Three Things Thursday ...

Non-Training Mileage Boost - For the first time in a very long time, I am not training for anything. My next running race isn't until Hood to Coast in August and my next triathlon is a sprint in September.

Of course, that doesn't mean I am floating along without direction. That's just not my style. Instead, I am currently working off a training plan that could probably have me ready to race a 70.3 in about 4 weeks. I mean, it only makes sense. You never know when someone is going to throw a free race entry at you. And I'd hate to have to pass something like that up.

With that said, there is one minor downfall to my current training style.

I keep adding workouts whenever I feel like it.

"Oh, the kids are in bed and you're going to watch TV? Why not watch TV from the trainer?"

"Oh, you have 30 minutes before anyone gets out of bed? Why not do some strength training?"

"What? No one is yelling at you while you're running on the treadmill? Why not double your mileage?"

And that, right there, is how I ended up logging an extra 20 miles on the bike and 3 miles on my run in the last two days. Yes, I know I have a problem.

Health Obsessed - Apparently, I'm not the only one with a love of fitness and healthy living in our house. Dizzle, Doodle and Dilly have jumped on that train too.

Need proof? Hmm, where to begin?

1. Every time Dilly finishes a glass of milk she says, "I drank all my milk so I can have strong muscles!"

2. We constantly find the girls using our free weights. Here's Dizzle doing some shoulder presses in front of a mirror while I run on the treadmill.

And, on more than one occasion, we have found Dilly sitting on the couch holding two pound dumbbells over her head in an attempt to "get big muscles."

3. I get asked about 865 times a day if we can go on a run or if we can run on the treadmill. And all three girls, including three year old Dilly, ran a mile on Monday and I had to literally drag them inside so that they would stop doing loops around our cul-de-sac.

4. My kids are afraid to say the "F" word. No, not that "F" word - FAT. Our conversations go a little something like this.

"Mom, don't eat all of that cake or you might get F-A-T" *cue scared face*

"Yes, if you eat too much cake all the time you might get fat. But you can have it sometimes."

"Oh, good. Because you really like cake."

5. "Can you help me with some stretches?" is a normal question in our house.

J and the girls stretching ...

6. The girls try to play catch with a six-pound medicine ball.

7. Swim caps, goggles, running skirts and tall socks have become casual wear around here.

I guess we could have worse obsessions ...

Summer Vacation - Now that it's May, I am anxiously awaiting the end of the school year. For some odd reason, I am really looking forward to having all three kids home all the time (we keep our Summer unscheduled. No camps. No classes. No anything). Or maybe it's just the sheer level of insanity that May has in store for us that makes me long for it to be over. 

Either way, I'm sure that two weeks into break, I am probably going to feel completely different, especially considering the lack of volume control that my children have.

How about you? Are you looking forward to or dreading Summer vacation? How do you plan to keep your kids occupied?

Three Things Thursday ...

Ignored - I'm confident that this happens to all moms, but when J is around, I pretty much disappear. My kids completely forget who I am and they all vie for his attention. On more than one occasion, I have been told, "Guess what, Mom? I love Dad." or "That's OK, Mom. I'd rather hang out with Dad anyway." or "Mom, go away!" This effect is amplified when there other "preferred" adults around. For example, at the mere mention of Grandpa or Grandma's name, the girls go crazy. And they completely ignore me.

Tomorrow, J's parents arrive, which means in 26 hours I will be rendered useless. Well, unless someone misbehaves. Because then, I'm the one who has to play mean cop.

Thanksgiving - Since J's parents are visiting this weekend, we are going to have Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday. My first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian and I am kind of at a loss for a main course that isn't Tofurky. Most everything I find is really just a side dish. Any ideas on what vegetarians eat on a day that focuses on meat (other than pasta)?

Munchkins - In two days, J and I will go head to head in a Munchkin eating/running challenge at the Dunkin Donut Munchkin Run. I have no intentions of racing this 5K, in fact, I am going to run the whole thing with J (at his pace). And then I am going to eat more Munchkins than him. Because really, that's the true contest here. And although he's nearly twice my size, I think I have the advantage. Here's why ...

• My 5K PR is 22:04.
• His 5K PR is 29:48.
• Running at his pace is going to be considerably harder for him than it will be for me.
• Since I will be running at an "easier" pace, I will be able to consume more without it bothering my stomach, thus winning the head-to-head battle.

It's a good theory, right?

Three Things Thursday ...

Shocking - Since I dyed my hair pink a few weeks back, people have been asking me if I chose the color to support Breast Cancer Awareness. Depending on who's asking, I say, "Um. Sure, that's why." or "Not really. I just thought it would be fun and it is a nice coincidence."

