Pay It 40ward: The Plot Thickens

If you are not up to speed on my latest cockamamie scheme, check out the first and second blog posts I wrote on the matter. If you are up to speed, carry on:

I have been working the last couple of days trying to get more details set in my mind on this plan. I am in the midst of creating a website for Pay It 40ward. I am definitely not a graphic artist so please set your expectations at about a 3.4 (on a scale of 100!) for how fancy it will be. I do think it will be a useful place for me to post all of the details, ideas, Q&As, training updates, etc. I also plan to keep track of how many people have taken me up on the plan. Their stories of Paying It 40ward will be featured there, too.

(You may notice that I have changed the name of the event from Pay It For(ty)ward to Pay It 40ward. Extensive research (read: I asked two of my sisters) showed that 40ward was the preferred spelling.)

So far I have eight participants lined up. They are:

Kathleen, Center Harbor, NH

Megan, Rochester, NH

Kerry, VT

Bethany, Philadelphia

Hope, Candor, NY

Richard, Candor, NY (methinks old Ricky didn't get a vote... Mom may have just signed him up!)

Sandra, Milford, NH

Catherine, Kenosha, WI

I've also got a few bad ass runners lined up to join me for part of the journey. More on those angels in another post. 

I will bite the bullet and officially launch the website soon. In the meantime, remember to email me at pheebzmail@roadrunner.com if you want to take part in the adventure.

Shout out to my 11-year-old niece, Annie, who rocked her first race last night. She ran a mile in 8:11. Wonder if her mom wants to make the trillion hour drive to NH so Annie can run a mile with me in March?

The Next Big Thing: Teaser Post

After each of the five marathons I have run, I've gotten a little stuck. There's a definitely let down after the big event has passed. Even when a runner meets or exceeds a goal, I think most would agree that it's a very real phenomenon to be a titch depressed after a race. After my third marathon I was so stuck that my Facebook password was "what'snext?" for almost six months.

Ready for The Next Big  Ultra Thing?!

It's the same feeling I often experience after being in a play or musical. A fantastic experience into which you have put an incredible amount of energy and time, heart and soul... and then it's over. A deflated balloon. Theater people everywhere can vouch for me on this.

If you're not a runner or a theater person, you surely can relate from some other aspect of your life: the big work project is over, the amazing wedding day has passed, graduation has come and gone. And here you are, a big success, looking around saying, "Uuuuuhhhhh, now what?!"

Two weeks post-marathon, I have come up with a smidgen of a plan as to "what's next" for me. (Beware of long, hot showers. That's where this idea was sparked and methinks now that I've put it into motion it's going to require a GREAT deal from me. 'S all good, though.)

I still need to put together a coherent write up/strategy to achieve my goal,  but for now here are five things that my Next Big Thing involves:

1. You
2. Me
3. Good deeds
4. March 15/16, 2014
5. Many miles

Intrigued? Hope so! More information will be forthcoming soon. I hope many of you will join me, virtually or in real life, on this little mid-life crisis project!

My gifts

My gifts today included...

an amazing frame with 2012 photos of our family

enthusiastic appreciation for gifts large and small from the boys... Angry Birds Star Wars

subscription to online game "Mine Craft"

A nap from the now on-the-go baby (nap not shown here!)

And, from myself, a glorious snowy run

And may all your Christmases, if you celebrate them, be bright!

P.S. Almost forgot! Scott kissed Gabe this morning and then he did a deliberate "smack" with his lips! Gabe's first kiss was to Daddy on Christmas Day. Nice!!

Thanksgiving Day Run

At my folk's house and enjoying the extra time and eager child watchers which allow me great running. Earned my over indulgence this morning with 8.3 of killer hills. Perfect temp and beautiful sunshine. Remembered to shoot some pics with my wicked smart phone toward the end. I hope you are having a wonderful holiday.

When I got on the main road I noticed how my shadow was right in line with the white line of the road. It reminded me, duh, I have a camera on this this!

Just before the final looong ascent back to my parents' house, there's a large cornfield that's been there forever. A welcome sight, but a stark reminder that it's only just beginning to get HARD. (And yes, my hat says, "WINOS: Women In Need of Spirits").

