It's Been A Rough Winter

It was a long hard winter.  I had to struggle with motivation and depression.  It became a cycle that I had to break.  This week I broke it!

I spent this week trying to get back on track and start building my base back up.  I have my workout calendar hanging in the bathroom.  I ran or worked out every day.  I'm feeling really good this week. 

I'm running for time as opposed to mileage right now.  I started with just 15 minutes and have been adding time each day.  I did a day of cross training and two days of weights.  I'm also doing a fitness challenge this month.  By having the calendar hanging on the bathroom mirror, I see it several times a day and I have to be accountable to myself.

April and May will be used to build my base back up and on June 1st I start half marathon training again.

This week was tough, but I did it.  I ran two races this week.  On Friday I did the Good Friday Road Races.  James and I ran the 5k.  It wasn't his best race running wise, but he showed that he's really grown.  He knew it wasn't a going well, but he kept a great attitude and kept saying he just needs to finish.  He didn't complain and he kept moving.  I was so proud of him!

We also counted this race as two of the virtual races we are signed up for.  We did the Spaceballs Dark Helmut 5k and the Live Long and Prosper Leonard Nimoy Memorial Mile run.  The route had some hills, but they weren't too bad.  My legs were sore though from adding weights back and doing the fitness challenge exercises.

Saturday I ran the Harry's Spring Run Off 8k.  That one killed my legs.  They were complete toast by the end of the race.  It was hilly and ended with an uphill.  I was glad I did it though and I hope to get to do it again next year.

I had to change around some of my workouts for this week, but I have it all on my calendar.  It feels good to be back.  I'm feeling better as well.  I just needed to get up and get going.  I had to break the cycle.  It was hard, but I'm glad I forced myself to get back at it.

James is excited to start running with me this summer.  He loves running and I love having him run with me.  Tomorrow and Tuesday I'm in the gym, Wednesday is a partial rest day, Thursday and Friday I'm running, and Saturday I'm going to go the gym again.  I have the fitness challenge everyday this week as well.

Week 2 is going to be great!

Warrior Dash, Piano Contest, and Back To Training

This past weekend I ran the Warrior Dash for the 4th year in a row.  I have a love/hate relationship with this race.  I love running and trying to conquer the obstacles, but before the race I have my moment of what the heck am I doing???????  This year was no different.  I was super nervous at the starting line and when I started out.  Once I got going though, I was fine.

It seemed that the whole race was uphill this year.  Oh my goodness was it uphill!!!!!  Some hills were steeper than others, but there were tons of hills!  The obstacles were lot more balanced this year.  Last year it seemed like there were a lot of climbing and this year it was a good balance.  I did have to go around one of them and another I got up to the top and couldn't get over it so had to climb back down.  And did I mention the hills??????

I am very proud that once again I did climb over the cargo net obstacle.  I always get to the top and have to pause and figure out how to get over the top to climb back down, but I manage to do it without killing myself.  The mud wasn't very thick this year either.  That was a blessing.  I didn't get stuck.

Here is a before and after picture of me.

We had a great time afterwards eating turkey legs and drinking a beer.  James had a big beaver tail.  We listened to a great band and enjoyed being outside in the beautiful weather.  It was a fun day!

Sunday we spent the day in Toronto at James' piano contest.  He had two performances.  The first one he got a Superior rating.  He was a little disappointed, but he wasn't expecting to place with that song.  His second performance he did really well.  He made one mistake and after he was done, looked like he was going to cry.  When they announced the winners he ended up getting 2nd place!  He was so excited!  I wish I would have had a picture of his face.

Yesterday we both were lazy so we took it as a rest day.  Today we were back at our training.  James, River and I were up early since it was supposed to get hot and humid today.  We did 5 rounds of 2 minutes run/1 minute walk and 4 rounds of 3 minutes run/1 minute walk.  James did a much better job today.  He said his new running shoes helped.  Tomorrow we are up early again for a run possibly in the rain.  Friday we are going to Huron Park to do our run because we are doing a special video for a contest that goes along with our virtual run we are doing this week.  It's going to be awesome and funny according to James.  I can't wait to see what he has planned.

I'm looking forward to another great summer day with James tomorrow!

Canada Day 5k Recap

I know this is a day late and it may even be a dollar short.  I'll have to let you know if I find that missing Loonie in the couch cushions or not.


Yesterday was Canada Day.  Canada celebrated her 147th birthday.  Last year I started a tradition of running a 5k race.  I run the one in Burlington put on by VRPro.  We run several of their races and like the way the are organized and that they have a nice community feel to them.  Being a Canadian transplant, I'm trying to find my place still.  I get homesick on two holidays, Thanksgiving and Canada Day/Fourth of July.  Neither is celebrated quite like they are in the United States so I'm trying to start my own traditions and take the best of both of them and combine them into a great family celebration.


