runner vs. thrower ...

In case you missed it, I wasn't always a runner. In fact, I was the opposite of a runner. I was a thrower (yes, I was beefcake like a thrower too). J was also a thrower. And we have always said that our children would be throwers. Anyway, both J and I competed at Division I colleges (me - shot put and discus, J - hammer). It's how we met. And I am super thankful for that.

I loved being a thrower. But I love being a runner more. And that is why now I REALLY want my children to be multis (track talk for those who do it all, run/throw/jump), instead of strictly throwers. A good multi is hard to come by. Which means that if you are decent, you can usually get some sort of scholarship.

But that is not the point of this post. Instead, the point is to highlight how my children are already weighing in on the runner vs. thrower debate. Yesterday, while driving home from G's, the girls got in a little fight that went something like this ...

Me: "Are you guys going to race with me?"
Dizzle: "No! Doodle is going to be a thrower when she grows up. Daddy said so."
Doodle: "NO! I'm going to be a runner. Not a thrower!"
Dizzle: "Nope! Daddy said you are going to be a thrower!"
Doodle (now crying and screaming): "I AM GOING TO BE A THROWER AND A RUNNER."
Dizzle (in a snarky tone): "Hmph. Well, I am going to be ONLY a runner."

Really, girls? Since when is being ONLY a runner, the superior way to be? And while we're at it, what kind of 3 and 5 year olds fight about this stuff? Oh, wait. I know. The kind who have parents who peg you as an athlete before you are even born ...

what we did in Key West ...

Last night, right before midnight, J and I got back from Key West. And I'd like to tell you about all of the exciting and adventurous things we did while we were away. But I can't. Because we are apparently boring and old. There was no sky diving or bungee jumping or even snorkeling for that matter. Instead, we spent our five days in kid-free paradise relaxing. Sure, we ran. And ate (a lot). And shopped. But mostly, we did a bunch of nothing - in complete peace and quiet. And it was HEAVEN. And we have the pictures to prove it ...

Run U Mother Giveaway ...

Recently, in my never ending search for the ultimate in running apparel, I stumbled upon a "mom-centric" company called Run U Mother and I was instantly in love with the adorable products.

Run U Mother is an athletic wear company that produces athletic clothing and accessories in a fun, cheeky way to keep moms motivated. Created to give moms work out clothes that look good going from the gym to the grocery store (or to a playgroup), their products add style and attitude to the active-minded mom!

But, Run U Mother is becoming more. It's becoming a mantra of moms as they dig into that last mile. And now, you have a chance to sport your very own Run U Mother gear (winner's choice).

Entry is simple. Become a follower of this blog (or let me know that you already are) and in the same comment, tell me your fitness mantra. Entries will be accepted until Sunday, July 4th. The winner will be announced on Monday, July 5th.

To learn more about Run U Mother, you can check out their Facebook page HERE.

8 miles in Key West ...

Yesterday morning (after sleeping in), I ran eight miles. I started outside with views like this ...

But it was HOT. And even with sunblock, my skin was burning. So, instead of suffering in the elements, I met up with J for the last three miles of my run on the treadmill, which could have been horrible. But it wasn't. I got to run with my hubby. In a room with the air conditioning set on 68. With a view that didn't suck ...

It doesn't get much better than this ...

six years ago ...

Six years ago today, I wore this dress ...

To meet this man ...

To say, "I do" ...

In front of all of our friends and family ...

In a moment that was absolutely perfect ...

Happy anniversary to the man I love.

Three and a Half Things Thursday (vacation edition) ...

Once upon a time, there was a girl. A girl who hated Thursdays. A girl who prayed every week for Thursday to not happen. But her wish was never granted. Instead, she was left to deal with all the stress-inducing things that would come her way. Until today. Because, today she is saved by Three (and a half) Things Thursday, Vacation Edition ...

1. J and I are going to Key West for the next five days. It is the FIRST vacation we have taken alone since our honeymoon, six years ago. It has been booked for a year and we are beyond excited that it is finally time to go. (Note: This trip was J's 30th birthday present from me. I turn 30 in two years. He's going to have to try to top this trip. Just saying.)

