Training: Week 1 Recap

Day 1: Monday June 24

The first official day of training! I decided to run while Little Fox was at soccer. I also chose to do 3k today and 5k tomorrow for two reasons. First, I ran 6 yesterday. Second, it was REALLY hot. The "Feels Like" temperature was 32 or something like that. So, hot and humid.

I started at the high school and went down Victoria to where the centennial trail crosses. Then took the trail down to what I call the train station (really a pub, a few little shops and the liquor store... but it's shaped like a train station, and there's an old train engine just beyond the building) and a bit past that. The 1.5k turn around was just past the Frosty Treat. The first 2 k weren't too bad... it was hot, but there was a bit of a breeze blowing on my face. But the third km was slow going. No breeze, and I was sooooo hot. I hate breathing in hot air. I feel like it isn't as... "oxygenated" as cool air. I walked a bit, and then had to wait for cars at 2 crossings. I won't lie, I didn't mind the waiting!

Distance: 3 km
Time: 19:25
Average Pace: 6:27/km

Splits
1 - 6:05
2 - 6:06
3 - 7:12

I have my alarm set for an early morning run tomorrow. It's supposed to thunder tonight, so hopefully it will be cooler tomorrow morning!

Day 2: Tuesday June 25

It didn't thunder last night, and it was 20 degrees at 6:15 this morning... with a "feels like" temp of 26. I got up at 6, ate a "rolled up peanut butter sandwich" (which is what Little Fox calls one slice of bread with pb, folded in half), had some water, and got dressed. I was out the door at 6:30.

I ran from home, down to the beach, back up to where the pavement turns to clay and then back toward the beach for a total of 5k. That made the first km downhill, the middle 2 kms uphill, and the last 2 km downhill. The hills are very slight, but enough to make me work in the middle of the run, and to allow me to go faster at the end. According to google earth, over the 2k from the beach to where the clay starts, the elevation goes from 3 m to 41 m, and it's a consistent grade.

It was hot, my legs were heavy, and it was a battle of will to keep going. I walked for a few seconds at the 3k point. Just long enough to wipe my face and take a few deep breaths. The last km was... satisfying. I ran fast, but the km felt like it was lasting forever (how many times can I look at my Garmin in 1 km!) but I wanted to finish strong.

My feet hurt a bit. The balls of my feet and my toes feel (and look) a little swollen. I have blisters on my second toes, but I've had them since I started running, pretty much. I used the body glide on them this morning and it seemed to help.

Distance: 5k
Time: 29:26
Average Pace: 5:52/km

Splits
1 - 5:58
2 - 6:11
3 - 6:24
4 - 5:43
5 - 5:08

Day 3: Wednesday June 26

Today was supposed to be another 5k, but the bottom of my foot is hurting so I took the day off to rest it. Last night I iced and soaked it, but it was still sore today... like a bruise on the ball of my right foot. Tomorrow was supposed to be yoga day, but it's cancelled. :( So I'll do the 5k run tomorrow and get back on track.

Day 4: Thursday June 27

Woke up at 6, got dressed and out the door at 6:30. Ran from home to the end of River Rd and then straight across the "highway" until I hit 3k. Stopped for a few deep breaths and then headed back home. I hoped that my garmin would show 5k before I hit that hill, but it didn't, and had to run about 300 m up the hill.

I felt good this morning. It was nice and cool out, about 12 degrees and overcast. I actually ran the first half km with a sweater on. I didn't eat anything, but I felt better during this mornings run than during Tuesday's morning run. But maybe it was the temp, and not the food intake. My foot doesn't hurt (yet) and I taped my toes; they don't hurt much so I think it helped!

Distance: 5k
Time: 29:29
Average Pace: 5:53

Splits
1 - 6:04
2 - 5:45
3 - 6:07
4 - 5:43
5 - 5:46

Day 5: Friday June 28

Fridays are scheduled to be rest days. However, since I didn't run on Wednesday, and yoga was cancelled yesterday, I should have done something today. I was going to find a yoga video online, but we got a surprise visit from Red Fox's brother, so we sat around and chit chatted instead.

