Category Archives: My Life

#TheStruggleisReal

I have been fairly upfront about my struggles getting back into running post baby. Between working full time, wrangling Cub, keeping our new HUGE house clean and organized and all the other things that a woman has to do and worry about on a daily basis have been overwhelming to me over the past year. Summer seemed a lot better when I could lean on Chas more, but now that school is back in session, I am finding my days to be more cluttered, the work to be piling up, and the rage in my belly showing itself much too often.

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Our new house, which I love, but takes a year to clean!

For those of you who don’t know, when you have Ginn genes, you have the temper gene. Mine is quite explosive, like my father’s (even though he will never admit that), and there are time when I have to set Cub down, walk away and move to something else to keep myself from going off. I am very lucky to have self-control when it comes to people, but inanimate objects sometimes take the brunt of the anger.

I don’t remember many more calm times in my life than when I was training for a race. My first marathon training fell during a particularly difficult time in my life while I was coaching a college volleyball team full of a bunch of assholes. I remember running every morning and letting my mind just drift away from the problems that I would be facing later that day. Being able to focus on my podcast listening, or the gnomes adorning the old woman’s yard on the corner of Corning and 32nd St. makes other things just melt away.

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Not running for the past X number of days is really creeping up. The last 3 days I feel like nothing can plug up the steam coming out of my ears.  But worst of all, I am so tired that I have no desire to get up and try to solve the problem by going out and hitting the pavement. My Friday’s are screwed because I am up til 3 am making sure our website is running properly and that all the cogs are doing what they are supposed to be doing. (Oh and someone always forgets to tell Cub that mom needs to sleep in on Saturday so that she doesn’t lock him in his playroom for half the day.)

Take aways from this article:

  1. I don’t beat my kid.
  2. My husband is a saint.
  3. I don’t get any sleep on weekends.
  4. I hold a lot of emotions inside.
  5. I need to run more.

Next week’s goals:

  1. Run
  2. Relax
  3. Kiss my husband

Parenthood, Rio and other things on my mind

The last 3 weeks of my life have been what I would call an emotional roller coaster. Parenthood is so different now that I have a walking, talking tornado named Cub in my house. He goes upstairs, downstairs, cries, yells, kisses, hugs, loves and screams. He is just something else. On Tuesday, he started day care, which is a miracle really. I was so nervous (still am so nervous), because he is too little to tell me if something bad happens to him. It scares me that he is not in my control for 8 hours a day, twice a week. But this week seemed to go well, and he came home to a rested mommy who had almost everything checked off her to-do list. Just being able to spread things out without someone’s sticky fingers touching and tearing them is a victory!

With Cub at day care, I have been able to normalize my workout routines, which has made me more than happy. Honestly, just getting a run in 2 mornings so far this week has made me more mellow. I feel like I can process thoughts and actions better, which is why I was so surprised when I freaked on Cub this morning. Well, let me put this into context with a simple math equation: (clearing my throat) Toddler+iPhone+Toilet=Disaster. That’s right, I am without a phone for the next 24 hours. UGH! But in the grand scheme of things, I freaked out less than normal, so PROGRESS!

I am having major Olympic withdraw. I miss my good morning cry when NBC would show a heart warming story about how someone gets inspiration from their dead mom. I made an executive decision that Cub will be the Decathlon gold medalist in the year 2032. He could be an Olympic wrestler or a setter/libero on the volleyball team and I would be ok with that too.

Work is nuts with a new school year starting, but I am feeling empowered to make decisions, get things done and continue to make Prep2Prep great.

Oh, and I haven’t told you about our new house! AWESOME! It is totally awesome. There is more room that I know what to do with, and I can easily send the boys downstairs to get them out of my hair. We are very happy here, and I am excited to move into fall and decorate for Cub.

So just a small update today, but with more free time, more posts are to come.

