Marathon shoes

I got an idea from the show Inside the Factory, Season 2, Episode 6. In the sneaker business, the model for a foot is called a LAST and there are separate ones for men and women. The men's is wider. So a regular men's is a wide women's. Since perimenopause is wreaking havoc on my feet, they have become longer and wider. So I got the genius idea to order men's shoes.

https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/shoes/umc.cmc.4w3gt3naq1999at1wxqeo09oq

I looked for runDisney x Brooks collaboration and found out that those shoes from previous race weekends were still available and on sale. Also, by looking for men's and knowing that my foot is smaller than an average man, I was able to find my size(s) in stock. I got the larger size in Ghost Max 2 because of availability and also when I read the reviews, people suggested to size up.

Ordered July 7, 2026

$99.95, Ghost 17 Men's Chip & Dale, 8.5 Wide, 10mm drop, slightly more tapered performance fit and a flared heel tab

• Ghost 17: Best for a traditional daily trainer feel that handles steady miles and moderate uptempo paces with equal ease.
• I've run in a Ghost before.
• https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2024/10/consumables.html
• Not sure why I stopped. Maybe once I switched to a stability shoe, I never went back.

$119.95, Glycerin 22 Men's Stitch, 8.5 Wide, softer heel and more responsive forefoot, 10mm drop, slightly roomier toe box.

• Glycerin 22: Best for long recovery miles, easy runs, and standing for hours due to its ultra-soft impact absorption
• Yes, I can agree with the pillowy description. The thing I dislike most is there is a part of the toe box that bends and irritates my toes. 

$104.95, Ghost Max 2 Men's Mickey, 9 Wide, Rocker shape, 6mm drop, stable platform with a secure midfoot and generous volume to accommodate orthotics.

• Ghost Max 2: Best for walking, high-protection cruising, and easing stress off the forefoot and joints via the rocker geometry.
• Actually of the three new pairs, this is my favorite.

Retired shoes (teaching only)

• Dec 12, 2025, $125.67, Adrenaline GTS 24, 10 extra wide (grey/pink) 76.9 miles
• Aug 15, 2025, $301.82, Brooks Ariel GTS 24, 10 wide, (black) 127.5 miles 
• Aug 15, 2025, $301.82, Brooks Ariel GTS 24, 10 wide, (purple) 101.7 miles
• Feb 8, 2026, $164.63, ASICS Gel-Kayano 32, 10.5 wide, 89.5 miles (black)
• Dec 14, 2025, $181.03, ASICS Gel-Kayano 32, 10 wide, 141 miles (white)

I know people say that you can get 300-400 miles out of one pair of shoes, and maybe that's true for some people. But for me, I do log the mileage using Strava. So these miles are just dedicated running miles, not walking or standing. I still love the Ariel for its stiff support. I dislike the Kayano because it's too soft. I don't love the Adrenaline for running but I do like it a lot for walking.

Some older posts about running shoes

The post celebrates the arrival of spring with reflections on a bike-filled Bay Area trip, staying active through hiking, running, and Zumba, and the practical challenges of traveling with a bicycle and replacing well-worn athletic shoes. Looking ahead, the author is excited about upcoming 5K races and obstacle events while finding humor, movement, and adventure helpful for staying energized through a busy semester.

https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2014/04/april-fools.html

The post bids a sentimental farewell to a collection of well-worn shoes, reflecting on the races, travels, teaching, cycling, and everyday adventures they supported before being recycled. A new lineup of running, cycling, teaching, and dancing shoes takes their place, with the hope that each pair will find its own specialty.

https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2015/06/if-shoe-fits.html

Add-ons and modifications

• $6.24 pink lock laces
• $10 brown & black lock laces
• $17.20 toe spacers & purple lock laces

I thought the lock laces would be the answer to my foot pain. Turns out no. The pain across the top of my foot may have been caused by running downhill. When I stopped doing that, the pain went away. But I do love the ease of lock laces for getting out of the house quickly. I would definitely consider continuing to replace the laces of my retired shoes with elastic. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q331MT4

The other great thing about these lock laces is that they have reflectors in them. When I photographed my shoe collection, the runDisney shoes didn't light up at all. It's hard to believe the designers would have taken such care to include characters but neglected a safety feature as important as high-vis reflective panels. So adding lock laces would give a bonus of increased visibility.

I wasn't able to run with toe spacers, they ended up causing a pinch blister on the pad of my baby toe. It was a good concept to try to keep running in shoes with too narrow a toe box, but ultimately not a permanent solution.

I'm reading that rotating more than one pair (different styles) of shoes is a good idea. And I tried that. But I tend to find a favorite and keep going back to that one. So I ended up seeing the Brooks Men’s Ghost Max 3 on sale for $109.95. It's not a runDisney design, but that's okay. I bought two pairs. So it's possible the Ghost 17 Chip & Dale and Glycerin 22 Stitch will be more glamour shoes than running shoes. It gave me an opportunity to try a few different styles that I wouldn't have otherwise. I probably would not have tried a Ghost Max without Mickey Mouse on it.

Birthday month

July 2026 has been a wild ride. I am proud of my bravery, there are some tough things I have tackled. Small things have been adding up to create real change.

Some of what we did was to take advantage of birthday coupons and browsing Buy Nothing. That was my mission the first full week of July. Get free stuff. Also, I did a garage clean-out and gifted the excess.

