Good Intentions

This is why I hate New Year's Resolutions.  They're really pretty pointless - every morning that you wake up is an opportunity to start over; start something new; make a change. 

I had been doing great getting up at 5AM to get my run in before school until I hurt my stupid ankle of stupidness and ended up on my tush for 6 weeks.  (It wasn't a fracture; just needed some R&R).  I thought surely I could get back to it right after the holidays without any issue.

Wrong.

I don't mind getting up but I can only do it so many times and then have it all thrown into bedlam with a call from the school announcing a 2-hour delay or, worse, a cancellation.  I mean, 5AM is really stinkin' early!  I am getting my runs in, getting it done, but it feels all discombobulated.  (Wow!  Spelled THAT right on the first try!)

I signed up to run the Pittsburgh Half Marathon again (May 3) and I'm following a plan (This one, as a matter of fact) and when I have a plan there's NO WAY I'm skipping a workout.  As a matter of fact, I'm bound and determined to not even skip on the days when it's "allowed".  (Read the plan; it's easy to follow!).

Here's to starting fresh again tomorrow; we're already on a cancellation for today!

A Runner's Christmas List

I love running. (For those of you who knew me before I was a runner, you can feel free to pick your jaw up off of the floor now - no one's more surprised than I am that I can say that honestly).  The trick, though, is that folks will say it's an inexpensive sport.  All you need are shoes!  HAHAHAHAHA!  No.  It sounds good and maybe some folks can get by without other gear but this mommy can't.  Heck, some runners even go barefoot!  So, in no particular order, here's my wishlist for running gear this holiday season:

10.  Bondi bands.  Dude.  I love these things.  I can make a statement about who I am but most importantly, these suckers stay put.  And I have A LOT of hair.  And it's pretty fine (Fine, meaning not thick and wavy; not fine, meaning dang, that's some fine hair).  So it's really hard to find something that will keep it out of my ever loving face while I'm running and sweaty and gross.  These do that.  Wonderfully.  I have several:  "I thought they said 'RUM'"; "Just Don't Be Last"; "I LOVE RUNNING/I HATE RUNNING"; and "I run like a GIRL!" 

9.  Yurbuds.  I have a set of these earbuds and lemme tell ya, they don't fall out.  Ever. (OK.  In all fairness, I will admit two things:  I CAN yank them out accidentally while running when I catch them with my hand.  And I had trouble with them falling out...when I was putting them in the wrong ear - so totally user-error-related).  I would love this pair that has volume control and a mic on them.  AND they come in pink!

8.  Nike socks.  I think that socks are NEARLY as important as shoes when it comes to running.  I can't even tell you the difference it made when I started wearing wicking socks (and wicking everything else).  I've never tried Nike, but in this instance I'm going with brand loyalty.

7.  Sporty jewelry.  I want something that makes a statement about my running when I'm in my non-workout gear.  (And unlike a lot of runners, I'm usually only in my gear when I'm actually running).  I like this ring.  It's my favorite.  I'm a size 6. ;)

6.  Cold weather tights.  I have heard really good things about these ones from Under Armour.  Baby, it's cold outside...

5.  Long-sleeve tech t-shirts.  I like the kind with a thumb hole.  Kinda like these ones, although I think you could probably find something much, much cheaper and it would be just as good.  (I'm only brand loyal when it comes to my feet...)

4.  And speaking of my feet...I just bought a new pair of kicks but I'd like to have a back-up.  I am partial to Nike.  As a matter of fact, at this stage of the game, that's the only brand I'm willing to even try.  I shop the outlet and stalk the clearance rack every time I go, so I can usually find a deal there but this site has some nice options.  I wear a size 9 (You know, in case Santa needs my measurements).

3.  Let's talk GPS.  I run with my iPhone strapped to my arm.  I've tried the Road I.D. app which is supposed to send a link to Mr. MOTH with my coordinates and is also supposed to sound an alarm if I'm immobile for more than 5 minutes.  It crashed.  I like my Nike+ app but it has no safety feature.  Sigh.  Why can't a girl have the best of both worlds?  Whatever.  This Nike brand sports watch is nice.  But what I really want is...

2.  Garmin.  Truly, any Garmin would do but, since it's a WISH list and all, this is the one I really want - the Garmin Forerunner 620.  With the heart rate monitor.  Sigh.  A girl can dream...

1.  A new treadmill.  I'm really skating on thin ice with ours.  The belt has been tightened so much lately to keep it from slipping that I'm kinda afraid it's going to snap and shoot me across the room.  I'm not exactly picky, but it has to have ONE key feature:   I want a decline option.  Our current model won't let you go below a 1.5% incline so I'm ALWAYS running uphill.  Not bad for training purposes in general, but when you have bursitis in your hips and then all of a sudden try to run DOWNHILL in real life, well, let's just say it's not pretty. 

So, my running compadres, what do YOU want Santa to bring YOU this year?

Panic

Yinz guys.

Our treadmill is on the fritz.

I know, I know.  All of you hard core runners out there are laughing, but seriously.  I do 75% or more of my running on the dreadmill.  It's just how life around here works.  I could get up at 5AM to run outside (when it's dark and the zombies are still out) or I can run around 9AM in my nice, cool basement after breakfast and a pot cup of coffee.

