Running through my mind

Getting ready to cheer Melissa on this weekend for her half-marathon and in efforts to keep myself focused on my eventual half-marathon.  

I went through a list of 101 running tips from Women’s Health article and liked these ones the most… hope they get you going too.   

Make time for a quickie
“If 15 minutes is all the time I have, I still run. Fifteen minutes of running is better than not running at all.” 

Learn from your mistakes
“You find out by trial and error what the optimum level of training is. If I found I was training too hard, I would drop back for a day or so. I didn’t run for 5 days before the sub-4.” 

Go for the goal
“I believe in using races as motivators. It’s hard to keep on an exercise program if you don’t have a significant goal in sight.” 

Listen to your body (yes, again!)
“Your body is always trying to tell you where you are. Beware when you become tired and listless, when you lose interest in workouts and approach them as a chore rather than a pleasure.” 

Stay above bored
“A 40-minute run punctuated with a half-dozen 30-second pace pickups (not all-out sprints) can really jazz up an otherwise boring training run.”

Don’t always watch the watch
“I don’t wear a watch during my long runs. That way I’m not tempted to compare my time from week to week.” 

Rest assured
“Back off at the first sign of injury. Three to 5 days off is better than missing a month or two. Take regular rest days.” 

“Chip” away at it
“Think chest/hips/push, or CHP, when it’s time for uphill running. Chest up, hips forward, push strongly off each foot.” 

Stay in control
“Run your own race at an even pace. Consider the course, the temperature, the weather, and most importantly, your current level of fitness.” 

Warm up, don’t wear down
“At most, jog easily for 15 minutes before a race. Then stretch your hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, and lower back. With about 15 minutes to go, maybe do a few strides. But no more—you’ll warm up plenty in the early going.” 

Go minimalist
“Marathon training doesn’t have to be a grind. By running for about 30 minutes two times a week, and by gradually increasing the length of a third weekly run—the long run—anyone can finish a marathon.” 

Divide by three
“Divide the marathon into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart.”

Find a cheerleader
“The primary reason to have a coach is to have someone who says: ‘Hey, you’re looking good today!’” 

Train with someone…
“It may seem odd to hear a coach say this, but I think a really great training partner is more important than a coach.” 

Spent a beautiful Saturday afternoon walking down the waterfront in Toronto.  Erik and I met up with some Bishop’s friends Mike and Barbara for lunch on King Street.  We went to Hey Lucy! which was delish.  I got a grilled chicken calzone.  We then walked down along Queens Quay waterfront and observed all the active Torontonians roller blading, biking, running, walking their dogs and just taking advantage of the gorgeous autumn weather.  

We then went to this cheap place on College for drinks with another BU alum Gstew (10$ pitchers of beer and 12$ pitchers of sangria- what a steal!).

We said our goodbyes and Erik and I continued to another party…

We did not take public transportation once the whole time- and over the course of the day walked a total of 11.34 km.  That’s what I love about city living you can walk everywhere… and even though certain places feel far because there’s so much going on on every street, the walk isn’t boring!

Sigh* can’t wait to move to the city :)  one day Caitlin… one day. 

I should never have doubted the benefits of yoga.  My muscles ache (in a good way), I feel refreshed and flexy, and the best part of all is that I’ve been sleeping like a baby. 

I hinted in a video a week ago that I didn’t know if I’d be able to do my half marathon which is next weekend.  

I can’t. 

Physio lady said it wouldn’t be wise to endure such repeated strain.  I was very disappointed at first, but now I’m okay.  I will still run a half marathon, just not as soon as I had hoped. I am determined to continue training.  Because I cannot run, I’m trying new forms of exercise.  Tonight I went to hot yoga.  It seems like the perfect treatment for my knee too because I’m stretching in so many ways.  

I have never sweat so much in my life.  It’s as though someone keeps dumping a glass of water down my shirt, lol.  I bought an unlimited month pass and am going to try and go as much as possible.  The variety of people in the class is amazing too. People of all ages, shapes and sizes… and lots of men too.  Before the class begins we all lay down and relax to adjust to the heat.  All of the sudden I hear ZZZzzzzZZzzz!!! The loudest snore ever! The man next to me was so relaxed that he fell asleep.  

Learn more about Hot (Moksha) Yoga

Motivation. 

Something I struggle with.  Bob Harper, expert trainer on The Biggest Loser, has a lot to say about it. When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle there is no finish line.  It’s every day. It’s a lifetime commitment. It should become the usual.  

Three reasons to subscribe to @mytrainerbob on youtube.  He is super motivating, has great fitness tips and he’s hot. 

I’ve included this to prove that I actually did the 500 steps! haha, it was way harder than I thought.  

also, in the last video I mentioned how it’s exactly one month to RACE DAY.  Training has been going well, but it’s all becoming very real- meaning I’m getting nervous…

My favourite show The Biggest Loser premiered this past Tuesday.  In order to win a place onto the show the 3 contestants from each site were challenged to 500 steps or a 1 mile race.  At first I thought the steps would be way easier, but after doing the 500 steps tonight I’m not so sure anymore.  I’m not even close to 300 pounds like many of these people and it was so tiring! My legs were burning by step 100! 

While Bob and Jillian encourage the Biggest Loser contestants, I’ll find encouragement through their amazing progress! 

The Terry Fox run has meant more to me this year than ever before.  Firstly, I participated (thanks Poot!) and secondly, I was exposed to Steve Nash’s espn documentary “Into the Wind.”

As a child, the Terry Fox run was a great excuse to get out of class.  This is in no disrespect to the foundation- we were taught what it was all about, but the impact only hit me this year.  I wrote an article about Terry Fox and Nash’s TIFF premiere.  I did my research and Terry really was a hero.  

I think it was Buzz Lightyear who said the famous words “never give up, never surrender!” Buzz was decades after the Canadian icon, but those words come to mind when I think about Terry’s strength and determination during his Marathon of Hope.  

Terry had already lost his leg to cancer, but was motivated when he learned that a few years earlier science wouldn’t have had the technology to do save him.  His interest in cancer research grew.  He met with children suffering with cancer and was moved to action.

To this day the Terry Fox Foundation has raised hundreds of millions of dollars towards cancer research.   

One of my best friends Shane is back in town. She just finished her masters at St. Andrews in Scotland.  Yes, smart lady. 

We caught up and went for a run in her area.  Thanks to my trusty Nike+ shoes and ipod, it mapped out to be about 5.06k run there and 5k walk back.  

I was reading somewhere that 30k a week is good training… so these few days of shorter distances are actually doing me well.