TE/R39: I RLAM today...

RLAM stands for Run Like A Mother..  What does a mother run like?  Like you have to schedule your run around everyone else's sechedule, like you have to squeeze in a run when you can, not when you want to, when you have to bargain to get running time, or today's challenge...when you have a sick kid for the 6th day in a row (3 for each kiddo) and you are trying to not get sick yourself (as you have the first 1/2 marathon less than 2 weeks ahead of you) and you have to split a training session between your elliptical because you have to and the road because you want to.

I did 50 minutes on the elliptical while Gunner (the sick one now) napped and then did another 2 on the road while he chilled in the jog stroller (it was above 40 for the first time in like a week or two, so with the weather shield, I think we were ok) so I got my time in today.

I have a scratchy throat, so I am oding on vitamin C and green tea, hoping it passes!

TR38: Mom Run

All women have general things they think about when running, I imagine, maybe something like this (or maybe these are things I think):

holy hell, can I finish this?
That dog I hear barking, is it getting closer, or is it tied up?
Holy hell, can I finish this?
How many miles have I ran?
Oh, I need to go read a specific girl-related chapter in RLAM

Before I get to the thoughts of a mother runner, namely me, I have to mention the run itself, in order to happen, must be when she can do it, not when she wants to.  For example, it will be 38* (high for the day) around 2, at 9:30am it is a balmy (read sarcasm) 19* and a delightful 10mph NE wind.  But this is when the hubby, kids, momma stars (kinda) align and I can go (by myself, without a jog stroller).  So suck it up I do, and get out there because I can.

But the concerns of a mom on the run (at least me) are more like:

Is hubby handling the kids?  (he surely didn't seem like it when I left)
Is my two time puker, making a speedy recovery or is he puking again?
Will there be another case of explosive diarreha? (that I will certainly hear about when I get home)
Should I be running considering all of the above?

Yep, self-induced guilt...not so good for the running mojo, but par for the mother runner course.

All those deep thoughts aside, it was a "girl thing" not really a mom thing that stalled me a little shorter than I hoped, but I was so glad to get out and run, despite the cold weather and deep thoughts of guilt.  I would rather run outside any day of the week than hit the mill. :)

And of course, runkeeper's gps is giving me headaches, and I tried to plot my almost (so close) 9 mile run, but ended up with 10.10 some odd how...oh well, you get the idea!

http://runkeeper.com/edit/activity?tripId=29766676

TR37: Treadmill and I make up

I don't know if it was the good breakfast, filled with calories for fuel, the stress I NEEDED to burn off, or the new play list, but today, the treadmill and I made up.  I actually easily did the 5 and contemplated doing more...but didn't really feel the need to be a glutton for punishment.  In hindsight, I am glad of this choice, as my calf was sore for the first time in a long while and it would have been worse if I'd kept going.

TE36: Sick kids part one

Dang the MI weather.  And germs...right now they are both bugging me.  The best laid plans:  slower than normal workday + sneak in a 5 mile run = happy mother runner.  Reality:  Sick kid + elliptical (90 minutes) = par for the mother runner course...:)

Freezing weather and a kid that has a barking cough and fever shouldn't be mixed....even in a great jog stoller with the most amazing weather shield.  Thus, I opted to sow my wild oats on the elliptical and hopefully prevent another sick day (you know the kind, mom isn't sick, but she has to call in to hang at home with sick kiddo)

So I busted butt to the rockin new play list sent to me by the most amazing virtual training parter...thanks Rhonda!

Run stress

This week has been a struggle.  Time, weather, sick kids, all have hampered my running ability and desire to run.  I have been very busy and my time very consumed by work, MOD, kiddos, family...the list goes on.  All not good timing considering we are in the final days before the big dance.  Doesn't do wonders for one's ego or self confidence when the biggest and longest run is very close to being here. 

I have a new playlist that am syncing now...maybe it can help me break this funk.  About to hit it...

