As I mentioned, I signed up for 2 different programs this holiday season to keep me on a healthy track. Here's how I'm doing, one week in.
Holiday Distance Challenge
I need to run 26.2 miles between 11/22 and the end of the year. Knowing that I have a lot of commitments coming up for work, church, and personal activities, I decided to hit it hard at the beginning to ensure that I'd make that 26.2. I went to the Y 4 times during the first week and ran a total of 11.33 miles. Almost halfway there already!
Don't Gain -- Maintain!
This is a challenge from Mary to maintain your weight during the holiday season. My first weigh-in was 136, and when I checked this morning, I was still 136. I did have a slight bump up Thursday/Friday, but am back down again. With so much delicious food around, I am having to make a conscious effort to NOT overdo it, and I think I'm doing OK with that so far.
I'll keep you posted on my progress as we go through this holiday season!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Long Holiday Weekend Wrap-Up
After a great Turkey Day, we still had 3 days off from work. Hooray! Here is how we spent our time...
Friday
Friday morning, we left bright and early to go downtown to see the new Glazer Children's Museum. It opened earlier this fall, and we hadn't been to visit yet. It was the perfect day to go! The traffic in the morning was pretty light (both on the roads and in the museum), and there were so many fun exhibits! Between the giant water tables filled with experiments, the indoor sandbox, the dance party room, the rock climbing wall, and all the different play areas, it was hard to pick what was our favorite. I think Katie liked the play veterinarian's office the best, and Natalie loved sliding down the pole in the play fire station. We will definitely be back!
We had lunch in the cafe at the museum, then walked outside in the adjacent park for a while before heading home for naps.
Later in the afternoon, we went out for some shopping. I am generally not a Black Friday kind of gal, but our Target store wasn't too crowded, so we hit it for some general supplies and to shop for our Salvation Army Christmas stockings and name for the Salvation Army Angel Tree. All items for donation need to be returned to our church well before Christmas, so it was nice to get everything bought and packaged up so early. We did a great job picking out a wide variety of gifts based on the needs and the wishes of the kids that will be receiving them. I hope the girls had as much fun as Colin and I did.
Saturday
With swimming lessons cancelled for the holiday weekend, we went to the mall when it first opened so the girls could visit Santa. We were near the front of the line and didn't have to wait very long at all. The girls were sooooo excited! We got their pictures taken with the Big Guy, and they had time to tell him about everything they want (which, for Katie, is a LOT more than she thinks she is asking for). After that, we split the girls up so they could buy gifts for each other. Then I took them off to buy a gift for Colin, and then he took them off to find a gift for me. We finished our trip to the mall with a ride on the carousel, then went home to eat lunch.
I went to work out on Saturday afternoon. I have trouble running on the treadmill and often suffer a mental break around 2 miles where I just can't take it anymore. I know, I know... so many of you routinely run WAY farther than that and can handle it just fine! I don't know how you do it. Anyway, I ran 3.1, a full 5K, on the treadmill on Saturday. Apparently, watching Michigan's red zone incompetence against Ohio State is enough to hold my attention for that long. :)
After working out, the girls and I wrapped a bunch of gifts, going until I ran out of gift tags. Forgot to buy that at Target the day before!
Sunday
Our Sunday was really a pretty normal Sunday for us. We went to church, got groceries, and had lunch at home. Colin ran some errands while the girls took a nap. When he got back, I went to the Y to work out again. He and the girls were watching a movie when I came home. After I cleaned up, I took the girls to get their hair cut. They definitely needed it! I tried to get them to bed a little earlier... back to school on Monday!
Hopefully you all had a fabulous holiday weekend as well!!!
Friday
Friday morning, we left bright and early to go downtown to see the new Glazer Children's Museum. It opened earlier this fall, and we hadn't been to visit yet. It was the perfect day to go! The traffic in the morning was pretty light (both on the roads and in the museum), and there were so many fun exhibits! Between the giant water tables filled with experiments, the indoor sandbox, the dance party room, the rock climbing wall, and all the different play areas, it was hard to pick what was our favorite. I think Katie liked the play veterinarian's office the best, and Natalie loved sliding down the pole in the play fire station. We will definitely be back!
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| Making fountains at one of the water tables |
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| Katie loved the rock wall! |
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| She also liked to play vet |
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| Both girls loved the 3-layer puzzle representing the organs, circulatory system, and skeleton |
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| Indoor sandbox with fake sand! It's made of crumb rubber! |
Later in the afternoon, we went out for some shopping. I am generally not a Black Friday kind of gal, but our Target store wasn't too crowded, so we hit it for some general supplies and to shop for our Salvation Army Christmas stockings and name for the Salvation Army Angel Tree. All items for donation need to be returned to our church well before Christmas, so it was nice to get everything bought and packaged up so early. We did a great job picking out a wide variety of gifts based on the needs and the wishes of the kids that will be receiving them. I hope the girls had as much fun as Colin and I did.
Saturday
With swimming lessons cancelled for the holiday weekend, we went to the mall when it first opened so the girls could visit Santa. We were near the front of the line and didn't have to wait very long at all. The girls were sooooo excited! We got their pictures taken with the Big Guy, and they had time to tell him about everything they want (which, for Katie, is a LOT more than she thinks she is asking for). After that, we split the girls up so they could buy gifts for each other. Then I took them off to buy a gift for Colin, and then he took them off to find a gift for me. We finished our trip to the mall with a ride on the carousel, then went home to eat lunch.
