We're going STREAKING!!!

Okay, not THAT kind of streaking! ;) 

In my post the other day I asked if anyone else was participating in the Runner's World Run Streak 2015, so I wanted to share why I am!

First off, the running community is incredible, and each time I have the opportunity to participate in an "event", especially a free one that I can do on my own time, I take it! The Runner's World Run Streak is a challenge to run at least one mile each day from Memorial Day until the Fourth of July (41 days, this year). My intention with the challenge is to go about my normal 4 day x week training schedule - Run my scheduled mileage on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays. I will add just one super easy mile on Tuesday, Friday and Sundays. My goal is to continue to find motivation to get up, since I have to do all of my workouts early in the morning for two reasons, 1. because its going to start getting really hot! and 2. because its the only time that I know I always have for myself. I have the darndest time getting out of bed to do my lifting & strengthening workouts, so if I have to get up to run a mile, I might as well add in some strengthening routines afterward - especially if I can do it outside in the crisp morning air (doesn't that sound lovely??). 

Another reason to do it, similar to what I mentioned, the support system via social media is so great. The connections I've already made through my blog and through becoming a Sweat Pink Ambassador have already given me the added push. There are quite a few fellow ambassadors also taking on the challenge, so it'll be fun to share our runs together. I enjoy connecting with other runners, and I have a sweet spot for other mother runners. Social media makes it very easy these days to form a support system and find accountability partners who have no bias, and honest and truly want to help each other succeed. So this time is no different.

Lastly, along with motivation to get moving, I want to be really cautious about my nutrition leading up to the high mileage of marathon training. These early weeks, before the load starts to pick up, is the perfect time to play with nutrition - find meals that work to help my body recover, good solid breakfasts after my morning workouts, and nutrient-dense snacks for those hangry moments during the day. Of course, all without doubling our grocery bill...I'll keep you updated on that. ;)

And a side note, I do intend to seriously listen to my body during this challenge. If my quad starts acting up again, or any other injury seems to creep in, I will not continue the streak. This marathon is really important to me, so I don't want to screw it up so early in the training by over doing it.

That said, if anyone else wants to join in, we're on day 4! You don't even need to sign up! Just share your running adventures and use hashtag #RWRunStreak on your social media post to join in the challenge!

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Have you ever participated in a running streak? How long did it last? 

What's your favorite breakfast food?

Tee Ball and Marathon Training Week 1!

I mentioned in my last post that I would share some details of the excitement going on in our little lives! Because I have yet to take any "after" photos of our new house, I'll share those another time. ;)

Tee ball has been an adventure over the last 3 weeks. Boy, when I originally looked at the schedule and saw that it was only 5 weeks long, I thought to myself - "That's it!? We pay this money for just 5 weeks of tee ball?" Now, I need no explanation. The kids on Cameron's team are great. The parents are all super helpful and both Shawn (as assistant coach), and head coach Carrington, are trying their best to teach these little boogers the rules and basics of baseball. 4-6 year olds are EXHAUSTING! They're so fun and we've seen great improvements in their skills over the last few weeks, they're just so easily distracted - by the dirt, by the trees, by the caterpillar on the bench, by the dirt again, by the team playing on the other field, ohhh the dirt... You get it. It'll be a bitter/sweet day when Cam's first year of tee ball ends. Anywho, some photos of the "little" Red Sox in action:

Coaches giving a pep talk before the game!

Playing catch to warm up.

Coach Fisk giving batting pointers.

"Good game. Good game. Good game."

Their best game yet - Look! They're all standing in their positions!

Another notch on the excitement list: The Big Lake Half Marathon!
This was the first half marathon that I ran without a cheering squad, or anyone familiar present. During the halfs that I've done in the past, I've always looked forward to the time when I can high five family and/or friends on the side walk. Its a fantastic push and energizing moment to see Shawn and Cameron off to the side cheering me on as I run by, and there when I cross the finish line.
This time, I left the house just after 5am by myself, and made my way to Alton, NH. What a beautiful little town! The check in was so quick and easy, and it was about a quarter mile walk to the starting line. Because we were in the valley of the mountains and right down by the lake, there was NO signal, so my Garmin would not "get location". I really didn't mind, even though I was having a little panic attack when it wouldn't start - for no good reason, really! It was absolutely beautiful!

The views of Lake Winnipesaukee were incredible and there were so many aid stations, I barely used the Nuun in my fuel belt (which worked well as a recovery drink after the race!). When I crossed the finish line, the first thing I did was call Shawn - who was at tee ball practice with Cameron. It was nice to be able to walk around to the different vendors and relax a little before getting on the bus to go back to my car. Even though I didn't have my cheering squad, I did appreciate being able to take my time to stretch and walk around a bit!

Crossing the finish line of the Big Lake half was the official start of my marathon training. I took the next week completely off, because my quad was a little sore longer than any of the other muscles in my leg, and I am really trying to make sure I'm being careful.

