Last Day for GU Contest!

Just a friendly reminder that my GU contest closes tonight at midnight PST. Click here to see what's up for grabs - it's not a lot, but, hey, it's free GU!

Here's what else I've done this week and what's on the agenda:

- Ran my first 32km (20 mile) run on Sunday! Yay! Made it through with only one small blister and a hot spot, which is a big improvement over last week. I learned that I have to work on my fueling better as my timing for my GUs was all over the place and I ended up with pretty bad stomach cramps at 30km. I have to say, though, that having a nap after my long run definitely helped with both the queasies and the aching legs - must remember for next time!

- Hard Core Club week 3 started. Last week was pretty much a bust and I only got 1 session in. I was trying to skip last night, but sucked it up and pushed through. It helps that Colin has to do his physio exercises too so I had company.

- Last hill repeats for this training session tomorrow! It's technically 10 repeats, but our route is extra long we only have to do 5. Psychologically it's better I guess...

Come back tomorrow to find out if you are the winner!

Three Things Thursday

#1. Blisters suck! My last long run ended with me having blisters. I think it was the combination of constant drizzle, old socks (my faithful Injinji toe socks finally failed me), a piece of sand under my arch that I didn't notice until the damage was done and eczema on my feet. The pads I put on them for my hill run on Tuesday did squat and I made one way worse than before so now I'm on a self-imposed hiatus until my Sunday long run. Let's hope things are better then or else it's going to be a very uncomfortable 32km.

Besides double layer socks and maybe Body Glide does anyone have any suggestions? These aren't just hot spots, they're full on wounds...

#2. Contests are awesome! I have a little GU giveaway on now until the 31st that you should enter - I've learned that blogging is all about self-promotion! See my sidebar for listings for other people's contests - there is a lot of great stuff up for grabs.

#3. I have 45 days until my first marathon! I feel okay when I read that, but when I say it in terms of weeks it really freaks me out. Somehow 6 weeks sounds way closer than 45 days... As long as my blister issues go away (see #1) I think that I'll do fine.

An Award for Me!

I got an award! Zaneta at Runner's Luck nominated me for the above distinction and I accept it gratefully.

Here are the rules:

#1. Answer this question: If you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?

#2. The second thing you have to do is, pick 6 people and give them this award. You then have to inform the person that they have gotten this award.

#3. The third and final thing is, thank the person who gave you the award.

And here are my answers:

#1. I don't think that I should have given up running when I trained for my first 10km race back in 2000. My husband and I participated in a training clinic, ran the Vancouver Sun Run and then sort of abandoned it. We half-heartedly did the race the next year, but to much poorer results and then gave it up. Not sure why, though. We were dating then, didn't have kids and were capable, but apparently we found better things to do. Unfortunately I can't recall what they were. Imagine what my PRs would look like now if I had 10 years of running under my belt instead of just 1-1/2 years.

#2. I've given the following bloggers this award because I truly enjoy reading about their running experiences...

- Andrea at Sub 4:30 - local blogger training for Victoria too so hopefully we'll be able to meet up.

- Erin at The Making of a Runner - will be running the Disney Marathon with Team in Training.

- MJ at Girl Running - she has a Mickey-ears tattoo which I think is so cool. Oh, she's training for a half marathon too.

- Canadian Runner at Running Adventures - runs, plays hockey, is Canadian... what's not to like?

- Michelle at Fitness Diva - the amount she works out puts me to shame! Very inspiring!

- Diana at Done the Run - new(ish) blogger who ran her first half marathon at the Seattle Rock 'n' Roll in June.

#3. Thanks Zaneta for giving me this award! It's nice to know that someone reads my blog and doesn't think that it's boring... :)

Who ♥s GU? Giveaway

If you read my blog you will have seen a recent post in which I talked about my love for GU. I attend a clinic at a local running store and we were fortunate enough to have a GU rep come in to talk to us about their product. Since many of you know all about GU (for great reviews check out Secrets of a Running Mom here, who also has a huge GU giveaway going on until the 26th) I won't do a review. What I will do is say that I managed to convince my clinic leader to get some to give away!

So, in the spirit of shameless self-promotion, I am hosting a giveaway (my first!)...

Here's what's on offer (one person will win all 5 items):

1 x Strawberry Chomps (promotional size)

1 x Jet Blackberry Gel

1 x Blueberry Pomegranate Roctane Gel

1 x Lemon Lime Electrolyte Brew

1 x Orange Pineapple Recovery Brew

There are 3 easy ways to enter:

1. Follow my blog or let me know you already do (mandatory) - leave me a comment.

2. Add me to your blogroll - leave me a comment.

3. Link this to your blog - leave me a comment.

Entries will be accepted until midnight PST 31 August 2010 and the winner will be chosen 1 September 2010, most likely out of a hat by my 3 year old.

Challenges Week #1 - DONE!

So I finished week 1 of both the Hard CORE and Legs Love Lunges challenges. I can't say that I hurt as bad as I expected - I'm pretty sure that having previously done bootcamp prepared me well. The problem with these two workouts is that I don't initially feel the pain. It usually sneaks up on me halfway through the next day. This means that tomorrow night I'm going to suffer... suffice it to say that I barely made it though the first two exercises tonight (crunches and bicycle kicks). The one thing I can take into next week is that it only takes about 30 minutes to complete so I don't need to split up the core workout like I did.

