From Couch to Anywhere She Sets Her Sights

It has been great to watch as my friend MJ has set and achieved her running goals and transformed her post-baby body!  Here's what she has to say about it:

I started running after gaining a LOT of weight while pregnant.  For me, driving from Warman to Saskatoon to a gym just wasn’t an option and as much I love the elyptical, the road was right outside my front door.  It didn’t have opening and closing times. It didn’t have perfectly fit twenty somethings in perfectly fitting lulu lemon work out gear making me feel self conscious. It didn’t have a monthly fee (BONUS) and it worked around my new mom schedule (or rather, lack of a schedule as I was a first time mom and had no schedule).

After starting in the Fall, 3 months post baby, I was happy to be outside and active again.  I started using a “Couch to 5km” running app to help me along the way.  It was a simple run - walk guide that gradually built me up from couch to a 5 km run.  After that, I moved up to the couch to 10km running app.  By this time I had been able to talk to Janaya and Sarah (another mutual running friend of ours) about running more and following a program and planning for bigger and brighter goals.  

When I saw Janaya and Jadah cross the finish line at the Sask Marathon in May, I knew I wanted the challenge of a half marathon and decided to commit.  I now can run 0-10km without walking and it is a great feeling.  I just finished my 4th 10km race in August and celebrated by buying new running gear from lululemon.  I'm down 3 sizes and 75 lbs since the fall/winter!

  

I’m signed up for my first half marathon this November in Vegas with Janaya and some other friends.  Can’t wait!  

Thanks MJ! I can't wait to run with you in Vegas and celebrate your first half marathon!!

Pushing the Limits

Sarah has continued to push herself and her limits this summer. I have relied heavily on her for support and advice over the last few months! She's put in the training and is all set to run the Queen City Marathon in September!

After the Saskatoon Police Service 1/2 marathon, I still had 5 weeks to go on the meal plan diet I started with a goal of losing 10 lbs.  As of the SPS 1/2 I was 7 weeks in to a 12 week plan and had gained 8 lbs instead of losing....so as stubborn as I am I continued on for the next 5 weeks.  At the end of the 12 weeks, I was up 12 lbs in weight to 159 lbs, this was extremely discouraging and devastating as I had worked so hard on my own post-baby to get down to 147 lbs. I thought consulting experts would make the last 10 lbs a sure thing.  

In the end, when I voiced my frustration to those experts their answer was "that the success was up to me and that the diet had worked for everyone else and so maybe my brain doesn't want it to work". This sent me into a real downward spiral.  How does a person run 30-50 miles a week and gain 12 lbs, when those who only do 20 min of cardio a day can lose the weight?  

I consulted my doctor to see if there was something else at play such as thyroid and he just laughed. He said "why would you change what was working?" and laughed at the "brain not wanting it" reason I had been given and said "so if I give you a prescription and it doesn't work I should just tell you to let your mind believe and it will work?".  

This made me start to re-evaluate what my fitness goals were.....during the diet my running suffered and it obviously had the opposite result on the scale than desired.  So I consulted a few other fitness/nutrition experts only to find out that the meal plan I had been put on was not meant for high cardio people, as it was not enough food for the day, so the fact that I was burning between 500 and 1000 calories before 5am, meant that my body was starving itself similar to if you try and lose weight by not eating (at the low point the meal plan had me on only 1600 calories a day).  It is strictly for a body building goal with little to no cardio involved.

Shortly after the 12 weeks I was out for a run and saw a lady ahead of me on the path, I had to work very hard to try and catch up and pass her (a little game I play when I am out for my runs).  When I passed her I realized that she was about 60 years old and I thought WOW that is impressive.  Later that day I was at safeway and I saw a lady struggling to lift her milk in the cart and although she appeared to be older I would guess that she was about the same age as the lady who had been out running.  It was as I was driving home that I thought, what do I want to be able to do later on in life, still run a 10 k (or more) with a few extra pounds on, or be nice and thin and struggle to carry the milk?  

It was only a couple days later that I challenged myself to see if I could run to the soccer center and back and I did a 20 mile run. Shortly after I was talking to Janaya and she said I should consider the QCM. I also knew another friend in Regina training with the running room to run his first full marathon. So, on the spur of the moment I signed up!  

I was feeling really good as my first 20 mile run was on pace that I could qualify for Boston!  I did another couple of great long runs 16, 18 and 20 miles and then all of a sudden I developed a week hip that started bothering me.  I quickly started to go twice a week for physio and once a week for deep tissue message, it was slowly improving but then my physio loosened an SI joint that was stuck and everything started to unravel.....my whole leg developed issues as my stride was thrown off.  With the now unstuck SI joint, my muscles that hadn't been used since it was stuck (potentially years) were too weak to hold it in place, so I was having to re-train and strengthen the muscles.

