Random thoughts of Thankfulness

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  We did, full of turkey, too much pumpkin pie and family.   It was a nice long weekend and a great time to reflect all that we have to be thankful for.

 Of course #1 on that list are my 5 healthy kids.  I was reminded when I sat at the school lunch table with my daughter today, that not all people are as fortunate.  My kids are my world, and even though some times they might drive me crazy, I do realize how truly blessed I am. 

  I have been running for a full year now, almost 2 and I am very thankful that I have found a new passion. (one cheaper than my previous obsession with childrens clothes, LOL)  I am thankful that running found me and I have a new, more healthy body and lifestyle.  I think of the message that a healthy lifestyle sends to my children and I am proud we have made that choice. 

  I am thankful for extended family and friends.  A close friend of ours lost his father today.  When such events take place that force us to look at our own lives, I am quickly reminded to never leave anything unsaid.  Overuse I LOVE YOU!!!     Laugh often, love freely!!!

ME VS. MIND

  I declare myself the winner!!!!  After a few weeks of missing/avoiding the long run due to the onset of the winter like weather I was determined to get a long run in this weekend.  Hubby ended up being gone Sat.  (lucky duck went to an Iowa Hawkeye game) so I couldn't get out of the house to run.  That left today as my only option.  Well, woke up this morning to find decent temps in the upper 30's, but complete cloud cover and continuous drizzle.  We ventured to our Sun. lunch spot, (Pizza hut buffet...yikes) and after filling my belly to the brim and watching the drizzle become rain on the windshield I had all but talked myself out of the long run, and in to a simple 6 mile at the gym.
  Okay, here's where it gets tricky.  If I'm being honest here, I will tell you that it was the nearly instant fighting by all 5 children that sent me running to the door.  The outside run does much more for the stress relieving than the gym.  I set out to do 8-10 and felt really good after 8, so I decided to venture on.  The pace wasn't fast, but a nice steady "I love running" pace.
  I feel a real sense of accomplishment today.  I have won the mental battle and now have a bit more confidence that I will not be so easily defeated by the slightest chill in the air.  Well, this is Iowa, maybe the slightest chill is an understatement, but I will take on the 30's anyday.  I DID IT!!

I've gotta move on

  Well, it's official.  I let the first weekend of winter weather foil my outside long run last weekend.  I have been silently beating myself up about it for the last 2 days.  You see, all last winter I was content to run my 2-3 miles at a time on the comfort and warmth of the treadmill at the gym.  No biggie, 2-3 miles, easily doable on the treadmill.  Fast forward to my more recent outdoor runs of 10-13 miles.  I will NOT be doing 10+ miles on the treadmill. 
  I have been becoming increasingly anxious with the soon approaching, inevitable winter weather.  Like I said, I had never run in the cold.  My shoes had never seen temps under 50 degrees.  I am thrilled with the base I have built.  My runs the past 5 weeks have been 8,10,13,11.  Not bad if I do say so myself.  This past weekend we we blessed with the snow/sleet that was accurately predicted.  I had convinced myself that it was just too cold to subject myself to the outdoor cold, so I trotted to the gym to put in 6 treadmill miles.  As I was heading home I saw 4 other runners, all smiling, all running OUTSIDE.  I was disappointed in myself for letting this lousy 35 degrees get in my way.  It will not happen again.  (atleast until it's much, much colder)  Do you hear me MOther Nature?  It will NOT happen again, cause this weekend, the girl is back.

Calling all treadmill lovers

  Do I hear an echo?  Am I the only one out there?  Please tell me I'm not the only one who loves a good treadmill run.  I've heard many references about the "dreadmill", none of which are good.  Seems as if all "real" runners hate to pound away miles on the TM.  Which, makes me hesitant to even admit my addiction. 
  I have learned in recent months to completely enjoy my outdoor runs.  They have evolved from 3 mile jaunts, to 13 mile long runs in the beautiful outdoors, but...I still have no complaints regarding the days I have to pound the motorized belt. 
  Yes, I do know where this love affair with the treadmill got started.  I lost 60 lbs in the last 2 years on the treadmill.  Before I became a "real" runner I was comfortable in my secluded basement on the machine.  Now that I do consider myself a "real" runner, I find that I can accomplish my pace and speed goals much easier on the treadmill than on the road.  I'm sure it's a matter of confidence and discipline, but when that belt is movin', my feet find a way to keep up.  Just tonight I did my fast 10K pace (8:54) and it felt great.  The treadmill does great things for my confidence.  So, I'll take an outside run any day of the week, but when the need arises I have no qualms about turning to my first love.  I love you MAN!!

C'mon ice bath? Really?

