Help a brother out (tonight if possible)

My good friend Matt Williams, a local ultrarunner and just all around good guy is vying or a pair of shoes from the best shoe producer ever, Altra, and just needs the most likes on his pic partway down on Altra Running's Facebook page.  Read his description, such excellent writing, I promise the 2 minutes it will take you to read it will make you smile and remind us all how crazy we are for what we do for happiness.  Although it's not so crazy, being active and outdoors, pretty wise actually.  Anyway, contest ends tomorrow at 9am so if you could hop on tonight or early tomorrow that'd be awesome!

There was a comment made that maybe he shouldn't win since he already has a pair, to let someone who doesn't have a pair yet win, but I don't really agree.  I think he has just as much right to a new pair as anyone and here's why.  The man already owns 5 pair of Altra shoes.  He's paid full price for them.  Hey I won't lie, free stuff is always good, but probably coming from being on the back end of Altra, I've come to feel at least personally, that I don't feel as good asking for freebies anymore unless it's already a company I support and know.  Matt and another friend Craig (and I'm sure many others out there) have been such vocal advocates of Altra, and these guys weren't given free stuff, they aren't sponsored.  People talk like the only way they can get these shoes is by winning them.  Sorry, but they are in 150+ stores around the country and online.  These guys paid for their shoes themselves, and personally, I think that says something.
But hey anyone who's interested in their first pair and needs a little discount code love (no, not 50% off, they don't give me quite that much power), I am happy to hook you up.  Email me.

"I work out"

Ok, I've been trying hold back posting this video because some might frown on it or call it too much, but I think it's hilarious and I love the beat of the song!  I also LOL at the video because it's just funny.  It's not trying to objectify women (doesn't actually really have women dancing much at all), doesn't involve smoking, drugs, or drinking (except they're at a bar in one scene), it's just these guys putting on a hilarious show and making fun of themselves.  Anyway, blame it on my swimming background, but I grew up a speedo girl and still don't have a problem with them on a good swimmer body (actually think they look better than Jammers on swimmer bodies), but these aren't quite the swimmer speedos we're all used to, so you've been warned.  No thongs, just....um...looser fabric?  The most uncomfortable part is probably for 10 or so seconds at 1:00 and 2:12-2:30.  If you're easily offended just listen to the song and skip the video, or the song all together.
Shame me if you will  :)

LOL, I just laugh every time.  Don't know how sexy I'm feeling these days, although yes I recognize I have still retained some tone and grow out front and not all over, but man, when your kids refer to you as 'big belly' or your husband laughs in shock when you walk by in a spandex workout tank top, or I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror at certain angles, yeah, it's a little unusual.  Although I will say my tops have never looked better up top from a cleavage point of view  ;)

And I have been working out.  Did a great weights aerobics class tonight, am enjoying spinning ok (although sometimes I just want to do my own workout, may throw my bike on the trainer just to see if I can even fit at all, I just don't want my body and muscles to forget the positioning), and love the water.  I even did the masters swim workout New Years Eve which was 112x50's, 5600 yards.  Really wanted to say I did that since I was bummed I wouldn't be doing the Beat the New Year 5k I've wanted to since the beginning of this pregnancy.  But hey if you look at it from a yards standpoint, 3.1 miles is 5456 yards, so I guess I did do that 5k, just in the water  :)  Happy New Year to you all!

Why I should probably only be seen from the front now

You were warned  :)

Would someone like to calculate the drag coefficient here?  

Definitely feel my best in the water though.  The weightlessness, cool water, 2 piece (which was  a necessary and lovely switch, function and comfort wise, I try to warn the lifeguards before I get in though  :)  Amazing how I don't care at all once I'm in the water even though you can clearly see the same me through the water) all feel so good.
I can definitely feel some drag with the belly, but I'm still swimming 1:30/100yard pace for a workout and 1:35 pace when I time 800's.  Flip turns started feeling difficult today, but I hope to keep this up for the next 45 or so days!

Want barefoot goodness for Christmas?

Zero Drop, truly foot shaped, uber flexible, perfect ground feel super minimalist goodness
while keeping your feet warm and dry in any sock (think wool for the winter, lovely). 

The Altra Eves (and men's Adams) are 25% off right now at this link when you add them to your cart.  Not sure how long the promotion will be going on.  Enjoy!