In the midst of training, Janaya asked if I would run the River Run with her to help her set her goal pace.  I quickly agreed (I of course will do anything I can to help friends achieve their running goals), and then realized what a crazy weekend it was.  I worked all week in PA and had my in-laws visiting, had a hair appt in Stoon on Saturday am, then a wedding in PA that night and then back to Stoon Sun am for the run.  But, the fact that it was for Janaya and that the race package had 25% off of lulu was enough for me!  

We stayed at the wedding until 9:30 and I limited it to a few drinks, I was up at 5am and on the road by 5:40 to pick Janaya and MJ up to get to the race.  I let Janaya set the opening pace and she is like a antelope off the start, quick as can be she set a very fast pace up the broadway bridge.  I knew what our target pace was and we tried to keep with it, and in the end I was so excited to see her set a new PB time!  She worked so hard the whole 13.1 miles, it was exhilarating to run beside her and watch (although she probably wanted to throw something at me and tell me to be quiet every time I urged her on with positivity - I know I would have hated me), and cross the finish line with her.  MJ was waiting for us and she too had run a PB in the 10 km.  

Along the way I was able to talk to a few people and realized that a lot of people were always running right over the 2 hr mark and were wishing they knew how their pace compared to getting them to 2 hrs.  At most of the smaller runs there are no pace bunnies like there are at the larger runs, yet for so many people that 2 hr mark is a big one.  I realized setting a pace was something I loved to do..........in the end my previous time from April would have been near or at the top; but that didn't matter, I had so much fun and it felt amazing to run with others and help them achieve.......I may just have to investigate this pace bunny thing further for some of the smaller local races!    


Thanks for running with me Sarah! You would be a GREAT pace bunny!!

The River Run Classic

The Scenario

Sunday, August 12th was the River Run Classic. I had asked my friend Sarah if she would come run this event with me and help me try to finish in under two hours. She happily agreed. Our mutual friend MJ was registered to run the 10km distance, so on her way through from Prince Albert, Sarah picked us up in Warman.

My friend Katy was running her first 10km. My friend Sheila, who I know from working at the Headstart in Cumberland House, was running her first 5km. My cousin Becky was back in the city with her friend to complete the 5km. I knew a few other people who were registered to complete the other distances and was happy to have a chance to say hi to them before things got under way.

Together we met up with the other runners at River Landing. The weather was a bit brisk when we got there around 7:30, but I knew that by the time we finished it would be substantially warmer and I wouldn't regret wearing my shorts.

The Event

The River Run Classic is presented by Ernst & Young. The Saskatoon Road Runners Association organizes this annual event that offers 5 km, 10 km (this is the 10km provincial championship) and 21.1 km distances. The charity of choice is the Meewasin Valley Authority. Three charities and one non-profit group ran the water stations to raise funds for their causes as well (Parkinson's, breast cancer, leukemia/lymphoma & the Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association).

This event was really well organized and I really liked the route! They changed the race location from previous years and I appreciated that the course maps were available online prior to the event so I could familiarize myself with the details.  It is a smaller event with 84 entrants in the 5km, 157 in the 10km and 108 in the half marathon, for a total of 349 participants.

I think that this race package is my favourite to date! The race directors definitely decided to go for quality over quantity and I think it paid off! With registration in the event, participants received a nice tech shirt, a pair of running socks, a finisher's medal and a couple snack samples.....and on the back of the bib, there was a voucher for 25% off your entire purchase at Lululemon!! Way to go River Run organizers!

The Excuses

This was the second hardest run I've ever done (second only to my first half marathon ever!).

Two weeks prior to the run, I asked Sarah if she would come down and pace me. I felt like if I focused on my speed and time throughout the race, I should be able to finish under two hours. It wasn't until after she agreed to run with me, that I actually printed off a pace chart and realized how much faster I was going to have to go to reach that goal. Gulp! I had bitten off more than I could chew. So, I trained hard for two weeks, running intervals and doing pace runs.

I follow two female runners who have written a couple of good books. You can check out the Mother Runners website for a wealth of information. Recently, I have been listening to their podcasts. In their discussion of goals, they recommend setting a couple goals for each running event you do. They suggest a primary goal (that would be attainable if everything lines up perfect on race day), a secondary goal (something you'd be happy to achieve if the day is less than optimal) and they may have mentioned a third option that would be more like the worst case scenario.

Going into the River Run, my primary goal was to finish in under two hours and my secondary goal was to finish under two hours and six minutes and forty seconds (my best finishing time to date).....I didn't really entertain a third option.

I was trying my best to approach the event with a Zen attitude. I tried to have as much faith in my abilities as Sarah did. However, by the time I got through the line at the biffy and got organized, I didn't have any time to do a proper stretch and I was frazzled. Our plan was for me to set the pace for the first mile and then, using her Garmin, Sarah would run the rest of the race at the pace required to complete the run under my goal time....and I would do my best to keep up!

