Sacrifices

I try not to plan things to much. I try not to be too structured. Somethings have to be set in stone. Like when I have to pick up the kids from school, when they need to be dropped off for practice. Or when there is a game or a concert or open house or boy scouts..........I see a trend here. Nothing in my schedule is set in stone unless it has to do with my kids. Then all bets are off.

I remember when I first started training for this race I made the statement that everyone is going to have to work around me for a change. Everyone was going to have to make sacrifices so that I could get some of these very lengthy workouts in. I don't like when my kids have to sacrifice something just for me. I guess that's a mothers guilt.

Well really I don't think anything has changed. Other than maybe a Sat or two when the youngest has to wait an hour before he can attack the xbox. Riding the trainer is hard enough the last thing I want to do is turn off hoarders, flip this house, intervention, true life, or whatever else I may be watching that morning. He waits for me to be done.

I have made the effort to get 90% of my training done around my family. Granted during the week I have the house to myself by 8:30. But there are enough workouts that if I don't rearrange a bit then I'm working out both Sat and Sun for many hours each day. So I make sure on most weeks that I double and on occasion triple up the workouts so that I can manage a day off on Sunday. I do this for them. I say I do this for me, but really it's for them. When everyone is home I don't want to be known as the Mom who is always training. Or the wife that rather spend time by herself working out rather than have a big breakfast with the family. See it's not just about the workout itself but when you are doing such a long workout, it affects you the rest of the day. Energy levels are low and you just want some relaxation for a bit. Hard to do when everyone is around and there are things to do and games to go to. Then I'm the Mom who needs a nap but can't sleep so is tired and sore the rest of the day.

Today is a prime example. I made sure to double my workout on Monday and Tuesday even after 6 hard days in a row I gutted out two more. After those 8 days I finally got a recovery ride of only 45 mins yesterday. But there was a reason for this. It's to get ready for today's workout which really is supposed to be Sundays. A 2 hour ( 12-13 mile) strength run. It supposed to be a hill workout but I'll be changing that just to a faster pace instead to keep my shin from screaming at me tomorrow. I need to make sure I keep that pain under control. Getting to close to screw that up now. By doing this run today it will allow me to have Sunday off to do other things. Sat we have a game in the morning, which messes me up as I like to get all the training done early. Almost every game is between 9 and 11:30 until June. Crap. After the game I have a 4:30 bike and a 15 min run. That will be about 60 miles on the bike. While doing this I will feel incredibly guilty as my husband shovels 5 yds of mulch around the house. Yard work used to be my thing. Not anymore. If I can I will then help him with the mulch. Sunday "my day off" will be spent cleaning and shopping preparing for company that will arrive later that day.

So who really is doing all the sacrificing here? Yup that would be me. Part of being a Mom I guess. It's second nature.

I have 8 minutes until I have to start running. I told myself I would start at 9 to be done by 11 then shower and lunch. Then tend to our puppy and maybe make it to the drugstore. By then the kids will start showing up from school. Today no pickups and no drop offs! Yahoo! The husband however won't be home for dinner. Sacrifices. Just another day.......