Did I Tell You About The Time I Dislocated My Elbow?

Yesterday morning.

During my thoughtful, planned run on my smartly planned out week that was going swimmingly as I just recently mentioned.  not so swimmingly now.  more like swimmingly in shark infested water.  I think I need to live in a bubble.

Instead of talking about the downside, lets talk about the upside.  because the whole incident is obviously the ‘downside’.  and it’s better to focus on how this little bumpety bump in my running road might not be so bad.  it is so bad.  painful bad.  but for arguments sake let’s say it’s not bad and come up with some good things.  of which they are bountiful.

One bountifully good thing is that I got 6.75 out of my 8 mile run in.  and those 6.75 miles were run at a 7:29 pace.  good for me.  I wasn’t going to run with the watch, but I didn’t have a route and was just doing an out and back and needed to know where to turn around.  once again I was a good girl and did not obsess over the pace.  I actually made a very conscious effort to slow it down for the last 3 miles, of which I only completed 1.75 before the fall. 

Here’s how it went down.  literally down.  to the ground.  I think I was booby trapped.  that’s what it felt like – I was running on a very Main St part of Main St with a very decent amount of morning traffic.  Cruising along and feeling so happy to be alive and running and taking it easy, and before I knew it, I had kicked up this metal ring thing that was on the side of the road with my left foot.  Being oh so talented, I managed to get it flipped up and caught on my right heal, creating a sort of lasso effect and propelling me forward.  all in seconds.  didn’t even know what was happening.  until I was on the ground.  for all to see.  hands out.  my right arm extended, took the entire force of the fall.  which is interesting because my left hand is cut up.  nothing on my right.

don’t worry mom.  I hydrogen peroxided the heck out of that asap.  no flesh eating bacteria happening over here.

 

Nothing really hurt too bad immediately after. I was just going to walk the 1.5 miles home.  But thank goodness for neighbors that are on their way to work and witness the entire circus act go down.  She turned around and offered me a ride home.  there are good people out there.  within an hour of getting home and being pissy about the whole stupid thing, I could not move my right arm.  trying to chalk it up to the fact that it just took the brunt of a 138lb running person fall and that it would be sore, but it felt like something was wrong.  I got in to see the orthopedist.

 

He said judging by the x-ray and my movement or lack thereof, I dislocated it and relocated it.  dislocated when I hit and popped it back in place probably when I got up.  good news.  I didn’t break it in 37 places like I thought and felt.  and I didn’t need emergency surgery like I was sure I would need.  and he said I could go finish my run.  I kid.  I did ask if I could run today.  he laughed.  I said I’m not really kidding, but I get it.

Here are some more bountifully good and exciting things that an incident like this bring about in my comical life. 

1.   I got to sport around this lovely new accessory for the day.  I’ve always wanted one of these sexy little black slings.  just what I’ve been missing in my wardrobe.

ouch

2.  Along with that, I was kind of forced to wear my ever loving red Target sweatshirt all day.  comfy clothes all day.  I could not move my arm enough to get it off.  ok by me.  not really.  even I was getting nauseated by the stink.

 

3.  Plethora of homemade little gifts and ‘books’ from my thoughtful children just steal my heart and bring sunshine into my life.  within about 5 minutes of walking in the door all beat up, I had about 18 “I love you mom”, “you are the best” books from the girls.  here’s just a sampling:

I AM the ‘spashest’ mom.  I fall a lot.  that would be pronounced ‘spesh – a – lest’, or spelled ‘specialis’ to you non kindergartners.

I am also ‘sweet’ and ‘fun’.  very good to know I have some redeeming qualities.

4.  My husband is also a very thoughtful gift giver.  always thinking of me, even when he goes for a run…bringing back my nemesis…someone was out to get me

figure that one out.  I’m really not sure.  all I know is that it took me down.

 

5.  Hello Kitty bandaids really do make all of the world’s troubles go away.  no wonder my girls practically throw themselves off their bikes in hopes of an injury.  they want hello kitty.  my little loves, haven’t you learned I hand out bandaids like they are candy.  you don’t need to hurt yourselves.  a simple hangnail will suffice as reason for a bandaid.

6.  I had the best iced coffee I have ever made yesterday.  that has nothing to do with anything, except that it made my day brighter and you have to take note of the little things during the day that make it better.  the coffee made it better.  so much better that I had two large iced coffees.  that’s a real treat.  you never know with iced coffee how it’s going to be until you take the first sip.  this was utterly delightful. 

7.  Painkillers.  they do work.  but they also make a mama sleepy.  so I was thinking if I double up on the coffee and have a diet coke I will be all jazzed up on caffeine and the pain killers won’t knock me out.  either that or the combo of caffeine and hydrocodone will kill me.  it was a risk.

8.  An unfortunate circumstance that puts the mom in an unpleasant condition is certainly means for a little lululemon sympathy shopping.  ok.  if I must.  I’ve been eyeing this jacket.  in finally went on ‘we made too much’.  score.  my lucky day.

and if you want a view that doesn’t involve a fingerprinted, stickered mirror so you can actually see the jacket, here you go.

 

9.  A nice morning breakfast with my girlies at the coffee shop.  always makes life smiley.  and sunshiny.  hubs took the 4:30am riser on a hike today.  and out of my hair for the better part of the day.  is it Christmas???

 

10.  I have gained much knowledge about the elbow. 

nice looking elbow if I do say so myself.

knowledge is always a good thing people.  I now know about sail sites, and fat pads.  This is what Dr. Orthopedist says (actually the PA, but whatever): ‘Well, if you look here, you can see the fat pads clearly around your olecranon are very visible and enlarged…..’  Oh my, dr. orthopedist. talking about my fat pads in such a manner and we’ve only just met.  lets slow this relationship down please.  apparently fat pads are only visible if you’ve done some silly thing like trip on your run and dislocate your elbow. or something like that.  normal thing to do.  now I know about my fat pads.  good stuff. 

11.  Not so much a good thing, but a thing.  a learning thing.  I’m directed not to run until at least next week.  bye bye long saturday run:(  see you next week.  I could run.  my arm is pretty sore, but not in the running position.    BUT, docs orders are not to.  and I am learning to listen.  no running.  that’s funny.  I was just ‘not running’ for quite some time.  what’s another little break.  no one said anything about stepping.  hello stairmaster.  with my one functioning arm.

12.  In all of this, I realized when I got home, that my legs, particularly my right one, feel completely and utterly 100% fantastic!!!  This is the first time I have been able to say that in over 2 months.  not a single, slightest twinge of anything funky or ‘off’ or tight or uncomfortable.  shins are great.  so happy.  now if I can just learn how to run on pavement without killing myself, we should be good.

13.  A very helpful husband that got the fam through the day is something to be thankful for.  a one armed mother makes the activities of daily momming and driving and waiting on everyone hand and foot and such impossible.  too bad for me.  I had to sit and direct the hubs around all day.  actually not a bad gig.  I rather enjoyed myself.  icing and ‘healing’ whilst he tends to the kidlings and their many needs.  thank you hubs.  lets do this again next week.  I’m sure I could find something to trip over and break my hand or something very inconvenient but not debilitating.

14.  And that’s just what this is.  super inconvenient.  super frustrating.  kind of super funny.  we laughed a lot about it yesterday.  it’s life.  and things totally jump out at you on the road when you don’t expect them.  literally.  and metaphorically.  and they throw a little wrench in your seemingly perfect week, month, year, life.  and life goes on and you keep doing your best not to fall flat on your face too often.  and you do your best to learn what the point of that ‘thing’ was.  and to not get too beat up over it.  because there will certainly be more ‘things’ that come up and it ALL makes a part of your story and your journey on the way to whatever it is that is your purpose in life.  so as soon as I started getting a tad dramatic about this silly little inconvenience right after it happened, waiting to hear the worst and picturing my arms getting all emaciated and losing all strength because I surely would never be able to lift a weight again after this tragedy, and then taking more time off of running on top of it all – I think, it really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme.  this is a tiny example, but after you let your head drag in misery for a bit, pick it up and find SOMETHING good and try to find the big picture, or the new picture.  that is all.  then go shopping and buy yourself a pity present and really move on.

 

Have you ever dislocated anything?  Broken anything?

Have you ever fallen flat on your face when you are running with lots of people watching?  embarassing.

And….who’s racing this weekend?!?!?  And….happy memorial day weekend!  Fun plans?  Tell me about them!

