch in the neighborhood over and over and over.  I can't believe how sore my legs already feel.  I'm excited about adding something "newish" to my routine. 

Going to keep plugging along, praying for the snow to melt up on those hills, and looking for more signs of spring!  This sign pretty much sums it up ... I'm excited too!!!

How 'bout a few more hours in the day ...

I keep thinking I need a 36-hour day just so I'll be able to *possibly* accomplish 1/8 of my daily "to-do" list.  Granted, most of the items on my list are recurring tasks that are not pressing, but nagging -- things like cleaning out junk drawers, fixing the ding in the wall, going through all my kids outgrown clothes, printing thousands of pictures that are doomed to be forever stuck on my computer till a terrible crash forces me to lose them all and re-think my serious lack of organization.  That's pretty much what it boils down to ... try as I might, my severe lack of organization drives me NUTS on a daily basis.  I make attempts, one closet or drawer or file folder at a time.  But what I really want is the magic organization fairy to come in and get it all done at once!!! (Or at least arrange for sweet children to be cared for and entertained somewhere far, far away on a long weekend so I can tear into everything without interruption or protest.)   I like to imagine my content self, reclining in my favorite chair, book in hand, smile on my face knowing that each and every nook and cranny in my humble home is purged, minimized, clean, labeled, organized, sparkly and efficient.  Yah, right ... maybe someday!

Until that lil' fairy appears I'll just keep tackling this stuff as best I can and try not to let it overwhelm me.  I always go back to this lovely little saying often seen flying around Facebook and Pinterest ...

My children are young, our lives are busy, we own a dog and a cat ... my house is just not destined to be glistening each day!  And I'm ok with that ... well at least for a few minutes! :)

My little piece of heaven.

I had the great fortune of spending a beautiful Sunday with my family doing all of our favorite things, but most of all just enjoying each other.

When I was a young girl (not that I'm all that old now) I used to dream of what it would be like to have a family.  I would think about how fun it would be to spend time with them, laugh, and be silly together.  This past Sunday felt like that dream come to life.

We didn't do anything extraordinary.  In fact it was a rather ordinary day.  But therein, I believe, lies the magic.  We were blessed with a gorgeous day weatherwise, so I think everyone woke up in a extra cheerful mood.  Sizing up the fridge and pantry, my chef hubby decided we had all the necessary fixin's for homemade bagel breakfast sandwiches (similar to what we get at one of our favorite local bagel shops.)  His conconction of lightly-toasted bagels, creamy cheese, fried-just-right eggs, gooey cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, tomato with salt and pepper and smashed avocado was D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!  But he didn't just stop there ... his masterpiece of the morning was a double decker breakfast delight with two fried eggs, and double layers and bacon.  We throughoughly enjoyed our breakfast while we talked about an upcoming family vacation this summer and how these new breakfast creations MUST be on the menu! (They were consumed too fast to snap a pic, but I will get one next time!)

With full bellies we decided it was time for some fresh air and we headed to my new favorite trails to stretch our legs, exercise the puppy and drink in the sunshine.  It is so fun to watch Zoe run back and forth from the kids to us ... always making sure everyone's ok ... she gets so giddy on hikes and loves to chase the kids (although we could all do without some of her jumping energy at times!)  The view was beautiful.  The hubby and I were able to relax and watch the kids make up games, catch up on a few things and feel less rushed than we've felt in weeks.

Kids + An Early Spring Day = Lots o' smiles!

Because eating is our favorite past time and at this point it was WELL past lunch, we decided to head to Sonic for a good ol' fashioned drive-in food fest.  Corn dogs, coney dogs, popcorn chicken, chili-cheese tots and ICE-COLD soda ... can you say Heaven?

We couldn't bear the thought of going back indoors so we headed back out to yet another park with basketballs and rollerskates!  The boys practiced basketball while my daughter perfected her rollerskating.  I sat in the grass with the worn out dog and smiled at the beautiful normalcy before me. 

Two matters of note:

1) My kindergartener has some mad dribbling skills ... he can't wait to play basketball next year and I can't wait to watch the little man out on the court! 

2) My daughter is a machine ... she took some seriously hard falls on those rollerskates but refused to give up ... even insisted on skating all the way home.  I love her determination.

I might sound corny,  but that's ok.  I'm not above being a sentimental sap.  This day was a snapshot of "perfect" ... something I will store in my heart forever.