Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Life=Good
I have been too busy to blog lately! We had a great weekend. On Saturday, we met up with Abbie to finish up our photo shoot because it started to rain and Nathan was very cranky during our last photo shoot. I guess Nathan just isn't a very smiley baby because I think we might have managed to get one smile out of him in our repeat photo shoot! We went to a cathedral for the second round of photos and it was AWESOME! It was a beautiful, breezy morning in the mid 70s, which is totally uncharacteristic of late June weather. We had a great photo shoot and I am really looking forward to seeing the pictures. We also went to West Virginia last weekend to celebrate hubby's aunt's 60th birthday. The party was at an old railroad station and featured a local folk band. It was a great evening passing Nathan from family member to family member.
A funny WV family story for you. Apparently, in hubby's family, it is fashionable to use the same first letter to name your children. In addition, many favor using the father's name with different suffix. For example, my hubby's mom's family includes the following daughters and son of Dan:
Danton, Dorretta, Darletta, Dannetta.
I learned that my hubby has aunt and uncles: Wayne, Waynetta, and Wanda.
Wow. What does this mean for us? Should we name our next child Nathanetta?
Here's my running stats for the past two weeks.
Last Week:
Monday, June 15, 2009: 8.6 miles
Tuesday, June 16, 2009: 8.6 miles
Wednesday, June 17, 2009: 8.6 miles, Power Yoga video
Thursday, June 18, 2009: 8.6 miles, Body Pump
Friday, June 19, 2009: 8.6 miles
Saturday, June 20, 2009: 70 minutes elliptical
Sunday, June 21, 2009: 10 miles
Total Mileage: 53 miles
This Week:
Monday, June 22, 2009: 8.6 miles
Tuesday, June 23, 2009: Track workout: .5 mile WU, 1 X 1600, 4 x 800, 1.5 mile CD (total: ~5 miles)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009: 10 miles, Power Yoga video
Thursday, June 25, 2009: 10 miles
Friday, June 26, 2009: 3 mile tempo w/ 1 mile WU and 2 miles CD (6 miles)
Saturday, June 27, 2009: 60 minutes elliptical
Sunday, June 28, 2009: 16 miles
Total Mileage: ~55.6 miles
A funny WV family story for you. Apparently, in hubby's family, it is fashionable to use the same first letter to name your children. In addition, many favor using the father's name with different suffix. For example, my hubby's mom's family includes the following daughters and son of Dan:
Danton, Dorretta, Darletta, Dannetta.
I learned that my hubby has aunt and uncles: Wayne, Waynetta, and Wanda.
Wow. What does this mean for us? Should we name our next child Nathanetta?
Here's my running stats for the past two weeks.
Last Week:
Monday, June 15, 2009: 8.6 miles
Tuesday, June 16, 2009: 8.6 miles
Wednesday, June 17, 2009: 8.6 miles, Power Yoga video
Thursday, June 18, 2009: 8.6 miles, Body Pump
Friday, June 19, 2009: 8.6 miles
Saturday, June 20, 2009: 70 minutes elliptical
Sunday, June 21, 2009: 10 miles
Total Mileage: 53 miles
This Week:
Monday, June 22, 2009: 8.6 miles
Tuesday, June 23, 2009: Track workout: .5 mile WU, 1 X 1600, 4 x 800, 1.5 mile CD (total: ~5 miles)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009: 10 miles, Power Yoga video
Thursday, June 25, 2009: 10 miles
Friday, June 26, 2009: 3 mile tempo w/ 1 mile WU and 2 miles CD (6 miles)
Saturday, June 27, 2009: 60 minutes elliptical
Sunday, June 28, 2009: 16 miles
Total Mileage: ~55.6 miles
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Jillian Kicked My Butt!
Knowing that my ability to go to the gym to do Body Pump after I returned to work would be difficult, I bought a Jillian Michael's SHRED DVD over two months ago. Hubby and I got some Bowflex weights off of Craig's List last week and I finally decided to give it a try. Because I was feeling a bit lazy, I figured I'd start with Level One. Wow! It was more of a workout than I thought it would be. I had planned on doing Level One AND Two, but decided to stop after One because I am going to my *first tempo run* (EVER) with the group tomorrow AM and didn't want to be too beat up. I am a big fan of this DVD, although I do wish that Jillian was better with prompting and counting the number of reps left. Can't wait to try out Levels Two and Three!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Blah Father's Day
I had high hopes for Father's Day. I was going to get up early and run 10 miles with Nathan in the jogging stroller so that my hubby could sleep in. Then his mom and sister were going to come over and I was going to make the yummy ham and cheese soufle he requested and we were going to go visit some vineyards.
