Year of Dates - January

So a few years ago, I came across this on Pintrest - A Year of Dates!

 Turns out, it was a lot harder than I thought.  I didn't have the money to pre-pay for these dates, as is suggested (I still don't).  Instead, I wrapped up 12 mostly empty manila envelopes with each month written across the top.  I had a few ideas in the first three, but nothing after March.  As a result, we didn't follow through and our dates became hit or miss.

Having two small children and a husband who travels for work has made going out on a date very difficult.  So, I decided to give this idea another try.  I came across another blog that had the same concept, and I'm really bummed I can't find it again because there were some really good ideas!  So instead, I'll just share what I came up with!  And yes, I managed to channel my creative juices and come up with a variety date ideas for each month.

We had planned to go see the last Hobbit movie the weekend of our anniversary, but Hubby was sick with the flu.  So, we decided to fulfill January's envelope and a bit early on December 29th since that is when we found childcare.

We went all out and went to Cinebistro, a luxurious (overpriced) movie theater that serves you food and alcohol to enjoy during the movie.  The movie did not live up to Hubby's hopes or expectations and the food was only so-so, but it was lovely to return to MiddleEarth #OneLastTime! 

 What do you do for Date Night?

New clothes

Clothes.  The bane of my existence lately,  primarily because 1) I'm down to one pair of jeans, and 2) warm nursing tops are non-existent.  Motherhood Maternity has some cute summer/spring/fall tops, but nothing suitable for a girl who doesn't like to be cold.  

And then I found Latched Mama, a Richmond - based company that sells affordable, functional nursing shirts and dresses.  I couldn't wait to try them out! 

 

Can anyone say ,"Comfortable"???  I have all but lived in this sweatshirt for the last week!  It's warm.  It's modest (thank you, side-access-nursing).  It's warm!  It has a pocket!!  Did I mention that I've been warm??  :)  

I haven't quite figured out the cowl part of this hoodie, but Baby Thunder has started to enjoy pulling at the strings.  The fabric is so soft.  I love that I can wear this shirt with another tank top underneath, by itself, or under my favorite black jacket.  And, it goes great with my one pair of jeans! 

It may not be the most trendy, but I'll take functional over fashionable any day of the week.  If anyone has some extra Christmas money they are wanting to give away, this is next on my list: 

Size small, in Butter Cream, please!

Note: No, I'm not being paid to say any of this.  I just wanna share the love!  :)

The Challenge

Christmas is now over.  The New Year is upon us. This is the time people start making new commitments or resolutions. Lose weight. Eat healthy. Be more generous. These are all fine goals, but they are not specific enough. As a result, these resolutions remain unfulfilled until the following year. To increase your chance of success, you need to be S.M.A.R.T. - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Based. 

Which brings me to my challenge. 

Starting January 1, 2015, I am committing to #100DaysOfMiles.  According to their Facebook event, there are 4 simple rules:

#1 NEVER GO 3 DAYS WITHOUT RUNNING
#2 RUN AT LEAST 3 DAYS A WEEK
#3 NEVER MISS A MONDAY
#4 NEVER GIVE UP!

That's it.  No minimum distance, no streak.  Just to run 100 days by December 31, 2015.  It's that "easy"!

Will you join me? 

Training plans

I still have not decided on a specific running goal.  But, I'm shopping around with regards to training plans, specifically for the marathon.

There are two marathon training plans I have been considering:  Hanson-Brooks and Run Less, Run Faster.

Hanson-Brooks had an interesting article in Runner's World a few years back that sounded interesting.  The longest run of their training plan was 16 miles - yes, you read that right.  "Only" 16 miles for a marathon training plan?  They had you running 6 days a week, with the concept of cumulative fatigue.  This concept was that it taught you how to run on tired legs, to fight through the inevitable fatigue that comes in the latter half of the marathon.  In short, the whole program trained you for the last miles of the marathon; the last 16 miles, not the first 16.  

