Speed demon she is

I had trouble keeping up with Afterwork RunClub Member No. 1 today. She was on another level of running existence and I trailed for pretty much the entire 10K that took us 1:07 through the same city route as last week. It seemed that we were running into the wind at every turn and we barely stopped with the traffic light fairy on our side today. I ran hard, and now I'm exhausted. I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open to watch House. Good thing for PVR technology.

Rationalization

The week, in terms of running, started off well. I ran 11K a week ago, and followed up that effort with a 10K afterwork run on Tuesday. There was a trip to the gym to strengthen my core and some free weights on Wednesday.
Then nothing.

And not that life got in the way. I just lost the desire to go for the balance of the week. Maybe since I'd done 22K in two days I thought it was enough for the week? I can rationalize anything.

So feeling slightly guilty, I was going to run to the gym yesterday, about 7K away, and was going to time it so that I'd get there in time for core strength class. Guess where this is going
?.... no run! because I was easily convinced to not go, all because of this early morning weird fog that was so thick I couldn't see 2 feet in front of me. Yes, a poor excuse. There was zero desire to go once the fog cleared and it turned out to be a wonderful sunny and warm by almost winter standards. Wasted opportunity, again.
Though, mind you, baking three loaves of banana bread, and preparations for dinner guests are not a waste of an afternoon... again, I can rationalize anything.

Well. Seeing that the group meets in 15 minutes and I'm no where near ready to meet up, looks like I may skip today again. It's moving day for my sister and brother-in-law, and the last time I tried to run and then move, it sucked. Say it with me: I can rationalize anything.

Sigh. Let's start over again tomorrow.


****Update: After my sister phoned to say she was ready to start moving soon, I said I'd be there soon as I could and decided to run to her. It is just short of 2mi and since my mode of transportation today was going to be public transit, I figured it wouldn't be that much slower to take 20 minutes and go for a jog. I can rationalize anything. And then we went to work -- making a half dozen trips in a minivan. A few of those times the vehicle was packed to the hilt, so I'd run ... and my sister joined me once on one leg (!) ... to their new apartment and help them unload there. They didn't move very far, pretty much a half-mile around the corner. Estimated total mileage for the day (with long "breaks" of walking up and down stairs with heavy boxes, though sometimes I got to guard the illegally parked car): 3.75mi. Considering it didn't look like I was going to bother running today, that's good enough.

Mileage since marathon completion: 26.15mi/42.08K
Year-to-date mileage: 461.68mi/743.00K

Saying hello to a new decade

It's over. My 20s are now behind me.

I found myself chuckling to myself this morning as I was standing in line at Starbucks. I had just finished an 11K run with the Sunday running group. I was on 4hours of sleep, I hadn't eaten a crumb, but I felt like a million dollars.

And I thought this was a really funny image of myself. Me in fullout semi-stylish running gear, hair tied back in a bouncy ponytail, in this Beaches neighborhood -- just back from a longish run chatting with running partner du jour Nicholas, a familiar face from the summer group and friend of one of my neighbors, about wedding planning and marathon running -- while waiting for my grande caramel macchiato. All that was missing was a baby stroller and, maybe, a golden retriever.

It was just too hilarious for me. I was laughing quietly to myself on the drive all the way home. When I returned, I said to CMan: Have I turned into a yuppie?

He didn't really have an answer. And maybe yuppie has a derogatory ring to it. But no matter. Our lives are constantly evolving. I guess I've already been at that "next" stage for some time. Most people I know have gotten married, some have kids. We're no longer staying out late and drinking week after week, but instead hold dinner parties and talk about investments, and accumlating assets or erasing crippling debt. One day that baby stroller may come, and maybe the dog too, though I'm semi-allergic to dogs (and cats), but while many people make a big deal out of turning 30, I'm not freaking out about it as much as I might have been if you asked me a couple of years ago.

And running, as a lifestyle, has probably eased this transition into this next phase. Because running wasn't just a boring activity anymore. It was necessary since I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes before I turned 30 (the onset of this type is usually for people 40+ with myriad of other factors). So....

It is like running for my life.

Okay, maybe that's a little bit overdramatic because my blood/glucose levels aren't out of control, but they're not under control either. So running gives me time to just think, or not think at all, and it is a means of keeping my blood/glucose in check. Running is a weight management tool. And running also makes me think smarter about what I eat. The risks increase for blindness, heart disease, kidney problems, nerve damage, to name a few fun things if I ignore good management of diabetes. My doctor constantly tells me I'm too young for this disease so this fear is one of the main reasons to run. There's a purpose in doing it, and I don't need to think about what's my next race all the time.

