January Recap

After a great start into the New Year, and following the training schedule to a T, a week and a half into it life went a bit pear shaped, so now I have to reassess goals, and also training plans. Here is what went down in January:

Week 1 - After a great New Years with the BF Friends, we were enjoying runs and training in general, we predicted 2011 to be a successful and productive year for the both of us! At the end of the week, we went to Victoria to celebrate my BF's birthday. It was there that I purchased my new running shoes (which I haven't really had the chance to use since coming back).

Week 2 - After getting back from Victoria, I look up how things are going back home in the website News.com.au. I am horrified to find out that Brisbane, is about to go under in a flood. Message my parents who say that they are going to the airport to go on Vacation to see my sister, and that it should be ok. Message my brother the next day he confirms that the house is about to go under, and my parents will loose almost everything. My parents house went under on 12th January (11th In Vancouver). I can't get much information on what has happened, as my brother is without power for 2 days, and everything has run out of batteries. Manage to call my Sister in Law who is near my parents house, and discuss with her what is going on, in between bouts of hysteria and sadness. Needless to say, I didn't get any training in, as I was more concerned with my parents and what I could do to help them. The Saturday of that week, we went to a Masquerade Ball Surprise Party, which was a blast, and had a great time.

Week 3 - Again, suffering still from what is happening back home, only managed one training run, I was trying to get plenty of sleep to make up for what I had been missing out on. Sad to say but the Bachelor and Millionaire Matchmaker, started lifting my spirits.

Week 4 - Didn't do much again, purchased a couch with the BF (moving in with him soon!!! YAY!!!) then went to the dentist only to find out that I need a few thousands dollars worth of work done on my teeth! :( So the hopes of doing plenty of races this year a dashed! Time to start budgeting so that I can make the most of the situation!

Here's hoping that February offers more happiness and productivity then what January did!!  I can't wait to dust off my runners and make the most of the rest of the year!

Three Things Thursday the Late Edition

Wowee what a exhausting few weeks this has turned out to be. Back into it here are three things that will help me achieve my running/sporting goals over the next few months:

FOAM ROLLER:

 Finally purchase a foam roller. I've used it once so far, and it was really painful, but it was a good type of pain. I look forward to researching different exercises that can be done on it, and I can't wait to see the improvement in my recovery time from my long runs after "rolling".

YOGA Meltdown:

 

I purchased this because I don't seem to have enough time to actually join a class, with changes in schedules etc. My aim it to do it 4 times a week. I would love increased flexibility, it has been a few years since I have done Yoga, and I hate to admit it, but some days I struggle to bend down to tie my laces, due to decrease in my flexibility (or just weight increase). I can't wait for Jillian to whip my into some great Yoga Poses!

Running Room Online Coaching:

I felt a bit uncomfortable going to an in store clinic because they were already 4 weeks into the program. I can tailor the online program to mine needs, and have specific training for my goal race which is the Fargo Full Marathon. I have been lacking in the exercise area of late, so I cant wait to begin training again to achieve my goal race!

If anyone has any tips on the foam rolling, such as websites to look at etc, please let me know!!!

Take care xo

Playing Catchup!

So I finally have found a photo cable and now can upload the photos, so here are some photo's from the past month:

My bloggy Secret Santa got me this:

 

(which by the way is totally awesome, thanks Secret Santa!)

After Christmas and New Years we headed off to Victoria where I found this:

For a Masquerade Ball Surprise party that was last weekend

And these:

Brought new running shoes from Running Room in Victoria, the sales person was incredibly helpful. I have never tried New Balance shoes before, but they felt pretty much perfect when I tried them on...

Then we did this:

Went for a short run in Victoria, which was icy and slippery, but fun anyway!

Then last weekend we did this:

One of the most enjoyable parties I have been to, a Surprise Masquerade party (18th Century), where we danced the night away, they had historical dancers, who then taught us the basic steps!

Then on Sunday I did this:

Took my old runners out for their last run. They will go to charity in May, at the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon....

Then after the run we change our gym to Spartacus Athletic Club , which I am super excited about, because they have classes that I can join in with in comparison to our old gym, which didn't have much to offer.

One the weekend I also finished my first book:

Second Wind by Cami Ostman wasn't a bad read, and by the end of the book I was inspired by her, and hope to achieve my goals, like she achieved hers.

Today we did a short run, approximately 4kms. It was a speed work session for me, and I felt like I was really powering up the hills :) Then I attempted to foam roll on my IT band, ouch, but I know that the more "rolling" out and stretching out I do, the more beneficial it will be for me!

And tonight I plan to catch up on the latest edition of Runners World, can't wait for some inspiring stories!

I'm super excited that my friend Winnie and I (decided tonight) that we will be joining the Running Room run clinic together! Time for some hard training! Woohoo :)

Have a great evening!

Dear Running Shoes

Dear Running Shoes,

I am so sorry that I have neglected you over the past week, I received bad news from home, and have been struggling to find motivation. I hope that you enjoyed your short run in Victoria last weekend, over the icy paths, you were able to keep me from slipping over, and for that I am forever grateful. I hope that you are not too jealous about the new joggers that I have brought. I promise that I will continue to take you on runs, whilst I am breaking the "others" in. I want to thank you for the journey that you have taken me on. The two full marathons, half marathon, 2 10km road races and countless hours of training. You have held up strong and have carried me to many personal victories. I will put you on tomorrow and take you for a nice run around the lake, so you get to see it for perhaps the last time in your career. Chin up though, I will make sure that I donate you to charity at the BMO Vancouver Marathon, so that you will go to someone in need, so that you can give them the joy that you gave me. There will never be another pair like you.

Love me xo

Yesterdays Run

After a nice relaxing Sunday, and after running a few errands on Monday, the BF & I decided to run on Monday instead of taking our scheduled rest day, which we will take today. On our second training session for the year, (we are really off to a great start) we did a nice and gentle 6km run from the BF's place down to Trout Lake (which is lovely and frozen at the moment).

 It took us a little over and hour. It was meant to be 6.6km's but we ended up playing around with the Camera and walking a little bit so we didn't actually "run" the whole way. The photo's that were taken to document our training, didn't really turn out as we hope, so unfortunately no pictures this time, but we will make sure that clearer ones are taken tomorrow. Tomorrow will be the same route although we are only scheduled to run 3 Miles (4.82803 km) we will see how we are both feeling, to how much distance we run. It knocks a few more km's off my 2011km goal for this year, and is day 2 of exercising for the month, trying to reach the 5 days a week challenge!

Hope that everyone is have an easy time, transitioning back into the work week! Happy training :)

 

Happy New Year

After a fantastic New Years Eve, I started the New Year off with a short run, one of the first runs that I have had since the October Marathon. One of my goals to start with was to run 2011 km's in 2011, and I have already knocked 4.5km's off it - not much but a start! I have also put the Training Plan and my monthly goals on separate pages so that you can see what I have planned over the next few months! I have also entered another Challenge, Run for the Bling of It, to complete 12 races this year, and blog about it. So far I only have 6 races on my schedule, so I have to find the next 6 around my area, to complete my challenge. I am excited for what 2011 has in store for me, and hope that everyone had a great new years and are ready to tackle 2011 head on!