Over scheduled?

Do you ever feel like your schedule is out of control?

My fall schedule is a bit outta whack this year, and it's throwing my "usual" fall routine for a loop. Can we talk about this? You know, over a mug of coffee, a cup of tea, or a hefty glass filled with the beverage of your choosing.


So, what are some things that are "off?"

1--Too much time blogging (but seriously, is that even possible?)
I have always had a fondness for writing, and blogging fits that need 1,000 times over. The past couple of years or so, I've settled into a pattern of writing three posts almost every week. As we all know, some posts are easier to write than others, so the amount of time spent varies each week (depending on how easily the words flow or how stubbornly they remain at a stand still). And, most of us know that blogging is a 2-way street....if we're taking the time to put all (or most) of our thoughts to words, we (usually) hope that someone will read it and find inspiration within those very words. Conversely, we also should be reading other blogs and reciprocating the love.  That's a lot of time spent reading! Maybe that's why the growing pile of junk mail on the counter is threatening to takeover the kitchen...

2--Transitioning back to being a runner.
Many would argue that once a runner, always a runner...but they probably haven't had the opportunity to take a (forced) 3-month sabbatical. At first, I had the challenge of accepting that I would not be able to run for a couple months, and had to figure out a way to stay active (thank you, Daily Early Morning Walking for filling that void!). Now that I've been given the green light to gradually resume my running, I'm in a different state of fitness confusion. Those early morning walks are now in complete darkness (except for on the weekends), but they feel like a part of me. I'm reluctant to give them up...but do I really need them everyday? Maybe just do those walks on the non-running days? Or should I allow myself some recovery time between the running days (since over-doing things would not be wise). Too many decisions!

Run? Walk? Rest?

3--Where are all the races?
Yep, the racing calendar has never been so bleak. Last year, I had a late-season marathon (remember that ordeal? ...Route 66, November 20th?), and I'll probably never do that again...it was just way too long to be training SO hard in the late fall. Maybe that's why this year seems so "empty?" Just last weekend, though, I pinned on a race bib for the Kickoff to Kinnick 5K (recap). It was my first race since Grandma's Marathon (recap) on June 17th, and did it feel ever-so-great! I also have a 5-miler on tap next weekend (IMT Des Moines Marathon-Mercy Live Up Loop), and the Las Vegas Rock'n'Roll Half Marthon is on the roster for November 12th. But that's it. I saw a 10K pop up on my Facebook news feed this week for November 4th, and that grabbed my attention. We'll see....a 10K would be a fun distance to run (not race) a week before Vegas....(stay tuned)...

Back in a race bib...

4--What happened to monthly goals?
My monthly goals for September kind of fell by the wayside. Well, I did keep up with some of them...just not as consistently as I'd hoped. In my defense, I could go with the excuse that I returned to running...and that was a major distraction...right?

Here's what I'm working on for October. Nothing too crazy or intense, but hopefully just enough to keep me somewhat active on my rest/recovery days. As for running, I'm doing (usually) just a 1-mile #nevermissaMonday run, short runs (2-4 miles) on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a "longer" run (5-7 miles) on the weekend.

5--Oh, yeah....we have a high school senior, and the school year is already whizzing by.
Our plans fell through on this weekend's trip to Florida (due to the tropical depression storm possibly changing into hurricane status). The photographer (a family friend, whom we used for the other kids' senior pictures) relocated there recently...so we have to figure out another option for that undertaking. Our daughter has numerous deadlines coming up for dance (costume deposits, senior solo choreography/music selection, etc.) all in preparation for the recital (late April). There's probably going to be a few college visits thrown into the mix (she's been accepted to three schools thus far). Oh, and we'll have another graduation party to prepare for in late May. Yikes! Stop the world, I want to get off (or, at least savor these fleeting moments before they're gone).

Fun times with "little brother," Max

I probably should mention that I also have a house that desperately needs a major overhaul in terms of cleaning and de-cluttering, a garden that needs all 1,000,001 remaining tomatoes/peppers harvested soon, and my part-time job (approx. 30 hours/wk.) doesn't exactly work itself. As I have said numerous times, "Sleep is SOOO over-rated!"

So, that's what I'd share with you over coffee (and it better have plenty of caffeine in it). How is your fall shaping up? Busy? Back in a routine? Or, a change in routine?

I'm linking this with Meranda and Lacey and Rachel for the Friday Five 2.0. Please join us!!

And, since it's the first weekend of the month, I'm also linking with Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date. What would you share, if we were having coffee?