Honestly, I can almost always tell what people really think of it just from the look on their face and usually telling them that I did it as an awareness measure, somehow makes it seem less deviant. Go figure.

But, this morning, I totally read someone wrong. I was at Dizzle's school and one of the teachers asked me if there was a meaning to my hair color. I thought she was on board with the crazy pink hair so I said, "Nope. I just thought it'd be a fun thing to do."

Her reply? "Oh. (pause and loss of smile) That's nice."

See what I mean? Apparently, deviance is OK, as long as you have a good reason.

Six Minutes - Speaking of Dizzle's school, I visited this morning to join her for PE class. They were scheduled to run as many laps as they could in six minutes. It was awesome. Dizzle paced herself well and ran the whole time, finishing 5.25 laps (.58 mile) in the six minutes (10:20 pace).

When we got back inside and the teacher was tallying everyone's mileage, she asked how far I ran. I said I also ran 5.25 laps. She replied, "OK. I just wanted to check because some of the parents in other classes have run farther than their kids."

WHAT!?!? This was a race? I didn't have to stick with my kid? I could have schooled them all?

Don't get me wrong, it was great to run with Dizzle. But I already told her that next year I am going to crush her ...

10 Days - There are only 10 days until the NYC Marathon. My training plan does not have a taper built in. Yet, I am not freaking out at all. I guess this is what "trusting the plan" feels like ...

the answers, part 2 ...

Are you ready to learn even more about me? Remember, there will be a quiz tomorrow. So study up. And if you missed yesterday's answer post, you can check it out HERE. Now for the second half of questions ...

Julie Stubblefield asked: Have you always been athletic, or is this a passion you have realized later in life? I have always been athletic, but I was never a runner. I played soccer for 15 years, starting at age 3 and I dabbled with the sport post-college. When I was in the first grade, I began playing basketball, which I competed in until 10th grade. And when I was in 7th grade, I picked up the shot put and the discus. Throughout high school, I was a three-sport athlete in addition to playing soccer on a travel team. And as a senior, I was voted "Most Athletic"

After high school, I went on to compete for a Division 1 Track and Field team, which meant focusing on throwing and giving up my other sports. It wasn't until 2007 that I began running, but if I was given the opportunity, I would play soccer and throw again. I really loved both.

Miles for Breakfast asked: Will you ever do a 50km race? Or a 50mi race? (not a relay) Maybe. I've learned to never say never, but at this point in time, I have ZERO interest in a 50 miler. And I have only a slight interest in a 50K and it's definitely not enough to sign up for one.

RunHapi13 asked: If you were only allowed one race event in 2012, what one race would you choose and why? A 70.3 - without a doubt. Right now, I am deciding between three events. One of them will be my race and that will be my focus for 2012.

Run with Jess asked: What has been your ONE single favorite race ever?!?! And of course, why? I have two. My favorite race is the Disney Princess Half. I love everything about that event. The atmosphere. The course. The expo. The location. And this year's VIP treatment didn't suck either.

But, my favorite course to run is the HCA 8K at the Richmond Marathon. The 8K is my favorite distance to run and the course is awesome. Fast and flat with a downhill finish. Every time I have run it, I have crushed it.

Erika asked: What is your advice for how to balance your family and their needs while training and still finding time for yourself? To begin with, find a supportive spouse/significant other. J is 100% on board with all of my training/racing/etc. Without him, I'm not sure I would be able to train and race to the extent that I do.

Second, determine what you are willing to sacrifice. For me, I am willing to give up sleep and my own "free time" to accomplish my training. I am NOT willing to give up extensive "family time." Thus, I do the bulk of my training before my family is awake. The remainder is done after the kids are in bed at night, usually while J is still at work (or training himself).

Lastly, schedule everything. I start each week by planning when and where I am going to do all of my workouts. I talk it over with J. And I commit to it. Doing this makes it much easier to accomplish everything that I need to.

Mandi asked: What is your biggest piece of advice on how to get through difficult runs? Accept that not every run is going to be fantastic. And know that you are going to get through the tough ones. Sometimes, you need to take a break. Sometimes, you need to walk. Sometimes, you need to speed up and get it over with. But, I guarantee you will never be disappointed if you man-up and finish.

Running Ricig asked: What is the best thing you've ever eaten? This is tough. I'm totally obsessed with food. But, I would have to say that the chocolate souffle from the Black Angus Grille at the Wyndham in Nassau, Bahamas. J and I had dinner there on our honeymoon and it was pretty much the best meal ever and that souffle was the perfect ending. The sad thing is that I just checked the menu for the restaurant and they don't make it anymore.

