Overdid the Weekend :)

I had a feeling this was going to be a long weekend and for sure it was. :) But still all the "stuff" had to fit into 2 days.
Last Thursday and Friday were days off; Thursday on purpose and Friday by accident since I went shopping in Halifax after working.  Shopping should be considered exercise anyway; I wasn't sitting on my behind.
Saturday morning was early with pick-up hockey at 7 am then getting ready and heading to Taylor's yard sale fundraiser for a couple of hours before taking Holly to hockey.  After getting home and warming up, eating lunch, and knitting a bit of sock, I dressed and dragged out the door for a long run at 3:40 pm!   That is LATE for November in NS.  I knew I was going to end up running into dark, but I still went. 
I should likely have done the loop backwards, honestly. I planned 14+ km, but almost as soon as I left the house, I regretted my route.  Still went, but regretfully. Why?  I was RACING the next morning, and All I could think was, I am going to be SO tired tomorrow. I am going to be SO sore tomorrow.  What was I thinking?  Apparently I wasnt thinking.  SO I went off up College road (with sidewalks) and back around to McWilsons and up Queen Street while it was getting dark (no sidewalks...see? Should have been backwards).  It's a pretty basic route without a tonne of challenge besides a couple of hills. 
Anytime after 13 km I was hoping Scott would come and get me, and sure enough he did, it was getting dark and he saved me the climb up the hill at the end; 13.7 km 1:23:47 or something like that ;)

I rested the rest of the evening and actually went to bed sort of early after doing tonnes of laundry.  The clothes I wanted for the next morning were clean now but wet (poor planning). 
We got up at 4:30 am the next morning for the race in Halifax; Lucky 7 Relay.
My friend and I, and my new friend were the Chicks with Kick!  :)

The relay was around Halifax Commons; each member ran 7 km for a total of 21 for the team.  4.75 laps of the commons, actually.  Um, would not an out and back course have been more fun?? This was actually pretty good for spectators as we got to see our runners like 4 times before the end! 
We got to Halifax and met new friend Kris at about 630 am.  It was CHILLLLLY, at about -6 C. 

Kris had planned costumes for us and they did not disappoint!  LOL We were the Chicks and we dressed as chicks!  Complete with feeties, feather wings, and beaks! 

Sexy sweat pants not for the run.

The costumes were cool and let us wear our warm clothes along with them.  Although I dumped the sweats before running. Not cool.

 

The sun warmed us up a bit, so although toes were frosty, it was bearable. I ran the second leg, which means waiting for an hour and 15 minutes after the first leg started to run. COLD.  It was way cold to stand around that long.  We jumped and danced and cheered our runner on to keep warm :) We ran up to the beginning and back to the end.  Im thankful for my down coat to warm me! 

After Kris ended her speedy run, we went back to the cars to dress (and walked to get warm) and considered the walk back a bit of a warm up for the laps to come.  But I think I was about 2 laps in before I could feel all of my toes. 

 

Bring sexy chicks back

Speedy Chick

I started out with hat and gloves but passed those off on laps 1 and 2. I did warm up pretty fast.  The sun was so nice!  I only saw Scott once although he must have seen me more for all the photo fails on my phone. It doesnt do well with speed. 

I thought I was going faster (;)) but finished my laps in 37:43 ish (gun time was like 38:20 bummer!) But the run was ok on super tired and tight legs from my poorly planned long run the night before.  It's all good.

Then the cold set in.  I was done but Soaking wet (sweaty runner coming through) and I couldnt change into my dry clothes because judging for the costumes was AFTER the race!  UGH!  Im generally a get-outta-the-running-clothes-ASAP sort of person, because I get intensely cold after runs.  Thought I might need a hot tub to warm up after this one.

I piled on a wool blanket that Kris had brought (she was super prepared) and got my hat back on, then slowly started adding more after Dara had left for her leg; Sweat pants back on, Jacket back on (even tho I was getting it wet :() Left off the gloves as they were just way too wet.  Stayed wrapped in the blanket. I went to the food and got some oatmeal and a muffin; the oatmeal warmed me a lot :) About an hour after my run I stopped shivering violently. 

Once Dara was finished we walked to the cars (again) and got ready for costume judging :) we went back to the basket ball courts where runners had gathered for awards, and they passed out prizes and awards.   

Running Royalty

Coolest photo ever ;) there was an Olympian among us; Eric Gillis ran all three legs of the race with the last being fastest and I got to watch!  He was great to see running, effortless (he might not agree) :) He was kind allowing photos afterwards, and I am pretty sure after meeting me, he wants me to come and train with him somewhere warm this winter (wishful thinking). 



 

So this was successful and we are already planning costumes for next year :) Very fitting ones, I might think. 

 

Think that would be it for Sunday but naw, had other things to do. After I finally got to change to warm clothes and picked up a coffee, we headed home for hockey. I had a game and I spared afterwards for another team who was short a goalie.  2 hockey games later I went home to dress for Annika's game and my soccer game immediately afterwards.  Soccer season has started with a great loss and a ball to the face. LOVE it.

 

After totally overdoing the weekend I think I deserved my Monday rest day. 

Return of the Nice Temperatures

at least for a little while, its' not near as cold as it was last week or as it usually is in NS in the middle of November. We have often had snow by now, but Ive not seen a flake.  It was 19 C yesterday.  And nice the day before. Today it is raining and 6 C. Nice change :)

After lots of thinking about what I wrote last Thursday, I am feeling better about the running. I feel a little more on track in the past 5 days.  Yeah 5 days!  that's worthy of note.  But it's all about feeling on track, feeling like it's managable, not overwhelming or like a fail all the time. Sometimes getting in the runs, even if someone might call them junk miles, has to be a worthy goal.  Keep going. Burn calories.  Worry less about the "training".

