Happy Holidays!

Less than a week until Christmas, and I've already drank my weight in eggnog lattes! I'm sure that's why they only bring it out once a year - it's pretty easy to O.D. on it. Between the continual dumping of sweets, parties and now my daughter home for the holidays, the fitness/running regimens haven't been making the frequent appearances I had hoped for. Tis the season! Not too worried about it (yet). My motivation is still there, it's just making the time for it. If we had say... 10 days in a week, 36 hours in a day and I never needed to sleep, it would make life a bit more easier. In the meantime, I can get my workout in by battling my way through other crazy shoppers at the mall and the grocery store.

It's also that time to reflect on the accomplishments made in 2011 and start setting new goals for 2012! In the year ahead, I plan to run a few more half marathons, "standard" length marathons and at least 1 ultra. I would also love to make this year the time to do my first duathlon and hopefully my first triathlon. That is, if I can ever get my swimming skills past "flailing" and "sinking". The only way I'll be able to accomplish this is by taking lessons - so that will be in my new year agenda. I also plan to take anatomy and physiology courses to learn more about the body along with incorporating new exercise methods into my routine. Trying activities like snowshoeing and snowboarding are on my "to-do's" through the chilly season. I'm thinking this will be a fun winter!

I'm still looking at what races to do next year but in the meantime, I've signed up for the new Vancouver Chilly Chase in January (10k). Last year, I did the 15k in Langley and found it tough to get through being it post-Christmas and all. I blame the eggnog! ;-)

I've also registered for Harry's Spring Run-Off 8k along the seawall in March. I really enjoyed myself at last year's race. Plus, it's such a great value. I got a nice tech shirt and a finisher's hat (albeit they're both lime green but at least people can see me from a mile away). My daughter did the kid's run and received a cotton shirt and a finisher's ribbon. She even wore her cape so she could run faster (or so she says. lol.) It was a really nice day for it and they had the snacks and drinks well stocked at the finish line. Looking forward to doing it again. Definitely, a newbie-friendly type of race as it's only an 8k. Will be looking into some longer races in the new year. ...and on that note, I'm going to go wrap some gifts and get back to my baking (and eggnog)! :-)

I wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season! Thanks for reading!

Vancouver GJF Historic 5k

I woke up yesterday to a very dark, dreary and wet Sunday morning. It was pretty early, too. Like 5:30am early. I started to reconsider whether this run was worth dragging my family downtown for. After-all, it was "just" a 5k race. They seemed on board with it, regardless of distance and weather. Especially since I told my daughter we'd be going to Science World after to see the dinosaurs. :-)

The race started and finished at the HMCS Discovery Naval Reserve on Deadman's Island. There were close to 500 people participating in the 5k, 10k and half marathon run that followed along Stanley Park's Seawall. It was very damp and cold out so everyone huddled indoors to wait for the race to begin.

We were then all told to make our way to the start line. I've learned to just go right to the back. I find it a lot nicer to pass a bunch of people than have a crowd of people pass me. Plus, it gives me a challenge. Generally, I see 1/2 and 10k runners and just a handful of 5k'ers making their way to the start but this time I was surprised that there were more. There were even a few right up at the front waiting to sprint it. The weather didn't seem to hold them back either. As you can hear in the video below, the rain was coming down pretty hard. You can also hear my daughter cheer me on and see me at the end smiling and waving like a big nerd. :-)

I saw a few water stations on the route along with cheering volunteers and spectators. As my race was so short, I didn't need to take advantage of the aid provided. Unfortunately, about 2 minutes into my race, my mp3 player stopped working and I couldn't figure out why. Grrr!&^&!^@$#@!! Music is a great motivator for me especially when it's a flat, concrete course. So having no tunes was a total bummer. Turns out, I accidentally hit the "hold" button on my player. Woops. Duh-Uh. LOL. Oh well. It's still good news for me as I didn't want to have to buy a new one.

The course was full of puddles so my feet got wet pretty quickly. I've found socks to be a huge factor in whether I'm going to have an enjoyable race or a miserable one. Lululemon has great running socks... and at $14/pair, they better be! ;-) They're thin and wick moisture away well so when my feet do get wet, it's not as noticeable nor too uncomfortable.

About a kilometer into the race I saw everyone stopping and starting to walk. The participants were heading single file around the lighthouse . It was nice to see patience and people being respectful about each others space. ...Until I saw an older lady barge her way past me and the rest of the crowd and bark out some sarcastic comments about it. If she was an elite or competitive racer, I could understand... but as soon as I got through, I blew past her. I can never understand the logic behind a recreational runner being like that. Not really that big deal but it is a bit of a pet peeve of mine. :-)

I know I was only running 5k, but I can't believe how fast it was over. It felt like I blinked and I was already at the half-way mark being told to turn around. It was so weird! My time was slower than what I was thinking, though... boo. (28:44 - I was 9th overall out of 38 female runners.) When I made it to the finish line and I received my cute new "anchor" medal, I wasn't out of breath or even tired. Then I realized, I didn't go as fast as I could have. I paced myself like I would doing a half marathon. At the end of all my races, I'm usually spent (so I know I did my best in the "speed" category). This time it wasn't the case. So, I'm thinking that I definitely need to start incorporating speed training into my workouts to figure out my pace. I'll be signing up for more 5k's in the future to keep me accountable.

Five minutes after my race was done, the weather cleared up. Grrrr! On the bright-side, this gave my family and I an opportunity to walk around the park for a while and take some photos.

My daughter liked seeing the swans. They were pretty friendly until they realized we had no food for them and they took off again.

The weather was still a bit dark and there was mist/fog on the pond. By the afternoon, it was sunny. Wish I could have woken up to that rather than the freezing rain! *sigh* Well, I guess I can't complain. We are heading into December, after all. Overall, I was happy with the race and will probably do it again next year. It was well organized and the turn out was great despite the weather - but a little rain doesn't usually deter us crazy runners. ;-) Thanks for reading!

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...

Well, maybe it was morning but it was definitely dark and stormy out, today! When the weather is wet it doesn't usually deter me from running. It's when it's windy and cold that makes me think twice about lacing up my shoes. I was hoping to see if my hip could take going over the 5k mark, today so I set out in the torrential downpour and headed over to the muddy and semi-slippery Poco Trail.

With every footstep, I felt a "splat" on the back of my leg (I was wearing capris). I also realized that I decided to make myself look half decent this morning before taking my daughter to school. This required me to wear make-up (which included eyeliner and mascara). I was pretty sure by that point, it was streaming half-way down my face. Although, I don't think it really mattered as there weren't a lot of crazy people on the trail. The ones that were out today, kept their heads down to avoid the rain from battering their eye sockets out.

Despite the cold temperature, there's something about running in the rain that is so therapeutic and rejuvenating. It makes everything smell fresh, too. Which is nice during this time of year as the fish are all spawning. There are some spots by Hyde Creek that were smelling pretty ripe these last few weeks. Nothing like running along and being whipped in the face with the stench of decaying fish. I usually took that time to stop for a moment to catch my breath (and breathe into my arm) and watch the salmon fight their way up the creek.

If I'm lucky, I'd get to see other animals or birds making their way through the creek as well - like you can see in the photo above. This guy here (let's call him "Bob"), hangs out in the creek quite a bit. Bob loves to pose for photos, too. :-)

As I made my way further up the trail, the rain was getting heavier and started pelting me sideways. I was having issues keeping warm, so I decided to only go up to the 3k mark and turn around.

3k up the trail +3k return + 3k to & from the trail from my house = 9k. I obviously stopped a number of times to take photos, though. Which was probably a good thing if I didn't want to hurt my hip, again. The best stop was at the very end of my run though...


