An Exciting Six Weeks

This week we celebrated Chasen's 35th birthday. While he was at work, Isaac and I decided to celebrate on his behalf at the neighborhood pool with friends. Aren't I nice?

He got a hold of the water hose used to top off the pool. Uh oh!

My boy loves water hoses. No doubt about it. Maybe he will be a fireman.

On Friday we closed on our new house. Whoo hoo! Hopefully in about a month or so we'll be moved in. In the meantime, our current home needs to SELL and we need to put some sweat equity into the new one. Fun times!

Today I set my clock for 3:00 AM because I needed to accomplish 12 mile repeats before 8 AM. I drove to our new house so as to make a nice out-and-back course. I hit start at 3:58 AM. Per the Galloway plan, I have to walk 5 minutes between each mile repeat, so the whole ordeal took quite a while. I did pretty well until the last 2 repeats. Oh well - personally I think 12 repeats is quite a lot! And to think in a few weeks I have to do 14!

So Chicago is 6 weeks away. Yikes! My training has certainly suffered due to the heat. HOWEVER, as of this week things have cooled down a bit. Hooray! This morning during my run the temps were between the low to mid 70's the whole time. A real cold snap! I never once thought "it's so hot out here." I forgot what that was like! So now I have to make sure that within the next few weeks I do another 20+ miler. My last 20 miler was *gasp* 8 weeks ago.

Tomorrow Isaac and I are driving Chasen to the airport for a business trip to California. But guess where he's going in October when I will be in Chicago? CHINA and INDIA. Seriously. For 10 days. So I had to arrange for a weekend sitter for Isaac (cha-ching!) while I go to the windy city. At first I was upset that Chasen's big trip will be during marathon time, but now I think it's probably for the best because it will break up the time he's gone into 3 parts: 5 days without him to pack and prepare for Chicago, getting away to Chicago for just under 2 days, 3 days to recover and get ready for Chasen to come home. We can do this!

New Data, New Photos AND A New Distance Runner

Life just keeps spinning on... and I am trying not to fall off! This past weekend was super busy with prepping for our open house (to sell our current home, as we are moving 4 miles from here), a church pool party, family portraits, grocery shopping, etc. So, I had to put off my 6 miles of speedwork until Monday because I was just exhausted. Chasen actually got on to me about that! But sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. I reminded him that this is my fourth marathon training season and I know what I am doing. Hmph! Granted, the heat has kept me from super long runs for weeks now... but we have actually had a tiny break in the heat and I just KNOW I can get in another long one before d-day.

Hats are back, in case you didn't know.

Chasen says "That boy sure does love him mama!"

Here is my little troublemaking angel. I love this guy!!!

My family, all sweaty at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

During our open house, which netted only one couple, we ran several errands. To kill a final bit of time, we went to the McDonald's playland - for the first and last time. Eeeeew!

This may be "safe," but it was NOT the cleanest place I have ever been.

Isaac had some help coming down the icky slide.

I did my 6 miles of speedwork, once again, at 9 PM. I just ought to change my name to Night Runner or something. Ha! I really tried to push it. I still used the 2:1 method and I was quite pleased with my efforts. I was sore afterwards, so I guess I did it right. LOL

My "antique" Garmin decided that its memory was full while I was out there, so I now have to delete the history and start fresh. It looks like it has saved 488 hours worth of runs, though! Wow!

It's no longer just a rumor; my husband Chasen has officially signed up to run the St. Jude Half Marathon on December 4th! He is even going to be a St. Jude Hero, like I was in 2007. Please click here to view his page. Thanks for your support!

Just Right

Real estate can be very interesting. Several days ago a couple who were supposed to be very interested in our home made an appointment to see it. We pulled out all the stops to prepare (I even baked cookies for them). They knew that we had a zero-lot-line patio home. Now, as this type home goes in my neighborhood, we have the largest back yard possible. It even has a mature tree perfect for a child's swing, and it provides some shade to our home, where as most other homes in this fairly new neighborhood have zero trees. Well, these empty-nesters decided not to show up because they determined that the yard would just be too small. Give me a break! Two days later someone else wanted to view our home. This lady supposedly fell in love with it until she opened the back door and saw the "huge" back yard. Holy moly! We seem to have a Goldilocks situation here... too small, too big... maybe the next one will think it is "just right."

