It is Fall and change is everywhere ... the leaves, the sunlight, the temperatures, the ... you know all the Fall clichés...
At our home there have been lots of changes also, and I'm happy to say they have all been for the good!
Firstly, although probably not most importantly, I have started something (well for the third time) that I am almost embarassed to admit, however, I am slightly proud of also...
But I must start with a story...
Picture this...
I was about 12 weeks pregnant, living in Vancouver, all my by myself, Colin had already moved to Calgary for his training, it was a Sunday afternoon, or maybe Saturday, not sure... I was sitting on the couch, eating out of a pot, a whole package of Lipton Sidekicks... yes, I did eat the whole pot, 4 servings of pure sodium heaven... cravings were still at a high and instead of the normal recommended couple of pounds for the first trimester I had already packed on 13lbs, I was feeling pretty low, very gross and very sorry myself, oh did I mention constant nausea? It seems the only fix for that was chips and donuts...
Anyways, sitting on the couch, cuddling with Pearl, flipping through the channels, and I happened upon an info-mercial .... it was for a program called Insanity, from the makers of P90x, it was a 60 day program promising ripped results. I was mesmorized for about an hour, and probably another half bag of Hint O' Lime Nacho chips (another pregnancy favourite!!) and then I bit hard, I went online and ordered! I have never done anything like that in my life, and probably never will again, but about a week later it arrived in the mail. I was pumped to start, although I had to wait months and months.
(Here is the link... warning if you watch the video, you'll be tempted to buy in!!)
http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/insanity.do
Skip ahead many months and the birth of one son...
I was 3 weeks post partum, and beyond excited to get exercising to lose the disgusting amount of weight I had gained. I had heard all the advice from other moms, from my midwife, and from the endless drivel I read on the internet, but was throwing it all aside, because I knew better! I didn't need to wait 6 weeks to exercise, that was for the general population, not me! So one morning, I announced to Colin I was starting my Insanity program! Down to the basement I went, and emerged about 40min afterwards feeling good! I was jazzed after having done it, felt a little weak, and very sweaty, but jazzed! And it was definitely as hard as they had said it was, I had never done any kind of workout like it. It's pretty much 40 min of various forms of jumping and pushups,as fast as you can go.
Needless to say, in less than 5 hours I was prone on the couch and unable to walk for about a week, I came down with a flu and developed a mastitis in my boob from the effort I had exerted just 3 weeks after having a baby... what was I thinking!!!?
Well, I started the program again in August and got 2 weeks into it, until I threw my back, a combination of intense down ups and lifting an almost 30lbs baby all day. So now I am in my 3rd attempt, I really do like it, it is unlike anything I have ever done, it's fast and extremely intense, and you do see very fast results (no I am not paid by Beachbody to say this!!).
I am however taking a more middle of the line approach, I don't always do a workout everyday, and I am doing some running in between. Why you ask?
Because I am now officially a working mom!! So not a lot of time to workout, and I've been doing my workouts when Reed has gone to bed, so that's a big change, definitely more of an early riser rather than a night hawk, so keeping motivation up after dinner is hard.
I have been back at work for the past couple weeks, doing subsitute teaching, and it has been a lot easier to transition than I had anticipated. We have a wonderful dayhome, where Reed is getting more and more comfortable everyday. Although we only bring him there about 3x week, with Colin's schedule and helpful grandparents around, Reed has plenty of people to hang with when mommy is working. I am however doing many half days, so that has made the transition for my part much more tolerable. It's not easy to drive away when you leave your first born child crying in the arms of someone else... but I am told he cries for less than five minutes then is happy playing with the other kids.
So lots of changes, and all for the good.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Ironman Canada - A Spectator's Report
It's been a week since we were back from the beautiful Okanagan. Sine I moved out West, I have gone to that region at least once in the summer, I have lots of great memories, and don't think I ever want a summer to go by without a trip there.
We stayed with some friends, who have a 20mos old and a 4 week old (!!) in a beautiful house, a little farther than normal, on a vineyard in Naramata. It was a Colin's and I big treat vacation, we stayed for 10 days and I've realized once again that the only way I can actually relax is if I get away from my home ... otherwise I can't truly settled down, I'm always running around doing something, chores, cleaning, organizing, putting away, planning etc etc.
I was very nervous to go away, as we had just started mastering the bedtime, and naptime routines and I wasn't too keen on how the change was going to affect Reed's sleeping. (Another blog to follow on the Crib Chronicles... aka kicking Reed out of our bed!)
However, I'm not sure whether it was something in the air, the new stimulation of having other babies around... but he slept wonderfully! Another reason it was a true holiday, I got to sleep through the night and downtime like clockwork for naps! Awesome!
The lead up to this Ironman seemed different than ones in the past, Colin just seemed more focused and determined than ever to do it right. I truly am amazed by his consistent work ethic, he is a man who doesn't complain and just gets the work done, day in and day out.
He did more research and more 'consulting' and questioning with experienced friends, pros and coaches (he actually did hire famous coach Phil Skiba, after reading his two books, to look over his training plans), he was determined to finish the race running strong. And did he ever. I am so proud of him.
Race morning, our Colin Cheer Squad, woke up sleeping babes and trucked down to see the mass start (that will be missed when the Challenge takes over, nothing like thousands of athletes charging off the beach into the water all at once!). Here I tried to capture the swim, but I'm a little too short.
It is super awesome, the energy of Ironman. I love it. I've only done one, and I think I can safely say I prefer to watch than compete (although I did say to myself as I was watching the emotional finish, that I would try another one before I hit 40).
Colin came out of the water in 59.25, so we were relieved, so far so good, and now we had about 5hrs to kill before we would see him again. We all went back to the house, for naps and food.
Reed and I came back to town to see the pros come back into town, we had a picnic together (I admit that although I prefer giving Reed real food that I have prepared, he did eat a lot baby food from a jar that trip, just so much easier when you're traveling out and about).
Colin's bike split was 5:18, which is a bit on the slow side, but I knew he was playing it very safe, and his number one goal was to be able to run the marathon. He came off the bike in 77th and so he had lots of work to do on the run.
Those three hours waiting for him to come in are the most agonizing, you just have no idea how he is doing out there and I'm hoping and hoping and sending out good thoughts and wishes, and I did get an update text from a friend that he ran through the half way just over 1:30, that was a relief. But if the wheels were going to fall off typically it happens after the halfway mark...
Going out on the run...
At the finish line we watched the pros come in (it was pretty funny, that Gillian Clayton first female pro, who got all the finsh-line hype and the drama, didn't actually win the race... an age grouper won!) and it seemed like an eternity watching that last corner, looking for Colin to come round for the final 2k stretch out and back to the finish. Every athlete in a black tri suit got my nerves up, until he did make that corner. He had run himself into 35th place, awesome! He looked not really his self, we could tell he was suffering, and all focus and energy was put into keeping the legs going. Much to my disappointment he didn't even see Reed and I screaming and jumping for joy, just eyes on the prize for him, get across that line.
He finished 9:42. And he was so close to being in the 9:30s that it's no surprise he feels a little cheesed about biking so conservatively. But he did say that he did the best he possibly could have on the day (especially the run - he ran a 3:18 marathon!).
Next day, it was rolldown, he came 6th in his category, and there were 4 spots to Kona. Luckily, two people ahead of him didn't come out and claim their spots, so we're all going to Kona for 2 weeks in October! Colin's parents and mine as well! One more Ironman, then we'll take an Ironman break. Next year is all about shorter races and less training structure. I will do lots of xcountry running and a spring marathon, maybe a trail ultra...? I want desperately to get a treadmill, so I can run in the basement when Reed is in bed at night during the cold, dark winter.
I digress...
I want to celebrate my husband's success and wish him all the very best next month in Kona! I can't wait to see him race again... and I can't wait to enjoy Hawaiian beaches...!
We stayed with some friends, who have a 20mos old and a 4 week old (!!) in a beautiful house, a little farther than normal, on a vineyard in Naramata. It was a Colin's and I big treat vacation, we stayed for 10 days and I've realized once again that the only way I can actually relax is if I get away from my home ... otherwise I can't truly settled down, I'm always running around doing something, chores, cleaning, organizing, putting away, planning etc etc.
I was very nervous to go away, as we had just started mastering the bedtime, and naptime routines and I wasn't too keen on how the change was going to affect Reed's sleeping. (Another blog to follow on the Crib Chronicles... aka kicking Reed out of our bed!)
However, I'm not sure whether it was something in the air, the new stimulation of having other babies around... but he slept wonderfully! Another reason it was a true holiday, I got to sleep through the night and downtime like clockwork for naps! Awesome!
The lead up to this Ironman seemed different than ones in the past, Colin just seemed more focused and determined than ever to do it right. I truly am amazed by his consistent work ethic, he is a man who doesn't complain and just gets the work done, day in and day out.
He did more research and more 'consulting' and questioning with experienced friends, pros and coaches (he actually did hire famous coach Phil Skiba, after reading his two books, to look over his training plans), he was determined to finish the race running strong. And did he ever. I am so proud of him.
Race morning, our Colin Cheer Squad, woke up sleeping babes and trucked down to see the mass start (that will be missed when the Challenge takes over, nothing like thousands of athletes charging off the beach into the water all at once!). Here I tried to capture the swim, but I'm a little too short.
It is super awesome, the energy of Ironman. I love it. I've only done one, and I think I can safely say I prefer to watch than compete (although I did say to myself as I was watching the emotional finish, that I would try another one before I hit 40).
Colin came out of the water in 59.25, so we were relieved, so far so good, and now we had about 5hrs to kill before we would see him again. We all went back to the house, for naps and food.
Reed and I came back to town to see the pros come back into town, we had a picnic together (I admit that although I prefer giving Reed real food that I have prepared, he did eat a lot baby food from a jar that trip, just so much easier when you're traveling out and about).
Colin's bike split was 5:18, which is a bit on the slow side, but I knew he was playing it very safe, and his number one goal was to be able to run the marathon. He came off the bike in 77th and so he had lots of work to do on the run.
Those three hours waiting for him to come in are the most agonizing, you just have no idea how he is doing out there and I'm hoping and hoping and sending out good thoughts and wishes, and I did get an update text from a friend that he ran through the half way just over 1:30, that was a relief. But if the wheels were going to fall off typically it happens after the halfway mark...
Going out on the run...
At the finish line we watched the pros come in (it was pretty funny, that Gillian Clayton first female pro, who got all the finsh-line hype and the drama, didn't actually win the race... an age grouper won!) and it seemed like an eternity watching that last corner, looking for Colin to come round for the final 2k stretch out and back to the finish. Every athlete in a black tri suit got my nerves up, until he did make that corner. He had run himself into 35th place, awesome! He looked not really his self, we could tell he was suffering, and all focus and energy was put into keeping the legs going. Much to my disappointment he didn't even see Reed and I screaming and jumping for joy, just eyes on the prize for him, get across that line.
He finished 9:42. And he was so close to being in the 9:30s that it's no surprise he feels a little cheesed about biking so conservatively. But he did say that he did the best he possibly could have on the day (especially the run - he ran a 3:18 marathon!).
Next day, it was rolldown, he came 6th in his category, and there were 4 spots to Kona. Luckily, two people ahead of him didn't come out and claim their spots, so we're all going to Kona for 2 weeks in October! Colin's parents and mine as well! One more Ironman, then we'll take an Ironman break. Next year is all about shorter races and less training structure. I will do lots of xcountry running and a spring marathon, maybe a trail ultra...? I want desperately to get a treadmill, so I can run in the basement when Reed is in bed at night during the cold, dark winter.
I digress...
I want to celebrate my husband's success and wish him all the very best next month in Kona! I can't wait to see him race again... and I can't wait to enjoy Hawaiian beaches...!
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