Stats: ING Miami 2008

Number of people who signed up for a 17-week training program to complete a Half Marathon: 35
Number of runners who made it to the Starting Line: 30
Number of training program "drop-outs" whose injuries were not running related: 4
Number of runners who completed the Half Marathon they spent 17 weeks training for: 30
Number of runners who either met or beat their "goal time": 27
Number of runners who were more than 10 minutes slower than goal time: 0
Number of First Time Half Marathon finishers: 25
Number of runners who are meeting me next Saturday to prepare for the next race: 23


******Oops...should have stated that this post is a follow-up to this post*****

Get me out the door

I'm so glad January is almost gone. I just cannot get out the door. I'm cold. I'm tired, I'm busy, waa waa waa. Gosh, I cannot stand myself. I need some warmth.

Our Little World got me thinking....

and EAGER to hear how you guys stay motivated.

this quote?

-------
here I am, back home, full of horrible non-energizing food and totally derailed from all things training and healthy
-------
well, I havent had a vacation in AGES but still manage to resemble that about once a week.

For me the motivation ISNT a skinny celeb(utante) it's a photo of myself in a better place (and Im not talking St Barts).

I slap that sucker up on the fridge and even those Ore Ida 99 cent microwave fries seem to call me a LITTLE less loudly.

Redux

Okay, I don't know why the information is not appearing, so I'll try it again. I couldn't find a link, so here goes, verbatim:
Physically active people have cells that look younger on a molecular level than those of couch potatoes, according to new research.
A study of British twins found that exercise appears to slow the shriveling of the protective tips on bundles of genes inside cells, perhaps keeping frailty at bay.
"These data suggest that the act of exercising may actually protect the body against the aging process," said Tim Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College in London who led the study, published Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Previous research has shown that being physically active reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases, potentially extending longevity. In the hopes of helping explain how, Dr. Spector and his colleagues examined structures known as telomeres.
Every time a cell divides, telomeres get shorter. Scientists believe that aging occurs as cells reach the end of their telomeres and die--muscles weaken, skin wrinkles and thinking clouds.
Dr. Spector and his colleagues analyzed telomeres collected from 2,401 twins participating in a long-term health study. The length of the twins' telomeres was directly related the their activity levels, the researchers found.
People who did a moderate amount of exercise--about 100 minutes a week--had telomeres that on average looked like those of someone about five or six years younger than those who did the least--about 16 minutes a week. Those who did the most--about 3 hours a week--had telomeres that appeared to be about nine years younger than those who did the least.
Other researchers said the findings are intriguing.
"It's another jigsaw piece in trying to understand why exercise is important in longevity," said Stephen Coles, who studies aging at UCLA.

Original source: The Washington Post

Vacations Mess With Your Mojo

I just got back from spending 4 relaxing days in Florida. You would think that after all the complaining I do about running in the cold weather, I would jump at the opportunity to run while down south. Yeah. You would think. So what did I do? Well, the gym had a fancy-pants treadmill with a T.V. attached so I just had to give it a go. I got on it and watched T.V. for an hour, churning out 6.5 miles then went back to my room, showered then met my husband at the bar where I proceeded to enjoy some beers and anything with melted cheese on top. And so went the next 3 days. Sigh. And now here I am, back home, full of horrible non-energizing food and totally derailed from all things training and healthy! Yikes! The second I drop my 4-year-old off at preschool tomorrow, I'm hitting the gym. With any luck, I'll be able to run for 3 miles on the treadmill without passing out. Better eat salad and fish for dinner.
How do you guys stay motivated while on vacation? And more importantly for me right now, how do you get back into it once you get home if you fell off the training wagon while away?

This just in...

Hello fellow Fountain of Youth Discoverers! Came across an article in today's paper. It seems that exercise may be protecting your body from the aging process! Yes, you heard me right, exercise may be protecting your body from the aging process. To quote my source (The Dallas Morning News) "A study of British twins found that exercise appears to slow the shriveling of the protective tips on bundles of genes inside cells, perhaps keeping frailty at bay...People who did a moderate amount of exercise--about 100 minutes a week (this is where you marathoners snicker) had telomeres that on average looked like those of someone five or six years younger than those who did the least--about 16 minutes a week. Those who did the most--about three hours a week--had telomeres that appeared to be about nine years younger than those who did the least."

I don't know about you, but when I see unfit, indulgent, undisciplined people, I hurt for them. Exercise is difficult to cultivate into one's lifestyle--I will not try to deny it, but the payoff...whoa, Nelly!

I don't exercise because I want to be hot (okay, it would be really nice to be hot), I exercise because I want to enjoy old age. I want to crawl on the floor with my son. I want to climb trees with my daughter. I want to...never mind, that's private.

I thought you would find this information interesting. If you care to follow up, Stephen Coles, who studies aging at UCLA, was quoted in the article. I'm sure a quick Google would bring up a wealth of information.

And Congratulations on your good health!

