OLD TIMES

On Sunday I ran 16 miles with Pigeon. It was almost like old times ... except we were not on trails and we were not training for a race that SHE was doing. Instead, she came running the streets of El Dorado Hills with ME since I am training for CIM.

Earlier in the week some emails bounced around from my old running group the Buffalo Chips. They were headed to EDH to run and so I thought it was great timing for me to join them. However, I know how fast those Buffalo Chippers are ... they are super fast. Pigeon had expressed an interest in running with me and I have been dying to run with her as well. I invited her. The poor girl had run 13 crazy hilly miles on the trails in Cool the day prior but still agreed to come and run with me. True running friendship at its finest.

The day started early with Pigeon arriving at my house at 7 am. We drove to the meet-up location even though the route passed my house half-way in. This was Pigeon's "out point" if she was struggling, which is why she left her car at my house.

The minute the group started running I thought something was not quite right. They were running too close to our pace and then it happened. We hit a hill and those Buffalo Chippers were long gone. You would think THEY lived in El Dorado Hills the way they powered up some of those hills yesterday. Sheesh! It didn't help that Pigeon and I took a wrong turn at one point and went about a half mile out of the way. Oops.

Yet, like Pigeon posted in her run report, the miles just flew by because we were playing catch up on lost time. We would talk, we would run, we would walk the occasional hill but the entire time it was as if no time had past at all between us. Despite her running The Sierra Nevada Endurance Run 50 miler just three weeks ago ... and me having had a baby just four months ago ... we were just picking up as if no time had passed. It was great.

(Thanks Pigeon for the 2010 photo)

After our run she came back to my house (she had to, her car was there) and we iced our legs in my very cold pool while sipping Godiva Pumpkin Coffee! It was great. She finally was able to meet Squeaker and poor Peanut just whisked Pigeon away to her room to show her all her toys and claim the attention for herself.

Squeaker did not mind as she has a "new to her" toy ... the jump-a-roo and boy does she JUMP!

Bounce Bounce Bounce

She jumps so much the picture is a bit fuzzy! You would never know this girl had her shots on Friday! She measured in at 14 pounds 13.8 ounces ... almost a full pound heavier than the Peanut at four months. The nurse administered the 3 shots and she cried but then stopped and the rest of the weekend was her happy smiling self. She was also super snugly. Love.

*****

If you didn't catch my post over the weekend, please check out my support of the No White At Night campaign.

NIGHT RUNNING

In one of my previous posts, I mentioned that I went on a night run. I have gone night running before always wearing a headlamp and some sort of reflective gear. If you remember this post, I wear these often and love them.

Where I live there are no sidewalks or street lamps. It is pitch black outside both in the early morning and in the evenings when I return home from work. I used to workout first thing in the morning and I do prefer that but with two kids, a long commute and just life in general ... it isn't feasible for me right now. I am resigned to run after work.

Watch this video that 3M Schotchlite sent to me and asked me to promote on my blog. It will truly open your eyes and make you think:

I cannot tell you how many neighbors are out walking their dogs when I drive home from work and they are practically invisible to me until I am within feet of them. I see people running at dusk with nothing more than a stripe on their shorts.

Please be careful out there. I think that video speaks volumes in the first few seconds. The evenings are getting darker earlier and I am a firm believer in being seen by motor vehicles when I am out running. As a kid I was squished between a moving car and a parked car, my own fault, but none the less, it made me very adamant about being visible to motorists. In the game of chicken, the car will always win.

I ask you all, what do you wear when running in dark conditions? Is it only a headlamp? What about the motorists behind you? They can't see that light.

360 degrees of visibility is key. 3M Scotchlite has the right idea in their new campaign "No White At Night."

Please spread the word. Fleet Feet has tons of reflective apparel in their stores and there is a ton of stuff online too. They say running is one of the most inexpensive sports around ...all you need are shoes and a water bottle. Well, I'd like to add "reflective gear" to that list too. Most reflective clothing is very affordable.

Just remember, you have to be visible not only from the front, but from the side and behind as well.

Can you see the white?

Scotchlite New Balance 360 Jacket

You have to be careful ... people that love you are counting on you. Be an example. Be safe.

SCENES FROM VACATION PART 2

We are home now from vacation and today I returned to work. Wow, 4.5 months have flown by. I tried posting more photos while in Tahoe but it SNOWED while we were there and the internet connection was terrible. I also tried for days to post from home and again, bad internet ... sheesh!

Finally here are some more photos from our week in Tahoe ...

The Peanut & Vans at the Oktoberfest

At the top of the world!

Playing footsie!

Ready for the chilly weather!

She won't take a bottle from Vans, but she'll take one from the Peanut!

Snuggles on the couch!

Peanut's first time bowling!!

Followed by some soccer (the girl has natural talent).

Snuggles with mom!

10 guesses who took this photo and why?

SNOW FUN!!

