Marathon Mom

Just about 10 weeks out from Chicago Marathon that is still undecided whether it will be an A race or not and filled with the typical training ups and downs. I have handed over control of my training to Nichole and am focusing my energy or writing plans for others while she controls mine! Even trying something new with some 5K races, eek! 1- Struggle: Last Saturday was a struggle. Friday morning the long run fell apart. Had planned to run that day but overslept (so did my training buddy!). Got in my hills that day then sat at the beach, didn't eat great and had a few glasses of wine plus stayed up later than I should. Saturday I struggled from the first few miles but I did it. I am often asked if after all these years I have bad runs and yes I do! I'm not afraid so say I struggled, thought about quitting and had many doubts! Soak in the beauty of the run and just let it push you along! Even Garmin could tell I was struggling! Anyone know how this Recovery time is dete...

A little late on "Friday" but still we got this, right?! Over the past month I've been introduced to a few new things that I am loving and want to share... 1) UCAN Peach Passion Protein/SuperStarch Bars The latest bar from UCAN and again I'm in love! Each time they introduce a new bar, it is a new debate on my favorite. I still like the cinnamon for during run fuel but the new coffee and peach both have vegan protein too so perfect post run or afternoon snack. Have you tried any UCAN bars? I have a discount code to share, comment if interested. 2) FlipBelt I've said it many times but I hate wearing running belts! They bounce, move, slide up and are just annoying. I end up running long runs with a handheld and refueling. When I was asked to review this product I decided why not?! I wore this running Chicago RnR Half and it didn't move! It comes with 3 water bottles (1 10oz and 2 5oz) so I ran with the 5oz in back and my phone in front, plus ID and key a...

Summer break is here, so here's a bit of our life and a little running right now... 1- A new family of bunnies. They have made home under our playset and the kids are so intrigued by them. Such an unplanned lesson in science, animals and talking about how to just let them be! The neighborhood girls spent a morning looking for mom, they think they found her a couple houses away. 2- My new Garmin has the fun features or race predictions! I'd be thrilled to run these times I'm pretty sure Garmin has a a little more faith in my running speed than I do! 3- Another hair donation! With dance done for the year it was time for a cut. She wanted to donate again and was fine with the extra length she'd have to lose. Now just hoping it is long enough for a bun by competition season! 4- Today I am excited to learn! Attending the Metabolic Efficiency Certification for Medical Professionals. I can't wait to learn ways to help myself and others be better athletes...

I know I keep saying I'm going to get better at blogging, I write many posts in my head but never find time for it to leave my head! I want to revamp my blog and get a fresh start so stay tuned... My running life is taking a few turns right now and here's what up with me and running... I signed up for a bucket list race: Flying Pig Marathon! Almost a year away but looking forward to a fun girls' weekend. Who's run this? Any advice? I'm almost done with week 2 of working with my new coach Nichole ! It has been fun to see the workouts she has planned. I feel like I am pushing myself more so I don't disappoint her! I know I keep getting the question: why does a coach need a coach? I do, I mean I get how to train for a marathon and how to train others but having outside feedback and fresh eyes watching your training will help me so much. My Mother's Day present was a new Garmin 235! I love it, so much fun playing with new gadgets and apps. Now just to...

This past week I’ve had time to think, look at how things are going, figure out some answers, have fun and stress out all at the same time! A lot has been going on lately, some I have hinted at. Things around here have meant crazy busy days for me and less blogging. So here is my updates… 1. I became an official Dance Mom this past weekend! O had her first competition and they did great, placing 1 st and 2 nd in their category and earning two platinum medals and excellence for their tap. In a way this hurts her because now she thinks she can practice less, ugh! How to get a 6 year old to understand the balance between practicing enough and not too much, being good but not focusing on perfection. 2. Spring Fever and looking ahead to better running weather has struck! I will be broke by April if I keep up my current ways!! This week I have bought 2 pairs or running shoes (stocking up before they are gone, thanks to Adidas discontinuing mine), ProCompression socks and am no...

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...

