Why I run

Why would a new mom run? Because the pain makes the sleep deprivation not feel so bad.

My immediate recovery from Sami's birth was so much easier than Max's. I was astounded at how quickly, you know, things felt normal again. However, my loose ligaments have yet to tighten back up. I still can't open jars, and I'm still not convinced that my pelvis won't take off in two different directions at any given moment. And today it really caught up with me.

It's been cold lately, and we've had some icy weather, so I haven't run outdoors as much as I'd like. I've done some time on the treadmill, which always seems to exacerbate any injuries I may have. Many years ago when I had a knee injury from overtraining, even a few minutes on the treadmill would cause it to flare up again. After a couple of miles on the treadmill the other day, I felt pretty creaky. So like a moron, I went all out today.

What can I say, it was 60 degrees and just lovely; the baby was sleeping, and I had cabin fever. So off I went, with no plans other than to enjoy the day, and throw in a few gliders just for kicks. I started feeling some weird twinges in my back at the halfway point of my out and back, so I had two mostly uphill miles to struggle through before I got home. And no cellphone to call for backup.

Struggle I did. I had a weird twinge in my back with every stride, so I gave up the gliders. Then it settled in and just started to ache all the time, so I walked. I walked a lot. By the time I got home, my back wasn't hurting, but it was stiff, and yes, my pelvis felt like it was about to fall apart.

How timely is it that the latest Runner's World has an article about pelvic stabilization. It features the advice of the awesome Jay Dicharry, who I happen to have worked with once in a blue moon at my old job. Thank you, Jay, I will be taking your advice to heart. I am sucking in my bellybutton as I type!

I am still committed to the 10 miler in April (I don't want to miss it twice in a row!), but I am seriously reconsidering a fall half. Is it wimping out to say that I want to spend my Saturday mornings at the Little Gym with Max, or the pool with Sami, rather than abusing my ligaments in the heat and humidity? Maybe a break will give me time to recover, and I can train in the wintertime (no humidity!) for a spring marathon. It took nine months for my body to get all shot to hell, it's going to take nine months for it to knit itself back together.

I feel like a quitter even considering not doing a fall race. I am Mama Marathon, after all! I ran a marathon when Max was just 10 months old, and still breastfeeding! I did it once, surely I could do it (or even a "measly" half) again. And really, other than the pain, I feel great after a nice run. Mentally, that is. Even physically - my lungs feel bigger, my muscles feel relaxed. But it is a relief to think about not having to pump pre-run every Saturday at 5 a.m. With my childbearing years now behind me, I don't feel the urgency to cram in a marathon in between pregnancies. Those marathons will all still be there when I no longer have a nursling.

And even if I'm not training for a big race, when the clouds break or the humidity relents and it's 60 degrees on a Sunday, I still have permission to drop everything and go for a run.

Out with the old, in with the new

Being newly postpartum and not having run for several months does have an upside. I am retraining myself how to run. Since I am heavy and slow these days, I am using the slow-going as an opportunity to really concentrate on my gait. I'm cultivating a spring in my step I didn't know I had. Added bonus - I think once I get my weight down and fitness level up, I will actually be faster than I was before. 'Cause I sure couldn't get much slower!

I'm also making an effort to work some hill repeats and other gentle speedwork into my weekday runs. I haven't done enough of that in the past. I guess I was scared that I would look stupid or hurt myself or wear myself out. I already look pretty stupid with my giant, double-bagged chest; the only nagging injury I have ever sustained was on a garden-variety long run (oh, and that one time walking up the stairs at the bagel shop); and I'm already pretty worn out, so I have nothing to lose and no more excuses. I feel better about a short run when I've pushed myself hard on a hill.

So I suppose my New Year's running resolutions boil down to "train smarter". With the second child, I definitely have less free time than before, so I've got to make the most of the time I do have.

NYD5K09 pic

Mama and her little bandit, just about to enter the chute.

NYD5K09

It was quite the circus getting out of the house with two kids and a husband in tow, but thanks to the Husband's superior navigational skills, we managed to take a shortcut and arrive with plenty of time to spare. Which was not so great, since it wasn't quite 30 degrees when we arrived. I was all layered up, wearing my winter buff and new Nike shell that actually zips up over the girls (thank you, Supportive Husband).

I had three times in mind when I started:
The "just wanna finish" time: 45 minutes
The "I think I could actually do it" time: 40 minutes
The "No way, but it's nice to dream" time: 35 minutes.

And damned if I didn't finish in 36:56 (by my watch - gun time was about 20 sec longer). This included a good long pause at the end to kiss the baby, and have Max run with me into the chute, wearing his froggie rain boots, no less. I know, bad form, but no one was immediately behind us, and I made sure to tell the officials that he had not, in fact, run the whole race and shouldn't be counted.

I'm pretty satisfied with my race. I decided that no matter how good I felt going out that I would run 5 minutes, and walk 1. I kept this up for most of the race, except for about the last half mile where I walked a bunch, and didn't run much at all. I had an 11:53 pace overall, which jives pretty well with my splits. So it was a good lesson in pacing for me.

But most of all, I just feel good about running again, and feeling stronger and stronger every time I go out. Now if those last five pounds would just hurry up and come off...

Freak of nature

I took some of my birthday and Christmas money (thank you, Santa!) to the running store for a new pair of shoes today. After a dalliance with my old flame, Asics, I have realized that my blocky Brooks Addiction really are the ones for me. I went through the rigamarole of getting fitted, since it's been a whole pregnancy and shoe redesign since I last bought a pair.

And it turns out I am possibly the only woman on the planet to go from a regular width shoe to a narrow width shoe after pregnancy. I know, you're so jealous! Of course, it would be much more envy-worthy if the same transformation had happened to my posterior.

The girls strike again

We've had lots of cold, rainy weather lately. I had about 45 minutes in which to squeeze in a run today - not enough time to get to the gym and back with any kind of decent workout, so I decided to brave the cold drizzle for an outdoor run. I got dressed in my cold weather gear, and then pulled out my water resistant shell. When I went to zip it up, I found that it wouldn't. The girls are just too big, even when "double bagged" as Louise put it. So I went to pull on my quilted Brooks jacket. Again, no way were the girls fitting in that (and honestly, the postpartum belly made that one impossible, too). I finally settled on the baggy fleece that I wore through week 32 of my pregnancy. Good grief.

It was late spring after Max was born when I really started running, so I never needed anything heavier than a t-shirt until he was well established on solids and the girls had already started shrinking again. If I'm going to keep this up, I'll have to invest in some cool weather gear that actually fits my postpartum and nursing physique.

In happier news, I'm now running 3:30/walking 1:30. Foul weather really ups my motivation to run fast!

And happy birthing thoughts to Louise, who is either just about to or just has given birth to her new baby!! I must mention that she ran her entire pregnancy, and ran 4 miles as recently as a couple of weeks ago. Hats off to her! So congrats Louise, and welcome, Baby!!!

Three for the road

The first double buggy ride last week - Max was crying because the sun was in his eyes, and Sami was crying because that's what babies do. But we all made it around the block in one piece, though I may have left my sanity somewhere along the way.

Plodding along

The miracle weight loss that occurred after Max was born hasn't occurred this time. Yikes. I am not terribly overweight, but I am about 8 pounds above a comfortable weight, and a good 15 above where I'd *really* like to be. Since the initial 15 pound weight loss, I've been eking out a pound per week, which is healthy, but still very frustrating.

So I am making a conscientious effort to quit eating so much junk, and to exercise each and every day. Not so tough right now, but I wonder how I'm going to keep up the exercise routine once I'm back at work. I'm averaging about 45 minutes per day of some kind of exercise - running, walking, lifting weights/stretching. And that's EVERY day. How on earth can I squeeze that into my lunch hour and eat my lunch, and pump 2-3 times per day, and run errands, and make healthy meals for my family and breastfeed and and and and...

I just need to remind myself that I trained for a marathon with a nursing infant, I can definitely maintain a basic level of fitness. It's just going to take a whole new kind of commitment this time around. To seal that commitment, I've already signed myself up for the New Year's Day 5K (13 days away!), the Martha Jefferson 8K in March, and the 10 Miler in April. The jury's still out on the C'ville Half on April 18, but as long as I'm in 10 miler shape two weeks before, I might as well do the half, right? I'll find some way to make more hours in the day.

I did it!!

I actually ran!! I took advantage of the balmy weather while Max was at school and Sami was chillin' with the Supportive Husband. I ran 3 min, walked 2 min for 20 min. I know, nothing spectacular, but hey, I JUST gave birth less than four weeks ago, and I haven't run since I was 20 weeks pregnant. It wasn't quite the euphoric experience I've been having in my dreams, but I'm on a high anyway. I did it!

I managed to squeeze the girls into one of the sports bras I used when I was nursing Max, but since I didn't start running until he was a good 6 weeks older, I'm spilling out, and it really isn't enough support. I had to hold my posture strangely erect to keep things comfortable; I felt like the prow of a ship. My core muscles are conspicuously absent. And I definitely need new shoes (helloooooo Santa!!). But I did it! I'm back!!

On the road again

I ran all of about a half a block today. The nursing boobs were NOT happy - I definitely need new running bras. Yes, Mama is back in fine form and talking about her boobs again. And the running did not feel like the running I've been doing in my dreams. I felt heavy and slow. And large chested.

I did manage to get both kids in the stroller for the first time today! Max happily climbed in and kept up his usual commentary - "Hey, that's a big truck. Mom, why aren't we on the sidewalk? Look at the Christmas!" - while Sami wailed the entire time. Naturally, she settled in and fell asleep just as we pulled up in front of our house.

In fine form

And the wagon has come to a screeching halt. I've got a sinus-y head cold that is exacerbated by the lack of sleep that comes with a newborn. Plus it is raining. So there will be no run today.

I started having running dreams again, like I did during my pregnancy with Sami. In them I'm running, I'm fast and light and euphoric. And then the baby cries and I wake up all tired and heavy and sick and lactating and it's some ridiculous hour of the night, and making that dream come true is just out of my reach.

Game on!

I could never believe those women who were at the gym days after giving birth, until now. I had the world's easiest birth, left the hospital the next day, and felt completely recovered almost immediately. Boy oh boy did I luck out! Even after Max's relatively easy birth it was more than a week before I wanted to walk farther than the distance from the nursing chair to the bassinet.

