I write this while sitting in Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport waiting to check into, what will be, my sixth flight in two weeks on holidays. It's been a fantastic trip that has taken my husband and I to various parts of Europe as well as Morocco - and it's not even over yet.
Waking up on an earlier flight today, I had this epiphany: I love travelling but I also love being at home. I can honestly say that I'm happy with the life I've built for myself. Sure, we all might question our decisions from time to time, but on the whole I feel satisfied.
The past few years running marathons and writing this blog have shown me that setting challenges for oneself is important; it's helped me grow as a person and has kept me motivated in my running. These past few weeks being away, however, I've thought about my grad school convocation and the next steps in my career, but I haven't thought about running at all.
I suppose it's telling, in a way. Goal setting is not just about picking arbitrary targets; it's about staying focused on one's own interests and priorities. When I started Five by 35, I dreamed about completing five full marathons, finishing up at the 2014 BMO Vancouver Marathon. Not only did I complete four, but I also put my career on hiatus and decided to go to grad school. Long distance running, for a time, became a secondary focus, one I needed to put on the backburner in order to accomplish the other things I wanted in my life. After missing out on May's marathon, I wanted to believe that I still had it in me to do number five. But if I'm being honest with myself, I just don't wanna.
While it's important to set goals, perhaps it's just as important to recognize when we've outgrown the challenges we've set for ourselves.
I believe running will always be a part of me but, for now, marathon running is no longer in the cards. I have so much more to look forward to at this stage of my life. I'm still fresh from convocation and am resuming my career practically the instant I get home. I'm eager to put into practice the new skills I've learned in grad school, and use that experience to hopefully help people in some way. I'll make my husband join me on short weekend runs and, for now, given everything else in my life, that level of running is enough to keep me happy.
And so, for this final blog post on Five by 35, I wish you all enough challenges to keep you motivated, enough hardship to make you stronger, and enough happiness to last you a whole life long. Thank you so much for reading.
That's all she wrote.
Showing posts with label grad school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grad school. Show all posts
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Random Awesomeness
This has been a crazy and unusual week so far, and it's only Wednesday.
On Monday, I made a big career decision, ran 23 km, and then attended my final ever graduate-level class. Tuesday, Mike Gillis was fired as Vancouver Canucks' GM and President. Today, Trevor Linden (one of the great Canucks hockey players, who retired from the game six years ago) was named Canucks' President of Hockey Operations, and I received approval on my final thesis revisions, which means I can submit my thesis to the university library and it's done!
Okay, so a lot of that isn't necessarily about me, but this is a hockey-crazy town, and I'm also a big Trevor Linden fan, so all that Canucks news is kind of a big deal.
Beyond that, all I can say is... huh. The craziness of life. How about that?
This week's long run was the first I've done in over a month - not a strategy I would recommend for anyone. But I realized I had to try if I wanted to get back on track for marathon #5.
Last weekend was essentially the "drop-dead" date for me; if I couldn't get 23 km in, I wouldn't be able to move up the mileage in time for May. Hence, the cramming. Again, totally not recommended, but I'm doing the best I can given that these past few months have been so time strapped and the fact that I stubbornly do not want to let my BMO Vancouver Marathon registration go to waste!
This week's long run: 23 km. Weather: perfect for spring running, at 12°C and partly sunny. Feeling: like I'm way undertrained, but that wasn't a surprise. I'm also hopeful that I'll be able to salvage these last few weeks left in the training schedule to run a somewhat decent marathon in May. Keeping my fingers crossed!
On Monday, I made a big career decision, ran 23 km, and then attended my final ever graduate-level class. Tuesday, Mike Gillis was fired as Vancouver Canucks' GM and President. Today, Trevor Linden (one of the great Canucks hockey players, who retired from the game six years ago) was named Canucks' President of Hockey Operations, and I received approval on my final thesis revisions, which means I can submit my thesis to the university library and it's done!
Okay, so a lot of that isn't necessarily about me, but this is a hockey-crazy town, and I'm also a big Trevor Linden fan, so all that Canucks news is kind of a big deal.
Beyond that, all I can say is... huh. The craziness of life. How about that?
From today's press conference: Trevor Linden excited to get started as the Canucks new President
This week's long run was the first I've done in over a month - not a strategy I would recommend for anyone. But I realized I had to try if I wanted to get back on track for marathon #5.
Last weekend was essentially the "drop-dead" date for me; if I couldn't get 23 km in, I wouldn't be able to move up the mileage in time for May. Hence, the cramming. Again, totally not recommended, but I'm doing the best I can given that these past few months have been so time strapped and the fact that I stubbornly do not want to let my BMO Vancouver Marathon registration go to waste!
This week's long run: 23 km. Weather: perfect for spring running, at 12°C and partly sunny. Feeling: like I'm way undertrained, but that wasn't a surprise. I'm also hopeful that I'll be able to salvage these last few weeks left in the training schedule to run a somewhat decent marathon in May. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Life Lessons Learned from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
You may remember me presenting this old formula: run 32 km. Instantly feel better about yourself and life in general.
While I only did about a third of that distance today, it sure went a long way to restoring some balance in my life at a time that feels very unbalanced. After running four marathons and nearly finishing a graduate degree as a 'mature' student, the thing in my life that remains the most challenging is dealing with a difficult family member.
I know mine is not an isolated issue. Everyone has a mother, father, sister, brother, cousin, aunt, uncle, etc. they don't get along with. And the degree to which relationships are strained varies; it may be a minor annoyance, ranging to outright estrangement.
Having to deal with difficult family is exhausting, but it's also an opportunity to learn, or perhaps, re-learn, lessons about one's self. Do I think this particular family member is a terrible person? Absolutely. No question. But there's no changing her. The only person I can control is myself.
Today's run helped me remember what I feel is important, and how I want to aspire to live my life - specifically, one that is filled with gratitude, kindness, and humility.
