Sick Days, Stroller Runs and Si's of Relief

Let’s play catch up!

“I want to go home, Mommy. I’m just too tired and stressed out.”

Stressed out? Really, Miles.

But as we stood in childcare at church last Sunday, he was insistent about leaving. When I said no, he told me had a fever. I said no again because … obviously, he didn’t have a fever.

Except he did.

He had a fever that would not go away. From 103.3 at its highest to 101.5 at its lowest, Miles battled a high temperature from that Sunday until Saturday morning. He missed four days of school, spent two hours at Redi-Med, took multiple naps and watched an entire season of “Bo on the Go” and three Netflix rentals.

In other words, it was hell – for everyone.

I missed two days of work, Mark missed one and my mother-in-law worked from home the fourth. I spent the days I wasn’t with him worrying and the days I was with scouring the house and trying to force down liquids.

Through it all, as selfish as it sounds, I was glad that I was in recovery mode from the Carmel half marathon. There was no time for logging long runs, especially as Mark is in the thick of track season and the luxury of 3:30 afternoon runs are at the oval. I could have gotten up early (I did once to meet Tami) but the uncertainty of how things would play out day to day made it challenging.

Thankfully, Miles was amenable to riding in the stroller on a couple of occasions – even though the bribes of treats and stops for cookies at the neighborhood coffee shop held no interest. For the two outings (3 miles and 4 miles), he was often quiet and thoughtful, so much so that I thought he had fallen asleep. I nearly felt guilty for taking him but my grandma assured me that some fresh air, especially when it is mid-60s and sunny, is good for every body.

On my part, I forgot how challenging it was to run with the stroller. Oof – especially on the hills. However, it could almost be considered an advantageous decision in reverse taper as I rarely look at my watch when pushing the jogger as I have one pace – BOB. I just ran for peace of mind and to get a break from the confines of the house.

Adding to the stress level of the week was the appointment with the developmental and physical therapists from First Steps. I had been looking forward to and dreading the 10:30 a.m. evaluation for Si for weeks. I couldn’t decide if I wanted them to say that he was delayed enough for services or confirm the feelings in my gut that he was fine but completing milestones in his own time.

The two arrived at the house (early!) on Tuesday for the appointment. For those curious, they began talking to me about my concerns and observations as they unloaded toys from their bags. As we talked, the two basically played with Si to see how he moved and interacted. One put a block on her head to see if Si would do it and the other tried to encourage him to cruise. I was rather surprised when he responded fairly well to the therapists, not so much in performing in a desired way but not getting upset and demanding to be held.

And, of course, he decided to stand without support and cruise for the first time while they were there. I swear this kid lives to prove me wrong.

After about a half-hour, the therapists entered their observations into their system and then went over the results.

The gist: He should be doing certain things (making consonant sounds and walking) but he’s hit enough milestones that he doesn’t require services at this time. He didn't show any signs of any social-emotional-anxiety problems as described by my daycare provider, and the issues there might be frustration or environment. They want to re-evaluate in three months, assuming there are still concerns. Silas, the physical therapist said, may start to walk and just take off. As for the speech, the evaluation forms don’t focus on the consonant sounds until 15 months.

And, of course, again, this weekend, he started making a “B” sound.

Hopefully, this week will be a bit more normal … if there is such a thing.

The Stroller Dilemma {A Three Things Thursday Post}

I could not. I would not. A double stroller.

When I was pregnant with Silas, I vehemently refuted that I would ever need a double stroller. I wouldn't need it during maternity leave, I said, as I could run with Si in the single BOB while Miles was at daycare. Mark would be home once I went back to work, providing adult supervision for either boy (or both) while I ran. Come fall, Miles would be in Pre-K and I could, again, run with Si after drop-off.

It was a great plan. Great justification. But then reality happened.

As I run more – often and farther – the idea of sticking Mark with the boys (my perception, not his) is harder to swallow. I have no problem when it's a run date with my BRF during the week or with my girls on the weekend but the weekday runs are where I struggle. I hate to leave them when I'm going to leave them again just an hour or so later. I could take one of the guys with me but it still leaves Mark at home with one.