I've been taking long walks daily since Sami was 2 or 3 days old, and today finally found time to hit the gym! Nothing hardcore - I walked there and back from my parents' place, which is maybe a mile total, and then lifted some weights and stretched. It felt great to be able to move and twist and bend again, though I'll admit that the emotional anguish of squeezing my postpartum belly into my workout gear more than made up for any lack of physical pain. I feel good, but I am definitely still recovering - I still have the feeling like my pelvis isn't connected all the way around, and I can practically feel my ligaments trying to knit themselves back together. Add in the ten extra pounds I'm still carrying, and general loss of muscle tone and I still have a really long way to go. But I am on track for the New Year's Day 5K, even though I'll probably walk all or most of it. I love having a goal again!

Baby Sister is here!

She's here!

Sami was born Thursday, after a very short labor - if I could run a marathon that fast, I'd be a Boston qualifier. I feel great, and am looking forward to the New Year's Day 5K in several weeks.

Vote!!

Taking a break from my blogging break to remind you to VOTE tomorrow!!! Don't you want to be able to complain for the next four years?

Quick update on me - I am still hitting the pool a few times per week, though the ratio of actual swimming to stretching in the warm water pool is getting smaller and smaller. I can't wait to welcome the new baby soon! Having to really slow down over the past few weeks has been very tough, physically and mentally, and I am looking forward to not being pregnant any more. I am hoping the new baby enjoys her time in the jogger as much as Max has, and the BOB double is assembled in the garage and ready to roll as soon as I'm feeling up to it. (Fear not all you safety minded folks, I will follow all pediatrician and manufacturer recommendations about minimum age prior to running with Baby Sister in the stroller.) My goal is to, at the very least, walk the New Year's Day 5K. That gives me exactly 6 weeks, so cross your fingers and send all the easy birthing vibes you can manage.

One final note, fellow marathoning mama (and actual fast runner) The Marathon Mama is putting out a call for participants in her new book on her blog. If you're a mom who runs, head on over for all the deets.

Hiatus

Well, dear readers, I am going on hiatus for the remainder of my pregnancy. I've had precious little to blog about in the way of fitness lately. My current routine consists of a few good walks per week, cleaning the house (since we got rid of the cleaning lady to save a little money), nesting, and a couple of swims per week that involve 20-30 min of my getting lapped by every little old lady in the pool, and then 20 min of stretching and soaking in the warm water pool. Heaven.

Anyway, I'm due in about 7 weeks, so I'm going to assuage my conscience and bid you all farewell until after the (still-unnamed) baby girl arrives. Please send easy labor vibes my way - I had it so good with Max that I am terrified of having a difficult labor and birth this time. I would LOVE to at least walk the New Year's Day 5K this year, but as it's only 6 weeks after when I expect to deliver, a C-section or complicated delivery would pretty much rule it out.

I'll be sure to post when Baby Sister arrives, and after the first of next year, I'll start my journey to becoming Mama Marathon x2.

Good luck to you all in your fall races!

Swimmin'

I'm getting all those fun 3rd trimester aches and pains. The sciatica has mercifully abated somewhat, but my joints, especially my hips, and my back and shoulders hurt. I've only gained 15 lbs, but I feel like I've doubled my body weight. And yesterday I woke up lightheaded and lethargic.

The Supportive Husband was off yesterday, so I took the opportunity to go to the gym while Max was napping. After a big bowl of cereal and a LOT of water, I no longer felt lightheaded, but I didn't want to push it. I intended to just float around in the pool for a little while, but once I got in I felt so good that I swam laps for about 30 min. I even did 25 of butterfly, just to prove to myself that I still can. Of course, it took me two tries to hoist myself out of the pool afterward, but otherwise I felt like a million bucks. I spent another 20-30 min stretching in the warm water pool which was positively delightful.

Race Report: Four Miles

The Four Miler has come and gone again. I walked my way through the race at a respectable (I think, for being 27+ weeks pregnant) 16:09/mi. My target was about 16:00, so I'm pretty happy. As usual, the course was crowded with amateurs walking three and four abreast, making passing difficult. And yes, gentle readers, this Mama was indeed passing people the entire race, despite having lined up in the 14:00 pace group.

Nearly every mile was exactly 16:09, and I'm pretty impressed w/myself for keeping such a steady pace despite the heat and the hills. I saw no less than 5 ambulances dispatched out onto the course to pick up runners who had succumbed to one or the other.

I saw several other preggos walking and running the race. Hats off to you, running pregnant people! I even saw one very brave woman carrying her newborn in a sling. Some of the spectators had apparently never heard of pregnant people staying fit and not only did I hear several comments of "Look at that pregnant lady," but one random woman even asked to take my picture. Specifically, a side view of my belly. Ummmmm, okay, thank you ever so much for making me feel like the bearded lady at a carnival.

Feeling like the bearded lady is actually quite a bit better than feeling like Violet Beauregard post-chewing gum and pre-squeezing, which is how I felt after bolting from the four miler to go roast in the heat as our home team got trounced in football. I had quite the waddle going by bedtime last night. A warm bath and a good night's sleep has mostly cured it, though today's physical state is best described as "creaky."

4 miles and a lot of heavy lifting

As much as I enjoy walking with the new friends I've made at the w4mtp, I am delighted that there is only one week of training left before the race. All that loud music is making me crazy. I almost left this morning, because the marathon/half-marathon training group was at the track this morning when we arrived. I can't tell you how jealous I was of them as they finished their speedwork on the track. Running is seriously impossible for me right now, let alone running hard. Even if I don't plan on doing a marathon next year (not terribly likely - I already know exactly how hard it is to do with a nursing infant!), I will probably still sign up for the program, just so I can go and pound out a quick 8 on Ridge with the group, or show up for speedwork. I just miss it so much, especially when the weather is cool and clear and perfect.

After the walk, I came home to discover Max in nothing but his Mater underpants, still picking at breakfast, and playing the harmonica. Boys will be boys! The whole fam headed to the pool and we all wore ourselves out. Max of course wanted to jump off the side of the pool about eleventy thousand times, and I obliged and mentally crossed off the need to go lift for the next couple of days. And after watching Curious George do it, he decided he likes to "float" on his back. The water on his head makes him laugh, and he'll kick his feet like he's really swimming. A backstroker, maybe?

Women's marathon is on the Olympics tonight - w00t!

Oh, and if you want to donate money to the UVA Cancer Center Breast Care program to show your support for the cause, for me, and for all the women who have worked so hard to make it to the race this year, please visit https://www.dominiondigital.com/Womens4Miler/donate_step1.asp . If you know me, feel free to sponsor me - just click the appropriate radio button, and then find my name in the list. If you don't actually know me IRL, you can still donate!! No pressure, it's not like we're trying to raise $300,000 or anything. And it's not like I'll be in my third trimester doing the whole four miles on race day while you're at home surfing the web. ;)

Crabby injured pregnant lady

I've reached that point where suddenly my *whole* body is pregnant.

I missed Saturday's training (waaaaaaah) because of sciatica (also waaaaaaaah). Sciatica is when you are walking normally, striding confidently, and then suddenly a fierce shooting pain rips from buttock to foot and you have no choice but to stop in your tracks and grab on to something while blinking back tears. I had this when I was pregnant with Max, and was hoping it would hold off a little longer.

I took the day off Saturday, as much as one can take the day off when a 2.5 year old is involved. I did get to spend some time in the pool on Sunday; between that and scrubbing cat poo off the floor of the basement, my sciatica seems to be much improved this week.

I was just getting over my cat poo and sciatica-induced meltdown when I injured myself again. It is an actual true fact that women's brains shrink during pregnancy. Also true is that your joints loosen up, and your center of gravity changes. Combine all those with the nesting instinct and it is a recipe for disaster.

Last week I suddenly felt the need to clean the HVAC return located above our coat closet. In the process of moving the stepstool so that I could reach it, I stumbled, dropped the stool, and rammed my gluteus into the sharp corner of the kitchen counter. And tonight after work I decided to whip up a pork tenderloin with peach glaze. When it was done, I pulled it out of the oven with my left hand (wearing an oven mitt) and then pulled the meat thermometer out of it with my right hand (not wearing an oven mitt). Yeeeeowch! I am now sporting Star Wars bandaids on my index and middle fingers. The pork was delicious, by the way.

Anyway, what does all this have to do with fitness? Honestly, I can't say. Other than that as my whole self becomes pregnant, I know that staying motivated is more of a struggle. So is staying safe. Wish me luck, Interwebs!

eating, drinking, and exercising for two

The past couple of weeks have been scorching hot. Yesterday morning I volunteered to stay behind on the track, as I had to leave a little bit early. I walked about 2 miles, instead of the 3 on the program, knowing that I had a hot and active day ahead.

I raced home so that the Supportive Husband, Max, and I could go to the County Fair. Max is actually the kid on the cover of the program, so despite the heat, we felt pretty obligated to go. For a little while after we arrived, it was quite pleasant - a little overcast, and hot, but not blazing hot, like it usually is. But then the clouds broke, and suddenly it was like being underneath a french fry light.

Being pregnant has completely negated my ability to cope with the heat, so I quickly scurried for shade and cold water while Max and his dad checked out the tractors and got a plastic firefighter's hat. We literally had to drag Max back to the car kicking and screaming.

Despite my active morning, I felt okay. Kind of. Then I took a nap, and did NOT feel okay anymore. I thought it was hard to stay hydrated when I was running and nursing, but being pregnant in August is a whole other ballgame!

I woke up this morning shaky and still dehydrated. I wolfed down a big bowl of cereal, some peanut butter, and a couple of glasses of water. I ate the rest of Max's breakfast. Feeling a little more human, we all headed out to Target and the grocery store. I got the shakes baaaaaad in the grocery store, and inhaled a candy bar. Finally after lunch and another several glasses of water, I started feeling better.

We found some steaks on sale at the grocery store, and after a dinner of steak, potatoes, sweet corn, and salad, I am finally feeling human again. And for my workout tomorrow, I am planning on a lazy swim in the indoor pool. Baby girl needs rest, central ac, and red meat!

more than halfway

I'm more than halfway done with this pregnancy, and the W4MTP is more than halfway done as well!

