Run for the Cure

Yesterday was the official Goal Race for our 5K Clinic. It was the Run for a Cure in Richmond Hill. This is a fantastic run that happens at sites all across the country in Support of Women's Cancers. I ran on behalf of my late Aunt Jacquie, and good friends of my Mom who have died from Breast Cancer, Anne and Gwen.

It was freezing! I love races where its cold, except for before and after. When you aren't moving. We met the group and headed to the start line. We had a ton of support from both our store manager Bev and Newmarket and Thornhill's managers and Assistants: Jayne, Patricia and Ed. Plus our area manager Hayley was there too! It was a great time. I knew early on I wasn't going for a PB, since I raced so hard last weekend and I was very sore still.

Thank you to everyone that supported me and donated to the cause!

So I finished in 42:51 which is still under my previous PB. So I was really happy with it. Up next is the Run4Rett. I hope that I can race it tough, but time will tell.

Foto Friday

During my 5K! My first RUNNING PHOTO LOL!


The finish line! Also my first finish with others :)


Close UP Finish!

Some of hubby too! Thanks for the idea M ;P

Run for the Cure is this weekend. My foot has been bothering me all week. So its going to be an intersting race!

Scotiabank 5K Race Report

(Let me just preface this by saying this was a CRAZY day!)

We got to the race site EARLY so Colin could race his 1/2 Marathon. The Marathon Instructor from our store, Angie, came with us to cheer on her Marathoners. After using the bathroom, finding everyone and taking lots of pictures, they all lined up into their corrals. Angie and I ran down the line to catch the start. And off they went! I managed to spot Marlene at the beginning, but she was running too fast to call out ;)

Once the final racers crossed the start, Angie and I ran a few blocks west to catch a cab and get to The Prince's Gates at Exhibition Place. It is located at the 7 and 17 mark of the race, give or take a few metres. We saw everyone there and back including hubby and Marlene. She looked so STRONG!

Then it was back up to the finish. Once I saw Colin and got a good luck pep talk, and got a good luck hug from a very sweaty Marlene :) I jumped onto a bus and headed BACK down to the Prince's Gates and Exhibition Place.

For whatever reason, everyone had to be at the site an hour before the race even began. It made for a lot of standing around and waiting. And more waiting. At this point, all I could even think is "just let me run already". We ended up lining into our corrals and soon enough, away we went!

1K

The first K of this race is so tough. You loop up and away from the gates, run around the parking lot and to about 500 metres to the Gates. There are always a lot of people and not a lot of room. I was so busy running past people I didn't notice my pace.

2K

From 1 to 2k I started to feel tired and couldn't figure out why. Then I looked down at my pace and saw a 5:59. Um, that's a bit fast for me. I brought it back and took my first walk break.

3K to 4K

This part of the race is entirley under the Gardiner and on Lakeshore. I was getting a whole lot of messed up messages on my Garmin and new I was by myself for the remainder of the race.

4K to 5K

Once you turn off the Lakeshore and up on Bay it is entirely uphill. Training where I do should help me with that, but this is where I lost my Sub 40. I knew I ran out too fast and I had nothing left in the tank. At 600 metres I actually tripped and almost fell! But I caught myself and just kept running. I saw Marlene at the finish along with her hubby and some friend P and U. High fives and I kept going. I finally saw Colin about 200 metres from the finish. He kept saying "Run, you've got this". But I already knew I was going to be about a half minute short. Once I saw the finish I think I managed a smile and went through.

I collected my medal, met hubby and we headed home.

Overall I am happy with my time. But I still have a lot of work to do. If a 2:30 1/2 Marathon time is in my future, I need to speed things up.

Mission Accomplished (B)

Sarah Macdonald - 41:32.2 Gun Time (40:31.4 CHIP)
Avg. Pace: 8:19
218/446 W 30-34
1261/2868 Overall

I am VERY pleased with meeting my B Goal. A was SO CLOSE. But I now what I need to do to get my sub 40 5K!

And congrats to Hubby who got his new PR by almost 5 MINUTES! He finished his Half Marathon in 1:48:04! WOOHOO! He is primed for his Full in October.

I will post my Race Report tomorrow! But now its time to sleep!

Foto Friday's and A/B/C

Three years ago I completed my first and ONLY 1/2 Marathon at the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon. I will be completing in the 5K this year, but I plan on tacking the 1/2 again next Fall!

And speaking of my 5K, I do have some goals for this race. And here it is:

A GOAL) Sub 40:00 minutes (a pipe dream, but hey, a goal none the less!)

B Goal) A new PR and a Sub 43:56 (which I have done in training, so I feel good about it)

C Goal) Sub 45:oo minutes.

Anything else will be VERY disappointing. See you all there on Sunday !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Three Things Thursday

1. Last night at Run Club we had our first foray into speed training. It was fun! I think I like speed and hills. This makes Week 7 almost complete. We have our longest distance so far this weekend 6.5K. Next Sunday is one of my first three races in the next month! Wow! Then its onto the 1oK Clinic. FANTASTIC
2. I said I had some news in my last post. Well, I was recently promoted at work! I am now the Assistant Manager at the Aurora Running Room! This is HUGE for me and could not have come at a better time for me and our family. So sacrifices will be made (working most weekends and a few more shifts a week) but in the long run, it will be so worth it. And I love my job. Its perfect for my lifestyle, our family and my life. I just could not be happier and I hope to make our store the BEST!
3. Speaking of races, I am seriously considering doing a 16k Trail Run on Halloween. It's the Tom Taylor Trail 10m. Its local, has a ton of great loot and the price is right. So we'll see what I decide. Plus the fact I turn 31 the next day makes it even more exciting!
   

Time Flies

Connor started school today. I cannot believe it. It seems like yesterday he was just a baby and now he's going to school? He had an amazing time, but Mommy still isn't so sure she likes this!

