Monday, June 27, 2011

An unexpected turn of events

For the crazies in our running family they have done night runs from Barrie to Orillia and back to Barrie to condition the runner to be able to run extended distances during the night to simulate the experience they will be having when doing their endurance race.
One of my girls is running her first 100 miler, yes you saw that correctly, in another couple of weeks and along with another runner doing his first 100 miler organized this night run on the rail trail. My concern was that because she’s a “slower” runner that there would be little to no support for her, so Friday morning I started sms’ing with Catherine to find out the logistics of her team. It was just her and Bill & perhaps Chris. The extent of my volunteer was going to be to drive a support vehicle between the concessions to make sure she had everything when she needed it.
As it turned out Bill was driving support on the way up, would I like to run with her. RUN? TO ORILLIA? The most I had done was 21.1 on May 29th. Last week I crawled back up to 18k at a decent training pace. I haven’t done 35 k in a long time…. Sure why not! The worst that could happen was I had to bow out part of the way, but at least she’d have someone, Chris wasn’t going to meet her until part of the way (I found that out later).
It use to be that distance would intimidate me, but on this occasion it did not. So by the afternoon it was decided that I would run up to Orillia on the rail trail with Catherine.
I got home, walked the dogs, couldn’t eat cause I don’t eat before I run, I get indigestion. So I picked up a small Dairy Milk bar & two small(ish) bags of regular chips. I figured they serve them at ultra races, if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me.
I like a salty treat now and again.
We were to meet at Hooter’s and start running around 6pm. Then it changed to 6:30 and then finally at 7:04 Catherine and I started off down the trail. We were gabbing away. It was a glorious evening. Her running strategy was run 5 minutes walk 3 minutes. Okay. I’ll do that. It wasn’t about me. It wasn’t about anyone else but Catherine and getting her to Orillia and back.
The male contingency of crazies was heading off around 8pm – so we expected them to overtake us around 10pm, so with that in mind we continued our 5 & 3’s. Our pace whilst running was a solid 6:13 sometimes even quicker.
Dusk was setting and the rain was gently falling on us, it was so light and gentle it was hard to tell if it was raining at all. The fireflies were out in force and lit up the scenery around us. Frogs were calling out, crickets were chirping & stillness lay about the land. It was amazing. The only down side was hearing the crush of snails under my feet. I certainly felt awful trampling them, made me rather ill inside. However; I couldn’t see them even with my headlamp on. So many acts of generosity & kindness will need to be done this week.
We passed by a pond chatting away only to hear a huge SLAP of what I can only imagine was a beaver’s tail. Then further down the trail a HUGE porcupine ambled across our path. She was NOT going to go any faster than she wanted to & we were NOT going to push her.
However; all of this wildlife made Catherine rather nervous and she started to pick up the pace a tad. When I hit the 25Km mark I was getting a tad bit fatigued & started to use some tricks I picked up on how to combat pain. They were working up until about the 28K mark. Then I started thinking about all the people I know and to say 5 nice things about them, by the time I hit 30K I knew that I was on my last few kilometers.
I hadn’t prepared properly for the run. Not enough hydrating that morning (as I didn’t know until late in the day I was running), no proper carb loading & didn’t put electrolyte replacement in my water.
My calf muscles were seizing up every step and when we saw Bill at the 30K mark I was not smiling, I was grimacing. I said I would run until the next line and make my determination at that point, but those last two kilometres were agony. It was like a set of escalators going up my calves. The muscle spasms would start at the bottom and work up to my knee then start again.
At 32k Bill took Cathy the last 3 k to the turnaround point and the lads had not caught up to us. We did see a single light behind us & figured that must have been Chris as we never did meet up with him on the trail. So it was a good thing that I did end up running with Catherine or she would have been alone.
At the turn around I started to inquire about logistics for the run back. The guys apparently were fine, yeh them. My concern was that someone be there for Catherine. As it turns out none of the fellas thought that far. ( I won’t say typical) Luckily Steen showed up to do some support type duties. He took Brendan & Chris back to Barrie and I stuck around to follow Catherine & Bill. Luckily I did. At the 49 K mark – Concession 14 Catherine was having ankle problems. We put some topical anti-inflam cream on it and she went off again. I drove to the next concession to wait, unfortunately Catherine wasn’t any better and decided to drop out of running any further in fear that she might injure herself and not be able to do her 100 Miler. I think that was a wise choice.

