Today I ran with someone who is a natural runner. He is fast. As in without training or trying much he can run 10km in 40 mins, whereas I take 62 mins.
But he hasn't been running for months. And asked if I wanted to run some hills. Sure!!! And I nearly pulled the plug an hour before we were supposed to meet. Then I realized that even if I ran the cemetery hills alone, I was doing the GD things.
So off we go. Tom didn't run ahead, but instead he kept peppering me with questions. Like what are you eating, where you been training, what do you think when you run downhill. HUH. DUDE. I just let my legs go and run the SOB. I dunno is that a RIGHT answer? hahahah.
It was clear he held back, but is coming back from injury so is not keen to push. I on the on the other hand was eyeing my pace. And if it dropped below 6:30 per km (even on the uphill climb) I was pushing to kill it. I even passed him on the downhills a few times. I know he ws taking it easy. But I could see it was still a good workiout for him. HE was sweating with the oldie, for sure! Oh wait. He is older than me!!!! :-)
In the end, 4.5 km of big ol rolling hills and uneven terrain. And in about 29 minutes. Not Bad for a soon to be 45 year old. This week I had been feeling sluggish and lame in running (freeing rain and snow didn't help much either). Today got me out there and back on the oh HELL yeh wagon.
Looking forward to my next run. Gotta get up at 630 am (uuuuugggghhhhh) to get in a nice run before work!
Woke up this morning at 7. Ready to run. Primed for a long run. 10 miles or bust. It's grey. GREY. Like Toronto grey. Not blue skies prairie spring day. But I gotta get er done. So off I go.
Holy S%$^*()()_!!! Eff You mother nature. Seriously. GLARE ICE. We do NOT get ice storms like eastern coast. Oh, but apparently we DO today. On my morning to run. GRRRR. I am not stopping I keep going. Thought for pretty much the first 15 minutes I am walking on glare ice. I think to myself: 'The pathways will be better...' And finally I find some grass and trail (sounds better than grassy boulevard don't you think?) so that I can get moving.
And then i have to cross an overpass. I take 3 steps onto overpass and immediately SLIDE BACKWARDS. I get ahold of the bannister and pretty much pull myself up the first part of the overpass. I figure 'oh its just slippy...the path on the other side will be better'. Then the downhill part...i have hands on bannister and I SLIDE right down the entire downhill part. and then trying to maintain balance wipe out where the bridge ends and pathways begins. It was rather comical. Except for the wiping out part. Good think no one was there to film it. Or see.
View from the Path!
I get back onto the pathway. And immediately decide to run alongside on the grassy trail. Its realy foggy, but beautiful. And not really that cold! So for the next 6 km its a great run. With the exception of the wipe out part. And the slipping every time I stepped onto the path. Really it was sheer (literally!) treachery.
I get a good sweat on. But honestly it was getting slippier out and I packed it in. It just was unsafe. I do not want to pike out on a run. But as I sit here at home more now is falling on top of the ice that is already there.
Of course it IS Calgary. And spring. And probably this will all be gone tomorrow. I hope. I need to get a good run in. I pisses me off to stop running. But if I hurt myself (whoohoo ice on the pathways!! Subdural Haematomas for everyone!!!) I am screwed for the next few months of running. Better to be safe.
The other day I had a crazy craving. Chocolate pudding. When I went to a local natural foods store to pick up a few essentials. And lo and behold they were sampling a pudding they had whipped up. Six ingredients. Super Easy. You can DO it, said the sign.
I tried the pudding and instantly though, hells yeh I am so making that. Grabbed the recipe and looked at it and pretty much had EVERY ingredient at home. OK Community Health. I am so trying this.
Chocolate CHIA Seed Pudding
11/2 cup almond milk (or soy if you wish)
1/3 cup Chia Seed
2 TBSP cocoa powder
1 TBSP vanilla
2 TBSP Maple Syrup or @ drops Stevia (OPTIONAL!)
Mix with whisk or immersion Blender for a few seconds. Chill for 2 hours. Bring out 15 mins before serving. Top with FRESH raspberries for extra yumminess!
ENJOY.
Pity I have made this twice now and NEVER taken a photo. It sort of has the consistency of rice pudding. But tastes ultra chocolatey and is really tasty. Gets rid of a sugary craving right away.
Note: I am not vegan. I love my meat. I drink milk...i just love tasty food. And THIS my friends is awesomely delicious!!