W4MTP update:
As much as I am trying to just go with the zaniness and rah-rah of being a Pink Lady, I still haaaaaaaate hearing the loud music blasting when I step out of my car. Part of what I love about running is getting up early and being surrounded by quiet. No traffic, no people noise, just the birds and the trees, and the sound of feet.

Luckily, Saturday was the first day for the walkers and novices to get off the track and head out onto the road. A call for Pink Ladies to volunteer to stay behind at the track was put out, and I flagrantly shirked answering it. No WAY was I going to spend one more day getting my eardrums blasted while walking in circles. Not that it was so quiet out on the road - it was already 8:15am, plus there are how many hundred women doing this program, but at least the noise was a little more ambient and a little less amplified.

I ended up having the best walk, with a great new buddy. She's a former marathoner/triathlete who is in need of a knee replacement, and had second thoughts about whether or not to even come on Saturday since it meant walking. We had the best conversations, and the 2.5 miles flew by.

And if that weren't enough, who should stop by on her way back to Durham but, (drumroll please) IRONMO!!! Woot! We had a great time catching up, and Max showed off all his trucks.

Preggo update:
I ran as a young crazy person, but didn't really get bitten by it until I started marathon training. I always joked that I never liked it, I was just addicted. But the funny thing is that now that I've stopped running (I am losing sight of my feet, my joints are all loosey goosey, I'm klutzier than usual, and hauling around 10 extra pounds), I really miss it! I have dreams at night about running, and for just a moment when I wake up I'm calm and happy, and then I remember that my last run was over a week ago, and I was heavy, slow, and winded the whole time. For my lunchtime workout today, I elected to go swimming.

What I did on my summer vacation...

That mythical second trimester burst of energy has kicked into high gear. I never really had it with my other two pregnancies, so it's been quite a pleasant surprise. And good timing, too!

So many delicious local fruits are in full season, that it has seemed a shame to waste a Saturday morning by going to sweat it out at the track. So instead, I've been hitting the City Market and my neighbors, Chiles Peach Orchard, for the best of what the season has to offer. Today I pitted a quart of the season's last (and sweetest!) cherries, and combined them with peaches to make a cobbler. I bought a whole peck of peaches and made not only the cobbler, but also a boatload of freezer preserves. About 40 oz. each of peach/blueberry (looks so gross, tastes so good), peach/strawberry, and just plain peach. Add that to my dwindling stash of strawberry freezer jam, and we might actually make it through fall without having to resort to the brownish slop that is store-bought jam.

Oh, and staying fit? Well, I've taken the past two Saturdays off from being a Pink Lady (last Saturday was actually cancelled due to thunderstorms). But I haven't been just sitting around eating jam. There's been lots of swimming, fishing, zoo-going, and parade-watching. Not to mention our usual walks around the neighborhood. Oh, and several hours on my feet this afternoon making jam, cobbler, and meatloaf.

Getting up early on a Saturday and going to the track may be good for the body, but making comfort food is good for the soul.

hot hot hot

Summer has fully descended on us here. Highs are in the 90's and the humidity is stifling. I had committed to being a Pink Lady at the Wednesday evening rookie run, but I'm rethinking that. It is TOO HOT. I was born and raised here, and spent a few years living in Florida, so I'm not stranger to the 3 H's (hazy, hot, and humid), but with the extra metabolism I'm supporting, I just can't take it.

Even this morning was pretty warm. Starting a run after 8 is really pushing it this time of year. I had volunteered to lead the charge handing out shoe tags after the run today, so I arrived a little early to squeeze in my own solitary lap or two around the track. Thank goodness! I actually ran an entire lap, thankyouvery much, but I was definitely feeling heavy, slow, and a little klutzy. It felt great to move, but I'm not sure how much longer it will really be practical for me to run. I walked with my walkers for 4 of their 6 laps, then took my post at the gate to bid everyone farewell.

another pink saturday

Another Saturday with the Pink Ladies! I missed the Wednesday rookie run as Max had given me a nice case of Coxsackie virus this week. I felt like I worked out though - I was shivering so hard from the chills that my muscles were stiff and sore yesterday. I was a little unsure about going to the track this morning, and contemplated sleeping in, but figured that a little fresh air would do me good and that a few laps around the track wouldn't be the end of me.

Much to my horror, the Pink Ladies continue their peppy introductions every week, not just for opening day. Crap. I don't think my visor can go down any lower. But once the running and walking got started, my morning improved substantially. Most of the walkers in the back of the pack seemed to be paired up, so I speed-walked ahead till I found a lonely soul who was happy to have company. And after the run, I actually had a blast handing out car magnets to the participants. I saw so many people I knew, a lot of whom didn't know I was pregnant again. I stayed much longer than I planned.

I had always used running as a way to gain a little solitude, to be among like-minded folks while not having the pressure to interact. But the social aspect is rubbing off on me just a little bit. Honestly, it's kind of all I have right now, so I'd better learn to love it.

I still think the music is too loud, and the track too crowded, but I'm willing to cope with that.

Damn you, Pink Ladies, quit making me like this!!

enjoy the journey

Opening day was a success. There were about 80 kajillion women there. It was hot, but not as hot as it has been lately.

Team Miscellaneous began arriving at 6am to find the track locked. Fortunately, someone from facilities came along lickety-split to unlock it. Coach Mark was having a speed workout while we started to set up, and it made me a little sad to be attaching paper flowers to the fence instead of pushing hard doing Yasso 800's. Cynthia Lorenzoni was leading the pack of women, and it was something else to watch her run. Even in her 40's after 4 kids, she still looks awesome. She also happens to be the race director for the 4 Miler and the co-founder, and many women here (myself included) owe her a big debt of gratitude for not-so-gently encouraging us to add "athlete" to our resumes.

So, 1 box of sidewalk chalk, 1 balloon arch, about 100 tissue paper flowers, a flock of flamingos, several tables, 1 hearse with pink flames, and some organized chaos later, hordes of women started arriving. Hordes. I knew a few folks that were coming, and sort of expected that I might see a few of them. I saw none. I did run into a few people that I had no idea were coming, and that was a pleasant surprise.

The big show kicked off a little late, and much to my horror the pink ladies had to run onto the track with a lot of fanfare, and then we were supposed to kind of dance around. I stood and clapped, and tried not to die of embarrassment. It's no accident that I went to a college with no sororities and buried myself in my studies.

Pep talks by various folks (including Joan wearing Depends and a giant pink bra) followed, and then we started out on our workout for the day. For the walkers, it was once around for a warmup, two laps, and then one more cooldown lap, for a total of a mile. I can say that while I really enjoy supporting women who, for the most part, are new to exercising, it did break my heart just a little to finally be on the track, and to be walking. Oh, I wanted to do an all-out 400 just to see how it would feel. But I stayed back with the walkers, though I do admit to jogging one straightaway with the beginners.

Once finished, the horde headed for the infield for guided stretching. Us Pink Ladies are supposed to set a good example and stretch. True confession time - I only stretch directly after a run if I feel tight. After a one-mile lope, not so much. I would usually save that for my regular bedtime stretch. But ever the follower of rules, I did it, dispensing stretching wisdom ("oh, just google IT band stretch") along the way.

I stayed a bit to help clean up, and managed to pilfer a balloon for Max, who was absolutely delighted.

I'm pooped from being on my feet for 3 hours, and getting up at 5:15, but I had a fantastic time this morning, and hope that I do a great job with the walkers as the season progresses.

Now the obligatory plug - if you couldn't make it today, you can still come! Registration is open every Saturday - just show up at 7:45 at the track. Be sure to register ASAP for the race, though. Registration is usually full by the 4th of July.

Opening day tomorrow!

Drink your water, and get in bed right now, ladies, because tomorrow is opening day of the W4MTP!! Hijinks kick off at 7:45am at the track, but yours truly will be there way, way, way earlier decorating the track. In case you were wondering, thinking up ways to decorate a track is like thinking up ways to decorate air. Creativity is seriously hampered by lack of decoratable surfaces. But Team Miscellaneous will be doing our best to make you sick from all the pink.

As an act of rebellion, my mandatory hat isn't pink. Oh, the horror.

And my swimsuit arrived - it's every bit as funereal as I had imagined. Why do swimsuit designers think that all maternity suits should be cut with an overly modest leg hole? It makes my butt look big and my legs look stumpy. I'm a hot mama, let me show some skin!!

Enough blogging for the night - it's high time I got to bed. See you at the track!!

back in the pool!

With temps nearing 100, I decided it was time to get the maternity lap suit out of storage and go for a swim. I love(d) this suit. It's a lovely shade of turquoise. I was actually happy to put it on this afternoon. I get my non-pregnant speedos a size smaller than I really am, because I like the compression, so I wasn't surprised when I thought the maternity suit felt a little loose. Plus, I'm not really that big yet.

But when I hit the water, I realized my error. My two previous pregnancies, both of which had me in the (chlorinated) pool at least twice a week, along with long periods of storage in the past four years, had rendered any and all elastic properties of the suit completely nil. This suit is completely shot, and I'm sure a little pornographic once I got out of the water. Clingy and baggy - what a combo! Good thing I remembered my big bath towel, and wasn't trying to make do with the hankies the gym provides.

Alas, the manufacturer is now out of the business of making maternity, so I scoured the internet for another reasonably priced maternity one-piece. This, apparently, is a tall order. Want a bikini? No problem. A festive tankini? Got it. A tent with a skirt? Yep. Even a mod halter? Yours in a click. But a strictly business, plain, form-fitting tank suit? I feel like the only woman alive to ever swim laps while pregnant. I finally found the plainest, boringest suit at the Gap. And lucky for me, it (surprise) hasn't been very popular, and was half-price. But available only in dull (brown) or duller (black). I went with duller, as I am in mourning for my beautiful turquoise suit, that trusted friend, that is no more.

one more thing

As if doing it just because it's there wasn't good enough, keep in mind that all proceeds and fundraising from the Women's 4 Miler goes to support breast cancer and research. Last year, over $200,000 was given to the UVA Breast Care Center. And if that's still not enough, remember that regular exercise can help reduce your chance of getting cancer.

