Marathon Training Week 12: Run this City

As I write this I am listening to a crazy wind storm outside my window, which has me thinking about all those people on the east coast of Canada and the USA and hoping that they (you) are staying safe during this crazy hurricane/tropical storm. This kind of weather is no joke!

Crossing my fingers that it is over soon!


On a separate note, here's a look at how my training went last week:

Monday: Cycle Pump (75min)
Tuesday: 5km run
Wednesday: 5km run
Thursday:  Spinning (30min) Strength training (30min)
Friday: Hot yoga (75 min)
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: 18km run

Total distance ran: 28km


Here's what I learned.... about running in the city:

There are tons of things in Toronto to look at and see and running without music is a lot easier then I thought. Two of my three runs (including my long run) were iPod free and I really enjoyed it. I will bring music to the marathon but only revert to it if I really need to.

Running into downtown is kind of amazing. Yes its a net downhill and so obviously my favorite thing ever, but the view is a close second. Toronto just looks cool, you know?

Training for a marathon is tough when there are traffic lights and crazy, maniacal people pulling out of driveways and making blind left hand turns. You have to be alert and be prepared to stop more often then planned. Following your training plan is important but so is not getting hit and actually being able to attend the race.

City layout is like a built in race, at least as far as water stations are concerned. Its not free but its actually cold and comes in a portable container.

Cities are full of lots of people which also means lots of other runners, which serves as a great motivation. Its hard to slack off on a downhill when someone speeds past you going up the damn thing!

Once you are done with all your crazy running business you can also "run" errands because everything you need is right there. Other patrons may not appreciate my stinkiness but I am all about efficiency and they will just have to accept that.

Secret: If I could pick any other city to run in it would be New York, mostly because I desperately want to run in Central Park. Until then, Toronto has got my heart!

Not to sound all mob boss on ya, but I'm proud to say I run this city!


So tell me , what's your favorite city and why?

Work It Out Wednesday (WIOW) and a 60 Day Countdown

After waking up pretty grouchy and dealing with one issue after another at work I decided that today's workout needed to be a quick but challenging 5km run. After a long day and mixed emotions when it comes to running I figured pounding out a 3 miler would do my mind some good.

Mission accomplished.

I also spent a part of my limited free time today thinking strategy when it comes to the marathon. With 60 days (OMG!) to go I want to make sure that I am as mentally prepared as physically because something tells me this is going to be a test of my wits as much as my strength and endurance.

Here's the deal:

It's a marathon so it's 26.2 miles or 42 kilometres. That's an insane amount of distance and I don't really want to think about it- at least not in those terms.

I'd rather break this bad boy into parts.

We start in the good ol' U-S of A and complete the first 6 miles there. That's the first objective: Just get home to Canada. Like it or not I can't quit for at least that distance because the Boyfriend doesn't have a valid passport and can't rescue me when I call him with a fake injury.

Next point of interest is that after the first 6 miles, the water stations are only a mile apart. Given that I have been training with 10 and 1s anyway and I walk through water stations as a general rule, this will divide the rest of the race up quite nicely.

If you are not quite following along, the plan is to run to each station (which ideally will take about 10 minutes anyway) then walk through the stations, thereby avoiding the almost inevitable water spillage and or choking hazard trying to run through them would cause.

Now, as far as fueling is concerned my body likes gels and Clif Bloks and does not like most liquid fuels (aka: Gatorade, eLoad etc) So the plan is to drink water and consume the electrolytes via the food-like stuff. I will take the first dose at the 50 minute mark and then another 1/2 every 40 minutes. All told that's about 4 gels total (assuming I stick to gels).

Given that I need water shortly after a gel and don't want to be weighed down by a hydration belt, I will probably change this up a little when I am out there. I will probably also make the Boyfriend bring me Cherry Blasters but that's just because I'll use any excuse to eat candy.

As for race attire I am thinking cropped pants and layers on top. The weather for the end of October is typically crisp in the mornings with increasing temps through the day. Seeing as I will be running for hours and hours and hours (and hours and hours) I will need to be prepared for an increase in air and body temperature. Clothes won't actually break up the race for me  but I kinda promised myself my first pair of Lulu pants for the occasion so I guess it can't hurt either right?!

So here it is; I've got eight weeks, which means 7 more long runs to practice all this genius planning and tweak it if necessary. Since I am not even remotely willing to risk having another race like last weekend, I am definitely sticking to the old "nothing new on race day" advice.

I'm determined to rock this so let the countdown begin!!


So tell me, what advice do you have for this rookie marathoner?

Marathon Training Week Eleven- When It All Falls Apart

This is not the post that I wanted to write. I've had to write one like this before-hated it then, hate it even more now.  But if there is one thing that I have learned along the way its that sometimes when you have to emotionally dig deep, there is a lesson to be learned. A lesson which was learned the hard way, as many good lessons are.

