My Next Run

And I'm scared about it!  It's a 5K with cargo net, fire jumping, mud pit, tires, a tunnel (this scares me the most as I am pretty claustrophobic!)  But Michelle and I wanted to do something different and fun, and as crazy as it sounds this is our idea of fun. 

So next Saturday, the 8th, we will be lined up for our 9:30am wave and our only goal is to finish.

BTW - This is my Saturday post...the guy is here as I type to run our power off, so I'm out until Monday.  I will do two posts Monday to make up for missing Sunday.  

I'm Streaking!

Yes you read that right.  Starting October 1st, I'm streaking, on the blog and with my workouts!

No worries I will keep my cloths on.  :)

I have to post it here to keep myself accountable.  If I put it out for all to read I will stick to it.   Nothing like starting two endeavors at once to ensure success right?  

For the blog I plan on posting every day for the whole month of October!

The following topics will be featured:
Recipe of the week/cooking or food related
Sky related post/letter to Sky/parenting or stay at home mom topic
Picture Day/Week in Pics 
Work out/running post
Weekend Round Up - this will be the Sunday post I think

I'm leaving one day open to whatever I feel like posting about, and I have no idea which topic will be on what day yet.  I will try and figure that out the first week so I have some sort of pattern to stick to.

There are two possible exception to the blog streak due to a potential camping trip the end of the month.  I don't camp with my computer, so that weekend there may be a day or two that there is not a post.  Also Mark is re-wiring the house this weekend and we will not have power Friday through Monday.  I am going to try and post still...that is what Wi Fi is for right?  But, with living in the camp trailer and taking care of Sky with no power things may be a bit crazy.  

For my workout routine my only goal is to work out EVERY day.  I won't run every day, and they may not be hard workouts every day, but I will get a workout in every day.  Even if that means I do the 10 minute ab or but workout app I downloaded to my phone.  It's easy during the week, but weekends tend to get busy (and full of not so health food and drink) and I feel like I'm starting over every Monday, and I don't like that.

Thankfully Fall brings with it the running weather I love, so I will be able to count on running to get in some of the daily workouts.  And, Sky is getting better in the jogging stroller to that helps as well.   

Why streak now, since both goals would make great New Years Resolutions?  I'm not a fan of New Year Resolutions.  If I feel the need to change or work on something I would rather just do it than put it off to the new year.  Plus, this is my favorite time of year!  I LOVE Fall and Football season and thought this would be a fun and healthy  way to celebrate Fall.   



 

Never Too Soon for Yoga!

Working on her Happy Baby pose...one of my favorite yoga poses by the way.  

Sorry for the lack of posting...been busy.  But, October 1st brings some new goals and a new plan for the blog.  :)

Wenatchee River Run Post Race Report

I had the privilege of running a 5K with my Dad for the first time this weekend.  Let me start by saying we both finished!  My one and only goal I have in every race is to finish, so mission accomplished. 

(Sorry there are no photos...camera malfunction :( )

We were pretty organized about race morning.  We planned when to get up, when and what to eat, what time to get to the start line etc.  Everything went well, I was feeling the best I have ever felt on race day and I was supper excited to be running with my Dad.

All went as planned and we were ready to go early.  We had time to stretch and eat our power bars before the race.  As we were waiting at the start line Dad says he is feeling dizzy, he is diabetic, so this was not encouraging.  Then he says don't worry I will feel better in about 15 to 20 minutes.  I was a little concerned, but he said he was fine, so I didn't think about it too much.

Next thing I know the race has started and it's time to run, so off we go.  We started out doing really well.  The first 1/2 mile our pace was fast, faster than I usually start and I was still feeling great!  The course followed the river through a really nice park, was flat and easy with only a few easy rolling little hills. 

Despite how great I was feeling and how much I was enjoying the race I knew early that Dad was in trouble.  I have never seen anyone work so hard to keep up a slow shuffle.  He was breathing way to hard for someone as fit and in shape as he is.  We had been touching base on his training runs and I knew they had been going well and he was feeling good, so I knew everything was not ok.

We made it to the first and only aid station which was also our turn around point, and he took some energy drink and told me that everything was a haze.  He didn't remember any of the race up to that point, and couldn't see.  We were walking at this point and he stumbles and looks like he is going down, so I grab his arm and pull up to keep him on his feet.  He almost went down a few times which scared me.  He is a big guy and I'm out on the course with him alone. 

