Picture in the post below is a sea lion, NOT a walrus as I had originally blogged.
Note: I will stick to teaching Barry the baby about things I know about...like running.
And on another note: Walruses have way more whiskers and long tusks.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Can a Sea Lion Run?
I asked my younger pregnant sister to email me a picture of her being pregnant.
And this is what she sent me:
And while I did have a very, very long laugh out loud in my office, I just want her to know this:
SHE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A SEA LION.
In fact, she is the cutest little pregnant lady around AND she is a total rockstar.
Why?
Because when she came to visit me, despite being pregnant, despite feeling like a sea lion, despite feeling like her body is not her own, she STILL went running with me. Amazing. 7 months pregnant and running. Barry, you are one lucky little dude to be getting my sister for a mom.
In her honour, I just wanted to give a shout out all the expectant moms and moms in the world who, despite feeling like sea lions and feeling a level of exhaustion that I can only imagine, still manage to commit to their own physical, mental and spiritual health by heading out for a quick run or some other kind of exercise. Each and every one of you is wonderful and I am truly humbled by your efforts.
And although I have no scientific information to prove this, I'm pretty sure a sea lion can't run. The short legs and long body are a curse for sure, but NO legs and long body??? Impossible...
And this is what she sent me:
And while I did have a very, very long laugh out loud in my office, I just want her to know this:
SHE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A SEA LION.
In fact, she is the cutest little pregnant lady around AND she is a total rockstar.
Why?
Because when she came to visit me, despite being pregnant, despite feeling like a sea lion, despite feeling like her body is not her own, she STILL went running with me. Amazing. 7 months pregnant and running. Barry, you are one lucky little dude to be getting my sister for a mom.
In her honour, I just wanted to give a shout out all the expectant moms and moms in the world who, despite feeling like sea lions and feeling a level of exhaustion that I can only imagine, still manage to commit to their own physical, mental and spiritual health by heading out for a quick run or some other kind of exercise. Each and every one of you is wonderful and I am truly humbled by your efforts.
And although I have no scientific information to prove this, I'm pretty sure a sea lion can't run. The short legs and long body are a curse for sure, but NO legs and long body??? Impossible...
Sunday, May 29, 2011
I Run Because...
Guess what, my legions of faithful blog followers (maybe not legions, but a gal can dream...)!?
June 1st is National Running Day. Yes, that's right, NATIONAL RUNNING DAY.
Just think, a whole day devoted to running! Fabulous!
And here's what I think we all should do. This is a bit of a challenge...a call out if you will...
I think we should ALL go out running. That's right. WE SHOULD ALL GO RUNNING. You should. And you should. And you, and you and you. Let's do it. If you've never run before, I promise that you can do it. Simply put on your shorts (it WILL be sunny- as if it would rain on National Running Day :), lace up your shoes and hit the pavement running. Just run until you feel like you need a bit of a break, have a quick walk and then run again. Yes, yes, yes...YOU CAN. If you haven't run for a really long time, I know those first steps will be challenging and will feel tough, but I promise, if you just take those few first steps, your body will remember and you body will thank you. Just put one foot in front of another and keep going. You will feel amazing. If you're a regular runner, take someone new with you when you run on Wednesday. Even if its just for a quick 20 minute jog. Share with them YOUR running story because you...yes, you...YOU are a RUNNER. You are not a person that runs to keep in shape, you are a RUNNER. Be proud of that. Share it with someone and tell them how much you love it and why it is a regular part of your life. Inspire just 1 person with your story and maybe that person will feel your dedication and pride and take the steps they need to commit to their own healthy lifestyle.
Why do I run? Well, it's simple, really...
I run because it gives me peace in my mind and happiness in my heart.
This is my reason- what's yours? I'd love it if people could share why they run by commenting on my blog. I know I have a few readers out there in the universe- don't be shy! Tell the world why you run. There are millions of reasons. Maybe you run so you can eat Breyer's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream whenever you want (um, this is my second reason for running :). Or maybe you run so you can chase the woman of your dreams when you finally meet her. Perhaps you run because you want to live to see 80...or 90...or 100! Trust me, everyone has their reasons, and I'd love to know what they are. If you're shy, you can always leave an anonymous comment, but please, do leave one!
