Dingos Dashing Through the Snow ~ December Running Mamas Thread - Page 5

[Realrellim]

Welcome tutu! No ideas on the barefoot thing, but others here have done it.

Eksmom--. I've been thinking about you.

tjsmama--how did the Nutcracker go?

JayGee--I'm pretty sure I'd never do that willingly, especially with all the December birthdays in our family, but thanks for the advice. I hope your week goes as smoothly as is possible under the circumstances.

Penelope--did you run?

bec--hope the party went well. We're next. R's kid party will be Saturday and her family party will be Sunday.

I got out for 8 today. It was supposed to be 37 but it was overcast and felt a lot cooler when I was out there. At least it wasn't windy, just chilly. At any rate it's done--like the chocolate-chip pumpkin muffins I just pulled out of the oven.

[tjsmama]

tutu~ No idea here, either, but we do have some barefoot runners lurking somewhere...

real~Seriously! It was (unexpectedly) COLD today. My run wasn't too bad, but we kind of froze taking the light rail downtown!

The Nutcracker went well. Our seats weren't bad, and for as far up as we were, we could still see pretty well. DS was pretty entranced for the first act. Until about two minutes before intermission when he had to go potty RIGHT NOW. On the bright side, we got to the bathroom in time to beat the rush! He got a little antsy during the second half, but I could tell he was tired. He said he liked it, which since my kid isn't one to really gush over things, is a pretty good sign that he did, in fact like it. I decided to take him out for dinner afterward, since neither one of us had really eaten lunch, and I realized I had a $25 Applebees gift card in my purse. Wouldn't have been my first choice for dinner, but it was good, and DS ate a ridiculous amount of food. He was getting pretty loopy and out of control by the end of dinner, but it was really just a nice afternoon/evening with my number one little guy. Man, I that kid.

And now, it is 12:47 and I am still up, even though I was determined to get to bed early tonight. Sigh. Oh well. I did finally finish up my last care plan, so I can drop that off at the hospital tomorrow (along with a thank you card and gift for our instructor). I have one more big paper to write (group project, blech), one teeny paper to write, one normal test, and one GIGANTIC test. And that's it! I should really start studying for that gigantic test...

Okey dokey, bedtime!

[loftmama]

hey eksmom, thinking of you.  thanks for checking in.

jg, also thinking of all that you have going on.  is there anything at all on that list  you can contract out?  cleaning?  drop all laundry at a laundry mat and let them wash/dry/fold? do you have a place that sells prepared dinners so you can buy a few days worth of frozen and just pop them in the oven?  I just worry about the stress taking it's toll on you.

nemesis, the mobile option is being worked on.  homicidal is right!  really! couldn't they have waited till after the holidays?  the sweet place that mdc is couldn't have it more wrong with their mobile uploads.  crossing my fingers they get it figured out soon! 

Originally Posted by tutucrazy 

Hello!  I'd like to join your thread. I'm in Brazil so no snow to deal with.  I'm interested in transitioning from regular running shoes to barefoot.  I have a question for those who are more experienced.  I used to run barefoot style but with regular shoes and found that it really stressed my posterior tibial tendon.  I have extremely high arches (ex-ballet dancer).  Could this have been from using a regular running shoe to try to accomplish barefoot running?  

Hi Tutu, I've been experimenting with barefoot running myself.  I actually began a year ago Jan. 1st and so I've been running either bf or in Vibram's.  First, I'm not sure what you mean by running bf with regular running shoes.  The first time I ran bf it was on a very soft cow pasture.  I did feel way more of a workout in my upper body, well, all over my body.  It felt like I was getting a more complete workout bf.  I think that's b/c you carry your entire body differently when running bf and you become much lighter on your feet as your core gets stronger.  So there was a lot of aches but not in my arches, mostly in unworked muscles throughout my body.  Anyway, I'm not sure I helped you but maybe another bf runner can chime in.  Welcome! 

Tjsmama, the date with your son sounded so nice. Good luck on the rest of your exams.

Jooj, Congrats on the tickets! How did your mom take it?  Piece of cake, right?

