Easter is upon us...which means a short week of work for most of us with Good Friday off. It's been quite a while since i've had a long weekend off so i'm pretty pumped! I'm hoping our weather is starting to sort itself out...smarten up...and realize it's Spring damn it! The weekend's forecast looks outstanding and I can't wait to spend some quality time outside.
As everyone knows, Monday was the Boston Marathon! It didn't bother me so much last year that I wasn't partaking but this year I didn't even get to think about if I would register or not before it was sold out in 8 short hours. I followed the people I knew running it all day from behind my computer and cheered them on while impatiently waiting for the next 5km update. It definitely helped me with my low motivation lately for running. It really made me want to get back at it already and quit whining and complaining at myself every Sunday about having to do a long run. I go through this routine...ok i'll eat breakfast, let it settle for an hour and then get out there...ok, i'm being a little lazy on this Sunday morning...1 more hour and i'll get out there...oh look at Logan, he really needs to get to the dog park, poor guy...i'll take him there and then get out for a run...all of a sudden it's late afternoon...too late to get there now...and just skip it all together!
When I used to train with the running room it'd be easy as they left on their long run every sunday morning at 8:30. I need to get back to a good routine again...get up early, get the long run over with first thing and then have the rest of my day to do what i want. Makes sense. Stop being such a wimp Deb. Geezus.
Anyway, this weekend my brother and fam are staying in Canmore (a short hour drive from Calgary) with friends so i'm going to have some fun out there. The plan is for some good warm spring skiing at Sunshine on saturday and then a run on sunday with my bro. The run could either be pleasant or not...he's a lot faster and i'm a lot slower than our Transrockies days. Maybe he'll be nice to me.
Happy Easter everyone!
Showing posts with label Boston Marathon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boston Marathon. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Boston - PB & BQ!
Well it's my first day back to work after Boston...ugh, my legs hurt so bad! The second day after a race is always the most painful. I did have a 45 min leg massage this morning which was sweet but I hurt huge! I don't have time to write a good race report at the moment but it'll be coming soon I promise...along with a few pics I took.
In short I PB'd my best marathon time by 15 mins...totally unreal and unexpected for me...I don't even think it's sunk in yet really. I ran a 3:19:37...and moved up in the ranks from starting at 13833 overall to finishing in 4567th place overall out of almost 23,000 people.
It's kind of crazy to even see that final time next to my name. I looked at all the 5km splits online and I thought...how could I have continued to get faster throughout the entire race?! I believe I actually PB'd my best half marathon time in the second half of this marathon...guess all of that hill training really helped me as I didn't really find the Newton hills or Heartbreak hill to be a huge problem. Damn, all that worrying for nothing haha. I almost psyched myself out by worrying so much about the hills in this race.
My god Boston is the most rolling course i've ever done, it was crazy but it was awesome! I had a freakin fabulous experience and can't wait to go back next year!!!
Full race report soon!! Thanks for everyone's advice and support along the way, it's been a stressful past couple of months for sure :)
In short I PB'd my best marathon time by 15 mins...totally unreal and unexpected for me...I don't even think it's sunk in yet really. I ran a 3:19:37...and moved up in the ranks from starting at 13833 overall to finishing in 4567th place overall out of almost 23,000 people.
It's kind of crazy to even see that final time next to my name. I looked at all the 5km splits online and I thought...how could I have continued to get faster throughout the entire race?! I believe I actually PB'd my best half marathon time in the second half of this marathon...guess all of that hill training really helped me as I didn't really find the Newton hills or Heartbreak hill to be a huge problem. Damn, all that worrying for nothing haha. I almost psyched myself out by worrying so much about the hills in this race.
My god Boston is the most rolling course i've ever done, it was crazy but it was awesome! I had a freakin fabulous experience and can't wait to go back next year!!!
Full race report soon!! Thanks for everyone's advice and support along the way, it's been a stressful past couple of months for sure :)
Monday, April 13, 2009
T-minus 1 Week.....
