Run walk run

What next?

2008-04-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

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.

The stats are in

2008-04-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

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.

Ta-da!!!

2008-04-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

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!

April in Harrison

2008-04-18T14:11:00.000-07:00

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!

Real age

2008-04-17T17:05:00.000-07:00

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

Second last run before the big one

2008-04-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

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.

Through wind and rain....

2008-04-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

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?

Support system

2008-04-11T14:19:00.001-07:00

April 12th

Run 2 minutes, walk 1 minute, (10 times) Run 5 minutes, walk 1 minute (twice)

It was quite chilly out this morning, especially over by the lake. People were in parkas and I was in my cropped running tights and a light jacket. I didn't feel like running much and had a massage scheduled for 10 a.m., so just did a quick tour of the lagoon a couple of times.

The word on my new Dr Scholls insoles is that they are great. They gave as much support, in the right spots, as my $300 orthotics. I could really feel the difference when I ran on pavement.

In other support news, I also wore my new running bra. I got this at Diane's Lingerie in Vancouver, which is just about the best bra store anywhere. http://www.dianeslingerie.com/ I've gone there for a few years, and they are expert fitters. (I'm sure you've seen the Oprah show on how most women are wearing the wrong bra size) Anyway, they checked out my computer profile and had me in a very good sports bra in minutes. As always, they picked just the right style and size for me. I wore it today and they were right. That model had very little movement. There was a true difference in the strain on my shoulders.

So, tomorrow was supposed to be my day off, but I want to get my schedule in synch for the run next Sunday. I did a light run today, plan to do a light run again tomorrow, do the Sun Run scheduled training on Monday and Wednesday, and then just a very light run and stretching next Friday morning. That gives me some good rest time for Sunday.

Agony of De-Feet

2008-04-10T16:44:00.000-07:00

April 10th

Rest day

My runners are in good shape, but I was thinking of buying those gel toe pad protectors that go under the ball of your big toe. That's just where my right big toe was injured, and I thought it might help.

Let me preface my thoughts by saying that I already have a good pair of orthotics. Have you ever noticed that going to have your feet checked is like taking your kids to see if they need braces? Very few parents are ever told, "No, your child does not need braces. A little gap is okay, and kind of cute." And very few foot doctors ever say, "I could make you a pair of $300 orthotics custom-fit to your foot and gait, but really, they will look and wear just like $17 Dr Scholls, so save your money."

I left my orthotics in my workout shoes in Ontario. My running shoes here (I only wear New Balance because I have bad feet and they fit) are fairly new and in good shape, but didn't feel as cushy as they used to. I went to the footcare section at the drugstore to find the big toe pad, and found a wonderful pair of Dr Scholl inserts that look a lot like my orthotics, but with rippled gel pads in the places that take the biggest beating. They also claim to take the pressure off one's joints.
http://www.drscholls.com/product.aspx?prodid=82 Oh, and they come with a warning. You cannot wear them on airplanes because the gel is not allowed. Your inserts will be confiscated and then you will have no inserts in your shoes at all. So, remember that when you are packing.

Here's the interesting part. I got them home and the instructions say to take out your old insoles. And guess what? Mine were flat as can be. They had no oomph left in them at all. I put in the Dr Scholl's and slid my shoes on. They feel marvelous. I can't wait to run in them tomorrow. Really!

Down to the last 10 days!

2008-04-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

April 9th

Run 4 minutes, Walk 1 minute (6 times)

Today was one of the welcome midweek easy days in the schedule. It's quite blustery here today, but I quickly worked up a good sweat. The training schedule says to do a 5 minute warm up walk and 5 minute cool down, but I did 25 minutes at the end at a good clip.

I hit a milestone today. I did the whole thing without stopping to go to the bathroom. That entailed no latte for breakfast. Indeed, it entailed no liquids at all, but making it for more than an hour of bladder jiggling was good for my confidence. The big question is whether I can avoid the Portapotties for the actual run.

