Messing Up Doesn't Mean Giving Up

It is Tuesday of my second week in the 21 Day Fix, and it is going so well, but I have learned that weekends are more challenging than weekdays. For me, anyway. Especially when a birthday and a wedding is involved. All was certainly not lost, though. I did my videos, I ran a little bit, and I stayed mostly on track with my diet. It was just harder and I didn't do as well with my eating as I was doing during the week.

Friday I got up and ran three miles...knowing what was in store for the morning. Jason was off, and we celebrated Eloise's 3rd birthday. I had my first cheat/processed food/sugar of the week on this occasion in the form of 6 donut holes. Heavenly. I had some scrambled eggs and some green tea with them so I wouldn't get all sugar crazy and then I moved on with my day.

Happy Birthday, sweet Eloise!

Around lunch time I went shopping with my mom to look for Eloise some flower girl shoes. She was going to be in my cousin's wedding the next day. This was not a problem, except I got hungry on my way to meet mom. I hate being hungry. Before we started shopping I got an order of grilled chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-a, and that was fine, but what I got to go with them was not. A sweet tea. Yep.  I have NO idea why I did that. I should have gotten the fruit and water. Oh well. I knew it wasn't a great decision, but I moved on.

The rest of the day I did well.  I didn't let messing up lead to giving up.  I did my video for that day and we all got ready for a busy Saturday of wedding fun.

Saturday I did well, despite how badly I wanted a piece of wedding cake.  I packed fruit, seeds, and nuts so I had plenty of healthy snacks and had another order of grilled chicken nuggets (no sweet tea this time) since lunch time found us on the road to the wedding. I decided I'd allow myself a piece of wedding cake (although why I decided I could have another cheat, I don't know), but when it came down to it, I decided against it. Instead, I thought we could stop at Starbucks on the way home and THAT would be my cheat.

Let me back up to say, I was up 4 hours in the middle of the night with my kids the night before... and then I had to hold my breath and wait in utter suspense to see if my three-year-old would, in fact, walk down the aisle in a wedding!  Oh. My. Word!  (She did. It was amazing and so very sweet, even if she did poke the bride in the bum at one point).  I was so exhausted on the way home and I still had a video to do. So Starbucks just made sense. But in an act of wonderful fate, we MISSED it, and I wasn't about to go looking for it with two sleeping babies in the car. We needed to make TIME!

My sweet flower girl and her cousin and bridesmaid, Caroline

I was getting frustrated.  I was so tired. I was hungry. I had to do my video. I didn't want to miss a day of working out and I didn't want to mess up anymore with my eating.  Then I remembered... I still had my Shakeology shake to look forward to!  YES!

We got home. Jason ran, and I had one piece of Ezekiel bread with avocado on it to fuel my workout. I made dinner (turkey taco salad) and then did my video (Dirty 30). Eloise and I enjoyed our delicious shake and my day was saved. Whew!

Sunday I headed to the store to stock up once again on all the good stuff. I packed my fridge full.  I enjoyed my Yoga Fix, and then Monday I started all over again.  After the total body cardio fix, I was not NEARLY as sore as the previous Monday.  And I'm still trucking along. Feeling good.  Enjoying good food, good workouts, and Shakeology. A few hiccups this weekend didn't derail me and for that I'm thankful. 

So what I'd say to anyone doing the 21 Day Fix or going after any health and fitness goal... Don't let messing up lead to giving up. Just get back on track and keep going!

An Overall Win and a Post Baby PR

Now, before you get excited, know that the two things mentioned in the title did not happen in the same race.  But both were still pretty fun and both were surprising. As I mentioned in my previous post, I had a hilly, hard 5k approaching called the Madison Skedaddle. I wasn't expecting another post baby PR, but I was aiming for something in the 25 minute range. Well, I had a great race and I felt good, but my finishing time was 26:27. I was okay with that and even more so because I was the first female to cross the finish line for the first time ever.  I think I've finished in the top 3 before, but never the first overall female. What made that even more fun was Jason won the race altogether.

My mom watched our babes so we could both run it, and it was a fun little race date.  And while I know my overall win was probably due to another more competitive 5k elsewhere and a 10k Skedaddle event, it was still really fun to win and I was pleased with my efforts on such a tough course. We concluded our race date with a trip to Starbucks for an iced mocha. Mmmmm.

This past weekend was July 4th, and I asked my sister to watch Eloise and Matthew so Jason and I could run the Firecracker 5k.  We ran this race the first time they held it and have run it every year we've been in town since then.  It is a flat and fast course and I've usually done pretty well on it. Last year I ran it with Eloise in the stroller and a teeny, tiny Matthew in my tummy.  We also announced that we were expecting on this day last year.

July 4, 2014

This year it was a rainy and cool day, which definitely worked in our favor.  I wasn't expecting much because all of my runs the previous week had been hard and I had been feeling so tired. But I was looking forward to it all the same. I started out at a reasonable pace, which is somewhat rare for me to do in a 5k.  I usually go as hard as I can for as long as I can and hope for the best.  But I decided to start at the pace I wanted to hold so I ran around 7:50-8:00 pace and stayed there throughout the race, finishing in 24:51, which was a 4 second post baby PR.  I was pretty excited about that.

The race got me out of my tired running funk and I was surprised to shave a few seconds off my current post baby PR. I enjoyed running in the cool, misty rain and I really enjoyed hanging with my guy. We ran our cool down miles and then headed home, stopping by a fireworks store to stock up on a few fun things to do with Eloise later that night.

July 4, 2015

Eloise was into it.

Brother watched from a safe distance....

TWO Sparklers!

Brother needed in on the action.