Karen asked: You always seem so confident in yourself and comfortable with who you are. Are you ever plagued with self-doubt? Most definitely. My self-doubt tends to materialize at "crunch time." I start to question whether I am really capable or if I have just bolstered myself to think I am capable. Sometimes, I can fight the doubt, but sometimes I just cave in and fall apart.

Cat B. asked: Do you ever get in a 'running rut'? You know, when you just aren't interested in the run anymore. If so, how do you bust out of it? Honestly, no. I have never experienced that. And I have no idea how I would handle it.

CupCake@ Bigger Girls Can Run Too asked: Was there ever a time when you DNF or came close to calling it quits? Why? Just one time - when I crashed my bike at Muddy Buddy Richmond in May. A separated shoulder will do that to a person. Although, since I'm being honest, I tried to keep going and if I had been able to "pop" my shoulder back into place, I would have.

Other than that, I have never had a DNF. I am just too freaking stubborn. I would probably crawl across the finish line if I had to.

Sarah asked: What race do you have your eye on (but have not registered for)? Right now, I am deciding on my 70.3 goal race for next year. As of right now, it is between Patriots Half in September, Ironman 70.3 Florida in May and Ironman 70.3 EagleMan in June.

S Club Mama asked: If you couldn't run, what would you do to stay fit? Easy, I'd play soccer.

And what's your favorite song to run to? I don't really listen to music when I run since I am almost always running with other people. But, I'm a fan of any song I can sing along with. It makes the miles fly by.

Kurt @ Becoming An Ironman asked: So many people look at running 10, 20 miles and laugh; "I could never do that!" On top of that, you've recently put up a goal of doing a 70.3 triathlon. Do you feel that there is any sport or athletic event/endeavor that you would think "I could never do that" about for any reason? Or have you gotten to a point where you think you could tackle just about anything? At this point in time, an Ironman seems impossible. Outside of endurance events, I don't think I could ever do anything related to heights - I have a crazy fear of heights. Diving. Ski Jumping. Sky Diving. Bungee Jumping. Rappelling. Rock Climbing. Trapeze. All of those things are no gos.

TNTcoach Ken asked: What did you think of your photo and article in Runner World? I freaking loved it. The picture was awesome (as were the other ones they shot) and the article definitely expressed why I dress the way I do. Plus, I got to share this once in a lifetime experience with my girls and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

~K~ asked: How long have ya been running and what's your favorite race distance? I started running in August of 2007, so just about 4 years. And my favorite race distance is the 8K.

Jenn asked: What is your favorite cupcake flavor? Do you really think I could pick just one? My three favorites are Salted Caramel, Oreo Cheesecake and Frappechino.

Lisa asked: I seem to have chronic issues with my back and my knee that flare up once a year causing some unplanned time off. Do you have any chronic issues that affect your running? If so, how do you stay sane when you can't run for an extended period of time? Fortunately, I do not have any chronic issues, but both times I have had to take off running due to injury, I kept my sanity by cross-training.

Rene' asked: I am struggling with eating/nutrition and early am running. Do you have something that you eat before you do your early runs or do you eat as you go? Also, during a race Gels? shot blocks? If my run is shorter than an hour, I don't usually eat before. But if I am running longer or wake up hungry, I have either a GU, protein/Clif bar or a banana (although, I have been known to have a bowl of cereal too).

As for during the run nutrition, I don't eat anything on runs of less than two hours, unless it's a race. On race day and on 2+ hour runs, I use GU (chocolate outrage, mint chocolate or chocolate raspberry) usually every 5 miles or 45 minutes.

eep asked: What percentage of your miles do you do on the treadmill? I would say that I average about 30% of my mileage on the treadmill. Sometimes, I will go a month and never run on it. And when J is traveling, I have been know to log 40+ miles in a week on it. I am a wimp when it comes to running solo in unfavorable conditions. I will almost always choose the treadmill over running alone in the rain, heat or cold.

Running Moose asked: What is your all time favorite running memory? All of my favorite memories are ones I have shared with my family. Crossing the finish line with J during his first half marathon, running Dizzle's first 5K with her and pacing Doodle in her first half mile race would definitely be my top three.

What do you remember of your "first run"? When I started running, I used a walk/run method. And although, I don't remember the first time I laced up, I do remember those first few weeks and how long the run portion of the intervals felt. I used a six week program for my first 5K and I never ran 3 miles straight before race day. I was completely unsure that I would be able to on race day (I did, in case you were wondering).

Ashland Railroad 5K Recap ...