*UPDATE - Prices have dropped permanently on this great shoe, so if you needed more incentive, you just got it!*

My 28th birthday, you know what that means right?

A 28 mile run!  Oh yeah, not a chance right now  :)  2.8 miles maybe?  Well yeah I could probably drag myself painfully through that, but that doesn't sound super epic or enjoyable or anything. 
Ok, how about a 28 mile ride?  Again, not super epic and I don't fit well on a bike right now except my mtn bike and man those things are no fun on the road!  A trail yes, but I'm in no condition to go on a 28 mile mtn bike ride (I've never ridden more than 8 trail miles on a mtn bike, who am I kidding?).
Well, I guess it'll be a swim then.  So for my 28th birthday this week I swam 2800 yards with 2 timed 800yard swims.  Ok, so it's not epic either, that's a meager workout during a normal season, but today I was pleased with it.  Swam it alone, didn't go crazy wanting to get out and my back and pelvis didn't flare up too bad, and hey, I swam the second 800 faster than the first so that's good right?!

At 30 weeks tomorrow I am feeling a little large.  Yes I'm fortunate to not look pregnant much outside of my belly (although believe you me pants are getting restrictive in the hips, not used to so much padding there...and the cleavage?!  Oh my word!) but that alone can make even me double take when I pass by a mirror or glass wall or something.  Especially when I teach and wear my super cute and form fitting Fit2BMom tanks I treated myself to.  This belly is just so out in front and can look a little strange.  I'll take it though.  While I have a feeling I'm past the cute stage now, I'm not too uncomfortable regularly yet (besides during running which I just don't do anymore, oh well), and my kids are having so much fun talking about the baby, feeling him/her move, and making hilarious comments about my belly only a mother could love. 
I'm excited for this baby, it's been a long time since we've had a baby around here, it was a hard journey to get here, and I know we all will love this little one to pieces. 
I'm nervous too though.  Nervous for the birth as I am delivering in a birth center which means no pain meds unless I transfer to a hospital.  Now don't get me wrong, that is our choice, one my husband and I both very much want for the ability to labor and deliver in the big birth tub, eat/drink/walk/do whatever we want during the labor, not be pressured by hospital policy, and hold our baby immediately after birth for as long as we wish before cleaning, weighing, or measuring is ever done, and no infant round up in the nursery.  We really loved it all when we delivered our 3rd child in a birth center, but lets face it, labor still hurts! I ordered a Hypnobabies home study course that I'll be starting here in 2 weeks though and I'm looking forward to giving that a good go, I've heard very good reviews of it and hey, anything that can help make the experience more comfortable and enjoyable without risk to baby or I I'll take. 
I'm nervous for the training again too, mostly just 'can I pick myself up off the couch or out of bed to go get it done'.  I don't really worry about my body recovering, but man I haven't been able to put sleep second for workouts during the last year it seems.  I've done it before, I just hope I'll be able to do it again.  4 kids sounds daunting to me sometimes. Any kids sounds daunting sometimes.  I read blogs of pros or other great athletes who accomplish such great things athletically and I get jealous, I think how great it would be to have all that time to train, to only have to worry about a job if that.  I know it will even out when I'm in the 30's and my kids are older while some are getting started, but having 4 kids in the 25-29 age group can feel like an extra hurdle I have to jump when competing in big or out of state events.  But I adore my kids and would and do put them above sport in a heartbeat, and there are some moms out there who do it well with kids, I try to be one of them.  I try to tell myself I have 2 in school, the 3rd who is older, not a toddler and I'm sure will be a big help.  I'll just have to be super disciplined and scheduled, I'll just have to use the trainer a lot which is ok, and I'll have 2 seats again in the Chariot since our boy in in school now.  And yes, I'll have to get up early.  Maybe the baby will be good to me and get into a routine of sleeping well at night (which my babies have so far), and finish a morning feeding at a 'reasonable' hour like 5am so I can be up and go afterward.
I am really excited for everything though, a sweet new baby, the 'adventure' of bringing him/her into the world, exciting race goals for next year, getting my body back (meaning being able to push it as hard as I want without worrying about trying to conceive or growing a little human).  What an adventure!