I am back and forth between my in-law's and my parents car-shopping.   Dh is being... um, difficult, about ... everything... car-shopping, gift-buying, d's b-day, scheduling, etc.  I only hope it's the stress of the outflow of money that is causing him to be a jerk, b/c it's driving me craaazzzy!!!  I know I gotta let it go b/c it's just this kind of behavior that makes me wonder why? why? why?  ok, nuff said.

oh and i'm sick.  sore throat and coughing and sniffles caught from sweet niece who came to see us for t'giving very sick.  i love that child and i guess it was worth it, but i'm over the sick thing.  i'm just annoyed by it really.  b/c i may not be able to make it to taekwondo tomorrow and i def can't teach yoga if i can't speak.  kwim?

oh and one more thing.

what was it?

ugh.

um.

wish i hadn't run out of jameson's.

or that it hadn't run out on me.  i found a full-size bottle, unopened, but empty.

hmmm...

OH YES!

Two really cool bicyclists stayed in my tiny little community last week!  She was cute! He was cute! They were from Austin! They want to start a CSA! They are WWOOFERS!  They found our community b/c someone who lives here whom I don't know is trying to start an "intentional community" which they are interested in.  He's actually an Israeli and has only been in the states briefly.  (When I said, "Happy Chanukah" he was clearly caught off-guard. ?)  He knows a ton about Permaculture and was animated that I knew it, too!  She grew up several hours from here but loves the hills, woods, etc of the place.  I hope she facebook friends me soon.  Oh and it turns we lived in the same crunchy part of Austin, practically neighbors. I'm betting we know some of the same people.  Love.  We're going to be friends!   Well, maybe after she finishes bicycling all the way to Florida and somehow makes her way back here.

Oh and I found another friend!  She doesn't know it yet, but we're going to be friends, I'm sure.  She will be real-life friend #3, I think.  She's my age, with 2 super-cute, a little older, homeschooled boys, a pharmacist with a dh in med school.  What I remember is that I liked her belt with the big peace belt buckled and thought it was really out of place.  Then my local health food store owner asked if I knew her yet and told me I would love her, that she shops there a lot and tries to make natural recommendations when appropriate.  Her kids haven't been vaxed.  Honestly, when she walked in, I thought I could've been in Austin.  And literally the week before I spent all day Sunday depressed and in tears b/c I just don't have a way to get a girl-fix when I need one.  So, there! Thank you universe.

Sorry for my post-midnight rambling.  I'm enjoying the wi-fi here waaay too much! I can sleep when I get back on the farm. Right?

[tutucrazy]

Originally Posted by loftmama 

Originally Posted by tutucrazy 

Hello!  I'd like to join your thread. I'm in Brazil so no snow to deal with.  I'm interested in transitioning from regular running shoes to barefoot.  I have a question for those who are more experienced.  I used to run barefoot style but with regular shoes and found that it really stressed my posterior tibial tendon.  I have extremely high arches (ex-ballet dancer).  Could this have been from using a regular running shoe to try to accomplish barefoot running?  

Hi Tutu, I've been experimenting with barefoot running myself.  I actually began a year ago Jan. 1st and so I've been running either bf or in Vibram's.  First, I'm not sure what you mean by running bf with regular running shoes.  The first time I ran bf it was on a very soft cow pasture.  I did feel way more of a workout in my upper body, well, all over my body.  It felt like I was getting a more complete workout bf.  I think that's b/c you carry your entire body differently when running bf and you become much lighter on your feet as your core gets stronger.  So there was a lot of aches but not in my arches, mostly in unworked muscles throughout my body.  Anyway, I'm not sure I helped you but maybe another bf runner can chime in.  Welcome! 

So when I first started running back in 2006 I immediately started running ball-to-heel.  To me that just felt more natural.  I was a pro ballet dancer many years prior and well aware that landing on the ball of your foot is better than heel.  So initially I started running this way but with regular running shoes.  Then after a few weeks/months I started to develop tendonitis of the posterior tibial tendon so I switched to heel-to-toe running.  Now I still run that way but I'm interested in trying out the other technique again after doing some reading.  I want to get the shoes b/c I run on asphalt so I do need some type of support.  Also, I am very worried with my high arches.  I have strong feet but I don't want to do anything that could compromise my arches since I still dance quite a bit.   Do most the runners here run heel-to-toe? 

