Funny, taking nearly the past two weeks off for film festival fun/work hasn't affected me. I didn't know if I could handle 15K today but it turned out to be... comfortable. I don't want to say easy, because it took some concentration. I met up with Frankie this morning, and truth be told it's a good thing both of us had agreed to this because neither of us would've run the way we ran together. That is, we made it through the entire distance with five small walking breaks over the 1:41 we were out. I don't know who was more surprised by that -- me or him, because the last time it was just the two of us, I nearly died. It was pre-Chicago and we did 7mi -- way more than I could handle, and mostly because I ran at Frankie's pace, not mine -- through my least favorite part of the waterfront, otherwise known as The Spit (one of the Toronto marathon routes goes through this, which is a key reason I won't run this one. Ever.)
Today was different. I am a stronger runner (comparatively to a year-and-a-half ago) and Frankie is less focused on training. Not to say he hasn't been training, but that the intensity has been reduced. Which means it was a comfortable run.
We had planned our route to coincide with Yumke, who was doing 17 miles. We tried to guess at which point we'd see him.. on our way out to Humber Bridge? On the way back? Before the country club? The pool? All these landmarks we passed and not once did Yumke cross our paths. Turns out he slept through our run. He deserves a bit of sleeping in.
I feel a bit more at ease after today's run. I'm not sure I could've run another 6K today without difficulty, but I'm definitely less worried about the half-mary in two weeks.
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Sunday, September 16
Tuesday, August 7
Warning: Slew of bad subheads below
Twosday: It was starting to rain by the time RunClub was supposed to convene today. Which was convenient because neither of me nor L were particularly in the mood to go out today. And even though I said to her that I wouldn't go to the gym, that decision stuck for about 5 mins. Strangely I veered towards the gym, a place I haven't seen in about two months, immediately after leaving The Office. I have been missing out on my favorite Tuesday body sculpt class in favor of RunClub so I didn't want to pass up this rare opportunity. To kill time before class, I treadmilled it, getting through nearly 2mi before class. Then a whole class of ab work and a particular focus on arms today. It wasn't enough. I ran a second time, putting up 3mi while watching a cooking show about French bistro food (steak au poivre with mushrooms, au gratin potatoes, and French onion soup... mmmmm) and then half a show on low-fat muffins (not as interested).
Week in review:
Wilting Wednesday, Torrid Thursday: Having ignored the heat alert last Tuesday, decided to just take it easy.
Friday Footslog- I'm going to count towards my mileage (not that I have a year-to-date count) my 7.8K walk home from work. I don't know what motivated me to do it; maybe I had already decided it was too hot to run. Besides I had nothing else planned heading into the long weekend. It took two hours and change because I stopped in a few stores along the way (mostly for an A/C break, not because I was actually interested in any of the wares).
Saturday Sloth - Good intentions to go in the morning, bad execution. No go. But had a really nice Chinese lunch with Yumke, then had a 3-hour nap before getting up to go eat with my parents.
Bourne to run Sunday - Managed to convince myself to squeeze in a 5K between a matinee showing of The Bourne Ultimatum and making a big pot of spaghetti bolognese for KidSis who was sleeping over.
Manic Monday - Public holiday here. I repeated what I did Saturday. Which is to say I did nothing requiring running shoes. There was nothing manic about Monday, to be honest. But there were waffles.
Week in review:
Wilting Wednesday, Torrid Thursday: Having ignored the heat alert last Tuesday, decided to just take it easy.
Friday Footslog- I'm going to count towards my mileage (not that I have a year-to-date count) my 7.8K walk home from work. I don't know what motivated me to do it; maybe I had already decided it was too hot to run. Besides I had nothing else planned heading into the long weekend. It took two hours and change because I stopped in a few stores along the way (mostly for an A/C break, not because I was actually interested in any of the wares).
Saturday Sloth - Good intentions to go in the morning, bad execution. No go. But had a really nice Chinese lunch with Yumke, then had a 3-hour nap before getting up to go eat with my parents.
