musings of Mother Hood

Adventures in Cross Country

It's a different game, my friends. Cross country running is so very different than road running. Cross country means no true zoning out and mindlessly putting one foot in front of the other. Cross country means uneven terrain, slick grass, ankle-twisting gravel and strategically placed tree roots. It means constant scanning of the ground in front of you, adjusting your stride to avoid any undesirables and the never-ending quest for the path of least resistance.

Around here, the Chile Pepper is THE fall race. It's been going on for 23 years now and gets bigger and bigger each year. And actually, the Open 10K (which I ran) is only one of MANY events that go on during the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival including college, senior high and junior high races! They let us slow pokes run first thing in the morning.

And speaking of slow pokes... I had my first "alllllmost late to the start line" experience with the Chile Pepper. I had never even been to the UA Cross Country course before and completely underestimated how long it would take to park and get to the race. We had some trouble finding parking in the first place and by the time we were figuring it out I realized I was cutting it close so I hopped out of the car and started jogging to the start line. Jeff eventually found a parking spot and joined me at the race, but didn't make the start. Glad I didn't wait!

The mob of runners at the start came into view just in time for me to hear a loudspeaker announcement, "The Open 10K will start in 1 minute!" I tore off my coat and threw it under the nearest tree and ran like mad to the start, getting there as the gun went off. Thank goodness for chip timing! (And thank goodness I'd gone to the "expo" the night before in downtown Fayetteville and picked up my timing chip and race bib!) I was a little frazzled, but I'd made it. Time to settle in.

The first half mile of the race sounded like a coffee shop with all the people chatting all around me. "Good morning...Hi...Good to see you!" Hilarious. Everyone just catching up on their local news and gossip during a Saturday morning 10K! It trickled off once the pack thinned out and people found their own paces, but I just love the running community here. Such a friendly bunch.

Jeff made it and quickly figured out the race pattern -- we were supposed to do 2 1/2 laps of the course, so he would see me several times as we looped the center spectator area.

After having no plan during my last few races and consequently starting out WAY too fast then losing steam for the end, I tried something new for this one. Start out slower and build speed as I start to warm up. I always despise miles 1 and 2 anyway so why not run them at a more pleasant pace then turn up the volume for the rest?

It seemed to work ok and I felt strong nearly the entire way through. I didn't necessarily have a time goal, but wanted to keep it as close to an hour as possible.

I wish I was having as much fun as it looks like I am in these pictures. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a photo op.

And apparently so is Jeff. Any big race is going to bring out some characters, and the Chile Pepper had plenty. Jeff was able to snap a few photos of the fun --

Costumes and kilts, oh my!

And this situation, which is pretty inspiring.

But nothing is quite like the finish line.

Such a fun race, running on the Arkansas Cross Country course and seeing such a HUGE crowd out on a beautiful morning -- just to run.

With my friend Jennifer after the race.

After the Open 10K was over, we stayed to watch the College Men's 10K. WOW, you guys. WOW. Jeff had already scoped out the course during our race and these guys followed the same route so Jeff knew where to be during the race so we could get a great view, but we were having to RUN in between our spectator opportunities just to keep up with them! The winner came in at 29:13. You'll notice I ran it in 1:02:00. That's more than TWICE as fast as me! Incredible. These guys were flying. They all wore jerseys for their respective schools so we got to cheer for them "by name". We clapped and cheered like crazy for Arkansas -- and Jeff even spotted a few ULM guys!

And after a nice big helping of the cross country fun with the Chile Pepper, I liked it so much I went back for seconds this weekend.

A flying pig! Wearing shoes! How could I resist?

The pig should actually be wearing a sweater and some earmuffs... Hoo boy it was cold last Saturday. I optimistically wore shorts thinking it would warm up after sunrise, but it never really did. So the boys and I headed back to Agri Park (home of the Chile Pepper) for another Cross Country encounter.

With our friend Susan before the race. We even LOOK cold!

When you're cold, you want to just start running already, so the pre-start waiting seemed to last FOREVER.

See? He's thinking, "let's get this show on the road!"

Just looking at these pictures is making me cold.

This was a good race for me. Short and sweet (this is how I think of 5Ks now, because I have officially lost my mind) but fun and a good challenge. The grass was wet (I was CERTAIN I would fall at any moment) and the gravel was a little deep at times, but overall a great morning run.

Ok, I didn't realize this until I was looking through pictures today, but oh my goodness. Check out the guy in the red shirt (above) coming in just behind me at the finish line.

Now check out this photo Jeff took at the Chile Pepper a few weeks ago:

Same guy?!

Colt has started to really like running with me at the end of my races and I love to have help over the finish line.

