I freaking won some prize money today at the GW Parkway 10-miler! I wish I could have captured the moment...standing up there with all of these elite runners that I feel are WAY out of my class....to accept my 10th place prize. It was the best feeling ever. Little old me...who runs with a jogging stroller and does speed workouts on the treadmill...and these people that are going to the Olympic trials. I felt like everyone watching us must have thought that they were playing the "which one is not like the others" game that they play on Sesame Street.
I was amazed that my time was only 20-30 seconds off my PR two weeks ago at the Cherry Blossom 10-miler. There was a world of difference in how I felt at these two races. My legs were very fresh during the Cherry Blossom and I really felt like I left a little out there at the end of the race. This race, however, was a total struggle. I only did a mini-taper for this race and my legs felt like lead. Running 9-10 miles with the jogging stroller on Tuesday was NOT a good idea. Plus, at the start of the race my quads and IT band felt a little off. I ended up being fairly consistent with my miles (with the exception of the first mile that I ran in 5:50), so I think I have gotten better about pacing myself.
Other good news: I GOT TO SEE AND CHEER FOR MCM Mama!! which was TOTALLY AWESOME. I tried to find you after the race MCM Mama, but there were too many people. You looked great! My hubby ran the race as well and finished just under the two hour mark. Go hubby!
Hubby and I have been debating whether I can use the $200 I won to put toward coaching. He doesn't want me to because he doesn't think that we will have the time. We actually got in a big fight about it on the ride home. He said that with me returning to work and Nathan still not sleeping and him having a high pressure job that didn't lend itself to much flexibility that I shouldn't think about training more/harder/committing to specific workouts with a running group. I was so upset. I think I was coming off the high of being within reach of all these amazing runners that probably trainer harder/smarter than I do and wondering if maybe I could be better. But, at the end of the day, I will never be a professional runner. It will always be an avocation, not a vocation for me. How much am I willing to make my family sacrifice so I can do something that I enjoy, but will never qualify as an "elite?" How much does my running matter? I don't know that I would actually enjoy training harder. I certainly wouldn't want to be doing any more miles than I am doing now. But, I would enjoy the companionship of other runners. I've been looking into team coaching through Capital Area Runners....but maybe I should just get a virtual coach like Mama Simmons, Kate Parker, or Angela Kidd. I don't know. I only trained with a group once...and it felt all consuming. I don't know that I can go back to that place again.
Weekly Mileage:
Monday, April 20, 2009: 8.6 miles @ 7:41 pace (Treadmill), MTV Power Yoga Video
Tuesday, April 21, 2009: 9-10 miles (with jogging stroller), Body Pump
Wednesday, April 22, 2009: 8.6 miles, 20 minutes of Power Yoga Video (baby decided mommy needed to pay more attention to him)
Thursday, April 23, 2009: Body Pump, 7 miles
Friday, April 24, 2009: 6 miles, 3 mile walk
Saturday, April 25, 2009: 60 minutes elliptical, 2 mile walk
Sunday, April 26, 2009: 10 miles @ 6:33 pace, 8 minute warmup (~1 mile), 1 mile @ 12 min pace w/ hubby = ~12 miles
Total Mileage: 52.6 miles
Off to Puerto Rico! I'll talk to you all in 6 days!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Swimsuits
Given that it is T-4 days until we leave for Puerto Rico, I thought I should go buy a bathing suit.
Because I only own ONE suit.
It was my sister's swimsuit from high school swimming that is probably two sizes too large. It has a hole in the butt that I like to pretend isn't there.
I wore it three years ago post bunionectomy to swim in the pool and train for the one and only sprint tri I have ever done.
To say that I am modest is a bit of an understatement. I hate wearing anything "small." My friends all used to make fun of my size Large granny panties until I fell in love with Hanky Panky underwear. My husband tell me I am "a waste of a hot body."
I just feel so BARE wearing a bathing suit. Heaven forbid I wear a BIKINI! My stomach has NEVER seen the light of day. Seriously. In my 30 years on this earth, I have not once worn a bikini (that is, unless you count the cut-out bathing suit that I wore when I was 8).
Plus, wearing a bathing suit brings out perfectionist tendencies that I'd rather not deal with. I put on a bathing suit and all I can think is "wow, you are FAR from starving to death" and "maybe that third serving of cereal/icecream/bread/chocolate was REALLY not a good idea" and "why do I have a pancake butt" and "my thighs are so WIDE compared to my calves" and "I should seriously consider eating nothing but vegetables for three months." Now, I know that I am a healthy weight. However, I probably could eat less. But, I am not willing to make the changes that would be necessary to look as I would like in a bathing suit. I have found that the best way to avoid any of these negative thoughts is to NEVER WEAR A BATHING SUIT.
