Half Marathon on the Horizon

Fourteen months after Toto was born I ran a marathon in Bangkok.  As much as I would like to do the same after Moo Shu's birth, I know that's not going to happen.  Instead, The Shark and I signed up for a half marathon at the end of this year.  Training has been mediocre, but I am hoping to spice things up with some races for motivation.  I ran the Manila Bay Clean-Up run earlier this month, and the Life Run 10K in September and the Men's Health Urbanathalon in November sound fun. Here's a recap of running this year. Picture some yoga, elliptical, and moderate weight lifting sprinkled throughout.

January
Running: Moo Shu was born December 9 - cut me some slack

February
Running: 24.8 miles

March
Running: 24.8 miles

April
Running: 24.8 miles

May
Running: 18.6 miles

June
Running: 30.6 miles

July
Running: 46.6 miles

I was way more dedicated in 2012, getting out every weekend morning and doing long runs. With two kids, lots of work, continuous colds, hip pain, and doing our own cooking (right, like every other working mom in America, I know), early weekend mornings are spent funneling coffee down my throat.

Starting Fresh

In March 2012 when Toto was only 6 months old, I still felt foggy and out of it--I still didn't feel "like myself." I was in that new mom phase, trying to find a balance between working, being with Toto, being a good wife to The Shark, and finding time for myself. Of course, I am still working on that everyday, but now that Toto is 16 months, I feel a little more balanced and a little more like my old type-A self. 

However, having a baby has forced me to take it down a notch or two on the old intensity scale--I did say only a notch or two, I still love planning, checking things off my list, getting more things done than I should. But if Toto dumps her toys everywhere, smears my clothes with avocado, or interrupts my list making, I can let it go. Moments with her are just too precious. And with amazing Yaya, I can find time to take care of myself and spend quality time with The Shark. 

Last year I decided to make a list of ongoing goals instead of one resolution. Tried to choose things that would help myself, my family, and others. I think I did pretty good.

1. Bake cupcakes and frosting from scratch each month. I managed to make cupcakes several times, but not every month. My two biggest undertakings were for  a friend's 2-year old's party and Toto's 1-year bash. My favorite and easiest cupcake to make is the vegan chocolate cupcake.

2. Run a marathon. While I had originally considered The Cam Sur or Singapore Marathon, I ended up running the Bangkok Marathon in November. Our trip to Bangkok turned out to be one of our best mini-vacations ever, and it didn't hurt that I checked off a major life goal while there. My time was 5hr 18 mins, not what I had hoped for, but not bad considering the training conditions in Manila, working full time, and having a 14-month old. You can read the details here.

3. Throw Toto a blow-out first birthday.  I initially intended to pay someone to orchestrate Toto's entire birthday, but I realized I wanted it to be personal and special, so I took care of most of the details myself. The child loves water, so I went with a beach theme.

4. Make some baby food from scratch.  Now that Toto is eating mainly solid food, it is becoming a little more challenging to keep up a varied and fresh diet for her. I mainly cook her turkey burgers (organic from Healthy Options), veggie noodles, squash, carrots, tofu, brocoli, fish, rice, quinoa, pancakes, and chicken. She also loves mango, avocado, cheese, and bananas, which are so easy. 

5. Read 1 book a month.  Crap! I only managed to read seven books. Steve Jobs, Bringing up Bebe, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Wild, The Sex Lives of Cannibals, Born to Run, and White Lilies in Autumn. Any recommendations for my reading list in 2013?

6. Spend quality time with The Shark and Toto - together and separate.  The Shark and I make it a point to go out to eat at least once a week. We keep a list of restaurants to try (recent winners: The Wine Depot, Pipino Vegetarian, and Caruso) so we don't go to Apartment 1B every time. The weekends are mainly Toto time, except for a couple hours each day to get a massage, go to yoga, or go for a run. On occasion we leave Toto for the day to try something new and exciting, but the guilt is almost too much. Because - that face!