✅️ 7/6 BuyNothing pickup

✅️ 7/11 Slay 5k

The second full week / weekend of July, we went to the Inland Empire and celebrated with friends and family. We had to cancel some things to make it happen, but it was a nice quick vacation.

🚫 7/16 donate blood

✅️ 7/16 Annika bday party

✅️ 7/18 Jeremy bday party

🚫 7/18 NaughtyIRL

🚫 7/18 F4M sip & Swap

🚫 7/19 CicLAvia

The third fill week of July, I focused on health stuff. I spent the better part of a day making appointments for my health gauntlet. I completed the process of getting our son a new pediatrician, since his pediatrician's office is closing for good at the end of this month. Also, I organized my clothes closet so I can get dressed easier when school starts.

✅️ 7/22 Donate Blood 🩸💉

🚫 7/25 F4M BOOK 📖 CLUB

✅️ 7/26 Run the Valley fest

The last week of July, some of the plans and orders made earlier in the month came to fruition. We did some crafts and some field trips. At the end of May, we weeded out old books and papers from a closet, then left all the toys in a disordered manner. This month, we finished the project by removing all toddler toys and organized the remaining stuff into categories.

✅️ 7/27 Reg Bimbo Global

✅️ 7/28 Chiro

✅️ 7/31 Ob/Gyn

Yes, we spent a lot of money, but it was good. I am preparing for back to school, another season of marathon training, and halloween. Once school starts, I feel like I will be so busy.

Running stuff

$356.53 = shoes

$50 = RunDisney shirts

$100.97 = F4M shirts

$17.5 = 5 stickers

$30 = sparkle skirt

$70.83 = bra & Nike shirt

$16.47 = fleet feet fuel

=$642.30

Amazon

Spinning wheel $10

$140 face cream

Beads, foam pumpkins, fairy jar supplies $94.67

Watch band $8

Rose gold bra hangers $16

Glow sticks $6

Travel / Entertainment

Michaels $138.80 + $7.35

USPS $59.28 + $14.50

Mall day $63.48 (curacao, wetzel, chi, bath & body)

Harleys Bowl $23.60 + $5

Red Robin playdate $65.94

Five below $13.86

Wetzel $10.15

AMC $24.78 + $11.08

Miguel's $13.15

$50.73 McDonald's

$201.01 Marriott

$76.97 Spaghetti Factory

$29.33 Taco Station

$31.50 Farmers market

Santa Clarita pool $12

Michaels $101.82

Beach parking @ Venice $9

4 pairs Goodr $47

Discovery cube $37.67 + $21

SkyZone $32

=$1,100.96

Halloween / running

Aurora tank $36

Aurora crown $7

Chiro 

$20.8+$26+$15.6+$26

=$88.40

Considering 20 weekdays, the entertainment category ends up averaging to $55 per day or $275 per week. Day camp at Northridge Park is $220 to $310. Prices for CSUN Sunny Days camp starts at an Early Bird rate of $350, moving to a Regular rate of $380, and a Late rate of $410 per week. So what I can conclude from this is, we're doing okay.

It was a great birthday month.

August 2025 in Review

It's only a few days into September, but it's been a whirlwind the past couple weeks. I have to pause and remind myself that Albert has only been in Kindergarten for three weeks (as he reminded me today is day 14). I have only had one week of school so far. Since I'm teaching labs, there are no class meetings this week since it is the week of a Monday holiday (Labor Day), so that no sections fall behind. When I look back at what we did during August, I can see why I feel so whirly.

The month kicked off with the Dopey Strong 7 Dwarves Challenge. Each day, we were supposed to dress up like a different dwarf and add a few strength moves into our running plan. Then on the 7th day we were supposed to do all the strength moves. I'm not a big fan of run streaking but there were only three days in the month that I didn't at least walk a mile (Aug 8, 10, 12). Sometimes I wonder why I track everything, but then I remember that tracking helps me make sense of the pain I'm in when I can't understand or remember why my feet hurt so much.

  

There was also a collaboration between Valley Runners and the Goodr Cabana. A group of us from Glendale, Sherman Oaks, Northridge, Winnetka, Burbank (all over the 818) met in Venice Beach every Saturday throughout August.

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A post shared by VRLA| ValleyRunnersLA Est. 2014 (@valleyrunnersla)

And to end the month, Crowned Athletics inspired us to dress up for World Princess Week.

I had fun with the challenge, and it got me to do some micro-blogging reflecting on what the Disney princesses mean to me.

