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Monday, January 24, 2011
Carlsbad Half Marathon race report
Yesterday I completed a Half Marathon, that's 13.1 miles folks. I will pause for effect.
I haven't run a race since Elliott was just a few months old and I really walked most of it being just a few months post surgery.
In my former life I was a frequent runner and racer, and I posted a while ago about the races that I remember running. I was never fast, but I do have endurance. It took me 6 hours and 1 minute to complete my only marathon.
This race was different though than all my other races. The main difference was that I signed up for the race and the training alone. I was lucky enough to run with some great women throughout the training period, but the decision to run and train was mine alone. I also vowed from the first long weekend run that I would not allow myself to quit.
You see, I have a habit of letting myself fail. If I find something to be difficult I judge whether I will be able to complete the task. If there is a possibility that I may fail, then I will rationalize reasons not to try as hard as I could. Then, I often end up giving up and failing at the task. Therefore sabotaging my chances at success, even if they may have been slim to begin with.
I didn't do that to myself this time. I tried as hard as I could throughout the season. I accepted my defeats as they came (and they came on a 12 mile training run...ouch), and I pushed myself when I could. The result was awesome. I finished the half with a personal best. My watch time was 2 hours 38 minutes (had to stop it for a potty break hence the 3 minute variance from the tag time). The official results are here:
It clearly isn't a great time compared to others in my age group (591 out of 768 finishers), but it a great time for me as a runner. And I ran 95% of the course, only stopping to catch my breath 3 times after I ran 10 straight miles. My previous race times were around 3 hours, so my pace has improved greatly as well. I feel proud of myself for giving it my all, and that is all that counts in my race book.
I haven't run a race since Elliott was just a few months old and I really walked most of it being just a few months post surgery.
In my former life I was a frequent runner and racer, and I posted a while ago about the races that I remember running. I was never fast, but I do have endurance. It took me 6 hours and 1 minute to complete my only marathon.
This race was different though than all my other races. The main difference was that I signed up for the race and the training alone. I was lucky enough to run with some great women throughout the training period, but the decision to run and train was mine alone. I also vowed from the first long weekend run that I would not allow myself to quit.
You see, I have a habit of letting myself fail. If I find something to be difficult I judge whether I will be able to complete the task. If there is a possibility that I may fail, then I will rationalize reasons not to try as hard as I could. Then, I often end up giving up and failing at the task. Therefore sabotaging my chances at success, even if they may have been slim to begin with.
I didn't do that to myself this time. I tried as hard as I could throughout the season. I accepted my defeats as they came (and they came on a 12 mile training run...ouch), and I pushed myself when I could. The result was awesome. I finished the half with a personal best. My watch time was 2 hours 38 minutes (had to stop it for a potty break hence the 3 minute variance from the tag time). The official results are here:
| Half Marathon |
| Runner Details | Race Results | Split Times | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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It clearly isn't a great time compared to others in my age group (591 out of 768 finishers), but it a great time for me as a runner. And I ran 95% of the course, only stopping to catch my breath 3 times after I ran 10 straight miles. My previous race times were around 3 hours, so my pace has improved greatly as well. I feel proud of myself for giving it my all, and that is all that counts in my race book.
Childhood Food Allergies
When Spencer was about 6 months old, one of the first foods he sampled was yogurt. I bought the plain greek yogurt, and Spencer didn't love it. He made a funny face and only allowed a couple spoonfuls into his grill before flat out rejecting it's milky goodness.
After eating a couple of bites, I thought I noticed a few red marks on his face. They were so subtle though, that I attributed them to irritation from using the spoon to wipe or catch the extra food that ends up all over little ones faces.
I made a mental note of the redness and moved on. It was a while still before I tried yogurt again. This time I smartened up and bough the Gerber baby yogurt-strawberry flavor. He loved it and gobbled it down. The entire container in fact. And, he wasn't even out of his highchair before he clearly developed hives on his face and around his mouth.
A phone call to the doc, some Benadryl and a vow to stay off dairy products until he was 1 year old--no cheese, no milk, no yogurt. I never gave him formula, luckily, not that he would drink it anyway! He is a very particular eater and drinker. I wasn't checking every label to ensure that all milk proteins were absent from the foods I gave him. Not until I noticed he would have a couple of very small hives after eating certain foods. I then began to read labels more closely and discovered that he was more sensitive to milk that I suspected. He was reacting to items where milk (or derivatives) was low on the ingredient list.
I discussed it with his doctor at his 9 month appointment, and they suggested scheduling an appointment with an allergist when he reached 1 year old. We did just that. Elliott went through allergy testing last year as well, so I knew what to expect. Spencer was a champion during the appointment and testing.