Initially, I was sold.  I really struggled with my first marathon; maybe this is the secret ingredient that will guarantee a BQ!  But, looking at it realistically, I would have to run 6 days a week.  Ugh.  I have never been able to consistently run more than 4 days a week, even in the midst of marathon training!  Add two small kids along for the ride, and the very idea feels overwhelmingly daunting.

I picked it up from the library this week before wanting to commit to buying it.  I'm intrigued.  Run a PR marathon with only 3 runs and 2 mandatory cross training days per week?  Interesting.  Doable?  Maybe.  A Speed workout, a Tempo, and a Long Run, with specific paces every week.  Having to go to the gym to cross-train via cycling, swimming, or rowing twice a week.  Going to the gym twice a week means I get the kids out of the house and doing something at least 2 days a week while Hubby is gone - that's a win!  On the other hand, figuring out how to do the quality runs at specific paces with a stroller will be challenging.  A tempo run I could figure out; just go by effort than minutes per mile.  Speed workouts would require child care, at least during the winter months.  I could (theoretically) let them play on the infield while I run laps on a track in the spring and summer.  Pushing a 50+ pound stroller on a long run of 10 or more miles would be doable, but boring.  If worse comes to worse, there are always treadmills.  

I'm gonna keep reading, put this book on my Christmas wish list *hint-hint*, and probably give the 10k training plan a try.  After all, I'd really like a sub-50 minute 10k at Monument this year!  :)

The Great Marathon Waffle

Waffling.  That's a verb, right?  You know, going back and forth about a decision - the whole "she loves me, she loves me not" kind of thing.  Waffling.  That's what I've been doing in regards to my 2015 running goals.

I know what I want to do: Run a Boston Qualifying marathon.  My running buddy qualified for the 2016 Boston at MCM (Marine Corps Marathon) this year.  As such, I think it would just be so cool if we ran it together.  But, that means I have until September to qualify.  Unfortunately, most BQ marathons are run in the fall.  :(  So, I have a bit of a dilemma.  Hence the waffling.

I'm trying really hard to be realistic here.  Something I'm not very good at when it comes to my running.  For instance, I ran a half marathon 11 weeks postpartum when I really had not trained for that kind of long distance.  Did I finish?  Yes, with a fairly decent time (all things considered).  Was it pretty?  Nope!  I wouldn't say I got injured, but I was walking like the Tinman for the next 2 days.  Which has not happened since I ran 26.2 miles.  Maybe my age is catching up to me...

Anyways, back to realistic goals.  I am now a stay at home mom, which means I don't have to fit my training around my work schedule.  The thing is, I'm now a stay at home/single-parent mom 4-5 days per week (due to Hubby's new job), which means I have 2 small children to consider and work around.  Which means running solo will be a rare treat.  Which means a lot of time running with a double stroller.  In the winter.  Hmm....  So, is it realistic to be breastfeeding an infant, chasing a 2 year old, and train for a marathon without having Hubby coming home every night?  I just don't know.  Should I attempt a spring and fall marathon?  What about the other races I really enjoy?  The Monument 10k in late March, Historic Half Marathon in May, Richmond Marathon in November?  Should I look for a destination spring marathon, as a sort of family vacation, despite the prospect of packing/relocating in the middle of summer?  Or should I just train for a fast 10k and half marathon and save the marathon for the fall?  

At the moment, I'm very open to suggestions.   

Does anyone have a favorite spring marathon, preferably in the months of late April, May, or June? 

Turkey trotting

I apologize for this late post - I started it the day after Thanksgiving and then Life got in the way.  :)  Without further ado...

I have a tradition this time of year - to run on Thanksgiving.  This tradition for me started in 2005 or so, when my mom had signed my siblings up for a running club that ended with the annual Fredericksburg Turkey Trot.  This club, run by a close family friend, is what got my mom hooked on running, which ultimately made it's way to me.  I was unable to participate in this running group because I happened to sprain my ankle very badly.  So, my 5k debut was in 2006.  And ever since I started running more seriously in 2009, I have run at least 3 miles on Thanksgiving.

