November: 9.84 miles

Eugene Marathon

I've officially registered. Now I just need to train. Actually, I need to start running first and then think about a training plan. Only 156 days!

October: 16.52 miles

Meet Millie

She's the new treadmill in our basement. She's going to make running much more convenient for me and with the days getting shorter and more wet, it'll be great to have a dry, well-lit place to go run!

September: 8.35 miles

This month was not a good month for running. However, I am enjoying the Bikram Yoga classes!

new shoes - yippee!

I took my kids with me this week to purchase some new running shoes. My two year old got a kick out of watching me run in the store in the new shoes. He told me these shoes will make me run really really fast. I hope so!

August: 63.16 miles

I only met my mileage goal again last month. Disappointing...

My goals for September? I'm not even going to bother making any. I'm simply going to run as much as I can, for as long as I can and as fast as I can. We'll see how this goes.

I'm also taking Bikram Yoga classes again. I've already been to two (after two years!) and I feel amazing. It's going to be a very good thing and I'm looking forward to not having to stop again after just getting started. This seems to have happened the last couple of times I started classes.

August goals

mileage - 60 miles
distance - 9 miles
pace - 10 minute miles (for 9 miles)

July: 48.65 miles

I didn't make my goals for this month. I had a feeling they were a little ambitious when I initially made them, but I wanted to give myself something high to shoot for and knew I wouldn't be disappointed if I didn't quite make them. And that's what has happened.

JULY goals
mileage - 45 miles
ACTUAL - 48.65 miles
distance - 7 miles
ACTUAL - 6.03 miles
pace - 10 minute miles (for 7 miles)
ACTUAL - 10:09 mm for 6 miles (furthest), 9:34 mm for 3 miles (fastest)

I'm pleased with my running progress this month! The only thing I'm disappointed with is my inability to lose these remaining pounds. I had hoped to be back in my pre-pregnancy clothes and hovering around 130 pounds by this time. I'm not there. Not. Even. Close. *grumble, grumble* In fact, I've only lost a whole 2 or 3 pounds this month. That is it. *heavy sigh*

happy happy joy joy

I hate to quote television personalities, but wow! was that a good run - Bam! That was exactly what good runs are made of. For me, it was my best run yet. Who knows, maybe I will hit all my July goals afterall?!

A special thanks goes out to the two teenagers who "raced me" down the hill - one on his skateboard, the other running. This old lady still has something in her! I picked it up to run that little bit with them at something faster than an 8:30 pace and when they stopped at the bottom of the next hill, I kept going. Booyah!

"Mommy run!"

I have always enjoyed running with the jogger because my little guy is such a good sport. He never fidgets or complains. Usually he doesn't even say a single word the entire time we are out there. I've often wondered how long it would be until he started talking to me more during the run and maybe (hopefully!) cheering me on as we run. He's two years, two months and talks up a storm so I knew it wouldn't be long.

This morning I heard "Mommy run!" several times during our run. I don't know where he came up with this but it was terribly cute and really got me to pick up the pace and continue running during those times I wanted a walk break. Each time I would answer "I am running, honey! I'm running as fast as I can." It really made the run this morning enjoyable and fun.

[Thanks, T! I'm looking forward to the day when we go out for runs together. Please, no rush though. You're growing up too fast as it is.]

reflections while running

I went out for a short run this morning and took T in the jogger with me. I haven't pushed the BOB while running probably since October due to my pregnancy. Morning sickness got the best of me then. It was really nice to have T with me today, but pushing a 30+ pound boy in a jogging stroller was quite a workout -- even if it was a short run!

While running this morning, I thought about what I was doing last year on this same day -- a half marathon out at Sauvie Island. I ran with a group of friends and everyone had a personal best. It's a fantastic course - super flat and fast - for that sort of thing. It got me thinking about other personal bests at different distances so when I got home I looked them up. Being the nerd that I am with these kinds of things, I had them all listed in a file...

