I noticed my blog linked to the Family Page of Active's web site. So I decided to write an update.

It's been over 3 months since the Hollis Race. I'm proud to say that I still run 3-5 days/week. Last week I ran 26 miles. I'm hoping to run the Applefest Half Marathon in two weeks. I'm not very well prepared, but I might give it a go anyway.

My latest thoughts:

I've been thinking about all the running that parents do and the fatigue that comes with having children. This is my sweet Caroline.

Running after kids:

I once ran after my first child (a 2 year old heading for the road) with all 200+ pregnant pounds of me (belly bouncing and pelvis about to crack down the middle) jiggling the whole way. I moved only slightly faster than a tortoise. Not pretty.

This summer my 3yo son (3rd child) was out in the driveway with my husband. My husband took his eyes off him for a few minutes (You and I both know how fast those little kamikaze's can disappear). My 7yo (making amends for forcing her fat/pregnant mom to waddle after her as a toddler) starting screaming, "Alex is almost in the road!" I hit the door running and lept like a gazelle (not hitting a single step) from the porch to the ground. I sprinted at what might have been olympic speeds (ok, maybe not olympic...but I might have beaten the local H.S. track star at the 100m) and caught my son just before an enormous dirt truck flew past.

Oh yes......and we mustn't forget the playful "I'm gonna get you" (or as my son calls it, "i'm dunna dit you") running that we do when we're chasing them around in their PJs after bath time. This one is my favorite.

Running the kids to School, Sports, and Scouts (which really isn't running at all):

I get up every cold Saturday morning all fall to bring my 5 year old to 8am "soccer." ....which really isn't soccer all...just a preschool version of it. I then go home and run the 7 year old to 10am soccer. I do this (not because I love sucking down coffee on cold wet soccer fields at 8am) but rather (just like you) I want my kids to fall in love with being active.

Running for Me: A glorious and monumental event in the life of an exhausted parent.

My favorite time to run is at the end of the day. I stick my husband with putting the kids to bed and I head out the door just as the sun starts to turn the landscape that beautiful golden color.

Running on Empty

None of it is ever perfect. I sometimes come home from a run and find my husband has put one (or two) of the kids to bed without brushing their teeth. I've also come home from 8am soccer to find my exhausted husband still asleep and the 7yr old NOT ready for 10am soccer (that starts in 10minutes). Sometimes I eat a donut for lunch. Sometimes I'm so tired that I miss my long run on the weekends because I'd rather get a nap before my husband leaves for his next business trip. Parenting is a non-stop obstacle course. But I will never give up being active....no matter how many obstacles I have to run around.