Struggles of a working mom marathoner

I was due for a 14 miler this Sunday.... then, last minute, my hubby decided we needed to go to the beach one last time before we settled into fall. I got up super early the day we were to drive to the beach, went to the gym and did arms and abs.....



       Because we decided last minute ad I could not get a dog sitter we had to take our dog with us. I found a dog-friendly hotel and we were all set. Look at his yummy little face. 

                           Knowing we would probably be eating crap the whole vacation I gathered some veggies to make juice.   


                 I absolutely adore Rehoboth Beach. First, it's the location to my favorite marathon, the Rehoboth Beach Marathon in the early winter every year. In fact, I already have a room reserved at my favorite hotel for this year's marathon.... My hubby has not yet decided if he's running his first half at Rehoboth this year....if not, I will run the full. When you have kids only one parent can run a race at a time.... the other watches the kids. 


Shoot!! this picture is just gorgeous....and it also makes me so sad....my kids are growing so fast!!


My sweet guy.... nowhere exists a man more gentle and sweet. 

         Rehoboth at night on a Holiday is super fun. This is around 9pm Sunday. I knew fairly early on that I would not be getting my long run in during this vacation. 


The hotel offers free breakfast. Here is my son making himself one of those amazing waffles....The picture after is of him AFTER the waffle.....hi.la.ri.ous. 

My daughter trying to convince me to buy her another sweatshirt she does not need..... nope, we did not buy this one. 

The Local bookstore had this book.....for all you Walking Dead fans...

Came back home to find my watermelon plant had grown quite fast. Now it's the size of a lemon....


So when is this run going to happen? Ready? It's going to take me 4 hours at the gym..... I will go before work tomorrow and need to be done by 6am to get my kids' and my lunch ready for the day. If I get all this done tonight, including my coffee brewing BEFORE going to bed I may be able to get in another half an hour of sleep. So I will be running from 2:20am-6:20am! Don't worry, when we got home from the beach today I took an obligatory 2-hour nap and been resting in bed all afternoon, as well as hydrating with only water. Running at the gym is as boring as runs go....therefore, I have also been charging my iPad so that I can watch a few movies while I get this run in. Wish me luck!!

6 miles around the lake

         
         I guess I have just gotten use to feeling super inadequate at this running thing. But thanks to my mantra, "don't ever give up." I have paid very little attention to how shitty I feel about my running.  I woke up at 5:30am and dragged my body out of bed, had coffee and used every mental tactic in the book to get my ass out the door. Once I am out though, everything changes. This other person emerges, a more confident, happy, driven person. So no matter how I feel when I wake up, having done this process many, many, many times over I know that the better me will for sure emerge once I get moving. I trust the process so much that I don't question any part of the struggle any more. I did not see another runner for almost 4 miles into the run....which always gives me an even a bigger boost.... who else is crazy enough to run on this gravelly mess of a trail. My ankles have become much stronger and can now handle more of the uneven terrain. 

   
These sneakers.... in case you can't see there is blue stitching on both sides. I have had to sew them....I say they have about another year and a half of running in them... I have probably already run 3 marathons and a 50 miler in them, but they are so damn comfy. You see, when you wear you shoes evenly, your sneakers become like those minimalist shoes, and your feet get stronger and more use to running with less and less padding. It's a great natural way to becoming more minimalist without the injuries often associated with minimalist running. 


Felt good today and chose to pick up all types of trash left by losers on the trail....here, two people sat and enjoyed the beautiful lake as they are, then left their crap behind.... 





Came back home to discover that my dahlias were finally blooming. They had all died last year. I had dug them out and stored them in a paper bag until to find them all dried out completely over the winter, so I had to buy all new bulbs....so here are my new babies.... I will not be digging them out this year, instead, I will leave them in the ground and hope they do not freeze in the winter. 

My 11 year old inspiration

        My daughter came up to my this morning and wanted to show me how strong she has become. She has a daily routine that includes doing varied forms of physical exercises from home, one of them being push-ups. She folder her arms and made a tight fist to make her muscles stand out and made me feel her upper arm and yes, in fact, she was pretty pumped.....for an 11 year old. The look of triumph on her face as she watched my expression was one I deeply relished, as her mom and as a woman. Here is a young girl who not only feels at home in her body but likes it, feels strong in it, takes pride in it! I don't think I, at age 11, 21 or even 31 ever felt strong in my own body, certainly not pride and certainly not "at home" in it. I can't help to feel that I have done something right parenting this kid. 
        Two nights ago she made a plan to bike around the lake the next morning. She had been talking about about her "summer program" for weeks now and part of this program is daily physical exercise of some kind. She, being still a kid, needed someone (ME, or course) to go with her. So she drags me out of bed, barely after sunrise, to accompany her around the local lake here. Luckily, my marathon training began that very same day, so hey, nothing like a nagging pre-teen to get you out of bed and on the trails before you can say no. I chugged along as she wizzed past me on her bike, back and forth, back and forth around the 4-mile route we decided on the night before. Today I am due for 5 miles run and again, she is going to ride alongside me, back and forth, back and forth. One thing I never planned for when having kids is having them be my motivation for working out...but, I am open to this.... life is full of surprises!

