Helped My Husband Complete His First Half-Marathon!

Not a race, just a run but we did it together and it was super exciting as it was my husbands first. I never thought the day would come, but he's come so far as a runner and I'm quite proud! We agreed to have 10 miles be the longest (which may be too long already) for the babies to come on a run with us. So we were prepared for this run by traveling up to my parents house in the 'burbs and leaving the kiddos with them while we set out in one of the long-running (30 miles or so of trail that connects town to town in the suburb). It's more corn fields and prairie than forest (which is my husbands favorite type of trail to run in), but it was a nice change. Beautiful day! The sun was just warm enough and there was a gentle breeze that really made us seem like we were surfing it while running, as we were on a lot of open prairie with nothing to block the wind and sometimes on top of a hill. There was nothing between us, the land and the sky - it seems perfect and surreal. The trail started off paved for about the first 3 miles, then went to a smooth dirt trail that was quite fitting once we hit the prairie and corn fields. Really made it feel like we were running some lonely back country road. When I used to live with my parents, I would use these trails quite regularly and I remember always going South on the trail instead of North (the way we were running today), because it was too secluded. Today, there was a sparse amount of people; just enough to keep things moving and keep with a nice isolated feel at the same time.
I was feeling great from start to finish. I had to check up on my husband a few times as he started out with some ankle issues in the beginning and low energy about 7 miles in. I was getting a bit worried when we met our turn around point as I could really see him struggling. I knew he made 10 miles a few times and I knew he had the determination in him - he's never quit anything he's set out to do yet  and probably won't. I knew we would make it. I love running with him and today, without the babies, sparked my love in running even more. I felt back in the zone and really felt the run today. However, I do have a bit of a type A personality when running (especially when not with the babies). I try to motivate and support my husband, but admittedly, sometimes it's of selfish intention. I know he can run a fast 5k now and I think some part of my brain was ready for him to run this whole distance at my pace. However, we started out at his pace (floating between a 9'20 and a 10'), but then he started to slow down at mile 6 or so and I was obliviously running ahead of him (just maintaining that pace we started out at). I was pausing and running back to him when I would get too far and did this pretty much the whole way back more than a few times. I felt bad, but at the same time, my brain and legs kept telling me that he'll catch up; I shouldn't slow down. He didn't really seem to mind this, so I kept doing it; making sure not to leave him too far behind. I wasn't running at a fast pace, just one I thought I could keep a goal for him to do (it was around a 10' or so). His Garmin did not work for this run; I guess when I packed it up, it was accidentally turned on and it ran the battery out. Oops! Thankfully, we had my Nike p.o.c. and used that for both of our times. As I was ahead of him, I would shout out our miles and when I went back to him I would try to give him little pep-talks and went into cheerleader mode enough to support but not too much to annoy. Then I would run ahead.
A great first half-marathon together. I'm looking forward to the next one and hope we get just as awesome of a day. This run will be a great memory; the gorgeous day, the relaxing run and an accomplishment of my husbands I'd like to say I had some part in influencing him on. :)

Dat Heat

The last weeks or so of not blogging have just been running in the park with the babies in tow on our usual park run of ~4 miles. The heat was pretty horrible, but we've been running after I get out of work so it isn't as sweltering. However, the last few days I actually had to say no to my husband in taking the babies out in this heat. Even with our breakneck speeds that provide the babies with enough of a breeze to cool them (Ha!), it is still way too hot for them. There is a little splash pad in the park, but I'm always a bit reluctant to let them go near it; seems a little dirty.
Anyways, so the last day we ran together was on Monday and my husband actually took the stroller the whole time (first time ever!) because he seemed he was still revved up from his race and had tons of energy. He actually tried to hand the stroller over once and I urged him to keep going, as he was doing so good. >:)
The last two days (after sitting out Tuesday and Wednesday; with Wednesday a sit out because I had to wait for the gas company to come reconnect our gas - long story) but I skipped morning nap with the babies and ran a ~7 miler on the treadmill on Thursday and today I only ran a 6 miler today because it was still so hot and humid in the workout room. The treadmill is located upstairs and we don't have the AC vents on in that room (only the babies bedroom and ours to save) and the vent is practically on the ceiling, so I just dealt with it.
This Sunday had better be a cool one, as my husband and I are going to the burbs and dropping the babies off at the g-parents house and attempting our first 13miler together. There is a long trail connecting town-town in the suburbs where my parents live, so we're going to try and head out early and get our half-marathon in (my husbands first and who knows what # this one is for me).
Until then, here's some pictures of the babies in the pool having fun and keeping cool:

