Marathon Mom

1) It’s Friday and even better I’m not working (I’ll leave out that just means I work Saturday)! I got the sleep in until 6 and sit around in pajamas drinking coffee. My big plans for the day include: yoga, a short speed work run, Costco, coffee with a friend and seeing my chiro for muscle work on my hamstring that has been surprisingly happy since last weekend’s long run! Matt dropped O off at school so the day is all mine! I still remember the time when these days were so common, now a rarity but so worth it even though it means lots to do. What do you look forward to most on kid free days off? 2) Dance costume day was earlier this week. I got home to an entire lecture from my 4 year old on how we need to care for the costumes, not iron, hang them up and not pull on them. Way to listen O! She of course had to model but now has to wait 2 more months to wear them again. At least this renewed her love of dance since I’ve been hearing how she doesn’t like it anymore. We will see wha...

For the last month, through illness and bad weather and not great training, I decided the best thing was to focus on what I was really eating, think before I boredom ate and go through this dairy free experiment along side O. I'm happy to say she is doing great and her issues are nearly resolved! With this my cheese addiction had to stop or I had to find new alternatives and anyone who's eaten vegan cheese knows it lacks a lot! But success thanks to a friend, I have a new recipe to share. But first since I'm talking food why not join in on What I Ate Wednesday . So here it is (minus a few items)... My usual breakfast after 1 hour on the bike and a core workout: Coffee and banana protein oats Lunch and morning snack: Strawberries and homemade granola (snack), salad with roasted edamame and sweet potatoes with chipotle hummus (lunch) Afternoon snack and time to see the trainer for a few speed interval miles and strength work   Dinner and a recipe ...

It seems like last week I was looking at the first week of Boston training and now we have 8 weeks to go. This training has been less than great with illness and nasty weather my runs have been tough. I finally feel like with 8 weeks to go I can say I'm really training! 2 weeks ago I ended with a 20 miler cut short due to hip issues which I relate fully to the nasty road conditions but after another session of muscle work and acupuncture I felt better. See I guess in my old age I'm getting smarter and learning to listen! After a steroid course and then antibiotics I think I have finally kicked this illness for good, now to down the pro-biotics in hopes of not messing up my gut. I am also nearly 1 month into being dairy free again and know this is helping everything. Last week I ended on Saturday with a great run, I needed this mentally to tell me I wasn't out of my element. So how did the rest of the week go.... Pre-run ritual Monday: Yoga and strength Tuesday: 1...

I am less than 10 weeks from my 3 rd Boston Marathon (25 th marathon) and beginning to wonder if I will even be close to fully trained. I have already started rethinking my lofty goals and plan to just have fun. Can this winter get any worse for training? I mean multiple days in a row of temps never reaching + numbers with many wind chills -40 or worse, snow packed sidewalks and paths and very little warm up in there! Remind me why I stay here! Now top that with illness after illness and you’ve got a tough run. I finally gave in after 2+ weeks of a nasty cough that turned in wheezing and barely being able to walk up the stairs and saw my doctor. I’ve had asthma since childhood but have not owned an inhaler in years, I know my triggers (cold air being the and respiratory illness being the worst) and tend to avoid. But this time I lost. I’m sure my constant on the go mentality isn’t helping, but I finally gave in skipped the gym rested and took care of myself! Not to mention the m...

I’ve decided that after 35 years of living in the frozen tundra I’m going to do my best to embrace winter. After years of talking about it I was finally convinced after O’s birthday party last weekend. I wasn’t sure how things would go but as part of her party at the nature preserve the naturalist offered to take the kids snowshoeing to find animal tracks. O loved it, she immediately took off like a pro! This of course led to wanting to go again and Matt buying her snowshoes that night! Ironically the next day we were offered a pair of skis for her as well, why not?! So now we have a 4 year old with her own snowshoes and skis and neither Matt or I own either, time to fix that! Thank you REI for your big 1 day sale on Wednesday, we are now waiting on our own snowshoes to arrive. I’m excited and hope that this will be extra motivation to get out and enjoy winter. What great cross training for running. I have been so limited with the cold weather and snow covered paths that way too...

The post I had planned for Wednesday (and then Friday when our power was out!) takes a much happier attitude! Thanks everyone for your kind words and thoughts about Morgan. The weather this week has once again been awful, no school for many Monday and Tuesday due to wind chills of -40 below and worse! Then Thursday brought a huge dumping of snow and wind, yuck! Monday O still had school but the call came around lunch that they had no heat in the building and it hadn't been fixed so things were cold, yikes! Come pick her up if I could, luckily my afternoon at work wasn't bad so I was on my way. The selfish runner in me was frustrated I had to skip the gym, but we made it work.  After a short argument because someone didn't want to leave school, she loves it! We were home, O took her afternoon quiet/nap time and I threw in Jillian Michaels 6 Pack in 6 Weeks workout. I love this workout for times like this when I'm limited. Then per O's request it was cookie ti...