13.1 Done

Today was my 2nd ever 1/2 marathon. 13.1 at 10 minute pace. Slow, I know, but good for me. My legs (calves mostly) felt sore immediately after so when I was done I sat on the floor and played with Sam and ran "The Stick" over my legs. Then I started getting a massive headache and a few chills. I didn't eat much before I ran and I didn't eat much after I got done either. I popped an ibuprofen and started feeling better shortly thereafter.

I'm glad I ran a 1/2 this morning & the people who run this race are fast. Last year the winner finished in 1:08, middle of the pack was 1:52 and the bottom 1/4 still posted a time of 2:04. Based on last year's results I finished 830 out of 943 runners. I know it doesn't really matter, I don't run to beat other people. This is just another one of my odd personality traits!

Sam update: She still isn't officially crawling but she gets around fast! She is starting to wave now too which is pretty cool. I still can't believe that after 5+ years of trying to have a baby she is here and she is soooooooo amazing! My wonderful sister-in-law is a budding professional photographer and took some awesome pictures of Sam last weekend. I have included a few of them here. We also took Sam to the zoo this weekend and I have included a picture of Travis & Tracy hanging out at the gate.

Well better run, I need to pump (yes, I'm still breast feeding) and Sam should be waking up from her afternoon nap shortly. Catch you all later. HAPPY RUNNING!

I can't commit

I've been training for a half marathon on 4/24 but I'm questioning why. I'm doing the training plan to a "T" but for some reason I wish I wasn't doing it. I think I'm scared. I also think I'm out of my comfort zone a bit. I like to run long but I'm not good at it.....I'm horribly slow. I hate finishing in the lower 1/2 at a race and I checked last years results for the race I was planning on running on the 24th and 75% of the finishers finished in under 2 hours. That is intimidating. It would be different if there were thousands of entrants but there are less than 1,000. I don't think I can do it. So now I have to adjust my training. I'm shooting for a 20K on 6/5 now. This race has thousands of entrants normally and a lot of first time runners. I can handle this.

After that, I'm planning on a sprint tri in July, another sprint in August, and maybe an Olympic after that. Then it is time for my first full Marathon in October.

I'm starting to think I'm meant to be a triathlete & 5K runner. I usually finish in the top 20% of my age group in these and sometimes I break into the top ten. After I get through the Disney World Goofy next January, I'm going to focus on tri's and really try to get better. I love the environment at tri's. The people are amazing. So encouraging. Hanging out after the race is awesome. I love everything about it. I even secretly like the swim even though always scares the crap out of me and makes me hyperventilate!

This week of training has been pretty good. We did an 11 mile run last Friday night, an hour long bike ride on Saturday, an hour long hike on Sunday, 3 miles easy on Monday, an hour on the indoor trainer yesterday and an 8 mile run today (with 6 at 1/2 marathon goal race pace). The long run was pretty good and the weather was awesome. Today's 8 mile effort was pretty difficult. I ran it on the treadmill and had to stop and take a break 3 times. Once for a bathroom break and the other two because I just wasn't there mentally. I've been eating a Pop Tart prior to my Wednesday run because I did it a few weeks ago and had an amazing run. I haven't been able to replicate that again though & Pop Tarts really aren't very good for you so I think that is going to come to an end.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a rest night and then Friday we will run long because we are headed out of town this weekend.

Made banana bars out of some over ripe bananas tonight. I'm taking them to the ladies at day care - those women are amazing and feeding them a few sweets is the least I can do. The pic below is from Tasteofhome.com. Don't they look good?

Goodnight all....I've attached a few pictures from hiking and such this last week. Take care & keep training!

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My Baby Girl Kissed a Boy Today

Sam is 9 months old and today she kissed her first boy & he kissed her back! We're in trouble!

We had been teaching her to give her little stuffed monkey kisses but until today she wouldn't give a person a kiss. So she kisses a little boy at daycare today but Travis & I can't get her to give us any sort of kisses at all. What gives!

Tomorrow is her nine month appointment. Time flies. I was walking around today at lunch noticing all ofthe pregnant women and reflecting on what I was going through a year ago at this time. I really don't miss being pregnant - those last few weeks were torture!

Yesterday, I hit the pool for the first time in months. I only did about 600 meters and my arms, shoulders, & back are aching a bit today. We still haven't signed up for any races. We need to get on it before they are full.

My run training for the 20K in June is in full force. Today was killer - 9.5 miles with 5 mile repeats with 800's between repeats. Friday night we are doing an 11 mile long run while a sitter comes over to take care of Sam. Date night is usually a workout - we are so lame!

Time to hit the sack - take care all!

Half Marathon Training

I'm in week # - oh who the heck knows or cares what week I am on. Seriously, training is going fine. I still haven't signed up for a race though. My original plan was to run a 1/2 marathon on April 24th but I've been dragging my feet. Here is why....running outside is freaking hard! How is it that I can put in a ten mile run on the treadmill at a 1% incline and feel decent afterward (bored and exhausted but good) but if I run outside for two stinkin' miles I feel like I am going to puke!

Tonight I ran 2 miles outside with the hubby and Sam in the BOB. A quarter mile in I just kept repeating this mantra: There is no way I can run 13.1, there is no way I can run 13.1 and on and on. I don't know what I am going to do for sure. I'm thinking of bailing on the 1/2 marathon in April and instead I might do a 20K at the beginning of June.

It sounds like I need a break but I really don't. I'm enjoying the training and I really look forward to the long runs. I like the 2 hours of "me time" I get on Saturday morning!

If I am going to do a tri at all this year I really need to get back to the pool sometime. How do you find the motivation to go to the pool???

