Resolution Run

I picked up the "kit" today. It was a few flyer's and a great (if BRIGHT) jacket.

I also enquired about the half marathon clinic which starts January 25 and targets Mississauga.

I'm 98% sure I'm signing up for the clinic and will run the race (in other words, walk the walk if you will).

(the 2% is if the instructor says I can't do it as I'll miss 3 long runs).

For the Resolution Run on Friday, the weather is going to be 9C and raining. My goal is to beat my 38:50 time from the Jingle 5k.

Its the most wonderful time of the year...

Except not for this runner.

Last week, I signed up for the 5k Resolution Run which takes place on December 31st at 5pm. This is a perfect race to, 1)Beat my Jingle run time, 2)Have an excuse to over indulge later that night. However, after a great week last week, I've yet to run at all this week.

I'm finding it hard to fit it in with my older son at home this week and by the time everyone is in bed at 7:30pm, I'm just way too tired to want to bother (I'm still up 3 times a night with the baby).

The good thing is that I don't really feel like I'm in any kind of mode right now. I'm not too worried about hitting a time like those I hit in my pre-pregnancy 5k races and I'm not training for the half marathon yet, but I do feel... sluggish.

Of course, maybe that's my nightly 11pm, 2am, 5am, and 7:30am wake up calls.

Santa Jingle 5k Race report

Whee!

38:50.

Totally not my best race (by a long shot), but one of the most fun I've been in.

My friend Florence got to my house on Friday evening around 8:30pm and after we made some adjustments to our suits (basically cutting the legs to our height) and had a few drinks, we went to bed around 10 to get ready for the 6am wake up call.

Of course, with a non-sleeping newborn, I was also awake at 12:30am, 3, 3:30 and 4am before the alarm went off at 6am. I rolled over, hit snooze and then got up nine minutes later and stumbled to the washroom to get dressed.

Flo joined me for toast and yogurt and pretty soon the entire household was awake (except for the baby - of COURSE!) and my oldest son was quite thrilled to see the two Santa's off:



After a stop at Tim Horton's, we got to Burlington in plenty of time to park, use the washrooms and hang out waiting for the race to begin. It was really cool to see 3,000 Santa's all waiting to run the race.

After quite a while (we were way too early and they started late), the gun went and we were off. I had promised Florence that I would not leave her, so I settled in to encourage her to keep going and to point out the kilometres as they passed by. For me, it was an easy run/walk but I was quite glad to initiate someone else into the world of racing!

With one kilometre left, we decided that I would run out the last one at my own pace and wait for Flo at the finish. So I did.

I had targeted to get both of us to finish in 40 minutes and I did it in 38:50 with Florence completing her first 5k race in 41:16. She's hooked and I'm hooked on this race as it was so much fun!

Next up is likely the Robbie Burns 8k in January!

I'm back and racing again!

Race day cometh!

And I'm not prepared.

The good news is that neither is my racing partner!

We've decided that we are just going to go out for fun, bring our camera's and enjoy running with 2,800 other Santa's!

Secretly, I'm hoping for a 40 minute run, but I've promised not to leave my friend who has asthma and has run less than I have so we'll see how it goes.

My running has gone down the drain because I spent a week sick with a chest cold and infection. I was given penicillin for it, but then the baby started to get hives, so I had to stop taking it and just ride out the cold. It turns out that the drugs likely didn't cause the hives (phew!) as he kept getting them even after I had stopped. Oh well.

I ran on Wednesday and I felt strong, but could feel that breathing was a bit hard. I'm worried about running in the cold, but the forecast for tomorrow is 4C so I think I'll be fine.

I'm looking ahead to the Frosty 5k in March as some other friends of mine are looking to run it. In the meantime, the goal is to keep running twice a week through the holiday's and then to train for distance and stamina in the new year before starting to prepare for the half marathon in May.

I'll let you know how we do and share some photos of our race on Saturday!

Week of November 15, 2010

On Sunday evening, I looked at the calendar and quickly calculated that there was not much time left until the 5k run I had signed up for so I decided that I had to get a better handle on consistent training.

I started out strong, running 5k in 40 minutes on Monday (yes, the baby cooperated) and then... nothing. To my credit, I was out all week (Doctor Monday - the three month old is almost 15lbs! Play dates Tuesday and Wednesday and the dentist on Thursday with my older son). I did think of running back to my parents from the dentist (3.5k - they were watching both boys while I got my teeth cleaned), but it was raining and well, I'm a wimp. I did manage 30 minutes on the treadmill tonight for a total of 3.5k.

