Real Men Don’t Learn to Run

I seemed to have peaked Mr. Perfect’s interest with the idea of running an international half-marathon or marathon. He’d also like to do it for a cause like the Team Diabetes run I did a few years back. Although he was blessed with a runner’s physique (tall and lean), Mr. Perfect is not a runner. Since he’s interested in training I decided we could start out the New Year with a little running. We’re not calling it Learn to Run... we’re calling it building a base. Of course, we’re using the Learn to Run techniques... but don't tell him that. :-P

We went out for our first run tonight. The first 2 minutes set was brutal! I was trying to run really fast, thinking my normal speed would be too slow for his long legs, but it was killing me. I was quite happy to hear he also found those first two minutes tough. We slowed down for the following sets and the rest went really well. I’m so excited to be out running with Mr. Perfect! He even said it was fun (minus the cold).

Run Pacha Run!

I went running with Pacha today! It was such a gorgeous day, I couldn't resist. She actually did pretty well considering her legs are only about 8 inches long! We did run 2 minutes, walk 1 minute and only went out for about 10 minutes. She dragged behind for most of it and it was probably the slowest run in the history of running, but she did it! It was nice to be out for a run again.

Stressed Much?

I woke up this morning at 6 am. All week I’ve been so exhausted and looking forward to the weekend so I could sleep in. I laid there for a bit complaining to myself that I should be sleeping. I finally got fed up and went downstairs for breakfast. When I got to the kitchen I saw a frying pan in the sink. It had been there for two days. Over the course of the last few weeks I have frequently washed dishes that were left in the sink because I couldn’t stand seeing them there anymore. The frying pan was staring at me… taunting me. I was so tempted to pick up and chuck it out the window! Ugh.

A little later, one of my roommates came in the kitchen and left a bowl on the counter instead of putting it in the dishwasher. I swear, the bowl was there a total of 30 seconds and I thought I was going to loose it. I got up and slammed the dirty dish in the dishwasher. Honestly, it’s quite possible she set it down for a minute and was coming back, but I didn’t even give her a chance.

While making lunch I realized another of my roommates had left a pair of shoes in the doorway instead of placing them on the shelves in the porch. I picked up the shoes and seriously contemplated throwing them outside. Instead I put them away.

A few minutes ago, I was fed up by yet another mullet bearing guy sending me a message on lavalife that I started rewriting my profile to essentially say: looser need not apply. That’s when it hit me – maybe I’m feeling the stress of the week? I mean, things did end up pretty well, but it has been quite the week! No one can be this upset over a frying pan?

I think I need to go for a run tonight!

I’m BACK!

Today, I went for a run! Not a marathon or a half-marathon or even a 5-k, but at least I R-A-N. I haven’t laced up my sneakers since the day my brother passed-away 6 months ago. I really don’t know why I haven’t been able to run… but it’s just something I couldn’t bring myself to do since that day. I guess everyone grieves in a different way.

I’m just so happy I was finally able to do it. I even have a cold right now and ran. Wheeee! Let’s just hope it sticks with me for a while. Not the cold, but the running.

Don’t Stop

For all the runners who read this blog in the hopes of following the trials and tribulations of a marathon runner, I have three words of wisdom for you: Don’t. Stop. Running.

It’s incredible how even a few weeks without a run can put a dent in your running form. I haven’t run in two months. Today I received an email from the Running Room advising me that the new half-marathon clinic was beginning tomorrow. I had completely forgotten that I had pushed my winter registration to the summer/fall session. My initial reaction was: oh crap – I can’t do this now! But even though I’m on hiatus from running right now, I really, really don’t want to give it up so I half considered re-joining. However, when I checked the schedule and saw that our first long run (this Sunday) was 7 km I quickly decided a half-marathon training wasn’t the best thing to be doing right now. Oh yeah… and running 7 kms scared the shit out of me too! It’s crazy that in the last year I’ve run three half-marathons and a full marathon, yet after a few months without running and I’m scared I won’t be able to do a 5-k!

My second piece of advice my friends: diversify! I realize I kinda overdosed on the whole running thing this year. On top of my training I also taught two clinics. What do they say? Hindsight is always 20/20. Ah yes. I did a little too much of the running thing this year and perhaps if I had changed up the routine a little I might not have burnt myself out. The irony is that I actually teach this in my clinics. Yeah. Do as I say; not as I do. Hah!

