So once again I have horribly neglected this blog (sorry!) but really you didn't miss much. Because of exams, starting a new job (President of the Trent in Oshawa Student Association-what what!) and not sleeping well the last couple weeks sucked. In an effort to try and get my body back into fighting form before the marathon I haven't been running that often.
However, everything cumulated in the Sporting Life 10k last Sunday (May 13). I had really been hoping to beat last year's time of 56 mins (which if you remember from last year's blog post..basically sucked) and I really wanted to feel strong. However I had been feeling pretty crappy all week and I was running on fumes, so I was a little nervous going in. Everything started out well, the race was all downhill (at least the first 7k) so I was really flying. I hit the 5k mark at 28 mins, which put me right on par with last year's pace pretty much. But unfortunately at 6k all the crap I had been feeling not only that week but that month caught up to me and I was hurting real bad. Luckily, my dad (also running the race) caught up with me and we finished the last 3k together- and we still came in at 59 mins. So not as fast as last year, but still under an hour which was my baseline goal. So I'm happy.
It also helped give me a wake up call. I want to perform my best in 2 weeks in Ottawa I need to rest. So i'm going to do a lot of sleeping, eating, yoga, and a little cross training over the next two weeks.
I'm currently sitting in a hotel room downtown right now, on a quick break from my first OUSA conference (woohoo!) and I have to get ready to meet everyone downstairs for dinner soon.
I did a swim in the hotel pool this morning and it was great to do something different and work out different muscles groups. I plan on doing a lot of swimming, some light weights, and definitely lots of hot yoga over the next week or so- I need to stretch everything out.
anyways. I have to go get ready- but at the very least you'll be hearing from me in 2 weeks with my post-marathon report!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Week 12
Week 12
Once again I had trouble with fatigue and a lack of energy this week. I know I'm getting enough sleep, but I've decided I need to go back and look at my diet. I stopped eating as much fruit as before and I had been trying to eat more calories to fuel myself, but I don't think I was eating enough. At least not enough of the right stuff. After talking to nick and hitting up the grocery store I've been getting back on track the last few days. I'm hoping that my runs this upcoming week will be better now that I've added more fruit into my diet again. Back when I was eating all those dates, way back in week 3 or 4, I was flying through my runs. Hopefully that feeling will return. I've been having crappy-ish tempo runs lately, mainly just feeling tired with heavy legs. It started a few weeks ago- I was slower than what I had been running all season, then got a little bit slower, then a little bit slower each week. I would really like to be back to where I was before.
Other than that- the 32 (first of 2) this week was awesome. My dad and I toured Oshawa/Whitby this time instead of ajax- so a nice change. I am really looking forward to the drop down week next weekend- only 23k!! then 29, 32, 23, and then we taper for the marathon. only like 5 weeks of training left- so exciting!
But its at that point in the training where I start freaking out a bit. for so long the race was 5/4 months away, and now its in like a month and a half. crazy.
anyways- wish me luck on my tempo run! my dad and I are doing our last week of hills tomorrow- can't wait for that.
Once again I had trouble with fatigue and a lack of energy this week. I know I'm getting enough sleep, but I've decided I need to go back and look at my diet. I stopped eating as much fruit as before and I had been trying to eat more calories to fuel myself, but I don't think I was eating enough. At least not enough of the right stuff. After talking to nick and hitting up the grocery store I've been getting back on track the last few days. I'm hoping that my runs this upcoming week will be better now that I've added more fruit into my diet again. Back when I was eating all those dates, way back in week 3 or 4, I was flying through my runs. Hopefully that feeling will return. I've been having crappy-ish tempo runs lately, mainly just feeling tired with heavy legs. It started a few weeks ago- I was slower than what I had been running all season, then got a little bit slower, then a little bit slower each week. I would really like to be back to where I was before.
