A time for every purpose under heaven

There are those who live full lives and there are those who live life to the fullest. I am beginning to realize that I fall into the latter category. It just doesn't take much to make me happy these days. We've had a jam packed summer, don't get me wrong, but my life has been simple: some teaching here, some gardening there, lots of cooking and time outdoors with the girls spread throughout. On my sunset run tonight (courtesy of the Byrds),  I began to realize that I didn't do everything I may have wanted to do this summer but the things I did do, for myself and for my family? I rocked. What else matters really? Luckily I'm not a bucket list kind of person - I'm more of a timing is everything kind of person. If you feel like you don't have enough time then you're doing too much. Over the last few weeks we've harvested more of the most ridiculously yummy veggies (which have made incredible salsa, pickles, and salad), climbed Mt. Washington (just Jeff and me, for our 9th anniversary), surfed surprisingly warm NH waves, camped waaay up North with friends, plied through Frozen dance camp (the girls, of course - although I was tempted), rode water slides with visiting family, hiked and dined with friends, and learned a new song or two under the apple tree. Here's a little bit of that:

It's hard to run in the summer. Any chance I get I just want to enjoy my kids and my surroundings. It has also been mostly hot and humid, with some gorgeously perfect days in between. I'm still trucking away though. Lots of Ben Harper of late, keeping it all as mellow as possible as we head into August. Here are some glimpses of our summer, with a few sunset runs in there for good measure. Tonight I ran sprints at Philips Exeter Academy's track. Good times. Few things feel as good as running as fast as your body and mind permits. Do it while you can, I always say.

                                                                           Stratham Fair

                                                  Stratham Fair (first and last time, I hope!)

                                                   ran by a little concerto at the gazebo midweek

                                               Along my run before the mosquitos ate me whole

                                                 little playground action, which happens daily

                                                spending as many afternoons as possible at the shore

                                       Jeff in Lila at the Adirondacks Musuem

                                     Great week at the cabin, with the lake all to ourselves

                                         Solveig rode her bike every day of summer camp - 1.5 miles each way. I rode  with her....her new goal is to ride to school until Halloween, I hope we can make it. She also got in some great hikes, being active really brings out her strengths.

Back at it. My race is coming up in a couple of weeks and running time has been scarce at best. I forced 6 miles at sunset last night and this was my reward.....

Well, Sugarloaf came and went last weekend but unfortunately I had to sit this one out.  The week prior  both Solveig and I fell ill, me with pneumonia and Solveig with the flu. Jeff and I were still planning on heading up on Saturday, but then Solveig was having a hard time keeping anything down and her fever was up to 104 so we had to throw in the towel. There's no challenge as great as caring for a sick child.
The bad news for me is that my next marathon is right around the corner and it will be much harder and much hotter ....the flip side is the kids are coming and we will get a little 4 day family vacation out of it. So I'm back pounding the pavement today, and just finished a 6 mile run. Next weekend I get in 17 somehow. Still coughing, but I'm feeling  so much better. Wow, is the pollen thick this year!

I got in a 16 mile run today - Happy Mother's Day to me. Jeff's flu extended to Lila and Solveig's cold and ear aches, respectively, and I haven't been able to run more than once a week for the last couple of weeks. So today I cramped up at mile 12, which was a buzz kill. I am running in new sneakers - same model but new as of yesterday - so I'm hoping that was part of it. I never get calf cramps and these were awful. I managed to run/walk but mostly run the last 4 miles. Truthfully, I'm not physically ready for next weekend's race but I will do it gladly and plan on the next one in the fall. If I have to walk some I will. If I run 12 minute miles, I will. I'm just happy for this first experience.  One other reason I haven't been able to run is that I started a new teaching gig in Newburyport from 9-11:30, exactly my running time, as Lila gets out of school at 11:30. I still have my SAT students weeknights, but now I also get to help a thirteen year old boy with his course load as he awaits out of district placement. His learning style is similar to Solveig's, so I get a little taste of what not to do. Here's a pic of my fat toes and the girls playing in the yard today -  they were out there from about 10am-3pm! We had a nice low key dinner at Vida Cantina which ended with a perfect Mother's Day Margarita for me.

                                           "With a rebel yell she cried "more more more"


I suppose the seemingly unending April showers helped lend beauty to this pleasant pasture I ran by this morning.  Jeff has been home sick all week with the flu so my last run was 12 miles on Sunday. I ran 8 smooth miles today and will run 16 on Monday. After that, I will taper down a bit for the race on the 18th. Today's run was brought to me by a little Billy Idol....

Long run: 16 miles

Location: Exeter, Hampton

Weather: 65 degrees, sunny

Life has gotten in the way of my long runs for about a month, but now a few hours to myself is looking more like an option at least once a week and less like only something that seems weeks away.  Yesterday looked like a beach day so I ran to the beach. I went slow, listened to Pearl Jam and some other random old school "therapists", and enjoyed every second of it while thousands ran Boston. We are 8 miles due West from the ocean, so there and back was a no brainer.  Water and toenails will be  factors for next week's long run, and I'm glad I figured those things out sooner rather than later - the race is in one month!

she dreams in color she dreams in red...