  So, after today's 11 miler, I decide it might be a good time to try one of the infamous "ice baths" I've heard so much about.  After last week's 13 I had a little knee soreness, so I figured it couldn't hurt.  Well....after my first bone chilling attempt, the only conclusion that I can come up with is that the "ice bath" has got to be one of those cruel jokes that seasoned/experienced runners tell newbies like me just to see how gullible they are.  This stuff can not be for real!!  Kinda like the "prank" when you start the grocery store as a stock boy and they tell you your main job is to keep the salad dressing shook up so it never looks seperated.  Great fun to watch the boys running up and down the aisles, not so fun when you're freezing your bum in a tub of ice. 

  So let me tell you...I will not be naive enough as to fall for this evil prank again.  You got me once, but now I'm much smarter and wiser.

  But, let's just say a girl were to feel splendid in the morning, free of pain and ready to hit the pavement again, all because of the darn ice bath.  Could one of you kind experienced runners give me some tips on how to properly execute the ritual?  I filled the tub with a few inches of water (as cold as I could get), dumped in the ice and a few ice packs and attempted to get in.  Yikes, not happening.  By the time I added enough warmer water so that I could even dip a toe in, the ice had melted but the tub was still way too cold for me to get in.  After a few minutes I was able to slowly submerge a few inches in to the water,  but I only lasted 10-15 minutes.  Then I had to take a warm shower to shampoo my hair.  Did the warm shower take away all the benefits of the brutal ice bath?  Yikes, I need help!

The flatlands of Iowa

  So, I got the run in late yesterday afternoon.  3 miles of speed intervals on the treadmill in 25.50.  Decent time for me if I do say so.   I felt great, considering my knee has been a little sore since last weekends long run.  (Did I mention I did the BIG 13)  I don't mind the treadmill one bit.  I know most "real runners" have all sorts of awful names for it, but I have learned to love the fact that I can push that little speed button faster and faster and my legs just seem to keep up.  Finding and pushing  a faster pace on the road is much harder for me. 
  As I was running away I got to thinking about all those people who hate the "dreadmill".  I can't imagine why???  Oh wait, maybe it's due to the fact that they have fabulous places to run.  I read of beach runs, gorgeous trail runs, sand dunes, wildlife spottings etc. etc. etc.  Here what I've got is flat (and yes, I'm mostly thankful for flat) paved, small town streets.  Last week when I did my 13 miles, I had to run around the entire town 4 times to make the distance.  That might just tell you how small "town" is.  Don't get me wrong, love my little town, but there are days I long to run on the beach at sunset.  Ahhhh, that would be a nice distraction from the heavy breathing and sore knees.  For now, I'll just be thankful I CAN run and I'll keep beating the pavement.  This weekend for my long run I may even venture to a nearby lake and do a 10 mile out and back with a lake view.  Now that's steppin' out of the box folks.

Tell me about your favorite route.  What's the coolest thing you've seen on a run?

Really???? Am I getting THAT old?

  So, I skipped the 5:45 a.m. appointment with the gym to find comfort in the warmth of my cozy bed.  Naughty, naughty girl!!!  I ran 3 easy miles yesterday, followed by 2 miles of speedwork and I became alarmingly aware of the volume at which my knees were screaming obscenities at me.  I ran my longest run to date last weekend, the BIG 13.1 miles.  I thought I was ready for the mileage, but I'm wondering if my body was ready.  Since then, I have been icing on and off, rolling my calves and shins with a rolling pin, and even applying some Cryogel that I got from a recent swag bag.   I am hoping for another long run this weekend, atleast 10 miles, so I'm hoping I can muster up the courage to get out there and get movin'.  I'm hoping to get out this evening for a short run, so we'll see how it goes.  Cross your fingers and toes for me!!

What do you do for your aches and pains?  Any tips or tricks I haven't tried? 

Running Mama x5....

A suitable title for my very first attempt at a blog.  Running mama I AM!!!  Now, the use of the term "running mama" may have changed for me a bit in the last year.  I am the mommy to 5 kiddos 10 and under, so running I am and running I do.  They keep me busy, busy, busy, yet, within the last year and a half I have found a new meaning to the word "running."  It's been a long journey, but a very enjoyable one.  Once I thought that I would only "run" if I were running to a great sale at Gymboree, but times have changed sista.  I am now a RUNNER!!  There, I said it!!  Like I said, I have been running for 1 1/2 years on and off and still hesistate at the thought of calling myself a "runner".  Maybe there comes an accountability with the term that I haven't been quite ready to live up to.  Maybe it's the fear that I may fail, or maybe the fear that I will have to live up to the title I have given myself.  But I've gone and said it, I am a RUNNER!!