And my training is flying as well! Completed 6K on Sunday and then headed out to do 4K last night. Both runs went great, but I am still having a hard time finishing on the bI&*h of all hills! No race will ever finish on a hill like this, but it still pi$$es me off to see my pace drop so badly! At least I know I am going to be able to kick it once race day comes!

I also have some news.......BUT........I cannot share it right now. Soon, but not now. And no, I am not pregnant again.....that seems to be the guess that everyone has. So far from it! I should be able to let you all know by the end of the week!

Three Things Thursday

1. Tomorrow we are taking the kids to the Jays Game! Connor is SO EXCITED. It took some explaining that he wouldn't be playing, but he is still very happy. Although, he keeps asking if Thomas the Tank Engine is going to be there (!)
2. I ran 3 hills with the clinic last night. The distance wasn't that far (3.65k) but it felt good to get my running legs back. Both Colin and I have been sick, so he will also be testing his sea legs tonight. With a 35K run for Sunday, he needs to get back out there! I will "just" be running 6K, but its the farthest distance so far in the clinic. Here's hoping it goes well!
3. There has been a lot of stress here in the past few weeks, so I am hoping that running helps me to alleviate some of it. I am also working quite a bit in the next few months, which should also help. Here's hoping the fall turns out better than this summer has been............

September

So here we are: September! Wow, time flies when you're having fun.

Only four more weeks until the end of the clinic. Two races coming up and I have to say, I am not at all ready! We were on vacation last week, and between looking after three toddlers and a nasty head cold (which I still have eight days later) I managed to run ONCE. The entire time I was gone. So needless to say, tonight's hills (3) and Sunday's 6K(!) are going to be VERY tough.

But we got a nice surprise in the form of FREE baseball tickets this week, and let me tell you, the kids are going to have a blast at the Jays Game this Friday night! Thanks C!

Connor also starts school next week. Staggered starts means he doesn't have a full day until next Thursday. But he went to meet his teachers yesterday and he was SO EXCITED. And it made it all too real for Mom as well............

Three Things Thursday

1. We ran 4K last night in our 5K clinic for 34 minutes. I am faster than I used to be, but not as fast as I would like to be. My dreams of a sub 40 5K this year are slipping I think. But I am going to try my darnedest to do it. Still 4 1/2 months to go! Plus, if you look at the finish of all of these run........no race ends on hills like THESE!
2. I've been drinking a Protein Shake before every run and it really seems to be giving me the energy that I need to kick it up a notch during my runs. Its really easy to throw together and it's delicious. When it comes to running under 5K, nutrition can sometimes be a real struggle, because you really aren't sure what to eat. You can't eat too much, because you aren't burning too many calories. But if you eat too little, you aren't properly fueled and your run ends up being pretty much a giant fail!
3. I was looking at my schedule and saw that the weekend of Road2Hope (which hubby is running the Half Marathon) I will be running 13K. Well Road2Hope has a 5/10K challenge. Its only 2K more.............
   

And onto 5K Training

Hello Bloggy Friends!

Where has this past month gone! It turns out that Sydney's little sickness was much more serious and put me out onto my butt for a whole week! It was not pretty! But I got back to it and finished the Women's Only Clinic!

We have now moved into a new clinic: THE 5K! This is the second clinic I am teaching, and its a lot different from the Learn to Run. We started week one at 5 & 1's and 3K and by this week, we are already at our 10 & 1's. The distance we cover week to week is much greater (10k is the smallest distance we cover on a weekly basis). But, I have to tell you......I LOVE IT! Starting in week 6, we also add a 4th run to our clinic night, as well as our Run Club runs! So I will be running 4 times a week.

As for races I have two coming up: The Scotiabank 5K on September 26th and The CIBC Run for the Cure on October 3rd. I will be going for a Personal best at both, but I think I have my best shot at Scotia. I just need to be closer to the front of the pack than I was last year!

Then.....its onto the 10K Clinic. I cannot believe this is all happening.......Because after the 10K clinic it the GULP HALF MARATHON?

Yep.

DNS

Tomorrow I will be getting a DNS at the Rebecca Run for SMA. It isn't my first DNS, but it still doesn't make it any easier to swallow.

Our middle child, the littlest Sydboo is sick. So very sick. So Mommy will be staying home to make sure she is well looked after.

Its par for the course when you have kids. There will be other races, and my littlest baby girl needs my shoulder to rest on this weekend. So its her that I will be supporting.

Good luck to everyone that IS racing tomorrow! I hope that all that hard work pays off!

I'm here I Swear!

Things have been just so busy these past few weeks. Either I am running or working. Or running AND working!

My Women's Only clinic is in week 6 with our GOAL RACE a week away! Where does the time go? I don't know. But we are at 6 & 1's and everyone is doing good!

I had a extremely long day today and I am working again tomorrow! But I am going to post again with some more thoughts about the race and MAYBE even a goal or two. So stay tuned!

Change of Tempo

I decided early on that to maintain my base, I would continue to run two 5k runs ON TOP of the one clinic night and two run clubs I would be doing with my Women's Only Clinic. I made up my schedule, stuck it on the fridge and marked off each run as it came. Week One, check! Week Two....uh, check! Week Three....not so much.

Looking back at my runs from March/April and comparing them to my pace now, I am currently running about a minute and a half FASTER than I was ten weeks ago. So while I am not as sore, and certainly not as tired, I am running faster and harder. So I have decided that just because I can, doesn't mean I SHOULD. I have taken those two runs off my calendar for the remainder of the clinic and I will be only running with the clinic from now on. It works for me!

And since I will be teaching the next 5K CLINIC (!) I don't want to risk injury either.

Last night hubby received an email announcing that registration was open for the 2011 Mississauga Marathon and Half Marathon. I have been back and forth as to whether or not I was going to run a half in the next twelve months. I decided to go for it! So I registered for the Mississauga 1/2 Marathon for May 2011! I am so PUMPED. I will be taking the 10k clinic this fall and then falling right into the 1/2 Marathon clinic in January. I am very excited, I am very nervous and I am very happy.


Hope everyone else is having a great week!