And, before I left the office I had a Rx for an epi-pen and was reeling at the discovery that my wee lad had not only an allergy to milk, but to eggs and peanuts.
The first feeling I had was pity. For my myself. I felt disappointed that it was my kid who was going to ruin lunch for everyone at school. It was my kid who everyone was going to have to cater their lunch boxes to. It was me who was going to have to make all sorts of food modifications for. Then, I got over it and moved on.
We have been navigation the food allergies for several months now, and it doesn't seem as bad as I had anticipated. The main challenge is the peanut allergy. Since he has never been exposed to peanuts, there is no way to know what type of reaction he will have. It could be hives or it could be death.
The milk and egg allergies he will likely outgrow. In fact, 80% of children outgrow their childhood allergies to milk and eggs. While only 20% of children outgrow their allergy to peanuts. We have eliminated peanut butter from our nut butter arsenal, as well as most products that contain peanuts. But, we aren't so strict as to eliminate foods made on equipment with peanuts.
The tough part is still coming though. He is only 14 months old, and doesn't have the language skills to ask why he cant eat certain foods, while his brother can. But, he is beginning to show signs that he notices that we are eating foods that he isn't, and he knows that he wants them too, and he shows me his dismay that I dont allow him to partake. Spencer is very particular and vocal about the things he wants and doesn't want. He is my son after all. Love that kid.
After eating a couple of bites, I thought I noticed a few red marks on his face. They were so subtle though, that I attributed them to irritation from using the spoon to wipe or catch the extra food that ends up all over little ones faces.
I made a mental note of the redness and moved on. It was a while still before I tried yogurt again. This time I smartened up and bough the Gerber baby yogurt-strawberry flavor. He loved it and gobbled it down. The entire container in fact. And, he wasn't even out of his highchair before he clearly developed hives on his face and around his mouth.
A phone call to the doc, some Benadryl and a vow to stay off dairy products until he was 1 year old--no cheese, no milk, no yogurt. I never gave him formula, luckily, not that he would drink it anyway! He is a very particular eater and drinker. I wasn't checking every label to ensure that all milk proteins were absent from the foods I gave him. Not until I noticed he would have a couple of very small hives after eating certain foods. I then began to read labels more closely and discovered that he was more sensitive to milk that I suspected. He was reacting to items where milk (or derivatives) was low on the ingredient list.
I discussed it with his doctor at his 9 month appointment, and they suggested scheduling an appointment with an allergist when he reached 1 year old. We did just that. Elliott went through allergy testing last year as well, so I knew what to expect. Spencer was a champion during the appointment and testing.
And, before I left the office I had a Rx for an epi-pen and was reeling at the discovery that my wee lad had not only an allergy to milk, but to eggs and peanuts.
The first feeling I had was pity. For my myself. I felt disappointed that it was my kid who was going to ruin lunch for everyone at school. It was my kid who everyone was going to have to cater their lunch boxes to. It was me who was going to have to make all sorts of food modifications for. Then, I got over it and moved on.
We have been navigation the food allergies for several months now, and it doesn't seem as bad as I had anticipated. The main challenge is the peanut allergy. Since he has never been exposed to peanuts, there is no way to know what type of reaction he will have. It could be hives or it could be death.
The milk and egg allergies he will likely outgrow. In fact, 80% of children outgrow their childhood allergies to milk and eggs. While only 20% of children outgrow their allergy to peanuts. We have eliminated peanut butter from our nut butter arsenal, as well as most products that contain peanuts. But, we aren't so strict as to eliminate foods made on equipment with peanuts.
The tough part is still coming though. He is only 14 months old, and doesn't have the language skills to ask why he cant eat certain foods, while his brother can. But, he is beginning to show signs that he notices that we are eating foods that he isn't, and he knows that he wants them too, and he shows me his dismay that I dont allow him to partake. Spencer is very particular and vocal about the things he wants and doesn't want. He is my son after all. Love that kid.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Spencer's First Birthday Party
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| Happy Birthday, Spencer |
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| Where is my cake?!?! |
Like usual, I am delinquent in posting. Spencer celebrated his 1 year birthday in late November. I wanted a small party, but as is typical, we had a large gathering. I am incapable of throwing a small shindig.
It was a wonderful morning party with many of the kids he sees and plays with on a daily basis from Stroller Strides, and a few of my friends. Along with the family that was able to travel to San Diego to celebrate.
We had a checkered flag themed party, and kept the decorations and fan fare limited. I did make a 4 layer white and black cake. Apparently black food coloring turns poop green. Good to know.
It was a lot of work to have his party and then go full force into the December holidays. Next year we are going to have his party the weekend before his birthday, depending on when the Thanksgiving holidays fall.
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