March 2007 Archives

I think my body is rebelling against what I am making it do and putting it through.

Sunday, 30k run
Monday, hot hot yoga
Tuesday, 4 mile run
Wednesday, session with evil trainer
Thursday, seriously hard tempo run, run 34 minutes out, turn around , get back in 31 minutes.

It was somewhere around minute 26 of the tempo run it hit me. A cold. I am so congested I think my eyes will pop out. I didn't go to work today, instead I stayed in bed, had soup, drugs and a bubble bath.

I think body is demanding a rest day.

On Monday, I had the day off work after ATB. I met up with the strickler and went to a hot yoga class.

It was my first time, I've done normal room temperature yoga before but not hot. It's kinda like doing yoga for an hour in a sauna. J gave me my instructions before we went in, no talking, no laughing, no noises of any kind.

What????

A whole hour and no wisecracks! I might explode.

The class was awesome, I felt like I had an hour massage. Even the sweat was strangely cleansing. I only lost control and went into a silence laughter fit once, I couldn't look at J for most of the class or I would of been kicked out especially during the deep breathing part.

I was just thinking about my time yesterday, I did

30k in 3.07,

comparing that to Vegas I ran

42k in 5.20.

So, it took me another 2 hours and 13 minutes to run (obviously not) 12k?

Seriously, I could walk 12k faster than that (again obviously not).

There must be some answer to this, I'm thinking Jeff and I stopped off somewhere and had brunch. A memory I've blocked out of my mind. Even if the service was really bad at this restaurant, I would of still had time to finish faster.

Firstly, in my next career move I am becoming a metorlogist. There's no job pressure. Even being 95% percent wrong still means you are 5% right.

As our bus made its way into Hamilton we started noticing other runners making there way to the expo. They were wearing tights, jackets, headbands and hats. Nothing that I had packed. The first wave of panic swept over me. What do they know. How far north have we driven. Why didn't I pack winter gear. Does anyone have a brown paper bag?

Our bus parked, giving us just over an hour to prepare, dress, warm up, use the facilities and in my case obsess about my outfit. I kid you not when I say, J and I discussed this at great lenghts. The weather network said ... sunny with scattered clouds around 4/39 at the start and 12/53 at the finish. That is shorts and a long sleeve weather forecast if I even heard one. But outside our bus windows, it was grey, windy and not looking warm at all.

I really didn't have much choice no matter how much obsessing or questioning I did, I had only packed shorts, 2 short sleeve and 1 long sleeve top, that's all my cute new bag would hold. I opted for shorts, a short sleeve and a long sleeve overtop and gloves.

P and I decided to run together, we both had about the same time goal, anything better than the first time we did ATB and we would be happy. Our strategy was simple, don't get sucked in by the other runners in the first 10k, start out slow and pick it up later.

The thing I love most about 30k, is that it is 3 10k runs. I never think of the whole distance. The first 10k, P and I had a nice pace going, a little faster than we originally thought but not uncomfortable. As we started the second 10k, we picked the pace up a little. We started catching people that had started faster than us. I remember seeing D and J ahead of us around 12k, and saying to P we need to stay behind them until 15 then we can pass them, P said she was thinking 20 or 25k. We passed them just before 14, hmmm.

Just ahead were port-a-potties without any lines, I (my bladder) decided in was time to visit. P said she would run on and I could catch up. That was my new goal. They were a good distance ahead by the time I emerged after trying to pull up my cycling shorts ... seriously how hard is it to get lycra shorts back on! Inside a port-a-pottie is not somewhere I want to spend a great deal of time. So it wasn't till I started running again I realised the left left leg of my shorts was down at my knee and the right was practically embedded in my groin. How much do you want to bet, the one picture of me caught by the race photographer, will be at that moment!

By 17 I had caught back up, and with the momentum of my catchup pace I keep going. Only 3k til the last and final 10k. I can do this. The rolling hills started, funny how you forget just how many and how steep they are. Finally I was at the 20k marked, checked my watch, second 10k was 2.30 slower than the first, but I did have the toilet break. I felt good, strong ready to tack the next 10k. The only part of the run were I felt tired and sore was at 22k. Running through a beautiful subdivison, with a huge winding hill. See the hill ahead of me, knowing there was still 8k to go, I just wanted to walk. Then an orange slice saved my life. The residence of this neighbourhood, provide the 6000 runners with oranges and bananas. I am talking hundreds of pieces of fruit. I grabbed a sliced, walked for a minute devouring my treat. It did the trick. I started running again with a little more energy, a little more focus and a lot more determination.