Women's 4 Miler website

Hot mama

My other pregnancies had me in the thick of the first trimester during the hottest months, so now that I'm finally feeling better and wanting to move around, what a shock to find that it's nearly 100 degrees today. And will be tomorrow. And the next day. What happened to spring? Welcome to Virginia, y'all!

Pink Lady prep is in full swing - we had our potluck on Thursday, and got our shirts, with our names embroidered on them. Not sure when I will wear a size L, very pink shirt with my name on it after the 4 miler is done, but hey, at least I don't have to pick out clothing to wear to training runs this summer!

I'm beginning to realize that most Pink Ladies are not as overcommitted as me. They can make all the meetings, and aren't rushing out early to relieve the babysitter. And they can meet, sans kids, at 6am in town twice a week for rookie runs. Right now I've noncommitally committed myself to once a week 6pm runs (actually, I'll be with the walkers), though (sorry Joan) I'll be surprised if I make half of them. For one, 6 pm means that the Supportive Husband has to be available to pick Max up from school, feed him dinner, and do all that parent stuff till after 7pm. Second, that means I miss out on precious time with my boy(s). I'm going full time at work starting next week, and I'm already in knots about that. And finally, if it's this hot, if I *am* exercising at 6pm, you'd better believe it's going to be in the gym. I am firm believer in starting runs prior to 9am this time of year here. At 6pm on a day like today, it's still in the high eighties, and I don't care to subject myself to that, pregnant or not. I was born and raised here, but I still can't take the heat and humidity.

But despite my whining about the heat, I am super excited for 4 Miler Training to begin next Saturday. Training starts at 7:45am at the track - you can register ahead of time, or come a few minutes early and register there. You can come to some or all of the sessions, and there will be PLENTY of Pink Ladies and volunteers to coach and support you on the way to the race. Be sure to register for the race on June 14 as well - it fills up fast. Still not sure you want to do it? Listen, if I can drag my pregnant butt out the door early on a Saturday morning and be in good enough shape to walk 4 miles by August 30, then you, dear reader, have no excuses. So come on out to the track on Saturdays! And look for me at training - I'll be the pregnant Pink Lady, whining about the heat and hogging the shade.

liar, liar, pants on fire

That would be me. Sorry dear Internets, but I have deceived you. It's true, I was having some foot issues just prior to the Ten Miler, but nothing awful enough to keep me from running it. The truth is I am expecting!

I know some of will now consider my lack of running, and ask if Mama has lost her gumption. We all hear stories about women who run right up until delivery. Isn't Mama one of those strong, powerful, fit women? Yes, but my main early pregnancy symptoms are shortness of breath (seriously, it's ridiculous, I get winded while *reading* for Pete's sake), fatigue, and nausea that does not respond well to jostling. I take those signs as my body's way of telling me to slow down. So I listen.

I'm still keeping fit, you can count on that. I'm hitting the gym regularly for weights and cardio, walking a few times per week, and though I'm too big for my Speedo and too small for my maternity suit, I do plan on adding swimming back into the mix soon. I was in incredible shape when Max was born, and I hope to be in just as good physical condition for this little one's arrival. Speaking of which, we expect him or her on Thanksgiving Day (and you can just swallow that Butterball joke right now, it is NOT funny).

So far, everything looks great, and as with my pregnancy with Max, we will have top-notch care and monitoring to put my mind at ease until this baby arrives safely. Please keep me in your thoughts as I progress through what is definitely my very last pregnancy (hooray!). Now that I'm able to spill the beans, I'll be posting more regularly about the challenges and triumphs of staying fit while being not only a mother, but also a mother to be.

Happy Mothers' Day!!

I hope all you mothers had a wonderful day. Motherhood can really be the most lonely job in the whole world, and while it's just one silly, invented holiday, it is nice to have a day that should be all about Mom.

The Supportive Husband was kind enough to let me sleep in a little, and I'm finally feeling like I've kicked the nasty cold I've had the past week. My ears were popping like crazy today. After a family breakfast at home (which I made, but I actually like making breakfast and too rarely get to do it, so it really was a treat), I got to go to the gym, where I tried out my wheezy, congested lungs on the bike while reading a book. It was one of my laziest workouts ever, but felt great. I did redeem myself by doing some serious stretching and lifting weights.

The Supportive Husband fed Max lunch and put him down for a nap just before I arrived home, so even though he (the husband, not Max) had to go to work, I had a few luxurious hours to myself. Which I spent doing housework. But I must say that for the first time in months, ALL THE LAUNDRY IS FOLDED AND PUT AWAY. It's a Mothers' Day Miracle!! Which will last approximately 7.3 seconds.

A friend came by to drop off some things she'd borrowed for her baby, which he's since outgrown. He was adorable, but when we tried to go out for pizza, the wee fellow barfed all over his poor mom. Happy Mothers' Day, indeed. I think he's got a lot of making up to do. And he's only 1! Max and I got take out, and had pizza together at home. Then we went for a long buggy ride since the sun had finally come out after a day of rain.

Even though he'd taken a long nap, the buggy ride must have worn him out, because by 7pm, he was heading up the stairs and crawling into bed of his own volition. I insisted on a quick bath, since he was covered in pizza and wet mulch, and it was lights out by 7:45. I plan to spend the rest of my day ironing (which I actually like, but never have time for) and watching the finale of Survivor. Hoooooo yeah, I'm a wild one.

Pinking out

I headed over to the track the other night for Pink Lady training led by the awesome Francesca. The highlight was all of us taking off our shoes and running barefoot across the uber-groomed lacrosse practice field. Oh, heaven! Must make mental note to run barefoot on super high quality grass more often.

Meanwhile, I've been doing my best to keep up at the gym, sticking mostly to the bike and pool and weights. And I spend plenty of time running after Max. He rides his Razor Scuttle bug all over the neighborhood now, and gets so fast on the downhills that I have to jog to keep up.

As for my Pink Lady duties, I am a proud member of Team Miscellaneous! We will be decorating the track for the first day of training on June 14 at 7:45am (hint, hint). I will be pacing/coaching/assisting the beginners (that could be YOU!) and walkers. I can't wait!

Go Iron Mo!

Tomorrow is Patriot's Day, and the running of the Boston Marathon!! My dear friend, IronMo, qualified yet again!! and will be taking the long bus ride to Hopkinton in the morning. It remains to be seen if she'll actually finish due to injuries, but I am sending many positive thoughts her way! Go Mo!

And since I don't have much else to report, I thought it was time for another "search string" post. The following are some of the most interesting search strings that led users to my blog. My comments are in parentheses:

-many variations of "running a marathon while breastfeeding" (which makes me laugh a little, thinking about actually nursing while running - I could never even master nursing while walking with the baby in a sling. I know that's not what they meant, but still, I can't shake the visual.)

-charlottesville 19 miler (must be a secret race I've never heard of)

-mama marathon (natch)

-older and fitter (yes I am!)

-breastfeeding friendly charlottesville (I guess it is, but I don't run with the lactivist crowd, so I'm not attuned to any injustices that may have been perpetrated recently)

-what to wear in 45 degree for a marathon (layers!)

-run like you stole something shirt (MUST HAVE THIS. Does it exist? I also want one of those "This IS my race pace" shirts that I keep seeing everywhere.)

-"running skirt" pee or peeing or urination or urinating (I wonder if this was a practical query or a pervy one)

Thanks, visitors! However you arrived, I'm happy to have an audience.

Think Pink!

I am taking this summer off from marathon/half marathon training, and instead will be spending my Saturday mornings being a Pink Lady!! Yes, the very training program that horrified me so much it drove me to marathoning has sucked me in. I am terrifically excited about being a volunteer and mentor for the Women's Four Miler training program. Training starts on June 14, but preparations are already underway and I've already been to two Pink Lady meetings.

If you need more info, just leave me a comment and I'll get back to you ASAP.

Ladies, I hope to see you all June 14 at the track!!

10 Miler Race Report

It was a cold but lovely morning for the race. I parked at U-Hall, and ran into a few friends waiting inside before the start. I watched the start, then hoofed to over to my volunteer post, just in front of the Rotunda. I spent the next two hours trying to recreate a one-woman scream tunnel. My voice is shot! I saw a ton of people I knew, and it was so much fun to cheer everyone on at a very difficult spot in the race. I was losing my voice and freezing cold by the time I left, but so happy that I had participated. Way to go runners!!!

See you at the race

I got my volunteer assignment today - I'll be at the corner of University Ave and Madison Lane. Across from the Rotunda, just past the Starbucks and the church, and after that wicked hill going up the Corner. Awesome!! My official assignment is to guard the intersection and not let cars through, but I think I'm mostly going to be spectating. As my faithful readers know, I am a proud alumna of the Scream Tunnel, so I am ready for this gig. I'll be resting my pipes tomorrow and Friday so I can go all out on Saturday.

My 10 Miler PR stands

I will not be setting a new PR at the 10 miler this year, because I will be on the sidelines as a volunteer, rather than running. A weekend in Vegas in cute but non-supportive shoes left my feet a blistered wreck. Add to that missing my last long run, and I realized that at best, running on Saturday would be painful and embarrassing. I'm pretty bummed - this is the first big event I've ever missed.

Good luck to all the runners! And remember my favorite race day motto:
Run like you stole something!

I'm groovy, baby!

What type of Mother Hen Are You?
by Montessorimom.com: Educational Resource

MJH 8K Race Report

It wasn't nearly as rainy as I thought it would be, though it drizzle steadily the whole time. I ran with Louise, and since we were talking the whole time, I can't say as I really raced it. Even so, I came within about 30 sec of my time last year (which was in perfect conditions), so I'm pretty happy with it. And for what it's worth, somehow I ended up ahead of Louise in the chute, so I got to make jokes about how I beat her.

I felt pretty good the entire time, except for that wicked Belmont Hill. I took the opportunity to walk for about 100 yards, and felt great for the last mile. Had I not been running with someone, I probably could have pushed a lot harder and beat my PR for the course. I guess that's the bummer of not being a new runner any more - I've already raced the distance, so I'm not guaranteed a PR any more.

It was a good run, but it felt like more of a training run than a race, especially since the rain kept the spectators away. But I'd gladly take a great training run like this over a bad race any day.