Before I jump into it, here's a look at last week's training:

Monday: Cycle Pump (1hour 15min)
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: 5km run
Thursday: Rest
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 22km run
Sunday: Recovery

Total Distance Ran: 29km

Here's the story:

Sometimes you can do everything right, like for-going the third drink at the wedding, scaling back on training during a taper, drinking lots of water and getting a lot of rest and things can still go terribly, terribly wrong.

I went into the MidSummer Night's Run with the most humble of intentions: to finish the run.

30km, especially given my training thus far, is a force to be reckoned with. And like anything of that magnitude I had the utmost respect. I did not expect it to be easy. I thought I was prepared.

500 metres into the race it became obvious that my body did not agree.

Extreme abdominal cramping like I have never felt before.

Despite my best effort to push through it and control my breathing I had to drop to the side and try to catch my breath. Less than half a kilometre into the race and I was already walking. Not a good sign.

It was humid- that kind of humid that amasses before a storm and makes the air feel thick. That kind of humid that it even worse then beating sun, which would have been a welcomed alternative.

I tried my best to maintain my speed and keep up with the pace group but I was over taken by unavoidable cramping and had to let them go. My heart sunk as they gained more and more distance on me and I knew that I was struggling more then I could have imagined.

It was only the sixth kilometre.

I pushed when I could, tried to steady my breath and pull air deep into my diaphragm but the emotional damage had been done. I was feeling defeated and I wasn't even a third of the way in. Twenty two more kilometres might as well have been a thousand. Impossible is impossible whichever way you look at it.

Text message to the Boyfriend: "I can't do this"

I plodded on for another twenty minutes seriously considering dropping out. I knew I was about to see the Boyfriend and desperately wanted it to be over. Until I didn't. I managed to get into a steady, albeit slow, pace and the cramping had partially subsided and I started to believe that I maybe, just maybe I could do it.

I wanted to believe it.

When I reached the Boyfriend I ditched my running belt, waved off what was supposed to be a "look how happy I am to be running this race" photo and plodded on. The next leg of the race was a gruelling out and back on a thin slice of land with no option to give up. It was exactly what I needed and the worse thing possible all at the same time.

The cramping returned in full force after only a kilometre. The water on the course was warm. The breeze was thick and hot. I was completely miserable.

I pushed when I could, wanting to keep running and becoming increasingly frustrated because I couldn't. I didn't even need to regain my original pace- all I wanted was to finish the race. Nothing is more infuriating then willing your body to cooperate and coming up empty.

The time on the Leslie St. Spit seemed endless. I was tired, disappointed, in pain, hot and confused. I was running south for what seemed like forever and grew more weary as the minutes ticked by. How far could I possibly have left to go before the turnaround? How was I so far behind the pace group who had passed me on their way back? There was no way I would make it to the 21km checkpoint before the cutoff. I was done.

Except I had turned without even realizing it. And that realization was so small but yet big enough to renew my hope that however slowly it would be, I'd get through it.

Until the pain mounted again and I was forced to jog so slowly that I was being passed by speed walkers. I couldn't speed up and I was too panicked by the time to slow down. 135 minutes of pain and I wasn't anywhere near the finish line that I so desperately craved.

I wanted to cross that finish line more then anything in the world at that moment.

Tears started to flow. I was so angry and so frustrated that I couldn't help it. Eleven more kilometres seemed so impossible. I tried to tell myself that I had already made it nineteen but I didn't need reminding. The heavy ache in my legs was enough to know that I had come that far. And that going the rest of the way would be more rough then I could really imagine.

Pain in my abdomen. Pain in my chest. Pain in my legs and feet.

And then the hardest thoughts crept it. "Just quit. This is torture. No one should put themself through this"

I wanted to fight those thoughts and I did my best but at 21 kilometres and the news that the water station had run out of water I gave in. Even my walking had slowed down. I had ignored the sign to stick to the right and just kept trudging ahead, tired and crying and wanting to be away from this race, this nightmare.

I saw the Boyfriend, who had come to look for me when he realized something must be wrong, and bawled my eyes out. I heaved and sobbed for every step I had taken that was now for nothing. I wasn't finishing the race. I was giving up. I was a quitter.

But, and its a big but, I realized that I am not a quitter at all.

I did not finish the race but I endured more of a  physical struggle and mental challenge then I have ever gone through. For three hours of my life I fought through pain, discomfort and a gauntlet of negative emotion because I was determined not to let it go unless I absolutely had to.

At 8:30 last night I had to.

I am disappointed that I didn't complete the race, that I don't have a shiny medal to hang with the rest of them but I also know, as I sit here with sore legs and tell the story I didn't want to tell, that I had the courage to start and that means something.

I could choose to focus on the 8 kilometres I didn't run- the 8 that are the difference between a finisher's medal and a DNF- but instead I will focus on the 22 before that.

I can't get down on myself about 22 kilometres. Two years ago that distance was only a dream to me. And yesterday, however slowly, however begrudgingly, I covered the space against the odds that were against me.

