Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Ironman as told by the Ironwife

Hi readers and friends!  We are HOME from the Ironman and all travelers and Ironman participants and spectators are recovering nicely.  Our trip began Thursday, June 21 and we flew home Thursday, June 28.  It was a GREAT trip.  Idaho is beautiful and the temps were cool and refreshing for this 34 week pregnant mama!  Jason and I agreed that was the hardest thing to leave (that, the Pita Pit and Java, the best coffee house in the world).

My amazing Ironman did GREAT!  He finished in 11:22 (see full stats at the end) and was happy with his finishing time.  Since I did not participate myself, I can only give you the spectator's report.  As you may remember from the Gulf Coast Triathlon back in May, I promised Jason's own written report but we never made that happen.  He was not only training for an Ironman, but working full time and working on his Ph.D...along with getting ready to be a dad.  He's a busy guy, so I can't promise a report from him personally (although I will still try for it). 

I do have some pictures that tell the story, however, and I will share them here.

For those of you who may not know, an Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 miles on the bike, and 26.2 miles of running, in that order.  It is a true test of endurance, strength, perseverance, and a whole host of other things, hence the name "Ironman."  Training for this event is intense and requires consistency, commitment and...I guess a will of iron with the 2-3 hours a day spent preparing.  Because Jason approaches everything he does with these attributes, my vision of what it takes to get ready for an Ironman is probably influenced by his training, but from what I've seen, this is NOT an event to approach lightly.  And Jason doesn't merely want to gut out a finish, he wants to finish well.  He wants to be physically prepared to face the challenge and he never waivers from that goal during his training.  While I have no desire to ever do an Ironman myself, I can honestly say it is amazing to be a part of Jason's journey every time he does this.

And when the day of the event arrives, we are both excited, nervous, and while Jason begins to question his training, I know him to be ready for this amazing physical challenge.

We flew into Spokane, WA on Thursday, June 21 and drove the 35 minutes to Coeur d'Alene, ID where the Ironman was to take place.  It is SO beautiful there!  I loved all the trees and mountains, and often had the urge to run up one of them singing, "The hills are alive with the sound of muuuusiiiiic."  We arrived at the Ironman village that afternoon and Jason picked up his bike from Tribike Transport and dropped it off at the service tent for a tuneup. He then checked in, received his wrist band and packet, and then we headed to the cute little house we were renting for the week.

We got some dinner at a local dive called Moon Time, stopped by a little grocery store on the way home and then, being the weary travelers that we were, settled in for the night.  It was, after all, two hours later in our hometown.  After a hot shower, I was in bed by 8:00 pm Idaho time, and it wasn't even dark.

The next morning Jason went for a run before we headed out for breakfast at a place called Java.  Because we were so close to everything, we never got in our car, but walked everywhere.  This was one reason I did not run in the mornings because I knew there would be a LOT of walking during the day and I did not want to get tired out too soon.  Mom clocked it one day on her watch and our walking totaled 7 miles.

After breakfast, Jason went for his first test swim in Lake Coeur d'Alene, which was 55 degrees.

He survived!

After his swim, we picked up his bike from the service tent and he gave it a test ride before my parents arrived and we took them to Moon Time to enjoy another delicious dinner.  Because they like driving out west, they drove from Tennessee to Idaho, planning to visit Glacier National Park after the Ironman.

The next day (Saturday), Jason went for one last test swim, one last bike ride, and then turned his bike in to the transition area.  It had to be checked in by 3:00pm on Saturday.  The Ironman is not like our usual running events where you show up the day before, pick up your packet that night and run the next morning.  Jason had to be checked in by Friday and his bike turned in by Saturday afternoon before the event on Sunday.

Mom tested the water during Jason's second swim. She is smiling for the camera, but this is not the face she made when she first stepped in.  

Mom snapped a picture of me and Eloise waiting on our fella.

The huge, busy and packed transition area!

Finally race day arrived.  Jason got up at 5:00, and Mom and I walked with him to the transition area to pump up his tires and do one last gear bag check.  He got his body marked (race number and age), and then began the wait for the swim start at 7:00 am.

