Fitness Challenge: Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon

And guess who is doing it? Mami is...of course!

Yep! Every year she signs up for some sort of fitness challenge. Big or small, it doesn't matter, but something she can work towards. Remember I used to run with her too!

Now that we are no longer living in a city we don't walk AT ALL, and we have to drive everywhere...our legs have been getting cramped because of lack of movement. Mami says the suburbs can "be toxic like that".

Last year at this time she was one of the very fortunate bloggers to join the Nestle Pure Life team along with fellow blogger Mirka from All Baby Advice to train and run the London Marathon.

She took the job very seriously and with the help of papi, who is a runner too, she made sure she was fully prepared to make it to the finish line in one piece.

We are all going to cheer mami and papi on!

And not only did she make it one piece, but in true social media fashion, mami vlogged, tweeted and even posted updates on Facebook along the way. Yep! You can catch mami and Mirka at a few spots along the way... mile 4, mile 22 and the finish.

So this year, she (and papi) have registered to run the Washington DC Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in March. She says thirteen miles is more realistic than training for a the full 26.2 miles...yeah, that's a looooong way to run.

So for the next two months you will see a few updates here and there on her training. You know how much she loves to talk about running. Let's hope she doesn't sprain an ankle or hurt her knees.

If you are in the area, there is still time to register. And if you do, let us know...mami would love to meet other running mamas.

Anyone else taking up a fitness challenge? Tell us what you are doing!

London Marathon vlog: Mami at the finish!

Mami after crossing the finish line

26.2 miles done!

Videos

Mami and Mirka at mile 4

Mami at mile 22

London Marathon vlog: Mami at mile 22

 Mami at mile 22 - only 4.2 miles to go!

 Videos
Mami and Mirka at mile 4

Mami at the finish

London Marathon vlog: Mami and Mirka at mile 4

Mami and Mirka running the London Marathon at Mile 4. 

They still look happy!

Videos
Mami at mile 22
Mami at the finish

Silent Sunday

 

Mami's big run!

That's right. Mami is going to be doing a very long run in April, or the Virgin London Marathon as you might know it as.

I can't fully explain the excitement that this has caused here at our home, but it is all thanks to Nestle Pure Life sponsoring her to run and working with Full Potential to make sure she makes it in one piece.

Papi is jealous because he wants to run it and mami is busy getting into "marathon mode" as she calls it.

"I need to sleep well, eat well, get running and strengthen my knees" she says to herself and makes another "to do" list (she has lots of those!)

She has been taking care of her ankle since spraining it last year running the Adidas 5K Challenge, and is ready to get back to it.

"Remember when I did my first marathon?" She said to papi.

"We weren't even married yet! And you were my coach"

Papi smiled and says "You did so well, I was very proud of you"

See mami did the Marine Corps Marathon (that's 26.2 miles by the way) many years ago in 2004 just one week before she and papi got married.

She said her legs and feet still ached when she walked down the aisle.

Papi was already a runner when they met and he got her into it too. So when she decided to do the marathon, papi would run with her, encourage her and even cycle next to her on those long runs carrying extra water!

Now I carry her water when we go running with my buggy and I even cross train with her at home. Check us out doing weights and bicycle crunches!

This Saturday she has her first training session with Full Potential and nutritionist Anita Bean along with Mirka from All Baby Advice and Emma from Me the Man and Baby who are also running it.

As always, it is my duty to tell you all about mami's busy world, so until the big day I'll bring you her running report and progress.

So far so good, she did 60 minutes on Sunday and today we are off for 30 minutes.

Got to get her to the finish line!

Mami's turkey trot!

Not much to say about Thanksgiving. I've personally never experienced it, but I have heard mami and papi talk about it.

It involves eating lots of food including a turkey, some mashed potatoes, different types of pies, cranberries and the list goes on and on.

Come to think of it, those are some pretty interesting combinations of food! (we really should have Thanksgiving, I will have a word with papi to see if he can make something this weekend).

