Gifts.

About two weeks ago, I lead a group run for the new runners. It happened to be a spastic one for a few reasons but it was also kinda awesome for me because I received an unsolicited, very cool gift from one of the runners!

Jen M, whom I also profiled over here, is a friend and one of the new runners. She has three kids 5 and younger. And she is making time to run. Go, Jen!

She is also pretty darn nice and, for no real reason other than she wanted to, she gave me a gift. Check it out:

Yep, that's me -- stringy hair and all -- before yesterday evening's run. How cute is that shirt?!? Cute, right?

Well, I wore it for my neighborhood run for the first time yesterday and it seemed like a big deal. I felt like I was coming out to all of my neighbors. Of course, only about 5 of them drove by me while I ran but, still. Now more of them know and they can stop mocking my belly. Or, probably more accurately, I can stop thinking they are mocking my belly. Or even thinking about me at all.

Right! So, Jen rocks! And I love my shirt.

* * *

Thanks for the comments on the hip issue. I've passed them along to the other Jen in the running group and she's going to continue as she has been, but will probably make a doctor's appointment just to be on the safe side.

Good luck to all the runners racing this weekend! I'm root-root-rooting for you :-)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

~ Felice

Hips?

Now that I jumped over the pee discussion hurdle, I feel like I could write about anything :-) But, don't worry, I won't do any grossing-out just yet. Although, maybe someday I'll share my most embarrassing running pee story.

Maybe . . .

For now, I'll get back to the same old, same old. I'm once again behind: Two deadlines this week (one already met, the other tomorrow) means that my cupboards are once again bare and the unread posts in my google reader are once again piling up. Add in some injured runners to assist, a son who was up puking (slipped into gross-out, sorry!) last night, a much overdue 2.5 hour trip to the salon for a cut and color and, man! I'm behind.

I need a run!

Fingers crossed for this evening.

So, anyway, I have a question for you: Have any of you ever had a hip injury at the front of your hip? Actually, a little higher than the hip. One of the runners in the new runner group is struggling with that. Everything she's described sounds like ITBS, except that it is more in the front. Her sister thinks it is trochanteric bursitis. Could be either, could be something else. I've given her a reduced schedule this week -- lots of rest -- along with some stretches and strengthening exercises, and she's taking ibuprofen and icing the area. The plan is that if she doesn't see some improvement this week, she'll make an appointment to see a doctor.

If you have any thoughts, please let me know! Thanks!

Now, I'm off to catch up and look forward to this evening's run. Have a great day!

~ Felice

PS: The Subway giftcard giveaway is still going on over here!
And, I posted a milk review and contest info here.

Interruptions.

Just about 5 months in to this pregnancy thing and my bladder seems to have decided it is done. Yikes!

Now, it's not all the time, mostly just when I'm out for a run. And, well, not to be too graphic (is pee talk too graphic?) but I have to pee. Like crazy. Usually the whole time. Where did my bladder go?

Let's take yesterday, for example.

I headed out for a quick run and I immediately felt like I had to pee. But, since I had peed right before I left the house, I knew it was just all the stuff bouncing around inside. So, I kept going. A mile in, I really started to feel like I needed to pee. And then it got serious. I started eying the trees and debating my chances of being caught and slapped with a public urination fine. After a mile and a half, I cut my loop short and started to make my way back to my house the short way. And I felt like crying the whole way.

At just over 2.25 miles into my run, I was home.

I peed and then I was back out to finish my run. Alas, about a mile later I was cursing my bladder all over again. So, I was done. My planned 4.5 miles turned into 3.7 interrupted miles. Sheesh. Is this what I have to look forward to for the next 4-5 months?

Probably.

But, you know, if having to pee is the worst symptom I have then I really have nothing at all to complain about. I'm just about 5 months preggo and still running fairly well and definitely still enjoying it. When my bladder cooperates, that is!

If you have any tips, please let me know.

Oh! Shifting gears here . . . so, remember how I ran the Winter Marathon Relay? Well, both of my partners from that relay are running the Ragnar Relay this weekend. How jealous am I?!?!? Exactly -- very jealous. Go, Suzy and Amanda!

Have a great day, everyone!

~ Felice

PS: If you haven't entered my Subway giftcard giveaway, check it out here.

HMRRC Mother's Day Race recap

I could not be happier about the race yesterday!

First, though, let me set the scene: It was cold and windy yesterday. As in, 30mph gusts of wind. Windy. And the temperature at race time was around 4o*. Yikes. But, the sun was shining so it didn't feel too bad.

The race started at 10 and I got there around 9:30 to sign up and meet Amanda and Darlene. After signing up, Amanda and I ran a quick half-mile warm up and we were ready to go. We caught up with Darlene and the three of us headed to the start.

It was the 30th running of the HMRRC Mother's Day Race, a 3.5-mile course that winds through a fairly flat, quiet suburban neighborhood. I didn't know what to expect with this race for a few reasons. One, I had never run it before so I wasn't familiar with the course at all. Two, and probably the larger reason, I haven't raced since late February when I was only two months pregnant. Now, at almost 5 months, I wondered what I had in me. Other than the obvious.

I set three goals for myself:

A = 31:30 (9min/mi -- if I was feeling strong)
B = 35:00 (10min/mi)
C = finish feeling good

Well, well, well. I surprised myself and finished in 29:59! That's an 8:34 pace -- just about a minute per mile off what I would normally run, pre-pregnancy. So, basically, you could say that I shattered my goal. Or, you could call me a sand-bagger. I'm comfortable with either one.

I felt strong and really good the entire race. Don't get me wrong, by the end of the race I was ready to be done. But, I never felt like I was pushing it too hard; I felt like I was working and doing a good job at it.

My girls Amanda and Darlene had great races, too! Both of them beat their times from last year by about 5 minutes. Awesome! And Amanda took third place in her age group. Woo hoo!

Here we are after the race:

We look cold because we were!

All in all, it was a terrific time and I am so very happy that I decided to run the race. My itch has been scratched! But, as Darlene pointed out, it is only a matter of time before it comes back :-)

My race stats:

Finish time for 3.5 miles (3.55 on Garmin): 29:59
Mile 1: 8:38
Mile 2: 8:27
Mile 3: 8:20
Last .55 mile: 4:34
Age group place: 14/34
Overall place: 48/138

Happy Monday, everyone!

~ Felice

PS: I have a Subway gift card giveaway over here.
And, MerryMishaps is giving away a Thriv t-shirt here.