Monday Morsels

Morsels:  Tasty bits from the past week....

*  Juniper ran in her first 5K road race.  It was the first annual "Tick Me Off 5K" to raise money for research and treatment of chronic Lyme disease.  The event was local and a blast.  There were so many families, running and walking together, preschoolers on trikes, strollers, and of course dogs.  Juniper rocked it.  So much of my kids' childhoods (for me) have been mixed with a twinge of sadness for what has passed, but running this race with Juni gave me a glimpse of what our future could hold--running side by side with my girl as she grows up.  

*  Halloween was met with the expected excitement of pumpkin carving and costume preparations.  This year the kids did much more of their own costumes--which I highly encouraged!  When they were little I really loved sewing their costumes, but now I'm enjoying how they are taking over the process, and continuing to view the holiday as a celebration of creativity (and candy of course).  This year for trick-or-treat it rained.  That was a bummer, but it did keep the treating to a minimum which means less corn syrup ingested.  We finished the evening with a sweet little gathering at a friend's house, donuts on a string, cider and pie by the fire place. It was a warm end to a soggy evening.  

                    The amazing owl costume is not me...its our friend Molly--she made it herself!   

Here's me, Kale and I both dressed as a  dark knight/night.  You can't tell here but my shirt and face were covered with glow in the dark stars.  

    Even Boris and Brownie got costumes (entirely kid made).  

* Juniper had her piano recital this past weekend.  She's been working on "Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music since Spring, and she should be so proud of herself for her poise and calm throughout the song.  Three full verses sung and played beautifully, and loud enough for the audience to hear.  And in her "maria" birthday dress.  So sweet.  We are lucky to have such a wonderful piano teacher, who plans recitals before the rush of the holiday season, and who invites musical friends and siblings to share in the event.  Wylie played "Frere Jacque" and nailed the low C, which I'm told is a difficult note for beginners  (they all seem difficult to me).  The recital was short and sweet and culminated with a drumming workshop and impromptu jam session.  Awesome.  

*  We kicked off Novemeber with a sunny, calm 60 degree paddle in our new kayak.  Did I mention we won a Kayak in a raffle?  We won a kayak!  We brought it home three weeks ago at the forefront of a week of hard frost and drizzle, and were just about to pack it away for the winter when we were met with this incredible day.  Juni, Kale and I took to the pond for an hour long paddle. Juniper sat between my legs and paddled much of the way, and the cargo spot in the back makes the perfect seat for Kale. 

I'm already looking forward to next summer.  

 

 

 

 

Here's to a sunny November, and many more tasty bits ahead! 

26.2

26.2 miles is a long way to run.  Even longer is the roughly 380 miles run this summer in preparation.  Even so, despite the 4 hours of pouring rain, ragged toenails, and far too many Gu's  if you look closely enough you can see we're both smiling.   Heide and I rocked this run--averaging nearly a minute/mile faster than our training times, and soaring past the portalets without a glance (which truly felt like a miracle given some of our previous long runs).   Two days later I'm still hobbling about like an elderly woman, but man what a race.  

photo courtesy of Mainerunningphotos

A Good Run

  

My sister and I are training for a marathon.  My first.  Last night we completed our sixteen mile run.  

If you've never done it, and likely even if you have, 16 miles is a freaking long way to run!  (unfortunately not nearly as long as 26).   But really, every time I start to complain about this mess I've run myself into, I think, when else in my week can I engage in uninterrupted, adult conversation for so long?  And, with my sister at that?  So what if my feet have to move while I'm doing it?  

So in the end I enjoy the long runs, for the comradery, the personal challenge, the strength I feel, and the dedicated time to myself.  But, neither my waxing poetic, or complaining about the pain really does it justice, so instead I leave you with a true to life conversation at the finish of our 16 mile run last night:  

Warning:  graphic, may be disturbing to those unfamiliar with long distance running...

J:  That was a good run.  
H:  Yeah, except for the stomach cramping.
J:  Right, that and shitting in the woods.
H:  Well, right.  But it was probably our best route yet, hardly any hills.
J: It was nearly flat.  Except for that big ass hill in the very beginning...
H:   and the one we just walked up.  
H:  This chaffing sucks.  
J:  My foot is bleeding.
H: Man, I smell.  
J:  Yup.  

Rob:  How was your run? 
J:  It was good.  

Climbing

We had the amazing opportunity to go climbing with some friends this weekend.  We weren't sure what to expect, but it ended up being such a great time for everyone.  Wylie surprised us all with his climbing skills, and our great guides encouraged us all to have a go.  It was really scary and empowering, and the view from the top was breathtaking, as well as the descent over the edge.  

I've been reflecting on that moment of of descent, trusting that you'll be safe as you sit back into the harness and have no choice but to believe that your belay has got your back.   Not to get all poetic or sappy, but its kind of like parenting.  Sometimes just when I least want to relinquish control I have to just sit back and trust them.  There's been some breath holding--but I haven't been dropped yet.  

                     Wylie on the move

                   
                     Rob on belay 

    Kale bouldering

                      Monkey man wanted to climb so much he got himself a home made harness!