Okay, pics are FINALLY up ... man I miss being there already. Tahoe is always a place of memories for us. Stay tuned for an important post about saftey!

MOVING RIGHT ALONG

So this week I returned to work after being off for 4.5 months. It's been rough. A lot of changes happened while I was gone. None of them good. I will leave it at that.

What else isn't very good at the moment? My running. Last Sunday I should have done 12 miles. I set out to do 10. I ended up running about 8. Digestive issues had me cutting my run short. Not to mention we had just returned from Tahoe and were still settling. I did however, take some photos of my solo pathetic 8 miler.

This is half way up Beatty

I have written about Beatty before. It is a mile plus steep hill near my house that most cyclists use as a training hill. I've been running it once in a while. I can't run the entire thing but I can run most of it ... or I run until I hit the dreaded turkeys and then I stop and wage war. Not really. I cross the street as far away from them as I can possibly get.

Almost at the top

Beatty is a great hill to train on and strengthen your legs. The homes lined along this street are pretty awesome to look at as well and they have million dollar views ...

View of Folsom Lake

It's been rough since we returned from Tahoe. I am still attempting to share more vacation photos but they are on my laptop which is being "difficult" to say the least ... hello iPad! Well, not really but I am dreaming and begging for one at the same time.

When we returned from our week in Tahoe we discovered the following ...

Tree down!

One of the pretty trees in our front yard fell down. Luckily it didn't fall into our home but it did mean that the first full day back, Vans spent the entire day chainsawing and removing pieces of tree. Which now sits in our driveway ready to be taken to a local dump.

Then I started work on Tuesday which like I mentioned, was full of surprises and Squeaker started her first full day at her nanny-share place. She isn't going to the same school as the Peanut right now (long complicated and frustrating story). However, she seems to be having fun with her partner Little G and lots of one on one time with the nanny.

Little G and Squeaker at the park

Now that I am working, I also do not get home until super late and then have to put Squeaker to bed (she is the child who LIKES to sleep) and feed the Peanut. Last night I made a point to put Squeaker to bed and head out on a run even though I knew it would be 1. in the dark and 2. very short.

Hello headlamp & reflective gear

This leads me to my next post ... a teaser of sorts. I was contacted by a company and asked to share some thing with my readers. I just have not had the chance to sit down and devote the proper attention to it that I would like. It is something I believe in and I think everyone who runs should be made aware. So please, stay tuned. I apologize for all the infrequent posting of late. Adjusting to the working world again is always rough the first week.

At least I have my girls ... and Vans to keep me strong.

The Peanut at four months (ish) ...

Squeaker at four months (ish)

Crazy isn't it?!

FOUR MONTHS

I've been working on a post with more vacation photos for about a week now. Our internet connection has been sporadic and frustrating.

So briefly ... Happy Four Months Squeaker!!! Hard to believe you entered our lives just four months ago. Hard to believe I am also back at work now and not seeing your smiling face all day long. Sad. I love you little Squeaker.

4 months!!

SCENES FROM VACATION

One week from today I return to work. My maternity leave has flown by so quickly. I've been home since June 1st. I am so happy to be spending my last week in Tahoe with my family. The weather has taken a turn ... high winds, rain and snow on the mountain tops. Here are some scenes from earlier in the week ...

On Sunday we went to Northstar to watch Sarcasm race in a mountain bike race. When we got back, the Peanut and Vans went for a hike while Squeaker and I headed to the grocery store to stock up on goodies for the week.

On the trail.

Crossing streams.

Loving nature.

On Monday Vans went for a mountain bike ride ... so the Peanut, Squeaker and I headed over to the village to wander around. The Peanut also enjoyed her first ever kid's low sugar soy hot chocolate.

Yum!

Van's and Squeaker also had some bonding time ...

On Tuesday I woke up and hit the trail for a 5 mile run to bring you some photos of what you'll see if you do Big Blue Adventure's Oktoberfest Trail Run ... like I did on Saturday.

You'll run by this amazing soccer/lacrosse field.

Towards beautiful Squaw Valley

After my run we packed up the girls and headed to Tahoe City. That is when the weather started changing.

Brrrr it is cold!

Even Squeaker was a bit chilly.

Squeaker could not take her eyes off the lake. She was mesmerized. What can I say, it runs in her blood.

The rest of the week is supposed to bring some crazy cold temps, snow, rain and high winds. I think tomorrow we might be headed to Incline for something fun and new for the Peanut. It should be pretty entertaining so stay tuned ...

BIG BLUE ADVENTURE'S OKTOBERFEST TRAIL RUN

As I said in my last post (which was forever ago, sorry) this weekend was a high(er) mileage weekend for me. All week long I have been getting us ready for our annual week in Tahoe. We spend one week in Tahoe every year (timeshare). Squaw Valley is where we go and we love it. This year, I discovered that the day before we're scheduled to go up that Squaw Village was hosting their 10th Annual Squaw Village Oktoberfest. We have been to this before when our week in Tahoe coincided with the event. This year our week fell later causing us to miss the event by one day. I also discovered that Big Blue Adventure was having an Oktoberfest Trail Race that ended right in Squaw. How perfect. Needless to say, we figured out a way to get up to Tahoe two days early so that I could do the race and Vans could hang out at the Oktobefest. Perfect.

