Yesterday was baby's first play date. He was a little overwhelmed (see video) I can't help but hear the old sesame street tune playing in my head "which one of these kids is doing his own thing, doing his own thing?......"

- don't worry - he always sleeps like that - he loves to pull his "woobie" over his head when he sleeps.














February 24 - March 1 Weekly mileage:
2/24 Sun- rest day
2/25 Mon -travel day
2/26 Tue - extra travel day (long story)
2/27 Wed- 7 miles intervals
2/28 Thur - cross train
2/29 Fri - 7.25 miles
3/ 1 Sat - cross train

Back to Reality. After what was supposed to be a 4.5 hour nonstop flight home from San Diego on Monday turned into a 40 hour travel adventure, we are happy to report that we are finally home sweet home. We were welcomed with subzero temperatures here (wind chill -26c) and piles and piles of snow. My next few workouts are going to be on the treadmill again.

Baby got his 4 month immunizations yesterday and isn't a very happy boy today. It's been a challenge trying to get in a workout. I am starting to realize how challenging it can be to train for a marathon with an infant. I am really looking forward to spring up here and the great races we will be running!

This weekeend is the LA Marathon. Unfortunately I won't be running this one. I am doing the 30k around the bay at the end of March, right now my goal will be increasing my mileage for that event. Hopefully I'll have a marathon event in sight for the late spring too. Maybe Mississauga Marathon or Ottawa Marathon...we'll see how the training goes.

February 17 - February 23 Weekly mileage: 31
2/17 Sun- rest day
2/18 Mon -7 miles
2/19 Tue - cross train
2/20 Wed- 7 miles intervals
2/21 Thur - travel day
2/22 Fri - 7 miles
2/23 Sat - 10 miles

pipeline surfers, north shore - oahu
February 10 - February 16 Weekly mileage:
2/10 Sun- 7 miles
2/11 Mon -6 miles
2/12 Tue -7.25 miles easy
2/13 Wed- rest day
2/14 Thur - cross train
2/15 Fri - hills 7 miles
2/16 Sat -long run 10.25 miles

Thursday - Aloha from Waikiki!

















We arrived yesterday for our annual family holiday. Christy and I ran our tempo run from downtown Waikiki beach up Diamond Head road and back down. It was humid and warm already at 6:00 a.m. but the scenery was breathtaking! We are staying at the Westin Surfrider which is a relatively health and fitness conscious resort. (They even have complimentary propel water at the front podium for runners as they depart the hotel). The weather is perfect - partly sunny and about 80 degrees f.

We spent the day realaxing beach side with the fam. Christy's hubby is an amazing surfer and she eventually talked me into going out with him tandem-surfing. Here's how it worked - I took the front of the longboard on my belly and he was on the rear of the board. As we paddled our way out, I realized just how much work surfing is as I found myself panting and my shoulders afire. I tried to keep paddling but eventually I just lay there with my hands folded under my chin soaking up the sun while Dave did the rest of the paddling. Before I knew it we were out among the other surfers waiting for our wave. I simply followed his orders "paddle" "turn" "get up! get up!". I got up on the first wave......for about 3.2 seconds. I can't believe how fast you move on the board....it's an amazing feeling as the wave moves up under you and carries you away. It was great fun....but very exhausting. Jamie has been out there at it since we checked in. He's determined to become an expert surfer before we leave for the north shore this weekend and face the real surf!

The town is abuzz with the upcoming Holiday Bowl on Sunday. We have already spotted a lot of the players around town. We have been lucky to have great weather with the occasional quick shower, it definitely beats the sub zero temps and feet of snow we are getting back at home in Canada!

