Early Rising

I did it guys! I finally woke up before the sun (and my children)! It’s only taken 3 years, but I finally did it.

I am a night owl through and through. If my life could occur between 10a and 2a, I’m be set. But as you very well know, those hours are not conducive to child rearing…or anything really unless you’re spring semester college senior, haha!

So for the past year I’ve been toying with the idea of waking up early to exercise and/or get a start on the day before the little people wake up. Yo, it’s hard! Last summer, I would get up every now and again but obviously that didn’t last long. Getting up at 6 on Saturdays for the past few months to get my long runs in with my MRTT friends is what helped the most. That accountability is no joke! You feel obligated to meet up with people. That, and then promise of dunkin coffee afterwards, haha. This has become such a thing that my kids now greet me every Saturday morning with a “Hi momma, do you have a donut for me?”…well, the oldest verbalizes it and the littlest’s eyes twinkle in a knowing fashion.

This morning I woke up at 5a to meet a MRTT pal for a 5:30a workout. THAT, is unheard of my friends. But you know what, it’s great to know I already got my exercise in (and sbux)! And obviously I have time to blog a little! Let’s keep our fingers crossed that a)I get more ideas to blog about, and b)this waking up early bit becomes habit. Why is it that every good for you habit takes work!?

In completely unrelated news, I started a new CSA this summer and we just got our first pickup! It’s got your standard greens like kale, and swiss chard but it also has new to me things like pac choi and garlic scapes! I love cooking with new things, it’s like my own episode of Chopped. Not that I actually like watching Chopped…but the concept is fun, nonetheless!

Anywho, hope you have a good Friday Eve and excellent weekend!

On the Subject of Mom Tribes

Boy, is it hard to make friends as an adult! And if you’re introverted like me, it’s enough to make your stomach turn. Thankfully, there’s social media which has helped me tremendously in many facets of life and continues to do so to this day! It’s through social media that I have met people post-college and made incredible, life-long connections with (like the four people reading this) so it’s only natural it’s helped me find avenues to explore in order to find face-to-face friends, haha!

By way of Instagram, I’ve learned of two organizations based on motherhood and fitness, Moms Run This Town/She Runs this Town (MRTT) and No Excuse Moms (NEM). I’ve been a part of my local chapter of MRTT for two years on Facebook but haven’t made a conscious effort to actually meet other members until the last few months. As I’ve made it one of my goals this year to actually train for road races, it’s only fitting I try to find other similarly paced runners to workout with because as most people would agree, exercise with others is always more enjoyable than taking to it alone (especially when it comes to running). The group is filled with women of all walks of life (including those who don’t have kids) and paces! Now I’ve made my presence known in person and through the message boards, I’ve actually recognized and been recognized around town while at the gym and parks to that’s been nice!

One of the members of MRTT is the chapter leader of the NEM and I only recently joined that group because I had heard about it through Instagram. Today, I ventured out for my first workout with this group and chit-chatted away with a new mom (new to me and new mom to a 7mo old). It was a great way to get out, socialize (both myself and the littles), and get a little exercise! I definitely plan to meet up with these lovely ladies in the future.

I’ve also recently joined the local run club which has annual dues (about $20). They offer various (serious) training plans throughout the year and I’m thinking of doing their half marathon training program this fall to get ready for the Richmond Half (haven’t done a half in FOUR YEARS! I’m a little rusty to say the least, haha). This may be the most intimidating of the three groups as these runners mean business! There’s a racing team composed of age group winners that is sponsored by the local running store. I’ve tried running with them at fun runs and it can be hit or miss. But I have met some momma peeps through their low-key race series so I cannot discount them as total stiffs…but seriously some of these runners not only win races at neck breaking speeds, they’re like super smart scientists. Super intense. Gulp.

So yeah. I’m trying! It’s hard, but hey, nothing worthwhile is easy, right? And now I’m off to watch Moana (highly recommend!) for the umpteenth time with the littles!  Happy Hump Day friends!

Oh, Hi!

I miss blogging. I really do. But hell, I barely have (read: make) time to read blogs, much less produce content for one! I am making time to get my culinary skills up to snuff (i.e. I finally made a successful pizza dough the other day) and you know, raising little people. That’s pretty much how I spend most of my days!

Still running. Or more like, finally running. As in, I’m finally properly training for races for the first time in six years since I’ve taken it up. I decided that in 2017, I would actually train for races instead of just showing up. I’ve joined a local chapter of runner moms. Them ladies are no joke. They take their running quite seriously. The stroller moms beat my solo runner ass by a long shot. It’s part inspirational/part terrifying, haha! I think I’m more of a person who happens to run as part of an exercise routine rather than a “runner.” I see a runner someone more like my younger sister who’s tackling her first marathon this fall! She LOVES to run. She sees routes or weather reports and gets excited by the possibility of a good run. Meanwhile, I’m like, ::groan:: I guess I should run (slowly gets up from comfortable couch and creaks up the stairs to change).

Last summer, I started working with an online trainer. I signed up for two rounds of her bootcamp and learned I really like kettlebells, tabatas, and crossfit-inspired workouts. They’re quick (20-30min) and easily adaptable so you never stalemate. If I get too comfortable with a particular weight, I can increase the load and/or add more rounds of torture! Hurts so good! These workouts have helped me come to peace with my 30-something year old body! I don’t cringe at pictures or mirrors. It’s more like, “good job self! You lift the heavy things, and haven’t gotten fatter!” Woo! #smallvictories

So…yeah. That’s where I’m at. Hope you’re all doing well!