Disney Princess Half Marathon Recap ...

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you probably already know that I had a blast this past weekend. Disney truly treated us like princesses and I will fill you in on all of that tomorrow. But first, my race recap.

Location: Orlando, FL
Date: 2/27/11
Temperature: A balmy 61 degrees at the start
Official Time: 1:57:06 (8:57 pace) for 13.1 miles
Garmin Time: 1:57:07 (8:51 pace) for 13.21 miles
Place in Age Group: 142/2365
Overall Place: 638/13091

The Good:

The Course/Atmosphere: I love this course. To begin with, it's simply magical. You start just outside of Epcot and run through the Disney property to the Magic Kingdom through Cinderella's castle and back through Epcot. When you add the scenery of this route with the on-course entertainment, atmosphere and support, and this course is hard to beat. Plus, Orlando is flat and with the exception of one hill at mile 12, so is this course. If you are looking for a fast time, this could be your race.

The VIP/Media Tent: As part of the Disney Princess Media Event, several other bloggers and I had access to the Media Tent before and after the race. No lines for the bathroom. No need for bag check. A post-race brunch. Talk about being spoiled. I'm not sure that any other race experience will ever compare.

The Outfits: Disney race participants are known for their rather inventive race apparel. From princesses to witches to frogs, you will see it all at the Disney Princess Half. Heather and I even saw someone running in a string bikini. We, on the other hand, were a little less adventurous, but fun, nevertheless.

A New PR: In 2010, I finished this course in 2:01:36. This year, I crossed the line in 1:57:06, a 4:30 course PR and a 56 second half marathon PR. While not what I was shooting for, a time I am very proud of considering the fact that less than 12 hours before the race I was vomiting at the expo and living on crackers and water (thanks Doodle for sharing your stomach bug!)

Celebrity Sightings: We were fortunate enough to hang out with Jeff Galloway (yes, that Jeff Galloway) post-race. He is a wealth of knowledge and perhaps the most approachable person I have ever met. And he makes one mean Jack Sparrow. I was truly honored to have had that opportunity.We also got to spend time with Ethan and Jenna from Survivor. And thanks to that encounter, it looks like I will be running the NYC Marathon with Ethan and his foundation, Grassroot Soccer.

The Bad:

The temperature: It was a humid 61 degrees at the start. A good 10 degrees warmer than I would have preferred and 30 degrees warmer than I am used to running in. In my last few weeks of training, I have done 16 mile runs with no water. That was so not the case during the race. I was drinking from my handheld by mile 2.

The Early Wake-up: Disney races are EARLY. We boarded a shuttle for the race at 3:50 a.m. By the time I finished the race just before 8 a.m., I felt like I had been up for an eternity.

The Ugly:

Vomit: Did I mention that whole stomach bug thing? Yeah. Because that really sucked.

ABCs of Me and a WINNER ...

Since I am running around like crazy (working at Doodle's school today, packing, mildly freaking out), I don't really have the time to sit down and write a well-composed post. So, instead, you get the ABCs of me. And if you make it until the end, you'll find out whether or not you won my giveaway, which is reason enough to read ...

(A) Age: I turned 29 this month. And I'm already counting down the days until the big 3-0!

(B) Bed Size: King. J (who's 6'7") and I just upgraded last February, after spending six years sleeping in the most.uncomfortable.queen.bed.ever.

(C) Chore You Hate: Washing silverware. There is something about scrubbing utensils that just bothers me.

(D) Dogs? No way. No how. No sir. I don't like the idea of an animal living in my house. Plus, my kids are PETRIFIED by dogs, so it's not like they'll be asking for one anytime soon.

(E) Essential Start Your Day Item: Breakfast, of any sort. I wake up hungry. Like full out starving. I'm I don't eat within 10 minutes of getting out of bed, I'm not a happy camper.

(F) Favorite Color: Pink and yellow.

(G) Gold or Silver? White gold. Yellow gold makes me cringe.