Other than that- the 32 (first of 2) this week was awesome. My dad and I toured Oshawa/Whitby this time instead of ajax- so a nice change. I am really looking forward to the drop down week next weekend- only 23k!! then 29, 32, 23, and then we taper for the marathon. only like 5 weeks of training left- so exciting!
But its at that point in the training where I start freaking out a bit. for so long the race was 5/4 months away, and now its in like a month and a half. crazy.
anyways- wish me luck on my tempo run! my dad and I are doing our last week of hills tomorrow- can't wait for that.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Week 11
Week 11
It felt really good to get back into my routine this last week considering I had been slacking on my schedule the last couple weeks due to basically feeling crappy.
My tempo wasn't the best this week, but I still finished under 36 mins for my 6k, which I was happy with.
And I 've figured out that my marathon pace will hopefully be a 6:30 pace. which will bring me in between 4:30-4:40 (which I'm well aware is a lofty goal- that would be more than half an hour off my first time, which is HUGE!- realistically, I'll be happy if I break 5 hours). I've run that pace and faster (and slower lol) dozens of times but I wanted to try it out on my 10k steady and see how it felt. After giving myself a couple kms to get into the groove and warm by body up (it was first thing in the morning) I got into the pace and actually ended up just naturally running a lot faster- like 6 and a little below. So I'm hoping because doing 6:30 felt like slowing myself down so much that it will feel comfortable to hold out over the long distance. But there isn't really anyway to predict how I will perform on race day. I'm hoping that as I've been training and eating better this time around, my body will react better and I won't be so tired as early on. Last time I felt weak and tired and bloated right from the beginning. I'm hoping to feel more lean and energetic this time around- I think my vegan diet will be very beneficial in this goal.
On a sad note, Micah True (also known as Caballo Blanco) was found dead last week, he went out for a run and never came home. He's an amazing trail-/ultra-marathon runner who dropped off the grid and was the only white man ever accepted into the Mexican tribe of the Tarahumara Indians. He has a large role in Christopher McDougal's memoir Born to Run which I talk about in one of my posts from back in January. Not only his is death sad news it also reminds us that everyone, not just runners are mortal and we never know if one day when we walk out of our houses we will never return. His death is being greatly mourned in the running community right now.
"That was the real secret of the Tarahumara: they'd never forgotten what it felt like to love running. They remembered that running was mankind's first fine art, our original act of inspired creation.” -Born to Run.
“Know why people run marathons? …Because running is rooted in our collective imagination, and our imagination is rooted in running. Language, art, science; space shuttles, Starry Night, intravascular surgery; they all had their roots in our ability to run. Running was the superpower that made us human — which means its a superpower all humans posses.” -Born to Run
Rest in Peace Micah True. May your spirit be free to forever run.
It felt really good to get back into my routine this last week considering I had been slacking on my schedule the last couple weeks due to basically feeling crappy.
My tempo wasn't the best this week, but I still finished under 36 mins for my 6k, which I was happy with.
And I 've figured out that my marathon pace will hopefully be a 6:30 pace. which will bring me in between 4:30-4:40 (which I'm well aware is a lofty goal- that would be more than half an hour off my first time, which is HUGE!- realistically, I'll be happy if I break 5 hours). I've run that pace and faster (and slower lol) dozens of times but I wanted to try it out on my 10k steady and see how it felt. After giving myself a couple kms to get into the groove and warm by body up (it was first thing in the morning) I got into the pace and actually ended up just naturally running a lot faster- like 6 and a little below. So I'm hoping because doing 6:30 felt like slowing myself down so much that it will feel comfortable to hold out over the long distance. But there isn't really anyway to predict how I will perform on race day. I'm hoping that as I've been training and eating better this time around, my body will react better and I won't be so tired as early on. Last time I felt weak and tired and bloated right from the beginning. I'm hoping to feel more lean and energetic this time around- I think my vegan diet will be very beneficial in this goal.
