Monday, November 30, 2009
Pain in the @ss...
I am sad to report that I am taking a few days off running and biking. Yep it's true, ignoring the pain in my butt didn't make it go away (imagine that). I finally got in to see Dr. Peggy and there is something going on there, she told me to take it easy for the next few days, until she can see me again. As most of you probably understand, being told to not run or bike only makes you want to do it more and frustrates you because you can't head out. However, I am forcing myself to be a good patient because I know that if I don't listen to Dr.Peggy and try to keep training that I will only make it worse and be out for longer. Honestly, the pain has been making itself known for a couple of weeks now, giving me plenty of time to do something about it but instead I figured I would be able to "stretch" it out. So now I am paying the price for not listening and running hard and hilly while it was protesting. So for the remainder of the week I will be in the pool swimming up and down and taking it easy on my butt! (Dr's orders!!)
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Base in Paradise
10 days in Laguna Beach, California at the Ritz-Carlton. Seriously what can be better than that? SV and I travelled to LA for a conference for his work. It is the most beautiful area I have ever been to and this was my first vacation that wasn't centered around a race. To be honest I was a little nervous leading up to it because I wasn't sure what I was going to do for 10 days. I am not one of those people that relaxes well, or so I thought...
We arrived to blue skies and warm weather and it only got warmer every day that we were there. Our plan was to attend the functions that SV had to attend but then spend the rest of our time doing as we pleased.
We headed out the first morning for a run after a nice American breakfast at the Ritz, thinking we would do a nice and easy 12km run. What we didn't realize was how hilly the area was.
What started out being a nice easy run turned into 1km hill repeats! Seriously, 1km of climbing to the top of a hill followed by descending and starting the next hill. I got to the 6km point feeling like I was going to be sick. I was huffing and puffing so hard and I didn't know how I was going to make it back to the hotel. At one point Steve made it through the light and I didn't. As I waited I could feel my breakfast making it's way up.... I have never had such a feeling of discomfort during a run. To make each run even sweeter the Ritz is situated at the top of a bluff maybe 300 m in length but steep as anything, and after 12km it was torture (this picture is of the path to the top.... the finish being up at the 4 palm trees--people would actually take a shuttle up to the hotel--wimps!!)
We were able to get out for 4 runs while we were there.... each run was 10km of
hills and 2 km of flat. My body is feeling this unfortunately. I have had a nagging hamstring thing for about a week before we came here and by our last run I was in some pain. I think that I will take a few days to try to work through whatever is going on there, however a massage and the TP ball aren't doing much to help with the pain I am having, so I think it is time that I turn myself over to Dr. Peggy.
SV and I also wanted to swim while we were here. California in November..... we had to swim outdoors. We had looked at the hotel pool and contemplated doing some workouts in there
but we decided it wasn't going to be much of a workout.... so we searched out area pools and were happy to find the Laguna Beach High School and Community Center Pool.
It was a great outdoor pool and we were able to go and swim 3 times while we were there. There is something so wonderful about swimming outdoors that those of us in Canada don't get the opportunity to experience enough. Our swims were great and we both are feeling so strong in the water. It would have been great to do an ocean swim but neither of us brought our wetsuits and swimming in a heated pool just seemed like the better option.
It was a great vacation, we were able to spend time with some great people..... enjoyed some parties, and there was dancing. The food and restaurants that we found while we were there were absolutely yummy.... every meal was to die for. So even though we were doing some intense workouts (at the start of our base training) we balanced it nicely with some indulging in the good life. Ahhhh......
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Swimming.
I have always been a swimmer, as far back as I can remember I have always swam. I got into swimming because my big sister started on the swim team and I wanted to as well. My parents weren't swimmers but they did enjoy the water. Kim and I spent most of our years swimming (and I was pretty good) but over the past 11 years, I started to lose touch with swimming, it was more something I did just to train for triathlon not because I loved it. I didn't focus on the swim because I wanted to bike and run and my swim compared to other triathletes was pretty good.
It also had a lot to do with swimming alone, it was pretty hard to motivate myself to swim when swimming beside a lady doing sidestroke or head up breaststroke. Through the years I have had a few people that I have been able to swim with occasionally and we would get in some good quality workouts, and even a few times I had Kim coach me when I joined her team for a few swims, but for the most part I would swim on my own and it was easier to do long easy mileage than to push myself to go hard.