I make sure I run every long run (Saturdays) outside and sometimes I do hill repeats (which I love)(don't judge) just up the street but I am freaking out over here.  First of all, I like running and it's a lot harder to do without the convenience of running at home (which doesn't require someone else to watch the kids).  Second, Mr. MOTH - who just had meniscus repair surgery on his knee - thinks an elliptical might be a more "practical" choice (read:  better for him).  Third, no matter what we get it ain't gonna be cheap.  This has been the year of having to fork over more money than I care to admit on necessities - the Space Shuttle transmission, the air conditioner, Mr. MOTH's car, the grinder pump, etc.  Sure, one could argue that a treadmill isn't a "necessity" but that "one" isn't me.  It's necessary for my sanity and my rear end, neither one of which do I want to get out of control!

We are in the process of deciding how to proceed.  Step one is trying a lubricant on the belt to see if that helps the issue (it's jerking a lot).  Step two has something to do with a belt for the motor, which isn't a lot of money.  Step three requires the credit card and possibly a discussion between Mr. MOTH and I over the benefits of me being able to run vs. him avoiding more surgery (for the record, the doctors told him he could still run without much risk of injury).

I'm panicked. 

Yinz guys.

Race Report and More!

This was a busy weekend in The Mommy's household.  First up, I ran a 5K.  I had trained for a PR...and I didn't get one. :(  I have a lot of excuses (It was hot; my music never turned on; I'm old) but all that matters is that it didn't happen.  I'm pretty cranked about it, actually, but I'm just looking at my training and trying to figure out what went wrong.  If I'm being honest, I think the primary thing is that this is the course I had my PR on...and they changed it this year, including adding a couple of hills, and that's what I'm going with.

On a positive note, I took 3rd in my age group.  Also, my sister ran her very first 10K!  Woot!  She wasn't exactly thrilled with her time, either, but she DID IT!  That's huge! 

 

The very next day my newest niece (Ivy) was baptized.  She's a sweet, sweet baby and very precious to all of us.  She's given us a couple of health scares that haven't been completely resolved and that makes her blessing even more special:

 

The Princess

The Big Sister V

My brother, E and his wife, K with Ivy

Yes, my sister-in-law really is that gorgeous - even 3 months after giving birth!

Me and the Sweetie Pie

 

We also took the kids to see Monsters University over the July 4th holiday (I won movie tickets from a BlogHer contest, so that was exciting!).  That's the first time we all went to the movies in a theatre together!  Mr. MOTH was NOT optimistic, but they did great!

 



Overall, the movie was good...but not Monsters, Inc. good.  I think that I need to watch it again to make my final verdict but I just thought it was "good", not Pixar "great".  That's two in a row that haven't met my expectations (Brave was the same way...good but not great).  Sad, but true.  The kids liked it, though!

Summer and The Next Big Race

I haven't been posting too much since summer vacation started.  I know I tend to be in the minority, but for the most part, I LOVE having my kids home.  That first week, however, is an adjustment for all of us.  We survived, and now we're enjoying each other's company again.  We signed up for the Summer Brain Games at the Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago) and haven't really started, but that's going to change today.  I'll be sure to post our successes (and failures!) so that you can see what you're missing! ;)  If you have kids, you should sign up.  Plus, if you're going to be in the Chicago area, you get one free admission.  And if you blog about it, I think you can be entered to win some sort of tech package (I haven't got to that part, yet).

Even though that first week was pretty un-scheduled we've made up for it since with plenty of visits to doctors, dentists, and surgeons.  When I had to call Aunt Jo for the third time, I asked if she could just move in! ;)  So far, the summer is shaping up to be busy but not over-scheduled.  I sometimes worry that I'm doing our kids a disservice by not having them signed up for summer sports but then I see our neighbors who spend all weekend running back and forth to two or three different fields and events and I think maybe WE aren't the ones doing a disservice.  I'm not judging...it's just not how I want my kids to remember childhood.  To each their own.

That being said, our boys are taking swim lessons for two weeks in July.  I'm excited and more than a little nervous.  I'm not a strong swimmer, primarily because I'm nearly legally blind without my glasses - the main reason I could never, ever conceive of doing a triathlon.  Ever.  But I want my boys to at least learn the basics.  I want them to have a fighting chance if the need ever arises.  Girls are next summer (Little One isn't old enough for this particular type of class).

And my next race - July 13th.  The Fireworks 5K - Run for your Heart.  This race is near and dear to my heart (no pun intended).  I signed up on a whim for the inaugural running and this will be the third year.  I also dragged my sister along.  I was surprised at where the start and finish lines are - the old hospital in town.  The place where our beloved Grandma A passed away.  From a massive heart attack.  I really think that my entire family should be participating in this somehow - walking (even just the 1 mile!), running, racing, volunteering or AT LEAST cheering us on.  You can feel that we're supposed to be there.  At first, it hits you like a ton of bricks but then, at least for me, there's a peace.  Like at least I'm doing something to prevent heart disease in my OWN body and maybe encouraging others.  My mom and youngest brother are planning to be there, I think.

This year, my sister's running the 10K.  I'm gunning for a 5K PR (personal record) of under 27:15 (my last time at this race).  Last year I PR'd with Achilles tendinitis.  I also took 1st in my age group.  I'm looking to kick butt this time, but I'll be happy with a PR.  And it would be REALLY nice to place in my bracket.  Of course, since this will be the first time we're staying for the awards ceremony I probably won't.  They also changed the course - it has typically been VERY fast - because there's a bridge that's under construction.  As in, not there right now.  For the first time, they're not hyping this up as a "very fast" course. Sigh.