Friday Round Up

This week seemed so slow, yet here we are at Friday again!

Week 2 has come in the Women's Only Clinic. 7 sets of 2 & 1's and the girls are doing great! There going FAST. We finish just under 2.33 in 20 minutes last night. So I have decided to create "group leaders" that will receive 30% off clinic coupons AND a pair of socks! It will help me with the front of the pack.....while I can keep an eye at the back of the pack.

I am also trying to maintain my own base by running at least twice a week on my own, but so far, that hasn't been going so well! The weather hasn't been all that cooperative (thunder on Monday and Tuesday) so I plan on going out today for a few k's with the little man! It is going to rain again today though. We need the rain, so who am I to complain!

And since the Learn to Run clinic began on March 15th, I managed to lose about 20 pounds! Yay me. Time to go shopping for some clothes for summer, because since my operation I am in DIRE need of some shorts and tops! Especially tops!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!

Monday Bullets

• My Women's Only Clinic started on Thursday night and I have a small, but lovely group of speedy ladies :) So I suppose that's good for me right? I feel bad for them though, that they are sweeping me lol! But seriously, my slowest runner's pace is just under an 8 minute k, so I am going to have my work cut out for me!
• On top of my clinic, I decided to incorporate two more 5k runs a week just to keep my current base steady, at least at the beginning of the clinic. Once we start covering further distances in the coming weeks, I will probably drop one of those, if not both. So right now, I don't run on Tuesdays or Saturdays.
• It looks like we might be finally getting a break from this heat beginning on Wednesday. That would be nice. I am all for summer, but in SUMMER would be nice!
• Lots of friends ran this weekend in various races! Congrats to you all! Especially in the heat!
  

Three Things Thursday

1. Okay, okay. I know that, as Canadians, complaining about the weather is sport. We aren't happy if it's cold, hot, raining, snowing etc. So I do apologize if my bitching about the heat on here or on Facebook is making people hot! But, it's May. Not July. And since it is cold out west, I can only hope that means a cool down is imminent for us too! But in the meantime, I walked out the door last night to do my run, turned around and walked right back in! Brutal. I have a 'fro :)
2. I may have failed to mention, but beginning tonight, I will be teaching the Women's Only Clinic at the store for the next 10 weeks! EEK! This is traditionally a smaller clinic, so I am looking forward to it. It will be interesting to see how everyone does with their 10 sets of 1 & 1's. We all know as the instructor, I am going to smoke them LOL! Just hope I have no fast kids..........
3. If you are a regular reader, you know how busy we can get in the summer. Well, I was looking at our calendar and we are booked solid every weekend in July and August already. How did that happen? And I haven't even gotten my work schedule yet. Killer. I wish I could say once the fall hits it will let up, but you know that is a lie. Plus, Connor starts school in September. Uh, what? When did THAT happen?

It's May 27th everyone. Only 4 more days till June. Yep.

Its Gettin' Hot in Here

So take off all your clothes!

I kid, sort of!

It's hot today. Like my fellow bloggy friend and BFF says, there is an EXTREME HEAT ALERT. I say, WHAAAAAAA!

In an effort to not die when I run, I managed to sneak out and do a 5k yesterday after spending my long weekend working and SICK. Yes, sick. Apparently, I had a random temperature, but it really made me feel awful. And we had house guests so i was just no fun and really anti social. Hopefully the next long weekend won't be such a bomb!

Back to the run: the early morning departure made no matter. It was hot, and I could feel it. May first K was almost 11 minutes, but I did manage to pick it up and finish the five at JUST under 50 minutes, which felt good. I wanted to go out tonight, but, it is so hot. I might die. I probably will..........because I am a running addict now. Who knew?

High Five Friday

Marlene tagged me today on "High Five Friday". I now have to spout off SEVEN random facts about myself. So here we go:

1. I have an irrational fear of being in enclosed places over and around water. So driving over bridges or through tunnels while I am in a car, being on boats etc. If you believe in past lives, maybe I died in a submarine accident!
2. I wanted to be a journalist when I was in high school and I even went to college to do so. But alas, a journalist I am not.
3. I am not a huge fan of Peanut Butter. Unlike some of my friends and family, I have actually had my peanut and other nut butters EXPIRE before I could eat them.....and yes, they do expire lol ;)
4. My husband and I are high school sweethearts. So, as of August 25th of this year, we will have been together for 15 years!
5. As of now, I only plan on running one marathon before my 35th birthday. I have three in mind: San Francisco, Chicago and New York. And I am hoping a certain someone will run it with me!
6. I love hockey and I am a huge Toronto Maple Leafs Fan! Go Leafs Go! I do, on occasion cheer for other Canadian teams (Go Habs Go).
7. I do not know what my true hair color is (but really, what woman really does?).

Have a GREAT LONG WEEKEND EVERYONE!

Three Things Thursday

1. I have managed to get out two more times since my race this week. Both 5k! I feel pretty good too. With the month coming to an end and work ramping up, I will be running home from work a few times, otherwise I won't be fitting running in at all in the next 18 days! This is also sort of a grey area when it comes to running. It is in between plans, so hopefully I can keep it up before my next training schedule kicks in next Thursday
2. I think I may have failed to mention that in the next round of clinics I will be teaching! YES, I will be teaching the Women's Only Clinic starting next Thursday. It is the Learn to Run program, but it id taught by a female instructor (me) and only has female participants. I will also be training using the 5k program as well. So lots of running will be had in the next few months! Phew!
3. Our celebration dinner is tonight! Yay Carbs :)
   

Hazel 5k Race Report

Saturday morning started out very badly. We got some bad news about someone and I spent most of the day in emergency. I was back and forth about whether or not I would even race on Saturday. But at the very last minute and with no time to spare, we managed to pull it together and get me to the start line of the Hazel 5k.

As I lined up to the start, I hoped that maybe the sun would peak out. But it did not, and we began under cloudy skies. Because it had been such an emotionally exhausting day for me, my only goal was to complete my sets of 10 & 1's, run my own race, and cross the finish line. Upright and smiling.

1k- The 1k sign came up fast. It is a flat course, but I seemed to be moving along pretty well. This wasn't the largest 5k race I have participated in (Scotia blew that out of the water) but it seemed the hardest to get out of that back pack. I tried to make sure I didn't go too far in front, not wanting to make the faster runners dodge around me! I had a woman that had obviously signed up on a whim (she was wearing jeans) who kept running past me and then stopping in front of me and walking. I knew I wouldn't be able to race the whole race like that, so when I saw the 2k Sign coming up, I picked up my pace and left her in my dust!

2k to 4k - nothing spectacular. I held on to my 10 & 1's, managed to keep my pace and I felt pretty good. It was cold, but it was humid. I had managed to not drink enough water during the day, and it was starting to show. But as I saw the 4k marker, I knew we were almost there.

4k to Finish - you could HEAR the finish line at about 3.5k because of the wind carrying the sound which was torture. But I picked up the pace and came into the shoot. Near the end, I managed to see Colin and the kids and gave them a high five. Then through to the finish.

Gun Time: 45:50.7
Chip Time: 44:29.9
Pace: 8:53
Category: F30-34
Category Place: 110/116
Gender Place: 753-834

I hit my B Goal! I was so pleased!

Race Day Thoughts - I want to run a sub 40 5k this year. I may even tweek my training to include a 5k at the end of the year instead of a 10k. We'll see.

My hip also held up. It felt pretty sore yesterday, but not sore enough to keep me off the road for tonight! Look out!

Expo Friday

Today I will be going to Mississauga to get my race kit, which will be a lot of fun. I received an email this morning with my bib number:

SARAH MACDONALD: 15347
EVENT: 5K

Someday maybe the Marathon!

So now it's time for my goals!

C Goal - 50:00 minutes: this would put me behind the rolling clear, which would mean that I would be at the mercy of the rules of the road. Plus it is a full 7 minutes slower than my personal best. If I walked the race, I would probably still be faster than this by a few minutes!

B Goal - <45:00 minutes: my training to this point has me running just under a 45 minute walk adjusted pace. I think I can do this. If my hip doesn't act up.

A Goal - <43:00 This would be under my current Personal Best, but I did run it on a local course that was measured a few hundred metres short, so while I would love to get a PB, I am not holding my breath!

Speaking of my hip, it feels ok. I have been stretching like crazy, hoping it works itself out in the next couple of days. I wish I could figure out what it is without making an expensive visit to the chiropractor or MT.

Next up: The Hazel 5K!

Three Things Thursday

1. I want to send a huge "Congratulations" out to my sister Meghan and her husband Dan and our niece Casey! Our new niece Hailey was born yesterday at 3:29 weighing in at 8 pounds 6 ounces! Mommy and Baby are doing fine! Love you Megs!
2. I was supposed to run 4.5k last night, but at about 2.5k, my right hip really started to bother me. So a took a walk break and then threw in the towel at 4k. Better to use caution at this point then to risk injury before race day. I wish I could explain what the pain is, but I can't. It's a pain in my ass is what it is!
3. Speaking of race day, trying to come up with the logistics has been a bit of a challenge, to say the least! It is a one way race, and taking the kids down is going to be a challenge as well. Plus, we want to snag a good finish line spot to get good picture of the clinic members finishing!

Tomorrow I will be publishing my A B & C goals so stay tuned!

Monday Round Up

So this weekend we decided to drive to Mount Forest so Colin could race in a local race called the Trillium 10k.
Me and the kiddies, waiting inside before the race begins out of the rain (it was about 6 degrees, winds from the north at about 25k/h and it was raining. Hard.) Notice the abundance of "stuff" the stroller has. Man, three kids and two adults leave a huge carbon footprint!

Anyways, it was a great day. Colin is preparing to run his second marathon this fall and has some big plans in the next few months. So he is fitting in as many "local" races as he can and is running as often as he can!

And here he comes, in the pouring rain and a new Personal Best of 50:54! Great job baby!

*********************************************************************

When we arrived home, I was so inspired by my hubby's performance, I decided to head out for a run of my own. Turns out I was more inspired than I thought, because I ended up running 6k instead of my planned 4.5! But I felt good with my 10 & 1's and actually stopped running because I ran out of road and, well, it was really raining and cold out. Oh, and it started to snow. Yeah. Snow.

I have another set of 10 & 1's for 4.5k on tap for tonight and Wednesday and then 3k of 10 & 1's on Thursday. I am picking up my race kit on Friday and working on Saturday before the race. Not too smart, but I can't help that! Like I said, I will be post my goals later in the week! So stay tuned!

Foto(s) Friday

Sydney and Connor getting ready to run in their "first" race!

Sydney the blur on the left hand side. I had to run my butt off (Garmin said 4:46!) to catch her!
Hey Mama, where'd you come from?
Connor and Daddy displaying their medals! Sydney was not so interested!

****************************************************************

Last nights run was a success! Ran 4k in 36 minutes/9k pace! So I feel good going into next week. I think I am going to TRY and go out tonight to run my 10 & 1's for 4.5k. We are VERY busy this weekend with lots of housework and Mother's Day stuff, so I would like to be able to enjoy it and not have to worry about going out to run!

Next week a will be posting my ABC goals ala Marlene so stay tuned!