Mom and Dad helped organize a scarecrow contest in their town. The angel above me here was the church's entry. She's been moved to their road and dubbed "Gungah". I love that she is sort of a judgmental angel, with her arms crossed and all.

 

 

 

My post run stretching partner. The good little guy slept for my whole run and gave me a great poopy diaper when I returned.

Oh, technology!

I am posting this itty bitty post using an iPhone. The fact that I own one of these is only slightly less surprising than, say, me agreeing with anything ever uttered on .... Oops. Won't say which cable news show but I bet you can guess. Now I am totally plugged in and I have one less excuse for not keeping up my blog.

So, here's hoping I get plenty of free wifi where e're I roam so I may keep doing the stuff I love and keep telling ya'll about it.

So that I can tag this as a running post... Dig my shirt in the pic. Oh, also this: I downloaded the map my rum app. If you run w your iPhone would love your thoughts on the best app for such things.

Feelin' hot-hot-hot!

Today I completed my hottest run of the summer. Possibly the hottest run of my LIFE!

I survived an 8-miler. I went out at about 12;30 (SOOOO late in the day for me!). Because I'm staying just outside Philly with my sister, I needed to make sure my run didn't mess with the magic of 6 small-ish people and 2 other grown ups. Thankfully, my very clever and accomodating sister had just the thing: Valley Green. It's a nature trail that is about 13 minutes (not 11 and not 15, right Heidi?) from her house. It runs along the Wissahickon River, is 8-miles (out and back) and it's BEAUTIFUL. Also, it's completely shaded. Of course, no amount of shade can protect you from 90+ degree temps and 6 billion percent humidity.

My sister and her husband took charge of the gang of kids, pushing Gabriel in the stroller and offering him a bottle when he needed it. They were hot & sweaty, too, but had a great time walking the trail and checking out the river flowing by. I am SO grateful to them for understanding my need to get a long run in.

I'm tired-er and way sweatier than I look.

Here's a few photos of the (hot) fun the rest of the gang had while I was sweatin' it up on the trail.

Abby, age 12.

Gabe, snackin'.

Aunt Heidi and Elliott

The only shot of Uncle Jay.

Jonny, age 8.

Maddy (the actress), age 10

Tommy, shootin' down the walls of heartache.

Stay tuned for Tuesday evening when I'll be running with my sister's cross country team for one of the weekly "fun runs"!

New ways to damage a small person

To begin this tale of Failed Parenting, a lame metaphor for my running friends:

You know how some people are really good at speed work? And others are best suited for longer distances? And rarely you might come across someone who kicks a$$ at the track and on double digit runs. Is it hard work or a natural born gift? For the most part it's almost certainly a combination of those two things. So, even if you're a little envious, you've gotta respect and admire these people.

I think yesterday I succeeded in soaring to the top of my game in two separate categories of motherhood: long-term neglect of- and emergent danger to my youngest.

It was Gabriel's 2 month check up. I knew I'd have a lot to discuss with the doctor, given his belly aches. But since my new "Rice Chex and fruit" diet seems to be working, I thought we'd be talking about how challenging things WERE. Past tense.

Now, I knew he was wee. Correction: I knew he was LONG and wee. But I was shocked to find when he got on the scale that he has LOST 5 ounces in the last month.

WHAT?

He's grown about an inch and lost 5 ounces.

When the nurse left I fought off panic and guilt mode while we waited for the doctor to arrive. I had time to nurse him for awhile and I just couldn't fathon how I didn't know. How I didn't pay attention!

You've certainly had a similar experience in same arena of your life, so you know what I was going through: simultaneously beating myself up and making excuses for why "no one would have known". He's been eating every 2 - 3 hours during the day. He's been eating at least twice during the night. Many times I think he's fussy because he's hungry and he refuses to nurse because he's just not hungry. Plus, my MOM was with him just last weekend and surely she would have noticed if he was not looking good.

