April 25th
Regular workout plus bike for cardio
I have two little problems on my feet, so they are taking a rest from running for a bit. So now I'm thinking, "What next?" I need another good goal that will take a few months to work on. I do plan to continue running in the meantime, especially after we move to BC in two months. I have some ideas. It might not be "Run, walk, run" exactly, but it might be another project that requires months of planning and hard work.
Stay tuned. I will let you know as soon as I settle on a plan.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The stats are in
April 23rd
No running yet. I still have sore feet!
Final time -1:41:09 (remember, this includes my portapotty stop, so I think I was under 90 minutes, my goal)
Placing in the total run - 35629th
Placing out of women - 18640th
Placing out of 50-54 year old women- 1195th
Out of curiousity, I checked the results page for my future planning. In the 90-94 year old female category, the times were 1:48 for Estermay Peacock (scary fast!) and 2:11 for Eleanore Cross-Spry. When I grow up, I want to be Eleanore and Estermay.
No running yet. I still have sore feet!
Final time -1:41:09 (remember, this includes my portapotty stop, so I think I was under 90 minutes, my goal)
Placing in the total run - 35629th
Placing out of women - 18640th
Placing out of 50-54 year old women- 1195th
Out of curiousity, I checked the results page for my future planning. In the 90-94 year old female category, the times were 1:48 for Estermay Peacock (scary fast!) and 2:11 for Eleanore Cross-Spry. When I grow up, I want to be Eleanore and Estermay.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Ta-da!!!
It went very well. The weather was gorgeous!!! The weatherman can be forgiven for getting this one wrong. It was a bit nippy at the starting line. The crowds stretched 6 blocks down Georgia Street (but very orderly) and it took over an hour to get to the start, but it was so warm and sunny (around 10C) by the time I got to English Bay that I wrapped my jacket around my waist and ran with just my tshirt.
It was really a wonderful experience to run with almost 60,000 people of all ages, sizes, colours, and abilities and to start the day with a rousing "Oh Canada" sung by all. There were a lot of family groups and I passed several three generation groups and chatted with one four generational group of women from Squamish (about 70,50,30,10) whom I barely beat to the finish line. There were many bands, supporters, and other entertaining people along the way, and it went much faster than I thought.
My goal was to finish in less than 90 minutes. I know I was over that, but unfortunately, the timing chip on your running shoe can't be "timed out" while you stand in line for the portapotties! I was pleased with the pace I maintained, and especially happy that I finished the last 1 km running. My sister Barb and friends Louisa and AnneMarie broke the hour mark which is great considering AnneMarie had never run until this January.
Thanks to all of you for your support, especially my running friends, who gave me good advice. I don't know what I'm going to do next in my life, but can assure you that it will NOT be a marathon. However, I plan to do the SunRun next year for sure. Maybe one day I can aspire to the goal of our friend Mike, but instead of golfing my age, I will run my age. To do that, I will only have to get just a little bit faster, and a lot older. I know I can do the latter!
Friday, April 18, 2008
April in Harrison
This is NOT something you think of or plan for when you are running in April! It snowed hard for about an hour this morning and because the flakes are so big, it started to build up. Our car was parked outside and had a couple of inches on it very quickly.
I've added another layer to my planned outfit for Sunday, just in case. This will be my last post until after the race. Wish me luck!
Click on the picture to enhance the image and you will see what I'm talking about!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Real age
April 17th
Rest day, but I walked lots
I went to Vancouver today and walked many, many blocks downtown. It was exciting, and rather inspirational, to see the Sun Run banners hanging from all the light standards.
A friend sent me this website today. On it, you can quickly assess how your lifestyle is affecting your life expectancy. Not only can you calculate your life expectancy, but you can also play with the numbers to see how changing your lifestyle would add years to your life. For example, if you need to lose weight, see what would happen if you were at your ideal weight. It's quite motivating to see that change in raw numbers.
http://www.embedtube.com/uploads/33101407Realage.swf
Rest day, but I walked lots
I went to Vancouver today and walked many, many blocks downtown. It was exciting, and rather inspirational, to see the Sun Run banners hanging from all the light standards.
A friend sent me this website today. On it, you can quickly assess how your lifestyle is affecting your life expectancy. Not only can you calculate your life expectancy, but you can also play with the numbers to see how changing your lifestyle would add years to your life. For example, if you need to lose weight, see what would happen if you were at your ideal weight. It's quite motivating to see that change in raw numbers.
http://www.embedtube.com/uploads/33101407Realage.swf
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Second last run before the big one
April 16th
Run 4 minutes, Walk 1 minute (6 times) Run 1 minute, Walk 1 minute (5 times)
I was running with my canine running partner, Maggie, so the 1 minute runs were mixed in with the 4 minute runs. Maggie found lots of reasons to stop today, including a long swim. We also did two sprints. Actually, Maggie sprinted. I was dragged along because I had the leash wrapped around my wrist. However, I did come darn close to catching a robin!