Change is a comin’

Change is of course inevitable. Over the past 10 months, Cub has grown and changed more than I could have ever imagined. He waves, kisses, laughs and cries. He loves brushing his teeth and feeding Goldfish crackers to the bulldogs. He is such a fun kid… when he is in a good mood anyway.

As a family, we decided to make some changes that would be beneficial, one of them being our location. While we have no intentions of leaving Hays in the near future, we did feel that our family would be better off by change where we lived, so we decided to try putting our house on the market. We worked so hard for 3-4 straight days sorting through closets and decluttering everything. Much to our surprise we easily sold the house in just 2 days. And even more to our surprise, we found a house that met almost all our criteria in a very desirable neighbor (and well within our price range) almost just as quickly. So July 8th, we will be closing on 2 houses and moving to a place that will allow our family to easily grow with no problem at all.

We are so excited for this new transition, and the best part is that the week before we close, we get to go celebrate at Walt Disney World for Cub’s 1st birthday!

Day 96/366- Driving Ms. Emotional

For about 2, if not 3 years now, I feel like I have been a woman posing as a runner. My stats have been atrocious, my runs few and far between. Becoming a wife and a mother, moving halfway across the country from beautiful, sunny Northern California to windy western Kansas and dealing with sleepless nights and so much time without Chas during wrestling season has put a damper on my athletic spirit. In my mind and heart, I am a runner, but in actuality, I am a fraud.

Last week I ran twice. It was so refreshing to wake up before anyone else and know that while everyone in Hays, KS, was still fast asleep, I was working hard and showing the world my perseverance. Morning runs are really about putting one foot in front of the other. I generally have just nursed the baby, and instead of crawling back in next to my husband, I opt for the cold, windy tundra that is Main Street at 5:30 am. I run an out and back usually, trying to complete one leg faster than the other. Pounding the pavement that earlier makes a person ponder big things, future goals, the meaning of life, etc. In a way, it makes me feel superior, the fact that I can do this, that I have the will power to do it, even if just for my usual 2 mile stretch. When I walk back in the door, I am no longer free or powerful. I am mom, Marketing Director and chef, but I feel more empowered in my daily activities, and more patient in my handling of crying babies, dog messes, and dumb emails. A run can certainly mellow a Type A personality like myself, but at the same time makes me feel more secure in who I am and what I am doing.

Besides my running lately, I have been playing in a rec volleyball league and working on some Nike Training Club workouts. On Monday, we played a team that had 3 former collegiate players on it. By former, I mean just graduated. Being 11 years out from my playing days, I am confident in my ability and skills, but am most certainly a step behind where I was when training was my life. We lost the game on Monday, and I left the facility feeling embarrassed and angry. They other team was cocky, stuck up, and not fun and light to play like most of our “Rec” league opponents. I hate that feeling. But then I started thinking about my NOW self as opposed to my 11 years ago self. When I was in the same position as the cocky girls we played Monday night, I am sure I was similar, and enjoyed beating up on older people. But I will tell you why they should be bowing down to me:

I am 11 years out of my volleyball career and I still was blocking the crap out of them.
I have the guts and moxy to put myself in that situation knowing that I am not the same 100% I used to be.
Those girls don’t know what it is like to be up all hours of the night nourishing a human being.
I created a human being with my own body!
I can work a 50+ hour week, cook, clean, and nurture my family while still looking to maintain my health and the health of my boys.
I am setting an example for my son, showing him that anything is possible and fitness is forever.
Those girls aren’t up at 5:30 to make themselves better.
Oh, and they certainly don’t know that people may not remember what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

I am a mom, a fit mom. A mom that is continuously trying to make herself a better person, wife, employee, and human. I know everyone is fighting some kind of battle, as I am. I know that there were probably days when I acted like them, but now I see the world in a different light. Someday they will too.

