First, let me give you the brief update on going back to work. It's been fine. Actually better than fine, it was awesome to be back around adults and feeling like a normal human being again. I missed my little guy like crazy, but knew he was across the street at daycare living it up. They love him over there and let me tell you, he loves them too! He's always laughing and giggling and he even cried when we left his "classroom" the other day :)
Now, on to Christmas. Ugh. I don't know how it snuck up on me so fast, but I just wasn't prepared at all this year. I was even out today doing some last minute shopping and errands. It kind of takes the fun out of the season when you're obsessing about gifts and dealing with the crazy shopping madness. Some of our relatives literally have everything they could want, so what do you buy them?! I finally put my foot down and did what I think is best for everyone and what always makes me happy this time of year . . . we donated to a ton of charities in peoples' names as their gift. There are so many great charities out there and the need is even greater this year in a lot of places, so I think it's the perfect Christmas gift.
And now I'm off to squeeze in a short run before Christmas Eve festivities with the in-laws. I was supposed to bake a pumpkin pie, but due to a shortage of canned pumpkin I am showing up sans pie. (I'm serious folks, I went to three different stores looking for canned pumpkin and all had signs saying they were out due to a national shortage! wth?). Merry Christmas everyone :)
Back to Work :(
How did ten weeks go by so fast? Everyone always tells you that it will fly by, and boy are they right. My ten weeks of maternity leave are up and I have to return to teaching on Friday. The good news is that I only have to work for three days and then I get two weeks off for Christmas break (yea!) the bad news is that I just don't want to go back! We're finally getting into a routine here and Connor's personality is really starting to emerge with his smiles, laughs, all kinds of the most adorable noises. And now I have to leave him with strangers?! What if he mistakenly thinks the daycare lady is his mom?! What if he forgets me?! What if he is a totally bad baby that cries all day?! AAAHHH.
Seriously though, all emotional break downs aside, I'm actually ready to get back to work (and adult interaction) I'm just stressing about the schedule and getting myself together in the mornings. Plus, I'm gonna miss my boy like crazy! But I know that in the long run it's all going to be fine; I just don't deal well with change.
In happier news, I've had some great workouts this week: several hour-long rides on the bike trainer and a few weight sessions at the gym. I haven't gotten to run since Saturday's race because Jake is working late and I'm not into running in the pitch dark, it just doesn't feel safe to me. What do you guys think about running at night or in the early morning when it's still dark? I have great sidewalks and trails to run on, and my neighborhood is completely safe, but I just worry about tripping and falling (especially on ice, this time of year) because I can't see where I'm going! Maybe I'll get a headlamp :)
Seriously though, all emotional break downs aside, I'm actually ready to get back to work (and adult interaction) I'm just stressing about the schedule and getting myself together in the mornings. Plus, I'm gonna miss my boy like crazy! But I know that in the long run it's all going to be fine; I just don't deal well with change.
In happier news, I've had some great workouts this week: several hour-long rides on the bike trainer and a few weight sessions at the gym. I haven't gotten to run since Saturday's race because Jake is working late and I'm not into running in the pitch dark, it just doesn't feel safe to me. What do you guys think about running at night or in the early morning when it's still dark? I have great sidewalks and trails to run on, and my neighborhood is completely safe, but I just worry about tripping and falling (especially on ice, this time of year) because I can't see where I'm going! Maybe I'll get a headlamp :)
Jingle Bell 5k Race Report
I had my first post-pregnancy race on Saturday, The Jingle Bell 5k in Dayton. I usually do this race in Cincinnati but am glad we decided to switch it up this year because I thought it was so much better in Dayton! The course was better, it was closer to home, AND the race was about a mile from my mom's house so I could drop Connor off for some quality grandma time while I ran!
So here's what I learned. It's a totally different experience getting out the door for a race with a baby in tow . . . I had to pack up all of Connor's things AND make sure I had all the appropriate clothing/layers for the 17 degree weather I was about to run in (yeah, remind me again why I live in Ohio?!). I have a hard enough time keeping track of my own things, adding a baby and his belongings into the mix is a bit overwhelming for a gal like me! I had to get up an hour earlier just to get myself together, which really makes me wonder how I'm going to handle getting ready for work in the mornings!