(H) Height: 5ft 9in. And I am bound to be the shortest person in my family.

(I) Instruments You Play: Do armpits count?

(J) Job Title: Mom. Wife. Superhero. Running coach. Small business owner. Take your pick.

(K) Kids: Three daughters. Dizzle, 5 1/2. Doodle, 4 in March. Dilly, 2.

(L) Live: Glen Allen, VA.

(M) Mom's Name: Annemarie. But no one has called her that in years. Well, except maybe telemarketers.

(N) Nicknames: T. TMB. Moe.

(O) Overnight Hospital Stays? Just when the girls were born.

(P) Pet Peeve: When people are late. Procrastinators. Slow drivers. Basically anything that wastes my time.

(Q) Quote from a Movie: "Shock me, shock me, shock me with that deviant behavior." - Empire Records

(R) Right or Left Handed? Right.

(S) Siblings: Two younger sisters.

(T) Time You Wake Up? On run days, 5 a.m. The rest of the time, 7 a.m.

(U) Underwear: Boy shorts. Unless I'm running.

(V) Vegetable You Dislike: Brussel Sprouts. Raw onions. Beets. Radishes. Okra. Scallions.

(W) What Makes You Run Late: NOTHING. I am NEVER late. In fact, I'm usually five minutes early. Didn't you read my pet peeves?

(X) X-Rays You've Had Done: The better question is what HAVEN'T I had x-rays done on?

(Y) Yummy Food You Make: Sweet potato bake. Black bean and corn chili. Black bean enchiladas. Burritos. Apparently, I specialize in vegetarian Mexican food.

(Z) Zoo, Favorite Animal: Um, yeah. I don't like animals. They smell weird and kind of freak me out.

You probably just learned more than you wanted to know about me. But, for making it to the end, I reward you with a winner. There were 540 entries and thanks to random.org the winner is #97 ...

LauraElaine

Congrats! Send me an email with your contact info and I will ship you your prize when I return from Disney.

Three Things Thursday: Disney Princess Edition ...

1. 48 hours from now, I will be landing in Orlando and I could not be more excited. Not only to I get to run my FAVORITE race on Sunday, but I get to hang out with some super cool bloggy peeps, including Katye, Heather and Wifey (we are all taking part in The Blogroller's Get Moving! Initiative).

I know a ton of other bloggers will be in attendance for the race, so if you see a 20-something, fo-hawked mom of three while you are out and about, please introduce yourself. I promise, I don't bite. Usually ...

2. As you all know, the most important part of race day preparation is outfit selection. For last year's Princess Half, I dressed as Belle. I wore yellow from head to toe and even sported a tiara. But this year, I'm taking a different approach. I'm going to be a Punk Rock Princess, donned in hot pink and lime (with the signature fo-hawk, of course). It will be nearly impossible to miss me. Just look for this outfit ...

It's my goal to prove that you can look cute and still be bada**.

3. I've said it before, but I have a thing for numbers. I almost always dissect my bib numbers to find the "hidden meaning." My number for Sunday's race is 750. I like this number for many reasons. First, it's low, which means I'm practically an elite. Second, 7 is my birth date and my favorite number. And third, I like to think that it means I am going to PR by 7:50. Yes, it seems like a lot, but it's quite possible. A 7:50 PR would fall right in the range between my goal (1:55) and the projected time from my January 15K (1:48). I know I can run somewhere in that range. My only concern is the temperature. It's forecasted to be 60 degrees at the start, much warmer than I'm used to.

my future rock star ...

For pretty much all of her life, Dilly has had Justin Bieber hair ...

But some days, she wakes up looking like she's in the 80's band, Flock of Seagulls ...I thought her musical talents stopped at her looks. But I was wrong. Now, she's singing too. Here's here new favorite song ...

"Twinkle little star
How wonder what you are.
Up babove the world high
Like a DY-NO-MITE ..."

Thanks Taio Cruz, for teaching my daughter the classics ...

i am food obsessed ...