Saturday was spent trying to catch a bit of shut eye. I didn’t make it home until 3:30. I was up again at 7am because the dogs don’t care. Off for our walk at 8am. House work, lunch, nap, more house work.
Sunday I had wanted to do 23K – but as per usual I decided NOT to listen to myself. I picked up the map for the marathon clinic & started to do that. It was 13k and all uphill for the first half. Currently that just does me in, as I train better this will disappear, but for now BAHHUM BUG!!!!
I couldn’t imagine running past the 4 k mark. Greg caught up to me around Johnson & Blake street. We chatted… I carried on. Then Tracy & Catherine caught up & I stuck along with them. At Grove I turned left and followed it all the way back to Owen. Once on Grove and on my own, I felt much better and I knew I should have stuck with my original game plan. Right now I need “flat” with manageable inclines. Next week… I’ll listen to myself. I did get just under 11k in so I was happy with that.
I surprised myself being able to pull that run out of my backside, and I’m very glad that I could be there for Catherine. It was about her. It’s unfortunate she had to pull out after 51K – however; that’s still a tremendous distance! GOOD LUCK CATHERINE.

Monday, June 20, 2011

A very good run for a June morning

I had a lot on my plate for a Sunday. I was going to my nieces dance recital in Toronto, doing her hair & her makeup prior. Then afterwards, taking my Mum back home to Niagara & then driving back to Barrie. So I needed to get an early start on the run & so with that in mind I headed of around 7:30 and decided to do the highway run. I wanted to get as close to 21 km in as I possibly could.

There was a chill in the air but I threw on my favourite tank top on and slipped my compression sleeves on my calves, filled my water bottle to the brim, adjusted my shoes and clammered into the Tribute.

I oiked myself out of the vehicle, clicked on my water belt and my happy attitude and headed off to the path. I was hoping to do 5 k & 1 minute walk breaks, however I had to settle for 3k & 1 minutes walk breaks. I haven't regained the 5&1 ability yet. Probably in about 2-3 weeks I'll be back on target.
I kept at about a 6:08-6:20 pace as much as possible and as I rounded my way onto the first concession what to my wondering eyes should appear but a completely tarmaced surface!!!!!!!!! I said thank you the WHOLE route. It was so wonderful!

Going up the hill I did walk with the intention of starting hill training this coming week. Start with three hills and go from there. I've had enough of this, I need my strength training back. I may not start by running Berczy Street (for those that don't know Berczy is a 75 degree angle [Ithink, I'm not much of a mathematician]) I may work on a longer climb - lesser grade hill. I'm sure I'll do it, in fact I KNOW I'll do it.

I got to just past the 9 k mark when I decided to turn around. I had only done 6 k last Sunday and 4 of that was walking, so I figured doubling plus two is a hefty jump in one week. Next week though it will have to be 23k. However; back to the 9 k mark. I took a couple extra walk breaks until I could get my mental game back on the tracks. I crossed over the 5/6th road and was back on the new ashpalt & it was like a energizer. Before I knew I was at a 5:36 pace going up the hill towards the stop sign to get on to Ridge road to head back into town. I ducked down towards the path, I had no desire to run UP any hills. I plodded along at about 6:19 nice and easy to finish my distance.

I got 18.5 in and then managed to take the daughter and all our doggies to the land fill for another long walk.
I got to Toronto with time to spare, managed to get the hair done and make up on my neice. She was the best looking Grade 1 there. If I do say so myself!

The week in review.

Wow – I can’t believe that I’ve missed so many blogs? What is the world coming to when you are so busy at work you don’t have time to update your blogs for your peeps? I’m telling ya, it’s craziness!
So Thursday last week Kevin & I did 2000 meters in the pool. I miscounted all but one of our sets. Either I was over or I was WAY under. At one point I was 100 meters off. That’s 4 times the length of the pool, how in heavens name do you make THAT kind of mistake? Generally my brain is thinking about 40 different things at one time or preoccupied with flights of fancy. At any rate we did 2k in the pool – way to go Kevin!!! A milestone for him.

