Sick again?

No kidding!
I have a cough and a cold! UGH!
However, last week was great. My times are improving and I felt great.
My husband suprised me a couple weeks ago with some new running outfits! Thanks Honey!
Now, I look good on a few mornings a week.

I want to tell you about a new website I found. It is called runumother and it is great. Very inspiring. Check it out.

I didn't run this morning because I was not feeling well, but I brought my stuff with me and plan to try to sneak in a run after work. 30 mintues. We will see.

Sickness...YUCK

So, last week, I came down with a cold. I still have it. I went running last week, only 3 times and each run was a struggle. I was supposed to run this morning, but gave myself a break so my body could heal. What did I learn. Man, am I crabby when I can't run! I love it, it is the way I start my day now and well, when I can't do it I am unhappy. Weird! I can't believe that I feel this way now. I am happy and also think I need to chill out on myself a little bit and realize that it is ok to let the body heal itself if I need a break.

I plan to run in the morning no matter what. I am excited. I have a couple new running outfits that my husband bought me (with a gift card that someone gave him...wasn't that sweet?) and I am excited...so,here is to a new week. Let's hope I can get all my runs in!

The 1/2 Marathon is mine.

So..."this is the day, your life will surely change...this is the day when things fall into place..." For those of you who are familiar with the band The The, these lyrics may seem familiar to you.

I signed up for the 1/2 Marathon today. The Detroit Free Press 1/2 Marathon. It is in October and I plan to be ready for it. I have been running pretty steady. My pace is getting better, my breathing better and my distance better. I am excited and can't wait for the race.

My friend Diane is also training for a 1/2 marathon in Atlanta. We are kind of training together, well keeping each other motivated from a far distance. It is nice to have someone who is going through the same thing. One day, we will meet somewhere and run one together, in the meantime, this works out just fine.

I ran 8.5 miles the other day in about an hour and 20 minutes. It was a milestone for me, but I hope to have many more and improve my time and distance.

Well, carry on with your day. I have to get to sleep so I can run tomorrow.

I can't wait to finish the 1/2 and collect my medal!

Running and seeing results

Yep, that is right, I am running and I am seeing results. I am 12 pounds down and I have successfully integrated running into my life...even with a new job and 2 kids. As long as I can keep it up, I will be happy. It has been great! I am inspired and feel like I can go on like this forever...I have about 10 more pounds to go.....I also need to shave some time off of my 10K time. I can do it...OK, no time to write, I have to go run~!

I did it! I did it!!

...And, I can't believe it has taken me so long to write about it! Last weekend I rode my bike 51 miles in the Zoo-De-Mack Bike Bash! Yep, 51 miles from Harbor Springs, MI to Mackinac Island, MI. It was fantastic! I felt great and kept a decent pace (along with my husband). We had to rest a little afterwards, but we recuperated nicely and were even able to enjoy a bit of a night on the town. I can't wait to get into road biking now. I love it and now that I have gotten a taste of what real speed is like, I think I may start doing this on a regular basis. Thanks Jeff!!!

On to this weekend. I competed in a 5K in Saint Clair Shores today. It is a race before the Memorial Day parade. I finished, OK...about 27 minutes. I know I can do better! I have been a bit sick and my breathing was off, but I had the best cheerleaders a woman can ask for! My sons, Max and Ben and my husband Jeff. They even rode along side me on their bikes (tag-along bikes). My son Max kept saying, "You have to speed up mom, that guy is beating you..." it was awesome!

I am having the time of my life, keeping fit and starting to see some results in the way of my body and weight, which are encouraging me to press on!!!

Biking again....

I went biking again today...18 miles....nice workout...we will see, my legs feel pretty tired these days...YIKKEES

I am on the bike

So, I have been running a lot. Let me clarify that...A lot for me. For two weeks in a row I hit 4-5 times a week and each run was either 4.5 or 6 miles. Feeling good. I was even able to sneak in a run when I recently went to Atlanta to visit a friend. It was great! I am breathing better, my pace is better and I feel great after the runs. Ahhh yes, this is what I remember about running. I also remember how addicting it is. I remember this because I have recently had to divert myself from running in order to train for a 51 mile bike trip. I had to hang up my running shoes and hop on my bike. I thought this was going to be a piece of cake, I mean, I am strong, I can run, right?? NOPE. WOW, totally different muscles. Oh yea.

I started by riding the stationary bike the other day at the gym. I did OK, kept on the bike for an hour. Did about 15 miles. Then my husband and I went out on THE ROAD, yea, that is where the cars also ride. We rode about 20 miles, all in the street and this was my first street experience. I was pretty proud of myself. Then it was back to the gym for some strength training and then the other day I went out there by myself on a quest for endurance and found it in a 30 mile bike ride. That is right, 30 miles...that is a lot for me. I was so excited, I couldn't believe it! ME...30 miles...wow. And, then I was really, really, really, really tired.

So, I have another long ride this weekend and I plan to wake up early and ride in the morning. (hopefully)

I was beginning to see some results with my body from running, but I am going to see new results from biking and a lot of surprises, like trying something new and believing in myself.

I will return to running on May 19th.

Spring in my step!

So, I ran 4 times last week and had a few great runs and one really bad run. Note to self, do not run right after eating spicy wings and cheese dip....oh yea. Since it was the only time I had to run I took it. I thought, "well, I just ate, but I should be OK." HA HA HA HA, was I wrong.

