She Get It From Her Mama!

It's been a week from you-know-where. Nothing has gone right and I've felt like a total failure. I still ran a good bit more than I had in the last few weeks but nowhere near what I was hoping. Thankfully my mother had the cure for my melancholy!

I bought us a family membership to the YMCA so we could all enjoy a year of health and wellness. My mom had yet to use her membership so she asked me to go with her today. I was more than happy to have a reason to head to the gym and not be accompanied only by my iPod.

My mom's always been there. And I've always looked just like her!

 

We decided to do some cardio first and took side by side treadmills. She walked, I ran, and we chatted about anything and everything while we got our endorphin rush going. Thirty minutes later we headed over to the weight machines. I'm just going to admit that I had never used the machines at the YMCA prior to today.

 

Intimidation is a horrible feeling. There's always a couple high school or college athletes lifting the whole stack. And then there's me... I know I'm not that strong. And I know I won't get stronger without lifting. But it still didn't overcome my fear of being laughed at (just like what happened at the globogym I used to go to).

 

My mom was always active (and pretty hot too!)

 

But today, with my mother by my side, we walked over there and explored the equipment. Then we made a plan for our workout and went to it. And the best part is we could still pass for twins, at least when it came to strength. We went set for set and rep for rep at the exact same weight, neither of us able to outdo the other.

 

I think I've found my new workout partner (who's been there all along).

 

 

Is fitness a family affair in your home too?

Apres Moi Le Deluge

This isn't really running related besides the fact that it's interfering with my running. But I think we all understand how the weather can affect us and our communities and bring unexpected disaster. The last few weeks my tiny town has been drenched by heavy rains and thunder storms. Despite living near the river we rarely have flooding but this summer it's not the river that's the problem.

It's the sheer volume of water that's been dropped on such a small area.

Driving out to the main road.

 

The road to our house.

 

Water shooting out from the underground lines

 

End of the road

 

The creek under our running trail

 

The drainage ditches can't handle it

 

Playground or pool?

 

Even the trees can't handle any more

 

Storm damage on our trail

 

 

I'm not really sure what the point of this post is besides wanting to share my sorrow. I've lived in this town for about as long as I've ever lived anywhere now. Our family is here, our friends are here, our running trail is here. Everything safe and familiar has been turned upside down. Every time I hear a clap of thunder in the distance I shudder and wait for the next downpour that will bring more devastation. I honestly don't understand how the surrounding towns are escaping with little more than wet basements while we are bearing the worst of every storm but the rain can't last forever. And so we wait for the sun.