Johnny's ROTG 2014: Ultra fun

What??  Two posts in one weekend?  I know it.  I''m frightened too.  I guess when kiddo gets up a happy lil guy and wants to play by himself at 5am...mommy can write a blog post.  Funny how that one works.

So, this past weekend was the annual kick off to the Rochester racing season - Johnny's Running O the Green 5 miler. I've run this race through a variety of different life circumstances - the blizzard of 2006, a nice fat PR in 2009, training for Ironmans in 2010 and 2011, and preggo as all can be in 2013.  My PR on this course is 37 minutes, which I knew I really had no shot at beating (even though I feel super fit, right now ultra training is suiting me more to distance, not speed!), but I was hoping for a solid run after weeks of beating my body up with back to back weekend long runs.  I had a goal of a sub 8:30 pace, with a long shot goal of breaking 8 - why?  I have no idea.  I haven't done any kind of speed work in months, and my long runs hover around a 9 minute pace up until about 13 miles but hey, dream big go big, right?  Right.

race morning came with temps at about 30, with some slight wind gusts.  Greg and I got up bright n early (thanks Rob!) did the coffee/banana oats deal, popped an Imodium (learn from the Rochester half debacle!) and were out the door by 7:30.  My cousin lives about 5 miles from the race site and adores Rob, so we dropped him off for some play time and made our way to the race site.  (I would have pushed him in a stroller, but this race sees about 2500 people and it was kinda cold.  Need to find a fun spring 5k for some Rob and Momma playtime!!)

I adore this race.  It's flat, fast and the structure of the course allows for you to see everyone faster and slower than you,a sit does a turnaround halfway through.  So for about a mile and a half I get to see all my Roc runner friends- makes the time go by, and I get all amped for the season!  I found a few friends pre-race, got my hair sprayed green, and before I knew it, it was time to go!

Slightly blurry mile 4 pic, courtesy of my friend HBO!

The congestion at the start line is typical, but thinned nicely.  Took about 20 seconds to cross the line, another half mile to dodge people that seeded themselves wayyyy optimistically, and i was off. Crossed mile 1 at 8:30, feeling good.  Greg and I ran together for about the first mile, then found our own paces.  One thing long running has taught me this year is how to pace and push through, and I've really cut back on my walk breaks (I used to favor a steady 9:1 run/walk ratio for an 8:30 mile, now I've found my 8:30 pace comfortably to maintain.  ironically, the run/walk is much better for an ultra.  I'm special like that).  Any who'sers, I stayed steady at 8:30 for about the first 3 miles, grabbing a quick sip at the one aid station. I ran for awhile with my tri friends, then tucked in for the last mile.  Mile 4 - 33:12.  I knew that I would most likely hit that B goal, as the last mile was downhill.  I turned up the gas a bit, sailed through the final mile, and crossed in 41:17, for an average pace of 8:16/mile and good for 20th out of 121 in my age group.  Sweet.

Post race, I grabbed a bagel and some water. stretched for a few, then headed out for another 5 miles to finish my longish run of the weekend.  #Ultraproblems.

Analysis?  I felt good.  My legs handled it well, my lungs are not cut out for an 8 minute mile for more than 5 miles right now :-).  What can I say?  I'm a mule!  I enjoyed the race (Did NOT enjoy the fact that the parking garage decided to charge this year without any warning.  Lame.) and am ready for the next race - Spring forward 15k in Mendon, next Saturday!)

Run on, run on.  

Lets get it started in here!

Wow.  Two weeks since a blog?  What is wrong with me??  Well, ok, there's a list, but hey, I won't bore you with that.  One of my avid readers (I love my Uncle), requested a 'damn update' - so here goes!!

1.  Rob is awesome.  Duh.  He is also teething.  So even though my little man is the bestest thing since sliced bread, we are all dead frickin tired.  No joke.

(That's passed out.  I did not kill the kid).
2.   In light of making lemons out of....ya know....I've developed a teething biscuit recipe.