I have mentioned once or twice or 8,000 times that I have a slight case of OCD. I need order and structure and I thrive on discipline. I mean, it's not like you run 50 miles a week or reduce your wardrobe down to 35 items without discipline.

It's also through discipline that I managed to get my eating habits in check. And it's how I dropped 70 pounds. When I was in high school, I ate a Burger King Bacon Double Cheeseburger with fries and a Dr. Pepper EVERY DAY. I'm not kidding. We were allowed to go off-campus for lunch and BK is what I chose (Note: You couldn't pay me to eat at BK now.)

At some point, I decided to change my ways and my discipline kicked in. I changed my eating habits and kicked my exercising into overdrive. Eventually, I got to this point. I became a pescatarian, endurance athlete. Or as the people around me would say, "an exercise addict."

The thing is, though, I'm not addicted to exercise. I love running. I love being active. But, it in no way controls my daily activities. I don't sacrifice anything but my free time and sleep to get my workouts in. I don't miss out on anything because "I need to workout." And I most definitely do not freak out if I miss a workout. Yes, I would prefer to complete my entire schedule, but I know it's not the end of the world to skip a few sessions.

I am so NOT obsessed with exercise. But, if we are being honest here, I think I am totally obsessed with food. I am positive that if I wasn't so disciplined with my exercise, I would balloon up quickly. Portion control is not my strong suit. Food is always on my mind. I plan out what I am going to eat for dinner before I've had breakfast. I don't like to share what's on my plate. I calorie count with the best of them. I NEVER eat out without checking the nutritional facts first. I measure or weigh the vast majority of what I eat. I have zero self control when it comes to indulgences. If there is junk in the house, I will eat it. Even if I am already full. And I am 100% aware of this fact.

I know being obsessed with food is completely crazy. But, I know I can't possibly be the alone in this. We've all got our thing, right? So, what are you obsessed with?

20 miles o' fun ...

Yesterday morning, I was scheduled to run my second 20 miler of this training cycle. And although G and Kc are out of commission (OK, maybe not out completely, but no longer running the full), I was really excited to head out for 20. Apparently, I am some sort of head case.

Anyway, the perfect plan was in place. I was going to join SpeeDee and her friend Amy. G and Kc were going to be our "bike escorts." L and IronJ were going to jump in along the way. We were going to see all of Richmond, on foot.

But then, at 6 a.m., I woke up to an email from SpeeDee. She was sick and wasn't going to make it. Amy bailed. So, it was just me and my "bike escorts" and a route that I didn't know at all. All of these scenerios were playing in my head. What if G and Kc had to cut it short and I was left all alone? What if the 38 lines of directions weren't enough to get me back to my car? What if I can't make it the whole 20? What if we miss IronJ along the way? Will she be stranded forever?

I had no choice but to show up and find out. When I arrived at the start, G and Kc were already waiting for me ...

I gave G the route and we headed out. The first four miles were at an easy 9:45 pace with me looking all bada** accompanied by my bike protection detail. About 39 minutes into the run, we picked up Lisa, who somehow managed to wear the same shirt as me. At that point I was convinced that people were really going to think that we were running with our bodyguards. We looked good, right?

At mile 10, we managed to connect with IronJ, despite not knowing her plan for the day (we're good like that). Anyway, the last 10 miles were brutal (fun, but brutal). The hills on Riverside Drive never ended, but G did her best to remind me that "you are training for the race you are going to run," and she was right. National isn't flat. And I'm going to be thankful for my training on race day.

Finally, 3:09:59 after we started, we once again arrived at our cars. Our "bike escorts" had survived their first 3+ hour ride and I had another great 20 miler under my belt. And to think I thought it could all go horribly wrong ...

Product Review: Hydrapak Soquel

In the past three years, I have tried numerous methods for carrying water with me on my runs. When first started running, I kept a water bottle at my car and would loop back every few miles to rehydrate, but as my mileage built that method became rather taxing.