Non-fat, extra hot latte - oh yeah! It's also been a few hours, and I haven't felt any soreness in my hip. I'm thinking the latte helped with that. LOL. Who needs Advil when you got Starbucks? ;-) Thanks for reading!

Just One Of Those Days...

Ever had one of those days? Y'know... the kind where you go to leave your house and you see a thread hanging off your leg, only to realize your pants are inside out? Well, I have. I must have looked really cute jogging down the street like that, today. Luckily, I didn't make it far and was able to get home and change before anyone saw me (I hope). I've hardly had any coffee these last few days so I put it down to not having enough caffeine in my system to be able to function properly within the outside world. *sigh*

On the trail there were a lot of dogs, today. I don't mind dogs... actually, I love them. I just don't like hurdling over them. I understand that owners like to give their pup time to run free and exercise. ...but when I have them running around my legs when I get to be 100 feet away from their owner, it gets really irritating. Then there are the dogs that look all sweet and cute until you run past them and they turn into Cujo on steroids. ...and the owner looks at me like I'm the jerk. The look of: "My dog never does that. There must be something wrong with you for him to react that way." I hate that look. Especially, when I know that dog probably lunges for just about anyone in it's path. I know this because I hear the dog barking at the next person behind me going past them. *sigh*


I get asked every so often if I run with a music player and the answer is, "Sometimes." It depends on where I am. If I'm doing the Grouse Grind or another technical trail, then no. If I'm doing road or wide/flat trails, then yes. If my battery suddenly dies in my iPod half-way through my run, then no. If I'm stuck behind some annoying ladies in a half marathon discussing how they can't lose their post-pregnancy "baby fat" when they're clearly a size 4, then yes. As for what sort of music I listen to, it's pretty much all over the place. In fact, I would rather shove a fork in my eye than have to listen to many of the tunes I run to any other time of the day. A lot of them just get me energized and motivated, some spark emotion in me and some bring back memories of my youth. *sigh*

Well it's pushing 4 PM and if I want to sleep tonight, I better pour this last bit of coffee down my throat so I can feel "myself" again. :-) Thanks for reading!

The Trusty 5K

Wow, is it ever getting dark early now! I'm having to bring a headlamp with me if I dare to run after 3 PM. It's also getting REALLY cold. Time to break out the gloves and toques!

Since the Ultra, I have yet to be able to do anything longer than a 5k without my hip "yelling" at me. It's a bit irritating, but at least I'm still able to run (be it a bit slower). There's a lot of "pros" with running a 5k, though. Things like:

1. I'm back home and in the shower in under 30 minutes.
2. I don't have to run with a water bottle (as long as I hydrated prior).
3. No need to bring Advil or Gels.
4. Not out in the cold and/or the rain as long. (Hence, freezing my arse off!).
5. I don't sweat as much, so I can stop off at the grocery store after. :)
6. Limited risk of re-injuring myself further.

Another thing is that the 5k race entries fees are not as high as the half marathons+. Although, I'm still skeptical about signing up for a 5k just because it seems not worth it. Some races work out to be over $12+ a km. However, it does give me a goal and something to work towards ...and that alone is priceless. I also have yet to get an "official" time for my 5k race. So on that note, I registered for the GJF Vancouver Historic Half Marathon - 5K next Sunday. ...and at $12.90 a kilometer, I'm hoping it's a decent race... or at the very least, it doesn't rain. lol. Although, if it drags my butt out to Vancouver to run along the sea wall on a Sunday morning, then I'm sure it's worth it. :) It's also an excuse to get my family downtown early enough to enjoy the full day. ...maybe hit up Science World or the Aquarium, afterwards. So, what's on the running agenda for this week? ...you've got it! - 5k's! :-)

As of November 1st, the Grind for Kids program had ended and I raised over $200 - Yay! Thank-you again, to everyone who donated! I have been now looking into what my next fundraising goal will be. Rather than raising money this time, I came across a more innovative initiative to help others during the holidays. An organization called CiaoVan (Christmas Inside and Out - Vancouver) puts together stockings for the homeless in the Downtown Eastside and delivers them on Christmas Eve (along with food and drinks). For more information and how to get involved, you can check out their Facebook page. I will be volunteering with them on Xmas Eve and hope to donate 10 stockings. Below is an example of 1 of the stockings that I put together. It includes: socks, toque, gloves, toothbrush, hand sanitizer, soap, nail clippers, Q-tips, tissue, disposable razor, comb, handy wipes, candy, granola bars, notepad, pen, hot chocolate and instant coffee. You can also directly support CiaoVan by donating to their PayPal account. This is such a great concept and I'm looking forward to being part of it this year.


Well, that's it for this week. Again, thanks for reading! :-)

Whistler 50 - The Aftermath

I did it! Woohoo! Here I am struggling to run out the last 200 meters (or so) of the 50 mile/80k race.
A week ago yesterday, I had no idea what I was in for. An 80k course that consisted of 4 - 20k laps awaited me on Saturday November 5th - The Whistler 50 (mile) Ultra. I opted for the early start with 6 others and we all met at the Whistler Conference Center at 4:45am. There was a cut off time at the 72k mark that I needed to make so the early start was a must. I remember stepping outside the hotel in the morning to walk over and it was freezing. Definitely, not really used to sub-zero temperatures. I had a few things going against me at the start of the race. Fighting an icky cold, a hip that I pulled a few weeks prior (while doing the Grouse Grind twice in a row) and dealing with practically no sleep because I was too nervous about the race! Not to mention, this was my very first Ultra and I chose to do one that was 80k in length. Having only completed 1 full marathon 6 months prior, it didn't really give me much basis on how long this was going to take me either. So, I went into the race telling myself (and everyone else), "I'm just going to go as far as I possibly can. It doesn't matter if I finish." Keeping in mind, I would say that while cringing. The truth be known, it did matter. It mattered a lot to me! I didn't run all that distance in prep only for me to NOT finish. That would have completely sucked.

All 7 of us stood at the start line (which was about 467 meters away from the finish line as 50 miles is slightly longer than 80k) and we started our race at 5:10am. So we got a 50 minute head start than the rest of the group. It was mandatory to carry a flashlight or wear a headlamp. I decided to look extra cool and I wore 2 headlamps. Mostly because I have a horrible fear of the dark and if one suddenly went out, I'd be having 15 panic attacks. The trail was well marked with glow sticks and cones. Unless your night vision was lacking, I would say it was pretty hard to get lost. In the first few hours of the race, there were 2 people I was trying to keep up with so I didn't have to run completely alone. All of a sudden, they disappeared... and there I was... running alone... in the pitch dark... in the middle of Whistler... where there are lots of bears... Turns out, those 2 runners just took a brief wrong turn and they caught up quickly behind me. I was so relieved (and not because I crapped my pants! LOL).

One of the dumbest things I could have done was wear a sweatshirt under my running jacket and over my running shirt. Guess where all the sweat collected? Yes, in the first few hours, I wore a sweatshirt because I was cold... but that's when I sweat the most and of course, I started to FREEZE. Thank goodness I remembered to slather myself in Body Glide or it wouldn't have been pretty. When I finally arrived at my drop bag, before anything, a very sweet volunteer first offered me the four-legged foe of any long distance runner... the CHAIR. The CHAIR was trying to lure me with it's power but I fought hard against it. I politely, said, "No thank you - but I would like my drop bag to grab some Advil and change my shirt." Unfortunately, there wasn't really anywhere to change, so the very sweet volunteer offered to hold up my jacket while I ripped off my drenched shirt and sweatshirt and then put on a new one. I don't exactly have the same sort of perfect body as all the other ultra runners so no one needed to see me take my clothes off. LOL. Needless to say, I felt so much better after changing. I was still freezing, but I quickly warmed up to a tolerable temperature when I started running again. Another volunteer asked me if I wanted something to eat... I said, "Sure, anything that will make me kill a few more minutes before having to run again." A few of the other runners thought that was funny as they were delving into the snacks, too.

