Run like a...fish?

I know I said I would post about New Year's Resolutions.  The thing is, I am not really one for resolutions, especially in January.  It is the middle of the school year, and things don't really feel "fresh and new" even.
When I think about resolving to do anything, I realize that I am already doing a lot of stuff that I am really happy with, and proud of. I am already doing things that I know I will continue. Getting up at 5:30am to shiver through the neighbourhood run is kind of a habit. It would feel strange not to do it.  Spending as much time as I can enjoying my family is something I would love to do more, but I do it as often as I can, and I couldn't possible resolve to do it more.

So.  Back to the fact that it's January, and the fact that I am not making any actual resolutions. I do, of course, have goal races, deadlines in my work, and hopes and dreams for 2013. Boston marathon is a big race I am looking forward to once again, and if I could resolve for it to be beautiful weather on race day, I would. I am hoping it will be a fun race, and I am working and training hard already in preparation for it. I have another few races in mind for this year, and I am excited to train for them.

I do, however, have a huge milestone coming up. Tomorrow.

Wednesday is the day I will learn to swim.

Or at least jump into a pool with an instructor that will start the process with me.

It will may take more than one (or ten) lesson for me to feel as though I have actually learned, but, through pure determination alone, I will find success.

Why now, you ask?

Well.  I have always said I would like to "learn to swim". This should not be confused with floating, blowing bubbles under water, getting 'comfortable' in a pool. I loved getting in the water as a kid, I would float, doggie paddle around, and play and play until my skin shriveled. I just never took lessons, so I have never done lane swims, and, let's be honest here...I always think it is pure magic when I watch competitive swimming meets. The kicking, breathing, paddling, Oy. Seems like a lot of coordination to me!!

I said once that I would like to try one  triathlon at some point, before I am 40 (I said this before I even turned 30...it seemed so far away).  Every season, I ponder carving out the time to learn the swimming part (which, to me, seems like a good part of a triathlon to invest some time/training in, as it seems like the part that has higher chance on injury/possible death if you just try to 'fake it').  I usually find some reason to put off lessons. Then. I mentioned it casually at work. Then the snowball started to roll.  Then, it was sink or swim, so to speak, when my colleague/friend Jay said, "I'm in, let's do it.". Jay made some calls, and that was that.
Jay is leaps and bounds ahead of me, as he is looking to perfect his stroke and would like some coaching, so we are going to share an instructor (read: Amy will hog the instructor while he is too distracted by swimming to notice).

Tomorrow is the bathing suit day. Flip flops not runners. Goggles not sunglasses.  Every Wednesday I will learn more for the next 10 weeks or so.

I Am excited to get started. Now if only I could find my water wings...


Stay tuned...

2012 recap...in photos!

Well, 2012 is coming to an end. In a matter of hours, it will be a brand new year, and in a lot of ways, I am happy about that!

It was a busy year...I became an aunt two more times, with two nephews born in January...

Papa's twin bro's baby

My bro and his baby

Papa and I ran the Disney Half marathon together:

...followed by my Goofy full marathon the very next day, and some Disney fun that (we hope) the kids will remember for years to come!

I trained my butt off with Nicole Stevenson while blogging for iRun (a definite highlight of the year). I managed to muster up the courage to return to work when Olly turned one...which made me realize my house would probably never be clean again :(
That wasn't completely true, but close to it!

Me and Olly after a long run together while training for Boston

My family endured the overwhelming shock of my dad's heart attack, and subsequent surgery...so hard, but he is doing very well these days!


We traveled to Boston for the hottest (almost) PW (personal worst) marathon!  But it was so worth it.  I had a major sunburn, but the medal will hang on my wall forever!

I ran a PB at the Goodlife marathon a couple of weeks later...

Check out that giant medal!

Then another PB when I won the CHOK Bridge race!

Summer took us on a road trip to the maritimes, and before I knew it, it was time to return to school in September :(

Olly and Papa at the Shediac Lobster

We survived the long haul from September until December...without too many bumps and bruises...(only one trip to the ER isn't all that bad, eh?)

All of that Halloween candy must have kept our immune systems up (?)

I feel so lucky to have amazing friends and family in my life.  I thank my parents for being the most awesome couple, having raised three great kids (if I do say so) who love and care for each other and their families.
Here's to 2013...resolutions to come!!

Chaos is our family name!

Another Birthday letter...for Milo

Milo.