February 3 - February 9 Weekly mileage:
2/3 Sun- Sunday - Surf City Half Marathon Huntington Beach 1:44
2/4 Mon -cross train
2/5 Tue -7.25 miles easy
2/6 Wed- travel day Aloha!
2/7 Thur - tempo run 7.5 miles
2/8 Fri - cross train
2/9 Sat -long run 10.25 miles

Sunday - Surf City Marathon - formerly known as the Pacific Shoreline Marathon
Rain and Wind was in the forecast, but we were hopefully optimistic that the storm would blow over quickly or dissipate before the gun went off today. No such luck! The starting line was a sea of rain ponchos, makeshift glad bag coats, and "Runners Wraps". Christy and I were lucky enough to be neighbors of the Runners Wrap booth and took this great new running product for a test drive on Sunday. They are a lot like an oversized white doctors' coat made out of a weightless polypropylene gauzy fabric, complete with a snapping front closure. They actually kept us warmer and were very resistant to the downpour of rain. Not only do these little garments help with those pre-race shivers, the owners of the company place collection bins along the marathon course and donate them to homeless shelters post marathon. How cool is that?!

The marathon course was nice and flat and ran along the pacific coast. It seemed like it would be the perfect scenic and easy course for a p.r.....on a nice typical sunny day in the OC. As we toed the line, and went over our race plan (the plan was that there wouldn't be any plan in this awful weather). Our only goal today was to cross that finish line and get the cool little surf board medal......and keep our borrowed hats (thanks annie) from flying far far away. We cruised the course at a relaxed page and picked up the pace on the last half. Aside from the sideways wind and rain coming off the coast, we had a blast splish splashing our way through Huntington Beach. If you can believe it, this was the first time Christy has ever run in the rain (she's spoiled with San Diego weather). AND SHE DIDN'T MELT! I am thrilled to report that I am feeling my old running stride coming back (thanks to the training/therapy of Chris! - see CHEK blog from last week.) - no more quad pain! I still have some work to do on getting my body back to pre-pregnancy posture and gait, but It is so much better already.

All in all I give this half marathon my vote of approval and plan to do it again next year!

January 27 - February 3 Weekly mileage: 35.85
1/27 Sun- rest day
1/28 Mon - treadmill workout 7.75 miles
1/29 Tue - easy run 8 miles
1/30 Wed- strength train
1/31 Thur - 6.9 miles zones 1 & 3
2/1 Fri - Surf City Marathon Expo
2/2 Sat - Surf City Marathon Expo
Sunday - Surf City Half Marathon Huntington Beach

Carlsbad Half
Go Chargers! Watch Video


January 20 - January Weekly mileage: 36.25
1/20 Sun- Carlsbad Half Marathon 13.1
1/21 Mon -rest day
1/22 Tue -4 miles easy
1/23 Wed-cross train
1/24 Thur -4 miles easy
1/25 Fri -7 miles intervals
1/26 Sat - 8.25 miles



















Sunday - today was the Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon. It was a little chilly at the start, but sunny. The half marathon started with a bit of a hill climb (the entire course traverses rolling hills along the coastline in Carlsbad) so we warmed up quickly. Christy and I ran together and had a great time. We were representin' the Chargers before the big playoff game in our navy yellow skirts. We made a point to do a double fist pump along with a "woohoo" everytime someone from the crowd yelled "go chargers!". It was a great run - lots of fun!

January 13 - January 20 Weekly mileage: 25
1/13 Sun- Long Run 10.5 miles
1/14 Mon - Hill Repeats (chiro/physio)
1/15 Tue - Rest day
1/16 Wed- Cross Train / easy run 5.25
1/17 Thur -Treadmill Workout - Intervals 5.00
1/18 Fri - Carlsbad Marathon Expo
1/19 Sat - Keebler Marathon Mile & Carlsbad Marathon Expo - 1 mile

Saturday a.m.- Today was the Keebler Marathon Mile at Legoland in Carlsbad. We had a team of "mini skirts" little girls running the mile race in their skirt gear. This is a huge running event for kids and families. There were several different heats for each year age & the mile course ran in around and out of legoland. Christy & I pushed the boys in the strollers, and it was pretty tough! I have a whole new respect for all those moms and dads that marathon with strollers. (Of course it probably helps to be properly equipped. I was pushing the bugaboo, not a jog stroller.

