Late Week Motivation

Wow, its been a whole week since I posted. Its semester turn around time here at school, so I've been crazy busy.
On the running front, training going well. I completed 41 miles in week 4 and 43 miles in week 5, and I ran a 8K fun run last weekend after running a 22 miler the day before. I hope to post details later in the week, in a more detailed post.

In the meantime, I found the most amazing video that I think is proof that it is only our minds that set limits for us.



Have a wonderful Friday! Thanks for reading.

Mid-Week Motivation: Why do you Run?

I have had a crazy few days (exam week and parents night), so I haven't posted much on my blog, but I am looking forward to catching up on all of your blogs, so sorry for the lack of comments! I promise I have been reading them though! I haven't posted my week 4 training summary yet, but I will hopefully about it later this week. I found this little video and thought I would share it with you:




I hope you have a great rest of your week! Thanks for reading!


P.S - Why do you run? Feel free to leave your comments below!

Tagged

Hope all you Northern folk are surviving this cold spell. Hubs and I decided it would be a good time to head even further North to his hometown of Parry Sound Ontario. You can barely see my MIL's house with all of the snow. Although its super cold (-18C), I love it up here, its so pretty, a real winter wonderland. (sorry no pics)

I was tagged last week by Marlene and Roadbunner, but just haven't gotten around to posting until now, so here we go:

4 favorite memories from 2008
1. Jay Challenge
2. Running my first ultra/off road race
3. Quebec City Marathon
4. Trip to California

4 favorite movies that I saw
1. Spirit of the Marathon
2. Godfather series (never watched it before)
ummm I don't watch a lot of movies, and if I do, I often fall asleep during

4 favorite foods in 2008
1. Quinoa
2. Nachos and Guacamole
3. Beer- I don't know if this counts as food, but I never liked beer before last year, now suddenly I am an addict...LOL
4. Chicken Enchilada Suiza

4 places I loved in 2008
1. Quebec City
2. San Ramone, California
3. Bootcamp class
4. Home - always love home!

4 things I liked in 2008
1. My new Blackberry Bold (better than iphone - jk - not trying to start a war! LOL)
2. Starting my running blog and meeting all you great blogging people
3. White water rafting trip - even with the injury
4. Philadelphia marathon trip

4 things I am looking forward to in 2009
1. March break marathon (Shamrock, DC or Arkansas!) and visit to my sister's new home in Nashville
2. San Francisco Marathon
3. Possibly Barbados marathon with Christy
4. Lots and lots of running and racing

If you haven't been tagged, and would like to be, I am tagging you!


Hope you have a great weekend! Thanks for reading

Mid-Week Motivation: Practice

I ran inside the dome (indoor track) tonight for my 10 mile tempo run. I was supposed to run 5 miles at tempo, and the remainder just at regular aerobic pace. I warmed up for about a mile, and then finished my 5 miles in 43:10 (8:38 mi/min or 5:23 km/min) pace, which I felt good about.

Afterwards, I felt kind of lazy and bored with the track yet again (it's -15C/5F outside today) so I ran a one mile cool-down, to total 7 miles, 3 miles short of the 10 miles my training plan called for.

My first instinct of course was to be mad at myself for not getting in those last three miles to total 10. But I stopped myself. I did have a good tempo run, and I can easily make up those miles later in the week. It is just training, a practice run, not the race....

Here is what NBA super star Allen Iverson has to say about "Practice".




So yes I know "Practice" is important, but sometimes it's also important that I don't take myself too seriously.

Hope you are having a great week! Thanks for reading!

Marathon Training: Week Three Recap

First off, congratulations to all of the Disney Marathon finishers. I can't wait to read all of those race reports!

Today I completed week three of my marathon training, and I have to say I feel pretty good about it. I think I am starting to get used to the increased mileage and longer mid-week runs.

This week I ran 44miles/71K. I ran 2 recovery runs (4 miles and 5 miles), one 8(12.8K) mile tempo, one 12(17.7K) mile run, and my long run today was 17 miles(27.4K). It was -12C/10F today so I decided to complete my 17 mile run at our local indoor track. I didn't freeze and it was nice and flat, but it was kind of warm inside (I got significant chaffing - forgot the body glide), and it was B-O-R-I-N-G. I think I may be slightly dizzy from the experience. There are tennis courts on the inside of the track, so I tried to distract myself with this.

Next week the mileage jumps again in my program, but I'm not as afraid. I was really happy to get the mid-week runs done. So all in all, training is going well.

There is only one teeny problem..

I am still doubting my choice for my next marathon. I haven't signed up for Little Rock yet. What's holding me back? The course elevation. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind a hilly course (both Quebec and Nashville were hilly), but if I am going through this hardcore training plan, why should I try to PR on a really hard course? I have other harder marathons planned for later in the year, so I want to set myself up (as much as possible) for a solid run and maybe that sub 4 hour finish I am working towards.

I still want to run on a weekend surrounding my March break. On the 21st there is the DC marathon, not a 50 stater, but it looks like a good course. And of course on the 22nd there is Shamrock. Only problem I must be back in Canada the next day and it is a 16 hour drive. I think I'll mull this over the next few weeks before I decide. Who knows I may stick with Little Rock still.