Let’s Be Honest

Workout – yesterday, 8 miles as promised.  fantastic.  on the treadmill.  at the gym.  I haven’t seen the inside of the gym in probably a month.  treadmill running has not become any more fun in the time of my absence.  unfortunately.  it’s still utterly and completely boring.  too bad.  here’s how it looked:

A repetitive progression of sorts I suppose, but kind of just all over the place…

8:00, 7:30, 6:58, 8:00, 7:30, 6:58, 8:00, 7:15

I had to do that last one at 7:15 pace to get it in before the 60 minute turn off.  success.  all of my body parts were a go on this run.  all happy.  all did their job.  It is kind of strange to be running but not training for anything.  which means I don’t have any real direction with my pace when I run, except not to push it too hard right now.  I guess it’s been awhile since I’ve run to run and not had a race on the horizon.  people really do that.  hmmmm.  it’s nice.

Today, 45 minute stairmaster, fairly intense.  25 minutes of strength.  loved every minute of it.  especially when my little devil came down at 5:30 to join me.

blurry little devil. my camera skills are lacking while I’m stepping.  he’s making sure we are properly ‘dehumidified’

always makes it a very special time of entertaining and having a little sweatfest of my own.

Like I’ve said before, I generally come up with my own full body circuit to do when I workout at home.  It usually includes anywhere from 4-6 moves rotated through 3-4 times.  They generally work multiple body parts (legs shoulders) at the same time and I never get too concerned with getting my heart rate up because I do cardio separately.  although there are times when I’m huffing and puffing my way through a strength session.  This morning was just a good mix of strength that left me feeling strong.  go figure.  it works.  I find the benefits and the ‘good’ feeling from a decent strength circuit sticks with me throughout the entire day as opposed to the endorphin rush from cardio that usually only lasts until my 3 little birds have their mouths open for breakfast an hour later.  yet I still opt for cardio or a run if time only allows for one or the other.  muy interesante.

Let’s be honest today.  I’m always honest.  but for the sake of this post, let’s be honest.  today.  because that’s the most catchy title I could come up with and I am now seamlessly segway-ing it into the body of my ramblings.  lets itemize the honest feelings…

Item 1 – does anyone really jump out of bed at 4:50 am ready to get some heart pumping cardio on?  I know there are morning people.  I like to think I am a morning person.  and I go to bed looking forward to and excited for my early morning sweat sessions.  but early morning comes and I have a decent amount of self talk going on to actually make myself get out of bed and get moving.  I do get out of bed and am eternally greatful that I made that decision.  but that time between alarm ringing and getting my bum moving are painstakingly difficult moments.  that’s my thought on that.  if you are that special breed of people that jump out of bed ready to move at 4:45am, than you must go to bed at like 6pm.  not so sure about that.

Item 2 – I want to hate the bachelorette, for no good reason, but she’s so stinkin’ adorable and I totally got sucked into the whole drama/reality on Monday night, I think I’m hooked.  we’ll know for sure when next monday rolls around.  I don’t really want to be that reality show watcher person.  but I’m afraid I am for this bachelorette season.  and of all shows, it’s the bachelorette.  it’s like reality soap opera.  I need mindless entertainment in my life.

Item 3 – I am feeling really good about running this week.  and I guess I’m really suprised my plan of only running every other day is doing this body good.  I’m glad I made that plan, otherwise I would have probably stressed about running everyday and I would not be as happy with the week.  I might have started getting a bit hysterical in my mind this past weekend that I would never really run again without some sort of discomfort in my right leg because it’s just been off a bit still.  thinking possible amputation, torn ligaments requiring life threatening surgery, tendonitis in my hamstring that would leave me immobile, you know, very reasonable thinking that was going through my brain.  but after 8 miles yesterday, my legs are really loosening up and feeling more like themselves.  perfect.  lets stay on this track.  hysterics be gone.

Item 4 – I’m not stretching or rolling.  so bad.  probably why I am thinking crazy thoughts.  because I will have good reason to if I don’t start coddling my legs.  I am going to.

Item 5 – I have the cutest little boy in the world.  just thought I would throw that one out there.  feel free to agree, or keep your mouth shut if you have a cute little boy at home.

 

Item 6 – I went to Target yesterday.  without a plan.  going to target with a plan is dangerous.  going without a plan is darn near shopping suicide.  I came out fairly unscathed. target may be a little worse for the wear as we may have spilled a bag of popcorn and a bag of goldfish.  oops.  as it turns out, the plan was to get a little bit of summer clothes shopping done for the kidlings.  deals all around.

Item 7 – I don’t know if this is just me, or a general ‘mom’ thing, but if ever I have delightful plans for an evening out, the entire day leading up to the evening out is kind of painstakingly slow.  particularly the last hour before I get out of jail the house.  and I might be a little bit irritable as the day comes to a close.  up for debate.

Item 8 – I’m pretty darn happy with the naturopath I went to see and the whole regimen of things he put me on.  I’ve definitely noticed a difference.  I’m glad I dug a little deeper than just what my primary care doctor was telling me.

Item 9 – (no worries, this will end at some point today) we were outside at 6:45am playing in the driveway.  I would have to say that’s not an acceptable time to go outside.  only because it’s very difficult to get the boy back inside to do things like let mommy take a shower.  which is a slightly foreign experience to him I guess as it doesn’t happen as often as it should in the morning.  but little boy loves his little bike. 

Item 10 – to make it a nice even number.  I went to Sweet Frog twice yesterday.  it doesn’t hurt that we are friends with the owners and therefore doubles as an excuse to chitty chat and hang out.  with froyo in hand.  I don’t have frozen yogurt problem.  honestly, as good as sweet frog is, frozen yogurt is just not one of those things I crave after having kids.  but, I have three children, on different schedules.  and the 11am sweet frog run would have been bragged about to the morning kindergartner that didn’t get to go for froyo.  naturally, I had to take the morning kindergartner while the afternoon preschooler wasn’t around.  all in order to avoid a disastrous, raging jealous fit of sister got sweet frog and I didn’t meltdown.  rough life.  Luke has the rough life.  lucky dog is always around and got to eat fro yo twice.  but all he wanted to do was makeout and pet the ceramic frog decorations.  and take them all home.  should I be concerned about that?  I told him he had to stop messing with the frogs until he finished his yogurt.  so he promptly took his cup, midbite, and tossed it in the trash.  all done.  and the frog kissing and petting resumed. 

All done.  you may get back to your lives now.  and I need to continue counting down the minutes until my escape.  I mean my evening out.  and I will be looking forward to my 8 mile run in the morning, because this week is moving along swimmingly according to plan. it will be even more swimmingly if the run is not on the treadmill.  but that might be asking for too much.  counting my blessings.  of which there are many.

 

Is your week going swimmingly according to plan?

What do you do when it doesn’t go according to plan?  throw a big tantrum?  scream and yell?  me too, it’s ok.

Are you the type that jumps out of bed at 4:45am ready to go?  please explain in detail how that happens.

Katie vs. Stairmaster

I win

Workout – 1.5 hours on stairmaster.  tried to kill me.  but I provoked it.  and survived.  I’m not sure exactly what’s gotten into me these past couple days with an intense desire to have a killer workout, without actually killing myself or putting in too much running effort, but I’m gonna go with it.  after the 8 sweaty miles yesterday, I wanted a rough and tough crosstraining workout today.  I got what I wanted.  just the way it should be.  I did 45 minutes on the speed intervals this morning and another 45 on the hill program tonight.  perfection.  and I squeezed in some driveway strength training time with pics to prove it…

 

 

my children are spectacular photographers.  have I mentioned I love compression socks.  I do.

 

and Luke keeping tabs on me from the car…

Immediately post picture, Alexandra and Luke had the most brilliant idea to give the car a mud bath.  if you are not sure what that is, it is exactly as it sounds.  dump dirt all over the car than fill it all up with water.  so that the car is now full of muddy water.  fantastic.  all in the span of 2 minutes that I went inside to use the bathroom.  this is why moms don’t pee.  until 8pm.

I want to hit 30 – 35 miles this week in 4 days total of running.  I’m planning on getting a short, long run in this weekend.  my first post marathons long run.  10-12 miles.  I know, that’s not in the long run realm, but I’m pretending it is this weekend.  That means tomorrow I HAVE to get to the gym in the early am to get my run in, or run early outside.  crosstrain wednesday, and then run again on Thursday. crosstrain Friday and run on Saturday. I’ve got it all planned out.  and it will most certainly all work out just as I have planned because that’s how life goes as a stay at home mom with 3 little kids.  always according to plan.  lies. 

Lets talk food, because I have some good food stuff to talk about.  actually, none of it is really particularly noteworthy as much as I just want to share with you what is going on in my food world as of late, more precisely, today.  and I think you should care.