I went to work out on Saturday afternoon. I have trouble running on the treadmill and often suffer a mental break around 2 miles where I just can't take it anymore. I know, I know... so many of you routinely run WAY farther than that and can handle it just fine! I don't know how you do it. Anyway, I ran 3.1, a full 5K, on the treadmill on Saturday. Apparently, watching Michigan's red zone incompetence against Ohio State is enough to hold my attention for that long. :)
After working out, the girls and I wrapped a bunch of gifts, going until I ran out of gift tags. Forgot to buy that at Target the day before!
Sunday
Our Sunday was really a pretty normal Sunday for us. We went to church, got groceries, and had lunch at home. Colin ran some errands while the girls took a nap. When he got back, I went to the Y to work out again. He and the girls were watching a movie when I came home. After I cleaned up, I took the girls to get their hair cut. They definitely needed it! I tried to get them to bed a little earlier... back to school on Monday!
Hopefully you all had a fabulous holiday weekend as well!!!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!
We had a busy, exhausting, and fun Thanksgiving day!
Right after breakfast, my lovely assistants helped me make 2 apple pies.
After the pies were done, we relaxed a bit, had some lunch, and then prepared the turkey. I tried it this way a few years ago, and it was so delicious that I did it again. I seasoned the cavity with a mixture of salt, pepper, garlic, and rosemary. Then I took several halves of citrus fruits, squeezed the juice in and over the turkey,and shoved the fruit half inside the cavity. The juices from the lemons, limes, and oranges serve to keep the turkey moist but don't provide a particularly overpowering flavor. I rubbed the rest of my seasonings on the outside, gave it a good spray-down with some Pam, and put it in the oven!
We had Colin's parents and our neighbors Cherie and Gavin over for dinner. Poor LeeAnn (Cherie's partner) had been sick earlier in the week and wasn't ready to face food yet, so she stayed home. We missed her!
And we had a ton of food: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy (both regular and gluten-free), stuffing (both regular and gluten-free), green bean casserole, bread (gluten-free), sweet potatoes, and cranberry relish. For dessert, besides the apple pies, we also had a gluten-free pumpkin pie and some vanilla ice cream. Delicious! We had a good time sharing our meal with our family and friends. It doesn't get any better than that. :)
Hope you had a GREAT Thanksgiving!!!
Right after breakfast, my lovely assistants helped me make 2 apple pies.
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| Cutting our Granny Smiths for the filling |
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| Bottom crust ready! |
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| Yes, the one on the left says IOWA to let the steam out... Old habits die hard... |
After the pies were done, we relaxed a bit, had some lunch, and then prepared the turkey. I tried it this way a few years ago, and it was so delicious that I did it again. I seasoned the cavity with a mixture of salt, pepper, garlic, and rosemary. Then I took several halves of citrus fruits, squeezed the juice in and over the turkey,and shoved the fruit half inside the cavity. The juices from the lemons, limes, and oranges serve to keep the turkey moist but don't provide a particularly overpowering flavor. I rubbed the rest of my seasonings on the outside, gave it a good spray-down with some Pam, and put it in the oven!
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| Turkey Before |
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| Turkey After. Yum! |
And we had a ton of food: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy (both regular and gluten-free), stuffing (both regular and gluten-free), green bean casserole, bread (gluten-free), sweet potatoes, and cranberry relish. For dessert, besides the apple pies, we also had a gluten-free pumpkin pie and some vanilla ice cream. Delicious! We had a good time sharing our meal with our family and friends. It doesn't get any better than that. :)
Hope you had a GREAT Thanksgiving!!!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Don't Gain -- Maintain!
This holiday season, my friend Mary is hosting a challenge to maintain your weight. Many of us often eat too much and exercise too little between Thanksgiving and New Years, and weight tends to creep up during this time period. We all know it happens! Mary is asking people to weigh in this week, and then again the first week of January, to try and encourage you to maintain your weight during this time period. There are prizes involved, too!!!
I'm signing up for sure. I've also signed up for the Holiday Distance Challenge at my YMCA. Between now and December 31, you can swim, bike, or run one of the distances required for a full Ironman triathlon, record your workout and get it initialed by a staff member, and get prizes for completing the challenge! I'll be running 26.2 miles during this time period, which I know I can do. The hard part will be doing it on the treadmill so that Y staff can verify my miles and sign off on it... during the nicest time of year to run outside in Florida!
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| I'll be giving you more of this type of GLOW for the holidays (pic from after Sunday's run) |
I'm happy to see people making the effort to keep those holiday pounds off, and hopeful that I can be successful at it, too!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Bedtime Passes
Last week as I was frustrated with Natalie getting up so much after she was supposed to be in bed, I thought back to what our pediatrician had recommended when Katie was having a similar problem at about the same age. (Read about that HERE) I stayed up late after writing that post and used Publisher to make 2 passes on postcard-sized card stock for Natalie. They are both pink and purple. One has a picture of a pink and blue toilet on it and is labeled Potty Pass. The other has a picture of a puppy holding heart-shaped balloons and reads Hug Pass.
The next day I explained to Natalie that if she needs to get up after bedtime to use the bathroom, she has to give me the Potty Pass. After doing her business, she needs to wash her hands and get back in bed. If she just wants one more hug after bedtime, she has to give me the Hug Pass. I will give her a hug and kiss and make sure she is tucked in. If she has no more passes but I have to come back in her room for any reason, I will take one of her toys away each time I have to go back in. Natalie and Katie both like to sleep with a large assortment of dolls and stuffed animals, so her eyes got very big at the thought of me taking away any of her toys.
