Phew...

I get to run tomorrow! Nothing big, too fast or too far. And if it hurts my foot at all I have to stop and go see an ortho for an MRI. But happy day! My x-ray was clear, and it doesn't hurt to walk on it anymore, so those are hopeful signs.

I won't go into the number of calories I have consumed in the last 24 hours, particularly last night, as I have continued to suffer runner's high withdrawals. Ben and Jerry's doesn't count if you just eat it straight from the carton, right?

Apparently part of my footache issue can be attributed to my awesomely flat right foot. I have been referred to a podiatrist to work on inserts, so we'll see how that goes. Whatever it takes to keep me running.

I have my sights set on a half-marathon next April, with a couple more 5K's and maybe a 10K before that. Recently, I have actually begun to fathom the possibility that I may someday run a marathon. Crazy. But races aside, if I never ran a marathon, I will still feel blessed by running for its effect on my physical fitness, weight loss, and mental health.

I am anxiously awaiting my subscription to Runner's World to kick in, along with the Runner's World guide I paid a little extra for. Yes, I am officially hooked.

Well...off to tickle the cookie monsters in order to defend the treats we made especially for some administrators at the elementary school. Apparently Max just snitched an extra one, and now Little Mommy is pleading for equity. "Pretty please. Pretty please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?" Said sweetly, and followed with a finger pointing, "If you don't let me I'll be grumpy at you."

Although, the more they eat the less I eat, so it isn't all bad to let them each have two...

Runner's Low

Definition: Feeling of a runner who has been forbidden to run.

Due to my overly ambitious run two weeks ago, I have had a sore foot, which my doctor thinks is probably due to a stress fracture. I ran on it Monday through Friday leading up to the 5K. Why visit the doctor if you know you will completely disregard their medical opinion? That was my feeling anyway, so I didn't actually go in until this week, post 5K.

And now, I am forbidden to do much of anything until we get the results from the x-ray. This means: No running, no walking (other than what is required for normal living), no bike, no elliptical. It's torture.

I'm not sleeping well anymore, and I have to try harder and harder to mask the growing grumpiness.

I've been eating extra treats to pass the time. Not working so well for my weight loss goals. Funny thing for me, when I am exercising regularly, I am eating right. No exercise begats little discipline in the healthy eating area.

That runner's high is an addictive thing, and has really made a positive impact on my life. Now that I am missing it, I realize just how large the impact has been.

Too bad there isn't such thing as a folding-laundry high.

Always.

Me (a little sadly): Little Mommy, you are getting so big.

Little Mommy: But I will always be your girl. Even when I am a Mommy, I will still be your girl.

Me: You will?

Little Mommy: Yes, and I will always keep Barbie Diamond Castle.

Me: Your Barbie Diamond Castle?

Little Mommy: Yes. I will put it in my car. I will put it in the back of my car and take it to my house. And I will always remember you. Always. I will see Barbie Diamond Castle, and I will always remember you.

30:17

Official time of my first 5K.

Since my original goal was to come in under 38 minutes, and my adjusted goal (after logging in some training miles) was to come in under 32 minutes, I would chalk that up to a great first time for me.


It IS different to run outside when you are used to the treadmill. You actually have to pace yourself! And although running past the frolicking water buffalo was awesome, it was distracting too. I noticed bears, camels, and a peacock in full tail along the way. It was great scenery for an awesome morning run.

I was especially grateful to Dave for corraling our five, and listening to endless pleas for a ride on the carousel (not yet open) or questions about when we would see the bears whilst I ran with a pack of over 1000 others.


The kids all ran in the Kids K, which due to a miscommunication error between the race director and course director, ended up to be maybe a tenth of a mile.


Little Mommy and Max crossed the finish line amidst huge cheers and lots of "Awwws." They were quite darling, if I do say so myself. All week long Max has reminded me, "I run so fast in my race." He told me, "You run so fast too." What a guy.