Just in case you were wondering -- still cold!

Official time - 29:25. No Age Group awards for me this weekend, which is a bummer -- they gave away cute pig medals!

After doing so many races the last few months it will be weird to slow down for a while, but I only have one more, toward the end of November, then it's time for the half marathon in December! It's crazy how that's sneaking up -- only 5 more weeks to try and guess what the weather might be like in December in Vegas!

Welcome to the Craziest Frickin' Day of Your Life

Several months ago, I learned of the Warrior Dash. 

"...a mud-crawling, fire-leaping, extreme run from hell. This fierce running series is held on the most challenging and rugged terrain across the globe. Warriors conquer extreme obstacles, push their limits, and celebrate with kick-ass music, beer, and warrior helmets."

And it was coming to our area for the first time! In September!

It was fate.

We would be celebrating our 5 year anniversary with 10,000 muddy, war-painted crazy people in Tulsa. 3.23 hellish miles through 12 obstacles in the Oklahoma heat.

Romantic, huh?

A few notes about pictures before we get started:

• There are entirely too many pictures of this race and in this post.
• We each ran with a waterproof, disposable camera so we would have shots of the course itself. (Additional note: Jeff was mostly a little ahead of me during the race so all of his pictures of me are of my face -- when he would stop and turn around. All of MY pictures are of Jeff's back as I tried to keep up. And - in trying to keep up - there was no time to stop and stand still for picture taking. So my photographs are blurry and headache-inducing. Sorry 'bout that.)
• My sister Becky and my friend Tena came with us to witness the madness -- and they each had at least one camera.
• The race takes professional photographs of the finish line -- so, duh, I had to buy them. In fact, I might frame one of them for a wall in our house.
• Feel free to click on any of the photos in this post to enlarge them.

So.

We anticipated parking issues, but didn't really have any. In fact, the pre-race information tells you 47 times to bring money for parking because you WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR PARKING.

We didn't pay for parking. We didn't even SEE anyone pay for parking.

Then it was time to initial our lives away. This waiver covered it all -- fire, mud, injury, wild animals on the course, diseases in the water. Lovely.

Above: In "typical" races, I attach my timing chip with a few twist-ties. For this one, they recommend actually unlacing your shoes, threading the timing chip, then lacing them back up.

Below: This is the only picture I have of (half of) our entourage -- Becky and Tena. This was Tena's first trip ever to a Porta-Potty. Glad I could be there for it!

Look how nice and clean we are! I found those shoes in the back of my closet - never been worn. They weren't particularly comfortable (which is probably why they were in the back of the closet...) but they got the job done.

And we're off!

The first mile or so was straight running - no obstacles. And shortly after this picture was taken, the pavement ended and the rest of the race would be on trails. I'm really starting to like trail running -- but some of this was ridiculous. There were portions of the course that were such steep scrambles we had to use our hands to climb up the hills.

After about a mile of dodging stumps and branches, the obstacles started.

Obstacle #1: Barricade Breakdown

Hoist yourself over a 4-foot wall then roll under some barbed wire. Repeat. Aaaaand again. And one more time, for good measure! This one wasn't too tough as we had just started and we weren't tired yet. The hardest part - which would become a theme throughout the race - was the other people all around us. It's hard to get a rhythm worth a darn when there are people everywhere for you to trip on. (I stole this picture from the website. We weren't paying attention and didn't get any of our own.)

Obstacle #2: Rubber Ricochet

Run through a field of hanging tires. I remember seeing this one on the website and thinking it looked a little rough. I prepared myself for bruised arms and possibly a tire to the head. But it ended up being alright - as we went through with so few other people that the tires didn't do any serious thrashing back and forth. This turned out to be one of the easiest obstacles of the day.

Obstacle #3: Road Rage

This one included a few rounds of high-stepping through tires (mostly filled with mud, of course) followed by climbing over junk cars. I kinda loved it. Getting a running start before jumping up on the back bumper of a car and running right over the top - hooligan style - was pretty fun.

Obstacle #4: Cliffhanger

Climb or pull yourself up this wall. Honestly, after our recent trip to Half Dome this was a cinch. I don't think either of us even used the ropes.

Quite a bit of running between #4 and #5.

Obstacle #5: Chaotic Crossover

Crawl across cargo nets. This was another one that I struggled to get a rhythm behind someone slow. Not that I'm fast... but the longer you linger on this thing, the harder it is to keep your balance. Quickly does it!

More running. And then some more running.

Obstacle #6: Deadweight Drifter

The website describes this as a "trudge through waist-deep water". More accurately, it was a SWIM through NECK-deep MUD. The idea was to hoist yourself over these logs while trying not to swallow any mud. Harder than it looks when you can't touch the bottom of the river...

