Taking Risks

I feel lucky to know through the online world, and in my family, atheltes who push themselves, and take risks.  It's really shown me this year that I can push myself as well and take risks of my own.

Taking risks to me feels alot what I'm sure I'd feel if I was standing up at the top of a very high diving board.  It's SCARY.  Can I do it?  Should I do it? And the "what if I fail?"  (I've come to realize I'm a bit of a Type A).  But if we don't push ourselves, do we really know our limits?

I can easily say that each of my Marathons from Boston onwards, have been risks for me.  And it makes sense to me that a marathon feels risky.  There are SO many factors that go into play in a marathon - the distance, the weather, nutrition, your body.  But what about those smaller risks?

Pre-kids, I would venture out on trail runs with a fellow running partner.  Rick was amazing.  Knew the mountains and Nosehill like the back of his hand.  All I had to do was follow along.  Time has passed, and when my littlest started an unparented program a few weeks ago, just a short ways from NoseHill, I thought "can I run this solo and NOT get lost?" (I get lost alot folks).  For the first two weeks of her program, I knit in a coffee shop, then I thought "what is there to lose?"  Nothing really.  Just getting lost - ha!  But I did it.  I went three weeks ago and followed the trails. Meandering here and there wherever my desire led me. And it was FUN.  And last week, I added on an extra 2 kilometers, and you know what?  At the last K I actually knew where I was!  Today, it was pouring rain, and I woke up to see it was National Running Day.  I thought about skipping it, but then I knew if I did that I'd be looking at the treadmill later on.  So I dropped my kids off, and headed out in the rain.  It was BEAUTIFUL.  The park was quiet, the trails were muddy, it was so green and lush, and I didn't realize how wet I was until I STOPPED running.  Each week I'm getting braver on the trails.

I took a deep breath, and I signed up for this.



It's "only" 12.5K.  But the elevation changes, and the hills scare me.  Can I do this?  Yes (I'll just keep repeating this).  The worst that will happen is it will be a lovely hike.  I'm doing it.  Taking a risk.  Testing my limits.  I have two 5 Peaks Enduro runs coming in the Summer so this is a good prep.  Getting off the road and trying something new.

Where are you taking risks right now?

Exciting Knitting Announcement!

This blog has lately been filled with a lot of running.  Fairly enough since training for a marathon is an almost full time consuming passion.  HOWEVER, I do still find some time to fit in some stitches.

When my youngest daughter potty trained, I quickly changed her diaper basket into a knitting basket, and it sits nicely at the end of our couch.  One project started, another one joined it, (and another), and quickly it was near overflowing.  I've been working hard to empty the basket (mostly because I really want to cast on a pair of socks).

My eldest daughter turned 8 a week ago, and I ordered some special yarn from the US to make her a ballet shrug.  More often than not she would be cold at ballet class during the winter so this seemed like a great solution.  The pattern search however was not.  Knitting patterns are not cheap, and lately pattern price seems to have taken another leap.  Some costing anywhere from $6-$10.  I don't mind spending the money if I know I will use the pattern more than once, but likely for a kids pattern like a shrug, I won't.  A little daunted, I set about altering this adult pattern.  One I have knit for myself.  Calculations set, I cast on, and.... it worked!  It fits her like a charm, and I even had enough yarn to make the arms full length and with thumb holes (because who doesn't love thumb holes?)

One down in the basket.

Next in the basket was a capelet for my Mom.  I started this project for her 60th birthday.... two years ago.  Gosh wow seriously.  I was having knitting guilt everytime I passed out a finished project and it wasn't hers.  That included Christmas gifts, birthday gifts.  It was becoming a knitterly heavy burden.  Ballet shrug done, I picked that capelet back up, and cast it off this past weekend. It's beautiful, but I am glad to not see another p5tog for a while (that means purling 5 stitches together.  A feat that my needles are not very fond of).

Finally (and here comes the annoucement), is my icelandic sweater.  I finished up the arms this past weekend and have joined the arms to the body, so only have the yoke to go.  I'm excited to be entering it into the Western Showcase.  Every year at the Calgary Stampede,there is an art showcase tucked away in the corner of one of the buildings, wonderfully placed by the wine pavillion.  There are paintings, quilts, cakes, and oh yes, knitting and crochet.  Two (?) years ago I entered in two of my knits.  I loved seeing them on display and even won a ribbon.  The icelandic sweater is pretty unique in that the yarn is actually from iceland, as is the pattern, and I made a number of alterations on it to have a proper fit.  When I realized a couple of weeks ago I could have it completed to submit, I became determined to get it done.  I checked the brochure this morning and I have about a month left to get er done.

