Thoughts {A Three Things Thursday post}

1. I taught my last class of pregnancy on Wednesday. Barbell – my favorite. And, to make sure we went out with a bang, I picked some of the hardest tracks. There was a squat/lunge track that had lots of pulsing lunges. We did a chest workout with uneven push-ups using plates. And there were the little tweaks I made to abs with dipping planks.

The best part on the planks? I got to watch.

Turnout can be hit or miss on Wednesdays but it was a hit this week. As a farewell for now, it was quite satisfying to get a good group of people to drip with sweat – and keep up with them at 39 weeks.

2. That said, I haven't worked out beyond teaching my classes. I've been torn on getting making the most of my last days and relaxing before chaos becomes me. Mother nature decided for me, though, as we've had rain all week. Seriously. I had walking shoes packed for today but it went from drizzle to light rain to storms between getting Miles in the car seat to go to daycare and giving him a hug goodbye. So, I went to Walgreen's and bought some hair ties.

A note on hair ties: Where do they go? Now that my hair is long enough to pull up, I can never find a hair tie. The ones I do manage to put in the proper spot seem to get stretched out within five uses. I need to take out stock in scuni, I swear.

3. Even though I managed a run a few weeks ago, I haven't felt the itch to head out since. Those 3 sweaty miles on the treadmill were what I needed. It was like the perfect three bites of a rich dessert after a good meal. You box the rest it up and take it home for later.

And, let me tell you: I can't wait to dive into that piece – in 4 to 6 weeks.

I may or may not have gone a bit of a shopping binge this week just to make sure I'm ready.

From the ACTIVE GearUp shop, I nabbed a last season Oiselle tank. (Disclosure: I did receive a credit to the shop through my relationship with Active.com to use at my discretion.) A new tank meant that I had to have matching socks and, you know, the Pro Compression socks of the month (note the plural) bot have orange. I was going to go with the Aqua Swirl and be good ... but ... yeah. I saw the Orange Boom in the side panel. I tried to decide and I couldn't.

So I got both.

Had I been smart, I might have placed the order earlier so I could put them in my hospital bag. The Pro socks are 1 million times cuter than the ones the hospital will give me post-C-section and though I have some with my things, there's nothing like a new pair.

Note: You can use the code BOLD to save 40 percent on the socks of the month and Pro Compression's Boston sock.

And while I'm on the ambassador train, Nuun has free shipping through Sunday. What better reason to stock up?

Share some random thoughts. Please. I'll appreciate them when I'm bored and nursing.

Meeting Lauren Fleshman + Banquet Tidbits

"Don't let others define your success."

If there was one take away from Lauren Fleshman's presentation at the Fort Wayne Track Club banquet, it was that.

For her, a professional runner of more than 10 years, it has been paramount to create her own path, one that will allow her to be the best version of herself – not only as an athlete but as a person. The harder she tried to live by the rules of the industry, the ones she was told were required to be successful, the more she was unhappy. Her world was too small. Too limited. She needed something bigger. Something more. And when she chose to open herself up to the idea and expand her horizons, she found not just joy but success.

The presentation was not about Oiselle or Nike, the USATF or athlete rights. She spoke about herself and what it took to find her place, experiencing the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. As a runner, as a mom, as a fan girl – it was captivating to hear. From social media and her pieces for Runner's World, Ask Lauren and Oiselle's blog, I thought she was refreshing, honest and, well, totally rad. I liked Lauren Fleshman, as a representative of the industry. But I didn't know why I liked her as a runner or even why I should.

"The person that's last place always has a story."

And, now, I know – but not for the list of accomplishments that were on the banquet program. It was that she shared she came in last in the finals of the 2012 Olympic Trials for the 5K. It's this emotional video of an interview taken after she qualified for said finals. It's that she still has hope, she still has the dream of going to the Olympics. Eyes set on 2016. It's that she's been injured and remained driven during recovery. It's that she tried to run at times and couldn't. It's that she had the courage to believe and she did.

I came away from the banquet with new-found respect, admiration and kinship. OK, so the last part's a stretch – it's not like we're BFFs now – but she totes showed the most relatable picture (to me) in the beginning of her presentation: She was at a triathlon, cheering on husband Jesse Thomas, with son Jude in a carrier on her back. Jesse was running, Lauren was enthusiastic and Jude was screaming. (See it HERE; I don't feel like stealing.)

