My Ideal Day Off

Working at lulu has created a new found balance in my running world. Yes, I find myself talking about my training quite often but somehow the focus is different. At work it’s as if my Mario Cart shadow self is discussing the workouts that someone else completed. When I’m at work I can focus on fashion, luon and new friends. I feel like I belong, it has taken awhile but it’s like my love for clothes and social media has carved out a non-runner niche that I really enjoy. This fantastic balance has got me thinking about my life in such a positive way. It’s not like I was sad before but finding something fun to do on the side without becoming consumed by running has made me realize how great you can feel when you're sleeping well and relatively in control.

This morning, thanks to lulu, I came to a very amazing realization.  I was taking in the fresh ocean air after my 30 minute run along the seawall . Yes, it was short run due to my foot injury, but I was so happy to be running. It was 13 degrees, the perfect running temperature. The ocean was gently splashing against the seawall and the sun was reflecting off the surface making these amazing beams of sparkle. It was beautiful. I was living my ideal day!  

This random burst of positivity all dates back to our lulu staff meeting two days ago where we were discussing our “ideal day off.” We all sat in a circle and shared our ideals, when it came to me I didn’t really know what to say or how much detail to go into.  I think it was because I didn’t want anyone to think I was gloating. Since nobody likes a bragger I wimped out and said my ideal day began with making a batch of my weekly granola (refer to earlier posts for the recipe) and would only go up from there. What I could have said: get up mid-morning after a great night’s sleep, make tea and eat some granola, have a kick ass practice, enjoy a non-fat mocha and a muffin, blog while surfing the internet, workout again, hangout while watching the news, have dinner and then if I allow myself dessert I would finish my day off with tea and chocolate covered ju-jubes. 

I could have shared all this or I could have said that I literally live my “ideal day off” every single day! I know some people would find my ideal day totally boring and yes there are other areas of my life that drastically need improvement but I'm absolutely in love with my routine.

It’s so easy to look at negative things, to worry about long-term careers and to feel behind. I'll admit it can make me feel a little insecure trying to explain to people saving for a down payment that I run in circles for a living. For now,  I love running in circles world!

I’m choosing to run and because I’m choosing to run I am choosing to live this life. I am actually living what I think is my ideal day, days which I take for granted too often. You can't ask for much more and I am so grateful for this life!

Mt. Sac Round 11

Well it’s that time of year again. Racing season! I’m sitting on a plane heading to California for the 11^th annual, yes I said it, my 11^th year attending the Mt. Sac relays. I don’t really know what to think of this, 11 years is along time to do the same thing.

As runners we are creatures of habit and this is most definitely proven by attending the same meet year after year. For me it doesn’t feel like I've been doing this for too long, it doesn't feel like a slog. It feels so normal, so familiar. Maybe it's because my racing experiences have been so different year to year that it doesn’t feel like the same meet.

I have experienced so many highs and so many lows at this meet. I have defined my running career by times I’ve run at this meet. I know this is the best place to stock up on cheap spikes, I know I will never make it to 9am no-toast breakfast and I know the Starbucks is in walking distance of the Shilo Inn. Here I ran my personal best time four years ago. A mark I’m still trying to achieve and I believe I will surpass.  This meet has taught me amazing things can happen, even when you feel inferior, and even when you least expect it.

I am optimistic. I'm not finished. I feel like in the back of my mind in the semi-conscious area (definition: a bit above the subconscious) I am able to run fast. I am not nervous, well at least not yet, mostly because this is my first race of the year. I’m feeling a little inefficient due to the cross training that has defined my last few weeks but I feel strong through my core and in my mind. I’m looking forward to this season! 

"Running"on a rat wheel

I can't resist another post! What's wrong with me? Maybe I'm just bored or maybe I'm experiencing so much mental crossover between running and writing that it's becoming addicting. I'm realizing writing is like a muscle you have to exercise it to make it stronger. So essentially I'm just working out...whatever.