The Canada Day 5k is a nice flat course along the lake.  It's through a park that then hosts a Canada Day celebration.  I knew I wasn't going to run well because my body was still sore and dehydrated from the swim meet on the weekend.  I did start out to fast and 15 minutes into the race, the wheels fell off.  My muscles just started getting very tight and I knew I was not going to finish well.  I decided to take it easy and just enjoy the run.  The scenery was pretty and there was a nice breeze coming off the lake.  Then I hit the wooded area.  Ugh...that's when the humidity hit.  It was so sticky and the air was so close that it made it hard to breathe.  That's when I started to sweat really badly and my legs started to revolt.  I was feeling very sick due to dehydration. 


I am usually pretty good about adjusting when a race just doesn't feel good, but this one I was having a hard time with.  I had to walk and I haven't had to walk during a 5k or 10k in a long time.  I had to remind myself that everyone has races like this.  Oh was it ever a really long last 1.5k of that race.


I finished and I had a smile on my face.  It may have been a smile that was holding back a string of profanity that would make a sailor blush, but it was a smile.


I drank lots of water over the weekend knowing I would need it and yesterday I drank even more water.  I'm feeling rehydrated and ready to go tomorrow morning for a nice 4 mile run.  The storms have blown through and it will be a beautiful morning to go for a run with River.  Hopefully tomorrow morning goes better than yesterday.


Needing a shot a redemption, I think I'm signing up for a 5k race on July 17th.  I'm still debating this, but I know I will probably give in.  I won't be dressing like this for that race though.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's run!

Valentine's Day Couples 5k

Today we ran our annual Couples Valentine's 5k race.  James got to run it with us this year.  Mike and I have run this race 3 years in a row now.  We register as a couple and have to run tied together.  Here we are before the race.

This year we had James so he registered and ran as a single.  He was very excited as the finishers medals are big hearts and he has always loved our medal.

 It was snowy and cold, but that didn't stop us!  The course was a bit slick so we ran a bit slower to make sure we didn't fall.  James did a great job of running the first 3.5k.  He walked to drink some water and then finished the race strong.  It wasn't a best time, but it was a pretty good time for the conditions.  We ran a 38:52.

Here we are after the race.

We went back inside for some pizza and the awards. James ended up getting 2nd in his age group.  He won a running hat and a $10 gift card to the Running Room.  He was so excited!

After he got his prize, he got a post-race massage before heading home.

It was a great day!  Tomorrow starts my half-marathon training!  112 days until I race my 2nd half marathon.  Day 1 starts tomorrow!

Day 8: Sunday Was Race Day...The Hannukah Hustle

Yesterday was a great day to run.  The weather was warm and the sun was peaking out.  Mike and I were in Hamilton for the Hannukah Hustle.  It's my 3rd year running this race and I love it!  The course is so pretty and VRPro puts on such great races!  This year was no exception.

Here we are before the race.  It was a bit chilly standing around.

I hadn't run since Wednesday so I knew I wasn't going to go much faster than my best time.  River ended up with a cold and couldn't run Friday.  My schedule got all thrown off because I had to take her to the vet so I didn't get out for a run either.  River really keeps me going.

The race starts with a downhill and since it's an out and back that means it ends in an uphill.  Ugh...It's not a big hill, but it's still a hill.  I felt really good the whole race.  I knew I was going to slow down a bit at the end going up the hill so I tried to push a bit more than normal at the front end of the race.  I could feel that I did push harder around the 3k mark.  I really tried to keep my pace up though.  It always seems that the hills that are the gentle rolling hills are the hardest for me.  Yep, I felt this hill!  I was not a happy camper going up it.  Once I got to the top there is about 100 yards to the finish.  I tried to push it, but my legs wouldn't go as hard as I wanted them to go.  I need to get more speed work in starting this week.  Here I am crossing the finish line and after the race.

I was off my best time by about 50 seconds.  I ran my 5k in 30:53.  Not bad and about what I expected.  After getting some water, a hot dog, and a potato latke, we checked the results.  I ended up first in my age group!  I have never placed in a race in the 4 years I've been running.  I was really excited!  There were 5 other women in my age group.  It was pretty cool to place.  Here I am getting my medal and then posing for pictures.

Here is what the medal looked like.  I think it's pretty cool!

I really love the races that VRPro puts on and am looking forward to running the Santa Race Hamilton with James on Sunday.  Right now I'm getting ready to head out for a quick run with River.  She's allowed to go on short runs for now.  It's going to be a windy one though!  Hope we don't blow away!

Monster Dash 5k

Tonight we were in Toronto for the Monster Dash.  It was our first time running the race and we are so glad we decided to do it!  It was an awesome race!

Yesterday we finished James' costume.  He is going as a Cyberman for Halloween and wanted to run the race in the costume.  It turned out pretty good.

