Running Revelation

I am not running fast enough.

Simple.  I have set a VERY lofty goal of a sub 3 hour marathon and I have been running on cruise control.  The harsh reality of my not so quick running hit me like a slap in the face yesterday afternoon when I met up with a brand new running buddy who took me out for a speedy just under 10k. 

Of course, the ultra competitive side of me kept up with this ultra marathoner dude.  To be honest, this was probably a very easy run for him (and I should also note that he had already run to work that morning, had run from work to my house to meet me, went for a run with me, and then was running home- IMPRESSIVE).  We ran a 9.3k in 41 minutes, a totally decent and very fast run, but...and its a big BUT...should I have hopes of busting through that elusive 3 hour mark, I need to be able to sustain that kind of pace for much longer than 41 minutes.  The run yesterday was a brilliant reminder that I need to kick it up a notch.  My shorter training runs need to have much more intensity in so far as the speed goes since I seem to have mastered the endurance training portion of marathon prep.  Of course, as every endurance athlete knows, you still have to get those miles on the bod so its ready for the distance on race day, but the answer for running faster on race day is really quite simple...

Train faster.

And train faster I will.  Not just on the track on Tuesday, but on my Monday, Wednesday and Sunday runs.  Those of you who are training for time improvement should consider this is well...lets get rid of the cruise control runs and kick it up a notch, please!  I'm not suggesting that you hit the road for an hour and attempt to run at an all out pace for that whole time, because that would be CRAZY.  However, you do need to vary your speed on your shorter runs.  Pick up your pace, push, push, push and then take the speed back down and recover...and then repeat.  And then repeat again.   I think you get the picture!  You can do it- I promise, and it will feel awesome and super speedy!

And note- if you are in Calgary, then get your butt out there in this beautiful weather and get running.  I should say the well above zero balmy weather is preferable to layering up for the -30, yes! 

DO IT!

As Promised...

...some pics of my ultra hard core marathon cross training that went down over the holidays in between eating buttertarts and napping.

  X country would be the only thing I would miss about winter!  Notice running gear easily translates to ski gear!

Very cool.  Obviously windy when the lake froze!

My trusty training mates. 

Photos courtesy of K-Rock.  That would be my dad.  Except the photo he's in- that one's courtesy of me!

Be An Adventure

New Year!  New YOU!  Yes, YOU!

To be fair and honest, maybe not a NEW you, maybe just a slightly improved version...

Oh January, that crazy time when people make and break resolutions, vow to live differently, act differently and be differently, and all the while remaining true to who they are at the very core.  I personally like to see my own self as a bit of a work in progress, kind of like a painting that's never, ever totally finished.  Sometimes I decide to add some colour...GREEN in fact...I particularily like green...but sometimes it's orange or blue too (and sometimes black- we're all allowed one of those days every once in a while, yes?), depending on the day, week, month and what in general is going down in the old life. 

Since the first of Jan is one popular time for setting a new direction or a new goal, tell me, what is it YOU plan to do with this one wild and crazy life?  Me first?  OK...

This year I am going to BE an adventure.  I will only see things through the glass that still has beer or wine or water halfway full and I will take a deep, deep breath in the moment and let it all out slowly before I react with a positive or a negative emotion...and I will try really, really hard to make it a positive one!  I am going to surround myself with things that make ME truly happy.  Not the things that I think other people think will make me happy, but the things that make ME smile, laugh and feel good.  I'm the only one that has to walk in these boots, so I'm going to get some good mileage out of them and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!  I will endeavour to make every interaction I have with people a positive and happy one...I'd like to add a little joy to the world each and every day.  I'm also going to be much more like my dad- he really does appreciate the simple things in life- a beer on the dock after a day's work at the cottage, a cross country ski with the fam, a bonfire buring just a little too closely to Barry the Boat...after all, it really is about cherishing and celebrating the peeps near and dear to us who make every single day worth it!

And since this is a running blog (in case you thought I forgot, I sure didn't!) I'm going to throw down a very lofty running goal...

2:59:59.  Sub 3:00.  Super close to the Rice family record.  4 short months to Vancouver.  Time to work off those buttertarts and hit the pavement!

It's January people!  Be an adventure!