I kept suggesting we stop and sit/call for help.  But he insisted on walking and said he was starting to feel better.  The sugar from the energy drink was kicking in.  Thankfully one of the runners that passed us asked me if everything was ok, I told her that he was having a diabetic reaction and could she please let a race official up ahead know so that I could get some help.  I owe her a thank you because Steve, one of the race volunteers, walked back to us, called the RD who called the paramedics, and Steve walked with Dad and I until we were within sight of the finish line.  By that point Dad wanted to do a slow jog to cross the line.

The RD was standing at the finish and grabbed Dad to help keep him on his feet and the paramedics were there waiting to take care of him.  I was just glad that we made it to the finish and there were people there who could help.  

The only frustrating thing for me about the race is that there was nothing I could do to make it better for Dad.  I knew he was in trouble and there was nothing I could do about it.  I didn't have any candy or anything in my pockets.  It was a beautiful course, flat, and a great first race for someone and I feel bad most of it is a foggy haze for him.  

I don't have diabetes and I have struggled with my race morning routine and food, so considering this was his first race, first time running in the morning it's not surprising there were issues with his blood sugar levels.  If he decided to give it a go again he will know what to do to avoid having issues like that.

We started the race together, we crossed the finish line together and we both got really awesome brooks shirts for finishing.  I call that a successful race!

I love you Dad, I'm glad we got to do that together and I'm really glad you didn't pass out!  :) 

Age Division Winner

That's right, my niece Emma placed third in her age division last weekend!  I'm so proud of her!  Keep running girl! 

I'm Ready...

I tend to get stressed the week(s) before a race.  Regardless of how prepared, or not prepared I am.  I always start second guessing myself feeling like I should have done more, squeezed in a few more training runs etc.  This race has been no different, however the last week and a half things have really pulled together and I feel pretty good about the race on Saturday.

I'm supper excited to be running this race with my Dad.  He has helped me out so much with my running endeavors and I can't wait for him to see me run in person and share in the experience with me.

My last two training runs have been fast, under 10 minute miles, my normal pace is between 11 and 11:30 a mile.  The fast pace has actually felt better than running slower.  I find it really interesting that my fastest pace...9:34 a mile has been while pushing Sky in the stroller.  Seems like my fastest pace would be running on my own, but guess not. 

I have had to shorten both runs though due to foot and shin pain in my right leg.  I don't think it is anything my pre-race massage won't fix on Friday, and even if it isn't fixed, it's not so bad that I can't gut out a 5K and finish the race.

The course is being billed as flat and fast, and when I looked at the map it does indeed look flat, which means a faster pace.  The last fast and flat 5K I ran I literally felt like I was going to die, so my plan is to focus on sticking to a pace that works for Dad and I.  When I have allowed myself to get caught up in staying up with the fast pace being set it has been a bad thing.  Dad and I need to run our race and not worry about what others are doing around us.  We will be fast than some and slower than others and that is fine with me.  My number one goal is always just to finish the race, I don't care a lot about time. 

Dad and I have spent a lot of time talking about this race, checking in with each other as to when the last run this week should be, how much he is running, how breaking in his shoes is going, how I just want to enjoy the run with him.  I can't wait to cross the finish line with my Dad and collect our shirts!


Then we get to enjoy the rest of the day at the Wenatchee food and wine festival.  So looking forward to the whole weekend!


Last training run was yesterday (due to the shin and foot pain...don't want to aggravate it further), today I will do a light core workout, Friday is my pre-race massage.  From here on out it's all about zero alcohol and paying attention to what I eat especially Friday night/Saturday morning.  My bag is packed, all my running gear is ready and I can't wait!


Will be thinking of my sister and her husband as they take on a beast of a half marathon...over 3,000 feet of elevation gain!  Glad it's them and not me!

9/11 Mixed Emotions

Yesterday was a strange day emotionally.  I really believe in giving important events in our history the attention, respect, and remembrance they deserve.  I also LOVE football.  It made Sunday, 9/11 the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 and the opening Sunday of the NFL season a confusing day for me.  

I have been to ground zero, while it was still being cleaned up and you could see the twisted remains of the towers.  I still remember how I found out and how stunned I felt that day.  That stunned feeling has not gone away...every time I see footage of the towers being hit and falling I still have a hard time believing it happened.  But, it did, and there are thousands of people that are no longer with us because of it.  Families were changed forever and I think it's important to remember how precious life, and those we love are, and how fast it can all change. 

