Tapering Sky Style

The amazing, and yes sometimes frustrating thing, about being a parent is adjusting your personal agenda.

I was all set for run group tonight, but the nice weather early in the day and Sky asking for a "no stroller run" made it easy for me to make a quick adjustment (I didn't bail on Michelle...she couldn't make run group tonight...so it really did work out perfectly).  Thankfully I'm tapering so I was able to make this adjustment without having to add a "real" run later in the week.  For the record if I was in the middle of training or training for a PR/specific goal then I wouldn't be as quick to bail on my plans (and I wouldn't bail on a running partner) and do what Sky wants.

But, when I can let things go her way I'm always happy with the results!  We got in 3.1, I know this because the loop we ran/walked was a regular training loop for me, most of it at a Sky paced trot.  We had a few photo opp stops and Sky distraction stops, but her little legs still carried her 3.1 miles all by themselves, without a single hint of complaint/being tired.

I obviously took some liberty with the photo editing abilities of the A Beautiful Mess app on my phone, and did some additional/initial editing in Google+...that accounts for the color difference from pic to pic.

 My favorite trail at Ft. Steilacoom Park!

 I can count the number of times on one hand (and not use all my fingers) that she has asked to hold my hand on a walk.  My heart was melting.

 There are some pretty bad a$$ graffiti artists that frequent the park/ruins form the old mental hospital.

 I think this is an odd spot for and innocent child's bench, but next family photo shoot we do with our photographer we are making use of it!

 What I heard over and over today..."Run with me Mommy, run with me", "Come on, we can do it", "No hands in pockets Mommy, run" and when we got back to the car, "we did it, we did it"!  

This is by far my fave picture from the day.  She has a hard time with the whistling/spitting/blowing thing, so this process took a very long time.  She would try to blow and blow and nothing would happen, but she would pause and flash the biggest smile my way.  Then she figured out she could hold the flower in the air while running and watch the floating things take off in the air.

While today didn't go according to my plan, it do according to the plan and that is good enough for me!

Back at it tomorrow though...stroller group run, and then I'm done until race day!

  

Almost Taper Time!

This training cycle has actually been a lot of fun, and while I feel ready for race day I also feel like I need a break before we hit the start line. 

I know most runners hate the taper, but I love it!  Mostly because I feel like I need it by the time it rolls around.  I have zero issues bringing the miles down and letting my legs rest.  I suspect that the birthday in a few weeks may have something to do with why I'm feeling so ready for a break.  Getting older doesn't bother me in the least, (I'm not one of those girls who's 29 every year), but I have to say the further I get from 29 the more I need my rest.

In an effort to get through the highest mile week of training healthy (fighting a cold/cough) and injury free (foam rolling and trigger pointing like a mad woman) I totally switched things up.  I skipped run group last night, and pushed off all the running to the second half of the week.  Once the long runs get long it's just too hard to run Tuesday night and turn around and run with the stroller group Wed morning.  Since my commitment is to the stroller group, Tuesday gets dropped for a few weeks.  

The last high mile push starts today, and I'm ready to enjoy the last few long runs with Elya, then start taking it down a notch and resting up/getting ready for race day!

Sky and I spent the last few days enjoying the lack of running, and the nice weather by playing outside as much as possible!

I love that she gets up early because it means we are usually the first ones (and only ones) at the park and have the place to ourselves for the most part.

 Love the sunlight in this pic!

Look Mommy...no hands!

It took a while, but she finally got brave and slid down all by herself!

 

 After a full morning of play she asked to watch a movie in our bed so she could rest.

Thankful that today is the last day of winter!  Ready for spring showers that bring flowers, and summer!  Ok, really I'm just ready for summer sun and camping...I cold do without the spring showers!