Funny thing about my “running” blog is that it often strays from the subject. I try to stay on task for you all but then life happens. DANG REALITY. I suppose the balance is good, no? I mean I’m SURE you would rather hear about stuff other than running, right?
Before I go off subject let’s have a quick run chat. Don’t say I didn’t try…
RUNNING
Due to the Chicago registration issues I wasn’t able to sign up for the race. So instead of whining about it, I saved $135 and signed up for the Hooley’s to Hooley’s Half Marathon on St. Patty’s Day. You better believe I will be head to toe GREEN.
Training this week has looked like this:
Monday: 4.o5
Tues: 6.10
Weds: Rest
Thurs: 7.25 (2 w/u, 5 @ MGP, C/D)
Fri: 4.10 easy
Sat: 13
Sun: Recovery Miles..
Total mileage will be right around 40 for the week.
I am still not sure where my next 26.2 will be but I can tell you that it will likely be sooner than later. We are getting into crazy-summer-kids-have-too-much-going-on time of year so fitting in long runs will be a challenge.
Whew, now that I got that out of the way let’s talk about more important stuff.
LIFE
A week or so ago my company made an announcement that they will be centralizing our operation in another one of our offices. Far far away from the beach. Sigh. I am now faced with a major decision.
Do I (and the fam of course!) follow my career to the windy city or do I retire my high heels and dedicate myself to being a stay-at-home mama.
This is tough. I have ALWAYS wanted to be home with the kids. They would love it. No more after school care. Way more time together. Awesome, right? On the other hand I have worked my butt off to get to where I am. I am blessed with a rockin job that allows me to majorly contribute to the livelihood of my family. A move across the country is major. Staying home is major.
I am hoping to find a compromise. A middle ground.
I truly believe that HE creates change so that we change.
Going to just keep praying about it. It will all work out.
If you have any words of wisdom please share. There is always comfort in knowing that others have been in this same boat!
GIVEAWAY
You all know that yoga holds a special place in my heart. It has saved me from injury. It has brought strength and balance into my life. It gives me much-needed downtime.
I have mentioned on the blog and Twitter that Manduka has captured my heart with their latest movement. Now Is Wow. It’s kind of a big deal.
Life moves pretty fast.
If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.Those are the words of accidental yogi Ferris Bueller. And he’s right. It’s important to look up, to allow ourselves to be awed. Possibility comes from presence, so this Spring, we have a challenge for you.
We’re celebrating NOW. Yes, now. This moment. This is actually quite a remarkable moment, if we’re open to seeing it. Yoga helps us be present to the WOW, like seeing the world through a new lens. So let’s use this lens, and the lens on our cameras, to capture how Now=Wow.
Every week we’ll showcase a new Manduka Spring Collection color: Pop, Pulse, Glow, Breeze and Shade. We’ll share what inspired these colors, then you share what they inspire you to notice in your own life. Instagram or Tweet a photo tagged #NowIsWow, or upload to the Facebook Now=Wow contest page. After each week, we’ll collect your photos into galleries and select one yogi to win the entire family of Manduka products in that color.
For each photo tagged #NowIsWow or uploaded to the Facebook entry page, Manduka will make a donation to Off the Mat, Into the World, a non-profit organization inspiring leaders who are fully present.
So let’s stop overlooking and start seeing how bright this world can be. This week let’s POP. A color that says “here I am,” so here we shall be. This is how we see the world in POP.
I absolutely love that Manduka is doing something for the greater good. All we have to do is take a photo of our now moment and they will contribute to OTM. Easy.peasy.
The kind folks a Saeger Media Group teamed up with Manduka and sent me an eQua towel in Breeze so that I could take a zillion photos of myself. Ohhhhh…and use it during practice. It’s been doing work for more than a week now and so far it’s love.
Not only is the Breeze color gorgeous and fun, it does not slide around on my mat. More importantly it soaks up sweat like a champ. If you are a sweaty betty like me, this is huge.
