The beauty of Nashville . . .

As school started this year, my life turned upside-down with so many new changes and stresses in every area of my life. While my blog went by the wayside, I am proud to say that my running stayed constant. With my husband’s help and support, I was able to carve out a little time throughout the week to squeeze in my training and even all of my long runs. My incredible husband, wonderful kids, and stress releasing running were my constant during this time of transition. And I can now say, with pride, that I have completed my second half marathon.



Last Saturday, my niece and I ran the Women’s Half Marathon in Nashville, along with three of my sisters and my mom who all walked it. This second time around has been just as full of life lessons and joys as the first time, but even more enjoyable. My goal finish time was 3 hours and I finished in 2:47:32! I didn’t even notice how tired my legs were because honestly, I was just having so much fun. It was really empowering to be in a sea of thousands of women of all ages and fitness levels accomplishing a feat that had such individual meaning to each and every woman. There was an amazing feeling of supportive comradery throughout the whole race. And the city was beautiful! And my favorite part of the race was going 3 mile down a beautiful street that had a turn around at the end followed by 3 miles back. What I loved was spending 6 miles seeing all of the other women going the other way. We kept cheering for each other, and encouraging those in their first 3 miles of the stretch. I also got to see and high-five all of my sisters and my mom! I missed my niece somehow, although it turns out she was close behind me the whole time. I wish I had known – I would have hung back a few minutes so I could run with her! Maybe next time.



We all finished under our goal times and each completed our own journey getting to that spot on the other side of the finish line. And we all went back and waited for my mom at the end of the race and walked with her across the finish line, 5 minutes under the 4 hour mark! I’ll admit. I cried off and on for a good hour or so afterward. I’m proud of myself for being able to do so much in such a short training time. But more than anything, I’m proud of my family who all overcame their own physical, mental, and emotional obstacles to finish that race. And we became a family who are now in constant contact with each other, even if it is through facebook. Several times a day, we would (and still do) check in with each other with training advice, successes, frustrations, venting, spiritual thoughts, support . . . It started as an ambitious idea which I thought would never take off, and has become an incredible journey. And we’re now, of course, all hooked – everyone is talking about “the next one!”



For me, my plan is to step back, build my training more slowly, doing a half in the spring, another in the fall, and then going for the full marathon in the spring of 2013. I feel I finally understand how to train more efficiently and effectively, and I want to make sure I have a strong physical base before attempting a full marathon so that it is a good experience. I want to WANT to do another marathon once I’m done. I want to be one of those 70 year old women out running on a Saturday morning. It’s funny. I thought it was a miracle I went from avoiding running at all costs to wanting to “finish one half marathon.” That turned into “do another half so I can do a full marathon once and cross it off my bucket list.” Now, it’s “become a marathon runner.” You never know what crazy path you might end up taking yourself down . . .

Baby steps to training for September . . .

It has been too long since I have posted. But the good news is that instead of writing about running, I have actually been running! As I mentioned before, I'm training for the Women's Half Marathon in Nashville at the end of September. I was really worried because my leg had been injured, but I can say that today I am injury free! I have started up my running nice and slow, following the training guide I got for free with my half marathon sign up.

It was a good guide to get me going. Most weeks look like this:
M- 30 min run, low intensity
T- cross train, medium intensity
W - rest
Th - 30 min run, medium intensity
F - cross train, low intensity
S - long run (started at 4 miles)

Then of course the minutes go up and the mileage goes up, with a nice taper the few weeks before the race. I like that it slowly builds and has a good beginning outline. What I don't like is that it just focuses on running. Not different aspects of running.

Everything I have read about training for longer races (and everything I've heard from talking to others) is that there are 3 important exercises to include each week. Each of these exercises helps strengthen different parts of your body, and I'm not talking about different leg muscles. They train your heart, lungs, metabolism, and other systems to work more efficiently.

First, you want to do intervals one day. Intervals are like little (or big) pick up during your run. You warm up with a good mile or so, then do 6-10 intervals. You could pick up the pace for a minute or for a specific distance if you're on a track. This isn't just picking up the pace a tad but going significantly faster. This will help build speed over time. Here's a pretty good article on speed work: Speed Work/Intervals

Second, you want to do a tempo run. This is practicing the pace you want to run for your race. It trains your muscles how to use oxygen more efficiently. As your tempo runs go longer, your lactate threshold, or the point at which your body fatigues, gets longer as well. What you do is warm up with a mile or more, then hold your race pace for a few miles, starting with less mileage and building up. Note - this is NOT your long run. That comes next. Here's a good article about tempo runs: Tempo Runs

Lastly, you will need to do a long run. This is actually at a "conversation pace," or a pace at which you could talk to someone next to you. This builds strength endurance. You want to add no more than a mile each week, but you want to get close to your race distance (10 miles for a half, 20 miles for a full marathon). Once you start getting some races under your belt, and your goals become more time oriented instead of "I just want to finish!" you can build these to longer than race distance. Also, every fourth week, you should back off a tad on your long run mileage, as well as your other mileage. This is true of any exercise, including weights. It gives your body a bit of recovery time. I love using www.mapmyrun.com to map out runs, including around park tracks and such to figure out mileage. It was also great to use when I ran in Tennessee, since I didn't know the area well.