I would have been proud if I had run a great race and gotten my PDR. But the absence of that milestone only means that I am proud in a different way.

I pushed myself when I could but I also recognized when going on was no longer an option. In the face of failure I decided I had another option: To not view not finishing as failure at all.

Will there be other races? Hopefully. But today isn't the day for me to make that decision. Today I will just try to forget the hurt but always remember the lessons that I learned the hard way.

Thank you for being there with me through this journey and this story.


So tell me, have you ever had to give on something that you wanted only to gain more from the defeat?

A Wedding and Some Pre-Race Ramblings....

As I mentioned yesterday I had the honor of being a guest the wedding of a longtime friend of the Boyfriend's (who I also know from high school). It was a beautiful day for that kind of occasion and on top of being lucky to have one another, I'd say the happy couple had a lot of  good fortune on their side!

The bride and groom looked gorgeous and were glowing with love and happiness. Don't you just love how you can feel the adoration at a wedding? I think that is pretty much my favorite part!

Oh and the food. This was an Italian/Peruvian wedding so the food was in abundance and it was absolutely amazing!! Everything from the yummy anti-pasto bar to the incredible dessert table was fantastic and kudos to the banquet hall for providing the best vegetarian main course I have ever had at an event (eggplant Parmesan...to die for!!)

And because I am running a crazy long race today (hello 30km or as the Boyfriend says, the 30,000 metre dash!) I only had a martini and a beer and then chugged water for the rest of the night. The discipline I exerted with chocolate martinis floating around every was astonishing!

The sweet table is another story. That was carb loading though *wink*

Speaking of the race, as I sit here typing this I am 5 hours away from the start time and starting to get that mix of excitement/nervousness. Thoughts running through my head are ranging anywhere from:

• What the heck do I eat before a night race??
• Holy sh*t its hot out there today!
• 30km? Am I really running this??
• 30km, I am totally running this!!
• I wonder if the Boyfriend will bring me Cherry Blasters at the 20km mark??

The afternoon is going to be spent relaxing, trying to get some easily digested carbs into my body and packing for the race. I am pretty picky about that last one because there is nothing worse then getting to a race and realizing you forgot something (and with how nervous I get I wouldn't be surprised if I forgot shoes!!)


Next time we meet I will have a story to tell one way or the other. Fingers crossed that its a happy tale of a great race experience and a new PDR.

Wish me luck!!

(Also running the race are Cynthia and Aneta...go wish them luck too while you are at it!)



So tell me, what's your favorite part of a wedding? Are you running any races this weekend or coming up soon?

Am I Mid Summer's Night Dreaming?

Alright, it's official, I am running 30 "omigod have I lost my freakin' mind" kilometres this Saturday. That's right, The Mid Summer's Night Run will be completed as originally planned, or I'll die trying (which at this stage is also entirely possible)

You heard it here first.

So why all the "oh I hate running, it makes me so sad" whining to turn around and profess such a grand intention only a few days later?

What can I say...I'm fickle like that.

But seriously, it came down to a few things.

• I hate going back on a plan, even if its a plan I made with myself. In all reality I could have probably stayed home and ate Doritos and that vast majority of the planet would have been none the wiser, but I would have known and been slightly judgmental about it. Can't let that happen...
• I'm not ready to give up on running (see the point above) and I need to get my ass back in the game. What better way then a race with people who are all suffering  battling through the same challenges as me. And where The Boyfriend is waiting at the finish line, expecting me not to show up in a cab.
• I paid for the race. I like money..a lot and thus, I am not cool with throwing it away. And $65 is a lot for a t-shirt and a mini stick of deodorant.
• I want to finish it. I mean, I am not really jazzed about the 29 kilometres I'll trudge through to get there, but that last kilometre is gonna feel so sweet. And crossing the finish line? Magical!
• When a Boston Qualified friend suggested that I drop down to the 15km option I really didn't want to. That was my gut talking, because believe me if I was looking for a solid out that would have been it.

So yeah, I've got a few days to mentally prepare and physically get my body in racing/super long run shape. That means limited caffeine, very little alcohol (I'm attending a wedding on Friday or I would say none) a small lake worth of water, wholesome food and good quality sleep.

Then all I need is a miracle and I should be good to go!


Wish me luck!

And hey, to my Toronto running friends: If you are doing this race let me know so I can look for you and say help me hello!!


So tell me, how do you know when to trust your gut and when to listen to advice?

Marathon Training Week Ten- Considering Some Options

As I write this I am still battling a flu that hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday. Being down and out and once again unable to train for the marathon has given me a lot to think about with respect to running. While I haven't made any concrete decisions since writing this, I have been weighing some of my options.

