Not a jot tonight

Well tonight is a write off. I have no intentions of doing my yoga right now. None. I'm having my heart palpitations which is a side affect of my thryoid meds doseage being a wee bit too high. And when I say wee... it's probably unacceptablely high. And I know this as I've been given the finger wag by my GP & my endo. However; it's drop the doseage and feel like a dishrag dropped in a mud puddle or be the active person I was with a few inconveniences. ( high heart rate & palpitations) So I try to regulate my intake by not taking my doseage on the weekends. Then my pills ran out about 10 days ago and well ya know, I have this brain fog ... yeah. I just picked them up on Friday so I'm trying to get myself back on track and then back on the other track. Sheesh. Why do I do this to myself? WHy?? CUS I CAN!!! I'm an idiot. I know. I guess it's avoidance of what's in front of me and trying to forget what was behind me. I just want to be like I was.... but then I guess I've learned no lessons. Crap. Oh well. In a couple of weeks it'll be right as rain again. *she says with hope* ahhahaha

Not AGAIN!!! AAAGGGHHHH

I got up at 5am to let the dogs out and feed them, as is customary in our household. There is no such thing as a sleep in for me, however; I'm not grumbling. I went back to bed confident that my alarm would wake me up in roughly 90 mins time. But during that 90 minutes I had the weirdest dream - it involved Jenn R, Trish & a mariade of my running room pals & their canines. Jenn had a new dog and we were running along by Johnson's Beach. After much debate we said screw the run and jumped in the water, frolicking around madly with her pup. ( apparently the other dogs just disappeared). Then in the distance there was thunder and lightening. Trish was being the voice of reason and I did a Baywatch dive into the water to save.... BEEP BEEP BEEP... ech. So brekkie was eaten quickly as I was behind. I got my gear on, found my water bottle filled it up. Took Chelsea to work and headed to the RR. Parked up. Walked in. AND NO WATER BOTTLE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!! This has got to end, this missing water bottle crisis. Message for sure! I had planned 21.1 k doing the "highway run" - but last week was 9.4k and the week before was only 12 k. So a jump to 21 isn't wise, my calf ached and almost felt like the ripped fascia was back. So I scaled back the distance to 15 or so. I'd make the determination as I was running. I headed out towards the water & and near Vancouver I was over taken by the "elites" - yeah no one REALLY likes a show off, let alone a whole group of them. At any rate up Vancouver I ran they all took the flat fun "trail" meh. I almost caught up with them by the 1st concession and when I say almost I'm talking probably 400 meters or more in front of me. ahahah. I headed down the first concession and got my first walk break at the 5k mark. I decided that I would do that every 5 k - quick break - water and Halls. I started back up just passed the under pass for Thunder Bridge, when I started thinking "holy crap - the highway run really isn't that flat on the first concession, it's actually really hilly" and with that I shut down. I literally stopped running. My mental sound track ended and I just started to walk. Well, I said to myself, this will never do. You finish what you started. What would your virtual running partner say?" So I turned back on the mental sound track full blast. Delirious - by Prince and I started again. Damn it really is up hill, so I adjusted my pace and continued on. I could see the traffic on the 5/6th and said See not that far away. You can do it. Then I noticed what looked to be a blob running up the 1st con. towards the highway. Ahhh the elites. *grumble* So I decided 15 k would be awesome. I crossed over the 5/6th ran to the first house and it was exactly 7.52 k. ran back over and looked at the up hill I had to run. But you know it didn't look so bad when I figured that the hill I ran up last week at the 3k mark at the Spring Run off wasn't far off of it. Up I trotted. Determined to keep going until 10k. My Halls was getting smaller and smaller. It was going to have to be replaced. So close to Thunder Bridge I got my next walk break. My leg really was aching - but not bad enough to warrant any stoppages outside my walk break. I turned on to Ridge/Shanty Bay Road and headed back to Barrie with a new Halls in my mouth and Delirious playing over and over and over and over in my head. You'd think it would get annoying but, oddly enough, it doesn't. As I headed towards the hill on Shanty Bay rd I thought " hey why not take the trail?" so I answered " hey why not take the trail? I haven't run on it for a while, so... I was up and down on my pace - one time 5:40, then 6:50 then 6:01. I seemed to even off and hover around the 5:50 - 6:02 pace. When I turned on to the trail my Garmin read 11.94 k & I know the trail one way is 3k. So making my distance wouldn't be an issue. Phew. It had been raining lightly from about Shanty Bay onwards, but by the time I got the the end of the trail it was coming down steadily. My calf was achy - but very bearible. I managed the 15.02 k in 1:35:xx. My best pace 5:02 and my ave pace was 6:22. Not bad I'd say for a route that has a good number of hills Vancouver to midway up the 1st Conc. Tomorrow - Yoga. tonight - hot bath then an ice pack and hot pack on my leg. :) G'night all. Pleasant dreams.