Stroller Activities

Some of our favorite things to do in the stroller while enclosed inside the windshield , in order of increasing desperation:

• Draw or color. I LOVE Crayola Color Wonder markers. They don’t get ink all over their hands, faces, and clothes, and the markers don’t get peeled and broken into pieces like crayons. (Do avoid the Color Wonder finger paints, however. Obviously not good for the stroller, but even at home they are very oily and will stain your expensive windbreaker.)
• Read books. Younger kids just look at the pictures, but when you are not running near traffic, you can actually read the pages to them – especially books that you’ve already memorized.
• Look for animals. When you see geese, HONK! When you see dogs, BARK! When you see birds, CHIRP! My kids do a mean seagull! Very convincing ;)
• Eat. Quickly, some good stroller snacks are a dry bagel, peeled and cored apple, string cheese or snack mix with things like Cheerios, raisins and pretzels. Bad stroller snacks are things like dry instant oatmeal, American cheese slices, anything with cream cheese, or chewy granola bars which crumble apart and are STILL sticky.
• Music. We’ve always sung as we ran along, but this winter, we’ve sunk to a new low: kid headphones. We’ve commandeered my husband’s iPod shuffle, loaded it with kid songs, and bought a splitter and two pairs of headphones designed for use by children. I am very careful to keep the volume low to protect their young ears. Plus they keep the kids’ ears warm.

The novelty of the headphones seems to have negated the undesirable weather for my little passengers. In the spring, I’ll share our version of “Stroller Bingo”.

• What is the best or worst stroller snack you've tried?
  

Win a pair of FREE Polliwalks at Classy Mommy

Hi Ladies - We're giving away a pair of these cute Polliwalks Clogs at Classy Mommy. We reviewed them and my active 2 year old loves them!!!! The sole of the shoe leaves a footprint in sand, mud, or dirt and they are shaped in the style of adorable animals.

Click here to find out how to enter! Visit Classy Mommy to read the full review too!

Marathon Mantra

I, and my beloved TeamFootworks, will be participating in the ING Miami Marathon tonight (well, technically, it's tomorrow, but we'll be getting up SO early that I think you can call it Saturday night still). I am doing the Half, while many of my friends will be going for the Full Monty.

I live pretty close to the end of the course (actually, watching the medley of people go by a few years back got me into running, but that's another tale) so I plan on getting back home in time to help them not bonk at "the wall." In doing so, I scoured the internet for some "inspirational" words for posters/signs. Since I my eyes began to water (then again, Publix commercials make me weep), I thought I'd share ones I enjoyed.

• Pain is just weakness leaving your body (silly, but I pondered that one for TEN miles at last years marathon and it got me through).
• You made it to the START, you will make it to the FINISH
• This mile marker is farther than most will ever reach.
• Cold Beer & Hot Showers, Cold Beer & Hot Showers, Cold Beer & Hot Showers
• Pain is temporary, Pride is forever
  
• Relax, Power, Glide
• 1, 3, 5, 2, 4 (I found counting out of order over and over again made me concentrate hard on the numbers not the shin splints)
  

I'd like to hear your running mantras or inspirational running quotes.

Set the Animals Free - It Will Improve My Time

My crew (4 out of the 5 of us) are running in the Zoo Run Run today. Thankfully, it won't be as cold as it was yesterday (in the 20's - AUGH). They are calling for 50 degree weather, which suits me just fine.

Now - if they will just release a few of the more carnivorous animals then I might be able to beat my best time. Nothing like a cheetah and a tiger chasing you down to make you hustle!

25th High School Reunion

Hi Mommies,

I tried to add a picture from my 25th High School Reunion. Yes, that would be 1982. I would have had big hair in 1982 if I could have made my flat hair get higher. The gal on the left has been my best friend since we were 4 years old(yoga queen). I'm happily in red. I think the pic is showing in my profile and not here. I'm technically challenged.
Trice

Flashback

I was running errands today when "We are an American Band" came on the radio.....I was instantly teleported back to High School; no longer driving a minivan with carseats.......but instead I had painted on jeans, big 80s hair, drinking a beer and driving around with all my other "cool friends" in a gas hog complete with big dice on the mirror...............I wonder when I am 60 if I will flashback to this time period with minivan and carseats when I hear a Nickelback song on the radio?

It's all in the arms

Hello Running Mommies,

Forgive the absence. I went to Boston to pick up my 85 year old Grammy and get her out of the snow for a few months. While I was there I met with my friends I've known since the 6th grade. They were all asking about running. I'm the only one who runs. Two are big into yoga, one goes to the gym for various things and the other is just a natural beauty who does not seem to need much. It reminded me of last years's trip to NY to see some friends who are also my age. It was May and several had sleeveless tops. It was at that time that I thought Mommy arms need working out. It is a total age give away if your arms (triceps)are flabby. Two of the friends are really thin/in-shape, but had flabby arms. I remember thinking how do I ever say it?? Do I ever say it? Would I want someone to say it to me since I know my abs could use a ton of work? Do we tell other Mommies? Are we quiet? I think I'm going to say it as a revelation group moment that I've realized arms count as you age. Running Mommies already have great legs.

My Grammy by the way has always worked out. She's younger than my 65 year old Mommy. She's an inspiration. It is awesome to be around her and soak up the knowledge. She's wise, funny, and joyful. I want to be just like her.