On a sad note, Micah True (also known as Caballo Blanco) was found dead last week, he went out for a run and never came home. He's an amazing trail-/ultra-marathon runner who dropped off the grid and was the only white man ever accepted into the Mexican tribe of the Tarahumara Indians. He has a large role in Christopher McDougal's memoir Born to Run which I talk about in one of my posts from back in January. Not only his is death sad news it also reminds us that everyone, not just runners are mortal and we never know if one day when we walk out of our houses we will never return. His death is being greatly mourned in the running community right now.
"That was the real secret of the Tarahumara: they'd never forgotten what it felt like to love running. They remembered that running was mankind's first fine art, our original act of inspired creation.” -Born to Run.
“Know why people run marathons? …Because running is rooted in our collective imagination, and our imagination is rooted in running. Language, art, science; space shuttles, Starry Night, intravascular surgery; they all had their roots in our ability to run. Running was the superpower that made us human — which means its a superpower all humans posses.” -Born to Run
Rest in Peace Micah True. May your spirit be free to forever run.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Around the Bay (weeks 9 & 10)
The last couple weeks have been nothing special. I was fighting a bug (thankfully feeling better now) and so I cut down a lot of my runs in order to get my energy back, and to save my legs and my health for Around the Bay on Sunday, so this post will be about Around the Bay
Around the Bay
The expo was awesome first of all, lots of elite athletes walking around. Seriously, the amount of Boston jackets there was inspiring, and intimidating. The race shirt was awesome ("Older than Boston!") and I bought a jacket, as well as a New Balance shirt that said "Excellence is measured one bay at a time" (which I totally wore on Monday- not nearly enough people commented on it for my liking, lol), and a technical t-shirt that says "I know I run like a girl- try to keep up" (love it right? I've come across the saying before- it inspired this blog). Afterwards my dad and I walked through Hessville in Hamilton and found this sketchy little Mexican dive bar that had the world's best burritos (including a tofu-vegetarian one!) and some fries- carbed up for the race!
The weather on Sunday was beautiful- cool and overcast, but warmed up as the day went on. No rain, a little bit of sun, but luckily the heat and the sun didn't hit until after we were done running. Dad and I had an awesome run- we finished in 3:50, which we were extremely happy with because as a training run we were going pretty slow and we expected to finish at 4:00 at the earliest. The first 10k consisted of us getting into our groove, and the second 10k flew by completely. Before we knew it we were at 20k and about to hit the hills. They were rolling hills through the suburbs of Burlington/Hamilton, and the big hill at 26k didn't even phase us too too much, because we thought that we weren't going to hit the big hill until 27/28k. The entire time we were running up the hill we thought we were going to hit a bigger one next- so mentally this one didn't seem so detrimental (but it was one hell of a hill- long and steep!)
The finish line was inside Copps Coliseum which is neat- first finish line I had experienced like that. Video footage of the finished line was being shown across the jumbotron over centre ice and my dad and I held hands and crossed the finish line together.
It was definitely the best training run by far (after all we did get a medal!) but we both felt good and strong and it was a nice change of pace from our usual tours of ajax. Though we lucked out extremely when it came to the weather, this run is definitely going on our list of races to run again.
As my dad and I were discussing- either we run in crappy weather at home, or we run in crappy weather in Hamilton and get a medal!!
Until next week!
2 months until the Marathon!
Around the Bay
The expo was awesome first of all, lots of elite athletes walking around. Seriously, the amount of Boston jackets there was inspiring, and intimidating. The race shirt was awesome ("Older than Boston!") and I bought a jacket, as well as a New Balance shirt that said "Excellence is measured one bay at a time" (which I totally wore on Monday- not nearly enough people commented on it for my liking, lol), and a technical t-shirt that says "I know I run like a girl- try to keep up" (love it right? I've come across the saying before- it inspired this blog). Afterwards my dad and I walked through Hessville in Hamilton and found this sketchy little Mexican dive bar that had the world's best burritos (including a tofu-vegetarian one!) and some fries- carbed up for the race!
