Chronicles of Anita

Ending blog

2009-06-23T08:31:00.002-05:00

As I have been training for my triathlon over the last few months I have enjoyed posting about my experiences. I had planned to continue this blog and expand to other areas of my life. However, I have just not enjoyed it like I thought I would. When it becomes a chore to post, I know it's time to stop, so I am saying good bye to this blog. If there are any readers out there....
that would like to read my personal family blog, and you aren't already an invited member, please leave me a comment indicating such. I do plan on expanding the family blog and detailing more event in our lives, beyond the boy's activities.
Thanks for reading!

Quad Cities Triathlon

2009-06-21T08:56:00.003-05:00

My first triathlon is completed! Yesterday morning, Mark and I arose at 3:45 to travel an hour to the race. We checked in, got inked, changed clothes, got our transition area set up, and warmed up until the race started at 7am.
I had a little trouble in the transition area, understanding the order of the bikes. There was a bar with our number where our bike was to be located, but my number had a bike there already, and apparently they didn't go in exact order. Luckily, I had a neighbor setting up, who was more seasoned, and explained the process to me, fairly nicely. After that, I had no trouble in transition area...no knocked over bikes, or lost articles during the race.
I only had time to visit the Porto John, then the race meeting began. Fifteen minutes of instruction, then we all lined up according to how fast we thought we'd swim. I chose the 12-15 minute area. They start was in waves of two, every three seconds. Much nicer than a mass start I think. I got to start with a friend that went up with us, and had another friend starting behind me, so I was in the water with people I knew somewhere around me.
My swim time was slower than it would normally be in a training swim. I looked up more often to see where other swimmers were, mostly. I also swallowed more water than usual, so would slow down until I got my breath back. The swim was the most unknown element, so I expected it to be slower than normal. I got smacked three times by the same man, doing the back stroke! I'm pretty sure it was unintentional, he just wasn't watching where he was going very well. I finally got around him and didn't have any more contact with anyone.
Running uphill to the transition was kind of hard after swimming, so I was out of breath as I got ready to bike. My swim time and first transition time were combined in results as about 19 minutes, so I still don't know what they are....grrr!
The bike went well. Uphill and windy going out, and down slope and tail wind coming back. I finished it in about 50 minutes. I drank extra sweet Gatorade and didn't do any gels or food on the bike this time, and that was easier and I got the hydration and sugar I needed.
Second transition was faster, about a minute and half. My legs were SOOO heavy and I had some knee pain (boo!) so the first half mile to mile was really slow! I got into a rhythm and it began to get easier. There were two water stops and I slowed to take advantage of both, but didn't stop completely. I got poured water over my head and face (to get sweat out of my eyes and get a cool down) and swallowed a small drink at both stops. I think it helped me go faster overall. I put the pedal down in the middle of the race and made some time, and was feeling good. The end of the race was slightly uphill for about half a mile, so I slowed down again and panted it to the end. As I crossed the finish line they handed me a bottle of water and hand towel. My run was about 26 minutes. I cooled off by walking backwards on the race course to cheer friends on as they came through.
I finished in 1:35:30, as seventh in my age division (30-34). I am pleased with my time and performance. For my next one, maybe in late summer, I will be more prepared for my swim, and can try to take some time off there. I did wear socks, and that added to my transition times, so maybe I'll train without socks and see if I get blisters. Maybe next race I will go sock less.
I had a great time at my first race! It was well organized, people were friendly, volunteers were wonderful...so helpful and nice, and my race went smoothly. Definitely doing this again!

5K SmartCourse

2009-06-06T14:08:00.003-05:00

I just returned from a week long trip to TN, where most of my family is located. While there, Mark and I took advantage of hills and mountains for riding and jogging. I rode a mountain so steep and long that I had to walk part of it, both times I rode it. Wow...what a good workout! If I lived there full time, I think I'd be in much better shape. We have the wind in the Midwest, but it doesn't compare to riding up a mountain! I jogged down the same mountain, and walked back up it too. I really enjoy climbing hills on foot better than on bike I think!

This morning I ran a 5K (3.1 miles) in 23.22. I was excited to get first in my age group (30-34), although I don't know the number of racers in the division. It was a local, small (190 registered runners) race, supporting a scholarship fund for the local high school. I have done it two other years, both times pushing my stroller. This year I ran it solo, and really enjoyed it. I did get more nervous than before, maybe because I felt I had to be faster now that I wasn't pushing the boys!

Bike magazine energy bars

2009-05-25T14:00:00.002-05:00

Mark found this recipe in the June 2009 Bike Magazine. I've been trying to find a good granola bar recipe, and really like this one. It has simple ingredients and tastes really good!

The first picture above is the baked bars, the second photo is just before putting them in the fridge (before baking).

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup oat or wheat bran

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1 cup chopped nuts

1/2 cup dried fruit

2/3 cup peanut butter

3/4 cup milk

2 eggs

1/2 cup honey

Mix ingredients. Line a 9x13 inch pan with plastic wrap and spray with oil/Pam. Press mix into pan and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Remove from refrigerator and cut into bars the size you want. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees about 30 minutes, or until slightly brown and firm.

Enjoy!

Swing into Spring duathlon

2009-05-25T13:58:00.005-05:00

Here I am after the race. Mark forgot to take any pictures during, so I'll just write about it!
This was my first duathlon. Distances were a 3K run (1.8 miles), 17K bike (10.5 miles), then another 3K run. I was super nervous before hand! We left for the race at 6am for a 9am start.

I had my usual coffee, a peanut butter sandwich, and a couple glasses of water for breakfast before leaving.

We checked in, got all our supplies, suited up, set up our transition area, ate more snacks (peanuts and raisins). I'm glad it was a small race (around 100 competitors I think).
I was a little concerned with the crowded racks for our bikes, but I guess that's normal. I just put my shoes under my bike and my helmet across my handlebars (I hung my bike by the brake levers).

After pre-race instructions we were released in a mass start. I was disappointed it wasn't in waves, because that seems more fair for actual individual time, but I guess I could have moved to the front of the crowd to start more quickly. I stayed back since it was my first race and wasn't entirely sure of my strategy.

I felt out of breath for the first half mile or so, probably nerves, but settled in quickly. My first run was completed in 14.31 minutes.

Transition from run to bike was breathless, with shaky hands as I tried to hurry, and probably made myself slower! My first transition time was 1.15 minutes. I think that would be fairly slow for a seasoned triathlete, but normal for a beginner.

Over the timing pad, climb aboard, and I'm off, feeling fast as I ride by the slower mounters. I push really hard for couple miles, and then have to slow down. Now I get passed by all the people I just passed! At mile five I ate an energy gel. I was feeling fatigued and had developed a killer headache. That's the first time I have had a gel...ever, and realized I should have practiced! I slowed way down as I opened it and tried to get it into my mouth. I think it gave me a burst of energy, but I'm not sure. That will be worth practicing in training before the triathlon.

Just as I ate the gel, one of the racers from my area that I know flew by, so that gave me some motivation to increase speed and work hard until the end of the ride. My time was 32.07. That was faster than any of my practice time trials.

