Starting International Women's Day with a Thankful Heart

I have a daughter with a faucet for a nose (home from school so I can nag her to pu-leez use a tissue and help bring down her low-grade fever), but there is still plenty to be thankful as we kick-off this work week.

March 8th is set aside to commemorate the achievements of women in politics, science and social change as International Women's Day. As great as the "big name" women are in our world who have enabled the women of today to shine, I think it is important for us to recognize the strength and gifts of the women who touch our lives at a local, community level.

In honor of International Women's Day, I give you a list of strong women in my life for whom I am thankful:

1. The great Jennifer Tai, photographer extraordinaire - Saturday marked my fourth photo session with her. This woman has an incredible eye for composition, a laid-back personality to put her clients at total ease, and a contagious laugh. Though I know she misses her homeland of Malaysia, I think she's finding Western Washington to be a decent second home. I'm honored to live in the same community with her and count her among my friends. When she's not capturing our community's lives with her lens she's working on the Board with me at our girls' preschool. When I asked her how she does "it all" she replied, "I don't sleep!" I think she's telling the truth.

2. Maria Millsap of Banana Blossom Press - Not only does Maria create fitness-related greeting cards and shirts (both of my kids have the shirt pictured below - "Running. It's a family thing"), but she visits countless fitness expos to generate a positive vibe in the fitness community with her products. She has an encouraging attitude and welcoming sense of humor. A supporter of fellow-local business women, Maria also sells We Are Girls Who Love to Run at her booth! I am so thankful for her energy and support of the book. Thanks for bringing my book to the masses, Maria. Oh, and she has lots of Seattle fitness goodness to share on her blog Hills & Hammies. Send her some bloggy love!

3. My friend, Christine. Our little girls are good friends, her older daughter and my son hit it off beautifully and she and I both love to run. Christine is new to the sport, her true love is volleyball (she's a coach). Yet in the last year, she has discovered that her legs were made to GO. I first coaxed her out for an early Saturday morning trail run in the fall after I found out that she was a runner. We're now training for the Mercer Island 10K on the 21st - at an amazingly fast clip for me (8:30 miles!). Thanks to her I'm doing more outdoor runs and facing my fear of hills. After our long hilly runs, I can now breathe all the way to the top. That's huge. We're going to rock this thing, Christine.

4. The women of my Saturday morning trail run - I started this thing last spring and it is still going. I wouldn't say it is going strong yet, but it looks like we're turning a corner and numbers are increasing. I had two women join me for 5K (give or take) at 7:30 this last Saturday morning. Funny thing is they thought I had hit the trail early without them because there was a car identical to mine in the parking lot. So off the went - before I arrived! I eventually caught up with them near the turn-around spot and enjoyed running back to the lot with them. They now have my license plate memorized so it won't happen again (and I'll do my best to get there a few minutes earlier!). I expect to have at least 6 more women to join in the trail run adventure with me next weekend and more as we get closer to summer. Spring is in the air and fair weather runners are getting excited to get back out. The Saturday group has spurred some interest in some of the group meeting up during the week, too. Just what I hoped would happen!

5. My mom - I don't think a single paragraph in a blog is sufficient for summing up this woman's gifts. So I'll just let you know that she's great and that I appreciate all she's done to pave the way for me and my little girl.

And representing the next generation of strong women:

6. My daughter (who is a LONG way from becoming a woman, but she's a STRONG girl!) - This three year old has a way about her. She can hike up Diamond Head, sprint up-hill for a quarter mile, bicycle around a 1.5 mile lake loop without batting an eye, play "Angel Robin" along side her "Batman Brother" in her white angel costume with handcuffs she made to haul the bad guys off to jail, and set up a "fancy shoe party" with her tea set and stuffed ponies. She is perhaps her daddy's biggest fan, but is thrilled to give me occasional kudos like the night she deemed me "Best Sunggler in the House". She inspires me to set new goals and work toward them. Always one to stop what she's doing for a good spin (think arms spread, head thrown back, dizzy-making, fall-over spinning!), this carefree girl also makes sure I stay in touch with my inner girl and take time to play. Yes, that's her on the Diamond Head trail last month, stopping to show me her muscles. :)

How about YOU? Who is one strong woman that inspires you?