Well it's Monday...i'm officially 1 week away from race day. That's nuts...how quickly did that come?! I remember counting down to Boston from 10 weeks out...now it's 1?!? I'm so freakin excited!!! I guess by now though I'd actually be finished the race and hopefully chillin out somewhere and basking in the afterglow :)
I had a pretty good weekend of running...an easy 8km on saturday and a 16km race pace on sunday with my friend Jeff. I'm aiming for a pace of 5:00 min/km on race day and it felt really good yesterday to run at that pace. I'm still struggling with issues in my left quad but i've been taking care of it....heating, rolling, stretching and taking epsom salt baths. I plan on running very little this week just to make sure it's good to go on monday. Likely i'll have a couple of very short runs and a couple of swims. I think i'll be good to go.
My only problem now is to figure out what the heck to wear on race day...temps this week look to be in the mid 50s F...which is around 12 degrees Celcius. Guess i'll have to bring a couple of different things and see what race day brings. Shorts are a must but not quite sure for up top. I've never run a marathon this early in the year before.
5 more sleeps till i'm outta here!
I had a pretty good weekend of running...an easy 8km on saturday and a 16km race pace on sunday with my friend Jeff. I'm aiming for a pace of 5:00 min/km on race day and it felt really good yesterday to run at that pace. I'm still struggling with issues in my left quad but i've been taking care of it....heating, rolling, stretching and taking epsom salt baths. I plan on running very little this week just to make sure it's good to go on monday. Likely i'll have a couple of very short runs and a couple of swims. I think i'll be good to go.
My only problem now is to figure out what the heck to wear on race day...temps this week look to be in the mid 50s F...which is around 12 degrees Celcius. Guess i'll have to bring a couple of different things and see what race day brings. Shorts are a must but not quite sure for up top. I've never run a marathon this early in the year before.
5 more sleeps till i'm outta here!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
More Boston babble...and tunage requests....
After reading other blogs and forums etc about all the people that started receiving their Boston info race packet back in Late March, I was starting to get worried where mine was! Finally on tuesday, it arrived!! It almost seems even more official that i'm doing it now...if that makes sense. It comes with this 30ish page booklet with all the info you would possibly need to know about the fitness expo (which i'm freakin psyched about), getting to the race, and the race itself. I also received this fancy card with all of my info on it to bring with me to the expo in order to pick up my number and goody bag. I have to make sure I put that in a good spot so I don't forget it...I can totally see myself sitting on the plane, going over and over in my head if i've remembered everything and then the slow realization that little card is the one thing i've forgotten. I'm really bad with packing...i tend to leave everything till the very last minute the night before any and every trip...i've spent many late late evenings packing the night before my flight. This time i'm going to try and not do that and actually have things organized for a change!! Hopefully that means I won't forget anything!
This has been a weird week of running...I had some great runs on the weekend, took monday off and had a leg massage, ran with my good friend Leanne on tuesday night...a nice easy 8km...and my legs hated me and my knee hurt a lot...i was so mad after that run...especially after feeling so good and loose after my massage on monday. The weather has been fantastic in Calgary this week and I was bummed yesterday that I would have to go swimming the rest of the week and not run because of my leg. On the bus ride home from work yesterday I thought...it's so beautiful out, I can not go swimming on a day like this. I decided to try and just stretch and loosen up on my walk with Logan and then go out for a light 10km instead. Well after a slow warm up things felt pretty good...then I ran into my group and they were just starting on speedwork and i thought what the hell, i might as well join them...5x800m repeats...fast. I felt pretty great actually which was a relief. Unfortunately then I had to run all the way home so what went from an easy 10km turned out to be a 15km run with speedwork in the middle. I felt good after the run, stretched tons and rolled out my legs. So i'm pretty much done with running till sunday. I'm going to go for a couple of swims tonight and saturday...and a very light 6km run tmw to loosen up. I think things are going well as I slowly prepare myself for race day.
