Kristy Maute

9 – 10 – 7

My training plan called for a 9 mile run today. I had a great week running. I was ready for it. Because of my previous injury and the date of the Rock n Roll half-marathon, I’m kind of squeezing in all these long runs at the last-minute. I have a mid-week 12 mile run a week and a half before the race. Since I’m not following a push-hard, shoot for a PR training plan this summer, I’ve definitely taken a more relaxed approach to my running. To avoid the 12 mile mid-week run, I thought I should aim for 10 miles this weekend. I know my body is ready for it. I know I’m capable of completing that distance.

I woke up a little later than usual this morning – 6:30am ‘- Gasp! It was already 84 degrees outside with heat indexes in the 90s. So much for beating the heat. I had breakfast and headed out. For a change of pace, Christian and I headed to the oceanfront. He was going to bike while I ran. Support Team Christian could come to my rescue whenever I need something.

Apparently I learn lessons the hard way. Remember this post about my last oceanfront run. Different Run. Same Story. I thought there would be a nice breeze off the ocean. I was wrong. Temperatures reached 90 degrees on my run with heat indexes near 100, and there was NO SHADE. I never got a break from the heat. I ran through the showers on the boardwalk a few times to cool down. I stole Christian’s cold Gatorade off his bike every time he passed me. The water in my camelbak quickly got hot. I ran some. I jogged some. I walked more than normal. I called it quits at mile 7. I had enough.

When the conversation in my head started in this direct – umm what are you doing? It’s hot. This summer is about running to feel good. You do not feel good right now. Are you running just because of piece of paper tells you that you need to run 10 miles? Yes! Okay then. That is stupid. You are pregnant. Run because you love it. Run because you feel good. Don’t run because a piece of paper you created says you should go run. Go jump in the ocean and call it a day while it still feels good. – I knew it was time to listen to myself.

I ditched my running shoes. I ditched my shirt. Don’t worry I had a sports bra on. I ditched my camelbak. I went and played in the ocean waves instead.

The story of my saturday run – Lessons Learned. No more boardwalk runs until the fall. 7 miles is just as good as 10 (for me while I’m pregnant). I love running. I started with a plan of 9, aimed for 10, and completed 7. Run, jog, or walk, I finished! Husbands who are willing to be an on-call support team are the best.

And I saw a man running with an identical BOB stroller as mine. He was covered in tattoos just like my husband. It made me smile. He was the only person who said hello to me on the boardwalk today. Thank you to him for making my morning run. I can’t wait to see Christian pushing our baby around in our stroller!

I wasn’t the only one struggling with the heat today! Thank goodness for other honest bloggers! Thank you Tasha! Any one else suffer along side of us today?

Breathe In. Breathe Out.

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines inhaling and exhaling as:

Inhale 1: to draw in by breathing, 2: to take in eagerly or greedily 3: to breathe in

Exhale 1: to rise or be given off as vapor 2: to emit breath or vapor 3: to breathe out 4: to give forth

During yoga practice yesterday, the yoga instructor Katie reminded me why breathing has become the defining factor of my life. Besides the fact that we have to breathe to live – as if you all didn’t already know that – it is one of the most important and relaxing exercises I practice. It is so simple. Inhale. Exhale. Breathe in. Breathe out. Inhale. Exhale.

While it is very easy to sit and breathe, it can be very difficult to quiet my brain. My mind, my imagination, my thought process – they all love to work. If your brain is anything like mine, most of the time it is one over-active 2-year-old. It goes, goes, goes until it hits a wall and either crashes or becomes overly exhausted and cranky. Breathing, yoga, and meditation are my 2-year-old brain’s nap time.

I think I was bouncing off the walls before I even got in my car to head to yoga last night. I was excited – Excited for my first prenatal yoga class. Excited for a yoga class. Excited to be around other pregnant woman. Excited for an hour for me. Excited for an hour with my baby. When it was time to sit still and breathe, I had a hard time quieting my brain. The yoga instructor must have heard my brain talking because she gently reminded the class to let our thoughts go. Thoughts will always show up. During yoga and mediation, acknowledge the presences of the thought and let it go. Let it go without judgement, without emotion. Let the thought leave you as quickly as it showed up.

Our only purpose during the practice is to breathe. Inhale Exhale. Breath in. Breath out. If you have a hard time quieting your brain, this should be your thought process. (Thank you again to Katie!) As you inhale – I am breathing in. As you exhale – I am breathing out. All my thoughts about dinner, running, future blog posts, baby checklists, messy kitchens, etc. disappeared. My only purpose in that moment was breathing.

