Pushing On

It has been a very busy month!  I am thrilled to have a few minutes to write on my blog, though, as our winter weather has kept us home and Isla is happy counting glue sticks and doesn't need my immediate attention.

Surgery!  Dave had his AC joint repair.  We knew this would be a very hard surgery.  It involves cutting off some bone, using a hamstring allograft to create a ligament, and some drilling/wire/etc...  The first few nights when Dave was up screaming in pain, my heart really went out to him.  Of course Isla happened to get sick right when Dave had surgery, so I was back and forth between their rooms several nights taking care of fever, wiping tears, rubbing backs, filling ice bags, and administering medicine.  Both of them needed "Momma Nurse."  It was insane, but we did it.    

Daddy's little helper....I left the room for one second and she had climbed up on his surgery side.  Oops!

No wonder the surgery hurt.  Yikes.  But Dave is doing awesome now.  He is still immobilized but hopefully starts PT next week.

3 weeks after Dave's surgery, I was able to get out a bit and run a 4 mile race.  It was a huge flop for me- almost 2 minutes slower than I did 2 months ago.  That is A LOT of time to bleed out of a 4 miler.  I have so many #excuses...maybe 7 or so.  Doesn't matter.  I think that on the day, I was just not fit.  All 7 reasons just point to not being fit on the starting line.  I was miserable out there as I ran so slowly and hurt doing it.  I was super dejected, as I keep taking 2 steps forward and then 10,000 steps back on this journey. 

 My post race stalking of Dave Wottle, 800 meter Olympic Gold Medalist.  Google his race- amazing. 

But let me tell you why I ran anyway, even though it was not ideal.   1.  I love to run.  I was slow when I started years ago, and I didn't let that stop me.  I don't let it stop me now.  2.  No one can be at their best, all of the time, at races.  There are other reasons for getting out there.  If you are worried about posting a bad time, you will sit on the sidelines more often than you want.  And you know what?  I would rather start the game and have a bad game than sit on the sidelines wishing I were playing.  Years of soccer taught me that.   3.  Dave Wottle:  He was the guest speaker at the event, and I was not going to miss that. 

 Because swim caps go with every outfit!

So, onto Isla...my spunky 19-month-old.  Where to start?  The fun stuff is watching her little brain grow and develop.  It is just amazing the things she can say...from counting to the alphabet.  She does something daily that is just so brilliant it puts a big smile on my face.  All toddlers are so brilliant in the eyes of their mamas!  :)  Plus she gives amazing hugs and kisses, and I love them even if they are a little manipulative.  ;)

We are still struggling with sleep here.  Majorly.  I don't want to keep belabouring the topic on my blog.  At the same time, maybe there is another family who has struggled like we have.  Not every mom has an easy going, sleeping baby.  I think I was up 10+ times last night.  This is a big struggle for our family.  We do not expect a toddler to sleep through the night without help- that is what parenting is about.  But, we have been on the excessive side of no sleep for a long time. We have had periods where it has gotten better, and then is has regressed.  But, we will keep working through it.  It will get better! 

 Valentine's Day Dinner....Isla fed me instead of eating herself.  What a date! 

My child also does not like to eat.  90% of the time I pick her up from daycare and she has not eaten a thing.  I would say 90% of the time she won't eat dinner either.  This is a huge source of stress for Dave and I because we know if she doesn't eat, she will be cranky to the max.  I imagine this is all part of toddlerhood in some way.  Yet....all of my friends kids of the same age eat good portions of food.  Even daycare gets concerned about her.  Most of the time she will try something and then cry.  She won't touch a bite after that.  So...hmmmm.    

But man the cuteness!  Isla loves hats. 

A little while later, we had on another hat.  I love kissing those cheeks!!!!

And I rounded out my weekend by taking Isla on a dinner date.  And oh what a date she was....snoozed through most of it after skipping her nap.  That's my girl!!!!

Racing:  Next up, Little Rock Half Marathon.  I am nervous I have gone so far backwards in fitness that I will be jogging, and that is not what I wanted out of this race.  But, I am going to show up and just push with every day and every hand I am dealt. 

This and That

Training has officially started.  I was slightly grumpy with an easy November/December, but as soon as the holidays were over, my schedule looked completely different and now I am doing work.  It is interesting for me to see how different my training looks now when compared to 3/5/7 years ago.  My time allocation for training (less) and my stress levels (higher) are different than they were years ago, and my training has been adjusted to reflect that.  The result is that I am starting to improve in fitness again, even though I do much less.  It has taken me a while to adjust, but I am buying into the process now. 

At the awards banquet with my soccer-turned-runner girls

 

Last weekend I went to the RRS banquet.  I managed to eek out a 3rd place AG award at the 2014 RRS.  I am a little cursed with this series.  On 3 different years, I have been 1st in my AG for 75%-90% of the series and then lose it on the last race or two.  Having the staying power for a 5 month series is part of the game!  Fortunately, I always lose to friends, so it gives me a fun story for my "back in the day" collection of memories.    

Play time with Isla.  I spy sun!  

 Isla is still chugging along.  I am trying to think of some good stories to share.  She has discovered the Barbie has boobies.  She also met me at the daycare door the other day with a booger in her hand and asked me to "clean booger."  She is a little shy at school and doesn't communicate with her teachers the way she does with me, and I wondered how long she had carried that booger around while waiting for my help.      

