I'm a Runner XIII

Susan Tirch,  Juggler, 37 Texas

All moms run.  Wait they don't?  I don't know how you relieve your stress then.  Running is a great way to get away.  I want one of those shirts that says, "Are the kids still chasing me?" on the back.

Nowadays I'm running about 20 to 25 miles a week.  It doesn't seem like much to me any more.  I know I'll be looking back at these weeks during marathon training and wishing my mileage was this "low".

Two days prior to big races I start focusing on hydrating.  I know I should do it earlier than that even, but this is the best I can do.  I'm a Diet Coke addict so for every DC I drink I make myself drink an equal amount of water.  I don't care what anyone says, hydration is almost as important as training.

I been having problems with my legs feeling really tired all the time despite not having done tremendously difficult runs or workouts.  Anyone want to offer any advice?

In Pittsburgh, I learned to run in bitter cold temps and adapted quite well.  I hardly even noticed it was cold when I was running.  In Texas, I've learned to run in extreme heat, but I can't say that I've adapted.  Give me -4 degree temps any day.

I like putting, my Chapstick in my Spibelt or water belt.  I've master the one hand lid removal, application and recapping process.  It's probably the only talent I possess.  All while running mind you.  Nothing comes between me and my Chapstick.

I don't eat.... hmmmm there's nothing I can think of that I don't eat, but I don't particularly care for beans.  I don't like baked beans or refried beans.  I do, however, like the black and green varieties.

Salty foods are my downfall.  I prefer "real food" over sweets too.  I'd choose fries over ice cream or pizza over a cupcake most any day.

Throughout my running "career" I haven't suffered any serious running related injuries.   (Well aside from busting my face open slipping on a banana).  George tells me it's only a matter of time.  It's been almost three years.  I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop (Hopefully it's a Saucony Progrid Mirage... Size 9).

When I did fall on the banana during the 3M Race,  I was told I needed stitches by the medical professionals in the medical tent.  I guess I should have looked myself because I wound up going home with a tetanus shot, no stitches and a VERY expensive ER bill.

It's been my dream to run the NYC Marathon and I'll finally see that dream come true on November 4th of this year.  I'm planning on soaking in every moment of that race and remind myself to live in the moment and not let the experienced be sucked away by the effort 26.2 miles takes.  In other words, I'll be running slowly!

Interested in reading more from this series?  Check them out below:

I'm a Runner 

I'm a Runner II 

I'm a Runner III

I'm a Runner IV 

I'm a Runner V 

I'm a Runner VI 

I'm a Runner VII

I'm a Runner VIII

I'm a Runner IX 

I'm a Runner X 

I'm a Runner XI

I'm a Runner XII 

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ShowerPill Winner

The winner of the ShowerPill giveaway is Kortni.  Kortni please email me at momswimbikerun@gmail.com with your full name and address to claim your prize.  Thanks and enjoy your shower!!!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

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Lazy Lake Day

First things first... Don't forget to enter the ShowerPill give away.  Click here and comment on the post as per the instructions to win your very own box of ShowerPill Athletic Body Wipes.  I'll be drawing the winner tomorrow.

Today I did something really bad.  I skipped my long run.  I can honestly say I've NEVER skipped a long run while training for an event.  Not since I started in August of 2009, did I decide I just didn't want to do it.  That is, until today.  I woke up and I just didn't want to run.  So I didn't.  I thought I'd feel guilty and I really didn't.  Ok, I felt 99% satisfied with my decision and only 1% guilty.

I managed to have an EXCELLENT day even.  We spent about 7 hours on the lake today with Julie's family and it was fabulous.  Aside from a little too much wind, the day was absolutely perfect.  

As always, we pretty much had the lake to ourselves.

 Ella's favorite past time today was just hanging out relaxing.

I wonder where she gets it (this is ALWAYS where I want to be)?

Mike and Julie brought along their Jetskis so we were all able to have a lot of fun and never felt over crowded.  

We like to pull up in the little coves and anchor the boat and Jetskis for a little swimming.  The water is still a tad cold for my liking.  

I did attempt to wake board, however, and I got up on my third try.

I couldn't stay up for long, but I blame that on our trusty driver.  There's a learning curve in the whole boating thing and we're still learning.  George did well getting me up, but hasn't found that "sweet spot" to keep me up and moving.  We'll figure it out (when the water is a little warmer).  

 Thanks to Mike for helping me (and by helping I mean doing) back the trailer down the boat ramp.  

After six hours in the sun, we were all a little tuckered.  Even I'm exhausted.  I still think I made the right decision skipping that run!

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Shower Pill Giveaway

Hello lovely blog readers.  Today I'm hosting a giveaway, which I totally forgot to do at the end of this post.   I'm sure you all just clicked over on that link to look and see what I was talking about, but just in case there is a slight chance you didn't, then I'll fill you in.