I'm Not Done Writing

Well it has been a while! In my last post I was 22 weeks pregnant and now I have a sweet, precious, adorable baby boy! And you mamas know there are simply no words to describe the joy, the brightness, the amazing blessing it is to have a baby boy. A second child. Two precious amazing creations. My heart bursts on a daily basis. I know it is cheese Louise but there it is. My cup overflows. My bucket overflows!

My little guy (Matthew) was born on January 3, three days passed his due date. ACK! I had convinced myself I'd have him even earlier than Eloise who showed up at 39 weeks. So come Christmas Day, I expected a baby in hand... but it wasn't to be. I went a little crazy at first, but eventually made peace that God had a reason for the wait. I almost had a birthday baby, but instead I took my bundle home on my birthday, January 5. You can't beat that birthday present!

He's 12 weeks now and a smiley, talkative, squooshy little ball of fun. He sleeps like a champ (don't hate, but I've been spoiled by his sleep habits from our first night home).  He's a good eater and he doesn't fuss unless he's tired or hungry. Eloise loves him. She kisses him, talks to him, wants to hold him and gets anxious when I suck the snot out of his nose and he screams.

Eloise... she is an amazing, spitfire of a 2 year old. She's every bit of 2. Wonderful and horrible all at the same time. I love it all, though. Every stage, every challenge, every hilarious thing she says and does. She is such a bright, happy, funny girl and she brings me immeasurable joy.

So I guess you can see we are doing well.

And I'm running! Without a passenger and every time I set out I am so grateful! I remember LONGING for the moments I'm living today. Feet moving, heart pounding, lungs pumping, arms swinging, wind behind my ears... all of it. I raced quite a bit this pregnancy, my last race being my last real run on Thanksgiving Day - around 35 weeks pregnant. I began speed walking with wild abandon after that. I had to have caused a few grins from any neighbors who spotted me... had to. I made myself grin. But it kept me sane so on I walked.

Running post pregnancy this time around is different too. I have a better pace and I got it much sooner. I'm limiting mileage this time... taking my time in the building of it. I'm up to 5 miles but I've only done that once. I run 3-4 times a week, 3-5 miles. I do weights twice a week and that has made a huge difference I believe. My first 5k I ran 8 weeks post baby and my time was 25:37. Two weeks later I did another at 25:05. I was both surprised and excited about this. I'm hoping my next 5k has a 24 in front of my time. We shall see. I can't expect them all to be faster, but I'm going to work on that this summer.

I'm keeping my mileage short for a few reasons. I don't want to spend a lot of time doing it. I have two babies, after all, and I'm nursing one of them. I want to hang on to my milk supply and my energy. My little guy seems to have a milk allergy so I'm off dairy. That has been an aggravating challenge, but no matter how fed up I get with my food restrictions, I press on. It's worth it to me.

I also don't want to get injured. I've had a few new-runner-body issues and I've eased up a few times to let them work themselves out or heal. Mostly just an angry IT band. I'm enjoying my journey back so far and that is what matters the most. I plan to stick with 5ks and maybe a 10k or two for most of 2015. Jason and I sort of made a pact to do so, although we may throw in a 10 miler or two as well. I want to build pace before I cram in a lot of mileage. I focused solely on mileage after Eloise was born and I want a different strategy this time around.

For now, that's what's up! I've got to hurry off and get in my weight workout now, but I'll post pictures of Mr. Cuteness soon.  I made a New Year's Resolution to write at least once a week this year. I gave myself permission to get used to two kids for a while, and I think I'm there now.  So here we go...  a brand new adventure as a family of four, a mom of two, a full heart and a body ready to run!

Spring, Summer, and Big News

Good morning, friends!  It has been a while!  I have intended to sit down and write a spell a thousand times and every time (until now) I've spent those moments doing something else. Back when I was a working woman, I used to think when I stayed home with my kids I'd have SO much more time to write. I'd be a writing fiend. And now... now I laugh.  I had lunch breaks at work!  Now I have nap breaks but I usually use those to clean, workout or nap.

Let's do a little recapping.  Spring leading into summer was wonderful.  Many fun races, good half-marathon times, planting flowers and veggies outside with my girl, trying new recipes, hanging out with family and friends, discovering the local splash pads, building a new swing set, raising butterflies, making cookies, and the list of fun goes on.  Everything seems exciting with a 1.5 year old who is doing so much of it for the first time and who is so very curious and interested in it all. It makes me feel like a kid too as I watch her play, explore, discover, make huge messes, laugh, run, jump, and learn.

Splash pad love. This girl can ROCK the splash pad!

Picking strawberries...okay, I was picking, she was sampling.

Jason and my dad built Eloise this swing set in our backyard. It has been a HIT ever since!

The last time I wrote in April, we were in the midst of all of it. I had just run the Seaside Half-marathon, finishing in 1:48 and I was on to Scottsboro in April and then Bridgestreet in May.  I had planned to take a minute off of each race and I succeeded in Scottsboro. It was hilly and rained on us the entire time, but I had a good run, finishing in 1:47 and winning first place in my age group.  Bridge street was in May and I was on target for my 1:46.  My PR was a 1:44, but I thought it too soon to make that big of a leap. Well, not only did I not leap to my PR, I leaped 9 minutes backward, finishing in 1:53.  I was so aggravated!  I knew I was trained, I knew I was ready!  The course was flat, the day was warm, but not too bad...  And it was in my hometown!  I knew it was all just a part of running and racing, and I knew I needed to let it go, but it took me a while.

