Week 26 - 10 hours to go!

Tomorrow is the bid day!!! A couple easy runs this week (albeit I ran my fastest 5 km ever at 31 minutes!) and a yoga class on Friday and I'm ready to go...or as ready as I can be given 26 weeks of training. It has been raining all day and I wonder how the clouds can possibly hold any more liquid... so am hoping that it may stop by the morning.

Our friend Chris is going to run with me tomorrow, rain or shine, for the 42 km. Here we are in our fancy new running shirts and numbers.

While many spectators will have gone home after the first couple of hours, we are expecting the mobile cheering section to come out and find us somewhere along the way and greet us at the finish line!

Week 25 - One week to go!!!

This Sunday morning was cool and rainy as I headed out with Ollie for a 10 km run. Seems hard to believe 25 weeks of jogging have gone by and now I'm just a week away from participating in the Saskatchewan Marathon.

The rain started up again shortly after we had ventured out but we kept on going anyway - must be what it is like jogging in Vancouver! I was pleased with myself as I ran my fastest 10 km to date at 1 hour and 5 minutes. Slow of course by some standards but pretty good for me as I'm usually around the 1 hour 15 minute mark. There is no way I can keep that sort of pace for the actual marathon but it was good to know I could do at least that and I hope to eventually progress to a 10 km under 1 hour.

Needless to say, by the time we got back, we were both pretty drenched. "Wet rats return" (as Tim called us).

Week 24 - Running in Ottawa

This past week I flew to Ottawa for a conference and had to leave at 5:30 am on Keira's 4th birthday.

We had a little party for her the day before and enjoyed a pooh bear cake with ice cream from the farmer's market.

While in Ottawa, I ran 8 km on Tuesday with Annie.

I took the "clown bike" (a great cruiser bike that I also used last year when I came to visit) to and from Natalie and Dean's house to the conference downtown, and one afternoon took a little tour along the bike paths over to the Quebec side around by the Museum of Civilization.

The weather was great and tulips were everywhere!

On Friday, Nat (who will be running a half marathon on May 30th in Ottawa) and I ran 6 km together and then on Sunday we ran for 12+ km along the Ottawa River.

In the afternoon we all headed over to Gatineau Park and hiked around Pink Lake, before I had to head to the airport.

Week 23

Not much to report from this week...and I'm certainly late with this posting! I ran during the week and also did the scheduled 16 km on Sunday with Ollie in the morning before taking the kids to swim class. Not much else to report!

Week 22

My new shoes were well tested on the weekend with my longest run to date at 32 km! Ollie journeyed with me for the first 17 km or so and then I brought him home and went out for the second loop of the river.


The mobile cheering section came and found me for the last few kms and followed me home. Four hours and 15 minutes for the run without too many aches and pains - so I am feeling pretty hopeful that I have a chance of finishing the marathon in the allotted 6 hours!

Week 21

I slacked off for much of the week but did jog 16 km with Ollie on Sunday. Last weekend I was out in shorts and a t-shirt and wearing sunscreen to avoid a sunburn and this weekend it was snowing and I was back to a toque and mittens!


After a quick shower and lunch, I got the legs moving again and took the kids on the 'bike train' to the YMCA for their swim class (which unfortunately was cancelled due to poop in the pool).

Week 20

I think there is something to be said for the 'rest day' before a long run. I skipped the runs on Thursday and Friday this past week but did a long walk on Saturday (probably over 10 km)- it was nice to see the pelicans back on the river - spring must really be here! I ran with Ollie for 16 km today, brought him back home and then went out for another 13 km. He probably would have faired much better than me, but since it was so warm and I wasn't about to carry water for him as well, I thought it best to bring him home. It took 4 hours, 7 minutes, including all the bathroom breaks! At my current rate, I'm definitely going to be pushing the 6 hour limit for the actual marathon. I'm just so dang tired...I hope I can make it into work tomorrow!

Week 19

This Sunday I went out for a 16 km run after having missed it the weekend before. While slow as always, I did it within 2 hours and without too many aches and pains afterwards, which is all I could hope for! Of course, it didn't even seem to phase Ollie - what a dog! Next weekend I am planning to do ~29 km in the early morning before taking the kids to swim class - should be interesting!

