Marathon Mom

I think I say this every month but how is it already May?! Somehow April brought hot days, running in shorts and sitting outside but starting May we are back in 30s, running in winter gear and freezing outside! Figure it out Mother Nature! O had her final dance competition and improved from the first! We are almost done with 2 months of gluten free for O. 1 month to go before we can recheck blood tests. I Finished my first 50K  I was hoping for 5 hours but the heat made it tough and I can’t complain about 5:31 and 5 th OA woman! I promise the recap will be up this week. Back to speed work once a week! At least before the race. I started to walk at lunch  I usually got in 1-2 days a week, it’s a start! I finished Whole30  or at least my version allowing quinoa, veg protein and the occasional red wine! I finished with some deviation. We celebrated our 14 th anniversary with a nice dinner and quiet evening after my 50K. O started softball  and th...

Good bye March and Hello April! February ended with a bad marathon but I was able to get back into running quickly since I only ran 16 at the marathon. March was a big month for us all, lots of changes… March Miles: 174.4 (534.6 for 2016) Not too bad No races but an easy marathon recovery Felt good Focus on strength and leg rehab/injury prevention After a little glute/hip issue I'm focusing on not getting any worse Outside running is back with 2-3 early morning runs Feels great meeting friends for 5am runs again I started a new job with better hours and more training time Loving the new hours O had her first dance competition and did great I'm officially a dance mom, yikes! We started gluten free for O after our decision not do EGD for celiac diagnosis Much tougher with a 6 year old and not looking forward to upcoming birthday parties Date day to winery joined by our neighbors April Finish my first 50K  hoping in about 5 hours but I really am not s...

After a miserable week I am finally getting around to writing down my goals for 2016, they have been floating around my migraine ridden head but unable to focus to get them out...Yep, I started 2016 with a bang and I've had a migraine since Monday (still going strong today). I think this is all due to a recent medication change so I'm hoping it is over soon. And since this is more than I normally get in a year it must mean this it for 2016, right?! 2016 Goals Fitness Goals Sub 3:30 marathon (okay actually 3:20 is what I really want) Run 2016 miles (while I’m not focusing on quantity this is a fun obtainable amount if I stay uninjured Figure out a new strength training program to try Try 1 new fitness activity a month Stay injury free!! Run a 50K Food No dairy while marathon training Track my food again and focus on eating for fuel Plan meals weekly, try 2 new meal each month Garden this summer and grow our own veggies Eat out 1 time per week a...

2015 was a year that can be summed up in a few words: injury, recovery, new beginnings and focus. The year began by continuing to deny a hamstring injury and running an awful marathon only to finally recover and move on! We travled, I graduated, O started kindergarten, we ran, new friends came into our lives and I started to realize more about me, my family and my goals in life. So how did my goals go? Well without too much looking I can say they lacked completion but I met other nonstated goals. Saw this today and seems very fitting as I look back on 2015 and realize a lot has happened and it has made me focus on where I want to go in 2016 and beyond. Fitness Goals Sub 3:30 marathon (okay actually 3:15 is what I really want): Not even close, I ran my comeback race in 3:37 with no speedwork and knew this goal was out. But I did finish marathons 27 and 28 and checked another state off my list. Run 2015 miles: Fell short on this thanks to time off for injury, hitting 1867 m...

How did it get to be September already (and the 7th even!)? We ended August with some fun and a first for O...After a week of a loose tooth that she discovered on my birthday it finally came out after a trip to the apple orchard. My training has been decent despite the crazy long work hours but I have decided that a fall marathon will not be in the future next year! This year my plan is just gaining my endurance back but when I want to race I can't fully train through the long work days of summer. I am running 3-4 days a week but lack energy to do any speedwork. My strength work is lacking, down to just 3 days a week. September started with kindergarten open house. After a long debate on the best school fit for O and us as a family we went with the option that we had initially said no way too. In the end it will be the best fit considering the anxiety O has about new situations and changes. With this she has many familiar faces joining her and even two friends in her class. ...

