Mt Ellinor 20k

Not sure if you remember, but I had big ambitions to run White River 50 mi this summer.  Between Jasper's birth not going exactly as planned and then his inclination for fussing anytime he was left with Matt not much running occurred the first few months of his life.  So, no White River for me.  Looking back I think it comical that I ever thought that was a good idea....

As of late Matt is dealing with the fussing better (no, it hasn't stopped) so I've been able to get out by myself a bit more.  Before last weekend I made it out for two Saturday trail runs, both of which were ~10miles.   I felt this was sufficient training to sign-up for a 20k and picked out a doozie.  The 'Beast of Big Creek' which runs up Mt. Ellinor, meaning you gain 5,000' in six miles to the top and then  turn around and run back down.  Fun (I'm serious)!

My expectations were minimal going into the race - not keel over and die and finish.  I'm happy to report I accomplished both.  My writing this is evidence that I'm alive and I did finish, I was DFL, but I finished.  As you may surmise from my stellar finish, I ate some humble pie during this race.  And you know what?  It was delicious.  It took me some time to acquire the taste, but I learned a lot about myself that day.  Halfway up the climb I apologized to my body for being so hard on it.  It grew and ejected a little person and was now allowing me to run a hard ass race with no training.  So really,  who cares that I don't look exactly like I did before I got pregnant.  My body is bad ass and goes the distance for me.  Even when I am unkind to it, it plows through and does what I ask.  So, no more negative.  Which brings me to the second thing I did during that long hard climb, I thanked my body.  I'm thankful for what is, because that is where I am right now and I better accept it. 

As for the actual race, it was hard and beautiful and awesome.  It was a good day to be out on the trail. It was foggy down low and sunny as I approached the summit, I do love a good inversion.  I took my hiking polls and it was a good choice.  I used them on the climb and the stowed them in my fancy new pack for the run down.  Speaking of the run down, my strength is usually downhill running, not this time.  The downhill portion is where I became very aware at my lack of fitness.  I had one speed and it wasn't very fast.  I'm pretty sure I could smell my feet smoking from the friction caused by my excessive braking.

Foggy start of race

Sunny trail! Yes, that is the trail.

At the top

One of my friends, who also ran the race, hiked back out to meet me at the finish.  When I crossed the finish line the race director walked over and said "you should come back next year and try for a faster time".  My friend looked at him and said "how many other women just had a kid a few months ago and are out here running your race?"  Needless to say, his response to the race director made my day.  It was much better than my reaction, which was to look down in shame.  Back to my finish place, I was one of a hand full of women than did the race so how I finished can be viewed a few different ways:

1) I was DFL
2) I was top five women
3) I was first in my age group

My view.  I got to spend a day outside doing something I love.  To me, that is a win.  

Elevation Profile (and my [slow] time on the x axis if you're curious)

Jaspers First Boat Ride

Yesterday we took Jasper on his first boat ride/fishing trip to celebrate Father's Day.  There were no fish caught and when Jasper wasn't sleeping he was screaming.  I guess you've got to start somewhere...

Thinking about having a fit

Losing his shit

Weekends Wrap-up

Both of my boys are sick.  Matt has asthmatic bronchitis and Jasper has a head cold and ear infection. I'll let you guess which one is better about not feeling good... But, neither of their illness' keep us from having a good weekend! 

Saturday morning Matt went kokanee fishing with a buddy, he only caught one but it made for a delicious breakfast of trout and eggs.  Later that day I made it out on the trails for a run, only the second time since I've had Jasper.  I thought I would be running a lot more by now, but it just hasn't been happening.  Between Matt being sick for the past 3+ weeks and life in general I've not had the opportunity.  I'm so glad I finally made it out, it felt go to use my body for something other than baby squats. 

Breakfast, brought to you by...

Chicken Little and Matt

Today we were supposed to have friends over for brunch but they bailed since they were sick.  Not one to miss an opportunity to cook and eat I made a big spread for Matt and I.  We had homemade donuts, fruit salad, quiche, mimosa's and coffee.  A good start to the day!  Matt spent the remainder of the day in the yard digging holes for our garden fence and Jasper and I ran errands in town.  Now we're all sitting around watching the Tigers. 

Monday always seems to come too soon...

Reading stories - he does not like being growled at. 
He burst into tears when I imitated a lion.

