5:30 a.m.
For three days in a row this week, I have gotten up around 5:30 a.m. to go to the YMCA. Only my Mom and The Narrator will understand how big a deal this is for me. I only know one other person who is more night owl than me – my father-in-law. I’m sure that’s why he and I get along so swell. My most creative and productive times have always started at 9 p.m. Last week, after not making it to the Y at ALL, I conceded that the only regular time I will ever get to take care of myself and attempt to train for a race is early mornings. I sat down and had a long, hard think about it. Something had to give. Honestly, it can’t be sleep, because I can barely keep up with my two little ones (T-Rex has hit FULL toddler mode). That meant I had to re-arrange my evenings so I get to bed earlier so I can get up earlier. For a long, long time I have used the “I’m not a morning person” as an excuse to, well, not do mornings! I had no idea whatsoever if I could even convince my body to get out of bed, but then The Narrator gave me an ultimatum, “If you set the alarm and you’re not out of the house by 6 a.m. then I’m heading out to the Y.” He’s graciously giving me his mornings at the Y since he can still work out over lunch with the guys.
Monday morning, 5:50 a.m. I rushed out the door. Thirty seconds into my drive, I realized it could be quite dangerous to jump out of bed and start driving a car. I started smacking my face to wake up. I made it there and back safely and shocked my system for running thirty minutes straight. Not very fast, but I did run. And the kids gave me a beautiful gift that morning – they slept in until almost 8 a.m. Sweet wonder, I had a great morning – I read a little, started some laundry, straightened the house and tidied up the kitchen.
If only all days could be like Monday. Tuesday I made it out the door a little earlier. I’m slowly changing my patterns so my body will adjust. Each night I try to to go bed a little earlier and get up a little earlier. 5:40 and I was out the door. I had another nice workout, but by the time I came home, BOTH kids were up. Now this presents a problem because there is NO WAY I can skip a shower. When I exercise, I seriously sweat. My clothes are practically dripping. There is nothing ladylike about me after a workout. I once heard that ladies don’t sweat they “glisten.” Whatever. Fortunately for me, The Narrator had slept in and was still getting ready, so I quickly dashed through the shower while he shaved.
Wednesday, Wednesday. Let’s not repeat Wednesday. Ever. It started out great. I set the alarm for 5:15 and I think I left by 5:35. I’m giving myself a few minutes to wake up before driving a car!! My legs were pretty sore so the running wasn’t all that great, but it was better than sleeping in. Did I really just say that??? When I got home at 6:45, BOTH kids were up again. I was instantly grumpy. Instantly REALLY grumpy. I looked at The Narrator in desperation, “This really isn’t fair!! I’m trying to take care of myself. The least they can do is sleep until their normal time of 7:30!!!” T-Rex and Little Miss were both yawning, and then the whining and crying started. The Narrator left for work, and I was left to figure out how to get a shower. I put both kids in T-Rex’s crib with all the stuffed animals. They often will ask to play in his crib while I vacuum or just because they feel like playing in there. I thought this might work for me to get a shower. Five minutes into my shower Little Miss started crying, “T-REX BUMPED MY NOSE!!!!” Sigh. We survived, and I did finish my shower, but the rest of the day pretty much followed suit.
I shouldn’t have been surprised on day three that things would fall apart. I never should have expected that making positive changes in my life would be easy. And as I continue to learn, physical discipline is affecting every area of my life. I’ve been getting up early, listening to sermons while I run, having good quiet thoughts and prayers on the drive there and back, and structuring the rest of my day to make sure I get the most possible done in less time since I’m heading to bed two hours earlier than I used to. It’s healthy. All very healthy. Potentially life changing for me. Of course there will be resistance. And so, I press on. I asked for forgiveness for getting very grumpy. Then The Narrator had a conversation with me tonight about food, and what I should be eating before I head out the door. I think blood sugar contributed to the grumpiness this morning.
Live and learn. Press on.
But tomorrow, I’m taking a break. For two reasons – I’m not sure my legs can take any more and need a day of rest. So what better day to rest than after having stayed up late to watch Project Runway???HAHA!!
Filed under Story Girl, triathlon, trying new things in 08 | Comment (0)
The bet has been called
In November of 2006, I lost a bet with my husband. Lesson learned: never make a bet with your husband especially when you’re under the influence of post-pregnancy hormones.
The Narrator’s sister was living in town at the time and had met a wonderful man on e-harmony. We knew he was going to propose (because he had asked us to try to find out what kind of ring she would like), we just didn’t know when. He was coming to visit over Thanksgiving while the in-laws were here. The Narrator thought Future Brother-in-law would propose during that trip. I thought he’d wait until she went to visit him over Christmas. Apparently those baby hormones made me feisty, and we made a bet.
He proposed over Thanksgiving. The Narrator gloated. My price for losing? Doing a triathlon with The Narrator. Yes, a triathlon as in swimming a crazy distance, then biking an insane amount of miles, then willing your legs to run a few miles or 10 and dropping from exhaustion at the finish line. Fortunately, I had just had a baby, and so I was exempt from any physical activity for at least six weeks eighteen months.
Last weekend, the subject of the triathlon came up again. The Narrator started talking about how he had convinced most everyone at work to do one with him, and then he said, “D’s wife is going to do it too.” I narrowed my eyes, knowing exactly where this conversation was going, “Good for her” I sneered. His eyes lit up, “You know you still owe me one.” Silence from me while I racked my brain for a list of legitimate excuses. I proceeded to list the things I do not have that we would have to buy, not limited to but including: a bike, googles, swim cap, and race attire. “Oh, we can work that out. Trust me, I’ve been researching and I’ve got it covered. And look, once you have a bike, we can get one of these and have family outings on our bikes.” He then whipped open the K-Mart ad and pointed to one of those pull behinds toddlers can ride in. He’d obviously been scheming this conversation. Oh, but the icing on the cake was this: “Hey, and when you do this with me, then you’ll be making those pants a size smaller!” He was totally referring to a conversation we’d had five minutes prior to this one where I was lamenting over a pair of pants I was sewing and how I’d had to make them a size larger to fit my hips. He’s a smart one, that Narrator.
I sighed and asked the time frame. He then informed of the Publix Famliy Fun Weekends which is a series of sprint triathlons through the summer and fall. The good (?) thing about a sprint, is at least it’s only (insert sarcasm here) a 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike ride, and a 3 mile run. Ha. I’ve never run more than 2 miles in my life, let alone after doing all that other stuff first!!!!
He’s shooting for the August 2nd event. I’m stalling for mid-October. I really don’t think that 8 weeks is enough time for me to get in shape. It’s more than getting in shape for me, it’s figuring out how to fit in training with two toddlers in the picture. Good thing the Y is open 5:30 am to 10 p.m. Gulp
And so, let the training begin. (And just for the record, I wrote this while eating a triple chocolate decadence brownie as a last hurrah!)
Filed under Story Girl, The Narrator, triathlon, trying new things in 08 | Comments (8)