SG: Chasing balls while running!

So today I had to cancel my run with True :( My little bug has bronchitis and well, to say the least, it's been a bit of an exhausting week. This cold, and yes, very windy weather just didn't seem well enough for my 'appendage' to join. So, tomorrow morning before work I have talked True into meeting me at the gym before work :) We will do our run for the training plan, but we have decided it would be more fun to get some exercise while chasing balls!!! That's right we are hitting the racquetball court! I can't decide which of these images will best sum up our work out.

Jill: Wind and Whine

Today's run at the school track was good for several reasons.

1. I got to run with True and Abby who have been kicking butt together since this club started.

2. I got to push my pace which I needed. I always work harder when I'm running with others than alone.

3. I found last minute child care so no stroller to push. Yay!

However, I am going to whine about one thing. It was windy. The entire run felt like this:

HC: Goal

So last night I bought a bottle of wine. No surprise there. The idea for this bottle though is to set a goal, reach said goal, then drink the wine. Any suggestions on what the goal should be would be appreciated!

Steph: This is why we run with club members

Okay, so Monday Jill and I jog/walked on a track for my second experience, not bad ... I can still do this!

Right, well today, I walked/jogged around downtown with Mike. NOT so sure I can do this anymore. He either worked me harder than Jill without my knowledge, or I am in less shape than when I started?????

Our deal: you run the timer, I set the pace. But I am not sure that actually happened. He may have set the pace too. By the fourth time he said jog, I felt like DYING. Was it the hills involved? Was it the city streets? Was it the fact that Mike doesn't keep talking to me like Jill so I was more aware of the running? I don't know, but I don't feel as confident anymore.

We finished. I did it, but I feel like SHIT!!! But, I am still going. I am not giving up. I will meet Jill at 9:30 Saturday morning.

P.S. good news ... my jiggly, wiggly butt fat didn't hurt as bad while running tonight :)

HC: One Week at a Time ...

This entire process started with a bottle (actually 3) of wine. During the first bottle the idea was hysterical. ME run? Have you met my lungs, heard my coughs, or seen me grabbing for my inhaler when I laugh too much? Hell, I sound like an old man who has been working in a coal mine his entire life. After the third bottle of wine Abby was going on about how it will help us get in shape and would be easier than working out alone. I finally agreed then went to sleep. After waking up I wondered what I just got myself into.

Although this is only the second week, I am starting to feel good about my decision. I might actually be able to do not only this, but more! Plus it’s nice to have my workout buddy back instead of having creepy muscle heads try to talk to me at the gym. I find myself wanting to do more than the actual running plan, but I know I can save that for later. It’s all about the journey, not just the finish line. Until then, I will take it one week (or bottle) at a time.

SG: 30 lbs lighter!!!

That's right!!!! Tomorrow I will run 30 lbs lighter!!! Of course it's not because my ass has magically shrunk or my jelly baby belly has disappeared but instead, I will have lost an appendage that I have had attached to me the last 15 months!!! That's right, tomorrow I will have my first run without baby!!!! Whoop Whoop! I am just imagining how easy it will be to take a nice long stride and not knock a wheel with my foot or worry about chasing Michelle off the track because I can't steer. I won't even have sore arms when I'm finished!!! Ahhh, I can't wait! Now, I know this will be quite a liberating experience, and it seems it has made some members of this club debate the half marathon in May. I, however, realize my appendage will soon be back for most runs, and I find it will be a little above my ability sooooo....I propose the RELAY!!!! Check it out: Flying Pig Marathon Relay. Can't wait to see you girls at the track tomorrow....baby less :)

Jill: Wednesday Run

Meeting at 4:15 at school. No strollers for this one!

SG: Yeah Betches!!!

That's right, I said Betches!!!! (It's the nice version of bitches ;)) I'd just like to brag that True and I just pushed it and did 3.2 miles tonight. It burned in a good way, and I just wanted to tell you all that we are doing awesome!!!!! Keep it up! Now off to the grocery for some goat cheese for my yummy pizza :)

Jill: Life with a Real Runner

Confession: I am married to a real runner. When we met nearly 10 years ago, he was merely competing in Ironman triathlons. Even though his style of training is to do as little as possible in order to finish and he neglects training elements such as stretching and diet, he is still very much a real runner. Nowadays he claims to be retired from Ironman racing and is solely focused on running marathons and ultramarathons (yes, he may be crazy). Some of his bucket list goals include completing a marathon in every state (18 done so far), finishing a 50 miler (done although not quite within the race's official time limit), and finishing a 100 miler (1st attempt he made it 65 miles).