CREATIVITY. As a mom, I get creative with my son as we paint, build, dance, cook, sing, and play. As a teacher, I find creative ways to incorporate all that into a college environment. Keeping everyone's spirits up while still enforcing safety rules and regulations. Chemistry doesn't have to be boring! I've got a dream. I want to make chemistry accessible to all students, allowing them to enjoy and learn. 👩‍🔬🥼🥽🧪 Rebel princess 👸✊ My first thought of creativity was Rapunzel, who had to pass away the hours locked away in a tower. But I think I'm a rebel princess at heart. Every day, finding creative ways to resist the empire. @crownedathletics #spacebuns #onebadmotherrunner

STRENGTH in motherhood is sometimes carrying your child, carrying your 50 lb folded stroller as you board the bus, bringing in the entire load of groceries from the car to the house in one haul. 🛒🛍️ Sometimes strength in motherhood is breaking generational trauma, escaping the unreasonable expectations of society, and giving other women a leg up. We all show our strength in different ways, and sometimes just showing up as the best version of you takes strength. 🥂 🙌 Here's a high five to celebrate all of the invisible unpaid domestic labor. Sometimes we carry the weight of the family on our shoulders, And even though every day isn't a ball, We still find big and small ways to sparkle and shine through. Thank you for being a part of my family, And thank you for helping to keep me inspired! #gratitude #strengthinmotherhood If I could add one piece to my Powerful Hermana set, it would be the Force Fighter flow tank top. 🛸💫🚀 I recently introduced my son to the Star Wars movies, and I was so inspired by Rey Skywalker. I'm not sure if she is considered a princess, but she is definitely a role model of strength. She never stopped fighting for freedom, and she never lost hope. No family is perfect, but finding your identity and drawing strength from your ancestors has always been a powerful force for me.

KINDNESS. The story of The Little Mermaid reminds us to practice kindness with our own bodies. There may be some part of your body that you wish were different. #bodypositive Ariel is doomed to want something she cannot have. She is willing to gamble her voice in exchange for the opportunity to experience her heart's desire, but only for 3 days. And if she is unable to achieve a nearly impossible task, she loses everything. The mermaid princess reminds us to appreciate everything our bodies can do. Today I am grateful for my legs. 🦵🧜‍♀️ 🐚🐠 Thank you, legs, for being my favorite form of transportation. Today I am thankful for my voice. 🎵🎶👩‍🎤 Thank you, voice, for allowing me to express myself. Staying inspired is sometimes a challenge. I have to do whatever motivates me to get out there and stick to my training plan. 

BELLA IN SELLA. is a phrase that I learned from the cycling community 🚴‍♀️ #cyclomania. It means riding a horse or bicycle and looking good while doing it. Often, I wear bright colors while riding or running for safety purposes. If you're seen, so much the better, because it lowers the risk of getting into a collision. And a close family member of mine was killed while running because she was hit by a minivan. But sometimes, like this week, I enjoy dressing up just for the fun of it. I find inspiration in the stories I grew up listening to. I wanted to represent Belle today, who didn't start out as a princess, but through her kindness, she came to love the Beast. I identified with Belle because she loved books and was a gorgeous brunette, like me. And, like her, I fell in love with a man who had a great bookshelf. 📚 # Bibliophile: I get to refresh my memory on Disney princesses, villains, and heroines by telling bedtime stories to my son as he falls asleep. He doesn't consciously remember every story, but I know he hears me. He puts princess figurines all around our bedroom for protection. Loving the energy from @fit4mom_west_sfv this morning. Showing up and being surrounded by kindness, moms supporting other moms, makes the journey of motherhood so much better. #communityinmotherhood #raisekindhumans #momssupportmoms #ourvillage #motherhoodsisterhood #worldprincessweek

GRACE. If you are newly postpartum or raising small children, you've got to give yourself grace. It's going to take time to get your energy back. Motherhood has been a powerful motivator for me. I want to be able to keep up with my son, so I keep pushing myself to stay strong and ready. Initially, when I thought of grace, I thought of Mulan. I'm not sure Princess is part of her back story, but she was a strong influence in my childhood. I was a tomboy. I ended up in a male-dominated career field. I've always tried to keep up with men and fit in among them. To be just as smart, fast, and strong. Mulan did what she did to protect her father and bring honor to her family. She was an epic failure at being a #tradwife but an epic success at leading an army. She exceeded her family's expectations and ended up with an even better match than any matchmaker would have found for her. Mulan reminds us to gracefully pursue our destiny, even if it doesn't fit with society's expectations for us. I thought about the graceful movements of a swords(wo)man. I realize that the modern military is different than the fighting style depicted in Mulan. I feel grateful for our military service men and women. Thanks to our veterans and first responders as well. ⚔️ Finally, I thought about how some workouts are tough. You have to give yourself the grace to suck sometimes. The law of averages will balance it out eventually with a workout that kicks ass in a good way. Today I felt so strong, graceful, and fast. ⚖️ Keep showing up. #ownthecrown #stronglooksdifferent

BRAVE. The brave thing I did today was bring my kid to work. His school has a holiday but my school did not. Today's theme got me thinking about various times in my life where I took a leap of faith. One of the biggest leaps I took was when I moved to California. I knew the cost of living was going to be really high. But I also knew that ultimately it was where I wanted to be. I wasn't sure how it was going to work out, but I was brave enough to go for it with the faith that I would figure it out. The second biggest leap of faith that I took was going through IVF. It was so expensive with no guarantees. It was like going through puberty again at 39 years old. I had to confront some of my biggest fears and misconceptions about becoming a mother. Thankfully for us, it only took one round. I'm so grateful that I was brave enough to take these leaps of faith. Finishing my PhD at UC Riverside was such a significant moment in my life. Training for and completing the LA Marathon (while wearing my Changed Fate set) was no big deal after becoming a doctor and then becoming a mother. If you're thinking about chasing a big goal or taking a leap of faith in the direction of your dreams, consider this a gentle push in that direction. Be brave.

