Weekly recap & Pace Bunny

Hey everyone,
This week has been so long and busy.

I worked Monday, Wed and Thursday this week 12 hour days so running was out but I did manage to make sure I did my 8 min abs and planks after work each day :)

Tuesday run was a easy 6k. my garmin died at 5 1/2 km :( My legs have been feeling heavy lately I describe it as they are permanently tired. So Thanks to Courtney I had my very first leg massage :) it was amazing my legs feel so much better! I booked in for another one planed for after my long run of 28k on my schedule. I will also try to get one after my 32km and again after the marathon :)

Wednesday I worked 7-7 and I was dreading even going in to work. Nova Scotia was going to be hit with the storm of the year! the whole city shut down even Tim Hortons closed ( which we all know never happens)  Hello mother nature its SPRING! I knew there was a good possibility I may not make it home from work if night staff couldn't make it in. Thankfully I made it home. But 11 of my co workers had to stay the night and work the next day. 36 hours at work. They are amazing.

 

Thursday I worked again I was scheduled for 7-3 and I was really looking forward to the shorter day and being able to run after work.  But when I got to work and saw my fellow co worker trying to keep her head up tired from sleeping in the staff room all night because she was stuck at work because of the storm. I told her to go home at 3 and I would stay till 7 for her.

Fridays run called for 13km. I was looking forward to this run so much because I had worked long days Wednesday and Thursday and I needed this run. I woke up made my coffee and was really looking forward to a relaxing day off. I curled up on the couch with my coffee and watched my shows I had missed through the week. as soon as I was done I planed on heading out the door for my run. My boyfriend called in a panic. He forgot the papers he needed to buy our hockey tickets for playoffs that went on sale at 11 am. I had to hurry and get dressed and make the dreaded trip downtown. 3 bus rides to get there! This is not how I wanted to spend my day off. But since I was downtown I stopped into the running room to get GU for my next few long runs.

Salted caramel is my fav!

 

I also picked up a fuel belt. I had been using a hand held one and with these long runs it was getting in the way.

When I finally got home I headed out for my 13km run, I decided to try out my fuel belt during this run to see how I it felt before taking it on a long run. I normally don't take water unless its a super hot summer day or I am running 20 ish km. I felt really good I hardly noticed it. I am going to love it come summer months.

When kyle got home he brought me cupcakes to say thanks for making the long trip downtown :) They we carrot with cream cheese icing YUM!

 

 

 Saturday called for 8k. I headed out as soon as I got up to get it done, because we had lots or errands to run.  It was a super mild day and I only wore a long sleeve and t shirt over top and I still felt over dressed.

When I was out Saturday running errand I picked up some Beet Juice. Heather was telling me a while ago about all it benefits and I have been meaning to try it out.

 

Sunday we woke up to a freezing rain storm :( ugh I should have been smarter and done my Sunday long run on Saturday. I really have been kicking myself all day. It was so slippery out this morning I couldn't even get down my door step to take my dog out. I am really ahead in my marathon training schedule because of two recent races I had done. So missing this long run and doing it next weekend really isn't a huge deal. But I felt guilty all day about it. It felt really weird not running and not working actually like something was missing.

 

 

So I have been planning to run the Bluenose half marathon in May as one of my training runs. I planed on running this at a easy pace and just have fun. This is not my half I am going to train  for a PB this is just a training run before my full a month later. I got to thinking about volunteering as a pace bunny. Why not run this and help other runners reach their goals that they worked so hard for. So I emailed the running room and sent in my previous Half times. I got a email the following day :) I am going to be the 2 hr pace bunny. I am super excited to do this. I think it will be a great experience.

 

I hope you all had a great weekend!

 

Do you get down on yourself when u miss a run ?

 

Tried beet juice ?

have u ever been a pace bunny ?

 

Week Recap :)

Sorry I have been MIA all week... :(

This is what's been going on the past week.

Monday-  I worked a 12hr day so this was a write off. But was a much needed rest day after Sundays 25km Moose Run. My legs felt really good Monday no muscle soreness just a bit tired. I started doing a 8 min abs  workout on you tube. I did that when I got home from work so I guess it wasn't a complete write off :) such a good burn!

