Race Report 4/23/11

Race:  Running Moms Rock

Distance: 5K

Time:  26:49

Finish: Overall: 76/465,  Division: 11/89  (10 year age groups)

Comments:  They had great race shirts, and I got a cool hat.  They also had a lot of great activities for the kids - face painting, toy give aways, live music, fun photos.  After waiting in line for an hour because Angel Girl wanted her face painted, she then asked to have it washed off immediately when we got home. 
Oh well.  Now about the race itself . . . ok let me just say that I assumed (never assume) that because the name of the race was "Running Moms" that the race would be stroller friendly, including the route.  It was not.  It was probably the least stroller friendly 5K route that I've done - many hills, at least 3 short treks on unpaved (grass) trail - one of those was uphill, lots and lots of sharp turns, at least one curb to go up.   I had both girls in the Phil & Ted's stroller.  Hubby helped me push the stroller up the 3rd hill and then took over pushing for an additional 1/2 mile.  It was pretty warm (lower 90's) and windy (but not in a good way). 

Lesson(s) Learned:  We started off too fast.  If race conditions are less than ideal - warm and windy-but-not-in-a-good-way (and I am pushing both girls in the stroller), then I should really just give up any idea of getting faster and try to enjoy the race at an easy pace.  Hubby agreed with me on this. 

Longest Run

My longest run to date is 14 miles.  I ran it 2 weeks before the Princess Half.  What's amazing to me about it is that Little Miss Spitfire slept through 13.5 miles of it.  She fell asleep after half a mile and continued to sleep for another 2 hours and 15 minutes.  Occasionally she would stir, look around and then fall back to sleep.  That girl can sleep!  I don't know if she actually likes sleeping in the stroller or if it's so boring it puts her to sleep. 

Now you may wonder why on earth I would run 14 miles with her.  It was not my idea.  It was a Saturday.  I really tried to get Hubby to watch both girls, but he kept suggesting things like trading them halfway through the run or running halfway with one and then running the second half by myself.  I knew that "trading girls" halfway would be a major ordeal - someone not wanting to, swiching water bottles and snacks, different toys/entertainment.  I also knew that just dropping off one (presumably LMS) would take a while too because it would mean getting all my stuff (music, water, etc) out of the stroller and on my person.  So I opted to take LMS with me, planning the run during naptime and hoping at each half mile that she would sleep just a little longer.

Where is my motivation?

I've been a little lacking in motivation since my last half.  I think my longest run to date has been 5 miles.  My Neighbor encouraged me to sign up for a half in June . . . which then motivated me to sign up for a 20 Miler in October.  But June seems so far away.  I guess she got tired of hearing me talk about my lack of motivation because I found myself outside at 7am on Sunday morning with Little Miss Spitfire cocooned in the BOB, ready for a 7 mile run with My Neighbor. 

So My Neighbor deserves a huge THANK YOU!  I've never run with someone else (other than races but that doesn't count - I've tried chatting with people during races and no one seems to like it) and it was so much fun!  We talked the whole way, every step.  I think she might have been done with chatting around 5.25 miles because she tried to turn her iPod on for some tunes.  But it wasn't working.  So I cranked up the iPhone with its speaker and continued to talk over it. 

Little Miss Spitfire slept.  She fell asleep about 20 minutes into the run, and I - as usual - had to wake her up when we got home. 

Have I mentioned I've wanted to join a weekend group run for months now?  I'm - quite frankly - intimidated and worried about taking at least one girl in the stroller because I'm afraid I'd be the only one with a stroller.  But it was so nice to run with someone and talk (I mean talk other than shouting back and forth about snacks, how much further we have, and why we can't take home every rock we see).  Maybe next weekend.

P.S.  Hubby fixed the tire on the BOB.  Yay!  I guess I should have referred to Wonder Woman's post about setting goals while I was looking for my motivation.

Getting Pumped for Races

Bad pun I know, but I couldn't resist. 

I am slowly learning a lot of lessons about races. 

Before the Princess Half in February, Little Miss Spitfire just happened to wake up and look at me at 3:30am, so I fed her right before I left to catch the bus.  Even with that feeding, it was another 5 hours before I was able to feed her again.  I'm sure sweat wasn't the only thing I was dripping by the time I finished the race (TMI?  Yeah, probably), but I wasn't that uncomfortable when the race was over.

Before the A2A Half in March, she wasn't awake before I left, and I didn't have my pump with me.  Big mistake.  Even though I was only gone for about 4 hours, she hadn't nursed recently, and I was not comfortable by the end of the race.

So now I know:  pump or breastfeed before the race.  Always.  Or at least "always" until she's weaned.

