Sunday, July 17, 2011

Québec, an update and a new runner!

"Sisters are different flowers from the same garden"

Author Unknown

Uber H and I decided to get away for a couple of days and so we went to Québec City! Québec City is absolutely beautiful, but extremely hilly...which was an excellent workout!

Old Québec

Down on the Promenade by the St. Lawrence river.

Part or our lunch brought from home...berries are amazing at this time of year in Québec.

Uber H took some amazing running pics on the Plaines d'Abraham, but somehow they got deleted before we could upload them...these three, as we head towards the Plaines, are all that remained.

Climbing up

Still climbing

Almost there...before we climb again :)
Check out that cool archway, which is the entrance to Old Québec...there is one of those at every entrance into Old Québec from Downtown.

Post-run...ready to go to dinner!
A little sightseeing on the way to the restaurant.

This building is absolutely amazing!

Delicious...

Time for a short break...we must have walked about 15km that day (remember the hills).
Here we are on the Promenade Champlain, which is gorgeous and relatively flat :)

Still on Promenade Champlain, where we took a real break.

Running: While in Québec City, I had a 65 minute run on the program. However, we ended up having to do a lot of climbing and downhills, which was fine at first, but then started irritating the knee. I toughed it out for a bit and took a few walk break...but, then after 42 minutes I decided to stop. I did not want to push it. The good thing, is that the pain did not linger after the run and as we walked a couple of kms back to our room. Yes, I was tempted to try again, but I played it smart and kept walking then iced the knee. I was then able to enjoy the rest of our stay in Québec city, without pain, despite the fact that we walked A LOT and that there were tons of hills. 

While we were walking back to our B & B after the above run, I told Uber H that I thought I should forget about the marathon once again. I'm actually still pretty sure I'll be doing the half as it stands. However, I want to try one more long run, without major hills, and see how it goes before I make my final decision. I have felt no pain at all since that run and my sister, who does acupuncture, did a treatment on my knee yesterday evening and that should also help. So, we'll see. However, I'm not married to this marathon and I refuse to push myself and then have to stop running again for a few weeks. Maybe I'm being too cautious, but I really doubt it, because I know that pain, I've had it before (it was my very first injury and I had run through it then)...I know better now.

Speaking of my sister who does acupuncture...I am super proud to announce that my sister Iz started the Couch to 5K program last week. Yesterday, we ran together and she did great! I'm super proud of her and so excited for her :) The coolest part is that we registered to run her first 5K together on September 11th!

Here we are after our run...
Iz was wearing the ice necklace :)

I'm sure there's more, but that's it for now.
Cheers!

14 comments:

Caroline said...

ahhhhh! Les belles photos!!! MERCI!
c'est bien vrai que c plein de cotes dans mon village!! ha ha!!

where did you eat?!!! you look so nice all in white!!!

La promenade sur Champlain c une grande portion du marathon et courir vers la ville..c'est pas 100% plat et aussi tres venteux!

c;est vrai que le parlement c'est une belle batisse!!!

vous etiez la pendant le festival d'ete en plus!

ajh said...

You had beautiful pictures. I have only driven though Quebec City. I have never been there. I want to do the marathon or half sometime but the timing is not good for me.

You are being very smart to be so cautious!

And yeah for your sister.

Char said...

Quebec looks so lovely. I'm fascinated by cities that have a long history and really old buildings. Canada is high on my list of places I'd love to visit.

And don't you look gorgeous in the white outfit! It looks so Summery.

RunningFromCancer said...

Quebec City looks beautiful. Sounds like you got to relax, take in the sights and get some decent runs in! Yahoo!

Xaarlin said...

Quebec is so beautiful! I love all of the photos you took. They are stunning and make me want to visit Canada again ASAP! :)

Laura said...

I love Quebec City...it was part of our honeymoon. I still remember going to a pub near that arch and realizing QC still had happy hr. Beer+pool was mucho fun.
Great weekend!

Jill said...

I have never been to Quebec City but have heard the most wonderful things about it's beauty and how nice the people are. I think I would love all the architecture of the Old Quebec, looks sooo very cool!

I love the pic of you and your sister :). You guys are going to have so much fun doing the 5K together in Sept!! YAY!

Claude said...

Sisterhood is super cooool...don't tell me that I will have to start running to...HaHaha!! Je vous aime mes soeurs, je suis tellement fière d'avoir deux soeurs comme vous.

Marlene said...

Sounds like a fantastic weekend. You look great all cleaned up! :)

Anabela (Bela) Neves said...

Great pics of Quebec City, glad you had a great time! And woohoo for another runner, she can get great inspiration from you!

Anne said...

I agree with Anabela that you are a great inspiration for another runner. And your photos make me want to rush up there, if only it were that easy.

Amy said...

Congratulations to your sister with her running start - I wonder how long before she is addicted to it like the rest of us? ;-)
And I think you were wise to be cautious about your knee. Glad you had a great vacation!

Nitmos said...

Okay, Quebec looks pretty cool but, mostly, I'm hungry for berries now. I bet you didn't save any either.

Johann said...

Thanks for sharing a bit of Quebec City with us. Looks amazing! I still need to see what race I can come and do in Canada one day. You will know what to do regarding the marathon. Yay for the new runner!