Eleven Weeks till the Magic!

It seems I’m all about countdowns lately. Countdown to Christmas, to the perfectly organized home, to the most gorgeously fit body any mom of six could hope for, and for more dreams to come true.

Yesterday I ran my first full 5K since tweaking my hip last August and…

Wahoo…

No Pain…

Not even a little tightness of muscle… I was feeling so good in fact I was able to do it in 32:25 (which puts me right back to where I was before the injury.)

So…

Since I feel blessed…

’m signing up for my December Half-Marathon again…

And if I’m super good and can keep the needs only lifestyle up…

I should be able to take the whole family (It would be our family’s first as an ENTIRE group and probably last as an Entire group trip to Disneyland).

This year Disney’s theme is the Year of a Million Dreams and ours will be one of them.

Maybe Abner can cross swords with his Hero on Tom Sawyer Island…

And T-Rev and Evo-Man can pretend they are a few years younger so they can participate in the Jedi Academy.

And Lea, Princess and Hope can meet their Princesses.

And for me that would be worth the price paid to set in a car with the crazies for a few days.

So here is my training schedule if anyone wants to play along with my crazy dream. Yesterday was day one of week one. Today Hope and I are going to take a turn with the jogging stroller.

Sorry the charts a bit fuzzy. If anyone wants a copy I can email it to them.

Lovin' the Dreams!

Last Place - Not This Time!

Anything is better than my abysmal last place finish last week in my first ever 10K.

This week happened to be anything but abysmal. With the support and mad speed-walking, jogging, and sprinting skills of these fine super hero Wonder-Women, I competed in my second ever 10K.


By the way, I’m the pumpkin in the group. Number 5 entered under the name of Rocky Balboa. When she was picking up her race packet the super young thing at the table didn't even blink an eye. We don't think she even knew who Rocky is. Humm, the kiddos these days.

Well, wonder of wonders never cease and I shaved a whole 5 minutes off last week’s time. Wouldn’t it be nice if I could make that kind of time improvement every week? I know the majority of the reason was because it was a flat race and didn’t have the steeper than a cliff elevation climb right out of the gate like my last race.

The hot ladies who joined me were awesome and even though they competed in the 5K they kindly stuck around to cheer me on at the finish line. I also didn’t finish in last place – Wahoo! There must have been a whole one or two, o.k. maybe 5 people that finished after me, but still I did better and that feels great.

That and this week I lost 3 lbs. Maybe it was because I threw all the processed carbs and refined sugar out of the house for a couple of weeks to get over my cravings. Whatever it was it worked. However I’ve been a cranky-pants old wicked witch for the past couple of days as well. Darn sugar withdrawal. I know my family can't wait until my mood returns to normal.

The town where the race was located was celebrating their Fun Days as they called them with a parade and plenty of cute little craft, and food booths. So the awesome ladies and I celebrated our run by doing some sidewalk retail therapy after the race.

Bought myself a cute embroidered plum colored dress. I love rewarding myself with non-food items when I complete goals.

Evo-man ran the 5K and finished in 36 min which isn’t bad for 2 months off of not too much organized exercise. He now has the running bug and wants to join me on some of my morning jogs. Prince Erik also shaved a whopping 4 minutes of his last 10K time.

So there you have it. Did much better this week. I don’t have another race for three weeks and I’m hoping to work on a longer stride, because right now I’m stuck in the super slow mo shuffle.

At this rate I'll be running a 20 minute 10K, be in 1st place and be 33 lbs lighter by the end of the summer. Not possible, I know, but it was a great week with some big improvements over my previous week. Big improvements always make me happy.

Humble Hill - Lessons from Last Place.

Humble Hill - At least that’s what I thought the 10K should be called that I ran in today. In the first 1.4 miles of the race you climbed about 425 feet in elevation. And at about 1.4 miles into the race I was in dead last place – the glorious caboose. So here are the wonderful and hard lessons learned from finishing my first ever 10K in that oh-so-not-coveted place.

Three weeks of intense exercise does not make up for 3 months of non-intense exercise.

Think of how many other runners that I just made their day, especially if their goal was not to finish in last place. Sigh

Those 13 extra pounds I gained over the winter really did slow me down.

