Last day of the year. Last run of the year. Last race of the year. Last post of the year.
I chose to finish my first year of serious running with the Resolution Run, a 5K race and the only one that wasn't officially chip-timed. This would cap off a year where I participated in a 10K race, a half marathon, and the Chicago Marathon.
There was a nice buzz in the air, everyone was there to have fun and share the last run of the year amongst some beautiful historic Toronto buildings. Yumke and R raced today too. We started together. By start, I mean we took our first three steps together and then Yumke was off like The Flash. The route (approximate map link) was nice enough and gave me the opportunity to wave to each Yumke and R twice along the way. The second time I saw Yumke was after he had made the turn at the halfway mark and I had yet to get there. I had started to count the number of people on the other side of the pylons. He was in 15th place at that point.
I stopped twice this race, once to tie my left shoelace, the second time to tie my right shoelace. But despite these slight annoyances, I felt strong the entire way. The finish felt best (doesn't it always?), and I think I always find a little bit of energy to be able to sprint through the finish line. I hadn't actually looked at my watch once throughout the run. I could see CMan at the finish line, always a boost. And dear Yumke, who was waiting a couple hundred meters from the finish line and, always my personal cheering squad, yelled: "You're going to break 30 minutes!"
What?!
I didn't have a race plan and I think I started a bit fast because I felt slower in the middle Ks. But by virtue of this being my first 5K race, I was automatically going to PR anyway so I was just running to run. Little did I know I was going to even exceed even my own expectations. My 5K training runs have usually taken me about 36-47minutes to complete depending on the route, my mood, the weather, what I ate.
Today: 27:19.
Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 31
Friday, December 29
Envelope please.....
I handed my sister, M, two Christmas envelopes yesterday. The first one had a card. It said:
I handed her a second envelope. It contained printouts to Hal Higdon's 10K program and also his beginner 30/30 program (30 minutes of exercise for 30 days). Then I told her the dates in the first card were for her choice of a 10K race. Whichever one she chose, I would pay her entry fee and run the race with her. Every step. I also asked her to pick a day of the week -- except Tuesday because of my Afterwork RunClub commitment -- and I would accompany her on that day's scheduled mileage. That day is still up for discussion. Her next question: do I have to give up drinking?
M has been complaining about her weight (she's not fat, not even close, but don't ever try to rationalize weight with any woman), and how she doesn't want to spend (waste?) money on a gym membership. So she's been bugging me about taking her running because she's seen me gradually morph into a "skinny minny". And she was really proud of me, cheering me on in Chicago, and I think deep down, she probably wants to experience that kind of runner's high of her own, her own seemingly impossible achievement to call a victory. And hence me pushing her, via Christmas gift the season of giving, to run by investing in her. Quality sister time coming up next year. We'll start with a trip to the local shoe store in the new year to get her proper running shoes.
So, the choice of races I threw at her were partly selfish on my part, I admit. It's a sneak peek into my 2007 Race Calendar because I'm thinking I'll do all three, or at least Choices 1 and 2. I'm 95-percent ready to commit to a Big Race but not quite ready to admit it yet. Maybe in a couple of days when I'm really comfortable about declaring something.
Originally, I was going to just sign her up for the October race, figuring nearly 300 days to train for a 10K would be more than enough for her. But maybe she would step up to the challenge of a spring race?
So, I offered up my favorite spring 10K, Sporting Life,because it's the fastest, possibly the easiest course -- all downhill! I've done this two years in a row. And then there's the Zoo Run in October. Partly because I think it'd be fun to run around the zoo. And also because she loves animals. Free admission to the zoo after the run. That's awesome! (We'll smell like the animals anyway, won't we?)
And I chose the May 27 race because it coincides with a possible spring half-mary I'm considering in our nation's capital, Ottawa. Road trip! Apart from a marathon and half-marathon option, there's also 5K, 10K races too, and even a 2K. (I suggested she could register for the 2K to see what racing is like in a very achievable distance for her to aim for, boost the confidence, that kind of thing. Then we could graduate to a 5 or 10K race. Because although I had run all of 3 races -- an 8K, and two 10Ks, sprinkled among very inconsistent efforts in building mileage -- before I flippantly decided to go the distance and run a full marathon-- my sister is not me: ie: crazy.) She has time to learn how to run, ease her way through a training program, maybe starting in March after her birthday. Or start in the summer when the weather's good. She'll be more than ready to tackle a 10K by October. I know it.
