2km short of a full Around the Bay

Well, well…quelle surprise…it snowed on Sat night/Sunday morning just in time for our long run.  All these snowy, slippery, blustery long runs better pay off on race day. 

Sunday we had our long run in Hamilton where we did the full Around the Bay Route:

We are lucky enough to have a member of our group own a company downtown so we were able to park there and leave all the stuff us runners have.  It started off ok – sun was shinning and because of a 7am start (!) there was no traffic so we were able to be on the road.  At ~9km, there is a house on the route that has these ‘horses’ in the front yard which we always say we would get a pic with…and yesterday was the day:

My awesome run friend, the horsies and SNOW!

It did get worse and worse as we went along the most boring part of the run from km 10-19km.  Oh and the wind picked up as well.  Sa-Weet..  I think because of the cruddy footing and zig zagging to avoid puddles, my knee started to hurt..by the time we hit the hills at 20km…it really hurt.  I didn’t want to stop and could have as we have an awesome support crew out who rove the route to make sure we are ok.  I let the group go ahead of me as I knew I was going to slow down but did not want to stop.  To make it scenic, I cut through the huge cemetery and ended up adding a bit of extra distance as I got a bit..lost.  Only I can do something like that…

With all of the extra mileage add-ons we had – different starting point, washrooms breaks etc., my Garmin ended right  on 28km when I made the decision to stop.  I am proud I didn’t take the outs and stop but am not happy with my knee right now. 

Ice to the rescue!

First race of 2011 is next Sunday….goals and plan to be part of Friday’s post.  Is anyone doing the Chilly getting their race kit on Friday afternoon??

‘26’ for Friday

This was a weird week for me.  Post run Sunday I felt good but Monday through yesterday I felt burned out so took some time off from exercise.  This has passed and I am looking forward to a treadmill run tonight, Saturday’s usual torture (100 push ups are now the starting point……) and a 30km run on Sunday on the Bay route.

To that end, here is some fun on Friday that has been floating around the blog-o-sphere:  The ABCs of me. (plus I am in writer’s block today…)

A – age:  old.  Deal with it.

B – bed size:  queen.  Like my title.

C – chore you hate:  Is all of them too broad?  OK – gardening, vacuuming, dusting, windexing…..

D – dogs:  Still miss our buddy Maverick but know that we are just too busy to have another one in our lives:

E – essential start of your day:  Water….how boring is that? 

F – Fav colour:  black, red

G – Gold or silver:  both but prefer silver

H – Height:  5ft 7in..though I think I am shrinking. (see A)

I – instruments I play:  nada…I can’t even whistle…the hubs says it hurts his ears when I do…

J – job title: Business Continuity Analyst (in training for queen of the world…)

K – kids:  zipppoooooo…..do hubs count?

L – live:  Burlington Ontario CANADA..

M – mom’s name: Janet

N – nicknames:  Lo; Lola (more like Copacabana no the Kinks)

O – overnight hospital stays: only when I had my tonsils taken out many yrs ago…

P – pet peeve:  waiting.  I seriously hate it and yet I am early for everything..meaning I end of waiting a lot. 

Q – quote from a movie: “Hey, maybe there's a little man in there... who looks just like you, but he's really good at running.”  (Run Fat Boy Run)

R – right or left handed: right

S – siblings: one of each

T – time you wake up:  5:30…basically every day.  I could ‘sleep in’ until 6:30 on Saturdays…but usually don’t.

U- underwear:  I prefer to call them underpants – it’s funnier

V – veg you dislike:  broccoli.  Dislike may be too gently a term

W – what makes you run late: of late SNOW…but usually that I am double checking to see if I have forgotten anything.

X – x-rays you have had done:  …I don’t think I have had an x-ray.  If I did…it wasn’t very exciting apparently.

Y – yummy food you make:  Kung Pao chicken, pumpkin bread, chilli

Z – Zoo, favorite animal:  I don’t like the zoo….it makes me sad actually…

Since we are running the full Bay route on Sunday starting at 7am (?!#@) my Friday night and Sat are revolving around resting up for that.  Hopefully you are doing something more exciting than me!