By focusing on my breath, I am able to turn off my over-active brain. I am able to relax my mind, my body, and my emotions. I am brought back to the center of myself. I’m brought back to love. When the rest of the world is erased, when I’m not worried about anything but inhale and exhaling, I’m left with a moment to remember that I am here to love. I’m here to give love and to receive love. The dirty dishes, the messy house, the never-ending to-do lists pale in comparison to the real reason I wake up every morning. By simply breathing in and breathing out, I am open to give love and to receive love.

It’s no surprise to me that my life waited to fall into place until I learned how to breathe deeply – truly opening myself up to all aspects of love.

Inhale. Exhale. Breathe in. Breathe out. Inhale. Exhale. I am breathing in. I am breathing out. Give yourself the gift of love and take 1o minutes to really breathe today!

You can read more about Learning to Breathe and the health benefits of deep breathing here. It’s updated and has received a facelift! Check that one of the 40 day goal list!

Namaste

Yesterday morning I woke up craving a run. Today I woke up craving yoga. I vaguely remembered looking at Bamboo Studio‘s class schedule and seeing a Thursday night prenatal yoga class. When I got to work, I double checked the schedule. Sure enough. There was a prenatal yoga class from 6:00 – 7:15 on Thursday nights.

This was my first time at Bamboo Studios. Let me just say that I’m in love. I loved the class. I loved the instructor. I loved the people in my class, in the lobby after class, and in the parking lot. I loved the building, the atmosphere, and the energy. It felt good. Being the new girl, I quickly introduced myself, signed up for my 5 class introductory offer, and found a home for my yoga mat.

Me and Maute Moo (week 19) heading to yoga

Being in a room with a bunch of other pregnant women is great. Everyone was chatting before class. Every pregnant woman has something new to share or a story to tell. The lady sitting next to me was glowing. She is 8 weeks 3 days pregnant, and she has been trying for 7 years to get pregnant. I hugged her! I couldn’t help it. Another lady is 32 weeks pregnant with identical twin girls. Another lady is due tomorrow. Another lady is due two days after me.

While it was great being with all these women, the instructor made the class. I’ll be sitting in her class again next week.

We began class by breathing. Simple inhales and exhales followed by vocal exercises. Umms. Ahhs. Ohhs. Mmms. At this stage of pregnancy, Maute Moo can hear. Practicing these vocal exercises during my yoga practice will allow Maute Moo to associate the relaxation of my body with the sound of my voice. They can also be used during labor to comfort both myself and my baby. Tonight I really began to think about my birthing plan. While I know it’s just a plan for a best case scenario, I want Maute Moo to be welcomed into the world with the least amount of chaos possible. Calm, quiet, as non-chaotic as possible.

How would you want to be welcomed into the world? This is what I would want. I hope to give this to Maute Moo. I want to welcome Maute Moo into the world with Christian by my side in the most peaceful environment possible. Yes! I’m talking about childbirth! I’ve been there before so I know a little bit about it although I know this delivery will be different. While my birthing plan is nowhere near complete or even completely thought through, tonight sparked a new energy inside of me to create the best case scenario for Maute Moo.

While Maute Moo takes her/his first breath, I want the noisy confusion of life to remain foreign to my baby. My yoga practice tonight reminded me of the joys that I find by renewing the peace in my soul. I hope to keep that peace during labor so I can pass it on to Maute Moo.

Go find your peace! Namaste!

Good Morning Sun!

This morning I woke up craving my running shoes. 5:30 am cravings for a run are rare for me. In fact, I don’t think I have ever experienced one. As soon as I woke, I knew I had to go for a run. Without thinking, I grabbed my running clothes (that conveniently hang on a hook in the bathroom), running shoes, and camelbak and headed out – leaving a very depressed dog at the front door.

A few weeks ago, I found a group of Mom runners in our area through the National Organization Mom’s Run this Town. To my surprise, there is a local chapter in Virginia Beach. I found their Facebook page, requested to join, and just like that I have an amazing group of cheerleaders (whom I’ve yet to meet) supporting me and my running journey. The local group was incredibly welcoming and not at all clicky. I immediately felt at home on there Facebook page! I plan on joining them on a group run any day now!

During the summer months, the national organization is hosting a virtual 5k race series. Every month they encourage runners to get outside and run a 5k. Time doesn’t matter. It’s all about beating the heat and staying active. As I headed out on my run today, I decided to run my July 5k for the series. 3.1 miles to start my day. Not too bad.

Rewind back to late February/early March of this year. I was training for the Shamrock Marathon. I completed my first ever 18 mile run. I found out I had a stress fracture in the shaft of my femur. 12 weeks of no running for me. By the time my 12 weeks of no running was over, I was already well into the first trimester of my pregnancy. Making a come back from my injury just became a lot more complicated. Since then I have run/walked every single one of my training runs. The ratio of run/walking varies daily, but I typically walk about 1/10th of every mile. The most I’ve run on any of my training runs without taking a walk break is 1.5 miles.

