Gotta get me some Iron Legs!

So...I decided it's about time to lay down a goal...and it's a big one...I just registered for my first 50 miler baby!! The Iron Legs 50 miler! It's close to home...about 45 mins from Calgary...and I think it'll be just the 3rd running of this race but I do believe I have run part of the course in the Powderface 42 I raced in 2009...recap here. That was a tough race so I can't imagine what the 50 mile might be like in that location!! Yikes! It's not until mid August so I think with all the trailrunning I do in Kananaskis in the spring/summer I should be good to go by then I hope!

I'm also hoping to get in a 50km sometime before that...maybe in June. I might go back and do the Scorched Sole 50km I raced back in 2009...recap here and pics here. I've heard this year they have a new course in a new location so that sounds good. And I think my bro is potentially doing the Scorched Sole 50 miler again this year so it'll be cool to be out racing at the same time!

Now that I have a real goal set down, i'm pretty excited!

Daydreams

I like to read running blogs...they inspire me...i like to know what's going on in the trailrunning world...but i definitely hate being on the sidelines...and not really making any race plans. It's frustrating. There was a time when I used to spend a lot of time daydreaming about this race or that race and if i could fit this race in etc...now I daydream about the training I wish i could do...and running 30km for fun again...and when my next race might be and if i'll be in shape like I was before my injury first appeared 16 months ago. Dang I hope so...there are so many cool races and trail runs i want to do...i've just scratched the surface...1 season of trailrunning/racing under my belt...what a tease!

Running is coming along...albeit slowly...what used to be an "easy" or moderate pace is now hard...a 10 km run is long for me...i miss the days when a short run was like 20km! All my runs have been feeling pretty slow and puttering along and last night I was fed up with it. I decided to pick up the pace and see what these legs/feet could do! I have to say, it was the best i've felt running in a long long time...almost felt like the good ol days...almost...like i might finally be starting to get back to what I feel is normal for me!

Seems like everyone out there is posting their big fancy race plans for the upcoming season...and i'm still deciding what my first race might be...

Barefoot Beginnings

Ok so I know it's only Tuesday and I said on Sunday I was going to try and be more positive about this cold weather but it's proving to be really hard right now. It's soooo hard to get out of bed when it's dark and -25 C...I was the biggest crank-ass in the world when I woke up. Good thing Andrew wasn't home to enjoy it :)

It's looking like all of my running will be at the gym this week! It wasn't as bad when I used to run at lunch as it's usually sunny out there which compensates for the cold temps. But since I started my new job I usually run after work so being dark and that cold is not my idea of a good time!

Last night I ran 5 miles on the treadmill and then followed it up with some weights and core work. I was stretching after my workout and started thinking about The Barefoot Book I read some reviews on yesterday....and it inspired me to give it the old college try. I've heard it's best when starting out to keep it slow and short...so i jogged around the track at my gym for 5 mins barefoot!

It felt kinda cool...it's interesting, like you automatically run differently and it seems natural to not land heel first (which seems normal in running shoes). I like the idea of doing it to help strengthen my feet. If i'm at the gym i think i might try doing it for 5 mins a couple of times a week after a workout and maybe one day working my way up to longer periods of time. Who knows. I look forward to trying it out in the summer on some nice soft grass though. For now, maybe the treadmill will feel softer than the track?

Until next time...

D-dot

C-C-C-Cold in Calgary

This weekend marked the beginning of another cold spell in Calgary and it only continues to get colder as our week progresses. I think today was a high of -16 C with a windchill of -28 C. Ugh. Anyhow, we have a long winter ahead of us so i'm trying not to dwell on the weather too too much. Best to just bundle up and get out there anyhow.

I decided to not have a workout or run today and took it easy...especially after surviving my first day back on the weights yesterday and waking up pretty dang sore. It's weird as i find when i get out of the habit of lifting weights i don't miss them at all...and once i start doing them again i always wonder why i stopped. It's nice to feel strong so i'm going to work hard at getting that back.

After having an unplanned afternoon nap I woke around 3:30 and decided to bundle up and take Logan out for a nice long walk. I put on my biggest down jacket and my ski pants, made myself a yummy latte and off we went! I love that I don't have a wussy dog when it comes to winter. Logan had a blast!

Standing on McHugh Bluff with a wintery downtown Calgary in the distance

All the ski hills around here received a bunch of snow this week/end and I really really wanted to go but Andrew has been sick since before New Years Eve and just can't shake this cold/flu. It probably would have been damn cold on the hill today anyhow so lets hope for next weekend!

2011...off to a great start!!

So, I don't want to get too excited but...I just ran my 3rd run of January...and of the year...I just finished a run making it my 3rd day in a row of running! Man does it ever feel good. Yes they were short runs (6.5 km, 7.5 km and 8 km) and yes they were slow runs...but I was running each day! I'm going to take a break now and do some other things for the next couple of days and try another run later this week. Wahoo!

This year is off to a good start and i'm already getting excited about the months to come! I'm going to continue to keep them short and easy for now and see how things go!