Rock Your Socks Race Report-take #2

Yay! I finished. There was a point in the day where I thought this might not happen. If you want to know how the morning went check my prior post. So as luck would have it, if I had attempted the 10K this morning there is a good chance I would be typing up my DNF report right now. Yesterday I had a great day with friends, bad day with food. I didn't have a decent meal all day, literally only drank a couple gulps of water at bed time when taking my medicine and not a single vegetable was in sight. If you can find it in a mini-mart, I ate it. And as I said before it was just my luck that my body wanted to tell me how bad of an idea it was to eat so much crap yesterday, no pun intended. I think people through positive thoughts and action can make their own good luck, and vice versa. Totally my bad, sorry body.

By lunch I was feeling better and a girlfriend had signed up to join me on the run around 4:30 PM, LOVE accountability. V is faster than I am so I was hoping to PR just trying to keep up with her. My half marathon pace at the May 2nd event was 12:13. So I was generously giving myself 1:30 to finish, but secretly hoping to break 1:15. My first 10k post pregnancy back in January was done at a 12:01 pace. But I was too chicken to set my goal at 1:12. A whole 2:46 minute faster?! Not brave enough to sign up for that.

So first things first, which awesome socks was I going to ROCK today?

I know they are both sooo cute I couldn't decide either.

So now that the outfit is complete it is time to tighten that pony tail and get this party started!

The Course: Home to the local museum, 4 loops around and back home.

V arrived and we headed out. V was having some shoe issues which was causing some ankle issues in the first mile. We walked a little and still covered the first mile in about 11 minutes. Pretty fast considering it takes me a while to warm up. The rest of the first 5K got progressively worse in terms of time. I do not know how to use my less-than-fancy, watch's split calculator so you do not get precision in this post, sorry! Continuing, the second mile was about 12+ and the third about 13. She couldn't stay for the full 10K and I was super thankful to have company on the first 5K. With half of the course done, I was pretty jazzed to see what I could do. I usually am not one for negative splits, but here goes, the 3 and 4th mile were at an 11 min pace with the final mile coming in at......wait for it.....wait for it.....9:58! I haven't broken 10 minutes in 4 years. Pretty exciting, so exciting that my hubby got to enjoy the sight of me dry heaving at the sink getting a glass of water. Totally worth it.

Final finish time 1:09:33

This is a PR for me by over 4 minutes. Now, I am reflecting and wondering how fast I could have finished if I ran the whole thing, or if I would have been spent in the early miles if I ran the whole thing? Guess, I need to focus on my times and start doing some tempo runs and more interval training.

Post Race

Post race was awesome. I had a 5 calorie Hawaiian Punch water mixer, so yummy, so nostalgic. My hubby asked me what I wanted for dinner and I said, "something green". He went to the grocery and came home to make lettuce wrapped fajitas. Chicken, Asparagus, bell pepper, onion, avocado and a little jack cheese wrapped in romaine and side of corn on the cob. Best hubby, best dinner. Sorry no pics, but trust me if you are salivating, you still have no idea. D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!!!

Thankful Three

1. For a 2 1/2 year old who does donkey kicks with me when I am working out
2. For a 6 month old who is a sleep right now so I can blog
3. For a running partner on a day I really needed one

Rock Your Socks Race Report-take #1 and the weeks recap

Ok, a quick "Rock this Week" recap first.

• Monday-didn't workout, was feeling funky then blogged about how I was going to rock this week
• Tuesday-4.5 miles (rocked it!)
• Wednesday-5.5 miles (rocked it!) +sit ups and the donkey kicks
• Thursday-3 miles (rocked it!) +sit ups, donkey kicks, weights
• Friday-3 miles (Interval/ladder training :30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:00, 1:30, 1:00, :30...and repeat) Took a couple hours off from work to do this work out at the gym. After doing a full round ofweights, I ran then did my donkey kicks and stretched. Geez, wish I could work p/t and workout like this daily. Did I mention, Rocked It!
• Saturday-REST--was going to do the Rock Your Socks 10K this morning at 6:00 so I could get home and ready to leave for tailgating by 8:30, but my legs were sore and I still had to bake cupcakes to take to our tailgating party. I didn't do my 200 sit ups or 3x30 Donkey kicks either--will double up tomorrow
• Sunday-Ok, 2 sets of the 3x30 Donkey kicks, and 400 sit-ups, light weights and I will do the 10K later today

Please note that beginning Wednesday 5/19 a workout partner and I started the Wednesday to Wednesday Challenge: No eating after 8:00, 200 sit ups, 3x30 donkey kick leg lifts and committing to walking at least 15 min during one of our breaks at work. Yes it is a pretty simple 1-week challenge, but it is certainly keeping me interested. I heard about another challenge in blog land, that I'll post about soon.

Now what you have all been waiting for, DRUM ROLL Please..................

The alarm went off at 6:00 so I could pump and get out the door by 7:00. I am slow, so I was giving myself a full 1:30 to do the run and get home. My hubby is volunteering with our congregations Adopt-A-Highway group at 9:00 so I needed to get home by 8:30.

STOP DRUM ROLL Please:

Last night was a tough one, mostly for my husband. My children were not cooperating. We went to sleep and the Bug woke up. He tended to her, I slept. Then the Duder woke up, 6 TIMES! Yup, it ranged from his foot hurting, needing a drink and having to go to the bathroom. I slept through all but the last two. I got up with them at 4:00 and took the last one solo at 5:50 figuring I needed to get up soon anyway.

Duder got up for good about 6:15 and yes folks, I plopped him with his pillow and blanket in front of some cartoons. My hubby needed to sleep, I needed to pump and well cartoons, as much I am anti-kids-glued-to-the-TV, was going to save my morning. I thought about taking Duder on the 10K with me in the jogging stroller so the hubby and bug could sleep. Then when I am almost done pumping, it is close to 7:00 and the Bug starts squeaking. GREAT! I can't leave the hubby, he really deserves some sleep. So for now, if the Bug totally wakes up I am thinking I'll take the double jogging stroller or just wait until their nap time and run then. It is pretty windy out and I am not sure I want them out in the wind or if I can realistically survive a 10K pushing a double stroller through the wind.

I will run this virtual race, I will run it today, I just won't be running it right now. Stay tuned.