Anyway, the race was a good overall and I'm proud of my efforts for my first race back. It wasn't a very scenic route, but the course was pretty flat which is always a plus and there were lots of people dressed up in the Christmas spirit which is always entertaining! There was even a double jogging stroller all rigged out as a sleigh! I felt good for most of the race and finished up right around 28:40 or so (official times are not posted yet). This time is by no means a fast time for me, but I'm telling myself it really doesn't matter. I had mentally set a goal for myself that I wanted to finish in under 30 minutes and not have to stop and walk; I met both of those goals so I'm happy. As I regain my pre-pregnancy strength and endurance I'll have some higher expectations for my race times, but for now I'm thrilled that I was able to get out there and finish :)
Here's a picture of Carrie and I before the race:
And Connor congratulating me on a great race:
So here's what I learned. It's a totally different experience getting out the door for a race with a baby in tow . . . I had to pack up all of Connor's things AND make sure I had all the appropriate clothing/layers for the 17 degree weather I was about to run in (yeah, remind me again why I live in Ohio?!). I have a hard enough time keeping track of my own things, adding a baby and his belongings into the mix is a bit overwhelming for a gal like me! I had to get up an hour earlier just to get myself together, which really makes me wonder how I'm going to handle getting ready for work in the mornings!
Anyway, the race was a good overall and I'm proud of my efforts for my first race back. It wasn't a very scenic route, but the course was pretty flat which is always a plus and there were lots of people dressed up in the Christmas spirit which is always entertaining! There was even a double jogging stroller all rigged out as a sleigh! I felt good for most of the race and finished up right around 28:40 or so (official times are not posted yet). This time is by no means a fast time for me, but I'm telling myself it really doesn't matter. I had mentally set a goal for myself that I wanted to finish in under 30 minutes and not have to stop and walk; I met both of those goals so I'm happy. As I regain my pre-pregnancy strength and endurance I'll have some higher expectations for my race times, but for now I'm thrilled that I was able to get out there and finish :)
Here's a picture of Carrie and I before the race:
And Connor congratulating me on a great race:
Randomness
I have about a million thoughts in my head, so today will be a day of bullet points :)
* I've been pushing myself pretty hard in the workout department (weights, elliptical, bike, or running every day) yet have somehow managed to gain weight. WTH? The hubby insists it's because I'm gaining back the muscle I lost while pregnant (I think he's just smart enough to say something that will make me feel better!).
*I'm ready to start doing ab workouts again, but I am making myself wait due to a diastis issue. According to Julie Tupler and the Tupler Technique, if I do traditional ab work too soon after giving birth (while I still have an abdominal separation) it only makes the "mummy tummy" worse. I'm not sure if I buy into all of her ideas, but I will say that following her Maternal Fitness exercises seemed to really help me have a fast, easy delivery so maybe she is on to something. Anyway, I have her book Lose Your Mummy Tummy and it's interesting to say the least. And I do still have a small abdominal separation, so I guess I'll keep working on that before going back to crunches and pilates!
*Connor was a blessed child for a few days in a row the past week- he slept almost 6 hours each night and we reached the point where we can put him to bed drowsy but not totally asleep and he'll drift off on his own :) Not bad for 7 weeks old! Last night was a different story, so I'm not sure if he'll continue with the good sleeping but it seems like a light at the end of the no-sleep tunnel!
*I have my first post-pregnancy 5k next weekend, The Jingle Bell Run in Dayton. I've done this run before, but down in Cincinnati instead of Dayton so it will be a new course for me. I love the long sleeve tshirts and the fact that people wear jingle bells on their shoes while running!
*My return to work date is quickly approaching (12/18) and I'm getting very anxious about the day care situation. I know it will be fine, it's just going to be so different. At least I only have to take him for three days and then I'm off for Christmas break!
I think I'll end with some Thanksgiving pictures, since I never posted any last week:
Me and my boy on Thanksgiving day:
Helping Daddy clean the house the day after:
One happy baby:
* I've been pushing myself pretty hard in the workout department (weights, elliptical, bike, or running every day) yet have somehow managed to gain weight. WTH? The hubby insists it's because I'm gaining back the muscle I lost while pregnant (I think he's just smart enough to say something that will make me feel better!).
