HODGE PODGE

I have not been feeling like blogging lately. There is just a lot going on and very little time to post it seems. Yet, I know I have a few loyal readers (hello Debbie the Great Aunt & Pam's Aunt!!!) that really look forward to my posts ... or maybe they look forward to the photos .... either way, I do not want to disappoint.

This weekend was really busy but busy in a good way. On Friday after my office closed, I went on a nice two hour run on the FLAT bike trail near our old house. It was glorious. The weather was perfect, I felt great and I was happy to get my long run out of the way because we had a very big weekend ahead of us.

Saturday morning the family woke up and went out for a family breakfast. Our weeks are generally slam packed with racing here and racing there (mainly to daycare and work) that when evening time comes, I am totally spent and Squeaker is pretty done too. Last week was her first full week at daycare so having a little breakfast celebration was perfect.

Family breakfast at The Purple Place

You cannot really tell in that photo but the Peanut's pancake is ginormous AND delivered with a "happy face" of whip cream on top. Way to start the day with lots of sugar.

After breakfast the Peanut and I had to get ready as we had a mother daughter date planned. A few months ago, I saw a flyer for Beauty and the Beast showing at the Three Stages El Dorado Musical Theater in Folsom. The Peanut is in quite the "princess phase" lately and really enjoys the movie Beauty and the Beast (we had a boot leg copy and have since lost it - oh the drama in our house right now). She was very excited to get dressed up to see her very first play!

Pretty in Pink

Sporting Pink Vans too.

  

We arrived at the theater a little bit early because I thought they'd have something for the kids to do. They didn't, other than a few photo stills hanging in the lobby ... which was great because I think the Peanut had no idea what to expect. When I said "theater" I believe she thought she was seeing a movie even though we tried to tell to her that was not the case.

When the lights dimmed and the play began, the Peanut was quiet. She preferred to sit in the chair verses on my lap even though her vision was slightly blocked by a woman wearing a hat (please people, do not wear hats to plays geared toward children). She would gasp and smile and clap at the end of each of the scenes. She was so happy.

Intermission came (finally) and she wanted "snacks" and the like. Luckily mom brought a stash from home because theater snacks will cost you an arm and a leg these days. She could not wait however, to get back into the theater!

When the show was over she was eager to leave. I think sitting that long was a lot to ask of a three and a half year old. The second half she fidgeted a lot more and her voice was no longer a whisper when she would ask me questions ... like "Mommy, why isn't Belle's dress orange?" and "Mommy, that Beast is different from the "other" Beast."

But when we walked out into the lobby and saw this ....

Photo ops with Belle and the Beast!?

The Peanut nudged her way as close to Belle as she could. She was bumped and pushed and hit in the head with purses yet she would not leave until she had her photo taken with Belle.

She was happy despite her face.

 I love that she needed to put on her fairy wings too in order to take the above photo. Precious. She also said she enjoyed the musical and that she would go and see more with me. Vans is finally off the hook ... Trailmomma loves musicals.

Sunday was an equally busy day. Daylight savings means nothing to a four month old. Nothing. They wake and sleep whenever they feel like but the extra hour did help with getting Vans and the Peanut ready and out the door.

Vans was running the 3.5 mile Apple Hill Harvest Run and we needed to get moving. The drive up was very ominous...

Down pour

Luckily, by the time we arrived and parked the rain had settled down. Vans had to sprint off to get his race packet and race bib while I was left unloading two very cold little girls and getting them over to the race starting area (which was not close by mind you).

This is how we roll in the rain.

I would have gladly traded places with the Peanut but she wasn't having it. That little BOB cocoon was super warm.

Vans and I alternate this race every year. Last year I ran it and was pregnant. This year it was his turn to run. He has not been running very much lately at all so he was very nervous about running on this hilly course.

While he was off running, I was trying to entertain the girls and keep everyone warm.

Snug as a bug ....

I was also secretly hoping that Vans would run fast ... not only so that he would do well but so that he could get back and help me.

