I come and go. Come and go. Come and go. Just when I start to feel the momentum of getting back to training for my next race, I find that getting that run in tomorrow, or tomorrow, or tomorrow, doesn’t happen. I’ve run a total of 4 miles this year.

Same with my writing. Just when I thought I have found a way to carve out time, it doesn’t happen. But oh, do those words flow through my mind as I daydream about being back out on the trails. And I want to share the many simple yet wonderful experiences that have had throughout the day. And I want to connect with you.

It’s not that I have fallen out of love with running or writing. It’s just that I struggle to find the time to do it. The 4 a.m. wake up calls no longer happen. Instead, I cuddle next to the warmth of my daughter’s body and soak up holding her in my arms while she sleeps. Saturday mornings are booked with ballet, Sunday mornings are booked with swim. Then it’s “Mommy, play with me! Mommy, I want to be with you! Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!!!” How can I say no?

And I used to sit with a glass of cabernet before bed and write my heart’s desires. Now, my nights are consumed with getting the kid to bed before cranking out some work to meet client deadlines.

And then there’s my mom. Now that she’s retired, I’ve moved her closer to me so that I can look after her. But I can’t wait to tell you more about her. Just to give you a little taste, my mother isn’t a runner, but she has taken up walking. She averages 70 miles a week and she’s in her 70’s! I KID YOU NOT. She has already logged in over 500 miles this year. She’s pretty incredible and I’m proud of her. At least someone is getting their miles in!

But I’m here. And all is good. And while I don’t spend much time in my old happy place. I am happy. And my new happy place is staring at my daughter’s sweet face while she sleeps. The sound of my feet clomping the dirt has been replaced with the sound of her banshee-like squeal of laughter. And I soak it all in.

I hope you still stick around. I do have big plans, of course. I always do. It’s me. But my pace in execution is slower these days. But don’t worry. It’ll be epic. Because it’s me. And I don’t know how to do anything less than epic.