Something that I read in Born to Run, spoken by a big time trainer, is that too many people do their fast runs too slow and their slow runs too fast. I definitely fall under that category. I always ran the same speed, whether I ran 1 mile or 10. I never thought past the idea of running a certain distance. I'm excited to really use the above exercises, and to really vary my pace.

As you get closer to your race, you should start adding in hills as well. This is obviously running up and down hills to train your body and muscles to adapt to different terrains.

The other things that should be included in a good training schedule are rest or easy days. It is important to give your muscles (heart included) time to recover. you will see better results if you give yourself some recoveries, especially after hard and long runs. (This is also true of weigh lifting.) Speaking of weights, you want to include crosstraining. This can be cardio, though as I just mentioned, you don't want to push hard everyday, or it can be weight lifting. Weight lifting is such an important part of fitness, which I am slowly learning. I'll be honest. I'm not a big fan. But as I've been lifting regularly for the past two months, I feel a difference in my running as well as overall fitness and health.

With all this said, I am starting to add these three workouts into my schedule this week and it feels great. I have successfully completed a month of training just focusing on getting moving and such, but now it's time to kick it up a notch. I feel great, and I'm proud to say that while I've only lost 2 pounds, I've lost 1/2 inch everywhere, and I see a noticeable difference. Everything feels a little more firm and a little less giggly. And most of all, I just FEEL better.

As I pay more money towards this trip, I somehow find more motivation to train. I start thinking, "Man! I better make the most of this!" I'm getting excited. I feel stronger, but I'm only a few steps into the journey. Two months to go, and I feel like I've got a long way to go . . .

It's official . . .

I'm running the Women's Half Marathon in Nashville, TN at the end of September. I'm all signed up and everything. What's cool is I got a free interactive training schedule when I signed up. And is it sad and too girly of me to be really excited about the finisher's medal? It has a removable necklace charm, so I can actually wear part of my medal whenever I want! So officially it's me, my niece, my mom, and four of my sisters, partying like it's 1999.

So what does this mean for me? It means relearning how to listen to my body while simultaneously telling it to shut up and run. It means working really hard while clearing my mind and rejuvenating my drive. It means a really weird form of therapy and meditation. It means big bursts of serotonin and other happy hormones. It means torturous running. And loving it.

What does it mean for you? Lots of rambling blog posts from me. Lucky you.

Up and down . . .

What an up and down year this has been, and that includes my running life as well. I started running and though I knew I needed to go slow, I just pushed too hard. I also started wearing my New Balance Minimus shoes while I pushed too hard, and yup! I got injured. I'm almost positive I have a stress fracture. It fits all the symptoms and descriptions I've read. It might also be a torn/stressed tendon, but my gut says it is the former.

While I am still a firm believer in minimal footwear, I just did too much too soon, which is what all of the minimal footwear literature emphasizes over and over. I also think that the particular shoes I bought were just not right for me. I wear nothing but minimal footwear all day long (when I'm even wearing shoes), as I wear pretty flat sandals, very thin ballet flats, and sometimes my good ol' chucks. That's the extent of my daily footwear choices. But when I'd wear my NB Minimus, even just for a walk or to the gym, my leg would ache again. That told me it was the shoes as well as the over doing it. I should have just gone for the fivefingers. I just didn't want all the stares.

But that brings us to today. My leg is feeling really good, after really taking it easy with only cross training and weights with no running and taking bone calcium supplements for quite a while. And it comes just in time. I was thinking of bailing out of the half marathon I had planned for the end of September, but somehow my sister and I have convinced the women of my family to do it. So, three of my sisters and my mom will be walking the Nashville Women's Half Marathon, and my niece and I will be running it. They are all paid for and signed up. I will be on Friday. So, there's no backing out now!

Do I think I can train to run the whole thing by the end of September? To be honest, I've very doubtful. But I'm going to do what I can. It's been hard to readjust my goals. In January, I had time goals and strategies. Now my goal is to finish it, and hopefully run the whole thing. It's tough starting all over. A year ago I could run 6+ miles quite easily and it was even fun. Now I struggle to finish a mile without breaking and while it is really frustrating, I am trying to focus on the fact that I have done this before, so I can do it again.