First let's look at a run down of last week's training:

Monday: Cycle Pump (75 minutes)
Tuesday: Rest day
Wednesday: Triple Threat (20 min sprints, 20 minute strength circuit, 20 min spin sprints)
Thursday: Rest day
Friday: Spinning (50 min) Hot Yoga (60 min)
Saturday: Rest day
Sunday: Sick day

Total distance ran: 3km

Here's what's been on my mind:

I'm not caring for my body as well as I should. I definitely need to hydrate more, sleep better and stress less. Despite all the things I do to focus on health, I am lacking in three major areas.

One major reason that I don't like running these days is because I don't feel like I am getting better at it, at least not the way I hoped. Not training enough and failing to put water back into my body are not helping the cause at all. I need to get my act together if I am going to continue to do this.

I'm not sure if I want to run the 30km race I have planned for this Saturday. There may be the option to drop down to 15km and actually feel accomplished (and alive) at the end. But, on the other hand, if I run it I will set a PDR and hopefully renew my passion for this training program. Sure, it could also go in the other direction and I'll dislike running even more but at this point I'm not sure I have a lot to lose.

Running is hard for me and I really don't like when things are hard for me. It's another big reason why I am not improving and disliking it more and more each day. I compare myself to other runners and get frustrated that I am not as good as them; that I might never be as good. I know you are supposed to run for yourself but its hard to measure success without a gauge and unfortunately that barometer is other people sometimes.

Not everyone is meant to run a marathon. I am quite sure I am one of those people. Yet, because I signed up and committed to it I don't want to give up on it either. It's tough to decide whether giving up this dream is the best or worst idea for me. To be honest, I am not even sure it is a dream anymore. I've still got a lot of thinking to do on that one...


Thoughts this Week: It's funny that I expected marathon training to be physically tough but so far it's proven to be more of a mental/emotion challenge for me. If nothing else I will learn a lot about myself, which is one of the reasons that I signed up in the first place.


Well I'm off to drink about 17 litres of water and try to get a good night's sleep. If you need me I'll be in bed... or the bathroom.




So tell me, what is one thing you could do to improve your health right now? Do you like a challenge or would you rather do something you are good at?

Work It Out Wednesday- Intervals

Have I ever mentioned how much I love interval training?

It's intense. It's a sweatfest. The time flys by.

Really, what's not to love?

Today's workout was an awesome triple threat: running, circuits and spinning.

On the treadmill:

2 minutes at sub 8:30/mile, 1 minute walking

Repeat for 20 minutes.

Holy moly, I was dripping! I probably could have convinced someone I hit the pool and swam laps I was so soaked. Love it!

Next up, the floor work.

Tabata circuits (20 seconds full out, 10 seconds rest) including squats with bicep curl, mountain climbers, tricep dips and seated ab twists with a weight.

Repeat for 20 minutes.

More intensity (a literally almost puked in case you were wondering)

Last round, the bike.

Spinning sprints (30 seconds hard, 30 seconds recovery) Add varying tensions and out of the saddle sprints throughout.

Repeat for 20 minutes

Sixty unbelievably tough but quick minutes I was done. I had sifficiently had my ass handed to me by this workout and I loved every second of it (well, except the almost barfing part)

I totally earned that sweat and wore it with pride. You just gotta own it, pit stains and all.

Lesson learned: I started out with an "I don't wanna work out" attitude but made myself a deal. Go to the gym and give it 30 decent minutes and you're done.

60 ridiculous minutes later and I was so glad I dragged myself to the gym in the first place.

All and all, a great Wednesday!

So tell me, do you ever make deals with yourself in order to do something you aren't overly excited about? What are your terms to get a work out in on an off day?

*Today's photos courtesy of my new iPhone and Instagram

Give It a Rest Would Ya??

With all the hoopla of marathon training, a love affair with spinning and a renewed interest in amping up my strength training (more on that to come) I have started to notice that I am less and less inclined to take days off. With everything I want (need?) to do, it just doesn't seem possible to skip a day and fit everything in. So low and behold I squeeze in a sweat fest on as many days as I possibly can, which lately is most.

Given that I want to be active and fit that's a good thing right?

Wrong!

I'm not an expert but if I know one thing its that I am in love with my new iPhone. If I know two things, its that everyone, including the pro athletes of the world, need rest.

Muscles need time to repair. Brains need time to heal. Joints need a break.

Bottom line: Rest is key

I find that I need to remind myself of that over and over again, emphasizing that over training can be just as detrimental as under training and that a day off is good for me in the same way that a intense weights session is.

Note to self: Rest is good.

Truthfully, there are other reasons why I sometimes shy away from rest days:

• Exercise is a great way to work through the stress of the day

• Exercise burn calories. In short, that means I can eat more. 'nuff said!

• Exercise is one of my biggest hobbies so I am kind of lost (aka bored) without it.

• Exercise is a habit/routine that I don't want to fall out of. One day here and there isn't enough to break a habit but one can lead to three can lead to....you catch my drift.

Regardless of the reasons, I need to really wrap my head around the whole concept of rest being good for my overall fitness not in opposition to it.

