Toronto Women's Half Marathon Recap

I nailed it!  1:58  phew!!!!  I really had hoped for a sub 2:00 hour finish and I got it (but not without a struggle).

Leading into the 1/2, I was injury free and not worried about any particular body part giving me grief.  I haven't felt that freedom from worry for a long time.  Larry drove me to the start (which I was very grateful for as I was running late) and asked why I looked nervous.  He was right that I had run this distance before, but I had high hopes that I would clear 2:00 hrs and you never know what could go wrong or how your body would behave THIS time.

As I was heading to the start, I met up with my neighbour, Susan, who has multiple marathons under her belt, including Boston.  She is a fast runner.  She told me that she had not trained for this 1/2 and had just signed up on Friday.  Unlike me who has been training and hoping and watching the weather forecast and worrying and and and...
We decided to at least start out together.

Susan helped me take off strong but not too fast.  Unfortunately, she lost me at the first killer hill.  I never caught up to her but each time there was a round about, I saw that we were never too far apart.  I liked the motivation of a) try to catch up to Susan and b) don't let Susan see me walk.

Once we were separated, I put in my ear plugs and got my music going.  This was a bit tricky as I did not want to slow down or lose my pace while doing so.  Throughout the run, I would feel myself slowing down and I had to remind myself this was not a TRAINING run but a road RACE and I had to pick it up if I wanted to clear 2:00 hrs.  Every so often I would tell myself "you want to tell Jennifer, May, Ellen, Glynis... that I got under 2:00hrs.  You know you can do this.  They know you can do this."  Thanks girls for being in my head!

Around 10-12 km my right piriformis started to ache and at the same time my left IT band started to get tight.  That was an unwelcome and worrisome surprise.  Did not like that.  Immediate memories of my sore IT band from my marathon came to mind (had to finish with a Terry Fox like run) as did my sore piriformis from a few years ago.  Grrrr.

Somehow I ran through it and neither really amounted to more pain.  Phew!!!!!

I tried to focus on my music, and all the great smiles out there on the route.  The setting was also beautiful (Sunnybrook Park).

It was really fun seeing the camaraderie of women passing each other in opposite directions high 5ing each other or recognizing a familiar face and waving. It was also nice seeing Carly's friend handing out water.  A familiar face is always a welcome spirit lifter.

At 15 km the volunteers handed out Eload Gels.  Very tasty but I have not yet mastered ingesting the gels without getting the sticky gel all over my fingers and lips.  I really liked the taste and knew I needed the jolt from the gel so there I am trying to lick my sticky salty sweating fingers to get all of the e-load gel that I could, all the while running.  Not a pretty sight!  I finally got some water from the water station and tried to wash my hands a bit (all the while trying to keep up my pace and not slow down!)  We women make great multi-taskers!!!

At the 18 km mark there was a killer/nasty hill at Don Mills south of Eglinton which I had not expected.  I could not make it up the hill without power walking.  I was sure that I had lost my 2:00 as my pace was no where near 5'40.  I had given up in my head but told myself, well, let's see how close you will get.

 After the killer hill, it was pretty straight forward to the finish line.  I pushed through happy to see the end and as I crossed the finish line, turned off my watch and music/GPS app and SMILED!  Made it in 1:58 and maintained my time that has been similar over the past 5 years!

Now to recover and then keep going.  After all, http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/en/index.htm

is in 142 days (but who's counting?)

Recovery Run

After Sunday's run I would say my most painful parts have been my two blistered, black and blue toes on both my feet and bad chafing from my panty line (nice..).

I worked hard during the half marathon so of course my muscles are a little stiff but not over-the-top sore.  I've also been feeling quite tired.

Today is Wednesday and I had to make a decision if I was going to go to yoga class or go for an easy run but I had to start doing something.  As Larry says I have to "keep the dream alive".

I'm still feeling a bit lazy from Sunday so decided not to go to a formal yoga class but to put on my running shoes one more time and go for an easy 5K run around the Casa Loma route which is rather flat.  (As I am proof reading this, it looks funny to read that I feeling lazy so opt for a run rather than yoga). I'm so glad I ran because even though I had a few aches and pains throughout the run I'm feeling fit and really happy.  Not to minimize the word 'happy' but it's more than that: content, at peace, all round strong.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how far I can take this level of fitness and if I can make it to the full marathon once again, October 20.

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Half Marathon, 5k | October 20, 2013

Half marathon post race analysis

Coming soon!
This I can tell you... My necklace is BEAUTIFUL (and well earned!)

5 km at race pace

Baci and I ran our Casa Loma route this morning which is a pretty flat 5 km route. It was tricky because it often takes 15 min to really loosen up and get into a comfortable pace.  We pushed through and made it in 29.31 which was a 5' 54 pace.  To clear 2:00 next week I need to run a minimum of 5'40.

http://m.runnersworld.com/race-training/pace-chart-500-559-pace-kilometer

I was really pulling Baci at around 4 km, so I think that I will be able to run faster when I am not dragging a tired, hot drooly dog.  I will also be able to pull up my speed when I have longer to run than 5 km.

Ok, last excuse:  Last night's dinner consisted of wine (Caymus--yum) and pistachios.  

:)

Great run today with May Allison

First of all, I am loving my new Nike watch!  It syncs so much faster than my old Garmin Forerunner and the buttons are easy to use to access the information that I want.  I love new gadgets!