It's a shame we can't go out together, I tell Mark. If only I had requested another jogger, or a double, instead of an Ergo when my in-laws asked me what I needed for our family of four.

I tried to work out our options on a fantastic run on Tuesday, a solo outing thanks to Mark dropping off Miles at daycare and taking Si with him to Great Clips.

2-year-old Miles!

1. Scour garage sale sites and Craigslist for a second jogger. I have been looking but so far have come up empty. Most of the strollers that I have seen for sale are not the quality that I would look for in a jogger. I think most of them would be good for casual runners or walks but not for regular use. AND, if I only found a single, I could not take both boys by myself.

2. Sell our BOB Ironman and upgrade to a double stroller. From looking at sale sites in bigger cities, I feel confident that we could ask a good price for our stroller but it would not be an even deal. Also, we'd be stuck with a double long after we'd need it. I am sure Si would be happy to fill the seat with a cuddly but the stares from neighbors might not be worth it.

3. See No. 2 but sub the Burley Bee. We have a great bike trailer that would do well on online sale sites. Get rid of that and upgrade to a bike trailer that can convert to a stroller. Of the three, this option is the most practical in that we will always use a double bike trailer. We would come out in the red if we went with the Burley Honey Bee but I did find an Allen Sports model that would be affordable(ish).

Of course, I could buy something new (not really) or do nothing (more than likely). After all, do I really want to run with my husband, toddler and newborn? I thought I took up this hobby for peace of mind :)

Our First Stroller Run

Eyes closed. Dog leashed. Legs ready.

Garmin not. Wait. Walk. Stop. One minute. Just. One minute.

Forget it. Let's go.

Strong. Legs. Surprising.

Left arm. Right arm. Push. Push. Right arm.

Sticky. Sweat. Drips.

Traffic intersects.

Wipe. Drink. Nuun. Water. Nuun.

So. Hot. Sun bright. Air thick.

Push on.

Roads. Faces. Familiar. Wave. Smile.

Push on.

Bump. Wince. Bumpy road.

Ooh. Oh. Silence. Good.

Hill. Down. Breathe. Fly. Hold tight.

Mile time. 9:XX. Wow. Strong.

Push on.

Hill. Up. Breathe. Focus. Hold tight.

Summit. Relief. Breathe. Drink.

Check. Eyes shut. Quiet.

Push on.

Stop. Sign.

A sign. Wipe. Breathe. Drink.

Nuun. Water. Nuun. No more.

One. Car. Two. Three? No.

Push on.

Straight? Turn? Right.

Small. Hill. Feels. Big.

Slow. Walk. Breathe. Rally.

Push on.

Turn? Straight? Short? Long?

Straight. Go. The. Distance.

Flowers. Trees. Canopy.

Pollen flies. Lilacs perfume.

Home. Near.

Timer ticks. Almost 30 minutes.

Push on.

Push. Hard. Strong. Finish.

Block. Ends.

Run. Ends.

Weekly Training Update: 4/21-4/27

Once upon a time, I used to feel like a badass mother runner. I ran with the stroller for a significant part of my weekly mileage, even taking Miles on long runs of 8 miles. I had a stroller filled with Dum Dum Pops and an iPhone with toddler music favorites. People in the neighborhood recognized me as the woman who ran with the stroller and the dog.

Then, sometime last year, I just got over running with the stroller. It was harder and more of a hassle. I was doing a lot of runs early in the morning, too, which cut the need for the BOB. The only regular time that Miles came along for a run was on the weekends when Mark ran part of my long runs with me. Then, I started running with the group and those runs were cut.

But times are changing again. After being cooped up all winter and Denali's need to get in shape, stroller running is much more appealing. The warmer (relatively) mornings have meant we've been able to go out. It hasn't been but a handful so far, however, it's enough to know that I want to keep doing it. I've even set some goals for myself.

*Acclimate Miles and Denali to 5 miles. Denali will be the easier of the two as the older Miles gets, the shorter the attention span. However, he did well enough for 4.33 miles that I think 5 fast could be OK.

*Find new ways to entertain Miles. We do toddler music on the iPhone - "Wheels on the Bus," specifically - and candy. However, I'd like something better. Suggestions are welcome.