Tuesday - Today my training program called for a 6km run. So that's exactly what I ran :)

After my run I stretched (in the past I had been really bad with not stretching after a run, but with my piriformis acting up I am not taking any chances, plus I should have been doing it all along)

I headed to physio to see how my bum had held up during and after the Moose run. I told her it was a bit stiff the Sunday evening post run but was perfectly fine after. I have to continue doing my exercises but I no longer need to go back :) I can still feel it after a longer run but it recovers quickly.

After Physio I headed into town to pic up cupcakes at a local bakery for my boyfriends birthday!

They were delicious! He requested Chocolate chip pancakes for dinner too. After dinner a delivery came.

A present for Dad LOL! (it was a fossil watch) I forgot to take a picture.

 

 

Wednesday & Thursday- I worked 12 hr shifts both of these days so all I did was the 8 min abs both days. Better then nothing!

 

Friday- My training program called for 13km. My Legs felt heavy and tired today, felt like I was dragging. But I got it done!

When I came home I made sure to stretch and foam roll. I was hoping the rolling would help my legs for sundays long run.

Friday evening we headed to game 1 of  the playoffs for our local Hockey Team  the 2013 memorial cup champs the Halifax Mooseheads.  Kyle and I go to pretty well every game. GO MOOSE GO! They won of course ;)

 

Saturday-  Today called for a easy 6k. The weather was perfect, you could feel spring in the air.

 

My legs felt much better today! I hurried home to get ready because the fam jam was coming over for a lasagna dinner for Kyle's birthday. Both his Nans came and his grandfather, mom, dad and sister.

Lunch was so yummy, I made two lasagnas, creaser salad and Texas toast garlic bread. His mom brought broccoli salad and a carrot cake.  

 

Happy Birthday!

 

here are a few pictures from the day :)

It was a great day spent with family :) when everyone left we got ready to head out to Game 2 of the playoffs

-we won 7-1 :)

 

Sunday Runday- Today called for 24km my longest distance I have ever run alone. I ate toast with Peanut butter and banana and a cup of red rose tea. watch cornation street and procrastinated getting out there this morning. Finally at 10:30 am I headed out. I really tired to pace myself this whole run, I tried to stay in the 6 min km mark for most of my run because I didn't want to run out of gas near the end. In the first half of the run this was actually hard to do.

In the first 2 km I ran past Heather. She was running 32 big ones today! way to go!

I ran a few sides streets then headed out to the main road, I ran about 11 km out and then turned around and headed back. I had a GU gel at 10k. On the way back at about 16km I turned up into the subdivion before mine and ran almost all the sides streets in there before heading out back on the main road. I was at 20k when I turned onto the main road. I turned up into my subdivion and ran the last 3km.

 

 

Overall I was happy with my run and super proud when I was done. I was thinking during my run, training on these long runs alone is actually great mental training as well and sometimes that's the hardest part of a run.

I had to push hard the last 5k but I knew I could do it.

When I got home a stretch ran a hot Epsom salt bath, made a protein smoothie, put my jammies and pro compressions on. I spent the rest of the after noon eating leftover carrot cake napping and drinking tea :)

 

week 11/18 marathon training in the bag:)

 

 

I hope you all had a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by and sorry I hadn't posted all week.

 

25K Moose Run Recap

Started, Finished, Survived ...

I set my alarm for 6:30 am. Race started at 10am but registration opened at 8:30. Heather picked me up at 7:30 am, we went extra early because neither of us had done this run before and didn't know what to expect. I had my normal Tea and oatmeal for breakfast, stretched and we were on our way.

When we got there we met up with our friend Steve, registered, got our cool tech shirts and bibs

We all sat around and "run talked" for a bit until start time. I was a bit nervous because this was going to be my longest run yet. I had already run 21k a handful of times before so I kept telling myself  "Only 4 more km that's all" .

