Marathon Mom

I know we all do it, no matter what sport or what age we all have some pre-competition rituals. When I danced we had a few odd things we did (or didn't do) before a competition like no shaving legs 1 week before (honestly no idea how this started!) or certain songs we'd listen to before. Now this has moved over to my running life. As I am about to run my 29th marathon in 2 days and packing I'm thinking about all that is important to my rituals. Some started at the beginning and others have developed through the years... Carrying water everywhere the days before, snacking on almonds, apples, bananas, veggies/hummus and granola all day. Frequent snacking keeps me better fueled and prevents me from over doing a big meal. Plus this way I don't grab junk to eat. Dinner of Sweet Potatoes and vegan protein. Being a celiac runner has taught me to find a non gluten carb that is easily found everywhere. Sweet potatoes are a staple in my diet. Watch Spirit of the Maratho...

The weather is finally starting to cooperate for outside running! The warmer weather and some rain has meant less snow but more ice. I’m so ready for spring and more sun. Monday:  Shoulders and 8.6 mile run (1:10:00) Tuesday:  Off work! Arms/Core and 1 hour Combat Kickboxing Wednesday:  6 miles with speed intervals and Back Thursday:  6 mile easy run and core Friday:  Shoulder and Kickboxing Saturday: 10 mile run (3 outside and 7 on treadmill thanks to too much ice) 7:53 pace Sunday:  Arms and Core Race week! Meaning lighter workouts and travel and race outfit planning. I have my race shoes, now just to find out what socks match best! Thank you Adidas for making my shoes in purple! Monday: 6 mile run and Back Tuesday:  Chest and kickboxing  Wednesday: 4 mile run and core Thursday:  Kickboxing and arms Friday:  4 mile run Saturday: Rest Sunday:  Race!! ...

Race week is here! 1 week to go, what I eat this week is huge. My body can be difficult so I know I need to avoid any contact with gluten, dairy is out and so is peanut butter. I also avoid processed junk and make as much as I can myself. Travelling makes this a little tougher but luckily we have a kitchen in our hotel so I can make me prerace sweet potatoes. I will travel with lots of food to get through flights and our layover: hummus and veggies, fruit, UCAN bar, almond butter, homemade granola. What are your go to travel foods? Any good vegetarian/GF food options in New Orleans? I’ve been told of Crepe Cart that sells GF crepes!  Menu Sunday:   Homemade veggie pizza Monday:   Wraps Tuesday:  Tofu stir fry Wednesday:  Spaghetti squash with marinara and “meat”balls Thursday: Leftovers Friday: New Orleans Saturday: Sweet potato and some food from team dinner   What's on your menu this week?  Check out other menus and at  Laur...

Earlier this month the MRTT group planned a fun night to make vision boards and drink a little wine, thanks to the nasty illness I had it didn't happen. I decided before 2016 got to far along I needed to get my motivation out for everyone to see! Tuesday afternoon O and I had project time and each made our 2016 vision board. I'm not quite sure 6 year old minds can grasp the concept but it was fun. Here's included: a runner, cupcakes, 6 (because she's 6!), beach, mom/daughter picture, fruits/veggies, dance and some random words she could read! Here is mine... -3:20 Marathon big and center! -50k -Swimming and yoga which I need to do more -Running with Cooper (the dog pic) -Date nights with Matt (the wine) -Summer and lots related to warm weather! -A few of my races -Words to keep me focused: Calm, Laugh, Strong, Love, Organize, Friends -Healthy food and real food with some pumpkin pie! -A reminder that I will garden this year ...

A little late to the game after a few skipped weeks but with 2 weeks to go I’m back with my weekly training posts. Seriously 2 weeks to go until marathon #29,the race I have a as a big goal, the race that weather and sickness got in the way of great training. Oh well, we will see how it goes. I’m treating this as my first noninjured marathon training and from this can base future goals and training. After a week of being forced to rest due to respiratory infection I have been back and can’t really remember my past week of workouts! Somehow with missing that big week I'm also missing the taper madness! Maybe it is something, no big run= no taper madness?  This weekend was fun watching the Olympic trials marathon. Who else watched? I’m thrilled with my 16 miler on Saturday (forced on the treadmill thanks to -20 windchill). I managed 16 miles at avg 7:50 pace!! The best part it felt great, I managed to breath despite the cough still lingering and kicking my butt after...

I am finally back to almost feeling normal and after almost 2 weeks of poor meal planning thanks to illness I am back at it. This week is a little messy with 2 days off school for O, a late work night for me and conferences at school. Lots of premade meals, quick foods and eating when we can. I’m also two weeks from my next marathon and working on fueling for the race, avoiding dairy like crazy right now, making sure I am getting my protein and limiting processed foods. Plus planning ahead for travel foods and meals in New Orleans. Anything we need to see, do, eat in New Orleans? I’m also excited that this week is bringing a heatwave! 40s in the forecast this week which is amazing after a week on sub 0 temps and freezing just walking out the door. As much as I love soups and comfort foods I can’t wait to get back to all the fresh veggies and salads of summer. Menu Sunday:   Risotto with Asparagus and Edamame Monday:   Veggie Bean Enchiladas Tuesday:   Len...

Guess what after years of being in denial I am finally on board with the fact that I am not Super Mom (or my previous thoughts of Super Woman!). I can’t do it all and am finally realizing that my attempts at everything are making us all suffer. The past 3 years I’ve poured into my career along with finishing grad school all while continuing to train for marathons and being a mom and wife, well I’m the first to admit that I wasn’t excelling at the most important jobs on the list. I watch these young women surgeons working long hours, building big careers and being moms. I kept telling myself that if they can do it on 80 hour work weeks that I have nothing to complain about but I see they lack family time, focus on things other than work and just life outside. This isn’t what I want… So I spent the past year figuring out what I want… A career with growth using my education A career I enjoy, one I look forward to most days A strong relationship with my daughter Time with fam...

Today was supposed to be the last big run for New Orleans, my final 22 mile run. ( Still time to help me raise $ Click )Since last week the plans have been in place, get up early on my Friday off, meet 3 friends all needing varying distances but have company for about 3/4 of my run. Well thanks to my child and her ability to share germs my body had other plans. Tuesday I felt a little sick but I still ran a 10 mile tempo run without issues. Wednesday I barely managed a 6 mile easy run, ended up walking to make it to 7 miles. Then by Thursday I was miserable by lunchtime, low grade fever, nonstop cough and body aches. I left work early, deciding sharing my germs with my afternoon of oncology clinic was stupid. I camped out on the couch with the fire on, blankets, House Hunters on TV and a book to read. I jumped on our group run text and let them know I was likely out and sure enough I was... At the start of Boston 2012 with Jess, I look pretty good considering how bad I was fe...

I will get back to running talk soon, don't worry! But as a mom your kid's birthday takes center stage for a few days. Like I posted O turned 6 on Thursday and it hasn't stopped yet!  Thursday night we took O to one of our favorite restaurants for dinner after gymnastics , Frozen balloon waiting. After dinner they offered ice cream but she can't have dairy so they offered a fruit plate for dessert. Then we had fun reading the cards written by some of here classmates. Kind of fun reading (and interpreting 5/6yo writing and spelling! Then the one and only present this slacker mom had time to wrap (in a Target bag!) cruise ship Friends Legos Saturday she was off to a friend's party then gymnastics and her family party at home. I once again forgot that I don't have an angel food cake pan and made two fallen loaves of cake, oops! Sunday was friends party! To fit it all in I was out running at 6:15, 18 miles done by 9am and on to party prep. 11 of ...