Oh I've been meaning to ask you guys...I've been listening to the same music on my ipod when I run forever...I need some new running songs that will keep me motivated! What do you guys listen to? Apparently this is the first year they're allowing you to wear music during Boston which is great for me as i've never run a marathon without music. However, those that are competing for prize money don't get to wear music...obviously that doesn't affect me haha. I do think it's ironic that the one year they allow runners to wear music in the Boston marathon of all races...is the first year that they've decided to ban it from the Calgary marathon...thank god I ran that one last year!! Anyhow, i'm looking for some great tunes and if you have any good ideas, please let me know!
Have a great Easter weekend you guys!
Well I guess that's it for now! I hope everyone has a great Easter weekend, it's going to be a pretty nice one!!
This has been a weird week of running...I had some great runs on the weekend, took monday off and had a leg massage, ran with my good friend Leanne on tuesday night...a nice easy 8km...and my legs hated me and my knee hurt a lot...i was so mad after that run...especially after feeling so good and loose after my massage on monday. The weather has been fantastic in Calgary this week and I was bummed yesterday that I would have to go swimming the rest of the week and not run because of my leg. On the bus ride home from work yesterday I thought...it's so beautiful out, I can not go swimming on a day like this. I decided to try and just stretch and loosen up on my walk with Logan and then go out for a light 10km instead. Well after a slow warm up things felt pretty good...then I ran into my group and they were just starting on speedwork and i thought what the hell, i might as well join them...5x800m repeats...fast. I felt pretty great actually which was a relief. Unfortunately then I had to run all the way home so what went from an easy 10km turned out to be a 15km run with speedwork in the middle. I felt good after the run, stretched tons and rolled out my legs. So i'm pretty much done with running till sunday. I'm going to go for a couple of swims tonight and saturday...and a very light 6km run tmw to loosen up. I think things are going well as I slowly prepare myself for race day.
Oh I've been meaning to ask you guys...I've been listening to the same music on my ipod when I run forever...I need some new running songs that will keep me motivated! What do you guys listen to? Apparently this is the first year they're allowing you to wear music during Boston which is great for me as i've never run a marathon without music. However, those that are competing for prize money don't get to wear music...obviously that doesn't affect me haha. I do think it's ironic that the one year they allow runners to wear music in the Boston marathon of all races...is the first year that they've decided to ban it from the Calgary marathon...thank god I ran that one last year!! Anyhow, i'm looking for some great tunes and if you have any good ideas, please let me know!
Have a great Easter weekend you guys!
Well I guess that's it for now! I hope everyone has a great Easter weekend, it's going to be a pretty nice one!!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Emotional deb... :(
So...I never really thought I would feel this way but after finally booking my flight to Boston...and coming to the realization that it's so close...just a short 6 weeks away...i've realized that I'm already feeling pretty emotional about this whole experience. I mean i'm ecstatic and so happy about it...but i've been experiencing some emotions about it that I never really thought I would feel.
I'm kind of terrified...I'm going there by myself...and I don't have anyone to share this experience with....nobody to be there when I finish the biggest race i've ever done...the one i've been wanting to do since i started running 10 or so years ago...i'm quite sad about this and i never thought i would feel this way. I'm totally cool with being single...no problems there...pretty happy actually...and I've done countless races by myself and have gotten used to the idea of nobody being there to support me etc. But this race is different...and I feel pretty stupid admitting this as I always like to think i'm such a strong person and that stuff like this doesn't bother me. But it does...
One bit of good news that came from today was that I met several other runners going to Boston...some I knew from training with the running room last year and some I met for the first time today. It was bloody cold this morning and the windchill pretty awful so I figured I needed some extra motivation to get in a 30km...so I ran with the running room. It was pretty great...there's a 3:30 pace group at Eau Claire that are quite fast and I loved running with these guys. I realized that I did miss running with the RR so i'm going to join them for hills this wednesday too! Anyhow, while I have been kind of sad lately about going to Boston by myself...i did get pretty cheered up today that I will know some runners down there from Calgary. So while I don't have anyone there when I cross the finish line...i'll still have some running friends around.