Laundry Time

First of all, I'd like to turn your attention to the fact that today is International Women's Day! Check out the official website and see if there is a way that you and your family can honor the day in your home. In celebration of the strength of women, I did a treadmill 5K this morning (there was still ice on the ground outside, so I opted for the safer running alternative).

And now . . . on with my regular thoughts today:

As I was putting in the second load of laundry this morning, it dawned on me that each type of laundry has its own indicator for when it should be washed:

1. Mr. Music's clothes need washing when he's out of pants. This kid goes through an average of 2-3 pairs of pants/day. Sometimes they can be re-worn, but more times than not the food/playdoh/snot/dog slobber wins and the pants go in the laundry pile.

2. Little Sister's clothes need washing when she's out of socks. Like her big brother, she likes to change her clothes frequently. She's happiest in a shirt and undies (just about potty trained, she is!) and socks, so we don't have the same pants problems with her; however, she averages 4-5 pairs of socks/day. I'm not exaggerating. I was prepared for needing lots of shoes with a daughter (especially since her dad and I BOTH have a love for shoes), but I had no idea we'd have such a need for a mountain of socks!

3. Workout clothes have their own story. On great workout/running weeks, I wash the clothes when I can smell them (if we're both active, this can be after just 2 days!). Several days in a row of sweaty clothes really brews quite the odor. On not so great workout weeks, the clothes have a chance to air out between workout days, so I don't think to wash them until I'm out of my good sports bras.

4. Grown-up laundry sneaks in between the other laundry. Often this means having to be creative with clothing combinations when the pickings get slim. And of course there's carrying heaping baskets of clothes downstairs to the laundry room (good workout!) in hopes that two of our loads can be done before any of the other loads require attention, too. Someday this pecking order will change, right?

5. Since ousting paper towels, we do towel laundry a few times/week. Cloth napkins and wash cloths are the way to go! Even though these need more frequent washing, the kids can help fold them, so it doesn't seem like such a chore.

How about YOU? Are your laundry habits dictated by any particular family member quirks? Or are you the organized person who always does laundry on a certain day of the week? Come on, fess up!

Interview by The Running Knitter

The Running Knitter sent along these five questions for me to complete as a fun little blog interview. Eileen posted her interview and I left her a comment letting her know I wanted to join in on the fun. She emailed me the questions so here are my answers. If you’d like to be interviewed, be sure to follow the directions at the end!

1. How did you come up with the idea to write your book "We are Girls Who Love To Run"?

I've known since I was a kid that I wanted to write books (the Young Author competition was the highlight of every year for me in elementary school!), so it was just a matter of time before I made it happen for real.

There wasn't much time to think about writing when I was teaching and getting my Master's (and marathon training!), so it had to wait until life settled a bit. When I finished school and then stepped away from teaching to have my own children, I had more time for brainstorming and word play. I also have a husband who has his own passion for writing, so he supported me as I ran after this dream (no pun intended).

I wrote several rough drafts of other stories about running, but none of them worked out to be just right for a first book. When I thought back to the inspiration Girls on the Run brought to my students who ran (and to me, second hand), I knew my first book needed to be a gift for girls who embrace running. Running didn't find me until I was 23, so We Are Girls Who Love to Run is my uplifting nudge for girls of all ages to see how welcoming the world of running is . . . as well as how the power of running spills into all areas of life. Hopefully it will encourage girls to give it a try earlier in life - and maybe even get their moms, aunts, sisters, cousins, neighbors interested in it, too. I believe it is important to pass the torch to others!

Shameless plug: If you are interested in getting a copy of my book, you can find it at Amazon.com, at specialty running stores in the Puget Sound region, at Dragonfly Secrets in the St. Louis area, or by mail order through Balanced Steps, LLC. Place your mail order by this Friday, March 6th and Balanced Steps will knock $5 off the price of the book in celebration of International Women's Day on Sunday, March 8th! Be sure to read my reviews of other great running and uplifting books here.

2. What advice would you have for other moms who are trying to balance family, work, and exercise?

Balance is a tricky thing. I try to take things one day at a time, because what works for me one day often doesn't work the next! There are countless variables in motherhood, as there are in the work world. And there are days when priorities flip.

