Sunny Saturday

What a gorgeous day we are having in Cleveland. I fully believe it will be our last nice weekend until ohhhh June. So, I made sure to take advantage of it. I started the day with a 7 mile trail run at North Chagrin Reservation. Met a few friends and took Fonzie. I was afraid it would be too much for him b/c he's never ran hills and only ran 5 miles, but he handled it like a champ and could have gone further. He had so much fun. Too bad he tried to bite my guy friend, sigh, this dog is a nipper, really have to figure out how to break that. He was fine with everyone as long as they didn't mess with him, but the lone guy (hes not big on strange men) went to pet him and he tried to nip his leg, but I gave him a leash jerk first, shoo. He doesn't aggressively go after people, but gets a little scared and slowly nips. It stinks. Anyway, the run was great. The leaves were gorgeous and it was like 55 degrees and sunny. The run felt good and I was worried b/c I am just getting over being sick. But I was able to run fast without a lot of effort and bounded up the hills. Woohoo.

When I got home G and I headed to Chagrin Falls with Harper and did some window shopping and strolling. We also shared some Carmel corn and a milkshake. So much for those lbs lost while I was sick! Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

Back among the living

Finally I am feeling better. Still a little weak from not eating much for a week, but unfortunately my appetite is back in full force. I still think I will manage to keep a few lbs off from this. Trying to see the silver lining from such a rotten week. Yesterday I went to the gym and did my weight lifting class, but Harper got fussy so I didn't get to do the full class, missed tris and a set of abs. I seriously love my urban iron class. It's an hour and you lift with a bar and various weighted plates. When I lift on my own, I never push myself as hard and worry that I missed some muscle group, this class ensures I get a good total body worout. You do 1 song for each muscle group and the instructor changes the tempo throughout the song, so you may lift for 3, lower for 1, then even it out 2/2, etc. It goes like this:

Back -deadllifts, rows, clean & presses
Chest- chest presses down laying on step
Set of abs - bicycle and crunches
Legs - squats and plie squats
Biceps - just normal curls, but lots of them
Shoulder- delt presses, side and front raises, shoulder presses
Triceps- skull crushes down on step, tri presses
legs - lunges and squats
Set of abs - pilates 100s and bicycles

Every 6 weeks they change the music and format slightly. I luv this class and credit it for being more in shape now than I was before baby, even though I still have a bit of belly flab that I only notice if I lean in unflattering ways :)

Anyway, today I am going to try to run. Probably just like 4 miles, see how it feels. I haven't ran in at least a week. Later today we have new moms group, which I love, it really breaks up the day.

As much as I love being home, I am starting to get more serious about thinking about work. One day I am convinced I need to just go back now before it gets any harder, then the next day I convince myself to wait until spring. I am just sick of worrying about money, we've had some large bills (cat vet bills, need new tires) lately and I hate to see the savings account go down, down. I wish I could find a job that was 2-3 days a week, that would be so ideal. I have been applying even for full time ones that seem really good. It's going to be hard to find a job, but I'm glad i have room, at least for now, to be picky. #1 goal if I go full time is a job that will let me work outside the normal 8-5 or 5:30. That is tough b/c my job expertise is in account management and when you work with clients, it can be hard to be allowed a flex time schedule. Maybe I can find an internal project management position, that would be great.

I'm sick of this already!

Enough is enough. I am so sick of being sick. This weekend I felt okay, still a little weak and sick to my stomach, but last night was full blown attack again. I spent the entire night on the toilet or on the couch writhing in belly pain. I feel like I have a beetle with little horns making his way slowly through my intestinal track. Sorry for the TMI. Other than the belly issues the other symptoms are all gone, no body aches, headache or fever. Still don't know if I even have the flu. All I know is I feel like a poop sandwich. Sigh. I haven't worked out since last Tuesday and that is not helping with the crank factor. How much longer could this possibly last? Now I have a day of being a mom in front of me, on about 3 hours of sleep. On the good side, at least that kid is CUTE, too bad I can't kiss her.

