• train like a mother book review & giveaway for mother’s day!

Happy Train Like a Mother’s Day! (Both books are awesome)

In my mind, there’s no better time for a giveaway than Mother’s Day, cuz this is the hardest job evah. Am I right? Seriously, I would rather nix Christmas gifts and be showered with presents on the day that says, “Heck yeah, I’m the mom and I work my a&& off keeping my kids happy, healthy, safe and mostly snot-face-free!” Skip the Santa and pass the hammock.

I’ve been saving my extra copy of Train Like a Mother: How to Get Across Any Finish Line–and Not Lose Your Family, Job or Sanity by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea since Sarah spoke and read at our fun-delicious Spring Winery Run & Brunch in March. Of course, I’ve also been reading my copy and loving it.

They are right when they say it really belongs on your nightstand.  Mine will stay there a long time because it’s like having a running buddy just sorta hanging out in case you need her at any hour. (Kinda like real running buddies) You can pick it up and read stuff like Sarah’s plans for peeing her pants (yes a PLAN) during the Portland Marathon so she wouldn’t miss her time goal. She says her REI capris absorbed most of the pee and it was, after all, pouring rain, so “the torrent of raindrops served as a natural flush.” This cracks me up….and fills me with respect in an odd way. She rocked her time goal! (Side note: She and her friend, Sheila, came to my hotel room after this race to freshen up before heading out to find their families. Of course, I didn’t know at the time that she sat down at my computer to check her official race time in her pee pee pants. Now I’m really cracking up!)

I’m pretty sure Sarah didn’t pee her pants at our winery run.

It’s just real life stuff. The stuff you talk about on your runs with friends. This is one reason I love the book.

The other reason is the training plans and race info. I’m not a stranger to racing and marathons, but I’m always checking out plans and hunting for “the thing” that will make my next race better. But let’s back up… I LOVE Dimity’s quiz that asks you if you should race in the first place. How clever is that? I have a few newbie runner friends and this would be great for them to work through. Though a bit tongue-in-cheek, really, the questions get to the heart of your personality type. Question 10 is my favorite…

10. The last goal you set for yourself was:

A. Are you talking professional, financial, personal, family or emotional?

B. To read at least one book and to try four new recipes every month. So far I have a 3-month streak going.

C. To get my linen closet organized before the end of the month.

D. To make it to 5 p.m. before I crack open a beer. And I really don’t like the taste of beer.

The names of the marathon training plans make perfect sense. Either you pick the “finish it” or the “own it” plan, depending on your fitness, goals and life craziness. Having used the only-1-20-miler plans in the past, I agree with Sarah about the need to do a few, especially if you have a time goal. See the “own it” plan for that idea.

Like a good chick flick, this is a good chick read. For example, in the recovery section, the “Menu Of Services” for recouping after a race or hard training effort includes all the runnery stuff like ice bath, compression, heat, Aleve, etc, but also includes pedicure. Yep, us gals got special needs. Sweet!

I won’t tell you how to read this book because there is good reason to go from point A to point B, but I’m having fun jumping around. Reading all the inset/gray page sections with real life stories of other runner mothers, quotes, tips, dos and don’ts is a perfect night cap. I grab it, toss back a few, and feel all  jazzed and runnerly for my early morning road or trail pounding plan the next day.

Sarah and Dimity are wonderful women, runners and mommas as well as clever, smart and downright funny writers. Let’s wish them or one of your favorite moms a Happy Train Like a Mother’s Day here or on our Facebook page for a chance to win their latest book! We’ll pick a random name from here or Facebook on Mother’s Day by 8:00pm PST.

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• 10 random things: running, food, friends, gadgets and inspiring women

I’m feeling the need to play bloggy catch up. No big paragraphs for you to read, so throw down a cup a joe and let’s do a “wordless Wednesday” with a couple words thrown in.

My new favorite breakfast or snack: nonfat yogurt with soy nut mix from Costco (soy nuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, cranberries) I threw in some sunflower seeds and a tsp of peanut butter because breakfast isn't finished without peanut butter.

 

Just in case you were wondering, my kids are still EXTREMELY cute, especially when they are in "best friends" mode. They love each other so much and I'm so lucky to be a play at home mom!

 

I'm a proud business member of the Oregon Track Club and enjoyed their annual meeting last night. To be in a room with coaches, leaders, elite athletes, volunteers, friends and the most passionate of Tracktown fans is humbling. Learning more about the 2012 Trials really got me excited to have our RMR booth there - wahooo!

(Photo from 2011 Eugene Marathon Expo) Lauren Fleshman was the speaker last night at the OTC meeting. She talked about following dreams...like when you were a kid and thought everything was possible. What a dreamer and inspiration she is.

My new swim paddles! My leg workouts are taken care of with running and biking, now it's time to beef up the arms a bit more with this addition to my swimming routine.

 

When we're not running, we're playing cards! Tanya hosted an impromptu poker party. Did you know you can play poker in a Run Momma Run shirt? Of course you can!

The peanut butter Gu experiment went well. I'm a plain-only gal and it wasn't too sweet. I wouldn't make a sandwich with it, but I'll run with it. Oh, and the new headlamp is doing what it's supposed to; keeping me out of the potholes, dog poop and major puddles in the wee hours.

Kale Chips! Chop, shoot with organic cooking spray or drizzle with Tbsp of oil, lightly salt & seed & bake at 200 for 1 hour or till crispy. Guilt-free heaven.

I love Andrea - an amazing woman I am having a blast getting to know. We look like we just woke up, cuz we did...and about to jump in a lake for my 1st open water swim this summer. And now she is my swimming mentor! (See paddle photo above) Oh look, you can wear your Run Momma Run shirt to a lake too

Sarah Bowen Shea, another inspiring woman - in running and in business. She has taught me so much and is so generous with her knowledge. I can't wait for you to enjoy her reading and chat at our Winery Run & Brunch coming up!

What’s up with you all? Running, gadgets, inspiring faces, places or races?

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