7 Weeks and Step by Step

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Jen

Wells is 7 weeks old today!

My little ones snuggling in bed this morning!

I did 2 mini-workouts since my last post. Both were small steps in the right direction toward my goals. Oh, and look what I got on Monday!

My Oiselle Pro Kit! (Front of top, back of briefs).

I have 2 things to say about it. First – talk about motivation to get strong and speedy again (thanks Oiselle!) Second – I still have to remember getting in shape is a process and I need to take it day by day (or really step by step)!

When I was pregnant with my first child, I had big dreams about what I might do with my running, but because I was going to be a first time mom, I had NO CLUE what to expect out of running after giving birth. Would I ever race again? Even though I ran throughout the whole pregnancy, I wondered what childbirth would do to me. I wondered if I could be fast. Could I even be faster than ever? (It turns out I could be and birthing a child didn’t have negative effects on my running.) The process took awhile though. I didn’t do my first workout until 4 months after Currie was born.

When I was pregnant with Wells, I believe it was Laura, the mastermind behind Salty Running, who told me I’d bounce back quicker with the second. She was right. I feel like my body and running are bouncing back quicker (the running is mostly coming back quicker because I realize it can and I’m not scared to do some workouts this time around). But, let me be clear, I have a LONG way to go.

Workouts HURT. They are hard. This is always true, but especially after the trauma of childbirth. My times are nothing like usual. I thoroughly enjoy, and yet am humbled on every run. My mile time trial last week was exactly what I dreamed it would be and of course I was over the moon happy. BUT… there are moments when I allow myself to really think about it and I realize it was slower than every mile I run when I race a half marathon. Of course I don’t expect to be there right now, but I get a good reality check – I still have a long, long way to go.

I did a light progression run/tempo on Sunday. It was mixed in with my longest run yet, 7.5 miles. The goal was just to pick up the pace, faster than my every day runs, each mile a bit faster. I was hoping a few of those miles would be in the low 7:xx range. (I live and do all my running in Squirrel Hill, and if you don’t know the area, let me just say it’s super hilly. With no hills, I honestly probably would have wished for some high 6:xx in there.) Turns out, no mile was faster than 7:37. I complained a bit to my husband. He made some remark like “yeah, you’ve been running a whole 3 weeks after having a child, you should really be faster”. Obviously sarcastic, thanks for the reminder, Jeff!

I did some speed yesterday (Thursday) as well. It was the same workout I used as my first workout after having my first child. (6 x min hard/min easy) It was challenging. I have no idea what my pace was, as I wasn’t wearing a GPS watch, I just know it was enjoyable in a difficult-run-type-of-way.

Before every workout, I’m reminding myself to take my running step by step. After every workout, I think of things day by day. Sure, I have long-term plans and goals and I think about them, but my running is living in the moment. I push out every little old-self comparison thought. I will take things slowly, step by step, because that’s the smart way, and the only way I will get to where I want to be.

So, here are the 7 weeks pics! I will switch over to pics of my pro kit when I get the courage to show you all my bare belly! I’m not as brave as Lauren Fleshman… yet!

7 weeks! My pics are never “high quality”, but today they were taken by an especially wild 3 year old so they are both fuzzy and lopsided. :)

Question for you:

Do you get caught up in comparing your out of shape self to your in shape self?

The Games We Play

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Jen

I love being in my 30s, 31 to be exact. I feel like I’m old enough to be taken seriously, but young enough to not be taken TOO seriously. And I’ve said a million times, I feel like running keeps me young, makes me feel as strong, flexible and carefree as I felt when I was a teenager. I doubt I’d feel the same way if I wasn’t a runner.

Physically and mentally strongER. (Always room for improvement with both.) Headed down into an ice bath post long run. Wouldn’t have done this as a teen! Oh, hi random toes!

