Taking it in stroll...

I'm taking it mostly easy this week.  I've got less than two weeks before my next 50k and I've got to get my ankle back up to snuff...or at least not injure it more. 

So life handed me the perfect way to keep it low key and spend time with the best running buddy in the world.  Tonight I had to handle daycare pick up for the diva.  Dad was working late.  And now that the sun is staying out until closer to 7, that means if I do pick up, there is time to play outside.

Thank goodness the diva loves watching her mom run...or at least knowing her mom is running.  When I asked her if she wanted to help me on my run tonight, she willingly jumped into warmer clothes and climbed into the jogging stroller with her fruit snacks gripped tightly in her little hands. 

With that, we headed down Bay Head toward the preserve to do the cloverleaf before heading home.  No major mileage today.  A) my ankle hurts with each step.  B) its super windy so the diva was getting a little cold.  And, C) I was hungry and wanted to make dinner.  But, hey, any mile run is a mile you don't regret missing later on. 

We played a bit as we jogged.  The diva likes swerving around and making car noises with the stroller.  I just like watching her smile and enjoy spending time with me this way, so I will do whatever keeps her happy to be strolling along with me.

As we were finishing, the wind kicked up pretty good and we picked up the pace to get back inside.  It wasn't long, it wasn't speedy, it wasn't artistic, but it was a run with my favorite running buddy.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  2.26
Time:   22:22 (average pace of 9:54 per mile)
Feeling:  very sore ankle, will have to sort this one out


  

Three's a party...

Today the diva and I got the chance to run with and catch up on life with another great red head.  I don't think I've had the pleasure of running with this particular person, except in passing, since probably February.  That's right folks, Lara met up with us at Quiet Waters Park for a spin around the outside loop.

It was good fun...and so much better than the last time I ran Quiet Waters (which was with the old, dreaded jogging stroller).  We met up at the parking lot across the street from the park since technically its closed on Tuesdays, then headed in to catch the path around the park.   The company and conversation were good and we also counted the bridges with the diva as we crossed each one.  It was also nice to have a partner run with the stroller for a good mile or so.  Especially splitting hills with me.  We ran the entire outer loop (including the compost loop, but not the boat loop...I did that one last time.)  I also used the time to secure a commitment from Lara to run the Charm City Run 20-miler with me in a couple weeks.  Thanks Lara!!!

The body functioned appropriately on the run, but those darn hamstrings are still tight.  I know I keep saying I need to start applying icy hot.  I guess a little stretching wouldn't hurt too, right? :)  I'm horrible at some of the simple things.  I'm not going to promise to get better because that would just set me up for failure, but I may say I will try.

Following our run we sat out on the sidewalk in front of the cars and Lara got to know the diva and showed her pictures of her kids and friends.  The diva loves pictures...especially ones on an iphone...and especially when she gets to swipe to the next one.  After that we said so long to Lara until the weekend at the A-10 packet pick up when we'll run into her again.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  4.55
Time:   49:09 (average pace of 10:48 per mile)
Location:  Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis
Feeling:  Tight hams, light heart

Singing in the rain...

Today's plan included a long run with Brie over at Greenbury Point.  Plans change, and sometimes in very pleasing ways. 

The plan changed because it was raining steadily.  At least for the time window we had set aside.  So I planned instead to run at home after dinner.  Well that changed too when the rain really started coming down.  I almost scrapped the whole thing for the day, but then the rain almost completely stopped...only a light drop here and there.  So I decided to take the diva out for a short post-dinner run with the new rain cover on the new jogging stroller.

We also made another small adjustment to the way we run.  I found and changed the batteries on my mini-speaker so I could hook it up to the ipod.  With our music blaring, the diva and I took off toward Chesapeake Preserve.  We weren't a quarter mile down the road before the diva started singing to the music at the top of her lungs and dancing in the stroller.  It was quite a show...she can't sing in tune yet...or English for that matter.  She just sort of yells along with the music and has a grand old time.

What could be better than hanging out with my little bug, doing one of my favorite activities and knowing everyone has something to enjoy?  Oh, sorry to the lady we passed while Maroon 5 was blaring and the diva really was crooning in the opposite tone.  While she looked amused, all the noise probably hurt her dogs ears :)

Things trucked along and the ride was smooth for about 2.75 miles before it began misting in earnest.  The diva, who wouldn't allow me to completely close up the rain cover without fussing, really began fussing when she started get a little mist in the face.  Luckily we were close to home.  I picked up the pace and turned toward our community.  Half a mile later, we shut down our strange concert, jumped out of the stroller and went back to playing in the house until next time.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  3.26
Time:   31:33 (average pace of 9:40 per mile...still getting used to the extra weight)
Location:  Bay Head to Chesapeake Preserve
Feeling:  even if my hamstrings were still a little tight, my heart was singing

Oh glorious day...