Ciao for now...
and yay for daylight savings! :)
I'm kind of terrified...I'm going there by myself...and I don't have anyone to share this experience with....nobody to be there when I finish the biggest race i've ever done...the one i've been wanting to do since i started running 10 or so years ago...i'm quite sad about this and i never thought i would feel this way. I'm totally cool with being single...no problems there...pretty happy actually...and I've done countless races by myself and have gotten used to the idea of nobody being there to support me etc. But this race is different...and I feel pretty stupid admitting this as I always like to think i'm such a strong person and that stuff like this doesn't bother me. But it does...
One bit of good news that came from today was that I met several other runners going to Boston...some I knew from training with the running room last year and some I met for the first time today. It was bloody cold this morning and the windchill pretty awful so I figured I needed some extra motivation to get in a 30km...so I ran with the running room. It was pretty great...there's a 3:30 pace group at Eau Claire that are quite fast and I loved running with these guys. I realized that I did miss running with the RR so i'm going to join them for hills this wednesday too! Anyhow, while I have been kind of sad lately about going to Boston by myself...i did get pretty cheered up today that I will know some runners down there from Calgary. So while I don't have anyone there when I cross the finish line...i'll still have some running friends around.
Ciao for now...
and yay for daylight savings! :)
Friday, March 6, 2009
TGIF :)
Good morning! It's a beautiful sunny day out there...-16 right now though...just waiting for it to warm up a little bit before a nice fairly easy 20km run i've got planned today. I don't think I mentioned my exciting news this week yet...I finally booked my flight to Boston for the marathon! It actually feels real now...6 weeks and 3 days till race day :) Wow it's really been creeping up on me fast and I like that i'm finally starting to get excited!
Yesterday was cold...which I don't mind...but the wind was intense...which made it pretty ridiculous...i just couldn't get out there so I did some hill training on the treadmill...actually turned out not too bad! I had a nice 10min warmup and then a half hour of slow uphill running...i held a good pace for the whole half hour and had a pretty steep incline going on the treadmill. It was quite the workout! I've never really done anything like that before...usually i just find a really hilly run to go on or run hill repeats somewhere!
Even though Boston is close and i'm excited...i'm really really excited for the Transrockies race in August...my brother and I have been making plans and lists...it's pretty cool. I'm trying to get some really good hill training in right now as a good base for this summer...more hills than I normally do while training for a marathon. I'm definitely noticing a huge difference in my strength and how much easier I find running hills than I used to. It's great!
After taking last sunday off from a long run for some much needed rest, i'm really looking forward to a big one this sunday. Sometimes I wonder if it's super weird how much I love running...how much I think about it...how much I plan my days, weeks, months, vacations around it...it makes me so happy. I love being a runner :)
Anyhow, since i've discovered the lovely world of blogging and found so many great other blogs to follow of people doing and loving the same thing as me...i realize that i'm not the only crazy one out there who thinks about running, triathlons, training as much as I do! I look forward to reading all the new postings each day of the blogs that I follow...it really keeps me inspired and motivated too...especially on those days when i'm really not feeling like going for a run or workout. So thanks everybody! :) I know that after a crazy busy summer of running and races that I've got planned i'm going to really need you guys to get me through my transition into the lovely world of triathlon...it's super scary for me but i'm totally up for the challenge, the excitement, the adventure :)
Have a great day and a super weekend!
Cheers!
Yesterday was cold...which I don't mind...but the wind was intense...which made it pretty ridiculous...i just couldn't get out there so I did some hill training on the treadmill...actually turned out not too bad! I had a nice 10min warmup and then a half hour of slow uphill running...i held a good pace for the whole half hour and had a pretty steep incline going on the treadmill. It was quite the workout! I've never really done anything like that before...usually i just find a really hilly run to go on or run hill repeats somewhere!
