Life Update – we are outnumbered again

When we lost Moe I really didn’t want to get another pet.  Yes it meant that our remaining cat was alone but I didn’t really relish the idea of going through the whole kitten thing again etc.  

As usual, the hubs had other ideas and sometimes arguing isn’t worth it.  (I kid…not really.)  So the Friday before the marathon, these two twerps came home:

M is the light coloured one, Pre the other.  (Guess the ‘origin’ of their names…win a prize?)

The eldest 4 legged resident, Goose, wasn’t real pleased about it.  He is coming around but I still think he hopes a black hole will open up and swallow them. 

I forgot how….fun…kittens are.  There is a lot of serious running around going on and friggin’ cat toys everywhere.  (they were given to us from the person we got them from)  The conversation in the house is a lot of:

• “where is M/Pre/Goose?”
• ‘Don’t go in there / Get out of there!!”
• “Don’t jump on me!”  (I’ve been used as a climbing post 5 times to date)
• “You guys are hunger again?!”
• “Be quiet or you will wake them up!”

Technorati Tags: cats,tonkinese

We have a giant ‘bed’ for them and yet they insist on squishing into the small one. 

As you can see, Pre is the most mellow fellow thus far with little modesty.

So yet again, the humans are outnumbered.  If I could get ANY of them to use a vaccum, my life would be complete.

Goodlife Toronto Marathon 2013 Race Report

On Sunday I ran my 5th marathon.  Well really my 4 and 2/3rd marathon because of last year’s Mississauga fiasco.    To be honest after that race I never thought I would run a marathon again.  I know I said that many times last year….

Training went well through the Winter and cruddy Spring that we had.  I knew it was a stronger runner going into this marathon but again…anything can happen on race day.  We headed into TO for the expo (just ok and $10 to park – not cool.)  I discovered with my lovely friends that a glass of Proseco is good hydration before a race.

Race morning came with an early wake up as we had to make it from the hotel to the race start.  Though I had a throwaway on it was not needed at all…it was already warm at 7:30 am.  Seeing as we had not had one training run that had been this warm, I knew it may be a bit of a slog. 

I was lucky this race to have 3 friends to run with through much of the race.   We were together, apart, ahead/behind each other for the whole race which for me made a huge difference.   I am lucky to have such peeps in my life!

Busted on a walk break just after the Casa Loma hill:

Like any long race it was a battle in certain spots BUT overall I felt a lot better than I have in any marathon I have ever done.  In the end I had a 26min PB over my best time from back in 2010.  Still slow at 5:25 but slowly getting better. 

The giant medal made some of the pain in my quads dissipate:

The awesome peeps from my run group:

Giant Medal Heads:

The best use of a medal yet:

While I did have a good run experience at the Goodlife Toronto Marathon, I don’t think I will do this race again.  I understand that organizing a race like this take a lot BUT if you are trying to make it a great event (and are in competition for other marathons running on the same day – Mississauga, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, New Jersey) you have to step it up.

The good:

• Cool medals and nice race t-shirt
• lots of volunteers
• interesting (but tough) race route
• lots of spectators

The bad: 

• water stops that were unorganized and were not consistent with water/Gatorade not always being in the same spot
• water stops running out of cups AND Gatorade
• no marshalling on the trail part of the route so we were side stepping strollers, pedestrians and cyclists who were ringing their bells at us. (FU buddy…)
• the only food left when I finished (well within the time limit) were white bagels and a few not so great oranges.  No water or bananas left.  Thank goodness the Milk on the Go people stepped it up!
• Organizers limited race kit pick up to 3 per person (yours plus one other).  They flat out posted the reason for this was to encourage people to come to the expo as the sponsors paid a lot of money to be there….they need to hire new PR people….

I definitely don’t regret the race at all.  Post race I did some serious hobbling on Monday and Tuesday – thank goodness my work has bathrooms with hand rails in them!  

