Mamas In Training

New Year, New Me…what an understatement!

As I type, I am 37 weeks and 3 days pregnant. I am to that stage in pregnancy where no comfortable position exists and I wonder on a regular basis if I’ll ever be able to tie my own shoes ever again. I’ve gained 42 pounds so far in this pregnancy and as my due date quickly approaches, I’m looking long and hard at how to combine my new role of motherhood with my desired role as “fit person”.

My go-to weight loss/management and fitness strategy has always revolved around a gym – with my husband’s busy work schedule, I know that a gym workout isn’t a realistic long term fitness approach for me any longer. I’m now coming to grips with the fact my plan to get in shape post-baby will have to involve in-home workouts…which isn’t a horrible predicament. After all, I do own a fabulous treadmill.

However, I hate, hate, HATE running! Honest to heaven, I think people that run marathons are completely crazy – that training schedule sounds like torture. BUT. Here I sit…tipping the scale at a frightening number (you didn’t think I would really tell you what I weigh, did you!?) so my choices seem clear. 1 – do nothing and be out of shape or 2 – suck it up and find a way to love running.

So, I’ll suck it up. As soon as the doctor gives me the go ahead, I’ll start running on the treadmill. My goal is to run a 5K in the early summer and a 10K in the fall. Those may not seem like the loftiest of goals, but I’m factoring training time and conversion to the church of running in that timeline.

I enter 2008 as plain old me with plans to end the year as a Mother and…a runner. I’m not sure which one of those new roles is more intimidating.

Happy New Year!

Erin

My First Half Marathon

Who knew training for a marathon could be so fulfilling!  I'm a mother in training for my very first marathon.  I had just had my second baby last September and trying to loose all that baby weight was very discouraging.

My very close friend is a personal trainer and strongly urged me to start running.  I found two other girls that were running 3 times a week and I started running with them.  After a few long and gruesome months of trying to build up enough endurance to keep up with them, we all decided the best way to stay motivated would be to train for a 1/2 marathon in December.

The two girls I run with ran their first 1/2 marathon last December and loved it.  I'm very excited as it gets closer but as the runs each week get longer and longer through the training I'm hoping I can make it.

Shannon, mom of two, South Florida

Be sure to check out the SouthFloridaMama.com calendar page to see upcoming marathons and triathlons in the South Florida area! Happy running.

Selecting a Running Shoe

There's a little specialty running store down in Orem that's quite popular with several mamas we have talked with.  Runner's Corner isn't big, fancy, or intimidating.  Rather, it's a cozy place women can visit to receive expert help in selecting running shoes and gear specifically for their body and build.  You won't be pressured into buying the most expensive equipment; you'll be shown two or three shoes that will maximize your running workouts.  These people are really good runners and really nice people who want to share their knowledge.  Brian Beckstead, a store manager whose accomplishments include placing 10th in the 2006 Squaw Peak 50 miler, winning a 100K, and now doing ultramarathons, shares a few tips to mamas looking to buy a new shoe.

• Set aside time to visit a specialty running store in person to talk with a running expert.  We'll actually watch you run and do a gait analysis so we can get you the right shoe for your foot strike.  Foot strike, weight, and arch height are the main factors in determining which shoes match up to you.  Wearing the wrong shoe can lead to knee problems, shin splints, other injuries, and just make running a miserable experience.
• Before taking your new shoes for a run, break them in by wearing them around the house for an hour at a time.  You should have about a thumb's width between your toe and the end of the shoe; an almost loose feel.  Your foot should feel completely unrestricted. 
• Exect to pay $80-$100 for a good pair of running shoes.  These shoes will last anywhere from 400 to 500 miles.  Say an average mama is running ten miles a week, the shoe will last 50 weeks, or almost a year.  A twenty miler mama would need shoes every six months or so.  If you buy two pairs of shoe and rotate them each run, you will increase the mileage of both as you'll give them time to regenerate their cushioning properties.  Running shoes will still be great for other activities after their running life is over.
• Don't wear cotton socks or wear socks that are too thick.  Some assumed shoe problems are merely sock problems.