We have implemented this for 5 nights now, and I have seen a huge improvement in the amount of times Natalie gets up after she is supposed to be in bed. She has used either one or both of her passes each night. She's only had one night where I've had to take 1 toy away. Getting up 1-3 times after she's supposed to be in bed is much nicer than the 5-10 times I had previously been dealing with each evening. I'm also trying to stress how happy it makes me when she stays in bed like a big girl. Since Natalie likes to think of herself as a big girl, and she is also eager to please, I am hoping that this helps reinforce how important it is for her to stay in bed and get some rest.
Looks like we are getting back on the right track, and I am happy for that!
The next day I explained to Natalie that if she needs to get up after bedtime to use the bathroom, she has to give me the Potty Pass. After doing her business, she needs to wash her hands and get back in bed. If she just wants one more hug after bedtime, she has to give me the Hug Pass. I will give her a hug and kiss and make sure she is tucked in. If she has no more passes but I have to come back in her room for any reason, I will take one of her toys away each time I have to go back in. Natalie and Katie both like to sleep with a large assortment of dolls and stuffed animals, so her eyes got very big at the thought of me taking away any of her toys.
We have implemented this for 5 nights now, and I have seen a huge improvement in the amount of times Natalie gets up after she is supposed to be in bed. She has used either one or both of her passes each night. She's only had one night where I've had to take 1 toy away. Getting up 1-3 times after she's supposed to be in bed is much nicer than the 5-10 times I had previously been dealing with each evening. I'm also trying to stress how happy it makes me when she stays in bed like a big girl. Since Natalie likes to think of herself as a big girl, and she is also eager to please, I am hoping that this helps reinforce how important it is for her to stay in bed and get some rest.
Looks like we are getting back on the right track, and I am happy for that!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Great Season, Gators!
Saturday was the last game of the soccer season for our Gators!
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| Natalie looks fly in her sunglasses! |
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| Gators ready to move the ball up the field. |
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| Molly (#9) and Natalie (#3) chase after the ball. |
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| Natalie with her trophy. |
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| Fro-yo in the sunshine. |
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Random Ramble
Up late again... too many Cinderella duties, a husband who is sick, and a little stinker who won't stay in bed...
Natalie, oh Natalie. She is very up and down with her sleep habits. She goes to bed like a champ for days, even weeks on end. Just when you think she has it down, we suddenly get into a pattern where she pops up out of bed repeatedly for seemingly no reason for several nights in a row. Right now we're in one of those patterns where everything seems to be more interesting than going to bed. She's not fussy or cranky about it, just doesn't really feel like sleeping. I've pulled out a lot of the tricks that I used on Katie, or that I've used on her before. So far it seems she is outsmarting me, and I refuse to be bested by a 3-year-old. I need to come up with a plan to help her stay in bed and get the sleep she needs!
All that has made me unfortunately tired, which was not good for me this afternoon when I was at a 3+ hour orientation session for the new Leadership Development Program at work. Out of over 3,000 employees that were *technically* eligible, there were 93 applicants, and 40 of us were selected for the inaugural class. It's pretty exciting! Or... would be if it wasn't right after lunch when I'm feeling my sleepiest! Over the next 2 years, we have a lot of classes and workshops to complete. I think it will be interesting, and will definitely help put me in a position for promotion. Provided I stay awake. :)
Natalie, oh Natalie. She is very up and down with her sleep habits. She goes to bed like a champ for days, even weeks on end. Just when you think she has it down, we suddenly get into a pattern where she pops up out of bed repeatedly for seemingly no reason for several nights in a row. Right now we're in one of those patterns where everything seems to be more interesting than going to bed. She's not fussy or cranky about it, just doesn't really feel like sleeping. I've pulled out a lot of the tricks that I used on Katie, or that I've used on her before. So far it seems she is outsmarting me, and I refuse to be bested by a 3-year-old. I need to come up with a plan to help her stay in bed and get the sleep she needs!
All that has made me unfortunately tired, which was not good for me this afternoon when I was at a 3+ hour orientation session for the new Leadership Development Program at work. Out of over 3,000 employees that were *technically* eligible, there were 93 applicants, and 40 of us were selected for the inaugural class. It's pretty exciting! Or... would be if it wasn't right after lunch when I'm feeling my sleepiest! Over the next 2 years, we have a lot of classes and workshops to complete. I think it will be interesting, and will definitely help put me in a position for promotion. Provided I stay awake. :)
Sunday, November 14, 2010
You Work All the Time!
"You work all the time... is that why you never get to sit down and watch your favorite shows?" That is what Katie said to me tonight as I tucked her in bed. Very observant for a 5-year-old.
And so right! Even though I work at my job 5 days a week, you mamas know that I am pretty much working all the time. On Saturday, besides swimming lessons and a soccer game, I also did 4 loads of laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, and trips to Payless Shoes and Target. Oh, and I did my Jillian Michaels workout DVD! That was during their naptime, when I suppose I could've been watching a favorite show instead of banishing my fat and boosting my metabolism. Today, we went to church and got groceries. I also did 5 loads of laundry, dishes, cooking, ran 3 miles (again, during their naptime), and started wrapping Christmas gifts. At least I got to watch some of the Cake Boss marathon while folding clothes and wrapping gifts! That's sort of like sitting down to watch my favorite shows, right?
Here I am, way past my bedtime, because I just finished folding my last load of laundry and am FINALLY ready for bed! And decided I may as well write something, because even though my weekend wasn't terribly eventful, I knew you could relate to Katie's observation and I wanted to share.