Even though Boston is close and i'm excited...i'm really really excited for the Transrockies race in August...my brother and I have been making plans and lists...it's pretty cool. I'm trying to get some really good hill training in right now as a good base for this summer...more hills than I normally do while training for a marathon. I'm definitely noticing a huge difference in my strength and how much easier I find running hills than I used to. It's great!
After taking last sunday off from a long run for some much needed rest, i'm really looking forward to a big one this sunday. Sometimes I wonder if it's super weird how much I love running...how much I think about it...how much I plan my days, weeks, months, vacations around it...it makes me so happy. I love being a runner :)
Anyhow, since i've discovered the lovely world of blogging and found so many great other blogs to follow of people doing and loving the same thing as me...i realize that i'm not the only crazy one out there who thinks about running, triathlons, training as much as I do! I look forward to reading all the new postings each day of the blogs that I follow...it really keeps me inspired and motivated too...especially on those days when i'm really not feeling like going for a run or workout. So thanks everybody! :) I know that after a crazy busy summer of running and races that I've got planned i'm going to really need you guys to get me through my transition into the lovely world of triathlon...it's super scary for me but i'm totally up for the challenge, the excitement, the adventure :)
Have a great day and a super weekend!
Cheers!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Welcome to my blog!
I'm new to this so you'll have to bare with me as I try to figure out how to download pics etc! So what is the purpose of this blog? I'm just a girl who is very passionate about life and getting outside and enjoying herself...I guess it's a way for me to express myself, my ideas, thoughts etc. and share with everyone my adventures! First and foremost...those that know me, know i'm a runner...that's my thing...that's what I love the most and keeps me happy. I seem to think about running pretty much 24/7 and am constantly making goals for myself and planning races etc.
How did I go from hating running with a passion to it being one of the things i'm most passionate about? Good question...I blame my dad somewhere along the way :) In highschool I was a rower...if the lake was "red flag"...meaning too windy to row on (which is quite common in Newfoundland!)...then we either rowed on the erg...or went for a run...often up Signal Hill (that's in St.John's, NOT Calgary). Those who know St.John's, know that running up Signal Hill is a pretty hard and painful run. But the more we were forced to run, the more I liked it...funny how that happens.
I grew up with a dad who was/is a runner...running 6 days a week...a super FAST marathoner when he was racing...and I mean FAST! I guess part of that rubbed off on me and once I got into it, I knew I wanted to run marathons too! Now, low and behold, i've qualified for the Boston Marathon and i'm off to run that in oh...10 weeks from yesterday :) Training is going well so far...but I have had to deal with plantar fasciitis in my left foot for about 3 months now...but let's not get into that right now! Ok well that's about it for tonight...I hope everyone is having a great week as the cooler weather is coming back to Calgary. Oh how I do love those Chinooks though.....
How did I go from hating running with a passion to it being one of the things i'm most passionate about? Good question...I blame my dad somewhere along the way :) In highschool I was a rower...if the lake was "red flag"...meaning too windy to row on (which is quite common in Newfoundland!)...then we either rowed on the erg...or went for a run...often up Signal Hill (that's in St.John's, NOT Calgary). Those who know St.John's, know that running up Signal Hill is a pretty hard and painful run. But the more we were forced to run, the more I liked it...funny how that happens.
I grew up with a dad who was/is a runner...running 6 days a week...a super FAST marathoner when he was racing...and I mean FAST! I guess part of that rubbed off on me and once I got into it, I knew I wanted to run marathons too! Now, low and behold, i've qualified for the Boston Marathon and i'm off to run that in oh...10 weeks from yesterday :) Training is going well so far...but I have had to deal with plantar fasciitis in my left foot for about 3 months now...but let's not get into that right now! Ok well that's about it for tonight...I hope everyone is having a great week as the cooler weather is coming back to Calgary. Oh how I do love those Chinooks though.....
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