Runner's Corner is owned by Hawk Harper.  Hawk has won the St. George Marathon, the 50 Mile Series in Utah, and also hold the state record in the Double Marathon (52.4 miles).  So while you mamas may not be running marathons, the experts at the store can help fit you for your own running preferences.  Runner's Corner also carries apparel, accessories, energy gel, jog bras, and even that sweet running skirt.  Bring the kids, you can also test out one of their jogging strollers.

Go Chase A Kite

A good way to get your running in? Check it out this Saturday -- it's Family Fly-A-Kite Day at Murray City Park -- the first 200 people get a free kite building kit! Read more on our calendar page at UtahMama.com -- the event is on Saturday March 31st ---

- Rachael

The Family Run

We've decided to make training a family affair since trying to schedule time for both my husband and I to workout gets crazy. We both have our own businesses and we've got a 3 year old and 4 year old so juggling our schedules gets pretty crazy.

One of our solutions: The Family Run

Saturday mornings are officially Family Run time -- we load up the double jogger (my husband pushes it) and we hit the streets. I thought this might help me like running better. Well- my husband (who can pick up and run 12 miles on a whim) had to circle back a few times with the stroller so he didn't totally leave me. And by the time I thought we'd done a mile - he laughed and said we'd maybe done a 1/4 of a mile.

When we were done . . . I threw myself in the gutter.

Monday night was family swim night - that went much better - and it's much harder to throw yourself in the gutter at the pool.

- Rachael

Running Is, Or Used to Be, Torture

I love all of you mamas who detest running, Rachael included.  Just a year ago I was one of you.  A three mile run?  Are you kidding me, I can run three blocks then I'm huffing and puffing.  I used to think my friends, especially Emily, were superhuman for running 7 or 8 miles in an outing.  Here is how I went from zero to three miles, and then completed a sprint distance triathlon with the run last.  I know that if trainer Dave ever read this, he would just roll his eyes and laugh.

I need to preface by saying that I do not do the gym.  It seems that during those times I can get to the gym, every other mama and papa is at the gym, which equals stinky, smelly crowds and lots of germs...just read Erin's post from yesterday.  Plus, I just cannot run on a treadmill - it makes me dizzy because I'm super uncoordinated.  Also, often times at a gym the swimming pool is not even worth swimming in.  Why waste money building a pool if it's not even standard size?  I prefer to swim at a rec center with a long course (meter) pool.  I know, I do need to get to the gym to at least lift weights.  Don't my 5 lb. hand weights here at home count?  So, how did I attempt to train? 

Last winter I ran on an indoor track twice a week.  I drove 15 minutes more to run on the track just because I don't do treadmills.  From all the reading and researching I had done, it seemed the best approach would be to just run (jog) at a slow pace for 20 minutes, not keeping track of distance.  I did that for a month, torturing myself because the only thing I could think was, "I hate running, I hate running."  The second month I started monitoring my distance, realizing two miles would take me 25 minutes.  It wasn't until almost the end of April when I could run outside on the Provo Canyon trail (love that trail!) that I got up to three miles.  They key was slow and steady.  Once I hit the magic three mile mark, the question was "will I be able to run three miles AFTER swimming and biking?"  Side note - after the triathlon I kept running twice a week, and by the end of the summer I was up to 8 miles at about a nine minute pace, and I am still alive!  I'm by no means a bullet, but I did actually start to enjoy my run days.  Then came pregnancy and the past six months of workout vacation...

For the swim part, last January I started swimming twice a week with a Master Swim Class at the American Fork Rec Center.  A group or class swim is the way to go.  It pushes you and you get pointers from other swimmers.  After three months I felt like the swim would be fine.  The bike.  Well, let's not talk about the bike.  I bought a new road bike in March, but was still so concerned about the run.  Let's just say you need to ride your bike more than five times before you ride it in a triathlon!  So much to learn - shifting, clipping in and out of the pedals, experiencing a fall while still clipped into your pedals, on and on.

See why I am really missing out on the training sessions with Dave?!?!

Tanya