You've Come A Long Way, Baby

June:  I am finally successfully running outside. Not far, and not fast, but I am doing it! Woohoo!
October:  I haven't stopped since and now run outside three or four times a week.

June:  I've been a treadmill runner for years and running outside is soooooo different!
October:  I use the treadmill when time constraints and weather conditions keep me from running outside.  I'm glad to have the option but now treadmill running seems boring and tedious.

June:  Is it 5k? I can do about 3k now so I'll work towards that!
October:  I was disappointed when the club's run was "only" an "easy" 5k.

June:  I hope you're not expecting conversation during the run. I'm not one of those chatty runners you see out on the trails. I am too busy remembering to breathe for chit-chat. And I am focussing hard on motivational thoughts such as "If you make it to the next intersection it will be easier for the paramedics to recover your body when you collapse" because I know the power of positive thinking.
October:  I chat and laugh the whole time.  Unless I'm alone.  And even then sometimes.
 
I am very grateful for friends who encourage and motivate me, running partners who make the time pass swiftly and pleasurably, and running instructors and leaders who teach, guide and correct me.  I am still learning and improving, getting stronger, going farther and faster.  You can do it too, and I hope it brings you joy!

Be Kind To Yourself

Be a better friend to yourself.  Be as kind and generous to yourself as you are to others.  You can't change the past so accept it, forgive yourself and let it go.  Do not judge yourself so harshly and do not worry about what someone else may be (but probably isn't) thinking.  Be present and aware and appreciate what is happening now.  Enjoy the sunshine on your face, the breath in your lungs, the movement of your body and the company of your peers.  People want you to succeed.  They want to help you succeed.  They know you can, they know you will and they are cheering you on!  So smile!  And run!

Alice laughed. "There's no use trying," she said: "one can't believe impossible things."
"I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

Happiness is...

...running downhill with your power song playing! Wheeeeeeee!

The Climb

Today's run: From home, across the overpass and back four times, and then back home again without stopping. The elevation map was beautifully symmetrical.
4k, 25 minutes, uphill both ways.

 

You Can't Judge a Runner

Meditations on today's run.

You can't judge a runner because you don't know
if she's running to generate energy or to burn it off
if this is her first run ever or her last run this season
if this is her first warm-up kilometer or the last minute of her cool-down
if she's running from depression and perfectionism or running for peace and acceptance.

You can't judge a runner because you don't know 
if she's running to get fitter or running to get faster
if she's swallowed her pride or swallowed a bug
if she's running through a stitch, a cramp, a sprain, a strain, an injury or an illness
if she's running just to see tomorrow or hopes to see her grandchildren some day.

You can't judge a runner because you don't know 
if she's running to meditate or running a race
if this is her best day or her worst
if she's running to live longer or running to live better
if she's running a tempo run, a long run or just plain running.

You can't judge a runner because you don't know 
if she's already left it all on the road or if she just doesn't have it in her today
if her run is a cerebral experience or a physical trial
if she's running to clear her mind or because she cleaned her plate
if she's running for health or for happiness.

You can't judge a runner because you don't know 
if she's been running since 1990 or since yesterday
if she's running from something or to something
if she's running to beat the rain or because she enjoys the rain
if she's running to get healthy or running to stay healthy.

You can't judge a runner because you don't know 
if she's shedding body weight or the weight of the world
if she's grieving a loss or celebrating a gain
if she feels alone or if she feels empowered
if she's loving every stride or hating every second.

And you can't judge a runner because you don't know 
if her run's about the destination or about the journey.

I like how they gave him bib #100

Today's Inspiration
Yesterday, a 100-year-old man, Fauja Singh, earned a place in the Guinness World Records by completing the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in just over 8 hours.  Full story here.  His average speed was about 3 mph, a pace so slow it took a contingent of supporters to keep him from falling over.  Just kidding!!  In all seriousness, it is inspiring to see a man of such advanced age taking on such a physically demanding challenge, training for it, and completing it.  Imagine the discipline.  Imagine the passion!  Take that, you mall-walking grannies!

Fauja Singh in training.  I like how they gave him bib #100
and I love the slogan on his t-shirt:  Sikhs in the city. 

Tomorrow's Inspiration
Starting on October 21, an Ottawa-area man is going to attempt to run seven marathons in seven days.  Did you get that?  Seven marathons in seven days!!  Now, I know a couple of women who ran recently ran a half marathon and took almost seven days to recover from that so I can't begin to imagine how this guy's going to feel at the end of this feat.  Ouch!  He's doing it to raise funds and awareness for CHEO's Youth Net program.  Again, imagine the passion!  Full story here, donations and run tracker here.  Whenever I see a runner on the road, or hear a story about a person like this, I send out a good thought for them.  I'll be doing it for this guy and I hope he can feel my vibe!

Here we go!

Here it is, my first post in my first blog.  Expect it to change over time - style, layout, frequency, font, focus, content, everything - because I will change over time.  Sometimes minute by minute.

Today's run 
12°C, cloudy, cool and windy so what to wear?  I opted for a jacket and pants over a short-sleeved tee but soon found myself with my jacket tied around my waist and wishing I'd worn shorts.  I mapped out a hilly 6.6 km route and though it's the first time I've ever run outdoors in windy conditions (19km/h) I was able to maintain my standard 5.6mph speed.  It felt harder than usual though!

As I was coming to the end of my run, I saw Bev.  She went to run club this morning and ran with the 10k group.  She said they did a slow 7k.  I'll be running with them soon enough (next week!), and never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever be in a place where I could.  Go, me!

I am thinking about the Warrior Dash and I think it's going to be very challenging for me unless I start working out and strengthening my upper body.  So that's one more thing to add to my to-do list: get fitter.  Because I want to do that race and, more importantly, I want to enjoy doing it! 

I was skimming through a magazine this week and came upon an ad for Shredded Wheat.  The text included this:  0 mg Sodium.  At first glance, I thought it said, "OMG! Sodium!"  I'm spending far too much time online, obviously.