At the top of the hill you have 2k of flatness til you meet the beast, the last hill of the day, I can do this. I knew my parents were going to be somewhere on the course, either before or after the big hill. Just before the hill I saw them, cheering, shouting and waving from the side of the road. That was just what I needed to finish.

Yes, Jon and Warren the big hill is still there, and I think when I listened closely, I could hear the two of you laughing, supportively of course. At the top, I glanced at my watch, the first time since 20k. 2.47, I had just over 3.5k to go. Hmmmmmm. I could definitely beat last years time. If I run and don't stop, I could probably get in around 3.10. So I started to pick up the pace. Knowing I still had 3.5k to go, I was worried, I would peak at 28k and then die having nothing left to get me to the finish. With each km marker I picked it up a little more. I'm still feeling good. I can so do this!

As tempted as I was to look at my watch I didn't, I just kept running. I crossed the line in 3.07. I almost didn't believe it! Wooo hooo. That's a 10 minute PB.

Who da gal ... yeah ... me ... I'm the gal!

a little PB today.

30k ... 3.07.01

That's over 10 minutes faster than last year and 16 minutes faster than my first attempt!

The bath is running as we speak complete with lots of bubbles and epsom salt.

I am almost ready for Sunday's race.

I've taken the last four days off running. My calf is feeling a lot better. Visited the hot massage guru this afternoon, he spent over 20 minutes working the calf, icing it, then massaging it again. It's tender now but much looser. Going to do a short easy run tomorrrow to test everything out.

Had lunch with a friend yesterday and talked about all the things that were bothering me. Since then I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Express don't repress!

our thoughts are with you and your family

Sometimes there are no adequate words.

and since I know very little, I'm all about the who.

I have a friend who's sister owns a tanning salon. I know it's bad, it's vain ... but I'm lily white and Irish and on the verge of a depression the world has yet to experience ... so do not judge. So, this friend has said many times, if you ever want a tan let me know. After looking at the weather forecast for Sunday ... sunny and warm ... a potential shorts day, I decided to take her up on the offer.

Due to my impatient nature and need for instant gratification, I opted for the Mystic Tan. Yep, spray on golden tan.

That's not me, but with my new tan, minus the bikini tan lines ;) the resemblence is uncanny.

I have to admit, once I stripped off I became a bit nervous about the whole thing. I have seen bad fake tans, I witnessed first hand "orange-ness". I have even applied it badly myself, leaving me with a freakish streaky looking disease, that last and last.

When you're alone, and life is making you lonely
You can always go
Drinking

When you've got worries, all the noise and hurry
Seems to help, I know
Drinking

Only kidding!

But a glass of wine after work with a friend, when you are feeling down, can really help. Except they didn't know anything was wrong with me, and since I didn't want to talk, I ended up listening to all their problems. Misery loves company.

When I finally got home, I was hungry. I had a craving for chips. I am trying really hard not to have 'bad' food. I'd already had a glass (that means 2) of wine. So I open the cupboard. I stand infront of the open fridge. I stare, hoping for inspiration. Pasta. I'll make pasta.

I prepare it, cook it, eat it.

I still want chips.

I am back in the kitchen, infront of the open cupboard and fridge. I have a banana. I want chips. I continue to eat all night, consuming 8970 calories to stop me eating chips. J emailed me this morning and asked what treats I would like for the bus ride home after Around the Bay ... I said chips. I think I'm obsessed.

During the inhalation of every ounce of food in my house, I watched a bit of American Idol.

He is too adorable for words, but who picked that song for him? It's like your grandmas 70th birthday and they make the grandkids perform for her. But he's so cute! He reminds me of Michael Jackson without the creepy, sexual predator, face falling off, sleeping in a capsule, live in a theme park craziness.

I'm not having a great day. Actually I haven't had a good week. No catastrophes, traumas, disasters to speak of. I just feel emotionally drained, like any moment I could burst into tears for no apparent reason.

I feel down, like someone is pushing on me, it's an effort to sit up straight or keep my head up. I feel sad. Like I've lost someone or something and I know I'll never get it back. I'm tired of fighting the feeling, telling myself to smile, assuring myself it will pass. I am exhausted from tossing and turning in bed because I am unable to silence my mind. I'm frustrated I can't fix someone elses problems, thereby fixing my own. I feel guilty and shouldn't, I know the decision was right, yet self doubt creeps in and takes hold.

