Hello? Hello?

Okay, so I haven’t fallen off of the face of the earth.


Simply, I’ve been unsettled in terms of running and running plans, so I haven’t been writing.

After training for so long and for so hard, I was determined to ensure that the balance of May was dedicated to taking things easy and not forcing myself out the door to run.

The good news is that I still long to run most days, I just need to figure out how to put it into the day. In the three weeks after the marathon, I managed to average about 30km run per week in as little as three runs, so that is nice, but it is now where near the average of 59km I was running in a week leading up to the marathon. I realize that this is okay. I’m not bound to hit 50+ k every week, nor will I be able to with everything else that is going on in my life.

So what is going on? Well, for starters, summer has hit us here in SW Ontario and both Alasdair and I are playing baseball:

This means that I’m on the field at least once a week for my own fast pitch game and I’m taking Alasdair to the diamond every Tuesday for his league (Skiing is Ken’s sport, Baseball is mine). Alasdair also has swimming lessons on Friday evening and power skating starts this Wednesday! Yes, he’s a busy boy. Ken wants to get back on his bike for more trail riding this summer so he has “first dibs” for post-bedtime activities considering I spent all winter running!

I’m trying to fit my shorter runs in during the workday at the gym (at least twice a week) and then getting a long run in on Friday mornings as I work from home Friday. I will be starting a new training plan next week in an effort to build up to the MidSummer’s Night Run 30k in August and I do have a 5k race this Sunday in Streetsville.

So, I’m still here, just not as active (hee – punny) as I’ve been. Never fear, I’m sure I’ll be back to regular posting soon.

11 Randoms

I was tagged by Robin and Caroline and here are my answers!

Here are the rules:

1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

So, 11 Random things about me:

1. I’m growing out my hair and CAN’T wait until I can put it in a ponytail again. I always lose my hair post partum so I always chop it off.

About a month post partum with great hair (before it started falling out)

By five months, my hair was all gone!

My last haircut - in December!

2. I used/use cloth diapers for my babies – our favorite brand is Fuzzi Bunz
3. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University – my major was Theatre history, theory and directing with a minor in Film and TV history and theory
4. I work as a media strategist at a big Canadian bank
5. I played zero sports in high school but was a competitive dancer, attending tournaments in Las Vegas and Florida
6. The longest distance I ever ran before I took up running at age 30 was 800 meters in grade six
7. Recently I’ve reduced my make up to just mascara and powder (because I have blond eyelashes)
8. I rarely wear make-up Friday-Sunday unless we are going somewhere important (grocery shopping doesn’t count)
9. I only JUST bought my first lululemon running item (long sleeved top) and I LOVE IT!
10. I love major league baseball – go Jays!
11. My dream job would be to work in the marketing department of the Toronto Blue Jays

From Robin:

1)What is the worst thing you've ever eaten? I can’t really think of anything right now – I tried quinoa as breakfast last week and it was gross despite the brown sugar and cinnamon
2) What is the most exotic place you've ever visited? Hmm – I’ve been to New Zealand and I’ve been to Australia, but I’m going to go with the Carcross Desert in the Yukon
3) If you won the lottery what would be the most important thing you did with the money? I’d do something that would help children – especially hungry children
4) Biggest pet peeve? People who show up at a meeting late – always
5) Are you a commuter to work? Yes, I take the Go Train – Whee 3 hour commute a day in total.
6) Favourite TV show? I love Amazing Race and Top Chef
7) Do you get enough sleep? Not lately – Fergus woke up at 4am today (I did lay on his floor until 515 though)
8) Have you ever experienced what you think is a miracle? – I’ve had two kids
9) Biggest goal for 2012? – Finish the Mississauga marathon
10) Winter or summer? Fall
11) Favourite person – My husband and my sons – a three way tie

From Caroline:

1. What is your favorite brand of running shoes? I’ve only worn New Balance
2. Favorite book you have read recently? The Hunger Games Trilogy
3. Letterman or Leno? Letterman, but I never watch – I’m in bed by 10pm
4. How are you today? Tired!
5. Who is someone you admire? My neighbour Vivette – she’s amazing
6. Reality TV: yes? no? if yes...confess the worst...I won't tell anyone Yes! I like Survivor, Amazing Race, Top Chef, Chopped
7. What makes you laugh? My kids
8. Why are the Kardashians famous again? No idea - I’ve never watched those shows
9. Favorite Olympic moment? – Crosby’s goal
10. What is something you cannot stand? People who are always late for meetings
11. When is your next race? March 4th! Chilly Half Marathon

I will not be tagging anyone as pretty much every blog I read has been tagged!

Getting excited!

And nauseous.

And excited.

And nervous.

And excited.

And I'm not the only one!

I don't know if I've mentioned, but the half marathon on Sunday falls exactly nine months to the day that Fergus was born. In fact, at 4am on Aug 15, 2010 I had my first contraction. At that exact time on Sunday (May 15, 2011) I'll be hearing the alarm to get up.

Today, my girlfriend gave me the following shirt that, along with my husband's help, she had made to help me celebrate:



That's the front. The back is what is awesome:


And proud?

Yeah, just a little!

The Work Boyfriend (WBF)

Do you have one? I do.

Kinda.

The work boyfriend is the guy who you hang out with at work, going for coffee's, lunch, smokes etc. You chat on MSN and gossip about co-workers.

You are both in relationships or married, but if you weren't....

Anyway, my WBF and I don't work together and never have. He is a supplier to me and we just happened to hit it off immediately and thus became friends outside of work. We go out for drinks and lunch and he came to my wedding. He complains about work and life and I do the same to him. We offer each other a sympathetic, other-sex ear.

My marriage doesn't suffer as a result of my WBF. In fact, my husband doesn't care about our 'relationship' at all. I guess our marriage is solid enough for any stupid bouts of jealousy like that. I'm not sure what my WBF's wife thinks of us. To be honest I've never really met her, nor has WBF met my husband. The only exception was the brief time we spent with them at our wedding.

I'm about to head out for lunch with him right now. We should have gone out drinking but things have not worked out for us to get together in the past month or so and thus we are conceding to lunch instead. I'm sure a pint of two will be consumed, but it is not the same thing.

I've always been a joiner

Really, I have. Of course, I consider myself a leader as well which is why I'd like to create this blog. It'll be random musings about all kinds of stuff and may or may not be of any interest to anyone other than myself, but really who cares? Much like the ever-talked about "viral campaigns" in my day job... if you try to create something that will be passed along or spoken about, it never will be. Things like that must grow organically to be of any value to anyone.

And so and introduction of sorts: I'm 31, a mum, an urbanite trapped in a suburban home (though willingly and without much fight), I work in advertising and read with a ready and varied appetite. I will blog about any randomness that I like and attempt to provide myself with a forum for bettering my writing along with a place to keep my thoughts for prosperity.