Thankful Three

1. For virtual races with a flexible start time
2. For Super Hubby, I am a mess if I don't get a decent amount of sleep and he is always willing to get up with the kids
3. For being home today, so sick from tailgating food and mini-mart snack overdose

Friday Five

T-G-I-F

1. OMG I can't believe all the season finales, sooo good! I am so sad that I have to wait all summer for another season. What is really disturbing is that LOST is going to be over, like actually over. I might be a little depressed Sunday night/Monday morning, but at least "All my questions will be answered."
2. The week is going great! A friend of mine (not a runner) and I are doing some work outs together. I am a little more active than she is, but it is nice to have a partner at any level. While I am all about longer challenges, we have started slow with Wednesday to Wednesday. The challenge 200 sit ups, 3x30 donkey kick/leg lifts and exercise (read walk at least 15 minutes) everyday, and not to eat after 8:00 (which I already do). We work together so our goal over the 5 work days is to also  use at least 1 of our breaks to take a walk. I am enjoying it and hope it'll be a good lead in to  y 31 days to 31 Challenge.
3. Let's Go Oakland! (ch, ch, ch-ch-ch) Yes tailgating Saturday will be awesome in case you are wondering.
4. Weight is coming off again, finally! So now I need to be thinking of an actual plan to reduce my weight. I was thinking 10% over some period of time, but I am rethinking and will probably start with 5%. I will work this into my 31 days to 31 Challenge that starts next week. Any ideas????
5. Ok, Tribute to last nights Grey's Anatomy theme, "Human life is made up of choices. And it's not always in our hands." Yes we make choices daily, but do we really think about the impacts of the small ones? Well over the past month or so I have been making some small choices, take not eating after 8:00 for example. It was difficult for about a week and then it became just something I do, a small almost unnoticeable choice. Taking a break at work to walk is going to be one of those choices that turns into a small one, a "just something I do." While I do not want to discredit the impact of major life changing choices, somethings are just not "always in our hands." While this isn't new, it was a nice reminder to take advantage of the thing that are in our hands. Sometimes it is the small choices that define us. So I am going to work on making some better choices to more quickly attain the goals I set for myself. 

What small choices define you?

Thankful Three

1. For garlic bread with ranch dippy
2. For my nephew who babysits in a pinch
3. For my new black running skirt, soooo cute!

The Turn Around

"Do what you can with what you've got wherever you are."
~Theodore Roosevelt

A shorty on this lovely hump day. While I get the whole "getting over the hump" idea, Hump Day has always just sounded weird to me. I need to call it something else. Like an out and back run, it should just be called "The Turn Around". Right?! It is usually the day of the week where things start to turn around, mostly because we all feel the end in sight...the weekend that is. 

Ok, so I missed the Tuesday Tidbit, but for good reason. I got to excercise. Yup, details will follow with my "How I rocked this week" exercise summary that I'll likely post on Sunday after I have completed the Rock Your Socks Virtual 10K. In the mean time, with the crazy schedule I try and keep, here is to doing what I can, with what I've got, wherever I am. Which means..... Always keep a stocked gym bag in the car. Since I missed the Tuesday Tidbit, here is a little Tuesday tidbit about me, on a Wednesday. I hate pink on little girls, yuck. However, I love, LOVE pink on me. Pink phone cover, pink lap top cover, my favorite bondi band is pink. LOVE-LOVE-LOVE pink. Pink on little girls? So plain, so bland, so expected and soooo pushing the whole "girly" helpless thing. I have to admit when worn tough style with jeans, browns or black, little ones can pull it off without looking like helpless little marshmallows. If you are asking? My daughter rarely wears pink.

Thankful Three

1. For a sale on cereal, this food can be breakfast, lunch or dinner, your call

2. For getting a decent nights sleep

3. For getting more me time this afternoon...it's looking like a workout then happy hour kind of day

Monday Motivation

Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you. 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ok, so I love a little Monday motivation, unfortunately it usually comes to me in the late morning while I am at work or in the evening right before dinner. Many people are "morning" people and get their workouts in before their day consumes them. I on the other hand need to be in the mood for a good workout. Ideally I would be someone who worked out roughly around 10am or 6pm. I am not an early bird and certainly not a night owl either. In fact I am only up right now because my 6 month old refuses to stay asleep. So why not run at my ideal times? Well let me give you my excuses:

Daily routine

• Up around 5:00am or 6:00am pump for about 1/2 hr (I am a nursing mom with a full time job)
• Get ready for work and either go to work or drop of kids at sitters then go to work. I try and trade off with Super Husband, but he usually picks up all the slack
• Work 8-10 hours depending on the day
• Come home and pump or pick up kids, then go home and pump depending on the day
• 6:00 make dinner or help Super Husband by occupying the rug rats while he makes dinner
• 7:30 start the bed time routine
• Duder is down by about 8:30pm with the Bug following at about 9:30pm
• There was a time when I would hit the gym at 10pm, but I find myself coveting sleep these days instead

Ok, so you are wondering, Where Is The Monday Motivation? Well this weeks selection is "make the most of yourself." To make the most of myself means I may have to sacrifice some sleep and/or family time to be a better wife and mother. I do this 1x per month each for my: congregational board meetings, book club, wine club and Tri club. Super Husband does it for his weekly softball games. But is it enough? Nope, sorry, I need more time for me. So to make the most of myself I need to be committed to carving out time. When can I do this? Pumping only takes 1/2 hour each morning, so I can get up earlier to run. I can ride my bike to work on days that I do not have to drop off kids and stick to my 8 hour shift so that I can ride home, get the car and go pick up the kids. Very doable as I only work 5 miles from home. I can take the kids on a run in my fancy shmancy double jogging stroller as a means of occupying them while Super Hubby is making dinner. I cannot discount that a 1/2 run is better than no run at all.

Yes I know I'm repeating myself, I am sure there is another blog post about how I need to workout more. Shoot maybe all of them say this?! Yes all of these "work arounds" for a busy schedule aren't new and all the seasoned mommy bloggers out there know this stuff well. Though doing this stuff is harder than it seems. Between the wake ups in the middle of the night, on the night before I PLAN to wake up early and run, to the random tantrums about wanting to "run too" and not ride in the jogging stroller. They are all daily hurdles, but it is up to me to decide that I need to "make the most of me." Plus the whole overweight with a million excuses identity is getting old and this is not "all there is of me."