I stole this chocolate frosting recipe from this very cool blog called Stuftmama, and tweaked it a tad to make it my own.  remaining completely un-original as are most things I do.  but inspired, nonetheless.  inspired is good too.

I certainly do not disappoint with the horrible food pics.  I already ate 2/3 of it.  and then proceeded to lick the bowl clean.  true.  tongue in bowl.  no shame in my game.  waste not want not.  chocolate is a precious commodity in these parts.

Here’s how I did it:

1/4c. unsweetened cocoa

2-3 Tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1/2 Tbsp honey (I think you probably don’t need this, but I put it in this time)

1.5 tsp truvia/stevia – I did not measure this, just a guess, add more if needed

if I had it, I would have added almond extract

whisk it up and eat!  You can also freeze it.  tasty chocolate treat.  you can also smear it all over my peanut butter protein bar.  amazing.

and you can see my split peas soaking in the background.  which brings me to my next food item of the day….preparing my split peas to be made into split pea snacks.  they need to soak for an eternity and then they will be ready to turn into delightful little savory treats.  hopefully I’ll get to that part or I’ve just wasted 3 cups of split peas.

and food item #3, grocery store finds.  before we get into that – I have to say that I have decided today that grocery shopping is currently my least favorite chore/activity/way to spend 2 hours of my day including getting there and unloading.  no like.  ok.  glad I got that off my itty bitty chest.  these are two things I came home with – one of which I can’t live without and another of which I have never bought.

we could easily plow through those avocados in two days.  love them.  but I have never bought a 5lb bag of golden potatoes.  don’t know what possessed me.  maybe the same strange feeling that is making me want to do endless hours of stairmaster workouts and run in the hot hot sun.  I don’t know.  but I had to buy them.  now I have to figure out what to do with them.  we just aren’t really potato people.  but I kind of want to be.  I think potatoes have gotten a bad rap in the not so distant past, and they need to be redeemed.  there are many good qualities about potatoes.  google it and you can find out for yourself. 

which brings me to food item #4 of the day.  dinner.  unlike last week, I was feeling completely uninspired for the meals this week.  I still somehow managed to spend a crapload of money at the store without any specific meals to show for it.  hate that.  looks like we’ll be having eggs, avocados and almond milk all week.  when in doubt for a meal, resort to vegetables.  of the frozen kind that are always in abundance in my freezer.  when in further doubt, resort to something in a jar that you can add to vegetables to make them like a super tasty favorite indian dish that you don’t know the name of but won’t cost you $50 for takeout.  more like $3.99.  much more budget friendly.  I LOVE indian food.  and sushi.  it’s a toss up for most favorite.  probably sushi.

Throw it all in a pan and let it simmer and cook. 

it does not get easier than that.  until you have a little aha moment and remember the 5lb bag of beautiful golden potatoes you just bought.  but they aren’t cooked.  and everything else is.  solutions for everything.  I can think of nothing healthier than wrapping the little spud in plastic and sticking it in the microwave.

not thinking about it.  chop it up and toss it in.  throw a couple runny eggs over the top and voila.  perfect meal.

Here’s how I did it, in case you care…

1/2 of a 16oz bag each of frozen broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, sugar snap peas. 

1 can of chick peas

1 red pepper

Microwave frozen veggies together according to directions.  they don’t have to be all the way cooked, just not completely frozen.

While they are microwaving, sautee drained chick peas and pepper in 1Tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper.

Add in veggies.  stir it up and add in Tikka sauce, or whatever sauce you get.  simmer and cook until done.  if you cook your potatoes the super fancy way in the microwave like I do, add them in at the end.  If you don’t know how to do potatoes the super fancy way, wrap in plastic (sounds so bad to me), microwave for 2 minutes, turn over and microwave 2 more minutes, or more depending on how big they are.

You can add meat to this as well.  but you are smart people and can probably figure out that you can add or take away whatever the heck you want.  the homemade indian dinner police won’t come arrest you for making it differently.  no worries.  get some naan to really make it authentically worth your money saving time.  your welcome.

There you have it.  some recipes.  some nonsense.  some horrible pictures of me doing some strange workout thing.  just what you need to be reading on a monday night.  have fun.

 

What is your favorite way to eat a potato?

Do you like Indian cuisine?

What does your running week look like?  Do you try to plan it out, or take it day by day?

Word. To the Wise. and the 840 calorie cupcake.

edit* – this post was written yesterday and lazy bones didn’t finish it.  all of the “today’s” are really “yesterday’s”.  and lazy bones certainly isn’t going to change the whole post.  read on.

Workout – yesterday, walked LOTS of city blocks.  fun.  but not as fun as today….RAN 8 miles.  outside.  in approximately 80 something degree weather.  that’s fun. 

I really do like running in the heat.  running all summer in the hot temps is great preparation for a nice cool fall race.  looking forward to that.  I like training in the heat better when I am prepared.  I was not really prepared today.  the large iced coffee that I had this morning didn’t serve too well to keep me hydrated in those temps.  and in my simple minded running brain, I never feel the need to bring water on runs less than 10 miles.  whether it be 30 degrees or 85 degrees.  silly.  that needs to change.  Here’s what I came up with after today’s run – some wisdom from Katie after my first HOT run of the season…

Word to the Wise #1:  How to make a run hard.  I wanted a HARD run today.  I wanted to have to take myself out of my mental comfort zone a bit.  I wanted a run that would make me want to be all can’t this just end right now, I’m kind of not enjoying this at all, but kind of loving it at the same time because I CAN run and I feel good except for that really tight spot at the top of my hamstring that is kind of becoming nice company.  that kind of run.  I needed the kind that is hard without having to push the pace because I’m not at the push the pace point.  all of my runs are nice and relaxed, no pace worries at all.  so how do you make a run hard without ever having to push the pace?  Let me tell you.  Run in 85 degree weather.  Run a distance longer than you have in the past 3 weeks.  Run without water (which is actually not advisable, but that’s what I did and it made me want to jump in the river and drink it).  Run a bit of a hilly route.  and don’t go to the bathroom before you hit the road.  an added bonus that makes it really challenging.  Success.  It was just tough enough in every aspect but the pace.

Average Pace: 7:37

Confession.  I ran with my garmin today.  garmin and I are in a really good spot right now.  after a one week separation, I have learned how to say no to garmin checking every 3.2 seconds.  I think.  at least for today.  I wore it with the promise that it would not dictate my pace. one. bit.  The purpose of breaking out the Garmin – I wanted a nice, easy run.  one that felt comfortable, not forced and not pushing it.  and I wanted to know what that pace was at this point in my running.  I needed a little check in.  I checked the pace, but not obsessively.  when I saw the pace slow down, I had no response.  I remained emotionally detached from the garmin pace.  It did not effect my attitude or my run.  I continued to run how I felt.  and it turns out I was feeling about a 7:37 average pace for 8 miles.  with the heat.  and lack of water.  and hills.  and intense need to find a bathroom for the last 3 miles (read on).  I am happy with all that.

Word to the Wise #2:  With all that being said about making a run hard – don’t run without water when it’s really hot.  common sense to most.  not to me.  or at least hydrate properly beforehand.  the truth is, I am usually very well hydrated and had I been well hydrated today, I still wouldn’t have taken water with me on an 8 miler and I would have been fine, despite the heat.  but today, I was dying of thirst by mile 4.

Word to the Wise #3:  always act like a 4 year old and go to the bathroom, whether you actually have to or not, before you embark on your run.  you will be thankful you did at mile 5.  especially if you have had 3 children and your bladder control is kind of like that of a 90 year old when you are running.  it’s not pretty.  and you must know this because running isn’t always pretty.  another good reason to wear black shorts or running skirts – accidents happen people.  I’m not saying it happened to me, just saying they happen.  black hides them better.  but I wouldn’t really know that because it’s never happened to me.  the need to pee only made the end of my run a little more challenging trying to hold it all together and run at the same time.  I daresay my pace at the end would have been slightly faster if I was not so consumed with trying not to pee.

Word to the Wise #4:  Don’t use last years sunscreen.  it probably won’t work.  tan lines.  I’m going to have an angry dermatologist next month.  #1 thing on my grocery list is new sunscreen.

Here’s how the run looked today

 

 

Not really impressed with the splits, but happy with the overall.

 

 

Backtrack to Saturday.  I go to NYC with my girlfriend every year.  We went on Saturday and it was a beautiful day of walking around, eating, shopping and just enjoying being away from the kids having some girl time.  Every year we pass CRUMBS cupcakes on the way to and from Grand Central, and every year I say I am going to get one of their amazing cupcakes.  I FINALLY got one three.  two for the girls and luke and one for the hubs and I.  I found it kind of strange that they put the calorie count for each cupcake under the name.  840 calories.  in one cupcake.  how is that even possible?  most of them were around 400-500, but this one was 840 calories.  and I got it.