I want to share my cross training thoughts. First, let me just say I hate cross training. I feel like I'm a rat moving in circles on a rat wheel. I hate how it feels to be forced onto machines. To go nowhere while watching time slowly tick away. Your progress is only marked by the calorie counter that is totally incorrect and the growing puddles of sweat.  So why do I do it?

I don't think of all those negative thoughts when I'm on the machine.  I can't, it would be cross training suicide. I think it's this or nothing and any type of training is better than nothing. Believe it or not I'm actually quite positive. I have a new approach to cross training and I believe it will help me keep my fitness better than past attempts anyways. Unfortunately, it's not enjoyable the plan is to go for longer than I ever have before. A hour has become common place and 90 minutes is what I strive to reach. Cross training and running are not exchangeable minute for minute (I see it sort of as time and a half).

So what do I think, how do I make it though the torture. I start off with a really good playlist filled with songs I love and allow myself to start off as easy as I want. This is just my trick to get me on the machine;) I start out  by closing my eyes and singing along, I try to make it enjoyable. My first hard mental effort is to get to half an hour. When I'm at 15 minutes I think sweet, half way there and at the same time I tell myself I'm pretty much almost at 20. When I'm at 20 I think wow, only 10 minutes until I'm at 30 and 10 minutes is nothing  just 3 really good songs. With all this thinking and planning ahead sometimes I get to 30 without even realizing it. and once I've made it to 30 I feel like I'm committed.

I try to spend the next 30 minutes breaking the workout into intervals. Something like, 5 minutes at one level and then 5 at another while making sure to keep my heart rate up. There's no slacking after 30 minutes, it's committed and focused. If I'm exhausted after an hour I'll stop but if I'm questioning being fatigued I will commit for 90.

Today I committed to 90 minutes because I only worked out once. I worked in 5 minute intervals on the bike because I didn't have my trusty elliptical. My first two 5 minute intervals were weak, I realized I was almost slacking. I told myself you're fit and you know it. I told myself this is way easier than running will ever be so I need to push it and start breathing harder or I'll regret it when I'm back on the track. I pushed it after that and did 5 mins hard, 5 mins a little easier until the time read 90-mintutes. OMG I did intervals for an hour without even realizing it. It's funny how repeating 201 in your head and picturing that as you're sprinting down the track can really get you going.

I've realized working in intervals and mini-goals is the best way for me to make it through these cross training sessions in an enjoyable way. For now, I am optimistic about coming out 100% healthy on the other side.

Sure was a Good Friday!

Happy Easter Weekend! I'm on beautiful Bowen Island for the weekend. The sun is shining, a mere facade of the storm that was yesterday. This storm was possibly the worst and most entertaining daytime storm I've witnessed in years. It wasn't the rain or the temperature drop than made it impressive but the sheer force of the wind that made it remarkable

When all was said and done we spent 22 hours without electricity, placed 7 logs on the fire, experienced 5 tormenting power flashes, sipped 4 cups of wood stove tea, witnessed 3 trees crumble, snuck 2 early easter eggs and enjoyed 1 fantastic french toast dinner.

This post has little to do with my running world in fact I used the storm as an excuse to take a rest day. (This is the first one in two weeks so I don't feel that bad about it) I could write about how frustrated I am with my foot or how proud I am that I have the mental strength to bike for 90 minutes straight but not today. Today is about the storm.

The power of wind storm was my sole entertainment for the day.  It was beyond astonishing, who needs TV when you can watch the wind force tress so far past their breaking point you stare in amazement as they bounce back when the wind changes directions. It's like a chess game tress versus wind. The wind advances, shows it's ugly teeth and the trees answer back. When you think there's no possible way the tree will survive it's like the wind losses their knight and lets up on the advance.

It didn't always work this way, if we're keeping score by number of trees down it would be 3-0 wind but I don't know where that leaves the tress when you consider all the ones that withstood the force.  Watching the carnage was my favourite part, is that weird?

