·:[ The Healthy Mom ]:·
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Here’s a little story for ya… Yesterday, I stayed home with Zevan in the morning, so I wasn’t able to go for a run until Vikki was here. And I procrastinated, and didn’t go for a run until 1:30 PM. I figured I would run for 1 1/2 hours and come back home. So, I finish my run (7.75 miles) and get to the car.

I check my pockets and… no key! Well, technically, it was the remote lock thingie. Okay, so it’s 3 PM and I’m freezing with no cell phone and no key. I nearly cry at the thought of it. I run for a mile back up the trail, asking everyone if they’ve seen my key. A cyclist tells me that he saw nothing on the trail, and he came on the trail at Fillmore. Crap. That’s 2 more miles up the trail. And if I find my key, I have to come all the way back. Did I mention that its freezing by now?!

I nearly cry again, and run a little farther. I see Penrose Hospital nearby. My mom is working! She can help me. So, I run to the hospital. There is a courtesy phone in the lobby, but I don’t know her work number or floor and the information desk clerk is SO unhelpful. So, I call Vikki and tell her I’m going to be late. Then I call my dad. My dad picks me up. And we decide to try to find the key. So, I ask him to drive me to Gossage Park, which is where I turned around. Less than 1/2 mile from my turnaround point, I find it. A little black rectangle in the middle of a black asphalt trail. Can you imagine? So, my dad drives me back to the Monument Valley parking lot to get my van so I can go home.

I really need to buy a zippered pouch to wear while running. So I can bring my keys AND my phone.

I actually had every intention of getting one today along with a new pair of running shoes. But I didn’t get my coupon in time to go before the boys got home. So… tomorrow!

I am learning about respecting the distance. I had to cut my long run short on Tuesday to attend Feast Day at Zander’s school.

So I ran 7 miles instead of the 11 miles I planned to run.

On Thanksgiving morning, I decided to give the 11 miles another shot - to get the distance and to pre-burn calories before the big meal.

Today, I tried to run just a short 3 miles and couldn’t finish. My shins cramped up and my lungs protested. I only ran 2.3 miles.

Lesson learned: Don’t run 2 long runs in the same week. Especially not one after the other!

I’ve been really slack on doing my stretches after running. I really need to do at least the basic stretches for my plantar and psoas.

And I just looked back through my posts to see when I last got new running shoes. August 24th. About the same time I got the Nike+ iPod. So, I’ve logged 191.97 miles with the shoes on the iPod, and I’m guessing at least another 50+ miles over the last 3 months where I forgot my sensor/transmitter or my iPod was in the shop. Plus extra mileage where I had the shoes on before and after my runs to drop off/pick Zander/Zevan, etc.

That’s a little under the prescribed 300 miles for changing shoes, but I know I need new shoes. My shins are the first to notice.

Yahoo! Nearly a year later from the lipstick incident and I found a really great cleaning tip again.

Zander wrote on his white board with permanent marker a couple of months ago. I told him it was ruined and he wouldn’t be able to use it anymore. And then I hung onto it for some odd reason.

So today, I did a quick Google for ‘remove permanent marker white board’ and found the answer! If you trace over the permanent marker with a dry erase marker, it comes off with the dry erase!

Further more, you can also use acetate (nail polish remover) to get off the rest of the residue.

Nice!

These are various exercises and stretches I should be doing. Maybe if I put them here, I’ll do them more often?

Building a Strong Psoas by Jim and Phil Wharton

Psoas Stretch:
Grasp your left foot with your left hand. Lift your leg up so your thigh is parallel to the ground. Hold for two seconds and release. Repeat 10 times on each side.