The older we get, the less childlike we often become. Lucky for me, it seems having a child keeps my childlike spirit. I think running does the same. I am able to play “games” every day because of my running. This week alone I’ve:

done running drills, and talked myself through them in silly ways. High skips (to my Lou), running backwards (this one just makes you feel like a kid!), karaoke (country line dancing), high knees (bet I can get my knees higher than my belly button!), butt kicks (butt butt butt butt butt butt butt), lunges (how low can you go, can you bring it to the floor?) – you can imagine the dialogue both in my head and out loud as I tried to go faster, higher, deeper.
played mind games, or “make believe”. I’ve pretended I’m in the last few miles of a race, how I would feel, and how I wanted to feel. If I do one more rep, maybe I can make race day a little more successful.
done some random speed-play, saying to myself, “ok, at the leaves I’ll sprint… and I’ll stop at the next mud puddle”.

I laugh a lot when I’m running. Whether I’m:

by myself and I do something crazy like get tangled in a tree while running in the dark

bruised and bloody legs after falling on dark run

Minutes after the tangled incident. Goosebumps from freezing temps still apparent. Sorry if this picture was shocking. Sent it to a family member who said at first glance it looks like a vagina?! I don’t see it, but ALRIGHTY!

or when I’m with running buddies and trying to pass the workout time with humor
or when I’m with my husband and repeat the same “hilarious joke” multiple times until he laughs too

I just like to laugh and be happy while running (hence the blog subtitle: Live Running, Laugh Running, Love Running.

So to keep from rambling any longer, I’ll just say keep running! Stay young! Don’t forget to HAVE FUN with it!

What kinds of games do you play with your running? Do you like to keep your running serious or more on the fun/playful side? I can definitely be a little of both, but I like to keep most of the week more fun/playful.

My Ramblings in a Quote and Oiselle in Runner’s World!

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Jen

A month or so ago, I posted about how running starts off hard for everyone but eventually becomes an addiction or necessity for many. I run every day (aside from sickness, important family stuff, injury) and love it. I’m happy with a 4 mile run and I’m happy with a 15 mile run. I just love getting in my daily run.

Today was hot and muggy when I started out at 11:15am (earliest I could go due to family stuff) so I planned on going just 3-4 miles easy. I went longer and added drills and strides at the end as I thought of all the friends I’ve made through running – it made me feel strong. Some of my best friends are my running friends (husband, siblings, and parents included).

When I got home from my run, I checked the mail and saw the September issue of Runner’s World. On page 31, I found the following quote:

“At first an ordeal and then an accomplishment, the daily run becomes a staple, like bread, or wine… or air. It is also a free pass to friendship.” -Benjamin Cheever, Author and Runner’s World contributor, in his memoir Strides.

Had to take a pic of the page from RW!

And just like that, a few of my mind’s ramblings fell into place by a single quote.

Other cool things from that RW issue: The Oiselle NYC Marathon Tote was featured on page 24!

The Tote in Runner's World!

The pic in the magazine is of Oiselle’s own lovely Sarah Mac but I had the honor to wear the bag in the fashion show at the Olympic Trials. Remember that?

NYC Marathon Tote during the Oiselle Fashion Show!

I also enjoyed reading about all of the Olympians, past and present that were featured, and especially liked seeing Frank Shorter since we met him recently. I’d say if you don’t subscribe to Runner’s World, this would be a good one to buy at your local store.

What do you think of the Oiselle NYC Marathon Tote? Do you read Runner’s World? (I actually don’t have a subscription, but my dad has subscribed since the early days and I view his sometimes.) Any weekend racing plans? I’m traveling back to Seattle and won’t be racing.

Running Highs and Lows

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Jen

Running is such an interesting sport. Most people hate it when they start. If they stick with it, they usually get addicted. In the first few months, or at least the first year, new runners will see improvements fairly quickly. Seasoned runners can go without a PR for what seems like ages and then have a breakthrough that invigorates them. And there’s almost always the burnout phase, where it’s hard to get motivated and it just isn’t fun.