By 8am the sun was fully up and it was getting warmer. It was nice to be able to view the lovely scenery that I couldn't see in the darker hours. This was also the time when the relay runners started. All of a sudden, there were tons of people passing me but turning around to look at my race bib. They would yell things like: "You're an inspiration!", "You're amazing!", "Keep up the fantastic work!" ...and it just went on and on! It was almost embarrassing. When I came through my first check point (after the relay begun) there were a few relay runners before me and behind me... but I'd hear someone yell "ULTRA!" and everyone went crazy with the cheering! I felt like a total Rock Star! LOL. I still felt pretty good. Sore, but good. I started to wonder how much longer I was able to keep this up for. Then the dreaded happened...

I hit around 54-55k and all of a sudden, everything in me was seizing up. Then I started having an internal fight with myself on whether or not I was going to finish. I knew at this point I still had plenty of time to do it in so I started to slow down. ...a lot. Like turtle speed. Every hill - big or small - I walked up. There was some snowy areas where I decided to walk through as I didn't feel that stable on my feet. I felt weak and at some points I could have collapsed and went to sleep. What put it over the top was the headache. My head was totally pounding. I don't know if it was due to my blood pressure (which is normally perfect), sinus congestion (from my cold) or the fact I was lacking sleep, food, salt or electrolytes. I had 2 other runners stop and ask me if I was OK. I told them I was fine, and just needed to "walk-it-out". When I finally made it back around to one of the bigger aid stations, I stood around for probably close to 10 minutes. Having soup, banana, a cookie, Coke and water (but I still refused the CHAIR). I called my boyfriend who was waiting for me at the next checkpoint (only 3.5-4 km's) away and told him I don't think I can finish it. I was holding back the tears. He told me to just take it easy and he'll be waiting for me. I walked a lot of that 4k - was probably the longest 4k I've ever dragged out in my life. Relay runners kept passing me still yelling their encouraging words... and instead of me smiling and saying, "Thank you," I would bark back, "I'm not finished yet!" ...I felt so defeated.

I reached the check-point (which was also the 60k mark) to where my boyfriend was waiting for me. I repeated myself again to him. "I don't think I can finish. I think I'm done." He was very supportive and encouraging and told me that I didn't have to - I had already come so far... but he said it with that "look". The look of, "Awwww. Why didn't you just do the relay?" The Race Director came up to me and asked me how I was doing. "I don't think I can go on. I'm hurting pretty bad," I repeated. His response was, "You only have 20k left to do. The sun is shining and it's warmer now." Hmmm. Only 20k? ONLY 20K?! I guess you only hear those 2 words together in ultra running because never in my life have I heard "Only 20K". 21k is a half marathon for goodness sakes! People can train for 6 months to run one of those! On the same hand, I totally understood his logic and was grateful for it. It was only 20k and 1 more lap. I decided to think about it while going for a bathroom break. I went to one of those porta-potties. I fought with the pain in my legs while hovering over the toilet seat. I have this weird fear that something is going to reach up and grab my butt if I sit on one of those. I was probably in there for a while. Good thing it was a surprisingly clean/non-stinky one. When I was done, I walked out and told my boyfriend "I'm going to finish." He looked so happy. He knew how miserable I would have been if I did quit. I still had just over 3 1/2 hours to finish. In normal circumstances, that would be tons of time. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of those times and I knew I'd be a slug. Before the race, I read up on what you do when you are getting into those higher kilometers and you just don't have that "gas power" anymore. Apparently, you're supposed to either run 5 minutes and walk 1 or run 15 minutes and walk 5. Well, I was running from trail marker, to trail marker - which in this case, were orange traffic cones. I walked up all the hills and walked down all the hills. All inclines/declines hurt like Hell. Thankfully, I knew I was on my last lap and I just kept telling myself that.

I ended up at one of the aid stations and they watched me plod my way over. One of them asked me very cheerfully, "How can I help you?" ..."Electrolytes, please." She handed me some and I gulped it back. "Jellybeans???!!!" she asked, enthusiastically. My response was a little over the top. I squench up my face and I was like, "Oh dear God no!" She threw them back down. My stomach was feeling sick and I just said, "Thank you. You guys are great, but I'm just hurting really, really bad." One of the fellows responded with, "Ya... but you had to have known that was going to happen, right?" My response was, "Well, Ya! Of course!" Unfortunately, the truth was that I didn't really think about the pain when I was training for it. It's a-given that there would be some pain. Especially it being my first ultra... but I had no idea how much. My legs gave up already 20 kilometers back. By this point, it was no longer my body that was getting me through... it was my mind and knowing giving up just wasn't an option.

I knew I was getting closer to the finish and to the 'big' aid station where they have real food. I kept asking every race volunteer how far it was. "3 k", "2.2 k", "less that a kilometer", "down the hill"... I think I saw the heavens open and angels start singing when I saw them. Strangely enough, out of anything I could have in the world, I was craving Coke. ...and I knew they had some. I'm not a big "pop" person. I especially, don't much care for Coke... unless there's rum in it. Weirdly enough, in this situation, it was just what I needed. Sugar and caffeine - oh ya! The fizz also helped settle my stomach. It was just what I needed along with all the wonderful encouragement from the volunteers.

After I was finished, I had about 42 minutes (before 5 PM when the course closed) to do the final 3.5k. I plodded along to the end of the street where there was a slight incline. When I had to turn, a race volunteer saw me and said, "Most people haven't ran this hill, so you are doing really well!" ..."Thank you!" I said... but what I was thinking was, "Well, this isn't really a hill and I'm more like doing a shuffle"... and then I realized, how hard I am on myself. Who cares?! I'm doing it! Isn't that the point?! I tell other people it doesn't matter if you walk, jog or run. The point is to just keep moving! :-)

I know I was getting close to the finish line and I was getting really, really, REALLY excited. I was listening to my tunes and was in my own little world. If I wasn't in so much pain, I would be dancing and doing cartwheels. There were very little racers left on the course so I was pretty much on my own in the last stretch. So there I was, spacing out, along the river and I was just making a turn and OH MY FRIGGIN GOD THERE'S A GIANT BEAR. Have you ever seen a 700 pound bear jump? Well, I have! AND he was only about 10 feet away! This was the closest I've ever been to a bear that didn't have some sort of electric fence between us. He started to take a few quick steps towards me and I started waving and said, "Hi Mr. Bear!" (Hopefully it wasn't a Mrs. - I didn't want to offend the bear. LOL) and then he slowed down but still kept walking towards me. I backed up slowly and suddenly, all my pain turned to adrenaline as I shot up the hill towards the overpass. Luckily, he wasn't interested in following me. Most bears aren't. They are just looking for food. I'm pretty sure if I just stood off to the side, he would have just kept walking past me. However, I wasn't really interested in taking that chance. Especially, when I was probably sweating out Gatorade and Clif Shots.

After the bear passed, I ran back down on to the trail and kept going. I wasn't far. I called my boyfriend to let him know what was happening and then told him to meet me before the finish line by the giant Inukshuk.