*Run a sub-8 mile with the stroller. I've surprised myself that I can do at least one sub-9 mile without much effort during each run that the challenge of a sub-8 is alluring. I'm doing some shorter speed work for fun, and I think it will be of help.

Side note: Miles is a backseat runner. He tells me to stop at stop signs, not to run into people and to watch out for cars. He also tells me to run in the street, go faster and change music. It's quite motivating ... NOT!

The week, in training:

Monday, April 21
RUN | 3.2 miles
Miles was up at 5 a.m., which turned out to be the story of the week, so I decided to take him out in the stroller for the week's shortest and easiest run. I realized at Mile 2 that I was on track to negative split each mile so I hauled butt for the last one, clocking in at 8:49.

Tuesday, April 22
RUN | 4.33 miles, intervals
This run was all about mothering up and putting my big girl shorts on. It was more convenient, so to speak, to do the 12 x 1-minute intervals (with 1-minute recovery) with the stroller as I really had no idea when I would do the workout otherwise. It was windy to boot, making for a challenging time. I really thought I might die after the first interval and had no idea how I would do 12 after finishing four. There might have been two extended recoveries to tend to Miles' picky music preferences but otherwise done. All but two of the intervals were at sub-8 pace, and I was at 8:44 overall.

Wednesday, April 23
CROSS TRAIN | 1.75-mile walk
I was trying to pass the time, and I was really enjoying taking Miles and Denali out so we went for a walk. And it paid! I found a total of $5.26 on this walk, most of which in the first quarter-mile. It paid for a donut treat for Miles later in the week.

CROSS TRAIN | Jumping jack circuit
I tested a circuit workout I programmed for my upcoming outdoor boot camps in the aerobics room at the YMCA. There were five different circuits, each with three exercises, and each circuit featured a jack variation. Phew! It was tough in the best way possible. I threw in some bicep curls because I love biceps.

Thursday, April 24
RUN | 5 miles, tempo
Early morning outing with Joe. The workout was a 2-mile warm-up, 1 mile at tempo pace and 2-mile cool down. I told Joe that the goal for the tempo mile was 8:30 but since it was dark, I just went by feel. When we got to a better lit area, with just 0.15 mile to go, he told me were closer to 8:00. Oops! But, as fate would have it, the tempo mile was 8:27.

CROSS TRAIN | Ripped
Mark came to class, which I always love, and one of my regulars brought her sister who was visiting. It made me so happy that she wanted to share the class with someone, and I knew how much it meant that her sister was in town.

Friday, April 25
CROSS TRAIN | Heated yoga
I had a free birthday class from Pranayoga, and I did not want it to go to waste! The 8:30 class is always lovely, as it's led by the owner, but this one was just awesome. I felt like Dani knew that I needed to stretch the heck out of my hips and hamstrings. I also realized in class that it is so rare for someone to touch us without an agenda - and how nice it can be. Comforting.

Saturday, April 26
CROSS TRAIN | Y Cycle
I think I'm a jinx. In the four weeks since I stopped teaching at the BBG, I have taken three different Saturday classes and all have had a sub. I don't really care but I had to get a sub maybe two or three times a year. Anyway. It mattered this week because the sub didn't show. Thankfully, the step instructor is spin certified (?) or was competent to lead the class. She has a bum knee, though, and led it off the bike. Weird! As it turned out, it was one of the best cycle classes I've taken. She had us doing pushups, one-arm pushups and other fun hovers on the bike.

Sunday, April 27
RUN | 8.02 miles
A great run with the girls. The pace was a bit faster (9:09) than I do my long runs (9:20-9:40) but being with the group kept me honest. As did the 14 mph winds. I am hoping that by cutting long run mileage a bit that I can keep the weekend runs around that pace.

BOB, BOB, BOB around

I sat in the examining room, peppering the doctor with questions. I, of course, wanted to know what I could do to help Miles, how to best administer his breathing treatments and what exactly to look for if his oxygen levels (again) dipped dangerously low.

But I had an agenda.

What I really wanted to know was whether Miles' illness and the seeming quick escalation was my fault. I wanted to know whether I had done something wrong by taking him for runs on these chilly mornings, our breath visible in the thin air.