I want to be more accepting of others' situations, and understand that not everyone may believe or feel the same as I do; this doesn't mean they're wrong, but that they have a different perspective and outlook on the world.
I want to remember, always, that everyone is dealing with their own challenges in life and that, sometimes, they may not have the capacity or ability to be the best version of themselves. When that happens, they might need time or space to just be.
If I've hurt someone for any reason, I want to be able to say, "I'm sorry." And not only do I want to be able to say it, but I also want to really, truly mean it.
Most importantly, I never want anyone to feel that they owe me anything, just because I've done something nice for them. Gestures of kindness should be unconditional - done because one wants to, not because they expect anything in return.
As Amanda Fucking Palmer said on her epic multimedia blog post about TED 2014, BIL 2014 and #NINJAvan which all took place in Vancouver last week: "BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER."
All I can say to that is: WORD.
Today's run: 10 km. Weather: cloudy, cool, light showers. Feeling prior to run: exhausted, emotionally drained and devoid of energy. Feeling post-run: better. That's all I could have asked for.
While I only did about a third of that distance today, it sure went a long way to restoring some balance in my life at a time that feels very unbalanced. After running four marathons and nearly finishing a graduate degree as a 'mature' student, the thing in my life that remains the most challenging is dealing with a difficult family member.
I know mine is not an isolated issue. Everyone has a mother, father, sister, brother, cousin, aunt, uncle, etc. they don't get along with. And the degree to which relationships are strained varies; it may be a minor annoyance, ranging to outright estrangement.
Having to deal with difficult family is exhausting, but it's also an opportunity to learn, or perhaps, re-learn, lessons about one's self. Do I think this particular family member is a terrible person? Absolutely. No question. But there's no changing her. The only person I can control is myself.
Today's run helped me remember what I feel is important, and how I want to aspire to live my life - specifically, one that is filled with gratitude, kindness, and humility.
I want to be more accepting of others' situations, and understand that not everyone may believe or feel the same as I do; this doesn't mean they're wrong, but that they have a different perspective and outlook on the world.
I want to remember, always, that everyone is dealing with their own challenges in life and that, sometimes, they may not have the capacity or ability to be the best version of themselves. When that happens, they might need time or space to just be.
If I've hurt someone for any reason, I want to be able to say, "I'm sorry." And not only do I want to be able to say it, but I also want to really, truly mean it.
Most importantly, I never want anyone to feel that they owe me anything, just because I've done something nice for them. Gestures of kindness should be unconditional - done because one wants to, not because they expect anything in return.
As Amanda Fucking Palmer said on her epic multimedia blog post about TED 2014, BIL 2014 and #NINJAvan which all took place in Vancouver last week: "BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER."
All I can say to that is: WORD.
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| © 2014 Matthew Lowe and Squelch Design |
Today's run: 10 km. Weather: cloudy, cool, light showers. Feeling prior to run: exhausted, emotionally drained and devoid of energy. Feeling post-run: better. That's all I could have asked for.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Nope. Nope. Nope.
Quick update: I've pretty much quit marathon training.
Last year, a friend from my Master's program came to this realization: "To succeed at grad school, I have to fail at everything else in life."
While sad, I've found this to be absolutely true - especially in these last three months before finishing up. Why did I decide to try and train for a marathon at the same time as completing my grad degree? Because I'm stupid, that's why.
So, no. No more running right now. I don't have time. It's not an excuse. It's just the way life is at the moment. C'est la friggin' vie.
I don't know if this means whether number 5 in May is a complete bust. At this point, nothing is certain. Will update again when I can.
P.S. If you don't hear from me, just assume I've suffocated under the soul-crushing weight of my thesis.
Last year, a friend from my Master's program came to this realization: "To succeed at grad school, I have to fail at everything else in life."
While sad, I've found this to be absolutely true - especially in these last three months before finishing up. Why did I decide to try and train for a marathon at the same time as completing my grad degree? Because I'm stupid, that's why.
So, no. No more running right now. I don't have time. It's not an excuse. It's just the way life is at the moment. C'est la friggin' vie.
I don't know if this means whether number 5 in May is a complete bust. At this point, nothing is certain. Will update again when I can.
P.S. If you don't hear from me, just assume I've suffocated under the soul-crushing weight of my thesis.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Did That Just Happen?
I've been having a tough time with my running. Lack of motivation to stick to my training schedule, and feeling anxious about choosing between running and school work has sometimes left me paralyzed. The result has been a less-than-best effort put into, well, anything I'm doing right now.
In other words, definitely not winning at life at the moment.
I didn't run at all last week, which has put me slightly behind on my long mileage. This can be disheartening, as it only serves to feed into the mentality of, "Maybe I should just give up on training completely." But, miraculously, I forced myself out there today. It wasn't great, but it was better than nothing. Also, I don't know many other people who ran 19 km today, so I have to remind myself that any long distance is a good thing.
Sometimes after doing long runs I think to myself, "Did that just happen?" It sometimes feels a bit surreal, especially after periods of blah. But I have GPS and heart rate data to prove it, so it must've happened. Small wins, right?
Today's run: 19 km. Weather: dry and cool. Feeling: okay.
Side note: a male runner who passed me today said, "Nice gait!" At first I was all like, say what now? But then I found it funny - and a little flattering. He may or may not really know what good running form looks like, but it was still nice for him to say.
In other words, definitely not winning at life at the moment.
I didn't run at all last week, which has put me slightly behind on my long mileage. This can be disheartening, as it only serves to feed into the mentality of, "Maybe I should just give up on training completely." But, miraculously, I forced myself out there today. It wasn't great, but it was better than nothing. Also, I don't know many other people who ran 19 km today, so I have to remind myself that any long distance is a good thing.
Sometimes after doing long runs I think to myself, "Did that just happen?" It sometimes feels a bit surreal, especially after periods of blah. But I have GPS and heart rate data to prove it, so it must've happened. Small wins, right?
