Today I took a day off from running and decided to use one of the eliptical machines at the gym for 70 minutes. My legs are feeling a little tired and with my 50K race now only 8 days away, I'm starting to get those butterflies again.
Tomorrow I'm going to either sleep in and do nothing OR run for 10K. I'll decide when I get up how I'm feeling. It's very hard for me to take time off from running or exercising but I know that my body probably needs the rest.
I still haven't decided on whether to carbo load next week or not. I'm leaning towards just slightly tweaking my diet and trying to incorporate more potassium rich foods (bananas, potatoes) and see if that helps with my cramping problems. I'm also going to use more E-Load supplements this week and may even look into a pottassium supplement as well.
My weight has dropped to 156 pounds and I'm hoping that the lighter weight will make a difference on race day. I'd like to run the race at around 155 so that should be attainable by next weekend. I've noticed that I seem to be running a little lighter on my feet these past few weeks.
I'm going to offset the lack of running next week, while I taper, with some cardio either at the gym or at home on my exercise bike. This will allow me to keep my sanity and allow me to run the race at the weight that I want.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Are YOU doing everything you can to create a healthier population?
I had very good conversation with one of my clients yesterday. We were talking about how this generation of video game playing/internet viewing children are headed towards a very unhealthy road.
Then we talked about how our parents viewed exercise and healthy eating. I cannot remember as a child ever watching my parents participate in sports. My client agreed and she couldn't remember watching her parents participate in sports either. I grew up in a family where most of my siblings had some kind of weight issue. It would have been so easy to continue this cycle. When I started to lose weight at age 15 I decided then that I would not succumb to having a weight issue ever again. Since I started running 2 years ago I am now in better shape than I ever have been at any point in my life. This is something that I take great pride in.
Another aspect that was almost never talked about was healthy eating. "Brown" bread was thought to be healthier than white when in reality they both are about the same nutritionally speaking. Special occassions always had food as the centre piece. I remember eating frozen tv dinners and eating ravioli on a weekly basis (it's probably why I haven't had either one of these items since my childhood). I also remember separating egg whites from whole eggs to cut back on the fat and getting in trouble because I was wasting part of the egg.
I like the fact that not only do I talk about the importance of healthy eating and exercise, I TRY to do my best to give my children an example of this. My hope is that they will develop healthy exercise and eating habits that they will use for the rest of their lives.
We have more variety of healthy and unhealthy foods now than when I was their age (8 & 5) and it's important for them to get educated on making the proper choices most of the time. We have the opportunity to teach not only our children but family and friends how to live a healthy lifestyle. It has to start with each of us.
So, are YOU doing everything YOU can to show people around you how to live a healthy life?
Then we talked about how our parents viewed exercise and healthy eating. I cannot remember as a child ever watching my parents participate in sports. My client agreed and she couldn't remember watching her parents participate in sports either. I grew up in a family where most of my siblings had some kind of weight issue. It would have been so easy to continue this cycle. When I started to lose weight at age 15 I decided then that I would not succumb to having a weight issue ever again. Since I started running 2 years ago I am now in better shape than I ever have been at any point in my life. This is something that I take great pride in.
Another aspect that was almost never talked about was healthy eating. "Brown" bread was thought to be healthier than white when in reality they both are about the same nutritionally speaking. Special occassions always had food as the centre piece. I remember eating frozen tv dinners and eating ravioli on a weekly basis (it's probably why I haven't had either one of these items since my childhood). I also remember separating egg whites from whole eggs to cut back on the fat and getting in trouble because I was wasting part of the egg.
I like the fact that not only do I talk about the importance of healthy eating and exercise, I TRY to do my best to give my children an example of this. My hope is that they will develop healthy exercise and eating habits that they will use for the rest of their lives.
We have more variety of healthy and unhealthy foods now than when I was their age (8 & 5) and it's important for them to get educated on making the proper choices most of the time. We have the opportunity to teach not only our children but family and friends how to live a healthy lifestyle. It has to start with each of us.
So, are YOU doing everything YOU can to show people around you how to live a healthy life?
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Change of plans
After visiting my "Mecca" today (aka the Pickering Running Room) and looking at the water bottle attached to my hand, I was convinced by the lovely ladies there (Maureen and Nancy) that this would be too cumbersome to use in a race.
Instead I'm going to use a smaller water bottle attached to my hip. I use a similar type pouch to hold my MP3 player so having another one to wear should not be an issue.
I'll probably also bring along my water belt just in case I decide to use it. I'd prefer not to run with it as I remember how annoying the water belt was towards the end of the 50K race last year. At one point I remember taking the belt off and putting it over my shoulder.
The water bottle they showed me holds about 6-8 oz. of water so that should be enough to keep me hydrated in between water stations.
Thanks Ladies!
Instead I'm going to use a smaller water bottle attached to my hip. I use a similar type pouch to hold my MP3 player so having another one to wear should not be an issue.
I'll probably also bring along my water belt just in case I decide to use it. I'd prefer not to run with it as I remember how annoying the water belt was towards the end of the 50K race last year. At one point I remember taking the belt off and putting it over my shoulder.
The water bottle they showed me holds about 6-8 oz. of water so that should be enough to keep me hydrated in between water stations.
Thanks Ladies!
Looking forward to tapering next week!
Today I did a steady 11K run (5:08 min/K). As I started out, though, I wasn't sure how long I was going to be able to run for. My legs are starting to feel a little tired and "heavy." That's usually a good sign that I need to start to take some time to let my body heal. With the 50K race just 10 days away, this will be my last week of heavy running. In fact, I'll probably just run two more times this week (Thursday and Saturday) and twice the following week (Monday and Tuesday) and then rest up for the race on Saturday.
I've mentioned before how difficult it is for me to stop running because I find it so beneficial to me both physically and mentally. Riding my bike or doing the eliptical at the gym just isn't the same. However, I know that I will benefit from taking some time off so I'll listen to my body and do the right thing.
If you see someone at the gym doing some eliptical training on Friday who looks like they would be happier outside, don't be shocked, it'll probably be me.
I've mentioned before how difficult it is for me to stop running because I find it so beneficial to me both physically and mentally. Riding my bike or doing the eliptical at the gym just isn't the same. However, I know that I will benefit from taking some time off so I'll listen to my body and do the right thing.
If you see someone at the gym doing some eliptical training on Friday who looks like they would be happier outside, don't be shocked, it'll probably be me.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Nutrition "training" for the 50K race
Today I did a steady 16K run at a 5:13 pace. It was a little warm when I left my house just before 7:00 AM and progressively got warmer as I went along. Luckily I remembered to bring along one gel, which I took at the 10K mark, as well as some E-Load capsules which I took before and during the run.
