Last weekend's race was fun, and hard. It also woke me up to the fact that I'm not really ready for the marathon in a month. If I managed to bring in a time of 2:30, maybe I'd be on the fence, but knowing that I'll likely be skirting the cut off time for the full marathon discourages me more than I realized.
So, I've re-evaluated my plans. I want my first full marathon back post injury/arthritis diagnosis to be fun but also not a slog-fest. I am pretty sure that means not running it in the middle of the summer.
On the plus side, I have all summer to train, to slowly ramp up my speed and distance to where I'd like it to be. I also want to find a marathon with a bit more of a generous cut off time than 6 hours.
I've fallen into the overtraining rut before and don't want to go back there.
So, my options revolve around a fall marathon. I am hoping to do the Valley Harvest 50km race still, so whether or not a full marathon happens before that is still up in the air. Decisions!
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Monday, June 26, 2017
Good times at the MEC trail Half Marathon
I did it. I finished my first race of 2017. It was a brutal slog after the 10km point, when temperatures reached 30C, but I dug deep and followed my brother's feet so I didn't roll off the trail and into the water lol.
I knew from running the trail a lot that there would be a lot of jostling around as the trail is super narrow. I managed pretty well until the 5k runners split off from the rest of the pack. Then it was basically runner vs. the heat. The causeway was windy, which was a sweet relief but it was also monotonous as it's a straight out and back section. I was so thankful to reach the turn around point but also a bit disappointed I hadn't managed to stay on pace for longer. That pace only got worse as my brother and I made our way back, although we fought pretty hard not to let it slip over the 8 minutes/per km mark. I guess I know where I need to put in the work in my long runs lol.
So, a night of sore hips and legs made for a restless sleep but I'm super happy that I accomplished the distance and didn't chicken out at the 10km turn around point. I'm also very happy my brother gutted it out with me. I doubt I would have made it if he wasn't there keeping me laughing. The best part was that my knee didn't bother me once. AT ALL.
...and now I'm looking up my next race...
I knew from running the trail a lot that there would be a lot of jostling around as the trail is super narrow. I managed pretty well until the 5k runners split off from the rest of the pack. Then it was basically runner vs. the heat. The causeway was windy, which was a sweet relief but it was also monotonous as it's a straight out and back section. I was so thankful to reach the turn around point but also a bit disappointed I hadn't managed to stay on pace for longer. That pace only got worse as my brother and I made our way back, although we fought pretty hard not to let it slip over the 8 minutes/per km mark. I guess I know where I need to put in the work in my long runs lol.
So, a night of sore hips and legs made for a restless sleep but I'm super happy that I accomplished the distance and didn't chicken out at the 10km turn around point. I'm also very happy my brother gutted it out with me. I doubt I would have made it if he wasn't there keeping me laughing. The best part was that my knee didn't bother me once. AT ALL.
...and now I'm looking up my next race...
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Moving to Vegan
First a disclaimer; I grew up in a vegetarian household. My mother has always been a vegetarian so once my parents got divorced my brother and I went vegetarian too. That lasted until I met my husband who drew me away from vegetarianism with bacon. Oooh bacon. That spiraled over the years into the standard American diet. I even followed the healthy eating guide when I was pregnant and gained 50 pounds! I knew then that something was off. How could the government/doctors promote a healthy eating guide that made you gain weight? Isn't that counterproductive? Turns out public health isn't the goal of promoting the healthy food guide, it's monetary gain.
It turns out we've all been lied to by not only the government, special interest groups (like dairy farmers and pharmaceutical companies) and charities which would all rather have our dollars than have a cure for what ails us. It's common sense, of course they give us addictive food and drugs, because they want us to continue to spend more money on them! Executives have families they need to feed too, right?
Okay? Caught up?
So, after much thought and research I've decided to go vegan. That means cutting out fish and dairy too. Now, given the amount of chemicals in our oceans and the drugs fed to fish in pens, making the choice not to eat fish isn't exactly difficult. Cheese has been a bit harder since it seems like its sprinkled on everything, but reminding myself that it contains pus certainly helps. Eggs have also been hard since I used to eat them daily, but the saturated fat in a single egg equals the damage of 5 cigarettes, so it isn't a very hard choice either.
Okay. So I've been vegan for 3 whole days now. I find it tough but I'm hoping that after my next grocery trip it might get a bit easier, especially at lunch time. I've noticed a mental clarity I haven't had before, better energy first thing in the morning and less inflammation...everywhere. My knee and leg muscles feel pretty darn amazing. Funny how, when you remove the source of ongoing inflammation, that your OA feels like its cured!
I'm not exactly promoting that I'm doing this either. There's still that weird vegan stereotype. I'm not militant about this vegan thing and I'm not going to get into a debate with anyone about it. If you can't see the benefits from a plant based diet, then too bad, enjoy your early heart disease, cancer and diabetes. The research is out there, free, for anyone to educate themselves on. At some point, as individuals we need to grow up and take control over what we stick in our mouths.
But what about the protein?! Thankfully, food has come a long way since the 1980s. There are pea and other vegetable based protein powders out there, and if you look at the nutrition profile of a lot of vegetables, you'll find they contain small amounts of protein. It really clicked for me when I read that the only protein the largest animals in the whole world eat, are from vegetables. DUH! You don't need meat to grow muscle or repair it!
So, here we go. I'm thinking about starting an instagram page for my recipes..once I have some to share.
It turns out we've all been lied to by not only the government, special interest groups (like dairy farmers and pharmaceutical companies) and charities which would all rather have our dollars than have a cure for what ails us. It's common sense, of course they give us addictive food and drugs, because they want us to continue to spend more money on them! Executives have families they need to feed too, right?
