I'm Right Here

My running route this weekend. Photo courtesy of Vironevaeh's photostream on Flickr.

It's Tuesday. I pecked around Monday like an ADD hen, starting things and starting things and starting things, but never getting anything done.

To be fair to myself I did unpack my bag from my weekend trip to Chicago with my Ripon Good Girlfriends. Workout Partner Pam--some of you remember her?--invited me to meet her in Chicago with a few of her new friends. I'm a big girl. I can share. So me, Pam and SEVEN of her good friends (she doesn't waste any time settling into a new town) blew into the windy city for fun, food, shopping and some intriguing conversation. The spiritual retreat center I experienced last weekend, this was not.

Who knew there was such a thing as anal bleaching? While we pondered how it's done and why oh why anyone would ever... none of us had any answers. Answers were aplenty for something the girls call "Speedo Cream." Although I read in today's paper that "Speedo Cream" shouldn't be licked off. That news may or may not make it to Ripon, Wisconsin.

So, the weekend was just like a college road trip with a few hot flashes.

You want to know what else we all did? (After everything else I just wrote, this won't sound very exciting.) We ran along Lakeshore drive both Saturday and Sunday morning. All those ladies like to run. What a treat.

My Sweaty Sisterhood just got a lot bigger.

Retreating

I started this post from a spiritual retreat center a short drive north of my home where the pine trees stretch high into the sky and the time and space and solitude I've been granted for just a day-and-a-half feel multiplied if only because I have been divided down to one. Just me.

I am not in a hermitage, in fact I'm here with a writing group--women I've been meeting with regularly for the last four years. They are all amazing writers with fascinating stories to tell, who keep me inspired and help me raise the bar on my own writing. Bonus: I would choose to spend a whole weekend with them because they're fun, engaging, intelligent, witty, caring people whom I have the honor of calling my friends.

Waking up on Saturday with an entire day before me; with a multitude of ways I could spend my day, felt overwhelming. Like the Chilean miners who emerged from the earth's innards last week wearing dark sunglasses, I almost needed something to shield me from the expanse of my own opportunity. Read? Write? Run? Sleep? I checked off all of the above, plus enjoyed the commaraderie and conversation of my writing group as we discussed specific writing projects or writing in general, or everything in general and nothing specific (including the fabulous food served here, which was an added bonus on top of the bonus of not having to make any meals during this time).

Oh Laundry, I haven't missed you.

My family, sure, I missed them, but I love having some time away to be able to miss them. And because I left everyone in my home with runny noses and hacking coughs, it was a well-timed getaway.

The retreat center offered a silent prayer/meditation service each morning, which I was eager to attend. The eagerness turned to panic when I heard it lasted 20 minutes. I was sure I wouldn't be able to sit still for 20 minutes.

The last two weeks I've been attempting to take time out in my mornings for meditation. I am happy when I can sit still for one minute, downright smug if I last four. Of course, if I turn sitting/praying/meditating for 20 minutes into a challenge (which sounds fundamentally wrong now as I write this), well, my feeling was: bring it.

Crazy thing--when the bells rang to signal the end of the 20 minutes, I was startled it was over. Unlike my own attempts at meditation, which get thwarted by mental snowballs like: "I forgot to put drinks in the lunch sacks, don't forget the drinks," "K's homework folder is on the hall floor, make sure she gets it in her backpack," "I think I forgot to put the wet laundry into the dryer last night," "Hurry up and meditate before the baby wakes up," "I wonder if I can make it to the grocery store and the gym this morning?" But during my 20 minutes of silent prayer and meditation at the retreat center, my mind was unaccosted.

So I did it again on Sunday morning.

This morning, I was back to reality. Still, my days feel infinitely more composed if I can be still for those two or four minutes each morning. There's only so much I can recreate of that spiritual retreat in my own home for a family of six not-so-silent people. But I can go back in my memory, for as long as my mind lets me.

Long leggy pines rising

Looming

Here I rise with them

Stretching

With as much space before me

as sky above trees

Mama Sweat Chats with Carrie Tollefson

After pregnancy my belly button resembles a crater left by a small asteroid,

which might exempt me from appearing on the cover of Runner's World (not that they've asked).

If you've seen the latest cover of Runner's World magazine (I'll make it easy for you, it's the image above) then you're familiar with Carrie Tollefson. She's Minnesota's home girl, a three-time national champion, a 2004 Olympian, and new mama to Ruby, who was born on April 1. That's April 1, 2010. To look at the cover, you might think "No Way!" Way.

Carrie and I share an admiration for the orange Bob Revolution stroller and a belief in the power of strong muscles to prevent injury and rehabilitate the postpartum body. I just LOVE the advice she provides for moms-to-be: Don't think of yourself as a runner, think of yourself as an athlete. Get yourself to the gym!

