Seattle Half to the Seattle Full Part 2 Recap!

Seattle Marathon 2012

I love the start of a race - when all the runners are facing the same direction in anticipation of a collective mission. But compared to the half marathons I've been to, these marathon runners mean serious business. I slid in somewhere between the 4:10 pacer and the 4:40 pacer and pretended to be serious too.
They played the star spangled banner and I felt un-derserving and inspired and ready to go.  I got my armband and iphone set and pressed play so Tina Fey could talk me through the next 5 hours of my life. The first 6 miles felt great - they flew by! My toes went numb but I tied my shoes a little tighter at the I-90 turnaround and it actually helped.  Good choice on the half size bigger for the new shoes I said to myself!
I remember looking at the water in the fog and zoning out except for the excitement of seeing mile markers.  And because we double back I remember these amazing "true" marathoners flying past us pretty early on and just staring in awe.  They are made from a different mould for sure.  It was pretty cold being right off the water.  I made it down Lake Washington blvd and heard that dang Ganghim style song blaring from Seward Park.  Dare I say I was invigorated!?  The 4:10 pacer passed me around the 12th mile and I stayed with a girl with striped socks that was running her FOURTH marathon in FOUR days.  Every time I felt tired, I would read the back of her leg which said FOUR marathons in FOUR days.  And I would think, well this is nothing.
I hit 13.1 miles at 2:15. I drank my Eric's Sport Ade and felt fantastic.  I remember the beautiful trees and fog and repeating, I love you.  I guess I was talking to myself.  I kept running.  I loved seeing the water stations, it was such a symbol of progression.  I kept trying to calculate my times since I didn't load the pacing app because I didn't want my phone to die.  But mostly I enjoyed the run until.... about mile 20.
And then the hills started, and the saying "what the hell are you doing!?" started and it was suddenly a different beast.  So instead of zoning out, I had to zone in to physically, consciously, mentally make myself run.   And if I didn't my body would just start walking and sometimes just stop.  Like really just stop!  I downed my last Eric's Sport Shot for some extra encouragement and was so thankful a friend met me at 21 miles to run with me.  It was still hard and at times my body was begging me to just walk but I pushed through.  I love running over the bridge and seeing downtown Seattle, but the last and longest 2 miles are still left.  Thankfully two friends that ran the half marathon caught me right over the bridge and cheered me through as I ran down the hills toward the last quarter mile.  Knowing my boys were waiting at the top of Mercer kept me running and I was so excited to see them all.  It was sunny and beautiful and I felt bright and shiny as I crossed that finish line running hard.  I had done it, and done it well.
I'm not sure what to say about the accomplishment.  I'm proud of how I did, but its not pride I feel.  I'm happy I did it, but its not joy I feel either.  I think it must be love.
I didn't cry after the race.  I wanted to, but just didn't.  I might have been in too much pain to get tears out.  But later, while laid up on the couch I saw a quote on a commercial:
be yourself
everyone else is already taken
and thats when the tears came.  Dear self - look what we did, I love you!

Seattle Half to the Seattle Full!! Part 1

Can I say it now, I am a marathoner!?
Feels like its stretching the truth a bit.  But I did do it, I completed a marathon.
26.2 miles, yeahhhhhhhhhhh!!

1 year ago I ran the Seattle half marathon - my very first half marathon.  Afterwards I said it was the hardest thing I had ever done (besides childbirth of course!)  It was rainy, wet and cold but I really felt good about it, how I pushed my body and pushed my soul.  And so when I signed up for the full marathon just 10 short days ago, I must have thought:
I'm ready to do that again, but to the next level.  And there is no 3/4 marathon to sign up for so 26.2 miles it was.
Or I had one beer too many and got a little overconfident in my abilities.
Or I was like, its only 30 more dollars for another 13.1 miles, thats the better deal, if I'm going to fork over some money, I should get my money's worth!!
Actually, it was a nice mix of all three of those things.  But I did sign up, and then promptly stayed up all night thinking, what have I done!

I was very nervous - probably from having an only 10 day training program that consisted of
1. drinking a lot of water, including hunniwater!
2. researching how not to chaff
3. finding/testing new shoes
4. develop a way to not lose my mind, or rather lose my mind so I could finish!