This week I am giving my leg a test run with harder cross training, mostly spin and maybe some elliptical. Next week I jump back into running - SLOWLY this time, so I don't get hurt. The good thing is my stride has changed. I used to hear a thunk thunk thunk thunk as I ran, and with my ear phones on, I heard it very loudly in my ears. Now it's a light pat pat pat pat, mostly landing on my midfoot. I know this will help me avoid injury as well.

So, the journey begins again . . . let's hope this is the last beginning for a while and I see it to the end this time. Half in Sept, full in the spring.

a return . . .

(This is my awesome barely 3 year old son, RUNNING up the hiking trail we went on in Tennessee. When we stopped to wait for others he just kept asking, "Can I run now?" That memory epitomizes this post.)

It has been too long between posts, and I hope to do better.

First of all, it has been so hard to get out running. I have been reading about running. Thinking about running. Planning training ideas. But I can't seem to get out the door. Part of this is that it is so hard to go out for a run with little kids, especially when I am so darn picky. I hate running strollers (plus ours only fits one), and I don't care for treadmills at all. I also live in a rougher neighborhood, so I have to either go somewhere else or plan my run during specific parts of the day. And I live in Arizona, which adds the whether to the variables. To make a long complaint short, I am just finding excuses because running is hard, and getting back into running is harder. It gets frustrating to know that a year ago I was running 10+ miles for my long runs, and 4-6 miles on my other runs, yet I can't go 3 miles without stopping. So I am working on shifting my focus to just running for the enjoyment of it, with the underlying goal of getting to 3 miles straight (and then of course I'll have to start actually training at some point shortly after).

This brings me to my second topic - Born to Run. I had heard a few things about this book from various friends, and I remember when there was a sudden focus on the whole minimalist running based on the Tarahumara tribes in Mexico. Since I had a trip and spring break coming up, I bought the book, and man, am I glad I did! I can honestly say it is one of the best books I've ever read. Even my nephew (who's older than I am) picked it up while at our reunion and finished it within a few days because he just couldn't put it down. While I am weird and actually prefer non-fiction books, I understand that they are often dry and I rarely finish them. This is not that kind of book. While it is full of so much information, it is written by telling different people's stories, and it really read like a novel.



It tells about the tribes in Mexico who are crazy shy, but throw huge drunken parties and go out the next morning and run up to 300 mile races. It tells about various ultra runners (those who race 50 and 100+ miles races, usually on trails) and their love of the sport. Then there is the illusive Caballo who is an American living and running among the Tarahumara, whose story changes depending on who you talk to. And scientists who stumble across amazing facts about how our bodies are really made to run. This book is funny, interesting, moving, and just makes me want to strap on my shoes (or not) and run. The thing I love most is how it emphasizes the love of running. All of these runners that come out of nowhere and just run 50 miles a day because no one ever told them they aren't supposed to be able to do that. I also love all the evidence that we as human are in fact born to run. I've heard so often "We're not really made to run." "Running is dangerous." Running is bad for your body." And the weird belief from the 70's that has somehow stuck, "Running will damage your uterus" . . . or jiggle things loose . . . or make it fall out . . . and weird things like that.

I'd tell you all the details of this book, but honestly - you just have to go and enjoy it yourself. I will give the warning, for those who are offended by such things, that there is some language in this book. Mostly mild, but a handful of f-bombs. It kind of makes me sad because I understand why they're there, but coming from a more conservative crowd, there are many people I know who sadly will never read this book and enjoy it's treasures because of a few words that didn't need to be there. But that's another topic for another day.

So as I read this book and contemplated how I need to return to just running because I love it, I was at a family reunion in Tennessee. We were just outside of Pigeon Forge, for those of you who know TN. Coming from Arizona, which has it's on unique beauty, I have fallen in love with the green lusciousness of Tennessee. Here's the beautiful house we stayed in:



While there, I went on a 2 1/2 mile run with my niece, and then another 2 miles run later by myself. Below is a picture from that run. Honestly, I went for that second run because I knew I was leaving the next day and it'd be my last chance to run on that beautiful road. The other beauty of running in Tennessee? The drivers. Note that there are no shoulders on this road, or any of them for that matter. But the drivers not only would give way more room than needed (especially since I'd jump into the grass, mud, and whatever else next to the road), but they'd smile and wave while doing it. AZ? My experience has been quite the opposite, but thankfully I avoid the streets and run on sidewalks or tracks for that reason.



But here I am, back home in the great desert, trying to find the motivation, time, and energy to just go run. So it's time for compromises with myself. Treadmill, stroller, you name it. I've got to just get myself out there because September is right around the corner, and 13.1 miles aren't going to run themselves. I just need to remember that while the circumstances may not be perfect, I can return to that love of running I found last year, and just enjoy it. If I do that, I really believe the rest will start to fall into place.

Going strong . . .

I went for a 5 1/2 mile run/walk yesterday and it went so well! I mean, don't get me wrong. It was tough. But I felt sooooo good afterward. I forgot how good I feel, both physically and emotionally, when I really run. I went farther than my typical 3 miles because we have a pedometer challenge at our school and I just wanted more steps. But I'm so glad I did.