So, a little Week 1 training in review:
Monday was my first run 3.01 miles at 11:37 pace
Tuesday is strength day - I focused on my core and am going to be especially cautious of my hip flexors and glutes when strength training, to make sure my muscles are strong and healthy to help prevent injury!
Wednesday another 3.00 miles at 11:36 pace
Thursday will be a speed work/hill workout day when I'm confident that my quad is good to go, so for now, I took that day off and slept in an extra 45 minutes
Friday Cam and I did our weekly yoga!
I decided to swap my Saturday and Sunday workouts this weekend because ...yard saling! ;) So Saturday was technically "rest" day this week
Sunday I did just about 4.5 mi at 11:50 pace then joined my friend Cait for her weekly yoga in the park class at 10am!
Total mileage: 10.5
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Anyone else feeling extremely slowed down by the humidity over the last few days?
Who else is participating in the Runner's World Run Streak 2015??

Excitement List!

So many things have been happening in the Cyr household lately!

Here's the list of excitement:
We bought and moved into our first house!

I became a Sweat Pink Ambassador!
<<<< Check out my sweet badge!

Cameron started tee ball for the first time!

We had Cam's IEP meeting in preparation for him to start Kindergarten.

I ran my last half marathon before marathon training officially begins!

My donor page for the CHaD HERO has officially opened!

After the Big Lake Half Marathon this past weekend, and the quad strain, I decided to take this week as a complete recovery week before I really, REALLY start training for the Baystate Marathon. I'm looking forward to planning some fundraising events and will share them on my social media pages. If someone you know might be interested, but may not be connected with me, please be sure to share, share, share! I've posted a link directly to my donor page right here (scroll up, on the left!), so you don't even have to go far! ;)

More on the individual excitement points soon! (Especially pictures of the house! WHOO!)

Pediatric Neurology & More Specialties!

Cameron had his check up with Dr. Richard Morse at Dartmouth on Monday afternoon. We left my office just after the winners of the Boston Marathon crossed the finish line! Whoo!

I snuck some pictures of him during his appointment.

The giant star on his chest was from a contest we had at work. He obv had to have it!

He's 43.5 inches tall and 41 pounds -- he's grown so much in the past 6 months!

He's kind of a champ at holding still to get his blood pressure read.

Dr. Morse started the appointment the same as he always does: "How's everything going?" I explained that since we were last there, Cameron went the longest stretch that he has gone without a seizure -- 5 months and 4 days. Dr. Morse was thrilled, especially when we mentioned that Cameron had been (along with every other 4-year-old preschooler) sick with colds on-and-off all winter. He reviewed his most recent labs (from Dec. 31), which showed his main seizure med to be right in the middle of "therapeutic level," which was a surprise for us all because Cam has always had his levels above therapeutic level to keep the seizures at bay. His other med was actually below therapeutic level. All great things when we consider that those labs were drawn 4 months ago and Cameron only has had one seizure since that time. Dr. Morse suggested we continue his dosage where it is, unless he has another seizure, especially considering he MAY have had a fever prior to the last one.

Yoga for Kids and Cross-Training

For me, yoga always had this sort of hippie, free-spirited, twist-your-body-in-weird-ways-on-the-beach vibe to it, that I never felt like I could truly relate to. Oddly enough, my newly-found interest in yoga actually came from Cameron. He practices yoga every Wednesday at school, in addition to his physical therapy. He has been coming home and telling us about "the yoga" that he's learned since he started preschool last year. When the opportunity arose for me to join some friends at a $5 Community Yoga class over this long, harsh winter, I took the dive!  

Timehop, Races and The Boston Marathon

Timehop is a wonderful thing! Those of you with Facebook, Instagram or Twitter have probably seen the glorious "8 YEARS AGO" photos of silly college messes, or the "2 YEARS AGO" newborn photos of your friend's now two year old baby. On Sunday, my Timehop reminded me that "4 YEARS AGO" Shawn and I got engaged! April 12, 2011 was a day that stood out in my mind for the two years leading up to our wedding, because it was the anniversary of our engagement, but with so many other dates to remember, this one sort of left my memory. My Timehop has been empty 4 years ago over the past few days, but April 13, 2011 is just about as equally a life-changing date as April 12th was.

Dreams & Updates

I'll be honest, running a marathon was never a dream of mine. It's never been on my proverbial bucket list and I totally skipped more than one Whitcomb Loop 4 miler during cross country skiing season in high school (sorry Mr. Streeter!). But, I have learned, in my 27 wise and experienced (haha) years, that life will undoubtedly throw some seriously mind-altering events your way. Such events may lead you to an earlier-than-expected start at parenthood, meeting the love of your life at the college you initially avoided, and maybe finding a release in just the place you hid from 11 years ago. 

So here I am. Registered for my first marathon.