STROLLER MILES. On my way to inspire the next generation of chemistry and biochemistry graduate students with my stroller and kindergartner, I dictated a lot of these microblogs while walking to and from school. Thanks to my bestie, Mykel for reminding me that it's okay to parent in public and that allowing students to see the joys and challenges of having children is a good thing. It's essential to make the work-life balancing act more visible. And this is also a post of appreciation for @bobgearus. I brought all the necessary items for my child and myself, as well as the supplies for my students. We had a fun day on campus. I love this stroller so much. I'll forever remember this as the vehicle that made all of our Disneyland dreams come true. BOB is an acronym for Beast of Burden, which is also a great song by the Rolling Stones. My Changed Fate set gives me powerful mama bear vibes when I need to remember how being a mom is my superpower. I also love how Merida was the shot caller in her story. She repairs the strained relationship with her mother and learns how to be more selfless. Even though Fit4Mom now pairs with Thule as their official stroller, I will never forget the BOB as my favorite part of strolling with my mini-me. My stroller model is BOB Revolution CE = City Edition which weighs ONLY 23 lbs.

I tried my darndest to get through August without overdosing on ibuprofen. However, on August 31st, I finally took some ibuprofen, which relieved the pain in my feet. It was an increase in miles, too much, too soon. I forgot how school drop-off adds extra mileage to the week. But as I say, we're trying to ease into the school year, and it's okay if there are some growing pains. Albert asked me to make him a social battery indicator so that he can have time to recharge without us bothering him too much. He's always had a high emotional intelligence, and this just shows that he can ask for a way to communicate with us.

   

Another thing Albert did recently was create two paintings contrasting a poor person's house, which was small, only one story high, and made of reclaimed materials. Versus a rich person's home, which he called the Eiffel Tower, which was multilevel, taller than trees, and made of gold. And for some reason, the poor person is during the day, and the rich person is painted at night, surrounded by stars. This is likely due to my lighter teaching load, which results in less income, and we often discuss this. We tell Albert that we can't afford some things because mommy won't be bringing home as much money. We discuss how we'll need to acquire more items on Buy Nothing, as we can't purchase them. September was a "normal" paycheck, but it will probably be the last "big" one for the next 6 months.

I saw the hashtag #RecessionCore and others, such as #economytok or #costofliving, to express a theme of economic hardship and austerity. We're not the only ones affected by this change in lifestyle. #budgetfriendly #economicanxiety #savingmoney #thrift #tariffs I've never been overly concerned with being trendy, and I know I'm talking about budget here, but here are some things I did buy this summer (or last summer) that I (still) love. 

• ENERBLOOM Women's Yoga Jumpsuits Workout One Piece Rompers with Pockets Bodycon Backless Bodysuits Padded Berry Red X-Large. I wore this on a run, and someone told me I was a whole vibe. I had a SheFit bra underneath and my sequin headband. $19.99 I also wore it to the pool as a swimsuit. I don't know why they don't make more swimsuits like this.
• Neely Gracey, the mom and running coach, recommended this product as the most comfortable item for summer, and I wholeheartedly agree. I bought one of each color and walked out paying around $50. I like them a lot. I'm glad I bought them when I did. This athletic all-in-one dress trend reached Crowned Athletics, and they sold each one for $118. I know, girl math, but I feel like I saved over $300. https://www.costco.com/elle-sport-women's-active-tank-dress.product.4000293912.html
• WEBGGER 12 Pack Sequin Headbands Elastic Stretch Sparkly Fashion Headband for Teens Girls Women Hairband Sport Head Band Party Favors Multicolored now $5.94, usually $9.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Z2TH288 Honestly, these are the best for summer. The airflow through the sequins is peak performance, and the sparklyness and color choices in this variety pack make my heart happy. I didn't bring one on my trip to Nebraska this year, but thankfully, I had left one the previous summer, and it was still there for me to use while I was visiting. Honestly, lifesaver. Somehow, the sequins are a great way to keep baby hairs from straying. I can't stand when my hair tickles my neck.
• IDALOP 20 Pairs Cute & Colorful Striped Quarter Crew Women's Colored Socks, Size 9-11 $19.99 So I'm midlife. I have mostly ankle socks. But I noticed when I wear a short skirt, it looks like SO MUCH LEG all the way down to the ankle. People nowadays say that ankle socks are out. So I got these crew socks. I wouldn't care fashion-wise but I do teach college-age students and I don't want to appear too out of touch.

I also found three pairs of jeggings at ALDI this week. Light blue, dark blue, and light grey. I have some Levi's jeggings that I purchased in the Spring 2023 semester for $27 each. They're finally starting to show daylight in the inner-thigh area after 5 semesters (2.5 years). So these ALDI ones are about half the price. I can't comment yet to their durability since I haven't even washed them yet, but I will use them to teach in for several years probably. I tried on XL and L and the large I couldn't even button / zip. There was a gap in the back of the XL but I guess I can wear a belt. https://www.aldi.us/product/serra-ladies-premium-light-blue-jeggings-m-0000000000072022 $12.99

My aunt noticed my Instagram is looking more colorful these days. I appreciate all the people who inspire me to keep being expressive. I'm glad summer is over, but is it really? We just had our AC fixed today, thank goodness. I know we're in for a few more months of heat. Sometimes it's in triple digits even through the end of October. Albert and I decorated the house yesterday for fall. He was insisting that it be fall but not spooky. Which means leaves and pumpkins, but not haunted houses and jack-o-lanterns.