Monday a.m. - woke up to about 6" of the white stuff....It's baaaaack! I will not be doing my hill repeats today. Bummer! After yesterdays long run, my quads are just as sore as they were the day after Boston Marathon. Something's just not right! I honestly thought returning marathon training after childbirth would go so much smoother. I was gun-ho & ready to join the starting line of any boston qualifier this winter.....unfortunately my hips, pelvis and legs have really been slow at joining the rest of me. As for today's hills, I think I'll save that workout for when I arrive in San Diego (temp yesterday 73 degrees).

On a optimistic note, I have arranged a consultation with a CHEK Institute Trainer (Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology) in Carlsbad. He has been helping Christy get her running back on track and more importantly stay injury free along the way! After my telephone consultation and initial interview with the trainer about my health, goals & current challenges, I immediately received a follow up email along with a comprehensive 7 page health questionnaire and 7 day food and sleep diary to be completed before my initial evaluation. Wow! This guy means business - I'm so excited to get his advice & assessment!

It's been a long time coming. Running Skirts new website is live! Check out our running bride pictures from the Las Vegas Marathon! We are also introducing our new Maternity Fitness skirt for spring the "fit momma skirt" .Still more videos and features to come.

January 6 - January Weekly mileage: 25
1/ 6 Sun- Rest
1/ 7 Mon - Extra rest day
1/ 8 Tue - Sprint workout (6.75 miles)
1/ 9 Wed- cross train (chiroprator day) easy run
1/10Thur -Treadmill Workout - Intervals 7.25 miles
1/11 Fri - Rest
1/12 Sat - Long Run (sunday)

Tuesday - It was significantly warmer today - the snow is melting! I was hoping to jog over to the local high school track for a REAL track workout. After slogging my way through the slush and mud I arrived at the track to find it was no longer covered in snow, but now completely under water. I forgot to consider where the multiple feet of snow would actually go when it melted in a matter of hours....the ground is totally saturated. I had to do my sprint intervals in the roundabout parking lot driveway of the high school. I think the janitor lady thought I was nuts. I also "christened" my shiny new white wave riders with about 4" of mud on my way to the track. I don't know what I'm going to do with them at this point - I left them on the front doorstep in hopes that the running fairy will come tonight and make them sparkly and clean for me again. How do you clean running shoes? I've never muddied them quite this bad before. I've heard mixed opinions about whether or not it's ok to wash them....I will deal with it in the morning!

I just added this photo of the last race I ran hard before getting pregnant (in hopes that it would inspire me to stick with the training regimen and hopefully overcome these little injuries that keep popping up) in hopes that I can get back to where I was speed-wise as quickly as possible. After physical therapy/chiro visit last week, I realize I have been suffering from an inflamed SI joint (sacroiliac joint) and a bit of water on the right knee cap (from ice fall on driveway about a month ago). After some sports massage (aka torture) on Thursday and a rest day on Friday, I was able to complete the long run on Saturday with minimal discomfort. My lower left back/hip area is still aggravated though and I'm getting frustrated. I really don't want to take a lot of rest time off now that I am planning to run the Carlsbad half marathon with Christy on the 20th. We'll see how things feel after today's workout.

Here's the route I've been running that is mostly snow free! There are a few icy patches and secondary residential areas that aren't plowed completely, but for the most part it's as good as it gets in Barrie in January! Gonna have to get creative as my mileage starts to increase!

Pictures truly are worth a thousand words.....
the hubby snapped this one on New Years day.

Note "the stick" and tennis ball in the background above my head (my IT Band and pirioformis) therapy tools along with the baby jungle gym play thingy that he hates! It was one of those baby items I was told is a "must have" but every time I lay him down on it he revolts!