When you were born four years ago, it was very evident that you had your own way of doing things. Being born footling breech was a great way to make an entrance, kid.

You are my cuddly one.  Cuddly yet so strong, and independent. You have always been determined to do just as your big brother is doing...whether we're ready for it or not. You have taught me so much about myself as a parent, and as a person. I know more compassion. I know now that selfless acts are very common for little kids. I know more about the emergency room. I know more about determination.
When you started smiling as a baby, you really never stopped.  You are always such a ray of sunshine with your quirky hairdo, and crazy sense of style. Although it frustrates me at times, your need to wear jammies for most occasions really does entertain me (thank goodness your cuteness helps pull the outfits together).

You are a good little brother, but also a great big brother to Olly. You're generous and kind to him, and his smile when he sees you is very evident of the brotherly love the two of you share.

You are the reason the phrase, "big things come in small packages" is one of my favorites.

Happy Birthday, 4-year-old!

I love you with all my heart, Milo.

Mama

Fast and Light

You know that feeling when you just have an amazing run?  Ya, me too.

That's what I want to write about today.  I was out for some speed work with my friend M.  We were over half an hour into the run, and about half-way through the hell fun that amounts to speed work.  That feeling of watching every second roll by on my watch gave way to the feeling of being fast and light.  "Fast and Light" was how Nicole Stevenson (yep, a Canadian superstar marathon runner) told me to envision myself during speed work.  If you're looking to shave some time off your run (of any length) I recommend thinking those two words over and over again to yourself.  It really helps me!

I haven't checked my Garmin since the run to see just how fast each rep was, but I don't think I need to. I will take it as a good confidence booster, if nothing else.  It just feels good to return from a run like that, when everything seems to be working out.  I sure hope I feel like that on my next race day :)

This is such a busy time of year, December.  We have yet to celebrate another kiddo's birthday, and all of the family Christmases that come along.  I know I have said this before on this blog, but running at this time of year becomes even more important to me than other, less busy times.  That calm of running along (at 5:30am most days) in the peace and quiet, with the light of the moon and stars overhead is worth carving out the time to do.  As an extra bonus, lots of people in my town seem to leave their Christmas lights on overnight (or they turn on early) so it is extra-festive.
...perhaps I should start belting out a few Christmas songs as sort of a 'drive-by' approach to carolling?  Nah, I can only imagine the howling dogs and unhappy neighbours.  Running is more my thing than singing ever will be.  Ask my kids.  They like it better when mama doesn't sing.

Happy Running...get out there and enjoy this cold and festive weather!

Milo, posing by my tree of running medals

A birthday letter to my Elliott

Happy Birthday Elliott.

It is such a treat to see your smiling face when you wake up in the morning.  From the moment your eyes open, you are a ray of sunshine.  Your excitement and enthusiasm for everything you do is amazing.  I love listening to you talk about your ideas, your creative spirit shining through.

I am proud of you.  You are strong and sensitive.  You are a wonderful and caring big brother to your two lucky siblings.  They look up to you.  You think of their needs and share (mostly) with them.  You are a wanderer, and I love that (most of the time).  Your free spirit and curiousity lead to some amazing artworks, stories, and ideas, that I just love seeing and hearing about.

When you woke up this morning, so excited to finally be a six-year-old, I couldn't believe how quickly the last six years have gone by.  It feels like just yesterday, that I was holding you in my arms, brand new, with all the hope in the world that you would turn into just the sort of kid that you have become. 

You are one of a kind, Elliott.  I love you so very much.

Mama

My New Running Friend

It has been four months. I know.

Yeesh.  Time flies when you're not blogging about it, I suppose!

I was going to write a post about how I haven't been blogging, but we all know I haven't, so I am just going to move on.  There really isn't a reason, so that's that.

About a month ago, my wonderful husband surprised me with a present.  Yippee! 

Then I saw what it was.

It was one of those foam rollers that I have heard of people using to cause themselves all kinds of hurt.  Why on earth would anyone willingly do this?  Not to mention that the thing was a HUGE FOAM ROLLER, and it now had found a home in a house with my three boys, who would take a matter of moments to figure out how it could be used as a toy that would end up hurting someone at some point!

I suggested that it wasn't anything I was interested in using.  I tucked it away in a closet, hoping for the opportunity to return it in exchange for something really useful, like new running socks.

