Comfort Zone

I have noticed that I get comfortable with a pace. There is nothing wrong with this and I know that but lately I have been pushed out if my comfort zone with my running. 

My husband says I drive like I run. I tend to speed up, slow down, speed up and especially with music. However, I don't usually get away from my comfortable pace. I get lost in it and what's around me and I forget what I'm doing. 

Then recently I have started to leave my little happy place and have stepped into a new level. My pace is normally so consistent that I could tell you how far I went just by how long I was running for. So this last week when I hit a new PR on a 5k run with my double jogging stroller, I was stoked!! I had taken almost 5 minutes off my average 5k pace and that was with these 2 kids!! 

It's the little accomplishments that make me keep pushing and doing what I am doing. Sometimes all you need to do is push yourself and other times you may need a push from those around you. If I had been out running by myself I can almost guarantee that my pace would not have improved. It has been finding other runners and moms and friends to push me when I didnt think I could push myself any further.  

Every day has become a new adventure with running. Some days I can't wait to get out the door and other days it's Quinn and Peighton who are ready to go running, with as Quinn calls them "her people".  Peighton has even gotten to a point of no napping if we are not out on a run during her nap time. 

Running has helped me start to settle in as a stay at home, domesticated engineer. The last few months have been amazing and I am so excited to see what the future holds for me! This summer is going to be awesome. 

At the end of my runs during the week, we always end on the track so Quinn can go for "her run". Yesterday Peighton joined us on the track. My little baby is walking and it's so awesome to be able to share my journey with my two little ones. Q & P making my running journey what it is all about!

The Next Run...

Let me tell you what! Stairs were my worst enemy on Monday after running the Half Marathon..well them and the having to go pee. Who knew having to go pee would almost make you cry when you had to sit down! The best part about Monday for me is it is OFF Day. Sometimes this makes me sad because I have come to really look forward to my daily runs. At the same time though I like to let my body rest and I know that it needs it. It also makes Monday an easy day after the crazy weekend! So Monday I did absolutely nothing and spent the day with the girls. I was still debating if I was going to go to the group run on Tuesday.

Tuesday morning I was still rather sore but figured it would be good to go run. Boy was I right. I felt so much better after stretching my muscles out! It was a nice slow 3.5 mile run with the jogger and it felt good. I have also come to a point where I really look forward to Tuesday and Thursday runs because it is something on the calendar. I have been getting into a routine and it involved hardly leaving the house. Especially since the weather is so moody you never know what might happen.

To make the day even better I finally received a reply for a volunteer opportunity that I have been looking into. I am working on my reply now and will post more about it when I know more! I am really looking forward to this! Since I  have become a stay at home mom I sometimes feel like I don't have enough to do. I get into the routine of the same thing everyday and have been trying to find a way to do something more but still be able to involve my girls. Can't wait to tell more when I know more!!!

Then today I went ahead and went for another run. I was having the normal morning dialog in my head while looking outside and debating if it was worth lugging out that heavy stroller and getting the girls ready. I am glad I did! I had a good short run, still can't believe I am considering 2 miles a short run now when less then year ago the thought of that was crazy to me to do for fun. It's days like to day that I am thankful that I am finding new friends and learning more and growing everyday with my love for baking. It was also Waffle Wednesday so I needed to get a good run in before I stuffed my face with a waffle!

Running is my Relax Time

Who knew that running could be so relaxing?? 

When I made the decision to stay home with my two girls I had no idea that "alone time" would cease to exist. With my older daughter, Quinn,who is now almost 3,I still had "my" time because I was active duty military and went to work everyday. Then when we had Peighton, 10 months ago today, and I started my new career of the Donesticated Engineer that quiet, alone time was gone! 

It's amazing some of the time you didn't realize you had before kids. Even just the time to wake up in the morning when it's quiet and peaceful, and enjoy a nice cup of coffee. That is no more! I swear these kids have sensors. "Mommies awake, time to get up!" Well unless you have somewhere to be early in the morning and they decide that day to sleep in. Kids don't get enough credit. I know these two plan this stuff out! 

After my first few months of being home I started to miss adult conversation. I started to realize that I was having arguments with Quinn! Worst part, I think she was winning most of the time. Neither one of us were used to being around the other 24/7. Now we couldn't get rid of each other. Then to add to it, she now had to put up with her baby sister, Peighton. Q and I had to find a middle ground or my husband was going to find us both crazy :) 

Then I went for my first run. And you know what I found?? Myself!! It was quiet and I could relax. I could think about everything or nothing at all. I asked myself. "Why did I not enjoy running before?" The answer was simple.. I didn't 

Have kids. 

I love my girls more then life it's self, and it has taken me some time to realize this, but I need my time too! It's ok to need alone time and in the beginning I felt really guilty for wanting my time. But I have gotten over that now. 

I look forward to my long run on the weekend because it's My Time!