There is this tree you can see from our living room window it's distinctive and when I was little my creative juices were clever enough to name it "tree-ey." Well since I've been galavanting on the mainland four alders have grown up to match half the height of tree-ey. I was watching the wind throw them side-to-side limp, like a rag doll and while laughing to myself at how funny it would be if they fell. I feel like my mental energy was the final push that allowed one of the alders to succumb to its fait. As I pointed this out to my parents I notice where there were three trees only two stood in place.  Another man down I guess.

As the day went on I spent way too much time trying to understand the storm from every window and every angle. It was incomprehensible to watch a seemingly powerless force prove to the seemingly perfect example of strength, set in it's ways for well over one hundred years, who had control. When you lye on your back and watch trees rock back and forth you wonder how they became gigantic, did mother nature allow them? What would happen if they were to fall?

On a smaller scale I found out. I watched in disbelief as part of a huge evergreen broke apart and fell onto the roof of our neighbours house. I quickly learned it's not funny, funny isn't really the best word. It's a combo of shock, amazement and disbelief that something so strong can fall so quiclky, it comes out in a laugh but it's actually kinda scary.

Today I realized how much I miss trees. Living on the 26th floor of a downtown apartment you forget what it's like to be encased by the power of mother nature. Today was about trees, nature and the power of that force, not about running. Today was nice, creative, resourceful and so was the french toast made by candle light. Today was a great day.

A Tempo Tuesday

I'm still here icing my foot and craving sleep but I'm totally wired from 8 hours of work. I really enjoy my job, it really is a nice escape from the running world. I must admit, at the risk of sounding materialistic, I absolutely love surrounding myself with clothes but the excitement of all this product can't exactly fill the complete energetic void left from my workout. Today I did a modified circuit, due to my achey foot, after spending an hour battling the elliptical. I am proud of myself for developing the mental focus to be able to withstand cross training for a long periods of time but I really wish I didn't have to.

I fully expected to feel tired this morning because of the hard practice from the day before (it's totally ok to feel tired when you know why). Tuesday was a unique but much needed practice. 20 minute warm-up, followed by a 20 minute tempo. We finished the workout with 6x 300 with 2-2.5 mins recovery. I like the mental practice that it takes to run hard for 20 minutes. It was hard, I looked at my watch at 7 minutes and couldn't beee-lieve I wasn't in the double digits yet. You begin the tempo thinking wow I could run at this pace forever but as time drags fatigue slowly creeps in testing your mental will to persevere. It didn't help that my hips were a bit stiff starting off but still not as debilitating as they have been in the past. I focused my attention on contracting my core to disperse the fatigue, opening my hands instead of clasping my fists and trying to move my arms properly. I think this form practice helped. I felt like I was divvying the fatigue throughout my body instead of letting it concentrate solely in my hips. I'm happy with how I finished but let me tell you it was hard.  Despite my fatigue diversion methods my hips still bared the major brunt of the run.

I followed up the tempo with 6 x 300's: 48,48,47,47,47,47. I chose to wear flats and let me just say they are so much more enjoyable than rubber boots! They're not as good as spikes but so superior to runners.  Initially, I found it hard to pick up the speed after a tempo pace and this combine with thinking I have 6 repeats to finish made it mentally challenging but I felt strong.  I felt like I raced as the 300's progressed and I didn't give up, I stayed strong. I tried to move my arms and open my hands to disperse the fatigue while working correctly mechanically.  In my head I broke up the 300s. I told myself get though the first 100 metres and then pick it up with 200 to go. At 150 I told myself to push it and fight because there is only a stide distance left! The last interval was hard, I was screaming 201 in my head. I hope this will continue to help me focus and realize what I'm trying to accomplish. All and all Tuesday was a strong, positive day!

Round 2 with the rubber boots

After an awesome quasi-late night of rockin' out to 90's music at Library Square I woke up at 8:15 fighting the urge to hit the snooze. I wasn't out too late, I had at least a seven hours of sleep under my belt, but getting up was still a challenge. Fortunately, it was a beautiful morning. The sun warmed our skin as we eased into the 15-minute warm-up run.

