Well, we did complain for so long about how cold and rainy it was over the winter and spring and that it took summer sooooo long to get here....and here it is and now we are complaining about the heat! Are we never truely satisfied?
We can ask that of any runner or walker....are you truely satisfied with that last walk?, the pace? the route? or even the distance? It seems we are forever meeting or beating our goals and then instead of congratulating ourselves we immediately set a new and better goal.
Take this last run/walk I did...granted it was supper hot, I left home at 0800 but I should have started at 0600 (see? already complaining) and I brought water, gaterade and a granola bar....I set my pace and off I went. I went for 25 km but I felt unsatisfied because I was suppose to go for 25.5 km....how is it that I couldn't be happy with one when it was only .5 of a km out from the other?
Ah...that is the life of a runner or walker....always striving for something better...better times, better distances, better feeling, better pace...well...you get the picture.
A little update on our marathon group. We are now down to only 3 people from 6. It turns out 2 people never even registered....chickens!....and one person dropped out. I have to confess that I have felt like dropping out myself at times. I mean....training for a marathon takes time and alot of it! It's hard and don't we all like easy if it is offered to us? But...and there is a but...I have set this goal for myself this year and darn it...I'm sticking to it....even if I have to do the thing on my own. (well, not truely on my own there will be thousands of people there, but you know what I mean!)
It's week 11 and our long walk is 27.5 kms...sigh....I'll endeavor to get up earlier this week to get out on the roads before the sun comes out.
Happy Sept long weekend to everyone......
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Training while out Sailing
On a sad note...one of the girls have already dropped out. That had made me think that I would rather do a 1/2 instead. Why?....it would be easier, I've done it many times before, I just ran/walked a 1/2 on my latest training run and isn't it human nature to go the easy route without having to push yourself? No...I'm sticking to the
full...it's my goal this year.
Charlie and I did 2 runs around Stanley Park in Vancouver...each being 10 km's. The while in Naniamo Harbour we did 14 km around NewCastle Island Park-trail runs and in various lengths....then Charlie went back to the boat and I finished with a 8 km walk. The while on Gabriola Island we went 8 km's....4 kms up hill ( 3 km of them a 12% grade) and 4 km downhill back to the beach.
So, yes, even though it was hard to organize and had to get out early, I was able to maintain my training while on holidays.
Now back to reality and to my usual road routes.
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Calf cramps...the pains of walking
Wow....how much is walking different than walking? I tell you it's alot different...different muscles, gait and prolonged times out there with the training. My calfs have been hurting for a few weeks now but the last few days have been almost painful. It was painful the one night I woke with a charlie horse but I was able to relieve it fast with flexing my foot....thank goodness.
So I read a few articles about calf cramps and exercise. I basically knew most of what I read....drink lots of water, potassium, and stretching. I know I've been bad about the water and most likely that is my problem. Now you can't correct that all at once because that causes a whole different problem! Stretching is now reinstituted into my exercise regime and I pretty much eat a banana a day and lots of veggies...so potassium is covered. My calfs are feeling better but on todays 19.5 km walk I could feel a few twinges. Nothing that stopping to stretch every 30 or 40 mins can't help.
Added to my calf problems, I have sore toes...and the middles ones are a little swollen. Now I tribute that to the trail running I've been doing and all the toe bashing that happens in the runners. No...I haven't got the dreaded and weirdly honoring runners black toenails...just the swelling and pain.
I never knew that walking could be so painful and soooo very different than running. I'm getting into the 3 plus hour long walks and have got my camelback hydration system out of the garage. Also, I think I'm going to have to start bringing some food along too!
So many things to learn....and I have to keep the dreaded feelings of 'taking on too much' away....I find myself thinking we should have just signed up for a 1/2 marathon but no....this is going to be fun!
So I read a few articles about calf cramps and exercise. I basically knew most of what I read....drink lots of water, potassium, and stretching. I know I've been bad about the water and most likely that is my problem. Now you can't correct that all at once because that causes a whole different problem! Stretching is now reinstituted into my exercise regime and I pretty much eat a banana a day and lots of veggies...so potassium is covered. My calfs are feeling better but on todays 19.5 km walk I could feel a few twinges. Nothing that stopping to stretch every 30 or 40 mins can't help.
