My last “official” race of 2017 was the Valley Harvest 5k.
It was a warm day. I had a head cold. I managed 30 minutes and I was happy 😃
I chose Valley Harvest because of the beautiful scenery in Wolfville…..and the blanket.
Taking all expectation off of myself has given me back some of the joy I was missing when I ran. The shorter distances have been a blessing as well. My body was hungry for a break.
Last weekend was a fun run to support Feed Nova Scotia at the Canada Games Centre. It was a beautiful day, and a great turnout.
I ran with a couple of my running peeps from the neighbourhood and we had a great run! Plus, there was pie, Starbucks, and Booster Juice at the end 🙂
I’ve run a couple of days this week during my lunch hour, and I felt great. It’s bringing me back to the start. My lunch runs are 3k and it’s the perfect distance. I can get away from my desk, get the rush, and burn off some steam.
A very happy me (a sick me, lol) after a wonderful 5k at the Valley Harvest Marathon Weekend in Wolfville.
As I sit here and type this post, it is Thanksgiving Monday in Canada.
We had a great turkey feast yesterday, after a very early morning traveling so I could run a 5k at the 25th Anniversary of the Valley Harvest Marathon.
I have a lingering head cold, and was thankful I felt well enough to run this beautiful course.
I have one more run this season, the Food Run to support Feed Nova Scotia next weekend here in my neighbourhood.
After having a great run yesterday in Wolfville, part of me started to question my decision to take a break from racing next year (I say this as I think…”well, maybe a few 5ks wouldn’t be so bad”, or “well, maybe some trail running would be better for me”, lol). As runners we push ourselves to our physical and mental limits. We question why we do this to ourselves as we run, but then bask in the afterglow.
Running has always been cathartic for me. I see things differently after a run. It gives me a fresh perspective on things. It connects me to my inner peace.
The reality of the situation is this: my body is out of balance. My weak muscles are the ones that need to be strong, and my strong muscles are making up for the weak. This is why I need to dial back and work on the imbalances.
Mentally I need the break from the constant pressure I put myself under. No one is harder on me, than me. Trust me on that.
The running community is a great source of support for me. I can draw strength and ask for advice. They do not judge. They seek to understand and offer advice. I am grateful for that. They see my back and forth as a struggle to do what’s right for me and my need to lace up and head out.
I am truly looking forward to working on myself, taking the time to figure out my body at 45 years old, and find out what it is truly capable of.
So, you’ll still see me out on the road, but you’ll also see me in the gym. It’s part of the mind/body relationship I’ve ignored for too long.
This is where things sit, and I’m really okay with it 🙂
Hoping you’ll continue to come along with me to see where my running will take me down this fork in the road.
This week has been a full one of ups and downs, crappy sleep and some high level anxiety with a dose of blech.
One happy thing that happened to me since we last sat around the bloggy campfire: I am now a Nuun Ambassador for 2017!!
I used Nuun as my electrolyte drink of choice last year. There is always a tube (or two) of these electrolyte tablets in my bag. I have used a lot of alternatives in the past, and this has been the only drink that doesn’t cause GI issues for me. When the opportunity came up to apply I jumped on it!! So happy to have been chosen this year for #TeamNuun 🙂 (Also: Watermelon may be my new favourite flavour. Stay tuned as I have yet to try my Boost Lemon Lime, hahaha.)
In other news:
This week sucked hard when it came to sleep. It wasn’t until Thursday night that I actually had a full 8 hours. Wednesday night I was up and down with anxiety, only getting about 4 hours. Sleep is important for me, especially with mental illness. When it comes to training, sleep is one of the biggest things I try to keep as steady as I can. When I do, things are relatively easier to deal with. Also, I’m happier when I sleep well, lol.
A tad snowy on my way home from the track today!
I am getting close to the start of half marathon training. Yesterday and today have been very good days. I did upper body strength training on Saturday and was able to get 6.9kms in today with my BRF on the track at the Canada Games Centre.
Look at those sexy compression socks 😉
I am hoping to keep this good momentum going this week, but I realize that life will have it’s own ideas and I may need to readjust to make things work.
As long as I sleep well, things should be okay!
Here’s to a week of good sleep and good kilometres 🙂
And that also applies itself to running. I’m stubborn too, which just adds to the problem, lol.
I first started running when I was working with a personal trainer at the gym. It all started when one of the girls at my workplace started up a lunchtime run group. The first day we ran 5km. I felt like I was running on a cloud….oh wait, those were my new sneakers. BONUS POINT: I had running sneakers. I went out and bought a good pair of Sauconys. Go me 🙂
I was hooked. Running was awesome!
