My Racing Spirit

Eon asked me, what is spirit? I told him it’s the voice inside your head that guides you to things you love. On Feb 18, 2011 15 weeks after giving birth to Roam and Ember I found my racing spirit..... 

Here is my story:

It's a little bit challenging to leave the house for a race now-there is a lot to remember...Eon's water bottle, his nuts and raisins, his change of clothes, Roam and Ember's diapers, clothes, bottle of mamas milk for Grandma, running stroller are the essentials.

Thank goodness for mid -morning races like the Frigid Digger. I needed to wake up early to get all three kids ready and myself to be prepared to start the race at 10am. I started the day with nursing Roam and Ember separately. I then run around the house chasing Eon trying to coax him to brush his teeth and get dressed. I feed Eon breakfast while I hand the twins and the 5-6 bags to Ray to be placed into our minivan(yes we did buy a minivan). Somehow we arrive at the race 60 min early. I nurse the twins separately in the van while Ray gets our numbers. I am done with nursing by 9:32. Grandma and Grandpa arrive to help. I run out of the car to the bathrooms and then start my warm up at 9:43. I run a 10 min warm up in a blizzard and end up slipping on ice and falling on my back, both elbows and sprain my wrist. My elbows are bleeding. I contemplate not starting but decide what the heck and start anyway. I run conservative on the icy sections and push hard where I know the footing is clear. My competition are two fast women (who are also my friends and each have beaten me before in races). I somehow end up in the lead about 2 miles in the race and the next 5 miles I run for my life knowing they are right behind me lurking. While this race is low key, it is very challenging and fun. Lots of hills and great competition make for a fantastic day. I end up winning by 7 seconds in a 7.2 mile race. I then run a cool down and nurse Roam and Ember separately at the awards ceremony.

My race time was slow but the footing was challenging. I was so happy to be able to race again and then the cherry on top was winning. I did not expect to win so I was elated the entire day. During those 5 months of no running or at times days of complete inactivity I was sad that my body was slowly deteriorating. My muscles were shrinking and my weight was soaring. Racing the Frigid Digger gave me the confidence that my body is slowly regaining its strength and power back. I in turn, am finding that my running spirit or my inner love for racing is growing exponentially. The fire is re lit and I can't wait to race. Bring it on!

Nicole

13 week Routine

13 weeks
My routine (although I know it will change monthly)
Wake up 6:30 am to 7am
Nurse Roam and Ember
Bring 1 or both babies (leave sleeping baby in bed) downstairs to join Eon for breakfast.
Fix Eon breakfast
Answer work related emails or work on schedule
Run easy short run on treadmill (usually 3-6 interruptions during short run where I hop off and do mama stuff like help Eon fix his toy or move one of the twins to another interesting location)
Nurse and do coaching related stuff on internet
Play with Eon
Lunch (nurse 1 at a time if possible during lunch)
Play with Eon -today he was the train engine on his trike and I was the red caboose, pushing him gently down the sidewalk.
Quiet time- work on computer -coaching related and nurse
Play with Eon
Nurse Nurse Nurse!!
Make Dinner
Eat Dinner
Nurse and play
Bed time and story time for all 3 if possible.
Watch movies, read or do work in evenings oh yes and of course nurse babies.
When Ray is home I get to run outside and I crave running outside especially on the weekends when I run w/friends. Last weekend I ran 2hrs 20 min moderate including 38 min of faster running. Every week I think my body is getting ever so slightly faster. I would guess I am in high 19 min 5k shape right now. A year ago I was likely in mid 17 min 5k shape so I have a lot of work to do before I am back to where I was but I am loving every second of my runs outside exploring the earth and feeling healthy and free.
Nicole

Progress

10 weeks
6.5 mile marathon effort workout-same course and similar weather conditions 
2 min faster compared to 7 days ago and nearly 5 min faster compared to 18 days ago
Happy!
Tomorrow 2 hr very hilly trail long run w/45 min of faster running then eat while watching the Olympic Trails = Fun
Nicole

More Smiles and Goals

Ember ~7 weeks

Roam ~ 7 weeks

9 weeks
Life is good!

Today I ran 12 miles moderate with a hard workout. I am getting faster every week. I think I am in 20 min 5k shape right now where as 2 weeks ago I likely was in 22 min 5k shape. I still have lots of hard work to get back into shape. My core strength is poor-barely can do a sit up and my weak abs have separated. My legs are wimpy from 5 months off but I am finally seeing some fitness gains which is so exciting to me. My goal is to work very hard to try to get into the best shape possible for June and attempt to break the Wulfman 14k CDT course record. If I can do that I will consider racing National Mountain Championships in July.

Running Happy

Nicole

Smiles

8 Weeks

Roam and Ember smiled last week. They are happy hungry babies weighing each over 9lbs now, I am smiling too since I started running hard again. My longest run has been 95 min w/ about 20 min of faster running...more later

Running Happy

5.5 weeks
I am running again. My first run of 5 min was 3.5 weeks post c-sect. I felt heavy and uncoordinated but no pain. My next run was the following day and I doubled the time to 10 min and felt a bit better. The 3rd day I was up to 15 min and then the 4th day at 4 weeks post c sect I ran 30 min at 8 min pace and felt really really good. Today I ran 80 min on hilly trails and felt almost my old self. Tomorrow I plan to run 90 min easy with my friend. Life is good.
Roam and Ember continue to be really mellow easy babies. They are super cuddly, happy and rarely cry. Ember smiled at us for the first time today too.
They are growing. Each weighs over 7lbs now. I am nursing them every 90 min to 2hrs around the clock. I don't feel that tired though since I am getting more accumulated sleep compared to being pregnant.
Can I tell them apart? Yes! Roam turns red when he is hot or upset and he has a little bump on his ear.  Roam also seems to want to cuddle more with me.  Roam likes for me to be very close to him at all times. Ember is more fair complexion and ooks at me telling me he wants to be carried around the house so he can look around.
Some people might think I am sugar coating everything. The truth is I am not.  I know I am lucky. Having twins who are colicky and never sleep at night would be tremendously difficult. So far I am blessed with angelic-like babies who just crave love and attention.
Running Happy
Nicole
PS I got sponsored by Brooks for 2012 again!

Invigorating!

10 days
Mount Sentinel Hill Climb- 1.75 miles to top of Mount Sentinel
Elevation gain: 1,958 feet to top of Mount Sentinel (3,200 feet to 5,158) 19% grade average.
Yesterday I hiked up to the top of this mountain (my husband raced the hill climb and took 3rd overall). I was truly surprised how good and strong I felt. Last year I raced it in 26 min and yesterday I power hiked up it in 52 min. Absolutely no pain anywhere during or after this hike.  The hike was invigorating. It felt so good to exercise pain free outside in the cool crisp air.
My appetite is ferocious. Nursing 2 little ones and exercise = 1 hungry and thirsty mama.
I am also beginning to think about racing again. I am not sure if my body will be able to handle exclusively nursing twins and training hard but I am willing to try. As of today, they nurse simultaneously every 2-3 hrs around the clock. I am getting more sleep now compared to being pregnant however so the nighttime awakenings are not a problem.

Roam and Ember are so fun. They don't cry and they are full of cuddles and love.
Cheers
Nicole