My second transition time was just as breathless but a bit faster (1.04) maybe because I was switching to running, and only had to put on my running shoes. I went the wrong way out of the area and had to run back a few steps to go over the chip pad (we got an electronic timing chip on an ankle strap that kept track of our time during the race).

It was SO hard to run after biking! I was going super slow, but got a few shouts and some cow bell rings from Mark and the boys and that made me smile. I focused on good form and just keeping my legs going. After about a half mile I settled in, and my legs became more comfortable. Unfortunately I had some knee pain during the second run, with a couple sharp pains that worried me. I slowed a little and they seemed okay, so I continued. I also continued to have a headache, but not so bad that it slowed me down.

Before my next race I think I'll try running with a sweat band. I never expected to have so much sweat in my eyes, or for it to hurt so much! As I neared the finish line people cheered and I put in the extra push over the line. My second run time was 15.44.

My total time was one hour, four minutes, and 36 seconds. I actually placed first in my age group (30-34), but am not sure how many women I was racing against! This race was an excellent preparation for my triathlon. I know what I need to practice (transitions, eating while riding), things I need to consider (why did I get such a bad headache...hydration? food intake? over heating? just overexertion?), and I have faced a race situation now and can feel more comfortable next time.

Open water swim

2009-05-19T12:41:00.002-05:00

I went for my first open water practice swim this afternoon. The only open water around here is a river. A group of triathletes from this area that I have gotten to know a little bit, do a weekly swim and so I joined them. I was the only new open water swimmer, and I have to say I was very lucky to find such a patient, helpful group.

Water temperature is still in the sixties, so we wore wet suits. I borrowed one from one of the swimmers. I don't think I'll invest in one, unless I start doing a lot of triathlons. I wore my goggles and swim cap as well.

We started off with a jump. The swim began at one of the swimmers houses, and we all jumped off the boat dock roof (think of a high dive). That in itself was an experience as I don't go around jumping off heights into water very often! The water was freezing (well, actually only in the low 60's) and it literally took your breath away for a few minutes until you adjusted.

As we got going we stayed as a group, five total, including me. Then three faster swimmers went on ahead and one stayed back with me. He actually stayed with me the entire swim, and I am so glad he did. Without his support I might have freaked out a little (or a lot!).

It was so much different than the pool. Not that I wasn't expecting it, but it's one thing to think about it, and another to experience it. The cold was hard to get used to at first, but I did adjust and soon it didn't bother me. Not being able to see the bottom, but kind of expecting to see something all at the same time, was nerve wracking! I had to figure out "sighting" or looking to the side and ahead to stay straight. Luckily I swam next to shore and my friend swam more out in the river, next to me. I did use him as my boundary or marker a lot. He said that is okay in a race situation also. As long as the other person is going in the right direction!

Waves or wake bothered me some too. I kept getting water up my nose and swallowing a lot of it too. It just slowed me down and wasn't all that pleasant.

We swam 1.2 miles, with a current, so that helped move us along. It probably took about 30 minutes, but I didn't time myself. I felt tired, but exhilarated afterward.

I'm sooo glad I did this before a race situation! If I had went in blind I would have exhausted myself in the swim portion. With a few more practice sessions I think I'll feel much more prepared and will do a lot better.

Swing Into Spring

2009-05-16T14:11:00.007-05:00

I registered for a duathlon! I am very excited. It's the Swing Into Spring in Davenport, Iowa next Sunday. A friend is doing it with me. She has never done one either, and trains about as much as I do. We are also both doing the same triathlon in June for the first time. As I considered the race, I knew I only wanted to do it if it involved people I knew, because it didn't seem fun to do it alone.

The distances are: run 1.2 miles, bike 10.5 miles, and run another 1.2 miles. I think it's a great distance for the first one. One mile is not enough distance for me to find my fastest pace. I tend to take about a mile to warm up, then can go at a faster pace for a mile or two before slowing down again. Maybe it will be easy to do a mile warm up before hand.

It will be nice to practice transitions. Parking and then finding my bike, exiting transitions smoothly and quickly, interaction between racers, and switching gear are all things that make me nervous. I'm glad to be doing this one before I add swimming to the mix!

So...I need to plan my workouts this week so that my body rests. Maybe I'll even take Saturday completely off!!

Interesting articles

2009-05-14T08:07:00.005-05:00

I wanted to share a couple interesting articles with you. The first one is about after workout nutrition, "Cereal and Milk, the New Sports Supplement", and the second is myths about physical fitness, "Top 10 Exercise and Sports Performance Myths". They are both short, but interesting.

My excitement builds when I think about my first triathlon. About a month to go! I'm slowly increasing my training in the area of jogging/running again. I'm also adding on a few miles and riding harder when I do ride. Next week I hope to do my next open water swim in the river with a swimming group.

I really hope my knees hang in there as I increase mileage again. I rode 20 miles last night, 10 of them hard in a time trial (in a time of 33.03) and they hurt afterward. I iced and will take a couple days off the bike. Maybe I'm getting used to the way they feel when they hurt, but it doesn't seem to be as bad as it was before I backed off the running. I don't know if that's good or bad. Orthodics are still on order but should be here soon, so that may still be a help.

My running and biking group members do a lot of racing, duathlons and triathlons. I wonder if a duathlon would help prepare me for the triathlon. Part of me thinks it would be fun, and part of me doesn't want to bother with the actual race (time away from family, distance traveling, money on fees/food), because I could easily duplicate the mileage in a workout here in my hometown. I guess the race atmosphere, large crowd of racers, and using a group transition area would be good to practice, before I do the triathlon, and add the element of swimming as well. Something to think about!

Brick workout

2009-05-08T20:34:00.004-05:00

I did my first brick workout ever this afternoon and really enjoyed myself. My husband did it with me, so that added to the fun. We started on a country road. Great except for the big, loose pit bull at one house...very scary!!

We rode out together and marked where we would turn around on our runs and on our rides. (Mark is much faster and very athletic, so went longer distances.)

I rode four miles, ran one, rode four, ran one, rode four and ran one final mile for a total of twelve miles on the bike and three running. It was so hard to run that first mile after riding, but the latter ones were easier.

This made me really think about my transition activities. I got lock laces for my running shoes, but have lace up bike shoes, so I think I am going to get more lock laces for them (less expensive than special triathlon bike shoes). That will really save me some time. Also, if I could learn to do a running mount onto my bike I think I'd be a lot faster. I kind of have to remember that this first triathlon is mostly for fun and for the experience and I shouldn't worry about my time too much. But the competitive side of me wants to be as fast and smooth as possible!

I feel tired after this workout. It's almost two full workouts for me at the same time. It's been a hard week physically, so I think tomorrow I am going to WALK the mile to the pool, swim SLOWLY, and WALK back home! Even though I'm tired, and my knees hurt more than usual, this still lets me know that I can definitely complete my tri without sheer exhaustion at the end. I will have to do this again in a week (or two)!