Sunday was a run to remember, remember to forget! Saturday night I had attended the engagement dinner for James & Angela at the Urban Dish. The vegetarian option was gnocchi with wild mushrooms in a sauce. I happily ate the gnocchi as I had no idea what it was, the sauce although it was cream based was very yummy & being lactose intolerant I tried not to have too much of the sauce. It was so delicious.. the sauce unfortunately had about 39 times the amount of garlic that I can consume without gastric issues. Then Scott Googled gnocchi and I found out that it was an Italian dumpling made of flour *groans*. That’s three for three. This did not bode well.
I was in the loo from 5am onwards. So by the time running was going I was pretty sure that my distance was going to be whatever I could muster. My legs we wooden, my veins carried lead, my eyes were sewn shut & I didn’t dare to be too far from a loo. I managed to run 2k out of 6. However; I was able to appreciate all the beautiful houses on Napier St & the cardinal that was singing in the tree following who was me for a few blocks. I think I managed to walk 4 k and run 2. It was sad. Very sad.
Last night at the Trails it was a completely different story. I was running the good run. Keeping a decent pace and having a great pain free experience. We did our usual 9k route. The steep up hills are still a bit of a challenge and I’m still okay with walking them when I have to. The roller coaster was very good bar the back up from other runners so I’d wait at the top of the one hill I had just crested while waiting for the runner in front to get to the top. Mika was running with me, she had a great run, stayed with me the whole time. She’s such a good girlie. Not keen on the mountain bikers going by though. Aahh well. She loves her trial runs.
Tonight was a struggle compared to yesterday’s run. My legs felt like they were inflexible & made of carbonite. It was not my best run. I barely made it 6k. I think I still have to get back into the swing of running back to back nights. I’ve babied my leg so much that I only ran a couple of nights a week. So I’ll have to get back into the swing of things. I think a couple of weeks and I’ll start getting that feel back. I had better, my training starts shortly. YIKES.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Sunday.. la la la la...

I'll tell ya something - it was a great day for a run yesterday. I woke up Sunday morning to Mocha vocalizing her displeasure at being in her crate when her pack of hounds were out and about. So I let her out, feed, toileted and played with her for a bit, then got my running gear together.

I decided to wear my pink breast cancer running skorts - but I forgot to put on the glide. My somewhat "muscular" legs have a habit of creating friction when I run so now I have road rash on my inner thigh. AGGHH! That stung like a bastard when I finally made it to the bath last night. YIKES.

After much debate (internal) debate I decided that 24 km was not in the cards. I'd rather have a successful shorter distance. My ITB was very sore yet even just walking. At the RR I met up with Cindy & the gang they were doing 10k. Well that was way to low for me. I want to build my mileage so, nothing less than 16 really.

They had a 16 map on the counter so I grabbed one. Trish did as well as did Jenny. SO it would be the Scotia bank Marathon 2009 all over again. Sorta. I ran with Jenny for her first full marathon and really had to help her the last 12k, but she got it done.

The route that we had was good in as much as it took us out and back, however; the fact that every UPHILL that could be added to the "back" part was added with vicious delight I'm sure! I didn't have my Garmin so I wasn't sure what pace we were doing at any given time. Jenny had her iTouch or iPhone hooked up but I don't really trust them. The calibration comes unglued. I usually can tell by my breathing what pace I'm running & what her technology was saying & what I was feeling were two different things. However; we tried to keep it at a comfy 6:15-6:30 pace.
We started up Owen - Worsley & kept moving up and over. And I do mean up. We ended up coming out by St Vincent and going UP. Then Duckworth, UP Georgian. Penetang Rd. Down Crestwood UP Johnson. Across Steel (which is up) Blake, down Vancouver. Kempenfelt Dr. on to Dunlop. Then UP Mulcaster, Collier and down Owen.
I said screw Mulcaster. No friggin way.

It wasn't until the last 750 meters that I decided that I was going to walk. My ITB was humming a very unpleasant tune and I had no desire to cause any issues. Trish was happy to keep me company on our walk back.

I think we lost about 500 meters by cutting out Mulcaster - but I don't really care. LOL.
My ITB is still tighter than a duck's backside.
Trish said she would be okay doing a bit of ART on that baby. I'm using the roller as well, but nothing like a good old fashioned thumb in your ITB pushing out the kinks to make it feel good.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Swim as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread.. never mind.