Bourne to run Sunday - Managed to convince myself to squeeze in a 5K between a matinee showing of The Bourne Ultimatum and making a big pot of spaghetti bolognese for KidSis who was sleeping over.
Manic Monday - Public holiday here. I repeated what I did Saturday. Which is to say I did nothing requiring running shoes. There was nothing manic about Monday, to be honest. But there were waffles.
Monday, July 30
Thai-ered out and all that jazz
I went to my favorite Thai restaurant on Friday night (an old university haunt) and instead of having one of my usual favorites, golden curry chicken, I tried something new... fish with mango sauce. As well as shared in the fish hotpot, an emerald curry, and duck in red curry sauce. On Saturday afternoon, I biked to the beach to meet up with Dad, have coffee and partake in the annual jazz festival at the beach. Then went back later that night with CMan to listen to more groovy tunes and eat pad thai among the throng.
All this means, in my usual roundabout way in making excuses, is that I didn't make it to that free tune up run I'd been planning, the one that coincided with the jazzfest. I'd signed up for the 20K distance. By Monday afternoon, I had downgraded to 10K, feeling that was more manageable by myself. By Thursday, my sister had decided that she would be lucky to complete 5K, having not run for a few weeks and still getting over a cough. By Saturday night, before I went to bed, I had decided I'd run my own tune up run. Well I didn't.
As I was stifling yawns at the Office today, I was thinking about not running and leaving it til Tuesday's AfterRunclub session. Grasshopper had other ideas. Having not done anything in a week, I figured that was just the kick in the butt that I needed. It turns out this well-meaning plan didn't work out timing-wise between us. About 10 minutes after the cancellation call, where I'd said I wasn't going to bother, I had a change of heart. I put my shoes on and ran what was probably my fastest 5K (31:16) since the Resolution Run on New Year's Eve. I wonder if this will come back to bite me tomorrow when I try to keep up with WheatiesWoman (my new nickname for Tuesday running partner. Unbeknownst to her, of course)
Welcome back: Bob, the chairman of the 2006 Chicago Marathon blog group who has a penchant for kind words and partial to haikus, is sort of back. Can't wait to hear what he's been up to. Spontaneous haiku in his honor.
Bob from Wisconsin
I so missed the dog and blog
I am so giddy
All this means, in my usual roundabout way in making excuses, is that I didn't make it to that free tune up run I'd been planning, the one that coincided with the jazzfest. I'd signed up for the 20K distance. By Monday afternoon, I had downgraded to 10K, feeling that was more manageable by myself. By Thursday, my sister had decided that she would be lucky to complete 5K, having not run for a few weeks and still getting over a cough. By Saturday night, before I went to bed, I had decided I'd run my own tune up run. Well I didn't.
As I was stifling yawns at the Office today, I was thinking about not running and leaving it til Tuesday's AfterRunclub session. Grasshopper had other ideas. Having not done anything in a week, I figured that was just the kick in the butt that I needed. It turns out this well-meaning plan didn't work out timing-wise between us. About 10 minutes after the cancellation call, where I'd said I wasn't going to bother, I had a change of heart. I put my shoes on and ran what was probably my fastest 5K (31:16) since the Resolution Run on New Year's Eve. I wonder if this will come back to bite me tomorrow when I try to keep up with WheatiesWoman (my new nickname for Tuesday running partner. Unbeknownst to her, of course)
Welcome back: Bob, the chairman of the 2006 Chicago Marathon blog group who has a penchant for kind words and partial to haikus, is sort of back. Can't wait to hear what he's been up to. Spontaneous haiku in his honor.
Bob from Wisconsin
I so missed the dog and blog
I am so giddy
Friday, January 12
Sure thing
Sure it would have been easier to ignore the heavy eyelids in favor of going home for a nap. Sure it would have been easier to go home and spend the night catching up on TV I missed all week. Sure it would have been easier to just forgo the plan of working out after work. Sure I could have said I didn't want to run in the rain.
Sure, stupid guilt gets me all the time.
