Cone of Shame

On Tuesday, I took my Henry boy to the vet to be neutered.  It turns out he is a bigger baby than I originally thought.  He made sure to let everyone know, in true Husky fashion, that he was not happy and very uncomfortable.  He wouldn't leave his incision alone so they sent him home with "the cone of shame" to be kept on for the next two years of his life...not really, just for a few days until it becomes a little less uncomfortable for him.  He is running in to everything and almost has one side of it chewed off...really, I expected nothing less.  He hates being cooped up not able to do anything.  I cheated and took him for a mile walk this morning...he loved his little bit of freedom.  I am really looking forward to taking the cone off of my pretty boy and having him run with us again.  Until then, I guess I have to listen to him "talk" back to me and tell me how upset he still is about the whole ordeal.

 

Oh, Henry!

 

 

 

Coupler

Last week, I got up early to take my pups for a run.  What I usually do is take Zoey out for three to four miles and then run a victory lap with Henry (usually one to two miles).  Henry was raring to go and in true Husky fashion, wanted to "talk" about it.  He let me know that he was not going to be left behind this time.  I thought, "What the heck" and leashed him up too.

I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear as we ran our morning run together...all three of us.  Zoey was quick to show Henry the ropes.  He seemed most comfortable running about a half body length behind her on her left side.  Sometimes, on the route I run, there can be a little bit of traffic.  I usually say, "over" to Zoey and she moves over beyond the shoulder of the road in to the grass.  It was nice because all I had to do was say the word and Zoey would move herself and Henry over.

It was after our first run together that I knew I needed a coupler.

And my husband was kind enough to let me pick one up on Saturday:

Potty break is going to take some getting used to with the coupler on, but all in all we had a fantastic run!  It was such a blast...and if we had a bigger house and a fenced in yard, I would get one or two more to add to my pack.

For now, I am thrilled to run short runs just the three of us.

(All tired out after our first run all together)

Changing it up...

This was our playground today.  I've been needing a change of scenery lately.  After Zoey was attacked by two dogs on our last long run, I am hesitant to take the same route with her.  So, today I loaded her up in the van and we took a short little drive to the trail.  It was a gorgeous day and I think we both appreciated the new route.  We had a lovely eight miles.  I brought her home, leashed up my baby boy, Henry, and off we went on our one mile victory lap.  I am really looking forward to when he is able to join us!

Something New : Meet My Running Buddies

I haven't been blogging like I would like to lately.  It's not because of a lack of things to write about.  I feel like, although I am still logging the miles and still passionate about running, it's changed for me.  I started out on this journey and running was something totally different to me back then that it is now.  It was a way to get in shape, lose the baby weight, and find some "me" time in the craziness of raising little ones.  My children are all school age now...life is still crazy, but a little more layed back crazy.  Running has become my lifestyle, a part of me.  It's no longer about an escape per say as much as it's about pushing myself further, challenging myself, and finding solitude out on the open road. 

 

I have run with a single jogger, a double jogger, and even a triple jogger chasing after my sanity.  Recently, they have begun to run beside me...such an awesome thing!  Although I love to run in silence, I have never really enjoyed running alone.

My little chicks began leaving the nest, my joggers began to have fewer seats, and then one day I was selling my single...it meant I was alone. 

 

About that time, Zoey came in to my life.  She's my husband's dog.  We adopted her from a shelter when she was a tiny puppy.  She had been abandoned with her siblings and her mother...left out in the cold to freeze to death.  Her mom and her were the only ones to survive.  I fell in love with her picture...and awkward looking little pup with crystal blue eyes.  I knew that one day she would make the best running buddy...and she has.  We started out slow, but she has logged many, many miles by my side.  She has run in all kinds of weather with me.  She has helped me make it home on those days when I am just not in to it and she makes me feel a bit safer out there.