My half marathon a couple weeks ago left me feeling amazingly empowered. My Nike Women's Marathon bid for October has me excited to start training mid-June, but this in between time is making me feel funky. So I pledge this week to make the most of me. Stay tuned because I am about to completely Rock this week.

Good night bloggy bloggers, if you have ideas on how to squeeze in a work out I am all ears.

Thankful Three

1. For getting time to shop yesterday for my tall socks for the Racing With Babes virtual 10k this weekend (by getting time, I mean Target guests had to endure a rambunctious 2 year old running around and a crying/teething 6 month old....Good Times.
2. That Monday's are pasta nights and we don't have to think about dinner
3. That I am feeling motivated about running tomorrow, motivation feels good right before bed

Friday Five

Ok, so really is it necessary to celebrate that it is Friday, every Friday? H-E-Double Hockey Sticks yeah! I love me some weekend time. Not that I had a bad week or anything, but I woke up deliriously happy. Like the whole zip-ity-do-dah kind of happy. I really tried to figure it out. Maybe it was just that it is Friday, may because it's pay day or because I had an awesome night with some new friends last night? Who knows, but I wasn't about to waste my happiness time trying to figure it out. So instead I treated myself to Jamba Juice for breakfast. Oh don't think healthy. I had a Peanut butter Moo'd, which is a chocolate milkshake in a deceivingly healthy costume. Delicious!

Ok, enough blathering, here is your Friday Five:

1. Yes it is week two and I have still not posted about my internal struggle between feeling like a bad mom for leaving my kids for 2 1/2 days and feeling awesome that I got alone time with my hubby. Have I mentioned lately that I'm a procrastinator????
2. I am slightly disappointed that the 3 Changes Challenge is over, but have decided I need my own challenge. I will be 31 next month and am thinking of doing a 31 day count up (not down) to my bday. Any ideas of things to do? Oh my brain is going crazy with ideas, but like my blog description says, ideas aren't my problem, doing them is another beast entirely. In the mix of the 31 day count up to my birthday, my marathon training schedule will start so I am thinking of doing something fun with that too. "Planning" for this type A girl, is like being a kid in a candy store. Already having so much fun!!!!
3. Ok, so as mentioned above, I met some new friends last night. We are a newly formed wine club that will meet 1x per month to blind taste test wines. There are rules and winners and the concept is brilliant. We had a great time last night and I tasted 10 different Syrah's. No people I was not drunk, I actually just taste, that is not to say some other folks didn't "taste" a little too much. While I had fun, I learned Syrah, while drinkable, is not my favorite wine. Can't wait for next month's get together, great girls, great fun and a great way to expand my wine palate. (that one's for you honey)
4. While mothering two little ones and working full time doesn't leave much time for TV, I love my DVR. So confessions of lazy, procrastinating, mother of two, athlete wannabe: I LOVE Gossip Girl and Vampire Diaries. Yes you read that right, I am going on 31, but you could reverse those digits and still be right. So sad for season finales.
5. I love pay day. I used to love it because that meant I could pay bills and breathe a sigh of relief that I survived another month without losing my standard of living. Now I think I am going to love pay day for the things I get to do. Big things like charitable donations and small things like the sock shopping I get to do in preparation for the Racing with Babes Rock Your Socks 10k/Half Marathon. I will be doing the 10K option so stay tuned later this month for my race report. Now I really need to get on getting a rocking pair of tall socks.

Ok, that is it, you may begin your weekend, your Friday Five is complete. Feel free to toss out your ideas for my 31 days to 31 challenge I am designing for myself. The "count up" will start May 27th.

Thankful Three

1. For hitting double digits on the my followers list. Thanks Guys!!! I know there are more of you out there, don't be shy, becoming a follower I don't mind.
2. For Jack in the Box tacos--this may be a duplicate, but they are soooo yummy
3. For Girls' nights out followed my mommy's night in :)

Tuesday Tidbit

“Everything that goes into my mouth seems to make me fat, everything that comes out of my mouth embarrasses me.” 

~Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Who knew I had so much in common with a literary genius? Not sure if he ever wanted to change this about himself, but I am working on both for me. Ok, so I am not exactly watching what I eat, but rather am trying to eat less of everything. As for the embarrassing part? Well, let's just say I am a little naive, ditsy at times and generally miss sarcasm. For as seasoned as my mind is, there is a lot of stuff that I just don't get because my mind is always in an honest place. That being said, I certainly say my fair share of things that warrant a "That's what she said." How my husband doesn't literally die of laughter over the Sh*t that comes out of my mouth is beyond me. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but no, I turn all shades of red even when it's just in front of my husband. So how am I working on this? I am trying to roll with it and get less embarrassed. Also, I need to understand that the people we hang out with always have their minds in the gutter so I should skip the whole "honest place" thing and assume people are always trying to be inappropriate funny. Ok, that is your Tuesday Tidbit about me. 

Stay tuned for a "Registration Station" post soon. I am totally bummed I didn't sign up for a mother's day trail run and must get my race schedule in order.

3 Change Challenge Update:

1. totally have been bombing the ab commitment

2. Going no more than 2 days without a workout is going ok, I know I could step up what I consider a workout, but I am doing ok

3. Not eating after 8:00 is going super great!

Thankful Three

1. I am thankful for Top Ramen and Saltines...I wasn't feeling well today

2. I am thankful for the awesome mother's day my family gave me yesterday (no, not a typo, we celebrate on May 10th every year)

3. I am thankful for Netflix on my laptop, I got to watch "Tortilla Soup" in the kitchen while I was making dinner, that was fun.