Day 89/366- Another year bites the dust

I am just 3 days into my 33rd year of life, and I am happy to report I am still alive, something you could probably tell by the fact that I wrote this sentence. I like having a March birthday, because I feel like it is another new year. I can reflect on my first three months, and even attempt to reposition my focus once again. As always, running plays a major part in this, and my actual birthday was an almost perfect representation of what my life seems to be like and the challenges I am facing right now. #RenewYourselfhappy_33rd_bday_to_me_magnet

I started the day waking up at 1:13 am to my screaming son in the next room. As always, I stumbled out of bed to go get him, and ran myself straight into the door frame (I am blind as a bat without my glassed. Plus I had a little cold and my face felt rather swollen… still no excuse). This was the 3rd of 7 times that I would get up with him before 6:30 am. I even let him cry himself back to sleep twice, but the kid just won’t sleep. #GotheF*cktoSleepgtfts-960x400

I had every intention of getting an early morning run it, as I thought it would be a great way to start the day. Well, that wasn’t even close to happening. After not sleeping, and finally just getting up with Cub at 6:30 am to watch 2 episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse which we have seen umpteen thousand times, I needed coffee, #Stat.

Around 8:15, my husband had finally gotten up and moving, so we packed up and went to Starbucks on campus so that I could get my fix and us my birthday reward, which I was much looking forward to. Chas got sick on the way there. He had to sit down in the student union. I proceeded to get my Vanilla Chai Latte, but was told that they “didn’t do birthday rewards” at this particular Starbucks. #WTFtumblr_n1u73g5kic1qfdua2o1_500

I took Chas back home where he slept soundly on the couch and Cub finally took a nap. I, however, did not get to rest. I, instead went to get my eyebrows waxed. #Superfun

The rest of the day consisted of the usual work stuff, more Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and preparing for the trip to Chas’ brothers house the next day. My husband did take me out to eat that night, and Cub was kind enough to sleep through 3/4ths of the meal. Nothing extravagant, but it was the epitome of a normal day at the Thompson house. #JustAnotherDay

I have no problems with my birthday being just another day, but the problem is that I really wanted to start my 33rd year off with a run, but it was almost impossible to get that accomplished. So Chas and I have moved onto scheduling workouts for me. Yesterday was the first day since the schedule started, and I got in 2 good workouts with no problem. It’s not always going to work, but if it will help me get some good alone workout time in every now and then, I think I can live with that.

The best of intentions- Day 80/365

No parent finds out that they are going to have a child and says to themselves, “I am going to do everything in my power to screw this kid up.” I truly believe, well at least hope, that all parents have the best of intentions. They may not be happy about the situation they are in at the time that parenthood comes along, but no doubt their intent is to provide what is best for the child. The biggest problem is that no parent can teach their child things that they don’t know. If kindness is not the parent’s strong suit, there is a pretty good chance that it won’t be the child’s either.

Well my situation is pretty much the same. I have the best of intentions in raising Cub. I want him to be strong, articulate, smart, athletic… you know, a lot like his mother. But I have a fast temper, I am impatient, and I like to get my way… and so does my son. He is only 8 months old, and he is an exact replica of me. Poor guy. He is so smart, super fast, sweet and fiery. He has a lot of unnecessary rage in his future. I know from experience.

We are almost 9 months out from Cub’s birth, and I am as close to normal as I can get. I am back to my pre-baby weight, my hair is finally growing back, and (fingers crossed) weening will commence very soon! But lately my baby joy has turned to baby sorrow. I went through a spell of depression over the past few weeks as I sort of realized what my life is now. I am a slave to another, and my lack of productiveness, my instant rage at moments, and the lack of get up and go that I am now strapped with is overwhelming some times. Chas has been gone alot lately, the perks of being a coach’s wife, and the survival mode that must be initiated when he is gone makes for an exhausting few days. Plus I always miss him like crazy. Now that wrestling season is over, I am hoping to start working on some of the goals I have for myself, namely in fitness. I want to schedule a race, but have been hesitant to do so because I have to make sure schedules align.