Rest days

2009-05-06T20:19:00.004-05:00

Today was a super busy day, physically. I worked in my flowerbed, turning over dirt, digging up and re-planting shrubs, and moving rail road ties around to suit my fancy. It was harder than I realized. I also jogged with the double stroller to do my errands (about 2.5 miles) and did an eight mile bike ride this afternoon. I am so tired tonight...physically and mentally. Tomorrow needs to be easier!

I am so bad at taking rest days, but I am beginning to realize that my body needs them. I guess my strategy is to try to work different parts of my body in different ways each day...i.e. bike one day, jog next, swim every few. Usually I count my swim day as a rest day because I don't really push too hard. I just swim at a comfortable speed without any drills or speed work.

That is all good, but then it's been awhile since I've just had a day where I don't do any type of formal exercise. Hmmm. It bothers me not to. Hmmm. I've read from several sources that I will become stronger if I take rest days, it's just hard for my mind to convince itself that it is so. Well, I'll let that process for awhile and see if anything takes hold.

Butternut squash

2009-05-04T20:39:00.002-05:00

This is a recipe from my childhood. Cut a butternut squash in half, and remove the seeds.

Spread peanut butter and honey (or nut butter and sweetener of your choice) over the squash, filling the hole about one forth full.

Place in baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.

Bake at 350 degrees until squash is soft. Baking time will depend on the size of your squash.

After baking, you can serve immediately, and let each person mix the nut butter/sweetener into their own squash half, or remove the soft insides and mix it up, and serve it without the shell.
Definitely very yummy either way!

Baby radishes

2009-05-02T14:48:00.003-05:00

My baby radishes are sprouting! I also have baby lettuce and peas. How exciting. I love the first burst of little plants.
Other plants such as weeds in my flower beds are also having a burst right now! I have to admit I am not the best at keeping beds weeded. Some people love to do it, using it as therapy perhaps? I have good intentions, but prefer to heap mulch to prevent growth of unwanted plants.
We'll see how motivated I am as the summer gathers strength. It does give me something to do while the kids play outside....

Sammi burgers

2009-04-29T20:40:00.005-05:00

I made what the can of salmon called Sammie burgers for dinner. I sort of followed the recipe on the can, but not really. (Smile!)

I know salmon patties aren't that special, but for some reason these turned out really well and I wanted to share the recipe. Also, I added tofu, and have been trying to find recipes to add it to. I think it made the patties a little less "fishy".
1 12 oz can salmon

7 ounces firm tofu

2 eggs

1/4 cup spaghetti sauce

1/4 cup corn meal

season to taste (I used pepper and garlic powder)

Combine all the ingredients, mixing well, and smushing (technical cooking term!) the tofu and salmon well. You may still have little tofu chunks, but make them as small as you can.

Fry in small amount of oil, until browned.

I served mine hamburger style with a side of cooked carrots. Even the kids liked them! Yummy!

Time trial

2009-04-29T20:32:00.002-05:00

I did my second time trial on my bike tonight and really enjoyed it. The course is ten miles of mostly flat roads, with a couple rolling hills. My time was 33:34, and that makes me happy. Overall, I rode about twenty miles, because it was five to and from the TT course. But I rode those miles easy.
My knees are feeling tender, but not in actual pain, so I'm glad I got brave and did it. My hands are also tired and kind of sore, especially around the thumb. I wonder if I'm holding the handlebars strangely, or putting too much weight on my hands.
I'm never sure when to ride down in my drops, so I've been experimenting. It seems to work best when I'm on a flat or downhill section. If I drop down, and get in a harder gear I can really go faster. Not so much on uphills though. I guess learning these things is a good reason to do longer and faster rides. I need to feel comfortable with my bike before I race it.

"High Tide in Tucson"

2009-04-28T14:34:00.002-05:00

"High Tide in Tucson" by Barbara Kingsolver, is a book of essays about the meaning of life essentially. I found this work to be very readable, funny, thoughtful and thought provoking.

Her take on raising children in the United States is that children are a necessary inconvenience to many people, especially those without children, and something to be only barely tolerated. She compared this way of looking at children to Spain, where apparently she had the experience of adoration for children.

I do desire better behavior from my children such less noise than they generally make at home and staying out of the way of other people, when we are in public places, and maybe this is a reaction to the knowledge that kids do get on others nerves when they misbehave, or act like kids do when in comfortable places.

I haven't personally had anyone tell me my kids are an inconvenience or treat them badly, but I know it happens. Usually people smile and coo at my kids, but they're still little too. I wonder if that changes as they get older.

Kingsolver goes on to discuss raising children in today's world of families that are not always just mom, dad, and kids. She thinks we should be more community minded and less nuclear, every family for itself, minded. I tend to agree with that. It's impossible to raise kids without help outside the family, even with a mom and dad both in the same household.

Beyond family life, Kingsolver discusses environmental awareness and her discussion of an endangered volcano in Hawaii makes me want to visit and see it for myself. She has great descriptive skills.

Ownership of property, evolution, monogamy, and childhood memories are all presented through stories of her experience and give the reader a fresh look at these parts of our life.

I really enjoyed this book, even though I generally lean toward realistic fiction when I read. I am going to go back and read her fiction stories now, just to see if I enjoy it as much as I did her essays. I would recommend this book to a friend.

Onions

2009-04-27T12:54:00.002-05:00

This is kind of a silly post, but I wanted to share something I discovered. I hate to cut onions because it really hurts my eyes, sometimes for hours afterward. So, I buy a big bag and cut them all at once, then freeze them until I need them. That way I only have painful eyes once a month or so.
Today, I was cutting my monthly bag of onions and thought...hmmm I wonder if goggles would help protect my eyes...and it did! I still had some watering and discomfort, but not nearly as much. The kids thought Mom was pretty funny too!

Broccoli

2009-04-24T14:46:00.002-05:00

This picture is the inside of the stalk/stem of a raw broccoli head. My mom used to cut out the middle for us to eat when we were kids, and I still love to do it when I use broccoli. It tastes like broccoli, only milder and with smoother texture. I'm trying to convince my toddlers that it's yummy, without success so far!

Feeling lighter

2009-04-21T20:55:00.004-05:00

I am beginning to feel slightly lighter. Maybe it's all in my mind, and I just have more positive energy today! Who knows.

Yesterday, I started off for my bike ride in cool weather with semi-clear skies and rain in the forecast. As I got a couple miles out I got a few sprinkles. That was okay. I considered heading back for rain gear, but was already a couple miles away from home and decided to stay the course. Mistake! I went a couple more miles, then suddenly the clouds burst with rain and hail. Hail! That was not in the forecast! I could take cover, turn back, or keep going. I was almost at the midway point of a circular ride so no point in turning back. I suppose I could have went to someones porch...I was on a country road...in flat Illinois. But, I reasoned it wouldn't last long, and by the time I found and took cover, it would be over. So, I continued, the hail and rain stopped, and I was left wet and cold. I made it home (and found out my husband and boys had been driving the route looking for me, and got home just as I did....how sweet!) ate some warm food, and took a warm bath and was just fine. I think overall, it was kind of fun and invigorating. It could have been dangerous if it was a worse storm or much colder outside, but it wasn't, and it was an exciting experience. Not one I really want to have again soon, but it made me feel alive.