The race started and off we went! The route began with an uphill section going across the Broadway bridge, so when we got through our first mile and Sarah told me how FAST we had been going I was shocked! I don't run that fast...ever. She was pumped because she thought that my training had paid off, but I shuddered. I've read about this happening before, getting caught up in the excitement of start line atmosphere and taking off faster than you should only to have it kick you in the pants later. Oh well, I was determined to give it my best try.

After we hit the three mile point Sarah said our speed was slowing a bit and we had to pick up the pace. Enter phase two of the plan. She ran at the required speed and I tried to keep up. Slowly, we got further and further apart. Each time I grabbed a water at an aid station, the gap got wider. I know, that probably doesn't sound like fun; but, it was a great opportunity for me to see how seemingly small things add up to make a big difference. Sarah represented the goal of finishing in under two hours, and running with her gave me the chance to see exactly how far (or maybe how close) I am from that.

By the time we got to the 10km point, it was obvious that I wasn't going to be able to catch Sarah. She waited the couple minutes for me and we carried on together. Instead of being disappointed in me, she continued to encourage and push me for the rest of the run. I don't know if it was the quick start, the fact that I had been pushing myself so hard during the two weeks prior to the event, the hot weather or if something else was at play, but the last half of that run was a STRUGGLE!

In an attempt to cut a bit of time, I quit slowing at the aid stations. This was probably not the best idea. It was a HOT day, but by the 11 mile point I was shivering and had goose bumps. I sweat too much to not drink water en route....so, although the water breaks cost time, they aren't really optional for me.

The last two miles of the route were hard. My left hip hurt. My right knee hurt. And the toes on my right foot felt funny. Sarah stuck with me and pushed me not to stop.

When we crossed the finish line, the time clock said 1:57. I'm not sure what caused the discrepancy, but I'm thinking it probably had something to do with the fact that the 10km event (which began ten minutes after the half marathon start) was the provincial championship. I knew it was wrong, but that is how hard it felt like I had run.....and you know what? If I had finished in 1:57, I probably wouldn't regret pushing myself as hard as I did. But, our finishing time was 2:05:57. I had met my secondary goal, but I wasn't as thrilled as I should have been.

The Best Part

I am REALLY thankful to have such amazing support in my friends and my family. Not everyone is lucky enough to have someone like Sarah who is willing to help them try to meet their goals. MJ is a great Cheerleader and she smashed her previous 10km time!!

Having my hubby and boys waiting at the finish line was wonderful. They don't care how long it takes me to finish, they are always smiling and happy when I get there!

We took a couple minutes to catch our breath, grab some grub at the post-race snack tent and then I quickly borrowed Sarah's small foam roller to work out the kink in my knee. And we were off! I jumped in with my family, we stopped at my husband's office so I could quickly shower and then we made our way to the lake.

It was great to be able to spend a handful of days together enjoying the quality time and activities that the cabin has to offer.

We even managed to take in the Stanley Cup parade in Yorkton! The boys were thrilled to see it!

After the race, when I took off my shoes, I found this beauty of a blister! I drained it and it quickly healed. Unfortunately, as the week progressed it became more and more obvious that my hip was not going to be as easy to repair. I didn't attempt to ski or ride the tube and my family was patient with me as I hobbled around. I stretched and stretched and iced and rested, but it didn't seem to be getting any better. In fact, if anything, it was getting worse. It is a weird kind of pain. It's not really in my muscle. It feels like it's coming from somewhere deeper. 

I am excited that this half has put my 2012 total distance to date over the 630 mile point. I'm two thirds of the way done for the year! Now I've got 3 weeks to get feeling better before the Queen City Marathon in Regina September 9th.

Fancy Business Cards

Every June there is a running event in Prince Albert called the Summit Run. I have never had the opportunity to participate in this event, but have heard great things about it! When a friend of mine 'liked' the Summit Run Facebook page, I took a minute to check it out. I followed the link to their website to have a look at the race information. While on the site, I just happened to click on an entry to win a custom website or business cards....and I won!!

I'm not usually very lucky when it comes to draws and contests and stuff, but this was a great thing to win! It may not seem like I should have much use for 1000 custom business cards, but it's actually something that I was trying to organize without breaking the bank. Since I began this project in January, I have been asked so many times what the address of my blog is or how people can make a donation to my event with the Canadian Cancer Society and I have wished that I had a quick way to pass it along. Now I will!!

Thanks to Mark Poppen at Poppen Design - Web Design & Development, I now have some very snazzy Mom on the Run business cards!

