The sound of music

I had a eureka! moment. One of the keys to my training is change of scenery. I felt it in Vancouver. Again in Kentucky. Even when I moved house.
And most recently in Algonquin Park.

I thought about this while I trotted beside my dad, who was accompanying me on a bike, on the very flat Old Railway trail adjacent to our camp site on Saturday morning. I ached a little bit from sleeping on the ground, and probably from canoeing the evening before (in lieu of running on Friday, despite what I thought I'd do), and perhaps slightly tired from only 4 hours of sleep. Up at 5:30 a.m., naturally no less, I thought I should get going fairly early since it was forecast to be hot hot hot.
Wolfed down a breakfast of champions: two slices of whole wheat bread with Nutella and a bottle of water.

The legs got moving pretty quickly, surprisingly. My dad rolled on beside me, asking questions about my training so far. In my head, I thought back to last year when we were on the same trail, only both of us were on a bike and I was trying to keep up with him. We'd seen deer last year on this trail and I hoped to see more this year.

This led to an endless loop of "Do a deer a female deer/Re a drop of golden sun/Mi a name I call myself/Fa a long long way to run!"

Over and over and over again. This is what happens when you opt to leave iPod at camp. You risk just singing songs from the Sound of Music to yourself for two hours.



Just short of an hour into the trail, we reached the general store. We needed a few supplies (because Mom is hanging with her dad in Hong Kong, we couldn't handle organizing ourselves and just forgot a few items). I took this opportunity to rest up, and crack open this Clif shot I've been looking forward to seeing what this energy gel can do. I opted for the mocha flavor goo (hadn't had any coffee for a few days). The sticky mess was surprisingly delicious. Followed it with a bottle of water, and said, "okay goo, work your magic."

I'm not sure that it did. I did feel queasy the next two miles after eating this stuff. Instead of just looping back to the camp site on the same trail, my dad and I agreed it might be a smidge shorter if we went on the highway, even if it were a bit more challenging because hills were now involved. And actual speeding traffic. But not being chased by mosquitoes, despite Deet, was good enough reason to turn to highway running.

And then my thoughts turned to images of Terry Fox, arguably one of the greatest Canadians ever, who attempted to run across-Canada to raise money for cancer research, running with only one leg after he had it amputated.
Another inspirational story, and these positive thoughts are good fuel for the mind. And the mocha fuel, I think, may have helped me maintain a non-sluggish pace up and down some pretty decent hills.

Did not see deer/The sun was awesome/I kept telling me to keep going/And I did run far.




When all was said and done, for you statisticians: I completed 13.97km/8.68mi in 1:50:39 (avg pace 7:55/km or 12:45/mi). Upon my return, my sister said I didn't even look tired.

Now that is music to my ears.

Rewarded myself with a nap -- that's the exhausted me in my tent about an hour after run), and a big fat s'more in the evening by the campfire.

The tent is up

Well, not literally. Just figuratively. It's a phrase that two workmates and I use when we're basically done for the day... productivity-wise, and usually in the early half of the workday.

I'll be heading north in a few hours to literally set up my tent, though the figurative expression will not apply to my running plan -- and even though it's TGIF -- ThankGodI'mnotrunningFriday -- I have a feeling the fresh Algonquin Park air and plentiful trees may convince me otherwise. One long run (7mi, according to Hal's plan ... but who knows, I may be inspired to do more.. but I'll be careful, it's a stepback week), a couple of short ones. Will I have enough energy? There's also bike rides and canoeing on tap. And poker. And gel experimentation.

I've resisted using energy gels so far in training during long runs. Not for any particular reason, but others have been expounding the virtues of these small packets of pudding-like energy, so let's give it a whirl. Choices are chocolate or mocha. I also have a packet of Sharkies, ready to go.

Weather looks okay, according to Environment Canada. Just a huge chance of rain on Sunday. I'm communing with the great outdoors for about 48 hours only, but it's nice to get out of the city on any chance.

PS: lest you think I actually set up my tent yesterday, I did go for my first lunchtime run in a long while. 3.5mi on the dreadmill.

Rain rain go away

Oh wait, you never showed up. Skipped the hill training today. In fact, skipped the whole running thing. I secretly wanted it to rain hard like the weatherman predicted it would. It hasn't yet, and I'm feeling slightly guilty.

But, this is offset somewhat by my morning cross-training session on a stationary bike at the gym (just 5mi), and the fact that there's a heat alert declared.
Lots of rain forecast over the next few days. Maybe I'll have to reluctantly take the training back to the dreadmill... until the weekend where I hope to escape the storms that are expected to hit Toronto. I'm going camping this weekend. That means trail running! and outdoor cycling. Trees and fresh air. S'mores.