I went on the River Walk for one main reason - once I go out, I have to come back. I went my 2 3/4 miles west and was totally pooped. But, there was only two ways to get back to the car. Run or walk. And running's faster. All in all, I ended up running about 3 1/2 miles and walking the rest, though there were breaks between and sometimes during those miles. But my fastest mile was just over 12 minutes. 1 min 45 sec shorter than two days earlier. I fell like it's coming back quickly, which gets me excited to go back out. Now just to figure out how to schedule in more runs between work and taking care of my two little monkeys.

Here are two pictures of my favorite part of the River Walk. It's between La Canada and La Cholla. Of all the desert plants, I admit that I love mesquite trees!

A cause for pause . . .

I am now FINALLY getting started with my running. I, of course, am feeling anxious to do some training and so forth, but my first task is building up my running slowly. I have gone out three times now, running/walking 3 miles. My goal is to get back to running 3 miles straight, since that was my "easy run" distance before, and a good starting point in working towards my goals. I am also focusing on my stride, trying to get back to the mid foot strike that I started developing towards the end of my running last time. Which brings me to my not so recent interest . . .

I remember several years back reading an article in Men's Fitness about the Tarahumara tribe in Mexico, who have these ridiculously long runs in nothing but these homemade sandals made of old tires strapped to the bottom of their feet. I think the article was actually about the book Born to Run, which is about a runner who spent time with them, learning their ways, etc. I thought, "How different from everything I've ever heard about running . . . I love it! But is it just a fad?"



A year or so later, during the fall of 2006, while a good friend was visiting from Mexico, we took a road trip up to the Grand Canyon. In Williams, we encountered three runners on their way to run the Grand Canyon. Go ahead and reread that to make sure you read it right. Yep! They were going to run the Grand Canyon. South rim to north rim to south rim. Their car had broken down, but that wasn't going to stop them. They squeezed in the back of our little Honda Accord along with our friend - four adults in the back! (Now that I think about it, I should have forced my way to sit back there so she didn't . . . oh, well.) I quickly noticed those weird glove shoes that I had briefly seen in that article strapped to one of their backpacks. His name was Ted. "Barefoot Ted." And he quickly answered all the questions I had. Turned out he has quite a blog and plays his part in promoting barefoot running - barefotted.com (and now also borntorun.org). His running partners just chuckled and rolled their eyes as he got very excited talking about the whole barefoot running phenomenon. (see his post) I, of course came home and started researching this "radical" idea of running without super cushioned shoes . . . Here's a picture of Barefoot Ted on his Grand Canyon adventure.



A year later I started running and was still fascinated with the idea, though this stint was short lived as I soon became pregnant. Fast forward almost two years and I started actually running and training for my first half marathon. The idea of barefoot running had blossomed and was starting to get more attention . . . I decided that I wanted to get a good base in running before trying something new, but it kept nagging at me, especially as I dealt with shin splints, which often comes from heel striking. Now that I'm training again, I can't get it out of my head. What once seemed like a totally radical idea has started becoming more accepted by the running world. This year I had several students in cross country who all wear those barefoot shoes, and almost every major running shoe company now has their version of minimal or "barefoot" running shoes. Harvard did a study. When I go out running on the river walk, I see at least one person doing it . . . Is this just a fad? Or a revolution?

So here's the theory behind why we should get rid of our cushy running shoes and go more minimal. First of all, humans have run for thousands of years without these fancy shoes. In fact, they came about only in the 1970's. The idea is that since the heel is raised in traditional running shoes, it causes runners to land on their heel, rather than on the ball of their foot, or both together. (75% of traditional running shoe wearers land on their heels.) This causes the shock of contact to travel up the skeleton. When one lands on the ball of their foot, it absorbs the shock instead. Check out these videos (and this website) to see what I mean . . . Harvard - Biomechanics of a Foot Strike

And here's a video of a runner who was given no instructions but to run - once wearing shoes, once just in socks.

As I've mulled over this idea in my head, I've started watching kids feet when they run, since they haven't been taught how to run, and they don't wear fancy shoes. They all land mid or forefoot. People who have never worn shoes to run in their whole lives naturally land in the mid or forefoot. It just makes sense. I tend to gravitate towards ideas that fit with the "why mess with it if it works" mentality. I feel that while modern technology is wonderful, sometimes we mess with stuff too much. But I digress . . .



