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

November: 9.25 miles

I remember the days just this last summer when running 9.25 miles in a single run was effortless and felt great. I haven't officially thrown in the towel just yet, but it has been two weeks since my last run. I may not run again until next summer. Call it a winter hibernation.

At any rate, I doubt there will be any posts on this blog until late June or early July. See ya then! Good runs to all.

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly run any slower...

I went out and ran twelve minute miles. I admit there was some walking included with that *run* to get that pace, but yowzers! I'm not even sure if that pace is still considered running.

I felt really great the other day and decided to go for a run during the afternoon. I can't remember the last time I ran in the afternoon. I took the baby with me in his jogger so this was quite a big deal for me. Not only was I out running in the afternoon, but I was also pushing my close-to-30 pound baby in the jogger, too! It wasn't a long run and it was pretty slow, but I felt awesome afterward.

I felt so good that I decided to rake the back and front yards. While raking the front yard, a friend in the 'hood ran by. She was pushing her son in the jogger and running with her two large dogs. Did I mention she is 13+ weeks pregnant?? Holy smokes. It totally burst my bubble and I really wish I hadn't seen her. Of course, she smiled and waved to me as they passed. Ugh.

I'm not an overly competitive person, but man oh man do I have my moments. That was one of them. I must keep running, no matter how slow the runs become...

October: 29.5 miles

My goal this month was to log at least 40 miles, but I just wasn't feeling it. I haven't run in over a week and my last run was horrible. I had gone out for 3 miles but stopped after 2.25 and walked my tired a$$ home. I haven't felt well these last four weeks and the cold mornings are not helping to motivate me. We'll see what happens in November (if anything!). I may need to go into hibernation and not run for awhile...

slowing down

Wow, did I run slow this morning...

M and I have been running together (with the jogger) for several weeks now but this morning he and our son stayed in while I went out in the 40 something degree weather for a little run. I decided to run an old favorite loop that is approximately 4 miles. This particular loop was a staple during marathon training. If nothing else, I made sure I got in this loop as a minimum. The first 2.25+ miles of it I used to run in less than 20 minutes. This morning it took me 24 minutes and I didn't even run all of it. I took a little walk break up the big hill to slow down my heart rate and another one later on in the run. My total distance was 3.34 miles and I averaged just over an 11 minute mile pace. Good grief. Wasn't I just running 8:20s not that long ago??

Portland Marathon

The next best thing to running in a race is being a spectator at one. We spent this morning cheering on friends at the Portland Marathon. For some, it was their first running of Portland but I think all had run at least one prior marathon.

We first staked out a spot near mile markers 7 and 11. It is the dreaded out and back portion of the course that takes you two miles down the industrial (read: non-scenic) part of Portland and back. Not so much fun for the racers, but great for the spectators because we get to catch them twice and we also get to see the elite runners as well as the 5 hour runners. Thomas wore his Halloween costume, a purple dragon, and it was definitely getting some attention from the runners. We also held up signs for our friends, waved pom-poms and rocked out with a cowbell. It was great fun!

After seeing the last friend pass mile 11, we jumped back into our car and drove across the river to the next viewing/cheering point. We found ourselves on the bluff in North Portland around mile marker 20. Again, we cheered on our friends as they each passed us by. They all did a fantastic job out there this morning! They were confident, strong, relaxed and looked to be having a great time. One friend even ran a Boston Qualifier this morning -- kudos to Carolyn! She totally rocked it. Another friend's husband finished in 2:37 and some change, also a BQ. Do you realize how fast one has to run (and sustain this pace for the entire 26.2 mile duration) in order to finish in that time?? I can't even run a single mile in 6 minutes.

I haven't run Portland, but it's on my list to run someday. I love that we are the same age, Portland and I. Maybe in two years when we are both 37 years old we'll meet up for a 26.2 mile run around town.

September: 61.5 miles

This was my lowest mileage month since last August 2005. Wow. Many reasons, but the short of it is that the miles just weren't there. I have a new game plan for October.

August: 82.75 miles

I wish I could have run more this month, but it's good enough. The 82.75 miles is still more than some people and better than those who don't run at all. Or so I tell myself.