Relentless Forward Motion!!

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about."
-PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian 

 I survived another 21.1k yesterday.  It was nothing short of a small miracle that I even made it to the start.  I spent all last week completely unable to keep food inside of me.  I was hoping to add an extra 200kcal to my diet for five days leading up to my race, and I didn't even hit my minimum calorie count on any of those days.  I think over the course of the week I managed to keep down about 1300kcal, which is the amount of fuel my body needs in one day.  Pretty brutal.

On the bright side, I felt nice and light for my race!  All the other runners were complaining about bloating from carb-loading, and I've never felt more trim.

The tendons on my foot are a little sore today.  Thankfully my race kit came with a pretty cool wrap thing.  It has a nice, cooling effect.  It is also reusable!

I'm actually much less sore than I was after my 10k.  I didn't get any blisters and I kept great form.

Let's move on to a proper race report now.

GoodLife Fitness Half-Marathon

I let myself sleep in until 4:30 and then had to pack.  I stupidly did not pack the night before, and because of this I forgot to pack my watch.

Getting to my shuttle bus was fairly hassle-free, as was the shuttle up to the starting line.  I ran into someone I knew at the start which was really nice.  My plan was to pee as often as I could before the race started, as I executed this flawlessly.  The trick is to get to the start really early and get into the washrooms before anyone else does.  This way you can avoid lines.

The weather was miserable.  It was drizzly and cold  .  I decided to take my old running sweatshirt  with me, since I wouldn't be upset if I had to ditch it.  I was also rocking a recycling bag to keep dry.

I waited inside until about 5 minutes before 8:00, the official start time.  It can take awhile just to cross the starting mats.  In fact, it took me over 4 minutes this time.  I think everyone was taking it easy because of the weather.

Now, because I didn't have my watch, I was worried about pace.  I decided to find the 2:30 pace group, and stay in front of them. 

I knew I was running on empty, so I made sure to drink as much Gatorade as possible.  This time there was a variety of flavours, and they were all properly watered down.  No horrible stomach cramps this time!

There is a monster of a hill between the 4k and 5k flags.  "Hogg's Hollow".  It seemed longer this time, but I just kept running.  A lot of other runners decided to walk it, but hills are something I'm decent at, plus it's a nice boost to make it to the top of a hill.

Running past Mount Pleasant I paid my respects to Danny Kassap.  I need to go for a run there sometime.

The next 10k was a bit of a blur.  I really hit my stride around the 8k flag.

In Rosedale Valley, I was running near these two girls who were just having a blast.  They were skipping, running around pretending to fly, and singing.  It was hilarious, and a great way to break up the loneliness of running in such a secluded area.

Turning onto front I saw a runner up ahead in VFFs.  I had to catch him, so I took off and had a small chat about them before he peeled away.

At the 17k flag a race volunteer wiped out on his bike.  I ran over and helped him, and ended up breaking my flow and losing some time, but race volunteers are the most amazing people ever so I wanted to help.  He was thankfully only clipped in to his one pedal, and he wasn't hurt too bad, just shakey and embarrased.  Helping him was the best decision I made in that whole race.  There have been so many times during races where I was starting to feel worn down, and a race volunteer biked by and cheered me on.

This when the lead Marathoner passed me.  I was confused a bit, since last time they passed me around the 15k flag, so either I was running faster or they were running slower.

Turning the corner onto University filled me with dread.  You don't think this is a hill, but it is.  Especially after 19k.  I was clammy and hot up until that point.  University has this horrible wind tunnel that just rapes you with ice-cold wind coming off the lake.  I have seriously never felt colder in my life.  My feet were soaked through and freezing.  I was sweaty, clammy, my hair was dripping.  I have never been more thankful for my running sweatshirt.  I still had it tied around my hips.  For some reason I never thought to ditch it.  I pulled it on at the 19k flag.

I looked up and saw a digital clock on the side of a building.  It looked like it said "10:10".  I was beside myself at this point.  What was going on?  Did I really run 19k in less than 2:10?  I didn't have my watch so I had no idea.  I just kept putting one foot in front of the other.

Started picking up the pace coming around the parliament building.  This time I knew exactly where the finish was, so I timed my kick just right.  As I cross the finish line I look up at the race clock.

3:00:00

What. The. Fuck.

I was utterly confused at this point.  Did it take me 50 minutes to run 2k?  That didn't even seem possible.  Plus the 5k was still in full swing, and that started at 10.  I got my medal, watched a 5k Elite runner puke his guts out while his buddy laughed, grabbed some food, found my bag, and was off home!