Most of all I feel alone. Alone because I can't explain it anyone, or I don't want. I know there would be judgement, and today I'm really not ready for judgement.

Compared to what life deals others, I really have nothing to complain about. But I just can't shake this. In my small part of the world, for today at least, there is a black cloude hovering over head.

til Around the Bay, that little 30k road race I love so much!

This is the third year in a row that I have done ATB. The first year it was longest distance I had ever run, the weather was cold, windy and snowing. I had no idea what to expect, the route was new to me and I was filled with nerves and excitement. Last year, was a perfect running day. Sunny warm, no wind, I knew the route, I knew what to expect and I knew I could do the distance.

I had a much better run the first year, even with the weather, my time was slower, but I paced the run better and felt strong all the way through. Last year, I never got into a groove. I kept thinking it's a perfect day, why isn't this feeling perfect?

So this year, I am going in with zero expectations. I am taking it easy. My calf will be running the race this year, if it feels good, then we are off, if it doesn't we'll be having a nice slow little training run.

Today I got just over 10 miles in. The first 3 miles to the waterstop were tough. Not feeling this run at all. As we headed into the park and onto the bike path I began to feel a little better. I landed better on my right foot ... no wet fish sound. K left at the downtown turnoff and I continued on for another couple of miles.

I definitely felt better than last week. I tried the Cliff Blocs Shots in Black Cherry. I am not sure they actually did anything, but they sure taste yummy. I just kept eating them like jubes. I won't use them at ATB, I'd have to pack 6 packs of them the way I went through them today.

Happy St Paddy's Day

Good bless Ireland!

After I got out of high school, I've never been much of a phone talker. Maybe it was moving to Ireland, for university or England after graduation to work. There are no free local calls there or maybe it's the culture, people don't seem to chat as much on the phone there, they do it in the pub, or just pop around for a cup of tea or glass of wine.

I make calls, but rarely just to catch up, more to make plans to get together. I like face to face communication. I'm an inperson kinda gal. Not sure what it is about the phone, maybe I just like seeing expression. Silence is horrible on the phone, but can be comfortable in person .... sometimes ... not always ... okay I can think of at least 20 occassions where silence is terrible, emotionally damaging ... but lets move on.

So I have a friend, T, who is a talker. A phone talker. You know the type, where you can say hello, a few encouraging ahs, ohs, reallys and yeahs and she is good to go for an hour or more. You could put the phone down, unload the dishwasher, dust, make a snack, probably even get a quick 5k in and she won't even notice. Not that I have done any of those things ... no sir ... not me.

Even her messages are long. I kid you not, I time them, they average 3 minutes 12 seconds. I now delete them as soon as I hear her voice (I know I'm terrrible), but I'll get the full story again when we talk ... unless I'm making the bed or watering the plants during it!

So last night she calls, and you'll understand why I was taken aback by her first sentence.

"Hi, I can't talk for long, this is just a quick call to see if we can get together on Monday"

Woooooo Hooooooo, RESULT! "No problem, what time on Monday?"

My excitement was short lived ....

"Well the reason I can't talk long is ....." For the twenty minutes she explained this rare breathing problem she has had for the last year. It's the first time she has told me about it. It only happens when she is talking. During the conversation I got to say three things.

"that's not good" (this sounds serious, there could be something wrong)
"have you been to the doctor?" (a year and you haven't done anything about it)
"how do you feel now" (deep breathe in and release)

It only occurs when she is talking, not exercising or doing anything else. I think she talks so much she forgets to inhale.

In running related news .... I got just over 6 miles in last night. My calf is really sore. I am landing on it really strangly when I first start out ... sounds like a wet fish hitting the ground. By about 2 miles into the run I get my normal stride back. My calf started to feel better during the last mile ... maybe it loosened out or warmed up, or it just knew it would soon be over

I feel like I've done a lot and nothing had been done ... one of those weeks.

The clock going forward has totally screwed me up this week ... I am searching for my hour I think if I find it the universe will return to normal.

I cut sunday's long run short to preserve my calf and sanity. It was a doomed run from the beginning, I didn't eat well on Saturday and got less than 3 hours sleep. Most of the group was only doing 11. Peer pressure gets me every time!

Monday spent a quality hour with the evil trainer. I started to believe I was improving and getting stronger. I didn't ache after the workout.

