Growing Girl and Running Mom

 

Hello from mom land!  I finally figured out why I never get to blog anymore, and I realized it is because my laptop died a while back and ended my ability to blog from bed.  Now I have to sit down at the PC to write, and the minute Isla sees me at the computer, she is crawling up my leg (or throwing the keyboard) for my attention.  But for tonight, Dave is off playing soccer, the dogs are snoring, Isla is sleeping soundly, and momma has a glass of wine.  It is blog time! 

Isla is turning out to be a smart, funny, and sassy little girl.  I love hanging out with her!  There are some hints of a girly girl emerging, such as when she cried because I took off her sparkly shoes that were too big for her.  It was a really big deal.  She proceeded to take the shoes and hide with them in a dresser drawer.  Yet, she is a little fearless athlete too.  Everything is her obstacle course, and she loves to throw and kick.  Hmmm...so we shall see. 

I am steadily returning to the race world.  My motivation is high, and I think it is because I am only up 1x per night now instead of 5-6.  I ran the 2nd RRS 5k this past Sunday and dropped 35 seconds off of my time from 2 weeks ago.  I don't believe I did this from any additional fitness.  I didn't have any key runs, speed sessions, or good mileage in the weeks before.  I honestly think it was just because I changed my strategy and tried to do a better job of racing the 5k.  That meant I had to go out faster than I am comfortable doing right now and be okay with suffering a little more in the race than I did 2 weeks ago.  Well, the strategy worked somewhat, and I am one step closer to learning how to push and hurt again. 

The task I also face now is continuing to race the series with reasonable expectations, improved fitness, and no injuries.  It is really easy to get caught up in the process of trying to go faster each race as the series goes on.  I am not sure that I really have the structural strength in my body to worry about speed right now, so I will have to keep myself in check and take a bird's eye view when planning and racing.  Ideally, I would like to be totally pain free in my back and put back on some muscle that I lost before really attacking my running times.  Interestingly enough, I am right where I was in 2010 post knee surgery in running pace....and that year turned out well in the end with an even better 2011.  So, I will be looking over old logs to figure out what brought me success.  (If I remember correctly...the key was patience!)

xo

Links of The Week

Everything continues to be on the up and up around here.  I finally got a long, long overdue bike fit.  As I had suspected, my saddle position was incorrect.  After IMTX in 2012, I replaced my old, old Adamo Road with a brand new one.  I tried to line them up exactly, but, the rails and measurements didn't match because the other saddle was so old.  I measured, re-measured, had Dave measure, eye-balled it, guessed, etc...   I knew something was not right, but the next thing I knew, I was preggo and I just gave up on solving the problem.

My bars had also tilted down over time.  I got a few quick adjustments, and I should hopefully be ready to enjoy my bike again!  A huge thanks to Billy Tune at BioMechaniks for basically making it impossible for me to say no to a new bike fit.  He gave me no way to make an excuse.   It seems that everyone is really trying to get me back on my bike, and for that I am thankful. 

Some links for the week: 

•  If you are in the Memphis area, go see Billy at BioMechaniks for a good Retul bike fit.  I promise you won't be disappointed. 

• I have been enjoying the Vitality Coach podcasts this week.  She delivers a very positive message and has some good interviews.  Tonight I listened to Emma Snowsill.  Good stuff!  Check the podcasts out here.  I think it is a good break from just listening to the same old triathlon reports.  

• Coming up in Memphis, the Breakaway Bardog 5k on August 17 benefiting St Jude.  Fantastic race and post race beer!  This is a 5k to put on your calendar.  

• I would like to give a random shout out to the Enell bra.  I am not sure I will ever be able to run in another bra again.  When I ran the 5k this past weekend at the Road Race Series, I was reminded about how I had 2 bras on to hold myself in at the same race last year...and how it didn't work and I was miserable!  Life has been much better since I found Enell.  So, to all of you mothers or endowed women out there, check them out.  Let me save you the time and money of buying a bunch of bras that don't work when you really need support.  I already made those mistakes for you!

• And of course, don't miss Breakfast With Bob!  He is covering Challenge Roth, and always does the best interviews.  

Road Race Series 2014- A Year Later

I love the Road Race Series.  For $70, you get to run 2 x :  5k, 5 mile, 10k, 10 mile, 1/2 marathon.  1200+ runners take part in the racing, but it has a good, low key feel to it.  You just can't beat it!

Last year I jumped in to kick start my return to self after Isla was born.  I set a lot of PWs and didn't wow anyone out there, but I went from c-section, no sleeping, stressed out new mom to a half-marathoner in 4 months.  It was ugly and at times painful, but lots of fun as well.

If I gave you the impression that I have quit triathlon and running, I apologize.  I got a pat on the back the other day for retiring to a jogger, and I thought...really?  Not so fast there, buddy.  I plan on racing for many, many more years.  I never said I quit or was slowing down.  What I did say is that I am redesigning my racing and training.  Change or die! 