Friday Five

1. I am the worst procrastinator. I will write about my vacation and my mother's guilt for "abandoning" my kids for 2 1/2 days, I just won't do it right now.
2. I had Monday off and my 4 day week still felt like 5?!!? How does this happen?
3. I am taking not eating after 8:00 too seriously. I ate a hot dog from the Target eatery at 7:50 so I wouldn't eat after 8:00 and so I could take my meds with food. What have I reduced myself too? I know I am ashamed of myself too. It was not the fancy kind of Target with groceries, but I at least could have just bought a Luna bar or something. I washed my gourmet hot dog down with some diet dr. pepper, it was some redemption, but certainly not enough. Have I totally grossed you out enough?
4. I am sticking to my plan of not letting more than 2 days pass before working out again too. I really love this 3 changes challenge. Alas it will end on 5/13...what should I do next? Short term sustainable goals are pretty cool.
5. I was invited to return to Bikram Yoga. If you haven't tried it, it is tortuous and in a heated room to boot. 1 1/2 hours to experience the temperatures of hell. Feels like crap the entire time, you choke on the thick sweaty air, but some how you feel awesome the rest of the day and longer. I am still not sure if I feel loose and cleansed or just thankful I survived? I have a clouded memory of my past Bikram experience and am literally afraid to return. On the up side it starts at 5:30 am so I can do it before work, I'd have a partner, I do need to get limber before I start my marathon training AND the introductory offer for 30 consecutive days  with UNLIMITED sessions. The opportunity makes me feel like it is a good 30 day head start to supplement building my training base before delving into the throws of marathon training. Hmm, what to do, what to do?

Thankful Three

1. I am thankful for my son's make shift Max costume he wore to school for "Wild Rumpous" day (they are reading Where the Wild Things Are). Seeing him get showered with oohs and aahs totally made my day
2. I am thankful for that on 2, count them T-W-O separate occasions today I was referred to as an optimist. Yeah, I was shocked too!
3. I am thankful that Subway sells cookies, I so needed the chocolate chip boost today

The Ave Race Report

Ok, so my Sunday run was preceded by a perfect and much needed couple's weekend. I will post on this a little later so stay tune for my neurotic reflection on a well deserved relaxing weekend with my husband and feeling of guilt for "abandoning" my children for 2 1/2 days. Fun stuff ladies and gentleman, fun stuff indeed. Without further adieu, my race report:

Training: None.

Like actually none. 4 days before the run I walked 6 miles with a friend and ran 1 for a total of 7. This gave me the confidence I needed to know that if all else fails, I could finished by just walking the whole thing.

Saturday: Ran a whopping 1 mile just to test if my legs were working. It was a speed test type of mile as I chased my husband along a trail on the coastal cliffs of Northern CA...quite beautiful I must say. It was nice to let the nerves out with such a playful "workout". Please note my husband DOES NOT RUN so it was a real treat for me that he humored me with a leg loosener.

As in prior race reports you are likely waiting for my pre-race meal report of fried food and beer. Alas, I decided to try and eat like a normal person, sorry to disappoint. We hit an amazing pasta place recommended to us by a friend. It had perfectly made Calzones. Like they asked, "light, medium or heavy" on the sauce, the same question for cheese etc.. The food is perfectly made because the ingredients are great and they cater to the customer's requests. Ok, so this is what I had:

Plenty of water, half a pepperoni, olive, light sauce, heavy cheese Calzone, foccacia topped with walnut pesto and toasted parmesan cheese (1 slice was plenty). There was also the homemade bread in a basket (I had a couple slices). I take carbo-loading seriously folks. I drank half a quart of G2 Gatorade, this was back at the hotel. I tried to stay as close to not eating after 8:00 as possible, but vacation made it tough. Still I was done noshing at about 8:10.

Asleep by about 10:00. Kept waking up, probably nerves.

Race Day (Sunday):
Alarm went off at 5:00 am, hubby flew out of bed and into the shower, I of course jumped on my phone to Facebook about how I wanted to do nothing else by sleep and skip the run. My dilly dallying led us to be about 1/2 hr late. I got up, got dressed and loaded the car since we needed to check out before we left. My hubby slathered the perfect amount of peanut butter on my plain bagel that he toasted for me and we were off. I also drank the second half of my gatorade. I really focused my pre-run hydration. The 20K from March really had me shaking in my boots about another calf cramp extravaganza. Note it was a 2 hour drive from our hotel to the race start.

We arrived in plenty of time (7:55) for the 9:00 start. Because I didn't print race directions and GIANT Redwoods don't make for the best iPhone reception, we arrived on the opposite end of the "preferred" parking area. Fortunately for us, my mistake scored us prime, uber close parking to the race start and clean bathrooms to change in afterward! Point for the unprepared slacker.

I checked in, put my bib on, stood in line at the port-a-potty, ahem, took care of some necessary business and thanked the world for my amazing port-a-potty line Karma. 5 minute wait for me, about 15 minute waiting for the line that formed soon after.

Ok, so race start did not at all seem like it had 1,126 people standing in it, but it did. Good for me because at no point during the race did I feel alone, even though I was running ALONE. I debated on walking to start, get warmed up then run a couple miles and walk the rest. My hubby thought I should just run until I couldn't run, there would be plenty of time for walking if I NEEDED to. So I took his advice and ran 1 mile, 2 mile, 3 miles...WOW I was still running! I then thought to myself I need to stick to my fuel plan, where are the aid stations again???? Hmmm?

So my plan was to fuel at miles 5.2 and 10.3. What actually happened was the following:

• Fueled with a Triberry GU at 3.5....dang it, too early.
• Potty break at mile 5.2. 30 seconds to take care of business (I told you I focused on hydrating) and 3.5 minutes waiting in line. Kinda lame, but oh well I was RUNNING, not walking this thing so I was feeling pretty flexible with my time.
• Ran, ran, ran and allowed myself to fast walk while drinking my water through the aid stations at 7.8 miles where I choked down another Triberry GU, 8.5 miles and 10.3 miles where I scored a mini-cliff bar for right after the race.

Ok so I am feeling awesome for running and when approaching mile 11 I started to feel a little hungry. I only packed 2 GU's thinking 1 at 5.2, 10.3 with real food at the finish would be plenty. I was wrong, or at least partially wrong for not sticking to the plan. Note for next time, pack double food just in case, GU doesn't weigh that much. Anyway, I went from slightly hungry to starving in about 200 yards. I didn't eat the mini Clif bar right way as I did not want to induce any gastric distress with only 2.1 miles left. Unfortunately it was risk gastric distress, or altogether completely bonk. I allowed myself to walk a little while I chomped down on half the mini bar. I did not pack water to wash it down with because this race was so well supported with 4 aid stations on the way out and the same on the way back. I mean really 8 aid stations for a 13.1 is pretty frick'n awesome. So here I am choking down my mini bar with no water and I immediately feel better. I begin to run. Here comes mile marker 12 and the amazing amount of confidence that I just RAN a half marathon (almost) floods me. Yes I know I walked a bit, but really not all that much. I'd guess way less than 1/2 mile up until this point.