Lately I have taken to the water on a regular basis and am realizing how much that I missed it. Maybe it is being around swimmers all the time, with the club team and master swimmers but I find myself wanting to go for a swim over going for a run. It is such a part of me and I am happy to be feeling like a swimmer again.
SV and I have been swimming together and it is nice to have someone who can challenge me in the water, we have been doing some quality sets that I would never have done on my own before and I am starting to feel strong in the pool. I have been swimming more regularly than I did all summer while training for Ultraman, which I find a little entertaining, who knows what my swim time could have been if I actually would have done some swim training, but hey life happens.
It is just nice to be motivated to swim again and to have that love back for the water and I notice as my love for the water comes back that I am able to help my athletes figure out the parts of their strokes that are holding them back, all in all it is a win win situation.
I am enjoying the peaceful sound of being in the water, smelling of chlorine, the dry skin, diving into a cold pool and the insane hunger that comes after a hard swim workout. It's been a long road but it is nice to be back "home" with my oldest friend.
It also had a lot to do with swimming alone, it was pretty hard to motivate myself to swim when swimming beside a lady doing sidestroke or head up breaststroke. Through the years I have had a few people that I have been able to swim with occasionally and we would get in some good quality workouts, and even a few times I had Kim coach me when I joined her team for a few swims, but for the most part I would swim on my own and it was easier to do long easy mileage than to push myself to go hard.
Lately I have taken to the water on a regular basis and am realizing how much that I missed it. Maybe it is being around swimmers all the time, with the club team and master swimmers but I find myself wanting to go for a swim over going for a run. It is such a part of me and I am happy to be feeling like a swimmer again.
SV and I have been swimming together and it is nice to have someone who can challenge me in the water, we have been doing some quality sets that I would never have done on my own before and I am starting to feel strong in the pool. I have been swimming more regularly than I did all summer while training for Ultraman, which I find a little entertaining, who knows what my swim time could have been if I actually would have done some swim training, but hey life happens.
It is just nice to be motivated to swim again and to have that love back for the water and I notice as my love for the water comes back that I am able to help my athletes figure out the parts of their strokes that are holding them back, all in all it is a win win situation.
I am enjoying the peaceful sound of being in the water, smelling of chlorine, the dry skin, diving into a cold pool and the insane hunger that comes after a hard swim workout. It's been a long road but it is nice to be back "home" with my oldest friend.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
I Run Like A Girl....Try to Keep Up.
I was waiting to do this post so that I could add some of the race pictures to it, but the photographers are taking their time, so I will just add them when they finally become available...I just thought there will be some good photographic evidence of how the race went :)
Going to TO always turns out to be a little bit of a hectic event, especially when you give yourself just enough time and then hit something unexpected, like traffic. Thankfully, it all worked out in the end and Kim and I got to the packet pick up just in time and had little difficulty finding the hotel from there. SV wasn't arriving until later so we found a great little Italian place to have some dinner and then sat around and watched a girlie movie. It was a great pre-race evening and I loved spending time with my sister!
Race morning was an early one but I was able to keep SV on track and we were out front waiting for the cab almost right on schedule :) Kim seemed to be in a good space mentally and she looked ready, I was excited for her.
We got to the race start and went and got in line inside the Starbucks, you know you are at a race when the line up for the bathroom is longer than the line up for coffee (or there is no line for coffee, lol). We headed to the start line and gave Kim big hugs and kisses, I was so excited for her and knew she would be ok (her race started an hour after ours).
SV and I went to get in line at the start and just got right into the front, it was great, not too many people ahead of us, just enough to provide a little warmth. We decided to take the first couple of km nice and easy and just go from there, before I knew it we were off and running. Despite saying we were going to go easy the first couple km,we got swept along in the race, especially when you start at the front. We hit the first km in 4:04, I had to chuckle, nice and easy. Through the first few km we managed to stay side by side and even would yell to each other what songs we were listening to (which I am sure the others around us loved) and I was feeling really good.
I passed by one of my swimmers who was there to watch her mom run the race and she cheered me on really loudly, it was so fun. At 4km, I glanced at the person who was running by me and of all the random things, it was a friend I had swam with for many years in highschool and before. We chatted really quick before he ran by and put in an impressive race.