Race Report

It's official:

I am a Runner of Steel!  Overall, the race was fantastic.  The weather was picture-perfect (especially after I purchased my new shades!) and I felt strong.  I decided to follow the 2:15 pace group - even though they started at least a minute or more in front of me - because I felt like my time should be faster than 2:15.  I finished ahead of the pacer...and my time was 2:15.53!  Not bad for a middle-aged mama of 4!!

That photo is several hours post-race (Mr. MOTH is NOT a picture taker...and he missed my finish - he started watching for me AFTER the pace lady went by and I was in front of her).

I walked in the door to a round of applause, which was pretty cool, and promptly had my medal handled by everyone in the house (my mom included).  We decided to weigh it because, dang, it was heavy!  10+ ounces!  Good thing they give it to you AFTER the race because it would most definitely have slowed me down.

I enjoyed every.single.minute of the run.  I went in knowing I was guaranteed a PR and I treated it as such. That's not to say that I didn't push a bit here and there but I was mostly taking it all in.  WHAT an experience!  The first 5-6 miles I ran behind some 6'6" dude wearing a Hulk t-shirt (he was my favorite runner).  At mile 8 I tweaked my foot (same one as before) so I babied it a bit but didn't slow down.  I kept waiting for the "huge hill" at mile 11-12...and I never noticed it.  I'm thinking my normal route - with it's two ginormous hills - must make the others look like a speed bump!  My favorite sign was a guy on the South Side holding one that said, "Hungover But Still Supportive!"  :)

Best thing I did was take a bus down.  I had a place to stash my gear and also pee/change after the race (although I opted not to change and wore my race shirt - complete with bib - and my medal out to brunch).  I also didn't have to fuss about parking or directions.  Although after the race I had no idea where I was or how to get back to the bus!  Thank goodness my husband knows his way around downtown!  I would still be hanging out at Point State Park!

Worst thing I did was not wear a long-sleeve tee under my running shirt.  I was really freakin' cold waiting for the start (official start was 7AM - my corral started running around 7:20 or so).   I was in corral "E" - which Mr. MOTH said must stand for "Everyone Else". ;)

I also want to say that my heart goes out to the family of Kyle Johnson who passed away during the half marathon at mile 12.  23 years old is too young.  May he rest in peace.

Another First

This marathon thing is big.  WAY big.  I went down to pick up my race packet yesterday, with Little One in tow, and the garage at the Convention Center was full.  And so was the next lot.  And the next.  We ended up parking about 5 blocks away - good thing I've been training!  It was a hike but it was a gorgeous day and we got to walk down by the river a bit and we even saw a Canada goose hanging out on, of all things, a patch of cement!

I am thoroughly enjoying this experience because, for me, it might just be once-in-a-lifetime (maybe not - if Mr. MOTH figures out a way for me to Run Disney I am ALL OVER IT).  I picked up my bib, my tech shirt, and my goody bag and then we decided to roam around the expo.  BIG mistake.

I had to pick up a few things.  First of all, the weather for Sunday is going to be sunny.  Not mostly sunny or even partly sunny but not-a-cloud-in-the-sky sunny.  I needed something to shade my eyes.  I'm not really a hat wearer so I went looking for shades - and there was more than one option, if you can imagine! ;)

I ended up with something similar to these (the exact ones I got were light pink and not anti-fog).  If someone ends up taking my photo on race day, you'll get to see them.  I bought pink for two reasons - they donated $1 to breast cancer research and Little One was with me.  Pink is the ONLY option when you're shopping with her. ;)

I also bought some bling for my shoes.  Now, this was totally non-essential and fanciful and all about me, me, ME!  I am a girly girl who can't even believe I'm about to try to run a half-marathon so I wanted to show my accomplishment in a very girlie way (more so than the car magnet I also bought that says 13.1).  I bought this.

 

Why, yes, it is pink.  Why do you ask?

 

It was a great experience.  I also got a Boston wristband (RunforBoston) just because.  Some of my favorite things that I DIDN'T buy:  A t-shirt for spectators that says, "Yinz run like Jagoffs 'N 'At" (only a Yinzer would get that one).  A t-shirt that says, "Twenty Six Point Freakin' Two!"  (I say "freakin'" a lot). And I also like the Great Race tees but I need to actually RUN the Great Race before I buy one of those - and I think I will!

 

So, tomorrow's the big day and I'm ready I guess.  Taper is tricky - you have to trust your training and since I have no idea if I should or not I'm just going with it.  Mr. MOTH will be waiting at the finish (alone, the kids are staying with Grandma) and that's a huge deal for me.  He's not exactly into the whole distance running thing but he seems pretty pumped about this and that means more than he probably knows.  He even signed up to get texts DURING the race of my times at certain mileages!  :) 

 

Wish me luck!

I AM Stronger Than I Thought

A few weeks back (like, WAY back), I entered to win a t-shirt from one of my favorite running blogs (Another Mother Runner).  Mostly, I comment just because I like to talk and around here it's tough to compete with a 3-year-old (not to mention she just doesn't get most of my jokes).  In this case, I WON!  I got to choose an awesome t-shirt from their new line-up and I was pretty excited.  I chose this one:

Note:  Baby Girl took this photo while she was home from school yesterday with a fever (104.2)

Unfortunately, the temp hasn't been above freezing around here until just recently but I got to rock this tee yesterday.  I got a couple of compliments and, of course, I had to tell the whole story about how I won it and I'm hoping to prove how strong I really am by completing my first half marathon in just over three (3!) weeks. 

