3TT ~ I'm seeing 3s Edition

This morning was day #3 of 5th grade. 

Our family is still struggling a bit with the new routine.  S'ghetti girl is still hard to get moving in the morning.  LBM still wants to be awake through the middle of the night and then sleep when it's time to be getting ready for his day.  I am still an epic fail on my morning runs and workouts.  BUT it is only day #3 and I know that what is important to each of us will get done.  It may take a few weeks to have the school schedule become habit but it will happen and then we will wonder why it ever was a challenge.

Today God willing will be my third day of double runs. 

Okay, Monday I did a mini-double too but a mile with LBM didn't really count.

I have been enjoying my outside hilly route each evening and then hitting my new-to-me treadmill to finish my miles.  After my mysterious sore thigh episode I am treading lightly on getting what I feel is some lost leg strength back.  I notice the issue most on my hilly 6.5 mile route when I hit the uphills.  My left leg just doesn't have the "push."  I can keep going but the strength to keep my pace up simply isn't there when I hit those hills.  So I have been easing back into my hills.  And if last night's run is any indication, it is working.  I didn't do a warm up typical I simply started running and felt blah.  I thought this run might be another effort but once I hit my first short steep hill something clicked.  It was practically audible!  It was like that place you might be lucky enough to have visited during a run that just goes your way.  It might happen some where in a long run or on a beautiful trail when your mind seems to forget your running.  Your body seems to almost effortlessly move forward and your mind is lost along the way in daydreamy thoughts or familiar scenery that is transformed into something now magically captivating.

Last night my neighbors might have seen me running my "normal" hilly loop but inside I was running some place extraordinary.  And I hope to find my way there again tonight!

Three years ago today it was Labor Day. 

Three years ago today was my labor day and I welcome LBM into the world for the first time.  It was the first time I could hear his voice, smell his LBM smell and hold his little body.  That morning was the first time I could feel him "love me back" after having loved him for over seven months already LBM was early. 

This morning I woke up with LBM in my arms again.  He slept with me sleep being optional at points through the night last night.  I woke up to that same sweet face, those same sweet smells and feeling that love he sends to me.  But today as he turns 3 years old he can tell me he loves me.  One of my favorite ways is when he says,

"Mommy,  You are my favorite!"

Happy Big Third Birthday LBM!

Clearly Kissing takes Concentration

Last evening S'ghetti Girl had soccer practice which meant we had to hustle to fit everything into our evening.  Add to our already busy evening a forecast of potentially violent thunderstorm and the need to pick up a few things from the store and we were pressed to make it to soccer practice on time.

Normally LBM and I might run errands during practice but we didn't want to risk a storm blowing in while we were away from the fields.  So after a quick run to the store, we made it to practice. 

LBM is not a fan of soccer practice.  Let me restate that, he is not a fan of not getting to practice himself and he quickly grows bored of mommy's lets-keep-LBM-busy antics...

...which lead to his discovery of my car keys.

You probably don't know but LBM firmly believes that he CAN drive my car.

He attempts to prove this every time we get in or out of the car.  He insists on having the car keys, tells me that he can drive and that the policeman is fine with him not having a license.

So when LBM found himself bored of my soccer skills, he quickly decided that he was going to drive me home.  In an effort to stall for the few minutes remaining in S'ghetti Girl's practice I offered to let him put the keys in the car for a kiss.

Clearly kissing me must be something he has to brace himself for.

Three things Thursday - Super Hero Edition

 Speaking of secret identities, I think I have one now too. 

I mean I must because I don't know anyone else who would be registered for 2 long races and have a fairly decent lottery entry into a mega long race all within the next 3 months and have yet to concretely discuss those plans with their husband. 

I think I should be known as Super Runner Girl.

But I'll let you know if that should be Stupid Runner Girl after I drop the news of multiple hotel reservations on my husband.

I know many of you may think you know Iron Man's secret identity but you don't.  

You probably think it's Tony Stark, right?

Naahhh.

It wouldn't be secret if that were true.

But since we're such close and such good friends I'll tell you the truth.

Iron Man's real identity is...

Little Bug Man!

This morning I had to get my miles ran since I have work all day and then have a meeting after work.  I was determined to somehow make it happen but when I woke up at 5:15 running just wasn't what my body wanted to do and my mind couldn't get my legs moving.  Fast forward to 6:30 and we are knee deep in the morning bus routine.  After S'ghetti girl got on the bus LBM and I went to the workout room and I hit the treadmill.  LBM played with the cat and climbed all over the storage boxes. 

