Finally...summer!

I have been complaining a lot lately about the rainy, unseasonal weather.  As of yesterday, things have been looking up!  I have been slathering my kids with sunscreen, and sweating like crazy.  ahhh, summer seems to have arrived in my little corner of the world :)
With that said, my morning run should have been a bit earlier than it ended up happening.  The sun was beating down by the time my husband and I headed out the door with Oliver.  He was decked out in summer gear, and hidden under the awesome sun visor of the BOB.  It was a good run.  It was a hot run.  We were all glad to head indoors to the central air after 45 minutes out in that heat!

I beat the heat in my new sugoi moxie running shorts. 

Some of my new running clothes made a debut this morning also.  Thumbs up all around.  My new shorts were perfect for the weather, and super comfortable.  I don't think the pockets would be too functional, but they add visual interest ;)

Tonight I began compiling a new running mix.  Back in the summer when I wrecked my ipod by just plain not being smart exposing it to my sweating skin on a long run, (yep, icky, gross excess moisture) I basically ended my runs with music.  Later in the fall, I became the proud owner of an iphone 4.  ooooh, ahhhh.  It is pretty sweet.  I can now have my phone and my music with me on the run! yay!  It has taken me until now to put music on the phone though.  I am slow with the technology people.  Baby steps.  (I think my two year old is better at using my iphone than I am.  Really.)

So, now I am taking running music suggestions.  I really only listen to music on long runs.  I am not bothered by slower songs at all, so really anything goes!

Happy Running.  Stay cool.

Puddle Jumping...

Have I mentioned the rainy weather?  I have had about enough of it already.  It would be nice to look out at some sunny skies and wear my new running shorts for a run, instead of the warmer layers I have been forced into due to the cold and rain :(

Ah, well.  I will be complaining about the heat before we know it, I am sure.

I have been adding an extra loop to my usual run, to make a nice 5 miler.  It adds in a couple of extra hills too, which can only be a good thing, right?  I am eager to add more miles (mentally I am ready...hopefully my body will just follow along).  I miss my 10 mile loop so much.  I know I will get there in time.

In other way more exciting news...Elliott started playing "blastball" last night.  Think t-ball.  It was so great to see him and all of the other little 5-year-olds running the bases, standing in the field, bobble-headed with the big batter's helmet.  Little brother Milo was devastated that he wasn't on the team, so I got some cross-training by chasing him off the field, etc.  I didn't have a spare moment to snap a photo, perhaps next week I will get a chance.
I loved watching him out there.  It reminded me of how much I loved playing baseball as a kid.  I loved that my parents would come to my games.  We didn't go out for ice cream after every game, but occasionally we would.  I wasn't the star of the team, but I certainly had fun.  Elliott was still talking about it this morning, so here's hoping he gains the same kind of positive experience I did :)

Happy Running...the roads or the bases!

Watford 5-mile Race Report

I survived race day!  The day was a great one.

My brother came to my parent's house at 8am.  We still had to register for the race, so we wanted to get there before 9am when registration closed.  My husband and the baby came to the race as well.  I knew I would have to feed the baby before the race even started.  I guess that is all part of racing when you have an 8-week-old baby!

Registration was easy, and the line wasn't long.  The rain clouds had blown away, and I started to worry that I had overdressed for the race, with my 3/4 length tights!

Scott heading to the finish

Do my legs look tired?

We headed back to the car, where I fed Oliver and changed him.  My brother and I decided to take the bus to the race start instead of getting my husband to drive us.  The course is straight down one country road, with one right turn on to another country road.  The wind was getting crazy fast, so we were thankful it would be behind us in the final mile and a half!  When the bus dropped us off, the temperature dropped off as well, and it even started to rain a little.  My wardrobe choice wasn't too bad after all :)

Olly, Scott and I after a good race

The race was chip-timed, but only at the end.  We found a spot close to the starting line for that reason!  As we waited for the gun to go off, my brother and I decided to each run our own race, as we had different pace goals in mind.