Go Vans Go

Yet in typical Vans style he finished ... first in his age group! He was exhausted but extremely proud.

Sporting his Dylan Flinchum shirt too!

He was even MORE excited to learn that the prize for first place in your age group is not a medal. No, not when you are running the Apple Hill Harvest Run!!!

Nope, first place in THAT race is a fresh home-made Apple Pie!!

Yum! And not Gluten Free!

The rest of our weekend consisted of drying off and going to crazy indoor amusement parks with friends. The Peanut rode her first indoor roller coaster on Sunday and loved it (Vans did not). She is so much like me I have to smile. Maybe that means Squeaker will be more like Vans when she grows up ... but I doubt it. The girl is already rolling all across the room.

Squeaker rolling about

A SAD DAY (GUEST POST)

***This is a first ... a guest post from Vans!***

First Steve Jobs ...  Al Davis ...now it gets worse.   Always in 3’s…. here is your 3^rd tragedy.

Today is a day that will be forever remembered. Mark it on your calendars, slip-on the checkerboards, ride a skateboard. Do it for Van.

I need some time.

Maybe I should run my Apple Hill 5k on Sunday in VANS! 

- From Vans

***********************************

Vans shoes co-founder James Van Doren dies at 72

The Associated Press

Published Thursday, Nov. 03, 2011

FULLERTON, California -- Vans shoes co-founder James Van Doren has died in Southern California at 72.
The Van Doren Rubber Co.'s canvas deck shoes became favorites of the burgeoning skateboard culture because of sticky rubber soles that helped skaters grip their boards.
They got national exposure when Sean Penn wore Vans in the 1982 movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."
Van Doren's wife, Char, tells the Los Angeles Times that her husband died at his Fullerton home on Oct. 12 after a lengthy illness. A memorial Mass is planned Friday at Fullerton's St. Juliana Falconieri Church.
Van Doren and his older brother Paul began selling shoes in 1966.
James Van Doren guided the Cypress, California, company through the checkerboard era of the deck shoes. He ran Vans from 1976 to 1984.

***********************************

Peanut in her first pair of Vans

Dad skating in his Vans with the Peanut

Mom in Vans and Peanut in her second pair of Vans

Squeaker will be sporting her first set of Vans very shortly.

LAKE NATOMA FOUR BRIDGES HALF MARATHON RACE REPORT

I survived the race. However, let me start from the beginning.

Saturday we had a bunch of friends over for our usual Game Night Halloween party. It is just a group of close friends, all with kids and they come over in costume. We provided crafts for them to do and then we had a mock Trick or Treat session in our hallway.

This was actually a really good thing because Jersey Girl discovered that Lil Dude (who is 2) likes to walk INTO a house after he knocks and the door is opened. Now she is prepared for Halloween night.

Every year we get our annual photo .... some kids are missing each year for various reasons, but they are all still super cute and growing fast!

2011

2010

2009

After everyone left and we cleaned up the house I went to bed. It was 8:30 pm and Squeaker had been down since 7 pm. I needed to make up for lost sleep from the night before when both Squeaker and the Peanut woke up.

Squeaker woke up at 10:30 pm, 2 am and 5 am to eat. My alarm went off at 6 am for the race. I felt well rested. After some coffee to get things moving and breakfast of gluten free oatmeal with peanut butter I was ready to leave for the race. I woke Vans to tell him I was leaving (it was about 6:50 am) and that Squeaker would probably be up at 7 am.

The bonus of living closer to Folsom now is that I do not have to leave super early for this race. I easily found a parking spot and sat in my car where it was warm. I needed a moment to mentally prepare myself for this race.

This would be my 6th Lake Natoma Four Bridges Half Marathon, and for some reason I was nervous. I told Vans the night before that I was as nervous for this race as I was the very first time I ever ran it in 2002. Why? I think I had too many expectations for myself and considering my lack of quality training lately, I was afraid I would not finish.