The giveaway is for you VERY OWN box of ShowerPill Athletic Body Wipes.

Here's a recap of my review in case you still haven't clicked over to the link on the ShowerPill post.

According to ShowerPill, the athletic body wipe is a Premium, 9 X 8 inch, thick and durable wipe that is individually packaged for true on-the-go versatility.  


ShowerPill Atheletic Wipes really did help make me feel completely refreshed.  We all agreed that these would be great after a race when you want to hang out or go get a bite to eat. Don't get me wrong, you won't feel completely shower fresh, but you will feel way better than having done nothing at all.  The wipes are thick and seem to be fragrance free.  The don't leave a residue at all, so you're not left feeling sticky.  I'd definitely use this product again, especially after races. So, wouldn't you like to have your own samples to try out and share with your friends?  All you have to do to enter is: 

YOU MUST 

Like ShowerPill on Facebook and leave me a comment on this post that you did or... Follow ShowerPill on Twitter and leave me a comment on this post that you did

For an extra Entry 

Like MomSwimBikeRun on Facebook and leave me a comment on this post that you did or...Follow MomSwimBikeRun on Twitter and leave me a comment on this post that you did





It's that simple!  Good luck and I will draw a winner Monday morning.  

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I'm Pregnant

Can you believe I got in to the New York City Marathon?  I know!  I'm kind of in shock myself.  Remember I was asking myself if I even really wanted in.   Well, you know what happened right?  I'll tell you.  This is how I found out I got IN!

It was announced by NYRR that the lottery would be announced at 12 noon EST on April 25th.  So I, like every other NYC Marathon hopeful, was glued to my computer at 12 noon EST.  I, like every other NYC Marathon hopeful, was sorely disappointed.  There was a bunch on nonsense going on on the live feed, but nothing that allowed me to search and see if I was, in fact, IN!

There was a note on the site saying that the search would be available at 12:35 pm.  Ok so why tell the whole world 12 noon?  So I went about getting ready for my lunch "date" and went back to check at 12:35.  Still NOTHING.  But, the NYRR site had up a live Twitter chat for anyone tweeting with #nyrr and #nycmarathon.  Everyone was up in arms that the information was still unavailable.

Totally frustrated, I left for lunch with my friend shortly before 1:00 (still no word).  After lunch I came home again and NYRR had updated their site saying to check back tomorrow?  REALLY NYRR?  I mean seriously!  You could announce the lottery any day of the year.  So if you say it's going to be April 25th at 12:00 noon EST it better be then and not a moment later.

Still, people were commenting on the Twitter live chat that their bank accounts had been charged with the hefty $255 entrance fee.  I immediately called George (no I have NO idea how to log on to our online banking... I tried) and asked him to check the account.  NOTHING.

Feeling defeated, I figured it wasn't my year to get in.  I felt relieved and disappointed (I know there are people out there that can relate).  I hadn't TOTALLY given up hope, however so at 3:00 I texted George and asked him to check the account.  Maybe a half an hour later my phone starts ringing and I see that it's George.  Right then I knew!  I knew he wouldn't be calling to tell me there was NO charge.  I knew he had to be calling to say there was a charge to our account.

Me:  Hello
George:  Well congratulations
Me:  You better not even be messing with me
George:  I'm not
Me:  'cause seriously if you are, I'm going to be really mad
George:  I'm seriously not kidding $255 was charged to our account

I immediately teared up.  It wasn't a boo hoo sob fest, but I definitely had tears well in my eyes and I had to wipe the corners of my eyes.  I'm sure George cried too as he added up $255 for the entrance fee, $1500 for a hotel, $2500 for flight ...... etc.  In fact, he's probably the one having a sob fest.  He wasn't exactly sharing in my joy.

That's right I said JOY.  You see, finding out if you're getting into the NYC Marathon is very similar to peeing on a pregnancy test stick.  Yes I made that analogy (and yes I realize this is NOT the case for everyone), but  I imagine someone out there can relate.

I remember it from a movie (the name escapes me), but the character thought she was pregnant and had to go get a pregnancy test.  In the hours leading up to "peeing on the stick" she was scared, nervous, but also a little excited.  Part of her wanted the baby (even if it was totally unplanned).  Was this Rachel from friends?  Anyone?  Anyone?

Anyway, when she saw the stick come up negative (or so Pheobe told her... it's coming back to me) she cried.  She cried because she was so disappointed.  Just the thought that is could happen made her realize that she DID want it to be true.   So while I said I maybe didn't want to get in, dangling the carrot (the lottery) in front of me, made me realize how badly I did want IN!  

