Order of Happiness and a Hilly Run

Life's all in how you look at it, right? For some, I would imagine, moving around every few years would just be heartbreaking, it wouldn't suit them. I'm not saying there won't be days that I ache for home but moving around with the Army always gives us a chance to start anew. Change is good for the soul.

But as parents, we're always last in line. It seems, children come first, then home, then us. Lucas and I always try to put each other first, we figure if we're happy then the kids are happy. After all, we are the foundation for our children and our home. We truly believe our children's happiness and security in this crazy world starts with us. We've screwed that up a few times and mastered it other times. It takes ongoing work to figure the order to happiness. Life's always changing and within that we are always changing.

The last two weeks of "moving in" have primarily been spent on the house and the kids. Although, Lucas and I snuck out one night for dinner last weekend. As much as we would have liked to carry on and venture more through the city it was important to get back home for a good nights rest. We're lucky to be reunited with old friends from Hawaii. It's amazing to start this new chapter here not completely alone. We've all grown over the last three years but meeting up with them here is as if nothing has changed, other than their oldest now babysits our youngest ;)

Anyways, back to the point which I've yet to hit on.

The house is well on it's way to being pretty. My kids are good. One has settled into 7th grade and starts football practice this week, the other is anxious to be like his brother and go back to school too. I know this not only because of his jealousy with every school bus but also his sprint and no turning back attitude when he saw the daycare room at our local gym. (no worries kid, I'm working on the daycare stuff this week)

So it seems all is well. It's all so balanced on the surface, right? House check. Kids check. Parents night out check. But still, something was yucky. Life was just rolling on but inside I've been a bit blah. No matter which way we ran the order of happiness we weren't inserting any "me time". Everything, all happiness, flows from within and as parents//adults we forget to just back out and take a little me time.

I needed desperately to get back into a routine that allows me-time. A huge part of my routine includes exercise, ah... there's my me time, and I haven't had much of it lately. I've never feared the gym but I do admit to carrying some fear towards new places and new people, the unknown. But by week two in our new home it was time to find my gym and find my running trail.

Base has a gazillion gyms to pick from but I don't do everything on base. After two very different YMCA's we settled on our new gym home. We absolutely LOVE it there. I'm not 100% sure their classes will match up to what I'm used to but really, it is what you put into it. I found my running trail too. I needed a 5K distance. I've heard the rumors about altitude kicking your butt and the need to really allow time for adjusting and I believe them all. It's unreal how winded I feel after moving those damn boxes up and down flights of stairs or carrying a crying toddler up the hill from the playground but regardless 5K is my go-to distance for running and I was ready to give it my best.

Running for Maggie hosted by Sami was ran by many this past week. It was my first Colorado race. Okay, technically it's not a Colorado race but as my second virtual race it was my first one here. I sent prayers and happy thoughts Sami's way and it felt amazing to have a race helping me through the hills. But more so, I was reminded.... we should always be "racing" ourselves. Pushing ourselves to be better than yesterday and stronger for tomorrow.

So, I wrangled through many thoughts as I did my best to run 3.1 miles yesterday. I was told to expect my pace to slow by 20-30 seconds. Okay, on the average yes, my pace was slower by about 35 seconds but when you really break it down I only ran half and walked the other half. Having not run in almost a month, it was exciting to be back at it. My new trail is amazing, I'm completely in love it. It has the perfect level of challenges and gorgeous views all around. I just have to keep at it and know that in due time I'll be balanced with my old abilities.

My polar watch reassured me that I was indeed giving it my all. At the moments that I felt I just couldn't run any further I would check my heart rate and sure enough be maxed out at 185. I knew it was all fair for me to walk, it wasn't just in my head or the weak corners of my will. When I started to feel in control of my breathing I'd check the polar and see 160 and know it was time to try running again. Mind you folks, I'm pushing a ginormous jogging stroller with a 30+ pound toddler through this entire hilly run!!!

I finished the 3.1 hilly miles in 42:19. And continued on my way for another 1.5 miles. Landon has become a reliable running buddy. He's grown quite a bit since the spring and now seems to have the patience for a 45+ minute run/walk. I'm betting the new scenery is major factor in all this too. I think he enjoyed the Running for Maggie race as much as I did.

I definitely got my workout in this weekend and absolutely found myself a trail for all my joys, worries, thoughts, and over consumption of gaucamole and strawberrita's :) 


How do you balance "it" all?
Is exercise a part of your ME TIME?
Have you tried any new gyms or workouts lately?




Linking with Weekend Shenanigans, Simply Sami for the Virtual 5K, Monday Morning Gossip,  Hop til You Drop

...happy to have Merrie with me this month...