Today I ran four miles in 32.37. That is about five minutes faster than I ran the same route last week. Granted I was going slowly to baby my injuries last week. I decided to just go for it tonight and it felt great! I did get tired during the run, but it felt so good to work my body hard! I'm heading off to ice these knees now (And as Mark says, bond with him, because he is also icing a hurt knee! Interesting how we spend our quality time!). But, it feels good to have a sense of lightness again!

My Garden Space

2009-04-20T12:52:00.004-05:00

I planted my early spring seeds in my little garden space today. Right now the pictures just look like dirt and mulch, but soon it will be so exciting to see the plants sprout! I live in town, so it's small, but I crowded it full, and plan to add a few more things.

So far I have peas, carrots, radishes, lettuce, spinach, and marigolds. I need to get some onion sets to put in soon, and I want to add tomatoes and bell peppers when danger of frost is past.

In the other bed, which is actually along the alley behind the house, I planted three rhubarb plants and eight asparagus. I want to add a strawberry bed, but am running out of room, so we'll see if I can find a place.

When I did the planning of what to plant where, I used "Storey's Basic Country Skills", a wonderful reference book for various farm type activities, including gardening. Included is a companion planting guide, listing which vegetables do the best planted together. According to this guide, companion planting, or planting certain vegetable together, helps prevent pests. I don't plan to use chemical sprays to prevent pests, so hopefully this will help. I'll let you know.

Chocolate milk

2009-04-19T21:16:00.004-05:00

I've heard some people in my running group talk about about chocolate milk being a good recovery drink, and here's some support for the idea.

Also, as I fight my own injuries...I say fight, but really I'm trying my best to be nice and work with my body...articles like this one on stretching my IT band are good to read, to remind me to stay on top of my stretching.

Feeling heavy...

2009-04-17T20:36:00.005-05:00

Since my foot pain developed and I cut back drastically on the amount of running I am doing, I feel like I lost something....my lightness. Running made my knees ache, so I probably helped them out by taking a break. But, I felt excited to be running 5-7 miles at a time. I haven't done that in a long time, if ever. I felt light and swift, and strong. I have been a jogger since high school, on and off, and usually just 3-4 miles at a time, several days a week, so when I don't jog, I feel like my life is missing something.

Knowing that I have probably overexerted and just need to take time to slow down, back off, strengthen the muscles that help my knees operate, adjust to orthodics, and then slowly build back up to adding mileage jogging is hard for me to do. But I will. There is nothing else to do. I can't injure myself worse, and I know I want to try to train for at least a half marathon in September.

If I can train enough, maybe focusing on swimming more since it has the least impact, and if I can feel comfortable doing the distances on foot and bicycle for my triathlon in June, without injury, then I can try increasing jogging mileage after that to train for a longer running race.

I wish I were a more patient person, with a clearer image of the "big picture" and could see down the road of the "long run" better. I tend to want things to happen quickly and can become distracted or uninterested if they don't. However, exercise has always been a love of mine, and so I think I'll stick it out through these injuries, doing what I can, and hopefully, eventually adding onto that. Patience my dear Anita!

"Midwives"

2009-04-17T13:00:00.002-05:00

Sometimes when I haven't read a book in a while, and I start a good one, I get completely engrossed in it, and neglect other things in life a little. I read while I eat, watch the kids play, brush teeth, during naps, after kids go to bed, etc. Basically any time I can. This means that housework, interaction with my family, phone calls etc. are put on hold for a day or two until the book ends. I'm not sure this is good, but it's hard to control.

"Midwives" was a book that had a strong pull on me to read until I was finished. It had an interesting subject (death of a mother, during birth, under the care of a midwife), compelling characters (midwife, who is a good person; apprentice, who accused the midwife; handsome lawyer; teenage daughter), a plot that moved along, and some surprises along the way.

I would recommend this book to a friend. Here is a link to an interview with Chris Bohjalian about "Midwives" that is interesting, especially if you have read the book.

I did not use a midwife when birthing my two children, but know a couple midwives, and other families that have used them, both at home and attending physicians at the hospital. I do not have strong feelings either way, about home birth. Basically, if that's what you choose to do, it's a personal choice for you, and go for it! I felt safer at a hospital, just in case of an emergency that required more advanced care, but that's just me.

Good book! Now I can focus on other things...like laundry!

Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Waffles

2009-04-13T12:54:00.005-05:00

I found a healthy recipe for waffles that are really tasty.

2 1/4 cup whole wheat flour

4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

2 eggs

2 1/4 cups milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Mix together and pour by 1/2 cup onto hot waffle griddle. I did grease the griddle with butter for each waffle, but you could use oil, or nothing at all. I served mine with strawberry puree and maple syrup. Yum!

Mark's tattoo

2009-04-12T21:09:00.004-05:00

I got a short clip of Mark's tattoo in progress. It was hard to get very much because the artist had to hold Mark's hand and work very close, so most of the action was hidden. The sound is what I will remember. I can hear it now my mind's ear!

Tatto Me Now

2009-04-12T20:46:00.007-05:00

Saturday, Mark and I got our tattoos at a shop called Tattoo Me Now. It was quite an experience.

The first step was to shave the finger, then put a drawing of what it would look like when finished on, to show us, and to guide the artist.

Next...a world of pain! I've heard it said that once you get one tattoo, you're addicted. Well, let me tell you...it hurt so bad, there is no way I will ever do that again! It felt like I was being sliced with a knife!

Mark went first, and made absolutely no expression. He seemed stiff, but didn't make any indication of how terribly it hurt. He said it wouldn't have changed anything...he had to finish once he started, and it would have increased my nerves. Good job Mark!
I guess you can tell from my expressions what I was feeling or thinking! It only took about two minutes, thank goodness! I'm not sure I was completely aware of myself during that time.
Once we were finished I had a mini breakdown, and couldn't stop laughing. I think if I didn't laugh I would have cried!

It's over now though and it doesn't hurt at all. They look nice I think. The four lines represent each member of our family. Mark designed them, and even though it's simple, it has meaning for us, and this makes them special. I am glad we did it, for the experience and for the symbol of our connections that we now carry with us.

Time trial

2009-04-10T20:43:00.004-05:00

I know how long it takes me to ride ten miles on my bicycle now. On Wednesday night I did a time trial with my bike club. I rode in 35:30. Not too bad, but a lot of room for improvement! I hope I can get in enough miles and training to reduce that time. It was a good experience, and it motivates me to work harder because I will strive to beat my own time now.

I also timed a half mile swim this week: 22:41. That is 150 yards longer than my triathlon swim will be. I went slowly, so know I can improve that time. Due to time restrictions I will probably only swim one day a week until sometime in May, when I hope to start doing some river swims to get used to open water, and maybe adding an extra day in the pool if possible.

Now, this week, I will try to do a time trial with my running group, if my foot is feeling well enough.

