Meanwhile, on Today's Parent

Blogging several times a week for my wonderful friends over at Today's Parent as their Run-at-home mom blogger, my sick children, a traveling spouse, a part-time job teaching at The Running Room and far too much time spent on Facebook, Twitter, Houzz, Pinterest and FoodGawker has meant that I've not given this blog much (read: zero) love. Here's what I've been up to at Today's Parent.

Why the Run for Sherry matters

On January 7, 2012, Sherry Arnold was assaulted and killed while running only a mile away from her home in Sidney, Montana. Although Jennifer has never met Sherry, she needs to tell you why this mother and runner is so important

What I learned when I stopped running

Run-at-home mom Jennifer talks about her 21-day running streak and confesses that she's afraid to let readers down

What I see when I breastfeed my toddler

When you see a mother breastfeeding her child, what do you see? Jennifer shares what it looks like to her

6 cabin-fever-busting secrets from a SAHM

Seven days of solo parenting has Jennifer finding new ways to soothe frayed nerves

Cayman Islands Half Marathon: race report

The Cayman Islands Half Marathon was my 14th half marathon. You know that saying about being a slow runner and getting your moneys worth? That was me and this race. Hot, humid and hard - it kicked my butt.


What organizers say:
Sure, you could run just about anywhere in the world! But wouldn’t you prefer to run on a safe, beautiful Caribbean island, surrounded by tropical flora and fauna, charming homes flawlessly landscaped and magnificent views of the sea? Well, come run with us in the Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon!


Distances available:
1/2 marathon, full marathon and 4-person relay, wheelchair full marathon and kids 5K run run.


Date:
Sunday, December 4, 2011(First Sunday each December)


Course:
Flat looped course, with the first half of the run through a gorgeous residential section along the Caribbean Sea. The only bad thing is that it's dark and you can't enjoy the view. Marathoners do the loop twice. Locals I spoke with do the half because they aren't a fan of the course.


Aid stations:
The aid stations are amazing! Each station is themed and staffed by oodles of volunteers. Music and costumes pump you up as you go by - their enthusiasm is contagious! Stations are stocked with water, Gatorade and later into the race there are oranges, watermelon, gummies (candy, not sport gummies), cold sponges, Vaseline and ice. Stations are roughly a mile apart.


Packet pick up and expo
Small but very well organized.


Race start
ON TIME! I think this is the only race I've attended that started on time. When organizers say don't be late, they aren't kidding.


Communication
from the moment you sign up, you'll receive weekly emails from the organizers with travel and training tips. Their Facebook page is just as helpful.


Photography
Here I was disappointed. Some runners posted on Facebook that at this race they had the highest number of pictures taken. In my case, there was 1 finishing chute photo where I stopped to smile and the whole thing is out of focus. Lots of photogs on route and I stopped and posed for them all so I'm let down on this part of the race. Seeing that huge number of visitors that participate in this race, a decent finishers photo should be guaranteed. That said, there is some awesome photography for the marathoners.


Schwag: tech shirt with typical race design (race logos on front, sponsors on the back), discount coupons for activities on the island, rum cakes, towels, water bottles, salt water taffy and sea salt. We were able to make use of it all!


Post race: well organized chute with volunteers that help you unlace and remove your timing chip. Brilliant post race snacks with everything a tired, hot, hungry and thirsty runner wants, including a can of Caybrew beer. For light beer in a can, it wax tasty. Bag drop and pick up moved quickly.


My race
You'd think after running and racing as much as I have, I'd avoid rookie mistakes. But I didn't. I made them all:
- eating a different breakfast. I ate yogurt and granola instead of my usual oatmeal. For the first 7 miles I retched or wanted retch. It was awful. I couldn't keep water down and the water tasted awful (just my stomach, the supplied bottled water was perfect)
- messing around withy music. Instead of having my music ready to go, I horsed around with my phone, head phones and playlists between miles 9 and 11. I wasted so much time.
- forgetting my watch at home. Like in Canada, not even at the hotel.
- dumping water on my head. So my pants were soaked and heavy. So were my socks.
- not wearing my lucky underwear. No, really. Every pair of underwear I own is cotton, except for a pair of tech gitch that I bought specifically for running. I forgot them at home. And water logged cotton granny gitch over 13 hot miles is a death sentence to your lady bits. I recovered easier from vaginal birth than I did this race.


