Later in the day, Marshall ran outside because his inflatable pool blew to the back of the yard and he wanted to rescue it. It was one of those parenting moments when your heart sinks thinking maybe I should not have let him run out there. We have a lot of old trees in our back yard… one in particular with a big branch that was just waiting to come fall off.

I stood on the porch for 2 long minutes thinking what if that branch fell on him and I’m just standing here like a dumbass in my slippers being too lazy to put shoes on not wanting to run out there with him. WHAT IF. And then sometime about 2 hours later that branch did fall. Glenn actually saw it fall.

If you know me, you know I’m not an overprotective parent. I don’t come running when my kid falls and gets a little bit hurt. Of course I sooth them, hold them, kiss what’s hurt, whatever. But I’m pro letting them try things that they could maybe fall a little if they do as long as I don’t see it being a real threat. Big Lou is a pro at going up and down our hardwood stairs and I just let him do it.

But yesterday was one of the few times I’ve had that pit in my stomach feeling like, oh my gosh that could have ended so badly. Another time was in the parking lot of the Dollar Tree on 38th St. I don’t even remember what I was picking up, but Marshall ran away from me from the car straight to the store through a busy parking lot, paying attention to nothing.

At that moment, you are mad that he ran away, but you are so glad that nothing happened and you want to scream at him and hold him at the same time. He was barely three when that happened and today at almost four, he still says he looks both ways before we cross the street, but he never really does. The thought that he could have been gone in an instant in that parking lot still makes me sick to my stomach. There have been other “scary” parking lot experiences for sure, but this was the worst.

And while we’re on it, the other memory that sits heavy with me, was Christmas Eve this past year. We got home late from Crown Point, around 11pm and put Lou straight to bed, but Marshall woke up from the car ride and we let him take some time to transition back to bed, because well we didn’t want to battle a temper tantrum. Glenn was unloading the car in the back. We have a secured backyard that is fenced in with a pull through carport we pull through as a driveway, BUT as Glenn was unloading- there was a shady car in the alley, right by the back of our back garage. We were thinking a drug deal. Glenn was in the back yard looking that way and calling the police to report it and Marshall busted out the the door and started running around the yard.

All I could picture was someone getting out of the car and shooting because they thought Glenn was calling the police. I screamed for Marshall to come in, he of course didn’t listen. And you never want to run to them when they are running away from you because then of course they will run further away from you. So you approach all stealthy hoping they don’t realize you are moving toward them. The car ended up driving off after another car made a quick stop and nothing happened, but me heart sank. And can you imagine if something even slightly bad happened? We totally would have been judged- Why did these people have their 3 year old up running around outside at 11pm?!

Ah, having little kids is truly terrifying sometimes. Really though, that’s only 1% of the time. Well, except anytime we’re in a busy parking lot. I don’t take a day with them for granted.

Don’t know why but I just dumped all that off to you guys. But there you go!

Before it got crazy windy on Saturday though- Glenn headed out for 18 miles and the boys and I helped out with a neighborhood alley clean up. They were actually really good (Marshall was who I was concerned might not be on the happiest behavior) and I was able to help more than I initially thought I’d be able to. I mean, Big Lou hung out in the wagon for almost the entire 2.5 hours.

I know my posting has become a little sporadic since I started working on the podcast and it’s not that I haven’t had anything to say (there’s never a lack of that- ask the people who know me best) but I’ve just been choosing to use my energy in different ways.

I feel a little empty not keep up on here though-  even if I don’t have something super exciting to say, I have a sense of satisfaction when I have my blog updated. It’s my public journal I suppose. But one thing I don’t like to do is post just to post and sometimes I go through a week or so that I just feel grumpy and don’t want to do anything. I think it’s a hormone thing- you feel me?

With the podcast though, I just came out of a waiting period– I was waiting for my audio to get cleaned up and just got it back this morning, so today I’m uploading it to my audio hosting site and getting my RSS feed set up! I would say this Friday is realistic to expect it to be live. It really depends on how long it takes itunes to except the RSS feed because I plan to have that to them by tomorrow. Hopefully. Flying by the seat of my pants here though.

I don’t have any new episodes scheduled to record until early May, because I have 7 recorded and am launching with four so I’ve got four weeks of material ready to go!  I did just book Jamie Ivey– the person who inspired to get my own show started, and I’m super excited and a little nervous about that!

I hope you all had a great weekend and maybe I wasn’t the only one who had a terrifying moment where they thought their kid might get hit in the head with a huge tree branch. I’ll keep you all posted on when the the podcast is LIVE! SO SOON!!!!

The post When Parenting is Terrifying. appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

I ran this race for the first time in 2005. It was my very first half marathon. My mom, dad and one of my sisters did it too. My sisters and I actually just recorded my third podcast episode and we discuss the experience.  (More on the podcast in an upcoming post) I ran the first 6 miles with my mom and then finished on my own. I wasn’t trained- had ran around 6 miles for the longest run leading up. It was so hard. In the 10 years since that first time, I’ve done it 8 of the 10  years. And it’s fun every time.

Once you’ve ran a few half marathons, it’s easy to jump on the bandwagon of “Oh the mini is too crowded”. People who have done it a few times, sometimes think, I’ve been there done that, I don’t like it, there are too many people…. It’s only for first timers. I’m here to say that I am no first timer and I LOVE the mini. Here’s why:

• It’s an amazing event for our city. HELLO- it brings thousands of people into Indy and is great for the local economy. Duh.

• It’s fun. Stop taking yourself so seriously. You aren’t trying out for the Olympic team and it’s not a big deal if you have to weave around in the first few miles. If you really want to avoid that- run a race beforehand to get yourself a starting spot in a closer to the front corral. Last year I ran a 1:38 starting in something like corral F (which is sort of far back for that time) and it really wasn’t all that bad. I mean there was plenty of weaving, a bathroom break, and it was fine.