The chaos of summer is in full swing, O started soccer last week and I am in the midst of peak trauma season at work. I’m exhausted! Twice this past week I have been in bed at 8pm! I’m remembering why marathon training in the summer is such a tough thing but we are doing it or at least some mild attempt! Last week actually wasn’t bad considering. I’m increasing my running but still doubtful of being able to train as hard as I’d like. I’m keeping up with PT exercises almost daily. Monday:  4 mile run/walk with Cooper and Beast Chest Tuesday:  Run 6 mile run 7 min and walk 3 min and Beast Back Wednesday:  12 unexpected hours at work! Thursday:  Run 6.5 miles 7and 3 Friday:   Spin class and Beast Arms Saturday:  12 miles!! 8 and 2 run/walk in 1:53 then 1 mile walk with O Sunday:  Another long work day, but did Beast Shoulders This marks Week 3 in this thing called marathon training, I also have a half marathon this weekend. The o...

2014 brought many changes and new adventures into my life, some great and some not so good but times to learn. I have gained a lot of insight and know it will make me a better, stronger runner, a better mom and better in life. So here’s to an amazing 2015!  So far 2015 is off to a great start, O let us sleep in (6am was wonderful!) and now a relaxing morning watching Sleeping Beauty with my girl. Fitness Goals Sub 3:30 marathon (okay actually 3:15 is what I really want) Run 2015 miles just for fun Write marathon plan with 3-4 days of running, don’t run without purpose Complete P90X and P90X2 Finish a triathlon Stay injury free!! My NYE prseent! Signed up for a 2015 race: Eau Claire Marathon Life Goals Focus my blog on my life and trials, write 2-3 times weekly Finish grad school! Plan a fun girls weekend Grow my Thirty-One business with 1-2 parties monthly ( Email if interested in online party) Have fitness/nutrition challenge groups monthl...

Here it is the final day of 2014 and time to take a minute and look back at my strange year in running. I can sum it up in 2 words: Injuries and Growth. Injuries struck me down starting from day 1 as I continued to push through to my goals but quickly realizing this was not happening. After a disappointing (but wonderful) experience at Boston I took my first break and learned a lot. I tried new things: Cross Fit, P90X3, PiYo, Pilates, Yoga, Rowing. I got back to running less miles and feel much better but still had an odd finish in October when my body shut down with about 4 miles to go at a marathon, I was on pace for a 3:25 but soon changed focus to staying upright and finishing leading to a 3:40 finish. An odd ankle/foot injury 1 week later meant another 6 weeks off running and rethinking my 2015 plans. I am back to running 4-6 miles now 2-3x a week but realizing my body does not like the uneven ground outside in winter and really likes the mix of cross training! 2014 Running ...

We survived Christmas, multiple family get togethers and an overly tired preschooler who just wanted to be awake! Illness and all we made it, a couple workouts skipped due to illness but getting back on track. Saw family and friends we haven’t seen in a long time. Fitness Accomplishments Elite Blocks P90X3 (Week 15) Done! Ran 2 times – reminded myself how much my body doesn’t like running on uneven snow packed ground! Bike 1 time NonFitness Accomplishments House cleaned! Overindulged in treats a little but could have been worse How did it get to be the end of the year already? After a week of nice nonsnowy weather we are back in winter full force, yuck! Fitness Goals P90X3 (Finish Week 16!) Run 3 times Swim 1 time other than triathlon Roll daily and ice post workouts NonFitness Goals Stick with meal plans Put away all Christmas Start back on full healthy eating after 1st Clean my office at work Start my Spanish book (a 2015...