The gun went, and off we went.  My goal was 8 minute miles, with a possible faster pace in the last mile.  It was so hard not to take off at a 6 minute/mile pace in the first few hundred meters, like everyone else around me.  I held back, as I have pacing goals to keep :)

The first mile came in at 7:57.  The second mile was 7:58.  Mile three: 7:58.  Mile four: (at the end of mile four I finally turned my back to the wind!) 7:57.  The last mile (including a steep incline over rail tracks) was 7:44.  Yay!  I did it!  I would like to thank my Garmin for keeping me in line.

My brother did well.  He came in ahead of me, of course, but then, he didn't just have a baby! ha ha.  Sorry, Scott, but I need excuses.

Here are the stats...

Chip time: 39:57

Avg. Pace: 8min/mile

Women: 8/163 

Age: 2/45 (30-44)

Overall: 33/290 finishers

It was so great to see my husband and Oliver at the finish line.  Thanks for cheering us on!

Happy Running

It Can't all be Negative...

Of course I am talking about the advantages of the negative split .  I have decided that my goal for the next 6 months of training/running is to really work on my pacing, specifically early on in races and even just regular runs.  It is silly for me to make goals like fancy PBs in all of my races, because I just had a baby, and therefore my fitness is not what it was 6 months ago, let alone a year ago.  I am trying, but I know that I need to be realistic, and productive about my running goals these days.  Focusing on pacing will help me in the long run too, so yay!

I have always been one to go out way to fast in races.  I thought for a long time that it was just part of my personality or something, and that somehow I could just "bank" that time.  Well, I do know now after all of these years that going out too fast hurts.  And not just my chip time, but it also hurts my ego a little when I am passed near the end of the route by people I whizzed past in the first few km's.  When I think back on my best races ever, I think of races that I was either: a) stuck in a large crowd and was forced to take it slow in the beginning, or b) running with someone else that was planning a slower pace, and I stuck with them chatting until about the half-way mark before splitting off.  Hmm.  Running slower in the beginning might just be the ticket?!

So, with the help of my Garmin, I am going to attempt to stick to my goal pace in some upcoming races. I just hope I get (or keep) that energy all the way to the end of the race!

Speaking of races, I am running a 5-miler on the holiday Monday.  I am a little sad that it won't be a PB at that distance (or that course) and I really wish I could add a little asterisk to my chip time on Road Race Results that states my lack of training (with good reason?!).  Ah, well.

And what to wear to the race?!  Well...

We all know that diamonds are a girl's best friend.  But what most fail to realize is that Coolmax is a running girl's best friend!  My husband is a wonderful, insightful person that knows how to make his wife of eight years happy on their anniversary.  He bought me a bunch of new running clothes, bless his heart!!  I will be dazzling the streets of my neighbourhood with a few new tops and shorts this summer, in lovely, bright colours!
*Don't get me wrong, I do love the the bling, (and not just race medals) and my husband does seem to surprise me with lovely shiny baubles on special occasions.  But this year, he hit the mark!*


Happy Running!

Ah, the rain continues...

Last night I opted to head out for a run solo (no buggies!).  I was all set to go when my husband arrived home from work, shoes on and everything.  I handed him a freshly changed, fully fed baby, and headed out the door, into the rainy, dreary evening.

I have been wearing my Garmin for the last few weeks, but really just to keep an eye on the time of day, as opposed to my *running* info.  Last night, as I got to the end of the driveway, I thought I would actually 'keep track' of my speed/distance, etc.  Well.  Operating the Garmin is not like 'riding a bike,' it turns out.  I had no idea how to operate that thing.  I was too frazzled in the rain to deal with it at that point, so I will have to figure it out in the comfort of my house before I attempt to use it again.

As I ran along in the rain, on the quiet streets, (it was dinner time...the only people that were out in the rain were brave people bbq'ing--which smelled sooo good) I remembered what made me fall in love with regular running to begin with.  I have mentioned that I always have been a runner, but I became hooked on running when I was in university.  I would run every morning, rain/snow/sun.  I would get up before my room mates (and much of the rest of the world) to run the streets of Halifax.  It made me feel so accomplished to do so much before getting my day going.  Being out in the rain to run lately reminds me of that.  Just getting out there, no matter what.

It is a good thing that I have decided to be so fine with the whole rain thing.  There is so much rain in the forecast this week, (again, ugh) so I have no choice to get out and splash along in it!

On a separate note...

Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary.  Eight years have passed since the beautiful day that I married my husband.  Eight years have flown by--and I am so lucky to have the best person in the world to share every moment with.  In eight years I have become a teacher, a wife, and mom (of three--yowza!).  I can't wait to see what the next eight years (and beyond) bring.  I love you, sweetheart.  Thanks for being you. I mean it when I say all the time that I feel like a lottery winner!

Happy Anniversary, Papa!

Half Marathon Mix-up

Imagine my shock and surprise to find out I am signed up for a half marathon on Sunday?!

Well, last night I received a 'confirmation' email from the Toronto Goodlife Marathon, with my bib number for the half marathon this coming Sunday.  "Only a few days left...are you as excited as we are?!" it said.  Huh?  I am quite sure that this is some sort of error on their part, sending me the email, as I am in no shape to run 13 miles this Sunday, and I certainly did not sign up to do so!!

It is nice to know somewhere out in the universe the Race Gods are sending me not-so-subtle messages to remind me I am a runner.  Part of me wonders if it would be wrong to go to the expo and pick up *my* race kit...
ha ha

This week has been a lovely week for runs.  Oliver and I have been out on our own a few times, and on Mother's day, Elliott, Oliver and I took to the 'hood for a few loops to make a nice 7k.  Big brother Elliott was happy to ride along with the baby, that's for sure.

This morning I did my usual 7k, but I decided to add another 1km loop that includes the big hill.  When I run up this big hill, people out walking or even in their cars make comments like, "you go girl" or, "wow, that's quite a climb with a running buggy!" etc.  It makes me feel good to know that I survived the big hill, even if it was with the lightest of my children in-tow!

I hope this weather stays bright and cheery...I have some miles to log before my next race, the Watford 8km road race in less than 2 weeks!

Happy Running :)

Soggy Buggy

This morning started with optimism.  I decided to take my two older boys on a run to "beat the rain" early.  Elliott's bus stop is on my usual running route, so I decided to do the run first, and sort of end up at the stop, with just half a km to run home with just one kid in the double.

By the time we reached the end of the street, the rain began.  Ugh.  "Mama, it feels misty," Elliott said.  Yeah, well, at least your under the canopy.  I did do some advanced planning, and put my iphone in a baggie, and brought along the "bubble".  The Bubble is what we call the plastic rain cover for the BOB.  Half way through the run, it was time to stop and install the Bubble.  At which point, my two year old decided to scream and cry.  He hates the bubble.  I had to compromise, and let him push it back from his side.  Nothing makes me feel like a mom more than having an argument with a two year old at the side of the road at 7:45am...

We survived the run, and I have to admit that the double is a bit heavier with two bigger kids than the single and a newborn!  Add in some rain and wind, and you have yourself a workout!

Here's hoping there are more sunny days to come :)

Happy Running

Snug as a Bug

Oliver and I have been hitting the roads together this week.  I know he is still a teeny little guy, but I have him bundled in to the BOB with a snuggler around his head/neck, as well as his body for support.  I am sticking to the roads that I know are smooth surfaces (and let's not forget my speed isn't much to worry about these days!).

Oliver all snuggled in to the BOB

Being able to take Oliver out for runs really makes it easier for me to squeeze them in when my husband is working, and when the bigger boys aren't home.  Today, the wind made the stroller into a mini-parachute, so I had some extra training along my 7k route.  Olly fell asleep almost immediately as we started out (yay!) so I would take a peek through the canopy window every couple of minutes to make sure he was ok.  Of course, he barely moved a muscle.  At one point, though, when I looked down, to my shock and horror, I saw a spider sitting on his bib.  Yikes!  I am not usually the one around my house to deal with such creepy critters, but there, out on the road with no one to save us, I had to man-up and pick the little spider out of my poor baby's space.  Ew.  But I did it.  Then, as I ran along, a hornet decided to perch on the outside of the stroller, where he rode with us for a few blocks before I found a stick to brush him away.
I guess it is spring.  And with spring weather, bugs come out to enjoy the sunshine too.  I just could do without them preying on my baby (ok, slight exaggeration) and getting in my way.  I have swallowed more than one bug out on the run, and I can't think of a worse way to ruin a good few miles.  Ick.

I plan to run with Milo and Oliver within the next couple of days, so that will be when the real fitness test comes.  Happy Running!