My first 5K Race!

I used to be a runner. Like a serious, long-distance runner.

I've run a few 10Ks & Half-Marathons and two Full Marathons {that's 42.2km & 26 miles of RUNNING for those inquiring minds}.

But I've never run a 5K race. Until this past Saturday!

Since becoming pregnant with EZ -- and let's face it -- since I ran the Chicago Marathon in 2006, I haven't really run. I had a bad race way back then {which I spoke about here}. Since this summer, I started training on my own, with friends, and then with a free Learn to Run clinic. It was awesome to be part of the running community again!

My good friend CC and I completed a 5K race together yesterday! She's awesome! It was a great experience. 

 It was a CHILLY start to the day, so here we are at the start line all bundled up. Then about 3 mins before the race started, it miraculously warmed up -- but I was all ready to go in my jacket! So I just kept it on!

Then about half-way through, I couldn't take the heat and I had to slip my jacket off. I stupidly pinned my number to my jacket, so I had to re-pin the number to my shirt while I was running. Silly Mummy! But it was worth it to cool off a bit!

Here we are at the finish line! Thanks CC for pulling me through and encouraging me to finish strong! We finished almost 8 mins faster than we planned, so we were BEYOND thrilled with our time!

The race was overall well-organized and was on a trail - which I'm not used to running on, but it was fun! There was even a Firefighter water station! Did I mention it was an all-women race?

There were good treats at the finish line, including a bananas, chips, and even Cadbury Dairy Milk Thin chocolate bars, but alas, I couldn't eat that because it's a milk product! I {heart} being a VEGAN! 

On that note, November 1st is National VEGAN Day! 
I encourage you to make ONE meal a VEGAN one! 
Being vegan is not that hard - be mindful of your food. 

Don't eat anything with a FACE or a MOTHER :) Simple as that!

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Run Club Review

I just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU to my friends & followers for all of your support from yesterday's post. You know how to make a girl feel good!

I think that every day that I run - regardless of speed or distance - I am conquering that beast inside that tells me that I'm not a "real" runner. Lacing up my shoes and pounding the pavement every day makes me a runner. No one can take that away from me.

Thanks again for the outpouring of love & support. I think we all struggle with issues, and it's great to know I have such a network of encouragement and inspiration around me!

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As mentioned, I did go to the run club yesterday for my Learn to Run - basically a 10 week program to train to run 5K. Before I left, the winds picked up and the wicked summer rains swelled, but luckily we didn't get hit with the worst of the thunderstorm & hail. But I would have went anyway :)

There were 4 people at the running clinic & 2 instructors. Everyone was welcoming and encouraging.  We did 1 min running, then 1 min walking for a total of 16 mins. On our short run, I had a chance to talk with one of the instructors who looks like a runner - lean and NO body fat. I asked him what marathons he'd run and was surprised to learn that he just took up running over a year ago and has just completed one marathon. I've done more marathons than this guy - not that it's a competition, but it showed me that one cannot judge a book by it's cover.  I think he too was surprised that I had run long distance races in the past. He also gave me some good advice about stretching {active stretching pre-run and static stretching post-run}.

It was nice to be in a community of runners, and I look forward to next week. 

But 16 mins of "running" wasn't good enough for me, so I called my girlfriend and we did almost 4K in the evening. That was a better workout for me!  

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The Long Run

Tonight I'm starting a "Learn to Run" program at our local running store and I'm SO excited!  I kind of feel like I know how to run, but I'm excited to re-learn, refresh my memory, and get active with like-minded people.  

Running isn't new to me though.

I never ran a day in my life up until about five years ago. Running helped me achieve the best shape of my life. I was running 10-15 km per DAY, eating clean foods that helped my training, and I was going to the gym regularly.  This routine had helped me lose 70 lbs and I was thrilled.  I loved running. I was a FAST runner with boundless energy and endurance. I was a machine! I was training for races and thought I could conquer the world.

My first half marathon! The longest distance I had run prior to this race was 10km -- the day before! I figure if I can run 10km, I can surely run 21K!

Running the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2005. I had just started a new job earlier that month. I went home after the race, showered and went to work. I'm still a legend in my old office!

Finished the Chicago Marathon in 2006.

Then in November 2006, I ran the Chicago Marathon and it literally changed my running life forever.  I had a bad race. I bonked at 13K, and dug DEEP into my soul to finish the 42 km race. And I mean DEEP. Places in your mind that you don't want to go as a runner, especially during a MARATHON!

Throughout the entire marathon, my mind was racing -- I questioned my sanity running marathons; I kept telling myself that I was fooling myself into thinking that I'm actually a runner; I told myself that I was a joke and that I was the fat runner that everyone was laughing at. It was a dark run, that's for sure.

I finished the 42 km trek {and I wasn't LAST by a long stretch!} -- which is a huge accomplishment -- but all I felt was disappointment and despair. I had failed to meet my target time and I was miserable.

I never really ran again after this race.  It still haunts me.

Recently I started running in the evening alone and sometimes with a friend or two. I'm still haunted by those demons that tell me that I'm not good enough to be a runner.  Logically, I know I've completed two full marathons, a few half marathons, & various 5Ks & 10Ks -- that makes me a runner.

I recently read an amazing article in the current issue of Canadian Running Magazine written from an overweight runner's perspective. It inspired me to just get running, regardless of what anyone thinks or says -- myself included! It's a great article -- be sure to check it out.