As I approached him, I said that I needed to walk for a minute if I wanted to be able to run (not walk) through the finish line. He was so excited for me and kept saying, "You did it! You finished it!" Reality started settling in for me and I was like, "Man, I think I'm gunna cry!" He laughed and told me to start running as the finish line was only about 200 meters away. So I did, and then I heard the race announcer say my name and how it was my first ultra marathon. I don't think I could have had a bigger smile on my face! I was so unbelievably happy! I was the last "official" finisher at 11 hours, 37 minutes. There were 52 starters and 46 finishers. I was also the only one that went over the 11 hour mark which reinforced the fact that opting for the early start was a VERY good idea. Going by the theory of doubling your marathon time and adding 2 hours was somewhat accurate for me. This was the first race I've done where I didn't give a flying fig what my time was. Finishing was my only goal!

I have to give full kudos and 10 stars to the amazing race volunteers. They were all so wonderful, helpful and supportive. The Race Director was organized, awesome and very personable. The spectators and the other racers were great. The views of the lake were gorgeous and running through the trail system was a nice, non-overwhelming experience for a first-timer. Overall, it was a fun, fantastic race and I hopefully will get the opportunity to take part again next year!

The Whistler 50 replaced the Haney to Harrison 100k Ultra and Relay. Last year, I did leg 7 in the relay and I told everyone I planned to the Ultra this year. ...but I was KIDDING! LOL. It just goes to show... you never know what you're capable of until you try it!

So I took a full week off of running to get rid of my cold and heal my hip. I went on an easy 10k run this afternoon. I still have a bit of hip pain, but the combination of Advil and taking it slow made it bearable. Was a significantly long blog report this time which is why it took me so long to post it. Thanks for reading my novel! :-)

Ultra Crazy!

Well, I did it! Yep, I signed up for the Whistler 50 coming up on November 5th. Less than 3 weeks away! I'm not exactly sure how I'm feeling about it yet... except for maybe, "Oh Dear God I hope it doesn't rain." I'll be staying 2 nights up there so I don't have to worry about traveling the day of (either before or after) the race. It's only a few hours a way, but I'd rather sleep as long as possible prior, and relax as hard as possible afterwards. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to walk post-race, anyway. I brought my distance up to over 100km's last week and this week I'm set to do about 90k. Honestly, I'm getting kind of tired, though. I love running and all but doing back-to-back long runs are really exhausting. I definitely won't be training for another ultra for a looong time. I thought Marathon training was tough... it's sort of a walk in the park in comparison. ...and a marathon is very challenging!

My biggest anxiety about the race at the moment is coming in last... or worse yet, not finishing the full 80km's within the 11 hour timeline. I haven't done much *clears throat* well, any speed work as that's when I seem to hurt myself. So I chose to forfeit that part of the training. Plus, it takes even more time. Regardless, I will feel like such a knob if they come up to me in the last 10k and I'm huffing and puffing, walking lop-sided, with sweat pouring off me and they say, "Excuse me ma'am, we need you to exit off the course as we're closing it down." That would totally suck. I'd probably start crying or something. ...or I could turn up my headphones and pretend I don't hear them. LOL. The worst part would be having people say, "Awww. You didn't make it, eh?" Then they tilt their head and ask me why I just didn't do the relay instead. BAH! ...kay, my fear is running away with my imagination now...

Anyway, before I think out loud any more ultra crazy anxious-loaded thoughts, I better go. This week, I'm up to 40k and will be taking a break tomorrow to rest and do some stretching and yoga. Thanks for Reading! :)

90k and counting...

Poco Trail.
Wow! It's been a month since I've posted?! So what have I been up to... well, running of course! Duh. LOL. :) This month I've "kicked it up a notch" in my training. On September 25th, I did the Trail River Half Marathon Run (Poco Trail). ...and even though I came in nearly 10 minutes earlier than last year, it still wasn't the time I was hoping for. It was a great morning for it though. The rain was nice enough to hold off until the afternoon and by then everything was all wrapped up. My daughter participated in the kid's 1k run and it was sooo cute. Her face was all red coming back and she was holding her side saying, "Mommy, I'm cramping. I didn't drink enough water." lol. Then with an intense grimace she ran for the finish line and got her ribbon. She looked so proud. I think it's awesome when there are children's events at the races. Really builds their self esteem, as well and encourages them to be outside.

On October 1st, I participated in the Grouse Grind Mountain Run. They added length to both the beginning and end so everyone's time was a bit longer than what it usually "logs" on at the timer. My best time has been 1:09 on my own and for the race it was 1:12, so that's about right. Again, it was a great day for it but WOW was it crowded. As I was in the "70 minute" category, I was in wave 14 (waves were 1 minute apart). What was irritating was when there were people who were 3 or so waves behind me and they were practically throwing themselves up the mountain huffing and puffing. They kept trying to pass me and then I'd pass them anyways 3 or 4 minutes later because they were bent over off to the side dumping water over their head. I'm assuming they haven't been accustomed to pacing themselves yet. In the end, I finished a good 4 or 5 minutes ahead of them anyway. They would have been better off just staying in their "wave". Unfortunately, when you go 100% and keep stopping, you're not really doing your body any favours and could potentially hurt yourself. However, I suppose everyone is different and some people may be able to work better in "spurts". When I got to the top, it was quite chilly and foggy and I started to freeze almost immediately. A change of clothes was in order.. and so was a hot chocolate!

Since the GGMR, I've only gone back up once (which made it Grind #16 for the season - not including the race). I've been focusing much more on road and trail running and getting the time/distance in on my feet. As it's now mid-October, I'm now seeing a lot of bears on the trail now, too - getting ready for hibernation. I'm getting a bit more used to them now (as I was pretty freaked out before) but it's still a bit unnerving when they decide to walk right past me. This week, I'm up to 90km, already - which is officially the most amount of km's I've ever done in a week! (I've never surpassed 80k). Thank goodness for discovering vanilla gel Clif Shots - they taste just like pudding. Well... at least I think so. lol. I still have my long run ahead of me this afternoon. *sigh* It's another gorgeous day though, so hooray for sunshine! As my runs have been getting longer and longer, I've been trying to find a better hydration belt (instead of wearing 2 and looking like an idiot). I can't stand having anything on my back (i.e. Camelbak) because I overheat/sweat pretty quickly. Anyway, I think I've finally found a decent one! The Talon 4 made by Osprey - it has tons of storage space (for gels, bars, etc) plus 2-20oz sports bottles. There's a lot of cushioning in the back, too. I'll be trying it out today so I'm hoping it does the trick!

I do have a particular ultra in mind that is coming up very quickly... I really, REALLY hope I'll be ready for it! :-)

In the Long Run...

In Victoria, BC. (Not London. lol). That tiny dot on the front stairs is me.
Can't believe it's been already 2 weeks since I've blogged. Must be all that fun I've been having. Ha. Ha. Ha. Not. With it being back to school and my girl just starting Kindergarten, I've had a bit of a "lackage" of time to just sit and write. Nevermind do any major workouts exciting enough to put into words. Plus, I came back from a holiday in Victoria over the past long weekend with a cold that I've been working hard to prevent getting worse.

Today was my first "Long run" for a few weeks. I've been still doing my easy 5-7 milers but I just haven't had the time to put in a 90+ minute standard run. By "standard" I mean, road. No hikes. No climbs. Just simple pavement. Today was 100 minutes and a little over 16k. Again, nothing extraordinary, but my purpose was just to get the time in. Afterwards, I did what felt like a million crunches. I think in reality it was like 10 but who's counting. I'm in the process of trying to get rid of what seems to be my "baby" belly. It's a little sad when my "baby" is 5 and a half now...