8k tomorrow

I did not have my pre-race nightmare last night, which freaks me out more than the forecast. For those of you not here in town, it's going to be rainy and 45 degrees. Which makes it so hard to decide what to wear. Tights, for sure. And I think I'm going to wear my shell, but not sure if I'll pair it with a short-sleeved shirt or long-sleeved shirt. And I'm not sure if I'll wear my baseball hat or fleece toque. I'm leaning towards the baseball hat, since I'm worried about being too warm with the shell on. One thing's for sure, I will not be sporting the extremely green and humongous race shirt. Luckily, I know people, and have a covered parking spot just a block from the start, so I can bring a ton of stuff in the car, and change my mind at the last minute if I need to.

I'm actually more worried about being overdressed than about being cold and wet. Cold and wet is a given; I can't control it. In fact, it's kind of liberating. All bets are off when the weather's like this. Being cold and wet gives you something to think about other than setting a PR, or how much your feet hurt. For me anyway, in these conditions, my usual inner monologue gets switched off, and I find it easier to just be in the moment, and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Keep an eye out for me - I'll be the one running about a 10:50ish (if I'm lucky) pace wearing a fluorescent yellow and grey shell who answers to "Max's Mom."

A few miles

I'm off work on Mondays, but inevitably the day gets filled up with other obligations. I unexpectedly had a few hours to myself this afternoon, and rather than hurry home and take care of the tidal wave of laundry that threatens to break down the laundry room door, I took advantage of the balmy weather to go for a run. I ran about 3.5 miles, I think. I ran part of the Ten Miler course, including that bit that I always lop off that goes down Lexington. Since I never run it, I made a couple of wrong turns, and did more than the 3 I was planning. It was warm, but very windy, and I'd forgotten to bring a hat, so I ended up with my Katie Holmes meets Dorothy Hamill 'do flopping in my eyes as it worked its way out of the clip I'd put it in.

I headed back to the gym, and did weights, stretching, and abs. I picked up Max from school, and we took a swing by the store to pick up raisins. We made it home just in time to meet Louise for a good long walk with Max in the buggy, eating his precious raisins. Then a mad scramble to make dinner from scratch and here it is 7pm and I'm still in my gym clothes!

Working mom workout

The plan:

Monday was a holiday, but I work Tues - Fri, so somewhere during the week, I get to use my 6 hrs of holiday time. So I planned to work a half day today, leave at lunch, go straight to the gym, go for a long swim, dry off, get on the bike for 20-30 min, then lift weights, etc. And still have time to shower, run an errand or two, and pick Max up from day care right after his nap, and possibly go for a walk with him in the stroller. This is pretty much my ideal day. I've been daydreaming about it since last week.

The reality:

Awaken in the wee hours of the morning to the sound of Max coughing up a hairball. Realize that the little cold and cough he'd been nursing since the weekend had turned into a bad cold and cough. Realize that I can't send him to school in good conscience. Formulate plan to drive to work super-early, grab laptop, and come home before the Supportive Husband has to leave to start his workday. He's self-employed and works out of the house, but today was a rare day where he had to be on-site at 9am.

Spend the morning alternately trying to work, answer IMs and e-mails, and cater to the whims of a sick and cranky two year old. Receive Toddler Wrath when I dare to queue up Signing Time on the DVR instead of WonderPets. Finally get him to eat his chewable Motrin three hours after I gave it to him. Rejoice when he goes down early for a nap. Rejoice when the Supportive Husband comes home for lunch.

Try to finish a few work tasks. Change into running clothes and head out into the cold and damp for a quick 2 miles around the 'hood. Get snowed on.

Blog furiously, and hope that I've got enough time to shower before the cranky toddler wakes up.

Net result:
No swim. No weights. Very little stretching. No podcasts while on the exercise bike. No errands. At least I got out in the fresh air, and got to watch the snow work its way over the mountains. Now I just have to cross my fingers that I don't come down with Max's cold.

3.4 miles

I ran a little segment of the ten miler, and when I mapped it out on mapmyrun.com, it was 3.4 miles. I was unbelievably slow - 11:20 min/mi, but I didn't care. My feet didn't hurt for once (yesssss!!!), and I felt ridiculously cute in my new running skirt. Much of the course was over uneven sidewalks, so I stepped cautiously. But the balmy weather made me giddy to be outside - it was 65 degrees!! I headed to the gym after, and spent 30 minutes lifting and stretching. Overall, it was quite a change from yesterday when I struggled through 4 miles in the cold.

I'm definitely not in 10 Miler shape, but I'm not out of the ballpark. I've got over a month, and know that I'll be ready.

Spring Fever

It's been unseasonably warm lately, and I think I've come down with a serious case of spring fever. How else can you explain that I went to the shop to buy a pair of black shorts and walked out with a lime green running skirt?

Four miles

The forecast was for warmer weather, so I dropped Max off at daycare and headed to the Monticello Trail for two up and two down. Only on the way there it started raining. I came very close to bagging it, and heading to the gym instead, but decided I needed to suck it up and start bringing my A-game and actually TRAIN for the ten-miler.

It had stopped raining by the time I got to the parking lot, and I was delighted. And then about 100 yards from the car the skies opened up. Going uphill was a lot of work. More than it should have been. I kept bargaining with myself, okay, if I don't stop to walk, I can turn around at 1.5 miles. If I can run 5 min for this half mile, I'll turn around at the bridge. My nose was running, and I kept having to spit. I really needed to pee. I could not get a rhythm; everything just felt off. My monkey mind was scurrying about.

But somewhere around mile 1.5, everything just settled down. My stride and breathing were steady, and I wasn't anywhere near ready to stop. I went all the way to the parking lot at the top, and slapped the signpost at the 2 mile mark with both hands, and turned around.

I didn't worry about speed, or try to fly down the mountain like I usually do. In fact, I didn't even look at my watch once until I was at the bottom. My time wasn't spectacular, but for as slow as I'm sure I was on the way up, it was much faster than I would have expected without pushing it on the way down.

I stretched out using the low stone wall at the parking area for support. As I was stretching my quads, I could hear a group of three older men talking as they came off the trail. One said to the other "Can you get your foot up to your fanny like she can?"

I was giggling, and stopped to chat with them for a moment. They were out fitness walking, and are planning on doing the MJH 4K walk next month - good for them! We had a lovely chat, they asked me about my time on the course today, and they told me how exercise keeps you young. Good advice.

Counting down

Eight weeks from tomorrow is the 10 miler, and I'm nowhere near ready. I've gone for a few 4 mile runs on the weekends, and done the occasional 1-2 on the treadmill, but really haven't been training. I have been making it to yoga once per week, which eats up one possible workout. The weekends have been increasingly busy, and I barely have time for a decent workout on Sundays. But the latest development is that my foot problems, which had given me no trouble at all over the past month, have returned with a vengeance. And it's my own fault.

My new running shoes have been doing wonderfully. But silly me wanted to wear cute shoes to work yesterday instead of clogs. So I did. And got so many compliments!! And now I have terrible sharp pain in the balls of both my feet. As soon as my feet started hurting, I put on my Birks, and I'm planning on wearing my running shoes while out and about tomorrow. I had been hemming and hawing about buying a second pair of running shoes, but I think I'm going to bite the bullet and do it - I really need a pair for out and about, and a pair for actually running. Man, getting old is expensive!

But the good news is that I'm still pretty fit, and still working out 3-4 times per week or more. I'm much more nervous about the ten miler this year than I was last year. I was all high off the marathon last year, and this year all I've got under my belt is the half.

Pot pourri

If my holiday tri challenge taught me anything, it's that making time for exercise is not as tough as I thought. It's easy to have a million and one excuses. Nobody would fault me for not exercising 4 to 5 times per week - I have a toddler, a full time job, new seasons of American Idol and Project Runway, and a million other commitments and projects pulling me in every direction. But I make time because I'm an athlete. It's part of who I am, and I need exercise just as I need to eat, breathe, and sleep.

Truth be told, I'm a slower runner than I'd like to be, weigh about 5 pounds more than my ideal, wish I could up the resistance another 3 notches on the bike, and am still desperately trying to reclaim my freestyle body roll that I lost after two pregnancies in a row. I think a lot of people, myself included, let their unreached goals and embarrassments keep them from pursuing many things. If I can't be the best, I just won't try. It's taken many years to find satisfaction in not winning.* At some point, it's better to be in the race and losing than to not be in the race and be at home on your duff.

So more days than not, I get off my duff and get moving. These days, between my shoulder problem (I may be the only person in history to have permanent shoulder damage from kayaking in a 3-ft. deep warm water pool), my foot issues, the weather, and day care colds, I have to employ a lot more ingenuity to maintain and increase my fitness level. Where I used to just swim, or just run, or just do the bike, I now find myself more and more warming up for 30 minutes on the bike, running a mile or two, and then hitting the weights. Or swimming at lunch, and going for a long walk after work, and then stretching in bed.

And so maybe I'm not faster or thinner or much stronger, but I'm a hell of a lot faster, thinner, and stronger than I'd be doing nothing. I've accomplished a lot of things over the past two years I never thought possible, and that is very satisfying.


*Satisfaction in not winning does not apply to Scrabble or Boggle.

hibernation

I've gone to the gym a bit, I ran 4 miles on Monday when the weather was balmy, but other than that, I've been hibernating. There was Max's birthday party to throw, getting back to work, not to mention the cold I've had all week. Oh, and my shoes never did come in at the shop, despite my calling twice and being told it would be just a few more days. I feel like a traitor, but I finally ordered a pair online, and they arrived Friday.

I took them to the track today to see how they'd do. So far so good, but it's tough to tell after just a couple miles on the track. They're definitely different - I can actually feel the ground a little bit, which I think is good. Super-stable shoes are so stiff (hah, say that ten times fast) that as the Supportive Husband put it, if my shoes got any more supportive, I'd be running in clogs. In comparison, these feel like ballet slippers. So far nothing hurts - I've got my tricked-out inserts in them, and since I'm back in Asics, I've got them lock-laced to prevent my heel from slipping. Hopefully I'll be over my cold soon, and back into the swing of things.

Hey, wait a sec!

I finally took a moment to plug the numbers into my spreadsheet, and realized that I actually ran at 10:15 pace overall, and was just 11 seconds shy of a PR!!! Damn, I should have kicked harder into the finish. There's always next year!! :)

Done! And Happy New Year!