She looked at me, with the reassuring look she always has, and said no. It was not my fault; Miles has a virus, and it is the cause of his bronchiolitis and ear infections. If I wanted some advice on cold weather running, she did have some.

Use common sense.

Common sense winter stroller running tips

Feel the burn. Our doctor's primary indicator for whether it was OK to run wasn't a temperature rule as I've been adhering to. She said if the cold air burns as you breathe, it doesn't feel good for the little one to breathe, either. It's best to stay indoors.

Cover up. If you need a hat, the kid needs a hat. If you have gloves, so does the child. Of course, it's easier said than done. We've lost a hat on the trail, and Miles loves to kick off his boots. I've found that we can do a hat if we cover it with the hood. Mittens work but so do socks. Even better socks over mittens.


Get into gear. Buy the weathershield to help with wind resistance. It will also keep kicked off boots from flying off into the middle of the street.


Safety first. Wear the strap, put on lights, run against traffic or on well-lit trails. I put Road ID lights on my hat and waist band, as well as one on the canopy of the stroller. I also plan to pick up some reflectors for the wheels. Winter means less daylight and, when on a tight schedule, it can be difficult to do the whole run in broad daylight.

Take it slow. I know I'm not going to break land speed records with a dog and baby in tow ... most of the time. Instead of focusing on speed or taking out the BOB for repeats, I use it for steady-state or long runs and focus on form, breathing and pacing. A slower pace is especially important as wet leaves or a bit of snow could cause slippery conditions. And seriously, pushing the stroller already counts as resistance - especially if there's any semblance of a hill or wind.

Inflate your ego. Just like a car, the stroller's tires need to be inflated properly. Or so Mark tells me. It's important in cold weather especially and properly inflated tires will make sure you go over any slick spots safely.


Create a soundtrack. On the occasion that Miles has been grumpy, I will turn on music on my iPhone - whether it's Pandora's Toddler station, Elmo CDs that I've downloaded to iTunes or the latest music from BODYPUMP that I'm trying to ingrain in my memory. And there was that morning, at 7 a.m., when we were looping the neighborhood as Christina's Aguilera's "Dirrty" blared. Oops. On the worst days, I've sang my own version of "Wheels on the Bus" - "Wheels on the Stroller."

OK. That last one is not really winter - I guess I just wanted to confess my inappropriate running tunes. I'm so a shoe-in for Mother of the Year.

Any mother runners have some tips for me?

10 things I hate about you, Wednesday

1. My alarm went off 4:55. Sure it was planned, the idea being that I would get up early, squeeze in a 6-mile hill run solo and get home before Mark went to school. But 4:55 is still pretty figgin' early.

2. Miles woke up at 5:10 as I made my last "just in case" visit to the bathroom. I made two unsuccessful attempts at putting him back down and called it a morning at 5:20 a.m.

3. As I drank not one but two cups of coffee from my new Keurig Vue, I bemoaned the fact that after 14 months, I'm still more than willing to play the martyr. If I had any sense, I still would have gone on my solo run and left Miles with Mark. Instead, I let Mark sleep as I entertained the little man.

4. While I entertained the idea of running after Miles' bed time, I acknowledged that didn't work out so well last week and should do a modified hill run at the very least. The run would be my seventh straight with the BOB, my last free outing being the Indianapolis Women's Half Marathon.

5. I lost any coolness that might have ever existed in my fibers by listening to Elmo radio on Pandora. However, I must thank Running Chronicles for the genius idea because Miles did not fuss one bit during our run.


6. Hills suck. They suck even more when you are pushing a stroller. And if they could get worse, a decidedly lethargic dog will make it so.

7. I really wanted an omelet with egg whites and Laughing Cow Vegetable Cream Cheese Spread but it violates my no-dairy rule. And then I was going to make Banana-Pineapple Pancakes, subbing coconut milk for almond milk, only to discover we were out of bananas.

8. The vending machine Diet Coke that cost me 75 cents was barely cold to the touch.

9. I'm not one to post things like this, very TMI things like this, but for the second time in two weeks I'm taking my purse to the bathroom ... if you get my drift. Despite being on medication to avoid these sorts of things.