I got nothing really special planned for this day. This morning's run was more or less my only thing to do. I just wanted to start the day, the decade, right. So far so good.

I want to be able to start my 40s even healthier than I feel now.

Knead to run

Q: What's better than the smell of fresh-baked bread?
A: The smell of homemade fresh-baked bread after a day that featured vacation time and a 25-minute run (about 2.5 mi).

This was my very first solo attempt at making bread that wasn't the banana variety. Years ago, Yumke walked me through a lesson in foccacia. But I didn't have the patience, the counter space, nor a KitchenAid mixer with a dough hook (Note to self: register for one). Anyways, all of that has changed... well, except for the dough hook... as I came across a recipe on the interweb and became intrigued. So, I started it yesterday afternoon, minutes before I started making chocolate chip cookies to satiate a craving. It literally took 90 seconds for me to combine the ingredients and leave it alone for the next 18 hours.

There was no need to knead this baby. But I needed to go for a run.

In the final two hours of rising, I dashed over to my parents to pick up a 5qt-Pyrex pot because I don't own one big enough for this particular recipe (Note to self: register for a pot this big). In the first stage of baking, I went for a short run while there was still some daylight. The air was crisp, and it was overcast, but I thought it was perfect running weather today.

Anyways, this is how the bread turned out. I'm so happy with the way it looks on the outside. Pretty professional looking, eh? I have no idea what it tastes like yet. I'll wait til CMan comes home and we'll share it with some good butter.

For the rest of the weekend, hope to get out for a longish run. And maybe make another boule.

Sniffles

I was fine until I got to work this morning. I think I'm allergic to work because that's when the sniffles hit and didn't stop. Eight hours of this nonsense. Great, I'm coming down with something the day before I go on vacation. But by the time work was done, and Afterwork Run Club (ARC) was underway, the sniffles disappeared. I didn't sneeze once during the easy 6K. Now to start thinking about safe and well-lit routes for the upcoming Tuesday runs... ARC Member No.1 and I agreed that we'd like to build to a 10K weekly run but neither of us are so used to running in the dark. Somehow it was okay in the summer when it was hot and sticky, but my head doesn't like the idea of dark+cold.

Hopefully for the balance of this week I'll be able to get some mileage accomplished in some daylight.

Reliving the moment again and again and again

Not content to have relived the marathon through yesterday's ubertense calves, I decided I'd be much happier reliving it by looking at a picture of myself crossing the finish line. So I ordered it from the folks at marathonfoto. I went (almost) all out -- bought Option B plaque -- the one where you get a photo, a finisher's medal, and your name/time engraved. Time is optional feature but I have nothing to hide with my 5:20:26 finish. It should arrive around Christmas.

Ouch

I woke up this morning feeling exactly as I had post-marathon. Not in a good way. No, as in legs were screaming. Both calves were supertender and when I rolled out of bed, I couldn't put either foot down without some serious wincing.
I hadn't run over the weekend, but I did go to high impact cardio class, followed by core strength. I'm guessing I may have overexerted myself there?
Well, took a bath with epsom salts and that seems to have relieved the pain somewhat. I'll do some stretches and take out the ole ice pack later on.

Jelly's 18-week plan

It seems that my performance this week suggests that I will need some structure if I am to go through with this winter training idea. Not that I have a spring marathon in mind, but if Yumke or Frankie push hard enough -- not that they've decided themselves -- they might get me to do the oldest road race in North America in March. A 30K race.

I haven't been very motivated lately, but I haven't been an absolute couch potato either. I just haven't been out there running, despite some pretty mild weather this past week, and except for that one outing earlier this week after work. But I've gone back to the gym a few times this week and I think I've come up with a fairly decent schedule to keep myself in shape.

Since I pretty much stuck to Hal for 18 weeks, I know I can adhere to a schedule if it is stuck to my fridge. So here's Jelly's 18-week plan:

Monday: cardio/tone class
Tuesday: Afterwork RunClub (min 5K), followed by ab class
Wednesday: Yoga
Thursday: Run
Friday: Rest
Saturday: cardio, core strength classes
Sunday: Longer run

Coincidentally, the aforementioned road race is 19 weeks away. And I'm on vacation next week (though not going anywhere exotic. In fact, not going anywhere at all. Just not going to work, and that is just delicious).
So, if I start and take this regimen seriously starting Nov. 20, then maybe I'll be ready for that road race. Though I really won't decide to register til much later. At least I may have something bigger than a 5K to work towards this winter.