It sort of reminds me of that photo post-Veterans Marathon when I'm sweaty and exhausted, Kasey is beaming and Miles has a bloody lip.

And now, as Lauren looks forward, she insists it's not about the times. It's not about what she's done or could have done. It's where she's going and she's moving forward.

"Honor the narrative of your running."

But should I honor my inability to take a serious photo, that is the question?

Other banquet highlights:

• Lauren noticing my fan girl nerdiness in wearing the Fleshman Flyer shirt. I think I was a bit self effacing rather than gracious but 'tis my style. 
• Finally getting my hands on a "Believe" journal and having her sign it. I think I'm going to save it for my post-baby comeback.
• Celebrating and honoring the sport of running, what it has done for me and how it has expanded my world. 

Friday favorites

If I had to be honest, I've been teetering on the edge of burnt out when it comes to running. The aggressiveness of my training plan (my fault), participating in a lot of races (my fault) and being a bit tired (not my fault).

But, there has been hope.

Here are some things that I have been loving on the run lately.

1. Revisiting old routes. I've been sticking to the same two routes on my morning runs and though I like them, I am feeling a bit bored - at least with the one. So, this morning, I bribed myself with a jaunt through my old neighborhood and throwing the plan out the window to get in the miles. It was just what I needed! The river from this part of the Rivergreenway is picturesque, and I love how the trees reflect in the water. I also got to run by some grand homes whose yards were showing fall color.

2. Oiselle Flyte Shorts. I've been looking for a good compression-type short but haven't found anything in store that made me want to hand over the credit card. My favorite running store recently picked up Oiselle, and I went to check it out. I was a bit leery of the shorts as even the long version looked too short but I bought them anyway. So glad I did. The material on these shorts is so soft and comfortable that even sweat-soaked, I don't want to take them off.

3. Salted Watermelon Gu. I've been off and on the Gu train, and I even experimented with fuel-free long runs as my diet changed. I wanted to try this flavor, though, and I'm glad I did. I like that it has extra sodium but isn't as sticky sweet as the Salted Caramel. Don't get me wrong - I still like the Yeti - but the watermelon is more palatable over the long run.

Note: I really want to try the Root Beer if only for the novelty, and Gu Energy just came out with Caramel Macchiato.

4. Fall weather. I wore long sleeves on two runs this week, and there's a crunch beneath my feet as I move. Need I say more?

5. Listen up. Somehow, I had an Audible credit, and I decided to download "Gone Girl." I know I'm the last person to read the book but I'm loving it so far. I may have to subscribe to Audible this fall when I start slowing down to enjoy the runs.

What are you loving late?

Weekly Training Update: 1/27-2/2

I like to tell stories. Read them, write them, share them - it's probably why I went into journalism. And when I write a post, even a training update, I like to have a story. A hook.

But, this week, I do not. It was just a week like most others. It was a week where I did what I could to get my butt moving.

There are some anecdotes ... or tidbits. Yes. Let's call them tidbits because anecdotes imply the following are funny. And they are not. Well, maybe one.

Anyway - the things:

• I need to pay better heed to taking rest days. Once again, I did something every day last week. I am blaming my running bud who invited me for run on Friday morning, which I had planned as a rest day. It's hard to find people willing to run at 5:30 a.m. but, more than that, he was willing to come to my neighborhood and it was 30 degrees. Could. Not. Refuse.
• I was so befuddled by the 30-degree heat wave that I didn't know what to wear. I joked that I should have been in my Oiselle strappy bra (a new fave) and a pair of bum huggers. Thankfully, for Joe, I didn't. I was HOT, though, in my long sleeve shirt and flyer jacket.
• The 80-minute trainer ride on Tuesday was quite unusual. I was hoping for 45 minutes but I heard Miles yelling, "Mama! Are you down there?" about 30 minutes in. I was sure he had wandered downstairs and was at the basement door. As it turns out, he was yelling through the heating vent in his room. I had to stop, obviously, to find this out so I coerced Mark into taking Miles to daycare since he had a snow day.
• I am testing out Miles' tolerance for hanging out in the basement while I'm on the trainer. He's good for about 15 minutes - coloring, throwing an inflatable globe ball at my head, asking to run on the treadmill and rocking in the baby swing.
• I had to cut out on my long run group Sunday because I had some form of stomach bug, which had struck Miles on Thursday through Sunday. I felt nauseous at mile 4 and had to admit to my new-ish friends that I was on the brink of pooping my pants at 7.64 miles. #friendsforlife
• I think I've been on the treadmill too much lately because I've reached a point where I don't need/want music during a run. I will start out with Pandora for the warmup but usually yank out my earbuds by the second mile. And it's not even that the earbuds are annoying me or falling out! (Note: I'm wearing a pair of the women-specific Koss buds with Dara Torres on the package. I won them on a giveaway and like them lots.) I am just tired of all the songs.