June 1st is National Running Day. Yes, that's right, NATIONAL RUNNING DAY.
Just think, a whole day devoted to running! Fabulous!
And here's what I think we all should do. This is a bit of a challenge...a call out if you will...
I think we should ALL go out running. That's right. WE SHOULD ALL GO RUNNING. You should. And you should. And you, and you and you. Let's do it. If you've never run before, I promise that you can do it. Simply put on your shorts (it WILL be sunny- as if it would rain on National Running Day :), lace up your shoes and hit the pavement running. Just run until you feel like you need a bit of a break, have a quick walk and then run again. Yes, yes, yes...YOU CAN. If you haven't run for a really long time, I know those first steps will be challenging and will feel tough, but I promise, if you just take those few first steps, your body will remember and you body will thank you. Just put one foot in front of another and keep going. You will feel amazing. If you're a regular runner, take someone new with you when you run on Wednesday. Even if its just for a quick 20 minute jog. Share with them YOUR running story because you...yes, you...YOU are a RUNNER. You are not a person that runs to keep in shape, you are a RUNNER. Be proud of that. Share it with someone and tell them how much you love it and why it is a regular part of your life. Inspire just 1 person with your story and maybe that person will feel your dedication and pride and take the steps they need to commit to their own healthy lifestyle.
Why do I run? Well, it's simple, really...
I run because it gives me peace in my mind and happiness in my heart.
This is my reason- what's yours? I'd love it if people could share why they run by commenting on my blog. I know I have a few readers out there in the universe- don't be shy! Tell the world why you run. There are millions of reasons. Maybe you run so you can eat Breyer's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream whenever you want (um, this is my second reason for running :). Or maybe you run so you can chase the woman of your dreams when you finally meet her. Perhaps you run because you want to live to see 80...or 90...or 100! Trust me, everyone has their reasons, and I'd love to know what they are. If you're shy, you can always leave an anonymous comment, but please, do leave one!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Athletic and Awesome
TG for tennis majors. The man truly is machine. Plus, he's humble. Heart.
Does anyone have an in for me? Does he like older women?
A gal can dream, can't she?
 |
| Photo courtesy of the Roland Garros website- http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/index.html |
A gal can dream, can't she?
Monday, May 9, 2011
Ouch
I think the title sums up quite nicely the experience I had last weekend running the Vancouver marathon.
Wow, did it hurt. Big time.
Marathons are usually a painful endeavour. I have yet to run one without being some kind of sore, but this one, this beautiful but hilly course in Vancouver sure did a number on my legs.
Rewind just a bit and recall that I had set a very difficult time standard for myself for this race; I had hoped to run a sub 3 hour marathon. but as my good friend Christine likes to say, hope is NOT a strategy and that certainly proved to be true in this case. To be truthful, the level of training I needed to put in to get to this incredibly difficult standard simply did not happen the way it needed to. Blame it on the weather, blame it on my busy schedule, blame it on whatever you will, I simply didn't make it enough of a priority for this to happen.
If I sound disappointed, I should mention that I am most certainly NOT! I have mentioned previously that completing a 3 hour road race is a gruelling undertaking no matter which way you look at it. Even if the time doesn't end up being quite what you expected, there is still a rainbow (usually several, actually) at the end of the race. In this case, mine was that I managed to place first in my age category, a result that was most unexpected but welcome none the less. And I have to say that my final time of 3:13 on a course that tough is an accomplishment that I am very pleased with.
The bottom line is, of course, that the sun was shining, the course was beautiful and I was running and loving it. What could possibly be disappointing about that?
From a training and a racing perspective, for those of you that may apply this to your own running experiences, I believe I need to focus more on getting middle distance runs completed at my marathon goal pace. This will be the focus of my training for the next little while. I was really quite happy with my front end speed in Vancouver, especially since I am a bit of slow starter- the warm up I blogged about pre-race definitely helped with that. I just didn't have the endurance I needed to hold onto the pace on that particular day...
...but I will. I most definitely will and am already excited for what the next run may bring!
P.S. Check out the lululemon homepage- you just may recognize someone...