Running in constant Northwest Liquid Sunshine really did at poundage to my clothes. So I probably ran a good 3-7 lbs heavier. Not to mention the lake sloshing around in my shoes. The good thing about the rain is that it kept me cooled off. The bad thing is my hands and feet went a bit numb.

Three weeks of no sleep probably did affect my results. This week I’m sleeping a ton.

Just because I ran a half marathon in December doesn’t mean I can run any old race and have the same wonderful feeling of euphoric accomplishment.

I blessedly signed up with a huge group of the world’s best friends. They stuck around for me to finish and were all still cheering me on at the finish line. I was the only one silly enough to attempt the 10K while the rest were smashing in the 5k.

At least my mile average time in this year’s 10K was faster than my mile average time for the 5K last year; which means I’m stronger and faster than I was last year at twice the distance.
I now have a huge desire to only get better and demolish my time in this same race – Next YEAR.

At least I didn’t quit. I’m a finisher. I did pass someone who had to pull out and they weren’t too happy about it.

I got the blessed privilege of informing all the race volunteers, handing out water, directing traffic and taking pictures that they could now pack it up and get out of the weather and get warm because I was what they had been waiting for all day long.

And the number one thing that I learned – Is that I never want to finish in last place again.

Final time: 1 hour 15 min. ?sec. The first two straight-up hill miles were 13 min miles and the rest were closer to 11.5 min miles. I know it’s slow but I think I only walked about 30 steps on a steeper portion of the hill the rest was full out slow-mo jog. That and it’s my first effort of the season. Prince Erik did a bang-up job and finished in 54 minutes. Not bad for his first 10K attempt.

Next Race – Next Week – Flat Course – Thank Heavens.

Dream Come True

Somehow certain words from the movie Enchanted's 'Ever After' song fit right in.

'You even might wind up
Being glad to be you.'

You know I couldn't say that a year ago. Today it's way different. If you would have told me 11 months ago that I would complete a half-marathon I probably would have laughed in your face. O.K. let me restate, I don’t think I’ve ever laughed in anyone’s face on purpose. In fact, I probably would have nodded politely and said, ‘that’s nice.’ Then turned around and rolled my eyes. You see last January I couldn’t even exercise on a treadmill because my feet would constantly drag and stumble. But, never say never. With a lot of support from amazing family and friends and worth their weight in gold training specialists, a true-life miracle and a lot of prayers, I had a dream come true. Fawndear completed her first ever half-Marathon at the Inaugural Rose Bowl Half Marathon in Pasadena CA.

Why there? Well I got a cool looking medal with a Rose on it. And like me it was the Rose Bowls first half marathon as well. Plus it was an excellent excuse to take my little Princess’s to Disneyland just down the road. But more on the mouse’s house in another blog.

'Storybook endings
Fairy tales coming true
Deep down inside
We want to believe they still do.'

Saturday, December 8th, started out clear but a bit nippy. I was a bundle of nerves when my sweet sister-in-law, who kindly hosted me and my very girly girls, woke me up at 5:15 a.m. Wondering if I should kiss my girls good-bye because I might just kill over as I ran, and then they would never see me again, was sadly a real thought. But common sense ruled out and I let them sleep as I got ready for my hour drive to the Rose Bowl from where we were staying.

I had an advantage of being from a cooler state and I knew that I could run in high 50 degree weather without a jacket and would be just fine. I’m sure it warmed up to the 60’s before the race was over. I found it a bit comical to see people bundled up in full winter gear with earmuffs, and huge fleece jackets at the start of the race, only to see items of clothing scattered on bushes and curbs along the side of the road with hopes their owners would soon be back to retrieve them.

The run was beautiful, with bridges, trails, elite neighborhoods, a golf course and workmen erecting bleachers along the Tournament of Roses Parade Route, and the hillsides of CA. I wish I would have brought my camera with me. That was yet another debate I had with myself but rational thinking ruled out in that one as well.
My goals were to finish the race and hopefully in under 3 hours. Before my muscle setback in November I had a much higher goal but hey, I’m starting to get the hang of flexibility.

