Reality Bites

Hello runners...

Please see all previous posts following holidays re: shames spirals and recommitting to health and fitness. And that's all I have to say about that.

Spring break. Bucerias. Wow. I heart Bucerias. I also seem to have developed a taste for margaritas, guacamole, and Mexican cuisine in general...yum, yum, yum...Also, I've decided I'm not really cut out for this cold weather thing. I'm just not hearty or prepared to put up with it any longer (notice that I say this like its a choice) and I am ready for spring, summer and no more snow. Do you hear that weather Gods? DO YOU HEAR IT? Please. No more snow. Those of us in training for races would greatly appreciate it.

So people...I did something unimaginable this spring break. I ran less and I ran on the beach. Let me tell you, running in the sand is HARD work. It is a totally different work out than running on pavement as my calves can tell you. It didn't help that we were almost always running at high tide which forced us to run on a slope. Between the sand, the slope and getting soakers when the waves crashed in it was tough sluggin', BUT it was SO lovely to be running in the warm sunshine with shorts and a t-shirt! I am over running in winter gear and slogging through the slush, of this I am certain.

Anyhow- I will leave you with this little nugget...it is exactly TWO MONTHS until the Calgary full and half. So where should you be at if you are running the half? I would LOVE it if your long run was at about 1:45. I would LOVE it if you were running 3 times per week. I would LOVE it if you were enjoying your training. This next month is probably the most important in your preparation as this is where the bulk of your longest runs will take place. PLEASE don't miss your long runs. It is really important at this point to be getting them in. PLEASE listen to your body...nagging muscle soreness and aches and pains? Try a massage, try some yoga, try to get a couple days of good rest, but do listen to the bod! You definitely don't want a little pain to turn into a major injury!

Well, I must work. In between working I will be daydreaming about running, and more specifically, running on the beach with my hair blowing in the lovely ocean breeze...

Snow covered, slush filled running, reality BITES!

The Plant

No, I'm not referring to the lovely green turned brown foliage I murdered at my condo a couple of weeks ago. I AM referring to the MASSIVE face plant I took whilst out for a lovely little pace run yesterday.

I would like to say it was because I slipped on a massive patch of ice since there are so many massive patches of ice running outside at this time of year, but sadly, no...I tripped on an uneven side walk and went down hard. Laughing? Funny, I know, but I think I'm lucky I didn't hurt myself much more seriously.

This happened quite fortuitously at the end of my run about 5 minutes from my house THANKFULLY since I had to limp home. There I was jogging along when I caught my toe on the lip of the sidewalk and I went SPRAWLING forward. And I do mean SPRAWLING people. It was a total yard sale...completely laid out on the muddy, wet sidewalk stomach down. Ouch. Luckily, I was able to get my hands up in time so I didn't break my teeth or scrape my face...unluckily I absolutely smoked my knee on the sidewalk and it is already turning a pretty shade of purple. Nothing a little tan can't cover up, I suppose! Again, it could have been much worse with broken wrists, teeth or more serious injuries to my knee, so I'm able to laugh this one off, especially since there was literally no one around to witness it!

Bottom line is this- BE CAREFUL those of you running outside. It is slippery. It is wet. There are hazards to avoid like uneven sidewalks and black ice on the concrete and dogs so focused on their business that they don't get out of the way in time!

On a much more pleasant note, please notice to the right the fabulous playlist complied by the lovely ladies who are part of the half and marathon training that is happening right...NOW! From this point on, these ladies will be referred to as Operation Get Shredded. They are truly spectacular in every sense of the word. In my mind I am envisioning them running along in their half marathon and marathon, rockin' out to the fabulous collection. Such a diverse and awesome collection of songs. It looks like I have some downloading to do...

Surprise, Surprise...

I have a lot to say this week...shocking, I KNOW! Anyhow, I have several random topics that I believe deserve some attention so bare with me people as I sort this all out...

I must start this post off with a massive congratulations to one A. Rice junior and P. Fregeau for completing the Polar Bear run in Gimli, Manitoba yesterday. Well done, ladies, well done! You are both far heartier than I am. FAR heartier. As a matter of fact, a large bowl of thick, chunky, HEARTY, stew comes to mind when I picture you ladies trudging across the barren sheet of ice that will be Lake Winnipeg in warmer times. This run looks incredibly tough...I dare to say this was a great warm up for the Manitoba marathon which is now just months away! For those of you that are curious for further info about this run, here is a link to the run...

http://www.mraweb.ca/pdf/09PolarBear.pdf

And now to the very meat of this post. The running portion. This past Friday was a long run for me. I had cycled down the previous week and was looking forward to upping the distance again and going for a nice, long, slow jog in the brilliant sunshine. This run became epic and noteworthy for two reasons. First, it was a virgin run for me and my brand spanking new FUEL BELT! Yes friends, it finally happened. I broke down and admitted I needed hydration and nourishment on my long runs and noticed on a well-timed pee break at the Tech Shop that fuel belts were on sale for 50% off. Anyhow, so as not to bore you with details about how it felt carrying a bunch of little squirt bottles around my waist as I attempted to complete a little 20 mile jaunt, lets just say it was a strange yet wonderful experience and is one that I need to continue. I felt much more energized throughout this run as I sipped my water and Gatorade and realized just how valuable this fuel is on these long jogs! And now to the epic part of this little adventure...