This was almost exactly the halfway point and the cold dip in the river was WONDERFUL. We had done plenty of running and climbing and jumping -- and it was about 1:30pm so PLENTY warm. We both came out of the water with a second wind!

Obstacle #7: Cargo Climb

I came out of the water feeling awesome and after a minute of walking through the woods, we came to a clearing and saw THIS.

Ugh.

Not only is that about 20 feet in the air but we were now completely soaked and muddy -- read: SLIPPERY. We had to climb up this cargo net wall. AND BACK DOWN the other side. And - again - the other people crawling all over the place, shifting the ropes and knocking into you with flying feet and elbows. It was a little unnerving.

Then I think it was between #7 and #8 that we ran down this enormous hill. It lasted forever, but it was nice to have a little downhill after all the uphill during the rest of the race.

Obstacle #8: Giant Cliffhanger

This was Obstacle #4's mean older brother. Not only did I use the rope to pull myself up this time, but - unlike #4 - this wall wasn't built into a hill. What goes up must come down.

And the "down" side was a set of slats that didn't even ALMOST resemble steps. They were pretty far apart, and thin. And - remember - still slippery! I needed some pretty serious coaching from the ground to make it down this thing. And here is a terribly flattering picture of my behind, coming down the "steps".

Obstacle #9: This net thing

It was a short crawl under barbed wire then about 50 feet of running hunched over under this heavy nylon net.  Not too terrible, but I saw several people lose their balance and get tangled up.

 

Obstacle #10: One more wall

Another wall to climb, but this time the back side had a fun surprise -- no way down but JUMP. It's hard to tell from this photo, but I'm standing on a ledge about 10 feet off the ground.

Obstacle #11: The Mud Pit!

What you've all been waiting for! This was near enough to the finish line that Becky was able to get pictures of us coming through the mud -- and under the barbed wire.

(Above is a good shot of the crazy hill we ran down.)

and Obstacle #12: The Warrior Roast!

The big finale! Two rows of fire to hurdle!

I'm thinking maybe every 5K should end that way!

We were met at the finish line with a medal and as much water as we could drink. 3.23 hellish miles? Check!

 

Honestly, the race is only half the story at this event. There's music (the louder the better) and food (giant turkey legs) and awards for Best Warrior Costume and Best Warrior Beard. But we came for the race. So after our tour of duty out on the course, we were ready to call it a day and head back home. After a hose-off in the "Warrior Wash" and a few more minutes of excellent people-watching, we headed to the car to strategically strip our muddy clothes into a double-bagged plastic sack and towel off enough to be presentable during our post-Warrior feast at the Cherokee Casino buffet halfway between Tulsa and Fayetteville.

Remember the clean white sneaks? They found a new home.

So there you have it. We survived the Warrior Dash. And this is what 5 years of marriage looks like in this house!

 

We loved it! A big thanks to Becky and Tena for taking some photos and being good sports -- even after I ASSURED you that you wouldn't get muddy standing on the side lines... We are already looking forward to our next Warrior Dash adventure.

Month of Colt: Day 16

The Month of Colt is supposed to be all Colt all the time, but today he agreed to share the spotlight with us -- in honor of our anniversary.

So nice of him, right? Complete with cheesy, squinty smile!

Yes, five years ago today our family began. We really came into our own in June 2008 when Little Guy arrived, but the first page of the book was written September 16, 2006. 5 down - 95 to go!

Ok, ok. Here's one of just Mr. Colt. (We're working on our "cheese"...)

Yosemite - Summer 2011

Finally, right? We've been home a week now and I've had time to sort through and edit photos, and I've even received photos from a few other members of our hiking group - which I love! You're probably already aware of my 'the more the merrier' attitude about pictures. But I've enjoyed reliving our trip over and over through the photos, and I wanted to be sure I captured the story, too. The details.

So without further ado -- CLICK HERE for full trip report, complete with photos. Enjoy!

We're back!

Well, we made it. 40+ miles of hiking in 4 days. Those of you tuned in to Facebook and/or Twitter know that I reentered the world of social media with a bang as soon as I stepped back into any semblance of cellphone signal on Friday. What can I say? I missed you. I was getting the lack-of-technology shakes.

But I'm good now. The need to check-in at every stop and tweet every quirky airport sighting has subsided. I've spent most of the rest of the weekend looking through pictures and NOT being on my feet.

We had an amazing week at Yosemite and I owe you a full write-up complete with photos -- but it will be a few days. I'm waiting on more photos from other folks in our group and I'll be spending time this week sorting through everything and getting all my details straight. I also wore my Garmin the whole time, so I have nerdy elevation stats and maps for you! Aren't you excited?!