I know that I have to just stick to a plan of running at night if I don't get time in the day, but motivation escapes me so often. Maybe I should just pay the half marathon fee and then there would be no skipping allowed.

At least I'm doing something. On my last mat leave I relied on lugging my baby around for fitness.

A runner is born!

Tonight, my husband was home from work early and I was cooking prime rib for supper,

(What? doesn't everyone have prime rib on Tuesday? - It was still frozen solid when we tried to have it Sunday and Monday nights are a write off due to lessons)

so I was able to jump on the treadmill for a 30 minute run without having to watch the monitor for a crying baby the entire time (whee - I could enjoy "Say Yes to the Dress"). Needless to say, I was stoked to be able to hop on and bang out 30 minutes doing 3 and 1s.

What I didn't count on was my own personal cheering squad:



You guessed it. My almost four year old son decided to come down to the basement with me to watch me on the treadmill. I didn't think he'd last five minutes (as our basement is an unfinished abyss without toys or anything fun), however he spent his time alternating between cheering me on ("Go Mummy, go!"), "running" beside me and playing with the cat (I do think he watched a bit of "Say Yes to the Dress" as well). When I was finished, he jumped on the treadmill and banged out a minute at a 1.5 pace, "jumping" to the sides to have a drink and wipe his sweaty face.

I can't wait to race with him.

Nov 9: 30 mins, 3 and 1s, 3.7k
Nov 4: 30 mins, 3 and 1s, 3.7k

Success x 2!!!

I've had two successful runs now while the baby slept!

WHEE!!!!

The first was on Thursday and I ran 3.5k in 30 minutes doing 2 and 1s.

The second was today (November 1st) and I ran 3.1k in 25 minutes doing 3 and 1s (the baby woke up about 24 minutes into the run so after I settled him down, I decided to shower and stretch rather than tempt fate a second time just for 5 minutes).

I think the goal will be to do at least two daytime runs and then get one good 30-35 minute run in at night after the kids go to sleep.

In other news, a friend and I have signed up for the Santa Jingle Run on December 11th in Burlington. Some of you GTAers may know this run as they give you a Santa outfit that you MUST wear to participate! I can't wait! This is totally going to be a fun run with no expectations at all except to finish.

I'm toying with attempting one race per month (the Robbie Burns 8k in January seems interesting), but I think I'll see how November goes first.

I'm going to do the Mississauga half marathon in May for sure and will likely follow an internet group as I can't do long runs on Sunday mornings (my husband plays hockey). I can't wait to start training and have targeted January to start the plan. I'm wondering if it is worth it to sign up with the Running Room online or to just go it on my own. I will ask some of my real life runner friends, but feel free to offer advice here.

It is like someone doesn't want me to return to running...

This guy.

I've attempted two runs this week. I've run 4.35km in those two runs, settling nicely into a 2 and 1 pace, however Fergus keeps waking up crying. Those two runs and 4.35km took 4 attempts to complete!

This means that I'm going to have to return to running in the evening once my husband is home and on the weekend. My plan is to run Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, building up endurance and speed until I'm close to the 5km in under 35 treadmill minutes I had mastered last year.

I'm proud for the attempts regardless, I'd just like to finish out an entire 30 minutes.

10 months....

It has been 10 months since I last ran (Dec 15th - I was about 4 weeks pregnant and I threw up!). Today, I got on that treadmill and banged out 2.9k in 25 mins.

I'm pretty proud of myself.

I didn't really have a plan other than to put 30 mins on the timer and give'r. Once I started, I tried to maintain a 3 and 1 pace, but that wasn't happening at all. I quickly settled into a 2 and 2 pace which was fine. I was chugging along and the time was counting down, but then the baby started to cry (he was napping upstairs when I started), so I let him cry for another minute (insert Mother of the Year award here) and finished out 25 mins.

I feel good... now.

Right after the run/walk, I felt like throwing up! HA! While I had eaten a good breakfast (banana, oatmeal, coffee, water), I had also nursed the baby before hitting the treadmill so its likely that my blood sugar was a bit low. A quick yogurt changed that and now that I'm showered up I feel good. We'll see if there are aches and pains later.

The only thing I'm going to say is that I need a more supportive running bra. Right now, I'm uh, bigger than normal (totally due to nursing the baby) and not being in the right bra hurts! I don't know how people who are normally DD's run. They must strap the girls DOWN. HA.

Anyway, this is the first run toward a plan of racing, but that plan can be told in another post. For now, I'm happy that I actually got back on the treadmill and look forward to recovering my running ability and passion.

BABY! and a plan!

So.

As they say, better late than never.

