Monday MMM's

Another Monday~I hope everyone had a great weekend! Here is a summary of last week in Miles Muscles and Mommyhood style!

MILES:
Finally, some miles! I got in a long(ish)/long(er) run on Saturday--just 10.3 miles but it's better than the shorter runs that I have been logging since the 1/2 marathon. Now it is time to rebuild that base and work up to 16/18 mile long runs again.
The 10-miler on Saturday felt good-really good-I went out easy and just enjoyed the beautiful (cold) morning along one of my favorite beach routes, so serene, quiet and peaceful. I was even greeted by a bushy tailed red fox! Anyway, negative splits and the last mile I felt so good I was able to just GO! I switched from music on the iPod to listening to a podcast. I think that this change really helped me to keep the pace slow to start. Some days I am just so dang happy to be out running, I'll have some high energy tunes blaring and I am go out too fast.
I felt fabulous on Sunday. No discomfort. Nothing!
So running 5 days, getting in a "long run" and some speed work this week is making me happy!
I got in 5 days of running-3/6/6/3/10 miles
two days on the bike (short rides) 9.5/5 miles

Yesterday was WORLD RUN DAY** I had the pleasure of watching the ING NYC Marathon yesterday with Lola on my lap and it was awesome! I was super psyched to cheer on American runner Shalane Flanagan to her second place finish-2:28:40-and her marathon debut!! 

Lola did her share of cheering yelling RUN RUN!!

I am just in awe at the pace that these runners can hold for 26.2, especially the men. I cannot sprint at a 4:26 so to see them pulling out this pace at mile 18/20/24 etc is just unbelievable. I never had an appreciation for this until I started running myself. My favorite men's runner, Meb, finished 6th.
Retired NFL'er Amani Toomer ran the ING NYC Marathon starting dead-last and earning $1.00 for each runner he passed. Timex would donate those dollars to New York Road Runners Youth Programs. Toomer finished with a respectable 4:13 finish and estimates he passed about 20,000 runners.
Photo By Lisa Coniglio/Photo Run

**I did not get in my run on Sunday which was World Run Day but more on that in the Mommyhood!!

MUSCLES:
I had limited time in the gym this week so I had to make the workouts effective. As I mentioned in a previous post, I got my Tabata groove on and it did it's magic on my legs. I love me some DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) and I like knowing I worked hard enough.

I am still having a bit of discomfort with my left shoulder so I took it easy once again with my weights this week, keeping it light.

I dropped about 4lbs this past week and I can definitely feel/see a difference. My veins are popping in my arms a bit more (yes, I am totally into vascularity!!) and my arm appear leaner to me. I can also tell in the tummy area too. So I am going to continue cleaning up the nutrition, getting in some intervals and long runs and hitting the IRON.

MOMMYHOOD:
I love my daughter with all my heart. She is my joy and makes me laugh every single day.
Sunday, not so much laughing going on.
I had been planning on attending a Total Immersion swim clinic for 2 weeks and this was something I was really looking forward to doing. I need to learn SO much about swimming. Well...come Sunday morning I am literally up at 3:30 am because of the time change. I opt to get laundry done and clean out Lola's closets of outgrown clothes vs. running or working out since I am going to be in the pool for 1 1/2 hours later that morning.
Lola gets up and she is the velcro-kid and won't give me a moment to myself. Anytime I go down to the laundry room it triggers a full blown crying fit! Then we head out as a family to do yard work and she turns into a wild animal. Really...all over the place and very defiant. Before long she is soaking wet from rolling in damp leaves so we head inside. More defiance. Before I know it, I should be leaving for the swim clinic and family life if just not letting me get away.  So I continued on with the project in Lola's room and harboring some resentment that I am missing this clinic but looking forward to my run later. After all it is WORLD RUN DAY and I have to run right?? WRONG> let's just say things don't ever go as planned and the highlight of my day was watching the marathon.
Of course my friend, Dawn just had to call me later in the day and tell me how AMAZING the clinic was and how USEFUL this would have been for my horrible swimming skills (ok, so she did not say THAT but...) So yeah, I was feeling a upset yesterday about missing the swim. And then I felt even more upset for feeling upset--I thought it was really selfish of me to feel that way when obviously Lola was having a day. I got over it though. Oh yeah, did I mention Dawn is totally going to help clue me in as to what I missed? Also, she told me that Joel Friel is coming to Maine and doing a lecture in December so I am TOTALLY going to that!
NO MATTER WHAT.

Don't forget to check THIS out for a chance to win a pair of YURBUDS. Contest ends 11/11

Run for the Fallen 65k~A day to remember!

Sunday, August 22nd

The family got on the road early to head to Ogunquit for The Run for the Fallen. As we drove into the town the ladder trucks from the Fire Dept had a giant American flag up over the road where the start of the run would begin. It took my breath away at the thought of what today was going to hold.

We parked and then walked through the mass of people and I immediately ran into Nancy & Bob Kelley. The Kelley's are the parents of Capt. Christopher S. Cash, the soldier I was running in honor of today. We exchanged hugs and took a couple of pictures together~and this was the second time today I was holding back my emotions and tears.