Ideally I'd like to exercise 5-6 days/week. Realistically I currently get in an average workouts 3-4 days/week (not counting walks to the park with the kids or yard work). Truthfully there have even been a few stretches along the way where a week (or two) goes by without a single workout. Working out first thing in the morning enables me to get my workouts in - if I haven't done it by 7:30AM on weekdays or 10AM on weekends, it likely isn't happening. I also do a childcare swap once a week with a friend - sometimes I use the time to run, other times I write, and sometimes I nap!

I am a better mother and a better writer, and essentially a better person, when I get in my runs and my balance ball workouts. Throw in a yoga class or a class at the YMCA and I am in my element! Even my kids will tell you that life is best when I get in my exercise. But I also know that there are times when it is okay to take a break (like when the kids are sick and I'm not getting any sleep . . . or I'm sick . . . or we have visitors staying at our home). These breaks make my return to running even sweeter. I try not to beat myself up about missed workouts and to celebrate the days when I get in my groove and GO. That's my yellow-hatted nature, I suppose.

3. What do you enjoy most about running?

I love that it is time just for me. I can use the time to think about something specific or to just let my mind go while I focus on my breath and posture or nothing at all. The increased energy level after a run is a definite plus for chasing around 2 young children the rest of my day. Running also keeps my optimism flowing. I could keep going with this list, but I'll stop now while I'm ahead . . . and you are still reading!

4. What is your favorite holiday and why?

I have to go with Christmas for this one. I could sit by a Christmas tree all day long, soaking in the twinkle of the lights and the sparkle of the ornaments. The glow warms my soul and makes me feel more twinkly, too. I also like planning special gifts for the people I love. Sadly, this is my husband's least favorite holiday . . . but we're working on that!

5. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Can I pick more than one?? As someone who spent a semester abroad in college, I think spending time in a foreign country is something everyone should consider doing. I'd go back to Italy in a heartbeat, but also have interest in visiting other European countries (Germany, Ireland, and Norway top that list). I think my husband and I may head to Australia for 2 weeks next year to celebrate our 10th Anniversary, as that is a place neither of us has explored and we're already on the West Coast. The REI Adventures seem awfully appealing, especially after a long winter!

To play along:

1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Starting with a Thankful (and Healthy!) Heart

Everyone in our home is healthy after a month of ear infections, pneumonia, bad colds and even the stomach flu! I feel like shouting that from the rooftops and then tap dancing around the kitchen! Good health is priceless. It is by far the thing I am most thankful for today because good health just oozes into all kinds of other good things . . .

1. A friend of mine reminded me that March 8th is International Women's Day. I'll be using the day to celebrate the inner beauty and strength of women who run - and if I can pull it off, gathering some girlfriends to head out for a casual 5K (if nothing else, I'll do it myself)! Know of someone who needs a pick-me-up or reminder of her inner beauty? Place an order for a signed (and personalized!) copy of We Are Girls Who Love to Run by Friday, March 6th and I'll knock $5 off the price for you in honor of International Women's Day. Email me at orders@balancedsteps.com for details!

2. We took a walk with our dog this afternoon. We were gone for about 40 minutes, but only went about two blocks. Along the way we looked at rocks, examined buds on trees, kept Albus from following his nose too far (there are MANY good smells when you are a dog and the weather is nice!!), and practiced balancing along the edge of the sidewalk. Maybe this is the pure joy MizFit was describing today.

3. Everyone's appetite is back on track! After a few weeks of bland foods, we're slowly expanding our dining horizons back to normal. Tonight we're venturing into the truly exciting - taco salad!!

4. Now that I'm back on track with eating, I can return to my workouts! I walked for 45 minutes on the treadmill on Friday, took a break this weekend (I kept eating at inopportune times for running this weekend), and started back on my strength training today with a balance ball workout. I feel stronger already and look forward to a run tomorrow morning!

5. I'm going to an open house tonight for a preschool possibility for Little Sister. It is a cooperative pre-school, so I'd go with her one morning/week and then she'd go without me the second morning each week. There are also great parent education classes that are a part of the program. Everyone wins!

Have a glorious, healthy week everyone . . . and send in those orders so you can have your copy of We Are Girls Who Love to Run in time for International Women's Day!!