Marathon Training…I get it, IT’S HARD!

To the stay at home, work from home, work out of home, work 24/7 moms of young kids – you who really want to achieve a worthwhile goal like, say running a marathon, may I just say…I totally get it and IT’S HARD!

When you’re dying for a kick of endorphin’s, to sweat out some stress, to feel good, re-energize, to just have an hour alone and it doesn’t work out so well…I get it!

It’s not always as easy as waking up before the kids to get a run in. Because sometimes that means you’d have to get up at 3:30 a.m. to beat your husband out the door and be back before he needs to leave. Well, that won’t happen since you didn’t go to bed until 11:00 because you were folding laundry and enjoying the sounds of silence from the kid’s rooms. And then were up again at 1:00 to turn off all the lights someone left on during their sleep walking trip to the bathroom. Then again, to change sheets and sanitize for someone who didn’t make it.  And again for the toddler who thinks 5:00 a.m. is time to be awake. Of course, he won’t go back to sleep unless he’s snuggled into your chest while you sit in the most awkward position until you’re elbow falls asleep (you didn’t even know you’re elbow could fall sleep!)

The day goes by in a flurry of to-do lists, pick ups and clean ups, cook, work, nap time, play time, more work, homework, practice, how was your day’s, time to talk, time to listen, time to snuggle…. and when you finally get to bed that night you’re exhausted. But you’re still dying for a kick of endorphin’s, to sweat out some stress, to feel good, re-energize, to just have an hour alone. I get it!

So you trade babysitting with your neighbor, wrestle the toddler into the jogging stroller (even though you know you won’t make it far before he tries to escape), haul all the kids along with you to the gym, join a group for support, or maybe you tell yourself that you’ll just put it off for now. Someday it will get easier. You wait until the kids are older, the weather’s better, you’re in shape, you have more money, more time, fewer demands. You say, “someday I’ll run a marathon or live this dream or work toward that goal…someday.”

“There is a danger in the word “someday” when what it means is not this day. The thought, “someday I will” can be a thief of the opportunities of time and the blessings of eternity.” – Henry B. Eyring  

Listen, I get it. No matter what kind of “marathon” you have your sights set on, keep working for it. Keep trying, not for someday, but for today. Because someday will never happen today. The word someday will always refer to a future day. Don’t worry about how good you are or how much you can do today, just keep putting what’s most important first and doing what you can. Don’t give up! You and I may be holding each other up as we stubble across the finish line, or we may surprise ourselves and sprint to the end. What matters is that we commit and finish the race with a smile on our faces.

Happy running!