FIRST RACE POST BABY

Today I had my first race post Squeaker (who turned 2 months yesterday).

Happy 2 Months kid!

(thanks to Debbie the Great Aunt for the hat and socks)

Today was also the Peanut's first official half mile kid's race. We have signed her up for kid's races in the past only to be met with a "I don't want to run" or "I am scared of the dressed up mascots chasing me." Now, at the ripe old age of  3 ... the Peanut was ready. She practiced earlier this week with me at our local track. Last night, she said she was ready and excited. Let's recap HER race first and then come back to me later because really, HER photos are much cuter than mine.

Before going to bed last night, I told the Peanut she needed to get a good night's sleep because we had to get up early and because she had a race. I pretty much jinxed myself right there. She woke up THREE times last night and for the first time ... she ended up sleeping in our bed. 12:45 am - I helped her go potty, 1:30 am - I snuggled with her for a few minutes, 2:00 am - she is eerily standing at my bed side freaking me out (this is where I just pulled her into bed with us) and then when I got up with Squeaker (who, ahem, can sleep through the night mostly) at 2:30 am ... the Peanut was STILL awake.

Needless to say when the alarm went off, three out of the four of us were exhausted but we loaded the car and headed to Sacramento's River Park for the Susan B. Anthony 5K run. I have done this run for years because I love the area and I love seeing my old running buddies from Buffalo Chips.

Van's dropped us off because we only had a few minutes to spare before the gun went off for the Peanut's race. Luckily, Van's caught the start to give you the following photo display of the race.

The start

I barely had time to get our goody bag before they started the race

Go Peanut Go!

(she wanted to hold my hand at first)

Vans was left with the Squeaker

On the home stretch!

She sees the finish and takes off!

Finished!

So proud of my girl!

(ignore the puffy sleepy mommy please)

Yea, I own that! I ran a half mile!

The rest of the morning she kept saying "I ran a half mile!" I think she's pretty darn proud of herself. Upon crossing the finish line however she noticed something ... her favorite "something" in the whole world ...

A FREE bounce house!

While Vans let the Peanut bounce, I headed to the start of the Women's 5K. I ran into a few Buffalo Chippers along the way. I love the running community, no matter how much time as passed, it is always nice to see old running buddies.

I had no intentions for this race. No goals other than to run and to see how hard I could run. Today was supposed to be my "tempo" run but I knew that I would probably just run and not focus on my pace. I knew that I was about 8 weeks post baby. Ironically, I ran my first 5K post-Peanut when she was 6 weeks old.

June 2008, 6 week old Peanut

5K 25:11/8:07 mile

Wow, that seems like ages ago but I would be lying if internally, I didn't have the same "wish" of sorts in mind. I had no idea what my 2008 time was until after I ran today's race but I knew how I felt running it and wanted the same for this race. When they blew the horn, all bets were off and I just started running.

The Peanut found a prime spot and just waited for me to finish.

I barely looked at my garmin. I only looked at it when I hit the mile markers which consequently looked like this:

Mile 1: 7:41 pace "What they hell!? Where did that come from? This can't be good."
Mile 2: 8:11 pace "Yup, that's what I thought. I'm dying. How long is a 5K again?"
Mile 3: 8:24 pace "Oh thank god, I see the finish!"

Go Mommy Go!

You did it Mommy!

Unofficial Results - 8 week old Squeaker

5K 25:10/8:02 Mile

The girls post race!

(man I look like I need more sleep!)

I still have a long way to go before I reach my 5K PR (22:27/7:14 mile) which was achieved almost a year after the Peanut was born. Still, I am happy with today. Considering the struggle to get back into running, the lack of sleep and having the two most beautiful girls in the world (I am a bit biased), I cannot complain about today's results. The end result was better than expected.

The Peanut was also extremely happy with her results. We stopped at Grandma & Poppa's house and she happily told them she ran a half mile today. I should have her run a half mile more often ...maybe she'd sleep better ... or maybe not ...

Seriously? How is this comfortable?

When we arrived home, just like this morning, 3 out of 4 of us were exhausted again ... the only one not exhausted was Squeaker.

Okay. We're home. Let's play!

RUNNING PARTNER

Wow, twos days and two posts in a row! Go me! Last night my training plan called for speed work. Nothing huge but it was a 13 minute warm up and then 6 times 1 minute fast 2 minutes easy. During the daytime I did upper body weights on the stability ball and some ab work. When Vans got home from work I laced up my shoes and ran 1.5 miles to our high school track.

