Fresh start (please)

I have had so much on my mind in the past few weeks that I avoided coming on here to write because I just didn't know where to start.  I finally forced myself to get on here and write SOMETHING tonight, anything, just get going already!!!!!  I think I've found myself approaching this blog in the form of specific topics instead of just getting on here and writing about whatever pops into my head.  I need a fresh start - now.

A lot of this has to do with the fact that the summer completely took any routine that I had and just threw it out the window.  My work schedule was all over the place, the kids' activities changed weekly (swim team, summer camps, or nothing at all), and we were just so busy all the time.  In the past few weeks I've been sidetracked by hurricanes, torrential downpours, the start of school and all the activities that come with the fall months, not to mention that in the middle of it all I've been fighting off some awful cold that just won't go away.  I'm exhausted.

During all of this turmoil I decided that the one thing that keeps me fresh and grounded is exercise, so I went ahead and signed up for a 5K in December.  Not just any 5K, but the Hot Chocolate 5K, where the reward at the end is a chocolate party complete with hot cocoa and chocolate fondue - at eight o'clock in the morning no less.  How decadent is that?  Sounds lovely if you ask me.




Of course, my track record with signing up for races this year has not been good.  A foot injury kept me from racing in the National Half Marathon relay and a 5K in July was cancelled due to the fact that I had to drive up to Ohio to pick up my son from summer camp after he decided he wanted to stay an extra week.  So I've got all these nice performance t-shirts from these races that I never participated it.  Almost feels like cheating in a way.

So I'm determined to run this chocolate race, despite the fact that my foot started hurting again last week and today I coughed and threw out my back.  Don't laugh.  I'm being serious.  I feel like my body is falling apart and I need to put it back together.  Nothing will stand between me and that chocolate fondue!

Another incentive is that my sister, who has never been a runner and has not exercised regularly in a long time, has decided to join me in my chocolate run.  So now I absolutely have to do it - I can't let her down!  I'm so proud of her for deciding to do this - it's a big leap for her but I know she can do it. 

So now I just have to get rid of this persistent cough, give myself physical therapy for my back pain, visit a podiatrist to get some orthotics and also purchase new running shoes to get my feet in proper alignment and then I'll be good to go.  Oh, and I also need to buy a new bike since my old one flew off the back of the car on our way to the beach last month.  Still bummed out about that and wondering whatever happened to the unfortunate bicycle - I'm guessing it's lying in a mangled heap on the side of route 50 or perhaps stuck in the grill of an 18-wheeler somewhere.

Back to work, back to school, back to regular life - whatever that is.  One day at a time is my motto right now.  If I look too far back or too far forward I get overwhelmed.  The here and now is enough for now.