I decided I needed to give running a shot since the Corporate Challenge registration ends this week, so I planned to go out Sunday. Jacob has been wanting to run with me since last year, and although it was just a little while before his lacrosse practice, he insisted on coming with me. We planned on running a mile. We started off around the block and of course he had to stop and tie his shoes two or three times (because he's almost 10 and still can't tie a solid shoe knot). But each time he would catch up, and I could tell he was relieved when my running app said we were halfway. We continued to run, and I'll admit it was nice to chat with him while we ran. Nothing deep, I suppose, but I think he appreciated the time alone.
As we turned the corner back toward home, he ran ahead of me. I was definitely pacing myself, though I was really tired so while I could have sprinted and kept up with him, I chose to not kill myself on the first run of the year! He seemed to like beating me, even though we never indicated it was a race. Whatever...it was fine. Of course, he came in the house and collapsed on the chair, insisting he couldn't move. He usually hates practice so perhaps that was part of his plan.
While he wallowed, Carter was ready to go outside. Well, he was actually ready to go outside when Jacob and I left, and even started chasing us a minute into our run! I had to yell to him to go home, because I knew he wouldn't make the mile and I didn't want Jacob mad when his mile got messed up. I also needed to run the mile to see just how out of shape I was, so I promised to run with him later. See, Carter has been wanting to race me all winter. He loves running and he's pretty speedy. For some reason he was sure that he could beat me.
We started running down the street. About five houses down, he took a rest. He sprinted again and took another rest. He did that a couple more times and we finally made it down the street, probably a quarter mile. It appears he's a sprinter rather than a distance runner, but we'll work on it. I do want to keep an eye on him for asthma since Craig has it and he breathes pretty heavy when he runs, but so far so good. We started back and took a couple breaks, but finally we headed back home to our finish line, made up by Craig and Jacob (who apparently made a miraculous recovery). I guess we ended in a tie. At least that ensured he wouldn't gloat or cry!
Once the big boys were off to practice, Carter jumped back into his favorites while I started some baby steps of winter yard cleanup, since I'm now playing catch-up with the late spring. He was excited to get back to his bubble gun and bubble mower, and eagerly rode around on his big wheel. One time he came running back to the driveway dragging a giant stick. Then he brought back another and had a blast playing with them. It was one of those simple moments of childhood where a huge stick is the coolest thing ever.
Creativity is one of his strong suits, and that continued into the back yard when I went back there and started cleaning up the monumental mess of a pile of sticks I accidentally left back there in the fall. The ground in the way back is super muddy, so everything under the pile was even worse. I spent more than an hour hacking away at baby trees that have sprouted and attempting yet again to clear out the crazy overgrowth of our awful blackberry vines. We've lost about three feet of backyard to the blackberries and some ground cover with purple flowers (possibly vinca?). There was a foot-high stone wall back there when we moved in, and the ground cover overgrew it on one end and the blackberries on the other. I'm trying to figure out how to reclaim some of it, though Roundup is my last but best resort. I would like grass to grow in those areas again, but it's going to be tough! The vines are extra evil, though, and I have the many arm and leg scratches to prove it. We'll see if I can keep it up and stop the spreading once things really start growing again.
Carter spent the time making up something while playing around our sad but apparently still interesting playset. Eventually I finished my work and it was time to head back into the house to cook dinner. But the time outside was great! Yesterday was gorgeous, too, though by the time Carter convinced me to take him to the playground after our stop at the library, it had actually gotten much cooler! He wasn't cold in shorts and a t-shirt, of course, but I had a coat on and I was freezing! Today Craig picked up him early, and even though it was cloudy, it was still warm enough to play outside...
I did another run tonight, 1.5 miles this time. Super slow, but I did it. Hopefully I can fight the soreness with more exercise, because it took until this afternoon to walk normally after Sunday's run. I have a couple pounds to lose and I can tell I am dreadfully out of shape right now. No Corporate Challenge for me this year, I don't think--with the earlier date and the late spring, I just don't have enough time to reasonably work up to it without making myself nuts. I have three days to decide. It's a nice goal, but do I want to make myself nuts to the point I hate running by the time it's over, like I do every year? I do much better when I run for fun. My shirt drawer is full anyway! :)
We go back to a couple days of blah weather and then it seems we go up and down for a while. I'll take the ups, though--and even some of the downs are far better than what we've had so far. Let's hope spring is mostly here to stay!
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