I'm not sure whether it's because it hasn't rained EVERY single day this week, or because it's just getting warmer in general, or because I've been reading other Cleveland blogs via Twitter and the Ohio Blogging Association ... but I'm lovin' on Cleveland lately!
I wanted to give a special shout out to CLEgal. Her blog, Why? CLE, is a great read, and explains why people keep coming back to Cleveland and what it has to offer. I've agreed to take the 31-day challenge for the month of May (albeit, a little late), where I post a new thing I enjoy about Cleveland every day for 31 days.
I started today, and I posted: Reason #1: Waking up thinking it's going to rain, and then it turns into a beautiful sunny day. I'm not sure if I just thought it was going to rain today because it was cloudy, or if I just got up too early to see any shadows (LOL), but now the sun is out, and even though it's not exactly bright, it made me happy.
Related to the nicer weather and the sun? More time for running! Last week I ran twice and was so happy about it. I "re-discovered" this one part of the Towpath Trail that I'd only run on once before. Instead of getting on at Harvard/Jennings (near Steelyard Commons), you go East on Harvard a little bit until East 49th street, then make a right and about a mile down the road is a park, visitor center (with fountains -- important!), baseball field, and plenty of paths.
View Larger Map
If you take the path down a huge hill (which, duh, felt much better on the way out then on the way back), you'll pass another visitor center, and then eventually reach the main Towpath trail just past the 7-mile marker on the trail (sorta near where that set of bathrooms are, before the train overpass). So I ran from 49th street park down to that mile marker and back. I didn't use a Garmin or anything, but based on the time (40 or so minutes), I think I went about 3 or 3.25 miles. It was a great workout.
Then, the next day, I went to a similar location, but this was technically the Washington Reservation (even though it was only a mile or so away from the other one. You can take Harvard to get here too, but I took 77 South to Fleet, and then made a left and it was right there. This path kinda goes in a million different directions. I ended up running on Washington Place (I think that's the name of the street), looking at really nice houses. Then I ran back and found some really nice paths surrounding that golf course over there. I was really tired, so I didn't run as long (only 30 minutes), but this is a place I'd like to come back and explore soon.
Today, I'm going to yoga at Inner Bliss in Rocky River! For the first time in ... forever! I think it's been almost a year and a half since I've done any "real" yoga practice. I did prenatal for a few months, which was great, but it was very very mellow (necessary for me!), and I'm ready to start getting back into the swing of things.
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Sunday, November 14, 2010
A swing is not a boob (and other six-week musings)
Today marked Lorelei's six-week birthday (at 6:17 am! Hell yes I was awake). So many things have been going so much better, and others have been continuing to confuse and frustrate us.
Right now Lorelei is spending some time in her lambie swing, which she just loves! However, something strange has happened. The last few times she's been in there, she has craned her neck to one side and started to fake nurse on the pillow part of the swing! WTF!?! And I know she's not hungry, because I just fed her.
This, of course, worries me a bit due to the whole SIDS thing - is she going to smother in there? But the other part of me is just amused, because, well, she nurses probably 18 out of 24 hours every day, it's no wonder she is always looking for a boob!
The other thing she's doing in the swing right now--and in general--is smiling, cooing, and making baby noises other than crying. That is a huge relief. Not only that she is somehow developing different types of communication skills, but also that I know that she's not really so unhappy all the time, which I had no way of knowing before.
Nursing is going "well," by which I mean it's still going. I've had a bunch of problems thus far, but luckily none of them have gotten in the way of our Little Miss getting enough to eat. Last week I got mastitis and had to go on antibiotics. :( Three weeks ago I also stopped eating dairy products because of "interesting" diaper colors and textures. However, I've also sorta stopped eating peanuts/peanut butter..and decided to try it out this morning (had a tablespoon of PB on bread). If she has a reaction, then it's possible it's peanuts and NOT dairy (because those two were the only two foods I really consumed on a daily basis). So I'll try a switch if that happens. OR, it could be both! Wonderful. Can you imagine if I had to go about my running life without eating peanut butter?! That's my go-to long run/race pre-snack. Well, I won't jump to conclusions yet...of course, I could always avoid this issue and give formula so that my diet doesn't have to change. But I'm not really interested in that option yet.
