and you and you.....
Yesterday my baby boy turned 7....no he's not a baby anymore, but he's my youngest and I affectionately call him my baby on his birthday as I grab him and put my cheek against his.
On each of my children's birthdays I press play on the movie of their life. Beginning with pregnancy, I try to recall how it felt when they danced inside me; every kick, wiggle, turn, elbow jab, finger poke and sleepy calm. I remember how labor started slow or fast, the hospital visit wondering if I'd stay or get sent home, my water breaking, the final rush of giving birth and holding my newborn babe. I loved every moment and still relish the details.
Yesterday we talked about each of their births and they giggled to hear their own story. My first wasn't sure she wanted to come out, my second was in a big hurry to see her new world, my third just couldn't make up his mind whether he was ready to be born or not!
I relive each year with images flashing across my mind and run through the emotions of parenthood, but mostly sheer joy in celebration of the wonderful children I co-created. The songs I sang to them at bedtime, their favourite stories, their personal bedtime rituals, their giggles, first words still bring a tear to my eye as it seems like only yesterday. My first had to fall asleep nose to nose when she was a toddler, my second always pinchedd the skin on my neck when she breastfed, my third always intertwined his fingers in mine even as an infant with tiny hands.
Raising children is a huge responsibility and on this day I choose to focus on ease. The ease of knowing I am doing a great job raising happy and healthy children. My children are gifts given to me for such a short time before they move on with thier own lives. I only hope they know how much I love them and feel so thankful for what they continue to bring to my life every day.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Running to a healthier life Day 2
I felt like I was going to die! Why did I wait until it was so bloody hot outside to go for a run. I finally got up my nerve to take my running off the treadmill into the outside world and I picked the hottest part of the morning to do it!
Oh well.........I did it!!!!!!! It was incredibly difficult until the final 5 minutes and then it felt easier somehow. Perhaps it was knowing I was getting closer to home, or knowing I had to keep up my energy for my dog to keep going too. Tomorrow I will go much earlier before it's this hot!
Running outside is very different than running on my treadmill in the air conditioned basement. The pavement doesn't have the give of the treadmill and there's no TV to keep my mind occupied on something other than how much my lungs are struggling to take in enough oxygen. The heat felt unbearable at times and it was during those moments we walked.
I have my ipod shuffle but couldn't find a song that could lift me up to a higher energy. Maybe next time I'll just listen to my feet pounding the pavement and Ruby panting. It might be easier to maintain a running and breathing rhythm if I start without music for now.
If anyone on this blog site wants to join me, I'd love to read about your training experience too!!
So that's it. I have to stretch if I want to be able to walk later today and tomorrow! I certainly hope Day 3 is easier than today.
Oh well.........I did it!!!!!!! It was incredibly difficult until the final 5 minutes and then it felt easier somehow. Perhaps it was knowing I was getting closer to home, or knowing I had to keep up my energy for my dog to keep going too. Tomorrow I will go much earlier before it's this hot!
Running outside is very different than running on my treadmill in the air conditioned basement. The pavement doesn't have the give of the treadmill and there's no TV to keep my mind occupied on something other than how much my lungs are struggling to take in enough oxygen. The heat felt unbearable at times and it was during those moments we walked.
I have my ipod shuffle but couldn't find a song that could lift me up to a higher energy. Maybe next time I'll just listen to my feet pounding the pavement and Ruby panting. It might be easier to maintain a running and breathing rhythm if I start without music for now.
If anyone on this blog site wants to join me, I'd love to read about your training experience too!!
So that's it. I have to stretch if I want to be able to walk later today and tomorrow! I certainly hope Day 3 is easier than today.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Running to a healthier life Day 1
Today I finally started my personal commitment to better health. I've been riding my kids long enough about healthy food choices and exercise, so it was time to get off my ever spreading middle aged butt, and walk the talk, or run in this case.
My inspiration, three children who completed their first triathlon this summer on one of the hottest days we've had all season. My children did something I could not in my current physical condition. Oh, I do a laundrython every week running up and down the stairs, but to swim, bike and run...not gonna happen. I was in awe watching them run from the pool to the transition area, come back after their long bike ride, take a quick drink of water and run off to the trail! I thought they would be too hot and tired after the biking to continue, but each had such determination to finish the whole triathlon. Phenomenal!
I started the year with a bang doing an awesome workout on New Year's Day! Gave myself a big pat on the back and vowed to continue all year. Well, that promise lasted until the next day and I didn't work out again for several weeks. I've used the treadmill on and off this year, but more off than on.
Today I forced myself to get on the treadmill with a goal of running for 30 minutes. I was tired after a sleepless night spent between my snoring husband and son who snored due to a cold! My inner voices were really battling it out, but in the end the voice comparing my short run to the triathlon won out. The first three minutes were great....because I walked at a brisk pace rather than run. It's okay to walk, I told myself, it warms up the muscles. As the timer hit three minutes, I increased the speed to 3.7mph, forwarded to the Black Eyes Peas on my ipod, and picked up my pace to a jog. It felt great, for the first two minutes and then it just hurt. My lungs! How the hell was I going to keep it up for 27 minutes?!
I had to find a song with the same beat I was jogging to settle into a good pace. Demi Lovato? Nope. Plumb? No. It was Miley Cyrus. (Yes, I do share my shuffle with my children and so most of the songs are ones they like. ) But honestly, in my opinion, both Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus are talented singers. I digress....maybe to forget the torture of my run today!