One last hug before I saw him off to swim!

The morning was cold, cloudy and windy as we waited for Jason to begin his swim.  As I shivered in my light jacket, I wondered how in the world all those swimmers could bear to get in water that was even colder than the outside temp.  The water was 55 degrees and the temp was 59.  It is always an emotional moment for me when I kiss Jason goodbye as he starts his Ironman, but this morning I was a bit more nervous than usual.

This was where swimmers exited the water after the first mile and then re-entered it for the second. 

And they're off!  Pink caps for the women, green caps for the men.

Jason describes this as what it  might feel like to be in a washing machine.

Swimmers getting ready to exit the water after their first mile.

I looked and looked to see if I could recognize Jason as he exited the water after his first lap, but the swimmers came in huge groups and everyone looked the same with their green caps and black wetsuits.  Eventually Mom and I made our way to the bike exit so that we could see Jason as he began his bike ride.  I could not WAIT for this moment because it would mean he made it through the swim just fine.  The morning was, of course, still chilly and I worried he might be a total popsicle by the time he started his ride.

Jason is in the white sleeves, red top with an E for Eloise on his helmet.

And finally came that wonderful moment when I saw Jason begin his bike ride!  I cheered as loud as I could and Mom snapped away with the camera.  It is REALLY hard to look for your cyclist, cheer and snap at the same time and Mom did a GREAT job taking pictures!  Jason smiled and waved at us, so I knew he was in good shape and I was so excited and relieved!  Mom and I walked down a little ways to see him loop back through before meeting up with Dad and getting a much needed cup of coffee and a bit of breakfast before we continued our sport of spectating.

Jason's fan club.

Around mile 57

Only about 44 more miles to go!

We saw Jason two more times before heading back to our little house for a brief rest.  After about an hour, Mom and I headed to the run start to look for Jason again.

And there he was!  Such a wonderful sight to see!

We cheered!  I got a big kiss!  Mom snapped away and then he was off again.  We'd see him in about 13 more miles.

Dad and I waiting in a shady spot to see Jason.

Here he comes!

Jason took a moment to rest and talk with me before running on.  He told me he was tired but otherwise he seemed to be doing just fine.  He said the bike course was insanely hilly, which I discovered for myself when we drove it the next day.

Running back through at mile 14.

We saw him once more at mile 14 before heading to the finish line to await his finish.  Mom got a hamburger and I enjoyed some kettle corn while we waited.  As we walked around, I got a lot of comments and smiles about my shirt.  One guy said, "Nice shirt!" and took my picture.  Somewhere out there, I'm famous.

The finish line!  Jason is the spec in red.

I imagine this is a beautiful site for Ironman finishers!

Jason racing to the finish line.  He is an Ironman x 3!

 It was so good to finally see Jason coming!  He looked good and strong as we cheered.  Once he was passed us, I immediately made my way to the finishing shoot to get pictures of him with the volunteers and to receive him once they handed him off.

Walking in with two great volunteers.

Putting on his finisher's shirt for his picture.

Getting ready to be handed off to ME!

Checking in with my Ironman as Mom takes our picture.

The Ironman x 3 with his Ironwife and Ironbaby

I've got my Ironman safe and sound and all is right with the world!

Jason finished in 11:22 (11 hours, 22 minutes).  Below is a breakdown of his splits in each event. Division Rank is his age group.

Swim: 1:19:51 - Division Rank: 135 (out of 264 finishers), Overall Rank: 1035 (out of 2314 total finishers)
Bike: 6:06:41 - Division Rank: 118, Overall Rank: 718 (notice how his rank changes with each event)
Run: 3:41:38 - Division Rank: 63, Overall Rank: 340
Transition 1 (swim to bike) took 10:42 and Transition 2 (bike to run) took 3:58.

Other interesting stats I read in the Ironman race booklet:

The average age of an Ironman is 37 years old.
95% of Ironman finishers have post-secondary degrees.
Around 75% are male, 25% female. In the Coeur d'Alene it was 73% and 27%.
In Coeur d'Alene the oldest finisher was John Laramie who is 76 and finished in 15:44.  There were two other 70+ year-old men who finished as well.

