Training

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Chasing the carrot

Running, Training

I’d forgotten what it was like to have a carrot. Two years of training solo. Two years of doing speed intervals on my own. It was good for getting my mind in the right frame of competitive running, pushing myself to the limit and not prematurely kacking out. But, there is something to be said for the carrot. Tonight was proof. My study gals and I did our first set of speed intervals along a straight dirt track, pretty much out and back. All out over the course of 30s; 45s; 1:00; 1:15; 1:30; 1:45; 2:00; 2:00; 1:45; 1:30; 1:15; 1:00; 45s: 30s with a 1:15 ‘ish’ walk break between each. There’s a few speedy girls in this group, like, super speedy. And I was perfectly fine, or so I kept telling myself, to let them go their pace. I knew what my pace should be and I was going […]

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Chasing lows not miles

Diabetes, Running, Training

You know that old adage, If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again? That’s exactly what my last long run emulated. I had plans to run the Seawall; it was the perfect distance. From Waterfront Station to Granville Island is 19 km start to finish. I woke up first thing, dressed in my short shorts and tank top, grabbed my fuel belt and hopped on the Skytrain. The weather was perfect in New West. It was grey, not too cold, not too warm. But in Vancouver, it was a completely different book. It was black clouds, biblical rains, gusting winds, and cold, man, it was blow-you-over cold. I stood in the shelter of the Convention Centre, waiting, hoping, praying for the rains to subside. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. 10 minutes; 20 minutes; 30; 40. What the? It was not stopping. Normally, rain isn’t a huge issue for me , I mean,

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Grouse Grind: Three years in the making

Training

It was a climb three years and one week in the making. Last week, my feet, my legs, my glutes, my head, my heart finally returned to the Grouse Grind! Oh what a feeling! Three years ago, I had set a personal best of 56:38 and then clobbered that time three weeks later with 55:30!!! It was a glorious, muddy, sweat-stinging eye, Grouse Grind climbing season. One that I had been working towards for years; ever since mine and Big Ring’s first date/non-date in 2005. One that I was so super proud of. Pooped on the Grind 2011. I had no realization, that summer, it would take three more years for my return. Two years ago, I was yoga-ball pregnant. I did go to the Grouse Grind that year as part of mine and Big Ring’s annual Canada Day climbing anniversary, but sent Big Ring off on his own while

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This is me listening

Running, Training

When the running community tells you don’t run, you don’t run. Our community is a pretty hardcore community. We run in all weather, super hot, humid temperatures, torrential downpours, snow, sleet, hail; we run in the wee hours of the morning and the late hours of the evening; we run when we’re miserable; we run when we’re sad; we run when we’re hurting, physical pain shooting through all regions of our body, and we’re still out there. And when we’re sick, eyes watering, stuffy nose, sore throat sick, we run. But the chest, that’s another story. I’ve known the rule for years: anything below the neck, stay home. But sometimes, I need a reminder. Like, you know, after battling a persistent cold for a month, and already missing out on a week of running due to said cold, and being miserable, stuck inside, feeling frumpy, worrying about the missed mileage,

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Singing Lamb Chops

Training

“This is the cold that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friend, some people started sneezing, and I caught their ugly germs, and they’ll continue infecting me because…” THEY’RE NASTY EVIL JERK FACES!!! I kid you not, I have had a cold for over a month. But not a continuous cold, no, not a typical cold, no, a sadistic freaking evil cold. This cold is toying with me, making me believe I’ve kicked it the curb, giving me a few days reprieve, only to full on attack again, and again, and again. Jerk face germs! I was first infected at the end of February. I clearly remember, it was a Monday afternoon, I was driving home, when suddenly I felt that telltale sign of my throat swelling and a lump every time I swallowed. I hoped it was dry air, but by the evening, I knew it

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