Tell me the pregnancy test analogy doesn't work for almost every scenario:

You want the baby (IN) so badly... The test is positive (you're IN) and you're elated
You did the deed (applied) but now you're not sure if you want a baby (IN)...  The test is negative (you're not IN) and you're elated.
You did the deed (applied) but now you're not sure if you want a baby (IN)... The test is positive (you're IN) and you're now scared, nervous and don't know how you'll make it.

The list of scenarios could go on and on, but you get the picture.  So people, I did the deed, I peed on the stick, I'm pregnant (even if I didn't really want to be) and I'm elated.  Like every new "parent" I'm a little nervous of the pregnancy and the labor!!!  There's only one thing left to say.... Can I get an epidural?

Did you get into the NYC Marathon or not?  What was your "peeing on the stick" moment?  

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Wordless Wednesday New York City Marathon Edition

It's official..... 

Get excited people!

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Deck of Death (Sponsored by Shower Pill)

So lately I've been trying to come up with some at home mini bootcamp workouts.  Just something I can do without having to go to the gym.  Sometimes I just get sick of it.  So far I've only come up with this one (which is killer) and today's workout-- the Deck of Death.  Ok when I say I came up with something basically that mans I steal ideas from the internet.  

Anyway, here's how it goes.  Grab your buddies and a deck of cards per person.  (Bianca was asleep when we started.)  

Designate one "move" for each suit in the deck.  We chose hearts as sit-ups, diamonds as squats, spades as pushups and clubs as burpees.

Draw your first card and perform the move (based on the suit) and the rep (based on the number).  Aces = 15 and face cards = 10.

For instance if you draw a 9 of clubs (like I did) you do 9 burpees.

Or if you draw a Queen of diamonds you do 10 squats.

It was so fun when we started drawing cards because we were all cursing as we turned over our cards.  Bianca kept drawing 10 reps (for the first 5 in a row) and I kept drawing burpees.

You keep turning over cards until you have done the WHOLE deck.  ALL 52 cards.  You get such a good mix of all the exercises and by the end you will have done 100 sit-ups,

100 squats,

100 pushups and...

 100 of our beloved burpees!!!

And if you've done everything right, you'll look like this in the end.

I forgot to mention that you are also supposed to do this workout as quickly as you possibly can.  I finished in 34 minutes and 34 seconds, but I feel like I was helped out by the luck of the draw.  I got most of my burpees out of the way in the beginning when I had the most energy.  So while Kelley and Bianca liked to laugh at me, I got the last laugh as they finished up with all their burpees.

So there you have it.  Another mini bootcamp workout designed to get the most out of your workout in a short amount of time!  Let me know what you think if you try it out.

After we finished our workout, we were so sweaty.  What better time to try out the ShowerPill athletic body wipes I received from the fine people at ShowerPill.

According to ShowerPill the athletic body wipe is a Premium, 9 X 8 inch, thick and durable wipe that is individually packaged for true on-the-go versatility.  How many times have I left the gym and needed these wipes before I ran errands?  Too many!

The girls were curious and wanted to give it a try.

We all started off wiping off our faces, 

and then moved to different areas of the body.

They really did help make you feel completely refreshed.  We all agreed that these would be great after a race when you want to hang out or go get a bite to eat.

 Me trying NOT to be sexy while wiping myself  

Don't get me wrong, you won't feel completely shower fresh, but you will feel way better than having done nothing at all.  The wipes are thick and seem to be fragrance free.  The don't leave a residue at all, so you're not left feeling sticky.  I'd definitely use this product again, especially after races.

You can buy ShowerPill here, if you're interested.  They sell for $12.50 for a pack of 10.  $1.25 for a "shower".  Not bad!  I hope they'll start carrying them at Walmart!  Hint hint ShowerPill peeps!

I'm only about 60 or so votes out of first place in the Beyond the Wall photo contest.  

Click here to cast your vote.  Click the link then hit the "view all leaders" tab and hit the red vote button.  I mean seriously who doesn't want to see me blog from Kona?  

Oh how I wish you'd do me this teeny tiny favor.  Thanks friends.  

                                 Thanks to ShowerPill for sending me the Athletic Body Wipes.  

As always, all opinions in this post are my own!  

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Do I Really Want In?

In two days I will find out if I get into the NYC Marathon via lottery.  This is my third time to apply so I am grandfathered in to being automatically accepted NEXT year.  I find myself feeling very torn about whether or not I want to be accepted into the marathon this year.

Me spectating last year 

First of all, there is the whole expense of taking a family of 5 to NYC, but that is really not as big of an issue as actually training for a marathon.  Secondly, 26.2 miles is a LONG way and training to get there is even longer, especially in the Texas summer heat.

I will run the NYC marathon as it is a really a life long dream, but I'm not totally sold on marathoning altogether.