I eventually got out of my car. I had my iPhone with me and my running playlist. I don't normally race with headphones or music but for some reason, with this race I felt like I needed it. I am glad I had it with me.

I made my way to the starting area and ran into one crazy porta potty line.

This stretched on much farther than it shows. 

Another bonus of living closer is that I went before I left the house so no porta potty line for me!

Since the race generally falls on or near Halloween, the Race Directors usually encourage people to dress in costume and will give a prize for the best one. This year, I think this guy's costume was pretty crazy.

Orange man?

He must have been fast in that suit because I never saw him at all during the race. He also must have been pretty darn hot!

I stood talking to a nice guy who worked for Raleys in their corporate office for a long while. It was his first Four Bridges and he was a bit excited. I think I need to go work for Raleys though as he was telling me that at his office, they have an incentive plan where if you work out on your lunch hour, you can reduce your health care premium every year! Sign me up!

Soon it was time for my wave to start. I sort of positioned myself in the middle. Years past I would have been up front but I know that I get caught up in the excitement of the first mile and often start out too fast.

This year I carried my water since I will be carrying my water for CIM. I also had some salt tabs and a few gels with me just in case. The gun went off and the wave started walking. When you hit the chip mat however, things started moving and I was off.

Immediately I felt sore. My back hurt, my hip was sore and I just felt out of sorts. Eventually all that wore off and I felt my groove. I did not turn on my music because I actually like the sounds of a race start because there are lots of people. This race has you run through Old Folsom the first mile or so which is really cute so I kept my music off until I hit the bike trail portion.

The first few miles flew by and I could not wait until the first aid-station. Not because I needed anything but because it was the Fleet Feet aid-station and I knew that I would see some familiar faces.

Sure enough Coach Nikon was the first to spot me and yell and I saw Super Woman and Pigeon and heard a few more cheers. It was just the boost I needed.

 I have to say that I was moving along at a decent pace and felt great. I felt as if I could hold the pace for a while. I think living and running in El Dorado Hills has really made me a stronger up hill runner as every person I passed, was on an up hill portion. There are a lot of rolling hills the first half of the race which I enjoyed.

Once again, anything flat has me struggling. I am guessing speed work and leg turnover is something I need to focus more on if I want to improve on the flat sections (any other advice??).

I was just cruising along feeling great. My stomach felt amazing which is rare for me. It felt so great that I was barely sipping any water for fear of having it give me trouble. The minute I started drinking water I was hit with a few side stitches. I never ever get those but lately, they have been happening more frequently and I am not sure as to why.

Around mile 7 I took a salt tab which I think helped with my side stitch. I also noticed that they have changed the course since I last ran it in 2008. With the new Hazel Bridge construction complete, they had us running a small out and back section before crossing the bridge and they didn't have us running under the bridge they way we had in the past. This threw me for a loop as I was not expecting it and I really did not enjoy the out and back section. I hate seeing runners going in the opposite direction that I am.

Once I crossed Hazel however, things started going south. The other half of this course has a lot more flat sections to it and no matter how hard I tried to speed up, my mile splits just kept getting slower and slower. I finally took a gel at mile 10 thinking maybe that would help but it didn't. I just kept getting slower.

The last mile of this race is notorious for being rough. It is up hill once you cross the foot bridge in Old Folsom. A switch-back up up up past all the spectators will lead you to the finish shoot. An up hill finish is always tough.

I have to say I felt strong on all the up hills except the finish hill. I wasn't dead but I was not as strong as I had been on the up hills earlier in the race.

I crossed the finish and felt a surge of relief that I was done.

Finished.

I wore my Dylan Flinchum RockOn Foundation shirt for the race. It was perfect.

Here are my mile splits:

Mile 1 8:13
Mile 2 8:05
Mile 3 8:03
Mile 4 8:10
Mile 5 8:04
Mile 6 8:07
Mile 7 8:09
Mile 8 8:23
Mile 9 8:22
Mile 10 8:31
Mile 11 8:23
Mile 12 8:49
Mile 13 9:12 (that darn up hill)
My unofficial Garmin results were 1:50 and a 8:21/mile.

