A GiVeAwAy!!!!! Dream Big and GO for It!

Here I sit.  A few weeks after my marathon.  A few weeks after I actually toed the start line.  A few weeks after all the hard work, training and dreaming came to a conclusion, I AM A MARATHONER.  

Never in a million years have I ever thought I would say that.  I never thought that I was runner enough to achieve that goal but I had dreams and I had support and because of those dreams and support I was able to go for it! And go for it I did, I now have the amazing mermaid medal to prove it :)

Which is why as a mom and a runner, a supporter of healthy living I am beyond excited to have come across Go! Go! Sports Girls.  As a mom I want to instill healthy living and activity into my kids.  I want them to make choices and have fun while getting active and choosing healthy snacks. You can even find tips on how to get your kids involved in sports on the website here) While I live that example to the best I can to show them what it is like I am so thrilled that there are companies out there in society and the media that are promoting the same values that I am trying to.  It is like the founder of these amazing dolls, Jodi Norgaard, got down to the core of what I am trying to teach.  She has coached "Girls on the Run", a program which encourages girls to make healthy choices in life through running, for many years.  It was while working with these girls that Jodi had an idea. 


"I realized there was a need for a positive doll for girls that would be age appropriate, proportioned properly and send a positive message about a healthy lifestyle - physically, mentally and emotionally - through sports." -Jodi 

YES EXACTLY THAT Jodi!!!!! I am excited that this message is starting to make waves into our littles lives. "The whole point of the business is to send the message to girls to dream big and go for it." says Jodi. 

This right there is EXACTLY the type of message that I dream of for my daughters to embrace, hold on to and pass on.  I want her to dream her dreams and then go for it.  Even when in a million years she never thinks it will be possible.

Back in March I reached out to Jodi and the Go! Go! Sports Girl company to ask for a donation to our Daddy Daughter Dance raffle.  I was in charge and I wanted to put something together for the girls that embraced being active.  Jodi did me one better.  She sent a doll in for the raffle AND she sent me one to GIVEAWAY!!!!! 

Yes I have a doll, Ella the running doll to be exact to give to one lucky blog reader!!! Just leave a comment telling me how YOU Dream Big and GO For It!!!! 

By the way, how perfect is it that Ella is the name of the running doll?  My oldest is named Ella and I love that the runner here is also an Ella!!!! Now to just convince Jodi that she needs a doll named Lucille/Lulu/Lucy...... Maybe an extra bonus entry if you write in that suggestion ;) 

MARATHON recap and a GiVeAwAy announcement

I did it!!!! I. AM. A. MATHONER!!!!!!! enough said right?  Not really, just like child birth there is always a story, a journey of how your life was changed.

I spent Saturday with my family.  Watching my tiny dancer take the stage in the most beautiful dance I have ever seen, stopping at the greenhouse and enjoying the flowers, celebrating my neices 2nd birthday and then doing things that well as a runner getting ready to run a race you are never supposed to do.  I went to Target and bought myself new running clothes to wear FOR the race.  After training all winter, the only clothes I had worn were warm ones.  I needed something that would help keep me as cool as possible for the forecast of 85 degrees.  Then, then I ate pizza and onion rings.  Yep, take out.  Not really something I would normally do and especially not before a race but I did it.  Then I went to bed at 11.  Yep, late.

The day dawned for me at 12:37 am, to the lovely sound of puking, crying and moaning that "my belly hurts it really really hurts".  My heart broke for my oldest who was clearly extrememly sick.  My hubby was amazing and dealt with all the clean up and calming her down but as a mama I just couldn't go back to sleep with her so miserable.  At 5am, I was up packing and worrying about my mini.  She was insisting she still see mama race, and considering the race start was a drop off and I never bought a shuttle ticket because the plan had been for the kids and my husband to drop me off we had no real choice.  Since I had gotten my bib Friday night at the expo (If it can even be called that?  It was pretty much just a packet pick up with two vendors there not even trying to demo their stuff), we held off putting the kids in the van until the last possible second.