I am now in planner mode for the next great adventure…stay tuned…

Technorati Tags: Goodlife Toronto Marathon,2013 running

April Recap

See ya April…you and your crappy weather will not be missed.

Km ran:  225

Yoga classes:  13

Favourite  April workout:   Though the weather was cruddy, I had some pretty good runs this month.  Our 36.4 km training run was tough but for me one of my best ones yet.  Plus we had friends over for food, wine and golf which is a recovery bonus in my books.

Favourite race/run:   The hubs and I and some friends ran the Mercedes Benz 10km race April 21st.  PBs for both of us and some sweet medals.

Current reads:  Finally got some ‘easy’ reading in while on vacay.

http://www.deankoontz.com/odd-interlude/

Current shame inducing guilty pleasure:   Right after our 10km race, we went to Arizona for a week.  It was awesome.  We still did our training but there was also food, drinks and pool time.  It was my bday week after all….

 

Current song:

Current Wish list:  I always dedicate my yoga practices to my family, friends and hubs to be safe, happy and healthy.  This little spot is for me to be selfish and wish for a PB for me on Sunday.

source

Current bane of my existence:  Believing in my training for Sunday’s festivities.  (see below)

Favourite recipe:  White beans, kale, lemon juice, S&P and garlic sauteed together and served with….whatever.  Rice, crusty bread, on its own. 

Current excitement/freak out:  Nothing much…just a really long run I am doing on Sunday.

Whose racing this weekend? 

I wish I had the right words for Boston

I feel like I have been in a fog since Monday afternoon.  It started as a great day – I found a feed that I could stream Boston and watched in awe of the elites.  I tracked my friends through the day and was happy to hear about others who were there cheering people on.  It then turned to joy about hearing that everyone I knew was ok to the terror of watching what was happening. 

I feel sick.  And sad.  And angry.  And despair.

There are a lot of tragedies and senseless acts that happen in this world.  I know they are upsetting to me and I feel a huge amount of sympathy for those affected but the events in Boston have left me with an overwhelming amount of empathy as to what happened and it has affected way more than I thought anything could.

Why?  Cause to me, this is my “Home”.    This was my family that was affected:  the people out cheering the runners, the volunteers manning the race, the actual runners out there looking for a PB or enjoying the amazing day that it should have been.   This is me, my family, my friends.

In the blink of an eye, lives were lost and people changed forever.  And is fucking sucks/is unfair/blows/bites/is senseless. 

I ran on Tuesday with such a heavy heart.  To be honest I really didn’t want to at all.  But I thought of what my “Home” has given to me and I knew I had to at least try to give back to it.  I ran in my NYC Half shirt that ended covered in sweat…and tears. 

I’m never going to BQ.  Doesn’t mean I don’t get its allure to runners or I can still have it as a pie in the eye goal.  I’ll keep reaching for that goal and support my running community for anyone else striving for that goal and any other they chose.

No one can take that away from us.

To the people who were affected by the scum that did this, my thoughts and prayers are there for you.  I wish I had the right words….

I am not going to hide from fear….I am going to run at it.  

March Recap

Km ran:  222

Yoga classes:  15

Favourite  March workout:   My races were a blast but my fav workout was also the most difficult I have ever done (seriously) which was a 75 min hot yoga flow class.  It was like yoga on steroids at double time.

Favourite race/run:  I did 3 races in March.  The Chilly (PB!), NYC Half (finally a neg split!) and Around the Bay (PB!)  They are all my favourites for different reasons and yes race reports are coming for NYC/ATB.  NYC may have a slight favourite-er only because I actually have a race pic where I am smiling.

Current reads:  Still a big fat nothing on this front.  I am going to get something to read for when I have a few days off this month.

Current shame inducing guilty pleasure: There were some new dress purchases while we were in NYC.  They were on sale with an extra discout but still $ for me.  Of course if Spring doesn’t shape up, I won’t get to wear these anytime soon.