Three Things Thursday

1. Best Laid Plans. I was going to try and squeeze my run in last night before Colin had to go to run club (our weekly babysitter is in Las Vegas "HI MOM") but in true Southern Ontario Fashion at 5pm, the skies opened up into a nice thunder and lightening storm. And while some of my friends (HI MARK) inform me they LIKE running in this weather, I am not one of them. So the plan is: tonight I do my set of 8 & 1's for 4k, Saturday afternoon I will do my 10 & 1's for 4.5 and Monday I will also do my 10 & 1's for 4.5. Then I will be caught up for Run Club next Wednesday! Then it's taper on Thursday, cause my race is on SATURDAY! OMG!
2. While I am loving my Adrenaline's, my left foot is still bothering me. So I ordered a pair of New Balance 760's that I am going to give a try. Meh, they may or may not work. But since my mileage has started to climb (12k a week haha) my foot has been bothering me more that just those first few minutes of each run. In fact, since my run on Sunday, it has been sore. But I did run a pretty strange route which included four different surface types (Pavement, Concrete, Gravel and Boardwalk) so that may have something to do with it.
3. I will be working an INSANE amount this month, which I could not be happier about! Our store is going to be having the travelling sidewalk sale, which generally means another whole store is opened up OUTSIDE in the parking lot. It also means that we will be having a lot of deals coming into the store. So if you are in the area you should head on over. From May 19th to the 30th at the Aurora Running Room. And while you're there, look into some of our upcoming clinics (Triathlon anyone ;) )

Have a great day everyone!

Tuesday Afternoon

........I'm just beginning to see, now I'm on my way
It doesn't matter to me, chasing the clouds away

(Gotta love the Moody Blues!)

To say I was sore after my run on Sunday might be an understatement. And working a 5 hour shift before AND a 7 hour shift yesterday probably didn't help! Buy my legs feel good today and I am anxious to get out tomorrow and get my last set done before we move on to 10 & 1's! EEK! Where does the time go? I mean, really?

After this clinic, I will be doing training for another 5k race this July: The Rebecca Run for SMA 5k. It is a nice local race that has become very popular. It is also the goal race for the next round of local clinics, so it is going to sell out very fast.

After that, who knows what might happen ;)

Almost Here

Good Monday morning everyone! Just wanted to say congrats to all my friends who ran a very humid Sporting Life 10k yesterday! Good Job Guys!

We moved on to 8 & 1's on Thursday and I am actually really liking it. My speed is SLOOOOW but that doesn't matter right? I just have to finish the race! Speaking of which, just under two weeks from now is the Hazel 5k in Mississauga! I am really looking forward to this! A 5k with a medal is a rarity, although now it is becoming a bit more common.

Yesterday after work, I decided to run my 8 & 1's. Instead of before. Not the smartest idea. And the route I chose was not ideal, although around here, many aren't! But I finished in just under 37 minutes, so I am hoping on a flatter course I can kick it's butt!

Happy Monday Everyone :)

Three Things Thursday

• I finished up my last set of 6 & 1's for 3.5k last night and it was awesome! Despite some SERIOUS winds, I ran my best yet. It felt really good to have another good run under my belt. Tonight we move up to 8 & 1's! YIKES! But seriously, I am actually not at all nervous about it. I am feeling good and I think it's going to be great! Plus our talk is about cross training, which mean one of my fav people D I will be talking! YAY!
• My schedule in May is INSANE! Which means I am working a ton. And running even more. I have been trying to come up with a plan to run one the days that I work, and I think running home from work is going to be what I end up doing. It is just under 5k door to door, and the run is nice this time of year. Just hope the nights I want to run home the weather is good
• I am already considering my late summer/fall game plan as well. I wanted to try and see about training for Chilly in March, but I think I am going to aim for a spring 1/2 instead. Maybe. We'll see ;)
  

What a Weekend

Saturday morning we celebrated hubby's birthday with a few small gifts and his favorite breakfast: Oven Stuffed Overnight French Toast! It was divine! We then headed to our nieces 4th birthday party and then out to dinner and dessert with friends. By the time Sunday, our real busy day came around, we were already tired.

Hubby ran his half marathon in under two hours, which on this hilly local course, was all he really wanted. He managed to get back in time to watch both Connor AND Sydney run in the Mini Mile (about 250 metres around some trees!). They got their own bibs and medals. And asked if they could do it again!

I ran with our run club while Colin ran his race. 3.2 in 31 minutes. The headwinds on the way back were BRUTAL. I was kicking it but up until that point too. Ugh. I hope that my goal race weather is cool, with no rain or wind lol!

I can't wait to read how everyone else's weekends were!

FOTO Friday

My boys :)

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So last night we moved on to 6 & 1's. I DID IT. It was HARD, but I did it.

An oppourtunity to do the Hartwell 5k Race has come up and I have to decide tonight if I should. It starts at 8:40am, so I can be back in plenty of time to see Connor run his first race! But then there is all the logistics of getting all the kids there, looking after them. I need to decide soon!

It is my hubby's birthday tomorrow. He is the light of our lives and I have been lucky enough to know him for over HALF of mine. I LOVE YOU XO

Three Things Thursday

1. Yesterday Connor went to school for the very first time! He was very excited! And he seemed to like it. Hopefully when he starts in the fall he will still be as enthusiastic.
2. We are moving onto 6 & 1's tonight. Holy cow, where has the time gone? I cannot believe we are in week six already. The race is just over three weeks away! I am actually really excited!
3. Yesterday was the appointment with my neurologist. We decided that a second MRI wasn't necessary. Thank you for that! She has given me a presciption that I began taking yesterday. With time, I will be taking it everyday. Hopefully it will help rid me of my headaches!
   

Tuesday Bullets

• So a friend from work is going to look at my food diary and try to help me make an affordable "healthy eating" meal plan that we can incorporate into our daily life. We all need to start eating more good and less CRAP!
• So the plan was to run home from work tonight, but my surgery site is infected and OPENED this morning. Not too badly, but running 4+k might make it worse. So I am going to try and squeeze in a run tomorrow morning while my Mom is here with the kids during my neurology appointment.
• Connor's first race is coming up this weekend (along with a 1/2 marathon for dad)! He is pretty excited about it actually. It should be a blast!
• Colin has decided NOT to run the Mississauga Marathon after all. Won't get into it, as it is his business, but he is focusing on a Fall Marathon. He thinks he has settled on this one!
• Thanks for all the ideas for my Hubby's birthday. The kids are already asking to go and get the cake lol!

Tomorrow is Wednesday! YAY!

I am nuts!

