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!

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!!  

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.