Week 3

I finished Week 2 confident and ready to proceed. Last week sucked weather wise, and with the threat of warmer weather for this week, I was anxious to run outdoors again.

In order to keep me accountable, I sent out a post on facebook to see if any of my new downtown running friends wanted to join me for an easy intervals run on Monday. The forcast showed snow on Monday, But freezing rain on Tuesday so I figured, the better of two evils means get your booty in gear on Monday in the snow!

I went out with 2 new friends. One, who is preparing for a Tough Mudder race in the spring (if you are unsure of what that is, google it... it's kinda nutty but I really admire her for doing it!); the other, was just starting out with running again... but had a strong history of running (even a half marathon) in her life before kids.

Intervals during week 3 are reps of 90 seconds run, 90 seconds walk, and then 3 minutes run, 3 minutes walk... done twice. Although it is one of the shorter weeks (at 15 minutes), it is one of the more difficult "jumps" in running because you are increasing your running time by 2.

I went outside to meet up with my 2 friends and immediately questioned myself becasue it was SLIPERY out there. The falling snow made it a winter wonderland, but the slush underfoot left NOTHING in the form of traction. BUT, we still went. With the promise of going slowly and stoping if need be.

We managed to complete all but the last 10 seconds of our last running interval before one of my friends rolled her ankle and we stopped to help her out. I feel TERRIBLE that this happened; knowing how it feels becasue I was there in October... not to mention the fact that it was her first time out in a very long time! I really, REALLY hope she recovers quickly! And that I have not frightened her off of running with me. :(

Now, I am debating where to run today. We had freezing rain overnight last night and things are very slick this morning. I am HOPING, with temperatures at ALMOST the double digets today, it will be melted by the time I'm ready to go outdoors at lunch. If it is still slippery, I'll just continue my walk right over to the gym and do the run there.

Wish me luck!

Why I loathe gyms

I suspect it has a lot to do with the time I spent in a gym for the years I worked in one (either Curzon's or the 'Gonk) and the trouble I saw most sales rep push for the bottom line sales pitch, but I really really don't like gyms.

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of having somewhere you can exercises no matter the weather, but when you head off to do your work out feeling a bit sleazy because the sales man took longer trying to get you to sign a one year membership than you will take for your whole workout... it loses a lot of its appeal.

Regardless, I trudged out in the -42 (with windchill) weather to go to the Goodlife closest to my work today knowing full well I was not THAT insane that I would attempt to run outdoors in this crap-tastic weather. I went to this particular gym knowing I could get myself a 3 day pass, and hoping that those 3 workouts would also give mother nature to get over her anger with Ottawa and warm us up (just a little and I would be happy!).

I tentatively stepped on (and OFF too, Caroline!) the treadmill and realised it has been a LONG TIME since I've been on one of those things (and used it)... After some confusion time, I managed to set up both my time and speed and started my runkeeper app on my tablet in order to watch my "pretend-crush" Dean Winchester fight demons and never bruise a bit.

The time flew fast enough (I gotta say, watching commercial free TV while running really makes the time move fast!) and I managed to go 1.68 miles during my 24 minute workout (including warm up and cool down). I had to come back to work to find out that is 2.68 kms! Yippee!

I'll be visiting the gym again on Friday for my last week 2, then that evening I plan on enjoying some hot yoga with my buddy April. I look forward to it! :)

Week 2 day 1

The weather outside today in Ottawa is currently a balmy -15 degrees Celsius... with the windchill, it is -24.

that.is.freaking.cold.

I know this because, clearly out of my mind dedicated, I went outside at lunch hour today for my first run of week 2.

Holy HELL.

I did it because I want to keep my momentum up. I did it because I had the accountability of both my friends in the Losing it in Ottawa facebook page (I posted this morning that I brought my outdoor running gear today and had a few people "remind" me that it was lunch time at noon) and of this blog. I did it because a little part of me wanted to know if I COULD. I did it because I had one hell of a frustrating and stressful evening yesterday and I felt the NEED to get outside and move.

And you know what? Even though my legs physically HURT afterwards, not because of the run itself, but because of the cold, I DO feel better for it. The fresh air will always do that to me... even if it is crazy-mother-runner-cold-blowing-on-my-face fresh air. ;-)

I managed to keep up a good pace too - probably faster than normal because I just wanted to keep moving - and boy did that soup for lunch taste SPECTACULAR too.

Junk in the Trunk

One of the (only) negatives about being able to run in the beautiful downtown Ottawa core is all the mirrored (or very clean) windows you need to run by. This is why for the first 8 months of my running, I was "lucky" that I ran in my home neighbourhood, where the only mirrors you see are the ones you choose to look into in the sanctity safety of your own home.

Today, as I was running my week 1, day3 run, I kept getting these horrifying sideways glimpses of myself in the buildings as I ran by... J-Lo has got NOTHING on me!

But there is a silver lining to this apparition... I can't pretend it isn't there now. I will see it (at least) 3 times a week while running on my lunch hours. And believe me when I say my running pants do not leave much room for forgiveness. AND, I suspect this will keep me away from those oh so yummy bad for me chips that always seem to call my name in the evenings.

I finished off week 1 of my "c25k repeat" on a good note today. I ran strong again and much faster than usual since... well, I CAN when only running for 1 minute at a time ;-)

Wednesday, I start week 2 which increases me up to 90 second jogging intervals and 2 minute walks and I am anxious and somewhat excited to see whether I can maintain that found extra "oomph" I seem to have found this time around.

Week 1 Day 2

The legs were happily hurting on Friday - a wonderful side effect to my kick start in exercise.

