Three Things Thursday!

Hat

Outfit

Gear

Every Thursday before a weekend race, I start obsessing over what to wear.  The Ukrop's Monument Av 10K race is an "away" race, and a huge part of me wants to pack everything I've been considering, just in case I change my mind.  Again.  Like as I am typing this, I am already thinking this ensemble might be too hot.  Might ditch the long sleeve or should I go with white?  Or go with a black skirt?  Black skirts are not "chick-ish" though.  More on this at the end.  Do I really want to bring that Nathan hydration pack or not?  There will be 41,000 runners in this race and I would hate to fight the crowds to get a swig of water - in case it gets hot.  I typically don't bring anything with me when I do 6 miles, BUT.....

You're probably wondering what the heck is with that hat?  It's my chick hat.  My friend and I are dressing up as chicks - and her hubby is the chick magnet.  :P.  Just want to have a little fun at this race since it's going to be insane!!!  Looking forward to it though!  Wish me luck, please.  I'll find out tomorrow at my PT appointment whether I can go on a full out jog (though I'd rather run) on this race!

Wordless Wednesday

I know it's a bit odd to post anything more than Wordless Wednesday photos on Wordless Wednesday, but I can't help but celebrate the little walk/jog I did yesterday. After not being able to run due to injury, I got the green light from my physical therapist to walk/jog. It's not much, but I was thrilled. Thrilled because it means I can jog my first 10K race this Saturday and not have to walk. Jogging my first 10K race isn't exactly what I had planned, but I'll take it! It felt a little bit "new" to jog again, but as soon as my body remembered that I used to run, the 2 miles I did felt way too short. I could have gone for more. Small steps, small steps, I did not want to overdo it and jeopardize my 10K jog. I must say, I did think about going long only because my 3 y.o. fell asleep again in the jogging stroller. I would have to save that thought for next time.

Please cross your fingers and wish me luck that I can continue to at least jog this Saturday!!  Thanks!!!

Another Chance to Skirt!

You know that I skirt and love to skirt.  It is the only thing I will wear when I run, even in cooler temps, because you can always layer under it with capris or tights.  They're also a lot of fun to wear!

Thanks to Mom Vs. Marathon who posted this on her Facebook page, there is another chance to win a running (or athletic or tri-) skirt from Runningskirts.com!  Head over to Long Legs On the Loose's blog and read more about how you can win a running skirt! 

Good luck!

TMI Tuesday: Reports from the Potty

First thing first, it's Reports from the Potty by my 3 y.o., not me.  I hope it's ok to borrow Run Like A Mother: The Book's TMI Tuesday for today.  If you're the squeamish, easily grossed-out type, or if you're eating at the moment, please stop reading now.

My 3 y.o. is pretty much potty-trained.  A few accidents at night which is normal, but for the most part, he gets to the potty in time to do his business (knock-on-wood here so we don't regress for some reason). 

Well lately, he's been describing EVERYTHING from the potty.  And I'm not talking about describing the wonderful painting hanging in the bathroom.  There are times when he needs to go during lunch and most of the time it kills my appetite as he rejoices and proclaims, "look, mommy, there's only 1, 2, 3...3 poops!"  Not only that, but he personifies every single....you know...deposit he's made.  "Mommy, that one is small.  That's the baby one.  That's me!  And that big one is you, mommy, and the biggest one is daddy!"

Oh joy!  To be personified as poop!

He's a gregarious 3 y.o., with very little inhibitions.  In public bathrooms, he's the first one to point out if he hears something that sounds like someone let out gas.  "What's that sound?  Did somebody fart?"  You bet I stayed in my bathroom stall until everyone else left the bathroom!  Don't you just love their honesty?

(Knock-on-wood again here)  I am grateful the potty training with this one was easy compared to the first two boys.  I can deal with the Potty Reports, as long as he keeps up the good work going potty in time for preschool.

Got the Green Light to RUN!!!

WOOHOO!  Well, more like walk/jog, but it's a start and a sign that I am healing well, according to my PT yesterday (knock on wood, fingers crossed). 

Until today, I had resigned myself to walking my first 10K this coming Saturday - which dampened my spirit, but I didn't want to disappoint friends who donated to Massey Cancer Center by not showing up at all.  So I was pleasantly surprised, happy, and relieved that I can at least jog my first 10K!  Not exactly how I had planned it, but hey, I'll take it!  (Happy mother runner, me!)  :D

When You're Injured, You Suddenly Have Time To.....

.....make a video for Another Mother Runner's Run Like A Mother book's (RLAM's) Anniversary.  If you haven't already, you can check out my video (Entry #1 from Marie) along with 9 other mother runners' videos HERE and see the many ways we run like a mother!