The fun thing about races is the people you meet along the way. Some you know just by sight like the girl with Jasmine hair and her boyfriend who kept holding hands, or the skinny blond who keeps smiling encouragingly as we yo-yoed positions back and forth. The funny man pep talking out loud to himself and singing drinking songs. ‘Whatever it takes,’ I said to another runner as we smiled at each other as he passed us. There are also the runners that stand out just ahead of you that give you a target to try to beat. I kept picking the really mature past their 50’s people who kept a slow but steady pace. Somehow most of them only stayed within my view for a few miles and then they were gone. But I kept on chugging with hopes I would catch them around the next corner.

Then my favorites are the ones that exchanged word of encouragement with me. Like #1500 – she had to have been in her 70-80’s, a sweet little stooped wisp of thing with a smile on her face. She wasn’t really running or jogging but had a funny power-walk gait that made her stand out. As I passed her around mile 10 I couldn’t help but tell her that she was a true inspiration. She told me thank you and she wished someone would inspire her knees because they were killing her. Then on the hill during mile number 11 our paths crossed again.

‘Yeah, we are almost there. I can’t wait for the downhill,’ I said.

‘I can’t wait for the free beer,’ she replied.

Of course it brought a smile to my face. I hope I’m doing as well as her when I’m her age, without the thoughts of alcohol.

Then there were the two men about my age, could have been brothers, of middle-eastern ethnicity who yo-yoed positions with me for the last few miles. They commented on how great they thought I was doing. We talked about where we were from which led to conversations about the weather. Somehow being from Washington always makes you an expert on rain and flooding. I ended up telling them about the reasons for my trip down with my girls. They encouraged me the whole rest of the way and we all crossed the finish line together. I even got one of them to take my picture to prove I was there.

'Start a new fashion
Wear your heart on your sleeve'

Forget the sleeve, it was all over my face like blinking neon lights. I bawled like a baby as I crossed the finish line, and not because of the shin splint I was suffering from either. I saw the staff photographers clicking away. Bet those pictures are beauts. But the tears were from so many different emotions and probably a good dose of hormones added in to boot. Gratitude for a new beginning and for a wonderful husband who encouraged me to go for it even though it was a really expensive goal. For also completing something on my own without being accountable to anyone but me, but still with thoughts of all those people who helped me get to that point. For the feelings accomplishment of finishing in a decent 2 hours and 48 something minutes. Of amazement that I was still alive and had just completed another wonder and hope for the future to be as bright as the last few wonderful days.


'There is joy to be claimed in this world..
The world can be yours
If you let your heart
Believe in ever after.'

Of course I waited a good 10 minutes before I called my Prince Erik to tell him I finished. I was still blubbering then, probably to the point that he thought I might have injured myself. I wanted to share the news with so many different people and not at all to blow my own horn. It was such a great experience but it would be greater still to share it with other people, in hopes that someday they can complete similar goals and experience the same joy. I’d love to make this a tradition event but that would mean learning how to set some financial goals as well. Who knows a lot can happen in a year.

'Each happy ending's
A brand new beginning
Forever could even start today'

So, I'm offically announcing that I want to set a goal to return in a year. Maybe in 10 years I'll have my mom help me make an amazing Rose Bowl Half-Marathon T-shirt quilt. Who's want's to join me?

