Joy Is. . . Racing With Your Daughter. AKA Mud and Muck Race Report

About a week ago, I asked my darling daughter how she would feel about running the Mud and Muck run . To my surprise, she said, "YES!"

As it turns out, my husband and my Ashley had been sneakily planning for her to come visit as my birthday present! Woohoo! She surprised me on Thursday evening by coming up the stairs while I was home alone with the kids folding laundry in just a big teeshirt and undies.

So, she was happy to come along and be our personal photographer.

Friday, Ashley and I went to packet pick up. Packet pick up was right by Target, so I had to get Lauren some "running clothes." Yes, "running clothes" knowing full well the purpose of this run was to get muddy. And, mucky.

Saturday morning, we all got up and left the house around 7:45.

Once there, Lauren got pretty nervous. She was scared to be around the people and was anxious about losing me (though I told her that I would be right next to her the whole entire mile we were running). We also lost Eric and Jonathan (who had, apparently, told me that he was walking out to the mud pit).

Time for the start.

Since we were only doing one mile, it didn't take us all that long to get to the mud pit. Lauren fell on the way there and scrapped her hand, but she was able to recover and get back to running.

We finished with a PR of 18:00 (approximately - I wasn't wearing my Garmin ;) ). With my big girlie! I was so very proud of her.

We were so muddy! It was fun, but muddy, so we got clean.

With Ashley!

(all pictures by Ashley with the exception of this one that was by Eric).

Sandy, Three Months, One Week

Okay, this dog took a step back yesterday. It is likely my fault. I say the following: "I think that she is 95% housebroken and any mistakes will likely be ours."

Since then, we've had MULTIPLE accidents. Including poop all over our bathroom. Ugh.

And, this dog refuses to go on walks and chews everything she isn't supposed to chew.

So, it is, as I said, likely my fault.

She is in the crate right now. She isn't allowed free in the house until she has peed outside. I'm taking her out every 15 minutes and she is playing, but not peeing. So, back to the crate.

I'm watching all the Dog Whisperer I can and have finished his book about puppies. I'm working on being Calm Assertive and I think that it will not be a problem for me.

But, we have a couple of goals for this week. The first, most important, is the walk. She has got to get to walking. A well exercised dog is a good dog and I want her to be a good dog. So, that is primary. Secondary is the housetraining. Third is the chewing on people. Redirect, redirect, redirect.

Love this dog. Love this dog.

Trying out Roctane

Well, what do you know?!? It has been far too long. I need to get back to this.

I've been running, but not well and not to target. I have a marathon (will be my third) in October and my goal is going to be 4:30 (a) slow, I know; b) you don't have to be fast to be a marathoner). But, I switched my long run from Saturday to Friday as that way it will less affect my family's weekend time. When I do my long run, not only am I physically gone for three to four hours, but then I'm wasted for much of the rest of the day. Given that both kids are in school on Fridays now, I figure I'll burn that day instead and then be present on Saturday. It also means doing my hills workout on Sunday. I hope God will understand.

Anyway, I've been thinking about my marathon fueling, hydration, and electrolyte intake. After listening to someone from Gu talking about Roctane on the recent Marathon Show, I decided to give Roctane a roll in the hay. My goal is to try several different gels out to see what works best for me. Today was to be Roctane.

Given that I was not going to be doing a sports drink, I also had to figure out electrolytes. I purchased Hammer electrolyte after talking to the guy at the running store. So, I had my plan: 15 miles with a Roctane every 45 minutes and an electrolyte tab every 30 minutes.

But, there is an extraneous variable in this experiment: it was freakin' hot and humid even at 9:00 a.m. Maybe the humidity would be ESPECIALLY at 9:00 a.m. So, my feeling like crap and walking far too much of this run could be more reflective of the weather than my fuel/hydration/electrolyte situation, but I was not wowed by Roctane. I intend on trying again when the weather improves.

I will say, however, that I think the Hammer electrolytes REALLY made a difference. Which surprised me. I didn't think I'd notice a difference with them; I only thought they would prevent me from bonking. I think I'm sold on those.