Once the sweater is complete, I will have a cowl left in my basket, and then SOCKS.  That should correspond nicely to the start of summer, where knitting socks is a wonderful light project.

What do you have in your basket right now?

BMO Vancouver Marathon Race Review

I've been home for a week now since running the BMO Marathon, and have already laced back up my shoes twice to run!

I was in the 4th corral.  They did a countdown for each corral to start.  I had batman in mine!

Vancouver was more than expected.  Both in scenery, and also on the course.  It was a TOUGH run.  I've been trying to think about what made the course so difficult - the rolling hills? The major climb at the 8K mark, or perhaps the heat?  A friend texted me an article where an elite runner was being interviewed and he described the course as "rough".  Two other BMO finishers I saw in Calgary on Saturday said that they run it every year but saw more "carnage" this year.  

My favorite section of the course

Putting the difficulty aside, I cut a whopping 21 minutes off my Calgary finish time from not quite a year ago.  I finished in 4:27 laying out EVERYTHING I had on the course.  Physically, mentally, and emotionally.  It is the first time I hit a mental wall at only 19K and cried after crossing the finish line.  When I hit the mental wall, my calf was starting to seize up, and I could feel my hip flexor tensing.  Thankfully it came and went over the course and wasn't persistent.  Initially I was going to run without my phone but I was glad I did.  It came in very handy at 21K to start texting my girlfriend and my hubby to get some much needed mental support.  At 39K I was pretty sure the seawall would never end.  I was running without headphones (probably not a repeat at another 42K event), so I turned on the tunes on my phone.  I figured it would either also help the rest of the runners around me, or encourage them to run faster ha ha.  We rocked it out to Pat Benatars "Hit it with your best shot" to help get us to the end.

Hello ocean! 

So what brought down my time by 21 minutes?

Calgary:  Sometimes I only got in 2 runs a week
Vancouver: I ran a minimum of 3 times a week, usually 4 times a week

Calgary: All my runs were at the same pace
Vancouver: I incorporated both speed and hill training

Calgary: Some runs only saw 3.5K as a distance
Vancouver: My runs were a minimum of 5K

Calgary: No mid week long run
Vancouver: I had a mid week long run of at least 10K that I did steady, no walk breaks

Big difference heh?  This past January when I laced up my shoes to train for Van, it was the first time I actually trained for a race since 2006.  Training shows results!!!

I really went into Van wanting to see a 4:20, given my long run pace would have brought me in to that.  But race day played some different elements.  I was reading back through old posts, and saw in 2014 I wanted to run a 4:30 marathon again.  It gave me perspective (as well as LOTS of perspective graciously and lovingly given from friends and family).  A week post I'm owning my 4:27 and am looking at my training and thinking on what I can do to tick furthur minutes and seconds off.

My parents are awesome cheerleaders.  I saw them 4 times on the course!  This was marathon #6 they've cheered for me at!

Realistically I know I can't add any more runs or distance to my week, as I need to strike a balance with my family.  But what I can add in is on days I had previously taken off, add in a day of core or yoga.  Both would be good for me and might be fun for my kids to do with me.  My next Marathon is this coming fall and will also involve some rolling hills.  I'll be adding more hill repeats into rotation!

So true.

Thanks Vancouver.  It was a fun, hard, heart opening challenge.  I came away from it wanting to try it again, just to see if I can conquer some of the mental walls I faced.  One year I'll be back (and hopefully sooner than another 11 year jag!)

Yes!

A great marathon finishes at a Starbucks ;)

It Takes A Village

I'm knee deep getting read to head to Vancouver for the Marathon this weekend.  All I can think of is this is a bit like nesting before you have a baby (I realize that is a crazy comparison).  I started packing yesterday, which led to purging two garbage bags of clothes out of my closet.  I briefly tried moving our bed to a different side of the room and finally decided it was both too heavy, and probably something I shouldn't attempt with a few days to go before a race.  But I've cleared out clutter, and this morning I found myself with ten minutes before needing to leave for the school bus cleaning out the coffee shelf in our pantry.

