Run, Drew. Run! – Week 6

It’s been a little while since I’ve updated about my running so I thought I would share some things I’ve learned / observed:

1)  I really wish snails would stop committing suicide in front of my jogging stroller.  It makes me sad every time I hear the crunch.  I try to pay attention, but sometimes I miss them.  Sorry, snails!

2)  People who let their dogs poop on the sidewalk and don’t pick it up are gross and uncool!

3)  My new favorite running song is “Soul Sister” by Train.  It makes me happy.  I listened to it 5 times in a row on my run yesterday morning.  I really need good music that motivates me to keep going.  Some of my choices may be a little unconventional, but nothing gets me going more than “Don’t Stop Believing”!

4)  Slow and steady wins the race.  Last week I was in a bit of a funk.  I was frustrated that I couldn’t run farther and comparing myself to some of my friends who are crazy awesome runners.  This week I started a new approach and just started going slow and steady.  My goal was to run the whole time and not have to walk and to go farther.  On Tuesday I logged my longest run yet.  3.5 miles and that was with the jogging stroller!  Yesterday I ran 3 miles without stopping once.  This is pretty amazing for a girl who could literally not run for a minute straight six weeks ago!

5)  Muscles are rad.  I have not had any sort of muscle at all for close to 3 years.  Once I started trying to get pregnant I just stopped working out all together.  I figured I was going to get fat anyways!  Oh, and man, did I get fat!  I gained 60 plus pounds (I stopped looking at 60) with Brayden!  A lot of it was water weight and I lost about 30 by the time I left the hospital and I was fortunate to lose the rest pretty easy.  My weight was down lower than it was before I got pregnant with B, but I was still flabby.  I had no muscle mass whatsoever.  I’ve been pretty athletic my whole life so I love seeing my muscles coming back.  I love the physical change that I’ve seen since I started running!  I’m still only down 5 pounds, but I think that’s pretty good considering how much muscle I’ve put on.

6)  Run Mom*tog, Run!  Challenge – The Challenge is going well.  23 people signed up to run, but only 13 are actually running.  I’m currently in fourth place behind my friend Jamie who is kicking my butt!  I’m so proud of Jamie because not only did she have a baby 4 1/2 months ago she also has a 4 year old and she just went back to her job last week.  She’s been able to keep up with her runs and balance it all really well!  The only problem with the challenge is that there’s at least one dude in there.  I’ve asked a few people if I should kick him out.  Some people have pointed out that he could be a Dad*tog.  Fine.  But, this challenge was created for moms because (I don’t like to admit this), but guys inherently have athletic advantages so I think it should be a girls only challenge.  There is on more person who I’m not sure if they are a guy or not.  IRYAN if you’re reading this let me know your gender  Also, there is a woman in there who I’m pretty sure just joins challenges to win them.  I doubt she’s even ever heard of Mom*tog.  She’s logged 88.6 miles so far this month!  So, my question is do I kick the dude and the ringer out?  Or just let them be and try and make it an invite only challenge next month?  Apologies to BlazinHotMama if you actually do read Mom*tog and IRYAN if you’re not a dude

A few people have asked if you have to buy the Nike + shoes to use the Nike +.  The answer is no!  I bought this little pouch that holds my sensor on my shoe laces for $10.

That’s a lot better than spending $100 on shoes!  From my understanding the sensor is more accurate when you have the Nike + shoes, but you can just calibrate it.  If you are using the Nike + shoes or the pouch you should calibrate your sensor!  Mine was off for the first few weeks.  Like off by 3/10 of a mile and my pace was saying I was running a lot faster than I really was.  I suggest calibrating it early!  For those of you who were hesitant on buying the Nike + because you didn’t want to buy the shoes, buy the pouch so you can join the challenge next month!