Anyways, not sure if it was because the full moon has been lifted or what, but everyone I went running by today, was just so rootin', tootin' happy! I leave my house tired, depleted, slightly wretched and miserable and these "people" are all around me smiling, waving, some even say "hello!"... what's with that? Wow. What's scary is that it's starting to wear off on me and now I'm finding I'm doing the same thing. Eeek! I'm going to have to change my name to "that crazy HAPPY runner". Oh dear. Then I'll surely be committed. It's my birthday this week and I was hoping to just cry if I wanted to. Well, no... not really, but it's nice to have options. For my b-day, I've decided to hit the Grouse Grind as many times as I can within three days in order to continue to help raise funds for the Grind for Kids program. This event will be wrapping up by the end of the month and I need to get a move on with gathering pledges/donations which you can still do by clicking here. It's a fantastic cause and every little bit helps!

...and now the bad news... *sigh* Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts, bad communication and a long story, I won't be able to do the Frosty 50k this upcoming weekend, after all. Booooooo. It happens though and I can't get my panties in a twist over it. I've had to miss a race before and it stinks but sometimes life happens. This now gives me an opportunity to look into some other upcoming races to take part in. Which I will update here over the next week. At this point in time, I could completely book my calendar between now to the end of November with races! There is a LOT to choose from so I'm very excited! ...and yes, I do see an ultra coming up in my near future. In the "long run" everything does eventually work out. (Pun intended.) Will keep you posted! Thanks for reading!

Make it a Double!

Relaxing on the top of "Little Goat Mountain".

Over the weekend, I wanted to try some back country hiking so we headed up to Grouse with full intentions of making our way to Goat Mountain. The issue was that we figured we would do the Grind first. Unfortunately, that not only added some time to our day, it really pooped us out! Not to mention, we already had our fill of bug attacks. We were layered with both Off! & Watkins bug repellant, but it didn't stop them from pelting our skin or try and fly in our eyes, nose, ears or mouth. Yuck! Bug/mosquito netting wouldn't have been a bad idea. Black and deer flies continued to swarm us until we reached Little Goat Mountain - where we decided not to continue down through the valley. The sun would soon be setting and then we would be left to go back in the dark. Being it's bear and cougar country, I didn't really want that. So we stayed for about a half hour, had our lunch, then made our way back. On the way of our return, I slipped and fell into 2 inches of mud. Both my shoe and butt were covered - but it was nothing a change of clothes couldn't cure! The views and scenery were spectacular and we got some great photos as well. Coming back, the snow was melting rapidly. We found ourselves walking beside the pathway as it had turned into a creek. I think, next time we will be taking the skyride first and start our hike a few hours earlier. I would have loved to gone much further!

On Monday, I headed back up to Grouse to do the Grind with full intentions of doing a personal best. As I made it up the mountain, huffing and puffing, I didn't feel like I was going any quicker than I have in previous trips. I was giving it my "all" but felt totally drained and tired by the half way mark. With sweat pouring off me, I didn't really take much notice of anything else. Until I hear others groaning or panting... which oddly enough, was very comforting. When I finally reached the top, and made my way to the timer, I was thinking I either made the same time or worse. As I stood there in the Chalet waiting for my name show up on the hiker timer list, I see that I took four minutes off! Hooray! ...and I did it without passing out! Double hooray! I'm still slow as molasses when it comes to the others (1:14), but I'm getting there. ...and considering where I started from, I'm not doing too badly.

When I grabbed my bag from Guest Services, I didn't even change right away. I was much too tired. In fact, I couldn't get out of there quick enough. I headed towards the Skyride and waited for my trip down. When I got on, the sweat continued to drip off me and now I was freezing from the cool air blowing through the tram. When I got out, I sat and had my muffin and gulped back my bottle of water. Then I started to think, "How am I ever going to do a 'double' or 'multi' grinds?" I'm so wiped by the end of my first, I can't ever imagine doing any more. Then I started thinking back to what a friend mentioned to me last week when I said straight out, "I don't think I'm ready to do this 50k in a few weeks." His response was along the lines of, if I don't think I can ...then I won't. The mind is a powerful thing and is capable of pushing you beyond your limits when you don't think you have anything left to give. Of course, I already know this but I also know I really needed that reminder. So, I put my muffin down, headed back to Guest Services and re-checked in my back, re-filled my water bottle, then off I went! This time, I put no pressure on myself for time. It was so nice to slow down and really appreciate my surroundings. As it was really starting to cloud over, the trail also became a lot less crowded so there were times I couldn't see anyone in front or behind me. I could hear the birds and the stream. Was a really awesome experience. I completed it 15 minutes longer but I was able to take my time and enjoy my trip up. I've got to be honest though, I was now "super-wiped" by the end of it. ...now I'm thinking, "How the heck am I ever going to do a triple?" LOL. :) Thanks for reading!

Amazing Race!

The last kilometer. This is where a few racers wiped out due to the steepness coming down.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was heading up to Whistler for the weekend to take on my very first 5 Peaks race... and what a race it was! The views and scenery were absolutely breathtaking! The course was very challenging. Much more so than anticipated. I was about a third of the way through thinking, "Wow. Am I ever glad I chose the Sport distance" - which was approx. only 6k. The "Enduro" was approx 10k. In normal roadside running, these distances would be an easy training run, but in this situation - not so much.

Steep climbs, loose rocks, cliffs, mud, creeks and snow were all areas that we had to get through or around. In previous years, this race has been held at Whistler mountain but because of slow melting snow, it took place on Blackcomb but we were all still able to experience the gondola Peak 2 Peak ride up. Being someone who has been working pretty hard at overcoming her fear of heights, riding in the gondola at 436 metres above the valley floor was quite nerve-racking for me. While my ears were popping, my stomach was flipping. Running at a higher elevation, I think, effected my stomach even more. I was also out of breath a little quicker too. I sort of expected this as I know every time I have to drive through the Rockies, I need to take Gravol.

The course was perfectly marked and the volunteers were awesome. There were 2 aid stations throughout due to the fact there was no where to put any, safely. The trail was very narrow and I had to continuously look behind me to make sure there were no runners wanting to pass. I found it also interesting how a lot of people still chose not to run with water. I had to stop at least 3 times (in addition to the aid tables), to take a few sips. Although, my braces were drying out my mouth, too. The night before, I had to put this dental wax over an area of my brace in order to keep it from rubbing and irritating my lip. During the race, the wax came loose and I inhaled it... then immediately coughed it up and out. Whoever was behind me would have been thoroughly grossed out. lol

After the race, I iced my knees for a little while. If you read my previous post, then you'd know why. lol. Felt like they were swelling into baseballs. Fortunately, with some Advil and ice, they started feeling semi-back-to-normal and was able to go back out and hike for a few more hours. It was sunny and hot out and if you stayed still for a little too long, the bugs would be coming for 'ya. I sprayed myself with "Off!" and I was still harassed by them. However, it was a very small price to pay to be able to enjoy such amazing views. We even saw a marmot! Funny but adorable looking creatures. After our hike, we took the ski lift down and saw a black bear just hanging out. It was so great to see some wildlife despite the fact it was very busy with lots of people over the weekend.

The whole experience was definitely one I'd like to do again. A very well organized race with lots of friendly people and the most scenic course you could imagine!

Bracing Myself!

My beautiful running "war wound".
It's been an interesting week. Last Thursday I had the privilege of getting braces. This has been something I've been waiting to do for two decades, so I'm both happy and relieved that they're finally on. However, when it comes to eating, it's pretty restricting. Pastas, rice and soft food dishes are what I'm limited to at the moment. It also throws a bit of a wrench into my hydration/energy boosts during my long runs. Normally, I use Gatorade or eLoad, but because they are pretty sugary, I have to really watch my intake. Not to mention, the GU gels are very sticky and syrupy and will bury their way between the braces and my teeth. It's not like I'm going to carry a toothbrush on my runs. Would look a little awkward flossing half way through a race, anyway. On the upside, I've been finding my water intake throughout the day has increased and I've been snacking a lot less. Only because I'm too lazy to brush every 15 minutes. Braces are indeed, a great way to be forced to diet!