27km good run and some pretty things

Sunday was FINALLY a good long run day.  I have been struggling with running for a couple of weeks and beginning to get anxious about it.  It didn’t help that:

• Thursday’s run was my last hill training session.  I had the day off so I went to do them in the morning..right when we had a flash freeze.  I didn’t wipe-out but did a lot of ‘arm windmilling’ to stay upright.  10.5km later…the hills were done and so was I.
• Friday’s run was done in beautiful sunshine …and up to 70km/hr wind gusts.  I may have travelled more km backwards than forwards..

After Saturday mornings usual spin/core torture, I mentioned to our coach of my struggles, specifically that my legs were baked after a long run.  She put me on the clinic’s treadmill to do a gait analysis.  NOT surprisingly, I am a ‘quad runner’ – meaning I got no kickback. So my goal on Sunday was to lengthen my stride (a bit), focus on pulling with my hamstrings more, bending very slightly at the waist and not tilting my pelvis.  It wasn’t easy but my legs weren’t totally cooked at the end…even with us running the hill part of the Around the Bay route. 

I received some awesome pretty things from the very cool NeilZee and his wife last week.  Mrs Neil has a great ETSY shop you should check out: GettaGift 

Earrings and matching bracelet:

Barefoot sandals…I seriously love these…non pedicured feet and all…..

Have you had your run gait analyzed?  Have you tried changing your running stride?

Running Safely for your body, heart and soul

BODY:

The craptacular weather of late has made for some tricky road surfaces – ice, tons of puddles, snow covered sidewalks etc. As with most runners, I have been running on the actual road as it is the lesser of two evils…that doesn’t mean I am stupid about it - unlike a lot of what I have seen of late. Two Sundays ago the sidewalks were brutal so the road was the only option. What I saw from other runners made me understand why drivers have such a hate on for runners – groups running 2, 3,4 and even 5 across taking up a whole lane and NOT moving over when cars came by. I even had to stop as people passing me would not go to single file. I even heard a group get mad as they got a bit (seriously a bit) splashed when cars came by.

Stupid…there is no other word for it. Run if you must on the road (though legally…you aren’t supposed to if there is a sidewalk) but SINGLE FILE IF THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC!

HEART AND SOUL:

This past weekend, some of the runners in our group came across a very scary sight - a runner down due to a heart attack He had been given CPR by the person he was running with who had called 911 as soon as he went down. The ambulance arrived and was able to revive him and get him to ER quickly. We heard yesterday that he will make a full recovery....he is both lucky to have had someone with him and the services of the awesome EMTs in our area.

My run group is very good at driving home safety to us – get reflective gear, don’t trust the cars on the road…they will always ‘win’ in a fight, if footing is bad..maybe it is time for a slow run etc. The other key specifically on our long runs is ensuring we know where everyone is. We have a ‘rover’ who goes out and drives to route just in case anyone needs to be picked. We always try to run together…and if someone is struggling, we at least will let someone know what has happened.

I, like so many others I am sure, used to take all of this for granted. Now I:

• I ALWAYS wear my RoadID. Period. No matter how long I am running for or even in the daylight, in a race etc., that ID comes with me because it IS me.
• I always let someone know where I am and I now carry my phone with me – that’s what SPIBelts are for!
• I don’t deviate from the route …if I do, I call my support group/hubs whatever to tell them where I am.

So if you are running with someone and they urge you to go on without them,, try to make sure they are really ok. If you go, try to tell someone else (your run leader, a rover, your support group) that someone is running further behind.

Their heart and your soul will thank you.

Feel the love

What do I have the love for?

My wee little family including the ones I live with on a daily basis:

Every day that brings us closer to Spring and away from Snow

The friends (real and ‘virtual’) who give me support, strength, empathy, a kick in the pants and joy.

MamaPea's toffee bars

My health, my job, my house and the laughter I strive for.

What don’t I love right now? My long runs….yes…it is true. The last 4 long runs have been un-fun. There is 3 weeks to go before the Chilly half…..my first ‘goal’ race of 2011. Right now I do not feel confident at all about it….of late my long runs have been tough. Yesterday’s 27km run was ok until about 17km when my right hip was really tight. I know I was tired from Saturday’s workout and our route was the Around the Bay hills but it was a bit demoralizing. And my legs were en fuego for the last 3km…..