Baby is sleeping longer stretches at night now (we had a 4.5 hour stretch last night) I'm hoping this will continue...who would of thought I'd think 4 hours of sleep was a heavenly amount!

Congrats to Arma on her running pregnancy and healthy birth of little boy December 8th 2007! Arma ran her way right past her due date of December 5th! Look how quickly she's bounced back.











December 30-Jan Weekly mileage: 25
12/30 Sun- 9 miles
12/31 Mon -cross train
1/ 1 Tue - rest day nursing leg/hip injury :o(
1/ 2 Wed- 45 minutes spin bike & cross training (chiro)
1/ 3 Thur - 7 miles intervals (physical therapy)
1/ 4 Fri - rest day
1/ 6 Sat -50 minutes zone 1, 20 minutes zone 2, 5 minutes cool down (9+ miles)

After my last week's long run I've developed tightness almost sciatica in my left hip/leg area. I have been forced to take a few days off from running. Going to chiropractor on Wednesday and hoping some deep tissue sports massage therapy will help get things loosened up and back in order. The countdown is on for the 1/2 marathon training run in Carslbad!

On a lighter note - here are some new pics - Baby is smiling all the time now!

December 24-Jan Weekly mileage:
12/23 Sun- rest day
12/24 Mon -cross train
12/25 Tue - Merry Christmas!
12/26Wed- 4.5 miles
12/27 Thur - Rest Day
12/28 Fri - 7 miles Intervals
12/29 Sat - rest day (will do long run tomorrow)
Here's our Christmas workout (watch video).

December 16- 22 Weekly mileage:
12/16 Sun- rest day
12/17 Mon -cross train (still a little knee pain)
12/18 Tue - travel day
12/19Wed- Home for the Holidays!
12/20 Thur - 7.5 miles Intervals
12/21 Fri - rest day
12/22 Sat - 5 miles (had to cut run short - leg pain)

I took a few extra days off since I have been having some knee pain (running in the snow or my slip & fall on the ice or a combo of both are probably the culprit). I had a post pregnancy chiropractor visit also on monday which has helped realign all the parts!
























We flew down to California to surprise my family for the holidays (they didn't think we had the baby's passport and therefore wouldn't be able to make it). We dressed baby up in a little red santa suit and put him on their doorstep, rang the doorbell and then hid. My mom answered the door to the biggest surprise! Photos coming soon. Christy and her family are driving up from Southern California today - can't wait for them to get up here. I can't wait for Christy to get here so I can get in a few runs with her this week. My last 2 weeks of solo running have become a bit monotonous and lonely!

Still Snowing!
December 9-December 14 Weekly mileage:
12/9 Sun- 6 miles
12/10 Mon -rest
12/11Tue - 4.25 miles 4x800s
12/12Wed-
12/13 Thur - 4.4 miles 2.5 miles tempo
12/14 Fri - cross train
12/8 Sat - 5.5 miles
Although it feels really great to run outside again, running in the snow is working me over! I have to run about .5 miles in the slippery slush until I get to the plowed streets that are free of snow.. I have been feeling a little knee pain after the tempo run last night. I think I'm going to stick to my treadmill until I find an entirely snow free route to run. I can't wait to get to California again so I can get in some good training in San Diego and along the American River trail again. I really miss that route and also the Lake Natomas Loop in Folsom! I am definitely feeling a bit stronger again with each run, but I have a long way to go! I am hoping to run a half marathon in January with Christy, so I've got to keep the training going!
This little guy has been waking up every 2 hours to eat so fatigue doesn't help the endurance and muscle recovery process either:

Tuesday morning run!
December 4, 2007
December 2-December 7 Weekly mileage: 19.5
12/2 Sun- rest day
12/3 Mon - 2 miles hills, 1 mile medium pace
12/4 Tue - 4.5 miles snow run
12/5 Wed- 2 miles tempo
12/6 Thur - rest day
12/7 Fri - 5.5 miles
12/8 Sat - rest day

Tuesday - today is the 4 week anniversary of baby delivery! It is also the day the doc said it would be ok to start running again! Yippee. Take a look at the photo - I had some rough conditions for my welcome back run. Running in the soft snow is a lot like running in sand only a bit more difficult as your feet slip and slide and you don't get the traction so it's almost like running on banana peels. It felt so good to be out on the road again in the fresh air.