But the real reason I'm here is because, today, on turkey day, mami went for a run!

I called it "mami's turkey trot" in honour of the Thanksgiving 5K runs she use to do when she still lived in the US.

In fact, today is mami's 7 year running anniversary! On this very day for Thanksgiving 2003 mami did a 5K run for the first time ever. She says she "nearly fainted" but she did it!
So you can see why today was the perfect day to get back to it.

It may be cold outside, but she says it is "perfect running weather."

Tickets to Britain's Next Top Model Live!

Two of mami’s favourites things to do are running and girly stuff. Now imagine combining the two?

Well it is possible and Boutique Sport has done just that! Boutique Sport are launching their calendar of events this month at the Britain’s Next Top Model Live 2010 Show at the ExCel in London’s Docklands 22^nd – 24^th October.

Boutique Sport gives women even more opportunities to combine exercise with a great girls night out. Apparently mami is always saying she needs one of those.

They are looking to go beyond running and have events such as dancing (mami loves this!) and cycling. All sporting events would be followed by a fabulous party including music, champagne drinks, and lots of pampering!

Sounds good doesn’t it? Well, mami and I have a pair of tickets to giveaway to see Britain’s Next Top Model Live 2010 with Boutique Sport.

But wait! There is more. 

While you are at the exhibition you can enter to become the “Face of Boutique Sport” on the BNTM Open Catwalk. Judges will be looking for vibrant and active women. 

The winner of the search will receive a professional photo shoot, the chance to appear in the Boutique Sport 2011 campaign imagery, chance to compete at events and free entry to all Boutique Sport events for life!

So what are you waiting for? Enter to win 2 tickets to BNTM Live 2010 with Boutique Sport!

Just answer this question:

What is the name of the half marathon mami was suppose to run but had to drop out due to injury?

(Answer is in the blog)

Please follow mami on Twitter 
Add us to your RSS feed/follow on Google Connect
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*Closes Tuesday 19th October*

Good luck!

Sitting this one out

Bad news from mami headquarters in London.

Mami, or Runner 13196 as she would have been known will not be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon as planned on the 10th of October. I repeat, mami will not be running the half marathon in October due to an ankle injury.

At this time I ask that you be very kind to mami and let her sulk and cry alone. Daddy and I have stood back and let her be. But I hope that she does hurry up and get over it. I can't take much more of her whining!

Bottom line: She is NOT happy!

I think she has been in denial for a few weeks now. Ever since she took that big fall at the 4K mark at Adidas Women's 5K Challenge at Hyde Park and sprained her ankle, she has been hoping to be able to heal in time.

 Mami won't be needing these

"Maybe I can still run it. Its only 3 weeks away, I can run 10 miles then I'll be okay" she said a few weeks ago.

Daddy just looked at her and said "That's not such a good idea. You could cause permanent damage"

Mami just looked away biting her nails.

"Arrrrgggggg, I REALLY REALLY want to run this race! I have been waiting for so long! Can't believe I fell!"

Daddy and I just sit back and let her get it all out.

"And I've put on weight! I need to get out there" She told us this weekend.

Poor mami. She is frustrated and yes, she is getting a bit chunkier. Just the other day I saw her trying to wrestle her way into her jeans. They fit, but won't button.

She will start running again, but won't be racing anytime soon. However, she has plans to do a half marathon in the Spring and she is looking for company.

How many of you are up for a major challenge?

Let us know! 

Out of commission

It started out as a very happy day. Mami was finally doing the Adidas Women's 5K Challenge for Arthritis Research UK and then we were going to my friend's birthday party.

Just another Sunday. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Until mami fell, sprained her ankle and scraped her leg at the 4k mark.

After that, the day just got worse for both of us.

Let me explain....although she continued running and finished in record time of 32 minutes (although without the fall she was set to come in under 30 minutes) she still had pain in her ankle.

Mummy to 5K!

Caroline from Family Vie, mami, Mirka from All Baby Advice and Nova from Cherised by Me

She walked it off, we took pictures with the other runners and my blogging friends and we came home.

