Headcold got me good. Sleeping, tea-drinking, broth-sipping, mouth-breathing, that's been my week. So wretched was I that it felt like I'd caught a man-cold:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbmbMSrsZVQ&feature=player_detailpage
Poor little bunny.
There are times when running while sick can shake off the germs and rev up the immune system. That hasn't been an option this week, as climbing the stairs to my quarters leaves me feeling breathless and a little Victorian; smelling salts should be on hand. So while I recover my strength like Heidi's Clara, I will need to reconsider my running plans. Chances are I could still run the May half-marathon in the same time that I ran October's race, but the goal is to run a sub-2, and I don't see that happening now. There is another race on June 26th, which would give me an extra 8 weeks of training. Methinks yes to this.
At the suggestion of my scholar friend, Lady K, I'm off to procure some Madeira wine, which works wonders for all those British literary invalids of old, and is so much more elegant than Robitussin.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Day 28
Easy 30-minute run. Monday's long run tuckered me out a bit, so it was good to just get out there and loosen up today. No rain, no puddles, no wind. Kind of perfect.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Day 26
If ever there was a day to skip a run, today was it. Cozied up in bed this morning, I heard the rain and wind before I opened my eyes. When I pulled up the shades, a tempest of a day greeted me. Seagulls were getting tossed. The ocean was whitecapping. The rain was coming in sideways on a sharp northerly wind.
I went back to bed and watched it all from my warm, dry nest.
But then I saw them. Other runners. Getting their runs done. And they all looked significantly older than me. And significantly fitter.
And so this time, it was less the shame of not reporting a run than the competitive edge supplied by indefatigable fellow runners that got me out there:
70 minutes of mixed trail and road running, with lots of puddle-jumping, and towards the end, a little puddle- ploughing.
And it was invigorating, in a pelting, biting sort of way.
Thanks, fellow runners, you crazy beautiful people.
I went back to bed and watched it all from my warm, dry nest.
But then I saw them. Other runners. Getting their runs done. And they all looked significantly older than me. And significantly fitter.
And so this time, it was less the shame of not reporting a run than the competitive edge supplied by indefatigable fellow runners that got me out there:
70 minutes of mixed trail and road running, with lots of puddle-jumping, and towards the end, a little puddle- ploughing.
And it was invigorating, in a pelting, biting sort of way.
Thanks, fellow runners, you crazy beautiful people.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Day 22
The Plan: 40-minute run with speed intervals
The Reality: 40-minute run
Today was one of those extra-gravity days. Often, the reasons behind a good or not-so-good run have no rhyme. Sometimes, eating well, sleeping well, and not drinking are scant insurance against sucking wind and leaden feet. And other times, a dinner of chips and wine and a four-hour sleep on an air mattress can lead to running like a deer the next morning.
It's all part of the wonder and the mystery that is running.
The Reality: 40-minute run
Today was one of those extra-gravity days. Often, the reasons behind a good or not-so-good run have no rhyme. Sometimes, eating well, sleeping well, and not drinking are scant insurance against sucking wind and leaden feet. And other times, a dinner of chips and wine and a four-hour sleep on an air mattress can lead to running like a deer the next morning.
It's all part of the wonder and the mystery that is running.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Day 20
Hill Run
This morning, I got in 5 repeats of the Rathtrevor Hill. This hill is part of the road leading into Rathtrevor Park. Driving up or down said hill, you might think, "No big deal." But it becomes more impressive when you run repeats on it, trust me. At my steady tortoise pace, it takes me about 2 minutes to run up this hill, which is a recommended hill length in standard training programs.
Many runners loathe the hill portion of their training regimens. I kind of love the hills. Maybe not in the actual moment, but right afterwards, when I'm running the straight stretch home. Hills make my lungs and legs feel awesome and I'm peppy for the rest of the day (not a general state of being for me).
The plan is to include one hill run every 2 weeks until the race, raising the bar by one repeat each time. This means I should build up to 10 hill repeats before the race.
Kind of a weird thing to look forward to, I know, but this whole running thing has been a bit of a surprise all round.
"We're trying this new fad called, uh, 'jogging'. I believe it's 'jogging', or 'yawging', it might be a soft j, I'm not sure. Apparently you just run for an extended period of time. It's supposed to be wild."
- Ron Burgundy
This morning, I got in 5 repeats of the Rathtrevor Hill. This hill is part of the road leading into Rathtrevor Park. Driving up or down said hill, you might think, "No big deal." But it becomes more impressive when you run repeats on it, trust me. At my steady tortoise pace, it takes me about 2 minutes to run up this hill, which is a recommended hill length in standard training programs.