We enjoyed a few more days in Idaho before flying home.  It was so nice and cool and the last two days I did get out and run along a beautiful riverside path. I figured I'd better enjoy running in the cooler temps before coming home to temperatures reaching the triple digits!

Now that we are home, I'm tackling a list I made on the plane to get ready for Eloise. I am 34 weeks, 3 days pregnant and it is my hope that after 36 weeks she will not linger too long!  Nothing is done, however.  Her room is still an explosion of baby gifts, her bookshelf is not painted, her furniture is not here, and I made a mistake ordering her pack and play/bassinet so now I have to wait 3-5 days before I can re-order it.  Good grief!  It will all come together, though, so I am not overly worried...yet. 

Prenatal Weights and Pilates Workout

If you've been reading this blog for a while, or even if you've just stopped by, you might have noticed that I've been doing a prenatal pilates and weights workout since the beginning of my pregnancy.  I try to do it 2-3 times a week and I've had some really good results with it.  I decided I'd explain the workout in detail here so that anyone interested in doing something like this can get some ideas.

Two important things to note:

1. I am not a doctor so I cannot recommend this workout for every pregnant woman or claim it is safe for all.  I believe it is safe for ME because I have been doing it since the very beginning of my pregnancy, I've done quite a bit of reading and research on the subject, and I listen closely to my body, modifying moves as needed.

2. As I just said, I've been doing this workout for MOST of my pregnancy.  So while I am currently at 33 weeks, I would not recommend starting this at 33 weeks.  Please keep that in mind.  That said, I believe this workout to be very conservative as far as prenatal workouts go and I am never sore afterward or the next day, nor do I feel any pain or discomfort while doing these exercises.

This workout usually takes between 30-35 minutes depending on how long I hold my stretches and how much dancing I do between exercises.

Things required or recommended:

• yoga mat
• free weights
• a sturdy chair or coffee table
• rockin' tunes

Let's get started with weights!

Pushups and Tricep Dips
2 x 16 girly push-ups (knee instead of feet)
2 x 16 triceps dips (I use the coffee table, but a sturdy chair will also work).  Place feet further out for more difficulty.

Bicep Curls
1 x 30 bicep curls (Because I use heavier weights, I alternate for the first 20 and then for the last 10 I lift both at the same time)

Squats with overhead press
16 squats, lifting weights overhead as you come up.  Sink back like you are sitting down, don't let knees go passed your feet.  Only go as deep as is comfortable.
8 solo squats (solo means I'm not lifting my weights at this time)
16 solo pulse squats
8 solo overhead press
8 solo pulse presses (alternate arms if too difficult)

Plea Squats with overhead tricep press
16 squats, straighten arms above head as you come up
16 solo pulse squats
8 solo tricep presses
8 solo pulse presses

Lunges
(I hold light weights in my hands for these)
16 lunges - step back into a lunge and then lift knee as you come up.
8 pulse lunges
Do this for each leg

Upright Rows
1 x 16 upright rows

Now for pilates!

100s (I breathe in 4 count/out 4 count as I pump my arms with my shoulders lifted off the ground and knees bent. I straighten my legs for some reps, bending them again before I stop this exercise).  If you are uncomfortable lying flat, stack pillows or blankets behind you to help you sit up.

Change leg positions to adjust difficulty levels.  (I only used the third picture during my first trimester.)

Leg Circles
1 x 16 clockwise
1 x 16 counter clockwise
Repeat for each leg
(Same rule goes for lying flat on your back for this one.  Listen to your doctor and your body.)

Single leg stretch
Lifting my shoulders off the ground, I alternate legs x 20 (10 for each leg).  Keep movements slow and smooth.

Leg Series
Lying on one side, scoot your body to the back of your yoga mat, with your legs moved to the front.  Head resting on arm or up on one elbow, whatever is most comfortable.  Arrange pillows as needed (I don't currently use any as I don't think they lend much support during this series).