In honor of my 31st birthday, I bought a nice black bikini to cavort around in and drink margaritas like I just don't care. I figure that some day I will be an old woman with shriveled up boobs and a really saggy butt and will regret that I never pranced around in my skivvies.
I might pack my sister's bathing suit just as a security blanket.....
Because I only own ONE suit.
It was my sister's swimsuit from high school swimming that is probably two sizes too large. It has a hole in the butt that I like to pretend isn't there.
I wore it three years ago post bunionectomy to swim in the pool and train for the one and only sprint tri I have ever done.
To say that I am modest is a bit of an understatement. I hate wearing anything "small." My friends all used to make fun of my size Large granny panties until I fell in love with Hanky Panky underwear. My husband tell me I am "a waste of a hot body."
I just feel so BARE wearing a bathing suit. Heaven forbid I wear a BIKINI! My stomach has NEVER seen the light of day. Seriously. In my 30 years on this earth, I have not once worn a bikini (that is, unless you count the cut-out bathing suit that I wore when I was 8).
Plus, wearing a bathing suit brings out perfectionist tendencies that I'd rather not deal with. I put on a bathing suit and all I can think is "wow, you are FAR from starving to death" and "maybe that third serving of cereal/icecream/bread/chocolate was REALLY not a good idea" and "why do I have a pancake butt" and "my thighs are so WIDE compared to my calves" and "I should seriously consider eating nothing but vegetables for three months." Now, I know that I am a healthy weight. However, I probably could eat less. But, I am not willing to make the changes that would be necessary to look as I would like in a bathing suit. I have found that the best way to avoid any of these negative thoughts is to NEVER WEAR A BATHING SUIT.
In honor of my 31st birthday, I bought a nice black bikini to cavort around in and drink margaritas like I just don't care. I figure that some day I will be an old woman with shriveled up boobs and a really saggy butt and will regret that I never pranced around in my skivvies.
I might pack my sister's bathing suit just as a security blanket.....
Monday, April 20, 2009
When the Rubber Meets the Road
Today I had to give a presentation to a 150 person audience. Let me tell you...I like public speaking just about as much as I like having splinters removed. I spend copious amounts of time preparing and practicing to what usually amounts to "no big deal." So, this past week I didn't get to put in my typical exercise and yesterday I didn't have time to do much of anything at all. Plus, my MIL was here this past week. I feel too guilty to exercise 2x a day when someone else is watching Nathan. It seems excessive. Maybe because it is excessive? I think I am starting to get the sense of how much I will be able to exercise "when the rubber meets the road" and my first priorities (family, putting $$ in the bank, SLEEP, etc.) push exercise lower down on Maslow's Hierarchy after I start working.
Weekly Mileage:
Monday, April 13, 2009: 8.6 miles
Tuesday, April 14, 2009: 10 miles
Wednesday, April 15, 2009: 9 miles w/ 3 miles @ 6:18 and 3 miles @ 7:30
Thursday, April 16, 2009: Body Pump, 8.6 miles
Friday, April 17, 2009: 16 miles @ 8:05 pace
Saturday, April 18, 2009: 7 miles
Sunday, April 19, 2009: 30 minutes of Power Yoga Video (baby decided he needed my attention, so I couldn't finish the video)
Total Mileage: 59.2 miles
Weekly Mileage:
Monday, April 13, 2009: 8.6 miles
Tuesday, April 14, 2009: 10 miles
Wednesday, April 15, 2009: 9 miles w/ 3 miles @ 6:18 and 3 miles @ 7:30
Thursday, April 16, 2009: Body Pump, 8.6 miles
Friday, April 17, 2009: 16 miles @ 8:05 pace
Saturday, April 18, 2009: 7 miles
Sunday, April 19, 2009: 30 minutes of Power Yoga Video (baby decided he needed my attention, so I couldn't finish the video)
Total Mileage: 59.2 miles
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Cheater Cheater Chocolate Eater
Diet Update
I am on Day 3 of the basically-eat-nothing-fun diet. OK, so maybe I haven't ACTUALLY stuck to the diet YET. On Day 1, I ate a chocolate granola bar (the last Chex Mix Turtle Bar) and a HUGE handful of chocolate chips. And, today, Day 3, I ate 5 pieces of chocolate candy that my MIL brought for Easter. Oh, and I have had 6 strawberries each day on my tastes-like-cardboard-diet-approved-high-fiber-organic-oh's because I bought these delicious strawberries before I found out that I was going to be on this diet. As soon as they are gone, I won't eat any more. Same goes for the chocolate. I have about 2 handfuls of chocolate chips left. I have NOT eaten ANY dairy though, which is HUGE for me. And, rice cakes in sunflower seed butter has become my new obsession. I ate 6 rice cakes with sunflower seed butter yesterday.