I started to think about just how FAR 50K is. Yes, I've done it once before and I've also done a few marathons (42.2 K) so the extra 8K in theory, shouldn't be a problem. However, I'm still haunted by the feelings I had last year during the race as well as the cramping issues I've suffered during my last 2 big races (Around the Bay and Mississauga Marathon). I've been experimenting with lots of different food combinations during my training but it's hard to know if they are working. I've never experienced cramping at any time during my training runs whether they are tempo runs, hill repeats or long distance runs (25-32K). There has never been a point during any of my runs in the past 2 years that I've had cramping problems.
Today I was doing some research for eating during the ultra marathons (anything over 42.2K) and most are in agreement on two things:
1.You better schedule in walk breaks.
2.You will need to eat food during the race to keep you going.
With aid stations every 5K, and running roughly a 6 minute kilometre, that means running every 26-30 minutes straight. I've decided to cut that in half and take a walk break every 2.5K. That should take about 15 minutes. I've also decided to carry water with me. This is something that I normally don't do during a race. I've found that running with a fuel belt just too heavy and uncomfortable. I'm going to wear a water bottle attached to my hand and fill it up at the water stations. This way if I need some water in between stations, I'll have it available. I'll also take 2-3 E-Load capsules every 15 minutes.
The aid stations will be stacked with gels, bananas, gummy bears, M & M's,pretzels and cookies. Eating things other than gels is something that most people wouldn't do during a marathon. However gels don't have enough sustained carbohydrates for this race.
Last year I ate bananas and pretzels and this seemed to work well. You have to use foods that your stomach will tolerate. The last thing you want is to have any GI issues during the race. Because of my cramping issues, I'm going to make sure I eat at least 1 banana at each stations. The potassium from the bananas and the sodium from the E-Load capsules should avoid the cramping issues that I've suffered with.
As with any race, though, there are variables which are out of a runners control such as the weather. The hotter it is the more electrolytes will be lost and the more water and electrolytes will be needed to ingested. Running a marathon or ultra marathon has more to do with mental preparation than physical exertion. During my taper week next week I'm going to make sure I have every base covered appropriately.
I started to think about just how FAR 50K is. Yes, I've done it once before and I've also done a few marathons (42.2 K) so the extra 8K in theory, shouldn't be a problem. However, I'm still haunted by the feelings I had last year during the race as well as the cramping issues I've suffered during my last 2 big races (Around the Bay and Mississauga Marathon). I've been experimenting with lots of different food combinations during my training but it's hard to know if they are working. I've never experienced cramping at any time during my training runs whether they are tempo runs, hill repeats or long distance runs (25-32K). There has never been a point during any of my runs in the past 2 years that I've had cramping problems.
Today I was doing some research for eating during the ultra marathons (anything over 42.2K) and most are in agreement on two things:
1.You better schedule in walk breaks.
2.You will need to eat food during the race to keep you going.
With aid stations every 5K, and running roughly a 6 minute kilometre, that means running every 26-30 minutes straight. I've decided to cut that in half and take a walk break every 2.5K. That should take about 15 minutes. I've also decided to carry water with me. This is something that I normally don't do during a race. I've found that running with a fuel belt just too heavy and uncomfortable. I'm going to wear a water bottle attached to my hand and fill it up at the water stations. This way if I need some water in between stations, I'll have it available. I'll also take 2-3 E-Load capsules every 15 minutes.
The aid stations will be stacked with gels, bananas, gummy bears, M & M's,pretzels and cookies. Eating things other than gels is something that most people wouldn't do during a marathon. However gels don't have enough sustained carbohydrates for this race.
Last year I ate bananas and pretzels and this seemed to work well. You have to use foods that your stomach will tolerate. The last thing you want is to have any GI issues during the race. Because of my cramping issues, I'm going to make sure I eat at least 1 banana at each stations. The potassium from the bananas and the sodium from the E-Load capsules should avoid the cramping issues that I've suffered with.
As with any race, though, there are variables which are out of a runners control such as the weather. The hotter it is the more electrolytes will be lost and the more water and electrolytes will be needed to ingested. Running a marathon or ultra marathon has more to do with mental preparation than physical exertion. During my taper week next week I'm going to make sure I have every base covered appropriately.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Weekend recap
On Saturday I did a nice tempo type run (10K/4:55 pace) and then spent the rest of the day getting my kids ready for their "MudRun" race the next day.
On Sunday we met up with a group of friends and all drove down to the race site. My kids were excited and when we arrived at the race they really started to feel the emotion of the day. Seeing hundreds of runners all getting ready for a race is a nice experience and I was glad that they could witness it for themselves.
The weather was warm but not too hot/humid. My race started 30 minutes behind schedule. This was not a good sign and I should have realized that this was not going to be one of the better organized races I've attended.
The event was one of the better ones last year but this year the number of participants doubled and it was obvious that the organizers didn't do a good job of planning for this.
The run itself was fine but mostly because I was able to run it with friends. It didn't have the same "feel" to it that it had last year which was very disappointing. Because the race course was poorly marked, we actually did an extra 2KM's.
After running through tires, over bales of hay, river crossings and finally through a mud pit, most of us just wanted to get hydrated, cleaned up and head out. Unfortunately all that they gave us was a cup of an electrolyte replacement drink. Most races give out water, and some type of food (usually fruit and bagels).
My sons' race followed mine after about an hour. This is where the fun really started. Both of my sons took off well and they were supposed to run about 1.5K and finish in the same mudpit that I ran through. After about 20 minutes my youngest son and other little ones came rumbling through the mudpit. My oldest, however, was nowhere to be seen. After about 30-40 minutes a bunch of parents went into the trail to find our children. It turned out that one of the race marshalls sent my son and about 20 others, the wrong way and they ended up having to do another 3-4 KM's. They had to be picked up in a truck and driven back to the start of the race where they could run through the mud.
This capped off an unfortunate and stressful day to say the least. This race was so much fun last year and was such a letdown this year. It's highly unlikely that I would do this race again. My sons were happy with the fact that they were able to get muddy and also happy that they got some prizes and a medal.
I'm happy that my next race is less than 2 weeks away so I can erase the negative feelings I had about this one.
On Sunday we met up with a group of friends and all drove down to the race site. My kids were excited and when we arrived at the race they really started to feel the emotion of the day. Seeing hundreds of runners all getting ready for a race is a nice experience and I was glad that they could witness it for themselves.
The weather was warm but not too hot/humid. My race started 30 minutes behind schedule. This was not a good sign and I should have realized that this was not going to be one of the better organized races I've attended.
The event was one of the better ones last year but this year the number of participants doubled and it was obvious that the organizers didn't do a good job of planning for this.
The run itself was fine but mostly because I was able to run it with friends. It didn't have the same "feel" to it that it had last year which was very disappointing. Because the race course was poorly marked, we actually did an extra 2KM's.