90

Today is my Grandma’s birthday.  She would have been 90 years old today.  Unfortunately, she passed away in October of 2005.  It’s funny because for the last 3 years I didn’t even remember the anniversary of her death.  It’s not a day I really care to remember.  I’m glad that both me and my Mom got to be there with her, but it was the worst and saddest day of my life.  I get much more sad on her birthday than on the anniversary of her death.

My Grandma was my best friend.  Ever since I was born she was by herself and I took it upon myself to make sure she never felt lonely.  My Grandpa passed away when my Grandma was pregnant with my Mom and her second husband passed away before my Mom was married.  My brother and I are the only grandkids on both sides of the family.  With no cousins I felt it was my responsibility to take care of her from a very young age.  I talked to her every single day.  Most days more than one time.  She knew everything about my life.  And held grudges against all of the people who treated me bad.  She worried constantly about us.  She would lose sleep over the silliest things.  And now as I get older I find myself doing the same exact thing.

In elementary school she would make sure I was the kid who sold the most wrapping paper/Girl Scout cookies so I could get the best prize.

In high school she sent me a secret admirer letter to cheer me up when my friends were being mean to me.

In college she would send me five dollars here and there to go by myself a Coke.

I called her one afternoon to tell her that I was going to be a wedding photographer and she didn’t ask why or how.  She bought me my first flash and was so encouraging of my new career before I showed any sort of talent or promise.

When Chuck and I got engaged she seriously did not believe it and thought we were playing a joke on her.  She told me my ring was fake.  I don’t think she believed us until she saw me walking down the aisle.

And that is one of the things that I am happiest about.  That she got to go to my wedding.

I wish more than anything she would have been able to meet Brayden.  She would have loved him.  Although she would have been so worried about me being a mom.  Not because she didn’t think I was capable.  But, because I really think she never saw me as a grown woman.  To her I was always the little girl who sat on the edge of her kitchen counter and would talk her ear off.  The girl who would perform tap dance routines on her linoleum floor.  And the girl who would stay up late and play bingo with her in her kitchen.

I miss my Grandma so, so, so much.  And I know I was so lucky to have nearly 25 years with her, but even four and a half years later I find myself still picking up the phone to call her when I’m having both good and bad days.

Happy birthday, Grandma!  I love you very, very, very much and miss you every single day.

Happy 26th Month Birthday, Brayden B!

Dear Brayden,

Happy 26th month birthday!  Or as you would say “Haddy Birdday”.  This month you have taken up singing.  It started with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (or Kinkle Kinkle Ittle Star).  I tried to teach you the ABC song, but every time I started you got very angry and would say, “No!  Kinkle Kinkle!”.  Finally you realized that ABC’s are cool too and in less than a week you got the whole song down pat!  Then you moved onto Happy Birthday.  Complete with blowing out the candles at the end of the song.  Maybe you will end up the next American Idol?  The Bittel / Newhard families don’t exactly have the best singing genes, but only time will tell!

You are the politest 26 month old I know.  You say please and no thank you all the time.  But my favorites are when you say “excuse me” when you burp… and fart (such a boy) and when you know you’ve done something wrong and say, “Sorry, Mama” before I even say a word.  Yesterday you asked for apple sauce and when I got it out your whole face lit up and you said, “Thank you, Mama!  Thank you!” over and over again.  You were so excited over your apple sauce!

You are a good boy, but the terrible two’s are still here.  You’ve decided that you don’t like to wear pants.  Getting them on has been such a struggle.  And you only want to wear your brown shoes.  Not your black shoes.  Only your brown.

You have such a big imagination.  You like to get out your “guys” and you line them up and have conversations with them.  When you play cho choos and make them go past the conductor you say, “Tickets please!”.

But, my favorite memory from this month was when we were standing in line to see Minnie Mouse at Disneyland.  I was holding you and you turned to me and started playing with my hair and you said, “Mommy princess”.  I asked, “Mommy’s a princess?” and you said, “Yep” and gave me a hug.

I love you, Brayden Bug!

Love,

Princess Mama