Nancy Drew solves the mystery.

I was getting ready for my Thursday night routine of cycling & swimming, I gathered up my gear

• shoes (newly washed... had too old shoes, bad smell


• towels


• bathing suit


• clothes to change into


• elastic hair band

Then I ducked into the powder room on the main floor to uhmmm well... you know... tinkle & there it was, my Nathan water bottle. Obviously I forgot it in the bathroom on Sunday when I well... you know... had to tinkle.

Phew...

I got to the gym and climbed on the bike I figured I'd take it easy on myself seeing as Theo wasn't here; that didn't happen. It started out as a cadence work out then i added hills in to it. I think the last 10 minutes I had turned the tension up to an 8 then the last 5 up to a 10. I had sweat dripping off me there was a puddle on the floor. Lots of truck stop language was coming out of my mouth. Well more muttered when the boot camp instructor (the gym runs a boot camp Thursday nights) changed the music from a chippy Euro techno mix to ohh what's his name Ka'an? The waving flag guy. Geezzz I can NOT stand that song. Really and truly. Yeah for him he got out - he struggled for survival... but uhmm it just does nothing for me except get my gander up.

Then off to do core and stretching. I tried using the "ball" holy crap. I have to work on that - I wasn't that successful. Maybe the ball was too big for what I wanted to do?! No clue. But yeah, awkward. It was about 8:10 when I finished doing my stretches and had to race down I was meeting Kevin at 8:15 for swimming.

I didn't go with a game plan, I just went to do some swimming and maybe do some drills and technique. I didn't have the desire to do hardcore swimming, luckily for me cause my lane partner ain't the quickest of swimmers. Oh well. It gave me the opportunity to do the pencil drill where by i try to keep my body pencil straight and half way out of the water. I find I drag too much. I'm not sure how to fix that, but I'll do some research on it. Coach Rob says to do that drill, so ...

Did a lot of arms only laps because if I didn't I would have lapped Kevin and that's not really what I wanted to do. It's a bit disheartening especially when he's trying so hard. The man is a freak on the asphalt and a stone in the water. Poor little dude.

Tomorrow night - try to get some dancing in to keep the other parts of me fit & grooving. They say that a majority of knee & leg injuries come from having weak hips. So a few hours on the dance floor should help keep them strong. LMAO... Woot woot.

Til the next time.