So While snooping for other chia recipes I came across a Quick and Easy Chia Seed Recipes for SHAPE Magazine. Good ideas for someone like me who is unfamiliar on what the heck to do with Chia Seeds!
And then I found Fat Free Vegan Kitchen. The author, Susan Voisin, has a ton of great ideas for sugar-free, flour-free deserts! yummy. Check it out! Check her out!
And, if you have some great ideas for Chia Seed...send em my way! :-)
oh YES! On May 2nd at 6pm there is a easy peasy 5km run down near the river path! Be there or be square. Come join me. Register HERE!
I am going to spend my morning getting a massage, then going down to the site to volunteer. Look for me handing out pint glasses and bibs. I'll be sporting my NEW Skirt Sports running skirt! And maybe a t-shirt. I am looking forward to working with the TransRockies peeps.
This is the FIRST time the Skirt SportsSkirtchaserhas come to Canada! So excited!! It was SO nice of the race organizers to plan a run on my birthday, dontcha think? Seriously a quickie run. Then some beer and love music!!! And, if you don't wanna run, or cannot...you can come to the Block Party. All for the price of 15 bucks you get food and 2 drinks. And a chance to party with some FAB 5km runners. BARGAIN!!
This past week I have been consumed with making a video. And well, freaking out over making the video. Will it work? ACK one of the bits filmed did not work. No wait...I missed 3 parts. Oh man the wind was blowing. This is insane....the sound quality bites. The wind is too strong....REALLY a plane just took off and now i have to do another take? oh gaaaaaaaad!!!
Just a few weeks ago the Nuun Blog announced it was accepting applications for its Hood to Coast relay team!
Nuun happens to be my favourite hydration choice before, during and after I run! In the past few years they have had 2 or 3 teams (each with 10-12 women) for the Hood to Coast relay. So when I read that they put a call out to women runners (who blog) to apply to be on their relay team. (Squeals of delight from around North America!!! Can you IMAGINE??)
The HTC relay is a 199 mile relay from Mt Hood to the Oregon coast. Sounds insane!!! It is called the MOTHER of ALL RELAYS. I am SO DOWN with that!! Perhaps I am a nutter for wanting to spend 30+ hours in a van with 9 women, each of us running 3 or 4 legs in a completely fun, awesome atmosphere. Stink? Really? who CARES!!! This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I have to do this!!
Selected bloggers (Nuun is picking 20!!) need to get to Seattle. Nuun takes care of you for 5 days, 4 nights. They say: "Bring yourself, your run gear, your sense of adventure!" Running and cheering on other fab women...This is a road trip AMPED up in a significant way!! So SO SOOOOO FUN!! Bring it! Let's hope they pick a team member who doesn't live in the States...
Last year I applied, but not via video. On my blog...see blog post app here. While i had a good story (i think!) ...a video probably shows MUCH more personality. And is more compelling.
I have come so far since 2010...lost over 40 pounds and found my inner #runnerd!
This year, I knew i needed something better. Something stronger. A video. GAH! I am a bad videographer!! What am I saying? I have never made a video...ok. DEEP BREATH here....I think I can do this. I think I have a pretty good concept. Lets hope the Nuun peeps love it! Thing is I SUCK at videos...but...I am so excited by this race and the opportunity to represent a company I really LOVE!
Hopefully my video application shows off my fabulous fun side and I am crossing my fingers (legs, toes....whatever i can!) that they pick me. Here's hopin that at some point between April 5-17 they think I have what it takes to be part of their team!!
I figured I would share my (very amateur) video with you all...Hope it shows you a slice of my whackadoo personality and makes you laugh!
#nuunhtc #pickaCaNUUNdian #nuunlove
After filming I forgot to tell them WHERE in Canada I am from...Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I live close to the mountains...so I am primed and READY to run down a mountain. Hell, I will run up it if you ask! Rain or Shine, I am down with a run!
#pickmepickmepickme
Are you applying to #nuunhtc?
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And just a few crazy runner shots of me....
Went for a Run on Monday down in the south end of the City....
Normally I run along the Elbow River on the North Side of down town by my place. But I decided to go to the City's southwest along the Elbow River. Sandy Beach is beautiful. And boy was it muddy. I didn't get messy pics of the MUD FEST that was TinaFab...just got pics of the area from the Bluff that overlooks Sandy Beach.