Fast forward back to this morning. As I headed out for my 5k, I got a crazy idea in my head. What if I could run the entire thing without walking? I just ran 8 miles on Sunday. This is 5 fewer miles. Maybe, just maybe, I can do it!

One mile into my run, out of habit, my mind started to tell me to walk. This is when I start to talk to myself. Yes! Sometimes out loud for everyone to hear! You have got this Larson (Yes! I refer to myself by my maiden name when I run. Don’t ask. I have no idea!). You don’t need to walk. You want to walk. You aren’t even breathing heavy. The first mile of every run sucks. Get to mile two. Drink some water and quit looking at your watch. This pep talk lasted until mile 1.5. I repeated my monologue and continued on until mile 2. At mile 2 I felt great. I knew I had it. 1.1 more miles to go. At mile 2.5 I needed the pep talk again. At mile 3, I couldn’t stop smiling. At mile 3.1, I ran into my house, up my stairs, woke up my sleeping husband, threw my hands up in the air and announced I DID IT! I RAN A 5K WITHOUT WALKING!

I did it! I ran a 5k without walking! For me, at this moment in my life, this feels huge.

My biggest worry going into 2012 was how I was going to recover from an injury on top of pregnancy on top of child-birth to run my first full marathon. Today I feel like I put that worry to bed. I’m not going to be recovering from an injury in 2012 because I’ve already recovered. I’m not going to recover from pregnancy, because I’m embracing my pregnancy, my body, and my physical limits. The only thing I need to worry about in 2012 is getting an okay from the doctor to start running again and tackling my training plan day by day until I cross the finish line of my marathon.

Today, I ran a 5k without walking. It feels pretty darn good!

My reward for running - a beautiful sunrise over the Lynnhaven River

Do one thing a day that scares you…

….at least that is what the Lululemon mantra taped next to my computer monitor at work reminds me of daily. Do I do this daily? No. Unless you count the morning commute to work. While it doesn’t happen often enough, I love the feeling of overcoming obstacles in life. Nothing feels better than conquering a fear, proving yourself wrong, and making yourself proud.

I have talked about my cute quirky 7-year-old Cole on my blog enough that I’m sure most of you feel like you know him. He is this wonderfully odd combination of qualities that make him exactly who he is. He is the most tender-hearted, compassionate, loving child. He really sees the whole world. He cares about all the little things. In contrast to this side of him, he is ridiculously stubborn. He is beyond a perfectionist. His fear of failure breaks my heart and makes me want to shake him all at the same time. I want him to enjoy the process not worry about being perfect. How do you teach this to a 7-year-old?

I still have A LOT to learn when it comes to parenting and dealing with these situations. When I think I’ve figure it out, it changes. When I’m lost, I’m always surprised that I got it right. What I have learned is that Cole has to do things when he is ready. If we push, he refuses 100 times more than he would have if we didn’t ask. (There is nothing better than passing on our best qualities to our children!) Tackling the world is definitely on his time, his pace, and when he is ready.

This past weekend, we spent a lot of time at the pool as a part of our weekend of nothing…together. Cole has gone from hanging out on the steps last summer to swimming and jumping off the edge – all in one day. This summer he has mastered swimming, but he hasn’t been ready for the deep end or the diving board. I knew the day would come when he’d be willing to go for it. That day was Saturday. He decided he was ready to jump in and swim to the shallow end from the half way mark in the pool. He did it with no problems. He added another foot. Again, no problems. And then he added another foot. Same result. He is a natural in the water. I’m not saying he’s going to be an olympic swimmer or even on a high school swim team. He just loves the water.

Christian and his mom tentatively suggested that he try to dive. To my surprise, he was all about it. One successful dive off the side of the pool turned into diving off the diving board. One successful dive off the diving board resulted in diving off the diving board and swimming to the shallow end in one breath. Cannon balls, belly flops, and lots of diving board fun filled up the rest of the afternoon.

I love these moments when I can sit back and watch Cole conquer his world and overcome his fears. He is still talking about it. He is still so proud of himself. I want to whisper in his ear that this feeling is what happens when he decides he is ready to trying something new, but I won’t. I want to say that if he tried it 3 months ago when we knew he was ready he could have been doing this all summer. I don’t say any of these things because I kn0w they will make him crawl back into his shell. Right now I’m just enjoying the process of watching him enjoy his success. on his own terms. at his pace. when he was ready. (and secretly looking at swim teams and diving lessons for the fall. Just in case he is ready.)