Oktoberfest Meiler Vier Recap

Race: Oktoberfest Meiler Vier
Distance:  4 miles  
Date:  Sept. 23, 2011, 6:15pm start time
Finish time:  1:01:21, 15:21 min/mile
What sets this race apart:  Oktoberfest festivities post race


It rained most of the morning leading up to this race, which brought about nearly perfect race weather.  It was cool, but not cold.   Surprisingly, the humidity wasn't bad either.


The race itself was a two mile loop through the parking lot and fairgrounds of the Ohio Expo Center during Columbus Oktoberfest.  The fact that the race started and ended by the Schmidt's food tents was the best part of the race!!!!  A couple of my racing friends dressed up for the event - which made it infinitely more enjoyable - if I do this race again, I must dress appropriately!

The gang!

The course itself could win the "ugliest course I've ever run" award though.  It was essentially a bunch of loops and whirls (where you could see the other part of the course just a few yards away) through parking lots, marked off with orange construction cones.  The "best" part (sarcasm should be noted) was running near the overpass where the cows for the festival were stalled....and all the wonderful smells that come with stalling cows.   It was nice that for the entire course, all running was on pavement, but in several areas there were some dangerous holes and angles in that pavement.  There was one water station near the start/finish line - which was also the midpoint line.


It was cool to run through the section in the fair between the food tents though - and the smells there certainly inspired speed!  Another cool aspect of this race was that it was chip-timed and M3S sports had it set up that your split and final times could automatically post to your Facebook page (if you set it up to do so).  I did, and got my results immediately. Nice!


One downside/humorous aspect to the parking lot course.  At one point in the first 2 mile loop - a truck was driving through the course.  I saw a course official sprinting after him yelling "Get that truck off my course!".   He was FAST!  (the race official, not the truck).  In general, the volunteers and others were quick to instruct anyone attempting to drive in the course area to get away from the course.  


My goal for this race was not to PR, and not even to run my normal speed.  My goal was to take it slow and allow my body to run for a longer period of time.  A secondary goal was not to be lapped by Mark.  I also, secretly, wanted to finish in less than 1:15.  Success on all accounts.  I purposely started with the 14 min pacers (Hi Laurie!!!).  Unfortunately, it was an uncomfortable pace for me.  I'm not good enough to walk at their walk speed...and it's a weird stride physically for me to run at.  So, my friend Deb and I sped up a bit, and did most of the first mile at a 13:20 min pace.  I was able to keep running with her until 1.3 miles, when I walked for a bit to keep my calves in control.  I was then able to run/walk most of mile 2.  I walked quite a bit in mile 3 - again as a preventative.  I then ran the last 0.5 miles.  Bottom line:  I ran more than I walked for the 4 miles - and was NOT in pain afterwards.  By far, the best "run" post-birth.  YAY!


Splits: Mile 1: 13:14, mile 2: 15:25, mile 3: 17:20, mile 4: 14:43


I ran across the finish line - to the cheers of my awesome running friends who waited for me to finish - and see Mark holding a giant beer.  LOL.  (Thank you LeDawn, who brought me a bottle of water instead!)  

Me and Mark post-race.  Mark with his beer, me with my water. 

Yes, the best part of this race was it's location....and the company.   We celebrated post-race with brats and cream-puffs...and many of the others also had beer.  

Post-race rewards.  I'm so good...I can float the beer I didn't drink...while holding my cream puff and brat!

Product Review: Fischer-Price Newborn Rock n' Play Sleeper

Product:  Fischer-Price Newborn Rock n'Play Sleepr
Uses:  Baby naps, bedtime, and somewhere for the baby to stay when mom needs a shower.
Cost:  $50-80 depending on where you go


Something I learned that no one told me before I had the baby.  Many babies do not like to lay flat on their backs.  And yet, current dogma on SIDS is that babies are supposed to sleep on their back.  


For the first week, Avery did not spit up and was willing to sleep in a bassinet in our bedroom.  After the first week, she started spitting up and absolutely WOULD NOT sleep in the bassinet.  She'd be sound asleep and when placed in the bassinet would wake up screaming.  The only place we could get her to stay asleep, the swing.

Mark and Cassie - asking Avery why she won't sleep in her bassinet

We told our friends about our miserable practice of having the baby sleep in the swing while one of us tried to sleep on the couch next to the swing.  (I have a two story house and did not relish carrying the swing up and down the stairs).  Over and over I heard "We had to do that too."  Why did no one tell me this pre-baby???  LOL


Turns out, according to our pediatrician, many newborns have a problem with acid reflux until they get a little older.  Their lower esophageal sphincter just isn't strong enough to stay closed and prevent food/milk from flowing backwards from the stomach into the esophagus. No fun for baby!   Anything less than a 45 degree angle exacerbates the problem.  


