This photo has nothing to do with this post. However, it’s too funny not to share. The things we make Gavin do provide endless laughter for us (and a lifetime of therapy for him)!

The other day, I was reading a new-to-me blog. This particular post was talking about strategies for getting ourselves out of life ruts. And I liked what I was reading.

When I think about my own life ruts, I must admit that I don’t really feel like I’m in a rut. In fact, quite the contrary. My life has felt very full lately. And I’m kinda brimming with happiness (yeah, rainbows and unicorns, kids!). But, that doesn’t mean I don’t need a good kick in the pants. Because, I still haven’t found a good workout routine.

I guess you could say I’m in an exercise rut.

I have started running. And I try to run on the days I walk Gavin to daycare (I drop off Gavin and then go for a run). But, last week, it was dark when I was walking him to daycare. And the thought of running in the morning dark was depressing (unlike running after work in the dark, which is totally acceptable – go figure). And so, it became my excuse for only running once last week. WEAK!

So, I signed up for a one-day bootcamp through a local parenting organization. Because, talk about a good kick in the pants. 8am on a Saturday morning. I’m supposed to bring hand weights, a mat and a towel. Yeah, I expect to sweat. And to do sprints. And burpees. And interval training. I expect to end the class wanting to puke and cheer at the same time. It’s the start to that kick in the butt that I need.

Back to that blog post I was reading. The author suggested making an announcement about taking that first step out of the rut. Challenges are great ways to get out of ruts. Merely announcing what you’re going to do makes the challenge official. Makes you accountable. And I decided that’s what I needed to do to get out of this exercise rut.

So, friends, hear me roar: I am announcing my 30-2-38 CHALLENGE. What’s that, you ask? 30 days from today is my birthday when I turn 38 years old. I commit to exercising EVERY DAY. Starting today. And ending December 6, on my birthday.

What’s my definition of exercising? Well, it can’t include the gym, since Sweets and I resigned our membership from the gym. We were spending $130 a month for a membership that was collecting dust. Until we feel we’re at a place in our lives where we’ll use that membership and need a full-service gym, we’re going to focus on other ways to stay active. I’m talking walking, running, resistance training (push-ups, baby), core exercises, exercise videos, yoga and 8-ounce curls.

I kid, walking is reserved for walking from the couch to the fridge to get a beer. No, no, 8-ounce curls will have to wait until after I finish the exercise of the day, which could take place at 5am or 8pm. I will not excuse myself from doing SOMETHING each day (unless hospitalized, in which case, I grant myself a hall pass).

Once you start moving, you’ll feel unbelievably better, said that motivational blogger. It’s true. I hate running in the morning. But, once I get moving, I usually warm up and begin to feel better. I also hope it rings true in the bigger picture. Because, after the challenge? While I don’t plan to be super rigid about working out everyday, I do hope I’ll be in a better place with exercise. I hope that I will show myself how easy it is to be active each day. And maybe I will choose to continue being active, saying so-long to the exercise rut!

What sort of challenges have you put yourself up to?

And then I stopped thinking about it – because that sort of thought makes my head hurt. I’m smart enough to think about those sorts of things, but not smart enough to really push the envelope of thought. It reminds me of a recurring thought I used to have as a teenager. Am I really alive living *this* life or am I alive, in a deep coma, merely imagining this life? How would I be able to prove one was true and the other was not? I can’t say these thoughts plagued me, because again, I stopped thinking about them at a fairly superficial level. But, sometimes these random thoughts run through my head …

Speaking of running, it’s on my mind. I’m itching to begin running again. The single-digit temps and crazy cold wind chills have kept me from heading outdoors. Given our gym membership is on hold, I can’t hurry over there (and I’m not sure treadmill running is the way to start running again anyway). So, I wait for a warm-ish day. I’m thinking if the weather hits the freezing mark, that’ll be my sign to head outdoors. Today, it’s supposed to hover around 30. If the freezing rain doesn’t make the roads an ice rink, I may head out after work today. We’ll see.