2. There are a lot of things I am looking forward to during this trip. Swimming without worrying that the people around you might drown. Not wiping anyone else's butt. Taking a nap in the sand. Eating dinner after 5 p.m. (that doesn't happen in my house). Running the streets of Key West with my love by my side. Not waking up because someone is screaming. Going to the bathroom in private. But more than anything, I am looking forward to NOT STRESSING. I won't have to manage my household. Or other people's schedules. I know my kids will be well taken care of. Plus, my life is LOUD. Like sonic boom loud. And five days of peace and quiet is pretty much my idea of heaven.

3. It would be overwhelmingly obvious to anyone who opens my luggage to know that I am a runner. I would say that 15% of my bag is filled with non-running gear. Between my Mizunos, skirts, and socks there is little room for much else. Well, other than my Garmin and handheld water bottle and iPod and GU and Clif Bars and Sweaty Bands ...

3.5. And speaking of getaways and running, yesterday I won a free entry to the Rock 'N' Roll Chicago Half Marathon from Sof Sole. Now, I just need to plan the trip. Anyone else running this?

why my children are going to give me a heart attack ...

Yesterday morning, when I was trying to go to the bathroom ALONE, Dizzle and Doodle stormed in and declared that they needed to brush their teeth because the dentist told them to. Funny? We went to the dentist in May and you are just getting the memo now?

I looked at them and said, "Can't you see that I am going to the bathroom? Fine. Whatever. Go brush your teeth. Just get out of here." When I finished, I heard the girls in their bathroom down the hall. I told them to brush and then come downstairs as soon as they were done. And then I left. I went downstairs, sat down and tried to finish my coffee.

About two minutes later, I hear ear-piercing screams. Dizzle is yelling, "MOM! COME HERE! HURRY! IT'S AN EMERGENCY!" All I can think is someone is dead. They have found a razor and are bleeding to death or they drank all the toilet cleaner. I jump up and sprint up the stairs. When I get there both girls are crying and screaming. I look at Dizzle. And yell (so they can hear me over their screams), "What's wrong?"

"Doodle can't turn off the sink! She might waste water!"

Wait? What? Here I am thinking you are on the verge of death and you are just afraid that you're not being Eco-friendly? Seriously?

Yes, this is my life. Be jealous. Very jealous.

recruitment ...

I have never met a runner who didn't want to "convert" others into runners. And usually, the people they work hardest in recruiting are their own family members. Case in point, me. I have already helped turn J into a half marathoner. And if I have my way, Dizzle, Doodle and Dilly will be runners too. I've already started the process.

This is the newest addition to both Dizzle and Doodle's bedrooms. Dizzle saw it at a running store and said, "Mom, I have to hang this up in my room. He is a runner!"

And on Sunday, I walked in the living room to find Dilly like this ...

Have you brainwashed your family today?

what happened to relaxing?

Back a zillion years ago, when J and I didn't have children, we used to spend the weekends relaxing. I distinctly remember Sundays where we never got out of our pajamas. Eight years and three kids later, well, that doesn't really happen anymore. Instead, our weekends are spent rushing from one activity to the next. And this weekend was no exception.

I, being the thoughtful and loving wife that I am, made sure that my long run was completed on Saturday, letting J sleep in on Father's Day. So, at 5:51 a.m., I arrived at G's for a 10 miler with a group of runners who are much faster than we are. It was a great run (GI issues aside) with some great company. I'm really looking forward to the next few months of training with them.

After the run (and my attempt to rectify my GI issues), I headed home to get Dizzle and Doodle ready for their dress rehearsal for ballet. Aren't they cute?

In between dance numbers, I got a call from Shelly, who was in town racing the XTERRA 21K.

I called her back when we got home from rehearsal and made plans to meet for lunch. So, J, the girls and I met up with Shelly and her crew at Baker's Crust followed by a visit to a local running store. We had a great time. Shelly and her family were super nice. Our kids got along.

It was pretty much the perfect meet up (and I am really hoping we can get everyone together again).

After lunch, we rushed home and got ready for the recital. The girls were adorable and hysterical. Dizzle could not have been more expressive up on stage and Doodle, well, Doodle is a character. Instead of dancing next to her prop (a rubber duck), she proceeded to stomp on it. Needless to say, I was laughing the entire time. I cannot wait until next year.