Fergus Malcolm was born via unplanned C-Section on August 15, 2010 at 6:06pm. He was 9lbs11oz and 22 inches:



Next Friday, it will be two months since he was born and I'm itching to get back to running with the goal of completing the Mississauga Half Marathon in May 2011.

I aim to run for the first time tomorrow or by next week at the latest. This means a return to blogging as well!

Until then, let me show off a bit more:





Cheers! I look forward to many more positive training updates in the near future!

8 months!

As promised, here I am at 8 months pregnant (last week). It has been hot and humid in the GTA (however right now it is lovely!). The evidence is my hair!



I also am so big/low that I had to purchase larger/longer tops so that my actual belly wasn’t hanging out.

Still feeling good.

Still missing regular physical activity.

1.6k!

It is true!

I walked 1.6k today (in about 22 min).

Now that I'm 31 weeks pregnant, my aim is to get a daily walk in, hopefully at lunchtime. It was a muggy day in downtown Toronto, but it didn't stop me.

Of course, this is nowhere near the 5k, 35min runs I used to do, but it is something I can track again!

The walking is part of my plan to VBAC. Here's hoping it helps! The fringe benefit is that I can blog a little bit again.

Look for an eight month photo next week!

Half-way there... photo

Here is what I look like:



That was taken about 2 weeks ago, about half way through (20 weeks, 2 days - according to ultrasound). I know I look huge, but keep in mind, I'm only 5ft tall. I'm actually doing better this time around!

I miss running. I've read all the Around the Bay posts and this past weekend was the Harry Spring Run Off. The weather has been AMAZING (+20!) and I've seen tonnes of runners out and about. Don't get me wrong, the baby is 100% worth it, I just miss the thrill of meeting a goal. I feel like keeping up with races and runners that I "know" via their blogs will only help to motivate me to return (hopefully in September sometime).

Congratulations to everyone out there running and racing. You are inspiring!

27 weeks… give or take

I’ve figured out that that is how long it’ll be until I can begin running again/ training for my first half marathon.

Sigh.

I can’t run right now. I can only walk fast.

Thus the lack of updates to my blog (which is a running blog, not a pregnancy blog).

This pity post brought to you by the fact that I spent a lot of time reading various race and training reports this weekend.

Not Since Dec 15

I haven't run since December 15th (when I vomited while on the treadmill - but still finished the run!).

I have been alternately tired, sick, or generally BLAH.

I do know what is wrong with me though:



I'm about 15 weeks along and starting to come out of the fog!

Plans! Well, plans include trying to get out for jogs or fast walks in the next few weeks. I have been going to Curves about once a week, but that's a quite recent addition (I've caught every single sickness I could have and lost 5lbs between months two and three!).

The goal is NOT to end up at 193+ lbs (I never got weighted after 38 weeks last time) this time and to successfully have a VBAC, so exercise will be important.

Sigh, I miss running. I hope to get back to something like it and soon.

Oh yeah, I'll be half marathoning in May 2011! Whee! Its awesome to put that on paper!

Right

Right.

Got the all clear from the doc on Wednesday to get back to running. I had pulled a muscle in my upper back sometime over the holiday’s so I had stopped running while it healed (perhaps lifting my 35lb three year old is not the best thing for my 5ft self anymore). The plan was to get running on Saturday on the treadmill while the kid napped (yes, my three year old still takes glorious two-three hour naps daily). Alas, I woke up on Saturday with a self-diagnosed case of gastroenteritis.

Ugg.

I had the whole kit and caboodle, let me tell you. Suffice to say, running didn’t happen.

AGAIN.

F&*K.

I’m really rather pissed.

Now, my husband is telling me that the treadmill is STILL acting up (chugging). I have to wonder if our 100-125lb weight difference will make a difference to the performance of the treadmill, but only time will tell.

The new plan involves getting back to Curves this week and onto the treadmill at least once for a 30 min or 5k session – depending on how I feel/how the treadmill is. Then if the weather stays warmish at the weekend, I’ll get out for a jog.

BAH. I’m so discouraged. Most people start a New Year full throttle and I can’t even get out of the gate.

The end of one, the beginning of another

So.

What a year end I had.

It did not involve running or meeting my 500km goal.

Instead it consisted of a pulled back muscle, bronchitics and a sorry old treadmill.

Despite the trifecta above, we did enjoy our holiday's and tomorrow, I return to program of sorts.

I'm going to begin slowly on the treadmill at night per my winter routine last year and if I feel up to it, I'll move outdoors to longer distances on the weekends. I'm targeting the week of January 18th to come up with some kind of 2010 plan.

Happy New Year to all!