When Bad Things Happen

There are moments when I feel a little guilty about sitting on the deck after the super secret spy goes off to work.  Times when I have my feet up watching the kids play in the pool when I think maybe my life is a little too carefree.  But then the universe reminds me that I'm OK with that because it throws a screw in the works.

Yesterday was one of those days.  We were all a bit tired from a hectic weekend of birthday parties and sleepovers so when the kids all lingered in bed a bit longer than usual I enjoyed a little extra quiet time in my often rambunctious house.   I found myself outside working on getting my plants transferred from their pots into our garden when LBM finally woke.  We enjoyed breakfast and a little play time before deciding that we would wake up S'ghetti Girl before she slept the entire day away.  We headed upstairs when LBM stopped to pick up a stuffed animal.  I waited on the third step as he started up. 

Then time slowed down.  He missed the first step and as luck would have it was the perfect height to execute a perfect face plant on the rounded edge of the step with his lower lip and front teeth.

Even with the seemingly slow elapse of time I couldn't catch him.  Then  there was that sound.  That terrible sound of my wonderful little boy's face meeting that unmoving step and then the sickening moment before the cries begin when you know that there won't be anything you can really do to keep it from happening. 

 An emergency visit to the dentist later and we are hopeful that LBM's teeth will survive the trauma and his busted lip will heal.  As often 4 year olds do, LBM is little worse for the wear this morning and enjoying his soft foods only diet thanks to his love of mashed potatoes.  His mom was made a little better thanks to a nice long run while LBM slept off his pain killers.

I look forward to feeling guilty again about how carefree and boring my days are again soon.

One(ish) Word Wednesday

 

Silent Wishes

 

 

Over heard whispered wishes, "...please let Daddy play with me for a zillion hours..."

Comfortable

 

 

 

Spending my day in sweat pants, catching up on all the latest kid shows, coloring, doing puzzles and singing the alphabet have all become my new comfortable.  What I didn't realize was while I was getting comfortable in life I have also gotten a bit comfortable in my training as well. 

 

At first the thought of a May 100 miler, while intimidating, was so seemingly far off that I felt comfortable in being able to do the required work to physically and mentally go the distance.  Because that is the goal, go the distance.  But now less than 9 weeks away that same 100 miles seems like something beyond what I can imagine.  But then again how many people can imagine running 100 miles on trails up and down a mountain?  So when life sent me a nice little reminder that I shouldn't get too comfortable I took notice.

 

 

I took a look at what I can do with these last 9 weeks.  Of course I've got the running part down seeing how it's day 1019 of the running streak but the cross training; course specific running/hiking, weight lifting, core strengthening, flexibility training and actual recovering time, are things I can really focus on to help me enjoy the journey to my first 100 mile finish line.  I will be putting pen to paper to help me stick to a cross training plan while I continue to put miles on my feet. 

 

Speaking of those miles, this weekend the super secret spy; D, my dedicated pacer for MMT 100 and I will be running Hashawha Hills 50k.  This course holds my 50k PR when I ran it in 2012.  Read about it HERE.  I can not wait to see what I have on this course again.  Although I know that D will probably remind me that this year is about the 100 and my focus needs to be on the fact that this is a training run not  a race.  She will probably remind me that HH will be a cake walk compared to the ubber long training run we have on the Massanutten Mountain Trails course the following weekend.  I will keep all those things in mind plus the fact that the super secret spy will be running his first 50k at HH as I prepare these last few wake ups.

 

Since I don't want to get comfortable I will be setting some goals which I will share tomorrow.  But feel free to offer your advice on what goals I should be setting.  Do you think I should run the race with the super secret spy and just use it for "time on my feet".  Do you think I should run it with nothing left and go after a new PR?  Or do you think something in between? 

A Surprise Nap and An Evening Run

 

Yesterday was a GREAT running day.  It was actually a really great day all around. 

 

After school drop off for S'ghetti Girl, LBM fell back to sleep which meant I got to have a cup of coffee in peace and quiet.  Rare.  Then the super secret spy called and asked if I could drive our other car to the garage and then we'd all go for lunch.  Score.  Lunch out.  So I did what any normal mom would do with an unknown amount of time while a little one naps.  I jumped on my treadmill and watched some Netflix.  For almost 12 miles. 

 

LBM hadn't slept well the night before so I was glad to have him nap now even though I knew it might he wouldn't take his usual jogging stroller nap.  After get caught up on my show and running in one place, LBM and I met the super secret spy, dropped off the car and headed off for lunch.

 

We went to a place called Which wich.

 

It was a decent sandwich.  LBM got a strawberry shake.  It was very strawberry but in a overly sweet kind of very not in a real strawberry flavor way.  So I don't know if it is worth a repeat visit with a Five Guys 12 steps away.

 

After lunch we barely had time to come home before we had to pick up S'ghetti Girl from school.  A bit of laundry later and the super secret spy was due home.  I already knew the evening plan.  The spy was taking them to the store to run errands so that I could get outside and do whatever I wanted to do for a couple hours.  Gee, wonder what I wanted to do.  Hummm?