Official results: 1:50 and a 8:25/mile
11th in my age group out of 129
292 out of 1613 women

No matter how hard I tried after mile 9 to run faster, I just couldn't. At times I thought I was picking up the pace only to be passed by a few runners. Those darn flat straight sections get me every time!

When I finished the race I called Vans just to be sure he wasn't secretly trying to surprise me after the race. He wasn't. He had his own challenges at home (Squeaker is teething).

When I arrived home the girls were super excited to see me. Vans too but for a different reason. The Peanut really liked my medal and asked me "Mommy!? Did you WIN?!" Bless her heart.

I may not have won the race but I did win in life. 

READY OR NOT

Off to do my first "race" post baby. Squeaker is four months two weeks and 2 days old .... fingers crossed I survive....

CHANGE

So this has been a rough week. After my weekend of running, I basically have not run much this week at all other than a few miles on Tuesday evening. I have had some knee pain that is either being caused by me wearing heels (since I have returned to work) or because I hardly run all week long and then on weekends I go out and pound a lot of mileage. Honestly, it is probably is a combination of the two.

Something needs to change. I had a talk with Vans because I complain to him that I *need* to run at night but I am physically and mentally drained from a day of working, commuting and being the mommy shuttle bus for two little ones. Add in making dinner, prepping lunches, washing clothes that have been subject to poo-namis, grocery shopping ... the list goes on and on. When can I run? Vans does his part around the house and often times forces me out reminding me to just start a run, if I am still beat after a mile, then I can come home.

I don't mean to complain (well, it is my blog and I can complain if I want to) but I know some of you out there battle the same struggles that I am battling right now and you some how find the time. It is possible. It might not happen every day the same way but I know that I need to carve out 30 minutes minimum of "me time" to run, cross-train whatever!

I've also reached out to Coach Seth. He's a "stop complaining" kind of guy but he is trying to work with my crazy schedule and daily routine. I am afraid curious to see what he comes up with because right now, any strength training I did over the summer is gone. However he is also battling some serious back pain and is scheduled to have surgery in December. Maybe he'll go easy on me then? (ha) He has a lot on his plate right now but I trust him enough to tell me what I need to do in order to be the best me I can be physically. He can't hold my hand and he can't force me out the door, but he can suggest the right routine for me and the rest is up to me. He is good at telling people to stop complaining and just do the work to get what you want.

Basically I want to be strong and fit enough that I am not exhausted come the end of the day. Vans pointed out this morning that I should really look at my nutrition to see if I am getting enough iron and protein and such. I admit, I am on the fly constantly right now that "a bar" is all too often a meal during the day. Working on that.

All day my energy is strong but come that long drive home with a tired (and cranky) Peanut and a hungry (and tired) Squeaker any "oomph" I had is gone. My girls need me, especially in the evenings. Normally I will do any running after Squeaker is down for the night. Adorned in my headlamp and reflective gear, I hit the streets while Vans gives the Peanut a bath. I am not enjoying this. I want snuggle time on the couch, I want to cook a healthy meal for us instead of reheating and microwaving stuff. I enjoyed cooking dinners for my family while I was home on maternity leave. I miss that.

So while driving to work this morning I did some thinking. Having a long commute lends itself to having random thoughts and ideas (just ask Vans). I have decided that I need to workout in the morning. For my own sake and for that of my girls. If I can find 30 minutes in the morning to run or lift then perhaps, that is the answer I am looking for right now. Of course, I say this forgetting that I am up feeding Squeaker at 10:30 pm, 2:00 am and 5 am most nights/mornings. However, why not after my 5 am wake can't I just hit the treadmill? I get up for the day at 5:45 anyway ... why not just stay up in an effort to have more quality time at home in the evenings?