Albert is dedicated to being a ghost for Halloween, and I've got 3 costumes already, so that the whole family can participate. I'm not sure we're doing the Boo at the Zoo or the Enchanted Halloweekends at the Discovery Cube. We've let all our memberships go. So we need to find a trick-or-treat thing we can do for free. I'm trying my best not to buy the Bath & Body Works Disney Villains collection. I know it will sell out quickly, but do I really need more lotion and hand soap?

It's the weekend of the Santa Monica Classic and the Disneyland Halloween Half-marathon. I'll be sitting these races out and preparing for the Bimbo Global 10k on September 28th. I haven't done that one before, but registration was free, and it's closer to our house. I received a free sample of Ever&Eden Premium Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, but I'm not impressed with it so far. These are more of my favorites that I buy again and again and use daily.

• Sun Bum Baby Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Stick - Hawaii 104 Act Compliant (Without Octinoxate & Oxybenzone) - UVA/UVB Face and Body Protection - Unscented for Sensitive Skin - Travel Size 0.45 Oz $12.50
• Eucerin Sun Sensitive Mineral Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 with Zinc Oxide Protection, Hypoallergenic Mineral Sunscreen for Babies, Tear Free and Fragrance Free, 4 Fl Oz Tube $20
• Banana Boat Kids MAX Protect & Play Sunscreen Spray SPF 100, 6oz | Clear Spray Sunscreen, Kids Sunscreen Spray, Kids Sunblock Spray, Kids Spray Sunscreen, Kids Sunscreen SPF 100, 6oz $14
• Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 50 & Zinc Oxide, Water-Resistant, Hypoallergenic & Tear-Free Baby Sunscreen, 3 fl. oz, 3 pk $37
• https://thinksun.com/products/think-everyday-face-sunscreen-2oz-naturally-tinted  $16.50

In my efforts to save money, I also cleaned out my cabinets and put all my backstock of personal care products in rotation. Our good friend used to work at Paul Mitchell and would always gift us products whenever we visited him. So I have some shampoos, conditioners, and gels that will be on our bathroom shelves until they're gone. I lived so frugally when I started this blog, while in grad school. I know how to do it, I just wish I didn't have to.

Finally, I realized we're only six weeks away from the Mission Inn Run. I'm totally looking forward to that. I haven't thought about my outfits for race day. But I have time to come up with something. 

Cookie Mile Race Report

The event itself: Where? How long? When? Weather?

The event start and finish line was on Mercy Rd between Stinson Park and the Fleet Feet Aksarben shoe store. The course turned right on Aksarben Drive, right on Pine, right on 67th St. It was great for spectators because we could see the gun and start and then walk over to the finish line and cheer the runners in. It was a hot day, so they reversed the order with the elite runners going first at 8am and the kids going last at 8:45am. A new wave started every 15 minutes. The high school and middle school runners went second at 8:15am. The open adults went at 8:30am. The kids did laps around a big statue in the park. Little ones did fewer laps. Albert surprised me and ran the whole 4 laps.

Course description and evaluation of event logistics

It was very well-organized. The route is flat and Aksarben Dr runs tangent to the Keystone trail. The energy was amazing. My dad went with us and he was impressed with all the runners and how family-friendly it is to attend a race. There was a balloon arch photo op. The race swag included a 3"x 5" card with tips for race day from a woman who can run a sub-5 minute mile. Race-day pickup was easy. They were not strict about showing ID at day before race bib pickup. They handed out T-shirts at the end of the race. They announced at 8am that the number of participants was less than expected so it's possible not everyone in the open division got shirts and medals.

How did you train for the event

I should have done some runs with my child because I didn't realize he would run an 11 minute mile. A friend told me her daughter runs a 7'30" now so I guess I better keep training.

Gear and Nutrition

Didn't bring much. Just a water bottle that I left on the stroller. I also brought some trail mix to eat while spectating, which came in handy for the kiddos. I ate Coach's oats with protein powder and peanut butter for breakfast along with 2 cups of coffee. I wanted to dress like Cookie Monster and there were some cute costumes.

Specific experiences

There were lots of volunteers from Fleet Feet all around the course at cheer stations. It was so sweet to run behind my kiddo and see him high fiving the giant foam hands of the volunteers. There were also little signs in the ground with motivational messages. 

Finish and associated emotions

At the end I was so enthusiastic to see Albert get a medal. He was very proud of it. I ran with my sister and her daughter who is 3 years old. My dad was taking pictures and videos of all of us. I was proud of my sister for showing up. It was her first race postpartum after her two girls were born. It's not easy coming back to running while you are still breastfeeding. Her daughter Elena isn't even a year old yet.

Overall evaluation of the event 

Overall, l loved this event and I would consider doing it again. There seems to be a strong running community in Omaha, which made even more sense after I ran on my own a few weeks later. I wonder if the organizers would consider adding other race distances. But for a summer event, it was excellent to be "short & sweet." And parking was free!