On Saturday, a mere 24 hours before I wrecked my shoulder, Dizzle and I ran the Ashland Railroad 5K, Dizzle's first.

We had learned at packet pickup that Dizzle (age 5) was the youngest registered runner and one of three people ages 9 and under. So, of course had they been recording everyone's times, she would have walked away with some bling. (Apparently, only the 10K was worth timing.)

Anyway, we got dressed in our Running Skirts and Tough Chik tees and headed to the race.
Dizzle was excited. And smiley. Until five minutes before the race. Suddenly, she didn't want to run and I was the worst mom ever. I told her that we paid for the race, so she was going to run.

She reluctantly agreed. At 8 a.m., we were off.

Three minutes running. One minute walking. Dizzle complained the ENTIRE time, but she didn't stop running. Even as she screamed, "I didn't want to do this!" She said she couldn't take another step. But, she kept moving. She said she needed a bathroom NOW! But she kept moving.

When we got to the mile 3 sign, she suddenly felt fine. She ran right along with her perfect form.

She did it. 3.1 miles in 40:46. And as soon as she crossed the line, she was nothing but smiles.

Dizzle's first two miler ...

As you may recall, on April 30th, Dizzle is running her first 5K. After her rock star performance, two weeks ago at the VA 529 Kid's Mile, I asked her if she wanted to run a longer race. At first, she was hesitant. But, when I told her we would run/walk the race, she quickly jumped on-board.

Now, I realize that a 5K is a lot longer than a mile. And I know that two weeks isn't ample time to train. But, it gets hot here in Virginia and I decided that a chance at a cooler race with less training was a better option than a guaranteed hot race with decent training (I would feel differently if she was an adult, but she's 5).

Plus, Dizzle has two things working for her ...

1. She can run for about 15 minutes without stopping.
2. She has walked more than three miles at a single time on several occasions.

Because of that, I KNOW she can cover the distance. The challenge is convincing her that she's strong enough to run a lot of it. (Dizzle's a bit of a whiner.)

Yesterday, I decided to get an idea of her endurance. So, at the hottest time of day (because I am nice like that), I put Doodle and Dilly in my double stroller and told Dizzle to get her shoes on. She did, and we started running. 4 minutes running, 1 minute walking. I told Dizzle nothing except that she had four minutes until we could walk. No mention of total time or distance.

And it went really well. Sure, she whined at moments (I swear our elderly neighbors thought what I was doing was a form of child abuse. I call it tough love). And she constantly asked how much longer she had to run. But she did it. We covered the two mile route in 25:44.

Afterward, she was tired (obviously), but she recovered quickly and due to the fact that she was singing/talking to me the entire run, I know she will be fine over that final mile. Once we got back inside, I asked Dizzle to show me what two miles looks like. Here's what she gave me ...

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's pride on her face.

3TT: pieces of awesome edition ...

1. Remember this picture of me on Sleeper?

Well, apparently my friends saw my suffering and are helping me upgrade. Earth Momma Mer's husband couldn't take my use of towels as aerobar stand ins, so he passed along the set he had purchased and didn't like. I installed them on Wednesday and I LOVE THEM.

In addition, SpeeDee informed me that she will come over today with a new seat for me. Actually, two. And whichever one fits, I get to keep. My very bruised back side is beyond grateful for this gesture. I am a lucky girl. My friends are freaking amazing.

2. I am racing my "A" half on Saturday. I feel that unless we get a crazy hot and humid day on Saturday (which does happen in VA), I think this is my best attempt at a sub 1:55 at least until the fall/winter. The course is perfect. I'm running with KC and I'm ready to go. The major issue right now - I have NO IDEA what I am wearing. This is so unlike me. Throw out some color suggestions or something ...

3. I have decided to register Dizzle for her first 5K on April 30th. I am going to run it with her and we plan on implementing a 4:1 run/walk ratio. I'm pumped for her. I know she will do awesome and since there are only like three other kids in the 5-9 age group, she could walk away winning her age group. At least that's my goal ...

VA 529 Kids Run Recap ...

This weekend was the Ukrops Monument 10K and VA 529 Kids Run. And although I opted out of the 10K, I did hit up the expo to pick up Dizzle's packet and to chill with G's BFF Bart Yasso and Mark Remy (author of The Runner's Rule Book and Executive Editor of RunnersWorld.com)


You know, it was your standard 10K expo. Except for the celebrities. And the fact that it was the best expo I've ever attended.

But, this is not my recap, it's Dizzle's. Like I mentioned on Thursday, Dizzle had two goals for this race.