In the meantime, here's a taste. A photo of Jeff and me with Half Dome in the background. SPOILER ALERT: I have photos of us standing on top of it!

On the Road

Things will be quiet around here for the next week while Jeff and I take our annual trek into the wilderness. There will likely be more bears and mosquitoes than cellphone signal, and that's just what we need.

So if you're looking for me, I'll be here:

See you on the other side.

Big Boy Birthday

18 June 2011

Buddy,

Every night before bed - and every other chance I get - I ask you, "who are you?" And you tell me, "Mama's baby. And Daddy's boy." Just so you know, I plan on asking you that question as often as possible for the rest of your life, and I expect that same answer.

You are three today. THREE, Buddy. Sometimes Daddy and I are so wrapped up in getting you from one day to the next that we seem to forget those days are adding up to weeks and months and now - three years.

After your first year, I was certain the pace would slow down -- surely babies can't always grow and change as much as they do in that first year, right? But I've been proven wrong. Twice now. I marveled at your second birthday and now -- you are a brilliant, beautiful, impatient-as-all-get-out, loving little guy. A three year old.

Undoubtedly, you are the best thing I've ever done. But you are also my biggest challenge. I have to grow every day just to keep up with you. A little more patient. A little more compassionate. A little more brave. Every day I have to remind myself that life will never be perfect for you, and that I can't beat myself up over it. Being two was hard. I imagine being three won't be much easier. But being a Mama is about being a teacher and a cheerleader, not about being a shield. I won't always be able to keep your tears away, but I promise to be there with a hug and a kiss. I could even cry with you, if you want. 

You are my super hero and my train conductor. My daily test of patience and a constantly moving target. You are my loyal helper and my cuddlebug. Mama's baby. Daddy's boy. You make us a family.

Happiest of happy birthdays to you, Buddy. Three is going to be the most fun yet. I can feel it.

Love Mama

***

We don't keep the "traditional" birthday traditions like parties and cakes and lots of toys, but we do have a few:

As you can see, Jeff and I have really updated our look in the last 3 years...

And of course, the birthday video. (a.k.a. An excuse for me to go back through old photos and spend hours of choked-up nostalgia piecing together a video that I will watch REPEATEDLY until it's time to work on next year's video. And even after that.) Enjoy.

Happy 3rd Birthday! from Sarah Hood on Vimeo.

If you're viewing this post via email or a reader, please click on through to enjoy the video.

Over the river and through the woods

I convinced Jeff to take the plunge with me and we tried Trail Running this weekend. You know - like this:

 

Hobbs State Park is Arkansas' largest state park and it's right here in our backyard. After seeing pieces of it this weekend, we're ready to take a day trip there with Colt to do some more exploring. Maybe when it's not so gosh darn hot...

Lessons learned:

1. Running music. The more embarrassing, the better. I'm lookin' at you Britney. I've pretty much had to download an entire new library of iTunes since I started running, because wouldn't you know it but it's tough to run to the beat of George Strait or Johnny Cash.
2. There are no heroes on the hills. I ran full speed up the first hill on the trail, passing people left and right. Walkers!? Pansies!  My friends, there's a VERY good reason people walk up those hills. Newbie lesson - learned the hard way. (Quick note to self: Run more hills...)
3. Pack light. Jeff ran this race with me. A first. Also a first -- I didn't have anyone to wrangle my "stuff". That itty bitty pocket in the back of my running shorts is just the right size for our car key and a tube of Chapstick. I compulsively checked every 30 seconds along the trail. Still there. Still there. Yep, still there.
4. Shade trees don't block out humidity. Most of the trail was through the trees so it was shady and - dare I say - cooler, but good gracious was it humid.

There was a photographer snapping pictures at the start line, and - though Jeff smoked me by nearly 10 minutes - there is proof that we did actually START the race together.

Since Jeff was running too I didn't have my usual paparazzi at the finish line so a few hazy iPhone pics will have to suffice.

We ran the short race - only 4 miles - so we finished in a weird spot. This was our finish line -- the blue flags. Kinda anti-climactic. But we hopped on a shuttle that dropped us back at the start/finish line for the 9mile/25K/50K so we could celebrate with the rest of the finishers as they came across the line. Below: With our finisher medals -- clay arrowheads -- pretty cool.

I hope you're enjoying these weekend running/race updates as much as I am. I'm trying to ride this exercise wave as far as it will take me. (Let's hope it has enough steam to carry me through an Arkansas summer.)

Everything is as it should be

I married a really good guy.