But my program went well, in those ten days I:
1. drank lots of hunniwater
2. bought a $1 stick of body glide at the Expo and some underarmor running pants
3. went to fred meyer to buy a new version and a half size bigger of the exact shoe I had been wearing for the last year (the night before the race, I don't recommend - although not many blisters!)
4. downloaded Tina Fey's BossyPants and the End of the Affair read by Colin Firth onto my iphone

And for all my extensive preparations I still had some serious nervousness!  Which could be from:
1. only preparing for 10 days
2. not following the crossfitendurance.com site very closely since I ran the Edmonds Half in September
3. Never having run over 13.1 miles in my life.
4. Really, new shoes right before a race!?

But I reminded myself
1. It's just like running two half marathons, and I've ran 3 already!
2. I will think of it as training for an ultra marathon
3. I am a badass and can do this!!!!
4. God help me!!  no really God help me.

Okay, check the next post for my marathon recap!
http://ericsfitmama.blogspot.com/2012/12/seattle-half-to-seattle-full-part-2.html

my runner moms and the Edmonds Half Marathon!

I ran the Edmonds Half Marathon!

Last march I ran the Mercer Island half marathon in 2 hours and 45 minutes.  

And at the Edmonds Half?  Well, I killed it!!  

Racing 13.1 miles in under 2 hours, what!?!?

The race felt great, I attacked the hills and sprinted through the finish line.  Those Eric's sports shots gave me the encouragement I needed at just right times.  My 4 year old said I looked like I had a Mario star (you know the ones that make you all rainbow-y and flashy and nothing kills you and you can go super fast!?)  And you know what - thats how I felt!

In fact, as we embark on this new product adventure (it's called hunniwater and you can click here to support us!!) I'm inspired to give it everything I've got too! If I can cut 45 MINUTES off of my half marathon time, I can do anything!  And I'm going to implement the same strategies that got me here.  Finding what works for me and my family.  For me and my priorities.  

And I'll work on it every day, IN THE ZONE!!  Since starting my DIY crossfit and myfitnesspal I would say I've been (mostly) in the ZONE.   And it feels good.  I'd like to think the ZONE is where my actions line up with the goodness of my soul.  Which leads to... all the support that got me here, because that is a huge part of being in the goodness of my soul.  

And it will be a huge part as we embark on our next product!

It was probably just a year ago that I went on my first jog with some fantastic mom friends that have been with me through this whole journey.  I was huffing and puffing and shuffling my way through 2 miles, complaining with every step!  But I leaned on them, they didn't leave my side and they inspired and encouraged me (along with an Eric's Sport Shot!)  We raced the Seattle Half Marathon together last november and I had never pushed myself so hard.  We had a 9 mile run during training where I wanted to quit, to stop, to at least just run down the hill instead of up and have them come get me later!  But they kept pushing me cause they knew I could do it.  They knew I could do it when I didn't think I could.  They believed in me! And all that support and love that I felt helped set me on the path of knowing me, having faith in myself and getting to that goodness of my soul.

Those runs became a sort of therapy, where I get to revel in these beautiful women as we all struggle through kids, partners, friendships and self.  And in that struggle is the support we all need.  Because we are all trying to do the same things, right?  Do good by our kids, our families and our communities - all with love and happiness.

So mom running friends of mine - know you will always hold a special part of my heart for believing in me before I even did.  For always being there for a workout, for wine or for a cry! For helping me get to this place of strength and confidence and enthusiasm - with no complaints!

 For being such a blessing to my life, to the goodness of my soul.  

And for supporting and inspiring me still.

Playground DIY Crossfit

So I ran 11 miles last Saturday.  And burned over 1000 calories.  And felt like doing absolutely nothing for the next 5 days!!

The actual run occurred in the early morning hours and felt fantastic.  We averaged about a 10 minute mile - which is faster than my best half marathon time from before - much better.  Took the Eric's Sport Shot before and then the Eric's Sport Ade half through.  Some of the run was following the path of the Edmonds half marathon which I am planning to run 1 week from Sunday gah!

