Monday, August 12, 2013

For Real

It's for real!  I am officially training for a marathon and an ultra.  And none too soon either.  My training plan is a doozie but I think I can manage it.  I have a strong base built with consistent running, so I think my body is ready to increase the mileage.  Each week I have one long run and one short, quicker run planned.  The other days are just running (usually 6 miles) with some planking, yoga and a little strength training mixed in.  I'm pretty pumped about it. 

I know I've been talking about it for a while, but I wasn't sure if I could do it and I wasn't sure how Jason would feel about it, so this weekend I wrote out the training plan to see if it was feasible (because I'm a little late to the party) and discussed it with Jason.  I also ran a great 10 miler with my running girls just to get a feel for where I was.  It felt GREAT and that was a good sign.  When I talked to Jason he was on board, so I made a few adjustments to my training plan and here we go!

I am so excited!  Maybe not at 4:30 a.m. when my alarm goes off, but give me a few minutes to wake up and I am ready.  I have begun really looking forward to my morning runs.  They are so peaceful, and I am free to let my thoughts wander as I run whatever pace I feel like running.  This morning the sky was so clear and the stars were so bright.  I saw the big dipper and the little dipper and many other constellations I can't name.  The morning air was a humid 70 degrees, but it still felt nice on my bare shoulders as I started running.  I love seeing the world wake up as the sky slowly begins to lighten and a few other walkers and joggers venture out onto our neighborhood streets.  I love finishing with a cool shower and a hot cup of coffee as I send Jason out the door for his run and wait for my little one to wake up.

There is nothing in this world like a sweet-smelling, snuggly baby first thing in the morning. Eloise is growing and changing and learning so fast, it just amazes me!  She is walking everywhere and I can tell she loves it.  Sometimes she does a lap around the living room and kitchen just because.  No real destination, she just likes it.  She's about to cut tooth number 2 and she is doing okay with that process.  She sometimes grabs at her mouth or taps her cheek, but most of the time she doesn't seem to notice.  She's really good about playing by herself and I let her watch a little Baby Einstein in the morning after breakfast and in the late afternoon while I'm making dinner.  Other than that we play, read books, take naps, make messes, clean them up, and run an errand or two.  We also visit friends' pools and go to the park for a swim when it is not too hot.

She LOVES bath time and starts laughing and kicking her feet when I turn the water on.  When she hugs me, she also pats me on the shoulder and it is the cutest thing in the world.  I have so much fun being her mama and I feel like my heart will overflow to bursting on a regular basis.  I probably kiss her 3000 times a day.

So as summer gives way to fall (eventually), I'll be TRAINING (whoop!) and loving on my growing baby girl (whoop whoop!).


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