Then on Sunday, J slept in and the girls and I made him breakfast in bed. J got up and headed out for his long run (he's training for the Richmond Half Marathon) and I played games with the girls and my sister, Angie Pants, who surprised us with a visit. In the afternoon, we attended Dizzle's BFF's 5th birthday party at a minor league baseball game. It was such a great party and Dizzle and Doodle were having a blast, but Dilly was in TOTAL MELTDOWN MODE. It was in the upper 90's and she did not want to be held by us. At one point, she choked on her drink and spit it on the back of the person in front of us and then a few minutes later, she kicked that same person in the shoulder. It was time to leave. We had made it through the party (the hour and a half before the game) and one inning. Dizzle was able to stay with another family, but the rest of us headed home. I don't think we will be headed back to another game anytime soon. Well, maybe J and I will, but only if someone is volunteering to babysit. Wait. You know, if you're volunteering to babysit, I'm not going to a baseball game. I'm going to go somewhere and sleep. Like, I did before I had kids and weekends were relaxing. I'm just saying.

For our Daddy ...

In honor of Father's Day, Dizzle and Doodle wrote the following post for their Daddy, J ...

We love Daddy ...

• because he takes me places.
• because he helps me on my bike.
• because he gives me hugs when I want them.
• because he gets me milkshakes.
• because he takes me to the car wash.
• because he takes me to Busch Gardens.
• because he gives me kisses.
• because he's a tickle monster.
• because he snuggles with me.
• because he reminds me to flush the toilet.
• because he gives me a bath.
• because he took me to Disney World for my birthday.
• because he hugs me when I cry
• because he makes sure we're safe.
• because he plays games with us.
• because he's the best dad there ever is.

Happy Father's Day! We Love You!

Whooha Gear Giveaway Winner ...

Thanks to all of you who entered my Whooha Gear Giveaway. There were 276 entries and as decided by random.org the winner is ....

#100 MCM Mama (who I was lucky enough to race with last week)

Congratulations! I'll be in contact with you to pass along your prize.

animal instinct?

Have your children ever done something you thought was completely inappropriate? How about something completely inappropriate but so funny that you had to let it slide? Yeah. I thought so. That totally happened here last night.

We were relaxing before bed in our girls' playroom. Dizzle was goofing around with J while Doodle was standing in front of the television. All of a sudden, Dizzle was on her knees and forearms with her butt high in the air. She slowly moved backwards towards Doodle. Then she opened her mouth ...

"Doodle, I am going to fart on you."

Doodle was unfazed. She didn't even turn her head. J proceeded to ask Dizzle what she was doing. To which she replied, "I'm pretending to be a skunk." (which is exactly what she looked like). And before we could tell her to cut it out, she farted. Right on Doodle's leg. (Doodle remained oblivious).

I wanted to yell. But all I could do was laugh. Apparently, my girls aren't going to win any awards for proper etiquette ...

food for thought ...

Yesterday afternoon, I was reading the absolutely hysterical blog, If I can't convince you - - I'll at least confuse you, authored by Emz. She posted a challenge to her readers, I'll show you mine FIRST. Will you show me yours?

Never one to say no to a challenge, I whipped out my camera. And here it is ...

Obviously, I live in a house with small children. 101 alphabet magnets. Photos. And Polly Pockets (sitting on top). But those, two pieces of paper on the front - My current training plan and J's. We are a family on a fitness mission.

OK. I've shown you mine. Will you show me yours?

Go. Grab your camera.

Open your fridge door and take TWO pictures. One of the inside ...

And one of the door ...

No tidying. No cleaning. No hiding any guilty pleasures ...

Then, mention the following:

• A few things you like in there: CHOBANI!! In addition to that box, there are another 10 hidden behind things. Banana peppers - I can eat them right out of the jar. Strawberries - mixed in Chobani with a half cup of Wheaties Fuel. Yumtastic!


• What you can't live without: Chobani Greek Yogurt (obviously), milk (I am a cereal addict), hot sauce (it goes on EVERYTHING),


• What you should live without that is currently in there: The condiments. Most of them are past their expiration.


• What you wish were in it: Blue cheese, sauteed onions and diced apples. I really feel like having a turkey burger topped with all of that ...

Well? What are you waiting for? Go take your pictures. And while I am bossing you around, don't forget to enter my Whooha Gear Giveaway. It ends tonight!

because you don't get enough of me here ...

Remember how you are always telling me, "I wish I could know more about you. That I could just sit down and pick at your brain"?

Well, Sarah and Dimity, authors of Run Like A Mother , got to do just that. (probably more exciting for me, since they are total rock stars who I have been following since they first started their Marathon Moms blog back in 2007.)

Gushing aside, they chose me as this week's "Follow This Mother," which I think is about the coolest thing going. So, check it out by clicking HERE. You know you want to ...

