Run Mama Run!

There is no "fun things we did this summer -part 2", oops. But we still have some catching up to do.

After my loss in May I had a semi-long recovery. June is sort of a blur and I don't remember feeling like I was back to myself until early July. In any case, the best thing I did for myself this summer was start the couch to 5 K running program. Getting back into running was brutal at first, but with each workout I started to really love it. 

Matt and I trained together at the local HS track every other day. It was awesome, Matt would push Lily in the stroller while we both got in a great workout. Lily really liked it, at first, but as the workouts got longer and longer her tolerance for going round and round in a circle diminished somewhat. She was most fond of the stretching portion of the workout during which she was allowed out of the stroller to run free on the long jump track and the soccer field. 

The program is 9 weeks long and I started the first week of July. I had planned on signing up for a 5K mid September. Those plans changed when we went to Maine for a week and I was informed that a "fun run" I thought I was walking was in fact a race that my friends and I were running. I did a few longish runs during the week to prepare...but I was so (pee my pants) nervous. Seriously, the race was all we talked about for days! 

The race was part of our hometown's "Summerfest" activities. It was actually really cute because both my mom and dad came, as well as Matt's dad (sadly Matt's mom had to work) to cheer us on. The race was delayed for almost 45 minutes due to POURING rain, thunder and oh yeah....lightning. The longer we stood around the more nervous I became. When we finally got word that is was go time our little group made our way to the back of the pack. This bears mentioning because we started 30 seconds behind everyone else and just couldn't seem to catch up...even though we could see people walking ahead of us. In any case a friend of ours who runs 1/2 marathons was kind enough to run with us and call out our splits whenever I requested (every 1/2 mile, ha). We rounded the corner just before the 1 mile mark and there was my dad, holding Lily and cheering wildly. It was a great moment that I want to remember forever. 

We ran and then we ran some more. I was tired and the last mile of the race started with a brutal uphill climb. I powered my way up the hill, the whole time thinking, "this is it after, this it is all downhill." We made it to the top and as we started to close out the race I realized there was one more hill, and it literally broke me. For a brief second I thought I might get sick to my stomach and I slowed down and urged the girls to go on without me. And then it happened. I walked three, sad, sorry steps. As soon as I stopped running I started again but the damage had been done. I finished the race with an unofficial time 33:37 which I thought was pretty darn good for my first race in 10 years. The best part was crossing the finish line to my cheering fan club! 

So all that being said, I am not ready to check it off the list...not until I can do a race without those three sad steps. Next year I am recruiting, consider yourself warned Kate! I'll keep you posted! 

Some fun things we did this summer! (part 1)

The problem with getting behind on the blog is that it is damn near impossible to get caught up. It is sad really, because I do love to write, but I am not a fan of the whole "labor of love" feeling the blog is giving off. I mean sure I have been slacking, but is that really a reason for the blog to hassle me?!? Get off my back blog, we've been busy.

So the only way to catch up is to write something. One of my goals on my 1001 things list is to write a blog post each time I complete an item. Item # 3 - Spend a day at the beach!

Once again we took advantage of Matt's flexible work schedule and hit the beach on a beautiful Thursday afternoon. For those of you who remember our trip to Florida in March you may also remember how much Lily HATED the entire beach experience. Then in May we took the dog for a frolic and Lily showed at least some tolerance for touching sand.

To be honest the beach is a lot of work. Gone are the days of bringing only a towel and a book to soak in the sun. Lily needs her swimsuit, and a swim diaper, and sunscreen, and a hat, and water, and snacks, and toys, and a blanket, and a towel, and a change of clothes, and powder*, and a regular diaper, and wipes! Whew, that is a lot of ands...I am tired just thinking about it. Those of you who have ever been anywhere with me know, I do NOT bring more than we need...anywhere, ever.  *baby powder is hands down the best way to get sand off a sandy baby, or a sandy daddy for that matter!

All that being said, she is so totally worth it!! The cuteness was almost more than I could stand. She loved the beach. I will let the pictures do the talking. (Taken with the iphone so some just do not do the day justice)

#38 Eat Bud's Popcorn

To say that this popcorn is delicious is the understatement of the year.

One of my very favorite people on the planet, who was gracious enough to have been my maid of honor and one day soon will officially be Lily's godmother, happens to be the daughter of the World's Greatest Popcorn Maker. I have been accused, on more than one occasion actually, of using her for said connection. I dream about this popcorn. I don't know how he does it, and frankly I don't want to know...it would be like finding out how, in 1985, Santa knew all I really wanted for Christmas was a Barbie Dream House even though I was sick the day he came to school. Some things are better left to wonder. All I do know is that there is an electric kettle (which broke but THANK GOD still works), a very particular brand of popcorn kernel, salt, butter, and Bud's magic touch.

When we were in high school Bud would make popcorn for us almost every weekend. Sometimes it was to celebrate a great track team win, other times it was to mend a broken heart. I would arrive at their house, throw my keys on the kitchen table, and head down to the basement. Within minutes the lights would flicker (Bud's warning signal, haha) and he would call down, "Ape, you want popcorn?" My response then, and to this day, "Always!"

Fifteen years have gone by since I had my first bowl. As the popcorn makes its way from the kitchen Bud tosses it around in the bowl, I once joked that that sound was music to my ears. Now I simply say, "You're playing my song."

This past Tuesday, while home in Maine visiting with friends and family, I made a drive I could do blindfolded to the home of the popcorn king and bellied up to a nice big bowl. I am serious, to this day it may be one of the best things I have ever eaten. I literally can't wait for Lily's first taste!

Did I just write a whole blog post about popcorn?? You bet your ass I did, it is that good.

#38, done.