*I'm ready to start doing ab workouts again, but I am making myself wait due to a diastis issue. According to Julie Tupler and the Tupler Technique, if I do traditional ab work too soon after giving birth (while I still have an abdominal separation) it only makes the "mummy tummy" worse. I'm not sure if I buy into all of her ideas, but I will say that following her Maternal Fitness exercises seemed to really help me have a fast, easy delivery so maybe she is on to something. Anyway, I have her book Lose Your Mummy Tummy and it's interesting to say the least. And I do still have a small abdominal separation, so I guess I'll keep working on that before going back to crunches and pilates!
*Connor was a blessed child for a few days in a row the past week- he slept almost 6 hours each night and we reached the point where we can put him to bed drowsy but not totally asleep and he'll drift off on his own :) Not bad for 7 weeks old! Last night was a different story, so I'm not sure if he'll continue with the good sleeping but it seems like a light at the end of the no-sleep tunnel!
*I have my first post-pregnancy 5k next weekend, The Jingle Bell Run in Dayton. I've done this run before, but down in Cincinnati instead of Dayton so it will be a new course for me. I love the long sleeve tshirts and the fact that people wear jingle bells on their shoes while running!
*My return to work date is quickly approaching (12/18) and I'm getting very anxious about the day care situation. I know it will be fine, it's just going to be so different. At least I only have to take him for three days and then I'm off for Christmas break!
I think I'll end with some Thanksgiving pictures, since I never posted any last week:
Me and my boy on Thanksgiving day:
Helping Daddy clean the house the day after:
One happy baby:
Let the Bootie Buster begin!
A big thanks to Amanda over at Run to the Finish for setting up the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge (HBBC), I'm so excited that I stumbled upon this great challenge and decided to join! The basic idea is to keep us all motivated throughout the holidays by keeping track of our workouts . . . I already know there is NO way I'm going to win this challenge (last check there were 120 participants!) but I think it will be a fun way to keep track of my fitness goals during the crazy holiday season. I am the type of obsessive person who records most workouts in my running log anyway, this will just be a new way to do the same thing! Plus, I'm excited to check in with all the other fitness bloggers out there.
Here's the breakdown of how to earn points:
1 point per mile (run/walk/snoeshoe)
1 point per 3 miles biked
1 point per 30 minutes of weights/yoga/pilates/ab work/stretching
1 point per 15 minutes of another form of cardio such as elliptical or kickboxing
1 point for every day you eat a minimum of SEVEN servings of fruits and veggies.
I just started keeping track, but so far I have a whopping 12 points :) Anyone else out there doing the HBBC???
Running and Remembering
This week is full of happiness and sadness for me, all wrapped up into one, just like every Thanksgiving since my dad passed away. Thursday will be nine years since he died. Nine years. And I still miss him so very, very much. Every year I make a last minute decision about visiting the cemetery; we drive right by it on the way to Thanksgiving dinner with our family. Some years I ask Jake to stop, some years I skip it altogether. I feel like I should go by there more often, but to be honest I feel like my dad is with me in my heart (super cheesy, I know) and not in that depressing place. That being said, I think I'll stop by on Thursday and leave a picture of Connor by his grave. I know how much my dad would love him and what a great grandpa he would have been. It breaks my heart to think that Connor will never get to know his grandpa. Although, my sister was just telling me that my little neice points to pictures of dad and says "papaw" which is just about the cutest thing I've ever heard.
All that sadness aside, I've actually been having a pretty good week because I'm back to running and it certainly helps calm my emotions. The second Jake gets home I've been heading out the door for a brief run and its really helped clear my head. When I'm out there running I can think about my dad and remember him without getting too sad . . . plus it helps burn off all the Thanksgiving goodies :) I've only been running two miles, but I'm averaging just under a nine minute pace so I'm thrilled. I've got a 5k coming up that I need to get ready for.
So, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and good luck to everyone running a Turkey day race! I'll end with a picture of a very smiley Connor!