I can read a book or take a bath to de-stress and unwind, eat well no matter the day or the activity level because it all balances out in the long run, explore new hobbies or rekindle old ones (crotcheted scarf anyone??) and commit to a lifestyle that is not all or nothing in respects to exercise, food or otherwise.

Say it with me..Rest days are a good thing!

I doubt it will be hard to learn to truly appreciate the fine art of being lazy around here....



So tell me, how many rest days do you take a week? What's your favorite thing to do on a rest day?

Marathon Training Week Nine- When Feelings Change

I will start this post off by saying that I have spent the better part of today thinking about whether I should write it and then the last hour or so whether I could. It's hard to reach deep inside and talk about our struggles but I also believe that it is through those conversations that we become stronger; that we learn more about ourselves and who we want to be. So I will write this in the only way I know how: honest and real.

Here's how training went last week:

Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 11.5km run
Wednesday: 1 hour 15min Cycle Pump class
Thursday: 6.5km run
Friday: 1 hour 15min Cycle Pump class
Saturday: 23km long run
Sunday: 50 min spin class

Total distance ran: 41km

My struggle:

I don't know if I want to "be a runner" anymore.

It's not that I don't want to lace up my sneakers and pound out a few kilometres ever again. I just don't know if I want to be associated with a runner's club that I don't quite feel like I belong to.

I'm not sure why, but that membership now feel a bit fraudulent.

The truth is I don't really like running at least not in the way that I feel I should to dedicate so much time and energy to it.

You know things have shifted when you've described it as torture.

I have stopped feeling as accomplished as I used to and nowadays there is less and less to counteract the feelings of boredom and discomfort that come from the sport.

I ran my longest distance ever and had to force enthusiasm to get rid of feelings of inadequacy and disappointment that were generated by the thought that I should have done better, gone faster, pushed harder.

I felt like I let myself down. And I bawled my eyes out about it.

Then I got up this morning, looked at my schedule for the day and realized I was signed up for a 10:30am spin class. And I was ecstatic! I couldn't wait to get there and sweat my ass off for an hour. I literally craved the exhaustion and the burn and the feeling of satisfaction that I knew I would get once it was over.

It was everything I hoped for and more. I almost teared up in the middle of class because as I dug deep and felt that sweat literally dripping from my face I remembered that all those feelings of "not enough" were misguided. I will give it my all if it is in my heart and soul to do it. So what's the problem?

Running no longer equals passion for me.

One things I know is this; If, at the end of my life I were to measure the quality of the years gone by it would not be by the number of kilometres ran but the days spent smiling and truly happy.

So the question I struggle with remains. If running doesn't make me happy (and other things do) why do I bother to run?

Am I afraid to give up?

To be seen as a failure? By someone else? By myself?

I do not know.

I don't know what I thought that I would get to the end of this post and have the answers. It's not the sort of thing you truly figure out in the course of an hour, a day or maybe even a lifetime. Happiness is the constant, the cause is bound to change, grow and evolve.

I'm not sure what this means for the marathon. Odds are I will move ahead with the training and try to achieve my goal. That being said, I will not live in misery for a goal that, by the sheer fact that the path to get there became so bleak, will have lost it's meaning anyway.

To be continued.....



So tell me, do you have any advice? Is this burnout? Has something similar ever happened to you? If yes, what did you do?

Two New Things: A PDR and the Best Fro Yo EVER!!!

I woke up bright and early thig morning (on a Saturday, blech) for a scheduled long run that I had committed to completing with Cynthia. Because I had been having such a hard time actually getting out the door for my long runs lately I knew firm plans with a running buddy was just the thing I needed.

Breakfast was munched in the car because I was desperate for every extra minute of sleep I could get. Judging by those eyes, I certainly needed a few more!

After meeting with Cynthia and giving my Garmin a little extra charge we headed out. The plan was a 24km out and back along the Lakeshore in Toronto. Easy Peasey, right?

Umm...right.

Or not.

I am not a fan of running (walking or breathing) in the humidity and it was obvious to me from a few kilometres in that it was going to be very warm and sticky. The sun refused to duck behind any clouds, leaving us out in the open, women versus the scorching heat.

I (unlike Cynthia, who is a hot weather running freakin' superstar) will lose that standoff each and every time.

At least I am winning at being a totally hot running chick! Err..actually scratch that accolade too while you are at it.

Getting to the half way point wasn't completely horrible. I knew the humidity was getting me so I took some walk breaks and slowed my pace as Cynthia charged on ( I am positive she was a desert roadrunner in another life)

The way back was another story. I had rolled up my shirt in an effort to try to get my skin ventilated because my body felt like it was on fire, but I am pretty sure some significant damage was already done. I was hot, my legs were heavy and my mind slowly going to the dark place.

Uh oh, the dark place.

With every step I started to hate the sun, my socks, iPod, water bottle, fuel belt and ear phones even more and I was seriously (and I mean seriously) contemplating whether the marathon is a good idea for me.