Yesterday, I went for an easy 10k run and tried a new route. It was beautiful out and everyone I ran by seemed to be smiling and in a cheerful mood. It's amazing how sunshine can lift so many spirits. However, when I was heading back, it happened... figured it would only be a matter of time... a bug flew in my mouth and got stuck in my braces! Yuck! So there I was running with my finger in my mouth, picking out bug guts! So now, I either have to run with my mouth closed which will be hard as I'm a heavy "panter", or I need to just resolve myself to the fact my metal mouth resembles a truck bull bar and bugs are going to die there. Fabulous! lol

Tomorrow, I'll be doing my very first 5 Peaks trail race up at Whistler and I'm very excited about it! I'm always nervous the day before a race and in order to get rid of those "butterflies", I will usually do an easy run or a workout the day before. So this morning at the crack of dawn, I headed out for a light 5k around the neighborhood. Unfortunately, I didn't quite make it a kilometer and I fell like some sort of broken rag doll and busted up my knees and legs in the process! After I let out a very loud expletive, I gathered my damaged self and hobbled my way home hoping like heck that no one saw me. Seeing as it was 6:30am, not a lot of people were out, which was a good thing. Of course, I've since been R.I.C.E.'ing my wounds, but I'm so mad that I could have let this happen - and the day before a race! I must have been still half asleep and should have just stayed in bed for another hour. The last thing I need right now is a leg brace, too! Anyway, it wouldn't have been so bad but I also decided to stay out in the sun for a little too long yesterday without sunscreen and got burned pretty good as well. So I'm suffering right now but I have no one to blame but myself. Which definitely stinks because I'd prefer to to blame other people. lol. So it looks like I'll be stuck going slow in the race tomorrow. Luckily, I signed up for the Sport course (shorter distance) instead of the longer one. I'm not looking forward to seeing how my knees feel in the morning but I can't wait to check out the beautiful scenery! Wish me luck! :-)

Runner's High vs Nature High

View from the gondola at Grouse, yesterday.

Yesterday, I hit the Grind for the 4th time this year. It was a beautiful, cool day for it and I cherish any excuse I can get to sweat outdoors. Generally when I'm running, I'm always listening to music but when I'm at Grouse, there's so many interesting creatures as well as sounds/calls you hear. Half the time, I'm turning down my music to listen. Even though the Grind is an intense hike, I don't want it to end. (Well, maybe eventually. ;-)

Monday, I went to the stinky, stuffy gym where I see ladies play on their iPhones or spend their entire workouts texting or talking on their Blackberries. The only "sounds/calls" I hear is gossip or canned music pumped through the speakers. Ten minutes into my treadmill running regimen, I find myself staring at the clock and wishing it was over.

Then, I've started thinking about how the "Runner's High" actually works. Endorphins can be produced/released after a lengthier amount of time of strenuous exercise (along with other chemicals like epinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine) but is there actually enough to produce this euphoric feeling? Honestly, I've never had the "runner's high" when running on a treadmill. I've also had some miserable out-and-back runs in less than desirable (industrial/pavement loaded) areas. I know how rejuvenated I can be when just doing a light hike through nature and I don't need to have sweat flying off me to feel that, either.

There have been studies on how biodiversity can have a great positive impact on mental wellness of people. So places that are abundant in plants, birds, animals, etc. have a much higher psychological benefit as opposed to staring at four walls all day. Who woulda thunk, eh? So if you've been running on a treadmill and still finding yourself miserable five minutes later, go outside, hug a tree, feed a squirrel and bat off some mosquitoes, you'll probably feel a lot better for it. Thanks for reading! :)

A Beary Nice Run!

Well. Well. Well. Look who finally decided to show up. Yes, I'm talking about you, summer! So relieved you're finally here! Makes running a lot more pleasant. Especially when it's too warm to wear a coat, but too wet to go without. I finally picked up some sunscreen and all I was thinking was, "I better be able to use this."

This week I've been mostly focusing on increasing mileage and experimenting with new ways of hydrating during my longer runs. It's getting pretty warm on the dyke, so I don't particularly want to be passing out from heat exhaustion. Especially since I saw a BEAR there this week! Waking up to one staring at me in the face may be a bit unnerving.

One of the joys of running trail is getting the opportunity of seeing some wildlife. There I was, happily minding my own business, grooving to some M.C. Hammer, (I'm kidding. Well not really, so Shhhh...) and I see a guy on a bike come towards me at about 150 meters away. Behind him was a big black creature that darted across the path into the bushes. My first thought was, "Wow. That guy has a really freakin big dog!" Then as I got closer, and the guy on the bike passed me and his dog wasn't following. I then realized, that ain't no dog. Especially, when I looked down the bank and I saw the bear just hanging out. Black bears will generally, only chase if they are startled and see you running. However, they are rarely aggressive and predatory. Click here for more info on Black Bear running Safety. So do I walk right past him? Uh. No. (I'm crazy, not insane.) I turned around and went down the other trail that runs sort of parallel: De Boville Slough. All of the "green" and marsh surrounding this trail tends to make it a bit more humid in some parts, especially on a warmer day. A few times I was thinking, "Phew! It's like running through a hot tub here." Nevertheless, it's still a nice, easy run and a lot easier on my joints than running on pavement.

As the Frosty 50k is now only six weeks away, I have to make sure that my hydration choice is going to fly well on race day. I've used either Powerade or Gatorade in the past, but I still find I start cramping or seizing with longer, hot runs. I was recommended to try e load endurance formula. The Running Room carries it and rather than buying the larger $50 containers before trying it out first, I got some individual packets in different flavours. I tried the lemon out and it tastes like a cough candy. Kind of gross but it works! I had one of the most comfortable "non-crampy" runs in a long time. I went with 2 hydration belts as well. Yes, I looked really cool (Ha. Ha. Ha. Not.) but they did the job. I do have a Camelbak but it's really hot to wear and it slides off my shoulders. One of my belts carried a large bottle that I had my eload in and the other had 2 small bottles of water which was more than enough for me. Unfortunately, about 5 kilometers in, my water already tasted like it was thrown in the microwave for 2 minutes. The bonus of carrying two belts is that you can carry more with you. It weighs me down a bit but as I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm a bit of a turtle while running anyway, so it doesn't really matter much.

As I don't have a Garmin (yes, I know - I'm totally in the dark ages), I wanted to find another way to track my runs. I do have a Nike+ Sport Watch but it's limited in it's functionality and I have to attach a sensor to my shoe. Instead, I downloaded the free Android app from MapMyRun to my cell phone. After installing it, I turned it on and away I went to use it. When I got back home, I saved it and it automatically uploaded it to the website. It will also post on Facebook as well if you don't turn the share mode off. I didn't really want people knowing where I live, so I did just that. It tracked exactly where I went, the mileage, time and elevation. You can also go to the website and post extras about your run such as how you felt, where the run was (road, trail, treadmill, etc) and the weather. The best part was that it didn't suck my battery dry either. I still want a Garmin, but for now - this works just fine!

Over the next few weeks, I'll be mostly focusing on building mileage and cross training on my "off days" which so far has been swimming, biking and weights. The time on my feet, is by far the most important thing at the moment if I want to be able to get through the ultra next month! I just hope the sun decides to stay and I didn't buy all that sunscreen for nothing. Thanks for reading.