But, I "ran" (if you want to call it that, she says as she rolls her eyes) 15 miles in 3:21.16.28 which translates to a pace of 13:22/mile. SUCKS. I will say that I notice that I'm about 25% faster with less effort when I run in the evening and I'm attributing that to humidity. When I arrived home, my clothing was as wet as if I had stood in a shower for five minutes. No joke. You could, literally, wring the sweat out of my clothing. Yum!

That's the end of my week. Next up: hills!

Joy Is. . .

The first asparagus of spring.

In case you both like asparagus and are not growing them in your back yard, you really should consider doing so. It is very easy, though requires several years before you have a steady, consistent production. They are low maintenance and are so much better than what you can buy in the stores. I won't even buy asparagus in the store anymore. I make myself wait until they grow in my garden. The anticipation is so delicious. As is the final product.

Running Week In Review (and look ahead) - week of March 15, 2010

This week was not quite as good as last. And, it should have been since the kids were on spring break and I had childcare that did not end when the school day ends. Anyway, I did okay until Friday.

Monday - 8 miles inclusive of 5 .5 mile intervals

Tuesday - 8 miles easy

Wednesday - SRD

Thursday - 4 miles recovery

Friday - was scheduled to run 8 easy, but had a HORRID wind from the north between 25 and 35 mph and I quit after 4 miles

Saturday - was scheduled to run 17 long, but the wind was still present, it was 26*F, and snowing. The snow was nearly horizontal and into my face. I gave it 9 miles and quit once my shoes were soaked.

Total for the week: 33.4, short by 14.

This coming week will bring:

Monday - 7 miles with 8 strides

Tuesday - 8 miles easy

Wednesday - SRD

Thursday - 4 with 6 strides

Friday - 8 miles with 4 at tempo pace

Saturday - 16 miles long

I need to suck it up and do it, but I'm telling ya: snow coming at you horizontally kinda sucks.

Notice Name Nurture - Sunday, March 14, 2010

I went out trying to find something to name. I'd been thinking a lot about judgment and then I saw these thorns. I think unrequested judgment is like thorns: it hurts unnecessarily and separates us from getting closer one to another.

That said, I am frequently paid to judge, but I like to call it "assessment." For some reason, I've been confirmed with an assumption of expert knowledge on human behavior. Okay, I have studied it for decades and it is what I do. But, I also think that there is a big difference between judgment and assessment.

With judgment comes the explicit meaning that your judgment places you above. Also, it is generally unsolicited. If I come to you and ask you for your perception, then by all means, assess. But, if I do not, then why should you think that it is your place to do so?

Also, I generally see a huge difference between solicited assessment and unsolicited judgment: value. It frequently feels as if the judger devalues the other when they judge: my worth is more than yours because you made a choice that I judge as being flawed and because I see myself as being in a position above you, I feel as if I have the right to let you know.

That alienates others. EVEN IF THE JUDGMENT HAS MERIT. It alienates the other. How much more effective would we be at evoking positive change in others if the other always knew that their worth was not the least bit diminished.

My goal for every client who walks through my office to never feel as if I value them one ounce less for choices they make. That they know that I see their light. That they can walk in and tell me that they made the most objectively harmful decision and, while I will likely call them on it, they will be able to lay the decision on the discussion table and be receptive to growth because their worth is not one ounce less. Unconditional positive regard.

Consider then, if you will, the IMPACT of your words on others. Does it achieve the goal intended? Is the intent to hurt, to distance, to demoralize? Or is the intention to lift up? Consider the impact of solicited vs. unsolicited "advice." Consider that there is a living breathing human on the receiving end and not one of us knows what that person is going through. Are you truly showing love for your fellow human or hate? And, if you believe it to be love, how effective are your words? I would posit that growth happens more when there is warmth, sun, and nurturance, than under heavy winds.

Just something to consider.

Operation Rice Bowl, The Third Sunday of Lent

Yeah, not so much. I'm not going to recommend this recipe at all. The Ginger Vegetables. We normally have left-overs that I take to work, but very little of the extra was eaten. So, proceed with that caution.

This week at dinner, we read The Beatitudes from Matthew.

Matthew 5

1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,

2 and he began to teach them, saying:

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Peace.