Run Like a Mother...Really.

I am probably behind all my other running moms, but I'm just reading Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving - and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity. 

I LOVE IT! 

If you are a running mom (or a mom who wants to run...or a runner who eventually wants to be a mom...ok, just a female runner!), you really should read this book. Sarah and Dimity provide lots of great tips and the witty quips make me laugh out loud (often). They also have opposite approaches to running so between the two, we can probably all relate to their advice and experiences. There are 26 (nice!) chapters that cover everything from gadgets to cross training to injuries. I am learning a lot of new strategies and just purchased my first pair of "running socks" (did not realize what a difference this can make!). I know, I know. Anything to justify more gear, right?

Anyone else read it? Other good reads for runners?

"S" is for Struggle

CONFESSION: This week has been abysmal in terms of my training for the Country Music Half Marathon (April 30). Today is Thursday, and I have run 8 miles so far this week. Further, I did not do a long run last week. Ugh.

Some reasons for this?

1. Work is killing me. Being on this side of the "end of the semester" is no easier than it was as a student. In fact, I might argue it's actually worse. I have tenure looming over my head so the pressure for research productivity is weighing heavy, a stack of papers that need to be graded so the students can move forward with their final projects, exams to make out, interns to hire for the summer, I'm chairing one search committee and serving on another, we've been in the midst of academic advising for the fall...Ok. You get the point. At the end of the day (which has been closer to 6 or 7 lately), I'm spent and the last thing I've felt like doing is lacing up the sneaks and going for a run. And then there's...

2. The overwhelming "Mom guilt." When I have to work more, my time at home is even more precious. It's pretty hard to give up those few awake hours I have with my boys - for whatever comes up or "needs" to be done. Enough said.

3. I'm really lacking commitment to the Country Music 1/2 marathon goal because I still haven't registered. I need to commit, pay the money and plan the trip (See reason number 1 for why I'm having trouble committing to taking a day off).

4. The scale's not budging. Over the past year, I've been able to see the results of my efforts - in my clothes and on the scale - and this has been a significant source of motivation. I think my scale might be broken because it hasn't moved in several weeks. While I know this is not what I should be worried about, it does motivate me as I'm a results-oriented kind of gal.

5. Oh, and the weather has really been miserable. It was so beautiful a few weeks ago, and I was loving spring running. Enter cold, rainy weather. Yuck. 

So, there you have it. My confessional for the week: I am struggling. I have a list of reasons why, but I guess if I have to find a bright side - I am working on finding solutions for all the issues and getting my groove back. 

Stay tuned...

Oh, and I'm Famous!

Ok. Not really, but my new friends (Terry and Meredith Sullivan) that I mentioned meeting at the Frostbite 1/2 marathon thought my journey from fat to fit worthy of a Spotlight on their website! Truly humbled!

Check it out at http://www.liverightnowonline.com/!

Many props to Terry and Meredith for what they are doing to get Mississippi moving and (hopefully!) out of last place in all the health categories!

3 Random Things

This weekend, I enjoyed an amazing girls' weekend with three girlfriends from college. We met in Memphis (they all live in Arkansas) and spent Friday and most of Saturday laughing, shopping, and well, eating. I was SCARED to get on the scale this morning - even following a 5.5-mile run. But, somehow, despite the gluttony, I managed to lose weight. Apparently, laughter is great exercise!! So, I am now 1.4 pounds from a significant milestone in this journey from fat to fit...the 150s. I haven't seen 150-something in probably 10 years! Stay tuned, friends! I'm motivated and the Tagalongs are gone; this could be the week!

A non-scale victory this weekend: Spent WAY more than I wanted to (or should have) on a new pair of jeans, but the fact that they were a size 31, seemed to make it ok in some crazy way. According to the Big Star Jeans sizing chart, this is a 9/10. WHAT? While that might not seem "small" to some, I bought a pair of pants two weeks after Eli was born that were an 18W. I'll take a 12 or 10 ANY day, my friends! 

And finally, I love running on Sunday mornings! I've always reserved Sunday as a "day of rest" in my training. Partly because it's biblical and partly because Sundays are somewhat hectic at our house because of Jeff's schedule and responsibilities at the church. But, because I didn't get my run in yesterday, I got up early and ran this morning. WOW! No traffic. Perfect weather. Amazing playlist to get my heart ready for worship this morning. Pretty sure I'm going to be working some Sunday runs into the schedule a little more often.

So, there you have it. A few random events/thoughts/milestones from my weekend. 

Oh, and if you're ever in Memphis and can get to a Huey's, EAT THERE! It was the best burger I've ever eaten and the onion rings are as big as your head. Calories don't count during girls' weekend, right?

Busy-ness is not a friend to running

This week has been nuts and next week is not looking much better! I know I am entirely too busy when I don't have time to get a run in, or at the end of the day, I don't have a run left in me. Last week, I think my total mileage was less than 15 miles and this week, I'm at 9.5 miles with only two days left. Ugh!

This is what happens to my running when there is no race on the horizon, thus I continue to preach the importance of having something to work toward to keep you accountable. If you want to start running, but don't think you "have time" - signing up for a race forces you to MAKE time. No one wants to shell out the cash for a race and be a no show or not be able to do your best!

So, next week, I will be committing to a race in March. I'm pretty sure my next 1/2 will be in April in Nashville, but I will also be seeking out something before then. I'm open to suggestions if there's a 10K nearby.