Oh and please don't tell my PT that you saw me "running"...since (ahem) I'm not suppose to...?  (notice the slow and careful jog and the way I was dragging my ITBS-ing right leg).

I Skirt. Do You Skirt or Want to Skirt?

I only run in skirts.  I love the freedom it gives me, no fabric riding up the front and the back.  Skirts make me feel more girly and flirty.

Do you skirt or want to skirt?  Head over to the Setting You Free blog to win a running skirt!  Hurry!  Deadline for a chance to win is 11:59EST tonight!

Walk This Way

Walked 4 glorious miles today with one of my best running buddies, Nikki!  It took a lot of energy to get me and my 3 year old out of the house, and it took a whole lot of mental toughness to keep me from doing a little jog.  (Must be good so I can heal.  Must be good). 

I tried to focus on tightening my core while I walked.  My right leg was feeling a little sore again but not so much that I couldn't walk.  Thankfully, 2 miles into the walk, my leg felt better, no pain!  YAY!

It was a great day for the walk.  The muscles on my legs and lower back felt looser as I relaxed and enjoyed my chat with Nikki.  I am so grateful for a friend who took time off from her running so that she can hang out and walk with me.

The 4 miles went by quickly.  We felt refreshed and not to mention we got our toddlers to take their much needed nap in our jogging strollers too! 

Thank you so much again, Nikki!  You're the best!

Just Keep Swimming

Been a little down lately because of my injury.  Bummed because my 10K race is in a week and a half and my physical therapist ordered the dreadful "No Running" prescription.

Sigh.

I am struggling today to focus on other things - nothing too exciting - like chipping away at the growing pile of dirty laundry.  After allowing myself to wallow in self-pity and frustration, I decided ok, I'm done, I need to move on.  To keep moving.  I couldn't help but think of Dory, the fish from "Finding Nemo" the movie.  The exchange between Dory and Marlin is a perfect reminder for me today that life goes on and you keep moving along with it. 

Dory:"Hey Mr. Grumpy Gills...When life gets you down do you wanna know what you gotta do?"

Marlin:"I don't wanna know what you gotta do."

Dory:"Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim."

Kiss N Ride Sketchbook Project - March 22, 2011

 

A failed attempt at a blind contour/free hand self-portait because it sure does not look like me.  LOL  Fun drawing to do, though!  25 minute sketch.

Dusting off the old bike

Going stir crazy over here since I can't run for a week!!!  I dusted off my old bike today to get some cardio in.  Boy has it been a looooong time since I last got on that bike.  I was afraid for my boys who were riding around me.  Yelling "get out of mommy's way or you'll get hurt!" just scared my boys away from me.  (Note to self:  find another way to get some cardio in)

I did manage to ride 2 miles.  Not much when you're going around and around the culdesac and dodging the kids on their bikes, but it was better than nothing! 

Physical Therapy

I've been having good and bad days of running.  On those bad days, the ITB on my right leg acts up, and I start wishing for a new leg.  Not to mention how I threw my back out (again) last week.  My lower back feels better, just sore, but feels very very delicate.

I finally got an appointment with a Physical Therapist today to put an end to this.  Why I never thought to do this earlier escapes me.  Are we runners that stubborn to seek medical attention and too quick to self-diagnose and self-treat?  Or perhaps it's just me. 

Today was my first day of physical therapy.  I was diagnosed with SI Joint Dysfunction which is the root cause of my ITBS on my right leg.  It amazes me still how all the pain I am feeling here and there are all related/connected.  I was a bit relieved to learn too that my injury is not caused by running.  My injury was from a bad fall I had months ago going down the stairs.  It took a fall on my right butt to cause the misalignment on my pelvis.  Yikes!  Running exacerbated the SI joint and caused the inflammation I've been feeling on my lower back and right thigh.  Geez, right?

While I am relieved to know what is causing all this frustrating pain and that something can be done about it, I wasn't exactly thrilled about the timing of rehabilitation.  I got the "No Running for 1 Week" from my PT, which stunned me to say the least, because I have my first 10K race in 2 weeks, AND I'm suppose to run 5.5 miles tomorrow! 

After digesting the situation and silently throwing a tantrum in my head and in my heart, I figured I cannot risk prolonging my injury and treatment.  Sigh.  The grown-up, rational side of me took over.  I became grateful that it's only 1 week of no running, and not longer. 

So lessons learned again - if you are in pain, even if it's just a little bit of pain, go to your doctor ASAP before it gets worse or in my case, well before your race!  No fun to be sidelined before a race, but it's better for the long run (so I tell myself over and over again).

It's Official! Ragnar DC 2011 or BUST!