For those of you that do not practice yoga, fear not, it can be used in so many other ways 🙂 Gym, running, swimming, beach…shoot, it can be your new shower towel if you would like…
And here is your chance!
Maduka wants to give you a chance to be present and has offered to give one of you the same towel that they gave me. Funnnnnnnnn!
All you have to do is comment and tell me what inspires you. How you celebrate your NOW?
Yup, keeping it simple.
If you want an extra entry or two you can…
FB/Tweet about the giveaway (and tell me you did it)
Follow Manduka on FB or Twitter
Don’t forget to snap photos and tweet/instagram/FB them to enter their giveaway. You can win an entire spring collection! Freaking awesome.
**Giveaway is open to US residents 18 and older and will close at 10 pm PST on Thursday February 28th. Winner will be chosen by random.org on Friday March 1st. Good Luck!**
Haute Running Mama 
Woo hooo Hooley’s! I’ll be running that, too. Did you see their leprechaun challenge? That might be happening. 🙂
My two cents, not that I’m all aged and wise, but with teenagers, I’ve at least got a couple years of smarts, right? If finances allow you to stay home, DO IT. God has given you an amazing season to work your butt off and see the fruit of your labor with your job now. After a couple of talks with my son (16), we’ve identified a lot of relationship issues/habits that were formed when he was much younger and we didn’t have the freedom to have me home raising them. When the turbulent hormonal teen years rear their head, having fewer distractions in your world (i.e. job) will be an even bigger blessing. God, marriage, family, then work. Motherhood is the highest calling for us women and I wish someone had encouraged me in that direction when my kids were younger.
On the flip side, a move with new opportunities would be ah-mazing and plenty of opportunities would abound. Praying for abundant peace & wisdom for you!
Awesome, I hope to see you there!! I did see the challenge and I am tempted. It might be happening!! I’ll let you know for sure.
I appreciate your advice so much. My biggest fear is that one day the kids will say “If you didn’t work so much…” My parents were always working. I had to ride to practice with my coach, lol. While we would have to make a lot of changes it’s well worth it. Until now it wasn’t a possibility. Maybe that’s because it wasn’t meant to be until now 🙂
Oh my heck, girl. I totally hear you on that one. Hindsight is always 20/20 and it’s just spectacular when your teens pull that card. It’s never been an option for us, but one of the big challenges with our teen now is we didn’t spend a lot of time in the communication department when they were younger, so trying to do so now is difficult and awkward on both ends (and this was an observation boy-man made!)
Not to say that it can’t be done while still working, and the bigger picture for me is trusting that no matter what we do, He is in control & will allow our kiddos to make their choices & work through the consequences in order to refine them. I’ve seen stay at home mom’s with the most rebellious kids, and there’s sort of a weird comfort in that. A sinner is a sinner regardless of what their mama did or didn’t do. 😉
Seeing other people challenge themselves inspires me to embrace the now! When I’m feeling tired on a long run I look around and enjoy the scenery and get motivated by other people working hard too!
I followed manduka on twitter
People who take the time to selflessly help or so things for others.
OK – first off… I am excited to see the pics from the Hooley run – partly because I was part of the opening crew when Hooleys in Ranch San Diego and have a lot of fun memories working there an being a part of Hooley Fest (:
Second – Career. This is a tough one that only you will be able to make that decision. I know I am often torn between work and being a stay at home mommy.
I will be praying for you and your family. It seems like there have been many challenges in the past year and I know that it is all growing and strengthening for your faith and family bond. When one door closes another door opens. Reach out to those in the industry find out if there is a way for you to work from home.
Whatever the decision is that you make, I know that it will be the right decision for you and your family.
hugs
Cyndee
Cyn it’s been a whirlwind. Between layoffs, illnesses, moves. Good grief. I think we have had more challenges in the past 4 years than some people have in their entire lifetime. Without faith I am not sure that we would endure 🙂 Thanks for the prayers girlie, always appreciated!
Now, this Hooley event is going to be fuunnnnn. Lots of pics for sure!!