Today's run: 19 km. Weather: dry and cool. Feeling: okay.
Side note: a male runner who passed me today said, "Nice gait!" At first I was all like, say what now? But then I found it funny - and a little flattering. He may or may not really know what good running form looks like, but it was still nice for him to say.
Props to everyone who ran the Pacific Road Runners First Half in support of Variety - The Children's Charity of British Columbia today. Hope you all enjoyed the race, and the brief periods of sun we had this morning!
I think gratitude, in any form, is a wonderful thing. Here's a little video from Variety saying thanks to the Pacific Road Runners for all their support over the years. Enjoy!
Friday, January 3, 2014
Running Round-Up: New Year, New Marathon Edition
Happy New Year, friends! I hope all of you had a chance to wind down, sleep in and de-stress over the holidays. And now, here we are: 2014! I've had a lot on my mind but no single topics that warrant their own blog post, so here's another round-up for you on what I think about when I think about running (or, when I'm actually running). Hopefully my mind will stop wandering all over the place when classes start again on Monday.
Marathon Training
I've signed up for marathon #5 and realized this week that I've never before run a marathon in May. I realized this, when I went to work out my marathon training schedule earlier this week only to discover that I should have started training last weekend. Oooops. No matter... having missed the first two runs in the first week out of 18 total weeks of training is not a big deal. It just made me chuckle, is all.
What a Difference a Day Makes
As per my schedule for this week, I ran 6 km yesterday and another 6 km today, which is more mileage in one week than I've run since October. And yesterday was a great day to start as well, as it was raining and cold...which most people would find depressing, but I find rather glorious: fewer people around the seawall, that certain aura of mystery that only rain and fog can bring i.e. you know, like X-Files' style. That cool quiet is part of the reason I fell in love with the west coast in the first place. Today was also glorious, but for other reasons. The city started its day enveloped in a thick, pea soup-like fog, but opened up to filtered sunshine and dry weather. Two very different days, but both amazing. Rain or shine, I guess I just have a love affair with this place.
Bit of Worry
Having let my fitness lapse a bit since marathon #4 at the end of September, and likely having put on a little turkey weight over the holidays, I'm definitely feeling a bit sluggish out there. The past few runs have been slow and plodding, and have pretty much taken up my entire morning. Being a slower long-distance runner than most (that's not being humble, it's fact) means that other runners are knocking off higher mileage in less amounts of time. Given that I have to commit more time to training because I'm a slower runner, deciding to train for a May marathon in my last semester of my graduate degree with three months to go before I have to defend my thesis makes me worry whether I've bitten off more than I can chew. I must be nuts, right? At the very least, it will be a good experiment in time management. We'll just have to see.
Slow and Steady
Speaking of plodding, on December 31, John Stanton's page on Facebook posted this status update: "Enjoy your run today...there is someone out there that is more happy than you...running a lot slower." Me being me, I commented with this: "I'm the slow one! No one is slower than me so, you're welcome, everybody!" The nice thing was, I got six likes and a few encouraging replies. Not a bad way to end the year.
Hope 2014 has been good to you all so far! What races are on your list for this year?
Marathon Training
I've signed up for marathon #5 and realized this week that I've never before run a marathon in May. I realized this, when I went to work out my marathon training schedule earlier this week only to discover that I should have started training last weekend. Oooops. No matter... having missed the first two runs in the first week out of 18 total weeks of training is not a big deal. It just made me chuckle, is all.
 |
| My last ever marathon training schedule?? |
As per my schedule for this week, I ran 6 km yesterday and another 6 km today, which is more mileage in one week than I've run since October. And yesterday was a great day to start as well, as it was raining and cold...which most people would find depressing, but I find rather glorious: fewer people around the seawall, that certain aura of mystery that only rain and fog can bring i.e. you know, like X-Files' style. That cool quiet is part of the reason I fell in love with the west coast in the first place. Today was also glorious, but for other reasons. The city started its day enveloped in a thick, pea soup-like fog, but opened up to filtered sunshine and dry weather. Two very different days, but both amazing. Rain or shine, I guess I just have a love affair with this place.
 |
| Vancouver fog: late 2013 © Alexis Birkill |
Bit of Worry
Having let my fitness lapse a bit since marathon #4 at the end of September, and likely having put on a little turkey weight over the holidays, I'm definitely feeling a bit sluggish out there. The past few runs have been slow and plodding, and have pretty much taken up my entire morning. Being a slower long-distance runner than most (that's not being humble, it's fact) means that other runners are knocking off higher mileage in less amounts of time. Given that I have to commit more time to training because I'm a slower runner, deciding to train for a May marathon in my last semester of my graduate degree with three months to go before I have to defend my thesis makes me worry whether I've bitten off more than I can chew. I must be nuts, right? At the very least, it will be a good experiment in time management. We'll just have to see.
Slow and Steady
Speaking of plodding, on December 31, John Stanton's page on Facebook posted this status update: "Enjoy your run today...there is someone out there that is more happy than you...running a lot slower." Me being me, I commented with this: "I'm the slow one! No one is slower than me so, you're welcome, everybody!" The nice thing was, I got six likes and a few encouraging replies. Not a bad way to end the year.
Hope 2014 has been good to you all so far! What races are on your list for this year?
Monday, September 2, 2013
Goodbye, Summer!
It is now September and with it comes the last few weeks of marathon training... but also another year of school! (Yay?)
Running these past few weeks has been quite the challenge. I haven't felt as good out there as I did earlier in the training schedule; part of it might be the changing seasons (oh, the humidity!) but out there today, I couldn't help but wonder if my poor diet and lifestyle choices i.e. long weekend wine- and beering, are taking their toll. Note to self: try and stay a little "drier" and away from pizza and gravy the next few weeks.