When the doctor came in - she was VERY kind, by the way - I immediately asked her for the name of a lactation consultant. She slowed me down and we talked through all the belly issues Gabe has had: what I eat, hydration (yeah, I'm probably not getting enough), wet diapers (his, not mine), gas (painful v. not), stools (remember the great poop watch?)... Unfortunately, it was suggested that we give him an ounce of formula after each feeding to pack on a few more lbs. She very kindly gave me a couple of small containers of hypoallergenic stuff which I'm sure would cost an arm and leg in the store. I really really REALLY didn't want to supplement with formula, but you can't argue with LOST WEIGHT at the age of 2 months. If I do this right, we may be able to drop the supplements in a month or so. I should hear from the lacation consultant today or tomorrow....

The good news is that after examining him, she concluded that developmentally, he's right on track and that it is truly just a matter of getting more calories in him.

(Tracking the metaphor: The previous section demonstrates my long-term neglect of Gabriel, metaphorically similar to a gifted distance runner who plugs along and plugs along through the miles and through the pain.)

Appointment over, I had to decide if I was going to head home, get out the bottles, and start supplementing. Or, if I was going to go (as planned) to the track for a 6 mile run that I didn't get in at 5AM due to a 2AM, hour long freak out from Gabe. I decided that he had a great 15 minute nursing session just before the doctor came in, he was zonked out, and that I really needed the think time going 'round and 'round the track TWENTY-FOUR times. <>

We drove over to the track, I tucked him in the stroller with oodles of neck support and blankets to screen the sun. I warmed up for 4 laps and then began alternating hard/easy laps. Gabe slept through most of it but after mile 5, as I was ready for my 4 lap cool down, he started fussing. I had determined that my first line of defense whenever he gets agitated was to try to feed him... even if he isn't hungry, at least we'll get a little more food into him. So I gingerly pushed the stroller up the small hill to the pavilion where the bathrooms and water fountains are located. I would feed him and then hit the track for an easy final mile.

I parked him next to the water fountain and, remembering my need to stay more properly hydrated, turned to fill up my water bottle.

Oh. Did I mention it was a little bit windy? Not terribly. Just a little.

Enjoying the lovely breeze on the humid afternoon, I turned back to the stroller just in time to see it complete it's roll off of the pancake flat cement floor, down 2 or 3 inches on the stone-covered edge, and dump all the way over.

Never has the word "shit" been exclaimed with such intensity.

In .0002 seconds I was over there, righting the stroller and uncovering Gabe from the blankets that had been there to support his neck.

He.was.PISSED.

Which was sort of good. Obviously he didn't suffer a concussion because his volume was off the charts. I took him out of the stroller, scanned him for major injuries and then tried to settle him down. Nursing? No. Pacifier? No. Close up, face in hug hold? No. Out facing hug hold? No....

Did I mention he was pissed?

Now, had I been home, I would have stripped myself of my sweaty clothes and settled on the bed to try nursing with a little more insistance. But I was in public. I was SOOO in public.

I rolled the still-pissed (did I mentioned he was pissed) off baby back to the car and loaded him up. Go home or seek medical care? I was torn. He was probably okay but the straps that kept him safe from falling out probably hurt. Finally, I decided if we had been in a car accident and he had been jostled that much, there would be no question of whether he should get looked at by a doctor.

I called and left a message for Scott. I called the pediatrician's office to ask if there was a way we could sneak back in for a quick once over. Nope. So off to the ER we went.

To sum up the ER visit: baby is pissed (did I mention... oh, I did?), baby gets into exam room, baby nurses, baby settles, baby naps, baby waits for two + hours, baby gets 4 minute exam, baby is deemed fine, baby goes home.

I was waiting for social services to come in and question me, but I guess my sweaty running clothes made my story seem pretty legit.

(Tracking the metaphor: This story shows how I excel at putting my small person in emergent danger with the speed and skill similar to that of a gifted sprinter.)

Is it hard work or a natural born gift that helps me excel at both the short- and long-term mistakes? No one can say for sure. But you could say it was a day of greatness for me. But if you are honest, you would say it was a day of humbling revelations and horrifying mistakes.

Please. Please. Please. No matter how flat a surface you have your kid parked on, set the brake on your stroller. The wind is a fickle mistress.