I walked out my door and the humidity hit me.  It was already thick and warm, 60 degrees.  I could already tell that things were going to get HOT.  As I walked around the van I came across the best surprise I  ever!!!! At some point in the middle of the night, without anyone in the house knowing some of my wonderful friends had lined my driveway with homemade race signs for me.  I just stood there and read them and cried.  It was truly the most thoughtful thing that could have ever had been done for me right there in that moment.  This was the start of what would be the reason I finished that race.

We drove the 20 minutes to the race start with my mini puking in a bowl and then smiling at me and telling me she was ok.  I wanted to stop go home and just snuggle her but I also knew that I really needed to do this or at least try as selfish as that made me.  My husband dropped me off with 20 minutes to go before the start.  He wasn't sure what his plan would be with Princess Pie throwing up so much but he gave me a kiss told me he was so proud of me and out the door I went to stand in line for the port-o-potties.  I tried one more time to eat something while I was standing there but I couldn't do it.  I was sick to my stomach and no food would go in.  Looked like I was relying solely on that take out pizza the night before.  In line I was surrounded by runners talking about all the other marathons they had run, which ones were better to BQ at and which ones to avoid.  I felt alone.  Never have I felt so alone at the start of a race before.  I used the potty and slowly made my way to the line.  

I made the decsion to run naked.  I didn't want any time pressure on me.  I just wanted to finish so I stood and I waited and then the gun went off.  We were warned the route was only closed to traffic

for the first mile and to not run in groups after that.  I was at the back of the pack and trying desparetly to find someone who looked friendly and wouldn't mind chatting for a few minutes but no luck.  I ran the first mile, and wished I was already done.  I knew that if my husband stuck around to cheer that I wouldn't see him until mile 4.5 or so and that seemed so far off.  Then as luck would have it a runner decided to run down the center line even when the road opened back up to traffic.  He didn't budge and those of us behind him kept yelling CAR, and because of this I found my opportunity to talk to someone.  It started with a "can you believe this guy?" and ended with chatting about anything and everything.  This was exactly what I needed to shake that alone feeling.  We ran together until I veered off to use a port-o-potty.  I was alone again but I was ok.

At mile 4.5 I was delighted and excited to see my small little family standing there, with specially made Mother's Day race signs and I tried so hard not to cry.  I stopped and gave them all a small kiss and off I went again to my husband yelling you look great keep it up!  This was the pattern that kept me going.  Each time, I was feeling like I couldn't do it, I happened upon surprise support.  At mile 6

my sister-in-law drove by screaming and waving.  At mile 8 it was some page followers/friends out there cheering me on and making sure to grab some pictures so I would have some part of my journey documented.  At mile 10, a friend jumped in and ran with me for 3 miles.  Some where in there my other sister-in-law and cousin drove by screaming and yelling.  At mile 13.5 I met the whole group of them cheering for me with signs and smiles.  I stopped here to apply some more sunscreen.  It was getting hot and there wasn't an ounce of shade out there at all.  Here yet another friend jumped in to run a bit.  She had a Sunday long run planned and thought why not run with me.

At mile 15 things started getting REALLY hard.  The heat was insane and I was starting to get so sick. I was unable to drink or fuel without wanting to throw up.  Having Annette out there with me then was pure magic.  She kept me calm, going and making sure I was sipping water as much as I could.  At mile 16 my sister-in-law and cousin had ice cold water for me to drink and dump over my head.  At mile 16.5 I came across the best cheerleader ever.  A random lady standing out there with a sign and a bowl of ice for the runners.  Truly a God send.  I grabbed a handful and dropped it in my bra. At mile 18 I found the page follower/friends again and couldn't have been more excited they were still out there tracking and cheering for me.  Then came, my husband again AND one of the sign
making friends who had lined my driveway.  My fan base was growing.  They were all leap frogging each other so that I had someone cheering me on every few miles.  I found them a few more times each time MORE friends had joined them.  These people had all taken time out of THIER Mother's Day to be out on the side of a hot road holding a sign waiting and waiting for me to be spotted.  At mile 24, Annette who was only going to run 10 miles with me was still there.  It was here she suggested that she put music on her phone and we run one song, walk one song.  This is how, I finished the race.  Focusing not on how sick I felt but one song at a time.  People were now starting to lie and tell me I was almost there.  I guess in the grand scheme of things yes I was.  But when you have 1.5 miles left DO NOT tell someone it's just a mile now.  The last mile lasted a lifetime and I started getting dizzy and even more sick.  Thankfully, the last aid station at mile 25.2 had cups of ice.  I was able to chew on the ice to get some liquid in and cool off some.