And so right! Even though I work at my job 5 days a week, you mamas know that I am pretty much working all the time. On Saturday, besides swimming lessons and a soccer game, I also did 4 loads of laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, and trips to Payless Shoes and Target. Oh, and I did my Jillian Michaels workout DVD! That was during their naptime, when I suppose I could've been watching a favorite show instead of banishing my fat and boosting my metabolism. Today, we went to church and got groceries. I also did 5 loads of laundry, dishes, cooking, ran 3 miles (again, during their naptime), and started wrapping Christmas gifts. At least I got to watch some of the Cake Boss marathon while folding clothes and wrapping gifts! That's sort of like sitting down to watch my favorite shows, right?
Here I am, way past my bedtime, because I just finished folding my last load of laundry and am FINALLY ready for bed! And decided I may as well write something, because even though my weekend wasn't terribly eventful, I knew you could relate to Katie's observation and I wanted to share.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Mama's Day Off
Veteran's Day, a day off from work for me, and now a day off from school for Katie as well. Katie went to daycare all day today so she could go on the roller skating field trip with the after school group. She had a blast! Here's what I did...
After everyone was out the door, I went for a 4.2-mile run. Time: 41:05. I felt sluggish, but it is probably due to the fact that my cereal didn't have much time to digest between breakfast and running.
But I had to get it in early so I could hit Toys R Us right when they opened for my annual Christmas toy shopping trip! I went to a different TRU location this time so that on my way back, I could stop by the fancy mall and their fancy running store for my...
Gait analysis! Finally!
It was not all that and a bucket of chicken, so I will spare them and not name names here.
After watching my thighs jiggle on a big screen in super-slow motion (VERY unflattering, if you have never tried it) as we watched my foot and ankle motion from a brief treadmill jog, she determined that I strike on my heel and overpronate. In terms of the heel strike, I know, and I'm working on it. As far as pronation goes, well, if you've read Born To Run, then you know the argument so I won't even get started on it.
I thought they were supposed to look at wear patterns on my current shoes before doing this... She didn't even look at my shoes until afterward, and then didn't study them. All I got was an, "Oh. These actually are the best shoes for you!" So, thank you, Saucony Hurricanes. I tried on the newer Hurricanes, as well as a pair of Brooks Adrenaline. Loved them both! I wanted to try the Nike Frees, but we got into it a little bit, and she basically refused to let me try them on. She then tried to sell me on a bunch of expensive inserts. I could see where this is going... they make their money off the inserts, not just the fact that their shoes were overpriced compared to other area stores. When I asked her what some of the inserts actually did for my feet, she did not have a concrete answer. She was frustrated that I was not picking a shoe. I was frustrated that she was trying to get me to spend $80 on inserts I don't need. I told her I'd sleep on it, referenced my hair appointment, and walked out.
I will not be back. I was pretty disappointed that it was not as helpful as my doctor and their website make it out to be!
Once (thankfully) done with that, I headed back up this way and got my hair cut. I went shorter, with layers that rise up in back.
I had lunch, then picked Natalie up early so that we could take her to get that last stitch out. It went amazingly well! Colin and I were both there so that we could team up and hold her down if need be. Thankfully, we didn't need to! She cooperated well for the doctor and was rewarded with ice cream afterwards. :)
Katie was still on the trip when I picked Natalie up, so with the stitch out, we doubled back to daycare to get Miss Katie. We came home, played in the back yard, then went out in front to do some chalk in the driveway.
We finished it up with supper, a call to my brother to thank him for his service to our country, and our regular nighttime routine. I'm pooped! It was a busy day, and now I need to go back to work for 1 more day before I get a weekend. :)
After everyone was out the door, I went for a 4.2-mile run. Time: 41:05. I felt sluggish, but it is probably due to the fact that my cereal didn't have much time to digest between breakfast and running.
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| Attempting to pose with my Pumpkin Run hardware! |
Gait analysis! Finally!
It was not all that and a bucket of chicken, so I will spare them and not name names here.
After watching my thighs jiggle on a big screen in super-slow motion (VERY unflattering, if you have never tried it) as we watched my foot and ankle motion from a brief treadmill jog, she determined that I strike on my heel and overpronate. In terms of the heel strike, I know, and I'm working on it. As far as pronation goes, well, if you've read Born To Run, then you know the argument so I won't even get started on it.
I thought they were supposed to look at wear patterns on my current shoes before doing this... She didn't even look at my shoes until afterward, and then didn't study them. All I got was an, "Oh. These actually are the best shoes for you!" So, thank you, Saucony Hurricanes. I tried on the newer Hurricanes, as well as a pair of Brooks Adrenaline. Loved them both! I wanted to try the Nike Frees, but we got into it a little bit, and she basically refused to let me try them on. She then tried to sell me on a bunch of expensive inserts. I could see where this is going... they make their money off the inserts, not just the fact that their shoes were overpriced compared to other area stores. When I asked her what some of the inserts actually did for my feet, she did not have a concrete answer. She was frustrated that I was not picking a shoe. I was frustrated that she was trying to get me to spend $80 on inserts I don't need. I told her I'd sleep on it, referenced my hair appointment, and walked out.
I will not be back. I was pretty disappointed that it was not as helpful as my doctor and their website make it out to be!
Once (thankfully) done with that, I headed back up this way and got my hair cut. I went shorter, with layers that rise up in back.