I have a lot of friends who are in the burnout phase right now. In fact, I was in this phase for about 6 months and am just coming out of it. The burnout can come for many reasons such as:

The completion of a big race where you did great but have no new goals
The completion of a big race where you didn’t do well
A period of time where you don’t see improvements where everyone else seems to be tearing up the racing scene
Boredom with running partners/groups/solo running
Too much training
Too little training
Buildup of injuries

When you are in the middle of a burnout phase, it might seem like you will never get out. But you will. If you stick with it, you will climb out victorious! I went through a good 6-7 year burnout in my 20s and the thing that pulled me out was my own change in attitude. Everyone’s solution to getting back on track is different, but here are a few ideas:

find someone who believes in you. I find that when someone else believes in me, it can help me believe in myself
find another way to believe in yourself
try something new-work out at gym, weight lifting, take a class, try a dvd, trail, workout with partner/friend
find a group or start to workout solo
dial back intensity – just do it for fun without goals for awhile. I find running local races and concentrating more on the social aspect can get my mind back to where it needs to be.

Having fun with the Roadkill Racing crew before a winter racing series called Freezeroo during my "low phase" this past winter.

dial up intensity- a track workout might be just what you need!

I think burnouts are normal and show that we are training hard and setting goals. What do you think?

FitFluential Ambassador!

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Jen

I just received news that I’ve been accepted as a FitFluential Ambassador! To me, being FitFluential is sharing my passion for fitness and a healthy, happy lifestyle with others. I’m excited to join this group of “fitness enthusiasts” since fitness has always been “my thing”. I respect the emphasis FitFluential places on finding a balance between EAT, SLEEP, MOVE, ENJOY. I definitely fall out of balance, most recently in the sleep area, but I strive to live a balanced life in these four areas. The Ambassador title is a new thing, but nothing has changed about me. I’ve always wanted to share my passion for fitness (and life!) with others.

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been excited about fitness! I would put my family through workout routines, do aerobics videos with other tweens in my class, read Fitness magazine cover to cover, and dream of being one of those tv fitness instructors! (I loved Kiana’s Flex Appeal, Co-ed Training, and BodyShaping!) I was an Exercise Physiology major in college, ran on the cross country and track teams (Ohio State, Go Bucks!), and spent a lot of my free time working out in the gym with others. A great experience to round out my senior year at OSU was when I won a pushup contest at the Arnold Fitness Expo where I got to meet Sylvester Stallone in 2004!

Meet Schedule 2002, a year which I happened to be injured and did a lot of cross training and not much racing!

A bit blurry, as this is an iPhone picture of a framed picture.

I’m overly optimistic and believe a smile and kind words can change the world. I hope to bring joy to others’ lives every day and I hope I inspire you to reach your fitness goals!

Did you have a favorite fitness tv show in the 90s? Currently? Are you interested in becoming a FitFluential Ambassador?

My Olympic Experience

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Jen

This is the first Guest Post on my blog, by none other than my Dad, Doug Ordway!

I started running in the late 60’s and have kept with it with only brief periods of downtime ever since. Some of my early heroes were Jim Ryun, Buddy Edelen, Bob Schul, Steve Prefontaine, Dave Wottle, Frank Shorter, and Boston Billy Rogers. Shorter winning the Olympic gold in 1972 and Pre failing in the 5000 are images I will never forget. While successful at the local level it was clear to me that I would not be an Olympic caliber athlete myself.

My Olympic “opportunity” occurred in the winter of 1983. The summer Olympics were coming to L.A. California and a nationwide torch relay team would carry the flame which would light the Olympic flame the following summer. Garnering a spot on the torch relay team was easy for some, just fork out the $2,000 required to carry the torch for 1 kilometer on the streets of Toledo, Ohio. For me as a father of 2 working in the feast or famine auto industry of the time, I spent much of 1983 unemployed as the auto industry was suffering huge layoffs. The 2 grand price tag was out of my price range.

Luckily for me, Larchmont Apartment Complex, of Toledo, had purchased a spot on the torch relay team and decided to hold a 5k event in which the overall winner would carry the torch in the relay for them. Very cool I thought!! My summer races were going exceptionally well as I was averaging about 15:45 for 5k and had not run any races slower than 16:00 flat. My peers in Toledo were having equally good seasons and there were 4 or 5 of us capable of winning local 5k’s on any given Saturday.

About a month before the Larchmont 5k was set to go off sometime in November of 1983 I was out doing a track session of 12 x 400 meters when I developed a deep right thigh pain which felt like a stress fracture. I was forced to cut my mileage by 50% usually running only every other or every third day depending on the level of pain. I was able to continue on with regular speed work as long as I rested well between work outs. Certainly this was not the lead up to this big race that I had expected or wanted.

The morning of the Larchmont 5k was cold, about 29 degrees and breezy. My warm up went well and I was pain free after having taken 2 days of complete rest in anticipation of the event. The gun went off and the lead group of 4 of us jockied for position the 1^st mile, which we passed in 5:00. Shortly afterward I got a second wind and surged to the front of the pack. I did not realize until about 30 seconds into the surge that no one else went with me to cover the move. It seems that the other contenders had relaxed a bit in their winter training and were already over extended. I ran scared the rest of the race, looking over my shoulder for over takers, and worrying about whether my thigh could handle the stress of the race. Fortunately, the competition never closed the gap and my thigh remained pain free as I finished 1^st in 15:08, nearly a 30 second P.R. . I had won the right to carry the Olympic torch in the spring of 1984. For me, this was my Olympic 5k.

The morning of the torch relay my family accompanied me to my kilometer of road in Toledo. My wife, 2 children, my in-laws, and my parents were there to witness the event, hold the torch, take pictures, meet my sponsor, and share in my joy. I had a cool white racing singlet and matching shorts, tube socks with the Olympic logo, all of which I was allowed to keep. I handed off to a young lady whose dad had purchased 2 kilometers of road for her to carry the torch through. My one kilometer was ample as I was numbed by the experience and totally out of breath as I finished it. That day is also one that is forever etched in my memory.

Here I am holding the torch and wearing my sweet singlet

View of the entire "uniform" and sharing the torch holding with my beautiful wife

My parents holding the torch

My mother-in-law holding the torch

Doug Ordway has been a Local Elite since the 1960s and has inspired countless individuals with his dedication to running, working and helping his wife raise a family of 4 children. His most recent accomplishments include a 2:58 marathon at Houston 2012, placing top masters runner at numerous local events and being selected to run as an elite masters runner at the Twin Cities Marathon for the USA Track & Field 2012 USA Masters Marathon Championship. Here is a picture of him taking my older brother and me out for our first race around 1984.

Looking good kids, looking good

Make Things Happen

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Jen

I came across a quote from someone on my Twitter feed yesterday, that said something to the effect of “if someone wants an excuse they will find one.” Though I heard it before, it really stuck with me through the night and into this morning. This morning, just like last week, I woke up before 6am to get my workout done before my daughter woke up. My foot was bothering me because my navicular bone was rotated. I was tired. I was very unmotivated. I didn’t even have enough motivation to make coffee, so I didn’t. I went out for my run anyway.

When I arrived at the track, the college groundskeeper was standing in the infield. I really don’t like an audience when I’m running so I thought about scrapping the workout. I thought, “there’s an excuse”. I did my first set of track work. The groundskeeper moved up to the bleachers at that point and was just sitting there watching me. A little creepy, but not threatening. I thought I should quit. Again I thought, “there’s another excuse”. Though I had no pain when I was running, standing between sets made my foot feel a little pinched. I thought about stopping. Again, “just an excuse”. The sun came out and it started feeling hot. I had finished most of the workout. One more set wouldn’t make or break me, right? “Hello, excuse!”

I finished the workout happily and dry heaving, something I haven’t experienced from a workout in a long time. I looked at my splits and they were better than goal pace. In my training shoes. In a workout that I almost stopped countless times.

You can have excuses or you can make things happen. Today, I made things happen.

I'm training hard so this pace will feel easy again!

How do you squash your excuses? How do you pump yourself up for a workout when you just aren’t feeling it? Isn’t Twitter awesome for workout motivation?

My RunLove Post

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Jen

The reasons I run are endless. Oiselle asked Twitter followers to show or tell why we run. Here’s my #runlove list, in no particular order!

I run…

to prove to myself I can
to show my daughter women are strong, capable, competitive
for happiness – running is my drug
to fuel a healthy lifestyle
to see the world. Jeff and I always run together on vacations and we see so much more than we would if we weren’t runners.
to bond with family
to beat myself up
to make sense of the world
to vent
to see the sunrise/set
for friendship, to meet new people
to get lost in a moment
to appreciate the little things
because it heals every heartache/problem I’ve experienced
because you don’t need anything to run other than yourself. Though there are lots of fancy gadgets in the running stores, but all you really need is yourself (just ask my husband, winner of the Bare Buns Run, Seattle area, in 2002.
you get out what you put in

Family bonding! Husband, Dad, 2 brothers, and me headed for a run around the holidays.

I want to hear why YOU run!!

Time to Get Serious

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Jen

2011 was an awesome year of racing for me. I believe I ran 17 races (including 2 marathons and 2 half marathons), and won 12 of them. I got PRs in almost every distance and I never felt a sign of burnout or injury. I had the negative Cleveland Marathon experience, but I immediately began training for the Columbus Marathon and was able to push it out of my mind for awhile. My fitness kept improving and I was able to get my 5k PR of 16:40 at the USATF Niagara 5k Championships in Bergen, NY.

Racing to a PR in Bergen

A few months later I had another disappointing marathon experience in Columbus and that’s where my running took a negative turn. I have not been able to get my mojo back. I haven’t lost my love for running, but I definitely lost my love for fast workouts. The workouts that once got me excited and kept my running interesting filled me with dread and negative thoughts.

I decided it was time to take a few months of easy running, no workouts unless I got the urge, and just occasional races to ride out my previous year’s fitness as long as possible. A few months turned into 6 months, and I found myself feeling like 2011 happened a lifetime ago. My current trip to Ohio has come with some soul searching and I feel that it’s finally time to stop feeling sorry for myself and my situation and time to get tough again.

Last night I went out to feel like my old self again. I went to my high school track (though it is in a different location than when I lived here) and set out to do 5 sets of 5×200. I ran the 2 miles there with my flats in hand, at 7pm when it was still near 80 degrees just to find there was a football scrimmage going on and I couldn’t get on the track. I was really disappointed, ran back to my parents’ house and dropped off my flats, then finished my “10k a day“. I decided right then I was going to get up at 5am this morning and get after my workout at 6am.

When my dad woke me up at 5:40am I was feeling full from last night’s indulgences, exhausted from a sleepless toddler, and unmotivated for a track workout. However, I forced down a peanut butter sandwich and a half cup of coffee plus a large water and was out the door by 6am. On my warmup I was sluggish and groggy but I kept a positive attitude. I witnessed a beautiful sunrise and made it to the track before a single car arrived at the school. It was 50 degrees, clear skies, and little wind. I nailed that workout like I’d never stopped. The whole process brought tears to my eyes. I truly got a little weepy on my last 200, knowing I’d completed an entire workout, faster than expected, and felt good the whole time.

Matchy-matchy at its finest! Oiselle apparel + New Balance shoes!

I came home to a supportive dad who didn’t complain even though my late return (7:15am) made him a little late for work, a sleeping daughter and mom, and a feeling that anything might be possible.

10K a Day

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Jen

Here comes another post inspired by my dad! We were talking about how to approach our current training. My easy runs are always 30-40 mins, 4-5 miles. With marathon training, this increased, but I’m not in a training cycle so I have been ~~slacking a little~~ more laid back in the mileage department.

Heading out for a run I asked my dad how far he wanted to go. He said “let’s make it at least a 10k. I like to do at least 10k a day.” I didn’t realize he made this “daily goal” but it got me thinking about my own training and how I’ve definitely been dropping my mileage. I think having a daily goal is a great idea. The goal would be different for everyone, depending on their goal race or general fitness goals. It could even be a mile a day. I find when I don’t have a goal distance (or amount of time) to run per day, it’s so much easier to tell myself “one more easy 4 miler and tomorrow I’ll go longer”. With the 10k a day goal, my mind is made up and the shorter run isn’t even an option.

I’m following dad with a goal of 10k a day. Will you join me in making a goal?

Me and Dad before Glass City Half Marathon 2011, photo courtesy of Larry Herrett.

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