At the finish line I ran in to the cheers of my mini family and my sister-in-law and cousin who had stayed to see me through the whole thing.  Honestly, I do not remember much about the course.  They say it is a beautiful one.  The sites are specataculr.  I don't remember.  I don't remember the aid

stations or which was my favorite as I am supposed to vote.  I don't remember how many people passed me, or the time I finished in.  I don't think I even looked as I crossed the line.  All I remember was the support and encouragement.  I remember feeling loved and believed in.  The specators I had both there physically and from away.  All of the notes, texts, messages, signs, smiles, hugs, ALL of that.  That is what I remember.  That is what made this race so special.

Those signs in my driveway that morning, those signs were a foreshadow of how I was going to get through that race.  I was going to get through with a little help from my friends.


For me this race wasn't about the running, it was about the friendships, the believing in myself and the love that can get you through anything.



Speaking of believing in yourself, and fantastic role modeling look for a giveaway coming soon!!! One I am very VERY excited to be a part of!!!!  One that will definetly have your little ones on the Go GO... Anyone care to guess what it is?

Taper Crazies!!!!!

Ahhhhhh it is upon me!!!! Marathon weekend is about to start.  I can not even believe that 18 weeks
of training are under my belt.  It honestly feels like I just started and yet I am no where near ready.  Que: Taper Crazies.

Tapering is this funny funny thing.  I never understood it completely until right this week.  The last weeks of training, I was tired, I was ready for a break and I was feeling run down.  HA! This week I am ready to go, I want to run, I feel like I should be out there running and yet I am not.  Mind games are continuing and doubt is setting in.  Tapering may actually just be harder than the actual running!!!

Here are five ways to keep the tapering crazies at bay:

1) Clean.  Yep clean your house.  My house is normally a crazy loved lived in cozy mess.  Kids art work is everywhere, shoes are strewn, toys and forts and "doctor office" stations are stepped around
and lovingly turned into whatever else the imagination needs at the moment.  During training however, well that coordinated chaos turned into a disaster zone.  Laundry piled up, dishes are stacked up, beds are unmade and floors are pretty sticky in spots (pretty sure someone snuck juice in a room where it isn't allowed...) I spent yesterday, organizing everything. rearranging furniture, folding laundry and washing floors.  I was done by 1 o'clock and still itching to run BUT I put the laundry away instead.

2) Play.  All the weeks I have had to arrange schedules and fit in runs whenever I could are no more.  This week we have had park trips and picnics at random times.  We have had "paint nights" in with the music blaring and the paint flying everywhere and a little on the canvas.  Dance parties and bike rides.  It is almost like I am a kid again and the kids and I are enjoying it.  The forced time away from running is like a welcome playtime oasis.  We even managed a fantastic dinner picnic on the beach this week.  To soak up the sand and waves and to see the kids just carefree running between tide pools was exactly what I needed to fill my heart with love.



3) Weather Stalk.  Oh boy, this in itself can drive you crazy but it's like a bad movie you watch it anyway.  So far I have seen the weather go from my perfect conditions (50's with a 30% chance of rain) to pretty much hell.  Literally, the temps are forecasted to reach near 90 Sunday.  I am not accustomed to that type of heat yet.  I trained in the dead of winter.  A winter that didn't seem to want to end.  I ran in blizzards and through snow that was taller than me.  The summer is welcomed yes, but it is definitely going to make me work to finish that race.  Although, this is Maine.  Even the forecasted weather that morning will probably change yet again. Hopefully, to cool with some rain ;)



4) Plan.  I have lists of lists that I need to make.  I am taking the time to plan what to wear, what to eat, what to bring, You name it and I have a list for it.  Because there is no parking at the start, my husband and the kids are dropping me off.  Not only do I have to plan for me and pack and organize
my things but I need to do it for three kids and a hubby too.  They will need breakfast to go, snacks, lunch, toys, extra clothes, diapers, breast milk, sunscreen and strollers.  All of this planning has me running errands and staying busy.  A wicked good distraction to the not running thing this week.  Even my lists have lists who have lists.