At certain points in the first 7km SV was pulling ahead of me, especially on the slight downhills, I began to feel like I was holding him back so I told him a few times to run on ahead. Finally by 8km he was ahead of me, I thought to myself that I could try to push and catch back up or I could just run my own race,I decided to just try and keep him in my sights and see how it went. I was still feeling strong but I didn't want to blow up and I knew that I should not try to keep up with SV but run the way I felt comfortable with. By 12km I felt like I had made some time back up on him and focused on trying to close the gap between us. Just after 13km I was at his side and he said he could hear me coming. It was great to run with him again and we were in a pretty nice area of the course. We ran together for the next few kms, I would pull ahead of him and then he would be right beside me again. At the 15km point I said to SV, "we don't even lace our shoes up for 6km" and decided it was time to pick it up. I started to put a little bit of distance into him but I thought he was always right beside me.
The last 4km is an uphill and I tried to push this part, I was ready to be done and my calves were getting tight. I would pick a person in front of me and focus on them until I ran past them, then I would pick someone else. I wasn't sure where SV was but I knew he was close.
The last km is around a loop and I was running out of steam, it is hard to see the finish line and for it to not feel like it was getting any closer. I was still working hard but I was also waiting for SV to come up beside me and out sprint me to the finish line but there was nothing I could do to run faster and then finally I crossed the finish line. It was so great to be done and when I turned around SV was crossing the line. It was great!
I was thrilled with my time, I had stopped looking at the time on my watch at 11km because at that point I thought it might be possible to break the 1:30 mark but I didn't want to psych myself out so I had just stopped looking. When I crossed the line, my watch said 1:28.19 I couldn't believe it, that is over 8 minutes off my best time and although it had hurt I had so much fun.
SV got a pb as well and we were both pumped that we broke the 1:30 mark.
I ended up being 3rd in my age category and was the 11th woman overall. I am very happy with my results.
Kim finished her marathon with an over 20 minute pb, which is awesome and she toughed it out all on her own! I am so proud of her!
My favourite things about this race was going with 2 of my favourite people. I loved running along side SV and the fact that we are able to push each other and both be happy for the others performance. It was great to finish together and make our way through the medals, food and massage together and then rewarding ourselves with a yummy Eggs Benedict breakfast!
Oh and I almost forgot, I loved that I earned bragging rights (at least for a little while) by beating SV by 13 seconds!!
Going to TO always turns out to be a little bit of a hectic event, especially when you give yourself just enough time and then hit something unexpected, like traffic. Thankfully, it all worked out in the end and Kim and I got to the packet pick up just in time and had little difficulty finding the hotel from there. SV wasn't arriving until later so we found a great little Italian place to have some dinner and then sat around and watched a girlie movie. It was a great pre-race evening and I loved spending time with my sister!
Race morning was an early one but I was able to keep SV on track and we were out front waiting for the cab almost right on schedule :) Kim seemed to be in a good space mentally and she looked ready, I was excited for her.
We got to the race start and went and got in line inside the Starbucks, you know you are at a race when the line up for the bathroom is longer than the line up for coffee (or there is no line for coffee, lol). We headed to the start line and gave Kim big hugs and kisses, I was so excited for her and knew she would be ok (her race started an hour after ours).
SV and I went to get in line at the start and just got right into the front, it was great, not too many people ahead of us, just enough to provide a little warmth. We decided to take the first couple of km nice and easy and just go from there, before I knew it we were off and running. Despite saying we were going to go easy the first couple km,we got swept along in the race, especially when you start at the front. We hit the first km in 4:04, I had to chuckle, nice and easy. Through the first few km we managed to stay side by side and even would yell to each other what songs we were listening to (which I am sure the others around us loved) and I was feeling really good.
I passed by one of my swimmers who was there to watch her mom run the race and she cheered me on really loudly, it was so fun. At 4km, I glanced at the person who was running by me and of all the random things, it was a friend I had swam with for many years in highschool and before. We chatted really quick before he ran by and put in an impressive race.
At certain points in the first 7km SV was pulling ahead of me, especially on the slight downhills, I began to feel like I was holding him back so I told him a few times to run on ahead. Finally by 8km he was ahead of me, I thought to myself that I could try to push and catch back up or I could just run my own race,I decided to just try and keep him in my sights and see how it went. I was still feeling strong but I didn't want to blow up and I knew that I should not try to keep up with SV but run the way I felt comfortable with. By 12km I felt like I had made some time back up on him and focused on trying to close the gap between us. Just after 13km I was at his side and he said he could hear me coming. It was great to run with him again and we were in a pretty nice area of the course. We ran together for the next few kms, I would pull ahead of him and then he would be right beside me again. At the 15km point I said to SV, "we don't even lace our shoes up for 6km" and decided it was time to pick it up. I started to put a little bit of distance into him but I thought he was always right beside me.
