Running Monologue
Can't Beet Good Produce...
You can read more of my article as well as my new favorite summer recipe, roasted beet salad, at BMoore Healthy , health coach Besty Moore's website for busy moms. She has tons of great recipes and ideas for busy women who want to live a healthier life without feeling deprived.
My recipe as well as countless others can be found at the Tumbling Shoals Farm website. Shiloh Avery has put together a tremendous database full of delicious recipes for every veggie imaginable. If you're stumped about what to cook tonight or what to do with that bunch of curly green kale you bought, this is a great place to go for a little cooking inspiration.
Roots of She
A few months ago, I made a list of dream writing gigs, and writing a guest post for Roots of She was on that list. Who says the power of just getting it down on paper doesn't exist?
I'm a big believer in writing down dreams and then making them happen. Big thanks to Jenn for taking the time to read my work and giving me the opportunity to add my story to the mix.
Run to Brooklyn
You know those ideas that seem so awesome and inspired when they first come to you, but then, about halfway through them, you think, “What was I thinking?” Like, “Let’s see everything and do everything in New York in three and half days or die tryin’” or “I think we can just grab a cab after the show” as everyone in America files out of the theatre into Times Square. Uh-huh—no problem—on either of those. Yeah, I had several of those this week… but in a really good way. Those ideas generally lead to some sort of adventure, and adventures always make great stories.
This morning, as I was running along the Hudson River, I said, “Let’s run to Brooklyn,” and took off across what I thought was the Brooklyn Bridge. About halfway across, I looked over and thought, “Hmmmm… that looks like the Brooklyn Bridge over there.” Because it was.
Rob said, “I know what you’re thinking, and we’re not doing that.”
“What am I thinking?” I asked.
“You’re thinking that we’ll just run to the end of this bridge and then run several blocks to the Brooklyn Bridge and then come back across. No.”
To be honest, I had not thought of that at all, but it did sound like fun. Instead, we ran to the end of the Manhattan Bridge, which is what we were actually on, and then turned around and cut back across Chinatown.
Running is actually a great way to see the city though when we first arrived I would have told you I was too scared to run on the streets of NYC. In a lot of places, the crowds would make running at a decent pace prohibitive, even in Central Park, but on a Sunday morning along the river, it was really nice, and running across the bridge was a great way to take it all in.
Taking it all in—that’s what I feel like I did this week. I’m anxious to get home now—to see my kids, sleep, post photos and let it all soak in. My legs and feet are killing me, and I’m pretty sure I could sleep for 24 hours straight. This city is a bit of a sensory overload. It might take a while to recover.
In three and a half days, we saw…
The Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island
Chinatown
The Phantom of the Opera
The Museum of Modern Art
Central Park
Greenwich Village
NBC studios
Macy’s
SoHo
A Ben Stiller movie being filmed on the street outside our hotel door
The East Village
A terrific comedy show
The Empire State Building
The Brooklyn Bridge (from the Manhattan Bridge)
The new World Trade Center
We ate and drank at…
A Cuban restaurant
A very dark (and sort of snooty) bar
A deli with the locals
An Irish pub
A hole in the wall pizza place
Some other over-priced places
One place that was expensive but totally worth it
We also saw…
Lots of homeless people
Lots of seemingly crazy people too
High fashion
Low fashion
Everything in between
Rats in the subway
Musicians in the subway
Monks and priests and Hassidic Jews on the same street
People with little kids
Artists
Girls coming home from volleyball practice
Guys talking junk on the basketball court
Men with their foreheads to the ground as they prayed
People fighting
People kissing
People singing at the top of their lungs
People sitting quietly in windows and reading a book
I know—for some people this is not anything spectacular, but for someone who lives in such a small Southern town, this was actually one of my favorite things about the city. It really gives you a much broader view of America when you come to a place like this and realize that not everyone is just like you. And then to realize, after that first revelation, that everyone is, in the end, very much like you.
I Love NYC!