5) Take it all in.  Lastly, just be.  Take it all in.  All of your training, all of your thoughts.  All of the support from your supporters.  The notes, the quotes and the words of encouragement.  Just let it all soak in and store it away.  Believe, their words and notes.  You are trained for this, you have this and
it is going to be life changing.  Let those in who are cheering for you.  Let them offer you little pick me ups that you will store close to the heart and pull them out when you need them the most.  For as in the words of the amazing Sue from This Mama Runs for Cupcakes: What will be, will be.


Thank you to all of you who have supported me, helped me train, ran with me, texted me with encouragement when you knew I was out.  Who left me notes and quotes.  Who have paved the way and inspired to me to test my limits in the first place.  This run I am doing for me but it is because of all of you that read this blog that I am finding the courage in myself to try for dreams.

A special huge thank you for this trifecta of amazing and inspiring runners and bloggers who took the time to read and comment on each weeks training journey post.  Thank you ladies for being such wonderful blog readers!!!!

Sue: This Mama Runs for Cupcakes 
Wendy: Taking the Long Way Home 
Michelle: Movin It With Michelle

And now we TAPER....

And now, now things are seeming all too real.  I just finished up my last week of real training. And I am officially in taper mode for the next two weeks.  The nerves are kicking in as is the little voice of doubt that lives in my head.  I am doing my best to keep it at bay but I know I am under trained and it knows exactly what to say to strike the fear of a DNF in my heart.

Marathon Training Week 16:

The Miles:
Tuesday ~ 6.5 miles
Wednesday Morning ~ 1.76 miles (then limped and cried home)
Wednesday Afternoon ~ 2.52 miles (first time ever pushing the youngest two while my oldest rode her bike!)
Friday ~ 4.5 miles
Saturday ~ 5.01 miles (Baby Shower and a Birthday party had me splitting the 10 to make time for it all)
Saturday Evening ~ 4.73 miles (again with the hip problem ahhhhh!)

The Routes:
Same ole boring home routes.  Yet I was dreaming of the Newport routes and reliving them in my mind as I ran along.  It was also so amazing to have a route that I could take all the kids on with me.

Weather:
Still below average for the temps! It isn't cold compared to January running but I wish it was warmer.  I would love to have it the temp that makes you just want to run and run and run and run.  I am hoping that it warms soon and that May 10th is a spectacular spring day!

Gear:
Same as ever.  I didn't even use an fuel.  Which makes me a bit nervous.  I do not feel confident in my plans for fueling yet....

Lessons Learned:
What a week this was.  The excitement of being done the toughest part of training and the anxiety of knowing I am slightly under trained.  The fear of a DNF is real, especially after finishing this week with some hip problems.  I am not sure how or why they started but I have now run a few times where I come limping home to ice, rest, and roll taking a day or two off and then testing out the hip again.  I have learned to listen to my body.  It doesn't matter if you have a sitter for the kids, that you inconvenienced them to watch your kids so you could run.  If you are hurting than STOP, come home and just let it go.  I have also learned that there is a difference between sticking with a dream and goal and being stupidly stubborn.  See it is the end of the money and I am close, close to having a 100 mile month.  And you know what?  I have to let it go.  Running an extra three miles isn't going to help me, my hip or my goal of running the marathon.  It is OK if my monthly mileage falls short.  It doesn't make me a real runner to have 100 miles this month.  It makes me a real runner because I know I AM a runner because I run and I am starting to be smart enough about the running to heal some injuries and not just keep pushing through.  Before I was a runner, before I let myself acknowledge that title I would make excuse after excuse as to why it wasn't good to run that day, that night, that weekend.  Today, I fight the opposite battle.  I have to recognize that these are NOT excuses for not running but legit reasons to stop for the day, the night or that weekend.  My body is adjusting to the miles, and still nursing a baby.  It is recovering from a pregnancy and birth and still trying to build endurance.  I am putting it through a lot and if my hip, or back or even soul just needs a break then I need to take it.  I am NOT failing I am growing.

