One Step at a Time

Did two workouts with the swimming club this week … and I purposely didn’t blog about it. After the first workout, my thought was: Well, I tried it. Done. And now I’ll have to explain to my friends and family and the RBF why this just isn’t quite for me. It was HARD. It made me realize that I have fairly good stamina as a swimmer, ie. my usual workout is 2k … but I don’t push myself very far in terms of pace or stroke development. That was a bit of an blow to my swimming ego, I think. Silly, but I’m speaking honestly.

Then something made me go back and try it again. Guess what? It was still HARD. But it was a good hard … I felt like my entire body was pushed. We did a lot of different drills, and I like the atmosphere of this group. The coach is awesome. He achieves a great balance of pushing the members to be their best, but at the same time respecting them as adults. I felt comfortable with him.

So, yeah, I’m going to join. I’ll swim with them twice a week this summer.

And I don’t know if it was the kick-butt swimming workouts or the copious amounts of water I’ve been drinking in lieu of Diet Coke (and no, I’ll beat you to the punch … the swimming is NOT related to the water intake … lol)… but I WON the 10 lb challenge with my father. Yippee! He lost 7.5 lbs, which is good, seeing as he’s an ice cream addict. What’s the prize? I get my kitchen painted! I’m thrilled!

In unrelated news, I’m having a good time watching this comedy pilot take shape. We went to a comedy club after hours (yawn!) last night and they did some read-throughs. It’s a very cool feeling to watch an actor live what you’ve written. I like that feeling. A lot.

I had so much fun today! After I abandoned my work and decided to get outside with the kids, that is.

We bundled up (cold here today!) and did some kid-friendly interval training today. We went on a run (Derek on bike, Camryn in stroller) that weaved through our town. We hit four (count ‘em!) … four playgrounds! The kids were in heaven!

Here is the workout summary:

Run 1.1 k at moderate pace to Playground #1.

Attempt balance beam thingy with for 7-8 minutes, with six-year old trying to bounce me off. Very frustrating challenging, really.

Run .78 k hard to Playground #2.

Kick ball around with daughter for 6-7 minutes. Attempt to play “follow-the-leader” with fearless son for 10 more minutes. Without shrieking, that is.

Run 1.8 k at moderate pace to Playground #3. Need a 3 minute walking break in there. Must’ve been all the repressed shrieking.

Roll down hill with kids for 10 minutes. Reassure daughter that mom is not crazy. Clinically, that is.

Run .56 k REALLY HARD to Playground #4.

Use playground structures to hold myself up stretch really well. Pretend I’m Chris Brogan and attempt chin-up. Remember that I’m Beverly from One Step at a Time, and just laugh a lot instead.

Walk 1.3 k home.

Have a long hot-tub soak after those kids go to bed.

Think to self in hot tub: I think this running thing is getting easier. Who’da thunk??

I’ve always thought of Jon as a real blogger, because he reads kinda-famous people’s blogs and lives in Michigan.

Actually, I read this on his site, and being the list-lover that I am, I decided to shamelessly steal it. Thanks, Jon.

5 Things My Friends Like that I Really Couldn’t Care Less About

1. Football: I love the beer, the energy, the yelling, and the people-watching, but big confession (and a true test if my husband is reading my blog): I don’t really get the game. Oh, I get that there are four downs, and the general direction of the play, but I squint with a really puzzled look on my face when I truly try to figure out the game. And then I just have another beer.

2. CSI: I’ve given it an honest try, but I just don’t like it. I realize I am in the entertainment minority here. I don’t like Gil Grissom’s character; (his name sounds like a Fisher Price Rescue Hero) and plainly, he drives me nuts. How can he possibly know everything about bugs and blood and fingerprints and fabric and ….. !?!? Don’t these people specialize?!? Doesn’t he ever have to look it up!??! I just end up getting the giggles through the whole thing because it seems so ridiculous. My husband “shhhh’s” me in a snarly way throughout the whole show, and well, CSI is just not good for our marriage.