Rotate knee up (facing the ceiling), raising your leg as high as is comfortable.  Point as you lift, flex as you lower x 16
Rotate knee back to the front (facing straight out in front of you) and pulse up x 8
Small forward circle x 8 (size of dinner plate)
Small backward circle x 8
Knee to chest (or as close as is comfortable) x 8
Touching your toes to the knee of the leg on the floor, lift the knee x 8
Straighten leg out in front of you, bending knee back and forth x 8
Keep leg straight out in front of you and pulse x 8
Bring leg back parallel to the leg on the floor, lift that leg, and scissor for 16 count

I like to do the butterfly stretch here before I move on to the other side, doing it again after I work the other leg.

Superman
Lift right arm, left leg (don't let them touch the floor) x 16.  If balance is hard at first, just do the leg.  Don't lock out supporting arm.
Pulse x 8
Repeat for the left arm, right leg

Child's pose stretch with knees wide so your belly can sink between them.

My last move is the mermaid stretch.  Pulling both ankles to one side, I hold them with one hand and lean toward them with the other.  This feels really good.  I straighten up and stretch once more before doing the other side.  It looks like the picture below, only my overhead arm is straight, not bent at the elbow (although I imagine either way is fine.

And that's it!  I even have a soundtrack I always use that keeps me pumped up throughout the workout (hence the dancing between exercises). 

Finger Eleven - Paralyzer
Cranberries - Promises
The Killers - Read my Mind
Cascada - Ready for Love
The Killers - Somebody Told Me
Newsboys - Something Beautiful
Kanye West - Stronger

This workout is modified from the prenatal weights and pilates video I've been using for most of my pregnancy.  I've just added and dropped exercises per my preference and comfort during my pregnancy.

Did you do certain exercises during your pregnancy that made you feel good?  Please share them with us!

Ironwife Readiness

The Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Ironman is this Sunday!  Jason has started his version of tapering, which really isn't tapering at all, but it isn't training either.  During his final days up to an event, he still runs 10 or more miles each morning, and will bike and swim a little too, just to keep things loose. 

So what is my role in all of this?  Well, while he is training I try to keep him well fed (I calculated out what his caloric intake should be for 2+ hours of training a day and it is close to 5000 daily), well hydrated, and I even massage feet, calves, hamstrings, etc. as needed.  (Yes, I totally rock as a wife and yes, that is my goal.)  But I have very important responsibilities during the event itself too.

If you have ever participated in an endurance event you know what it means to see your peeps along the way.  To hear your name called out, to see people who love you cheering for you, spurring you on... it really does help performance!  For Jason's first Ironman we (me, his family and mine) were all new to this event and so I planned where I'd be when based on his finish time predictions and I wore my most comfortable running outfit because it was going to be hot and I was going to be on the move.  I even made signs and stopped by a face-painting booth during the event to have the Ironman insignia painted on my arm.  Even with all of that, however, I learned a lot that year like don't believe Jason when he says he will be slow, always show up an hour before he says he will, and real hardcore supporters should wear fun, supportive apparel.

So the next year I planned a little better.  I got best case scenarios for each event within the Ironman so I'd always be at the transition area or someplace to see him well before he got there.  (The first year I missed his running start and I hated that).  I also knew I wanted a fun, bright shirt for Jason to see when he approached a spectator area.  I looked at all kinds online and then decided I'd just make my own.  I purchased a bright pink Underarmor shirt - the ones that feel like cotton but aren't - and I ironed on some letters and hearts. 

After the event, Jason said it was easy to spot me in a crowd and it meant a lot to him to always be able to see me.  I would gladly wear this shirt to every Ironman but this year...it would be more of a mid-drift.  So, as any hardcore Ironwife would, I made another one.

Yes, I realize I am not the most creative or imaginative when it comes to making shirts (or anything crafty for that matter), but I did the best with what skill I had...and iron-on letters and hearts (compliments of Michael's).  I bought a size large Underarmor shirt this time and unknowingly chose the Ironman color for this particular event.  Green is one of mine and Jason's favorite colors and I wanted to once again be bright and easily spotted in a crowd.

I do not have to rely on my own green-shirted self, however.  Since my parents are tagging along to keep me company as I cheer for Jason, they also are the beneficiaries of my craftiness (lucky them!).