The week, in training:

Monday: 3-mile run
Tuesday: 80 minutes on bike trainer
Wednesday: 4-mile run, tempo + Bodypump
Thursday: Ripped
Friday: 6.11-mile run
Saturday: Bodypump + 30 minutes on trainer
Sunday: 7.64-mile run

Three Things Thursday: PNW trip highlights

It seems funny to me that, at this time last week, I was standing in the Oiselle offices star-struck and verklempt (and drinking Starbucks coffee, obv). It seems like a million years ago and like yesterday at the same time but, regardless, hard to believe.

The entire trip to the Pacific Northwest was a whirlwind of excitement, nerves and fun. It would be impossible to share every moment, every giggle, every rumble of the stomach as anxiety ate my insides. I can barely remember them, even, the memories washing in like the tide of the Pacific Ocean, depositing bits of sand onto the shore that is my psyche.

But I'd be remiss if I didn't share a few things with you before wrapping up my Nuun Hood to Coast experiences.

1. Grass is always greener at Green Lake. Thursday morning, after a bit of sleep and pot of coffee, I found myself in Northeast Seattle at the intersection of Green Lake Drive and Ravenna Boulevard. The Ravenna Boulevard, the namesake of my beloved Brooks shoes.

We were there for a shakeout, a short and (for me) arduous 3-mile run. The air was crisp and the lake a welcome change from my dark and familiar neighborhood routes. I ran with two of the Nuun girls, Lauren and our fearless coordinator Megan, at a slow clip as we rounded around the water. It felt harder than I should of but I blamed the travel and focused on the fun ahead - visiting Oiselle.

The Oiselle HQ is small but homey, and I pretty much wanted to find all the things and take them home. I got a little shy and did a major fail in talking to some of the Oiselle all-stars but loved hearing the owner chat about the company's relationship with Every Mother Counts and their team for Hood to Coast, which featured Christy Turlington. Sadly, CT was not there ... not that I would have chatted but ya know.

2. Teamwork. I've joked with a friend or two that the only way I'd have a running group is if they showed up to my house every day at 5:30 a.m. And most people don't want to do that ... so, yeah, I lead a relatively solo life as a runner, joined only occasionally by my three favorite men.

This weekend, it was different. I had people by my side when I was slow and teammates cheering me on when I was fast. I had people to inspire me and people to push me to be better. We're all at different places and paces but for that weekend, we were a team.

The experience was new and exhilarating, and it motivated me more than ever to find a group of women to share my miles.

3. "Do you want to go swimming?" After days of nonstop socializing, the invitation to head to the ocean by a small group of the Nuun crew was hard to resist. The beach, at water's edge, was quiet and the sun was setting in a brilliant show of color. The splash of the guys jumping and diving broke the air as I stared toward the horizon. The water was cool but not as cold as I had anticipated as it lapped over my feet.

"I'll go as far as you'll go," Zoe said as we ditched the Sparkle Athletic skirts and walked toward the surf.

I headed in cautiously at first but reveled in the force of the waves, going a bit further each time. I laughed and smiled, relaxing with each push of the water as the weight of the race washed away.

My heart aches to be back on the beach that night, to feel the way I did then, but I'm so grateful for that memory and all of the others that have deposited themselves into the story of the race.

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In case you missed it: Freshly Squeezed: Running HTC and To my dearest Nuun

This post concludes my #nuunhtc stories. If you have questions, I'd be more than happy to do a Q&A post but wanted to err on the side of brevity and focus (for me) with the recaps.