At the end of the run I faced a new challenge. I discovered that Tom went to work out without realizing that I had no keys. Fortunately, I had left the balcony door unlocked. Climbing our railing with a full bladder to get to the balcony was not easy.

Slow and Steady

2008-04-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

April 7th

6 km, 90 minutes. Kind of slow?

I actually did much better than my distance/time ratio sounds. I ran about 2/3 of the way. However, I was running with my sister's dog and we did a long slow walk in the middle of our run so we could explore the forest. Maggie ran around and I went pee.

It was a great day in many ways. The trilliums were out in spots, there were a million birds singing, and I felt really good running.

A discouraging climb

2008-04-06T09:31:00.001-07:00

We have a friend visiting and decided to go hike the short Othello Tunnels trail and then the even shorter trail up Bridal Falls. We go to Othello Tunnels a lot and have even done the 10K long loop up and down on the old Kettle Valley Railway line. http://vancouverhiking.tripod.com/id20.html Yesterday was interesting. A rock slide has closed the park, but everyone was climbing over the slide and doing the hike anyway.

Then we went to Bridal Falls. http://www.waterfallswest.com/waterfall.php?id=105 Note on the website that it describes the trail as "Easy." The trail is wide and well-marked, if that defines easy, but it is a sharp change in elevation. In previous years, I have always stopped several times to catch my breath. I thought this time would be different. My legs are strong from working out, and my cardio fitness is much higher. I even considered running.

I walked it. And even then, I could feel the strain on my lungs. I was quite disappointed. I thought I'd sail right along. My sister pointed out that it is a different workout from what I've been doing on mostly level trails, but I'm still disappointed. I might go back a couple of times in the next week to try it again and see if I was just having an off day.

I can run most anywhere!

2008-04-03T16:20:00.000-07:00

April 3rd

Run 4 minutes, walk 1 minute (9 times) walk 20 minutes, Run 8 minutes (1 time)

What a beautiful day for a run today. The air was fresh and soft, it was somewhat sunny, and my canine running companion Maggie was up to a challenge. At first I thought we would run up Rockwell Drive to try some hills, but there were a lot of logging trucks coming down the road, and it is narrow in spots. Instead, we ran the beautiful (and short) Bridges Trail twice, even the stairs part. http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?topic_id=25566 These pictures look like they were taken in the fall. It is much greener now. Then I did the lagoon and road to the hot springs source.

When I work out, I usually think of simple tunes to get me through the rough spots. For example, I sing "House of the Rising Sun" to myself or "I'm a little teapot" if I'm feeling particularly silly. Today I was thinking of how sorry I am to miss the Sanfilippo Gala. Tom and I attend most years and this year, the theme is "It's an evening of all things Seuss." http://www.alifeforelisa.org/Gala If you've read my previous posts, you know that I've asked friends to pledge money to SCRF in support of my run.

So, as I was running today, I composed a Seuss-themed chant.

I can run here and there, I can run most anywhere.
Could you, would you go up a hill?
Not too fast, but yes I will!
Can you now outrun a car?
Alas, not yet, but the day's not far.
When you run, do you chase the dog?
I've chased the dog, right through the bog.
Can you run faster than a sloth?
A sloth, a snail, perhaps a moth.
And will you run for the Vancouver Sun?
I will, I will, and I'll have fun!

...but not as much fun as the people at the gala!

Viv

Answers to the two questions I know you are dying to ask

2008-03-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

March 31st

A day off from running... it's my rest day

I know that inquiring minds are dying to know. So here are your answers.