Why I heart Bob, Phil & Ted

BOB Revolution Single/Duallie

Pros:  Smooth like butter.  Easy to turn.  I can easily run with only one hand on the stroller (I'm sure they advise against this in the users manual).  Plenty of storage under and behind the seats.  The sun shades provide plenty of coverage and have windows on top to see the kiddos.  If am only going to have 1 daughter during a 5K, I choose the single BOB. 

Cons:  The Duallie is HEAVY and wide.  It's tough getting in and out of my Murano.  I generally leave it at home and use it around the neighborhood.  I would not use it in a 5K because of its width. 

Options:  I added a "drink console" to each BOB which holds 2 water bottles and has a zippered pocket for smaller items.  I have the car seat converter for the Duallie which includes a snack tray on one side for Angel Girl (holds a drink and snacks).  I also have a rain cover for both BOBs.  I use them more for wind & colder weather more than rain. 

Phil & Ted's Sport (with doubles kit option)

Pros:  Tandem seating means that even with 2 kids, it's not too wide.  It fits in the car easily and it's a little bit lighter which makes it easy to get in and out of the Murano.  It fits in my husband's trunk as well.  It switches easily from single to double.  If I am going to run a 5K with both daughters, this is my choice.  It's been through quite a few of them.  Adequate storage in the bottom of the stroller.  Great for stroller classes. 

Cons:  Not quite as easy to manuever.  Requires both hands to turn.  Not quite as smooth.  It only has one sun shade (on the top seat), and I find it necessary to add an additional sun shade in the summer.  The bottom seat does not have its own sun shade; I add one in the summer.  No storage on the backs of the seats.

Options:  I added a Phil & Ted's "drink console" which holds 2 water bottles and has a zippered pocket for smaller items.  I have a rain cover for this stroller as well, also used more for wind and cold than for rain. 

Side note:  Keep a small hand pump in the bottom of your stroller!  I learned that lesson the hard way. 

(Virtual) Race Report 4/10/2011

Race:  Running Mate Bunny Hop Virtual 5K

Distance:  3.11 Miles

Time:  26:45

Finish:  1 out of 1

Comments:  Running Mate holds a virtual 5K regularly. It's typically over a weekend - which ever day works into your schedule - and Todd usually offers some sort of drawing for those that enter a photo when they post their participation.  The virtual 5Ks are easy enough as long as you have a way to track your distance.  I use my Nike+ and the GPS for my Polar.  This morning I only had Little Miss Spitfire (who slept most of the time) in the Phil & Ted's.  I seriously need to talk about my strollers because the Phil & Ted's is just a little bit tougher to push than the BOB.  Unfortunately, my single BOB has a flat tire right now, and if I'd taken the time to change it this morning, I wouldn't have had time to run.

Race Report 4/9/2011

Race:  Bird on the Run

Distance:  1 Mile Fun Run/Walk

Time:  about 20 minutes, give or take

Finish:  As a family, we came in dead last (out of about 30 people). Hehehe! Due in part to the following: Angel Girl threw herself down on the trail and cried that she couldn't walk any further, we stopped to look at a snake in a tree for several minutes (took photos), and the one group that was behind us cut through the field halfway around the trail. 

Comments:  I knew we'd be walking this one because we were taking the girls and strollers were not allowed (trail run/walk).  Little Miss Spitfire rode in the Kelty backpack for the first time and had a great time looking over my shoulder.  Angel Girl walked, picked up rocks, and drew in the dirt with a stick occasionally despite Hubby's best efforts to get her to run.  A fun family "race" indeed!

Lesson(s) Learned:  Hmmm....Angel Girl does not want to run/walk more than 1/2 mile right now?

Me Time

As other moms (and dads) know, "me time" is precious and often rare as a parent.  Since having our second bundle of joy, I began getting up around 5:15am in order to have "me time".  I work on my current Bible study, maybe do a little housework, and then if I'm lucky (ie no little ones are awake yet and hubby isn't on the treadmill) I might even log a mile or two. 

So why is Angel Girl wide awake at 5am this morning and Little Miss Spitfire keeps trying to wake up? 

Happy Saturday, Y'all!

Getting the Miles Logged

A while back my friend, Wonder Woman, gave me some simple advice:  get the miles in when and where you can.  I've really taken this to heart. 

As I mentioned before, I bought a treadmill back in February and it's proven to be very convenient.  Not only does it give me the opportunity to run on days when it's raining or just too cold to put the girls in the stroller, but it often also gives me the chance to log a mile or two or three before my girls wake up.  I also know I can add a mile or two during my younger daughter's afternoon nap if I really need (want?) to. 

Really the biggest "disadvantage" to the treadmill is that it's easier than running behind the stroller.  I see a significant difference in the calories burned, max and average heart rates.  But then again, easier running is better than no running.  Some running is better than none.  At least it is in my life.  I've also found intervals on the treadmill to be beneficial - both for cardio conditioning and to fight boredom but that's probably a post for another day.  Getting back to the topic at hand...