That's it for me for now. In case you haven't heard, Amanda from Run to Finish is organizing a virtual race (7 on the 7th), so if you haven't signed up yet, head on over. Thanks Amanda for organizing this! You rock!

Have a good Monday. Thanks for reading!

Midweek Motivation: Finish Strong

Sometimes winter can be the toughess time of the year to motivate ourselves as runners or otherwise. I thought I would try to post some motivational stuff midweek for the rest of the winter to help fight some of those winter blues. I hope you will agree that the video below is extremely inspirational and motivating.



Good luck to all the Disney runners this weekend

Kim
Lindsey
Laura
Jenny

and a special shout out to Christy, its her first marathon, and she raised over $7000 dollars for the Arthritis Society.

FINISH STRONG.

Hope you all have a great Thursday! Thanks for reading!

Marathon Training: Week 2 is COMPLETE!!

Phew! Another week done. I gotta admit, this training plan is kicking my butt big time. Aron warned me, but its just taking a lot to get used to multiple long runs each week. Aron, I am afraid for week 5... Gulp.

Never mind. I can do this. I. CAN. DO. THIS.

Is it concerning to be this wrapped up in mental trickery so early in training?!?

Maybe its just the cold Canadian winters that are getting to me.....

This is just the beginning. Thank goodness its only a 12 week program.

Random week 2 stats/thoughts:
-63K/39 miles
- lactic threshold workouts suck during but feel so good afterwards
- I think pfitz designed this plan for people that can run 12 miles in under a hour, thus making it a great mid week workout.
-I particularly enjoy a 15 mile run, where I am being whipped not only by wind but by ice pellets. Its AWESOME.
-I like the challenge even if it sounds like I am whining.
-I am starting to feel stronger, although not faster yet, but I am in the endurance phase now
-my stick I ordered on-line can't come soon enough. Currently poor Hubs is rolling out my muscles with the following:







Don't worry I don't bake pies, ever. Its probably the most use this pin has ever seen. It kinda works....

On the eating clean front, its going well. I have starting a new blog to report some recipes. Its called Cooking on the Run. I don't intend to be fancy with this blog, I will simply write the recipe with a mini review. This may change as I find myself taking pictures of all of the food I eat. I have a bunch of recipes to post yet, but there are a few to start off.

Happy running everyone and thanks for reading!

Seeking Warmth

Hubs and I went for an 11 mile steady run that went really well yesterday. It was a nice day about 1C/34F out. The only problem was the icy patches in some parts.

We love running up to the conservation area, and running on some trails. Unfortunately we had to walk a lot of it, since it was slippery and icy. It is sometimes frustrating when you need to keep a pace but really can't due to weather conditions, but I guess that's what makes you stronger as a runner, rolling with the curveballs. It was overall a good run, and we managed to keep a sub 6 min/km pace.

Today however, it is -6C but feels like -13C/8F with the windshield. Its a rest or recovery day on my training schedule so I am heading to hot yoga. I can't wait! I can feel the warmth as I type!

Hope you all enjoying your weekend! Thanks for reading!

Resolutions and Tenative 2009 Plans

Hope everyone is enjoying their first day of 2009. I am still in my pj's and have enjoyed the day at home with Hubs. I have been cleaning, organizing, and mulling over my goals for 2009. I decided less is more. Some of them you've heard, others are new.

1. Eat clean at least 80% of the time. I have been reading cooking blogs/cookbooks and pulling interesting recipes to prepare. I have spent the last few days cooking a few dishes and freezing them in lunch size portion containers. My goal is to have enough lunches to get me through until my March marathon. This will stop me eating junky processed laden lunches. I am thinking of starting a recipe blog, so if I do this, I will link the recipes I make with a review, nothing fancy though.

2. Get organized. I hate clutter, and I don't have a lot of clutter in my house, but right now I could stand a clean out, and definitely better organization is needed. I went through my closet this morning and I was a little embarrassed by the some of the bad clothing choices I have made. Which leads me to resolution 3:

3. Stop impulse buying. Whether it be clothes or the grocery store, I can definitely clamp down in this area. No more running skirts or running apparel!! (Well OK, maybe one more since I want to try the Atlanta skirt brand). In order to purchase, I must first assess need, then only buy by a list.

4. Running Goals.
Primary: I want to set new PR's in the half, full and 30K distance. I **will** run a sub four hour marathon this spring. Secondary: Achieve Marathon Maniac Gold Status. Knock off 5 different states for the 50 state marathon goal.

2009 Tenative Race Schedule (Fall 2009 still to come)
January - Robbie Burns 8K
February -Grimsby Half Marathon
March - Chilly Half Marathon, Little Rock Marathon, Around the Bay 30K
May - Mississauga Half Marathon, Cleveland or Flying Pig Marathon
June - Possibly Seattle (tenative)
July - San Franscisco Marathon -really excited about this one!!
August - Run With the Horses Marathon - Wyoming

Obviously I have a hard time narrowing it down.
That's all for now. Thanks for reading!