8 miles of mental game ...

If you been around here for a while, you know that I hate getting up early to workout. I much prefer my 9:30 a.m. runs. Or evening runs. Pre-P90X, I often had a sunset date with my treadmill. But over the past two months, I have made a real effort to wake up before sunrise to get my mid-week miles in (at least a few days a week). It hasn't been easy, but I have had friends who were willing to share in my misery.


On Mondays, I meet up with KT for 3-4 miles at 6:15 a.m. and on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, G (and whoever else we can trick into meeting us) run 8 miles at a time that starts with a 5 (otherwise known as WAY.TO.EARLY). This is our group from Tuesday. G and A (in the middle) are training for the same November race right now, and, well, M and I are not ...


And, although I DREAD getting out of bed, I have actually grown to like these runs. It's nice to feel so accomplished at a time that most people are still snuggling in bed. With all that positivity in my head, I attempted something I never have this morning. I set out for a SOLO early morning run. (See? Me, pre-run with no friends)


8 miles as the sun was rising. Just me and my Garmin. And let me tell you. It was TOUGH.


It was hard to get out of bed. It was hard to lift my feet. It was hard to motivate myself to go. I had to will myself to keep moving the entire time. My pace was slower than usual. I couldn't find my groove. Maybe it was because I am kind of freaked out about running alone when no one else is up. Maybe it was because I was constantly looking over my shoulder to make sure I was alone. Maybe it was because my children have been so mentally draining the past few days. Maybe it was because I didn't eat breakfast before I left. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.


I'm not really sure what was up. I just kept telling myself that I would be happy that I kept going. That I was training myself for the tougher runs that lie ahead. That I would be proud that I stuck it out when I wanted to quit. And I was.

when sisters attack ...

This is what happens when I leave the room for five minutes ...

Imagine what they could do with an hour ...

behind closed doors ...

For most of their lives, Dizzle and Doodle have shared a bedroom. I don't quite remember why they first started sharing a room, but when we moved into our current home last year, each girl got her own room. But, a few months later, they were BEGGING to share a room again. So, like any sensible mother (who wants a dedicated guest room), I moved a whole mess of furniture to make it happen. And things were good. The girls were getting along. I always had a place for visitors. It worked.

Things have changed in the last month or so. Dizzle and Doodle are CONSTANTLY fighting. Dizzle starts with the teasing and it usually ends with Doodle getting physical. And I.AM.SICK.OF.IT. So, in an effort to make the start and end of our day less stressful, I split the girls up. Dizzle would remain in the room they were sharing, and Doodle would return to her old room (formerly known as my guest room).

As expected in my house, the Dizzle and Doodle spent yesterday bickering. I just kept thinking, "I definitely made the right choice splitting them up." Then just when I couldn't take their behavior anymore, J walked in the door. And suddenly my girls were best friends (maybe they are bi-polar). They were goofing around in the bathtub. Jumping on Doodle's bed. Laughing uncontrollably. When I told them it was time for bed and to say good night to each other, I was instantly hit with how close they are. Dizzle turned to Doodle and said, "Let's do a Bouncing Belly Jack!"

J and I looked at each other puzzled. When we looked back at the girls, they had both lifted their shirts and were belly bumping. It was hysterical. And instantly made me wonder what else they come up with when we close their bedroom door every night ...

too much adrenaline?

This weekend's 17.75K was the first race I ever ran that I fully intended on NOT RACING. I went in unstressed, excited but not anxious, relaxed. Or so I thought. When I later got the chance to look over my splits, I noticed an interesting statistic.

G, MCM Mama and I hit the first mile marker in 9:58, a rather conservative pace for me. When I run a 10 minute mile in training runs, my heart rate averages between 139 and 142. Well, take one guess what my average heart rate was in that first mile ...

171.

Nuts, right? It gets even more interesting when you consider that my average heart rate in mile two, which I ran in 9:44, was 155. Seeing these numbers got me thinking. First, why was my heart rate so high in mile one? And second, how can I use this info in future races?

I think my heart rate was so high due to an abundance of adrenaline. I didn't really feel overly stressed or excited about the race, since I was using it more as a training run than a speed test, but apparently my body was feeling it (perhaps this is my OVERLY competitive nature coming into play). Then once I settled in, the adrenaline wore off and my heart rate regulated. Makes sense to me.

