Mom Running On

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7431554559187024142012-01-27T18:20:48.476-06:00Mom Running OnMountain biking, running, training, nutrition, parenting, work, trying to do it all!Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.comBlogger191100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-75590878744056054062008-12-08T10:46:00.013-06:002008-12-10T07:17:32.923-06:00Heaven in an Out-House or December Chill 2008 Race Report

December Chill7-hr Adventure RaceBrighton, MIDecember 6, 2008Weather: 17 degrees, 1-3" of snowfallPregnancy: 17 weeks, 3 daysGear List is in sidebar to the leftThe December Chill is a race that I will remember as a trip to Hell and back. It brought me to a place where Heaven wasn't found in the luxuries of a resort spa but in a stench-filled rickety outhouse in the middle of a field during a

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-88368020104435255402008-11-10T13:07:00.002-06:002008-11-10T13:44:32.966-06:00A Much Needed Vacation

Last week I embarked on a much needed, long anticipated cruise to the Bahama's with 3 good friends. The husbands, the kids, and the housework all stayed at home.I was going to write a long post giving the entire debriefing of my Bahamian vacation. Instead, however, I think I will just hit the top 10 highlights.1) I was upgraded to FIRST CLASS on my flight from Detroit to Orlando. Unfortunately,

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-12329610048593768432008-10-16T10:47:00.002-05:002008-10-16T11:15:07.530-05:00What have you done differently or changed during these tough economic times?

This question was asked on a forum I like to visit occasionally and it got me thinking. I haven't felt very affected by the economic woes. However, we are both working less hours and bringing home smaller paychecks. In that respect, we are feeling the squeeze.We wanted to refinance our short-term, high-payment mortgage to alleviate some of the pressure. Even though we've paid 24% off on our

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-79878500885640731422008-10-13T10:40:00.006-05:002008-10-13T11:02:36.092-05:00Biking with Sage

Cycling has always been a big part of Sage's life, I biked well into my ninth month of pregnancy. I was certain the giant bruise on her head was not from descending through the birth canal, but from me kneeing her so many times on my bike rides.The first few months I brought her to spin class. I would set her car seat down in front of my bike so she could see me. She watched for 60 minutes, 3

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-68304975550310552282008-10-08T12:48:00.002-05:002008-10-08T14:07:54.120-05:00Working out just isn't working out

With the fall weather creeping in, my energy seems to be seeping out. This week I ran my slowest 5k ever. It was a torturous 40 minutes where I felt like I was trying to wade through water. But, I still did it. I've been too lazy to gear up in a cold weather cycling kit, so I've retired my bike to the indoor trainer. I crawled on last night with a goal of 90 minutes of spinning. Unfortunately,

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-67377837493255896452008-10-07T08:02:00.005-05:002008-10-07T08:35:06.461-05:00Spooky shopping trip: Read at your own risk!

I can easily and confidently say that when I get groceries, 75% of what I get is produce. Then I take a walk down the meat and poultry aisle, pick up a few canned goods, juice for Sage and a bag of potato chips for Chad. I get evil looks from the cashiers as I roll in with a cart stacked with fruit and vegetables that they are going to have to weigh and enter UPC codes for individually. I like to

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-37451430535364820912008-10-02T19:59:00.003-05:002008-10-03T07:27:42.781-05:00Is she really only 2?

Last weekend Chad and I took Sage on a hike at the State Park. As we were getting ready to hike, Sage threw one of her terrible-two tantrums. She got down on the ground, cried, and screamed that she didn't want to go on a hike. Following the advice of Dr. Kevin Leman, we walked away. As was expected, she screamed and cried and eventually ran after us. But what was unexpected was what I barely

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-76960098834836402032008-09-30T10:21:00.007-05:002008-09-30T10:58:23.779-05:00Adventure Racing Training at Yankee Springs

This last weekend I spent the day at Yankee Springs with two new friends. We mountain biked a 13-mile loop and then spent two hours practicing our orienteering. All of us are training for Adventure Races. Roxane is doing the Chameleon AR and Amy and I are competing as a team in the December Chill (brrrr!).Adventure Racing is a unique event. It's not measured by distance like running and cycling

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-40768533862636959212008-09-26T08:19:00.003-05:002008-09-26T08:32:18.984-05:00Long Week of Blessings

I have fallen behind. This week has absolutely wiped me out. Swimming lessons Monday, Run and Bike Tuesday, Mountain Bike Wednesday, Run on Thursday . . . as I said, I've been busy.Since it's Friday, it is also Donut Day. Usually it's a Father-Daughter tradition, but I was invited along this morning. We walked to the corner holding hands and treated ourselves to some still warm donuts from