Speaking of taking the stroller out with me, who is going to participate in National Stroller Running Day on May 31st?

Figuring more of me out! Weeks 14 and 15

When things get tough, when I start to doubt, when I feel alone, when I need a hug but can't ask, when I am scared, when I find that there is a chance I may fail.  I hide.  I withdraw and get quiet and lazy with making time to write.  My marathon training is winding down and yet now I am finding it harder and harder to put the training weeks up on the blog.  To write about them. To dig deep and
discover what they are telling me.  I am finding that I am burying them.  Running the miles and then forgetting about my thoughts while out there.  Which is funny.  I just came off a back injury, I am seeing a chiropractor three days a week and I missed most of week 14.  Only getting in two runs, thankfully one of which was a long 16 miler.  I should be thrilled to be back running and sticking with training.  I should be ecstatic that I hit a 16 miler, 16 whole miles with the help of some running friends coming off that back injury yet, I hid.  Following that week, I had one of the MOST enjoyable training weeks.  Nailing every run and finding myself doing it alone.  Just me.  The first time ever going over 10 with out having some chunk of my run with a buddy.  All of this leads me to believe I am way more conflicted about running this marathon than I thought I was.  I need some time to sort things out.

Marathon training week 14:

The Miles:
Wednesday 6.57
Saturday 16.02

The Routes:
Same old same old.  Circles of the local roads that I have been training on for the last 13 weeks.  Up and down the same roads.  I have come to know every pot hole, puddle, dog and most likely area to wave to kids or say hello to someone doing yard work.

Weather: 
Spring for the most part really is here.  It hasn't been super warm but it's been getting there.  Saturday morning I headed out early and was greeted by the chirping birds and the sun. No snow, which was a first for this training cycle :)

Gear:
No changes, although I am having sock problems and am struggling to find a good pair for long distances.

Lessons Learned:
I can make come backs.  Just because I have these little set backs doesn't mean that I can't push
through.  I can run long and I can do it without crying.  This 16 miler was much different from the first one, in fact after it I felt like I could go another 10.  HUGE gains in believing in myself :)






Marathon Week 15 training:

The Miles:
Tuesday 8.01
Thursday 16.01
Friday 9.01
Saturday 3.01

The Routes:
OH MY GOODNESS these routes!!!!! I had an opportunity to travel down to Newport, RI with my husband on his business trip.  I am forever thankful that family and friends stepped in and helped me out with the kids so that I could go.  I woke up Thursday morning kid less and alone with no plans.  I smiled, I knew that I had the whole day before me to run, so why not do my Saturday long run.  I talked with some locals and made a plan.  I set out and just ran.  I ran down Bellevue Avenue.  Home of the Newport Mansions.  The views of these summer "cottages" from the Guilded Age were just breathtaking.  Then I hit the end and turned onto the Cliff Walk.  Those Mansions I just saw the back of?  Yeah I was now in front of them.  Sandwiched between the centuries old houses and the Atlantic Ocean.  I was in pure joy.  So much in fact, I went right back out less than 24 hours later to run the route again with my husband.  I still can't get over those views.



Weather:

SPRING!!!!! In fact, Tuesday's run I ended up in just a tank top and it was so delightful to be down to minimum layers! The long run in Newport on Thursday was just sun and sea and so soul searchingly delightful.  Even the rain on Friday, the pouring rain for all 9 miles was spring like.  The head winds not so much but I was running in the rain on the coast and I was happy.