The Case of the Missing Nathan Water Bottle

I can NOT find my Water Bottle anywhere. EEK.. I had it Sunday morning when I cleaned it out from Saturday's race & I swore I put it on the counter, but this "fog" that I live in, gosh it could be anywhere. I may have even dropped it out of my bag on the way to the running room, or even in the RR. Who knows. I'll put my best Nancy Drew frock on and figure this mystery out. The weather was smiling upon us runners this evening, why some were even in shorts. I'm waiting for Roger to put his singlet on next week. LOL. I got to the RR - had a look around to see if there were any possible running partners & nairy a one to be found, so I took off on my own. A little nudge from Rickymac to get my butt in gear and off I went. I did my route- I managed to get 7/8 up Theresa. Had a bit of a walk break and then off I went again. I forgot my Garmin so I have no idea what I was doing pace wise but by my breathing I was 5:50 ish. I decided since I couldn't time my run then I would try for endurance - I didn't take a walk break ( after Theresa) until about the Nelson Stairs which is erhmm 4 - 4.5 k. And it was a walk break that would be worthy of Theo, throw a bit of water down my gullet and off again. My calf was letting me know that the hill was an effort, but the soleus maintained and it's just that stupid calf muscle pull. I did a few minutes of downward dog at the RR - and it's pretty much gone & I think with some more Yoga / downward dog etc tomorrow after cycling I'll be feeling much better. Came home and had a small bite to eat. I started some basmati rice with curry, corriander and cumin spices in it. Chelsea did some broccoli & asparagus and I stir fried some curried tofu. So I have had my protein, carbs and veggies. Not enjoying the food, but you gotta eat apparently. Ohhh and I ran into Leanne & Brenda after, they do the same route as I do Wednesdays & asked if I could join them. I have no illusion that I'll be keeping up with them, but I do need to start running with faster runners. I told them that I had no expectations that they wait for me, but I need the motivation. They said it was okay. I'm very happy. And soon trails will be ready for running. I can't wait.

As the old saying goes....

While the cat's away the mouse will play, in this case, just sit and decompress. Theo is out and about for a marathon & isn't here today, so I'm taking the opportunity to just sit down and breath out the day I've had. My plan was to run instead of cycle & swim, but Chelsea is out with a friend tonight and I just need the quiet. I took the dogs for a walk with a running buddy, Wayne and his pooch Angel, it was a good walk. Kees was acting up a bit, but after a Cesar inspired compliance / submission position he got his good sense back. So I managed a bit of dinner, sat and watched Murder, She Wrote and now just some shhhhhh time. aahhh. I'll be on form for tomorrow & back in the saddle ( literally) on Thursday. I'll try my run again but not sure frontwards or backwards. Maybe I'll do the bus run ... Ahhh that's the grand thing about not having a clinic you can do your own thing, but yet at the same time it doesn't provide me with the structure I like. Perhaps I'll just surprise myself & start a few hills and try to strengthen my legs. However; I would greatly appreciate less northerly winds.

The Morning after.

Sunday morning runs are groovy. Sunday morning runs are groovy. I like having my oatmeal in bed at 6am. I do I really really do. *sighs* I was still stinging from the disappointing showing I had at the Spring Run off. Even with the stats to prove I did okay. In my head, I didn't get my goal & I'm very good at post mortums. I know where I lost my time - why I lost my time - when I lost it... blah blah blah. Effin 7 k hill. Effing 3k hill. Effing breathing. And the gel I stuck down my sports bra - CHAFF.. actually I think it's past being chaffing it's gone right into layers of skin missing. Sting city. YOWSA. At any rate I was the first one into the RR other than Char, who was opening the store, and plunked my stuff down only to realize my Garmin was still in it's charger & my water bottle was on my counter top. SHIT SHIT SHIT... awesome. So I improvised with a Dansai water bottle I had. ppfft.. Then I checked my phone as I do pre run to see if there were any messages, Chelsea was working and just got home, so she may have had some pearl of wisdome, luckily not. Though Trish did SMS me to say she was heading down for a "run of sorts" so I figured ahhh I'll run with Trish, we haven't see each other for a while, we can chat & run & catch up. Unfortunately she's been doing mostly Crossfit Potential and not as much running so there would be no 21 k on the agenda. Sad but true. It was good to chat - I haven't had a Sunday run in a while where I could actually talk and run at the same time. WOOTWOOT.. And I must say it probably was a good thing too do the 9.4 k as well. I can feel my ITB tightening up. My goodness my left side of my body is just one big injury. Good gawd. Well I'm just going to have to get The Stick out and do some damage to that ITB. Thursday when I go swimming / cycling I'll use their foam roller. I'm going to run on Tuesday night rather than swim just to mix it up a bit. I'll see if Shannon can come out and play and see if I can keep up to her. Til the next post. Keep at 'er.

