A Runner's Sin

 

The radar map this morning told that story.  It was going to be a day in the house.  While I already know thanks to FB that there are those that did not welcome our current weather, I am thrilled by it. 

I miss my treadmill. 

I realize I probably just committed a runner's sin but I really do miss it.  Those regular long runs without the worry of carrying water or where I might need to duck if I have a corn field emergency.  I'm thrill at the thought of watching something I want to watch while I run in one place.  Thanks to my mom I now have a treadmill here in VA to use until I decide what I want to do about a permanent one that can handle my abuse.  Thanks to the weather and the inability to get up and run before the super secret spy goes to work today I will be running on my dad's old treadmill.  Even if the miles gets hard and awkward I will enjoy knowing that my dad used that same machine. 

 

So today while LBM rides his hot wheel around the basement, builds imaginary worlds from cardboard boxes and scatters a million toy cars around the floor, I will be happily running in one place and thankful I get to do it every single day.

 

How do you get your sweat on when the weather doesn't cooperate?

Are you happy for the change or use it as a rest day?

 

I MUST have a Crush on my Treadmill

Post might be uncharacteristically rated PG-13
Today is Day #507





Since I am married-single-parenting through the week I have resorted lately to using the new-to-me treadmill all too often.  With homework added into the mix I need to get my miles done but some days still be available to assist during homework hour.  The compromise is that I run a little bit more on the treadmill. 
LBM does not like the routine as much as his big sister but I do want I have to do to fit it all in.

But every time I am on the treadmill I sweat like a sinner in church. I usually have three towels with me and they are all soaked by the time I am done. My clothes are actually dripping wet. You'd think that I had just finished running in the Badlands! For a girl who openly admits to NOT washing her running clothes after every wash, this is an issue.

The only other thing I can think of that makes me sweat so easily is when I get nervous. Like when I first met my Hubbs. He would make me so nervous that I'd be sweating in minutes.

I must have a crush on my treadmill!

Do you crush on your treadmill too?  How do you handle the excessive sweating?

We interupt National Running Day

A moment of silence was held in my small hometown.
To honor a fallen friend.
Last night a nightmare can true.

I was running along on my treadmill. 
Sweat dripping. 
Watching Gulliver's Travels 8 miles into my 13 mile run when my beloved treadmill just couldn't take it anymore.

He broke.

Really broke.

I know he was old, actually about 15 years old and had many many hours on him but I just never thought this day would come.

I actually started to cry.

call me a baby

S'ghetti girl tried to remind me that it could be fixed (not) or replace.  She told me how she would help with her little brother so that I would be able to get my run in each day.  She reminded me that I actually love running outside much more than in one place.

That helped.

Although at times I dreaded running in one place tucked under the basement steps, I also took comfort in treadmill always being there.  When my work day was stressful I could hide away down there for a few minutes or a few hours and leave that stress on that belt.  I would come back to my family so much happier.  I enjoyed being able to get my long runs in without having to be away from my kids for so long.  The thought now of reliving my half marathon while pushing the jogging stroller does not sound very inviting!

I didn't boohoo for long. 

I got outside and played in the yard with the kids.  I'm sure I made up for a few of those missed 5 miles.  Once inside for the evening, I sat down and reworked my schedule.  I like things written down. 

A daily plan. 

I went to bed ready to tackle my schedule in a new day.

  

It's Day # 388

I believe that things happen for a reason.  I know that I have been asking for help in issues in my life and sometimes the answers we are provided are not in the form we might have chosen.  My new schedule will force my family to work together a little better than it has been and will result in more time together.

WIN WIN

But I do need to quickly do what I haven't done for over 15 years,

buy a treadmill. 

So faithful followers, give me your advice. 

What treadmills do you love?

What new features do you think are a must have?

What do you think is the hidden reason why my treadmill broke or do you think it just broke?

Today is the last chance to help my blog get into the

Top 25 Circle of Moms Health & Fitness Mom Blogs! 

Please vote today from every device you own.

Voting ends 5 p.m. PST.

CLICK HERE

Thanks!

Three Things Thursday - and then some.

I recently won a gift certificate to a wonderful company Zoe Clothing Company.

Their clothing is faith inspired.  I love using creative ways to begin a conversation with someone who you may otherwise have not gotten the chance to influence.

The downside is nothing I ordered fits.

Didn't I just post about realizing my true size?

Yes.  Yes I did.

HERE

The kids and I started decorating the Christmas tree.  So far all that is on the tree aside from the lights are all the homemade decorations that the kids have made over the years.  S'ghetti girl thought that the tree was pretty crowded already.  LBM decided to enjoy the beauty by being our first present under the tree.