I've also found it challenging to stay motivated, given that I've got an assignment for my thesis due next week already (insert whipping sound here, am I right?). It's a sure signal that I'll need to stay extra diligent in forcing myself out on days where all I can think about is the next readings or project or report coming due.
Because of all this, I'm expecting - as with last year - that I may not be on the blog as often. For this month, I'll definitely have an update on #4 and how that all goes; I'm definitely getting a little nervous, but it's mainly because the running's been less than spectacular. Hoping that will take a turn for the better going into the final four weeks of training.
Today's run: 29 km. Weather: a little of everything. Light showers, cloud, variable sun, a little humidity. Feeling: very meh and worried about race day. If it's this hard now, how can I possibly finish 42.2 km in four weeks!? Trying to not panic.
Hope everyone had a fantastic summer! If you're back to school or work tomorrow, I wish you a productive and positive first day. And if you're sending kids back to the classroom, woot woot for you!
Running these past few weeks has been quite the challenge. I haven't felt as good out there as I did earlier in the training schedule; part of it might be the changing seasons (oh, the humidity!) but out there today, I couldn't help but wonder if my poor diet and lifestyle choices i.e. long weekend wine- and beering, are taking their toll. Note to self: try and stay a little "drier" and away from pizza and gravy the next few weeks.
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| Me for the next eight months! |
Because of all this, I'm expecting - as with last year - that I may not be on the blog as often. For this month, I'll definitely have an update on #4 and how that all goes; I'm definitely getting a little nervous, but it's mainly because the running's been less than spectacular. Hoping that will take a turn for the better going into the final four weeks of training.
Today's run: 29 km. Weather: a little of everything. Light showers, cloud, variable sun, a little humidity. Feeling: very meh and worried about race day. If it's this hard now, how can I possibly finish 42.2 km in four weeks!? Trying to not panic.
Hope everyone had a fantastic summer! If you're back to school or work tomorrow, I wish you a productive and positive first day. And if you're sending kids back to the classroom, woot woot for you!
Friday, April 26, 2013
What I Like Best About/Announcement: Number 4
What I Like Best About...
Not Working
This time between the end of term and before starting my summer co-op work assignments for my graduate program has been nothing short of glorious. The weather has been sunny and warm. And despite a penchant for being home-bound, I've been remarkably productive this entire week: the laundry is done, the dishes are clean, the bunnies' supplies are well-stocked.
But obviously, the thing I like best about not working is being able to run whenever I want. I ran to complete errands. I ran because it was beautiful. I ran because I was bored. I ran simply just to run. And it was totally rad.
Running in the Spring
The weather has been perfect: not too hot, not too cold. As Goldilocks would say, "It was just right."
Not Having Too Much Time Off
As I said in my last post, I could get used to this beautiful weather and having loads of time off. (Boy, could I ever!) But I start my first co-op assignment on Monday. I'll be back to the grind, and having to fit runs into a less-than-strenuous-than-during-the-school-year schedule. Not having too much time off really will be a good thing, however, as I won't get too comfortable where I am right now. I'm thankful for the break, but a little responsibility is not such a bad thing.
Running Outside
On today's run, I came across a cyclist wielding stereo speakers and playing some old school R&B. While still in motion, I had a five second conversation with volunteers for the NDP election campaign. I smiled at seeing a man wearing a pair of seriously tight pants. I watched dragon boaters on the creek as they worked on their form. And if I chose to run indoors, I would never have experienced these things today. Running outdoors is a special joy that cannot be replaced by elliptical machines and treadmills.
The Lingo
Running lingo just cracks me up. It's a special vocabulary. For example: fartleks, intervals, split times, race pace ... these terms I know. But I came across a few more this week that I'd never heard of before, and wanted to share because I thought they were cool!
Turkey or Bandit: an unregistered runner, trying to race for free.
Running the tangents: shortest distance between two points, usually referring to running the shortest line in the curves/corners.
Event Shirts
Every time a runner participates in a race, he or she is likely to get a T-shirt from the event. Many people wear these shirts while training - partly because most are technical shirts and are of good quality for running, but also out of pride i.e. I ran this race and want to share that with everyone I see on today's run!
I was wearing my Marathon by the Sea tech shirt on today's run and thought I was kind of "all that" for showing off an east coast race. But I saw a runner today wearing a shirt from the 2010 Chicago Marathon - and that was pretty cool. Runners participate in races all over the world; it's neat to see where they've been and to know they've achieved those goals for themselves.
Announcement: Number 4
At the end of January, I blogged about the races I was considering for marathon #4. But after looking into them a bit more closely, I eventually decided I didn't want to run any of them.
So which marathon am I running, you ask? Well, it's a British Columbia marathon (bringing 'er back home) and it's early in the fall ... it's the Surrey International World Music Marathon on September 29!
Surrey is a suburb of the Lower Mainland and, while it doesn't have the greatest reputation, I think the event will be great. For one, it's close to home. And even though this is only the second year that Surrey is hosting this event, I'm really excited at the prospect of seeing the neighbourhoods on foot and adding to my local medal count.
Now ... to get back into shape! I'm currently working on building my base mileage and hope to be in good form by the time I start to properly train at the end of May. It's kind of nice to have a definitive running goal, once again. Yippee!
Have a great weekend, everybody. Happy running!
Not Working
This time between the end of term and before starting my summer co-op work assignments for my graduate program has been nothing short of glorious. The weather has been sunny and warm. And despite a penchant for being home-bound, I've been remarkably productive this entire week: the laundry is done, the dishes are clean, the bunnies' supplies are well-stocked.
But obviously, the thing I like best about not working is being able to run whenever I want. I ran to complete errands. I ran because it was beautiful. I ran because I was bored. I ran simply just to run. And it was totally rad.
Running in the Spring
The weather has been perfect: not too hot, not too cold. As Goldilocks would say, "It was just right."