M sent me a short email today, saying: "I just wanted to thank you again for the present... it's a great motivator and I'm definitely going to do it! It'll be a really great experience and finally force me to stop complaining and get me off my butt. You rock! Thanks, dude. And see you out on the street!"
Next step: get her into the blogosphere too.
Choices:She read it three or four times. Maybe she thought we were going on a trip. In some ways we are.
1. May 6, 2007
2. May 27, 2007
3. Oct. 13, 2007
You can do it. I'll be there every step of the way!
I handed her a second envelope. It contained printouts to Hal Higdon's 10K program and also his beginner 30/30 program (30 minutes of exercise for 30 days). Then I told her the dates in the first card were for her choice of a 10K race. Whichever one she chose, I would pay her entry fee and run the race with her. Every step. I also asked her to pick a day of the week -- except Tuesday because of my Afterwork RunClub commitment -- and I would accompany her on that day's scheduled mileage. That day is still up for discussion. Her next question: do I have to give up drinking?
M has been complaining about her weight (she's not fat, not even close, but don't ever try to rationalize weight with any woman), and how she doesn't want to spend (waste?) money on a gym membership. So she's been bugging me about taking her running because she's seen me gradually morph into a "skinny minny". And she was really proud of me, cheering me on in Chicago, and I think deep down, she probably wants to experience that kind of runner's high of her own, her own seemingly impossible achievement to call a victory. And hence me pushing her, via Christmas gift the season of giving, to run by investing in her. Quality sister time coming up next year. We'll start with a trip to the local shoe store in the new year to get her proper running shoes.
So, the choice of races I threw at her were partly selfish on my part, I admit. It's a sneak peek into my 2007 Race Calendar because I'm thinking I'll do all three, or at least Choices 1 and 2. I'm 95-percent ready to commit to a Big Race but not quite ready to admit it yet. Maybe in a couple of days when I'm really comfortable about declaring something.
Originally, I was going to just sign her up for the October race, figuring nearly 300 days to train for a 10K would be more than enough for her. But maybe she would step up to the challenge of a spring race?
So, I offered up my favorite spring 10K, Sporting Life,because it's the fastest, possibly the easiest course -- all downhill! I've done this two years in a row. And then there's the Zoo Run in October. Partly because I think it'd be fun to run around the zoo. And also because she loves animals. Free admission to the zoo after the run. That's awesome! (We'll smell like the animals anyway, won't we?)
And I chose the May 27 race because it coincides with a possible spring half-mary I'm considering in our nation's capital, Ottawa. Road trip! Apart from a marathon and half-marathon option, there's also 5K, 10K races too, and even a 2K. (I suggested she could register for the 2K to see what racing is like in a very achievable distance for her to aim for, boost the confidence, that kind of thing. Then we could graduate to a 5 or 10K race. Because although I had run all of 3 races -- an 8K, and two 10Ks, sprinkled among very inconsistent efforts in building mileage -- before I flippantly decided to go the distance and run a full marathon-- my sister is not me: ie: crazy.) She has time to learn how to run, ease her way through a training program, maybe starting in March after her birthday. Or start in the summer when the weather's good. She'll be more than ready to tackle a 10K by October. I know it.
M sent me a short email today, saying: "I just wanted to thank you again for the present... it's a great motivator and I'm definitely going to do it! It'll be a really great experience and finally force me to stop complaining and get me off my butt. You rock! Thanks, dude. And see you out on the street!"
Next step: get her into the blogosphere too.
