Keeping up.

I know I've mentioned my life-long goal of running a full, 26.2-mile marathon either before or while I'm 30. Maybe I've even noted that I registered for one right down the road scheduled for September 26. But other than that, I've tried to be quiet about my training, and more specifically, my failures and successes along the way.

But after this last weekend, I feel like sharing:

I've been staying pretty true to my training schedule and I do feel stronger. In fact, Saturday I participated in my first Adventure Race. It was a combination scavenger hunt, trail run, trail/road biking and paddle boarding. I wasn't really nervous but very excited to see how my marathoner-in-training body would handle it. Needless to say, I felt great. And it felt awesome to sweat that much. I mean, I was drenched. In some strange way, it was pretty empowering. This was the first time in years that I really felt like an athlete, not just a wannabe.

After an uncomfortable ride (bike seats really should be more comfortable) to visit my parents who had been watching my kids, I began thinking about the 12 miles that loomed in front of me Sunday morning. I dwelled on getting up once again, at 5 am...what happened to sleeping in?!...and just tried to convince myself that I wouldn't be sore and could handle it. (Someone once told me that running is all a matter of making your head believe that your body is as strong as it is. Physically you can be in perfect shape, but if you're not equally as strong mentally, failure is evident.)

I did wake up the next morning at 5. But it was dark and I was on a farm. So I waited 30 minutes before heading out, pepper spray in hand. I ran the 2.25 miles into the nearest town on a railroad dirt path along the tracks, which happens to be some of the best land to run on. Crossing into town, I felt pretty strong. There was a nice breeze and the sky was various shades of blue, trying to decide if it needed to shower a little that morning or just get hot and sticky.

I made my way, looping three times around the small community. Not one person was out. Just a few dogs noticed my presence. Legs felt pretty good. Head was clear. By the time I returned to the railroad path, I was beginning to think about the orange juice waiting for me back home. And while I was ready to be done, it still felt great to get so many miles in before my kids woke up.

What made it even better was knowing that I had worked out for nearly three hours the day before; ran two hours on Sunday morning and still had the strength to help my parents lay irrigation pipe for four hours. My body may be getting older but it's so refreshing to know that it's no weaker than it was several years and two kids earlier. Maybe this weekend is what I needed to remind myself that 26.2 miles may be a long way, but anybody, even a mom with bad knees, weak hips and little sleep can scratch if off her bucket list at the age of 30...

Losing spirit.

I was raised Lutheran, although we weren't always frequent church-goers. I joined the Catholic faith after my husband and were married...after much studying and debate. And while we used to frequent weekly mass, the last two years have really been sporadic.

I think about it often. And every Sunday, I have a sense of guilt that lasts most of the day. The other morning while I was running past the church, I had been reflecting on the pages from Eat, Pray, Love that I had read the night before (much of the intro is about faith and meditation), and I had revelation.

While I do believe in God, I realized that those forty-five minutes we were spending each week at mass did much more than remind us to keep God in our lives...it was time that I used to clear my head. Meditate. Apologize. Clear the slate. And while there is no guarantee that it will get me closer to Heaven, that time does give my heart and soul a therapy session. I can honestly say that I feel meaner, more judgmental...colder...when I skip that special time.

Call it the devil, or just human nature's jealous self soaking into my soul but I believe that quite possibly, not taking time to reflect on our behaviors or consciously remind ourselves of the type of person we're striving to be, that we do slowly become bad people.

Doesn't matter if you need a church, a yoga class or a quite corner in your house, we all need some spiritual cleaning...perhaps even on a weekly basis.

Wisdom comes out of necessity.

I finally discovered the answer to one of my deepest issues: how to get red wine out of white clothing. What is it...the Clorox Bleach Pen. Seriously.

This discovery led me to look back at all of the tiny bits of wisdom I've gained through the last few years as an adult. No, I haven't been paid for any of this. But I am truly loyal to all of the following lifesavers:

1. Bleach pen. My crisp, white and extremely expensive bridesmaid dress from my sister's Vegas wedding in April. Had a great time. A bottle or more of wine. And realized the next day that it must be possible to smear the stuff all over. Nearly two months later, I dabbed this stuff on, wiped it off and bye-bye wine. Guess it's ready for her at-home reception (bring on the Pinot Noir)!

2. Shout. My mother-in-law turned me onto this handy cleaner. I don't even use it on my clothes anymore. Just to 'shampoo' the carpet in my car. Works like a dream. My vehicle is five years old and the carpet looks like new...and with two children 4 and 20 months, there are plenty of spills and splatters.

3. Clorox Wipes. I stash a container of these in about every room in the house. When I'm getting ready for work, I can wipe down my bathroom counter. Wipe up any spills on the floor. These belong in any diaper bag.

4. Swiffer...anything they make. I'm currently just using the WetJet because I sweep every day and am trying to save the Earth from my excessive use of sheets. The WetJet is great because there's no prep time. My kids run outside, I run for the WetJet and start mopping like crazy. By the time they come in for a drink or a band-aid, the floor's clean and dry.

5. Scrubbing Bubbles Shower Cleaner. This thing may go through batteries pretty quickly but it's fast and it works. When my husband and I got married and realized he would essentially have his own bathroom, I knew I needed some 'hands-off' cleaning solution. The only problem is that I have to ask if he's out of solution or batteries and generally he's been out of one or both for awhile...

I'm sure there are more but this is a little peek at my cleaning secrets. No, it doesn't mean I have the cleanest house in town but it sure makes me feel better about my kids eating off the floor.