Lots of things inspire me: beautiful weather, races, and other runners. It’s hard to narrow down! Lately it’s been getting ready to race LA and keeping motivated! Great give away!
Manohman! That seems like a crazy tough decision. I almost didn’t comment because I don’t feel like I have any inspiring words of advice, but then I changed my mind because I wanted to say that I’ll be praying that the best choice keeps clearly coming up in your mind 🙂 I’ll keep reading your blog no matter which one you choose 😛
My husband inspires me! I know that’s very cliche and cheesy but it’s the complete truth.
I have not (yet) been placed in your situation but I can completely empathize with you. I know that one day my husband and I will be forced to decide if I will stay home with our kids full time and take that huge pay cut. I don’t even enjoy my job as much as you seem to enjoy yours, but I take pride in my work and being able to contribute to our finances. Keep praying, the answer will come to you! Good luck with your major decision!!
Liked on Facebook and twitter. My kids motivate me. Just blogged about it. 13 kids total, 9 still at home. After a decade of foster care and my youngest now being 10 I can tell you with certainty that they watch everything!!
I’m sorry to hear about your tough decision with work! I don’t have any kids and haven’t been in your situation, but I have been in a similar one. When I graduated college I was engaged to my now-husband. He had already been out of school for 3 years and had a steady job in the area. I had two job offers coming out of school- one was working for the state and was in the area we were already living in, the other was a job with a cutting edge company where I’d be making 3x the salary but it was located in the midwest. After a lot of talking things through and praying on it, I took the state job that allowed us to stay in the area. It doesn’t utilize my degree or knowledge in my field and it doesn’t challenge me as much as the other job would have, but I am happier to have stayed where we were already established. I don’t think it would have been fair to uproot my husband from his job and in the end I didn’t feel like we would have been happy relocating, regardless of the higher pay. We’ve been married 3 years now and it has been the best 3 years of my life thus far and I think I made the right decision. Of course you never know for sure what might have been, but you just have to stick by your decision and not dwell on the what if’s. When you pray on it He will help guide you to the right choice, even though you may question it at the time.
Sorry that was so long and had so many run on sentences (I was not an English major….). I know my situation was quite different from what you’re facing, but I hope sharing mine helps you a bit.
My kids inspire me to do better and be better. They are why I try and take care of myself so I can be there for them and eventually for my grandkids. Thanks for the great giveaway!
I’m now following Manduka on Twitter.
Celebration to me is sitting back and enjoying the simple in life and what I have on a day to basis. Cheesy, but true! (Oh and a cold beer too!)
My kidos inspire me everyday! They are amazing and resilient and make me want to be a better person!
My husband and friends inspire me to be a better person.
Good luck with your decision. I’m not in your position yet but maybe in a few years?? It’s something H and I have discussed and don’t have an answer for either!
I’m inspired by the many wonderful relationships in my life and how blessed I am that God has allowed so many wonderful people to be a part of my life!
I’m inspired by the great feeling I get when I’m at my desk at work by 7am after an hour commute and a pre-dawn run or yoga practice. I feel so accomplished that it sets me up to have a great day!
Good luck with your decisions…Any way you can just say no to the move, hang out with the kiddos for a bit, then take your time trying to find something else? Of course I have no idea what your field is or whether that’s possible, but it just seems like moving away from your friends and new house would be super-stressful. Best of luck.
I am inspired by my kids, my parents and all the other working mamas like myself who amazingly manage to get it all done!
Nicole, We all have challenges in life…it’s just how we deal with them! 🙂
I LOVE Chicago. I think it’s a wonderful place. I think the people there are kinder and more wholesome than they are in California. But, if your family has the means for you to stay at home, that’s an option too. Have you thought about looking for another job in SD? That’s another option too! 🙂 Good luck with your decision.