But for the next couple days I was pretty sore, and worn out and just did not feel like working out at all.  I remained somewhat mindful of what I was eating but couldn't even get a push up in.  In my defense, the older two boys started school this week and it was mighty hectic around here.  But I have always found a way to make time in the past.  Oh another excuse is the YMCA was closed.  And we have a giant project that we are working on (details coming soon!) Oh and I just remembered we did a crazy arse workout the day before the 11 mile run.  The Chelsea (go ahead google it!!)
But still, the more you don't work out, the more you don't want to work out!  Which is why I had to call my best workout buddy for a workout today.  Plus I knew she would be up for combining it with a park play date too!

Our workout (courtesy of a quick Google search for "toes to bar WOD") was:
wait, first Eric's SPORT SHOT to get me going!!
then
4 rounds
20 burpees
15 toes to bar
10 handstand push ups

Now my dear friend has had crossfit memberships in the past so she has showed me toes to bar but I have yet to try.  Here is what it is supposed to look like when you are amazingly strong:

And I tried to do one... or two... but then headed to modification time, knees to chest!  It still worked me crazy but I'd like to get them toes to the bar sometime!  We did these on the monkey bars at the park.  Eric gave me some pointers after - to gather strength from all the muscles in your back and your arms.   And to believe you can do it!

Photo cred to my 4 year old - pretty good yah!?

So we did 20 burpees on the grass near the playground, 15 toes to bar (really knees to chest for me) and then 10 pushups with our feet on a bench and we did this 4 times.  The kids were running around the playground or us or both and sometimes joined in on the fun.  I did bribe my 4 year old with candy and money for staying right close to my little guy so that helped.  But we got the workout in and it felt good to be back at it.  It really helps to have support, which is why I am so thankful for the great friends I have around me - but I will save that for another post!

Mt. Pilchuck with Eric's Sport Ade!!

A year ago this hike would have killed me.  Like literally killed me.  But Tuesday I hiked 5.4 miles up and back down Mt. Pilchuck!  I loved it.  We went early on a weekday so there was only one other couple on the trail.  Like leaving my house before 6am early. I went with two amazing inspiring friends. 

View on the way up.

at the lookout.  Had an Eric's Sport shot before the hike.

And a Sport Ade at the top.

It felt great although my legs were shaking all the way down.  Hiking is a whole 'nother kind of workout.  All those tiny stability kind of muscles hard at work.  But what a payout!  At least you get this amazing glorious view at the top and such a feeling of accomplishment after.  I climbed a mountain kind of accomplishment - fantastic!!  Who knows - next year Mt. Rainier?!

DIY WOD with kids!

Tonight I had the two little guys with me while I was trying to get my workout on - they don't make it easy!  We have four boys and our littlest is 19 months old and our third son just turned four.  They like attention, at all times.

Here's the workout I was working with (after taking Eric's Sport Shot of course!):

Farmers Walk 200m with two 45/35 lb Dumbbells

70 Kettlebell Swings 24/16 kg 

30 Burpees

70 Ring Rows

30 Weighted Push-ups 35/15lbs

Walking Lunge to Stop sign

I got the workout out from reading the Edmonds Crossfit WOD and seeing farmers walk and wanting to try it and then googling farmers walk WOD and finding this workout from a Crossfit gym in Tallahassee (http://www.cftally.com/blog/tag/farmers-walk).  Isn't the internet amazing!?  

So the farmers walk was not 200m.  It was however, as many times up and down the hall I could walk with Eric's two 35lb giant dumbells in my hand.  And the Kettlebell Swings were just with a 12 lb dumbell I've had for years.  I hold one end of the dumbell and swing out with the other.  But I did 70, all while trying to make sure I didn't smack my Maddox upside the head with it.  I tried to make him a little dumbbell out of train tracks but he wanted the real deal. I did 30 burpees, pausing about every 5 or 10 to get something or other for the kids.  And then all three of us hung off the kitchen table for the 70 "Ring Rows" or I should call them Kitchen Table Rows.  I had Braedon sit on my back for the Weighted pushups - he's over 30 lbs! I did the walking lunge until the kids stopped me (think I made it two time around the couch) and realizing I had no idea how far it was from the crossfit gym in Tallahassee to the stop sign. And then started on the squats and by number 30 Maddox had had enough - so I did the rest with him.  My new back squat technique:

So with the kids we added some modifications to the workout but I was still feeling pretty shaky and sweaty by the end.  And I promise Maddox was much happier than he looks in the picture!