Ahh yes, feeling good. Feeling G-- uh what I meant to say was good G-d, please don't cramp, please don't cramp!! My calves began their randsom request, walk now or we will take your whole body down. Now while I say I was feeling good on the run, that is not to say that my left knee didn't try and pull this randsom crap at like mile 8 and again at 10. This was my mantra in those situations "run through it or get comfortable with it" I said this a few times and in both cases about 100 yards later the threat retreated. I was afraid to be so bold with the calves. The calves and I met once before this year and I am sorry to admit the calves won. This time I tried to pre'emp them by hydrating the days before and fueling throughout the run. Was I brave enough to stick them with the mantra "run through it or get comfortable with it"? Well I tried and the threat was too imminent. With a slight climb in the last mile I had succumbed to walking. With less than 1.1 to go I felt like my mental toughness failed me, or had it?

At this point in the run I had a heart to heart with myself. What did I have to prove? Who did I have it to prove to? I just RAN, I'll say it again, RAN a run I completed expected to walk and try to finish in as close to 3 hours as possible. I DID exhibit mental toughness, I was accomplished and all I had to do was make it to the finish. My little pep talk was great and I was off and running again....200 yards later I was walking, wow this was going to hurt. The bad part about walking is that it is a slippery slope to walking more AND more importantly it gives the pain a chance to settle it. When did my knees starting hurting? Why are my hip flexors protesting? Uh oh, I feel like my left toes are going to Cramp...oh no and here comes the left calf muscle too! Ok so now I NEEDED to run or else I might not make it to the end. Walking is the devil, it tempts you into thinking you needed it just for a minute, just for a few strides and then sucks you in.

I was fortunate to have the bathroom line lady pass me and tell me to keep it up, that I was almost there. This got me another 50 yards or so before I had to walk again. Then the all blue outfit lady told me "we" could do it and we pushed each other a bit further before walking another 25 yards. Then the most beautiful sound you have ever heard echoed through the gorgeous giant redwoods...Traffic:) We were so close to the bridge where the start/finish was that  I knew I could finish it out. Sure the calves and toes all threatened to take my body hostage, but I had to risk it. As I approached the finishing shoots, say maybe 20 yards out I must have thought out loud, "oh gosh, I'm going to cramp" because the blue outfit lady said no your not, put her hand on my shoulder and encouraged me to finish. Wow, I love runner people. For an individual sport they are pretty TEAM oriented.

So there you have it. I finished. I RAN almost the whole thing save for a little less than a mile total of walking (I know it sounds like a lot more and let me tell you it felt like it too). My finishing time was 2 hours, 40 minutes and 7 seconds. According to the race results a 12:13 pace. I am pretty impressed with myself. This is only a 12 second increase per mile than my 10K back in January and I walked what felt like a ton AND had a potty break. This was rolling hills, January's 10K was absolutely and decidedly FLAT. I usually do not feel too hyped up about anything I do, but I was so proud of myself and happy that my hubby was there to support me I actually teared up at the finish.

Post race I had oranges, a granola bar and a bavarian pretzel. I had one bite of calzone left overs and tried to sleep in the car. There is nothing like a 5+ hour drive home to make you realize your hips and knee joints ache and nothing you do will make it stop. At least there was no muscle pain or cramping. No, the muscle pain waited to arrive until today. My quads are completely shredded and I am not sure what to do. Sitting, rising and any kind of steps are virtually tortuous.

Ok, so now that I know I can do a 1/2 sans training, what's next? Until the next ambitious attempt, get through it or get comfortable with it. (I'll edit this post with PICS as soon as their are uploaded, downloaded? whatever, as soon as I can)

Thankful Three:
1. For an amazingly supportive husband who drove 650 miles for my 13.1 mile event
2. For organic, sustainable and DELICIOUS vacation food
3. For Monday off from work to try and recover

Hump Day--weekend line up.

Ugh, I made it, actually more than made it.... tomorrow is my Friday! So this weekend is the the Avenue of the Giants and surprise, surprise I am a bit undertrained. Not to fret bloggy blog friends, I am just exited to participate. If you haven't scoped out the the website you MUST check it out. Just the views are going to be amazing so why rush it by running so fast :) I plan to run/walk and hope to finish in close to 3 hours. I went out for a walk/run today. After 7 miles I was soooo ready for more. Like, I wanted to keep going until my body said to stop. It felt amazing!! I can only liken it to the "nesting" energy I got with my 2nd pregnancy. The only reason I stopped at 7 was to hurry home to the family, who incidentally didn't need me right away when I got home, so the hubby sent me on a bike ride. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. I am so thankful for my partner who got me out there, wish I had her for Sunday.

The weekend line up......

• Grandparents are pitching in and taking care of the kiddos and the animals.
• Friday's drive will include wine tasting and yummy restaurants & bakeries.
• Fort Bragg, I love cold coastal areas and fried food so it is sure to be a good time.
• Saturday, more Fort Bragg and my hubby assures me that he will take a short run with me to loosen up the legs for Sunday's run.
• Sunday, the big day! Looking forward to finishing, NOT looking forward to the drive back.

Monday, a wonderful day off, with kids still scheduled to go to the sitters/day care. What does that mean for me? It means hopefully sleeping in a little, Starbucks, a pedicure and lunch with the hubby. This is totally a ME weekend, so we'll do Sushi (his favorite).

3-Changes Challenge Update:

1. Going strong with no eating after 8:00
2. Getting better with the no more than 2 days between workouts
3. Need to make a better daily Ab effort

Thankful 3

1. Thankful for my 2 hours of exercise today with a partner
2. Thankful for grandparents who like taking care of their grandkids
3. Thankful for a re-freshed gym bag

Watch Tan Lines ....it's gonna be a good year!