Don’t give up on me just yet fellow runners! If I can get my life/career on track and into my house I will be hitting the trails again. We’ll just call this my off-season in the meantime.

Waiting for the Alarm to Sound

Six years ago I weighed 165 pounds. I know what you are thinking - holy crap! Is she really talking about her weight? Gah! So, as I’m writing this, I’m mentally going through the people who have access to this blog… talking about your weight is so taboo… but you know what? Who cares if people know what I weigh or weighed. Are you really going to think any differently of me? And if you do, do I really want you as my friend? (That’s what my Mom always said, anyway)

Anyway, at the time, I actually didn’t even know what I weighed. I think I had been around that weight since the infamous freshman 15 (or is that the freshman 50). I can’t remember why, but I decided to join Weight Watchers. Over the course of 6 months to a year I lost close to 30 pounds. I also started running at that point and ran my first half-marathon. I continued to run and maintained my weight. Eventually I left Weight Watchers, figuring I could maintain my weight on my own (famous last words, as they say). Well, life got in the way… I stopped running… stopped paying attention to what I ate and eventually the pounds started to creep up. I remember weighing myself regularly and even though the number was going up, I wasn’t concerned.



About 2 and a half years ago, I weighed myself and I had reached 168! Wah? I had gained more weight than I had lost?? I was panic-stricken. Alarm bells started ringing in my head. Forget the fact that I had been at 164 for the previous 6 months… I was now 3 whole pounds heavier than when I had started. Why that seemed more dramatic, I don’t know… but I got back to work… started exercising and eventually running and training again, even watched what I ate and finally got back down to 145. Not as low as it had been the last time around, but still respectable. I kept up my running, did a couple of half-marathons and a marathon.

So now it’s been 7 months since my marathon. I’ve been living at my Mom’s place and it always amazes me just how much your environment can influence your lifestyle. Yep. In the last 7 months I’ve gained almost 30 pounds. Wow. Sadly though, no alarm bell has gone off in my head this time. It’s like I’m living outside of myself. I see the number, see that my clothes don’t fit, but I haven’t gotten depressed about it, haven’t panicked, haven’t even had the least bit of interest in saying – it’s go time D. You need to take control of your life again. Nope. Not feeling it at all. Not even the fact that I weigh more than ever is motivating me. I don’t feel any self-pity or sadness because “I don’t know what to do anymore” like so many people complain about. I certainly KNOW what to do. A) Run B) Lay off the two-bite brownies, blizzards and chicken wings C) Ummm, that’s it. You have to cut back 500 calories a day to loose a pound a week. There are 200 calories in 2 two-bite brownies… I eat the entire bag in one sitting – you do the math. It all seems pretty simple, yet my brain isn’t able to compute. It’s like my brain is a little kid going nah-nah, I’m not going to do what I’m supposed too.

So, if you know how I can stop my brain from rebelling against my body – please let me know. Until then I shall remain pleasantly plump.

I blank and I rant

Maybe I should change the title of my blog because I sure haven't been running! My last run was May 27... almost three weeks ago. I know I should go for a run, but I'm feeling lethargic and tired. Yeah, yeah, running would help, but it's quite frankly the last thing I'd like to be doing right now. I'm finding that since my clinic and half-marathon training are done it's hard to get back into the routine. Lately I just rather eat cookies and two-bite brownies (and oh does it ever show)! Ugh

Ouch.

Two days post-race and I’m STILL walking like a cowboy!

I don’t remember the last time I was this sore after a race. Even after my marathon I felt fairly good. Hmmm... could it be the lack of proper training? :-)

I just took the elevator to go up and down one floor. I attempted to go down the stairs, but it was too painful to go back up.

Over the weekend my sister, her sister-in-law (Mireille) and I talked about judging people without knowing the full story. Have you ever seen someone take an elevator one flight and thought – geez you COULD have taken the stairs!? Well, maybe they couldn’t. Mireille was recently quite ill and although she looked ok, she wasn’t able to go up and down stairs. On a recent trip to the doctor she had someone look at her strangely for taking the elevator up one floor. She felt judged, but also realised she has likely judged before.

I just felt judged by a fellow elevator rider and thought of Mireille’s story. I really need to make an effort to assume people who park in a handicap parking are in fact sick even if they don’t look it and people who take an elevator up one flight aren’t necessarily lazy.