 

An unexpected email from another local runner offered the hope of company on the run however we could quite get our schedules to match up so I was out solo.  As it turned out, I was thrilled to simply be outside with nothing to listen to but my own thoughts.  I didn't have any destination in mind I just started running and ended up running almost 9 more miles and feeling great.

 

This is why I run.  To stay healthy enough to be able to run 20 miles in my day and still have enough energy to play with my kids when I am done.  It was an amazing day.

 

 

Tuesday's This and That

 

 

S'ghetti girl had her first school dance. 

I couldn't get her to stand still long enough to get a clear photo.

 

We went back to home for our annual Fall Foliage Festival. 

The kids love seeing their favorite magician

 

Goofing around on a sugar high.

 

A getting to spend time with the Big Kid.

One thing that wasn't on my side was a lack of sitter-support.  I missed my annual 10k. 

You can read about last year when the super secret spy and I both ran.
2011 Fall Foliage Classic 10k
I also missed a training marathon the weekend prior.  Ugh! 
I need to find more sitters with my Big Kid making a life of his own.

 

One thing on my (running) side has been the way I've been feeling.  As I slowing increased my mileage I have felt great!  Hitting a high mileage of 75 last week.  With less than 2 weeks before the Fire on the Mountain Trail 50k, I'll focus a bit more on time on my feet as I try to pull back on the miles.  I keep reminding myself that I do have a "big" race coming in a month. 

Stone Mill 50 Miler

Where I will be out to see how I can actually do on their course when it is actually closer to 50 miles. 

 

With loads of travel between PA and VA, kids to wrangle with the super secret spy often traveling and big races to prepare for I'll have my hands full but somehow I always seem to be able to pull it off.  Well, at least most of it.

 

Wordless Wednesday ~ Project Monarch

 

 

 



How'd September Go?

September 2012

Monthly Miles Ran: 271.8 (Year total: 2555.1 Year average: 9.3/day)

9.1 miles/day ~ 63.4  miles/week

Highest Mileage Week: 9/24- 9/30 (DM Weeks) 67 miles

 

Rest Days Taken: 0

The Streak: September 30sth was Day # 875 of the streak ~ 7,427.2 miles

Runs ~ ave. 8.5 miles per day/ 59.34miles per week

Races:

The Megatransect - Mega X

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure:

 

Pear Butter

like sugary sand, yum! 

Non-food Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure:

Taking photos of all the things I see along my way

Clearly an obsession

 

Which Outfit did I Wear the Most:

 

I think it's interesting that the last...how many? 

 Check my side bar.

My last bunch of races I have worn this YMX shirt and CEP Compression socks and short tights

...and yet either of them have offered to sponsor me.

 

 

What We Are Watching:

With the Kiddos:

 

 

Clearly we are watching Adventure Time

If you have not been subject to this cartoon, count yourself lucky.

My Viewing:

On the mill, its Vampire Dairies on Netflix.  loving it!

When I get to control the tv, its Survivor.

Funniest/Best Kid Quote:

"Mom, I did NOT eat the chocolate!"

Current Triumph:

The Mega.  That will carry me for awhile.

Current Goals

Personal:

To continue to work towards a family schedule.

Running/Fitness:

To be prepared for the MegaTransect.

Current Blessing:

I am thankful for every single day and every person in my life.

Current Excitement:

Family:

Getting a PTO started at S'ghetti girl's school.

 

Running/Fitness:

Fire on the Mountain Trail 50k

 

Current Concern:

Family:
The super secret spy starts a new temporary assignment at work.
Still praying it becomes a permanent position.

Running:
Getting the stress LBs off before race season

Still working on this one

How did your September days add up?

3 Things Thursday

When we were visiting S'ghetti girl's school I was surprised to learn that they don't have a PTO.  It didn't take me long to open my mouth about the need and we had out first meeting last night.  Since it has been years since the staff has had any parental support it's going to be an adventure.  I'm excited about being able to potentially have a leading role in getting this group of educators and parents working together better. 

Are you active with your PTO?  Any advice?  Feel free to comment or message me and share.

My two younger kids are so excited to go Trick-or-Tricking.  Well, really I think they were just excited about the whole Mommy-said-she'd-buy-costumes-this-year situation more than they actually care about going out for treats.  They have been enjoying playing in their costumes so much that I am already planning on hitting up the costume store for the big after Halloween sale.  Who knows how far I might be able to run when I'm stuck on the treadmill if they have costumes to add to their fun.

 

 

Their current cartoon obsession is Adventure Time.  S'ghetti girl is Fiona.

LBM is Finn the Human.

 

Speaking of Adventures, I know you haven't gotten enough of my Megalovelust yet so here is some awesome video from a fellow trail brethren that I got to run with.  He kindly cut out all the times I was cheering at the top of my lungs.  Of course, I'm the chica in pink.