Wow, did it hurt. Big time.
 |
| Me running. I am focused, hopefully not on the pain! Proof is courtesy of Marathon Foto |
Marathons are usually a painful endeavour. I have yet to run one without being some kind of sore, but this one, this beautiful but hilly course in Vancouver sure did a number on my legs.
Rewind just a bit and recall that I had set a very difficult time standard for myself for this race; I had hoped to run a sub 3 hour marathon. but as my good friend Christine likes to say, hope is NOT a strategy and that certainly proved to be true in this case. To be truthful, the level of training I needed to put in to get to this incredibly difficult standard simply did not happen the way it needed to. Blame it on the weather, blame it on my busy schedule, blame it on whatever you will, I simply didn't make it enough of a priority for this to happen.
If I sound disappointed, I should mention that I am most certainly NOT! I have mentioned previously that completing a 3 hour road race is a gruelling undertaking no matter which way you look at it. Even if the time doesn't end up being quite what you expected, there is still a rainbow (usually several, actually) at the end of the race. In this case, mine was that I managed to place first in my age category, a result that was most unexpected but welcome none the less. And I have to say that my final time of 3:13 on a course that tough is an accomplishment that I am very pleased with.
The bottom line is, of course, that the sun was shining, the course was beautiful and I was running and loving it. What could possibly be disappointing about that?
From a training and a racing perspective, for those of you that may apply this to your own running experiences, I believe I need to focus more on getting middle distance runs completed at my marathon goal pace. This will be the focus of my training for the next little while. I was really quite happy with my front end speed in Vancouver, especially since I am a bit of slow starter- the warm up I blogged about pre-race definitely helped with that. I just didn't have the endurance I needed to hold onto the pace on that particular day...
...but I will. I most definitely will and am already excited for what the next run may bring!
P.S. Check out the lululemon homepage- you just may recognize someone...
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Where's Waldo?
Here is a picture of me at the start of the 2011 BMO Vancouver Marathon. If you recall, I ran in this marathon. In case you're wondering, my legs are STILL reminding me that I ran in this marathon- ouch.
Bonus points for anyone who can find me. Hint: I am wearing a lovely blue-green t-shirt and am doing something strange with my head. I'm going to say I was mid sneeze.
Post race report to follow as soon as I find some time to do it! Happy trails to those of you who are (finally) enjoying your runs in the lovely spring weather and sunshine.
 |
| Photo Courtesy of the Vancouver Sun- Ian Smith- PNG |
Post race report to follow as soon as I find some time to do it! Happy trails to those of you who are (finally) enjoying your runs in the lovely spring weather and sunshine.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Ready to RUMBLE
This is the weather in Calgary right at this moment...
And in an effort to bolster my spirits, I have included a picture of the beautiful tulips I recently purchased for myself in an effort to remind myself of the fact that it is indeed spring regardless of what the weather out of doors is telling me. It is spring in my condo if no where else!
Pretty, yes?
On a much springier note, this weekend I am leaving the mean streets of Calgary behind to head to Vancouver to run the marathon! Yes, it's finally here! Training through the winter from hell is behind me and I am heading into the race at long last. I am looking forward to running along in hopefully sunny skies and warm weather. The current forecast for Vancouver on Sunday is for rain, but I'm positive that at least it won't snow which makes for a happy, happy Andrea.
Just to put it out there in the universe, I am ready, or at least as ready as I can possibly be. For those of you who know me, you will note that I am a creature of habit and I don't like changes or tweaks to my pre-race routine, especially since it has worked relatively well for me. However, there is always room for improvement so I have decided to make a small change. I KNOW- monumental for sure. The one thing I am going to do differently is the warm up portion of the run. Normally, I just show up at the line and start when I'm supposed to start. This time, I'm going to do a running warm-up, complete with dynamic exercises to engage the hips and some strides. Will it make a difference? Maybe. I sure hope so! But like I always say, so many little factors go into having a brilliant run on race day, so I'm going to STOP worrying, believe in my preparation, think positively and focus on having fun. And I'm going to focus on the large waffle that one MH is going to chef up for me post marathon. I wonder if she can waffle me a 26.2 similar to last year's pancake creation. Just in case you forgot what that may look like, here it is in all it's glory-
Yum. Worth every step of that 26.2 for sure!
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