In the end I made it to 33 minutes. :-) It felt like I the first time I stepped on the treadmill in years! The first 10 minutes of running was the toughest until I was warmed up and into a zone. I walked one minute before picking up the pace again for another 10 minutes of running. This second set seemed to move quicker and gave me hope that I could do the whole 30 today. After my last one minute walk, I once again picked up the pace, and it was tough! I was sweating like a pig, my legs were tired, my lungs hurt and my feet felt like bricks crashing the treadmill with each step. I decided to take my pulse after the 8 minute mark and felt some concern for my heart!!! My pulse was up to 280!!!!!!!!!! Totally freaked out, I slowed to a brisk walk for 2 minutes to slow my heart rate before doing a slow jog of 3.5mph to finish up the last 2 minutes of my run.
How did I feel when I finished? Elated!!!!!!!!!!!! I completed Day 1 of my training. Oh...did I say training? Hmm, I forgot to mention that I have spent the last two weeks telling my family and friends I am going to do a 5km run in October. I had not signed up, only googled local runs to find out when there was a scheduled race before the weather got too cold! When I told one particular friend, who happens to be a twice Ironman competitor, she said, "Well maybe I'll do it with you!" Eek!!! Oh drat, was she calling my bluff? I hadn't even signed up, just looked for one to talk about and maybe, perhaps, think about entering.
Guess what? Before signing on tonight to blog, I did it! I registered to participate in a 5km race!! I felt a jolt of fear, and my fingers are still cold, upon hitting the submit key, but it's done, paid for, set in stone, or at least cyber stone anyway.
Truthbtold, I have always wanted to enter a big race, with tons of entrants, just to be able to start with the big crowd and cross the finish line at the end. It's on my bucket list, but I don't actually call it a bucket list.
So now you know, my secret is out! I am finally going to do it, a 5km race. I have set a goal for myself.
Egad.....wish me luck with Day 2.
My inspiration, three children who completed their first triathlon this summer on one of the hottest days we've had all season. My children did something I could not in my current physical condition. Oh, I do a laundrython every week running up and down the stairs, but to swim, bike and run...not gonna happen. I was in awe watching them run from the pool to the transition area, come back after their long bike ride, take a quick drink of water and run off to the trail! I thought they would be too hot and tired after the biking to continue, but each had such determination to finish the whole triathlon. Phenomenal!
I started the year with a bang doing an awesome workout on New Year's Day! Gave myself a big pat on the back and vowed to continue all year. Well, that promise lasted until the next day and I didn't work out again for several weeks. I've used the treadmill on and off this year, but more off than on.
Today I forced myself to get on the treadmill with a goal of running for 30 minutes. I was tired after a sleepless night spent between my snoring husband and son who snored due to a cold! My inner voices were really battling it out, but in the end the voice comparing my short run to the triathlon won out. The first three minutes were great....because I walked at a brisk pace rather than run. It's okay to walk, I told myself, it warms up the muscles. As the timer hit three minutes, I increased the speed to 3.7mph, forwarded to the Black Eyes Peas on my ipod, and picked up my pace to a jog. It felt great, for the first two minutes and then it just hurt. My lungs! How the hell was I going to keep it up for 27 minutes?!
I had to find a song with the same beat I was jogging to settle into a good pace. Demi Lovato? Nope. Plumb? No. It was Miley Cyrus. (Yes, I do share my shuffle with my children and so most of the songs are ones they like. ) But honestly, in my opinion, both Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus are talented singers. I digress....maybe to forget the torture of my run today!
In the end I made it to 33 minutes. :-) It felt like I the first time I stepped on the treadmill in years! The first 10 minutes of running was the toughest until I was warmed up and into a zone. I walked one minute before picking up the pace again for another 10 minutes of running. This second set seemed to move quicker and gave me hope that I could do the whole 30 today. After my last one minute walk, I once again picked up the pace, and it was tough! I was sweating like a pig, my legs were tired, my lungs hurt and my feet felt like bricks crashing the treadmill with each step. I decided to take my pulse after the 8 minute mark and felt some concern for my heart!!! My pulse was up to 280!!!!!!!!!! Totally freaked out, I slowed to a brisk walk for 2 minutes to slow my heart rate before doing a slow jog of 3.5mph to finish up the last 2 minutes of my run.
How did I feel when I finished? Elated!!!!!!!!!!!! I completed Day 1 of my training. Oh...did I say training? Hmm, I forgot to mention that I have spent the last two weeks telling my family and friends I am going to do a 5km run in October. I had not signed up, only googled local runs to find out when there was a scheduled race before the weather got too cold! When I told one particular friend, who happens to be a twice Ironman competitor, she said, "Well maybe I'll do it with you!" Eek!!! Oh drat, was she calling my bluff? I hadn't even signed up, just looked for one to talk about and maybe, perhaps, think about entering.
Guess what? Before signing on tonight to blog, I did it! I registered to participate in a 5km race!! I felt a jolt of fear, and my fingers are still cold, upon hitting the submit key, but it's done, paid for, set in stone, or at least cyber stone anyway.
Truthbtold, I have always wanted to enter a big race, with tons of entrants, just to be able to start with the big crowd and cross the finish line at the end. It's on my bucket list, but I don't actually call it a bucket list.
So now you know, my secret is out! I am finally going to do it, a 5km race. I have set a goal for myself.
Egad.....wish me luck with Day 2.
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