I also can't get the stories out of my head. While, like any new sport, it has to be eased into slowly, since it uses muscles that haven't been used in a while, it strengthens the foot and ankles. I have read story and story of people who eased into running in "barefoot" shoes and have most of their injuries go away because they ware running in a way that is easier on their body. I mean, why do we accept that shin splint, plantar fasciitis, "runners knee," etc. are all just part of the territory of running? Even as I feel twinges in my shins, I concentrate on having a midfoot strike, and it goes away. "Barefoot running" just makes sense, as radical as it may seem to our modern minds, and I just can't get the idea out of my head. Now is it for everyone? Probably not, as I think most things aren't one size fits all. But it is definitely reshaping our understanding of probably the oldest sport.

The shoe that is probably most popular in this whole revolution, as I've decided to call it, is the Vibram Fivefinger. It looks so silly. Seriously. I went and tried on a pair of Sprints, which were pretty comfortable, and are made as a kind of all purpose Fivefinger. But then I started reading about their newer Bikila shoe, which is specific to running. I tried it on. I can honestly say it is the most comfortable thing I have ever put on my feet. Silly looking, but sooo comfortable.



And so . . . as soon as I can find a decent deal on them (I check the internet and ebay everyday), and maybe sell something for the cash, I will be a proud owner. I don't plan on running in them every time, but like so many people that start out with that thought, I will probably become hooked.

(These are the ones I like the most - kind of cooler looking than their counter part, and I like the added adjustment laces give.)

And I'm Back!

Wow! A lot has happened in the 6 months since my last post. I was able to stay pretty active throughout my pregnancy, doing spin 2-3 times a week and running 3 miles once a week. When I was about 6 months pregnant, I went for a 3 mile run and hurt for a few days after. I realized that my running adventures would have to stop until my little one came. I did continue doing spin up until the end. The thing that is great about doing spin while pregnant is that it is easy to modify as needed, doing only an intensity I could handle that day. Also, it really works the abs in a pregnant friendly way. I think this fact really helped my labor go fast.

So the big day came as a huge surprise! I was 35 weeks pregnant and not sleeping very well at night anymore. I remember kind of waking up around 4am with the feeling that my baby was turning around a lot and that it hurt . . . kind of like contractions . . . But I never woke up enough to consciously think about what was going on. When I finally woke up at 7:30, I went and made eggs and toast for me and my little man and starting checking my facebook and reading my blogs. I was still having contractions, and though they felt like real contractions, I wrote them off as "practice contractions." I was laughing at the Pioneer Woman when I suddenly realized that they were getting stronger . . . considerably . . . with each one. I called my midwife at 8am and was having a harder time talking during each cramping pain. But it's false, right? I have big, late babies and I'm 5 weeks early.

To make a long story short (and leaving out the part about having very strong contractions while driving and trying to sing songs with Sims . . . and avoiding speeding while a police officer was right behind me . . .) I was checked by a triage nurse at 9am and was 5 cm dilated and fully effaced. I was in transition 30 min later, pushed for maybe 7 contractions, and my beautiful Lillian was born! Oh, and I should mention that Cruz was working in Tubac that day and walked in literally before my last push, just in time to see his little girl come into this world.

Now, I believe the fast labor was mostly a huge blessing from the Lord, since Lily had the cord around her neck and it kept us from a c-section. But I really think the exercise, especially the spin ab work, played a huge part. It went so fast! And I had a successful VBAC, so now there's no worries about having another VBAC next time.

So, what does that all have to do with running? Not a whole lot, but it's awesome and exciting! But back to running - As I look at starting up again, I need to make some goals. My big goals are to run the Women's Half Marathon in Nashville, hopefully with my niece, sisters, and mom (some of them walking it). www.womenshalfmarathon.com/nashville/ Is it sad that part of the appeal of this particular race is the finisher's medal? It has a removable necklace charm. And I like that it's pretty much all women - it just gives it a different feel. Then, the plan is to continue with my training in and run my first full marathon in the spring of 2012. I'd love to do the Country Music Marathon in Nashville. nashville.competitor.com/

I ended up loving my Saucony Progrid Jazz 12 shoes (see my about shoes for the whole saga), so while I'd love to try some more minimal shoes this time around, I'm going to just stick with what I know for now and order another pair. And yes - shoes (minimal and not) make a huge difference, especially in avoiding injury.

I plan on jump starting my "going back to exercise" week with spin - it's hard and I love it! - then getting started with my running. Now just to come up with a plan . . .

New motivation . . .

I had my first midwife appointment yesterday, and its amazing how the pregnancy is much more real to me now! I feel great about the group of midwives I am using, but am still nervous about trying for a VBAC. And because if this, I've found more motivation to stay healthy during this pregnancy.

During my last pregnancy, I only gained about 30 pounds, which is a healthy amount to gain, with not a whole lot of extra. The thing is, I didn't exercise . . . at all. Well, until towards the end when my husband dragged me on walks at least every other day. I didn't eat very healthfully, either. I ate okay, but I ate mostly carbs in the form of breads, pastas, and fruit. They were what tasted good to me. I had a really hard time standing the taste of most vegetables for the majority of my pregnancy. And I ate a lot of carbs during my last trimester. So why am I mentioning this? Because I had a 9 pound 3 ounce baby who just plain ol' got stuck, hence the C-section. Now, maybe I just make big babies, which could be the case. But I honestly think that part of it was due to my diet and lack of movement. Oh, and I went a week late in my pregnancy, which I've read exercise can help prevent.