1. No, I haven't lost an ounce, although it is my long term goal to lose so much body fat that my period goes away even without the miracle of menopause. Or maybe I'll just count on menopause.
2. Yes, my knees and hips are still fine. I do, however, need a new bra. My old one is taking a lot of strain

So, now that I am in BC and don't have my training appointment to get me out of bed in the morning, what am I doing other than running? At the suggestion of Patricia, my shiatsu massage practitioner, I am going to balance my yin with my yang. To keep your body balanced and in harmony, you need to have both hard workouts and times of quiet contemplation and stretching. I can't remember which is yin and which is yang, but apparently I am deficient in the quiet contemplation one. (I know, I can hardly believe it myself. I, Viv, need to balance the effects of too much hard exercise in my life! )

Tomorrow I will go to yoga with my sister Barb. Barb might be in better shape than I am, but I am much more bendy. I will report back on Wednesday.

And I think I will try running up a slope tomorrow, just to see how it feels. I think running down will be easier, but that's just a guess on my part, derived from my barely passing mark in Physics 110 at UBC.

Sunny days!

2008-03-30T21:41:00.001-07:00

March 30th

Run for 40 minutes with 3 short walking breaks, one longer one

I forgot my watch today, so just tried to go as long as I could. It was sunny and fairly warm, and although I was slow, I kept at it.

I was planning to do some work on hills, but got over to our cabin too late for that. People who have not been here imagine that in Harrison, nestled between layers of mountains, we must have hilly roads galore. Nope. It's flat as the bottom of the ocean. Because it used to be the bottom of the ocean thousands of years ago. There aren't really even foothills. You just drive up to the mountain on a flat road. So the roads in Harrison are flat. Rockwell Drive, which goes up beside the lake, has good hills, but it's busy on a Sunday with people heading up to the parks. Perhaps I'll do it tomorrow.

Barb and I tracked how far she ran today by driving it. She and AnneMarie are now getting close to 10K on their runs. They have walking portions, but are doing two long running sections with only a short walk in between.

The wall... and then a gift!

2008-03-28T11:07:00.001-07:00

March 28th

Run 5 minutes, walk 1 minute (4 times), 10 minute walk, run 3 minutes, Walk 1 minute (2 times)

So much for the famed warm spring days of Lotusland. We have had mixed rain, snow, sleet, hail, and slush falling from the sky. And sun five minutes later! Anyway, I missed yesterday's run because I had a job interview and then Tom and I went for lunch and a short (but strenuous!) hike.

Today I started out very sluggishly. Nothing felt right. Although I've managed much better endurance over long periods in my last few sessions, I seem to be stuck at not being able to put together longer running stretches. For the first time, I felt ready to give up. Maybe it IS unrealistic to expect my rather rotund body to respond.

Then I remembered all the stuff I've learned working out, both from weights and from interval training on the bike. No sense paying a trainer for 18 months if you don't learn something from it! I dropped my shoulders from where they were riding up around my ears, pushed my shoulders back a bit to open my chest, was more conscious of my breathing, relaxed my hips to make my stride a bit easier, and used my arms to pump a bit. And it worked!!!! I stretched out my running to two minutes, then three, then five. It felt just fine. I had my sister's dog Maggie with me, and I'm sure she really appreciated the opportunity for a bit of a workout. I know I appreciated it when she had to stop for a sniff or a pee!

I managed to do that four times, then walked for a bit, then did two three minute running sessions. At the end of the second one, I could feel my calf and Achilles grab a bit, so walked it out and did a good stretch at home.

Today was a great affirmation to me that this is working. And I did it all before the snow hit.

Tomorrow.... I tackle hills

The biggest problem for 50 year old female runners

2008-03-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

March 24th

Run 2 minutes, walk 1 minute (21 times)

Guess what aging body part most concerns me about the run? Not hips or knees or the need for a really really good sports bra. It's "the bladder."

I have friends who are worried about sneezing or coughing or even laughing at the best of times. Fortunately I don't suffer from that problem. However, how can I made it 90 minutes without a pee break?

My sister suggested I limit fluids before the run, rehydrate during the run, and hope I can run fast enough that the fluids won't have made it through my system before I finish. However, the chances of using a Portapotty at some point are still pretty high. All that jiggling and jarring of my bladder will dictate that I will need a bathroom before I get back to my hotel room.