8K - 49:44 (2001)
5 Miler - 52:35 (1998)
10K - 58:56 (2003)
15K - 1:23 (2006)
Half Marathon - 1:54:21 (2006)
Marathon - 4:20:30 gun time (2006)

Post-baby #1, all of my times for longer distances dropped. It was amazing. I had heard the year immediately following a birth is the best year for a woman runner and I believe it. I'm hoping I can get back to where I was last year at this time and drop my times even more. I've never been a fast runner and never will be, but I would love to get closer to averaging an 8:30 for all my longer distances. It would get me to Boston!

running blogs

We had too much going on this morning to get out for a run and we seem to be in a heat wave so no run this evening either. However, tomorrow morning I'll be out there!

And because I can't get enough of running and talking about running, I've joined another running blog. I'll still be posting things here, but I'll also be contributing to Marathon Mommy. See my profile for a link. These three women are amazing -- both as runners and individuals.

So, to the few out there who check here to see what I'm doing, take a look over there, too. I have no doubt you'll find yourself motivated and inspired to run!

June: 19.62 miles

Last night I was thinking about what my running goal should be this month. I definitely need a mileage goal, but shouldn't I have distance and pace goals, too? June was spent easing back into running, but now I feel like I really need to step it up. Maybe still a bit conservative, but my goals for this month are...

JULY goals
mileage - 45 miles
distance - 7 miles
pace - 10 minute miles (for 7 miles)

I also need to kick the remaining pregnancy pounds to the curb. A BBQ with old friends at the end of the month is my incentive to lose these last 12 pounds. It's certainly more than the recommended pound or two for healthy weight loss but it would put me back under 130 pounds. If I can somehow pull this off, the last 5 pounds I'd like to lose can wait until Labor Day. If the 12 doesn't happen, I'll try not to sweat it. I just want to wear my regular clothes again!

just call me "speedy"

Longest and furthest run yet! I was up every hour, almost on the hour, with the baby last night and did not feel like running this morning at all. However, having taken care of someone else all evening left me really wanting to take a little time to take care of myself this morning. Fresh air does wonders (coffee helps, too!), so out the door I went. It. Felt. Awesome. !!

I run for Toblerones

I'm happy that my runs are getting easier every time that I do them. I haven't been able to get out much yet, but that's okay since I'm still easing into it and figuring out when the best times are for me to run. With every run, I'm running a little faster and a little bit further which in turn means I'm burning more calories and eventually losing more of this pregnancy weight. I gained A LOT (just as I did with the first pregnancy) and still have 15 pounds plus to go. I pretty much hit a plateau after the first 40 or so pounds. [Okay, so I indulged a little while pregnant. Since many of my favorite things were off limits, I found new favorites that did nothing for me nutritionally but sure loaded me up with the calories and pounds.] But all my hard work with running and eating healthy is handsomely rewarded with every 10 pounds lost with my favorite indulgence -- the perfectly delicious Toblerone. I'm guessing late this week I'll be enjoying another one. Oh! how I love thee...

I'm on the road again!

Albeit slow and not for very long, but I went out for my first run this afternoon post baby #2. I waited 6 weeks, 2 days and definitely felt the difference from my first run post baby #1. Two years ago, I ran 5 weeks post delivery and it was a very slow and painful run. Back then I ran 4 minutes, walked 1 minute, ran another 5 minutes, walked 1 minute and ran a final 4 mintues to log a total of 15 minutes and maybe 1 mile. Today, I didn't feel any pain and ran 2.15 (very slow) miles for a total of 24.5 minutes. I feel great - it was wonderful to get out and start moving again!

.

This Garmin is totally addicting. It was my first run with any sort of GPS device and I know it made me want to run further and faster than I would have without it. I don't know just how I'm going to use all this data, but I love having it!

Happy Mother's Day

I've had my eye on a Garmin for what feels like forever. They are a fantastic way to track your running progress and a really great tool for runners of all abilities. M made my Mother's Day today by giving me my very own Garmin Forerunner 305. I am one very happy mama!! It's almost been three weeks since Meredith arrived via c-section, so how much longer until I can run again...??

goals

1. deliver a healthy baby ~ check!
2. lose the pregnancy weight by Labor Day
2. run a sub 1:50 half marathon in October (new PR)
3. log 600 miles (I'll have half the year at best)
4. start training for an early 2008 marathon

new year, new resolutions

1. deliver a healthy baby
2. lose the pregnancy weight by Labor Day
2. run a sub 1:50 half marathon in October (new PR)
3. log 600 miles (I'll have half the year at best)
4. start training for an early 2008 marathon