Easy Teethers

3/4 cup ground oats
3/4 AP flour or WW flour
3/4 cup baby apple juice

This is not a genius recipe - it's a adaptation from a zillion baby recipes I found with teh googlez....but its super simple.  Mix all 3 until a sticky dough forms, then shape into balls.  Place on cookie sheet, slightly flatten, then bake at 350.  Let sit for 10 minutes so they slightly harden.  makes about 2 dozen, which lasts us about a week.
They aren't gorgeous, but they are pretty natural, cheaper than mum mums ($4 a box WHAT??) and kiddo loves em.  Of course, he eats dirt, so I'm not sure his palette is the best judgement :-)

Aside from baby, work and trying to keep us in clean clothes and food...I'm running. And running some more.  Mind the ducks is 7 short weeks away, and I've been logging the miles!  I owe a Johnny's race recap (spoiler alert - no PR but I hit my B goal yay!) but it's been going really well.  Even though my time is limited, I feel like ultra might be a good fit for me. Yay.

And now, onto the weekend!  What's on your agenda?  I have 3 back to back days of 2 plus hour runs, a Euchre party (so cool am I) and hopefully a girls night.  Woot.  Have a great first spring weekend!!!

Month 8: YOU ARE SO GREAT!!

Holy canoodle, someone's a whole month older!!  Buddy, these months are just flying by.  I can't even believe it.  Seems like just yesterday you were my little turtle, and now you are such a little man!!  I love EVERY. STINKING. MINUTE. of it.  I just can't even believe what a cool little guy you are and how darn lucky I am to have you in my life.  Ahh, enough of that sappy crap.  Lets talk about how cool YOU are.  K? Let's DO IT.  

Size - 20 pounds (ish).  No weigh in this month, but that's our good ole scale estimate.  You are chugging along so nicely, right smack dab in the middle of where you should be.  Lovin' your little baby chubbers, which is exactly where you should be!!

Likes:  The world is your oyster, little dude.  You have started pulling yourself up like a champ, and even have stood by the table a few times!!  Woot woot!!  You still love jumping in your jumper, but you also adore sitting and playing with your cars, your steering wheel, and your rings.  You are getting to be a champ at picking things up with a pincer grasp (we are in such trouble) and you babble with the best of them!  We've heard a bunch of mamamamas and dadadadadas, but as brilliant as we know you are, we do know it's still babbling.  You also ADORE the water.  Bath time is now a time for playing, and you get so mad when it's time to get out!  You also LOVED your swim lessons, and are such a fishy!!  You are still quite the little ladies man, and you charm the pants off anyone that comes your way.  

Dislikes: Cuttin' teeth.  It's a nasty business, but someone has to do it.  You have two full chompers now, and you are such a champ about it. Some nights are rough, some nights are good, but aside from super snuggles and gnaws, you really do well with the teething.  We feel for ya, buddy.  

Sleep: Good nights and bad nights, buddy.  We keep truckin along.  You do pretty darn well with the nighttime now (still one solid wake up, sometimes more but not much), and naps are good days and bad days.  You still are 99% of the time a happy little kid, and you're hittin all your milestones well.  Guess that means it's all good!

Eating: My little nomser, as always!!  You've started dairy this month- you love yogurt and cottage cheese, and any fruit we throw your way.  You also love your teething biscuits, which mommy makes for you (ground oats, flour, and apple juice).  YUM!!!  You still tank down the milk, and hopefully you will STOP BITING MOMMY.  It's not funny, dude.  

Milestones/Firsts:
Pulling up to standing - go little man!!!
Pincer grasp- You are picking things up like a champ!!
"Solid" - teething biscuits and cereal.  You eat ALL the foods!  
Sprouted two teeth - sharp little *#&@^.  Yikes.
Swim Lessons - You are SUCH A FISHY!!  We adore the pool.  This bodes well for you, dude!! 

Best Moment: Our swim lesson was so freakin cool buddy.  No fear at all.  Dunk me, let's kick and splash, I'm in.  We are going to have so much fun playing in the water, buddy!!!

Looking Forward to: Warmer weather and starting up our runs again!!  Woot woot!!  Time to start training for another Mommy Rob 5k!

You spin me right round

Whew, thank you friday!  I have no words of inspiration today, guys.  It's been a week.  Listen, I'm a huge ole fan of this mommy thing, but when you mix it with teething, work messes, family shiznit and a sicky husband....well hell, someone hand me a glass of wine, stick a fork in me, where's the cheese. (for the w(h)ine.  It's all good.  I just need a hug.  And a nap.