So here's my plan. I will go pee at the first Portapotty I see around the 30 minute mark. That will be enough to relieve pressure on my bladder, and I figure the Portapotties at that point will not be too nasty.

I will not resort to the method used by championship marathoners and simply go as I run. I did that when I was 7 and I don't want to ever feel that "squishy in my shoes" feeling again.

The great outdoors

2008-03-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

March 21st

Run 2 minutes, walk 1 minute (18 times), one hour walk with lots of incline

I borrowed Barb's watch, and, buoyed by my success at trying a longer run with shorter intervals, set it for 2 on/1 off. Sometimes I reversed that if I was tired, but I made it. Then we went for a long walk halfway around Hick's Lake and back. That was almost two hours of walking and running. And it's 30 days until the actual race. More and more, this is looking like something I can do!

Off the treadmill!!!

2008-03-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

March 19th

Run one minute, walk one minute (12 times), walk 30 minutes, Run one minute, walk one minute (8 times)

The regimen above isn't on my training list. I just thought I'd try it out. And it felt great! I did the first part with my sister's dog, Maggie, pulling me along, so it was easy. Then we got Tom and walked and ran some more. If you add it up, it comes to about 70 minutes. If I do this on the day of the walk, I'll finish well within my top target of 85 minutes. YAHOO!

Pulling the extra weight

2008-03-23T11:37:00.000-07:00

March 18th

Travel day - no workout

Due to a series of storms, we are delayed leaving Ontario, miss our connecting flight, and have to stay overnight in Calgary. WestJet very nicely pays for our night (six hours really) at the Airport Delta. However, it's a long walk from the WestJet end of the terminal to the hotel. And, we are dragging two heavy suitcases and a carry-on bag each. We don't usually travel with so much stuff, but because we are in the process of moving from Ontario to BC, thought we'd fill our bags with stuff like towels and winter clothes and put them in the condo at Harrison.

The two bags I'm pulling weigh 90 pounds together. That's a lot to pull around. It is also almost exactly the amount of weight I need to lose. And the suitcase weight is on wheels! No wonder my feet hurt.

Another cold!

2008-03-23T11:24:00.000-07:00

March 13th

No running, 20 minutes of walking at 3.3 mph

I feel like crap. This is either my 4th or 5th cold of the fall/winter season. When I go to my doctor on another matter, she reminds me about hand washing. Little does she know, I am a hand washer of Howie Mandel frequency. Just bad luck, I think. I do some walking and then my regular workout. I feel drained. But, I have something to look forward to! Next week I will be in BC and can run outside. I am looking forward to the fresh air.

Some thoughts on injuries and physiology

2008-03-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

March 11th

Run 6 minutes, walk 1 minute (6 times)

When I sent out my email asking for pledges, I also got some emails back with concerns that I couldn't (and maybe shouldn't?) physically do this. Could my knees, back, and hips take the pounding? Maybe I'm over-sensitive, but I read this as, "Aren't you too fat to run?"

Hmmm, maybe. However, I weight a lot less than the competitors on "The Biggest Loser" (okay, most of the competitors on TBL) and they don't have 18 months of training behind them. I've been doing squats and weight training and all sorts of core exercises that support my back. In fact, I get almost no knee pain at all when I'm running, and two years ago it killed me to go up stairs. I think the muscles that support my joints are as fit as they can be, given my weight. And look how fast the people on "The Biggest Loser" run! Even the men in the 300 lb range run.

Look at it this way. If you weight, oh, let's say 193.5 lbs., and you have bad knees, they are going to give out one day whether you run on them or sit around the house resting them. If you rest them, chances are your weight is going to go even higher. And what will that do? That's right, wear out your knees even faster. Ditto for your hips and back. A big gut is one of the worst things you can do for your back. Working out hasn't made mine go away, but I think doing sit ups and Supermans and running are far better for my back than gaining more weight would be.

