Race Week!

Oh boy, time flies when you're following around two kiddos!  We have had an extremely busy month, I think (should I say it out loud?) that I just might be getting the hang of this two kid thing.  It still crushes me when I'm unprepared, but I've definitely figured out that a) we have to keep our schedules full of outings & events and b) how to get us to those outings & events (for the most part).  Getting the dogs walked (we have an extra this month) and the kids fed, dressed, clean & in and out of the car feels like a workout every day.

Amazingly (to me), I still have not missed a single one of my three-times-a-week runs.  Pat on back!  At times I've had to squeeze them in when I wasn't in the mood or would have preferred to do something else (usually nap), but I'm practicing a level of dedication that is mostly new to me.  I still carry the load of guilt my high school band director inspired from begging me to pick something (he recommended practicing my french horn) and do it often and well instead of doing a bunch of things half assed (my words, not his).  I struggle with that to this day.  I've mostly made peace with this part of my nature (I chose well with a liberal arts education).  However, I still find it challenging to focus on just one or two hobbies which leaves me with piles of unfinished projects and goals.  The fact that I've made every single run since mid-August makes me very, very proud.

Of course, the fact that my runs are still relatively short makes it a lot easier.  It is much simpler to get out the door when I remind myself that I'll be back in less than a half hour than it is when I know it will be more than an hour.  The prep for such a short run is a lot faster, too.  For my longer runs I'll need to eat appropriately beforehand, gather food for during and after my run, make sure my garmin & mp3 player are charged, pack a towel and a change of clothing, go drive somewhere and then drive all the way home after.  That takes a much larger part of my day so it will be difficult to impossible to be spontaneous in my use of "oh hey, two kids asleep.... Mommy time!" time.  But I'm not going to worry about that yet (ah, really... nope, no I'm not).

So I've stayed on track and I have race number two this coming weekend!  I feel ready for it.  I'm running a Halloween 5k and will not only be running in costume, but also pushing my two year old (also in costume!).  I have completed several two mile runs pushing him in the last few weeks.  It has definitely gotten easier, though that is qualified by the weather (windy = TOUGH).  I'm praying for a flat race course!

The last two weekends I've also increased my longest run to four miles.  I enjoyed both four mile runs immensely.  My route takes me from my house over a mile of dirt road with some beautiful fall foliage and rolling hills.  With a four mile run I get to finally start feeling like A Runner, and not just a casual jogger.  That is a personal distinction for me, I'm sure it is different for everyone.  Maybe there's no difference for you- but once I get to do my four mile route I feel that I'm out there for more than just exercise.  Once I hit that mile of dirt road in the middle of the run I feel more relaxed, more focused, and more comfortable with my movement.  I'm not working as hard but probably running faster (without noticing or pushing).  It is my form of Zen.  It is when I get some of my best thinking done or when I'm able to really listen and not think at all.  This is why I run!  I don't get to this place with shorter runs, so I'm thrilled to be just scratching the surface of my Happy Place.

I will be celebrating another milestone as I cross the finish line on Sunday.  One more month of training done and I am a stronger woman and a better mother for it.  Thanks for cheering!

Iron Mommy (& Daddy) Tag Team: A One Act Play

Miles Run Today: 2 (with Toddler)


This is how it went here this afternoon:

I woke Oren from a super iron toddler nap and avoided the post-nap crankies (his not mine) with the incentive of "eating rabbits" (Amy's brand bunny graham crackers) in the jogger while going running with mommy, and then coming home to do our "exercises".  He quickly (relatively) allowed me to change his diaper and get him and I our respective drinks.  He obediently let me put him into the jogger and proceeded to eat his bunnies as we took off.

I ran two miles from our house down the street, around the corner ("That a big truck, Mommy?" "Yep (breathe), it is (breathe) Oren!", past the high school ("There's (breathe) the band (breathe) Oren!" "Those the drums, Mommy?" "Yep! (breathe)", up a very slight (but tough!) hill "That a flower store, Mommy?" "Yep (huff!)!", and back through our neighborhood ("More rabbits, Mommy..."). No teasing from my little man this time.