Will it ever get ‘easier’? I don’t expect to blow through the long runs but they aren’t a whole lot of fun right now.

Next week I am running with my group and will use their awesomeness to pull me through. I am an emotion-sucker after all.

What do you love? Do you ever have un-love for something? How do you get it back?

Four for Friday – being vegan and hills

1. Yesterday was hill training session #2. Keeping in its fine tradition, the weather was freezing – like –27 degree freezing…and it was windy. At least the footing was better than last week and it was sunny (as I went out right after work)…and YES…I am really trying to find the positive in this whole winter thing. This week was better than last – I was way faster but it was still a struggle. I stopped part way up the last repeat for a pic of me in full Ninja Runner gear:

See what’s behind me? Yep..a cemetery. Actually there are I think 2-3 cemeteries along this part of the route. If that isn’t motivation…I don’t know what is.

2. I didn’t know this but apparently they feed the Canada Geese around these parts…right where I was running. It isn’t a lot of fun to have these buggers hiss at you…at least they didn’t chase me. Good thing…I would have had to go ninja on ‘em.

3. During this 7 Day Vegan week, I have discovered (or re-discovered) some new favorite things one of which is cannellini beans or white kidney beans. This week I had them sautéed in olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and zest, spinach and pasta and it was awesome.

Yes…that is wine but I had 2 sips before I realized I didn’t want it and I also didn’t know if it was vegan.

4. So today is actually day 8 of the vegan challenge – I actually did better than I thought as I ate vegan all week and didn’t incorporate any ‘fake’ foods like I thought I might…or eat the same thing over and over.

Over the past couple of days, I have been struggling with what I was going to say about this and the reasons why I was NOT going to continue it. And I realized I don’t know why I wouldn’t keep going.

Was it a hard challenge? - Not really. I am not a huge dairy/cheese/egg eater. Red meat is pretty limited in the house and while we do eat a lot of chicken or fish, I didn’t miss it at all. I really didn’t have any cravings or issues with what I ate. I tracked everything and though I was a bit low on protein a couple of days, I seemed to be on track as far as calories, iron etc goes.

What is time consuming? - yes but from a meal planning perspective no more so than what I usually do. And really…this is my body and my health. Isn’t it worth spending time on as opposed to parked in front of the TV?

Did it change my perspective on food? I think this is where I am struggling a bit…The challenge was great as everything I ate this week, I knew what was in it. I ate lots of whole foods and meals, I was very limited on any processed foods and didn’t eat out at all actually. (the amount of Tupperware I washed this week is a testament to this.) It did not make me skinnier, or make my hair/skin lustrous or give my poor brittle nails substance. I still feel awesome overall however and the more I read about the benefits of a plant based diet (and my squishy love of the 4 legged creatures) the more I can buy into the plan.

I think the biggest hurdle I just have to get over it that it felt like a ‘DIET’ the whole time…..I thought about food a lot…like all the time a lot. But in the end I know this is just part of making it a habit and a lifestyle.

And while I know that PETA or the true vegans of the world won’t have me as their poster child, I can be called their poor relation at least.

Snowrun and the vegan foods

Well…I’d say Snowrun is better than no run but there was a lot of doubt about that this morning…especially for the first 8km.  Though I didn’t know about it (thanks weather network…) we got a bunch of snow Sat night.  Since I went out early (8am) on Sunday, virtually nothing was plowed.  The main roads were ok but there was a lot of slush and snow.  I did run on the road but really had to stop and try to move aside for any cars that came along…they always win.  After 4km I was hurting..when you are doing a 25km run, the idea of another half marathon was insurmountable.  I just kept making deals with myself (make it downtown, make it through the hills, make it past the golf course etc.)

and…it got better.  Not great but a good exercise in mental toughness.  And I won’t say character builder…my character is fine..just give me some good weather for a Long Run!!

So what’s been up on the vegan food front?