I visited the podiatrist today, and he cased my feet for orthopedic inserts. He said, along with the strengthening exercises for the muscles supporting my knees and additional stretching, they will really help my knee pain. My arches/instep is high, (I have bone growth on the top of my feet due to that), and my feet pronate, thus putting stress on my kneecap because the over pronation of my foot causes it to move in an incorrect position when I jog. Orthodics should control the pronation and as the muscles get stronger, and everything is lined up correctly I should be on the road to recovery and training! Yeah! I do have to wait a couple weeks for them to be made though...until then I have a general shoe insert he recommended, and can continue training as long my body feels comfortable. Good news!

To preschool or not

2009-04-09T20:36:00.009-05:00

It shouldn't be so hard to decide if sending your 3.5 year old to preschool is the right thing to do. My son is 3 1/2 years old, with a little brother at home aged 1 1/2. This is all the children we plan to have, and I stay at home with them. I really enjoy my time with them and know I'll be sad when their young years are over and they head to school, and I most likely teach again.

My older son's birthday is in late August. In our school system, the cut off date for kindergarten is September first. That means, if a child is not five by September first, he cannot attend school that year. Parents may choose to start a child in kindergarten at age six if their child has a summer or fall birthday, or if they need to for other reasons.

I have mixed thoughts about starting him to kindergarten when he is barely five years old. I really don't know if it will make a difference, but what if it does? Maybe there are people (kindergarten screenings etc) that can give me a better idea if he is ready, but that wouldn't happen until next summer. As far as I know he is on track, age wise, for physical, mental, and social skills.

He has a boy cousin, six weeks older than him that is in the same school system. I would really like if they could be in the same grade throughout school. His mother is planning to start him when he's five. So, there's that reason for starting him at age. My son can attend the same preschool this fall with his cousin. It's a kindergarten preparation program that meets three time a week for two hours at a time. They begin learning numbers, letters, etc., through games and play, that will get them ready for school. I have heard good things about the instructor and the program from sources I trust. I just don't want to start him too soon. If I do wait until he's six to send him to kindergarten, does he really need two years of preschool? But if I decide to send him at age five, he would probably benefit from one year.

His cousin is also going to attend a summer session at a preschool that meets twice a week for two hours. It is more fun oriented...crafts, snacks, and playground time. I am considering enrolling my son too, just to get him used to being independent of me, with his cousin (actually two cousins, one who is five as well as the one his age) there to give him the confidence of knowing someone.

Am I just an attached mom, not wanting to give up her child? Will I really miss him as much as I think? Is he ready to move onto a small part of life without me? I know he will sooner or later, I just can't help wishing it would be later. So, maybe that's my answer. If I have so many doubts, why not wait?

Triathlon growth

2009-04-08T08:11:00.006-05:00

I was sent an article on the growing popularity of triathlons that was good enough to pass along. I'm glad it's a growing, because I think I am going to really enjoy doing my first one and want to continue doing more!

On a semi-related note, I had a bicycle tire and tube changing lesson from good old hubby last night. He has ridden all types of bikes most of his life and he can change a tire tube without much thought. However, I have to really think about it and even then might not get it right. With my limited biking experience I have never had to change a tire out on the road or trail... yet. I know it will happen sometime though, and so I got a refresher course. My road bike seemed easier than my mountain bike. I expected it to be harder.

I'm glad I went over everything. I will feel more confident that I can change a tube, at least well enough to get home. And I also know how to use the tools, and tube I have in my little bag under my seat! I would post instructions, but I'm not sure that's a good idea, coming from a newbie like me!

Tofu burgers

2009-04-07T20:18:00.003-05:00

In my attempt to add some protein to our diet, without eating meat, I turned to soybeans, in the form of tofu. In the past I have tried to cook with tofu but never really enjoyed it. Usually I would pan fry it or bake it, in little squares and add it to noodles or vegetables. It was okay, but not great. This burger recipe was pretty good. The taste was good, but kind of bland. Also, it didn't stick together very well when the patties were formed, before and during cooking. After cooking they were sturdy enough. Maybe next time I'll add some chopped, sauteed vegetables to the mix. I will use this recipe again though. It's the tastiest tofu I have made so far. This recipe made five burgers. I added baked carrot and potato sticks as my side.
1 lb extra firm tofu
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup corn flour
1/4 cup oats
seasonings to your taste: I used basil, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, ginger and salt (the recipe also called for coriander, but I didn't have any)
1 tablespoon soy sauce (I was out, so used Worcestershire sauce)
Shape into burgers and fry until light brown, over medium heat... 5-7 minutes on each side.

I guess I didn't have my V8 today! Actually I did, I just forgot to edit this photo! I have decided this is my new favorite late afternoon, feeling snacky, drink. Good for me, and filling enough to last until dinner...yummy too. I think I like the salty taste.

Kat Sak

2009-04-07T14:55:00.009-05:00

I recently posted about Etsy, an online site for handmade and vintage goods. A favorite Etsy site of mine is The Kat Sak . There are a variety of bags and purses for sale, with many fabric choices.

A popular bag is Claire Bag

in Pop Daisy. There are other fabrics, this one is just my favorite right now.

Recently, she has made burlap storage or tote bags that look very handy. Burlap Basket Medium is shown here, but they come in different sizes. They are made of recycled coffee bean bags, so are eco friendly!
I carry a diaper bag, made as a custom order, that I love. I've carried it over a year, and it still looks great despite the abuse of a busy mom, and many washings!

Great job Kat! I love your work!

Training and biking thoughts

2009-04-06T14:04:00.011-05:00

This week I decided to back off on running due to the pain in the top of my foot. I did slowly jog about three miles yesterday...to the pool and back. If I loosened my shoe a great deal, and went slowly, I didn't have pain. However, I don't think having a loose shoe is a good way to run! I do have an appointment on Friday with a podiatrist to see if orthodic inserts would be beneficial for me. From reading online, I found that many athletes with knee pain use orthodics or support inserts. I can also ask about the top of foot pain. Hopefully he is full of answers and can "fix" me! I continue to do stretching and strengthening exercises, specific to my knee region. Maybe I'll do these for a long time.

I biked with a group tonight, my local bicycling club. It's so nice that there is one in the area. It just started and already has great support from the community. We did 15 miles, in 40 degree weather. I overdressed, but it was very nice. I live in flat country, so the wind is our version of hills! There were a lot of hills tonight!

This ride is my longest so far, and although my legs are tired and my knees slightly sore, I don't feel as exhausted as I thought I might. I think the group held me back from pushing all out. That was probably good for the first ride of this distance, but in the future maybe I need to ride a time trial (we have a weekly 10 mile time trial in good weather) or ride solo. Good experience though, and it got me out there!

Here's an article related to gear needed for bicycling, based on your skill level. I'm not sure all this stuff is necessary, but I'm still on the "newbie" level! Good to think about these things, especially before performing at a race.

Oh, and the bicycle picture is actually one of Mark's bikes, not mine. I meant to take a picture of myself all layered up for my cold ride, but forgot, so you get Mark's bike wheel instead!

Tuna loaf

2009-04-06T14:03:00.005-05:00

In my continuing quest for healthy recipes, I discovered tuna loaf, a version of meatloaf. I usually make meat loaf by combining beef and Italian sausage. This version is much healthier I think! And it was just as tasty, in a less meaty way, as my normal version. I think this recipe is a keeper!

2 cans tuna (12 oz)

1 1/2 cups cracker crumbs

1/2 cup mayo

1/4 cup onion

1/4 cup celery

1/4 cup green pepper

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

2 eggs

paprika, and other seasonings to your taste

Chop finely and then saute vegetables in olive oil. Mix all ingredients. Press into loaf pan, or pan of your choice (depending on what shape you like your loaf!). Cook at 350 degrees 40 minutes.

I realized as I wrote out the recipe that I forgot the mayo and it still turned out good! I also substituted mushroom for the celery.

Sorry I don't have any pictures of the cooked loaf. I got rushed and forgot to take one!

"Breakfast at Tiffany's"

2009-04-06T14:00:00.007-05:00

I finished, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and I would recommend it to a friend. It's short and sweet! Compelling center character, an interesting woman. She surrounds herself with characters that need her for some reason, and it is an intercourse about what people give and take from each other and why, according to personality and need.

It held my interest, but won't stick with me too long! Characters weren't developed enough, and the story wasn't long enough for me to think about constantly for days, the way I do some books.

I finished the book two days ago, and can't even remember the other two short stories without thinking really hard! I guess that is their rating right there!

If you're interested in more information about the story, I found a good website.

Supplements

2009-04-03T20:57:00.009-05:00

Well, I have added a fish oil supplement, extra calcium, and vitamins C and E to my diet. I have decided to only take these every other, or every few days, and see how I feel in a few weeks. I took the first dose yesterday, and probably imagined it, but felt more energy today. I'm not sure what I'm expecting exactly. I hope for more energy, and healthier body tissue and joints.

I rode my bike for about 10 miles today. Road bikes are so much faster than my usual slower pace on my mountain bike, and I really enjoyed it! The top of my foot did hurt a little, so I'm not planning a jog this weekend, but maybe a long walk, if I can manage it. If I could just go barefoot I would be fine. It only hurts with tennis shoes on. Maybe my Crocs would be okay.

Pizza and salad dressing...

2009-04-03T14:12:00.006-05:00

Often on Friday nights we have pizza. Sometimes I make it, and sometimes we order in. I have found and altered a basic pizza dough recipe until I have one that we find really tasty.

1 cup warm water

1/2 teaspoon yeast

2 Tablespoons sugar

Dissolve the yeast in the water with the sugar. The sugar will help it dissolve faster.

Add:

seasonings to your taste: I use garlic powder, basil and black pepper

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Mix and knead a few minutes, adding more flour as necessary, until you have a dough ball that is not sticky any more. Let rest as you gather the rest of your ingredients. Roll it out with a roller, on an oiled surface and place on the pizza pan. Make it slightly larger than the pan, so you can fold over crust. If you want stuffed crust, lay pieces of cheese around edge before folding dough over. Spread with toppings of your choice. Let it sit for an hour or so, to allow dough to rise. If you have meat on top, you may let dough rise before adding toppings. Bake and enjoy!

I have always bought dressing for salads, but upon exploration of recipes decided I could make a tasty one that is healthier maybe, than a premixed one. This recipe is great! I got lucky the first try. Yummy!

1/2 cup juice concentrate (orange, cranberry, etc. or a combination of two)

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup grape seed oil

1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard

salt and pepper

Coffee recipe...

2009-04-03T08:48:00.006-05:00

This recipe is for "home brew" iced coffee, but it can be hot coffee as well. Since I enjoy my coffee, and like to try new recipes, this one looked interesting. I have never made a coffee concentrate before. Instead of using a coffee filter, I strained with layered cheesecloth. Next time I'll use the filter, because it's going to be hard to get all the little grains out of the cloth, and a few leaked into the concentrate! It made a very strong coffee! I made a drink with half coffee concentrate and half milk and it wired me! I might decrease the concentrate for the next cup.

I'm falling apart..

2009-04-02T20:28:00.005-05:00

Well, I have a new injury that may prevent me from doing some forms of exercise...namely jogging. That may be a good thing, considering my knees probably need rest!

Tuesday when I did a long run, the top of my left foot hurt when I laced up my shoes. It had not hurt all day, until I put on tennis shoes. I did my run, but was aware of the top of my foot the entire time. I rode my bike inside, on the trainer, yesterday, and noticed a slight pain. Today when I laced up to run I realized it really hurt. I did a few laps up and down my yard, and knew I couldn't run...at least with my tennis shoes on. So.. I put a few miles on my bike. It was actually a fun ride, one along a canal, on a path, without cars, or many other people. I enjoyed it, and while I missed my jog (especially since I had a new route to do with a friend), I took an old, favored route on my bike. There was a little pain, but only when I pulled up on my shoe.

I have no idea what I did to myself! I do remember my son (one and a half, about 25 pounds) stepping rather hard and painfully on my foot Monday evening by accident, but I didn't think anything about it afterward, and it only hurts when I have tight shoes on...so, we'll see. May have to re think my training schedule for next week. Luckily, Mark is a teacher and has spring break so I may be able to make it to the pool most days.

On another note...I donated blood Wednesday. Here's the injury...not so bad! I was pleased to find that I got a free pint of frozen custard (at a local restaurant, known for their frozen custard) for donating a pint of blood! Good incentive. I also found out that in Illinois, you cannot donate blood for a year if you get a tattoo. Hmmm...I may have to travel to donate next time. Next week is the week we plan to get inked.

ETSY

2009-04-02T13:28:00.005-05:00

My husband, Mark, is a potter and sculptor. He has a degree in ceramics and teaches high school 3D Art. Whenever he has time, he creates. We call our house our "gallery" because most of his work is displayed throughout the house.

This morning my neighbor came by to buy a piece of art for a wedding gift. That reminded me that I wanted to blog about his work and his shop on ETSY.

ETSY is "Your place to buy and sell all things handmade". Last fall I found out about Etsy and started browsing and shopping for gifts there. It's basically an online marketplace for handmade and vintage items. You can also find craft supplies there. It's made up of individual shops created by artists all over the world. Anything you can think of, you can find there. It's wonderful! Unique items abound!

After exploring this online marketplace, we decided to create a shop for him....Johnson Studio Art. I have also added a mini Etsy shop link on the right of my blog page where you can see a few of his pieces.

It's worth checking out Etsy, even if you're not interested in the ceramics area.

Black bean burgers

2009-04-01T19:44:00.007-05:00

I tried a new recipe last night for black bean burgers, and it was really tasty! I used half hamburger, because we do like red meat and I thought it would taste better than all bean, but the original recipe called for all beans. Keep in mind that I estimate some amounts, and that you can substitute or add other things that you might like better. I made mine mild because toddlers would be eating them, but they would be good with the addition of garlic cloves, cayenne pepper, or whatever else you like. This made five large patties.

1/2 lb extra lean ground beef

6 oz refried black beans

1 package whole wheat Saltines, crushed

1/2 green bell pepper, 1/2 cup onion, 4 large mushrooms, finely chopped and sauteed in olive oil

cumin, salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste

Mix these together, and add ketchup as needed to moisten, until they can be shaped into patties. Don't make them too dry, as they will dry out some during cooking.

