July's Totals

31 consecutive days of running (which brings the streak's current total to 42 days)

100 miles

Now it's time to begin thinking about August...

Foto Friday

Our recent doings:

Running, of course. Reading.

Cuddling.

Being little devils.

Defending Elmo against Scooter attack.

Chores.

Play area.

Park. Where Norah prefers to go UP the slide rather than down it.

Testing out how it feels to wear shoes. So far, Norah is with you barefooters -- she'd prefer to go without the shoes!

Trading Mileage for Sleep

Norah slept until 7:05 this morning. Which was awesome, but it meant that we didn't get out the door for our run until 8 am. Normally, we aim to be out there running by 7:30 when the temp is merely a billion degrees. By 8 am, the temp is somewhere near a billion and a half degrees, and it feels unbearable to run in. You wouldn't guess that 30 minutes would make much of a difference, but it really does.

That's why we did 2 miles today instead of 3.

Okay by me, though. I'm willing to trade a mile for an extra hour's sleep!

Motivation

I'm glad I only have 2 more weeks of my summer classes; this schedule is beginning to wear me out. I'm at home all day with Norah (a full time job in and of itself), and when Jerry gets home at 4:20, we exchange the pertinent info and then 10 minutes later, I'm out the door and on my way to class. My classes are good classes, and I enjoy the students and the material I teach, but I don't get done until about 9 or 9:30, so I'm not home until 9:30 or 10.

In many ways, it's a long day.

And it starts all over at about 6:15 the next morning. So, there are certainly days when I don't want to run, don't want to continue this streak. Some days, in my mind, I have a little hissy fit that goes like this: "I don't wanna run! I'm tired! I've been running for the past 37 consecutive days! I deserve a day off!" Yes, very whiny, I know, but in my mind, in that whiny moment, my excuses feel legitimate. I think many of us feel this way, and I think that's okay. We can all have those internal hissy fits, and even sometimes succumb to them (we're human, not robots, afterall). But, what helps me move beyond the childish thinking and lace up my shoes and tackle that daily run even when I don't want to?

Habit, mostly.

But also? I think of this Nike ad:The type is kinda hard to read, but it says, "Someone who is busier than you is running right now." Usually, this sort of emotional provocation in advertising does nothing to motivate me, but I saw this ad in Chicago's Nike Town 3 years ago, and for whatever reason, it has stuck with me ever since. I literally think of it every time I want to bail on my run because I feel as though I have either too much going on or have too little motivation or desire to run.

Thinking of this ad just helps me put running into the level of importance that I want it to have in my life. I'm busy being a wife, mother, and teacher, but no matter how busy I am, or how tired I may sometimes feel, running is important to me, so I have to make time for it.

We all have something that provides us with this same kind of motivation. Maybe it's an ad. But, probably it's something else: What do you think of when you're dragging your feet about a workout and struggling with the inner hissy fit?

6 Down, 19 to Go

This week's goal is very simple: Sure, I'm still streakin', so I'm still running everyday, but right now that's a given, not the goal. The goal is to run 25 miles this week so that I can round out July with 100 miles.

I don't think I've ever had a triple digit mileage month in the summer before*, and I owe this largely to the streak, which has prompted me to get out there on a daily basis. While keeping the streak alive is easy on some days, it is tough on others when I really don't feel like running. Today was one of those days.

But, then I got encouragement from an unknown source. This morning, as I was running with Norah, a runner came up behind me and announced that she was passing me. I moved over to the edge of the sidewalk, and as she went by me she said, "You're doing an excellent job! Keep running, Mommy!" I don't know this runner, and have never seen her before on my route, but for some reason, her words felt so uplifting. I needed to hear that on a Monday morning when both my legs and my determination were a bit stiff. So, "Thanks Unknown! I appreciated it!"

*I may have very well run a triple digit mileage month(s) during the summer of 2007 when I was training for the Chicago Marathon. But, I'd have to go back to my log to look and, well, I don't feel like doing that.