Merry Christmas to me!
Christmas came early this year. Came home from a friend's baby shower and look what was waiting in the basement for me!?! We decided to go for the home gym since the littlest member of the family presents a bit of a challenge right now, not to mention the 6" of snow and ice outside make training a little rough!

November 25-30 weeks old! Weekly mileage: 20 miles (treadmill)
11/25 Sun- 2 mile jog/walk treadmill, 10 minute cycle (lost 21 pounds to date)
11/26 Mon - 20 minutes hills treadmill, 20 minute spin bike, cross train
11/27 Tue -2 mile jog/walk treadmil, 20 minutes spin bike, cross train
11/28 Wed-30 minutes hill walk treadmill, 30 minutes spin bike, cross train
11/29 Thur -1 mile hills, 3 miles jog treadmill, cross train
11/30 Fri -rest day
12/1 Sat -Woke up to -24 wind chill temp - too chilly to take baby out for santa shuffle, so I shuffled out a 10k on the treadmill.


















Broke in the treadmill and spin bike today! It felt good to jog slowly - I put in a couple slow miles alternating walks in between. Everything feels pretty good! This will help get off those extra baby pounds quicker!

November 18-24 2 weeks old!
11/18 Sun- 1 mile jog/walk (weigh in.....lost 20 pounds since baby day!)
11/19 Mon - Rest Day
11/20 Tue - 3 mile trail walk with hills
11/21 Wed- yoga/stretching
11/22 Thur - Happy Thanksgiving!
11/23 Fri - easy walk
11/24 Sat - easy walk
Happy Thanksgiving! We are so thankful for our precious son! He is a blessing to our family!
He is growing like a champ already! Mommy is recovering well and cannot wait to get clearance to start running again. (Doctor said only yoga and walking for now and that I could start jogging again at 4 weeks post partem). I did try a quick 1 mile jog on Sunday, but It was too soon and didn't quite feel right. The Doctor recommends a longer healing time for the pelvic floor so as to avoid any long term or permanent damage of the bladder, etc. He scared me into waiting a while longer! I am looking forward to stepping up the fitness program and starting my marathon training asap!

November 12-19 (childbirth recovery week)
11/12 Sun- Baby's birthday celebration and Grandma & Grandpa Lynch's
11/13 Mon - Baby's first Pediatrician Visit
11/14 Tue - short walk
11/15 Wed- short walk
11/16 Thur - short walk
11/17 Fri -short walk
11/18 Sat -short walk





Baby Boy Lynch born at 10:02 p.m. Tuesday, November 6th, 2007
(just past his due date - 40 weeks and a few days gestation)









On Pregnancy Fitness:
On Pregnancy Fitness & Running:

Initially I thought running through the 9 months of pregnancy was going to be quite a challenge with the raging hormones, weight gain, and fatigue that comes with pregnancy. In actuality, continuing to run came quite naturally and helped my energy levels. While I was no longer racing in local events, I still participated. To be honest it was a new enjoyable race experience to simply run without a pace or goal in mind. I was thrilled just to be able to participate and continue running! It was even more fun to see and hear the reactions of other runners and spectators as they caught sight of my belly bump as I passed by. My pregnant running partner and I were astounded at the support and cheers we would get from other participants and the crowds on the sidelines.

It felt good to know I was taking care of my body and my baby! In hindsight, I definitely credit my running and exercise during pregnancy as the key factor in my healthy and complication-free pregnancy, delivery and now quick recovery. I was blessed with a quick complication-free labor and childbirth and a healthy 8 pound baby boy born at 40 weeks, 2 days!