Tuesday speedwork sucked! Hands down the worst track workout I've done this year.

Wednesday showed up to PT session with superhuman attitude. Told evil trainer I found last workout easy ... yeah I said easy out loud to her face. Last nights workout was not easy. It was the hardest one ever. I am seriously the most stupid blonde chick ever. It was so bad, I actually hurt a couple hours later, not the next day pain shows up, nope that night. I made pasta for dinner and it hurt to stir the pot.

calf ... this time.

During my visit with the hot massage guru, I asked him to work on my right calf, it's been tight and sore for a week or so (probably 3). While poking and proding he concluded it was ...

Tibialis-posterior tendinitis an inflammation of the tendon of the important but relatively little-known tibialis-posterior muscle, which originates on the backs of the tibia and fibula in the lower part of the leg and in the membrane which connects these two bones.

It also explains the constant pain I have had in my right heel since August. So I have to ice it after ever run.

I did 10 miles with the group last night. I was thinking of cutting it short because of my calf, but felt good at 4 miles, so decided to keep going. My calf was really tender for the first 6 miles, I don't know if it was the injury or the proding, but eventually it seemed to subside ... or at least I didn't notice it any more.

This morning it was really tight and tender. I've printed off information that J sent to me and I am going to give it to the evil trainer tonight ... using it like a sick note ... every time I have to do some horrible leg exercise I'll pull out my 20 page document!

I'm feeling smug.

My rest day was bliss!

I had a massage. Did a little light retail therapy, a new vest and handbag, plus a few bath bombs from LUSH to pamper moi with. Came home, made dinner and vegged on the sofa.

I didn't watch entertainment tonight so I wasn't subjected to anymore coverage of Anna Nicole. Seriously enough already. All these things can only be experienced on a rest day, when I got to work this morning the girls were discussing Larry Birkheads (claims to be babydaddy of Anna Nicoles' daughter) and his tattoo of AN on his lower back. Clear proof I tell ya! It only raises the question ... where is your tattoo Howard K?

Between running, pt sessions and obsessing over my food log, my life has become strangely structured.

Saturday morning ran with the group followed by coffee. Then it was off to the gym for my first ever session completely by myself. Last week bff M joined me, but the after effects of sore muscles suddenly made her chose to redecorate her downstairs bathroom ... suspicious, me thinks. Anyway I did the full workout, I felt great.

Sunday, ran with P, D, J and V and got 17 very chilly miles in. That's the longest I've run since Vegas. A little bit of Vegas came back to visit during the run ... my foot pain. A sharp pain on the ball of my foot where the outside three toes start. I watched it (obsessed completely) for the rest of the run, there wasn't any pain after, so fingers crossed it's gone. After a well deserved shower, I headed to my parents and took them out for their aniversary dinner. I was totally the life and sole of this party ... I was so tired I swear I fell alseep with my eyes open.

Monday I had session 4 with evil trainer. She earned four evil stars! A new routine, all about stability. I did all but one. She wanted me to jump onto a half ball, balance, jump off both feet down at the same time on the ground to the left. Then jump on the ball, balance, then the right. I got half way through one and my 17 mile legs said NO. Absolutely NO CHANCE IN HELL am I doing this. She said okay ... yeah I win!

Tuesday night we were at the track for speedwork. A big jump in distance on the intervals

1600m (200m rest)
1400M (200m rest)
1200M (200m rest)
1000M (200m rest)
800m (200m rest)

When I woke up this morning I had a huge smile on my face .... no running today .... no pt sessions .... today is a rest day .... today I have a one hour session with the hot massage guru. I love today.

I was having an awful day yesterday. I hurt. I was tried. Unmotivated. Work was terrible. Then in the afternoon a friend did something completely unexpected, that made my day. It was personal and incredibly thoughtful. Every now and then people surprise you.

Now on with the torture and pain.

I arrived at my PT session last night ready to fight. I am paying for this, I am incharge. Who's the boss? Yeah, that's right me, I'm the boss. I'm a runner. I need my legs. I need my legs not to scream with agony every single day. So I'm not doing lunges. I'm not doing squats. Understand! Got it?

Yeah, I told her. I laid down the law. I stood my ground.

How'd that work out?

One solid hour of upper body and abs. 10 exercises, 3 sets of each on shoulders, back and chest. Plus 500 abs. Pretty sure I'm not the boss. Pretty sure I'm evil trainers bitch!