I decided to join my cousins to run the Ottawa half Marathon on May 30th. As it turn out, my friend Sophie, brother-in-laws Scott and Mark will also be running with me!
The training has not been as difficult as I had expected. The Running Room group that I have joined in Kanata is not very fast. I think there are a number of people training for their first half. It's been a bit of a confidence builder.
At the same time, I have questioned a few of the Running Room methods for training. For example, I still can't figure out why practice runs are completed at a minute slower pace than you intend to complete the race. In other words, if you plan to run the race in a 5:55min/km pace, why train at a 6:55? The women I an running with don't really understand it either. None of us have completed the half marathon program through the Running Room, but the two other women have run a number of marathons and half-marathons. They seem to know what they are doing. They claim that if you want to run a half in 2 hours, then you need to train for that pace. Makes sense to me. All I am trying to do, is just keep up with these women each week. They are aiming for completing the half in under 2 hours. I don't think I can do that, but I would like to finish in 2:10.
Another question, why were some of the tempo runs at 4km and then on Wednesday we ran a 3km tempo? Is that all part of building speed and strength? I think the Running Room in Langley seemed to do things differently. Weren't we running further by this point in the schedule? Didn't we do hills by now?
My goal so far, is to enjoy the race and do my best in training. I am trying to watch what I eat before runs so that I don't have tummy problems half way through and I am very aware of how I am keeping myself hydrated.
My biggest frustration is trying to do my practice runs with Simon in the stroller and Baloo. Tonight, once Ian gets home from work, I plan to take a run by myself.
I have been checking out a number of blogs from other runners and I realize that I will never be a serious about any sport as most other people. I will continue to run because I enjoy it, but I don't think I will ever find myself being competetive with anyone else other than me.
Friday, March 12, 2010
September???????
It's been a while since I've written. It isn't because I haven't had anything to say. In fact, it is quite the opposite. However, I have been wavering on what I want to do next year.
I have a few things on the go. I have decided to train for a half marathon. I also ordered materials so that I could potentially begin a small tutoring/reading program within our home. Then I began to think. With kindergarten going to full days in the next year or two, my target reading group would be in school full time. Why don't I just go back to teaching?
This week worked on my resume and put together a package. I even applied to a .5 teaching position, knowing full well that I wasn't likely to get the job, since I haven't gotten a recommendation for a principal within that school board. To get a recommendation, I need to volunteer in a classroom. To volunteer, I need to find child care for Toby and Simon. And so, I decided I had need to put the brakes on and think this through.
Simon has had a difficult time adjusting to being cared for anyone other than me. He will likely be more attached to me when he starts Jr Kindergarten in September. Is this a good time to go back to work? Not really. I think I would be rushing it.
So, what am I going to do with my 2.5 hours of freedom each day in September?
I need a plan.
To be continued....
I have a few things on the go. I have decided to train for a half marathon. I also ordered materials so that I could potentially begin a small tutoring/reading program within our home. Then I began to think. With kindergarten going to full days in the next year or two, my target reading group would be in school full time. Why don't I just go back to teaching?
This week worked on my resume and put together a package. I even applied to a .5 teaching position, knowing full well that I wasn't likely to get the job, since I haven't gotten a recommendation for a principal within that school board. To get a recommendation, I need to volunteer in a classroom. To volunteer, I need to find child care for Toby and Simon. And so, I decided I had need to put the brakes on and think this through.
Simon has had a difficult time adjusting to being cared for anyone other than me. He will likely be more attached to me when he starts Jr Kindergarten in September. Is this a good time to go back to work? Not really. I think I would be rushing it.
So, what am I going to do with my 2.5 hours of freedom each day in September?
I need a plan.
To be continued....
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Marshmallow Experiment
Ian and I have been watching TED.com. It's a series of interesting lectures on many different concepts. The other day, we watched one called "Don't Eat That Marshmallow Yet" by Joachim de Posda.
The experiment is based on the principal of delayed gratification and how it can help to predict future success. The videos of the kids were priceless.
So, we decided to do the experiment on our kids. Toby and Simon were the right age for the experiment. We said to them "Here is a marshmallow. If you don't eat it for 15 min. you can have another one. Mommy and Daddy are leaving the room now." Toby got the concept right away. We left the room and Toby looked at his marshmallow, and pretty much left it alone. He got upset when Simon went and helped himself to a second marshmallow, which he placed beside his first. Simon also smelled and touched his a lot. We heard Toby at one point say "I'm never eating my marshmallow!".