If given the opportunity to drop out while I was at kilometre 20 you bet your ass I would have!

So let's fast forward, knowing that the run (or at least the back half) was one of these sucky "I hate this, why do I do it to myself" kinds of runs but I have been at this long enough to know that they happen and you move on.

On the bright side, I did get a PDR to tuck under my much aggrieved running belt: 23km. In your face 21km half marathon..in your face!

Oh and I didn't quit the marathon when the chance did arise. Yay me!

Now for my favorite part of my entire life day

Self-serve frozen yogurt with a mega stocked toppings bar? Where have you been all my life??

To say that we were excited for this trip, which was months in the making by the way, is an understatement.

Think kids going to Disneyland and a birthday party on Christmas morning and you've pretty much got it understood.

I got cookies and cream and banana split fro yo with pretty much every topping they had. Between the giggling and squealing and the overload of yogurt goodness the teenagers working there must have thought we were as stoned as they were (tasteless stereotype alert!!)

We made sure to tell them we had just run for a bazillion hours which only served to make them think that we were completely crazy given how hot it was outside. They probably still think drugs had something to do with it to.

Nope! All natural runner's high baby!!

And a touch of sugar high when we were done too.

I'm in heaven! And it's walking distance from my house.

There goes future hopes of that hot runner chick award.

Oh well...I'll drown my sorrows in fuzzy peaches and red velvet fro yo instead. Totally hot is way overrated anyway.

So tell me, what's something new you tried recently? Have you have had self-serve fro yo??

Marathon Training Week Eight- Other Loves

Hi everyone! I'm back from a long, pretty much unplugged weekend away at the cottage and ready to get back to my daily routine. It's funny how much I miss the predictability of the every-day when my schedule gets interrupted huh?

Here's how training went last week:

Monday: 18km (on the treadmill...who am I??)
Tuesday: Zone 8 spin/strength circuit (1hour)
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: Rest
Friday: Zone 8 spin/strength circuit (1 hour 15min)
Saturday: Spinning (50min)
Sunday: Rest

Total distance ran: 18km

Here's what I learned:

I like spinning. Alot. I mean I always knew I liked it, but if I were in the eighth grade I'd be at the stage where I am writing spinning on my notebook and drawing hearts around it. It's a bona fide workout crush I tell ya!

Right now the only thing I am loving more than spinning is spinning with strength intervals mixed in. Eight minutes on the bike, eight on the mat with a focus on all major muscle groups. Repeat for 1 hour or more. I swoon!

All this spinning and strengthening has taken my interest off running, at least for the time being. Sure I ran for 2 hours on the treadmill last week and felt pretty good the entire time but that was it for the week. And you know what? I'm going with it. Like I said last week, I am not going to torture myself. I am going to do what I love and what I feel motivated to do. And it's not like I am sitting around eating potato chips..I'm still sweating my ass off! (and then eating a few chips hehehe!)

When it comes to running these days I would actually rather run on the treadmill than outside. I'm not sure why exactly, but I am guessing that I like the lack of humidity and smog/air pollution plays a big part in it. And I know "they" (you know "them" right?) say you aren't supposed to train too much indoors but the way I see it is running inside is better than not running at all. As it stands, I'll take what I can get.

This might be my one and only marathon. I don't plan to give up running entirely but I am interested in exploring other things next year like biking, a sprint duathlon, a Warrior Dash (or similar adventure run), a return to kick boxing and possibly become certified to teach spin. Running is a great part of my overall physical activity, but I don't want it to be the be all, end all. Let's be honest, I am bored way to easily for that!

Thoughts this week: The marathon (and running in general) is so much more then a physical test. I am learning a lot about pushing my own limits, dedicating myself to a goal and persevering through tough times. I started this because I wanted to prove to myself that I can do something I never thought possible. I will finish it for that same reason. I won't win (not by a few hours!) but I will have accomplished so much more. That' moment is why I do it.


Hope you all had a great weekend!


So tell me, are you a creature of habit and routine? Do you like spontaneity and surprise or predictability?

Marathon Training Week Seven- But I Just Don't Wanna

Hey friends! How are you surviving through all this heat?? (assuming of course that it is hot where you are) Today was the first day in what feels like forever that I didn't absolutely melt when I hit the sidewalk. Humid weather, like the stuff we've been having here in the Toronto area, completely zaps me of energy so I am looking forward to some more seasonl temperatures in the next few weeks.

Here's a look at how my training went last week:

Monday: Strength training (1 hour 15 min)
Tuesday: 5km run, Spinning (30min)
Wednesday: Elliptical training (1 hour) Jillian Michaels workout DVD (45 min)
Thursday: Rest
Friday: 2km run, Elliptical (15min)
Saturday: Spinning (50min)
Sunday: Spinning/Strength (50min)

Total distance ran: 7km

Here's what I learned:

Sometimes I don't want to run. Like really don't want to run. Marathon training or not, I am simply not going to torture myself for 2 hours if I am actually dreading my long run. So this morning I opted out and I am okay with it. This is about my health and my happiness more than anything else.