A shot of my new grub a la Trader Joe's:
Sleep Update
Nathan is still sleeping in only 2-3 hour increments. I have started to keep a nap and sleep diary to help identify sleeping trends/problems. I am starting to notice some consistency in his napping and have been making an effort to actually put him to sleep rather than just letting him fall asleep whenever. I have also been trying to wake him up and put him down around the same time every day. Based on my calculations, Nathan is getting 3-4 hours of sleep during the day in 3-4 naps and 8-11 hours of sleep at night. According to this new book I am reading, the No-Cry-Sleep-Solution, babies Nathan's age should be getting 14-15 hours of sleep total. If we put Nathan to bed at 7 rather than 9pm, he's pretty close to this amount. Not that it has helped him sleep any longer.
Nathan seems to be having an identity crisis. Cute bunny or carnivorous monkey eater?
I am on Day 3 of the basically-eat-nothing-fun diet. OK, so maybe I haven't ACTUALLY stuck to the diet YET. On Day 1, I ate a chocolate granola bar (the last Chex Mix Turtle Bar) and a HUGE handful of chocolate chips. And, today, Day 3, I ate 5 pieces of chocolate candy that my MIL brought for Easter. Oh, and I have had 6 strawberries each day on my tastes-like-cardboard-diet-approved-high-fiber-organic-oh's because I bought these delicious strawberries before I found out that I was going to be on this diet. As soon as they are gone, I won't eat any more. Same goes for the chocolate. I have about 2 handfuls of chocolate chips left. I have NOT eaten ANY dairy though, which is HUGE for me. And, rice cakes in sunflower seed butter has become my new obsession. I ate 6 rice cakes with sunflower seed butter yesterday.
A shot of my new grub a la Trader Joe's:
Sleep Update
Nathan is still sleeping in only 2-3 hour increments. I have started to keep a nap and sleep diary to help identify sleeping trends/problems. I am starting to notice some consistency in his napping and have been making an effort to actually put him to sleep rather than just letting him fall asleep whenever. I have also been trying to wake him up and put him down around the same time every day. Based on my calculations, Nathan is getting 3-4 hours of sleep during the day in 3-4 naps and 8-11 hours of sleep at night. According to this new book I am reading, the No-Cry-Sleep-Solution, babies Nathan's age should be getting 14-15 hours of sleep total. If we put Nathan to bed at 7 rather than 9pm, he's pretty close to this amount. Not that it has helped him sleep any longer.
Nathan seems to be having an identity crisis. Cute bunny or carnivorous monkey eater?
Monday, April 13, 2009
An Intolerable Diet
All--thank you for your wonderful, thoughtful comments. I guess the thing about motherhood is that we really shouldn't compare ourselves or our babies to others....I think that's a lesson I've been trying to learn since childhood!
I have been hoping to have a break through with the breast feeding and lack of sleep....or at least a better attitude about it. I'm sad to report that I am the same miserable grump that I was last week...only this week I am more frustrated because I went to the Breast Whisperer and even she didn't have any answers about Nathan's breastfeeding/sleeping issues. The only thing that she could recommend was that I try to eliminate foods from my diet that might be causing him gastronomic distress (aka "The Elimination Diet").
I love my baby. A lot.
But, MAN, do I really have to give up ALL of my favorite foods????
On the not to eat list: ALL DAIRY (a mainstay of my diet...goodbye milk, yogurt, icecream, cheese, sour cream...everything I LOVE TO EAT); ALL GRAINS (are you freaking kidding me? No BREAD? No CHEX MIX TURTLE BARS? No OATMEAL?); citrus fruits (oranges? berries? WAAAAH); NO CHOCOLATE or PEANUT BUTTER.
So, basically, all I can eat for two weeks and perhaps until I stop breastfeeding: turkey, lamb, sweet potato, rice, millet, potato, pears, squash.
