Maybe, Should, Hopefully, Ought to be......

Ugh ugh ugh ugh....

Maybe 2014 will be different. It should be. Hopefully it will be. It ought to be! 

Why can't it be?

Why wouldn't it be?

The only thing standing in my way, in the way of 2014 being different, is ME. 2014 has potential to be very, very different.  I have pretty much taken 2013 off.  It is crazy to say it out loud, I took 2013 off...like I took a long weekend from work or something. I did do a handful of races. I came back and killed the Raven Rock 5 mile trail race (although the 10 mile still kicked my backside in 2012, and I just realized I never gave you a race report on the 5 miler...whoops.). I showed up and did well in the Army DC 10 Miler. I did a color run with LB. It was supposed to be a 5k but it was barely over a mile. I completed a grueling marathon relay with a friend and co-worker, running 8 laps of 1.63 miles, alternating laps with my partner. Can you say OUCH! I was so sore for days! And I barely survived the local Army 10 miler in the heat and humidity of June in the south. So that was 5 races in 12 months. Pathetic. 

So what got into me? Why did I take the year off? 

In doing some self-relfection and self-honesty, all I can say is I was tired. Mentally, physically, emotionally tired.... I was beat up, beat down, just plain beat.  Running didn't do it for me anymore. It didn't clear my head or make life better. It didn't give me peace, it only gave me heartache and longing.  I continue to struggle with lame routes and running partners who are not compatible. No one can match up to my trusty running partners of yesteryear (you know who you are RED, Tall Mom and even at the time ANtheRB). It seems like a lifetime ago I had all the streets in the world at my doorstep with running friends who kept me going. But I know, deep down inside, I have only myself to keep me accountable. I cannot keep placing blame outside of myself. I have to find the dedication, determination, motivation to keep going. 

I felt a bit of the "....tions"(you know, dedication, determination, motivation) this weekend as I happened upon an advertisement for a local trail race, a half marathon and a full marathon. Why not? And my sister-in-law texted to ask me about training plans for a spring half! My heart fluttered a bit as I felt the familiar feeling of someone asking me for running info! It's been a long time! As I thought about a plan for her I started thinking I could do it too! Why not? Why shouldn't I? I should!  Why wouldn't I? I ought to!  

Of course my days are busy, like everyone else's. I've got work schedules and half-time with LB right now....and well a new puppy, but otherwise I've got time. I've got no one to tend to or occupy my time when LB is with his dad. So what exactly is my excuse? 

So here's to motivation, dedication, determination....and a strong will for 2014! Maybe, hopefully I will, I should, I ought to just go ahead and sign up for that trail marathon....and start training too. 

What's on your calendar for 2014? Are you taking the year off? Or will it be your biggest year yet?

And because no post is complete without a picture, here is the newest member of the 5 Mile Family, Ace!!!

What's Under My Tree!?

Wow, here it is, one week to Christmas.  Have you completed your Christmas shopping yet? Or do you feel like this:

Well, never fear....Here are a few things under our tree this year, or coming down the chimney:

1) WiiU Fit and Fitness Meter--Christmas did come early with this one, but Christmas nonetheless....

"Take your fitness routine wherever you go with the Wii U Fit Meter! The Fit Meter is a convenient portable accessory for use with the Wii Fit U, designed to measure the number of steps you take an the mount of calories you burn in a day!"

Now I am seriously technologically impaired but this was easy to set up. I did it all, on my own, with a little help from LB. And to top it off he is able to navigate and control it too!

This is not just a video game system, it is a fitness game that actually keeps track of your fitness and calories burned!

I'm not sure if this is good or bad, but LB's Wii Fit Age is 25 (his real life age is 8). It measured his balance and strength and showed where he could use improvement. He then is able to play games that help improve his balance and strength!

Please excuse the underoos....is that bad? They might as well be shorts, really....I promise, I DO NOT play in my underoos, although I could if I wanted! It's all part of the benefits of working out at home!

Now we have never been a gaming family. Mater of fact I HATE video games. I have seen firsthand the damage they do to families and kids. Many of my clients have serious issues with video game use in their families. Spouses come home and zone out, totally ignoring the family for hours and hours. Kids zone out, playing nothing but games all evening, even sneaking up to play in the night time. Grades fall and relationships suffer.  So needless to say I don't usually advocate for video games and game systems. But as you can see, with this and #2 on my list, I am slowly integrating games into the family. But I assure you, if the play gets out of hand, grades drop and responsibilities wane the games go bye bye. The Wii Fit U is somewhat different, however. The games are interactive and require movement and motion. They are not VIOLENT games and they actually make LB tired so he does put it down and walk away.  Eventually.

*I will give a further, more detailed review of this game system soon. 

2) 5th generation iPod Touch. 

With LB going between two households it has become more and more important for him to be able to communicate with both parents at his own convenience, whenever he wants. While the iPod touch is not a phone, when connected to the internet he can use FaceTime, text, and he has his own email. We can control all this by controlling his contact list and email list. He can surf the internet, which we can also put parental controls on, watch youtube, which does scare me a little bit, and play Minecaft, My Singing Monsters, and other stupid games. He can take his own pictures (I'm scared to see some of them) without clogging up my own camera roll. And it can also be taken away if he needs to be motivated to study his spelling words a bit more.

3) Can you say Legos!? Specifically Ninjago! 

While my feet disagree, you can never have too many Legos!

4) PUPPY PUPPY PUPPY!!

This is the newest addition to the 5 Mile Family! Meet Ace!! We got to meet him over Thanksgiving and he has been in Doggy Training since October. He will be heading from OK to NC with us and we are super excited! Lazy Dog has no idea what is about to happen!

While I am super excited for Ace to come home, I have to say that pets are not simply Christmas presents. They are a serious commitment. They require time and attention and 100% commitment for a lifetime. I know so many people take on the responsibility of a pet and when the chewing and potty training become too much these guys end up at the pound. I encourage and recommend taking the time, effort and money to have your new pet trained, this will ensure he is ready to join your family and the whole family will be happy. If you are looking for a German Shepherd check out my friend at Red Rock K9,  and his Facebook page HERE.  He breeds and trains German Shepherds and does an AMAZING job!

So there you have it, our short but very BIG Christmas list.  What's under your tree this year??