After running through tires, over bales of hay, river crossings and finally through a mud pit, most of us just wanted to get hydrated, cleaned up and head out. Unfortunately all that they gave us was a cup of an electrolyte replacement drink. Most races give out water, and some type of food (usually fruit and bagels).
My sons' race followed mine after about an hour. This is where the fun really started. Both of my sons took off well and they were supposed to run about 1.5K and finish in the same mudpit that I ran through. After about 20 minutes my youngest son and other little ones came rumbling through the mudpit. My oldest, however, was nowhere to be seen. After about 30-40 minutes a bunch of parents went into the trail to find our children. It turned out that one of the race marshalls sent my son and about 20 others, the wrong way and they ended up having to do another 3-4 KM's. They had to be picked up in a truck and driven back to the start of the race where they could run through the mud.
This capped off an unfortunate and stressful day to say the least. This race was so much fun last year and was such a letdown this year. It's highly unlikely that I would do this race again. My sons were happy with the fact that they were able to get muddy and also happy that they got some prizes and a medal.
I'm happy that my next race is less than 2 weeks away so I can erase the negative feelings I had about this one.
Friday, June 08, 2007
One of the best 2K runs I've ever had
I took the day off from running as I had racked up over 80+ K's over the last 6 days. Instead I rode the bike for 40 minutes.
Later in the day, though, I felt like going outside and I asked my oldest if he'd like to go for a mini run. Thankfully he said yes and seemed excited about it too. We walked towards a mini hill I've called "death hill." It's about 500 M in length and has a slight incline. I had my Garmin watch on, which measures distance run, pace per Kilometre and calories burned along with a few other things. I talked to my son about these different categories and he seemed to be really excited about it. He wanted to wear the watch as he ran up the hill and of course I let him wear it.
When we got to the hill he was so excited to see how he could do and we decided to run up the hill turn around and run back down (1KM).
We both ran side by side and I was impressed at how well he was doing and that he was keeping a nice pace. We talked about his breathing and using his arms to pump him up the hill. When we finished the 1KM he noticed that his time was 6:44.
After giving him a high five and congratulating him, he said that he wanted to do it again. This time, I showed him to how to set the watch to run against a virtual "buddy." My watch allows me to set up a training buddy to race with and the object is to try and beat the buddy. We set the goal of doing 1KM in 6:50.
Off he and I went once again although this time he went out a little too fast. He had to walk a little bit on the way back down the hill but he was so far ahead of the 6:50 that he didn't seem to mind. He ended up finishing this 1K in 6:30!
After the run he was understandably tired and sore but I told him how proud I was of him. One of the best moments came when he told me that he wanted to do all the races that I've done. I told him that I can't wait until he's old enough to run a race with me.
The Mud Run is just a few days away and I'm already anxiously awaiting that day for the kids and myself.
Tomorrow I'll probably do a 10K run or bike for an hour. It's hard to believe but I'll be running a 50K race in just 2 weeks. There will be just one more week of heavy running before I start to taper for that race.
Later in the day, though, I felt like going outside and I asked my oldest if he'd like to go for a mini run. Thankfully he said yes and seemed excited about it too. We walked towards a mini hill I've called "death hill." It's about 500 M in length and has a slight incline. I had my Garmin watch on, which measures distance run, pace per Kilometre and calories burned along with a few other things. I talked to my son about these different categories and he seemed to be really excited about it. He wanted to wear the watch as he ran up the hill and of course I let him wear it.
When we got to the hill he was so excited to see how he could do and we decided to run up the hill turn around and run back down (1KM).
We both ran side by side and I was impressed at how well he was doing and that he was keeping a nice pace. We talked about his breathing and using his arms to pump him up the hill. When we finished the 1KM he noticed that his time was 6:44.
After giving him a high five and congratulating him, he said that he wanted to do it again. This time, I showed him to how to set the watch to run against a virtual "buddy." My watch allows me to set up a training buddy to race with and the object is to try and beat the buddy. We set the goal of doing 1KM in 6:50.
Off he and I went once again although this time he went out a little too fast. He had to walk a little bit on the way back down the hill but he was so far ahead of the 6:50 that he didn't seem to mind. He ended up finishing this 1K in 6:30!
After the run he was understandably tired and sore but I told him how proud I was of him. One of the best moments came when he told me that he wanted to do all the races that I've done. I told him that I can't wait until he's old enough to run a race with me.
The Mud Run is just a few days away and I'm already anxiously awaiting that day for the kids and myself.
Tomorrow I'll probably do a 10K run or bike for an hour. It's hard to believe but I'll be running a 50K race in just 2 weeks. There will be just one more week of heavy running before I start to taper for that race.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
My life before I started running
During my 20K run today, one of my friends asked me why I run so much. She knew, though, that the answer was that I run because I love it so much.
I started to think about how much my life has changed since I started running.
My life consisted of working at a job which I hated and which was very isolating and negative in nature. I was working with recovering alcohol, drug and gambling addicts. While I saw some people have success, the majority of the time I would see the same people come back time and time again. To say that this was depressing would be an understatement. Not only was the nature of my job depressing, I worked a 24 hour shift. This gave me plenty of time off in between shifts. The problem was that I had no social life and would often just sit around the house and play video games and wait for the kids to come home.
This pattern led to feelings of apathy and while I did workout at the gym every morning at 5AM, I realized that I didn't have any friends as most people worked a traditional 9-5 shift. I isolated myself and this pattern repeated itself for years. Most of the time I didn't think I was "worthy" of having any friends. I was in a "comfort zone" and even though it wasn't a good one, it was something that I was familiar with.
When I look back at this cycle of behaviour, it is easy to see why I was so unhappy. I also can't blame anyone else but myself for this but I try to look back at that time and use it as a learning tool.
Running literally changed and saved my life. Do I put too much emphasis on it for my new life that I have created? Well consider this. Since I started running I have amazing friends, I don't play video games anymore and I'm doing something that I love to do (sports nutrition). I have completed 3 Marathons and over 20+ other races and I have more drive and determination now than at any other time in my life. I also am in better shape now that any other time in my life. I've yet to meet someone who guesses my right age. Most are off by at least 5-7 years which obviously makes me feel good.
I'm also happier and seem to have a positive "glow" about me most of the time (especially when I'm running). I've also been able to show my kids the importance of a healthy lifestyle (they aren't allowed to play video games at my house).
No, my life isn't perfect, far from it actually, BUT I can honestly say that I wouldn't be the person I am now if it weren't for running. If you are lucky enough to find that special "something" that changes your life forever, then grab a hold of it and enjoy the ride!
I started to think about how much my life has changed since I started running.