Sat lunch: hummus/greens sandwich, parsnip fries, cucumbers and carrots:

Weekend snack: smoothie of kale, choc soy, blueberries, Amazing Grass, banana:

Sat dinner:  pasta with mushrooms, peas, basil and marinara sauce:

Sun lunch: falafel with mint, tahini, greens on a tortilla, parsnip fries, veggies:

Sunday dinner:  Vegan nachos – nacho chips, ground soy, orange peppers, jalapeno, pinto beans, homemade guacamole and salsa.  The hubs side is covered in cheese…mine is not….

And I don’t know who Mrs Renfro is but her salsa is the bomb:

Overall, it has been pretty good/easy.  I have been reading every label I can find and still tracking calories which have been on track.  The only ‘challenge’ has been no milk in my coffee….and don’t tell me soy milk or almond milk are good substitutes…it still tastes like foot.

Four for Friday

1.  Hill training started last night.  It seems whenever we do hills, something wacky happens:  Freezing cold, snowplows and snow etc..   Last night was cold AND a buttload of snow.  For those familiar with it, in the winter we do our hill training on the hills from the RBG to Valley Inn that is part of the Bay route.  (1/2 a repeat is RBG to the top of Valley Inn)  Most of this road is closed to traffic which means it isn’t plowed…and it snowed on Wednesday – a lot.   It wasn’t pretty but 9.5km later it was done and I felt pretty good.  Can you rock out a head lamp post hill training in –20?   Me neither…

2.  My Zensah arm sleeves from the awesome Julie arrived yesterday:

It is love…..

3.  The hubs is still sick (this is going on 3 weeks now) so he was finally put on antibiotics.  For his sake I hope this works…mine too or you may see an ad on Kijiji for one slightly used husband.  Snow blower NOT included. 

4.  I started by 7 Day Vegan Week last night…I was looking at dinner and what I was going to eat today and realized since it was all vegan…no time like the present.  Since my photography stinks, I will only take a few pics here and there but will list out what the menus have been….Today is:

B:  steel cut oatmeal w/ blueberries, almonds and banana

L: soba noodle stir fry w/ bok choy, carrot, red pepper, mint, garlic, tofu, soy sauce, veg stock and natural peanut butter

snacks:  leftover sweet potatoes; Kashi cereal (dry)

D:  grilled polenta w/ cannellini beans, shitake mushrooms  and maple scented kale.

So nothing exciting necessarily though I do have some fun recipes to try during this week. 

Happy weekend all….It is actually supposed to warm up on Sat/Sun – let’s all collectively wish for temps warm enough to GET RID OF THIS SNOW? 

K?

January recap, SNOW and an experiment

January recap:

KM/Miles run – 185/116 – this is lower than I expected but some of this is because a few weekly runs weren’t as long as I would have wanted because of the stupid snow.

Spin classes: 6

Core/Satan’s bootcamp sessions: 6

Yoga: I plead the 5th

So…not a great month, not a bad one. I missed 2 spin/fitness classes and 2 scheduled run for the month so am hoping for much better numbers for Feb.

If you live under a rock, you might not have known it snowed … yes it was a lot ..but the world didn’t end, life continues on and IT IS WINTER…I hate it too but complaining about it won’t make it go away. I have the luxury of working at home on craptacular days like this but it really isn’t a luxury as I end of setting up the night before (therefore working later), get up and go right to work (therefore working earlier). The coffee is better here though:

After 10+ years living where we are, the hubs finally broke down and got a snow blower. Note how tiny it is and it is electric (the snow blower, not the hubs).

He got his testosterone on this morning…I don’t care as long as I don’t have to shovel the stuff.

So Oprah did a Vegan show yesterday…I never watch Oprah actually – the amount of commercial breaks just drive me cracked – but I had heard she was doing this show and wanted to catch it. As an ‘Omnivore’ I found it interesting..though the amount of ‘fake’ products they were pushing really turned me off. If you want a great recap/opinion, go to Evan’s post as it really summed up how I felt as well.

Having said that, I have been doing a lot of research/thinking about incorporate more of a plant based diet. I still have this filter in my brain around: “I am a runner! I need pasta! I need easy protein (chicken etc)”. But I am always one to shake things up so next week….is Vegan Week in the Laura house hold.

Well…for me anyway. The hubs doesn’t know this yet….