After approximately 15 minutes of marshmallow torture, Ian and I came back into the room. Simon's extra marshmellow had been put back into the Marshmallow bag. The first two remained intact. Ian and I are convinced that our two boys have demonstrated enough restraint to prove that both boys have very bright futures!
What the boys learned; sometimes it takes work to be rewarded. This time, they got two marshmallows right before bed! Big cheeky smiles were enough of a reward for Ian and I!
The experiment is based on the principal of delayed gratification and how it can help to predict future success. The videos of the kids were priceless.
So, we decided to do the experiment on our kids. Toby and Simon were the right age for the experiment. We said to them "Here is a marshmallow. If you don't eat it for 15 min. you can have another one. Mommy and Daddy are leaving the room now." Toby got the concept right away. We left the room and Toby looked at his marshmallow, and pretty much left it alone. He got upset when Simon went and helped himself to a second marshmallow, which he placed beside his first. Simon also smelled and touched his a lot. We heard Toby at one point say "I'm never eating my marshmallow!".
After approximately 15 minutes of marshmallow torture, Ian and I came back into the room. Simon's extra marshmellow had been put back into the Marshmallow bag. The first two remained intact. Ian and I are convinced that our two boys have demonstrated enough restraint to prove that both boys have very bright futures!
What the boys learned; sometimes it takes work to be rewarded. This time, they got two marshmallows right before bed! Big cheeky smiles were enough of a reward for Ian and I!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Happy New Year!
We have so much to look forward to in 2010. Here are some pictures from over the Christmas holidays.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Success!
We did it! We had our first successful family trip. Imagine, we managed to go away for a week together and everyone, for the most part, was happy. The sun was warm. The people were friendly and kind. We met some new friends. The kids were happy and easily entertained. There was nothing to complain about. We already have started to talk about taking another trip again.
We had such a great trip at the Melia Caribe Tropical resort in Dominican Republic, one would assume that we would want to return to the same all inclusive resort. In a way I would like to return. However, there is a part of me that is wondering, what else is out there? Is there something else that we might be missing out on? This trip has made us a little more confident about travelling with our three young, active, picky eating boys. Soon, we will get out the atlas, explore out options, check our finances and head to the airport. But for now, we are happy to be home and sleepig in our own rooms in our own beds!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
We're off!
Today we are leaving for the Dominican. We (I) have been preparing for this trip for about a month. Because it is right before Christmas I was pretty busy. Over the past few weeks, I managed to get almost all of my Christmas shopping done, wrapped, sent to various places, wrote and sent half of our Christmas cards, fit in two sets of immunizations, attended a few Christmas parties, celebrated Simon's birthday twice, and packed suitcases and carry-ons. Whew!
We are all excited. We talked to the boys last night about what to expect and to try their best to make the most of our time away. Positive attitudes will go a long way! With any luck, the boys will learn to love being far from home on the sunny bach as much as Ian and I will.
Unfortunately not all of us were able to go. Holly, my mother-in-law had to cancel at the last minute. It would have been nice to have an extra set of hands. However with Gordon being sick, it is best that she stay with him.
This week was busy and now I am looking forward to my holiday!
We are all excited. We talked to the boys last night about what to expect and to try their best to make the most of our time away. Positive attitudes will go a long way! With any luck, the boys will learn to love being far from home on the sunny bach as much as Ian and I will.
Unfortunately not all of us were able to go. Holly, my mother-in-law had to cancel at the last minute. It would have been nice to have an extra set of hands. However with Gordon being sick, it is best that she stay with him.
This week was busy and now I am looking forward to my holiday!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Guilty
This week, I have been arguing with Ian. We don't do it often, so when it happens I feel like it is the end of my little world. I know that in part I am wrong, but I wish he would just be a little more understanding of my point of view. It would be easier to accept that I am wrong if he gave some empathy rather than being a wall.
So, the issue that we are fighting over is that Ian's work Christmas party is on Simon's third birthday. When he first mentioned the Christmas party weeks ago, I asked him to make it any night other than Simon's birthday. He said he would try. As it turns out, the party is on Simon's birthday and Ian does not want me to be late. He said "If you are going to plan to be late, then don't come at all. I don't want you there". Harsh! I just wanted to put the kid to bed on his birthday. He hates babysitters! Besides, birthdays are special to me. It is a day that I think about what was going on in my life when that little person came into the world. I think about how thankful I am and how much they have changed me.
So there are a few issues here. There is a societal pressure that I am supposed to go, look good, smile and support my husband. He works all year at his job and this is an opportunity to see him shine. That is what I signed up for when I married Ian. My mother-in-law feels that it what I should do, as does a number of good friends whole opinions I respect.
