Put A Bow On It!

Let's wrap up 2009, shall we? Obviously the BIGGEST and BEST thing for me in 2009 was the birth of Isaac Roy on February 15th. Oh how life has changed! We've had an amazing 10.5 months with him so far.

In 2009 I lost 49 pounds! OK, OK... I lost 24 pounds of baby and "stuff" when Isaac was born, but I was left with 25 more to go. I am happy to report that I was able to shed that 25 before Isaac was 9 months old by following The Diet Solution Program.

Another KEY factor in shedding that weight was the glorious news that I was chosen for Team Point Two. The marathon training guidance I received, plus the new friendships that I formed, truly got me back in marathon shape faster than I ever dreamed possible. As you all know, I ran marathon #3 within 10 months of Isaac's birth. I am so proud and grateful!

This year I ran and walked 749.3 miles. Whoa baby! (pardon the pun) I am actually shocked to see that number... but the miles don't lie. Looking back, though, I really only took six weeks off all year (pregnancy weeks 36-39 and then the past three weeks post-marathon, to get me all rested up for marathon training for race #4, plus a dental surgery I am recovering from right now). In 2008 I ran and walked only 287.9 miles thanks to taking many, many months off due to a torn tendon. How did I ever make it without running?

In 2010 I intend to run marathon #4 (possibly #5, also - but we shall see) and I'd like to improve my cycling skills (which wouldn't take much, as I don't even know how to properly switch gears). I'll probably be in the best shape of my life because Isaac is on the cusp of walking... and I don't see a moment's rest in my future!

Happy New Year, everyone. Thanks for all of your support over this very big, challenging year I've had.

Merry Christmas!

Whoever said Christmas is more fun when you have a child... well, they sure know what they're talking about!

Our new stockings were hung on the mantle with care.

Wowee! Look what Santa left for Isaac!

Yay! I'll be able to use this 4-in-1 Sit n' Ride until I am about 3 years old! Thanks, Santa!

Ripping into boxes is fun.

Biting gifts is fun!

I love the taste of gift bags!

Mmmm... bows!

Shaking wrapping paper is my new favorite hobby.

What an excellent day. It sooooo is not about me, but just so you know... my stocking was filled with a whole bunch of new Gu!!!!! Yay! Merry Christmas, everyone. Mine couldn't have been much better.

Post-Marathon Life

So, what have I been up to? You know, I thought I'd sooooo enjoy some down time after the marathon. The reality is, I have hardly noticed that I've not been running. Life is constantly busy thanks to this little guy:

Constantly pulling up, cutting four teeth at once - life is interesting!

First visit with Santa! It went great. Isaac was a little doll, thankfully.

"Helping" Mommy with his laundry.

Checking out our couch (which is pushed back to make more room for him).

Enjoying his reflection, not the booze. New Christmas shoes from Coach Terry!

Seriously, I have been so busy that I haven't even noticed that I have not been running this week. On Monday I was rather "down and out." On Tuesday it hit me like a ton of bricks that I'd had the marathon blues. Duh! They only stayed around for a day, I think. No time for that!

I have targeted another marathon 16 weeks from now. I'd like to do one sooner, but I consider myself extremely fortunate to be injury-free at this time, and I'd like to stay that way. I thought I'd go for a run just a few days after feeling un-sore, but I am truly trying to enjoy this time. Today I gave blood, so maybe tomorrow I can go for a little spin. We shall see!

More Ricket City

I have more to say about Rocket City! It was such a small, well organized event that I can't stop giving it compliments.

Here is a quick video that Chasen took on one of the early visits on the course.

After the race I took a moderate ice bath. You see, the hotel was completely filled, and since I was literally one of the last to finish the race, there was very little ice to be found. And our tub's stopper did not work. And there really wasn't any cold water, strangely enough. So, we did the best we could.

That evening we went for pizza and gelato!

This is not spaghetti. It's gelato!

We gave Isaac the tiniest bite possible. He didn't like the coldness.

Here is the front of my colorful medal.

And here is the back.

I have already hung it on my medal rack. I hate to say it, but Little Rock dwarfs everything.

This race was such a value! I registered early for $50. And I received a tech shirt and a tech cap!