DIY WOD at the Y

Completing crossfit workouts, I imagine, can be about pushing your comfort level just as much as pushing your fitness level.  And so completing DIY WODs in the YMCA can be even more about that.  Today I completed this workout at the YMCA (courtesy of crossfitendurance.com)

Take Eric's Sport Shot

3 Rounds

500m row

8 Power Cleans

12 Burpees

Remember I'm still a total DIY-er so I was a little nervous with the Power Cleans. Eric has shown me how to do Power Cleans at home (btw I always thought it was Power Clings, only one?).  And then I googled them on my phone just to get the technique down before attempting.  Here is a link to the video I watched Mike Burgener: Coaching The Power Clean - YouTube. 

The racking and the rules and the dangers of free weights always intimidate me.  Thankfully they have these already put together bar weights at the Y (see pic above).  The two row machines are far from the free weights, but I like to do my workouts all in the same area.  Plus the free weight section is always filled with overzealous men that I just don't feel confident/comfortable working out around (again only one?)  So I picked up the bar weight, only the 30 lb - er, and walked it over to the rowing station.  There is just a little space against the wall that is open so I put the bar weight there and that is where I did my burpees too.  

I would like to pretend that I am so confident that I don't worry what I look like and I can just get my workout on like a gym rat.  But I'd rather just have my own little room to work out in all by myself.  I did the power cleans, feeling just a little self conscious.  I suppose this would be one of the reasons you should sign up for a real crossfit session.  Where those crossfit guys can tell you what to do and how important technique is and show you the safe way and get you the right weight - but I'm just too DIY for that!!  

26.5 lbs today - nothing fits anymore!

I got back on the scale today - what a great feeling!

141.5 lbs!!

That means since my official start date of May 1st I have lost 26.5 lbs.  And since I weighed 172 last september I would say that's a 30lb loss since having all these babies and "letting myself go"!  That totally reminds me of my mom.  The only two pieces of advice she gave when I got married:

1. make sure you communicate

2. don't let yourself go

oh my.  And thats why all the times I tried to lose weight before did not work.  This is the only time I made the decision with my soul - and not with my mind or my memories.  And so here I am - 30 lbs lighter and with nothing to wear!!  Here are all the pants I tried on that do not fit and are off to be donated:

I want to go shopping but not quite ready - I mean I'm still losing!  But in the mean time I keep putting on dresses since that's what fits - well kinda.  I mean they hang on me but they don't have me looking good!  And the other part of me thats not looking good?  That mama pouch that I'm not sure will ever go away.  But I'm going to keep taking these Eric's Sport Shots and working out my DIY crossfit (by the way today's workout from crossfitendurance.com was: Bike 8 x 1/4M with 2:00 spin, holding splits within 2-3 seconds) and watching what I eat and we will see what happens!!  The DH keeps asking what the plans are - how skinny am I planning on getting?!  But I'm feeling good and I'm going to keep on going to whatever happy weight that takes me.  And not for him, or my mom, or anyone else - but just for me - cause I feel good!!

Thanks for sharing in the journey!!

To the beach and back

The thing about running to the beach is that beach=sea level. Meaning we're going down and then we're going up!! So on crossfitendurance.com they have a twelve week program which coincided with the exact timing of me running the very first Edmonds half marathon in September. I've been following the workout suggestions about half of the time. This week's Sunday workout was:
Run (SUN): 3 x 2M, rest 5:00 b/w reps, hold splits within 5-10 seconds

So I was using a route maker and didn't like the runs I was coming up with when I thought... I wonder how far it is to Picnic Point and back?! Which is one of my favorite beaches around here. Ahhh a perfect 6 miles (which is what 3x2 is right?). We've driven there plenty so I knew it would be a good hill down AND a good hill up so first up? An Eric's Sport Shot!

