5 weeks and counting... looking forward to 2010

I know it's only September, almost October, but I'm already in 2010 in my brain. I feel like September and October are kind of a wash because we are here, but I'm not feeling very INVESTED in being here. I'm just rolling along and trying to see friends as much as possible.

I spend a lot of time thinking about 2010.. which really starts NOW for me.

A couple of girls and I are planning to go to Miami for the Miami Marathon on January 31st. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to have a goal and to be working toward something. To have a schedule to get me out there on a VERY regular basis. I was off pretty much all summer with no fitness goals because I was dealing w/ some pretty extreme fatigue. I am feeling better not 100%, but better. The training really helps my mental state and sometimes I need a nap. No worries. I can do this. I'm also doing a 1/2 marathon trail run that I think is going to be pretty hill (aka CHALLENGING) called The Northface Challenge at the end of October. It's a race I wanted to do last year, but was on the fence too long and didn't register quick enough. I'll be using it as a training run and taking it easy... slow pace as dictated on my schedule (that I am so excited to have).

I'm really excited about running right now. I've been going to the gym to get it done this week, but when Tom is here I get up in the a.m. to do it and it's great to get it done and start my day before the rest of the family is up. The training schedule that I have maintains 5 to 6 mile runs during the week so I'll always be able to get that done in a reasonable time in the a.m. I will have three LOONNNGGG runs - in the past I've only done one 20 miler. This schedule has me do three 20 milers. I'm also continuing to try to get faster. I've found that pushing myself hard and getting the adrenaline going helps with my fatigue! YEAH! Improvement without any meds of any kind. I've already put my dad on notice that he better be ready to do some long bike rides along side me when I do long runs just in case I don't IMMEDIATELY find some long distance running partners.

I would like to say that I'm going to try AGAIN for the half Iron distance triathlon as well, but I'm not going to make that decision just yet. I will say that I plan to join the Y and do a Thursday night swim lesson to better my stroke and do some triathlons next year - distance to be determined.

I'm getting back to the raw vegan thing now. I tried eating more protein to include animal protein and didn't have good results so I'm going back. I felt so amazingly good when I was training for the half ironman and eating mostly raw and I want that feeling back!!!

I'm also going to use the move to make some big changes in the kid's diets. I've already started to try to get back on track with them, but the move is going to be a big catalyst. I got pretty lazy this year and hotdogs, french fries, string cheese and macaroni and cheese have found their way into the "staple" department of our kids diets and I'm just not okay with that. This MUST and will change. Green Smoothies are becoming a daily thing again along with a lot of veggies with dips and fresh fruit. I'm not going to profess or even try to make my kids 100% Vegan or raw, but they will be high raw and have limited dairy and wheat. :)

... slowly...

I'm spending WAY too much time day dreaming about our 'next life'... thinking about the new house, how and where our stuff will go, colors to paint, things we need, what to do in the yard, school the kids will go to, where will I go to the gym... will I go to the gym, what are my goals/plans for life in CT? My head spins, Tom is out of town and I stay up WAY too late.... uh, it's 2:25am I haven't been up this late for AT LEAST 4 years. At least I feel like I'm getting some where in slowing my spinning mind down. Though that's a normal state of affairs up there for me. Now if I could just get my legs a spinnin' too!

Our house here is sold... we ... just ... AWAIT.. WAIT WAIT WAIT for our close on this house. Closing at the end of October is great timing for us logistically, but mentally it is killing me. I'm certainly in no rush to get out of Madison. I will miss my life here dearly, but I do not function well in the limbo state. I feel stagnant. I hate to be stagnant! I feel like a dog in a cage ready to act, but unable to move. Just pacing and waiting and considering gnawing my own leg off just for something to pass the time.

Don't get me wrong... we are doing (read busying ourselves) plenty of stuff to get all we can out of our last midwest fall, er, summer. Tomorrow we are hitting the Iowa County (in Mineral Point, Wi) Fair. We are hitting TJs hard and our local parks. All at the kid's request. We are soaking up our favorite spots around town and are trying to explore the areas we kept saying we would get to. Unfortunately Gpa and Gma are redying themselves for their last midwest departure next week. They have graciously agreed to come to CT in November to assist me in unpacking and adjusting. This will be SO helpful as Tom is heavy in travel season and will be busy adjusting to his new role at Cannondale Sports Group as the Director of Accessories. He has already started the job and will continue to do his current job as Director of Product for Schwinn Specialty until they are able to fill the position. So I suppose things ARE moving forward, but it sure doesn't feel like it!

We have planned and subsequently canceled two trips to Seattle ... it's just too much right now for us to get out there w/ Tom traveling a lot and the move and kids starting school, etc. I just can't even wrap my mind around it. So spring... we will be out in spring over break.

Okay... I must go to sleep or NO amount of my now not so 'quit' coffee will make me even a little tolerable / tolerant tomorrow.