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| Gonna need that Bondi Band now -- no ponytail! |
Katie was still on the trip when I picked Natalie up, so with the stitch out, we doubled back to daycare to get Miss Katie. We came home, played in the back yard, then went out in front to do some chalk in the driveway.
We finished it up with supper, a call to my brother to thank him for his service to our country, and our regular nighttime routine. I'm pooped! It was a busy day, and now I need to go back to work for 1 more day before I get a weekend. :)
Monday, November 8, 2010
Pumpkin Run Update
Regarding my Pumpkin Run race report, I have 2 more things to add that I didn't have last night:
1. The results were posted online, and they list my official time as 27:07. OK, so 3 seconds slower than what I timed myself, but still, wow. AND I got 3rd in my age group. Woohoo! Had I known, I might have stuck around for the awards presentation. Now I need to ask at the Y today about my award.
2. I have a spreadsheet of race results here at the office, which has one race from before Katie was born (I ran more from college through then, but could only find one from 2004 online), and then all my results since then. I entered my 27:07 into the spreadsheet, and it is my new post-kids PR!!! Before I had kids, I could run in the 23-24s, plus or minus, for a 5K. Since I had kids, I've been slower, so I was thrilled to know I had a new record. :)
That's all. Hope you're having a good Monday!!!
1. The results were posted online, and they list my official time as 27:07. OK, so 3 seconds slower than what I timed myself, but still, wow. AND I got 3rd in my age group. Woohoo! Had I known, I might have stuck around for the awards presentation. Now I need to ask at the Y today about my award.
2. I have a spreadsheet of race results here at the office, which has one race from before Katie was born (I ran more from college through then, but could only find one from 2004 online), and then all my results since then. I entered my 27:07 into the spreadsheet, and it is my new post-kids PR!!! Before I had kids, I could run in the 23-24s, plus or minus, for a 5K. Since I had kids, I've been slower, so I was thrilled to know I had a new record. :)
That's all. Hope you're having a good Monday!!!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Pumpkin Run 5K Race Report
Yesterday was the 9th annual Pumpkin Run 5K and 1 Mile Family Fun Run, sponsored by our YMCA and our neighborhood association. Entries were capped at 500, so it was a smaller event, but it was great that way. Plenty of parking and bathroom access!
First, let me explain that our Y has 2 separate facilities. They have the one nearer to our house, which is the main building (the girls call it the Exercise Y), and then a second facility about half a mile north where the youth sports areas and waterpark are (the girls call it the Basketball Y). The race started/ended at the Basketball Y.
Packet pick-up was from 6:30-7:30 am, with the 1-mile race to start at 7:45 and the 5K at 8. Due to some technical difficulties in getting the chip timer equipment set up at the start/finish line, the 1-mile didn't start until 8. They waited until EVERYONE finished, which was after 8:30, to start the 5K.
Dear Phillip, Spin Instructor Extraordinaire and First-Time Race Director: I would consider starting the 5K first next year and the 1-mile about 10 minutes later, with well-marked turnaround points, so that everyone finishes closer-ish to the same time.
I got there just after 7, picked up my packet, used the restroom, and then walked back to sit in my car for a while. The building was open but jam-packed with people since it was in the 40s. I stripped off my sweats and walked back to the building around 7:30 so I could cheer on some people I knew in the 1-mile. Too bad it took so long for them to get the timing equipment set up! A lot of people were getting frustrated with the wait. After an invocation and the National Anthem, the 1-mile runners were off! Hooray!
I ran inside to use the restroom again and stretched a bit. Then I jogged around outside to keep warm. As the last runners/walkers were straggling in, I found myself talking to these older guys, wondering whether or not they were the only 2 in the 70+ age group. Then another guy showed up and they started complaining, "Oh no! Not him! He's too fast and kicks our butts every time!" It was hilarious. I hope I'm still enjoying running that much at 70+!!!
It was warming up a bit since the sun had been up for a while, and I was really on the fence about long or short sleeves for the race. I had a long-sleeve tee over top of a short-sleeve one, and made the snap decision to ditch the long sleeves. I quickly pinned my number on my other shirt, and since they were still dilly-dallying, decided to run my long sleeves to my car and throw them in. It was only 100 yards or so, but when I was on my way back, they started counting down for the 5K start! Aaargh! I quickly got into the group and was able to start when everyone did. And since we had the chips, I knew they got my exact time.
Since my pre-race discussion was so lengthy, I feel like I don't have much to say about the race itself!
Mile 1: We left the Basketball Y, went past the soccer fields, and then down to the main drag past the Exercise Y. We headed west toward the elementary school, which is where I always run when I start from my house. Sometimes I absent-mindedly click the splits at the mile markers without really looking. I heard the 2 ladies in front of me say, "Yep, right about on target!" So I looked down at my watch and saw Split = 8:31.
Mile 2: What? 8:31? I never run that fast! Something must be wrong! Phillip must've measured his course too short! But I knew that it was likely right, because I know that route so well. I tried to slow down a bit and not wear myself out, but not that much because I was feeling good. We turned around just shy of the elementary school and headed back east. Split = 9:06
Mile 3.1: The sun was in my eyes going east, but I was still feeling good and kept right on trucking. I passed the Exercise Y, smiling and waving and thanking the Sheriff's office and Public Works employees for their traffic control. I really felt great all the way back to the Basketball Y, trying to push it the last quarter mile or so. Split = 9:27
Total Time = 27:04!!!!!!!!!