So since my 5 & 1's on Thursday night went so well, I thought I would run to work on Sunday morning, since I was working.

First, the good news: it went ok, considering it was mostly uphill. 4.1k in 41 minutes. And it felt really good, except my glutes. They hurt. Lots. But I will be running HOME from work tomorrow night which means: All downhill. Ah woohoo!

Now the bad news: did I mention it was all UPHILL. I mean seriously, who decided to live here? Who? Oh right, we did! I guess it means Mississauga will be a cake walk right?

And the ugly: Killer migraine yesterday. One of the WORST that I have had in YEARS. There was nausea, aura, dizziness and the worst pain. I left work a half hour before my shift ended, I couldn't even make it one half hour. Came home and went straight to bed until about seven. Yuck. I have my next neurologist appointment on Wednesday and I am looking forward to finally working on making these more manageable. But you know 25+ years of these things, I am a little skeptical.

Okay guys, I need some help. Hubby's birthday is this weekend and money is tight. I want to do something special for him. Any ideas? He is the best husband and father in the world and I really want him to know how important he is to us! Thanks guys!

Cheater Post Workout Brownies

So I have been trying hard not to eat "too" much processed crap. Easier said than done. I also wanted to find some sort of Power Bar/Luna Bar/ Clif Bar that doesn't cost three dollars a piece and taste like garbage. This quarters Running Room Magazine had a recipe that I just had to try:

Cheater Post Workout Brownies

The Cast of Characters:
1 Box of Brownie Mix (I used Low Fat, but it doesn't discriminate)
1/4 Cup of Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup of Chocolate or Vanilla Whey Protein Powder (I used a 1/4 cup of each)
1/4 Cup of Ground Flax Seed
2 4.5 oz Jars Sweet Potato Baby Food
1 4.5 oz Jar Strained Prune Baby Food
1 Cup Cashews (Chopped)

1) Throw everything into a bowl and mix until well moistened (about 50 strokes)
2) Pour the batter into a 8 inch square pan and bake in a 325 degree oven for about 50 minutes

3) Cool completely on wire rack in pan
Cut into twelve bars. At this point I now will freeze ten of them and package them individually to eat at a later date. They should be good for up to a month in the freezer
Mmmmmm chocolate brownie goodness!
The details

• 304 Calories
• 10g Protein
• 35 grams carbs
• 3 grams fibre
• 14 g fat
• 121 mg sodium

Enjoy!

Friday Thoughts

So Friday is here. Friday April 16th. Where is April going? Time is flying by!

So I have to admit, even though it is my fourth time around the block, I am finally feeling good in my current clinic. Sure, it helps that I LOVE my instructor. But for some reason, everything is really clicking this time.

Wednesday night we went out for our last set of 4 & 1's and it really BLEW. I did it and it felt great to finish. But it felt so crappy. I really can't explain it any other way. I hadn't eaten all that great during the day. And I don't think I drank enough water.

So I was pleasantly surprised last night when we moved onto our first set of 5 & 1's. Starting out I was cautious, but I kicked it up and finished up at 28:17 for 3k! WOOHOO! I know it isn't about how fast we run, but I really want to get a PB at the end of this clinic. It may or may not happen. But I want to try!

For anyone who is, has, or is thinking about running, we can all agree on one thing: those first four weeks, you have to stick with it. Because, quite frankly, it isn't all that fun. Your body is getting used to this new activity. You feel like someone is sucking the life out of you with every set. But then something happens. You run one day and everything just "clicks" into place. It is worth the effort, I promise!

Comings and Goings

Wow, time flies when your having fun!

We are SO BUSY right now. So very busy. I am back to work, and working an average of 20 hours a week. Between that and running, and doing stuff with the kids, we are swamped.

My two sets of 4 & 1's have gone alright. My second set yesterday was not too good, but I finished it. I am looking forward to moving on to the 5 & 1's on Thursday. So that means we are already on to week FIVE. Wow.

I have been thinking a lot about what my goals are going to be this year. I do want to keep running, of course.

Since I am going to be teaching the next Women's Only clinic in May (!) I am going to be keeping it slow. I will then probably go into 5k training and depending on how that goes, go into 10k training. But no Half Marathon training this year. Which I am fine with.

I feel a bit discombobulated today.......I think I need some sleep.

4 & 1's

Started!

So now it's on to 4 & 1's. Hrmmmmmm. I gotta say, this is where it get tough. Really tough. At this point I think a lot of people want to quit. But not me! I have a goal race that I want to finish in under 45 minutes!

I signed up yesterday and I am really looking forward to it. The only thing I can't figure out is if it has a medal. Anyone know?

I will be heading out early tomorrow morning to do my next run at the store. Since we can't find a sitter for Sunday mornings, Colin runs with his group. I did have some company last week though. Maybe they will join me again!

Wet Wednesday

It looks like its going to be a wet one around here. We have been spoiled with beautiful weather the past week, so we were bound to get some awful rain in our future. Well, the future is now!

I will be heading out tonight on my own for my last set of 3 & 1's. Tomorrow we move onto: 4 & 1's! I can't put anything by you guys! So far so good, hopefully I make 4 & 1's rock too!

We seem to have another runner in the family. Connor will be running in his very first race on April 25th here in Aurora! It is the Kids Mini Mile at the Run for Southlake (Daddy is running the 1/2 marathon)! He gets his own race kit and medal for finishing! He is very excited! And no, it isn't an actual mile, it is the last 500 Metres of the race course!

Three Things Thursday

I really need to NOT only post twice a week:

1. Last night at Run Club we completed our last round of 2 & 1's! Woohoo! This time around I really felt like I didn't do as poorly, and last night I ran my best so far! I always treat any run pretty much like a race. I hate leaving anything out there. So I run my little heart out.
2. This weekend is Easter. I cannot believe it. It feels like only yesterday that we were celebrating Christmas. Now that April is here, the rest of the year is going to fly by. We are having brunch tomorrow with our family, then Easter Dinner on Sunday at my Mom and Dad's. We also have tomorrow off here in Canada, so that means LONG WEEKEND!
3. I started back at work on Tuesday night and it was great to be back. I missed working, and I missed my co-workers. And April looks like I will be getting lots of great shifts, so I am very excited!