Somewhere along the race course I lost one of my housekeys.  The one that opens the door I keep locked.  I had to break into my own apartment.  If I hadn't have lost 30lbs this winter, I would have been very fucked.

Once inside I got online and checked out my official chip time.

2:26:40

That's a 12-minute improvement over last time!  Not too shabby at all!  Sure, I started out my training hoping for a sub 2:00 half-marathon, but after a concussion and the stomach flu, I'm pretty impressed with myself.

I'll take some pictures of my bib/medal later tonight.  Now I have to decide if I want to eat, sleep, or terrorize small children. 

7662

"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves. The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, 'You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.' The human spirit is indomitable." -
-Sir Roger Bannister 


Four days until the GoodLife Fitness Half-Marathon.  I can't decide if I'm excited or scared.  I've had a good week, running and not running.  I've only taken two days off since my 10k (both Mondays) and I'm starting to like this "run all the time" thing.  For No-Transit June I have to rely on my feet, bike, and blades, so being able to run places for errands will be very useful. 

Yes, I have been tapering down for the big day, so my daily runs aren't any longer than 5k at this point.  Just trying to keep everything springy without wearing myself out.

I am totally going to wear my fancy SportingLife 10k t-shirt!  It looks like it is going to rain (*cry*) so I need to remember to pack some clear garbage bags so I don't get drenched.  Running in the rain is one thing, standing around in the rain waiting for my eventual doom is something else.  Something not acceptable.

Doomsday Approaches

"Methinks that the moment my legs began to move, my thoughts began to flow."
- Henry David Thoreau 

Some sad news to start off this post.  Runner Danny Kassap passed away on Monday.  He was a true fighter, and never let obstacles get in the way of his dreams.

On to lighter news.  I had the most epic salad for dinner.

I got halfway through eating it when I decided it was worth to share on the internets.  I'm still trying to finish it.

In the mix:
Spinach
Carrots
Mushrooms
Bean Sprouts
Pumpkin Seeds
House Dressing (just a mix of olive oil, lemon juice, balsalmic vinegar, some spices, salt and pepper, etc)

I also found a fancy way to display my bragging rights!

So there are 9 days until my Half-Marathon.  I haven't spoken much about it since I basically decided to write the distance off, and focus on my 10k.  Anyway, despite all this, I actually stuck to my original training plan pretty closely.  I got all my long runs in, including two 18k days, one week apart. 

So now what do I do?  My body is technically ready to be pushed to run maybe something sub 2:10, or maybe even sub 2:00, but my mind was planning to just relax and run slow.  I'll see how I feel race day.

This week has been recovery from my 10k.  I had a wicked blister on my right big toe.  Thankfully I have extensive first-aid/survival training, since I was able to fix that shit up with some moleskin.  I'm badass like that.  The blister is now (almost) a nice callous, and I look forward to abusing it for 21.1k next Sunday.  Also got a strange sore spot on the back of my left heel.  I think I bruised it somehow, it's healed up now as well.

I've been running every day now for about two weeks, save for a holiday I took on Monday.  I've been doing little 2k "speed bursts" as I call them.  I just run 2k as fast as I can.  It's crazy fun!  I doubt it's helping my physical training at all, but it helps to remind me why I love running to begin with.

Run Free!

Sporting Life 10k Toronto

"I had as many doubts as anyone else. Standing on the starting line, we're all cowards."
-Alberto Salazar, three-time winner of the NYC marathon 

I've officially survived another race.  This one somehow seems like a bigger deal to me.  I guess training for one race in one season is one thing, but having the gumption/insanity to run a second race is something much bigger I think!

My morning started at about 4:00am as usual.  One of the joys of waking up so early naturally is that I'm not tired on race day.  For breakfast I managed to choke down a piece of toast with peanut butter.  Bananas are still unripe due to poor planning on my part, so I took along an apple for the road.

All the busses were packed with other runners, it was all very exciting.  I also was proud to be wearing my bib with a blue stripe on it.  The blue corral is the fastest non-elite corral. 

I arrived at the start by about 7:20am, and decided I had time to either find a washroom, or check out the elites.  I made the right choice and found a washroom.  Running is really just a matter of simple yes/no decisions.  Do I need to pee?  Should I stop and remove that small pebble from my shoe? Is my pace too slow?