Thursday, December 28
Quick 5K
I went for a run after work today, as planned. L, the only other member of this Afterwork RunClub, and I went out for the second day in a row. We were going to do the same route as yestereday, but a last-minute schedule change forced us to cut the distance to 5K. Just as well because my legs felt like lead today. Maybe those epsom salts, which are supposed to ease muscle tension, don't work. Then I picked up my race packet for this Sunday's 5K Resolution Run, which included this sleek running vest and a running cap.
Wednesday, December 27
ARC is back in session
Afterwork RunClub resumed today after a brief hiatus last week due to laziness on my part, and sickness on my Running Partner's part. A 5-mi run through the largely deserted streets of downtown Toronto. Guess we were among the few that had to work today while everyone else was still spending their gift cards. I can't complain though, I was off the last seven days, burning through a chunk of vacation time with nowhere to go.
We struggled a bit at the start, then L found some kind of holiday guilt-induced speed because she was hopping along swiftly and I was having trouble keeping up with her. I hadn't stretched enough following the Christmas Day Run I think so I was feeling it a bit too. Plus I was up late last night and hadn't gotten enough sleep. All that equals sluggishness. Still.. we finished earlier than we thought we would, which makes us think maybe we should have done our usual 10K goal distance.
We're going to go again tomorrow.
And I had a good long Epsom salt bath. I'm ready to go again.
We struggled a bit at the start, then L found some kind of holiday guilt-induced speed because she was hopping along swiftly and I was having trouble keeping up with her. I hadn't stretched enough following the Christmas Day Run I think so I was feeling it a bit too. Plus I was up late last night and hadn't gotten enough sleep. All that equals sluggishness. Still.. we finished earlier than we thought we would, which makes us think maybe we should have done our usual 10K goal distance.
We're going to go again tomorrow.
And I had a good long Epsom salt bath. I'm ready to go again.
Redesign
Welcome to Jelly's redesigned blog. It was time. This whole project began as a motivational tool -- to make myself accountable to me (everything looks more "official" if it's on paper, even virtually) during my quest to complete the 2006 Chicago Marathon.
And now that I've accomplished that, I am still asking myself what's next. I have a few ideas but not willing to put them out here yet (because then it'll be "official", savvy?) I have said that I would consider repeating Chicago next year but now I am also toying with the idea of another city for various reasons.
But in case I do not chase that "26.2-mile Goal" again, I thought it would more honest to rename this space. And change the aesthestics while I was doing a rethink. Plus move over to this beta business (fingers crossed I don't become one of those betavictims I've been reading about elsewhere). And frankly, the pink was getting to be a bit much, even for me. So now there's less pink. But still the same content. It's about my running life. (And in some stretches... the lack of one! ... there's that honesty again.)
But.I.Will.Still.Run. It's part of my life.
There's it's official.
And now that I've accomplished that, I am still asking myself what's next. I have a few ideas but not willing to put them out here yet (because then it'll be "official", savvy?) I have said that I would consider repeating Chicago next year but now I am also toying with the idea of another city for various reasons.
But in case I do not chase that "26.2-mile Goal" again, I thought it would more honest to rename this space. And change the aesthestics while I was doing a rethink. Plus move over to this beta business (fingers crossed I don't become one of those betavictims I've been reading about elsewhere). And frankly, the pink was getting to be a bit much, even for me. So now there's less pink. But still the same content. It's about my running life. (And in some stretches... the lack of one! ... there's that honesty again.)
But.I.Will.Still.Run. It's part of my life.
There's it's official.
Tuesday, December 26
It's here! But.....
The good: My marathon plaque arrived just in time for Christmas as I hoped. Notice I got myself another medal!The bad: It's in Kentucky (Since it's free shipping only to US addresses my sister and brother-in-law said they'd be happy to pick it up for me when they were there for Christmas with his folks.)
The ugly: It's imperfect!It's definitely going back to the manufacturer. Maybe they'll ship it to me here in Canada for free... you know, for the inconvenience of waiting even longer now.