TR35: Speed work

As I really didn't have time to run, I did a quickie, which was not really what I wanted or needed to do...but I did three, pushing myself on speed and on an empty tank...but I did it.  Last mile was 9:35...I just kept thinking, Damn, Heather is fast.  I remember her early spring 5k done in under 30, like 27 and some change...wow.  Go, girl.

TE34: Road Block

You hear college guys casually throw around the term "cock block"...lol, I would like to quote urbandictionary.com with the following terminology:

1. To prevent a male friend or associate from getting some action.
Used in a sentence:

Damn, Johnny just totally cockblocked his roommate. Ass.

Cock blocker:  A person (male or female) who intentionally or unintentionally stops the progress of two others getting their game on.

 

I had this funny in my head as I continued to try to find a time that worked for me to run this weekend.  Saturday, I threw myself into a March of Dimes fundraising event that kept me away from home all day and Brian with the boys all day.  It would have been bad form to come home at 3 and then take off for a 90-minute run...so Sunday had to be it.  However, I completely felt "road blocked"...see below definition by crazymomma's running dictionary:

 

Road Block:  To prevent a crazy mother runner from getting some action on the road...

 

Road Blocker:  A person (male or female) who intentionally or unintentionally stops the progress of a crazy mother runner game on.

 

So morning...road blocked...by the hubs and boys.  Yes, I wanted to spend time with them, but did I want to run?  Hell yeah.  Night, rained out.  Not like sprinkling...but downpour and thunder with lightening...

 

So I felt I had to do something, so I settled for 90 minutes on the elliptical, to at least get a cardio rush in.  Running my ass off this week.

 

 

TR33: love this weather

Today I had to run, with 70* in March, I couldn't pass it up.  Even with 25 mph winds...I went on a paved trail surrounded by woods to help with the wind...the way back into the wind was a little harsh.  But it was amazing to feel warm when running (in a tech tank!)  lol, I can say that now after asking people what that meant last night...talking the lingo like I know it...

http://runkeeper.com/user/clyoungsey/activity/28809334

TR32: 5 on the mill

Still hate the mill.  But have to say, I hate rain more.  Rain rain go away, let me run outside today.  I am hoping tomorrow (very busy day) I can get in my second 5 and then my :::gasp::: 9 on Sunday (looks like a gorgeous day coming up.

It's official...

Dear Christi,
Congratulations! You are now registered for Southern Indiana Classic Marathon and Half Marathon. Please check the event's official website for updates: http://sicmarathon.com/

holy hell.

TR31: Country Roads

You know you are running on country roads when you see the following:

1. gorgeous creeks, lakes, small woodland creatures
2. small pocket sized booze bottles
3. more cans than what I raised by running
4. condom wrapper
5. roadkill and this squirrel hand (looks like the tailsman from an Edgar Allen Poe story...no joke)
6. dirty mag tossed out someone's window

Yep, that is country running...lol

just ran 8 miles...holy hell, 8 miles.  That is my new PR...I can't believe it, still in endorphin mode :) chilling with some diluted purple powerade, never tasted anything so good.

The route was gorgeous, the weather perfect, low winds, mild (40*) temps, rare cars.  Here is the route:  http://runkeeper.com/user/clyoungsey/activity/28372825

Ok, since it went so well, here are things to note:

Nutrition:  Ate well last night (whole wheat pasta), had a good big breakfast (balanced protien and carbs) with some coffee, didn't run out of gas

Hydration:  Small water/powerade in pocket of running coat, just the right amount, didn't mess with pace, but had it when I needed it

Music:  Digging the new "8mile" play list I hooked up this morning, some of Rhonda's great selections and some of mine :)  Half the songs I am not sure what are since the names didn't come over on my media player, but they rocked.  I synced up 1:30 hours of music and didn't go thru it all :)

NOTE:  when feeling spent (which I was at mile 6.75) find 4th of July and play, it saved my run and mood :)  Perfect timing...thanks to Rhonda.