But, I had some great runs too and also had a personal best time in the four mile, which made me feel really good.

It has been two days since I have run last and I am going to try to get my ass in gear for tomorrow. I know I can do it. I will just have to call my motivational friend runner, who tries to run about the same amount that I do, she is always good to get me out running.

Anyone have a friend like that? Someone you can call and say..."I don't feel like running, can you help me?" It is nice to have, especially if they have gone running and you didn't...makes you think to yourself, "Dude, if they can do it today, so can I!!!"

There is a race on the 26th, I am still thinking about doing, only because I will be able to get an official time as they are going to give each person a chip.

OK, well hope to run tomorrow. Although, since it is spring and I have two small boys who love to play outside, I am virtually running all of the time anyway.

Gotta Go...

OK, it has been about 5 days since my last run and I am getting mad at myself. Actually, I ran up to the park with the kids today and it wasn't more than a mile and I really don't think it counted. At any rate, I am going to go running tomorrow! I can't wait.

I do have a new problem developing with my foot, however, for some reason there is a bone that is protruding on the inside of my left foot and when it rubs on my shoe it hurts...not good!

OK, so I am going to run tomorrow, I am going to do it.

6 1/2 mile bike ride on Sunday....so, I have a little workout in me :)

See you soon!

Running Up that Hill

What a great run on Saturday! The weather was great! Forty degrees and sunny! You can't beat that. Anyway, I had a great run, I ran over 5 miles (not sure exactly how many) and I felt wonderful afterwards. I was exhausted before I started running and wasn't even sure if I would be able to do it, but once I got started I felt great (despite not having my lucky hat, it was in the wash).
I was unable to run Sunday or today due to kids and not having time. I hope to get a good run in tomorrow as my husband comes home a little earlier. I am having a blast running lately and have started changing my route to make it a little more interesting.

I have one complaint. Since I have started running and eating better, I have gained 3 pounds...makes me mad. He just can't help it.

So, are there any songs that you sing when you run? Here are a few that BUG me. I can't help bur sing them at certain points of my run, just can't help it.

Kate Bush "Running up that Hill"
Bob Seger "Against the Wind" (running against the wind)

I brought this up to my husband and now he is mad because he can't stop singing Bob Seger when he is running and it is windy.

Ha ha....sorry!

I can run..I can do it!

Hey there!
So I ran yesterday. And, what started out as a bad run (really windy and cold) ended up to be great. I don't know what is the matter with me lately, I start out bad and then about 1/2 way through I feel great. At least that factor keeps me going. I was happy with my time and felt great afterwards. It may have had something to do with my post run meal, which wasn't too heavy. It consisted of grilled chicken breasts, raw carrots and steamed green beans.

Some advice was given to me from my friend Diane who is a great running and is running a 1/2 marathon soon was to sign up for a race, that would keep me motivated. I was hoping to find a 1/2 marathon in May to really get me going, but no such luck. I did find some 5K runs that I can do. Maybe there is something that I am missing. The 1/2 marathons and marathons around here are mostly in September and October.

One thing to bring up...Music. I love to listen to music when I run and because of my small ears, it has taken me awhile to find the perfect earphones that don't fall off or out. I finally have them and will go crazy if I have to use something else. They fall out the whole time!! Anyone else have this problem?

Also, I have heard that it is a big no no with serious race runners to use music during a marathon or big race...how do you feel about it? I think it should be OK. IF you train with it, it is going to be really hard to them race without it, right? Hmm...I guess the key is not to train with music then...but to me that is part of the fun. I love to hear a great song right when I are starting to get tired and then kick it into high gear.

Well, I plan to run today and find a race. There is a 5K race on April 26th, guess that is a start. Let me know if there is anything out there that you know of.

Happy running

A New Blog

A new blog...a new day...a new run!
Mommy Runs is exactly that. I am a mommy and I run! (When I can)
I have two boys (almost 2 years and almost 4 years) and I am trying to get back into running. Let me start my saying, I LOVE to run. I feel I am at my best when I have a good run. I feel free, liberated, inspired and strong. When I am running, I feel I can conquer the entire world!

Anyone else feel like that? If you do, you are in the right place.

So, as I start out trying to get my body back into tip-top running shape again, I am going to share it all with you here. In addition to trying to fit running into my schedule, I am also trying to fit back into my pre-pregnancy jeans (20 lbs to lose to do that), and possibly train to run in the Detroit Free Press Marathon in October (in addition to finding a new job, but that is another blog altogether!)

So, here I sit with my laptop cozy as can be in Biggby Coffee with my running clothes in the car, waiting for me. It is cold, windy and there are flurries. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but at the moment I have two things going for me. I have a bit of time and a babysitter (my wonderful mom). I don't often have both of those at the time, so I have to take full advantage of the situation...30 mile an hour winds or not!

I have run consistently 3-4 times a week for the past 2 weeks (OK, I know that isn't much yet,, but I am working on it). Each run is just about 5 miles. So I log up to 20 miles a week. Right now I am running slow...about 5.5 -6miles an hour. My husband and I ran a race together on March 16th and we ran 4 miles in just under 40 minutes, not bad, but I can do better.

So, I am about the get a water, shut down my computer and hope to run at least 4 times this week! I will let you know.

I hope to post the marathon training schedule soon. I am not one for following a system, but we will see how it goes. Do they have a training schedule for people who just like to get out there and run???

Off and running!!!
Allison