Decisions made and Progress

Saturday’s run was known as the exfoliating facial run – everywhere I ran, it was into the wind with itty bitty stingy ice pellets.  It was a chilly 8km run but I am very proud I did it. 

Sunday’s run was much better.  I ran to the clinic (4km) and ran 8.5km with the group.  While running, we found out that our group is now targeting a new marathon instead of a local one as originally planned. So in 8.5km I made the decision to do a full in May and it will be:

The Pittsburgh Marathon.  Weee!!!  I also had a great meeting with my coach and we are going to work in a lot of mental training this session.  My brain is out of shape I think.

Because of all the extra hrs I put in last week I had today off as lieu. So what better to do than….go bathing suit shopping.  We have a trip coming up and the one thing I don’t have is bathing attire.

Oy.

In the end, it turned out ok and I got 2 bathing suits:

this one:

but NOT this top …homey don’t show my middle.  And another 1pc that is all about the cleavage.

In the end:

-I didn’t cry, I didn’t get upset, I didn’t freak out and I didn’t cry for a martini while I was in the dressing room.

When I got home:

-I didn’t yell about ‘Skinny mirrors in the store” or “better lighting in the dressing room”.

….and that my friends is progress.

Four for Friday

1.  I have worked some cuckoo bananas hrs this week – 12-15 jammed packed hrs each day. I did get in 2 great runs on Wed night and Thursday night that saved my sanity.  I’m not discounting the power of a glass of vino to decompress but I am so thankful I am at the point in my life where I recognize that running/exercise is so important and I now CRAVE it.  It also means I am starting to rack up some good points for Amanada’s HBBC…WooHOo!!

2.  This week I made a wicked roast chicken…the key?  Marinade the whole thing in lemon juice, garlic and fresh rosemary for 24hrs.  Roast on top of fingerling potatoes…I tried to take pics but they looked like as$ so it’s imagination time… 

3.  I am not a Grinch but have been having some ‘grinchy’ attitude.  It just seems like a lot of people are really pushing the holiday season earlier and earlier.  I am trying to be less grouchy and put up a couple of decorations early:

and got the hubs his Advent calendar…though he is only in it for the chocolate:

4.  Our next run clinic starts on Tuesday.  Though I have seen most of my run friends regularly in our maintenance runs, it will be nice to see the bigger group out and begin our journey to the next race.

Have  a great weekend and Happy Long American weekend!  I get two days off as well…’cept they are Sat and Sunday…..

A 7 week and the FOOD

Thursday, Friday, Sat and Sunday I ran…7km each day.  On all days I said I would just run until I didn’t feel like it and they worked out to 7km.  Guess I like me some 7’s.  This week will have some more run what I want as well as a longer run.  (new clinic starts Nov 30th…YEAH!)

Sat night the hubs took me to our fav restaurant, BLACKTREE.  Special occasion means fun shoes:

The food:

1.  fresh baked bread with foie gras butter:

2.  Amuse bouche of  smoked Alaskan cod:

3.  Appetizer -  Foie gras, carmelized pineapple and….foie.gras.ice.cream:

4.  Palate cleanser - raspberry bomb:

5.  Main – chive scented hand rolled gnocchi with honey mushrooms and pork belly:

(The hubs had elk:)

6.  Dessert split 3 ways – hazelnut milk chocolate cake:

It was decadent and awesome and mouthwatering and the pics do no justice to it at all …I am glad I got some points in Amanda’a HBBC…and am going to kick ass in it this year.

Did you do anything ‘decadent’ this weekend?  Or are planning to?

Four for Friday – the pic edition

Apparently when I am not in full on training mode, there is only a bit of running, a whole lot of work, cooking and a catch up on chores.  So here are some pics to keep it fun.

1.  Me being wee:

 

You don’t have to tell me this isn’t a sweeeetttt jumper.  I can rock it.  And those shoes?  Forget about it…

2.  Me on my wedding day:

3.  The reason my heating bills are so high:

4. The race that started the running bug:

I have no idea what I am doing with my hands…or for that matter what I am actually wearing.

Hope your weekend is pic worthy.  I am running Sat and Sunday and getting taken out on Sat night for a final marathon celebration.  There will be awesome and weird food consumed and I can’t wait.

Weekend Shenanigans

(shenanigans is a fun word to type)

Saturday started with a run – first one since last week’s marathon. 

And it was awesome.  I think I had a grin on my face the whole time and just loved the 7.5km that I did which was supposed to be an easy pace but I was way faster than I should have been.  Guess the legs needed to run. 

Sat night we went out with the hubs training group for their year end party.  Laughs ensued and the hubs was a goof.

Sunday we headed out for an easy group run and heard lots of stories from our friends who ran the Athens marathon…the 2500 anniversary of the legendary Pheidippides’ run.  Which of course led to someone commenting on their favorite t-shirt they saw there:

Post run smilies at the clinic:

Sunday night was our run club dinner at Earls – which was awesome.

The purse made an appearance:

….and we somehow got talked into signed up for the NYC half marathon lottery.  If we get in, it means racing at the Chilly on March 6th, NYC March 20th and ATB March 27th.

…and I can’t wait. 

Four for Friday – the what next edition

1.  5 days post marathon, I feel pretty good.  I stopped walking like a penguin on Wednesday morning and other than some weird pains – one spot on my lower back, my rotator cuffs, I am ready to get back into some easy running starting tonight.

