A Simple Marvel of Modern Life

Do you remember the first time you had an ice cream cone? Nope, me neither. But I will remember the Politician's first cone. Such a simple joy that he hasn't had before (he'll be five in September) because of his dairy allergy. His summers have been full of those confections frozen on a stick, but this was his first drippy, sloppy cone. And I will not forget the excitement and joy on his face when he had eaten enough of the ice cream to dive into the cone itself.

The Enforcer is back there with a Nunna Cookie. Treats all around.

Politician: I can eat this?
Mom: Yup, it's like a cookie.
Politician: A cookie?

Upon hearing this, PT skips the ice cream and goes straight for the cone with a look of amazement when she realizes there is ice cream in there too! The Politician chows down and squeals with enjoyment.

Politician: Can I eat the bottom too? (pointing to the tip of the cone)
Mom: Sure, you can, but it might drip.

At this point PT discovers that with a hole in the bottom she can suck the ice cream out and the Politician follows suit. I was pleasantly surprised that they figured that out with out any hints from me or the Dad.

Growing up, I had an aversion to dairy also as did a few of my siblings. I can have dairy in small doses now, but since I cut back to almost no dairy while nursing the Enforcer (he seems to have the same problem,) I have switched most of our diet to soy, almond and coconut milk. (PT isn't affected at all and she has no problem letting her brothers know when they can't have something because it has "cow milk" and will make them sick.)

It seems that most grocery stores have dairy free products and organic markets have an even larger selection. Dairy-free ice cream, yogurt, cream cheese, pudding, sliced cheese (for grilled cheese sandwiches), and, of course, milk for drinking are all easy to pick up during a normal shopping trip. No need to make a detour for these "specialty" products. Thanks to this convenience of modern life we have soy ice cream on hand as a frozen treat. It definitely doesn't taste as creamy or decadent as some traditional ice creams can, but our older two didn't seem to mind one bit. It wasn't long before the only evidence of ice cream cones was sticky hands, messy cheeks, and great big smiles.

7 down 5 to go (AKA The Run of the Scorching Sun)

I was hoping the weekend storms would provide a break in the heat, but instead there were massive power outages and rising temperatures. The sun did not take the day of for the July 4th holiday and Let Freedom Run 5K in Fairfax, VA. Despite the scorching sun, over 1200 racers started their Independence Day celebrations with 3.1 intense calorie burning miles. (Just getting ready for all that cook-out food later!)

This race had me more pumped then any of the others because of the team we had racing together. We all ran/walked/rode at our own pace, but everyone finished! (Well, one of my brothers took a wrong turn before the finish line, but he made it over before we left!) Our team was my parents, my two brothers, my youngest sister, my sister-in-law, my aunt (dad's sister) and uncle, two friends, my husband, my kids and me. Quite the team, Montani Semper Liberi (Mountaineers are Always Free.) We came in 6th out of 13 teams with an average time (of the first four finishers) of 28:44. So thanks to the team I have a sub 30-minute 5K time! Way to go team!

The Team minus the Politician and the Enforcer

For this race, I decided not to take my phone with me on the road which, sadly, means no racing photos. There was only once at the beginning as we charged down a slight hill that I wish I had it to take a snap of the crowd ahead of me. A sea of mostly blue, red, and white flowing a long and taking the first bend in the course. 

The course was a loop around the Fairfax Corner Shopping Center and surrounding areas. The start and finish were on one of the many drags in the center right past all those shops we know and love. (I really do enjoy REI, I should have stopped in for some AC, haha.) 

Before the start we all slathered on the sunscreen and grabbed a last sip of water as we headed to the starting line. My mom and my aunt helped us out by pushing a stroller. The Enforcer was in a newest jogger and PT was in our double jogger/bike trailer. At the start, the Politician had his hand painted (he painted it) American flag shirt on and was ready to race. All three of the kids helped hand/finger paint their American themed shirts for the race. The Enforcer had two firecrackers and PT tried to paint some fireworks. Sadly, I didn't get a good picture of the boys! PT was quite adorable in her halter top tee and red/white/blue tutu. I was also sporting a tutu, though truth be told PT's looked heaps better.

