Progress Report: T - 5 days

THE MARATHON IS IN 5 DAYS.

Excuse my volume, but shit's about to get real.

Last night I went for my last long run (about 7.5k), and it felt great. I went with my friend Zoran and we were soarin' (see what I just did there? hilarity). For serious though, our time has improved so much over the past month and it just feels so nice. To be able to accomplish so much in so little time is a true testament to the idea that when you put your mind to something, it can really work.

So the marathon is this coming Sunday and I have been instructed by my friend and runner extraordinaire Darren Weldrick that I can not do any more long runs until the race itself. I would be lying if I said that this upsets me. No no.. it RELIEVES me. Yes, I have loved this process. And, yes, it has been rewarding. But I gotta say the idea of chilling a bit this week is sweet music to my ears.

So here is my pre-marathon plan for the next 5 days:

- as much hot yoga as possible: this will limber me up and reinforce my ability to stay focused. namaste.

- catch up on the last few episodes of Gossip Girl: this will chill me out and also inspire any tactics I may need to use against possible marathon villains.

- drink MORE SHAKES: I admit, there has been much more fro yo in my life in the past couple of weeks than I can be proud of.

- sleep: if I can find the time time between school, work, work, and work.

- create a KICK ASS 2 hour playlist that will make me run like the wind: suggestions much appreciated.

- buy iPod shuffle: because boob sweat is messing with my iPhone. receiving a shuffle as a gift is very welcome, thank you.

I shared a picture with you all at the beginning of this journey and although it is not the end yet, I wanted to share this photo of two photos (mind blown? I know). One is my first pic, and the other is the last one I shared. I think there is some visible progress but I also might have selective vision. What do you think?

Questions? Comments?

If anyone else has any other suggestions for what I should do to prepare over the next 5 days, I would LOVE to hear them.

That's it for tonight. I promise there will be more as we get closer to RACE DAY.

Everything in Moderation

Ok so the marathon is just a little over a week away, and I've admitted that I've allowed myself to drink again here and there. I don't want anybody to lose faith in me, because I am still fully committed to training and doing my best every day until race day.

I think I've learned something important about moderation over the past few weeks. Before I embarked on this challenge, I was the type of person who when I went out - I went all out. I would dance all night and completely let go and not pay any mind to how it would affect me the following day. Now, it's one thing to say "I'm going to train for a marathon and completely change my lifestyle in order to do so" (which is super challenging, of course) and another to try to incorporate a marathon training into your existing life, it's hard to find middle ground, or at least it is for me. Obviously changes are going to occur naturally e.g. not running often at all to running nearly every day. But in the last week or so I've reverted back to some of my old habits while still maintaining my new ones, and I think that's a valuable lesson. For example, last night I went out with a couple girlfriends. We went to 3 different bars, and had 3 different drinks. After drink number 2 (delicious margarita from Reposado) I was ready to completely give in and go for a honking plate of the city's dirtiest nachos at Sneaky Dee's. Then something clicked in my head and my mind just changed. It was nearly midnight, I knew I wanted to run today, and that I would regret the nachos IMMENSELY. So I put on my adult pants and after our 3rd drink (Blanche De Chambly at Crooked Star), I sent myself home.

I woke up this morning at 730am, put on all my running clothes before leaving my bedroom, snapped a quick photo for y'all, and promptly left. I did not have a hangover that would last me two days. I didn't even have a headache. You know what I had instead? PRIDE. You don't have to take anything for pride, and you don't have to stay in bed all day and eat Thai food for pride. You know why? Cause it's awesome. Here is your picture.

p.s. I'm blonde now

I ran 3.5k straight to the gym, no breaks, and jumped on the treadmill as soon as I got there. Ran another 20 minutes (10 on the steepest incline) and proceeded to do a pretty intense triceps and biceps work out. I've been feeling great all day and it's because I was able to do something that I haven't been able to do before - find a real balance.

While it is often fun and exciting to take things as far as they can go, in many ways moderation can be really important. This also ties into running - moderation and pacing yourself are very similar ideas after all. Going all out doesn't have to mean burning yourself out, and slowing down doesn't mean giving up.

In other news the almond (and soy) milk brand "Silk" has released a dark chocolate flavor. Its fantastic. You should try it.

