Back in the Saddle

There's something about a good run that makes me feel like writing. Writing after a how long hiatis? I actually think about what I'm going to write as I run...makes for an interesting conversation with myself as I trot along. And what is so exciting about running that puts my fingers to the keypad again after so long an absence? A POSTNATAL run that's what! I'll just report that I had a difficult pregnancy, full of varicose viens, nautial, swollen everything...the (ab)norm. I did however, manage to stay in decent shape with the help of 24, yes, the show you all watched years ago, via Netflix, thank you Santa, and LA Fitness's pool. Here's my postnatal report. I had in mind my last postnatal experience when I ran a mile for each week starting at week 3 (3 miles) and going until week 6 (6 miles). I started a bit early and thought I'd try my luck 5 days postnatal. I ran 1 mile and REGRETED it! Way too early for such things. I sat on my booty for the following 3 days. 12 days postnatal I ran 2 miles and felt good. 17 days or 2 weeks and 3 days I ran 3 miles...going slow and did a 10 min mile, then a 9.30, then a 8.40. I ran a couple more 3 mile days... 20 days I ran 4 miles going slow but felt good. 23 days I ran another 4 miles and felt better. Yesterday my daughter had a pee pee accident at school. She came out crying and confessed the whole thing. It was just a tad and not a big deal...no puddle on the floor scenario. Fitting running in is tricky. Today it fit in after Jake got home from work and I had about 1/2 hour to it. I didn't run out with any fast intentions, but ended with 3 miles in 21 minutes. Felt great. However, I come home with a story to make my daughter feel better. I didn't even know what was happening until IT was flowing down my legs...how's that for postnatal? Yikes! I got to trace through the neighborhood in this state, yet true to my runner's pride, I didn't care...I was cruisin'! My daughter greeted me at the door and started to laugh...yes, she feels better. I feel pretty good too.

Being Hard Core is Hard

The 10k is just a few days away and I'm really excited. I really got some good running done in August, but September just didn't go the way I'd planned. A bum leg and a hurricane really slowed me down. This little set back in my training schedule helped me to remember the real reason that I run. It's not to set a PR every time or Win Win Win, although I really like to, I run because I like to and it makes me feel good.

Running helps me eat better food (it's that running peridime we've talked about before), and feel better in my jeans. It helps me destress. I love being outside, enjoying nature. I like being strong and having energy to take care of my kids. I love other runners. I love an excuse to look in other people's windows. I love looking like a wierd-o as I do some crazy workout.

With my first post partum race this Saturday, I'm glad I got to remember what it's all about!

No turning back

My sweat is still drying from the race today! Side aches plagued me from mile 11-13, but I outran them to mile 17. I logged my miles on the treadmill at home today. Not my favorite, however, I pictured a 6 mile loop I used to run in high school and pretended to be there instead. It was kind of nice running my old route. I know it so well I could pace myself for every mile! I ran that loop EVERYDAY one summer!

Hope everyone is running well! Hopefully you're pretty close to your halfway point. Make sure to stop at the water stations...it's HOT!

motivation along the way

This morning's run was less inspirational than yesterday. Houston is HOT and HUMID at 6am! A blister at mile 8 (including yesterday's milage) slowed me down a bit, but I'll change shoes tomorrow. Running a marathon this week is definately going to be a push for me. Another 5 miles down and I'm GLAD I did it! 16.2 more to go!

If you need some super motivation to get you through your race read:

The Perfect Mile
by Neal Bascomb


You'll be tapping your toes and eyeing your running shoes as you turn the pages!

Off to a great start

This is were I got to lurch off of the marathon starting line this morning. After a night of NO SLEEP (okay, one hour from 4 to 5am, but I was sitting up so I don't think it really counts) I woke up to the sound of rain coming down hard. I about cried because all I wanted to do today was get some good miles in to start my marathon. I woke up my dad, my partner for the run, and told him it was raining but that we could run on the treadmills in the rec center. We got dressed and headed out. I made a comment about how I've become such a wimp about running outside in bad conditions and how I used to run through snow storms in Pocatello, ID. Luckily, the rec center door was still locked and we decided to tough it out and run in the rain. The view was amazing, the air was thin at 7,500 feet, and I thought, "Good, I'll get some high altitude training in!" We ran a good 5 miles, which felt more like 7 due to the air, rain, and HILLS.
I LOVE running marathons.

How is yours going?

Run a Marathon in May!

Free 1/2 marathon/marthon week!

Sign up in comments to run a 1/2 marathon or a full 26.2 miles in a week. That means you have one week to run the distance. Break it up any way you want, but you have to run or walk your chosen race starting Monday, May 26th, and ending by Saturday, May 31st!

track work

Today I felt inspired to give it a go on the track for the first time post partum. I thought I'd start off with the unstressful, fun, effective 1:00 turnover workout, but once I was on the track I couldn't resist doing some hard, gut wrenching, lactic acid producing 200's. I ran 6 at a 45 second pace. Nothing to write home about, much less blog about, but it felt good. I don't mean my body was tight and toned or that I just felt fast and light, but it felt good to be on the track and get dry mouth if nothing less. The crazy part was, the more 200's I ran, the more I wanted to run (maybe I just wasn't going fast enough! ha!). I LOVE RUNNING!

~3 weeks = 3 miles

yeah! I just raced in from an evening 3 mile run! Last week the Dr. gave me the okay to get back to running...so I've thrown all caution to the wind. The weather was beautiful and I kept a pretty decent pace around 8.5 minute mile. I pushed it in the last 150 meters...I love to sprint in at the end of any run/race. The weakest part of my body is definitely my inner thighs! They felt pretty tired and useless...odd because they're not a part that I usually pay a lot of attention to...but there they were tonight. I feel excited for the running weeks to come and I'm going to start my 10k race search tonight and sign up!

Two weeks = Two miles

Today I am reminded of that beautiful old story about the ugly violin at the auction. No one wanted to buy the old thing, but when an old man got up a played a fantastic tune upon it, suddenly everyone needed a beat up violin. A "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" kind of thing. Standing in front of the mirror, I'm not much to look at in my postpartum state. Pretty much everything is sagging. But when I stepped foot upon the treadmill tonight for the first time in about 5 months, I felt like that old violin finally being played by a master's hand again. I felt like I could skip, sprint, dash and run a 10k...oh yes, the desire was there...the lungs were NOT! I was surprised at how much stamina I've lost...you know that burning in your lungs feeling? Anyway, I put in 2 miles at a 5, 8 and 10% grade going about 4.0 the whole time. Ooooohhh, running is just around the corner. As for goals, I've decided to get back in shape to the tune of a 10k. I haven't run one in FOREVER! Last year I got completely hooked on 5ks and one marathon. Yes, marathoning will happen, but I haven't found one close by until next year. So, until then 10k! (and maybe I'll sneak in a few 5k's!).

This body might not be much to look at, but there's a beautiful race ready to be run inside of it.