Gravity

Yikes! I thought it was humid yesterday. It was HORRIBLE today. I was out at 6:00am and it was thick. The dragonflies were just floating in one spot. No breeze and so thick they may have been swimming in the air. My face was just wet with sweat, it was nasty. Oh and today there must have been something wrong with gravity. My running shorts and my running tank both kept going up. I spent more time wiping sweat from my face and pulling down my shirt to cover my stomach, then pulling the athletic spandex part of my running shorts down from my upper thigh. Thank God it wasn't going up my rear! Since running I have lost weight and the spandex of the shorts are a bit loose. It does not make for a good running experience. Mental note: do not wear either item again. Especially not for a long run. I might come home with my shirt wrapped around my neck like a scarf and my shorts looking like a thong.

Mid week run

It was hot, humid and great. I ran my 6 miles this morning in this thick, humid and hot heat. Running didn't offer me my own breeze that I had hoped for throughout the run but a couple of times I did get a warm breeze brush past my face. I am actually looking forward to Saturday's run. Looking forward to running 13.1 miles! I must be insane. I have yet to really look forward to running these long runs but I am actually excited to do this. I wonder if it is because it is half a marathon long. I just hope and pray that the weather is nice and not raining and hot and sticky. I know I can do this. I know it will not be easy but I KNOW I will feel accomplished by just completing this long run.

I am going to try to find a new pair of running socks. I am thinking that my prosthetic and the running socks are making a slip and slide in my shoes. I never had any real pounding issues before but when I am wearing those socks vs. the cotton socks I was using before, I find myself moving around in my shoe more. I just don't care to have toe and feet issues while training. So, maybe I can find another pair of running socks that will not jeopardize my training.

This past weekend

I was not in a good mood Saturday morning when I woke up. I didn't get a good night sleep and have no idea why I just couldn't sleep. But I woke up at 6:30 and knew I had a list of things to do before I hit the pavement. I had to throw into a slow cooker, 6lbs of pork and BBQ mix. As I was making the BBQ mix, I decided that I couldn't substitute 3/4 cup of ketchup with BBQ sauce. So, I drove to the Kwik Trip one mile away from my parents house (as we were there to celebrate my daughters 2nd birthday) to buy ketchup at 6:40am. They must have thought I was insane. Anyway, I drove back and finished putting everything together in the crock pot. I then woke up Greg and finished getting dressed to run. I saw that my mother was up and informed her that the kids were still sleeping. As I was ready to get the car keys to go, Greg told me he thought we should just run around Hokah for our 12 mile run. I was annoyed. I was planning on running the trail again. Running on CTY 7, CTY 26 and CTY 16 would be hot. But I gave in with a bunch of grumbling and we walked down the hill to the road.

County Road 7 wasn't bad. Greg wore his GPS Timex watch which told us the mileage and how fast we were running. It was very peaceful and scenic. We had a couple of dogs bark at us and one goat "muahhhh" at us on our run. It was shocking how easy it was to run. I was even running with my new water bottle and had no problems. In fact, I would recommend Ultimate Direction Access Water Bottle for anyone looking for a water bottle and pocket. http://www.runningunlimited.com/asp/product.asp?pid=594 The run was very uneventful and traffic was really light. We saw lots of dead frogs along our way and at one point I thought a blackened banana peal was a frog carcass. It helped keep the run light and entertaining. The whole route from my parents driveway to Cty 26 to Cty 16 to Cty 7 and to their house again was 7.5 miles. So we ran back down toward Cty 26 and over the bridge and back to round out 12 miles. We finished 12 miles in 2 hours 11 minutes and 11 seconds. So we were running between 10 minute to 10..50 minute miles. Not bad for a long run.

We got back to the house to find out the kids had just woke up 30 minutes before we showed up. Why do they not sleep in when we all could sleep in? Anyway, we ran our errands and celebrated Marissa's 2nd birthday the rest of the night. The bad morning turned out to be a great day and fantastic night.

Crossing over

So, I have been true to my training schedule. I haven't missed a day and have been putting in at least the recommended mileage if not a mile more. I just found out yesterday that my 3 mile run is actually .05 miles shorter then a 4 mile route. So that is nice to know that my easy 3 mile is actually an easy 4 mile and my 4 mile is actually 4.65 miles. This weekend, Greg and I will be running our 12 miles together in LaCrosse. I hope my allergies don't kill me. We will also be celebrating Marissa's 2nd birthday that afternoon. So far, the weather looks perfect.