I don’t know if they injected pure lard into this little gem, but that calorie count was up there.  and it was mighty tasty.  can you guess which one would give you a heart attack as soon as you ate it?  fyi, there are only 2 kinds in there, two of them are the same.  birthday cupcake and grasshopper pie.  they all have some sort of decadent filling inside.     

  A Little Weekend Wrap up…

My daughter sleeps with sunglasses on.  true.  she must have them every night.  and this is what I found when I went to check on her before I went to bed…10pm.  sound asleep.

 

We saw a turtle in the road on the way home from church yesterday.  naturally, the only thing to do is grab it and put it in the car to 1) scare the bejesus out of Alex and 2) Have Anna torment Alex with how “cool” it is and try to make her touch it.

Friends of ours opened up a new fro yo place in town – Sweet Frog.  so yummy.  all the cousins enjoying their sugar high.

 

Happy Monday, friends.  I started my week by skipping my 5am gym session because a certain 5 year old that I won’t name was in my bed kicking me all night and another certain 2 year old that I won’t name was up with a low fever not wanting to sleep.  while Monday morning gym sessions are almost crucial to my sanity for the week, I let it go.  remaining confident that some sort of workout will fit its way into my day.

I know some of you experienced the running heat this weekend in races – brutal!!!  I hope you are resting and recovering and planning the next one. 

Fill me in on the weekend races/fun activities???

Do you prefer running in hot or cold?

Do you have a Sweet Frog near you?

In Review

Workout – 3 Miles.  I can’t divulge the time it took me to run these 3 miles because I forgot to look at the clock when I got home.  I can definitely say it was more than 15 minutes and less than 45.

I kind of wanted to do 5 miles today to make the week a 30 mile week.  then I thought, self, we don’t care about numbers this week.  and this is actually day 5 of running on your first week back, and we kind of had a silent agreement that we would only run 4 days.  so we will compromise and run 3 miles on this 5th day to prove that we don’t care about the # of miles.  this week.  3 miles it was.  28 miles for the week.  and I had to regrets about it.

I think it would be a good time to review the week in running and how it went.  considering that it is Friday and the running for the week is done.  I will not be running tomorrow.  I would love to run tomorrow.  and I would love for it to be a long sort of run tomorrow.  but I am going to NYC tomorrow with a very good friend to have some girl time.  while I will be doing A LOT of walking, there will be no running miles.

Let’s start at the beginning:

Sunday- 6.1 miles

Monday- 5.1 miles

Tuesday- cross train. 1 hour stairmaster = about 8-9 miles

Wednesday- 6.4 miles

Thursday- 7.8 miles

Friday- 3 miles

Total: running – 28.4.  add some cross training.  and some strength training.  a tiny bit.  but worth counting.  I could describe every run this week in the same way – they were all equally enjoyable and felt exactly the same.  that is really all I want.  good paces.  good weather.  perfect distances.  no pressure.  exactly what I need now.

I’m going to be honest.  this was not an easy week.  the running wasn’t hard, but my body is still getting into the rhythm of actually running.  My right leg is still pretty wonky.  tightness. little aches.  nothing that is alarming to me.  just working itself out.  which is keeping me mindful of keeping it nice and easy.  keeping the ‘nice and easy’ thinking on the brain is good because I really want to run a lot of miles.  and this is what I have to think – I MUST keep it relaxed now because it’s not time to even start training yet.  keep it happy and slow and low mileage, so that when it’s time for the hard work stuff, my body is not breaking down and injured.  I need it to be in tip top shape.  and that is what keeps me from going out and doing 10 mile runs everyday.  among other things.  It is funny how running changes over time – it takes more discipline at this moment to NOT run, than it does to get out and run.  I want to be at 45ish miles a week easily by the end of June.  and that is completely within my means, with some speedwork/tempos.  then continue on and get into the 60’s by end of july.  and probably not go higher than that.  if that is even doable.  we’ll see what the bod has to say about that.

I’m looking forward to week 2 back in the running game.  hopefully into the 30 mile range.  and hopefully a long-ish run at the end of the week.

that’s all peeps.  no pics today.  lacking in the picture taking department.

 

Happy racing to those of you running!!!  I’ll check in with you on Monday – I want reports!

Tell me about other fun weekend plans?!?!  as if people really make weekend plans other than long runs and fun races.

Thursdays Fly and Excuses

Workout – RUN!!!  it’s still pretty fun to write that.  again, without a watch.  or the garmin.  sorry garmin.  I know it’s lonely stuck, uncharged, behind the computer.  but it’s a good place for you right now little guy.  catch ya later.  I ran without my compression sleeves.  not on purpose.  believe me.  I wanted nothing more than to wear my litlte security blanket calf sleeves and suck my thumb like a little baby runner.  but I totally felt a difference.  I only have one pair of the sleeves, and they were dirty from running in the rain yesterday.  I promptly popped these pro compression suckers on as soon as I walked in the door.  sweet relief.

 

bringing the sexy out.  slippers and sleeves.  sweaty and smelly.  nice.

Morning run – 5.7 miles, in about 43 minutes.  I checked the clock as I walked out the door and again upon my return.  and I did the math.  quite simple.  time works, even when you don’t wear a watch running.  go figure.  I came up with 43 minutes.  hilly.  happy.  I think that’s right around 7:30 pace.  I think this is my happy pace.  I’m consciously taking it easy and not pushing it, so I feel like I’m in the 8’s, but 7:30’s work better for me on a daily short run basis.

It was gorgeous today and I had to get back out.  I have a problem.  I did 2.1 miles midday…more on that in a minute.

7.8 miles total

Unlike the Wednesday’s in my life, Thursday’s are generally busier and the day flies by.  So it’s ok that I don’t get showered and dressed before 9am when I head out of the house.  because I’m so busy that I don’t really notice the sweaty stench all day.  my apologies to those around me.  you people might notice.  apparently, I don’t really care.

Here’s how the day flies…

My #1 heads to school at 8:25.  one down.  two to go.  my #2 and #3 usually stay outside if it is nice out.  and onto the next part of the morning…

approximately 3 outfit changes for Luke before 9am because his new favorite game in this early part of the day is “make mud” and “dump mud all over my front half”.  As the mother, I let this happen because it lets me play “breathe”, “clean up from breakfast” and “have a moment of peace in the house”.  until he comes walking inside covered in mud saying “all dirty”.  no kidding.  is that what that is all over you, Luke.  clean him up and send him back out.  sometimes I stick a lollipop in his mouth just to keep him quiet.

On a day like today, when it is sunshiny and beautiful, we try to get to the playground.  Big sister gets home at 11:45.  which keeps the morning fast paced because we try to cram as much as possible in the less than 3 hours we have by the time we get out of the house.  because I was such a stellar meal planner and grocery shopper at the beginning of the week, I don’t have to waste this time scrambling for food at the grocery store as Luke rips into every. single. item I put in the cart.  today our time was spent at the playground.  where neither of my children really wanted to be and whined the whole time to go home.  I don’t get it.  sometimes the playground is more for the mommies than the kids anyway.  so I made them stay and play.  because sometimes I just don’t want to be home with them.  they need to be out of the house.

#1 arrived home promptly at 11:50, joined in with the other two and resumed playing “make mud” and “dump mud all over luke”  whilst I played “make lunch for the kids a la carte”, “get #2 ready for school” and “pop open the bottle of wine because it’s after 12”

We head out to bring #2 to school at 12:45 and dump Luke in the crib to take a nap asap upon our return.  and it’s me and alexandra time.

as I had mentioned before, I had quite an insatiable urge to run again today.  it was 75 and perfect today.  I convinced Alex to ride her bike while I ran and told her we could go to the coffee shop and get her a special drink.  It’s 1 mile to the coffee shop.  perfect.  2 miles roundtrip.  Luke was sleeping, so her and I went for a ride/run.

are you a little concerned?  no worries.  I did not leave Luke sleeping alone in the house.  he has childproof handles on his doors, so there is no way he could get out, and the dog was here to protect.  so was the hubs.  he’s sick.  and came home early.  worked out perfect for me.  taking advantage of his sickness.  I had a wonderful little impromptu midday break with my girl.  exactly what both of us needed.

she rode.

I ran.