My finishing time was 2:22. Yikes.


But over those awful miles, I realized something. Road racing doesn't fire me up anymore. I love toeing the start line, but racing on pavement is a drag. Even when in the most amazingly gorgeous place on earth. No, I doubt this will be my last road half marathon, but I think I'll be hitting more trails this summer.

Call me tree beard

I often over share on this blog, and thought nothing of broadcasting my problems with depression, post-partum depression, IBS, weight-loss and if I go back through the more than 7 years of blog posts, likely even more silly and embarrassing topics. But this one I am having a hard time sharing - but because I love the depth of knowledge and advice in the blog world, here was go.

I have lichen planus. Go ahead. Google it. I'll wait.



In the whole scheme of things, it's really just an annoying, persistent rash. Thankfully, mine is NOT in my lady parts, in my scalp or in my mouth. Because that would be awful and painful. Instead, it is covering I'd estimate between one-third and two-thirds of my body. Mine include obnoxious little dots, 1" diameter rings (annular lichen planus) and a disgusting 6" hypertropic lichen planus on the back of my right calf. And itchy beyond belief. On the plus side, I don't have diabetes or Hep C, which are usually underlying conditions. On the negative, this shit can takes months to years to clear up.

Thankfully I'm in the hands if two talented local dermatologists - one who just said "oh dear" when she saw my skin. Hopefully the combination of phototherapy (think tanning bed) and steroid creams, I'll clear up soon.

In the meantime, I'm reaching out to find out if natural or holistic remedies have worked. I have read a lot about liver cleanses being moderately successful. How about diet eliminations? Diet additions? Voodoo dolls, witch doctors and virgin sacrifices? I am willing to give any of those a try.

Thanks blog world, you know I love you.

Nutrition for running....dogs?

Our just turned 6 year old Lab, Murphy, is the best running partner I could ask for. She can plod along for hours at my 10 minute mile pace or pull off a speedy 5K. I adore her.

While she was a little heavy when we adopted her last August, she's now a lean running machine (I'm jealous!). Our dog is fed a high quality dry food, but I'm wondering if that is enough. Together we log up to 40K a week, and being a dog breed that is prone to hip and joint problems, I want to do all I can to keep her injury-free.

When I asked my Facebook pals, I was surprised to learn that most of them who also log a lot of miles with their dogs feed them a lot of raw meat and table scraps. Granted, the scraps these pups get are NOT burgers, fries and other junk food, but fresh fish and veggies.

What extras - if any - do you feed your dog?

Callouses: too much of a good thing?

How can you tell if your feet are too calloused? If you are a runner, is there such a thing?

It's no secret that my husband is 100% sicked out by my feet. My sister insists that I have the beginning on bunions. I prefer to think that my blistered and run hardened feet are proof that I walk, or run, the talk when it comes to endurance running.

But does there come a point when you have so many callouses and blisters that you are doing your running more harm than good?

That's what I'm wondering now. Here are my feet after the Cayman Islands Half Marathon. I only had one big blister on the side of my big toe. But the callous under it blistered. When I popped and trimmed everything back, a new pink layer of skin was exposed. And it hurt!

(I did earn my first black toenail in this race, but it looks looks like the toenail will stay).

I dream of getting a pedicure (I was given a gift card to our local spa because a someone saw my feet and took pity on me) but am worried that it will be a waste of money because I'll have to build up a layer of tough skin for the 2012 race season. Or do I ask them to pare the ugly and painful stuff back? Or do I leave my feet alone?

Distance runners, what do you do?

Creemore Vertical Challenge - 25K

THAT is what my husband got me for Christmas. He either really loves me and supports this little running hobby I have. Or he's trying to do me in. Registering his back of the pack and former Prairie dwelling wife for the toughest race in Ontario.

On the bright side, it is 'only' the 25K, and gets me out of the 70.3 I was going to do the same day.

I think the half Ironman would have been easier.

Winter running clothing

Today is December 19. Normally it is several degrees below 0C with at least a foot of snow on the ground.

Today I ran the trails in a toque, tights and a t-shirt.

I don't know what alternate whacked out winter universe I am living in, but I love it.