Unfortunately, hubby spent the majority of Saturday night/Sunday morning puking his guts out. We went to a local Blues Festival Saturday night and he had some smoked chicken and collard greens from one of the vendors. Let's just say he saw a lot of the collard greens and they aren't pretty the second time around. The collard greens were paid tribute on our shower curtain and bathmat. Not sure how that happened.
So, our Father's Day consisted of Nathan and I keeping hubby company on the sofa and making toast. Poor Hubby.
He was very excited by the present I got him: a bike trailer so that we can take Nathan on our biking adventures! I got a two-seater...time to start thinking about number two!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Does the middle path simply mean mediocrity?
Thanks so much for your heart-warming comments on my last blog. We are all forging our own way in motherhood and it is so nice to have a peer group of women that include ATHLETES in their new identities.
Since my conversation with my mother, I've been thinking a lot about my career and being a mother. I feel like I am straddling the fence and not really giving 100% to any aspect of my life (motherhood, career, husband, running). I was on a panel this past week with several female CXOs (speaking in my capacity of the non-profit I run...which I have finally decided to resign from) and I noticed that of the five women...only 2 were married, but had no children. These women were indeed very successful in their careers, but what about the other aspects of their life? Is the only way to be successful at something to put all your efforts toward it? I looked around at these women and realized that I didn't want to be them. If I am really honest with myself, I don't necessarily place a lot of value on achieving a high level leadership position and would rather have a multi-dimensional life. Granted, I don't know everything going on in their lives, but based on their personal bios and the amount of time that their career takes, I don't think I want to make that investment.
But, where does this leave me with my career? All of the assumptions that I have been making for the past 9 years seem null and void. I no longer have an end goal in mind other than balancing my life with Nathan and fitting in time for running. One of the things I was originally looking for when I started my career was a profession where I could grow and advance and pull in a decent salary. It was always important to me to have my own income because (a) I didn't want all of the burden to fall on my husband; (b) I wanted to feel self-sufficient should something happen to my husband or marriage; (c) I like to spend money! I know that stepping out of my career to take care of children would have some great advantages (time with Nathan, more free time for my family because we wouldn't have to spend our weekends cleaning and running errands). But, working also has some great benefits, like mental stimulation, interaction with people I enjoy, an external source of self-esteem, and more financial freedom...and the all important justification for hiring a cleaning lady and massages.
I started reading an interesting book on female leadership "Through the Labyrinth: The Truth About How Women Become Leaders" and it has an interesting section on balancing motherhood and careers:
"Many mothers, including some who have superb career credentials, choose part-time employment, take lengthy leaves of absence, or even leave employment entirely while raising children. However, women who take such actions do so very likely at the expense of their long-term careers. Many women may not realize the magnitude of the costs they may incur. And many women may not fully understand the advantages of maintaining employment despite substantial family responsibility.
What are these advantages? Because people want a healthy and satisfying life, we ask whether the combination of employment, marriage, and parenthood is the best way to achieve such a life. The answer isn't obvious. In fact, there are two very different ways that social scientists have theorized about multiple roles. According to one view, having multiple life roles creates stress, strain, and overload because multiple demands quickly become excessive. According to an alternative view, having multiple roles enhances learning and mastery. Also, each new role generally affords some increase in social support and builds social capital. In this view, a life full of challenges does not wear people down but instead strengthens them."
What do you all think? Does having multiple life roles strengthen you or stress you out? My mother seems to think it will just stress me out--which if I am truly honest--is a fear of mine.
I keep reminding myself that there is no one path and even if I decide to tread water in my career for the next few years that there is no reason that I can't change career paths or ramp back up.
I have been thinking a lot about changing career paths....
My two new career day dreams:
Since my conversation with my mother, I've been thinking a lot about my career and being a mother. I feel like I am straddling the fence and not really giving 100% to any aspect of my life (motherhood, career, husband, running). I was on a panel this past week with several female CXOs (speaking in my capacity of the non-profit I run...which I have finally decided to resign from) and I noticed that of the five women...only 2 were married, but had no children. These women were indeed very successful in their careers, but what about the other aspects of their life? Is the only way to be successful at something to put all your efforts toward it? I looked around at these women and realized that I didn't want to be them. If I am really honest with myself, I don't necessarily place a lot of value on achieving a high level leadership position and would rather have a multi-dimensional life. Granted, I don't know everything going on in their lives, but based on their personal bios and the amount of time that their career takes, I don't think I want to make that investment.
