Fitting in the runs

A reader emailed me today asking how exactly I am getting in enough runs to train for these races with 3 kids (4 kids of you count the husband, 6 kids if you count the dogs, but I digress). To be honest- it is a lot of work and a lot of compromise. Some weeks the planets just align and I get to run 5 or 6 days without challenge. Most weeks take a bit more effort. First- I am very blessed to have found a great babysitter, and even luckier to have a running partner that I often split the sitter with. Her kids are 2 wonderful boys that my kids really enjoy, so everyone is happy! Weekend runs are usually alright (harder during sport season) but Rich, or occasionally my mom, watches the kids for those runs or the races. Baby Meredith does not take a bottle, so I usually split the kids on race days to make it easier on everyone. Now that the weather is warming up we are going to start doing more runs in the early am and evening. In fact- I am headed out in an hour for an evening run, and I cannot wait. Meredith is sleeping later in the am, so I can head out for those runs now without worrying about her. Having three kids, training takes up a lot of my 'personal' time, but I can't think of a better way to spend it! I do fins myself a lot busier the more I run- I have less time for the errands and all that, but I find I don't need to do half of the stuff I had been doing! The long and short of it- I am determined so I fit it in. When you have three kids you just kind of roll with the punches on these things- and it works out. Not always exactly how I wanted it, but it all works out!

Today was an amazingly beautiful day here. The girls and I went on a hike with some friends and explored the streams in the neighborhood while Will was at school, and then we watched Will play on the playground at lunch bunch- I love watching him play when he doesn't know I am there. He is always so happy and has so many friends. After that we headed home for yard work, but in this weather it was not a chore. The kids and I made pizza (in the oven, I don't mess with pizza on the grill, I leave that to the expert husband). Meredith is getting all over, she can make it into the other room in a second, got to get all of those little pieces up!
Have a great weekend!