Babies playing nicely.

Evander learning to kick, while holding on to the fence!

Madeline is a hard baby to take a pic of, but she's actually looking in this one!

First 10 Mile Run with the Baby Stroller

On our weekend runs, my husband and I try to pick out a location to go to that we can get a long stretch of trail with little stops (unlike our usual running path by our house that is riddled with stop lights, alleys, etc.). My favorite place is the Lakeshore path, so we decided on that for todays run. It's usually a safe place for a long run because it's a long stretch and there's a lot for the babies to look at and people to see along the way. Plus, if they grow too bored or upset, we can take them out at one of the many playgrounds along the way or even let them loose by the water on one of the beaches (which we haven't done yet). However, once we arrived at the lakeshore and after we got the babies settled in the stroller and took our first few steps on the path we both realized the wind was blowing pretty strong. It wouldn't be too much of a problem, other than slowing us down some, but with the baby stroller; we'd probably be slowed way down and exhausted well before 10 miles were completed. We decided to go to our other favorite location, at Miami Woods. I was a bit apprehensive, because the last time we went (a few days ago), the trail was swamped and parts were so flooded over that we couldn't pass. We've had a few warm days in between, but nothing I thought would dry up the massive pools of water. My husband made a point that, because the floods were from the river overflowing and not stagnant water, the flooding should've receded quite a bit if not completely. So we tried our luck and ventured out there.
Once we arrived, we noticed there were a lot of people using the trail, so we figured that was a good enough sign. Once we were off, both of us were feeling pretty good and the babies were content and smiling; I was doubtful it would last, but I had backup snacks and beverages for them and there was always sticks to play with that worked well last time that we could use. My ankle was feeling pretty good and my energy was high also, as I actually had breakfast before our run (I usually don't have breakfast). I actually did not run in my VFF's today and instead, was running in my regular running shoes thinking it might offer more support to my ankle). My husband agreed to taking the stroller up hills and if I needed a break. We were running at his pace, so between that and the breaks with the stroller, I think my ankle should be fine and my endurance would make it as well. Throughout our run, I would push for 20 and my husband would take it for 5 or 10 minutes after my 20 minutes were up. I was a bit disappointed in our run out, because I had the_worst side stitch that I couldn't push through. So I took a minute to walk it off while my husband took the stroller and kept running. It was somewhat better before I decided to try to catch up to him. The sprint up to him actually (coincidence or not), made the side stitch go away completely. I guess the burst of circulation might have helped?
Once we hit our halfway mark (at 52 minutes or so), I was still feeling great and so was my husband. On the way back though, the hills were really zapping us. We passed a few other running parents with strollers that seemed happy to see us out there as well. An older man, that I believe we saw out there on one of our other runs with the baby gave a hand wave and that made me happy. I love the older couples or older people in general that are out and getting some kind of exercise. They always seem the most friendly and happy to see you.
I am happy for my husband for completing his second 10 mile run (the first one without me). He thinks next weekend he'll go the full 13 miles. I don't think we'll be bringing the babies for that one and it does make me sad to leave them behind. It won't be the same. :(

The babies actually slept on the last part of our run!

Sharing their first chocolate milk! Cheers to daddy and mommys 10 mile run! :)