I have also been looking forward to the first of many Football Sunday's with Sky.  I grew up in a sports watching home, and to this day I love almost all sport.  Football is my first true sports love though.  I look forward to "Football Season" all summer, and I have been looking forward to Sky's first Football Sunday for months!  I have had her outfits ready to go for weeks!

So, I took my time to watch the ceremonies on TV, have my moment of respect for those that are no longer with us, and then I allowed myself to celebrate Sky's first "Football Sunday"! 

Since Mark and Bob were gone hunting for the weekend Michelle and the girls came over Saturday night to watch the Notre Dame game, spend the night, and watch football on Sunday.  

Between the ND, Steelers, and Hawk's games Michelle and I had a pretty tough football weekend.  It's going to be a while before I can take Sky to a game with the fan club, she was not sure what to make of all the yelling, jumping up and down, etc.  Once she stops crying every time I overreact then maybe she will be ready for the fan club.   

Despite the really terrible Steelers performance I was so excited to share something I love with my baby. 

I hope she grows up looking forward to cozy Sunday's in PJ's watching football as much as I do!

 Sky was worn out after watching football all day.  She was out by the end of the 3rd quarter of the Jet's game, and slept 9 hours last night. 

I know this is not the best pic of her, but I was trying to get the outfit.  I love her football leg warmers and you can't see them in the pic, but she has the cutest Steelers socks on.  My little football baby! 

First ER Visit

We had our first ER visit last night.  Sky is not a fussy baby in the least, so when she started screaming hysterically last night, for hours, and making a strange snorting, coughing sound, we felt like a visit to Urgent Care was in order. 

The Dr. at UC felt like it was serious enough that we needed to go to Mary Bridge ED to be safe.  She gave them a call so they would be expecting us.  Well, 3 1/2 hours, two starving parents, and one tired baby later she was sent home with a clean bill of health. 

The concern was she aspirated something and imaging was needed to see if there was something in her lungs.  However, since only metal items would show up, her oxygen levels were great, and she took a bottle with zero issues, the ER Dr. decided to skip the imaging and send us home.  If she continued to have issues bring her back in.

She slept through the night, even slept in this morning.  All seems well. 

Found out she is just over 13 pounds!  She is getting so big! 

Bored Yet?

Actually no I'm not, thanks for asking though.

Now that I'm a stay at home Mom I get that question All. The. Time.  It makes me crazy.  Why would I be bored staying home with the little person I love beyond words.  I could sit and watch her sleep all day and NEVER be bored.  

I wish I had time to sit and watch her sleep all day, but I don't. (Not that she sleeps all day anyway.)   It is way harder than I thought it would be getting all my chores done and getting my work outs in.  I even created a daily schedule for myself on our white board, and still I struggle to stay on task.

Sky is so much more awake during the day now.  She sleeps for an hour here and there, but when she is awake she is way more interactive.  She wants to talk and loves it when we play with her, talk to her, make faces at her etc.  That's why getting stuff done is so hard.  I think it's more important to pay attention to her and interact with her then do work around the house.  Thankfully she also needs her "alone" time.  She loves having the freedom to lay on her play mat and swat at her toys and talk to them.  She rolls all over the place and when she is done she lets me know.  I take advantage of her alone time and get as much done as possible.

Thankfully she loves her Bumbo chair.  I can put her in that and bring her in the kitchen with me and she is content to watch me work for a bit.  Or, I set her right outside the bathroom door and she watches me do hair and make-up. 

The best days are the days we get to stay home all day and not have to go anywhere.  They don't happen often, there are errands to run, appointments to keep, and play dates to be had, but when we do have a day home just the two of us it's wonderful.

I love being her mommy.  She does something new almost every day.  Sometimes it's a little thing, but to me they are all big important things.  I'm so thankful Mark was brave enough to let me not go back to work and stay home with our beautiful little girl, so I don't miss anything!

(I know the plan is for me to go back to work when she is 1, but secretly (or not so secretly now) I kind of hope we find that me staying home is more doable than we thought it would be and I can stay home longer.  I would love to home school her through preschool, take her to some tiny tot classes at the Y so she knows how to interact with other kids and listen to other adults.  I would love to be home with her until she starts kindergarten.  Then maybe work 3 to 4 days a week so I can volunteer at school and go on field trips.)

There is so much fun to be had watching her grow and learn!  And, it takes a lot of time to have a clean home/yard/camp trailer etc.  So NO I'm not bored, I just don't have time to be bored. 

I literally have THE BEST full time job ever...Sky's Mommy and Mark's Wife.