Happy Halloween

I am feeling a lot better. Still weak and icky in the tummy but about 80% better than I was on Thurs. I have been on tamiflu since Thurs night. The bummer is that I still don't know if I have the flu. I hate to take the meds and pass them on to Harper if I don't even have influenza, but its better safe than sorry at her age. Supposedly the medicine is safe for her...supposedly. I was supposed to have my flu swab results today, but the lab is so backed up I probably won't have them until Monday. It really stinks b/c I was supposed to go to a baptism and party tomorrow, but don't want to go now b/c if I do have the flu I have no business being around babies. I also had to skip a much needed ladies fun run & breakfast 1. b/c there was no way my belly could handle a run and 2. b/c several of the ladies are preggo and don't need the flu. I was really looking forward to that :( On the good side, Harper still appears healthy so hopefully she will stay that way. My symptoms showed up on Tuesday, so 5 days later she isn't sick yet. KNOCK ON WOOD.

It's very very odd to not be running on a Sat morning. I haven't not run on a Sat since before Harper was born. I went to Starbucks this morning and saw all the random people in their running gear and felt so jealous and wanted to yell out "hey, I'm a runner too!". I have no idea why. It doesn't help that the last 2 days have been absolutely perfect running weather and there won't be much of that left her in Cleveland. Oh well, hopefully I will feel all better tomorrow and can start my 600 min a week workout challenge again. Thanks to the flu I start a few lbs lighter, but I'm sure those will come right back.

Gary took Harper to his dad's today. That is a truly bizzare feeling. I have never been away from Harper except when running, how funny/wierd is that? Aside from maybe a quick trip to the library or drugstore. So I ran errands and they were much quicker w/o a baby, but not as much fun. No one randomly talked to me, lol. You are much friendlier when you have a baby b/c everyone wants to talk to you and you get used to it!

I bought candy today, it was funny what was left. I am stuck with chewy nerds, laffy taffy and pixie sticks. I actually like sugary crap like that better than chocolate anyway. We get a ton of kids. Harper is a spider. Her costume isn't' all that exciting. I wasn't going to dress her up, just put her in a pumpkin onesie, but picked up this costumer at goodwill for $2. Not bad.

Uh oh

I thought I had food poisoning, now its looking like the flu. Great. I went to the doc, but won't know if my swab was positive until Sat. Gary stayed home today, I feel awful, he can't stay home tomorrow b/c he has a project to finish up. Oh oh oh I hope Harper doesn't catch this from me. Is it inevitable? She had a flu shot a few weeks ago.

Bad luck Wed

Ugh, I am having a little bad luck this week, lol. I feel horrible today, absolutely horrible. It's all tummy related. I had pizza last night and didn't realize it had garlic on it and I don't handle garlic well at all and I have been hunched over in sick pain all day. Not fun to take care of a 6 month old on the move when you don't feel good. Oh well. My own fault. On top of that, I totally overdid it at the gym on Monday (in weight lifting class, used too much weight big time) b/c I was so gung ho to get started again. I can barely sit on the toilet from doing squats. I have been hobbling around for 2 days. I went to the weight lifting class again this morning in hopes my nausea would go away and getting my muscles moving would help. No such luck, I was a sweaty mess the whole class and almost threw up and couldn't handle more then 5 lbs on each side of the bar and couldn't get through the squat set. Eieiey. I hope I feel better tomorrow. I have missed a run nd need to run tomorrow for sure.

Here is a pic of Harper and her playmate Nate. Every week my friend Salty and I get together to babysit each others kids while the other runs. Nate will be a year old in Nov. The pics are a little blurry, but I just love Harper's faces

6 week countdown to the elusive pair of skinny jeans

Sunday, Oct 25 - I know I declared the other day that I was on a diet & giving up sweets, unfortunately I haven't been very mindful of my diet...at all. The scale said goodbye to 130 & planted me back at 132, so 7 lbs that I want to lose. Starting over again today. I am going to try and lose these 7 lbs over the next 6 weeks. I know that seems a little ambitious but you don't know all the stupid things I've eaten (hello pizza for dinner last night& giant creme puff) or the weights I have been slacking on. I have a pair of skinny jeans that I want to get into and I think it would be great to wear them on Thanksgiving to prevent me from overeating...I start anew today with a 75 min power yoga class. Here are a few goals I am going to try and stick to and be mindful of:

1. Work out 10-11 hours a week, this counts dog walks
2. Get more fruits & veggies, I have been awful about this and it used to be the easy part for me
3. On days that G gets home from work before 5 take the dogs for an extra walk even if its just half a blocl
4. Get to the gym classes at least 3 times a week, important for me and also for keeping Harper used to the playroom
5. After Harper goes to bed get on bike in basement a few times a week and watch one of my many shows that I DVR

Here is my workout plan for this week, not counting dog walks, they get one every day, varying lengths depending on weather, baby mood, etc:
Today - 75 min yoga class
Mon - Urban Iron or BeamFIT class and 5 mile run
Tues - 5 mile run, abs DVD
Wed - Urban Iron class, 2o mins on bike
Thurs - 5 mile run, yoga DVD
Fri - Urban Iron class, 20 mins on bike
Sat -6 mile run

Letter to Harper: Month 6

Six months ago today you were finally cleared to come home from the hospital . When we brought you home we sat your car carrier on the coffee table and looked at each other like - what do we do now? Well some how we figured it out and 6 wonderful months later you are doing awesome. You are so smart and so full of personality. Thankfully your mild nature has continued on and for the most part you are always happy. You are sitting up and rolling over both ways now. You eat solid foods 2 times a day and so far you will eat pretty much anything. Looking at the dogs and trying to touch the kitties is one of your favorite pastimes, so is sitting in front of the full length mirror trying to get the baby on the other side.

6 months went way too quickly and I am so sad b/c I now have to start thinking about going back to work. I'm not quite ready yet, but I know it will take some time so I keep an eye out for job listings. Going back to work will be the hardest thing I ever have to do for sure!

Oh hey there

Hi there bloggy friends. I fully enjoyed my week off post marathon. I made it to the gym once last week and other than that all I did was walk! It was nice. As for my no sugary junk for 14 days challenge, I failed. I made it a week, but then the husband went and made pumpkin pies. Pumpkin anything is my Achilles heel. So I started over on Monday and now hope to make it to Halloween with no junk. I will have some candy during the trick or treat, we get a ton of kids in our neighborhood. I love Halloween.

I went out for a 4 mile run yesterday, the first run since the marathon. It felt great. My legs felt fresh and springy. Today I walked 6.5 miles. 4 miles with a group of moms from my new mom group and then 2 with the dogs. I got Fonzie a backpack and can't wait to try it out on him. He is never tired. I am hoping that the backpack will help wear him out after a few miles and also calm him down on the walks. Supposedly a backpack gives a dog a job to do and makes them more calm and mindful. I don't believe anything can get him past his squirrel freakouts, but we shall see.

Harper is 6 months. Egads where does the time go. I need to do my letter to Harper, but will have to get to that later this week.

Pre Preggo weight!

For 2 days in a row I have weighed in at 130.5. I was hovering between 130 and 133 when I got pregnant, so yay! Pre preggo weight. I wanted to do it by 6 months and lo and behold Monday is her 6th month bday! I hope I can get a few more lbs off. I have enjoyed this week off. I worked out once. Starting tomorrow I am back at it.

Harper is sick. She got super stuffed up late yesterday and we were up all night. She didn't fall asleep until 11, in the swing, after screaming for an hour. She hasn't slept all day. I keep getting her to fall asleep, whether by rocking or feeding her, but then as soon as I lay her down, she is right back up. She is in good spirits for the most part if you are holding her. I hope this cold doesn't last 2 weeks. If she is sick next week I will go to the gym when G is home from work I guess. I am not taking any more time off the gym.

On the tattoo front, I made up my mind on the 3 little birds. But I also have to hold off until summer, as the lady doing the tat said that I really shouldn't get a foot tattoo in the winter and that she doesn't offer her retouching guarantee on foot tats during cold months. But I did promise my friend I would get inked with her after our marathons, so I think I am going to get the symbol for mother in kanji on my rib. Or maybe that little round owl. Although my hairdresser has the astrological signs of her kids on her back and that's a great idea too.

