Why Running a Marathon is like Child Birth

It's Friday, yay!

I quit that place wrote this out months ago, and decided today was the day to publish.

I apologize to those of you reading who have never:

A. Ran a marathon, or
B. Given birth

Hopefully you won't hate on me too much for not catering to the masses, but recently on a long run I couldn't help but notice the many similarities between these two very monumental events.  Let's discuss.

Why Running a Marathon is like Child Birth

1.  After "the event," you swear you are never, ever, EVER doing that again.

2.  At the beginning, you're excited/nervous/giddy/nervous/hopeful/scared shitless

3.  Halfway through, you are tired, thirsty, and wondering how in the hell you're going to finish.

4.  The day after, you are really, really sore.

5.  A few months/years later when you see your friends having babies/running marathons, you start to think.... hmmm, maybe just ONE more.....

6.  At the very end, there's lots of crying, screaming, and people telling you over and over that "You can do it!"

7.  You plan for "the event" for MONTHS and try to strategize for every possible scenario that could go wrong.

8.  After you cross that finish line (in the case of child birth, this is obviously metaphorical) you are absolutely over the moon happy.

9.  You hold onto your baby/medal and never want to let go.

10. You absolutely want to murder the person who got you into this predicament.


Question:
Given birth?  Ran a marathon?  Which one's easier? :)

Happy Easter!

Hi!  Happy Easter to you!

I know I've been pretty MIA on the blog front lately.  This training plan is kicking my BUTT.  The next 4 weeks are going to be pretty insense, and I'll probably hit 50 mile weeks soon.  Eeek!

That, on top of the newest favorite game around here, "throw me up in the air Mommy," is pretty exhausting.  40 pound toddlers.  I think it should count as some kind of CrossFit WOD.

I hope you're having an amazing day, no matter how you celebrate.  :)  I'll be back tomorrow!

The weekend and a marathon update

First off- the biggest and most important news of the year weekend-

I gave this handsome boy his very first hair cut!

I'd never cut someone's hair before- but he made it pretty easy.  I put on The Lorax, gave him a sucker, and he sat still as can be the whole 15 minutes.


How can this be possible?!  It's so cliche to say that kids grow up fast.  But whoever said that is like a miniature buddha covered in hair pret-ty wise.  Aaaaaaand now I'm going to go drown my sorrows in some Ben and Jerry's.  (FYI, Half Baked is the best flavor, don't even try to argue this)

The rest of the weekend was pretty relaxed.

Goofy children

Kid photographer

Walking in the beautiful weather!

I also did a 9 mile tempo run Saturday.  It.  Was.  Awesome!!!

Psst be my friend on daily mile!!

It was one of the best runs I've had in quite awhile.  I was shooting for around an 8:50 pace, and what do you know, I was a little under that!  It's so amazing how a really great run can pump you up and get you excited to keep going.

To be honest, I had started to feel a little weighed down by some of the intense workouts this training plan incorporates.  I had a good base before I started, but I was definitely not used to doing 2 speed workouts a week.  But!  I am really loving the variety and it's obviously working for me (for now).

I'm almost halfway through this training plan, and hopefully I can keep up.  I'm pretty ahead of the long runs in terms of miles, but I'm doing that to hopefully attain my big, scary goal :)  On the agenda for this weekend is a 24 miler.  Phew.  I just keep telling myself I'll only have a few long runs left- 24, 26, 30, and 23.

I'm going to dangle a big box of Honey Bunches of Oats in front of me like a carrot for a horse to get me to finish.

Hopefully many, many, many episodes of Arrested Development will ease the pain as well.  Jason Bateman certainly puts a smile on my face.

Via

Question:

Do you prefer training plans for big races, or just wing it?

I most definitely have a preference- but I think that's a topic for another day :)

Link Love

Happy Valentine's Day!!

We're not big on V-Day at the Curly Mommy household, but I did have a few things on the agenda.....


I spent the day with two of my favorite Valentines

And a little time with a special friend during naptime

Then spent the evening with my other love....

Pizza.