The weather this morning for my 6 mile run was perfect. It was seriously, cool and sunny and clear. There was a small light breeze and the path was super friendly. I really think that running outside is much better then on the treadmill. I remember when people asked me where I would run and I would say on the treadmill and then they would look at me like I was nuts. So, I have officially said it. I prefer running outside then on the treadmill.

My Uncle is preparing for his fifth marathon. He has given me a new website to help plan my routes and mileage: http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/ . I have been using http://www.walkjogrun.net/ which is nice too. He also suggested that I really look into my nutrition, as it is very important. I have been eating well but I know that I can do better. So, today I attempted to look up marathon training nutrition and all I get is generic statements about being sure to drink plenty of water and be sure to drink Gatorade for anything over 60 minutes. It also says to stay away from fried food and greasy foods. These to me are no brainers. I guess I was hoping to find some awesome recipes and a sample meal plan. I guess I will have to do more research on this.

And last but not least. I may have started to have my first toe injury. It is all too common for marathon runners to get black toe. Sounds beautiful doesn't it. It is when the blood in your toes basically gets pushed forward and breaks capillaries under the nail bed. The last few sites I have visited regarding this says if you have black toe, you must be training for the marathon. So I guess I have crossed over. Yikes. This is not the celebration and congratulations I was looking for to join the elite MARATHON TRAINEES. I would have rather enjoyed a toast with the ol' water bottles.

How NOT to recover after a long run

Greg and I went out for dinner Friday night to celebrate our 7 year anniversary which will be Monday. We had hoped for a movie too, but this was the opening day for The Dark Knight which basically sold out all theaters in the whole Chicagoland area for the day. It was a chaotic mess one block around any theater. So, we made the best out of having a great free babysitter and hit a restaurant without kids. By the time we decided on a restaurant, finally seated and ate it was late and we headed back home with our stomachs packed with food and drink. I went to bed around midnight.

I actually fell asleep and didn't worry about my Saturday "Long Run" because it was a measly 7 mile run. That was my shortest long run since I began training. Now all long runs will be over 10 miles except for the week before the race when I will put in 8 miles. It was really not a bad run but I had to do it on the darn treadmill again. I woke up at 5:30 to rain and went back to sleep. I woke up at 7:00 and still rain. I put on the weather and saw that it "may" be letting up in an hour. I fell back to sleep for another hour. Finally at 9:00, I made my way to the 28th floor gym. It was humid and hot up there. I jumped on the treadmill and ran. I finished 7 miles in 1 hour 10 minutes (10 minute mile). It was not a fun run at all. I was bored and found myself fixated on the red LED numbers of miles and time slowly moving on the display panel. Even my music wasn't helping as I would glare at the digital read outs. The windows were so hazed up and rain just ran off each pane that I couldn't even stare into the neighbor building to get my mind off of the sticky heat. When I hit 5 miles I had taken off my shirt and was running in my saturated sports bra. I didn't care who came up to see me at that point. My legs felt a little tight and a few spots of straining or twinging that I knew it would be a good day to ice them.

I got downstairs and immediately stretched and iced my legs elevated while I flipped through the channels. I was still sticky and wet from my run and knew a shower would feel good. However, with Greg home, I thought, a bath would feel even better. So, I set off for my nice peaceful bath. I ran the water to a nice warm temperature and settled in. Between 5-10 minutes, Julian was the first to come in. He laughed at me since I take up the whole darn tub and that is the tub that he bathes in. He asked me if he could pour the water on my hair and wash my hair in the tub like I do to him. I told him that when it was time for that I would let him. He then left and I am guessing he then conspired with Marissa.

Next, Marissa was in the bathroom. She looked extremely concerned and left. Next she came in with a red walrus bath toy that she over hand threw at me. I told her "thank you" and she smiled and left. She then came back with a Discovery Toys Sub, three piece tub accessory that sits across both sides of the tub, Diego, a foam camel and a purple elephant strainer. She then starts to take off her clothes. I actually found it cute and funny. I haven't taken a bath with my kids for months, maybe even a year and now Marissa is excited to take a bath with me. So, I let her join me. She played for about 5 minutes and was enjoying her time playing on her end of the tub, as I was now sitting upright and smashed to the left of the tub. I tried to relax. It wasn't easy as she thought splashing me was fun. I splashed her back and she told me NO. I tried to shave my legs but it was too cramped. So, I attempted to relax. Next thing I hear is a grunt from my sweet daughter. And then, I witness the nuggets. I jumped out of the tub as fast as humanly possible. How could my daughter sabotage my relaxing bath like this. Heck, she had no real idea what was happening either. When she saw how fast I exited the tub she turned around to be horrified by her own creation and tried to leap out of the tub too. I sat her on the potty while I drained the tub, took out the toys and disinfected them in the sink, cleaned out the tub, scrubbed the tub, rinsed the tub, cleaned the sink, all the while Marissa was telling me about Dora and Boots on her potty ring in her limited English of "Doorahhhhh, Booooooots, Mom~ Mah". I then ran the shower and put her in with me to wash her down. She HATES showers. She may hate showers as much as I hate soaking in poop baths. I finally got her washed down and sent out of the tub and I finished washing myself in the shower. I am not positive but I believe I had sweated through my bath and my shower. Could my attempt at a relaxing bath to help soothe my achy muscles be more of a work out then my 7 miles an hour before? Quite possibly...