Where the Wild Things Are
“There must be more to life than having everything.”
-Maurice Sendak
“Let the wild rumpus start!”
“And he sailed back over a year
and in and out of weeks
and through a day
and into the night of his very own room
where he found his supper waiting for him
and it was still hot.”
Creative Journaling Class for Women
The first two sessions of my creative journaling class for women is less than a week away! I'm offering one session in the morning at 10:00 on Monday, May 7th and another that same evening at 6:00.
This class is something I've wanted to do for a LONG time. I've finally put it together and am feeling more excited about it everyday.
Eleven years ago, when I got pregnant, I decided that I wanted being a mom to be my job in the sense that I would be an active participant in their health and nutrition, their education, their play and development, and everything in between. I didn't want to miss out by just going through the motions.
But I was also keenly aware of maintaining my own identity. I had seen other women lose themselves completely in their role as mother. It's one of the reasons I made a commitment to running-- it was time for me that was separate from being a mom. I have managed, over the years, to maintain that part of who I am, and it has made me a better mom and person.
As my babies have turned into little people with their own interests and hobbies, I began to long for new challenges. No longer newborns, Harper Lee and Isaac don't require my constant attention anymore, and with both kids in school, I have found myself ready to explore new things. At first, I wasn't sure what those new things might be.
I started journaling. Then, I took an art class. I began to tap into some of the talents and gifts I've always had, and I realized I wanted to use them more. Writing and art, and even gardening, are things that I have always loved and am good at. They fill me up and renew my spirit. So I just started. I simply began.
I have a theory that God made each of us for a purpose. We are divinely and uniquely created to be exactly WHO WE ARE. Our job is to remember who we are made to be and to fulfill our purpose. The reason I say "remember" is because I think children are pretty in tune with this purpose, with what makes them tick; it's only as we grow older that we begin to feel the pressure to do the things other people think we should.
I have realized, over time and with much thought, prayer, and writing, that I am at my core a mother, teacher and writer. I love to create-- to write, to draw, to cut and paste, to think creatively, to teach creatively, to play, to run in the woods and let the ideas just wash over me. That's who I was made to be.
This creative journaling class is about sharing that experience. It's about learning to listen to what we know is true for us and doing the things, both physically and spiritually, that feed us and make us grow. It is the key to good health and happiness.
I'm excited about showing other women how to use their journals and exercise and good health practices to lead happier and more fulfilling lives.
What changes do you need to make in your life to accommodate more time for yourself and your well-being?
What's been your greatest success in life?
If you could, by magic, change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
If money and time were no issue, how would you spend your days?
Make a list of 25 things you have always wanted to try, but have yet to begin.
*There will even be some good, old-fashioned cutting and pasting (maybe some crayons?) involved. Here's an example of an art journaling exercise.
We'll get messy, be creative, play, laugh and get down to building a foundation for better health.
I can't wait!!!
The Drool Deer
Derek is an interesting character to say the least, so to say that I wasn't sure what to expect is an understatement, but the race was great. As I wrote earlier, I have been struggling with a sore SI joint, a sore hamstring and a general pain in the butt, which most days, seems to be improving, but only in small increments. Running has not been as much fun as it had been.
I decided no expectations might be the best plan.
The weather on Saturday was perfect, mid-50's at the start. The trail was, as always, beautiful, and Derek, God bless him, had purposely set up stops along the way where we had to venture a little off the direct path but we would also get to take in the most stunning views. He had us get out timing chips, which were actual wood chips attached to our bibs, marked by volunteers. That way, we were absolutely guaranteed to see Stone Mountain in all its glory.
I have to say that I surprised the fool out of myself by running one of my better races in a long time. I ran well, I felt strong, I beat some pretty good people, and I had FUN! It was such a welcome relief.