Back to the Grind

Well, August is quickly approaching which only means one thing: 7 weeks until Frosty's 50k trail race! Eeeek! I figure one of the better ways to attack the training for this run is to do the Grouse Grind. As it's a fair distance from where I live, I'll be thrilled if I can make it up once a week. I'm also still fundraising for the Grind for Kids program (for Children's Hospital), so it's a huge motivator to get my butt in gear and head up there! I did hit the Grind on Tuesday and what a slug I was. It was my third time, but made my worst "time". Mostly because I didn't hydrate well enough prior to going. I did remember to bring Off! for the bugs which definitely made the hike up a lot more enjoyable.

You do need to be in relatively decent shape if you don't want to die hiking up the Grind, but there's a lot of areas to rest and take photos. It's absolutely beautiful there (when I can see it and not focusing on wiping sweat out of my eyes). I keep making the same mistake and wearing too many clothes, though. You'd think, "Oh, this is a mountain, it's going to get cold," but it's not. You're working out pretty hard from start to finish and you can work up quite a sweat (or is that just me?). I always take an extra set of clothes with me to change into when I reach the top and not just for "sweat purposes" either. For some reason I'm always filthy when I finish. Probably because I have the worst balance in the world, and I happen to fall on all four's a lot. I see people flying through these steep, rocky areas and I'm like... "Wow, you are amazing". The Grind is called "Mother Nature's Stairmaster" for a reason. You are almost always on an incline. It's only 2.9 km's but an elevation of 2800 feet is nothing to sneeze at. ...unless you have allergies. In that case, take some Benadryl because no one wants your snot. Some older kid (who should have known better!), that kept running up and down past me (waiting for his Dad to catch up) stopped long enough to unleash the fury all over my arm. "Sweetie, please sneeze into your arm," is about as much as I can say without over stepping my boundaries and offending anyone. ...BUT, what I really wanted to say was, "... well, you all know what I REALLY wanted to say. lol.

I love taking the Gondola down and seeing how far I actually hiked up. It's pretty awesome if I do say so myself! It's also pretty amazing on how people can practically run up it and/or do "multi" Grinds in one day. My goal for the end of the season is to get my time in under an hour and complete 3 in one day. Let's see if that happens. Think I'm going to have to do more strength training. :-)

Yesterday, I decided to hit the gym where I did a total of an hour cardio (30 min elliptical, 15 stair climber, 15 bike) and 3 sets of weights on the machines. Nothing exciting; pretty basic stuff. It needs to be done though. I've found that running for me, doesn't really build much muscle or strength - especially in the upper body, so boring weights it has to be. It takes me about an hour and 45 to get through it all. Afterwards, instead of stretching, I headed over to do another (dreaded?) session of Hot Yoga. This time was probably worst than the last. I had to sit out on maybe 3 of the poses because I thought I was going to pass out. I started thinking, "Hmmm. Working out prior may have not been the greatest of ideas". I did make sure I hydrated really well before hand and didn't eat for over 2 hours prior. I then started to see a few more people having to sit out and/or just lie down. The room may have been slightly hotter than the last time. (Didn't think it could get hotter, but I guess it can!) Regardless, it was tough and I was wringing out my clothes by the end of it. I do love the feeling of when I'm done. The great thing was that I didn't feel like I needed to take a nap this time and instead, I felt a little more energetic and refreshed. Yay! So yes, I'll be going back again.

So what's on the agenda today? I do know I have to have a physical to get done at the doctors. Yuck. It's something that's non-negotiable, though. Having a check up to make sure nothing is dysfunctional or falling off is always a good idea. Would hate for that to happen. I'm sure everyone else appreciates it too. :) Now that I want to enter the uncharted waters of ultra-marathoning, it gets even more important and needed. Speaking of such, there is a new ultra & relay called the Whistler 50 happening in November. It is taking the place of the old Haney to Harrison Ultra and Relay which I participated in last year (the relay not the ultra. Just wanted to make that clear. lol). I did leg 7 (13.47k total), which was pretty challenging. The one hill I had to climb was about 4k in length. I felt like such a knob when these Ultra Marathoners were passing me. I'm like thinking, "Holy cow! You just ran 80k and you are leaving me in your dust?! WOW!" Pretty amazing! The inaugural Whistler 50 is an 80k (50 mile) race that can either be completed as an 8 person relay or a solo ultra marathon. I'm almost considering the ultra. I know... this is beyond crazy. This in fact, would be Ultra Crazy! (Pun intended). So we'll see. At this very moment, I'm not ready for it... but in 3 months, I could be. Stay tuned! :-) Thanks for reading!

Turtle Power!

Well, Hello Monday! During the last 3 days, I've spent time entertaining guests at home (aka being a slob and eating junk). So, I'm happy to be back at it with my usual routine.

As it's been a few days, I decided on doing just an easy 5k run on the trail. It was starting to cloud over and there was a fresh breeze. Still a little muggy but it's nicer than all this "liquid sunshine" we've been having all month. Lots of weird insects out. Instead of being attacked by mini flies this time, I kept getting those little green worms that hang from trees falling on me. Only these worms looked like they were on steroids! Big, green and creepy. Ewwww. *shiver*

After I did my jog, I went over to the track to do some Yasso 800's. I really do hate the track and I especially despise speed work. Yasso 800's are a great way to figure out where you're at though. You're supposed to start with 4 and then go up to 10 adding 1 set each week. Instead, I started with 2 and I will add 2 next week as I'm not interested in hurting myself. I ran my first set in 4 min 28 seconds. The second was at 4:30. Which means, if I kept going, chances are my 10th would be at around 4:50. So if I do a 4:50 800 meter, then theoretically, I can do a 4 hour and 50 minute marathon time (which is what I did at the BMO Marathon in May). So, I'm still a turtle. lol. However, I didn't push myself too hard either. I'm always a little skeptical about going faster as I don't want to hurt myself. Slow and steady wins the race, right? Well, probably not but it does get you to the finish line without crapping your pants or fracturing a leg. I've seen so many runners go off with an injury and I feel their frustration. I know I've hurt myself a few times, but it's always been minor stuff. On the whole, I do listen to my body. ...and if it's screaming at me to stop, I don't swear at it and keep going. lol.

Anyway, my goal is to make 4:25 800s by the end of September. I'm considering running in the Victoria Marathon in October (time/energy permitting) so I'm hoping that will be enough time to train for a sub 4:30 marathon. Boston is definitely not in my near future, but I'll eventually get there. ...just like the turtle. ;)

A Kick in the Pants

Maybe it's the ongoing dreary, wet weather... or the fact that my head still feels like it's been stuffed with cotton, but I've been finding it a challenge to get motivated, lately. So, I decided to "make" myself inspired. I've been spending some time researching training techniques for both ultra and triathlon. Both of which I would like to try some time within the next year. Unfortunately, because I swim like a brick, I'm thinking the triathlon will have to wait a little longer. Especially if I do one in open water (opposed to pool). I've signed up for a few private swim lessons to assess my swimming skills. Generally, sprint distance triathlons have a 750 meter swim portion, so I will need to be able to do at least that without drowning. I definitely don't want to drown. :)

I was also recommended to read a book on triathlon called, "The Triathlete's Training Bible" by Joel Friel. The information seems applicable to both beginner and advanced triathletes. It's a really big book with a lot of "dry" info, so when I finally get through it and absorb it all (will take me a while), I'll be able to give a more thorough review.

