Walks with Dog and Tots

I've taken to after-dinner walks with our dog and the kids. It's a win-win-win. The dog loves it, the kids love it, and I get to feel a little bit better about not running.

Have you ever pushed a double stroller and walked an eager dog up a hill? It is totally a workout.

I've started mapping out our walks, planning routes for future solo runs. Our new neighborhood is close to a relatively major road but it's a residential area so there are a lot of side streets. A lot better than walking in circles around our old neighborhood or driving to the trail for a walk.

It's a nice routine. The dog and the kids head to the front door after dinner, motivating me to get in some exercise even on days when I want nothing more than to sink into the sofa.

Insert [Sometimes]

Let's just pretend like there hasn't been a massive gap between the last post and this one.

At this point, the name of this blog should probably change to Mark & Amy Run Sometimes. Every now and then I will sign up for a 5k or a 4 mile race and without training just run. I'm always sore for a few days afterwards and it's never as easy as it should be but I can do and actually finish in a pretty decent time.

I ran the Amy Thompson 5k Run on Memorial Day. I finished in 30:43.  Not too shabby right?

Sure my time may not be too bad, perhaps the half-marathon training has taught me to push myself to keep going even when I feel like stopping, but I'm so out of shape. I've put on pounds and feel like more of a marshmallow than I have for a while.

So now what? I'm signed up (in verbal agreements, not actually registered) for a 5k in September, but there are no other major races on the horizon. I keep talking about strength training. I am going to give the Insanity DVD workout plan a try I am going to follow the Insanity DVD workout plan and get ripped. I've heard it's a killer but pays off. Oh, and, you know I'm not going to be sweating it out by myself in the basement. Mark's on board too.

Time to get at it and feel better....right before the holidays hit and we start noshing on deliciously unhealthy foods.

Finding Balance

countdown to race: 102 days

Life gets in the way of running and some times it feels like running gets in the way of life.

I'm (slowly) reading Run Like a Mother. The tagline says it all: How to Get Moving - and Not Lose Your Family, Job or Sanity. It's an incredibly motivating book and reminds me that it's important to incorporate running into your everyday life, not make running your life.

As we train for Rock the Parkway, Mark and I will be doing most of our runs separately. We are grateful to have both of our parents nearby, but we agree that the time we spend with our daughter - having dinner, playing, bath time and bedtime - isn't worth missing just so we can run together. We'll still run our Sunday long runs together, but mid-week runs will be solo.

How do you balance running, family, work and a social life?