Sleeping is sort of better, but not great. For a while, she was only sleeping in the swing for extended periods of time (the longest being 4 or 5 hours overnight) and only like 30 minutes to an hour in the crib or bassinet (and that was if we could even get her to fall asleep--usually putting her down on a flat surface rouses her and she starts crying, even if she is in a deep sleep!). But the last two nights we have been trying harder with the bassinet, because we will be traveling next week for Thanksgiving and won't have the swing with us! She has been doing pretty well - I think she has gotten up to about 2 or 2 1/2 hours now in that. Maybe even 3 hours, although honestly, any times recorded between the hours of midnight and 6 am are quite fuzzy to me, so apologies for not remembering accurately!
Also, we've found this technique from The Happiest Baby on the Block which includes the 5 Ss: Swaddling, Side/Stomach position, Swinging, Shushing, and Sucking. It's pretty amazing how the "shushing" part works. You kind of have to do it loudly, and it sounds like waves crashing or something (and it's more like "shhhhh" than "shushhh"). It's supposed to mimic the sounds inside your uterus--in fact, all of the 5 Ss are supposed to recreate that. Dr. Karp (the creator of this technique) calls the first three months of life "The Fourth Trimester," where babies are really not used to life outside the womb yet. Makes sense!! And, while I cannot "shhhh" all night long, our Cloud B Sleep Sheep helps TREMENDOUSLY with this! There are four sounds: a heartbeat; whale sounds; rain, and ocean waves (which sounds like the "shhh"ing).
Other observations of the past couple of weeks:
1) Your baby will probably have more clothes in one drawer than you have in your entire closet.
2) Some burp cloths are meant to be thrown out. As in, the ones you have to mop up baby crap with.
3) A thank-you email is sometimes necessary instead of a thank-you card in order to maintain sanity (and still give you time to nap).
4) Despite the persistent advice to "avoid housework," you'll still feel self-conscious when a visitor comes, clearing the couch of baby blankets and discarded nursing bras in order to make them feel welcome.
5) A GOOD breastpump is essential! I just ordered the Ameda Purely Yours, which is due to arrive soon, because my manual pump wasn't exactly productive enough.
6) Do NOT skip coffee. Just don't.
7) Have water/snacks at a number of "stations" throughout the apartment, because you never know where you'll be nursing, and you want to be well-stocked wherever you are.
In other news: I had my first workout post-baby! I went to a yoga class called "Beginners and Beyond Ashtanga Yoga." Um, more like beyond beginners! Not too fun. And I'm not really a huge fan of the Astanga style, I realize now. It's ok! Just glad I got back out there. I have my six-week checkup tomorrow, so I'll ask the doctor when it's ok to resume running. Not like I have the time OR energy right now! We'll see.
Here's a recent pic of Lorelei in her crib!
Right now Lorelei is spending some time in her lambie swing, which she just loves! However, something strange has happened. The last few times she's been in there, she has craned her neck to one side and started to fake nurse on the pillow part of the swing! WTF!?! And I know she's not hungry, because I just fed her.
This, of course, worries me a bit due to the whole SIDS thing - is she going to smother in there? But the other part of me is just amused, because, well, she nurses probably 18 out of 24 hours every day, it's no wonder she is always looking for a boob!
The other thing she's doing in the swing right now--and in general--is smiling, cooing, and making baby noises other than crying. That is a huge relief. Not only that she is somehow developing different types of communication skills, but also that I know that she's not really so unhappy all the time, which I had no way of knowing before.