Week 18

Unfortunately I have nothing to report from last week...it wasn't supposed to be a 'rest week' but that's how it turned out. My left foot was causing me grief and I also came down with a cold so running just wasn't an option. Hopefully I'll get back on track soon!

Just a reminder that during the month of April, Hot Yoga on 20th will be donating the Wednesday Karma Class proceeds to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and each person attending the class will have their name entered in the CF raffle!

Week 17 - A Surprise Visit from the Mobile Support Crew and Cheering Section

Sunday was a long run (25 km) and about the 20 km mark the 'mobile support crew and cheering section' aka my family rode out on the bike train to see how I was doing and cheer me on.


Finnegan was interested to know why I was listening to bird calls on the headphones as I jogged along with Ollie. I'm trying to learn various songs in an effort to volunteer for the Bird Studies of Canada Prairie and Parkland Marsh Monitoring Program this spring. I think we will easily have two aspiring birders besides mom pretty soon!


They stuck with me the rest of the way home along the Meewasin Trail. It was good fun to have them following along with me!


I was, however, very glad to be home.

Week 16

This week was a 'rest week' and I was glad to have it! There is obviously something to be said for giving your body some time to recover. This recovery week involved, swim on Monday, 3 km run on Wednesday, swim on Thursday, 8 km run on Friday and 10 km run on Sunday. In November I never would have consider that a 'restful' week! Of course when I say "run" I really mean "jog" or more appropriately "plod"...slow as molasses is still how I like to describe my movements. But it's certainly way more than could do just a few months back and it seems I have developed enough of a habit, and even enough of a like for it, to hopefully keep up with the running when the marathon is over. I know the only reason I have managed to keep up with the 'schedule' so far is because I am doing this as a fundraiser for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and by having this goal, it has really helped to keep me motivated.

Week 15 - Half Way There!

This morning I walk/jogged for 21.1 km! After the first 4 km returned home for a change of clothes (I was way too over-dressed...it is almost spring after all!) and change of backpack for carrying water. I stopped the timer for the minutes spent indoors and started it up again once we were out again. Ollie has been passed out for much of the afternoon and I wonder if he's feeling as sore as I am and how we will feel tomorrow? It's funny now how I can look at the schedule and seeing that next weekend is a 10 km run, think "What a relief. That will be an easy run."...when just a couple months back the idea of even 10 km was daunting. The full marathon is still pretty daunting to me (especially with my foot giving me grief today after a half marathon) but I'm still feeling positive about finishing it. As I was lying on the bed this morning before the run, not feeling too motivated to get going, Finnegan said to me, "You better get out there and practice if you want to win the marathon!". Indeed, I've got quite a lot of practice still ahead of me!


Tired doggy.

Week 14

I've been out for a 16 km walk/jog today and feel good about it. There were a number of times that my leg was irritated but the walking really helped out - by having a rest every 5 minutes or so I was able to go the distance. At my slow-as-molasses-pace, I am hopeful that this marathon will be achievable! I had a great partner to jog with, giving encouragement and spicing the run up with humour and enthusiasm - our friend Chris from Edmonton - was here for Tim's gaming weekend so it worked out well for jogging on Sunday.


Chris, Ollie and I ready for the run!


And heading off down the street.....

I took part on Friday night with my HOTT chick army and on Saturday night where we had a basement room full of 11 people playing!

Thanks so much to all the gamers who donated to the CF raffle on Saturday - it is greatly appreciated!!

Week 13 - Saskatchewan Marathon - rain or shine!

My leg has been feeling much better and I've started some walk/jogging. On Sunday I managed a 5 km walk/jog with Ollie, went to a yoga class and then rode a bike in the basement (mag trainer) for close to an hour while Keira watched a movie. I'm certainly sore today after nearly two weeks of inactivity - but at least my injured leg seems pretty much pain-free. The big news for the week is that I have gone ahead and registered for the 2010 Saskatchewan Marathon! So now, no matter if I end up jogging, walking or crawling...I'm going to get across that finish line. I'm hoping there will be at least 3 smiling faces waiting for me at the end - shouting "Go mommy!" - even if everyone else has gone home by the time I finish.