[Penelope]

<yawn>

RR from yesterday - a kinda dissatisfying 3.5m on the treadmill (I'd meant to run 5 but was not feeling the love...) Am going to make a more intentional plan this week. Went to dh's holiday party last night which was interesting - it was *huge* and we saw virtually nobody he knew. Food was decent and I avoided over-eating or eating junk. A really wide range of attire, from elegent to jeans and sweatshirts. Honestly, I mostly enjoy the people-watching at that kind of thing.

I'm sliding into the week without being really fully prepared for it, but so it goes. It's almost the quagmire of finals and very rapid grade turnaround which I am dreading.

On the upside I bought a new-with-tags jacket, kind of a fancy brand, that I love at the thrift store for $7.99 on Saturday... along with a couple of other work-appropriate things. Now if I could just think about Christmas shopping and maybe send some cards this year...

Lofty, I'm glad you found some buddies!

Gaye, sounds like the ballet was a hit - we're hoping to go to a performance here but I need to buy tickets still.

Eksmom, big hugs. Hang in there.

[Nickarolaberry]

Welcome, Tutu!

JayGee, sending you good vibes for an easy week (or at least, as easy as possible).

Eks, thinking of you.

Lofty, I know what you mean about needing to find a girl fix! (and also about dh's lately being jerks. Hmmm.... more on this later possibly). So neat that you have found someone you might be able to connect with. As for the Israeli cyclist being taken aback hearing you wish him happy Chanukah, maybe he was just surprised to hear it in rural Texas? That did not come out well on my part but it might just have been very unexpected for him to meet someone who knew that you should wish an Israeli happy Chanukay, you know?

Okay, dislodging my foot from my mouth now.

Easy 5 mile recovery run this morning, quite chilly out (low 40's) for here but at least no wind, so that makes it a lot better. especially because I cannot find my new beanie. It must have gotten caught in something else in the wash because I know I brought it home on Saturday...

Good Monday everyone!

[babybugmama]

Ummm, this is what happens when you are running around in circles busy...You forget there's a new month, new thread.

But I'm here.  Last week was an odd week 8 - 9.5 - 15.  I don't typically like to only run 3x a week, but life just kinda got in the way so I got the major runs in...but my legs are tired and I'm looking forward to a cut back week (8-5-4-8-10, then next week: 8-5-0-13-23).

[JayGee]

Happy St. Nicholas Day!  The kids were thrilled to find a small gift and chocolate in their shoes this morning.

It's 9 degrees here with a wind chill of -1 so I'm hitting the YMCA after my haircut for a run.  Yay, a run!  No matter where it happens, I'm just thrilled that it's happening!!!!

Thanks for all the good wishes.  I feel like a real Debbie Downer these days.

[mommajb]

eksmom, thanks for checking in.

Jaygee, one day at a time, one thing at a time. Do not wear your body out any more than you must. Feel free to say no. I went to my parents' this weekend driving up Saturay in all the snow) and she was remembering the Christmas we moved (Dec 17 the movers arrived at the old house). I have to say my memories are fonder than hers.

I ran Saturday in the falling snow. There was a couple of inches on the ground and mre falling. I drove to my parents, found them not home, dropped off the kids at the house telling them to shovel and make lunch while I ran. How awesome is that? The first couple of miles were rough going but then I ran into the plow doing the running trails (yes, paved plowed running trails, how awesome is that?) so I did manage over six miles. I must generally over dress. I forgot my coat but needed a run and it was perfect after I warmed up.

Well, my running and lifting is generally fine but I feel like I am failing as a parent. It isn't really when I look at my children but more when I look at my behavior. I don't like how our days are going and everything just feels so hard at home. I must be doing something wrong. Mornings are bad, afterschool is even rougher, bedtime is chaos. Last night I just shut the dor on and let them work it out. There must be a better way so that there is more calm and peace if not ease. I don't really know where to start but I would like to feel more in control and be more able to see the big picture or context. Does that make any sense?

[1jooj]

My weekend turned into two rest days, thanks to the buildup to dh's travel and a ridiculously overscheduled weekend for the kids. Dd saw Tangled, ds went to Y night, I went to a Pampered Chef party (it was family; I don't "do" those parties under normal circumstances), dh got the snowblowers ready and finished the entrance (good enough for now). OMG it looks SO much less junky. They put walls around the "hole" where the stairs went into the basement, added a wide door to the top, drywalled where the walls had been made of pressboard, new linoleum flooring, moulding...lots left to finish and clean, but the entrance looks warm and welcoming! (Fiery orange-red walls and warm-colored flooring in a darker pattern to sort-hid dirt.)

