10k

 So, I've had phases in my life when I've really enjoyed running. Max and I even took the jogging class in college and our grade depended on how many miles we ran. But since having children, (and having no desire to push them in a jogging stroller) I just haven't been that into it. Plus our house is in a weird place without sidewalks. But for some reason, it has just appealed to me recently. We have a treadmill in our garage but I can't really use it unless our kids are sleeping so they're not begging to be on the treadmill or ransacking the house without my knowledge. Point is, when my big boys were in school and Edwin was napping, (none of which are happening now!) I was able to use the treadmill, and then on Saturday mornings I could go run on my own and it was therapeutic. (I make it sound like this isn't happening anymore, but I still have been running, it's just not as convenient as it once was...) The thing is, my body has been in all sorts of states, large, lean, pregnant and otherwise, and Sometimes I just feel so grateful for what it can do. I hear people complain about their knees or other ailments and I look at myself and realize I don't have those ailments and it is a gift to be able to move in the ways I can.

And since I was enjoying it more, I decided to sign up for a run, one where I could actually do my best and not wait around for my kids to run through bubbles, haha! I found that one was happening at the tulip festival in the next month. Then I found out the 5k and 10k were the same price and I had never run a 10k (6.2 miles) and it would be a good challenge for myself.

Anyway, as you probably guessed, the run got postponed, then canceled along with the whole tulip festival. But I was still training and I wanted to be able to push myself to run the 6.2 miles since previously, the longest I had run was 5ish miles. So I continued to train. The week before the scheduled run (original date) I  went out to run and it was just started to lightly snow, it hadn't snowed at all this winter so I didn't think it would get too bad so I ran anyway. I did 5 miles which was the best I had done in awhile, and it was the first time running in the snow and feeling the snow pelt me in the face. It was empty at first and the track kept track of my laps for me.

Anyway, I felt pretty good about that. 

Not super fast but consistently plugging along.

Anyway, by the next week, when the race was supposed to be, I had already found out it would be officially canceled for the year but I still wanted to push myself a bit. I wasn't sure if I would make it so I just went to the track again. It's nice staying kind of close to my car but still being outside. Also, it was beautiful weather this day (and a major bummer that I wasn't spending the day at the festival)

Point is, our bodies are amazing and I don't ever want to take that for granted!