I melted chedder on my burgers and served them on whole wheat buns with dills, ketchup, and mustard, and had oven roasted (with canola oil) potatoes and carrots as my side. Yummy, and fairly healthy I think.

Taped knee

2009-03-31T20:55:00.004-05:00

Here's what my knees look like taped. Funny, and wrinkly! Yesterday evening I taped, and then ran about 7.5 miles. There was only minimal discomfort. I wonder if the tape helped? I started my strengthening exercises and stretches as well. Mark also suffers from knee pain, but we think it's slightly different than mine. He visited a chiropractor this week, so we compared notes. He actually got bones manipulated and had electric current sent through his knee tissues, and reports less pain. So, maybe if mine doesn't correct itself with physical therapy, I'll visit the chiropractor too! We both have done online research and he found a good site with some additional strengthening exercises and stretches that we are both going to incorporate into our routines as much as we can. Wow...it seems we have had a lot of focus on injury and recovery this week.

Taco/fajitas

2009-03-31T20:49:00.011-05:00

With my new found desire to eat
healthier, I evaluated my dinner plan from last night and decided it was fairly healthy. It's one that we eat a version of most weeks. Mark loves Mexican/American and so we usually have "Taco Tuesdays".

This meal consisted of locally made soft flour tortillas. No whole grain there, so not sure how healthy they are, but fresh and yummy. I spread refried black beans inside, then layered lean ground beef, browned with cumin and chili powder, sauteed (in extra virgin olive oil) onions, mushrooms, and green peppers, low fat sour cream, and salsa.

We ate corn and red grapes for our sides and had frozen yogurt for dessert. (The boys are not big fans of the meat/veggie version yet, and so I usually roll up peanut butter and jelly in a roll and offer that as well for them.)

Oh, and here's a good onion tip I have recently learned. When I cut up onions my eyes water painfully during and for an hour or so afterward. If the onion is cool, either from several hours in the fridge or freezer, before cutting, this reduces the pain/watering. I also get a bag of onions and cool them, then cut them all at once and place the chopped onion in the freezer until I need chopped onion.

Coffee is a drug...

2009-03-31T20:30:00.005-05:00

I really enjoy my cup (or two) of coffee in the morning. The darker and richer, the better. Sometimes I add milk and chocolate to make a treat, but usually black is the best. Now, I have another reason to drink it. This article, "It's Time to Make a Coffee Run", was sent to me by another athlete and I thought it interesting enough to share. It shares support for the theory that coffee is a performance enhancer for athletes.

Fish oil...

2009-03-30T21:30:00.008-05:00

I started reading/skimming a book called, "Training Plans for Multi Sport Athletes", by Gale Bernhardt, looking for training tips for my triathlon. Her plans are detailed and full of information. It will take a little more in depth attention if I want to actually follow her plan, but she talks about intensity of workouts and amount of time spent during workouts. Combining these two at different levels, she creates plans for the athlete. I think if I followed a plan like that I would become a bit obsessed with getting it all done according to the schedule and wouldn't enjoy it as much. But, maybe I would be better too. At this point, I think I am going to stick to the "doing it for fun" plan, and just slowly increase workout length and do some more intense workouts a couple times a week. We'll see. Maybe I'll decide to be more organized soon. I guess it depends on my knees a little. I'm afraid to increase distance or intensity, except in swimming right now.

Another train of thought that this book lead me to explore is my nutrition. Bernhardt discusses macro (carbs, protein, and fat) and micro (vitamins and minerals) nutrients and the amounts of both that people need. She also discusses caloric intake needs based on amount of exercise.

At one point in my younger years (middle school) I was severely anorexic and learned how to count calories and monitor my food intake to lose weight. It was an obsession, and led me down a path that could have been damaging to my body, or fatal. This experience and memory makes me shy away from counting calories because I know how it take over your life if you let it. I think I eat fairly healthy, but there is always room for improvement.

Besides types of calories needed for good performance, I am thinking of good and bad fats, specifically Omega 3 and 6. I don't think I include enough of these in our family diet. We eat fish only sporadically and while I include flax in my baking we don't eat tofu often, or oil based salad dressing, and only have beans once a week or so. We also eat more butter, red meat, processed food and cheese than we should.

Hmm...maybe I won't worry about calories, but will experiment with some recipes that incorporate some of the good fats and whole foods into our diets. I am thinking of buying fish oil supplements, but only to take once a week or so. Also, I need to figure out if Vitamin E, C, and calcium could be deficient in our diets (or mine at least). These areas need a little more research.

This book gave me a lot to think about, but they're productive thoughts I think. They can only lead to improved diets for our family!

Physical therapy...

2009-03-30T14:56:00.005-05:00

I went to my physical therapy appointment this morning. Nice therapist. She taught me how to tape my knee with special, heavy duty tape to pull my knee cap upwards and keep it centered. I'm to do this for two weeks, every time I exercise.

She also gave me two quadricep strengthening exercises. One is a modified squat, using the wall for support, and the other is a leg lift. I do these every day. She also taught me how to make some of my stretches more effective for my hamstring and IT band. I use these techniques for two weeks, and see if there is any improvement. If not, she said I will probably need to cut back on activities that cause discomfort (jogging and biking). I hope these work!!

We Were the Mulvaneys

2009-03-28T20:22:00.005-05:00

If I don't read at least one book a month I feel deprived. To some people that may not seem like a lot of reading, but for my busy life and many interests it is enough. Often I read more. I think I average one book every two weeks, sometimes, more, sometimes less. I have to say that I used to read lots more before kids, before husband...but that's okay. It's my phase of life.

My latest book, "We Were the Mulvaneys", by Joyce Carol Oates, is one I would recommend to a friend. It's a little long (454 pages), so couldn't be read in one sitting (at least by a mom of toddlers!). For me, it flowed well, and was easily read.

It's the story of a family, told by the youngest of four siblings, over the course of about 30 years. There is a tragedy that shatters and separates the family, due to the make up of the different family members. It does end happily enough, with the majority of them ending up as close again, and fairly happy with their lives, considering their past.

I like books that remain with me even when I'm not actively reading them. I like to think about the story while I'm doing other things, and then return to it later. This book is one that remained with me and kept saying, "Read me!", while I was busy with life that needed tending to. I had to keep reading every chance I got until it was done. I think that means it was worth it!

Chondromalaci Patalla

2009-03-26T13:26:00.007-05:00

Well my family physician saw me this morning for my knee pain. He said he thinks I have Chondromalacia Patella. That is a patella tracking problem. Basically my kneecap is not moving in the groove/path it is suppose to move in, and that causes pain behind and above my kneecap. Dr. thinks it could be caused by road running because most roads are slightly slanted for water run off and the quadricep muscle develops slightly unevenly due to the slant I am running on. Does that make sense? I have never heard of anyone having this problem, so I am slightly unsure of this. But, he said to continue running at current intensity for now. I am referred to a physical therapist twice a week for four weeks. They are supposed to evaluate me further and give me a strengthening program to even out my quads. If physical therapy doesn't work, my primary Dr. will refer me to an orthopedic specialist.
I looked up my condition online at my favorite health resource, Mayo Clinic, and found that it's often called "runner's knee" and is associated with overuse and a general wearing down of cartilage under the kneecap. This can be treated with strengthening the muscles that support the knee (hopefully that's what my phyical therapist will teach me), as well as warming up, stretching, ice and advil, gradually adding intensity to my training (maybe I pushed too hard too soon) and reducing my workouts for several weeks. Okay. I can do this. Especially if it means I can eventually return to my training.