Today was BEAUTIFUL!!!  I can't say enough about what a pleasure it was to be running on a day like today.  The temp was in the mid-70s, the sky was clear and the humidity was manageable.  I would be fine if the rest of the year was just like today.  Yesterday, however, was a totally different story and I guess I need to start there.

Friday was hot, humid and all things sticky.  It was way too hot to be running outside in the middle of the day and normally I would have taken this as a rest day.  Why, then, was I running at the height of this day that was designed for a treadmill workout?  Because the new Joovy Zoom 360 came in and we just had to take it for a spin.  Nothing too strenuous, mind you.  Just a quick two miles to check out the performance versus the old Baby Trend Expedition.

I must say, I am in love.  The Zoom 360 works like a dream.  All those things I hated about the old jogging stroller?  They don't exist with this one.  There are no exposed hard plastic areas for the diva to knock her head against when we hit bumps, the maneuverability is 100% improved and the stroller has a suspension system, so it has an amazing ride.  Did I mention that it came with cup holders too?  If I were a kid I would probably live in this stroller.  The diva seems to like it too.

Now for today.  Oh the glorious day we had.  This morning, the diva and my husband headed out to a family fair over at the base, which left me some time to run and do some cleaning around the house.  I started with the run. 

It was so comfortable out that I just hit a rhythm and kept going.  If I didn't have so much I wanted to accomplish, I would have made it a 10 miles day.  As it was, I limited it to just over five and took one of my less usual routes.  I headed over to Broadneck Park and wound through the walking path there, headed over to Cape St. Claire and hugged the curvy windy roads down to the shopping center and turned back to home with gas left in the engine.  I even raced a lizard up the connector from Cape St. Claire road to Old Cape St. Claire Road.  It felt amazing.

And that was just the start.  The day kept giving and I was willing to take.  We ended the day out on a friend's boat watching the sun set and the stars brighten the sky to the chorus of kids laughing while feeding chips to the ducks.  It doesn't get any better than this.  Happy trails!!!

Stats for Friday -
Miles:  2.14
Time:   20:15 (average pace of 9:27...better than with the old stroller)
Location:  Chesapeake Preserve
Feeling:  tight hamstrings but great stroller

Stats for Today -
Miles:  5.3
Time:   45:16 (average pace of 8:32 per mile)
Location:  Broadneck Park to Cape St. Claire and home
Feeling:  tight hamstrings but the rest of it was great....maybe it's time to hit the icy hot again

Multitasking mama...

Today I woke up feeling the need for an early run. The temps were going to be good and I know a route that is relayy.tively cool i the morning if the temps are reasonable, even if the humidity isn't...like today (76%).  So after breakfast and a little tricycle practice, the diva and I headed over to the B&A Trail for a few miles...that was the plan.

I refuse, well almost refuse, to run the B&A trail when its hot and humid.  The trail is set between two banks of trees.  When the temperature is semi-okay, the humidity makes its cool under the trees.  When the temp is atrocious, the trees seem to hold in heat that could only be generated in hell...hence my lack of enthusiasm in running the trail on hot days.  Thankfully the temp at 9:15 am today was only about 80 degrees.  Lovely.  Especially since I still have the dreaded Baby Trend jogging stroller instead of the new one.  Thank goodness the B&A trail is straight as a pin.

I started out the run emailing back and forth between my office and another interested party about whether or not we should hold a conference call at 9:45 am or 1:00 pm.  Mind you, while this is all going on I'm jogging and pushing the jogging stroller.  We finally settled on 9:45 and so I kept one eye on the watch and another on the trail. 

Because of the nature of the trail, this would be an out and back run.  The trail was busy on the way out and the little diva got a lot of waves to respond to.  She enjoyed it for about 10-15 minutes before she zonked out so hard I don't think a freight train could have woken her in the stroller.  This was a good thing since I had the call coming up shortly.

The run itself was relatively uneventful...aside from the fact that for the first time I wasn't cursing the stroller the entire way (remember I said the trail was straight, so no worrying about maneuverability), and my hamstrings were sore from the hard run last night.  The call, was pretty good and during an easy enough section of the trail so as not to slow the pace at all...oh yeah, I kept on going during that conference call. And as soon as the call ended, we turned around and headed back toward the car. 

