A Running Girl's Blog

Archive for the ‘kids and life’ Category

We are well into January and I have finally stopped dating things with ’09 and started using ’10 consistently.   I didn’t make any big resolutions for the New Year but I did decide to go vegan about a month ago and so far, so good.  The things that I thought were going to be hard haven’t really proven to be a problem at all – namely giving up cheese.  I don’t miss it.  Every once in a while I miss pizza but Amy’s makes a great vegan frozen pizza that hits the spot when I have the craving.  

The more difficult part of this journey has been the realization that so many of our foods have dairy, milk byproduct, egg or egg byproduct in them – even many of the vegetarian convenience foods that Morning Star and Boca offer in the frozen food aisle.  So I have become an obsessive nutrition label reader.  I have learned to look for the “vegan” label.  And I have really reduced my consumption of convenience foods.  More often than not, as a vegan, if I want something good, I have to make it myself.   

One big example: my favorite Mix 1 drinks contain whey, a milk byproduct from the cheese making process – this was a big blow initially but I did my research and discovered that hemp is a more perfect protein than whey and hemp powder is readily available locally. There aren’t any ready made hemp shakes that I can grab while running out the door, but I can make a delicious soy/hemp shake with just a little bit of planning.  Plus all the predictable hemp jokes are fun.   So going vegan hasn’t been difficult in terms of any feeling of deprivation… it’s just a more thought out diet, one that requires a bit more planning. 

 (hemp protein you drink it, not smoke it )

One byproduct of my vegan journey is that my kids have decided to be vegheads.  Not big meat eaters to begin with, they have decided to become vegetarian (not vegan).   I was rather disheartened the other day though when my high school son came home to tell me he skipped lunch because there were simply no vegetarian options available at school– the situation in our school cafeterias is unbelievable.   He normally packs a lunch – but the option to buy was a nice convenience … again, the veg diet is not always a convenient one. 

One more new thing for 2010 – in 2009, I ran in Asics Gel Kayano 15s…  I went thru 3 baby blue pairs… the last ones just hitting 400+ miles at the end of the year.  So last weekend, I went to the shoe store and the Gel Kayano 15s are marked down since the 16s are out now.  As I was getting ready to buy my fourth pair of these baby blue shoes, I eyed the Kayano 16s… the shoe guy was explaining all the new features to me.  I wasn’t really listening though – I was pretty much sold when I saw they are pink with a groovy disco pattern in the background.  After all it’s a new year, right?

I can’t believe that Thanksgiving has already come and gone.  The dishes are done; the house cleaned up… my sisters and their families gone back to their homes, their routines.   We had a great time this year.  My family is an active one – we pumped, we went to spin class, yoga and ran the 2009 Briargate YMCA Turkey Trot.  I didn’t run my best 5K by any stretch, finishing with a 26:38 time according to my Garmin but still managed to come in 7^th in my age group.  It is a pretty hilly course.

(Poor Daniel had to sit this on out..stress fracture)

Also, this year we celebrated our first completely vegetarian Thanksgiving.  In years past, we’ve had the traditional turkey for the hubbies and kiddos but we collectively decided to go veg this year.  I made a valiant effort to go all the way vegan but we did have some cheese on our vegetarian shepherds pie and our pumpkin pies were baked with what we hope are cruelty-free eggs from Nest Fresh.   Judging from the lack of leftovers, our feast was quite a success for adults and kids alike.

The Las Vegas Rock n’ Roll Marathon and Half Marathon is a week from today.  I don’t have a great expectation for a PR on this one.  Seattle was a great race for me this year and despite my speed workouts, I am sort of stuck at 8:30-9 min as my best pace right now.  It’s kind of discouraging but when I think back on my year of running, it is an improvement.  Early this year, breaking the 9 minute pace was monumental for me … anyway, we’ll see how Vegas goes… no matter what, it’s going to be a great time!

Last year was fun.  My family ran several 5K distance races maintaining a friendly level of competition.   We’d all finish within a few seconds of each other and keep up that rivalry – joking about beating one another the next time.  I encouraged my kids to keep running – all good times…. Those times are over, I no longer have any hopes of crossing the finish line before my two boys and I am sure in another year or two the same will be true for my daughter…. I love it! 

Here are some pictures from the 4th Annual ThunderStorm 5K & Fun Run at Discovery Canyon Campus.  We’ve participated in this race since the inaugural run and really enjoy the course, the camaraderie, and the post run pancakes.  This year, we ran without Daniel because he was participating in a high school cross country meet (but all Mods were running that morning :-)

 23:24 (2nd in age group)

24:51 (5th in age group)

25:30 (2nd in age group)

42:14

(3rd in age group)

Not pictured: Mod #1: Dan Modisette, 23 minute 5K at his cross country meet at Cottonwood Park.

 update: bit grainy, but a picture of Daniel finishing strong at his meet:

(thanks Uncle J)

My eldest son, Daniel, started high school today… high school!  He’s running Cross Country this year and the team practiced from 2:45 until 5:15.  This is the team’s daily routine.  He told me they learned to stretch, how to ice, they also ran and then discussed nutrition.  He was full of words of wisdom about fruits and veggies when he got home today….nice!  I love youth athletics – the fact that the kids are so aware, so young.  I am looking forward to this high school season – training, meets and pasta parties before meets. 

 My younger son also started Cross Country … running a 7 minute mile the first day… ahh youth!  My daughter started school at the School in the Woods.  Her new school/program includes daily hikes and runs – I am so glad that for them school is so well rounded.   Summer and swimming is over, school and running has started.  They are learning… getting a great education and learning about how to stay active and healthy.

Most of the fitness fanatics here in the Springs have done the Incline… many go up on a regular basis.  I have always wanted to hike the Incline but for one reason or other hadn’t gotten around to it.   Yesterday, my 14 year old son decided that he’d like to conquer the Incline (on his birthday no less).  So we set out as a family – birthday boy, 12 year-old brother, 9 year-old sister, my husband and me toward Manitou Springs and the intense trip up the trail.

We’ve hiked other trails around Manitou Springs and the Garden of the Gods. We used to regularly hike Waldo Canyon which is nearby.  But like I said, this was our maiden journey up.  

It’s just a mile right?

The Incline used to be an actual railroad taking tourists up the mountain to about 8,600’ until it shut down in 1990 – but the wood ties and the visible scar remain.   

It is technically illegal to hike this trail but you wouldn’t know it from the abundant hikers that frequent the Incline.

View from the top.

It was a great day.  We took our time hiking up – taking a few breaks and taking in the view from the top - what a great sense of accomplishment.  Afterward, we jogged down Barr Trail back to the parking lot.  Overall distance: 4.15 according to my Garmin.   We all earned the ice-cream we enjoyed in Manitou Springs.

• Overall hike: 4.15 miles
• 1 mile up the Incline: starting at 6574’ ending at 8585’ elevation
• The average grade is about 40%, and the steepest grade is 68%
• The complete hike is 1 mile long and ascends over 2,000 feet in altitude.
• Jog down Barr Trail switch backs to return to start