And if I'm like any other Mom out there leaving her kids for a weekend, I have a list of things I want to do before I go.  Like clean the bathrooms, vacuum the floors, stock the fridge full (check!), and to add to that list, party prep for my soon to be 8 year old.  Hard to believe my eldest turns eight this coming Tuesday.

My race plan is to treat it like a long run until 30K and if I have still have more to give to push it from that point onwards.  My long run pace should see me in at a time of 4:20.  My first marathon time in 2003 was 4:18.  If I have some to give it would be cool to see or even break that number.  A come back post kids to a pre kid number.  All nerves over here!  If you would like my bib number for tracking purposes please leave me a comment below with your e-mail and I'll send it off to you :)

I was thinking this morning that it has been since January of 2009 since I flew solo anywhere, and that was with a girlfriend so that probably doesn't count, which brings it back to 2006 and pregnant with my eldest.  Woah.  I'm pretty excited about a solo flight - even if it is just for an hour!  But despite the nerves, the packing, the hub bub, there was (note the past tense) a sense of loss.  Because when I ran Goofy back in 2009 I came home and told my hubby that I wouldn't race a marathon again without them at the finish line.  I missed having them there THAT much.

And as I approach race day, I've been feeling that sense of loss.  My brothers, their significant others, and my parents WILL be in Vancouver.  But my other cheering squad, the people that have given up HOURS of their time with me, won't be at that finish line.  For a Mom to train for a race of 42.2K requires a whole village behind her offering support.  My hubby getting up early so I can head out early, and watching the kids.  My three littles who at this point in training, beg me to run on the treadmill instead of going outside.  And my middle has caught on, and if I head out the door for a run he will ask me if I'm going to the plane.  And it's not just my family.  Friends too.  Friends who have met me for coffee after almost every long run, run me in, had coffee with me, and driven me home.  Friends who have texted, and friends who have dropped off perfect and amazing last minute run gifts.

And as I prepped my #flatrunner photo to post on this blog, I realized I'm heading to Van solo, but not without my home support.  They are the button on my bib holder, the lend of Wonder Woman socks, and the bling on my shoes.  This marathon already feels pretty magical and I haven't even taken my first step yet.

So as I finish up all my bathroom scrubbing, last 5K running, and backpack stuffing, I know come race day I'll be able to hear the cheers all the way from Calgary.

Thanks crew.  I couldn't be doing this without you all <3

Know Yourself (Running Edition)

Yesterday was my "short" long run, with an aim of 23K.  The distance caught me off guard, in that I got a little too non chalant.  23 is a BIG break from 36 and I truly thought it would be a non issue.  I came out of my run yesterday feeling disappointed.  Mostly for not doing all the things I KNOW I need to do to be successful.  Here's my personal list of things I know about myself running wise (and otherwise in some cases):

1.  I'm a morning person.  Now don't get me wrong, I would love the occasional sleep in from getting up with the kids, but especially for running, get me up, have some oatmeal, and get on those shoes.  I am NOT an afternoon runner.  I always flop.  It's a food issue.  I don't know how to properly fuel myself for an ENTIRE morning, and THEN run a longer distance.  Even with all my snacks I pack, I was hungry yesterday, and hungry really early on.  I needed to have done my run early in the day.

2.  Gels.  Last year preparing for Calgary, I was super hungry as my distances got higher.  I tried bananas (no no, plus there is no way to carry a banana for 4 hours without it becoming a truly gross mess).  This year I have experimented with a few different gels (Pocket Fuel, my old favorite Cliff Gels, and now using Stinger).  Pocket Fuel was really thick (but good), but it led me to carrying nuts on my run.  Snacking on nuts is so great.  It keeps me fueled, but adds a nice crunch in comparison to my gels.  As for the gels, I have learned I need to take one about every 8K.  If I space them out too much I crash hard.  My body just needs that boost on a more consistant basis.  Yesterday I took ONE.  At 11K.  I was doing well on my run until 18K and I crashed hard.  Not necessarily physically (some yes), but definitely emotionally.  I was just so so done.  I really should have had two gels for that distance.

3.  Pace.  I had a hard time slowing myself down yesterday.  I should be doing a long run pace of 6:30min/k (which I have struggled with all year always landing around 6:10), but yesterday at 2K I saw my watch said 5:38.  Gulp.  Wow.  I tried to scale it back but was really unsuccessful.  By 18K I was at a 6:50 and taking frequent walk breaks.  You can visibily see on Strava where my body just gave up.