Not Having Too Much Time Off
As I said in my last post, I could get used to this beautiful weather and having loads of time off. (Boy, could I ever!) But I start my first co-op assignment on Monday. I'll be back to the grind, and having to fit runs into a less-than-strenuous-than-during-the-school-year schedule. Not having too much time off really will be a good thing, however, as I won't get too comfortable where I am right now. I'm thankful for the break, but a little responsibility is not such a bad thing.
Running Outside
On today's run, I came across a cyclist wielding stereo speakers and playing some old school R&B. While still in motion, I had a five second conversation with volunteers for the NDP election campaign. I smiled at seeing a man wearing a pair of seriously tight pants. I watched dragon boaters on the creek as they worked on their form. And if I chose to run indoors, I would never have experienced these things today. Running outdoors is a special joy that cannot be replaced by elliptical machines and treadmills.
The Lingo
Running lingo just cracks me up. It's a special vocabulary. For example: fartleks, intervals, split times, race pace ... these terms I know. But I came across a few more this week that I'd never heard of before, and wanted to share because I thought they were cool!
 |
| Example of a tangent line! Image © runninginspired.wordpress.com |
Turkey or Bandit: an unregistered runner, trying to race for free.
Running the tangents: shortest distance between two points, usually referring to running the shortest line in the curves/corners.
Event Shirts
Every time a runner participates in a race, he or she is likely to get a T-shirt from the event. Many people wear these shirts while training - partly because most are technical shirts and are of good quality for running, but also out of pride i.e. I ran this race and want to share that with everyone I see on today's run!
I was wearing my Marathon by the Sea tech shirt on today's run and thought I was kind of "all that" for showing off an east coast race. But I saw a runner today wearing a shirt from the 2010 Chicago Marathon - and that was pretty cool. Runners participate in races all over the world; it's neat to see where they've been and to know they've achieved those goals for themselves.
Announcement: Number 4
At the end of January, I blogged about the races I was considering for marathon #4. But after looking into them a bit more closely, I eventually decided I didn't want to run any of them.
So which marathon am I running, you ask? Well, it's a British Columbia marathon (bringing 'er back home) and it's early in the fall ... it's the Surrey International World Music Marathon on September 29!
 |
© Surrey International World Music Marathon
|
Surrey is a suburb of the Lower Mainland and, while it doesn't have the greatest reputation, I think the event will be great. For one, it's close to home. And even though this is only the second year that Surrey is hosting this event, I'm really excited at the prospect of seeing the neighbourhoods on foot and adding to my local medal count.
Now ... to get back into shape! I'm currently working on building my base mileage and hope to be in good form by the time I start to properly train at the end of May. It's kind of nice to have a definitive running goal, once again. Yippee!
Have a great weekend, everybody. Happy running!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Hello, Spring!
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© insidevancouver.ca
|
Grad school is a problem
This is true for soooo many reasons, but the one I'm thinking about in particular relates to running. March was a true bust. I tried, but deadlines and meetings and assignments are really challenging to work around. And yes, I know I sound like a broken record. All I can say is, I'm looking forward to this term being over (less than three weeks to go)!
You know you're a long distance runner when ...
... it takes, at minimum, four kilometres before really being able to settle into a run. Even though I'm out of shape, and probably a little heavier than I should be at the moment (stupid grad school!), once I got past that minimum distance on this morning's run it was like my muscle memory just took over. Really looking forward to getting back to those Sunday long runs!
Lack of tracking
I haven't written much about this, but it's my personal opinion that it's very important to track everything you do when it comes to running. This includes keeping stock of your mileage, the days you ran, how you felt, what you ate; many people keep running journals for this very purpose. This helps to show you how you've improved over time - which is always a good thing! Another benefit to knowing how much you've run is to give you an indication of when you should be switching out of your old shoes into new ones. Admittedly, I've fallen short on my tracking duties as of late but being out there today reminded me of this. Note to self: upload Garmin data and update gear tracker!
This one is more for me, than you
I've recently been telling people that I'm younger than I am - and not even on purpose! Oops. But when I realized how old I really am, it was an eye-opener that I don't have much time to complete my Five by 35. So just as a reminder (for me, mostly): I am currently 33 years old, turning 34 in October. There. Glad that's sorted.
Update: Number 4
Speaking of Five by 35, thanks to the (very few ... sad face!) people who voted on the poll regarding which marathon I should run this year. I think I've made a decision ... but I'm going to keep it under wraps for now. More on this later.
Happy Easter everyone!
This is true for soooo many reasons, but the one I'm thinking about in particular relates to running. March was a true bust. I tried, but deadlines and meetings and assignments are really challenging to work around. And yes, I know I sound like a broken record. All I can say is, I'm looking forward to this term being over (less than three weeks to go)!
You know you're a long distance runner when ...
... it takes, at minimum, four kilometres before really being able to settle into a run. Even though I'm out of shape, and probably a little heavier than I should be at the moment (stupid grad school!), once I got past that minimum distance on this morning's run it was like my muscle memory just took over. Really looking forward to getting back to those Sunday long runs!
Lack of tracking
I haven't written much about this, but it's my personal opinion that it's very important to track everything you do when it comes to running. This includes keeping stock of your mileage, the days you ran, how you felt, what you ate; many people keep running journals for this very purpose. This helps to show you how you've improved over time - which is always a good thing! Another benefit to knowing how much you've run is to give you an indication of when you should be switching out of your old shoes into new ones. Admittedly, I've fallen short on my tracking duties as of late but being out there today reminded me of this. Note to self: upload Garmin data and update gear tracker!
This one is more for me, than you
I've recently been telling people that I'm younger than I am - and not even on purpose! Oops. But when I realized how old I really am, it was an eye-opener that I don't have much time to complete my Five by 35. So just as a reminder (for me, mostly): I am currently 33 years old, turning 34 in October. There. Glad that's sorted.
Update: Number 4
Speaking of Five by 35, thanks to the (very few ... sad face!) people who voted on the poll regarding which marathon I should run this year. I think I've made a decision ... but I'm going to keep it under wraps for now. More on this later.