So, I did a little research and opted for a hydration belt. The first one I purchased was a total fail. It had a single bottle that was positioned horizontally on my back. The bottle leaked and randomly fell out when I ran. Eventually, I ditched it and moved onto another belt, this time with four small bottles and a Velcro closure. Again, I was disappointed. The belt chafed me CONSTANTLY. I could never get it to sit correctly and I often finished a run feeling abused.

In the past year, I have moved to handheld hydration methods. This has been my favorite method by far, but it too has it's drawbacks. To begin with, the amount of water I can carry is limited. The vessel is small in comparison to that of the belts I had utilized in the past. Also, on occasion, I ended runs with cramped biceps from holding my arm in a rather fixed position. But, aside from that, the handheld seemed to be the best option for me, especially for shorter (under 10 mile) training runs.

And although I was content with my current hydration system, I had always been interested in using a hydration pack. So, when Scott at Outside PR, gave me the opportunity to test out the Hydrapak Soquel, I jumped at the chance.

The Soquel, which retails for $54.99, is ultra-lightweight with just enough storage space to make it perfect for a race or a training run. Here are the specs (from Hydrapak):

Features:

• Speed Harness Ultimate Mobility Straps (SHUMS)
• Ultra-Light Weight Materials
• 360 Degree Reservoir Insulation
• Applied Mesh Pocket with Elastic Pump Loop
• Silky Slider Sternum Strap
• Key Clip
• Reflective Light Loop

Specs:

• Weight: 9 oz
• Gear Storage: 90 Cubic inches (1.5L)
• 70 oz (2L) Reversible Reservoir II with Classic Connector (Upgrade to Plug-N-Play optional)
• Measures 13.5" x 6.25" x 2.75"
• Silicone Impregnated 100D Trilobal Ripstop and 210D Nylon Construction

Colors

• Black
• Blue
• Orange
• Green

I tested my Soquel on my last long run. And I must say, I was quite impressed.

Despite carrying two liters of water with me, I barely noticed that I was even wearing the pack (I did notice the sound of the shaking of the ice cubes that I put in the reservoir though). It wasn't bulky or restrictive and perhaps most importantly, it didn't chafe.

In addition to the comfort of the Soquel, I also appreciated the large reservior size (2L), ample storage space (pictured below) and easy to use bite valve.

The only drawback I could find to this pack was that I was not able to access the storage compartments while I was running. This was not due to the design of the pack, but rather it's placement on my back. I was unable to reach around and undo the zippers and/or latches. This is a minor drawback that I expect would be seen with any hydration pack.

All in all, I would highly recommend the Hydrapak Soquel.

Note: While I received this product for free, the opinions are all my own.

trouble ...

Dizzle has gotten in trouble for some random things in her short life. Once, in preschool, she was sent home with a note because she ate too many cheese sticks at snack time. Because of this, it has become customary that when I pick her up from school, the first things I say to her are:

Did you have a good day?

AND

Did you get in trouble?

Most days, really almost all days, she tells me that she wasn't even bad one bit. But, yesterday, I got a different response.

Me: Did you get in trouble today?
Dizzle (looking away): I promise to be super good from now on.
Me: So, you got in trouble? What did you do?
Dizzle: I don't remember.
Me: Really? You have a really good memory. Do I need to call your teacher to find out?
Dizzle(with the fear of God in her voice): No. Don't call her! I remember.
Me: Well, what was it then?
Dizzle (mumbling): I got in trouble because I tried to kiss two boys.
Me (trying my best not to laugh): What? What were you thinking?
Dizzle: That I could.
Me: Well, guess what? You can't. Dizz, we don't kiss anyone who's not in our family EVER. Have fun telling your dad that one.
Dizzle (crying): No. I don't want to tell him.
Me (still not trying to laugh): That's a shame. Because telling Daddy what you did is your punishment. Maybe you'll think before you try that one again.

And with that, Dizzle cried for a half hour straight.