My life consisted of working at a job which I hated and which was very isolating and negative in nature. I was working with recovering alcohol, drug and gambling addicts. While I saw some people have success, the majority of the time I would see the same people come back time and time again. To say that this was depressing would be an understatement. Not only was the nature of my job depressing, I worked a 24 hour shift. This gave me plenty of time off in between shifts. The problem was that I had no social life and would often just sit around the house and play video games and wait for the kids to come home.
This pattern led to feelings of apathy and while I did workout at the gym every morning at 5AM, I realized that I didn't have any friends as most people worked a traditional 9-5 shift. I isolated myself and this pattern repeated itself for years. Most of the time I didn't think I was "worthy" of having any friends. I was in a "comfort zone" and even though it wasn't a good one, it was something that I was familiar with.
When I look back at this cycle of behaviour, it is easy to see why I was so unhappy. I also can't blame anyone else but myself for this but I try to look back at that time and use it as a learning tool.
Running literally changed and saved my life. Do I put too much emphasis on it for my new life that I have created? Well consider this. Since I started running I have amazing friends, I don't play video games anymore and I'm doing something that I love to do (sports nutrition). I have completed 3 Marathons and over 20+ other races and I have more drive and determination now than at any other time in my life. I also am in better shape now that any other time in my life. I've yet to meet someone who guesses my right age. Most are off by at least 5-7 years which obviously makes me feel good.
I'm also happier and seem to have a positive "glow" about me most of the time (especially when I'm running). I've also been able to show my kids the importance of a healthy lifestyle (they aren't allowed to play video games at my house).
No, my life isn't perfect, far from it actually, BUT I can honestly say that I wouldn't be the person I am now if it weren't for running. If you are lucky enough to find that special "something" that changes your life forever, then grab a hold of it and enjoy the ride!
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
My mini tempo run today
Since I'm doing a long run tomorrow (20K) the plan for this morning was do between 8-10K at a nice easy pace. Unfortunately my feet obviously didn't get my memo as I ran faster than I had intended.
I have approximately 100 songs on my MP3 player and I set the play list to "random" so I never know what kind of song I'm going to get. I purposely have a mix of some slow and fast songs and today's run seemed to have more fast than slow songs. In fact, at the 8K mark, one of my favorite songs came on (Free Bird by Lynard Skynard) so I just had to keep going until the song finished.
After my run I realized that I had just run 9K in 43 minutes (4:45 min/K). It was nice to know that without evening consciously doing anything, I was able to do this pace.
I still have conflicting thoughts about the 50K race/run. I have two scenarios which keep playing inside my head. One of them is running with my friends for most of the race and finishing together. The other one sees me feeling good and just wanting to run my own pace and see what happens. Whatever scenario plays out, I want to make sure and do better than I did last year.
My kids and I will be running in the "Mud Run" this Sunday
http://www.mudrun.ca/
I'll be so happy to see them having fun running in the Mud as I know that this race was one of my favorites from last year. What makes this race even more special is the fact that most of my closest friends will also be there. I'm hoping that my kids will realize how much fun running can be.
I have approximately 100 songs on my MP3 player and I set the play list to "random" so I never know what kind of song I'm going to get. I purposely have a mix of some slow and fast songs and today's run seemed to have more fast than slow songs. In fact, at the 8K mark, one of my favorite songs came on (Free Bird by Lynard Skynard) so I just had to keep going until the song finished.
After my run I realized that I had just run 9K in 43 minutes (4:45 min/K). It was nice to know that without evening consciously doing anything, I was able to do this pace.
I still have conflicting thoughts about the 50K race/run. I have two scenarios which keep playing inside my head. One of them is running with my friends for most of the race and finishing together. The other one sees me feeling good and just wanting to run my own pace and see what happens. Whatever scenario plays out, I want to make sure and do better than I did last year.
My kids and I will be running in the "Mud Run" this Sunday
http://www.mudrun.ca/
I'll be so happy to see them having fun running in the Mud as I know that this race was one of my favorites from last year. What makes this race even more special is the fact that most of my closest friends will also be there. I'm hoping that my kids will realize how much fun running can be.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
The importance of variety
As I lay in my bed before heading out to do my run this morning, I had the motivation to run but I didn't want to run the same route as I usually do. This hesitation bothered me somewhat and I wondered if I should actually go out at all? A small part of me was thinking that maybe this was a sign that I needed to rest today. I know that if I did, though, I'd be regretting it all day.
I have about 4 different routes that I can take from my house and that are anywhere from 8-15K in length. The problem is, I've done these routes so much that sometimes they become boring. Today I decided to try something new and did some running on side streets that I normally don't run on. For someone with as bad a sense of direction as I have, I was taking a little bit of a risk but I ventured out anyway. When I finished my run I realized that I did 12K in just over 1 hour. It was nice to know that I found a new route that covers 12K. I'm sure I will start looking for a few more so I can keep my running routes from getting too boring.
During my run today I was thinking back to the training I did for my marathon. I liked the fact that every run was a little different. There were days where I would just run hills and others where I would run on the track. I also did plenty of speed or "tempo" runs. I'm looking forward to returning to this type of training sometime in July as I prepare for a fall Marathon. The 50K run in a few weeks is more about endurance than speed so I'm not focusing on doing too much speed work right now. When I think about the 50K it scares me a little because I remember how I felt last year and also how I felt during and after my marathon this May. I'm sure I will be fighting those demons between now and the start of the race. I've decided to just let the day come and decide my strategy when it gets here. I'm sure I will discuss it during the drive up to Niagara Falls with my friends.
When I talk to my clients about their eating, I stress the importance of adding variety to their meal plans. If you eat the same foods over and over it becomes a challenge for some. There are some clients, though, who don't mind eating the same foods as it takes the pressure off of them in terms of meal preparations. It all depends on what your comfort level is. I have found that the more structured you make your eating the better results you will get. I give my clients about 3-4 options for each meal and this seems to help keep them on the right path. What I then focus on is trying to make these 3-4 meal options as appealing as possible.
Whether you are training for a race or trying to lose weight, remember to keep things interesting by adding variety to whatever plan you are on. You will be thankful you did.
I have about 4 different routes that I can take from my house and that are anywhere from 8-15K in length. The problem is, I've done these routes so much that sometimes they become boring. Today I decided to try something new and did some running on side streets that I normally don't run on. For someone with as bad a sense of direction as I have, I was taking a little bit of a risk but I ventured out anyway. When I finished my run I realized that I did 12K in just over 1 hour. It was nice to know that I found a new route that covers 12K. I'm sure I will start looking for a few more so I can keep my running routes from getting too boring.