Added to my calf problems, I have sore toes...and the middles ones are a little swollen. Now I tribute that to the trail running I've been doing and all the toe bashing that happens in the runners. No...I haven't got the dreaded and weirdly honoring runners black toenails...just the swelling and pain.
I never knew that walking could be so painful and soooo very different than running. I'm getting into the 3 plus hour long walks and have got my camelback hydration system out of the garage. Also, I think I'm going to have to start bringing some food along too!
So many things to learn....and I have to keep the dreaded feelings of 'taking on too much' away....I find myself thinking we should have just signed up for a 1/2 marathon but no....this is going to be fun!
Friday, 5 August 2011
Longest wooden trestle in Canada
It now connects the Trans Canada Trail so one doesn't have to hike all the way down, cross a river, and hike back to the top again to continue with the journey....or go the 90 km out of the way detour set up on the local road connections.
It spans the river valley about 114 feet high above and for about 617 feet across. It's awe inspiring. We enjoyed the views from both sides and it looks like they are creating a network of trails down by the river too.
It's a great place to head off and go for a run or walk. The day I went it was early in the morning so parking was plenty and it was quiet on the trail. But 1 hour and 1/2 later...we got back to the car after passing family after family on bikes or foot, and there were more cars circling around the parking lot looking for spots to park. The moral of the story is get up before the general crowds even think of leaving the house!
Our training is going well. Charlie is on all my training walks except the long distance ones....he's still too young. This weekend is 19.5 km and I hope to meet up with some of the DOA's to walk 2 1/2 hours...either that I'll be listening to my usual podcasts and music on my own!
As you can see I haven't been able to get 4 days a week in but I'm pretty close to the total km's needed for the week. My calfs are complaining already but I will try extra stretching and see how that does. I should be getting everyone together soon because it's almost the '1/2 way' there mark....yahooooo!
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Hydration, hydration, hydration
For the first time this summer we've been having some warm weather and I'm starting to feel it on my walk/runs. For the short walks of less than 1 1/2 hours...sure....I don't have to carry water with me but need to keep well hydrated before then afterwards too. But for the now ever increasing longer walks....todays of 16.5 kms in 2 hrs and 15 mins....well, I carried my bottle of water. Pretty soon I'll have to graduate up to a 'camel back' type of hydration system....that's when the walks will be over 2 1/2 hours and upwards.
I recently learned that 8 glasses a day are just the beginning of daily hyration. You should be drinking equal amounts of water to cups of coffee/tea/pop, and a glass for every 30 mins of exercise. I tried that for a week and spent a week constantly going to the 'loo'! But there are other ways of getting your hydration....lots of foods have high water content. So I don't have a bottle of water constantly at my side but I'm alot more aware of my limits of hydration...over and under.
Everywhere you read, you read about one person or another keeling over from hyponatremia due to over hydration....I can't imagine having to drink so much water that you are sloshing when walking down the road. I also have noticed, in myself, that if I'm not adequately hydrated my energy level is in my boots...so...water! It's good for you!
I recently learned that 8 glasses a day are just the beginning of daily hyration. You should be drinking equal amounts of water to cups of coffee/tea/pop, and a glass for every 30 mins of exercise. I tried that for a week and spent a week constantly going to the 'loo'! But there are other ways of getting your hydration....lots of foods have high water content. So I don't have a bottle of water constantly at my side but I'm alot more aware of my limits of hydration...over and under.
Everywhere you read, you read about one person or another keeling over from hyponatremia due to over hydration....I can't imagine having to drink so much water that you are sloshing when walking down the road. I also have noticed, in myself, that if I'm not adequately hydrated my energy level is in my boots...so...water! It's good for you!
Friday, 15 July 2011
How to exercise on a 40 foot boat
I just got back from 5 days of sailing. We own a 40 foot boat and are learning the ins and outs this year and fixing all the problems that keep cropping up...but that is a different blog! (Sailblog.com and look for Dakota)
Now....5 days on a boat you'd think you wouldn't get much exercise...but you'd be wrong my friends! I'm constantly going up and down the stairs (all 5 steep ones), running around deck trying to get this rope or that rope, trying to manage the sails, moving things around in the cabin to just make a simple meal...the butcher block itself weighs about 10 pounds, and then there is getting in and out of the dingy and going to shore to walk the dog. By the end of the day my arms, legs, back and butt ache!