 

she had a snack.

and we stopped to feed her pet horse on the way back. 

it’s not really hers.  but she tried to buy it last year with her piggy bank savings.  and a nice note to the owners.  big disappointment when I told her it just wasn’t feasible.

she named him brownie.  such creativity flowing in this family.

We walk back in the door just in time for Luke to be waking up.  head back outside for a few minutes before we leave to pick Anna up from school at 3:30.  They’ve pretty much exhausted the “mud playing” for the day, so I’m safe on muddy clothes changes.  we go get Anna, come back home.  more playing and off to gymnastics at 4:15.  both girls are in the same class, and that gives me an hour to run an errand with Luke, and then pick up the girls.  We don’t get home until close to 6.  I throw dinner together, throw it down, get the kids ready for bed and tuck them in by 7:15.  night night.  days over.  been real fun.  and fast.  and kind of stinky.

That’s the Thursday that flies right by.  I like it like that.  not much down time.  I really only like a lot of down time if someone else has my children.  the truth.  I like it when it’s busier and full of activities with them.  they are happier.  I am happier.

Some Quick Thoughts On Running

I’ve been running this week.  I think when I run.  Naturally, I’ve been doing a bit more thinking this week.  this is not necessarily a good thing, but I will share with you some things I am thinking.  Most of them pertain to excuses people use to not run.  that I don’t necessarily agree with.  all the time.  but are probably valid.  sometimes.  I just have a hard time with excuses.  and reasons not to do something.  or even to give it a try when it follows a statement like, “I would love to, BUT…”  and that is maybe the die hard runner in me, but get the BUT out of that statement and just do it. 

1. My Knees Hurt.  I keep hearing this one, and sometimes I just don’t get it.  because it’s usually people who do not exercise and are at least 20 lbs overweight that I hear this from.  and I think, did you ever possibly think that your knees hurt because you don’t run?  my knees hurt far more when I first started to run than they do now.  they don’t hurt now.  I have occasional IT band issues, but that’s not really a knee issue as much as it is a lack of stretching issue.  it’s an excuse.  that sabotages your health.  with that being said, I totally get that people have real knee issues.  but I still think it shouldn’t be an excuse to keep you sedentary.

running does hurt.  especially if you’ve never done it.  giving birth to a child hurts, but it’s not bad for you.  that’s probably a really bad analogy, but was the first that came to mind for some very strange reason.  things hurt, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give it an honest try.

2. I’m too tired.  so here’s the thing.  no one cares.  if you are tired before you run, there is a chance you will still be tired after you run, so you have nothing to lose.  you can still claim your “tired”.  but now you will be tired, and fit.  and feeling good.  BUT, you do have something to gain if you get moving – the chances are, you might actually NOT be tired if you get your booty in gear.  you might have MORE energy.  MOVE.  I have more energy during the day and am no more tired at 10pm if I get up at 5am and get my run in early get up with Luke man and wait for the perfect opportunity to run than if I did nothing all day other than complain about how tired I was.  maybe that’s just me.

3. I don’t have time.  just can’t handle that.  I know people are busy.  priorities.  schedule it in if you are that busy.  write it in your calendar like an appointment that can’t be missed.  physical activity is so important.  It might sound easy for me to say because I am a stay at home mom and have all the time in the world according to some, but you saw my schedule.  that is most days of the week.  luke doesn’t give me a break.  I am exhausted.  and there are rest days.  only because there are hard work days.  there is a LOT to get done in a day with 3 kids and a home.  make time.

excuses are not really valid reasons, for anything.  excuses don’t make you faster, fitter, leaner or stronger.  they keep you right where you are.  and I don’t want to stay right where I am.  I want to be moving forward.  fitter, faster, stronger, smarter….

 

What running/exercise excuses have you heard?

What is your busiest day of the week?

Happy Thursday!!!

What’s Good – Top 12

Let me tell you what’s good today.  then you can tell me what’s good.  good?  in the form of a list.

1. Workout.  it is always good when the run starts before the day starts.  or even if the day has already started (because it starts around 5am here) but breakfast has not been served yet, aka, mommy runs before everyone starts growling at me for food.  that’s good.  it’s good when the run happens without a garmin.  OR a watch.  I was running free.  and I liked it.  it’s good when it starts raining on the run.  downpour raining in the humid weather.  I like that.  it’s also good when the 6 mile run that took somewhere between 47-50 minutes, roughly, turns out to be a 6.4 mile run and the 8 something minute mile pace I thought and felt I was running was actually faster.  that’s good.  I’m going to run free, more.  I think that’s very good.  back to basics.  I did a few strength exercises while the kids played outside.  and I REALLY wanted to go for another run.  but I think I’ll wait until next week to go over 10 miles.  talk about good, that will be good.

2. Pain. pain that is gone is good.  no shin pain.  pains and little tight spots that are still here are good.  reminding me to keep taking it easy on the running for the next week or so.  reminding me that it’s not go time yet.  it’s re-group time.  relax.

3. Antibiotics.  are very good.  is there anything wrong with keeping my son on amoxicillin…permanently?  I thought as much.  he’s a different child today.  I wasn’t sure if someone kidnapped my son in the middle of the night and swapped him with a nice child.  despite the fact that he woke up at 4:54.  am.  on my day to get up with him. he was eerily pleasant.  I won’t complain.  I guess a double ear infection will really make a kid cranky. 

4. Showers. before 9pm are VERY good.  a shower before I leave the house at 9am, even better. combined with getting dressed in a real outfit, all right at the top of the good list. 

proof.  he can smile.  not sure what’s up with that mirror.  call the maid.

it’s the little successes of the day that make it a good day.  to further the ‘good’ part of getting dressed – bargain priced rock and republic skinny jeans that fit tightly pre-wash and still fit perfectly after the wash…really good. 

5. Rainbow of sneakers.  to choose from before every run.  good.  and fun. 

some of these are older.  ok, most are not. we’ll talk about all of these sneaks in another post.  fun. good.

6. Leftover crockpot chicken tortilla soup.  for lunch.  so good.  with lots of avocados.  I skipped on the chips.

tasty.  you really want the recipe now, huh.  that would be really good of me to give it to you.  I will.

7. Going to Nordstroms with the beasty 2 year old and sister.  good.  leaving with TOMS for the girls.  really good.

anna unbuckling luke and letting him out of the stroller because ‘he wanted to get out, mom’ is not so good.  of course he wanted to get out.  but no one else wants him out.  it’s not safe.  but this is a good post.  we won’t talk about that.  lollipops make everything better.  stick one in the boys mouth, strap him back in and call it a day.  and scootch on out of that store in lightning speed.

8. Mail. with these little gems waiting for me.  awesome. good.

this is my total splurge.  I don’t care how long the ingredient list is or what is in it.  I just love these little zipfizzes.  I found them at a decent price on amazon.  they’ve got like 41,667% vitamin B.  not a lie.  take a look.

can that be healthy?  but look at what else it has….look at all that potassium.  that made me pretty excited. 

yes, those are Christmas cards still hanging in the back.  not sure that they will make it down before next Christmas.

that’s good. that did make me happy.  the truth.  it is just the little things that keep the happy around.  this makes the hubs pretty happy too.  I surprised him with this little treat.  dork.  once again, all about the little things.  he appreciates the little things.

9. Having enough meals planned for the week.  and all of the groceries to go with them.  beyond good.  it is so nice to not scramble for what to make for dinner at 4pm everyday.  it really is so stressful when I don’t have anything planned.  but I bring it on myself for not planning it.  I threw a plan together on my way to the store on monday, and it’s amazing that I actually got all of the food for everything I needed.  success.  Here’s what the meals look like this week:

Creamy Avocado Pasta with Mushrooms and organic spiced apple chicken sausage.  so gourmet.  or not.

Crock pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Grilled Pizza

Tacos

Looks like Friday will be leftovers.  and saturday is…too far away to think about.  my brain stopped at four meals.  but I still think that’s pretty good.

10.  You guys!  thanks for all of your comments on the last post and I’m so glad to hear that so many of you are avid sunscreen wearers!  that’s good.  it’s important.  I was informed that it’s actually melanoma awareness month.  good timing.  I meant to link this on the other post – but if you have never seen this little clip, it’s worth your 7 minutes to watch it.  called Wear Sunscreen.  check it out.

11. Pro compression. sock of the month is good.  because you get it at an amazing discount!  go to their website and get yourself a pair of their pink marathon compression socks.  that’s the sock of the month.  use code SOM512 at checkout.  your legs will be thanking you.  and that is good.

12.  My little dumpling was spot on. a dark chocolate treat with the peanut butter protein bars.  GOOD.  heavenly.  perfect.