During my run today I was thinking back to the training I did for my marathon. I liked the fact that every run was a little different. There were days where I would just run hills and others where I would run on the track. I also did plenty of speed or "tempo" runs. I'm looking forward to returning to this type of training sometime in July as I prepare for a fall Marathon. The 50K run in a few weeks is more about endurance than speed so I'm not focusing on doing too much speed work right now. When I think about the 50K it scares me a little because I remember how I felt last year and also how I felt during and after my marathon this May. I'm sure I will be fighting those demons between now and the start of the race. I've decided to just let the day come and decide my strategy when it gets here. I'm sure I will discuss it during the drive up to Niagara Falls with my friends.
When I talk to my clients about their eating, I stress the importance of adding variety to their meal plans. If you eat the same foods over and over it becomes a challenge for some. There are some clients, though, who don't mind eating the same foods as it takes the pressure off of them in terms of meal preparations. It all depends on what your comfort level is. I have found that the more structured you make your eating the better results you will get. I give my clients about 3-4 options for each meal and this seems to help keep them on the right path. What I then focus on is trying to make these 3-4 meal options as appealing as possible.
Whether you are training for a race or trying to lose weight, remember to keep things interesting by adding variety to whatever plan you are on. You will be thankful you did.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Running in the rain
Today the plan was to run a nice easy 8-10K. After doing 32K yesterday I was a little sore for about 1-2 hours and then I was feeling fine. It still amazes me at how quickly my body is able to recover. When I first started running it took days for some of the soreness to go away and now 2 years later I'm healing faster.
When I woke up and saw that it was raining I had a big smile on my face. Running in the rain is something that I love to do. I think it has something to do with feeling "cleansed" while running. Another thing that I love is to see the looks on some of the drivers or people waiting in bus shelters. I'm sure they are probably thinking that this guy is nuts for running. I make sure that as I pass them I have a big smile on my face so they know that I am truly happy doing what I am doing. There isn't a weather condition that has prevented me from running and I like the fact that no matter the weather, I will be going for my run.
Today's run was 10k and I felt very strong towards the end. I'll probably do another 10K on Tuesday and Wednesday and then a long run on Thursday of 20K. I'm counting down the hours until the MudRun this Sunday. The fact that my kids will be doing their own mud run at the race on Sunday is what really is exciting me.
Participating in sports with your kids is the best way to show them all about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
When I woke up and saw that it was raining I had a big smile on my face. Running in the rain is something that I love to do. I think it has something to do with feeling "cleansed" while running. Another thing that I love is to see the looks on some of the drivers or people waiting in bus shelters. I'm sure they are probably thinking that this guy is nuts for running. I make sure that as I pass them I have a big smile on my face so they know that I am truly happy doing what I am doing. There isn't a weather condition that has prevented me from running and I like the fact that no matter the weather, I will be going for my run.
Today's run was 10k and I felt very strong towards the end. I'll probably do another 10K on Tuesday and Wednesday and then a long run on Thursday of 20K. I'm counting down the hours until the MudRun this Sunday. The fact that my kids will be doing their own mud run at the race on Sunday is what really is exciting me.
Participating in sports with your kids is the best way to show them all about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Another long run in the books
After taking Saturday off from running, I met up with a few friends on Sunday morning for a run. Some of us were doing 32K in preparation for the 50K run/race in 3 weeks while others were doing 20+K. It was nice to have a group to run with as it becomes harder to do those long runs when you are by yourself.
Today's run took 3 hours and 12 minutes or just over 6 minutes per Kilometer. That is roughly the speed we will be going when we do the 50K. Towards the end,I felt the need to go a little faster. There is something about kicking it into gear towards the end of a long run which I feel satisfying. Luckily I had my music with me and it helped to keep me motivated.
My friends know that it's something that I just have to do for me so they don't take it as me wanting to show off. I like the final push during a long run so I can simulate the race feeling. As soon as I started to push it, though, I could feel that my right quad was beginning to cramp a little. I had taken some E-Load capsule just before starting my mini speed run and this seemed to help as the cramps only came for a few seconds and then went away as I eased up a little.
Even though I haven't seen any scientific evidence to prove that going faster increases cramping, I've noticed that as soon as I push myself a little more on a long run I feel the cramps coming on. I don't experience this on any of of my shorter runs though even when my pace quickens to 4:45 per Kilometer.
During the 50K the stations are stocked with lots of things like bananas and salted pretzels so I'm hoping that these things will help if I experience cramping once again.
This will be my last long run until the 50K so I will use these next few weeks to rest up and prepare for that day. My longest run will probably be no more than 20K between now and then so I'll stick to doing plenty of "ME" runs averaging between 8-12K.
Today's run took 3 hours and 12 minutes or just over 6 minutes per Kilometer. That is roughly the speed we will be going when we do the 50K. Towards the end,I felt the need to go a little faster. There is something about kicking it into gear towards the end of a long run which I feel satisfying. Luckily I had my music with me and it helped to keep me motivated.
My friends know that it's something that I just have to do for me so they don't take it as me wanting to show off. I like the final push during a long run so I can simulate the race feeling. As soon as I started to push it, though, I could feel that my right quad was beginning to cramp a little. I had taken some E-Load capsule just before starting my mini speed run and this seemed to help as the cramps only came for a few seconds and then went away as I eased up a little.
Even though I haven't seen any scientific evidence to prove that going faster increases cramping, I've noticed that as soon as I push myself a little more on a long run I feel the cramps coming on. I don't experience this on any of of my shorter runs though even when my pace quickens to 4:45 per Kilometer.
During the 50K the stations are stocked with lots of things like bananas and salted pretzels so I'm hoping that these things will help if I experience cramping once again.
This will be my last long run until the 50K so I will use these next few weeks to rest up and prepare for that day. My longest run will probably be no more than 20K between now and then so I'll stick to doing plenty of "ME" runs averaging between 8-12K.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Your passion "candle" will only grow brighter over time!
Today during my 10K run I thought about the last 2 years and how my life has changed so much. In that span I have left a job, got separated and discovered a new passion called running.
I thought about the many friends I've made along the way and how truly lucky I am to have not just friends but really close friends who I can lean on and who know that they can lean on me when they need to.
I feel that I have not only embraced the sport of running but that I try to spread the gospel whenever and wherever I can. I've taught a learn to run clinic and have convinced more than a dozen people to try a running clinic or even just to go out and run.
The more I run, the more I feel that I am not only helping myself but also helping others as well. I honestly never thought that when I started running I would have people actually looking up to me and asking me questions about running.
When you have a passion though, and most people know that mine is running, it becomes natural to just to want to talk about it. Most people understand that when I start to talk about running it is something that I enjoy doing. There are only a few close friends though, who really understand what running means to me and I'm thankful for that.
Whatever your passion is, and hopefully it is something that is healthy, I hope you treat it as a special gift. Some people go through their whole lives wondering what their passion is and sadly, some never find it. If I hadn't been open to the idea of running 2 years ago I never would have discovered that I had this passion for running. I used to hate running and never quite understood why people would do this type of activity. Keeping an open mind allowed me to at least try this new activity. Exposing yourself to many different activities is the key to helping you discover what activity truly makes you happy. If going to they gym is something you do but really don't "enjoy" it, then look for something else.