Oh yes!  My creativity knows no bounds!  I found our three green Underarmor shirts at Dick's Sporting Goods (same place I bought my pink one last year), and because they are a lot like cotton, the iron-on letters work great, even after washing (which they will need after a day of Ironman spectating).  I told Jason he can now search for a big green blob in the crowd and it will be US!  The Fan Club! 

But that's not all.  My last effort for ultimate Ironwife support was to add a bit more green to my person by way of toenails.

And while I will be wearing tennis shoes and socks during the event, I will know my toes are green and Jason will know my toes are green and somehow that seems like it will help.  I told him this very morning not to worry about the 55 degree water in which he will be swimming... my toenails are green and everything will be fine!  (He isn't quite sure of my logic on this one, but you girls know it to be true.)

So there you have it!  Now all that is left is to get ourselves there, make sure his bike is in working order (I have very little role in that part), get the camera battery fully charged and get our best cheering voices tuned up and ready.  It is time for the Ironman!

The Busy Housewife and Ironman Thoughts

So I really thought this housewife thing would allow for all kinds of time to do all kinds of things that need doing.  I had grand plans for those first few days of housewifedom and I just knew that this house would be spic and span, dinners would be healthy and delicious, thank you cards would be written in a timely manner, projects would be tackled daily... yeah, I had big plans.

Well.  Things have been busier than I thought and I am having a harder time than I imagined fitting it all in!  Add in an hour of exercise (sometimes a little more depending on intensity) and then the inevitable tiredness that strikes at inconvenient times and... WHAM, it is 5:00 pm and I'm starting dinner plans (one of the things I HAVE successfully done regularly) with only one or two things marked off the list!

I've had fun, though.  And I refuse to stress about things that don't matter...yet (like how the nursery is still an explosion of baby gifts, nothing is washed or put together, and I have yet to wash all the window sills and baseboards as planned).  I'm taking care of my Ironman husband - making sure his lunches and dinners are packed with healthy nutrients to sustain his activity.  I'm managing the house (mostly), keeping up with laundry and dishes, keeping healthy beverages available for the ever hydrating athlete and mama-to-be, and doing a few other odd chores here and there.  But fitting in EVERYTHING has been...well... more challenging than I anticipated.

This weekend Jason took Friday off so we could drive to Birmingham to drop off his bike and gear for delivery to Idaho for the Ironman.  It was cheaper and probably friendlier to his bike to do it that way.  After walking 3 miles with my sis, off we went to Birmingham.  We got back to Huntsville, did a little shopping for the Ironman, hit the pool for some laps, and then I babysat my niece and nephew so Julie and Mark could see Avengers for Mark's birthday (great movie by the way).

Saturday morning we were up by 4:30 a.m. heading to Bellbuckle, TN for the annual RC Cola Moonpie 10 Mile, which we have run every year we've been together (only missing one while being in Montana for a marathon).  I didn't run it, but Jason represented well finishing in 1:01 and winning 2nd in his age group.  I walked and ran while I waited for him and then I ran the last mile with my mom for a total of 3 miles that morning.  We drove home, rested a few hours, hit the pool again and then Jason's Deli and 32 degrees (yogurt) for a much needed afternoon treat. I slept like a ROCK that night. 

Sunday we got up early, got in our morning runs and then headed to Fayetteville, TN to go to church with my parents and hang at their house for Father's Day.  My sister and her kids and in-laws came as well, along with my Aunt Cindy and we ate BBQ, Edward's pies (my dad's favorite) and enjoyed talking, laughing and catching up.  Jason rode his bike home (the one not delivered to Birmingham) and I drove, getting home around 5:00 pm and finishing up some things around the house that hadn't gotten tackled. When I DO have energy, I like to seize the moment and quite literally become a tornado of activity cramming it all in before I feel the need to lie on the couch like some sort of invalid.

WHEW!  Now it is Monday morning and I've walked with my sis, seen Jason off to work, and I'm having breakfast, catching up on a little blog reading and writing, sipping a little coffee before tackling my "to do" list and getting ready for the Ironman.  My mom and dad are driving to Idaho to hang with me and cheer for Jason too.  We thought it might be good for this 33 week pregnant lady to have a little support herself...just in case, and I am so glad they are coming!  Mom and Dad love traveling out west and also have plans to visit Glacier National Park after the event. 