1. Win.
2. Run a sub-12 mile.

The thing was, Dizzle didn't exactly train for this race. She's probably run a total of three miles since January. Maybe not the best training plan when you have such lofty goals. But, I was confident she could accomplish both.

However, the race was not officially timed, so it was hard to concretely say whether or not she won. She did inform me that she had, in fact, beat all of the other five-year-olds. And I trust her. Really, she has no reason to lie.

The thing we could determine was if she ran a sub-12 mile. I wore my Garmin and ran the entire race with her. During the first tenth of the mile, she was tripped and fell hard. But, she got back up and kept going. With less than a quarter-mile to go, she told me she needed to catch her breath. I told her she was fine and to keep running. She did. And when we crossed the finish line, my Garmin read 10:46. A 1:22 PR for Dizzle. And she was pumped.

But, don't take my word for it. I interviewed her post-race so that she could tell you herself ...

Me: Did you have fun?
Dizzle: I did have fun.

Me: What was you favorite part?
Dizzle: My favorite part was winning a medal.

Me: What was the worst part?
Dizzle: The worst part was when I had to go home because I wanted to go on the pirate bouncy and I wanted to get more food. (Obviously, the post-race festivities were a big hit.)

Me: Would you run another race?
Dizzle: Yes, because I like to run and win medals.

Me: When will you do your next race?
Dizzle: I don't know, maybe like in May.

Me: What is your running goal right now?
Dizzle: My goal is to not stop running ever.

Me: Do you want to run a marathon?
Dizzle: Maybe. I think I would like to do that next October.

Me: Do you know how long a marathon is?
Dizzle: No.

Me: Take a guess.
Dizzle: Long.

Me: Exactly.

Three Things Thursday (J's Half Marathon Recap Edition) ...

1. As you know, J ran his second half marathon on Saturday. He trained for months and walked away with a 15 minute PR (2:42:10 in case you were wondering). I was lucky enough to run with him from mile 9 to the finish serving as motivator, pacer and race photographer. Here are a few shots that I got in those last few miles ...


2. Although J got a HUGE PR, he had a lot of stuff working against him. On Thursday night and Friday morning before the race, J got a severe case of food poisoning while traveling. He couldn't keep anything thing down, was suffering from body aches and had to fly home from Indianapolis on Friday afternoon. He called me and I could tell it was bad. I told him to try to stay hydrated and pray for the best.

Once he finally got home, he immediately went to bed for the remainder of the day. He slept straight through dinner, only waking for about two hours before going back to bed for the night. When he woke up on Saturday morning, he hadn't more than 400 calories in over 24 hours. He was weak and we didn't really know how he was going to hold up. But, being a "runner first, logical thinker second," he decided to run. Needless to say, he fought for that 15 minute PR.

3. When I picked up J at mile 9, he was hurting. I tried to be positive and he basically told me to "shove it." It was all good though. I've been there. I knew what he was going through. We were pretty silent over the next two miles, but then at mile 11.5, J told me his foot was really hurting - with every stride. So, we slowed a little, walking a tenth here and there. He muscled through and finished strong on the downhill. But once we finished, he took notice of how bad his foot really was. And now, he's rocking a boot.

After all of this, I'm not sure that I am going to be able to convince J to run another half marathon any time soon, but he definitely has the running bug. His plan for 2011 is to focus on 5Ks and 10Ks and work on his speed. And I think it's an excellent plan ...

19.1 miles ...

19.1 miles is how far I have run since Friday. 19.1 miles that were not mine. 19.1 miles where I was not concerned about my time, but rather that my running partner was getting all that they could out of the run.

On Friday, I was joined by my partner-in-crime, Dizzle. We ran one mile together. One mile without anyone else tagging along (and slowing us down). I let Dizzle set the pace and she whined about it the ENTIRE time. From the first few steps in, she complained that she had to pee. That she couldn't hold it for one second more. But she did. And the two of us finished that mile in 12:24. 1:18 faster than she had ever covered the distance before.

On Saturday, J and I headed out for the last long run of my training cycle - 12 miles. His parents watched the girls and we got some much deserved alone time. I picked the route and he picked the pace. At mile 11, his hip hurt too much to run. So, we walked. I told him to be proactive in treating it and to think about his form when he runs. At mile 11.4, we started running again. J thought about his form. And for the first time ever, he pulled away from me. His stride was just too long to keep up with. And as we finished, he was running an 8:18 with me two steps behind. Apparently, J has been hiding some serious speed in his legs. That half marathon PR at Richmond is so his.