Now we get to the part of training where I start to freak the frickety frack out!  Do you know how long 13.1 miles is?!?!  I do.  Really stinkin' long.  I have a 10-13 mile training run on Saturday (my personal goal is 12) and I am hanging a lot of confidence come race day on being able to complete that run with minimal drama (and pain).  The weather, of course, is not cooperating but I'm planning to run outside anyway.  At this rate, there's a good chance it will be snowing on race day so I may as well suck it up, buttercup and get 'er done.

I'm also struggling with my own ignorance.  I never really thought about some things that I now have to consider pretty seriously.  Like fueling during a run.  I was eyeing up some chews last night while grocery shopping and had some muscle-head guy (whose neck was bigger than my waist) trying to give me pointers.  All I could think was that body-building (i.e. building muscles) is WAAAAY different than building cardio endurance.  Yes, you want to limit sugar but you NEED carbs to fuel a long run (even *I* know that).  He just kinda ticked me off and maybe confused me a bit.  I'll figure it out.  I did learn that jelly beans are not acceptable fuel.  I learned that the hard way. Ahem.

I also need to know what the heck a corral is.  I mean, should I pack my spurs?  Will I be running with the bulls?  I'm kidding, but I really don't know what it means.  I'm guessing it's like an organized starting line but since I've never done this before I don't know what to expect.  I'll be asking the experts (Joella) for info very soon.

And then there's the logistics of race day morning.  I think I'm taking a bus (I haven't heard details yet...) but I don't know how many kids to have Mr. MOTH bring or if he should bring any.  If my mom comes, they'll have to bring all of them.  And he's not a social being the way I am - he will want to leave ASAP and I'm planning on enjoying the festivities for quite awhile.  We'll see, I guess!

Anyhow, thanks SBS and Dimity for the cool duds and the personalized note.  I use it as a bookmark in my copy of Train Like A Mother!

 

Half Marathon Training

I have just under 6 weeks before race day.  My plan is to reward myself periodically for making it through the tough parts.  This weekend, I tweaked my left foot.  I'm not sure how or what it is/was but dang it hurt!  I can run through pain (I have bursitis in my hips and that ain't no walk in the park when you're trying to run distances of double digits) but this was stop-you-in-your-tracks-and-curse pain.

So, I bought new shoes.  Seemed fair.  We are lucky enough to live near an outlet mall, so I hit the Nike outlet (I was running in Reebok and now I'm mad at them - when in doubt, blame the shoes, right?).  I texted my runner-friend who's a coach and asked for her recommendation (which I ended up not liking).  And I tried on every.single.style of shoe that Nike makes.  I was willing to fork over the big bucks for a pair that felt right to me.  Luckily, I didn't have to but it wasn't for lack of trying!  The high end shoes were truthfully just too much shoe for me, if that makes sense.  I ended up with Nike Lunarfly+ 3 in a lovely shade of gray, purple and neon pink.  Number one rule of buying running shoes:  Do NOT get hung up on what they look like!! This shoe is similar, but not that same color.

Today is a play day (fun workout) for my training plan (from Half Marathon - Finish It by Another Mother Runner authors), so I won't be running in my new wheels until tomorrow.  Wish me luck, because if this doesn't help I might have to go see a doctor.

In other news, we are on a two-hour delay which means I baked a batch of imitation Amish friendship bread (the kind you normally have to knead the dough for 10 days before you can make the bread and then you pass it on to unsuspecting friends who hate you afterwards thank you for life).  I'll link the recipe later, but now I have to style Baby Girl's hair and round up the rest of the troops.  I better stop at the store for milk, bread, and toilet paper - because that's what EVERYONE does when it snows around here...

March Is Here!

This is going to be a pretty random catch-all type of post.

In January (the 7th, to be exact) I signed up for a half marathon.  That same day (like, 5 minutes later) I got some blood test results back that weren't exactly encouraging.  Nothing to slow me down...yet.  We'll see.  I get retested in July.

Oldest Boy is at the tail end of basketball season.  I love basketball but watching 3rd and 4th grade boys play is stressful, especially when your son is not exactly a star player.  I'm proud that he sticks with it and doesn't seem to get down when he doesn't get to play when it matters (read: when they actually keep score, like in the season-end tournaments).  When your coach asks you, "Do you want to play or do you want to win?" and you just go with the "win", that takes character.  My boy has that.  Me?  I want to smack the coach upside the head and say, "Who says that to a 10-year-old?!?!"  They lost the first tournament game, in which our son only played 5 minutes, max.  Frankly, I think they lost because they only played their better players.  Hear me out.  I don't mean that the bench-warmer types would have upped the score, I mean that those star players are used to getting breaks when they follow the rules and play everyone equal time (or at least close).  Those boys were tired and that made them make mistakes and miss easy shots.  Serves the coaches right - they didn't follow the rules and they lost.  C'est la vie. 

We gave our nursery furniture away.  My brother and his wife are expecting Baby #2 in April and since Baby V is only going to be 19 months old at the time they needed a second crib.  Our furniture was a gift from my Mother-in-law and we debated what to do with it.  Mr. MOTH is glad it will be used by family.  I'm glad, too.  But, man, that room just isn't the same.  We've had a nursery in this house since the day we moved in - November 2002.  Sigh.  Sniff. 

The computer room is 90% finished.  We need to hang up Mr. MOTH's patents (4 and counting) and get a small console table but those are such small details, I'm not worrying about it.  I have moved on to the next project.

