30 Days Of Truth- Day 5

Day 5- Something you hope to do in your life

I have been fortunate enough to experience a lot so far in my life.  I have earned, afforded myself and been given many opportunities. 

As a kid I took swimming lessons, did gymnastics and karate.  I started figure skating at age 4.  I began softball at age 5.  If there was something I wanted to try, my parents allowed me to go for it!  Some activities were short lived (karate) and others lasted a lifetime (softball) but they all began as something I wanted to try…or hoped to do. 

Before I was 18, I traveled to Italy and England.  I had my naval pierced, got a tattoo and went skydiving within a few months of graduating high school.  I built a house for Habitat in Kentucky and spent a few months living in Florida.  By age 25, I had moved out on my own and in the last few years I have traveled to Aruba, Florida time three, Colorado and various other places. 

I have lived a full and exciting life.  However, I am not even yet 30.  I truly believe the best years, are the ones ahead of me!  There are all kinds of things I still want to do with my life.  I want to get married, be a good wife and own a nice house.  I want to be a really good mom.  I want to afford my own children the same great opportunities my parents gave me.  I want to take great vacations and experience as many adventures as possible!

I hope to accomplish much more in the years I have on this Earth…I have a bucket list that is honestly quite long.  But at the end of day, all I really hope to be is happy.  It took me a long time to appreciate all of the things I have done in life- appreciate all I have seen, the places I have been and the life I live.  At the end of the day, whatever I am doing…I just want to live happy.

Day 1 –> Something you hate about yourself

Day 2 –> Something you love about yourself

Day 3 –> Something you have to forgive yourself for

Day 4 –> Something you have to forgive someone else for

It Was Bound To Happen

Today I slept through my alarm.  I set it properly and it went off correctly.  I slept through it completely.  The music that typically wakes me up within five minutes or less, played for a FULL 45 minutes before I woke up!  How does that even happen? 

Okay…this is how it could have happened:

Yesterday’s schedule:  5am wake-up call –> run at the gym –> work 8-4 at job #1 –> home and changed for job #2 –>  work 5:30-11:30 at job #2 –> finally home at 11:45 –> in bed and asleep somewhere around 12:30am.  19.5 hours total.

The thing is, that is a fairly typical day for me, with the exception of job #2 which I am usually home from by like 10pm.  Last night I had to close which is the WORST, but happens infrequent enough that I deal with it when I do get scheduled for it. 

So I slept through my alarm…so it happens, right?  Well, of course I know that.  And if I were reading a post of yours I would tell you not to worry about it.  I would say it happens. I would say there would be other days. No big deal.  It’s okay.  Don’t stress out.  Move on.  Fit it in somewhere else.  Or don’t.  Either way, I would tell you that it was okay.

But this is me, not you.  And I am a perfectionist.  Maybe a little anal.  Or completely. 

Of course I know it is okay to miss a workout- especially when it is a swim; I can recover from a missed swim with no problem.  I know it is okay that I cannot make it up this week, there is just too much to do.  I know in the end it is no big deal.  I know it happens.

But here’s the thing…now I can’t highlight the swim on my workout schedule.  (Hey- I said I was anal!)

I am only three weeks into my schedule…yes, it was bound to happen, but so soon?  I think I need more hours in the day!  Anyone have some they would like to donate???

Monday Brain Exchange Week 32- Building Mileage

Every Monday, at the end of the current weeks M.B.E answer, I will post a question for the following week.  This way you can cue your post for Monday if you wish.  If Monday doesn’t work for you, you can still play along any day of the week that works best. If you want to play along, all you have to do is post the question and your answer on your own blog.  Link your post to my blog so that I know you have participated, and in the following weeks post, I will link all the participant blogs from the prior week.

This Weeks Topic:  Building Mileage

This Weeks Question:  Regardless of the distance you train for, or whether it be road racing or triathlon, training is time-consuming.  What are your tricks for fitting all your training into your schedule?  How do you balance family, friends, work and training?

I wish I had tricks.  I wish it were that easy, really!  The truth is, I don’t have any tricks.  The truth is, it just happens.  I am not sure how I do it, but somehow I manage to fit everything in.  And when I can’t, I typically have a mini-meltdown about it and then move on and try to do better.  I hate letting people down and I hate letting myself down…but it happens.  I try my best to fit everything in, schedule things around other things and make it all work.  Most of the time it does; sometimes it doesn’t.  I would say the one thing I sacrifice most, and have to work on not sacrificing, is sleeping.  I know that sleep is such an important part of training, however I hate to miss out on anything so I always seem to let the hours slip away from sleep time.

I am looking very forward to your “tricks” to help me out!!!

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Next Weeks Topic:  All About Boston

Next Weeks Question:  What are your thoughts on the Boston Marathon?  Have you, are you or do you plan to, run the Boston Marathon?  What do you think of the new regulations? 

*MBE will not post on Monday, April 18, as I will be in Boston! 🙂

March Review & Updates

Today it is snowing.  Yes, in April.  No, this is not an April Fool’s Day joke!  That Mother Nature sure is a trickster!  I mean realllllly???  Isn’t March supposed to go out like a lamb???  April showers….okay, but snow?  What the heck global warming…what the heck?? 

Despite the snow, I am so happy April is here- and that March is over.  March was a good month, but it was stressful at work.  Super stressful.  Luckily, some of that is over now, which is also attributing to my good moods lately 🙂  But it seems as though I made the choice in 2011 to be happy, I find that I am happy! 

My workouts in March were awesome- I only missed three which might actually be a new record for me.  My running is progressing very well and I am continuing to see improvements in the way I look due to lifting.  The only thing I would say I really need to work on, is my nutrition.  I am eating like a friggen pig and on the worst possible schedule ever!  Keeping up with two jobs, working out, a social life, family and a boyfriend is definitely taking some getting used to…time is so limited.  Truth is, I find myself either A-eating on the run and picking at random foods or B-not eating all day and then stuffing my face at dinner on nights that I have a chance to eat.  Neither of those options are going to work long-term, clearly, so I need to get on the ball.  I am lucky that I am working out so much that I am not gaining, but I am not losing either!  How do you eat on a busy schedule? 

I won’t lie, the busy schedule is busy.  And sometimes I feel like I could just lay in bed and sleep for days…but it is all worth the energy!  Two jobs are exhausting but I love the money it brings in and all the things I am experiencing because I have some extra.  And I wouldn’t trade the time I have with family, friends and especially R2 for anything, even if it is at times, limited.  Speaking of R2…everything is still awesome with us.  Last weekend we spent overnight in the city…had a fabulous and relaxed time along with an amazing dinner.  I asked him permission to use his photo on my blog and lucky for all of you, he said yes (as long as he likes the photos, it isn’t all the time and I don’t use his name 🙂 Fair enough, right? ).  So without further adieu, here is a picture from our dinner:

Oh and one last thing…with April…comes…BOSTON!!!  I am so excited to be going to Boston and very much looking forward to bloggy meet-ups and watching all you amazing runners!  We lost our Easter Break at work this year, so the long weekend get-a-way will be a nice break!  Are you going to be in Boston??  Let me know!!

And lastly, a little favor- please head over to Jesse’s blog and send some thoughts and prayers to his cousin.  She was unfortunately hit by a bus while riding her Tri bike in Las Vegas earlier this week.  Her injuries are critical and she has a long road to recovery.  I am sure  Jesse and his family can use all the get well vibes they can get. ♥