So, here's the deal. I have to deliver in the hospital, I have to have constant baby monitoring and an IV, and I have to go into labor on my own (and not a week late). SOOoooo . . . Beyond just general health for myself and our unborn baby, I really want to stay active and eat well to give us a better chance at a smaller baby size, going into labor on my own and on time, and overall a smoother birth. I know some of this will be out of my control, but there is so much evidence that exercise can help in all of these areas, so here's to new motivation! I'll do what I can, and I'll leave the rest up to the Lord.

Movin' on up . . .

I ran two miles today. I don't want to get to any huge numbers as far as mileage goes, but it was nice to go more than my one mile I've been doing lately. Oh, and the yoga video was great, but too slow moving. I want to just write down the poses and add it to the ones I like to do anyway. But it felt really good to do yoga again, and it did wonders for my back. :)

A great site . . .

Here's a great site on Runner's World where moms who ran during pregnancy and/or nursing share their experiences. It's motivating to hear about other women who kept active, how they did it, and how it helped.

http://thepackrules.runnersworld.com/2010/06/running-moms-share-your-tips.html

(Please note - running while pregnant should only be considered if the mom ran prior to pregnancy. But these are still motivating to keep exercising in any way during pregnancy.)

Getting back on the horse . . .

So far, I've been running or to spin 3 times in the past week. It's going better. I've only run a mile at a time, mostly because my new ridiculously slow pace means it takes me forever to warm up and then run a mile, but I feel like I could probably do another 1-2 miles with some walking breaks in between. And spin is going pretty well, too. I've learned to bring half water half vitamin water to keep some carbs going through my body. It keeps me going, and keeps me from feeling nauseous during or after it.

It's still a little weird to not push myself like before, but it is nice to just enjoy exercise, especially during spin. The teacher I tend to take classes from picks great music, so I find myself just getting in a groove and singing along. I also have found that my running posture is better, since too much up and down movement can be uncomfortable and makes me need to pee every 1/4 mile.

My next adventure is a prenatal yoga video I found on netflix instant streaming. Once I do it, I'll tell you how it is. I definitely need to get back into yoga. My body is yearning for some stretching. :)

A new leaf . . .

The past few weeks have found me feeling worse and worse everyday. I started getting headaches and couldn't eat much besides lunch . . .

Today, I woke up feeling not too bad. I ate a small breakfast and actually felt pretty good. I decided I had better capitalize on it, so I went to the gym for the first time a few weeks. It felt so good. I remember reading that blood sugar going down can make nausea worse, so I decided to bring a sports drink with me instead of water to keep some carbs going through me. I mean, I'm not trying to loose weight, so a few calories of drink won't make much of a dent. It felt really good! The drink started tasting too sweet, so I think next time I'll bring water with me as well.

I walked half a mile at a good pace, then ran a full mile without stopping, followed by another half mile. I was going to run one more, but I got called into the Kids Club to change Simeon's poopy diaper, and he didn't want to stay. While one mile of running usually isn't too exciting for me, having gone so long without running and being pregnant means it was awesome. I do have to run much slower than before, but it feels good to be moving again. And I still feel quite good. I hoping *knock on wood* that this is the beginning of the wonderful 2nd trimester, which will bring much more exercise and enjoyment than the first. :)

I should have knocked on wood . . .

So, the last few weeks have been really tough, for many reasons, but mostly because my nausea has gotten worse. I've exercised only once each week. I just don't have the energy or calories to do it. I really want to, but while I feel fine while I'm exercising, I feel worse afterward. I also have to make sure I eat a little before and right after as well, to keep my blood sugar from dipping too low, which makes nausea worse. This is supposed to be the worse part of the morning sickness stage, and I only have a few more weeks until my second trimester. I'm just hoping my second trimester is as great this time around as it was with Simeon. I want to get back to exercising as well as enjoying my food. *knock-on-wood*

I'll keep posting as to how things are going. I am just anxious to start feeling well again and to get back to enjoying my exercise.

A whole new game . . .

So, exercising while pregnant is a whole different ball game. I used to try to eat less, exercise more, push myself harder with each workout, and ultimately try to loose weight. Now, when I exercise I need to make up those calories, I have to find a balance between pushing myself a little and not pushing too hard, and each day is completely different. Some days I can barely finish an easy workout. Others, I forget I'm even pregnant. I have to say that as my nausea is getting better, and as I get further along, exercising gets a lot easier.

