Apologies for the lack of posts mid-week this week but I have frantically been trying to get ahead of myself ready for next week. It is school half term whilst I am doing the 7 in 7 so I have had to make provision for Eleanor to be looked after whilst I am on my running jollies! She has a couple of days/nights at Nanna and Grandy's and a couple at a friend's house, and a Beavers' camp all whilst I am running this epic, so I have had three lots of bags to pack in readiness!
I am not immune to the Mummy guilt attached to spending hours away from my family, both training and taking part in these events. I try to make it up to Ellie by spending quality time with her when I am around but it doesn't completely salve my conscience. Longer runs always have the potential to guilt me out. If I am not in the right mindset, I can start mithering my way out of completing the distance by desperately missing my family time whilst I am out there. On more than one occasion, my hubby has been shocked to have me back after 45 to 60 minutes when I had planned to be out for two or more hours. When we are on holiday I normally manage to get out for an hour's run before either of them are awake, returning just in time for breakfast, which generally works really well (and means that I am my calm, collected, post-run self for the rest of the day). Sometimes I will arrange to meet Ian and Ellie for a meal at mid-run point, or at the end of the run (and cadge a lift back!) and these can be quite fun family times. I am also extremely grateful that Ellie has started to enjoy running in her own right - she ran her longest, furthest run this morning with me - 2.2 miles in under 30 minutes - I must say that I am very impressed with the way she paces herself. But I digress a little. Training as an ultrarunner takes time... 10 plus hours per week of actual running plus showering/changing time etc - so generally at least 15 hours per week. On top of running my own business, this leaves little time for being a 'housewife', so please, if you visit my home, don't write rude words in the almost inevitable dust!! Is the trade-off worth it? Can I justify to myself and my family the amount of time and effort I dedicate to what is basically just a hobby? I feel it is. I know that I am a better person when I run. My longer runs help me organise my brain and sort out the issues that may be bothering me. Ultrarunning gives me direction and purpose. And it forces me to keep my own fitness levels up, which (and this may be a surprise to some) I would struggle with if I did not have the focus of the challenges I put before me... Yes... hold the front page - even Personal Trainers need some butt-kicking to move their sorry carcases! And ultrarunning is my means of kicking my own butt! Although, come to think of it, with the amount of miles I am doing through the week, one thing I probably won't be able to do for most of next week is... kick my own butt! :-D
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