OK. So we dropped dh at the airport, then I took the kids for Chinese, got groceries, came home and caught up on work! I'm sort-of caught up! Of course, I know there is a pile of hard copies on my desk waiting for edits, but...meh. I have an invite to meet my sister at the track again, which is good for my endurance. So I'm trying to decide how to do the day. Regardless, I know the evening will be spent with ds catching up on reading (he should be reading a couple hours tonight).

bbm sent me a book and I am trying to save it for my vacay...but I think I need it sooner than later, and might jump in tonight while the kids are doing their reading.

lofty, I am taking your example and pulling out a notebook to journal more properly. I had been dragging around a small but gorgeous one...it has some ideas. I have been working on my meditative practice (sparkle! ) and am also using flower essences in an effort to totally unblock and get flowing. Hence the most recent crisis re: work and personal ethics, but it's all constructive.

My parents are in SFO until tomorrow evening, so I haven't had a chance to inform them about my trip. I am so over that phase. Not sure why it's not gripping me like it used to, but I'm sure they'll have a great holiday, and if dh wants to take the kids out, he can. But if he doesn't, and they want to lie around and watch movies or hang out with the sheep in the barn, that's cool too. I know where I'd want to be.

Think I am going to try hitting the Y by 9, elliptical as long as I can take it, then lift and floor work, then whirlpool. I can work 12-3 and that's plenty for a Monday. Got a simple supper on deck for the kids, too. I can make this easier on all of us.

[sparkletruck]

Lurking ... thinking of you all and what each of you has going on... feeling even more of a dwoner than debbie up there so Ill just say that for now ....

tutu - it may be that you are suppinating b/c of your high arches and some kind of orthodic would help (although, that's only if you wear shoes )

[mommajb]

sparkle, I hope you find something bright and sparkle-y today.

[Geofizz]

Sparkle, seeing you around here always makes me pretty happy!  I hope you can find something positive today. :hug

Walked to work in the snow.  Cold, ice, wind are all things that can nix a bike commute.  :brrr <- note I'm still using smilie code but not switching to the annoying BBB code which makes a mess of everything else.

Must put finishing touches on 10000 today...  Hopefully a run tonight.

[JayGee]

Yay!  I got in 3 easy miles at the YMCA this morning between getting a haircut and picking up DD from preschool.  SO glad I did it though, because I am 1000x more relaxed than I was yesterday.  Note to self:  Even when your day seems too full, it's important to make time for a little exercise .

Oh sparkle ~ sorry you're having a downer day.  I'm thinking of you.

mommajb ~ I feel the same about my behavior towards the kids.  I think DH must have told me 20x this weekend to stop yelling at them .  I'm not proud.

But I talked with my Mom last night and she totally made me smile.  She's been staying at her sister's house outside Boston while my Dad is recuperating from his surgery and she told me that they were up until 2:30am, each in one of the two twin beds in my cousin's old room, just laughing and talking.  She said it was just like when they were little girls on the farm.  Just thinking of my 71 year old Mom and her 69 year old sister laughing and chatting in the dark like young girls made me grin!  And my Dad is leaving the hospital tomorrow for rehab.  Yay!!!

Off to accomplish some more of my giant to-do list!

[kerc]

Originally Posted by JayGee 
 Just thinking of my 71 year old Mom and her 69 year old sister laughing and chatting in the dark like young girls made me grin!

And it made me smile here on a very cold, tired Monday.

[loftmama]

Okay, let me try this again...

Tutu, I also have high arches, but I wouldn't know to what degree.  But from what I understand, your feet are better supported with the least amount of "gear" around them.  The way I understand this is the arch is best supported if all the little bones have maximum space for flexing/tensing/adjusting.  (Imagine an arch in architecture and all the stones supporting it as bones.)  Any constriction of those bones (read: any restriction of information to your feet, i.e. shoes) can result in inappropriate arch support.  ???  That would then translate to problems elsewhere.  My first guess would be it's the shoe and not our style.  Is it a thick, well-cushioned shoe with stabilization, etc?  If so, that's where I'd look for the problem to originate.  If not, I dunno.  I would think a shoe like Vibram's Five Fingers would work well for your support and your particular running style, having been a dancer. Kwim?

JG, I also smiled at that image.  Very sweet.

warning: rant ahead.  So dh made a joint counseling appt.    In normal marriages (what's normal?) I suppose this would be a good thing.  But it is a sign of his intense, feverish, myopic determination to spend any amount of money, go to any length and inconvenience to do anything that will postpone making any change in his behavior.  Even when the counselors point this out.  Ironically, he will often "blow" money on counseling instead of just manning up and investing in the overhead of his family or in the management of his relationships.  And not just with me.  So I've canceled and moved all kinds of appointments, schedules, classes, etc.  (Oh, I wonder why he has *nothing* to cancel or rearrange. Huh?)  And we begin the same song and dance, take 364. What does that make me?  Ironically, I feel almost amused when I think about it.  I'll write in my journal.  We'll do the dance.  It always has the same outcome.  I will resist "told you sos" and pointing out the waste of money and oh, why-can't-you-go-by-yourself argument.  And he thinks b/c he went, we're good.  My goodness.  The lengths one will go to to avoid ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.  Ugh. Over and out.  Sorry for the leetle rant.  I'll be fine. 'Cuz I know how to laugh.  And where to buy a margarita.

Edited by loftmama - 12/6/10 at 12:33pm

[bec]

JayGee - That is my heart's desire for my girls!  If they can say something similar to that when they are in their 70's, I'll feel like I did my job right!

Busy day here.  The party was a bit weird (kids weren't participating.  Who does that?), but my girls had a good time despite some stinker guests, so that's fine.  We'll do it differently next year, I think. 

3 miles on my treadmill at home today.  It's getting easier to do 3, so I think that has to be a good sign!

Welcome tutu!  I don't know much about barefoot running, but some of the barefoot runners around here talked about a barefoot forum.  I'll bet you could get some answers there.  Does anyone else know what the URL is for that?

I have bickering 5 year olds around here!  Abby and the two little girls she spends a lot of time with are constantly at each other's throats!  It's making me crazy. 

[Mel38]

JG, you are so right (exercise=happiness, less stress). I have to keep re-discovering that.

Here's to the two sisters in their (almost) 70s having a slumber party!

Sparkle & also for eksmom. I'm thinking of you guys.

Mommajb, I don't know you in RL, but I am so sure that you are a great, fabulous mother. Really. And through all the madness and chaos, it's hard to keep any kind of perspective on that elusive *big picture*.

I had a ton of work this weekend, then company yesterday, so I was looking forward to getting a break today in order to get my office straight and start thinking about xmas presents. Especially the ones I have to send in the mail! But I got another job that's due tomorrow, so instead of all that other stuff, I will just make hay while the sun shines. I love that saying.

FM: swam a whole mile today. It felt good.

[Runningmommy]

Hi ladies, I'm here, trying to get caught up with Christmas to do lists.  Picked up extra hours to make up for time off for the holidays. 

RR: did a 20 minute interval work out today that had me gasping for breath and dripping with sweat;.  I think tomorrow my legs will let me know about it.  :)

RR: need to get bolt put  back into TM so that I can run tomorrow if it is as cold out tomorrow as it was today (9 degrees at time I woul dhave run). 

Also must get some more Christmas shopping done. 

[rootzdawta]

I'm tentatively joining you all . . . I feel like everyone already knows everyone so I'm a little intimidated!

I started running this year.  I do about 10 miles a week.  I'm surprised with how much I enjoy it especially since it was torture in college.  But in college, I ran on the track (around and around) and I realize I need to be outside going somewhere.  I missed my run this Sunday waiting on some appropriate cold-winter gear.  I had tried cobbling together some stuff that I thought would be warm and found myself 30 minutes from home just freezing and miserable so I didn't go out this past Sunday.  I run in the mornings too before my family gets up so it's usually 28-30 degree and lately there's been some stiff winds.  I really want to keep going throughout the winter but I'm nervous that I won't be able to.  Like a track, I don't think I could handle the treadmill (psychologically) so I know I'd have to brave the cold.  

Also, I think I may feel cold more acutely because I'm mildly anemic.  I know I need to start supplementing but . . . I don't know why I can't get with the program.  I hate taking vitamins!!

So any cold-weather running advice for the newbie would be awesome!  :)