Gear:
Running alone in a new place, especially after my little "run in" that happened on my own turf Tuesday night I donned an alarm.  A little clip that when removed lets out a piercing alarm.  It was easy to run with, however, I forgot it was there.  Let's just say that I couldn't hear out of my left ear for a few days after I tried undressing.  I forgot it was on and when I took my shirt off it set ripped the alarm off and it went off in my ear.  Fun times :)

Lessons Learned:
I had the strongest week running ever.  Tuesdays 8 miler was beautiful.  I stopped to enjoy the deer, the sun set and the peepers.  (My first official sign of spring!!!) I had a small scare when I was running behind the main road and I was surrounded by three bigger than me high school boys.  My first thought was I can't out run them, my second I should have mace or my alarm on me.  But it didn't take me long to realize that in the dusk they simply thought I was much younger than my years and were actually hitting on me.  Which then sent me back home amused and in awe of the
confidence of high school boys.  Lesson, run in the safe lights and bring alarms or mace.  Thursdays 16 miler was done COMPLETELY alone.  Just me, the sun and the sea.  No music, no conversation.  It was the first time that I had ever done over 10 without having some chunk of my run with a running buddy.  I had the mental toughness to do it.  To stick it out. To overcome fears of being alone in a place I didn't know.  To run blind and "naked"  It was freeing!

Have you ever run in Newport?  I had a total love affair with the routes there and can not wait to go back! 

Figuring it out and then starting over AGAIN

AHHHHHH I am going to say it, actually say it out loud and then hope to hell it is true.  I am pretty almost, certainly positive that training is HARDER than the actual marathon.  Just when you think

you have it figured out, things are going well, you totally have this. Life happens.  Life is always happening.  I am a mom to three, things never ever ever EVER go as planned. And when they do I wait, I wait for something to come up that I hadn't noticed or I had forgotten about.  I am a mom, a mom to three and a runner, there is ALWAYS a wrench.  If someone could see the way my brain worked they would see that all day long every day and actually even most of the night as well my brain is recalculating, re planing, making back up plans and changing this and squeezing in that.  I just never know what I am going to be dealing with at any particular moment.  Headed out the door, everyone is happy, dressed, fed and yet the dog will vomit on the carpet.  Or running on time and someone will have to poop as soon as the last car seat buckle is clipped causing three kids to be unloaded and rushed back into the house to start the leaving process all over again.

This is what happened to my training, LIFE.

Week 12 Marathon Training:

The Miles:

Wednesday ~ 7.06 miles
Thursday ~ 4.03 miles
Saturday ~ 10 miles

The Weather:

Spring is slowly fighting off the winter chill.  It isn't that warm yet but the layers are not as thick and the face masks have come off.  I still ran in snow on Saturday as we joked that it was a long run day therefore, it would snow.  And it did.  Just spitting snow but snow none the less came from the sky.

Routes:

Absolutely nothing new.  In fact, I have gotten really into the same loop that I will just do multiple times.  It has some good hills and is mostly traffic free.

Lessons Learned:

This week was my come back week.  The kids were really sick and I fell victim at the beginning of the week but nothing too drastic.  I had a hard time balancing it all and therefore the house fell victim.  And by that I mean it was a complete and utter disaster.  Laundry, although clean, was piled high on every surface.  We pushed everything aside in the family room and set up the bounce house.  The kids had been going crazy for outdoor play but with the temps and the ground still covered in snow it was a great option to bounce the crazies out. Dishes are slow to be done.  Often resulting in me doing breakfast dishes at lunch and lunch dishes at dinner.  It was honestly, a disaster.  Which means of course that it will be seen.  I was so fortunate to have a running buddy for Saturday's snowy

long run that I got up, fueled up and hit the road to meet up with her.  Our loops however lead back to my house for some water and a bathroom break.  Here is the lesson I learned: Your house is a disaster, a war zone, and yet as a runner you open the door for another runner to come in without even blinking.  My husband later showed me video of what the house looked like when she came in to use the bathroom.  He was embarrassed and couldn't figure out why I wasn't.  I simply said "she's a runner, she gets it".  Had it been anyone else and I probably would have loaded the van and went into hiding.  Joined the protective witness program.  But when I apologized she said "you have three really young kids, you amaze me by even being out here training."  It hit me right then and there runners accept other runners in all their disaster filled glory.