Thanks to Han Bocksnick for the great video

 

 

The Nuki Song

Unless you are new around here you know that I begrudgingly recently moved from my home in PA to rural Virginia.  With this move I went from a career mom to a stay at home mom.  I thought getting to focus on my family was going to be great.  With my oldest who is now 22, I was able to do so much more but now I realize I just might have had more energy than I do now.

 

For example I am doing LBM's preschool lessons with him.  We were working on colors this morning and I remembered the great little songs that S'ghetti girl would sing from her daycare/preschool.  So I googled and quickly found a video of a class singing those same songs.  We had a great morning of lessons, songs and crafts with the color RED.  When I told LBM that were going to sing the song one more time but he could sit on my lap if he sang it all by myself, he was thrilled.  Because he can't be more than 3 feet from contact at any given time throughout the day I have discovered.  So he sang me his version of the song and got it mostly right.  Either way he got great practice is recognizing the letters R, E, and D and knowing that those letters spell RED. 

 

 

Of course when I went to close the video LBM noticed all the other suggested videos on the sidebar.  He is so computer savy already.  He wanted to see this one:

 

And now it's stuck in your brain too.  I am sure all day tomorrow this song will pop into my head.  I might as well add it to my play list now.  But seeing this little video also reminded me of our latest trip to the park that we have taken to running to a couple days a week.

We often are there all by ourselves but this afternoon when we rolled in there was another mom and small child.  They were occupied in the pavilion when we got there and I unbuckled LBM from the stroller.  LBM is that kid at the park who will not hesitate to stalk you if his first attempts at, 'Hi my name is LBM.  What's your name? Wanna play? are unsuccessful.  So when the other younger boy came over to the playground LBM was ready to introduce myself.

 

I usually use whatever non-swing pushing time I get at the park to stretch for the run back home so I wasn't paying attention to their introduction but LBM wasted no time running over and telling me that he couldn't understand the other little boy.  I tried to explain that he was younger so maybe he just wasn't as outgoing as LBM.  No, that wasn't it LBM said, 'he's got a blinkie in his mouth and he won't take it out!' 

 

But just like I don't ask everyone to love me showing us at the park smelling like I just ran 6 miles, I won't say when a child shouldn't have a binkie, nuki or whatever you wanna call it.  I do wonder though, when is it too old to allow a child to rely on a pacifier?  And when are you too stinky to go to a public place after or in the middle of a run?

 

 

Watch for Mega X updates on Daily Mile or Face Book. 

How'd August Go?

August 2012

 

Monthly Miles Ran: 212.1 (Year total: 2283.3 Year average: 9.4/day)

6.8 miles/day ~ 47.9  miles/week
 

Highest Mileage Week: 8/27- 9/02 (DM Weeks) 62 miles

Rest Days Taken: 0

The Streak:  August 31st was Day # 845 of the streak ~ 7,155.4 miles

Runs ~ ave. 8.5 miles per day/ 59.3 miles per week

Races:

None, unless chasing LBM counts

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure:

I haven't bothered to single out one thing this month. 
It was equal opportunity snacking.
 

Non-food Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure:

This month our beach vacation was the big indulgence.

Night runs on the beach

Bonding with my chica

Running at dawn on the beach during a storm

Boardwalk!

Barefoot morning runs on the beach

A new kind of technical trail

Building our washout prevention system

Taking in the view with the family

Ice skating

Sharing my "find of the run" with everyone back at the condo

Eating, eating, eating

Being silly

Watching S'ghetti girl overcome some fears

Sharing another amazing week with my kiddos

 

and the whole crew!

okay we are missing a few.  Sorry to the Big Kid and Biking Sherpa

 

Which Outfit did I Wear the Most:

One More Mile

"I might not pass you but I will out last you."

What We Are Watching:

With the Kiddos:

The Lorax

over and over and over again.

My Viewing:

Are you kidding?  Without treadmill runs I never get to watch tv.  Those kids of mine better figure out that they can watch their shows on the kid tv soon because Survivor will start soon.

 

Funniest/Best Kid Quote:

Conversation between Biking Sherpa and LBM while on vacation.  They were sitting together playing a game on a tablet.

 

Biking Sherpa, "LBM why do you have the hiccups?"

 

LBM, "From stealing."

 

Biking Sherpa, "What's stealing?"

 

LBM, "Rude."

 

Current Triumph:

Having the majority of the moving done.

Dropped a few of the pounds I need to lose.

Current Goals

Personal:

To continue to work towards a family schedule.
 

Running/Fitness:

To be prepared for the MegaTransect.

Current Blessing:

I am thankful for every single day and every person in my life. 

Current Excitement:

Family:

S'ghetti girl's fearless entry into a new school as she started the 6th grade.

 

Running/Fitness:
The MegaTransect on September 29, 2012
 

yeah this could have fallen under excitement or concern

 

 

Current Concern:

Family:
The super secret spy starts a new temporary assignment at work.
Praying it becomes a permanent position.
 

Running:
Getting the stress LBs off before race season
Getting closer

How did your August days add up?