If I go it will be trouble. If I stay it will be double.

Cold weather – Part 2

(Thanks to The Clash for so accurately describing my dilemma!)

This struggle is the same whether you are heading out on a 10 mile run or just going for a walk around the block. Similar prep for a bike trailer too, so hopefully in this series, there is something for everyone.

So, once you’re going- how to prep the kids? Make it exciting and inevitable. Exciting: “Hey kids! Let’s go see if the lake is frozen yet!” Inevitable: the kids will tell if you are dreading it and they will find a way to weasel out of it if they sense any weakness. If you’re looking for an out, they are going to find one for you. You now how it can take weeks to finally get to the post office, but doing (fill in the blank) never seems to be a problem. Same idea.

Make sure that the kids are dressed well for the weather conditions. They will be happier if they are comfortable and you’ll get fewer dirty looks from other runners and walkers for taking your babies out in the cold. My general rule of thumb is to dress them in what I am wearing PLUS one complete extra layer. Don’t forget their little toesies. Below about 40 my daughter complains her feet are too cold in regular shoes so she’ll wear boots. And blankets. This is a great use for all those fleece baby blankets. My kids just throw their mittens out of the stroller anyway so tucking their hands inside the blanket works best for us. I recommend ONE PER CHILD. Sharing one is unlikely to work.

Finally, don’t forget yourself! Key item for running in cold with stroller: MITTENS. You can’t tuck your hands inside your sleeves anymore! Plus the standard advice: a moisture-wicking inside layer, a wind-blocking outer layer if it is particularly windy or cold and to cover the extremities (hat, gloves, etc.). My friend runs with socks on her hands rather than fancy gloves. Then when you blow your nose on your “mittens” – you know you do it too - you can just throw them in the wash and wear a different pair next time.

nothing new in cold rainy texas but

an addiction to THIS:




and THIS:



the first is a FANTIZTASTIC high protein cereal Ive found.
I love that it's sold in individual packages as I hath no selfcontrol and it was embarrassing to have an entire box in my diaper bag.


the second? Wilton's Giant Cupcake Pan. Love. If I could (alltogethernow) Id marry that sucker.

it's THAT great.

(and, alas, Im not making any money off these endorsements so you KNOW Im being honest.)

Corazonas and...candles??

I was SO excited to receive a package full of Corazonas chips (thank you, Andrea and Corazonas!), and quickly realized that my family could never eat them all even though they are SO yummy. So I took them to a friend's candle party and everyone was totally getting into "taste testing" them and commenting on each flavor. They were more popular than the candles!! The candle representative even offered to trade candles with me for my bag of Baja Bean Dip (of course I told her no - it's my favorite too)!! Here's the email I got the next morning from her:

"I immediately had to Google the chips to find out where I could get them. feel free to pass the info along to the ladies at the party............If you need to find me I will be at Safeway first thing tomorrow buying 10 bags of the Baja Bean Dip. =)

http://www.corazonas.com/locate.php "

Shelly

Wardrobe? Check!

Since I can't run, or even touch my toes (34 weeks pregnant as of today), the most I can do is plan my next race...which I hope will be this year's marine corps marathon. By the time my doctor okays me to run (post C-section) I will have just over 6 months to train. I've already started planning my wardrobe:

Psych T-shirt. I've decided to wear it for the following reasons:

1. It's light weight.
2. It has cap sleeves that shouldn't cause chafing while running.
3. The back of it says "I sense you're following me." If you've ever run a marathon, you know how wonderful this is!

Bunny Funny

And now: our daily funny.

Tapering

A little over a year ago, I bought a Polar Running Computer, or, as my husband calls it: "a watch that can't tell time". I picked it out, paid for it out of his account and told him to wish me a Happy Birthday. He wasn't convinced it was a good idea. Not just because my normally frugal tastes suddenly discovered opulence, but perhaps he was thinking of how my interest always tapers a few months after declaring "my new passion."

Me: But it can tell me how fast I'm running, how far I've gone, how much time I have left for my intervals, what my heart rate is and how many calories I burned. My god, I just burned 34 calories having this conversation!

Him: Hmmph.

But something amazing happened: I kept using it. Soon, I switched from 2:1's to 3:1's. Then I had to add 4:1's and 5:1's. I used it on Saturday morning long runs. I used it on a couple weekday runs. I started taking it into the pool, and measuring how long it took me to bike to the gym or to my son's school. And now the "Batteries are Low" symbol just came on. It's supposed to last 2 years with "average usage." Instead of being annoyed that it hasn't lasted that long, I'm proud I've worn it down quicker.

I'm 10 days out from the ING Miami Half Marathon, so I'm forced to thin out my workout schedule. Funny how the one "craze" I can devote myself to incorporates tapering.

HELP!!

I need advice. My son was born by C-section--he was a 9 lb 12 oz breech baby--and the doctor stitched me a little...tight. I've been working hard to lose my belly but while the rest of me is fitter than a fiddle, I just can't seem to lose this blob. Advice needed! Should I confront the doctor about the mis-stitch? Should I just live with it?