Walk/Run option

2008-03-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

March 8th

Run 4 minutes, walk 1 minute (6 times)

The training for the Sun Run asks you to do an evaluation at the Week 7 mark. If you don't think you will be able to run the whole time, or find that you can't keep up with the changes on the schedule, you can do the Walk/Run option. I decide to switch to that. I'd rather feel that I am successfully doing the Walk/Run option than feel like a failure on the running option. Although the training guide says not to worry about speed, I start to experiment with running a bit faster and send the treadmill up to 4.3 mph. I can do it! I'm a bit more tired at the end but I don't feel like I am going to fly off the back of the treadmill.

I am still doing my 60 workout after my treadmill session and doing the two together drains me. However, I calculate that the Sun Run will take me 75-85 minutes. (I'm counting on some adrenalin to push me a bit faster on the running segments) I need to be able to keep going for 90 minutes to finish.

Shane, my trainer, asks if I think it's my legs or my lungs that are holding me back. It's neither. It's my feet. My Hawaii injury still hurts and the rest of my feet really take a pounding, too. I remember doing the Miles for Millions walking marathon as a kid and feeling like I could go forever if my feet didn't hurt so much. That was back in the late 60s, though, and I was wearing cheap $1.99 runners. Now I've got $125 runners supplemented by $300 orthotics. My feet still hurt and they hurt in the same place they did 40 years ago.

However, I will be strong! I will not let the "Agony of De-Feet" turn into the "Agony of Defeat."

The bacon level of commitment

2008-03-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

February 24th

Run 3 minutes, walk 1 minute (8 times and I do it!)

I am back on track, but only finishing Week 5. My sister Barb is telling me about long runs through the woods near her house or better yet, runs to Limbert Farms near her friend's home in Agassiz. They run there and have lunch. http://www.limbertmountainfarm.com/
That sounds so much more fun than running on a treadmill, watching Regis and Kelly or X-Weighted, storms adding to the already huge piles of snow out the window. My commitment is waning.

So I take a bold step. I do up an email, explaining what I am doing. I call it "Viv's Mid-Life Challenge" in honour of my 50th birthday. In it, I ask for donations to a cause that Tom and I truly believe in, the Sanfilippo Children's Research Foundation. Because of the run, we will be missing this year's Sanfilippo Gala. http://www.alifeforelisa.org/ In the letter, I promise that I might not run the whole way, but I promise to finish, dragged across by my sisters if necessary. Over the years I've admired the commitment many of my friends have made by participating in events such as "The Weekend to End Breast Cancer" or the Manulife "Ride for Life" and all manner of other walkathons and running events. I've always thought that I was too out of shape to do something like that. Now it's my turn.

Before hitting the send button, I check with Elisabeth Linton at SCRF and she is thrilled and promises to send me an Elisa t-shirt to run in. I hit the send button. To my shock, the pledges are immediate, and quite high. Within a couple of days, I am over $2000 pledged and I haven't yet hit up my husband Tom or my mom. By the end of the week, I am over $3000. (If you are reading this and have pledged, don't forget to go to the SCRF website and pay up!)

This is it. There are lots of times in my life I have quit on a commitment to myself, but I never let down other people. I will do this. If not for me, then for Elisa.

Back on the treadmill

2008-03-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

February 19th

Run 3 minutes, walk 1 minute (9 times was the plan. I did 5)

I'm back on program on Week 5. Yes, my foot still hurts, but it actually hurts less to run than to walk on the treadmill. I live in Ontario and there is no question of running outdoors. We have had snow on the ground since the beginning of November and the sidewalks are full of black ice. I've always had a little cramp on the outside of my right foot when I walk faster than 3.7 or try to run. Patricia, my shiatsu therapist, says that there is a little notch in the bone and the ligament (or maybe she said tendon or muscle) is coming out of it and rubbing. I stop at the 10 minute mark, take off my shoe, and push it back in. Whether Patricia's diagnosis is right or not, this seems to work.