Resolution Run

I'm not big into New Year's resolutions because I don't see the point in waiting til a new year to begin to set goals. It should be a constant and fluid thing, always under evaluation. So while I'm still mulling my 2007 race plans, I am holding onto 2006 by a thread. I signed up for the last race of the year -- The Resolution Run, which carries a tagline of "Start the New Year off on the right foot by establishing or maintaining an active lifestyle." Well, I guess I'm in it for the maintaining part.

So, this gives me something to aim for this winter. And I asked Afterwork RunClub Member No. 1 to register too. It'll give us something to work towards, other than general fitness, and she's pumped about it.

The bonus of signing up is the free run vest and running cap. That's got to be worth the price of entry (C$40).

Cheers to goals.

First post-marathon run

The past 10 days have been busy -- quarterly stuff at work, two weddings, people to see, and the resumption of trying to get the house together and that means unpacking a few more boxes (will this never end?) -- so running was put aside for a little while longer. And I didn't feel too badly about it. And didn't somebody say the body needs a day of rest for every mile of a marathon completed? That would mean I could wait til middle of next week!
But who can wait that long?

So put it in the books -- the first post-marathon run is complete, coinciding with a very excellent inaugral outing of the Afterwork Run Club. I admit that without anything specific to train for, I have been reluctant to run. I need a bit of prodding to go back out there. I have thoroughly enjoyed the sleeping in, and non-pasta meals (although, funny I say that because I did have spaghetti tonight! First time in weeks).

And so the RunClub is a perfect reason to motivate me. Although membership is apparently 4 people, just two actually made it today. It was raining -- and I guess that would stop any novice runner. I say that like I'm such an expert, but L -- my newest running partner -- says that if we can run in rain, we're in the right mindset for training through the winter. That's the spirit, I say. Let the weather not stop us. Let it snow, let it be windy, let it shine. Bring it all on. Anyways, it wasn't sheets of rain, just a steady drizzle today.

We headed out at 4:24pm. I drafted an almost-5K route, one that featured extra wide sidewalks (since anywhere we went we'd have to navigate the afterwork downtown crowds) that basically took us from The Office, up and around the provincial government building, and back. We had to dodge quite a few people, at times it felt like we were salmon swimming against the stream. We stepped in many a puddle. We were able to hold a conversation the entire way, catching up on things that have happened in our lives in the four or five years since we've worked alongside each other. And I thought about how running brings people together.

I was surprised at how easily I found my stride, partly because it has been a couple of weeks since the marathon, and I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to run well because I was a little stiff from making a grand return to the gym last night. I dusted off my gym membership card and did my pre-marathon days favorite Monday class. A cardio/toning class with the incomparable G. A class I have not been to in about five months. You know your disappearing act -- aka training for a marathon -- has done more to trim some pounds than your 3-times-a-week gym habit has ever done when people at the gym you haven't seen in five months, and only occassionally speak to casually in a hi-nice-to-see-you manner also notice you're lighter.

Overall, I'd say L and I run well together. At least we run the same pace and we have the same goal of maintaining our running fitness. She worked hard over the summer to get herself to comfortably run 10K. She doesn't want to lose it over winter and start from square one. And I would like to keep some kind of base, maybe 12-15 miles per week, building to 20 later on maybe. So we're going to do this again next Tuesday. It's on our Outlook calendars, every Tuesday til the end of time. I'm looking forward to it. I think I should get another run or two in before we go again next week even though I am trying to incorporate the gym back into my life. More on that another time.

By 5:02pm we were back at The Office. L had mentioned she wanted to run a marathon next year. With me. I said, "Great, you're coming to Chicago?"

.... now that's not a promise that I'll redo Chicago next year, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I didn't think about it everyday.

Marathon lore

Think weather helps your marathon? Think dehydration causes cramping? Think again.
See this article in the NYTimes.

Afterwork Run Club

Led by ME. Yeah, that's right. ME.

So, word got around work that I did this marathon. And so my former supervisor, who now works in a different department, found that really inspiring. So inspiring that she asked if she could train with me, though it's unclear if she's aiming to do one herself. But I'm not training for anything, I said. Then let's just run together, she said.

I'm flattered. I really am. And so we decided we'd choose a day and stick to it, and probably limit ourselves to 5K -- since it's going to get dark quicker and the temp isn't going to be so friendly as we approach the "real" start of winter.

Then she told someone else. And now that person is into it. And then there were three. I wonder if more will join.

I don't know what they're expecting. Part of me is a bit terrified -- especially after my Group Running experience early on. But I think we're all about the same level, which is a relief. I guess I'm going to be the pace bunny, and I volunteered to be the one to map out the routes. And I'll bring a stopwatch..though I guess we don't really need that. This is just for the pure joy of running.

Joy of running. Hee hee.....words I thought I'd never put together in the same sentence.
It starts Tuesday.