Mountain Mother Runner

We are only a few days into the New Year, but reflecting back on December seems SO long ago! Did you find yourself struggling to find motivation (or time) to workout during the holiday season? Waking up to snow covered ground and 22 degree weather makes drinking hot tea in your pjs by the fireplace sound like a much better idea. Traveling away from home can also put a kink in your running plans. Are you comfortable running in an area you are unfamiliar with, or do you view it as a new adventurous opportunity? I personally enjoy the change of scenery! Possession Beach in Washington Wk 1: 1-3: 5.15 miles (including Fairhaven Frosty 5k ) Wk 2: 4-10: 7.24 miles Wk 3: 11-17: 21.87 miles Wk 4: 18-24: 10.91 miles (on Whidbey Island) Wk 5: 25-31: 19.03 miles (on Whidbey Island) Total miles for December: 64.20 Our December was a time spent sitting…literally. First we puppy sat for a week, and then we spent two weeks homestead sitting out on Whidbey Island. It was a nice a...

Felling less than enthusiastic about waking up early to run? Dreading the potential boredom of hitting the treadmill? When I find myself wanting some extra motivation, I tend to get that much needed boost through quotes and mantras. (If you're trying to become a more balanced runner , click over to read some helpful tips.) Here are 12 encouraging running quotes that will motivate you to simply get out the door, switch up your training plan, or even go on your very first run! You can do it! “Run often. Run long. But never outrun your joy of running.” –Julie Isphording “Training is what you are doing while your opponent is sleeping in.” –Brian Owen “Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” –Dean Karnazes “Even when you have gone as far as you can, and everything hurts, and you are staring at the specter of self-doubt, you can find a bit more strength deep inside you, if you look closely enough.” –Hal Higdon “If one coul...

A few months ago, I planned out my tentative race schedule for the year. One race per month seemed fairly realistic between my husband’s schedule and me relying on him to watch Eisley while I race. That being said, sometimes life throws you a curve-ball and you have to improvise. Adapt and overcome, right? Well, my husband booked a mini trip to celebrate his birthday the same weekend as Race Beneath the Sun . Photo by Scott Allen Instead of canceling the event, I contacted the Race Director out of curiosity to ask if jogging strollers were allowed. She replied that someone did it with a stroller the previous year, but the C. Moore loop would be pretty difficult! I view ‘difficult’ as being a challenge, and I sure do love a good challenge. The race is hosted by Greater Bellingham Running Club and the course is 5 miles that are mainly trail, including some hills and a challenging climb up C. Moore loop trail, which is luckily only ¼ mile. Morning of the race, I ate some oatmeal a...

Do you ever wake up and think, “How can I wreck my legs today?” Well, I’ve got the answer for you! Venture out on a hike up to Oyster Dome wearing 40lbs worth of baby and gear on your back. The hike is 6.58mi roundtrip, the highest point is 2,025ft and there's an elevation gain of 1,975ft! I had never done this hike before, so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. My previous hikes wearing the baby had been fairly easy and shorter distances, so I wasn’t going to be upset if we had to turn around early. Eisley can be VERY loud and will let me (and anyone within a mile radius) know that she doesn’t want to be carried anymore. This trip was meant to be a time for relaxing and bonding between us, not anything forced or uncomfortable.   I went online to find some information on the hike before heading out to Bow, WA. A Discover Pass is required for parking. They are only $30 annually or you can purchase a $10 day pass. Heading from Bellingham, we drove South on Chuckanut Drive. T...

Happy Global Running Day! Since I dove deep into the world of running, something stood out to me that I hadn’t noticed before. I started connecting with people in the running community, locally and all over the world, regardless of language barriers, race, religion, etc. I realized how united we are. Running is like a universal language (similar to happiness), that allows us to relate to one another and better understand each other. We all know the sense of accomplishment when we cross the finish line. We all know how hard it can be to roll out of bed and go out on an early morning run, when it’d be much easier to stay snuggled in bed. Although it is still technically a ‘competition’, runners always seem to be extremely supportive of their opponents, cheering and motivating them to keep pushing strong. I am so happy that I’ve discovered this ‘new world’ and urge you to do some discovering for yourself! Curious about Global Running Day? So far, over 2 MILLION people have pledged ...

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...

Hola chickas! I hope you enjoyed Mother’s Day over the weekend, whether you relaxed with your families, fell asleep during a magical spa massage, grilled out at the lake, or however you chose to celebrate YOUR special day! Our tribe shared a nice, chill weekend. Saturday we went on a family stroll through Whatcom Falls Park. We were surprised to find out that a junior fishing tournament was going on, which would explain the influx of families everywhere! Even though we weren’t exactly secluded, it was nice to be out in the woods, sharing company with nature. Our little boo eagerly walked the entire 1.3 miles! Bear cub and Poppa Bear taking the lead! Eisley’s sleep is still like an old wooden rollercoaster, so when I came downstairs to freshly brewed hot coffee and tasty breakfast both Saturday AND Sunday morning, my heart filled with joy and love! I am so thankful for my husband and our sweet daughter. What else could I ask for on this special Mother’s Day?! We played in the y...

I hope your weekend is off to a great start! Our little Eisley is 21 months old now and must be going through some sort of mental leap, because her sleep routine is lost in space! It’s been on and off again for a few weeks now (a month? I don’t know), that I’ve gone in her room multiple times throughout the night to sing, soothe, and possibly nurse before relocating our sleep party to the extra room in attempt to get some half-decent sleep. Last night, after lots of crying and comforting, I ended up co-sleeping with her again in the guest bedroom around 4:00am, leaving me feeling slightly delirious most of today. Anyways, it’s the last day of April, so I wanted to write about my training and mileage. Week 1: April 1-2: Rest days Week 2: April 3-9: 31.6 miles including the Honeywagon Half Marathon Week 3: April 10-16: 25.27 miles Week 4: April 17-23: 19.59 miles including GBRC (Greater Bellingham Running Club) track practice Week 5: April 24-30: 28.84 miles including GBRC track pr...

Hello readers, welcome to PNW Mother Runner! The idea of starting a blog has been in the back of my head for quite a while now. Between running, exploring, being a stay at home mom, and cooking real food for my family, I couldn't imagine having the extra time to write a blog. Luckily, I can manage to squeeze some writing in during the little one's nap, when she's independently playing, or after I put her down for bed. As a mom, it can be easy to fall into the trap of routine. Wake up, get your little one ready, feed your family, pack up for a play date, come home for lunch, put your child down for a nap, clean the house, go to the park, cook dinner, read books, snuggle before bedtime, try to relax, go to sleep, wake up all night because your baby is "still" nursing, repeat. What is wrong with this picture? When is it time for YOU to take care of YOURSELF? Our daughter was six months old before I slowly started to exercise and focus on my own well being. I felt g...