And that seemed odd. Not only had I fallen apart in a race where I should have done well, I was overly upset about it.  The next day I made myself run sub 8 pace on the treadmill as a sort of... punishment...?  Now, I love running, training, setting and reaching goals as much as the next runner, but I'm usually able to have a moment of disappointment, shrug my shoulders and move on.  But this time I was frustrated!  Angry!  And I couldn't understand why I hadn't been able to make my 1:46 time.

Well. I got my answer a few weeks later when I took a little pregnancy tests.  Positive!  Of course, in the half marathon it was just a wee little tiny spec, but it was there. Or should I say HE was there.  Yep.  We are expecting a baby boy in December. I AM SO EXCITED!  I can hardly stand myself, I am so excited.  Secretly I had hoped the reason for my slow half marathon would be a baby, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. I actually took a pregnancy test too early and it was negative. But all the symptoms were there. Not only was the half marathon slow and hard, ALL of my runs were. Maybe once a week I'd have a good run, but most were slogs.  I was hoping, but not daring to hope too much.

Jason knew all along. He even knew when the first test was negative.

We succeeded in keeping it a secret until that first 8 week appointment (where I was actually 9 weeks). After that we told our families and once I reached the second trimester, we told close friends and then anyone.  I'm almost 18 weeks now and I'm starting to show a little. I feel good mostly, and I'm glad the morning yuckies are gone. I never really got sick, but I usually felt yucky after eating breakfast each day.

Beach trip/work trip with Jason at 13.5 weeks preg

I had some good runs though!  We ran several races in which I did well and it was fun being the only one to know I was running with a little passenger. We ran a 4 mile race in Fayetteville, which was so gorgeous and fun.  I pushed Eloise in the stroller and it was HILLY!  Crazy hilly.  But I managed 4th female overall and 1st in my age group (it wasn't a super big race, but still.  A pregnant, stroller pushing win is a win!).

We ran two 10 milers, both in June.  The RC Cola Moonpie in Bell Buckle and the Firecracker Chase in Fayetteville. I won first in my age group in the Firecracker Chase, which was a huge surprise. I was taking it super easy in the heat, just enjoying being able to run 10 miles and feel good doing it. We ran the Firecracker 5k here in Huntsville on July 4th and I pushed Eloise in the stroller. We announced that day we were pregnant.

Just a family of 4 having fun on the 4th!

These races would be fun to recap, but for now I'll have to settle with a few pictures and a brief summary.  I can't believe it is almost August.  My girl will be turning 2 on the first and we are planning a little family cookout to celebrate. I'm looking forward to summer ending and cooler temps arriving so I don't have to get up so early to get in the miles (that is getting harder!), but I also don't want to wish away these golden summer days with just me and my girl. She is a hoot, and she brings me joy and laughter every day.  I'm pretty sure I have never done anything so satisfyingly wondering in this life as be her mama. And to be blessed with another little one of our own...well, I am so hugely grateful every day for such a gift.

That's all for now, my friends!  I'm going to try to be a bit more regular with my writing, but we shall see how that goes. Have a GREAT day!

Bits and Pieces - the Lazy Edition

1. Blogging, running stay-at-home moms, how do you keep up with everything AND write?  As you can see from my pitiful blog here, that is what gets kicked off the to-do list when there is too much to do.  IF I have time to write anything about being a mom or running or training, I think I should be cleaning or organizing or cooking.  And if I'm not doing that, I'm resting when Eloise does because wooo weee!  She's a busy little 18 month old! I think about all these things I'd liked to say... but I never write them down.  I just think about them in the shower or while I'm running.

2.  I'm training for a PR half-marathon. I have two shots lined up so far.  One is a bit soon - the Seaside Half-Marathon March 2 and the other is a brand new marathon in my stomping grounds, the Bridge Street Towne Centre Half Marathon in April.  I'd like the PR in Seaside but I've waited a little late to start speed work so I'm not sure I can get there by then.  But I'm gonna try anyway!

3.  Every night for the last 3 weeks, all I want to do (and all I end up doing) after I read to Eloise and get her to bed is make myself a single serve brownie in a cup (oooooh my word, do yourself a favor and DON'T learn that recipe) and plop down on the couch next to Jason and watch a TV show.  Right now it is Revenge on Netflix unless one of our other shows are on Hulu.  It is the thing I look forward to every single night.  I'm hoping this will end soon.  I've let myself purposefully run out of ingredients for the brownie although I have not yet gained any weight from my new addiction. I guess you could say it is "all natural" and therefore not a bad dessert, but when you put a few scoops of all natural vanilla ice cream on top of your all natural brownie made with butter and sugar... the calories add up!  If you want the recipe, it is here but I warn you... you are opening Pandora's box if you look!

4.  Being a mom has taken on a whole new phase as we get closer to the age of two.  My baby girl is 18 months now and she is a spitfire!  She is not afraid of anything except on occasion the vacuum cleaner.  She likes to jump off of things, she likes to bounce, she likes to climb, she likes to run fast, she likes to be upside down... she's wild.  Occasionally she falls or bumps her head, but only sometimes does that bother her.  I like this and I fear this.  Ha!  But that's not the new phase part.  The new phase is she's finally realized she has her own will and she's starting to exert it.  That means I have to show her that I'm, in fact, the boss and it is my will that will win.  This is hard because I want rainbows and sunshine and baby laughter and tickles all the time.  But if I say the word, "No," all of that goes away.   My head knows she must be taught to obey but my heart still wants to avoid tears at all costs.  I thought I was tougher, but I am not.  However, I will learn to be.  It isn't easy though.