The good I am taking from this yesterday, is it was a run that clearly showed I can't just pass any of those things up.  I have to pay attention to them on a long run of ANY distance.

Do you have things you know are critical to making a run successful?

Final Weeks and the Mind Game

This past weekend I ran my longest run to date, but 2K short of what I will hit next weekend.  34 then 36.  It is now only 26 days until the Vancouver Marathon.  The realization of that last week gave me heart palpitations and set me into a pre race panic that only reaches a certain level when 42 kilometers are involved.  It's a feeling of fear, anticipation, excited and OMG I signed up for this??

A few kilometers into my 34K run.  Frosty this weekend but beautiful and quiet pathways.

Back in December I was having issues with my foot going numb after only 5K.  I have been running in Asics for over 10 years, and all of a sudden they weren't working.  Not the kayano, not the cumulus, not even their trail.  This crazy buy a shoe, try a shoe, return a shoe cycle began.  I was also having a glute issue on the opposite side that first surfaced at about kilometer 34 of the Calgary Marathon last June.  After some consultation with running friends and family I went to a chiropractor.  That was last month.  I started seeing her weekly, and the foot issues have resolved, I FINALLY have a shoe that works (I won't say love yet), and the glute issue has so far been laid to rest.  Really, all that is left is to focus on the distance - and overcoming the mental obstacles of what a marathon presents.

Sometimes it does feel like you run forever.  I was so excited to finally see the downtown core approaching.

Despite we put in so many weeks and miles into training, when the marathon approaches there is still this fear of "can I run this?"  As any race presents, you never know what will happen on race day.  The weather, the terrain, your body.  But other distances are a bit more acheivable.  You could run 10K and walk the next 11 to finish a half.  And I suppose that is true too for the marathon, but gosh the marathon distances breeds a bit of the insane.  The distance isn't for everyone, and I think those who sign up for it don't sign up to walk the last half.  We want to do our very best even if that means walking will be difficult for a week afterwards (and lets not discuss stairs).

So with the panic that set in last week, and a successful (yet tiring) 34K under my belt this past weekend, I feel as ready as really one can feel to get on that plane, get to Van, and get this done.

I have a brother running the full, another brother running the half, and my parents, sister in law, and my brothers girlfriend there to cheer us all on.  No doubt we are all going to rock our distances and race plans.

Done!

Look at that!  I'm running the route so much faster than last year!

 As for race plans, I have been running and thinking on it alot, and playing with race calculators.  I have a sensible goal in mind (I think) and if my legs can do it I'll push beyond that if I can.  My first marathon was a 4:12 and I would LOVE to see that again.  But realistically I ran a 4:48 in Calgary last June, and that's a HUGE chunk to take off.  We will see what happens.

Are you prepping for a big race?  How do you feel in the last few weeks before hand?

A month has come and (almost) gone

It's been awhile since I've been in this space.  February was a doozy.  After the loss of Big Red, just two weeks later we saw the passing of my Grandfather.  It was sudden, and left me without the ability to communicate for a time.  The rawness of both losses left me not even knowing what to even say.  Both losses presented such different types of grief.  Spring is starting to show signs of arriving, with the sun being up longer, days being warmer, and slight touches of green grass.  Things are turning new and days once again feel lighter.

Can you belive that there are only 33 days left now until I race the Vancouver Marathon?  I've been putting in longer kilometers this past month, doing a couple 30Km runs as well as a 32.  The next two weeks are the final push where I will log 34 and then 36 before my taper begins.  I'm as ready as really one can be for a full marathon.  The distance as my brother was saying this weekend, is so elusive.  I always told people it is a distance that needs respect.  I'm going into it with a time goal in mind, but a secondary goal of just chipping off even a few minutes off of my Calgary time last June.

In the crafting world, I am still working on my Icelandic sweater, have a birthday gift from two years ago STILL on the needles for my Mom, have recently picked up a cross stitch kit that I bought three years ago, have a cowl on the go knit with the MOST delicious yarn, AND, my eldest will soon be turning 8.  Are you tired reading that list?  Me too - ha!  As I type this I have pink and rainbow speckled yarn sitting beside me, that needs to turn into a ballet shrug by the 5th of May.  No problem right?  Right!

I've been reading your blogs, keeping in touch with friends, and finally feel like I'm not treading water.

For those that follow me on Instagram, thanks for your love and support as I worked through this past month.  You all mean alot to me and my family <3