Ok, now I'm ready. I wanted to stop at the beach so I didn't exactly follow the endurance workout. I ran the 3 miles there at about a 9 min mile pace and then enjoyed the view for a good ten minutes.

So freaking beautiful, I love the northwest! Ok now back up the hill!! Whoa, it was a beast. I stopped at 1.5 miles and walked a bit since I figured I was due a break following the endurance workout and then I kept it pushing. Like I mentioned, I'm a do it yourselfer kind of crossfitter! Made it home and felt great and a little shaky. Topped it off with an Eric's Sport Ade and it gave me just what I needed to feel rehydrated, rejuvenated and ready for the day!!

A five in the morning kind of blog

On vacation and DS2 (age 6) pees the bed.  We are at my parents house - where you can't just throw a towel over it and say go change and get back to bed (I'm not the only one who does that right?!)  So after 40 minutes of stripping the bed and hand washing the down comforter and sponge bathing my son and silently finding new linens in the linen closet right next to sleeping DS4, and remaking the bed I glance over at the clock, 5:00.  And then I lay in bed, eyes open and here I am.

The most frustrating part is before they scooted off to bed, my mom asked them if they used the bathroom and they said yes.  And now with a pee filled pile of sheets in my arms when I ask DS2 if he actually did use the bathroom before bed he says no.  Just like that, just no.  Like earlier when DS1 comes over yelling his brother just punched him in the cheek and so I ask him, 

did you punch him in the cheek?

NO, I didn't do that. 

So what happened?

Well, I punched him the cheek.

These boys left last saturday to hang with the grandparents.  And after 10 days of life without me, I am amazed at who they have become, and not in a good way.  Am convinced we would have an all out Lord of the Flies kind of situation given a complete lack of authority.

My parents have done an amazing job, but these two have been largely left to their own devices.  And literally their own devices, as in watching TV and playing DS at every unsupervised moment.  Am sure this whole experience has been good in many ways for them - like their independence and their friendship as brothers, and their relationship with their grandparents.  But it has enlightened me to the delusions that I hold my kids to! It will just take a little reprogramming to get them from the back talking, lying, manipulative kids they have become to the polite, good decision making, kind hearted, truth telling boys I imagine them to be. 

OK am off back to bed.  My left eye is leaking and I only got 3 hours of sleep the night before.  I think I mistyped earlier by calling this vacation.  I have three of the four kids, including our mr. mayhem, 18 month old DS4 and no real help. Meaning my mom and dad are all - so we are sleeping in in the morning and I am like, well ok.  Too bad DS4 can't play DS or I'd give into it all and let the unsupervising begin.

by the way did get a quick workout in the yard with the kids playing around me:

30 air squats, 15 pushups

30 box jumps, 15 pushups

30 split squats, 15 pushups

30 squats, 15 pushups

did the split squats and the box jumps off the back deck.

Another day another DIY WOD

Here was this morning's DIY workout courtesy of the WOD shop:

3 rounds
Run 400m
20x Pull-ups (which I did inverted rows off the kitchen table in place of)
20x Push-ups
20x Burpees
20x Squats
20x Walking lunge steps, each leg


This felt terrible!!  It could be because last night at 7:30 I decided to run to a birthday dinner at Red Robin.

Or because I didn't take the Eric's Sport Shot before hand.
Or because I am leaving in 4 hours for the airport with DS4 and am not ready at all.  Or because I had to stop for a clingy, crying DS4 with every lunge.  But I did it.  And now I'm off to pack and fly to Wyoming by myself with an 18 month old.  Wish me luck!!

DIY WOD

My morning workout courtesy of the WOD shop and after drinking an Eric's Sport Shot:

and in case you can't see it cause I screen printed it from my phone, here's what it looks like:
Eric's Sport Shot
1 round
15x Spiderman pushups
10x Squats
15x Mountain Climbers
10x Squats
15x Spartan push-ups
10x Squats
15x Hindu push-ups
10x Squats
15x Dips

I loved doing this little workout. Mostly because I first tried it like 6 weeks ago and I was like uhhhh what the heck?! I had to google all the different pushups to see what I would even be doing. And then every single one was done on my knees (nearly impossible with the Hindu). And it was still ridiculous. But today... today I did them all on toes and felt great doing it. I still have a ways to go to have more control and get my knee to my elbow on those Spiderman pushups, but am making improvements baby!!