He must have gotten tired somewhere around 3 miles because that's when is set up his little folding chair in front of the treadmill and after a few minutes....

he turned it off.

What super power is it when you can only fly backwards?

I know you were wishing for a photo of that one.

Things to be proud of

This is a face filled with pride.

LBM was so proud of what he had accomplished unattended in the bathroom.

"Happy Mommy?" is what he asked when I saw him from the door way.

We all have things that we love to do.

Things that we feel we are good at and take pride in doing.

For each of us these things are different. 

I have several things that I love to do that make me feel proud of accomplishing them.

I take pride is doing things on my own, like fixing our pellet stove or rehanging the front door.

I enjoy crafting, making cards and headbands.

 At our house I often have show and tell time with Hubbs when he comes home for the weekend.  My wonderful hubbs gets drug lead around the house as I show off all my latest creations and home repairs.

Everyone has something that they do that makes them feel happy and that they just can't wait to share with everyone. 

No one thing is better or more important.

We each just have "our" thing.

Most of us have running as a common passion but rarely are we people of a singular focus.

I remind you all today that there are many things in your life that bring you joy.  There are simple things that fill you with pride. 

Maybe emptying a can of shaving cream all over your head and face won't fill you with pride and make you happy but there are many many things in your day that will or at least can.

LBM so proud of his shaving

What besides running fills you?

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

About the dishes...

This weekend while the family was all in Virginia soaking up the warmer weather I got to check out the neighborhood a little more during my run.  You might remember that I did not like the lack of shoulders on the roads in VA. 

Quite often the roads are lined with a ditch.  Not too runner friendly.  In fact I don't think it would be very tire friendly either if you had to get over for a road hog while driving.

But back to my point.  The run was feeling hard from the start but I set out to do 8 miles so I kept running trying to make that switch from treadmill to road and trail.

The miles ticked away and I was finally feeling comfortable with my pace and stride

and then I started finding these.

Now it's not for everyone to carry four porcelain dishes, one cup and a stoneware serving tray the last two miles of their run but for me I think it added a little extra upper body work to the run.

Day # 219 ~ 3.5...so far

Now back in PA and on the treadmill as we are having another winter storm, I think our family is going to do a litter pick up along our road in VA next weekend. 

Sunday Hubbs, LBM and I went back out for a walk while S'ghetti girl was playing with a friend the trash along the road is terrible!  But we did enjoy getting out in the drizzle and gathering the rest of the dishes that I believe had be thrown at trees and utility poles by teenagers.  (I hope they didn't steal them but I think they probably did)

We found 2 dinner plates, 5 desert plates, 4 cups, a large stoneware serving plate and 2 porcelain tea pots.  S'ghetti girl is already planning her next tea party.

Run like a child

S'ghetti girl has been working on her fitness.  We have been doing Wii Fitness in the evening and running on the weekend.  It is nice to see her taking pride in working hard and pushing herself while having fun too.

She is always so upbeat and happy when we are done.

All most all my running this week has been inside on the treadmill.  While I am getting great workouts in I am not feeling as good after my run as I had been.  I thought perhaps it was the streaking taking a toll on my mind.  I thought maybe it was my increased mileage.  I just couldn't figure out what I was missing.

And then I saw this photo.  It's not a good photo at all,  the subject is barely in the frame and out of focus

BUT

this photo shows everything I have been missing in my recent runs.

It shows the beautiful outdoors of course and that

JOY

that running simply because it feels great to do it expression on my daughter's face.

Here's praying we all find it on our next run and then share it with someone else.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

Isaiah 40:31 (King James Version)

How'd November Go?

Miles Ran: 240.0 (Year total: 2,403.5)

Rest Days Taken: 0 (November 30th was Day # 205 of the streak)

Highest Mileage Week: 11/22 - 11/28 (DM Weeks) 65 miles

Races:  None, so sad.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Toasted Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches

Which Outfit did I Wear the Most:

FOTM Trail 50k ~ I lived in this shirt this month.

What We Are Watching:  Toy Story 3

Funniest Kid Quote:  LBM (yes in our bed, ugh!), middle of the night Daddy is keeping us both awake due to his snoring. "...Daddy, stop.  Daddy, stop. ....Daddy, stop it.  Daddy! Stop It!...."  and on and on.

Current Triumph:   Helping S'ghetti Girl find ways to enjoy being active

Current Goal:   Personal: To rid myself of past baggage
Running/Fitness:  To add regular cross training

Current Blessing:  The way my family has been working together

Current Excitement: Still Army Son's life choices

Current Concern: Still Army Son's life choices

How did your November days add up?






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