5.  It is the Sacred Month of Love!  I love this month!  I have no idea why except that it is just fun.  I love red and pink and purple and white and flowers and chocolate assortments and stuffed animals and sweet words.  So, I've decided to do a little something sweet/goofy/funny for Jason the first 14 days of this month to say, "I love you."  I might include them on this blog if he doesn't mind.  None of it would be considered an over share at this point... but we are only on day 3.

6.  And now that I've written, I feel that I must get back to my to-do list.  My house is in a sad state - partly because of my wild child and partly because I love sitting on the couch under a blanket so much. This cold winter is doing me in! I usually like it just fine but with a little one who loves going outside to play and doing all the things I mentioned in # 4... I've got spring fever BAD! I did sign her up for swim lessons that start this week and I'm super excited about that. I'm going to try to write a little more, and I do have some things I want to share, but for now you (my two BFFs who read my blog) will have to settle with a few bits and pieces. 

Bits and Pieces - the Training Edition

1.  This week pretty much wraps up my 50 mile training.  And part of me is glad because my body is tired, and part of me thinks, "I NEED MORE TIME!"  But I've chosen my race, I've signed up, and I'm doing it.  So I'm going to give myself until Tuesday or Wednesday to make it count and then it is taper time.  I've had 2 months of 50+ mile weeks, reaching up to 60 a time or two.  That's big for me.  Maybe I should have done more for 50 mile training, but for this running mama that's all I could give.  I gave what I could - I know that much, so that's what I'm going with.  It is time to stop doubting and to start telling myself I'm prepared.  So I'm prepared.

I didn't follow my plan at all, but I did leave it on the fridge and write the actual totals each week.

 2.  Race photos are so... attractive!  Not really.  When I approach the finish line or a camera man, I try to perk up a little, I always smile, I try to look strong and steady and fast... and when the photo comes out, there's my grandmother running down the road!  Now, I LOVE my grandma.  She was/is one of my all time favorite people. But I was hoping to look like her a little later in life.

3.  My child!  She is a wild woman!  And I love it.  She is in to everything and that keeps me moving.  She wants to touch and hold and inspect and taste everything.  She has bypassed walking and is running/bounding/prancing all over the place.  And she's fast!  She climbs on anything that looks like it could be climbed.  Sometimes she falls off and cries for a second and then she climbs back up once she's over it.  The other day I was tickling her on the couch and she dove behind me and bumped her head on the arm.  She cried and I hugged and when she was okay I noticed there was blood on her face.  She had a little cut just above her eye!  It freaked me out a little, but she was fine.  And she didn't care.  She skins her knees all the time and never even notices.  She's too interested in whatever she was running towards (a leaf, the neighborhood cat, a wide open field).  I love that she is rough and tumble.  I love that it only takes her a second before she's over it.  I only react if she does and then I scoop her up and hug her close and enjoy the 10 seconds of snuggle before she's off again.

Hanging out on my parents' front porch.

On our front porch in her jeans!

Picking a pumpkin

 4.  My child went to Bible class!  For the first time ever, I might add.  That could be partly my fault and partly her moving from two naps to one, and partly her just growing up.  I am just not of the opinion that she needs to "work it out" or "cry it out" when it comes to nursery/Sunday school.  Sure, there is a time to show her that she is fine and to not answer her cry right away - like when I was helping her sleep through the night.  But I'm not sure what is gained by leaving her with people she doesn't know who have 10 other babies to watch, and let her scream and disrupt any semblance of peace and order the teachers and other kids might have.  So after the Lord's Supper in church service, she and I go to the nursery and I stay in there with her until she's comfortable. 

I will say it was LOVELY to sit next to Jason in Bible class and hold his hand and listen to a great lesson by Doug Smith.  It has been a long time since I've just soaked up a lesson...in peace...without a wild monkey climbing over me.  And while I loved it, I'm not going to do it if Eloise isn't ready to do it.  I go to church to worship, but it is not my only opportunity to do so, and certainly not the only time that I do.  I've had people make comments about my hovering outside the nursery to make sure she's okay... but I don't care.  I'm the mama so I get to decide.  And when my baby girl is ready, she will sit through and enjoy her Bible class and I will be happy to let her.  And this Sunday was so fun and I was so proud of her!

Eating goldfish (for the first time) in Bible class (for the first time).

5.  My class at UAH is coming to an end Oct 30.  It has been SO FUN.  I wasn't sure how it would be and if I would mind going at the end of a busy day with Eloise, but I have really enjoyed it! I love talking about running, helping my students reach whatever fitness and running goals they have, getting to know them, and getting to run with them.  My next class starts in April and with some lessons learned in my pocket, I hope to make it even better!

6.  I think that's it.  I guess this issue of Bits and Pieces should have been called the Eloise Edition.  But for now I'll close with HOW ABOUT THIS FALL WEATHER! 

Merry-thon Time!

This weekend, in the midst of my 50 mile training, brings my first marathon in two years.  I am picking up where I left off EXACTLY two years ago by running what was my last marathon before a little pea-sized Eloise showed up a month later.  I ran the Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon in 2011 and it was also training for a 50 mile race that I did not end up running because of the above mentioned pea.

So can I just say I am SO EXCITED to be running a marathon again!  I have no idea how I'm going to do. I think I'm trained even though I didn't get in the last long run I wanted, but I have no idea what to expect or what pace I should start out with, and I don't care because I'm just EXCITED!  I'm not sure I realized how much I missed it until this week when it hit me.  I AM PUMPED!

That said, I'd like to run between a 4:00-4:30.  I figure that gives me a big enough swath of time to play with, while still being reasonable about where I am now.  Before Eloise, I'd been running a LONG time and I had a BIG base built.  I have no idea how quickly that base returns after having a child, if it takes years or just consistent training.  So Saturday we shall see what I've got.