What a fun week (and not so fun), dance show for O and Nutcracker but influenza for O too! Luckily we all got our vaccines so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Fitness Goals Start Elite Blocks P90X3 (Week 14) Done! Ran 2 times Bike 2 times NonFitness Goals Experiment with new healthy cookies Wrap presents! Still not started! Clean the house! We are hosting Christmas, yikes! In progress 5 minutes to myself daily to relax, need to be better Hoping for a week of healthiness all around as O was complaining of tummy aches last night, come on germs leave! We are in full Christmas mode here as we are making ornaments, cookies and the tree is up. Fitness Goals P90X3 (Week 15) Run 3 times Swim at least once See my chiro for acupuncture NonFitness Goals Stick with meal plans Wrap presents Clean the house! Clean my office at work Hope everyone is having a good holiday week and has some time off work. If you are looking for a ...

Last week was rough, I’m not going to lie. I skipped a couple workouts but luckily it was a transition week so less intense I just haven’t felt great and had a busy schedule but I did keep my nutrition on track for the most part. Even discovered a new all gluten free restaurant near us, yum! Fitness Goals Daily workouts Yes, but lots of yoga and less highly intense workouts 2 runs of 20-30 minutes run/walk Foot was sore Monday so I skipped a few days and did 4.5 miles run/walk Saturday Elliptical x2 Bike x2 NonFitness Goals Stick with weekly meal plan Plan 2015 races Still debating the big spring and fall races! No afternoon coffee Does 11am coffee count?! No wine on weeknights Christmas tree up and cards mailed Tree is up, no lights yet! O had her first Christmas program at church, she did great and had so much fun. Me not so much, woke with a migraine and despite lots of meds the signing was not fun for my head. Source This will be the start of the ...

Guess what…I ran!! So anyone who follows me on FB or IG already saw my excitement yesterday but I have to share here too. My first run back in 6 weeks, yes I was smart for once and took the longer end of the range to be off even though the pain has been gone for over a week. 6 weeks no running had to be over! I’m spending the next few weeks slowly working up with low miles and only 2-3 runs per week (maxing at 10-15 miles a week). Fitness Accomplishments Daily workouts: Finished Week 12 of P90X3 Biking, Elliptical, Rowing and a Run Main focus on Strength, Core and Flexibility I signed up for a triathlon! Okay so it is indoors but still I did it. NonFitness Back on track after a bad week of eating Finished Fall Semester! Only 2 more to go! Great family Saturday with Holiday Lights Parade, Santa and dinner out Dinner with a friend I haven’t seen in over a year Started Christmas baking for cookie exchange: Mint Mocha Cookies (not healthy, not GF and not...

The holiday season has officially started! We kicked it off with seeing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer om Saturday and O got to meet the cast. I kind of lost it nutrition wise on Saturday, wine, cupcakes and two meals out, yikes! Sunday I was back on track. Today is 4 weeks of no running, ugh! How did my week look… Fitness Goals Morning workouts daily P90X3 x 7 days, Finished Week 11! Biked x3, Elliptical x2, Rowing x1 Non Fitness Goals Stick with meal plan this week and no weekday wine Oops Blog 4 days – Yes! Finish semester work and submit early – Call with advisor tomorrow so not quite Organize office - started Work on Thirty-One holiday sale,  Message me if you are interested in hosting an online party or earning free gifts. The holiday season officially starts this week! Who is ready? What are your plans? I am registered for a 10K on Thursday but not thinking I’ll run, pain is better but not quite ready for 10K and the weather is looking nasty...

Another week of proving to myself that I can still stay active without running. It has been 3 weeks and I am finally starting to walk with no pain without the boot, although long days at work remain painful even with the boot! Fitness Accomplishments Morning workouts 6 days P90X3 x 7 days, I finished Week 9! Elliptical x 2 Bike x 3 Non Fitness Accomplishments Stuck with meal plan this week and make good choices at restaurant except the pumpkin ice cream I splurged on Submit IRB paperwork for thesis, done! O and I had a blast at Barbie Dreamhouse complete with lunch and mommy sneakily buying her a Christmas present! This week marks the start of the holiday season as we are heading to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Saturday and possibly putting up our tree. Time to figure out Thanksgiving meal plans. Fitness Goals Morning workouts daily P90X3 x 7 days, I’m on Week 10! Swim XC Ski or Snowshoe (I need new warm boots first for snowshoeing, suggest...