I hope everyone has an amazing Easter.

Tuesdays Gone Away

I managed to squeeze in a run this weekend while I was away and it felt pretty good. I decided to take a few days off and will be doing my last set of 2 & 1's tomorrow night at Run Club. Then it's 3 & 1's. Wow. Time flies when you're in pain.......I plan on running at least twice more over this weekend. So hopefully I will be where I want to be sooner rather than later.

Also, I head back to work tonight. Thank God. Not getting paid does not equal good times. And I have a lot of shifts coming up, so I will be back to a regular schedule in no time!

The weather this week is going to be BEAUTIFUL. So I am going to be taking the kids to the zoo tomorrow, which they always enjoy. Plus we have a membership, which is totally worth it.

Happy Tuesday everyone

Three Things Thursday

1) Well we are moving on to 2 & 1's tonight at clinic. I always get a little nervous when we move on to the next level. So far so good for me. I feel good, I feel really good! Lets hope that it keeps up! It is also Bring a Buddy night and THE SHOE TALK. Oh lord, between a half dozen clinics and working at the store, I could give the shoe clinic myself!

2) The kids have spent the last week at their Grandmother's place, so I have had a nice break. It has been really good! But I miss them and I will be looking forward to seeing them again tomorrow! With spring coming, it means that we can do more outside! So I am hoping we can make it out to the park in the next few weeks!

3) April is already looking to be a VERY busy month for us! I return to work on March 30th and EVERY weekend is booked from now till the end of the month! Another sign the year is moving forward. Less REST DAYS!

Last 1 & 1's

So with the rain disappearing after a few days, me and Cam Man made our way out for my last set of 1 & 1's this week! Did 2.5 k in 25 minutes, which is right on track. The longer you run, the faster you go, so I am not going to worry too much about my time right now! On to 2 & 1's tomorrow!

Everything feels nice and loose. I find on days that I exercise I am never really hungry. I think I might try to do something everyday, so as to make sure I don't eat myself to death!

And I was down 7 pounds this first week back at it! I love the first week of Weight Watchers. All the crap comes out of your system. Lets hope I can keep it up!

A Goal Race

So my hubby has talked me into running the Hazel 5k in May as a goal race for the end of this clinic. I wasn't going to run in a race, but I figured why the heck not. We all know that having a race in mind keeps us going out there (most of the time). And with the weather beginning to get nicer, it is going to make it easier to get out and run.

So far so good. The clinic started on Thursday night, and like most Learn to Run clinics, is HUGE! I think that everyone is going to have a lot of fun. Once we are able to leave the parking lot that is :)

And on the Weight Loss side of things I was down 6 pounds this week! YAY! Being back on Weight Watchers always makes me feel more focused. But please, I have to find something else to eat besides SALAD. I am turning into a rabbit over here!

I've Been Cleared - Three Things Thursday

• The title says it all. I have been cleared to run! My appointment went great yesterday! All my tests came back ok, so they didn't find anything in the tissue that needs exploring further. And apparently (turn away if you think you will be embarrassed) the tissue they did remove was 95% mammary tissue. It was all boob baby lol! He told me not to play any contact sports for another month, but that I could return to my regular activity as soon as I feel comfortable. I was just so pleased with the initial outcome of this. It has changed my life already. And there is still a bit of healing left to go!
• I went running again last night. 2k in 20 minutes exactly! So yeah, a 10 minute kilometre pace, but hey, I am just starting again right? Hopefully as I get better and things start clicking I will get a bit faster. I would LOVE to be able to run a 7:30 k by the end of the year. Is that too lofty a goal?
• I had our niece with us this week for March Break. My sister is due to have her second child in May, but this pregnancy has been difficult for her. So to give her some much needed rest, I have been taking our niece during the day. Let me just say it has been a lot of fun. But there is not way in HELL I could have another child. Three is the PERFECT number!

If you have the time please head over to my BFF's page and take a moment to donate to Nolan's Dream Chasers. It is an amazing cause, one that helps a lot of children enjoy their life during it's most difficult time. Thanks again!

Doing it Right

In an effort to get back in the saddle, I decided it was time for a new pair of running shoes. My solid, but incredibly worn out Adidas Control 10's needed to be retired.

Any runner out there can attest that when you find a shoe you love, you really should try to stick with it. I have always been an Asics girl (my first two pairs of running shoes were 2120's and 2130's). But then I tried the Control 10's and fell in love. But guess what? That's right, they don't make them anymore. Boo. So, I went to The Running Room here in Aurora (my store, the GREATEST STORE IN THE WORLD!) and had my manager do another gait analysis on my feet. Luckily, my gait was the same. But guess what? The 2140's and 2150's have changed.

WTF.

So, after trying several shoes, I found my new pair:

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10

At first, I have to admit, I was hesitant. They felt great on, but they needed a test drive. So off to the gym I trudged tonight for my first POST OPERATION workout. And guess what?

They are incredible. My feet never felt like this was the first time I had on these shoes. They felt nice and snug and there was a ton of room in the toe box. Plus, my left foot, which has been bothering me for some time, didn't hurt at all. I did 7 sets of 1 and 1's plus ten minutes on the bike.

As for "the girls"? Well, this operation will be changing my life. I was EXHAUSTED by the end of the 15 minutes, but I could breathe. I could breathe. I am pretty sure everyone in the gym thought I was crazy, because I actually burst into tears!

Cross Those Fingers

After a long week of recuperating and rest I "think" my back is back to normal. I really don't want to go through this again if I can help it.

Man is my fitness struggling though. Back to some light exercises tomorrow. I have a final appointment with my plastic surgeon on Wednesday. If he gives me the OK, I will begin running again on Thursday with the new Learn to Run clinic starting here in Aurora! And I hear the instructor is awesome*! So I am really looking forward to it :) I know that starting over for the....1......2.....3......4th time is going to be daunting, but I am looking forward to the challenge.