Because this marathon is part of my training, I don't really want to taper, but it is also a marathon so I should probably scale back just a little.  Finding the balance there is tricky.  I don't want to excuse myself from thorough 50 mile training, but I want to be smart too.  Shoot... let's just tell it like it is. I want to have fun, run forever, and feel good doing it.

Having Eloise has really reshuffled how I look at running and how important it all ranks in my mind.  Sure, I still have goals.  I'd like to win a 50 miler one day, I want a marathon PR (sub 3:45), I might even want a half marathon or a 10k PR in there somewhere too.  But more than that, I want to be fit, strong, healthy and look good.  And I want to do that while not taking one ounce of energy away from raising my little girl, and taking care of my home.  That right there is the goal.   I feel that I am better at those things when I've gotten in my run, but if any of that begins to suffer because of the run, I will have to pull up and take stock of things.

So far, so good.  My taper will consist of running every day, but the miles will be smaller.  Today (Wednesday) I will run with my Walk/Jog/Run class, probably about 4 miles.  Tomorrow I plan to go mid-morning when my mom arrives for an easy 5-6 miler.  Friday I'll do a slow and simple 3 and then Saturday I will race!  If I follow that plan, I'll have about 57-58 miles for the week and that fits in with my 50 mile training.

Did I mention I'm EXCITED!!??!

Bits and Pieces - the Back-to-School Edition

1.  Actually, no one here is going to school yet, but I have started teaching my class at UAH, Walk/Jog/Run, and I am so excited about it!  I'm hoping to spread a little love for running with these students. They seem ready to embark on some running and good fitness habits and I'm pumped about helping them get started!

2.  I absolutely love that first sip of coffee.  There is nothing like it.  It is better than the second sip and better than the second cup.  I find myself looking forward to it during the last few miles of my run (which seems odd in the summer), and sometimes when I got to bed at night.

3.  I have devotional at my house three times a day for 20 minutes.  These devotionals all center around nap time for little miss Eloise and while I am usually standing, holding her heavy 19 lb self, and feeling my back begin to ache a little (if I sit down, the squirming revs up even more), I really look forward to singing songs about my amazing God to my baby girl.  I know she can't understand everything I'm saying yet, but every song is a prayer and a hope for her - that she will grow up with a faith that puts mine to shame, that she will follow Jesus Christ, and that no matter what happens in this crazy world, she will find herself with Him when it is all over.

4.  In honor of school starting, Eloise and I made our way to Barnes & Noble this week for a little book shopping.  I found a book for myself (Maeve Binchy has a lovely new novel out called, "A Week in Winter") and then we made our way back to the children's section.  Eloise had never been there before and as we approached she squeezed me and let out this squeal of excitement.  I sat her down and she toddled around looking at books and toys and stuffed animals and the other people who happened into that section.  I followed her around putting back anything she took from the shelves to inspect. She picked a book for herself and I picked another book for her and then we made our way to the move section (although she did not want to leave her new favorite place) and bought a new Baby Einstein video, and let me just say the whole visit was so much fun!  I try to find things for Eloise and I to do each day so she's not cooped up in the house all day and that is a new favorite on my list!

5.  Speaking of books, let me just say I love Maeve Binchy.  There is no more satisfying story than one where the lives of the characters are unraveled and then put neatly back together.  Call me shallow, but if I'm going to read a book, I want to take something positive from it.  Gone are the days when I tried to be some sort of intellect and read all the books that someone said were the greats.  Nope.  Now I read what encourages, inspires, teaches me something or entertains me with good, happy-ending stories (so mostly books on raising kids, running, or Maeve Binchy novels).

6.  Eloise can now tell you what the cow, sheep, bear and owl say.  I figure I have a prodigy on my hands.  She also LOVES Sandra Boynton books and that is about all she will read, save some Brown Bear, Brown Bear and a few others.  One of my personal favorites from childhood, "The Little Mouse, The Big Hungry Bear, and the Red, Ripe Strawberry."

7.  Remember the post about my caterpillars and butterflies?  Well, I let out my second-to-the-last butterfly this week and just decided to give my cilantro and parsley a once-over... and I found 8 more babies!  I cleaned out my butterfly house and I have one cocoon left from my first batch and 8 new babies!  It is round two of watching this amazingly beautiful transformation.  I'm so glad it isn't over and I will have cilantro and parsley in my yard from now on!

That's all for now!  To all those going back to school or sending kids back to school or teaching school, have a great year!  And as for the rest of us, go read something good (and if it fits the criteria in point # 5, tell me about it). 

For Real

It's for real!  I am officially training for a marathon and an ultra.  And none too soon either.  My training plan is a doozie but I think I can manage it.  I have a strong base built with consistent running, so I think my body is ready to increase the mileage.  Each week I have one long run and one short, quicker run planned.  The other days are just running (usually 6 miles) with some planking, yoga and a little strength training mixed in.  I'm pretty pumped about it. 

I know I've been talking about it for a while, but I wasn't sure if I could do it and I wasn't sure how Jason would feel about it, so this weekend I wrote out the training plan to see if it was feasible (because I'm a little late to the party) and discussed it with Jason.  I also ran a great 10 miler with my running girls just to get a feel for where I was.  It felt GREAT and that was a good sign.  When I talked to Jason he was on board, so I made a few adjustments to my training plan and here we go!

