race report: july

daschutes dash...

so, you may remember i was signed up for the duathlon? i changed it to a 10k. much more doable considering i haven't ridden a bicycle in well over a year. 

here's the race day skinny...

prep: 

most training programs i have looked at have you run every other day. for me that isn't enough to build endurance. what has worked well for me is to do two days together, take a day off, then three days together, take a day off. i am not sure what you experienced runners might say to that, but for this race i really noticed a difference and felt stronger than my last 10k (read about it here).

also, i have been trying different breakfast foods before my long runs trying to nail down what works best for me. in may i ran an awful 5k after eating a HUGE breakfast of french toast. i had this silly idea that it was only 3 miles so no biggy....wrong!!!! so far what i like best is toast with peanut butter and some sliced banana on top. i also eat it about an hour and a half before my run. runner friends, what breakfast works for you?

i decided to run sans music and liked it. it made me aware i need a little work on my breathing, i sound like i am dying! 

(before the race)

race:

something is seriously wrong with me. i get really warm when i run. like hot, over-heated, red faced, sticky. it's not normal. so i was a super happy girl when race day brought overcast skies and cool temperatures. 

i also got to run this race with my best friend katie. she is someone i feel so comfortable with, and it turns out we are great running buddies. she is much more of a natural runner than i, and her pace is faster, but the conversation is easy and she knows how to make fun of my heavy panting without hurting my feelings.

the 10k portion of this race was a small group compared to the triathalons that most deschutes dash participants were racing in. it is a flat course along the deschutes river in the old mill. 

miles 1 and 2 were uneventful, kate and i found our stride. i told her i wanted to start slow and speed up as we went, and we did just that. 

and then i had to pee. i don't trust this mommy bladder of mine, and i became nervous when i started to scout out port-a-potties and noticed there were none to be found. kate distracted me and we carried on. by the time i did spot one, i decided to hold it and run faster...it worked this time, but maybe not the best racing strategy?

mile 4 was hard. mentally. i was tired and felt like i would like to stop. but i kept going, dedicating my run to addison in my heart, dug deep and kept trucking. katie kicked it up a notch and headed out. i hung back trying not to think of waterfalls, rushing water (hard to do with the river beside you), or toilets.

mile 5, i was almost there. i spotted mackenzie, justin, and addie cheering me on. mackenzie jumped into the race and grabbed my hand, running alongside me for a few strides. it was just the boost i needed to finish 'er up.

mile 6 i knew i was close, i lengthened my stride and started smiling. i was almost there. i felt good and proud and knew my family would be on the other side of the finish line. 

 (yay! we did it)

things to work on: 

• my breathing. keeping it even, not wearing myself out hyperventilating. 
• also, my mental toughness, how to stay strong especially around mile 4/5. 
• and of course, my pace...always wanting to speed it up. i don't have the official report but i believe it was right around 10:40 miles. my last 10k was 11:43 miles and i was hurting SO bad! improvement!

next month: hauling aspen 7 miler...

#9

 

reading. it rocks my world. justin knows that if i have a new book in hand, something i'm real excited about, i might be MIA while i power through said book in a day.
i love going to the bookstore. the smells of the books. the shelves neatly organized by author's last name. places like powell's (serious love here). the feeling that there is a hidden treasure to find down those aisles. i love when reading a good book, i can be a million miles away and it feels so dang good.
i've always been this way. and i am crossing my fingers that my girls will love it too.

                                                                      

some of my favorite reads

favorite series: i first must say, i love a good series because when you close the book there is the next one waiting and it makes me happy. harry potter...hands down.
favorite love story: tie between pride and prejudice & the time traveler's wife
favorite classic: oliver twist
favorite childhood: anne of green gables. this also wins for most times read.
favorite picture book: the giving tree
latest favorite: I'm currently reading eragon (the inheritance cycle) and am totally into it.
favorite nonfiction: under the banner of heaven
favorite "spiritual" book: (other than the bible, duh) ragamuffin gospel

***note, these choices are ever changing***


other favs:

• snowflower and the secret fan 
• the history of love
• the art of racing in the rain
• secret garden
• emma
• the lotus eaters
• tales of the fourth grade nothing
• clan of the cave bear series
• shadow of the wind
• wrinkle in time
• little women
• the brief and wondrous life of oscar wao
• eight cousins
• glass castle
• water for elephants
• roll of thunder hear my cry
• hunger games
• the girl with a dragon tattoo
• matilda
• don't let the pigeon drive the bus

the year of races...

lately (finally!!!) i have some time on my hands. can you tell? i have been blogging more. 

anyways. while my girls sleep and i am here on assignment (more on that later) i have gotten way too into a few blogs (checkout runninghood & tall mom on the run). both are running blogs. and i am inspired. and i want to challenge myself. and it has to do with running. and i have a great idea... well i hope it's a great idea.

but first, a few truths about me and running. i have a love/hate relationship with running. i love the way i feel when i have found my stride, when i am lovin' my playlist, when my mind is focused, and the way i breathe when i am all done running. i hate the first three minutes, how fast i lose my endurance, and how hard i have to work to get it back. i am a slow runner. if i am going to do my below challenge...i need to do some extra work (more on that later) to make sure i don't kill myself or my back. my longest  race was a half-marathon, and for now that is as long as i want to train for. i love driving to a new spot to run, checking out different parts of the city, running in an unfamiliar location makes it feel exciting and new.

so this is the challenge: starting this month i will participate in one race (of varying lengths and locations) for 12 months. whataya think? i listed ones that i am thinking about doing...and have already registered for july and august's races. if you have any input please share! (and yes, i know this can get a little spendy, but my gym membership is currently on hold so i think it is a win/win)

why?-- i'm not sure if it is just one reason. i think the biggest reason is that for the past three years my body has either housed, or fed another being...and i would like to reclaim it. i also don't/won't workout just for the heck of it, i need a goal-something to work towards.