As we were climbing the steps to the summit, one of the guys ahead of me commented on the incline. I told him the fun part was coming. He seemed briefly relieved and said, "Downhill, I hope?" I told him I was just being sarcastic, but that yes, eventually, there would be a downhill. This was a good reminder to me that already knowing the course is a really good thing. Stone Mountain is a home away from home when it comes to running, and I'd already been out to run the course twice before. Sometimes, it's helpful to know what lies ahead.
Overall, I placed 4th in the women's division and was 8th (?) overall. And I won an awesome trophy with a handmade drool deer attached. Again, thanks to Derek and his creative genius.
My only faux pas was at the summit. When I rounded the corner, I saw three water jugs sitting along the fence. If there were people around, I was not aware. Racing here, people. I'm not focused on other human beings (unless they are about to pass me or I am trying to pass them) or paper cups.
I grabbed a jug, opened it and began to drink only to hear a freaked out volunteer saying, "No, no, no, no! There are cups," at which time he produced the cups.
I felt sort of bad because I just assumed we were doing it Surry Central style and drinking from a communal jug that may or may not have amoebas swimming in it-- I mean, c'mon, have some guts, right?!
I apologized, passed on the cups and took off again while other folks were nice and hygenic and waited for a cup. It should be noted that only two of those "clean" people beat me. The message here is don't wait for cups.
I was able to really open it up and run a lot faster on the way down (though I'm a bit beat up now-- the bike may be my friend for a couple of days), and I felt really good about the race. Every time I run one, I fall more and more in love with trail racing. It has never been my strength, but the fun of getting to run in the woods possibly outweighs everything else.
We even got personalized bibs with our Drool Deer names on them. Earlier in the month, I had received a cryptic email from Derek with two phrases in quotations. I had no idea what they meant. They must have been possible nicknames for the race. After getting no response from me, he chose what turned out to be my favorite, "Just Cut It Off," which sounds vaguely obscene, but he included an explanation with our packets, and I found it was actually pretty appropriate, which is sort of amazing since he really doesn't know me that well. The explanation for my name was "Whether it is the way she treats twisted ankles, broken limbs, or the Continental Divide finish line, she is the end of the line for all things painful!" Awwww, thanks.
And thank you for an awesome race experience.
Sick/Art Day
We started by tracing parts of ourselves onto white poster board. Then we ripped out pictures and words from magazines. We didn't really have a plan-- we just played.
Harper worked most of the late morning and early afternoon on hers. She likes a lot of texture... and messages. Can you see some of what she's written?
"Don't hide yourself behind a mask!"
"It's not too late to be colorful."
"Nothing can stop a tree from growing. Nothing can stop me!"
Hmmmm.... words to live by???
The ability and willingness to "just play" can lead to some pretty cool things.
Thought for the Day:
If you had a "sick day," what would you do with it? Why wait until you're feeling bad? Do it today while you feel good, and when you do, don't feel the least bit guilty about it. Enjoy!
One Foot in Front of the Other
For a blog entitled Running Monologue, running has been conspicuously absent from my posts. It has been a tough couple of months. I’ve had an old injury return, one that I battled for over a year about eight years ago. With specific strength training, I finally recovered and thought it was a distant memory, but it has reared its ugly head once again. The difference is that I’m older now and a lot slower, which makes training through an injury a lot less inspiring.
It’s one thing to push through pain when you’re running the fastest times of your life and you’re lean and in top shape. It’s another when you’re feeling slower everyday and catching glimpses of yourself in storefront windows and think, “Who’s that fat middle-aged mom? Oh, crap.” The whole thing is pretty depressing, and running has just not been fun.
A couple of weeks ago, I ended up with a nasty sinus infection and strep throat on top of everything else, and I stayed in bed for several days. Once I was up and about again, I decided to do something I NEVER do—I ran without a watch. For some people, this is no big deal. For me, this is huge. I live and die by the time on that watch and always have. I time EVERYTHING—even family hikes in the woods.
Still, the times were really depressing me. Looking at the watch and constantly comparing where I was with where I had been was really bringing me down, so I put it in a drawer and left it.