• How fun is it to see our city filled with people full of energy and happiness (or despair if you check in on them at mile 10) all morning. You’ve got first timers, people who do it every year, people running for fun, people running with a family member or friend who are doing the race for the first time ever, people trying to PR, people running for a charity close to their heart. There are SO many reasons they are out there testing their limits or just having fun and it’s a good thing. Who cares if you have to bump elbows with some of them for the first few miles?

• It’s the 40th running of the 500 festival mini AND the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. That is cool.

• You get to run through Haughville. You might say it’s a dumpy part of town, but I say, open your eyes when you run through and think about how maybe you could be a part of making it better.

• Speedway is totally the new “in” part of town with Big Woods, Dare Devil — I noticed how cute it was and how much it had changed already last year when we ran through. My friend who runs the speedway running club told me I won’t even recognize it this year.

• The finishing shoot is amazing- they play old clips from the 500 which is so cool. The stretch on New York is long, but it’s a fun and fast last mile with plenty of people cheering you along the way.

This is the breakdown of my 500 Festival Mini Marathon Experiences:

• 2005 – First Half Marathon Ever- along with my mom, dad and one of my sisters. Nobody was prepared. We all wanted to die. I ran a 1:59:52. My goal halfway through the race became to break 2:00. The longest run leading up to it was 6 miles. I was REALLY proud of that sub 2 hours. I so wish I could find a picture. Sad face.

• 2006 – Started dating Glenn this year and convinced him to run it with me. I think he beat me though. No he did. I just checked. He ran a 1:46:24 and I ran a 1:47:15. At least he didn’t walk. When he ran his first 5K with me the year before, he had to take a walk break halfway through.The best part about the picture below- well there are a lot of best parts, but Glenn is rocking a cotton pizza express shirt that said “I get it every night” and you better believe that cotton shirt had blood streamed down the front of the shirt at the end from his bloody nipples. We didn’t know about body glide back then. I can’t even talk about the leg chaffing I experienced. Because my legs don’t not touch. (There’s an inside joke there; after the race, as I was basically crying from the leg chaffing pain, I looked over at my mom who had ran too and asked her if she had the same issue, to which she responded with “My legs don’t touch”) So that will forever be etched in my mind. My legs touch, but my moms legs don’t touch. Whatever man. Pro leg touching over here. (No bashing my mom, she’s great, these are just the things I just like to call her out on)

• 2007 – We ran again, Glenn ran 1:52:14 and I have no clue what I ran, because I must have used someone else’s bib. There is no record of Lindsey Andersen running, but I did run it that year.

2007 Mini Marathon

• 2008 – This was the year, we got married, bought a house and ran our first marathon. We did this as a training run for the marathon. I ran a 1:37:30 and Glenn ran 1:37:45. This is actually a funny story, because we started the race together and broke apart around mile 6 and never saw each other again until the finishing shoot… where I was in front. Sorry bout’ ya Glenn. Your soon to be wife won. But really because of this race, I realized it was a possibility that I could try for a BQ on that first marathon. It planted the seed of confidence I needed. (keep in mind BQ standards were 5 minutes slower back in the day) Oh my gosh. We were babies.

• 2009 – This is the year I trained senior citizens at the John H. Boner Community Center to walk the 13.1. It was a long process, but it was pretty cool. I spent a lot of hours walking with this group and riding my bike next to them in the months leading up to the race. We must have been newly weds, because I somehow convinced Glenn to walk the whole race with us. It took us over 4 hours. And like Mildred always said “who said we couldn’t do it.” Mildred was one of the seniors I worked with who is no longer with us- she actually wasn’t one of the seniors who was able to do the race, but that was one of her favorite phrases and I carry it on. And let me tell you- this was an experience these women will never forget. What an accomplishment.

• 2010: The year we thought we were too cool. I actually think I had Glenn working all day cleaning up one of the seniors houses. There are stories for another day of all the things I had Glenn doing when I worked at the JHBCC. He’s moved furniture, put together desks, rode around on holiday lights tour of the city, made chili, took the day off work to help me with a picnic for 350 senior citizens. I was really good at bringing him into my work. For some reason, he’s never brought me into his… he must not trust my spreadsheet skills.

• 2011: The year I coached a bunch of Tech HS kids and ran with them: This was part of The Super Bowl Legacy project that I was proud to be a part of. When the Super Bowl came to Indianapolis, the community center that I worked at was heavily involved in all of the efforts to revitalize the city- specifically the near eastside. This was one of several amazing projects that came about due to the Super Bowl Legacy project. Also, my little sister SHELBY (who was rocking the pink hair way before it was cool, ran her first and only half marathon that year and wrote about it.

• 2013: The year I grabbed a bib and used it as a training run. I was just coming off my Shamrock Marathon PR and pretty much serial racing. I had very recently raced Rock the Relay, (ran that really hard) and the Carmel Half Marathon the following week. I had just started triathlon training for the first time and was on my way to my first half Ironman.

• 2014: The Year Glenn ran & Marshall and I cheered. I had just ran Boston, was newly pregnant, but didn’t know it yet and was dealing with some series plantar fasciitis. Glenn ran a 1:24 and then I sent him home with Marshall so I could hobble/run home with my plantar fasciitis foot.

• 2015: My first half post Louis. It was fun for the first half of the race and I worked hard for the second half. The second half ended up being a great confidence building run for what was to come over the summer and into the fall. (before I epically tore my plantar fascia) DAMN FEET.

I haven’t full out raced the mini since 2008 right before our first marathon, but I’ll plan to do that sometime in the next couple of years. I do plan to run for sure this year, but not sure if it will be used as a race, training run or for fun run.