Monday, December 25
A Jolly Jelly Christmas
Before I stuffed myself with all the good (read: high caloric) food on this day, I convinced myself to go for a run. Not because of my mad lib of a holiday poem the other day. Okay, maybe a little. But I had to today of all days, because really, I went to the trouble of packing my running gear... because the only activities planned for the estimated next 12 hours I'd likely be spending at the family homestead were playing Trivial Pursuit (Millenium Edition or Pop Culture 2 were the choices) and gorging. And since I'd mapped out a shorty 5K course for myself this morning... well... that's just premeditation.
I'd passed up too many "good" running days this past week despite my best intentions. The Tuesday Afterwork RunClub was canceled too, and I never made up that mileage. It's not on tomorrow either -- it's still a public holiday in Canada -- but the plan is to go on Wednesday instead when my regular work schedule resumes (boooooo!). So anyways, when I announced to my parents I was going for a run before our guests were arriving in the late afternoon, my dad was all to eager to go too. He dragged out his bike and introduced me to usual neighborhood route. It's a route that winds its ways through the newish park behind the house, past my old primary school, past the houses of friends from Grade 3 whose names I barely remember, around the newer development where there were once hydro fields. My dad usually does this route about 8 times on his bike. Today we would do four variations of this route. I wished I had brought my Garmin with me for an accurate reading. We were out for about an hour so I figure we covered about 10K. I felt strong the entire time. And then we opened presents when we got back.
Merry Christmas, Festivus, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Monday to all!
I'd passed up too many "good" running days this past week despite my best intentions. The Tuesday Afterwork RunClub was canceled too, and I never made up that mileage. It's not on tomorrow either -- it's still a public holiday in Canada -- but the plan is to go on Wednesday instead when my regular work schedule resumes (boooooo!). So anyways, when I announced to my parents I was going for a run before our guests were arriving in the late afternoon, my dad was all to eager to go too. He dragged out his bike and introduced me to usual neighborhood route. It's a route that winds its ways through the newish park behind the house, past my old primary school, past the houses of friends from Grade 3 whose names I barely remember, around the newer development where there were once hydro fields. My dad usually does this route about 8 times on his bike. Today we would do four variations of this route. I wished I had brought my Garmin with me for an accurate reading. We were out for about an hour so I figure we covered about 10K. I felt strong the entire time. And then we opened presents when we got back.
Merry Christmas, Festivus, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Monday to all!
Saturday, December 23
A Holiday Poem
Oh the weather outside is frightful
And it's making running quite a handful
Even if it's windy, rainy, or there is snow
Jelly go! Jelly go! Jelly go!
Christmas mania is fully hopping
But that doesnt mean the mileage should be a-stopping
After presents are wrapped and topped with bows
Jelly go! Jelly go! Jelly go!
All we can do is try again next week
A smart and structured plan is all I seek
And the Resolution Run is apropos,
Jelly go! Jelly go! Jelly go!
And it's making running quite a handful
Even if it's windy, rainy, or there is snow
Jelly go! Jelly go! Jelly go!
Christmas mania is fully hopping
But that doesnt mean the mileage should be a-stopping
After presents are wrapped and topped with bows
Jelly go! Jelly go! Jelly go!
All we can do is try again next week
A smart and structured plan is all I seek
And the Resolution Run is apropos,
Jelly go! Jelly go! Jelly go!
Sunday, December 17
Banner week
It's been a good week for running. Not once, but twice, I put together back-to-back outings. The weather was simply too good to pass up and I'm sure we'll get hit hard eventually, but as I've said all week -- taking advantage! I got out for an easy 5K yesterday afternoon. Just a steady trip around the neighborhood with the intention of doubling that distance with the Sunday running group.
So this morning I rolled out of bed and saw grey sky. But it was a balmy 10C and within half an hour I was ready to go. I arrived at the meeting spot and found out there was a 10K race this morning. I wasn't about to register -- mostly because I had no cash or credit with me. And I didn't want to race today. Or did I?
Luckily there were still a couple of groups going out today. The half-marathon group was doing 13K today, but I didn't like the route they were doing. So I went with the 5K group that was doing a 5-1/2K route. Good enough, I thought. Five of us ventured out. They were a beginner group, having just graduated from the "learn to run" program. They were nice and chatty the entire way. About halfway, one of them noticed my longsleeve shirt -- my Chicago marathon souvenir.
