Elements of Erin 337

After my minor breakdown at work on Friday, I set off on Saturday for Sechelt.  I have run the April Fool's Half Marathon two times and this was my third time.  It never fails to be hilly and hard.   Sunday morning I started off at in Gibsons ready to run to Mission Point Park.  I took it very conservatively knowing that I would be adding another 15kms on at the end of the 'race'.   I crossed the finish line, collected my medal, filled my water bottles, ate a  piece of bagel and a bite of banana and kept running west.   I do not recommend running your longest run before a marathon in Sechelt if you are not used to hills.  That place is full of 12-15% grades both up and down. At the end of the day, I ran from 9:17am - 2pm with a few quick breaks to refill bottles, eat gels and take few rocks out of my shoes.   After a shower and some real food, I was back on the ferry to North Vancouver.  Reward:  Whit...

Proof that my marathon training is effective.  I cried at work today.  I am emotionally and physically worn down.  

With one week of high volume running before my marathon on April 28th, I am feeling fully cooked. After a rest day on Monday, I switched up my track workout day and my trainer ride day.  We secured tickets to the second to last Canucks home game on Tuesday night so I couldn't do my track workout.   I did my trainer ride in the morning on Tuesday and my track workout on Wednesday. Instead of going solo at the track last night I created a workout in Garmin and downloaded it to my Garmin 920XT.   10 min warm up 8 x 1 mile with 90 seconds rest 10 min cool down Let me tell you, this workout completely exhausted me.  I came home after the run, showered and ate but I felt so drained.  After a bit of rest on the sofa, I was able to feel better and went straight to bed.   Today I skipped my 6am swim in favour of an extra hour of sleep.   My mantra for the week is 'just one more week'.  Just one more week of heavy volume ...

With only two more long long runs before my marathon taper, I set out on a 34km adventure around Vancouver.  I had great company and I felt pretty good.  The hills in Vancouver won but I think it will be good training for next week's longest run and ultimately the marathon. Locarno Beach looking west Locarno Beach looking east

Today was the first outdoor group ride with The SAA if the season.  We rode an easy 35km Richmond Loop with coffee at the end.

Other than a physio appointment I booked for 7am on holiday (what was I thinking?) and a run, we have no plans today.  The sun is out and it is 11C so here we come Ready Player One.  Yes, a movie.  Indoors.  

My weekly swim distance increased this week to 2600m.  Although it was not faster, I felt stronger.  It is always fun to go to work with goggle marks around my eyes. 2600m 55:52 2:09/100m

Although it officially spring, the weather does not seem to be aware the season changed.  Instead of being out on my bike, I was in the family room watching Netflix while on the trainer. 1 hour of strength intervals.

Tuesday night is track night with Coach Powell .  With this week being spring break, official track practice was cancelled but I still had a workout to do.  6 x 2000 m on 6 minutes/km pace, 90 seconds rest. My legs are pretty dead right now so I was not confident I would be able to complete this one well.  I thought about not starting it at all.   The track was quiet and I had most of it myself.  It was warm (10 c) and sunny.  Perfect conditions to get it done.   I was able to meet all of my 6 intervals at the 6 min/km pace.  I told my self I would quit after 4 intervals, then 5 interval, then I finished my 6th interval.  Mentally it was tough to keep going but I didn't have any commitments after the session so there was no reason to cut it short.   I rewarded myself with 2 McDonald's cheeseburgers on the drive home and a steak and spinach salad when I got home.   No one is perfect.  Embrace i...

As my first marathon of the year is only four weeks away, it is more important than ever to take rest days.  Generally this tends to be Monday.  Today I went to the Physio for some IMS and Ultrasound on my lower back and left hamstring and calf.  I am familiar with having a tight back and hips but the calf tightness is a new development.  Stretching and some foot strength exercises are in my immediate future.  

Today's long run called for a 3 1/2 hour jaunt out to the airport and back.  I mapped the route at 30km but it ended up being 28kms.   Even though this was a rest week, today's run was tough.   How to sabotage your long run in few easy steps: Eat a excessive quantities of comfort food for two days leading up to your long run Drink beer and wine with your comfort food on the two days leading up to your long run Before you start your long run, think about how much you know this will be a terrible run Goals for the week to come: Get back on the wagon with eating well.  Fuel to workout  No alcohol 8 hours of sleep per night A few photos from my run today Burkeville watching the planes take off at YVR Terra Nova looking toward YVR

With the opening of Sanctuary Cafe getting closer everyday, Jamieson and I attended Espresso 101 at Espressotec in Vancouver.   Beautiful Giro d"Italia edition Rocket espresso machine

Some days are harder than others.  Tough days at work, challenging workouts or lack of motivation.  Some hard days put others in perspective.  Be thankful you are still alive to experience those hard days. Rest In Peace Amy Lee May 10, 1935 - March 18, 2018

Two years ago after I herniated a disc in my lower back, my recovery activity was swimming.  Once the initial pain had subsided (about 8 weeks after the initial injury) I started walking and then swimming.    In 2016, I swam 80,000 metres and completed three open water swim events.  By the end of the year, I was given the OK to start running again so I cut back on my swimming. In 2017, I decided to train for a June marathon and my swimming completely fell off the radar.  For the whole year, I swam once for a total of 2200 metres. With Escape from Alcatraz on the race calendar, I have returned to the water.  I have only been back for 3 sessions now.  The longest one was today 2400 metres in 51:47 (2:09/100m).   Looks like I have some work to do if I am going to make that 1 hour swim cut off in Alcatraz. I feel more focused swimming will be in my immediate future.   Snorkeling in Waikoloa - February 2018 ...