July: deschutes dash 10k (i changed my duathlon. i just couldnt' get the time to train on the bike)

August: haulin aspen 7 miler

September:

October: half marathon?? (i was going to try  a half in august but that wasn't realistic)

November: maybe a turkey day race

December: maybe a jingle bell run

January:

February:

March: shamrock

April:

May: thinking either the rock n roll half or the avenue of the giants half

June:

July: I think I would like to redo the Deschutes Dash 10k and see the difference a year would make  :)

so......here we go!

playlist

here are a few music confessions:

when i was little i would pretend my life was a movie and i would pick songs to go with different scenes, you know like a soundtrack...oh don't tell me you didn't do it too

i still have all my fresh prince and jazzy jeff cds and have been known to break out "parents just don't understand" on a whim.

when i was in the third grade, at least twice a week i would wear overalls with only one side buckled...inspired of course by my fav boy band, new kids on the block



which brings me to what's really on my mind...

what's on your playlist? do you have "go-to" workout songs that find their way onto every new playlist you create? me too. there are a few standbys that i simply depend on to get me through a hard workout. and it's funny, because as soon as the song comes on my whole stride changes...

for example:

when this song is playing i literally have to clench my fist to keep from doing my own drum solo mid run. my running starts to resemble dancing and i am 5 years old again dancing in the living room with my mom.

or this one. straight faced, running hard, feeling tough and hardcore.

and of course this one makes me smile...and cop a little attitude

recently i have fallin' in love with this song and have been skipping ahead to it just to get me going. love love love it.

i'm curious. what are your go-to songs that get you through?

oh motherhood..you kick my buns!

seriously! being a mom is tough. that really has been my main and constant thought these past few weeks.  i have always taken the role of motherhood seriously, even before mackenzie was in our arms  justin and i would spend hours and hours talking through our goals in parenting, our ideas and philosophies. and we are still there, discussing and dissecting what we want to be about as parents...i think we'll continue to do this until both are girls are in college...

but even with all these good intentions, books read, advise followed...

there are days (or weeks) where i feel like i am falling just short (or way short) of the kind of mom i want to be. i am impatient with kenze, i forget to be silly and play, my kids become my accessories as i bounce from one thing to the next, and i find myself worrying through the details. 

our latest challenge is with miss addie joy. she has reflux. i mean sister can PUKE! and it has taken all of her 5 months to figure out the best treatment. i think we're there, i'm hoping we're there. and the last few weeks have been the hardest with her and her little spewin' problem.

so for now my goals are to keep addison on her latest/greatest schedule. keep pumpin' the meds. blow some raspberries on mackenzie's tummy.give lots of big sloppy kisses. say our bedtime prayers. and accept that falling short is part of the gig...right?

#10

it all started on a drive home from bend. justin asked me to get out a piece of paper and record as he dictated his "simple pleasures in life". i laughed and went along with it, but soon found myself commenting and adding in pieces until the list had filled both sides of the paper. the items ranged from places, to people, to objects, to traditions...it also made me so aware of how well justin and i knew each other...and it always feels amazing to be truly known doesn't it? we have continued to come back to the list since that drive. i have created my own list of favorite things. this weekend we decided to share our top tens with you...our community. our goal in sharing is to invite you into the conversation, what makes you tick? what do you hold dear?

justin started his earlier this week, you can check it out here: http://6thstreetranch.blogspot.com/

my #10

camping/backpacking

i love it because...

the stillness....or the smell of raw earth, evergreen trees, and sunscreen...maybe the campfire...or the miles and miles of beauty...and also the time away from our busy lives...perhaps the excuse to not worry about make up or hair/appearances...definitely the food (all the yummy things we normally don't eat).

whatever the reason, i am drawn to the simplicity of life while camping. i feel like i breathe deeper, i can sit still and be content doing so. seriously, good for the soul kinda stuff.

what place brings you back to life? leaves your insides humming? 

pictures from last summer's camp out 

 elk lake at sunrise

 mist coming off the lake

 mackenzie eating dirt for breakfast

 the views...

 hammocks and snuggle time

 catching crawdads

the family ready for a troll on the lake, everything moves slow here (even the boats) and that's the point

 crawdads all cooked up and ready to eat! (i passed)

coffee with mackenzie

i'm baking pies today. as i was getting my ingredients out, mackenzie was dashing to her kitchen to cook along side me. she busied herself pulling every piece of play food out of the cabinets and slamming her kitchen doors. then she brought tray after tray of "treats" to the dining room table and when i sat down she was ready to serve me.

first were the lettuce cookies. she assured me they were very good and good for me too! she poured me coffee (water from her sippy cup into her tea cup). as i was bringing it to my lips she snatched it from my hands crying, "wait! it's too hot!" and blew (a little spit and a lot of air) into the cup. while she was cooling my cup, i was instructed to hold her cup. "no drink it, it's for big girls", she said giving me the look. (don't know where she learned it, but it reminds me of a teacher look that would stop 6 year olds in mid step)

coffee was such a hit, she decided we needed seconds. she poured all the water from her sippy cup into her two tea cups, hitting her target only half the time. "oh no! it's messy" she yelled and starts frantically mopping up the puddle of water with her napkin and then my anthropologie sweater.

coffee time ended because i was laughing so hard mackenzie/my barista sent me to the calm chair.

cheers to more coffee dates with my girls!