Can I just say that it's really hard to discipline your child when you think the situation is hilarious?

LOVE YOUrself Valentine Challenge ...

Earlier this month, Zoe posted a challenge on her blog. Each of the 36 participants would receive a personalized valentine from Zoe, along with a skull tattoo to place on the body part you are most proud of because of running/fitness/life. I immediately knew I wanted in. I mean, I like flaunting my stuff as much as the next person. (OK, maybe I enjoy it a little more than the average person. Not the point.)

On my card, Zoe shared what she admired about me,

"Tonia, Your strength and endurance are very inspiring traits you possess (among a long list of others!) You are definitely a ROCK STAR. Happy V Day! Zoe"

Yeah, did I ever mention how much I love Zoe? She's awesome. And do you know what else is awesome? That's right. My quads ...

And they look super bada** with that skull tattoo.

double edged sword ...

I have always been a self-motivator. Usually, all it take for me to tackle everything that's thrown my way, is my desire to do so. I like accomplishments. I want to be able to say I've done this or that. No one else needs to hold me accountable. I will do that myself.

But being a self-motivator is a double edged sword. You see, self-motivators have drive. A lot of drive. In fact, sometimes, too much. And on occasion, being self-motivated can completely backfire.

Take this past week for example. It was a cutback week for me. 46 miles on the schedule (plus three days of P90X and five days of Ab Ripper X.) On Wednesday morning, I was on track. I had run 18 miles, cross-trained once and finished Ab Ripper X twice. Things looked good. Then, as we all know, on Wednesday night, I got a stomach bug. I missed one workout. Then another. But, by Thursday night, I was feeling better and decided to cross-train.

On Friday, I still wasn't feeling 100%, but things were manageable. That night, after the girls were in bed, I ran 6 miles AND cross-trained. I was making up for lost time. Trying to get back on track. I was being sabotaged by my own self-motivation.

Then Saturday came. And I could barely move. Friday night kicked my butt. So much so, that I decided to cut a 10 miler from my weekly schedule. it killed me to do it. It didn't matter that no one would ever know or care about that skipped run. I would. But, I knew wasn't strong enough to run. And I tried to be a logical thinker, which is incredibly hard when you are a runner first ...

With 10 miles already missed, I headed out on Sunday morning to meet G and some of the Posse. We had 12 on the schedule. But I knew from the beginning it was doomed. I wanted to believe that I was ready. And when we started, I really thought that I was. But a series of odd events from my Garmin freaking on me to missed turns to being told over a loud-speaker that (and I quote) "Your outfits are weird," started to lead me to believe otherwise.

(Note: Our outfits were not weird. See? Like I told G, "We're not weird. We're Skittles")

Anyway, by mile 4, I was feeling really "off." I knew we were making a drop-off at mile 6 and I decided to stop. Then I went home and slept for two and a half hours.

Ugh. 16 miles short this week. I have never missed mileage like that. I was so disappointed in myself. I pride myself in my strength and perseverance. And missing a third of my total mileage was a tough pill to swallow.

I know that sounds crazy and that I made the smart decision. But the thing about being Type-A is that you hold yourself to a very high standard. A standard that you probably wouldn't hold others to. I know this. And I know that missing 16 miles of a 700+ mile training plan is NOTHING. I know that it won't make a difference on race day. And I know that it was smarter to miss the runs now, in a cutback week, than during a peak week. But that doesn't make it any easier.

what not to do when you've had the stomach flu ...

As you remember, on Wednesday night, I was hit with the stomach flu. It was the first time since I've been a parent (nearly six years) that I questioned my ability to take care of my children. I felt so horrible that I knew I wouldn't be able to much of anything. So, since J was heading out of town, I called upon my sister, who stepped up big time.