I went as a butterfly fairy.

He was so excited to run this race.  His costume turned out better than I thought it would.  He did find out that Cybermen don't really sit.

Before the race we had to check out the finish line and get the last minute goofiness out.

We got to run the race in the dark so we brought our headlamps.  They really helped since part of the race was through the woods.  I thought he would have walked more since his costume was really cumbersome, but he was a trooper and ran almost the entire time!  He did walk to drink some water at the halfway point, but other than that he ran the whole time!  He was so excited when he finished the race.

After the race it was time to party!  Mike and I got to enjoy a really good vanilla porter from Mill Street Brewery.  It was a nice winter beer.  James enjoyed pizza, fruit, and juice.

Then it was time to dance.  And what dance does a Cyberman do?  The Robot of course!

 

 

 

 

He had a great time dancing!  And to top the night off, he won Best Costume for 17 and under!  He got a nice little prize pack that had 2 books, some ear buds, and 2 tickets to the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a great night and we hope to be able to do this race again next year!



Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon-Half Marathon

Well, I did it!!!!!!!!  I ran my first half marathon in 2:44.30!  30 seconds under my goal time.  I had a good time with this race!

I was really nervous before the race.  James, Mike, mom and dad were great at trying to calm me down.  Here is James and before the race.

The size of the race was amazing!  The energy was amazing!  It was just a great race!

I started out too fast.  I felt really good and just let my legs run, but it was too fast.  I was 1:10 at the 10k mark.  Just off my best 10k time.  Not so hot for a half marathon.  I followed my plan and at the 10k mark I walked so I could eat my stingers and drink some Gatorade.  I still felt pretty good until about the 16k mark.  Then I could feel my muscles start to get tired.  I walked again to get the rest of my stingers and some more Gatorade.  At the 19k mark, my muscles were dead.  I had to walk a few minutes to get my legs under me for the rest of the race.

When I crossed the finish line I felt so good at having finished the race!  My legs were dead the rest of the day, but I did it!  I enjoyed running this distance.  It's just a good distance and a doable distance training wise. 

Here I am after the race.

I liked this distance so much, that I entered another half marathon on June 1st.  It will be the Niagara Falls Women's Half Marathon.  I'm excited and ready to do the training.

As of right now, my next goal race is the Robbie Burns 8k in January.  I'm going to be training for that starting next week.  This week I'm using to recover and do short runs to get my legs back.  Today I went for a short 2 mile run with River.  My legs are still pretty tired, but the run felt good.  It is getting cold out though.  I had to pull out my running tights and long sleeve shirts.  Brrrrr....I don't know that I'm ready for the cold weather yet.  Tomorrow I'm going to the gym to do the bike and Friday I'm taking another short run.  Sunday we have a 5k race that we are doing.  It's the Monster Dash in Toronto.  James and I are dressing up.  It should be a fun Halloween themed race.

I just have to get my legs rested and then I can get back on a training schedule and back in the gym for weights.  This race really got me motivated to keep running and to try the longer distances.

Days 83 and 84: My Annual Fall Race Weekend

This weekend was my annual fall race weekend.  I ran the Oasis Toronto Zoo 10k and the Island Girl 5k.  I love this weekend and it's always a good time.

Saturday Mike and I got up early and drove to the Toronto Zoo for one of my favorite races of the year. It was not a nice day at all.  It was pouring rain and it really never stopped raining.  However, during the 10k it wasn't coming down hard, but I know the 5k race got soaked.

I love  running through the zoo with all the animals just waking up and right there watching us run.  The wolves were so cool sitting up on top of their hill watching all the runners go by.  I know they were looking for the weak one so I picked up my pace.

The route is always a hilly one, but I had a few goals in mind.  I wanted to run the entire 10k without walking at all.  I wanted to hold my half marathon pace as well.  I didn't walk at all!  I was so happy about that.  I was a little fast for my half marathon pace, but the half marathon isn't as hilly so it may be right on pace.  I was right on my best 10k time.  Not bad for the rain and the hills. 

Here I am before the race.

We were going to stay at the zoo, but the weather was so crummy that we just went home.  Mike waited for me in car and I texted him when I crossed the finish line.  He met me at the exit with an umbrella.

It was a great day and a great race!

This morning we had to get up early again and head back to Toronto for the Island Girl 5k.  This race is on Centre Island and is a nice flat course with the exception of the bridge at the start and end of the race.  I felt great on this run!  I ran a best 5k time and bested my time from last year's race by 5 minutes.  I felt strong and relaxed the whole race.  It was cooler today, but there was no rain.  It really was a beautiful day to race.

Here are a few pictures from the race.

As of today there is only 28 days until my half marathon.  In 4 weeks I'll have completed my first every half marathon race.  I'm really starting to feel like I can do this.