Now he's a LBM-in-the-box.

I am still on the treadmill most runs.  Usually only getting outside in the early morning and the weekends now.  The upside is the increased mileage and the ability to do a little speed work since I am not pushing the stroller while I am on the mill.  The downside is the loss of resistance from pushing the stroller.  It's amazing how much "softer" my arms and core are from not running with the stroller.

Poor LBM will be in the stroller until he is 15 just so I can consolidate my workouts!

But for now I am adding in my yoga and weights after running when I can. 

And incase you were wondering - and I know you were - it's day

221

just sayin'

Reviews on the Run

Day # 204 ~ 8 treadmill miles

Occasionally I do look cute.

During my run last evening I finished watching yet another movie.  It is a great way to pass the time and get a little mommy break from the kiddos.  I run with headphones on so that I can escape into the movie and simply put one foot in front of the other.  Easier said than done when watching some movies.

Last night the movie was:
The Final Storm

What Wikipedia says:

Final Storm (source) (working title, The Storm) is a biblical apocalypse thriller film directed by Uwe Boll^[1] and written by Canadian screenwriter Tim McGregor.
The plot concerns a mysterious character named Sylas Hendershot (Luke Perry), who takes refuge from a storm in a farm owned by two characters, Tom Grady (Steve Bacic) and Gillian Grady (Lauren Holly). He claims that he should stay and that they should watch after each other. Tom and Gillian, along with their son, soon find that there are more dangerous things than the storm.

I choose this movie because Netflix suggested it.  Also because it was available to view instantly on my computer.  I had high hopes even though the majority of the cast was less than stellar.  (sorry Luke Perry)
Within the first 20 minutes I had already seen the "best" parts of the movie after that it was a down hill slide seemingly into the somewhat lost plot of the movie.
Yeah, what was the plot again?
Since the movie was a complete thumbs way down, I will not bore you with negative criticism about the individual actors.  I felt the lack of story line was the biggest problem with the movie.
If you use Netflix I recommend you click ignore if this title shows up under your suggestions.

There is even a Facebook page for fans HERE. 
It has 26 as of this posting.  I won't be joining them.

Tonight's run will feature the movie:  Below.

Amanda at Run to the finish is hosting an OhNuts giveaway. 
What better snack to help you through those draining hours of shopping?
So click over and visit with Amanda and see what wonderful things she is up to.

Do you know what today is?

Do you know what today is?

Well, okay it is Thanksgiving Eve but what else is it?

Day # 199

that means that I'll have another thing to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day,

200 Days of Running.


Some reminders to work on over the holiday:
Jen at setting u free just got a big ego boast.  She is looking fab!  No wonder with all the great things going on in her life lately.  She is sharing the love with a major giveaway.  Go check it out!

Leslie at racing it off is hosting an iFitness belt giveaway.  I would love to be able to stop pinning baggies to my shorts!  During the Ultra I must have used an old pin and all the salt and sweat left rust marks on my shorts.  No kidding!

Hot legs runner is hosting a Yurbuds giveaway.  I would love these since my current pair fall out when I sing...okay, maybe they just want me to stop singing?!

The wonderful barefoot AngieBee is hosting a ALO shorts giveaway.  Being a skirt girl she didn't want to let the shorts go to waste and is giving her followers a chance to put them to good use.  Click over and catch up on all things in Angie's barefoot world.

Track coach and his adorable wife are hosting a Bondi Band giveaway.  I love Bondi Bands when I run in the fall.  They are wide enough to add a little ear coverage in those first few minutes of morning running. 

This is the run I missed

This is the run I missed this morning.

It almost smelled like spring.

Missing my morning run means it will be running in the

darko'basement

tonight on the treadmill because of the wonderful rain that is in the forecast.

But I had good reason to not run this morning.

LBM slept through the night

in his own bed!

He deserved the morning to play instead.

Three Things Thursday

Day # 178 ~ p.m. run

1.  Sore

It has been 3 days since I was gloriously running through the woods.

The memories are still fresh in my mind...

...and not just because I am reminded with every step.

Yeah, I was sore.

I don't like to admit that.

I typically only have a day or maybe two when my legs are a bit tight and tender after a really long trail event but this race kicked my...well, legs.

(This morning, day four after, my legs are finally feeling normal again.)

2. Barefoot

And one toe.

Usually I'd think only one was great!

But this little bad boy is really hurting.

I can hear Angie's voice telling me that it is all because of the shoes!

So last night I took them off and did my four miles on the treadmill.

It was nice to run without my toe screaming at me.