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-90420767677025973602008-09-19T08:54:00.004-05:002008-09-19T09:14:08.023-05:00Another Marathon

Spirit of the Marathon: Documentary on the 2006 Chicago MarathonWhen I crossed the finish line at the 2006 Chicago Marathon, I skipped up to my husband, leaping into his arms and said "Can we do that again?!" I knew right away that there was a second marathon in me, but I didn't know when.Running the marathon was a special commitment. I decided to run it shortly after giving birth to my daughter

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-27829283815892322272008-09-16T14:07:00.007-05:002008-09-16T15:25:45.457-05:00Swim Class Pt. 2 OR Bribery: A Parent's Best Friend

Swim Lessons had rolled around for the second week. This time, I knew what to expect and I wasn't going to go in unprepared. I had a plan: bribery, of course.Bribery has such a bad reputation. So I prefer to think of it a little differently. It's a reward, a salary, if you will, for doing what you are asked. Don't we get a paycheck for doing our job? A child doesn't understand the value of money,

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-80520641929571943372008-09-15T14:45:00.005-05:002008-09-15T15:21:02.500-05:00An Open Letter to My College Freshmen Phys Ed Teacher

Dear Coach Freddie King III,I spent 3 miserable days a week one fall semester in your freshmen college phys ed class. The mutual animosity was as thick and rancid as the stench of stale gym socks in that small athletic classroom. You, the hot young Soccer Coach with stupid, spiky hair, me, the overweight mouse in the last row. Your job was to train young men and women into hard, chiseled athletes

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-25060179055797961542008-09-12T11:40:00.008-05:002008-09-12T13:03:21.733-05:00Veggierific

I'm noticing more and more how much my body and soul crave vegetables. When I eat a meal solely comprised of whole and unprocessed foods, I can feel my body healing itself. It's an amazing thing to experience after spending so much of my life eating fast and highly processed foods from a box.Even though I know the benefits of healthy eating, it's easy to fall back into a habit of frozen pizzas

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-66972431337789410112008-09-05T19:04:00.001-05:002008-09-06T14:16:00.328-05:00Date Night

It's not often we get a date night these days. It requires a night off and the forethought to schedule a babysitter—two things we lack.Sometimes things magically fall in place like they did the other night: My mom was watching Sage as she does one night every week so I can mountain bike, but my plans fell through. I had to work late. Then Chad called to tell me he was getting home early. Kismet!

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-27939602304937495252008-09-01T06:23:00.001-05:002008-09-01T09:36:52.237-05:00Yoda

I'm one of those people who is always trying to improve themselves. I'm trying to run faster, ride farther, improve my skills at work, be a better mom and wife, improve my health, study the Bible more, etc. I understand that in any endeavor there are bound to be lulls and valleys. But it seems like I've been in one of those valleys for awhile now. I'm not making progress in anything.The other day

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-8270132220303687522008-08-27T13:33:00.000-05:002008-08-27T14:26:47.746-05:00The people who carry me, Part 1

I consider it a privilege to tie on my running shoes and step out of my front door for a run almost any time I want. No, I don't always feel like it. It certainly doesn't always feel good. And sometimes I curse the pavement with every thumping stride. Then somewhere along the way my thoughts turn from cursing to reflection. Before I know it, I'm enjoying myself. And the reason for this is because

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-46119474996029401392008-08-24T21:35:00.000-05:002008-08-27T13:32:32.721-05:00XTerra Blackhawk Race Report--the Long Version

Official Race Report HerePre-RaceUp at 6:45 AM. Eggs and Toast. Coffee. Double-check gear and load car.Arrive at Camp Pendalouan at 8 AM8:05 AM Ate 1/2 bananaBike: Trek Fuel, full-suspension, tubeless tires. Bontrager components.I have disc brakes. While unloading my bike I accidently squeezed the lever while the front wheel was out. I had to pry the brake pads apart with a screw driver. During

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-8879483830810363092008-08-24T19:21:00.001-05:002008-08-24T19:21:58.145-05:00XTerra Blackhawk Race Report

. . . coming soon.But, because I know you really care, I did take 8 minutes off my time from last year!

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743155455918702414.post-15115718655449937372008-08-22T11:42:00.000-05:002008-08-23T08:32:01.114-05:00Running in the fall

Cleaning out my desktop, I came across this journal entry. October, year unkown.A bed of seashells crunched beneath my feet as I ran along the waterfront. Challenging each of my strides with its gusts, the crisp October wind pushed hard, causing my legs to burn and my lungs to ache. I jumped over and dodged silver tongues, trying to stay ahead of the steady rhythm of waves pounding the shore

Whumpushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620497594686257150noreply@blogger.com0