As you can see, that totally blasts my rather un-lofty goal of "run faster than last year's 29:11". I really didn't know what to expect going in. I hadn't done a race since the half marathon in March. After the stress fracture, I've been trying to go very slow in building up my mileage, and have just recently started aiming for sub-10 when I'm out and about. I guess the intervals and the plyometrics helped more than I thought they did! I certainly never imagined I'd average less than 9 min/miles for the whole race.
Boy, was I pooped afterward. I quickly put all my layers back on since I froze as soon as I stood still! Colin had taken the girls to their swimming lessons while I was running. Natalie had a soccer game at 10, and since traffic was so jammed up with people wanting to leave with runners still on the course, I said I'd just walk over to the fields and meet them at 10. We had a great time at Natalie's game, and they drove me back to my car afterwards. It was only 57 then, so still a little cool, and I couldn't wait to get home and have a hot shower.
So there you have it. Go, Pumpkin Run! I enjoy this one because it's small and in my neighborhood. I just hope they're not as confused next year at the starting line!
First, let me explain that our Y has 2 separate facilities. They have the one nearer to our house, which is the main building (the girls call it the Exercise Y), and then a second facility about half a mile north where the youth sports areas and waterpark are (the girls call it the Basketball Y). The race started/ended at the Basketball Y.
Packet pick-up was from 6:30-7:30 am, with the 1-mile race to start at 7:45 and the 5K at 8. Due to some technical difficulties in getting the chip timer equipment set up at the start/finish line, the 1-mile didn't start until 8. They waited until EVERYONE finished, which was after 8:30, to start the 5K.
Dear Phillip, Spin Instructor Extraordinaire and First-Time Race Director: I would consider starting the 5K first next year and the 1-mile about 10 minutes later, with well-marked turnaround points, so that everyone finishes closer-ish to the same time.
I got there just after 7, picked up my packet, used the restroom, and then walked back to sit in my car for a while. The building was open but jam-packed with people since it was in the 40s. I stripped off my sweats and walked back to the building around 7:30 so I could cheer on some people I knew in the 1-mile. Too bad it took so long for them to get the timing equipment set up! A lot of people were getting frustrated with the wait. After an invocation and the National Anthem, the 1-mile runners were off! Hooray!
I ran inside to use the restroom again and stretched a bit. Then I jogged around outside to keep warm. As the last runners/walkers were straggling in, I found myself talking to these older guys, wondering whether or not they were the only 2 in the 70+ age group. Then another guy showed up and they started complaining, "Oh no! Not him! He's too fast and kicks our butts every time!" It was hilarious. I hope I'm still enjoying running that much at 70+!!!
It was warming up a bit since the sun had been up for a while, and I was really on the fence about long or short sleeves for the race. I had a long-sleeve tee over top of a short-sleeve one, and made the snap decision to ditch the long sleeves. I quickly pinned my number on my other shirt, and since they were still dilly-dallying, decided to run my long sleeves to my car and throw them in. It was only 100 yards or so, but when I was on my way back, they started counting down for the 5K start! Aaargh! I quickly got into the group and was able to start when everyone did. And since we had the chips, I knew they got my exact time.
Since my pre-race discussion was so lengthy, I feel like I don't have much to say about the race itself!
Mile 1: We left the Basketball Y, went past the soccer fields, and then down to the main drag past the Exercise Y. We headed west toward the elementary school, which is where I always run when I start from my house. Sometimes I absent-mindedly click the splits at the mile markers without really looking. I heard the 2 ladies in front of me say, "Yep, right about on target!" So I looked down at my watch and saw Split = 8:31.
Mile 2: What? 8:31? I never run that fast! Something must be wrong! Phillip must've measured his course too short! But I knew that it was likely right, because I know that route so well. I tried to slow down a bit and not wear myself out, but not that much because I was feeling good. We turned around just shy of the elementary school and headed back east. Split = 9:06
Mile 3.1: The sun was in my eyes going east, but I was still feeling good and kept right on trucking. I passed the Exercise Y, smiling and waving and thanking the Sheriff's office and Public Works employees for their traffic control. I really felt great all the way back to the Basketball Y, trying to push it the last quarter mile or so. Split = 9:27
Total Time = 27:04!!!!!!!!!
As you can see, that totally blasts my rather un-lofty goal of "run faster than last year's 29:11". I really didn't know what to expect going in. I hadn't done a race since the half marathon in March. After the stress fracture, I've been trying to go very slow in building up my mileage, and have just recently started aiming for sub-10 when I'm out and about. I guess the intervals and the plyometrics helped more than I thought they did! I certainly never imagined I'd average less than 9 min/miles for the whole race.
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| Post-Race, after putting my long sleeves back on! |
So there you have it. Go, Pumpkin Run! I enjoy this one because it's small and in my neighborhood. I just hope they're not as confused next year at the starting line!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Family Health Updates
It's been a busy week!
Natalie
Monday evening, we took Natalie to get her stitches out. She was very excited that this was happening and promised to be extra-still for the doctor, just like she would be for a haircut or fingernail clipping. The first stitch was removed before she even noticed. I'm not sure what happened to set her off on the second one (I was across the room, reading with Katie at the time), but there must've been some sort of discomfort to freak her out. Natalie started to kick and scream. Colin tried to hold her down/comfort her, to no avail. They called me in to help Colin hold her down. Still, she was managing to squirm her legs around, so they called in a nurse to assist. Yes, 3 grown-ups holding down a 3-year-old so that the doctor could snip the stitch.
And THEN he decided that he was going to leave the middle one in for another 10 days. Since it is on the part of her knee that flexes all the time, he felt that would be for the best. So, you can see where this is going... We'll have to do this all over again! UGH!!!
The good news is that she can really go back to regular activity now. She's OK to get it wet, so we're back to regular baths, and she can go back to swimming lessons this weekend. We only have to keep a Band-Aid on it if she's wearing shorts. Natalie is thrilled with that aspect. And apparently she doesn't remember quite how upset she got with the whole ordeal. The next day when I took her to daycare, her teacher asked how it went. Natalie replied, "It was OK. I only cried a little bit!" Katie laughed and said that she almost cried because Natalie was crying so much!
It must be nice to have such a rosy memory so soon after that traumatic event. :)
Katie
Katie had her regular dental check-up yesterday. Since we'd noted at the last appointment that she's a huge faker and causes all sorts of drama when I'm in the room, yet is perfectly calm when I'm in the hall, I knew the dentist wanted to try it with Katie going back all by herself this time. I broke that news to her earlier in the week, and she seemed a little nervous about it at breakfast. But once she got there, she was absolutely fine. When it was all over, she bounded out to the waiting room, exclaiming at the top of her lungs that she didn't cry. I was so proud of her! And NO CAVITIES -- even better. :)
I took Katie back to school and continued on home, since I had an appointment for myself after lunch yesterday. I ran for the Virtual 5K, goofed off on the internet, and was getting ready to shower when the school called. Katie was in the nurse's office complaining of a stomach ache. I ran down to get her, and the poor girl looked miserable. How could she have turned south like that in the course of 2 hours or so? She'd tried eating lunch but just wasn't feeling well, so that's when they called me. I brought her home, got her comfortable, and not 15 minutes later, she vomited. Luckily it was only the once. Hopefully that was all she needed to get the bad stuff out of her system. She did have a slight fever, but that went down after her 3-hour nap. 3 hours! Unheard of for her. :) Colin came home early to stay with her when I went to my appointment. Katie did perk up for supper/bath/bed, so I'm glad she mended quickly. She's back in action like normal today.
Me
Yesterday I had a follow-up with the cardiologist to review my stress test results. It appears that I never wrote that I had one, so let me back up... Back in July, I went to the doctor complaining about some sort of vague chest ache. We did blood work, then a chest x-ray, abdominal ultrasound, and HIDA scan as I have a family history of gall bladder issues. When all of that came back normal, my doctor suggested maybe looking for a food I could be intolerant of, or going for more invasive testing of my gastrointestinal system. Ugh. I took some time to think on that, and when I went back to the doctor for an ear infection in September, I challenged him on why we never looked at my heart, since the pain is in that region. So he sent me to a cardiologist.
Which brings me back to where we are now. We reviewed my stress test, echo cardiogram, and health history. It's not my heart. I am totally healthy, perfectly normal. He said that based on my cholesterol numbers, I can probably control them with diet and exercise for now, but that I may need medication as I approach my 50s. Good to know. So, my question was, what IS that ache? He suspects either a muscle spasm or some type of cartilage inflammation that could've been brought on by something as simple as coughing too much or picking up my kids awkwardly. I was extremely relieved to hear that. I don't need to go back to the cardiologist any time soon unless my family doctor feels it's necessary. Hooray!!!
So there you have it... lots going on this week, but we're hanging in there. :) Hopefully everyone is healthy at YOUR house -- all these appointments wear me out!
Natalie
Monday evening, we took Natalie to get her stitches out. She was very excited that this was happening and promised to be extra-still for the doctor, just like she would be for a haircut or fingernail clipping. The first stitch was removed before she even noticed. I'm not sure what happened to set her off on the second one (I was across the room, reading with Katie at the time), but there must've been some sort of discomfort to freak her out. Natalie started to kick and scream. Colin tried to hold her down/comfort her, to no avail. They called me in to help Colin hold her down. Still, she was managing to squirm her legs around, so they called in a nurse to assist. Yes, 3 grown-ups holding down a 3-year-old so that the doctor could snip the stitch.
And THEN he decided that he was going to leave the middle one in for another 10 days. Since it is on the part of her knee that flexes all the time, he felt that would be for the best. So, you can see where this is going... We'll have to do this all over again! UGH!!!
The good news is that she can really go back to regular activity now. She's OK to get it wet, so we're back to regular baths, and she can go back to swimming lessons this weekend. We only have to keep a Band-Aid on it if she's wearing shorts. Natalie is thrilled with that aspect. And apparently she doesn't remember quite how upset she got with the whole ordeal. The next day when I took her to daycare, her teacher asked how it went. Natalie replied, "It was OK. I only cried a little bit!" Katie laughed and said that she almost cried because Natalie was crying so much!
It must be nice to have such a rosy memory so soon after that traumatic event. :)
Katie
Katie had her regular dental check-up yesterday. Since we'd noted at the last appointment that she's a huge faker and causes all sorts of drama when I'm in the room, yet is perfectly calm when I'm in the hall, I knew the dentist wanted to try it with Katie going back all by herself this time. I broke that news to her earlier in the week, and she seemed a little nervous about it at breakfast. But once she got there, she was absolutely fine. When it was all over, she bounded out to the waiting room, exclaiming at the top of her lungs that she didn't cry. I was so proud of her! And NO CAVITIES -- even better. :)
I took Katie back to school and continued on home, since I had an appointment for myself after lunch yesterday. I ran for the Virtual 5K, goofed off on the internet, and was getting ready to shower when the school called. Katie was in the nurse's office complaining of a stomach ache. I ran down to get her, and the poor girl looked miserable. How could she have turned south like that in the course of 2 hours or so? She'd tried eating lunch but just wasn't feeling well, so that's when they called me. I brought her home, got her comfortable, and not 15 minutes later, she vomited. Luckily it was only the once. Hopefully that was all she needed to get the bad stuff out of her system. She did have a slight fever, but that went down after her 3-hour nap. 3 hours! Unheard of for her. :) Colin came home early to stay with her when I went to my appointment. Katie did perk up for supper/bath/bed, so I'm glad she mended quickly. She's back in action like normal today.