Let's take a look at my history shall we?  I trained in 2010 and 2011 for the Austin Marathon in February of 2011.  Over the course of my training I had two shoulder surgeries, as well as surgery to remove kidney stones.  I was in a new city where I knew no one and trained COMPLETELY alone up until the last 4 weeks when I met Julie.

Training completely alone was long and tedious.  Although I know that won't be the case this time, none of my friends will be training for an early November marathon.   So, it's inevitable that some of my long runs will do done, at leas in part, ALL ALONE.  I know I'm a baby, but they're my feelings and I'm entitled to them.

Despite overcoming some major physical issues and my training loneliness, I finished the Austin Marathon and met my goal of finishing in less than five hours, but getting there MOST DEFINITELY was not easy.

As soon as that race was over, I knew I'd do another marathon because I knew I wanted to train HEALTHY.  So I immediately started thinking of my next marathon and signed up for the Rock n Roll San Antonio Marathon in November of 2011.

My training went beautifully.  I could even say it was perfect.  I trained with Bianca the whole time so the miles went by quickly, I kept away from any major injury and I rarely missed a scheduled run.

By the time the marathon came around, I felt prepared and ready to run a 4:30 marathon and if not definitely a 4:45.  Ok, ok anything better than my finishing time in Austin (4:58) would do.

Then marathon day came and it was nearly 90 degrees.  I suffered through almost every step of this marathon past 13 miles.  I even walked (something I have NEVER done in race).  I can still remember the feeling of defeat.  Wanting to run faster, wanting to do more, but just not physically being able to do it.

I wound up finishing WORSE than I had in Austin, finishing in 5:02.  To say I was disappointed is an understatement.  It was a horrible feeling.  I know there is nothing I can do to change it and I'm not really mad at myself.  I know I did as well as I could possibly have done that day.  I gave it my all, but the weather was just NOT on my side.

I guess the truth is, I'm just not overly eager to suffer through the training only to have it end in disappointment.  So maybe I'm afraid to get into NYC because maybe I'm afraid to I'll disappoint myself all over again.  I gave up SIX MONTHS of my life training for a marathon.  Half a year people!  I felt like I put in so much work and got so little out of myself in return.

Still, part of me wants to say those two little words.  I'm in!

I'm only about 60 or so votes out of first place in the Beyond the Wall photo contest.  

Click here to cast your vote.  Click the link then hit the "view all leaders" tab and hit the red vote button.  I mean seriously who doesn't want to see me blog from Kona?  

Oh how I wish you'd do me this teeny tiny favor.  Thanks friends.  

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Baseball Wreath

I've been doing a pretty good job staying off of Pinterest lately.  I mean do I really need one more thing to do?  Lately, however, people have been putting their pins on Facebook and Lord knows I don't stay off Facebook, so I'm still susceptible to the Pin!

Anyway, one of my Facebook friends posted this Pin and I knew immediately I HAD to make it.  I mean seriously how cute it this wreath?

My Finished Product 

I took all my ideas from the women of The Pinterest Project. What a fabulous job they did on this wreath!  Thanks for the inspiration ladies.

Here is what you'll need to make this wreath:

• Drill
• Wire Cutters
• Coat Hanger
• Baseballs
• Ribbon 

First gather your baseballs.  We used a mix of Nicholas' awarded game balls and regular hitting balls.  I wound of using 12 of the 14 pictured.

Next straighten your coat hanger and clip of the "little hookie part".  Then start drilling your baseballs.  You can also have your husband do it, like I did.

I'm not very handy with power tools so I elected to have George help me with this part.  It seemed fairly easy, however, and just takes some finesse to wiggle the hanger through drilled holes.  I had a picture of this part, but my camera ate it.

Once you've strung the baseballs not the wire, create two loops at each end and join them together like so.

I made little bow for mine to match Nicholas' current little league team (The Braves).  I tried to buy baseball ribbon, but my local "super store" was out.  I think the baseball ribbon would make it cute and you wouldn't have to worry when you're child's on a new team next year.  Oh well, this looks cute too and I can change it out at any time.

Nicolas wanted to display his game balls in his room, so I let him hang it on HIS door.  It's also a good place to hang his hat when he's not using it.  Win Win!

Another successful Pinterest project?  I think so!  Feel free to Pin it with the Pin it button below.  Next up? Hockey pucks!

Please don't forget to vote for me in the Beyond the Wall Photo Contest.  

Click here and vote for my picture.   

If you are having trouble, you have to click the tab that 

says view all leaders and then hit the vote button

 

(You  might have to look for the picture, but I'm in 2nd or 3rd at this point.  

It's me bloody and listed under Susan T.) 

Thanks friends!!!!!

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