dreading 5 am.

Over a year ago, I started my "running" journey... you can read more about that here. I was going strong during my C25K training, and completed it, and then got pregnant. One of the first signs that I was pregnant, was dry heaving throughout an entire run, and having to go pee (when I had already gone just before leaving the house).... but, before figuring this all out, I did my very own 5k. It was a HUGE accomplishment... something I never in a million years imagined I would accomplish, but I did. I finished strong, and made it in just a little over 27 minutes. It was the fastest and longest I had EVER run... and I know, to you marathoners, it's not a big deal... but to me, the non-runner... HUGE deal.

I couldn't run during my pregnancy... I was WAY too sick in the beginning to do it, and by the time morning sickness passed, I was 20+ weeks, and had absolutely no energy. Any time I attempted a faster paced walk, I was out of breath within seconds of beginning. So I pretty much felt defeated when it came to exercising during my pregnancy... does chasing after a 5 year old count?

At the end of my pregnancy, I had a plan... a plan to "get back at it"... and I hit purchase on a website for a BOB stroller... and I've gone out a few times since Marley's arrival... but nothing serious... not yet at least.

Each time I've gone out, I've had Marley in the stroller, and usually Charlotte in tow. It's been a battle... trying to get Charlotte to keep up with me, or to help her along, when I'm DYING myself. She usually makes it about a 1/4 of a mile, before she's ready to poop out, so we've tried recently for her to ride her bike alongside me. I'm pretty sure unless the entire area was flat, I'm worse off than asking her to run alongside me. The girl whines and complains like nobody's business when she rides her bike and is either scared to go downhill (because she doesn't understand the concept of braking/pedaling backwards) or she doesn't want to push her bike uphill... Regardless, I wanted to give it a try the other day, and a try is all it was.

I felt like I was constantly pausing, running in place, getting tripped by a bike wheel, and responding to "helllllllpppp mommmy!" during the entire outing. It frustrated me, and therefore made me feel defeated yet AGAIN in my running journey. But I suppose, that's why they call it a journey, right? I need to figure out a rhythm so that I can manage to do this with both girls... Running helps energize me, and destress me, and I enjoy how it feels to be at that point, where I'm not struggling to catch my breath at a mile marker. I know I'll get there... but this in between phase, is absolutely destroying my confidence...

As beautiful as the run is during the day... I think I'm going to have to start waking early to get a jog in before the hubby leaves for work... it's not my ideal situation, but if I want to get back into running, it's the only way how.... so now I ask, how does one become a morning person? not just any morning person... but a 5 am morning person?