I Am Not The Sharpest Knife In The Drawer

I was at a grocery store yesterday, had dashed in to find the single item I needed to finish making supper. Coming out, a man paused in front of me, smiled and said coyly, "I know what you're doing New Year's Eve." Clutching my bag of bean sprouts, I smiled back and laughed in confusion. Psychic? Or just crazy? How much can a person tell from a bag of bean sprouts? He pointed at me and said, "I do it every year." My eyes widened as I continued to smile. Riiiiight. Then he said, "There's no better way to start a new year, is there?" And that's when I realized I was wearing last year's Resolution Run jacket.

Excesses and Excuses

I'm sure you noticed that HBBC was a bust for me. I lost my momentum completely. I was self-indulgent and lazy during the holiday season and now I'm paying for it with fitness setbacks and weight gain. I feel awful. And I'm old enough to know better! Well, I'm starting fresh today, and I'm putting myself back on the to-do list. I will make better choices about what I eat, I will drink more water, I will take a multi-vitamin daily, and I will start exercising regularly again. If I forget or backslide, don't let me get away with it; give me hell!

Off to a good start: I'm trying a hot yoga class with my running partner this evening. I hope to try a spin class soon too!

The Runningest Town in Canada

In November, I asked, "Is Orleans the runningest town in Canada? Seems like you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a runner from 6am to 9pm." Today I learned that Orleans runners aren't deterred by snowstorms and weather warnings either. This morning, as I was nervously fishtailing my way down the street, wipers bat-bat-batting fat wet snowflakes and icy raindrops off my windshield, I had to drive around a runner slogging his way up the road in ankle-deep slush the consistency of a 7-Eleven Slurpee. I hope he got home safely!

HBBC Tally - Week 5

December 17 - December 23

17
18
19 +3: run 3 miles
20
21
22 +2.5: run 2.6 miles
23

Additional challenge and question points:



Weekly Total: +5.5

Challenge Total: 5.5 + 48.5

HBBC Tally - Week 4

December 10 - December 16

10
11
12 +2: run 2 miles on the treadmill
13 +3.5: run 3.93 miles (and it felt great!)
14
15 +4.5: run 4.45 miles
16 +3: 1 hour of yoga

Additional challenge and question points:



Weekly Total: +13

Challenge Total: 48.5

Run-bot

Sometimes, about a minute or two into my run and usually when I haven't warmed up adequately, I get this awful sensation like something is washing right through me. I don't know what it is, a rush of chemicals or hormones or something, but it's extremely unpleasant and I absolutely detest it. It is this sensation that prevented me from becoming a "real" runner for a very long time because when it comes over me it makes me feel so weak that the effort of continuing to move forward seems impossible. It used to stop me cold but now I push through it and it's over and forgotten in a minute. It hasn't happened for a long while so I had forgotten about it but it happened twice this week. I didn't warm up for either run, just headed straight out, so I guess that's the cause. Anyone know what it is? I hate it. Hateithateithateit.

And another thing! During my last two runs I have gotten into a groove where I feel like I'm on auto-pilot. My legs don't even seem to belong to me. I'm a machine from the hips down and the run is all in my head. What is up with that?

The Kind of Runner I Am

I signed up for the Ottawa Race Weekend today. I've got five months to get cosy with 10k and I am looking forward to it!

Yesterday was the first decent run I've had since becoming sick a few weeks ago, and what a nice morale booster it was! A little over 6k and hilly, which I'm feeling today but I don't mind. It felt great to be out there! As I was looking at my route map it occurred to me that the elevation maps don't always tell a true story. One of my favourite routes covers some nice big hills that don't show on the map because the land elevation is different from the street elevation; two of the hills I like to run are highway overpasses.

As I was running I was thinking about the progress I've made in the past few months. My breathing's better, my form and pacing are better, and I can cover much longer distances. But my speed? Meh. Pretty much as good as it ever was with small bursts of better. So I was thinking...does it matter to me? Is racing important to me? And I have to confess, it's not.

