After my last post I did re-evaluate my goals. I decided to give the Epic Canadian multi-day race a chance and reorganized my training plan to suit it. I still have every intention of running the 50k at the Valley Harvest Marathon in October but I believe my knee is demanding that I take my training more slowly. Fine. One thing I've learned from OA in the knee is to be flexible based on what your body is capable at the current moment of achieving. So mine is currently calling for a slower mileage build up, and I have the time to make it happen.
I'm honestly not all that upset about canceling my plans to run the NS Marathon. It was really a replacement for an ultra that I would normally do in June but a family commitment that had me change my plans back in January. I feel positive about running the Epic Canadian races, after all, the distances are what I would normally run on a weekend anyhow, I'll just add the goal of doing them in a reasonable amount of time, or at least not finishing last haha.
In the meantime I still have the Walk to Fight Arthritis coming up on the first weekend of June. After a month of dance competitions for my daughter I really just want to take it easy on that weekend, but I feel I have a duty to support the cause. Last year my husband and I got into an argument on the drive to the event (about my driving) so I'm hoping for a much happier day this year...or maybe I'll just leave him at home.
So my new goals are set and I'm ready to go after them. I'm also hoping to run some shorter events between now and the end of August, and maybe even run one of the Maritime Race Weekend races in mid September. Let's giv'r!!
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Re-evaluating Summer Goals
So...my knee. It's been giving me a bit of grief on the past few runs. I can't say that its totally my knee either, since my quad has hurt more than my knee, and at times it even gives out/spasms mid stride, which always leads to a fun little recovery. I've tried lathering icy-gel on it with a little bit of relief. I can't point to any one event that caused this issue either. I even went through my Strava logs to see if I've somehow drastically increased my mileage over the space of a month or two. But no, for the past 4 months I've averaged just above 250 kms for each month. Grrr. To add to the issue my other knee, just below the patella, has decided to kick up a fuss if I don't lather it with icy gel too, but modifying my stride seems to also help that leg.
It's frustrating. Especially now that I've finally got my long run back into the 20's. I haven't been doing as much weight training lately so I've resolved to pick that back up in the hopes it will help.
My frustration has led me to re-evaluate my goals for the summer. Doing a marathon no longer seems like a totally fun idea. I've looked around at the other events going on in the area and found an interesting endurance challenge; the Epic Canadian. I would run 6.1km (what's up with the 0.1 I don't know) on Friday night, then 10km on Saturday and finish with 21.1 on Sunday. All of the races are very close by and from what I hear the race support is great. The issue with that idea is the cost. To do all three will cost $181.00. Ouch. When you're used to paying $30 for a race, this amount seems ridiculous.
So I'll weigh my options. I could also not race at all this summer and train even more slowly up to the 50km road race on the Thanksgiving weekend. One thing is for sure, currently running 30km long runs is not something my knee is willing to go along with.
It's frustrating. Especially now that I've finally got my long run back into the 20's. I haven't been doing as much weight training lately so I've resolved to pick that back up in the hopes it will help.
My frustration has led me to re-evaluate my goals for the summer. Doing a marathon no longer seems like a totally fun idea. I've looked around at the other events going on in the area and found an interesting endurance challenge; the Epic Canadian. I would run 6.1km (what's up with the 0.1 I don't know) on Friday night, then 10km on Saturday and finish with 21.1 on Sunday. All of the races are very close by and from what I hear the race support is great. The issue with that idea is the cost. To do all three will cost $181.00. Ouch. When you're used to paying $30 for a race, this amount seems ridiculous.
So I'll weigh my options. I could also not race at all this summer and train even more slowly up to the 50km road race on the Thanksgiving weekend. One thing is for sure, currently running 30km long runs is not something my knee is willing to go along with.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Setting a new PR then smacked with a cold
Last week, for the first time in over 2 years, I managed to complete a new PR in my weekly distance. I managed, despite working full time, running my daughter back and forth to a 5 day long dance competition that went to 10pm at night, dealing with a nagging front patella pain and hosting my in-laws, to complete 64km, including a long run. Yup, I rock. Then I got hit with a sinus/head cold. Then my head felt like a rock lol. I should have realized that increasing my distance would make me more likely to catch a cold (since your immune system gets depressed as you tax your body more) but I figured since I was increasing my distance slowly that I would adjust to it and catching a cold or the flu wouldn't be an issue. And it probably wouldn't have been if I hadn't sat at a dance competition with 100 other parents/kids for 5 days.