3. Hunting: I am echoing Jon on this one. I just don’t get it in terms of a sport. I love fishing, and yes, I eat meat, so I’ve got no big black-and-white arguments here. I even shot gophers with my brother when I was a kid, but I do remember blinking away my “girly-girl” tears while we did it. Maybe I liked Bambi too much as a kid, I dunno. Hunting = just not my deal.

4. Piercings: I have a schwack of friends right now hitting milestone ages: 30, 35, 40, 50. Many of them have opted to celebrate these milestones by having noses, lips, bellybuttons, nipples, and yep, other regions, pierced. I just don’t get it. I’m 35! I think I’ll inflict some pain on myself and choose a barbell for my nose. Hmmmm. I do have pierced ears, so in a sense I guess it’s like me casting my rod in the lake, yet hating hunting. Go figure.

5. Unlimited cell phone minutes: I just don’t want to be that available to the world. May sound wierd to some, but the only people in our lives who have our cell phone number (and yes, my husband and I share a cell phone! eek!) are anyone looking after our children at the time. We don’t do social calls on it; it’s strictly for emergencies. When my friends start raving about their cell phone plans, I laugh more than I do watching CSI.

I ran 4.4 km today. Yep, I ran them. Really, really hard.

I got into a bit of an emotional funk today. I can’t tell the whole story, but a co-worker of mine is being very dishonest re: work and is showing a big complete lack of integrity. She is someone whom I would’ve defended wholeheartedly if I’d heard about this from someone else, and that just stings me. See, I have this really odd character flaw: generally, I believe people are good. I’m always quite surprised when they’re not. Hmmm.

Anyway … long story short … I left today and went for the hardest run I’ve ever ran. When my hubby got home, I was ready to run. (Read that: very quick pass-off of kids … ie. “They’re all breathing..”) Over the hills (eek) and on a path I’ve never ran on …. I just kept pushing it. My only semi-stop was to kick a really big pile of dirt. That felt fun, somehow, even though I got really dirty.

Running when angry is very therapeutic. Feeling like I couldn’t breathe afterwards, and trying to remember the early signs of cardiac arrest … hmmm … not so therapeutic…

My son Troy is “sorta” interested in competitive swimming, and the club near us has an excellent deal where you can try it for a week to see if you indeed like it. He was a little leery about this, as his main fear is “it sounds like a lotta work, Mom.”

I did the typical “give it a try … you compete against yourself, really .. you’ll never wonder if you might have liked it if you don’t try” lecture that we learn so well at Mom School …

… and then he saw the poster.

Masters Swimming. Adults: Get Fit, Have Fun, and Perfect Your Stroke. Free “Try-It” Week.

Why don’t you try it, Mom??

Ummm … well … Mom is kind of busy … ummmm …..and I’m not sure if I’d like to swim competitively …

Oh PUH-LEEZE?!?

I’ve discovered that “oh puh-leeze…” combined with a lot of eye-rolling is the kid-version of the Mom school lecture. So I’ve eaten my words, and I’m going to try it. I love swimming, I used to teach swimming, but something about this still gives me butterflies in my gut. Should be an interesting “try-it” week.

Anything new you’re going to try this summer? Oh PUH-LEEZE….

Hi everyone … I’ve been trying to get caught up on my work project. Why is procrastination such a part of who I am?!?

Here are some quick updates in my life:

Uncle’s funeral:

Absolutely awesome. It was an open-mike style of a “service of remembrance” and it was so incredible. People from his entire life just lined up at the mike to talk about how he affected them. We left feeling like we’d had a great visit with him … is there a better way to say goodbye than that?? Oh … and this is too cute … we took our younger two to the hall party after the funeral, and when we pulled up there were over 300 cars. My Derek says “Why all the cars?” I say, ” A lot of people knew my uncle, Derek.” He says, “Oh no, Mom, I think a lotta people knew he died.” Funny boy.