She has a fantastic routine in the October issue of Runner's World, which also happens to be online. Check it out as soon as you're done reading this interview with Carrie. And while you're reading take note that whether you're a world-class runner or struggling to get to the gym three times a week, balancing motherhood and fitness can be a challenge for all of us.

Mama Sweat: Pregnant for the first time we all have preconceptions about what motherhood will be like (baby sleeps through the night by three weeks, all workouts are easy to squeeze in because baby naps long and often, child grows up to be Nobel-winning scientest, etc.) How have your preconceptions about motherhood stacked up with reality?

Carrie: I think juggling the baby and training has been tough but I am slowly learning now that I will either have to get up early or I will have to hire someone to watch Ruby. I really wanted to try and be home with her and work around Charlie's schedule but that is hard for him too. He likes to get his runs in and also wants to work on things at night so it doesn't always work out to just head out the door the second he gets home. We have started running with her in the jogger. So we now go for some shorter runs with her and bring her to the track.

Mama Sweat: I have referred to what you describe above as the "workout relay" and baby is the baton passed between mom and dad. I have to admit, it's kind of nice to know that even world-class athletes have the same challenges managing workout schedules with their spouse. If you can do it, I can do it! And even though running is your job, I love that you still take some opportunities to run with Ruby. I mean, if my mother were an Olympian and she didn't push me in the jogger once in a while I'd definitely call her out in therapy.

But moving on, has motherhood changed your perspective on life? On training?

Carrie: Life with a baby is a lot different but I love it. I never knew I could love someone this way. Don't get me wrong, I love Charlie and my family like crazy, but to see this little baby looking up at me is amazing. So with that being said, sometimes a run doesn't happen if we are busy doing something else and I think that is okay. So many times when I was in my heavy training I would skip out on things or slug through just to say I did the run. I often wonder if that is why I struggled with injuries because I just didn't listen enough. So now, if I am too tired or if life gets in the way, I am not going to stress. It is just a little more rest for my body and I know that is really a good thing for me.

Mama Sweat: Readers, did you get that? If not, read that last paragraph again, paying special attention to: "...if I am too tired or if life gets in the way, I am not going to stress." Bravo Carrie. And what about the 2012 Olympics?

Carrie: As far as getting back for 2012, I am on that train but I am also trying to take my time. I don't want another injury and I do want to enjoy being a first time mom. So I hope to be back in the full swing of things this fall but really, just taking my time doing so. 2012 isn't far off but it is far enough that I can be careful and make sure I do it right. I would have to say that because I have such a big goal, maybe I have been a bit more cautious than most returning moms. I am scared to go too hard too soon. Maybe I should get it going a bit more but I feel good; my workouts are coming around, so I am excited with the progress.

Mama Sweat: For motherhood and for training it takes a village. Who are your fit-mom mentors?

Carrie: As far as other moms, I use my own mom, my sisters, and some pro moms advice. My best friend, Carmen Douma-Hussar, has been my main source of information. She had her baby 9 months before me and has plans of returning to the Olympics as well. So we chat a lot and basically the best advice she has given me is to take things slow and it will come. I have also read a lot of how Paula Radcliffe and Colleen De Reuck have come back along with Shayne Culpepper and Blake Russell. I know I could get in touch with these ladies if need be and ask questions but so far I am just going with the flow.

Mama Sweat: Thank you Carrie for joining us here at Mama Sweat. I know I can speak for my readers when I say we wish you the best of luck as you return to Olympic-running shape!

My First Race (Guest Post from The Boy)

First of all, I would like to say I love my parents very much. I just want to be clear I may not follow in my sisters' footsteps, who handily--without whining, crying or collapsing--finished the race before mine, "The Family Fitness One Mile." From what I've been told, back in their younger years they were made to compete in the "Toddler Trot," as well.

Fine then. This shouldn't be too bad. We're a team, right?

I'll bet Dad can still run pretty fast with me in his arms.

I have a definite advantage over all these poor saps below me.

Hey! Ho there! Putting me down? What? We're a team remember?

OK, fine then. This shouldn't be too hard.

If I pace myself I can stay ahead of that chick in the pink coat.

Maybe I've gone off course.

Please disqualify me so I can get out of here and take a nap.

Where is my stroller? Where is my DAD?

Seriously, this can't be happening.

I'm going to wake up and it will all be a bad dream.

What? Did you say "jelly beans at the finish line"?

This is fun for you? Abandoning your small child in the middle of a field to be gawked at by adults? And I am to grow up in this "healthy way of life"?

Come on now! I believe outside assistance is allowed in this race! Pick me up!

But hurry Dad, don't let the chick in the pink coat beat me.

Great. I got a medal. You happy?

Editor's Note from Mom:

Make no mistake. The Boy can run when he wants to.