All this to say. I’ve only missed two years since the first time I ran this race. And now looking back, I’m sad I broke a good streak. You should get on the train too man. It’s fun. And you ain’t too cool to run it. Also- if you’ve never run a half marathon- this is a great place to start!

Have you ever run the 500 Festival Mini Marathon?

Are you running it this year?

What’s your favorite part of the race? 

Why do you Mini?

The post WHY I MINI appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

So I’m going to sit here around 10-13 miles for my long runs depending how I feel and bump of to 15 in three or four weeks. No reason to get burnt out… for no well, no reason.

I hit 28 running miles last week, which is close to what I did the week before. I should hit 30ish this week. I had a pretty great long run where I did a 5 mile pick up toward the end, that I felt pretty strong doing. The pick up was gradual and it wasn’t too fast, but I felt stronger than I had been throughout the whole run in general. I also started serial, season 2 podcast- I like it but I thinks we can all agree…. it’s just not season 1!

We headed out to the Groundhog 7 on Sunday as a family, plus my sister (who is 11 weeks post baby and ran 7 miles like no big deal) it’s a free race that Indy Runner’s puts on, you just bring a canned good to be donated. Lot’s of people at this race- I’d say 600. I figured we’d just run 9 minute miles, but after 2 miles of that, we got ansy and just wanted to get on with it so we slowly sped up. It was really nice out temperature wise but also really windy, which Glenn was pushing the double- so multiple the wind for him. We ended up finishing sort of fast (7 min/miles) and my legs were feeling tired after Friday’s longer run. This getting in shape thing takes work.

Here is what the week is supposed to look like this week, based on my sketch out this morning:

Monday: Bike Trainer at home 45 Min + 30 Min Yoga at home (I use the Yoga Studio App)

Tuesday: 7 Mi (or 60 min) easy run

Wednesday: 45 Min run with 30 at tempo (I’m guessing tempo will be somewhere around 7:05 pace right now- and I will very much ease into that)

Thursday: Swim 1500 + 45 Min Bike Trainer at home

Friday: 10-12 Mi Run Easy

Saturday: 2,000 yard swim

Sunday: Rest or something easy.

I’m into trying to knock out my longer runs on Friday’s when I can.  When Glenn and I are both trying to run long on Saturday mornings it ends up getting annoying and someone (usually me) get’s grumpy. This Saturday was so great because I knocked out my 13 Mi on Friday and leisurely went to the Y and took my sweet little time swimming lot’s of yards.

Today, I had a really cute, sweet, partner for my bike ride. In typical stay at home mom fashion, I dropped off Marshall at pre school, Lou and I headed home, I promptly turned on the Today Show, did some laundry, threw Lou in pack and play with toys, got on the bike, and read my Mindy Kaling book during commercials. Big Lou chilled the whole time and was ready for a nap when I finished up.

He be chillin’.

Two things I’m looking forward to:

• We bought Jason Isbell tickets for next Friday at the Murat! Yay! Must find babysitter now.

• Starting my podast. I’m not trying to be secretive about this. I bought my microphone and have started the process of getting things rolling and set up. More details coming. But it’s happening.

I was listening to Jamie Ivey’s podcast (of course) and she was interviewing Jami Nato– who said something that really stuck with me- this isn’t an exact quote, but it was along the lines of- Really not taking the chance is because of our pride. Because we’re afraid of self failure. That is so true. Anytime you put yourself out there, there are going to be critiques and of course you’ll have your doubts. But what if you don’t ever go ahead and try that thing that excites you and you genuinely think you could be good at and enjoy. Well, that would suck. So, I’m diving in.

The post Two Things I’m looking forward to. appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

Saturday, I was up at 4am- I just couldn’t sleep so figured I’d get up and have a good little morning to myself. A little boy had the same idea to get up somewhere around 5:30am, so the quiet time was cut short, but I did get a good amount of reading in. I am determined to get these books read!

I met Ashley and Amy at 9am for a run – longest run post plantar fascia tear… 12 miles! I will say, with a few miles to go- I was READY TO BE DONE. I think the cold was taking me down. We held steady around 8:45-9:00 pace.

This is what the week looked like workout wise: 

Monday: 7 Mi on the monon solo @8:47

Tuesday: 2,100 Swim

Wednesday: 4.5 Mi with 20 min @ tempo. Average 7:47 pace, 20 Min tempo- average around 7:00. + 1 Hr Yoga

Thursday: 6.8 Mi Run solo in Bloomington @ 8:43 + 30 Min easy spin + strength/core

Friday: 35 Min Spin +10 Min Row

Saturday: 12 Monon Miles (8 with Amy and Ashley) @ 8:53

Sunday: Rest & Eat a lot.

Total Run Mileage: Around 30 Mi – for sure the highest since my injury.

I could have used one more swim and goal for this week- get the 1 hr of yoga in again!!

Glenn headed to beerfest with friends on Saturday and Sarah came over to hang out with the boys and I. I was so thankful she came over and her and Marshall and a blast together. Not to mention, I was able to leave the house to pick up Glenn and friends when beerfest was over and pick up a pizza- ALL BY MYSELF. I couldn’t find the passat keys, so I picked up for grown men in a jetta with two car seats in the back. I’m not even sure how they fit or hopefully my car seats aren’t broken.

Yesterday, we celebrated Glenn’s Dad’s 65th birthday. We headed to Crown Point around 11am and were back to Indy at 8pm. A lot of driving in one day, but worth it. I really feel lucky that I married into his family. I think I probably have the best mother and father in law ever. And let me just say I think that was the best Bloody Mary I’ve ever had. SUPER SPICY.

Glenn with his three sisters and their parents: 

Dave and Peggy with all the Grandkids. I can’t believe how good everyone sat. I think it’s helpful that Dave is holding both of the little ones. (they are only 3 weeks apart) And they have distractions too- dino for Lou, food for Claire.