Can't wait.

Stay away rain, you're on notice.

Double the fun

Funny what can get you motivated sometimes. UltramarathonerBoy and I were talking today in the kitchen at work. He was talking about how he was just getting back into his running regimen with the slightly extra weight he thinks he's carrying. He ran 80 miles last week. That's more than half the mileage I've accumulated in training to date, and that began on May 15th. To which he replied, "ya I'm going to more than double you next week!"
He's aiming to do 100 miles per week, but he's finding that difficult with the shifts he's working, otherwise he'd run twice a day several times a week if he could.

Well, if he can run 80 miles a week, I can run a couple of miles today. I slotted in a toning class after work. And after a couple of errands, then supper, then I managed a steady 2-1/4 miles.

High Five

Sigh, enough with the "high" remarks already. But, I can't resist...

A high five for finishing Week Five. Despite having run just three times this week, I still managed to increase the mileage from the prior week.
Weekly tally: 19.72mi/31.7K
Training-to-date: 154.25mi/248.16K

A high five for not quitting, even though I really wanted to on the hardest training week to date, and knowing the road ahead is not going to be any easier, with barely a third of this 18-week program completed.

A high five for figuring out what minor adjustment needed to be made -- no human running partner -- to be a happy runner again.

On this rest day, I look back at my progress. It's been no easy task so far, but I'm proud of myself for sticking as close to the plan as possible without sacrificing all the other things I enjoy.

I look ahead to the next third of training, with the intention to think or implement these five things, in no particular order, that may help me progress further:

1. Pep talks to self. Maintaining a positive attitude. It's ok to run by myself. In fact, preferable.
2. Better nutrition. I will soon see a dietitian ... not only because my endocrinologist ordered it be so, but because I really need to know how to balance the needs of a diabetic marathoner-in-training.
3. Cross training. I don't care if it's swimming, yoga, or cycling. I just have to be more consistent about it.
4. New shoes. I've put nearly 155 miles on my New Balance 856s, and this is since I've been keeping track. I bought these shoes late last summer. Time for new ones, definitely.
5. Experiment with gels. Apparently these really work.

(s)Mile high

What's this? A smile? This is my thought at Mile 10 today, the end of a 2:09:48 effort that took me from my house, across and through a good stretch of the Beach area-- which was really the happiest part of my run because I passed many another solo runner, and the water view was just perfect. I started later than I wanted, at 8:45AM, despite having awoken two hours earlier.

The runner's high has returned? I stopped on the beachside boardwalk for a break, at exactly the one-hour mark feeling good about myself at what I figured was the halfway point, and for a few minutes watched some kind of Baywatchesque thing going on, a bunch of lifeguards running on the sand in what looked like some kind of competition or training program. I briefly reminisced about the summers during university when I'd skip trying to get newspaper internships and opt to prevent kids from drowning at local pools, or fishing out their vomit. But I digress, as usual.

The second-half route back to my house was more difficult, it was now warmer and uphill. But I made it. I had about 10 minutes to spare before my ride was coming to take me to a birthday party.

I deserve it today.

Guilt-free white chocolate mousse with raspberry filling for birthday cake, as well as the most decadent chocolate swirl brownies that exist... and I also took home some lemon meringue and butter tarts for later consumption.

Not quite a high

But at least it wasn't a low.

I took my first tentative steps back outside today after having a tempetuous tantrum on Wednesday night. Moving has definitely not helped my mindset -- CMan asked me if I was ever going to enjoy the new house because I've been mopey about unpacking; and upset that I haven't been able to make myself a proper meal in days -- and nevermind that we don't even have milk in the fridge yet even for a bowl of Cheerios.

Still, sometimes a good run by yourself, or at least accompanied by some good tunes, will help reset the mind.

I don't know if it's because of the tree-lined streets or if it was because of a fresh rainfall, but the air was very ... clean. And quiet. No real traffic, no fear of being hit by idiot downtown drivers. It was about 20C, and not at all humid or smoggy. I didn't have a distance in mind, just wanted to get the legs moving again. I ran through some of the twisty streets in the neighborhood, noticing that I was moving on a very slight incline through the first 1/2 mile through some of the area streets. Then I coasted down a nice significant downhill -- enjoyed it as much as I could knowing that there was a comparable hill to be climbed on the way back. Winded through a few more streets and found myself on the edge of Little India, which was the sign to make the climb uphill back home.

Time: 29:09.
Distance: 2.42mi.
Headspace: Nothing to complain about.