New new & Margarita Half Recap

Well- I guess this really IS the year of PRs! I shaved 10 seconds off my half PR that I set 3 years ago (in 2020 just before the pandemic started) a few weeks ago! I ran through the 10+ mph winds and rain to finish in 1:41:26 and a heftier elevation gain than I was anticipating (over 400’ up).

I’m pretty pumped about my NEWLY minted PR in the half- considering how this was just a training run and isn’t even my goal half yet (next month).

Also very important to share that the girls also did a carbo load with me and they’re coming around to the idea of spaghetti. They’re still wondering why it seems very similar to worms (which they can’t eat), but I’m convinced they’ll come around.

I would also love to know when to expect the girls to stop making messes at mealtime. I know it’s coming eventually, but WOW has it really tested both Alex & mines neat-freakness. I think it’s also important to mention that I’ve finally introduced them to bubble baths and they are obsessed. I’m not a huge fan of Charlotte attempting to ‘taste’ the bubbles by dipping her entire face into the water (this is when I not-so- gently remind myself: “it’s just a phase. It’s JUST A PHASE!”)

Back to my race recap! I did my 3-day carb load (I promptly had a salad for lunch today - thank goodness) from Featherstone Nutrition’s carb calculator and didn’t really do any sort of taper- I did however only run the week leading up to the race and had one strength training session (no biking or swimming), so I came in ‘fresher’ than I normally would have on other training weeks. I also focused on sleep the week before and would work my runs in during the day (rather than getting up early). I had a 4 mile shakeout at 10:27 pace the day before with a few strides.

I knew it was going to rain and be pretty windy, so my expectations went from seeing what kind of fitness I was at to just use it as good training run. It’s funny, but ever since having the girls my approach to running and racing has totally changed (for the better!). I now sleep well the night before a race (unless the girls wake up) and have so much more confidence in my running and racing (I think having an awesome coach has helped me with this too). I fully believe in myself as a runner and know (generally) what I’m capable of. I was fairly confident that I would come in under 1:45 and thought if it was a really good day that a PR was within my reach (even on just a training run). With the weather, I decided to just go at it as a comfortably hard pace and not worry about paces (my watch had my splits a bit early so it wasn’t even reliable anyways). I’ve never had a race start in a Target parking lot until this one. It was weird (but oddly awesome after the race! Hot Starbucks drink, a clean bathroom, and shopping!). I also used this as an opportunity to get my fueling back under my belt (I’m not the greatest at fueling during training runs, but always do it during races).

The start of the race was very weird (also wet- my feet were soaked in the first mile)- we ran a lap and a half around the Lowe’s/ Target parking lot before heading out on some rural roads. I tried to keep my pacing easier to get warmed up for the first few miles and then wanted a comfortable- hard for the remainder. I think my pacing was pretty good! Because the weather was so terrible, there weren’t many spectacular out.

Around mile 7 or so (I think?) we ran near the airport which was windy. At the turn around point of the course (near mile 8), I got excited because I love seeing and knowing I’ve already ran this section. I took in a gel every 4 miles (with the caffeinated one in the middle) and used the lemon lime scratch in my water bottle. I didn’t stop through any aid stations and felt really good the whole time. I love my new Garmin because it tells me my lap (mile) splits through my headphones- a big confidence booster that I also loved during Wineglass! I decided to push myself a bit the last mile - mainly because I was wet and cold and wanted to get on with my day (shopping / outlets/ Trader Joe’s - the important things). The fans that were out cheering at the finish were awesome, except that they were kinda blocking the turn into the finish chute.

Overall , I’m proud of this race in really gross conditions (I kept telling myself that they were the best running conditions) and for not pushing it too hard. I’m hoping to continue to build my fitness in the shorter stuff for a bit before switching over to the triathlon and then marathons this Fall.

I Think This is good…

..when you run 11 miles at 9:20 pace with 400’ elevation gain and it felt like you only ran for 30 minutes-> I think I might be getting fit again and it feels so good. I never felt that sort of fitness in my marathon training last Fall (even though I ran a big PR), so im really excited to see what’s in store for me this year in regards to running!

The girls have been so sweet towards each other lately (besides when they’re hitting or biting each other) and these cute moments definitely outweigh the terrible tantrum ones.

