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1000 miles : May

the month of May has been a whirlwind of activities and responsibilities and unexpected detours in our routine more times than i can count.  as often as possible, i enjoyed getting back "out there" for more frequent daily walks and noticed a more delicate start to my days as a result.  this month's tally culminated with a few laps around the track yesterday with the girls at their field day.  and they showed me no mercy, let me tell you. 

with Summer nearly upon us, i am looking forward to a more relaxed/flexible schedule and logging many of the next few months' miles with my girls.  there are hikes to be had - in the woods, along the rivers, and of course around the neighborhood.  and my bike is headed into the shop for a long overdue tune-up so we can enjoy riding some of those miles together, as well.  wishing you a splendid summertime.  xoxo

1000 miles : April

well hi.  what can i say, i fell off the exercise wagon a bit in early April (ok, also in mid-April).  i could list the ridiculous reasons, but i won't.  who wants to read that anyway.  not me.

the point is:  i am still focused on my goal.  (walked 3.5 miles on this chilly spring morning, as a matter of fact.)  and i'm going to get there.  when i met with my neurologist recently, i told him about my 1000 mile goal and also mentioned my slacking off for a few weeks.  he chuckled, and brought to my attention that not only did i score a personal best on my pace test, but also brought to my attention last year's notes in my file, when i had made the goal of exercising more and becoming more active.  well what do you know, i guess i am making progress after all.

life is a marathon.  there will be uphill days, downhill easy-breezy days, and fall-on-your-ass days : all that matters is that you get up and keep moving.

hope you are all well with your journeys, friends.  i'll be back at the end of May with my next update, and hopefully catching up to a reasonable pace.  xoxo

1000 miles : week 13

i was happy to have made time for activity amongst the busyness of this past week.  let's just say it took some doing to fit in these miles.  abbreviating a day in the studio to return home to run (yes, run!) a few miles in the sunshine.  meeting up with a friend to enjoy a walk in the chilly morning air.  and even opting for an hour on the treadmill today to clear my head.  12.4 is less than i would have liked, but i am happy with what i've got, quite frankly.

the week ahead is spring break filled with playdates and haircuts and birthday parties and even a trip to ikea!  i am hoping to get into the studio for a few hours here and there, and the girls are eagerly looking forward to finding out what exactly is in the very special dedicated kids' craft drawer.  we'll see how it works with all of us in there.  another busy week, for sure, so i am factoring in treadmill time to start off each day on the right foot, as it were.  it will be good for me to get back on target.  a good challenge, indeed.

hope this week works for you, as well!  xoxo

1000 miles : weeks 11 + 12

two weeks in one courtesy of a little day trip i took with my sister-in-law last week.  step by step i am getting closer to my goal of moving more in 2012.  granted, i may not be quite on target if we break things down into weekly goals - and i am trying not to focus on that, to be honest.  i am simply trying to do the right thing by myself as much as is possible.  move more today than the day before.  eating right most of the time + daily exercise has me feeling good.  fancy that.

hope your weeks have you feeling well!  xoxo

1000 miles : week 10

i've got (almost) nothing.

after our fantastic getaway to Chicago with the kiddos last weekend, i got whalloped by a wicked lower respiratory thing that had me laid up in bed many (many) days this past week.  i wore sweats, if that gives you any idea of how sick i felt.  i did get out there for a nice walk with a friend at the end of the week - hence the 3.8 - but that's all she wrote.

i am almost feeling back to myself, thank goodness.  and the week ahead is full of excitement, starting with a date with the treadmill tomorrow bright and early.  gotta get back on there.  hope your week was better than mine + wishing you an equally inspiring week ahead!  xoxo

1000 miles : week 9

this week was a bit atypical (as in low numbers) due to an awesome getaway our little family took to the windy city.  i am sure i got in more miles than shown here with all that awesome city walking.  oh how i love city walking.  now to play catch up for the next few weeks in order to get back on track.  no worries - it was worth it.  xoxo

- - -

what do you think?  i am taking in my bike for a long-overdue tune-up, and am considering including miles biked into my total, along with those on foot.  PLC thinks that would be cheating, since i had not included biking into my initial plan.  i disagree.  biking is work.  and for the record, i was the one who biked the pacific coast from washington into california, so i know biking (like life) is not all downhill.  my entire purpose with these 1000 miles is to once again live an active and healthy lifestyle.  so while biking may allow me to log more miles, how can that be a bad thing?

not that i need to justify any of this to anyone - the whole point is that this is a challenge for myself, and i answer to no one other me - but i appreciate those of you who are joining me on this journey, and thought i'd let you know where i'm at.  xoxo

1000 miles : week 8

the week began slowly with a day off of school, which i used as an excuse to take the day off, as well.  yes i did.  but i got back on the treadmill the next day, thank goodness. a friend and i were able to get outside to walk together a few mornings, which broke up the monotony of my recent daily treadmill pattern with some fresh air and good conversation.

the week ahead promises to be all kinds of busy, so i am already strategizing when and how i am going to get my miles in.  in the past, i haven't really given much thought to it - this would be the type of week that would get me off track and on the road to couchpotatoness.  and that is not what i want to have happen, so i am actually writing my exercise time on the calendar as a reminder each day.  do any of you do this?  what do you do to stay on track when life gets overly busy?  i'd love to hear what has worked for you.

have a great week!  xoxo

1000 miles : week 7

of all my resolutions for 2012 and beyond, i am most proud of the commitment i have made to these 1000 miles.  from the beginning, i knew it would not be easy.  and it hasn't been.  one thing that is helping while i am slogging away on the treadmill is focusing on the positive things i am doing, as opposed to giving myself a hard time for all that is not getting done.  sure, work on my book proposal has all but stalled for the time being, but it will get there when it gets there.  and sure, i have yet to get to yoga twice in one week, although i do love it.  and let's not talk about the laundry situation.  yeah, not so strong in some respects, but i am trying not to be paralyzed by what isn't happening right now.  quite frankly, i don't have the time or energy for that.

take these 1000 miles.  let's be frank - i do not really enjoy it.  and yet, i love how it makes me feel.  each day, as i loathe wrestling myself into a sports bra, i know just a little bit more that when i am on the other side of how ever many miles i get through, i will feel good.  great, in fact!  so six days a week, i get down to it.  one flipping step at a time.  simple as that.

and hell yes, i am proud of it.

did you do something you are proud of this week?  did you get all the laundry done?  did you keep calm and carry on when your kids were challenging?  did you make time for yourself?  did you do something that reignited your creative energy?  for goodness sake, people, give yourselves a pat on the back!  share your accomplishments with others, and let us celebrate with you.  xoxo

1000 miles : week 6

getting those miles in each and every day is starting to become a real part of my life and routine once again.  my mornings start off on a good note, i am nudged toward wise choices throughout the day, and bumps are smoothed out along the way.  one step at a time, baby.  xoxo

1000 miles : week 5

it was a banner week activitywise, however i am at a loss for words otherwise.  i got 4 miles in before sunrise today, starting off week 6 on the right foot.  what i am looking forward to today is time devoted to creative work fueled by a lot of positive thinking and quiet.

hope your week went well + wishing you a strong week ahead.  xoxo