Day 6: Saturday June 29

I slept until 8 this morning and then did today's scheduled run. I got dressed and filled the bottles for my fuel belt. I haven't used it yet, but I figured I'd better get used to it as my runs get longer and the weather gets hotter. It's not too warm out (it was about 18 when I left), but it is MUGGY. I didn't eat anything this morning... I was going to have a banana, but someone ate it last night!

I ran from home, down the River Rd and then toward the Anne museum. I felt... average. It wasn't a great run, but it wasn't my worst either. My arms were really tired this morning, and I had to keep letting them drop down straight by my sides, which looks funny, but gives them a rest.

Distance: 7k
Time: 44:18
Average Pace: 6:19

Splits
1 - 5:57
2 - 6:29
3 - 7:30 -->  I had to stop to tighten my water belt, take my hat off (looped it on my belt) and fix my hair (twice)
4 - 5:55
5 - 6:05
6 - 5:45
7 - 6:35

I feel like my pace per km is all over the place, but there are so many hills around here!

Looking forward to Day 7: Sunday June 30

Strength and stretching is on the schedule for tomorrow. I'm going to try the 8 min ab video that I saw linked on Girl Goes Running, as well as some arm stuff. I'm looking forward to doing a good stretch.

Quick Update

It's been a  few days since I posted. Nothing exciting enough to write about! We've been working and cleaning Cottage 1 over the last few days. Red Fox has been trying to fix the washing machine in that cottage. It's one of those apartment-sized stackable units, and the washer part hasn't been draining. Things come out clean, but soaked. He things he got the problem fixed (the hose was plugged up), so he's going to put it all back together and see if it works. If it's not that, then he'll check the pump. Anything to avoid buying a brand new one! The cottage is in a serious mess right now, but once we get the washer/dryer and stove back in place, it'll be quick to get it cleaned up. The bathroom and bedrooms are done, and all ready for our "special guests" this weekend. Little Fox is going to be "so es-cited" when he sees who arrives!

I've been keeping up with my training schedule, and I'm going to be posting weekly recaps so that my non-runner readers (do I have any of those?) don't have to read about running every day!

Headlights and soccer

Little Fox got mail today! Grand Dad sent him a little package, and inside was a light that clips on to the brim of a hat. It shines bright white lights, with a second setting that makes the 2 outside bulbs change colours. We tried it on his new fedora (i love the way it bends his ears!), but it didn't fit right. So he clipped it on upside down. It will be perfect for walking down to the fireworks on Canada Day!

Little Fox had soccer tonight, and afterward we went for ice cream because it was SO HOT. I went for a 3k run (first of the half marathon training... recap to come at the end of the week), and then sat under an umbrella for the rest of the practice! Those poor kids must have been boiling out there.

Close call in the rain

I tried to do my long run yesterday, but it was a big fail. I got 3km in, and knew it would do more damage than good! I was tired, my form was bad, and I was miserable. I didn't even save the run on my Garmin. 

Today, I went into Kensington to run on the trail. I thought it would be a nice change to run on the flat trail as opposed to the hills here around home. I checked the weather and it said it would start to rain at about 9, so I headed out at 7 to beat the rain. 

Or, so I thought. 

I pushed start on my Garmin, took about 5 steps and the rain fell. Not pouring or anything, but big giant drops. 

I was wearing my white shirt from the Runway Run and a white sports bra. In the rain. 

There wasn't anyone around, so I figured I'd just keep going until it got too wet. It only lasted a few minutes, though, but sprinkled now and then for the duration of my 6k run. As soon as I finished, I walked over to the boardwalk next to the trail and sat down. And then it started to pour. Good timing! I stopped at the corner store for milk, and got a popsicle too. 