2.  I have been trying to not replay the race over and over, specifically the last 7km.  I have learned a lot from this race and know that I just need to really learn how to ‘race’ at this distance…for me just finishing a marathon isn’t enough anymore.

3. Our next clinic starts Nov 30th…just in time for my 2 yr run-a-versary with this great crew.  This also means spin, core and Sat boot camp start the week after.  Our coach has already given up some tastes of what is up for “Satan’s Saturday boot camp” as we are calling it:

-3 min of skipping, 3 min wall squats, 5 reps lunges –repeat, repeat, repeat followed by diamond push ups, regular push ups, 300 crunches etc.  And that is just the beginning all done after an hr spin class.  I used to like Saturdays….

4.  In prep for the next racing season, I’ve signed up for:

Boxing Day 10 Miler – I am quite excited for this race for some reason…

Peak Centre for Human Performance Chilly 1/2 marathon – PB planned….

Around the Bay – PB planned….

In terms of a full or half marathon for the Spring..I am still undecided.  Our group is targeting another small marathon:  Waterloo but I am leaning toward Mississauga just because I haven’t actually race the half or full there.  Decisions, decisions…

More Hamilton marathon pics:

me and my cousin-in-law – he had to stop at the 26km mark with severe foot pain while he was en route to a BQ…

Rest of the crew who raced/supported.  I love the reflective gear…

Happy weekend!  Is anyone else still in daylight savings recovery?  My body clock is wayyyyy screwed up. 

Road2Hope Race Report – PB with some regret

Another marathon done..and a PB by 20 min. I didn’t make my goal but did have some personal victories:

@10km and @ 21.1km- 2nd fastest times in a race

@15km , @30km and @35km– fastest times in a race

The wheels came off hard after 35km. I had cramping and a lot of breathing issues. I really wanted to stop…bad. The last 7km seemed insurmountable. But I didn’t…and ended up with a PB by 20min over the Flying Pig in May.

Some awesome friends waited for us on the Red Hill at the 26km mark – a wonderful site on a lonely stretch of highway…

The hubs snapped a pic at 35km – delirious to see some friends..

Post run back at home, the hubs was kind enough to make me a much needed coffee while I took an ice bath. When I was done, I found this waiting for me from the hubs:

Kate Spade bag the hubs got on his recent trip. He is the best.

The Good:

-having the school open before the race was great! We met all our friends in the atrium and had a nice warm place to wait.

-the route wasn’t exciting but overall pretty good…except the last km. It was way off and running over the gravel part did nothing for my huge blisters.

-the volunteers were great. We were doing a lot of yelling and cheering and they joined in heartily.

-my 2 friends who didn’t leave me and the rest of our friends who waited around to see us finish…THANKS!!

-the 2 people who came to saw hi that recognized me from the blog...HI! Leave me a comment as I cannot remember your names..I was getting nervous at that point... :)

The Bad:

-nutrition – I ate 3 GUs …that is it. No wonder I bonked hard. For some reason I thought I had gone through more – duh. Lots of improvement is needed here!

-blisters…again! They were bad again –including a huge blood blister that I have never had before. They were so gross I could not even take a pic of them.

-the last km – see above.

So… in each race I learn something and grow as a runner and person.

And in the end, no matter how slow I am..I get better, I don’t give up and keep on running in this never ending race.

thanks for sticking by…..

Laura

Four for Friday – the marathon edition

1.  New hair cut and colour makes you more aerodynamic right?  If not at least kicky:

2.  For all the comments on the my goals post, I thank you.  You guys are the best and though the nerves are kicking in, I am fighting off the negative thoughts with the promise of cookies at the end.

3.  Guess there is no going back now…

4.  When I saw my race number I said:  “Hmm..this should say 976-BABE”.  Any know where that is from? (and yes I will write babe on the bottom as well.  I.kill.myself.

To everyone racing this weekend (Hamilton, NYC etc) race hard and well and to everyone spectating and cheering….THANK YOU.  It means a lot.

Marathon #2 – goals

I have been having a tough time putting my goals ‘out there’…I am not sure why actually.  I am Capt Planner so this is right up my alley and the culmination of all the planning that has happened since June.  I guess it is because…

I just don’t know what will happen.

In marathon #1, it was such a clusterf*&^ of rain, lightening, humidity and blisters that it became for me survival and get to the finish line no matter how.  Now, it is different….

I have mastered the blisters, I have ran farther and faster during this round of training than the last time, I am injury-free, the weather is looking ‘ok’ at this point and the race in on Daylight Savings Sunday…EXTRA REST!

So  I am just biting the bullet, put ‘em out there and hit publish. 

1. Overall time goal: 5:15 – 5:20…yeah I know…it is slow compared to you guys but this is pretty big for me.  Looking at the km splits, I know I can hit them up to 30km and just need to…

2. NOT GIVE IN..this is where I have struggled in my long distance racing.  I let the idea of the finish being so far away and having to run for so much longer get to me and weigh me down.   Not.any.more.

3.  Own the Finish. I want to come into the finish like I did at the Chilly 1/2 in March – knowing I put it all out there and raced well/hard. For the Hamilton marathon, you have to turn around and come back along a bike path to the finish…and I have struggled on that very path in some of our training runs.  Now, I am not going into thinking about that path but to the line at the end.

4.  Be Awesome and release the Secret Awesomeness. Cause awesome is where it is at.

There they be.