Marathon?

So, running has been good to me and good for me all my life. I really enjoy it, and I've loved getting back into it! I'm so glad that Cara gave me the excuse...tagging along for this half marathon is probably the only thing that could have made me actually start training again.

And, in true craziness fashion, I've started to consider doing a marathon. I think a road marathon would kill me right now, because people go so fast. My whole life I liked running in the woods better than on the road....I think because of growing up in the valley. So there's a marathon in December here in Bloomington that I'm thinking about doing.

It's called the Tecumseh Trail Marathon, and they have it in December. The race details look pretty gory, but pretty awesome...and trail running is my kind of running. I'm getting excited about it. I think that if I finish the half well, and have kept running through school starting (which will be the biggie) that I'm going to do it. Advice, any of you runner-type folks??

Slow and steady

It does not win races. I mean, who are we kidding? There's always someone out there that can do "fast and steady." I realized this, like most of any worthwhile thoughts I have, while I was running (WITHOUT my iPod) on Saturday.

Like today. I got up early and ran, got kids breakfasted and me bathed and dressed, and then out to play for a while. Settled J for naps, got Bee set up for movie time (she chose "Finding Nemo" for today), cleaned up the house, washed diapers and another load of laundry. Woke J up, did lunch for everyone, left to go buy Gran's computer. Went to Target to get the tent so we can go camping, deposited a check at the bank, filled up the car with gas, bought a parking pass for this semester. Got Ben from work, dropped off recycling, came home, did dinner. Bathed and put kids to bed, cleaned up the house (again), did some spot deep-cleaning (sinks, toilets, dining room floor). Started another load of laundry, put away important papers, paid two bills that can't be set up for automatic pay, finished my presentation for Friday (don't even want to talk about it).

That's a lot, right? Well, I didn't get an abstract sent to AL, I didn't work on my proposal, I didn't get any of the washed laundry folded, and I didn't read my scriptures.

Slow and steady makes progress, and eventually gets things done. But it's not enough to get everything done all the time. I get frustrated about not being good enough, or whatever you want to call it, since I never finish. But. I guess I'll just keep going, and eventually it will come together.

Wildflowers

Yesterday was my turn to host book group. I made fun food that I never get an excuse to (cheesecake, featherlight muffins, chocolate crinkle cookies, fresh fruit with honey, cucumber sandwiches on rye bread...yummmmm.....) and got my house in shape. It was GREAT fun.

As I was at the farmers' market in search of cucumbers, I saw a lady selling bouquets of flowers. They had bright yellow black-eyed Susans, dark purple butterfly bush blossoms, and queen Anne's lace. I asked her for two bunches, and she responded with a sort of surprised look on her face, "They don't last very long!" And I said that I didn't mind, that they reminded me of home. Because they did.

I love wildflowers, and the untidy, unkempt bunches they make. Reminds me a little of my life - chaotic and mismatched, hodgepodged together, full of stray bugs from the field, but still pretty nice. And an overall beautiful thing.

Ha, beat THAT!

This morning I ran 8.3 miles. It took me about an hour and thirty-five minutes. Now, sixty-four ounces of water and twenty-five minutes of rest later, I think maybe I'm okay. :-)

It's not an Olympic accomplishment or anything, but I'm pretty proud of myself. I haven't run that far since I was too young to know the difference (about 13 years old, I think).

I love to run.