Thursday I went out for a nice 10.13 km run. I didnt quite mean to, it was a little long, but it was a nice rainy warm day and I got the run done :) And still made it out in time to pick up kids :)  Some hills, nothing serious.  1:02:07.

Friday was a little crazy even tho work was not, I fill time quite well with meetings and stuff.  I slipped out for a shorter run of 8 km (50 minutes) with Toni that went around town. This usually gives us a little break time :)


10 years old!



Friday night Annika had a sleepover party for her birthday (she's 10!) and we did not get much sleep. I went to hockey at 7 am the next morning but spent the rest of the day doing bows, hockey game for Holly, marking, and pretty wrecked. Discovered Weeds on Netflix; decided to watch all 5 seasons :)



Top Rookie



Saturday night we went to the 4H auction and Awards and Annika won Top Rookie of the county, while our club was top club. It was a good night for us, although VERY long with tired children who ended up feeling sick :(



Sunday morning I got up early and prepared for a long run with Jillian.  We are going to do some long runs together; She's good inspiration, very chipper and cheerleader ish, and she makes me run a little faster.  I likely slow her down a bit, which is good on long runs. We don't so much run together as run the same route a few minutes apart which allows me to run with someone near but still have my time and tunes.  She doesnt let me lose sight of her LOL.  We went 13.5 km (more or less) in 1:20 which is a decent time.  The weather was perfect at about 6 C and sunny.  It was a good run.

After the run I had a nap and rested as we had a hockey game in the afternoon. 

 After 4 losses we finally won a game. No great glory as now the team we beat has never had a win and it's not much fun to be only better than someone who has won less :(

Monday was a lovely sunny warm day; I was totally lazy most of the day, I finished up bows and watched more Weeds.  Much Weeds :) I am not sure we have much Netflix preview left.  I need to finish up to the end of the fourth season ASAP. 

But in the afternoon I was lured out for a nice 9.8 km run around the streets of Bible Hill :) It's good to have running friends!  :)  9.8 km in 59 minutes.  SIGH. It was about 20 C and pretty muggy.  Got some gardening done. :)

After working all Monday night, it was Tuesday and time for lectures and exhausted noon runs.  Toni and I did a little 5.2 km run (the AC 5K loop) in 30:50 enjoying the again very warm temps.

I am glad we did since Wednesday brought about a cold, damp rain.  We still did the same loop, another 5.2 km, but instead of being nice and sunny it was rainy and we dodged rain puddles.  It's super puddly. 

Which catches me up to today.  It's getting too hard to remember where and why I went where I did!  :)

Year Long Running Goal

Every year I've been set a km goal.  If Im keeping track anyway, I might as well have an idea how many km I want to run. Last year I set the goal at 1800 and fell short, so this year I set the same goal.  And Im not sure how but I passed that goal on my noonhour run today, November 13th, 19 C sunny day.  1803.2 km run, no more to go.  Imagine how many more I can get before the end of December!  Much thanks I am sure to my running buddies who always kept me accountable and out the door even when I didnt especially want to be out the door!

What is a reasonable goal for next year?  Im wanting to run a spring marathon....hmmm

Hello Strangers

I hear the echos out there as no one is reading this tired blog; it's a vicious cycle as I feel what s the point if no one is reading it?  and if there's nothing posted no one comes to read.  This started as a log for me to keep track of my stuff but really, since there's bloody little running going on around here, and not much other than eating ;) then there isnt really even anything to write.
Work is kicking my ass.  Im up so late at night and using so many of my off-hours to "work" not to mention still having home and family to take care of. The kids have such busy schedules and getting MY stuff in can be hard. I am going to steal a few minutes here shortly but Im taking 15 minutes while I am waiting for someone to write a few Blog words.

Other than work there is no reason not to be running. The weather has been decent, no body parts are having issues.
Although After a long run on Sunday followed by a hockey game, I did wake Monday morning feeling like my hip was broken.  I mean, coming out of joint, tearing muscle and ligament while it did.  I had trouble walking.  There was no injury, maybe I slept funny?
Tuesday it hurt less and I took it for a run, it wasn't painful to run.
Wednesday it was naggy
Thursday it was like it never happened.  Weird. 

I have a few minutes free here and there and really it's not enough time to change my clothes let alone run.  I should be using the fall weather for biking, hiking, running; Im in an office all the time instead. SIGH.  It's turned cold this week and I am going to spend the next 5 months kicking myself for not running enough.

Wondering if I should consider a spring marathon?  Training through the winter SUCKS ASS.  Its unpredictable and cold.  And Im not a cold weather person at all. I run through the winter but I cannot say I love it. Im always cold!  But I do want to do the Hypothermic Half this year so maybe that is just incentive to do the marathon in the spring rather than fall? no excuses about return to work and Cross country coaching in the spring :):)  I wonder if its' possible that we will actually get the weather they are forecasting for Monday and Tuesday; sunny and 14-15!

Now I am just rambling. Update:  I only have a few more km to reach my year goal of 1800.  I should be through it now and on my way to 2000 but whatever. Im going to finish it this year after falling short last year so I am glad about that.  I could almost walk the rest of 2012 and still get to 1800. lol

Better go; might have time to see that someone before I get out for my run.