I will probably put this plan into effect next week, after I run my half this weekend. I know there will be mornings where Squeaker will be "off" and not waking at her usual times or the Peanut will be up (she is still the worst sleeper) but I can deal. I know this isn't forever. Squeaker will sleep (some day)and the Peanut? Well, she stays asleep MOST of the time ... when she doesn't, I'll let Vans deal. :-)

What matters most are my girls and the time I get to spend with them. I just stumbled across this photo today ... it was taken March 2010 at the Way Too Cool 50K:

March 2010 So tiny. So QUIET.

Now she seems so grown up to me. She will talk your ear off if you let her and she never lets you get  a word in either. Hmmm, sounds like the making of a good lawyer to me?!

 

 October 2011 Feisty and

Opinionated

Just amazes me how fast she is growing and I don't want to miss a second of it. I am already sad being back at work with the girls being away from me all day long. Granted I enjoy adult time but nothing compares to spending time with my girls.

Squeaker is just finishing up her last week with a private nanny-share. Next week she finally attends the same daycare that the Peanut is going to right now. What does that mean? It means (hopefully) a quicker drop off and pick up  for us but it also means that most likely she will get her first cold. It is inevitable. Daycare is a germ fest.

Right now she's enjoying the nanny and the company of another little baby .... it is quiet. Boy is she in for a shocker come Monday!

Squeaker (on the right) and her buddy out for a ride

Story time!

Toy thief. She snags the toys from her friend constantly.

Yup, just seeing those photos makes me excited to be home more in the evenings.

IT IS POSSIBLE

It is possible to get lost on a run that you've already done twice before. My problem seems that I chit chat too much at a particular spot that I never noticed where we turned. So when I ran the same route yesterday, on my own, I had no idea where to go and ran up and down the same street a few times until I figured my way out. Oops.

It has been a running weekend. I needed that. It all started on Friday when Fleet Feet Fair-Oaks/Roseville had their first Pub Run!

Yes, a running pub run. 

It wasn't your typical college pub run where you just run from pub to pub drinking. Instead we met at a pub on Friday evening, registered for this FREE event and then took off running four miles. I pushed Squeaker in the BOB stroller and Vans pushed the Peanut in the chariot. We were the only ones out there with joggers but it was fun! The Peanut had a blast with her cowbell and yelling "run faster mommy faster!"

They also had a guy dressed up as a beer bottle with ribbons attached to him. He would hide somewhere out on the course and you had to find him, chase him and grab one of the ribbons to get a prize at the end of the race. Vans was ready for him. The Peanut however, was calling him the BEARD guy instead of the beer guy so it was "get the beard guy daddy! get the beard guy!" Vans caught him. Nice.

When we finished, Fleet Feet had the back patio ready for everyone. The event was co-sponsored by Saucony and they had cool raffle prizes and free beer and cookies. Seriously? What could be a better Friday night!? I hope they do this again with other running sponsors. It was great because Saucony let you test out their shoes on the run as well as their reflective vests! That is a great way to get your product out there to the public.

Saturday I woke up and needed to get a long run in. I am still battling some tummy issues that I had earlier in the week (I was accidentally glutened at a party). I set out with the intentions of doing 8 hilly miles. Once again I ran up Beatty, or at least most of it. I've decided that I need to stop being complacent with hills. In ultras they say you should walk the ups and run the downs and that is true for the most part, especially if you are doing a really long race, but I am finding myself walking the ups more than I think I really need to because I assume I have to. Instead I am trying to push myself to run hills more so I can get stronger. I think it is working as I am feeling much stronger on some of the smaller hills in the neighborhood.

After the run we went out to the Folsom Whole Foods Pre-opening party! The store officially opens on Wednesday and I can hardly wait. I am a Whole Foods junkie (being gluten free I sort of have to be). The store will probably be insane for a few weeks though. I will go once all the excitement passes or right before they close.

I think today I might head out for a 3 mile run later. It has some hills but I feel the need to add a few extra miles in this weekend since I didn't go very long on Saturday. Next Sunday is the Folsom Lake Four Bridges Half Marathon. I am considering this my first "real" race since being back post Squeaker. I signed up for this race last year but then found out I was pregnant and we were gearing up to move so I had not been running much. It isn't a super easy half as there are some hills involved. I hope I am ready. I really want to do well in this race.