But, where does this leave me with my career? All of the assumptions that I have been making for the past 9 years seem null and void. I no longer have an end goal in mind other than balancing my life with Nathan and fitting in time for running. One of the things I was originally looking for when I started my career was a profession where I could grow and advance and pull in a decent salary. It was always important to me to have my own income because (a) I didn't want all of the burden to fall on my husband; (b) I wanted to feel self-sufficient should something happen to my husband or marriage; (c) I like to spend money! I know that stepping out of my career to take care of children would have some great advantages (time with Nathan, more free time for my family because we wouldn't have to spend our weekends cleaning and running errands). But, working also has some great benefits, like mental stimulation, interaction with people I enjoy, an external source of self-esteem, and more financial freedom...and the all important justification for hiring a cleaning lady and massages.
I started reading an interesting book on female leadership "Through the Labyrinth: The Truth About How Women Become Leaders" and it has an interesting section on balancing motherhood and careers:
"Many mothers, including some who have superb career credentials, choose part-time employment, take lengthy leaves of absence, or even leave employment entirely while raising children. However, women who take such actions do so very likely at the expense of their long-term careers. Many women may not realize the magnitude of the costs they may incur. And many women may not fully understand the advantages of maintaining employment despite substantial family responsibility.
What are these advantages? Because people want a healthy and satisfying life, we ask whether the combination of employment, marriage, and parenthood is the best way to achieve such a life. The answer isn't obvious. In fact, there are two very different ways that social scientists have theorized about multiple roles. According to one view, having multiple life roles creates stress, strain, and overload because multiple demands quickly become excessive. According to an alternative view, having multiple roles enhances learning and mastery. Also, each new role generally affords some increase in social support and builds social capital. In this view, a life full of challenges does not wear people down but instead strengthens them."
What do you all think? Does having multiple life roles strengthen you or stress you out? My mother seems to think it will just stress me out--which if I am truly honest--is a fear of mine.
I keep reminding myself that there is no one path and even if I decide to tread water in my career for the next few years that there is no reason that I can't change career paths or ramp back up.
I have been thinking a lot about changing career paths....
My two new career day dreams:
Physical therapist:
WHY: All of my friends call and ask for suggestions when they are hurt and I seem to have a 6th sense about people's injuries and how to heal them.
UPSIDE: I know several physical therapists that work 30 hours a week and it seems to be a very family friendly job. Plus, I wouldn't have to sit at a desk all day, which I hate. It's also a portable job that perhaps my hubby and I could use to finally implement our Australia plan.
DOWNSIDE: Three freaking years of school and possibly some prereqs that I would have to complete. I also hear that most physical therapists burn out after 10 years. What would I do if I get bored? Would I just have to start a new career?
Writer:
WHY: I do this at my current job, but I've always been obsessed with being a magazine writer/editor. I actually tried to move to NYC after college, but couldn't land a job and couldn't afford to move up there and wait to find a job.
UPSIDE: I wouldn't have to get any additional training and could free-lance for the next few years.
DOWNSIDE: BIG pay cut. Doesn't feel like a "real" skill like PT. Is this realistic considering the downturn of the publishing sector?
Monday, June 15, 2009
"I just don't get this running stuff"
My parents have been saying this to me for years. I've had to defend my sport against their many complaints. When we had problems getting pregnant, of course it was "because of all that running." Why was Nathan measuring small? "Because of all that running!" And, at least every other time we talk they say "you know you're not going to be able to walk when your old because of all that pounding." Despite providing them with scientific evidence, they still choose to believe that running is a vain and selfish pasttime. Because they don't understand "the obsession," I generally don't tell them about the races I run or the training I am doing. I guess at some point we all have to find our own internal motivation. For the most part, I am able to write it off as generational and personality differences, but this past weekend they crossed the line and really hurt my feelings.