1 outta 2 works, right?  Man, I love my little guy!!  All kvetching aside, life is good.  I just wish I could find the "pause" button once in awhile.  And so I'm going to try with this post.  I know I've been a bit all over the place with this blog, dappling in the things I love most - running/tris, healthy cooking, saving money, and figuring out this whole mommy game.  It's a but of a mish mosh, but it's me.  And I appreciate everyone that takes the time to read it.  I also feel bad that I don't post nearly as much as I used to - I swear, if I had 3 wishes I would wish for....a time pauser, .....ok, thats it.  Maybe a million dollars, but only to help out a few well deserving people.  Just a time pauser, thankyouverymuch.  I don't want much, do I? :-)

Ultra-ing....is that a word?  I'm on a step back this week which means only 18 miles this weekend (yea, once you've finished vomiting, you can keep reading).  I'm really interested in anyone thats done one of these suckers before....as the event is only 9 weeks away (wait, WTF?) I am looking for some thoughts on what to pack.  I feel like I'm going to camp for 12 hours - I need a few outfits, music, and munchies.  Or am I going to a bar?  Well, I know that there will be beer...these ulstra runners are nuts.  Anyways- anyone have any foodstuffs thoughts?  I know of a guy that eats cheeseburgers during ultras.  Bill Grays IS just down the road....oh barf.  I'm also looking for anyone that has an hour or two to kill on May 10th....looking for any hecklers in my aid tent from 7am-7pm anytime.....feed me jelly beans.  Throw popcorn.  Laugh.  AMUSE ME.  Any takers?

On a more sane note, I signed up for my March races - a 5 miler St Pat's day weekend (season starter!) and a hilly 15k on the 29th.  I love my cousin and godmom for being my best baby sitters.  But hey, Rob;s a lady killer, so I should just thank him, right?  Also signed up for the OBX marathon Veteran;s day weekend - anyone have any ideas of where to stay?  We're thinking a nice cottage...and a toddling bebe by the ocean....aww shucks.

Wow, what a ramble fest.  There ya go - consider yourself updated.  Whats new with you guys?  Anyone have any thoughts for May 10th or wanna keep me company?  Bueller?  Bueller?

Running Around

So.  Here we are in week 4 of my so called ultra training (feel like I need some Clare Danes).  It's been another crazy week, and I would be that crazy lady, trying to pretend that I can do it all.  I can do most of it, reasonably well.  And that's ok.  I realize it's now turning into a post a week gig around here, and that's my thing, so Imma roll with it.  I mean, a recipe or thrifty tip, an update on my ultra training, a Rob pic and...you're good to go for another week, right?  Right.  Thanks :-)

Recipe....well, Valentine's day has come and gone.  When you have a bebe and lack of close by sitters, you have to get creative.  No problema.  Greg and I stayed in and I made dinner, and he did dessert.  Chicken French and lofthouse cookies....mmmmm.  I adapted a Better Homes and Gardens recipe for Chicken French, and the results were delicious, healthy and easy.  Check it out!

 Lightened Up Chicken French

4 - 4oz boneless chicken breast, raw
2 egg whites
1/4 cup ww flour
1/2 cup white wine
1 tbsp each parsley and minced garlic

Pound chicken breast with a mallet (or rolling pin) until thin.  Dredge in flour, dip in egg.  Spray a frying pan with non stick spray, brown chicken on each side for 2 minutes.  Turn heat to low, add in wine, garlic and sprinkle parsley on breasts.  Cover pan and let simmer for 10-15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.  I served with some glazed baby carrots and noodles in garlic butter....simple and delicious.  Nothing earth shattering, but a nice glass of Sauv Blanc and a lofthouse cookie on the side (yes, I am addicted) and it was a fine V Day.

Of course, we did manage a Valentine date thanks to Greg's godmom who came to sit the next day...I haven't been ice skating in 15 years and it showed, but we had a blast!!

In other news...Ultra training is going along great - I'm doing 1-2 shorter mid week runs (4-6 miles) and back to back long runs on the weekend (up to 10 miles and 17 miles respectively).  I've been alternating between time and distance, and 90% of my long runs have been done on the treadmill due to baby, weather, and....well, factoring in mental toughness :-)  It's actually been kinda fun.  My toes are blistered, my legs hurt, but I feel strong.  Rawr.  I officially bit the bullet and paid the entree fee this week so I am in like flynn.....8 weeks to go, baby!!

Speaking of baby....Rob is perfect.  He is starting to teeth, which has been a little rough, but he is such a champ.  Learning to stand, more and more interested in the world every day. and perfect to his mommy in every way.  God I love that kiddo.

We start swim lessons next week, and I am so excited - check out that cute swim deep!  We can just call him Macca Jr for now, thank you very much :-P

Hey, whats new in your world?