Second Rehoboth Matathon

Nothing is more exciting than Rehoboth, Rehoboth during marathon day! First, Rehoboth is a fun, magical place. Perhaps it's because I have memories of partying here as a young 20 something, or perhaps it's just that in fact, it is just a magical place, period. 


The marathon here is small, small enough you can park and run. race starts at 7am and is super relaxed. I got a ride there an hour early, picked up my race packet and walked to Dunkin Donuts to buy a coffee and warm up. It was not that cold but I tend to be cold. In line at Dunkin Donuts I met another runner who had driven from Pittsburg and was there to run her second full. We had so much in common and it reminded me how runners always click no matter how little they know about each other. She was a lovely person. 

I felt very fortunate to be here....

      My time was 13 minutes faster than my last marathon and I was super happy with the results. My goal for this marathon was to try my best to run the whole thing and I did just that with the exception of 2 quick bathroom breaks. To know that you just ran for 6 and a half hours straight without stopping is quite something. I use to be embarrassed about my long times but for someone like myself, who is already carrying lots of extra weight, it's quite a good time. I dare any 150 lbs. woman to carry maybe 50 extra pounds in a backpack and not do similar times as me....it's a physics. I know this, because despite my time, I know I gave my all there Saturday and in the end, that is all that matters. 

     This is the only marathon my family participates in with me. Most of them are logistically impossible and I personally feel better not having the extra hassle of planning when and where. But since the race has a great after party with THREE free beers per runner (and paid adult guest) the family comes every year. This year we stayed at the AmericInn Lodge & Suites Rehoboth Beach at 36012 Airport Road, Rehoboth Beach, DE  and I think this will be out go to hotel for the race from now on. It was an awesome hotel to stay at. First, the place is like a storybook lodge, the personnel is super friendly, lots of runners everyewhere. The decor is cozy and very much dressed for the holidays, the free breakfast is yummy, and......and.....(drum roll) it has a hot tub and pool opened from 9am-10pm, with an 11am check out. Last, they accept dogs at $25/day. So bring your family, your dog, your bathing suit....and make sure you stay an extra night so you can explore the local restaurants and the shopping. 

The best feeling in the world is laying down in bed, after a marathon and having showered and changed........nothing in the world like this feeling, nothing. I call it, "being on the other end of the marathon."...

Green juice cleanse

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Stress reducing run

                 Friday was hell day. Well, not so much. It was just one of those days that you had to get emotionally ready for days before. I had to get up early that day and drive to my mechanic's 45 minutes away and get some work done on my car. I had no idea how long they'd take or how expensive they'd be, so that alone is enough to stress anyone out. Immediately after I had to go to the DC inspection station and get my car inspected for the year and immediately after THAT I had to run over my daughter's class and help create their art project for their yearly auction project. So you see, this was a big day. Not one thing was allowed to take too long, or the rest of the day would be ruined. The most stressful part was waiting at the inspection station with 45 minutes to spare and wondering if I'd get to my daughter's class on time AND wanting to use the bathroom for the past hour as I sat in my car waiting. When I finally got home that day after all the activities, I was absolutely and positively spent. Every bone in my body hurt and my bed never looked better. I took a small nap, took a hot bath and ate some food. I knew I had to get some energy back in me in order to be able to do my night run. This was not an "I have to" kind if run, or an "I must" kind of run. This was a run I NEEDED to do for my sanity, to save my very soul!! As the evening progressed my hubby and my kids began to bug me more and more, so this was a sure cue I needed a mental break. About this time I also knew not to believe my thoughts about how just horribly messy my apartment was, or the thoughts about 'how come my 2 kids are constantly fighting?"....as I started slipping into fighting-the-small-stuff territory I knew it was time to fix things myself. This was a slow run, but it was mine. I was so happy the entire run. The cold air felt liberating and fresh and clean and every accepting. I drifted from one thought to the next without a care in the world. 

Do You Really Need Support in Order to Run?