The last 4km is an uphill and I tried to push this part, I was ready to be done and my calves were getting tight. I would pick a person in front of me and focus on them until I ran past them, then I would pick someone else. I wasn't sure where SV was but I knew he was close.
The last km is around a loop and I was running out of steam, it is hard to see the finish line and for it to not feel like it was getting any closer. I was still working hard but I was also waiting for SV to come up beside me and out sprint me to the finish line but there was nothing I could do to run faster and then finally I crossed the finish line. It was so great to be done and when I turned around SV was crossing the line. It was great!
I was thrilled with my time, I had stopped looking at the time on my watch at 11km because at that point I thought it might be possible to break the 1:30 mark but I didn't want to psych myself out so I had just stopped looking. When I crossed the line, my watch said 1:28.19 I couldn't believe it, that is over 8 minutes off my best time and although it had hurt I had so much fun.
SV got a pb as well and we were both pumped that we broke the 1:30 mark.
I ended up being 3rd in my age category and was the 11th woman overall. I am very happy with my results.
Kim finished her marathon with an over 20 minute pb, which is awesome and she toughed it out all on her own! I am so proud of her!
My favourite things about this race was going with 2 of my favourite people. I loved running along side SV and the fact that we are able to push each other and both be happy for the others performance. It was great to finish together and make our way through the medals, food and massage together and then rewarding ourselves with a yummy Eggs Benedict breakfast!
Oh and I almost forgot, I loved that I earned bragging rights (at least for a little while) by beating SV by 13 seconds!!
Friday, October 16, 2009
A Race....
It's true, I am registered for a race this weekend! I am pretty excited it will be the first time toeing the line since Ultraman and I am heading to the race with 2 of my most favourite people!
I am signed up to do a half marathon this weekend. I have only done one half marathon before and that was in 2007, so I am heading into this weekend hoping to pull off a better time than I did back then. I have been feeling pretty good with my running and pretty consistent.
I think the best thing that Ultraman gave me is some confidence in my running. I know now what suffering on a run is and I am pretty confident that regardless of how hard I push, I will never feel the same agony and fatigue and helplessness that I did at 72km into Day 3 of Ultraman. After running 84km the thought of doing 21.1km really doesn't seem that bad any longer. I know it is going to hurt and I am planning on running hard and seeing what these legs can pull off. I am going to try to keep SV within my sights but I have a feeling he is going to put the boots to me but I am going to try to hang on, the pain will be temporary and breakfast will be the reward!
KW is trying her hand at her marathon and I am so excited to be there for her and to see her reach her goal. It is my mission to make sure she has fun and stays positive. I know she will do great and reach her goal.
Overall, I am so excited for this weekend. I really do enjoy going to a race and having some fun, now if only the snow stays away!!
I am signed up to do a half marathon this weekend. I have only done one half marathon before and that was in 2007, so I am heading into this weekend hoping to pull off a better time than I did back then. I have been feeling pretty good with my running and pretty consistent.
I think the best thing that Ultraman gave me is some confidence in my running. I know now what suffering on a run is and I am pretty confident that regardless of how hard I push, I will never feel the same agony and fatigue and helplessness that I did at 72km into Day 3 of Ultraman. After running 84km the thought of doing 21.1km really doesn't seem that bad any longer. I know it is going to hurt and I am planning on running hard and seeing what these legs can pull off. I am going to try to keep SV within my sights but I have a feeling he is going to put the boots to me but I am going to try to hang on, the pain will be temporary and breakfast will be the reward!
KW is trying her hand at her marathon and I am so excited to be there for her and to see her reach her goal. It is my mission to make sure she has fun and stays positive. I know she will do great and reach her goal.
Overall, I am so excited for this weekend. I really do enjoy going to a race and having some fun, now if only the snow stays away!!
Friday, October 2, 2009
October--Here we go
Once again, I need to apologize for the lack of action on my blog. However, with the leaves on the trees changing, I feel maybe it is time to make some changes and get to setting some new goals.