Isaac went for his 18-month check-up this morning. Previously we were told that his height put him in the 97th percentile. He's no giant, but we took that as the gospel. Come to find out, I think they measured him incorrectly last time... either that or he has shrunk 3/4 of an inch since then. LOL - no wonder his height seemed so huge! I double checked when we got home and I completely agree with his current height of 33" which puts him in the 75th percentile. Previously his weight was 40th or 50th (I don't really recall). Today he was in the 60th percentile. I'd say that's also "just right." No complaints!

Mr. "Just Right" took his three immunizations like a man!

Isaac and I went out in the stroller early-ish on Tuesday and even though the temp was about 80 degrees (practically a cold front) I really, really struggled. Tonight I went out at dark in 85 degree weather and sailed! Just right!

I have an announcement of sorts. Someone in my household who has never birthed a baby and who is over 33" tall has decided to train for the St. Jude Half Marathon in December. Oh my! That same someone is on the treadmill right now following the Jeff Galloway method. I will keep you updated with the progress!

30:30, 10.94, 115, 18

Why all the numbers? You'll see. This post is all about the statistics, I suppose. First and foremost, my baby boy is 18 months old today. Time sure flies! Last year, when he was 6 months, we celebrated in our neighborhood pool. Here are some pics:

My sweet, round-faced 6-month-old bundle of joy. No teeth yet!

Floating with Mommy in the water. He wasn't too sure about that wet stuff.

Today, at 18 months, Isaac finally has an interest in books (other than just trying to eat them). To continue the tradition, we "celebrated" at the pool (since, hopefully, our days in this neighborhood are numbered).

My boy is big! And Mr. Water Splasher!

I admit; I give this look ALL the time. That's "the Susan."

Water fun with Daddy. Isaac is Daddy's favorite toy, and the feeling is mutual.

18 months old with 14 teeth! I can't begin to explain how much I love that smile.

On to the running and the rest of the numbers. Since I "petered out" on my 23-miler a few weeks ago, I didn't figure I should zoom ahead and do 26 this week (per the schedule). In all honesty, I aimed to hit 20 and call it a night. 23 would be a bonus, and 26 would qualify as a miracle. It was to be stinkin' hot all weekend, so Friday night was as good a time as any. Guess what the heat index was at 9 PM? 115 degrees! Yep - but like I said, it was not going to get any better all weekend, so I had to at least try to run.

It started off wonderfully. I used the 30:30 method (walk 30 seconds, run 30 seconds). I was cruising along like nobody's business. My Garmin beeped every 30 seconds and it was no problem.

At approximately 9 miles in, I began to realize that everything I was wearing was SOAKED. I mean 100% saturated with sweat. Down to my socks. And underthings. And compression shorts. And shoes. Yep - chafing and blisters were on their way (I could feel it brewing). Jeez - if it ain't one thing, it's ten! I decided to head home and call it a night. Even changing shorts and socks wouldn't be good enough because my shoes were soaked. I logged 10.94 miles in 90 degree weather with the heat index at 115, which Chasen called "epic." I was more of the mindset of "failure" and "disappointing," but whatever.

Am I EVER going to get a break from this heat? Seriously. This is what my car said today as we went grocery shopping:

Needless to say, I am worried about Chicago. Granted, I logged a 20-miler about 6 weeks ago, but that would be 14 weeks pre-race. Yikes! Some people say this "heat training" counts for extra, but I just don't know what I believe. I'll just do the best I can.

From Yellow to Neutral

My running mojo is still in good standing. But man oh man - I have been busy on all fronts. Thankfully, some storms have been sporadically cooling the weather. I have now been officially brainwashed, because I get excited when it is "only" 80 degrees out there. That's what happened Friday morning, so Isaac and I actually got to make good use of the stroller and walk 4 miles. Yay!

Saturday, on 5 hours of sleep and on the advice of our realtor, I repainted our living room. Chasen had a stomach bug, so I did 99.9% of it myself. From the minute I removed the first picture from the wall and started moving furniture to the minute I officially put down the paintbrush, 10.5 hours had elapsed. Painting is hard work! Up, down, up, down. I don't want to see another ladder for a while.

Bye bye personal yellow that went great with out furniture and floors.

Hello "cafe au lait" that will hopefully appeal to the home buying masses.

I knew getting up at 5:15 on Sunday morning would be difficult, but I also knew that it would be the coolest available time slot. Believe me, I tried to hit snooze, but my body would not let me. So off I went for six miles of speedwork.

