Back with a Capital B!

Several warm up runs- check.

2nd pace run, average pace 7:18 per mile- check.

1st long training run for Chicago out of the way- check.

Yes, yes yes...I'm back, baby...and with a capital B too!

It feels good to be running again.  Better than good in fact...it feels GREAT.  And running around K city rather than dreary old brown town with the lake in the background and a pending post run swim each and every time I hit the pavement is even more fabulous!  I heart summer.  Yes I do!

Sorry for the lack of posts, I know that all of you have been pining away for a post from me.  I'm sure you're wondering how you've survived this long without one.  That is in between enjoying the beautiful summer and a few summers in a can.  Ha. 

And just to add insult to injury, I don't have much to say, except that training for Chicago is well under way.  Don't worry- I'll keep you posted by posting more frequently.

Peace out.

Sadness

Running, I miss you already.  Don't forget about me, please.  I'll see you in 10 days or so.  And I'm not cheating on you with yoga...we're on a break, remember?

Love, Andrea

26.2 in Pancake Form

Just in case anyone is wondering what 26.2 looks like in pancake form, here is it...



Lovingly made for me by one ARJR post marathon.  I enjoyed every bite.  Who knew we had an artist in the fam.  And one who expresses their creativity in pancakes.  Original.  I like it.

She also carved an "A" in the butter at my aunt and uncle's on Saturday night...

Nothing like leaving your stamp.  Nothing.

Toilets and Stairs- Ouch

This is me post marathon.  Please note that I had an odd number (first time ever- I like even better).  Also, please note the more than awesome homage to the marathon in the form of flowers in running shoes that my sister and I put up on her fence the day before the run.  Finally, please note the pic is taken post run, thus the sweat and awesome hair.  If I look dazed and confused I probably was!

So...

It has come and gone...

I ran yesterday.  In the Manitoba Marathon if you recall. 

And just to back pedal a bit since I seemed to vanish in the last couple of weeks, I got sick AGAIN.  Yes, again.

But I still managed to have a wonderful race yesterday!  I finished in 3:15 which is about 30 seconds off my personal best.  This was good for fourth place overall on the women's side.  It was a beautiful day for a run- hot and humid which is just how I like it, and the marathon course was just great.  And I do have to hand it to all the Winnipeg peeps...to those who volunteered, cheered and competed, it was a spectacular race from start to finish.  I will be back, that I can promise.

I also would like to give, a big, big shout out to my family.  You guys just rock.  Ains and Ty, thanks for putting up with me all weekend!  Ains, thanks for keeping me calm at the start, hanging out in the porta-john line with me, the good lucks hugs and for all the support- you are WONDERFUL.  And to Mom and Dad AND Ains and Ty- thanks for being at the finish!  I heard your cheering and it really, really helped on that stadium lap, because truthfully, I thought I was going to die at that point!  I should mention that my Mom and Dad came all the way from Kenora for the event, which I truly appreciate, since they have been VERY hard at work doing some home renovations.  And I have to hand it to Ty- he CRUTCHED all the way from where he had to park his truck to the finish and then back again. This was a long, long way and is what I will from now on refer to as "the marathon on crutches".  I really appreciated all the love and support, family!

So why didn't I PB?  Who knows, really...I was holding strong until about 6 miles out and then my quads just turned into bricks.  Or maybe cement.  I think I need to work my middle distance pace runs a bit more and I think my endurance could have been a bit better, although missing runs due to illness is just unavoidable sometimes.  I think I will endeavour to really, really push the last 5-6 miles of my long runs from now on.  The elusive 3:10 is JUST within my reach...so close I can feel it...

So today- I hurt.  BIG time.  Quads absolutlely screaming NOOOOOOOO everytime I hit the staircase...or have to pee...and although the massage today should help, I know for a fact that it will H-U-R-T with a capital H.  Short term pain for long term, gain, right??

I must say- I am looking forward to a good couple of weeks of rest and recovery before the punishment oops I mean training for Chicago begins!

Break out the Violins

AH.  Guess what happened? 

Training for the Manitoba Marathon was going well.  Better than well.  In fact, it was just downright FABULOUS.  I was feeling fast, the miles had piled up and up and up with no problems...

