Rock the Block 5k - Find the FUN Under Pressure

Mom and Son for a 5k. As coach “O” once told me “You can’t race every weekend”… But… You can go to races to run and have fun! Find the fun under pressure.

Team W, Nick & Mom to Rock the Block. Nick’s strength to start fast, Mom’s strength to build up and hold. Plan: Nick to pace mom at the start and then try to keep with her the most he can, and whoever finishes first, cheers for the other at the finish line. Executed plan! Team W together for almost first full mile.

“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 

On second mile mom got some rhythm and took over crossing Nick after the curve. Nick looked great! Good form and pushing hard under control. Mom kept going. There was a lady in blue at the front. “To get her, not to get her”, “You can. No, you can’t”… It’s a race mom! That is what I thought while lady in blue en la mira was getting closer and closer... The closer she got the more tempted to get her and done! Less than mile to finish. Forget about everything mom and go cross that finish line.

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

Finish line crossed! I didn't even look at the finish time, I just turned off the Garmin, happy about getting it done and still alive. They asked me for the bib, I could barely breath... PLS wait, this running mom needs to resuscitate. J

Gave bib number back and went to look for Nick. Waited some, then walked, then jogged back… I couldn't find him. Mom got little bit worried and came back to find Nick enjoying snacks. He knew there were cinnamon rolls and was afraid they were going to run out of them. So he finished fast and went for them.

After enjoying some snacks we went to check results to see if he had some award to pick. Mom found a nice surprise! 2^nd overall fem and 1^st master fem. Hardware home! Nick got 10^th on his age with 25:24 and main mission accomplished when he said “I could have ran faster to get at least 3^rd”.

“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”

― Maya Angelou

Run Like a Mother 5k – Like a Running Mom, Keep Things Under Control

Cool race. Close to home. I ran it and won last year. Great prizes that included hour massage, free entry for me and a friend for this. No reason to skip it. Dealing a little bit though, I must confess. “Defending 2013 Victory” vs “Being happy I am able to race, appreciating and enjoying what you have”.

Both things, but second first! So I laced my shoes and got there. Starting line, full of colleagues, all running moms. Suddenly, I found myself running with just one mom and a kid in front of me. I was not sure if race had started. I only heard 3, 2, 1 and a gun shot! A race, so no time for doubts. Just run. 

Even first position got fast switched from one mom to another I held my 3rd behind that amazing yellow t-shirt running kid who I got to pass before the 1st mile. On second place now. First mom “en la mira” 20 secs ahead, then 25… 30… I kept following her. 1st lap, then starting 2nd lap feeling a little bit out of my race comfort zone, so time to switch gears to “this is what you have right now, relax, focus and keep it”. And I did! Very proudly to the end to get my flower and finisher medal. 

BIG LESSON from this race “Like a Running Mom, Keep Things Under Control”. 

Following some Tips for Busy Moms that I applied to running. Have fun!

