Wardrobe malfunctions

The winner of the Manduka giveaway is I'm the Mom. Email me at hlthystrides at gmail dot com.

I wouldn't call myself a pro at the ole "go for a run and return to work" thing but I've done it enough times that I should know how it works.

And by know how it works, I mean that I should know what to pack.Yet twice this week, I have found myself in compromising positions because I obviously don't know how to pack.

On Monday, I had planned a 3- or 4-mile recovery run in the afternoon - just something to refresh my legs and minds during the awkward time before my meetings. My stomach was starting to feel a bit off but I decided to give it a go and see how things went. I grabbed my tote bag and headed to the ladies room to get ready.

I shed work clothes and slipped on a sports bra and shirt. I slid on a pair of capris and put on my watch. I grabbed my shoes and sock.

Yes. Sock. Singular.

It seems that I only had the forethought to bring one with me (the other, as I later discovered, was in the center console of my car - obviously where it belonged). I could have used the stomach + sock combo to skip but I already told someone I was running and, well, yeah.

I was a bit surprised to discover how not bothersome it was to run with one sock. I didn't even notice a difference until mile 2.5 and it was near my big toe, where the tongue hits the top of the foot - not the heel as I expected. It was a bit uncomfortable but no big deal.

Not like going sans bra to work.

This morning, in an effort to sleep and run, I decided to pull my favorite mother runner trick: drop off Miles a bit early and show up to work 15 minutes late. I took the beast - and I can call him that because he said his friend at daycare loves him more than I do - to my mother-in-law's house about 9. He was decked out in IPFW fanware, and I was in lululemon capris and an Under Armour turtleneck.

After a few attempts at a hug, I said my goodbyes and headed out for a 5-mile run. The run itself, if you're interested, was nothing special but I was glad to be able to run after feeling so terrible for most of the week and teaching two classes last night. I finished in 47 minutes, got in the car and headed to work - where I would clean up and change.

And I did clean up, thanks to the baby wipes and deodorant I always keep in my tote bag. I did change, too, in the sense that I took off my running clothes and put on the things I packed.

The things I packed: Denim trousers, a belt, long-sleeve Kelly green T-shirt, plaid button-up, cream scarf and boots.

Did you notice something missing? Go back. Look. Now tell me.

Yep, that would be a bra. I did not bring a bra to work. I felt a bit troubled when I made the discovery. I certainly didn't want to drive home to retrieve one nor did I want to go to the nearby Salvation Army to buy a thrifted one. My support tank that I wore running was soaking and definitely not an option.

So ...

So ...

So ...

I decided not to wear one at all. Before you get all skeeved out, let's be honest about my situation. Wearing a bra is just a formality as nursing + weight loss has left little to support. I'm also wearing two shirts plus a scarf that hides it all and, well, there you have it. I've apparently transported myself back to the 1970s where undergarments are optional and shaving is discouraged. (It is, just ask my legs.)

Question of the day: What would you do? Bonus points for saying you'd buy a super cute gym bag stocked with essentials to store at your desk.

Spring Training: Week 8

Spring Training posts document my training for the Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon on March 30 and my "A" race, the Wisconsin Marathon half, on May 4.

The week, in training:

Monday: TurboFire Stretch 40 + 3.5 (very windy) miles
Tuesday: 5 miles, "tempo" + ZWOW
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 5 miles, progression + corporate wellness class (taught)
Friday: 4.05 miles
Saturday: BODYPUMP (taught)
Sunday:12 miles, long

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I've whined. I've complained. I've gotten mad. All because my training wasn't where I wanted it to be, wasn't going the way I wanted to go.

And then came last week.

Though far from perfect -- because a run where you nearly get lost in a cemetery while listening to an Another Mother Runner podcast makes that nearly impossible -- the week went better. Much, much better. I added a fifth run, a "recovery" one of sorts, and got in 5-milers twice.  worked with weights three times, and I definitely felt the burn of my circuit class - even if it wasn't fun. I hit nearly 30 miles, which I'm not sure I've ever done when training for a half-marathon.

And, I had a stellar long run. Like, super stellar.

