Keeping Pace

Keeping Pace

Rude Awakenings

by

The challenge was to take a picture of ourself upon awakening. I believe the idea was that no sprucing up was allowed – no hair or teeth brushing, no coffee, no make-up, nothing to change your appearance.

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It sounded easy enough yesterday, when I first read about it on Runner Susan’s blog. Last night, I put my camera on my dresser, next to my bed, so that I would not forget. During the wee hours of the morning, I proceeded to wake up several times.

I took pictures a couple of times during these awakenings in case I wasn’t able to return to sleep. But after that rude shock from the flash, there was nothing more to do but close my eyes again. By daylight, I figured that I was truly awake for the day.

I was awake. But, again, I did not want to get up. I took my picture and lay there listening to the rain drops falling. My running clothes were ready and waiting for me on the floor beside my dresser. But, I wasn’t happy about going out alone, in the RAIN, for a 14 mile run…. at least not yet.

Back to the “Rise and Shine” challenge: Although the sun was finally shining (somewhat), I wasn’t exactly rising. I wondered, was this cheating? Was it cheating to have little YaYa in the photo – sleeping there as sweetly as he does? So, I took another picture of myself after I sat up just to be sure that I was playing the game right.

I looked at the photo and gave it the confirmatory nod. This *is* what I look like when I wake up. No frills. No make-up (not that there ever is), teeth or hair brushing, or coffee. It’s just me and my morning thoughts.
What a rude awakening!


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I was intent on getting my running done early and therefore minimizing the time that the kids are aware of my absence. It used to be easy to leave the house for my early Sunday runs – that was when Tom was here. I know that BoBo can handle watching YaYa for a couple of hours, but all of the what if’‘s hold me back.

I have decided to allow myself the time to ease into the day before I head out for my run. It will make the coordinating more difficult as the kids’ wants and needs always seem to trump my need to run. I’ll have to deal with that later.

Perhaps I’ll have to chase YaYa on the bike path for 14 miles. That might actually be okay, but he’ll have to slow down and wait for me. The rain has now stopped and the sun is brightening up my outlook.

Comments

  2. I was wrong. Someone could beat Susan! LOL. It’s been real hard for me to leave Matthew at home by himself too. So far so good. The house is still here :-)

  3. That first picture is hysterical – it’s the slit eyes that does it.

    You are a brave woman to post 2 bedhead shot. You look pretty good in the second one but you look a lot less like your fully awake self than I do.

  5. I love the first picture. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who’s not quite bright-eyed and alert first thing in the morning.

  8. You’re hillarious Julie!!! I love seeing YaYa asleep there!!! I can see where my dear Alissa got her puchey lips! Beautiful!
    ….so did you do your run?? Not that I can say anything but I did run 9 with the girls (my girl friends, not daughters) at a normal hour of 7 am…(nevermind that I can’t remember the last time I ran so far or the last time I ran…last Monday nearly a week ago!) Go girl!
    Love, Big Sis

  11. YaYa looks adorable! You’re braver than me–I won’t accept that challenge. I look bad enough when I try to look good.

    You probably don’t see it, but you kind of look like me, or maybe me when I was younger–especially in the lying down shot. Except for your incredible eyes; my sister has blue eyes. So you look like my sister, but she looks like me. :-)

  12. Fear is NOT a factor for Julie! Now only if the movie stars dare, we will all feel better about ourselves. You are so funny! Love this post.

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