The weather on Sunday was beautiful- cool and overcast, but warmed up as the day went on. No rain, a little bit of sun, but luckily the heat and the sun didn't hit until after we were done running. Dad and I had an awesome run- we finished in 3:50, which we were extremely happy with because as a training run we were going pretty slow and we expected to finish at 4:00 at the earliest. The first 10k consisted of us getting into our groove, and the second 10k flew by completely. Before we knew it we were at 20k and about to hit the hills. They were rolling hills through the suburbs of Burlington/Hamilton, and the big hill at 26k didn't even phase us too too much, because we thought that we weren't going to hit the big hill until 27/28k. The entire time we were running up the hill we thought we were going to hit a bigger one next- so mentally this one didn't seem so detrimental (but it was one hell of a hill- long and steep!)
The finish line was inside Copps Coliseum which is neat- first finish line I had experienced like that. Video footage of the finished line was being shown across the jumbotron over centre ice and my dad and I held hands and crossed the finish line together.
It was definitely the best training run by far (after all we did get a medal!) but we both felt good and strong and it was a nice change of pace from our usual tours of ajax. Though we lucked out extremely when it came to the weather, this run is definitely going on our list of races to run again.
As my dad and I were discussing- either we run in crappy weather at home, or we run in crappy weather in Hamilton and get a medal!!
Until next week!
2 months until the Marathon!
Monday, March 12, 2012
Week 8
Week 8
So I think there is what, only 10 more weeks left? Wow!
Let me just say that the 26km run my dad and I did yesterday was awesome! The absolutely gorgeous weather had us both in delightful moods as we dressed lightly and did our weekly running tour of ajax (touring central-south ajax this time, down by the lake, loop out to pickering, then a final loop around Rossland), and yes, both got a little sunburnt. I now have an awkward red line around my neck where the collar of my shirt was, and awkward burns on the backs of my calves where my capri running pants stopped.
We had a new tactic this week- drive to starbucks, park there and start our run. Meaning, when we finished three and a half hours later, we were only steps away from food, coffees, and bathrooms- definitely liking this plan. We sat for about 30 mins, discussed the run, and as always the case with runners- we talked about upcoming races, fueling strategies, calorie intake, etc.
When we both stood up 30 mins later lets just say we were both grunting and walking with some stiff legs. Causing the middle-aged stout chubby man and his equally out of shape looking wife sitting at the table next to us to say: "feeling stiff from your run? i feel your pain! I did a little bike ride yesterday and am going to run later today"... which prompted my dad to remark as soon as we were outside and out of hearing range "sure buddy- you look like you're 'feeling my pain'". Now I know runners come in all shapes and sizes. believe me, some of the people who ran past me during the marathon were people I never would have pegged as runners, much less running a marathon. But this man did not look like he was running more than 5k-if that. Which caused some grumbling from us as we waddled our way back to the car.
the runs were good this past week. Was tired during the 6k tempo- but still finished in 34.50 so still a time I'm very happy with. Had a beautiful day on wednesday- which made doing 5 hills that much easier (although mother nature was a bit of a bitch and decided to bring in a bit of a wind, after I had already gotten to the hill, so I was running into the wind every time I started to sprint uphill- which in turn meant I was cursing like a sailor as I ran up the hill. The people in the Volkswagon dealership on bailey probably think I'm bat-shit crazy. they all stare at me while they're outside having their smoke breaks).
My dad and I did a 10k steady run on friday, which started out nice but we quickly got caught in a snowstorm and came home laughing, dripping wet, with piles of snow on our heads and shoulder. Interesting how the weather switched from that on friday to where is was on sunday when we were wishing we were in shorts and a t-shirt towards the end because it was 15 degrees outside.
I'm excited for thursday- it's supposed to be 15 again or something like that! Time to bust out the shorts!