Done! I think so, anyway. I may have skimped a little on the warmup since the start line was actually at the parking area this year instead of 1/2 mile away. But with the very long jog to the porta-johns and back, plus a little warmup, I figure I got in the 4 or so that I had left to finish.

It was extremely windy today, and I was on pace for a PR until the last mile, which is completely unsheltered. The wind was blowing so hard I was running sideways, and could barely catch my breath. I walked for a short stretch here, and ended up 30 seconds shy of a PR. Damn! But overall, I was pretty happy with it - I ran a 10:26 pace overall, though my first and second miles were both right around 10 min. I felt strong at the finish, despite having run comparatively little in the past month. I'm still waiting on my new shoes, but the pimped-out inserts seem to be doing their job, and my left foot is completely pain free, while the right only felt a little sore after the race.

So here's to another year of being a fit mama! I hope you all have a Happy New Year, and take the time to become a little more fit than you are right now. If I can do it with a toddler and a full time job, then so can you. A wise Jedi once said, "Do or do not, there is no try."

Done with the swim!

And all that's left is the run! I am not convinced that the gym pool is in meters, so just to be sure, I did 850, which brought me to a total of 4250 (yards or meters). 2.4 miles is 4224 yards, so either way I exceeded my goal. And I ended today with 25 of butterfly.

Done with the bike!

The Supportive Husband was working today, and I was afraid I wasn't going to get to the gym. I didn't want to leave Max in babyminding again, plus his afternoon nap often stretches till 4:30, and by the time he's up, changed, had a snack, and we finally get out the door, well, that leaves very little time for actual exercise before the babyminding closes up shop for the day. Luckily, Grammy came through in a pinch, and I headed to the gym around 4.

And it was closed.

What do you mean normal people don't go to the gym on Saturday nights? Luckily, the security guard was kind enough to tell me that the other location (freakin' across town) was open till 6. So off I went. And to my surprise, I discovered that there are actually 2 other bikes, not with the rest of the exercise bikes, because they're not hooked in to the TV sound system. But they are brand new and sweet and super comfortable. I pounded out 9 miles in record time, while listening to an audiobook on my iPod. I only wish I'd found these super-secret fancy bikes sooner.

I got home, and Grammy had to take off, so I ended up having company while I showered. Max rolled in on his "bike" and asked me repeatedly, "Mommy shower?" Fortunately, he's pretty scared of the shower, so I was able to lather, rinse, and repeat in solitude, if not peace.

Older but fitter

My birthday was this week!! I started off my day with a great workout. I swam about 600, had hoped to swim more, but the lady with the pool noodle doing laps in an already crowded pool just about sent me off the deep end, pun intended. I am all about novices, heck I am a perpetual novice, but really, if you are floating around on a pool noodle, then take it to the warm water pool. The lap lanes are not your personal lazy river.

An aside, the new suit is really awesome, and I feel like such an ass-kicker in it. The goggles are also amazing; they actually fit my narrow face.

Then I hopped on the bike for 30 minutes, and managed just over 8 miles. A quick stretch, and off to the treadmill for one (fast) mile. Whee!!

I met up with my family for lunch, took Max to the park, then headed home where The Supportive Husband and I watched a DVD while Max napped. That evening, grammy and Aunt M shared babysitting duties while The S.H. and I had a grown up dinner out and a very juvenile session of ice skating at the ice park. They even played "Ice, Ice, Baby" over the sound system. Who could ask for anything more?

I may be older, but I'm not slowing down. I'm aiming for a PR in the 5K on New Year's day. Between my foot stuff and the tri challenge, I haven't run more than 2 miles at a time all month, but every time I get on the treadmill or on the road, I feel strong and fast, thank you, stationary bike and ashtanga yoga.

I'm very nearly done with the tri stuff, and should have no problem coasting to my goal on 1/1. The totals so far:
Run 18.2
Bike 103 (booyah, broke 100 miles!)
Swim 3400 (meters, I think, but either way I have way less than 1000 to go)

17 miles

The gym bikes reset themselves after 30 minutes, but since I was the only soul on the bikes, I went through two cycles, and ended up with 17 miles. I did a little catching up on the New Yorker, and listened to my iPod with my amaaaaazing new headphones (thank you, Santa). Overall, it was quite relaxing. I even had time for a good stretch afterward.

I've got 10 left to run, 30 left to bike, and about 1200 on the swim. I'm planning on doing the rest of the swim, 15 on the bike, and a couple miles on the treadmill tomorrow, but that might be a little ambitious. I am super motivated by the fact that my jeans are now loose on me right out of the dryer.

Lucky 13

I did 13 on the bike today. I did it super-fast, too. I dropped Max off at babyminding at the gym for the first time. He boo-hooed when I dropped him off, so I was soooo anxious the entire time on the bike, that I pedaled as fast as my little legs could, so as not to leave him in the torture chamber any longer than necessary. In fact, I stopped at 13 instead of 15, hopped in the shower, stuck my hair in a clip without drying it and rushed to collect him.

Naturally, he was having a great time, sitting in one of the sitters' laps and playing with little toys. And then he reached for me and burst into tears when he saw me. I think he thought I was never coming back, and was overcome that I was there. I felt awful.

But he forgave me when I took him out for lunch and let him eat a whole pack of Teddy Grahams.

They gym's closed tomorrow, and I am wisely taking a day off from exercise. Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

1000 and 10

1000 meters (yeah! meters, baby!) in the pool and 10 miles on the bike.

I was overjoyed when I pulled into the gym parking lot - there were maybe 15 other cars. I thought for sure I'd have a lane in the pool to myself. No such luck. I think all 15 other people were in the pool, and I ended up on the wall half of an end lane. The other fella in the lane was a really buff young guy with just the ugliest, thrashingest stroke ever. If I ever do a real tri or an open water swim, this will be good preparation. Luckily, he tired himself out after about 100 yards, and my new lane-mate was quite considerate and sincerely apologized for *almost* bumping in to me. It wasn't the fastest 1000 ever, but I felt great the whole time, and even did flip turns for most of my freestyle.

Then transition, ha ha. I took the time to rinse out my suit and put it through the spinner, before heading on to the bike. I was under a bit of a time crunch, so I changed into my workout clothes as fast as I could. I was still pretty damp, and got an interesting workout trying to get my sports bra on over my head.

I rocked out to my iPod and read Entertainment Weekly and busted out a quick 10 miles before I had to hop off and get cleaned up.

Tri tally: 3062 of 4224 yards swum; 52 of 112 miles biked; 16.2 of 26.2 miles run

Yeah, those meters add up fast!!

Two miles

It occurred to me that all these miles on the treadmill may be contributing to my foot problems. So I ran on an actual road this morning! Woohoo! It was much colder than I was expecting. Partly because I've been running in the 68 degree gym, and partly because it was just cold and windy. I forgot my gloves, and was only wearing a long-sleeve shirt and tights. My teeth were chattering the first quarter-mile, but 10 minutes into the run I was feeling pretty good, and when I walked in the door afterward, the house felt stiflingly hot.

My inserts did well on pavement, and I had no pain during or after the run. It's a Festivus miracle!

As for my tri challenge, I've got 10 miles left to run, 70 left to bike, and about 2800 on the swim. Once again, I sacrificed a day to yoga, which doesn't count toward my numbers, but is an important part of my workout routine nonetheless. I've got just 10 days to finish the tri, so I'd better get to it. Daycare is closed next week, so you can plan on Max spending a healthy amount of time in babyminding at the gym while I make good on my goal.

Happy Solstice everyone!

News flash!

I was perusing the website for my gym today, trying to find the holiday schedule, when I happened to come across the description for the pools. The lap swimming pools are listed as being 25 meters in length. Meters, y'all!! So I've been swimming a little farther than I thought.

Good news - my new swimsuit arrived, and I splurged and got new goggles, too. I got this suit:

Yes, that's a giant fish!

And a shout out to Robine - may your vision soon be as crystal clear as my fancy new goggles.

Magic Shoes

You're know you're an athlete when your shoes look like this:


Even at very low mileage (the past few weeks I've only been running 1-2 times per week while I work on my swimming and biking), I've been having foot problems. Again. They started before Richmond in my right foot. The right foot stuff (mostly) resolved once I got into a stiffer shoe and insert. And then I started having arch pain in my left foot. That got better with a new shoe and insert. Now, I'm having pretty noticeable pain in both feet, during longer runs, and even on my days off. And that's no fun.

I'm due for a new pair of shoes anyway, so I headed to the shop, where Mark and his most experienced manager puzzled over my krazy-with-a-k foot issues. I spent about 45 minutes there, answering all kinds of questions about my shoe vs pain history. Apparently, my shoes, with 300 miles or so, look pretty battered, but my inserts, bought new at the same time as the shoes, look practically brand new. For the record, I've always been very easy on my shoes (street and athletic) and have never, ever come close to wearing a pair out. I despise shoes with a break-in period, because I can't even break them in properly.

The theory is that in trying to correct my issues, we've been going stiffer and stiffer, which really isn't helping things, despite my serious overpronation. So rather than go right for a stability or motion control shoe, we started trying flexible shoes. The first felt so weird I could hardly walk normally in it, let alone run. Then we moved on up the stiffness ladder, trying different brands. I finally tried on a pair of Asics that felt different than the rest - good different. Great!

But they were out of stock in my size, so I have to wait a few more days. In the meantime, the manager was nice enough to MacGyver my current shoes and inserts, building up the left arch and the right lateral edge with duct tape and cut up old shoe inserts. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that schmancy new shoes and a little bit of duct tape can keep me running pain free.

I guess the old saying really is true: If it can't be fixed with duct tape, it can't be fixed.

And the tri update: Run: 12.2, Bike 42, Swim 1800. I had planned to do a big workout today, but, get this, I had two very small glasses of wine last night while at the Ellis Paul show, and woke up seriously dehydrated, and maybe a little bit hung over. I felt pretty unwell today, and just decided to write it off. I've got my gym bag packed for tomorrow at lunch - I can't wait to take my duct tape for a spin.

Tri-ing hard!

