Monday Musings

→  Congratulations to all my friends (in real life and online) who completed the Boston Marathon today!  I hope all of you had an amazing experience whether it was the race of your dreams or not.  I can't wait to hear all about it!

→  I ran my last long-ish run on Sunday (23km/14mi).  Thankfully the weather was great - sun, cloud, and a little bit of wind.  I didn't have any fueling issues so I'm pretty confident for race day.  I felt a little sluggish, but I'm thinking that it was due to running on pea gravel for quite a bit of the run and my legs weren't used to it.

→  It's TAPER TIME!!!  Less than 2 weeks to go to race day.  I'm thankful that I've been through this before and understand that Taper Madness is a real affliction.  I've already started to have crazy dreams.  The one last night had me running the first half of my marathon on a treadmill (I've never run on one at all...).  Then the next day I had to run the remainder of the race, but there was something to do with trains, a shopping centre downtown, and multiple running friends.  I kind of wish I could remember it accurately.  I'm sure that the paranoia of becoming sick will kick in soon as well.

→  I missed my blogging anniversary (blogiversary?) a couple of days ago.  As of 15 April it's been a year since I started rambling on here.  Thanks to everyone who stops by (more than once!) and takes the time to read and comment on things that I'm not sure have much value.  I know how much other people's blogs have helped me out and inspired me and if I've done that for even one of you that's awesome!  I'd love to promise some sort of giveaway to celebrate, but you shouldn't hold your breath...  Eventually I'll save enough pennies to do something HUGE.  You'll just have to stop by once in a while to see if it ever happens. ☺

It's Game Day!

Go Canucks!*

* If you're a Chicago Blackhawks fan, I'm sorry.

Zombie Feet

Or How To Be Able To Refer To A 32km/20mi Long Run As Awesome Even Though It Was Pouring Rain The Whole Time...

This past Sunday was the final extra long run before the beginning of taper.  I've done 32km before so I knew that I was capable of the distance.  What I was unsure of this time around was the weather.  Here is my facebook status from Saturday night:

Colin had gone to a friend's birthday party on Friday night and came home late-ish.  You know you're old/an athlete when 11:30 is late.  Of course we chatted for a bit and watched some tv and then we figured we should go to bed when it was 12:30.  Nothing like getting about 6 and a half hours sleep before a long run.  Since my mind never wants to shut down once I'm in bed I decided to visualize my run route.  Kind of like counting sheep for runners, I guess.  It was actually quite beneficial.  I got to about 21km before I fell asleep.  At 2am Spud got up and moved to the couch.  I started up the visualization where I left off and finished the run before dozing off again.

We woke up 10 minutes after our first alarm (yes, we set multiples) to the sound of rain on the windows.  Turns out Environment Canada was pretty spot on.  Great.  That made me want to get out of bed...  I decided to go with "better warm and soaked" then "be dry for the first 25 minutes and then have the rain jacket be useless because the water-proofing is no match for this rain."  It was definitely the better choice.  I ran out of time before I'd had time to make oatmeal for breakfast (my usual) and ended up having a bowl of Kellog's Vector (Colin's usual).  It worked out really well and my stomach wasn't angry at me for switching it up.

Colin laughed at me when we got to the store because I ran from the car to the door.  I figured there was no use getting even more wet than necessary.  I didn't want to be cold before I'd even begun.  I made sure that I had printed out the route (and covered it in lots of box tape) prior to the run.  

My pacing was pretty good for this run.  I tuned my iPod to my local rock station and happily listened to the "90s Brunch" for 3-1/2 hours.  I made sure that I didn't try to keep up with people I knew were faster than me.  For the most part I was running between groups, but that was okay.  My final overall pace was 7:05/km and that included my 1 minute walk breaks every 20 minutes.

This was a great run for me because:

• I dressed perfectly for the weather.  People driving by probably wondered a) why I was out in the rain and b) why I was out in the rain without a jacket, but I was warm.
• My stomach didn't give me any heck.  I actually fueled really well.  Fish and rice for dinner on Saturday, Vector for breakfast and GUs on the hour during my run.  After the first GU I had dates and raisins every 1/2 hour, however, I think I still might use meds on race day just so I have no TMI surprises...
• I visualized the run.  I know I only did it to keep from worrying about nothing, but it totally worked out for me.  Definitely going to do this for race day!
• I wasn't trying to keep up with anyone.  I chatted when I was with people, but knew when to slow down and let them leave me behind.  
• My music rocked (reliving my youth and all that).  I've found that having the DJ and commercials actually allows me to zone out.  Not knowing what songs are coming up helps me out too.  I'm not waiting for a certain song to come on to get me motivated.
• No blisters.  Score!