Storms: Both Tropical and Toddler

Yesterday, Tropical Storm Bonnie formed over the Bahamas, and while it isn't directly affecting our area, we are still getting the indirect effect of tropical storm conditions. Which really just means lots of rain and wind.

So, our usual morning run got rained out. Despite now owning the weathershield, I wasn't going to take Norah out in the torrential rainfall, nor did I feel like going out in it myself. But, by early afternoon, and rain all. day. long, tension in the house was running high. I was feeling irritable and impatient. Scooter was annoying the crap out of me (I don't know if the storm made him nervous or what, but every time I turned around, he was right underfoot). Norah had only napped a total of 40 minutes all day and she was a royal crab apple: I could not muster up the energy for the 20th reading of "But Not the Hippopotamus" and she dissolved into a shitticane of tears.

If I didn't figure out something soon, our house was gonna transform into Thunderdome.

Thankfully, at about 2 pm, the rain abated. The clouds still looked omnious, but I decided to take my chances. I needed a run.

So, I got in running clothes, loaded Norah into the stroller (made sure we did have the weathershield with us), bid Scooter "adieux," and we were off! As soon as we got out there, I knew I'd made the right choice: The rain stayed away the entire run and we certainly both needed to get out and get some fresh air. However, just because we stayed dry, doesn't mean the run wasn't without its unique trials.

It wasn't too hot -- the rain all day kept the temp moderate (although, it was still in the 80s) -- but it was VERY humid, and VERY windy. At one point, my route took me head-on into the wind, and it required a two-handed handling of the stroller. I felt like I was running in place! Still, despite those challenges, I race an average pace of 9:56 per mile -- I guess I had some pent up Mom-anger to get out!

It was a good run, and I definitely needed it. When I got home, I felt better and was able to be a better mom to Norah and Scooter. And, without that run, the rest of the afternoon would have almost certainly involved a throwdown of some kind because Norah really tried my every last spec of patience I have in me today.

Thank god it's Friday, and I don't have class. That means that it is now 6:12 pm, Norah is in bed, and Jerry and I are ready to start our Friday night. Which, I'm gonna be honest, is gonna revolve around draining this little baby:If I drink it out of a race glass, that makes it healthier, right?

Our other exciting plans for the night involve a pizza, which has been ordered and is on it's way, and a movie from On Demand. Who needs to leave the house on a Friday? We have keg beer, pizza and movies here at home!

Running Errands

I drank about half a cup of coffee this morning before it dawned on me that it tasted funny. What can I say? I'm slow to wake up. The usual culprit in a bad tasting cup o' joe is expired milk, so I went and gave the milk a sniff. Yup, spoiled. Crap on a cracker -- it still had a few days left! Oh well, occassionally, I suppose bad moo juice happens.

So, I decided to make a trip to the store part of Norah and I's morning run. Publix is just a slight detour off our normal route, and it only adds a few minutes and a little extra distance to run the errand as we're running. Plus, it was nice to have a reason to go run -- always by about this point in the week, my motivation begins to run low, so it's good to feel as though I have to go run. In this case, I had to go "run" an errand.

3.2 miles later, we were home: Run, done. Milk, aquired. Now, as Norah takes her morning nap, I can enjoy my coffee WITH unspoiled milk. Tastes so much better :)

Stroller Speedwork

I deemed it too hot yesterday afternoon to attempt to finish the rained out run from earlier in the day, but thankfully, I got done early with class last night and was home by 8:30. So, I quickly got in my running clothes and headed out at 8:40 to finish up that 1.6 miles I had remaining. I told Jerry I'd be back in 15 minutes. Not only was I true to my word, but I was even a few seconds ahead of schedule: Obviously, running by myself affords me the opportunity and ease to be a bit faster, but as I was running this short run last night, I thought about my slow speeds with the stroller and figured that in some part, I'm just being lazy with my pace when I run with the stroller. Granted, it IS harder pushing a jogging stroller -- with Norah, it adds about 40 lbs of resistance that I'm pushing (although, the BOB's design is so good that it doesn't necessarily feel like you're pushing that much weight); however, that doesn't mean I can't work hard on some runs to pick up the pace. Besides, about 90% of my runs are with the stroller, so if I can't figure out a way to do some speedwork with it, then I'm never gonna fit it in.