I've just taken a double dose of Advil and hoping it will kick-in soon. I have to admit - it's quite nice working with pharmacists. You can always count on them to have exactly what you need. :-)

Blue Nose Weekend

Another half-marathon under my belt. There seems to be something physically wrong with me as I keep getting slower and slower with every race. I’m only slower by a minute or even seconds, but aren’t you supposed to be getting faster with time?

Side note: I did end up finding my Garmin about 2 minutes before heading out. It was in my work briefcase… why? I don’t know!

The half-marathon went well for the most part. When I woke up on Sunday morning, the rain was not very inviting! Once I got to the starting line, the rain was reduced to a drizzle, so it wasn’t so bad. It drizzled the whole way, so I was wet, but at least it wasn’t a downpour.

Around what I thought to be the 5 km mark I looked at my Garmin for my time and pace and I was cruising! According to my Garmin I had done 6.2 km in 30 minutes (I normally do 5 km in 35 minutes). Something was definitely wrong. Not long after I saw the actual 5 km marker and realised my Garmin was somehow adding kilometers to my route. Since the Gamin uses satellites to measure distance, I figured it was a one-time blip in the system. I would just calculate my distance based on an additional 1.2 km. No problem, right? At the 8 km marker my Garmin was reading 9.5 km… yet more mileage! Grrr. I decided I wouldn’t think about it for the time being and would just look at the pretty trees and listen to my music. I was feeling good as I entered Point Pleasant Park – at which point Betsy apparently screamed at me and waved while she crossed the other way, but I was totally oblivious to her as my music was so loud. OOPS. :-) I tell my clinic students that you should avoid wearing headphones, but if you do wear them you should keep the music low enough to be well aware of your surroundings. Ummm… do as I say, not as I do.



Generally cheering crowds add to the excitement and fun. However, at some point in the park I crossed a group of girls from Dal University who were just simply annoying! They were standing at the foot of a really steep hill (I’m talking 60 degree incline most likely) and screaming at the runners to run up the hill. I happened to be in a walk break at the time (I walk 1 minute every 10 minutes), and groups of them were screaming: Run up the hill! Run! Don’t walk it! Run! Gah I felt like saying, Shut the hell up! They weren’t encouraging at all they were just plain annoying.



Not long after coming out of the park, I found my sister Christine cheering at the side of the road. She ran a bit with me and asked how things were going. I checked my Garmin for distance and I was at 42 km! What the ???? My Garmin had added another 30 km to my distance. I think it was mad at me for loosing it. I clearly couldn’t trust the distance on my Garmin.

Once I hit Beaufort Street I knew I would be taking on the bulk of the hills as I climbed back to the finish line. The hills went surprisingly well! I ran all of them and felt really good.

The last 5 km is what killed me… it usually is the toughest part. Since I didn’t know how far I had to go and wasn’t sure what the last few km looked like I felt lost. :-( I kept looking at my time thinking I was almost there, but never seeing any markers. The mental game really got to me. I would speed up thinking I was close to the end, then have to stop and walk because I was running too fast too early.

When I finally crossed the finish line I was so emotional I started to cry. Come to think of it, I don’t think I have ever crossed a finish line without crying. Hah! You just get overwhelmed by the emotion of it and you are just so physically tired that it all comes out. I was upset with my time and frustrated that I let the last 5 km get to me. When you run your first half-marathon you can say you don’t care about time, because you just want to cross the finish line. However, when it’s your fourth it’s hard to say, “it’s ok, at least I made it”. Of course you made it! There was never any doubt you would make it! It’s your 4th one, it’s not some kind of miracle you crossed the line – you’ve done it before! By the time you do your fourth half-marathon you’ve run 20 km at least 12 times. Add to that the fact that I have run a full marathon, I’ve probably done the 20 km distance close to 20 times. It’s not “new” anymore.

Well, at least training is over for another few months and I got a really nice technical shirt and medal to add to my collection. Maybe next time I’ll cross that finish line sooner. One can always dream.

The Mystery of the Missing Garmin

T Minus 46 hours till my next half-marathon and my Garmin goes missing. For those not in the running “know”, a Garmin is like a fancy watch that tracks mileage, pace, calories, heartbeat and a whole bunch of other fun stuff. My Garmin is my lifeline during a race! It tells me if I’m going too fast or if I need to speed up to make up for lost time. Essentially, it’s my race day security blanket. I know it’s somewhere ridiculous, but I can’t seem to find it! Last time I had it I was sitting in the stairs at home, talking to my sister on the phone. I remember taking it off… but that’s where the memory ends. So send all your happy Garmin finding vibes my way!