Since we will be moving away from my beloved RVA (and because I couldn't justify spending $35 for a 5k), I decided to run the Richmond Turkey Trot 10k at the University of Richmond.  My little sister wanted to run a turkey trot with me this year, so I signed her up to run her first 10k!

This race with her was very important for me.  We are 12 years apart, so I consider her my "first baby".  In 2011, we ran her first 5k together at the Fredericksburg Turkey Trot.  This year, I got to run another new, bigger distance with her. 

Pre-race: Me and my sister (and Dad photo-bombing)

Okay, race review.  Holy hills, Batman!  Do not run this race and expect a PR - this is not a flat course!  But, it was beautiful.  The campus at UofR is beautiful!  We started by a little lake, ran some hills, ran part of a little trail (so glad I read that strollers were not allowed!), ran some more hills, and finished by the lake again.  It was a very chilly, drizzly morning, but it became quite nice once we started running.  I had signed Little Man up for the Kid's Run (which ended up being a 200m dash), but Hubby didn't want to stand around in the wet/cold with Baby Thunder while Miss Molly and I ran.  I'll have to find another little race for him next year.  I really enjoyed the challenge of the hills, especially since it was on Thanksgiving (gotta earn that Pumpkin Pie!).  Miss Molly (my sister) and I finished in 1:04, beating my first (flat) 10k by at least a minute! 

Post-race selfie in the car!

Road trip - North Carolina

Last week, we got the opportunity to travel with Hubby - our first real road trip as a family of four! We went to Cary, NC, which is just a few minutes outside Raleigh.  We had a great time!  Hubby got some family time after being in class all day and we got to spend some time with some dear friends.  Both boys did great - Baby Thunder slept the whole time, and Little Man had fun quietly looking out his window looking at the trucks, cars, and planes.  

We stayed at a Homewood Suites, which was amazing!  Having enough room to spread out and keep a 2 year old entertained was wonderful.  Little Man slept on the sofa bed in the "living room", and Baby Thunder stayed with us in his pack and play. 

Both boys chillin' while I get our breakfast ready

Little Man was super excited to watch the Lego Movie during breakfast.

As I said earlier, I have a dear friend that lived near Cary.  This is the same friend that watched Little Man while I worked.  Between the two of us, there were 5 children ages 3 and under.  It was so refreshing to catch up and hang out together while the kids played together (as much as toddlers play together).  

Twins, anyone?

The two youngest, only 6 weeks apart

Baby Thunder and Baby Mericle

 

 Though I forgot to take a picture, I did manage to get in a quick 2 mile run on Lake Pine near the Apex Community Lake.  A local running buddy gave me a list of a few stroller-friendly routes, and Thursday was the only day that was warm enough to run in my only pair of running shorts (I left my capris at home cuz I thought it would be warmer than 35 degrees).  The boys did great, and it was my fastest stroller run yet!  I was grateful to get a quick run in before sitting in the car for another 3 hours...

Our lunch stop - Jason's Deli!  Apparently we got dinner and a show...

Bittersweet

I became a stay at home mom today.

While I am so grateful that Hubby had a job that provides for us financially so that I don't have to work, I am going to miss my job. My patients, my team, my boss - everyone was so kind and welcoming from Day One! I am happy to be able to stay home and enjoy these little years with my boys, but I am also sad to be leaving such wonderful people. I will forever treasure the lessons I learned.

So here's to more New Adventures!

RVA Race review

I did it again - signed up for a race with only 2 weeks to train. And I'm still waiting for the day when it will catch up to me. So far, I lead a charmed running life! :-)

Today, I ran the 2014 Richmond Half Marathon. Though I didn't get a PR (wonder why...), I count it as a win for many reasons. But I'm getting ahead of myself. 