You need to find something that you love doing and not only look forward to but something that you will make time to do for yourself. I hear too many clients complaining about the fact that they have busy schedules and no time for exercise. When I sit down with them and go over their schedules, I show them where they can fit in at least 1 hour of exercise per day. Most will at least give it a try but the ones who have the most success with losing and keeping their weight off are the ones who make it a priority in their lives.
Just remember that like a tornado that gathers power as it goes along, your passion will grow larger and larger with each passing day.
Good luck finding yours!
I thought about the many friends I've made along the way and how truly lucky I am to have not just friends but really close friends who I can lean on and who know that they can lean on me when they need to.
I feel that I have not only embraced the sport of running but that I try to spread the gospel whenever and wherever I can. I've taught a learn to run clinic and have convinced more than a dozen people to try a running clinic or even just to go out and run.
The more I run, the more I feel that I am not only helping myself but also helping others as well. I honestly never thought that when I started running I would have people actually looking up to me and asking me questions about running.
When you have a passion though, and most people know that mine is running, it becomes natural to just to want to talk about it. Most people understand that when I start to talk about running it is something that I enjoy doing. There are only a few close friends though, who really understand what running means to me and I'm thankful for that.
Whatever your passion is, and hopefully it is something that is healthy, I hope you treat it as a special gift. Some people go through their whole lives wondering what their passion is and sadly, some never find it. If I hadn't been open to the idea of running 2 years ago I never would have discovered that I had this passion for running. I used to hate running and never quite understood why people would do this type of activity. Keeping an open mind allowed me to at least try this new activity. Exposing yourself to many different activities is the key to helping you discover what activity truly makes you happy. If going to they gym is something you do but really don't "enjoy" it, then look for something else.
You need to find something that you love doing and not only look forward to but something that you will make time to do for yourself. I hear too many clients complaining about the fact that they have busy schedules and no time for exercise. When I sit down with them and go over their schedules, I show them where they can fit in at least 1 hour of exercise per day. Most will at least give it a try but the ones who have the most success with losing and keeping their weight off are the ones who make it a priority in their lives.
Just remember that like a tornado that gathers power as it goes along, your passion will grow larger and larger with each passing day.
Good luck finding yours!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Finding your inner strength to succeed
While I was running my 10K this morning, I thought about my clients and some of the struggles they are having to stay with the program I have put them on. Some do not get the kind of support they need from their family. With the majority of my clients women, I'm sad to report that most do not get the kind of support they should from their husbands/boyfriends. I've seen more than a few cases where the spouse becomes a negative instead of a positive influence on the one who is trying to lose weight. It's almost like they don't them to succeed. You would expect the opposite to be the case and while there are some who are supportive, I see many who are not. Part of the reason for this is that it makes the person who is not trying to lose weight take a hard look at themselves. The better and harder the person is working at improving themselves, the worse it makes the other person look.
In addition to this, when someone begins to lose weight there is usually lots of people who take notice right away and are very supportive. However, as time goes on the compliments become less and less. The reason? It's the same as the one I talked about previously. People will not constantly heap praise on someone who is losing weight especially if the majority of these people are not doing anything to improve themselves. The saying of "misery loves company" certainly applies here.
I think that's one of the reasons why I enjoy my running so much. I'm surrounded by lots of positive people who all have their own goals and they are working hard at trying to achieve them. Having a good support network can really help BUT if you don't have one it doesn't mean you can't succeed.
Most of my runs are on my own and I feel that I am self-driven. While I certainly enjoy running with other people, I don't have to run with them to achieve my goals. In fact, during a race or any run for that matter, I still have to be the one doing the running. There have been runs where I've had to dig a little deeper to finish. It is during these times that I call upon my inner strength to help me. I use plenty of mental imagery and have probably run more races in my mind than on the roads. I try to think about anything except running. In fact, if I actually looked at the amount of mileage I do on a regular basis, I may start agreeing with the trainers at the gym who call me crazy.
With regards to weight loss, I encourage my clients to use visual cues wherever they can. I've told them to hang up some clothes which they want to fit into so they can see it on a daily basis or even keeping a picture of what they want to look like in their wallet.
When things are tough try and recall these cues and ask yourself if you getting closer or farther away from these goals.
Whatever you need to use though, try and remember that you have the capability of doing anything that you put your mind to.
In addition to this, when someone begins to lose weight there is usually lots of people who take notice right away and are very supportive. However, as time goes on the compliments become less and less. The reason? It's the same as the one I talked about previously. People will not constantly heap praise on someone who is losing weight especially if the majority of these people are not doing anything to improve themselves. The saying of "misery loves company" certainly applies here.
I think that's one of the reasons why I enjoy my running so much. I'm surrounded by lots of positive people who all have their own goals and they are working hard at trying to achieve them. Having a good support network can really help BUT if you don't have one it doesn't mean you can't succeed.
Most of my runs are on my own and I feel that I am self-driven. While I certainly enjoy running with other people, I don't have to run with them to achieve my goals. In fact, during a race or any run for that matter, I still have to be the one doing the running. There have been runs where I've had to dig a little deeper to finish. It is during these times that I call upon my inner strength to help me. I use plenty of mental imagery and have probably run more races in my mind than on the roads. I try to think about anything except running. In fact, if I actually looked at the amount of mileage I do on a regular basis, I may start agreeing with the trainers at the gym who call me crazy.
With regards to weight loss, I encourage my clients to use visual cues wherever they can. I've told them to hang up some clothes which they want to fit into so they can see it on a daily basis or even keeping a picture of what they want to look like in their wallet.
When things are tough try and recall these cues and ask yourself if you getting closer or farther away from these goals.
Whatever you need to use though, try and remember that you have the capability of doing anything that you put your mind to.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Running + Great Friends = an amazing time!
I just finished running 20K with two amazing runners and I felt energized afterwards. It's funny but I seemed to get stronger the longer I was out there and today I felt like I could have run forever. Some days are better than others and today was just one of those days. I didn't suffer from cramping, my pace was nice and even (maybe a little fast at times right Nancy?). We did a challenging route with a few tough hills and even did a mini trail run into Greenwood Park.
The weather wasn't as hot as it was last Friday which seemed to help. This was a good training run in preparation for the 50K in June. We'll do another long run on Sunday of 32K and then start to bring the mileage down to prepare for that race. I'm trying not to call it a "race" as I don't want to put a time goal on myself (although I do want to improve upon last year). This will be the first 50K for two of my friends and I don't want them to experience what I did last year so we'll run together for as long as we can.
Tomorrow I will probably do between 8-10K, rest on Friday and then either do a trail run or walk on Saturday and the 32K run on Sunday.