Okay? Caught up?
So, after much thought and research I've decided to go vegan. That means cutting out fish and dairy too. Now, given the amount of chemicals in our oceans and the drugs fed to fish in pens, making the choice not to eat fish isn't exactly difficult. Cheese has been a bit harder since it seems like its sprinkled on everything, but reminding myself that it contains pus certainly helps. Eggs have also been hard since I used to eat them daily, but the saturated fat in a single egg equals the damage of 5 cigarettes, so it isn't a very hard choice either.
Okay. So I've been vegan for 3 whole days now. I find it tough but I'm hoping that after my next grocery trip it might get a bit easier, especially at lunch time. I've noticed a mental clarity I haven't had before, better energy first thing in the morning and less inflammation...everywhere. My knee and leg muscles feel pretty darn amazing. Funny how, when you remove the source of ongoing inflammation, that your OA feels like its cured!
I'm not exactly promoting that I'm doing this either. There's still that weird vegan stereotype. I'm not militant about this vegan thing and I'm not going to get into a debate with anyone about it. If you can't see the benefits from a plant based diet, then too bad, enjoy your early heart disease, cancer and diabetes. The research is out there, free, for anyone to educate themselves on. At some point, as individuals we need to grow up and take control over what we stick in our mouths.
But what about the protein?! Thankfully, food has come a long way since the 1980s. There are pea and other vegetable based protein powders out there, and if you look at the nutrition profile of a lot of vegetables, you'll find they contain small amounts of protein. It really clicked for me when I read that the only protein the largest animals in the whole world eat, are from vegetables. DUH! You don't need meat to grow muscle or repair it!
So, here we go. I'm thinking about starting an instagram page for my recipes..once I have some to share.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Oh The Heat!
It's been hovering around 30 C in the city for a couple of days. That's pretty hot around here. The first run I did went okay, it was hot, for sure, but it wasn't unbearable. Yesterday's run was very hot, it got to the point my body was having a hard time breathing since hot air is all that was coming in. Stupidly, I didn't bring a water bottle (note to self for today's run). I'm hoping with some hydration and possibly, slightly cooler temps that today's run will actually be accomplished (completely). The past 2 days' runs have come up short thanks to the heat and family obligations. So currently I've got a 6 mile deficit to make up (UGH). Funny enough, I'm the only runner I see out there lately...where'd everybody go? Did everyone else take up pool running?
On the bright side, the warm weather means my knee is less of an issue. I (almost) feel like normal again without all the swelling - yay! It certainly gives me hope for the half marathon in a week. My brother is also back home, so I'm hoping he's still willing to be my running partner and will do this race with me. It's a trail race, the easiest trail race around these parts, so I think he'll be game.
With all the running I've been doing (on average 60kms a week), my shoes are wearing down fast. I started looking for replacements online, specifically the cute little Reeboks I got 4 months ago, but they're hard to find. I'm surprised I'm back looking at Reebok, since I haven't worn that brand in almost 8 years, but they've improved their neutral running shoes a lot. The search continues...
On the bright side, the warm weather means my knee is less of an issue. I (almost) feel like normal again without all the swelling - yay! It certainly gives me hope for the half marathon in a week. My brother is also back home, so I'm hoping he's still willing to be my running partner and will do this race with me. It's a trail race, the easiest trail race around these parts, so I think he'll be game.
With all the running I've been doing (on average 60kms a week), my shoes are wearing down fast. I started looking for replacements online, specifically the cute little Reeboks I got 4 months ago, but they're hard to find. I'm surprised I'm back looking at Reebok, since I haven't worn that brand in almost 8 years, but they've improved their neutral running shoes a lot. The search continues...
Monday, June 5, 2017
Focusing on the goal
So this Saturday was supposed to be my triumphant return to the trail running scene. Until my MIL ruined it at Christmas by insisting that my family keep this weekend open for a birthday party no one planned until the last minute and now isn't even happening this weekend!! Gaaah! I am only consolidated by the fact it is now on the father's day weekend, thus destroying any semblance of a father's day for my husband. Touche, as they say. Still, it sucks. Knowing I have to wait another YEAR before I can get back to this race blows hard chunks. I did toy with the idea of driving my own butt up to the race and doing the shorter version, and I'm still debating that, but at the same time I haven't prepared for what would be an intense race, regardless of the distance. All I can say is my patience for my in-laws non-planning, disorganized BS has gone to zero.
So now I'm trying to be good and focus on my first race this season, the MEC Salt Marsh Trail half marathon. It's a week after Father's day, and of course my SIL and her brood will be staying with us, but I've made it clear, visitors or not I'm running the race. After that one I have a month until my first marathon in 3 years. I'm nervous/excited for it. My training is going pretty good. My total kilometers per week is back where it needs to be for a marathon, the only thing I need to get a grip on is my long run. I have to stop splitting it, and get'r done in one shot. That'll be my focus for this week-get the long run done as a long run!
So now I'm trying to be good and focus on my first race this season, the MEC Salt Marsh Trail half marathon. It's a week after Father's day, and of course my SIL and her brood will be staying with us, but I've made it clear, visitors or not I'm running the race. After that one I have a month until my first marathon in 3 years. I'm nervous/excited for it. My training is going pretty good. My total kilometers per week is back where it needs to be for a marathon, the only thing I need to get a grip on is my long run. I have to stop splitting it, and get'r done in one shot. That'll be my focus for this week-get the long run done as a long run!
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