Problem #1: I was not stretching. Not warming up. Not like I should have been. This lead to some really tight legs after my very first 10km race (I had done a Run for the Cure 5km prior).
And then……about a year later
Problem #2 – Stubborn: Since I was invincible, I began to train for my first Half Marathon. Training was going well (at least I thought it was, lol) After my 18km long run, I felt AWESOME. Went for another run, pain. A lot of pain. Right outside my knee. I thought, okay, rest up. This was one week before the race. I was tight all the way up to my hip. So I foam rolled and bought a strap for the old IT band at the race expo. Day of the half…I ran, in pain, and finished at 2:30. I walked a lot of the last few kms, but ran over the finish line. I could barely walk the next day. Off to doc and off to physio. My IT band was shot…tightest EVER. Was a long haul back and lesson learned. Problem #3: Not listening to my body. This applies to Problem #1 and #2. I was not stretching and applying any serious cross training. I thought some of the pain was “just a runner thing”. Yes, I should have known better.
Another year later! We are into year 3.
Problem #4: Eat better, fuel better. This took some work, as I love to eat and the more I ran, the more I wanted to EAT! This caused some upset belly moments and some dehydration. This is a big lesson for newb runners. Half Marathon #2: Trained smarter, pushed myself a little bit harder (sometimes a bit too much, felt kind of nauseous and had to stop a couple of times) and ran a 2:10. I was going to run another Half, but was very very sick not long beforehand and did a 10k at the Valley Harvest Marathon. Because I am a dork and was full of running excitement, I went out too fast and wanted to barf halfway through. Finished in under an hour and finally said, okay, smarten up. I ran a 21k relay the next month, Lucky 7 Relay with a couple of people from work. I ran my 7km in 38 minutes. I felt like a ROCK STAR 🙂
Heading into year 4…
I was running right up until the “Punta Cana Incident”. We ran just about every morning around the resort nice and early, with the other runners. Then I went and fell in the washroom (Yes, the washroom, and yes, I was sober). This is the “awe man” moment when I was pretty sure I tore my meniscus, but found out I really have a condition called Osteochondritis Dissecans and I am due for surgery in the near future. Once I am all “put back together” and travel down my road to recovery, I am getting back to the Half Marathon state and looking for a new PB. With my new love of yoga and my wiser ways, I am starting my bucket list of races. Need to kill that 2:10 Half! Look out Half Marathon…..cause I am comin’ to get ya…..soon.
Like, the date of my referral??? Please? I miss running with my peeps!
Like this peep – my running bud! (I am smiling but in soooooo much pain in this picture!! My IT band was DONE.)
Finding new ways to keep it all together physically (and mentally) is a lesson in patience. And I have none…lol. So, some days are really hard to get motivated. Just taking that first step is the toughest part. I just want to flop and be schlumpy. Especially since my knee went all lateral meniscus tear on me.
(I curse my knee daily. It’s like Jekyll and Hyde. Just when I think maybe it’s feeling good….*pop*…*cringe*…AAARRRRGHHHH!)
To torture myself (but really to keep myself motivated), I check out other running blogs (it’s good to see other runners come through their injuries and get back at it!) and search out races that I would love to do once I’m back and running again. For example: PEI Marathon, Beer Run in Fredericton, NB, The Johnny Miles Weekend, The Bluenose (of course), The Valley Harvest, Mud Hero, etc etc….lol.
And who knows, I may get adventurous. A duathlon perhaps?
It is Physio Day! Packed up my fitness gear in preparation and wore my Asics to work. I only was able to run in them twice. They are feeling neglected, I know they are.
On my way into work, I receive an email from the Valley Harvest Marathon (held in the beautiful Wolfville, Nova Scotia) about the race this year….SAD FACE EMOTICON. I ran the 10km race last year (I was layered and ended up with the sausage roll under my shirt…lol) and was seriously considering the Half for this year at one point. It is a gorgeous run! But alas, it is not looking good.
All participants at the Valley Harvest received this really cool blanket (and the jacket I am wearing in the pic above). I love it! Especially with what seems to be the longest bout of cold weather EVER this year. My apartment is freezing every morning….because I am stubborn and truly believe you should NOT have the heat on in May 🙂
Trying to remain positive and not eat my face off to make up for not running! It’s hard, and I really have to take stock of my food intake. So, today I had some plain oats with cinnamon, honey and Omega Crunch Flax. It was awesome. Back on track I go! I love the Omega Crunch Flax. I keep some of the Cinnamon flavoured in my desk drawer for my yogurt, cereal, or oatmeal. It’s YUM!
It’s time to ice the knee again. If anything exciting comes out of physio, I’ll let you know!
The Midlife Reframe 