1. Rise Early	"It's wonderful for busy moms to wake up 15 minutes before their children and take a little retreat"	Wake up early enjoy breakfast and arrive early to find a comfortable parking place close to potty! Yeah!
2. Unplug	The average American home is a noisy place, thanks to the telephone, television, radio, and CD player. When you're feeling overloaded, try turning down the background noise in your life by "unplugging" some of these electronic taskmasters.	No GPS or stopwatch. No heart rate or cadence monitor! Unplug! Hummm… I hope this doesn’t include ipod.
3. Start Small	You're tired and just don't feel like making dinner, but you don't want to serve fish sticks again. So set a new, much smaller goal: "I will go in the kitchen and make a salad," or even, "I will go into the kitchen."	You are tired or sore to race or even run? Just get on those bright running shoes and favorite running t-shirt. Start walking and see what happens.
4. Be Here Now	Like the sixth-grader worrying about the SATs, our minds constantly bring future worries into the present. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, no to "anticipatory thinking." "The best way to avoid stress is to immerse yourself in the moment"	Just 1st mile? OMG! Still 2 more or 12 or 25 more to go? Start counting posts, chasing another runner, play with breath, arms, hands, fingers. One time, another time and repeat…
5. Adapt	Do you fall apart if dinner is not served on bone china at six o'clock sharp? "We get attached to how things are going to be". "But if your kids are at each other's throats while you're making dinner, maybe the most important thing at that moment is to get down on the floor with them"	Shoes’ color not matching short and t-shirt?  You’d better keep thinking where, when you are going to solve this issue and develop action plan with milestones and deadlines and whatever that keeps you worried about this stuff so that breath getting too much out of control doesn't bother you.
6. Talk It Out	"Self-talk" can help us control our emotions. When things go wrong, "It's not a disaster, it's an inconvenience." By developing an inner voice that, for example, encourages you to stay in bed when you're sick and let your husband clean up the kitchen, you become, in a sense, your own best friend.	Too sore or too tired to run? "It's not a disaster, it's an inconvenience." By developing an inner voice that, for example, do not run today if those feet are swelling. Cross train and prepare your favorite recipes, you become, in a sense, your own best friend.
7. Laugh a Little	"Laughter re-enchants daily living," Healthy laughter comes from Bill Cosby's gentle kind of humor that eases little annoyances.	Stretch those lips horizontally. Add 5, 10, 15 reps every other mile and for every camera around at the races.
8. Take a Break	Let's face it: We're never going to finish everything on our "to do" lists. The average mother runs 21 minutes short per day. Usually, the first thing to go is relaxation time. "We'll never have any downtime unless we schedule it," she says. You should be able to complete this sentence: "What I do every day to relax is...."	Learn how to take breaks and practice it all the time. Ensure you will never forget how to relax, take easy and enjoy.
9. Enjoy Nature	Sun, water, wind  -- the elements feed our senses and lead us toward serenity better than anything. It may mean relaxing in your backyard, drawing a warm bath, or going out for a brisk run. The important thing is to figure out what soothes you and then where to find it.	It is the same windy, rainy, cold, humid, hot, hilly for absolutely everybody so “the temperature and humidity slowered me down” it doesn’t count.
10. Just Let Go	"We have to recognize that chaos is a part of life". "Then we must recognize our own contribution to it. That's the only part we can control." The irony is that by taking steps that seem to signify giving up control  -- like "outsourcing" certain household jobs  -- you will actually be gaining more freedom to enjoy your family life.	Chaos is a part of running. Training plan not running in a perfect way? No worries. Just focus on the things you can control like the color of your shoes, the matching running sock, the after running snack and rehab smoothie. Outsource to nature and trust on God the rest.

And never forget. Run for fun or do something else!

One Ale of a Trail 5-Mile Trail Run - Let the Universe Correspond to your "Beingness"

All set up that morning. Trail run to cheer for mom, then Nick's soccer game and Sunday Lucas' two games. ALL4-1. The W Team, ALL4-1. We arrived not that early... I mean not early enough for "full warmup and so on", so while kids were waiting on line for restroom, running mom when for "short warm up and so on".

Starting line and still stretching some while talking with friends. On your marks, get ready, set and go! Started at the front but carefully on the side to let faster runners go. Rocky flat mile at the start, followed by grassy hills is a wonderful forest.

Relax, go, enjoy that "slam" feeling around trees. Green t-shirt runner there I go. Nice pace, I'll try to keep it, well for a while. I need to move forward. Yellow t-shirt next. This pace is fun! But again I need to move forward. Green t-shirt again? You got back? But you sound out of breath... Watch out. Still over 3 miles to go, and sorry but I will lead. Bye!

Almost mile 4, and one more to go. Passed a couple guys and it was really cheering when they told me "look you were holding your b_ _ _ and now go!". Last mile and a girl in front. Not afraid, I will go for her! Passed her and a couple guys cheering her "get her back!". But I was not going to let it happen. That girl had no idea where I was coming from.

Almost there! I can see the finish line. Go for it, crossed it. Nothing fast but delicious feeling of burning legs while trying to catch up breath and hug Lucas & Nick.

The Universe is full of diversity and choice and you get to experience the reality you choose, and you choose it by what you focus upon. Along the way, there may be stumbles and happenings which may surprise you; they will be indicators of tweaks you can make to improve your alignment and flow. When something surprises you, it is an opportunity to adjust your attention to what is important to you and BE from it. The Universe soon corresponds to your beingness by way of physical manifestations.