I was so excited about my half-marathon results that I told my mother that I thought I might be able to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials if I trained hard enough. Upon hearing this, my mother went into a tizzy. She called my husband on Sunday and told him that she thought that I wasn't being a good mother to Nathan because "of all that running." She said that when she was a mother she put her children first and that I was "doing too much" and creating a stressful environment for Nathan. She also said that "because of all that running" I wasn't making enough milk and was starving Nathan. She thinks that Nathan is falling behind developmentally because he is not getting the nutrition he needs and that I need to stop being pig-headed and start feeding him formula. My wonderful husband, my advocate and partner, came to my defense and tried to assuage her concerns. He told her about the many bios of women who had qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials while working full-time and raising children. He told her that he supported my decision and that, yes, I was a multi-tasker who always heaps a lot on my plate. He said this was one of the many reasons that he loves me. He said that I was a wonderful mother and that I create a calm, loving home for Nathan.
But, her words have left their scar and I can't help but be hurt that she can't understand what an awesome experience it would be to train and attempt such a lofty goal and that she questions my devotion to Nathan. I really wonder what it would be like to have parents that understood me and respected my values. But, you can't pick your family...you can only pick your friends. Guess this is another opportunity for me to grow some scar tissue.
I was so excited about my half-marathon results that I told my mother that I thought I might be able to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials if I trained hard enough. Upon hearing this, my mother went into a tizzy. She called my husband on Sunday and told him that she thought that I wasn't being a good mother to Nathan because "of all that running." She said that when she was a mother she put her children first and that I was "doing too much" and creating a stressful environment for Nathan. She also said that "because of all that running" I wasn't making enough milk and was starving Nathan. She thinks that Nathan is falling behind developmentally because he is not getting the nutrition he needs and that I need to stop being pig-headed and start feeding him formula. My wonderful husband, my advocate and partner, came to my defense and tried to assuage her concerns. He told her about the many bios of women who had qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials while working full-time and raising children. He told her that he supported my decision and that, yes, I was a multi-tasker who always heaps a lot on my plate. He said this was one of the many reasons that he loves me. He said that I was a wonderful mother and that I create a calm, loving home for Nathan.
But, her words have left their scar and I can't help but be hurt that she can't understand what an awesome experience it would be to train and attempt such a lofty goal and that she questions my devotion to Nathan. I really wonder what it would be like to have parents that understood me and respected my values. But, you can't pick your family...you can only pick your friends. Guess this is another opportunity for me to grow some scar tissue.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Running Stats for the Past Two Weeks
I'm working on a blog post in my head, but wanted to get my running stats down on paper before I forget them.
Last Week:
Monday, June 1, 2009: 70 minutes elliptical
Tuesday, June 2, 2009: 30 minutes Power Yoga, Track Workout: 1 mile warm-up, 1 x 1600 w/ 400 laps; 3 x 800 w/ 400 laps; 3 x 400; 1.5 mile cool down (~7 miles)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009: 5 miles, Power Yoga video
Thursday, June 4, 2009: 5 miles
Friday, June 5, 2009: 60 minutes elliptical
Saturday, June 6, 2009: 1/2 Marathon + 5-10 minutes warm-up
Sunday, June 7, 2009: 2 mile walk with friends
Total Mileage: 30-31 miles
This Week:
Monday, June 8, 2009: 8.6 miles
Tuesday, June 9, 2009: 8.6 miles
Wednesday, June 10, 2009: 7 miles, Power Yoga video
Thursday, June 11, 2009: 8.6 miles
Friday, June 12, 2009: 7-9 miles (4 w/ Angela!)
Saturday, June 13, 2009: 10 miles
Sunday, June 14, 2009: 70 minutes elliptical
Total Mileage: ~50.8 miles
Last Week:
Monday, June 1, 2009: 70 minutes elliptical
Tuesday, June 2, 2009: 30 minutes Power Yoga, Track Workout: 1 mile warm-up, 1 x 1600 w/ 400 laps; 3 x 800 w/ 400 laps; 3 x 400; 1.5 mile cool down (~7 miles)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009: 5 miles, Power Yoga video
Thursday, June 4, 2009: 5 miles
Friday, June 5, 2009: 60 minutes elliptical
Saturday, June 6, 2009: 1/2 Marathon + 5-10 minutes warm-up
Sunday, June 7, 2009: 2 mile walk with friends
Total Mileage: 30-31 miles
This Week:
Monday, June 8, 2009: 8.6 miles
Tuesday, June 9, 2009: 8.6 miles
Wednesday, June 10, 2009: 7 miles, Power Yoga video
Thursday, June 11, 2009: 8.6 miles
Friday, June 12, 2009: 7-9 miles (4 w/ Angela!)
Saturday, June 13, 2009: 10 miles
Sunday, June 14, 2009: 70 minutes elliptical
Total Mileage: ~50.8 miles
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