Walking the line
I sat for 7 hours today in a workshop on helping kids improve reading and decoding by visualizing words and letters. 7 hours. Sitting. The only time I ever want to spend 7 hours sitting is curled up on a couch with a stack of good books. Or on a beach chair at the ocean. After lunch, I could barely keep my eyes open.
I wanted a nap so badly today, but there was no way that was happening. I had naps both Friday and Saturday afternoons, and while they were certainly well deserved (Friday I spent 7 hours helping my brother load a moving van, and Saturday I ran 7 miles and then played sand volleyball all morning/afternoon), another one would have been really pushing my luck.
I'm not the only sleepy one in my house. J and I tend to stay up late, and while I've had chances to sleep in over the summer, he's working--outside in the 90+ degree heat--every day. He's not a big fan of my running or cycling, but he's supportive. He'll ask how the run/ride was, and he'll let me take the time away from the family. But there's a line.
My husband is an athletic guy. Team sports are more his thing: baseball, football, soccer, hockey...and especially volleyball. He has NO interest in running or cycling. As desperately as I want a new road bike, he just doesn't see a need; his line of thinking is that if I really want to get into shape, an older, heavier one will be a much better workout. So, while he's not opposed to me buying one, he certainly isn't going to contribute to the cause.
If I'm tired or sore, his response is generally something on the lines of "maybe you should stay home", "maybe you shouldn't ride", "maybe you should stop running". So there's a line about just how tired I can be. That's why yesterday, after my 53 mile ride that ended in the 7 mile sufferfest, I still went and played sand volleyball for 2 hours when it was the last thing I wanted to do (and, to be honest, had a wonderful, wonderful time). Because the cost of doing what I want to do is making sure he gets what he wants to do. And that's why I didn't do any napping today...because the distance between "tired" and "tired all the time" is where I have room to run and ride and still have a happy husband. Which is worth a yawn or two.
I wanted a nap so badly today, but there was no way that was happening. I had naps both Friday and Saturday afternoons, and while they were certainly well deserved (Friday I spent 7 hours helping my brother load a moving van, and Saturday I ran 7 miles and then played sand volleyball all morning/afternoon), another one would have been really pushing my luck.
I'm not the only sleepy one in my house. J and I tend to stay up late, and while I've had chances to sleep in over the summer, he's working--outside in the 90+ degree heat--every day. He's not a big fan of my running or cycling, but he's supportive. He'll ask how the run/ride was, and he'll let me take the time away from the family. But there's a line.
My husband is an athletic guy. Team sports are more his thing: baseball, football, soccer, hockey...and especially volleyball. He has NO interest in running or cycling. As desperately as I want a new road bike, he just doesn't see a need; his line of thinking is that if I really want to get into shape, an older, heavier one will be a much better workout. So, while he's not opposed to me buying one, he certainly isn't going to contribute to the cause.
If I'm tired or sore, his response is generally something on the lines of "maybe you should stay home", "maybe you shouldn't ride", "maybe you should stop running". So there's a line about just how tired I can be. That's why yesterday, after my 53 mile ride that ended in the 7 mile sufferfest, I still went and played sand volleyball for 2 hours when it was the last thing I wanted to do (and, to be honest, had a wonderful, wonderful time). Because the cost of doing what I want to do is making sure he gets what he wants to do. And that's why I didn't do any napping today...because the distance between "tired" and "tired all the time" is where I have room to run and ride and still have a happy husband. Which is worth a yawn or two.
I feel your pain...I am taking a class this week, which is 8 hours a day for 4 1/2 days. I feel like screaming.
ReplyDeleteWhat is funny is I just read a chapter in "Zen and the Art of Running" about the challenges of managing running or other solo sports with family time. Have you read that book? I would be interested to see what you think about it.
Oh...4 straight days?! Poor you! I hope the class is worth it. I think mine was. There were actually 2 more days scheduled for another workshop, but I'm doing it "independent study" since we'll be out of town.
ReplyDeleteHaven't read that book. I'll have to pick it up. I just started reading Born to Run, which is really good so far.