Thanks again to Jennifer Fulwiler for the opportunity to join the Seven Quick Takes madness!
1.
Been trying so hard, and failing even harder, with sticking with an adequate running routine. Because of our moving upheaval, the babysitting during the day, and taking the kids to activities in the afternoon, I either have to get up at 5 to run by myself, or run in the evening with an entire entourage of children of various ages and talents. Which means I have been running in the evening with an entire entourage.
2.
And I am here to tell you, dear Web Log, it is entirely doable!
I stick Isaac in the jogging cart, put Momo and AnneMarie on their bikes, and inevitably Joseph will join us, even though he is old enough to sit home and clean up dinner for me, which is the only thing that seems less appealing to him than tagging along on my run. And inevitably some neighborhood kid or other will see us gearing up and ask to tag along. So there we are, not a spectacle at all.
3.
It goes a little something like this...
I get a good pace going, just start to zone out and listen to the pitter patter of my footsteps in my head, when...
One of my five companions notices the moon is out and begging to be gazed at, the magnolias are just blooming and begging to be sniffed, "just ONE time." And the whole operation comes to a hault.
4.
So I round them up, move 'em out, and we're off again, because these things happen. And then we're just getting a good pace going, ignoring the fact that Isaac has Houdinied his way out of his seat belt, and...
Joseph's chain falls off. Every time. Every time.
5.
But it's all good, these things have a way of happening, we just go forward, ever anticipating that moment where I feel like I am actually exercising. And then...
we stop to scare away a gator, because you know we haven't seen one since our last run.
Which is just fine, but results in this:
And Isaac has his own personal workout for as long as he can keep the stroller straight without tantrumming. While I walk, practicing interior mortification and suppressing all urges to leave them all in Joseph's charge for about 30 short minutes so I can just run three feet without stopping!
7.
And somewhere about this time, we get a real run in because Isaac is worn out, the scenery is the same because we are on our way back, I can finally feel my heart rate raising from something other than frustration, and we stop for this:
Because who wouldn't?
Total distance traveled: 5k
Duration: Just one short hour
Reward: Tired kids, tired mom, tired sun
Like I said, doable.