PT and my mom

Somehow I missed the signage for the one-mile mark and even though I wore my hydration belt (so, so, so glad I did too) I was trying to run all the way to the water station, grab a water and walk a bit before hustling off to the finish. The water station was situation just past the half way point and it was such a nice site to see. Even though it was hot outside the water was cooler then my skin and provided a little bit of relief. The heat effects my more then cold weather does and every time I would take a sip I would splash both wrists and my neck with water. Towards the end I was pouring it on my forehead as well, anything for a bit of respite from the heat. 

I got a "go tutu lady" as I pushed it to the finish line. The crowd at the finish was great! People were linking the street on both sides after the last turn. Great energy to feed off of for a strong finish. 

After we finished, the Dad (about eight minutes before me) and I went back to grab a stroller. The Dad nabbed the Enforcer and I swung back around for PT. As I was running back one of the volunteers shouted "Hey, Cinderella, that's the wrong way!"  When I caught up to them before passing mile two again, the Politician was riding along next to PT and both of them looked HOT. PT had a bottle of water and I gave one to the Politician and my aunt and uncle sped off to the finish. 

My stats for this race: I finished the 5K in 33:41 for a pace of 10:51/mile. I was 789th out of 1224 finishers and 69th out of 135 in my age group. 

At the finish they were handing out waters and in the courtyard off to the side Muscle Milk, LaraBars and popsicles were provided for hungry, thirsty, hot racers. The Enforcer chowed down on graham crackers the whole race and was quite content while the older two dripped red, white and blue (mostly blue) stickiness all over their hands, faces and clothes. They were a patriotic image of summer. 

Things I learned from Race Number 7:

1. Bring extra sunscreen because most people will forget. Glad I had some to share! And with a 9 AM start the sun was staring down fiercely by the finish.
2. With only one lane of the four lane road blocked off for racers, there are a lot more opportunity for random spectators to honk and cheer wildly as they drive by. I enjoyed that quite a bit. 
3. Even though I don't really care for bananas after a race, I get upset if they aren't present.
4. I should stop before trying to high five someone going the other way. I completely missed while trying this simple gesture passing my dad as he headed to the last turn before the finish. Failed miserably. 
5. My older two have become very difficult to push in one stroller. Especially up hills.

Before the race I was toying with the idea, but my finish here cemented it. I am committing to a training plan to break 30 minutes for the Undy5000 in September. Lots of speed work and hoping for to cooler weather. Let's go!

"I choose it for me."

I told myself to wait until we went to the beach at the end of the month, but I couldn't wait and started reading Train Like a Mother: How to Get Across Any Finish Line -and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea(SBS) a few days ago. I love it because the chapters are short enough to finish one before someone needs me and long enough that I feel like I really gained a bit of something. All the added snippets mean I can pick up anywhere after someone (read - PT) takes out my bookmark and find a quick gem of knowledge.

Today I was into the second chapter and I read something that made me put down the book and write this post. I was immediately inspired and reaffirmed about my whole goal. Warmth spread through me as I read Dimity's words and I was amazed how her declaration spoke so clearly to me. "I choose it for me." 


I did it. For me. I made the choice to put me first. That seeming small action has produced such a hugely wonderful change in me and my life. Something so simple. A choice. Not an easy choice, it has taken more work then I thought I had time for. Not a one time choice, every day the same choice presents itself albeit a touch differently sometimes. But a good choice, a smart choice, a healthy choice? Yes. And you would be hard pressed to find a moving mom who speaks to the contrary.

Running has done more for me in these past eight and a half months then I would had thought possible.  In one of my earliest MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) meetings,a mom mentioned that when the kids nap, she only does things for her. Selfish? A little. Greedy? Maybe. Necessary? Most definitely. Of course I tried it, and I still do, but the time that I got the most out of nap-time/me-time was when I started working out on the Wii after PT was born. Somewhere I lost that, but I've found it again in running. Me-time. 

If you are on the fence about me-time, Dimity says it better then I can:

"If it sounds like training is self-centered and narcissistic, it completely is. But if you're like 95 percent of the mothers out there, you deserve-and are in definite need of-some me time. And in case it feels too greedy, consider this argument: If you are the linchpin of your family, you need to be healthy enough to fulfill your duties. You must take care of yourself, because, the sad truth is, nobody else is going to take care of you. Plus, if you're dragging and sad and bitter-which you might be if you're always last on your list-your emotional state will negatively affect your house and family."

