Running to Fit

I read a great blog post tonight from @Runnrgrl.

It truly was a great read. It got me thinking. I love motivating people with my running. It is one of the unexpected joys I have recieved from talking about my running. One of the reasons I started to run is to be healthier. To be here longer with my family. To enjoy my kids and their kids (not for a while as mine are 7 & 2).

Although reading the post "Skinny Bitch" had me reflect on my own vanity. The constant watching for abs in the mirror. You see at 5'7" I am told that unless I am under 165lbs I am over weight. I have always been someone that carries my weight well but at 200lbs and high blood pressure I needed to get moving. To date I have dropped 15lbs and feel better than I ever have. Seeing the difference in the mirror is a challenge as there is a voice in my head that tells me to go further. There is a voice in my head that tells me not to eat too much. I am sensible and realize that I have always been a "big eater" so half chickens and fries really aren't the right thing. I also know that lettuce with no dressing is wrong. I do see the slippery slope and am mindful of it.

M

Long Cool Run

Today was MUCH wrmer than last week. Amazing what -1C feels like after -15C!

I woke up this morning with a clogged nostril thinking 10km would be enough.As we headed out with the Harriers from Melville Cafe things got losend up. I always forget what a run in the cold can do for a clogged nose.

As we reached the 5km turn (which would have been the 10km run) I talked Robb into running the extra. So we continued on to add on almost 3km more. This meant the hills of Cheese Factory Rd just to ensure a good workout. As we headed onto Hwy 24 I was feeling good and picked up the pace for the final 4km. Always good to run a negative split they say!!

Next week's long run will be 16km and the last run before my 5km PropertyGuys.com race in Vegas!

Tonight's Hills

It was snowing lightly most of the afternoon which led to a slippery run tonight. Other than it being a little slippery it was a great run. Large group and some strong runners. I did 5 repeats on the top of Gordon St which added on some extra distance as I was only planning on doing 4. All in all a little over 10km.

Afterwards it was home, a quick stretch and change and then off to the Run For Life board meeting. Great meeting with some input from new members. Looking forward to the new iteration of the website due this week and to see how the "Footprints" idea comes to fruition. It would seem that they are lining up some great minds.

Plans For The Week

Looking forward to my runs this week.

Tonight we have the infamous "Gordon Grind" which is a KILLER hill repeat in West Galt. With add on distance from running to and from I should get about 9km in total.

Thursday is the "Park Hill Loop", a great 6.5km tempo run with a few hills. Add on the run to and from I should be around 9km.

Saturday's route has not been announced but I will do 15-16km. This keeps me in line with my 2010km for the year!

dailymile.com

Just stumbled on dailymile today. Seems like a great online log and running community. Have asked them for some additional widgets for their mapping as they were none when I found them.

So far I like what I see.

Should help me both on my quest to log 2010kms in 2010 and help keep track of my shoe usage....

Perspective

Perspective can be perplexing.

Shadows being cast can be long off the smallest of pebbles if your perspective is wrong.

Running in the early morning never feels right. The sun is poking itself over the trees and making long shadows off the short gravel crunching under foot. The dark road seems to beg for the emergence of light. As I reach the turnaround distance I am enlightened by perspective. It seems with the warmth of the early day sun on my back, the road now blinds me with light. The long shadows of despair are dethroned by light.

Making my way back I look forward to the day ahead. Good times with good people and now the mind has the right perspective.

How Long is a Country Mile?

I can tell you that a country block is 8.45km.

The stones crush together under my pounding feet heading out to the road. A few of the beers from the night before are quietly asking if this is a good idea. I ignore them as I am determined to do the “block”. As I turn left towards the lengthening hill I can hear them again.

I make my way up the hill knowing that what goes up gets to come down. I make my way across Cambray Rd towards the half way point. It is quiet, peaceful, and pretty as a fall day can get. I start my way down Elm Tree when the nay saying horses all start to question why I am on the road.

Elm Tree is a long, straight road overlooking itself while going down. As I make my way past 5km my lungs and legs are starting to back the beers. The body is thinking about a coup d’etat over this running stuff.

As I run I often have time to think. Clearly. As I venture down this busy country road I cannot help but think of inspiration. How must it have felt to run the unknown roads? 42km every day most of the time with little or no support other than your best friends, a donated van, and a mechanical leg. 42km every day. Through the pain. Through the heat. Nothing but your determination to carry you on.

I came damn close to stopping as I rounded the corner with less than 2km to go. My thoughts drift back to Terry hopping through the countryside. 42km every day, 1 step, 1 hop at a time. Why can’t I make it around the block? As I push on, the beers are silenced with the sound of my heart pounding, the coup d’etat is drowned by sweat. The final 500m is pushed to the limit. The block is finished.

I do not have an answer on how long a country mile is. I can tell you that mine was not run alone, I had Terry with me every step of the way.