I also did 3 sets of 8 inverted rows, since I have challenged myself with the task of completing one pull-up.

 I have never done a pull-up in my life, we'll see if these help get me there.  I did these with my kitchen table! Here is a link to the inverted rows: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/11/06/inverted-row-are-you-missing-out-on-this-great-exercise/

A 25lbs lighter kind of update!

And I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight, WHAT!?!

May 1st I loaded the my fitness pal app on my iPhone, entered some goals and got busy in the gym.  So we're at the end of July now and I've lost just under 25 lbs.  I'm actually down to my weight that I was before baby #1!!  Meaning I haven't weighed this in over 8 years.  Wow.
Have been asked quite a bit about how I did it, or am doing it since I'm still in process ;)
First of all, could not have done this without Eric's Sport Shots and Eric's Sport Ade.  Of course I am biased, I helped design the thing.  But with my athlete husband at the helm I think we did an amazing job of putting together essential electrolytes, natural caffeine and vitamins in a great tasting coconut water base.  These shots allowed me to run 2 half marathons and made possible the major transformation I continue to undergo!

Eric's Sport Ade Power Punch, 2-Ounce (Pack of 12)

Eric's Sport Shot Energy Drink, Lime, 2-Ounce (Pack of 6)

Second, I totally changed my workout strategies.  I started looking up crossfit WODs (Workout Of the Day) and trying them out.  My workouts never lasted more than an hour and actually the more I have done the less time they are taking.  I started slow and hesitate to even call what I do crossfit.  More like DIY crossfit.  Like I have never formally taken a crossfit class in my life.  But I have googled them profusely.  And I'm a fast learner.  And I have an athlete of a husband who knows lots of these exercises.  I'll post my workouts and the sites I use.  But I am getting stronger in all kinds of areas and feel great!

My favorite goto WOD generator

Third, I've been holding true to that fitness pal.  I log my calories.  I log my workouts.  And if at the end of the day I have 40 calories to my budget - I don't get my beer or glass of wine!  It made me search for choices that were filling and less calories.  And guess what, those foods are much healthier for you!!  I had some goto ~100 calorie treats.  Like a SB mocha light frappacino.  And maybe a couple diet cokes made their way into my consumption but only a couple.  I try to stay away from artificial sweeteners and colorings and all that nasty business.  But I must stress it wasn't hard to say no.  Not as hard as it had been before.  Like when I tried Weight Watchers and I was literally pissed off at the world for not being able to eat what I wanted.  Which brings me to my fourth...
Fourth, and maybe this should have gone first, is that I wasn't in a defensive or I hate myself kind of mood when I started this.  It was like having that conversation that you need to have but not in the middle of the argument.  It was just a random day and I thought yeah, okay lets do this!  And so thats when the Eric's shots and the crossfit workouts came in.  Because they are so encouraging!!  And so was that scale as I started checking once a week and was 2 lbs lighter each time.  A great moment was when I got under that 150lb cluncker weight thing on the scale - cause they have an old school scale at the Y that I use.  So there we go!!
My example day, i.e. today!
workout - I took DS4 up the hill in the jogging stroller and did a Tabata which is 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off for 8 rounds.  So my interpretation of that is running 20 seconds hard and walking 10sec.  On the treadmill I usually put it at an incline and at 9.5 and run the 20 seconds and then hop to the sides.  Like I said - more of a DIY crossfitter.  And then tonight I did 10 verticle jumps and 10 pushups for 10 rounds.  I was breathing hecka hard by round 8!!  And I earned myself a beer :) which brings me to...
nutrition - had a cup of coffee for breakfast with a banana and special K cereal with lowfat milk.  Lunch was 2 scrambled eggs with pico de gallo and light sour cream on a 100 calorie tortilla.  Around 3pm I had an Eric's Sport Shot and then tackled that Tabata.  Dinner was baked teriyaki chicken and some rice and green beans.  Well lots of green beans, sauteed in a little sesame oil.  was yum!
A day in the life, hope you'll be back for more.