Decisions

I've made a few decisions lately. Trying to keep up at my own self-prescribed pace on top of trying to keep up with everyone else's pace has worn me down as of late. Big time.

I'm sure you can assume I've been busy, judging from the last time I've actually blogged on my site. I know. I tried to sneak these all in without turning on the "FAILURE" light, but it's hard to swing.


One of the most impacting decision I've made of late is to not pursue the RnR half marathon. I'm sure I'll feel a twinge of regret on the day of, when I see so many of my friends post pictures and accolades on their success that day, but I've thought long and I've thought hard, and this is the best decision for me.

Having Jeff and I both train for this was a constant drain on our time over the weekends. With both of us working full time during the week, this cuts in to major KT time. And this mileage is beyond KT's patience level (I can't blame her) to sit in a jogger and amuse herself. Yes, I felt awesome when I completed 7.0 miles (the longest stretch I made), but my day was used up and then it was a "tag you're it" situation with Jeff and I.


Another reason is that, yes, I've enjoyed running, but these long distances - I was not having fun. Aren't I supposed to enjoy myself? The term is relative, I know. No Pain, No Gain, and all that. But I really wasn't enjoying myself. I think my limit is 4.0 miles.


With all this exercise, I was finding excuses to eat whatever it was I wanted. Which, not surprisingly, led to weight gain. Something I have been committed to for the past year since having KT. The goal. MY GOAL is to lose the weight. To focus on my health. That is my marathon. That is my focus. So it's time to refocus on that. And do things the way that was working before.


I still want to run a half marathon one day. But it's not in my cards this year. And I'm okay with that. I feel like my body is at peace with it, and my mind is too.

In Which You Cast Judgement

Okay, go ahead and cast your judgement on us, because I have an "i-can't-believe-you've-been-doing-it-like-that" moment to share.

Since moving in to this house almost 4 years ago, we've not done much of our dining at the table. And, sadly, this floorplan didn't come with an eat in kitchen. For space reasons, our dining room is being used as 1/2 office, 1/2 dining room.

Since KT's arrival, we've done almost every meal in her highchair, which is in the kitchen, but can also arguably be called in the living room as well. Yes, I know. You see the issue. I know, I know, I can hear you now. Hold your tongue.

I am done with the highchair. It's presence in my kitchen (living room) is a constant mockery to me telling me that I need to graduate my child to an actual chair (read: stop eating in the living room and move to the kitchen, you lazy butt).

So we did. Last weekend, I said "enough is enough" - it's time to be responsible parents and sit this family down at the table. And you know what? I've learned a few things.

I always thought KT was a great eater. She has her "picky" issues, but overall, if I give her what she likes, she'll go to town. But guess what? She's an even better eater at the table. In front of us. With no other distractions.

Because tonight... tonight, I saw my kid eat chicken nuggets for the first time. Do you know how many times I've tried chicken nuggets? (clarification: not mcdonald, this is the store bought kind). She wouldn't eat them. Cause I wasn't showing her how it was done. *slaps forehead audibly* Then the other night, she asked for some lettuce off my plate, and munched down on several pieces. That's when I looked Jeff in the eyes and he looked back into my eyes and we non-verbally communicated that "We are DEFINITELY going to be eating all our meals at the table from here on out."

I knew I was wrong, but boy, was I wrong.

The Great Hill Country Pumpkin Patch

KT Koenig (20 months)

Family Shot

As has become tradition, we took a drive out to Medina on Saturday, October 15th to check out the pumpkins at Love Creek Orchard.  Aunt Jenny and Taylor came in to town to visit and to head to the pumpkin patch too! Nene just had surgery :( so unfortunately she wasn't able to make it (feel better soon, Nene!). It's fun to watch KT and Taylor grow together. They are 4.5 months apart, and it's cute to watch them interact every time we are together.

I am certain that you could probably find a pumpkin patch closer to town, but most of the appeal in visiting the one in Medina is that it's in a beautiful part of Texas. The drive out there is one of my favorites, and if time had allotted, we would of had some lunch at one of the local restaurants (only a handful in town). Medina is a beautiful town. If jobs weren't an issue, then I wouldn't mind living out in the neck of the woods.

The girls had a great time visiting the petting zoo and all the animals, walking through the pumpkin hay maze, and my favorite, painting a pumpkin (ooh la la!).

KT & Taylor painting their pumpkin

KT & Taylor painting their pumpkin

Afterward we headed back to my parents so we could let the girls run around until they were exhausted! It's hard enough entertaining an (almost) 2 year old, but TWO two-year-olds? I had to pull out the big guns. I asked my Dad (Grumps) if he could hook up the trailer to the tractor so we could have some "tractor rides" - and boy, what a treat! Even the adults had fun on this! Note: Incorporate into KT's bday party.

Taylor and KT running off some energy

Trek Tri

Beautiful views

I competed in my 2nd Triathlon on Sunday, October 2nd. The Trek Tri Series is very similar to the Danskin Tri series that I competed in back in June. One difference though...significantly less people. While the Danskin had somewhere in the thousands compete, the Trek only had about 400 women compete. I'm wondering if the summer time and school had any influence on that number. I'm thinking yes.

Awesome husband, beautiful daughter (inspiration) and myself

Calli & Dave (great job, Calli! proud of you!)

Calli and I (my guns were out of ammo)

When I first signed up for the tri, I was stoked. I was coming off of a major high from the Danskin and I was ready to do another one. So ready. Then I decided to pick up training for the RnR 1/2 marathon. Couple that with an extremely busy and stressful work over the past few months and throw in there the pressures and "burn out" of workouts and basically you have the recipe to set yourself up for failure.

Okay, not complete failure. But this tri definitely did not goes as planned. The week before the event was a nightmare week. I'd go so far as to say it's one of the worst weeks of work I've had in a very long time. I came home, relieved on Friday evening, only to start feeling nauseated around 7pm. For 4 hours, I had the chills and had rolling waves of nausea. I think it was the stomach bug, but it could of been my body just dealing with the stress. Who knows. Regardless, the amount of food I put in my body for fuel those next 24 hours was not good.

Calli, Annah and I

The event was held at a park out in Spicewood (close to ATX). The morning was gorgeous. Cool, which was slightly intimidating for the swim, but enjoyable for the bike/run. My goals turned from kicking my Danskin time's butt to just plain finishing without embarrassing myself too bad.

In the water

My swim started out horrible. Too many women pushing and shoving and kicking and I couldn't find my stride at all. It was a mess. So finally I just let a group go in front of me so I could catch my stride. And I did. I thought I had loss time here, but actually improved my time 1:00 from the Danskin.

on the road

My ride however.... such a shame. Cycling is my thing. Well. In the fact that out of the three, that is my strongest. But, after my swim, I was out of juice. The hills killed me (even though they could of been way worse) and even after telling myself five times over to kick it in to over time Colleen, I just could not perform. I lost most of my time here. Almost 10 minutes slower than Danskin.

My run, it was meh. More like my run/walk. Egads, that last hill was brutal, but obviously doable. I was so ready to finish, I could taste it. My time was 4 minutes faster than Danskin, but.... do to a long transition from swim/bike, distance was cut off.

final results

All in all, my total time was 2:06:00 - I really wanted to be under 2:00 - ah well. With all the circumstances, I'm happy I finished, even if it leaves me a bit disappointed. By no means am I turned off of tri's. I love them. But, next time I do one, I'm focusing on it alone and making sure I put in the time/commitment that it deserves.

A huge shout out to my friends Calli, who kicked some serious ass on her first tri! and as always, Annah killed it. The girls got wheels!

Till the next one....

KT is 20 months!

Click to enlarge