Okay, now I'm committed at the wool and egg level

2008-03-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

February 15th

Still not running due to toe injury

Our minister used to tell a joke about levels of commitment. A hen and a sheep were talking about their deep commitment to the farm and how they produced copious amounts of eggs and wool for the farmer. The conversation was overheard by the pig and he questioned their level of commitment. "How dare you question us?" the hen and sheep said, "While we are working you just lie around and eat corn all day. What do you produce for the farm?"

"Bacon."

So, it's time for the rubber to hit the road, so to speak. My foot is still really sore, but I've been able to do my regular workouts, with specific exercises added in to help my running when I'm able to run again. The question is, with only two months to go until the Sun Run, will I be able to actually do this? I go online and fill out the registration form and pay the fee. I'm committed. Then my sister Barb phones to ask if I want to book a pre-race room at the Hyatt in downtown Vancouver. Apparently it's a real mess to get into Vancouver that morning, and if we have a room, we can just pop downstairs and go. Okay, I'm in for the room, too. I'm going to do this.

I'm not fat, I'm well hydrated

2008-03-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

February 7

Still not running due to toe injury

We are still on board ship, headed to Los Angeles. Barb and Nancy wanted to weigh themselves, so ducked into the gym. We were caught by the ship's personal trainer. He wanted to talk to us about the fact that we might be carrying around excess water. To demonstrate, he pinched Barb's upper arms and told her the inch or so of pinch wasn't fat, it was water. Now, on the three of us there are a number of places where you might demonstrate excess fat OR water, but Barb's upper arm was an interesting demonstration point. Feeling a little guilty because we'd be hanging out in the ship's spa every day on our $94 weekly pass but had never had spa treatments, we signed up for a consultation. He gave us a deal so it was only $25 each.

He hooked us up to a variation of a BMI measuring instrument and a strip of paper printed out. It told us that I was carrying around 20.4 (love that .4!) extra litres of water, Nancy 19.2, and even Barb had enough excess water to fill a baby bath. And all that water was making us acidic and toxic and in that state, no matter how far we ran or how fast we ran or how many weights we could lift, we would not succeed. Nancy, a nurse, questioned all this in quite a professional manner, but the trainer would not be moved. The only way we would ever get in shape or lose weight was to buy $200 a month of nutritional detox supplements.

Okay, we were smart to do this together. All three of us are usually suckers for this type of presentation. Together we were strong and politely declined. And so, when you look at me, do not see me as a fat person, just a very well-hydrated one.

2008-03-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

February 6th

No running, but a major milestone

Today is my 50th birthday. Hey, I wonder if I've moved up a category in the Masters Class? Maybe I could actually become a competitive runner if I stayed with it long enough. How many people could there be in the 90+ category?

Disaster strikes

2008-03-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

February 5th

Run three minutes, walk two minutes (6 times)

We moaned and groaned our way through the first workout of "Easy Recovery Week." It wasn't easy, believe me. Then we got showered and dressed and left the ship for a day of sightseeing around Waikiki.

I really wanted to see the Iolani Palace. I've been to Hawaii six times and never went that far downtown. I was wearing my very cute (cute for me. I have bad feet) new Nike low tops. They have pink plaid trim on them and are perfect walking shoes. Good thing I was wearing those and not sandals. I hit a crack in the sidewalk in front of the palace and went flying. What a bloody mess! Barb had towelettes in her purse from our dinner at the Polynesian Cultural Centre and she and Nancy mopped me up. However, it was so painful to walk that I took my shoe off. The joint on my big toe was a real mess, already swollen and purple. I don't know if it was sprained or dislocated, but the toe was much shorter than it should be. Nancy pushed it down and straightened it out and I put my shoe back on while I still could. I walked around on it all day but it was very sore.

I fear that my running career is over.

