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Can I be Your Running Buddy?

The other day my grandson and I took an impromptu tour of a couple of playgrounds close to my apartment. He decided he wanted to run with Gigi. So we ran! He also got tired and rode on my shoulders for awhile but then was all rested and ready to run again. It was a fun, active evening. Times like those seem like they are so purposeful and meaningful. Unlike many of the training routines athletes cling to. It was so enjoyable to just run with my grandson and have fun without feeling horrible physically. By the time we were headed home he asked me if he could be my running buddy. Of course I told him he could! Who could say no to that face? Here's to many more miles to run!

The last few weeks for me have been very discouraging to be honest. (I usually am!) It seems like it's been one thing after another. As most of you know I am a caregiver for my adult son who has a TBI and he suddenly got sick and ended up in the hospital for a few days. Since he is nonverbal I don't leave him for a second. The good thing was that my daughter and a friend supplied food for me so I didn't get stuck eating any prepared or high sodium foods during our stay. But it sure sends you for a loop!

After a couple of nights without sleep and just trying to get over such a disruption to our schedule, I have struggled. This all followed my birthday of course where I decided to have a couple of cheat foods. Well, let me tell you - it's been difficult to get back on track and stay there. My blood pressure is back to normal though and my diet has leveled out. It's not so hard to get back on track but it sure is difficult to stay there. 

 None of us are strangers to adversity and I feel like I have more than my fair share. I'm not looking for sympathy here.. that gets me nowhere. Actually, one of the mantras I heard early in my caregiving journey says tears will get you sympathy, sweat will get you success. That's when I rolled up my sleeves and started figuring out the new normals of my caregiving life.

Running and caregiving are tied together to me because I started running when I started taking care of my son. We were in the hospital for over 4 months and again - I never left. But I did start walking and then running while they were bathing him each morning. Not a glorious running start - but a start nonetheless. In some ways it's certainly easier now but training can get interrupted so easily. I recall one year he was in the hospital during the OKC Memorial Marathon. My friend came to relieve me that morning at 4:30 - I ran the half marathon and came back to shower and stay another 3 days or so in the hospital with him. lol.....

I can do this. I won't quit. Adversity has a way of making us stronger and I choose to embrace the adversities in my life and become a stronger person and a better runner and athlete in their midst instead of using them for excuses. I've redone my exercise log without specific goals. This is very difficult for my Type A personality and my OCDness. seriously... But I just wrote "run" on the days I want to be run days and I penciled in TKD or bike. No distances set, just do it. I know I need a longer run on one of these this week - I have to get some long runs in. This was my problem when I trained for my first marathon. For now I am not even sure when I will do my second - but I am still steadily moving toward that goal. I'm taking my time. And I'm okay with that.

I'm determined to beat adversity - maybe I can't make it all go away. But I can scream I won!  in it's face....and I will.




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