Happy Easter everyone!
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| Bunny nuzzle ... or alternatively, bunuzzle. |
Friday, February 1, 2013
It's Days Like This That I Really Miss Crossfit
I spent nearly five hours reviewing macroeconomics problems in preparation for an online assignment which is quickly coming due. When I finally attempted the assignment, I still ended up with a less than stellar test score. All I wanted to do was throw my laptop off the balcony. So frustrating!
It's days like this where I really wish I could just lift something insanely heavy, over and over again, and have a trainer to run my ass into the ground until I can no longer breathe. Seriously.
Ahh, those were the days.
Sadly, Crossfit is not a budget-conscious endeavour and is certainly not something to undertake when earnings are nil. But I do miss it from time to time ... which may be a bit surprising if you've met me because I'm pretty little and probably not the first person that might come to mind when it comes to weightlifting.
I really was frustrated today though and, in the absence of such an intense workout, I had to do something but had only a limited amount of time. What to do?
Solution: run super fast on the treadmill for five to 10 minutes. And then do, like, a million squats.
Might not be much, but I certainly felt better afterwards. And no laptops were harmed in the process.
It's days like this where I really wish I could just lift something insanely heavy, over and over again, and have a trainer to run my ass into the ground until I can no longer breathe. Seriously.
Ahh, those were the days.
Sadly, Crossfit is not a budget-conscious endeavour and is certainly not something to undertake when earnings are nil. But I do miss it from time to time ... which may be a bit surprising if you've met me because I'm pretty little and probably not the first person that might come to mind when it comes to weightlifting.
I really was frustrated today though and, in the absence of such an intense workout, I had to do something but had only a limited amount of time. What to do?
Solution: run super fast on the treadmill for five to 10 minutes. And then do, like, a million squats.
Might not be much, but I certainly felt better afterwards. And no laptops were harmed in the process.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
(Non) Running Round Up: First Edition of 2013
Happy 2013 and welcome to a whole new year of running!
I realize I'm behind on this kind of well-wishing, but I feel like I haven't had that much to say. I haven't been running, but I've been seriously thinking about it (that's worth something, ain't it?). I'd love to (finally!) share some of those thoughts with you.
Sicking Sticking With It
Getting into my shoes has obviously been a big problem ever since I ran marathon #3 in August. I feel like I've been plagued by illness ... and thanks to the blog acting as an online journal, after looking back, I apparently have been! One of my classmates also confirmed that ever since she's known me (i.e. since the start of the school year in September), I've been sick. I'm not trying to use this as an excuse for not running, but in some ways it's nice to have validation.
My only thought on this: did I not run because I was sick, or was I sick because I didn't run?
I do actually believe it's the latter. Obviously, there are plenty of studies out there that show physical activity helps to decrease stress and boost immunity levels. I haven't been running, therefore I've been stressed out and sick all the time. Makes sense!
The solution? Go running. Go figure.
Time Management is a Bitch, But ...
I found it extremely difficult in my first semester of grad school to balance schoolwork, life and running. And I know it's going to continue to be difficult for the next year and a half. Not that long ago, I got to the point where I seriously considered not running at all! But that's silly, right? Time management will always be a challenge. If I can figure this one out now (it will be a miracle!), I think being able to juggle any schedule in future can and will be possible.
Long story short: I'm continuing with the plan to run Five by 35. And blogging about it at the same time. While undertaking a Master's degree. (I must be out of my freaking mind.)
Racing 2013-Style
I'm just gonna lay it out there. Here's what I'm thinking: no spring or early summer races.
I know it can be hard to stay on track that way, but here's the thing ... races cost money! And I'm a poor student now. I never realized before how expensive entry fees are, but that's because I was always earning money.
I think, to give myself the best chance to finish marathon #4 this year, I need to pick a full that is scheduled for late summer or early fall. The current school term wraps up in April. Over the summer, I'll be working and doing a little research, but I'm not expecting to be as time-crunched as I am right now, which means (relatively speaking) I'll have oodles of time for slow long runs on weekends.
(Sidebar: as I finished typing that last sentence, I got tingly all over. I'm gonna take this as a good sign that I'm ready to get back at it!)
Here's my shortlist for #4:
The criteria I used to evaluate which races made the final cut were:
I need to pick one soon, so I can get it in the books and commit to it publicly ... always helps in the goal setting process!
Will you help me choose? Please vote on the blog's main page!
Quote of the Day
This time it's from the man, Albert Einstein:
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Therefore, to get out of this non-running rut, I've gotta do something different. Got it.
Thanks Al!
I realize I'm behind on this kind of well-wishing, but I feel like I haven't had that much to say. I haven't been running, but I've been seriously thinking about it (that's worth something, ain't it?). I'd love to (finally!) share some of those thoughts with you.
Getting into my shoes has obviously been a big problem ever since I ran marathon #3 in August. I feel like I've been plagued by illness ... and thanks to the blog acting as an online journal, after looking back, I apparently have been! One of my classmates also confirmed that ever since she's known me (i.e. since the start of the school year in September), I've been sick. I'm not trying to use this as an excuse for not running, but in some ways it's nice to have validation.
My only thought on this: did I not run because I was sick, or was I sick because I didn't run?
I do actually believe it's the latter. Obviously, there are plenty of studies out there that show physical activity helps to decrease stress and boost immunity levels. I haven't been running, therefore I've been stressed out and sick all the time. Makes sense!
The solution? Go running. Go figure.
I found it extremely difficult in my first semester of grad school to balance schoolwork, life and running. And I know it's going to continue to be difficult for the next year and a half. Not that long ago, I got to the point where I seriously considered not running at all! But that's silly, right? Time management will always be a challenge. If I can figure this one out now (it will be a miracle!), I think being able to juggle any schedule in future can and will be possible.