Many runners loathe the hill portion of their training regimens. I kind of love the hills. Maybe not in the actual moment, but right afterwards, when I'm running the straight stretch home. Hills make my lungs and legs feel awesome and I'm peppy for the rest of the day (not a general state of being for me).
The plan is to include one hill run every 2 weeks until the race, raising the bar by one repeat each time. This means I should build up to 10 hill repeats before the race.
Kind of a weird thing to look forward to, I know, but this whole running thing has been a bit of a surprise all round.
"We're trying this new fad called, uh, 'jogging'. I believe it's 'jogging', or 'yawging', it might be a soft j, I'm not sure. Apparently you just run for an extended period of time. It's supposed to be wild."
- Ron Burgundy
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Day 18
12 Weeks to the Race!
Got back on track this morning with a 65-minute run through Rathtrevor. Last week's sloth gave me an unsprightly step today and proved how quickly the body can be undone. But the flip side is that it won't take too long for things to get better.
Got back on track this morning with a 65-minute run through Rathtrevor. Last week's sloth gave me an unsprightly step today and proved how quickly the body can be undone. But the flip side is that it won't take too long for things to get better.
Post-Vancouver Stock-Taking
Runs Accomplished: 0
Nutrition High-point: Kale and quinoa dinner courtesy of Holly. This meal is so nutritionally superior it's practically magic. But not magic enough to negate the following:
Nutrition Low-point: Feast of cupcakes. Or maybe it was the fries and beer. Really, there are so many instances to choose from. Basically, I ate the opposite of how a person concerned with her health would eat. I ate predominantly from the top of the food pyramid. I ate like a 5 year-old at Disneyland.
Number of Times I Asked Myself, "What the hell, Janet?": Daily, repeatedly.
How I Spent My Time: Here's where I feel no shame. I spent quality time in a park with a favourite three year-old, quality time in a pub with a favourite friend, and quality time enjoying the company of more favourite friends watching back-to-back episodes of Community (a marathon-like undertaking that requires endurance, focus, training and sustenance).
It was a great week of catching up with friends and taking a break from fretting about the future. I did get sick towards the end, which is my official reason for bailing on training, but I need to work on making the running non-negotiable. Real runners don't let the sniffles stop them. I want to be a real runner.
Nutrition High-point: Kale and quinoa dinner courtesy of Holly. This meal is so nutritionally superior it's practically magic. But not magic enough to negate the following:
Nutrition Low-point: Feast of cupcakes. Or maybe it was the fries and beer. Really, there are so many instances to choose from. Basically, I ate the opposite of how a person concerned with her health would eat. I ate predominantly from the top of the food pyramid. I ate like a 5 year-old at Disneyland.
Number of Times I Asked Myself, "What the hell, Janet?": Daily, repeatedly.
How I Spent My Time: Here's where I feel no shame. I spent quality time in a park with a favourite three year-old, quality time in a pub with a favourite friend, and quality time enjoying the company of more favourite friends watching back-to-back episodes of Community (a marathon-like undertaking that requires endurance, focus, training and sustenance).
It was a great week of catching up with friends and taking a break from fretting about the future. I did get sick towards the end, which is my official reason for bailing on training, but I need to work on making the running non-negotiable. Real runners don't let the sniffles stop them. I want to be a real runner.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Day 13
3 months to the race.
Location: Vancouver. Get to play big-city gal this week as a very kind friend has lent me her apartment while she's vacationing in tropical climes.
Result: All the shifting of geographies and socializing of late has been very fun, but not super conducive to training. I got out for a good run in Black Creek last week, and I plan on doing two Jericho Beach runs while I'm here, but strength training and nutrition? Sketchy at best. This week, I blame location: going anywhere right now requires tripping over (and into) a cafe called Death by Chocolate.
It's out of my hands.
Location: Vancouver. Get to play big-city gal this week as a very kind friend has lent me her apartment while she's vacationing in tropical climes.
Result: All the shifting of geographies and socializing of late has been very fun, but not super conducive to training. I got out for a good run in Black Creek last week, and I plan on doing two Jericho Beach runs while I'm here, but strength training and nutrition? Sketchy at best. This week, I blame location: going anywhere right now requires tripping over (and into) a cafe called Death by Chocolate.
It's out of my hands.
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