Things I'm Loving Lately and an Update--Running, Motherhood, Life.

A few of my favorite things right now:  Brooks Ravenna 3s, Tiger Tail massage roller, Epsom Salt

It's been awhile since I've taken the time to write a blog post.  Most of my updates or writing has been on Runninghood's Facebook page.  I still haven't fallen in love with Twitter and I'm guessing that at this point, I probably never will.  My lack of writing on here hasn't been because I haven't had things to say or ideas flowing.  Life has just been busy...marathon training, preparing for a move, being a mother to three kids, trying to make their last memories before moving be full of AMAZING, and much more of that thing called life.  Love it.  Yesterday, I ran in the Vancouver Lake half marathon as a training run where I was working on confidence with my marathon pace (more on that later).  While there, I saw several people I knew or recognized or that knew me.  One fellow running blogger/mama said hello and asked me if I'd quit blogging and another came up to tell me that she loved reading my blog (put a smile on my heart).  These moments were a reminder to me that 

1. It has been too long.  
and
2.  People really do care.  It may seem like sometimes that this blog is just for me and that it doesn't matter.  And you know, for the most part, it is true that Runninghood is mostly just for me.  But it has also helped me connect with some pretty special people and opportunities in life. And you never know what kind of impact you make when you share yourself.  

So, brief update on where I'm at:

• Still staying home with my kids and LOVING MOTHERHOOD!  Wouldn't trade it for anything.  
• Training for the Napa Valley Marathon on March 3rd.  And the Boston Marathon will be for fun. Napa will be fun too but it is just the race I'm training for and then Boston will be off of the base I build for Napa. 
• In about a month we will be moving from Portland, Oregon to Asheville, NC.  For Fun.  For an adventure.  Because life is short and we have a good opportunity to see another part of the country and show our kids things they wouldn't otherwise see.   No time like the present.  Even if it seems scary.  Good things are often on the other side of fear.  

My "Lucky Charms".  This necklace will be worn during my marathon.  It jingles when I run and when I hear it, I'm reminded of those that love and support me...the people in my life that matter most and want to see me succeed...the people worth holding close FOREVER.

Things I'm loving Right Now:

• My Marathon Pace 13.1 Run yesterday. Marathon pace all the way until the last mile.  Felt strong, happy, easy, comfortable...all the things you want to feel for a workout like this on semi tire/sore legs after a 65ish mile week. I needed this:  7:32; 7:20; 7:32; 7:25; 7:30; 7:28; 7:26; 7:29; 7:30; 7:26; 7:22; 7:27; 7:05.  Official workout time: 1:36:59. I'm so glad I got myself up and out the door for a half marathon yesterday.  Not racing for me but a chance to get myself in a race environment, nail marathon pace and build marathon day confidence.  Feels good to see the pieces coming together and patience pay off.  I will take this confidence with me through the rest of training and continue to be INTENTIONAL about my life decisions...with training and everything else.  I love how training/Running carries over to LIVING. So many lessons about ourselves that we learn along the way...so many things that help us live life with the same joy, dedication, perseverance, and sense of accomplishment and gratitude that we gain from our RUNS.

• Brooks Ravennas.  So glad I changed shoes.  The Ravenna 3 (see top picture) really seem like a great fit for me.  I think they will be what I run my marathon in too.  Why not?  

• Tiger Tail Roller (also in picture at top).  This Tiger Tail stick goes with me everywhere.  I'm not joking.  You'll often see the top orange handle sticking out of my purse on a normal day.  I LOVE it.  It was one of the things we got for running Hood to Coast with Nuun.  I would say every runner should own one.  So much better than those blue foam rollers.  

• Epsom Salt. I've posted on Facebook about the GREAT benefits I'm finding from my nightly epsom salt baths.  I swear by them now and I'm certain they have been part of my hamstring healing and holding together for me.  Not only has it helped with sore muscles, stress, and my tweaked hamstring, but I'm convinced it has helped to give me the magnesium and sulfates that so many of us are lacking.  

• Udo's Oil.  The website speaks for itself.  I believe in it.  And YES, I notice a difference in the way it makes me feel with stamina, recovery, and strength.  I encourage you to check out the research yourself.  It's expensive but worth it to me.  

• KT Tape, otherwise known as Kinesiology Tape.  This stuff, like Udo's Oil, is well worth the money.  My hamstring will look like the picture above for the duration of my training.  I love this stuff.  I first started using it after my complete tear of my right hamstring in 2010.  Since then, I've worn it off and on as hamstring strains and niggles have come up.  Now I always have it taped if I'm going to be running.  I know lots of people who have had success using this tape...on knees, legs, shoulders, arms, etc.  Check it out yourself!  