Long story short: I'm continuing with the plan to run Five by 35. And blogging about it at the same time. While undertaking a Master's degree. (I must be out of my freaking mind.)
Racing 2013-Style
I'm just gonna lay it out there. Here's what I'm thinking: no spring or early summer races.
I know it can be hard to stay on track that way, but here's the thing ... races cost money! And I'm a poor student now. I never realized before how expensive entry fees are, but that's because I was always earning money.
I think, to give myself the best chance to finish marathon #4 this year, I need to pick a full that is scheduled for late summer or early fall. The current school term wraps up in April. Over the summer, I'll be working and doing a little research, but I'm not expecting to be as time-crunched as I am right now, which means (relatively speaking) I'll have oodles of time for slow long runs on weekends.
(Sidebar: as I finished typing that last sentence, I got tingly all over. I'm gonna take this as a good sign that I'm ready to get back at it!)
Here's my shortlist for #4:
- The Santa Rosa Marathon on August 25;
- Sunriver Marathon for a Cause on September 1;
- Lake Chelan Shore to Shore on September 7; and
- Bellingham Bay Marathon on September 29.
The criteria I used to evaluate which races made the final cut were:
- Dates: as alluded to earlier, this one was the priority;
- Proximity to home: if my husband and I have to travel, we didn't want it to be too far; and
- Size: the last two marathons I've participated in were a little smaller, so it would be nice to run a race with a fair number of registrants.
I need to pick one soon, so I can get it in the books and commit to it publicly ... always helps in the goal setting process!
Will you help me choose? Please vote on the blog's main page!
Quote of the DayThis time it's from the man, Albert Einstein:
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Therefore, to get out of this non-running rut, I've gotta do something different. Got it.
Thanks Al!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Canter Rain Check
Today was supposed to be the first annual Christmas Canter. Yes, that's right ... I said "was."
Sadly, I did not make it out there. As sometimes happens on race days, one might be injured, or get sick, or just not be prepared well enough. Mine is a combination of sickness and ill-preparedness.
A 10 km run I could do without much training, albeit at a leisurely pace - not the race pace at which I had originally intended to run the Christmas Canter. But running it while not feeling well? Not keen on the idea. (Anyone else feel like I've been perpetually sick all year? I sure do.)
To be completely transparent, my running has definitely fallen by the wayside. Creating the race at least got me thinking about running - and got me into my running shoes more in the last few weeks than I'd run all semester. But the workload for school has definitely been a huge factor that I'm going to need to manage better if I'm going to complete any running goals next year.
For today, I'm going to rest up, pack for our Christmas trip and perhaps do a little research into the races I want to run in 2013. I'm contemplating the Spring Run Off, a long-standing 8 km race here in Vancouver which, oddly, I've never run. I'm also thinking about doing the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon again, as an intermediate race to a full marathon later in the year. Edge 2 Edge is definitely on my mind, having had to let that one go this year due to injury. Although, aiming for a fall marathon might be more realistic, as I'll be able to better train over the summer, without any classes and school work to worry about. Things to ponder.
I'm a little disappointed about not running today, but hey - shit happens. Whaddya gonna do? Sorry to those who were looking forward to today's race results! Perhaps we'll try again next year.
Sadly, I did not make it out there. As sometimes happens on race days, one might be injured, or get sick, or just not be prepared well enough. Mine is a combination of sickness and ill-preparedness.
A 10 km run I could do without much training, albeit at a leisurely pace - not the race pace at which I had originally intended to run the Christmas Canter. But running it while not feeling well? Not keen on the idea. (Anyone else feel like I've been perpetually sick all year? I sure do.)
To be completely transparent, my running has definitely fallen by the wayside. Creating the race at least got me thinking about running - and got me into my running shoes more in the last few weeks than I'd run all semester. But the workload for school has definitely been a huge factor that I'm going to need to manage better if I'm going to complete any running goals next year.
For today, I'm going to rest up, pack for our Christmas trip and perhaps do a little research into the races I want to run in 2013. I'm contemplating the Spring Run Off, a long-standing 8 km race here in Vancouver which, oddly, I've never run. I'm also thinking about doing the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon again, as an intermediate race to a full marathon later in the year. Edge 2 Edge is definitely on my mind, having had to let that one go this year due to injury. Although, aiming for a fall marathon might be more realistic, as I'll be able to better train over the summer, without any classes and school work to worry about. Things to ponder.
I'm a little disappointed about not running today, but hey - shit happens. Whaddya gonna do? Sorry to those who were looking forward to today's race results! Perhaps we'll try again next year.
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| Merry Christmas! Wishing you all the best of the holidays. |
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Remembrance Day Round-Up
This is me taking a break from essay writing to bring you a selection of random thoughts on this Remembrance Day long weekend. Enjoy!
Spine woes
A few weeks ago, I experienced some serious discomfort when my neck was rendered immovable. Since then, I've been battling neck pain and headaches. Good times. I went to see my massage therapist this week and he found some weird stuff with the alignment of my spine. He suggested I visit a chiropractor - which I may do, but I thought I would try and make some "adjustments" of my own first to see if any of it helps. While the LiveStrong Foundation has been marred by Lance Armstrong's doping scandal, I found some pretty great references on their site today on spine health. Check out this article for tips on improving upper spine alignment, as well as all the links on the right-hand side of the page.
Lessons From a Marathon Not Run: From the NYT Run Well Blog
You all know my opinion on the debacle that was the NYC Marathon cancellation. This blog post from the New York Times is a practical take on what happened and a good reminder that life doesn't always work out the way we expect.
Plug for my research project
I suspect, since you are here and reading a blog about running, that you are either a healthy person or someone who aspires to live a little bit healthier. As part of a research methods course I am taking this term, my team and I have put together a short study exploring people's eating habits and why people make the choices they do when it comes to food. If you are from the Lower Mainland, please complete our survey! It shouldn't take you more than 10 minutes, and it's interesting - I promise!