Input, opinions, bring it on

I think I am getting a tattoo. Picking a design is such a hard decision to make. I have some links below to tattoos that I like and I would love any input or opinion you have. I have a few ideas floating around my head:

1. 3 hearts all linked together or overlapping to symbolize each member of my family
2. An owl just b/c I love them and have done Harper's nursery in owls, so it would be a little harper tribute
3. 3 little birds, I love the song so much and always have, it makes me smile whenever I hear it and has such a nice message, I picture three little fat birds sitting atop my toes

now where to get it, rib, back of neck and foot, leaning towards foot, but maybe a symbol for mother on my rib.....


I love this quote, ignore the butterfly part :)
http://beautifultattoos.blogspot.com/2009/05/quote-tattoo-and-geisha-butterfly.html

Cool star
http://www.checkoutmyink.com/tattoos/acda/one-of-the-better-stars

Love this trail of stars tattoo:
http://www.checkoutmyink.com/tattoos/cindyyyy/my-1st-tattoo-64

This tattoo is shitty, but I like the premise, Harper's name in a star shape
http://www.checkoutmyink.com/tattoos/emma-jane-m/childrens-names-in-star-shape

If I go with an owl, I like these:

This one I like, but muuuccch smaller, but I like the style
http://www.checkoutmyink.com/tattoos/adidas2366/owl-14
cute and simple owl:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellomorning/3762031873/
I wouldn't do the circle, but love the owl in the middle:
http://www.checkoutmyink.com/tattoos/cego_tattoo/109028


If I go with the three little birds, the little bird on this card is cute and I could do different colors, maybe a polka dot one, a striped one and a solid blue one?
http://www.amazingpaper.com.au/persistent/catalogue_images/products/LITTLE%20BIRD%20CARD.jpg

This is a neat tattoo - a swallow:
http://www.checkoutmyink.com/tattoos/itseasybeezy/swallows-38

Getting down to business

Sorry running and triathlete buddies this blog is now switching gears to full fledged diet blog until I am 125. Well in a round about way that is running related, I don't think I want to try another marathon until I am firmly planted in the 120s again. I felt the extra 10 lbs I was carrying on Sunday for sure. I stepped on the scale this morning and it told me - 134. So, 4 lbs over what I weighed when I got preggo. I look fine, I no longer feel like I look like a lady who just had a baby and has that extra tire, wider booty, etc, but I know that I look and feel so much better 10 lbs lighter. And I think my running will get an extra boost from the weight loss as well.

Today I started my own version of a diet. The only rule is no sugary junk food for 2 weeks. Aside from the obvious no ice cream, cookies, etc, there will also be not one chocolate chip granola bar, bowl of lucky charms, or sugar laden yogurt. So, I will stand firm and strong for 2 weeks to get myself over the daily habit of sugar. Once I go a solid 14 days, I will then allow myself 1 weekly dessert that I will plan for and savor for all it is worth. Its time to start looking at the labels again when I buy things like cereal and yogurt and I will only be buying the product if it has under 10g of sugar in it. Hello fiber one honey flakes, goodbye peanut butter puffins - goodbye lemon yoplait, hello chobani, etc. I also need to dial back the diet coke and splenda. I firmly believe that the fake sugar makes me crave sweet things. Aside from that I am going to try and make my snacks veggies instead of cheese & crackers which have become a staple for me. Honestly my eating has been such a mess that I think a few tweaks should put me well on my way to 125.

I am feeling mostly back to normal. My knees are a little sore and my calves hurt if I lift myself up on them to like reach an upper cabinet, but mostly feeling good. I am going to go to the gym tomorrow and take my urban iron class, but I am only going to use light weights on the upper body and no weights on the lower, but I need to get back into the swing of the gym. So does Harper. It's been pretty much a month since she went to the gym 4 days a week and I need to get her used to that again.

So here we go, wish me luck. If all goes as planned I should see 125 before the new year.

So I ran a marathon

(Monday, Oct 13) Other alternate titles for this entry could be - "I have no business running for that long", "Ow, seriously Ouch" or if I am being kind to myself "17 minute PR bitches". I woke up at 5am on Sunday to leave my house for the race at 6. When I stepped into my backyard it was around 45 degrees out. Thank goodness I "overdressed" b/c when I got down to the valley for the race it was more like 40 and freezing. I wore capris, a long sleeve shirt, a vest and gloves, it was perfect. I couldn't have asked for better weather. I hit the portapotty twice before the race and got lined up at 7:40ish. Since it was such a small race, I saw everyone that I knew that was going to be down there. I thought there were 500+ runners, but in looking at the results it looks more like 350ish.