Capt. Christopher Scott Cash Sr., died June 24, 2004, in heavy fighting in Iraq while serving in the N.C. National Guard. He was one of three U.S. soldiers who died in Baqubah, a town 35 miles northeast of Baghdad. He left behind a wife, Jennifer and two sons, Christopher Jr and Matthew.

In 2004, Nancy and Bob founded the Captain Christopher Scott Cash Memorial Scholarship Fund and in 2005, they started The Run for Cash 5k.

Captain Christopher S. Cash

Each and every soldier being honored today was represented by a picture, brief biography and a pair of crossed American flags. In the middle of the pictures was the symbol of the fallen soldier; The gun, boots, dog tags topped with the helmet.

At this time, I met up with Jim from Dailymile.com. Jim is a local runner who will be completing his 15th marathon this fall. I was excited to finally meet this super supportive and positive guy in person! I also got to meet Patty, Jim's wife. Jim then introduced me to another Dailymile local runner, Chris.

The route of the 65k the Run for the Fallen would follow today

The names each of the 65 soldiers being remembered today were then read aloud followed by the ringing of a bell. There was a moment of prayer and then a 21 gun salute. Jim, Chris and I listen to the names of the soldiers being read

The runners were then told to line up next to the trolleys and off we went. Chris was kind enough to run at a slower pace for Jim and me. We chatted about dailymile and runners from that site, races, paces, beer and ice cream. We discussed our health, our families and how lucky we were that our partners were all supportive of our running and racing. I usually run alone and it was great to run with a couple of genuine guys~the miles flew by! Before I knew it, Jim was checking his Garmin and we had already logged about 7 miles. I was running pain free and I was able to thank each family along the way.

Jim and I wave to my husband, Casey as he drove by in Wells. What a photog!

I had to take a potty break and lost Jim and Chris for a while but caught up to Jim eventually and on we ran...

Chris, Jim and Me wave to Jim's wife Patty as she drove by. Another talented photographer!

About 12.5 miles into the run, just before the Arundel town line I needed to take a break; I needed some fluids and I needed some dry socks. I had lost a toenail early that morning and thus wrapped in a very cool SpongeBob Squarepants band-aid~needless to say I was starting to develop a blister.

I said my goodbyes to Jim and ran to catch up with the lead trolley. When I got on I was greeted with cheers and an ice cold Gatorade! I have never been much of a person to hold much stock in Gatorade but today it must have done it's thing. After a short break, dry socks and some Fierce Strawberry Gatorade I was ready to roll!! The Biddeford town line was just over the hill and I was gonna run through town. I got out with two gals that work with the families that lost soldiers. Once gal was retired from the Army. I ran with them for a bit and then found myself running alone. I was happy to be alone with my thoughts at this point~thinking about the day, the miles ahead and the families we had passed today. I thought of the Veteran's who stood so solemn, proud and in salute.

I ran through all of Biddeford and as we approached York Hill I jumped back on the trolley. While there I called my husband to let him know that I would be approaching Old Orchard Beach soon and that Kilometer #39 would be my final run for the day. My body was done. Having been battling an injury for several weeks had put a halt to my long runs and this was the longest haul I had done since early July.

As we approached Saco, I met two other fine people~Jon from Alfred and his girlfriend, Christine from Scarborough. The three of us chatted about running, racing, injuries and triathlons. Jon was sitting it out until the final 3 k's today due to a knee injury and Christine said she would join me for a couple miles in OOB.

We jumped out on the Ross Road and then eventually we approached Kilometer #39! Captain Christopher S. Cash's kilometer. I saw Nancy and Bob cheering next to Christopher's picture and I ran into Nancy's arms for a big hug. I then thanked Capt. Cash for his service to this country, said a prayer and then the tears came. Christine ran ahead and I continued this final kilometer in prayer. Thankful for soldiers that gave their lives to protect our freedom. Thankful for my family and my health. I relected on my jouney over the last year and a half and how much I have grown as a person.

I reached kilometer #40 and turned around, half jogging/half walking back to be with Bob and Nancy. My dad would be coming to pick me up and bring me home to my husband and daughter.

I cheered on the runners that passed and talked about the day. I parted ways with the Kelly's with hugs and promises to meet up again soon. I will be helping Nancy with the 2011 Run for Cash and will do whatever she needs! I am in awe of her strength and how much she gives back.

I was able to run just about 20 miles today and it was far more than I expected. When I felt like quitting I thought of the next family at the next kilometer and kept going. I has asked my parents to pray for me and I know that my body only cooperated today because of those prayers.

My husband had asked me early in the morning why I chose to run this particular run as it was not a race. I has a hard time putting my answer into words but summed it up by saying that I wanted to do something BIGGER than me.

Today was certainly bigger than me and better than I expected. I met some amazing people and it was a privilege to be a part of something so special. And I can't wait to do it again next year!

**a special thank you to Patty and Jim for some great pics.