She fell hard!

Still smiling - the worse was yet to come. For both of us!

To give mami a break, daddy and I went to the park. Then my bad day began.

I was just walking along, picking up sticks and rocks when I felt something on my cheek. I tried to get it off but it stayed there. It was also moving and then OUCH!!!!  I felt a sharp pain on my face and I cried out for daddy! OUCH OUCH OUCH!!!! Ohhhhh, it hurt!!!!

Daddy rushed over and then quickly picked me up and hugged me. My cheek was burning and the pain was still there. Daddy wiped away my tears and said it was gone now. I had been stung by something called a wasp. I had never had pain like that before. I cried and hugged daddy and he just held me close.

Then we came home to find mami crying because her ankle hurt. She looked at me and daddy and said "I can't walk. The pain is getting worse. I am going to have to go to the A&E".

Uh oh! I thought. I've been there and I know they make you wait for a very. long. time. Daddy didn't know what to do or who to leave me with. But mami called Auntie Lis and she came over to help mami to the doctor.

Ouch!

After my dinner, my bath and my bedtime, I heard mami come back home. I was already in bed, but I heard the door shut. She came home with a special wrap around ther ankle.

The doctor said she has a sprained ankle, cannot walk for 3 days, and chances are she may not be able to run the Royal Park Half Marathon in October. She knows she has to rest, but she is very upset about not doing the marathon. Poor mami! She has been training very hard for that race.

We both had a bad day and we just want the pain to go away. Daddy has been helping her around the house, and from what I saw, she won't be able to play with me. Or chase me. Or come after me when I play behind the TV. Hmm? This could get interesting!

I will keep you posted on her progress.

Right now she has her leg up on pillows and a bag of peas on it! Silly mami.

Count down to 5K

In less than one week mami and all the other mamas who agreed to take part in the Adidas Women's 5K Challenge will be making their way to the start line and then taking off running! Mami as you know is running for Arthritis Research UK.

This week has been really "stressful" (I don't know what that means) and tiring for mami, and she hasn't really been able to go out for a run. But yesterday she went for a quick jog and today, me, daddy and mami all headed out and we did 7 miles!

Mami was really sweaty again, but we were proud of her for getting out there. I also heard her telling daddy she had put on weight, so she was determined to get moving.

She strapped her Swiggies to her wrists. Remember I told you about these? They are these cool little water bottles that strap on to your wrists so that you don't have to hold your water bottle. Mami has been running with them, and I have to say, I like them too!

Running with her red Swiggies

Sometimes mami fills one up for me and I wear it around the house. Anyway, getting back to the point, mami says they are essential for running and recommends them to anyone who is training.

It is best not to drink too much water on a run because it can cause cramps, so sipping little bits at a time helps not be thirsty, or stay "hydrated" as mami and daddy say and lets you get on with your running.

Here is a picture of mami running with her Swiggies and then taking a sip. I asked her to take these pictures so that I could show you.

So about the 5K, mami is not running it along. I wanted to introduce you to two of them, and tell you a little about them and why they like to run. Daddy and I will be there cheering them on along the way, so I will report back after the race.

Hannah from Climbing Tikes

She says she applied for the challenge and started the training straight away.

"It has given me a complete new lease of life. The whole family is now involved with my hubby cycling (with the kids in a trailer) while I am running, we are eating healthy too. I decided to run for children with Leukaemia because they do such fab work, they are the UK's leading charity dedicated to fighting Britain's biggest childhood cancer. Although our lives haven't been directly affected by Leukaemia my husband had testicular cancer at the age of 13 so I know how important these charities are".

Check out Han with her Swiggies too! Can't wait to see her in action!

Mirka from All Baby Advice

Mirka has been away on holiday with her family and has been running a lot lately.

She told me that she has always loved running and power walking.