So, how does this affect my other races? Well, here is my thought. If I am racing for a specific time, I usually start a little (little being the key word) slower than my goal pace to warm up. But this "slower" start is still a much faster pace than I ran on Saturday. Add this faster pace, which is going to elevate my heart rate, to my "adrenaline boosted heart rate" and I'm pretty sure I am not going to get that recovery like on Saturday. This might explain why my heart rate was over 180 for the majority of the MAC Half marathon in early May. Maybe?

Either way, this information is helping me formulate a new race strategy for events over 10 miles. I think I need to be ULTRA-conservative in my starts during these longer races. Not just the 15-30 seconds under goal pace in that first mile. "Losing" a minute or two in the beginning would be much better than crashing with miles left in the race. Unfortunately, I don't have another race to test this out until September and I am not sure I can simulate the "adrenaline effect" in a training run. So I guess I will just have to wait and see ...

Crossroads 17.75K Recap ...

Yesterday was the inaugural Crossroads 17.75K race. And as I mentioned in my earlier post, my day was full of the unexpected. I set my alarm for 4:15 p.m. instead of a.m. I got a call in the wee hours of the morning, letting me know that Dizzle had puked in her bed (SO happy I missed that one). Let's just say, I saw my fair share of drama.

Shortly after the vomit drama calmed down at my house, G and I arrived at the start of the race. (This was a point-to-point event. We parked at the start and were shuttled back MUCH after the race). Upon arrival, we got all of our gear prepped and were about to call MCM Mama, when out of nowhere we heard someone call us out for our rather boisterous outfits. We turned to see MCM Mama coming across the parking lot.

After a few minutes of talking (and G messing with her hair), we headed over to the bathrooms (which had NO LINES!) and waited for the start. Due to the fact that it was forecasted to be 95 degrees with a zillion percent humidity, we had decided to run the race conservatively. It was strictly a fun run. Knowing this, we headed to the start line and moved ourselves to the middle of the pack. Unfortunately, we stood directly next to a speaker which caused us to lose our hearing for the next few minutes. (Seriously, the announcer was SCREAMING into his microphone).

Promptly at 7 a.m., we were off. It was scorching hot right from the beginning. We fell into a comfortable pace (right around 10 minute miles) and headed up a highway toward the State Park where the majority of the race was run. As we turned into the park we were in for a big surprise. We had read that part of the course was on "unpaved roads." I was picturing dirt roads. Maybe with packed gravel. But no. We were running on large unpacked gravel. It was treacherous. Add to that the steep inclines and declines and I was pretty sure I was going to wipe out.

Just after mile two, we came to the first water stop. MCM Mama suggested that we walk the water stops. I have NEVER done this, but figured I'd give it a try. We were all staying together and I wasn't running hard anyway. We did this for the next four water stops (until mile 8) and I have to admit. It didn't suck.

G, MCM Mama and I stuck together (over some monster hills, both in incline and length) until mile 8. At that point, MCM Mama said she needed to slow the pace a little. That's when I picked up the pace (I know, real nice). But, I was feeling really good and she had said to go if we wanted (G stayed). When I left them around mile 8.2, I noted that my overall average pace was at 10:05. I tried to speed up enough to finish with an average of just under 10 minute miles.

At mile 10, I ran past a father and son. The son (who I later found out was 17 with multiple marathons under his belt) yelled, "Dad, I'm gonna go run with her." I told him to come on and we picked up the pace even more (my last mile was 8:13). We chatted for the next half mile or so, until I started to feel the burn. He turned to me and asked if I kicked too soon. I said, "Yup." But I really wanted to say, "No, I am just running my fastest mile of the race. And you are 17 and I am 28 and have had three kids."

I told him to feel free to kick it to the finish. And he did. I tried to follow, but he crossed eight seconds ahead of me. When I finished, I looked at my watch and it read 1:48:03. Overall pace of 9:45. Much better than the 10:00 pace I was trying to get to. I killed those last three miles!

After I grabbed some water, I headed back to the finish line to cheer for G and MCM Mama. Here they are in the last hundredths of the race ...

After the race, we had to wait for an hour for a shuttle back to the start. This is us waiting ...

Since it took so long to get back to our cars, MCM Mama needed to leave before lunch. I wish she could have stayed, but G and I put our hooks in her and are trying to get her to come to Richmond to race. And I am positive that we will go back there to race again.

the unexpected ...