I'm not sure what is going to help me to conquer these demons of self-loathing & my pity party low self-esteem. But what I know for sure is that the answer won't be find at the bottom of a bag of chips when I sitting on the couch -- it will be when I'm running. 

I hope this Run Club will help inspire me to find myself again.

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Ch-Ch-Changes!

Image via Pinterest

One of the easiest parts of achieving something I want is merely setting goals. I'm really good at goal-setting and making plans for success. Especially the first week - I'm all FIRED UP!

The part that I {and probably ALL of you!} have is follow-through, or CHANGING!

Changing your habits, routine, meals, time management, etc. can be a HUGE challenge.

I've set a goal to run & exercise more and eat right. Don't worry, I have more detailed and specific goals but these things are the gist of it.

I'm finding it challenging to fit my goals into my real life without changing things. Frankly, I don't think it's possible to NOT change anything about my life to realize my goals.  Change is good, but change is still change and it's hard to get used to it.

I have to actually *remember* {like set up a reminder on my iPhone!} when I want to exercise. When I'm out, I have to *remember* that to make healthy choices.  These things aren't habit just yet, but I hope they will be soon!

So change is hard but I WANT to CHANGE!

Image via Pinterest

 

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It's a New Day

Image from Pinterest

 While I was avoiding laundry perusing Pinterest today {Follow me on Pinterest here!}, I came across some pretty inspiring fitness & health photos. 

I'm motivated to re-charge my fitness regiment {which has been shamefully absent in the last few weeks!}. 

So blog friends, I'm committing to the following:

  

...because...

Both images via Pinterest

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Out of commission?

Hello Bloggy Friends.

In an effort to get fit, I recently started running. Again. I love running, but running doesn't love me back. 

This past Tuesday, as my friend and I were enjoying our jog, we decided to accelerate a bit. My body did not agree with this decision, and I pulled a calf muscle. I heard a pop, but I didn't see any bruising, so I didn't think I tore the muscle.

I've been raised to "tough it out", so I continued to run till I thought my leg was going to fall off.  Later that evening, I took it easy and iced my calf. 

The next day was semi-ok, hobbling around in flat shoes as I ran errands and met friends for lunch. Later on, however, it started to HURT. I iced and rested the muscle, hoping for  quick relief.

The next morning {Thursday}, I could barely walk. Major limping and unsteadiness. I almost fell in a parking lot {luckily not carrying Little A, and it also reminded me of this experience}. I was with my dad at the time, and he insisted I get some crutches. It's also my "bad leg" that still has nerve damage from EZ's delivery fiasco {aka I still don't have feeling in parts of that leg after 2 1/2 years!}. Seriously. Who would have EVER thought that 2 1/2 years later, my nerve damage would STILL cause me problems?!

Anyway, I rented some crutches {major fashion statement by the way! "Injury Prone Chic!} from the same place where I had to buy this gorgeous seat when first had EZ, and went to the doctor. He told me that he thought I had torn the muscle because it was so tender and painful. Interestingly enough, he suggested that I keep moving -- not resting -- to prevent blood clots! Sounds good - shopping will be my cardio!

I hobbled around on the crutches, writhing in pain for the rest of the day. Then yesterday, I felt better. Like MUCH better. Just a wee hint o' pain, but no crutches required. 

It's a miracle! I was scared because I didn't know I was going to manage both kidlets and a bad, painful leg with crutches for the next two weeks! I even went for an "exercise walk" last night with keeling over in pain!

And today, I feel almost 100%. Definitely no crutches and no limping. Hopefully this means that I'm on the mend and I can get back into my regular cardio routine. I sure need to!

I never had an muscle injury before and I've run marathons! Hopefully this won't happen again!

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In Honour of National Running Day...

Here's a photo of my new running shoes. 

This was the 2nd time I wore them. I guess I can't return them now. 

I went running with Little A in the stroller yesterday. We were out for about an hour, then I decided to take a short cut through the woodlot near our home -- just for fun.  Turns out it wasn't so fun, and it took about 10 minutes of wading through ankle-deep mud and muck {carrying the stroller all the while}, to make it through.

With my dirty shoes, real runners who pass me will think, "Whoa, that lady has put a lot of miles pounding the pavement in those shoes," thinking I earned the dirt -- never knowing it was a momentary lapse of judgment. I guess I don't have to tell everyone the truth.

 Now lace up your running shoes, and get out to celebrate National Running Day!

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My Loser Inspirations

I absolutely loved this season of the Biggest Loser. These women are phenomenal. Their weight loss over the last 9 months is AMAZING. They started out barely able to go 5 mins on the treadmill, to fitness gurus able to run marathons! I was glued to the season finale on Tuesday night to see who won.

Helen (the woman in the pink) was the winner - she lost 140lbs! Tara (green) was my favourite all season. She was completely committed from the get go, and never wavered. She consistently lost big numbers every week, and ended up losing an astonishing 157lbs.

My girl Kristen (in the purple) was awesome too. She's got a great, perky personality and a positive attitude. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE her new haircut. So cute! I keep thinking I want my sassy short hair back, but I'm reluctant because I still have my baby weight.

What do you think? Should I cut my hair??? Maybe I'll just lose weight...

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Inspiration for Monday

This is Major Phil Packer. He lost the use of his legs last year during a rocket attack in Iraq. He was told he'd never walk again. He just completed the London Marathon. It took him 13 days, but he did it. His courage and tenacity is inspiring.

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