We were hearded into our corrals at 7:45am, and then I had to wait for what was quite possibly the coldest 20 minutes of my life.  When I ran my half-marathon back in October the corrals were not as strict, so I was able to freely run around to stay warm.  No such luck this morning.

More waiting.

8:00am the elites take off in what I assume is a very exciting start.  I'm surrounded by giants as usual and can't see anything. 

8:05 my corral gets to leave!  Everyone plays it smart and walks to the starting line.  I turned on my stopwatch a little before the mats, to avoid tripping.

8:11ish~ I hit the 1k mark.  I think I ran it in about 5:25, which is 25 seconds slower than I was aiming for.  Did I go out too slow?!?!  I was running at the same pace as everyone else so I assumed I would be going too fast.  I decided to stick with my pace since it felt right at that moment.  I think this was a good decision, although I always regret not pushing myself a little harder at the start.

I ran the next bit at a nice even pace.  I was really astonished at how smooth I felt.  Everything was going well until I hit the 4k aid station.  I knew that I could not stop to walk, as that did not bode well for me during my last race, so I chugged down some orange gatorade.  This was my first mistake.  I loathe orange gatorade.  the course description said the gatorade would be lemon-lime  Why do races always lie about gatorade flavours?  Lemon-lime is the best, and everything else is disgusting.  So, my stomach was not impressed and decided to ball itself up in a nice tight knot for the next 2k.  I thought I was going to die.  I kept pushing on, not letting myself walk but easing up on the pace a little.  This was really frustrating.  All I could focus on was moving forward.


I hit the 4k mark in around 20:45 and then it took me almost seven minutes to reach the 5k flag.  Then it took me another seven minutes to hit the 6k flag.  That mistake cost me four minutes!  Gah!

After this I decided it was time to kick it up a notch, and show this race who was boss.  I hit the 7k flag around 40 minutes in, which was kind of a bummer mentally for me.  The course was really flat now so making up any more time was going to be tough, and I had hoped to do 8k in this time. 

Running along Richmond there was a great band playing some Steve Miller.  Lets just say that was exactly the pick-me-up I needed!  I turned onto Peter street and I was singing along with the band.  Well, by 'singing' I mean 'mouthing the words and trying to make sound'.  it was still glorious.  I know I had the stupidest grin on my face this whole time.

I missed the 8k flag entirely, and I got kind of confused.  I thought I was a little closer to the finish line than I was, so I started to kick.  If there's one thing I can do well, it's kick.  I was hoping to kick for the last 1200m or so, but since I didn't know how far along I was, I had to guess.  I guessed wrong.

I'm chugging along and I still have no idea where the 9k flag is.  I eventually see it waaay off in the distance.  Looks to be maybe 500m or so.  Great.  My second mistake.  I had already started speeding up.  How was I supposed to maintain this pace for another 1500m?  Well, it turns out I can't!

The crowds were also starting to get really dense here, as the road was pretty narrow.  I was starting to have to decide if it was worth it to dodge around people.  I have a half-marathon in a fortnight, and I could feel a hotspot on my right big toe, so I decided to just run with the pack.  A little underwhelming of a finish, but it's all good. 


My gun time was 1:04:XX, I think I crossed the start line around 8:02, so my chip time will be around 58:00, give or take 90 seconds maybe.

After the raceI got my medal and had to wait in an impossibly long line to get my t-shirt.  The shipment was delayed so they weren't able to hand them out with the race kits.

I then gorged myself on free post-race food.  Apples, bananas, bagels, cookies, and starburst candies.

The hotspot on my toe is almost a blister, but it's a small price to pay for a pretty good race!

Oh, and by the way?  6 months ago I couldn't run a sub 30:00 5k to save my life, and I just ran a sub 1:00:00 10k.  Suck it!

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."
-Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder 

It's been awhile!  I just felt like I had nothing to blog about.  Anyway, all that has changed and now I have lots to blog about!

Tomorrow I am running my first race of my Spring season.  It's a 10k, and I'm really gunning for a PR.  This time I've studied the course really well.  It's mostly downhill, but there is a small and steep hill right around the 7k mark I believe, and I think it's going to surprise a lot of people.  There is also a bit of a long slow climb around the 2k point.  I'm hoping to use these as a way to gain some time.  Running uphill is the one thing in running that I'm actually slightly good at.  I love hills. 

All packed for tomorrow!  When I go on trips, I pack light, when it comes to racing, I pack heavy.  This is only a small sample of the crap I am lugging with me tomorrow.  I'm also taking real clothes, a sweater, a jacket, two types of hat (one for rain, one for cold), food, a back up pair of shoes (in case someone robs me for my shoes on the way to the race), and sunglasses.  Okay maybe that isn't too bad after all.  I should take gloves as well.