Much love!

Confessions & Scandalous Photos

Dear readers,

It has been 5 days since my last post, and I wish I could tell you that much has happened. But that would make me a liar, and I am not a liar. I am so much not a liar that I will begin this post with confession number 1: I am presently drinking a pint of Wellington IPA. Some of you may know that my day job is in fashion, working for a Toronto based menswear designer. I spent the last half of my day steaming a ton of clothes - and it was at about 7pm (whilst steaming said clothes) that I decided I was going to end my night at the pub down the street writing this blog and enjoying a beer. So sue me.

Don't forgive me yet, I have more confessions.
Sunday evening I got word that The Tragically Hip were playing a free show in Kensington market, and I got so excited I made my way over asafp. By the time I got there the show was over but a few friends were having beers in a back alley makeshift bar that blared Mexican music and also served as an art exhibit. I gave in at that very moment and - GASP - had a beer there too. We deemed the place 'Cold Mexico' and had a grand time. We then went to a tiny bar called Thirsty & Miserable and I -(confession #3) - had another beer. Needless to say, evening turned into night and I found myself at The Dakota watching my friend's band play and drinking more beers. I had a great time. I missed being out, and I know I vowed not to drink during the training - but be honest - some of you have been eagerly waiting my demise. Haven't you? Don't you lie to me folks.

What happened the following day taught me a giant lesson. I definitely vommed. And definitely had a crazy crazy migraine all day long. I also DEFINITELY WILL NOT DO THAT AGAIN - for a long while at least. Remember when I talked about my 2 day hangovers in my very first post? Yeah. There was no running, or training, or exercise of any kind yesterday. There would've been today, had I not been stuck at work until late.. And I know, I know, I could be running RIGHT NOW - but then you wouldn't have a blog post to read until tomorrow and I just can't bear to let you down any further, dear readers.

Ok, confession time is over.
I have 2 pictures for you in this post. One is the picture I took Sunday morning, when I was feeling proud of the way my body has changed over the past few weeks and the work I have done up to that point. By the way, I did run 4.5k Saturday morning, and 9.5k Friday morning. So I haven't gone completely off track. This is your gratuitous ab picture for the week, so I hope you enjoy it:

Not bad right? After a night of drinking, and likely some bad food choices combined with no exercise at all, I can tell you that I don't think it still looks like that. It's ok. It'll come back - and it'll be EVEN BETTER. 

The next picture I have for you is photo evidence of my bad behavior that happened only mere hours after the above picture was taken. In it are my friends who I will blame for being bad influences (because that's a fun thing to do them) and myself. We are making the stupid duck/kissy faces that girls like to make in cell phone pictures. This is meant to make you laugh, so please do. 

Tomorrow morning I am getting my hair did at 9am. I have plans to go for a quick run before hand. I'm hoping to do 5k in less than 30 minutes. The reason for this is because a. I don't have time to more than 30 minutes, and b. I need to get faster. I want to get faster. I want to run like the wind. I want to run like unicorns run - gracefully swift, and lightning fast. 

Goodnight. 

xo 

Steep Hills < Chicken Wings

Well, rest day has come and gone - and after putting it off for as long as I could, I finally got off my ass and went to the park to do a little sweating.

I only worked out for about 40 minutes tonight, but it wasn't endurance training I was going for. When feeling lazy, it's often best to choose efficiency as your guide. Cardio and strength training rolled into one came in the form of running up and down a very steep hill, NINE TIMES. I know, I should've gone for the big TEN - but may I remind you again that I was already feeling lazy?

I did eat really well today. Lots of fruit, a couple shakes, a chicken and brown rice bowl from Freshii - (possibly half a white chocolate & macadamia nut cookie from Starbucks, but we don't need to tell anybody about that). I must admit that I desperately miss chicken wings, and anything fried. Just the smell of the kitchen at my work sends my mouth watering and it's pretty annoying that all I can do is munch on celery and peanut butter while I'm working. Not good for the moral. Happiness often comes in the form of bacon - am I wrong?

