Sunday, March 17, 2013

“Human beings are...

 made up of flesh and blood, and a miracle fiber called courage.” -George Patton

8 K @ 8'05
go.nike.com/06k2n1k3

Happy St Patrick's Day! Hope everyone has an enjoyable day. I WISH that I was out running right now in the snow globe world that is outside. I'm just not sure I'd quite manage as I've been celebrating. I am still the reigning Caps Champion.

I ran earlier this evening though. I really, really, REALLY did not want to. REALLLLLLLLLY. I did it though (pause for accolades)....

I could have easily let myself off the hook as I'd already run 4 times this week. Plus, it was -5 but felt like -10 out there. AND, I was just having a plain ole crappy day. I did it though. All 5 miles. My body was achy, I was emotionally exhausted and it took me 2 hours to motivate myself but I did it.

I was so angry and miserable out there and thought to myself that I should really re-evaluate my relationship with running (yes, those exact words). Like a relationship with a person, I felt that it was no longer making me happy, the spark just wasn't there anymore.  Why was this? What was I getting from this? If I didn't run, what would I do instead?  I decided I would just focus on running and save my existential crisis for later. I cursed a lot and just did the one foot in front of the other thing.

Running did require extra focus today as there was a skiff of snow hiding frozen puddles that made the route particularly slippery. I trudged along wishing that someone had have talked me out of this venture today. I hit my last mile and I don't know what it was but I felt myself pick up the pace and felt overall lighter. I knew that this 5 miles was better than my last. I did finish the run smiling.

I guess I'll stick with this stupid hobby. At least for one more day...tomorrow IS a rest day after all...

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Sunny with a Chance of a Terrible Run

8K @ 8'15
go.nike.com/1lj3vsv

I was not feeling well this morning after a terrible sleep, got up, heard that an appointment was cancelled and went back to be. When I finally got out of bed at 1 this afternoon I dawdled debating whether or not I run.

I know that if I can easily be de-railed when I am on a training schedule. That was my biggest argument with myself and the clincher in the matter. So I went out also keeping in mind that yesterday was a rest day so I should be feeling fresh out there today. The wind picked up as I was out there and unfortunately I had to run into it for the last mile and a half.

I even took a break. I never take breaks. I know that these terrible runs make the good ones all the better so I just kept reminding myself of that. Plus, tomorrow is only 4 miles and today was 5, so my next run will already be better.

Read a bit about a Soldier On participant:
http://www.globalnews.ca/Health/canadian+soldier+dominic+larocque+on+fast+track+to+2014+paralympics/6442766791/story.html

Monday, March 11, 2013

“Mental will is

a muscle that needs exercise, just like the muscles of the body.” -Lynn Jennings

4.8K @ 7'36
http://nikeplus.nike.com/plus/activity/running/detail/2113090614?external_share_id=b6ed1e4f-d802-4fe3-95f7-a5fc7633c1a8&fb_action_ids=10100477670527457&fb_action_types=nikeapp%3Arun&fb_source=timeline_og&action_object_map=%7B%2210100477670527457%22%3A623474887678093%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210100477670527457%22%3A%22nikeapp%3Arun%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

This particular quote is oh, so appropriate for today. The weather conditions tonight were less than ideal for me after not having run for the better part of 3 months (with the exception of my resolution run).

So,  I am supposed to be running another 10K race in a couple months. I have not, as of yet, registered for the race. I will get around to it. I have planned to train according to that date. It's a pretty intense schedule of running 6 days a week. Some things have changed since I last wrote. I am currently 'between jobs'. I got sick of being underemployed as a cleaner and picked up a contract job working on a research project. I could have kept the cleaning as a security measure knowing the contract was ending at the end of February but decided it was time to cut the safety net and start my career. So if anyone knows of anyone looking for a stellar social worker direct them my way. With this new found free time I hope to log more training time.

I also met with a specialist last week who is an internist regarding my pancreas and all the stuff going on inside me, which is a lot... Not much to report on that front I have been referred for a CT to take a look at the little fella and see if he's shrivelled up, falling apart, and so forth. I was referred from my nurse at the diabetes clinic (who I incidentally bumped into tonight at the gym...more on that...). I check in there on a monthly basis pretty much. Last week I met with the dietitian who asked how much activity I do and I told her yoga 3 times a week, she said, "wow". I didn't think it was that impressive but I appreciated the awe, regardless. Two days later I'm with the specialist. He asks me the same thing and he says, "no, I mean real exercise" I was quite indignant and told him that an hour of yoga burns 247 calories. (I have to concede, spinning burns 7-800 but that wasn't the point!) I also asked him if he'd done yoga, when he said no I said "well, there you go" when really I wanted to tell him to shut his trap. I'd already called another doctor stupid (which I'm not sure he appreciated) at that point so figured I would take it easy on the guy.

He also told me that once you start exercising you don't want to stop. I was also tempted to tell him that I had trained for 10K and stopped running immediately after race day and trained for the tri in the summer and still didn't feel compelled to continue exercising beyond the minimal yoga that I'd kept up. I dont' have anything against the guy but, don't lie to me about how "addicting" exercise is. Yes, I enjoy it. But I would still rather not go for a 40 minute run in the rain regardless of how many times I've done it.

So tonight, I went to a yoga class with a couple of my friends and I happened to bump into my nurse who referred me (see, I told you I'd get back to it) and I told her about the appt and that he said yoga wasn't real exercise. As I bid her adieu I told her I was going to "exercise" and she told me she would tell  him that she saw me "exercising". I appreciated it. I hope she does. I'm also going to print off articles about the health benefits of yoga for him for my next appt. I strongly believe that yoga is for everyone and a great way to ease into exercise for the inactive. Frick.

Back to the run for the day. I had been waiting for it to stop raining before I went for a run. It rained all day. After yoga I had to suck it up and head out. Full disclosure- it was laundry day- Thus, I had to run in a damp sports bra. It made me want to run even less. I hate rain, I hate March, uncomfortable bra, first run back. The odds were against me enjoying the event.

I rain in the rain with my new contacts, I liked the fact that I didn't have drops impeding my view, there's nothing I could do about the fact that it was march but the 6 degrees made for the perfect running temperature. I didn't even notice the bra. I figure that since I swam in it for the tri and didn't notice it that I would actually be ok after all, it was just an excuse.

First run back- I am not sure about others but I always find them difficult. It's always most difficult to just get out there. I did run the first 2km with a stitch, I chose music that would really distract me and I chose well tonight. Even though I haven't been out I have learned a lot about my body and how I feel running. I knew at kilometre 3 that that's where I was just because I felt good and finally in a groove at that point. The last 2 were really good, actually. I was REALLY tired by the end and it was definitely a struggle picking up the pace in the last 400 but I felt good knowing that I had worked hard.

I was exhausted when I heard that my pace was 7'36. It really made it worth the effort for me. I am always happy with anything sub 7'45 so that pace time was fantastic! I'd made a point of not checking it through the run knowing I just wanted to finish as I didn't expect too much from myself.

Just an update on my last post. I did get my coat from the race and it looks great and fits me. I had forgotten that I had it and should have given it a go tonight.

Here's a link to some fantastic sports GIFs
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/the-funniest-sports-gifs-of-2012

I super enjoy Usain Bolt, the coach who can't make a heart and the worst pitch of all time.

Namaste.