Pregnant pics, come help my indecisive self

Help me design a new header.  I LOVED my Ironman St George journey, but alas, that was almost 2 years ago now, and it's probably time to move on.  And my life couldn't be more different right now than during IMSG times, so I better put a new header up as temporary as it may be.  Or maybe I'll keep the rounder version of me up for a while after the baby so I don't go too crazy too quickly  :)  I have to say, most of the time I'm pretty relaxed right now and just accept that I really have no idea what next year will hold and I'll deal with it after the baby is born to see how all 6 of us (yeah my family sounds big now!) handle life with a new baby.  But then sometimes I worry I'll cop out with the baby excuse (yes I know I can take time for the baby and I, I will).  I haven't had a real training plan since IMSG in 2010 and honestly, I've never really followed a training plan so closely.  I LOVED it.  I knew what every day held workout wise, there was no "hmm, wonder what I feel like today" i.e. nothing productive gets done that day.  I am always one to say if you need motivation sign up for a race.  That's why I almost don't want to wait till next summer to see if I'll be up for anything epic in the fall, I'd almost rather sign up now so I can enjoy the early spring with the baby, but then be ready to go and committed come summer time.  Next year is my last in my age group so that sways me with certain races.  Anyway, we shall see.
Here are some fun pics my good friend Heidi took for me.  Help me vote for a new header pic (or 3, may do a collage header) with the poll on the right sidebar.  You can select 3 boxes.  Thanks!  *UPDATE*  So the poll is gone obviously, thanks to those who voted!  You're welcome to leave a comment still if you wish.

Hope everyone enjoys a nice Thanksgiving, I'm grateful to have my twin sister here from Michigan for a few weeks and even on our 28th birthday on the 28th!  My family had a lovely day Saturday baptizing our beautiful 8 year old, then spent more family time the next day with my little brother who is getting ready to serve a 2 year LDS mission for our church at the end of the month.  Oh and I hear the highs are supposed to be in the 50's for the next few days, lovely!  Maybe I'll even venture outside - gasp!

Anyway, here's the slideshow of all the images including some of in black and white.  Enjoy and feel free to click the slideshow image to make it bigger.  Below it are the images to vote on.  I'll take them down next week as to upset blogger with a long post.

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While these guys aren't a part of my header poll, they are amazing and cute as can be.
They'd win the contest hands down so I had to fair things up  :)

Half Pregnant Half Marathon

Or 10k...So my good friends Craig and Matt (crazy ultra runners) heard my pleas wanting a longer trail race before I was done with this pregnancy, and organized one for me!  Just something small, more like an organized group run, but hey, I'll take it!  I'll be honest, real races do really have pressure to them even when they're not big deals to me.  I never really noticed that, but even at the 5k I ran a couple weeks ago where I was in so much kidney pain, yes I wasn't going fast and could have cared less how I placed, but I still felt internal pressure not to stop, not to walk.

Anyway, I've been battling some real tough issues the last 2 weeks.  A strange right side belly pain and bad pubic symphysis (SPD) pain, something like my pelvis was being pulled apart, not a lot of fun.  This last week I've made it a whole mile before it was just too much.  I was getting really worried how this race was going to go.  I know I wasn't there to win, I know I didn't have to impress anyone, but I wanted to do it for me.  My goal this pregnancy was to do a half marathon while noticeably pregnant.  Now my body was giving up on me the week of this race.  I was and am completely willing and ok with not running the last 2-3 months at all, I really can be ok with that since I can still be active in other ways, but now?  Right before this race created for me?  It was really depressing and frustrating.  I am thrilled to be carrying this life, he/she wasn't in danger at all from my activity, I just physically couldn't will my body over my own pain.  That's a different place to be in.  A humbling place.

Ok, sorry for taking a while getting to the whole point.  So after a sad week moping to my husband, we headed out that morning and I just figured I would walk the 10k option.  Not what I wanted, but I just figured it would take me hours upon hours to walk the 13 miles and there was a bbq after so I just settled for the 10k.  I let the guys go on ahead (there were about 20 people total I think?) after I was all situated at the car with my new Altra Lone Peak trail shoes and Ultraspire pack, I took a pre race bush prego stop and started a trot.  Figured I'd make it a mile then just walk the rest.  It was really ok being by myself.  No pressure to run from others, no one to impress, just some nice solitude for me and the baby.  The weather was good.  Cloudy and a bit windy, but not raining/snowing or too gusty and not bitter cold.