I do feel stronger, and lighter on my feet - which will definitely help me run 21K, so I think things are going well. This is a picture of me flexing my giant muscles for you:

Tomorrow morning I will do a long run - I know, I keep saying "tomorrow I'll do a long run, bla bla bla" and then I do something like run up a hill instead.. But I mean it this time. I will long run in the morning before work and it'll be AWESOME. Just awesome. I need to get into the habit of running in the morning instead of at night because the marathon starts at 8:30 IN THE MORNING on race day. I wonder how much coffee is enough coffee to get me ready? Any suggestions?

Once again I'd like to remind you that it would mean THE WORLD if I could keep raising funds for The Renascent Foundation. So far we've raised 100$, we just need another $200 to meet our goal. Any little bit counts, so if you would like to make a donation, please click here. 

Its GO time

Alright, no more messing around kids. Race day is in exactly 19 days.

With each day that brings us closer, I am becoming surprisingly less scared, and more confident. After completing my 90 minute run last night, I am beginning to really believe I can do this. Last night, about halfway through my run I stopped for a moment to check my time. I was surprised to find that stopping made me feel worse, not better. When I was close to the end I realized that endurance wise, I was capable of going further - it was just my shins and a cramp in my side that made me want to stop.

This is crazy progress from a couple weeks ago when I did that bootcamp. I remember running around that park, and on my second lap I was winded. One of the things I'm learning is that pacing yourself is MEGA important. Oh, and being ok with pain is a big part of it too. Working through the pain, accepting it - these are things that help you reach a different level. In life we often go through things that can be highly uncomfortable, but if we can find a way to not run away from it - and work through it - it really does make us stronger.

I remember running past Lee's Palace last night through a crowd of people waiting to see a show, having smoke breaks - and they just stared at me like I was a crazy person dashing through them. My face was so hot and I'm sure it was crazy red and sweaty, and I was PROUD. Nothing beats that. I'm really digging this. Even if I bitch and moan and tell you that I'm feeling lazy, deep down I feel really good about this and I'm SO glad you are all commenting on Facebook and keeping me motivated.

Tonight I'm taking some time off running and going to stretch out my muscles at a hot yoga class. Tomorrow I will take a rest cause I'm all cramped up, but I plan to do a couple more 90 minute runs this week, and then next week Im aiming to do a few solid 2 hour runs. It sounds crazy. So ima BRING IT.

terrifying picture, as promised.

Photograph as promised. Post 90 minute 12.5K run, pre hot salt water soak. Told you it would be sweaty and terrifying. 

I'll tell you how it felt tomorrow. 

Goodnight. 

2 runs - 1 day

Hello everybody!

I've been bad. I've been very bad indeed.

I spent the weekend - as you know from previous posts - 'staycation-ing'.
Oh the glorious foods I ate and oh how nice my couch felt for most of it. I had frozen yogurt, and Thai food.. I watched movies, I had bacon and eggs for lunch. It really was quite nice.

But it's Monday - and that means back to business as usual. I woke up this morning a little late and decided that it was better to do SOMETHING than nothing at all, so with the little time I had before work I went for a run around the nearby track ( 5 times around ) and ran up and down a very steep hill a few times. While that got my heart pumping and the back of my neck nice and sweaty, I'm well aware that it's not enough to help me train for 21k in - gasp - less than 3 weeks.

In a couple of hours I will do a 90 minute run. I'm terrified.

Did you know in high school I made it into the yearbook as being the 'Best at Excuses'? I'm really great at coming up with reasons why I can't do something, or even better, that I shouldn't. For example, this morning I really had myself convinced that it was much too late in the morning to go for a run. That there was no point, because I wouldn't be able to go for long. I got to say that sometimes its better to NOT LISTEN TO YOURSELF. I keep training when I don't feel like training, and I never regret it. Ever.

So I guess the point of this blog post is to let you know that I'm still working at it, even though my posts are becoming less frequent. I will admit I've been slacking a little, but this week all of that will change.

Stay tuned for a post 90 minute run picture a little later this evening. I promise it will be inspiring, and likely a little frightening.

ALSO - I want to thank my friends John Edgar and Ken Wong for donating to the cause I'm running for. It is very near and dear to me, and it would mean the world if I could keep raising funds for The Renascent Foundation. If you would like to make a donation, please click here.