So life goes on. Even when your injured. There is still ellipticaling, and swimming, and biking (and it’s corresponding running into things like fire hydrants), and imaginary rowing across oceans to do. There are also articles to write and bills to pay and clients to coach. But most importantly, there are birthdays to be had:
This is post-celebration - I just hung it on the wall because I couldn't bear to put it up.
My “babies” turned 16. OMG – 16! I still can’t believe it! And they can’t believe that I’m shocked and convinced we have merely added up the years incorrectly. To celebrate their big day, they decided they wanted to go to Disneyland with friends. Because I am an amusement park freak (went to Disneyland on my honeymoon, how romantic is that?), the boys have been riding roller coasters and Tilt-a-Whirls since they were wee lads. So, I guess it should have come as no surprise that a trip to Disneyland was their choice for this momentous birthday.
Birthday morning, after pancakes with strawberries and bacon, I drove them to Anaheim, gave them money, and went to check into the hotel. At the check-out desk I recognized the voice of the woman standing next to me even though she did not yell “SUPERSTAR!” and thrust her arms above her head in a “V”. It was Molly Shannon. At Disneyland. With her two kids. Just like every other normal, frazzled, overstimulated parent there. How cool is that? Sadly, even though we did exchange a few words (“Your kids are looking for you.”), she did not want to be my new BFF. Oh well.
After getting our room situated, I headed to the gym and worked out. Even though my kids wanted me to TAKE them to Disneyland, they didn’t actually want me to BE with them at Disneyland, so I used the opportunity to enjoy myself like an adult – hamburger and fries by the pool, six trips down the waterslide, a blue frosty slushee sort of drink that gave me brain freeze, and two hours reading a trashy novel. Heaven. At the end of the day, everyone was happy on this 16th birthday.
On the running front (see, it is never far from my mind and this IS a running blog, after all), I’ve been cleared to run on the treadmill – no hills, no pavement, no rocky anything. I’ve just done a little, but so far, so good. Frankly, while all the cross training has been a wonderful break, I’m ready to run. A woman can only take so many hours of rowing to nowhere and watching “Jerselylicious” at the gym. Okay, while I can take more than most (come on, Jerseylicious is good!), I still need to get back to running outside.
Mom, ultrarunner, four-time US 24 Hour National Team member, adventure athlete, food writer. Graduate of the Pro Cooking Program at the New School of Cooking, Los Angeles. Will run for food.
{ 6 comments }
A trip to Disneyland — perfect! A little thrilling fun to take your mind off what you can’t do right now.
It was fun – especially the waterslide 🙂
So happy you’ve been cleared to EASE back into running. Take it slow and easy and come out on the other end a better runner then when you went in. Who knows; you might even develop a liking for the blasted treadmill!
Oooooohhhh, I love the Treadmill! I just don’t really like the other machines – no running involved. And I am trying to take it slow, but restraint has never been one of my virtues 🙂
So I take it there was no injuries from the fire hydrant incident? My son once rode into a 4-wheel drive that was parked by the side of the road. He didn’t see it. And yes, it was THAT son – the one who was assaulted and got caught in the fire.
Disneyland sounds a lot of fun and age-appropriate. There’s nothing that 16 year old boys like more than a good shot of adrenalin and there’s nothing there mother’s like more than them getting it in a safe way.
Great to hear that you’re running again. Cross training’s great but there’s nothing quite like running.
No, no injuries in the fire hydrant incident, Char 🙂 And, I agree, Disneyland is the perfect option for teen boys. It sounds like your son and I have the same mojo going at the moment 🙂
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