Running on a cruiseship

2008-03-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

February 4th

Run three minutes, walk two minutes (6 times)

I am now behind Nancy and Barb in my training and still sniffling but must catch up. They are at the end of week 3. I run with them anyway and I must say that Barb is a good trainer. She has a Nike watch where she can set the interval times and Nancy and I are so far behind her (she's not only faster, but has very long legs) that we just watch for when she switches from walking to running and just do what she does. Okay, I'll admit that sometimes when she turns a corner and can't see us we cut the running part short and walk for a bit. (You'd think she was the older sister and we were the rebellious younger ones!)

We are on the cruise ship Pride of Hawaii. We embarked on January 28th and although it's a busy itinerary, with stops every day, we have fit in our fitness pursuits. It has a good running track and five laps equal one mile. The only problem is that Cagney's Steak House, one of the specialty restaurants, has windows that look onto the track. Although we run in the morning, the people who paid a fortune for the villas on top of the ship are having their private sit-down breakfasts then and can watch us run. I'm sure our sweaty panting bodies hurling past them every few minutes is NOT the most appetizing view!

We are definitely looking forward to next week, Week 4, which is called the "Easy Recovery Week."

Paradise lost and found

2008-03-20T13:14:00.001-07:00

January 26th

No minutes, just lots of sniffles

On the plane from Seattle to Honolulu, my throat started to feel dry and scratchy. I feared that it might be my fourth cold of the winter. Usually I get one cold or none, but this has been a bad year. With our little Hawaiian Airlines lunches we were given a trial pack of Hall's Pro-D. What a great marketing idea! Most people on planes are quite paranoid about getting sick. Too late for me, I guess.

When we got near our hotel, we stopped at Long's Drugs and bought more of the Hall's Pro-D. Oh, and some amaretto and orange juice so we could sip "Wifesavers" on the verandah. When we got to Schrader's, I gave everyone some of the Pro-D lozenges and I dosed myself heavily with ColdFX. Between jetlag and the cold, I was miserable and we cut short our visit to the Polynesian Cultural Centre that evening, since I was driving.

Nancy and Barb went running twice while we were at Schraders! Good for them. I sat on the deck and blew my nose.

Running attire

2008-03-20T12:49:00.000-07:00

January 15th

Run two minutes, walk two minutes (6 times)

In just ten days, I am going to Hawaii with Nancy, Barb, and our mom. Problem is that I don't have any workout gear. Usually I work out in yoga pants (doesn't that sound nicer than sweats?) and a tshirt, but that will be too warm for Hawaii.

How do you get a pair of light nylon running shorts in size 20 in the middle of winter in Canada? I check out a couple of sporting goods stores and they have nothing. Ditto for the cruisewear sections of clothing stores. Most of their shorts are designed to tastefully drape and cover up, not get sweaty in. Then I find something online at Addition Elle - Roots boardshorts. I get them in size 18, 20 and 22 so Nancy can wear the 18s, I can wear the 20s, and the 22s will be available if I gain weight on the trip. They arrive in three days and look perfect! Almost sporty, really.

Seven minutes of running

2008-03-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

January 1oth

Run one minute, walk two minutes - 7 times

My trainer, Shane, is back, he's seen the workout plan, and he says there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to do the run. In my cardio warmup, which I do before he gets there, I follow the plan for the last workout of week one. No problems. During my workout, we add some new exercises that should complement the running, including a horrible middle section of interval training on the bike.

I discover that although the training schedule says to not worry about speed, it's actually easier to run at 4.0 mph than at 3.7. It's easier to work into a rhythm that doesn't jar me.

Okay, not bad. I've finished Week One of the schedule. I check in with Barb. She did one workout outside and the rest at the gym. Nancy, just off medical leave at work for a fractured pelvis and broken bones in her feet, is walking fast with her dogs.