Mommy Thumb

Over the past few weeks I've been experiencing increasing pain in my left wrist at the base of my thumb.  As usual, I ignored it for awhile thinking I had accidentally whacked my wrist on something and bruised it.  However, as the pain continued to worsen I thought it might not be a bruised bone after all, so I did a bit of internet sleuthing.  Turns out I have 'mommy thumb', I shit you not, such a thing exists.  The proper term for it is DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis.  What it means is through improper lifting/holding of my little bundle of sleeps when held (by the way, he sleeps quite nicely in his crib these days) I went and inflamed the tendons along my thumb causing stabbing pain any time it is rotated or moved.  Awesome...   As  part of our mothers day outing we stopped at Rite Aid where I purchased a thumb splint. You know, those really sexy splints you find right next to the support hose.  If I already didn't look frazzled enough, I think this is going to put me over the top.

Note: if you would like to check and see if you too have mommy thumb perform this simple test - make a fist with your thumb tucked under your other fingers, bend wrist.  If the pain makes you hit the ceiling you have mommy thumb. 

Personal Trainer

Lots of people pay good money to have a personal trainer, me, I have one for free (minus the astronomical cost of raising a child).  Enter Jasper, referred to as my trainer hereafter.  This evening my trainer has been fussy, so I start bouncing while holding him - nope, not working hard enough.  Next up, my trainer prescribes deep squats, yeah this isn't cutting it either.  He moves me onto the  exercise ball, no dice.  On goes the wrap and back to the bouncing again...nothing, not enough intensity.  More deep squats, nothing.  After about a gazillion squats I gave up and took my trainer for a walk.  He was content and looking around for awhile and then began screaming again - fun.  Enter the next phase of training, lunges.  Yes, I lunged home while wearing him.  I am pretty sure my neighbors think I am crazy.  But hey, if crazy is what gets him to stop screaming and go the f*&# to sleep, so be it. 

The below picture is old, but I thought you should see how cute he is while screaming his head off...

Ground Coffee

I never could understand why they sell ground coffee.  My thought has always been - buy it whole, grind it yourself, it tastes much better.  That all changed today, I finally get the ground coffee thing...
Jasper is a good sleeper, assuming you can get him to sleep I am pretty sure he would snooze through WWIII.  This morning after much bouncing, rocking, and begging for him to sleep he finally passed out.  I put him in his bouncy chair and headed to the kitchen to make some coffee.  As I was getting ready to grind my beans I briefly wondered if it would wake him, dismissed it and carried on.  Because, you know, he sleeps through everything.  WRONG!  No sooner had I finished grinding was I met with dissatisfied screams.  At lest now I am rocking while drinking my coffee (and typing this one handed).

A Different Kind of Training

I know a lot of people look at pregnancy, delivery and (poor me) recovery as a time of discomfort.  Unless of course you are that woman that glows while pregnant and loves every single moment.  While I had an easy pregnancy it did come with its less than comfortable moments, moments I tried to view as training for my long runs.

• Since early pregnancy coincided with  summer and good weather I kept running.  Sure, I cut out my weekend long run but I kept-up with Tuesday Rock Candy (hill work) and Thursday Priest Point (45 min run).   This isn't exactly a ton of running and plenty of people have done more, but I am proud of myself.  During this time I was exhausted and felt nauseous, as in each footfall made me want to vomit.  During races/long runs your stomach doesn't always love you.  What better way to better learn to deal with it then to have every moment of every run feel like crap?
• As my pregnancy progressed and my weight increased, short runs caused my tootsies to hurt.   I'm talking the kind of hurt you experience 30 miles into a 50 mile run.  Options to deal with this 1) stop running, or 2) suck it up.  I opted for option two.  Again, what better way to learn to deal with something then have it become a constant in your life.
• My labor and delivery was not the magical experience that most moms hope to have, instead it was the horror that I believe most people actually experience.  That being said it provided some solid endurance training.   Are you in pain - yes, is there an end in sight - no, too bad lady keep going!  Oh and everything that can go awry will, deal with it. 
• I anticipated the last few weeks of my pregnancy to be my least active, oh was I ever wrong, it is the six weeks postpartum that I've been ordered to be a couch potato.  I don't do well with sitting around but I realize that recovery will occur that much faster and I can get back to life as I know it if I listen to my doctor.  So, here I sit on my duff practicing patience.  Life doesn't always go they way you plan and you have to roll with the punches. P.S. ask anyone that knows me, patience may be a virtue, but it is one I don't generally practice. 
• Note: yesterday Matt took me into town to run some errands.  We parked the car and walked around.  I was so happy to be out and and about but today I am feeling it.  Lesson learned: don't do too much too soon or you will feel it.
• Sleep deprivation - I feel no explanation is required for this one.  As far as training, this has got to come in handy for the the 100 mile race I hope to do.

But, it is all worth it for this handsome dude: