Super Swimming Tuesday

I did run today, but today I am going to dedicate my blog to my 6 year old son Andy who passed the swim test at the North Side swimming pool in Waynesboro, PA. This was a big deal to Andy. He is the baby of my house. (figuratively not literally) Everything is an issue, he whines, he cries and nothing is ever right. Needless to say when he came up to me and said that he was going to take the swim test today I was a little shocked. I went with him to get the lifeguard and she came right over. Off he went. He needed to swim from one end of the pool to the other. He made it over to one side and then he came right back like a fish. This was a kid that you had to drag into the pool last year at this time. What a difference a year makes and turning 6 makes. The rest of the afternoon was spent going down the waterslide, jumping off of the diving board and going down the swim chute! Yay Andy!

Forgot to mention that I ran 4 miles in my Newtons yesterday and really loved them. I need to run 6 tomorrow and am thinking about doing 3 in my Asics then the other 3 in my Asics.

Blue Ridge Summit, PA

I am on my weeklong summer break at my mom's house in Pennsylvania. When she told me it was hot outside, I just kind of listened. I mean it had been hot in New Hampshire this summer as well. My plan was to do as much outside running as possible as I am starting week 3 of Hal Higdon marathon training. My training week is not that hard, a lot of 3's and a 6. Okay, it looks like I will be doing some treadmill work this week. It is really hot, like sweat down your shins hot. The air I was breathing in was hot and the wind was hot. (you have probably picked up that it is hot here) So...at 9:30 I ventured out. Head band, Road ID, shuffle, Garmin....Garmin......okay my Garmin was dead. I thought that I had charged it before I left, but I guess I didn't. Anyone that knows me knows that no Garmin = stress for me. So, off I go, not knowing where I am going, but I just take off. I am going fast and it is hot, there is sweat everywhere, my shins, my bum, my feet....Finally, I make it to the end, one big hill and at this point I am ready to collapse, but I make it. I come in, my shirt is wet, my face is bright red and Izzie tells me she can't touch my hand because I am to sweaty and smelly. Oh the honesty of a four year old. Anyway, I have been tired ever since, it could be because I am not at my own house on my schedule or maybe that run just did me in.

On another note I am going to start breaking in my Newton's this week. I am hoping to race in them for the Applefest Half Marathon in September. It is a hard race and I will need all of the help I can get.

A long Run for Sophie

This morning I ran a 9 mile run before it got to hot. There was a warm breeze and my route was mostly in the shade so that was a plus. I didn't know if I would be able to run to far this am as I had had a very rough night. My husband and I found our 11 year old Scottie, Sophie having some sort of seizure in the kitchen at 9:30 last night. Not long after that Sophie died in Travis' arms. We are devastated of course, but believe that we will meet up with her again someday. I did feel like a run this morning would clear my mind and give me some time to grieve for our sweet dog. I think that I cried for the first 5 miles, sweating and crying at the same time. The run continued though and I kept going. I had forgotten that part of the route was a huge hill called Christian Hill. I think that it goes up for about a mile and not just a gradual up, it is straight up. The great thing about a hill like that is that coming down always feels so good. I finished pretty strong in about 1:27 give or take.

On another note, I forgot that I was supposed to run 9 miles tomorrow with one of my running partners, Michelle. My 10 year old just gave me a massage and I took some Advil. I will have to let you know how I fare tomorrow.

Finally a little note about Sophie. Sophie was our first "child." Travis and I bought her at the same time that we bought our house 11 1/2 years ago. It was a couple of months before we got married and 1 year before we had our first child, Siri. Sophie spent the last 11 years putting up with 4 kids, 2 cats and a hamster. She was the first thing that I took care of every morning and the last one to go to bed every night. She slept on our bed in between Travis' legs since she was a puppy. She never snapped at our kids, loved all of our friends' and their kids' and really was the all around perfect dog. So....here's to you Sophie. We will always love you and compare every future dog to you. You were the best!

Running Rut

I am in a running rut! I am having a hard time in the heat getting motivated and I am having a hard time getting up in the morning to go running. I am not a morning person by nature, I don't usually go to bed until 11 or 1130, so when the alarm goes off at 5:30 am I am spent. I know that morning is my only time to go, but it so hard. The kids being home also seem to be cramping my style. I know that I should be enjoying the fact that we have no plans every day, that I don't have to pack lunches or do homework, but quite honestly I like the routine. I like having a plan, I can't help it, it is my personality. I am trying to embrace being laid back and fun, but it is just not working. My 9 year old told me it was because I was not laid back, so it was okay. Pretty impressive when your 9 year old son recognizes that you are not laid back:) Anyway...I have a long run planned for tomorrow and I am at the Cape next week which will require a couple of long runs and hopefully I will be back on track. Wish me luck.

Bad Run, Bad Day

Today I was supposed to run 5 miles. I made it 3.6 on the treadmill at the gym. I got up at 5:15, got ready and was on the treadmill by 5:45. It was dreadful. My Garmin wasn't working indoors, every mile was going so sloooooow. By mile 2 I had to go to the bathroom, by mile 3 I was trying to talk myself into running 5 and by 3.6 I was officially done. This treadmill run made me realize a couple of things about myself this am. 1/I hate the treadmill. 2/I am not a great early morning runner. I am doing it because the kids are home, but man 9 am is really more my time. 3/I like running with people. The entire time on the treadmill my mind was all over the place. I couldn't find myself and it was not enjoyable. I love to run. It is my outlet, but honestly this morning I was thinking that I hated it. Not good.

Needless to say this is my first week of Marathon training and I am now stressed about what the summer holds. I talked to my mother this morning, a former runner herself, and she reminded me that some days are just like that. So....I guess I will close the book and try again tomorrow. Sorry Hal!

This is the Week....

Well, this is the week that marathon training starts. Needless to say I am a little excited. I have printed out my training plan (thank you Hal Higdon), I have printed out calendars for the next four months (thank you Running Diva Mom) and I am feeling ready to go. I am meeting my fast running partner Michelle on Friday and we are going over our training plan, long runs etc...I am glad that this is a cross day. I am going to the pool with the kiddos today and I am hoping to swim a bit. I am tired from all of the fourth of July festivities. Amherst is one of the best places to live on the fourth. We have an incredible parade (a bit long this year) and everyone is so festive! We had friends over last evening and ate a lot of food especially an incredible rhubarb crisp, made by....one of the husbands. All I can say is ........WOW!!! We were all oooingg and aaahhinng over his masterpiece to which he then let us in on his secret...he was a cook for 15 years. That explains it. Now, I need to get with the program. Enough eating and start running!

1000++++Miles with Tall Mom Mel

I am really excited, Mel from Tall Mom on the Run opened up her 1000+++ Mile Challenge to people again and I signed up. That means this year my legs are going to run over 1000 miles. That is more miles than running to my mom's house in Pennsylvania and I am so excited. Running has becoming such a huge part of my existence this year. It takes the stress out of my body, I am stronger than I have ever been and I think that I have become a better mother. It has given me self focus and has taken away some of the kid focus.

Tomorrow morning my friend Karin and I are doing our long run for the week. I have really just been squeaking in 3 and 4 mile runs. It is almost like I have been a bit depressed since my race. My best description would be that post wedding feeling. You strive so hard to train and have a great time and then it is over. So....now it is time to get back down to business. My marathon training starts on Monday and I need to get it into gear.

Lastly, I don't know anyone in the DC area, but I am going to sign up for the DC National Marathon. I think that it is in March. I might just do the half, but it will give me something to train for this winter.

Happy 4th of July!!