Summer Kickoff Virtual 5K - Recap!

Lucas was my running buddy for the Summer Kickoff 5K! And, he loves it when we pause for a blog picture :) Last year it was me and the jogging stroller for most of my runs, but this year it's been nice to have a friend or two to call up and a hubby available. They sure do help hold you accountable and pace you along the way. And for this particular run, I had 60+ running buddies!!!

We picked a loop around a neighborhood lake reservoir that allowed for great change in scenery and path. Some of the loop was shaded other parts full sun. Some flat and some full of hills and winding curves. To hit 3.1 miles you get to run this loop three times. It takes you through woods and neighborhoods and plenty of open space by the water. Aside from the evil gangs of ducks that hide around bins it's a really nice run.

We finished our first ever Heart Shaped Sweat Summer Kickoff Virtual 5K in 30:06!!! Not bad considering the 90+ degree heat and full-on-thickness of humidity. I challenged myself physically in this run but more so mentally. It's the second run of the summer that has me heaving at mile 2. Seems to be something my body just wants to do and then all is well. What the heck is that for?! Anyone else have this wave of nausea just come and go during their summer runs? It's the oddest feeling. I have to focus and not let my mind wander into worry or negativity!!!

Regardless, I absolutely loved this run!!! I loved thinking about all of us in this same week, running the same distance, to kickoff our summers on a healthy foot! It's totally rad to me that we're in this fit life together and we can truly turn to each other for rally, advice, and support.

Each of you ROCK!
You get sweaty high fives and congratulatory hugs from me!

Link up your Virtual 5K Recaps!! 
Goes live Tuesday morning at 5:30am EST  :)
I'm already plotting ways to wiggle out of the spotlight at work to read everyone's recaps!
See you then!!

Linking with Healthy Tuesdays, Random Wednesdays

...happy to have Shannon with me this month...

From the Finish Line...

for those that know...yes, I'm wearing my invisalign trays... hence, the bigger pout and closed smile!

"After some rehydration, people watching and refueling we headed back to the finish line to cheer people through. This was one of the best feelings I've had in a while. I had to turn away a few times. It's that instant you're taken over by emotion. The swell of tears rise from sheer happiness. That was happening, over and over."

What I wrote at the finish line of my 10K on Saturday. 

With my iphone in hand I've decided to type what I'm seeing instead of the normal photo snapping.
The finish line is a place of celebration. It is the home of runners victories. Those that cross it come from all different walks and each made it there with different reasons and goals in mind. No one starts a race to not finish it. These are of the ~40,000 people we joined in the Monument Avenue 10K 2013 race....

Pregnant women literally racing for two somehow gracefully crossing the finish line.
The very overweight, the ones who very well may be pushing the hardest in this crowd.
Husbands and wives holding hands, a strong union, a proud moment of team work.
Kids clapping and smiling without a bead of sweat, running an adult sized race.
The mother - daughter teams making memories.
The father - son teams making memories.
The best friends, the girls in a line spread across the street, hands held high - gitty and cheering.
Outrageous costumes, tutu's and one of kind statement race T's drenched in sweat crossing the line.
Goofballs tied at the ankles, having somehow ran the entire race with only "3 legs".
The runners who clearly didn't think they could ever make 6.2 miles, their faces displaying sheer disbelief and prideful happiness.
The senior citizens with chest pushed forward as they placed their bib first through the line for a time better than last years.
The cancer survivors
The cancer fighters
The ones doing it for those who can't

As I cheered and took in all the faces I couldn't help but want to cry! It's silly to some but for me, I just see power. I see people believing in themselves. I see hard work paying off. I see boosts of confidence. The feeling of watching people succeed is such an awesome feeling, in ways... better than your own successes.
The finish line is where you aim to be at the first step of the race, it's also where you should wrap back to after catching your breathe. The party is there, the volume of cheer is deafening and the rawness of emotion is constantly on display. Always, always be a part of something bigger than you are.

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To imagine the horrific terror on faces of those at the finish line of the Boston Marathon is just something I can't picture. The news breaks the story and fills in the blanks that human minds can't fill. The ones who designed this awful tragedy are far from human in my opinion. They are awful, awful breeds of people. Ones that rip families apart by death, injury and by force of heroism and need to protect and defend. My prayers and thoughts and next run are with those suffering from yesterday.


Regular scheduled post will be back on track tomorrow!
The funnies I had planned to share from the race just didn't seem appropriate in light of yesterdays events....






Linking with Just Because, Take Time Tuesdays