Chariot Carriers ... highly recommended, you mommies!

Loving the Chariot! Logging lots of km's with it!

Runners Feed Interview

Check out my recent interview with Runners Feed.

Another race complete...and another victory!

One of my favourite races is my home-town Alvinston to Watford 16 km road race! It started in 1958 (not many races are this old) and is held every Victoria Monday.
I am not sure how many times I've done it but I do know I've been first female the last several times. It's not super competitive but there is nothing like running from one small town to another, through the country. I often think about the many trips spent on that road with my dad and sister, on the way to hockey. I was able to run by my cheering family, right at my elementary school. The weather is usually rainy but today was great. The tail-wind was amazing (and I needed it)! We left our house at 6:45 am, in order to register and get to the 10 am start. Jonathan was able to make 3 stops with the kids, to cheer me on. So sweet. Seth was wearing his, "Go Mommy Go" t-shirt I got from Running Skirts. He was so proud. Micah, being 5, I guess, was too old to wear his! But they did cheer with their bells! I was thrilled that the race provided eload! Thanks, Sharon!
I was sporting my Saucony vizipro for the race. During my warm-up, a few girls were on their trampoline and told me how much they "loved" my orange! Funny how you can influence the youngins!
So, my time was about 65 minutes, which I am pleased about. I had one lady I kept my eye on and was able to eventually get past her with 1.5 km left! I knew I had to pass her with confidence, speed and strength (thanks, Coach Murray Jackson) and was motivated by my kids. I just could not go home without winning that big trophy for them! There was no prize money but the trophy=priceless!

Back to Racing!

Well, it's done. I just completed my first race back since having Leah 2 months ago. I tell ya, being injured and pregnant for 9 months will slow you down BUT the hunger I have to return is great! The come-back work hurts and it's hard but I've already seen huge improvements in my speed and strength since my first run, which was a few weeks after giving birth. And I love it! I often get people at the gym asking, "Didn't you just have a baby?". Funny.
So, Saturday was a long pre-race day. Jonathan had been away for work since early Friday morning and I was again on my own for the day. I kept the 3 kids happy in front of the tv so that I could ride the bike for 30 minutes at 6:30 am. I had my last run Friday while Micah was at school because I can only fit 2 kids in the Chariot. It was a beautiful day and I finished my 75 km week with a 15 km run (included a few laps around the track to keep the legs fresh). Seth even joined me, for some laps and stretching, which was so cute (see the picture). Back to Saturday, it was rainy so I tried to keep busy. Micah had soccer and we watched some 3-on-3 hockey in the morning. We had lunch, I squeezed in a short nap, we went out to register for the race, went to the pharmacy, stopped by the paint store (we are switching the kids rooms so that the boys have the bigger room...going from 2 to 3 kids forces you to deal with clutter, yikes it is everywhere right now!), and killed some more time at the library. We got home and I made some lasagna while the boys watched a Curious George movie. Then, Jonathan surprised us by being home for dinner! After that we started moving things around for the painting then put the boys to bed. Jonathan and I caught up on things then Leah and I went to bed around 11 pm and I pumped at 2 am (NOT something you should leave to the last minute before a race!). In the morning, we sent Micah to church with his cousins and dealt with a sick Seth. I fed Leah around 9 am, put her to bed, and rushed out the door.
The weather was coolish, grey and rainy. I had an easy warm-up then nearly started with the wrong group (they had a school group that started elsewhere)! Not many were in this race but there was one girl from Guelph that I kept my eye on. Boy, I am not used to 5 km races! But, I plugged away and was able to get past her with 200 m to go! I did a 2 km cool-down then headed to the gym for a 2.3 km swim. I returned home around 12:45 to my amazing family. I think I can swing the 16 km race on the holiday Monday; another low-key one to see where I'm at?! Oh, my 5 km time was nothing amazing (18:46 which is last year's marathon pace!) but I am glad I got out there and did it, feeling strong and happy.

A Few Things About Me

A few interesting things you may not know about me:
1) I played hockey for the U of Guelph and was an OUA All Star in the 97/98 season.
2) I've been either pregnant or breastfeeding for the last 6 years (minus 8 mos).
3) I am a Registered Dietitian with a passion and focus in pediatric nutrition.
4) I married my best friend, almost 10 years ago, whom I met through Athletes in Action at the U of Guelph (he played volleyball). His parents went to highschool with my mom!
5) I have 4 brothers, 1 sister, 4 brothers-in-law, 4 sisters-in-law, 2 parents-in-law, 2 nieces, 10 nephews, 2 sons, 1 daughter and 1 dog.
6) Both of my parents died of cancer, my dad in 2005 and my mom in 2007.
7) I am a Christian and attend Brant Community Church.
8) I am sponsored by Chariot, Saucony, and Eload.
9) If I could do someone's exercise in exchange for cleaning, I would!
10) Because of my high energy, as a child my mom used to lock me out of the house and not let me back in until I had run a certain number of laps around the house. I do the same with my 5 year old today!
11) I love coffee, salmon, peas, spinach, skim milk, almonds, and whole wheat chocolate chip pancakes with natural peanut butter and syrup (but not all at the same time). My favourite meal is breakfast.
12) I ran my first marathon in 2002 in 3:28 and my seventh marathon in 2010 in 2:39.
13) I grew up on a beef farm and you can often find me in my pj's at 8 pm.
14) My favourite quote is Eric Liddell's, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure".

You know what they say...no pain, no gain!

Well, Leah is now 8 weeks old and training keeps coming along. I continue to do a combination of elliptical/pool/bike/run and strength/core/stretching. Today was a short but sweet 20 min bike (Leah was hungry so I had to cut it short and Jonathan was already gone to church. My 5 yr old made a few attempts with the soother so that he and his 3 yr old brother could continue watching tv but no luck!) + a 2 km swim + a 10 km tempo on the treadmill. It's crazy that my last marathon (2:39:08) pace seems like a sprint but I am coming along. And of course, I'm not at my pre-pregnancy weight yet either. But, I am so blessed to be running, and almost completely pain-free. Things will come along as they should. Being pregnant and injured for 9 months will slow anyone down I guess!
People often ask how Leah and I are doing. Well, she and I have a pretty good system ... she gives me a long stretch at night, and another long stretch in the morning. So I can sleep, train, and get a lot of my household chores done during those 2 periods (about 5-7 hrs each). Sweet!
Of course there are some crazy times but we love it.
Jonathan is really great to keep me posted on his schedule so that I can plan runs around his return time. Usually I have dinner in the oven and head out the door as soon as he is home! I often call myself "Casserole Krista"! I'll tell you, when you have one hour, you have one hour...or supper burns! So you make the best of it. The other night I had dinner in the oven and went for a hill workout. I was 1.5 km from home so nearing the end BUT a train STOPPED right in front of me on the tracks. It forced me to add another 3 km to my run (I couldn't just stand there, come on!). It all worked out though because Jonathan took the kids for a walk and turned the oven off before he left! Phew!
I look forward to another week of training. I just love the balance of it all!