My goal going into it was to just run as hard as I could and feel as good as I could at the end. I started off kind of fast. I was watching my average pace on my Garmin and I knew I didn't want it to get over 10:13. That was my pace for the half mary two weeks ago. I managed to keep that avg pace under 10 all the way to mile 18! I was very pleased about that, but everything kind of fell apart after that. I stopped to use the portapotty and my avg pace fell from 10 on the nose to 10:06. I managed to keep it together until the turn around at mile 21, then my legs just kind of quit. I hobbled my way the last 5.2 miles and watched my avg pace slowly creep higher and higher to 10:20. Oh well. I finished in 4:30:31. Which met my original long shot goal, but since I ran so hard (for me) and strong until mile 21, I would have really loved to get in under 4:20.

I would say that I really did feel just fine, 100% okay until mile 16. Then my stomach starting bothering me. I made a decision to stop at the porta potty at mile 18 and stomach was better after that. After mile 21 I started imaging my body was made of glass at that at any moment my hips and back were going to shatter. That's how bad I hurt! Mostly it was in my hips, knees and lower back, well and my feet, of course. Around mile 23 I probably slowed down to between 11-12 min miles and I REALLY wanted to stop, but I didn't. I made it through the whole race without walking, which was a goal as well. So, I am happy about that. After 23 I was counting 1, 2, 1, 2 in my head, one more step, one more step. Luckily I knew the towpath really well, so I was able to tell myself I just need to make it to lock 29, or the cut over to the falls, etc. Then I got near the finish line and I could hear everyone cheering. And there was Gary with Harper in a stroller, holding a sign saying GO MOM! It almost made me cry. I wasn't expecting them to be there, so that was a nice surprise. I picked it up a notch and really ran as fast as I could to the finish. My brain wasn't working at that point, I was shaky and totally out of it. Thank goodness a banana and orange took care of that. I was so glad to be done! I made it. I wish I could say I felt good and strong and I did think the whole last 5 miles if I ever really want to do this again. I am doing something wrong in my training to fall apart that bad. So, I need to really spend some time thinking about that. I know for a fact that I felt the extra 10 lbs and will not even contemplate a marathon until I am firmly back in the 120s.

I really hurt bad when I got home and felt like crying the rest of the day. I took a long ice bath and a lot of aspirin, that helped. Today I just feel like I got beat up, that's all :). I must say that part of me wonders if my skeletal system is fully recovered from Harper. My hips etc felt like they took such a beating, I wonder if it is b/c the relaxin has left my body completely, etc. Just a thought, maybe I am just a big ol wuss!

Nervous Energy and looking forward

Thursday 10/7/09 (I just realized my journal doesn't record the date!)

I hate taper. I feel so unprepared for Sunday, I feel like its been a year since I ran 22 miles. In reality I know I will be okay out there. I am running this marathon off of the long runs. Which is not ideal for a fast time, but will be fine for finishing. When I decided to do this I of course hoped to train hard, but with Harper my mid week runs were a little shorter than they should have been. I managed to run between 30-35 miles a week for the last 6 weeks, along with cross training 3-4 days, but I don't feel fast....b/c I'm not. I finished Cleveland in 4:47, so I will be happy with anything under that, I would love around 4:30. But anything under 5 hours will be on par with how my long runs have gone. No point worrying about it, I just need to get out there and do it, maybe I will surprise myself. Hopefully I will wake up that morning with out this unending blah I have had ever morning since the weather changed, sore throat, upset stomach, icky general feeling.

