A Balance, Redefined

No that is not a typo. Kristen decided that she was rough enough on her parents last night and gave us two 4 hr sessions of sleep last night. Other than that not too much going on today. I did run some on the treadmill during nap time and spent some good family time with all three girls. I can't believe we are in the last week of '08. This has by far been the fastest year of my life, both figuratively and literally.

I decided enough was enough with the work deadline. I hadn't made progress (for good reason) the last couple weeks but needed to do something. Not sure if this was the best tactic but stayed up until late to get "something" done. Then I had to get into lab early to take care of some experiments that I had canceled last week. Between the first full day away from home since Kristen's birth and the almost complete lack of sleep I felt a day off was in order...

Well I've kept with the crazy no sleep plan not the best of ideas. (Since I'm writing this entry a day late, I have remedied this). In any case on Tues I woke up early to work on my grant. I had a meeting with my boss. It went well. He is a good mentor and guides without altering. I'm still freaking out about getting everything done but since that doesn't help I'll just keep looking forward. After the meeting I had errands to run. Got back early enough (and the weather was nice enough) that I went for a run OUTSIDE!!! Crazy I know. I was even wearing shorts and half way through rolled up my sleeves. I started with Kaitlyn but she wasn't interested so I turned around and dropped her off after about a mile. The third mile I "pushed" a little and hit a 7:03! I know you should just rename me flash :)... Overall I was not feeling that great (probably the ~9hrs of sleep in two nights) but had a good run and enjoyed being out.

So ends another year and another chapter in my running. This has been by far one of the best years of my life. I did go in like a Lion and out like a Lamb but the overall was great. I more or less ran the fastest at every distance that I ever have. I also ran the most miles in one year and one month. The weekly title didn't fall but you can't have everything... I learned a lot and relearned a lot as well. The last few months have been hard but I've filled it with lots of other good things, a new daughter, incremental but still progress at work... 

What next? Well '09 is planned at this point as a non-year. What I mean by that is that I just want to get and stay healthy. I still have knee pain and though I can run on it I don't want to "train" until it is better. I will focus on health and building back my base to hopefully compete at the "local elite" level again in '10. My plans will be monthly and I'll reassess in that increment until I can do otherwise...

Thank you for all your support!

 After a morning of working on the grant from home I ventrued outside for another run. My knee was fairly tight from yesterday so I didn't do anything special. Just a home loop. Avg. 8:23

So how do parents with a new born spend New Year's? We tried to go to sleep early. Sandra has been a trooper with feedings every ~2hrs the last few nights and wanted to get a good nights sleep. So at 9pm we did our "midnight" toast. However, 2hrs later Kristen still wasn't ready. We finally got to bed at ~11:30pm and by 12:15am I was handed the baby... She finally went down for a decent stretch at ~2am. Needless to say none of us are too rested today. In the meantime I've still been plugging away at the grant. I'm normally a slow writer but between breaking ground in a new field and the sleep deprivation the going has been extra slow. Two more weeks and at least one of the grants will be out. Wanting to keep up the momentum I now have going with the running I did do some treadmill miles. I have to keep to my current priorities, baby and grant, but at the same time your health should always be a priority so I'm making sure to get in a little at a time. There will be a place for training again (hopefully sooner than later).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I had a restless night. No particular reason, just didn't seem to be sleeping when my eyes were closed. Kristen actually only woke up twice between 11pm and 5:20am when I got up so that wasn't the reason... I got some good grant work in the morning but the rest of the day has been "elsewhere." Today will be my last "official work at home weekday." Monday it will be back to the bench as some of my reagents are finally here and I have to do two experiments to see if I can use the data for the grant. Other than that Kaitlyn kept me company on another outdoor run. The weather was nice for a winter run and by the end of the run my hat and gloves were off and my sleeves were rolled up.  

Well nothing special. Last night was ok for sleep. The grant work drags on and as it is boring to read about it in these entries some days it is as boring to do. I've enjoyed reading about a new field of research but getting it all into coherent paragraphs takes time. However, as with anything the more you do it the better you get. Just taking breaks for meals with family at this point, maybe a little pre and post playtime but I should really have the first grant done by Friday so… The weather wasn’t too bad outside but the new snow and the wind made me decide to just go the treadmill route.

Something of note. I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. This is my highest mileage week since St. George. Bad thing because that is a long time to be away, good thing because at least I’m finally moving in the right direction again.