I did my speed workout while the high school football team practiced and the high school cross country team stretched. I felt pathetically old and slow. Yet, it was great to be out there and the local track is SO nice and SO soft ... it felt great running on it.

As soon as I finished my workout Vans arrived with my girls! The Peanut has been asking to run with me for weeks but we live in an area with no sidewalks so having her run with me is usually tough. The track was the perfect solution to this problem.

She ended up running/walking two times around the track (a half mile)! She giggled and laughed and told me to "stay in your lane momma!" It was precious. She asked if we could come back and do this again. She ran and was completely out of breath but I think from just giggling while running and not only the running. I love that she had a blast and wants to run with me. She has a half mile kids race this Saturday and she asked me if I would run with her. Who am I to say no?

My running partner!

My other workout or secret to getting back into shape is this ...

you push a 30+ lb 3 year old plus a 12 lb baby along with the weight of a car seat and a jogging stroller UP hill in El Dorado Hills ... that'll get the blood pumping.

A PLAN

I created myself a plan. A training plan of sorts. The base of my plan are my training runs for CIM but on the alternate days, I have created workouts to accomplish. I am not so sure I can continue this when I am done with maternity leave ... unless of course the average day goes from 24 hours to about 30 hours.

Yesterday was hill day and I wanted to get my workout in early versus waiting until Vans got home and the weather was super hot. I had to get creative though because Squeaker was napping.

Right outside my house is a hill. A fairly decent hill. So I left Squeaker in the bouncy chair where she was sleeping pleasantly and placed her inside the garage with the door open so that I could see her. I ran up and down my hill 10 times passing Squeaker on each up and each down. She woke up once, looked around and fell back to sleep.

I was sweating ...

She was not. It was nice and cool actually.

After the hill workout I hit the weights a little bit and since Squeaker was STILL asleep, I even managed a shower! Score one for mom on Monday! Tuesday is my CIM speed workout and unfortunately I have to wait until Vans is home from work to manage that ... no leaving Squeaker on the track while I sprint.

Hopefully though, Vans will bring both Squeaker and the Peanut to the track tonight while I am running. The Peanut has been asking to run with me for weeks and she has her own kids half mile race this coming Saturday ... of course she needs to get some training in too right?

Dad is in training. On Saturday I had mentioned he had both kids all to himself ... he even ventured outside of the house with them ... his first solo trip.

Daddy's girls ... on their first outing ...

to the skate park of course ...

The rest of the weekend was equally exciting ... Sunday Vans went mountain biking. However, he crashed and he crashed hard. He is now sidelined with some cracked ribs and a knee that is knocked out of alignment and looks gnarly. He's in a lot of pain but seems to be managing. He is more bummed about his upcoming mountain biking season being potentially off calendar now. Not the way he envisioned his summer ending.

The Peanut however is star-struck. She went to a birthday party Sunday evening and met a celebrity. A celebrity that she has seen now repeatedly on commercials in between her My Little Pony shows ...

Captain America!

Too bad Captain American didn't arrive a few hours earlier to help prevent Van's crash.

ECHO ECHO ECHO

Thursday the Trailmomma family left town. Coach Nikon and his family invited us up to their cabin at Echo Lake and we jumped at the chance to get away from home. The Peanut loves anything Tahoe (she is definitely our child) and she especially loves Cheetah, Coach Nikon's eight year old.

The only caveat on Thursday was that I had an emergency dental appointment at 8:30 down in Sacramento. So I had to wake up early and head down the hill only to turn around and head back up the hill to help load the car with gear and kids and continue another hour and twenty minutes up the hill to the cabin. It was a small price to pay for the glorious weather we had while at Echo Lake. Thursday was probably the coldest day they had seen all week but it felt great.

When we arrived the Peanut was immediately in motion.

In addition to exploring, the Peanut also followed and copied the Cheetah everywhere. The Cheetah who is probably the coolest eight year old I know, seemed to enjoy the Peanut just as much. It is amazing how little kids need to get along. The five year age difference didn't seem to bother the Cheetah as she took the Peanut under her wing. It was pretty awesome to watch.

The Cheetah & Peanut

Meanwhile, the adults had a great time too. Lily, Coach Nikon's wife loves babies and lucky for her, I had Squeaker! I should say lucky for me because she gave me a much needed break at times and I even scored two middle of the day naps while at the cabin. I hardly ever nap during the day so that was pretty nice. Coach Nikon took on the challenge of trying to tire out the Peanut. The first day they took the kids down to the creek.