Needless to say, with his passion for ultrarunning we don't get to very many 5k races any more. So after years of honing my skills at supporting and spectating races that can take up most of your day and nights (and let me tell you, it takes some skill, especially when it comes to planning and coordinating, to be a supportive wife and race crew member), I was pleased to be able to watch my dear hubby run a simple 5k this weekend. Even better was that the race took place only a few minutes from our doorstep. This made coordinating two kids on race day the easiest it's ever been.

After doing some research (my honey is all about the research) on past times for this race, my husband decided to go into this race with the goal of making the podium. Because this race benefits a local school district, the podium has been dominated by lanky teen boys from the local cross country teams. My husband, who will spend the next year staring down 40 like Clint Eastwood, had his work cut out for him.

At the finish, we watched the 14-year old winner come in looking like he just rolled out of bed and decided to run a 5k instead of playing Dungeons and Dragons on his X-Box (ok, I know NO ONE plays that anymore but I have NO IDEA what 14-year-olds do play nowadays). Then someone spotted the 2nd place finisher. As I watched the figure come up over the hill, I muttered something about how that looks like my husband. A few seconds later, and I realized it really was him! He was going all out trying to hold off two 12-year-olds.



He held on for 2nd place. His first ever podium finish (the closest until then had been a 4th place finish in a local triathlon with his brother). He then promptly collapsed onto the ground like the old man he is. The sad news is that he actually thought he was first because he never saw the winner go by him. But he was still thrilled to be able to scratch that accomplishment off his bucket list. It was even more fun for him when he realized that he was the only one in the top four who was old enough to drive.

I'm super proud of him, but the second-best part of the race was that I was able to snag not 1, but 2 awesome photos of racers in jeans for JoggingJeans.com. It was like having a top secret spy mission. This makes going to early morning races soooo worth it!

Jill: Monday Run

Steph and I are planning on Monday at 6:30. Meet at my house then off to the track just down the street. Yes it will be dark (stupid daylight savings-I mean, who wants extra light in the morning anyway?!), but it's an almost full moon and clear skies. Don't be a wuss.

Jill: New Strategy

In keeping with Rule #3, here's how some other runners keep their minds off of the running (at least I assume this is why--why else would you run and juggle at the same time?): Joggling.

Attention True: you are automatically forbidden from such activity. I fear for your safety!

Steph: Whine, whine, and more whine

So I ventured out for my first walk/jog this morning with Jill. I made sure to whine a lot while "jogging" because I wanted to make sure to follow the rules of belonging to the club. We also talked a lot while walking (not as much while running because I was just trying to BREATH!), but I forgot to talk about my favorite subject ... CHEESE! The cheese topics I had planned, but forgot about when the pain took over (which was pretty much immediately thanks to this wiggly, jiggly fat that I have on the outside edges of my butt which feels like it is litterally slapping me every time I jog) are ... we are back to the cheese topics of course ... this new cream cheese and orange marmalade dip that you eat with crackers, a brie and spicy apricot appetizer that is absolutely delicious with apples, and of course this amazing aged gouda that I go to Findlay to "try" for the first time every single Sunday.

But anyway, back to the jog. So the first jog session of 60 seconds did not feel bad. By the fifth time that Jill told me "let's jog a little" I was struggling to breath correctly, numb in in the buttocks where my own fat had slapped me until I couldn't feel that region anymore, and I was completely aware of my calf muscles (which Jill had to name for me) and how they were on fire and going to explode at any given moment.

But at the end, I can say that we walk/jogged 1.9 miles and I made it. I didn't die. I didn't have a heart attack. I didn't pass out. It makes me wonder (for the first time ever in my life), can I actually run a 5K in 4 months time ... I don't know, but it is worth a try. Plus, Mike promised me an iPad if I did it.... which I can't tell if it is his way of motivating me or if he doesn't think it is ever going to happen so he is safe. Either way ... a motivation for sure.