Pre race :)

 

I had heard how hilly this race was but nothing could have prepared me for how hilly it actually was. The first few km was all hill and I kept thinking ok this has to get better eventually haha boy was I wrong. I was running a normal training pace the first 5k (28min) it started raining then hail. I was thinking just lovely. I looked again around 10km and I was at 57min. at this point I had a gel. 13km was the turn around point, the sun came out and  I started to feel a lot better, the hills didn't seem as bad  and I was moving at a good pace. At 20km there was a gigantic hill. I was starting to feel really tired, my legs were heavy, I had another gel at this point and I thought about walking. "NO! your not walking  you can do this! We ran around the ocean and the head wind was so strong I could hardly catch my breath. I turned around for a min and ran backwards. I would say this was the hardest part of the run for me. Once I got past the wind around the water and up yet another hill I could see where the finish line was and I started to pick up the pace a bit. Heather and Steve were there waiting for me to cheer me in :)

I finished in 2:30 :)

Check out the elevation chart! Crazy!

Here I come ( Thanks for the pics Heather )

Here are a few more pic taken during the run:)

After the run we went inside to get our FREE hot meal :) and they had a draw for prizes. Steve, Heather and myself all won a mug! what are the chances

On our way home Heather and I made a pit stop for a photo op at the moose :) and then to Starbucks. I got home had a hour long Epsom salt bath and drank my starbucks haha

 

Thanks for stopping by I hope you all had a Runderful weekend :)

 

 

 

#FitFam

 Hello Everyone :)

So recently I have noticed a article circulating around Facebook titled #FitFam: 11 Reasons why the fitness culture on social media needs to be stopped. This immediately caught my attention, as I read I began to feel a little enraged and offended. I am totally guilty for posting my runs, my PR's, my training on social media. actually I do it on a daily! And I also love seeing other peoples progress,  train or work towards a better them :) Its inspiring, motivating and gives me ideas on how I can better my training.
It refers to the active culture on social media as a "cult" well this is the most inspiring, motivating, supportive cult I have ever seen :) My running "cult" are some of my best friends, they are some of the only people that actually "get" me. Because they share my passion <3
They say this "cult" makes completely average people think they are famous. I am sorry but if u run a marathon, make it to Boston you are not average and you are famous in my eyes :)

I feel as if the only people that agree to this article are non active people.
We live in a society full of over weight none active people. promoting a healthy active lifestyle should be encouraged in what is one of the fattest country's in the world!

I love My Neon :)

 

 

I want know what you think about this article ?

Offensive to you ?

 

TGIF! Hope you all have a great running weekend!

25km Moose run Sunday, stay tuned for race recap :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey all,

Monday

So Monday I worked all day while my boyfriend Kyle stayed home and put up crown molding and new trim in our kitchen. Looks so good! We are slowly renovating our kitchen, last month we got new counter tops and sink :) You know your growing up when those things excite you.

Monday evening I ran 5km. Before I left I ate leftover hot turkey sandwich and stuffing. Not the best idea before a run, I felt like such a heavy weight.

 

Tuesday

 

Todays run was 11km. Today the weather was calling for a few cm of the white stuff, ughh, Does mother nature not know that winter is pretty much over!?

So I made sure after eating my oatmeal to hurry and get out before it got bad.

 The ground was just starting to get covered. I ran all the side streets today and my legs felt really good. I was running a bit slower because I was trying to be careful with my footing in the snow. Then at 7 1/2 Km as I was turning onto the sidewalk on the main road I wiped out. I quickly jumped up paused my garmen and looked to see if any one saw me. A lady stopped as she was driving by to make sure I was ok. How embarrassing. I think she was the only one who saw. THANK GOD.

I contemplated walking the rest of the way home because my hip/knee that I fell on was a bit sore. I decided to just finish and keep running. not even a minute later a old boyfriend drove  by and waved, thank god he didn't see me on my ass only a minute before. all he saw was me kicking ass running in the snow haha

At a little over 10km I ran past Heather we waved and did our usually high five :)

When I got home I stretched and then went to change and check out my knee/hip

 

OUCH! A bit of a scratch and my hip is red and sore. I am thinking I will wake up to find a purple hip :(

I re fueled with my normal protein smoothie :)

 

 

A Few people were asking for my energy ball recipe I had in my last blog post. So here it is :)

 

No bake Energy Balls

 

- 1 Cup of  dry oatmeal

- 1/2 cup of chocolate chips

- 1/2 cup of peanut butter

- 1/2 cup of ground flax seed

-1/3 cup of honey

- Tsp vanilla

 

Mix in mixer and then make into balls and refrigerate ENJOY

 

Thanks for stopping by

Moose Run 25k in 5 days :)

This is how Jackson spends his time while I blog