Sometimes Life Just Gets in the Way....

This past Saturday I was signed up to run in the Palos Verdes Half Marathon and kick off what was now 6 weeks of racing. I had my gear and clothes laid out and ready, ate properly and was mentally ready to get started. Let's face it, I love the finish of a race, medal or no medal. It's the sense of accomplishment that keeps me going. Well, that was all about to be side railed.

For the past 2-3 weeks my daughter, Emily, who will be three in August has been battling going to bed, no matter how exhausted she is, and waking up multiple times a night due to night terrors and what she has now told us are "pink fairies and ballerinas coming into my room with all the people"....aka: fear of the dark. Unfortunately, this particular night was going to be a long one. Emily awoke at 1am, 2:20am, and 3:45am. What did this mean for me? It meant mommy got little to no sleep and by the last wakening I was in tears, not because it had dawned on me that I wasn't running any distance much less a half marathon, but that I so exhausted I just broke down.

Motherhood has matured me in ways I never thought possible. Before I would have dragged myself out there and at least pushed myself to race, and probably gotten injured and been sidelined for at least three weeks. Now, I know my limits and make compromises, and just race smart. All the years of world class coaching never taught me that. Classes and seminars at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs never taught me that. A little person that is the biggest part of my life taught me that lesson. I have struggled to learn that "me" time is extremely valuable in raising her and being a role model to her. However, being healthy and knowing when to say "no" is just as valuable, if not more.

So, here I sit on May 5th, Cinco de Mayo, looking forward to my X-terra Malibu Creek Challenge 6k on Saturday (http://www.trailrace.com/malibu.html) and a brand new racing schedule that now includes the first ever Women's Duathlon at Disneyland (http://www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com/southern_california.html):

May 9th: X-terra Malibu Creek Challenge (they still need volunteers. Follow the link above if you can help out!)

May 17th: Bay the Breakers

May 25th: Los Angeles Marathon

June 7th: LA Tri Express Triathlon (this is where it all started for me!)

June 14th: Trek Women's Disneyland Duathlon