Random and 1, 2, 3!

"There must be quite a few things a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them." Sylvia Plath

Today I ran 10K...I started off with uber hubby, but he turned around after 20 minutes because he was feeling too tired. So off I went by myself...

...right after he took a picture :)

Do not be misled, the roads were hardly ever this nice.

There were a lot of walkers out, but I only saw one runner, who whizzed past me and said "keep it up"...sweet eh :) (I'm canadian remember). I was supposed to have a pace of between 7:19 and 8:12/K, I did 8:8/K...not bad, but no cigar! I'm a little annoyed because my hamstring was giving me grief. Every time I felt a little twinge I would make sure to straighten up and look ahead (not down) and it seemed to help, but I was babying it and it led to mild pain in the front of my thigh and on the left of my knee (all of these came and went). As you know, I unofficially started my program last week...the official program starts this Thursday and I really don't want to be injured. So, I will get Iz to give me an acupuncture treatment if we can organize our busy schedules to meet up. Also, I will not run until the official start of the program next Thursday. I'll ice daily and stretch...and go to my yoga class.

Speaking of yoga, I think I need to clarify something. I've got two very different yoga classes and my feelings about yoga vary depending on the class I am attending. My Wednesday class is with an instructor I've had for two years who made me love yoga...she is SO zen and her class, though we certainly work hard, is very relaxing. My Friday class is with my spin instructor, whom I also really like, but she is of the very athletic variety, no candles or relaxing music in this class. Had I started with the Friday yoga class, I'm not sure I would have ever said I like yoga. Having said that, I really appreciate the workout I get in this class, but I'm not enjoying myself as much. I guess I'm pointing this out because if you've ever tried yoga and didn't like it, try another class, they are all very different!

Time to go take my warm, relaxing bath...

Cheers!

Odds and ends...

"So many worlds, so much to do,

So little done, such things to be"

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Today was a fun run, I met up with my very close friend Miglena and because of her healing achilles tendon, we took it very easy and just chatted as we ran. We ran 5K at a 13:20 pace, plus some walking before and after for a total of 6.5K. There were thick snowflakes falling and the weather was really nice. This is the first time that we run together as Miglena only started running again about a month ago (and she injured her tendon almost right away). So we were quite excited!

There were a few hills on this run and after we completed the first one, I was pointing out that it was so nice to be able to talk and run at the same time. Miglena reminded me that last year at about this time, we had gone for a walk (not even a power walk, just a normal walk), and after going up that same hill I had to stop to catch my breath. That was a time when my asthma was really bad, and I hadn't started running yet. Miglena remembered that I was extremely pissed off about having to stop...I used to get so angry with this illness. Well, I didn't have to stop today, on the contrary, I gabbed all the way up that hill and beyond :)

Little anecdote that happened on my way home. I'm at Costco and I'm next in line at the cash. There's a nice looking couple in front of me, probably about my age...the woman points out to her husband the popcorn in my basket (sort of, look, they do have popcorn)...

Man: Yeah, but that's the microwave kind, I don't want to die young.

Me: smile

Man (to me): I don't ever boil water in the microwave or cook anything in it.

Me: smile

Man: I read all the scientific research about this and what it does is it breaks down the molecules and makes the food indigestible for your stomach.

Me: smile

Man then moves ahead as I finish putting my things on the counter. I then move up and am again next to him.

Man (smiles kindly at me - seems to realize he may have been sounding a BIT preachy, then adds): I just think it's best to throw those microwaves out the window.

Me: Well, I choose my...

Man: battles

Me: yeah

Man: smiles

What I actually wanted to say was, I choose my poison...the thing is I'm sure there's some truth to what he said, and I do try and do the healthy thing, but there are just so many things to consider that...

Let me just say here that this man actually seemed really nice.
That's it for today!
Cheers!

p.s. I really like this giveaway - My Yoga bag ;)

Wordless Wednesday...(I like this idea...can I steal it?)

"To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition" Samuel Johnson

Yoga tonight...

A very good friend of mine is a writer and just started a running blog towards her first marathon...do check it out: Running from...

Cheers!

Pacing? ...and did I say regression?

"Our aspirations are our possibilities" Samuel Johnson

My plan for the half is to TRY and finish in less than 2h30m...the program I am following is for a 2h15m pace. I would be SO happy with this time. At this point in my training, that is not feasible...at all...but, that's my goal. There I've said it, it's out there!

For those of you who asked....I'm registered for the Ottawa Half-Marathon on May 30.

Today I was to do a 3K tempo run, which means a 6:36/K pace (according to my RR plan). Now, because I do not have a Garmin...YET (hint hint on a future birthday gift my dear uber hubby) I chose to run this indoors for today. I needed to try and gage what this type of pace felt like. Ha! For some reason, I made this naive comment on my last post, "...next week I start the real program and it almost seems like a regression." Puhlease, may I take that back!!!

