An Active Balanced Life

Along with having our farm, with so many ways to be active and creative, I also try to run several times a week to keep up a cardio workout.  For the last two years I have run a 10K in the Fifth Third River Bank Run  - I blogged about that in May 2011 and in May 2012 (links to those blog entries).

My husband brought home information for the Seaway Run.  This race only had a 5K or a 15K, no 10K that I have run.  I thought for only a minute: if I run the 5K I really should run that at a faster pace than I do a 10K and I don't like running a faster pace, or I could challenge myself to the distance of the 15K and not mess with my pace.  I opted for the 15K!  I know most runners want to be faster but for me it stresses me out and makes me not enjoy the run when I push my pace too much.  I've only been running in the last few years (since 2004) and at that time I did quite a bit of reading on it.  It struck me when I read it and I've remembered it to today - don't push yourself to the point you don't enjoy running anymore, because if you do that you are more likely to quit running.  This was written in regards to not always making every run a long run, make sure to have days of shorter runs so you stop your run wanting more.  Sure there are runs I push myself on, but if every run every time is like that constantly I won't enjoy it and that would be the demise of me running.  I have to keep a balance of challenging myself and having some enjoyment.

I had four weeks before this race to change my training from a 10K to a 15K (for those wondering how that is in miles 5K=3.1 miles so 10K=6.2 miles and 15K=9.3 miles - this means adding 3.1 miles to my run).

The race was yesterday, June 23, 2012.  I don't have a picture of me in the shirt because no one was awake in the morning when I left for the race and by the time I got home afterward I was quite a mess.  Here is the lovely wicking shirt I got:

I am happy to say that despite my fears and times during training that I wondered what I was doing running that far, I not only finished the race but did so at a faster pace than I thought I would.  Seems I can run faster, but I only do so in the moment of the race.  Running by myself outside I tend to run slower and slower.

I know I say this every time, but it always hits me in the middle of a race (from mile about 4 to 6 I become quite introspective and emotional) - there have been times in my life I couldn't have done this.  I've worked to find balance and health in my life and that is what I am so proud of (not the race itself).

As a young child born in the 70's, I played outside and had a typical fun childhood.  As a teen I wasn't so healthy. I was too thin, to the point of being underweight, and it wasn't because I was so active, quite the opposite, it was because I was a picky eater. I wasn't involved in sports.  By my 20's as a young adult I could eat what I wanted, yet I didn't add in that activity and soon found myself overweight and terribly out of shape.  I still remember how difficult that feels.  It wasn't until approaching my 30's that I decided that it was up to me to change.  In 2003 as a family we started a complete change around and in 8 months time from 2003 to 2004 I lost 70 pounds.  Since that time it's been about finding balance and keeping an active healthy lifestyle.

Alpaca farming fits right into our healthy active balanced life.  The farm keeps me and our whole family busy.  There are farm chores twice a day.  There are new projects that need to be done.  And there are new babies to watch and see grow.  Not only does it keep us active, but we are doing things together.  I know my kids are growing up with family memories - no matter how nasty or fun the job may be.  Just yesterday Emma mentioned being bored and the next thing you know she's off getting hay with us. I can just see her telling her kids, "If I said I was bored I got to go get hay."  :)  She'll surely tell her kids what that means.