Jogged up the driveway and stretched a bit.

Saw my husband standing in the back door with baby girl.  "Oren, do you want to run with Daddy?" "Yeah...".  Stretched more while husband went to change.

"Tag" as husband emerged and took over the jogging stroller and toddler conversation.

Went back inside and found baby daughter lying on her back on our bed sucking on both fists, totally content.  Got closer and quickly discovered husband had left me a baby with a full poopy diaper.  Gasped as I realized there's a poopy infant lying on top of our one week old almost three hundred dollar white down comforter that isn't in its cover yet and then breathe as I see she didn't leak.  Lucky, lucky husband.

Change baby.

Baby is still happy so run downstairs to grab bouncy seat to bring upstairs into bathroom.  SHOWER while thanking my lucky stars that Number Two (baby girl) is now mellow enough to finally oblige me this time saving move (one which Number One was cool with from the start...).  Dry self, nurse baby girl, wait for guys to come home.  Entertain toddler while Daddy showers.

Take off with baby girl and dog for a walk.

The important part?  Two very little, unpredictable people.  Two adults who like to run.  Two adults got to run in same afternoon.  Priceless.

Inspiration Everywhere

My daughter Mara has been a better night time sleeper than my son was at this age, but that disappeared this weekend.  We're not sure if it was her cold or the fact that she's starting to roll or that she has almost figured out how to suck on a finger or thumb (yet to be determined which one) and is instead poking herself in the eyes and nose.  Maybe it was all of that or perhaps she was just bored.  Who knows what the problem was but she was waking up much more often and by yesterday afternoon I was completely exhausted.  When my chance to run came I was totally uninterested.  I hadn't showered in three days and desperately wanted another chance at a nap.  Add to that the fact that it was the run I was supposed to practice pushing Oren and it was very windy outside- not a good time to be pushing anything much less a jogging stroller that acts as a giant wind scoop.  But after only minimal nudging from my encouraging husband I sucked it up and changed clothing.  It was beautiful outside so at least I had that incentive.

But then- my training buddy bailed on me!  I tried to get him upstairs to put shoes and a jacket on so we could go but NO dice.  Let's go running!  Running with Mommy?  Please?  NO!  How demoralizing that after two years of not showing the kid any TV, yesterday I lost out to Thomas the Train Engine.  Granted, he was watching from his daddy's lap and it is still a new treat but still.  Talk about Wind Out Of Sails.

Sigh.

It took me a long time to get into the run- as previously pointed out I was tired but now I was also a touch bitter at Thomas (the train, not my husband who happens to share the name).  As I headed out into the wind I was feeling very discouraged.  It was the first time in this cycle of training that I felt those nasty seeds of doubt begin to grow in the back of my mind.  Several friends of mine were out running marathons and half marathons yesterday.  How could I really get back there if heading out for a few miles was taking this much work?  How am I going to find time for those really, really long runs next spring?  Do I really think my knees are going to hold up for a full marathon and what is the point of trying if they won't?

I was only going to run a mile or so with my son but since I was on my own I decided to run three miles.  Thankfully, it was really, really beautiful outside despite the gusty wind.  By the time I got a mile into the run I pushed myself to do the hilly (but even prettier) route instead of the flatter (but relatively boring) route.  Luckily the wind was blowing at my back on the way home and by the time I rounded the corner on the homestretch I realized that I was a) setting a nice pace b) not thinking about running and c) happy.

And then my dear girl fought going to bed but slept like a rock and I finally felt recharged this morning.  We had a very fun morning getting her photo taken.  When I came home there was a fantastic surprise- a gift from a dear friend of a "Full of Awesome" T-shirt!  (see several posts below if that phrase doesn't ring a bell).  How Cool!  Ms. D, you have no idea how well you timed that.  I can't wait to wear my new shirt to bed and wake up to nurse my daughter with "FULL OF AWESOME" across my chest.  And to think that though we haven't spoken in months or seen each other in (choke) years, she knew exactly what would make me smile.  Not only that, but the sweet card enclosed with the gift noted that she found ME inspiring!  Melting.... and with that, my heart soared and Mara and I zoomed around the neighborhood with the dog thinking and being inspired...