Another type of "motivator" I find people use are nutritional supplements. So I went for a visit to a "supplement store". Then I got overwhelmed and walked out. Years ago, I worked briefly in one of these places. I learned a lot, including: if you eat a healthy, balanced diet and take your vitamins, you probably don't need them. Unless you're an elite athlete, I don't see it as being imperative. It may be all my years of having to take loads of medications and feeling like a "guinea pig" in the way that I never know how my body is going to react to anything. The only extra "supplements" I may take are when I'm doing my long runs (12k+) as it's pretty much guaranteed that I will start running out of "steam" if I don't. GU Energy Gels seem to work well for me. They are quick, cheap and store nicely in my hydration belt. I like Vanilla. They are pretty strong tasting, so I always take it with a few sips of water. I have to be very careful with taking any product that includes caffeine as it upsets my stomach. This particular one contains cola nut (contains caffeine), but it's a small amount. I will also drink Powerade. I like white cherry because it's it's clear in colour. So if it spills (and it always does with me), it doesn't show up all over my shirt and I don't look like a slobby mess by the end of my run/race. Other than that, I don't really take anything else but water. The biggest rule is NEVER to try anything new before a race. The second half marathon I did, I decided to do just that... and you could barely pry me out of the port-o-potty. Gross. I also wore cotton socks and the most chafing bra in my drawer. The shower I had after felt like I was being stabbed in the chest and feet. Luckily, I've since discovered body glide and proper running socks. But I digress...

After checking out the supplements, I headed over to take a peak at an organics store (where they sell groceries, too). While I'm not into protein powders, caffeine loaded "slimming" products or metabolism enhancers, I do believe in some products that can help with "getting healthier". One is a daily multi vitamin. Seriously, you can't really go wrong here unless your health care professional says otherwise. Probiotics like acidophilus help with digestion and can boost the immune system. If you're working out regularly, glucosamine can be used in the formation and repair of cartilage and other body tissues. It may also be very beneficial if you suffer from osteoarthritis.

I did pick up a product called 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). I chose the "lower" dose of 50mg just in case I did get any side effects. As 5-HTP has not been thoroughly studied in a clinical setting, possible side effects and interactions with other drugs are not well known. However, this particular supplement states to help with a LOT of things that personally effect me including: Depression, Carbohydrate craving, Insomnia, Tension headaches, Premenstrual syndrome and Fibromyalgia. So I'm willing to try it out. However, I've taken meds and supplements in the past that gave me the very side effects of symptoms I was trying to get rid of. Ironic? Yes. Irritating? Also, yes. So it would sort of suck if the side effects were sadness, weight gain, night terrors, headaches and paraesthesia. ...but I'll stay positive. :)

Today, is my "active rest day" which includes some hard core scrubbing, laundry folding and re-arranging of furniture. Hey, all of this burns calories, too. ;) It's amazing what types of daily chores can contribute to a "healthier lifestyle" not to mention, a clean house!

Washing Dishes (30 min) - 79 calories
Vacuuming (30 min) - 470 calories
Grocery Shopping (30 min) - 94 calories
Mopping Floor (30 min) - 139 calories
Dusting (30 min) - 50 calories
Scrubbing the Bathroom (30 min) - 200 calories

Even better, you can put on a comedy album and laugh while doing these chores! A good hearty laugh from the diaphragm will contract and work out those abs. Apparently, laughing 100 times is the equivalent to 10 minutes on the rowing machine or 15 minutes on an exercise bike! If you're feeling even extra energetic, you can have your partner come home for a "nooner" to break up your day of cleaning and laughing. The average lovemaking session burns between 50 and 100 calories. Having sex 3 times a week burns 7500 calories per year - that's over 2 pounds of body fat! Woohoo! I'm also pretty sure laughing while making love will burn even more. ;)

For my final note of the day, I have registered for my first Ultra Marathon! It is the Frosty Mountain Ultra Trail Race - 50 km's @ Manning Park in September. I would be lying if I didn't say I was a little freaked out but it's the total "kick in the pants" that I need to get more serious about my running regimen. Trail is a lot more difficult than road, so I know my time will be significantly slower. I will keep you updated on how my training unfolds over the next 8 weeks leading up to the race.

Thanks for reading today's novel. I suppose I've been procrastinating about that bathroom scrubbing. :)

Hot Hot Hot

Today I tried HOT yoga for the first time! I've only attempted Yoga on a few occasion so this was really going out of my comfort zone. I've been wanting to give this a go for a while now. I've been feeling pretty stiff lately - especially in my lower back and hips. Normally, trying to get me to stretch is right up there with asking me to eat a plate of liver and sauerkraut for dinner.


Bikram yoga is a 90 minute class that goes through a series of 26 poses while the room is heated to 40.6°C with a humidity of 40%. I'm someone who feels sick in hot tub within 10 minutes. So I had to get prepared and I truly thought I was! I drank a lot of water, didn't eat for nearly 3 hours prior ...and I wore yoga clothes straight from Lululemon! Unfortunately, this isn't a "typical" yoga class and you want to wear as least amount of clothes as possible. I was the ONLY person wearing long, thick yoga pants. It was hideous. By the end of the class, I may as well have jumped into a swimming pool. I kept on having to wipe the sweat out of my eyes in fear of going blind by the end of it.


When I've done yoga before, it's slow moving, has low lighting, with the instructor talking softly. With Bikram, it's a quicker pace, lights are much brighter and your instructor belts out demands like it was boot camp. I was glad I was at the back of the class. Some of these poses of shoving your heels behind your ears n' stuff was way, way out of my league. I was surprised how well my balance held up for some of it... and other times, I thought I was just going to keel over in the fetal position and start crying. Around mid-way through, I was thinking, "Hey, this ain't so bad. I'm going to survive this just fine." Then all of a sudden it hit me and I was like, "Damn you for thinking so darn positive!" This overwhelming wave of nausea and dizziness just hit me out of nowhere. So there was a few minutes where I just laid on my mat while everyone else was turning themselves into pretzels. I didn't want to start gulping water either in fear of my stomach completely turning. All I was thinking was "Why, why, OH WHY did I have to eat those Triscuits with cream cheese and jalapenos last night?" I not only had eaten my weekly quota of fiber in one sitting but jalapenos don't always sit well with me on the best of days. I'm pretty sure between the sweating and the fiber, I've been "detoxified" as well as anyone can possibly be in just one day.


After class, I just wanted to get changed and get home to take a shower. I decided to grab a quick bus ride home instead of walking (like I would normally do). Luckily, I remembered to bring a change of clothes. I'm pretty sure if I went the way I was, it would turn into one of those deodorant commercials where everyone is holding their nose and cramped up at the back of the bus while the stinky dude (a.k.a. "me") is oblivious to it all and continues reading the paper.


Anyways, they unfortunately didn't have any private rooms/stalls there. Instead, I changed in the bathroom stall (ew). If you're a little more shy (like myself) you really have no privacy. I wanted a shower so bad, but there wasn't anywhere to even hang a towel to wrap myself with when I got out. BUT, I gotta tell ya... if I wasn't straight, it would be pretty awesome! Many of the girls were these gorgeous models with perfect bodies. It brought a whole new meaning to the term "hot yoga". I seriously didn't know where to put my eyes so I just got out of there as quickly as possible. lol.


I've felt pretty sleepy since. Apparently, that's normal and my body has started cleansing itself. The tired feeling will eventually go away and I will start to feel "energized". I guess it's kind of the same rule when you start working out at the gym. The first 2 weeks are always brutal. Who knew it was so exhausting to sweat waterfalls? I plan to go back and hopefully (eventually), I'll start reaping some of those ultra-limber benefits that come with practicing yoga. ;-)

Namaste