My goal of late has been to inconvenience Mark as little as possible when it comes to long runs. I've squeezed them in on personal days, gotten up at 5 a.m. to run 9 miles on the treadmill and did 11 miles during week 7 while Miles was napping. It worked out so well then that I thought I'd try it again with my 12-miler.

Of course, we all know how well Miles napped this weekend.

And so Mark and I found ourselves at noon Sunday trying to "kill" an hour until we thought we could put Miles down. I was dressed to go and the weather was nice and Mark had only had two pieces of pizza for lunch ... and well, why not go for a run as a family, I thought. Mark was a bit more trepidatious (because of the pizza) but obliged and so we set out for our first family run since Christmas.

I told Mark it would be a very slow four miles as I warmed up but we trotted along our normal route at a comfortable pace, one that should have probably worried me just a tad. However, it was so nice to have some company, to hear Miles point out the dogs and feel my legs moved that I went with it. I could always take it a tad slower when I finished up on my own.

But after Mark and Miles retreated inside (and I making a quick potty stop), I continued on at nearly the same pace as I trucked down a semi-busy street toward a greenway trailhead. I figured I'd go with it for the next four miles and slow it down the last four.

But as I rounded into the park for the last set, I kept seeing an 8:xx pace on my watch. It was unreal. While I felt like I was pushing, I didn't think I was doing that (and truth be told, I wasn't - the MOTOACTV is a big tease) and so I soldiered on with the gusto of someone who had something to prove. Something to show herself.

As I reached my block, I was tired. I was feeling the effort of a harder 12-mile run. And, yet, I felt the urge to push. To give it one last go.

I pressed "end workout" at 12 miles on the nose in 1:52 and some change.

I walked in the door smiling - and saw two smiling faces as well - and told Mark for the first time this training cycle, I felt like maybe - just maybe - I might be able to give my PR a run for its money.

This, that and the other thing

This. Talk about down and out. I'm not sure whether it was a random bug or food poisoning but let's just say I found the best diet ever. I had some great posts planned and none of it came to fruition since I was making friends with the fetal position and Gatorade.

That. During my illness, I had my first Diet Coke in more than three months in an attempt to settle the stomach. I enjoyed the bubbly effervescence but the taste did nothing for me. I do not think I will be revisiting my diet soda addiction anytime soon.

And the other thing. Since my illness kept me from promoting the Manduka giveaway the way I had hoped, I am extending it until Thursday. The winner will be announced Friday. The Tropical Traditions coconut oil giveaway is has been extended to March 7 (per company request).

Weekend discoveries

Chobani bites Fig with Orange Zest. I've been antsy to try the flavor since I saw the social media explosion about Chobani's new flavors a few weeks ago. I didn't think I'd find it - ever- in my grocery store but I checked out the company's product finder and lo and behold, the Fig with Orange Zest flavor was available at a nearby Walmart. The same Walmart that sells tripe and pig neck bones but whatevs. Let me tell you, this flavor is delicious. Like, beyond my wildest dreams delicious. I am considering taking my allowance (yes, I get one) to stock up as to not blow the grocery budget.

Squat lunge. Somehow, know matter how much I listen to the music, I inevitably eff up one track during BODYPUMP. Sometimes it's small, others more noticeable. This week, I tried to start track 7 with squats instead of lunges and missed the upright rows in shoulders (more push presses, y'all!). Arg. Thankfully, I think, the participants are cool. A good reminder I need to practice more during the week.

Pat the penguin. There is nothing cuter than a dad reading to his kid. Nothing.

Future triathlete. Mark wanted to stop at our local bike shop, and we made a detour after buying a dishwasher. (Side note: We are counting the days until it's installed after going five months without one.) We wanted to check prices on bike trailers but our attention was quickly diverted to tricycles. Miles saw the bike and ran through the store, swung his legs over and started "riding" it. He couldn't reach the pedals but could move Flinstone style and was fairly adept at steering. After 10 minutes, we pulled him off and instigated a complete tantrum. Probably didn't help that he went the weekend nap-free.

Book it club. When your child decides to go nap free, the library and its playroom is your best friend. Even the sheep.

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The winner of the Alexia Foods giveaway is Holly Higgins. Email me (hlthystrides at gmail dot com) your most personal details, or your address + phone number, and I'll get it passed along to the rep.