Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Family Bike Ride and The Weekly Chase

It took a while but the nice weather finally arrived over the past several days! Although it doesn't sound like it is going to last long. We made sure to take advantage of it! Our marathon training plan for yesterday was a "REST" day so we decided to head out for a family bike ride.

Riley
Isaac

Aidan being silly before the ride
 This year Aidan is finally big enough to use the tag-along bike instead of riding in the trailer- he is loving that he gets to ride the "big boy" bike now! He did great - he sang, talked, squealed, and made is motor sound for the whole ride. I am not sure how much he helped me pedal but at least he was having fun!

My rear-view
 Riley and I (and Aidan) rode together and Tim and Isaac teamed up behind us. It was a great opportunity to chat with Riley about school- I can't believe he is going to be in middle school next year. We are at the point in the year where people from the middle school visited his school and answered questions yesterday and he will get to visit the middle school soon. It was amazing how much we were able to talk and how much I learned from him during our bike ride!
We rode one of our favorite routes and had to stop at the "farm" for a quick water break.
 In the end we were gone for about an hour and rode 7 miles together. It was a nice way to spend time together!
These were closed when we left for our ride but were beautiful when we got home!
 
As soon as we were finished with dinner the boys headed back out to play baseball in the yard so Tim and I took Mollie for a short walk. It was different to just walk but it was nice to catch up a little. During our walk he asked me if we needed to look up the definition of REST in the dictionary when we got home! He continued to tease me because it is so hard for me to rest and/or relax. Am I the only one that struggles with this?
 
On to the Weekly Chase! I try to always have goals for the week- they don't always happen but they are something I shoot for!
 


Here were my goals for last week:

Challenge Goal: Improve my eating habits!
  • This week I will make sure to have at least one fruit or vegetable with each meal/snack. 75% of the time! Still something that I am striving for!
  • This week I will be more aware of portion sizes and not have seconds. 90% of the time! I feel like I did really good with this over the past week but it is something that I need to continue to be aware of!
  • Challenge Goal: Become a stronger runner!
    • This week I will do my daily planks and at least two core workouts. Fail! I have really been focused on my running to get through marathon training. I know doing these things will help my running and I will continue to work on including them... right now- I am in survival mode!
    • This week I will make sure to get in at least one cross-training session. Success!!! We biked on Sunday and Monday! Last Tuesday I also did yoga and biked.
    • This week I will get all of my marathon training runs completed. Not quite! Last Tuesday I did yoga and rode the bike in the morning thinking we would run in the evening. As I was leaving the Y Tim called to say that we were going to pick up our new van that night... run missed! Then on Wednesday the boys schedules were crazy and we were feeling a bit of burn-out so we opted for only 3.1 instead of the 10 on the schedule. We did get in the long 20 miler on Saturday so that was my main focus!
  • Challenge Goal: Become a better mother!
    • This week I will make time to spend time with each of my boys individually. Almost! I had a great time chatting with Riley while we rode bikes last night so I count that as time with him. I get all kinds of time with Aidan during the day. Next week my focus will be to spend individual time with Isaac.
    • This week I will have conversations with the boys about what they would like to see change in our life/family so that we have stronger connections. Didn't happen! I would still like to have this conversation with them. As we are getting into baseball season it is getting harder and harder to sit down as a family for dinner- maybe the conversation will have to happen in the car!
    Overall it was a fairly good week. I had some good intentions that didn't pan out but I also had several successes. That is what it is all about! I keep plugging away and eventually I will get there! I am once again going to keep pretty much the same goals for this week!

    This weeks goals:


    Challenge Goal: Improve my eating habits!
    • This week I will make sure to have at least one fruit or vegetable with each meal/snack.
    • This week I will remain aware of portion sizes and not have seconds.
  • Challenge Goal: Become a stronger runner!
    • This week I will do my daily planks and at least two core workouts.
    • This week I will make sure to get in at least two cross-training session.
    • This week I will get all of my marathon training runs completed.
  • Challenge Goal: Become a better mother!
    • This week I will make time to spend time with Isaac individually.
    • This week I will have conversations with the boys about what they would like to see change in our life/family so that we have stronger connections.


    What do you like to do as a family to be active together? What are some of your goals for the week?

    6 comments:

    1. Great job last week Heather! Good luck this week! I LOVE that your whole family rode bikes together! So awesome!

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      1. Thanks Mindy! I am hoping that we can ride more as a family this summer now that the boys are getting older and have more endurance.

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    2. Come visit my blog tomorrow- it's all about what you just posted on- and you can win prizes!
      emma @ amomrunsthistown.com

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    3. Great week! LOVE the bike ride!!! Exercising as a family, while making memories...doesn't get better than that!!
      *your comments on my blog make me smile and inspire me! So happy I can help motivate through my life & experiences!

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      1. I love when we can get the boys involved in exercising as a family! It is one of the best ways to make memories:)
        *Marissa, you were one of the very first blogs that I started to follow! You are an amazing woman and mother and I love what you are doing and what you are "about"!

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