I am inspired by the yogis and athletes around me…they constantly inspire me and push me to try new things and try harder. But more importantly, I am inspired by ME! I ran one of the hardest runs of my life yesterday. Mile 10 had me in tears (literally…I was balling) but I just kept saying (screaming) at myself: “Winners do not quit, and you are not a quitter” and “you are stronger than you know! Just keep going!” There were a few swear words mixed in, but I finished the run. Today I am more sore than I have ever been. But I did it. No one but ME made me do it. 🙂 I just kept thinking “I got to do that”…I know I am fortunate to even be able to run and push myself to my limits.
XO
Amanda
Yes yes yes!!! Nice run!!!!
I have been in Southern CA for 16 years now (longest I have ever lived in one place) and am still amazed at the lack of community. Our new neighborhood is much better, but its just a different world here. I have thought about looking for a new job here. If I do that I will likely completely change professions 🙂 That too would be fun!!
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I’m inspired every day by my parents, who continue to stay active and healthy as they grow older. I hope to be just like them!
As a Phoenix resident, I work hard all year so I can go “play” in the area you are blessed to live in. It would be hard for me to give up the beach if I lived so close 🙂
Oh man Chicago vs California is a huge leap. Good luck with what is for sure a life changing decision! I hope whatever you decide to do works out amazing!
Going to races and seeing the wide variety of people that participate in them inspire me! As someone who trains largely on her own (to scuuured to join group runs!) it’s easy to lose perspective and fall into the comparison trap with blogs i read. But then I go to a race and remember that the running community is filled with amazing and friendly people of every shape and size and i’m totally inspired again!
My students! A lot of them have really bad home lives, but they constantly come in to school striving to do better and be better! They are amazing!
I follow so many bloggers because I am inspired by them! And I feel like I learn a lot by reading other’s journeys. It’s kind of weird when I talk to real life friends about “this one blog I follow” or even spotting bloggers at the SD Women’s half today, but I am inspired by them, so it’s fun for me!
How did you do at SD half?! I wish I would have signed up!! Next time 🙂
Sent from my iPhone
I also liked Maduka on FB!
My daughters inspire me to be a better person. Yoga is my new found me time.
people living their lives for their passion inspire me!
I get inspired to eat healthier. I know it’ll benefit me. Also, my hubby and I are planning on starting a family soon and I want to be at my healthiest before we start.
I am inspired by those around me. From my boyfriend to my running buddies to my family, each person in my life adds so much positive energy and love, and gratitude for *all* of that gets me up every morning.
Reading blogs like this daily inspire me!
Love that! Going to bikram tonight and this would be so perfect.
I get inspired by others – if they can do it, so can i! Good luck with your big decisions 🙂
I am inspired by lots of things!! I try to eat healthy, and be a positive motivator for those around me! I love love love to run and my next round of marathon training will be inspired by raising money for the American Cancer Society 🙂
I personally have been inspired by other running blogs! I love reading the positive posts, and even though someone may have a bad run, they are able to share it, and learn from it! Lots of great inspiration from fellow bloggers 🙂
And…I’m going to head over to facebook and like them right now!
Sweaty Betty!! Imagining what I’ll think about myself or the situation down the road once it’s all said and done – proud of my effort? guilt? remorse? Living in happy memories rather than trying to dig out of bad ones keeps me straight (for the most part).
Sidenote : You’ll be the boss lady at the office or at home, for sure. Thinking of you!
That’s a huge decision! Praying for you and you’re right, HE has a plan!
What I think of when I need inspiration… I GET to do this. I GET to run. I GET to live my life.
Praying for you and your family for wisdom to make the right decision that is in His will.
What a big decision! Praying that you will be led to the right decision for you & your family – the answer will come when the time is right.
My Mom is my inspiration for everything in my life. She makes me want to be a better version of myself each and every day! I pray I will be half the woman she is one day.
Running is my way of celebrating the moment – the chance to live, breathe, think, move!
My first baby girl is what has been giving me inspiration these days! I am looking forward to becoming a mother and hope that I can teach her how to grow into a strong, beautiful individual someday. Short term, I can’t wait to 1) have her 2) get my normal body back and 3) take her along on running adventures with me!!! Yet, I know there are so many other things along with way that also fill me with the joy and excitement of motherhood!!!