 

 

 Zoey girl - 2.5 years old

Back in November, I lost my Pit Mix, Macy.  She was also a rescue, adopted at the age of six.  It was a loss like I have never experienced before and took me a while to feel like myself again.  I knew I wanted another dog to call my own, I just didn't know when.  I also knew that the next dog would have to be able to join my team.  I had been in touch with a husky breeder for about three months.  I turned down one of her puppies at the beginning of the year because it just didn't feel like a good fit.  One night, shortly after the 4 month anniversary of Macy's passing, I decided to go on the breeder's site and see if they had anything cooking...and that's when I saw him.  A puppy of theirs that had been adopted out, was taken back out of a bad situation.  I emailed her about him and she immediately wrote me back and told me that he was mine if I wanted him.  I talked to my husband and got the okay.  A couple of weeks later, we were driving back from Michigan with Henry curled up in the back seat on my daughter's lap.  He has been such a good fit for our family and a wonderful boy.  He has made my loss back in November a little easier.  He just turned 5 months at the end of April so he's not able to run with us just yet, but in no time we will have him out there with us.  For now, he's my victory lap boy...I pick him up when Zoey and I are finished and he enjoys a mile or two with me.

Henry (5 months)

Runnerversary

It all started with a two toned blue double jogger...and a big dream that one day I would run a marathon. 

Most days though, I just hoped that I would be rested enough and my two children under two would cooperate long enough for me to get my 3 miles in.

Things sure have changed in these last seven years!  My runnerversary is coming up...Spring is coming too.  It's always around this time of year that I fall in love with running all over again.  Maybe it's the anticipation of being able to get out there, lose the layers, and really give a run all I've got.  Maybe it's looking forward to not having to worry what's under my feet or what I may slip on.  You may be lucky enough to get a few of those days during the winter in the midwest...but when you know you will have a few months of them, it's a different kind of feeling.  Maybe it's purely the anticipation of being able to see what I am made of again...to push myself farther and reach new goals on the road.

As the years go by, it's reiterated after every run, just how much running mirrors life.  There are times in life where the "hills" or "mountains" just seem too steep...the "miles" seem too long...your "lungs" are burning too badly...and you don't think you can take another step.  Then there are those times where the "road" is flat, the "wind" is at your back, and the "weather" is just right...you take a deep breath and you push yourself to go harder, go longer, and it just feels right.  I think running has helped me appreciate different times in my life a little more.  In my mind, I have run 26.2 miles four times...I can do just about anything.

So, if you are thinking about taking up running, getting more serious about it, running your first race, signing up for your first marathon...step out of your comfort zone and take a risk.  You will discover what you are made of...and have a lot of fun doing it!

If you are a Momma that just hopes her kids will cooperate for the next three miles or the Momma who hopes to get out the door without one of your babies chasing you down, I've been there...and even though it doesn't seem like it now, you will miss this.  Some days I wish I still had a little one to push around in my two toned jogger...or a little cheerleader to yell, "faster, momma, faster".  Do your best...take time for yourself...and remember that they are watching you and you are setting a wonderful example and showing your kids that you know you are worth the time to take care of yourself.

So, as I approach my runnerversary I think I will lace up my hot pink Asics, invite my Zoey girl to come with me, buy a couple of new songs, and go for a long run...and just be thankful that I can still run...and enjoy the open road.

One Week Down...

It's amazing what 35 miles and limiting what I put in my mouth can do...

I am down 4 pounds!  I couldn't be happier!  Not bad for a weeks worth of work.  I'll take it.

I am not saying it was easy at all.  There were a few times that I was tempted to eat a box of Girl Scout cookies. A couple of times I was tempted to go through the drive through on one of my crazy days when it would have been easier just to grab something on my way to work rather than plan ahead.  I didn't...and I am so glad I didn't.

It's been a while since I logged 35 miles (31 running, 4 elliptical) in one week.  It felt so good to be back on track.  My hip is giving me less of a problem.  It's at a dull ache now and not the shooting pain that I had before.  At the gym, I found the rowing machine and I love it!  It's such a good workout and it was nice to give my hip a break.  I can't wait to get back in there and row again tomorrow.