Today's Running Partner: Did you run that?
Me: Yes. It was awesome. I highly recommend it if or when you choose to run one.
Today's Running Partner, in awe: What are you doing running with us then?!
Me: I'm not training for anything. This is maintenance, and frankly, I'm not even sure I can call it that since I run so sporadically these days.
Today's Running Partner: We just started running like six weeks ago.
Me: Well, you're doing quite well. I started a year ago.
Today's Running Partner: What do you mean you ran a marathon after just one year? Are we holding you back?
Me: Trust me... you guys are more my pace. And yes, I'm a little off my tree for jumping straight for the marathon -- though I did my first half-mary leading up to the big race. I picked an online plan and stuck as honestly as I could to it. It seemed to work, but it was hard. No doubt. But so worth it.
Okay.. so they were slightly slower than my slowest comfortable pace, but I remember back in the day when I struggled with the faster kids. I still do. But they were a fun group. We reached home base and stretched out a little bit.
And then I was feeling a little bit unfulfilled. Because I guess I had come into today with the intention of running at least 10K. So after the group left, I jogged back down to the boardwalk and did another 6K by myself. I thought about doing the same course we had just finished, but in reverse. Then I crossed paths with some of the 10K racers who were making the last turn to the finish line. I cheered a few of them on, and then maybe I somehow fell into race mode, because I zeroed in on couple of runners down the road from me and I desperately wanted to catch them.
I caught one, and by the time I reached the next runner, we were within sight of the finish line. So I just ran beside him, encouraging him to push it just a little bit more. Someone yelled "three minutes!" ... and I realized that as we made the sprint through the finish line, that had meant 3 minutes before the clock hit the 1-hr mark. It was kind of neat to hear people cheering at the end of your run, even if it wasn't really for you since you weren't part of the race but one can still pretend. I love this community spirit of runners.
So this morning I rolled out of bed and saw grey sky. But it was a balmy 10C and within half an hour I was ready to go. I arrived at the meeting spot and found out there was a 10K race this morning. I wasn't about to register -- mostly because I had no cash or credit with me. And I didn't want to race today. Or did I?
Luckily there were still a couple of groups going out today. The half-marathon group was doing 13K today, but I didn't like the route they were doing. So I went with the 5K group that was doing a 5-1/2K route. Good enough, I thought. Five of us ventured out. They were a beginner group, having just graduated from the "learn to run" program. They were nice and chatty the entire way. About halfway, one of them noticed my longsleeve shirt -- my Chicago marathon souvenir.
Today's Running Partner: Did you run that?
Me: Yes. It was awesome. I highly recommend it if or when you choose to run one.
Today's Running Partner, in awe: What are you doing running with us then?!
Me: I'm not training for anything. This is maintenance, and frankly, I'm not even sure I can call it that since I run so sporadically these days.
Today's Running Partner: We just started running like six weeks ago.
Me: Well, you're doing quite well. I started a year ago.
Today's Running Partner: What do you mean you ran a marathon after just one year? Are we holding you back?
Me: Trust me... you guys are more my pace. And yes, I'm a little off my tree for jumping straight for the marathon -- though I did my first half-mary leading up to the big race. I picked an online plan and stuck as honestly as I could to it. It seemed to work, but it was hard. No doubt. But so worth it.
Okay.. so they were slightly slower than my slowest comfortable pace, but I remember back in the day when I struggled with the faster kids. I still do. But they were a fun group. We reached home base and stretched out a little bit.
And then I was feeling a little bit unfulfilled. Because I guess I had come into today with the intention of running at least 10K. So after the group left, I jogged back down to the boardwalk and did another 6K by myself. I thought about doing the same course we had just finished, but in reverse. Then I crossed paths with some of the 10K racers who were making the last turn to the finish line. I cheered a few of them on, and then maybe I somehow fell into race mode, because I zeroed in on couple of runners down the road from me and I desperately wanted to catch them.
