What I Learned on my Summer Vacation

School has started but I was already schooled this summer. Some important fit-mom lessons:

1) I can't skip strength work, not even to train for a triathlon. The great Back Crisis of 2012 started mid June, when my tri training took priority over strength work. With the kids out of school, my time was spent having fun with them or swimming, biking and running. I thought I could get by without the heavy lifting. I was so wrong. While I had a great race (and I say race, singular, because I did not go on to race the two others I planned) the pain in my back/butt was keeping me from being a strong mom. I am happier when I am strong. My back is finally healing three months later. (And by the by that is after three acupuncture treatments, my new miracle cure.)

Here I am toting The Boy up Lombard St in San Francisco
just two weeks ago. I bring you this butt shot as an example of
1) why I need to be strong and 2) what I was capable of after one
acupuncture treatment. Seriously, don't have a clue how that works, but it was as good as a magic wand (just more prickly).

2) I don't need to sign up for a race to be active. I mentioned this already when I revealed what a mom's triathlon training really looks like versus what the "plan" looks like. I definitely like to race but summer may not be the time of year, i.e. when the kids are home 24/7, to commit myself to train to do well at something. Fall, winter, spring... those are better race seasons for me. That experience reminded me of Chapter 2 in Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom, the chapter that focuses on how to make fitness a habit. One of those tips is to choose activity that "integrates easily into life." I was not taking my own advice. Oops.

3) Summer is the ideal time to focus on family fitness. We tried geocaching for the first time, we went on lots of bike rides, I helped my girls train for their kids triathlon. We also went rock climbing--something that was easy on my back--and I realized, Wow! I love this! When I couldn't bend over to tie my shoes, being able to ring the bell at the top of the wall made me feel so much better about myself.

Fit families having fun together. My kids and Workout Partner
Pam's kids raced an aquathon together this summer. Watching your
kids race is as fun (funner?) than racing yourself.

4) Do what you love. My girls and I will be back regularly for open climbing at Life Time Fitness (I didn't even realize until this summer that the open climb sessions are free!) But my bum back also opened the door for more yoga, reminding me that I love yoga. Even if it's just one pose a day, I need it in my life. My bum back also meant I took more walks, often with my elderly dog. I heart walking. But I already knew this, just needed the reminder. (Thanks bum back!) And I found something new: paddleboarding. Yes, it's the new, hip, fun, trendy workout of the moment. I tried it with friends and had a ball. You know how you find activity you love? Try new things--constantly!

5) I can sign up for a race for the fun of it. When my friend Sara emailed me to let me know about a 2-mile paddleboard/3-mile run race that was taking place close to home, I signed up. I signed up despite the fact I had not run in two weeks and had only been on a paddleboard twice. There would be no training for this event. Therefore there would be no stress about finding time to train for the event. This was all about the experience, being fearless, and enjoying the activity for the pleasure of it. I got beat badly by an 8-year-old. It was still tons of fun. I would do it again. This weekend. Without training for it.

Even with minimal experience I got to be part of "Team Paddlesculpt."
My friend Sara, who I thank for telling me about the event, is on the left and I'm next to her.

Now that summer is over I will take these lessons to heart and continue to apply them to my life. I will read this post again before school is out next year. But now, with school back in session, I've got time for a few other challenges, like potty training The Boy, who will freely admit, "I only poop for trains." I am still on a mission to find meals the whole family will gobble with enthusiasm, which is to say I long for a whine-free dining room. And I am pondering some of life's bigger questions, like: Why is there dog hair in my refrigerator?

Did you learn anything this summer? What are your challenges this fall?