Back To The Drawing Board

After all of my big talk about getting back on track with running and P90X, I did try. However, I came to my senses. Leading that "double life" was just too much. It was obviously taxing on my knee, as for the physical. As for the family life, it was just consuming us. We spent every minute of every evening (except Friday) working out, so Isaac got only one parent at a time (which I am sure he didn't mind). The past three weeks straight have been crazy busy, and now I see clearly the reason: to make us slow down.

"Seriously, Mommy and Daddy, chill out."

I spent last Sunday (9 days ago) pondering what to do about marathon training, factoring in the knee pain and the not-wanting-to-abandon P90X. What to do? I mean, I can't do it ALL and do it ALL well, that's for sure (motherhood lesson #1!!!) So first I came up with Plan B: find a marathon about a month or so after St. Louis to give me more time. Chasen was on board with this plan. We looked... and looked... and looked... and we just couldn't find a drivable location that wasn't in the dead heat of summer. What to do? Plan C: Obviously, defer until later. What?!? Not run a spring marathon? Yep, you got it. Just keep on training and cross training for... wait for it... Plan C! Chasen suggested the Chicago Marathon. Now, Chicago has always been on my "one day" list, but I gasped at the thought of us three making that drive again. He thought about it and agreed. So next came Plan D, the winner: I will go it alone! Yep, Mommy is gonna get some time away! Oh the wheels started spinning. I have a free airline ticket to redeem... I have a girlfriend who can host me... what could be better? With 45,000 racers, Chasen and Isaac would have a heck of a time spotting me on the course anyway. This sounds perfect! It is 32 weeks from now.

Back to reality. I have not done any running in 2 weeks. Zero. Nor P90X. My knee is perfect. I guess rest was definitely in order. During this time frame I have made several decisions, and not just to trade St. Louis for Chicago. First of all, I have decided to modify the P90X plan to better suit me. It calls for 3 strength workouts per week PLUS 2 cardio workouts and yoga. While I know the cardio workouts are the most fun part, let's face it - I run. Thus, I have made the executive decision to cut out those cardio days. And yoga is going to be scheduled, yet optional, due to our schedules. So I have gone from 6 days of P90X to 3 or 4. That is going to help tremendously, I think. I'll lose the "doom and gloom" attitude of "It's 10 PM, I just got done working out, and I have to be up first thing tomorrow to run." That gets old!

Second, both Chasen and I have decided to stop the P90X eating plan. It is both impossible and extremely expensive. There is just soooo much on it! I have yet to eat all of the daily food. I never thought I'd be complaining about having to eat so much, but I am. This, in particular, was a point of contention for me from the beginning. You see, I lost all of my baby weight following The Diet Solution, so I was very hesitant to change, as I loved that plan. But I did. So now I feel like I am going back home!

All that's left to do is figure out Chasen's P90X schedule and my running schedule. I am very excited about Daylight Savings Time in less than two weeks. Looks like I am going to switch back to evening running, just like last summer. Bring on the heat!

Now for the important stuff: Isaac! I am so proud of my big boy. The day of his 1-year checkup he began drinking whole milk - out of a sippy cup - like a champion! I am so proud! (Did I say that already?) And he has begun eating table food quite well. We actually call him our little garbage disposal. Also, he has started standing up on his own from a squat. Next stop: walking! Today I registered him for Mother's Day Out starting in September. He'll go there (a church across from our neighborhood) on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 AM - 2 PM. During those hours I hope to work, run, relax, you name it. I am looking forward to that! He'll be 18 months old by then.

There ya have it!