And some randomness…phrases you might have heard me say today…mostly to the little luke man…

“Put down the knife”

“The garbage can is not a toy”

“Get my toothbrush out of the toilet”

“No, you can’t have anymore of my coffee”

“Look at Luke!  He can do a somersault off the arm of the couch!”  followed by…

“Make sure you tuck your head under when you somersault off the arm of the couch or you will break your neck”

 

I do think I might run tomorrow.  I’m at 17 miles for the week.  I would like to do 25 this week and I’m not running on Saturday.  doable.  next week I’m shooting for 30’s.  nice ‘n easy.  tonight I’m rolling and stretching.  I’ve been taking really horrible care of these legs lately.  I don’t even know where my massage stick is.  the horror.

What’s the ‘good’ today?

How is the running going?

Protect Yourself. Please.

Workout – cross training.  scary how responsible I am being as a runner.  there’s got to be some sort of accolade for that.  prize money?  award?  I am not running today.  although I feel better everyday, tightness is still there, but working itself out. I am smartly cross training.  there is no need to run 3 days in a row on my trek back to running faster.  I am simply getting back in the groove.  wherever the groove is.  for the next week and a half.  running every single day certainly won’t hurt me, but it isn’t going to necessarily help me right now either.  so I’m playing it safe and easing back in.  and spending lots of time on the stairmaster today. 

1 hour speed intervals/fat burner (that’s the program, I like the fat burner because of the variation in intensity.  it’s like rolling hills on the master)

Now, a little poem I made up to segway into the point of this post.  from the eency teency bit of creativeness that is somewhere in the recesses of my brain.  I will need a nap after the amount of mental energy it took for me to come up with this special little piece… (FYI, serious post…)

There once was a girl named Katie

Who was 35 weeks pregnant with her second baby

With a 13 month old at home

The doctor told her she was not alone

there was a little thing called melanoma keeping her company.

 

Quite possibly the scariest day of my life.  yep.  definitely the scariest day of my life.

I had no idea what melanoma really was before this.  before the PA at the dermatologist so kindly filled me in as she was removing my mole.  This is the exact converstation:

ME: “So, what could this be?”

PA: “Well, it’s either basal cell carcinoma, which is really no big deal.  Or it is melanoma, which is pretty bad and there’s not much we can do about it.  we’ll give you a call within two weeks after we get the results back from Yale”  That was on a Tuesday.

OK, fantastic.  well here’s to hoping it’s JUST basal cell.  that sounds fun.  note to PA – don’t EVER say, ‘there’s not much to be done for melanoma’ when you are not sure whether or not your patient has melanoma.  it will stick with that poor patient.  forever. 

I get a phone call on my way to playgroup with my one year old – 3 days later – a Friday. 

Hi Katie.  I never make these phone calls on a Friday, but this is really bad.  You have melanoma.  we need to get you in to a surgeon like a month ago.  He is booked today but I have an appointment for you on Monday.  All I can tell you is that it was over 1mm thick, which puts you at a higher risk category and I don’t really have much more information for you.  Again, I’m sorry to do this to you on a Friday, but we need to get things going.  you need to have surgery asap.

I am speechless.  I pull the car over.  tears flow.  baby girl in the back seat.  baby girl in my tummy.  melanoma on my thigh.  my head is spinning.  I hang up the phone because I don’t even know what to ask the doctor.  or which way is up.  I’m 25.  I have a small child.  and one on the way.

I cry.  a lot.  and I have 3 days to google the heck out of melanoma to learn my fate.  and that it doesn’t look good.  and that there’s no way I am going to survive this.  that’s how I interpret the crazy amount of information the internet provides.  not a smart move.  but I had no choice when I needed answers (spoiler alert – I’m obviously alive and well, the internet turned me a bit hysterical ) 

I made myself sick that weekend.  literally, ill.  having no idea what was going to happen.  I had this mole as long as I could remember.  who knows how long this had been brewing.  who knows how far it could have possibly spread.  stuff like this does not happen to a 25 year old who has a 1 year old and is 35 weeks pregnant with #2.  but it does.

I had pulled myself together by Monday when we met with the surgeon.  This was the week of Thanksgiving, 2007.  My OB was ready to take me in to have the baby that night so that I could have surgery before the end of the week.

The surgeon said he would much prefer not do the surgery while I was pregnant if they were willing to deliver the baby early.  He said I could go no more than 3 weeks before having surgery.  that scared the heck out of me, waiting that long to get rid of this cancer.  I scheduled to be induced the following Monday, at 36 weeks, and have the surgery exactly one week after that.  2 weeks total I had to wait for surgery.  needless to say, the birth of my daughter was bittersweet.  I had crazy emotions going from this is beautiful, I’m having my daughter to oh my goodness, I’m forcing this poor little girl out of me 4 weeks early BECAUSE I have melanoma that I now have to go deal with.  and my fears extended to my family and my children.  if I can get cancer, what about my children.  no one is safe.  I became very afraid of the vulnerability of my children’s health to awful things like this.  tough.  I had a one week old at the hospital with me.  nursing her every chance I got, wearing my awkward hospital gown, before I had to go in to surgery.

Thirteen and a half month old

Perfectly healthy 5lb 12oz baby girl

Surgery.  get it out. 

Because of the size of the mole, they had to take a 2in. diameter mass out of my leg, down to the muscle.  and a lymph node out of my groin to see if it spread.  this left me with quite a scar on my thigh to enable the surgeon to get out what he needed and stitch it all back up.

BIG reminder to me everyday.  melanoma does not discriminate.  and it’s getting more and more ‘popular’. 

wear sunscreen

don’t use tanning beds

I run.  I run in the sun.  a lot.  I never used to wear sunscreen.  I wear it now.  The dermatologist would have me wear longsleeve protective clothing. and a sunhat when I run.  that’s not going to happen.  but I will wear spf 85 sunscreen.  and I will never lay out at the beach.  ever.

I had to meet with an oncologist after the surgery.  He did a PET scan.  everything was clear.  nothing spread.  I AM VERY LUCKY.

Had my OB not FORCED me into the dermatologists office to get this mole checked, I never would have had it looked at.  It was a part of me.  always there.  and it would have kept growing and growing.  melanoma is aggressive once it spreads.  everywhere.  My OB didn’t like how it looked.  she was right.  it was pretty nasty.  this could have turned out FAR worse.

Here are some stats:  SOURCE

The statistics:

• One-in-50 Americans has a lifetime risk of developing melanoma.
• In 2009 nearly 63,000 were diagnosed with melanoma in the United States, resulting in approximately 8,650 deaths. 
• The projected numbers (according to the National Cancer Institute) for 2012 are even higher with 76,250 diagnosis and 9,180 deaths.

This means that every eight minutes, someone in the United States will be given a melanoma diagnosis and that every hour someone will die from the disease.   

Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the United States and worldwide.

• The American Cancer Society estimates that the risk of developing invasive melanoma in the United States averages out to approximately a 1 in 50 chance of developing melanoma throughout your lifetime. 
• The incidence of people under 30 developing melanoma is increasing faster than any other demographic group, soaring by 50 percent in young women since 1980. 
• Melanoma primarily affects individuals in the prime years of life, is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common cancer in adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old. 
• Although melanoma is most common in Caucasians, melanoma can strike men and women of all ages, all races and all skin types. The mean age for diagnosis of melanoma is 50, while for many other cancers it is 65-70 years old.

 

When you are out running, on a sunny day, or even a cloudy day – wear sunscreen.  Do yourself a favor and don’t go to a tanning salon.  Do yourself another favor and wear sunscreen when you go to the beach.  being tan is NOT worth the risk.  go buy some self tanner.  although I’m not sure that’s exactly great for you either.

This ‘event’ was probably the catalyst into being more aware of my body and what I put into it.  I read so much about cancer rates and how your diet can possibly play a big role in sickness, and health.  It was scary.  the statistics are scary.  they became scarier thinking about them in terms of my own children.  I have my health.  and I have the health of these three beautiful little people that I brought into this world – that I kind of want to stay with me here for a long time.  I alone am responsible for doing my best to make sure they are healthy and well.  I do believe a lot of that starts with what we put into our bodies.

10 months after I had Anna and my surgery, I ran my first marathon, which happened to be my first race.  And I qualified for Boston. 