The elimination diet makes me want to eliminate myself. Oh well, maybe this way I will eat healthier. Heck, I will be baring my body in a swim suit in two weeks.
...although Sour Patch Kids and Peeps were NOT on the eliminate list....hmmmm......
I ate all my favorite things today and will start the diet tomorrow.
Last Week's Mileage:
Monday, April 6, 2009: 8.6 miles, Body Pump
Tuesday, April 7, 2009: 8.6 miles, MTV Yoga Video
Wednesday, April 8, 2009: 9.4 miles, MTV Yoga Video
Thursday, April 9, 2009: Body Pump, 60 minutes elliptical
Friday, April 10, 2009: 9.4 miles, Kristin McGee's Power Yoga Video (new!)
Saturday, April 11, 2009: 14 miles @ 7:41 pace on TM b/c it was POURING
Sunday, April 12, 2009: 8.6 miles, Power Yoga Video (love it!)
Total Mileage: 58.6
P.S. I LOVE my new Power Yoga DVD....I did it Friday night and my hubby squeezed my arm on Saturday and I yelped because it was so sore from the video!! The music is a little cheesy, but ot was a good workout--hard, but I felt all stretched out afterward. 
I have been hoping to have a break through with the breast feeding and lack of sleep....or at least a better attitude about it. I'm sad to report that I am the same miserable grump that I was last week...only this week I am more frustrated because I went to the Breast Whisperer and even she didn't have any answers about Nathan's breastfeeding/sleeping issues. The only thing that she could recommend was that I try to eliminate foods from my diet that might be causing him gastronomic distress (aka "The Elimination Diet").
I love my baby. A lot.
But, MAN, do I really have to give up ALL of my favorite foods????
On the not to eat list: ALL DAIRY (a mainstay of my diet...goodbye milk, yogurt, icecream, cheese, sour cream...everything I LOVE TO EAT); ALL GRAINS (are you freaking kidding me? No BREAD? No CHEX MIX TURTLE BARS? No OATMEAL?); citrus fruits (oranges? berries? WAAAAH); NO CHOCOLATE or PEANUT BUTTER.
So, basically, all I can eat for two weeks and perhaps until I stop breastfeeding: turkey, lamb, sweet potato, rice, millet, potato, pears, squash.
The elimination diet makes me want to eliminate myself. Oh well, maybe this way I will eat healthier. Heck, I will be baring my body in a swim suit in two weeks.
...although Sour Patch Kids and Peeps were NOT on the eliminate list....hmmmm......
I ate all my favorite things today and will start the diet tomorrow.
Last Week's Mileage:
Monday, April 6, 2009: 8.6 miles, Body Pump
Tuesday, April 7, 2009: 8.6 miles, MTV Yoga Video
Wednesday, April 8, 2009: 9.4 miles, MTV Yoga Video
Thursday, April 9, 2009: Body Pump, 60 minutes elliptical
Friday, April 10, 2009: 9.4 miles, Kristin McGee's Power Yoga Video (new!)
Saturday, April 11, 2009: 14 miles @ 7:41 pace on TM b/c it was POURING
Sunday, April 12, 2009: 8.6 miles, Power Yoga Video (love it!)
Total Mileage: 58.6
P.S. I LOVE my new Power Yoga DVD....I did it Friday night and my hubby squeezed my arm on Saturday and I yelped because it was so sore from the video!! The music is a little cheesy, but ot was a good workout--hard, but I felt all stretched out afterward.
P.P.S. Some Easter pictures!!
The only good shot of Nathan's Easter outfit:
Mr grandmother, aunt, Nathan (wearing the sweater and hat my grandmother knit him), and me
My nuclear family and Poppop (love the double sweaters, Poppop!)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Avoiding Blogs
I've been avoiding the blogosphere lately....because I am a bitter woman.
Nathan is still waking up every 2-3 hours at night and I am exhausted. I thought by 5 months he would have grown out of this and sleeping through the night. I find myself getting really frustrated reading other people's blogs...so I have stopped checking them so often...that and I have been working 2-4 hours a day while breastfeeding, during naps, etc. and it doesn't leave too much spare time on the internet.
I've also developed a complex about Nathan's weight. He's barely above the dr's required weight gain minimum of 3 oz a week. I took him in for his 5 month appointment today and he only weighs 13lb 12oz...only 14 oz up from 4 weeks ago. He continues to resist nursing more often and we still have to walk around on eggshells to keep everything quiet so that he eats. I see chubby little babies and wish I could make my little guy chubby and feel that I have failed him. Oh to have a 90th percentile baby instead of my 10th percentile runt (that I love).