I always like being able to run in the spring after months of wearing thick layers, mitts, hats, scarves. I always feel lighter and faster. I can feel the warmth of the sun and everything is just so much happier. It also makes me want to buy some new runnning gear. Winter running gear isn't exciting, but warm weather gear is! Its always bright colours, light fabrics. Don't be surprised if I make a lulu lemon pit stop on my way home from school sometime in the next couple weeks!
Well I'm going to bed because I'm exhausted and I'm doing 6k tempo tomorrow- so I want to be well rested.
Night!!
So I think there is what, only 10 more weeks left? Wow!
Let me just say that the 26km run my dad and I did yesterday was awesome! The absolutely gorgeous weather had us both in delightful moods as we dressed lightly and did our weekly running tour of ajax (touring central-south ajax this time, down by the lake, loop out to pickering, then a final loop around Rossland), and yes, both got a little sunburnt. I now have an awkward red line around my neck where the collar of my shirt was, and awkward burns on the backs of my calves where my capri running pants stopped.
We had a new tactic this week- drive to starbucks, park there and start our run. Meaning, when we finished three and a half hours later, we were only steps away from food, coffees, and bathrooms- definitely liking this plan. We sat for about 30 mins, discussed the run, and as always the case with runners- we talked about upcoming races, fueling strategies, calorie intake, etc.
When we both stood up 30 mins later lets just say we were both grunting and walking with some stiff legs. Causing the middle-aged stout chubby man and his equally out of shape looking wife sitting at the table next to us to say: "feeling stiff from your run? i feel your pain! I did a little bike ride yesterday and am going to run later today"... which prompted my dad to remark as soon as we were outside and out of hearing range "sure buddy- you look like you're 'feeling my pain'". Now I know runners come in all shapes and sizes. believe me, some of the people who ran past me during the marathon were people I never would have pegged as runners, much less running a marathon. But this man did not look like he was running more than 5k-if that. Which caused some grumbling from us as we waddled our way back to the car.
the runs were good this past week. Was tired during the 6k tempo- but still finished in 34.50 so still a time I'm very happy with. Had a beautiful day on wednesday- which made doing 5 hills that much easier (although mother nature was a bit of a bitch and decided to bring in a bit of a wind, after I had already gotten to the hill, so I was running into the wind every time I started to sprint uphill- which in turn meant I was cursing like a sailor as I ran up the hill. The people in the Volkswagon dealership on bailey probably think I'm bat-shit crazy. they all stare at me while they're outside having their smoke breaks).
My dad and I did a 10k steady run on friday, which started out nice but we quickly got caught in a snowstorm and came home laughing, dripping wet, with piles of snow on our heads and shoulder. Interesting how the weather switched from that on friday to where is was on sunday when we were wishing we were in shorts and a t-shirt towards the end because it was 15 degrees outside.
I'm excited for thursday- it's supposed to be 15 again or something like that! Time to bust out the shorts!
I always like being able to run in the spring after months of wearing thick layers, mitts, hats, scarves. I always feel lighter and faster. I can feel the warmth of the sun and everything is just so much happier. It also makes me want to buy some new runnning gear. Winter running gear isn't exciting, but warm weather gear is! Its always bright colours, light fabrics. Don't be surprised if I make a lulu lemon pit stop on my way home from school sometime in the next couple weeks!
Well I'm going to bed because I'm exhausted and I'm doing 6k tempo tomorrow- so I want to be well rested.
Night!!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Week 7
Week 7
It's getting to that part in the training where I'm starting to feel tired- I definitely need to start getting more sleep. And eating more lol.
There were a lot of treadmill runs this past week, thanks to that stupid blizzard/wind storm that rolled in mid-week last week. Everything cleared up though, luckily, for the weekend, and Sunday was a gorgeous day for the long run (23k!!) Next week my dad and I are doing 26k then we're doing Around the Bay 30k race in Hamilton for a training run on March 24. Very exciting.
Unfortunately hills have started :( I did 4 hills on the treadmill last week, and I'm going to do 5 tomorrow- but its supposed to be 11 degrees outside- so I'm hoping for a beautiful day!