When I think about the kind of runner I want to be, I don't often think about how fast I covered the distance. I want to be the kind of runner who finishes the run she starts. I want to be the kind of runner who covers the distance not effortlessly but comfortably. I want to be the kind of runner who casually says, "Just heading out for a run, back in an hour" or "What a gorgeous day, did five miles this morning and loved every minute of it." I want to be the kind of runner who's lean and energetic and who smiles while she runs. I want to be the kind of runner who signs up for a race not to try to win it but for the fun of it. The only competition I think about is the one in my own head...can I go farther? longer? faster than the last time? That's the kind of runner I want to be, and that's the kind of runner I am.

HBBC Tally - Week 3

December 3 - December 9

3
4 +3: run 2.65 miles, 12 minutes of stretching
5 +4: run 3.19 miles, 21 minutes of stretching
6
7
8 +3: run 3.02 miles
9 +3: run 3.00 miles

Additional challenge and question points:



Weekly Total: +13

Challenge Total: 35.5

Phoebe Buffay

First of all, with respect to HBBC, can I just say that eating 7 servings of fruits and vegetables a day is hard? Like, harder than running a mile? Who knew?

Okay, I am feeling so much better now! I'm still coughing but I think (I hope!) I might finally have recovered from pneumonia. It was gorgeous outside today, 1°C and sunny, so I decided to go out for a run. I chose a hilly route of 4.26km (2.65 miles) and planned to take my time and enjoy the fresh air, the sunshine and the exercise. The run felt slow while I was doing it but considering that I'm just coming back from being sick, was running 10 and 1s, hit two red lights and ran up three hills I think thirty minutes is a pretty good time. My legs didn't feel strong but that's from lack of recent practice and activity. More running, regular activity and muscle memory will take care of that pretty quickly, I think. Since I haven't been out much lately so I wasn't sure what to wear and overdressed. I should have used this handy "What To Wear" chart that appeared in the National Post last week. D'oh!

The beauty of running at a certain time of day is that the sun hits your back at that perfect angle so your shadow looks long and lean in front of you. You can imagine that you look like a real athlete and not what you fear you might actually look like: Phoebe Buffay.

Or perhaps this little beauty:

HBBC Weekly Tally - Week 2

I'd love to win a Gymboss to make sure I hold my stretches long enough!

November 26 - December 2 (still sidelined by pneumonia)

26
27 +2: run 2 miles
28 +3: run 1 mile on the treadmill, 20 minutes of stretching, 7 servings of fruits & vegetables
29 +2: stretching & hand weights, 7 servings of fruits & vegetables
30 +1: 7 servings of fruits & vegetables
1 +3.5: run 2 miles, walk .5 miles, 20 minutes of stretching
2

Additional challenge and question points:
+1: HBBC participant with up to date points
+1: Tweet, FB or link back on blog


Weekly Total: 13.5

Challenge Total: 22.5

HBBC Weekly Tally - Week 1

November 19 - 25 (sidelined by pneumonia)

19 +4: run 3 miles and 20 minutes stretching
20
21
22
23
24
25

Additional challenge and question points:

Bonus points:
+1: link on Facebook
+1: Tweet with link
+2: HBBC linked badge on this blog
+1: Resolution Run sign-up

Weekly Total: 9


Challenge Total: 9

Pneumonia? I hardly know ya!

I guess I'm sicker than I thought because Saturday's effort knocked me flat on my a$$ for two days. After trying to get an appointment first with my doctor and then with my husband's, I made a trip to the local walk-in clinic. Surprisingly I was in and out in two hours during which time I was seen, x-rayed, diagnosed, prescribed and medicated. Pneumonia. So my 10k running clinic is sidelined and I'm at a real disadvantage for HBBC. It was kind of cool looking at my bones and lungs though!

Energy Begets Energy

The Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge starts today! I think I'm more of a Builder but I signed up as a Doer. As Sam says, go big or go home.