It was a long but great day. With the school carnival the night before, we hadn't been to bed early. And we had to leave our house before 7. After the races we stayed at the zoo until about 3. Great weather, and lots of fun animals. Hope you enjoy some pictures of the day.


When I asked Max if he knew what the dolphins were called, he very loudly announced, "Yes. Fish." By the end of the day, I think I had actually convinced him they were dolphins.


He did not like the dolpins enough to join the girls for a photo with the dolphin statue though.


He preferred to pout on a nearby bench. It is tough to be two, I tell ya.


The tiger was a definite favorite. Max had a fabulous Tiger growl to go along with it.


We had perfect timing with our sea lion visit, arriving right before feeding time.


Thanks to Dave's secretary's creative Christmas gift, our family is an official sponsor of one of the polar bears.


The kids enjoyed trying out a hut in the safari section. Kind of cozy. We were learning here about the Mbouti people. Max lovingly referred to them as the Booty People.


We also saw the dinosaur exhibit, which Max was pretty intimidated by. Dave tried to explain yet again that they were just big toys.


Here is the Princess with her kindred spirit dinosaur, the pterodactyl.


And another one of her enjoying the animals with Dave.


The baby camels were separated from the parents as they worked on developing independence. I told Little Mommy they were at camel preschool. She thought that was gtreat.


We have a picture of Dave wearing the Actress in a Bjorn when she was a baby in front of the giraffes at the Hogle Zoo. My how she's grown!


The kids ended the day on the carousel.


Isn't she just beautiful? (Of course, they all are, but sometimes I happen to take a picture I just love. This picture was worth the outrageous cost of one carousel ride.)

We stopped by a Burger King on the way home cause we were starved! (Gross, I know, but it was the first thing we passed.) And came home to relax and watch a movie. Our May Family Date was a raging success.

Lessons in Over-running

I finally consider myself a runner now. I generally run 3-6 miles about 4 days a week. Some weeks I run more often, but I always get at least 3 runs in, and I always run at least 2 miles, even if I am in a hurry.

My first mini-goal was to be able to run 3 miles in 30 minutes. I have run 3.1 miles in 30 minutes, which is my fastest 5K time to date. When I made plans to sign up for my first 5K (next weekend!) I had hoped to run it in under 38 minutes. Now, I hope to run it in under 32 minutes. I have made progress.

My longer distance speed (over 4 miles) has increased from about 4.5 mph to 5.5 mph. For shorter distances I run at between 6-7 mph.

So last night, I determined that I was ready to run a Half Marathon: 13 miles. The furthest I had ever run before was around 8 miles. Only 5 miles more, right? This wasn't a well thought out idea. In fact, I came up with it during my run, which I initially planned to be about 7 miles. (Read:no advanced preparation)

I figured I would be extra sore the next couple of days, but that I would receive a huge confidence boost in my running before the 5K, and prove to myself that I was really a runner now.

I learned that though I am a runner, I am still a novice runner. Last night was quite an experience, and I learned a lot, the hard way:

1. I have no idea about proper hydration. After about 11 miles I shouted to Dave to please bring me some water. He did, and I drank around 14 ounces way too quickly. I know, not a wise idea.

2. I can run 13 miles. I did walk from 11.5-11.6 miles, one tenth, but otherwise I ran the whole way.

3. My long distance speed of 5.5 mph is something I cannot sustain after about 9 miles. I had to take it down to about 5 mph for most of the last few miles.

4. After some post-running internet research I discovered that you should eat within about 15 minutes of finishing. I had been done for over an hour when I discovered this tidbit. And I couldn't imagine eating anything at that point.

5. If you sweat long enough, you can end up with salt resting on your skin. Yum.

6. Hydration should happen during the run gradually. Um, duh, right?

7. According to my treadmill, I burned around 1700 calories. You think that makes up for my half pound gain this week?

8. When something about your clothing isn't comfortable, and is chaffing by mile 7, that is only a hint of the pain you will feel by mile 13. The bike shorts I was wearing were apparently not a great choice.

