Being a Mother Runner Means Sometimes You Don’t Run

10 years ago • 5 Comments • Live Well, My Running

I haven’t posted much this week, because I kind of quit running. (I do this somewhat regularly, only to take it up again a couple days later.) I had two insanely great runs last week, a 5 mile run and then a 4 mile run the next day, both averaging sub 10 minute pace. Thanks to how running karma works, that means I’d had two steps forward and was due a step back. Sunday was a horrible run (quitting after 1.5 miles horrible) and I haven’t run since.

I took Monday off, because it was Andrew’s first day of school and I was too emotional to deal with another bad run.

I was going to run yesterday… but I was more excited about arranging flowers and de-cluttering for a Mother’s Forum event I got to host for new members. (Wine, appetizers, thirty moms… it was a great time!)

I was going to run today, but I had a rare and amazing opportunity to spend one-on-one time with each of my kids! Their preschool orientations didn’t overlap, so I dropped Andrew off and Will and I had time to go for soy hot chocolate, bagels, and do some train watching. Then we picked up Andrew, waited for a bit, and dropped Will off at his school. Andrew wanted to go see the fish and check out new books at the library, so that’s what I did with him.

It was AMAZING. My children are angels when they have my undivided attention and we’re doing their very favorite activity. (Shocker, I know.)

The morning was filled with precious moments. Will telling a police officer on a bicycle that he has a red bike but his has training wheels. Will getting a punched ticket from the conductor who saw us watching the trains and came over to say hello. Andrew telling the fish at the library that they are “good, good swimmers”. Will drinking his hot chocolate and asking me to explain the train map in great detail.

These moments were so magical, so wonderful, and I actually got to experience them in full because I didn’t have another child running in the opposite direction or competing for my attention. We could look at the fish as long as Andrew wanted, and the train map as long as Will wanted.

I could have put one of them in the single jogging stroller and gone for a run. I could have woken up early after a late night relaxing with a group of other moms, and gone for a run. But I didn’t. Sometimes, being a mother runner means putting “mother” first.

I just hope I remember that when I’m at mile 11 and wish I hadn’t skipped a single run in my training schedule. I hope I remember that perhaps I’m lucky just to be there at all.

It won’t be too long before they’re in school full time, and I’ll have hours and hours to run if I want… and I’ll wish I was at the train station or library, instead.

Interval Running With a Double Stroller

10 years ago • 2 Comments • My Running

I had a babysitter cancel on the day I was supposed to run intervals… so I brought the kids in the double jogging stroller.

I had been looking forward to intervals, and I was stubborn as a mule, so I decided to do the interval run anyway, just with the kids.

Surprisingly, it went pretty well!

Pacing: I didn’t have ANY idea how fast I should be running my intervals to accommodate for the addition of 70 lbs of kids & jogging stroller. So I decided to run my normal interval pace (if I could) and just do fewer repeats. It would keep the intensity high for me, and allow me to complete the workout in a timely manner for them. I usually do only 3-4 miles with them in the stroller, and so doing a 1 mile warmup, 3 miles of intervals, and 1 mile of cool down didn’t seem like a good idea.

I ended up doing 7 repeats of 400 meters aiming for under 2:08, and I recovered based on feel (and how long I wanted to check in with them for) rather than a specific timed recovery. The last one was REALLY HARD, and I could feel myself getting slower / exerting more effort each time. Probably I should have slowed them down and done more of them, but this was a lot more fun, and more time efficient.

Pace modifications for double strollers: I remember googling to try to figure out how much you should alter your pace per mile to accommodate for a double stroller. This is a silly thing to do. It depends on too many variables to be reliable from person to person. How much do your kids weigh? How much does your stroller weigh? How hot is it outside? What did you eat this afternoon? How strong are your arms? What percentage of your running is done with the stroller? How flat is the terrain?

It’s pointless. I’ve learned to adjust based on EFFORT, not pace. I’m surprised sometimes to learn that my legs want to run a specific cadence, and they would rather push for a pace I’m used to running at for a shorter amount of time than to run slower for longer. I’ve discovered that my stroller runs are not necessarily that much slower, but they do tend to be shorter.

You’ll discover your own truths about stroller running. Mine may be affected by the fact that I carry my kids around more than I should – when you life 30 lb weights all day, you’re strong enough for a little stroller running!

