1. Seven hours of sleep
2. 7K run with sister M and her husband along the boardwalk at Ashbridges Bay
3. 7:23/km average pace
4. At least 7 great dim sum dishes for lunch with R and Yumke
5. 7.4K walk from downtown Chinatown to Beach
6. 7:30 tip-off: Raptors vs Nets
7. 7 days to massage
Sunday, April 29
Thursday, April 26
Unprepared?
Stop me if you've heard this one before: I haven't been putting much effort into running consistently. Again. I haven't been keeping good records, but I think it's safe to say maybe I've gotten two efforts done in 11 days. (Not to say I've been totally lazy. Still choosing to do other activities -- like I dragged my bike out to start commuting to work this way again. Yes, all of twice so far).
I was cooped up inside a hotel during the most gorgeous spring weekend yet. I managed to get one run in -- after a panicked call to my sister, who happened to be just getting ready to go for a jog with our cousin. I made them wait for me, knowing it would take me an hour to drive across the area code in rush hour. I definitely pushed the pace on my poor family, but I figure they're better for it.
I think perhaps my sister has been the most consistent of the three of us, which she may find completely unbelievable, but more than likely true. She told me she's been running her two miles, and on consecutive days. She's not sticking to a plan, per se, but I guess at least she's active. She has yet to actually do a "long run" so I'm worried that the distance come race day will shock her. My cousin says she's having a hard time too -- she's been studying hard lately and hasn't put as much time into running; so she said her last run was the "WORST "5K ever and she couldn't breathe.
Somebody at work asked me how the running was going. Because once you do a marathon and people hear about it, they start to look at you in awe and then think you're some superhumanathlete. I told my colleague that I had become sort of disinterested this winter. But that I hoped things would turn around.
And so. Nine days away from the start line.
This turnaround better come soon.
I was cooped up inside a hotel during the most gorgeous spring weekend yet. I managed to get one run in -- after a panicked call to my sister, who happened to be just getting ready to go for a jog with our cousin. I made them wait for me, knowing it would take me an hour to drive across the area code in rush hour. I definitely pushed the pace on my poor family, but I figure they're better for it.
I think perhaps my sister has been the most consistent of the three of us, which she may find completely unbelievable, but more than likely true. She told me she's been running her two miles, and on consecutive days. She's not sticking to a plan, per se, but I guess at least she's active. She has yet to actually do a "long run" so I'm worried that the distance come race day will shock her. My cousin says she's having a hard time too -- she's been studying hard lately and hasn't put as much time into running; so she said her last run was the "WORST "5K ever and she couldn't breathe.
Somebody at work asked me how the running was going. Because once you do a marathon and people hear about it, they start to look at you in awe and then think you're some superhumanathlete. I told my colleague that I had become sort of disinterested this winter. But that I hoped things would turn around.
And so. Nine days away from the start line.
This turnaround better come soon.
Monday, April 16
Twice inspired
The Holy Grail of marathons happened today. If I was 80 years old, I would've qualified. And yesterday I had finally picked up my marathon plaque, commemorating my achievement at Chicago in October, from my parents place after it spent a good 4 months in a box at my brother-in-law's parents house in Kentucky after it had to be repaired for a very minor chip on the corner.
Of course I was going to run today. (Treadmilled 5K over lunch break. A little bit of a struggle near the end of it -- it's hard for me to maintain a 10-min mile pace. And so I still wonder how I finished 26.2 miles about half a year ago. Seriously.)
Of course I was going to run today. (Treadmilled 5K over lunch break. A little bit of a struggle near the end of it -- it's hard for me to maintain a 10-min mile pace. And so I still wonder how I finished 26.2 miles about half a year ago. Seriously.)
Sunday, April 15
Busy busy busy
Life happens. Since my last post, there's been wedding invitations mailed (and a pile of acceptances sent back), a birth in the family, a dinner club formed, good career days, and a hive of real estate activity (one friend moved, one friend bought, and another couple are looking -- potentially next door -- and all have peppered me with questions about property. For some reason they think I'm like the Donald. I'm not.)
But, this isn't a list of life milestones that I'm using to say it's getting in the way of running. Life is always going to happen and if running is to be a part of it, I have to make it so. My last few posts, though few and far between, have had a decidely negative flavor. I haven't been recording the mileage that I want. I haven't had very many super running days this winter. Chalk it up to laziness? Disinterest? Mild case of the "winter blues"? I'm not sure.
Most of my running hasn't been based on distance this month, and more on getting what I can get done in 30 minutes. Because anything more than 30minutes is driving me crazy on the treadmill. So, I've reincorporated yoga into the mix, some weight training, and found cardio in the stationary bike and rowing machine.
