2013: A year in review

Once again, I had an awesome year! Here are some highlights from the past 12 months.

January

Started in Jamaica! We took the trip to a friends wedding without the boys and had a good time even if we discovered that we're not really AI people.

Coming home, meant back to reality and the start of training for marathon #2. I raced Robbie Burns 8k again and advanced my AG placement while nabbing a new PB. 

February

We moved into our forever home after a very stressful home selling process. We are NEVER MOVING AGAIN:

I continued to embrace running in the cold as best as I could:

March

I began to seriously consider attempting more than just a 5 minute PB attempt in the marathon when I raced the Chilly Half Marathon

And Wayne and I killed our training run at Around the Bay

I also turned 36 and the next day left my soul sucking bank job to head back to a place where I feel at home: The Media Advertising agency. So I celebrated both:

April

At this point in marathon training, it seemed as if we had been running in cold, wet weather forever. There were a few Eff IT moments, but we pulled through with a great final training run on the Mississauga course to build our confidence for that first Sunday in May. Of course, I rewarded everyone with a Taper Cake

Race day strategy came together and I handled the taper very well.

May

Marathon #2 This is where I had my most exceptional running day. This is when I knew I'd make it to Boston one day.

Wayne and I ran the whole thing together, it was just a great day!

June

June started with my now annual Bread & Honey 5k race, where I pretty much shit the bed (as Sam would say). I looked great though:

I also solidified my fall race plans which did not include a marathon at my husband's request and Sam and I embarked on our very first #embracethesuck/ Jack Daniel's Running Formula training plan. June also saw me become a regular pre-work runner and I must say, I vastly enjoy it over the usual night time run even if it does get a bit lonely. 

July

We went on our first ever week long camping/trailer trip and loved ever second of it

 I ran three times while we were away and truly enjoyed each run, even if it was the week it was stinking hot in SW Ontario

In July, I also finally got my 5k PB and AG placed in a race for the first time ever! Of course, I looked awesome doing it:

August

August was a little rough for me in terms of running because I was having such trouble with my stomach. I tried to attempt my first ever pre-work LSD but had to abort due to said stomach. I never did find out what happened, but the issue hasn't returned, so maybe I just picked up a bug of some sort. August saw me run the longest distance of the second half of my year when I paced the Midsummer Night's Run 30k, 3 hour continuous group. I loved it and hope I can do it again next year.

September

The final push. Sam and I worked JD hard and got prepared to go after that late October race. Along the way we both PB'd at prep half marathon's, me at the Milton Half Marathon even though my stomach kinda hated me that day as well.

October

The most awesome unplanned race at the half marathon in Picton during the County Marathon. Everything was in place for the fall goal.

The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon.

 Except, it didn't quite come together for me. While I earned yet another PB at the half marathon distance, I just didn't have the race I wanted to, physically or mentally. I took a lot of learning from that race, especially what to do when races go sideways and I came out the other side a much better runner. Not a bad way to finish half marathon #10

November

Redemption called and its name was the Road 2 Hope Hamilton Half Marathon. I got the race I wanted and I soaked it up

Then, I went on a run streak for 14 days, but still managed to enjoy some down time with my #1 supporter:

Finally, I launched right into Boston Qualify attempt marathon training with Sam and another Jack Daniel's plan. More importantly, I launched my Make-A-Wish campaign to raise funds for Wishes for Olivia (please consider supporting me if you can).

December

And finally, the end of the year. There have already been some meet up runs in Burlington, some treadmill tempo runs. Snow runs

And even a 16k treadmill run. I've gotten sick and gotten off track the past few weeks, but I'm committed to making the Boston standard in May, which means 2014 looks like its going to be another awesome year.

Total KM run: 2,500km (1,553.43mi)

Total time spent running: 239h2m28s

Happy New Year, see you on the flip side.

Review: Lululemon running shorts and top

Look. I'm not a fashion person. I tend to always heed my mum's advice to buy "Classic" clothing items which are well made so that I can wear them for years to come and still be in style.

In terms of running clothing, I have a few things working against me:

1) I'm cheap

2) I don't really care about fashion over comfort

I've been racing pretty non-stop since 2011 when I ran my first half marathon:

Look. I matched my tops.

But I've always been more concerned about how I felt when I raced, than what I looked like:

Bread and Honey 15k, 2011

Zoo 10k, 2011

Hamilton Half Marathon, 2011

Chilly Half Marathon, 2012 - a windbreaker from MEC

Around the Bay, 2012 - I look good here, no? 

Niagara Falls Half Marathon, 2012 - another good look, right?

There have been man-shorts (what I deal I got on these! On clearance for $4 and still one of my fave pairs to run in)

Mississauga Marathon, 2012

Midsummer Night's Run, 30k, 2012

So I'm sure it is no surprise to any of you to learn that I've never purchased anything at Lululemon on my own. My husband has spoiled me by purchasing me items there (because all of his friend's wives had those hoodies too), but never have I set foot in the store to buy my own stuff. When I left my old job, the going away drinks coincided with my birthday and my lovely colleagues got me a $100 gift card for Lulu. I decided that I needed a new marathon outfit and for once, I was going to be vain and get something a bit more fashionable (though I'd be totally fine in my man-shorts again. They really are awesome).

So I bought this:

I even got a manicure to match my nails!

Groovy Run Shorts and Mile a Minute Tank (in freaking hot PINK!). I'll give you moment to have a good chuckle at those names.

 My hat is my beloved Nike Golf hat which the Globe and Mail gave out at their golf tournament last year. My shoes are Brooks Ravenna 4s:

I ran in this outfit last Sunday when I did my final LSD run of 34k. I wasn't expecting to find true (running clothes) love.

But I did.

Ohmifreakinggawd.

Are you kidding me with this tank and these shorts? The are seriously AMAZING!!!!! 

Shorts: Sit below the belly button and stay in place. They have built in gel pockets in the waist band and a drawstring for a tighter fit. They didn't rise up with the potential to show my 36 year old mum-ass to the world and with the build in undies (and some strategic Vaseline), I had NO chaffing (none. Nada).

The top. When I tried on a million four different tops in store, the sales girl (I can call her a girl, I've got at least 15 years on her) kept telling me that I'd love the Mile a Minute Tank (Jesus, that NAME!) because it was really supportive. I kinda rolled my B-cup eyes (in my head), but thanked her for the tip. 

Well. 

Never have I been more supported. I mean, I never really noticed the fun-bags flipping and flopping around in the past.

(in fact the only time I've been bothered is when I was nursing and out for a long run and had gone too long between feeds. Rocks. Man. If you've nursed, you know. If not, carry on)

Support has never been a concern for me. But. 

But!

Being properly supported with this silky, soft (stupidly named) tank top was amazing. Like the shorts, the top stayed in place and didn't chaff at all. I didn't use the internal boob key pocket, so I can't comment on that. 

This outfit is so seriously amazing, that I'm considering spending $126 of my own money to go buy the exact same thing in a different colour. That's the price of shoes for the sake of John Stanton!

So, you've got a convert you over priced reasonably priced for the value, hippy, yoga store. 

And now, my fashionista running friends can freely run with me instead of just pretending that I'm a good pacer. So my friends, if you're planning at being at the finish line of the Mississauga Marathon on May 5th around 11:30am or so, look for me.

I'll be the fashionable one.

Lululemon did not give me a thing for this review. But I will take anything they have to offer.