So, I went to the gym. I ran for time instead of miles on the treadmill, reading the scrolling news headlines the entire time. Found out that Justin and Cameron have confirmed their breakup, and that the Maple Leafs beat Buffalo last night. Eventually logged 3 miles in 37 minutes, with about 5 minutes to rest before BOSU class -- which has some cardio, balance, core strengthening exercises using this half-ball contraption. Such a great overall workout. I used to go every Friday for awhile, but that was before training for Chicago had begun. And then Fridays became "rest days" and I didn't do anything except eat spaghetti and go to bed early in preparation for the big long run on Saturday mornings. But since it's winter and I have a "casual training" schedule going on, I'm trying to incorporate strength training back into my life.
That way I'll be stronger for my next marathon.
Now that's a sure thing.
Sure, stupid guilt gets me all the time.
So, I went to the gym. I ran for time instead of miles on the treadmill, reading the scrolling news headlines the entire time. Found out that Justin and Cameron have confirmed their breakup, and that the Maple Leafs beat Buffalo last night. Eventually logged 3 miles in 37 minutes, with about 5 minutes to rest before BOSU class -- which has some cardio, balance, core strengthening exercises using this half-ball contraption. Such a great overall workout. I used to go every Friday for awhile, but that was before training for Chicago had begun. And then Fridays became "rest days" and I didn't do anything except eat spaghetti and go to bed early in preparation for the big long run on Saturday mornings. But since it's winter and I have a "casual training" schedule going on, I'm trying to incorporate strength training back into my life.
That way I'll be stronger for my next marathon.
Now that's a sure thing.
Monday, January 1
The year that was, the year that will
2006 Review (the year of personal bests):
5K: 27:19
10K: 59:48
*this race completed 8 days before I would enter the blogosphere in May, so no race report available. But having raced this particular distance for the first time in 2005, my second race ever, I can say that I took almost a minute off my time in this distance last year. My favorite spring race handsdown. After this race, I really buckled down and started to get focused on what needed to be done to get myself to the finish line in Chicago.
Half-marathon: 2:18:40, the dress rehearsal to the big show.
Marathon: 5:20:26. What else can I say about this? This was the overarching goal of the year. And while the goal was to complete the distance, a funny thing happened on the way: I found that I was capable of discipline, discovered and lived the cliche of where there's a will there's a way, trusted in a plan, made new friends, deepened existing friendships, understood sacrifice. Do I want to do it again? Sign me up.
Mileage (since keeping track from May 15): 510.95mi/822.3K. Back in November when I was thinking about the next course of action, I made up an 18-week plan that included a mix of running and strength exercises, plus room for other cardio. So far, I've failed miserably on that plan, except for sticking to the Tuesday afterwork run. Had I kept up with this plan, I might have topped 1,000Ks for the year. I shouldn't be disappointed because this is still the most running I've ever done in my life. Anyways, I'm sure I ran 177.7Ks in the five months before I started keeping track!
2007 Hopes and Dreams
I want to wish everyone a happy new year and hopes for a strong year of running. I look forward to reading up on everyone's progress and thought processes. (I like to know that I'm not alone in some of my neuroses, for example.)
Also last year, I learned I'm not addicted to running, but I sure do like it enough to carry on. I'm looking to run at least one race in each of the four distances I did last year and to set new PRs in all of them. I know I have lots of room for improvement, knowing what I know now and knowing I can learn even more.
Goals (not an exhaustive list, but things that have been occupying my mind):
1. Partner up: I started running again with the Sunday group intermittently in the second half of the marathon training after having a disastrous experience early on. And I could feel that I tried harder every time I had someone to keep up with, or in some cases, set the pace. Same with the Tuesday Afterwork RunClub. I know it is making a difference in the effort I bring. I will continue to seek partnerships but keep in mind that a solo run is also good, sometimes necessary, for the soul.
2. Training: Step it up a notch. Throw in some of those fancy things I mostly ignored the first time around. That means putting some time into hills, speedwork, strength and endurance. Maybe graduate to Higdon's intermediate plan.