After a warmup, the first mile was solidly run (i.e. no walk-run method) because I had to get to a restroom ASAP! Ha. That mile was done in 11:30. Whoo hoo! That's a full minute faster than my current dream race pace. The next mile took a nosedive. It was mostly uphill, and the solid running just doesn't work well for me in this darn heat and humidity. It was 12:50. Not zesty! At that point I remembered talking to Kevin about doing the 30:30 method for longruns. This was no longrun, but I thought it might be wise to apply that same logic somehow to my speedwork. I decided to run 1 minute and walk 30 seconds. Bingo! 11:57 and 12:03! Then, I left the somewhat shady neighborhood I was in and the sun was in full force. Yuck - so bright and hot. It really, really made a difference. After a stop in the local McDonald's for some ice cold water, I got back to it. But not until I did something I have NEVER done before -- I dumped ice cold water over my head. Yowsa! Now that was frigidly refreshing. I happily accepted the remaining 13:06 and 13:30 (where I walked tons more).

This weekend, technically, I am supposed to do 26 miles. Since I never made it to 23 miles several weeks ago, I think 23 or less would be a more appropriate goal. We shall see. It'll be in the 80's no matter when I run, so I have to factor that in. Come on, winter!

Moving Forward (West, Actually)

I have to confess something. My running mojo disappeared. Why? The dang heat! Today, for example, it was over 100 degrees with a heat index of 121. Seriously!

After the failed 23-miler I got in touch with my dear friend (and forever coach!) Terry. We decided basically that I'd shake it off and adjust my Galloway training according to the heat, i.e. not necessarily go after a 26-miler and 29-miler. I was good to go! Then the hot weekend got here and I talked myself out of 10 miles of speedwork based on the fact that a) it was too hot, and b) I wouldn't be any faster since it was so hot. True and true! But I should have attempted it, regardless.

By Monday I decided to reach out to Kevin of The Extra Mile Podcast. He, after all, was my motivation to try the Galloway Method. And, like me, he's running Chicago (67 days from now). He encouraged me to do precisely what Jeff told him to do, in light of the extreme heat: 30/30 (run 30 seconds, walk 30 seconds). By golly, if Jeff says to do it, I am gonna do it! And I am just gonna get over the heat. Nuff' said. I gotta... or not run again until the week before Chicago.

Going up the slide is more fun than going down, of course.

Cooling off at the sprinkler park in nearby Collierville, Tennessee.

Isaac is learning, very slowly, to eat with a fork.

The rest of my life has been a mix of exciting and complex. I have teased about the real estate topic in previous posts, and now I will tell all. Ever since Isaac was born, our house has magically gotten smaller and smaller. I'm sure all you parents can relate. And a "zero lot line" home is really not practical for us with a growing boy with tons of energy. Plainly stated, we need more space on all fronts.

Just over a month ago Chasen decided to look up local real estate online. And the whirlwind began! We found a really, really good deal three miles away from here in Southaven, Mississippi. It needed some work, but it had TONS of potential.

Here is a portion of the front of the fixer-upper. Looks OK, huh? Looks can be deceiving.

Long story short, we met road blocks every step of the way. We were quite disappointed, but everything happens for a reason. And like I said, it would have been an ongoing project for years. With a small child and me basically not working these days, that would NOT have been fun. So we accepted that fact, begrudgingly, and kept looking. Then we found this:

A gem of a house (and deal!) four miles away, also in Southaven, Mississippi.

It is move-in ready! Of course, there are things we'd like to do to it long-term, but waaaaay down the road. We have gone through all of the negotiating and are having it inspected tomorrow. Hooray! If all goes well, we will take ownership at the end of this month. Isaac got to climb stairs for the first time in this house:

He was off like a shot! No stopping him!

With this new skill he was able to attempt the slide at the indoor playground.

Our current home in Olive Branch, Mississippi has been on the market just over two weeks. Today our listing agency's agents came through to all see it as a group. Chasen decided to make a funny sign for me to put somewhere. I was a little antsy about doing so. But ain't it cute?

The poor little guy's parents do not need double mortgages!

So I put it on the pitcher. The realtors thought it was cute and enjoyed the treats.

Isaac also enjoyed a treat once we returned home (we had to be gone while they were here).

So there ya have it. I have been on a real estate roller coaster and I let the heat beat me for a while. But no more. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. I ran tonight at 9 PM and just did the best I could with it being 90 degrees or so. Take that, Mother Nature.