I wasn’t even playing with bedtime last night, just let Marshall comes straight to our bed because I wanted to sleep. The balloons are ALWAYS a problem. I hate balloons. No you can’t sleep with the damn balloons.

A new week ahead of us. A blank slate. I won’t lie, I get jealous sometimes a lot of times, when Glenn heads out the door for the day. I get jealous that he gets to be alone in the car for 30 minutes on the way to work. He says it’s still work and not exciting, but I say you’re talking to adults and have the freedom to go to the bathroom by yourself, eat at a slow pace and do everything at your own pace for 9 hours. You aren’t waiting on children for those 9 hours. I certainly don’t want to work 8-5 Monday through Friday, but there are days I’d take it.

Right now though, at 6am on Monday, before the little people are awake, I’m feeling confident that we are going to conquer the day/week and enjoy it. It’s easy to get caught up in the motions and I try hard not to do that. I think everyone has to be intentional about that. Not that I ever dread the day, but to remind myself that I get to do this. I get to be home with my boys and I get to enjoy these weeks. I do think I’ll try to book a babysitter for a few hours one day this week though. It’s all about balance right?!

Speaking of balance. I took a rest day yesterday- I typically choose to rest on on Sundays. I usually wake up around 6am on Sundays, work on coaching for a few hours, make pancakes while Glenn runs or whatever and we go to church. There is usually more coaching to be taken care of later in the day and I just want to chill and enjoy my family. Then there is Monday – I almost never miss a workout on Mondays, because it’s ideal to start the week that way (for me at least), but today, my cold is lingering and I’m not feeling it so much, so I might just observe another day of chillin. We’ll see how the day unfolds. And I don’t care either way.

Have a great Monday people. Be thankful and enjoy that you get to do Monday. 

The post New Week! appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

The boys and I stayed at my parents the last two nights just for fun. My sister has been here with her two kids and I didn’t have any work meetings or events so figured it was perfect timing. Nice because yesterday I ran outside for an hour by myself- I really love running in Bloomington because of the change of scene, not to mention there are actually some hills and I enjoy a hilly run.

The only downside, is all of the kids have a nagging cold, so they’ve been a little grumpy. Here is Marshall having a meltdown, Big Lou and Gunner be like “say what dude?”

But I’ve had the opportunity for lot’s of good snuggles and I’m not complaining about that. I know i’m partial, but Marshall has the most perfect eyebrows and eye lashes. Any woman would be jealous I think.

Back to the podcasts; I’ve been listening to is the Jamie Ivey, Happy Hour podcast. She interviews and chats with women, wanting the podcast to feel like you’re just sitting in a room with your girlfriends for happy hour having good conversation. She usually interviews a women who is running a small business, writing books, running some amazing nonprofit or just someone who is inspiring and has a good story to tell. I’ve gained a lot of inspiration through the women on the show. It’s is definitely a Christian based podcast and for the ladies. When we drove down to Chattanooga this summer I listened to one in the car with Glenn and he was not impressed, though he happily listened.

My point. Well I have two points.

1. I have a dream of starting my own podcast. There I said it.

2. She ends every episode asking guests to name what book they are reading and what three things they are loving.

So I’m going to do that today. Not start my own podcast, but tell you the books I’m reading and three things I’m loving.

Right now, I’m somehow trying to read three books. (very slowly) I kind of made a quiet goal to read two books a month this year. Yikes. The percentage I’m into these books is not high. I think I need to listen to one on audio to get through this!

• Half the Sky –  by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn – I started this book a couple of years ago when my Grandma gave it to me, but put it down halfway through. I’m determined to finish it.

• American Sniper – by Chris Kyle – I’ve been wanting to read this for awhile and definitely want to read it before I see the movie. I’m about 30% done right now.

• Why not Me  – by Mindy Kaling – Because I’m obsessed with Mindy Kaling. The first two books aren’t really what one would call light reads and I like to always have a light, happy, funny read teed up in case my spirit needs it. One thing to know about me is I CLING to comedy. If I’m anxious, sad or whatever- please put some Seinfeld on. Or right now, put the Mindy Project on.

Three Things I’m Loving:

• The Mindy Project. If you follow me on twitter, you’ve probably already heard enough about that. I started watching it from the beginning a couple of weeks ago on hulu. It’s everything I hoped it would be.

• Silk vanilla almond milk creamer in my coffee – My mom always has this at their house. It makes morning coffee seem so much more special than coffee with some regular old milk and stevia. In fact, I think I need a refill right now.

• Jason Isbell Pandora – Glenn got me hooked on Jason Isbell. He texted and emailed me on like five separate occasions during the workday telling me about it, then following up have you tried it, have you tried it? Until I did. I love it. I’m struggling to find the words to describe what kind of music it is but think Ray Lamontagne meets Sturgill Simpsom. The best part- he’s coming to Indy next month and we are planning on going. Yay. Need to book a sitter.

What books are you reading?

What are three things you’re loving?

Would you listen to my podcast? If so who do you request my first guest to be? Think funny, inspiring and someone who has a good story to tell.

The post Three Things I’m Loving appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

One would think it wouldn’t be difficult to get there at 8:45am. That’s not particularly early. The boys slept in until 7:45. Not complaining about that- I had some wonderful quiet time this morning….  but to then get out of the house by 8:30, it’s kind of a hustle. I was teed up and ready to go with like 10 minutes to spare and somehow didn’t get out of the house until 8:45 and my gas tank was below empty. Below. So because running is important, I’m an idiot, I rolled the dice on running out of gas and booked it to the Y. We made it whohoo!

I met Amy at the treadmills at 9:05am- 40 minutes to squeeze a run in! She was finishing up her 7th 800 repeat and running hard when I started my warm up. I was only slightly jealous that she was DONE with a great workout. I warmed up 10 minutes and felt pretty darn great, so decided I’d conquer that 20 minute tempo. There are days when 20 minutes of hard running sounds really difficult- especially when you are just getting back in shape and the swing of running fast.