Unfortunately I'm starting the challenge at a bit of a disadvantage because I've been sick in bed with the flu all week. I am shaky and exhausted but still, on the premise that energy begets energy, I decided to try to earn some points. I would have loved to go for a run but settled for a walk on the treadmill. I walked three miles at 4 mph then followed up with 20 minutes of stretching. 4 points!

I used to run on the treadmill all the time but I haven't used it for a while since I've been running outside. Today I noticed how much further 3 miles seems on the treadmill than it does outside. And it sucked. It felt like the treadmill belt was a Möbius strip...endless!

Garmin To A Go-Go

I want a running device. I want a gadget or tool or accessory that tells me how fast and how far I've run, something that spits out data that will allow me to track, measure and compare, something that will motivate me. There are so many options to choose from and oooooh, how I covet them all!

I've been using a borrowed Nike+ for several months (along with a borrowed iPod; thank you, J!) and I lovelovelove it when that saucy minx whispers "200 meters" in my ear so I seriously considered buying one. Unfortunately the Nike+ only works with an iPhone or an iPod. I don't have either and I'm not looking to replace the phone and mp3 player that I do have. They work just fine and it would be an expensive proposition. Oh, and I'd need an armband too. More expense. So as much as I've enjoyed using the Nike+, that's out.

What about a new phone then? iPhones, Android phones and some of the other new smartphones have gps built in and a wide variety of apps that would do the job for me. You can use them as music players too so they'd be multi-purpose tools. A new phone would be expensive, though, especially since mine is still under contract and not due for an upgrade for a long time. A phone is a bit cumbersome too, even with an armband (and it's hard to see the display on something strapped into an armband). So that's out too.

Sports watch? Excellent idea! A Garmin. But which one? I'm torn between the 305 and the 405. The 405 is definitely sexier but is anything that big and bulky truly sexy? The 305 offers an extra field of data on its larger clearer display. The 405 has a touch screen (not sure that's a plus for someone like me) and has a wireless autosync feature. Otherwise they seem pretty even on a feature-by-feature basis, and right now they are similarly priced too. I'm leaning toward the 305 but uuuuuurgh! Decisions, decisions!
What device(s) do you use, and what advice can you offer to help me choose?

Run Like A Girl

I have finally earned my husband's respect for my running. All along he's been kinda "Yeah yeah, whatever" or "I could do that. It'd probably be easy for me since I play hockey" but ever since I described Sunday's route to him (7.6k of hill after hill after hill) he's all "Wow, that first hill alone would kill me. That's impressive!" Yeah, baby, that's right, it would! And it is! AND I AM!

If A Body Meet A Body

Whenever I see a runner I think good thoughts for her (or him) and I call those good thoughts "vibes". I wish her speed, strength, stamina, energy, moderate temperatures, more daylight, clear skies, smooth trails, lots of things. I like to think she feels my vibes and feels energized by them. My kids think I'm a bit delusional for doing this but I don't think I'm alone in sending vibes. When I'm out running, people nod or wave or smile, they move aside or stop to allow me to pass. Those small humble acts are vibes. I feel them. When I'm running with a group, people's vibes are more grandiose and apparent; they high-five us, shout words of encouragement or honk their horns. And I really feel those!

I was running with a friend a couple of nights ago and a man, drunk or toothless or crazy (or maybe drunk and toothless and crazy), shouted something at us. He was completely unintelligible. I have no idea what he said but from his tone I believe the gist of it was, "You go, girls!" Anyway, it was a vibe, I'm sure of it.

A bit later, we passed a young man on the street. We were near the end of our route, energy flagging, breaking form, complaining a bit, and he shouted, "Relax your hands!" What?! "Relax your hands!" Okay. "If you relax your hands you'll be able to run another twenty kilometers!" Thanks! I relaxed my hands. What a nice guy! And that was a vibe if ever I felt one!