Barefoot treadmill run - I spared you a clear photo of my boo-boo toe

3. Dragons and talking toys

I was a good girl and only did 4 miles.  The low mileage is driving me crazy but I stopped. 

Today is day # 179 and will be another treadmill run where I can mentally rerun those gorgeous trails as long as the kiddos are entertained by fire breathing dragons or animated talking toys.

I have to do something to offset the amount of food I want to eat and four miles just doesn't feel like it is cutting it!

This just couldn't wait!

Skinny Runner is hosting a SPI belt giveaway.

I NEED this.  3 Ultras and barely a photo.

How better to share my adventures and convert you all to ultra trail runners than to show you all the beauty that is 30+ miles in the forest!

So go over and check it out but if you win you could always just Christmas gift it to me.

okay I'm really not that selfish...only selfish about actual running.

Three Things Thursday

1.  The majority of my runs so far this week have been on the treadmill. 

And this is why:

This is how dark it is when I was done running last night.  Ugh!

It is only October 7th.  I wonder if I will ever even see the sunshine once the time changes?!

At least I know that I won't have a problem making myself get on the mill over the winter.

2.  "Done?  Me run."  That is what LBM says everyday as we approach our house at the end of our jogging stroller runs.  He already knows when we are getting close to the house and will start asking.

It is so cute.

Who know it would take three children before I finally got one that will want to run with me.

No.  Check that.

He wants to run faster than me.

Already.

Because once he is out of the stroller and running down the center of the road.

(Yeah okay you've all seen the pictures.  It's not a surprise!)

He yells over his shoulder, "Beat you.  Beat you."  As he giggles hysterically.

3.  Question?  How many of you go "commando" while running?

The reason I ask. 

Wednesday night I had already set the kiddos up with a snack and a movie and was changing into my running gear when I realized I had my shorts but nothing for under them.

I know that my running shorts are equipped to be worn than way but I was fussing with them the entire run.

So I ask, do you go commando or not?  Why?  Any lessons learned that helped you make your choice? 

No Crying Over Spilled Milk

Saturday ~ Day #145 ~ 6.5

My weekend didn't go exactly as I had planned.

First.

 Hubbs was not to come home and as all wives know, your daily planning is quite different when your playing the role of married-single-parent than when you are including the Hubbs in the mix.

And it is not always easier to have him there as you might think it would be.

As always this is my "world is mostly rosey" place so I don't talk much about the struggle for understanding from my Hubbs in regard to my distance running.  This struggle has become harder since Hubbs has been sidelined himself due to injury and surgery.

So my plan to have a sitter stay with the kids while I went and ran the marathon went by the wayside.

I had not registered for the race so I don't have a DNS on my record AND I did tell Hubbs that I was okay with not running when we talked about it last weekend HOWEVER I didn't realize how much I wanted to see how I could do on a street distance race while streaking

until

we went to visit an extended family member in the hospital and

we were one block away from the finish line.

Can I be suckered into another house cat??

I guess there is no crying over spilled milk or races not run.

Since I spent $$$ on the extra March Ultra ~ and still haven't told Hubbs yet ~ I am a little glad I didn't register for the race.

PLUS

Hubbs and I will be racing this weekend!

The local Fall Foliage Classic.

So I stopped my pity party

which really isn't any fun like a party so why do they call it that?

And got on the treadmill late last night for a few miles of stress reduction.

Sunday ~ Day #147 ~ 5 Treadmill miles

I AM actually happier than I look. 

Thought Full Thursday ~ What's on the inside?

Like many of you, we have had a few storms lately.

The previous storm toppled a huge tree where I work.

It was a big surprise!

That tree was full of thick branches loaded with green leaves.

It's outward appearance gave no indication of what it was hiding within.

People are sometime like that too.

We put on a veneer of maybe what we think we are, or what we'd like to be and we present that as who we are.

My children in their often brutal honesty remind me that I am no stranger to attempting to portray what I want to be more than what I am.

Me to a friend in a lengthy conversation about kids and standards:  "Oh, people who lie just drive me crazy!  Why is it so hard for people to allow others to see them make a mistake or something.  Why lie about it?  I just tell the truth and if they don't like it...  Why can't we just be honest with eachother...."

Later....

S'ghetti girl:  "Mom.  Why did you say you don't lie?"

Me:  "What do you mean?"

S'ghetti girl:  "When you were talking with (friend)?

Me:  "Well, I don't think it was your conversation but I didn't say I don't lie.  I probably said I try not to lie."

S'ghetti girl:  "Nope.  You said you don't.  And you do."

Me:  "How do I lie?"

S'ghetti girl:  "Like when you tell (LBM) that the remote disappeared because you don't want him to have it. Or when you..."