I was healthy.  my kids were healthy.  and I want to keep it that way.

stuff to think about

Update on the Homefront

1. Wishes do come true.  so I better start wishing for things other than I hope my two year old has an ear infection.  he does have an ear infection.  a double one.  why have one when you can do both at the same time.  I am a bad mom.  that would explain the fever last week.  he’s got two doses of antibiotics in him and still spent 90% of his day screaming at me throwing tantrums.  if he had a full vocabulary, that screaming would probably be rated R obscenities.  since he can not speak so well yet, I’m choosing to believe he is screaming sweet nothings at me in a very angry, passionate tone – I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, YOU ARE SO AMAZING MOM, AND SO BEAUTIFUL!!!  I WORSHIP THE GROUND YOU WALK ON AND YOU ARE A SUPERFAST, SUPERFIT RUNNER!!!  things like that.

2. This would be the tiniest little food processor.  but I love it. 

perfect little kitchen accessory for perfect little amounts of chopping and mincing.  little magic bullet.  I bought when I was in the I will make all of my baby food phase.  nope.  never happened.  the cloth diapering phase lasted a little longer.  but it’s chopped it’s fair amount of garlic and carrots for crock pot chicken tortilla soup that I made tonight – that I will post the recipe for – I PROMISE!!!

3.  My bright little Anna noted that my peanut butter protein bars would taste delicious with some nutella (or other chocolatey substance) smothered over the top.  oh my child.  I have done something right.  I’ve passed on my love for chocolate.  her sister noted it would be equally delicious crumbled over ice cream.  many possibilities to turn a fairly healthy treat into a sinfully delicious one.  and I would have to agree.  go get some nutella and try it out. 

4.  I ate a whole package of tic tacs on the way home from the store.  what???  Luke snagged them in the checkout line and opened them before I could get them away.  I had to buy them.  then they were sitting next to me in the car.  I have no idea why I ate them.  I can’t remember the last time I had a tic tac.  I didn’t even enjoy it.

5.  All children were tucked in bed by 6:10 tonight.  because little boy was up at 5am today.  in a very pissy mood.  again.  for the umpteenth day in a row.  I almost cried.  I just couldn’t start my day like that.  it’s like starting a marathon at a full out sprint.  no warmup.  thank God for the hubs.  saved my day.

the end

 

Do you wear sunscreen when you run in the sun?

Do you go tanning?  Don’t answer that if you do.  just kindly stop doing it:-)

Have you ever used a magic bullet?  Pretty spiffy

I LOVE to RUN

Workout(s) – it’s a little bit frightening how happy it makes me to log my actual running workouts.  really exciting.  really frightening.  I’m ok with it.  makes me happy.  if that’s all I need to make me happy…than I’m pretty boring.  but I’m ok with that too.  ok, add a box of chocolates.  and some snazzy running clothes.  then I’m happy. 

let me fill you in on the last 4 days of running.  I know I already filled you in on Friday’s run, but I’m going to lump it in again today, because that will make me happy too.  it falls into the return to running category.  all of which makes me happy.  happy monday.  talking about running.

(sidenote – if you are every not completely sure if you LOVE to run, take a week or two or six off.  and see how you feel when you finally run again.  pretty sure that will give you an answer.  if you are on cloud 9, dancing through the streets, you LOVE it.  and you’re crazy.  like me.  I did not dance through the streets.  I do have some dignity.  if you would rather continue the hiatus and never look at running shoes again, you probably don’t love it.  or you’re probably really injured and need to take more time off.  if that’s the case, I’m sorry I brought it up.  and life extension – if something you love is turning into a not so fun thing or a burden (not really talking about your spouse or your children, but it’s your call), I’m thinking things more like exercise, eating chocolate, crocheting, shopping at lululemon, taking a ton of pictures of yourself for a ‘blog’ – take a break and come back.  you will probably love it more after.  there’s your life lesson from Dr. Katie)

Friday – 5.1 Miles.

Saturday – smart runner took the day off.  ok.  not a smart runner because I would have made a different choice had I the means to do so.  I had no means.  I was home with the kids all day and no hubs to relieve me.  Actually, I did have the means, but I used up all of my babysitter time at a certain store that begins with Lulu and ends with Lemon.  smart decisions. BUT I got some great strength training in.  It was that PERFECT weather to be outside getting my weighted lunge/plank/pushup/side plank leg raise/core work on with my little lunger by my side. 

1/2 lunge, 1/2 static running.  she knows what’s up.  little mermaid. 

I love this little exercise…

you can just about ‘stork stance’ anything.  great full body work.  and I know, I look super sexy in this getup.  compression socks are my security blanket.  I don’t go anywhere without them.

Sunday – 6.1 miles.  happy mother’s day.  I guess that’s all I really wanted for mother’s day.  a nice little run.  I got it in before church, which was nice because then I didn’t have to shower twice that day.  who am I kidding.  I wouldn’t have showered again until before I went to bed anyway.  I have no problem being a stinky mom all day.  I hope everyone had a fantastic mother’s day and was pampered away by your adoring families!

Monday – 5.1 miles.  I truly was planning on not running today.  I formulated a return to running rule for myself that I will only run every other day for the next two weeks.  silly rules.  made to be broken.  here’s another mom rule in regards to running – if the opportunity presents itself to run, you must run, whether it was in the plan or not.  because there may be another day during the week where you planned to run, but the kidlings have different plans (like getting up at 4 or 5 am or getting sick and not going to school, to name a couple) and it might not fit in.  I had the opportunity today, thanks to gammy for watching the littles and a super speedy trip to the grocery store giving me time to run before my little blessings bombarded me from the heavens upon my return.  even though it wasn’t on the “other day”, I took it. and ran.  glad I did.  tomorrow is never certain.  today was a sure thing.

Those are my miles.  pretty fun.  we’ll see what tomorrow holds.  even more exciting.

I’m not sure what’s up with the extra .1 on my mileage.  I am faithfully running without my garmin.  and am faithfully www.gmap-pedometer.com’ing the route after my run.  that’s where I get the ‘.1’ 

and I’m just thoroughly enjoying running.  that’s all there is to it.  the pace has been between 7:15-7:30.  I’m just running what I feel like running.  The routes are a tad hilly but nothing too major.  I like the hills right now.  they break up the pavement pounding flat running.   

Today I sported the Mizuno Musha.  Love them.  I really love the lightweight shoe.  I knew it would be a good run for it because I was only going 5 miles.  They feel great.  The perfect amount of support and cushion, but light on the feet. 

she’s my little elf.  just pops up everywhere.  cute.

 

and then I sported this little top.  after my glorious run.  they will all be glorious for awhile. 

because you haven’t seen enough pics of me in this post

I’ve been eyeing it.  I’m sure you can guess where.  it was on sale.  don’t laugh.  things really do go on sale there.  part of their yoga stuff.  very comfortable.  and yoga’ish.  I feel all limber and stretched just wearing it.  see, it’s totally worth the money.  especially on sale.  this one was sponsored by my nana – happy mother’s day – thanks nana for allowing me to add to my comfortable clothing collection because I don’t have nearly enough of that kind of thing.

So now what.  I’m not really sure.  It’s just nice to be running, and not really training yet.  I’m a broken record with the happy running talk.  I’m guess I’m in that base building zone, getting my solid groundwork in.  Kind of like Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan were just doing for the Olympics.  I’m right on par with those two elites.  I’m all hidden talent.  I was too busy to head to London this summer anyway.  I’ve got kids and things to do.  Maybe next time.

What I am Focusing on NOW

1. Running form.  all I know is that I don’t really have it.  I have this wonky right foot that needs to get in line.

case in point.  get with the program, righty.

so I’m really focusing on correcting that in my easy running these next few weeks and probably forever after that. 

2. Stretching.  which I have done a minimal amount of.  I think it needs to be in the form of yoga or pilates, otherwise it just doesn’t really get done.  I never learn.  injury, katie, injury if you don’t stretch!!  buying a yoga shirt at lululemon really doesn’t count.

3. Strength and Core work.  I think CORE work is really important for running.  I let that slack quite a bit recently.  and my core was actually sore for the first time ever after a run after the marathon in Nashville.  A strong core makes a BIG difference. 

4.  Rest.  I’ve got that one down pat.  I was in bed at 7:54 last night.  I know you are jealous.  I didn’t even have to check on the kids before bed – I had just put them down.  It really starts to wear on me if I consistently get less than 7 hours a night.

5.  Getting healthy.  staying healthy.  eating healthy.  listening to my body more.  if I feel like running, run.  if something is feeling a bit sassy, don’t push it.  I’ve recently learned I’m not superwoman (might be up for debate) and I do get injured and my body does have a limit.  and it may be far different from a lot of other runners out there who have the ability to run a ton of miles.  I would like to work up to that.  and that’s the key.  work up to that mileage.  if and when it feels right.  I think if I take care to really take it easy now and just listen to the bod, I will have an easier time when I get really into training and hard workouts.  I will be more than ready for speed.  I won’t feel as ‘stressed’ going into the harder training because I’ve had enough easy time leading up to it.  my theory.