Resistance

Sunday morning is Run Club so I got up early, dressed, fuelled up well for the planned 7k run and started to drive to the meet. The van felt very strange from the first few seconds, really heavy and resistant, and was making grinding sounds. The heaviness didn't surprise me too much -- my husband had put snow tires on the day before and they always feel a bit heavy at first, especially if there's not already snow on the road -- but the noise and the resistance, the degree of resistance, really worried me. About a quarter mile from home I felt it was unsafe to drive so I turned around and went back. Since I was already dressed and ready I decided to go for a solo run and my husband promised to have a look at the van while I was gone.

It was a beautiful morning, sunny and cool but not cold, and I ran a hilly 7.6k route at a pleasant comfortable pace. It was a fabulous start to the day and I congratulated myself on my discipline and commitment. Go, me!

On my return home, I enjoyed a leisurely stretching session on the front porch (enjoy the show, neighbours!) then went inside to find my husband preparing one of his legendary Sunday breakfasts. O happy day!

"Hi! Great run! Gorgeous day! Did you get a chance to look at the van while I was gone?"

"Yup." Amused smile.

"And?"

"The parking brake was on."

Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge

Run To The Finish blog is sponsoring its fourth annual Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge and my friend, Sam, thought it would be a good way to keep our health and fitness goals on track during the oh-so-tempting holiday season. This is an American challenge but Canadians like us are welcome to join (Yay! We should get bonus International Relations points!). The challenge runs from November 19 to January 6 and participants range from fitness beginners (Builders) to those with more established fitness regimens (Doers) to competitive super-athletes (Show-offs...I mean, Advanced). Points are earned for fitness activities and better food choices with additional bonus point opportunities thrown in. I'll be tallying my points here at the end of each week. That'll keep me accountable (to Sam if no one else!).

Sound fun, right?? Join us! You can read the rules and sign up at Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge 2011.

A Hill By Any Other Name

I've lived here most of my life and I've travelled the roads of this community over and over again.  I've done them walking, driving, riding a bike, pushing a stroller and pulling a wagon but it wasn't until I started running that I noticed the many subtle changes in elevation.  On what once seemed like long level stretches of road, I've become acutely aware of slight changes in grade.  Some of the slopes are visibly imperceptible but my body knows.  The legs don't lie.  Nobody's ever been fooled by "a gluteal illusion" or "a trick of the quads".  A slope, a grade, a change in pitch, a rise in elevation, call it what you want but there's hills in them thar roads!

A hill by any other name would feel as steep

Today's route was a hilly 5.5km.

Fartlek: Swedish for Heart Attack

This 10k clinic is quite different from the 5k clinic I just finished. It's more like boot camp, but the nicest kind of boot camp, and the instructor's like a drill sergeant, but the nicest kind of drill sergeant.   You have to love her because she's so cheerful, so passionate and so committed, and she has a large team of loyal group leaders that work with her so you know she's an awesome and inspiring leader.  I know I am going to get a lot out of this clinic and will be a better runner for it but I think ours is going to be one of those love-hate relationships.  Love her, love the clinic, hate the blood, sweat and tears.

Last night, and this was a first for me, she had us doing form drills and fartleks.  Fartleks?  I can never get that right on the first try.  Fartlet.  Farklek.  Farklet.  Gah!  I can't even say it with a straight face.

"Does anyone know why we do drills and fartleks?" she asked.

The group murmured tentatively and I thought, "Because you said to."

"Does anyone know why we do drills and fartleks?" she asked again, more emphatically this time, and I thought, "Because you said to, SIR!"

Correct answer:  To improve our form and raise our anaerobic threshhold.  Sounds awesome!  Can't wait!

Well, it was hard.  It was sweaty.  My hips ached, my quadriceps burned, my heart was jackhammering in my chest and my lungs wanted to burst.  I was physically exhausted and my "sprint" back was laughable.  The whole exercise underscored all my weaknesses and shone a big bright light on the things I need to improve.  But damned if I didn't feel fantastic when we were finished!