Nursing is going "well," by which I mean it's still going. I've had a bunch of problems thus far, but luckily none of them have gotten in the way of our Little Miss getting enough to eat. Last week I got mastitis and had to go on antibiotics. :( Three weeks ago I also stopped eating dairy products because of "interesting" diaper colors and textures. However, I've also sorta stopped eating peanuts/peanut butter..and decided to try it out this morning (had a tablespoon of PB on bread). If she has a reaction, then it's possible it's peanuts and NOT dairy (because those two were the only two foods I really consumed on a daily basis). So I'll try a switch if that happens. OR, it could be both! Wonderful. Can you imagine if I had to go about my running life without eating peanut butter?! That's my go-to long run/race pre-snack. Well, I won't jump to conclusions yet...of course, I could always avoid this issue and give formula so that my diet doesn't have to change. But I'm not really interested in that option yet.
Sleeping is sort of better, but not great. For a while, she was only sleeping in the swing for extended periods of time (the longest being 4 or 5 hours overnight) and only like 30 minutes to an hour in the crib or bassinet (and that was if we could even get her to fall asleep--usually putting her down on a flat surface rouses her and she starts crying, even if she is in a deep sleep!). But the last two nights we have been trying harder with the bassinet, because we will be traveling next week for Thanksgiving and won't have the swing with us! She has been doing pretty well - I think she has gotten up to about 2 or 2 1/2 hours now in that. Maybe even 3 hours, although honestly, any times recorded between the hours of midnight and 6 am are quite fuzzy to me, so apologies for not remembering accurately!
Also, we've found this technique from The Happiest Baby on the Block which includes the 5 Ss: Swaddling, Side/Stomach position, Swinging, Shushing, and Sucking. It's pretty amazing how the "shushing" part works. You kind of have to do it loudly, and it sounds like waves crashing or something (and it's more like "shhhhh" than "shushhh"). It's supposed to mimic the sounds inside your uterus--in fact, all of the 5 Ss are supposed to recreate that. Dr. Karp (the creator of this technique) calls the first three months of life "The Fourth Trimester," where babies are really not used to life outside the womb yet. Makes sense!! And, while I cannot "shhhh" all night long, our Cloud B Sleep Sheep helps TREMENDOUSLY with this! There are four sounds: a heartbeat; whale sounds; rain, and ocean waves (which sounds like the "shhh"ing).
Other observations of the past couple of weeks:
1) Your baby will probably have more clothes in one drawer than you have in your entire closet.
2) Some burp cloths are meant to be thrown out. As in, the ones you have to mop up baby crap with.
3) A thank-you email is sometimes necessary instead of a thank-you card in order to maintain sanity (and still give you time to nap).
4) Despite the persistent advice to "avoid housework," you'll still feel self-conscious when a visitor comes, clearing the couch of baby blankets and discarded nursing bras in order to make them feel welcome.
5) A GOOD breastpump is essential! I just ordered the Ameda Purely Yours, which is due to arrive soon, because my manual pump wasn't exactly productive enough.
6) Do NOT skip coffee. Just don't.
7) Have water/snacks at a number of "stations" throughout the apartment, because you never know where you'll be nursing, and you want to be well-stocked wherever you are.
In other news: I had my first workout post-baby! I went to a yoga class called "Beginners and Beyond Ashtanga Yoga." Um, more like beyond beginners! Not too fun. And I'm not really a huge fan of the Astanga style, I realize now. It's ok! Just glad I got back out there. I have my six-week checkup tomorrow, so I'll ask the doctor when it's ok to resume running. Not like I have the time OR energy right now! We'll see.
Here's a recent pic of Lorelei in her crib!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Putting my Foot in my Mouth
Riiight....so just as soon as I say I'm ready for another marathon? My first post-marathon run ends after about 2.5 miles because MY FOOT HURTS! How aggravating. Guess I spoke too soon.
I am sort of "plagued" throughout major training sessions with a bunch of different minor injuries. Since I started running, I've had ITB syndrome, hip/piriformisissues, lower back injuries, a mean case of plantar fasciitis, shin splints, calf "hot spots"....and now some ridiculous arch pain in my right foot that I can't exactly pinpoint. It's not heel pain, and it's not exactly underfoot, either. it's more like both sides, right alongside the arch, are bruised.