3. Race declarations: A couple of days ago, I offered a sneak peek of which races I'll do this year. I'm more or less committed to those. I think the May half-marathon in Ottawa will provide some real focus over the winter and early spring months. I'll probably sign up again for the Scotiabank half-marathon in the fall as well, partly because I like the course, and partly because the timing is good.
My sister has chosen the May 10K so I guess that race distance is confirmed too. I may do the October ZooRun anyway but I have to see how the timing interferes/helps with one more race, one I have been holding back on, The Big One. The marathon.
Yup. I said it. Another marathon. Because one wasn't enough.
I am aiming to do "The People's Marathon", the MCM, on Oct. 28.
In part because my dear friend R is moving to DC soon (that means a free couch to stay on! )
In part because I know a couple of others who did Chicago last year are also headed that way. In part because there are parts of DC I haven't seen yet.
But mostly: Because I can.
5K: 27:19
10K: 59:48
*this race completed 8 days before I would enter the blogosphere in May, so no race report available. But having raced this particular distance for the first time in 2005, my second race ever, I can say that I took almost a minute off my time in this distance last year. My favorite spring race handsdown. After this race, I really buckled down and started to get focused on what needed to be done to get myself to the finish line in Chicago.
Half-marathon: 2:18:40, the dress rehearsal to the big show.
Marathon: 5:20:26. What else can I say about this? This was the overarching goal of the year. And while the goal was to complete the distance, a funny thing happened on the way: I found that I was capable of discipline, discovered and lived the cliche of where there's a will there's a way, trusted in a plan, made new friends, deepened existing friendships, understood sacrifice. Do I want to do it again? Sign me up.
Mileage (since keeping track from May 15): 510.95mi/822.3K. Back in November when I was thinking about the next course of action, I made up an 18-week plan that included a mix of running and strength exercises, plus room for other cardio. So far, I've failed miserably on that plan, except for sticking to the Tuesday afterwork run. Had I kept up with this plan, I might have topped 1,000Ks for the year. I shouldn't be disappointed because this is still the most running I've ever done in my life. Anyways, I'm sure I ran 177.7Ks in the five months before I started keeping track!
2007 Hopes and Dreams
I want to wish everyone a happy new year and hopes for a strong year of running. I look forward to reading up on everyone's progress and thought processes. (I like to know that I'm not alone in some of my neuroses, for example.)
Also last year, I learned I'm not addicted to running, but I sure do like it enough to carry on. I'm looking to run at least one race in each of the four distances I did last year and to set new PRs in all of them. I know I have lots of room for improvement, knowing what I know now and knowing I can learn even more.
Goals (not an exhaustive list, but things that have been occupying my mind):
1. Partner up: I started running again with the Sunday group intermittently in the second half of the marathon training after having a disastrous experience early on. And I could feel that I tried harder every time I had someone to keep up with, or in some cases, set the pace. Same with the Tuesday Afterwork RunClub. I know it is making a difference in the effort I bring. I will continue to seek partnerships but keep in mind that a solo run is also good, sometimes necessary, for the soul.
2. Training: Step it up a notch. Throw in some of those fancy things I mostly ignored the first time around. That means putting some time into hills, speedwork, strength and endurance. Maybe graduate to Higdon's intermediate plan.
3. Race declarations: A couple of days ago, I offered a sneak peek of which races I'll do this year. I'm more or less committed to those. I think the May half-marathon in Ottawa will provide some real focus over the winter and early spring months. I'll probably sign up again for the Scotiabank half-marathon in the fall as well, partly because I like the course, and partly because the timing is good.
My sister has chosen the May 10K so I guess that race distance is confirmed too. I may do the October ZooRun anyway but I have to see how the timing interferes/helps with one more race, one I have been holding back on, The Big One. The marathon.
Yup. I said it. Another marathon. Because one wasn't enough.
I am aiming to do "The People's Marathon", the MCM, on Oct. 28.
In part because my dear friend R is moving to DC soon (that means a free couch to stay on! )
In part because I know a couple of others who did Chicago last year are also headed that way. In part because there are parts of DC I haven't seen yet.
But mostly: Because I can.
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