PB, PB, PB!

WOW what a great fall!

I spent the summer training for my first marathon. I continued to do my interval workouts through my training but was really focused on endurance. When I crapped out at 39km, 3km short of my goal, I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to have finished my first marathon, I am not happy with my time. I am happy to say that all that work has not gone to waste.

I really thought all that distance was going to kill my shorter times. I signed up for a 10km 4 weeks after my marathon (which I figured would be a recovery run). I PB'd at the distance.

So I also signed up for a 5km which means a lot to me. The 2nd annual RememberRun in Preston. The start of the race (outside of the legion) was after 2 minutes of silence with bagpipes...a touching tribute for our veterans. As I had also signed up for the Road2Hope half marathon I was planning on running this at a slow 5km pace. Needless to say I was feeling really strong and ended up running faster that I expected. As I finished with a PB and a little gas left in the tank I was really surprised, and a little worried I may have hurt my half the next day.

Headed down to Hamilton early today as I was carpooling with my friend/mentor/coach John Carson who was running the full. Went into this race feeling really strong and ran that way through the entire race! I took nearly 14 minutes off my PB from the year before!

So in 2 weeks I hit my PB in the 5 and 10 and in one weekend I hit PB's in the 5 and the half. My running has never felt stronger. I am looking forward to doing around the bay in the spring and trying to get under 20 minutes in the 5km....I mean we all have to have a goal right?

M

Getting Better

As I ran with the first time 5km runners tonight I found myself passing on some advice that I had been given not an hour before. The advice was a reminder of a speech given by Roy H. Williams (the Wizard of Ads) at our national PropertyGuys.com conference. The advice was related to business when given to me. To be effective you need to be consistent and do it with intensity. It rang in my ears as I ran. As I have found my life setting me up for other things provided me with what I needed when I needed it.

Looking back on my running journey it took me 18 months to really see improvement. 18 months of hard work. 18 months of consistent running. 18 months of intense work to improve my speed. It did not end there though. If those first 18 months were tough then the last 12 months have been hell....and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Can't wait to see what the next few years have in store!

M

First Race Jitters

Do you remember your first race? The anticipation of the start, camaraderie of those around you, the training, the planning all of it?

Here is the big question. Did you have a time goal? Most people when doing something new are just happy to do it. I venture out a little further. I like to challenge myself. Not just do something, do it well. Not that I achieve all that I set out to do. It is said that anything worth doing is worth doing badly!

My first race was the 2008 Classic Mile in Cambridge. It was a 5km race and I was under prepared as I had only been running for 6 weeks. Regardless, out I went gung-ho with no idea what to expect. With a time of 31:50 I was happy to have crossed the line as the hills of West Galt proved to be too much for me causing plenty of walking over the last 2km. To hard at the wrong time, a rookie mistake.

That being said I learned from my mistakes and trained plenty. A year later I broke 25 minutes, and another year I broke 23 minutes. Next plan is to break 20!

We can't expect to know everything going in to that first race but that doesn't mean we can treat it like just another training run. Do a little research, know your limits and then push just past them.

Oktoberfest 2010

NEW 10KM PB!!
After a late night, a few too many drinks and an early wake up from Molly I was still able to knock 50 seconds off last years PB. As usual with this race I started too fast with the 1st km in 4:25. Ran the next 2 at 4:35 and 4:31. Knew I was gunning and slowed it down to 4:50 for km 4 and 5. KM 6 peeked up to 4:58 but then I settled in to a groove at 4:45 for 7. 8 is always a tough km in a 10km and another 4:58 for it. Saw my time was on pace to beat my PB and still felt strong so I picked up the pace a bit and finished with 4:46 and 4:48. Considering I wasn't planning on even running for a PB, I am pretty happy with this run!

Well That Was F&%king Hard!

So I had done all the training. Lost a toenail, twisted an ankle, even struggled with summer schedules (including vacations). All in all I logged 614kms training over the 16 weeks leading up to my marathon. I felt more ready for this than I did for the half I ran last year.

Stayed downtown with the family last night so I didn't have to get up at some ungodly hour to make it in. Relaxed mostly, hung out at the pool and the hot tub with the kids after our "carb load" at the Old Spaghetti Factory. Slept like crap with the anticipation of the race...I hate being so worried about missing the alarm that you wake up every 90 min to make sure you haven't. GRRRR

The morning came and I was up before the alarm and got ready in the dark so as to not disturb the family too much. Had everything ready the night before so it didn't take me long. Kissed Yvette and the kids and away I went. It was a 1.4km walk to the start so it was a nice way to get things stretched and loose.

Kudos to the organizers for the efficiency at the bag check. Ran into fellow Run for Lifers so we made our way to the start together.