Some pros of interval running with a jogging stroller:

-You can periodically check in with your kids

– My preschoolers love the “run fast” “take a break” cycle because it makes it interesting

– On your recovery you can talk to your kids about what they’re seeing, and tell them to look out for landmarks on the next interval

– You look like a total bad-ass when you’re running because for 400 meters you’re flying along behind a double jogging stroller at a pace you can only maintain for a few minutes… BUT NO ONE KNOWS THAT BUT YOU

Some cons of interval running with a jogging stroller:

–It’s hard to convert a scheduled training run for a jogging stroller. There’s no perfect formula to determine what pace your intervals should be, or how many you should do, or how long you should recover.

-You may have to stop halfway through an interval to provide water, mediate a conflict, pick up a lovey… you name it

-My oldest son actually thinks it’s FUNNY to put his foot over the wheel like a brake, which kills my speed and could seriously hurt his foot

-You can’t run on a track, so you need a GPS watch or detailed map to know how far to run and how fast

-Since you’re not on a track, you may have to deal with pedestrians, stop lights and other obstacles. That’s one reason I opted for 400 meter repeats rather than longer – I knew that I could probably get 400 meters of unobstructed sidewalk for an interval, but after that I’d hit an intersection or busy strip and need to stop or slow down.

Final thoughts: Interval running with a stroller is a hard workout, so that’s GREAT. But you need to be easy on yourself and run it based on feel rather than numbers, because there’s no magic math that can tell you how much you should change your pace now that you’re pushing other humans around with you. Look for somewhere as flat as possible (unless you WANT to do hill repeats with the stroller, in which case you’re insane) and do it until it burns or the kids scream and then call it a day.

Hey – it was cheaper than a babysitter, you got some quality time to point out neat things during your recovery, and they now think you run about three times as fast as you actually do.

What’s not to love?

GET YOUR FOOT OFF THE WHEEL KID!!!!
(seriously, this is hard enough)

The power of “Good morning!”

10 years ago • 6 Comments • My Running, Running Thoughts

I like to wave, nod, or say hi to other runners on the road. I don’t live somewhere that there are so many that it would be exhausting to acknowledge everyone, and I live in a place where most runners (and sometimes cyclists) tend to greet one another.

But every so often, you see someone approaching you from the other direction and you really hesitate, because it’s not just that they won’t wave first, but you get the sense that they’re too focused or different from you to even reciprocate. If someone looks like they’re running at break neck speed, trying to meet an interval goal, I’m not too offended if they don’t wave back. But I also might give them a wide berth to begin with. Eye contact? Wave / greeting. No eye contact? I am mentally sending you best wishes for the completion of your interval.

But I have to tell you, my favorite exchange with another runner happened recently and it was kind of unexpected.

I was a mile into my ten mile run, going slow, when I saw a teenage boy running towards me from the other direction. He was red faced, serious, and FAST.

I looked up while he approached and felt old, slow, and insecure.

I almost didn’t say good morning.

Then I realized he was probably looking at me, and while I wondered if he would greet me like another runner, he was wondering if I would greet HIM like another adult. How often do we act like teenagers are invisible, mostly because we’re worried about what they’re thinking of us?

I smiled and said “Good morning!”

He smiled, a little extra big, and said “Good morning!” right back.

And that was the best I felt all day.

Got in my 10 miles! Saturday run

10 years ago • 1 Comment • My Running

I got my 10 mile long run in this morning! Greg got up early and left before the boys were even out of bed to get his miles in so I could leave by 9 a.m. The weather has been beautiful (for runners) and I enjoyed temperatures in the lower 70s despite running from 9-11 a.m. in August!

I decided to run an out and back route that I ran a lot for my first half marathon training but haven’t run since. So many memories! The place where I saw Greg pulled over with energy gel and half a banana for me because I’d texted him that I was so hungry I didn’t know how I’d make it home. The place that was my turn around point for my first 8 mile run, the turning point for my first 9 mile run. The little water view, now so close to home, that at one point in my couch to 5k program was the very furthest I had ever, ever run.