And I usually show my love and respect for him by NOT writing about him on my blog. Since Colt was born, I've had to push some boundaries by showing Jeff in more photos here and there, but I try to be respectful of the fact that I am the one who's chosen to put my life and thoughts and ramblings out on the internet - not him.

To my knowledge this is the only post in 6+ years of blogging that is even remotely focused on my hubby. Stay tuned in 6 more years - you never know.

***

We had a meeting at Colt's school yesterday. We both attended.

Does that sound particularly notable to you? Monumental, even?

Yeah, we didn't think so either. But evidently, it is. As we wrapped up the meeting Colt's teachers made a big deal out of thanking Jeff for being there. "We don't get a lot of... Dads."

And it's not the first time. We get the same type of comments nearly every time we go to a parent/teacher conference or doctor's appointment or anything else "typically" taken care of by Moms.

Until yesterday, I didn't think much of it. Jeff and I both always kinda laughed and shrugged and wondered, "well, what else would we do?"

But after yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Is this where we are, this society of ours? Teachers and doctors raise an eyebrow and go so far as to THANK a Dad who makes time to take an active role? It makes me cringe. Are Dads that far gone? Do we consider it "babysitting" when they hang out with their kiddos? Are they only interested in the fun stuff? The soccer games and roughhousing? What about the 2 a.m. feedings? The potty training? The staying home from school with a fever? The dirty diapers and time outs and homework?

I'm going to go on ahead and steal my own Father's Day thunder by telling you I have a really, really good Dad on my hands. One who does not accept any of the societal nonsense that lets men believe they no longer "wear the pants" if they do the "Mom stuff". I don't know if I always realize how lucky we are to agree on an all-in style of parenting. Or how lucky I am that he is as devoted to the "Mom stuff" as he is to the "Dad stuff". To him, it's KID stuff.

Some of you know him and you know that he would consider himself properly thanked and appreciated if I never, ever mentioned it, but I just can't help myself.

This guy loves his kid. And he takes this Dad thing pretty darn seriously. And I am so, so thankful for that.

My Journey to the Big 3-0

No, not THAT 3-0. Though it will be here before I know it, I'm sure.

This weekend I was poised and ready to break the 30 minute mark for a 5K. I had seen the flyer for this cute little race in my goody bag from the Cow Paddy 5K back in April.

Seriously. How cute is that?

So I decided it was reasonable to do a race every month and this would be my race for the month of May. Done. Skunk Run it is.

And of COURSE all the weather reports said it would be raining like crazy that morning! OF COURSE! Because I chose to start entering races in the spring! In Northwest Arkansas! Where the weather has evidently lost its everloving mind lately.

So I was ready - again - to run in the rain. And... the weather cleared up just in time for the race - again! Yah!

And since the weather cooperated, my boys joined me for the pre-race festivities.

And - as is becoming the tradition - I had a running friend and inspiration to talk to as we warmed up and awaited the start.

That would be my friend Alix, who completed the Little Rock Half Marathon last year. She is nursing an injury so we didn't run together very long on Saturday, but I'm getting closer and closer to having the courage to set a big running goal like a few of my running girlfriends have set -- and accomplished. We shall see.

And we were off! I'm so lucky to have my own personal paparazzi at these events.

The first leg of the race was downhill and I felt like I was flying. What a great start! I felt really good and for a minute there I was certain the little voice on my iPod HAD to be wrong about my pace. No WAY I was moving that fast. Thank you, gravity.

As the course flattened out the humidity seemed to go through the roof. It was nice and breezy, but muggy as all get out. And my quick start translated into a struggle around the beginning of mile 3. What WAS nice though, was that the course was SO flat and open you could see the finish line from about a half mile away. Eyes on the prize. 

The first time I saw the above photo I assumed it was just a shot of a random pack of runners during the race. Then I looked more closely.

"How did you get these pictures of me so far away? How did you know I was coming? Lucky guess?"

"Sarah, you have a very unique running style. Kinda like John Wayne's walk."

He's not wrong.

The other foot does it, too.

So maybe we'll work on FORM before the next race...

Either way, I pushed like hell to reach that finish line - knowing I was pretty close to my 30 minute goal.

(Photo courtesy of What My Eyes Have Seen.)

But I missed it.

By 43 seconds.

Which is a bummer.

But I'll survive.

Because I shaved over two and a half minutes off my previous best time of 33:19. Which is almost a minute per mile!

And because my little guy was cheering for me at the finish line.

And because I got one of these totally cute, skunk tail shirts for running the race.

And because I know there will be another race. And now I know what (alllllmost) breaking 30 minutes feels like.

Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself. - William Faulkner