It's done.  It's official!  I just registered my team for this year's Ragnar DC Relay!  I am excited, a little scared, but more excited about this adventure!  Our team's goal is to finish and have a blast!  I'm not sure how to train for this race, whether to follow Ragnar's training plan or train for a half marathon.

Has anyone done a relay race before?  How did you train for it?

Inspiring Runner: Team Hoyt

To quote my friend, "When you think you can't do something, remember this..."

Left Side of the Brain is Calling

Been itching to get back to drawing regularly again.  I've been doing quick and dirty drawings on my sketchbook while waiting in the car at the school's Kiss N Ride long line of cars so I can pick them up early for their after-school activities.  I started doing this in the beginning of March out of boredom while my 3 year old napped in the back.  I drew whatever was in front of me, no matter how boring it was - a tree, a house, the SUV in front of me.  Like running, I needed to stretch my drawing hand and get used to it again, but by the time I got started, it all came back to me, and I was starting to have some fun.

I started to go to the Kiss N Ride line early so I can draw longer than 15 minutes.  Like running, drawing relaxes me.

So with drawing and art actively back in my life came these 2 juried art shows that I just could not get out of my mind.  One is at The Soundry called "Embodiment," a figure art show which I am really excited about!  I have an older piece that I want to submit along with a newer piece that I want to create.  The other juried show is at the Greater Reston Arts Center, and the theme is "BITE: Identity and Humor."  I am not so sure about making the deadline for BITE, but I am intrigued by the challenge of how to use humor in dealing with race and identity. We will see how this part of my journey goes.  I'm excited and nervous at the same time!

Kiss N Ride Sketchbook Project - March 15, 2011

Running With Mr. McDreamy

My husband and I decided that I am we are going to run The Dempsey Challenge Journey for Hope 10K with Mr. McDreamy on October 8/9 this year.  The Dempsey Challenge is an annual fundraising in Lewiston/Auburn, Maine to benefit the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center.  October 8 is the run/walk 10K event, and October 9 is the cycling event.

Patrick Dempsey created the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center after his mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  The realities of his mom's cancer brought to light the importance of having access to reliable resources for patients, caregivers, and families.  Dempsey wanted to give back to the community that helped his mom through her cancer journey.  Fortunately, his mom was successfully treated and is now healthy and active.

I am not a huge, die-hard fan of Mr. McDreamy, but I have a lot of respect and admiration for Patrick Dempsey. The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing provides free services, thanks to donations made by Dempsey himself and other sources.  I admire actors/famous people who give back to the community whole-heartedly without the big publicity stunts to self-promote their image just because it's "cool."

We think that this race will be on our race calendar every year.  We will be making the big trip back to Maine in October to support the Center in memory of my husband's dad, who lost his battle to lung cancer.  He passed away before the Center was created, but we hope that our fundraising efforts in memory of him will help other families touched by cancer in the Lewiston/Auburn area.  We'd like to think he would want us to help, and what better way to remember him by running a 10K for the Center.

Kiss N Ride Sketchbook Project - March 9, 2011

The Marathon Story: Heroic Pheidippides

Most runners know the legendary story of Pheidippides, the Greek warrior whose run from Marathon to Athens led to the modern day Marathon Races. Check out this guy's version of the story. Hilarious!

The Marathon Story: Heroic Pheidippides | jacksonville.com

Guitars and Great Runs

After 12.7 mile run between my husband and I (I did 4.5, he did 8.2), we are jamming in our guitars to Beatles songs.  Love long runs on Saturdays and relaxing family jam time at home.

Featured in Mom Vs Marathon Blog!

I am so honored to be featured on Mom Vs Marathon's blog today!  What an amazing gift Kerrie is giving to those of us who are running and raising money for charity.  Please check out Kerrie's blog and the piece she wrote about my fundraising efforts for Massey Cancer Center.  Thanks, again, Kerrie!  You're the best!

Am I Crazy??

I am considering a half marathon already!  I haven't even run my first 10K yet and I've got half marathon on the brain.  I'm thinking Virginia Beach Rock n Roll Half in September - flat, fast, but I hear it gets hot and humid.  Since I'm planning to train for a half marathon to get ready for Ragnar, why not, right?  VB RnR is on Labor Day, right before Ragnar, but my gut is saying it's too close for comfort.

Ok, so I might be crazy after all!  ACK!

Inspiring Runner: I am a Runner

I have to share this powerful and courageous story about a mom who was in a very dark place in her life.  It's an amazing and honest story of how running rescued her and healed her.  While I cannot imagine what she went through, I can honestly relate to being rescued and healed by running, and to being grateful for having friends like hers for getting me out there to run for the first time.  Please check out her story at Another Mother Runner's blog.  You will be inspired.

Kiss N Ride Sketchbook Project - March 2, 2011

It's a Popsicle On the Porch Kind of Day Today