So, as I finished my 1.6 miles last night, I resolved for my morning run today that "picking up the pace" would be this run's primary goal.

Generally, with the stroller, I have been running a 10:30 min/mile pace. So, before we headed out this morning, I decided I wanted to aim for an average pace of 10:00 min/mile, which would mean really making an effort to move my ass.

In the first half a mile, I was chugging along at the standard 10:30 pace, but I was running in to a headwind and I figured a half a mile's warm up was necessary (my hammies have been a little tight the past few days). But after that initial half mile, I tried to consistently pick up the pace and in each mile I was a bit faster:

Mile 1: 10:24
Mile 2: 9:58
Mile 3: 9:47

Total time: 30:12

Average pace? 10:04 min/mile. 4 seconds slower than I was aiming for, but c'mon, see that 3rd mile? That's a speed-demon pace for me and the stroller! Overall, I was happy with the run, and I proved that I can go a bit faster with the BOB, so I guess that means that I need to make such an effort a more regular part of my weekly runs. Clearly, speedwork can be accomplished at the helm of the stroller, so I don't have any excuses to avoid it.

Rained Out. Again.

This morning, Norah and I were a little more than half mile into our run when the skies opened up and poured. It wasn't a downpour. It was a deluge. I quickly turned us around and ran as fast as I could back home, but within minutes, I was soaked, the stroller was soaked and poor Norah was soaked. But, thankfully, I didn't breed a complainer, so even though she got pretty wet, she didn't seem too upset with me about it. Her expression below seems to say, "Eh, I got wet. Good thing I'm not made of sugar." So, since this is the 2nd run in 2 weeks that's been disrupted by rain, after we got dried off and cleaned up, we went and invested in a weathershield for the BOB.

It was less than $6, and it's basically just a big plastic cover for the stroller that looks like this once it's unveiled:

Norah inspected it

and gave it her stamp of approval.

So, I folded it up and stowed it beneath the carriage, and we'll be certain to always bring it along on our runs. That way, I may still get soaked, but Norah can stay dry and comfortable and I can at least finish a run.

With the rain disruption, our run only totaled 1.4 miles, and I'm feeling a bit dissatisfied with that. So, I'm considering a hot afternoon run of 1.6 miles so that I can at least log 3 miles for the day. It's in the 90s out there, but I'm telling myself: "It'll only take about 16 minutes. I can do 16 minutes out there." I guess I'll fill ya in later on how that works out.

30 Days

With the completion of this morning's run, I have run 30 consecutive days. And at this point, you can probably guess that I don't plan on stopping now.

Officially, I want to continue the streak through the end of July, which is 12 more days.

Unofficially, I don't see an end in sight.

Foto Friday

So, Marlene had a great idea to showcase our running medals: She posted pics of where she keeps her race medals and then pointed out a few favorites and then challenged her readers to do the same. I thought it was a fun idea, so I went ahead and took some pics of the bits of bling I've earned from running. To begin with, here is where I keep them: On a hook on the office wall. Jerry and I have talked about, maybe, creating a special place for them or at least buying a shadow box for the special ones, but so far, no action has been taken to draw more attention to them or make them seem more significant.

They look shinier in a jumbled pile, anyway, don't they? There are 12 of them here.

A few favorites are from Miami and A1A. A1A is probably my favorite HM and this year's medal, which opened, was pretty dang cool. And for Miami? Well, who doesn't love the "spinning palm" design?