Lucky Number 7

Six days late!  Holy Cow!!  Well, in my defense...battling the plague, work deadlines, ran 40 miles, and um...plague.  But who cares about me?  SOMEONE turned 7 months old last week....and he is such a big big boy!!!

Size - Weighing in at 19 pounds - pretty soon I can just set aside my wish list for a kettle bell.  I have baby dumbbell!  I kid, I kid little man.  Still, you do love helping Mommy and Daddy do their crunches, pushups and laughing at us when we do kickboxing :-)  No clue on your height - you are too much of a wiggle worm for us to even contemplate it!

Likes:  Well, now that you are sittin' like a big boy, the world has opened up!.You love playing with your v tech steering wheel ( a free mommy find) and your cars!  You also love sittin like a big boy and grabbing anything on your blanket.  Your hand eye coordination is just awesome, and you adore playing with your blocks.  You also are getting to be a huge fan of the bathtub - you love practicing swimming, and also playing with your bath toys.  We have so much fun in the tub- you are such a fishy!!

Dislikes: Apparently you seem to to be regressing on the sleep issue again...yikes.  We don't see this at home too much - you have about two one hour naps and then sleep about 11-12 hours a night (with a few wake ups).  That seems about pretty normal to me, but what do I know?  We seem to be muddling through, with the exception of the sickies that have been invading our house.  One day at a time.  You still have the stuffies, but you are still such a happy kiddo!!

Sleep: See above - I think we are doing well, especially based off of our recent challenges.  We have good nights, we have bad nights, we have somewhere in between.  You're a baby - you're allowed!  Generally, you still eat once during the night - we are working on cutting that one out, but not in a rush to do so.

Eating: You are eating solids 2-3 times a day, and you just adore eating- you sit at your little high chair like such a connoisseur and nom nom nom all your fruits and veggies.  I'm getting more adventurous with the blender - we have started mixing fruits and veggies and grains - you love oatmeal (score!) and barley, also are a big fan of your green veggies.  My little monster.

Milestones/Firsts:
Sitting up, unassisted - such a big feat!  It has opened up a whole new world for you!!

Ms and Ds - You babble like a champ, buddy.  I may have heard a few mamamamas....but I'm holding out on that first word.  Soon bud, soon.

Best Moment: Our conversations win, hands down.  I can't understand you and you can't understand me, but somehow we seem to do just fine together.  You are such a blessing in my world, little man, and I KNOW how lucky I am every day to have you!

Looking Forward to: Every new day!  You are starting to pull yourself up by the coffee table into standing, and scootching on your little mat....oh, you want to move so badly!

Chilly Chili

It's fricking freezing, Mr. Bigglesworth!! I managed to catch whatever crap my child is passing around town, and while I am certainly grateful that he is a sharing type of child, I'm a hot mess.  Actually, a cold mess.  To add insult to injury, it seems as if the pipes aren't working in my corner of the office right now, which means that it's about 50 degrees during the day.  Farfignugin.  Enough with the whine.....and yes, I will provide you with cheese.  Atop my Delicious crock pot dinner....Chilly Chili! - um....meant for chilly days.  Not gazpacho chili.  Ergh.  Here goes...

Chilly Chili - serves 4-6

One pound 90% lean ground beef
1 large onion
1 large green pepper
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
2 15 oz cans dark kidney beans
1 15 oz can light kidney beans
1 cup red wine (I used Merlot)
2 tbsp chopped garlic
2 tbsp each red pepper, chili pepper and black pepper
cheddar cheese, optional


Everyone has their own chili recipe, this is my classic go to.  It's simple, hearty, and healthy.  Brown ground beef and (diced) onion in a skillet (I am odd and use just a little water, but you can use EVOO if it floats your boat).   Dice pepper.  Add in rest of ingredients to the crock, cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Serve in a big ole bowl topped with cheese (we added some jalapeno cheddar for a kick!) and homemade bread (or...um....Pillsbury biscuits for us harried peeps).  Simple.  Delicious.  And never goes outta style during the cold days of winter!

In other news, I made it through week two of Ultra training, including two double digit runs back to back at damn near a sub 9 pace for the second 14 miler.  Schweet.

In other other (way more important news) check out my kiddo in the D&C!

Yeah.  He's a heart breaker.  And I love him to bits.

So, what's everyone doing for Valentine's day?  Got any ideas for me?  Anyone want to babysit? :-D