And then there were three.

One year ago today, I went for a 15 mile run near Stockbridge, Massachusetts. My parents had rented a house for our family Thanksgiving and I went up a few days early to help get the (Butter)ball rolling. It was a great place to run- a logging road turned trail which crossed the Appalachian Trail and continued down the mountain as a windy neighborhood street. I was training for the Disney Marathon as a last hurrah before I got pregnant (at least that was the plan). As I headed out for the run, I stopped for a last quick bathroom break before I left the house, waiting not so patiently for a period that never came. I remember that bathroom break in vivid detail, as it was the very first time I thought, "Could I be pregnant?" Over next two and a half hours on the trail (oh, and the days, weeks and months afterwards) I couldn't think of much else. If you have been reading this blog, then you know the end of this story already.

I took a test the next day and it was...negative. I hadn't mentioned it to Rick because I thought I was getting too far ahead of myself. So, I got in the shower and started getting ready for work. I hadn't thrown the stick in the garbage yet, but as I was about to...WAIT. WHAT IS THAT? A pink, um, line? A PINK LINE? Faint? Wait, what does a FAINT pink line mean??? I run into the bedroom where Rick is SOUND ASLEEP, well he WAS sound asleep right up until I woke him with a pee covered piece of plastic and a mostly invisible pink line, which I shoved very close to his eyes. Sound asleep and with no contacts on, in a dark bedroom - no the faint line did not convince him of much. In fact, as I feared, he thought I was crazy and rolled back over for more sleep.

I tried to concentrate at work and was too scared to google FAINT PINK LINE thinking that the IT department had some alarms in place that alert HR of searches on Important Life Things. I waited until Wednesday (Thanksgiving Eve) before I took another test. Sure enough. BAM. Postively pink.

And just like that my life would never be the same.

Just do it.

The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation.

JUST DO IT.
Exercise, lose weight, test your blood sugar, or whatever. Do it without motivation.And then, guess what? After you start doing the thing, that's when the motivation comes & makes it easy for you to keep on doing it.
~John C. Maxwell

Because it isn't usually the miles that are hard. It's the showing up. Getting out of bed. Getting into the pool. Pumping the tires on the bike. Really, folks - these are the hardest parts of Ironman training. Throw in having to peel myself away from the freaking cutest little munchkin and well...I need to heed Nike's advice and just DO it.

Actually this week was was off to a great start. Our Tuesday night run was 600's on the Reservoir path. I started the workout with a growling stomach (I *cannot* figure out the nutrition needs of training + nursing at ALL!) but somehow managed to bang out what felt like strong, steady efforts. (I'm still not timing anything, just going on feel.) I didn't stick around for the strength work after because I was about to fall over. I drank the whole Gatorade standing on the drink aisle of the drug store before I could make it to the register to pay. Trashy, right?

We're still focusing mainly on technique and pacing in the pool but by some stroke of fate, I wound up swimming in the FAST lane with the DUDES and managed not to get plowed over. It was such a victory. (Though, I'm pretty sure some NYC triathlete dude went home and blogged about the fat, slow girl clogging up the pool.)

My time trial ride turned into a trainer session (I forgot how much I hate trainer sessions) but hey, I did it so that counts for something in my book.

My weekend did not start off as I had planned - a little low key dinner with friends turned into a 2am rager (damn that wine club) and this morning's brick became an 11 am wake-up and a 1:00 nap. Yes, you read that right. I have a 15 week old and I got to sleep until 11am. Breakfast for Riley at 7 and then back to sleep. I love that kid. He's got his priorities straight.

So, internet. I have a date with 9W tomorrow morning.

Maybe I'll punish myself with some River Road running. Did I say punish? I meant REWARD. Reward myself with running, because I can.

JUST DO IT.

Thanks, Nike.

Training Habits

I promised to make blogging one of my training habits. Unfortunately it's one that's easily broken. I'm turning over a new leaf and will add the 4th leg of my IM training back in ASAP. In the meantime, today is Month 3 and so it means another Letter from Mama. Stay tuned in the coming days as I get myself back on track - well, blogwise at least!

Letter from Mama - Month Three

Riley - Our little man,

Happy Three Months! Really, these three months have been happier than I ever imagined and each day just gets better. Our little house now sparkles with your sweet laughter and your little voice chattering away. You’ve grown so much (tipping the scales at a whopping 15 or so pounds now; 13 at your last doctor’s visit.) Your first series of shots traumatized me so much more than you, as did your first fever. Yeeek. These days you are great at grabbing things with both hands, love to sit up like a big boy (with some help of course) and think watching people eat is super interesting. You laughed your head off watching us eat popcorn. We’re glad you are so easily entertained!

You’ve had so much going on this month it requires listing -


• Adding more states to the ongoing list - North Carolina, Rhode Island, Connecticut & Massachusetts
• Your first subway ride and some apartment hunting.
• On the family front - Visiting with Auntie Phyllis was fun. She’s your Great, Great Aunt. (She really is great!) Of course this also means you played your first game of Skip-Bo and got to visit the Old Candy Store and Mary’s Little Schoolhouse. (You know Mary of the Little Lamb fame!?)Cousins Gretchen & Siri were so happy to meet you. (And see you have your first meltdown in a restaurant!) Uncle Morgan took a turn at babysitting. To you he’ll always be so old, but leaving my baby brother home with you, my baby, sure was strange! GranBarb came to visit for your first NYC marathon (Dad rocked at 4:02) and Aunt Kim and Cousin Deanna came to visit too!
• Mom had her first night away from home since you were born (I couldn’t sleep!) and you got to hang out with Dad for a fun boy’s weekend. I sure did miss you but had loads of fun at triathlon camp in the mountains. I can’t wait to share the adventure someday!
• You experienced your first Wake Forest football heartbreak, saw the Deke house and met a load of fun folks in Winston-Salem. Cheering on Mom’s Seminoles was fun, but hanging out with Dad’s college friends was even better. What did you think of your first tailgate?
• You were the cutest traveling gnome for Halloween, even though you only got to parade around the house and you’ll have to wait another year before you get any candy!
• As we predicted in April, you were the lucky charm NY needed because THE YANKEES WON THE WORLD SERIES! Dad was at the final game, but I wouldn’t have traded my seat for the world….we watched Game 6 curled up together on the couch.

So, little bug every day your cheeks get a little more chunky and your words get a little more clear. Soon tiny teeth will pop through and change your baby face forever. For now, we are savoring every drooly minute. You are the cutest little munchkin and we love you to pieces. If I could slow down time, I sure would. You are growing so quickly. Keep up the good work!

Love,
Mama