I like bling. Race bling to be specific. Something about shiny medals hanging on my wall, providing proof of my hard work and insanity. 

Each medal had a story. This one reveals my problem for shiny things, because yes, I signed up primarily because I liked this year's medal so much! 

But not only that. I love Richmond! The course is beautiful, the spectators are amazing, and it's home. And I like being just a little crazy. :-) Yesterday, Baby Thunder turned 11 weeks old. With Little Man, I ran Richmond - for the first time - 5 1/2 months postpartum. So yes, I like to challenge myself. Test my limits. So far, I've yet to find it. 

So, race review:

The thing about running while breastfeeding - you have to wake up extra early to pump before going out to run.  So, my alarm went off at 5:15am to give me extra time to pump, get dressed, and make espresso.  I carpooled with a friend since Hubby was coming later with the boys, and we managed to be in the city and parked by 7am!  It got up to 28 degrees by the time we made it to the start.  Note here about Caty:  I do not like the cold.  More than that, the Cold does not like me!  Nearly every race that I run in months other than June, July, or August (and occasionally September) find me in the medic tent at the finish line to be treated for hypothermia.  So for the start to be extra cold, and the day to not get above 45 degrees was definitely cause for concern.  However, I bought 2 zip ups from Goodwill and bought Thermacare back heat packs to keep on my core for as long as needed (huge shout out to my running buddy for this genius idea!).   Thanks to this extra preparation and heating pads that work quickly, I stood at the starting line at 7:30am feeling relatively comfortable.  

At the starting line, I happened to be standing behind a former MTT teammate and his wife.  Around mile 3, Jennifer (the wife) caught up with me and helped pace/keep me company until mile 10.  From my hips down to my feet (in brand new shoes - stupid, I know) hurt, but at the same time I felt so energized.  I love running with "my people" - reading the signs, hearing spectators cheer for you, encouraging other runners.  It felt so good to be back out there doing what I love - running long distance.  

This is the first race where I didn't have a plan for pace, fuel, or hydration.  I just ran to finish and have fun.  I ended up eating a Honey Stinger at mile 8, and drank Powerade at every other water stop.  My 1.5 liter Camelbak was empty by the time I hit mile 11; I did try to remember to drink frequently to prevent the hypothermia. 

At mile 10, we caught up to Mike (my former teammate).  I left Jennifer with him and spent the last 5k alone.  It felt good to push my aching legs a little faster.  I crossed the finish line in 2:15:05, a full 10 minutes faster than my first Richmond half when I was 5 1/2 months postpartum with Little Man.  It's also my third fastest half.  Like I said - I like pushing my limits... 

Hubby captured this picture on the downhill finish

The best part of the whole race - knowing this was waiting for me at the finish!

The one bad thing about this race - taking off my shoes and realizing that I will be losing at least one toenail in the very near future. 

The lack of Halloween

People have been asking me what Little Man is going to be for Halloween this year. I've been getting very strange looks when I say, "Himself"! Let me explain...

I have a lot going in right now. Probably too much!
1. Hubby started this new job, which means he is gone Monday thru Thursday or Friday.
2. Which means I hold down the fort with a Terrible Two year old who no longer naps, and 8 week old who has decided he doesn't want to lie down to sleep this week. He only wants to sleep on Mommy, which means Mommy doesn't sleep, which doesn't work for anyone.
3. I signed up for the Richmond Half Marathon... in 3 weeks! So I'm running... but, that would be happening anyways, since that is my main coping mechanism.
4. I am taking my second - to - last college class for my BSN. Maybe not my smartest choice..
5. I'm starting to get a little desperate trying to find childcare so I get to go back to work. If I don't find anything, then I will take it as a sign that my working days are at an end, for now. But I really like my job, and I would really like my 2 mornings a week to be with adults! :-)

So no, a costume for my 2 year old is not even closer to my radar! And thank goodness he is young enough that it doesn't matter.

Next year may be a different story...