But spring always brings renewal. Turning over of a new leaf and other such cliches may soon apply. My sister arranged for another family run for this weekend. Then she cancelled, citing leg soreness. Then our cousin arrived with her stuff, after two arduous exams, and it was decided that a run was in store -- though the decision to actually go took much longer than that. One reason was because I was going to be left out -- I didn't have my shoes. I told them to go without me.
I drove home. Without hesitation, I immediately changed shoes, found my Garmin and yellow running cap. Out the door within 5 minutes. I briefly wondered if I could run fast enough to head off the girls (I designed their route after all), but figured they had too much lead time on me (and who am I kidding? It's not like I run like a cheetah). In my haste to get out the door, before I had the chance to change my mind, I realized that I had no idea how far I was going, where I was going. All I knew was that I had to be outside. And this non-commital always turns out to be one of the better outings for some reason. I explored the neighborhood to the west of home. And 4.6 miles later, I was at my sister's looking for a Gatorade break. And peanut butter. Life's good.
But, this isn't a list of life milestones that I'm using to say it's getting in the way of running. Life is always going to happen and if running is to be a part of it, I have to make it so. My last few posts, though few and far between, have had a decidely negative flavor. I haven't been recording the mileage that I want. I haven't had very many super running days this winter. Chalk it up to laziness? Disinterest? Mild case of the "winter blues"? I'm not sure.
Most of my running hasn't been based on distance this month, and more on getting what I can get done in 30 minutes. Because anything more than 30minutes is driving me crazy on the treadmill. So, I've reincorporated yoga into the mix, some weight training, and found cardio in the stationary bike and rowing machine.
But spring always brings renewal. Turning over of a new leaf and other such cliches may soon apply. My sister arranged for another family run for this weekend. Then she cancelled, citing leg soreness. Then our cousin arrived with her stuff, after two arduous exams, and it was decided that a run was in store -- though the decision to actually go took much longer than that. One reason was because I was going to be left out -- I didn't have my shoes. I told them to go without me.
I drove home. Without hesitation, I immediately changed shoes, found my Garmin and yellow running cap. Out the door within 5 minutes. I briefly wondered if I could run fast enough to head off the girls (I designed their route after all), but figured they had too much lead time on me (and who am I kidding? It's not like I run like a cheetah). In my haste to get out the door, before I had the chance to change my mind, I realized that I had no idea how far I was going, where I was going. All I knew was that I had to be outside. And this non-commital always turns out to be one of the better outings for some reason. I explored the neighborhood to the west of home. And 4.6 miles later, I was at my sister's looking for a Gatorade break. And peanut butter. Life's good.
Sunday, April 1
April Fool
There's a pretty steady rain today.
Not doing my long run.
Funny, I'm not upset about this.
Not doing my long run.
Funny, I'm not upset about this.
Saturday, March 31
Ugly Four
I somehow pushed out 4mi today. And it was a two-parter. I promised my sister that I'd run with her today. She's was sick earlier this week (she thinks it might have been the protein bar I gave her to try but that's a whole other story) and so we were going to take it easy.
After lunch with our parents, we were dropped off at my house. The plan was that I'd run with her back to her house and then make my way back. That would be a solid 4mi (1 extra mile than scheduled)
But it turned out it was she who was running me to her place. I think she was able to quell her fears that she had lost fitness in her few days off. She was the strong one today. Me, on the other hand, was struggling. Near the end, she opened up a good gap between us, about 15 sidewalk lengths. She fed me some toast, then some Gatorade.
I was replenished enough to make the journey home. So happy to see my front door.
After lunch with our parents, we were dropped off at my house. The plan was that I'd run with her back to her house and then make my way back. That would be a solid 4mi (1 extra mile than scheduled)
But it turned out it was she who was running me to her place. I think she was able to quell her fears that she had lost fitness in her few days off. She was the strong one today. Me, on the other hand, was struggling. Near the end, she opened up a good gap between us, about 15 sidewalk lengths. She fed me some toast, then some Gatorade.
I was replenished enough to make the journey home. So happy to see my front door.
Friday, March 30
Wednesday + Thursday = Friday
Here's the math: No run on Wednesday + No Run on Thursday = No Rest Day on Friday.
Therefore, No 35min tempo on Wednesday + No 3mi on Thursday = 10K on Friday.
But I didn't really do a tempo run either. In fact this was my slowest 10K in quite a while (1:17:20). Also my first 10K in 38 days.
Is it bad that I felt like I wanted to vomit at the end of this? (I didn't)
Therefore, No 35min tempo on Wednesday + No 3mi on Thursday = 10K on Friday.
But I didn't really do a tempo run either. In fact this was my slowest 10K in quite a while (1:17:20). Also my first 10K in 38 days.
Is it bad that I felt like I wanted to vomit at the end of this? (I didn't)
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