I am really looking forward to the race being over. I keep stepping on the scale and its going nowhere, but I will fully admit that I have been eating like a madwomen. As soon as I get through Sunday I am back to journaling what I am eating and shunning sugar. I have had enough frosties, cookies and cereal to feed a small country that last 2 months. I can't imagine the shape I would be in if I could ever perfect marathon training and sane eating. 125 here I come. My plan is going to be to cut the running back. I have two half marathons, one in Nov and one in Feb that I want to do, so 20-25 miles a week will be sufficient On top of that I want to get to 1 spin class and ride my trainer at home once, hit the 2 weight classes religiously and try and get a yoga class in as well. So, I think my week will look like this:

Mon: BeamFit (balance with weights, 40 mins) and HardCORE (15min abs) class

Tues: Run 6 miles

Wed: Urban Iron class

Thurs: Run 6 miles

Fri: Spin class

Sat: Run 8-13 miles

Sun: Power Yoga class, and spin at home

I'm also toying with the idea of two a days 2 or 3 days a week and getting back in the pool so I can get back to some sprint tris next summer, but still thinking on that. I really have an issue with the open water swimming and I will probably be back to work, so I am wondering how realistic tris are for me with baby and working....part of me loves multisport, but part of me is loving the simplicity of just focusing on running. I have no doubt someday I will come back to tris, but I think I really want to worry about being a faster runner.

It's fall

Boy fall blew into Cleveland in a nasty, blustery way. It is cold and rainy and ugly out. Yuck. I am a bit under the weather, I think its just the change in weather, so I have been lounging around most of the week. I have gotten 2 runs in, I am running 15 tomorrow, and then I'll run a few on Sunday to make sure I get 4 runs in this week.

Harper is having a really bad day, I think she is teething. She has been crying nonstop and only stops if I am holding her or shove something in her mouth to chew on. Any tips on keeping her happy while this is going on? I can kind of see that her bottom gums are whitish, so I think the teeth are close to popping through. I hope this is short lived. We started solids a few days ago, that has been fun. We started with squash & rice cereal and today we tried pears. She loves it.

Body by Baby

I'll admit it, it sounds horribly superficial, but one of the main reasons I really wasn't sure if I wanted to be pregnant was that I didn't want to gain the weight. I really wasn't sure if I could handle getting heavy and if I would lose the weight. I had grand plans to be the healthiest pregnant person you ever saw and those quickly flew out the window. I stopped weighing myself once I had gained 50 lbs, who knows in the end how much I actually weighed. All I know is that now, 5 months and 1 week post partum, I only have 5 lbs to go to pre preggo weight. Woohoo. I did it. I got my 5'3 body dangerously closer to 200 lbs than it should ever be and I almost back to the 120s, almost. I'm sure the last 5 lbs will be stickers, but I am okay with that, I know they will come off. I really was scared that I wouldn't return to a life of exercise, but I have. And I honestly think that once its all said and done, I will actually have a better body than I did before, thanks to twice weekly weight classes since Harper was 6 weeks old. There is a little extra skin on my belly maybe, but nothing to be too upset about. It would have all been worth it, even if I stayed in those much lager jeans I bought right after Harper was born, but I am glad that I am back in my old pants. And so happy that all the people who said I'd have a hard time losing the weight because of breastfeeding weren't right, at least for me.

Next week is my marathon and while I would much rather be running it 10 lbs lighter, it shouldn't be too bad if my half mary pace is obtainable. It's a completely flat course and the half was hella hilly so hopefully holding between 10 and 10:30 will be possible. I was 10:13 at Akron. Unfortunately I am feeling really sick, I think its the change in weather, gets me every year.

Letter to Harper: Month 5

This is a little late b/c we've been super busy lately. This 5th month has been the best, little lady. You have learned so much and are really becoming your own person. In the past month you have had your first real cold (it lasted 2 weeks and was awful), but through it all you remained happy and smiley and chatty and even though you couldn't breathe you weren't that much fussier as I would have expected. We went through a bump with you sleeping through the night b/c of the cold, but you are now back on track. You made your 2nd (for a wedding) and 3rd trip (for the Constitution Square festival) to Danville to visit family and slept almost the whole way both times. You can now stand really well and the Excersaucer is your new favorite thing in the whole world. We call it your office and you can spend up to an hour in there playing around. You are still sitting well assisted and I think in the next month you will be able to do it on your own. You now look at books and can turn the pages, but mostly you just shove everything and anything in your mouth. I've taken to calling you my zombie baby b/c usually when I pick you up your mouth goes straight to my face to chew on my cheek or chin or neck or ear. What mommy and daddy are eating is really starting to enthral you, so soon we will start real food. Maybe your weight gain will slow down once we start the real food, you are over 18 lbs at this point, a really big girl!! Can't wait to see what month 6 holds!