Finding what sweaty form of activity you love is a crucial backup plan for "The thought of running makes me cringe" type days. This weekend it was some hardcore spinning. It was a great choice!

Marathon training is 5 months of your life and interests are bound to change. I am confident that I will be back in the running game next week but until then I am all about making my body and mind feel good. I mean really, the Olympic gold medal isn't at stake if I skip a run here and there right?

Sometimes you have to focus on the positives of summer (trips to the cottage, ice cream, thunderstorms) because when the thermometer creeps to 48C/118F there is a LOT to be sour faced about. (I am so not a super hot weather girl)

All crankiness about heat and lack of motivation to run aside, I really love to break a sweat (except when I am sitting on a bus in traffic and its 2 million degrees but I digress...) I went to spinning twice this weekend because I really wanted to get my exercise groove on. I love that!

Thoughts this week: I don't live and breathe running the way some people do and I am perfectly fine with that. When I love it I will do it and when I don't I will scale back. Like most things, the relationship has its ebbs and flows and I am prepared to go with it. The most important part to me is that I feel driven, passionate, motivated and accomplished. I will get there however I can, as long as I get there!

Hope you all had a great weekend and managed to stay cool!

So tell me, what is your favorite non-running way to get your exercise groove on? Do you ever love doing something one day and secretly kind of hate it the next?

A Change Will Do You Good..

I briefly mentioned it in previous post, and while I don't often mention too much about what it is that I do between the hours of 9am-5pm, I thought I should revisit the fact that I was recently promoted (Yippee!)

Why? Well other than liking the idea of sharing good news on my blog it also effects my workout schedule pretty significantly. In the past I was able to work out on my lunch breaks, which meant running with co-workers,  teaching classes like Cycle Pump and Tabata Circuit and having lots of time for the rest of my life once the day as over.

Needless to say, lunchtime workouts were a huge bonus in my life.

Now, due to a heavy meeting schedule, I can't fit it in during the day, which leaves me with two options: Get up early or find the motivation (and time) to go after work.

Lately after work is winning because I deeply value the extra sleep but depending on the day (or what cool stuff is happening in the evening) I may make a few pre-work trips to the gym too.

What isn't changing is that fact that I am going to go the gym. No. I will go. And you will make me. Do we have a deal??

It also means a change to my rest day(s). Since I clearly have more time to sweat it out on the weekend now I am no longer planning to rest on Saturdays. Instead I will do biking or spinning (like today) and rest Friday when I am wiped from a long week at work and not wanting to hit the gym at the end of the day.

Change happens. I'm rolling with it.

Speaking of change, I decided to give myself a little makeover:

People are always telling me to lighten up...they meant my hair right??

I thought so too.

You know what's not changing but should? This heat wave! I hate to be the girl that complains about summer but c'mon! There's hot and then there is this. I am not down for this.

Heat? Humidity? Doesn't Mother Nature know I am training for a marathon?? Gimme a break would ya!

And to think there are people who are all "I love this weather...summer rocks!"

Some people's interests are so self-motivated. Sheeesh! *wink*


So tell me, what's the best change you've made recently? Do you hate the extreme heat or are you weird and actually enjoying it?

Marathon Training Week 6- Hot, Hot Heat

Wow! I can't believe it's Sunday already. I feel like I just wrote the post about leaving for the cottage and its already time to come home. While I am not liking leaving and heading back to the city even a little bit, I am pretty sure the week will fly by (wishful thinking right?) and it will be time for weekend antics all over again.

Here's how last week's training went:

Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 9km run
Wednesday: 3km speed session, 30 min spinning, 5km run
Thursday: rest
Friday: 6km run, taught Cycle Pump (45 min)
Saturday: rest
Sunday: 20km run

Total distance ran: 43km

What I learned:

Run when you can, rest when you need to. This applies to long runs as well as running in general. I found that there were days where my body wanted to take it easy this week and I let it.

Running in the summer means getting up early. Seeing this time on the clock on a Sunday is annoying when you like sleeping in as much as I do

Getting up for a long run and realizing you don't have: your running belt, iPod arm band or gels might have detered non-marathon Sam. This Sam though needed to make due (money in shoe, iPod in hand, Powerade along the way)

While running in a cute matching outfit might seem like a lot of fun, there is no, and I mean no fun when you chafe the hell out of your inner thighs and have to keep going despite the stinging pain. Shorts might not be a reality for me afterall (I tried BodyGlide and it didn't work) unless I magically acquire thighs that don't touch (more wishful thinking)

It's absolutely okay to walk. I did it alot today and I am fine with it. In fact, when its hot as hell at 9am not-walking is NOT an option

Thoughts this week: Training is going well. There have been a few medical setbacks and hot weather running is challenging but all and all I'm feeling good about running again. The marathon distance still scares the hell out of me but I am also confident it will still to feel a little more manageable as time goes on and the weather cools down.