Enter the Fischer-Price Newborn Rock n'Play Sleeper.   I had a coupon for a Fischer-price baby item...and was even considering a second swing for the bedroom.  (I was desperate here - I'd already spent the third trimester sleeping on the couch!).  As I was browsing the bouncy/etc. aisle at BabiesRUs, I saw this little rocker/sleeper.  Hmm.  It is at an angle, has deep sides so it will give her the cushy I'm being held impression....with my coupon, about $45.  SOLD!  


The first night I put this together was the first night since week one that Avery was able to sleep in our bedroom...and I got to sleep in a bed again!  (for a couple hours in between feedings).   


Mark threw away the box the next day - We generally save the boxes until we know we're keeping something.  He obviously considered this a keeper!


Other great features???  It folds flat and is fairly lightweight.  Thus, it is easily transportable.  In fact, it is so lightweight (yet sturdy) that my cat Ginger rocked the baby by rubbing on it.  (It is a rocker, with rocker feet, so it's mean to do that).  I am able to slide it around the bedroom with ease, even with the baby in it.  It also has a little pocket - that I just discovered - that you can store small things in. 

Ginger - "I don't know what this lady is whining about, taking care of a baby is easy!"

Baby can use this product from birth up to 25 lbs.  It has a safety belt to strap them in as well.  We actually may bring this with us when we travel to Texas for the holidays.


The only potential negative - everything is manual.  What I mean is - there are no batteries and no motor.  Rocking it requires someone to physically rock it.  (But, the swings, etc. with motors generally cost about $100 more than this did, so it's a trade-off).


Bottom-line:  I should have bought this sooner!

Ginger - "No worries, I'm watching her."

Editor's Note:  After writing this review, but before posting it, I spoke with another mom who had a baby who'd had bad reflux issues.  She was talking about this amazing rocker that helped out - turned out - She was talking about the same rocker.

Step Up Dreams

Today during my workout with Adam - we started in with a series of step-up exercises.  Although we've done a set or two of "easy" step-ups since I gave birth...he hasn't pushed me too hard...until today.   He decided that he would start pushing me harder today - although still not too many split-movements until the doctor clears those on Tuesday.

This is the step we used...

O.M.G.  Step-ups are hard.  Especially when you've taken it really easy on your legs for a couple months....and are heavier than you should be.  All I kept thinking during the second set of straight on, knee raises step-up was.....before July, I will need to be doing about twenty hundred of these at a time...not twenty.  


Toward the end of the workout - when I was running through the exercises a second time, I think Adam must have seen the frustration I've been feeling.   He gave me a mini-pep talk about not letting myself get frustrated.  He told me "fitness is supposed to be hard! There is a reason why so many people don't stay in shape - it's not easy."  The usual, just keep pushing and it'll get easier stuff.  And then he said - "Just don't do one thing.  Don't quit."  


Pfft.  I don't know how to quit.  Besides, I've already paid money for the half marathon in April and my Dad was nice enough to pay my climb deposit for July.  There is NO QUITTING in my vocabulary.  :D  I admit though - my 6 week postpartum brain made me tear up a bit when he said all this.  I wouldn't look at him.  LOL.  


Now the funny part - Avery took a nap this afternoon - and I decided I'd better nap with her so that if she didn't sleep tonight, I was better rested.  I dreamed about doing step-ups..with Avery strapped into the Bjorn.  HAHAHA!   It made the knee raise part rather difficult!  

You're going to do WHAT with me in here?

After our nap, and Avery's meal, we walked over to Fleet Feet (with her in the Bjorn) and picked up Oktoberfest race packets.  

It may not look like much - but the purple slip is a beer, the blue slip a brat, and the pink slip...

The most exciting thing in the packet?  The pink slip in the picture is good for one Schmidt's cream puff.  YAY!   I will finish this race, however slow I have to go, so that I can justify this yummy goodness.

Mmmmm....cream puff.

A cream puff almost as big as Avery????  I cannot believe I have lived in Columbus for 6 years and never had one of these...what was I thinking???


As a random side note - We also stopped at a store so that I could buy a sock liner to add to my climbing gear - I promise a post with funny photos of me wearing some of the new gear will come soon!


Would you run for a cream puff?
What is your favorite/least favorite step up exercise?

Not Perfect

My last couple of runs have been exercises in futility.  Okay, maybe not that bad - but I just like that phrase "exercises in futility."  To be honest, I hesitate to call these runs...runs.  I actually have walked more than I've run on both instances.   Why?   I am out of shape and cannot get properly hydrated.  My calves tend to get fairly tight on these runs.  A lack-of-hydration tight that I haven't had since I first started running, before I'd learned about proper pre-run hydration.  I am becoming convinced that it is just not possible to properly hydrate for a run while nursing....but I'm still going to keep trying.


