Pre Run LIQUID Meal?

I have a bit of a sensitive stomach when it comes to running. Despite an entire season (and then some) of training for the Marathon I never quite figured out what to do about fuel pre run. I ended up going with a small amt of oatmeal or 1/2 an english muffin, trying to keep my consumption to a minimum. Now I am back at the same game again, but hoping to make it right this time. Since the longest run I have to do is 11 miles, I'm not as panicky about it as I was facing 18's and 20's ... but yet it still seems like something I need to figure out.

Almost all of the blogs I read talk about what they eat pre-run / pre-race, but I am thinking maybe I need to move to something liquid? I have tried oatmeal, toast, english muffins, bananas ... and just not eating at all. What are the options out there for pre-run liquid nutrition? I saw a few things that suggested making a shake - but they mention yogurt or milk powder. I'm thinking dairy is a no-no for anyone pre-run, but maybe some people with iron-clad stomachs can handle it.

Anyone out there know of a pre run liquid meal? (Since we know beer is only good post run)

5AM Run = FAIL

I didnt run this AM, but I swear ... it wasnt my fault! Last night I got all of my gear together and put it into the bathroom. I was mentally prepared to get up and run at 5. When I got into bed I told my husband that I was going to get up early and run - and he reminded me that he had to get to work even earlier than normal. Instead of leaving at 6, he had to be there at 6. There is no way I'm getting up earlier than 5 to run, so that put the kibosh on my plan real quick.

Instead, I planned to run in the evening. Though it is the worst time for me to run, I honestly just didnt have another option. So after a long (busy) day, Brooke's dinnertime, Brooke's bathtime, and subsequent crazy time, I went out for my prescribed "40 Minute EZ Run"

Running Log
Time:40:30   Distance:3.58 mi   Pace:11:18

My time, distance and pace are more of a guesstimate than actual data. RunKeeper lost a signal or something, right towards the end of my run. Because of that I didnt have a complete route and my end time wasnt captured. So I tried to generically remember what my screen said when I stopped the run.

As for the run, it was again extraordinarily challenging. I was so tired that I could feel the weight of my feet as I tried to drag them along the sidewalk in a forward-like motion. It was a slow (and quite grueling) run that I found rather unenjoyable. Again, I can confirm that the later in the day I run ... the worse it is. I am just out of energy after a day with Brooke, and to top it off my poor eating habits do not provide me with the proper nutrition for running. I found myself frustrated with the fact that I was doing 5-milers at 10:30's and 3-milers at 10:00 just a few weeks ago, but lost (what little) I had built to end up back at this point.

I guess it just makes the Winter Warrior program more important. Having long runs on the weekends should keep me more motivated during the week and I'm sure I'll be back to my old self in no time. For now, I'm actually looking forward to the 5AM run. There is no way it could be as bad as the 7PM run. Or could it?

Running In The AM: Maybe, Maybe Not

So I'm supposed to put a run in tomorrow. It's actually a really hectic day, but I figured I need to try this 5AM thing to see if I can survive it. So I checked the forecast and it looks like there is a really good chance it will be raining tomorrow morning. Raining and 39 degrees, supposedly "feels like" 33 degrees.

So I will put out all of my running stuff tonight and set the alarm for 5AM, but I am not promising anything ;)

My Instinct Was Right

Brooke was up at 6AM today, just as I feared. Compared to last Friday (for example) she had about 2 hour less of sleep last night than she has been getting recently. That made for a pretty unhappy day, and I wasnt even with her for most of it. I did manage to get my run in while the sitter was here and Brooke was sleeping for 1/2 of that time anyway, so I only feel guilty about the not-getting-work-done part, not the paying-a-babysitter-to-run part :)

As for the run, it was as you would expect a run to be after a month-long hiatus from running. Hard. According to my new training schedule I was supposed to do a 40 minute easy run today. I ran for 40 minutes, but it wasnt easy. In fact, it was one of the longest 40 minute periods of my life ;)

Running Log
Time:40:57   Distance:3.64 mi   Pace:11:16

Pacing seems to be pretty normal for me, but that was my average pace. My individual mile splits were all over the place: 11:54, 10:36 and 11:21 (11:08 pacing for mile 4). The funny thing is, I thought that I went out pretty fast. Ha. 12 minute miles are not so fast ... even for someone who just came off a one month hiatus. Mile 3 and Mile 4 were actually faster than that due to some built-in waiting at lights. Since I was pooped and really needed the rest anyway, I didnt stop my timer - something I actually do when I get caught up by a light when I know I'm feeling good ;)

Good thing I get a pacer for the long runs with this training program. Looks like I need it right about now!

Winter Warrior Panic Attack

We had our kickoff meeting today and I was left with an uneasy feeling
in the put of my stomach. I figured I had a few weeks to get back in
the swing of things, figure out how this is going to work in my
schedule, and get my mileage up. I kind of assumed (dumb me) that we
would start off with a 3-miler.

Nope. 5 on saturday and 6 the weekend after.

I'm supposed to do a 40 minute run tomorrow but don't think I can try
the 5am run yet. Not just because I'm a wuss, but more so due to the
daylight savings change. Brooke woke up early today because it's now
light an hour earlier. I'm hoping I can get her back in schedule
tomorrow morning, but in the chance she wakes up early I can't exactly be out for a run when she does so.

I have TONS of schoolwork to do tomorrow and am now debating whether or not to use an hour of babysitter time to run :(. Or do I try to squeeze it in at night, between in the middle of the dinners and bedtimes and whatever else the evening brings?

Ah, I truly did think I had a couple of weeks till I had to worry ...

Early Riser Class Not Good For Babies Who Sleep In

So the 8am early risers class wasn't a great idea. It's week 3 (of 6)
and we were late the 1st 2 classes. It's 756 and this is a picture of
my video monitor ... Brooke is still passed out.

Be A Rebel, Don't Check Your Halloween Candy!

I remember my mom checking all of our candy when we were younger. Wrappers that looked suspicious (along with the candy inside) were tossed. Anything in a twisted wrapper was removed, because it would be too easy for an evil-doer to unwrap it, poison it, and put the wrapper right back on. (Goodbye dumdums! You aren't that great anyway!)

I was thinking about the "dangers of Halloween" recently, now that I am a parent myself. Brooke is still too little to trick-or-treat, but next year she will be out there cruising for candy. Then I got an email from one of the parenting sites that I am a member of, that essentially destroys all of Halloween perceptions I had. Most notably?

The number of children poisoned from doctored Halloween candy given by a stranger?

Zero

Yeah, its all an Urban Legend. I think it was just an excuse for our parents to eat our candy. "Oh, that Butterfinger wrapper looks like its been tampered with. Give that to Mommy".

Surfing around I did find some interesing information about parents who tried to make kids deaths look like the result of doctored candy, assuming that it was a widespread occurance and that they could easily just throw another case into the mix. Check out the snopes.com investigation into Halloween candy for a fun read ;)

After reading this post my mom reminded me that one year we took our candy to the local hospital to have it x-rayed for razor blades. And that, my friends, is evidence of the power of the Urban Legend.