Last night, as I was plotting the course for Mommy Run Fast’s Labor Day 5 Mile Virtual Run, I was suddenly and unexpectedly overcome by loneliness. I’m still not quite sure why. Maybe because today’s run wasn’t just any old run; it was a race. Maybe because Jason’s been working all weekend. Who knows? Whatever the reason, I decided I needed a running partner. Like bad.
But, as I mentioned, Jason was working, and GreekMelie was too lazy to drive across California to join me. I had no choice but to resort to the one person who’s seemingly incapable of turning down an invitation of mine – the baby.
The two of us agreed that we should drive out to Walnut Creek for the run. So it would feel more like a race. Walnut Creek has a bunch of lovely, paved trails that become heavily populated on the weekend. A busy trail would be a nice substitute for the community of a race, right? (And, yes, in this case lovely pretty much means flat.)
The only problem was Ruby and I did not discuss race strategy. I was sort of planning on running the whole thing at a moderately slow and even pace. Ruby, however, hasn’t really been focusing on endurance. She was more interested in an interval workout. Specifically:
1) Run a quarter mile as fast as possible (i.e. not very fast).
2) Stop, stretch and cuddle.
3) Smile at and greet passing runners, walkers, bikers etc. Ensure all were aware of the loving and caring nature of our relationship.
4) Test vocal chords with bloodcurdling screams and cries when running was recommenced.
5) Brainstorm conversation topics for future therapy sessions. For example: Am I, in fact, a negligent mother for running so much? Avoid making eye contact with strangers for fear of what they were thinking.
6) Repeat.
Ugh, what an exhausting run! And I’m not referring to the unplanned fartlek. We wrapped it up in 56:59 (cuddles included) and got the hell out of there!
This picture is included only (1) for the sake of having a picture in the post and (2) because it’s sort of related. It was clearly taken another day since Ruby is not having a meltdown in the photo. No, I did not take a picture of said meltdown. Feel free to compliment me on the generosity of my parenting in this instance.
Oh yes, I remember those days of the unpredictable baby in the stroller… I had plenty of runs cut short with meltdowns! Sorry you didn’t have a buddy to run it with, but I’m impressed you still got out there and did it! Thanks again for participating!
Posted by Laura | September 3, 2012, 3:18 amThanks for hosting! Even with the meltdown I had a good time. It’s always nice to mix things up a bit.
Posted by Laura | September 4, 2012, 7:08 pmI would be your running partner if I didn’t live in a different state! haha Love that picture. I’m about to get a running stroller so I can start doing my runs in the morning instead of when my husband gets home. I’m sure my daughter will react much the same way.
Posted by Ashley Austrew | September 3, 2012, 8:18 amThat would be so nice! Wish we could run together!!! Good luck with the stroller! Truthfully, Ruby’s usually pretty good with it. Otherwise I wouldn’t have chosen the busiest set of trails in the area.
Posted by Laura | September 4, 2012, 7:17 pmLOL! Love this. Sounds like you and Ruby need to coordinate better before the next run? This one sounds like a success to me though
Posted by kilax | September 3, 2012, 11:09 amHa! I guess so! I made it through so I guess that’s a success. Right????
Posted by Laura | September 4, 2012, 7:18 pmUgh, kids always ruin stuff. Amelia always did well in the stroller as long as we were moving. Addilyn, not so much. She still only makes it through about 1/2 a shopping trip in the stroller or cart before she’s on my hip. It’s a GOOD THING I don’t try to go running with her! (see that good excuse?!)
Posted by Kari | September 3, 2012, 12:20 pmIt’s a better excuse than showering!!!
Truthfully, Ruby’s usually pretty good with the stroller. I think the problem was that I drove to the trail. She was probably done with being strapped down after the car ride.
Posted by Laura | September 4, 2012, 7:20 pmI know. I’m sorry for not driving to the bay. On second thought, it might have helped because I didn’t do my run myself. Next time. By the way, that was a pretty fast race, considering the stroller and everything.
Posted by greekmelie | September 3, 2012, 1:18 pmThank you! I was feeling all good about my time considering all the console the baby stops. But then I went and read Laura’s (Mommy Run Fast) post about how she was only running at ~7:30 pace and had lost her speed. WHAT???
Posted by Laura | September 4, 2012, 7:23 pmwell if it makes you feel any better, I can always title my blog “melie runs slow” and you can feel better by reading about my pace. and it’s not even “I lost my speed due to baby”, it’s “I never had any speed whatsoever”
Posted by greekmelie | September 4, 2012, 7:31 pmWell, the only reason there was any speed in between the baby stops was because I was trying to get that run over with. I should probably have Jason run behind me with the screaming baby at races. It’s quite the motivator. (And also then I wouldn’t have to actually push the stroller.)
Posted by Laura | September 4, 2012, 7:49 pmBabies have a mind of their own… wait a minute… I would’ve started crying once the running recommenced, too.
Posted by alundeberg | September 3, 2012, 1:29 pmHa! But unlike Ruby, I’ll bet slowing down would have helped with your tears.
Posted by Laura | September 4, 2012, 7:25 pmI guess she wasn’t in the mood for racing. Sorry you had a rough run. There will be so many more happy ones in your future.
Posted by Debbie @ Live from La Quinta | September 3, 2012, 4:04 pmI guess we all have good runs and bad runs, right? Mine just happen to be influenced by someone other than myself these days.
Posted by Laura | September 4, 2012, 7:33 pmThat was still pretty fast for 5 miles with a meltdown in between! It can be so frustrating, my daughter is 3, and I still run with her in the BOB all the time, but her constant chatter and screams of “Mommy!” with nothing to follow them up with are a little patience-trying, though nothing like the crying of years past…..ANyway, congrats on the race!
Posted by sarah @ Sedwick Studio | September 3, 2012, 6:33 pmThanks! I do feel pretty good about my pace. Even though my overall time doesn’t really reflect it, there were some stints in there that felt pretty fast. I had more than the race to motivate me to get that run done!
Posted by Laura | September 4, 2012, 7:35 pmCutie! Wow…props to you for running five miles with the little one! I tried pushing one of those strollers when running with a friend and her son. That’s a lot of hard work!
Posted by LilMysNinja | September 4, 2012, 3:22 amHa! Yeah, it’s definitely harder than running without a stroller!
Posted by Laura | September 4, 2012, 7:36 pmOkay, but next time I want a meltdown picture.
Posted by vandeblogger | September 4, 2012, 6:31 pmNo Elsha, you were supposed to COMPLIMENT me on my parenting in this instance. Didn’t you read the directions?
Posted by Laura | September 4, 2012, 7:40 pmWell done! My daughter went through a rough running with mommy phase too. But Shortly after she turned one, she has liked it a lot more (she’s 17 months now). I have a few tricks that work – while i run, she eats a healthy snack and listens to pandora toddler radio on my phone. It’s been so much better!
Anyway, great race! I’m super impressed you drove to the course and stuck with it despite the meltdowns
Posted by Runner26 | September 5, 2012, 3:32 pmWell, once I was so far in the only way to end it was to finish it. Thanks though! And thanks for stopping by!
Posted by Laura | September 8, 2012, 7:22 pmWe had to stop part way through our run too and my daughter is 19 months!
Posted by chrisrardin | September 6, 2012, 3:14 amI guess that’s the story of being a Mom, right? Congrats on getting your run done!
Posted by Laura | September 8, 2012, 7:23 pm