Better days

So far, last week was awful.  Little Man was having a major meltdown multiple times a day.  We had doctor appointments, Bible study, attempts at play dates that turned into a screaming battle of wills (him screaming at me, not vise versa).  Thankfully, this week is much better.  Is it a great week?  Not necessarily.  But we are managing, and I have not had a tearful breakdown.  The daily running has probably helped with that.  :)  Here is our week so far: 

My strength-training hill

This "hill" looks so easy, right?  Add a headwind/breeze and a 40+ pound double stroller, and this becomes no picnic!  So far, I've been taking the loop to run down it.  :)

Carl's ice cream in Fredericksburg

 

 

I may have over-dressed the boys for a "chilly" 70 degree run

 

Much better! After our first 2 miler together

Bedtime routine

I love this picture!  And no, Baby Thunder does not sleep with his brother.  We were reading a bedtime book as part of Little Man's routine, and Baby Thunder was starting to cry in his crib.  So, Little Man interrupts me and says, "Mommy, get Baby Funder."  Yes, he still calls him Thunder.  :)  So, I grabbed the baby, his pacifier, and my phone, and plopped him next to Little Man, who snuggled next to him.  And we finished reading Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.  :)  So for everyone who asks how Little Man likes his little brother, now you know.  :)

Daily miles

Since the horrendous Wednesday night last week, where Little Man and Baby Thunder took turns screaming at me for an hour starting the moment we got home from my Bible study, I have been running. Every single day.

I have never done a running streak before. I've always thought that you need to rest every other day to prevent injury. But for me, it is harder to get back out there when I've had a few days off. So now, I want to commit to ruining at least 1 mile every single day. 

I found this poster on Facebook last night. Much truth can be found in it!

Happy miles, everyone! 

A Running Update

Nothing like a bad week to make you realize how desperately you need to take care of your own needs. In my case, that means going for a run.  So on this gorgeous afternoon, I loaded up these two handsome men in our trusty Orange Stroller (as Little Man has named it) and took off.

Pre-run: Little Man is obviously excited to spend some quality time with his Goldfish

Pre-run: Baby Thunder seems excited to be riding without his carseat.

I'm not gonna lie - pushing a double stroller with nearly 40 pounds of boy is no joke.  Especially when there is a hill involved.  I need to plan my route a little better next time to avoid said hill, at least until I get a little stronger.  Speaking of which, can running with 2 boys count as strength training?  :) 

Post run

Even though my neck and shoulders are more sore from pushing the boys, this run felt amazing.  I feel an alertness that coffee cannot bring (despite not going to sleep until 2:30am and waking up every 2-3 hours, courtesy of Baby Thunder).  I feel happier than I have all week, and Little Man has actually gone nearly 3 hours without throwing a tantrum!  Which makes me realize something - I need to run.  Daily.  Or at least nearly every day.  Not only for losing those last 10 pounds or to Boston-qualify this spring; no, I need to run for my sanity.  To fight off the depression demons I feel closing in.  To feel awake and happy.

And if someone wants to watch my little men for even just 20 minutes, I would love to run in therapeutic peace.

New Adventures

Yes, the New Adventure has begun!  Two weeks ago, Hubby started his new job and I started my new life of being a stay at home mom (for my remaining 6 weeks) and single parent for 3-5 days per week!  Here is how we fared for week 1:

Monday - Hubby left in the afternoon since he didn't have to be down in Cary, NC until dinner time.  It was a dreary, rainy day, so the boys and I just kinda hung out.

Saying goodbye to Daddy/Hubby

Tuesday - I decided to take the boys and "Uncle Wo" (my middle brother) apple picking at Dickie Brothers Orchard in Roseland, VA.  Little Man enjoyed picking "green apples" and hanging out with the farm labs, despite one of them stealing his apple.

Wednesday - Little Man decided it was a good day to hang out in Baby Thunder's car seat.  Don't worry, he didn't stay there all afternoon.  :)  I also washed a bushel of apples, in prep for making applesauce.  Also, we went to a women's Bible study at church in the evening. 