Hope you all had a great weekend!!


Attention Runners: I am starting a series featuring runners with all different levels of experience and stories to tell. Whether you are a beginner or you've been running since middle school, whether you are working on your first couch to 5k program, are training for your first big race or have completed several marathons I would love to feature you!

If you are interested in being a part of this series send me an email health.happiness.skinnyjeansATgmail.com


Also: Join in on #fitblog chats this Tuesday at 9pm EST. I will be the guest moderator and would love to hear your thoughts on Healthy Living Obstacles and How to Overcome Them


So tell me, is it super hot where you are? What's your favorite thing to do when it's scorching outside?

Get Yer Motor Runnin'...

Alas, the perpetual wait for Friday at 5pm is finally over and it's time to get the weekend started right!

It supposed to be like 11 million degrees again this weekend so I am so pumped that The Boyfriend's parents have loaned us the cottage. Goodbye cement city and good riddance!

My bags are packed and we are about ready to jump in the car and get going. Of course I made sure not to forget any of the important stuff.

If you run and blog I think its virtually impossible to go away for the weekend without at least 23 chargers. Phone charger? Check! Garmin charger? Check! Camera charger, memory card, SD reader? Check!

Its ridiculous.

Oh and looks who's totally torn about me going away and leaving the place unsupervised for a few days.

He'll be having a couch scratching party before I even get on the highway I'm sure.

On deck for the weekend:

Biking (30km)
Running (18-20km)
Blogging (daily)
Relaxing (no maximum)

I can't wait! And on that note, we're off.

Have a great weekend everyone!!


So tell me, what are you planning for this weekend? What's the one thing you always forget when you go away for the weekend?

When You Just Need to Sweat...

Wow! I can't believe all the positive response I got to my post. I am so pumped that so many of you read it and actually liked it. Thanks a million for all the feedback and link love here and in Twitterland today. As always, you're the bestest! (Its a real word I swear)

Ultimately when it comes down to it the biggest thing that will impact whether I read a blog isn't how fast of a runner you are, how interesting and creative your recipes are or how many marathons you've ran. It's how good you are at keeping it real.

If I can sense a genuine awesomeness about you I will want to be friends with you. And because I can't pick up and move to every state and province (or convince you all to come to Toronto...although you should, you really should) I can be the next best thing: your blog stalker friend.

There is no perfect way to blog or template that will make you more popular. So just be you. It's the same way you made friends on the playground and it'll work on blogland too I promise!


Fitness/Health Update:

After a 5 day, doctor ordered, fitness hiatus I felt a need to get in the gym and just sweat today.

Isn't it funny how our fitness perspective can change? A few years back I was lucky to make it to the gym once every 5 days and now that same span of time off feels like eternity!!

Not wanting totally over do it I decided a slow and easy run was just what the doctor (would have) ordered (had I have consulted her first...oops!)

5.5miles in an hour. Not too shabby and I got all the sweat I was looking for and then some. Sweet!

The plan for the rest of the week is that there is no plan. I am going to take it day by day and see how my body feels. Hopefully I'll get some more sweat-sessions in but if not, that okay too.

There's always next week.

Well, that's it for me... I'm off to get ready for tonight's #Fitblog chat. Hope to see you there!


So tell me, how has your fitness perspective changed in that last year or two?

Marathon Training Week 5: When You Can't Run

It's the end of another week and I am happy to report that I am finally starting to feel like my old self. I want to thank you again for all your support as I battled this ailment. And as much as I hate having illness get the best of me, I am very grateful that I am also able to bounce back to be a total weirdo regular ol' me in a short amount of time.

Here's what last week looked like:

Monday: Bootcamp (40min)
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: 2mile run, strength training (15min)
Thursday: Sick
Friday: Sick
Saturday: Sick
Sunday: Sick

Total distance ran: 3.2km

Here's what I learned:

While a class may not feel difficult while you're taking it, it can totally kick your ass! My legs and butt hurt until Friday after Monday's bootcamp.

Sickness sucks but it happens. It will derail training and you'll hate it but at the end of the day possible long term damage is not even an option for the sake of a long run. Take the advice of your doctor, boyfriend and pretty much everyone else and be lazy. Not sure how? Ask a cat..

Missing a week of running won't derail your training plans. You'll get back into it slowly and be back on track in no time!

But its okay to make yourself feel better with a splurge on an item you've been wanting for a while. Just call it a "healthy living tool" (which it is) and it's completely justified!

Take your time getting better and before you know it you'll be hammering out another 18km long run. Until then, enjoy relaxing and not having that feeling of "needing to do something" is really good for you too.


Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. Stay tuned for more fitness-related stuff in the very near *fingers crossed* future!


So tell me, what recent splurge are you most excited about??