My totals so far:
Run: 9.1
Bike: 40
Swim: 800 yds

Meaning I have a lot of work ahead of me still. 17.1 run, 72 miles bike, and 3424 on the swim. Um, yeah.

I attempted to do a ton on the bike and then a couple of miles running today, but after 15 on the bike, my legs were a little wobbly, and I was pretty sure I was going to wipe out and go flying off the back of the treadmill. So I only did one mile. And (cue the tiny violins) my swimsuit did that thing that swimsuits do - for months, they look brand new, and then suddenly one day, they're faded into unflattering, anatomy-highlighting patterns. So I have been really reluctant to swim in my ghetto suit, and just finally got around to ordering a new one. And my shoes are truly thrashed as well.

I have 11 days off over the xmas holiday, and am planning on hitting the gym big time. In fact, I told the Supportive Husband that what I really want for my birthday (which falls near xmas) is to go to the gym and run some, bike some, and swim some. And then get gussied up and be taken out for a nice dinner.

10 more on the bike

...only 87 to go. A busy day, and I was just barely able to squeeze in 45 minutes at the gym. I figured that the bike, abs, and stretching were enough, as I got plenty of strength training last night changing Max's carseat from rear facing to forward facing. Make that car seatS. I did both my car and the Supportive Husband's car. No small feat, let me tell you. But I am confident that both seats are rock-solid. I even did the top tethers. Phew.

I can hear some of you saying it now - you're only just turning him now at almost two years old? Yes, that's right. The rule is that a child must be *at least* one year old and twenty pounds to face forward. But he can safely rearface to the limits of the seat. This means that unless the child exceeds the height limit (not a hard and fast height, but where the child's head is in relation to the seat) or weight limit of the seat for rearfacing, they can and should rearface. Here's why. My little chunkamonk is now brushing the uppermost weight limit for rearfacing, plus he's getting harder and harder to stuff through the extra-tiny back door of the Outback. So after lots of pulling, pushing, huffing, puffing, and grunting; a little bit of swearing, and one broken nail, his car seat now faces forward.

After two consecutive days on the bike, plus the exercise in car seat installation, my quads are on fire. So I'll either rest tomorrow, or go for a swim.

11 miles and congrats IronMo

First things first - IronMo qualified for Boston again!!!! Hotshot ran a 3:37 at CIM. WAY TO GO, IronMo! That is seriously hardcore. She's now a two time IronMan and a two time Boston Qualifier. Awesome!!!

And I took advantage of a rainy Sunday afternoon to head to the gym and do 11 miles on the bike. It only took me 38 minutes - the bikes at the other location fit me a little better, and are stationed right in front of a window. So I downloaded an old episode of Fresh Air and just pedaled my heart out. I was only going to do 10, but it went so much faster than I thought, so I just kept going. Then some abs and stretching, and I was home and showered by the time Max woke up. Only 97 miles to go on the bike!

Two more down

So, it wasn't all running. But I ran and walked my butt off today, so I'm giving myself credit for two.

My dad ran/walked the men's four miler this morning, so I headed out to Free Union to spectate. I arrived at the Chapel (about 1/4 mile from the start) just moments before the mass of runners pounded by. I saw my dad, cheered for him, waited for the last runner, and then headed out on the course. I went to just past the 1/2 mile mark, just over the crest of the last hill where I had a good view up to the 3 mile mark. By the time I got there, the first place runner was already zooming by. As a proud alumna of the Scream Tunnel, you better believe that I worked up a sweat spectating. Since I was just below the crest of a hill near the end of the race, there were some pretty tired souls, who were gracious enough to say "thank you" to me as I cheered and clapped and screamed encouragement.

It's these back-of-the-packers who make spectating so much fun. The guys in the lead are rightfully concentrating on staying in the lead. The guys just behind them are running really really hard trying to catch up, or win their age group, or set a PR. But then just behind them are those who are amateurs, and I mean that in the full sense of the word. The root of the word amateur is love. Without the promise of winning, their motivation is entirely intrinsic. For them to have cheering and encouragement is usually unexpected, and always icing on the cake.

I've read a few articles lately written by fast runners who don't believe that those of us who are 5+ hour marathoners have any right to run marathons. The arguments generally all take the tone of "if you can't take it seriously enough to put in 100 miles a week, it's dangerous and disrespectful." I beg to differ.

First, the danger aspect. There's danger inherent in great physical exertion, no matter how well trained you are. One only has to think of the recent death of Ryan Shay at the Olympic marathon trials. Gentle readers, I assure you that I am well aware of the toll that 26.2 miles can take on my body and mind. I ran Richmond in 80 degree heat and was, relatively speaking, about as comfortable as possible due to my careful hydration and electrolyte replacement. I trained in the heat, I researched the effects it would have on my body, and I took every possible precaution to stay safe. And I did.

Second, the disrespect. I assure you, that though I have an incredibly full life outside of running, and though I lack any genetic gift for running at all, I surely respect this distance. My relationship with it is different than yours, certainly, but my reasons for being at a race are no less valid than yours. Surely my presence isn't weighing you down from the back of the pack. Any animosity you feel toward me is yours and yours alone. You run your race, and I run mine.

And let's face it, it's the peons and the masses that make it possible for you to have a bevy of well-supported marathons from which to choose. There wouldn't be a Richmond without the throngs who enter for the fun, the challenge, and the life-changing experience.

Anyway, back to the four miler. My dad was in the last handful of runners, but still looked strong. I ran and walked the rest of the way to the finish with him, encouraging to keep a fast walk when he couldn't run. With the cones of the finish chute in sight, I told him to kick hard, and I slowed to a walk, to let him have the accomplishment of crossing the finish line all to himself. Way to go, Dad!!!

Anyway, I then had to walk the 1/4 mile or so back to the car, which brought me to nearly 1 mile for the morning. And all in jeans and carrying my purse! Then later, I pushed Max in the buggy for a 1.5 miles walk with Louise. So I think I'm perfectly legit in claiming a couple of miles toward my goal.

7.1 down, 133.5 to go

I am so far sucking on my goal to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112, and run 26.2 by New Year's. It's been a busy week, what can I say. I hit the exercise bike at the gym during lunch the other day, and OMG, it kicked my butt, in every sense of the word. Must buy padded shorts. I found it really awkward, since those contraptions aren't built for someone 5'2", no matter how far down you can jack the seat. So I did 4 miles in just under 20 minutes. Which is slower than a lot of people can run.

I gave up my regular workout on Thursday in favor of a 90 minute yoga class, which seems like a completely insane indulgence these days. Something akin to bathing in champagne, or lighting Cubans with $100 bills. Good lord, it was so wonderful. But it just means I'm one more day down on this end of year goal. And at the rate I'm going, the bike portion is going to take a really long time.

Race Report: Turkey Trot

I did a "race for the cure" type thing when Max was 2 mos old, but other than that, I've never done a race that involved getting the both of us ready to go and out of the house at a decent hour. It was a total fire drill, and by the time we got there, all the good parking was gone and we ended up over 1/4 mi from the start. There was a brief moment of terror when Max loudly proclaimed "Max poop," but it must have been a false alarm, THANK GOD. There was no time for messy diaper changing before the start.

We started back with the walkers and baby joggers. My dad accompanied us, but got pretty wiped by the first couple of hills, so we left him behind at mile 1. This course is extremely hilly, even by Cville standards, and pushing Max up and down hills was immensely challenging. I walked most of the steep uphills, hoping to make up some time on the downhills, but keeping the stroller from dragging me headfirst down the steep hills was almost as challenging as going up. However, I still managed to run 11:30 in mile 2, my best of the race.

I felt a little crummy during mile 3, and by the time I got my second wind, we'd made the turn onto the crushed gravel path. It is narrow, and doesn't really allow for passing, plus they must have recently added a truckload of crushed gravel, and it was like pushing the stroller through sand. It was flat, but nearly as tough going as the uphills. Finally, around the sports club, and the finish line in sight, I kicked hard and crossed the finish in 42:40. Mark gave me a shout out and a pat on the back as I came through, and I saw a couple other friends as well. At the end of the chute, Max got a blue ribbon that proclaimed him a "PARTICIPANT."

The finish chute funneled me right to the refreshment tent, and I grabbed a bagel and some grapes, and headed back to the chute to keep an eye out for my dad. He kicked hard and looked springy as he crossed the finish in 51:00. I was way more beat than he was, that's for sure.

We had serious work to do, so didn't hang around for awards and prizes, but took the long hike straight back to the car. Max heard a train as we were walking and proclaimed "choo choo happy" and then "yellow truck" when he saw the yellow truck parked across from us. Hello, smarty-pants!

Athlete

Last night was the end of the season potluck dinner for the running group. After a quick workout (2 mi on the treadmill, some stretching and weights), I headed over to the shop. It was great to see everyone in regular clothes, hair done, rested and wide awake. Everyone was also wearing their medals, except for those of us who did Buck Mountain. It was neat to see all the hardware - the Marine Corps medal were enormous this year; Richmond, though they had promised a "commemorative" 30th running medal looked pretty much the same as last year's.

We ate, took a picture of the group, answered Mark's series of questions (who had negative splits? what was the worst mile? favorite training run?), and talked about plans for next year.

I felt pangs of jealousy hearing about Richmond, and the cool weather. But like IronMo said, it'll still be there when I'm ready again. Maybe next year?

Our group spans the range of those just hoping to finish to those who effortlessly breeze through BQ times. And Mark, bless his soul, treats each and every one of us like the athletes that we are. It's taken me a year and a half to get to the point that I don't feel like a fraud when I say I'm an athlete. My only hope for an age group win is to still be running when I'm 100. I can't do 60 miles a week, my diet isn't systematically tuned to be the best fuel for my runs. But I'm out there. I'm setting goals, and sometimes I meet them, and sometimes I don't. I'm always pushing to be better than I was, to learn something new about my sports (running and swimming). I'm out to have fun, but I take them very seriously. Running and racing are not the most important parts of my life or identity, but they are woven in to the fabric of my life, and can't be disentangled from all the other threads that make me who I am. I'm a mom, a wife, I used to be an airline pilot, I'm still a current flight instructor, I'm a woman and a feminist, I've got brown hair, two masters degrees, and a sense of humor. And I'm an athlete.

