July, 2023

Literally, our 1st rodeo!

Since I was pregnant with Autumn, I have consistently posted an update every single month. My Mom died the day after we heard (and saw!) her tiny heartbeat, six weeks after the tiny miracle blastocyst (she was not yet an embryo) that would become her was transferred. As a way of sorting it all out and coping, I blogged. When I didn't feel like it, I blogged. Through the grief and the sadness, and the joy of it all, I blogged. And because I did, I am left without any type of valid excuse for falling a bit behind now. What to blame it on? Well, life happens, and it's better late than never, right?

July was relaxing and unplugged. Time truly seemed to slow down as the days stretched out before us in Oregon. Unlike being at home, where there are a million things to do, I am able to relax more when I'm up there. Being there is busier for my hubby, who spent a fair amount of his time either constructing a tree house for the kids or helping with projects around his parents' 83 acres. But I was able to relax on the lake with the kids, have picnics, garden, go on walks, and rediscover and redefine my relationship with running.  

When I met my husband in 2011, I was seriously burnt out on running. I had finished my 15th full marathon and was training for my first ultra, the North Face Endurance Challenge. The first roses he gave me were for the completion of that, when Delia and I literally ran all day, from the time the sun rose until the time the sun set. I was already signed up for Ragnar but gave my spot to a friend because I had a hip injury. Then...well, life happened. I have not done another full marathon since, but did the Long Beach half in 2017, crossing the finish line holding Aut's hand (the announcer scolded us) and unaware that I was pregnant with Cha.

In Oregon, I decided to sign up for another half marathon. But when I went on the website to register, I noticed that the half marathon was $139 and the full was $149. Realizing my dollar would go farther with the full, I took a deep breath and signed up for the full marathon on October 15th. It was time to jump into training a few weeks late. It had been so long...how would training go in the Oregon heat?

I was shocked to realize that not only was it tolerable...but my 10 miles along the river trail in Eugene were almost enjoyable. Non-runners may assume that marathoners actually enjoy running, and that is why we do it. But I'm here to tell you that we don't. Well, at least I don't. Maybe some marathoners do enjoy their training, but I think they are weird. I have never really enjoyed a long run. Toward the end of my training in 2011, it is fair to say that I dreaded most of them. I run for the feeling I get when I'm done has long been my mantra. But I think I was just really burnt out. I am pleasantly surprised by how well reintroducing longer runs over three miles has been in my life. And how good it feels to be running completely injury-free after years of lingering hip pain. And since this is my first time marathon training since having children, I think I'm enjoying the time! Time for me, for podcasts and books and a little time alone, not filled with TV or cleaning.

A plan started to form, a life-time goal from back before I even had children or was married: Running the original marathon in Athens to the town of marathon. You know, the original one...the whole reason the race is called a marathon. For every marathon runner, this is a bucket-list item.

The name Marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger. The legend states that he was sent from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon (in which he had just fought), which took place in August or September, 490 BC.

I ran the idea (pun intended) by my husband, who has previously mentioned the idea of me doing another destination marathon (I've done Anchorage, Chicago, Napa and Missoula), but this time, having it be international, and he was on board! A reward for when I finish my doctoral program in the next year or so. Well, if he's in, this is going to happen, I thought! But what I was not expecting was my Mother-in-law to be so enthused. She asked a few questions about the logistics and such and mulled them over. I thought it must seem awfully impractical to her for me to want to drag my family to another country just to watch what must be the worst spectator sport ever: distance running! She was quiet for a while...and then, nearly emotional about how amazing of an experience for all of us this would be! She said it would be so meaningful for the children to see this historic event and said, "I am proud of you." Not only was she supportive, but dare I say, excited about the prospect, calling me "Our Megan of Athens." And so, here it is: in 2025 (not sure we can swing 2024), I am running the Athens Marathon! I could not be more excited about this goal, and it breathes new life and meaning into all of the training I'm doing and all that lies ahead.

Illustration of me running in THE marathon.