First time done ... only about a million more torture "sessions" with Jill to go. She has promised me a thrilling evening run at a high school track next week. WOW that sounds fun! or not!

Jill: Morning Whine

I am not a morning person. Never have been and never will be despite choosing a profession (teaching) that requires early rising. Now that I'm living with a 2-year old and a 2-month old, it's an amazing feat to sleep past 8. So let's just say that getting up in the morning to do a run isn't exactly my idea of fun. Not even close. It's even more difficult to get out of the house on time in the mornings, so I'm not sure why on earth I would meet Steph for a run at 10 a.m. Truth be told, despite Steph being the self-proclaimed problem child of the group, I was very, very, very close to begging off because it was just waaaaay too difficult to get all of the following done before 10:

1. Had to clean up infant puke off of myself, the infant, the chair, and the carpet

2. Had to chase down Miracle Kitty to shove heart medications down his throat and apply allergy goo to his head. This required moving the baby's crib since this is where kitty has decided to hide from me.

3. Needed to feed the baby (again) which is time-consuming because I'm nursing

4. Had to pump off the extra milk in order to run without pain and without looking like I'm groping myself.

5. Somewhere in between all of this I had to scarf down a few pancakes (quick shout out to my hubby for cooking breakfast!). I think I ate them standing up.

Somehow I managed to get dressed, brush my teeth and hair, and only need an extra half an hour. Thanks to Steph for being flexible, but I think I may be rethinking the sensibility of Saturday morning runs.

Jill: Say Cheese

I've found another way to distract ourselves from the actual running while also contributing to this slice of running blog hilarity: Jogging in Jeans. Any time there is an opportunity to see runners in jeans, bring a camera!

Jill: Weekend Run Details

For those of us who will be in town this weekend (give Pittsburgh a hug for me True and say Hi to my Pens!), we're going to run on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Mt. Airy. It'll be a road run, not a trail run since we are nowhere near ready for that yet. 25 minutes of walk/run intervals. Join us if you can!

HC: Reasons to Wine

After a particular difficult run today filled with scorched lungs I decided to concentrate on a more positive aspect of our group. WINE. I am sure we could think of a thousand reasons to drink but for now these will work just fine.

Jill: Whine (and Wine) All You Want, But Run With Pride

While flitting around the blogging world today (thanks for the tip Running is Funny), I got a great lesson in history, specifically about women and long distance running. Since I don't consider myself a "real" runner, I am woefully ignorant of how women came to be a force in this sport. Do yourself a favor ladies, read this great article at Jezebel and be at least a little proud to be participating in the same sport regardless of our whining about it. The most amazing fact to me is at the very end: Women weren't allowed to compete at the marathon distance in the Olympics until 1984.

Do I think I'll ever run a full marathon? Not really. But after reading this, I'm proud to be completing whatever mileage I can. Rock on ladies!

SG: Since when do I pee my pants?

Well I set out with True this evening for my first post-baby run, it was about as I expected, no fun. This new body I have (4 months post-baby) just doesn't move as it used to. The larger problem with this new body isn't what is happening on the outside but more so on the inside. Like, no one told me I would feel as though I was about to wet my pant as I began this running journey. I know poppin a child out of a very small body part really takes it toll on you, but really can't I ever hold my pee again???!!?!?!?! Don't worry, I made it, for those that were concerned, but only with a few seconds to spare. Next time I will take precaution and be sure to 'empty' before I start my next run. Jill, I'll be thinking about those Keagles....who knew that would be such a large topic for the start of this running group?!

Jill: GROUP RUN!--Updated!!

Thursday's group run has slowly fallen apart due to more pressing issues and family parties, and let's be honest, who wouldn't rather be at a party? So, here's where we stand: True and I may run Thursday if she's up for it. Rabbitt (who I've dragged into this kicking and screaming) and I are going to run Saturday morning as long as I don't use the word "run". So now we need to set our sights on next week's group run and hope we can actually make it!

SG: Let the whining begin!

True and I are meeting for our first run tonight! Wish us luck! I'll be back later to whine :)