;)


The last 3 days I've been cleaning out my Google reader.  It was way over a thousand (I don't know if you heard me, but I did over a thousand), and honestly it was time to clean house.  As I was perusing, I found some really awesome stuff I've missed over the past month (or 2?) that I think needs some sharing.


So let's link love it up.


And yes, I have a Thought Catalog problem.



The 29 Worst Things About Being in Your 20's- Hey, I've only got a few months left, but more on that this weekend..... maybe...


9 Truths About Netflix Addiction- it's a REAL THING



What Goes Through my Mind Every Time I Go to the Gym



Loosen your Hips to Lose the Belly- If you need me I'll be doing these stretches for the rest of my life



The 8 Worst Foods to Eat in Bed- Serious giggles on this one.



3 Ways to Get Through Speed Work- favorite blog everrrrr


Runners Eat REAL Carbs


And Finally.....


31 Signs You're Liz Lemon- if you need to know anything about me, just read this list.  Spot.  On.


QUESTIONS:

How was your V-day?!

Found anything super hilarious/helpful on the internetz lately?



PS- 100 Days til the Buffalo Marathon!!  Eeeek!!

4 Years

 

Four years ago, I was blessed with the sweetest little girl I have ever met.

She fills my life with absolute joy and love.

Happy Birthday, sweetheart.  

I love you most.

I Am Thankful

Let's get a little personal.



I'm having a really hard time being positive lately.  It's bogging me down.  I feel SO HEAVY with stress, worry, sadness, regret, WORRY.

I know that a lot of things are out of my control at this point, but that still doesn't stop the worrying.

And you know what days I feel the worst on?  The days where I don't move.  Running really is the best outlet for my emotions.


There's a famous saying that says something along the lines of, "Worrying is like a rocking chair.  It gives you something to do but it won't get you anywhere."

So today, instead of worrying, I am going to count my blessings, and be THANKFUL for everything I have.  



I am thankful for my children.

I am thankful for my husband.

I am thankful for family.

I am thankful for my friends.

 I'm thankful for being able to run.

I am thankful for the health of my children.

Lastly, I'm thankful to be able to even BE thankful.  To have this life.  To live, to love, to be.


Happy Thanksgiving :)

Motivation Monday

Hyellow!  How was everyone's weekend?  Great?  Spectacular?  Amazing?  I hope it was all those things and more.

Mine was full of candy. 

And a beautiful princess....

and terrifying dragon.....

The kids had fun but MAN it was chilly.  I'm not ready for it to snow yet.

Oh wait, it already has!  Specifically on my run on Saturday.

Via

(I know I've posted creepy pictures before... but this one might be the winner)

Which brings me to my next order of business.

Monday: REST!
Tuesday: Max Plyo Interval (Insanity)
Wednesday: 5.25 mile run
Thursday: 5 mile hill/speed work run
Friday:  REST!
Saturday:  7 mile run
Sunday: 6 mile run

My knee is STILL acting up.  It seems to really help when I ice/stretch/take a pain reliever.  SO I will definitely continue doing that.

I don't know if it's due to the colder weather... my sneakers.... or perhaps what I think the main problem is- the grade of the roads around here.

Most of the streets that I run on are angled down for drainage purposes.  I think this is causing my (right) knee pain.  I feel this is probably the best guess, because if it were the weather or my sneakers, both my knees would presumably be affected. ?!  I just don't know.  If anyone has any insight I'd love to hear it.

So what to do?!?!

For the next few weeks, I think I'll have to (unfortunately) stick to running around town on the sidewalks, where the grade is less of an issue.  Since where I live is basically a 3 mile radius, I'll be doing LOTS of face plants loops.  Sigh.

Also, I'm going to have to really down grade the miles.  This makes me so sad, but I can't expect to get any better by running 40 miles a week.  It's a scientific fact.

Via

Best.  Movie.  Ever.

Hopefully cooling it with the super slanted roadways will help.  If not, I'll have to consider completely cutting out running until I'm healed.  *insert dramatic sob*

We'll see how it goes!  I know you're all SO interested in my life altering minor injury.  To thank you for maybe making it this far, here's one more dragon picture.

Life Lately

Love those babies. (and cake)

Our town postponed Halloween until Saturday due to the storm.  Cute pictures to follow on Sunday :)