All in all, I would say this was the most successful outing I've had with the old jogging stroller (and thankfully the last beause the new one comes in tomorrow).  Perhaps my weekday runs will have to switch over to the B&A trail....only if mother nature and the weather cooperates. And yeah, while running, and pushing the jogging stroller, and participating on a conference call, I ran about 3/4 of a mile more than I set out to.  Happy trails!!! 

Stats -
Miles:  4.52
Time:   43:15 (average pace of 9:34 per mile)
Location:  B&A Trail
Feeling:  Really sore hamstrings, but otherwise fantastic

Eating and running...

Blah.  Those two things don't mix.  Does that stop me from doing it however?  That would be a big fat no.  Of course not.  I rarely learn from past mistakes.  In this case, though, I was semi-limited in my choices.  Oh yeah, I still had choices, but I chose the one that appealed more to my brain than my physical being.  Yep, I scarfed down my dinner and immediately ran out the door to pound the pavement rather than waiting a little while, missing the sun and hitting the treadmill.  I just couldn't help myself.

Here's what happened.  I really wanted to be outside for today's run - no, needed to be outside to feel the fresh air in my lungs, smell the slightly salty air running along the shore of the Chesapeake and not be confined by four walls.  Today I spent the day working (the kind that pays the bills) while running after a toddler, cleaning up after dog spills and a chocolate milk spill all over the dining room table and dining room...and then some.  It was a stressful day and running relieves my stress, so I didn't listen to my body when it reminded me I can't run immediately after eating.

Even though my stomach was less than happy with me, my legs were ecstatic.  I ran and stretched with glee along the roads of the Broadneck Peninsula and revelled in the late afternoon view of the haze building over the bay while clearing my mind and my muscles of more than a day of build up.  It was fantastic, if not horribly fast.  The roads were quiet, few sounds but the birds overhead and the thunder rolling across the bay as a storm dumped rain on the eastern shore.  It was my time.  Well, mine and the three deer that nearly scared me to death (or did I nearly scare them to death?) as they crunched through the woods. 

Tomorrow I must hit the trail with the little diva and the jogging stroller to add more road miles.  Today was really much better than last week's treadmill workouts.  I can suffer one more run with the bad jogging stroller before the new one comes in, can't I?  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  6.26
Time:   54:23 (average pace of 8:41 per mile)
Location:  Broadneck Peninsula - Bay Head to Log Inn
Feeling:  My legs were singing with joy

Adding to the jogging pleasure...

I have been looking forward to today's run for several days.  Why?  Well, today Brie and I switched up the routine and took along the kids.  Yep, my second run with the jogging stroller (see more on the jogging stroller saga below) and the added pleasure of new running partners, or rather spectators.  All around an enjoyable effort.


We started out a little late, but since the weather was cooler than it has been, it actually wasn't an issue.  We headed downtown toward City Dock and the playground on Newman Street.  This is a really cool playground if you have kids.  It's got just about everything you could imagine for the kids.  The diva still enjoys swings and slides over most other playground elements, but she is curious about tunnels.

After the playground, we headed over to City Dock to feed the ducks...feeding frenzy doesn't quite do justice to the melee in ego alley.  And took in the farmer's market to buy some great heirloom tomatoes to make BLTs for lunch (also got some zucchini to make bread, but that will have to wait a couple days).

Following the downtown events, we headed back up to Franklin Street - quieter and more shade covered than West Street, and then shimmied over to Poplar Trail.  I don't want you to get the idea that this was an easy run.  No way, I'm no where near accustomed to a jogging stroller, but it was great fun...especially with new jogging partners.  We ended with one smily boy and one rather tuckered out little girl.  I hope these two will grow up to be great friends...there mamas certainly are.

Now for the jogging stroller drama....wellnot so much drama as just determining that I really dislike my jogging stroller.  Sure its heavy, the combined weight with the diva means I'm pushing around 60 pounds.  That's not a big deal.  What I don't like is that I have no maneuverability, which is crummy on windy trails.  The seat sits too far back, so the diva has to lean forward to see around her.  And that means if we hit a bump her head is bumped against the unpadded side rails.  All in all, sucky.  So what's the solution?  I researched jogging strollers and reviews and will be the proud owner of the Joovy Zoom 360 by the end of the week.  I should have improved maneuverability, good suspension, better seat position...and a cup holder for me :)  I'll be sure to review the stroller after using it.