With two races planned for June (Mud Run June 10th and 50K June 23rd) it is shaping up to be a great month of running!
The weather wasn't as hot as it was last Friday which seemed to help. This was a good training run in preparation for the 50K in June. We'll do another long run on Sunday of 32K and then start to bring the mileage down to prepare for that race. I'm trying not to call it a "race" as I don't want to put a time goal on myself (although I do want to improve upon last year). This will be the first 50K for two of my friends and I don't want them to experience what I did last year so we'll run together for as long as we can.
Tomorrow I will probably do between 8-10K, rest on Friday and then either do a trail run or walk on Saturday and the 32K run on Sunday.
With two races planned for June (Mud Run June 10th and 50K June 23rd) it is shaping up to be a great month of running!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
The Niagara 50K aka "unfinished business"
With the disappointment of my last marathon in my rear view mirror, I turn my attention to my next race. In late June I will be running a 50K race.
When I ran this race last year I had a goal of doing it in 5 hours or less. I fell a little short (5:04) and it was a struggle just to get there. At the 35K mark I had nothing left and my pace fell off substantially. Theresa and I were running together for most of that race and then we started running with another runner for some of that. While the two of them were doing well with their pace, it was clear that I was not. They stayed with me for as long as they could but eventually I told them just to go ahead. The last 15K was extremely difficult. Not only was I running slowly, which aggravated me to no end, I also didn't have my music with me. To make things even worse, there were no other runners around for long stretches of time.
During regular marathons, unless you are a Kenyan, there is never a point in the race where you don't see a runner. This can be a good way to keep your mind occupied during a race. Some people play a game of "catch" with certain runners and you stop thinking about how much longer you have to run. In trail races there are fewer runners competing and it is very common for you not to see a runner for long stretches of time. This adds to the mystique of the ultra marathon races.
I'm lucky to be going with some great friends and we will be running the race mostly together. I'm not putting a time goal for this race but I obviously would like to do better than last year. I feel that my conditioning is better than it was this time last year so that should help.
The one factor that nobody can do anything about, though, is the weather. With a start time of 7:00 AM, we will be hoping for a nice cool day rather than a really hot one. I'm very fortunate that the hot weather doesn't seem to affect me and I think I actually prefer it as I usually get cold so quickly.
I've been experimenting with different electrolyte supplements (GU2O, Sharkies and E-Load capsules) to try and combat my cramping problems. During my long run last week I didn't have any cramping problems and I loaded up on the E-Load capsules before and during the run.
I spoke to a very good runner this morning who had to drop out of the Ottawa Marathon after 5K because of her cramping problems. She experienced severe cramps in her quads and couldn't even walk. Listening to her talk brought back the memories of my last race. I'm hoping that these supplements work their magic so I don't have to worry about that problem again. Fortunately at the 50K race there are aid stations every 5K. I call them "mini-marts" as there are things such as pretzels, bananas, candies, water and gatoraide available for the runners.
The 50K race, at least for me, needs to be run a very comfortable pace and you have to realize that your body will be running for anywhere from 4.5 to 5 hours.
Although it's "only" 8K longer than a marathon, it's those last 8K that will test your mental strength. It's probably why I enjoy this challenge so much.
Talking about it at the gym today I could see the trainers and others looking at me like I was crazy. I think I like the fact that they don't "get" the thrill that I get from running. It just means that there's more room on the roads/trails for me to run.......
When I ran this race last year I had a goal of doing it in 5 hours or less. I fell a little short (5:04) and it was a struggle just to get there. At the 35K mark I had nothing left and my pace fell off substantially. Theresa and I were running together for most of that race and then we started running with another runner for some of that. While the two of them were doing well with their pace, it was clear that I was not. They stayed with me for as long as they could but eventually I told them just to go ahead. The last 15K was extremely difficult. Not only was I running slowly, which aggravated me to no end, I also didn't have my music with me. To make things even worse, there were no other runners around for long stretches of time.
During regular marathons, unless you are a Kenyan, there is never a point in the race where you don't see a runner. This can be a good way to keep your mind occupied during a race. Some people play a game of "catch" with certain runners and you stop thinking about how much longer you have to run. In trail races there are fewer runners competing and it is very common for you not to see a runner for long stretches of time. This adds to the mystique of the ultra marathon races.
I'm lucky to be going with some great friends and we will be running the race mostly together. I'm not putting a time goal for this race but I obviously would like to do better than last year. I feel that my conditioning is better than it was this time last year so that should help.
The one factor that nobody can do anything about, though, is the weather. With a start time of 7:00 AM, we will be hoping for a nice cool day rather than a really hot one. I'm very fortunate that the hot weather doesn't seem to affect me and I think I actually prefer it as I usually get cold so quickly.
I've been experimenting with different electrolyte supplements (GU2O, Sharkies and E-Load capsules) to try and combat my cramping problems. During my long run last week I didn't have any cramping problems and I loaded up on the E-Load capsules before and during the run.
I spoke to a very good runner this morning who had to drop out of the Ottawa Marathon after 5K because of her cramping problems. She experienced severe cramps in her quads and couldn't even walk. Listening to her talk brought back the memories of my last race. I'm hoping that these supplements work their magic so I don't have to worry about that problem again. Fortunately at the 50K race there are aid stations every 5K. I call them "mini-marts" as there are things such as pretzels, bananas, candies, water and gatoraide available for the runners.
The 50K race, at least for me, needs to be run a very comfortable pace and you have to realize that your body will be running for anywhere from 4.5 to 5 hours.
Although it's "only" 8K longer than a marathon, it's those last 8K that will test your mental strength. It's probably why I enjoy this challenge so much.
Talking about it at the gym today I could see the trainers and others looking at me like I was crazy. I think I like the fact that they don't "get" the thrill that I get from running. It just means that there's more room on the roads/trails for me to run.......
Monday, May 28, 2007
Striving for perfection
I'm probably harder on myself than most people when it comes to many aspects of my life. Nothing seems to be the way it should be. I've yet to run the "perfect race." I don't have the body that I want etc., etc....
What makes this interesting, is the fact that my quest for perfection keeps me motivated to keep going and yet there are many times that I forget about the successes that I've had along the way. This past weekend my son and I fixed up my office and I decided to hang up my medals, trophy and plaque and running bibs in my basement. I did this as a reminder to myself about the races that I've done. Each one holds a special place in my heart and when I look at each of them I can take myself back to that race and the different challenges that I had to overcome.
Being happy about our accomplishments is something that I talk to my clients about on a regular basis. Are we ever going to be satisfied with how we look? If we don't feel good about ourselves is it really going to matter to us if someone tells us that we look "good?"