Yesterday was the club's practice Tri and it was wonderful! Don't get me wrong, I completely sucked it up, but the course was really well marked and was appropriately challenging for everyone. The course was a 400 yard swim (open water/lake about 65 degrees?), then a 15 mile bike, fairly flat/small rolling hills except the 80ft climb at the end that had me doing the walk of shame on two different turns of the switch back, then a 3 mile trailrun on some rolling hills (yes I had to walk). While the times aren't super exact, I finished in 2:04. It is a slower time than I hoped. Here is the rough break out:

Started at 12:00 ish....Warm Sunny Day

• 11:30 swim (FYI-first swim of the year for me, like first swim at all, no pool, nothing!)
• T1 3:30 transition (little dizzy from the swim so I sat down to put on my sneakers)
• 1:07:00 for the ride (WOW, I thought this would be the easiest part for me, but my quads were on strike and I could hardly get my legs to turn over the first 5 miles)
• T2-all of a 1 minute transition to run. I left my Power Gel at transition in the sun and I had to choke down a hot Caffeinated Strawberry Banana gel & some water before I left transition. I don't use clip ins, so I only switched from helmet to visor, makes for a quick transition usually, the gel thing threw me off a little.
• 41 minute run-My legs felt good as I left the transition area and headed for the fire roads, the slight climb at the beginning had me walking. This was quite unexpected, but I rolled with it. Ran/walked-had a little Gatorade at the aid station and continued on the rolling hills. I was pretty fortunate to have met a teammate on the run who coached me through some Chi Running. She was just "training" and stayed with me until I feigned needing to walk to encourage her to leave me behind. No she wasn't as slow as I am, she just so happened to double the swim to get the most out of the training day and that is why she was coming in behind me. After she finished, she doubled back to help me through the last 3/4 mile. She is a physical therapist and was able to coach me through some poor downhill form too. Lucky me, training day AND personalized coaching!

While I am not thrilled with my performance I am pretty proud of myself for showing up, finishing, not being completely toast when I got home and only sore in the back from the ride. Did I mention I love being in a Tri club. I can't even tell you how awesome it was to get the season nerves out, find my set point so I can focus and have such awesome teammates! BTW, one of my favorite things about outdoor exercise of any sort is the tan lines. When I was younger and played basketball I used to love coming home with bruises. These war wounds made me feel like I earned each workout. Well that is what my watch tan and ankle sock tan do for me with running/Triathlon. I got the beginnings of both with yesterday's workout and I am on a mission to make them more defined. In the winter, it is the dirt line left after a trailrun that gets me jazzed up.

What are the markings of a great workout/season for you?

Thankful Three

1. For finding a last minute hotel room for Avenue of the Giants (1/2 marathon) this weekend.
2. For sticking with my no eating after 8:00, pat on the back for me.
3. Getting into the Nike Women's Marathon (SF)...yes I am still on cloud 26.2

Friday Five

1. This week was my last week in a temporary job. Not this best week to try a new fitness challenge, but there you have it. I committed to the Three Changes Challenge and so far I am only 1 for 3. I am supposed to skip eating after 8:00, tough, but, CHECK! I am supposed to go no more than 2 days between workouts...um, not so good. Five minutes of abs daily? Well, ok not great there either. Now that this job madness is over it is time to kick it up a notch. I am back to working close to home so I am thinking riding to work a couple days a week and running after work a couple days a week. I have 1 hour of my life back daily (darn commute) and I plan to make the most of it. Trying to reach the end of a never-ending job was not the best priority to set for my last week at this job. What suffered? Workouts, down time, family time etc. Tough lesson to learn, but learned. Now moving on.

2. Tomorrow is practice Tri Day. 400 yd open water swim, 15 mile bike, 3 mile run. Soooo Excited. I haven't done a tri yet this year so I am really ready see what my jumping off point is. My next sprint tri is not until June 5th so I will have plenty of time to start making efforts to improve. I know my bike time is faster, and my run times are coming down since having a baby, but all three sports need more consistent efforts to improve. If you remember a few weeks back I said I have had the mentality of just being a finisher, but now I look forward to racing against myself. I believe you fancy people out there call it a hunt for the next PR.

3. My 18 year old nephew/former swimmer has taken up running. He thoroughly enjoys exploring the boundaries of his small town and his physical fitness. I am bringing him to join my Tri Club and participate in the practice Tri. If I rope him in, I will have a new workout partner & race buddy, even though he is way faster than I am.

4. My friend with a 7 yr old girl and 5 yr old boy just found out she is pregnant. They thought they were done and here they are waiting for baby #3. It gives me hope that maybe my hubby, who for all intents and purposes has declared we are done with our 2 1/2 year old boy and 6 month old girl, might change his mind. I know that I could be convinced, my goodness while I may not be the best athlete, I am damn good at making some good looking kids. Too boastful? I think not, my kids are awesome, already well mannered and the sweetest people you'll ever meet.


5. Ok, enough stalling, here is the news you have all been waiting for, drum roll please.........I won the lottery!!!!!

Congratulations! You're Registered for the Nike Women's Marathon

Yup, this is what I got in my email inbox today. The only way to get into the race without fund raising is by lottery. Now it is time to get super geared up for my official "A" race of the year. Of course there will be the official selection of my Tri "A" race, but for now, I plan to just float on my happy running cloud. I have a feeling I am going to look good wearing Tiffany's.

Monday

Ok, nothing super special to report on today, but wanted to get in my Challenge Notes and my Thankful three. Last night was my first night with the whole no eating after 8:00 thing. Wow, so much harder than I thought. First it was mental, like at 7:55 PM I crammed some cashews down my throat thinking I would starve otherwise. I really wanted a Baskin Robin's Mint Chocolate Chip shake (extra thick) at like 9:30. It was hard not to go and get one. Tonight dinner was over kinda late so I couldn't even fit in any food before 8:00 because I was so full, but was actually afraid that I would get super hungry and not be able to eat. It is 9:47 and I have survived 1 hr 47 min after 8:00 without food. I better go to bed before my belly figures it out. As for ABs, well I felt like a cheater but I am counting it, I held a crunch for extended periods while holding my lap top on my belly reading other peoples blogs. Yes, not exactly what I had in mind when I said minimum 5 minutes of ABs, but it worked.

Finally, my Thankful Three

1. Brie & French rolls
2. Cotton Comfy skirts that are just as awesome as sweats
3. 3% percent power left on the MacBook to publish this post

3 Changes Challenge

Ok, I think Challenges are Brilliant and so are blog rolls. Without perusing the favorite blogs of my favorite blogs I never would have found Amanda at RunToTheFinish. Lots of positive things happening for me this past week and discovering the 3 Changes Challenge is one of them. So here are things I will commit to do from now until at least May 13th.

