One of the biggest struggles I have with being a mother is the fact that I have very little time, and I don’t like to spend it arguing with my kids. But there are two things I give in to-

1.   Their rooms. They are atrocious and I get sick of yelling at them to clean it. I get to the point where I become passive on it and let it go, which is the wrong direction to go in.
2.    Their stuff. They always ask for stuff, especially my oldest. You get in this cycle of not even knowing what they have and what they need, not to mention there’s no time to sort through their closets –that’s a three hour project. You eventually end up buying things and it tends not to be the things they need, but the things they want. That’s the struggle and probably why my kids feel like they never have anything they need.

I just spoke with the new president of USATF (USA Track & Field) Georgia, Ian Dube. He is starting an athlete of the month program and asked me to be his first athlete, so he is coming to the house on Thursday night to do photography and interviews. He has also offered to have USA Track and Field do an assessment for me, so I’ll let you know when those pictures come out, hopefully everything goes well!

Today was a tough workout consisting of 16 miles with a few sprints in between. My feet and legs were fatigued and tight afterwards, so I’m wearing the Chung Shi’s for the rest of the day to help elongate my calves and Achilles and make everything feel better. When I wear them in the car (where I feel like I spend most of my time), I like to rock back and forth from heel to toe.

Time-Saving Tip: If you prefer to workout in the morning, try stretching and warming up while your kids are getting ready for school. It gives you a few distraction-free minutes to yourself and saves time! When you’re a busy mom, any free minute is critical!

Every person has their own individual morning routine. With three kids getting ready for school, morning routines usually consists of chaos and it can be tough to make sure I’m fully prepared for my first workout… find what works for you!

I have a group of friends coming over Thursday to do some ‘water running’ in the pool- it’s a great form of cross-training especially if you’re recovering from injuries. Our pool has a heater, but unfortunately it’s broken so it may feel more like an ice bath than a pool. Its always fun to workout together with friends, time goes by so quickly and you build such a great friendship.

Motivational Tip: When it’s tough to stay motivated, try setting up a time to workout with your friends. If you make a plan to meet people, you may find that you are more likely to stay committed to your exercise routine!

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I switched out my shoes today, I wasn’t quite at the 400 mile count, but I have put some hard miles on them. My feet already feel totally different and I’m looking forward to the support of the Brooks!

Tip: Remember to keep track of the mileage you put on your athletic shoes- they should last around 400 miles or about 6 months. For an easier way to keep track, write on the side of your shoe (in permanent marker) the date you purchased them.

I spoke too soon.

I saw that Katie left her diabetes kit at home, and when I got to the school to drop it off I couldn’t get in touch with her so I figured she had her backup kit with her… until I got a phone call from her. She was at her gymnastics meet after school so I had to drop everything and get her kit to her- which made me late for picking up Daniel. My other daughter forgot her soccer gear at home, so we’ll be late for that event now, too.

We had a great family vacation in St. Simons over Easter weekend, but its always so difficult to get back on schedule after returning- is it just me or do other moms experience the same thing? Although we somehow got off to a great start this morning. My to-do list is enormous, and intimidating. One thing I’m a stickler about is my to-do list. No matter how long it is, I won’t go to sleep until everything is done. It’s really the only way I can keep my life organized and not fall behind.

Give it a try- if you keep a to-do list, prioritize it and try not to finish the day unless everything is crossed off. It’s a great feeling.