Fit, fat and someplace in between

2008-03-20T12:25:00.000-07:00

January 7th

My trainer is still in Florida, so I continue my exercising around the house. Pretty boring, but I don't feel like going to the indoor walking/running track. While I train, I think about the question, "Fit or fat?" Can't it be "Fit AND fat?" So many people, including me at times, get so hung up on their weight that they miss out on activities that would make them feel better, mentally and physically. They turn down chances to do something fun, worried about past failures. I asked some friends and my sister Nancy about fears that stop them from working out. Here are a few:

fear of getting their butt stuck in the kayak, flipping over, and drowning
fear of going bungee jumping because the headlines in the paper would be sure to mention the excess weight that caused the bungee cord to snap
fear of sweat. Not just a little dampness, but red face and dripping clothes
fear of looking bad in workout gear. Think bicycle shorts and muffin tops or Lycra workout tights and visible rolls
fear of dying

There were more, but you can see the trend. If you've never had to ask the question "Do I look fat in these pants?" because you know that you look fat in ALL pants, fear of looking fat in public makes it hard to get going on a workout plan.

When I started working out 18 months ago, I purposely chose a small private gym where I quickly got to know and feel comfortable with the 3-4 people I encounter while working out. Everyone is encouraging and positive. Not to say that people in other gyms wouldn't be, but I don't want to take a chance on that.

I'm still fat, but I could probably bench press some of the skinny women I know.

Consult your doctor

2008-03-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

January 3

The January issues of magazines are always full of articles on how to keep your New Year's Resolutions. I've noticed that they carry the warning to consult a physician before beginning any exercise program. Why? I heard a trainer once say on TV that maybe there should be a warning that anyone NOT starting an exercise program should consult their physician. What's worse, dying on the sofa or dying in the gym?

I work out in a well-equipped gym with a certified fitness trainer and have been doing so for 18 months. When I started, I couldn't do two squats. I did The Plank for only 10 seconds, and that was on my knees. I walked on the treadmill, holding onto the bar, and could manage 10 minutes at 3.3 mph and no incline. So, if my trainer says he thinks I can do this and thinks I can safely do the training plan, then I will. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/sunrun/pdf/LearnToRun10K%20Program.pdf
He's on holidays in Florida, so I start on my own. Run one minute, walk two. Do that eight times. There's two feet of snow on the ground, so I start at home. I have a pretty big house, but even then I get dizzy running in circles around the main floor. I decide to add stairs in and only do it five times.

Not a resolution, just a plan

2008-03-20T11:52:00.001-07:00

It's early January. I'm still thinking about what a wonderful combination orange juice and amaretto can be, sipped while watching back- to- back episodes of Intervention on New Year's Eve. Oh, and how those fig and goat cheese appetizers were a great combination with champagne. And Cindy's clever combination of Stilton, pecan, and endive. And... the phone rang. It was my younger sister Barb. Apparently while I was getting moderately loaded the night before, she and a friend of hers made a plan. They were going to run the Vancouver Sun Run on April 20th. Their younger selves had done it before and they knew they could do it again. It's one of the biggest 10K runs in North America. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/sunrun/index.html

"Hmmm, good for you!" I enthused and then I coughed from the effort of trying to simultaneously fend off her next comment and sip my grande mocha (no whip) at the same time.

"So, hey, you and Nancy should do it, too!" I knew that was coming. Barb is tall, almost willowy, really, with a flat stomach and the sort of boobs that don't need a sports bra for any activity more strenuous than getting out of the car at Tim Horton's. Nancy and I, on the other hand, are more dumpling shaped - about 5'5" and well, curvy. Okay, we're curvy because we're fat. Quite fat. Probably the stats would categorize us as obese, even. Despite that, we are actually quite fit and do love the outdoors.

To my surprise, I didn't reject the idea out of hand. "That's a lot of training. I might not... " She cut in before I said no, and gave me enough info to look up the training site online. It did look do-able. Run a minute, walk a minute, run a minute, walk a minute.

And then she threw in the kicker. "I'm going to quit smoking." Well, gee, if Barb could quit smoking, I guess I could run 10K.

"Okay, I'm in. I'll do it, too."