The girls' room got a closet system.  See, everything hinges on the next project, or, uh, I guess the previous project.  I had to empty the changing table in the nursery so my brother could take it but I needed a place for the clothes.  So Mr. MOTH, in his never-ending need to organize, went with an Easy Closet System.  Those things aren't cheap but they are SOOO worth it.  It was up in less than a day.  Now, we need to get Little One a bed because right now she's sleeping with Baby Girl.  It has actually been working pretty well and our plan is to put their beds back-to-back when we get hers.  Soon.

We started planning our next Disney vacation.  I can't wait.  I know I said I would never go in August again, but, hey, live and learn, right?  At least the weather is predictable then.  It will be H-O-T.  Less clothes to pack!

I got my hair cut.  Short.  Not you-can-see-my-ears short but well above shoulder-length.  Mr. MOTH is not happy.  I am.  The jury is out on who I will make happy in the long run but going to Florida at the hottest time of the year does not tempt me to grow my hair out.  Sigh.

Red Cake meets Whoopie Pies

In my family, red cake (more specifically the Neiman Marcus cookie recipe of the 1970's - Waldorf Astoria Red Velvet Cake) is a tradition.  It's delicious, yes, but for us it's all about the memories.  You had to beg (BEG!) for one for your birthday, but I'm pretty sure my grandma just liked to see us squirm.  She enjoyed eating it as much as the rest of us, but it is a PITA to make (for those of you abbreviationally challenged, that's Pain In The A$$).  You aren't truly a member of the family if your mixer isn't covered in blood-red stains from creating this beloved concoction.

However.  My Grams would have LOVED the idea of using a boxed cake mix for this.  Truly, she was all about shortcuts.  The problem is, it's the icing that makes the cake and, well, that's the tricky part.  It's not hard, per se, but it's...tricky.  So, because I wanted me some red cake but didn't want the hassle of having my kitchen look like a butcher shop, I bought the mix.  And then I got to looking at the box and lo and behold, there was an epiphany waiting to happen!  There was a photo of "red velvet sandwich cookies" - which is to say they looked like red velvet whoopie pies.  (If you don't know what whoopie pies are, I kinda pity you.  Google it.  You can thank me later.)  But wait!  What if I made the red cake part and then!  AND THEN!  Filled it with the Red Cake ICING!! 

Oh, yes.  I did:

 (Uncle Mark, stop licking the screen now...)

Luckily, my parents were here on Sunday to taste-test.  Lemme tell ya, I really had to twist their arms! ;)  I had to laugh while we were, uh, sampling them because I was just licking the icing off from the outside of mine when I looked at my parents and they were BOTH doing the same dang thing!  It really is the best part.  Good news, family!  I'm going to make these for Christmas and tint the icing green!  Whoopie!

And, because this just makes me smile every time I see it and also because - after starting to run again after OVER A MONTH of injury - it's exactly how I felt:

PS - Even with the box mix, my kitchen still looked like a butcher shop.  Also, I adjusted the recipe per the reviews and added an extra egg and 2 TBSP vegetable oil.  They came out delish but flat.

Not Running and The Olympics

I am a huge fan of the Olympics.  I can't say I have one sport in particular that I like to watch but I just love the atmosphere; the competition; the fact that there's not much else on TV that inspires quite as much.  We watched some of the Opening Ceremonies together with the kids (until bedtime) and it's always worth the wait.  However, am I the only one who wants to punch Bob Costas between the eyes already?  Anybody else screaming at the TV for him to STOP TALKING ALREADY?!?!  I would have preferred to watch the ceremony with the mute button on rather than listen to him, except I wanted to TRY to hear the music and such (sometimes he would hush for a moment or two).  And there wasn't a single other person on the planet who was disappointed that the Parade of Nations went so fast!  He had to rush through all of his inane trivia so fast that half of the time the next country was already on it's way through!  Sheesh!  I still thought it was beautiful, humorous and inspiring - despite the commentary.  Easily my favorite part was Queen Elizabeth II.  I have a thing for the royals.  I also think the lighting of the flame this time was AH-MAZE-ING!

All of this athleticism is making me a bit twitchy to get back to running but, man, I have a serious pulled muscle.  One that is going to take a couple of WEEKS to get better and it is making me grumpy.  And chubby.  And lazy.  {SIGH}.  Rest is not something I do well.  But.  I also don't do pain very well and it freakin' hurts to run.  Believe me, I tried.  And that probably set me back at least a few days.  Stupid.  Oh, well.  At least I can turn on my TV and live vicariously through my fellow Americans vying for Gold! 

There's nothing quite like hearing 4 (OK, 6) voices at the dinner table yelling, "USA! USA! USA!"  Sweet!

Race Report

Yesterday was the local Fireworks 5K that my sister and I ran in last year (the first year of the event) and again this year.  We both got faster and we both finished at the top for our age group (we flip-flopped - this year she was second and I was first - different age groups.  Very.).  My official time was 27:15.90 - a PR for me.  WOOT!

At least this year they managed to STOP traffic - last year?  Notsomuch.  Of course, this year one of the officers handling traffic flow was the husband of a former high school "friend".  She and I have had a falling out (apparently, because I sent her a Christmas card?  Yes.  That was it.) but, ya know, I'm a friendly kinda girl.  So I acknowledged her husband as I ran passed.  I'm sure that broke some kind of former friendship rule that she'll let me know about in the rudest way possible but, hey!  What else is new?  At least he didn't trip me.