I am so excited!  Maybe not at 4:30 a.m. when my alarm goes off, but give me a few minutes to wake up and I am ready.  I have begun really looking forward to my morning runs.  They are so peaceful, and I am free to let my thoughts wander as I run whatever pace I feel like running.  This morning the sky was so clear and the stars were so bright.  I saw the big dipper and the little dipper and many other constellations I can't name.  The morning air was a humid 70 degrees, but it still felt nice on my bare shoulders as I started running.  I love seeing the world wake up as the sky slowly begins to lighten and a few other walkers and joggers venture out onto our neighborhood streets.  I love finishing with a cool shower and a hot cup of coffee as I send Jason out the door for his run and wait for my little one to wake up.

There is nothing in this world like a sweet-smelling, snuggly baby first thing in the morning. Eloise is growing and changing and learning so fast, it just amazes me!  She is walking everywhere and I can tell she loves it.  Sometimes she does a lap around the living room and kitchen just because.  No real destination, she just likes it.  She's about to cut tooth number 2 and she is doing okay with that process.  She sometimes grabs at her mouth or taps her cheek, but most of the time she doesn't seem to notice.  She's really good about playing by herself and I let her watch a little Baby Einstein in the morning after breakfast and in the late afternoon while I'm making dinner.  Other than that we play, read books, take naps, make messes, clean them up, and run an errand or two.  We also visit friends' pools and go to the park for a swim when it is not too hot.

She LOVES bath time and starts laughing and kicking her feet when I turn the water on.  When she hugs me, she also pats me on the shoulder and it is the cutest thing in the world.  I have so much fun being her mama and I feel like my heart will overflow to bursting on a regular basis.  I probably kiss her 3000 times a day.

So as summer gives way to fall (eventually), I'll be TRAINING (whoop!) and loving on my growing baby girl (whoop whoop!).

A Deep Breath

I'm floundering a little.  It feels so hypocritical to write about how badly I want something and how I'm going after it, only to fizzle out after a month of training/base building.  July has kind of been all over the place with my mileage.  Last week was a bust.  I took 2 days off, and with no long runs, there is no way to make a 42 mile quota on 2 days off.  I will say on the days I did run, my legs were a little fresher and stronger, and I had a fantastic hilly 8 miler (with 14 bunny sightings), but I'm still feeling a bit discouraged.

We've entered the teething phase of baby-hood and there is nothing I can do but snuggle my little girl and be patient with her through it.  Really, she's doing quite well, she's just a little more fussy and irritable than usual and from time to time we have a bad night.  But overall she is still my funny, playful, happy girl only now she's got a snaggly grin with one tooth out and one making its way. 

Watching Eloise grow and change brings me joy every day.  She's a great baby and I am so blessed to have her.  So I feel really bad when I'm down and disappointed in my running when I've got Eloise and Jason and this wonderful life.  Talk about being ungrateful.  What bothers me is that I'm not seeing any improvement.  None!  Most runs are difficult and slow.  My legs feel heavy and a lot like jello most of the time.  Surely it can't be over-training with 42 miles a week - mostly 6 miles a day.  Can it?  Burnout already?  Jason says it is the hot, humid summer and it is always like this for both of us.  We slow down, we get through it, we focus on holding on until the temps improve.  Part of me knows this and part of me says I should be able to make it otherwise.  I should be able to tough it out.  I should be improving anyway. 

And part of me says, "GET OVER IT!"  It's just running after all, and as I always tell Jason, it is supposed to make life better, it is supposed to take stress away, not add to it.  I guess it is time to listen to what I know, not what I feel. 

In other, happier news, Eloise is approaching her first birthday and I am so excited!  I can't believe it is already here, and I'm planning a farm themed birthday party.  I have become the mother I've made fun of in my head - planning a big shindig for a baby who won't remember. However, now that I'm a mom I see that it is not only for her, but for her parents and family too.  It is a celebration of Eloise, not just for her.  I have had so much fun in the planning and getting ready for it. And I have no idea how we planned birthday parties before Pinterest. 

I'm also getting ready to teach a class at UAH!  I'll be the Walk/Jog/Run instructor this fall and I am so pumped!  I've got my syllabus finished and now I must work on the content. It may make our schedule a little crazy but I think it is worth it!  I love the Health and Physical Ed department at UAH and I am so thrilled to be a part of it!  Things are also going wonderfully with my clients.  They are reaching goals, training for new distances, running PR races... it is so exciting to see!  Even if it isn't me, it is an honor to help others get there! 

So really, I need to step back, take a deep breath and keep putting one foot in front of the other.  While my heart and body can't feel it yet, my mind knows what I'm building and what the results will eventually be.  I need to let go of the constant striving and embrace the joy around me - both in my life and with my running.  One step at a time, mile by mile, I will get there. 

Two Races and One Weekend

This Memorial Day weekend has been so much fun.  It started Friday night with an actual date!  My mom came to spend the night with us so Jason and I could go on a date.  We've been to races, just the two of us, since Eloise was born, but we haven't really gone on what you might call the traditional date.  We had planned to see the new Star Trek or Iron Man but all were sold out, so we ended up going to Bonefish Grill and having a lovely dinner there.  It was so nice to just sit and chat with my fellow.

The next morning we all four went to the Our Kids 5k.  This was the inaugural race put on by a local church and they allowed strollers in the race!  This was my very first race with Eloise and it was so much fun!  As always, she was a trooper and didn't fuss at all - not even when she missed her morning nap!  I ran my fastest stroller miles to date with my splits being 9:32, 8:58, 8:24.  I finished in 28:06 and won first in my age group.  That was a fun little surprise.

Just finished the Our Kids 5k with my girl

The fam!

Mom and Eloise won first in their age group!

Sunday we took a much needed rest day and hung out at home until Jason's mom arrived to babysit Eloise for our second race of the weekend.  Sunday afternoon we went to the packet pick-up for the Cotton Row 10k which would be Monday - Memorial Day.  My goals for this race were as follows: A - beat my Run Through the Roses 10k time (51:53).  B. Beat my Cotton Row time from last year when I was pregnant (1:14:00). C. Don't lie down on the course.