Harry's Spring Run Off - 8K High Park

Oh lord have mercy. I was awake before the birds were this morning. I had all my running gear laid out last night. Weather said 4 degrees. So long sleeve tech and a vest, capris, compression sleeves & of course my Saucony's. Made some porridge to eat along the way, filled up my water bottle half way & I was debating about using it in the run, but figured I better just in case I decide to take a swig on a walk when there were no aid stations. There was one at the 4K mark and 6K mark. The first hill is around 3K so.. this time I'll take my waist belt. however; I didn't shut the spout well enough and it soaked my back seat. Awesome... I arrived at High Park with plenty of time to spare for my 9am meeting ( which apparently means 9:30 to newbies) ggrrr. I had a chat with my sis, bro in law & neice for half an hour and headed over to the park. I was suppose to meet a few fellows from work that were running it, I said 9am. They interpreted that to mean 9:30 ... I advised them I was going to be waiting til 9:30 then doing a warm up run and getting ready to be in my corral (red... I know I over estimated... eheheheh) I lined up for the loo as well. I'm not changing my race day plans for folks, I'm sorry, I'm just not going to do it. So off we went - I checked my Garmin 4:15 pace. HOLY SHIT BOPPERS... take that sucker down a notch please and thank you. That's pretty much the only real down hill of the race of any distance. I did my first kilometer in 5:03 ... YIKES Theo is going to kill me. He said 5:30 ... but I knew the hills were going to be tougher possibly more mental than anything but there you go. I round the sharp right at the 2 k mark and was still hitting 5:13 pace, but was going with it. I had my halls in my mouth and was letting my legs go. The only thing I noticed was I didn't have my sound track in my head. I had too much negativity floating around in there. Lots of self talk & doubts. Not good. The 3k hill loomed before me & I took it on. I ran about half way up it and decided walking was okay. It's a frigging long ass hill. I took another quick walk break and by the 4 k mark I was at 21:xx minutes. So well on my way to making my time. the 4 to 5 k distance was probably the only flat part in the race and I tried to keep it at a 5:30 pace as much as possible. 5-6 k ggrrr... you could feel the incline, my leg was aching a tad, nothing horrific, but it was my lungs that were having difficulty keeping up to my legs. I had popped another halls before the other one ran out just to be safe. The 6k run was very rolling - why do I always forget that it's rolling with an emphasis on up hill ? WHy? I don't know. At the 6K mark just coming out beside Parkside rd. ( and the water station) I was at 33 minutes dead on. so that means 11:xx something for the 4th and 5th kilometer. Not bad I think. 6k-7k is a steady run - you again can feel the incline starting. I had a quick little walk break just to let my lungs catch up to me. Then 7k.... ohhhh yeah ... 600 more meters till that effin hill ... and again the incline ... I pushed and pushed at the 400 meters left mark came the hill... I got about 200 m up and I had to walk my lungs were screaming. I walked about 100 meters and then started again, I knew my 44 min goal was toast. At this point I was just hoping to finish before last year's time. As I pushed on through I could hear my sister yelling for me... that was so nice, I really needed that. I finished in 46:23 (chip - 46:36 gun) so it was a PB by 23 seconds. I'll take it that's for sure, but honestly I am disappointed. I could have made it if I had run up more of both hills. Maybe. Or maybe I'd have burned out. The one thing that I do know is that I need to work on the breathing. This activity induced asthma is a pain the behind. I took my puffer and I had my halls, but now I have to get my lungs to the point where the understand that I need more air to be allowed through. I'm not sure how to do that - perhaps more hills with speed? More spinning with "hills" in it? I don't know. I'll have to figure that out. That's what smarter runners than me are for. :) Well I'll be running tomorrow .... We'll see what the Half clinic is doing, but I actually feel like doing the highway run. all 21.1 k of it. Am I crazy? Goofy? Delirious? perhaps. We'll see that the old body decides to let me do in the morning.