Marathon Mom

Are you looking ahead to 2013 and race planning? I love this time, the excitement and anticipation of what's ahead. Why not make it your goal to run 13 in 2013? My challenge is 13 halfs in 2013! Who's with me? Or maybe 5Ks, 10Ks, Trail Races or even more extreme 26.2. I am excited to host the 13 in 2013 challenge with Jill at Fitness, Health & Happiness  This year Jill ran 12 halfs in 2012, way to go Jill! Details: Run 13 races of your distance in 2013 to complete the challenge, this includes both "real" and virtual races.  The number of participants is not limited Prizes throughout the year Hint: Some great running gear from our favorite brands To help out JIll and I will be hosting 4 virtual races throughout the year.  Share your plans and accomplishments with other challengers through the  13 in 2013 Facebook Group Share with Instagram and Twitter using #13in2013. How to Join: Sign up Here  by December 31st at midnigh...

This is the time of year students dread, while the rest of the world soaks up the holiday spirit we sit cramming in final papers and exams and counting down the days until we can shut off our brains. Now add into that be a teacher as well and there are not only my own finals but the one's I need to grade as well. Imagine our house this time of year with 2 grad students and now me also teaching and on top of it studying for NASM. So in the next 3 weeks I will be completing 2 final papers by next Friday, taking (and hopefully passing) NASM and then writing and grading numerous final exams and final projects. Yikes, I can do this! I will have survived my first semester teaching and another semester of my doctoral program (only 1 more and a thesis to go which still needs a topic!). I started studying for NASM in the summer and planned to take it then but life got in the way, now I am coming to my deadline and need to get back to studying. This is actually what I am most nervo...

Over the past 2 years we have been dealing with multiple GI issues with O, being someone who has food intolerances and also has dealt with the GI pain and issues similar to what I assume she is experiencing I feel awful as she is suffering.  I am writing this to express my frustration and in hopes that maybe there is another parent who has experienced a similar situation and can shed some light and offer advice. Those who don't want details of GI function and parenting be warned and step away now! This all started shortly after birth when I was breastfeeding and O had many issues with foods I ate, after cutting out numerous things she improved somewhat but has always been slow to gain. As she began eating more she ate great but for a long time will eat and then lay on the couch complaining of pain and further back just cry :( She makes way too many bathroom trips daily, often barely making it in time. This can be 6+ times a day or even more, upwards of 15+ about a year ago. Her p...

We are about to enter a strange week with Matt home since my parents are on vacation we are splitting the week home so I thought I'd try a new thing this week and make a list along with looking at workout goals. Here's what is ahead for us this week, plenty of food with leftovers for the work week and a new Pad Thai recipe now that I have the missing ingredient.  Today is also Day 1 of the big Gluten Free experiment with O so lots of planning ahead. Let's hope this works!  Dinner Black Bean Soup Pad Thai (I finally have the tamarind paste!) Pre-run Sandwich and fruit x 2 Pizza Dinner Out Roasted Cauliflower & Red Curry Squash Workouts Sunday: Short run & elliptical  Monday: Weights Tuesday: AM spin/ PM run Wednesday: Weights & easy run Thursday: AM Pilates/ PM run Friday: AM Weights/ PM Spin Saturday: Long run I am taking part in a couple holiday challenges and need to focus starting today on my eating, next up giving up diet soda again. ...

No Black Friday craziness for me, thanks to my laptop I finished shopping in my pajamas with coffee in hand! This was only the start f cyber deals, wait until Monday! Just a couple more gifts to buy and I am done without dealing with crowds. My only pet peeve on online shopping is how things will "disappear" from your shopping cart. I think this is odd, but I get it. I kind of feel like I am at a store and someone comes by and takes my cart! What great deals have you heard about? Any you plan to take part in? What about this one? An extra 15% off at VitaCost. Today through Monday Night!   Use Code SAVEBIG With Vitacost.com, you don't have to choose between stores that sell products you don't really want at super-low prices, and stores that sell the better health and wellness products you want at crazy-high prices. We offer over 2,000 of the top, most-trusted natural brands, diet foods and healthy living essentials-the very best nutritional supple...

We have run this "race" many times, through name and sponsor changes, course changes and nasty weather. This year I went into it with hopes of a PR considering the perfect weather, but I failed to think about the massive amounts of people who would decide to run now that it wouldn't be too cold. I'm not sure the exact numbers but there had to be well over 5000 people, many who had no clue how to line up for a race. I lost track of the extreme numbers of walkers, kids, strollers and dogs I passed after it took almost 10 minutes to cross the start line! I spent much of my time weaving and trying not to trip over dog leashes or people stopping in mid course. I pleased to hit Mile 1 with a 7:40, still 1 minute over where I hoped but I figured much slower given the conditions. I finally found a guy to follow who making a path through the course and was able to hold that pace with a little trail running through the downtown parks. I didn't care since it was Nove...