Anyone else having a hard time believing that Christmas is in 1 week?! Seriously where did the time go and how will I get everything done? We hit the dep freeze here and had a day of light snow, then rain so now just cold and nasty! I’m sure everyone knows how much I hate cold weather so this is not making me happy, just reminding myself that in 1 month I will be enjoying sun, warmth and the beach J Source Started the weekend with a long, early run. I’m glad I have such crazy friends to convince me a 6am start will be fun on a December Saturday! 16 hilly miles done with great conversation at 8:26 avg pace! Then it the weekend was all about holiday fun: we saw the Nutcracker with friends, Saturday was Santa games at the gym and then Charlie Brown Christmas followed by finally decorating the tree. We are hosting Christmas Eve and doing an appetizer type dinner, my favorite! So far the plan for my vegan/gluten free/healthy meal is… vegan 7 layer tip hummus and ve...

What happened to the days when sleeping in meant 9 or 10am or even later? Not 5:45 like today, which truly is sleeping in for me. So here I am relaxing as much as one can while trying to get a 5 year old out the in the midst of a kitchen in the middle of installing new appliances, filled with boxes and tools! I sit here and think about what's been happening and the good of the week in the midst of chaos and frustrations... 1) Warm Weather! Okay so you southerners may not agree that the 40s we have now is warm but for us midwesterners this is tropical in December. I ran yesterday afternoon in shorts! Talk about a mental run and something I needed, smiling the entire time. We got in on the trails that are typically snow covered and closed long before now and Cooper experienced his first deer sighting. No Snow! 2) The New UCAN Cinnamon Swirl Bar! You all know I love UCAN and while I ate the PB Chocolate Bar and like it, I wouldn't rave about it because I am one of those we...

Since last winter/spring I've been dealing with this weird mass that would come and go behind my left knee. In the beginning it never hurt, it was just odd and on occasion it came with a pressure. It went away much of the summer until August when it pretty much decided to make home behind my knee expanding and shrinking just to keep me guessing if it would be gone! Source I started my research and decided it must be a Baker's Cyst but how? These are usually associated with a meniscus tear, but I have no knee pain other than some mild aches sometimes after a long run. As I started back to marathon training I decided it was time to deal with this and know if there was an underlying issue. On one of the rare not busy days at work a couple weeks ago I headed over to talk with the ortho PA. On exam my medial line was mildly tender and some laxity. Then he noticed the large scar on my knee from last winter's fall. Remember my lovely long run in Mexico .. Unable to stra...

I’m not a walker, at least not today! There is nothing wrong with walking, I mean I love it! Taking O or Cooper out on a nice day or walking to grab a few things from the store. I love it when that is my intention. But as a rehabbing runner being called a walker sucks! Source   I’m sure some of bitterness is from the fact that the past couple weeks have been crazy and mixed in with that is that marathon training started and I’m limited. Don’t get me wrong I am happy that I have progressed like I have. 17 days ago I was cleared to run 5 mins and increase, well I’m up to 7 mins of running and it is pain free! Don’t get me wrong this is huge but I’m ready for more. I head back on Wednesday for a re-evaluation and further clearance. Tuesday I was out for a run/walk after a long, crazy work day when I needed to clear my mind and find clarity for a few things. Any runner knows this clarity only comes through a great run. Here I am out running, feeling good but watching my watc...

I know I try to stick with a fitness theme on Fridays but today I'm venturing of to talk about the 5 big things happening in my life right now... 1) Preschool Graduation for O... With her friend She was thrilled to get her diploma and keep her tassel! So cute for all the littles in their caps/gowns. I think it has given her a little better idea of what my graduation will be like next month. They all had to say what they want to be when they grow up, the kids gave answers like race car driver, mom, author, astronaut and then O..."I want to be a doctor, but not do surgery maybe I'll just give medicines to fix them." 2) Despite not running I'm still pushing through! Lots of cross training and strength workout and not to mention about 1 hour of PT exercises spread throughout the day! This guy means business when he said I'll be strong by the time marathon training starts he wasn't joking! Spin class today in between writing sessions and laundry....

You know how earlier this week I had that great attitude abut not running...well it has disappeared! I'm now frustrated and annoyed as I pass the halfway mark of the 4 weeks off. This is my favorite time of year to run and I'm missing it. I'm tired of being stuck inside staring at walls or the TV while I do kickboxing, elliptical, etc. I'm tired of the elliptical...IT IS NOT RUNNING. Then I start t doubt my future as a runner, the what ifs come flooding in. Will I achieve my big goals or just keep sliding backwards, will I run a marathon again, will I heal from this. What if I don't?! You know how as a kid you'd just scribble, okay I've done this as an adult plenty of times when I'm stressed, frustrated etc. I'm in the midst of a huge decision and change ahead and I need a run to get to my best answer but I can't. The elliptical or a walk just don't provide the clarity a great head clearing run do. Deep breath and time to focus on o...

