My B-U-T-T Still Hurts

I love being a parent and acting like I am not my age. 


We started practicing for softball, U10 girls softball.  And my girls love to run.   I don't ask anything of my girls that I am not willing to do myself.  So, when I have the girls run bases, I occasionally run with a few of them to push them.  They run faster and I hurt later.  But it's fun.


As a coach for anything my daughter gets involved in that needs a parent to step up, I try to keep the activity fun.  I also try not to give my daughter special treatment.  I do my best to give all of the girls opportunities to learn and improve and develop confidence in themselves.  But my daughter is not a star player.  I know how much she practices.


This year, I have spotted something in my daughter that I haven't seen or noticed before.  She is eliminating activities that she doesn't really enjoy.  She is becoming more focused and learning that she needs to practice to really improve.  And she is becoming more confident. 


My daughter is also choosing activities that I have been a part of.  I have coached her in softball (tee-ball) since she was 2.  I have always been her Girl Scout leader.  And I have always included her in bike rides and swimming.  Although she will always love to dance, she is no longer taking classes with girls who are mean to her.  Instead, I will take her hand and dance with her around the house.


There are many distractions in kids' lives that deprive them of physical activity and experiences that give confidence.  I am proud that my daughter is learning that getting up off the sofa is a way to spend time with her mother.  I am proud of her.


So I will dance with her.  I will run with her. I will be there to help give her confidence.  And I will push my body beyond the point of being sore just to see her smile.


Even if my butt hurts for the next week.

59 days, with a reality of 56 days.

56 days ago, I received a phone call that my home was on fire.  It's one thing to wonder "how bad is this and what do I do now?"  It's another to already know most of the answer.


 March 31st, 2011, my first home, where my husband and I were raising our daughter, was also on fire.  It is currently being rebuilt.  So, we had some experience with this already.  I knew insurance would offer to put us up in a hotel, and my husband would turn them down.  We would move into his parents' house again because we could do laundry there. 


It also meant that my Father-in-Law and I would be at each other's throats for disagreeing on how to handle things.  What was important to me was keeping my children taken care of and keep them going.  The world doesn't stop for us.  We have made promises.  It doesn't stop because I am now homeless with only a few articles of clothing to last for the next 2+ months. He disagreed. 


Yes, I am still wearing the same cloths to work.  Occasionally I break down and buy something, but Insurance has not given us a starting allowance yet to replace things.  It is coming out of pocket.  Very shallow pockets.


This is wearing on me.  I am starting to fold.  I admit it.  I can not go to my cabinet and spice up my family's dinner.  There is no spice.  I haven't replaced it yet.  It takes time and money.  Time and money I would rather spend on my family.  Especially time.


Last night, I really wanted to go for a run.  I picked up my daughter from After School Care and took her to Swim Team practice.  Then, I had to stop at our last residence to pick up Softball equipment for tonight's practice.  Next I had to go buy my daughter a new shirt to wear for School Pictures on Friday.  And a loaf of bread for our lunches today.  We got home after 9:00pm.  And I still had to go over homework.


No run.  I get up 5:00am to swim in the morning before anyone else gets up or has to leave.  Something always has to give.  Someone always has to give.


I need my workouts to regain my sanity, to keep my health so I can take care of others, to have my alone time to think. I can't keep giving them up.  I only have 38 more days until my first race this season.  38  more days until I get to fulfill a dream I had when I was 16 years old.  A dream I get to share with my parents who never get to see me race anymore.


But for now I am starting to fall apart.

The First Ride of the Season

It's finally Spring weather, and time to get the bike off the trainer and on the road.


Sunday marked the official beginning of group rides for my LTF Riding Group.  A short intro to group riding, 8 miles long, stretch your legs and "meet at Starbuck after" group ride.  It was wonderful. Slow enough to catch up with a few people and what's happening in their lives, and long enough to warm up and realize you need to get more outdoor miles on the bike.




Riding on a trainer has kept me from starting from point "butt is attached to sofa - can't move." However, it's far from the "25 miles today? That's all?"  I need to ride hills, against gravity.  I need to shift gears and get out of the saddle.  I need to feel the pain of forcing blood through my legs, the tension of holding my core ridged, the bend of the elbow as I lean over the handle bars.


I need to sweat.




Riding with a group has proven to be a tremendous training tool in the past year.  It has shown me new routes, new techniques, new ways of pushing myself and tracking my improvement.  Group riding keeps you honest.  There's someone to ask why you missed a group ride.  And it keeps the ride interesting.




I didn't start group riding until mid-Summer last year.  I am hopeful to miss very few this year.  It is too valuable of a training tool to ignore.






I am also very happy to say my husband will be joining on rides this year.  As long as we can find someone to watch the kids.  We just need to acquire a couple more pairs of padded shorts/bibs/pants to keep us going.