And then I got sick.  The kind of sick where you are in bed and can't move sick.  The kind of sick where you can't eat any sort of food sick.  No, not even water sick.  It totally, totally sucked.  And the biggest part of the suck- 1 full week off of running- and probably the most critical week at that.  It's like the universe decided to send me a great big eff u for some reason that I have yet to determine.  Anyhow, whatever the reason, the sick came at the most inconvenient of times and I am charting into unknown territory trying to figure out exactly what to do with my training in the last 17 days before my run.  Then again, I have to remind myself that running is not my job (I know- SHOCKING), and the sole purpose of the torture I will endure over the 26.2 miles in Winnipeg on June 20th is simply for the challenge and the fun and that's it.  I'm pretty sure I won't go to runner purgatory if I'm a wee bit slower than planned.  At least I hope not, its likely really bad there with no running shoes or places to run...ugh...

So I consulted the experts (that would be Nolan at the Tech Shop who has become my all knowing running guru) who assured me that all is not lost, to just continue on and the marathon will be no problem.  I suppose only time will tell.  And just in case anyone's wondering, I'm not longer angry at the universe.  Too much time and energy wasted on anger means less energy for running!  And I will need all the energy I can muster today for my last long training run!  EXCITING!  So close now I can feel it!

Items of Consequence

Several items of consequence since my last post.  I will do my best to be brief.

1. The 14.5 mile Half Marathon
Oh the humanity.  To those ladies who ran in the Rocky Mountain Soap Half Marathon last weekend in Canmore, you can now inform those near and dear to you that you completed a 14.5 mile run...which is a full 1.4 miles longer than a half marathon.  Apparently the race organizer had to get creative with the course and opted on lengthening the course rather than shortening.  Interesting.  Very, very tough when you have wrapped your head around and trained for a 13.1 mile run!  I should also note that the last 5k were straight uphill and that there wasn't any water at the finish line.  Nice work to all those who stuck it out and finished.  An incredibly difficult run for sure, and it was hot to boot!

2. Bowness Park
Last weekend I went for a run in Bowness Park.  To be fair, it wasn't totally in Bowness Park.  We started around Home road and hit up "Blood and Guts Hill" and made our way through Bowness Park on the pathway.  On the way back we switched it up and ran the trails.  What a spectacular run!  And right here in the middle of Calgary...who knew?  I will definitley be making the trek over that way again.  Also, please note that I almost fell in the river only once. 

3. Manitoba Marathon
I am a month out of the marathon!  Can you believe it?  CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?  I can't.  I suddenly feel as if there is a lot of preparation to do and a very short window to do it in.  Yikes.  Better be hitting those trails like no ones business. 

4. Calgary Marathon
The Caglary marathon is this coming weekend!  YESYESYES!!  So exciting!  Look forward to seeing CH and my running group at the finish!  Just checked the weather- partly sunny and 13- a great day for a run!

Canmore!

What a weekend for a run!  Are you running this weekend, people?  ARE YOU?  Today?  Tomorrow?  Sunday?

Well, if you're not, then you should be.  More perfect weather for a run, I cannot imagine.  In fact, I was dreading my 3+ hours this afternoon until I woke up this morning to beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures...and now I'm just downright excited.  So get out into the world and go for a jog, peeps!  Try it!  You might just fall in love...

But that's not what this post is about.

Its about this:

I know two people who are hitting the trail this weekend for this half marathon.  And I just know they are going to be amazing.  I am super impressed that they commited to the training for this run.  Both are busy moms with a lot on the go, so to make this committment and follow through, well... I think it's nothing short of spectacular! 

This run is sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Soap Company and supports supports breast cancer and  environmental initiatives.  I really do have to hand it to the female sector of the pop.  I mean, the xx faction is just better at organizing for a cause- no?  I think this looks like an incredible weekend; there are 6k, 12k and half marathon distances.  I volunteered at package pickup on Wednesday and I was impressed with each and every woman that has committed to a race distance.  For some, this will be the very first time they have done a race like this- EXCITING!  And on their behalf, I am putting nothing but good running vibes out into the universe for them.  How can you not be positive on a day like today?  I should also mention for my thousands and thousands of devote followers (sigh- a gal can dream) in One Great City (that would be Winnipeg) that there is going to be an RMS Women's Run in the dub in August.  Check it out if you're interested- RMS Women's Run- Winnipeg

So good luck to all!  But especially to KG and CES!  Have fun, enjoy the sunshine, and just take it all in.  Breathe, relax, and appreciate the moment.  See you at the finish line!