But, my absolute favorites are those from Disney's series of events: I have the Marathon, Princess HM, Race to the Taste 10K, and Women Run the World 15K.

I think that, ultimately, it'd be fun to earn all of the medals in Disney's endurance series, but I'm a long way from even considering Goofy (but, that does total 3 medals!).

Lastly, there is a significant medal that is missing from this pile: 2007 Chicago Marathon. Which I trained for and DNF'd. For those who recall, the 2007 Chicago Marathon was cancelled in the middle of the race because of dangerous heat and not enough liquids on the course. Afterward, the RDs offered all of us, who had failed to finish, a medal and they called it a medal for the Chicago "Fun Run." Bah. I did not take it. That race was not fun, and I didn't want a medal for something I had failed at.

Runners' race medals symbolize the hard work and dedication it takes to train for and complete a race; to have Chicago offer runners that "fake" medal was insulting. Anyway, its absence is important to me, and I think it deserves noting here since medals are a tangible representation of what we earned, and I believe it's valuable for me as a runner to think about those instances where I have not enjoyed success. In some ways, the missing medals from my wall are just as significant as these beautiful shiny ones.

If you haven't already followed along with Marlene's Medal Mania (that's my wording, not hers, but don't you think I am clever, now?), go ahead and post some pics of your race bling, give some highlights of your favorites, and tell us a little about your Precious!

Day 26

Still running.

And, that's really all there is to say about that. Hmmmm, a streak gets kinda boring to read about, huh? Thankfully, I'm not bored with the doing, so that's good.

Since I really don't have any good running stories today, I can share one brief post-running anecdote:

After a run, I need a shower. Stat. And, like many moms out there, I take my child into the bathroom with me while I shower. Typically, Norah entertains herself by playing with a few toys I bring in there with us, or by pulling underwear out of the hamper or by pounding on the shower glass and hollering for me to hurry up. But this morning, as I was shampooing, I noted that she was oddly quiet.

Not a good sign.

So, I opened the shower door a smidgen and saw her standing by the toilet having a grand time splashing in the water.

While her fascination with toilet water is charming, it's not new, and we've become accustomed as of late to make sure that toilet lids are down, but I must have forgotten earlier and there she was treating it with the same joy she would a water park.

Oh well. The toilet water was "clean" water and aside from soaking her shirt, her splashing was doing no harm, so I returned to shampooing, rinsing and repeating, but I hope that if she one day becomes a high-paid plumber who makes $300 an hour fixing a toilet in the "off hours" that she appreciates how I'm the one who nurtured her early career.

Off and On

When Norah and I headed out for our run this morning, there were dark clouds in the distance, but I was hoping we might be able to out-run them. However, less than a mile into the run, it began to sprinkle, nothing too heavy, though, so we continued on, but right at 1 mile, it began to really rain. Not a downpour, by any means, but a heavy enough rain that I turned around. I don't have a weathershield for the stroller and while the canopy does a decent job of protecting her from the elements, it doesn't completely enclose her.

So, we ran the mile back home, and by the time we got there, it had stopped raining entirely.

And that seems to be the pattern so far this morning. After the run, I showered and Norah had a snack and then we headed to a nearby park for some outdoor fun. The rain clouds were still ominous in the distance, but I figured any time at the park is good time (anyone with kids can back me up on this: any time outside playing = good napping), so we played and the rain stayed away for about 35 minutes, but then the skies opened up and we were outta there.

And, by the time we got home, again, it had stopped raining entirely.

With the rain clouds following me in this way, I'm feeling a bit like Eeyore this morning!

You Were Right

Norah does seem ready to be the pusher instead of the passenger! She just has a bit more growin' to do ;)

As Promised

This morning, I was certainly not feeling a run, and a part of me was thinking "streak-schmeak, I don't have to do what I don't wanna!" But, thankfully, such childish inner-whining was trumped by the very nature of the streak itself: Turns out, once something is habitual, it's pretty hard to deviate from routine. Huh. Who wudda thunk it?