Ohhh ggrr.. my evening was slightly disrupted. I was going to meet Wayne to walk our dogs at 5pm. I didn't make it back til gone 5, then Wayne was in the middle of a brake rebuild so, he was delayed and 45 minutes later he told me to go without him. So at almost 6pm we headed out. That's an hour off my lawnmowing time.

Oh well.

I got back mowed the front lawn & my neighbour's as Dave always snowblows my driveway. Then I took my borrowed roller and ROLLED MY ITB.. oh my gawd, jeezzusmurphy. PAIN...

Then let that settle down a bit and headed to the pool.

Meet up with Kevin and we started our 1900m journey. Poor little dude, he was huffing and puffing but his legs are better. Still room for improvement, but they are much better than was I was seeing last week. Needs to keep the legs a bit more together and pointed.
So it was 100 warm up. 300,350,400,350,300 100 cool down.
And I've started grouping them in 4's. So 300 is 3 groups of 4. when I get to my second set I start counting 2-1, 2-2 on the third set 3-1, 3-2 etc. and somewhere in the counting I got distracted by some very distrubing thoughts and ended up two short. So Kevin would tell me two more ... so off I go.

Stupid counting.

We managed to shave about 6 minutes off our time from last week. I didn't see the exact time we went into the pool, but I know it was well after 8:15 as I kept signalling to the lifeguard that was ignoring me, if we could go in. So that's great. I felt really strong during the swim. The first 50 m I was wondering what the heck I was doing in the pool... I was sore, my arms hurt... blah blah blah.
It turned out very well though.

Chris was in the viewing gallery and waved, my eyes were so blurry though I couldn't actually make her out very well. So it was nice to have a cheering squad for Kevin. He worked hard.
Then a few minutes in the pee pool to reward ourselves and back home to eat the veggie burger Chelsea made for me. yummmmmmmmy!!!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Victoria Day

Oh I know some of you are saying " But Joan, Victoria Day was a couple of weeks ago what are you on?"
I'm not talking about THAT Victoria Day... I'm talking about MY Victoria Day. It's Wednesday night & as you all know by now that's run club night.

I put the new puppy in the crate, she was some tired. I walked her for an hour and she was POOPED. Then when we got home for the walk, I wouldn't let her sleep more than half an hour. So hopefully tonight it's a full night of puppy dreaming.

Right so back to the Running Room. Trish wasn't running at 6:30, she was going later with Fred, fine.. I'm sure Cindy will be there. No Cindy. The usual elite gaggle of runners were at the back taking up space. Then I saw Steen, Lisa & Victoria & Ang. They were all going to do the Bus Run which is 9.3 k. Up some pretty nasty hills as well. I wasn't overly jazzed but I thought give it a whirl. The object isn't to keep up to them, just to keep them in view.

So I reluctantly said yes. Whined from Owen Street until Mulcaster and then put on my best run face.

We got to Vancouver and instead of cutting over to Shanty Bay we kept on Blake. Apparantly the front three shaved off some distance and hills and we were now doing 8k & cutting out Crestwood. God bless them each and everyone.

I had a bit of trouble going up Vancouver - but I kept going slowly. Then up Puget, slowly. Over to Napier. I could feel my body readjust to the slight incline rather than the all out hill. My speed started to increase and I passed Ang.

Then turned up Nelson and I caught up to Victoria. Now Victoria is a lovely lady, I adore her. She & I made my duvet cover & pillow shams together. We get each other. We've had lots of great discussions, she's a clever clever woman. With a great heart. Victoria qualified for Boston her first Marathon & has qualified last year and this year. She's a great runner, so keeping her in my sight would have been grand, but to actually be able to run with her & hold a conversation without puking was such a rush for me.

Now I'm sure she slowed it down a bit, regardless, it was such a great feeling to be able to keep pace with her. My breathing was calm. My feet were flying.

We got back to Fred Grant Square a good two minutes (or more) before Steen, Lisa & Ang.

I'm pumped.

My calf didn't even bother me (much). I'm about to ice it though just in case.

I'm very happy.
I'll take my roller ( well Trish's roller) to work and try to get two mintues on it there. I can't here with all the canines running around. It'd be a disaster.