Then on Sunday, G ran her second 20 miler of this training cycle. I had a few miles left for the week, so I joined her at mile 14.5. She had gone out too fast on a rather hilly route. Probably more mentally tired than physically, I got to be her cheerleader for the last six miles. When she wanted to stop, I told her she couldn't - she needed to drive me back to my car. When she started to beat herself up, I told her she was wrong and tried to crack a joke. I was there for her, like she has been there for me.

This weekend I ran to support others. Next weekend, I run for me. Five days and nine miles is all that stands between me and the start line ...

Three Things Thursday, the Dizzle edition ...

1. Dizzle is really into this whole running thing. On Tuesday, I took her out again to run the mile loop from our house. And about 3/4 of the way in, I realized how much like me she really is - that's when she hit her "wall." (3/4 of the way through is where I want to quit too). But, I told her that she was fine and that she just had to tell herself that she could do it.

So, that's exactly what she did. For the last three tenths of the mile, she repeated over and over, "I CAN DO IT! I CAN DO IT!" It was pretty much the cutest thing ever. And she finished the mile with a new PR, by 51 seconds.

I instantly gave her a high five and told her how proud I was of her. Then, I immediately followed the cheers with a dose of reality, telling her that if she hadn't wasted so much energy chanting that she could run even faster. Only I would do that ....

2. Since Dizzle is turning into a running machine, I have signed her up for her first race. She is going to run the Richmond Times-Dispatch 1 Mile Kids Run, the Friday of the Richmond Marathon. She is super excited for two reasons. First, I get to run with her and she is all about one-on-one time (plus I can pace her to a killer time). And second, she gets a medal. And if you know anything about Dizzle, you know she's all about the bling ...

3. In addition to her running, Dizzle is also spending a lot of time at school. And she is loving it. She is also loving her prospects for future relationships and marriage. A few days ago, Dizzle, Doodle and I had this conversation ...

Dizzle: "Doodle, you should marry Thomas when you grow up."

Doodle: "NO! I DON'T WANT TO MARRY HIM!"

Dizzle: "Well, when I grow up, I am going to marry James."

Me: "Really? Who's James? Why do you want to marry him?"

Dizzle: "He's in my class. And I like him."

Me: "Oh. Well, is he nice?"

Dizzle: "Yes, he is. Doodle, you should really marry Thomas."

Doodle: "I DON'T WANT TO!"

Dizzle: "Well, I am going to marry James. Or Andrew. Or James. Or Andrew. Mom, how do you choose?"

Me: "Dizzle, I think that you should wait a LONG time before you get married. I was really old before I knew I wanted to marry your daddy. You should probably make up your mind later.

Dizzle: "OK. But, I am going to marry James or Andrew. Doodle? You should marry Thomas."

Doodle: "I DON'T WANT TO MARRY HIM!"

Sometimes, I wonder why I say anything at all ...

how I cut my run short and but still ran all my miles ...

Yesterday morning, G and I set out on a 16 miler. And right from the start, I just wasn't feeling it. I was just tired. Not tired of running, just sleepy tired. Like "if I was to close my eyes right now I would be asleep in three minutes," kind of tired. I'm not really sure what the deal is. Maybe I pushed it a little to hard after last week's race and PR. Maybe I just really need to go to bed earlier. Maybe the 300+ miles I have run since the middle of August are catching up with me. I'm not really sure.

Either way, G and I decided to cut the run a little short (I know, pick your jaws up off the floor). We finished up with 14 and I was OK with that, with only 14 days left before the marathon, a little extra taper wasn't going to hurt. Yup, I was OK with it. For like five hours.

So, like any sane person, I asked the girls if they wanted to go on a run. They quickly accepted and we headed out. (Have I mentioned how much I love my kids?)

I told them that we were going to run the whole time. And that we'd go nice and slow so that they could finish. Here they are in action.

Would you look at Dizzle's form? Perfect forefoot strike. At what age do you think Newton Running would be interested in sponsoring her? Probably soon ...

Anyway, we made it about .3 when Doodle decided she was too tired to go on. So, we turned around and headed home. But we kept running.

Doodle headed inside at about .66 and got some water, but I could tell that Dizzle could finish the mile, despite having just screamed at me, "MY ENTIRE BODY HURTS."

Then 14:33 after we started, Dizzle and I finished that mile. Without walking. And Doodle must have felt like she missed out on something, because as soon as she finished her water, she asked to run again. So, like a good mother, I agreed and the two of us ran/walked another mile in 15:30.

Have I mentioned that my kids are hardcore?

best 20 miles ever ...

So, as you know, my attempt to run 20 miles on Saturday went awry for a multitude of reasons. But, by the time Sunday rolled around, I was ready to run.