I have always felt better when I am working towards something, it doesn't have to be something big but it is always good to have something to focus on, something to motivate you when the weather is crummy and you would rather snuggle under a blanket or when life seems so complicated, it is nice to have something that keeps you moving forward.
So how do I follow up Ultraman? Believe me, some of my new ultraman friends have been providing me with suggestions and although some of the races are interesting and eyebrow raising, I am not feeling up to something so epic! I loved every minute of the Ultraman experience, okay maybe not "every" minute but I don't know that trying to go bigger right now is something that I want to tackle. So I am toying with the idea of doing some shorter races, something that I am not very skilled at. It could be fun, but at the same time it makes me nervous. Going shorter means going faster and going faster makes it hurt more....hmmm...what to do!
I am exploring ideas and trying to figure out what it is that sounds like a challenge to me, I will let you know what it is when the bells and whistles start going off!
Until then I have proposed a small challenge...I have a bet with SV. We are giving up the cookies...and not just any cookies, the glorious oatmeal raisin (and the oatmeal chocolate chip) cookies....you know the ones, the soft and chewy and oh so yummy ones......hmmmmmmm
Yep, it's true! The bet began 24 hours ago. Who can go 2 months without the good stuff. So place your bets! Me or SV, who can last longer?? I have been told I make everything a competition, so here we go! We have yet to decide what the winner will take home, but no you can give us some suggestions.
I have always felt better when I am working towards something, it doesn't have to be something big but it is always good to have something to focus on, something to motivate you when the weather is crummy and you would rather snuggle under a blanket or when life seems so complicated, it is nice to have something that keeps you moving forward.
So how do I follow up Ultraman? Believe me, some of my new ultraman friends have been providing me with suggestions and although some of the races are interesting and eyebrow raising, I am not feeling up to something so epic! I loved every minute of the Ultraman experience, okay maybe not "every" minute but I don't know that trying to go bigger right now is something that I want to tackle. So I am toying with the idea of doing some shorter races, something that I am not very skilled at. It could be fun, but at the same time it makes me nervous. Going shorter means going faster and going faster makes it hurt more....hmmm...what to do!
I am exploring ideas and trying to figure out what it is that sounds like a challenge to me, I will let you know what it is when the bells and whistles start going off!
Until then I have proposed a small challenge...I have a bet with SV. We are giving up the cookies...and not just any cookies, the glorious oatmeal raisin (and the oatmeal chocolate chip) cookies....you know the ones, the soft and chewy and oh so yummy ones......hmmmmmmm
Yep, it's true! The bet began 24 hours ago. Who can go 2 months without the good stuff. So place your bets! Me or SV, who can last longer?? I have been told I make everything a competition, so here we go! We have yet to decide what the winner will take home, but no you can give us some suggestions.
Monday, September 7, 2009
A fresh start.
Sorry for the silence on the blog front. I am doing alright. This has not destroyed me nor will the actions of someone ever destroy me. The body and mind heals and I am healing and if anything this has made me stronger. I no longer feel like I need to give the benefit of the doubt. I have learned a lesson and I will no longer trust the wrong people. I am listening to the advice of those who know better and who have my best interests at heart. I am learning that this type of behaviour is not acceptable and no one has the right to do these things to me(or anyone) nor do I have to make excuses for it or accept it because I do not deserve it.
Things move forward and the girlies are doing well. I hold it together each day for them and the fact that they deserve the best so that is what I will give them.
I am getting back into working out, my brain needs an outlet right now. I always enjoy training and I love training with people that make me happy, so here is to getting back at it.
I got my new wetsuit, thank you BlueSeventy. It looks and feels awesome. I haven't tried it on yet, but hope to get an open water swim in soon, can't wait to try it out!
Big weekend approaching for some of my friends doing their first half ironmans, I can't wait to see them reach their goals. I know it is going to be so good for my heart to be surrounded by such good and positive people!
Things move forward and the girlies are doing well. I hold it together each day for them and the fact that they deserve the best so that is what I will give them.
I am getting back into working out, my brain needs an outlet right now. I always enjoy training and I love training with people that make me happy, so here is to getting back at it.
I got my new wetsuit, thank you BlueSeventy. It looks and feels awesome. I haven't tried it on yet, but hope to get an open water swim in soon, can't wait to try it out!
Big weekend approaching for some of my friends doing their first half ironmans, I can't wait to see them reach their goals. I know it is going to be so good for my heart to be surrounded by such good and positive people!
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