I got it all wrong

The other day I saw a short clip on TV.  I think it was Disney...because I watch way too much Disney these days (oh how I long for the days when bad Disney acting will be behind me).  It was about an 8 (or maybe he was 9) year old boy that runs marathons.  His dad also runs...but the son is a better runner.  He trains.  He keeps track of his routines.  He races.  But it gets better.  He is one of 10 kids in the family.  The kids range from teenager to 2 years old.  And they all run.  Obviously at different levels. 

And it hit me.  One of my new year's resolution is to train for a marathon.  But I keep putting it off because I am fat.  I believe I need to lose weight first.  And then I realized that if I started training I would lose weight.  I don't have to wait.  I can start.

And then it occurred to me...how do I train for a marathon as a single mother?  I have trained for a marathon before.  I never actually ran a marathon.  But I trained.  I set out a schedule and stuck to it. I ran a little...and then a little more...and then a lot more.  On average I was running about 35 miles per week.  I was slow.  But I liked distance.  I hated hills.  But I liked the rain.  I hated the first mile of every run.  But I could (and did) run 5 miles with a broken toe  (I break my toes a lot).

So why didn't I run a marathon since I was training?  Luck.  Or more accurately, bad luck.  My marathon was scheduled for April.  After months of hard, dedicated training, I got sick the first week of January.  I mean knock me on the ass and stay in bed sick.  I got a viral infection.  And I was in bed for a week.  And it is amazing how a week of bed rest will wreck your training.  But I was determined.  I came back strong.  My schedule of training to prepare for the marathon had no room for adjustment.  I cranked up the running...in January... in the dead of winter.  So not surprisingly, I got sick ... again.  Bronchitis and viral infection.  In February.  And I spent another week in bed.  While I was down, I was not out.  I came back running.  And then the debilitating thing happened.  I got a foot injury.  Painful, long term, and down for the count.  It took about 6 months to heal.  And then I got a knee injury.  Not as painful, but really long term.  Will never really heal from it.  So I never ran a marathon.  But I never lost the desire.

But back to the idea of training as a single mom?  I get up early?  Come on!  I will never get up earlier than Ladybug -- and I can't leave her at home.  I can train after work?  Homework?  Dinner?  Family time?  Bed time?  I don't see that happening.  A gym?  Money. 

So here is the idea.  I can start training, which for now is walking.  I can't run with this weight on a bad knee.  I can walk before work.  With Ladybug.  She is up.  She has energy.  She can use the exercise too...to burn energy.  That will require me to go to bed earlier.  Which is not a bad thing for me.  And then after she goes to bed I can use the Wii to do some strength training.  SO instead of trying to work around my child, I will try to include my child.

Mean Mama
So that is the new fantasy...wonder if I will make it a reality.