Back in the Bib

Gabriel was officially 7 weeks old yesterday and I had my first post-baby race. It was The Over the River and Through the Woods 5K in Concord. The course was really great because it offered a nice mix of road running and trail running. The only hills were on the roads (mostly going up and over a bridge which crossed a major highway... oh, and a river, as the race name would suggest). In a couple of spots the trail (which was in the woods, natch) narrowed to a single lane which was a great time to chill and maintain pace without feeling obligated to pass anyone. (Since I was not in a place to gut out an incredible time, I liked this aspect as it reigned me in a bit). 

The temperature was perfect: mid-50s. Unfortunately, this glorious temp was paired with rain. And more rain. And rain-rain-rainity-rain. (In retrospect, we actually lucked out because later in the day the rain got much heavier and the winds became vicious.) Again, the rain suited me as it seemed to offer another reason to take it easy on myself.



All the cool kids expose themselves a bit before a race.
Scott's camera phone offer the perfect amount of obscurity a la my ta-tas!

Scott and the boys drove me down. I had my first-ever "last minute nursing session before a race" with Gabriel. (Never raced while nursing the older two boys). Because it was pouring, we huddled in the back of the minivan. I had to make the tough decision of whether to wake him up from a sound sleep to feed him or let him sleep and risk his freaking out from hunger if he woke up before I was done. His naps are not exactly easy to track right now so it could have gone either way. I decided to err on the side of a full belly. Glad I did: he slept for the entire race!


3-M: Me, Meg, and Mandy. Before the race.

Before the race I met up with fellow racers Megan, Mandy & John. I also saw another FB friend, Andrea, who was running. We were lucky to have a mini-cheering (and photography) section in Karen & her little guy, Andrik, as well as Amy, of Wolfe 101 fame. So nice to have friendly faces at the start and finish!

I gave myself some vague goals for the race:

A) Finish feeling good
B) Finish in under 30:00
C) Finish in under 27:27 (my 5K time last October when I was 14 weeks pregnant)

Happily, I can report that I met each of these goals!

Chip time: 26:41
Overall: 131/274
Age group place: 8/33    
Pace: 8:36

Trust me: I'm smiling!

The fact that my pace was under 9:00 tickles me pink. Half marathon training officially begins tomorrow and this pace gives me a great place to start. (Trying not to focus on the fact that my last half marathon I ran at a pace of 7:57 or something obnoxious like that.... we won't be shooting for that this time around!)

Me, John, Mandy & Megan (who had ANOTHER PR yesterday!) There's a FB discussion going - started by my sister - about the size of my hooters in this photo. I was sort of shocked at them, too.

Tuesday Tough Grrrrllll

I'm happy to be back in some what of a groove with running and fitness! Based on my "overnight activity" (nursing 2 - 3 times) I've only managed one early morning in the last week, but thankfully I've found ways to work runs and strength training into my life in other ways.

For instance, on Tuesday & Thursday mornings I only have 2 babies with me (Gabriel & his 12-month-old buddy). Since they both take morning naps, I have been able to work a yoga session in. I either do a Yoga Zone workout from Hulu or I do "Ten Minute Yoga Solution" off of Netflix. (Don't let the "10 minutes" fool you... there are 5 ten minute segments that work different parts... it's NOT easy, especially since my parts are still a bit floppy and postpartum-y!) I've also taken to doing squats, push ups, lunges and calf raises at random intervals through out my days whenever I think of it. I really intend to making this "reset" of my running life include strength training... which normally I am SO bad about!

Tuesday & Thursday training partners.

Running-wise, I have been focusing on time (30 or 40 minutes) instead of distance. I couldn't, however, fail to notice that in my "long" run on Saturday morning I did not-quite-4 miles in 40 minutes. I'm not delusional... I know that's not fast... but given that it was on the hilly roads of my neighborhood, I felt very good about it.