Happy weekend!

Back at it

Today, I ran! Not because my training schedule said I had to, but because I really wanted to. It was awesome! Pace was decent (10:14 for 4 miles). Weather was perfect (58 degrees).

I did have one purpose for the run; I wanted to reach "blue" level with my Nike+ so I set out to run the four miles it said I need to get there. For those not familiar with Nike+, here is the breakdown for the different levels:

• Yellow:  0 - 30 miles
• Orange:  31 - 154 miles
• Green:  155 - 620 miles
• Blue:  621 - 1,552 miles
• Purple:  1,553 - 3,106 miles
• Black:  over 3,107 miles

Just uploaded my run data....and I'm .67 miles short. Seriously? So, because I'm goal-obsessed and can't stand the thought of being that close, I'll be getting up at 6 a.m. tomorrow to do a quick 3-mile run before work. When I think about the fact that I've run over 621 miles in less than 9 months (started using Nike+ to track mileage last May), it's a little overwhelming. But that's for another post...

Does having goals keep you motivated? I don't know that I could/would stay on track without having a goal or something to work toward. I think that's why I do races. They give me a deadline to be physically and mentally prepared to run a given distance. Trust me, it's not because I think I'll win! ;-)

If you struggle with persistence and sticking to your work-out plan, sign up for a race! Maybe the deadline will be what you need to help keep you moving!

Have a great weekend and happy running!

'Twas the Night Before Frostbite...

It's 9 p.m. the night before the Frostbite Half Marathon.

I'm carb-bloated, over-hydrated and ready for bed. I have my clothes laid out. My breakfast plans are made. My playlist is updated. I can visualize the course in my head. I have tomorrow's weather forecast memorized.

I'm ready. Let's do this...

Oh, and is it bad that I'm already planning my post-race meal? :-D

Frostbite 1/2 Marathon Saturday

I ran my first 1/2 marathon in Memphis to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital December 4, 2010. Going into the race, I really felt it would be a "bucket list" type experience that I would check off my list and then move on to the next item. Or at best, a once-a-year charity run I did because that race rocks so hard! And then I crossed the finish line...

Now, seven weeks later, I will participate in the Frostbite 1/2 marathon in Starkville. The 13.1-mile course is described as having "rolling hills" in all the promotional materials, but I'm not sure that's how I'd describe it. And the last three miles are just brutal; not just because you've already run 10 miles, but there are three back-to-back very large hills. I am confident I will be battling LuLu and her incessant nagging much of the race, but she'll kick into overdrive at mile 10.

I am praying that I will be able to find the strength to keep going and finish. While my first goal is simply to finish upright and before the finish line is closed (2 hours 45 minutes), I'd like to run the entire distance and close to my first 1/2 marathon time (2:18). I'm hoping I will be able to pace a little better than my first one as most of the runners will be much faster in this race.

While I feel ready physically (except for the soreness I'm still trying to work out of my quads from my kettlebell experience!), I'm very anxious and to be honest, not feeling confident. LuLu has been working her magic - "You're not ready." "The course is too hard." "You're not a fast runner and this race is for "real" runners." "You could relay it - you could do just 6 miles." And my favorite - "What if you don't finish before they close the finish line?" Ugh. Sometimes I really dislike that girl and wish she'd find another head to live in, but then I wouldn't wish her on anyone else.

My husband, the boys and my in-laws are all planning to be at the finish line; that will be good motivation. The weather is going to be just about perfect; 44 degrees and sunny. The first 10 miles are very similar to my typical routes. I know several people running the race, so there will be lots of familiar faces along the way. I'm well-hydrated and will get the right nutrition to fuel my body tomorrow. I will update my playlist tomorrow and, most importantly, I have a new shirt to wear.  Everything is falling into place for a great race...

But will I ever be able to go into a long run or a race without LuLu trying to beat me down?

"Perfect" running weather?

The weather has been on my mind a lot these last few days. We had some pretty rough storms move through my home state of Arkansas and then across Mississippi on New Year's Eve leaving lots of destruction. It has me thinking, which of course, has me blogging.

So, I've been running for almost a year now and have faced all kinds of weather. I loathe the "dreadmill" so almost all of my running has been outside on the road (I did a few runs around the track inside the Family Life Center at our church this summer when the temps were just unbearable!).

Each season has its advantages and disadvantages...

I loved spring because its warmer temperatures and sunshine are so welcome after the colder winter months. I didn't mind the rain, but the humidity before the rain was smothering at times. Spring also seems to encourage change and growth because I can see the world around me changing. Summer in the Deep South is pretty miserable - no way around it. I tried to get up early to run before the heat and humidity were just unbearable but had many short, slow runs in 90 degree heat. Fall weather is Mississippi is probably my favorite. The cool mornings and mild afternoons make running at any time of the day possible...a lot like spring but with less humidity? Long runs are enjoyable rather than exhausting, and there's nothing like the sound of leaves crunching under your feet as you run through the miles. Winter in Mississippi is probably my second favorite time to run. Our winters are relatively mild so running outdoors through the winter months is pretty enjoyable most of the time. I've even had a few runs recently wearing shorts - something my Northern neighbors may envy! I'm sure the next month or so may change my mind about winter running as the worst of our winter is likely yet to come. 

So, in the middle of winter - wherever you are - I ask:

What is YOUR "perfect" running weather?