For along time, I felt, and often told my husband, I was the bottom of the totem pole all the time. I was of the opinion that my needs and wants didn't mean much and I would find myself stuck in a downhill sprint of feeling down on me while tending to everyone else's needs. Putting in some miles, sweat, pain, and, most valuably, time has made me feel healthier. Not only physically, because I can run MILES (yup, plural) without intense effort, but mentally I am stronger. The relief of only focusing on me has increase my patience though out the day. Which as a mom, is vital and invaluable.

As moms it is easy to feel responsible for everyone and everything all the time. When a chip falls out of place and the tower comes crashing down we can feel completely responsible, regardless of if it is in anyway our fault or of our control. I know I do, often. The feeling that we should always be in control of the situation with our kids, our spouse, the state of the house, the dog, the weather (sometimes we can be a bit unreasonable, no?) can be overwhelming. Getting a good sweat on during some me-time helps me to let go of all of it, if just for a little while. A chance to allow myself to surrender to the idea that I am worth my time. And my time is valuable. But I am worth it. In my surrender, I have found a peace I didn't think possible and is still a struggle to find some days. It is coming easier though. And it's easiest to find after a long, uninterrupted morning run. 

Wanna be a Runner?

When I first considered this whole running idea, I did what, I think, most other people do. I googled it. I googled barefoot running, running clothes (because that is an easily attainable aspect of running; I might not be fast, but I look good doing it, well at least my clothes look good,) an easy running diet (an easy diet...right,) running moms, and I tried to find a running group in the area. In one of my many nap-time searches, I happened upon Another Mother Runner. This is a site produced by two moms, Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea(SBS), who have created an amazing virtual environment for moms who hit the pavement. Along with the website, they have penned two books (more on one of them later,) raise their voices on a podcast, and you can follow them both on twitter.

At first, I was intimidated by this group of running women. Sure, none of them knew anything about me and I knew nothing about them. But they were runners and I wasn't. In my mind, I wasn't even close. Dimity and SBS seemed so far ahead of me on the race track that it was overwhelming and I honestly, didn't think I would ever be able to relate. I even downloaded the sample of Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving -and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity, but I just felt that I was so different from them. They're fast, I'm slow; they're fit, I'm flabby; they're (insert desired adjective here), I'm the opposite. I wasn't ready to accept that "I can do this, I can be a runner." So I kept the website in the back of my mind to check later if this running thing was something I actually enjoyed doing. 

Fast forward to the ZOOMA Half and 10K a month ago. This 10K was to be my sixth race of the year. Half way through my race a month all year and I finally felt ready. I had finished my first half the month before and I was really beginning to feel like a runner. The Another Mother Runner ladies were giving a talk at packet pick-up that I was ready to hear. I found myself entranced by these to women who, just the idea of them, had intimidated me just months before. As I listened, I felt myself understanding and relating to so many of their stories. I remembering thinking "I can be like them, I am like them." 

Before I left the mini-expo, I picked up a copy of their new book, Train Like a Mother: How to Get Across Any Finish Line -and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity and they were both so gracious to sign it for me. As I said my name "with an H" like I always do, Dimity added "that's the only way, right?" as she glanced at SBS and we all chuckled. 

The next morning at the race I fell in beside Dimity and Cynthia. (Read all about Cynthia's amazing story here.) They were both running the half, but I ran with them until the 10K turn around. My only goal for the 10K was to run the whole thing. And thanks to Dimity and Cynthia in the beginning I did.

The group of "runners" seemed to be such an elite group before getting out there and setting my feet on the pavement. I know I'm not fast by any stretch, but I can see improvements. When I look back at where I was when I started, I am amazed and proud of my progress. Running has become something I enjoy, I look forward too, and I crave terribly when I miss more then one.

I recently heard a quote: "The difference between a runner and a jogger is a runner has a race number." I may not win any races, I might be towards the back of the pack, and I might even stop to walk (once, twice, ok fine, a handful of times,) but I am a runner. I have joined the group. And when I pin on my next racing bib, I hope to remember to run my own race at my own pace and that will be a big win.