All goals were realized and I had a wonderful time.  This race is such a favorite of mine because it is a huge community event and I always see running friends, work friends, church friends - everyone seems to come out for this event.  I ran hard, but probably not as hard as I could have.  I'm not sure why.  I started WAY too far in the back and that was my first mistake.  My splits were all over the place and the first 4 were not even close to what I wanted.  8:31, 8:11, 8:35, 9:00, 7:59, 7:40.  What in the world?  My watch time said 51:44.  My chip time said 51:31.  My gun time said 52:13 (ugh).  At first I was happy with all of that.  But since the race I have become more and more dissatisfied.  I expected more out of myself, in truth.

On Friday I ran 9 miles behind my stroller.  And before that I had 3 days of 7 miles - most behind the stroller.  I had a 45 mile week following a 43 mile week.  I just expected all of that it equal more than 52 minutes in a 10k.  But what am I going to do about it?  I'm not sure.  Jason says I need at least one workout a week that is fast - speed or tempo.  He's right.  But am I willing?  I usually am for a week or two and then I slack off.  I'm more interested in high mileage numbers, an hour+ of exercise a day, not wearing myself out too much so I can't be a good mom to Eloise, yard work, house work, new recipes...

In essence, when I'm not racing I'm content with my daily stroller jogs around town.  When I am racing, I'm aggravated that I couldn't/didn't/wouldn't do more.

And then I'm annoyed with myself for letting my 10k time put a damper on what was a wonderful, excellent, fun, special, amazing long weekend with my family.  What kind of ingrate am I for that?

We closed out the weekend with some BBQ from my favorite local place and Eloise got a little something fun to start off her summer.  Who cares about a 10k time when there is a precious bathing beauty like that in the back yard!

What Eloise Knows

I think my daughter knows when I am planning to get back to my early morning running routine (the one from waaaaay back before I got pregnant).  The southern summer temps are here and while I have been a bit better about running in them, I know I'd have a more quality run in the early morning hours before the sun heats up the streets.  I've been thinking tough thoughts, go-get-'em thoughts.  I've been gearing up for a week or two of a challenging new schedule before my body conforms to my new routine, and I've even been looking forward to some quiet morning running as the world wakes up.

And then Eloise returns to getting up in the night.  What?  Yes!  She's almost 10 months old and she's been sleeping through the night again just fine... until a few days ago.  She must know of her mama's plans!  And let me just say, her wakeful nights on top of some sinus aggravation on top of a squeaky glider (which means I stand and bounce her back to sleep instead of rocking) make for some looooong nights for this mama.  Whew.  I wake up feeling like somewhere between her bedroom and mine, a mac truck took me down.

BUT, we will get through this little phase as we always do, and at the very least my treadmill and I will become friends or I will get very acclimated to running with her in the heat.  Makes me feel tougher and less limited by the weather.  Maybe that is what Eloise knows. 

Oh the Places We Will Go

My little bambino and I have been busy!  We've been running (sometimes literally) around all over the place and we have had some wonderful adventures together.  If you read the previous post, you know we spent a few days at my parents' house while Jason was out of town last week.  Well, our travels did not stop there.  Jason got back into town late Thursday night, and Friday afternoon we left for Kentucky.  Our first stop was Louisville where Jason would run the Kentucky Derby Marathon.

Eloise's first race expo

This is what Eloise did while Jason was running

Jason is the tiny figure in red running around the corner across the street

The fam

 Jason did so well, finishing in 2:44:07 placing 9th over all and 2nd in his age group.  Eloise and I were proud of our fella as we collected him from the finisher's area.  We walked back to our hotel and Jason grabbed a shower before we checked out and headed to his parents' place, stopping by Cracker Barrel on the way.

We spent Saturday night at Jason's parents', went to church with them on Sunday and then headed home. Our baby girl was SUCH a trooper for this whole trip.  We didn't take the bassinet so she slept with us and while that was not the most restful, it worked out okay.  We were all three super tired by Sunday night, though, and I don't know about Eloise, but Jason and I were VERY glad we were all back in our own beds.

I will admit, when we arrived at the expo on Friday, I was a little disappointed not to be a part of the action on race day, but I knew it was the right decision for me.  We have a fun little racing streak ahead of us this summer and I get to be a part of all of it.  I know my marathoning day will come, and when it arrives I will be ready.

So after our travels to Tennessee and Kentucky, it was really nice to get back into our groove again.  Jason went back to work and Eloise and I got back on our schedule.  We resumed our jogging stroller runs and I continued the process of getting acclimated to the warmer temps and the mid-morning runs. 

On Wednesday we joined my sister, my niece and nephew, along with their homeschooling co-op at a local farm to pick strawberries.  This was SO FUN and Eloise was hilarious.  As always, she was curious about everything, wanting to be smack in the middle of it all.  And she was!

Ready to pick strawberries!

"Hmmm, what is this?"

Picking strawberries with my little strawberry.

The strawberry picking bunch!

Picking strawberries with Caleb.

EJ with her cousin Caleb.  She does love him!

Eloise gives it a try.

 

And she tries to give it a taste.  She stuck the whole thing in her mouth!

And my favorite picture, taken by my sister's mom-in-law.  My precious baby strawberry who is 9 months old!

As you can see, we had a wonderful time.  Eloise was a joy to have along, as always.  I absolutely love sharing all these new experiences with her.  She is so curious, so inquisitive, so interested in everything and I love watching her grow and learn.