... by my great-grandmother (Mary) and grandmother (Marion) who bowled regularly into their eighties (I'm sure my Grandma could still kick my butt on the lanes, too!).

... by my mom (Linda Marie) who started running at fifty something and at almost sixty something is still grooving and a triathlete!  (Mara is named after these three inspiring women, so she enjoyed hearing about that).

... by my neighbor who takes off running with her two girls and when I cheered her on simply shrugged and said, "How else am I going to get it in?".

... by my rockstar friend Kelly who just finished yet another marathon in memory of her mom.

... by my friend Jaclyn who is running mega miles in spite of having seriously screwed up feet and ankles (and two little boys).

... by my sister in law who is caring for two little ones under 18 months old (a 3 month old and a 16 month old, yikes!) while my brother is out to sea as a U.S. Coast Guard Officer for three months (he left when my nephew was only three weeks old)!

and most of all by the thought of my little boy and girl growing up with a healthy, active, athletic mommy who can set high, scary goals for herself and manage to set aside time and find spare energy to work on them.

I've got to keep going!

Pushing Uphill

Miles Run Today: 1.5 (with toddler in stroller)

Our BOB Ironman running stroller (pictured in the sidebar) weighs at least 23 pounds (those are the specifications for the current version which looks much updated from ours and probably means lighter).  My "little" man Oren weighs at least 32 pounds, per his two year well check which was over three months ago.  That means, when I push him around the block I am running with an additional fifty five pounds!  That is just a little (not admitting how little...) less than half my current weight.  Now I know that my dear friend Jaclyn (not me, the other one sillies...) runs with two boys with a double BOB stroller which means she's pushing well over eighty pounds.  But she's got a much higher tolerance for tough and for pain than I do as evidenced by her much more grueling pregnancies and willingness to do it all over again (the woman is nutso- I love her!).

Back to Oren and I.  This is tough.  Really tough.  Today I found myself pushing him up a slow rise in our neighborhood.  I was starting to feel very winded.  I could hear myself breathing.  And then I heard my son, that cute little toddler riding along with his legs criss crossed in front of him watching the yards pass by, ask, "Mommy walking?".  As in... Mommy, are you running yet?

This is fun, this is fun, this is fun, this is fun....

This is WORK!

A New Race, A New Iron Mommy Challenge

I've reviewed, reflected and consulted my running husband.  We both want to register for a Halloween run and there happens to be two local events on separate weekends this year.  This offers the perfect opportunity for each of us to do a run while the other wrangles kiddos... allowing us to have our own cheering section/support team.

I'm excited to register for another event though I am still conflicted about distance.  I would really like to start cranking up the miles.  Unfortunately, I'm scared to screw up my knee and it definitely still feels really wobbly.  Instead of adding miles, I've decided to register for the 5k and push my two year old son!  I took the later of the two weekends, so my next race (the Plymouth Wicked Halloween Run) will be on Sunday, October 30.  My husband thinks this is a challenge equal to adding the miles for a 10k, but I think this will be a little more fun.  It is also very Project Iron Mommy appropriate.  I'm very excited to have Oren start seeing his mommy as an athlete as he already sees his Daddy.  He likes to point to runners when we see them outside and then talk about running with his Dad.  I haven't run more than twice with Oren and I know he loves getting pushed with his Daddy.  It will be particularly fun to do a Halloween run together.  We ran together as a threesome on Halloween last year but since Mara is too little to ride in the stroller, we'll divide and conquer!

Now I just have to find some time to start training with my little guy.  This should be interesting.  I'm now accepting all suggestions for our (easy to assemble!) Mommy/Son (Runner/Rider) Halloween costume!

Mini Goal- 5k- Complete!

Miles Run Today: 2

Life has gotten busy recently so I haven't been able to write much.  The good news is that I have managed to keep running.  And the even better news is that last Sunday I reached my first distance goal, a 5k, and enjoyed it very much.