The unseasonably cold weather of the last few days (snow in mid-April!) has me a bit worried about Sunday's weather. I don't mind being a bit cold. My body tends to run a little on the warm side most of the time anyway, and run/walking 10K is sure to exacerbate that. I don't even mind a few showers. However, my visualization for this challenge has not included nasty cold rain coming down in buckets. I visualized a warm spring day with cherry blossoms raining down upon me, not sleet and snow.
I checked the Weather Channel and Environment Canada. Hmmmm, meteorology has really not progressed beyond holding up a finger to the wind, has it?
Environment Canada- 1 degree low, 5 degree high, mixed rain and snow showers (!!!)
Weather Channel- 2 degrees low, 9 degrees high, sunny with 10% chance of rain
I think I will believe the Weather Channel. That is, until I can find a forecast with 15 and sunny.
Run 4 minutes, Walk 1 minute (6 times) Run 1 minute, Walk 1 minute (5 times)
I was running with my canine running partner, Maggie, so the 1 minute runs were mixed in with the 4 minute runs. Maggie found lots of reasons to stop today, including a long swim. We also did two sprints. Actually, Maggie sprinted. I was dragged along because I had the leash wrapped around my wrist. However, I did come darn close to catching a robin!
The unseasonably cold weather of the last few days (snow in mid-April!) has me a bit worried about Sunday's weather. I don't mind being a bit cold. My body tends to run a little on the warm side most of the time anyway, and run/walking 10K is sure to exacerbate that. I don't even mind a few showers. However, my visualization for this challenge has not included nasty cold rain coming down in buckets. I visualized a warm spring day with cherry blossoms raining down upon me, not sleet and snow.
I checked the Weather Channel and Environment Canada. Hmmmm, meteorology has really not progressed beyond holding up a finger to the wind, has it?
Environment Canada- 1 degree low, 5 degree high, mixed rain and snow showers (!!!)
Weather Channel- 2 degrees low, 9 degrees high, sunny with 10% chance of rain
I think I will believe the Weather Channel. That is, until I can find a forecast with 15 and sunny.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Through wind and rain....
April 14th
Did almost 4 km, about half running and half walking, with a bit of mountain climbing and a 20 metre sprint at the end
Today Tom had his first outdoors run in a long time. He's been recovering from an injured calf. So, he ran with me. To be honest, he ran in front of me much of the time and looped back around to join me, but I didn't do too badly.
When we started out, it was just spitting rain. By the time we got to the lagoon, it was pouring, with a cold wind off the water. We ran over to the mountain and onto the old trail to the hot springs source, which is under cedars and stays dry. We did a little detour straight up the mountain (walked that part!) to see the waterfalls, and then took the Bridges Trail for some more non-flat work. All is well but I do hope we don't get a similar rainy day for the run. I think I'd look a little silly running with an umbrella.
In other running news, take a look at this story. Talk about a mid-life challenge! Some people would be inspired by it. Not me. Just reading it tired me out.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080413/oddities/athletics_marathon_gbr_london_blind_offbeat
Or how about this one. If 50 is mid-life, then this gentleman is definitely at full-life.
http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Marathon39s-no-sweat-if-you.3977250.jp
Speaking of old people running, I checked the Sun Run site. They have awards in age categories up to 90+. If I keep running, look for me to be on the podium in 2050. I wonder if they'll disqualify me for having bionic hips, knees, and feet?
Did almost 4 km, about half running and half walking, with a bit of mountain climbing and a 20 metre sprint at the end
Today Tom had his first outdoors run in a long time. He's been recovering from an injured calf. So, he ran with me. To be honest, he ran in front of me much of the time and looped back around to join me, but I didn't do too badly.
When we started out, it was just spitting rain. By the time we got to the lagoon, it was pouring, with a cold wind off the water. We ran over to the mountain and onto the old trail to the hot springs source, which is under cedars and stays dry. We did a little detour straight up the mountain (walked that part!) to see the waterfalls, and then took the Bridges Trail for some more non-flat work. All is well but I do hope we don't get a similar rainy day for the run. I think I'd look a little silly running with an umbrella.
In other running news, take a look at this story. Talk about a mid-life challenge! Some people would be inspired by it. Not me. Just reading it tired me out.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080413/oddities/athletics_marathon_gbr_london_blind_offbeat
Or how about this one. If 50 is mid-life, then this gentleman is definitely at full-life.
http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Marathon39s-no-sweat-if-you.3977250.jp
Speaking of old people running, I checked the Sun Run site. They have awards in age categories up to 90+. If I keep running, look for me to be on the podium in 2050. I wonder if they'll disqualify me for having bionic hips, knees, and feet?
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