 Spider man aka Rob

    Mama monkey

Tonight I went for a run just before dark and was feeling so grateful for my strength and health.  Its an everyday thing for me to be able to move about as I want, to run fast when I choose without thought or difficulty or pain.  I usually take it for granted.   After my first climb I've been feeling so empowered that I'm  aware of the freedom I have.  What an amazing thing to be healthy and fit, to play with my kids in the sun, to grow my own food, and when the chance arises to be able to scale a ledge.   Wow.  

Nuggets

I've been a single parent for the last five days and during that time I also competed in our local triathlon. Guess which was harder?  My mom did come up to help, which was great because I'm not sure we all would have made it through unscathed without her.  Rob goes away a couple times a year, but five days is long for us.  Kudos to all those single parents, or parents whose partners leave long/often, who somehow manage to raise loving children without going insane in the process.

The triathlon turned out to be really fun.  The swim portion of the race was in the pool so we started in several different waves.  This made the race so much less competitive (in my opinion) because I never really knew who started when.  And, it was great to see so many people I knew.  There were some people from around town who I didn't realize were athletes, and they were fast!  My own time was not real impressive (not surprising given my lax training schedule) but I feel good about it, and am excited to have a time to race against for next year.  Also, I realized that, like many things, the anticipation is way worse than the actual event.  I was really nervous the morning of, but once I started I just enjoyed myself.  (In all honesty I never really enjoy myself  on the bike, but I'm working on that.)  Anyway, since it was so fun I may do another at the end of the summer.

To steal a phrase from digthischick  (a great blog a friend turned me onto) here are a few Nuggets from the past week while I've been so silent:

Nuggets:

The weather here has pretty much been lousy.  Winter hats and mittens in mid-May.  What the heck?  It was so windy early last week that a tree blew down in our yard.  Unfortunately it was the one our clothesline was attached too.  Bummer.  At least there was no laundry on it.

Chicabiddies got a new home around the raspberries.  A friend swears this is the best way to keep the berries weed and pest free.  So far they're loving it.

 Family bike rides, in the rain (we kinda got tired of waiting for the sun).

 What do you do when it rains for 5 days straight?  Lots of baking and tasting.
 

The triathlon was a blast, and it didn't actually rain for more than a few minutes.  I don't have any pictures of me participating, but hopefully someone will send me some soon.

Mimi brought up new beach towels for all.  She mentioned the fact that I am still using the towel she got me in high school.  I guess it is time for a new one.  She also brought toys for the kids (as Juniper says "that Mimi is always up to mischief") Including this early birthday (perhaps a half-birthday) present for Kale.  It was supposed to distract him from the fact that I would be gone all morning at my race--he doesn't like when I leave (this is an obvious understatement, and of course the firetruck didn't really work) he likes it but seems a little suspicious of our motivations.

Rhubarb shortcake.  (The photo doesn't do it justice, clearly my food photography needs some work.)

We "made" (bought a curtain rod and draped some fabric over it) a curtain to cover our art/school shelves.  I love how something so quick can make such a difference in the clutter of a room.

Here's a bit of what it looked like before the curtain.

The kids have been going to Tanglewood Wilderness 4-H camp for the past few Mondays.  Last Monday Wylie was a bit sick so Juniper went on her own.  She seems to really have enjoyed her time there without him and can't stop talking about some of the boys and how funny they are.  She's even considering marrying Jack, "since I can't marry Oliver because he's my cousin, and even if we got married we couldn't have babies because of the genes."  That's homeschooling for you--we keep it real around here.  And, I believe her first non-cousin crush.

Have a great week!

On Running, Swimming, and Cycling (not so much)

I've been "training" for a local triathlon sprint.  I use quotes because actual training would imply that I've been swimming more than 30 minutes a week, or that I've been on my bike more than 3 times in the past two years (which I hadn't until this week).  My sisters (both marathoner/cyclists) and I have talked a lot about this kind of half-assed training, and what's behind it.  I think its two-fold.  I ran track in high school, but in college quit after the first year when I felt like the nerves were too much.  Running had become a chore instead of fun.   So, on one hand, even now I feel like as long as I don't take training too seriously then I can continue to feel relaxed and enjoy the exercise.

Also, if I don't train I don't have to expect much of myself.  I have an easy out for when I don't do very well.  Except really what kind of an out is that, "I didn't do well because I was too lazy to train properly"  Hmmn, not very righteous.  The other problem is, I won't really get to know how well I could have done.  My sister in WA posted about this same thing recently here.  I'm still not really sure how I feel about the whole thing.  I don't feel like I want competition and training to be forefront in my life right now (and clearly its not) but I also don't want to be someone who never tries her hardest for fear of failing.  That's not a good habit to get into, and its not a good model for my kids either.  But really I'm not even sure if it is worth all this processing.

It is what it is.  And right now its a triathlon in 7 days that I feel pretty unprepared for.

But, I am also stronger and more fit than I've been in years, learning to like cycling, and enjoying the feeling of moving fast--with no one attached to my body or whining beside me, even if it is only a couple times a week.  I guess that's not so bad.
Though I may feel differently next Saturday.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.  Does anyone else do this too?