And thank God she did. Although I didn't vomit yesterday, I couldn't get out of bed. At one point, I needed to bring my laptop downstairs to charge and it took me an hour and a half to muster the energy to do so. Whenever I tried to sit up to drink something, the nausea set in. But the worst part wasn't actually feeling sick. It was feeling useless. I couldn't stand that my sister was taking care of everything and all I could do was sit there like a blob.

The thing is that I'm really not good with being unproductive. Lazy doesn't work for me. I wish it did. But, if I sit around for more than a few hours, I start going stir crazy. And being trapped in my bed for 20+ hours was just too long for me.

So, at around 4 p.m., I got out of bed. My sister wouldn't let me do much of anything, but it was better than sitting quarantined in my room. And that's when it started to happen. I started feeling better. Like a lot better. Moving around wasn't making me nauseous. I could eat. A little anyway. It seemed like this stomach bug was really a 24 hour thing.

At 7 p.m., once the girls were in bed, my sister left and I ran through my nightly routine. Made the girls lunch. Cleaned up the house. Started the laundry. I felt pretty much back to normal. Sure, I was only eating pretzels and drinking tea, but I figured I was all good. So, (and this is what you are going to yell at me for), I decided to workout. I put in the DVD for P90X Shoulders and Arms with Ab Ripper X.

I know it was stupid. And I know I should have been resting. But I was bored. And I felt OK. And really, it was fine until I got to Ab Ripper. And then, I wanted to punch myself in the face. I swear, sometimes I really don't think these things through ...

Three Things Thursday, upset tummy edition

1. Yesterday at 5:30 a.m., I ran 6 miles. It was awesome and comfortable and we finished with a 8:56 average pace. Then at 9:40 a.m., I ran another 6 miles with IronJ and our strollers.

But that second run was different. Yes, it was windy. And yes, it was my second run in four hours. And yes, Dilly isn't the lightest child around. But, on a normal day, my running isn't really affected by those things. I could not move. I felt like I was shuffling. It took all of my will to keep going. And it really didn't help that Dilly yelled, "Stop running, please," during the ENTIRE run. We finished with a 9:28 pace, which left me feeling completely drained. I figured it was just a bad run but ...

2. At 7 p.m., I started vomiting. I felt "off" ever since that second run. I thought I was dehydrated or needed more food. Guess not. I probably should have known that I was getting sick when the thought of eating one of my birthday cupcakes ...

didn't sound appealing. Anyway, I spent the remainder of the night either in bed or hugging the toilet. It was bad. Seriously. I weigh 3.9 pounds LESS than I did yesterday morning. And it's not really getting any better. I feel OK as long as I don't stand up or move. Which is kind of hard when you have three children ...

3. But, thankfully, I have an AWESOME little sister who stepped up in my time of need. You see, J was scheduled to leave for Colorado early this morning and I knew I wasn't going to feel up to taking care of the girls. So, at 7:30 last night, I called Angie Pants (who lives 3 hours away in Baltimore) to see if she could take off work and come help me out. Fortunately, she could. She drove down late last night and is currently taking Dizzle to school. I owe her big.

baby in your belly ...

I think that independent play is good. I think that children should be able to find constructive ways to use their time and that their parents should not be their sole source of entertainment. Yes, you should play with your kids. And you should read to your kids. And you should teach your kids. But, I do not believe that mothers (or fathers for that matter) should spend all of their time micromanaging their children. There are other things that need to be done and showing your children how to balance responsibilities is just as important as keeping them "busy."

With that said, it's obvious that I give my children a fair amount of time to play with each other. My office is directly off of their playroom, so I can work and be within earshot at all times. Yesterday, while I was replying to some emails, I overheard Doodle and Dilly playing one of their games.

Doodle: "You need to take it easy. You have a baby in your belly."
Dilly: "Baby belly."
Doodle: "Yes, there's a baby in your belly. Let me check it."
Dilly: "Baby Pablo."