Today, I didn’t seem daunting at all once I started going. I think I could have stretched it out to 30-35 minutes of tempoing if I wanted to. But I stuck to the pan of 20, because I’m smarter than that and it feels good to finish a workout feeling like you could have done more. I ran 10 minutes at 7:09, 5 minutes at 7:04, and then cut the last 5 minutes down to 6:40. It felt fairly effortless considering the pace and where I am right now. And it’s funny because last week that run would have destroyed me mentally and physically which is why I didn’t even try it when an 8:30 mile felt hard. When I cranked it up to 7:04 pace, the thought of running a half marathon that fast- let alone a full marathon was laughable. You gots to do the work to get there though right? Baby steps.

I finished up at 9:42, ran downstairs, grabbed my spot in the yoga room, changed real quick and made the yoga happen. I think the old me would have been focused on running longer and skipped the yoga, but I’m smart enough now to know that the difference between 4.5 and 6.5 miles didn’t matter- I got the workout in and yoga was going to benefit me more emotionally and physically than running 25 more minutes.

Beyond my little workout today- the purpose of this post in the first place was I want to share with you a video that goes over some pre and post run stretches Glenn and I recommend for all runners and stay true to ourselves. After a few weeks, we like tos start adding in some more post run stretch/strength, but if you are new to running- or new to incorporating anything like this into your running/walking routine – this video is a great place to start. Unless I’m in a major time crunch—- like today for instance, you won’t find me heading out for a run without doing my lunge matrix first. I made this with my friend Chris Thornberry – Chris has all sorts of information videos on his you tube channel Inside Endurance Sports and this is the most recent video posted. We have plans to make more women’s running/mother runner focused videos soon!

Now, you might know that I work part time in marketing and events for the best run/walk specialty store in Indianapolis – Athletic Annex. That’s right, I claimed it it’s the best. Are you following us on Instagram? You’ll often see cameo’s of myself and the boys on their feed- I have a lot of fun with it.

Athletic Annex recently launched our spring training program– training for the 500 festival mini marathon. We kicked off the program two weeks ago with St. Vincent Sport Performance. St. Vincent’s Jon Grant and our owner Bob Kennedy put together a simple video of 5 strength exercises all runners should be doing. I think it kind of goes hand in and with the pre and post run stretches so I wanted to share this as well. Jon is an Athletic Trainer and has been working with runners for years- and Bob ran in the Olympics, so there’s that.

So here are the 5 exercises Jon & Bob suggest you stay committed to throughout your training. Trust them. They’re way smarter than me:

Alright, go get strong guys. And don’t let a failed workout kill your confidence, because you’re likely just having an off day and will kill it next week if you try again. 

The post Pre and Post Run Stretch & Strength appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

• Arrival of Louis Frederick Hein – January 15th, 2015 7 lbs, 6 oz

February: 

• Stocked up on Breast Milk (THANK YOU so much to the many people who donated to feed my baby the good stuff!) We quickly confirmed that Big Lou has a stomach of steel as he happily sucked down the milk of at least 10 different women. 5 of who were personal friends of mine. Lauren Hulls you will always be special to me because we dug into your stash first and though the nurses were weird about it at the hospital, I requested a fridge in my hospital room and stocked it up with Lauren milk that fed Lou for the first month of his life and then some more later when you gave us your second stash.
• February is dumb

March: 

• Rented our house out on Air BNB for Final Four Championships.
• Fox 59 Segment – Training for a 5K
• Surely something else happened in March, but you got me.

April:

• Glenn paced 3:15 at the Carmel Marathon for second year in a row.
• After years of recruiting people to work water stops for races, I finally worked one myself.
• Cancelled our cable for the second time because we think we’re better than you.
• Had my first Thug Kitchen Challenge Fail. I did redeem myself and complete my next challenge of learning to make a quiche – homemade crust and all.
• I introduced myself to Black Girls Run- one of my most favorite groups of people ever now!
• Did some FOX 59 News segments – Tapering for the 500 Festival Mini Marathon, Gearing up for the 500 Festival Mini Marathon,

May:

• 500 festival Mini Marathon – first half marathon post Lou
• I ran Dances with Dirt Relay with the 6 foot tall blondes
• Glenn ran Dances with Dirt 50K
• Another Mother Runner came to Athletic Annex

June:

• I ran the Monumental Mile. It was scary and I peed my pants halfway through the mile.
• Glenn ran Kettle Moraine 100k
• Kyle’s Wedding
• Marshall turned 3
• Air conditioner broke and Glenn denied it for 3 straight weeks before I finally made him call for someone to fix it. Thank you HOMESENSE– good guys.

July:

• Red Eye Relay – Glenn and I ran 50 mile loop as two man team
• My sister Shelby got drunk and ran two miles of the Red Eye Relay with me when I thought I might die of heat exhaustion and wanted a friend
• Girls weekend at pretty lake with my friends where we of course made a music video
• Rolling Stones Concert on the 4th of July at the Speedway. (Glenn threw up in the front yard while I paid the babysitter)
• Joseph Maley 5K – Glenn ran with the stroller and only finished a minute slower than my time. I’m gonna make him race me- him with the stroller when I’m really back in shape and he’s not boxed in.
• FireCracker 6
• Discovered that I like Generation UCAN for long runs.
• Became obsessed with Rye Bread
• Athletic Annex Summer Party – so fun, My Yellow RickShaw played and we blocked off the streets. Stayed tuned for dates on the 2016 party.
• My younger sister Shelby moved back to Indiana from Florida
• Some more Fox 59 Segments – Summer Running Gear, Running & Training Options

August:

• Anniversary Trip to Chattonooga, TN (7 year anniversary)- lot’s of awesome mountain running
• We discovered how awesome it is to live right next door to the Shortridge track – new spot.
• Glenn went to the Foo Fighters with my best friend Sarah. Because she’s cooler than  me.
• We both Old Crow Medicine Show at White River with friends & my parents
• Our friend Scott moved in. (That’s right we had a roommate until just last weekend- and he was the best damn roommate you could hope for when you’re 32 and have two small kids.)
• We both turned 32.
• Started the Athletic Annex stroller mom group

September: 

• Tore my plantar fascia. We can stop there.
• Oh wait, Glenn found out he was super anemic.
• Basically, we were both broken for a few months.
• Glenn went to NYC for work.
• Glenn got his first pair of Hoka’s

October: 

• Chicago Marathon with Saucony 26 Strong – Amazing, Amazing experience!
• Did this Saucony Gear Review for Inside Endurance Sports
• Since I was injured and on the sidelines- had a quick interview on ABC 7 Chicago about the Saucony 26 Strong Project with the lovely Allison from Competitor
• Our neighbors stopped supplying us with eggs. Sad face. We need a new dealer! Who’s got a hook up?!
• My older Sister Ericka moved to Indy from DC after living there for 9 years
• Family Friend Wedding in Chicago
• We decided to hold off finishing our carriage house (roommate Scott was planning to move in there) and put serious thought into moving to a smaller house.
• Dyed my hair with some magenta. My friend and hair woman Britney Cooper is da bomb.
• Glenn got a new job within his company.
• I contemplated going back to work full time because Marshall was driving me to my grave.

November:

• New nephew Jacob Michael born
• Marshall got a hipster haircut
• Drumstick Dash- my first big run post plantar fascia tear.
• We hosted bomb ass water stop at the Monumental Marathon with neighbors and friends and handed out PBR. Went through 35 beers and it wasn’t enough. Half marathoners are really into PBR at mile 9.

December: 

• Austin Girls Trip
• Scott moved out at the end of his semester. Marshall is sad
• Glenn mastered the art of making caramels. More nuts next time
• Dropped Rye Bread for Sour Dough Bread
• Lot’s of great family time with both Glenn’s family and mine. We are so ready to be home for the next month though!
• We are now planning to stay at the house and considering finishing the carriage house again. Who says you can’t change your mind. We don’t really know what the hell we want to do, ok?

Looking back through this post, it seems like we did quite a bit. There’s more, but I’m over writing this post. It’s taken too long already.

 In 2016- I want to read more, have a better garden, and somehow figure out how to be more like Jesus. And that’s the truth. Help me, I’m not organized and obviously really self and family absorbed.

The post Out for a Run in 2015. appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

We spent the morning at the Drumstick Dash per usual and had a lot of fun. This year the run specialty store I work for, Athletic Annex was a big sponsor of the race, so I spent the day before at the expo and it was fun to be more involved in the race. Steve Kerr, Brian Crispin and the rest of the Wheeler team are just awesome people with big hearts, truly helping people in Indianapolis. I’m proud to work for a company that supports their race.

Pre Race- I was all about leaving the boys in jammies for the race. Glenn leans more toward, Marshall should wear normal clothes. My opinion is, let him be comfy. I’d be thrilled to rock that onsie all morning if I had to just chill in the stroller. Thankfully it was freaking warm out 50 degrees at the start- what?! The past two years have been absolutely freezing.

The Drumstick Dash is around 4.6 miles, but I only actually pushed the stroller for maybe a mile. Glenn pushed it most of the run.

My longest run coming back from the plantar fascia tear before this was 35 minutes, and this race took us 39 minutes, so I was comfortable with the amount of time on my feet.

My foot felt hot to start, but after about 5 or 6 minutes, it felt fine. I felt generally out of shape but Glenn and I talked the whole time and enjoyed the race. We ended up running 8:24 per mile average. The good news is I don’t feel as out of shape as I did after 6 weeks off from baby… proving that having a baby is a lot of work… as if we didn’t know that. But seriously, I didn’t run for an entire 12 weeks after I tore my PF; this is the longest I have EVER gone with not running, and I haven’t been super into cross training, so I’m happy with how “out of shape” I feel.

We love the little train they have out after the race! I know there are a lot of other smaller Thanksgiving Day races popping up around the near suburbs and downtown, that might be less hectic and crowded, but we are full committed to the Drumstick Dash. We’ve only missed one year since 2007 and will continue to take part in this race every year. I like thinking of the boys growing up with this tradition. (15,000 other families feel the same I’m sure!)

We headed to Crown Point after the race to spend Thanksgiving with Glenn’s family. Why are my sunglasses crooked? 

The boys almost always sleep the entire 2 hours to Crown Point. 

Wild Turkey shots are tradition at the Hein Thanksgiving. We took two. Big Lou was into it.

Marshall and Lou with all of their cousins on Glenn’s side. 

These three ran around together for hours and I basically forgot that I had a second kid because I hardly saw him. I foresee this being even more fun as the years go by and the younger ones will slowly start joining in on their gang too.

After all 35 people left, it was just us and Glenn’s parents and Marshall said we should get a jammie pic. I really am so happy to have such a great family I married into. I have the sweetest Mother in law you could ever imagine and my Father in law is funny and takes care of his family in the best way. Them Crown Point folk are good people.

When we got him, Marshall and I went to Sullivan’s at 49th and Penn to get the Christmas Tree. I know, Christmas tree farms are probably fun and all, but this is simple and for now this is our tradition. Plus Sullivan’s has an awesome Christmas Train thing that Marshall is obsessed with chasing around the store. 