I’m really looking forward to my trip to Halifax. Although I won’t be there long, I’ll get to meet up with quite a few friends, do a little shopping and of course see most of Halifax by foot. I’m trying not to focus on time, but I do have a finishing time in mind. I’ll let you know if I make it.

You can check out the course by clicking on the image below:

Running because I need to run

Yesterday, after I ran with my clinic members, I went out for an extra run just because I needed it. It’s been a while since I ran because I needed to run. It feels good to run without having to complete a certain distance or time and without having to think about anyone else but me. The last time I ran because I needed to run was right before I left for Hawaii when my stress was getting the best of me.

Yesterday had just been a horrible day!
1. It all started when I forgot my coffee at home on the counter
2. I forgot my monthly parking pass which I had just bought the day before
3. I sent out a newsletter by email to about 500 people and 355 of them bounced back
4. Said email kept crashing my computer
5. People kept calling me and emailing me telling me they either couldn’t open my email or they received 5 copies of my email or could I send them a quote for such and such insurance package (wah?)
6. I spent my lunch hour on the phone with IT trying to figure out the problem
7. My Realtor called me and the first words out of her month were: are you sitting down?
8. The inspector hadn’t been able to get into the attic last Friday so he went yesterday. Turns out there is light seeping through the roof. Great. After some negotiating the owners agreed to have it fixed before closing (phew)
9. I get to my car and I had a parking ticket

If there was a day I needed to run, yesterday was it! I’m feeling much better today and hopefully I’ll have better luck.

A Damn Damp Day

In case you haven’t noticed yet, I like using alliterations. Lame. I know. ☺

The weather around here has been miserable lately. Today we were lucky enough to be treated to high winds combined with a great downpour. Of course, tonight is my practice run with my clinic. The one thing I can say about teaching a clinic is you can never bail out when you don’t feel like running. I could never allow myself to purposely let my group down so I rarely miss a group run.

When I got to the Running Room tonight I was secretly hoping no one would show up. Hoping isn’t really the right word… it was more like pleading to the Gods no one would show up! Well, six of them showed up. I have to say, I was quite impressed by their courage and commitment. Lord knows I wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t absolutely necessary! We did our run and after we all felt fantastic! It’s not easy to run with the rain coming down so hard you can’t see a thing… but man, do you ever feel like you’ve accomplished something amazing once you’re done!

Not so crazy after all

An instructor for the 5 km clinic has been found and therefore I am not needed. I guess I’ll just have to go on dates on Friday nights... dating – that’s an interesting concept.

It’s Crazy Talk… Right?

As you all know I teach a Learn to Run clinic at the local Running Room. On top of this, I’m training for my fourth half-marathon set for mid-May. Of course, there is also my virtual Learn to Run clinic. So today I get an email from the store manager indicating there is no teacher for the 5 km clinic which starts tomorrow night. The girls I taught in my last clinic are all doing the 5 km clinic. The manager isn’t too bright and often waits till the last minute to get an instructor. I don’t want my girls to go without. If there is no instructor I believe the manager does the clinic and quite frankly, I wouldn’t’ wish that on anyone!

So, I’m actually considering taking on the 5 km clinic. As it stands, I run 5 times a week: Tuesday and Thursday with my Learn to Run group, Wednesday I do hill training with my sister and on Sundays I do both a 20 minute run with the Learn to Run group and a long run (12 to 20 km) with my sister. I also do a 5 km run on my own on Saturdays… which, I must admit that I am quite lazy when it comes to my Saturday run and often skip it.



If I was to take on this extra clinic I’d just switch my Saturday run to Friday. As well, I would let the manager know that I am only available to run with the group on Friday nights. He would have to find someone for the two “practice” runs.

Why am I even considering this? 1-my girls would get their clinic and 2-the extra cash would mean one less month of savings for my house.

I like being busy - especially now that I'm single again. Plus, with everything going on right now, being super busy might not be such a bad idea. But is this too busy?

From 5 to 27!

In my last Running Clinic had five participants (well, six actually but one never showed up). I started a new clinic a little over a week ago and I now have 27 participants! Wheeeee! I absolutely adored my last group and will miss them dearly. Since it was such a small group we became quite close. I really hope I’ll be able to get to know my entire new group as well. It’s such a huge jump in participants, but it’s also so much fun to have all these people excited to run. My sister Christine has joined me as a group leader and I think my friend Michelle will be helping out as well. I’m so happy they are able to share in this wonderful experience with me.

