Archive for the ‘Family Photography’ Category

I hear all the time that we’re not supposed to write about our personal lives on a professional blog…but I guess I’ve never been one to completely follow the rules. My mom would tell you that as a child, I would always go up to the line and put my toe over – gotta test those waters. I think there shouldn’t really be 100% RULE you canNOT write about your life or your kids on your professional blog – people don’t take you seriously – or whatever the reason may be. I’ve chosen to completely break that rule today – and to whoever created that dumb rule – well….I’ll be nice.

I’ve recently had my absolute dream come true. Teaming up with Tanya and opening Wildsugar Photography in a real live storefront has been such a blessing and such a dream come true for me – it’s hard to put into words. I’ve enjoyed meeting a ton of new people in the past few months, networking and all the other “stuff” that goes in to running a successful photography studio. It takes time. A LOT of time. Even before the studio came to be, my focus over these past couple of years has really been my #1 my husband, #2 my kids and #3 my photography business that I love. I think what’s happened in the midst of all of this bus-y-ness is I’ve kind of lost ME. Four short years ago, I ran St. Anthony’s Triathlon. It was the culmination of years of work – competing in half marathons, smaller triathlons and other races. But it’s not just the race. It’s the TRAINING that I love. It’s being out on the road and dripping sweat all over it….getting into my trance and just going for it. The best part though is coming home…all of a sudden all the things I stress about and worry about just don’t seem as mountainous anymore. It’s my release – my time where I’m just Teresa – a girl running on the road. Not a mom, not scrambling to figure out dinner or carpooling or coordinating practice times…not wiping a nose or working on homework or sitting at the computer editing or answering facebook/phone/twitter/email/updating the blog….I’m just a girl running. And I love it. I miss it.

Most people that know me know I suffered a major injury to my leg which stopped me from running for over a year. When it was finally looking to be healed, I learned we were expecting Allison. Here we are 4 years since the injury and 2 years since giving birth and I still haven’t found my way back. I came close last fall and then something happened. Funny how life is. My last run was on Thanksgiving morning. I decided I should go for a nice 5 mile run to make up for the damage I was going to do to the chocolate pie later in the day….It was the first time I was able to complete the 5 miles without stopping (since my injury) – at a good strong pace – and came home feeling energized and empowered. Then I never ran again. I still question why I would do that to myself? I had finally overcome a leg injury that lasted for a couple of YEARS – ran my best run in over 3 years’ time…and then stopped. I don’t want to blame it on the photography or my kids or anything else in my life. It’s like anything else – it’s a CHOICE to get up and run – or not. It’s a CHOICE to eat those M&M’s your husband constantly brings in the house that always seem to be in the house – or not.

Over the past few months, it’s been coming to a head for me though. I’ve noticed how MUCH I’ve missed it but really haven’t been able to get myself started again. I would say to myself day after day – it’s something YOU LOVE – why are you choosing a nap or Housewives of New York a stupid TV show to relax instead of getting out and doing what you LOVE?? I don’t know what that mental block has been…I guess we all get there – in that rut where you just feel like the world needs to stop spinning for a bit so you can catch your balance again. I’ve been feeling that way a lot lately – just spinning….

I finally said yesterday that ENOUGH is enough. I grabbed my running shoes – I put on my brand-new running pants that Dave gave me for Christmas (they still had the tags on them – thankfully they still fit after all those M&M’s). I grabbed Josh’s bike and we headed out the door together. I was thinking my 6-year-old would be a nice distraction from the pain I was about to feel…I was really worried about how heavy I was going to feel on the road. Afterall, I haven’t ran since last fall. (Let’s not kid ourselves – the real reason I brought my 6-year-old was to blame it on him if I couldn’t finish and needed to just go home…) He was my escape hatch.

We took off from the house and Josh asked me when I was going to start running. I said – I really don’t think I’m going to be running today – let’s just enjoy the evening and see how it goes – I’m sorry if I’m slow, but I need to break myself in again! I really thought I was going to feel heavy and slow–again, it’s what I’m TELLING myself that is always getting in my way. As we got going – about .35 miles in I started to feel the urge to just pick up the pace – and I DID. I ran for the next .75 miles. I honestly felt like I could go on forever. We got to the lake just down the road when all of a sudden, a shot rang out. I had no idea what happened – just that all the birds and ducks flew AWAY from us as fast as they could! Then I realized…Josh’s tire blew out. And then there were tears….literal tears from him – and tears inSIDE of me. Really? We pushed the sad little spider man bike all the way home – Josh crying most of the way about how he’ll NEVER get to ride his bike again for his whole entire life (gotta love the drama)…but I didn’t let it stop me. I handed him off to Dave and took off again – determined to finish strong. I immediately ran out the front door and ran a solid mile. I’m not going to pretend I ran in any record times. In fact, one time I checked my GPS and my pace was a 16.35 minute mile (pathetic). Other times I looked down and I was in the 13 minute range. Still pretty sad – but hey – I was out there. I was PART of it. I surprised myself with how easy it actually was – my body just fell right into it’s old rhythms and patterns…I hit both of my favorite lakes….especially the one where all the Russians like to walk. It’s kind of soothing to me – all their chatter. I have no idea what they’re all talking about, but it’s always been such a part of my routine to run through there – so it was comforting to hear them again. I just hope they weren’t talking about how fat I looked squeezed into my size M running pants. Then there’s the guy who always dresses in all black for his runs – there’s the girl with the long blonde braid that I call “tri-chick”…then there’s dude-with-the-leg-brace – and the Chinese couple. And the Chinese man with the limp who’s always walking around the rec center along with the lady that pushes her Maltese in a stroller. All of these people used to be regulars in my runs – part of the rhythm of it all…comforting in their own ways.

I did it though. I walk/ran another mile home – jubilant. I was so excited for me – so excited that I pushed through that START. It wasn’t my best run – it wasn’t fast – it wasn’t pretty – but I did it. I got out there and I’m going again tonight. I’m looking forward to finding that girl from a few years ago who didn’t let anything stop her….I know she’s still in there somewhere!!

So after all of THAT…I’m going to tell the “world” that I’m going to do the Rock N Roll 1/2 marathon right here in St. Petersburg on February 12th. I am DETERMINED to be ready to run the 1/2 by then. Gives me 9 months which is plenty of time. Anyone else in??? So excited. I’m already starting to feel more like myself again….

Here’s a shot of me after completing St. Anthony’s in 2007….seems like yesterday but at the same time, when I look at this picture, it feels like a completely different person…