I ran the same race after the Peanut was born and I ran it faster than I ever had before (a new PR for this race actually). I ran it in 1:48 (8:18/mile). My half marathon PR is 1:44 (7:58/mile) at Shamrock the same year ... for some reason post Peanut I was way faster than I am post Squeaker. My expectations are high but I also don't want to disappoint myself as I know what I am running right now and it isn't that. I guess we will see what the week brings and how it affects my race. Work has not been an easy return and the Squeaker is adjusting to going to a "daycare" environment and thus waking more frequently in the middle of the night.

She's still an awesome kid who does sleep well. I really can't complain and apparently neither can Vans as she has become a great photography subject ....

Hey Dad, is that a CAMERA you have?

Shall I give you a profile?

Or a smirk?

Darling, please ... I know how cute I am.

Lord, tell him how cute I am!

See. The kid loves the camera. Lucky for Vans.....

Because the Peanut doesn't. 

SUPPORT DYLAN (THE AMAZING FAMILY FAN CLUB)

This is Dylan.

I posted a while back about helping out Dylan. Dylan is the son of a dear friend of mine who I have known my entire life. Dylan is three and was recently diagnosed with metachromatic leukodystrophy often referred to as MLD. Basically people who are affected by MLD lack an enzyme in their blood. Without this enzyme, sulfatides are NOT broken down and instead build-up in the white matter of the brain and central nervous system causing destruction of the myelin sheath, or demyelination. Without an intact myelin sheath there is a breakdown in communication between the nerves and the brain. This loss of or miscommunication accounts for the loss of acquired functions, paralysis, blindness, seizures and eventual death seen in MLD. You can learn more about MLD here.

Dylan and his family need your help.

Dylan's Mom & Dad

From Dylan's Facebook page:

As they all prepare to cope with this horrible disease, everyone is focused on one thing, Dylan. Their goal is to make Dylan as happy and as comfortable as possible while bringing as many smiles to his face as they can.

In order to best achieve this, they will likely be missing extended periods of work as well as making many trips back and forth to Philadelphia to be sure that they are providing Dylan with the best care that is offered at CHOP, the top pediatric hospital in the country. Dylan will also require special medical equipment and various types of therapy to make him more comfortable as the disease continues to progress.

When I found out about Dylan I decided that I would run The California International Marathon this December 4th in his honor and I wanted to bring awareness to Dylan's situation and help his family at the same time. I wanted to wear a shirt so that everyone running near me for those 26.2 miles will know who Dylan is and raise awareness about MLD. I also wanted my cheering section (aka my family) sporting the same shirts. Heck, they will be standing out there for hours waiting for me to run by, I might as well put them to use and help spread the word right!?

So I set out to find a company that could help me achieve my goals. I reached out to Beth at Shut Up and Run and quite a few other bloggers but Beth sent me to Paul at Family Fan Club. I emailed Paul about Dylan and the same day I received an email back from Paul saying that he could help ... and help he did!

Paul set up The Dylan Flinchum Rockon Foundation store page where you can buy not only New Balance Tech Shirts (ahem, great for running in) but also regular t-shirts, shirts for kids, mugs, water bottles and decals and the proceeds will help Dylan's family!!!!

New Balance Tech Shirt

How cute is that!?

Paul and the rest of the Family Fan Club people had the site up and running in no time at all and have been VERY supportive. I am beside myself with joy over this and The Dylan Flinchum Rockon Foundation Facebook page has posted the link to Dylan's store.

I ask you, beg you and plead with you to please visit the Family Fan Club Dylan Flinchum Rockon Foundation Store page and buy a shirt, a water bottle, a sticker ... anything. Please help Dylan.

And while you are helping out Dylan, please go over to the Family Fan Club page and tell them how awesome they are. You can also "Like" them on Facebook. It is an amazing thing they have done for Dylan and his family.