When I was finally recovered from the half marathon, I started exercising again. My heart rate rose ridiculously fast, I had to run at a 13-14 minute mile pace for short distances, and could barely finish a mile at a time before walking. It was like over night, everything changed. And it was really frustrating. I just ran a stinkin' half marathon! How can I barely finish a mile, and not even 3 miles total. It was a rough few weeks, and it was really hard to find the motivation to go. I had to keep thinking about how I need to keep it up now, if I want to continue later in my pregnancy. I didn't want a lapse.

Thankfully, every week has gotten easier. I can run 3 miles back at a 12 minute mile pace, and possibly faster, if I'd push myself a little. I can finish a hard spin class feeling strong. I find I have to take it easier on certain moves, or just sit and ride for a moment, but I am able to be proud of the work I do in those workouts. And honestly, I think it really has helped my overall feeling. My nausea, while right before and after workouts may not be great, has eased up quite quickly compared to my last pregnancy. I have a lot more energy than my last first trimester, and I feel really good. With Simeon, I think I gained quite a few pounds those first few months. I've actually lost a few pounds. I know, I know. I'm trying to eat more now to make sure I don't loose weight. But it's nice to have not gained.

My thoughts on pregnant exercising so far? Exercising before and during pregnancy has been wonderful, not only in how I feel, but it's really nice to exercise for the joy and health of it, rather than have the stress of big weight, time, and race goals. Two thumbs up!

Starting out . . .

So, I've been wanting to write this post for a while and figure, I better just do it. There are many people around me who are starting to run for the first time, and I thought I'd share lessons I learned and read that helped in learning to enjoy running.

These aren't really going to be in any order other than how they come to my little brain . . .

-Get good shoes. And go get fitted for them, at a running store that watches your stride and lets you try shoes out on the treadmill. Most places will only let you return "unworn" shoes, so if you do take home shoes, run on a treadmill rather than the street until you decide you really like them. It's a little more expensive to buy shoes from a place like this, but it saves in frustration. And once you have a shoe you really like, you can just reorder them for cheaper online next time.

-Shoes' support wears out after a few hundred miles, so even if they look fine on the outside, they may still not be supporting you feet like they used to. Although, then we could get into the Zen/barefoot running debate in which case, shoes don't really matter. Personally, I think good shoes are important when you are first starting and developing your stride. After that, I think it's taste and depends on how you run and if you can use an efficient stride with minimal impact.

-Get comfortable, wicking clothes. Never exercise in jeans. And probably not in those cut off sweats, either.You're going to get hot and uncomfortable. I got most of my bottoms at Goodwill and then cut them off to the length I like. Walmart also has some decent cheap workout clothes. Look for clothes with polyester, and super lightweight. Of course, there's the more expensive running clothes that have mesh panels under the arms, etc that really let you breath, but really, you don't have to spend a lot of money. The more comfortable, cool, and dry you are, the less likely you will give up early on your workout.

-Buy a supportive sports bra. This is one I am finally doing. I have just been using those really thin cotton ones, and they're awful. I feel self conscious in them, and they really don't do anything. And of course, the bigger you are, the more important the support becomes. Again, you can still get these for cheap.Just find one that works for you and is comfortable.

-Personally, I believe in the power of cute clothes. For me, exercise is an activity that often tries my self confidence, especially at the gym or where people can see me. If I feel frumpy, it's that much harder. So, for me, I like to have at least one or two workout outfits that I feel confident in. I wear them on the days I'm struggling more, and I really think they help.

-Enough with clothes. Make a schedule you can stick to, and then stick to it. What worked for me is to run every other day, and the off days were just "do something" days. These days I would go for a brisk walk, lift some weights, etc. When you're first starting out, you need to give yourself the day after a hard run to recover, both your muscles and your heart. Schedule in your runs, and treat it like another appointment, so they happen. And make back up plans. :)

-Running feels awkward at first. Try to take smaller steps, so that your feet are landing under your body, rather than landing on your heals way out front. This will help you avoid injury and help your body properly absorb the shock of landing. Also, I like to think of my body as floating, and my feet are just happening to be moving landing below me. Even though this isn't really how it feels, I notice my form starts to fix itself, and I feel stronger.

-While everyone will have off days, overall running WILL get easier. But it's definitely one of those "you get out of it what you put in." SO keep plugging away, and realize every time you go out, it's taking you one step closer to your goal.

-If running suddenly starts coming easier, avoiding pushing yourself to hard too quickly. They say the best is to increase by 10% of your total miles a week. I think that's where I went wrong and got shin splints. Meaning, if you run 2 miles 3X and then a 4 mile long run, you run a total of 10 miles for the week. The next week should only be 11 miles total, whether you split that up between the days or just tack it on to one day.

