Hoose Foose and Reggie

We have been steeped in Christmas activities over the past week. I have a lot of cute pictures to upload, but for now a cute story.

When we picked Charlotte up at school last Wednesday, before going to the Polar Express, her teacher, Ms. Kim, ran up to us and said: "I'm so glad I caught you. I have to tell you something!" My initial thought was to worry what Charlotte had done - she's had some issues with not listening at school lately. Thankfully, it was a super cute story.

One of Charlotte's friends was telling her about the Elf on the Shelf. She explained that the Elf was named Hoose Foose (?) and that he was fragile and you couldn't touch him at all. Also, apparently every wish they made to Hoose Foose each night came true. Then Charlotte said, very seriously, with her hands clasped together like she was praying, "Can you please tell Hoose Foose to bring me an elf?" Ms. Kim told us that, laughing, we should be prepared if Charlotte mentions Hoose Foose. I can't stop laughing when I think about Hoose Foose because that name!

I was hesitant to get our very own elf, even though Chris was very much for it. It seems like a lot of work when you look on Pinterest. People show the elf moving all around and rearranging things and leaving little presents. I just don't have that kind of time (or creativity!), even though I admit it's a cute idea. Chris says that I'm missing the point - the elf is supposed to encourage good behavior.

On Friday I was at Costco picking up about five pounds of cheese in advance of making the world's best macaroni and cheese. (Side note: because of picky eaters in this household (ahem, Chris and Phoebe), I omit the mushrooms and grilled onions. Also, I use Gruyere, Parmesan, aged white cheddar, and goat cheese as my four cheese choices. You can really taste the goat cheese. The bacon fat roux makes it incredible. Seriously. This is what bacon was made for). Anyway, I noticed a whole bunch of Elves on the Shelf for sale. These aren't the plastic, pliable guys. They're plush dolls and a lot less expensive.

To say that Charlotte was excited was an understatement. She could not believe that Hoose Foose told us to get an elf! "How did he do that, Mommy?" Magic, obviously, is the answer. She immediately named him Reggie, and ever since, she cannot stop talking to him and about him. She runs over to him and says things like: "Reggie, Phoebe pushed me! Go tell Santa!" and she'll make me take things to show him. Each morning, she cannot wait to find out where he moved to during the night while she was sleeping. Sunday morning he was hanging out on our fruit bowl's banana hook. This morning, he had found Charlotte's The Wonderful House plane and decided to ride it. (Side note: If you don't know The Wonderful House, it's a delightful story by the author of Goodnight, Moon about a house that flies through the air. It has wings, pontoons to float on, and animals that live in it. You can't see below but a Duplo Snow White is piloting the plane, it's really cute).

And Chris is right about Reggie. Charlotte does think about her behavior and whether or not Santa would think she's being a good girl. Thanks, Reggie!

13.1 x 2

A friend shared this article on Facebook this morning. I agree completely with that woman's sentiments. Working out shouldn't be fitting into dresses or looking good in your bikini, but I've only just begun to embrace that idea.

Right around the 4th of July, we went to Sports Authority to pick up some new workout clothes because I didn't have any tank tops to battle the heat of summers in Sacramento. I noticed a sign for the Folsom Blues Half Marathon on October 19. After being inspired by my best friend, Kristen, who ran a half marathon in San Diego last year, I decided I could actually do this.

You see, Kristen and I have been good friends since we were on the Cross Country team at our high school. She was a freshman and I was a sophomore. For those of you unfamiliar with Cross Country, it's racing over trails over a set course. I remember when my P.E. teacher in middle school encouraged me to do Cross Country. I thought it was literally running across the country. The practicality of that always gave me pause - how do you run across the country? Anyway, it's both an individual and a team sport.