I’ve been super into Emily In Paris lately and the fashion is really the best part. It makes me wish that I had cute places to go each day, but most days practicality outweighs anything remotely fashionable. Thank goodness for a spontaneous trip to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods last week with Izzy to get me out of our small little town (Alex enjoyed the day at home with Charlotte).

Motherhood is equally exhausting and so much fun. I also can’t wait to go for my first run with the girls and apparently they can’t wait either.

My fundraising page for Every Mother Counts is going well and I’m excited to be getting close to hitting almost 1/3 of my goal!

I’m on track to hit another 32+ mile week, which feels super exciting! And it’s finally that time of year where we can explore the porch outside and I can’t wait to put on shorts again while on the run. I love Springtime (plus April is my birthday month which is an extra bonus).

March Training Recap

Well, I was almost finished with my training recap and then it decided to disappear into oblivion. So- let’s try this again! I missed a few training days last month due to a head cold, but I was able to get a new 5k PR of 22:29 (a 50 second PR).

I also did an awesome workout last week where I did a 15 minute tempo at 7:39 pace! I’ve also incorporated more foam rolling and stretching into my routine, which also getting more rest when I felt like I needed it.

I ran 122 miles and biked 54 miles. I’ve also swam twice, which is ok. I’d love to bike 70ish miles this month and swim 3 times. I feel comfortable with swimming in the half Ironman and know that I certainly can swim the distance (I also don’t think I can improve my swim time too much, so I’m ok with having swimming as a minimum).

I’m also excited to race a tune-up half marathon at the end of this month. Hoping to also alternate weeks with a longer bike ride, then a cut-back bike ride. I like to keep my dream schedule high, but my expectations low (reality of having 15 month old twins). I’m also excited to finally have a more consistent work schedule (nurses: speak up when you need changes!), which means more sleep and hopefully no more night shifts.

I just capped off my longest week of training since the marathon (32 miles!) and am excited for what’s to come! Thanks for the amazing training plan Coach Cara (from Lift Run Perform team!). And probably many more days spent at the Museum of Science.

An Ode To The New Mom

I’ve been struggling since new motherhood. I thought it would be easy. Well- I mean I knew it would be challenging and there would be change (especially when two little humans enter into your life), but I never saw my other struggles arise. Maybe if I had had a vaginal delivery things might be turned-out differently? I’m not sure. It’s funny how we always seem to want to go backwards and change things (in reality- we can’t). It seems like everyone loves their scars from motherhood and is always preaching about it. Well, I’m here to say that- I have not yet come to terms with loving my c-section scar. I wish that it was in a different place and believe that it will never lay flat because of how it was closed (and also believe that there are some endometrial tissue in there that creates the ‘mom pooch’). I initially tried (in those first few months) to love it and don’t get me wrong- I am so grateful for the doctors who saved my daughters’ lives and my life by doing the stat c-section, but I think it’s challenging to see it everyday. It’s less of a reminder of the beautiful outcomes that came from it and more of a reminder of the trauma that I endured. Maybe that’s selfish and maybe I’m cynical for thinking this way and maybe I’ll feel differently when I’m farther removed from the birth, but this is still where we’re at. Which brings me to my main point of this post.

What started as me loving and being grateful for my body, I found myself nit-picking every flaw about it. My butt looked big, my hips are wider, none of my clothes fit right anymore, I could never imagine wearing any sort of swimsuit that wasn’t high-waisted, and then we got a scale and I was brought right back into my obsession with dieting and weight that I struggled with throughout college. What slowly began as watching the numbers decrease down as I began running more and getting back my fitness, morphed into me obsessively checking my weight in the morning, after a run when I knew I sweated out an extra pound or two. I knew in the back of my mind that this isn’t healthy, but I continued to spiral. I would look in the mirror and see nothing but flaws. I wasn’t reminded of all that I’ve gone through and accomplished, I was just reminded of everything that I thought I wasn’t.

It wasn’t until recently when I began reading Lauren Fleshman’s book Good For A Girl, that I realized that someone else out there felt the same way as me. I only thought that I was an anomaly thinking these thoughts when I looked in the mirror, but alas! she somehow felt the same way too (in a different season of life of course). It was refreshing and it finally made me realize that I am so much more than a number on the scale or the small pooch that is a remnant of the war that me and the girls went through. Maybe those who have gone through traumatic surgeries feel the same way about their scars. I’m certain there is a small amount of grieving process that is involved with accepting your scar, but I think it’s also challenging for new moms (no matter how you delivered). Social media and the entertainment industry, I believe, played a huge part in my struggles with body image and scales. Running has always made me feel better (even postpartum). I’ve never felt stronger or more confident than I do when I’m crushing a race or workout. It’s taken me a long time to find the fire in my belly to compete and run hard (especially over longer distance races and there’s still so much more that I have to give) and I’ve slowly started to apply that confidence into other aspects of my life (thank you to my amazing therapist).