I'm excited about this trip.  It is sort of our last big adventure before we are parents for real and adventures become a little less frequent.  I love watching Jason participate in the Ironman - and a side note here - if you ever get a chance to spectate this event, DO IT!  It will blow your mind, inspire you beyond belief, and if you let it, set your own imagination to wondering what YOU are capable of achieving.  It is amazing to watch, especially when a loved one is participating.  I have the utmost respect for these athletes and I feel a kinship with all of them even though I am not an Ironman myself.  I want to cheer for them ALL, pat them all on the back, and say WELL DONE!  I always get emotional when I see Jason finish his marathon.  I feel pride as he completes such a challenging feat, relief that the man I love is okay, inspiration, excitement, amazement, all wrapped into that moment when I see his form round the last corner and head for the finish line.  I want to hug the volunteer that takes care of him afterward, and I am like an adoring fan when he is finally handed off to me.

Jason's first Ironman, Louisville, Kentucky 2010

Jason's second Ironman, Madison, Wisconsin 2011

And yes, there will be more homemade fan club t-shirts like the one above for not only me and Eloise, but Mom and Dad as well.  More on that to come!

The VBS Volunteer

One of the lovely things about not working is that I can FINALLY participate in many of the activities my church has going, one of which is VBS (Vacation Bible School).  I have ALWAYS loved VBS.  When I was little, I looked forward to this week each summer filled with fun activities centered around an important Bible topic in an environment where I felt completely at home.  As I got older, I loved helping and sharing that experience with other kids.  When adulthood hit, however, I had to head to work and I was no longer able to help or participate.

Until now!  Mayfair's VBS theme was Soarin' - Everything is Possible with God (Mark 10:27).  I loved it.  Our church goes all out for VBS so the entire place looked amazing.  I helped my sister in the "Skydive Diner" and it was our job to make and provide the daily snack, which also happened to go with the theme.  We arrived each morning around 8:30 a.m. and began preparing for the first group of kids coming through at 9:30.  We had a total of 4 groups of elementary school aged kids, and I think we fed around 300+ a day (that includes preparing snacks for the pre-school group as well).

Each set of kids would come in, get their snacks, and then sit on the blue tarp placed on the floor to answer questions about that day's Bible verse and theme before watching a video that went along with it too.  And as I was busy behind the tables restocking the snacks for the next round of kids, I heard the daily theme and verse, and took it to heart as well.

Day 1 - No matter who you are, trust God.  
People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7.
Day 2 - No matter how you feel, trust God.  
Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust God. John 14:1
Day 3 - No matter what other people do, trust God.   
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. Isaiah 40:31

It sounded so simple, especially when shouted by 60 children seated in the room with me.  But the words were still powerful and true, and they encouraged this soon-to-be new mom who will also be "soarin'" in a plane herself at 33 weeks pregnant to watch her husband do his third Ironman.  The message was clear.  No matter WHAT, trust God.  Period.  It is sometimes easier said than done, but I decided to start right then and there trusting God with all the uncertainty, fear, change, hopes and dreams that filled my mind lately.

As for the snacks, we had sky surprises (a cup of popcorn with surprise M&Ms at the bottom), troubled hearts (a heart-shaped brownie, a strawberry, and a dollop of whipped cream), and cloud cups (blue jello with marshmallows or whipped cream on top).  To drink we had bottled water and capri suns.

Sky surprises!

Troubled  heart!

Cloud cups!

Each day we'd get that day's snack ready, set it out 4 times for the 4 groups, restock the waters and capri suns, and while that was going on there were usually some of us in the kitchen getting ready for the next day by baking huge pans of brownies or making large pots of blue jello.  We finished up every afternoon around 12:00.

Here's Suzy, stirring a pot of blue jello.

I had the absolute best time helping and hanging with my sis, getting to know and laugh with a group of sweet ladies also working in the Skydive Diner, and hearing the theme of the day from the kids and letting it speak to my own heart as well.  Who knew so many blessings could come from 3 simple days of being a VBS volunteer? 