Dedication

2009-03-25T09:08:00.005-05:00

Hello boys and girls! Yesterday was stormy/rainy most of the day. When Mark got home from work, I headed out to jog. I asked Mark if he thought I should wear a rain coat and he said he thought it was clearing up. Ha ha!!

Actually, rain is enjoyable to run in, if it's not too cold. It was just about right yesterday.

I did seven miles and didn't have too much knee discomfort. That gives me hope for the ability to continue to train. Have a great day!

Maybe a Marathon

2009-03-24T08:49:00.005-05:00

Over the winter months I participated in an indoor track program with a friend. I enjoyed the experience and it helped me improve my form and speed. It kept me motivated to run through the snowy season when it was often very cold, and treacherous to run outside every day. My friend and I decided to plan a race together at the culmination of the program. We decided a longer race at the end of the summer would keep us motivated to keep running and training. Neither of us have raced over eight miles, so we decided to do the Quad Cities Half Marathon on September 27, 2009.

After making this decision and talking it over with Mark, who was in full support, I started considering training for the full marathon. I have time to build up slowly and do a lot of preparation. Part of my motivation to push so hard is my time in life I think. I have two toddlers, ages 3.5 and 1.5, and that's all the children we will have. Sometimes I feel myself aging and think now is the time to do something like this if I am going to. It would help me regain physical strength, stamina, and form that may have been lost during the last few years of pregnancy, and nursing.

I still had/have some reservations. During the track program I over exerted myself one session and had some severe knee pain for about a week. I took time off and used ice and ibuprofen to reduce swelling. I don't have pain anymore, but my knees still ache sometimes after hard or extended exercise and also going down stairs. So, I'm seeing the doctor on Thursday to get evaluated and see if I should push for a full marathon or not. I think I'll be disappointed if I can't, but realize my goal is to be a lifelong runner, and the most important thing is keeping my knees functioning as well as possible.

So....to be continued when I get more information and am able to make an informed decision.

Tattoo wedding rings

2009-03-23T14:51:00.006-05:00

Mark and I are considering getting tattoo wedding bands kind of for our five year anniversary. Neither of us have a tattoo, and so it's kind of getting out of our element of comfort. That's one reason to do it...the novelty and experience. Neither of us enjoy wearing jewelry either. Mark has already lost his wedding band, while detassling in the cornfields. My band is a little too large and I don't wear it all the time for fear of losing it. I may get it resized and wear it on top of a tattoo though. It's special b/c Mark made it for me and I do want to wear it for that reason. Here are the choices we have narrowed it down to. We drew the rings on with permanent markers and had them until they wore off to see if we liked each one. Which one do you like?

Why Tri?

2009-03-23T11:54:00.013-05:00

For a lot of my adult life I have enjoyed exercise. Jogging has been my main form, but I also enjoy biking and swimming. My husband, Mark, has done several triathlons and I recently met several people in my area that also enjoy them. When Mark suggested trying one this year I resisted the idea at first. I thought I couldn't physically do it because I'm not in good enough shape. My bike is a mountain bike, not triathlon, or even road bike. I would have to acquire and learn how to use additional equipment. But, the more I played with the idea, the more I became excited about giving it a try. New experiences enliven me, and I really enjoy exercising. I could train for the physical part and the new equipment would be a fun challenge.
So...I decided to go for it, and signed up for the Quad Cities Triathlon in Davenport, Iowa on June 20, 2009. That gives me time to train and get used to new equipment. According to Mark, the QC Tri is first timer friendly, it's about an hour away from us, and there will be others from our area participating.
I made this decision about a month ago, and have started training, sort of. I decided to just build upon what I already have, but don't have a formal, written plan. At some point I need to sit down and create one, but for now, I'm just trying to do a little more time and distance than I can currently do.

Mark is a bit of a bike junkie. He enjoys building, buying, selling... basically anything bike related is going to excite him! So, when I decided to do a tri, he talked me into buying a used Pinarello road bike from a friend. It is soo much fun to ride! I feel so fast compared to being on a mountain bike. Clipping in makes me nervous b/c I'm out of practice, but I'll become more comfortable soon...it just takes some time spent pedaling!
One part of the race worries me the most...the swim. I am a strong, sure swimmer, in the pool. But the tri is in a lake and I'm not used to swimming in open water. A friend referred me to a good video, "Open Water Swimming", released by Endurance Films. I found a lot of good hints for form and practicing for open water swims in the pool. I live near Rock River, and the group that does tris on a regular basis swims when it warms up, so I will have to be brave and join them several times to gain some confidence in open water.
Transitions also make me nervous because a racer can lose a lot of time there, especially newbies like me. I plan to practice them ahead of time and also watched a good instructional video about them, "Triathlon Transitions, Mastering the 4th Discipline", released by Endurance Films.
Since I am a planner by nature, I hope to be well prepared going into this experience. Hopefully this will lessen the nerves and make it more enjoyable. I'm really looking forward to both the preparation and the event itself.

Chronicles of Anita

2009-03-22T10:11:00.009-05:00

Hello. My name is Anita. I am a 30 year old woman, happily married for five years, and a stay at home mother of two toddler boys. I have decided to journal/write narratives on blog space to see if anyone has similar interests and might respond to my posts.
I am a teacher by trade...certified to teach English and Psychology in TN and VA, with one year experience teaching middle school Language Arts. My husband is a high school Art teacher and sculptor/potter on his own time. When we decided to have children, we thought it best to live on his income and have one parent, me, stay with the boys at home. At first staying home seemed very lonely and unrewarding as I have worked most of my adult life and am used to the interaction with other people that a job brought and also felt like I wasn't contributing to supporting the family. Now, three and a half years later, I really treasure the time with my children, and the financial limitations I thought it might cause have not been a problem. It has proved to be a wise choice for our family.
We live in a rural, mid-west, farming area, two hours west of Chicago. Having grown up in TN, the landscape and seasons are different than what I am used to, but I have enjoyed living here so far. My husband's family lives in the area, while mine are spread out, and we wanted our boys to grow up with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. in their lives on a regular basis.
My plan is to write on my interests and activities. Hopefully someone, or many someones, will find my writings interesting and respond. If not, I will consider this my journal, and it will just go out into blog land!

Some immediate things that I plan to write about are:

tattoo wedding rings

triathlons

marathons

home schooling

In general, and more long term:

exercise

motherhood

marriage

gardening

cooking/baking

books/reading

art, especially my husband's work

sewing

Really, I guess I'm going to write about whatever is interesting to me, or going on in my life. If you're reading this, I hope you find it interesting!