November 4-10 (40 weeks)
11/4 Sun- 2 mile trail walk
11/5 Mon - 2 mile trail walk
11/6 Tue - Baby arrives! 10:02 p.m.














11/7 Wed - Toronto Hospital
11/8 Thu - Baby comes home!
11/9 Fri - Baby's first outing
11/10 Sat -Muskoka day trip with Sister Tami

The Baby Boy Arrival Story:

Woke up Thursday morning after a few days of increased regular braxton hicks contractions which increased my hopes that maybe it was getting close! I was starting to think baby was never going to make his appearance. Woke up Tuesday morning with regular contractions about 8 minutes apart. Woke up the hubby and my sister Tami who had arrived the night before from California and told him I thought it might be the real deal and that it was time to make the journey to Toronto. We were in the car on the hwy withing 20 minutes. I think he realized it was really getting serious when I told him "No, we didn't have time for Tim Hortons (coffee) stop on the way." Wouldn't you know we ran into morning rush hour traffic (at 9:00 a.m.!) heading to the city!! By now about 10 minutes into our hour long drive the contractions were getting closer - 6 minutes apart and starting to get uncomfortable. We were all silently starting to panic!

As we approached toronto, inching our way (painfully) through rush hour traffic, the contractions kept getting closer together, we were starting to think we might realize every pregnant woman's worse fear was about to happen....a vehicle birth! I tried to remain calm while hubby veered between lanes and took the shoulder of the hwy when available. It was getting hairy! By now contractions were about 4 minues apart. As we approached the city we were all in a state of panic as traffic was pretty standstill. We passed a police cruiser and hubby flipped a quick uturn, pulled over and waved him down. He was thrilled to see it was an old police buddy of his (how perfect!) Jamie quickly explained the situation "my wife's in labor and we have to get downtown to the hospital now" and minutes later we were in a full speed police escort (yes, lights and siren action) all the rest of the way to the hospital. I had to laugh (through the labor pains) at the comedy of it all. Who would have thought this story would end up this way - it was just like in the movies.

Minutes later we arrived at our hospital and made our way to labor and delivery. As soon as I checked in with triage and lay down, the contractions slowed down in frequency. I was convinced this day would end in yet another false labor and that the baby was just never coming! Luckily triage nurses confirmed I was indeed in labor and wanted me to walk around for a while to see if I could get contractions to pick up progress again. They told me, unless I was in a lot of pain, to go walking and check back in a few hours. What they didn't realize is that me and the baby had not only been walking, but running for the last 9 months and I wasn't convinced that this was going to change anything as far as progressing labor. After walking countless laps of the labor & delivery floor, we checked back in with triage. I was still having contractions, but they were only about 5 minutes apart still. I was convinced they were not going to admit us, but send us home. We were waiting in one of the triage exam rooms for the next exam when all of a sudden I felt a pop and a warm gush. I shouted to hubby to go get the nurse because my water had broken. By the look on our faces when the nurse walked in a confirmed my suspicion, you'd have think we had won the lottery! We were so excited since we realized that yes, we would be having a baby soon. (Ok - back to just like in the movies.) Of course immediately after the water broke I was back in intense labor with the contractions coming on stronger and longer by the minute...and I realized "oh my goodness, I am going to have a baby now". My smile was gone in minutes as the real painful contractions kicked in and realization of what I was about to do. Things moved right along and the pace definitely picked up. By 9:00 p.m. the doc announced it was time to push when I was ready, and 5-6 contractions or about 16 minutes later, baby boy finally made his appearance! Overall the whole labor process went perfectly, no complications or problems with mom or baby. Baby weighed 8 pounds and was born with more than a full head of hair! Wow! He is the love of our lives. We spent tuesday night & wednesday in the hospital and were thrilled to be released to come home yesterday.

More photos & videos coming soon!