Then.  Just last week.  Something happened.

I felt a twinge of pain in my right IT band.  Not a familiar pain for this runner.  Hmmmm.

After consulting Dr. Google, all roads seemed to lead to raves about this dang foam roller and how it would do everything for me as a runner, falling just short of making me the next Paula Radcliffe.

So.  I tried it. 

Yowza, that's some pain!  But good pain.  "Productive Pain" is what I call it now.

Meet my good friend, Raoul.




Raoul the Roller and Me, after this morning's 5 miles

 It is so, so hard for me to admit I am wrong about something...especially to my husband.  But in this case honey, you were right.  I might even let you try it out some day!

First Lady

 Yesterday was my fourth time running the CHOK YMCA Bridge Race.  We (my brother and I) go back to this race every year, because it is a great 10km distance, well-organized, and it's geographic location doesn't hurt either (it is very close to my parent's house, for a home-soil sort of feeling) and I still love that I get to run in two different countries in one race!!


Usually we park at the finish line, and take the shuttle (school bus) to the starting line over on the US side of the border.  This year, as it was calling for rainy/windy/cool weather, we decided to drive one car (mine) to the starting line, and leave one at the finish, in order to go pick up the other car afterwards.  I am not going to lie...squeezing in a tiny bit of cross-border shopping was also on my agenda, but that should go without saying for those of you that know me!

It was so nice to stay cozy in the warm car while we waited for the race to start.  We even drove to a Tim Horton's for a bathroom break and avoided "Scotty's Potty's" altogether.  Soon enough, it was time to head to the starting line with everyone else. 

This is one of those races that is Chip-timed, but without timing mats at the starting area.  So, placement at the front of the pack is important for those of us chasing a PB...



With literally zero warning, the blow horn went off, and we all started scrambling in the forward direction.  The course was changed this year (more about that later) so we were headed toward the bridge fairly early on in the race (let the big climb begin!).  For possible PB purposes, and the fact that my legs were feeling quite fresh that morning, I went out faster than I normally would, and decided to just force myself to hang on to my pace for dear life.  It seemed to work, even during the long climb up that bridge.  By the 2km marker, specators were shouting, "first lady runner!".  Really?  me?  Uh-oh.  Perhaps I am going to burn out a bit sooner than I had hoped?

I took a sip of water at the water station, and still felt quite good, so I kept my speed up.  I passed a few more people, and kept going (quickly).  The course normally follows roadways, but this year with the changes they made, it followed a lot more paved trails.  This is always a welcome improvement if you ask me!

I knew, however, that the course changes made the km markers a bit wrong though.  At the 5km marker, my garmin read a very different story.  It was almost 1/2km longer than 5km at that point!  Oops.  I just hoped the entire race wasn't going to be too long (no such luck...).

Every time I passed specators, they shouted, "first lady"!  I have to say, I know why they call Mrs. President "First Lady"--it makes you feel special!!


Even though they look distracted,
they were very excited about the trophy!



I told myself to try to remember that feeling of working so hard to be in first place.  Even if I didn't end up winning the race in the end, I would never forget that amazing feeling of being the "first lady".

By the 8km marker I was feeling my will-power take over the common sense my body usually uses to slow down a bit.  I just wanted to finish out this race, and feel the glory of at least a top 3 spot.  I knew there was another female runner behind me, but I was too afraid to look back to be sure.  I just plugged on, trying to remember to breath, while still keeping my pace.

As I rounded the bend to see my favourite word, "FINISH" on the big red sign, the crowd was cheering, and I was feeling even more proud.  Looking up to see them holding the tape across the finish line confirmed it...I was going to win this thing!  Yippee!!!!

**This is the first time I actually thought I might throw-up when I crossed the line.  Luckily I didn't--that sure doesn't make for good photos!!

The race ended up being about 250m-300m too long.  Shame.  It will probably be fixed for next year, finger's crossed!!

The numbers...

Overall Place: 17/614

Gender Place: 1/358

Age Group Place: 1/120

Chip time: 43:49*

*my garmin read a different story: 43:26





Accepting my trophy, and, who knew? they give CASH too!!



Check out some of the names on this trophy!
...my name will be on the SAME trophy as some of Canada's finest runners!!
How cool is that!?!?

Happy Running!  I have to say I am enjoying the "post-10km-race" feeling--so much less fatigued than the "post-marathon" feeling!