So, I decided that I had enough with the terrible thoughts when looking in the mirror or at the scale. I ditched the scale and when I get dressed- rather than looking in the mirror (which inevitably brings about negative thoughts), I ask myself how do I feel. If I don’t feel good- I change. I also acknowledge that different parts of my cycle I might feel more puffy and that’s normal. The biggest reason for my mental shift? I don’t want my girls to grow-up to seeing their mom continually second-guess herself. I want them to love their bodies (because I love them so much!) and experience life to the fullest. So, all this is to say that new moms- it’s ok if you’re struggling. I see you. I feel you. I was totally there too and dang, you’re doing a great job.

Feature Friday: 2023 Fitness Goals

It’s a few weeks later than I wanted to write this, but such is motherhood of two 1 year old twins. Our doctor the other day described having twins as something like an assembly line and I couldn’t agree more. If one part of our assembly line is out of order, then everything is askew. We get a baby up, dressed, downstairs in their highchair for breakfast- rinse and repeat. If one doesn’t get dressed or needs something extra, then we’ve got to completely pivot our assembly line (I guess this has really helped to let go of my type-A tendencies because things are ALWAYS changing with two littles). Anyways, this is all for me to say that I’m hopeful for us to make another 1-hour roadtrip to Trader Joes next week because I really need some vanilla Joe Joe’s.

I also had my longest bike ride ever (thank-you Peloton and Daycare days), 18.37 miles! So, this brings me to one of my goals for this year (and I’m equally terrified and SO DANG excited)- a Half Ironman! I’m doing the Maine 70.3 Ironman at the end of July and I can’t wait. The swim course is down river (which I’m most excited about because anything to help me get through that 1.2 mile swim) and the bike course (55 miles) seems challenging, but I’ll hopefully be ready. I’m also doing the Maine Cancer Foundation Tri For A Cure again in mid-July- this was such a fun sprint tri and I think it will be nice to ‘get my feet’ wet and have a little tune-up before the big race. Excuse my blurry post-treadmill run picture.

I’m also hoping to run a speedy half marathon this June at the Covered Bridges Half Marathon. I don’t think I’ll be in PR shape (nor will the course be PR-friendly with a lot of hills), but it’s close to home and has been on my bucket-list. I’d love to still break 1:40 in the half someday, but that probably will be next year or in 2 years if I’m being realistic. Izzy isn’t quite ready for me to run that fast either (actually- she was totally fine in this picture she just really hated that bow I placed on her for a quick Valentine’s Day pic).

Last, but not least- I’m hoping to do TWO MARATHONS this Fall! One, will be my goal race and the other one is going to be a goal of SO MUCH FUN. I’m back to doing the Wineglass Marathon this October. I loved this race and thought they put so much thought and effort into every detail that I had to go back again. Then, I’m doing a complete bucket-list marathon- the NYC Marathon and I’m fundraising for Every Mother Counts (look to me doing another post about this amazing organization soon). I cannot wait for it to be Fall, but also I’m very much looking forward to this Summer too! Charlotte also cannot wait until Summer when she can play in her sink (or well- sit in it) outside rather than inside with a sweater.

We’re in another second (or maybe third) round of winter weather, but I’m hopeful that Spring is really actually coming. I love the warmer weather days, the smell of Spring, planning of our garden, and not wearing a million layers if you want to go outside for a run (very thankful for treadmills these days). I’ve got my first race of the year on tap tomorrow (Shamrock Shuffle 5k) and I can’t wait. I did this race last year (newly off of the Fourth Trimester) and it was so much fun. I love a good local race and it starts at noon time (yay for getting extra playtime with the girls in the morning beforehand).

• Anyone going to be at any of my goal races this year?!? Let me know!

• What are your fitness goals for the year? How do you like to line-up your races? All at once or one for each season?

• Favorite Trader Joe’s items? Vanilla Joe Joe’s. SO DANG GOOD.