Musical Monday: Lump

Thanks to the Juneathon, I’ve been feeling less like a lump these days. It was just the inspiration and motivation I needed to get moving again.

 

Since about 28 weeks, I haven’t been able to run or wog (walk/jog) and I’ve downgraded to walking, but even still there are good and bad walking days. On good days I can walk and complete a ton of tasks around the house. On bad days, I can barely move and when I do attempt to walk, I have to cradle my belly for fear that my uterus may fall out if I don’t.

 

And as if the fear of losing my uterus wasn’t enough, there are times when I feel like Dr. Kane with an alien life form trying to burst through my gut…

 

 

…because apparently Baby Run DMT #3 likes to stretch his feet against my sciatica and push his back against my stomach. Perhaps with all the prenatal yoga I’ve been doing, I’ve inadvertently taught him yoga in utero. Truly he’s learned yoga through osmosis because his downward dog makes me want to scream mercy.

 

Although mentally I feel less like a lump, physically my big ol’ baby bump looks more like a big ol’ lump. On the surface, you can see a hard lump across my abdomen and this solid, hard mass pulls people in like a giant magical glowing orb. No one can resist my precious and they simply have to touch it. Groping and prodding the lump forces Baby Run DMT #3 to switch positions and pretty soon there’s an elbow or a knee scraping across my belly.

 

Lump’s sudden and painful repositioning causes me to cry out every time.

 

Ow! OwOwOw! Owwwww!

 

Whenever his two big sisters hear me howl from the pain of an elbow jab or alien belly burst from Baby Brother, they howl with laughter and their beautifully evil laughter makes me giggle which I believe causes Baby Boy to giggle too. Oh yeah. My pain is a real gut busting, knee slapper for him. Good times.

 

This giggly kickboxing yoga loving lump better not get too comfortable in there.

 

 

Music Monday button

Joining the Juneathon

Today kicked off the official start of the Juneathon and I did my best to join in the fun.  After all, I’ve got my eyes on the prize:  a pair of Vibram Five Fingers Classics.

 

Although my wogging days have been temporarily postponed until my postpartum days, I chose to ease into the Juneathon with 20 minutes of prenatal yoga and weight training.  This big ol’ bump may keep me from wogging, but it can’t keep me from a few biceps and tricep curls.  I also threw in some squats and lunges in for good measure.

 

If you missed joining the Juneathon today, there’s always tomorrow.  In fact, tomorrow (June 2) is National Running Day, so get out there and run for me or run with virtual Run DMT.

Mamaste Yoga

Since my running days are few and far between, I thought I would bring back “Five Minutes for Fitness” as a Thursday feature.

 

Running has become very laboring (no pun intended) and increasing difficult, so I have to find alternative ways to stay fit.  Since most aerobic activities causes difficulty breathing for this pregnant mama, yoga is a great way to keep my muscles in shape and ready to run again once the baby arrives.  Plus, it’s a great way to help prepare my body for the delivery.

 

Have I mentioned how much I love yoga? I love the way it conditions and tones my body using my own weight as resistance.  I love feeling my muscles lengthen with each stretch.  And even though my range of flexibility might be slightly restricted these days, yoga help keeps my body just a little more limber, as odd as that might sound for big belly mama-to-be.

 

While searching YouTube for prenatal yoga videos, I found this tutorial which introduces the basics found in the full length video found at www.beYOU.tv.

 

 

If you’re yearning for more mamaste yoga, you can watch the 30 minute Prenatal Yoga Vibe video here.

Namaste for National Yoga Month

September is National Yoga Month, so how about celebrating with some stretching with a Warrior Pose?

 

I love yoga, but any runner can appreciate the value it adds to his/her training.  Yoga helps strengthen and lengthen muscle groups and minimize chances of injury.  With the aid of yoga, runners can increase core strength and improve overall performance.  Plus, adding yoga to a rest day following a long run will help with recovery. 

 

If yoga is not part of your work-out routine, I highly recommend that you try it for the next 30 days for National Yoga Month to see if you notice an improvement in your performance. 

 

To honor National Yoga Month, many yoga studios are offering a free trial class or even one free week, however, if you can’t find a studio, try the following video segments from a DVD entitled Yoga for Runners produced by MommYoga.

 

 

 

 

 

***Thanks to my BFF Running Betty for sending me the tweet about National Yoga Month. ;-)

Yahweh Yoga

When I mentioned the other day about attempting yoga on Sundays before church, I playfully called it “Yahweh Yoga”.  I thought I had made up the phrase until I searched the Internet for images for my post.  I soon discovered Yahweh Yoga and Holy Yoga were as real as Downward-Facing Dog.  However, in Holy Yoga or Christoga, the names of your favorite yoga poses have been replaced with religious references.  

 

So, for this week’s Five Minutes for Fitness, let’s get centered with Christ.  

 

I know this video is not meant to be humorous, but I found it pretty comical.  It reminded me of an SNL sketch and I am probably going to hell for thinking it.

 

 

 

A less comical Christian yoga, Holy Yoga offers a more familiar yoga and soothing instruction style.

 

 

Did you know there’s Yiddish Yoga, too?  Oi vey!

