Tag: Running


Jan
2015

Friday Five: What’s (Still) in My Gym Bag?

categories: pregnancy, running, running

Oh, whoops … I totally missed a week there, didn’t?! I had a baby update all in my head to share and kept thinking that I just needed to take a picture. That never did happen, partly because Kid #3 was up all of Saturday night/Sunday morning with a stomach virus. Then I took one at work – in the bathroom, of course, because that’s the only full-length mirror I have access to. I hated that picture because it was IN A BATHROOM. Ugh. Then it’s Friday and I’m passing another week tomorrow, and well … why I don’t just combine and 16/17 week update on Monday, okay?

(Everything baby is peachy, btw.)

This week’s Friday Five theme is “What’s in your gym bag?”

I haven’t been to the gym for running, yoga, cross-training, or anything other than customer meetings since I got pregnant. See, I work in HR and we’re assigned to organizations to support and have regular meetings to hear what’s going on and what help they might want. My gym is at my workplace, one of my customer organizations runs the gym, so … ta da!

Since I hadn’t been in so long, I thought it’d be fun to see what’s STILL in my gym bag after four months of not using it.

Running Shoes

First up: the running shoes, of course. Adidas Supernova Boost, I think. Purple, for sure. You can see my ID tag from the local running store and the pod-holder for my Nike+ Sportswatch. I like these shoes a lot, but my favorites are still my Mizuno Wave Riders.

Spare Change

Ah yes: the collection of spare “change.” Spare shorts, socks, and underwear. Spare Bondi Band to keep bangs and hair off my face (running pet peeve). Spare Velcro roller and flat iron for the post-run-and-shower beautifying.

Nuun and Honey Stinger Chews

Nuun! I love you, Nuun. You’ve helped me even during pregnancy when it’s so hard to choke down regular water without vomiting. The Strawberry Lemonade is probably my favorite, although Grape + Tropical is pretty good, too … especially after a nasty Houston summer run when I need the double help. And some chews for fuel … love me some chews.

Plastic bags

The always important plastic bags! I keep the runDisney bag from last year’s WDW Marathon Weekend 10K in my gym bag. It’s great for putting either my work clothes (post-work run) or my sweaty running clothes (pre-work run) in until I get home and can throw them in the laundry. You never know when you’ll need a plastic bag.

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And finally: my secret weapon. Wonderful for both runner mama’s occasional monkey butt and chafing (don’t lie, it happens to all of us) AND for the baby’s diaper rash. Best stuff ever. Except maybe coconut oil (for the same issues), but the Dr. Smith’s diaper rash ointment is more portable.

Now I’m all nostalgic … the prenatal yoga has been wonderful, but I can’t wait to go run again! On my drive home from work the other day I was getting all emotional looking at the sidewalks in our neighborhood and remembering how they look in sunrise runs. That, my friends, is what pregnancy hormones do to you!

Enjoy the Friday Five Link-up that’s hosted by Mar, Cynthia, and Courtney! It’s a great way to find more running blogs!


Dec
2014

Revise THAT Training Plan …

categories: erin is ..., mommy, running

Back in the summer I started a half-marathon training plan with the women from Another Mother Runner. It’s the 13.FUN challenge, and I did the run/walk training plan. It was a great plan and a lot of fun. We had a private support / accountability group on Strava, and I really enjoyed having that network during the training plan.

In mid-September I did an 8-mile run that felt absolutely great … except for a tweaked left knee and hip. Not really a surprise to me since I’ve had multiple long-standing issues on my left side: torn ankle ligament, lateral release on my left knee, scar tissue/blood clot behind my kneecap (from a fall), piriformis syndrome, IT band syndrome … You get the picture. I took some time off from running and slowed down my training plan. “No biggie!”  I thought. “I’ll take a couple of weeks slowly and then get back to it.”

8 mile run for Gray

Well, by the time I got back to it in early October, I was starting to feel winded and slow. UGH. I hate that feeling, but attributed it to being off the plan a few weeks. I tried again. I went for a run on the National Mall in DC in October, which should be great compared to Houston. My same nice and flat, but with the bonus of cooler temperatures. Why, then, was I so much slower and struggling to breathe?

Somewhere around the end of October, I figured it out.

Newest Baby M - due June 2015
Newest Baby M – due June 2015

(This picture is almost 9 weeks after that, btw …)

Yes, that would be baby #4, quietly making his or her presence known when I tried to go for a run. Even at 6 weeks pregnant, my heart rate was climbing too fast and my breathing was too labored. My heart rate calms back down when walking, but I can’t shake the shortness of breath. I’ve tried to be a pregnant runner twice now (with Jude and now with this baby), and it just doesn’t work for me and my body. Whatever my body does to grow babies, it isn’t very compatible with still running.

So let’s just say that I’ve moved on to a new training plan … a nine-month walking and yoga strength and conditioning plan. I’ll follow that up next summer and fall with a “back to running” and eventual half marathon training plan. This could also be a great time to get focused on the healthier eating choices.

Well, once this morning sickness goes away. All bets are off until then.

 


Jul
2014

So it begins!

categories: erin is ..., running

Half marathon training has officially begun!

I saw so many of my bunny friends out this morning, so it felt like a good start to the plan.

This may sound silly, but a simple change for summer running has made a big difference: tank tops. I didn’t think that removing sleeve would make such a huge difference in body temperature, but it’s been night and day. Feeling a breeze (such as it is) on my shoulders has been a great change to my running quality of life!

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This morning was a gorgeous sunrise. I’m trying to be appreciative while I’m out running, taking the time to think about what’s good about the day and run itself instead of just wanting to stop breathing or go home.

I’m looking for the race I’ll use to complete the training in mid-October … right at my birthday!


Jul
2014

July Goals (Running-wise)

categories: running, summer

Like I said yesterday, I’m starting a training plan this week. It’s a half marathon plan that will culminate with a race weekend in mid-October. (Now I need to find the race!)

So for July my running goals are simple:

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As always, the goal is simple but achieving it is not. I chose this early morning bunny picture because a) the bunnies around here are like my running totems and b) getting up early is HARD for me. I am not a morning person and I love my sleep.

Adjustments have to be made to reach goals if they’re any sort of stretch goals at all. So I’ll work on adjusting.

Three days a week of running, here I come! Deliberate strength/cross-training, that too!

I’m almost looking forward to it.

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