Which leads me into,

Marathon Training week 13

The Miles:

Monday ~ 6.57
Tuesday ~ 4.57

The Weather:

Pretty darn perfectly gorgeously the beginning of spring.  I even ran in shorts one evening and the sunsets and birds and melting snow was just wonderful.

Routes:

The same old same old.  However, I have recently roped another friend into running and the route takes me right by her house so I have been picking her up and running with her a bit before dropping her off and continuing on.  It makes for more interesting runs and I absolutely love company.  I am much more a group runner than a solo one.

Lessons Learned:  

Life happens.  After feeling confident in my new plan, missing one of last weeks runs due to sickness and feeling OK with it all knowing I was going to rock this week and take on 16 miles again, hopefully better than I had the last time, I wasn't prepared to be knocked off my feet.  Literally.  My back went out while cooking lunch on Wednesday.  I was literally brought to my knees.  I could not move, walk, laugh, lay, stand.  I was in pain.  Terrible pain.  To be honest it is the beginning of training week 14 and I am still unable to walk straight and have yet to run.  I should be panicking, stressing, worrying about not being trained enough.  Yet I realized, something.  A few weeks ago I
read a blog where she had said it is better to be under trained and to tackle a challenge than to be over trained and injured.  That has clicked with me.  I know I will be back.  In fact, as soon as I feel like I can handle running my chiropractor told me to go for it.  I know that I am going to put my best into this training.  It is hard, it has been hard.  The winter training, the learning curves, the discovering of me and how far I can go.  It has all been hard.  It has been hard but I have been training.  I may not be text book trained.  But I have heart, I have dedication and I know what it feels like to push through. Just like I now know what it feels like to stop and rest.  I know that I can do this.  I can finish up these last 4 weeks.  I know I can go to that start line with the training I end up with and rock what I can.  I also know that I can and will pull out if I have too.  Although, right now my fight isn't up yet.  I still have some time, although not much ;)

Friday Five!!! Let's talk about food.

This Friday (yay really thank goodness Friday is here!!!!!), I was hesitant to link up with the DC Trifecta of You Signed Up for What?!, Mar on the Run and Eat Pray Run DC to talk about Five Favorite Spring time Foods.  Why?! Well, because I am not the best cook or meal planner.  My family is not all organic, paleo, vegan or any of the other hot topic food lifestyles.  We eat what is best for us and I cook it the best that I can.  With that being said, I wasn't going to write this Friday until sitting home with sick kid #2 while baby was napping I realized I do actually have something to write about.

Let's talk about boobs food.  Baby food or well more specifically breast feeding a baby.  Breastfeeding a baby in particular while training for a marathon.  While I was pregnant I wrote a few posts on running pregnant and "how to" do it.  I am by no means a doctor, a nurse, a lactation consultant or a medical professional in anyway.  I am just a mom, a runner and a breastfeeder.  I am not backed by any studies just what I have personally experienced.  Running while pregnant means you change up your training, your routes, your pace.  But having the baby and getting right back to where you are is not likely going to happen.  It took you 9 months to grow that baby, give your body time to get back ESPECIALLY if you are breastfeeding.  By breastfeeding your precious little energy sucker  bundle of joy your body is still not your own.  You are your babies nourishment and comfort.  Your body is producing food for your baby holding on to certain pregnancy hormones and trying to find a balance.  Running while doing this is EXTRA.  Your body is supporting the baby first, then you and then with that is left running.  So be kind to yourself, don't push yourself too hard or punish yourself when you feel like you aren't getting your pace and endurance back.

Here are my 5 tips for running and breastfeeding.

