Sucky run

When you're scheduled to run 18 miles and you're a slow runner like me, you have to really schedule your time well. I was supposed to be at a 5k for support for myTeamTriumph in the morning so I decided after the 5k I would just do loops there to log my 18 miles. 

Only trouble was, the big girls were supplied to be at class so Jorden was taking them and I would be taking Mabrey with me. Which meant I had to run with her until they were done and Jorden could pick her up so I could finish out my run. 

So Mabrey and I ran 6 miles together. Then after Jorden left with her I continued on. But by mile 10 my left hip was popping and I was in so much pain. I pushed through but at 12 miles I felt like I was going to damage myself so I called it quits. 

I was so frustrated for quitting before I was truly done, but when I got home and went to climb out of the car I knew I made the right decision because my pubic symphysis was on FIRE and my left hip barely supported my weight. 

I wanted to cry. 

I immediately started questioning why I was trying to run a marathon!! Which, we all know that once you start questioning yourself it's hard to recover from that. So I came in, iced, stretched, rolled, and then climbed into bed. 

By the time I woke up for work I was feeling much better about life and about my run.

And heck yes!! I'm running a freaking marathon!!! 

Winner!!

It's not very often that I win something, but I love winning stuff! I mean really, who doesn't?!

Yesterday I was part way into my run when my friend texted me and told me that I had won a contest on the Iron Cowboy's facebook page!!

He had posted this picture and asked people to caption it

My caption : I'll pee over here, you pee over there! was one of the two winners! I guess I'm getting a tshirt out of it! So that's cool, because honestly I just saw the caption game and didn't pay attention to the fact that it was a giveaway!

I got the notification that I won about .2 miles into my run. It was supposed to be a 5 mile run so I had started out at a comfortable 10 minute pace because I really didn't feel like running and I didn't feel like pushing myself.  But once I knew I won that, and I know how awesome Iron Cowboy is I decided to push myself! So I cranked my speed up on the treadmill and took off! At 2.5 in I had to stop for a milk break, but then got back on and finished it out, a bit slower, but still feeling it! 

I'm happy any time my average pace is under 10 minutes. I know I'm not fast by many standards, but I'm happy with where I'm at right now. And, I'm improving every month and that's all I can really ask for! 

Next run is 18 miles....

Stretching

I hate stretching.

I never do it.

Like ever.

It's so horribly bad and I probably shouldn't admit that I don't stretch, but its the truth!

I used to go to a Yin Yoga for athletes once a week, but I stopped going about 30 weeks pregnant because it wasn't comfortable anymore. I keep wanting to get back to it, but I just can't seem to get my schedule to work out and do it. Hopefully next week I can start back!

I was to the point where I could lay my hands flat on the floor when bending over.  Now, I have about 6 inches between the tips of my fingers and the floor!! It's horrible!

My left IT band is tight as can be, so I really need to work on that.

This morning I had planned to get up and run but I got out of bed and my legs were so so so tight I could hardly walk comfortably.  So instead of running I spent 1.5 hours stretching. I feel much better now, but my legs are tight!

Its time to get into a good stretching routine! What I'd really like is someone to just come stretch me out! Anyone want to help me with that? Or pay for some massages!?

I really need a sponsor... ;)

Long Run

I needed to log 16 miles this weekend. But Saturday after my race it was pouring. Then yesterday when I could have fit a run in Jorden's schedule it was hot and humid! So I gave up and said I'd go this morning.

It was so tempting to stay in bed when my alarm went off at five! But I didn't. I got up, pumped, ate, loaded up my stuff and headed out.

I drove Jorden's car down to my parents house where I parked and headed out. Jorden is so supportive and helpful to help me get my training in. Anyway, he loaded all the girls up and brought them down to my parents, and then took his car back to work. All while I was out running.

Have I mentioned I can't do loops that loop by someplace I could stop? Well, I can't. If I start to feel tired and loop past my house I'm going to stop. I'm just that pathetic. So I've started doing out and backs or point to point runs.

Since I started the run before the sun came up I ran through the neighborhood by my parents and then headed out for my out and back.  It was going good.

But holy hills. HOLY HILLS. FOR THE LOVE!!! THE HILLS!!!

Thankfully Chicago is known for being a flat fast course! Yeeesh.

My SPD still acts up as I go up hills. If I walk and keep more upright it doesn't feel so horrible, but running up the hills is just not happening. So I walked the hills, and there were a lot. A. Lot.

I felt like I was on top of my hydration and salt intake. I was doing good. I felt good.

Then boom.

Mile 14.

Suddenly I was starving.

I totally bonked.

I was so bummed. I could hardly walk forward! I finally decided instead of looping through the neighborhood I would just head to my parents. So it ended up at 15 instead of 16. Womp Womp.

2:46:48 for 15 miles

Thats a pace of 11:04.

I was not happy with that final pace at all. I felt like I put out a lot more effort than an 11 min pace!!

But as I cooled off and walked slowly the last .2 miles home I reminded myself that I'm only 4 months post pardum. I'm 4 months post c-section.  I'm 4 months post respiratory arrest. And I'm doing better than I could have ever dreamed.  I celebrated every breath. I was so thankful for the fact that I could even hit 15 miles!!

So while it's easy to get down on myself, I'm damn proud of where I am already!

Now it's time to really zero in on nutrition on my runs!