Remembrance Day
It is Remembrance Day in Canada today. While I did not attend any of the ceremonies in person, I did watch highlights on the news and made sure to fasten a poppy on my hat for today's run. Please be sure to take a moment to honour those who fought and died so that we can enjoy the freedoms we do today.
Spine woes
A few weeks ago, I experienced some serious discomfort when my neck was rendered immovable. Since then, I've been battling neck pain and headaches. Good times. I went to see my massage therapist this week and he found some weird stuff with the alignment of my spine. He suggested I visit a chiropractor - which I may do, but I thought I would try and make some "adjustments" of my own first to see if any of it helps. While the LiveStrong Foundation has been marred by Lance Armstrong's doping scandal, I found some pretty great references on their site today on spine health. Check out this article for tips on improving upper spine alignment, as well as all the links on the right-hand side of the page.
Lessons From a Marathon Not Run: From the NYT Run Well Blog
You all know my opinion on the debacle that was the NYC Marathon cancellation. This blog post from the New York Times is a practical take on what happened and a good reminder that life doesn't always work out the way we expect.
Plug for my research project
I suspect, since you are here and reading a blog about running, that you are either a healthy person or someone who aspires to live a little bit healthier. As part of a research methods course I am taking this term, my team and I have put together a short study exploring people's eating habits and why people make the choices they do when it comes to food. If you are from the Lower Mainland, please complete our survey! It shouldn't take you more than 10 minutes, and it's interesting - I promise!
It is Remembrance Day in Canada today. While I did not attend any of the ceremonies in person, I did watch highlights on the news and made sure to fasten a poppy on my hat for today's run. Please be sure to take a moment to honour those who fought and died so that we can enjoy the freedoms we do today.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Running? What Running?
It's been a crazy few weeks. In a nutshell, this is what I've been up to:
What I have not been doing, sadly, is running. I'd try, except for this small issue of being prone to unexpected and sudden coughing fits. I'm hoping this will change soon.
Rest assured, I will get back out there once my itchy throat goes away. I'm looking forward to discovering just how my new schedule and school routine affect my ability and motivation to run (and blog!). Will I have to run first thing in the morning versus in the afternoons? Will Sundays need to be reserved for group project work instead of long runs? Will the blog accidentally creep into my life as a student? Only time will tell.
In the meantime, I'd love to hear about what you guys have been up to, as I feel this need to live vicariously through my running peeps! Did anyone do the Vancouver Triathlon last weekend? Who's running the Queen City Marathon this weekend in Regina? And what other races do you have coming up in the fall?
- I wrapped up things at work before going on my educational leave. This was a surprisingly hectic task.
- I started my graduate degree program and had a small freak-out about the volume of required reading ... so I've spent a lot of time this week with my nose in many different books.
- I've also been suffering from an extremely stubborn and irritating cough and cold. Can't seem to shake it, either. It's super annoying.
What I have not been doing, sadly, is running. I'd try, except for this small issue of being prone to unexpected and sudden coughing fits. I'm hoping this will change soon.
Rest assured, I will get back out there once my itchy throat goes away. I'm looking forward to discovering just how my new schedule and school routine affect my ability and motivation to run (and blog!). Will I have to run first thing in the morning versus in the afternoons? Will Sundays need to be reserved for group project work instead of long runs? Will the blog accidentally creep into my life as a student? Only time will tell.
In the meantime, I'd love to hear about what you guys have been up to, as I feel this need to live vicariously through my running peeps! Did anyone do the Vancouver Triathlon last weekend? Who's running the Queen City Marathon this weekend in Regina? And what other races do you have coming up in the fall?
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| I go to school here. It kinda rules. © 2008 Harbour Centre Complex Ltd. |
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Lesson Learned: Some People Really Are Twats
If you've been paying close attention, I've mentioned once or twice that I'm heading back to school in the fall to pursue a Master's Degree in Public Policy. This was a big decision for me to make as it involves quite a large investment: my time, a leave from work for the next two years, going back to a student lifestyle - not to mention the financial cost itself.
An acquaintance was asking me about the program yesterday, so I explained that much of it deals with research and the development of policy. Her response:
"You know everything they teach you is going to be bullshit, right?"
My response: stunned silence.
I mean, what was I supposed to say? "Oh, you're right. My life choices are stupid. I'll just quit right now!"
I reflect on this at the same time I'm trying to make a final decision whether to run in this weekend's Marathon by the Sea in Saint John, New Brunswick. I'm realizing there are a lot of parallels and plenty of reasons to not do either.
It is always easier to say "no" to the hard things and make excuses instead. And there will always be people that can make us forget why we've chosen the paths we have.
In the end, none of that matters. The only thing that does, is remembering our own reasons for choosing a particular direction and pursuing those dreams with gusto and enthusiasm. Otherwise ... what is the point of it all?
My final words on the subject: live your life. Dream big. To hell with everyone else.
An acquaintance was asking me about the program yesterday, so I explained that much of it deals with research and the development of policy. Her response:
"You know everything they teach you is going to be bullshit, right?"
My response: stunned silence.
I mean, what was I supposed to say? "Oh, you're right. My life choices are stupid. I'll just quit right now!"
I reflect on this at the same time I'm trying to make a final decision whether to run in this weekend's Marathon by the Sea in Saint John, New Brunswick. I'm realizing there are a lot of parallels and plenty of reasons to not do either.
I'm not sure if I'm prepared.
I'm scared to try.
What if I fail?
It is always easier to say "no" to the hard things and make excuses instead. And there will always be people that can make us forget why we've chosen the paths we have.
In the end, none of that matters. The only thing that does, is remembering our own reasons for choosing a particular direction and pursuing those dreams with gusto and enthusiasm. Otherwise ... what is the point of it all?
My final words on the subject: live your life. Dream big. To hell with everyone else.
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| Grateful for a new day. |
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