See the run

I visualized myself racing as I was falling asleep last night. I was strong, healthy and fit. What does this mean? I haven't mentally watched myself run in a really long time. For so long I've been wanting to want to run and I just didn't feel it. Believe me, you can't force it.

It all started a few weeks ago. I met some of the old crew for a run at Burnaby Lake: Tasha, Mer, Dylan and Mer’s friend Lindsay. It was a random Wednesday morning and it felt so normal, so nice. I so badly wanted to be the fit, efficient, strong runner again. 

So how did I get here? I don't totally know but it seems like when you stop worrying about things, like wanting to want to run, it happens naturally. So nobody is really asking but I think the progression went something like this: step 1, sleep in on saturday morning. Step 2, go out when you want to and don't question it. Step 3, be present to what you're doing if you're busy working, rock the working world. Step 4, do yoga for the body and mind. Step 5 listen to yourself and do what you want to do not what you feel like you should do. Step 5, stop listing steps because this intensity or knowing is what get's you stressed out in the first place.

Anyways, I don’t really know what this means if anything but what I do know is that I have to take it all in stride (haha). My goal is to treat this running return as if I’m coming back from an injury. Less is more and we'll see what happens.

Today I started with 10x 300 in a snowstorm on the grass. Baby steps and maybe little by little I’ll be able to take on repeats on the track without the dread, anxiousness and deep rooted fatigue of yesterday.

Here’s to small steps and visualizing a strong healthy runner in 2012! I feel like my old self again: relaxed, healthy and happy. I love it!

xoxo

Becks

Christmas Run

I woke up to a wonderful morning of opening stockings and Christmas Blend coffee. Followed by an amazing brunch of eggs benedict (minus the bun), potatoes, mimosas and, you guess it, more coffee. It was perfect.

After we cleaned up breakfast, it was an afternoon of abundance. Once I surfaced from the sea of wrapping paper and took some time to slow down and appreciate my gifts I was overwhelmed by this intense urge to run. Ironically, Christmas day is the one day of the year I've always give myself the "get out of running (guilt) free" card. 

As I headed out on my normal route I made it past a few other diehard runners who, I could tell, didn't cash in their cards either. Through the meadow and over the bridge I passed a few families congratulating me on running off the pre-turkey dinner. I thanked them for their acknowledgement and admitted I'm sure trying but this wasn't why I was running. I just need to move.

These days I'm not battling my lack of running guilt as badly as I used to. I do plenty of yoga, spinning and circuit training and running fits everywhere in between. It's a strange transition to work full time while choosing to run when I want to. I'm looking forward to a new year and a new running perspective.

Merry Christmas! 

xo Becks

Routine in disguise

I guess you can say I'm a creature of habit, most runners are. I've been trying to avoid this so call "creature" but to tell you the truth, it's hard. My routines are fantastic. I love non-fat extra hot mochas from jj bean (of course) and then asking them to add a little extra coffee to dilute the sweetness. I pretend like I've never done it before but actually it won't feel right if I don't.  I have specific socks for running and socks for every day. I don't even want to even think about sleeping without my perfect pillow. Get the idea?

These day I've been feeling great while thinking I'm doing a good job keeping my routines in check. I think I'm relaxed. My tendency has always been to literally and figuratively run myself into the ground.  When I come up for air, it's too late and I'm buried. To remedy this, while I figure out how to rock my work life, I've chosen to let my running routine relax. What was hills in mundy park has become spin at 6pm, circuit at SFU has become a 4:30pm monday and wednesday regiment at the SSC. Get the idea? Instead of taking a running routine break my habits have been following me in disguise. They've simply shifted.

I didn't actually realize the irony until today and it took someone else wrapped up in their running routine for me to understand.   For the last three tuesdays I've taken part in crossfit classes with my cousin (thanks for inviting me kels).  Today I rocked 17 squats in 20 seconds x 8 sets followed by a 12 minutes of 200m run, sit ups and burpees. Totally different than your typical run workout but it has been fun! Anyways I digress after crossfit I've been going for my shake out runs along the seawall.  Last week I came up across two runners and chatted briefly with them because they were going at a good pace and the company was nice. Today, same thing! I was in my own little world thinking about my heavy quads thanks to all the squats when I came up to two men running at a pretty good pace. Like I said creatures of habit. As I ran by I gave them a nod and said, "hey I know you"!  Their response, " I know you. track runner. fast coach. nice pace".