That advice also gave me the permission I needed to break up my runs rather than feeling like I had to do all the miles at once or they didn't count.  Now on busy days, I sometimes run to and from classes, storytimes, and anything else that's under 2 miles from the house and doesn't require make-up or something nicer than workout clothes.  It doesn't actually take that much longer and if the weather is nice enough, it's quite enjoyable. 

Don't get me wrong here.  I'd actually like to get all my miles in at once and be done with it for the day.  But that simply isn't always the best or most realistic option for me. 

How do you log your miles?

Skinny Jeans

I think we all have a pair of skinny jeans, right?  Mine are from before baby #1, Angel Girl.  You know, back when I put on those hot pants and chaps and shook poms in front of thousands of people.  Well, tonight I managed to squeeze into mine.  I'm not sure it's pretty.  Ok, I know it's not pretty.  But I got them on.  Buttoned and zipped.  And that, for me, is an accomplishment.  Because I must say that I haven't had those on since before Angel Girl was born.  I won't be wearing them in public or anything . . . but I'm feeling pretty good about it anyway. 

Dragging the Hubby Along

I only managed to log 1 mile on the treadmill on Saturday before Little Miss Spitfire woke up.  The morning was a blur of toddler gymnastics, brunch at a new local favorite, and a hair appointment for me.  At some point while my stylist was getting my hair ready for summer, I decided that we (hubby, the girls and me) could all run together once I returned home.  Never mind that I didn't call or text my husband with this fabulous idea.  Why would I?  He only started running in February when I - out of complete desperation due to freakishly cold snowy and icy weather - bought a treadmill.  Since then he's been running about 20 minutes a day, 2-3 times a week.    

It never ever occurred to me that he might, on a Saturday afternoon when he's watching both girls by himself, decide to run.  You can imagine my astonishment (and disappointment) when I arrived home and found him all sweaty having just completed his usual 20 minutes.  Big frown from me.  He agreed to run with me anyway and actually didn't seem too upset about the extra run because it would be "family time". 

It was warm, bordering on hot, so we took off toward some shadier sidewalks and green space.  About 20 minutes into the run he started asking me how far we were going.  Truthfully, I had no idea.  I don't map runs ahead of time.  I let my GPS update me, and I work with it.  He pointed out my error here when he said "You can run as far as you decide to.  I run for 20 minutes a few days a week."  (Umm, I must say that up to this point, the farthest I've 'decided' to run has been 14 miles.  I'm not a marathoner.  Yet.)  Yes, my mistake.  I was having fun.  We were talking and both girls were napping contently in the Bob Duallie.  I was pointing out bat houses and commenting on the nice trail through one of the neighborhoods.  He, on the other hand, was not having quite as much fun.

We ran just over 3 miles and then walked the remaining mile or so home.  Overall, I thought it was nice.  We should run together every Saturday.  But next time, I'll map out a route ahead of time and give him plenty of warning.

Do you have a running partner?  Run with a training group?

Cross Training - Stroller Fitness Classes

In addition to running, I started taking stroller fitness classes when my older daughter was about 6 months old. I found them to be a beneficial for many reasons.

Exercise: Of course, they're intended to be group exercise/fitness classes and therefore, yes, you get to workout. Most of these classes are an interval type class mixing cardio and strength training and then end with abdominal work on a blanket or mat followed by stretching. I've participated in classes offered by two of the major franchises (Stroller Strides and StrollerFit), and the biggest differences were the type of warm-up and the use (or lack) of music.

Losing Weight: Let's face it. Most of us gain weight during pregnancy and the lack of sleep and crazy hormones after baby is born don't really help when it comes to shedding those unwanted pounds. Regular exercise that incorporates both cardio and toning is key to losing weight. It's also important to surround yourself with people who will promote your healthy behavior and can encourage you when you hit a plateau.

Support and Encouragement: Other moms going through the same things you're going through. Need I say more? Probably not, but I will. I find it extremely encouraging to talk through my daily challenges with other moms, especially moms with kids similar in age or slightly older than mine. They've been there, done that. It can be the simplest things, like when some other moms suggested I put my daughter in the shower with me on the days I don't manage to shower before she wakes up. Duh! Simple? Yes, but it hadn't occurred to me yet and being one of the first of my circle of friends to have children, I really didn't have anyone to ask.

Interaction with Your Child: I know you interact with your kids regularly anyway, but sometimes it's nice to have that focused time with them. You know, when you're not trying to load the dishwasher while they finish their lunch. We regularly sing to (or with) the kids, play games, count in multiple languages, recite the alphabet. To this day, I think my older daughter could recite the alphabet by the time she was 18 months solely because we sang it every day at our stroller class.