After the "run" on Wednesday night, where I ran 0.6 miles and walked 1.4 miles, I came home and wrote a post to vent my frustration.  I then elected not to publish it until I had time to come down from that frustration.  When I came home from the run - Mark and Avery were eagerly awaiting my return....

Really, they are dreaming about my return - honest.

On Saturday, my "run" consisted of about 1 mile total run time (in pieces), and the rest was walking.   I meant to do 3 miles instead of 2.84, but with the summer start spot for MiT, a run to the first water stop and back isn't 3 miles anymore...and I'd forgotten that.  This "run" although similar in style to the Wednesday night run didn't frustrate me as much.  I think because I also had the asthma card to play that morning...and because I'd remembered my iPod for when I was alone...so instead of beating myself up for the 1.84 miles of walking, I was listening to music.  The weather was perfect...and after the night before....I really, really, really, really needed the baby break.


What I am realizing about myself - is that I push myself VERY HARD.  I always have.  I usually set goals that are a stretch, but reachable.  Train for a half marathon (for example).  Sometimes, I get frustrated regardless of logic.  I.e. when I cried after I got an 85 on a Calculus exam.  I.e. When I'm frustrated that I can't run 2 miles (not even slowly) 5 weeks postpartum.


I quit running when I was 5.5 months pregnant.  I have been EAGER to get back out there and run again.  The fact that I've lost so much cardio conditioning is disheartening.  To need to put all that initial work back in...it's easy to get down on myself for failing to keep up the cardio during the 3rd trimester.


I know that this isn't reasonable.  I just pushed a baby out of my girly parts not even 6 weeks ago.  I should NOT expect to be running marathons....or apparently, even 2 miles.  That doesn't mean that I don't WANT to.  To go out for a run now is also so much more difficult.  I have to plan for where Avery will be while I do my run.  (She's still too little for the jogging stroller.)  The pre-run effort required makes it easier to get frustrated when things don't go the way I want them to, reasonable or not.  I suspect the more minimal sleep experiences these days aren't helping reason win out as well. 


I need to remind myself, constantly, that every little bit of exercise, strength training and cardio that I add back in is making a difference - even if I can't FEEL that difference yet.  That I have TIME to get back into shape and lose weight and train for marathons and mountains.  

Posing in my "weighted vest".

Baby Steps.  That's what I need to focus on.  (irony intended!)  I just need to find the time to do SOMETHING each day...whether it's walking with my weighted vest (BabyBjorn with Avery in it) or it's joining MiT for a short run or it's just running up and down the stairs at the house.  The important thing is get in these baby steps...and NOT TO QUIT.  


If I can't run 2 miles by the end of next month - THAN I can let myself get worried.  Right now, I need to just remind myself "baby steps."


Have you ever had to come back from a forced running/exercise hiatus?  What worked for you?  Did you have to deal with similar frustration?

Little Piglet!

Avery had her one month pediatrician appointment on Wednesday, Sept. 14th.   For the past week, we've been lovingly calling her a little piglet.  Why???  From the beginning, she takes about an hour to breastfeed on the breast.  In the last week, she decided she also needed to feed every two hours.  For those who don't know, you count time from when she STARTS eating.  So that meant - I only had an hour off each time.  I couldn't do it.  I just couldn't.  So, I made the gut-wrenching decision that I had to supplement with formula.  People can make you feel awful for doing that - but it's really no big deal.  Honestly.  I have also decided to pump in between feedings for time purposes.  After a couple days, I now pump enough that she can mostly still have breast milk and only about one formula bottle a day.  Awesome.


But, I digress.  At her two week appointment, Avery weighed 5 lbs 8oz.  She was in the 2-5% for height...and for weight.

2 weeks.  Tiny Tyrant.

On Wednesday - she weighed a whopping 7 lbs, 7 oz!  That's almost 2 lbs in 2 weeks!   Even the doctor was impressed!  Avery jumped up a couple of curves to the 10% curve!  She's still short at only 19.5 inches (5%).  But, she's doing awesome.  She even completely emptied her bladder on the exam table prior to the scale!  Ha!  Oh, and someone needs to tell this child that girls are not supposed to be able to arc their pee off the table...just sayin'.

1 month - Yeah, I pack a real punch now Mommy - watch out!

I now also know, that until Wednesday, I had not heard her pain cry.  Yay me! How do I know this?  She got a shot at her appointment and I got to hear the pain cry.  Oh wow.  A completely different noise!  