I caught one, and by the time I reached the next runner, we were within sight of the finish line. So I just ran beside him, encouraging him to push it just a little bit more. Someone yelled "three minutes!" ... and I realized that as we made the sprint through the finish line, that had meant 3 minutes before the clock hit the 1-hr mark. It was kind of neat to hear people cheering at the end of your run, even if it wasn't really for you since you weren't part of the race but one can still pretend. I love this community spirit of runners.
Wednesday, December 13
Taking advantage
I haven't actually closely looked to confirm, but I think this is the first back-to-back run I've put together since training for Chicago. Because L and I fell short of our goal distance of 10K yesterday, we decided we'd lug our gear into work and try to go out again, particularly since the weather seemed to be going in our favor -- we couldn't pass up these opportunities. It turned out to be a gorgeous afternoon, as the sun peeked out after a morning drizzle. But by the time we started, the sun was going to bed and it was a little bit cooler than expected. Still, we set out with a newly-designed, and fingers-crossed safer, 5-mile route through some residential areas. It turned out to be very safe, not highly lit, but without too many pedestrians or cars to dodge. We very much enjoyed today's run and I also felt much more swift-footed than usual.
And of course, this made the party I went to after the run much more guilt-free! Oh rewards.
And of course, this made the party I went to after the run much more guilt-free! Oh rewards.
Danger Tuesday
I haven't quit running but I'm certainly not keeping up with my plan. (I haven't even been keeping up with the happenings of the blogosphere. Apparently I have some 346 posts to read....) Best laid plans just became an afterthought sometimes, especially during the holiday season. I've hosted two parties on consecutive weekends, and attended three others in the past two weeks. At least three more to go. So I now confess I feel a little bit of that normal holiday guilt as I've ingested far more cheese puffs, crab cakes, and glasses of festive cheer than made efforts to get in some miles.
But I'm happy to report that Afterwork RunClub is still going strong. At least I'm sticking to that. And even though I took a vacation day on a Tuesday last week, I went downtown and met up with L and we did our 10K. And I managed another 4mi that same week, the first time I'd stepped on a treadmill in a long while.
L and I were a bit short on our goal distance yesterday, completing 8.4K (5.2mi) because we started later than we wanted. We ran a pretty good clip even though we were going against the wind. And not once, but twice, my running partner nearly got clipped by idiotic rush hour drivers. Impatient drivers who are making turns but don't check both ways before surging into their turns. Admittedly, L isn't wearing the most reflective clothing -- and we were talking about that moments before the first incident -- but that doesn't excuse the driver from not looking both ways. I think she was a little shaken up by it but we didn't slow down -- we were about 1K from home base.
And then it nearly happened again. Another jerkass driver was making a left and tried to squeeze through the throng of pedestrians. Ridiculous.
We've been blessed by good weather (ie: no snow, no ice, warm by winter standards -- go global warming!) so "winter" running has been surprisingly enjoyable. Can't wait til the weather turns and we still have silly drivers. We might have to reconsider some of our routes.
But I'm happy to report that Afterwork RunClub is still going strong. At least I'm sticking to that. And even though I took a vacation day on a Tuesday last week, I went downtown and met up with L and we did our 10K. And I managed another 4mi that same week, the first time I'd stepped on a treadmill in a long while.
L and I were a bit short on our goal distance yesterday, completing 8.4K (5.2mi) because we started later than we wanted. We ran a pretty good clip even though we were going against the wind. And not once, but twice, my running partner nearly got clipped by idiotic rush hour drivers. Impatient drivers who are making turns but don't check both ways before surging into their turns. Admittedly, L isn't wearing the most reflective clothing -- and we were talking about that moments before the first incident -- but that doesn't excuse the driver from not looking both ways. I think she was a little shaken up by it but we didn't slow down -- we were about 1K from home base.
And then it nearly happened again. Another jerkass driver was making a left and tried to squeeze through the throng of pedestrians. Ridiculous.
We've been blessed by good weather (ie: no snow, no ice, warm by winter standards -- go global warming!) so "winter" running has been surprisingly enjoyable. Can't wait til the weather turns and we still have silly drivers. We might have to reconsider some of our routes.
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