I’ve also initiated a virtual clinic on my favourite forum. I have 15 participants for my virtual clinic. I’m really looking forward to seeing their progress, as I’ve known many of these girls for some time. I’m so proud of them for signing up! I really hope I can deliver.

Ouch.

I’ve finally realise the usefulness the Stress/Rest technique encouraged by the Running Room. Basically, Stress/Rest means you push your body one day and then rest or do a lighter work-out the next day. For instance, Sundays are usually my LSD (Long slow distance) day where I run a long distance at a slower pace. This is considered a stress day because of the distance covered. Mondays are generally supposed to by a day off – rest day. Wednesdays are often hill training days (stress) while Thursdays are usually reserved for a short and slow steady run (rest).

Since I’ve been teaching a clinic on Mondays, my stress/rest days have been pretty screwed up. The last weekend wasn’t an exception! I did my LSD run on Saturday instead of the usual Sunday. The 14 km route was the longest distance I’ve run since December so it was definitely a stress day. Yesterday I did a 5 km race with my clinic group. Normally 5 km isn’t a big stress on my body, but on race day, you tend to push your body to the limit – which is what I did. Today, all my muscles are aching. Even my neck and head hurt. The worst of it is, I’m supposed to run again tonight! I’m looking forward to resting my body for a couple of days before my new clinic starts on Thursday.

My girls made it!

Tomorrow will be the last day of the Learn to Run clinic I’m teaching and I couldn’t be prouder of my students. This morning they ran their first 5 km race! They did beautifully – coming in at 35 minutes. I did the entire run with them and I was like a proud mamma. I gave them each a little “charm” as a medal for completing the race. They were so happy and proud of themselves; it was wonderful to see.

Next Thursday I start my new clinic with a new bunch of beginners – I can’t wait!

Just for the Hill of it

Yesterday I started hill training for my half-marathon.
Hill training is supposed to help make you stronger, faster and build your endurance. Generally speaking, hill training isn’t as scary as it sounds. Basically, you run up a steep hill (about 300 meters) until you just pass the crest. Then you slowly run back down to get your heart rate settled again. You repeat a minimum of three times (adding an extra hill every week). Well, I’ve discovered in this bitter cold that you CAN do hills on a treadmill. Yesterday I did three hills at the Y. After a brief warm up I ran at a 5.0 mile/hour speed, at a 4% incline for three minutes, then the same speed at a 1% incline for another 3 minutes. Repeat as needed. It was quite the work out, but I also enjoyed the comfort and convenience of the gym!

It’s not like I quit… right?

I’ve decided to abandon my half-marathon clinic. That isn’t to say that I am no longer training for the Bluenose Half-Marathon in Halifax! I’m just not going to the weekly Running Room clinic. The reason I joined the clinic was to meet new runners and hopefully find some running partners. However, since the slow group decided they didn’t want to be slow and therefore all the really slow runners quit, I ran most weeks alone. Running along when you’ve paid to run with other people really defeats the purpose. So I asked if I could have my clinic transferred to the fall and my request was granted. Like I said, I’m still training and following the program, so it’s not like I actually quit!

Since I can’t seem to function unless I’m in overdrive, I’ve decided to take on another clinic! A few days after my Women’s Only clinic finishes I’ll be starting a Learn to Run clinic with a new group. I’m really looking forward to it as well. I’ve also wrangled up some help from both my sister and the boy. Both of them will be group leaders so I think that will be even more fun! However, I know I’ll miss my current group of women… I’m so proud of them! They will be running their first 5 km race in a week and a half and I can’t wait!

Faking the Run

I went for a fake run tonight. I had my half-marathon clinic and quite frankly I’m not enjoying it so much. I’m always the last one in on all the runs and always have to run alone. It sucks being last… but it sucks even more when you realize you took a clinic to meet other runners but are still running alone.

So tonight I decided to fake it. I got completely dressed up for a run (toque, mittens, tights and all), got in my car, drove to the grocery store and bought myself a bag of two-bite brownies.

Then I proceeded to drive around town, eating my brownies and listening to some good tunes while my class was taking place. I did this with absolutely no intention of going to the class. I’m not sure who I was hiding from or what I was trying to prove by getting dressed anyway, but somehow, I felt less guilty.


After the bag of brownies was empty, I headed back home, satisfied with tonight’s workout.