I didn't interrupt. I just kind of laughed and kept working. A few minutes later when I finally turned around I got the best surprise of all. Dilly actually looked pregnant. The two of them had unzipped Dilly's sweatshirt, shoved a stuffed animal in (Pablo from The Backyardigans) and re-zipped. It was classic. And exactly what I should have expected for letting them play alone ...

an apology to Tony ...

Dear Tony,

I am so sorry that I broke up with you. But after the 90 torturous days we spent together, I needed a break. I thought I'd be back with you in no time. I thought that we would find a schedule that would work for us. But, that never happened. And now, seven months have passed and my abs that once looked like this (thanks to you, of course) ...

Have gotten soft. And pale. And look like this ...

I never should have left you. I know that now. And that's why I took you back last night. Why I let you push me until I face-planted during dive bomber pushups. Why I am OK with the fact that I can't lift my arms above my head and it hurts if I breathe in too deep. I need you in my life. I know that now. Please forgive me.

Love,
TMB

I'm awesome ...

29 years ago today, this adorable face entered the world.

Yup. I was a rock star back then too.

And yesterday, this adorable face rocked 20 miles in 3:04:26 (9:13 pace).

Over 20 minutes faster than I ever have before. It was awesome.
Happy Birthday to me.

(note: "fake" posts are allowed on your birthday)

lying ...

If you have ever checked out my DailyMile posts or Facebook page or this blog, then you probably know that my nightly workouts consist of running on my treadmill and watching NCIS. I love that show and I love my treadmill. And on the rare occasion when the USA Network doesn't have three or more back-to-back episodes on, I have a moment of panic.

J loves the show too. He's seen every episode. So, he "gets it." Our kids, well, our kids have never seen it. At least I think. Yesterday, I learned that Dizzle may be watching it on the sly.

You see, I made pumpkin brownies for dessert. I took them out of the oven and told the girls not to touch them. Both Dizzle and Doodle were hovering. Again, I told them not to touch them. That they could have one if they ate their dinner. As I turned around, Doodle yelled (which is kind of her normal volume), "I'M NOT GONNA TOUCH THEM!"

I turned back and Dizzle said, "She's lying." I asked her how she knew. To which she replied ...

"She's looking to the left."

What?!?! How the heck did she know that? And then G reminded me about my NCIS obsession. And said it might be rubbing off on Dizzle. Hmm. Well, I guess there are worse things.

three things thursday, temperature edition ...

1. Dizzle, Doodle and Dilly all have fevers. And runny noses. And congestion. And wicked coughs. It's really not fun. (I've got the congestion and runny nose, too). And being the prepared mother that I am, I had ZERO Motrin or Tylenol or anything in the house when illness struck. I thought that maybe the girls could man up and make it until J got home from work, but by 10 a.m. yesterday morning, I knew that wasn't going to happen. Everyone was whiny. And Dilly was a cling-on. I couldn't do anything but hold her. Which makes taking care of everyone else kind of hard.

2. While the girls had me trapped in the house yesterday, it was a beautiful 72 degrees and sunny outside. A freakishly warm winter day. A perfect day for a run. But, like I said, we were in the middle of Feverfest 2011, so I'm sure you can guess how that turned out ...

3. I am ALWAYS cold. Seriously, just take a look at what I was wearing INSIDE my house yesterday.

Yes, that is a hoodie. And a ski cap. And there are two more shirts under the hoodie. And if we are being honest here, I was seconds away from throwing on a sweatshirt. I don't know what it is but, I really have a hard time regulating my body temperature or something. Or maybe I just prefer warmth. I could handle 90 degree temperatures EVERYDAY.

bad parenting 101 ...

J and I come from big stock. My mom is one of 8 and she at the short end of the group at 6'. And J, well, J is 6'7. He towers over me by 10 inches (making me 5'9, of course). We are most often the tallest couple in the room. And we are definitely not "skinny" tall. We are "thick" tall or "built like a brick house" tall. I mean, seriously, have you seen my quads? Well, J has them too.