I have to check to see if they have smaller socks, mine are acting like they are too big and causing a blister potential on my second toe...

TR30: Dedicated to Rhonda

Yes, I am crazy...and I love it.  I am so crazy that I decided to snap a picture of me at mile 3...I was getting all slap happy because of endorphins, Rhonda's crazy faves and the fact that I know they have a closed system tv camera going and I was sure I was a silly one to be watching...lol

So another crazy similarity of Rhonda and I, we like to show off for old men (or in my case, any audience) and we both lip sync on the treadmill...yes, crazy.  I also do some almost Jersey Shore-ish fist pumping when the song gets me going or I hit a milesone...yep.  crazy.

Another?  She wears fall off my ass capris and I wear these show off my ass tight as hell compression capris.  It was hot in the gym, I was at that point the only one there, and I said, what the hell.

Guess that is why I get a shirt that says I am a crazy preemie mother runner...

In short, 5 miles on the mill.  All thanks to Rhonda's jams.  And if you think I am trying to step it up a little by going for 5, I just thought that is what I was supposed to... :)

TR29: Numbers

As I log in my run today, I noticed numbers.  I have officially put in over 100 miles into training for this event.  A girl who couldn't run 2 last summer.  I am beyond stoked and actually very proud of myself.

I ran my five today.  It wasn't bad.  It actually felt easy, but doubt or boredom can be dangerous.  I found that with a little distraction, when I was feeling a little done, I was able to knock it out.  I will remember that for my big one!

My amazing training partner is creative as hell.  She made this amazing shirt designs for our race....Corny as it may seem, we sure as heck are matching.  This is the shirt that I will be ordering myself on Friday, AFTER I complete my 8 mile run...

NO ONE would get this but a crazy preemie mother runner...the NICU is a crazy rollercoaster, you go up, you go down and you hope you make it out sane.  Most of us did, but it wasn't easy.  That is where something for yourself has to come in.  Running and the endorphin high makes it better.  It is indeed, therapuetic.  Well said Rhonda.

TR28: Holy hell, I need to work on pace

Seriously, I was at about a 9:30 to 10:00 pace for the first 5 miles.  Then I tanked.  It was raining, I was dreading the run due to that, I was trying to get it done...and you don't just get 7 miles done, like that at least.  So my excitement to be done won over pace is a good thing thinking and I wasted my energy too fast. 

The last three miles were ROUGH.  For the first time I walked during a run.  As I completed the 7 in only 7 minutes more than the 6 I did last week, which felt great, you can see that my pace was way off.  Doing a 5k would be a breeze now, since I can run at that pace, but certainly not for 7 miles!

Momma needs a reward...I am thinking something like this:

http://runkeeper.com/user/clyoungsey/activity/27527597

TR27: Stress + symptoms = need to run

So I busted out a quick 2 miles around campus before class...made the class a little more interesting on an endorphin high...LOL

The wind was ridiculous.  It was seriously about 14 mph...not too much fun.

http://runkeeper.com/user/clyoungsey/activity/27466285

TR26: I hate the treadmill

I just get sooooooooo bored.  Mile 2 and I am done.  But I crank the jams and keep going.  4.5 miles in 52 slow minutes of mindnumbing treadmilling...but it is done :)  Oh how I long for wind under 14mph!

TR25: Gunner wouldn't sleep

When Gunner won't sleep, in the jogger he goes, and he dozes in less than a mile.  So, Sunday, when he WOULD NOT NAP for his life...I decided it was run time.

He was out by 1, I went another 3.5.  Now that I have run with and without the jog stroller, I like without better, but it may have been wind or nutrition that sabotaged me a little.  I didn't plan on running, so I had a salad for lunch.  No carbs....and the wind was 9mph on the way back!

http://runkeeper.com/user/clyoungsey/activity/27137143