I haven't quite set which days I'm doing my workouts. I was going to go with Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, but this week made me question it. Sundays I do my long run and I liked doing core afterward as I was already a sweaty mess. Tuesdays, if I do run, I do a short tempo so I have the time. I was supposed to work out on Thursday, but after hills x 8 on Wednesday and 10km that night my body just wasn't into more. I caught up today and Fridays might work out better, but I'll have to see how I feel on Sunday and if I need the extra time between core and long run to better determine my schedule. What do you think?

Here's how this week went:

1.1

- Bicycle Kicks - 25 each leg

- Leg Lift - 30 seconds

- Hip (bridge) Lift - 30 seconds

- Plank - 45 seconds

- Lower Back Stretch - 30 seconds

- Push Ups - 20

- Side Bridge - 30 seconds each side

- 10 lunges each leg

1.2

- Crunches - 30

- (Face up) Supine Bridge - 30 seconds

- Ankle Grabbers - 25 each ankle

- Diamonds in the Sky - 20

- Shoulder Taps - 25 each shoulder

- Superman - 15

- Lower Back Stretch - 30 seconds

- Plank - 45 seconds

- 15 lunges each leg

1.3

- Crunches - 30

- Bicycle Kicks - 25 each leg

- (Face up) Supine Bridge - 30 seconds

- Ankle Grabbers - 25 each ankle

- Diamonds in the Sky - 20

- Hip (bridge) Lift - 30 seconds

- Plank - 45 seconds

- Lower Back Stretch - 30 seconds

- Push Ups - 20

- Shoulder Taps - 25 each shoulder

- Superman - 15

- Side Bridge - 30 seconds each side

- 20 lunges each leg

*meant to do whole set of exercises, but missed the leg lifts - oops!

Sunday Long Run + Core Work = Sore Monday (But Not Too Bad)

Original Route

Actual Route (we only got a little "lost")

On Sunday I had my longest run ever! It was a whopping 29km (or 18 miles). As a change of pace we went downtown to run around Stanley Park and out to a couple of the local beaches. It was a perfect day. A little too hot, but the breeze off the ocean made up for it.

As you can see from the above maps I didn't quite hit the whole distance. There were 5 of us running together and, as none of us had a written route, it was kind of a hodge-podge of what we could all remember from the email. It was technically 28.3km, but by the end all of us were in need of water and food so we called it as it was rather than run the last little bit.

I tried out my sample pack from GU on this run and had a couple of hits and misses, but at least I know that now not further down the road. I think I'll just stick to the ones that I already love.

The group at the turn-around.

Once Colin and I got home I figured that I'd throw in a little core work as the Hard Core Club challenge was starting (and I was already sweaty and gross). I only did 7/13 exercises, but it was better than skipping... and I just ran 29km so I figured I deserved the break!

* Started Legs Love Lunges challenge today - 10 per leg. Not much, but it's a start...

Challenge Time

I am potentially crazy.

Somehow I've become a sucker for online challenges and I've signed up for two that will surely make me stronger, but also make me question my judgment at the same time. However, after sucking it up big time on the hills on my last long run I know that I need to get into this.

• The first is being hosted by 5 Miles Past Empty and is a lunge challenge. That's right... LUNGES. The bane of my existence during boot camp. Unfortunately they work wonders for making me stronger and helping with my hill training. Truth be told I think I've actually missed them. So the challenge is this: do lunges (at least) 3 x week from 10 August to 10 September. I'm already behind since I only signed up today, but I'll have to get them in soon. I think I might be short this week as I've got hill training tonight to contend with. I have to post pictures of my legs, but couldn't get anything decent in the mirror so Colin will have to take them when he gets home.

• The other challenge is being put on by Jamoosh of Last Mile Lounge. It's starts on Sunday and is a 13 week core workout to be done 2 or 3 times per week. Since I've come to the conclusion that I cannot motivate myself enough to start on my own (my exercise ball has been sitting in-box in my closet for over a month) I felt like I should at least have the support of strangers online!

So we'll see how it goes. I'm sure I'll post soon about my inability to walk, laugh, lay down comfortably, cough, stand...

Who knows, I might even get the guts to post pictures à la P90X for before and afters.

I ♥ GU

One of the perks of doing an in-store clinic is that we have featured talks. I've learned some great stuff about heart rate and hill training, nutrition, and speed work.

But I have NEVER been as excited for a talk as I am for the one tonight!

Herb, our wonderful leader, has arranged for our local (and generous) GU Rep to come in. I already use GU gels - I'm partial to the mint chocolate although they really need to put some caffeine in it - but haven't really gotten into their other products. So I'm looking forward to learning more. What I'm really looking forward to, though, is the goody bag that we've been promised! Apparently it's a little bit of everything, which is great since I have a 29km (18 mile) long run this Sunday and can test it all out then.

I'll post a picture of my loot tonight! It doesn't take much to make a runner happy does it?

Barney Stinson: How To Run A Marathon

I love How I Met Your Mother and totally forgot about this episode:

If only it was that simple!

Thanks to Courtney at Run, Courtney, Run for posting this a couple of days ago... I've shamelessly ripped off her post!

Wordless Wednesday (or How I Spent My BC Day Long-Weekend)