I realized today that for some reason, I thought that since my goal was to run longer distances, that I should focus (ONLY) on long, slow runs.  I learned today that running a 3K (which, didn't seem like a lot to me)...at 6mph, felt like forever!!! Actually, I didn't manage to do it all at once. I ran 1.5K at 6mph, so in 9m18s and then I walked for .1 mile and did the next 1.5K at 5.7mph, so in 9m54s. That's 6.37/K :) I have never done this before...so, a regression...NOT! Sure the longer runs on the weekends start off shorter than where I was at, but I can see why, considering I may barely be able to walk by then (okay, I may be exaggerating a bit here). Overall, I was on the treadmill for 30 minutes and did 4K (including the walking and warm-up running).

I then VERY SLOWLY made my way over to the other end of the gym to do my strength training. I did everything on my list, but the muscle in the back of my thigh is still not loving some of these exercises, so I was cautious. Otherwise, a good workout overall!

Thanks for your amazing support everyone.

Cheers!

The Plan, the plan

Oh my, I can't believe I'm actually using this line for my title...my age is so showing :) Fantasy Island anyone?

Moving on...

"I've always believed that one woman's success can only help another woman's success" Gloria Vanderbilt

I'm loving the support from all you bloggy runners :)

Okay, I am unofficially starting my half-marathon program this week...the official program starts next week, but I'm impatient, I want a plan! So because Mondays are OFF days and busy at work days, I will merely post my weekly plan on Mondays...unless something interesting happens, you know I'll be all about spreading the news. Not the case today though, unless you consider the fact that a few chips (50% less salt) mysteriously appeared next to my sandwich at lunch today...woah! They were those talking chips too, the one's that beg you to eat them :)

Week of January 25th, 2010

Monday: OFF
Tuesday: 3K tempo run + strength training
Wednesday: OFF + Yoga
Thursday: 5K steady run
Friday: Yoga + 5K slow run
Saturday: strength training + 4K steady run
Sunday: 10K long run (run/walk)

Okay, I'm actually increasing the number of Ks suggested for this week...next week I start the real program and it almost seems like a regression.

I guess that's how the process goes right? I've never followed a pre-race program before, so I'm guessing that it's normal to take it slow the first few weeks. Right? I see that as the weeks go by though, I will be expected to do things that hurt just to read!! 9 X 400m hills!!!!! Are you joking!

Cheers!

1/23 10K modified!

I don't usually post on Saturdays, but today is an exception as I had "registered" to participate in Casey's virtual 10K. Now if you checked out yesterday's post, you know that I ran 13K (yay me!). Considering I had never run 13K before, that is considered a long run for me...I was still hoping to run 10K today, but after spending a good 3 hours (and probably at least 4K) walking around the mall shopping with my daughter (home from University for one day)...well, I just didn't know how it would go. I was so thrilled to see that a few participants had decided to use their Friday run for the virtual 10K...phew! So my 10K was the wonderful run I did on Friday. I'm sure it was already the 23rd somewhere in the world!

Here I am with my running buddy around half way through our run.

Oh yeah, total time for 10K was 81 minutes...yes I know, you're all jealous of my ability to hold back ;)

Now, the good thing about registering for the 10K, was that I wanted to at least try and run today. So after we got home from shopping...I took a nap and then uber hubby and I went out for a run. We ended up doing a 5K and I am very proud of myself. Let me remind new readers that I ran 5K for the first time in my life, on September 12, 2009 (that's about 4 months ago)...and it was HARD! So 18K in two days...happy :)

I am starting to trust my body more...to know my "runner" self better and to be less afraid to push a little further. Had it not been for Casey's 10K, I know that I would have chosen to rest today...but now I know that I can go that extra step and the cool thing is, I still have a lot of improvability (probably not a word) in me. Tomorrow, I rest...

Cheers!

Oh yeah!

"Sometimes you do what you HAVE to do, to do what you WANT to do" (not sure who said this).

Holy yogi...how can not moving be so painful! I took my first Energy Yoga class this morning and we did most positions in static...that was tough! Again I have a feeling I ended up stretching brand new muscles...very humbling experience. The things I am willing to put myself through in order to be able to run pain-free :)

So, we did it! Ju and I ran 13K today...the sun was out when we started and it was dark when we finished...1h45m...I'm totally pleased!

There was uber hubby (not in the picture as he had gone ahead), my super sister-in-law and partner in crime, as well as my handsome son...I love having my crew with me!

Celebrating our 13K...yay us!

So here's what I learned today...my lungs are still not great...actually, my doctor has decided to put me back on the stronger inhaler :( ...and I was a bit sore from the yoga and I felt tired. Three good reasons to reschedule our 13K. Now, if all I got from blogging was enhanced motivation, it would already be worth it...because knowing that I would be able to write about it...and that my ticker lady would take a nice little jump forward...and that my dailymile counter would show a nice increase...well, it certainly weighed in my decision to go ahead. Also, I've read about some of the things many of you have had to overcome in order to get your runs in and that kicked my butt a little too. The only thing was the lungs...would it be okay to do this. Well, I figured I could always walk if I started coughing uncontrollably. Finally, having made plans with my super sis-in-law, well I figured I should at least give it a try...such a great idea to make plans to run with someone. Deep down I was feeling confident and I knew that I was going to learn more about my true limits by going ahead.

I haven't reached them yet! :)

Have a great weekend everyone.

Cheers!