6.  Supporting the hubs.  he is getting more into training for his leadville 100 this summer.  we are two totally different creatures when it come to running and how we train.  but, it’s difficult to get in the training we both need with the kids, etc.  It usually works out well that our races don’t coincide.  so while he’s training, I’m just keeping up with the base miles.  and while I’m training….I don’t know what he’s doing.  hehe. 

On The Homefront

1. Secretly wishing that my precious little boy has an ear infection does not make me a bad mom.  he has been so miserable as of late – his daily tantrums are up from about 237 a day to well over 500 – makes life….impossible.  he had a fever last week, so an ear infection might make sense and it might explain the misery that is luke lately.  somehow he remains to be the cutest little guy on the planet and that’s his only saving grace.  and he’s my son.  that saves him too.

2.  speaking of little boy, if you are ever so lucky to be in my home and I offer you a pb&j sandwich, it is in your best interest to respectfully decline. 

licking the peanut butter lid.  you don’t know who has had the pb.  and you probably don’t want to have any part of if after where it’s been.

3.  I bought a little basil plant for $2.99 in hopes that I can stop spending $1.99 on one little package of it every time I need it for dinner.  saving pennies left and right. 

4.  It is in your best interest to make this Creamy Avocado Pasta for dinner.  asap.  vegan.  delish.  I added mushrooms tonight.

5.  It is also in your best interest to make these peanut butter protein bars if you haven’t already.  I’m on my third batch in about 2 weeks. 

6.  I have the worlds smallest food processor.  perfect for little crazy 2 year old hands to use whilst helping me whip up dinner. 

that’s actually not the smallest one.  I have a smaller one.  I like small appliances.  if I had a bigger one, I would probably be forced to be a food blogger.  that is not in anyone’s best interest.  I will stick to running.  and I’m not even completely positive I can do that well. 

  

That is all for now.  It’s only Monday.  Moving on to Tuesday.  Looking forward to Saturday. 

 

Tell me about your weekend races??

Do you have good running form, or are there things you need to work on?

Do you like to see recipes on the blog?  Probably won’t happen too often.  I had grand plans for that, but it’s not really panning out.  Turns out I don’t really like to write out recipes. 

Do you like to see a ridiculous amount of pictures of me striking the same pose over and over?  Don’t answer that.

Confessions of a Running Mom

Let’s do a little confessional Friday.  Have a little chat, shall we?

1. Workout.  we always begin with the workout.  are you ready?  I’m back.  today.  back in the running game. 

outfit of choice – lululemon skirt and cool racerback top (I threw the black patagonia on right after the momentous run), mizuno precision sneaks, wonderful.  cep compression socks.  will be accompanying me frequently.  the mile long legs are complementary.

it’s just plain exciting.  aren’t you excited?  I kind of felt like a newborn baby runner.  amazing what 12 days off will do.  besides deplete you of all speed and endurance you feel like you once had.  it will also make you feel really good that you took that rest time and everything that got lost in the rest is ok.  I kind of feel like I am starting over a little bit.  after almost 2 weeks off.  and a whole lot of time off before that.  and I guess that’s kind of what I wanted.  and needed.  reset button.  so I declared today as my first day back instead of Sunday.  I have the power to do that.  well, kind of.  I took a solid 12 days off (not counting the little Sunday 3 miler.  shhhhh)  the weather was perfect.  I had to do it.  I had no choice.  really, it made me really really happy.  so happy that I’m even playing the smart runner and NOT running tomorrow.  but don’t hold me to that.  so happy that I let my daughter stay up half an hour later to play checkers and tic tac toe with me.  that’s big.  mom of the year award over here.  mini confession:  she totally beat me.  fair and square.  I wasn’t even letting her take my pieces.  she’s good.      

2. The Garmin.  I stated that I was not going to take it with me on any run for the next couple weeks so that I could just take it easy and not ‘race’ myself, like I generally do.  I confess.  I had garmin in hand today.  I would have taken it with me if it was not dead.  bad runner.  I have no resolve or self control when it comes to that silly watch.  let’s just leave it dead for awhile.  I’m not going to charge it.  then I don’t have to make the decision not to bring it.

3. The pace.  might have been a little faster than a return to running pace was prescribed to me.  by coach.  I wore a regular watch and looked at it when I started and when I ended.  5 miles.  37 minutes. 7:24.  not terrible.  It was comfortable.  I could have held it for a bit.  It was not hard, but it wasn’t super easy.  very very strange.  that was a fairly EASY pace back in the day of two months ago.  I have a LOT of work to do.

4.  My kids made this mess. 

looks like a small bloodbath happened.  scary.  no children or animals were harmed.  fear not.

ok, if this is true confessions, that’s not true.  I did this mess.  and it’s there to stay.  this did not make me happy.  It’s slightly annoying to have to take all of these things prescribed by the naturopath.  It’s more annoying to be opening the iodine prescribed for my thyroid and drop the entire little bottle all over the cabinets.  iodine stains.  immediately.  and with anger.  I’ve been wanting to redecorate.  I think it’s a good look.  so if you are in the unfortunate situation to be taking iodine, take care not to throw it all over your kitchen.  speaking of naturopath, another mini confession: I have been eating chocolate after dinner.  a small amount.  that was a no no.  working on it.

5.  I like to celebrate the little things.  ok.  confession.  I don’t really.  I’d really rather not plan birthday parties and celebratory events.  I might be saying that to justify my plans to hit up lululemon tomorrow.  because there happen to be two perfectly suitable celebrations for which to shop at lulu – mother’s day and my return to running.  they both are deserving of some celebratory purchase for sure.

6.  I got a sitter for a saturday.  so that I could go to Lululemon get mother’s day presents.  because I do things last minute.  all the time.  this is very out of character and weird for me to do on a Saturday.  I’ve never gotten a sitter during the day.  but the hubs is going to be occupado all day and that leaves me with three little kids from 5am – because it’s my morning to get up with the little early riser – until bed time.  this requires some reinforcement.  for the sanity of mama and the precious children.  I know a few hours of child free errands at the end of the week will make the day go a lot smoother for all parties.  there comes a point where I just can not handle one. more. errand.  dragging the kids in and out of the car.  it gets exhausting sometimes.  so as out of character as it may be – it is necessary tomorrow.  as mentioned, I’m going to try to keep my good runner hat on and not run when I have a sitter at my fingertips.  take it nice and slow there with the running, champ.  pretty sure the lululemon mother’s day shopping will suck up all of my sitter time.

7. I was very close to stealing my nana’s gift that I got her for mother’s day.  and she doesn’t even know it’s her gift.  now she does.

I’m so sneaky.  nana, I apologize.  there is something terribly wrong about stealing from your grandmother, a little sweet gift that you haven’t even given her yet.  but there are three of them.  and they have been sitting in my fridge all day.  surely she wouldn’t miss a nibble.  I resisted.  if that’s not will power, I do not know what is.  I will confess that multiple times I had to put them down and walk away from the fridge.  there.  I feel better.  and there are no little nibbles missing.  promise.  but if you are reading this nana, you may want to come get them asap tomorrow.  I can’t promise they will survive another day.

8.  I love CEP compression socks, but these ones are my second skin as of late.

sit and spin anyone?  it’s a fabulous little toy.  and our makeshift gymnastics mat.  suitable for handstands, backbends and cartwheels for the tiniest of gymnasts.

I bought these Pro Compression socks before my Gansett marathon in mid April.  They make me feel like my legs are wrapped in a little piece of heaven.  blissful.  magical.  I think I saw unicorns or rainbows or fairies or something buzzing around them.  they are that magical.  I have some pretty harsh veins going on in my calfs.   I blame pregnancy, but that can’t really be verified.  “they” tell me it’s more genetics.  I tell “them” it’s not fair.  “they” don’t care and I’m stuck with them because “insurance” doesn’t cover “those” procedures and “they” are expensive.  I like using ” “.   Off on a tangent I go – back now…anyway, they, being the socks, help with that vein discomfort and they help with spastic shins after a run.  and they snuggle my feet very nicely.  the whole package.  I like to wear my own socks running, so I tend to wear the calf sleeves running and these babies at home.  but I think I should give these a try for a run sometime soon. 

9.  I am watching THE VOW right now.  no further comment.

 

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you mamas out there!!!

What fun will everyone be having this weekend?

What running will everyone be having this weekend? 

Happy to say that I will be running too!  yippee.