I

 Winter Run of Fun #1 with the Terrapins

I am making an effort to train with friends whenever I have the opportunity so I don't stay in total isolation.  This is the perfect time of year for training with friends because I don't have a lot of specific workouts to do.  

I also set a 1 mile PR yesterday at Master's swim class.  This was great motivation for me, and sometimes, I need life to throw me a little bone like this to keep me going.  I was probably faster than this back in 2011-2012, but I never did a 1 mile TT, so I will never know.  But, it was the fastest timed mile I have ever swam by over 2 minutes, and the bonus is my back didn't hurt and I did it on only about 7-8,000 yards of swimming a week.  A few years ago, I was easily swimming 10-14,000yds a week.  I would love to get back to that yardage, but I have to be home at a certain time for Dave to get to work, so my swims are cut pretty short in the mornings. 

Man, I just love this kid.  I found her just sitting in the stroller the other day with Minnie, asking someone to take her walking.  So sad Dave won't be able to pick her up and hold her for a long while.
 

Dave is having AC reconstruction to his shoulder next week.  This is going to be tough on everyone, especially him.  The surgery is a really big deal, and I don't think he realizes how little he will be able to do for months.  It stinks for him, and I hope he heals quickly and with positive results.  For me, it means I won't be able to go to Master's swim for a while and training will have to be adjusted, probably, as Dave won't be able to lift Isla out of bed or help change her.  Basically, if Isla is home, I need to be home.  The surgery is poor timing in a way, as I am on such a roll with training and motivation.  But, one thing I am learning as a parent is that it is certainly not all about me, and that I have to just do the best with what I have.

Have a great week of training!
xo


  

Herb Parson Trail Half Marathon

Herb Parson Trail Half Marathon

This was my first race of 2015, and my first race as an Enell Ambassador.  I just cannot say enough about this generous and loving company.  Their product (sports bras for endowed women...for me, that is sports bras for nursing mommas) is simply THE BEST.  I am serious about running and I log a lot of miles and races.  I have tried it all.  This is the only bra I will wear because it is the only bra that works.  There is no bounce, which leaves me more comfortable and able to focus on running.

On to the day-

The trail half marathon is not really a race, per se.  True to the trail running vibe, it is a low key event with no awards and a nice finisher medal.  I highly encourage all runners or wanna-be runners to try a trail event.  You will spend half of your day saying "good morning" and "great job" to other runners as you meet them on the trail.  It is really about enjoying the outdoors and terrain. 

I have taken a true off season this year in Nov and Dec, which is a little odd since I never really had an on season.  (It is all part of the bigger picture to be fit and fresh for April racing.)  I was able to run the November half marathons on my summer fitness, but I knew I wouldn't have that to draw from in this run.  But, my goal was to run the course faster than I did last year when I was 5 months postpartum.  I figured that was very doable!  I think if you always wait to be in shape to race, you will hardly ever race.  There is a lot of joy in something like a simply trail run that can be had just by showing up.  

I drove to the race, I had such this amazing thought about how LUCKY and PRIVILEGED I am to be able to run a half marathon without a second thought...without a training plan...without blinking an eye.  It was not always like this for me, though, and I remember when I struggled to run 2 miles.  But, here I am, just running a half marathon like it is a daily occurrence.  How fortunate I am! And it really is a testimony to the fact that where we are today is not where we will be in 5... 10...15 years if we keep working at it. 

 

At the sunny but cold start with some soccer buddies.  

The race started out well and I felt good.  I found myself oddly in 1st place by 1.5 miles, and then I had to start all of the internal monologue on whether I was racing or not.  Was this a fun run, a training run, or a race?

The day started off sunny and cold, but progressively got cloudy and colder.  The trails were muddy from 24 hours of rain the day before.  It is always a good day on the trails, but I have to admit, I was not enjoying the mud.  At one point, I slipped and was pretty sure I strained my MCL or compromised my meniscus.  My old, torn-up knees were not happy, and I started to get grumpy.  (and a week later, I can definitely say that I tweaked my knee- meniscus or otherwise.  It still doesn't feel good.)

I had to pee early on and was passed by another girl.  By about mile 8 I was back with her and she was slowing.  I remember thinking, "wow, this is easy.  I'll just relax here for a mile and two then go.  After all, I want to enjoy the trail today, and I can run at this pace all day." 

And then, minutes later, I just felt tired.  I wasn't winded.  I was just tired.  It was odd, and it was a feeling I just don't experience in races.  I was not enjoying the mud.  I was super hungry from lack of breakfast (I can thank Isla for stealing mine).   I didn't have any fuel to get me through those last miles.  I had not truly prepared appropriately for the morning's run.  Plus, honestly, I just wasn't fit and couldn't fake it.  First place girl just kept her pace, and I stopped concentrating and wished for some food and my warm house.  I was starting to feel grumpy, which is unusual and was more than likely the result of underfueling.  I finished as 2nd female.

And, it was totally okay.  I realized I had not been committed to racing that day.  I was just happy to get in some trail time and see some friends. (And for those of you who raced on the day, the race director did add a loop so your times will not compare to last year). 

 

At the finish with my friend of 32 years, Jamie.  You would think a long time friend like that would have given me a blanket or something, right?  Geez!  :)

Congrats to my friends Gaither and Kristen.  This was Gaither's first trail race. 

A HUGE thank you to Enell, for not only making it possible for me to run comfortably, but for also being such a great company and support for this girl.  

xo