A Moment for Wistfulness

I'm 32 weeks pregnant today, and my first experience with pregnancy has been a good one so far.  I feel bad if I even think whiny or negative thoughts because I have been immensely blessed, and it is very important to me not to take that for granted.

But today, for a few moments, I was a little wistful.  I was driving home from VBS and a bit of shopping with my mom, and I drove on a road I used to run with my morning running crew.  It is a tough, hilly road and there was a time when I couldn't run the whole thing.  I eventually got to the point where I could and then I got to the point where I could run it quickly in the middle of a route with no trouble at all, as if it were just another piece of flat road.  That always felt so good.  During my drive home I also had a view of the water tower that sits at the top of what we like to call "the dragon."  That hill is even meaner than the road mentioned above and as I looked up at it I sighed just a little.

It feels ungrateful to say it, but I really look forward to when I can run those hilly courses easily again.  When my feet glide lightly over the pavement, when a slimmer version of my legs run strong and sure on whatever course I throw at them, when I do not easily grow tired and when I don't give a second thought to how far away I am from a bathroom.  I look forward to 50 mile weeks and surpassing my previous weekly and monthly mileage totals.  I look forward to putting into practice all the things I have learned about running, health and fitness in the courses I have taken since I've been pregnant.  I look forward to a faster marathon and another 50 mile race.  I look forward to testing those limits again and pushing them back even further.

Jason tells me not to wish this time away, but I find that difficult at times.  Not only am I ready for this little girl to be here so I can see her, touch her, and know her, I am ready to have my runner's body back.  And by that, I don't mean how I look, I mean how I feel and what I am able to do.

I remember running on one of my favorite paths at work way back when Jason and I started talking about having a baby.  I was going for an afternoon 10 miler and the day was absolutely perfect.  I remember feeling strong, lithe, free and full of life - like I could run forever.  I also remember thinking to myself, "Enjoy this moment, Jane. Soak it up and live in it right now."  I didn't know when or how, but I knew change would come.  I knew that moment and many like it would eventually give way to different ones and that it might be a while before I got another moment like that again. 

Now that I'm pregnant, I'm glad I did that.  I soaked up many moments like that one and I had quite a while before I'd actually have to slow down and allow my body to do something else.  But I didn't know that then.  All I knew was that moment, running fast and free, running without limitations, loving it and living in it.

I believe those moments will come around again.  And I am not ungrateful or unhappy with the moment in which I now find myself.  Far from it!  I count myself extremely blessed and spend time in awe of all that God has done for me.  But just for a while today I allowed myself to feel wistful, to remember and to look forward to when those beloved running moments return to me once again.

Now back to dreaming of Eloise Jane!

Tuesday's Treat

Today's treat is a refreshing, summer-y beverage perfect for not only the thirsty health conscious person, but for pregnant thirsty health conscious peeps as well (especially those trying to remain hydrated at all times).  I will call it Jason's Green Tea because he started making it and now I make it exactly like he makes it for Jason-like results.

We mostly use Bigelow Green tea which you can get in bulk at Sam's, but I sometimes by flavored green teas by Lipton as well.  We use 10 tea bags (yes, we like it to be flavorful) for 1 pitcher of tea.  Here's how we do it:

1. Put a kettle on to boil the water.
2. Once water is at a boil, remove from stove and place 10 tea bags in water (less if you don't want it that strong).
3. Leave tea bags no more than 5 minutes or tea will be bitter. 3-4 minutes is probably best.
4. While tea bags are steeping, fill a pitcher with ice cubes.
5. Add 1/4 cup of honey to hot tea and stir.
6. Pour hot tea over ice cubes and you are DONE!

Delicious tea to quench your thirst, keep caffeine intake low (should that be a concern) with just a little sweetness (you can leave that out if you prefer unsweet) to feel like a treat.  I LOVE IT!  We go through a pitcher every 2 days...which is why we buy in bulk.  You can also get a 5 lb bottle of honey at Sam's.  

Can you find the pup?