This project appeared from nowhere but fits perfectly in baby life - no time limit, can be done in tiny interrupted chunks, very low effort!
Here's how it started - too many medals I do not want to keep:
And here's what's in the mail to me now!
I managed to find some race photos in my photo collection - I separated photos by year on my computer. I also moved everything off google drive and onto my actual computer, and will try to go through and delete and consolidate. But I was so pleased that past Rachel had put some photos in date-sorted folders!
Also, when I look at these photos it's a reminder of the fact that I actually was pretty fit in my 30's! I always thought I was the out of shape poser just hanging on... but I ran with really fast people. I wasn't a really fast person, but I was a decently fit person. I wish I could go back in time and say "Hey past Rachel - you ARE in great shape because you are running half marathons. Even if they take 2 hours and 30 minutes. Not everyone can do half marathons!"
And I'm in the process of figuring out how to get rid of the medals - putting them in the bin seems a waste but I'm not sure they can be recycled. Maybe add magnet on the back and make them into fridge magnets? I have thrown away all the small ones and all the non metal ones.
Today I finished week 1 of couch to 5k. 8 weeks left to go. I am excited to get back into running again. It's not super fun here like it was in the US (I had such good running buddies there!) but it's still something I enjoy and want to enjoy again.
What a fantastic idea and project. Love this!
ReplyDeleteI remember tagging along with you and Andy to a climbing gym in Portland and we watched you hanging upside down but somehow still climbing up. I said something like "wow" or "that's crazy" and Andy said, "Rachel's really strong."
ReplyDeleteI still remember dragging you around welsh mountains that time. Sorry my total lack of self perception almost killed you. I always figured I was the least fit person in any situation and if I could do it then spritely people like you would find it easy. Thanks for staying my friend!
DeleteYour athletic prowess and your energy for projects amazes me! I'm eager to get back to feeling like an athlete and being a person who accomplishes things, but right now it's a challenge just to come anywhere close to the latter. - Kat
ReplyDeleteI think my life is currently far more defined by the things I am not doing than the things I am. Also that photo album which is 20 pages long, no formatting and no text, took almost a week.
Deletealso I wouldn’t be getting anything done if the babies didn’t have such an early bedtime, or if I tried to leave the house on a daily basis.
Fair point. I do find myself going out most days, and I suppose I don't want to trade that for getting more done (yet). I relish that I can go out; I need that huge contrast to staying at home all the time with baby Althea.
DeleteHaving running buddies makes all the difference! I ran a lot by myself when I first started running and I got it done, but it was not fun. Then I met running buddies and man, running got easier! Then my group kind of went their separate ways and so I am back to running alone and it just doesn't have the spark that it used to. Have you tried finding a neighbor or a Meetup maybe? That is where I met my first running friends! I was so nervous but it turned out to be a great thing in the end.
ReplyDeleteI never liked running untill I moved to the states and joined a running club. I joined because everyone I know who liked running was in a club. Eventually I liked running too. I've done a few of the clubs here and it's been OK but I think I liked running in the states because all the clubs were from bars and I loved running followed by a beer. It always feels a bit empty here to run and follow it with... a high 5. When my evenings are more free I'll see if I can get some neighbors interested in running and then having a beer in our gardens (cheaper than a pub too!)
DeleteOh, I love that you made a race book with all the medals... what a wonderful memory! And I love the idea of turning the medals into magnets.
ReplyDelete