Life Get's in the Way

I'm in the middle of my first week of training and already life is getting in the way.

Tuesday's are my normal day off from work, so I usually wake up, get the kids ready for school, start the laundry, taxi them all to school then run.  This past Tuesday, 2nd day of training and first day of running on the schedule, my middle guy was sick and stayed home from school, so out went the running!

I should have known he wasn't feeling well when he was in bed and asleep by 7:30, but just thought he was tired.  Had I realized, I would have gotten up earlier to run before the hubby went to work.  Not a huge deal, I thought, I'll just run when he gets home as it is still light out at 6pm.

Being the terrible mom I am, totally forgot my oldest had a concert at school at 6:30 that night and didn't realize until I picked him up from drama club at 5pm.  He said mom don't forget I have to be back at school at 6:15.  Oh great, there goes the running!

I said it before, I was determined not to let life get in the way, and I didn't.  We got home from the concert and I put my running gear on and went for my 3 mile run.  It felt good in the cool night to get out there and get the stress of the day out.  I forgot how much I enjoyed night running and as summer is coming I probably will have to do some more night runs.

I think being more determined and really having a goal in mind is helping, well at least I hope!!

I did fall off the wagon yesterday and did not do my sprints.  My legs were killing from doing lunges and squats, and I did not want to risk injury when they were that sore, so instead my boys and I did arm work and ab work.

I know I was very short with them as I tend to take stress home with me from work, but it was really fun working out with them.  My oldest has a bit of a competitive streak in him, like his mama, and we were having plank competitions.  He of course won, but I swear he wasn't doing them right!!! Ha!  My husband said he was, but whatever!! ;)

I'm trying to get them to be more interested in fitness, and this week has been screen week from school so it is a good week to start this. They both said they wanted to run a 5k this year with me, so I'm hoping this will be the start.  I have to figure out a good training plan for them to work up to the 3 miles.

I feel this is going to be a good summer of running and my boys are going to help me achieve my goals!!

So I guess life isn't really getting in the way, just kinda felt like it!! And today, back on track, 3 miles done!!

Happy Running!!

Day 1

So today officially started my training for my 4th half marathon, the Rock n Roll Half Chicago in July, and my 3rd marathon, Chicago in October. This will be my second attempt at completing Chicago, I trained for and started the 2010 but only made it 8 miles before my knee crapped out and I ended up having surgery to lengthen my IT band.  

My first two marathons I really just focused on finishing, which I did, but I really thought I would have broken 5 hours.  With this my 3rd, I am really trying to focus on the time goal of 4:59:59. With all of my races I have trained for I have used Hal Higdon’s training guides, usually the novice version, but I feel like I really need to step up my training so I am using intermediate program. I have decided to hybrid both the half training with the full since the half is 12 weeks away and has some speed work and the full training doesn’t officially start til June.  It actually works out nicely once I run the half I will switch gears and flow right into the full training.  I am feeling pretty good about my plan, now I just need to stick to it and figure out and stick to the perfect diet.  

I always do better when I have goals in mind and a good training program to follow.  I am really going to try my best to not let life get in the way.  I am so lucky that my hubby is so very supportive of my running and really enjoys seeing me happy and reaching my goals. It’s also a plus that he is a good dad and the boys to be honest prefer him to me.  The part of life that is tricky to control is work, let’s just hope that the mama’s and babies cooperate with this plan!!

Day number one on the schedule called for strength and stretching.  I have a love hate relationship with weight training.  I hate doing it, but love that I feel stronger and if I am really honest it does make me a better runner.  When life does get in the way, I tend to blow off these strength days but I think this may be a key to getting faster and hopefully not getting injured, and maybe lose a few L-Bs!!

I had a rough day at work and just wanted to come home and do the strength training there before my boys got home.  I usually vary on what I do for strength training. If I’m at the gym I’ll do a variety of machines that hit arms and legs, and then usually do core work on the floor.  At home I use my 5 and 8lb dumbbells with my body weight.  My at home routine is either a workout from runnersworld or The Biggest Loser workout book.  Today I did a runnersworld routine and since I haven’t done strength in awhile just did one set.  I have a tendency to always over-do-it on the first go round, but I’m making a conscious effort to ease back in so my body doesn’t hate me.

It is great to have options when the gym isn’t possible and you only have 20-30 mins to get in a workout.  I had the luxury today to be by myself, but can easily do any of these workouts if the boys are home.  The challenge will be when I’m stuck at the hospital with a mama and don’t have access to any weights, it’s a good thing that I have those few extra L-Bs and a goal!

I’m a tad bit sore, in a good way, and so looking forward to this summer of running. Tomorrow calls for 3, here’s hoping the weather cooperates and I can get a run outside in!!  Happy Running!!

Number 1

I’m new to this whole blogging thing, but over the past few months and years I’ve had quite a few people ask me how I am a mom, wife, full time midwife, and “runner”.  I just call it life and try the best I can to make it all work.  So I’m starting this first post out with the whole midwife thing, yes I know the beginning says “Run” but lately my life has been consumed by work and questions from nurses I know contemplating becoming a midwife.

This question has been posed to me quite a bit over the past year “How does being a midwife compare to being a nurse, was it worth it and did you like the program you graduated from?”

First off, nursing and midwifery are so similar yet so different at the same time.  As a bedside labor and delivery nurse you take care of a patient for eight to twelve hours then they are out of your life forever, where the patients you take care of as a midwife you see throughout their lifetime, from the time of their first gyne appointment, through having children and into menopause and beyond. These relationships you build are awesome and you get to help women and couples build their family. I really don’t see a greater gift than handing a mom her baby for the first time.  A labor and delivery nurse manages labor as does a midwife, helps with breastfeeding as does a midwife, gives labor support as does a midwife, does endless charting as does a midwife, but doesn’t get to “catch” that baby or really build a lasting relationship.  I went into this profession to take care of women, not just for 8-12 hours, but for a lifetime since as a labor and delivery nurse I always wondered how everything turned out.  I always thought that I would just like the OB aspect of midwifery, but have really come to enjoy the gyne aspect as well which I learn something new everyday.

So was it worth it?  That’s the million dollar question.  The answer is yes.  Have I spent a lot of money, yes. Do I have to give up time with my family, yes. Can the schedule sometimes be brutal, yes.  But I get to do so many awesome things and love what I do. Is it stressful being the decision maker, sure, but most of the time it works out just fine. I kinda always knew I was going to end up a midwife since my first nursing OB class, so I think you just know that is something you want.  I really couldn’t do any of this without my awesome hubby, who totally picks up the slack with the kids and that I am eternally grateful for, that he supports me not just in my career but in my craziness for running as well. (that will be a whole other post)

When I was deciding to go back to school and contemplating programs, really only one came to mind.  I live in the Chicagoland area, didn’t want to move and never really thought about telecommuting.  So I applied to the only program in the area and got in.  The benefits of the program were that it was close to home, I didn’t have to find my own clinical placements, I knew successful midwives that came through the program, and I had family support.  I did the 3 year program, with the first year being on-line doing the pre-recs for the rest of the program, then having the management classes in person.  It was great not having to find my own clinical placement, but I felt like I got only one experience and didn’t feel like I had a connection to any of the patients I delivered.  I do however feel like I was well prepared for boards and beginning practice as a new midwife.  I think you always find faults in a program because nothing is perfect, but I would not have chosen another path.  I commend the NP students that have to hustle to find clinical placement, I don’t think I could have handle that stress.

This blogging thing can be quite cathartic and addicting.  I can’t wait to share more about my other loves, my boys, and of course running.