Mountain Mother Runner

A list of FREE home education websites to help you on your homeschooling journey. Whether you are homeschooling, or are needing something for your kiddo to do after school, this is a great staple list to choose from! It drives me crazy to have to search through saved websites or pins on my Pinterest page because it can be so time consuming. Having a group of resources together in one place makes it easier to find, and more likely that you’ll use them! Harvest for Healthy Kids: Do you have a picky eater? This site contains 13 different activity kits that are totally free! All you have to do is enter your email address to unlock access to all content. Each kit includes an activity plan, picture cards, recipes, and a Teacher Bites Newsletter. This program was designed to help children develop healthy eating habits through activities that teach math, literacy, and science. Beets, asparagus, winter squash, potatoes/sweet potatoes, cabbage, berries, winter root vegetab...

Do you ever notice yourself thinking about things at potentially not good times? Saturday granted me a surprise run alone since our little one went to bed early. My training plan had as easy 4 miles for that day, but it also happened to be Eisley’s 3 rd birthday, so I originally thought I’d have an extra rest day. As I headed out for the run, my mind was filled with happiness from our daughter’s birthday and remembering her birth. So much has changed for our family in those short three years. After a few minutes of reflecting, I simply admired the Pacific Northwest nature around me. All of these sweet thoughts, followed by (my typical random running thoughts) curiously wondering what types of situations would cause people to run really fast? A few ideas came to mind: 1. The sun is almost setting and it will be dark. 2. You are in an unfamiliar part of town (or visiting a town for the first time). 3. You hear a possibly large, dangerous wild animal moving in the swor...

I’m not sure about YOU, but once I started becoming involved with my running relationship, an unknown part of me began to surface. I call it…”Runner’s OCD”. For every race, I would look up the previous year’s results for my age group. Then, I would scroll down past the obviously competitive or seasoned runner results and began examining the times I wanted to beat. My mind would think, “Hmmm, I can do that. Why not?” After that, I had to break down their final race time into miles to figure out the pace and try to compile my own set of goal miles that would hopefully equal out the same pace, or have me finishing slightly faster…everyone does that, right? Anyways, I’ve come across some extremely helpful resources that do a lot of the work for you and will make your “Runner’s OCD” dreams come true!   1. Pace Calculator from coolrunning.com This is my #1 go-to for training runs, and even checking on my previous events. You are able to calculate your running pace per mile or k...

The morning after a big race or tough workout, you may open your eyes, stand up, wobble around, then fall right back down into your cozy bed. (Sometimes I start walking down the stairs and feel like my legs will give out under me!) You could have a strong case of the DOMS…aka delayed-onset muscle soreness. This soreness can last between 3-5 days and it is typically the most painful 24-72 hours after exercising. The American College of Sports Medicine describes this process occurring due to tiny tears to the muscle fibers from exercises that cause the muscles to lengthen while force is applied. Instead of waiting it out, give these methods a shot to help you deal with the DOMS! 1. Drink Pineapple Juice! Delicious pineapple contains an enzyme called Bromelain which helps relax inflamed muscles and has anti-swelling effects. It is even linked to lower pain and is a great alternative to over-the-counter pain medications. Instead of drinking the juice, you can simply eat it or even...

Holiday shopping doesn't have to be your Achilles heel! This guide has everything you need to give the lady runners in your life! Some gift items are pretty useful, others simply make you look good, and the rest may be a little random…but isn’t that how most runners are? (Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with any of these businesses or products.) 1. I love to stay hydrated by popping a Nuun Active formula tablet in my water bottle after a run! There are nine flavors to choose from: Lemon+lime, tri-berry, strawberry lemonade, orange, fruit punch, grape, watermelon, tropical, and citrus fruit (my FAVORITE is strawberry lemonade!).   Each tube has 10 tabs and costs $7 on the Nuun website . 2. Keep track of personal records while displaying your race bibs and favorite race medals! This chalkboard display is handmade and available for $43 on Etsy by five1fivesigns.    3. Get ready for your next (or FIRST) half marathon by following the ‘Train...

This year for Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for…MOTHERHOOD! Cheers to the foster moms, moms juggling two jobs, homeschooling three kids moms, the surprise moms, moms with angel babies, and all the other moms in between. Let’s celebrate together by reading this little list of quotes about motherhood! 1. “In a child's eyes, a mother is a goddess. She can be glorious or terrible, benevolent or filled with wrath, but she commands love either way. I am convinced that this is the greatest power in the universe.” - N.K. Jemisin 2. “No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother.” - Margaret Sanger 3. “Motherhood is a choice you make everyday, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is...and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.” - Donna Ball 4. “There is ete...

As a mom, you want to visit your family to make special memories with your sweet child, right? How do you plan on getting there, a magic carpet ride? We recently went on an eight day trip. Each of our travel days included 2.5 hrs driving, 2 flights, a 2 hr layover, and crossing over 2 time zones, totaling 13ish hours of traveling. Did I mention that “we” meant me and our 2 year old? My biggest dilemma of traveling (to visit family, go on vacation, anything more than an hour away) was the anxiety of traveling with a baby/now toddler. Until we quit nursing at 23 months, our daughter never slept ANYWHERE except her bed (not in the car, stroller, our bed, etc) which made me not want to travel. She hated being in the car and would literally cry for hours without ever taking a nap. Luckily, turning 2 seemed to put those woes behind us and opened up a new world of travel opportunities! If you’re crazy enough to travel alone with a toddler, here are 6 tips to make your life easier! 1...

As you enter the wild world of running, you might find yourself attempting to translate training plans, surrounded by unusual (and possibly unnecessary) gear, all while confused by a whole new language! Coaches and friends may use lingo leaving you scratching your head while staying on the sidelines. Here’s a list of 21 running terms to help get you going on your running journey! Aid Station: Points along the race course (more common in distances further than a 5k) where volunteers/staff hand out water, electrolyte drinks, snacks, etc. In extreme environments or in ultra distances, medical staff is there to measure weight, check for dehydration, and make sure the runner is physically able to continue the race. Base Mileage: A runner’s average weekly miles ran.   Bib: The number corresponding to each individual runner “bib number” so they can be identified, printed on a square piece of paper.  Race Bib BQ: “Boston Qualifier” A qualifying time standard that r...

Although I started running about a year and a half ago, it wasn't until the end of 2015 that I decided my New Year's resolution would be to take running to the next level. I wanted to dive in and learn everything that I could. I joined a local non-profit running club that meets weekly for track practices. I signed up for my first trail race (10k) to step out of my comfort zone, followed by other races, and my first half marathon! Now trust me, I am nowhere close to where I'd like to be. I believe we can always improve ourselves, push ourselves, and learn new things. Here is a list of five tips that can assist you in becoming a balanced runner! 1. Strength Training: Set aside one day per week to focus solely on strengthening your muscles and joints. Major benefits include a decreased risk of being injured, improved overall body composition, and faster running times. As a runner, focus on your lower body and developing a stronger core. A strong core re...