Mental note, "Don't leave the bathroom door unlocked when trying to take a peaceful relaxing hot bath." Ahhh, the joys of motherhood.

What a sunrise

This morning started out a bit rocky. I had to share my bed with Julian who was up throughout the night asking me for some water. He refused to drink any of the pedialyte and he had last been sick around 6pm on Tuesday. So I am sure I got about 4.5 hours of sleep total and was up at 5:20am. I should be somewhat used to getting 5 hours of sleep or less since getting pregnant with Julian back in February 2004. However, within the last three months, my kids have actually been sleeping and running has really helped me sleep at night. I have been getting about 7+ hours of sleep lately and I am still trying to make up hours from the past 4 years. But, it was nice to wake up and watch the sun rise again this morning.

There is something about watching the sunrise in its blazing red glory that helps pump you up for a run. Or maybe it is the fact that I knew that this sunrise meant that I had to get in gear since the temperature was already in the mid 70's and the heat index was also in the high 70's. With the sun out it would only get more difficult to run my 5 miles. So I set off for my run and enjoyed the last of the cool morning dew.

I am very impressed with the amount of people out at 6am running, walking and biking. I guess I would have thought that since it was so early that many people would still be home in bed. I think I saw more people out this morning then when I run an hour or two later. It is also nice to be able to run the trail with other people who share some sort of goal. I like to think that the majority of people I see and recognize each morning will be joining me at the start of the Chicago Marathon. That we will all try to conquer our minds and body and run 26.2 miles together.

As I run, I am constantly being passed. I started to think, who are these people who pass me when I run. I know that I am not running my absolute hardest, especially on such a hot and humid morning as today, but some of these people are flying past me. There are different types of people passing me by. You have tall and slender men, sometimes in packs of two or more, built rock hard ab women who sport their midriff in a sports bra and short running shorts, and many cyclists with or without helmets. Some of these cyclists are completely decked out in bike race gear. I think many of them are in a race for their life every morning when they fly past people with no regard to the runners who are on the gravel shoulder. I wonder if the handful of them that show no regard to runners ever realize that they are doing exactly the same thing vehicles do to them by braising past them when they have plenty of room to actually go a little wide around the others. I think it gives them their morning rush for speed and danger when they don't share the trail. I am all about bike safety and see many cyclist who enjoy a fast and fun ride and also share the trail with others without putting lives at risk, so it is possible. Anyway, I digress, those are the ones that pass me by when I run. I am not upset that I am passed because when it comes to the marathon, it is all about endurance and not how fast I can accomplish it. Yes, I would like to be done sooner then later but I first and foremost, I want to finish.

As I came up to my condo after my five miles, I looked around and saw that the sun was now high above the horizon and the bus stops were filled with sleepy eyed people who have yet to finish their first cups of coffee. And I thought, "I am so glad that I got to watch the sun rise and wake up to such a magnificent sight of the lake and nature in all its beauty. Unfortunately for many of these people, they will be waking up, face to face with strangers on a packed bus." I am very fortunate and I thank God for it everyday.

Good morning vomit

Nice way to start out a blog huh? I was up early for my run today and was just getting my shoes on when Julian says, "Mommy....Look". He was pasty white and there was vomit all over the place. All over his stuffed monkeys, pillow and blankets. This is not how you want to prepare for your morning run. Especially since the weather today is heading into the 90's quickly. So, I cleaned him up and gathered up previously mentioned items, set him up in our bedroom while Greg got ready for work. I threw everything into the washing machine and continued out the door for my quick morning run. It was a good run because I had to do it at a much quicker speed then I am used to for a short morning run. I wanted to get back home to care for my little man. I put in just under 4 miles, even though my training schedule only suggests 3. I prefer to run a loop instead of running to a marker and back, so it is always closer to 4 miles for my 3 mile run. I even give myself a little longer run on the 4 and 5 miles runs to be sure I am working up my endurance.

Well, I have to make this short since I am sitting next to the sick one with my lap top. At any given moment I may end up grabbing a pail for him.