In all of these cases (except for the plantar fasciitis, which lasted a full year) I just eased back on running and the pain eventually subsided. But I had to really struggle with it, because most of these nagging aches and pains were during the hard part of training. Now I guess I shouldn't really worry, because the marathon is said and done. But the last thing I want to do now that I've completed it is just stop! Not only am I reluctant to lose fitness (and the specificity of training that running provides - elliptical doesn't cut it!), but now I am also in fear of gaining weight. Dammit!
This pain started when I was really increasing my mileage to allow for 20-mile runs. The taper helped a lot, as did icing, advil, and kinesio taping on the bottom of the foot...but it's back with a vengeance. Well, I shouldn't be surprised. It's not like the streets of NY are well-paved. :)
So I am succumbing to a little less intensity right now. Did yoga twice this week (Wednesday and today, Saturday) and the failed attempt at running 3-4 miles was on Friday. I know that I should just be patient, that the main goal is to not be injured long-term and that this is a sign that I need to back off a bit. But I am experiencing (as Bob Glover puts it) a marathon "post-partum" type of depression where all I want to do is run and not being able to do it is killing me psychologically. I was very pleased at how my other muscle aches, mostly in my quads, subsided after only a few days but am p.o.ed at the fact that I am still hobbling around because of this darn foot.
Deep breaths! It will be ok. :) Running will always be there for me! Guess I have to face the facts and focus on cross-training this week.
I am sort of "plagued" throughout major training sessions with a bunch of different minor injuries. Since I started running, I've had ITB syndrome, hip/piriformisissues, lower back injuries, a mean case of plantar fasciitis, shin splints, calf "hot spots"....and now some ridiculous arch pain in my right foot that I can't exactly pinpoint. It's not heel pain, and it's not exactly underfoot, either. it's more like both sides, right alongside the arch, are bruised.
In all of these cases (except for the plantar fasciitis, which lasted a full year) I just eased back on running and the pain eventually subsided. But I had to really struggle with it, because most of these nagging aches and pains were during the hard part of training. Now I guess I shouldn't really worry, because the marathon is said and done. But the last thing I want to do now that I've completed it is just stop! Not only am I reluctant to lose fitness (and the specificity of training that running provides - elliptical doesn't cut it!), but now I am also in fear of gaining weight. Dammit!
This pain started when I was really increasing my mileage to allow for 20-mile runs. The taper helped a lot, as did icing, advil, and kinesio taping on the bottom of the foot...but it's back with a vengeance. Well, I shouldn't be surprised. It's not like the streets of NY are well-paved. :)
So I am succumbing to a little less intensity right now. Did yoga twice this week (Wednesday and today, Saturday) and the failed attempt at running 3-4 miles was on Friday. I know that I should just be patient, that the main goal is to not be injured long-term and that this is a sign that I need to back off a bit. But I am experiencing (as Bob Glover puts it) a marathon "post-partum" type of depression where all I want to do is run and not being able to do it is killing me psychologically. I was very pleased at how my other muscle aches, mostly in my quads, subsided after only a few days but am p.o.ed at the fact that I am still hobbling around because of this darn foot.
Deep breaths! It will be ok. :) Running will always be there for me! Guess I have to face the facts and focus on cross-training this week.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Taper Troubles
Oy vey.
Well, either what everyone says about the marathon taper is true, or I'm just paranoid about things feeling "off" that I am making it true. Either way...this week has been quite annoying in terms of feeling "healthy."
After the half on Sunday, I was dead to the world. Hurting everywhere, exhausted...nothing like the River Run 3 weeks ago or EVEN the 20 miler in Rocky River last weekend. I don't know what the deal was. I had mentioned I started feeling a little off on Saturday, but then I guess the half "washed it out" for the time being, but then the icky feeling came back with a vengeance.