I guess I'm just frustrated with everything and desperately tired. What would I do for the more than 2 hours of sleep in a row. I miss the days when he would at least sleep in 4 hour increments.
I keep thinking that maybe if I hit the end of my rope...things will change...but, they aren't...and the doctor doesn't want me to do sleep training because he is getting food several times in the middle of the night.
The doctor suggested that I take some herbal supplements to increase my supply. Part of me feels defeated by this and doesn't want to admit that I am not making enough, but clearly, I must not be.
At least I am not working right now...but I only have about 6 more weeks off and am starting to worry that he won't be sleeping when I do go back to work.
Nathan is still waking up every 2-3 hours at night and I am exhausted. I thought by 5 months he would have grown out of this and sleeping through the night. I find myself getting really frustrated reading other people's blogs...so I have stopped checking them so often...that and I have been working 2-4 hours a day while breastfeeding, during naps, etc. and it doesn't leave too much spare time on the internet.
I've also developed a complex about Nathan's weight. He's barely above the dr's required weight gain minimum of 3 oz a week. I took him in for his 5 month appointment today and he only weighs 13lb 12oz...only 14 oz up from 4 weeks ago. He continues to resist nursing more often and we still have to walk around on eggshells to keep everything quiet so that he eats. I see chubby little babies and wish I could make my little guy chubby and feel that I have failed him. Oh to have a 90th percentile baby instead of my 10th percentile runt (that I love).
I guess I'm just frustrated with everything and desperately tired. What would I do for the more than 2 hours of sleep in a row. I miss the days when he would at least sleep in 4 hour increments.
I keep thinking that maybe if I hit the end of my rope...things will change...but, they aren't...and the doctor doesn't want me to do sleep training because he is getting food several times in the middle of the night.
The doctor suggested that I take some herbal supplements to increase my supply. Part of me feels defeated by this and doesn't want to admit that I am not making enough, but clearly, I must not be.
At least I am not working right now...but I only have about 6 more weeks off and am starting to worry that he won't be sleeping when I do go back to work.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Cherry Blossom Race!
It was a gorgeous day for a race! I swear every time I run Cherry Blossom it is either windy, snowy, or rainy. But, today it was PERFECT! Hubby and Nathan went to cheer me on and a lot of friends were running the race. I actually got a PR! 1 hr 5 min 23 sec. Woohoo! That's a 6:33 pace. I have NEVER run that fast at a race before! I don't know whether it has been the speedworkouts on the treadmill, the fact that I actually tapered for this race, the miles that I have been logging, or the massive consumption of carbs (thank you Pizza Paradiso) that helped me PR. Here are some pictures:
Weekly Mileage:
Monday, March 30, 2009: 60 minutes elliptical, MTV Yoga Video
Tuesday, March 31, 2009: 5 mile run, BodyPump
Wednesday, April 1, 2009: 5 mile run, MTV Yoga Video
Thursday, April 2, 2009: 7 miles w/ 5 miles at 6:22
Friday, April 3, 2009: 5 mile run
Saturday, April 4, 2009: 60 minutes elliptical
Sunday, April 5, 2009: 10 mile race and MASSAGE!
Total Mileage: 32 miles
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
April Fool's
I should have known better.
My husband is the KING of April Fool's Day jokes.
And, once again, I forgot that it was April Fool's Day.
He created an elaborate email that he forwarded to me that said that managers were not going to be promised positions at the new firm that acquired his company and that those managers the new company did choose to keep would get 40% pay cuts. The source of the email that he forwarded (complete with the new organization's logo)? A lady in HR from the new company whose name was...April First. I don't know how I missed that one.
I have to remember to get him really good next year for scaring me so badly this year. I am SO GULLIBLE!
My husband is the KING of April Fool's Day jokes.
And, once again, I forgot that it was April Fool's Day.
He created an elaborate email that he forwarded to me that said that managers were not going to be promised positions at the new firm that acquired his company and that those managers the new company did choose to keep would get 40% pay cuts. The source of the email that he forwarded (complete with the new organization's logo)? A lady in HR from the new company whose name was...April First. I don't know how I missed that one.
I have to remember to get him really good next year for scaring me so badly this year. I am SO GULLIBLE!
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