I ran—for the pure joy of it. When I started to hurt too much, I walked. When I felt good (or less bad), I ran again. I did some strides and drills, a card I had not been playing, I must admit, and walked away when I felt done. I have no idea how many minutes I ran each day, and there’s a blank space in the time slot in my daily workout log, but it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would.
The thing that really drives me crazy about this particular injury is that it’s pretty inconsistent. One day, like last Saturday, I might go out for 20 minutes and then have to walk the rest of the way home. Then, the next day, like last Sunday, I might go out and run an hour and 50 minutes at Stone Mountain and feel pretty great. It makes it sort of hard to plan a workout.
And I have races scheduled. That puts a whole other spin on this thing. I’m running a trail race at Stone Mountain next weekend, the Shelton Vineyard 10K in May, and (this is the one that might be a little crazy) a 12-hour race at the beginning of June. It’s hard to train for a 12-hour race when some of my 20-minute runs have been dismal failures.
That doesn’t mean I’m changing my race plan though. Instead, I’m moving ahead with every intention of running each of those but without the pressure of expectation. Stone Mountain will be a crap shoot, Shelton Vineyard comes with free concert tickets, and The Black Mountain Monster 12-Hour Run is going to be more hiking than running anyway. Maybe it will be a vision quest or something. I read an article the other day about a chick who did a 10,000 km vision quest, came home and chucked it all and became an artist and now has a thriving business as an artist and teacher. Maybe my 12-hours in the woods will change my life in deep and profound ways. Or it might just lay me up for a couple of weeks. Either way, I’m doing it.
My G-Force girls ran the Habitat Hammer 5K yesterday, and they ran so beautifully. There were some huge PRs and a lot of smiling faces, good friends, laughter and running just for fun. It reminded me of what it’s all about.
And our church made a terrific showing with nearly 35 runners, walkers and volunteers along the course. Yay, Elkin Presbyterian. I am constantly reminded of how running has surrounded me with good-hearted, true people and how blessed I am to belong to such amazing circles of friends.
After the race, Alison made me lie on the ground as she adjusted my hips (one of the perks of having running friends who are also physical therapists), and I took off with Crystal for an easy 10 miles on the trails at Pilot Mountain. I did wear a watch this time, but I didn’t worry about it nearly as much as I had been. We were just two good friends out for a run in one of the most beautiful places God ever made. I took it all in and put one foot in front of the other, mostly running and sometimes walking, but always moving in a forward direction.
Journal Topic: Is there anything in your life that has been particularly difficult or frustrating lately?
What can you do to start moving in a forward direction again?
Less is More
The cleaning of his room had become our number one discipline issue, and we really couldn't blame the guy. Rob said, "I feel overwhelmed by all the stuff, and I'm a grown man." It was becoming a nightmare.
I've been reading Simplicity Parenting, which is awesome and wonderful and all kinds of right, but I already do most of the things the author suggests. The one area where I seemed to be lacking was a clutter-free environment. I took action. I bought four 35-gallon Rubbermaid totes and then picked up an additional eight cardboard boxes from the ABC store and spent one afternoon filling them up and carrying them to the attic. Why not just get rid of it? Well, there is the fear that I might box up something that does actually mean something to him, and that would make me feel like crap, so we'll just put it in the "toy library". If something is missed, another toy may be exchanged for it. And if it's not, well, in a couple of years, when I'm about to lose my mind from the barrage of stuff again, we'll purge it as well.
It should be noted that in order to make room for the tubs of toys and books, I took 17 garbage bags of clothing to Goodwill and have more to go. I'm literally cleaning house. And it feels really good.
Isaac has been so relieved and happy, he cleans his own messes without being asked and he's even sleeping better in his own room, which he had begun to avoid by sneaking into other people's beds in the middle of the night. Guess there's something to this theory that less is more.
Solid Ground Health Coaching
Sparrow Magazine
Circle of Moms
