The Sign

I am not a patient person.  It's one of my worst flaws.  It's something I've been working on all my life, and particularly now that I have children.  But, it's a constant battle.  It's now been three weeks since I fell off a chair and bruised my ribs.  For two long weeks I waited (impatiently, I'll admit) for the pain to subside so I could run again.  Last week I got back out on the road, probably sooner than I should have, but I'm impatient.  It was no surprise that I wouldn't be able to start right out of the gate and feel as good as I did before the fall, though I secretly hoped that might be the case.  The first few runs were slow and uncomfortable.  I was still sore and my legs were getting used to running again after the time off.  It was extremely frustrating and there was nothing I could do about it.  I just had to be patient.  Before I fell, I had been successfully following a training plan created by a coach who was helping me break a specific time for a 5K in August.  When I checked in with him last week he suggested I start over and re-set my goal and race date rather than pick up where I left off.  He knew I was frustrated but the bottom line, he explained, was that I needed to take my time, do it right and, yes, be patient.  It's now the start of week four and I'm still fighting my way back to a normal routine.  Today, I happened to be walking my dog, head down, music on, annoyed about my physical situation, when she stopped abruptly to smell something. I looked up and noticed something dangling right in front of my face (see pic).  I smiled and said out loud to myself and anyone else who was listening, "ok, I get it.  Thanks for the sign."

Listen to this:
Runaway - Mr. Little Jeans   

BIA: Quick Update

They did it!  Bia's GPS Sports Watch has been successfully funded.  Very, very exciting for the founders and all of us who supported the project.  I'm sure my fellow runners will be envious next year when I'm sporting this fancy gadget.  If you haven't checked it out yet, you might want to. 

Listen to this:
Do What You Want - OK Go  

Kickstarter Update: Bia funding SUCCESSFUL
Website: Bia-Sport.com

It's Friday - Reader's Pick & BIA-SPORT INFO

Today's reader's pick is from Sylvia Marino; mother of three, open water swimmer, and co-founder of Bia, a multi-sport GPS watch designed specifically for women (though men seem to want one, too).  She swims with a SwiMP3 and runs with an iPod.  She likes to listen to action movie music and pictures herself in her own movie (think Gladiator).  She also loves to rock out to old Journey, and really, who doesn't?  Thanks for sharing Sylvia.

Listen to this:
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey  

Bia is currently live on Kickstarter, a funding platform for creative projects.  In the next 10 hours, they need to raise about $50,000 ($350,000 raised already) to launch their product.  I personally have backed this project because I believe there is nothing else out there like it and as a woman who is an avid runner there is no denying that a watch like this is long overdue.  Check out all the details at Kickstarter:Bia.  And hurry up because if you think it's as cool as I do, you need to back them ASAP.  Go.  Now.  Hurry.

Not Great, But Great

This summer my girls are going to camp in Brewster, MA for three weeks.  From day one, my seven year old, who needs constant entertainment, skipped on to the bus without looking back.  My five year old, well, she would rather go to the dentist with me if she had the option.  The last two mornings, she shuffled onto the bus, a little hesitant, but willingly and waved goodbye.  Yesterday when she woke up she decided she simply didn't want to go anymore.  As we got ready to leave the house I hugged her and said I understood while trying to come up with a creative way to explain that she didn't have a choice.  When we approached the bus stop, the tears quickly started rolling down her cheeks and she continued to remind me that she STILL didn't want to go.  When the bus arrived, I gently lead her up the stairs as all the other parents stood by watching and waiting patiently for us to finish our conversation which was going nowhere.  She finally got on, but she wasn't happy about it.  Both of us were sad and angry in our own ways.  It was not a shining moment for either of us.  From there I went running.  It was hot and humid, my legs were tired and my ribs were still sore.  But the stress rolled off me with each step.  The heat helped me forget about my frustration and the music helped to drown out my worrying.  It was not a great run.  But it was a great run.

Listen to this:
I'll Believe In Anything - Wolf Parade