On the other hand, we are not doing a big birthday party for Simon. I have asked my parents to visit some time that week to celebrate, but they can't. I asked if we could visit them the weekend before, but they will have their hands full with my sister and their kids. So, Simon will get a few presents, we will bring cupcakes to his friends at preschool, I will stay with him at school as the parent helper and I will take him out for lunch.
I can't help feeling guilty that he will not be seeing his dad on his birthday AND I won't be eating cake with him and his brothers at dinner.
Ideally, Ian's Christmas party would be another day and we would have a nice family dinner together, but I am going to have to suck it up and accept that my husband needs me more.
Do I sound bitter? I'm not really. I just need to mull this over in my head a bit.
I think it would be easier to accept that I was missing Simon's birthday if I was invited to a U2 concert, or Ian was taking me out on a date alone. Last year at Ian's Christmas party, I was accosted by one of his sales guys who proceeded to lecture me on how there is no such thing as Global Warming. I tried to be polite and disagree, but he seemed to get more fired up. At the time, Ian was busy socializing that he didn't realize I was feeling very uncomfortable until the guys girlfriend suggested that Ian "save me". Not my idea of a good time.
I would much prefer to be home with my boys, reflecting on how much has changed over the last three years. What a wonderful surprise Simon was. Once the boys were in bed, I would rather spend time alone with Ian over a glass of wine talking about the day and what our future holds.
A mother's guilt is never healthy. We do it to ourselves. Whether it is a missed birthday party, we are late to pick them up from school or we have repremanded our child too harshly. So, to be good to myself, I need to let it go. Take a deep breath and know that in the grand scheme of things, when he is 26, Simon won't remember that we weren't there for the evening of this third birthday. The only one who cares is me. I am not doing something morally wrong. I am accompaning my husband to a work event. I should not feel guilty.
So, the issue that we are fighting over is that Ian's work Christmas party is on Simon's third birthday. When he first mentioned the Christmas party weeks ago, I asked him to make it any night other than Simon's birthday. He said he would try. As it turns out, the party is on Simon's birthday and Ian does not want me to be late. He said "If you are going to plan to be late, then don't come at all. I don't want you there". Harsh! I just wanted to put the kid to bed on his birthday. He hates babysitters! Besides, birthdays are special to me. It is a day that I think about what was going on in my life when that little person came into the world. I think about how thankful I am and how much they have changed me.
So there are a few issues here. There is a societal pressure that I am supposed to go, look good, smile and support my husband. He works all year at his job and this is an opportunity to see him shine. That is what I signed up for when I married Ian. My mother-in-law feels that it what I should do, as does a number of good friends whole opinions I respect.
On the other hand, we are not doing a big birthday party for Simon. I have asked my parents to visit some time that week to celebrate, but they can't. I asked if we could visit them the weekend before, but they will have their hands full with my sister and their kids. So, Simon will get a few presents, we will bring cupcakes to his friends at preschool, I will stay with him at school as the parent helper and I will take him out for lunch.
I can't help feeling guilty that he will not be seeing his dad on his birthday AND I won't be eating cake with him and his brothers at dinner.
Ideally, Ian's Christmas party would be another day and we would have a nice family dinner together, but I am going to have to suck it up and accept that my husband needs me more.
Do I sound bitter? I'm not really. I just need to mull this over in my head a bit.
I think it would be easier to accept that I was missing Simon's birthday if I was invited to a U2 concert, or Ian was taking me out on a date alone. Last year at Ian's Christmas party, I was accosted by one of his sales guys who proceeded to lecture me on how there is no such thing as Global Warming. I tried to be polite and disagree, but he seemed to get more fired up. At the time, Ian was busy socializing that he didn't realize I was feeling very uncomfortable until the guys girlfriend suggested that Ian "save me". Not my idea of a good time.
I would much prefer to be home with my boys, reflecting on how much has changed over the last three years. What a wonderful surprise Simon was. Once the boys were in bed, I would rather spend time alone with Ian over a glass of wine talking about the day and what our future holds.
A mother's guilt is never healthy. We do it to ourselves. Whether it is a missed birthday party, we are late to pick them up from school or we have repremanded our child too harshly. So, to be good to myself, I need to let it go. Take a deep breath and know that in the grand scheme of things, when he is 26, Simon won't remember that we weren't there for the evening of this third birthday. The only one who cares is me. I am not doing something morally wrong. I am accompaning my husband to a work event. I should not feel guilty.
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