I love to run...

Truly I do, really love it.  Especially on those days when everything just feels right.  You are able to clear your brain from the 'piles' of things you feel that you should be doing - laundry, cooking, cleaning, even spending time with family to carve out that little piece for yourself.  Those days when the weather is your perfect temp (whatever that may be).  Mine seems to be around 35-40 degrees - crisp and cool.  Your body feels good, no real aches and pains (at least tolerable levels).  On those days running is easy to love.
Luckily, I've had a few of those runs lately.  Not enough that I'm dying to get out the door every single day, but enough that some days I am chomping at the bit to get a run in.  Today is one of those days.
Being able to run through pregnancy was awesome, but it was also hard and I didn't have those perfect runs for whatever reason.  Being able to run with this:

is a total treat, but I admit it's hard to have a perfect run when you are busy protecting your precious cargo from the yahoos out on the streets.  Not to mention the extra weight - great for making you stronger, but not so light and free.  Days when B can keep M and I'm able to just go sans stroller I feel bouncy.  I'm definitely not complaining.  I want all the days, but I just really want to appreciate those few that really keep me coming back and leave me feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and healthy. 

These thoughts were all leading me up to the fact that I don't have a routine anymore.  I don't have a goal anymore.  I don't have a plan for those days when I don't want to get out the door.  M is 5-1/2 months old.  I think it's time.  Just running when I want too or can find the time was great for a while, but I think it's time to get more serious.  I know that my schedule as a running mother will have to be flexible, but flexible is better than non-existent.  Right?  So, what's the plan?  What should I train for?  5K, 10K, 1/2, marathon?  Initial thought is marathon training is too time consuming for now.  So, focus on a 1/2 or work on that 5K PR?  This is what's on my mind.  Time will tell what I decide. 

Till then, run on.

Legs & Lager 5K

Ok, so posts are few and far between, but that's not because I don't have things to say.  Time just slips away these days.  Mostly thanks to M:

But, I wouldn't change that for the world.  Then, there are the holidays to prepare for and in-laws moving back to town.  Anyway, I'm going to try to get back into the swing of things.  I thought to begin I would back track to the last race I did - Legs & Lager 5K.  B and I both did this run sans stroller thanks to Great Granny coming to stay with M.  Pre-race we decided to do some warm up running on the single track just off the Greenways trail that the race was being run on.  That all went well and good.  (Running single track and not falling is a little unusual for me - hehe).  We realized we had some more time so we decided to go around the block prior to race start.  About 1/2 way around we hear the 5 minutes till race and decide to head back and take the short cut on the old railroad track.  I cut the corner short and hit a hole where there evidently was a post at some point, but was covered with leaves and down I went.  Lovely, always good to start a race bloody and bruised.  It probably looked worse than it was.  I got some sympathy from fellow racers prior to the start which is always nice.  ;-)  I gave B a kiss then went to line up close to the back since I'm not feeling very speedy as of late (or ever really - ha).  The gun went off and we took off.  I made sure not to go out too fast.  Managed to pick off a few peeps on the way out, then distracted myself by cheering the race leaders (including B) on their way back.  I finally made it to the turn around and realized I still felt pretty good.  Had a bit of a mental let down when the slight turn in the trail was not the one closest to the end as I had thought.  Luckily my pride at just having passed a couple people and B cheering me on allowed me to keep pace until the end.  Finished in 24:47.  I took another minute off my post-baby time.  Only one more minute to take off before I'm back to pushing for a new PR.  Whoohoo.  Considering my sporadic running schedule lately I'll take it.

Till next time - run on.

Rails to Trails with Baby

We perfected using the Burley with a carseat during our chill Monday Night rides, but doing a long ride still seemed a stretch for a 4 month old.  Last weekend we decided to take a chance and see how it would go.  We found what looked to be a decent surfaced trail that runs from Springfield to Boliver:  The Frisco Highline Trail.  We decided to do the 20 miles from Walnut Grove to Boliver, grab lunch, then head back with hopes the break in between would fit with feeding time.The first 16 or so miles she was a perfect passenger alternating between napping and sightseeing and 'talking'.  We stopped as soon as she showed signs of crabbiness.  Turns out I dressed her a little warm and she didn't need the blanket I had swaddled over her legs.  We opened up the Burley and removed the blanket and she was a happy kid again, amusing us and our friends with talking and laughing while we stretched and reorganized.  The next few miles she mostly napped.  I changed and fed her when we got to Boliver, then we ate.  She fussed for a bit when we strapped her back in so we made another pit stop at Wal-mart to make sure everything was OK before heading on.  Pretty sure she just felt the need to fight sleep.  She crashed and stayed asleep until we were about 5 miles from the car.  At that point she woke up and talked to us until we got back.  At the car we changed her diaper and clothes (from excessive drool) and fed her again.  She was a happy baby.  So, another successful mission.  I think what I learned is she can do it, but it will be day to day (minute to minute) if she wants to do it and we just need to be able to accommodate.
Side note on the trail - most of the surface was pretty great with small gravel and the fall leaves made it very pretty.  There were a few rough patches, but nothing unmanageable (even pulling the Burley).  There are a lot of bridges on the section we rode and a few cattle guards, but we went slow and the bumps weren't terrible.  A few miles were paved right before Boliver, but the trail doesn't actually go into Boliver.  We had about 3 miles on outer roads & fairly busy city streets to find something to eat.  For normal riders this would be fine, but I'm still pretty nervous about having the Burley and my baby out on the roads.  We have plans to do it again this spring, but may just take a picnic lunch.  :-)      

Pumpkin Run 5 mile - a Family run

Still just getting back into somewhat consistent running post-baby so when the topic of the Pumpkin Run came up I was hesitant.  I knew I could make it 5 miles (well, pretty sure anyway), but I was concerned about 5 miles pushing a stroller with hills.  So B and I decided we'd do a family run and have the option of taking turns with the stroller...and it was a good thing we did!!  Our little Mira, who generally likes the stroller and/or sleeps decided to throw a bit of a fit about 2 miles in.  We walked for a bit and I picked her up and consoled her.  We put her back in the stroller and took off.  About 3 miles in she was fussy again so we decided to stop and try a diaper change.  It helped for a bit, but then I knew she had decided she was hungry...sigh.  So, about mile 3-1/2 I put my nursing wrap on and proceeded to walk and nurse the little bugger.  It was just what she needed and let me tell you she was hungry!  She nursed while we walked at a decent clip for over a mile, then for a while longer till we got a good burp.  We were able to get her snuggled up in her stroller again and cross the finish line running (at a disturbing 1:08).  Regardless of our time, it was a beautiful day shared with other friends doing something we love.