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The course is a 5K/10K with the 10K being a double loop of the 5K.  As we were nearing the finish, I was running next to some older (as in, 70-year-old) guy (no shirt, of course.  This IS western PA).  Because of the double-loop set up, the first of the 10K runners ran passed on their way back.  As the first guy came up I muttered under my breath, "Show off..." and the old dude about fell over laughing.  I musta said it louder than I thought.  I was wearing my earbuds, but still.

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Everyone has different reasons why they run.  Mine change, sometimes daily, but a repeating theme is the girl I was in high school.  I was one of two girls who were ALWAYS last in "the mile".  As in, couldn't complete it in under 20 minutes the first time so I had to run it AGAIN to try to make that time.  (Mind you, no one ever told me what the hell I was supposed to actually DO to be able to run it in less time, quality phys ed teachers right there).  The girl running next to me was the "friend" I mentioned above.  Sometimes, when I'm running, for each step I take I'll picture her sitting on her couch eating another chip.  And I'll take another step.  And another.  My mile is usually under nine (9!) minutes these days.  It's nice to picture someone who has hurt you eating your dust once in awhile.

Motivation

I recently joined a discussion about finding motivation to exercise/workout.  I have to say, this is something that has been a complete evolution for me. 

In my 20's (aka my single years), my motivation was wanting to look good.  Healthy?  Puh.  Who cares?  I'm 24!  I'm gonna live for-ev-ah!!  Occasionally there would be a special day (mostly one that required me squeezing into an unflattering bridesmaid's dress - I own approximately 371 of them) and I would step up my efforts.  I never, ever ran.  I walked a lot.  I learned to ski.  I went caveing - which was SO much fun and one of the things I miss and hope to some day introduce to my munchkins .I became a Kathy Smith aerobic video junkie.

Then I joined a gym.  I made half-hearted attempts at weight training but that was extremely intimidating.  Oh.my.word.  I would mostly use the stairmaster.  There was one extremely thin, young(er), beautiful woman who would get on next to me and go approximately 17 times faster.  I nicknamed her "Ginger Spice" (she had red hair and the Spice Girls were popular)(yes, I'm old). 

Then I met my husband.  He worked out a lot.  He decided one year to do the Body-for-Life program and told me, "There is NO WAY you could do this!"  Did I mention how much I HATE to be told that I "can't" do something?  Yeah.  I did the 12 week program.  Twice.  Never varied and followed it exactly.  That was, at the time, the best shape I had ever been in. 

Then we had kids and my motivation was "don't get fat".  It was a hard place to be because I knew we had every intention of having more babies after the first 3 so working my hiney off to get back to my pre-baby weight was, to me, a bit pointless.  But.  I did it.  Every time.  It was really difficult after the first baby (and 54 pounds of pregnancy weight) but each time it got easier (probably because I gained less with each baby).

Now, my motivation has a name.  Actually, it has 4 names - Oldest Boy, Youngest Boy, Baby Girl, and Little One.  I want my boys to know that women can be strong and still be pretty.  I want my girls to know that strong IS pretty.  They all think that moms run.  For fun.  For PR's.  For charity.  They run.  I can't wait until next year.  They (well, the boys at least) want to run a 5K with me!  Now if I could just convince Mr. MOTH that he should do it, too!!  Maybe I should just tell him he "can't"...

Mother's Day 2012

What a difference a year can make!  Again this year I ran the Race for the Cure downtown (dahntahn) but instead of being late and extremely nervous we were relatively on-time and I was pretty calm.  As the MC counted us down this year I turned to watch the runners sprinting down the hill and remembered how that was ME last year!  I improved my time by almost 2 minutes (For me, this was a true test of how my running is coming along.  I don't think it's accurate to compare race times from different courses.  That's the scientist in me - only change one variable at a time!) and came in 40th in my age group.  The only "eventful" thing that happened this year was some dude ran past me and ripped the earbuds out of my ears and yanked my head backwards.  THAT was fun...he sorta almost apologized before he left me in the dust cursing silently in my head and trying to make everything fit back the way it was supposed to!

I got a lot of loot:

 Store-bought cards from Mr. MOTH and the kids.  A home-made "MOM" cut-out card from Youngest Boy which came with the Rosary beads (one decade), a book mark and that envelope that says "I love you".  Another home-made "pop-up" card from Oldest Boy which came with the paper teacup - inside were coupons for a massage, breakfast in bed, and "your choice" and a teabag.  He also made me the bling pin at the top of the photo.  Baby Girl made me the card at the top with the big "40" in it (because I'm 40 now...).  She also gave me a delicious muffin along with a card that had the poem "If You Give a Mom a Muffin" by Beth Brubaker.

And Little One, well, she gave me the gift of getting better.  She may look like she went a few rounds with Mike Tyson (or she got a nose job) but she'll be just fine.  And today she turns 3.  My hardest-to-handle age.  I can't wait!

We also visited my mother-in-law.  She may not really know who we are or what's going on but she did point directly at her son (my husband) and say, "THAT one is trouble!!"  Amen!

Overall it was a nice day.  I got to spend the whole morning and early afternoon (while I wasn't on the race course) with my mom, my kids, and my love.  Awesome!

Training to...Catch the Garbage Truck?

You all know that I started running last January in the hopes of completing a 5K. I am still running even after my varicose vein treatments (follow-up post coming soon!) although I haven't committed to any more races yet (read: I haven't ponied up the funds). But yesterday my training came in very, very handy!