So for two days I've had pulsating ears, sore throat and dizzy spells. I decided to forego my usual carb restrictions so I could keep my energy levels up and hopefully send this cold packing. All I want to do is sleep. This week is thankfully a scale back week so my overall distance goal is 60km. Today I'm debating if I can run a 8km or 12km. I hate to cut back on my run, especially when I have the time to complete the 12km but I have a feeling I might be walking half of it so I may just stick with the 8 and save my longer runs for the weekend when I'm feeling better. Damn cold.
A lot of runners have a much more extended debate with themselves when running sick. The general rule of thumb is that if you feel like crap but it's all above the neck (such as my case), then giv'r. If your lungs are taking a beating or if you need to visit the washroom frequently then you should probably shelve the run. So, because I only feel like crap from the neck up, I shall run, albeit slooooowly. Onwards and upwards!
So for two days I've had pulsating ears, sore throat and dizzy spells. I decided to forego my usual carb restrictions so I could keep my energy levels up and hopefully send this cold packing. All I want to do is sleep. This week is thankfully a scale back week so my overall distance goal is 60km. Today I'm debating if I can run a 8km or 12km. I hate to cut back on my run, especially when I have the time to complete the 12km but I have a feeling I might be walking half of it so I may just stick with the 8 and save my longer runs for the weekend when I'm feeling better. Damn cold.
A lot of runners have a much more extended debate with themselves when running sick. The general rule of thumb is that if you feel like crap but it's all above the neck (such as my case), then giv'r. If your lungs are taking a beating or if you need to visit the washroom frequently then you should probably shelve the run. So, because I only feel like crap from the neck up, I shall run, albeit slooooowly. Onwards and upwards!
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Why I won't run Boston. Ever.
Boston. To many runners it is the ultimate race experience. For some of them it is actually a life goal. I used to be a huge fan of the race too, but ever since I discovered trail running my runner mentality has changed.
I no longer chase a certain PR, I don't let it define me as a runner. I have come to realize the reason I'm out there, day after day, is because I simply love the sport and time spent in nature is a precious, rare thing for most people these days. I'm positive if I did a poll at my own workplace (which admittedly has a lot of fit, active people!) I would find less than 10% have spent an hour in the woods in the last week.
That's sad. This disconnect we have between ourselves and nature is only growing and we should pay attention to how it affects our lives, both mentally and physically.
I love the sweet smell of the trees, watching the rivers flow and the crunch of a good trail under my feet. I love going out for hours and just being my running-self. It both recharges me mentally and breaks me down physically. Bliss. That's why I love ultras. With generous cut off times, aid station eating-fests and the most supportive fellow runners on the planet I can't think of a better way (aside from hanging out with my awesome husband and daughter) that I could spend a day.
Do I still follow a training plan? You bet I do! I learned long ago that following one keeps the suffering level to a minimum during any race so to me it's still common sense.
So why do I still bother to race? I race much less than I used to, it has certainly become less important to me, but part of me wants to push my own personal boundaries. Yes, you can do this without a starting line but can you do it on a specific day? That's the question each runner, regardless of distance or type of race, puts on themselves when they decide to run a race. Sure you can run a 50 minute 10k but can you do it on, say May 10th, when it's raining and the route is different than the pancake flat route you usually run? Running trails has made me a stronger runner and has given me confidence to answer that question with a yes, yes I can, or at least I'm going to try.
Boston is a historic, beautiful road race, and I'll continue to watch it each year to see the runners triumph over their own limits and set records, but afterwards I'll head out into the woods, to smell the trees and enjoy the mud.
I no longer chase a certain PR, I don't let it define me as a runner. I have come to realize the reason I'm out there, day after day, is because I simply love the sport and time spent in nature is a precious, rare thing for most people these days. I'm positive if I did a poll at my own workplace (which admittedly has a lot of fit, active people!) I would find less than 10% have spent an hour in the woods in the last week.
That's sad. This disconnect we have between ourselves and nature is only growing and we should pay attention to how it affects our lives, both mentally and physically.