There are things about myself that I know I'll never be happy about and in all likelihood I'll probably never reach certain goals that I've set for myself. Accepting that used to be seen as a failure but I'm starting to realize that it's the imperfections in all of us that make us who we are. That doesn't mean that I, or anyone for that matter, should "settle" for things that we can control. Instead, what it means is that it's important to celebrate our imperfections and do what we can to embrace them while still working hard to try and accomplish our goals.
When it comes to my running, I know that my last race was a very humbling experience. I worked as hard as humanly possible to reach my goal but it didn't happen. It was disappointing to be sure, but there are parts of that race that I can feel good about. I probably worked harder to finish that race than any other race that I've done so I can celebrate the fact that I finished the race. I've spoken to a few runners who also had bad races that day and one of them even said that she may never run another marathon again. That's one thing that I can honestly say hasn't crossed my mind. Instead, I'm using that experience as a learning tool.
There is a fine line between complacency and obsession but it truly begins with how you feel about yourself and not how others see you.
What makes this interesting, is the fact that my quest for perfection keeps me motivated to keep going and yet there are many times that I forget about the successes that I've had along the way. This past weekend my son and I fixed up my office and I decided to hang up my medals, trophy and plaque and running bibs in my basement. I did this as a reminder to myself about the races that I've done. Each one holds a special place in my heart and when I look at each of them I can take myself back to that race and the different challenges that I had to overcome.
Being happy about our accomplishments is something that I talk to my clients about on a regular basis. Are we ever going to be satisfied with how we look? If we don't feel good about ourselves is it really going to matter to us if someone tells us that we look "good?"
There are things about myself that I know I'll never be happy about and in all likelihood I'll probably never reach certain goals that I've set for myself. Accepting that used to be seen as a failure but I'm starting to realize that it's the imperfections in all of us that make us who we are. That doesn't mean that I, or anyone for that matter, should "settle" for things that we can control. Instead, what it means is that it's important to celebrate our imperfections and do what we can to embrace them while still working hard to try and accomplish our goals.
When it comes to my running, I know that my last race was a very humbling experience. I worked as hard as humanly possible to reach my goal but it didn't happen. It was disappointing to be sure, but there are parts of that race that I can feel good about. I probably worked harder to finish that race than any other race that I've done so I can celebrate the fact that I finished the race. I've spoken to a few runners who also had bad races that day and one of them even said that she may never run another marathon again. That's one thing that I can honestly say hasn't crossed my mind. Instead, I'm using that experience as a learning tool.
There is a fine line between complacency and obsession but it truly begins with how you feel about yourself and not how others see you.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Kids and running
I was happy to read in this months Runners World magazine a good article about running and children. Most of it focused on how and when to introduce running to children.
I've often talked about how much I enjoy watching my kids run, especially in the trails. Today, my youngest asked me if we could run together. I'm sure he noticed the large smile on my face and of course I said "Yes!"
The three of us, his big brother also came, went to the Rotary Park. We then did some light running together all at the same pace. This was the first of hopefully many runs we will do together. We played a game of "tag" to keep things interesting as we all know that children have short attention spans. Keeping the running fun and interesting is the best idea so at different times we would play different running games.
After the run my youngest asked me about running and how he should swing his arms. They both really seemed to enjoy it today which of course made me very proud.
They will be doing the Mud Run on June 10th and they seem really excited about this.
I've often talked about how much I enjoy watching my kids run, especially in the trails. Today, my youngest asked me if we could run together. I'm sure he noticed the large smile on my face and of course I said "Yes!"
The three of us, his big brother also came, went to the Rotary Park. We then did some light running together all at the same pace. This was the first of hopefully many runs we will do together. We played a game of "tag" to keep things interesting as we all know that children have short attention spans. Keeping the running fun and interesting is the best idea so at different times we would play different running games.
After the run my youngest asked me about running and how he should swing his arms. They both really seemed to enjoy it today which of course made me very proud.
They will be doing the Mud Run on June 10th and they seem really excited about this.
Friday, May 25, 2007
You have to know when to hold em and know when to fold em!
The plan today was to do a 36K run at 9AM but as we felt the stifling heat, it was obvious that this would be a challenge. Luckily for me, I seem to do better in the heat so I actually didn't mind it as much but I didn't see the purpose in running 36K with the last 10 being on my own. After running alone all week I was looking forward to the company today. The route that Nancy picked was perfect as we hit the 26K mark right at the Pickering Running Room.
This was the longest run since my marathon in May and even though I felt good physically I didn't see the reason for running an additional 10K on my own. It wasn't easy, though, as I a part of me felt like I should do what I was supposed to do today. However, I ran a total of 71K's this week so an extra 10 isn't going to make or break my training for the 50K. In fact, I'm taking such a relaxed attitude towards this race that I feel like I can run it now.
The way the 50K race is set up, water/food stations every 5K, it's like a "mini-run" within a race. The 5K should take anywhere from 27-30 minutes at a nice steady pace which is what my goal is for this race. After last year's difficult finish, more on that another time, I'm calling this race "unfinished business."
Thanks Nancy and Kelly for sticking it out today, you two are amazing runners!
This was the longest run since my marathon in May and even though I felt good physically I didn't see the reason for running an additional 10K on my own. It wasn't easy, though, as I a part of me felt like I should do what I was supposed to do today. However, I ran a total of 71K's this week so an extra 10 isn't going to make or break my training for the 50K. In fact, I'm taking such a relaxed attitude towards this race that I feel like I can run it now.
The way the 50K race is set up, water/food stations every 5K, it's like a "mini-run" within a race. The 5K should take anywhere from 27-30 minutes at a nice steady pace which is what my goal is for this race. After last year's difficult finish, more on that another time, I'm calling this race "unfinished business."
Thanks Nancy and Kelly for sticking it out today, you two are amazing runners!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Running this week
This week I've been doing plenty of "ME" runs and I've noticed something very interesting. Although my intent is to go out at an easy pace, I find that by the time I've finished I've run quite a bit faster than I had intended. What surprises me more than anything is the fact that it "feels" like I'm running slowly. This week I've run a total of 45KM's and my average pace for these have been a 5:05 min/K.
Tomorrow I will be running between 32-36K and I'm looking forward that run as I get to run it with one of my best friends. It seems like forever since we've been able to run together so it will be nice to catch up on some gossip....
The training I'm doing now will prepare me for my 50K race in June. I feel like I have a good base now so I don't think I will do too much speed/track work. Instead I'll just focus on my long runs and more of the runs on my own.
Tomorrow I will be running between 32-36K and I'm looking forward that run as I get to run it with one of my best friends. It seems like forever since we've been able to run together so it will be nice to catch up on some gossip....
The training I'm doing now will prepare me for my 50K race in June. I feel like I have a good base now so I don't think I will do too much speed/track work. Instead I'll just focus on my long runs and more of the runs on my own.
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