Last year I did my second Princess Half Marathon training with some great people at Fleet Feet. It has added a lot more fun to these long miles, and I have learned a lot from everyone I run with. One of my favorite things I have learned from the people I run with is how to “Big Girl” it. Big Girling it is just as you are getting to the end of you walk/run intervals… when the end is in sight you pull up your “Big Girl Panties” and give it your last and best effort and run it in to the finish. So, it just became a habit that now when I am at the end of a run, I always try and “Big Girl” it to the finish. It’s a great way to finish a run.
Well, this past February when I ran the Princess it was ridiculously hot and so humid we could see the fog laying out in front us as we ran. I will admit that my running partner and I took more walk breaks then we usually would, but it was completely called for with that thick humidity. Getting up some of the hills and bridges were a total bitch so we would take it slow and walk our way up. But, whenever we got to the top of a hill we would “Big Girl” it all the way to the bottom to make up a little time. It’s always easier running downhill of course. I can’t remember how many “Big Girls” we did during that race but it was a lot of them. I didn’t break any time records or even break my own personal record on that race, but I finished it with a smile on my face despite how hard it was. We had a great time and I cannot wait to run it again.
I, like most people have a lot in life I have not done yet. But, life gets busy. I am a wife to a man whose personality is larger than life; a mom of 2 happy, healthy and mostly well adjusted kids; mom to two dogs. I am a daughter, a sister and relative, and that is just off the top of my head. I have done a lot... But there is still so much I haven't. Life gets in the way but I am not worried because I know I will get everything done. I have plenty of time.
But, just recently my mom said to me in one of those “I’m not being judgy and it's your life” moments, about how I don't do my laundry fast, that I just take my time doing it. I do my laundry a load or two everyday versus knocking it all out in one day. If I miss a day it's okay because I will be doing some more tomorrow. Maybe once the kids have moved out and Jody and I are empty nesters I can do it once a week and get by, but kids make a lot of laundry... So why fight it.
I think the rest of my life should be the same. Getting a little done everyday and eventually it will all add up. The kids are growing up so fast. I am now the mom of a middle schooler. How did that happen? So, I am enjoying these long days of summer while my kids still want to hang out with me and go do silly things like stay in the pool until the sun goes down. Or like taking them to Bass Pro Shops so they can go try shooting a bow and arrow which they think is the coolest thing ever. And, the same with my husband... like spending a week lounging around on the beach and not feeling pressured or responsible for anything. It's been a few years and we really just needed to hang out together and be silly and irresponsible again.
Life is like training for a marathon (or in my case a half marathon) you don’t run the whole distance your first day out. It takes time to get there, to build up to it. A little every day. And, when it gets hard, just slow down and get yourself past the hard part. When it’s easier you can run and make up some time. And when you can you have to you just pull up your “big girl panties” see the finish ahead of you and run it in with a smile on your face. Time is short and 42 years goes fast. Here's to hoping I can make the most of it.
Time is so short and I'm sure
There must be something more.
-Coldplay