Finally, I logged this morning's run only to discover I was 0.07 miles from hitting my target for the week.  So what did I do?  I went out and ran a couple more miles.  It was warmer than this morning, and certainly less shade covered running the cloverleaf in Chesapeake Preserve, but felt decent and got the job done.

I'm hoping for more opportunities to get outside this week, as opposed to my treadmill running of the past two, though this will mean time with the dreaded Baby Trend jogging stroller.  Perhaps I can find a long straight road.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  6.11 in the morning, 2.26 in the afternoon
Time:  Not sure about the morning (forgot the watch) but the afternoon was 19:20 (average 8:33)
Location:  All around Annapolis & Chesapeake Preserve
Feeling:  Hot and sweaty, but the muscles were working well

A few kinks to work out...

As I said yesterday, I probably needed to take today off because of the ankles.  But getting in that first run with the jogging stroller - seeing how the little diva did - was too much of a pull to leave the running shoes in the closet.  So in grand denial style, I loaded up the stroller and the diva in the car and headed off to Quiet Waters Park.

I like Quiet Waters.  They have a decent paved trail with options for a couple different distances.  Today I just wanted to take it slow and easy to see how the little one adjusted to the jogging stroller and not hurt myself anymore, so I basically followed the course for the JLA Volunteers on the Run 5K (which happens every fall...check back for details on this year's run), except I swapped the boat loop for the compost loop. 

Things seemed to be going well for the diva...at least she didn't hate the stroller.  It wasn't going quite as well for me.  It definitely is tougher running with the stroller than without.  Most notably my arms were tired from pushing...or rather holding the stroller in front. Give me a couple more and this should get easier.  The other thing I noticed, I couldn't quite get up to speed.  Understatement.  I was going a more than a minute per mile slower.  Hopefully I can chip away at that as I become accustomed to the change.  Actually, this may be a good thing for my speed.  Just think of how much faster I will go without the stroller after training with it.

Okay, so we established I had at least one blunder on this run...that being I shouldn't have run on the injury to begin with.  So, at about mile two, I'm in a little pain, dripping sweat because it's wicked humid and the diva won't sit back because she wants to be able to see all around her.  Now I'm a good mom, and I tried to get her back, but was not successful before we hit a bump (the trail has a lot of them from roots growing up under the pavement) and she bumped her head a tiny bit on the side of the stroller.  I don't think she likes it anymore.  She couldn't wait for the ordeal to be over.  Hopefully she'll give it another shot for mama's sake.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  3.2
Time:   31:17 (average pace of 9:45 per mile)
Location:  Quiet Waters Park Annapolis
Feeling:  Uh, not fantastic...need to lay off the ankle (but let's be honest, I probably won't)

The jogging stroller moms...

Today I leave for China.  Actually I leave in a couple of hours.  The bags are packed, all the details are taken care of and the boarding passes are printed (well sort of...we are checked in, but since its an international flight we have to show passports before getting the actual boarding passes).  Only one thing still needed to be done...I needed to hit my mini-goal for the week with my running.  So I strapped on the shoes (trail shoes, but I'll get to that) and headed out into yet another scorching early morning.

Since I already packed my running shoes, I ended up wearing one of my newer pairs of trail shoes this morning.  Big mistake.  I wasn't running on trails.  Not only are they not broken in, but the soles just don't mesh with pavement running.  My arches were killing me in the first mile.  By the third mile I think they gave up and just fell down with the shoe, or at least the muscles in my foot stretched a little differently.  By the end, I wasn't paying much attention to my arches because I was trying to keep the sweat from blinding me.

But who can talk about running right now?  I thought relatively little about it during the hour I was outside doing the deed.  My mind was in China, where in two days I will meet my child for the first time.  It's been a long wait and I'm excited/anxious/nervous/happy/scared/ecstatic/joyful.  This is what I thought about. Now, I'll still be running in China, but probably back on the treadmill.  And I won't be taking my laptop, so my blogging may be less regular.  But once I get back, I will be joining a new group of runners - the jogging stroller moms - and I can't wait.

Oh, yeah, and I did hit this week's mini-goal of 15 miles before jumping on the plane :)  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  6.52
Time:  57:48 (average pace of 8:52 per mile)
Location:  Broadneck Peninsula, Bay Head, Sandy Point
Feeling:  Aside from the arches it was a good run