Duly Noted

Monday, 2/17: 6 miles on treadmill w/4 miles @ 8:00 min pace Tuesday: 2/18: 5 miles easy, abs Wednesday, 2/19: off, abs Thursday, 2/20: off, abs Friday, 2/21: long run on treadmill, 12 miles! abs Saturday, 2/22: run in the cold but sunny outdoors with Rose, 7 miles, abs. Sunday, 2/23: masters swim team, 3350 yards Total mileage: 30 miles

I skipped month nine and now, we are celebrating month ten! As Misha is attempting to type, I am going to keep this post short and give my readers what they truly want- photos and random anecdotes. Favorites: Food: smoothies! puffs. Drink: water from tippy cup (Momma's Milk is really still the hit fave) Book: Puppy Boo! obviously. Toy: Piano, anything Melissa and Doug(!) Mischief: eating dog hair (gross) Activities: bath time, standing and crawling on top of his parents, reading books together and by himself New skills: -Drinking from a straw -Feeding himself pieces of bread, avocado, food chunks, puffs, etc. -Standing and walking along the couch -Reaching up and playing the "big piano" from the floor -Trying to say "Brrrr" and "Dadd-eeeee"

Monday 2/10: 6 mile run (felt awful but finished...), abs Tuesday 2/11: off, abs. Wednesday 2/12: 7.5 miles outside!  abs. Thursday 2/13: 6 miles w/4x400 (treadmill), abs. Friday 2/14: 4 miles easy, outside!, abs. Saturday 2/15: 6 miles w/ 3x400, 3x800, 3x200 (between 8:00-7:00 pace) Sunday 2/16: 4 miles easy Total mileage: 33.5miles Skipped long run and swim team this week due to a visit from my family.  That said, I ran almost every day even if it was just a nice refresher run.

Monday 2/3- 6.25 miles w/6x800 @ 8:00-7:30 pace, abs. Tuesday 2/4- 1.5 miles easy (I planned to go longer but Misha wasn't into childcare that evening!), abs. Wednesday 2/5- off, abs Thursday 2/6- off, abs Friday 2/7- 6.5 miles easy with Rachel The Dog, Rose and Lida, abs. Saturday 2/8- 10 miles on treadmill Sunday 2/9- 3150 yards, swim team total mileage (running): appx. 24 Reflections: This week had some good moments- Monday's treadmill workout, getting outside on Friday, and then of course, swim practice on Sunday morning.  I made some excellent meals this week too if I do say so myself (and I do!) including a kale salad with beets, sweet potatoes, and apples, a parsnip "rice" with flavored with coconut and ginger, a chicken bean bowl, and a beef chili loaded with vegetables for Saturday night with friends.  I also have been drinking at least a mug of mate everyday- a nice substitute for coffee and full of antioxidants. The week's low point was the lack of runn...

Month in numbers: Running mileage: 133 # of runs with running buddies: 10 Swimming yardage: 9100 (5.170455 miles!) # ab workouts: 23 # of push-ups: appx. 460 Minutes spent weight lifting (+countless minutes of lifting misha): 20 minutes Strengths: I am feeling good about my first three swim team practices!  The workouts stretch me and it has been motivating to join a new community of athletes.  I am the slowest swimmer in lane 2, but I think if I keep going on Sundays consistently and add 1 more swim workout a week (either a practice or just swimming on my own), I will begin to improve.   I am feel strong on the running front.  It is heavenly to get outside when the temperatures allow it.  I am thankful that I joined the gym and its been fun to do some workouts with a buddy next to me on the treadmill.  Not so good: Mostly nutritional stuff... Gained five unwanted pounds over the last month.  I know that is hard to believe with all the workouts but wit...

Monday, 1/27: 5 miles with some hills (treadmill), abs Tuesday 1/28: 8 miles w/ intervals: 2x1600 (3 min. recov), 3x600 (2 min recov), 3x300 (1-2 min recov), (treadmill), abs. Wednesday 1/29: off, abs. Thursday 1/30: 5 miles easy in the snow with Rebecca.  Lovely. Abs. Friday 1/31: off, abs Saturday 2/1: 10 mile long run, outside! with Callie and Rachel the dog!  Amazing! abs Sunday 2/2: swim team, total yards: 3250 Total mileage: 28 miles