Getting Out of the House: This is a big one for me. I like to go places. I do not like to sit at home. Once I'm out, I'm going. If I was feeling lazy about getting to the store or the post office, well, it's on the way home so I might as well. We are also likely to invite some of our friends from class to join us at a park or feeding the ducks or for a picnic following class.

Feel Better: Rarely do I exercise and then say to myself "Wow, I wish I hadn't done that." No, 99.99% of the time, I just feel better. Endorphins? Adrenaline? Yeah, maybe. Or maybe it's just a sense of accomplishment. I did something good for myself today, and I set a positive example for my children by exercising, by choosing to spend part of our day promoting our well being. And for that reason, I also think participating in stroller fitness classes can help combat and prevent PPD for many moms.

Mini-playdate:  My older daughter loves going to class because she gets to see her friends.  We often end class with ab work on a mat or blanket and let the kids run or crawl around.  It's so much fun for them!  Even my younger daughter has fun looking at the other babies (although I'm going to have to begin referring to her as a toddler, I guess).  Everyone has fun; everyone gets to see their friends.

Keeping the Kids Happy

I recently saw a question about how to keep the kids happy while you run. Here are my tips (some are based on age). As a reference, right now Angel Girl is almost 4 and Little Miss Spitfire is almost 1.

Littler Ones
* Naps: If your child still takes a morning nap, try running during naptime. My younger daughter regularly sleeps in the stroller. So much so that I have been known to rush my other daughter out the door because her sister needs a nap and won't take one until we get moving. (Please do not tell the sleep training people this. I pretty much break all their rules anyway.) There are a lot of head support options (like this) out there for smaller ones.

* Entertainment: Toys for little ones, like teethers, can keep them occupied. Just be sure your tether them in some fashion so you're not stopping to pick them up. I use sippy cup straps (something like this) for anything and everything.

* Pacifier: If you baby takes a binky, then by all means, take it with you. My older daughter was angered by binkies so I never even tried one with the 2nd child, but from what I hear, if they like 'em, they love 'em.

* Drink: Sippy cup with water (also tethered to the stroller). This is especially important in warmer weather. We do ice water when it's really hot.

* Snacks: Little Miss Spitfire just started "eating" Cheerios. By "eating" I mean that maybe 1 out of 10 makes it to her mouth and gets consumed. The squirrels and birds must really like us these days.

* Music: My playlist has some kids songs and some of "my" songs. I also have a kids' songs only playlist. I don't like running to it quite as much, but I'll use it if I need to. The girls seem to enjoy their music and if you sing along, you'll get an even better cardio workout. Plus, they can learn some classic kids songs. I'm tone deaf, so my girls need to hear someone else singing.

Slightly Older Ones
* Breakfast or Snacks: Because we often run as early as possible in the summer, my older daughter usually gets breakfast on the go. We are especially fond of organic cereal bars and PB sandwiches for breakfast. During the winter, we often don't go until the afternoon, and in that case, I take a small snack. I'm always looking for healthy options, so feel free to tell me what you take for your kids.

* Water Bottle: Angel Girl has been taking her own water bottle, just like Mommy's, for quite some time. She knows it's important to stay hydrated, and she will tell you as much.

* Motivation: When time & weather permits, we frequently end our run at a playground or in the greenspace that's about a quarter of a mile from home, but Angel Girl must be well behaved to get this "treat". Actually, I usually plan to do one or the other because I want her to get some physical activity, too, but she doesn't have to know that. I have also been known to offer her fruit snacks as a reward when I'm desperate. She loves fruit snacks, but they are a "treat" in our house.

* Entertainment: I have a few small toys that I leave in the stroller as special "stroller toys". Sometimes we take books. Angel Girl loves books. I know some moms strap DVD players in the stroller as well. I don't have a working portable DVD player but if I did, I might use that too. Movies on an iPhone or iPad would work, too, but I'm generally using the Nike+ on my iPhone.

Spring Gear

Now that it's spring, I'm realizing I've got to revamp how I prepare for our runs. I no longer need blankets or fuzzy seat liners.

Rain Cover: I use this for rain (although rarely do I actually run in the rain, drizzle and misty type weather maybe) and also for windy days when the temperature is below 60. Angel Girl will ask for it if she thinks it's too windy or too chilly. I may also start a run with it if it's a little cool, and then have to remove it as the day warms up (it was 50 when we started our run this morning but 63 by the time we got home).

Sun Shades: I have some with a 50+ UPF rating that make me feel a little better about having the girls out on warm, sunny days. Of course, my Bob Duallie has individual shades and the sun shades don't provide that much increased coverage, but additional sun shades are a must on the Phil & Ted's (at least I consider them a must for my fair-skinned kiddos).

The rain cover will get stored in the bottom of the stroller once our days get a little warmer, but I'll keep those sun shades throughout summer.