I'm Back!

Today I went for my first run/walk since March. I am five weeks post c-section and feeling pretty good so I thought I'd "test the waters" today (I haven't gotten the doctor's okay yet so shhhhh...don't tell). I did the flat Vista loop to make it as easy as possible. I actually ran (translated-very slowly shuffled) most of it with very little walking. But pushing the double stroller was not fun! It seemed so heavy! I guess it will just take getting use to again. But I'm looking forward to getting into a schedule and slowly working my way back into my running life. :-)

Hell calling 2~~~ Send back the hair demons!!

Me and Don King have the same "do" now too in this heat......and you wonder why I drink Mojitos and Margaritas.........Where did my salt go?........

Hell called. They want the heat back.

Most people know that I lived here in Eastern North Carolina so I knew what I was getting into when I found out we were moving down here. It's hot and humid June, July, August and most of September. And not just hot, but so hot you need a change of clothes to get from your house to your car from all the sweating; and your windows are steamed; and you feel like you're in a sauna at 6 am. Maya kindly refers to it as "Hot Carolina" and I have to agree!

The difference between living here 8 years ago and living here now is that I didn't run when I lived here before. I did aerobics in a lovely air conditioned work out room and that was it. Now I run, and actually enjoy it! What I don't particularly enjoy is needing a towel to dry off before I even set off on a run. This morning the accuweather "real feel" was 95 at 7:30 am. Seriously? And who was the crazy lady pushing a 3 year old in this heat this morning? You guessed it! What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?!!

But enough whining because soon my Virginia race teammates will be putting on their parkas, gloves and hats just to go run, and I will be happily wearing a t shirt and maybe some long running pants. Now running in that weather will be a dream! I just need a taste of fall weather to motivate me a little more these days! Although iced coffee with Sherry also motivates me too when it's 100 outside!

Missing my Montclair StriderS!!

Life at the beach is good, but I miss my "people"!! Thank goodness I have Christa here but we mostly just drink coffee together now. We are looking for local races, however our hubbies are preparing to leave for Iraq and that limits our opportunies drastically! Run an extra Dolphin loop for us!!!

Julie, how is the newest baby??
Jen, haven't seen updated pix on Facebook yet!!
Amy, you familiar with Facebook? hehehehe??
Michelle, thank goodness you keep fresh photos up!!

Love, Sherry

More than just Mommies Running

I moved to Virginia 3 years ago from California where I ran with a friend/neighbor. I was looking for another running buddy or 2 because I'm one of those people who just doesn't like to run alone. I was lucky enough to find the Montclair Striders within the first month of moving here and gave it a try. Not only did I get 1 or 2 running buddies, but a whole group!

In those 3 years I went from barely running 3 miles (to my credit I pushed a new baby and toddler!) to now running 2 half marathons, easily running 5-6 miles at a time and shaving my time down to an 8:30 m/m. Sure, I could spout about how hard I trained and how determined I was, but this is me we're talking about! There is no way on this earth that I would have done that by myself. I credit every bit of it to the women I ran with and trained with each week in this group. We aren't a hard core running group, but women who enjoy fitness and motivate everyone to reach the goals they have set.

However, there is much more to this group than training, running, and completing races. Many of us are friends. Not your "hey, thanks for running and see you soon" friends, but life long friends. We get together for coffee when it's cold, we always find time for a mom's night out and the emails and phone calls back and forth each week could make your head spin! When we are doing all this training and running we have really gotten to know each other. We have commiserated on sleepless nights, whether to have another child, spousal relationships, family dynamics, issues in the world and just life in general. We have celebrated birthdays, births, and all those little accomplishments we as moms revel in! These ladies know more about me than much of my family members do (and hopefully they don't spill the beans)!

And so here I am about to move again as a military wife. I knew the day would come to move and normally I take it all in stride. This is move #5 and while normally the moves get easier, this one is by far the most difficult for me. It's because I have made such good friends and I will miss these ladies so much. These ladies have helped to make me a fit mommy, but more importantly have helped make me a better person and friend. I'll miss you all.

In the words of the great Governator: "I'll be back."

Nothing to do with anything!

I am in Edinburgh, Scotland. Normally I am within a 10 mile radius of my home in northern Virginia. Weirdest thing happened. I was at a pub with my brother and this ridiculously drunk older Scottish man is talking to me FOREVER. I seriously had no idea what he was talking about. He was very friendly but it was getting old. Two nice men from Leesburg (I am in Scotland!) come near and save me! Also, my father-in-law was one of the men's teacher and football coach 30 years ago. How crazy is that? Thanks Lars and JJ!

Oh, to run again...

I miss running. I'm now 26 weeks pregnant and I haven't run since my two races in March. I try to get out to walk for at least an hour three days a week but it just doesn't feel the same. After a good run I would be drenched in sweat, breathing hard and feel liked I really worked my butt off. But after an hour of walking I don't feel any of that. I barely break a sweat and generally feel like it was a waist of time. Sometimes I start to jog a little (on a flat stretch or down the big hill on Waterway) but I instantly have the urge to pee (shifting baby on bladder) so I spend the next five minutes chanting "Hold it in..squeeze..don't pee on your new running shoes..". Quite sad, isn't it?! Although my daughter enjoys this short pick-up in speed because she usually yells "Yeah, mommy run!". To which I usually chuckle..which doesn't help my bathroom situation. Oh, the joys of exercising while pregnant.