Running/ Walking / Fitness:

Things are well. I put in 35.48 k last week, which makes me happy. I can smell summer coming, and that completely motivates me. I’ve got my kids involved in a family “Making our Way to Jasper” challenge … so everyone is clocking the kms. The boys believe that we won’t get to go this summer unless we make the km-age … little do they know that we are indeed going! They are veeeery motivated to come biking while I run now, and we clock each family member, so it’s getting everyone excited! I also challenged my dad re: losing 10 lbs a while back, and I’m down 8.5. He’s not talking, which is typical of him: always strategizing. Game on.

Other Ventures

As is typical of me, when I am supposed to be doing this technical writing work project, I feel like being creative instead. So I’m working on a kid’s series that’s been brewing in my mind for about 10 years (see above note re: procrastination), and I’m helping a comic friend of mine write a sitcom pilot. That’s just pure fun; writing comedy is such a thrill to me. He’s a brilliant comic, so it’s so much fun to do.

Oh … and thanks to you all for sharing your picturesque running spots with me … now my travel bug is nipping at me harder …

In May, I am going to a national conference in Vancouver, BC … I am spending a couple days on my own at the conference, and then my sister-in-law (who happens to be one of my best friends) is flying to spend two nights with me.

I have spent a lot of time in Vancouver over the years, probably travelling there 4-5 times per year. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, in my opinion. My favorite part is the seawall … I love walking it. It’s the best of all worlds: people-watching and being able to to sit on a rock by the sea and write or think. Mmmmmmm.

As I was finalizing plans for this trip, I had a thought that made me grin. This year, I’ll RUN along the seawall. It’s my first trip there as a runner … how fun is that going to be!??!? I can’t wait!

Here’s what I want to know: what is your favorite not-your-everyday place to run? A certain city? Trail?

Such a supportive bunch you are … thanks again, everyone. This year moreso than others, I feel like I’ve been surrounded by death. I’m not sure what lesson I’m supposed to learn from all this, so I’m going with the “seize the day” one.

Got out for a wonderful 3 k run, followed by a 3.5 k walk today. One of those lovely days where the smell of the air just makes you pick up the pace. Loved it, although I must say, Mark’s posting about POSE has got me thinking a lot about my form. I would say I’m striking my heels a lot, and I need to start exploring improving on my form. Injury is not on my agenda … actually scares me somewhat.

We’re in the middle of basement renovations (eeek) in order to give our oldest his own room. My office is in the basement, so I’ve dug out my earphones in attempt to write in the middle of renovation noise. (So if I’m typing really loud, don’t snicker at me. )

Going to read all about your run now ….

Thanks to you all for all of your supportive comments re: my uncle’s death. Upon hearing more details today, I can’t think of a more peaceful way to die, frankly. He had an awesome day before he died, and it was so comforting to hear that.

I’m having an OK day today. Will get out for a run later, and then am going to attempt to be more savvy with the Forerunner and compile some stats on the computer. (Method #48397 for successfully procrastinating at my work project. )

What a day.

Went to church today. I led the Grade One and Two Boys small group (fondly nicknamed by me: Orangutangs Whom God Still Loves Deeply) and had some fun. Then I went out to my parents’ to pick up by boys’ newly-hemmed Tae Kwon Do outfits …. and while I was there, my parents got a call.

My uncle passed away quite suddenly; he did not wake up this morning. He has been in a wheelchair for 25 years or so, as the result of a car accident (a car that he built from scratch, no less.) Despite being paralyzed from the chest down for the past two and half decades, he has led an active life. He and his sons rigged up a van for him to drive independently; as well as a quad for him to drive on his farm. To say he is an outdoorsman would hardly scratch at his passion for God’s creation. Mostly to me though, he was just a wise soul. He watched life with an incredibly analytical eye from his wheelchair. I remember when I was talking about going into recreation therapy, he gave me a word of advice. He said, Don’t you ever look at a person’s wheelchair first. Or their tubes or their prosthesis or whatever else they have. You just look into their eyes. Hard. Everything you need to know is in their eyes, young lady.

He called everyone “young lady”.

I’ve always kept that advice close to my heart, and I share it with my students each term before graduation. Y’know, that advice has served me well in my career, and in my life.

I especially feel for my aunt and cousins today. Went for a long, long walk (over 10 k) today and had some good tears and some good memories.