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A post shared by Kayla Kaiser (@hamerk02)

P.S. I found this event by searching Running In The USA, which I learned about from listening to the Rise and Run podcast. Elysha recommended doing a destination race while traveling for summer vacation. I'm so glad I found this one.

https://runningintheusa.com/

My sister pointed out that a 1-mile race is very beginner-friendly, and the organizers did a great job of making it inclusive to all runners.

Summer bucket list

It's that time of year when the countdown to Back-to-School begins. We have just three weeks until Albert goes back to school (Kindergarten!). So I made a list of things that we might do. Some of these are things I had planned in advance, some of these we may not get to at this time but we'll come back to it later when we have more money and time.

beach
Zoo
Discovery Cube
San Fran
Central Library
Water slides
Playdates
Getty museum
Botanical garden
Dodger game
Drive-in movie
San Diego
Santa Barbara 

Shampoo rugs
Declutter tv stand in Queen suite
Declutter closet in Queen suite

Declutter close in King suite  
Declutter kitchen corner cabinet

Buy new fitted sheets for King and Queen

Make a visual race calendar for the family

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A post shared by Kayla Kaiser (@hamerk02)

priorities

Yep it's cycle day 20. Luteal misery. I fell on my run this morning and cut my knee and the palms of my hands. It got me thinking about my priorities. Should I have cut back the volume of today's run considering I'm a bit sick and on a difficult part of my cycle? Should I have done a shorter workout since my husband and I overslept? Was I rushing to get home and therefore not watching my footing? Was I pushing my pace too hard? Is it too soon after the marathon to be doing speed work again?

Mom

Wife

Teacher

Athlete / Coach

Dog Mom

Friend / Sister

Human Being

Woman

Artist / Gardener

The identities listed above define my priorities. Scheduling my time and doing the most important thing first is a struggle. Minute-by-minute, day-by-day, week-by-week, etc. I do count down the weeks of the semester. I count my parenthood duties as foremost in my mind. I cannot skip these. If my child is sick with a fever, I must drop everything else and take care of him until he is well again.

I guess my wife's duties are to my household and my husband. We took vows to care for each other in sickness and in health. As we strive to reach a more optimized state of health, these duties look like creating shopping lists and meal plans, cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, vacuuming and wiping down common areas, cooking and transporting food, restocking important household supplies, organizing items at the house so they can be inventoried and located, purging items that are no longer used. This is a long list. I also spend many hours per week just putting stuff away, sorting trash from treasures, and resetting areas to be useable again.

Next set of duties that I cannot skip, but also are not my top priority, are the things that I get paid for. Teaching duties, lesson planning, grading, sending emails, posting announcements, following up with absent students, etc. Writing quizzes, making copies, drawing on the board, communicating with colleagues in person and online, reading emails, and scheduling things. I put these things lower on the priority list when I need to, and then higher again when things at home are settled. I work ahead when I feel healthy and balanced, but I fall behind when other higher priorities become urgent.

My duties as an athlete/coach are sometimes higher and sometimes lower, but lately, they have been pretty high. I've let my health take a back seat to parenting and work for half a decade, and now I want to put it higher so that I don't skip workouts and backslide into more significant obesity than I currently am. I spend time creating content for YouTube to educate myself and my runClub. I program and track my workouts using spreadsheets and mileage trackers on Canva. I compare the data on my Samsung Health app to Strava Athlete Intelligence to keep myself motivated and moving forward. As Coach Bennett of the Nike Running app says, You're your best coach. Talk to yourself kindly as you would want your coach to talk to you.

I have a new identity as a dog mom again, which means that I have to fit dog walks into my life. I need to do some dog training and grooming, and remember to add her food to the shopping list, refill her water dish, talk nicely to her, and watch for her under my feet when I'm carrying something large so I don't step on her. 

As a friend, this may look like hour-long phone calls to check in on the women in my life. Or it may look like sharing something funny or motivational on Instagram messages. It doesn't have to take up a lot of time when I'm busy, but it is a steady stream of back-and-forth to let those women know they are important, significant, loved, and cared for. It's similar to sisterhood. It's curating the village. This may be a separate post, but I'm leaning into paying for my village. I paid to join the run club. I paid to join the Sparkle Squad. But I get a lot out of it too.

How the "human being" tasks ended up so far down, I don't know. This is stuff like eating, sleeping and pooping. Stuff all humans do. Getting sick, getting well, breathing, digesting, the things we take for granted when it is going well. Maybe we should also put hydration in this category. Also shopping for stuff like supplements, vitamins, and tracking macros. I mean, this could also be a separate post. I've reconsidered the supplements I'm taking. After some bloodwork before my marathon, which I begrudgingly agreed to do, I briefly stopped taking all my supplements. But since then, I've started retaking most of the supplements I had paused. 

I guess I would put "woman" in here in a general way to say self-care. Beyond friendships. Stuff like pampering. Spa time. Being alone. Thinking your own thoughts. Blogging like I'm doing now. Doing something I enjoy. The other day I heard a podcast about Disney stuff and they mentioned that Bath and Body Works was doing a line of Disney Princess fragrances. I had to go to the mall and smell it for myself. I'm not sure why this resonates with me in the category of women, but I guess princesses are women and women are taught to be conscious of smelling good, not sweaty, and having soft skin, not rough. So this type of self-care is associated with femininity. It also falls under the Wife category since it involves keeping the lotions and soaps stocked. It is Woman, though, because this dry skin due to perimenopause is something else. And I'm hoping the lotions help with that.