On Mother's Day, we went to the local track/playground/soccer/lacrosse/baseball/etc. fields so the boys could practice riding bikes. (One of my regrets in life is that we have to put bikes in the car in order to ride them. Blasted sidewalk-less/shoulder-less/danger-ous rural roads!) While Scott helped Tommy master the 2-wheeler (with success!), Elliott tooled around on his training wheels, and Gabriel snoozed in his car seat, I ran a mile on the track (no watch timing me.... I'm not a glutton!) and then did THIS fairly killer strength plan found on Another Mother Runner. The workout calls for doing it 3 -5 times... I managed to do it just 2x through! But, I threw in a couple of "sprints" for good measure. I'll definitely be trying it again soon.

I also got some bonus time at the track yesterday because Tommy really wanted to head back over there to practice riding his bike again. I did a (speedy-for-me) 20 minutes and considering it was meant to be a rest day, I am pleased about that for sure.

There's a chance I'll be running a 5K on June 2nd with my friends Megan, Mandy & John.... Haven't decided for sure if I'm going to forgo church obligations that day, though I'm leaning on worshipping in my Brooks and a racing bib, if you know what I mean.

Finally, I had refused to "waste" money on new running shoes while I was pregnant. On Friday I called the closest shoe store and was THRILLED to find out that they now carry Brooks. So, I got a new pair of kicks and have solved the mysterious achy knee problem. (That's one lesson I've FINALLY learned in running: old shoes can cause real problems.) I've run pain-free 3 days in a row so yahoo for fresh sneaks!

There was a prettier, purple pair but I did the grown up thing and bought the pair that felt better!

Ready. Or not.

This time I think I'm really ready. Really really ready.

Ready, of course, to start running again. My body has recovered from giving birth. My brain is DEFINITELY ready for the endorphins. And the calendar is clicking away as opportunities for races slip through my fingers.

So, way back before Gabriel was "Totally On Purpose" I liked to run at scary o'clock in the morning. This worked well for me because even though that initial groan of getting out of bed was painful, I started these days with a huge accomplishment checked off and it put me in a great frame of mind for the rest of the day. In addition, it was pretty much my only option for getting a run in: Scott leaves for work at 6:45 each morning and for much of the school year, he gets home after dark. In addition to needing the kid coverage he provides, I am also just way too pooped by late afternoon to think about working out.

I am looking to get back in that saddle this week. On Monday night I even thought (foolishly, come to find out!) that I would manage to get in a 30 minute walk/run Tuesday morning. In theory, I could feed the baby around 5AM, get out of bed at 5:30, get out the door by 5:40 or 5:45, and be back by 6:15 or 6:20....

You'll be shocked (SHOCKED, I say!) to learn that Gabriel did not follow my prescribed schedule. He was up at 10PM, 12AM, 2AM and 4AM to eat... not a surprise and not too much of a problem, really, as I just plug him in and keep snoozing. But that 4AM feeding was my workout's doom. He finished up around 4:30. Now, I have been known to get up at 4:30 (or before) to run, but this morning it was just not happening. It was still dark out and I could hear the rain coming down. My body was achy from the awkward angle at which I had nursed the baby through out the night. I told myself, "It's okay, I'll just get up in an hour and get out the door."

4AM? Must be time for a drink!

Ninety minutes later I am sound asleep when I Elliott appears beside my bed. "Mommy, I have a tick on my privates."

This is separate-blog-worthy, but I'll sum up here:

Yup. He did. It was completely embedded in there, too. Totally upsetting and gross and unnerving. For me. Elliott was highly amused by the whole thing. Even as I was tweezing and pulling and soaking the little bugger in a liquid soap sopped cotton ball (you've all gotten that email too, I assume), he was unflappable. Apparently he is not terribly sensitive in those parts! Spoke to the doctor's office later in the day and they said to have him soak in the tub, put some antibiotic ointment on it, and watch it. Okey doke!

So. No run today. I'd like to blame the testes-loving tick. I'd like to blame an over-suckling 3-week-old. I'd like to blame the rain and the dark. But I'm getting pretty tired of blaming other things for my butt not getting out there.

This is my new reality and it's time to work in the workout.

POST SCRIPT:
WEDNESDAY, 6AM...
Gabriel up at 1:15 and 4:15. I got out of bed to feed him in the living room at 4:15. Got out the door for my run at 5:20! Not quite 3 miles. Not quite a happy right knee. But... DID IT! "If you blog it, it will get done." AMEN!