Did you know that today is Hug a Runner Day? Neither did I, guess there is a day for everything. I can't say I am much of a hugger but I love the concept. Did you know there is even a training page for this? Yes check on the G.O.H.A.R.D plan on Run The Edge . Let's all take today to think about those who have inspired us to run and push harder and take some time to reflect on how runner has changed our lives. Yes we often compete against others when we run, but aren't those the same people who push us to run harder and faster and overcome the obstacle holding them back. At my 10 Mile race a few weeks ago, despite the race not going my way when I finished another woman approached me and thanked me for pushing her the last few miles. I passed her about Mile 8 and she made it her goal to not let me get too far ahead. I know we have all done the same, appreciate others who we train with and race with and the family and friends who support us along the way. Who inspir...

  I am not a fan of typical Thanksgiving foods and could actually do without it all except the pumpkin pie. I am always looking for new, healthy dishes that everyone will love on Thanksgiving, who says it needs to be the day filled with unhealthy eating and over indulgence? Check out these recipes for healthier options. Thanks to everyone who shared and Pinterest for a few others. Potato/Vegetables Corn Pie from Rebecca @ Ezra Pound Cake: Vegan and gluten free   Green Bean Casserole from Susan @ Fat Free Vegan Kitchen : Vegan, fresh and healthy   Mashed Cauliflower from Denise @ Run DMT Mashed Potato Cauliflower Casserole from Amanda @ PATd, White Dog & a blog Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes from Presley @ Run Pretty Cranberry Sweet Potato Quinoa from Caroline @ Journey to Wellness Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Hazelnuts from Chef Cloe @ NY Times Vegan Thanksgiving Roasted Butternut Squash with Caramelized Onions from Closet Cooking: I love ...

Source Winter is almost here and the time of year many runners, including me, would love to avoid. The daylight hours are short, weather is colder and running surfaces often less then wonderful. So what can we do to make running this time of year better and even fun? As someone who hated Winter running for many years and has grown to tolerate and even enjoy it some days this is my list of tips... Dress for 10-20 degrees warmer: Yes, you will start out colder but will quickly warm up and don't want to overheat which will lead to more sweating. If you are warm when you start it might be a clue to remove a layer. Dress in layers: A base layer to wick away the sweat and then a wind/water proof layer on top. Colder days may even require a midlayer to keep you warm enough. Don't forget the mittens, hat/headband and even face mask on coldest days.  Stay hydrated: Just because it isn't doesn't mean you don't need fluids. Start with warm/water to help decrea...

This is the time of year we start to look back and reflect on the past year and analyze how things went, what we would do different and how to improve in the future. I am starting to plan for 2013 and deciding on races and goals. At the same time I am coaching a new group for a New Year's Day 5K , many ebginers who are asking how to set goals for the race and beyond. Set goals that are concrete : thing like workout 1 hour 3 days a week, run a 20 minute 5K, Run 30 miles this week. Avoid things that you can measure: get healthy, start working out. You can start with this but then decide the steps to reach this and make this your goal. Build on previous experience: Set goals based on past race times, workouts, etc. Look at your current situation and adapt the goals. Make the goals realistc yet somethng to strive for: I will never run a 2:30 marathon (as much as I would love to!) but with the right training could run a 3:15 so this is my realistic goal. If you know 6 days a ...

Ever have those days when you fight with yourself to workout? The urge to sleep or eat or anything else is much stronger than the desire to workout. Yesterday everything was working against me: a little girl who is now on day 8 of waking up at 4am, the first of three long/early days for me, a headache and feeling tired and cold/snowy weather. I failed the first fight and actually drove to the gym on my way home from work, realized a nap sounded better and turned around and left. I got home to find out that someone had a different idea, just as I laid down on the couch a certain nonsleeping little girl decided to wake up from nap 1 hour earlier then I expected. Seriously when will she sleep again? I feel like I am back to having a newborn who didn't sleep ever, no I am not exagerating! We were lucky if we got 1 hour at a time. I am happy to say that things finally fell into place and I won round 2! After I lost the nap, I decided to eat, why not eat when you are tired and not...

My 2 days a week working from home are often filled with cooking (and working out) and much of the work is saved for evening. This week we roasted pie pumpkins which made granola and bread and pie later. The seeds are all roasted and this time I only managed to burn a couple seeds! Here's what is ahead for us this week, plenty of food with leftovers for the work week and hopefully a new Pad Thai recipe once I pick up a missing ingredient. Lunch Dinner Sunday Soup, grilled sandwich Sweet Potato Black Bean Quesadilla Monday Leftover veggie pizza Veggie White Bean Pasta Bake Tuesday Quesadilla GF toast with almond butter (pre-run) Wednesday Pasta Bake Red Curry Squash Thursday Salad with black beans, peppers Pancakes Friday Curry Squash Pad Thai Saturday ?? ...