Week 12

Wow - I've gotten behind with the 'weekly' posts. Not much to report however from week 12 as I didn't do any training!!! Unfortunately I injured my ankle and knee (while climbing, not even running!) and was not able to run during the week nor complete the anticipated 18 km on Sunday. It was very discouraging to be thrown so abruptly off the schedule - which up until then - I had been sticking to like glue. Very disheartening indeed! Luckily I got an appointment at Craven Sport Services and Melanie was quickly able to assess what was wrong and get me on the road to recovery!

Week 11

I look Friday off as a vacation day and Ollie and I went for a 5 km run in the morning, spotting a Cooper's Hawk by our house as well as a common goldeneye along the river.

We took the kids over to Climb 306 in the afternoon to practice our wall climbing. Unfortunately I just learned that the place has been sold and will be demolished in July....so much for finding a close place for family fun!


Saturday we went sledding for the first time this year. While it was a bit cold, everyone had a good time with lots of fun and laughs.


Sunday was my long run day. I jogged with Ollie for 16 km (While I was pretty much spent, it didn't even seem to phase Ollie.) - which is the furthest I have ever run. I guess I'll be saying that a lot form now on as the weeks proceed towards the Saskatchewan Marathon. I made it in 2:02. Some people do a marathon in less than that time!!! Still having only started running just 11 weeks ago, I'm feeling OK about it.

Week 10

On Friday at lunch, I ran 5 km as per the 'schedule'. I must be improving (or just needed to let off some stress from work!) as I ran the 5 km in 32 minutes - which is a record for me...normally it takes me about 35 or sometimes closer to 40 minutes - so needless to say I was impressed with myself! Sunday was a 10 km run as this was a 'taper' week. In the morning we took the kids to a winter bike parade, Ice Cycle 2010. Tim took some great photos which are posted on his bike blog. It was great to see so many people out on bikes on a chilly winter day! After the parade. I ran the 10 km on the treadmill in our basement as I'm still worrisome about running outside. I think as of next week however, no matter the weather, I'm going to attempt the 16 km run outside as the treadmill just seems so darn boring!

Week 9

Running-wise I slacked off a bit this weekend. According to the 'schedule' I was supposed to run 14.4 km on Sunday...I only walked about 10 km and jogged about 2 km. Friday evening to Sunday at 5 pm, I was at a yoga workshop so there wasn't much time for jogging! In addition to fundraising, marathon training, pottery and learning to wall climb, I am currently working towards becoming a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance through Kathleen's Yoga School! This past weekend we completed module 4 (yoga anatomy) as part of our 200 hour yoga training program.

Week 8

This is certainly the longest I have ever kept up with jogging. Now and then in the past I have tried but just never seemed to have the motivation. With this fundraising marathon as a goal, I'm now doing much better and really trying to keep to my 'schedule'. We've been so lucky this winter with not much snow and so far for all the longer Sunday runs I've been able to do them outside. No so this weekend!!! Saskatoon has definitely become a winter wonderland!



Being new to running and generally a fair weather adventurer, there was just too much snow yesterday for me to even contemplate trying to run outside! Even the buses weren't running.



Before Christmas I borrowed Tim's mom's treadmill to help with my training. Finally yesterday we got it all set up in the basement and the kids came downstairs to watch a video about dinosaurs while I went jogging!



I know how hamsters feel now running on those wheels! I stuck to it though and managed to run 13 km on the treadmill...realizing how much more fun it is to be outside....and also how long it is going to take me to run 42 km! i-yi-yi....it's a long way to go!

Week 7

This week was a 'taper' week - where I still ran for 4 days (or did I miss a day??) but the distances were reduced compared to the past two weeks. On Sunday I jogged with Ollie out to the weir and back, dropped him off at home and then went downtown (boots still aren't on sale). What was disconcerting was that the 8 km this week seemed to take the same amount of time as the 10 km run I did the other week when going to the University and back! So I was either going way faster the other week, or way slower this week, or perhaps have no real idea about the distances that I think I am actually jogging. A friend has kindly let me borrow her GPS watch to try and sort things out and keep me on track - now I just have to figure out how to use it! Apparently this watch will even beep and let you know when you are running too slow! (I don't think I'll use that setting!)