I forgot to mention a few months ago I planned out this very intricate running calendar for this year. And next. I am WAY off now. But, I still want to try and up my distance to at least a 10k by the fall. Maybe I can. Maybe I can't. We'll see. Keep your fingers crossed!

* It's my husband LOL!

** I just realized that I had MODERATE ON on my blog and didn't see ANY COMMENTS from the past THREE MONTHS! Thank you everyone for all you kind words and support. I love and appreciate you all VERY. VERY MUCH! And I turned moderate off ROTFLMAO!

Best Laid Plans

My intended run did not happen. I woke up on Friday morning with a tweak in my back. As the day progressed, it became full on spasms. And I have been having then every day since. I am not going to the doctor because I already know what it happened. I have been doing more than I should have been and the muscles around my back and ribcage can't seem to handle it. Now I can't walk upright and feel like I vice is squeezing my right around the middle.

So now I am depressed that I STILL can't get out there and get going. I am so FRUSTRATED. And the weather is gorgeous this week. I wanted to take the kids out to do some stuff. Now it doesn't look like that will be happening either :(

Yesterday many of my friends and family including my hubby ran the first real "race" of the season here in Southern Ontario. I haven't tried The Chilly Half Marathon yet, but hopefully someday I will! Small Steps! Hubby was 4 SECONDS off his personal best, but he was happy with his time! My BFF got a personal best by more than five minutes. Congrats to everyone that ran and I hope to join you in the future!

I'm Back

Hello to anyone still out there!

My surgery was, for the most part, a success! Not being able to do any real physical activity is causing me some issues (ie weight gain) but overall I am really pleased. It can take a yeah for everything to settle into place, but I am really happy with the results already.

Tomorrow I will be going out with my Personal Trainer (my husband!) and going for a 3k run. I am nervous and excited all at the same time. He is being so supportive during all of this. I am pretty lucky.

I will be returning to work at the end of the month and going full tilt then. I am hoping to teach the Womens Only Clinic in May, as hubby is teaching the Learn to Run and 5k back to back starting at the end of March. I am also hoping to run a few races into the summer and fall, but I am not so sure how that is going to work out.

Wish me luck on my continued recovery!

This I Know For Sure

That regardless of what happens, I am already the person I want to be!

Wish me luck everyone!

One Week

All my ducks are in a row so to speak. Just waiting now for the big day to come.

I had my pre op appointment at the hospital and it went well. Just all the pre stuff and the flow of the operation. It is apparently going to be a painful month and a half after. But the pain isn't really what I am scared of.

Besides that, my world is just fine! I may not get the chance to write on your blogs often but I read them every update. Take care my bloggy friends ;)

Ummmm....So........Hmmmmm

BOOBS BREASTS KNOCKERS

Ok now that I got that out of the way:

On February 10th I am having a Breast Reduction Surgery. To any and all people that are not into knowing the details, TURN AWAY NOW!

I was basically born with breasts. I'm not kidding. I had my first "training bra" when I was 8 years old. Yes 8. By the time I was ten, if memory serves, I was wearing a 34B.

I am so not kidding.

During high school, I was a 36C, which on my 5'5 135 pound frame looked huge. But I was in high school. I LOVED the attention. Sure, my back hurt ALL THE TIME. Sure I was subconscious and hated buying new clothes. But I dealt with it.

When I put on weight, well you can guess what happened. At my heaviest I was a 44DDD which seems small now. But I was heavy and really didn't notice them since there was weight everywhere.

Before I began having kids, and at my smallest since high school, I became a 40D, which also seems small now. Then I had baby #1. Shortly baby#2 followed. Then baby #3. I am now a 46F. The last straw came this fall, when I was trying to get back into running. I can barely breathe while I run. There is so much WEIGHT on my chest. It is so hard to explain. Forget about the back pain, knee pain and sciatic pain. And the HEADACHES. Literally. It was agony.

So after speaking to my family, my doctor and myself, I decided it was time. Time to change my life for the better.

So that is my news. My big change coming. I hope that it gets me on the path to a better self. Both inside and out.

January Blues

Hello Everyone!

I was down FIVE POUNDS last week! I wish I could say that means I lost 15 pounds overall, but really all it means is that I am back to where I was before Christmas LOL!

Well, is it February yet? Since New Years Day, things just have been so stressful around here. I think that January is like that for a lot of people. Which is why they go away! It seems at every corner there is something else weighing on me, us, our family. Stress is a real trigger of emotional eating for me.

Yesterday was probably the icing on the proverbial cake. Our porcelain stove top CRACKED right down the middle.

FML

I mean really? REALLY?

Work is extremely busy which is good for me, so I have been working a lot too! When February comes I will be off for a few weeks for a surgery. I will talk a bit about that next time though.

In the meantime, I am reading all you blogs and thanks if you've left a comment. It means a lot that people out there are listening.

OH! I totally forgot. So, if you recall, my Garmin busted. So not cool. I sent it back to Garmin's electronics division and apparently the whole unit needed to be replaced. So, I got a brand new Garmin. Score!

Have a great day everyone!

Ugh

So this past week has not been a pleasant one AT ALL.

Firstly, I did not go to WI this week. I will be going back next week, but I knew I was up and I totally didn't want to pay 17 bucks to know it. I have a free pass to miss a week, so I will use it then.

Moving on from my up, I am having a better week this week. There is hardly a drop of wine or junk in the house, so that is making things a little easier. Tonight I am heading out with the hubby to run hills with his 1/2 marathon group. We'll see how that goes!

I also had a bit of an incident here on the weekend involving a serrated knife. Long story short, always use a cutting board. Managed to cut myself pretty badly and required a tetanus shot. Emergency on a Saturday night =not so much fun!

I am also going to another Yoga class this Friday night. Hopefully it will be as good as the first one!