I had a TERRIBLE run on Friday. Brutal. Horrible. Painful. So bad in fact, I had a hard time remembering why it was that I decided to sign up for the Calgary marathon to begin with. Yep, I sure had one of THOSE runs...I know everyone can sympathize because we've all had them before! I felt mentally VERY prepared for this run...but for some reason my legs ached the whole time I was out and I never really found my stride. Disappointing for sure, but to try and focus on the positive, it was a beautiful day and I did run into one c-haney who was also out for her long run...and she was having a tough one too! Misery LOVES company, right? Anyhow, running along with a buddy always makes things a little less painful so I was oh-so glad that I ran into one on this day! Needless to say I did not complete the 20 miles I had set out to do, but I was out for a good two and a half hours so I'll consider this one small victory and move onward...and upward...

One reason I truly, truly believe I had a nasty, nasty run on Friday was simply because I missed my usual Thursday trip to the hot yoga studio. It was a busy week and I just couldn't seem to squeeze it in to the schedule. I have mentioned several times before that for me, yoga is necessary so I can keep my legs feeling good and this bod up and running, and this just confirms it. So- I've registered for the 7:30 class tomorrow night at the new studio on 17th. My legs are thanking me already. The Hot Yoga on 17th is a lovely, new studio if any of you Calgarians feel so inclined to check it out...

http://www.hotyogaon17th.com/

The good news is my run on Sunday MORE than made up for the crappiness of the Friday disaster. I just had a good one, folks, there seems to be no rhyme or reason. I got out there and ran and ran and ran. It was one of those runs that felt like I could have gone on forever. The weather was gorgeous, my legs felt light and I was really pushing my pace. I quite seriously may have gone one forever but got two good soakers (booters for those of you who speak Toban) along the way. While wet socks and running shoes are quite OK for some people, it was insurmoutable for me so I turned it around and busted it home, arriving just in time for a lovely home cooked meal of good old fashioned chicken gumbo. Very good post run fuel, that gumbo. I would even go so far to say it was fabulous, in fact.

And on that note, I shall sign off. I will be thinking of you all as I run carefree with my hair blowing in the breeze on the beach in Bucerias...or maybe during happy hour after several margaritas! Enjoy the beautiful spring weather...get out there for those runs! Happy trails!

WTF

WTF is up with this Calgary weather, people...

WTF??!!??!!

-35 with windchill- are you KIDDING? Isn't it March?

On a somewhat warmer note, its supposed to be +17 on Saturday. I think I will believe this when I see it.

And if it doesn't happen I might throw a tantrum. A good old fashioned temper tantrum.

Take THAT weather...

The Running Skirt

What you are about to read is a VERY strong opinion on the running skirt. If you are the type that offends easily or has several running skirts in your running wardrobe, you may not want to proceed further. Or maybe you should read on- even if it is so that you can perhaps explain the logic behind the running skirt to me! Really, you can wear whatever the heck you want to wear when you're going out for a run as its really not supposed to be about the fashion (this from the girl that often asks if the model of Asics she likes comes in other colour choices) and I know I look foolish most of the time when I'm dressed for a run. After all, do running tights really look good on ANYONE?

Anyhow...I guess I'm not really AGAINST the running skirt, it's just more that I don't understand the whole thing. To me a skirt is something I might choose to wear to work, or to an occasion such as a wedding or a fancy dinner out with that certain man of mine...I would definitely NOT chose to wear it running. I was thinking this the other day as a saw a woman running on the track in a running skirt. If you really think you have great legs for a skirt and want to show them off (lets be honest, there's vanity galore at the gym) then can't you just get some really nice running shorts? Same length? Same material? Made for participation in athletics? Hmmm...

I would venture to say that the only time I would think a skirt should enter into the realm of athletics is in tennis. The tennis "skirt" is tradition and tons of the women on the Women's Tennis Tour wear them...but I dare say even in this case the tennis skirt has been taken a bit too far given the outfits some of the women are wearing on the tour these days!

ANYHOW- bottom line is that I will NEVER wear a running skirt. Never. Ever. And this is a promise I intend to keep...at least I think so...for now...

If you're going out there today for a jog, bundle up folks! Its c-o-l-d!