The plan was simple. I was going to head out at 6 a.m. for the first 4.5 miles. At 6:45ish, I was going to stop back at J's parents to pick him up for the next 11. Then, at mile 15.5-16, we would run past the house again. J would stop and I would finish the rest of my 20. Easy peasy.

I woke up around 5:45 (waking up Dizzle and Doodle in the process) and got dressed, ate a Clif Bar and gathered my gear. Promptly at 6, I headed out. AND.IT.WAS.WONDERFUL.

The temperature was 54 degrees when I walked out the door. And in case you haven't been paying attention, that's about 20 degrees cooler than anything I have run in since early May. Anyway, feeling energized by the weather and the rest day on Saturday, I decided that I would run a little faster than my usual long run pace. Nothing super fast or challenging. Just whatever my legs were up for. When I got back to the house to pick up J, I realized that I was averaging just above "Super Dream Goal" Marathon Pace. Sweet.

Then J and I headed out. (Aren't we cute?)

I let J set the pace. I was hoping for about an 11:30 average, which is about 30 seconds slower than my 15+ mile long run pace and about 30 seconds faster than J's long run pace. We started together, but for most of the run, we ran near each other, not with each other. I was about 30 feet in front of him. I was hoping that running just ahead of him would push him to catch me. (I know, I'm a mean wife). He didn't, but he held his pace quite well, finishing with an average of 11:50 for the 11 miles (over a minute faster than his current half marathon PR pace).

When we got back, I left J (he had to get ready for the Red Sox game) and finished the last 4.2 miles of the run. Again, I decided to push the pace a little. I felt good and averaged 9:30 from miles 16-20. And the icing on the cake ... mile 20 was my fastest of the day at 9:13. Basically, it was the best 20 miler I have ever run.

And see that smile? It's more than just a "thank God I'm done" smile. It's also a "thank God for perfect runs" smile.

excuses ...

I love my schedule. I follow it to a T. It's my Type-A personality. It pushes me to strive to be perfect all the time. But, don't tell anyone, I'm not. (I am pretty good at faking though.) At times, things go wrong. Plans go astray. Life gets bumpy. Or I get lazy. Like when I didn't run my scheduled 20 miler on Saturday.

The following is a list of what may or may not be excuses as to why I did not run:

1. I ran an a**-kicking five mile tempo run on Thursday (8:21 pace, if you were wondering.) I followed that run by the most sucktastic five miler on Friday. I barely survived. It was horrible. And I finished that run less than 10 hours before my scheduled 20 miler. At that point, I just wasn't feeling it.

2. I have been nursing a sore throat and some nasal congestion since Thursday. It's not getting any worse, but it's not really getting any better either. An extra day of rest was only going to help, right?

3. The temperature on Saturday morning at 6 a.m. was 70. The temperature today at 6 a.m. was 54. Enough said.

4. My iPod was non-functional. Apparently, if you NEVER remove your iPod from the armband and NEVER remove the earbuds from the iPod, your sweat will start to corrode the device. The metal was eaten away on the top (near the bezel) and the plug for the earbuds was permanently welded by calcified sweat into the plug. Not a problem until you attempt to remove it, at which point, the cord will rip off and the plug will remain. Fan-freaking-tastic. $200 later, I now have a working iPod (and will religiously be removing it from the armband after my runs).


5. Sleeping in (even if it was only until 7:45) sounded far more appealing than hitting the pavement for 3+ hours.


6. I wanted to wear my capris on Saturday. And they don't really go with my recovery socks.

7. I didn't REALLY want to run 68 miles in a seven day period (Sunday-Saturday). I much preferred the thought of only logging 50 miles in seven days (Monday-Sunday).

8. J made me.

P.S. - Those excuses were short lived. I am headed out the door right now ...

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?

J, the half marathoner ...

As you know, J became a half marathoner yesterday. It was amazing and I am so very proud of him. His official finishing time was 2:57:10. And like I said, I was by his side every step of the way (we even held hands across the finish line). Here's how it went down ...

J and I woke up at 4:30. We got out of bed, gathered our things and got dressed in our coordinated lime, white and black outfits. This is us right before walking out the door (I did get a shot of J smiling, but I think this is funnier) ...

We hopped in the car and drove the hour to Fredericksburg. Well, kind of. We had to stop. Mother Nature was not J's friend yesterday. In fact, she would torture him for the first four miles of the race. NOT.FUN. Anyway, once we arrived, we met up with JBR (our friend and another first time half marathoner). After yet another bathroom break, we rushed over to the start corral.