Sam update: She is almost nine months old and will be crawling any day now. She slithers around on her belly and loves laying on the wood floor. At first I felt bad having her lay on the wood but she really seems to like it, she can wiggle around like crazy and get where she wants to go. Once she is crawling we are in trouble! I think we got the baby I deserved = she doesn't like to take naps and is constantly on the go. Only 18 more years of a crabby kid who needs a nap but refuses to take one. I'm sorry mom - putting up with me must have been tough!

Adios for now - time to feed the baby and hit the sack! Sleep tight everyone!

Sam's First Swim

On Saturday morning we headed to my sister's for baptism of our new niece. She was born on Tuesday of last week, weighing in at 9lbs. 13oz and 21 1/4 inches long. In pictures she looked huge. In person she looked small - the way all newborn babies do. She is a cutie.

Saturday night was also Sam's first hotel stay and her first ever swim. Travis, Uncle Marty, Aunt Julee, Logan & River all got in the pool and I documented Sam's first pool experience. She loved it! No nervousness at all! Travis put her on her tummy and she started kicking and moving her arms. It was so awesome! She also did great sleeping in an unfamiliar place.

Yesterday Travis texted me and said, "Thinking of Sam swimming makes me smile". I love my hubby and he is a great dad.

Training for the half marathon on 4/24 continues according to the plan I documented a while back. So far so good. Saturday was 9 miles and it went well. Today was 8 miles with 4x1600 at 8:56 pace (remember all you fast people reading this blog....I am slow!). It was tough but not too bad. Am I starting to get my endurance back.......hmmmm..........we shall see.

Now on to tri training. We still haven't signed up for any races and I haven't been to the pool in months and months and months. Have I mentioned that I don't really mind swimming but going to the pool is a huge pain in the butt. I'm not even going to set a goal date for getting started again.

Well, I better feed my baby and get her to bed. Take care everyone!

Yogurt didn't go over well

Yesterday we fed Sam some yogurt banana combo baby food and I hope I can blame her mood the rest of the day on it. It was one of those trying mom days. I love her dearly but I was happy to go to work this morning.

She was fussy all yesterday afternoon, wouldn't eat anything but her bottle and wouldn't go to sleep. Once we finally got her to temporary dream land at around 9:30pm she woke us every hour or so throughout the night. She never cried much just fussed around for a few minutes every time and went back to sleep for another hour. Then at 5am she was up and at em for the day. I think I slept 4 hours at the most.

After feeding her I jumped on the indoor trainer for 20 minutes then finished getting ready and headed out to work. Work was hard most of the morning. Why does it all seem to go to heck at the same time. The whole day was very busy but I managed to sneak in a 20 minute walk with Travis over lunch.

I came home at 5pm, put Sam in the Jumparoo and got in a 3.5 mile run. Sam was entertained the whole time.

I'm thinking I need to start hitting the pool a few times a week to get ready for tri season. I just wish I didn't hate swimming.

Oh and one more thing, my older sister is having a baby either tonight or for sure tomorrow. If her 4th baby girl doesn't arrive by 8am tomorrow she is being induced. I cringed when she said the "induce" word. An hour after petocin and I was about ready to hurt someone I was in so much pain. She has had 3 babies and never has had an epidural. I can't even fathom that! You rock big sis! Anyway, I can't wait to meet the newest family member!

Side note, my hubby is sitting in the recliner with Sam on his lap and she looks so peaceful snoozing with her hands behind her head. I can't ever get her to fall asleep like that but daddy is magic. So Cute!!!! I love you both so much!!!!!

Am I Insane?

I think the pregnancy stupids must still be lingering in me. Yesterday I signed the hubby and I up for the Disney World Goofy's Race & Half Challenge. Here is the link: http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/events/eventDetail/detail?name=WdwMarathonDetailPage&pid=pip-0-2

Am I going to survive a half marathon one morning and turn around a finish a full marathon the next morning????? My brother-in-law and hubby talked me into this. On the one hand I am excited as all get out. On the other hand I am terrified. Not to mention that we will be taking an 18 month old along with us. Good thing Papa, Grandma, and many Aunts and Uncles are going along because we will probably need to pass along baby duty to them for the most part for a few days.

With this big race in mind the plan is to run a half marathon this spring and a full marathon this fall. In addition I want to do several sprint tris during the summer. I have a feeling that by this time next year I will be thoroughly exahusted! I just hope I can stay injury free.

Yesterday my new treadmill arrived. My old one finally felt my last running step. The plastic under the belt and the padding under the belt broke a week and a half ago. I've been going through running withdrawal. I would have run outside but of course it is too cold and of course it snowed another 3 inches today. OH WINTER GO AWAY GO AWAY, I REALLY DON'T CARE IF YOU COME BACK ANOTHER DAY!

Sam update, she is now sitting up unassisted. This has been awesome. She will sit and play with toys and is finding it easier to keep herself entertained. She also loves her Jumparoo, so much so that she tries to jump all the time now even when you are holding her. She was 14lbs 9oz at her last Dr. appointemnt (7 months) so she is now in the less than 10% bucket for weight. She just doesn't really show an interest in solid foods until her evening feeding where she packs in 4TBS of otameal cereal made with 2 oz of formula or breast milk and approx a whole jar of fruit. She usually finishes up with at least two more oz of formula or breast milk.

Sam is doing excellent and she gets cuter and cuter every day. That said, Travis & I really have been itching to get out a bit. We just need to find something to do that we can take baby along. Any suggestions besides dinner out. I'm hate spending money on dinner out!

I better sign off for now....time to feed Sam. I'm crossing my fingers that she doesn't bite me. That is another thing, I don't know how people breastfeed exclusively after their baby gets teeth. She bit me a few days ago and it hasn't stopped hurting. At least everything is still attached and no blood was lost. :)