The sweet new Ultraspire running hydration pack I won last month!  Was so excited to finally have an ultra pack (it's not your usual hiking water backpack, but meant for running) and it's got so many great pockets and features (I'll review it soon), but the best one has to be the fact that it fits above my belly!

To my surprise I kept running!  It was a little uncomfortable, but not like I'd experienced the last few weeks.  I kept my pace at a long run jog.  Not fast like pre-preg, but faster than I could walk  :)  I wasn't after any time records, so it was nice to just settle into an ultra style pace and trot along.  Even got to run some uphill sections I thought I'd walk!  Part of the pace was the hip binding I did.  Took a couple yards of some fancy purple checked fabric I had and squeezed my hips together tight.  A little uncomfortable, cut some circulation off around my hips, but I got the hang of how to tie it pretty good and I have to wonder if that did the trick.  I also wore the big maternity (well technically it's a larger post partum belt) belt I've had around my belly snug, but I've done that before and it didn't fix everything.  Like the belly pain.  It came around a few times, and I did walk it off once or twice, but was able to run through it another few times by kind of flexing my 'abs'.

Anyway, found the bathroom at the turn around was unlocked - yay! - and headed on back to the start.  As I always do, felt better after those first 3ish miles, and even negative splitted the 2nd half!  I even got some adrenaline and to feel like the old me when I finally caught up and passed some runners that had been ahead of me the last 4 miles.....even if one was in her 60's  :)  
I was getting more uncomfortable toward the end, but was still thinking about turning around and running more.  Just figured I haven't been able to run like this in a long time and probably won't for a while, but yeah, I didn't.  Figured I'd feel it the next few days and I was really happy with the 6.5 I got in.  And I really was!  I can't believe I got to run even 2 miles, let along 6+.  I was still a little bummed not to have done the half especially upon hearing there were no women that did the half and I could have earned a super sweet specialty made thrift store trophy (although I doubt I could have made it that far with my pelvis), but the 10k really was for me that day.  And hey, technically the time I did out there on my favorite trail took me about what a road half marathon does, so that counts, right?  :)  Right

New post

New post about the Duathlon my sister and I did near Boston is below the Halloween post below.  Check it out.  Really hoping my body will hold out for me to enjoy an epic adventure of sorts on Saturday on my favorite trail.  I'll let you know how it goes next week.

Happy Halloween!

Sure did not win the race, but did win the costume contest!

We had a great Halloween week at my house.  You can read more about all our family adventures on my family blog here.  I had planned on running a favorite Halloween race around here, but it didn't work out.  I still wanted to race so found this smaller local race with a free kids race, can't beat that!
I signed up for the 5k so I could be back in time for the kids race, turns out I would have had time with the 10k but oh well.  Actually it's probably good.  We rushed to get my belly painted before the race and I headed over to the start with a minute or two to spare.  First mile felt good, probably was running 8 min/mi pace, so not too fast, not too slow.  Then the last 2 miles of the race my back was on fire right where my right kidney is.  No idea what caused it, I wasn't dehydrated, I stopped and drank, walked, nothing made it better.  It just burned so badly.  I've never been so anxious to get to the finish of a race, and never had such a hard time doing it.  My kids were running faster than I was through the finish.  I cut right over to my husband and had him walk me to the bathrooms.  Wasn't sure if it was just a baby riding on my bladder thing, but nope, that didn't really help anything.  After about 20 minutes the pain went away and I've just been achy there since. Baby is just fine, moving lots, and I had no other worrisome symptoms.
I have been dealing with some pubic symphysis discomfort too.  Lots of relaxin hormone circulating right now, this is my 4th baby, and I have big babies.  Those things combined can really allow stretch in the front bottom of the pelvis, and I get pretty darn achy after each run.  It's annoying.  I have to be careful rolling over in bed, keep my legs together and pelvis aligned well.
It saddens me a little to think of not being able to run the next 3 months.  I know I'll have the rest of my life to run after this baby, but 3 months is still a long break.  Of course if that is what my body and midwives told me to do I would, and I'd just put in more time to swimming than I have and have been meaning to, and try to stay on the trainered bike, but it would still stink a little.  I have an appointment tomorrow so that will be good to talk about it.  I really want to make it just 2 more weeks though so I can run this fun run half marathon on my favorite trail a friend organized.  The kind of thing that I can take at my pace since there won't be a crowd there, is a great fairly flat course, isn't all downhill, and has plenty of sections I can walk.  So that's my goal at this point, be able to run that, and then if I have to take the rest of this pregnancy off running so be it.  I'll walk and swim and bike and hopefully do some more weight training.  I have to stay active though, it is healthy for me and the baby and I get depressed without it.  Daylight Savings is coming soon too thank the heavens since it is so depressing to wake up to dark every morning.  I really need some daylight, not even sunshine, just daylight.  Hope you all had a nice Halloween!  Next post (that may be below this one though) up is the duathlon I did with my twin sister out in Boston a couple weeks ago.  Stay tuned  :)

Spreading the multisport world love...I hope!