One bushel of apples, waiting to be made into applesauce

 Thursday - My mom took me to Spirited Art as a belated birthday gift, where we drank wine and painted The Whimsical Fan.  Due to Hubby's new job, we will be relocating to Columbus, OH next spring/summer.  As such, I wanted to make a little bit of home to keep with me.  The Fan is a section of Richmond where Hubby and I first lived when we got married. Now, I can take it wherever I go!  :)

 And of course, since I was home all by myself all week, I got lots of snuggle time in with this little boy, at 11:30pm...

... and 4am...... not my favorite time of day...

Friday - Little Man talked on his "iPhone" aka the insert from Hubby's iPhone packaging, and we waited for 3pm to bring Hubby home!

Overall, we had some fun, there were not too many meltdowns, and WE SURVIVED!!!  :)

Open Doors

So, things have been a little quiet on the home front these days.  Blog-wise, at least.  Haven't been quite sure how to put these last few weeks into words.

Sometimes we think He opens a door, but we aren't really sure at that time, so it requires a leap of faith to go through it and see what happens.  When we cross the threshold, we can look back and see how God provided that opportunity and that it was the right decision.  Or we try to go through and it slams in our face.  And sometimes, He opens a door and shoves you through it, causing us to surrender our plans and exclaim, "It's a God-thing!"

That last one happened to Hubby and I nearly 7 weeks ago.  In the space of 3 short weeks, we went from going about our normal routine - waiting for Baby Thunder to arrive, going to our respective jobs, hanging out with Little Man - to Hubby putting in a job application with Siemens Healthcare within 2 days of hearing about an incredible opportunity, only to be turned down and offered another, more incredible opportunity that only God could have brought about.

On Monday, August 25, 2014, Hubby was offered (and accepted) a position as a Clinical Applications Specialist with Siemens Healthcare.  It is a wonderful opportunity for him, and for our family.  Down side: it is 90% very structured travel, and will require re-locating to Columbus, Ohio.  Looking at that last sentence, it is easy to think, "That sounds awful!  How can she say that this job is a 'God-thing' and a good choice for their family??"  All I can tell you is that this whole process has been so smooth, so full of unlooked-for blessings that there is no doubt that this move, this open door is God's will for our family.  Here are a few:

We will be moving to a city where all of the in-laws will be within 45 minutes of us.  We are given a year to move (thank God I don't have to pack up my wonderful house with a 4 week old!).  I can be a stay-at-home mom (though I won't take advantage of that right away).  My husband gets to combine all of his skills and talents in a job that will enable him to grow and progress, including the option of potentially, eventually relocating back down south of the Mason-Dixon line. 

Will this be hard?  Yes.  I am terrified, excited, stressed, looking forward to the future, dreading the Ohio winters, missing my family - all in the same moment.  But I can rest in peace because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if He has provided for us so far, He will continue to meet our daily needs as we move forward on this New Adventure! 

Life training

Being a runner is more than the number of miles you run per week, or the brand of shoes you wear, or the kinds of people you hang out with. It is Life training. How do you recover from a bad run? How do you cope with the pain, mental and physical, from a 16 miler? What do you do when sidelined with an injury? How do you celebrate a victory?

The tools I have learned through my running career - both mental, emotional, and physical - have been very useful in almost every other aspect of my life. My son's recent birth showed me that more clearly than ever before.

You mentally prepare for each painful contraction just as you would for a hard run. When you want to give up, you realize it will take longer to go back than to finish, so you keep putting one figurative foot in front of the other (or just take each contraction one at a time as they come). When recovery feels so long and painful, just remember that this too shall pass.

And the joy of doing something you didn't know was possible - of accomplishing your goal - is indescribable.

A moment to cherish

Dishes need washing, laundry needs folding, floors need sweeping; but he will only be small for such a short time, so I will stay right here and cherish this moment.