The weather this week is supposed to be decent so I'm looking forward to running outside again.
Hopefully some more sleep and an increase in my calorie intake will give me some more energy :)
Also, after I get through this month at school, I will be much less busy- so that will be another load off of my plate.
It's getting to that part in the training where I'm starting to feel tired- I definitely need to start getting more sleep. And eating more lol.
There were a lot of treadmill runs this past week, thanks to that stupid blizzard/wind storm that rolled in mid-week last week. Everything cleared up though, luckily, for the weekend, and Sunday was a gorgeous day for the long run (23k!!) Next week my dad and I are doing 26k then we're doing Around the Bay 30k race in Hamilton for a training run on March 24. Very exciting.
Unfortunately hills have started :( I did 4 hills on the treadmill last week, and I'm going to do 5 tomorrow- but its supposed to be 11 degrees outside- so I'm hoping for a beautiful day!
The weather this week is supposed to be decent so I'm looking forward to running outside again.
Hopefully some more sleep and an increase in my calorie intake will give me some more energy :)
Also, after I get through this month at school, I will be much less busy- so that will be another load off of my plate.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Week 6
Week 6
Another week come and gone. My dad and I did our 16k on Monday because it was Family Day so it worked better for my dad's schedule. However, because of this the rest of my running schedule got shifted around a bit. I only actually ran my 6k tempo and the 8k steady with my dad (which was only 5k because of time constraints). An unexpected blizzard cancelled my 10k tempo so I swam instead. The off week allowed me to rest up a bit and since this coincided with my reading week I caught up on a bunch of sleep :)
This morning dad and I did 19k, and it was a gorgeous day for a run, as was last week- but I think we both felt better this week. While it was great run, I didn't sleep well last night and the distance has jumped up enough that I could feel the effects on my body after the run- sore legs, tiredness, hunger, some bruises and blisters appearing on my feet- stuff that hasn't appeared so far this season. But I expect I will get very familiar with being sore now. The distances are jumping up quickly. We do 23k next week, then 26, drop down for a week (and do 19k), then we're in the meat of it- 29k, 32k, 29k, and then everything starts to drop down again for the taper.
Good news though- we (and by we I mean my father) found 2 bibs on craig's list for Around the Bay at the end of March, which we had originally planned on doing as a training run as it lands on the weekend we are supposed to do a 29k run, but we didn't register in time, so we gave up hope.
If this works out, it will be exciting to run Around the Bay, even if we just use it as a training run, so we'll probably be the last ones in, but that's okay :)
Another week come and gone. My dad and I did our 16k on Monday because it was Family Day so it worked better for my dad's schedule. However, because of this the rest of my running schedule got shifted around a bit. I only actually ran my 6k tempo and the 8k steady with my dad (which was only 5k because of time constraints). An unexpected blizzard cancelled my 10k tempo so I swam instead. The off week allowed me to rest up a bit and since this coincided with my reading week I caught up on a bunch of sleep :)
This morning dad and I did 19k, and it was a gorgeous day for a run, as was last week- but I think we both felt better this week. While it was great run, I didn't sleep well last night and the distance has jumped up enough that I could feel the effects on my body after the run- sore legs, tiredness, hunger, some bruises and blisters appearing on my feet- stuff that hasn't appeared so far this season. But I expect I will get very familiar with being sore now. The distances are jumping up quickly. We do 23k next week, then 26, drop down for a week (and do 19k), then we're in the meat of it- 29k, 32k, 29k, and then everything starts to drop down again for the taper.
Good news though- we (and by we I mean my father) found 2 bibs on craig's list for Around the Bay at the end of March, which we had originally planned on doing as a training run as it lands on the weekend we are supposed to do a 29k run, but we didn't register in time, so we gave up hope.
If this works out, it will be exciting to run Around the Bay, even if we just use it as a training run, so we'll probably be the last ones in, but that's okay :)
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