• Running Journal Time.  My running journal used to be my main training tool in the past.  A couple of weeks ago, I was kind of doubting myself as far as marathon pace went.  Then I realized that in addition to the physical work I've been doing, I needed to spend some time WITHIN and do some of the mental/self work.  So glad to have come home to my Running Journal!  My journals (I keep several) are a big part of who I and how I grow...as self, mother, wife, friend, professional, athlete and more.  Creating Vision Collages in my Running Journal is one way that I spend time visualizing and empowering myself as an athlete.  The one above is one I did last weekend to refocus and get my goals clear and my confidence up.  

• Kid Jokes.  This school year has brought with it the tradition of giving my kids a joke every morning before heading to school.  They have come to cherish this as I also have.  Not only is it a positive start to their school day but it helps them gain a better understanding of language, humor, and other things that keep their brain working!  My five year old daughter never lets me forget.  I usually just google "kid jokes" but I found this site today that will be a favorite until we've used them all:  Childhood Beckons.

• Motherhood Moments!  I'm savoring them all right now.  Here's one part of my life that makes me smile....My youngest kids helping with coffee grinding at Trader Joe's.  This is one of their favorite parts of grocery shopping.  The rest of the shopping experience isn't always peaceful though.  I try to remember this instead of the cart crashing, apple pile spilling, loud shouting, hair frazzling walk down the wine aisle with a crazy 3 year old boy, and the melt down moments at being told "No" to getting __________.  But coffee grinding is fun!  

Really, I could go on and on and on here with things I'm loving.  Life is truly good right now and there is lots to love.  I'm feeling inspired again and FULL of ideas and motivation.  I'm also a little stressed and FEARFUL of this upcoming move across the country.  But it is the kind of fear that I know holds with it some pretty amazing stuff if I can push past it and JUST DO IT!  This goes not only for moving but in putting some of my ideas to action instead of just writing about them.  Good things ahead.  I can smell them.  

What are YOU loving lately?  

Amanda 

If I Knew Then...

Note:  I originally posted this hours ago but then took it off, posted it again, took it off, posted again and then finally took it off.  I guess I just felt silly, dramatic and vulnerable in a way.  Sharing something about my hurt hamstring, something so important to me but something that probably seems so small to others, made me feel embarrassed or protective over my feelings.  But then my friend Jenn, from Running Sane e-mailed and asked me about it and she really seemed to understand.  I figure, if the post resonated with her then I'm sure there are others out there that will be able to relate too.  I guess part of a good blog is writing raw and being real...saying the things from my heart and not just the things that will make the masses happy.  At least that is what I want my blog to be.  So, here's my post back with a few things taken out.  This is important to me.  


If I knew then what I know now....


I would be back on the day I tripped in the forest at mile 9.  The moment that that I felt myself falling, 
and landing in splits,
hearing the pop and rip of my hamstring.  
Tears falling. 

and I would tell myself to


Stop. 
Be Still.
Surrender.
Do Not Fight what is!


If I knew then what I know now...


I wouldn't have waited hours to ice.  
I wouldn't have continued to try to keep running and pushing it too hard on the bike and elliptical for fear of losing all I had worked for.  
I wouldn't have ignored the pain. 
I would have taken it seriously.
Nurturing it with love and care.
My leg.
My means to do something I love so very much.   


And when I saw my 
    car
rolling
    in the 
Parking Lot,
I would have let it roll on.
I would have screamed for help from someone else
instead 
Of 
thinking I was superwoman
and
sprinting towards it and pushing against it with 
all of my weight...further damaging the part of my hamstring below where it was taped up.


If I knew then what I know now...


I never would have continued to try to run before I was fully healed.  Trying to lift my leg when all it would do is drag along with me.  I never would have tried to wrap it up tight so that I could move in ways that I shouldn't have been moving to begin with.  I would have taken the tears running down my cheeks as a sign that I needed 
To Stop
Be Still
Surrender
Wait.    


I didn't know then what I know now.  We never do.  This is one of the beautiful parts of life and how we learn and grow wiser with age!  



What I'm glad I do know is this: 
*  I'm thankful for my injury and what I've learned from it.  
*  Injury and difficult experiences can make us come out more determined and stronger than ever
*  Don't ever take your gifts for granted...you never know how much of life you have to use them!
*  Find a lesson to take from each moment and experience you go through in life.
*  Life is short.  We never know when the things we love, our health, the things we take for granted can be taken from us.  Make every day count.
*  Dream Big.  Even if your dreams seem small in comparison to others.  Dream big for you! What one person considers small or of little interest, is treasure to someone else.  
* Don't compare yourself to others...Be the best YOU you can be.  


