Worst blogger ever

I’m officially the worst blogger ever. Wasn’t the whole point to the running/blogging journey to chronicle my efforts in attempt to one day publish the whole story? If I keep this up, there won’t be any story to publish!

I blame work. My friend Michelle and I have talked about this at length. When you’re a professional writer (particularly in the trade magazine business, where we both work), by the end of a long day, you’re far too burnt out to write anymore. I’ve spent the last few weeks writing copy for my first issue of a 12-page newsletter (on the ever-exciting topic of warehousing), and starting the copy for my first issue of a manufacturing magazine. By the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is write!

And yet, paradoxically, it’s the very thing that makes me not want to write that will one day (hopefully) get my book published. By having real writing credentials (however lame they may be), I’m ever-so-slightly more likely to get a publisher or agent to talk to me.

Ooops… this blog entry is on hold while I go deal with a screaming toddler.

Now I’m back. Chris decided to get himself tangled up in his toy car in the basement. And, like his dad, when Chris gets hurt, he gets very, very mad. Both kids are quiet now, as is their dad, who’s working on his computer right now.

But back to the purpose of the blog… how’s the running going? September has been a very strange, in-between sort of month. I’m not training for anything specific, as my 10K clinic doesn’t start until October. Our schedules have been completely up in the air, as Andrew adjusts to JK, Chris adjusts to pre-school, and I adjust to having them in daycare. It’s all starting to work itself out, but it’s also highlighted where I need to make changes.

Let’s start with the running. Technically, I guess the running is going far better than anything else. With the kids in daycare and the crazy drop-off times, most weeks it seems like all I can do is run! I’ve been running anywhere from 4 to 5 times a week, about 5K per run.

I do need to get back on a specific training schedule to increase the length of my runs, but I figure that will come with the clinic. For the next week and a half before the clinic starts, I’ll just keep steady. You’re supposed to start the 10K training with a good base of 5K training, and I really think I’m there.

But there are two other areas of fitness that need some changing. The first is the gym. It looks like it’s time to switch gyms. While I really like running, I also love spinning, and doing muscle classes, and just generally cross-training. And my gym is fantastic, and I had a blast all summer getting to know some women who went there. Andrew got to know their kids in the gym’s daycare, and we all had fun. (We even went to a birthday part for one of the kids!)

The problem is our new schedule. Andrew is in school Monday, Wednesday, and every other Friday. Chris is in school Tuesday and Thursday. And with drop off-times of either 9:10 or 9:00, I simply can’t make it across town to a 9:15 or even 9:30 class. The gym is just too far away. I find I’m roaring into the classes incredibly late, and it’s disruptive to the class, it’s hard on me, and I’m stressed whenever I get to the gym. Sooner or later, I’m going to end up with a speeding ticket or getting into an accident on my way to the gym. And I don’t want that to happen.

That means we’re on the hunt for a new gym after all. Now that the kids have settled down, I think we might be going to look at the YMCA after all. My friends who go there say it’s fantastic, and the kids can do their swimming lessons there. Mike can also get into shape there, which is helpful! We may go have a look today.

Finally, there’s one other tiny issue that’s cropping up these days. I may have my very first injury! (And no, I’m not as happy about that as I sound) I recently started seeing a new chiropractor. For 7 years, I had seen the same chiropractor and the same massage therapist. Together, they helped with my neck and shoulder pain (basically caused by poor posture – when you’re 5’11” at 13, you’re bound to have posture issues!) and were great.

Last spring, my chiropractor had a baby and basically closed her practice. My massage therapist moved away to Waterloo. I decided to see if I really did need their help, or was I just being crazy.

I really needed the help. By this fall, I was a mess. So I found a new chiropractor, at a clinic that also offers massage therapy. The new chiropractor is very thorough, and has been working to adjust my hips – something the old chiropractor never did. But in putting my hips “right,” my body can’t seem to adjust and I’ve pulled my inner thigh muscle. It’s an area that’s never bothered me before, but boy is it bothering me now.

It’s actually not stopping the exercise though. It hurts when I move the muscle, particularly after sitting for a while. But it doesn’t hurt as much when I run, and I can’t even feel it at all when spinning. So the chiropractor’s advice is to keep doing what I’m doing, and she is trying to work it out. (Unbeknownst to her, I’m also taking anti-inflammatories, and I think that’s what’s really doing the trick.) But it is an area to watch in the future.

So what’s on the schedule for the next few weeks? I’m leaving tomorrow morning to go to Houston for work, where I will evidently be insanely busy for a few days. It’s a boring trade show, and it appears a thousand PR people want nothing more than to be my best friend so I’ll write something about their sensor (or other “fantastic” product.) The hotel where I’m staying is supposed to have a gym, so hopefully I will get to do a run or two on the treadmill while I’m away. It’s certainly better than nothing!

When I get back, it will be Thanksgiving weekend (and our wedding anniversary, and Chris’ birthday….) and I will soon start the 10K clinic. So I’ll just keep holding it steady until the 10K training begins.

Happy trails…