Because of this, I have always had a fear about my girls' future size. It's pretty much a given that they are going to be tall and naturally muscular. I'm cool with that. But I was built that way too, and I know how easy it is to go from tall and muscular to tall and muscular with a thick layer of fat.

I like to think that I have a pretty good body image. No, it's not perfect, but I have a healthy relationship with food and exercise. A relationship I try to show on a daily basis to my children. I do my best not to be judgmental of anyone's appearance. And for the most part, they get it. We don't eat a lot of junk in this house (cupcakes are not junk, they are an indulgence). They like to run. They love to play soccer. They dance. Basically, healthy habits are shoved in their faces (in a positive manner).

But the other day, I did something I swore I'd never do. I yelled at Dizzle about food and exercise. The conversation went like this ...


Me: Dizzle and Doodle, you have to get ready to go to ballet.
Dizzle: I don't want to go to ballet anymore.
Me: Why? Don't you like it?
Dizzle: No.
Me: Well, that's unfortunate. But, Mommy and Daddy spent a lot on your dance class and you made a commitment. You have to finish the year. If you don't want to dance in the fall, we won't sign you up.
Dizzle: (crying) But, I don't want to go. And I don't want to play soccer either.
Me: (starting to get worked up): What?!?! You have to go to dance. I already told you that. And you love soccer. Why wouldn't you want to play?
Dizzle: I just don't want to. I want to watch TV and eat.

And that's when it happened ...

Me: WHAT?!?! You want to watch TV and eat? Why? So you can get fat? Did you see all those people at the restaurant last night? They sit around and eat. And look at them? Do you want to be like that?

I instantly regretted it. I never ever wanted to share those thoughts with my kids. But in that moment, my fear that she would go down that road had such an effect on me that I couldn't hold back. It wasn't pretty. And it was definitely a moment of bad parenting ...

January rewind ...

Well, January is officially over and my favorite day of the year is quickly approaching. My 29th birthday is next Monday. The 7th. Write it down. Start shopping. Get ready to celebrate.

Now that we've got that out of the way, here is my recap of January 2011 ...

Miles Planned/Miles Ran: 193/193.96

Rest Days Planned/Rest Days Taken: 9/8

Highest Mileage Week: 1/24-1/30: 51.5 miles

Long Runs Planned/Long Runs Completed: 4/4

Current Book: I just finished Racing Weight by Matt Fitzgerald, which was sent to me by Marlene. Here I am reading it with Dilly (she's looking to lean up too).

I loved it and have since passed it along to G. Once she is done, it will be making its way to running: the dawn.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I am addicted. And it's pathetic. If there is an open box in our pantry, I am eating a handful (or 12) every time I walk by. I easily eat a box every two days. So sad.

Current Colors: Lime and Pink

Current Drink: V8 - Love that Stuff

Current Song: F*$! You - Cee Lo Green

Current Triumph: My 1:15:41 finish at the Frostbite 15K. The 8:07 overall pace was a HUGE confidence boost headed into the Princess Half Marathon later this month.

Current Goal: Disney. Sub 1:55. Enough said.

Current Blessing: Pretty much everything. And I don't take that for granted.

Current Excitement: Did you already forget that my birthday is NEXT MONDAY?!?! It's pretty much a national holiday and should be respected as such ...

2011 Goals - Status Update:

Personal:

• Clean up my diet - I have lost 3 of the 6 pounds I gained over the holidays and I have been religiously tracking my calories on SparkPeople.com. Thus far - SUCCESS.
• Eat no more than 25 cupcakes - As of January 31st - 2 cupcakes eaten.
  

Financial:

• Pay off our consumer debt by the end of the year - We've set up a strict cash budget and have been sticking to it quite well. We're on the right track.
• Spend $0 on clothing - As of January 31 - $0 spent.

Running:

• Run 2,000 miles - As of January 31 - 193.96 miles run.
• Run a sub 1:55 half marathon - Next race - 2/27, Disney Princess Half.
• Take 30+ minutes off my marathon - Next race - 3/26, National Marathon.