Monday I felt stiff, groggy, and had a headache and jaw pain most of the day. Kept taking Tylenol/Advil/whatever for it, but I hate taking medicine. I was going to go to yoga at 6pm on Monday--which I've done before and has actually helped a lot after a long run or race--but then I had a baking mishap while making Derek anniversary cupcakes (Salted caramel filled chocolate cupcakes with dark chocolate frosting). Everything started off fine, but then when it came time to make the caramel...WTF!?!?!?! It took me three tries. Finally, I got it.
But by that point, the kitchen was a mess, I had chocolate all over me...and there was no going to yoga. Oh well.
Derek did enjoy the cupcakes immensely though...
Anyway. I was a little on edge from not doing ANY type of working out on Monday, even though I didn't have a run planned. Derek and I went out that night for our anniversary at Farenheit, which was fabulous.
The only thing wrong was that my head started feeling gross again, and I couldn't get the smell of that caramel out of my mind...and all those dishes that had to be washed when we got home...
I did, however, enjoy a glass of my new favorite red wine, InZINerator, a Zinfandel (not to be confused with its trashy pink counterpart, White Zinfandel).
I got exactly ZERO sleep Monday night, adding to the problems. By Tuesday morning, I felt so tired. I didn't know what to do about running, because I know I am tapering, but not that much, not yet! I still have to do up to 80% of what I was doing last week, maybe even more since I didn't really do high-mileage throughout the training. Ugh.
Got a flu shot Tuesday afternoon (the spell is broken; after getting my first flu shot I am no longer convinced that it will give me the flu -- but knock on wood), then did a measley 20-minute run by the Steelyard. I just wasn't able to continue; too many things felt "off."
Wednesday the headache still wasn't gone. I was getting really upset! My tooth was still kinda hurting too (I have never gotten my wisdom teeth extracted, and so sometimes I bite my cheek and it hurts for a little while but then the pain goes away. Dumb, I know, I should get them taken out, yadda yadda yadda. I probably will. In fact, I made an appointment this morning to see the dentist so I will see what he tells me). I made myself go running, not only because I am stubborn but because I honestly did think it would make me feel better. And it did, for a while. I did around 5 miles and even tried to pick up the pace a mile at at time for a little makeshift speedwork session. I decided not to take any meds all day, but then kinda gave up that idea around 6 o'clock when I had to go meet Derek and his boss for dinner at Outback Steakhouse. I wasn't just going to go and feel miserable; I wanted it to be a pleasant experience. I took some Advil...and...the headache went away and stayed away!!! YAY!!
I am thinking it was sort of like a migraine...I only get those at times of stress. Saturday could have been the "aura" because I was feeling weird and lightheaded...and then the half put it off and then it came back. Ugh. I hate migraines. I think the nausea is the worst part of it. Blecch. So what's the stress? I dunno...not knowing where I stand job-wise...while part-time is good, it's not what I really need in order to feel secure. Been waiting to hear back from a couple places so we'll see. Also, tapering is good put it is also weird...how much do I run, how many days do I take off, with what intensity do I do my workouts? It's all kind of a mystery.
Went to Hot Powerful Flow yoga today at Inner Bliss...it was awesome, just what I needed. I am planning on doing 10 miles sometime in the next few days - maybe tomorrow, because I just signed up for a 5K for Sunday (or maybe just running 6-7 before the race?), then cutting back next week to two runs of 4 miles and maybe one of 3 miles...and then the week after that maybe 4, 3, and 2? I don't know, I think I'll just wait and see what my body tells me. As so many running experts will tell you, less is more in these situations. I just don't want to lose fitness (hence the 5K and some other minimal speedwork to keep me sharp). But I guess it's all just a mental thing right now; the hard part is done...now all I can do is TRUST MY TRAINING!!
Well, either what everyone says about the marathon taper is true, or I'm just paranoid about things feeling "off" that I am making it true. Either way...this week has been quite annoying in terms of feeling "healthy."