There is certainly no shortage of excitement in our lives right now, but the new normal is taking some getting use to.

Day 38/366- The Irony of Parenthood

668bc110c6fa8462fda88543f5e47eeaThere are basically 3 elements to my life nowadays. The first is Parenting. The second is work, and the third is attempting to get back into shape. I am taking the first day by day. I mean, how else to do you parenting. Very little planning can be done, and the messes are inevitable. I still have yet to sleep for more than 3 hours at a time in going on 8 months. However, my little boy is growing up to be a fierce, tough and determined young man, but then again what else should I have expected? He is half Ginn after all.

Work is as busy as ever with no end in sight. It is satisfying to help the company grow, be in charge of a lot of the daily going abouts, and watch kids blossom into wonderful journalists. As we continue to grow, I am hoping that my role will continue to expand, as I feel like I am a good advocate for the brand and have spend the last 4 years of my life dedicated to its well-being.

The final is really what this blog is all about, right? I mean, I started The Running Year to not only document my goals and achievements, but I also wanted to hold myself accountable by having those things written in a place that more than just I could read.

dailyburn-logo-colored_0As I have told you on my last post, I have started using a service call The Daily Burn. It basically gives you access to workout videos via an streaming device. I have found it very convenient because I don’t have to pack up Cub and got to a gym or class. As soon as he goes down for a nap, I can flip on the Roku and work up a sweat. I highly recommend it to moms looking to get their body back. It is only about $15 a month, and I definitely feel like I have gotten my moneys worth in just the 3 weeks I have been using it.

So anyway, I decided to try a little bit different of a workout the other day. Instead of the normal tabata workouts that I had been doing, I found a hip hop dance workout to do. I thought it would be fun to try, as well as amusing, as I am not a dancer. I am just not coordinated in that way. Well I definitely didn’t disappoint. Honestly, I don’t know how one person could possible be as impossible at dance moves as I am. The coach would show a move and with all the confidence in the world, I would swivel, shake or shimmy the way I felt was appropriate to make myself look just like her… NOT HAPPENING. I was TERRIBLE! Honestly, I finally just laughed at myself and made up something that was as close as I could to what they were doing. It was a comedy act. Needless to say I am not elegant or graceful on my feet in the dancing sense.

Now, back to the title of this post. The irony of parenthood and trying to get back into shape after baby… When you are trying to get into shape and lose weight, exercise, healthy eating and water consumption are so important. Yet, as a nursing mother, I am getting absolutely NO sleep (I was up at 3 am turning on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for my 7 month old last night, and OMG that hot dog dance). A tiny human is sucking you dry every 3 hours, so if you sweat, you have to drink 2 times the normal amount of water to even break even. I am also hungry ALL THE TIME, partly because I get my furnace running when I exercise, so I burn calories more easily throughout the rest of the day, and while nursing, you need extra just to sustain your milk supply. It feels like a constant uphill battle. Let’s face it. It IS an uphill battle.

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Here’s the good news. I only have 2 pounds to go before I am back at pre-baby weight. I am feeling strong and confident about my body again. I am eating healthy, which is the best thing I can do for Cub, because what I eat, he eats. And finally, I am setting a good example for my son. Making time to exercise whether it be doing a Daily Burn class, running, taking a walk, whatever shows Cub how important it is to move, and hopefully that is a lesson that he will take with him for the rest of his life.

Day 33 of 366- The work is getting done

This year is already flying by, and my little baby is 7 months old. He’s crawling, talking, standing up on everything and is turning out to be this stubborn, tenacious little person. He is such a great combination of both Chas and me. We went to the doctor the other day, and he is in the 19% in height and only the 5% in weight. We are a little worried about that, but the kid is an eater. We just have to work a little harder I guess. Another light weight in the family.

I have spent the last 5 weeks working really hard to make good decisions and lose weight. After speaking with a nutrition coach, we decided that I was getting too few calories as a nursing mom, and that was one of the reasons why my weight had plateaued. After increasing my calorie intake, I started dropping again, and am getting closer and closer to my pre-Cubby weight.