This morning I ran my second 5 miler race. It was a gorgeous day...Mr Blue Sky was out even at 7 am....but it was a crisp -11C (that's a whopping 12F). By the end of the race it was -6C (21F).
The Run for L’Arche was either 5 miles or half mara. Given I ran a half last weeknd, it was a good idea to do a nice SHORT race. So glad I did!
While it wasn't a PB, it really was a great run. I mostly kept my pace. Seemed to feel good the whole way. I am solowly getting over the mental part of running. That hump where "fatty voice" chirps up and says 'you can't' is slowly getting replaced with the mantra of 'Keep going! You are doing awesome!'
Of course a big part of the awesomeness of today were the AMAZING volunteers. Practically at every kilometre there were at least two people (sometimes half a dozen) cheering on runners. Clapping. Cheering. Hi-Fiving. IT was great to see and be a part of. THANK YOU!!!
So 5 miles in just over 54 minutes. Not bad. Not my best time -- I have beat that by over 3 minutes last November. But it is early days in the year. My better times and races are coming I can feel it. But best of all is how i felt while running. Yay! I love a good run.
All race proceeds go to support the L'Arche Calgary community. L'Arche is an international organization of communities that create homes and programs for people with developmental disabilities.
This past weekend I ran my first half-marathon of the season. I was a bit off my plan, since I had planned to do one in February, but some surgery and 3 weeks off running sidelined me for a bit.
Can you say RoadTrip? My RBFF Calli drove a few snowy hours early Friday to pick me up in Calgary. Then we got a big latte and took off to the border. 8 more hours to Bozeman, Montana for my my first American race - Pub 317 Run to the Pub. When we got to the border, it was noticeably warmer. And as we drove into the state of Montana, the temperature seemed to lift!
By the time we arrived in Bozeman it was over 11C (52F) - close to 20 degrees warmer at home. Hot Diggity Damn! We were freaking ecstatic. So at just after 5 pm we skidded into with about 30 minutes left to pick up packages!! oooooh....then to shop in the running store...then to the hotel.
Dinner that night was divine. We found a great sushi spot Dave's Sushi Off Main. It was great sushi. And (yes you read it here) I drank a BEER! This Canadian has found a beer she loves! Helloooooo ColdSmoke Scotch Ale. Oh holy good! (seriously I do NOT drink beer! I love it so much i brought home two cases!)
So ... the race... well I finished in 2:30. I was feeling pretty good most of the race. Though I knew getting out of the gate I was not on the pace I wanted. I just wasn't "on". Now maybe it is because my training was not optimal and I wasnt fully ready. Surgery in January. No running January 27-Feb 11. But the route was scenic. GORGEOUS. So just deal and run. Breathe in the fab mountain air and enjoy an amazing spring day! Its freeing at home...get going! And post-race I felt great! I did feel a little disappointed that I finished 6 minutes off my best time. I was a bit sad I didn't have a PB. Once I got home a friend reminded me ... It's March: You finished less than 6 mins off your best time. You had some surgery 2 months ago and had 3 weeks off. Shut UP! Celebrate this run!!! He's right.
It was a great weekend. I have tons of pics of a fab arty town. We are so coming back!!!! Thanks Bozeman for a FABULOUS weekend! xo
I was thinking today that Saturday will be my FIRST race out of province. Well. It really isn't. Last Octover I drove several hours to Kelowna, British Columbia to a half marathon.
But on Friday I leave for my FIRST DESTINATION RUN! In the good ol' U S of A!! My first one out of the country. Funny, how I didn't think going to the next province was a big deal. BUT THIS IS!!
I am off to Run to the Pub 2013! Hot Diggity Damn. how can this not be good times. Half marathon. Pub. Road Trip with my BFFCalli. GOOD TIMES. 8 hour road trip. That is once she drives almost 3 hours to ME!! Are we nuts? I think so.
And we have matching shirts from Run Pretty Far. Green and says "Luck be a Lady". AND... Orange and Green Sparkle Skirts. Do we wear one, or both?? Pulease. Can you say PB. or Best Time. Or hellovagoodtime? YES! (oh yes....you just WAIT for the action photos!!!)
Oh CRAP. I need to pack. Wait. its 11 pm. I have to go to bed, go to work and THEN pack at 6 tomorrow night when I get home. 5 am departure time on Friday is looming.......
