Toronto 10 Miler – race report

This past Sunday was the Toronto 10 Miler, a race none of my friends had done before.  It starts/ends in the very cool distillery district in Toronto.  Mmmm beer…

Going into the race right up until about we hit the start line, I wasn’t sure what my game plan was going to be – training run or PB it.  For whatever reason (ahem – stress, no sleep, clusterf*ck week) I wasn’t feeling the best but decided that I was going to go for it.

And I am glad I did.  I had a 5+ min PB to come in at 1:47.  Lots of room for improvement but I was very happy.

We had our awesome sherpas/photographers in the hubs and friend/coach Mari. 

Mari is also a great photographer to get me looking somewhat ‘good’ post race: 

In the Olympic tradition, Mari got shots of all of us biting our medals.  The hubs commented that not only did I bite it but I was anger at it.  Need more practice apparently…

The might five who had a blast. 

The only thing I wish I had done differently?

The MoBot at the end..

Next time…

Overall race thoughts:

-good route – flat with downtown, industrial and park sections.   No shade so when the sun was out, it was HOT.  I lost a lot of electrolytes out there…

-race day kit pick up – YES!, corral starting, great start/finish area and lots of food post race. 

Volunteers and race organization:  Fantastic.  On course, there were tons of aid stations that were well manned and fully stocked.  The kids who gave out the medals were amazing – they were cheering and yelling for all the finishers and I must have had about 10 Hi5’s before I even got to the end of the line.  Awesome. 

-I saw someone running in jorts.  (jean shorts)  While I am happy to see people out running…running shorts can’t be that expensive where you’d run in jorts are they?  Can you imagine the chaffing?

- I have never seem so much LuLuLemon in my entire racing career. 

Four for Friday – the Clusterf*ck edition

The last few weeks have been a complete clusterf*ck.  Let’s start with the one good thing:

1.  My dad has his surgery on Tuesday.  (which was originally scheduled for 4 days before that before it was cancelled 10 min before the surgery…clusterf*ck)  He has a valve and 2 arteries replaced and a whack of blockages repaired.  As of today he has been eating and a small amount of walking around.  It is a long road but at least a road that isn’t starting uphill.

2.  My phone completely died last week….and I still don’t have a replacement.  I have NO PHONE, no access to the usual emails, texts, BBMs etc.  This morning, the card reader in my work computer died…and I spent 2 hrs this morning trying to fix it only to be told I have to order a new card.  I can work remotely (which I have to for my job) but it is a royal pain.   Technology clusterf*ck.

3.  Our elderly cat has gone from getting up at 4:45 daily to…earlier than that.  And not going back to sleep.  And not letting us sleep either.  This week we have had ~ 4 hrs or less of sleep per night.  Fun.Times.  Tired clusterf*ck. 

4.  On top of no sleep, surgery, technology fails, commuting to work/hospitals and crazy times at work, the hubs and I took care of his 2 nephews for a few days.  That wasn’t a clusterf*ck as they are great kids but it just proves to me that I would suck at being a parent.  Don’t get me wrong…we had a good time and they are pretty well behaved, I am just not ‘there’.  I can only say:  “Did you wash your hands WITH SOAP!”   or have someone ask me:  “Who are you talking to/about/with” without losing it.

Mama needs a cocktail that’s for sure.  But not before my race on Sunday…which I cannot wait to run.  See ya later Clusterf*ck weeks.  I am over you.

What’s your latest technology fail?  Are you a kid person?

July Recap

Km ran:  208.  Am surprised it was this high but am very happy with this…even more so as there were very very few of the runs that I wasn’t really happy with.  WIN!

Favorite July workout:  Last Tuesday’s track session was pretty sweet.  Tough, but sweet.

Favorite race/run:  The Dash wins over the Peachbud only because I had a PB.  PBs triumph over having fun sometimes.

Current reads:  Like June’s recap, I am still trying to get through Juliet as per June’s recap.  I like it but I need to focus more when I read it – I tend to be a big ‘skimmer’ read so anything that needs my focus gets lost in the shuffle.

Current Shame Inducing Guilty Pleasure:  Since we came back from Arizona, our current house cocktail has been the margarita – good tequila, fresh limes, agave, soda water, cointreau, ice and a salted glass.  Hydration at its best.

Margaritas+Friends in AZ:

Current Song:  Titanium

Current Wish list:  2 things:  confirmation that my dad’s surgery is this week and obviously smooth sailing through the surgery/recovery.

Current Bane of my existence:  Waiting for the above surgery to be scheduled.  Going on 3 weeks in hospital……

Fave Recipe:  I am not normally a huge fan of zucchini but a few weeks ago I had several meals of grilled zucchini, red onion, peppers and tomatoes along with goat cheese, lemon juice and quinoa that was delish.

Current Blessings:  That my dad is getting good care even if the waiting is making us all insane.

Current Excitement/freakout:  In trying to look ahead post surgery, I am excited about a new to me race in a few weeks:  Toronto 10 Miler.  And finishing in the Distillery District with plans for a beer brunch have nothing to do with it…..  

Margaritas or Beer people?  What’s your fav?