Mayo Clinic Plantar fasciitis Self Care

Plantar Fascia Stretches from MayoClinic.com

From Flexibility: Loosen Up

	Work each muscle by contracting the muscle that is its opposite. This relaxes the isolated muscle so it can lengthen. Do the exercise gently and quickly, holding the position for no more than two seconds. Repeat 10 times. Our program only takes 15 minutes and should be done before and after a run. Start by evaluating your current ranges of motion. Do the routine and record your "before" score for each move. After 21 days, retest yourself and note the improvement.
	[1] Double-Leg pelvic tilt Works: lower back and buttocks Contract: abdominals and muscles in the front of the hips and thighs How: Lie down on your back with both knees bent. Place your hands behind your knees. Lift your legs toward your chest. Gently assist with your hands; don’t pull.
	[2] Straight-Leg hamstring Works: back of thighs Contract: front of thighs How: Lie with your nonexercising knee bent and your other leg straight. Place your foot into the loop of a stretching rope. Lift your leg as far as you can. Grasp the ends of the rope with both hands and climb up it, hand over hand, as your leg lifts.
	[3] Hip Adductors Works: inner thighs Contract: outer thighs, buttocks How: Place one foot inside the loop of a rope. Wrap it around the inside of the ankle. Lock your knee, rotate your leg inward. Extend your leg out to the side of your body, leading with your heel. Complete one set. Repeat leading with your toe.
	[4] Hip Abductors Works: outer thighs, hips Contract: inner thighs How: Place your foot into the loop of a rope. Wrap it around the outside of your ankle. Rotate the exercising leg outward and the other leg inward slightly. Lock your knee. Extend your leg across the midline of your body, leading with your heel.
	[5] Quadriceps Works: front of the thighs Contract: buttocks, back of thighs How: Lie on your side with your knees against your chest and your head on the ground. Slide your bottom arm under the thigh of your bottom leg and place your hand around the outside of your foot. Grasp the shin of your upper leg with your upper hand. Move your upper leg back as far as you can.
	[6] Gluteals Works: lower back, hips, piriformis, buttocks Contract: abs, front of thighs How: Lie with one leg straight and the other bent. Point the toes of your nonexercising leg inward. Lift your bent knee toward the opposite shoulder. Keep your pelvis on the ground, and use your hands for a gentle assist.
	[7] Hip External Rotators Works: gluteus maximus, external rotators Contract: gluteus minimus, internal rotators How: Place your foot in a rope. Wrap the ends of the rope around the inside of your ankle. Pull the rope under your leg and grasp it with the hand thats on the same side. Rotate your thigh inward, pivoting your lower leg outward and leading with your heel.
	[8] Hip Internal Rotators Works: internal rotators Contract: external rotators How: Place your foot in a rope. Wrap the ends of the rope around the outside of your ankle. Pull it under your leg and grasp it with the hand on the opposite side. Pivot the lower part of your leg inward, leading with your heel.
	[9] Trunk Extensors Works: muscles that run from the pelvis to the base of the skull, lower back Contract: abs How: Sit with your back straight, knees bent, and toes pointed slightly up. Tuck your chin and contract your abs to pull your body forward. Grasp the sides of the lower legs to gently assist.
	[10] Thoracic-lumbar rotators Works: muscles throughout back and sides Contract: abs, obliques, rotators on opposite side How: Sit in a chair with your back straight. Lock your hands behind your head. Rotate in one direction as far as you can go. When you’re loosened up:rotate, hold, and flex your trunk forward, leading toward the ground with your elbow.
	[11] Soleus Works: muscles in the back of lower legs Contract: front of lower legs How: Sit on the floor with one leg straight and one leg bent. Grasp the bottom of your foot with both hands. Keeping your heel on the floor, raise the foot and bring it toward your body. If you cant reach your foot, use a rope.
	[12] Achilles Tendon Works: the cord that attaches your heel to your lower leg Contract: front of the lower legs How: Sit on the floor with one leg straight and one leg bent and your heel close to your buttocks. Grasp the bottom of your foot with both hands. Raise the foot up, keeping your heel on the floor.
	[13] Gastrocnemius Works: calf muscles Contract: muscles in the front of the lower legs How: Sit on the floor with both legs straight. Loop the rope around one foot and grasp the ends of the rope with both hands. Flex your foot, aiming your toes toward your knee while keeping your knee locked.
	[14] Pectoralis Major Works: chest, shoulders Contract: backs of shoulders How: There are three stages. First: Arms below the belt. Second: Arms shoulder level. Third: Arms above shoulders. Straighten your arms, palms forward. Put your palms together in front of you and then swing both arms behind you. Start with the first position and progress up with each swing.
	[15] Rhomboid/Rotator Cuff Works: external shoulder rotators and rhomboid major and minor Contract: muscles in the shoulder How: Stand with feet slightly apart and arms at your sides. Lift one arm, with the elbow locked, and raise it across your chest toward the opposite side. Use the other hand to give a gentle assist. Keep your torso still and don’t hike up your shoulder.

According to RunnersWorld.com, I should be running 4 times a week.

So, I’m going to give it a try, but my 4th run is going to be a SHORT one.