We live on a small cul-de-sac. Four houses total (currently only 3 are occupied since the crazy, irresponsible, annoying neighbors suffered a foreclosure). Our little road is part of a plan of homes made up of six of the exact same cul-de-sacs. Five of the six are relatively level (the sixth is that big hill I conquer at the start of my run). We live on one of the level roads.

Since we built our home in 2002 we have been required by our garbage collection agency to place our trash at the end of the cul-de-sac by the "big road" (that's what my kids call it). A few years ago I noticed that the garbage truck goes the whole way down the next cul-de-sac over and picked up the trash in front of the homes. So I called the company. They explained that the homeowners must have a disability (which is true) and that's why they made the exception. Fair enough. I wasn't going to begrudge them this perk when they have other woes.

About a year ago our favorite neighbors (across the street) were told that not only did they have to put their trash at the end of the road but they had to cart it across to our side. This was annoying to them but a bit more annoying to us because, well, we live in the country. There are nocturnal creatures who feast on our trash, ripping the bags wide open and spewing it...across our lawn. We dealt with it because, well, what choice did we have?

Over Christmas break I just happened to be driving home during trash pick-up time and I saw the garbage truck go down every.other.road in our plan. Come to think of it, I've never seen the other roads with trash at the end. NEVER. I called again and was promptly told that, yes, indeed, they would pick up our garbage at the end of our driveway and we no longer had to cart it down the street, effective immediately. WOOT! This was great news for all as it's getting chilly around these parts.

Trash day was yesterday. There was approximately 1/4 inch of snow left on the ground (we got maybe 2" during the week). I knew the chances were slim that the garbage collectors were going to voluntarily drive down our road as this would require a good 3-4 extra minutes of work for them (sidenote: I know garbage men work very hard. I also know that I pay more than I should for this service.). I was watching. They went down the other roads. They stopped for the house across the big road. They briefly considered driving down our road. And then they didn't. Poor, poor souls.

I already had my shoes on (ala Flylady) and I was standing next to Mr. MOTH's jacket. I was out the door in a flash with instructions to the girls to stay put and not get into any trouble (yeah, right). I chased them, on foot, wearing Sketchers flats, in the snow. And I caught them on the next cul-de-sac. We exchanged pleasantries (read: I wanted to know why in the %$#@ they hadn't picked up my garbage. They told me it was "too icy". Pishaw!). My neighbors already think I'm nuts and this proved it. BUT. One well-placed phone call (thank GOD I got the original Customer Service person) and I was promised they would pick it up - where it was - by the end of the day. Less than an hour later it was gone. Must've been elves. Maybe flying garbage squirrels. Don't know. Don't care.

Next week I'll be wearing my Nike.

Happy New Year!

Every year I make resolutions just like the rest of the world. I usually keep a few and break a few but at least I put out the effort. I also try to focus on one specific area in my life. Two years ago it was our marriage. There were no issues to speak of but we were closing in on double digits (10 years last October!) and I wanted to make sure there were better years ahead. I read a lot of relationship books and as a result we're in a fantastic place right now (Note: We aren't perfect. We can still push each other into a screaming hissy but in the end we know who loves us.)

Last year it was all about me. I wanted to be stronger, faster, better. I started running with a specific goal in mind and kept at it for a whole host of reasons that are hard to explain to non-runners. One that everybody seems to understand though is the fact that my skinny jeans fit. Every time. And it makes me more disciplined in a lot of other areas, too.

This year I'm focused on being a better mommy. Not that this isn't an on-going, never-ending part of my life every.single.day but choosing it to be the focus is different. I recently read an article by author Debbie Macomber where she talks about choosing one word to focus on throughout the year. This year my word is "peace". I want peace to reign supreme in our home. This may be close to Mission: Impossible...but I choose to accept it. I'm reading a book (Parenting with Grace: The Catholic Parents' Guide to Raising Almost Perfect Kids) and I have started making a plan and now I'm going to make the time to implement it and move forward. I love my kids. I just need to make sure they know it (even though I SAY it constantly - their "love languages" are all different).

I'll continue to run with a goal of running at least the same 3 races I ran last year and adding a 10K into the mix. I wanted to run a half marathon this year. I briefly considered doing a destination race like maybe part of the Rock'n'Roll series but after reading about how badly the Vegas race was handled I decided to stick close to home. Running the City of Bridges would kinda be full circle for me anyhow. And then I got Mr. MOTH's work schedule and he has to be out of town then. {SIGH}. I may choose a different (but still close) one or maybe not. I would love to do the Princess Half in Disney World but we're going to be there at the wrong time this time around. I'll figure something out...

Pain in the Vein

I had my first two rounds of vein treatment last week. When I scheduled it, they told me I would be able to resume my normal routine almost immediately but no "strenuous aerobic exercise" and also no "heavy lifting" (they took that restriction away when I asked if a 32 lb toddler counted as "heavy lifting"). Mr. MOTH drove me in on the first day. I was able to easily drive myself home after the second treatment.

And then came Day 4. Yinz guys, my leg HURTS. I am limping. It's purple (OK. Not completely purple, but still.). I can see that the protruding veins are significantly smaller than they were but right now I'm questioning my sanity at deciding to have this done. In defense of the clinic, the technician told me that's how I would feel for the first couple of weeks, she just didn't tell me why.

And I can't run. Guess what happens to a runner who can't run? They go stir crazy! A lot of runners get injured and have to take some time off - but they are usually able to do other things - swim, bike, yoga, whatever. I had to improvise. I cleaned. My house is frickin' spotless (NOT clutter-free, but very shiny!). Luckily, with four kids this is something that I can do almost every day! My fridge is so clean that when Youngest Boy came home from school on Friday and saw it he asked if we got a new one! LOL!