9. If your blood sugars and electrolytes end up out of whack and you are dehydrated, one of the body's common responses is vomiting.

10. There is such a thing as runner's diarrhea. Lovely, no?

I finished my run with a smile on my face. I think I smiled the last half mile. I felt such a feeling of accomplishment, and I felt such confidence in my strong body. I was a little sore, but otherwise I felt great. I decided to soak in a hot bath to sooth my legs and relax my body. I later decided that this was probably not the best plan.

About a hour later, I began to think I was dying. Forty minutes after that, I finally went and got Dave. My skin was pasty white, and I couldn't keep anything in my body. I felt so so sick. Finally, after another half hour or so, I was able to keep about 6 oz of juice and two long stick pretzels down, and I went to bed. (Did I mention I finished my run just before midnight?)

I was so grateful this morning that I woke up! To breakfast in bed, no less. I love that about Mother's Day. Stiff, yes, but alive and able to eat again.

So what I have learned? Preparation is key in achieving goals. Learn from others, and be realistic in your expectations of yourself.

Oh yeah, and dehydration is not good. Very very very much not good. I had been surprised to find I wasn't really sweating when I was done. I don't think this was a good thing.

If any of you can find other objects lessons in this experience, do share. I think it's time for me to drink some more water and spend time with the little darlings busy dressing up for their Mother's Day Show.

P.S. For anyone interested, my time was 2 hours, 24 minutes and 2 seconds. I hope to someday beat that time, when I am better prepared to run that far in the first place!

Prayers Please

I just received this email from my sister:

"Please pray for G [my nephew] and the [G's girlfriend's family]. A [his girlfriend] was filming G at about 5:00 tonight on the train tressel and did not hear the train. It hit her in the head and she was gone instantly.

Her parents will be back over tomorrow to meet with us and the coroner...

I will let you now as soon as the service time is set."

I know the prayers of my few loyal readers can give extra comfort and strength to my nephew and my sister's family, and the family of my nephew's girlfriend. Please remember them.

Due to distance, I don't get to visit with this nephew often, but he is a stellar guy. He has excelled in school and in extra-curriculars, and more importantly, he is a super high quality person. He is a great son to my sister, and a wonderful example to those around him. He will graduate from high school next month, and was accepted to both BYU-Provo and BYU-Hawaii.

I remember the day of G's baptism when he was 8. He and I were able to spend some time in the scriptures together as we talked about what the baptismal covenant meant. I read to him from Mosiah 18 in the Book of Mormon.

7 And it came to pass *after many days there were a goodly number gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord.

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.

He and I visited quite a bit about what this passage means. And how we promise to comfort others, and be a witness of God when we are baptized. It was a great conversation, but I didn't know how much he took from it.

The next day in church it was fast and testimony meeting. On this day, once a month, members of the congregation are asked to fast for two meals and contribute the value of their meals (and more if they can) to a fund which helps those in need. The meeting time is taken by those members who feel a desire to come forward and bear testimony of our Savior.

That amazing little G bore his testimony that day, all of his own accord, because he felt of the truthfulness in those verses above. In fact, he took his scripture up and read some of them, bearing witness that he felt the Holy Ghost confirming to him that these words were true, and that he was glad he could be baptized.

So today I pray that as I mourn with G from afar, that he will feel comforted. That he will know in his heart that A will be resurrected again because of our Savior, that her spirit is safe in paradise, and that he can see her again. And that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost his heart can find peace.

I'm a WHAT?

Lately Max has taken to a new "loving" phrase. Most days, he will take the time to cuddle up to me, pat me gently, and with great love in his eyes and sweetness in his voice he'll coo:

"You a big Mommy. You a BIG Mommy."


As one on a weight loss journey, I have to admit these aren't the words I would have chosen to hear, but taken in context, they are rather endearing.


When you are the often left-out little brother, isn't being big the greatest thing you can imagine?