Right after O was born I won the book Run Like a Mother to be honest I have still only read parts, not because it isn’t a good book but because I can’t sit long enough to actually read a book! A few months ago when I heard the authors Dimity and Sara were heading to Minneapolis to promote their new book I was excited. Last night was that book party and so much fun to go with my mother runner friends (Moms Run This Town). At first I thought it would just be a fun night out with friends; dinner, wine and running…what more do you need?! We all left with a great bag of run goodies including 4 pairs of socks!! All my goodies! Then Kara Thom read her essay from the new book Tales from a Mother Runner and I related a little too much! She spoke on her life as a runner and Ironman and then how injury after injury changed her perspective. Next she mentioned her background as a dancer and how the damage probably started years earlier and now I was really wondering if I had written thi...

Well I had my appointment with the sports doctor on Wednesday and it went as I had hoped it wouldn’t but had thought it might. Still dealing with this hamstring that started 2 (maybe even 3) years ago. I stupidly kept running, took a few days off, felt better, hurt again..you get the cycle! Finally last spring I got smart after terrible pain at Boston. I took 6 weeks off worked with PT, strengthened my core and glutes, worked with a postural restoration specialist, worked on changing my gait. I changed my focus to yoga, strength training and more cross training. I decreased my weekly mileage and running days and had a decent although not great marathon last fall. Then somehow did something to my foot/ankle and took another 6 weeks off and once back trained for my last marathon 3 days a week. Despite all this 6 weeks before the race the hamstring was angry! And we all know how the marathon went … After a full assessment he doesn’t think my back is causing any of the issues,...

May is here and I’m ready for this month which means longer days, running weather and a break from school! May is packed with lots: dance recital, gymnastics show, marathons, etc and only leads to summer! On Wednesday I talked with my PT again and he is fine with me running the marathon based on the past couple weeks! I don’t hurt after I run and during it is only a slight tightness for about 10 minutes. I can’t push my pace at all but I can run! Pre-Marathon Today I will be relaxing with acupuncture and a little yoga to get my legs ready. Plus my focus has been anti-inflammatory foods. Then I need to prep for our drive tomorrow and pre-race meals in a hotel room. And the fun part figuring out what to wear! Marathon Goals Based on  his recommendations and my goals for this year I am not racing, no PRs, probably not even a BQ but that’s okay I am running and I will have fun. Plus the forecast is low 80s so not great weather for someone who trained in highs of 20 the m...

Sorry, I kind of disappeared for awhile here! Things have been up and down so I figured it was time for an update on my life, training and all that goes with it! 2 weeks ago I ran my first 20 miler of this training and longest run in nearly 6 months. Luckily I had friends to join me for the first 11 miles but was on my own for the rest. This kept my pace for getting too fast to start (which I have a bad habit of doing!). Everything went great until the final mile when my right hamstring started getting tight, I finished and got in my car. As soon as I sat ouch! My hamstring was in full spasm, I got home and made Matt dig in to work it out. Overall a good run but I could have done without the ending. The following day we flew to Los Angeles for my work trip and spending 4 hours on a plane and another 1 hour in the car was not fun for my leg! Plenty of walking helped that afternoon and the next day but sitting in a work conference wasn't great. Luckily we had plenty of time for D...

It's been an interesting week of ups and downs, snow and now sun, stress and fun. Last Thursday I found out I'm allergic to Cooper! It explains why I've felt like my seasonal allergies haven't quit since last spring and my asthma has been kicking my butt! So we spent last weekend cleaning dog hair out of everything (a near impossible task) in hopes of me feeling better. I doing a month trial of medications and vitamins and then we discuss allergy shots. Ugh! I have been chosen to join Team UCAN Inspire! I love UCAN and can't say enough great things about this run fuel. I mean what is better than no sugar drops or hitting the wall, no GI distress and burning fat?! Ask me if you want my referral code of 10% off Snow! Yep woke up twice to snow this week! Seriously I am done with this! A few weeks ago I ran in shorts now I'm bundled up again. ENOUGH!! Last week we took O to kindergarten orientation! Where did the time go? How did she go from a ne...