Rather than aiming for specific mileage, my goal this morning was just to run for 2 hours and see how far it got me. No stopping the watch, not for walking/gel breaks, water breaks, stop lights, anything. Just run out for an hour, turn around, run home. If I hit 5 miles before an hour was up, I could turn around. I made it 2 minutes under an hour and headed back.

There are some high traffic intersections where I had to wait, but I was also taking it pretty slow. I did go out with friends last night, and had an AMAZING time, and maybe drank some tequila and came home after 11 p.m…. so 10 miles easy that felt good the whole time was just right.

Next week, maybe I can do it faster…

“Where’s Dad?” “Well, he was definitely here…”

Friday – Running & Other Updates

10 years ago • 0 Comment • My Running

Running update: My running hasn’t been going well. I’ve had difficulty with the time commitment. It’s the last few weeks of summer before school starts, and I’ve had about 6 hours of babysitting help a week recently. That’s not enough time to even maintain the house and meal plans and sanity, let alone relax or get my running done. So I’m running intervals at 6 a.m., or long runs on the weekend taking time away from Greg, and choosing spin class over waffles in my pajamas (which might be the highest quality family time there IS).

This morning I had planned to get up and run at 5, then realized that was crazy and I’d rather run this afternoon when I had a babysitter. Sleeping in was great… but then my babysitter cancelled and now I have to run tomorrow, which is when Greg’s scheduled to run, and besides which I have a moms night out tonight and if I run tomorrow I shouldn’t be staying out late or having a drink (and I’m CARPOOLING SO I COULD TOTALLY HAVE A DRINK). So what does that mean, I run on Sunday? But I’m supposed to run intervals on Monday so I can’t do a long run on Sunday. Maybe I run Saturday afternoon…. but then Greg and I barely see each other because he’s running Saturday morning.

I’m starting to think I should be training for a 5k and not a half marathon, because this is brutal… but I have too much time invested (of my own, and my family’s) to want to quit. Am I destined to limp through the second half of yet another race because I couldn’t handle a little time management? I can only write this because Andrew is on my lap and Will is taking photos with my phone, and if I don’t, I’ll feel even more upset that I’m not running right now.

At least some things are going well! (Greg let me sleep in this morning AND made pancakes. Life can’t be that bad.)

Choose Wiser update: I ran out of kid shampoo and body wash this week, so I grabbed the tried and true California Baby shampoo and bodywash, and then since Will’s hair seems to benefit from deeper cleaning in the summer months, decided to try a Rosemary Mint & Tea Tree shampoo from babo botanicals. (Both oils are extra cleansing for hair.) California Baby and Babo Botanicals both have scores in the green (0-2) list on the Skin Deep website for all the products of theirs that Skin Deep has analyzed. Both are free of synthetic fragrances, parabens and sulfates, neither is tested on animals.

Kitchen Update: I ran out of pickle jars, so I didn’t make any pickles today. Instead, I’ve decided to try to branch out to other preserves (which will involve buying more jars, I just didn’t get there today!). I found this AMAZING book called “Saving the Season” by Kevin West. He also writes a blog about food preserving, which you can find at savingtheseason.com. The book has the most delicious looking recipes, lots of information about food safety (he took a 13 week course on it) and plenty of gorgeous photographs and anecdotes about the history of preserving, regional produce, and the people who love both. It would be just as at home on your coffee table as it would be with your cookbooks. I’m not sure what I want to make first – homemade liquers or my own apple butter!

Last night I flipped through it dreamily, cup of tea in hand, picturing jars of local, organic tomatoes lined up in my pantry in BPA free glass jars waiting to warm and nourish us throughout the winter months. Ahhh. I’m optimistic to a fault sometimes. But then again, am I? I’ve made 13 jars of pickles already this season, and I enjoy it. Maybe this really could work – or at least a few batches, anyway.

I’ve realized that I need to start small and not overwhelm myself, so despite wanting to run to the local farm and buy enough produce to make twenty jars of complicated preserves, I settled for getting some chili peppers to string into a ristra. Buy. String. Hang out of direct sunlight to dry. Use all winter. Got it. I paused for a split second and was informed by my three year old that he could do it… so I didn’t even do most of the work!

Snack time for the gremlins. Hope your running week was more productive! Dead garmins, cancelled babysitters, a skipped run because of rain and motivation issues… pathetic.

-iamjoggingthis(maybe).com

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