Regardless of whether I start running today or next week, one thing is for sure. I’m on the lookout. For a race. Or maybe three. I always seem to do better when I’m training for something and I’d love to get back into half marathon training. Half marathons are the perfect distance for me – long enough to feel I’ve accomplished something challenging, short enough that training doesn’t take over my life. So far, I’ve found a number of half marathons I’m interested in … Lake Geneva (Wisconsin), 13.1 Chicago, Chicago Rock N Roll and the Madison Mini Marathon. That’s not to mention the Indy Mini Marathon, Madison Half Marathon and Chicago Half Marathon. So many races to choose from, not nearly enough time. I think I’ll start with the goal of running one spring half marathon and seeing how I feel … if my body says half marathons are still cool, then I’ll likely train for 1-2 more over the summer and into the fall. To me, that would make for a perfect running season!

So, I somehow managed to start with bouncing my car off the road and ended with road races. Random girl. That’s me. Any random thoughts you care to share with me?

]]> http://somispeaks.com/2011/01/24/thoughts-2/feed/ 15 http://somispeaks.com/2010/10/11/maratho/ http://somispeaks.com/2010/10/11/maratho/#comments Mon, 11 Oct 2010 09:33:47 +0000 SoMi's Nilsa http://somispeaks.com/?p=4024 Is it really Monday already? Is it really a holiday Monday for many of you, but one that I don’t get off? Would anyone be willing to trade places with me, because I could really use an extra day to my weekend!!!! Because, this weekend? It was full of moments. Special moments. Moments that I can’t forget. Keep reading if you want to share in said moments with me!

Arrival! Friends Meg and her Manfriend arrived on Friday afternoon in anticipation of the Chicago Marathon this weekend. We took them on a walk around our neighborhood and shared burgers and beer with them at one of our favorite local spots.

Jacked! No, our car wasn’t car-jacked, but we sure felt jacked. Over the past week or so, I’ve had increasing troubles starting our car. Sweets finally witnessed the issues and it came to a head on Saturday morning when we were already a couple minutes late for a baby wearing class. So, we dropped the car off at the shop, skipped the class and I went to meet up with my dad (in town visiting) and other family for brunch.

Shelved! Saturday afternoon, our new shelving was installed in our laundry room. I’m actually sort of shocked how much more space we now have. Not only that, but it makes the room look bigger. More shelving = bigger room? I guess removing the junk from that room will do that. Go figure.

Friendly! Saturday night, Sweets and I took his parents and my dad to see the US-Poland soccer match. The stadium was about 80% in favor of Poland. Did I mention that Chicago has the largest Polish population, second only to Warsaw? Yeah. So, errr, let’s just say it felt like we were transported overseas. The game was only alright – neither team looked particularly strong and wound up with a 2-2 draw. But, 5th row seats and very happy family members made it worth our energy!

Photoed! I finally took a photo of me at 29 weeks. The belly is growing and the hot temps we had this weekend reminded me that I am definitely beginning to slow down!

Marathon! The highlight of this weekend was most definitely the marathon. As a former marathon runner, getting to watch races of this distance bring back such memories (sorry, Sweets, for dragging you through them!). I woke up super early to take Meg and her Manfriend down to the start line. Later in the morning, Sweets and I jumped on the train and headed to the 23 mile marker to watch. It was a hot day, likely nearing or even over the 80-degree mark by late morning. People were hurting. But, you know what? It was amazing to watch everyone persevere. Here are a few photos I took for Meg, so she could remember this special day.

People pounded the pavement – we likely saw thousands of people run by us as we waited for Meg.

Some people carried flags, many representing countries, but this one making a political statement.

After hearing from Meg’s mom that they still hadn’t seen Meg at mile 20, we began to worry. Worry that she had slowed well below her expected pace. Worried that she was hurt. Worried that she could have dropped out of the race due to injury. I was definitely a bit concerned. And then, I hear Sweets yelling at the top of his lungs. Meg rounded the corner and was full of smiles. Granted, she was hot and tired and aching, but girlfriend looked good.

After we saw Meg at two different spots, we went upstairs to the condo that Sweets’ parents own. It had a really marvelous view of runners making their way north on Michigan Avenue in the last couple miles of the race.

After watching the race, I was honestly beat. It was hot, we walked a lot and my body was worn out. Sweets and I returned home and crashed. Naps and lounging rounded out the rest of our weekend. So, while we weren’t able to do a few things due to losing our car for the weekend, we did manage to accomplish a lot. And now? I’m telling you. I need a vacation from my weekend!

What was the highlight of your weekend?