This past week, I also threw a 7 mile run in there.  I haven't done a distance like that in a few months.  It's was not uneventful.  I have a route I run that's a 7 mile square around my house.  I have run it too many times for me to count.  It's out in the country so I can just let go, sing, talk, whatever I want to do.  It's where I run to get away.  I like to take my four legged running buddy on this route when I go...it's makes me feel a bit safer and she likes it too.  Well, about two and a half miles in to it I look back to see a dog following us.  He was a big guy and kinda scared me at first.  I didn't know if he was going to be aggressive and so I sped up a little to keep Zoey away from him.  I was more concerned for her safety than mine.  After about a tenth of a mile, I realized that he wasn't backing off.  So, I stopped and yelled at him.  I told him "no", I told him to go home, and I told him to get.  Nothing worked and I didn't have the time to stand there and figure out what would.  We kept running...and he kept up right beside us.  After a little over three and a half...yes, three and a half miles...I decided enough was enough.  He obviously wasn't going to leave us alone.  After a few phone calls to different people, I called the police...I didn't know what else to do.  I paused my Garmin and stood on the corner and waited...all the while, our big tag along stood right there with us.  The officer came, checked him out, and the loaded him in to his car after seeing he had no form of ID on him.  I thanked him for coming to the rescue (of the dog and mine) and finished up the rest of our 7 miles...just the two of us.  Add that to my list of firsts.  Running is never boring (well, unless you're on a treadmill).

I am ready to start Monday off with a bang!  I have plans to hopefully drop another three pounds this week.  That will put me at the lightest I've been in a while.  I also plan to log at least over 20 miles this week and continue to keep my eating under control.  Here's to accomplishing goals!

Happy Running!

Something Different

A few months back, I canceled my gym membership.  It was something I knew I needed to do.  Not only did I feel like money was being wasted on something every month that I rarely used, but I also felt that it was softening me up.  I couldn't handle the elements, the hills, the whatever anymore.  This is just me personally...I know plenty of people that use the gym correctly and have awesome results...I was just not one of those people toward the end.

Back in the beginning of January, I fell on the ice.  I slammed down hard on my side and really hurt my hip.  Did I head right over to the doctor to get it checked out you ask?  Nope, not this girl.  I would rather moan and complain to my hubby...and then suck it up and go out for a run on it, all the while telling myself how tough I am...sigh.  Anyway, it has really been bothering me.  I think it's because I have upped my workouts and mileage over the past two or three weeks.  The pain is more noticeable now and sometimes in the evenings has me limping around here like I am 90 years old.

I work at a hospital.  One of the perks that comes along with that is that I get to use their fitness center (which is nothing special...at all...but, hey, it's free) for free.  I think I really need to cut back on the pounding several times a week and switch it up to see if that helps.  So, yesterday was my first day back in the gym.

The treadmill is like a comfort blankey to me.  I run.  I know how to run.  I know how to use a treadmill.  So, not only did I run 3miles at 5AM with my running buddy, I got on the treadmill and did three miles.  My hip was killing me last night (probably because I did a total of 8 miles after all was said and done).  Today, I went out of my comfort zone a bit.  After I did 5 on the elliptical, I gave the rowing machine a try...man, was that fun!  I am looking forward to going back there tomorrow and rowing my little heart out...but I might need to eventually get some gloves because it kinda killed my palms.  I am going to try lower impact a few times a week and see if it helps.  If not, I am giving myself until the end of March and then dragging my butt in to the doctor to see what is going on.

Question for today...or every day...

I read the words, "Why Are You Still Carb Loading?" and immediately I felt a little guilty.  Carb loading?  Me?  Okay, yeah, that's me.  And yes, I ran my last race four months ago...but I am still carb loading.

Carb loading is used by endurance athletes (or those of us who love bread), such as runners, to maximize the storage of glycogen (or energy) in the muscles.  It's recommended for endurance events lasting more the 90 minutes...which I am pretty sure, doesn't describe my day to day activities.