1. No eating after 8:00, my hubby is on board with this one so I get some encouragement right here at home.
2. 5 minutes of ABs everyday. Yes I know, what is 5 minutes going to do for me? Well, hopefully it will become the jumping off point. I have to start somewhere and this 5 month post-pardum belly will benefit from any amount of attention at this point.
3. This one is big, it will be the key to my success in running, triathlon and overall commitment to staying fit, are you ready? No more than 2 consecutive rest days. Big right?! My biggest challenge is consistency and boy do I have every excuse in the book. Baring any major health issues I should be able to stick to this and I know it will have a lasting effect on my health. I just need to remember that a 20 minute run is better than no run. Sometimes I don't workout because the amount of time I can squeeze out on busy days doesn't seem worth it. Here is a change in the though process, every minute of working out counts.

So in addition to finding this fabulous challenge I also found myself in a conversation with a friend of mine. We both live lives we are proud of and know there is no shortage of things to be thankful for. We talked about how sometimes we play down how happy we are because of unhappy people around us. We don't want to seem braggy, just happy, so instead we just don't talk too much about the great things going on in our lives except with each other. I too being an eternal pessimist, usually about my own personal accomplishments (e.g. not good enough), often times take for granted the things that are important to me. When reading about the 3 Changes Challenge, I noticed the author also does "Gratitude Journal" entries. I do this (not consistently) on a Star Wars Dry Erase board that is stuck to my fridge. In addition to the occasional fridge note, I am going to start blogging a "Thankful Three". I am not making this part of the the 3 Changes Challenge because I don't know how long I want or will realistically keep it up, but for the sake of this positive wave I am riding here goes...

Thankful Three

1. For my 50 bike ride on a perfectly sunny day, not hot, just perfectly sunny
2. A husband who snores next to me on the couch while I blog, I could be alone.
3. Two gorgeous kids who took their naps together today, hence my ability to blog in the middle of the afternoon on the couch instead of late at night tucked in bed

50K Zin Spin Ride Report

Ok, the Zin Spin 50K Bike ride was perfect. Good thing it was a ride and not a race because I was running a little late. The weather was just amazing, sunny, but not hot and you could smell the alfalfa in the lush green fields, the vineyards were greening up, I could smell honeysuckles on the last 4 mile stretch. The finish was at an amazing at an Arts & Crafts style house on the beautiful Bare Ranch, owned by Michael David. I ate a light lunch afterward and enjoyed the scent of orange blossoms from the trees. Please note the lovely picture to the right, it is the official image on the 2010 Zin Spin Tee Shirts. Wish I could credit the artist, but there is no info about this picture on the facebook page I took the image from.

There was a rest stop at mile 12.5 where I enjoyed a slice of wheat bread with peanut butter, it took me 49 minutes to get there. Usually this is my pre-run/race breakfast, but I was in a rush this morning and only had a strawberry and a Red Delicious apple...I definitely needed the protein. About 8 miles later there was another rest stop (a winery) where I enjoyed a half of an orange, this segment took me 32 minutes. I wished it wasn't so early, I would have loved to wine taste just, but could justify alcohol at 10AM. The last 10.1 miles were a little harder than expected, I was out of the saddle alot. I need to ride more often, it took me 41 minutes to finish. More good news is that I took a little jog after the ride to loosen up my legs and get them used to the TRI transition. Can I just say Wow! It didn't take much before my legs really felt good. I wouldn't call this a brick since it was less than a mile, but I felt pretty confident about hitting a decent stride in less than 1/2 a mile. It usually takes me longer to loosen up. This is the longest ride I have ever been on and I really enjoyed it. I think one thing that was a little tough was starting and stopping. The first mile after each rest stop seemed like a bit of a challenge. One thing that was amazing is the functionality of gears on a road bike vs. mountain bike. I had an a-ha moment getting over the second overpass and the concept of gears magically made sense. Pretty cool stuff this road bike thing is.

Sorry no pics, there were a bunch of Delta Tri Club folks riding too, but I didn't wait for them to finish, had a hungry 5 month old waiting for her mama at home, duty called. Thanks for reading & stay tuned for a post later today where I sign up for the 3 Changes Challenge.

I should be asleep

I should be sleeping. But I must carbo load for tomorrows Zin Spin 50K Bike Ride. What's on the menu you ask? Chocolate Chip cookies and milk. I am still working on a name for my bike, but I guess I'll have 31 beautiful miles to think about it tomorrow. Guess I was meant to still be awake as my 5 month old just woke up. Time to go be mama. Before I go, just wanted to mention I had a great time at the local Single A baseball home opener Thursday, an amazing day getting a pedicure then going wine tasting on Friday, hanging out with my bestie & her little ones today and gearing up for tomorrow's ride. What was the perfect color I picked for my toes? A sparkly pink with a flower painted on the big toes. I have dubbed the color Hannah Montana Pink. Everything I have ever seen that is HM is pink or purple & sparkly. If she doesn't already have a nail polish line, she should get one and steal this color. Darn, I just googled her and sure enough she is already on the nail polish thing, but this pink was no where in sight. Miss Miley Cyrus you need to find this pink, it is frick'n awesome. Nothing better than feeling young, like teeny bopper young:) I am on a roll with having a great time these last few days, just gotta keep it going. Hope everyone else is letting the good times roll this spring. Stay tuned to hear about how tomorrow's ride goes.

Nitey Nite Bloggy Bloggers.

Sunday Seven

1. Finally getting some sleep. Cutting out the Bug's dinner time nap has worked wonders.
2. Volunteering this weekend was so much easier than I thought it was going to be. A 3 day workshop was cut down to 2 and we produced 122 cakes, 50 more than last year in less time overall. They are always a hit at the food fair.
3. I got a nap yesterday, goodness gracious it was amazing...I need like 50 more and I might be caught up.
4. This morning I got a nice little run in before the rains came. It was only 2 miles, but it came with a donut shop "aid station" at the half way point. My son enjoyed the run and the donut with sprinkles he got to eat 1/2 of when we got home.
5. Today after a playdate with my former running partners (the cutest married couple ever), I bought a Brand New (to me) used jogging stroller. After the rains cleared my family and I went out for frozen yogurt. I can't believe how easy this stroller rides and it was such a steal on craigslist.