I was going to take that day off of running, but the afternoon opened up before us and Eloise needed a nap.  I tried to rock her to sleep but she wasn't having it so we hopped in the stroller and rode to visit my friend Katie who had some puzzles for Eloise.  We ran 2 miles there, visited for a bit and then headed back.  Eloise fell asleep on the way home so I added in another mile and got in a total of 5 for the afternoon.  When we got home Eloise was still asleep so I sat on the porch and enjoyed the quiet, the breeze, and the sunshine on my feet and flowers while she slept.

A sleeping baby toting puzzles in her stroller.

I'm proud of my little garden this year.  I love all the colors!

My knockout roses make me smile every time I pass by.

It has been a great week being back home and back into our groove.  Eloise turned 9 months old on May 1st and I simply cannot believe how fast she has grown.  I love this simple little life with her and Jason, and I love our little trips and adventures together.  Blessed.  That is the word for the week, the month, this year... this life.

Sleepless Nights in Paradise

Since Eloise was born Jason has gone out of town for work twice and when he goes I head up to my parents' place for a bit of R and R.  I don't have to cook, I don't have to clean, I don't have to do laundry, I run whenever I want, not to mention I'm in a paradise of flowers, trees, bee buzzes and birdsong.  I also have the great company of my parents, a little help with Eloise, and the last time I went I had a wonderful time.  I figured this time would be the same.  And for the most part it was!  All except for the whole "rest" portion of my vacation. 

The first night, Eloise did fine but I had a cup of coffee around 4:00 pm and that was a mistake.  I still got about 5 hours of sleep and I can live on that.  The next night Eloise got up at midnight and 3:00 and 6:00. That was a little harder, but we managed.  The third night she got up EVERY HOUR except 3:00. When she finally got up at 5:30 I was almost relieved the night was over.  We awoke to a gray, rainy day and let me just say I don't think I did one useful thing (other than care for my daughter and return to my own home) all day long.  No running, I ate all day, put together some puzzles and existed in a stupor for most of the day.

That night Mom came home with me, and Eloise and I got to sleep in our own beds.  Well.  It was Heaven for both of us.  We both slept 11 lovely, much needed hours and I awoke this morning almost giddy.  I ran 10 of the most wonderful miles (except for the few I spent worrying about the state of my country and my daughter growing up in it), on the most glorious, cool morning under the bluest sky you've ever seen, managing an average pace of 8:46 per mile (fast for me at this point).  That's what a day off from running and 11 hours of sleep got me. 

Despite Eloise giving up sleep while we were at my parents' house, I still had a wonderful time.  I love hanging with my parents and being on their land.  Mom always has a pot of coffee ready whenever I want a cup, I have beautiful scenery all around me and a lovely route to run.  We saw my aunts while we were there, visited some nurseries for plants, ate at a local dive called The Chuckwagon, watched Dad catch and kill carpenter bees... among a ton of other fun and funny activities up there.  The only thing missing was Jason (and sleep) for the visit to be perfect. 

Jason comes home tonight and we are so glad to have him back.  I enjoy a little trip now and then, but after a day or two I am ready to come back to my little home, my little yard, my schedule with Eloise, my regular running routes - basically life as I know it.  It's a simple little life but I love it. 

Sitting on the porch

Helping Grandpod mow the yard

Dad using the "Stun and Stomp" method for killing carpenter bees

This little girl LOVES this man!

Baby Day and Boston

This past Sunday our church held a special service for all the new babies born since February 2012.  I guess you could say it is the Church of Christ's version of dedicating one's baby to the church and to God.  I couldn't wait to officially present my little girl to her family at Mayfair.  My church growing up was so vital and important to my spiritual growth as a child and teenager, and I want that same fellowship, support and love for Eloise.  Having other adults interested in you as a child is a big deal. 

Baby Day was the most sweet and precious service.  Our preacher, Gary Bradley, delivered a wonderful lesson about giving one's child back to the Lord as our most precious gift.  He said something I loved, "Your child is the only treasure on earth you can take to Heaven with you."  There was a slide show of all the children alone and with their parents.  A sweet song played during the video and I had to work really hard to keep the lump in my throat at bay.  Afterward we all (17 other families and us) went up to the front of the church and the elders came too and said a prayer for us and our children. 

After the service we had a reception where another sweet video was shown (goodness me, my heart couldn't take much more), we talked with a host family at our table and were presented with a book for Eloise.  Jason's family and mine came for the day to share in this occasion with us and that meant so much to Jason and me.  Eloise was surrounded by her Uncle Mark and Aunt Julie, and both sets of grandparents and while she will not remember that day, she will see pictures of the love and support she received from those interested in her spiritual welfare. 

Our table at the reception

The three of us with Eloise opening her gift.

Her book.

The proud parents

Eloise surrounded by her grandparents

My entire family

It was such a special day, filled with so much hope and joy and excitement.  And then the next day - the day of the Boston Marathon.  I guess by now you all know what happened there.  It broke my heart.  It felt like it hit close to home.  As I played with my sweet baby girl in her sweet little room that day, thinking of all the chaos going on in that city, my heart was extremely heavy.  There were probably families like ours standing there, cheering on their running loved ones.  How many times has it been Eloise and me waiting to cheer for Jason?  All those innocent people there on that special day celebrating the accomplishment of so many runners...

Well, it made Baby Day and what we celebrated there all the more important.  It could have been us standing at the finish line of Boston on Monday.  It very well may be one day.  I can protect Eloise from a lot of things, but not from things like that.  I can, however, raise her with a strong faith in God and the promise of spending eternity with her Lord and Savior, and there isn't a man or a bomb or a gun on this planet that can take that away.