Marathon Mom

I know I have said it before but I don't run 5Ks or 10Ks for that matter, but this one is put on by the organization I coach for so I feel obligated to run it twice a year (and it is cheap). The downside is it always falls the day after a long run, yesterday I ran my final Boston long run of 20ish miles. Inside before the race The course is tough, very hilly and the snow/ice covered sections of path didn't help. Also racing in cold isn't a fin idea either, today was a little warmer then yesterday, low 20s and sunny during the race. I took off with the lead guys and they soon lost me but I kept pushing up the hill and finally hit the turn around. Luckily much of the way back was downhill until the final 0.1 mile which was again uphill. I was the 1st woman to cross and I thin 4th or 5th overall, like I said last time this is the perk of small races! I'd never be able to win a 5K in 21:40. Somehow this is actually a PR for me, nice! I can't believe I was able to...

I can't seem to find it and I want it back! I think it is part the weather, part the way I feel, and part who knows probably the length of training in the Winter. After finally being able to get in a long run outside again and thinking Spring weather was actually here it snowed again and now we sit here looking at a foot of snow on the ground and temperatures in the 30s, come on I've had enough! I look forward to my workouts, running especially but then it comes time for the actual run and I'd rather do a million other things! For example last Friday I was so excited about my long run on Saturday but then Saturday came and I had other feelings on it and took awhile convincing myself to get out there. Most of the time the end result is good and I'm glad I got the workout in. I think I am just sick of knowing I have yet another 1-2 hours on the treadmill or trainer. Last week I updated my iPod play list thinking new music would help and have been doing more gym workouts...

A comment on my last post got me thinking about fueling pre-race and what I normally eat and how that changed since going gluten free. As far as night before a race/long run I have done it all, some good and some not so good: the typical pasta, gnocchi, rice dishes, black bean tacos- not so smart, Indian food- sometimes good, sometimes not, sushi- actually good, veggie burgers and sweet potatoes. Traveling for Boston on a GF diet will be interesting, worst thing I grab a couple sweet potatoes and throw them in the microwave at the hotel. Race morning used to always be a whole grain bagel  with PB and a banana, then I traded the bagel for 2 pieces of whole grain toast, then for some reason switched to cereal and a banana which is what I am doing currently. I have also done yogurt with granola and oatmeal. The other part of race fuel is during the race and this I am still looking for the answer to. I've done it all: Gu, Clif Blox, Power Bar Chews, Hammer...

I just looked at the calendar and realized that Boston is only 1 month away and as all the runners know this means only one more big training week then the dreaded taper. The timing for this is not ideal, we are finally getting good weather and I am antsy to get in more miles outside and enjoy it. It will be interesting to see how much tough it is running with BOB now that Ophelia has grown and I haven't been running with her since last Fall. Looking back, my training has been interesting. I started with a great plan in place and was going to actually follow a "real" training plan this time instead of my "make it up as you go" training plan. That all changed when the weather stayed nasty, cold and snowy and a lot of my miles were ending up on the treadmill to accommodate Ophelia's naps. And then them broken arm and time off didn't help the situation any. Oh well, like I said before I've accepted that Boston is not a goal race and I'm just going...

I went back to the doctor yesterday to get the results of all my bloodwork from last week, she was looking at pituitary, thyroid, adrenal and general hormone function. Found out a few interesting things: 1) While my TSH is currently okay and T4 borderline low normal while taking levothyroxine, my T3 is very low meaning my body is not converting T4 to T3. No wonder why I still have hypothyroid symptoms despite normal TSH levels. Why hasn't this been checked in the past? Frustrating! So now I start on Cytomel for this and to hopefully combat some of the fatigue, weakness and other hypothyroid symptoms I am having. It was interesting because in my post-appointment research I came across European studies stating this combination therapy is better then the traditional levothyroxine which is typically used in the U.S. 2) A few other hormones are decreased which is also causing me sleep issues, I was prescribed progesterone, but this I am still debating since I'm not sure how I feel a...

My work and health insurance offer a wellness program where you can get gift cards and decreased insurance rates for completing a list of requirements. Okay fine, so each year I do these just for the money. The first part is a wellness assessment which I completed in January and was told I lost too much weight in the past year, I hope so since in 2010 I was 9 months pregnant when I filled it out and decided for the first time to not get the follow up about being underweight so I entered my current pregnant weight. Oh and the other thing I always get is that my typical 2 glasses of wine per week is too much and should cut back, nope not doing that either. Yesterday I completed a health assessment at my gym which will get me $10 off my monthly dues and  a $200 gift card, pretty good deal. The test consisted of flexibility, strength, cardio, lab values and body composition. How did I do: First I refused to fast for the blood draw, sorry but I'm starving when I get up and wasn...

Last week I got ambitious and decided to make homemade gnocchi and the pesto sauce below, the result and great pesto but a messy kitchen and sticky gnocchi (better keep trying on that one). There was leftover pesto so I decided to make a risotto with red peppers and the rest of the pesto. I think this had to be the best risotto I've made, the pesto added extra creaminess and flavor. I'm always happy to make risotto since it requires white wine meaning I can't let the rest of the bottle go to waste :-) Spinach/Pistachio Pesto 1/2 cup unsalted shelled pistachios 2 cups spinach leaves 1 cup basil leaves ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated 2 gloves garlic juice of 1 lemon ¼ teaspoon black pepper ¼ cup olive oil Put the pistachios in the bowl of a food processor with a steel blade. Process until the nuts are coarsely ground. Add remaining ingredients. If pesto is too thick add a little more olive oil. To make the risotto saute 1 diced onion, 2 cloves minced garlic in...

The marathon I have aimed for since I started running in 2001 is almost here! I can tell I am in the height of my training because I am a bottomless pit, eating constantly! Another good week of running and even a day on the bike, finally adding some cross-training back in. I am now 4 weeks out from breaking my arm and have been cleared to start lifting more then 1lb, it is still quite achy but healing well and my range of motion is almost back to normal again. My only restriction is to not fall on my arm again for 4more weeks, meaning No running on the ice! The good side of this has been the increased core work, thanks to a broken arm and inability to lift weights my abs are getting a much needed workout! Week in Review Monday: SDO Tuesday: 9.25 miles with intervals + core Wednesday: 10.5 miles tempo run + core Thursday: 11.5 miles easy + core Friday: 1:05 on the trainer + core Saturday: 8.6 miles hills Sunday: 16.3 LSD Now the question I am pondering: I have 2 not so perfect...

I feel like this is a post I've already written! Sure enough I looked back and I had this past Fall when we were having multiple night time wake ups after months of great sleep. That issue is since resolved and this time the sleep issues are all mine (for the most part). My child is a great sleeper, me on the other hand needs a lesson in sleeping through the night. Off and on for as long as I remember I've had nights where I just can't sleep, this seemed to get better once I had a routine work schedule and wasn't having to be up all night. Lately it has gotten consistently worse, right along with all the other issues I've had. I go in phases where I can sleep great and then times when I don't, well this time it has been going on for a couple weeks and I'm not having fun! I go to bed completely exhausted and within 1-2 hours of falling asleep I'm wide awake, I'll fall back asleep only to wake back up in another hour and this just continues until mor...