Today I ran with May Allison (1996 Atlanta Olympics).  She is a friend of our family but the first time for me to run with her.  I don't know how she felt, but I loved it!  We went 12.20 km in 1:09 at an average 5:40 speed.  The route was great as it had both city streets as well as ravine parts.  We chatted the whole way and I didn't need to stop and walk, even for the hills.  She made me feel/realize that I can run faster than I have been and that I am stronger than I think I am.  :)
We also got a whistle (some guys in a truck) running up a nasty hill.  Made both us smile.  If only they knew how old we are, both having 3 kids etc...

Two pieces of advice she gave me: 1) get faster/lighter shoes for racing and 2) do more hill work to increase overall fitness.

I would love to run with her again.  Hope she will be happy to run with me again too.

"Pain is weakness leaving the body." Anonymous

If you want change, you have to be the change.  I want to run faster which means that I have to do the work so that my body is willing and ready to be faster.  It would be lovely to wake up on race day and run 2:00 for the Half but unfortunately, I cannot just will it to happen.

Yesterday I went running in the park with Baci and my running friend to work on speed training.  We ran to the park and alternated laps with jogging and sprinting.  The Kelly Clarkson song 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger' kept looping in my mind!  

I couldn't get around the whole park sprinting without taking one (or more) short break.  I have a summer goal!

Running 5 km with alternate fast laps was much harder than running 12 km at an easy pace.  So glad that to be successful in increasing your speed, you only have to run intervals once a week.

Both of us were exhausted for the rest of the afternoon

Baci 'smiling' after our run

Great quote

I run because it's so symbolic of life. You have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel that you can't. But then you find your inner strength, and realize you're capable of so much more than you thought.

Arthur Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot 

I receive this email every morning from Runners World www.runnersworld.com.  The Daily Kick In The Butt are always running quotes.  I especially liked this one.

When I decided to run the Goodlife Toronto Marathon 5 years ago, I was not running enough to even make it onto a running chart to help with scheduling/planning to run a marathon.  I had to create a chart just so that I could get on the training chart.  I accomplished my goal and ran the whole 42 km.  I would never have guessed that I had it in me.  The dedication, the planning, the work, and the success was all mine (of course with a great team of family and friends helping me).  What else can I do that I don't know that I can?

Strong 9 km run today but ending in calf pain.

Had a great run this morning with Glynis through Cedervale. 9 km? I forgot to press the Start button on my watch until at least 1 km in- oops :) We went the easier way (counter-clockwise) and it felt faster than last week. Still averaging around 5:50 per km though. Thought it would have been faster. It was a nice strong run and I felt proud that I powered up the last hill near Heath!
When I got home though my right calf was sooo sore. I iced on and off for half hour and took some Ibuprofen.
I hate aches and pains. I hope the pain goes away QUICKLY. I get so nervous about having injuries. This better not be 'an injury'. I really hope it is just a sore muscle from today only.

I must remain calm and positive...breathe...

Good thing I have great massage therapists in my contact list if I need them.  :)
Chris from Summerhill Health and Peter, Toronto Physiotherapy, used to work on the Olympic Team and Thinking about calling Peter is NOT a positive, calming thought though. I must slow down my thinking.

Just Breathe.....

Time to have some lunch, do some housework, walk the dog and mail a letter.

3 hrs later... Calf is still feeling too tight but no longer sore.  Next few days I will ice, stretch and take it easy.

Priorities, a new running friend, and a great long run

I have not had a chance to run all week and truth be told as much as it is important for my mental and physical health,  I was doing more important things.  Two friends have cancer and I was visiting them.  Running is so important in my life, as I have written so many times but witnessing people and families struggle with illness really helps tune in to what is important in life.  The saying 'Don't sweat the small stuff' sounds cliche, but cannot be more true.  I let my kids stay up a bit later this week, did not engage in petty arguments, and made a cake from scratch at 8:00 pm because my 8 year old wanted to bake (seriously, he started to cry when I pulled out a Duncan Hines box mix).

I wish all the strength to my friends and will continue to support and run errands and be there all that I can.

Today I set out to run 18-20 km.  Last week my long run was 17 km and I wanted to do more than that.  After I took my children to school, I saw a mom I recognized from the schoolyard and she was wearing her running clothes too.  I have seen her all year but did not know her name.  After chatting for a moment, we introduced ourselves and decided to run together this morning.  I ran 5 km first with Baci (which would give her time to drive home and get ready) then I would run up and meet her.  She does not live far from me.  Perfect!!  I can't tell you how excited I was at the prospect of having a human running buddy.

I think we run about the same pace which is a bonus.  A bit hard to tell as when I met up with her, I had already run 6 km and was feeling quite sluggish today.  We kept running and chatting and running and chatting and by the time I got home, I had run 21 km!!   I feel like Sam coming home and saying "Mom, I made a new friend at school today!"

It is also great knowing that on a sluggish day, I can run a half marathon in 2:15.  Great for the memory banks. I am really happy with that.  I can't help but think with the energy of a race day and knowing that I want to push myself, I wonder if I can run a sub 2:00 run on May 26th.  Very exciting thought but only time will tell.

My new running friend and I are planning on running again next week but definitely a shorter run.
Feeling mellow (tired and content) right now.  I think it is time for a cup of tea.