I took Friday and Saturday off and planned a run for Sunday. It was a misty but warm day here in Ottawa and I was excited to get out of the house and stretch the legs. Life got in the way and with my husband and son gone from the house from lunch time until late in the evening I was forced to either skip my run, or bring my daughter along with me.

At 4:20pm, I had had enough with my excuses and got my running gear on, got the old stroller out, and got my almost 3 year old set up with her winter gear, snack and juice in hand. It's been a long time since I ran with a stroller. I had forgotten how much more resistance it gives and I took a moment to appreciated my earlier strollercise days. Pushing a 26lb child in a 20lb stroller is hard work!!!! (Madie and ) I ran those intervals to the grocery store, grabbed some food for dinner, then ran back home. It was dark once we headed back - and it had started to mist again and MAN did those groceries weigh a lot! But I stuck with the intervals and finished the run.

The "cherry on top", we had a beautiful chicken and strawberry salad for dinner... and becasue it was only me and my daughter eating, there were no complaints either!

I find myself excited for run #3 - scheduled for tomorow. Somuchso that I brought the gym clothes here today so I don't forget them tomorrow ;-)

Week 1 Day 1

A beautiful Thursday lunch hour run. I felt like I was gliding across the pavement. Of course, the sun didn't hurt either - it isn't often you can run without a tuque and gloves in early January! I found myself forcing myself to stick to the program - wanting to continue running instead of stopping after the 60 seconds for the walking interval. I have promised myself I will stick to restarting the C25k in order to avoid re-injury. A bonus perk will likely be speeding up my 5k since I am "starting over".

I can remember back last March when I started running - needing that extra push to stay running shuffling for those same 60 seconds straight. It's pretty cool to be able to look back at those first stats and know that even with the 2 months off of most exercise - I'm still farther than I was then.

I saw another running buddy on her run today. We ran parallel on either side of the Portage Bridge and I looked forward to being able to run the same distance with her again.

My 2012 in running

In the middle of March, 2012, a friend of mine and I embarked upon a journey to start running. After completing the Couch to 5k program on our own, we ran our first race on Ottawa Race Weekend.

In retrospect, it was a miserable race to run as our first. There were somewhere in the range of 8000 people running the 5k that (very) hot afternoon and I felt somewhat defeated because due to the shear number of people running the race, I felt like I ran at least 1km longer than the 5k I had trained for just from dodging the many MANY walkers, people running intervals and either pushing their strollers or running alongside their dogs (both of which were clearly stated as not allowed on the race website). Eventhough April and I had run the race route 2 nights prior in a time of 35 minutes, I finished the race in a time of 41 (and change) and was admittedly disapointed. Nonetheless, I loved hearing that my children saw me cross the finish line and were chearing me on and so very proud that I crossed that line.

From there, April and I continued to train and signed up for our second race - the Kanata Canada Day 5k Road Race.

On July 1, 2012, I lined up at the start line with a much smaller crowd of 850 others, on a beautiful morning to run a mostly shaded route through the suburbs of Kanata Lakes. The route was awesome, but sadly, I was fighting to catch my breath the whole race and finished in just over 40 minutes. This was also the first race for Madie and Joshua - who both got to run the Tot Trott - a 200 meter sprint to the finish line - that occured once all the 5k and 10k racers finished. A couple days later, I found out I had run the race with what was to become a throat infection, bronchitis and a sinus infection.

I continued to run through the summer with my eyes set on the Race for the Cure at the end of September. I was running with a team and was running in the memory of Mark's aunt Ethel, who had passed away of cancer the year Madie was born. This was not a timed run, and to date, this would be my most cherished race so far.

The race was held on a misty Saturday on Joshua's first weekend of hockey. Mark was supposed to run with me, but because of Joshua's hockey schedule, I brought Madie and the joging stroller to run in his place. Dressed up in pink with temporary tattoos on our cheeks, we drove out to Tunney's Pasture with April and her son Nathan to meet up with the rest of the team. I had deciuded I wanted to run some of the race, and went ahead of the rest of our team - most of who were going to walk the 5k along side a cancer survivor who had been April's motivation to sign up for the race. I ran at a slow pace, and ran for around 1.5km until Madie poked her head out from under the stroller and asked if she could run along side me. I have never been so very proud in my life. She ran holding my hand, and then wanted her doll to "run" too - and bent over, moving the little legs of the Cabbage Patch Kid she had with her in the stroller. I don't know how long that race took me to finish; and it didn't matter. Becasue I did it with my daughter and for my daughter.

After that, April and I put out sights on our next race - the Resolution Run - to be our first 10k - on my 36th birthday. We signed up for the 10k Running Room Clinic in order to keep us motivated to run in our first Ottawa winter.

I got to week 3 of that training before I sprained my ankle (an injury which was done in a gym, but not while running). An injury which took almost 3 weeks to come back from, and preceded a back injury due compensation from the ankle injury that resulted in pain like nothing I had ever felt before. I was off work on sick leave for a whole month, and given a mixture of anti inflammatory meds, muscle relaxants and Percocet for the pain.

Finally, we are in the year 2013 and I have been given the green light to recommence my running. My plan is to rerun the C25k which started me on this running journey, and then restart the 10k running room program at the next start at the end of March. Between the two programs, I will build up my distance with half a 5k program which was provided to me by a new running friend.

Plans this year include a 5k at the end of April, an 8k at the end of May, the Spartan Race (a 5k and obstacle course) in the middle of June, and the Kanata Canada Day Road Race 10 k on July 1.

My non-running plan is to restart this blog, and bring you all along on for the ride.

I hope you will join me! :)