So thanks, Mark, all the other runners, and the staff at the shop, for welcoming me into this community. Many times you all treated my athletic aspirations with much more seriousness and respect than I could muster. Thankfully, that attitude has finally rubbed off on me.

I'm an athlete.

1100 and yoga

A wonderful couple of days, exercise wise. I busted out 1100 (or was it 1150?) in the pool yesterday at lunch. Did it in just over 20 min, including a few laps of drill, and 25 of butterfly at the end. Go me. Mil desculpas to the folks in the other lane who were most certainly disrupted by my splashy thrashing.

And then today, a good, long yoga class. I am embarrassed to say that Max was not 2 months old the last time I went to yoga class. Things like nursing, running, and life kind of got in the way. Oh how I missed it, though. I hope I can make it a more regular gig.

Track

I hit the track this morning. I did 3 or 3.25, I lost count a little bit. I did a warmup, 3x800, with easy 400's in between, then an all out 400. Very zen, and I was considerably faster than I thought I'd be - 4:35- 4:45 on the 800's and 2:14 on the 400. Not bad for being so lazy the past couple of weeks. The Turkey Trot is in less than two weeks and while I don't expect to break last year's PR, it would be nice to be close. However, my dad is running it, and I'm considering doing it with him while pushing Max in the stroller. That would be an incredible workout, but would certainly be my slowest 5K time ever. But Thanksgiving's all about family, right? I can always try for a PR on New Year's.

Fun with toddler!

The Supportive Husband's return from Mexico was delayed, so my plans for a long solo run didn't work out. I did a couple of miles with Max in the stroller. He's getting heavier, and the stroller/baby combo now weighs about 60 pounds. Add to that the "warmup" of getting him out of the house, past his bike and his little wheelbarrow on the front porch ("biiiiiike, mama, biiiiike," tears ensued), a brief stop to examine the earthworms on the driveway, then a losing battle over the addition of a stroller cozy to the setup (he'd rather be cold than cozy, and the straps don't fit through quite right, anyway), and it was a pretty strenuous 2. I'm hoping to still squeeze in a couple more today, but it's not looking good. The Supportive Husband finally landed in Richmond, but the main road out of the airport was totally shut down due to an accident, and all the roads in the city were shut down because of the marathon.

The marathon! Yes, I am so disappointed that I'm not there. It's perfect weather - started off a little rainy, but is overcast and cool. Just perfect. I know I can break five hours, it just wasn't meant to be this year. (insert Mama having her own meltdown here)

Anyway, I parked Max in front of the TV (Wonder Pets; they were going to the aid of a puppy that needed to peepee but couldn't because he was locked inside the house. Yes, really!!) so I could shower. Then off to swim lessons. It was at the gym's other location, which I thought I'd like better, but I guess everyone does because man, that warm water pool was PACKED full of kids and senior citizens. Max had a fantastic time jumping off the edge again, and can now actually hoist himself out of the water onto the edge. Goodness! However, he kind of flipped out a little at the end of class because, like the puppy, he had to peepee. Nothing like trying to do the alphabet song while Max is grabbing his crotch with both hands saying, "peepee mama peepee diaper." I guess I've got the only kid on the planet who won't just pee in the pool.

So that was my workout today, baby in tow. Good times.

And congrats, Richmonders! But unless you were there last year, you have no idea how good you have it.

IronMama??

Okay, I just heard about this fantastic idea - the "go at your own pace" triathlon. Pick a date range (for example, Thanksgiving to New Year's) and in that time swim 2.4 miles, bike 114, and run 26.2. A great way to keep motivated and in that marathon spirit during the season of excuses.

Starting with my 5k on Thanksgiving, I'm doing this!! Seriously. I hope I can finish. But don't get too excited - I'll be doing the biking on the stationary bike at the gym.

Distance

Physical distance, just 2 miles walking with the stroller. Emotional distance, three years.

Marathoning mama victorious!

Paula Radcliffe wins NYC!! I ran 5:34 with a 10 month old, she ran 2:23. But I'm guessing that she wasn't exclusively nursing, and that running is her only job. And that she's incredibly genetically gifted as well. But, jealousy aside, go Paula! I have to wonder if the recent rash of successful post-partum athletes has any thing to do with the Title IX provisions that came into effect when I was a child. We're the first generations of moms who ever really had viable athletic aspirations. And we're finding out that childbirth and child rearing doesn't end those aspirations.

Swimming & weights

Actually, it was Max's first swim lesson. Which was not an insignificant workout for Mama. I had to lift him up over and over and over. Boy wanted to jump off the wall into my arms, and how could I say no to that. Couple that with the fact that the pool is warmer than Max's bathtub, and I was pretty wilted by the end. I'll run tomorrow, but today I'm kicking back, watching football, and heading to the film festival.

Recovery week

Truth be told, I pretty much sat around. I did do a lot of walking and go for a swim. But life is, as always, super busy, and I had a lot of catching up to do on all kinds of things.

Without any good run/workout reports, I'll leave you with some of the search strings that have led visitors (hello, visitors!) to my blog (with my comments in parentheses):

buck mountain half marathon

marathon mama

running group street cred (I love this one)

nine months up, nine months down

can I breastfeed after running a half marathon? (this reminds me of the old joke about the kid who breaks his arm and asks the doctor if he'll be able to play the violin, and the doctor says yes, and the kid says, that's amazing, I've never played before in my life)

how long is 7 miles (depends on if you're looking for an answer or a punchline)

wearing camelbak in marathon

mama marathon (of course!)

pooping before a marathon

train and run for marathon while 11 weeks pregnant (wow, her 1st trimester must shake out pretty differently from mine)

calories per roll of smarties

I'll be back in the groove next week - I've got the Turkey Trot to train for. I set a PR there last year, wouldn't it be nice to set another?

no rest for the weary

The thing about being a mom-athlete is that rest and recovery after a race are really "rest" and "recovery." Last year, I carted Max up and down the stairs within hours after the marathon. Luckily, my mom hung around long enough to lift him in and out of the bathtub. This year, no different. The Supportive Husband is a photographer, so most Saturdays he's shooting a wedding. So once Max went down for his nap yesterday, I was on my own. At least the Supportive Husband had done an excellent job of getting Max worn out, so I could expect a long nap, giving me an opportunity to put my feet up. Though that didn't quite work out - Max is adored by a little girl down the street who rang the doorbell at regular intervals to ask if he was up from his nap yet and could he come out to play.

Then as soon as he was up, it was off to the pumpkin patch. How better to recover from a race than toting a 30-pound toddler, one giant pumpkin, and two huge gourds around the local plant nursery.

But Sunday, day of rest, right? At least Max got the memo that he was supposed to sleep in! I emerged from my race-induced coma after a blissful 10 hours of sleep. I don't think I've slept that long since he was born! But once he was up, rest was over. I made a pancake breakfast, took Max on a wagon ride around the neighborhood, went to Target for diapers, grocery shopped for the week, filled the MamaMobile with gas, and hurried home so that the Supportive Husband could go meet with clients. Then, hit the ground running again. Max is learning to jump, so I did a lot of jumping today.

In some ways, I'm glad I never really ran before I had kids. I'd hate to know that in another life, I'd spent the day or two after the race lounging in the jacuzzi eating bonbons.

Race Report: Buck Moutain Half Marathon

13.1, baby!! Woot!

The last time I ran this course was last fall during marathon training - the infamous driving rain and cold run. So I was looking forward to Perfect Weather today and actually getting to see the views I'd heard so much about.

Race registration was on a card table lit by a camping lantern. I gladly donated $20 to the YMCA building fund and got my "goody" bag, which contained lip balm, a $10 off shoe coupon, and a wooden chip with the race logo on it - don't EVEN say that's my substitute for a medal. Free or not, it's a little depressing to do a race where there's no t-shirt and no medal. Anyway, my tummy was feeling a little weird still, and I was crossing my fingers that I'd be able to do the course in 2:30. I really, really just wanted to finish, more so than any other race I've done.

We started just about on time. The first 2.5 are flat - this is the same stretch of road where I ran my one and only 9 minute mile on New Year's day. No prob. I was trucking at around 10:45/mi. Mile 5 goes up Catterton, which I can't adequately describe. Oh, shoot, sure I can. It's a huge fucking hill. There. It's over a mile of relentless, steep uphill. I did just fine going up, and it felt great to stretch out my stride on the screaming downhill following.

Then came the real butt-kicking hills. I forgot about the back side of the loop. Up and down, up and down. Crazy drivers, no shoulder, the whole package deal. I walked quite a bit.

But then back through the village of Free Union, and only 3 miles to go, along the same flattish stretch that began the race. The only training run I've ever had calf cramps on was this Free Union run in the rain last year. I chalked it up to the rain and the cold. But it really must have been something about the hills, because I must say that the last 2 miles were extremely painful. At the 12 mile mark, 2:10 had elapsed. I was hobbling a little. I knew 2:30 was going to be close. But dammit, I wanted it. I wanted it bad. With less than a half mile to go, I could see the finish.

With the cones marking the last 100 yards in sight, I glanced at my watch: 2:28. I kicked hard, entered the chute, kicked harder. Crossed the finish and hit my watch. Did I do it?

HELL YEAH. 2:29:22, baby. Awesome.

And then my legs cramped up, there was no food or gatorade at the finish (but it was a FREE race, so I can't really complain, plus I had half a banana in the car), and on the drive home I thought I might throw up. But all in all, a great race. I was by myself just about the entire time, just a word or two as I passed or got passed by other runners. So I'm extra proud of meeting my goal.

two days left...

...game on, baby, game on. The GI bug was, as promised, short lived. I did a little over a mile today and felt strong. A cold front swept through, and it's now cool, clear, and breezy. At last! I cleaned out my CamelBak, refused multiple social invitations for Friday night (damn!), and soaked my stinky favorite shirt in vinegar. Ready or not, Buck Mountain, here I come!!

3 days to go...

...and all is not well. All occupants are suffering from a low-grade day care GI illness. Word on the street is that it'll be gone in 24 hrs. I sure hope so. I went for what turned out to be a very short run today, and almost yakked about a 1/4 mile into it. I don't have a backup race, so Saturday is my one shot. Cross your fingers that this bug is gone by tomorrow night and I'm 100% in time for race day.