Artist is the last, lowest, and least of my identities. But it's still there! This may be visual with crafting, or it may be kinesthetic with roller disco and dance. I had vowed that when I finished the marathon season, I would do something else in the off-season and get back into dance or rollerskating. And then I went ahead and signed up for another marathon! Yes, I'm doing the LA Marathon 2026. But I still have a lot of semester left to finish, and most of the summer will pass by before training starts again in earnest. Naughty Girl Fitness is $14.44 a month, and it's app-based. 

I'm still paying for my Fit4Mom instructor membership, which is $9.99 per month, not even covered by the amount I get paid for coaching the RunClub. After talking with my husband over the long weekend, we may have concluded that I might not continue coaching the RunClub. I might get more out of the season if I commit fully to LARR. The good discount with Fit4Mom is that you do not have to pay for the monthly membership as an instructor and you can still attend classes. I think I was paying $69 per month for Fit4Mom, and at one time, I was paying hundreds of dollars for a monthly membership and Body Well. 

People say good things about Orange Theory Fitness, and 24 Hour Fitness, but for now I've got my Planet Fitness Membership. It's $25 per month for the Black Card membership, which includes massage chairs, hydromassage, tanning and Total Body Enhancement, which I have yet to try but I might do it soon. It's vibration combined with red light therapy. Again, this could be a topic of a future blog post. What I'm looking forward to most is the end of the semester and our trip to Nebraska. What I'm not looking forward to is the Rose Bowl Half because it seems so out of place in the season, finishing up all the work of grading and submitting grades, and the weather going hotter and hotter as we approach summer. 

Maybe I could add to Artist also Gardener. And this is the lowest priority. At the moment completely dead. But it is generally in spring where I revive our garden. Albert has shown some interest in planting stuff for spring. It will be difficult to justify since we're traveling to Nebraska early in June, but maybe if I'm clear with my husband about care instructions, the garden won't be completely dead when we get back. And I really need to work on getting stuff OUT of our house. It's so overstuffed right now it's stressing me out.

nebraska adventure 2024

Yes, I'm back from my time in Nebraska herding goats. Lots of things happened. Richard Simmons died. Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential election. Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt. My husband got into a big fight with his brother-in-law and mother. Kamala Harris was endorsed by Joe Biden as the presidential nominee for the Democratic party. I guess I'm leading off with politics because it's so controversial to mention it elsewhere (in real life). And this is my private space where I can say that I'm hopeful for change in America. I hope women go to the polls and vote for Kamala. It's going to be an interesting Fall semester.

One good side-effect of the Nebraska trip is that now I'm back in California, and I'm willing to get rid of a bunch of stuff cluttering our house. I'm implementing strategies for organizing the stuff we're keeping, and I'm ready to part ways with stuff that we don't use. But along with that, I'm also buying new stuff that I think we need. I often get to this part of summer where I realize what projects I won't be able to finish. It's about acceptance. There are only two weeks until Albert starts school!

As for the trip debrief: it is always joyful to see my parents on my birthday. I appreciate now more than ever how much work is involved in raising a child. I also appreciate what a gift it is to spend time with someone. Being present together, allowing others to know you intimately, like all parts of your day and night, all the moods good and bad. It can be challenging though, to have that much contact and to give up control over things like the thermostat, light levels, what you will eat and when and how much. But here is a brief rundown of what we did and how I felt about it at the time.

July 5 - major travel day. arrived at Burbank airport before sunrise and arrived in Burchard near sunset (with a two-hour time difference and at a different latitude)

July 6 - recovery day and my actual 44th birthday.

July 7 - cousin Camp craft #1 (4th of July) suncatchers and the kinesthetic activity was a parachute.

July 8 - waterpark! This was so fun.

July 9 - playdate at Black ranch house. I had a tough night. Lot of coughing and grandma turned the AC off.

July 10 - Cousin Camp field trip to Arbor Day Farm. Monster truck pajamas might just be part of Albert's skin now. Super fun, super hot, super buggy. Got lots of mosquito bites here.

July 11 - Sitting on the floor. Doing my stretches and self care. Not really upset. Feeling like time is passing like molasses. It is slow, thick, and sticky. I'm not really missing home (California) yet. And this environment is not really the Nebraska where I grew up. Not the place, but the people for sure.

July 12 - cousin Camp craft #2 (Christmas) salt dough ornaments and fake snow. Grandma and Grandpa were not impressed with the polymer. They were super worried about how it would effect their septic tank. And it made a huge mess. We also built Elsa's castle out of Magnatiles and put flameless candles inside.

July 13 - AM Cousin Camp (Easter) Craft #3 Bunny Garland with spray painting and wax resist. Activity: Easter egg hunt. PM Cousin Camp (May Day) Craft #4 Tissue Paper Flowers and insects. Glue is fun. Kinesthetic Activity: Ribbon dancing.

July 14 - AM Cousin Camp (Halloween) Craft #5: Yarn Pumpkins, glue was less fun today. Kinesthetic Activity: Costume parade. PM Cousin Camp (St Patricks Day) Craft #6: Coffee Filter Shamrocks Kinesthetic Activity: Scavenger hunt for hidden "pots of gold."