Started well and ran with a Robb, who was doing the half, for the first 5km. Was feeling great and was hitting my marks (4 hour goal required 5:41/km). My 10km split was 56:54. At the halfway point I was 1:59:45, still right on for the 4 hour mark! My knees (IT Band issues) started hurting around the 22km mark but I pushed pass. met a lovely lady from Winnipeg who was also running for 4:00 hours. We kept each other company and on pace for the next 15km or so. Our time at the at the 30km mark was 2:50:49 so just off pace at 5:42/km. This took us into the Beaches out and back. This was a tough 5 km. Crowds were great but it just seemed to go on and on. Came out of the Beaches section with the 4 hour pace bunny on our tail and just off pace with 3:19:58 (5:43/km). This is where the wheels started to fall off. I let Leslie go on as my hips started to tighten up. My pace slowed as we turned onto Eastern Ave. Getting worse and worse as I pushed I knew the minute I stopped I was toast. Then I saw my demise. The hill was slight by any standard but it was at the 39km mark!! I took my own advice and put my head down and just kept putting one foot in front of the other. This got me over the hill but I didn't get much further. My hips were so tight I just couldn't keep the pace up so I did the unthinkable...I started to walk. It actually hurt more but I could actually continue. Got to the 40km mark and my split was 3:54:32 (5:52/km). I knew once I started walking 4 hours was done. I also knew that I would finish this race. I kept walking and made my way onto Front St. I tried a few times to run, to no avail. The further I went the tougher it got. I had to stop and rest a few times and after I passed Church I almost sat down. I knew that would be the death of me so I pressed on. Across Young St looking at the Hockey Hall of Fame and Union Station I knew I was close. My head was saying go and my body was saying stop. As I approached Bay St I said regardless I was running the final 750m. Turned the corner and started to "run". I am not sure if it was the pain of starting but I started to gasp for air. I almost couldn't breath. I settled down and put it out of my head and focused on Old City Hall at the end of Bay. As I approached Queen St I almost sprinted to get to the finish line.

4:18. All in all happy to have finished and proud to call myself a Marathoner!!

One Foot in Front of the Other

Running in it's simplest form.

One foot followed by the next.

The question is what does it take to get started.

You can find all kinds of "Learn to Run" programs online, go ahead, Google it. The fact is all the planning, good intentions and talk is nothing without action.

Inspiration is usually what takes you there. What is your inspiration? Weight loss? Fitness? Family? Personal challenge?

My inspiration came from a meeting over a green tea. Sitting with John Carson it is hard to not be inspired. He was hosting a 5km run as part of his Classic Mile race and I had 6 weeks to go from couch to 5km. So on went the shoes and out I went, 2km day one. Step after step I realized that I was in for a challenge. Old crummy shoes, no experience and a boat load of inspiration. As the weeks go on I sweat, I hurt and I run! At the end I made it through my first 5km run but more importantly I got caught up in the world of running.

Looking back did I start running the "right" way?

Probably not, but I started!

M

Running to Fit

I read a great blog post tonight from @Runnrgrl.

It truly was a great read. It got me thinking. I love motivating people with my running. It is one of the unexpected joys I have recieved from talking about my running. One of the reasons I started to run is to be healthier. To be here longer with my family. To enjoy my kids and their kids (not for a while as mine are 7 & 2).

Although reading the post "Skinny Bitch" had me reflect on my own vanity. The constant watching for abs in the mirror. You see at 5'7" I am told that unless I am under 165lbs I am over weight. I have always been someone that carries my weight well but at 200lbs and high blood pressure I needed to get moving. To date I have dropped 15lbs and feel better than I ever have. Seeing the difference in the mirror is a challenge as there is a voice in my head that tells me to go further. There is a voice in my head that tells me not to eat too much. I am sensible and realize that I have always been a "big eater" so half chickens and fries really aren't the right thing. I also know that lettuce with no dressing is wrong. I do see the slippery slope and am mindful of it.

M

Long Cool Run

Today was MUCH wrmer than last week. Amazing what -1C feels like after -15C!

I woke up this morning with a clogged nostril thinking 10km would be enough.As we headed out with the Harriers from Melville Cafe things got losend up. I always forget what a run in the cold can do for a clogged nose.

As we reached the 5km turn (which would have been the 10km run) I talked Robb into running the extra. So we continued on to add on almost 3km more. This meant the hills of Cheese Factory Rd just to ensure a good workout. As we headed onto Hwy 24 I was feeling good and picked up the pace for the final 4km. Always good to run a negative split they say!!

Next week's long run will be 16km and the last run before my 5km PropertyGuys.com race in Vegas!

Tonight's Hills

It was snowing lightly most of the afternoon which led to a slippery run tonight. Other than it being a little slippery it was a great run. Large group and some strong runners. I did 5 repeats on the top of Gordon St which added on some extra distance as I was only planning on doing 4. All in all a little over 10km.

Afterwards it was home, a quick stretch and change and then off to the Run For Life board meeting. Great meeting with some input from new members. Looking forward to the new iteration of the website due this week and to see how the "Footprints" idea comes to fruition. It would seem that they are lining up some great minds.

Plans For The Week

Looking forward to my runs this week.

Tonight we have the infamous "Gordon Grind" which is a KILLER hill repeat in West Galt. With add on distance from running to and from I should get about 9km in total.

Thursday is the "Park Hill Loop", a great 6.5km tempo run with a few hills. Add on the run to and from I should be around 9km.

Saturday's route has not been announced but I will do 15-16km. This keeps me in line with my 2010km for the year!

dailymile.com

Just stumbled on dailymile today. Seems like a great online log and running community. Have asked them for some additional widgets for their mapping as they were none when I found them.

So far I like what I see.

Should help me both on my quest to log 2010kms in 2010 and help keep track of my shoe usage....