With all that moving about we are exhausted by 9 pm and are heading to bed...but then we are up the next morning at 5:30 and taking the dog to shore and starting all the exercise again. I've tried to do some yoga on the bow but with the rocking and rolling sometimes you can get a good core workout but just trying to sit up straight and not fall over.
So, while I leave the nike plus system and my running shoes at home....so no actual organized exercise....I guess I get plenty of different types of exercise while sailing. I try to plan my walks around the sailing but some of them just don't get recorded on my dailymile counter.
Keep the run/walk going and enjoy the summer!
Now....5 days on a boat you'd think you wouldn't get much exercise...but you'd be wrong my friends! I'm constantly going up and down the stairs (all 5 steep ones), running around deck trying to get this rope or that rope, trying to manage the sails, moving things around in the cabin to just make a simple meal...the butcher block itself weighs about 10 pounds, and then there is getting in and out of the dingy and going to shore to walk the dog. By the end of the day my arms, legs, back and butt ache!
With all that moving about we are exhausted by 9 pm and are heading to bed...but then we are up the next morning at 5:30 and taking the dog to shore and starting all the exercise again. I've tried to do some yoga on the bow but with the rocking and rolling sometimes you can get a good core workout but just trying to sit up straight and not fall over.
So, while I leave the nike plus system and my running shoes at home....so no actual organized exercise....I guess I get plenty of different types of exercise while sailing. I try to plan my walks around the sailing but some of them just don't get recorded on my dailymile counter.
Saturday, 9 July 2011
Dressing for Success
Why is it I always think it's colder than it really is...maybe because the house is so well insulated and shaded by the trees that it's fairly cool in the house. For example, this morning...being july 9th...we had to have the fireplace on for about 30 minutes just to give a bit of warmth to the livingroom...are you kidding? In mid July? Where is summer. So here's the where the problem started.... now I think it's cool outside too!
So here I am in capris running tights, short sleeve tee-shirt, and a light jacket....the wind is blowing lightly so I think..."I'll be slightly cool so I'll dress up"....well with in 10 minutes I was too hot and the jacket came off and tied around my waist.
I could have been very comfortable in shorts and just the tee-shirt....but at least I could remove layers. I saw a girl power walking and she had on a long sleeve shirt and long pants...she agreed it was alot warmer than we thought!
I'm forever over dressing...but on the flip side...I hate being cold. In fact, I detest being cold! My will to keep moving evaporates and I pretty much settle into a grumpy funk and hate my run/walk.
So...even though I had over dressed today, I was smart and dressed in layers that could come off or go back on, and I was happy and I made excellant time on my 11.5 km powerwalk.
As for my Iron Turtle...to date I've biked 75 kms, swam 2 km, and now have finished the 42.2 km marathon part....of course, I'm just starting my actual marathon training and look forward to many, many, many more km's to go!
So here I am in capris running tights, short sleeve tee-shirt, and a light jacket....the wind is blowing lightly so I think..."I'll be slightly cool so I'll dress up"....well with in 10 minutes I was too hot and the jacket came off and tied around my waist.
I could have been very comfortable in shorts and just the tee-shirt....but at least I could remove layers. I saw a girl power walking and she had on a long sleeve shirt and long pants...she agreed it was alot warmer than we thought!
I'm forever over dressing...but on the flip side...I hate being cold. In fact, I detest being cold! My will to keep moving evaporates and I pretty much settle into a grumpy funk and hate my run/walk.
So...even though I had over dressed today, I was smart and dressed in layers that could come off or go back on, and I was happy and I made excellant time on my 11.5 km powerwalk.
As for my Iron Turtle...to date I've biked 75 kms, swam 2 km, and now have finished the 42.2 km marathon part....of course, I'm just starting my actual marathon training and look forward to many, many, many more km's to go!
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