Saturday afternoon I had actually begun to panic a bit when I confirmed the race start time (8:00 in the morning) and began calculating what time I would need to wake up in order to change, eat, feed Mara, drive to the Zoo (where the race started), pick up my race packet, and warm up.  My husband spoke the words that were in the back of my head, "Well, you picked this race so that if you could not make it it would still be a worthwhile donation...", giving me an easy escape route.  I quickly asserted that I would still run, I had to run the race, I just needed to make it work.  This was all just so much easier without kids!  (And therein lies the plot...)

I set my alarm for 6:25 on Sunday morning with my clothes (a couple of options), shoes, post race clothing (in case the family met me for fun in the zoo afterwards), hat, wallet, and keys all ready to go on the couch and kitchen table.  My plan was to wake up, dress, eat, and at the very last minute I would feed Mara, hand her to Tom and race out the door (pun intended!).  I went to bed early, more anxious about all the logistics than the actual run.

Sunday morning I woke up at 3:00 and thought it surprisingly pleasant that Mara had not woken up to eat.  I woke up at 4:00 thinking that if she didn't wake soon then she might not be ready to eat when I needed her to at 7:00.  I woke up at 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, and 6 ish... all to no sounds of Mara!  How wonderful, my daughter slept all night!  But I was now more than a little uncomfortable from not nursing her and my plans were a bit skewed.  I got out of bed when my alarm went off and spent extra time pumping milk for Mara so I would be less full.  Then I went up and half dressed, but couldn't get completely dressed because I still needed to wake her up to nurse.  I was so uncomfortable from going all night that I didn't even want to deal with my tops yet.  So, a little earlier than planned, I tiptoed into Mara's room.  She was still sleeping as I gently lifted her out of bed and fed her and remained out cold as I put her back into her bed and tiptoed back out.  Amazing.

With a few words to a still sleeping husband and a minute in the living room to finish dressing, I grabbed hot water in a travel mug and a granola bar and ran to the car.  I was mostly on time.

Once on the road I relaxed.  I had escaped and could now just go enjoy the race!  There was quite a bit of congestion getting into the zoo parking lot, but I figured that even if I missed the race start I could follow the walkers and slower runners.  I parked, ran to the packet pick up and back to my car (my warm up) and then lined up in front of the start at 7:56, just in time for an impressive singing of the national anthem.

And then we were off!  It was a beautiful morning for a run- the sky was clear and bright and it was a very comfortable temperature.  I had dressed a little too warmly (I know better, but hate to be cold at the start) and had my extra layer tied around my waist.  I love the people watching at races- trying to imagine everyone's stories and experiences.  It was bittersweet noticing the race shirts from my favorite races that I missed in the last calendar year.

But I'm back!  At the first mile marker I noticed I'd run a 9 something mile.  In my short training runs, I've been running somewhere between 10:30/11 minute miles so I really needed to slow down.  I let everyone run past.  The course was really pretty- through a lovely neighborhood with beautiful old houses and thoughtful gardens and yards.  At the second mile, I was at 18 minutes... so I hadn't managed to slow down.  Oh well, I figured and just wanted to keep it up.  The final mile was a bit less pretty and we had to run uphill and on old, concrete sidewalk.  If there was a tough part of the race, this was it.  But sooner than I was ready for, there was a turn into the zoo.  Lots of spectators lined the finish chute and I ran it in with a proud grin.  I was more than satisfied with my finish time of 28:40 which is only three and a half minutes slower than my fastest 5k time.  Not bad, Mama!

My only regret is that I had texted Tom that the parking lots were full (because they were) so that he wouldn't bring the kids down.  He followed my advice and I was really sad to see so many other kids there without having my own to celebrate with me.  Next time, we'll do it as a group!

Speaking of next time- I am now reflecting and re-evaluating.  I was considering doing a 10k for Halloween, but I still haven't made my knee/hip exercises a part of my routine and I'm concerned about pushing farther without them.  I'll decide what my next goal is in the next week.

Thanks for cheerleading, keep it coming!

Wake Up Full of Awesome!

I love this post so much I'm going to share it here.
Read it if you have a couple extra seconds.  I'm off to go reclaim my awesome...