Workout today was 1000, 4x400. I must admit I wasn't nervous for this 1000 but I think it was because I wasn't prepared mentally to challenge myself for the full distance. I was in my rubber boots again and I knew it was going to be hard. I think I made it out to be even harder than it had to be. It's like when you go to bed knowing full well the most sleep you could possibly ever get is not nearly enough and you create this dramatic picture in your head of how terrible the next morning is going to feel. But when that alarm bell rings it's never really as bad as your perception. Same sort of thing, back to the workout, I went through the first 400 in 67. I was stiff, possibly not warmed up enough, and thinking how am I going to finish this interval (not a great mindset for a good time). When I rounded 600 I found myself thinking, get moving there's only 400 left!  Now at 400 I should have felt like I can finish but it's going to hurt really badly and not oh wow only 400 to go..... I hit 800 in 2:25 and 1000 in 3:03 which is more than a little disappointing.

I let it get to me that I'm stuck duking it out in running shoes. Today the 1000 was a cop-out. For now rubber boots is may fate and I'm so lucky to be running at all. I need to learn to work with what I have and not against it. There's really no point sitting in a corner upset that I'm not seeing the times I want especially if I'm not willing to work as hard as I can to reach them.

I know I am willing to work to the max! I smartened up for the 400's. My left hip was tired from taking a lot of my weight, it wasn't working properly mechanically, but I still managed 68, 67, 67, 67 thanks to Tasha sneaking up from behind during the last 100-metres of every interval. Both Julia's pacing and racing Tasha helped me find my fight and hit those times (that's why training partners are so helpful!).  Typically I wouldn't be happy with high 60's for 400's but in flats but today I'll take it!  I'm happy with how I finished. I felt as if I raced and ran as hard as I could given the circumstances. I started out the first part of the 400's harder than I though I should to test my limits and the times worked out. I just wish I was stronger through the 1000. Moral of today, don't wimp out, always fight and always race! I believe this practice mindset will make fast times happen when the pressure is on! Take risks and begin a little harder than you think you should. Process will make it happen!

When you have the choice you have to choose

I'm realizing choosing the running road is an all too fitting title for this blog. It applies to my running life in so many ways other than simply choosing to become a full-time athlete . When I start to think about it I've realized all I do is choose, make decisions that will effect the outcome of all this hard running work.  I wish I could just relax and let things be but there are too many decisions to make!  To go out, to stay in, to eat this, to avoid that, is a $100 dollar appointment really better than the $45 option. I know runners are described by some as creatures of habit but I think it's because there are so many external decisions and influences that affect running. The small fraction of things under your control have to stay constant otherwise it's going to become one big frekin' fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants free for all and we all know most of us care way too much about this all consuming sport to do that and lets face it we're all way too uptight.

Anyways, yesterday was my biggest running decision of the week. To run or not to run. I realize it doesn't sound major: do I run or do I go on the elliptical? Tough life ;) ....I know! But racing season is coming up and I really want to run. The left reasonable side of my brain, although small, says if my sore foot responds badly to the run I might be setting myself up for even more time out when I've already been modifying my workouts for the last two weeks! My right brain and my heart responded with run, just test it out,  get the ball rolling and try to maintain the fitness I'm losing while cross training.

Obviously my stubborn self decided to follow my right brain's advice and run. I was very aware that I can't judge my injury properly when running because adrenalin and the sheer excitement of running can numb the pain. What's important is how the foot feels about an hour after practice. I chose to run a tempo style workout with a very minor incline. I went moderate up the hill and very controlled down. My foot was warmed up and there was little to no pain for the entire thing. I cooled down, immediately applied ice and did a contrast bath.  It still burns and pulls but the hot spot at the calcaneus is decreasing! I am happy I got to run and now I'm choosing to go to bed instead of staying up to write about my fun night of 90's music that takes me back to pumping NSYNC in the minivan or how amazing Tim McGraw was. Life is good!