Spring, running and swimming

Things have been plodding along here.  The weather is still bad and spring has definitely not sprung yet but I have hope.  The weather forecast is calling for a warmup by Thursday.  I've already started Spring Cleaning in anticpation of the the warmer weather.  I finally bought some frames for pictures and also managed to pick up a couple decorations for Easter.  The windows are next on my list of things to clean so that I will be able to see the bright spring sunshine when it does arrive!

My half marathon training is still continuing.  This year I am training with friends which is nice since I don't have to go out in the freezing cold wind and snow alone.  Unfortunately, last week my achillies started to hurt after an 8 mile run in hills and snow so I'm hoping that it will feel better by the time the race comes.  Luckily all my long runs are completed now until the day of the race.  The training this year has been a bit of a drag since the weather has been so awful so I am looking forward to the race being completed and taking some time off.  It will be nice to just enjoy going for runs again rather than worrying about my pace and if I have done enough distance in a week.  Spring is also a great time for running and more of my friends will join in for runs when the weather is nicer.  It is always fun to mix socializing with excercise.

Sofia is making great strides in her swimming.  Her coach has her working on her stroke which is at times funny to watch and at times frustrating.  She manages well at first but then her kickboard ends on on top of her head while her other arm is completing the stroke.  When her coach is watching her he can correct it but he is often times busy with the other children in her class.  I never know if I should step in to correct her or just let it be.  One of the things that is interesting about lessons in Czech is that typically parents are not in the room while the lessons are taking place regardless if it is swimming, gymnastics, etc.  So I walk the line between correcting the kids and not being the crazy american mother.  I also know that for Sofia my corrections can easily be the catapult to a breakdown so sometimes I correct her becuase I just can't help myself and other times I let it go.  Anyway, she has been doing really well and last week she made a big break through and started to go in for dive sticks.  She tried a couple times last summer in our pool but was really too afraid to do it.  Even having her little sister getting the dive sticks wasn't enough incentive to get her down to the bottom of the pool.  This last week though at swimming lessons she finally did it and kept doing it.  She was so proud of herself and even came over to me to tell me about it.  She did it one more time just for me before her coach moved her on to something else.  She is finally getting more comfortable in the water and less afraid.  Her confidence is growing which is great to see.  She has asked me to take a video of her this week so I will post it after her lesson on Wednesday.