I’ve been running my old pre-iPod route on Mesa Road. The uphill incline is more noticeable to me now. I’m definitely slower on the way out and much faster on the way back.

I used my new fastest 5k time to determine my workout pace. Now it’s 11:41 for my long and easy runs instead of 12:13.

I’m still running too fast, but I’m not good at slowing myself down. I need to work on that because I KNOW I need to run slower for these recovery runs if I’m going to improve my VO2 at all.

I need to post a new training regimen and stick to it. After I run the 13.2 miles with May.

Okay, since the race on Sunday, I’ve been a bit out of whack in the hip - I think it might be my psoas again. I have been slacking on the stretching lately.

I’ve done 20 miles since then. With my new Nike+ iPod kit. Can you believe I *still* can’t find that dang transmitter Usually once you buy a new something, you find the old something.

So Tuesday I ran 10 miles, either, or I was feeling energetic the calibration must have been off a bit, or both, because I don’t normally run a 10:56 pace for my long runs.

Thursday I did a half mile calibration run, and I seemed to be right on target already.

Thursday and Saturday I ran 5 miles, and averaged 11:07 pace for both. And I felt really slow. Much slower than usual, although, I did hit my usual average pace, so who knows?

I definitely prefer cool or even cold weather for running. It was warm and sunny today - it must have been at least 60 when I ran at 11 AM. I should have run earlier!

If only I had my transmitter for the race - I would have been in the lead.

But over the 25 mile per week limit I set for the challenge…

I’m struggling with this and I am fortunate to have a lot of support. I have the time, but not the discipline.

Zander goes to preschool M-F from 8:00 - 10:50 AM. On Tuesday/Thursday mornings, I go for a run and my dad watches Zevan. The other mornings, it’s just the 2 of us.

After school on Mondays/Wednesdays, we pick up Zander and have lunch at Grandma & Grandpa’s (Doug’s parents).

On Mondays, I have time to work from about 1 - 2:30 PM. I work at the comic store from 3- 6 PM.

On Tuesdays, I have Vikki from 11- 2:30 PM. And the boys sometimes nap for about an hour after she leaves. Mostly Zevan.

On Wednesdays, I have time to work from about 1 - 4 PM.

On Thursdays, we have playdate And the boys sometimes nap afterwards. Mostly Zevan. And sometimes me.

On Fridays, I have Vikki from 11- 2:30 PM. And the boys sometimes nap for about an hour after she leaves. Mostly Zevan.

To be honest, a lot of my work gets done late in the evenings, after the kids go to bed and after Doug and I have our TV/chat time.

With housework, errands and dr appts looming, I have trouble working in my allotted time slots. Then I try and squeeze it in while the boys are home, and when they interrupt me I get really annoyed.

Then I feel guilty about not spending quality time with them. But when I do, in the back of my mind, I’m thinking about work I need to do.

Sigh. What’s a mom to do?

May and I are trying to keep each other motivated. After climbing tonight, we discussed our motivation, or lack thereof, and also talked about possible races.

We decided against the winter series. She didn’t think she’d be able to go to all 4 and we both agreed that racing every other week is particularly stressful.

So, we have agreed to run 13.2 miles together by Dec 8.

Yikes!

So far my longest distance has only been 10 miles. And that hasn’t been easy.

I’m amused by this story.   It totally reminds me of my dashboard Buddy Christ (seen Dogma?)

Toys for Tots rejects Jesus doll  (Full Story)
Tue Nov 14, 1:48 PM ET

LOS ANGELES - A talking Jesus doll has been turned down by the Marine Reserves’ Toys for Tots program.
ADVERTISEMENT

A suburban Los Angeles company offered to donate 4,000 of the foot-tall dolls, which quote Bible verses, for distribution to needy children this holiday season. The battery-powered Jesus is one of several dolls manufactured by one2believe, a division of the Valencia-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co., based on Biblical figures.

But the charity balked because of the dolls’ religious nature.

Toys are donated to kids based on financial need and “we don’t know anything about their background, their religious affiliations,” said Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Va.

As a government entity, Marines “don’t profess one religion over another,” Grein said Tuesday. “We can’t take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family.”

I thought that most Jewish or Muslim families wouldn’t celebrate Christmas.  Or does Toys for Tots provide for Hannukah as well?

I do agree with their stance.  Santa has nothing to do with Christianity  - and there are many non-religious families that celebrate the gift giving tradition. 