Sometimes you can plan how race day is going to go. And sometimes your day is full of the unexpected. This morning's Crossroads 17.75K was full of the unexpected. Here are a few of today's surprises (a full recap is coming tomorrow)...

I nearly overslept. I set my alarm for 4:15. 4:15 PM. Somehow, I jumped out of bed at 4:33 a.m. giving me 12 minutes to get ready.

I got a phone call from J at 5:38 a.m. that Dizzle had thrown up in her sleep, there was no mattress pad on the bed and both Dizzle and Doodle wouldn't go back to sleep. He was not having a good morning.

There was no line for the pre-race port-o-johns. This never happens. We went to the bathroom, walked to the car and when we came back there was most definitely a line.

The 17.75K course was a zillion times hillier than I had expected. Even though I had read the course profile.

A new race strategy can enlighten you - I know, completely shocking.

Waiting for the traffic to pass won't always work. This is what we saw when we got on 95 (after hitting up IHOP) to go home ...

But even though my morning was full of surprises, there was one thing that didn't shock me at all. I had a blast racing with G and MCM Mama.

Whooha Gear Review and Giveaway ...

Last month, the wonderful women over at Whooha Gear gave me the opportunity to test an item from their product line. If you don't know WHOOHA, which stands for Women Having Optimistic Objectives & Healthy Attitudes, is an athletic apparel and accessory company with products ranging from tech tees to head wear to underwear (which I think is super fabulous).

Like I said, I got to test an item (of my choice). I chose their I Run ... DRI BALANCE T shirt in a size medium (I'm usually a small, but their site suggested sizing up and I am so glad I did. It fit perfectly.)

Right from the start I had high hopes about this shirt. First of all, it's cute (I wear it even when I am not running). Second, it has a great, inspirational message on the front.

And finally, the WHOOHA site said that, "this DRI BALANCE shirt optimizes the transport of moisture from skin to the surface of the garment, six to 10 times faster than other wicking garments." This I had to see. I sweat like crazy and if this shirt could stand up to me, it can stand up to anyone.

To test it, I hit the treadmill for a quick five miles. And I put this shirt to work. So, how did it fare? It was super comfortable. No chafing or riding up. And that "wicking" material? Well, let's just say it lived up to it's promises. Here's what the shirt looked like after my run ...

WHOOHA Gear gets a BIG thumbs up from me. And thanks to WHOOHA Gear, one lucky reader will win a $20 credit to their online store. Here's how to enter (one comment per entry please!)

1. Become a follower of this blog and leave me a comment to let me know.

2. Visit the WHOOHA Gear website HERE and then leave me a comment to let me know what you would choose if you win.

3. Become a Facebook fan of this blog HERE and leave me a comment to let me know.

4. Become a Facebook fan of WHOOHA Gear HERE and leave me a comment to let me know.

5. Repost this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, twitter, wherever and leave me a comment to let me know.

Entries will be accepted until Friday, June 18th. Winner will be randomly selected and announced on Saturday, June 19th.

coffee anyone?

It has been brought to my attention by my dear and loving husband that I drink A LOT of coffee. (Funny, considering that I wouldn't touch it before I was pregnant with Dilly). I know you're thinking "OK. Well, so do I." But no, that's where you'd be wrong. You are probably not drinking as much as me. I easily consume an entire pot of coffee each day (and on occasion, more). And I am pretty sure that it does absolutely NOTHING for me. I'm never wired. Or energized. In fact, I am still passed out on the sofa by 9:30 almost every night.

So, why do I drink it? Well, let's see ...

I drink too much coffee because run 40 miles a week, cross train with P90X six days a week, manage a household and parent three children 24/7. And I mistakenly think it is going to give me more energy ...

I drink too much coffee because I am a stress eater and drinking a cup of coffee is FAR FEWER calories than eating a candy bar every time my children test my last nerve ...

I drink too much coffee because on more than one occasion in the last week I have had to clean up fecal matter from Dilly's crib. And I'm over it ...

I drink too much coffee because my laptop is slow as heck. The processor is overloaded and I need something to do while I wait for my email to open ...

I drink too much coffee because sometimes I need a break and my children actually listen when I say, "Give Mommy five minutes so that she can finish her coffee" ...

I drink too much coffee because there is only so much high-pitched screaming one person can take. And if you've ever been to my house, you know that we are over that limit ...

I drink too much coffee because I serve as the VP of Licensing for my children's preschool. I deal with A LOT of bureaucracy and red tape and people who don't return phone calls ...