Then we headed to Broad Ripple for Lights up Broad Ripple. It really was a blast. We checked out the party at the Fire Station, then headed over to an art fair and plopped down at Brothers for front row seats to the Holiday Parade that went right down Broad Ripple Ave. So, we had greasy pretzels and good beer. 120 minute IPA anyone? Tipsy after one beer? This is for sure the new tradition. I hope it wasn’t just a fluke that there Brother’s was pretty empty, because we throughly enjoyed sharing the big open space with the pool tables with only a few other people.

Lou and I hung out inside for most of it and watched Marshall and Glenn on the street.

After the parade and the light up ceremony at the firehouse we came up and decorated the Christmas tree. Then Glenn and I decided to be in denial about Marshall going to bed and just ignored it and let him fall asleep with us at 10pm. Whatever man.

I think in the second video I thought it was a picture at first. I also think I want a go pro or something like that. 

I didn’t really plan on this post being a run down of every waking minute of what we did this past couple of days but when you take a lot of pictures it ends up that way.

We are happy to be home and will head to church in a bit, Glenn’s out running and I’m going to run when he gets back. 40 minutes tops! I also plan to make some homemade quiche today. Bought all the good stuff for it yesterday and ran out of time.

Also, remember how I said I was ready to work on that training plan for myself? Definitely haven’t made time for that. I weighed myself at Glenn’s parents this weekend, (we don’t have a scale so I like to jump on when we’re in Crown Point, just because) I know weight fluctuates around 3 lbs on the regular, but I’m for sure up a steady 5-7 lbs without my normal routine. I’m totally fine with that for now. I can’t be concerned with these little short term details- though I can see how settling into a lifestyle with a slow decrease in physical exercises could turn into a yearly 5-7 lbs. I could really work on my mom bod if I wanted. I think I’ll train for a marathon, like I’m training for a triathlon instead though.

The post Thanksgiving Style appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

I’ve been really good keeping up with the ice bucket and having Glenn massage the scar tissue everyday.

I’m really into making the foot comfortable. Every morning I go straight to my trusty little ball and roll it out before hobbling down the stairs like an 85 year old woman. I think I’m destined to have the 85 year old woman morning hobble until I make it to 85.

I have recently been wearing these Zamst socks that give my arch a little support. It feels tight and secure right around the plantar fascia and I really like how it feels. It’s not like the sock is aiding in breaking up the scar tissue or making my foot stronger, but the snugness makes it feel all nice and packed in, if that makes sense…. which I like. This paired with my new orthotics that just came in will give that little foot all the loving.

I try to row 2-3 times a week and it’s just 10-15 minutes each, not a lot, but I’m dedicated to the cause. Since I get bored doing anything other than running for more than 20 minutes at a time, I usually pair the rowing with biking and or stair master. And DAMN, that stair master is a workout. Especially if you don’t hold on. I do warn though, if you aren’t paying attention to your stepping, not holding on could result in falling off the stair stepper and embarrassing yourself in front of every single person in the workout room. I like to read my kindle on the stair stepper, so that paired with not holding on at all may or may not have ended in me tripping and missing some steps. I survived the embarrassment and the fall.

Look at those silly rigid feet. At least they look cute in these loud socks though.

I’m finally feeling ready to get a training plan together now that I have a consistent run schedule going on. I also just put together the first two weeks of two new runners I’m coaching and it motivated me to get my own little schedule together.

My swim suit that I left behind at the Y has not shown up so I ended up buying a new one, which should arrive sometime this week. I will force myself in that pool twice a week! I’m confused as to where the suit I lost could be though- I mean they have a lost and found in the locker room and I just don’t see someone stealing a wet swimsuit hanging in the showers at the Jordan Y. Who knows.

In other news- have you seen Marshall’s new haircut? I am so obsessed, I can’t stop creepy staring at how cute it is. At least he is my kid, so it’s really not that creepy.

Between Marshall’s hip new cut and my magenta hair thing going on, we are definitely the coolest ones in the family. Glenn and Big Lou are going to have to step up their game somehow. 

This week I FINALLY took the boys to the John H. Boner Community Center to see the senior citizens. This is where I worked as my first job out of college. Since I left in 2011, I have visited a few times every year, but we hadn’t been in to see the seniors since Lou was born. They were thrilled to see the boys and I had a good time catching up with what everyone was up to.

We made cookies first:

Because anytime Marshall is misbehaving, I say “let’s make cookies” or anything I can think of to make in the kitchen, because that seems to be a good distraction for him. 

If you follow me on instagram you’ve probably already read this but – this is Earl in the picture above and a funny story about Earl. In 2010, Glenn and I were going to run the Go! St. Louis Marathon. When Earl caught wind of it, he asked if he could hitch a ride down to St. Louis with us to visit family. I agreed and then asked Glenn if he cared. See what I did there? I’ll never forget dropping him off in East St. Louis and him telling us to get straight back to the highway and don’t get out of the car until we were out of East St. Louis and don’t come back to the neighborhood until we were ready to pick him up and head home. Best thing about this picture though has to be Earl’s Jesus hat. He also told me that he’d be willing to take Marshall for a couple of days and straighten him up if I wanted.

I need to be better about getting into the center to visit these friends- it’s good for them and it’s good for my boys. Marshall especially right now. Like training or anything else you want to make sure you do on the regular – I need to just add this to my calendar for once a month.

ONE MORE THING! I have a new nephew! An aunt times 7 now. I have to say, I don’t envy all the newborn things my sister and brother in-law are doing right now- especially because it’s their first baby and I remember how terrifying and exhausting those first few weeks at home with Marshall were. They’ll do great though and I keep telling her that everything gets easier after the first few weeks. 6 weeks seems to be the magic number for many. Marshall made this scared face the entire 5 minutes we held little Jacob.

