running

Gift of the gab… or not

Diabetes, Running, Training

I’m a great talker, always have been, my parents used to tease me for talking their ears off, they’d tell me to go outside and take a breath (I’m pretty sure they needed a breather from my nattering too). I love talking so much, I even entered a business where I needed the gift of the gab to get the story. And yet, when it comes to big crowds, when it comes to me standing before a class of 10, 20, 30 students (regardless of age), in front of a video camera destined for the world, and even a small wedding audience consisting of my nearest and dearest – I freak out. My hands shake, my voice quivers, my body goes into full-on sweats. Presentation speaking is NOT my thing. This week, however, I tried to quash those fears with a presentation to a mass communications class at the University of […]

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Sprinting and The Brain

Diabetes, Running, Training

Our brains, they’re funny little creations aren’t they! Or is it just mine? While running yesterday’s speed repeats, which I totally rocked (unlike the previous week) it suddenly dawned on me that 200-metre repeats are essentially the equivalent of sprinting for 1 minute – just 1 minute – something I had been doing with my program since February, and yet, once my program switched from timed repeats to distance repeats, it was as though my brain could not comprehend such a task, causing my legs to rebel. Last week, my legs wanted nothing to do with 200 metres. My lungs were gasping for air at just 50 metres in. My brain was saying just stop already, you can’t do this, you might as well give up. And a couple times, in my first sets of repeats, I did wimp out, cutting them short, or slowing my pace down. So yesterday, instead

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Directionally disturbed

Diabetes, Running

When I opened my eyes this morning there was lead weighting down my feet, sleep fairies blurring my vision, and every Negative Nelly excuse clouding my judgement. I had wanted to go for a run this morning, I was sure I did, and yet, when the alarm (aka: Big Ring) jolted me awake, I wanted nothing more than to roll over, stuff my head under my pillow, and go back to the land of dreams. It’s too cold, I moaned. I’m not feeling so great, I whined. I’m tired, I whimpered. And then the negotiations: I’ll go when it’s warmer out. I’ll go when I’m more awake. I’ll go this afternoon. Translation: I won’t go. Somehow, I don’t know how, I fought through it enough to get myself kitted up for a run, but even after squeezing into my compression tights (which by the way is NO easy task) I

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Speed DEMONS!!!

Diabetes, Running

Finally, thanks to Coach NZ, I’ve got a running definition I can relate to. Cadence: Run like a kid.   Seeing as how that’s half of my running mantra – “Run like a kid. Finish with a smile.” – you’d think I’d actually like running speed intervals. But no, that definition is nowhere near as fun as it sounds. Speed sucks – large! Back when I started Coach NZ’s program, she warned me I’d have to get over my hate for speed. If I wanted to be faster, she said, I had to embrace runs that involved high cadence and speed repeats. I couldn’t just go through the motions, I had to put solid effort in. Up until today, however, I think I was somewhat lackadaisical when it came to building up my speed capacity. Sure I ran those runs, sure I tried, but if I’m gonna be honest, I could have

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Running … with company

Diabetes, Running, Training

Full disclosure part 1: My training the last couple of weeks has fallen off the map. For the last 10 days, the Princess and the Rings have been entertaining Big Ring’s mom and niece from Onterrible; the first visit since Little Ring’s birth. In the weeks leading up to the visit, I thought for sure I’d keep up with my running and strength training. I had a well defined plan, and I was determined not to stray from it. But then, our guests arrived. Now, let me backtrack a moment. Big Ring and I are not well versed in the art of entertaining. Since purchasing our loft four years ago, we have hosted just ONE other couple, and that was long before Little Ring’s existence. Heck, I’m pretty sure we can count on two hands the number of times we’ve held dinners at our place. So really, we can’t be

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