Scolded: Tough Grrrl on Hold

Yesterday was the boys' first day back to school after April vacation. It was an odd start as they also had a dentist appointment. So, they went to school for about 45 minutes and then I had to pick them up. We go to a pediatric dentist and it is kind of a haul (1 hour + south) from our house, which means at least 1/2 a day of school is missed. Blessedly, Gabriel snoozed like a champion all the way down, had a hearty "snack" during the cleanings, and pretty much slept through our stop for lunch and the drive back to T's school.

(Also blessedly, Tommy & Elliott did very well with the appointment. They are fairly 'sensitive' to strong flavors and don't like anything stronger than Tom's of Maine Strawberry kids' toothpaste... which makes normal toothpastes way too "spicy" for them... which makes them gag, complain, sit up & cough, etc. when they have dentist appointments. I had a blinding flash of the obvious before their appointment yesterday and brought some of their favored toothpaste with me so the hygenists could use it instead. WIN! They did great. Well, after Elliott was reminded how to handle the water/Mr. Thirsty situation. I am surprised they don't review that with kids as small as he is before they get going... not like he does this everyday!)

Anyway.

We got back to the school and went home to collapse, right? Nope. I had my follow-up appointment with my midwife at 1:45. This office is 30 minutes north of our house and we had exactly enough time to get there. Again, Gabriel remained calm and cool in his carseat and I plugged him in as soon as we arrived. (Where upon he had the most heinous gas and loudest poops known to human kind! Note to self: maybe no more chili for awhile!)

I made the mistake of telling my midwife 2 things: A) My schedule for that day; and B) The kind of alarming-sized clots that I passed when we stopped for lunch. She looked at me and said, "You need to stop. You need to stop. You need to STOP." She says the clots are my body's way of telling me I am over doing it and she thinks I am at high risk for mastitis returning. (Good thing I didn't tell her I have gone running a couple of times, huh?) 

Her advice was that for the rest of the week as soon as Scott gets home from work, I need to park my butt on the couch and do NOTHING. This is a bit frustrating (to say the least) as even with the blood clots I had, I feel fine. Not terribly exhausted and certainly no pain. I had planned to use my last daycare-kid-free days to get in a couple of workouts during the day. (Still not up for the 5AM business!) But, I am heeding her warning. Mostly. I did relax a good deal last evening. It's not in my DNA to truly do nothing, but I figure if I do "relatively nothing", I will be pretty well off.

But my mind refuses to wander to far from running and races. It is "that" time of year and there's always a 5- or 10K around the corner I could be doing. I'm trying to think of that as a good thing ("hey, there'll be more in 2 weeks if you can't do one this weekend!") instead of a bad thing ("hey, think of all the great little races you're missing!). In the past I didn't race a ton so it's weird that I feel like I'm missing it.... I think I'm seeing many more friends (and friends of friends) posting photos and results of races this spring than ever before and that's the cause of my discontent.

I am determined to chill.

And now, for no particular reason and without any connection to the rest of this blog post: a few photos of an outing we took last week to the Children's Museum of Meredith. We were LITERALLY the only people there. (It's a pay by honor system...)

Bubbles rock.

Rube Golberg-esque ball room. My photos didn't do it justice but it's a VERY cool display of the laws of physics.

Lincoln Logs inside a log house. Clever.

Tough Grrrrl Tuesday: It's Back, Baby!

You could survey 1,000 people - including couch potatoes, invalids and those who want to make me feel good about myself - and none of them would call the workout I did today "tough".... But I did it and I'm feeling very good about it. I am 10-days postpartum and physically feel pretty good.

Worst. Photo. Ever. But, hell, I did it and had to document it!