After the half on Sunday, I was dead to the world. Hurting everywhere, exhausted...nothing like the River Run 3 weeks ago or EVEN the 20 miler in Rocky River last weekend. I don't know what the deal was. I had mentioned I started feeling a little off on Saturday, but then I guess the half "washed it out" for the time being, but then the icky feeling came back with a vengeance.
Monday I felt stiff, groggy, and had a headache and jaw pain most of the day. Kept taking Tylenol/Advil/whatever for it, but I hate taking medicine. I was going to go to yoga at 6pm on Monday--which I've done before and has actually helped a lot after a long run or race--but then I had a baking mishap while making Derek anniversary cupcakes (Salted caramel filled chocolate cupcakes with dark chocolate frosting). Everything started off fine, but then when it came time to make the caramel...WTF!?!?!?! It took me three tries. Finally, I got it.
But by that point, the kitchen was a mess, I had chocolate all over me...and there was no going to yoga. Oh well.
Derek did enjoy the cupcakes immensely though...
Anyway. I was a little on edge from not doing ANY type of working out on Monday, even though I didn't have a run planned. Derek and I went out that night for our anniversary at Farenheit, which was fabulous.
The only thing wrong was that my head started feeling gross again, and I couldn't get the smell of that caramel out of my mind...and all those dishes that had to be washed when we got home...
I did, however, enjoy a glass of my new favorite red wine, InZINerator, a Zinfandel (not to be confused with its trashy pink counterpart, White Zinfandel).
I got exactly ZERO sleep Monday night, adding to the problems. By Tuesday morning, I felt so tired. I didn't know what to do about running, because I know I am tapering, but not that much, not yet! I still have to do up to 80% of what I was doing last week, maybe even more since I didn't really do high-mileage throughout the training. Ugh.
Got a flu shot Tuesday afternoon (the spell is broken; after getting my first flu shot I am no longer convinced that it will give me the flu -- but knock on wood), then did a measley 20-minute run by the Steelyard. I just wasn't able to continue; too many things felt "off."
Wednesday the headache still wasn't gone. I was getting really upset! My tooth was still kinda hurting too (I have never gotten my wisdom teeth extracted, and so sometimes I bite my cheek and it hurts for a little while but then the pain goes away. Dumb, I know, I should get them taken out, yadda yadda yadda. I probably will. In fact, I made an appointment this morning to see the dentist so I will see what he tells me). I made myself go running, not only because I am stubborn but because I honestly did think it would make me feel better. And it did, for a while. I did around 5 miles and even tried to pick up the pace a mile at at time for a little makeshift speedwork session. I decided not to take any meds all day, but then kinda gave up that idea around 6 o'clock when I had to go meet Derek and his boss for dinner at Outback Steakhouse. I wasn't just going to go and feel miserable; I wanted it to be a pleasant experience. I took some Advil...and...the headache went away and stayed away!!! YAY!!
I am thinking it was sort of like a migraine...I only get those at times of stress. Saturday could have been the "aura" because I was feeling weird and lightheaded...and then the half put it off and then it came back. Ugh. I hate migraines. I think the nausea is the worst part of it. Blecch. So what's the stress? I dunno...not knowing where I stand job-wise...while part-time is good, it's not what I really need in order to feel secure. Been waiting to hear back from a couple places so we'll see. Also, tapering is good put it is also weird...how much do I run, how many days do I take off, with what intensity do I do my workouts? It's all kind of a mystery.
Went to Hot Powerful Flow yoga today at Inner Bliss...it was awesome, just what I needed. I am planning on doing 10 miles sometime in the next few days - maybe tomorrow, because I just signed up for a 5K for Sunday (or maybe just running 6-7 before the race?), then cutting back next week to two runs of 4 miles and maybe one of 3 miles...and then the week after that maybe 4, 3, and 2? I don't know, I think I'll just wait and see what my body tells me. As so many running experts will tell you, less is more in these situations. I just don't want to lose fitness (hence the 5K and some other minimal speedwork to keep me sharp). But I guess it's all just a mental thing right now; the hard part is done...now all I can do is TRUST MY TRAINING!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)