On that ten-mile run in Eugene, I discovered a playground across from the Valley River Center where we usually go to see movies. So when we went into town to see the Little Mermaid with Ben, we went a little early so that the kids could explore the playground. Unbeknownst to me, there was also a water feature, complete with wet sand and a little river that periodically flowed. Although not dressed for it (read: jeans), I couldn't help but say "sure!" when they asked to get wet. Unstructured and/or unexpected play that results in them getting a little messy is always the best!

Around the middle of July, my hubby headed home a few days ahead of us, making the 16-hour drive with our four dogs in one stretch. As we were getting ready to make our connecting flight in San Francisco, our plane was taken out of commission, and there were no additional flights into Orange County. This meant that we would have to spend the night. What was a major headache and pain to me was an adventurous delight for the kids, who were beyond excited to go on the free shuttle to our hotel and stay a while longer. Okay, well, we can catch an uber and go see a sight or two, I thought, but they were content to explore the hotel and the pool and order room service.

Once we finally made it home and caught up on our sleep, it was time for me to do a longer training run. I realized that now, my girl could ride her bike alongside me while I ran! What a game-changer this was! Part of the point of this blog is recording things I never want to forget, and this first ride/run together is definitely one of them. We headed out a bit later than we should have, which added to the heat, and the temperature was hovering around the low 80's.

She was amazing! My Awesome Autumn. When we were 1.5 miles in, before we headed up the steep hill, I gave her the option to turn around with me. "No, Mommy, I want to keep going." While I tried to convey that I was indifferent to either option, I couldn't hide that I was happy with her decision. As we approached Irvine Regional Park, she kept asking me if we were there. We were both hot and out of water. I quickly realized that she may not want to turn around and do another 3 miles. So I legitimately gave her an out, offering to have Daddy come pick her up and wait with her until he arrived. It was so hot, and the nearby drinking fountain was not working. I told her to think about it while I went to find water. I had to trek across the park and wait in line behind some kids with way too much energy on a summer camp adventure. When I got back to her, lying down in the shade, she said she wanted to keep going. "Because I want to jump in the pool with you, Mommy!" That idea kept us going, as she no longer complained on the way back or asked how much longer it would be. I put my cell phone on speaker with her songs and stuck it in my pocket. When we entered our back gate from the trail, we both climbed up on the back wall of the pool, counted to three, and jumped in the pool together, shoes and all.

My mileage for the month:

July  5th - 6 miles

July  6th - 3 miles

July  8th - 10 miles; 10:38 pace, felt good

July 11th - 4 miles

July 13th - 6 miles

July 16th - 12 miles; 10:55 pace. Hot. Back Bay

July 18th - 3 miles

July 20th - 5 miles

July 21st - 3 miles

July 23rd - 8 miles

July 27th - 4 miles

July 30th - 14 miles

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Total miles: 78

A milestone this month - our girl got braces!

I took Aut and her friend to the American Girl store in LA, where she was able to spend some of her birthday money that was burning a hole in her pocket. 

We were also fortunate enough to be invited to the Magic Castle in Hollywood with some friends and enjoyed a rare opportunity to get dressed up.

 

Because we missed VBS this summer, which I always do with the kids, we attended a Catholic family camp at the Santiago Retreat Center. While the center is very rustic (Mom would say it is missing the mod cons), it did have air conditioning. Which didn't work at all. Around 2am on the first night, I told myself we were not staying another night. But we were able to switch to a different cabin where the air conditioning worked, and I decided that we would stick it out. Fast forward a few days, and I found myself thankful that we came and not exactly wanting to leave. The focus was on JOY, which, unlike happiness, which is fleeting, can co-exist with sadness and sorrow.

According to Peter Kreeft, joy is more than happiness. While happiness is in the mind and feelings, joy is deep in the heart, spirit, the center of the self. This. This is what Mom had: Joy, always. Through tough times and the wonderful times, and normal times, she was always joyful. Mom was never stressed or judgemental or angry. Mom had more joy than anyone I've ever known, and that joy is with me now, because of her. Joy is not just a gift of the Holy Spirit, but it was a gift that Mom gave to me and my brother and my father and anyone who ever knew her, day after day. Her joy is even being poured into people she has not met, like her Grandchildren. Thank you for the gift of joy, Mom. I'll do my very best to pass the torch and pour so much joy into these two tiny humans that they have it for their children, too.

Where Mass was held daily