You get a lot of bang for the buck at Rocket City.

I am doing well today. Nearly all of the soreness is gone already, I swear. If I would have gotten a proper ice bath, I might be good as gold today!

Rocket City Marathon

I am a three-time marathoner now! I am so incredibly proud since less than ten months ago I had a baby. Oh what a journey it has been! I have so, so many people that I am grateful to, namely my spouse (Chasen) and my marathon advisor (John). But let's get right to the report.

We arrived in Huntsville early yesterday afternoon. After dinner I laid out all of my gear. Here is my shirt.

I am now, and will always be, running for Elijah.

Everything was ready to go in the closet. It takes a lot of stuff to run 26.2 miles!

I slept really well last night, thank goodness. I woke about once an hour from 3 AM on, but that's fine by me. I got up. had my breakfast, "did my business" and got ready to head out. Since it was sooooo cold (less than 40 degrees, we decided that Chasen and Isaac would stay in the room. The race literally started and ended in front of our hotel. What luck! And we got to stay here for FREE thanks to Chasen's travel points. Score!

Yesterday at the expo I got to meet THE Disney Runner, Gordon from Alabama! We hit it off like old pals (since we technically are). So I found him at the start line, where I was literally THE LAST RUNNER. Gordon and I took off together. That was fantastic! However, that didn't even last five miles because I had to make an emergency visit to the port-o-potty which cost me nearly 3 minutes, I think. Not good! I'll let you use your imagination as to what I was doing in there.

After that I was never to see Gordon again. In fact, I ran about the next 17 miles ALONE, in the wind and cold, with no ipod (as this is a no-headphones race and apparently everyone stuck to it). I was, of course, very lonely out there. Granted, I do every single training run alone. But, marathons are different. I always find a buddy to make it much, much easier! No such luck today, at least not yet.

My port-o-potty stop put me dead last on the course. Literally. The police car was following me. This made water stops and cheering stations very exciting as I got rock star treatment! The people were probably thinking "Hallelujah, this is the last person. Now we can get out of this cold!"

I wasn't last for long. I really got my act together and started passing people. Mind you, I was under STRICT orders from John to not exceed 12:52 per mile for the first 10 miles. So I tried to do just that!

Here I am when Chasen and Isaac first got to me, around mile 9. Lookin' good!

And here I am again, flying solo.

I really focused on the fact that I was running "just ten miles - for John." They clicked off like nothing.

Miles 1-10: Under 12:52 Or John Will Kill Me

1 - 13:09 (with Gordon)

2 - 12:43 (with Gordon)

3 - 12:26 (with Gordon - sorry John!)

4 - 12:33 (ditto)

5 - 15:01 (port-o-potty debacle, eeeeew!)

6 - 14:13 (I think this must have been where I had to stop AGAIN. Eeeew!)

7 - 12:15

8 - 13:03

9 - 12:37

10 - 13:09

After this I planned to speed up a bit. I was still alone, but I was seeing Chasen and Isaac more frequently. It was freezing cold, and oh so windy, so Chasen only got Isaac out every few stops. But when he did, I got a kiss! Now that put some spring into my stride! And might I point out that I ran the first 17 or so miles SOLID, i.e. no walking!?! That is a huge accomplishment for me.

Miles 11-20: Diligent But Conservative

11 - 12:15

12 - 12:43

13 - 12:26

14 - 12:14

15 - 12:08

16 - 12:38

17 - 13:40

18 - 14:43

19 - 14:15

20 - 15:05

After this, when the wheels were starting to fall off, I called John. I figured it would do me some good. He did not disappoint! He commended me and told me to go to the 3:1 method. That worked! Shortly after this I finally met a running buddy who agreed to 3:1 it with me. He is Eric the first time marathoner and first time dad (albeit triathlete) who only trained up to ten miles for this race. Crazy!

Here are first-time-dad Eric and I getting down to business.

The next time Chasen passed by I yelled "I finally found a friend!" Ha. We stayed together until mile 24 or so, but I'll get to that...

Here we are again. He was an amazing help to me.

At about mile 24 we started to see the rest of the pack (less than ten other people) and the "course sweepers," the two people designated to run a perfect 6:00:00 race. We knew we had to hustle, so Eric suggested that we started running solid. This is when I started "haulin' a$#!!!!!"