I am super proud of my workouts lately. I actually have been doing some running and walking, but I have been taking at least one workout class a day, and I am always exhausted and starving the rest of the day. I have subscribed to the Daily Burn, and I really love it. It gives me so many workout options, and I think it is really worth it. I like pushing myself to do the workouts, and even when I feel tired, knowing that I can push through it gives me a lot of pride.

I need a direction right now, as I am feeling sort of lost besides work, dieting and raising Cub. I feel like I am drifting at the moment, and I need to find a project or something. Any suggestions? I’m open!

Week 1/52- Progress Begins

We are officially one week into the new year, and I am happy to report I am making good progress on my resolutions. I have run all but 1 day this week, and for I sat that day out for good reason. I played 3 volleyball matches on Sunday night, and my knees were so sore from diving that I could barely walk, let alone run.

My starting weight last week was 143.5 lbs. That is 8.5 lbs. above my pre-baby weight. My goal is to lose about 20 lbs. I would like to be close to 125 by Cub’s first birthday. I think this is doable in 6 months, and I am already making good progress. At the end of week 1, I am down 1.5 lbs. I honestly think I could have dropped more, as I know I could have worked harder than I did. The problem is that as soon as I start something, I quite often get interrupted. I try to walk while Chas is having practice, and Cub will start screaming, so we have to stop and move on to something else. The same happens with the blog actually. I have started 3 different posts this week, none of which I have finished. I lose my train of thought in the interruption and just can’t get back to what I was doing.

I am so missing Marathon Weekend this year. I need to be there. I miss the friends, the magic, the competition and the running. Next year I will be back, and I absolutely cannot wait.

 

Looking Back, Moving Forward

It’s been the best of years. It’s been the worst of years. My baby was born and has made our life full and sent us in a new direction. I haven’t slept in 6 months. Life is so vastly different when you become a parent. “I” have taken a back seat, which means running, health and fitness have all fallen to the bottom of the priority list and shear survival remains at the top of it.

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Yesterday was Cub’s half birthday. He is doing so well, with 2 teeth, eating (what seems like) gallons of baby food a day, and can play by himself with not much help from mom for a few minutes at a time. I finally feel like I am in a good place where I can move up the list just a few notches. And what a perfect time of year. January 1st always gives you hope for a new start and a refresh.

I am ready for a refresh. Being a new mom is so full of joy, but at the same time, it can make you feel completely deflated. I find myself trying to make it from nap to nap (Cub’s naps, not mine), and have to adjust my thinking as to cherish all my moments with him, not just when he is happy and cooing, but when he is crying and crabby too.

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With that being said, I have been pondering my New Year Challenges, which I post every year. I started this blog a few years back to hold myself accountable for my running challenges. It has since turned into a Jen’s life blog, which is fine, but has strayed from its original purpose, sort of like my life.

With just a few pounds of baby weight left to lose, I have upped my weight loss challenge. People only know what they are taught. I, fortunately, had parents that made sports and fitness a priority in their lives, as well as ours. Cub deserves the same. He deserves fresh, healthy meals, opportunities to run, jump and play, and a mom and dad that do everything in their power to stay healthy so that they can live a long, happy life with him.

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So… Here it goes! My 2016 New Year’s Challenges:

  1. Lose 20 lbs.
  2. Eat a cleaner, more simple diet
  3. Keep better track of the good things that occur in my life
  4. Judge less, listen more
  5. Attempt to run at least 1 mile everyday in 2016
  6. Document my strength and struggles here for you all to read

I know there are some lofty goals in there, but I am going to attempt to be a better person than I was this year. I think that all these challenges will make me a better mom as well. Cub deserves the best me, and I am going to do everything in my power to give that to him.

So here’s to being better, stronger, healthier and smarter in the new year.

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