July 15 - We didn't do a track, we did a trail...it was good. Albert mostly stayed in the stroller today. I think he is kind of worn out from Cousin Camp. They're so territorial about stuff. They are constantly whining. Yesterday was very busy. And stressful. We went to the waterpark again. The weather forecast was 107 deg F.

July 16 - It was great to have a nice long chat with DH. I can't let myself think about it too much because then I will start getting homesick. Cousin Camp Craft #6 (Labor Day) was footprint vehicles. The boys had a great time painting their feet and mine. Today Albert and Theodore were stringing beads with emojis on them and then turning their bead strings into a story. It was absolutely so cute. Cousin Camp Craft #7 (New Year's Eve) the craft was rock painting. We painted the rocks with symbols to represent all the other holidays of the year, to represent a year in review. Mentally, I'm hanging on by a thread. In the evening, we went over to pet the goats on the ranch.

July 17 - We finished up some of the earlier crafts, such as the salt dough ornaments. They needed paint. 

July 18 - We just woke up and immediately Albert made his grandpa start reading books.  It was family picture day, which actually went very well. We got some cute mother/child shots, a nice group photo and some really cute pics of the grandkids all together. For Cousin Camp craft #8 (Valentine's Day) we used marbles to paint hearts. I had some foam letters which I stuck on there to make them conversation hearts.We went to the County Fair parade, bounce houses, and the chicken dinner. It was very chaotic.

July 19 - I felt like the end was in sight. The childhood trauma was bubbling up. I had to parent myself this week. I love my family and I don't think we will be able to do this again. I want my kid to know and love his aunts, cousins and grandparents so badly. But I am realizing that I also need to protect my child like I wished any adult would have protected me. I need to set more boundaries. I feel that I need to write out how I am feeling so that I can remember next year. It feels so yucky to go "no contact" full stop. But also I don't want my child to hear my mom just abusing everyone around her and nobody stepping up to say "that's not okay." Cousin Camp Craft #9 - Pinata suncatchers. We put on the Coco soundtrack while we did this craft, which was fun and got me some Disney feels. We went to the waterpark in the afternoon and it was another great choice.

July 20 - This track has been saving my life. Cousin Camp Craft #10 (Fall) we made yarn pumpkins and corn cob windcatchers with pony beads. The craft was supposed to be fall leaf painting with bubbles but somehow we didn't get to it.

July 21 - Last day with all 3 cousins together. Albert rolled himself over on the couch and fell asleep without me right before 8pm. Also he transferred to the bed without contact from me so he must be EXHAUSTED!

July 22 - neighborhood walk with Steph and the double stroller we found on a curb alert. We tried all the configurations of the stroller with the two cousins. And got to walk through "big house land" which is always nice.

July 23 - downtown Omaha adventures with Aunt Steph.

July 24 - another great neighborhood walk and a visit to Hot Shops. And a long travel day to get home.

Final thoughts: There's going to be coffee in hell, but it will always be too hot to drink. There's more I could say about this trip but I don't have the time. I gotta release this into the universe.

Packing list 

Carryon

Baby trend stroller

🎧 Albert's headphones

cheez-it crackers

oreos

m&ms

cherrios

🧻 flour sack towel 

🩲 clothes for Albert

✈️ CARES harness

🫧 bubble fidget toy

Fruit pouches 

Checked bag

🩲 underwear (8)

🧦 socks (7)

walking shoes (wear it)

🩴 flip flops

👖 yoga pants (1)

🩳 shorts (5)

📷 sweat pants / jeans (1)

🎽 tops (7) 

👙 lounge bras (2)

🧴 toiletry bag

🎧 headphones 

🏖️ swimsuits

🤠 hats

💊 Nsaids/vitamins 

👕 long-sleeved shirt (1)

⚡cable for versa 3

😎 Goodr sunglasses

👝 garment bag for washing

🧺 large wetbag for laundry

💰 small wetbag 🌞 Think sunscreen bag

👟 Running shoes

🧦 running socks

✨ Running skirt

⏳ Running belt

👙 Sports bras

🧂 Electrolyte tabs

🪄 Anti-chafe

👛 Park bag/purse

⚡Phone charger 

🤹‍♀️ LM rompers (2)

🕯️Fake candles

Albie

🩳short outfits (7) 

👖 long pants (2)

🌛 pjs (7)

🧦socks (7)

shoes (wear it)

👲 hat

🩲 swimsuit

👢 mud boots

🩴sandals 

Packing List:

🎀 Evelyn’s bows

❄️ Instant snow

💎 Beads

🛹 Skateboard/helmet

👕 Cousin Crew shirt

🩲 Swimsuit

🐣 Easter eggs

🧲 Magnatiles

🏖️ Beach rocks

💯 Stickers

🍜 Buckwheat Noodles

As usual, I brought way too many clothes for Albert; he lived in three pairs of PJs. As usual, I crammed too many busy activities into my carryon, we didn't use ANY of them. I didn't need to bring any snacks, it was a totally fun activity walking around the airport terminals looking for and buying food. It was wild flying home without a stroller. I had four checked bags on the way there and just three on the way home. There's no way I would have been able to get to and from the plane by myself without another adult helping me roll the checked bags / stroller. I should have brought the scooter instead of the skateboard. I think I lost the necklace with his name on it. The fake candles were great as nightlights.