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May 30, 2005

Every little counts

As I mentioned before I am struggling getting back to the routine of running. Tonight I planned to go to the gym and do weights, but I also wanted to run as I have to work late tomorrow and know I will be to exhausted and find an excuse not to. Plus I bought a new nike running top today which I know will make me faster so had to take it for a test spin. My compromise was to run to the gym, its 4k each way.

The run there was great, breathing is getting better. The weight workout started good but quickly declined along with my energy levels. You know it's bad when you lie on the mats to do abs ... and then close your eyes.

The good thing about running to the gym, is that I have to run home, I have no choice ... as comfortable as the mats were I think they would have kicked me out eventually, probably when I started to snore!

I allowed myself to walk to the road then I had to run ... as slow as I wanted until the turn (about half way home) then I could walk for a minute if I wanted. Once I got going my energy levels picked up again, I kept it slow and comfortable all the way back no stopping. It felt great when I got back home I had that wonderful "I did something" buzz I have missed soooooo much over the last month.

Posted by Ali at 8:07 PM | Comments (3)

May 28, 2005

Another 3 miles

I was supposed to run with my friend K this morning, but she called at 8am to cancel due to too much beer and too little sleep. So I ran by myself again. I decide to make it a personal challenge, faster but more consistent than Thursday nights run. I had no discomfort after Thrusdays run so figured I could push it a bit more.

Success, much better pace, and the time flew by since I was concentrating on my speed and not being alone! Legs felt stiff to start but not surprising as they haven't done too much in the last month.

Posted by Ali at 8:00 PM | Comments (0)

May 26, 2005

3 miles easy

Well after my crossing training on Wednesday on a patio with cold beer and running friends, I felt a little guilty. So I headed out after work for 3 easy miles by myself.

First, I have been looking forward to starting to run again, mentally and physically I really miss it. There have been many days over the last month where I thought I should just try and run to see how it felt. What I have noticed is that being injuried and destroyed my routine. From January - May I had set days that I ran on and stuck with it. Now being routineless I really have to plan even for an easy 3 miles. So even with the guilt it took a lot of willpower not to just go home right after work.

The 3 miles were good, a little tough by myself. I found my pace to be completely erratic. I started slow, but it wasn't long before I picked it up then wondered why I was huff and puffing.

3 miles done, ankle feels good. My IT band was tight on the way home so I will be stretching tonight.

Posted by Ali at 7:49 PM | Comments (0)

oh twist my arm!

I had every intention of running last night after work ... but

Well ... my phone rang about 4pm, with an invitation to have a drink on a patio downtown ... hmmm ... I went

It was glorious, perfect weather. After two drinks we decided to go to the party tent for the Memorial Cup (it's in town this week and with no NHL this year it's very popular).

Anyway ... never made the run, but everyone I was with runs so that kinda counts!

Posted by Ali at 8:26 AM | Comments (2)

May 25, 2005

I'm still alive ...

Just because I am not running is no excuse not to blog, slap wrist! When I stopped running 3 weeks and 4 days ago (feels like 2 years) I had ever intention of updating this blog with all the exciting cross training activities I have been up to. There are two reason for no entries.

1. I have been crazy busy at work! April - June are my busy times. Currently designing a new brochure which has taken much longer than expected, due to people changing there minds (these people are still alive ... just!). After too many hours staring at the screen I just can't take anymore

2. No real cross training activities took place! Fact, the guilt from not running lasts about 5 days, then it disappears and takes all my interest in doing anything with it!

My first week off I did cycle and the eliptical trainer, however both hurt my ankle so I stopped. I have managed to drag my sorry ass off the sofa a few times to do weights at the gym.

The good news is my leg is feeling much better, and I went for a run ... will update after lunch

Posted by Ali at 11:08 AM | Comments (0)

May 24, 2005

Back at it

On Monday I ventured out for my first run in what feels like a very long time.

I injured my ankle (have no idea how or exactly when) in April. Then continued to run on it for a couple weeks, which apparantely didn't fix it ... go figure. So, due to the amount of pain and advise from the physio I took some time off. In total just over four weeks, I probably could have been back running sooner, but ran the last 10k of a marathon with a friend of mine on Mother's Day, which caused a bit of a set back and a lot of hobbling for the next few days.

I was beginning to get very concern that this ankle injury would never go away. After a week of not running I expected miracles. It really wasn't until this weekend that everything started to feel good again.

So on Monday morning (it was a holiday here in Canada) I headed out with Kat for an easy 5k to get back into it. The first km was not fun, my ankles and knees had forgot the pleasures of pounding. The second km things began to fall into place, my pace and breathing. It was feeling pretty good, the sun was shining it was cool this is what I had been missing. On the third km the breathing was not so good, by km four I was contemplating joining a learn to run clinic! I can't believe how quickly I have lost the cardio component.

One thing I did notice on the run was how much my left ankle rolls in on landing. Tuesday morning I went to the running store and bought a pair of Superfeet! They are insoles to stop the roll in. Tried them on and they work great. I am taking them for a test run tonight ... fingers crossed.

The marathon group starts on June 7 with the goal of Chicago in the fall, so I need to work on my cardio otherwise I will be struggling!

Posted by Ali at 11:26 AM | Comments (1)

May 9, 2005

With a little help for my friend

When I signed up for the marathon training group in January, we had to state what our goal was. Some people want to do there first marathon or half, or get faster, maybe qualify for Boston. My goal was to do Around the Bay and the Forest City Half Marathon. I achieve the first part, completing the 30km Around the Bay in March, however didn't get to do the half due to my uncorporative ankle.

One of the reasons I had such a wonderful experience and loved Around the Bay so much was Pat. We ran together every step of the 30k route. So on Mothers Day Pat was running her first marathon. Before I got injuried, we had decided that we would run the first half together and then depending on how I felt I could run a bit of the second half of the marathon with her. Ankle put a stop to that. However, I figured the ankle could take 5km, it would be the last 5k of her marathon and therefore would be slower and easier.

I showed up early on the day and watched alot of the people I run with finish the half. I cheered Pat on as she passed the half way point, she looked great with a huge smile. The weather was very warm, the warmest day of the year so far without a cloud in the sky ... perfect for spectating not so perfect for running!

Pat's goal was 4 hrs 45 minutes, so I headed out to meet her and run the last 5k with her. Due to parking and road closures I ended up at the 7k marker, no sign of her yet so I started walking. During the next 2km I saw and cheered on lots of runners I knew, they all looked exhausted, hot and ready to stop. Then around the corner came Pat. I joined her armed with candy, water and pop. She wasn't feeling great. The heat had taken it's toll and she was really tired. So we walked for the next 2 minutes while she ate candy, drank some water and told me tales of the last 33km. We started running. For the next 8km we did a mix of run walk until she made it to the finish line. I don't think I have ever seen a happier face than hers when she crossed that line!

Posted by Ali at 11:45 AM | Comments (1)