So, with Scott home today and with Gabriel full up on Booby Juice, I rallied myself (read: squeezed myself into some jiggle-reducing spandex) and went out the door. Though I didn't have my Garmin on me, I know it was very slow. Here's what I did:

2 minute walk
1 minute run
1 minute walk

2 minute run
1 minute walk
3 minute run
1 minute walk
4 minute run
1 minute walk
5 minute run
1 minute walk
4 minute run
1 minute walk
3 minute run

What I noticed is that when you are running very slowly, the running minutes go a LOT faster than when you are doing a speed workout... Those five minute speed intervals would have been ENDLESS if I was trying for speed. As it was, I kept to a pace where my breathing was slightly heavy but I could have had a conversation, had I been running with someone.

So, I'm confident I kept things reasonable and will feel better tomorrow because of this run and not worse. I've hit the reset button on aaalllllll my running goals and it's fine by me.

P.S. Lest you think the 'jiggle reducing spandex' were purely a vanity thing, I want to note that much like a newborn craves the swaddle, my parts feel much better when the aren't flopping around at the whim of gravity!

Train Like a Mother

I've been waiting for a long time. It seems like last summer, when the reality of what was happening truly set in, was eons ago. At times I was almost certain the day was never going to arrive. Hundreds of others shared my anticipation and we discussed it endlessly on Facebook and blogs. I wondered if they really knew how excited and anxious I was for the big day. Could ANYONE be as pins & needles about it as I was? And while I had a general sense of when it would happen, experience taught me you can never be sure when a little bundle like this will arrive.

At last, yesterday at about 11:15AM... the moment came! Delivery, though later than I had hoped, was a snap. Weighing in at just over 3 pounds and a lively bright orange, three copies of Train Like a Mother are now healthy and happy and HOME with this giddy Mother Runner.

(Did I fool you at all with my malarkey alluding to birthing a baby? I figured not.... but it sure amused me!)

You may already know that I am a psychotic really big fan of the ladies of Another Mother Runner. I stumbled across the first book written by Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell Davis (Run Like a Mother) after it was featured in Runner's World magazine a couple of years ago. I bought it for myself as a Mother's Day present. I discovered their  blog and their Facebook page and I was hooked. Lucky for me, those nice ladies are not only tolerant of, but somewhat amused by, my take on running and motherhood. So, we developed an email friendship. I was lucky enough to make it down to Cape Cod for a reading of the first book that summer where I met and ran and giggled and drank wine with Sarah. Since then we haven't been able to get to the same place at the same time, which is a big fat bummer, but technology has allowed us to remain in touch. (In fact, Sarah will be running the Boston Marathon on April 16th. A PERFECT opportunity for me to hook up with her. Alas, I will be a teeny bit busy with a new born and she will be a teeny bit busy spreading the RLAM and TLAM love. Oh, and running the actual race, of course!) 

Both of their books feature essays they have written about running and parenting (and wife-ing and work-ing and many other -ings). They also have a gajillion anecdotes and thoughts from Other Mother Runners who responded to their surveys. I was more than happy to share my nonsense with them and, indeed, some of nonsense made it in the book! (I haven't sat down to read the whole thing yet, but when I flipped open the book, I literally landed on a quote from... ME! Gotta dig that, huh??)

SBS and Dim... They like me! They really like me!!

Anyway, no arrival of such significance would be complete without photo documentation from a very talented (read: annoyed that he's taking dumb pics of Mom and not playing with his Legos) 5-year-old. 

Still wrapped up... anticipation is at epic heights.

Getting those babies out required a sharp blade and plenty of brute force. I hope my upcoming delivery of Baby TOP is not so violent!

That's the equivalent to 10cm dilated and fully effaced. "One more big push!"

Happy, healthy, Bouncing Baby Books! (One for me, one for Mom of Max & Sydney - Megan, and one to pass around amongst other Mother Runners.)

"Fascinating insight."

"Hilarious!"

Guess who's quoted a couple of times? AND in the acknowledgements? A first for this girl!

I'm so inspired! Totally ready to get training.... Okay. Maybe in a couple of weeks.... Are you scared yet? Dig that stretch mark on my belly?

So.... Get thee to a bookstore or to Amazon.com and buy this book! Get thee to Another Mother Runner and be part of the online party. Get thee to Facebook and "like" Run Like a Mother: The Book.

Also... if you happen to bump into Baby TOP, please tell him to get thee OUT of  my belly. I'm ready. Really really ready!