Mr. & Mrs. Athletic

Hold on to your hats! I now have a week's worth of training for my next marathon, per John Ellis. I have been anxiously awaiting this; those of you who are familiar with this blog know that I am nothing without a schedule! Here's how my week looks:

Monday: walk 6 miles
Tuesday: run 3 miles
Wednesday: rest
Thursday: run 3 miles
Friday: walk 6 miles
Saturday: walk 3 miles
Sunday: run 6 miles (one minute walk breaks at every mile are recommended)

Yikes! That is quite a lot for me. I am just grateful that walking is a huge part of the plan (thus far). At least I know I can do that without much trouble. Or can I?

Tonight I went out at about 5:30 PM for the 6 mile walk (as Chasen ran on the treadmill in the garage as Isaac watched him). I am back to taking my ipod with me, and that soooooo helps. Why I stopped using it for quite a while is now a mystery to me. With the help of Nik and Dan I got the job done. I must say that I was feeling it after I finished mile 4. I was beginning to get sore everywhere. From walking! Yeesh. It's gonna be a long road to Rocket City! My splits were 16:02, 15:50, 15:50, 16:16, 16:38 and 17:10.

I'd like to formally thank Giselle V for her kind comments. It seems she has a little one just 2 weeks younger than Isaac and is now getting back on the roads. Go Giselle go!

An Important Day

Today, after 2 solid days of rest (or hiding from the heat, really) I made myself get out there at 6:30 AM. I wisely chose an out-and-back course. I aimed to do 4 miles. That's exactly what I did! I ran the whole first mile, which is about all I can muster up the heat endurance to do these days. After that I mixed in a whole lot of walking. I did it all in 59:16. Done!

Afterwards I had to hurry up and get ready for church. Today was a VERY big day. We became members of our church (after visiting for the past year - can you believe we've been in Mississippi a whole year already?) And both Isaac and I were baptized! (Chasen did it many moons ago.) Isaac was just perfect throughout the whole process. He was the baby to be today!


Once we got home, Chasen had some fun with Isaac:

Elvis lives!

Thank you, thank you very much!

Onward and upward!

My Treadmill Buddy

This morning Isaac and I headed out to the garage for a treadmill run. It was ONLY 80 degrees outside. It was actually more of a run/walk. But I did it... and that counts for something!

Here is my treadmill buddy, Isaac the Motivator!

10k!

Last night, with my dear Lisa, I covered the longest distance since Isaac was born: 10k! We walked the whole way, and it was so very therapeutic. It was great! Today is a rest day; tomorrow I'll be back at it in the early morning for some running. Heat-schmeat!

I believe Isaac is on the verge of rolling over soon. I'll have to break out the "pack-n-play."

Father's Day

Yesterday Isaac had the chance to splash in the water for the first time! At a "mommy and me" get-together (with the dads!) we gave him the chance to experience the ONLY way to cool down in the hot outdoor temps: the kiddie pool.

I'm not sure about this, Daddy.

Noooooooooo, Mommy!

After much fussing and an in-and-out pattern, he got OK with the water... somewhat.

I prefer the side of the pool, Mommy, thank you.

This morning, Father's Day, I got up and went running! Whoo hoo! It was ONLY 80 degrees at 7 AM. It was a success because I gave myself permission to walk as necessary -- and I didn't do a whole lot of it. Yay!

Happy Father's Day to Chasen. Like Isaac's shirt? :)

4-Month Trip to the Pediatrician

Isaac must have sensed that today was his day to go to the pediatrician for his 4-month check-up and further immunizations, because he "got back at me" by waking me up at 3:45 AM for a bottle. That little devil! Then I couldn't get back to sleep, so I did not run at 6 AM. Now it's a zillion degrees outside. Another day without running...

Hi Mommy! Got your kleenex ready? I about about to scream and make you cry!

Isaac's cute little head is in the 50th percentile for circumference. Height and weight at 75th percentile.

Just waiting in Daddy's safe arms for the doc, then the mean ole shot nurse.

Steve, you'd be happy to know that my mommy and daddy believe in vaccinations.

Let's get this show on the road!