• the smokers at work who smoke by the door, despite the signs saying No Smoking, can feel the venom of hate dripping from my body as I walk by?
• I will ever be able to wear proper heels again?
• that woman who parked halfway into a handicap spot and never straightened out noticed the dirty looks of onlookers … and also whether she inconvenienced someone who really needed that handicapped spot?
• the real estate market will rebound enough for us to sell our condo at a profit? Before we’re 50?
• my generation will eventually need knee and hip replacements from all the pounding we do to our bodies?
• that driver going way too slow in the middle lane of the highway noticed the line of cars behind him and all the cars passing him on his left and right … and also if he ever considered moving over to the slow lane?
• we will ever buy a piano, so I can begin playing again?
• that person whom I held the door open for heard me say You’re Welcome, because I certainly didn’t hear her say Thank You?
• I will ever have the desire to run another marathon?
• we will have to make a decision to stay in a condo in order to stay in the city or sell out and move to the suburbs in order to buy a house?
• the community at large will ever fully embrace online dating, blogging and other social networking fads or whether those of us who use them will always be given cock-eyed looks?

What are the things you wonder about? And do you have any answers to my musings?

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The other night, I was sitting in a group setting. A person was telling a story about this guy in the neighborhood walking a small dog. She suggested that guys with small dogs are either walking their girlfriends’/wives’ dogs or they’re gay. She said she saw him for months and couldn’t figure him out. Until one day, he was walking with his girlfriend. She said, THANK GOD … implying it would’ve been the end of the world if he was gay. This person knows my brother is gay. This person also has acted gay-friendly in the past. The most surprising part of that moment? I was stunned into silence. I had no voice to question her intentions. Shame on me.

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Sweets and I took a long walk with the dog the other afternoon. He wanted to stop in a mobile phone store to get some accessories for his new phone, so I waited outside with the dog. I looked up to see a childhood friend from St. Louis waiting at the bus stop. We said hello and confirmed plans for this weekend (plans we made weeks ago). She got on her bus to head home. Not two minutes later, another bus was passing and I saw someone waving from the windows. It was one of our neighbors, so I waved back. After Sweets left the store, we began walking down the block when some random dude looked at us like he knew us and emphatically said HI. Sweets and I looked at each other and looked back at him. Neither of us knew him. We both laughed. But, I’ve decided that’s a happy block (i.e., my happy place), where I’ll return if I’m ever feeling down. ha.

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The other day, my brother mentioned he was hoping some of us in the family would pool our resources together and get him an iPad for his birthday, which is today (Happy Birthday, bro!). I emailed Sweets, my parents and my brother’s boyfriend to see if everyone was on-board.  We determined who was willing to spend what and a strategy for getting my brother his gift (via a gift certificate, so he could choose the exact model he wanted). Later that day, my brother emailed me to say he’s so excited that we’re getting him an iPad. And by the next morning, he had it in his hands. No waiting for the actual gift certificate. Talk about a gadget boy.

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Our neighbors have decided to put their condo up for sale. Other than Sweets and me, every other unit is still owned by the original owners (the building was a gut rehab about a year or two before we moved in). I totally get why they’re moving (they need better public services for their son and Chicago Public Schools is not able to offer them what they need), but am equally sad to see them go. I caught myself asking another neighbor, “What are we going to do to ensure whomever buys their place keeps the integrity of our building?!” Wouldn’t it be nice if we could interview potential buyers?!?

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Speaking of units for sale, I have noticed a marked increase in For Sale signs lately. The other day, I finally went on a lunchtime run with SoMi. There are a few For Sale signs on multi-unit buildings that have been sitting there since last fall (some since last summer). But, in the last week or two, 1-2 more For Sale signs have gone up on those exact same buildings. This is either good news (real estate is rebounding, so people feel confident about putting their homes on the market) or bad news (even if the real estate market is rebounding, there is now a flood of homes on the market, which essentially dilutes the value of each of those homes). Time will tell. Good things Sweets and I have no immediate plans to put our condo on the market.

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Despite our best efforts to go to the Roller Derby when I was in Madison last month, we were foiled when we learned they were SOLD OUT. Thankfully, Chicago has its own Roller Derby team. So, today, I am buying tickets to the Windy City Rollers next match on May 1. Do you know how excited this makes me? You know what else excites me? Knowing I’m going to sign up for Madison’s Half Marathon in August and will be running it with a wonderful gal pal of mine. It’s the little things that make me happy.

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So tell me, if you had a choice and could only choose one, what would you choose: an iPad, tickets to the roller derby or entry to a destination race?

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