Current song:

Current Wish list:  Keep on a-running even when it hurts.

Current bane of my existence:  This slow start to spring.  Come on Mother Nature….I put my winter run stuff away and it is not coming back out to warm up already.

Favourite recipe:  Potato and Black bean Salad (with some variations from the original recipe)

Cut 1 pound fingerling potatoes and 1 sweet potato into small pieces.  Wrap in foil package with salt, pepper and olive oil.  Cook on the BBQ until soft.   (you can cook the taters in boiling water until a knife easily pierces potatoes, 15 minutes but BBQing them is way easier and makes them a bit sweeter.)

Whisk 1 teaspoon each chopped shallot and Dijon mustard, 3 tablespoons sherry or white wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin. Whisk in 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil and a bit of black pepper.  While still warm, toss with  dressing;  and 1 15-ounce can spicy black beans, drained and seasoned with lime juice. Options:  add in chopped cilantro and goat cheese as toppings.

Current excitement/freak out:  I bowed to peer pressure:

Yep..signed up for the Goodlife Full Marathon.  Fuck.

Seriously people…give me some reading suggestions.  My brain is turning to mush.

Three for Thursday – the busy/race/Irish edition

1.  The last few weeks have been buSy-aH.  I’ve taken on some new projects at work that are right up my alley (plan/organize = happy) but it is looking like more work than I anticipated.  This teamed up with workouts, keeping up with life/family/friends and a cat who is lost without his buddy is giving me stress.  When that happens and it is coupled with an upcoming trip, my nervous system goes into overdrive.  I should buy stock in Pepto Bismol and Tums.

2.  On the workout front, I am really happy with training and kicking some butt.  I’m pleasantly sore and have some anxiety about the upcoming Around the Bay race but at this point, I am focusing on the achievements I’ve made so far this year.

3.  Sunday I’m running this puppy for the second time:

2011 in Times Square:

There are zero expectations for this race.  I do have a 7/7/7 km split challenge for myself to see if I can actually something as a negative split.  I may have to run 8min kms at first to do it but hey, its worth a try.   I am praying my lovely housesitter is still speaking with me after living with an 9lb cat who wails like a banshee.

Since the race is actually on St Paddy’s Day (my Irish Grandma would be so proud) we may be doing a little of this after the race:

 

What’s up with your weekend?  Are you getting your Irish on?

Chilly Half Marathon - Race Report

After spending the Summer/Fall doing a ton of racing, it was nice to finally get back to racing this past weekend.  This was the 5th year I have run in the Chilly events and the Chilly in 2008 was my first half marathon ever.

Lumbering to a 2:53 finish time back in ‘08.

Training has been going well…really well actually except for the whole:  “Mother Nature being a beeyotch and throwing icy sidewalks at us.  I even resorted the week before to doing something I never thought I would do before –spend more than a few hrs on the ‘mill.

I spent just over 3 to be exact.

I actually did 2 things I have never done before a race.  1)  On Friday I met my friend (and 2:15 pacer) for a run that wasn’t short or slow.  2)  On Saturday, I did hot yoga first thing in the morning.  Nothing like mixing it up when you want to try to PB in a race. 

Race day was fine.  No icy sidewalks or footing (for a change MN…) and just a bit cool.  I was slightly overdressed but nothing major.  We met our friends and headed out to the race.

The race itself went really well.  I really didn’t want to be time/pace watching so my plan was to just run until 45min so I could take a gel.  45min became 50 as I good song came on and I didn’t want to stop.  :) 

Everything went fine until around 18km where the wheels really starting coming off.  I was nauseous and really really slowed down but just did what I could to keep going.  My overall goal was a 2:20 finish and I ended up a 2:18 – overall a 7 min PB. 

Post race, there were friends, smiles and a giant White Russian to celebrate. 

I’ve got 2 more races in March – the NYC Half and Around the Bay.  I am truly hoping they are as good race experiences as this one was.