So, I got out there and ran my 3 miles with Norah riding along in the stroller. I didn't necessarily like it, but I did it.

Anyhoo, I also promised to try and get a short video of Norah and her amazing new feat: Walking. So, here it is: It's just a few steps, so don't go thinking I'm gonna show her tightrope walking or anything.

Day...22?

Yesterday, I wrapped up my 21 day streak with a solo 6 miler (58:59 -- I was so pleased to get it done in less than 60 minutes!). And then, I got up this morning and took Norah for a 3 miler (31:13 -- I am WAY slower when I'm pushing her).

So, the streak continues!

I figure: Why not extend it another 9 days for an even 30 day streak? Might as well, right? And we'll just see where it goes from there...

...and, as for some video of Norah taking a few, initial steps? Nada so far this weekend. She has repeated her new feat by taking one or steps between Jerry and I, but she hasn't offered any walking opportunity that has easily leant itself to videotaping. No worries. I'm sure as she gains more stability and confidence, she'll do more and we'll get the chance to capture it on tape; until then, you'll just have to take my word for it.

First Steps!

Norah took her first steps about 45 minutes ago! And if you would have seen my excitement, you would've guessed that those steps were on the moon.

She was standing in the kitchen playing with some magnets on the refrigerator and she was standing there without any support, and I was sitting close by, so I just held out my arms and encouraged her to walk toward me. I've been doing this for a few weeks now, but today she actually did it! She took two steps and then collapsed into my waiting arms. It. was. awesome.

Hopefully, I get the chance to get some video of her amazing feat sometime this weekend. If I do, I'll post it here. I'm sure you've never seen a baby walk before, right? ;)

Foto Friday

This morning, Norah got up at a time that is more routine for her: 6:30 am. Here she is at breakfast with an expression that seems to suggest, "C'mon, Mom, I'm still in my PJs and haven't combed my hair yet! Give me a break -- you're like the friggin' paparrazzi!" I concede, aside from babies, only celebrities have more flashes going off in front of their faces. Sorry, Norah, but I think your bed-head is cute!

So, with the more normal wake up, Norah and I were able to get out the door for our 3 miler a bit earlier than we have managed the past 2 days.

The half hour or so doesn't really make that much of difference, temperature-wise, but getting out there and back a bit earlier just feels better. Here's Norah, post-run, hydrating:

Yes, she was still in her PJs, but that's her priviledge as the rider instead of the runner. Besides, she doesn't get sweaty and gross like I do:

So, all in all, it was one more run down in the books, which makes for 20 consecutive days of running: One more day left in this streak!

That makes Norah smile.

Day 19: Done

Again, this morning, Norah slept in a bit. Not as late as yesterday, but she still didn't get up until 7 am. As you can guess, if she sleeps in, I take full advantage and sleep in as well. So, like yesterday, the later wake up time meant it was later by the time we got around to getting ready for our run, and it was just a little after 8 when we were headed out the door.

But unlike yesterday morning, when I shaved the run down to 2 miles, this morning I told myself to just "deal with it" and we went for our standard 3 miler. What can I say about it? Nothing new, that's for sure: It was hot and sweaty. Only 2 days left in my 21 day streak. Almost there.

Better Than Nuthin

This morning, Norah slept until 7:20. It. was. awesome! Of course, the extra sleep meant that we didn't get out for our run at the normal time, and because I was afflicted with a case of slow, it was 8:30 before we were headed out for our run. Which is too late and too hot. So, I choose a two mile path that remains shady the entire way, and that's what we did: 2 miles.

With these small 1 and 2 milers this week, I am really racking up the single digit mileage. 4 days worth of runs so far this week and my mileage has totaled 8 miles. Pitiful. However, I figure that even those these short runs don't add up to much, they still add up to SOMEthing. If I weren't pursuing this streak, I would have simply skipped running on a day like today.