I love the sweet smell of the trees, watching the rivers flow and the crunch of a good trail under my feet. I love going out for hours and just being my running-self. It both recharges me mentally and breaks me down physically. Bliss. That's why I love ultras. With generous cut off times, aid station eating-fests and the most supportive fellow runners on the planet I can't think of a better way (aside from hanging out with my awesome husband and daughter) that I could spend a day.
Do I still follow a training plan? You bet I do! I learned long ago that following one keeps the suffering level to a minimum during any race so to me it's still common sense.
So why do I still bother to race? I race much less than I used to, it has certainly become less important to me, but part of me wants to push my own personal boundaries. Yes, you can do this without a starting line but can you do it on a specific day? That's the question each runner, regardless of distance or type of race, puts on themselves when they decide to run a race. Sure you can run a 50 minute 10k but can you do it on, say May 10th, when it's raining and the route is different than the pancake flat route you usually run? Running trails has made me a stronger runner and has given me confidence to answer that question with a yes, yes I can, or at least I'm going to try.
Boston is a historic, beautiful road race, and I'll continue to watch it each year to see the runners triumph over their own limits and set records, but afterwards I'll head out into the woods, to smell the trees and enjoy the mud.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
It begins...
The build-up phase is complete! Now the real work begins with the intense 16 week part of my marathon plan. This week is a solid 52kms consisting of two 8km runs, two 10km runs and a 16km LSD (long slow distance) run.
I typically have no issue completing the weekday runs, it's finding time to tackle the long runs is what stresses me out slightly. This week though that shouldn't be a huge issue, since I have Friday off and can tackle the 16kms before my daughter gets home from school (and before her dance competition in the evening!).
My knee has been pretty good. This past week when I conquered a total of 60kms (total) I started feeling twinges at the top of my kneecap. So, I shortened my stride and after a kilometer or so it eased up then disappeared. It happened a few times, and as I recall it starts to happen whenever I increase my distance, so just another thing to keep in mind I suppose.
My weight lifting has taken a bit of a backseat to my running these past two weeks, so that's something I'll have to try and balance a bit better. Between that and my daughter's dance competition season, things are about to get pretty interesting!
I typically have no issue completing the weekday runs, it's finding time to tackle the long runs is what stresses me out slightly. This week though that shouldn't be a huge issue, since I have Friday off and can tackle the 16kms before my daughter gets home from school (and before her dance competition in the evening!).
My knee has been pretty good. This past week when I conquered a total of 60kms (total) I started feeling twinges at the top of my kneecap. So, I shortened my stride and after a kilometer or so it eased up then disappeared. It happened a few times, and as I recall it starts to happen whenever I increase my distance, so just another thing to keep in mind I suppose.
My weight lifting has taken a bit of a backseat to my running these past two weeks, so that's something I'll have to try and balance a bit better. Between that and my daughter's dance competition season, things are about to get pretty interesting!
Monday, March 13, 2017
Embracing the Dread-Treadmill
These past couple of weeks have definitely been frigid. I have had every intention of logging some LSD miles but when the windchill is -15, a 90 minute running outside window is all my legs can take. On top of that cold air seems to have a stiffening affect on my OA. I noticed it a bit with the OA in my finger, but the knee is a much larger joint and demands attention whether you like it or not.
SO...what to do? I tried wearing layers around the knee to help keep it insulated but that is seriously annoying and limits my range of motion. Ugh. So then I tried running the indoor track. And then I discovered runner's-rage when every.single.time. I went to run there the skating group would use half of the track for land training, literally forcing everyone else on the track to slow down and navigate around them. So, wanting to embrace my runner-zen, I decided to dust off my treadmill at home and give that a whirl. Last week I logged 32 of my 38 kilometers on the bloody thing. It hasn't been since I trained for my first marathon and my first ultra that I used this thing that much. But hey, it's free, it seriously cuts down on how long I take to get ready for a run and when I'm done I can get cleaned up immediately. It also lets me worry about my pace instead of worrying about slipping on ice or how mechanical my knee feels in the cold. It's a win-win until the warmer weather hits. My dog though, he just sits beside the treadmill looking disgusted.
So for now I'm getting totally caught up on my Netflix action movies and trying to embrace the drudgery of the treadmill. I have also resigned myself to the fact I very likely will never run that Arctic marathon. Ah well, plenty of warm-weather races to run! Yesterday was a 5 year PB on treadmill distance for me; a whole 7 miles. And no, I didn't die of boredom or go totally nuts. At least I'm staying consistent.