This is about the last time we'd be together. Eric had a much longer stride, so he got ahead.

As I said, this is when I turned on the heat! It was necessary to meet the official course deadline of 6:00:00. I could not walk, not in the last bit. I started running hard (for an exhausted 26.2 mama). I wasn't saying anything to any of the volunteers any more. Honestly, all of my under-my-breath words for ones with four letters! I had to finish this dang thing.

The finish line just wouldn't show its face. Run, run, run. It was finally in sight - hallelujah. The cheering was immense and intense! And I had left Eric in the dust.

Here I come, at long last! I was giving it all I had.

Elated to be steps away from the finish line!

Miles 21-26.2: Finish This Insanity ASAP

21 - 16:25

22 - 15:20

23 - 15:44

24 - 15:35

25 - 14:34

26 - 12:28

.2 - an 8:43 pace!

Total: 5:59:58 Thank God!

So, it wasn't my best race, but I could not be more proud. It was tough out there! But as Chasen put it, "I was tougher." Now that's a good man!

I parked it in the lobby and Chasen went to get me some food. Isaac sports my medal!

I am the proudest Marathoner Mommy there is! Isaac sports my Rocket City finisher's hat.

That's all, folks. It was a long, hard journey (both today and the past almost ten months). But now I'VE DONE IT!

Reflection Run

Well, I've done it. I have completed training for my first post-baby marathon! I honestly can not believe it.

"All I want for Christmas is for Mommy to cross the finish line at Rocket City!"

I mean really... it has been a long, hard road. It's a darn good thing I proclaimed while pregnant that I'd run another marathon before Isaac turns one year old. Otherwise, upon learning how hard it would be for me to "come back" from pregnancy, I may have just thrown my hands up in the air and pleaded "mom blob forever!"

Thankfully, as you all know, I didn't get that choice. Instead, I was chosen for Team Point Two! Thank God, Toni, Steve and John for that! I was put on a plan the second I got my doc's OK six weeks after Isaac was born... and those folks, plus all of my wonderful teammates, never let me quit! It was sooooo hard in the beginning, and oh so very hot for the vast majority of this journey, but that is now water under the bridge because I am less than three days away from marathon #3. Whoo hoo!

And Isaac is about three seconds away from destroying everything I own, at all times. LOL

I just can't thank everyone enough for all of the support I have received. It truly means the world to me. I thought of it as I ran a final 3-miler tonight. Next stop: Huntsville, Alabama!

1 Week To Go!

Holy moly... I can not believe that this time next week I will be basking in the glow of completing my third marathon. Wow - I truly have come a long way in the past 42 weeks (since birthing Isaac). Thank you, thank you, thank you Team Point Two.

Isaac says "I've come a long way, too. I have moved to the big boy tub!"

This week was a mixed bag. I finally went to the doc about my hurting ears. As it turns out, I had a bit of fluid (and now have antibiotics) and A LOT of build-up in there. Eeeew! So I had the grand experience of an ear wash? If you've ever had one, you know that it is an experience indeed. But now my ears are clean as a whistle! No more q-tip usage...

By Tuesday I already felt better, which was good because I had to run 4 miles. No sweat! Wednesday was 6 and Friday was 5 (which I actually got to do outdoors, a rarity for a non-longrun).

Isaac is interested in Keira's ankle bracelet. Konrad's shirt says "iPoo." Ha!

Here, he tries to escape Keira. Fickle man!

First time in his heirloom rocker. Of course, all his friends had to move to the floor.

On Saturday I had my FINAL pre-marathon longrun. Yikes! I was fit to be tied by the time I got to get out the door to do it. Running is SUCH a stress reliever for me these days. I swear, I don't know how I'd manage without it. Alas, I was to do 8 easy miles. Something odd I have discovered is that it is a bit easier for me to go a bit faster these days. Can you believe I just typed that? I pulled 12:07, 11:46, 11:29, 11:26, 11:07, 11:01, 11:07 and 11:07. Holy smokes! That's an 11:24 average.

This week will consist of two easy runs and, hopefully, a lot of rest. We shall see! I will update later in the week as to my status on all fronts. Rocket City, here I come.