Even if you are religious, I think it’s a rare kid that is going to embrace a talking Jesus doll that says things like “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”   Seriously?!

He couldn’t just say, “I love you.”  “You are blessed.”  “Hug your mom.”

Anyway, I just thought I’d share.  I have a big smirk on my face from reading this article.  I hope the topic shows up on the Daily Show.   

Rejected Jesus Doll

Dashboard Buddy Christ

There are a lot of people out there who celebrate a secular Christmas (Santa, family, gifts, tree) that has NOTHING to do with Jesus Christ. 

I love Christmas.  I love the clay animation shows, decorating the tree, the Christmas music…all that stuff.   The story of Christ’s birth is just that to me, a really cool story, like a legend told of old. 

Remember Christianity basically stole the holiday from the Pagans.  Christmas was originally Winter Solstice and Christians decided to make it Jesus’s birthday to help with their conversion rate. The date is completely arbitrary.

So I can see someone who celebrates a more traditionally secular Christmas as being offended by a Jesus doll.  Especially one that is not really made for kids and warns them if they are not Christians (”I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” .  You’d definitely get a raised eyebrow from me if you tried to give my kid one.  I’d tell the boys, “This is bad guy Jesus. The *real* Jesus loves unconditionally.”    The funny thing is, this is something MY parents would buy my kids.   

I think that the Marines were right in refusing the doll.  I just think they should have used more sound reasoning to do it. 

I’m here at the comic store and I’m tired. Mostly from the aches and pains from yesterday’s race.

Last night Zevan woke up around 1 AM and was wandering around the house, “Mama? Mama? Where are you, mama?”

Then Zander wet the bed this morning at 6:30 AM. Lovely.

After I took him to school, Zevan and I went grocery shopping. And found out that we can’t get discounts at the fuel pump anymore (stupid oil companies).

My mom made me breakfast and I ate at their place. That was very nice. I picked up Zander and we went over to Grandma & Grandpa’s house.

I had a small cat nap (well, I just rested deeply on the couch but never actually fell asleep) while the boys ate lunch. I started to get up because Zander was messing with me and throwing little dinosaurs at me, and then he threw the little dinosaur bucket and it hit me square on the mouth! YOWCH!

I was LIVID , but had to restrain myself since we were at the grandparents. A big, ” DOGGONE IT ZANDER! GO UPSTAIRS RIGHT NOW. You are not supposed to throw your toys ever.” If we were home, that would have come out much differently, I think.

I left and shopped at Target for a new Nike+ iPod kit and a few other items. I got a nice green work out top on clearance, too. Retail therapy…

Well, that fall I took during the race on Sunday affected me more than I realized. My back was really hurting. I went to see Dr. Audrey to fix me up. When I laid on the table, it was quite apparent that my right leg was totally turned out to the side, and when I tried to straighten it, I got sharp pains in the small of my back. YOWCH again.

After I left her office, I felt ready to do my long run tomorrow. I love NSA. It’s amazing how my body has learned to heal itself.

Things are looking up! I get to eat Yakitori for dinner and watch HEROES tonight!

Today’s results:

Overall Div    Name          Age    City                  Time
74/104  20/25  Maida Scott   37     Colo Springs     CO   1:36:10

My final results in all 4 races of the series:

Overall Div     Name         Age    MVP       BCP       UVP      PP        Total
57/74   13/17   Maida Scott  37     0:48:25   0:57:48   1:12:35  1:36:10   4:34:58

I finished the series! Wahoo!

May and I are looking at the winter series next… Those are going to be some COLD runs, I’m sure.

I’ll have to see how things go during the next two months to say for sure. Right now I’m just glad to be done with this one!

Jan 13th 5K/10K Fox Run Regional Park
Jan 27th 4M/8M El Pomar Youth Sports Park
Feb 10th 5M/10M Santa Fe Trail @ Baptist Road
Feb 24th 10K/20K Black Forest

Well, this is embarrassing. Half an hour before I need to leave for the race, I grab my stuff to go and realize that my transmitter is missing. I turn the house, car and purse inside out. No luck! I was cursing and in tears from frustration. First day of my own challenge and I can’t record my race! ARGH! :aargh:

I missed the race start because I spent so much time looking for it. This would have been a good time for me to just give up and not run the race at all, but I really wanted to finish the series. So, I grabbed my number and started at the very back of the pack and worked my way through.