1) Hydration/Nutrition/Sleep: You have a new baby, you are training, YOU WILL NEVER SLEEP AGAIN and you will constantly be hungry.  Your body produces milk by taking the energy you put into it.  It is important to make sure that the calories you burn by running are replaced.  Getting adequate quantities of good fat, high protein food is important to keep your milk supply up while you train.  I feel like I am constantly eating.  Like starving all.the.time!!!! Almonds are my go to and ice cream is my staple night time snack ;) Hydration though is KEY! Drink DRINK DRIIINKKK (and no I am not frat party chanting).  Breast Milk is mostly made up of water.  Your body needs the water. Drink the water! Sleep yeah right, you won't.  But trying to is important.  This one I have yet to figure out since I run when the baby naps or late at night but one day I will sleep again I am sure ;)

2) Pumping/Nursing/Timing: Ahhh the timing of when to go out for a run, or to pump for it.  It is a constant battle of juggling.  I usually am always dressed and ready for a run since my running clothes are most comfortable.  I never know when the opportunity to run will present itself.  Usually, I run at night after I have put the baby to bed (for the first time).  Or I run during nap time if someone else is home.  But I always plan it so I can nurse the baby right before I go.  I either nurse and then transfer a sleeping baby, or nurse and then hand the baby off to Daddy to rock while I run.  This helps in two ways.  The first, it means you have the most time out there.  Usually at least an hour before you will have to nurse again (hello cluster feeding!).  Making the most of that time between sessions but it also means that you will have drained your milk making it as comfortable for you as possible too.  If I leave in the morning before the baby wakes I make sure to pump completely before I go.  Leaving enough milk for the baby to get what she needs and also again draining as much as I can for comfort. Hand pumps are great to have with you on race day too.  Often times you have to be there so early that it will allow you to pump right before you run if baby isn't there to feed.

3) Sports Bras: You need support.  In so many many different babies when you are trying to be a new mom, feed a baby and train for a race.  However, you literally need THE support.  Your boobs will be heavy and MUCH larger.  Especially, at first.  They are going to hurt and be uncomfortable but if you have a good supportive sports bra or TWO then it makes it much easier.  I have found that when I was training for my first half right after #2 was born that I had to run in THREE, yes THREE bras.  It was hot and a tad uncomfortable but it was what worked.  Coming into the finish line after my first 13.1 miles completely soaked from the never ending rain and exhausted made getting those three bras OFF as I was handed my medal and a baby who needed to nurse a tad tricky.  After, that fiasco I found Moving Comfort.  Not only do I only run in one bra now (and have the entire 9 months of nursing baby #3) but they clasp in the back making taking them off easier AND the straps actually are adjustable by amazing Velcro so it is possible to just take one side down and nurse a baby whether I am coming in from a training run or ending a race.

4) Routes: Routes will be important to plan.  Either for the ease of getting to (like right out your front door), so you can get right to running and not spending all of your precious time between nursing sessions traveling to your running route.  OR so that it will be easy and some what quick for you to come home if you are needed.  Babies eat on a schedule for the most part around 12 weeks BUT they can always throw a wrench in the mix and wake up early and be STARVING.  More than once I have been called home from a run to nurse a baby.  Sometimes I nurse the babe and then head right back out and sometimes I just call it a day.  I never know if my run will be a mile or 5 miles.

5) Flexibility: Just like when I was pregnant, it is not ME dictating my runs.  My body doesn't really belong to me during pregnancy or breastfeeding.  It is used as a source for nutrition and growth for my little miracle.  Which means I need to keep an open mind with planning my training or hitting the road.  My 10 mile run may have a phone call at mile 2 alerting me to a hungry baby.  Or my 1 mile me time may turn into a 5 mile vacation when the baby decides an extra long nap is good. I may only have time for 3 training runs that week not 4.  If you can roll with the punches, adapt to whatever schedule your baby puts you on for that day then you will find it easier to stay on top of your running.  Not expecting too much makes for an absolute thrilling feeling when you realize you can do more. :)

So here is the deal.  Can you train and breastfeed?  Of course if it is what YOU want.  If your baby is thriving, your supply is keeping up and you are happy then go for it!

What are some tips for breastfeeding and running that YOU have?