7. Do/Say Something Nice Everyday. This continues to be a challenge for me. My job is tedious and by the end of the day my patience is worn thin (until I see Toto of course, then I can't even remember what I do for a living). In December we helped a women's group purchase several sewing machines - I am kinda hoping that made up for missing this goal on many occasions?

8. Practice Yoga at Least Once a Week.  I started doing yoga in 2002 when I moved home after college.  My dad and I did Bikram's every week and I got into awesome shape before my wedding.  Since then I have done yoga in every city I have lived--Albuquerque, Denver, DC, Kigali, and now Manila.  In March 2012 I got back into yoga after a 6 month hiatus.  I actually kept up my practice all throughout my pregnancy, but had trouble finding a studio (and time) once I arrived in Manila. Someone recommended Bliss Yoga - and it is awesome. I take a Jivamukti class every Sunday - helps calm me after a long week and get me ready for the one ahead.

Up next: 2013 goals.

Bangkok: The Marathon

After months of training, I felt ready to finally run this marathon. At 5pm on Saturday, we ordered pasta to the room and I went to bed at 7pm. I set the alarm for 1am so I could make some instant coffee and grab a taxi. I seriously would have walked to the start line if there had been an open Starbucks on the way. During the 20 minute taxi ride I saw tons of people shopping for fruits and vegetables at night markets, and several people on their way home after a night at the bars. I managed to eat a boiled egg, Clif bar, and banana, and drink a water bottle. I decided to carry the Nathan waist pack with two water bottles (small), 5 hammer gels, and my iPhone for texting/pictures/music. There weren't many people at the start line at 2am, so I was able to stretch and use the bathroom - on a bus! - in peace. At 2:45am they started herding us towards the start line. The announcers said lots of stuff in Thai, and there was a lot of arm waving, and then we started.

The first 16 miles or so were on a desolate highway, which didn't bother me because I am not the type to look around while running. Every 2km there was a water stop, so I walked for 20 seconds or so and doused my head in ice water. Yes, it was hot and humid in the middle of the night.  Not as bad as I had imagined, but still hot. Every couple stops they had gatorade and only about three times they had bananas. I was so happy I had my gels.

Sunrise on bridge

Mini marathon??

I stopped to take pictures once the sun came out and I got off the highway. We passed some pretty buildings, none of which I recognized. But I did see a scary lizard dragon animal come out of the water.  I did my cockroach jump squeal that I do at least two times during any run in Manila.

Swimming mutant dragon

Official-looking building

At 32km I still felt great, at 35km I felt ok, but at 38km I was sure my legs were broken.  It took lots of self encouragement to keep going. When I finally saw the finish line I got a 17th wind and sprinted to the end. Granted, it took me 5 hrs 18 mins to finish, but I have never been so happy to stop running.  The Shark had already run the half and was waiting for me at the end. The first 20 minutes after the race I felt terrible, but by the time we got back to the hotel I felt a lot better. Oh, and here's a tip: don't wear hot pink underwear during a marathon, apparently they run dye down your legs and also pool in the seat of the taxi - sorry Thai taxi driver, hope we tipped you well!

Dragon arch

Old fort

We spent the afternoon riding the train and going to the park. It was only around 1 million degrees out and Toto insisted on me carrying her most of the way.

My ankles, knees and hips were sore, but a 90 minute Thai hot herbal massage and a tall beer(s) took care of that. Will I run another marathon? Not sure. I enjoyed the discipline of having a training schedule, but disliked running in humid polluted Manila.  I'll probably stick to shorter distances and hope to get some big hikes in next year. Any marathons in your future?

Bangkok: Part 1

The weekend of the marathon finally arrived. The marathon I had signed up for months before, that seemed so far away, with so many weekends for long runs, was finally here. We took a 3 hour flight on Philippine Air on Friday and arrived in Bangkok around 1pm.  Right away I noticed the air smelled cleaner--in the middle of downtown.  We checked into the Sivatel where we got a great rate on a suite - 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a living room.  Toto was thrilled and spent many hours running between the three rooms.  After she passed out, The Shark and I headed out to pick up our race packets.  Stay tuned for Part 2.