Turkey Trot Tumble

Our family went to the turkey trot this morning. Weather wasn’t the best, with rain and temperatures in the 40’s. But our spirits were high and we were there to have fun! Since I couldn’t run they were kind enough to let my husband take my place. Evo-man dropped out as well, on account of him spraining his ankle last Wednesday. It wasn’t quite back to full strength, so he helped me cheer everyone else on. Lea, Princess and Abner competed in the 5K while we left T-rev at home with a croupy Hope. Abner ran in place, or circles around Princess probably carried her a good portion of the whole race as well. Even though he has cross country in his blood I had asked him to stay close to her. Of course, he kindly encouraged her the whole way, but it was quite a job trying to get her to go faster than a normal walk. At least the crowd at the finish line encouraged her to speed up a little. Lea didn’t fare much better. It seems she found a kind older lady walking partner, soon after the race started. She then proceeded to give her a detailed account of our entire family and probably our entire history as well,for the next 50 minutes. This was my husband’s first 10K and he did awesome. Part of the race was on a rough trail and he paid the price for hitting a rock funny. Who’d have known that we would have two sprained ankles in our family in less than a week? Exercising can be hazardous to your health. I thought he did a great job, and in spite of the owie he was able to finish the race in under an hour by a good bit. After the race there was a Health and Wellness Expo set up in a nearby school. There were plenty of booths for the kids to get free little handouts, waterbottles, stickers,etc. However, the funnest part was all the mats they had set out in the middle of the gym. There were some gymnastic instructors there letting kids have a go on some of the equipment. No, my girls are not graceful but we had to laugh when we saw Lea do an assisted throw-down off a mini-tramp. Gymnastics or Professional Wrestling? I'd let you be the judge, but I haven't figured how to upload videos yet. The funny thing was watching Princess try to do the same thing right after Lea did it. She sprinted as fast as her tired legs would let her down to the trampoline. Then she came to a total stop. The instructor helped her onto the trampoline and waited as she stood there waiting for the magical flip in the air to just happen. She had to be coaxed into even bouncing on the trampoline. After a couple of little bounces, he finally realized that he would have to do all the work. So he lifted her up, flipped her over and she landed a beautiful back flop on the mat.

Booted from the Turkey Trot

I’ve been told not to run in a local 10K race tomorrow simply because I bought a certain running shoes 3 weeks ago. O.K. explanation in order, whether you’re interested or not. Seventy lbs. and less than 11 months ago (Yes, I’m still trying to wrap my head around that one as well), when I first started exercising, I had problems with plantar fasciitis or heel spurs. So, I decided to play smart and see a Podiatrist. I was pointed in the direction of a really expensive ($120 pair of shoes that would help my feet). Well, seeing as I just had invested literally thousands to join a program to help with exercise, eating, mental, preparing food, etc., I certainly didn’t want sore heels slowing me down. So I bought them. They were worth every penny. I probably wore them way too long, but they were the best shoes I’ve ever had. You have to understand the desperation, up until then I had never spent more than $15.99 for a pair of shoes, for myself, in my entire life. Forward to three weeks ago… I knew I needed new shoes, but times being what they are, I had a hard time thinking that I had to buy that same pair of expensive shoes. So after much looking I spied a sale at Big 5 Sports. There was a shoe there made by the same company, it looked similar in support, but it had a different name, and on sale it was only $39.00. I thought I had scored!
Turns out… I was way wrong. Things seemed fine until 10 days ago when I halted my 4.5 morning slow but steady jog at 1.25 miles. I had a pain in my hip that seemed to be getting worse. I knew that I needed to take a break from the intense training I’ve been doing for my upcoming half-marathon. It is a huge goal of mine to do this half-marathon to cap off an unbelievable, miraculous year of finding myself. But that is another story. Who would have thought, that my dream could now be in jeopardy because I skimped on shoes. After 10 days of taking it easy I finally saw my Dr. and he diagnosed me with leg tensor fascia lata syndrome. I know, it sounds like some malady that a character from the Incredibles gets if they haven’t had their morning brew. I think it means I have an inflamed muscle, tendon, or something like that. The Dr. explained it, but I had my three girls with me, so I probably only understood half of what he said.
The whole things boils down absolutly no Turkey trot, which was to be my first official 10K, this weekend. My half-marathon, in a month, is also in danger of getting axed. There is still some hope. I’m going to start immediately with a physical therapist, special exercises, lot’s of ibuprofen, ice and of course a lot of prayer. I should know more, in a week or two, about whether or not I have to drop a dream or live it.
The best part of the whole conversation with my Dr., yesterday, was that I have a problem common in runners. Being compared to other runners was a revelation to me. Yes, I have completed three 5K races and two sprint triathlons, but I never thought of myself as an athlete; just someone trying to slowly get to some first-time in my lifetime goals. But yesterday, I arrived! I realized all the hard work had achieved something I hadn’t realized. I am a true athlete. Although super slow and uncoordinated, I’m a runner. And yesterday I finally realized it. And by-golly this athlete is worth a pair of shoes worth $120.