Me:  "Ok.  Ok.  You're right.  But I meant to tell (friend) that I TRY not to lie."

Day# 144

That conversation just got me thinking about what else I might think I say or do and fall short or misrepresent.  Here in bloggy world you have only my words to come to know me.

Of course we all attempt to relay the best possible version of ourselves.

I wonder sometimes, how much we'd all like each other if for one day we were all as honest as children?

Do your children ever help you notice short comings in your own personal journey?

Tell me about it.

Proverbs 12:17A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. 

How to Make Yourself Run Faster

Day # 106 ~ Treadmill 7.55 miles of scary sweat

...yeah finish The Fourth Kind.

So you want to run fast. 

You want to see quick results. 

Follow these handy suggestion and you too will see paces that you've only dreamed of.

 1.  Leave you run until the last possible minute of the day.

2.  Run when you only have a very limited amount of time in which to run.

3.  Run in a dark creepy little room with headphones while watching a scary movie.

4.  Be obessive compulsive and get yourself a challenge to run every day.

5.  Be super competitive and then post all your runs for the world to see.

6. Have your 9 year old "entertaining" your 23 month old

7. Forget to use the bathroom before you start and refuse to let yourself stop until your done!

**These tips may help increase you pace however they made also have the added side effects including but not limited to; lack of form, dehydration, kidney damage, screaming/crying/whining children, broken toys, black eyes, broken noses (from falling off the treadmill when you glance over your shoulder in fear) and commitment to an institution for mental evaluation. 

Follow these tips at your own risk or not at all.

Freaked Out!

All weekend I struggled with a lack of motivation. 

 I felt like my measly miles really didn't amount to much compared to all the long runs everyone was putting in.

What I lacked in motivation I made up for in jealousy.  I was jealous of all the races planned when I still have none.  I spent considerable time looking over upcoming races to see what I'd really like to do but even that didn't snap me out of it!

I was really getting Freaked Out over whether or not I was going to get my run in today.

It's Day #98!  I kept telling myself.  Get out there and get your miles in.

Then Negative Nancy would start yapping about not really having a race to plan for and how I wasn't going to get a long run in this weekend with everything else.

Yap Yap Yap.

So I spent the day with my family simply spending time together knowing that when we got back to PA I would be hitting the treadmill.  After the long drive, I needed to find some way to keep myself on the mill.

A movie! 

I got everything in place.  The kids were playing in the other room.  My Nathan's handheld was filled with ice cold fluids.  Good to go.

I told myself just do 2 miles and see how you feel.  Okay.

Start the movie.  Which movie?

The Fourth Kind

I like a good scary movie sometimes.  But this movie started out with the actress telling everyone how there is actual footage along with the movie and how "these events were supported by actual video or audio."

O.K.

The miles were ticking by and I had stumbled across my motivation somewhere on that looping black belt!

But

I was in a little room tucked under the stairs with headphones on so I can't hear much of anything else that is going on around me. 

Freaked Out!

I kept thinking I heard noises behind me.

Uh, maybe because the kids were in the adjacent room, duh!

But at the time that reality didn't register.

Needless to say when S'ghetti girl opened the door to tell me LBM was done "playing nicely", I screamed out loud and ended my run with 5.75 miles. 

Now the kids are in bed and I would really love to go get in another 5 miles but I have to admit that I am still a bit Freaked Out!

Next time, a comedy.

Revisiting a dark squeaky stranger

I am not one to let a little rain stop me from getting my miles in however, when my 8 year old daughter gives my a speech about my questionable sanity and the health consequence of taking her 20 month old little brother out in "the pouring down rain!" that's when I have to remind myself that I have a treadmill.

So last night found myself on the treadmill.  You remember that squeaky old thing squashed back in the corner of our workout room.  He's still there.  He barely remembered me.  Oh, I know it was just his way of playing coy because he was hurt that I had stayed away so long.

We reacquainted ourselves quickly by running a couple set of sprints (7.5 miles running with half mile jogs to rest between).  Sweat-ville. 

Luckily for me the Recovery Socks I won from Erica arrived today.

Here are my 8 year old's attempts at a picture to show my socks. 

God bless her for trying when she was already volunteering to play with LBM while I ran on the treadmill.  She was just wanting me to get started so she could start bossing playing with her bother.

Thanks Erica!

Yes another new shirt - in pink.  And yes I pulled up my pig tails before I started my actual run.

A new equation

Going into Casey's Virtual Marathon I was beyond confient that I would have no problem running 10 - 15 miles within 3 days time.  So I told Casey to give me whatever number of legs she needed to complete a Team.

