Anyone can run!

Now that's one of the things I love about running: anyone can do it! 

You don't have to practise or anything.
Unlike skating, where your legs go everywhere!

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The power of thought

With all five children home for Christmas vacation I've been having some trouble squeezing my runs in. To be more specific: I didn't squeeze them in.

With my body getting no exercise, my thoughts started running around, taunting me and saying things like: 'You're gonna lose all the stamina you've build up! What are you, a runner or not?!'

In the end I just couldn't take it anymore, so I rushed upstairs to my bedroom and dressed hurriedly in my running clothes. I ran passed the piles of laundry, the smelly toilet, nearly broke my neck over some shoes lying around, and finally managed to run my way out the door.

Ah, what bliss! The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and I was outside running.

So a thank you to my pesky thoughts for getting me out the door.

My very own Running Santa

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Shall I compare myself to a turtle?

I was happily running along, thinking to myself: 'I'm doing quite well!' when it happened again. A fellow runner ran right passed me. Now had this fellow runner been a man I would have shrugged it off, but this fellow runner was a woman! A woman about my age, her blond hair bouncing along in a pony tail. I shouldn't be passed by someone my own age and sex! It just isn't right!

Even though I know I shouldn't compare myself to other runners, and other mothers, it's hard not to. There I will be, doing quite wel, and then I'll see someone who seems to do it all much better than me.

I'm not like Shakespeare who compares his love to the a blissful summer's day, only to conclude it doesn't do her justice!

It's a hard lesson for me to learn. To nót compare myself to a summer's day, or other runners or other mothers.

I have to tell myself, I don't have to measure up to anything.
I'm fine just measuring about.

Running mindlessly

Lately I've been doing my runs mindlessly.

I run out of the house and about an hour or so later, I find myself back there again. I know I ran in the meantime, but I can't remember doing it. I have no recollection of the trees I must have passed, passers-by that called out: 'Can't you go any faster?!' or what the weather was like.

Obviously I've been preoccupied. Worrying about my son Jan (12) and what school he should go to next year, worrying about all the stuff I had to buy for Christmas and worrying about worrying so much.

It's harder for running to work its magic if you don't pay any attention. There is of course the stress release gained by running, all that pent up adrenaline finding an outlet, but it feels a bit strange, running mindlessly.

It makes me feel like I've missed something.

It's a bit like parenting. The days fly by and before you know it, your kids are all grown up and you think: 'When did that happen?!'

So next time I go out for a run I'm going to try to release my worries while at the same time paying attention to what I'm doing.

Because who wants to miss out on the good stuff in life?!
I certainly don't!

Running in ruby red slippers!

I just love these red shoes and the symbolism behind them.
Red shoes you can run home on: to yourself.

If only Asics made these as running shoes!
Wouldn't I look pretty doing my runs in my ruby red shoes?!










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Cheer me on?!

Wow!

I've been nominated for the Best Parenting Blog category for the December BlogNet Trophy Contest! I feel all warm and fuzzy inside! There's nothing like a compliment for your work. Especially since my work as a mom usually doesn't get me many.

When you participate in a marathon there are lots of people cheering you on, wishing you well, and rooting for you. It turns out this Best Parenting Blog contest is a lot like running a marathon: I could use some cheers!

And if you like my blog this is where you can give them: Gimme some cheers!

Running joyful and triumphant!

This picture represents my favourite kind of running: joyful and triumphant.
Running like it's almost dancing.
It doesn't matter if you fall: you just pick yourself up again.

It also represents the way I wish to be a mom: joyful and triumphant.
And when I slip and fall, I'll just pick myself up again.
It's all part of the journey.

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Quick and painful

Subject:You just got booted from TopMomma.com
From: [email protected]

Hey Momma!

All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately your time on TopMomma.com has come and gone.

Don't despair- you can give it another go.



Luckily the same thing applies to running and parenting!
Only there, I wíll last more than a day!

Clicks for kicks

I may not be a Top Runner, but I sure am a Top Momma!
That is to say, as long as I get enough clicks.

So gimme a click and thereby a much needed kick.
And not the 'between the teeth kind' either.

Wordless Wednesday

Wouldn't it be lovely to run around with this much abandon? Boobs flying about and almost taking flight?
And wouldn't it be lovely to be a mom with this much abandon? Embracing life and running towards it?

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Finding my way back again

I keep forgetting why I started to run in the first place, which was to find some much needed peace of mind. Time and again I get lost in 'wanting to run faster' and 'going further'.

And when that happens, running starts losing it's appeal to me. As I huff and I puff my way through the miles there is no room to find peace of mind, because all I'm thinking about is how much further I have to go, and whether I can stop running yet.

Luckily I usually start to realize this somewhere down the line. When running becomes just another chore on my to-do-list, like making mad and passionate love to my husband, I know I've forgotten again.

So the next time I go out for a run I take care nót to go fast. To just enjoy being outside, and looking at everything that surrounds me. That's when running starts feeling good again, like something I do for mé.

I have discovered the same thing happens with my parenting. Just like in running, I get lost in wanting to do better, worrying I'm not good enough, and all the joy gets sucked out of it! And that sucks. Because then I forget to enjoy my children and all the beauty they bring to my life.

So today when I went for a run, I ran just for the fun of it, and that's what I'm gonna do with my parenting today too.

So I want to toot my own horn for realizing I was on the wrong path, and finding my way back again!