The journey

And here I thought taking the summer off would mean I had MORE time to write! Instead, it’s been even longer between posts. Although, I did spend most of June trying to cram in the rest of the summer’s work ahead of time, so hopefully I can forgive myself for not finding the time to update my blog. Then the beginning of July was devoted to vacation, and now we are finally settling into a good summer routine. I finally have time to pull together some random running thoughts that have been circulating in my head for a while. (Running through my head? Pardon the pun!)

First, let’s start with the Moon in June 5K race. My goal was to beat my 5K PB (personal best) of 27:10. I managed to shave more than two minutes off that time, coming in at 25:06 and placing 5th out of 71 in my age group. (And, because my birthday is not until December, I’m still in the 30-34 age group!) It was certainly a great night for all of us who ran, including Mike, who ran his first 5K in 30:31. We also ran with our friends, who did well, seeing as how it was his first 5K and her first in more than 8 or 9 years. We ended the evening on an incredible high, and now all three of them are training for the Harvest Moon 5K in October. I’ve decided to sit that one out, however, and look after all the kids. (It’s only two weeks after my next half marathon!)

Achieving that goal I had of beating my 5K PB certainly got me thinking over the last few weeks about this whole running journey. It’s not just about the physical changes or how fast I run, but how it’s also changing me on the inside. Sure, I’m lighter, stronger and faster than I’ve ever been, but I’m also less tired, less anxious and more centered than before. It’s like my training program isn’t just reshaping my body, it’s also reshaping my mind and soul at the same time.

I’ll give you an example. Last year, I never would have dreamed of taking two months off of work. Or even taking a weekend off, for that matter. No, because I am self-employed, I felt like the burden fell completely on me. Even taking a week off was a huge undertaking, and I would never have quit one job and informed the other that I was taking an extended amount of time off.

But something has changed in me, and changed for the better. I did choose to quit a job that required me to work weekends and odd hours, taking time away from my family and causing an inordinate amount of stress. I called the other client and informed them that I was going to do four months of work in two months, then take two months off. And they were 100 percent on board. “If anyone can do it, you can,” the publisher informed me. “I say go for it.”

And I’m even trying to ensure my workouts don’t get in the way of my kids this summer. I’ve been getting up at 5:30 a.m. to run, a few mornings a week. I’m trying to minimize the number of days they go to the YMCA. I’m doing evening and early morning Tread Powerfully classes so I can fit my workouts in when Mike gets home. And I’ve even started swimming, so I can do laps while the kids have fun in the pool.

I’m also using this time to accomplish some of the never-ending things on my to-do list. I’ve started to get ready to (finally!) paint the living room, a much-needed update, since the previous owners used the cheapest possible paint to “fluff” the house before we bought it two years ago. I’m cleaning and organizing my bathroom, kitchen and the boys’ rooms, hopefully before school starts. Not to mention spending a bit of time on my own personal writing projects, long abandoned in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

And although I’m worried about what will happen in September, I’m trying not to let it bother me too much. Yes, by then, I will need to find something to replace the job I quit, or possibly even go back to a “regular” office job. (The woes of being self-employed are many, especially when you don’t get paid in a timely fashion. Our finances take a hit whenever that happens… and it may be time to throw in the towel.) I’m taking some time to think about it over the summer and try to find the right answer. Opportunity knocks when you least expect it, right? At least, that’s what I hope.

For now, I’m going to enjoy my summer. The kids and I have been swimming (even though the pool heater is broken… brrr!!), and today we’re going to start a special project of painting canvases to adorn my front hall as art. I told Mike that I don’t even care if the art ends up being a giant picture of Optimus Prime (Andrew’s favourite thing to draw) and an endless loop of “678” (Christopher’s favourite thing to draw). I just want some original art done by the boys to forever remember this summer.

And of course, I will keep running! (And going to Tread Powerfully… so far, I’m running three times a week, going to Tread three times a week, doing one intense strength class a week and swimming a few times a week.) It’s going very well, and I feel very strong when running. I’m getting a bit faster, and hopefully that will show when I run the half in September.

Happy trails…