But the best part of my run?

Coming home and snuggling with Mabrey and her enjoying some breakfast! 

Stroller Running

I don't mind running short runs with the stroller. I feel like getting in 3 miles with a stroller is a good workout. The stroller adds in some resistance so it's more than just a quick 3 miles. I prefer to not do much more than 3 though since I'm a wuss.

Well, with Ryleigh doing school with my mom at her house I hate to drive the 20ish minutes to her house, drop Ryleigh off then drive back up to the gym, drop Coraline and Mabrey off at the gym nursery so I can run, then head back down to my mom's house to pick Ryleigh up, then head home again. All that driving makes me not want to run, at all!

So I talked my mom into having Coraline join Ryleigh at school today and I would take Mabrey out for a run.  I had two hours so I decided I'd run an hour out, then run back.

It was so stinkin' windy when I started but I kept going, walking up the hills mostly. At the hour mark I was only 4.5 miles out, which totally bummed me out because I felt like I had worked really hard to get to that point and I had hardly covered any ground!

I refused to look at my Garmin because I was sure that my pace was going to be atrocious.

I turned back at the hour mark and headed home.

When I got back to my moms I looked at my time....I had covered that same 4.5 miles in 41 minutes!!! Tells ya just how hard it is running into the wind with the stroller! The sun shade on the stroller just becomes a sail and makes it so hard to get anywhere!!

If I would have looked at my watch and seen how fast I was getting home I would have been smart and looped through the neighborhood a couple times to get some more mileage in! But, I didn't, so theres that.

This is officially the longest stroller run I have ever done and so I'm really proud of it! My pace may not be super speedy, but I'm okay with that! Besides, if I do training with the stroller when I run without it theoretically my pace should be much better! Theoretically...

55 Days!!

Oh my goodness!!

55 days until Chicago Marathon!!!!

Cue the freak out!!!

My long run this weekend was supposed to be 16 miles. I work Thursday through Sunday again this weekend so I have to switch my long run to Thursday.

For longer distances I find that I do better if I run from point A to point B. If I do loops I end up screwing myself over and saying "meh, 10 is good enough... I'll do 4 tomorrow" etc etc etc

So I think I will either get up early and run from our house to my moms house (18 miles) and have Jorden bring the girls down before he goes to work and then I'll take him to work and go sleep before work. Or, I'll go down to my moms with the girls and then leave mid day to run home (again, 18 friggin miles) and sleep once I get home. 

Either way it looks like Thursday is going to be a long run.  I'm going to take it slow and steady to make sure I get the miles in, it's not a race and I need to remind myself that!! Plus, I then have to go and work 12 hours that night! 

Bring it on! 

Tales From a Breastfeeding Athlete

I had planned to get up at 530 and head out to run my 6 miles by 6 am.  At 430 when Mabrey was just finishing up nursing I knew that I wouldn't be heading out at 6 because I was just too tired!

So I decided I'd head to the gym.

Then my friend stopped by which pushed back going to the gym from before lunch, to after naptime. No big deal, but like anyone else (or at least that's what I tell myself) if I push back a workout more than once I usually end up just skipping it all together!

Well after naptime we loaded up and headed out! After I showered, because I looked at my legs and knew I couldn't go to the gym with Chewbaka legs!!  I got half way to the gym and realized I had forgotten my socks!! So home we went to get my socks, grabbed my socks and headed back to the gym.  Got the girls dropped off in the nursery and took my stuff to the locker room.  Headed to the treadmill and realized I left my headphones in the car! Headed out to the car and realized I had locked the stupid car doors!!!

Forget it. I don't need music, I'll just read subtitles to pass the time.

A mile and a half into my run I was feeling really good, my pace was awesome, and I was happy.

Then I heard it...

The wail.

The wail every mother knows is HER baby making all the noise in the gym!

Just as I realized it was her one of the employees was coming up to tell me they needed me in the nursery.  I figured it'd be no big deal and I'd nurse Mabrey real quick and be back in no time. Well, no such luck, Mabrey was a GROUCH so it took f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to get her calmed back down and comfy. Since I had spent almost 45 minutes there I decided to split my run and just do 3 miles instead of 6 because I really wanted to get into the pool too!

By the time I finished my run I only had enough time to do half of the swim workout I had planned on doing too. So it was a halfsie workout, but a really good workout!

When I got home and was looking at my Garmin connect and saw my times!  I am so excited to see my times improving! Since May I have gone from a 12:25 pace, to this!!

The pink box shows how long I was running vs how long it took me to get Mabrey happy again! 

Being a breastfeeding athlete is not easy, to say the least! I am so grateful I have a gym that supports me by watching my kids and is so helpful with them! Its so exciting to see the gains I have made in the last 3.5 months!!  Can't wait to see what the next 3.5 months have in store for me! 

I Love My Chiropractor

I went in for a routine chiropractor visit. I mentioned to him that my pubic bone has been so painful since mabrey. He said "I can fix that" and proceeded to do an adjustment that gave me instant relief!!!

I'm so thankful! I went for a run today, and for the first time I ran my heart out and ran without pain!! It was amazing! I could hold my pre-pregnancy pace the whole run!!!

I seriously felt like the heavens opened up and the angels were singing as I ran!

Dramatic much?!

But seriously, it made a world of difference!