SO...what to do? I tried wearing layers around the knee to help keep it insulated but that is seriously annoying and limits my range of motion. Ugh. So then I tried running the indoor track. And then I discovered runner's-rage when every.single.time. I went to run there the skating group would use half of the track for land training, literally forcing everyone else on the track to slow down and navigate around them. So, wanting to embrace my runner-zen, I decided to dust off my treadmill at home and give that a whirl. Last week I logged 32 of my 38 kilometers on the bloody thing. It hasn't been since I trained for my first marathon and my first ultra that I used this thing that much. But hey, it's free, it seriously cuts down on how long I take to get ready for a run and when I'm done I can get cleaned up immediately. It also lets me worry about my pace instead of worrying about slipping on ice or how mechanical my knee feels in the cold. It's a win-win until the warmer weather hits. My dog though, he just sits beside the treadmill looking disgusted.
So for now I'm getting totally caught up on my Netflix action movies and trying to embrace the drudgery of the treadmill. I have also resigned myself to the fact I very likely will never run that Arctic marathon. Ah well, plenty of warm-weather races to run! Yesterday was a 5 year PB on treadmill distance for me; a whole 7 miles. And no, I didn't die of boredom or go totally nuts. At least I'm staying consistent.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Trust the plan
So I've been following my trusty marathon training plan and my new bodybuilding program. So far it's been going well. I'm into week 5 for the bodybuilding program and week 6 or something for the marathon training. The issue I'm facing now is that the marathon training hasn't really started, as in I'm just in the build up stage so I feel like as long as I get in 40-45km a week I'm doing fine.
I'm trying to be smart about it, but that's led to stupid mistakes, haha. Take this week for instance; Monday I'm feeling tired (I did run 28km over the course of the weekend) and sluggish so instead of enjoying the sunny (albeit windy) day I did an indoor HIIT workout, telling myself Tuesday would be a longer run day so I should conserve my legs. WRONG. I did my usual lunchtime back and biceps weight training and after work decided instead of running the indoor track I would run the local trail. (Honestly, it wasn't the track per say, but the fact the skating group has decided to take over one lane of the track to do land training for 30 minutes, thus forcing a cluster effect on the only other track lane-for half of the track length. I get a bit rage-y when people aren't actually running or walking on the track I've paid to run on.) So anyhoo, I get to the trail but it's still really snow-filled and icy. I plug through, determined to get in at least 6km even though I managed to forget my spikes (they would have helped a lot!). I ended up taking to the country road at one point to finish off a total of 8kms. Not exactly a longer run in my books, I didn't even hit double digits. So yeah, I "saved" my legs for nothing. Ugh.
Today, my usual cross training day is taunting me. Should I jump on the dreadmill when I get home to grab a few kms or stick to my routine of cross training? Deviating from the plan this week doesn't seem to be working well for me, so perhaps I will stick with my cross training. There's always my run commute home tomorrow and Friday!
I'm trying to be smart about it, but that's led to stupid mistakes, haha. Take this week for instance; Monday I'm feeling tired (I did run 28km over the course of the weekend) and sluggish so instead of enjoying the sunny (albeit windy) day I did an indoor HIIT workout, telling myself Tuesday would be a longer run day so I should conserve my legs. WRONG. I did my usual lunchtime back and biceps weight training and after work decided instead of running the indoor track I would run the local trail. (Honestly, it wasn't the track per say, but the fact the skating group has decided to take over one lane of the track to do land training for 30 minutes, thus forcing a cluster effect on the only other track lane-for half of the track length. I get a bit rage-y when people aren't actually running or walking on the track I've paid to run on.) So anyhoo, I get to the trail but it's still really snow-filled and icy. I plug through, determined to get in at least 6km even though I managed to forget my spikes (they would have helped a lot!). I ended up taking to the country road at one point to finish off a total of 8kms. Not exactly a longer run in my books, I didn't even hit double digits. So yeah, I "saved" my legs for nothing. Ugh.
Today, my usual cross training day is taunting me. Should I jump on the dreadmill when I get home to grab a few kms or stick to my routine of cross training? Deviating from the plan this week doesn't seem to be working well for me, so perhaps I will stick with my cross training. There's always my run commute home tomorrow and Friday!
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