I drink too much coffee because I am working out the details of turning my passion of running into a business. A business that doesn't negatively affect my family life. Or my bank account ...

I drink too much coffee because I don't drink alcohol. Enough said ...

P90X Day 56 Check In ...

Well, eight weeks have passed and I am officially done with Phase 2 of P90X. I have continued to see changes in my strength, flexibility and body composition. And there are only five weeks remaining in the program. P90X and I definitely have a love/hate relationship (and I am kind of over the time commitment), but I can't help but be excited about the results up to this point. So here are the numbers ...

Weight: Day 1 - 152, Day 56 - 151

Body Fat: Day 1 - 23%, Day 56 - 21%

Waist: Day 1 - 30 3/4", Day 56 - 29 1/2"

Chest: Day 1 - 35 1/2", Day 56 - 34"

Hips: Day 1: 37", Day 56 - 35 1/4"

Right Bicep: Day 1 - 11 1/2", Day 56 - 11 1/4"

Left Bicep: Day 1 - 11 1/2", Day 56 - 11 1/2"

Right Thigh: Day 1 - 22", Day 56 - 21 1/2"

Left Thigh: Day 1 - 22", Day 56 - 21 1/2"

Total Loss: 1 pound, 2% body fat, 5.75 overall"

And the photographic evidence (Day 1 followed by Day 56) ...

is it working?

In the past few months, I have been implementing a "run slower to run faster" element into my training. Instead of beating up my body with a challenging pace run after run, I have slowed it down during the vast majority of my miles. This has allowed me to recovery quicker (less strain on my muscles and joints after each run) and to build my weekly mileage base from 22-25 miles to 38-40 miles. And I.AM.LOVING.IT. (the pride that comes with saying I run 40 miles a week is payoff enough for me ...)

But, I am often asked if the slower pace and added miles are "working." If it's really worth the effort. And until yesterday, I always answered, "Yes. It builds your endurance. And building your endurance will make you a better and stronger runner." And that is true. But, now I have the data to show that this method is having an effect on me - a lower heart rate.

For example, in early May, I was averaging a heart rate between 144-147 for runs of 3-4 miles at 10:00 pace. And now, just about a month later, my average heart rate is 139 on those same runs. Simply put, I do not need to work as hard as I used to in order to hold the same pace. I am gaining cardiovascular strength and endurance. And all those extra miles at a slower pace ARE paying off ...

95 degrees?

Dear Weather Gods,

I know that the world is a BIG place and that you have tons of weather systems to regulate, but really, what is going on here? I mean, come on. Why all this "anti-knee high sock" weather? Are you hating on my style? Seriously. It was over 90 all last week with crazy humidity. That's August weather. Not June.

And really. Did you see G and me yesterday?

We were hot messes. There was so much salt on our faces after our run, that we could have either made margaritas or exfoliated our skin.

Now, don't get me wrong. I really appreciate the little break from the heat this week. I'll admit it. It's nice. I loved that it was only 60 degrees when I ran at 6 a.m., rather than 80 like yesterday. But, couldn't you have held off for a day or two? Didn't you get the memo that I have a race on Saturday? Apparently, not. Because if you had, I'm sure you wouldn't have planned a high temperature of 95 degrees for that day. I'm taking it you're not a runner?

Well, whatever. I guess I just wanted to say thanks for messing with my race strategy. Looks like racing at half marathon pace is going to be pushing it. Actually, it looks like "racing" at all is going to be pushing it. So, thanks for the fun run! At least there is one aspect of my race plan that you can't mess with - my running mates. (G, Katye and MCM Mama) We are going to have a blast even if you try to threaten us with heat stroke.

Hugs!

Tonia

hidden messages ...

Yesterday morning, Dilly was playing with some magnetic letters we have on our refrigerator. When she was done, I started pushing them back to the center of the door (yes, I am OCD like that). But halfway through, I got interrupted. When I came back to finish, I looked at the letters and this is what I saw ...

Does anyone else see the hidden messages in there? The following jumped out at me ...

• BQ (hmm? A secret wish?)
• GU (my favorite workout fuel ...)
• ID (as in RoadID, which I NEVER take off ...)
• VACAY (only 18 days away!)
• RUNS (what I do all the time ...)
• MUD (what my kids are always covered in ...)
• PB (personal best. peanut butter. two things I am constantly trying to get ...)

What do you think my sub-conscious is trying to tell me?