So here I am- first 5k finished in the 2014 edition completed.  I had zero expectations and could not even guess what time I would run out there.  I actually hate that feeling.  How fast to go through the first mile?  Hell if I know!  I would check my splits and I had no clue if they were reasonable or not.  So, the 5k was done by feel.  I even split the first 2 miles with some slowing on the 3rd.  I started way too far back, and I also settled near other runners towards the end as if I were happy to be in their company as opposed to trying to race.  But, I think that is just what happens when you don't race often.  You lose your feel for the little things that make a big difference- where to start, when to push, how to speed up when everyone else is slowing down, etc...

So, like last year, I am going to do the Road Race Series and improve my fitness.  (except this time I really am going to get fit!).   I am not going to do any speedwork at all to get ready for this.   Speed, the track, tempo runs, etc....none of that is my problem.  My problem is 10mpw and no consistency.  I need to get miles on my legs, rebuild my aerobic system, and get my head and spirit engaged in racing.  So, let's see if I can have a stronger showing in 2 weeks.  I might be am out of shape, but that is a temporary condition in my mind.  :) 

xo

Starting Back Up

Sometimes when I wait too long between blog posts, I don't know how to re-start!  The past few weeks have been wonderful, challenging, character building, and relaxing all at the same time.

First, Isla went on her first beach trip with the Roberts.  She loved being with her family, playing in the sand, and dipping into the ocean.  It was quite a wonderful experience to share her with the family.

Isla did start having some sleep regression when we went to the beach.  For about a week, she had been sleeping through most of the night, and Dave and I thought we had the whole sleep thing nailed down.  Not exactly... So, we quickly became the exhausted parents again.  We know, though, that this is totally normal, and we are happy (well, maybe the word happy is a little too positive...) to embrace this part of parenting.  One day we will all laugh about how I had the baby that never slept. 

I tried to put in some training while I was at the beach.  In past years, I have ridden 100 mile rides, ran intervals, etc.  I didn't want to train like that this year as I wanted to be with Isla and my family.  So, I tried to just do a smaller training schedule.  

It quickly unraveled, though, when we stopped getting good sleep.  We were on vacation, but we were tired.  By the end of the trip, a switch had flipped in my head (or maybe my heart?), and I suddenly doubted my desire to continue down my scheduled race path.  It just seemed that no matter how hard I tried, something seemed to interfere with my training every time.   

 

Dave and I had some good discussion, and I realized I was not doing what I needed to do to "make it happen."  I needed to be a little selfish.  I needed to make him wake up at 5am to take care of Isla so I could train, regardless of how tired he was.  I needed to really focus a good part of my day on getting things in order to train, even if that meant missing out on beach time with Isla.  I needed to make it more about me.  But in my heart, I just didn't want to. 

So, after a lot (a lot!) of deliberation and some extra consultation with people I respect, I dropped IMLOU and AGNats from the schedule.  I finally had to admit to myself that not only do I not have some of the most important tools to attack these goals (time, money, sleep and health), I also don't have the desire to battle through sub-par training to have sub-par racing.  I remember back in 2008 I ran a marathon "for fun."  Truly, I was out of shape, but I decided to just run it to see what it was like to lose the ego and run "just because."  What I discovered is that while I am fine doing 5ks and such out of shape, slow, etc.... there was nothing fulfilling about running a marathon out of shape.  Nothing at all.  I found that I was just pissed that I would do such a taxing race without giving it my best effort.  I vowed that never again would I race big when completely unprepared.  I was about to break that vow, but I caught myself just in time.  If I am not ready to give it to myself on race day, I need to just wait.  I love to race- I toe the line to race.

I also had to admit that....I just didn't care enough to "make it happen" to get in superb shape this year.  (Hard to admit, and I thought about changing my blog title!).  I realized that while it is super cool that moms come back really fast really quickly post baby, I just didn't care.  I am not willing to stop breastfeeding right now for the sake of training.  I don't want to miss out on every morning with Isla- or miss putting her to bed.  I don't want to put her in more daycare so I can train more.  My identity is not tied up in triathlon, or the way I look, or how fast I am right now, so I am cool with it taking a little longer to find my racing wings again.  

So, I am waiting!  I am going to be more patient with myself and return to doing the small things:  find consistency in daily training, get strong and heal injuries/weaknesses, and do lots of base work (didn't even start...is it too late? :).  In the meantime, I have looked up and found that I have a 1-year-old living with me!  ONE!!!!!  So frickin' awesome.   

I took a big hunk of time off, gained a few pounds, added some hours to my work schedule, and spent some more time with Dave.  I even managed to take my first trip without Isla.  I mean, it was the first time in 365 days that I had nothing to do but have fun.  And yes, it was amazing! 

 I am still reeling...did I really have that much fun?  Yes I did.  Did I really hold a $5000 chip in my hand?  Yes I did. 

Did I really party with a tranny?  On accident.  We swore "she" was a girl. 

Okay- the year is not over.  I am regrouping and finding some races that light my fire.  Will keep you posted. :)