My best friend

So earlier this month my sister and mom and I traveled out to Boston for a medical conference my Nurse Practitioner mother had.  We toured Boston Friday, then my mom had conference the next 3 days so my sister and I got to hang out and do our thing.  One of those things was a duathlon about 90 minutes outside of Boston.  Yes, a race on vacation, clearly my idea  :)  Thankfully she was along for the ride with me.  I'm really proud of her for getting active.  I mean it's not like she's overweight or anything, much the opposite, she has a great body!  But great body shapes don't necessarily equal great health.  Anyway, I digress.  She started running last year and we did her first race together, a 4 mile road race over Thanksgiving weekend last year.  We did another 5k this spring when she was out here and she did great, dropping a lot time!  It's fun for me to watch her.  She also purchased a bike she can ride around town on earlier this summer.  I of course sent her out a little care package with bento box, shorts, helmet (of course), etc.  So of course the next step?  Race!  Ok, kidding, I really don't believe everyone has to race, but I found this little duathlon with distances I thought would be great for both of us and off we went!

The drive out was pretty, we got to see a lot of leaves and small old historic towns.  We also got significantly lost a lot, but we made it .  The great race director found us 1 bike to use, and a great bike shop out there Gear Works Cyclery (visit them if you're in the area) let us borrow another bike.  Perfect.  The race was smaller, proably only 60 people.  The weather was breezy, a bit colder, enough to keep our jackets on (so forgive the belly hiding pictures).  There were a couple tri bikes there and yes the geared out people made me a little ancy wanting to race them (not that I would have come close right now on the awesome bike I had, and I came to race with my sister, I was way excited to!), but we'll save that for next year.

I tell ya, check these running pics out.  Twins we are for sure.  Stride in stride for every picture I saw.  Cool

So a 5k to start with.  I was just there to pace my sister at her pace, but it turns out I was working pretty hard to keep up with her! I almost stopped in the bushes to pee along that first run route as the baby was really sitting pretty on my bladder and that is really uncomfortable running wise, but I'm not sure I could have caught back up with her!  She ran that first section really well. 

Yup

Told you so

After that we hopped on the bikes and went out for a 2 loop 9 mile course.  It was lots of up and down, lots of shifting which I was glad my sister caught onto on the new bike quickly.  I know it was pushing her at the end, both sitting on a new saddle, and her lungs, but again, she did it.  For me it felt great to be on a bike in that setting again, mainly because I wasn't pulling the trailer.

Check out my sweet ride!  No bar wrap on the hoods which was a wee bit uncomfortable and shifters on the down tube, something I've never experienced.  A new seat is also something I do not enjoy, or the way too smallness of it.  While the bike is probably older than I am, I was grateful for it.  It worked, kept me safe, and meant I didn't have to ship mine out.

Funny story.  When I was on the phone with Gear Works asking about a rental they said that yes they had one that would fit us, but it was really ugly.  I said oh yeah?  They said yeah, it's this lime green color.  LOL!  I told them I was insulted, my tri bike is lime green.  Then I told them I was of course kidding (about being insulted).

Of to the last section, a 1 mile run.  Now no that doesn't sound like much, but to someone who's farthest run is 4 miles and has never done any kind of multisport brick or race, it is.  She struggled with breathing and I tried to help her best I could.  I suggested a walking break at one point but she said no.  Good on 'er.  I know I was pushing her and she wasn't having much fun now, but it was a good time just trying to motivate her and encourage her.  We finally saw the finish, I told her there was a photographer so smile  :)  and we were done!

We did it!

I know it was hard for her, but I'm really proud of her for doing it!  She finished strong, no walking, and we even tied for 1st in our age group!  I'm even ok with the fact that our duathlon made her appreciate 5k's more  :)

Thanks Sis!