I enjoyed running on the trail. It was nice to be able to focus on running instead of the hills! 

Distance: 6 km

Time: 36 minutes

Average Pace: 6 minutes/km

Splits:

1 - 6:00

2 - 5:53

3 - 6:51

4 - 6:11

5 - 6:02

6 - 6:00

After my run, I showered, then played cars with Little Fox. After Little Fox went to bed, I watched an episode of Deadwood, then stretched and foam rolled. 

It's really pouring now, so I'm off to bed to read and listen to the rain!

The Haunted Mansion

Little Fox has been begging us for weeks to go to the Haunted Mansion. It a tourist attraction, with a big house that's filled with scary stuff. Apparently. We didn't go through it. Little Fox would hardly go to the front counter with me.

He wanted to go because in front of the mansion is a little theme park. There's a water/flower garden with mini castles and slides. It's quite pretty actually, in between the tacky stuff that kids love! There are also some rides (tilt-a-whirl and airplanes), a "train" ride, and some small animals (chickens, a goat and sheep, and kittens).

Little Fox LOVED the rides. We went on the tilt-a-whirl about 6 times, and he went on the planes about 4 times. He met 2 little boys and they were instant friends, going on rides together and sitting together on the train ride. (The train isn't really a train... more like a tractor and trailer pretending to be a train).

Dog teaches Fox how to Downward Dog

I set up my camera last night to take some pictures of myself doing a few yoga poses... I wanted to see the poses from different angles to see if I'm doing them right. Note to self... next time, don't wear that baggy shirt.

I had an audience, of course... the dog and Little Fox. Obviously, Molly thought I needed a downward dog demonstration...

No, no no, you're doing it all wrong. Straighten your back, stretch through the shoulders! (At this point, I was laughing too hard)

After that, Little Fox wanted me to take some pictures of HIM doing yoga. Check out that beatific expression in the first image! LOL

Today, we had 2 pretty decent thunderstorms... short, but loud, with one big flash of lightning that made Red Fox dance (I wish I had that on camera!). After the second one, I looked outside and realized that it was still raining pretty hard, but it was sunny. I went out to get some photos...

 
And saw this. I don't know WHY I get so excited about things like this. I saw it, and yelled for the boys to come see it. Red Fox said he thought something terrible happened, and he went to see "what happened" to Little Fox before coming outside. I'm sure the whole community heard me!

 I think it ended right in the Bay.

My dream race

Northwest Passage Marathon

Program: Northwest Passage Marathon and Ultramarathon
Dates: July 1st to July 5th, 2013
Cost: $4,400 from Yellowknife, NT, Canada

The 2013 Northwest Passage Marathon on Somerset Island in Nunavut, Canada, is North America’s most northerly marathon and ultramarathon. This race date July 3rd, is held under the 24-hour Arctic sun and against the backdrop of the fabled Northwest Passage.

The Northwest Passage Marathon is a true wilderness route. The 50 km course leaves Arctic Watch, goes north along the shore of the Cunningham Inlet for 10 km to Polar Bear Point. The runners then turn west and run beside the famed Northwest Passage for the next 18 km. The trail follows a series of old raised beaches of sandstone pebbles. There are icebergs on the water and ancient encampments on the shore. During past events, runners saw dozens of beluga whales, many seals and polar bears. At Cape Marie, runners turn south and inland along the Red Valley (so named for the red stone and soil). Muskox sightings in this area are common. The trail then swings back east and climbs gently before dropping back down towards the Cunningham River. The final kilometres are along the river back to Arctic Watch.

This is a rough trail run with no roads, marked with Inukshuks and flags. The surface is generally smooth and covered with pebble-sized rocks. There are some shallow creek crossings. There’s no need to carry water, all the water is potable. But expect to have wet feet!

- See more at: http://www.arcticwatch.ca/arctic-adventures/northwest-passage-marathon#sthash.Vakn6OVJ.dpuf