2018 The Year of Big Goals and the Bucket List April 28, 2018                Revel Mt Charleston Marathon June 3, 2018                  Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon September 16, 2018      Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon November 4, 2018          TCS New York Marathon Three themes for 2018 1. Adventure 2. Creativity 3. Self Care 1 Year Goals:  See above 5 Year Goals:  Qualify and run Boston Marathon and complete Challenge Roth   

In early February, I bought a season's pass to Grouse Mountain.  I have owned a pass in the past but not in for a few years.  My main goal was to get up on Monday and/or Wednesday nights for the Social Snowshoe.  90 minutes snowshoeing up the Snowshoe Grind and over the back side of Dam Mountain.  Headlamps required. Full Moon Fellow Snowshoers View of Vancouver Yes, these are terrible photos.  I only took photos this one time.  I realized that the iPhone will not take good photos in these conditions and you miss the actual moment trying to get a good photo. In addition to Grouse, I have been up to Cypress Mountain Nordic area two times this season First trip to Cypress Our friend The Raven Map of the snowshoe trails Happy hikers today Happy hikers today

Not too long ago, I was still pretty bitter about my back injury.  I tried not to talk about and just suck it up.  After all, my sadness was about not being able to compete at Challenge Roth.  I was not diagnosed with a terminal illness.  Get over it! This week I experienced what I would consider progress.  I found myself liking photos on Facebook of friends in California at a triathlon camp and REALLY feeling happy for them.  Not cursing under my breath and feeling fake happy but REALLY happy. Then on Thursday, a coworker asked if I would ever do another Iron distance race and I said YES!  Emphatically, without hesitation, YES.   Physically, I am still making progress, no set backs to speak of.  I am still taking it easier that I would have in years past.  This approach is currently working.  I am enjoying my workouts and enjoy having goals again.   I have been keeping consistent with my training.  My favouri...

Welcome 2016!   What a year 2015 was.  I am SO VERY happy it it is OVER! My body gave me a forced break in May when a disc in my lower back (between L5/S1) decided to make itself known by putting pressure on my S1 nerve.  The timing was bad.  8 weeks before Challenge Roth.  This injury not only took me out of sport, it took me out of my daily life.  2 weeks off work, unable to move or be still without pain.  If you have had this type of injury, you know what I am talking about.   This disc injury was the final straw in a year of health issues that really made me evaluate my participation in sport, my job and life in general.   Although I was not able to participate in Challenge Roth, I was well enough to travel and to Germany and follow my good friends around the course.  Seeing them finish in the stadium was both very inspiring and sad for me.  I was so happy to see them accomplish...

2015 is proving to be a weird and wonderful year so far.   The week before Christmas, I managed to jam my right pointer finger, damaging the tendons.  The condition is call Mallet Finger.  Look it up if you are interested.   The treatment for Mallet Finger includes mobilizing the affected joint for 8 weeks.   If you haven't realized how important your fingers are, try wearing this for 8 weeks.  It makes typing, opening boxes, turning keys in locks and using your iPhone a little more difficult than usual.   The good thing is it is was not painful. After wearing this for a few weeks, a running buddy was kind enough to knit me a finger warmer.  Because the splint is made from plastic, it made my finger quite cold.   The finger cozy got more attention then the splint did so I had to limit its use to running outside. As time went by, I started to have fun with the splint after a friend mentioned it looked like a hat. Two ...

What an amazingly awesome 2014 I had.  Travelling, racing and celebrating were in abundance throughout the year and especially in July 2014. 2015 is here whether we are ready or not.  What is on the slate for 2015 races? Peninsula Runners Trail Series (4 races Jan/Feb/Mar )  January - March 2015 Kajaks Ice Breaker 8km  February 1, 2015 Pacific Road Runners First Half Marathon   February 15, 2015 Ironman 70.3 St.George UTAH   May 2, 2015 Challenge ROTH !!!!!!!!   July 12, 2015 Challenge Penticton August 30, 2015 I was fortunate enough to be selected as one of five Canadians to be on the Challenge North America Team .  There are a total of 65 team members from Canada, USA and Mexico.  Pretty excited about this! Started the year off right with #1 in the Peninsula Runners Trail Series in South Surrey.  Feeling good about how the race went.  Hilly course with moderately technical sections and an open field.  ...