I was never that fond of long distances, which is why I signed up for Tennis my freshman year instead of Cross Country. However, my track coach convinced me to sign up for Cross Country after I did moderately well at Track and Field (I started out doing hurdles, but I'm much too uncoordinated for that, and quickly moved onto to mid-distances, the 400 and 800 meter races). Anyway, back to Cross Country and Kristen. We quickly became good friends, as one can only do when you're forced to run 30 plus miles a week in the afternoon heat and the strenuous hills of San Diego. We remained friends throughout high school and then Kristen ended up at Cal a year after I started. We even shared a huge apartment together. But let's be honest, I never really liked Cross Country that much. I didn't like running very fast, and I hated myself when I would stop and walk part of the course because I started out too strong. I didn't even do Cross Country my senior year.

I also didn't run much after high school. I ran occasionally, but never really got into a habit of doing so. The longest I ever ran after high school was a 10K race (and I walked part of it). I hate running on the tread mill, and I always made excuses of why not to run. But I felt like this half marathon was doable.

So I Googled a training plan, and amazingly, I stuck with it. Every Saturday, I got up early, usually before anyone else in the house was awake, and did my long race of the week. I remember running six miles at once for the first time back in mid-July and being so amazed that I did it and didn't walk. And then six miles became eight miles, and eight miles became ten.

Right before we went to Walt Disney World I participated in a ten mile race. It was going to be a scorcher that day, so I did the earlier race for those running 10 minute miles or slower. It was tough, but I ran it, only stopping to drink water. The race had a free kids' race, so Charlotte ran her first race that day! (Actually, she ran two. She ran the first race, which was one lap around the high school track, and when it was over, we heard the gun go off again for the 800 meter race, and Charlotte was off running again!)

And while the goal of running was simply to finish a half marathon, there were so many other benefits too. I felt myself growing stronger. I enjoyed hitting the bike path and listening to all my NPR podcasts (yes, I'm a self-professed NPR nerd, but I learn so much and time just passes more quickly). I started losing weight, and now I'm below what I weighed before I got pregnant with Charlotte five years ago. What was also very motivating was the app I use while running. It's called GPS+ Pedometer and it tracks your distance, steps, calories, etc. Every mile it announces to me the distance I've run and the lap time. It keeps me on pace.

So then the big race was on October 18. I happened to see at least five people I knew (I love Folsom!), and the race was great. It started at the Folsom Dam and then went around Lake Natoma.

 

Overlooking the American River from the Folsom Dam

The motivation of over 3,000 people participating was so great, and I felt awesome at the end. I especially loved getting a medal that also served a bottle opener.

So you'd think after accomplishing my goal, I'd be done, right? Well, my friend Elizabeth, who had a baby in August, wanted to do a half marathon to get back in shape, so I agreed to do it with her. Amazingly, this race, held the Sunday before Thanksgiving, was largely the same race that I had done in October. Except that it was much colder. And instead of 3,000 runners, there were well under 300 (smaller even than the 10 miler I did in September). This race was harder. We went way too fast the first three miles (8 minute miles), and I paid for it the last few miles of the race. Elizabeth kept trying to motivate me, and she stuck with me, even though I know she could have gone much faster. Still, I finished, and I took almost three minutes off my previous time!

 

Samantha, Elizabeth, me, and Charlotte

13.4 miles - not fair! I want my .3 miles back

So, final thoughts. When you train for half marathons, you're hungry all the time, and you can pretty much eat whatever you want. This is awesome! Also, you can lose weight. I lost five pounds, but I'm in better shape and stronger than I was at any point since high school. Losing weight really does take time. It's not overnight. I've been doing this for five months, and at first, I actually gained a couple pounds, probably in muscle. And those endorphins are real. I feel happier, sleep better, and don't have the same general fatigue at work. Finally, it's a major time commitment. Near the end, I was definitely losing steam at wanting to tackle those long runs, and it was a major effort to drag myself out of bed in the morning. Plus, I couldn't have done multiple Saturdays of two hour runs without the complete support of Chris who encouraged me right from the start.

 I'm taking a break from the super long distances for now, but I think running's finally an addiction, and one I'm definitely not going to try and wean myself off of.