Hot Hot Hot

What am I going to do? We're already to the point where the heat index is 105 degrees! I am trying to stick to an every-other-day running schedule, but it's just hard. Basically, if it's not indoors, I don't want to do it! It's close to 80 degrees even at 6 AM (which, granted, is better than 105). Ugh!

I know that my training schedule for my next marathon will be arriving soon, at which point I am going to have to snap to action very quickly. This, for me, will be the beauty of Team Point Two: accountability! I just hope that I can live up to this honor! Right now it feels like I'll never gain any endurance, to tell the truth, as two miles wear me out. And I worry that my 'war wound tendon' will not hold up. Hey - I'm just putting it out there!

25 weeks 'til race day...

Four Months Old!

Rather than lament about how work has been consuming my life, how I don't know if I'll ever get back running endurance, how the 5K on Saturday evening was so hot I just had to throw in the towel and walk, and how I have fallen off the face of the blog-reading-and-commenting earth... let's focus on one very fantastic fact: my sweet baby is four months old today! Wow.

A friend from church, Brooke Ledbetter, came over a few weeks ago and took Isaac's 'three month' photos (and I am obviously just now getting around to posting a few - OK, more than a few). She even posted a few of her favorites on her blog. Here is my angel:

I'd say I'm pretty blessed and just need to zip my lips about all else!

My Hero Elijah

Click here to see my personal hero, Elijah, on television. If you're unfamiliar with my blog or with Elijah, this is a good way to catch up!

Just Above Water

I am working on my first official, semi-long term project for work since Isaac was born. As such, I work in whatever increments Isaac lets me during the day, and I rely on nights and weekends for bigger chunks of time. That is really not fun, but it's the way it goes. I want to work. Period.

However, at more stressful moments I wonder if it (working) is all worth it. Sometimes it comes to a head, and today was one of those days. I feel like we're just keeping our heads above water around here! My dear Lisa came over after work and we walked for FOUR miles talking about everything in both of our lives. After much venting with her, as well as brainstorming, and then a talk with Chasen I made the decision to seek out a part-time sitter in my home for Isaac. It was tough to swallow because I am a go-getter and think I need to do it ALL (as do most moms, I'm told). Well, at this point my project is coming due and I just need more hours in the day -- or a sitter. So I called a woman from church (also a neighbor) for a recommendation. She knows everyone. I can't say that I know too many teenage girls!

Minutes later I had a sitter (from my neighborhood!) lined up for tomorrow afternoon and possibly more this week. Goodness -- I can't even imagine getting to work for multiple hours straight on a weekday! That is, if I can keep my nose out of the next room. LOL

See, running (or walking...) solves all problems. :)

Captured on Film

This is the professional photograph taken of us as the Killer Kudzu 5K a week ago. It was among the hundreds posted on the website.

Harbortown 5K

I was very pleasantly surprised when Chasen suggested that we run another 5K. Sign me up, I said! The thing about Memphis is that there is a 5K every Friday night, it seems. Gotta love it!Our race was the Harbortown 5K. It takes place in the Harbortown neighborhood of downtown Memphis.

I helped Mommy work today so that we could get everything done before time to go.

What? Daddy is going to push me this time? Well, OK, if you say so...

We met up with Lisa. It has actually been several weeks since I last saw my dear friend, so it was high time! We all chatted before the start of the race. She didn't know if she'd run or walk/run, so we didn't make plans to try to stick together. I was feeling pretty good, so I aimed to RUN (sans Garmin). I made the first mile in 12:07 (minus my delayed start). So I was hustling! I kept up a good pace and at mile 2 the time was called out as 24:something. Whoa baby! I couldn't believe it! But then, as usual, there was lots of walking during mile 3. I crossed the line of the gorgeous course in 39:04, I think. Not too shabby! That's 5 minutes faster than last week -- but there was no stroller or monster hill involved tonight.

Lucky me - number 1234.

Chasen and Isaac were waiting on me. Together we all waited for Lisa to finish.

There's our girl, number 227.

Afterward Chasen headed to the beer tent. I chilled with my little man:

"I am a pro stroller sitter!"

Double-fisted Daddy. No drinking and racing! (or driving us home)

Where's my bottle? I've had quite enough of this.

The Terrific Trio

Post-race chillin' at home.

Just another wonderful Friday night!