-Warm up before you run. Take a brisk walk, or if you're to longer runs, take an easy pace for about 5 minutes. You can kick your butt, swing your arms, etc. to "stretch" your muscles, but most research now ways to wait until after exercise to do static stretches (holding a stretch). Of course, listen to your body - if you're feeling tight, a little stretching may help, or it might not.

-Stretch after your run. Cruz would disagree, as he's had less problems since he's stopped stretching. But I have less problems when I do stretch after my runs and often the next morning, too.

-Listen to your body, most of the time. If things hurt or feel off, see if you can tell how to fix it, or back off of your pace, or walk for a little bit and try again. If it's feeling like an injury, stop and try again in a day or two.

-Learn how to tell your body to shut up. While you should listen to your body to avoid injuries, we often don't push ourselves hard enough because we are too busy "listening to our bodies." I had to learn that when I felt like I was totally spent, I could actually go quite further. Sometimes, with a quick little break. That's when a plan and goals help. I would decide "Today's long run will be 7 miles." I would pick goal that was doable but a push. By mile 5, I'd think "Yeah, right!" But then I'd just keep going, and finish 2 more miles. You can do the same thing with pace.

-Mix it up. Once you get to the point where you can run without stopping, schedule in different kinds of runs. You can pick up the pace for a minute and then back off for two and repeat, you can sprint for 30 sec then recover and repeat, you can add in hills, and if your goal is longer distances, do a long run at least every other week, increasing the distance each time. You can also pick different places to run. Treadmill or outside? Park, street, canyon . . . Mixing it up keeps it fresh, meaning it'll be easier to stay with it.

-Have a goal race. At least for me, it helped to have an ultimate date that I needed to get to a certain distance. Now that I don't have that, it's harder to keep up on my running. It helped me get off the couch. :)

-Realize that as with any exercise or weight loss progress, running may bring up emotional hurdles. Keep running, and work through them. It will be work every step!

-Read about running. When people are religious, they read scriptures and other literature to keep their commitments fresh in their mind. Exercise is the same way. Reading about it and talking to other people who are working on the same goals keeps it fresh and exciting. For me, I love Runner's World. Reading about people who run multiple marathons a year makes my smaller goals more realistic. And there are always new ideas and tips that I learn.

That's all I can think of right now. Also, here are two great links that briefly covers many topics when first starting to run. It also has a run-walk schedule to get you running 20 minutes straight in 10 weeks. I know my sister and brother-in-law are using the couch-to-5K plan, which is similar.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-238-520--13479-0,00.html
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-380-381--2201-3-2X3X6-4,00.html

As for me, my new challenge is learning how to stay on top of my running while not pushing it too hard since I am pregnant. It's weird how just over night things become harder to do. I'm also doing spin classes twice a week, which is less impact. We'll see how long I can make it last. :)

Happy running, everyone! And please hare your stories! I get motivated by hearing about everyone else's adventures, too!

Results . . .

http://worldcultureclub.org/2010_Desert_Dash_Results.php

Wow. I actually placed 61 out of 71 females! Sweet! I thought I was pretty much in last place. (Okay, so yes, this is technically "pretty much in last place," but I mean I thought I was was 2nd or 3rd to last place. Not ten females behind me.)

New beginning . . .

Okay. Plan #2 it is! (If you don't know what I'm talking about, read the 4/25 post.)

So, Plan #2: Lighten up on the intensity of running, but continue to keep it up. Do spin once or twice a week. Move to more spin and other low impact exercises as running becomes less of an option. (And yes, running is safe.)

Then, in a year, start training again and get back to my half marathon then full marathon plans. That gives the rest of you a lot of time to get there, if you want to join me for a half, walking or running . . . or even a full, if you're crazy like me. :)

struggling . . .

Okay, I'm getting really annoyed at how long it's taking my legs to heal up. The weirdest sensation was the day or two after the race, when my legs feeling "floppy" when I would walk or try to run. It was like I had never walked before. Weird. They are getting progressively better, and I can kind of jog, but they are still sore enough to make that too painful. I've been doing some walks, but I'm just losing steam. I think I'll just plan on taking the rest of the week easy. We might go for a little hike on Saturday, so hopefully I'll be feeling better by then. Next week I'll ease back into a schedule. This definitely makes me want to train better, so this doesn't happen again.

And now . . .

. . . my legs hurt. It's weird. I ran 10 1/2 miles the week before and my legs were only a little sore the next day. 3 miles more, and I can barely walk for several days. Weird. I guess I did run a little faster, and there were a couple little hills. I can finally get up from a chair without using my arms for all of the support. It's mostly my quads that have been killing me. Anyway, I went for a walk on Sunday, and I plan on doing that today as well, to get things loosened up again. I'm excited to get back into things, and work on my speed in running. It would be nice if I could take less time to do my runs each day, as well as not be in completely last place in my next race. :)

Needless to say, I'll still be running, and therefore, I'll still be writing. (You poor souls!)