                      I am a member of an online community called Women's Running Network and lately I have seen a lot of posts of women complaining about not getting the approval or support from a loved one of their new running habit. Most have begun running recently and their new-found love of running has stirred up their personal relationships. I think as a whole, women have created a huge problem for themselves in constantly seeking approval first and foremost in order to pursue the things they love to do. Relationships will tense up whenever things change, maybe harsh words will be shared, maybe loved ones will, at first, or even for many, many years, not take you and your habit seriously and yes, say stupid, mean, ridiculous things. It's ultimately up to you to either abandon ship at the first sign of trouble OR follow your passion undisrupted by others' opinions, stupid hurtful comments and non-support.
                       Why do we need so much approval anyway? The few times in my life in which I did not care an iota what others thought about my choices, and went ahead as planned, are the times I felt so incredibly strong about my choices. Those decisions were more often some of the best decisions I have ever made. Like in any new love, whether they are people or new habits, we personally must decide just how much it will become a part of us. The benefits I derive from running are so beneficial that I know no one is shaking me off this boat, approval or not. Needing approval places the power in the hands of another and that is a dangerous way to live life. To better explain my point, think of a dog, or any animal for that matter. Do dogs have to get approval for barking? Do fish have to get approval for swimming? Do birds need approval for flying. My point? If running is truly part of your life, than don't sit around waiting for approval or support, just do it. Make you a part of running and running a part of you. Once people see that running is so inextricably a part of your very nature, they will ease up the ruffled feathers and soften with time, or maybe not. But we must disconnect from this intense need to constantly get support and approval in order to grow into who we truly are.
                           One side clause here. Of course, if we have families and children we must be mindful of the time we spend away from them pursuing our ultimately selfish habit. Most runners with families run before their children wake, while they are at school or when they go to bed so as to not sacrifice any "family time". We also must still genuinely be mindful of our loved ones complaints and gauge if their gripes are genuine. In my case, my husband is also a runner, so when I started running he grumbled quite a bit about having to negotiate when we ran on weekends so as to not use up the whole day up. Took a few months to adjust to new schedules and new priorities, but soon things settled and now I check with him the night before and we decide on who will  go first the next day, etc.
                         So don't give up on running just because your loved ones are not so gracefully adjusting to your new life. Forgive, move on, continue running and soon they will see that you ARE indeed serious and that running is a part of who you are. Once they get this fact, based solely on your dedication and non-wavering partaking of your habit, the work will be done for you. Remember, you are a runner and you don't need support or approval for what you do because it's just who you are. The approval and support may come eventually as it did for me a year later, but your goal is to not be driven by them.

Mile 20- Basking in Family Support

 My family came to cheer me on at mile 20 of the Philly Marathon. Below is Luke with my hubby's phone taking his own pics. The entire race my hubby was texting me, cheering me on, encouraging me to keep going and at times sending messages from the kids.

 

              I had no idea I would get THIS emotional. It felt so nice to see everyone. 

Going on a Road Trip to Florida....

                          It's my spring break and we'll be driving to Florida today with my husband and 2 kids (age 8 and 5)....well, first to Georgia, then to Florida the next day. I am taking all my running gear and my juicing gear, and the parrot gear (we have an African gray), and the computer gear with cords, and chargers....just overwhelmed just thinking about it. Will be posting pics from my running adventures.....

Post Long Run Ramblings

                  I ran from South Chevy Chase DC to the US Capitol today and back, 12 miles total. Took me 2 hours and 12 minutes to complete. It's so interesting to run through the different neighborhoods with each one you get a very distinct and different feel. By my house there are tons of runners everywhere, also you'll see some people heading down the hill to the metro and lots of families out in their cars on Connecticut avenue. In Dupont, it's a lot more busy. Lots of people in restaurants, streets are very congested. I absolutely LOVE Dupont and it's level of energy gets me energized for sure. Once I get down to the monument there are tons of tourists, large sets of families wandering from museum to museum, construction jobs, food trucks and much wider streets. 

                    When I got home the kids were ripe and ready to go out of the apartment so I had to skip my usual long healing hot, HOT bath and we headed to the public library with the whole family. This morning (a day a later) I feel a tiny bit sore, but feeling on top of the world generally. I am taking the day off to take Nora to the Chinese New Year Parade downtown. If only I had a jogging stroller I could simply job down there and avoid the huge weekend metro delays we are sure to encounter. 

                     One thing that's been on my mind is figuring out a way to up my miles during the week. On some podcast I heard that the long run should be at least as long or a bit less than whatever race you are training for and the total miles for the week should be three times your long run, for me that would be 39 miles a week. Right now I am far from that. My long runs are 10-12 miles and during the week I run at most 22 miles. Being a working mom makes this a bit tricky. But I think one way to work this would be to be very vigilant about going to bed earlier and  setting aside a whole hour to run in the mornings, versus just 40 minutes. 

                     Thankfully, this upping of miles will not happen overnight. I will have to slowly go up, so for starters I will begin my hour long runs only mondays, then add the time to my other 3 running days.....I plan on going to bed at 9pm, getting up at 5am (8 hours sleep), get both kids' lunches ready, make my vegetables juice for the day, make my lunch and coffee and Nora's breakfast, then head outdoors at 5:45am for an hour....will update how this went down later.....I am afraid of setting myself up for failure. Also, if tired I absolutely cannot function properly, so, I need to make sure I am getting plenty of sleep. As I get older I get more and more protective of  my 'beauty sleep'. The entire balance of my life, my sanity, my well being, my relationships all depend on me being and feeling right and that cannot happen unless I get proper rest.