6. Now that I am home and reflecting on the day, I really miss my friends. They moved about 45 minutes away and we just don't get to run any more. L has lost 20 lbs on his own and has already done a 1/2 marathon this year and D is 5 lbs away from her goal and her doctor just released her to run (she is also a new mom to a second child). And here I am squeezing in runs to the donut shop, not quite the right motivation. I really miss their company on runs, support when I wanted McDonald's fries for every meal and just the overall feeling that I had partners. New partner(s) I look forward to meeting you. I have had plenty of one time partners, couple weeks-months type partners, single event and event only type partners, those who have out grown me because they learned they were faster and those who have dropped off because of the time commitment. I appreciate every minute I have trained with someone else because while running can be an individual sport, it feels like social time for me. Here is a pic of me and my partners taking a rest after our first 1/2 marathon back in 2005.

7. On the horizon this week I must log a long run as I did not get one in this weekend, 8 miles should be plenty. Tuesday is Soul Food night with some book club friends, we are discussing The Help, highly recommended BTW. Friday is a big wine tasting day with some friends. Yes the work-a-holic is taking a much needed day off. Sunday is the metric 1/2 century bike ride. I'm really looking forward to this week.

So bloggy blog friends, tell me who your running partners are and why you need them?

i CaN ReAd!

Ok so I mostly post about some sort of workout, or lack there of, then some complaining followed by promises to do better. Today you get to hear about my amazing book club. So we are a group of women, mostly moms, somewhere between the ages of 25-35 (ish). Some of us are working moms, others are stay at home and all of us have some sort of gift, talent or uniqueness that make each of us marvel at the fact that we have such cool friends. Tonight we added to our group and I was so excited to meet new people and further amazed at how quickly we find connection with each other. One might think we get stuck on stupid talking about our kids, but I promise we have other things to talk about. One thing we inevitably come back to is the 2 degrees of separation. We all have the same connection to a small wine country town in California. If we aren't from this place we know someone or married someone from this place. It is ridiculously funny that we literally can connect anyone we know from this place by no more than 2 degrees of separation.

In addition to talking about knowing someone who knows someone, our book club actually reads. There were 5 of us who were all pregnant at the same time last fall and we kind of fell off the wagon, but we are back in full force with a fun new selection of books. Because most of us are moms and some working moms we are a generous book club. We alternate a dinner and book discussion month with movie night month. We never meet at anyone's house because G-d forbid that we have to clean up and feed people. Book club is our escape, a chance to just be girls and it is low key enough that we give ourselves 2 whole months to read a book with a fun movie night to tie our monthly meetings together.

Tonight I got to munch on crazy good blue cheese fries, buffalo wings and a sampler of beer at the local brewery while laughing at some great stories. What more could a girl ask for? Thanks Bookies, can't wait for next month.

So, what do you read? I would love to hear from people about some favorite reads. If you are not a follower now, is a great time to follow my blog and share your thoughts on some good reads...sports related or not.

NWM Random Drawing

“If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good”

Ok so the Nike Women's Marathon (San Francisco) Random Draw opened yesterday. It is pretty exciting since I have been stalking their website since missing the 2008 drawing (2007 & 2009 I was nice and preggo so no marathons for me). Any hoo, I registered, and now I must wait. Wait. Wait. And did I mention W-A-I-T. I am terribly impatient, but I guess I can wait until the end of the month...ahem I have to other choice. While I appreciate the concept of a random draw, I will be so very disappointed if I do not get in. So disappointed in fact that I am not sure I am interested in doing any other marathon's this year. I have only completed one, San Diego Rock n Roll 2006 and I am positive that I can do better. Maybe the California International Marathon in December if I don't get into the NWM, but I have signed up for this one before (see the missed 2008 year), but didn't run because I didn't keep up my training through to December. I think there might be a trail half in October, I'll have to research. A trail half might be a good alternative for me. I have learned as I write this post with controlled excitement that I better not put all my eggs in one basket.

Cross you fingers & toes, I haven't been excited for a marathon since my first one and this time I am close enough to the race location that I could actually get some training runs done on the course. See map above for course outline.

P.S. Bloggy Blog followers my 25 mile ride rocked on Saturday. I was really intimidated to go.  In the end I felt so good having gone on a nice distanced ride, but also felt bad that my partners had such a  super slow recovery ride by staying with me. A big part of doing the ride was getting over my fear, fear of riding a new bike, fear I couldn't go the distance, fear I would just plain suck at it. My partner said afterward that I did fine and it seemed I was moving along comfortably and probably could've pushed harder. I didn't push harder on this first ride because I was afraid I would bonk so I was just trying to stay steady. That first mile I wasn't sure I could do it, I couldn't find the right gears and my partners seemed to be cruising along so effortlessly...very intimidating. Then all of a sudden we were at the half way point, I was actually shocked when we got there. The return trip seemed to fly by too, the great conversation helped tons to pass the time. I love being on a TRI team.

Club meeting tonight, in search of a running partner for long runs, wish me luck.

Friday Five

1. Ok, can I get a high five for surviving the week?! Anyone?
2. In case you missed my last post, I have a new bike. Like a BRAND NEW road bike. I'm pretty excited for my Tri teams 25 mile ride + run, brick workout tomorrow...stay away rain!
3. My big boy had his first day of school in big boy underpants...we call them Chonies. I am pretty proud and sad all at the same time. Where does the time go?
4. This month I have 2 events: a 50K bike ride on April 18th that us fancy folk like to call a metric half century...sounds way cooler doesn't it? I also have a practice tri with my TRI club on April 24th. I feel like I want to do way more, but the weekends just keep filling up.
5. My big half marathon (Avenue of the Giants) is May 2nd. After my 20K trail run last month, I know I can at least finish, but my new approach to athletics is to compete against myself. Yup you read that right, C-O-M-P-E-T-E. This means more diligent training. Ugh, I wish I was better at prioritizing running as a necessity vs. a luxury! Really, I just procrastinate, then complain. Procrastinate, then complain and sometimes get a workout in. Apparently this does not make for effective and consistent training.

Have a Fabulous Friday and Wonderful Weekend. Swim, Bike, Run and Have Fun!