And before we knew it, we were off. The first four miles of the race were good (other than that whole Mother Nature thing). We were holding a comfortable pace for J and JBR. Every once in a while, I would speed up and act as race photographer. Here they are at mile 3.

And here I am. I took this while running. And JBR snuck in the shot too.

At mile 4, J had to stop and end the fight with Mother Nature. He ran into a church and JBR continued on without us. (JBR finished in 2:39:25.) After six minutes, J returned and we ventured on. Despite the added time, we were still holding a decent pace. But somewhere around 6 or 7 miles, J's hip and knee started acting up. His hip kept him from running at all in the last two weeks. We hoped the time off would help it, but the constant downhills of the first 10 miles of the course took a pounding on it. And he was in pain (even though he smiled every time I busted out the camera).

At mile 10, the uphill climb began. And the next two miles were basically straight up. We gained over 300 feet of elevation in those two miles. J started to feel it. And we took some walk breaks. I did my best to "push" him on. I knew that he really wanted to break three hours and if we could hold our pace we could. We alternated walk/run for the remainder of the course. As we entered the finish chute, we knew we were going to go sub-three. J asked to hold my hand as we finished. And we crossed the line together. It was awesome.

J was tired and sore. And I was convinced that he would never want to do another half again. But you know what? I was wrong. He's caught the bug. He's talking to JBR about doing it again. He even told me this morning that he might just do Richmond in November. How sweet is that?

As for me, the race was awesome. Here's why:

1. It was really nice to run without pressure.
2. I got to take it easy (my average heart rate was 130 compared to last week's half where it was 180).
3. I was able to support J 100%, which I loved.
4. The race helped me set a new weekly mileage PR. I finished the week with 41.89 miles.
5. I also broke 500 miles for the year during the race. I am currently at 511.16 miles.
6. And I became eligible for Half Fanatic status. Sweet!

running with love ...

This is the man I love.

Today, he runs his first half marathon.

He will push himself further than he ever has before.

And I will be right by his side.

I couldn't be prouder.

I love you J.

you might have a fit family if ...

Ever wonder if the rest of your family is on the active train with you? Well, wonder no more. Here is a sure fire guide to deciphering your family's fitness obsession.

You might have a fit family if ...

... no one thinks it odd that you wake at 5 a.m. just to get your run in.

... you workout twice a day and it's seen as dedication and not pure lunacy.

... your children think that you need knee high socks to go running.

... your husband (who is built like a linebacker) takes your suggestion and trains for a half marathon.

... your children cry because they aren't invited to go running with you.

... your daughter will hip check her own teammates to get the ball.

... your three-year old has tree-trunks for quads and abs to die for.

... your family collectively owns enough workout clothing to outfit a small country.

... you plan your vacations around sporting events.

... you've walked in on your children doing push-ups and sit-ups.

... it's OK to spend over $100 on sneakers, but it's crazy to spend more than $20 on any other footwear.

... your kids would happily eat Gu and Gatorade as a mid-day snack.

... you (or your spouse) has run through the pain, because you thought it might go away if you kept moving.

... you've seen your children, who aren't old enough for Kindergarten, curl a five pound weight.

... your husband wants to get you a Kettlebell for Mother's Day. And you are OK with that.

... you decided what sports your children would play before they were born. Or better yet, you already determined which one would get them a college scholarship.

... a complete diet overhaul is seen as par for the course.

... your husband suggests that you convert your rarely used dining room into a home gym. And you immediately jump on board.

... "I'll race you," is part of your everyday vocabulary.

it's deja vu ...

I'm not sure who got the memo last night. But, it's official. Dizzle has a broken elbow. AGAIN!

Just like last year, she went for her follow up appointment and the x-rays revealed a crack. Poor kid. So, she'll be rocking a cast for the next three week. She's taking it all in stride. Although, she did cry when I told her they were going to have to cut it off. To read how she reacted the last time she had a cast removed, click HERE.

Even with the cast, she asked if she could go on a run last night (can I just say I love that I am brainwashing my children?). So J took both Dizzle and Doodle out for part of his run. Here they are just before heading out. Yes, they know how to rock the socks too.

Doodle went first, running .33 in 5:22.

Then Dizzle jumped in for .85 in 13:04 (from what J tells me Dizzle runs like me. Super fast out of the gate. Her first .3 was in just over four minutes).

Dilly was there too. She can barely walk, so she serves as a better cheerleader right now. But, she is wicked cute.

Afterwards, I took the girls in so that they could "refuel" with some G2, and J finished his run (he's eight weeks out from his first half marathon!) All in all, another super evening in the Blanchet house ...

And don't forget to check out my Run Like A Mother: The Book giveaway!