Things to note when running in the rain:

• Don't worry about getting wet.  Seems obvious, but give in to the inevitable.  The earlier you embrace the fact that you will have extra cushioning in your shoes from all the water the better. 
• Use some sort of body lubricant.  I have used Body Glide in the past, but haven't been using it lately.  I won some Chamois Butt'r from Kevin at Half Tri-ing a while back and it's been great.  I don't ride a bike and technically it's for the inside of your shorts, but it works really well for feet!  Chafing was the number one complaint from group members, Colin and I included.  It's also good to remember where you've chafed in the past and prepare... I totally forgot that I chafe on my torso directly under my hrm strap (due to my backpack's chest strap).  
• Injinji socks keep your toes warm.  Each of my toes was in a little cocoon and it was wonderful.
• Do not take your gloves off if at all possible.  Unfortunately I had to otherwise the toilet paper would have just stuck to my hand.  My hands were freezing from the time I struggled to put them back on at 16km until I was finished.
• Your shoes will not be nice and white when you return.  Why I was dodging puddles and mud is beyond me.  My feet were soaked, but I really didn't want brown shoes.  Besides, the rain washed most of the mud away anyways.
• Be prepared for idiot drivers to splash you.  Luckily I was able to only get one small splash from the knee down.  Others weren't so fortunate.  If you are a driver please be considerate and at least try to avoid the puddles.  If you don't please be prepared to be cursed out and have rude gestures made in your general direction.
• Bring a towel if you've run from your car or a store.  It might be as wet as you are after you've attempted to dry off, but it can be used as an inferior blanket as well.
• Don't expect to look good at the end.  Drowned rat immediately came to mind.  Colin called me Salacious Crumb when I took my hair out of it's ponytail...

Yup, we're nerdy like that...

The Ugly of the run:

• My feet.  I get this odd type of eczema on my hands and feet if I get too hot that makes little blisters under my skin and then the skin eventually falls off.  Gross, I know.  This happened last summer and then again a few weeks back.  Things looked to be getting better recently - like all the peeling was finished.  Then I added in a 3-1/2 hour foot soak.  Be thankful that even I don't want to see pictures of it again...  The only thing I thought to describe the way they looked was zombie feet, hence the title of this post.  Aren't you glad you read the whole thing just to find that out?  

A Joke For Your Weekend

As I've mentioned before Spud is almost 4.  His favourite new thing is to come up with jokes.  Here's today's offering, which I think is pretty good (and makes much more sense than most of them).*  

Spud: Knock, knock.

Me: Who's there?

Spud: Door closed.  That's why I knocked!  Ahahahahahah!  That's a JOKE!






* I'm his mother so I'm quite biased.  Also, I can't remember how to tell a joke to save my life so any joke is a good one.

Three Things Thursday

1.  I'm finally getting a run in tonight.  It'll be my first since Sunday (shh, don't tell my running friends...).  It's not that I don't want to run.  I'm a stay at home mum so I have the time.  I just have ZERO motivation to run when I have to do it on my own.  My running partner cancelled on Monday since her little guy was sick.  Totally understand that!  But I just couldn't drag myself and Spud out in the pouring rain.  Tuesday... rain again.  Wednesday... no rain, but when I have a speed workout on the schedule I know it won't get done if I'm pushing +60lbs.  Lots of self-defeating thoughts this week.  In case you're wondering why I don't just go out on my own in the evenings Colin was working late all those nights (I'll spare you my thoughts on that).

2.  My final 32km/20mi run is on Sunday!  Hip hip hooray!  And Eek!  That means taper is just around the corner... oh, and a little 42.2km run too.

3.  Spud made me this sculpture this morning:

He keeps making me "presents" for my birthday that I have to leave on my bedside table.  Unfortunately we have a bit of a timeline/3 -1/2 year old logic issue.  My birthday was on 17 March.  However, he keeps thinking that it's coming up because my mum didn't make me my usual birthday cake.  Yes, I have had the same 3 layer chocolate cake made for me every year since I was about 5...  I tried explaining that I won't be getting presents again when we finally do have the cake, but he doesn't really get it.  So, until we have cake, I have a feeling Spud will be giving me lots of hand-made gifts and yelling, "Happy Birthday Mummy!  Here's your present!"

Now That's One Big *** Gummy Bear

Now, I'm not usually one to do posts about contests.  I'll do the bare minimum and link it on my sidebar.  However, EMZ over at If I can't convince you -- I'll at least confuse you is hosting a contest in honour of her 24 hour, yes a FULL DAY, charity treadmill run.  It is in support of Sojourner Center in Phoenix, AZ, which is the largest domestic violence shelter in the United States.  You can click on the links to find out more as well as to enter her awesome giveaway.  

Here's the prize:

I. want. to. freaking. win. this.

Yeah, that's a 5lb gummy bear.  It shouldn't really be part of anybody's runners' diet, but there's just something about it.  I think I'd give my 3-1/2 year old a heart attack (from excitement) if I ever brought one home.

All kidding aside, please check out EMZ's blog to find out more about both the gummy bear and the IMPORTANT reason for her crazy (in my mind not in her's, I don't think) run!

March By The Numbers

Total Kilometres/Miles: 183.59/114.08

Long Runs: 3/4 (every Sunday; lengths ranging from 23.5km to 32km).  Missed one (29km) when I was sick.  Didn't have anything to prove by running when things were falling apart.

Runs Missed: Lots.  Mainly Tuesdays and Fridays.  Same as always - the 4th run of the week.  Missed a couple others when I was sick, too.

Core/Strength/Stretch Planned/Completed: Lots/Few.  'Nuff said.  Not even an April Fool's joke.

Push Ups: I refuse to tell since that would be admitting how little I did the above.

Time Spent Running: 19.48 hours.

Holy crapoly.  In a month I'll be running my 2nd marathon!  That makes me excited and nauseous all at the same time.