10. I'm trying out a BodyMedia FIT for this here blog, and you would think I still had flashing red lights strapped to me the way people are talking to me. Unless you are bringing me a cold Diet Coke, a hot cup of coffee (yes, that would make three) or the doughnut I've been craving all week, you don't need to talk to me.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to spend what will likely be 20 minutes on hold so I can get Miles' shot records for day care. Too bad there wasn't a sequel called "11 Things I Hate About You" instead of that dumb TV show.

Baby (not) on board

Miles has been a runner from Day 1.

Running the W.O.O.F  just a day before I found out I was pregnant to keeping up with a regular routine until 37 weeks pregnant, it's been "our" thing.

Sure I had to stop for a couple weeks before I delivered and the requisite six weeks post-partum but as soon as I got the green light from my doctor, Miles was strapped into the BOB via the car seat adapter and we were on the go.

In the early days, running allowed him (read: me) to break up the monotony of the day and catch a quick rest from our nurse, cry, nurse, cry, sleep routine.

As he grew older, the run still offered a nice break in the day but it also gave him a chance to get fresh air and see new things as his world grew.

 

Running was also a nice activity we could do as a family, and it offered Mark and I the opportunity to do things like talk without a baby crawling up your leg or interrupting the other one to scream, "NO FACE!"

While much of our running admittedly was about my sanity, I knew - really knew - that Miles enjoyed it. He babbled and cooed in the beginning and eventually began squealing and screaming "dog" with excitement for nearly 300 miles (and that's a conservative estimate) over the past year.

But times ... they are a changing.

We have gone from screaming "dog" to just screaming and the number of whines even during a short 3-mile run are notable. He no longer kicks his legs up on the safety strap to play with his feet; he just kicks. And though he does get into the stroller willingly, he is so antsy to get out that he practically flings himself on the floor.

It's frustrating to say the least. Not only has the BOB been my life line - literally at times - but I really enjoy these times as a family and I think it's important to set a positive example in terms of exercise. I know he can see me leave for a run and will be able to recognize those efforts as he gets older but I want him to feel included in the sport.

I always thought that by acclimating Miles to the stroller early on and keeping a routine that I would be able to avoid dissension and get what I hoped for. There have been few toys or distractions included, as well, in that vain as for him to believe the run itself is entertainment.

Now? Well, if it keeps him happy in the stroller, I'm willing to try it. He's not at an age where a cup of Annie's Cheddar Bunnies or a graham cracker could keep him occupied and he definitely does not have the dexterity nor attention span to watch Elmo on an iPod. I could try to sing to him or play games but Miles merely laughs at my musical attempts and, to be honest, I need my breath.

So a loss, I am at. I want him to enjoy the stroller again and I want to encourage it in a cruelty-free way. Help!

Things I have decided (+giveaway winner)

*You can only run as far as your mind will allow you. I had 8 miles on the schedule - just 8 nice miles on a cut back week ahead of Saturday's 20K - and I could have done no more. How I ran 11 miles last week is beyond me.

*I would run with a MOTOACTV - even if I didn't get one for free. Reason No. 153: I forgot to turn it off after yesterday's failed second run and I was still able to use it this morning. For all 8 miles. And still had battery to spare. Anyone who has set off only to learn that the Garmin is dead knows just how awesome that is.

*I don't care what the calendar says - it's summer. Or at least spring. If you care to know my reasoning, it's not just the seriously above normal temperatures. It's more that I accidentally ate a bug on my run this morning.

*I am (finally) becoming a better runner because Mark accompanies me on part of my long runs. The little bugger makes me run faster than I should.

*Pushing Miles in the BOB sans car seat adapter is a much more manageable task.

*No matter how comfortable I find Nike Tempo shorts to be, I still think they make me look like I'm wearing a diaper. How do I know this? Well, I like to stare at my reflection in store windows as I pass. And I've seen Miles' butt in a diaper.

*Gu Roctane is not for me. I've tried several flavors, and I don't care for any of them.

*Pancakes, even if they are 7-grain, are the perfect recovery food.

*Making enough pancakes so that you can freeze them for later is much better in theory than practice.

*Biscoff spread is like crack.

And speaking of Biscoff, our winner is ...