The Peanut, Cheetah & Coach Nikon

Building a Tee-Pee

Peanut building her own tee-pee

Coach Nikon had forgotten about the inquisitive and crazy mind of a three year old.

Look at my mud pie!

Flowers for Momma!

The Peanut had a blast. She also got to go rock climbing, hiking (sort of) and flower picking.

hiking?

Trail Running!

flower picking

Even Squeaker joined the fun to Echo Lake

Hiking to Echo Lake = Ice Cream Reward!

The view itself is reward enough

The gang also made a trip to Lake Tahoe to play on the beach.

The Cheetah helping the Peanut

The Peanut helping the Cheetah

A tired & cold Peanut ... who had a blast!

While they were busy doing all of that, Squeaker and I were busy doing all of this back at the cabin ...

Zzzzzz!

We drove home late Friday evening with both kids fast asleep in the car. It was one of those trips where the transfer of the sleeping kid from the car to the bed was a success. We don't have those often in our house but everyone was so exhausted from the day's activities.

I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and energized from having spent just a few days at altitude. There is nothing like going for a run after having spent time at altitude. Coach Nikon is training for a 100 mile race and has been running daily up there. He inspired me to put on my running shoes today. I looked at my CIM training plan and it called for 8 miles today 30 seconds above predicted marathon pace. Well, considering I haven't been running much of anything lately, 8 miles was asking a bit much but I headed out there with good intentions of going farther than I have in a while.

I hate out and back courses because they are boring. However, living where I now live, flat surface is hard to come by so I set out on the only semi-flat road I know. I was bored immediately but I was feeling pretty good. I noticed I was quickly approaching the Serrano hill and I kept glancing at it thinking "do I?" "should I?" "am I ready?" when all of a sudden this came on my ipod. It was the jolt I needed and I set off up the hill which turned into a bike trail of sorts that went straight up in some sections and then switch-backed in others.

over-look point at the top

I only stopped to take a few photos with my phone at the overlook otherwise I pretty much sludged up that hill at a snail's pace but running none the less.

more up hill after the over-look

I was feeling pretty darn good and then I hit mile 5 and the normal stomach issues I've been battling lately hit me but not enough to force to me stop. It seems I am slowly able to run a little farther each time before things head ahem, south. Still, the overall mileage was 6 miles total and I was able to score one or two sub-nine minute miles in that mix.

When I arrived home, Vans surprised me by taking both girls out to wash my car! It was his first solo trip out with both kids (and everyone survived) so I immediately took advantage and went up to the pool for a quick dip ... in my running clothes. I didn't even bother to change I just walked in waist high. It wasn't cold but enough to ease the joints a bit. Then I followed up with some upper body weights and a shower. What a great way to start a Saturday!

It has been a great few days. Sometimes, just heading an hour away from your house for a night with good company is all it takes to hit that "reset" button. My reset button has been pushed and I am looking forward to the week ahead and finally tackling my CIM training plan as best I can.

One, Two, Three . . .

Reset.

SISTERS

The summer is slowly winding down. I cannot believe it is August already and that Squeaker will be 2 months old ... in a few weeks. My maternity leave seems to be flying by and I don't feel as if I have accomplished anything even though there is nothing "to" accomplish when on maternity leave other than to nurse and love a growing baby. Which I am doing, quite well actually. Squeaker is growing like a weed. She is seven weeks old (last Sunday) and someone commented to me that she seems "bigger" than her seven weeks. Although size doesn't matter to me, her demeanor definitely seems older than seven weeks. She has been smiling since 4 weeks. Rolling since 4 weeks (although not often) and cooing up a storm. I am waiting with bated breath for her giggles. Nothing makes me happier than hearing infant (and toddler) laughter. Music to my ears.

The Peanut is still not overly impressed with Squeaker. She shows interest in her when I am knee deep in diapers or fussing periods but overall, Squeaker is still this little person taking up mommy's time, especially at night. Still, she does love her. I can tell.

I never had a sister but I always wanted one. There was also something special that I noticed between sisters and I envied that. That bond that exists and continues into adulthood is something I cannot wait to see between my two girls. I am so thankful I was gifted with two beautiful girls and I look forward to watching their relationship blossom through the years.

Sisters. Forever.