At negative numbers, my running buddy and I were worried about nostril frostbite and reynaud's fingers, so we decided to relocate our scheduled Saturday long run to the local YWCA. How does one crank out 12 miles at the gym? Here's a play by play: 8 am: Text message exchange ensues.  After much deliberation, we decide 12 miles of treadmill running is pretty hardcore and slipping on the ice is not worth it. 8:30 am: Meet in the lobby.  Remove copious outer layers. 8:35 am: Sign out our two favorite treadmills and get started. 8:40 am: Decide to switch up speed and/or incline every mile. 8:45 am: Catch up on the latest personal goings on.  Hopes for a warm vacation.  Getting stir crazy due to extreme temperatures.  Coziness of motherhood in the winter.  Diaper rash.  Colds.  Cross country skiing adventures. 8:50 am: Crank it up!  Speed + Incline 9:15 am: About 5 miles in.  Water break.  Bathrooms. 9:20 am: Back on treadmills.  Di...

Monday, 1/20: 5 miles easy (though big fall on the ice!) Tuesday, 1/21: off, abs Wednesday, 1/22: off, abs Thursday, 1/23: 8 miles with intervals (see Thursday's blog post), abs Friday, 1/24: 4 miles easy in the snow, abs Saturday, 1/25: 12 mile long run, (switching between treadmills and indoor track) Sunday, 1/26: 6 miles total* with each 2 miles progressively faster (9:00-7:30 min/miles), abs Total mileage: 35 miles *No masters swim team for second week in a row due to indoor triathlon!  Can't wait till next Sunday!  I might even try a practice during the week.  I miss it!

School was cancelled again due to bitter cold temperatures.  So what did I do?  Head to the gym, of course!  I couldn't wait to get in an interval workout after a two day running hiatus.  I have been getting interval workout ideas from a running group that meets every Thursday morning.  I am never able to join them due to my morning work schedule/routine, but I like to do their workouts so I requested to keep me on the email list! Here was today's workout: 1 mile w/u 4 x (4 min, 3 min, 2 min) w/1 min. recovery jogs between each interval.  I ran each set a little faster- starting at 8 min/mile pace and ending at 7:30 min/mile. 1 mile c/d Total mileage: 8 miles I finished up with some quick stretching and my standard 8 min. abs. I felt awesome! Now, the special thing about this workout is that I completed it while talking with a colleague of mine on the treadmill next me.  As a p.Hd student, she is busy too so we have found that workout meetings ensure c...

1/12 Sunday- Swim team: 2950 yards total w/IM set and 5x200 free (3 min pace, I think) 1/13 Monday- rest, abs 1/14 Tuesday- 7 miles with 6x800 (treadmill), abs 1/15 Wednesday- rest, abs 1/16 Thursday- 6 miles with 3 miles @ 8-7:30 pace (treadmill), abs 1/17 Friday- 7 miles w/6x1 min. fast (treadmill), abs 1/18 Saturday- easy walk in the snow 1/19 Sunday- long easy run, 10 miles Total running: mileage: 30 miles

Hey readers! So, it felt time for me to start a new blog dedicated solely to running, training, and racing.  I will still use this one to post about motherhood and other items that need to be duly noted!  However, it you are at all interested in staying up on my training and racing, please follow No Finish Line: Reflections on Training and Racing.   I have several new posts on this blog about getting started on 2014 training.  I also imported some past posts from this blog that focus on running in order to keep a little organized archive for myself. Happy New Year!

Swim team set the foundation for me in terms of embracing fitness as a lifelong pursuit.  At age six, my parents enrolled me in Elm Grove Swim Team.  Every summer (until about age 14), I competed in individual events and relays.  I approached practices with an open mind, eager to be part of a team and please my coach (and dad).  During my middle school years, I joined a local winter team.  I was never the fastest, but I had a decent breaststroke time and I made it through every set.   The challenges of swim team practice are different than a running workout.  With swimming, I have to remember to breathe!  The whole body is involved and there is a complex rhythm to every stroke.  A fast swimmer relies on technique.  This isn't to say that breathing, rhythm, and technique aren't important in running, only to point out that someone can be really fit and athletic but the slowest swimmer ever.  This is not usually the case with running. ...