It was by far the most technical race I have EVER run. More like extreme hiking!

I took a big fall about halfway through, tripped over a root, and hit the ground hard. I got right back up and figured that I’d stop if something broke (just kidding).

I kept pace with a great pack of gals from then until the last water stand. One of them handed me a pack of Sport Jelly Bellies to get me through a particularly bad uphill. I caught up to another pack and found a woman with a great pace - just a little faster than I really wanted to go. On an uphill, she caught her ankle sharply and had to slow down. After I was sure she was okay, I passed her and caught up to a guy wearing an Ascent t-shirt. Now there’s an accomplishment! I was following him for a while, and he hit a root and went down. I helped him up and moved on. At the very end of the race, I caught up to a group of 3 gals. I had trouble catching up with them. The girl in the back passed the other two, and I was able to pass them when we hit solid ground, just 100 yards before the end of the race.

I finished in 1:36:10 or so…

But it didn’t record on the iPod

Oh well, I’ll have to make up for it during the next 30 days. Maybe add a half mile to every work out…

I’m going to go and buy a new Nike+ iPod kit today! Lucky for me they are only $29.99 (plus tax).

The course was supposed to be 6.5 miles, but I heard a guy say his GPS said it was 7.5 miles. If only I had found my transmitter, I could have had a better idea! Oh well.

Nov 6: 9 mile run

Nov 8: 5 mile run

Nov 9: My fastest 5k time ever - 29:11 !!!

Nov 12 - today: 6.5 mile race in Palmer Park! And it’s cold. And slightly snowy. Forgot iPod transmitter. Again.

Today is the first day of my Nike+ Challenge: Most miles in 30 days Age 35+, 15-20 mi/week

There are currently 7 challengers, including myself. And the race will be my first run of the challenge.

I’m nervous about running in the cold. I’ve got my sports bra, long sleeve nylon shirt and nylon jacket on top, then my running shorts, and running pants on the bottom. On my feet, running socks inside cotton socks (for cushion). I plan on wearing gloves and a hat.

I have run in a blizzard before, but it wasn’t a race, on trails, in Palmer Park.

Wish me swiftness and surefootedness!

Don’t watch this video if you are pregnant or, like me, would rather not know about yet another tragic death of a child.

My heart aches for the loss of her son. He was just a few months older than Zander.

I have to say though, it is pretty alarmist.

The fact that he was in a booster seat instead of a 5 point harness didn’t kill him. Booster seats do work, if the seat belts work. The sister is a testament to that.

If the seat belt fails then a five point harness could still be thrown from the car.

And statistically, how often do seat belts actually completely fail?

If it is more than a fraction of a percent, then we need to push on the car manufacturers to make sure they take measures and develop technologies so that seat belts don’t EVER fail.

LATCH is great, but none of our cars have it.

And the clip of the 6 year old with a lap belt. Why didn’t they show her with a shoulder and lap belt? Because it wouldn’t have the emotional impact. Who just uses a lap belt these days?

In the cars the boys travel in most - my van and Grandpa’s van - they are both in 5 pt harness seats. We use a booster chair for Zander in our station wagon and in my mom’s Cherokee. With a shoulder and lap belt.

But absolutely, every time you put your kid in the car, you need to buckle them up. In a car seat or booster seat appropriate for their height & weight.

Thanks to Little Einsteins, my boys always do a buckle up check before we drive off.

“Seat belts buckled!”

If I get careless or in a hurry, Zevan ALWAYS says, ” Don’t forget to buckle up.” It’s super cute.

I don’t want to take away from this mother’s loss. I think we need to think a little less emotionally sometimes and look at the real issue.

I just don’t want some mom coming up to me in a parking lot judging me with child endangerment just because I have my 4 year old in an appropriate booster seat.

The House!

The Senate!

Rumsfeldt - na na na na, na na na na, hey, hey, good bye!

For the first time since the early 1990s, El Paso County has two elected Democrats in its 13-member delegation. Not in my district, but close enough.

Things are looking up! I’m feeling hopeful again. Now if we could just get a decent presidential candidate for 2008… NOT Hillary please.

Sadly, Referendum I

Upon voter approval, Referendum I establishes legal domestic partnerships in the state of Colorado. Additionally, it specifies eligibility requirements, definitions, procedures, rights, responsibilities, and means for terminating domestic partnerships

did not pass