All that sadness aside, I've actually been having a pretty good week because I'm back to running and it certainly helps calm my emotions. The second Jake gets home I've been heading out the door for a brief run and its really helped clear my head. When I'm out there running I can think about my dad and remember him without getting too sad . . . plus it helps burn off all the Thanksgiving goodies :) I've only been running two miles, but I'm averaging just under a nine minute pace so I'm thrilled. I've got a 5k coming up that I need to get ready for.
So, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and good luck to everyone running a Turkey day race! I'll end with a picture of a very smiley Connor!
Race Schedule
In honor of my six week doctor's appointment today (where I'm hoping to be told I can start running again!) I've spent some time planning out my "back to running" race schedule for the year. As I mentioned before, I think I'll stick with a half marathon this spring instead of a full for the obvious reasons (you still get the sense of accomplishment without the crazy training schedule). I'm also going to commit to a tri or dualthon, or maybe both :) So here are the major races I'll be training for:
Jingle Bell 5k on 12/5 or the Noel 5k on 12/19. I've never done the Noel 5k before and it would give me a bit more time to get back into racing condition and it only has a ten dollar entry fee, but I have always really enjoyed the Jingle Bell 5k, so its a toss up.
Valentine's Day Chase Prediction 7 miler on 2/14- this one seems like a cool race to me. It's an out and back race on the Loveland Bike trail, which is beautiful, and awards don't go to the fastest runners, but to those runners that predicted their time most accurately. This is the first year for this race and I think I'll be giving it a try!
The Heart Mini-Marathon on 3/27 - This is a 15k that kicked my ass last time I ran it. We were training for the Flying Pig marathon at the time and should have been more than able to run this distance, but for some reason it was a nightmare for me. I'd like to try it again and hopefully do a bit better this time!
The Nashville Half Marathon on 4/24 - I've heard good things about this one and have friends in the area, I'm very excited!
The Girls Tri Too triathlon series has two races in my area - Caeser Creek on July 10 or East Fork on July 31. This seems like a great beginner triathlon: 250 yard swim, 7 mile bike, and 2 mile run and it's women only!
And finally, I'm going to try my best to get a team together to compete in the Bourbon Chase in Kentucky on October 22 and 23 next year. It's a 200 mile relay run along some really beautiful countryside. I need to find a team of six or twelve which shouldn't be a problem.
Okay, so that's my plan for major races for the year. Throw in some 5k's here and there and it's a pretty full year. There is one other tri and a dualthon that I'm interested in, but I'll have to look into them some more before committing myself :)
Jingle Bell 5k on 12/5 or the Noel 5k on 12/19. I've never done the Noel 5k before and it would give me a bit more time to get back into racing condition and it only has a ten dollar entry fee, but I have always really enjoyed the Jingle Bell 5k, so its a toss up.
Valentine's Day Chase Prediction 7 miler on 2/14- this one seems like a cool race to me. It's an out and back race on the Loveland Bike trail, which is beautiful, and awards don't go to the fastest runners, but to those runners that predicted their time most accurately. This is the first year for this race and I think I'll be giving it a try!
The Heart Mini-Marathon on 3/27 - This is a 15k that kicked my ass last time I ran it. We were training for the Flying Pig marathon at the time and should have been more than able to run this distance, but for some reason it was a nightmare for me. I'd like to try it again and hopefully do a bit better this time!
The Nashville Half Marathon on 4/24 - I've heard good things about this one and have friends in the area, I'm very excited!
The Girls Tri Too triathlon series has two races in my area - Caeser Creek on July 10 or East Fork on July 31. This seems like a great beginner triathlon: 250 yard swim, 7 mile bike, and 2 mile run and it's women only!
And finally, I'm going to try my best to get a team together to compete in the Bourbon Chase in Kentucky on October 22 and 23 next year. It's a 200 mile relay run along some really beautiful countryside. I need to find a team of six or twelve which shouldn't be a problem.
Okay, so that's my plan for major races for the year. Throw in some 5k's here and there and it's a pretty full year. There is one other tri and a dualthon that I'm interested in, but I'll have to look into them some more before committing myself :)
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