Signing "airplane"

Welcome drink and cold towel

View from our hotel

Too many power lines

Culturally sensitive Ronald

Marathon Countdown

Seven days until the Bangkok Marathon!  

Highlights from my training in 2012

Longest run: 20 miles

Best week: 36.2 miles, Week of October 22

Worst week: 3.1 miles, Week of January 2

Yoga classes taken: 39 

Tai Chi classes taken: 1

Best running aid: Hammer Gel (Expresso flavor)

Races: 2

Best recovery aid: 1 hour at home foot/leg massage for $6

Total miles run this year (so far): 726.65  

I initially thought a marathon 14.5 months post-partum was a stretch, but then I read multiple accounts of pregnant women running marathons and shut the hell up.

Yeah, that 3.1-mile week was right after Christmas, family in town, and a STILL colicky baby to deal with. Best week included my 20-mile training run---I probably should have had some weeks at 40 miles, but just doing this to do it, not to set any records. Yoga has been my savior in all this.  I take all my classes at Bliss Yoga, but was fortunate enough to have an amazing private class in Bali that I will never forget. Oh, and I know, only two races (soon to be three) in 2012?! While Manila hosts tons of races and is home to thousands of runners, it just isn't a great place to run.  I ran the World Vision half marathon and the Men's Health Urbanathalon, but that might be it for Manila races.  It would have been cool to run 1,000 miles this year, but I a guessing I will get closer to 800.

Oh, and you might want to think about moving here if you haven't already.  The best foot masseuse I have ever had comes to my house.  And I can drink wine and blog.  I usually end up tipping her 75% because, folks, it is a $6 massage at my house. You can bet that is a weekly occurrence. But no, I am not getting my feet massaged as I type this, but I should be.

And one more thing, should you be wondering. I am indeed Type A and keep meticulous records of all my workouts and have been doing so since college.  So what?

Seven more days!

Twenty Miler

Sometime during the haze of Toto's first months outside the womb I thought it would be a good idea to run a marathon.  I rationalized that between baby #1 and #2 might be the best time to check off that life goal.  Although many women run pregnant, I doubt I could keep up with the training schedule while working and raising a toddler.  

Running didn't really happen during my pregnancy.  When I was about 4 weeks along with Toto I jinxed myself by declaring I was not going to have morning sickness.  I found some statistic that said 90% of women had some morning sickness, and I was obviously in the lucky 10%.  Then I spent the next 8 weeks puking every time water touched my face.  People, I puked when I washed my face.  Is that normal?  Better yet, could you run in that condition?  So for the longest period I can remember in my life I did not work out.  I basically worked, cried, slept, and ate cheerios.  Then the glorious second trimester started and I felt amazing.  But not running amazing, more like elliptical, swimming, yoga, and light weights amazing.  So pretty much for almost a year I. Did. Not. Run.  Kind of hard to believe.  But I was growing a human.  **Otherwise occupied**  I did actually start jogging a little in my last month of pregnancy hoping that bouncing might coax Toto into the world, oh and to avoid the hunters on the trails.  What?  You don't jog alone on Michigan county trails shared by deer hunters while pregnant?  Well, then you haven't lived.  

Back to the present.  The Bangkok Marathon is coming up November 18 and my training has been going well, tons of short to medium runs with good times and less longer runs mainly due to travel and weather.  But last Saturday was my 20-miler according to Hal Higdon's Novice Supreme plan (gotta start somewhere) so I set the alarm for 4am.  It was a long 3 hours and 59 minutes, but I felt good afterwards and it gave me confidence for the marathon.  Can't wait to finish and celebrate with some Thai food.  And beer.  Lots of beer.

Enough said.

Rare sight - a carless street.

This actually exists in Manila.