So, I am caught...with bread in my hand, yogurt with granola on my spoon, and a big bagel with cream cheese in my mouth.  Yep, still carb loading.  Granted this was an advertisement for the Paleo diet, but it still got me thinking about what I put in my mouth and lately, it's been carbs, carbs, carbs.

Why am I still carb loading?  Well, it's because I got a little taste and never stopped.  Goal for this week: stop.

Line Up

This weather here in the midwest has got me going crazy.  One day I am running in the rain, the next I am running in the sunshine without all the layers, and the next day I wake up and there's ice and snow on the ground and it's below zero with the windchill.  I am desperate for spring here so I can have a little consistency and know what my workout week looks like in advance.

Because I can't seem to plan my weekly workouts out, I have been spending a lot of time mapping out my racing season.  I really want to go for quality this year and not quantity...I want to run my best half, my best 10 mile, and my best full.  Last year, I set a new PR for myself in the half and also in the 10 mile.  I want so badly to get my full under 5 hours again.  So, I still need to firm things up for the full I want to run in the fall, but here is what 2013 will hopefully look like for me:

May19th - Rockford Half Marathon
June 1st - Milk Days 5K with my daughter (her first race!!)
August 24th - The CRIM 10 mile
October 20th - Des Moines Marathon

I would like to find a fun mud run and another half sometime in November, but this is what I've got so far.  I am looking forward to the end of March when training begins (and hopefully the snow ends).

And now that I think about it, I think this year marks 5 years since I entered my first race.  I am hoping to set a few more PRs this year and looking forward to where my feet take me.

Happy Running!

A Runner's Valentine's Day

I thought this was perfect to post to my husband.  I love lacing up my shoes and heading out the door when I am stressed to the max and don't think I can take much more...and my man is ok with my escape...he knows I always come back...and in a better mood.

 

 

 (Picture courtesy of Slow is the New Fast)

 

I have been desperate for a new pair of shoes.  My last new pair was back in March of 2012...and I have done a whole lotta running since then...almost 700 miles worth and that doesn't include biking and hiking.  So, needless to say, my feet, hips, legs, and just about everything else have been killing me these past couple of months.  I gave my husband a not so subtle hint the other day.  I woke up this morning, came out to the kitchen, and on the counter was an Asics box with the words, "I love you".  It made my whole entire day!  Most women would love diamonds, a coach purse, flowers, chocolates...but me, I love me a new pair of shoes.  I laced them up today and I had forgotten what it was like to run on a cloud.  This is the beginning of many, many miles together.

 

 I am one happy girl...and my feet are happy too!

(My hott new pair of shoes!)

Here's to a new year...

Well, I am back.  I have been throwing around the idea of starting to blog here again and I am to a point where I really think it will be beneficial for me.  So, after I sat and thought and tried to remember my password, here I am.

The past few months have been overwhelming for me.  I have always thought of myself as a driven, motivated person but there have been more days that most that I have been struggling to find that drive within myself.  I was pretty consistent with my mileage and my workouts when I had the gym membership...when I didn't use it, I watched the money fly out the window so that in itself was motivation for me.

So, I started January 2013 the same way I started the January before...a few pounds heavier and disappointed that I let myself end up back where I started.  I sat down at the end of January, mostly because I desperately need new shoes, and went back through my workouts of 2012 (because I keep a log).  From September to the end of the year, my mileage fell drastically and my workout days were sporadic...which explains the 8 pounds coming back for a visit...thankfully, not here to stay.

January was a half way decent month.  I got back on track with my mileage, got some 5 AM's in with a running buddy of mine, and found a little bit of that motivation that I had lost.  I lost four pounds, but still no where near what I wanted to lose...wishful thinking had me hoping for the whole eight.  I have realized though, that I am so used to putting whatever in my mouth because while I am training, I know I will run it off and then some.  It has been a struggle for me the past few years to get out of that mentality when I am not running 40+ miles a week.  PMSing did me in this month already, but I have jumped back on the wagon (hey, that's what counts, right?!) and I am focused and ready to get these pesky last 5 (yep, up 1 since Jan already) off before we head to Florida for my ten year anniversary in March. 

Bikini, here I come!