"When I lived in Sydney used to go power walking every afternoon after work (ESL teacher), it is very popular there. After returning to London and after having Isabelle I needed to get back into shape, lose 20 kg gained in pregnancy and also wanted to be fit again, so I started running again. In the last 6 months I have become much fitter thanks to doing some kind of exercise almost every day. A few weeks ago I also started Fitness Tuesday on my blog to encourage other mums to get fitter, do some exercises, do it all together and then talk about it, read other mums' posts and comments". Don't forget to join in!

Isabelle is so lucky to run with her mami. I can't wait until I am old enough to do that too!

This is going to be a very fun day. I will have pictures from the race and a full report for you next week!

In the meantime, let us know how you are getting on with your fitness and running. Mami is going to try to do 1 or 2 more runs then the big race!

bye bye,

 
 
 

Mami's very VERY long run

The long run

Mami always manages to get herself into trouble, and last Sunday daddy and I thought she had gotten lost on her group run! He kept going up to look out the window and was very close to putting me in the buggy to go and find her.

Early that morning, she had filled her new Swiggies, or Swigglets as daddy called them (they are water bottles that go on your wrists, so cool!) and she was gone.

Picture: ARUK

In the meantime Daddy and I went to the park. We played, had a snack, I had a nap and even after all that, mami was still not back. She was gone for a very VERY long time! And that’s why daddy and I were worried.

Eventually she came home and her face was really red, her hair was wet and she didn't smell very good.  Daddy helped her over to the sofa and she just fell over.

“How was the run?” daddy asked a bit scared.

Mami looked at him, and said “I ran with the group for exactly 10 minutes! Their definition of slow is not the same as mine! And it was much more than 6 miles!"

But I was proud of mami. Remember she is running the Adidas Women’s 5K Challenge on behalf of Arthritis Research UK, so she can’t give up now. But daddy said this was the first time she was running more than 5 miles, so it was harder for her.

Her motivation for running: Arthritis Research UK


This week, mami and I learned about how juvenile idiopathic arthritis is diagnosed. Mami read that juvenile idiopathic arthritis is actually difficult to detect and there's no single test that can confirm the diagnosis.

Doctors base their diagnosis on what mamas and daddies tell them, what they find by examining little ones, and on tests they carry out to rule out other possible illnesses.

Usually they do blood test and even eye tests. Children with JIA have a higher chance of having inflammation to their eyes, and if a doctor doesn't help you, can lead to blindness. That means you can't see. We don't want that to happen to anyone.

So, mami had better keep running and raising funds.You can visit her Just Giving page to donate too!

Doing it all over again!

In other news, we are all going for a family run today. After mami’s long run by herself, she would rather go slow but in good company. Can’t wait because I love zooming down the hills!

Mami and I are going to do another post about the best running gear, including the Swiggies so come back for that!

Happy running!

Mami runs. Part two

My mami is running. And not just after me!

Let me explain. First she is going to run a 5k (or 3.2 miles) in Hyde Park in September and then a half marathon (13 miles) in October.

If memory serves me right, I have seen her run before...but that was back in my baby days. I’m a big boy now!

The excuses

“Shouldn’t you be training for the Royal Parks Half Marathon?” daddy asked mami as she was a about to eat another chocolate reindeer she had in the fridge.

“Arrrrg, yes! I know, but I can’t run now, I’m tired!”

“Well, you have to start soon, otherwise it will be painful”

“Ok! OK! I’ll start this week, I’m just not motivated” and ate the chocolate.

The miracle

Then on Sunday, it happened. Mami went for a run. And not just her, but daddy and I too! I cheered her on from the buggy and held her water bottle. When she needed some I would hand it over to her.

The challenge

What pushed mami out the door? A very nice lady from Arthritis Research UK had contacted mami and me that week and said she had seen my blog. She asked if mami would run the Adidas Women’s 5K Challenge on their behalf to let other people know more about juvenile ar-thri-tis.

I really don’t know what that means, and it was really difficult to spell (I cut and paste it!). But after listening mami talk to daddy, I can tell you a little more about it.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis or JIA is a group of illnesses that share similar symptoms. Idiopathic arthritis is arthritis with no known cause and, just as in adult arthritis; it causes inflammation, pain and swelling in the joints. Ouch!