So Friday when Vans got home from work, we finished loading the car and we headed to Squaw Village to pick up my race packet. While picking up my swag I asked the girl if anyone ever runs from the finish to the start and then does the race. She told me "Absolutely! People do it all the time." Hmmm, this is an inaugural race so how can they "do it all the time?" Oh well. That was my plan because I needed a long run to fit into our weekend plans.

Squaw has so many special memories for us. This year is no exception as it was Squeaker's first time here.

She is loving it!

And my race swag apparently. 

The Peanut is a regular here.

After packet pick up we headed to our room to unload. Since we arrived two days early, we were forced to check into another room and not the room we are going to be staying in all week. Let the luggage shuffle begin!

With a 3 year old, a 3.5 month old, a husband who is the world's lightest sleeper and a mother who has to get up before the sun rises made our sleeping situation in this tiny room difficult. The Peanut and Vans slept on the pull out sofa bed while Squeaker and I slept in the bedroom. I think we won that deal.

At 5:30 my alarm went off. I had been up only once with Squeaker and tried to go to bed when she did as to maximize my sleep. I quickly fed Squeaker and changed her (darn diapers leak way too often in our house) and then continued on with my usual pre-race ritual.

6:15 I woke up Vans to tell him I was off. I had my headlamp with me but as it turns out, I only needed it for about 5 minutes. Oh well. As I started on my way I saw the spot where the race people were having racers meet in order to be shuttled to the starting location. I stopped and asked if anyone was running to the starting area. They looked at me like I had 3 heads and the race person said, "over achiever much?" ha ha So I was alone on my morning journey.

I realized as I had left the house that I had nothing to eat. Normally I do try and eat 2 hours before running if I can because my stomach does not digest well but Vans and the Peanut were sleeping the kitchen area and I didn't want to wake them. I had 3 gels with me though. I also don't adjust well in Tahoe. It takes me a few days before my stomach settles. Something about the altitude ... you know what a bag of chips looks like when you bring them into altitude ... yeah that is how I feel the first few days. So about 4 miles into my run my stomach goes south ... WAY south. It was so bad I was looking to the left and right of me to figure out where I could go but the bike trail leading to Tahoe City doesn't have much of a shoulder let alone coverage. I just sucked it up and walked when I had to which wasn't much.

By 7:40 I had reached Common's Beach in Tahoe City where the race was going to start. I headed straight for the rest rooms and stood in line. 7:50 I was lining up at the starting line. This race was small, very small ... maybe 25 to 30 runners tops is my guess. The race director had said it was their inaugural race which was kind of cool.

8:00 am they said "ready set go" and we were off. I basically ran back the way that I came minus a few different turns here and there. I took it slow. My stomach felt 100 times better ... at first but by mile 4 (really my mile 12) I started having sloshy stomach. Great. If there is one thing I really hate when running it is a sloshy stomach. I had taken a gel at mile 4 on my way to the start hoping it would settle my stomach (it didn't) and decided to take another one at mile 4 (or really my 12) on the way to the finish. Physically I was tired. My legs felt heavy and I was getting side stitches but mentally I was moving along. I wouldn't let my mind have any negative thoughts. When something started to creep in I quickly changed my thinking to something positive like "it is so beautiful here" and "you are more than half way done!"

The finish takes you up the road leading to Squaw Village and then you enter the parking lot and they send you into the village via the cobblestone walk way. Basically you are running straight past all the stores and shops to a giant finish arch.

As I was finishing I saw an orange BOB (jogging stroller) much like the one we have. I ran right up to it thinking "oh great! Vans and the girls made it!" and yet as I neared it it was more like "oops, not my stroller not my kid." ha

I wandered around the finish area. I talked to the race director for a while and still no Vans and the girls. Uh-oh. Squeaker is still adjusting to taking a bottle and so I was worried that things were not going well for them.

Craziness back at the room ....

Vans tends to have a hard time motivating everyone ...

About 10 minutes after I am done I see Vans and the girls walking up. Apparently I am faster than Van's gives me credit for as he wasn't expecting me to be done already.

Maybe Tiger had more faith in me ...

Overall I am glad that I did the mileage I did as I don't think I could motivate myself to do high mileage up here later in the week. I was tired and my legs were sore but overall, I felt okay. This was a good mental challenge for me. I overcame when I was feeling tired by mentally staying positive. I don't think CIM will be easy for me this year by any means. I am still no where near where I was speed wise just a few years ago but that is okay. The miles are getting done.

16 D-O-N-E

The best reward. My girls.