1/5 Sunday: 2900 swim!  Masters swim team, included 2x500 (9:40, 8:40), 2x400 (IM mix) 1/6 Monday: off 1/7 Tuesday: 5 miles: hills!  6x1:00 min @ 4-10% incline w/2 min recov 1/8 Wednesday: 5 miles: 1 mile w/u, 3 miles @ 7:30-8 min pace, 1 c/d 1/9 Thursday: 1 mile warm up on treadmill, circuit class @ gym 1/10 Friday: 5 miles, easy run (outside! with Rachel and BRB) 1/11 Saturday: 10 long, leisurely miles along river road Total running mileage: 26 miles

Today's run was with BRB (Best Running Buddy), Rebecca.  We met up at Summit and River Road and ran 10 leisurely miles along the Mississippi River (turning around at the Stone Arch Bridge).  The temperature was a (balmy!) thirty degrees with little wind.  In fact, heading south, we noticed that the wind was helping us with an incline.  Surprised, we exclaimed, "Wait!  Was the wind actually in our faces before?!"  Despite some slushy spots (especially Lake Street Bridge!), it felt wonderful to stretch out the muscles and engage in our usual joyful long run conversation! As a side note, during the run, I pondered whether there was a specific running group out on river road today with the goal to say a warm hello to every runner, or if it was just the welcome shift in weather.  Truly, I don't believe I've ever got more happy greetings from joggers!

This year, I plan to concentrate on trail races including my first ultra (50k, or 31.0686 miles) and diversifying my training. Here's what I've got so far in terms of possible races: April: 4/12: Trail Mix 25k @ Lake Rebecca  (training) May 5/17: Superior Hiking Trail 25k (training) July: 7/5: Afton 50k (My first 30 miles for my 30th birthday!) August: 8/17: YWCA Women's Sprint Triathlon September: 9/20: Surly Trail Loppet (Trail half marathon) October: 10/11: Big Woods Run  (Trail half marathon) 10/25: Surf The Murph (25k/50k/50 mile)

1. Map out 2014 racing calendar 2. Swim 1x week- preferably Masters Swim Team practice on Sunday mornings 3. Set up stationary bike in basement 4. Three key running workouts per week: 1 intervals or hills, 1 tempo, and 1 long run 5. Experiment with other forms of cross training: yoga videos, 30 day shred, rowing machine at gym, yoga class. 6. Weight maintenance & work on nutrition (in terms of timing, limiting sugar consumption, balancing protein, carbs, and fat in every meal).

At a favorite Twin Cities Yarn store, photo credits go to my dear friend, Hannah! Dear Misha,  Tomorrow you will be eight months old.  Today, you did a downward dog using your xylophone as a support block for your arms.  You are clearly considering standing up even though you just started to really crawl a couple of weeks ago.  I guess you are a mover and a shaker, just like your mom.  Crawling is good, but standing up and walking?!  Even better!  You are a strong little guy and rather calm.  I think you get that from your dad.  You have this funny habit of throwing your head back, squinting your eyes, and pulling the corners of your mouth back into a goofy grin when you catch my eye before doing something naughty (like playing with a cell phone charger) or between bites of your mouthwatering banana and brown rice cereal.  These days, you smile wide when daddy or mommy comes home.  You pet Rachel The Dog and you l...

You may have noticed that my time spent blogging is negatively correlated to Misha's growth.  I believe I didn't even publish a six month update!  Are you surprised?  Probably not, especially if you're a parent.  It's too bad that Misha can't spell yet or he could blog for me.  He thinks computers are pretty fascinating.   Here's a quick update: Recent Developments: Sitting up...all by himself Interest in other kids! Eating food! Spiky hair Waking up 1x per night Sitting up by himself for the first time.  11/12/13 Misha's favorites:   Activities: Playing piano with dad Watching the records spin Singing and dancing Morning cuddle time Turning pages of books Bath time, splashing! Ipads, computers, cell phones (he knows how to swipe and type.  Kind of disgusting but that's our reality.) Watching Rachel the dog Riding in the stroller with runner mom Books: Puppy Boo Little Blue Truck ...

Waiting for the start.  All the photos in this post are credit of my running buddy, Rose. Pre-race smiles in the middle of the pack. Morning sunlight pouring down Summit Ave. Another late race report following another satisfying race!  To my good fortune, I was selected to run in the TC 10 mile, the little sister race to the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.  Runners are chosen through a lottery system for the TC 10 mile so I always feel pretty lucky when my number gets pulled! This year, I started the race with a speedy running buddy of mine (and talented photographer as you can see from this photos!).  After a summer of hardcore hiking and training, Rose was ready to PR.  I didn't know what to expect although I hoped to beat my time from Women Run The Cities 10 mile race without overdoing it.  (I still had a half marathon trail race and the Monster Dash Half marathon ahead of me!) Some of the most memorable moments of this race were before we even arrived a...