The post Two Days in a Row & Week Update appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

Sure, I could write more and get some things accomplished after they’re in bed, which I did last night but I’m trying to make time for what’s important to my sanity and sometimes that’s putting my feet up, drinking beer and watching Louis C.K. stand up on HBO. Ok, let’s be honest, I need that daily for survival.

So, there’s my excuse. Balance. 

Here’s a brief update on my foot: I went to a foot doctor, with one look  at my stupid high arched feet, he informally said I probably have some weird foot problem. (Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Disease). This would be inherited from my dad, as we have the exact same feet- and Marshall too has the feet. The kid has callouses on his three year old feet. Some of that has to do with the fact that I let him go barefoot pretty much all the time, but most of it is how his foot is. Thanks Dad. I guess it’s better than the awesome gene mutation Mom passed down to me though. Dr. Banta also said he was surprised I hadn’t torn my PF sooner.

The one question I wanted answered more than anything was- will running delay the healing/recovery/strengthening process of my foot- or even re-injure it. I started a run/walk around three weeks ago and I keep feeling the presence of the injury on the foot. It didn’t necessarily hurt, but I felt it enough to wonder if I should be running on it. He said NO, it will not hurt my foot. The injury should have been healed up in 6-8 weeks- and now what I’m dealing with is a bunch of scar tissue. This is the same thing Brian, with St. Vincent told me, but I’m just paranoid, ok?

Plan of Action: 

• I have new orthotics coming. I wore orthotics for 15 years, gave them up for a year and am going back. I do think orthotics are probably over-prescribed, but I have some really F-ed up feet, so I believe I’m a good candidate for them. I’m going back to my ways- but a lighter, more flexible orthotic this time around though. (I have gotten plantar fasciitis before wearing an orthotic, so I don’t think running without one was what brought it on- though I sadly wonder if I’d been wearing one if it would have kept me from tearing it)

• I was prescribed some ointment that is supposed to help break up the scar tissue. So I’m begging and pleading with Glenn to put the ointment on my foot and dig into that scar tissue every night.

• I was prescribed some physical therapy also, I want to make an appointment this week but I am hesitant, because insurance only pays for so much, it’s pretty costly and honestly a big headache to try to schedule appointments around staying home with the boys. Would be much simpler if I worked 8-5 and could take an hour out of my work day for the appointment. I also want to hop on the Alter G at St. Vincent, but again carving out that time and managing having someone to watch the boys (more $$), makes it sort of difficult to commit to. Excuse, me would you babysit my kids while I go workout on the alter G? Who am I Kara Goucher?

• I am putting my foot in an ice bucket for 10 minutes every night. No excuses.

• Rolling my foot everyday.

• Basic foot strength exercises 4 days a week

• Run/walking 3-4 days a week right now. I’m at 4 minutes on, 1 minute off for 45 minutes currently.

• Swim/Bike/Row 2-3 days a week but taking days off pretty much anytime I feel like it.

Glenn working on that scar tissue.

I have an ice partner every time. 

The mold for my orthotic. My poor little high arched, rigid feet. 

Marshall and I went on a nice little stroller run/walk on Sunday. Back to our ways. Sort of. Though super slow and I was a little winded, it was refreshing. 

In my last post, I mentioned coming up with a training plan for myself, but I haven’t done it. I think my biggest goal was figuring out if running was going to be ok or not and I got the ok, so I’m feeling happy about that.

Also- I lost my bathing suit. I left in hanging in the shower at the Y last Monday and can’t find it in the lost and found. Super sad about that, because who wants to spend money on a new bathing suit when they have a perfectly good one. So I haven’t swam since last Monday, because Lord know’s I’m not showing up at the Y in my non-working out swim suit. Bikini Chat. I can’t be that person. (My workout swim suit actually is a two piece, but it’s meant for working out TYR) I suppose if I want to swim bad enough before I cave and get a new one, I could just show up in any darn swimsuit. You know as soon as I buy a new suit, the old one will turn up in some random locker I haven’t used in months.

I’ll come up with a plan. It will happen. Right now, I’m adjusting to being able to run again. It feels weird, but I’m hopeful it will slowly start to get better. I’d love to be able to run Carmel in April and then race Grandma’s in June. I’ll see where this next month or two takes me and like I like to do with most things in life- play it by ear.

In the meantime- we went to Glenn’s cousin Michelle’s wedding this weekend- it was beautiful and we had a lot of fun.

This is our whole family on Glenn’s side, minus all the crazy kiddos. He has three sisters.

And it’s been so long since I last posted that we haven’t even talked about our Hein Monumental Water/PBR stop at Indy Monumental! Our house is on the half course- just past mile 9, so since for the first time in who knows when, neither of us were running, we set up a fun little stop.

I think it’s safe to say the PBR stop was a hit. We went through the 18 pack that I bought pretty quick and then our neighbors went home and grabbed a 30 pack they had and we quickly went through it. People were majorly dissapointed when they saw our case of beer and realized we were out. Now we know for next time. MORE PRB. Here are just a few pics of the party crowd:

Congratulations to everyone who ran Monumental. I am always so excited to cheer all of you on. We cheered on dozens of people we knew in both the half and the full. I can’t even count, but I would say I knew well over 100 people running between the two races and I just love seeing people out there getting it done. While I’ve been pretty darn positive and content during my stupid injury, fully realizing that it’s not that big of a deal, I was grumpy leading up to the race and just a tad bit bitter on race day.

I have pictured myself coming in that home stretch on Meridian in the last three miles so many times- literally over the past two years- last year I wasn’t able to because I was super pregnant and the year before that I was recovering from an intense surgery. This was going to be the year I ran my PR into the ground. And beyond the PR, when I cheered on runners running 1-2 hours slower than my goal, I would have done anything to be out there running those times with them, celebrating being a part of the race. I just wanted to run. NO FEAR, I’ve recovered and am done moping for the most part. and have my sights on enjoying now and what’s next.

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