And I have to post this picture, how uncomfortable does this look!

Another Race Report!

Today I ran the Akron Road Runner Half mary. We really lucked out b/c there was a 70% chance of rain and we managed to complete the race w/o getting wet! Well besides sweaty of course. When I say "we", I mean me and my BIL Tim. If you remember Tim has lost almost 200 lbs and taken up running in the last few years. Because the race was in Akron we had to get up in the 4 o'clock hour and I feel absolutely strung out at this point. I used to be able to come home from a race and just nap the day away, but not anymore now that I am a mom, oh well it is worth it.

I finished the race in 2:13. I really wanted to finish it in under 2:10, so I didn't make my goal, but I am okay with that b/c I didn't feel well at all and my legs were killing me. I stupidly took a new class at the gym on Thursday and it wreaked havoc on my calves they are tender to the touch. I ran as hard as I could, by mile 8 I was pretty sure I was going to puke, I just didn't feel good. But I made it through w/o puking! So yay for that I guess. As always Akron put on a great race, 11000 runners, tons of crowd support and bands and music along the way. Plenty of water stops, GU and portajohns. WE did make one potty stop. I was surrounded by tons of runners the whole race and since my name was on my number I heard lots of Go Monica, which is always nice. At Akron you finish in the minor league baseball stadium which is neat b/c you get to run in to a huge cheering crowd. It was a good day. I wish I had felt better, but they can't all be "A" races. Tim finished a minute faster than me and had a great first half mary experience. The towpath full is coming up in a few weeks and of course I don't feel confident for it at all, but nothing new there.

A race report!

What's that you say, a race report! Surely not. Yep, I ran an actual race, for the first time since my half marathon last Oct. Which I hardly raced considering I was 4 months pregnant. I went home to Danville, KY and ran a 5K that went along with a craft festival they have every year. I must say I really wasn't looking forward to it. I'm slow and I haven't ran a 5K in well over a year and the race was at 5 pm in a much more humid climate. So, I had a list of reasons why I was going to suck, lol, but I didn't suck too badly. I did it in 27 and change and considering my best 5K ever was 25:13 I wasn't too far off. I feel like I ran as fast as I could, the finish was uphill and I lost a little steam. Now I want to do another one b/c I really feel like I could do 25ish if it had been a morning race and I had about 5 more lbs off. I think I will run a local 5K in Oct, the Pigskin Classic. Look out. Next up is the Akron half marathon this Sat. Wish me luck!

Looking for advice/opinions

Okay bloggy friends, I want you all to comment, all of you that read have to have something to say about one of these topics! I need opinions/advice on several things. They've all been on my mind and aren't related at all, so let the randomness begin:

1. I want some new tunes to run to. I've exhausted my playlist on all these long runs lately. So, please tell me a few songs you love to work out to. I prefer rap and angry white boy music like Rage Against the Machine.

2. Moms out there, what are your thoughts on the swine flu vaccine? My doc says they will have them in Oct and I can give it to Harper since she will be 6 months old. I just don't know that I want to give it to her or get it myself since I am breastfeeding. I do plan on giving her the plain old flu vaccine, but I am nervous about a vaccine that isn't even FDA approved yet. No history on it, you know what I mean? But then again, how bad will I feel if she does get the swine flu and I didn't vaccinate her? I haven't heard much about it here in Cleveland, but it is all over the place in my hometown in KY...what to do??

3. I can never just focus on the task at hand, so I am thinking past the marathon now. I know I want to do a spring marathon, and then my plan is to not do a fall one and train for the MS 150 bike ride with Gary and some sprint tris (back in the pool ack). Anyway, I want to get faster between Oct and late Jan when it will be time to train for a full again. What advice would you fast ladies give me? How many miles a week should I log? Should I get my butt on the treadmill and do sprints? Should I just focus on losing 10 lbs? I do know that I only want to run 3-4 days a week, I don't want to stop doing my weights classes and spinning classes, I will never be a 6 day a week runner. I think cutting my miles back for awhile and concentrating on losing the pregnancy weight and then some will make me faster for sure.... I have a half marathon in Nov and Feb, and figure I will keep my long run between 10-14 miles after the marathon.