What can I say you can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl.
xoxo
Becks

Thumbs UP

After a brief hiatus I'm back running full-swing or I guess full stride? Saturday workouts are typically uneventful and predictably some form of change of pace. I like it, repeats of anything these days leave me feeling like I'm on a time trail facing the honesty of the clock again and again and again. For now, as I regain my fitness I'm happy to only face timed intervals once a week.

I'm absolutely enjoying my running self again. The sights, the familiar smells and even that always a little bit tired feeling - I love that too. Saturdays are once again so normal, just me and my mind pounding the pavement as I re-remember why I run.

I've realized over the last few weeks that I'm thinking competitively once again. It came back slowly, I'm no longer meh it's "good enough" or I'm too exhausted to care. I totally care and I putting in energy to run faster because I care.

Today as I started my workout consciously aware of this new found emotion, it was 9am on a saturday and surprisingly I radiated positivity (never been a morning person)!  Funny enough, this positive energy came back to me in the kindness of strangers. It seriously felt as if every second person out and about gave me some sort of encouraging gesture as I ran by. After multiple thumbs up and "good-for-yous" I was so confused, this never happens. After a huge smile and a "w-o-w so fast," by a this really cute old man, I finally got it! Send positivity out into the world and in some form it will come back to you.

xo
Becks

Hissed at on the seawall

Are you kidding? Did that happen? I was hissed at! Like hissss. Creepy! Ok maybe I deserved it but it was still super weird. As always, I pride myself on outsmarting the traffic. Basically I try to find the fastest routes around town as I secretly race unsuspecting runners, joggers or walkers: basically anyone who is going the same direction. I swear it's purely for entertainment sake.

So I was going for my run and embracing my inner Justine - she reads traffic the best. I swear she has this amazing ability to plan ahead. I think it's a form of mind multitasking which she absolutely excels at. Anyways, I digress. I was reading the traffic and the changing lights on my way home from my run so that I wouldn't have to stop. I absolutely didn't have the right of way but nobody was coming except for a biker off in the distance.

I made a judgment call as I sprinted across the road. That was when the biker stated pedalling harder. I mean, he put his head down and started riding the petals as hard as he could. The jeans, dirty runners and side to side wobble made it clear he wasn't a pro but as I crossed the road biker man started speeding up and hissing as he passed - like a cat! Or maybe like a goose, anyone who has run thought the lagoon on Bowen during baby season knows exactly what I mean.

xo
Becks

I'm back, I swear!

Ok, well I'm not going to lie, this had been a major posting hiatus and I'm sorry. I'm really disappointed in my lack of commitment!  I allowed myself to become so overwhelmingly busy and worried.

Anyways, I'm back and let me sum up the last three months. It's been a great journey of learning and self-discovery. My absolutely exhausted, totally relieved and super excited body is on the road back to balance. I've seen more change, had my patients absolutely tested, worked my ass off, almost accepted defeat and really learned what I wanted. I've been to Newfoundland, Vegas, Mt. Gardner, reduced my track time, up'ed my Grouse Mountain time, practiced tons of yoga, learned a whole new circuit and worked like a dog at my part-time head office role while juggling store shifts. All this in attempt to be hired full-time at the SSC. I wanted it!

When I look back, I wish I could have chilled the whole time. The second I sort of accepted that I didn't have total control over my situation is when things organically started to change. I could have avoided a ton of stress if I decided to focus on what I could control and leave worry on the side of the road (instead of my integrity).

When I changed my thoughts I believe my energy sort of shifted and this is when exciting things started to happen! A conversation in a circuit class, turned into an early morning coffee conversation, this led to an interview, which led to another coffee convo and now I'm so so so EXCITED to report that I've been hired as the Team Sales Account Manager! OMG, I'm going to be working with an amazing team in an amazing company and using our product to support athlete's goals. It's perfect! The last three days have been training and goal coaching and tomorrow is my first day in my new role!

I even have the fob to prove it! I feel so lucky to be on this team and I can't wait to rock it!
xo
Becks

Where Have I Been?

 I've said before that my posting rate seems to be directly related to my running success - I guess that explains it. I've taken on a really exciting contract with the social media team at the lululemon head office. As every working-runner knows it's a challenging place to be, especially when you want to be the best at everything.

The full-time working world has been so different from my running life. I mean your credibility is so much more than your PB and arguably harder to prove. It's been a process trying to balancing work, run and recovery. I don't want to miss out on opportunities because I'm putting in an extra 5 k and at the same time I want to be fast but not exhausted.  Where's the balance? I don't know yet but other than my running tribulations, the real explanation for my lack of blogging is that I've been cheating on you. I've been tumbling! Microblogging is so much faster in this multi-tasking world and here's a sneak peak into, Changing Course, my adventures at the office.

xo 

Becks