Interacting exclusively via email, Mark was able to get a feel for what I was looking for. He used my favourite picture from the photo shoot in March and he was able to incorporate the important information and style from my blog. Mark was also able to create an easier URL for people to access the donation page with the Canadian Cancer Society (the actual address is quite a handful and hard to remember!). I am super happy with the end result!

The front of the cards

The back of the cards

One of the goals that I've set for the second half of this year, is to double the amount of money that I've raised to date to fund cancer research. I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to make that happen, but now I can at least use these cards to spread the word!

Thanks Mark!

My Bling

I was excited to get my Moose is Loose finisher's medal in the mail yesterday! Because I know you've been wondering what it looks like since I posted a couple weeks ago, here's a pic:

It's probably not everyone's idea of beautiful, but it's my favourite kind of bling....I just wish it was acceptable to wear it for longer than a couple minutes after the run, lol!

Celebrating a Running Anniversary!

This summer, I received a message from Uncle Bob on the day that he was celebrating his first year back at running. I thought since I never had anyone join me on my July run, we'd share his experience instead:


 On July 7, I emailed Janaya knowing that she would appreciate what I had to tell her. It was the one year anniversary of the day I started running...again. I had run several years before. In fact, I completed the Saskatchewan Marathon in 2001. I ran for a little while after that as well but then I just stopped. I made a few attempts to start up again in the years after but they didn't stick.

Last spring, I decided I wanted to get back into it again. So I started by walking around the neighbourhood and slowly adding distance for two months. Then I went to San Diego for holidays and started running on the beach. It wasn't easy, but I did it. And then I kept doing it. And when I came home, I continued running. I developed a route and several playlists for my ipod and pretty soon I got into the habit of running nearly every day. Even when I went back to work. Even when the winter came. Even when the snow began to melt in the spring. Even as July loomed nearer.

This summer, I returned to San Diego for holidays and I ran the same route (and more!) that I had one year earlier. I remembered it taking me about 30 minutes that first day and, oh my God, how my lungs burned and my calves ached. But I am happy to report that one year later, I ran 10.85 miles and ran for an hour and 44 minutes. I was very proud of my accomplishment.

What I found to be motivating for me is to mark on a calendar the days that I run. I even calculate the percentage of days I run at the end of each month. I focus more on the time than the distance that I run. I am content to focus on being able to run without stopping for a period of time, rather than focusing on the distance. 

Over the year, I tried to increase my time by intervals of about 5 mintues every week or so. Now I run between an hour and a half to an hour and 45 minutes which works out to be about 10 miles or so. For me, I am happy with that. I try not to let more than three days in a row go by without a run.

I have just recently been using the Nikeplus running tracker which is awesome. Janaya told be about it and I got one at the end of June. I am happy to report that, after using it for just under two months, I have run nearly 500km! 

I am at the point where I enjoy running. I like how it makes me feel afterward. I like that my clothes fit better now. I don't ache (too much) any more and I like the sense of accomplishment I get from doing it. That being said, I am still surprised as to how much 'self-talk' I need to get out and do it. Once I am running, I am happy to be doing so (usually) but it is still something that I sometimes struggle with- having (and keeping) the motivation to get out there and start it.

Here's to keeping motivated!

Thanks Unk! Bob is starting sabbatical from work and is planning to do a lot of travelling. I can't wait to hear about all of the neat places he will run over the next year!

Adding Perspective

I am adding a new component to the blog. I've asked each of my friends who have ran in the races this year to write a post about it from their point of view. My intention is for the posts to show what motivated each person to start or continue running, how they found it (is it their most favourite thing ever or something that they slug through) and what it's meant to them.

My hope is that these "Guest Posts" will add some perspective and maybe liven things up a bit. I am going to post them in chronological order as they correspond to the running events. You will be able to easily find these additional posts by going under the list of "labels". They will each be tagged as "guest post" as I receive and post them to the blog.

Let me know what you think of the new addition!

The Canadian Cancer Society - Saskatchewan Division July Newsletter

A couple weeks ago, I received a phone call from a nice lady at the Regina office of the Canadian Cancer Society. She was phoning to ask if I'd be willing to do an interview for an article in their monthly newsletter. I was nervous, but in the name of spreading the word about my project, I agreed.

When I started out in January, I was hesitant to set a goal for how much money I hoped to raise for the Canadian Cancer Society. When my brother gave me $100 donation for my birthday, I was thrilled! I could have never imagined that halfway through the year, we would have raised $4,703. Last month as I was setting my goals for the second half of the year, I increased my fundraising goal on my Fundraise for Life profile to $10,000. Now I just have to come up with a plan to make it happen! So, I figured if the newsletter article could help, why not?

I am thankful to the Canadian Cancer Society - Saskatchewan Division for their encouragement and as always, I am thankful for everyone's continued support!.

You can check out the article if you want.