It is very sad because 1 in 1,000 children in the UK hurt from this and can begin at any age and is more common in girls. But the good news is that JIA doesn't turn into the adult kind of arthritis. There is more information, but I didn’t understand it all.

I will try to blog about her training each week and let you know more information on juvenile arthritis as I learn more along the way.

Mummy to 5K

Oh, and its not just mami running! She was able to get some of my blogging friends out and running too! They started the “Mummy to 5K” hash tag on twitter and Rachael @karamina made a pretty badge for everyone to put on their blogs. I put one up for mami. See it on the side?

Each day other mamas are joining in on the challenge. So far, I see that: @cafebebe @karamina @kahanka @climbingtikes @jennypaulin @ngowers and mami @verybusymama are all set to run! If you want to join in, just click on the Adidas Women’s 5K Challenge Link and register and leave your link below!

And daddy (who is a runner too) says don’t forget to get a good pair of trainers – otherwise it will hurt!

Happy running!

Bye bye!

Run mami run

“I need to workout!” I hear her tell daddy, followed by “but I’m soooo tired!” and plopping down on the sofa.

“Definitely tomorrow, promise” she says. And daddy just smiles and says “okay then”.


But I know that is not going to happen.


I know for a fact that mami isn’t always happy with how she looks. I've seen her squirming around when trying to button her jeans, only to quickly take them off and look sad.

Even though she has always been fairly active, she gained 50 lbs when I was in her tummy! But don’t blame me - I weighed a mere 5 lbs pounds when I came out and the rest was because of high blood pressure, those “yummy biscuits” she likes and daddy’s Sunday lunches.


It took her a good while to get back to exercising because she was spending all of her time with me (I admit, I was even more demanding before) and I believe was still in a bit of pain.

When I was around 5 months, we began going to Parent and Pram at the park. It’s an exercise class where all the tots come with their mummies. It was a huge effort for her, and while she jumped around sweating and out of breath, I sat comfy in the buggy (see pic) watching her make funny faces. That was exactly one year ago. Fast forward to today, and mami has lost all of the extra weight she put on.

Despite really struggling to find the time and energy to exercise, mami does really try. But it’s never easy - no no!

On Wednesday after lunch instead of going to the park as usual, we went downstairs to the garage. Smiling at me, she sat me in a new buggy I had never seen before. She seemed really cheerful as she strapped me in. The seat was a bit bigger than my usual buggy and when she starting pushing me it was extra bouncy!

Suddenly mami said “hold on Little M” and before I could turn to look back at her, we had picked up speed and we were running down the road...weeeeeeee!

I threw my hands in the air, the wind hitting my face and sang out “ah ah, eh eh eh” as I bounced up and down with every fast step she took.  I couldn’t believe it – it was so much fun and I got to spend time with mami. We continued down to the river taking short breaks every once in a while (mami was tired, but she would always start up again). I could hear her breathing hard, but she still managed to sing to me and point out the boats and birds along the way.

This new buggy is made especially for running. It has bicycle wheels and it may look massive, but it is very light and easy to push. On that same day, mami registered for the 10km Boutique Run in Battersea Park for women only. I guess a lot of mummies get together to run and enjoy some much needed time away from us while exercising and indulging in a bit of pampering.

She says she “will always be just a little bit fat” (a lady named Bridget Jones said that and mami says it applies to her) and that sometimes she just can’t help herself and eats delicious chocolate biscuits with her tea. She even eats some of my food when she thinks I’m not looking. But I can’t blame her because I love food too! I can’t image having to contain myself when there is something yummy to eat.

Either way I love her just the same. I know it’s hard for all mummies to find time to exercise, but mami recommends it for staying happy and healthy!

She also likes:

Chiswick Bootcamp

Zumba

What do you like to do to keep fit?

P.S. If you want to register for the Boutique Run email us for a discount code!