Running Therapy

I've been in a bit of a slump recently, generally down and out. Work/life/family stress has been getting to me more then usual and I needed a little pick-me-up. So, this morning I partook of some running therapy - cheaper than actual therapy!

Buttermilk Falls State Park

A mere 1.5 miles from my home is a trail head to the the lovely Buttermilk Falls State Park. This has to be one of my favorite things about our home location! 'Running' these trails (about 5 miles in total) is more like hiking, since they're extremely hilly and a bit treacherous between all of the leaves, rocks and tree roots. It sure felt like a great workout, though!

The best part about this park isn't just the beautiful waterfalls, but the huge variety of wonderful scenery in such a relatively small area. Here are some examples:

At the gorge/waterfall base

Almost a full mile of rolling waterfalls

Carved rock formations along the way

Gorge crossing

Beautiful wooded sections

Completed with a loop around a small lake

After all of this natural therapy, I arrived home a much happier/saner person! I really need to make it a point to 'get out there' and run outside at least a few times a week. The treadmill is great for convenience, but it doesn't have anything on the restorative power of the outdoors. =)

Pregnancy Weight Gain: Here I go again!

I have never been one to stress too much about my weight. In fact, it hasn't been a very good indicator of my overall fitness. When I'm 'in shape' I tend to weigh 5-10 lbs more thanks to increased muscle density. There is something daunting, however, about facing this upcoming curve again:

My pregnancy weight gain

Both of my first two pregnancies fell close to the recommended range (I'm starting at a 'normal' BMI). With the first I was right on track. With the second, I worried that I wasn't gaining enough (I was crazy-busy taking care of a toddler and didn't rest or eat like I did with the first pregnancy). All turned out well, though, with a healthy and even larger baby! Even though I gained less weight the second time, it took just as long before I was back to per-pregnancy weight (4 months).

So, I suppose the moral of the story is that I should just relax and let things take their course. If anything really goes off track I'm sure my Dr./midwife (still debating which way to go this time) will let me know!

Where I've Been

Running definitely fell off of my radar screen this past year. With a cross-country move, new baby, busy toddler and new house to settle into I decided to just relax, enjoy, and not stress about my fitness. It was a wonderful year focused mostly on this:

My silly girls

I still did some wonderful runs around my new home in beautiful upstate NY, I just didn't worry any about pace, total mileage or any race goals. My original goal of running a marathon before baby #2 turned 1 went by the wayside in favor of a new goal:

Baby #3 due April 2014!

The first trimester really leveled me this time around. Between morning sickness, exhaustion, and the normal routine with my 1 and 3 year-old I was toast. My running definitely suffered! Now, that I'm feeling better though, I have some energy to re-focus my fitness and ensure I have a healthy pregnancy and recovery. 

So, I hope to be using this blog again as a motivational tool to help keep me accountable and focused. I certainly won't be going fast or far, but hopefully I'll be enjoying running again in the coming months =)

BOB Run with the Girls!

My running buddies*

The last few weeks the weather has been warm enough for me to get out and run some with the girls. We're really enjoying our outings!

Pushing the double BOB is no small feat. For my sanity, and the girls', we've only been doing 3ish mile runs. We have a good routine where we play at a park for a little while and then do a short jog before going home. Running is a lot quieter if the toddler has spent her energy (and is ready for a snack!) and the baby is ready for a nap.

I am very glad that I decided on the double SUS model, instead of the Ironman model. When I was using the single Ironman BOB with the toddler we absolutely loved it. At the time we were living in an area where all of our running was on nicely paved surfaces, though. Several of the trails I have been taking the SUS on are packed gravel instead of pavement. Those treads make a huge difference!

* The baby wasn't unhappy until we stopped moving. I think she likes the running almost as much as I do!

Impromptu Half Marathon

Last Sunday I ran the 32nd Annual Skunk Cabbage Classic Half Marathon in Ithaca, NY. This was an impromptu 'race' for me since I only found out about it two weeks ago. Obviously, I need to join the local running club so I'll be 'in the know'!

Since I didn't train for this, and my mileage hasn't really been up there, I didn't have any time expectations. Last weekend's 10-miler was a test to make sure I'd be able to finish. I ended up coming in at 1:56. At least it was 2 minutes faster than the half marathon I did last year at this time when I was 20 weeks pregnant (link). Ha!

This event was small-ish (~600 finishers) and pretty well-run. It was soooo convenient for me; starting and ending on Cornell's campus. DH hung out with the girls at his office on campus while I ran and I just met them back there when I was done.

Mommy done running?

My little welcoming committee was happy to have me back =) The baby (almost 8 months old) was unimpressed, but the toddler thought the medal was neat.

One of the best part of any race is the carbo-reload. I like to support the local brewery =)

First post-second pregnancy race reward!

Run in the Woods

I ran 10 miles today! Outside! 50% on trails!

So glad to be out there =)

This is, of course, not really a news-worthy event (like everything else on here!). There are a few reasons, though, why this run made me extra happy:

1. With my recent cross-county move and two little kiddos distracting me, my return to running has been much slower after this last pregnancy then I would have liked.*

2. Per the kiddos, again, and my husband's busy travel schedule, almost all of my running the last few months has been on the treadmill (which I am loving, however, blah)

3. It is just so darn beautiful outside!

The last time I ran on this particular trail was last June when we were out house-hunting. I couldn't exactly 'run' since I was 7.5 months pregnant and it's a pretty hilly route (link). That made this morning's run, on Ithaca's South Hill Recreation Way, even more enjoyable - I could actually run the whole thing!

Beautiful Trail

Wonderful views of the forest

Icing on the cake was that today I did the run from our home! I'm now living in this beautiful, non-crowded, relatively affordable place that I love! Hopefully many more runs will be following soon!

* Happily, I've been running ~20 miles a week for the last 6 weeks or so. I feel a training plan just around the corner!

Immune System, come back!

Soon after my last post I came down with another virus. This time it was a stomach virus. Awesome. I'll be back to blogging/running when my immune system returns from vacation.