Other than running I have also been gardening.  Despite the fact that I get next to no sun in my small section of yard, I am determined to turn it into a wicked veg garden/chill spot.  Think two large muskoka chairs surrounded by plants.  It's gonna be epic.  If I can grow anything.

Right now my bathroom is acting as a nursery for the seeds and sprouts.  In the green plastic containers you can see my lettuce going insane.  I might keep them inside.  I am also growing three types of pepper, catnip, chamomile, thyme, parsley, basil, chives, and I am hoping to plant a redcurrant bush as well.  If you look closely in the lower left you can see my aloe plant.  He's an evil bastard, but he's growing like nuts, so I can't complain.

Fuck, I need to go grocery shopping.  I promise I will have a full race recap up tomorrow.  I'm hoping to catch a glimpse of some elites!

Food!

"Never interrupt someone doing what you said couldn't be done."
-Amelia Earhart

A year ago today I fit perfectly into my favourite pair of size 10 shorts.  Yesterday morning I tried to put them on and they fell right off.  Right down to the floor.  I put on my belt and they still fell down.  Sigh.  This means I need to buy new shorts.  A quick trip downtown yielded great results.  I bought three pairs of shorts and looked at some dresses.  The best news is that I am now a size 4.  Now I know size doesn't matter and blah blah blah but I don't care!  I've never been this size before.  I owe it all to running and eating the right diet for my body.

Yes, I know my handwriting is hideous.  My typing is even worse, somehow.  But as you can see, my grocery list has a focus on produce.  Food passes through my system very quickly, so I prefer to eat foods that my body breaks down quickly.  That's mostly veggies and fruit.  Plus simple grains and seeds.  I'm going to experiment adding greek yoghurt back into my diet.  It's sooo delicious, but my body hates digesting dairy.  It also hates digesting meat, hence my mostly vegan shopping list. 

I don't stick to anything strict when it comes to portions or calorie counting, but I stop eating when I still feel a little hungry.  I function better on small meal throughout the day.  It's fun since it gives the illusion that I'm always eating, yet magically shrinking.

A few rules I try to live by:

1. Eat 3-4 types of fruits and vegetables a day.  Variety is key here.  So is volume.  At least 60% of what I aim to eat is fruits and vegetables.

2. 2 tablespoons of flax and chia every morning.  Omega-3's are important!

3. Oatz!  I only eat rolled oats raw, but I like to eat cooked steel-cut oats when I have the time in the morning.  Oats have more fibre than any other grain, and I think due to my family's heritage we're just made to consume oats. 


I actually spend only around $20-$30 a week on groceries.  The list you see is part of an extended 2-week list aimed to take advantage of sales.  I also try to spread out buying staple items, since they are heavy and can be an investment.  I'm not quite out of potatoes but the store has a 10-lb nag on sale for $2.  I'm debating if I want to buy it or not.  I do have a fixed-up buggie.  But I have at least a week's worth of potatoes still. 

My other internal debate is my run for today.  I really really really want to run this fun, hilly 15k route I mapped out.  The issue is that I realise that I am very strong at running long, slow, hilly routes, and I need to work on speed.  So really I should be going down by the lake and running km repeats or something like that.  Maybe I can somehow combine the two, and run a 15k fartlek with 1-minute sprints every 5 minutes?  That could be crazy fun.  Might be hard to pull off on my route.  Sigh, I think I might go down by the lake.  I really want to work on my speed.

Party and Bullshit

"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible."
-Doug Larson

I hit another stumbling block in my training plan.  This time I was knocked out with a chest cold, hurray!  I have no problems running while sick, but this close to race day I need to make sure I stay as healthy as possible.  I may even skip my planned long run for today.  I will suppliment with a lot of walking as I have a million things to do today.

Speaking of errands, one thing I dislike about my sleep schedule is how I spend a lot of time waiting around for stores to open/people to wake up.  It's great on days when I have things to accomplish at home, but not so great on days when I need to leave the house.

Here is a picture of my baritone sax, Brimstone.  I don't play nearly as much as I'd like, but I hate practising when others are nearby, so I can only play when my landlord is not home. 

Also, it's been almost a year since the Most Epic Road Trip Ever.  Here is a giant shuttlecock to commemorate the occasion! 

One can never have to many giant shuttlecocks.