Me
Yesterday I had a follow-up with the cardiologist to review my stress test results. It appears that I never wrote that I had one, so let me back up... Back in July, I went to the doctor complaining about some sort of vague chest ache. We did blood work, then a chest x-ray, abdominal ultrasound, and HIDA scan as I have a family history of gall bladder issues. When all of that came back normal, my doctor suggested maybe looking for a food I could be intolerant of, or going for more invasive testing of my gastrointestinal system. Ugh. I took some time to think on that, and when I went back to the doctor for an ear infection in September, I challenged him on why we never looked at my heart, since the pain is in that region. So he sent me to a cardiologist.
Which brings me back to where we are now. We reviewed my stress test, echo cardiogram, and health history. It's not my heart. I am totally healthy, perfectly normal. He said that based on my cholesterol numbers, I can probably control them with diet and exercise for now, but that I may need medication as I approach my 50s. Good to know. So, my question was, what IS that ache? He suspects either a muscle spasm or some type of cartilage inflammation that could've been brought on by something as simple as coughing too much or picking up my kids awkwardly. I was extremely relieved to hear that. I don't need to go back to the cardiologist any time soon unless my family doctor feels it's necessary. Hooray!!!
So there you have it... lots going on this week, but we're hanging in there. :) Hopefully everyone is healthy at YOUR house -- all these appointments wear me out!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Virtual 5K Race Report
I'm home mid-week (a rarity!) to handle some doctor's appointments, so I used this bit of time before lunch to run 3.1 miles for the Virtual 5K in honor of Christina's 31st birthday. It was about 75 and sunny when I left the house. Delightful!
Mile 1: As usual, I headed out from my house, west to the elementary school. I took note of the incredible number of acorns that have fallen to the ground and tried not to slip on any of them! Split: 9:07
Mile 2: I continued west past the school for another half mile, then turned around and headed back toward the house. This part of the route is fairly shady, so once I get past the school, I feel like I'm cruising in the shade. Awesome! Split: 9:27
Mile 3: Once back at the school, I continued on toward home, again, avoiding acorns and a giant branch! Split: 9:36
The 0.1: This is purely estimated -- since I usually stop at my driveway, I had no idea how far an additional 0.1 was! I ran to the end of the block and around the corner for a bit, then stopped and clicked it as I figured that was far enough. Split: 0:48
Total Time = 28:59!
To cool off, I walked the rest of the way around the block, then came back in the house and toasted Christina's birthday with a delicious fruit punch Gatorade!
Now, off to the shower before I get ready for the next appointment.
Have a great day!
Mile 1: As usual, I headed out from my house, west to the elementary school. I took note of the incredible number of acorns that have fallen to the ground and tried not to slip on any of them! Split: 9:07
Mile 2: I continued west past the school for another half mile, then turned around and headed back toward the house. This part of the route is fairly shady, so once I get past the school, I feel like I'm cruising in the shade. Awesome! Split: 9:27
Mile 3: Once back at the school, I continued on toward home, again, avoiding acorns and a giant branch! Split: 9:36
The 0.1: This is purely estimated -- since I usually stop at my driveway, I had no idea how far an additional 0.1 was! I ran to the end of the block and around the corner for a bit, then stopped and clicked it as I figured that was far enough. Split: 0:48
Total Time = 28:59!
To cool off, I walked the rest of the way around the block, then came back in the house and toasted Christina's birthday with a delicious fruit punch Gatorade!
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| Happy Birthday! |
Have a great day!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Yo Gabba Gabba!
As if Halloween weekend wasn't busy enough, we also spent Saturday afternoon at Yo Gabba Gabba Live! I bought tickets what seemed like forever ago so that we could sit with one of my friends from work and his family. It was so long ago that I was almost afraid the girls wouldn't still like Yo Gabba Gabba when we finally went. Luckily, everyone was SO into it!
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| I got my very own DJ Lance Rock glasses! |
It stayed pretty true to the format of the show, with lots of games, singing, and most importantly, dancing!!! One of the features is the Dancey Dance, where a special guest gets to come on stage and teach everyone a new dance. Our special guest was one of our local news anchors. Awesome!!!
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| Nerissa from Channel 13 rocks out with the Gabba gang! |
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| Biz rocked! |
A delicious ending to a fun afternoon out!!! :)
Monday, November 1, 2010
Upcoming Races
I wanted to let you know about 2 races I have coming up this week:
- Virtual 5K, 3.1 miles, hosted by Christina in honor of her 31st birthday! I'll probably run it on Wednesday as I'm taking the day off to deal with a dentist appointment for Katie and a doctor follow-up for myself.
- Pumpkin Run 5K on Saturday, sponsored by our local YMCA and our neighborhood association. The route for the Pumpkin Run is a VERY familiar one to me, and I've been working on going faster, so we'll see how I do compared to last year's time (29:11 -- had to look it up... good thing I posted it here last year!).
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