Making Strides

As promised, Tiffany and I met the Suncoast Striders, the local running group in our area.  The Suncoast Striders meet every Saturday morning at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park and its members are at all different running levels. 

 

Like I’ve always said, runners are the most real, supportive people you will ever meet and the Suncoast Striders were no exception.  They welcomed us into their group and encouraged us to stay for their social hour, where strong Brazilian coffee and homemade treats are a sweet compliment to the company found there.  We chatted and shared race stories with several members while making plans for future races.

 

As for our run, Tiffany and I kept an easy pace for our six mile run.  I’ve been pushing myself pretty hard over the past couple of weeks, so it felt good to take Saturday’s run easy.

Distance: 6.0

Time: 1:05

Pace: 10:50

 

After meeting with the Suncoast Striders, Tiffany and I will definitely switch our long Sunday runs to Saturdays.  I am looking forward to pacing myself with some faster runners and getting back into the groove of long runs again.  Next Saturday, Tiffany and I are going for 8 miles.

 

However, on Sunday morning, it felt odd not jumping out of bed for an early morning run.  To fill the void, I spent the time doing yoga with my BFF, Sharon Mann.  Yoga before church on Sundays seems like a natural segue, don’t you think?  It’s my own version Yahweh Yoga.  Namaste and peace be with you.

 

 

And if you’re wondering, I did in fact run 3 miles and swam ¼ (16 laps) on Friday.  My swim time was pitiful (~15 minutes) and my run time could have been better.

Distance: 3:16

Time: 29:33

Pace: 9:20

 

As for my commitment to the Juneathon, I have been working out every day since I posted about it last week.  This morning, Sharon kicked my ass and I did some boot camp kickboxing.  For the rest of the week, I plan to run 3 miles on Tuesday and 6 miles on Wednesday.  I would love to run/bike on Thursday and run/swim on Friday, but I’ve enrolled my oldest daughter in swim classes this week and I don’t know if I will have  enough time in the morning for tri training.  I’m going to have wing it with my work-outs this week, I guess!

Showing the Shins Some Love

Since I needed to find some stretches and exercises to strengthen my shins, I thought it would make a great topic for this week’s Five Minutes for Fitness.

 

After my extensive Internet searching, I learned that ankle curls help strengthen your shins.  If you don’t have weights, you can also a bucket filled with sand for the same effect.  

 

 

(Don’t you just love the music? :-) )

 

Of course, yoga is always a wonderful way for runners to help strengthen and stretch their muscles. 

 

Goofy for Gasparilla, Part #3

With a bit of knee pain during my 14 mile run last week, I was very nervous about my performance at the Gasparilla Distance Classic.  Last Sunday, the final 5 miles of my 14 miles were the toughest.  I found myself stretching and walking a lot just to get through it.  After the run, I worried that my knee pain would cause some complications for my 16 mile run the following Sunday.

 

As for my plan for last week, I had all good intentions to increase the number of shorter distance runs by trying to get at 3-4 runs in before Sunday.  I believe my lack of running caused my body to resist the longer runs.  However, last week, the mornings were brutally cold for Florida standards.  I just simply summon the energy to run in 27 degrees.  So, instead of running last week, I added more yoga, kickboxing and some cardio tease.  I hoped the core training and stretching would help improve my performance on Sunday.

 

Oddly enough, Tiffany injured her knee and on Sunday, she couldn’t run farther than 2.5 miles. 

 

At 10 miles, I felt good and no knee pain surfaced. 

 

At 13 miles, I stopped for a Gatorade and banana walking break.  No problems or pain surfaced yet.

 

I finished 16 miles with some muscle discomfort, but at least my knee didn’t buckle!  After my run, I stretched for about 15 minutes and the soreness subsided.  Now my confidence is restored and I feel somewhat ready for Gasparilla!

 

This morning, I ran 4 miles.  Tomorrow, I plan to run 6 miles and 4 miles on Thursday.  This weekend, my family and I are camping and I am hoping to get a couple of short runs through the woods.  I will have to fit my long run on Monday afternoon when we return home. 

 

I have two weekends until the Gasparilla marathon and I am not quite sure what distances to run the next couple of Sundays.  According to Hal’s six week multiple marathon plan, I should run 10 miles this Sunday, but that leaves one more Sunday before the race.  Should I run 18-20 miles this week and run 10-12 next Sunday?   I would really love to hear your advice.

Sunday Running Log #9

Yesterday, I met Tiffany and Lori for my weekly long run and the humidity choked us.  I struggled to finish 10.42 miles in 1:55. 

 

Since next Sunday, I will be competing in the Longleaf Triathlon, Tiffany and I probably meet on Monday for our long run.  Hopefully, I will have energy to run 11 miles the next day after the tri.

 

Mondays are my yoga days and I really need it today.  My body is incredibly stiff and screaming to be stretched.

Yay for Yoga!

Yoga is an important part of my training routine.  I love stretching after a tough work-out.  Even on my rest days, I find time to stretch my muscles.  It makes my muscles happy.

 

So for today’s 5 Minutes for Fitness, let’s make your muscles happy too with a 5 minute yoga video.

 

Namaste.