Congratulations, Jan! Email (hlthystrides at gmail dot com) your mailing info and I'll have that sent out to you ASAP.

What have you decided lately?

Keeping it real: Push it, push it real good

Dirty diapers, dog vomit, nasal aspirators, ripe morning breath. It's nothing but real in our house. And to spread some of that love, I'm dubbing this week "Keeping it real" week on Healthy Strides. I'll share some stories that might not otherwise make it on the blog.

No worries, though. I promise not to share with you the contents of Miles' diaper.

***

I'm a lazy mother runner. Really. I am.

About 1.5 of my runs each week are with my boys - Denali, Miles and BOB. BOB, of course, being my jogging stroller and not some random guy I hang out with while Mark is at work. The runs offer me a chance to wear out Denali, get Miles to take a nap and grow as a runner and gain strength.

But I only do two of those things. Wanna guess which two?

Running with the BOB is no easy feat, and I'm sure even the greatest of athletes would notice a difference in form, pace and endurance when running with a stroller and a nearly 15-pound behb. Instead of embracing the challenge, I use it as an excuse to avoid pushing myself ... because I am pushing Miles. I allow myself to skimp on mileage, often running less than my training plan dictates, and to keep the pace as easy as possible. The run is all about going through the motions and getting it done rather than the joy of running or feeling of accomplishment.

I embraced an "every run is a victory" attitude when I was pregnant but I have since adopted an "as long as I don't flake out" mantra, which is preventing me from making any significant gains in my pace since I returned to running nearly five months ago.

It's something that has got to change and, on Friday, I took my first step to doing that.

I had missed a 3.5-mile interval workout on the treadmill earlier in the week because of sleep deprivation and illness, and I wanted to make it up. I also needed to wear out Denali. My running partner doesn't win much these days (poor guy!) but he did Friday morning. I got everyone (Denali, Miles and BOB) ready to go and set out with a loosely based plan. I would do a half-mile warmup and do a series of pickups to cover 3.5 miles. Basically, I ran to x point (stop sign, parked car, etc.) as fast as I could then jogged to x point to recover; rinse, repeat.

It was hard. Really hard. It was the type of out-of-breath hard that I had been trying to avoid when I went out with the BOB. And you know what it got me? A blistering 9:26 pace - the fastest ever with the BOB and faster than any run I had done outside of a race since my postpartum return.

I still hope to do my interval workouts on the treadmill - if only to have one run for myself each week - but I learned something. Well, I was reminded of something. To run better, you have to run. To run faster, you have to run faster. To be the person you want to be, you have to act like that person.

How are you keeping it real today?

Saturday snapshot

On you mark. Get set. Wog!

Our jogging stroller has arrived! Woot, woot! My in-law’s purchased the BOB Ironman for us – it was the only thing I asked them for when prompted – after hearing lots of positive reviews. Right now it’s parked in the dining room as we need to order a car seat adapter (the one we bought at the local bike shop was for older BOBs). We should get it just in time for my 6-week post-partum checkup where I expect to get the all-clear.

Green envy rides again!

This picture is obviously from last summer.

I’ve been riding my bike to my Weight Watcher meetings (four blocks away), and it has given me an itch. An itch to really ride. So, on Thursday, I asked Mark to keep Miles all by his lonesome for an hour or so so that I could go out by myself for a bit. I rode just over 6.5 miles in 35 minutes and it was … it was … well, freeing. Painful but freeing. I felt my quads and my heart each time I pedaled, a reminder that I need to ease back into a cardio routine. Hence the 6.5 miles and not 10 I naively thought I could do.

Barefoot and not pregnant.

I’ve been wearing my Vibrams. I promise. Even if there is no photographic proof. In fact, I went zero to 60 (or 0.5 mile to 2.5 miles) in the stretch of two walks. I guess I’m not good at easing into everything. No worries – there are no strains to report - just some calf pain.

Best friends forever.

Denali is doing as well as can be expected with Miles around. There are some signs of jealousy and depression but he doesn’t seem to want to hurt Miles. In fact, he just wants to lick him. All. The. Time. It’s just me Denali is pissed at. We’ll see if he changes his tune the first time I lace up my Nikes.

What do y’all have going on this weekend?