She gave me 2 legs on Team Blues Brothers 2000.  Little did I know that I would be so happy that it was only 2!  

Friday morning we woke up to strong winds and blowing snow; white out conditions.  Although the neighboring schools were closed we had school.  So I got middle off to school and since littlest was up before dawn and conditions would not allow us to go for a run, he and I headed out for an early start to our day.

Friday a.m. run = FAIL

After work I thought no problem, I will get in 1 leg of the marathon on the treadmill since the winds were still a tad too much to stroller jogging.  BUT when I get to the sitter, I am told that littlest has the big D. 

Yep, Diarrhea.  Every parent's plan killer!

Friday p.m. run = FAIL

I tell myself I needed to back off my mileage anyway.  Trying to remain positive.

I also remind myself that single parenting it this weekend, I will have ALL the time in the world to run 10.48 measly little miles.  Right?!?

Saturday.

Littlest and I are up early.  We are greeted by more blowing snow.  Since he is up super early I KNOW that I can run when he takes his nap.  No problem. 

Noon = no nap

1:00 = no nap

2:00 = no nap

3,4,5,6,7,... = no nap

BUT one clingy baby

AND

more Diarrhea.

Saturday a.m./p.m. run = FAIL

I did succeed in handling the middle getting to have a friend over all day.  I did enjoy LOADS of sungle time with the littlest.  Something that will be few and far between before I am ready.

So Saturday with the family (- Dad) = PASS

Sunday

The stage was set early in the morning leaving NO room for failure:

I knew that this would be the day that I helped bring my team -

The Blues Brothers 2000 - to a victory! 

Thanks to my teammates for running their legs too!

Tall Mom on the Run

Long Legs on the Loose

I know I have mentioned that I am a sweater.  (No not angora or argyle.)

This is way you don't see photos when I run on the treadmill.

Scary!

I went on the finish out my run with another 3 miles.  To regain a little motivation for the upcoming week. 

All it took was a little determination and Running = success!

Single parenting this weekend + bad weather/ cranky little = few runs over the weekend.

But today I added a factor of determination to change the equation!

6 days to the Greenway Trail Marathon/50k!

Pray for warm weather in Maryland to melt the snow and ice.

Although I am screwing my trail shoes tonight...just to be safe!

Letters Home

I got two letters from Army Son today.  It was so great!  He sounds so positive and upbeat.  It just made my day.  In my last letter to him, I included photographs of his favorite tv shows that he is missing. 

One of which is Survivor. 

He wrote in one of the letters, "I am Survivor ready.  Well, at least by the time I get done I will be!"  I knew that I had to kick it into high gear if I am going to be able to handle HIS workout.  He has already sent me a list of things he has to do for exercise. 

Soon I may lose my title as the Fittest Family Member! 

I might be more proud of him for taking over my reign than I would be upset for having lost it! 

But the challenge he threw down did cause me to run a crazy 15 miles on the treadmill.  I have a scheduled outside long run on Sunday but I still pounded out 15 on the treadmill today.  Which took me to 60 miles for the week.  Can we say too competitive?  I think I might be regretting that when I am 10 miles from the house tomorrow and wanting a short cut home that does not exist!

Blue, Red and Orange

You might be happy that this picture is a little dark since I look just so lovely after 10 treadmill sweaty miles.  But I really wanted to show you just how lovely I look when I run inside where no one can see me.  The sad things is that you don't see the bright orange shorts I have on.  You are missing out.  I wonder if I can squeeze a few more colors in there some where?

I had a great week of almost exclusively running on the treadmill.  No.  The treadmill was not the great part.  The running was.  With all our snow days I was able (read bored) and logged some long treadmill runs.  Not as enjoyable as being outside but when the drifts are higher than my head and the wind is howling, getting to run at all is amazing. 

With another snow storm in the forecast for Monday I will be pounding the treadmill for a little while longer.  Rocking my amazingly non-color coordinated running gear. 

When you run at home do you care about your outfit or do you dress to sweat?

Maybe I Should Do Movie Reviews

I really don't know how it happened.  I knew that I was not following my training schedule this week when I only got 15 miles on Sunday instead of my scheduled 20 but I don't know how that short fall ended up in me being at 74.5 miles on Thursday night. 

I have watched The Perfect Getaway, The Proposal and Surrogates already.  I should write reviews.

Since movie reveiws are not my thing, I will just leave you with a few reminders of some of the great giveaways happening in Bloggy Land.

Remember this is the last day to enter my Life Your Sole Giveaway!

Erica is having an Awesome Kalyx Sports Bra Giveaway

Jen is having a great dual giveaway. Check it out!