I have a follow-up appointment tomorrow and I'm hoping they'll say it's OK to run again although I'm in enough pain that I may not even want to run. We'll see. I have enough to do to distract myself with a 7th Birthday party coming up on Saturday and the zillion other things that have to be done as part of life around here. I just hope that my leg starts to look more human very, very soon. I bought a lot of clearance skirts for next summer. ;)

Pumpkin Race

Bet you didn't know pumpkins could race, didja? Seriously, it was my last 5K of this year (no turkey trot for me) and it was, to me, the most important because it was what inspired me to run in the first place. And making it happen was no picnic!

Last week was one of the busiest we've had around these parts in awhile - basketball practice, new eyeglasses for me, yearly physical for Oldest Boy and flu shots/mist for all, and then the Space Shuttle.

Thursday is usually errand day around these parts and right now it's just me and Little One. We drop Baby Girl off at Pre-K and then we shop until we drop (or scream until we get out of the cart. whatever.). When we're through we head back to school to pick up Baby Girl, head home for lunch, take a quick nap (Little One) or work-out (me and sometimes BG), and then it's off to pick up the boys. It's a lot of driving. This week, while waiting in carpool to pick up Baby Girl, the battery in the space shuttle...died. It may have been my fault (although you can't prove anything!!). Anyhow, it ended up with the nice maintenance guy jumping my car with this fancy generator thingy - which was a good thing because I knew where the battery was but doing anything to it would have required, well, a call to AAA.

While it was great that my car got started, I was almost out of gas...and terrified to turn it off before I replaced the battery...and I had a car full of groceries. Drove home. Dropped off groceries while leaving the Space Shuttle running in the drive. Packed the girls lunch. Used the gas from the gas can in the garage so that I had more than fumes. Loaded back up (with a bag of tricks to keep them entertained...timing is everything...I was wishing those busy bags were here that day!). Got the battery changed.

When we got back in, I had to reset the code for the radio/DVD player to work. No problem. Mr. MOTH texted me while I was doing that to remind me of it. I texted back - no worries. I just did it and now am getting lunch for me and trying to decide what to do - head home or hang out before picking up the boys. I checked the time and decided it wasn't really worth it to drive home (25 minutes away) just to turn around and head back down to their school so I went to the craft store. 1:45. Perfect, I just wanted to shop around a bit before we needed to leave at 2:30 to get them. Turned off the Space Shuttle and checked my phone for texts from Mr. MOTH. @#$! 2:35!!! Doh! Taking the battery out also screwed up the clock. Luckily, I hadn't unbuckled the girls yet and we made it in time. Left the house at 8AM. Returned (for more than 2.5 seconds) at 3:45PM. {SIGH}

Ah, yes. The race. Here's where I would show you photos...but no one took any. That's what happens when you're always the one behind the camera.

I finished with a PR (27:39.00). I felt like it was a much harder course than my last race so I was pleased with my time. Around 1.25 miles I fell in behind this woman in a purple shirt. She was pacing around the same as me so I just sort of followed until we hit a hill. I cannot run outside of my house without running up a hill. A really steep hill - followed by a really, really steep hill - is my normal 3.1 course around the neighborhood. She slowed down on the hill. I did not. I passed her around 2.25 miles and since I never look back I didn't know where she was...until we came in sight of the finish. She pulled up next to me and turned on the jets. PUH.LEEZ. I was not about to let her beat me without a fight. I have never sprinted to the finish. But, y'all, we were neck in neck. Her time? 27:38.55. She beat me by 0.05 seconds. I call that a "tie". ;)

Plus I got to hold a very wiggly 2 1/2 year old immediately after I crossed the line...so I win.

Veins, Running, and Busy Bags

Next week I am having my varicose veins "fixed" (meaning, I hope they can no longer reproduce). For me, it's not as much cosmetic - although they are ugly as sin - as it is medically necessary. They hurt. They're uncomfortable. And based on family history, they're only going to get worse.

BUT, I'm a big chicken. They are doing the two worst with laser treatment and the rest with injections. According to the doctor and the website I should be able to resume normal every day activities immediately. However, I can't do any "strenuous aerobic exercise" for at least a week. Even the way I run, it would still be considered "strenuous aerobic exercise". {SIGH} This means no running. :( I did manage to schedule the procedure after the Great Pumpkin Race - the 5K for the boys' school that got me started running in the first place. I had really, really wanted to run in it last year but, since I had never even run a full mile before, I didn't. But that started the wheels turning and the ball rolling and the treadmill spinning and now here I am - able to easily complete a 5K and consider running further. Maybe.

Luckily, my niece-in-law (Shut up! It is TOO a relation!) organized this little busy bag swap. In theory, the idea is BRILLIANT! In reality, I don't know yet. We haven't completed the swap part. I have managed to spend an inordinate amount of time the last few days cutting construction paper and tissue paper and generally convincing my two-year-old that no, she CANNOT use my big girl scissors (she gets the Play-Doh ones). The kids have all helped in some way and that has been more than worth the effort. When I'm all done I'll probably post directions for my stained glass shapes - an idea sparked by a craft from Baby Girl's Pre-K. I am pretty excited - the idea of having a ton of little projects that will keep the kiddos busy and quiet for even 5 minutes in the doctor's office waiting room (which I will be in approximately 1, 493 times over the next couple of months) sounds like heaven!