What I'm struggling with today:
*  The lower part of my hamstring (by my knee) is hurting me again.  I'm not quite sure how serious it is but I know I need to learn from the past and STOP. Be Still.  Be Patient.  Nurture.  Heal.  
*  Why is it so hard to do this?  Why is it so hard to give up weeks of speed work and important workouts? Even when I know this is the smart choice.  
*  I'm finally at a place where going out and running 7 minute miles feels good and I'm having fun with hit. Even running sub 7 min miles is feeling good.   
*  I'm scared of losing this...losing my goals, my training, not ever having my leg back 100%.  
* I'm also struggling with why I'm having such a hard time with this...it seems so trivial in comparison to all the many deeper issues in life.  I almost feel bad for feeling so bummed about something like having to take a week or two off of training (maybe longer) when I have so many blessings....so many....a healthy happy family, very little to worry about!  I'm alive, healthy, happy, able to stay home with my children....so why am I so bummed about this?  I am.  That's my reality.  Even if it does seem silly and pathetic to others.  I need to validate and respect these feelings because I am my most important advocate and caretaker of ME.  


What I'm telling myself now:
*  Be Still
*  Practice Patience
* REST
*  Take days off even if it means losing some ground.  
*  Love my hamstring
*  Have a heart of gratitude, love, and happiness...this will go a long way in healing.  
*  Stay focused on my goals and let this make me stronger and more determined.  


1.  We all have lessons in life that we have to learn for ourselves.  We've all had times where we just don't listen to the good advice given by others.  I did this with my hamstring injury.  Not because I didn't think that what they were saying was wise.  I just didn't listen.  I couldn't at the time.  I had to learn for myself.  Can you think of a time in your life that you didn't listen to good advice from others and you had to learn the hard way?  


2. What are some things in your life that were hard, painful, or depressing to go through but that you are thankful for now because of the wisdom and growth you've gained from the experience?  
Amanda

Dude Blog Giveaway Winner!

Yay!  I won my first blog giveaway.  Not just any giveaway either.  I won Chris K's Manly Giveaway and I was one of the Dude Giveaway Winners!  What did I win?  Well, I was hoping for the complete package but I'm not complaining.  Although I didn't get the whoopee cushion that I've always dreamed of, I did win an awesome...

 Naked Girl Pen!  

Who doesn't want one of these?!  I plan on sending it to work with my husband for a bit so he can show it off to his Engineer buddies...you know, a bunch of electrical engineers have nothing better to do than go get coffee and look at a Naked Lady Pen right?  Okay, since my husband has a his own real life Hot Sexy Bitch then maybe I'll just keep the pen to write in my journal with and remind myself how fun it is to win something! He'll just have to enjoy the occasional fun picture sent to him at work from my phone (TMI? Nah.)   

I did get made fun of for my long blogs and blog comments but my pride isn't hurt too badly since I know many of you out there that can match me in your comment and blog word count. You know who you are...(ahem, Jill, you're one of them and I love that about you! :)  However,  I know there is something to be said about keeping it short and making your blog easier to get through.  That's why I am really enjoying my reading of these Dude blogs that keep it short and to the point without a whole heck of a lot of fluff (unlike me).  

Seriously, though, of you have not already, go check out Chris K at BQ or Die.  Love his blog.  His posts and the comments on his posts are always entertaining, interesting, and enjoyable!  

Just a few random things:

*  Still in base building stage with my training.  Last night I had some dynamic stretching followed by a 1.5 mile warm up and then six 75 second repeats at 2.5/3 incline at 6:15 pace.  Ended with a 1.5 mile cool down.  My hamstring kind of hurts today.  I've been icing.  Hope it isn't anything too big.  

*  Thai food tonight!  My kids love Tom Kha soup mixed with rice.  In fact, we had left over Tom Kha the other day and I poured some over Red Quinoa and my 3 year old ate it up!  Loved it.  New Favorite way to get Quinoa in their tummies.  Yay!  

*  Spin Tonight!  Love Cross Training Day!  

*  Thankful for a morning being fully present with my kids.  When I found myself letting my mind wander to other things while I was with them, I just brought myself back to the NOW and remembered to soak it all up and enjoy what was happening at that exact moment.  This being in the NOW thing is Harder than it sounds with my wandering mind.  Even reading stories together...my mind finds a way of sneaking out of the story to think of all the many things to do, etc.  I actually shed a tear today when reading Stellaluna with my daughter.  My kids noticed that I was really there with them too!  

Happy Thursday,

Amanda