See her band-aide - Put down the camera and change my diaper woman!

Ok.  The funny part.  After her appointment, I called Mark to share the news.  I kept saying, "The vet said..." and then corrected myself..."I mean the doctor, the pediatrician..."   Um.  Can you tell that I've had pets longer than a kid?  Ha!


Similarly, the other night, Mark was talking about her "sharp claws" and how we needed to "clip her claws."  I was laughing, but finally managed to say, "they call them fingernails on humans dear."  Of course, in referencing myself, I often say "I need to clip my claws."  Ok, so we have issues!  LOL!

You see what I have to put up with?

Have you ever referred to humans by pet terms?  Funniest example?

Product Review: itzbeen

Product:  Itzbeen timer
Cost:  Approx. $25
Use:  Know how long it's been since feeding, changing, etc.
Bottomline:  WORTH EVERY CENT!


My blog is so weird with both running and baby stuff, thought I'd do both running product reviews and baby product reviews.  I'm adding a page to the main blog so that you can find a list of all these reviews with links in case you want to find something later.


The Itzbeen timer - I heard about this through a neighbor with a 4 month old.  We were out for a walk and as we got to talking, she started telling me about all kinds of things that made her life easier when she first had her baby.


First - I'm nursing.  Even if I weren't, newborns tend to eat every 3 hours.  Approximately.  How do you generally know when they last ate, peed, etc?  charting.  Mark and I had been hand-charting Baby Avery's food, wet and dirty diapers for 4 weeks before we learned about this timer.  BY HAND.   Now, to be fair, it is useful in the beginning to have the hand charts to be able to answer the pediatrician's questions.  (i.e. how many dirty diapers).  Once, it's established that she is regularly making enough wet and poopy diapers...who cares?  :)   Now, I just need to know - WHEN exactly did I last feed her, pump etc.


Enter the itzbeen timer.  Worth every penny.  You push a button on one of the four spots - and it starts counting up in minutes and hours.   I use the "extra" button for when I last pumped.  (or I use one timer for left breast and one for right).   We don't use the sleep one for sleeping at the moment. (she doesn't do it enough!  HA!)


This is awesome.  If Mark fed her a bottle while I was sleeping....he pushes the button.  When I wake up - I still know exactly how long ago he fed Avery.  (Mark was bad at charting after the beginning).   It'll be great for babysitters too (as my neighbor mentioned).  I'll know how long ago she was changed and fed.  AWESOME.


For anyone with a baby, I highly recommend this item!  It also has a clock, a button for back-lighting everything to see it in the middle of the night, and a night light button for if you need just a little bit of light with the baby.  Oh - and it has a left/right switch for those that are nursing to know which breast they nursed from last.


Apparently, at Target, you can get them in multiple colors, but I just got mine from BabiesRUs.


Bottomline:  Worth the $25!

Whatever mom.  Where's the milk in this dratted contraption?
I'm spitting it out in T-10 seconds if milk doesn't start coming out.

Product Review: Sport Beans

I'd noticed a few blogs where runners talked about using Sport Beans before their runs.  I decided that I needed to try these things.  I went to Fleet Feet, my go-to source for all things running.  Asked my MiT coach which one he recommended.  He said that they were all good and tasted like jelly beans.


Ok, truth time.  "Taste like Jelly Beans" is a bit of a stretch.  Yes, they are better than a LOT of energy things I've tried....but I must go for the more sugary yummy jelly beans normally.  Both varieties I tried (pictured above) were OK.  I'd rate them above Clif Shot Blocks for texture and taste.  But, definitely not up there with true jelly beans, just saying. 


A word to the wise - do NOT eat them after brushing your teeth.  The first half of the watermelon variety were AWFUL, because I'd brushed my teeth just before trying them!


My biggest issue with most energy things is a texture thing.  I have to give credit to these - as long as you like jelly beans - the texture on these is no worse than a normal jelly bean and very doable before running.


They definitely did the job as advertised.  I used one right before my strength training workout on Thursday - and had no energy issues during the strength training.  Used the other before my 2 mile run on Saturday with similar results.  Both varieties packed 100 calories with a bit of electrolytes and vitamins thrown in.  The watermelon ones are "extreme" and contained caffeine (50mg).  So, it had a warning about not recommended for pregnant or nursing women (as a disclaimer).  Personally, post birth, I need a cup of coffee in the morning now.  I skipped the coffee in favor of the caffeine in the sport beans and I had no negative results.  Every person is different and willing to take different risks though, so I would talk to your doctor before trying the extreme ones if you are nursing as I am.


Bottom line - would I use them again?  Yes.  I'll definitely try the other varieties as well.