Author: hoodieruns

I really have to slow down

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This weekend was a bit hectic. It started with a Friday night Oktoberfest adventure at Concordia with some of my favourite people:

(note: not all favourite people are pictured)

ME’s highschool friend, BMcN, lost his Oktoberfest virginity in fine style, winning at crossbow but losing to a girl at fastest pitch.

A special shout out to our gracious, lovely and beautiful designated driver: SR. Thank you so much for getting us home safe and sound!

After having too many several wobbly pops, Saturday morning, ME, KB and I hopped in the Land Yacht and scooted to Toronto for the BICYCLE FALL BLOWOUT SALE(1).  I have been jonesing to buy a new bicyclette and while I didn’t get my first choice, the 2010 Cervelo P2 w/ carbon frame, I did get a brand new 2011 Cervelo P1 with an aluminum frame!!!

Ginger
Ginger, crammed in the back of the Land Yacht

I have named her Ginger. We have to go to Wheels of Bloor to get pedals and a fitting done but I’m pretty much over the moon! I want to ride so bad!

After that, ma petite soeur came to town and I showed her a good time (2) by 1. not really being all that exciting for night life (Chigaco Pub, 1/2 of Shaun of the Dead and early to bed) and 2. not really having much food in the house. Sorry LH. I’ll be better next time.

Sunday morning came bright and early and damn was it cold. ME, KB and I ran the Oktoberfest 5K (3). It was great fun and went by too quickly. I finished in 25:52 (26:26 gun time), good enough for 6/54 in my age group and 201/840 overall. Not the top 3 finish I was hoping for but still respectable. ME had a solid race and beat me and achieved his top 10 finish goal, placing 9/35 in his age group. Well done Babies!

Sunday afternoon involved napping and groceries and cooking.

That was my weekend. Freakin’ busy.

(1) capitalization is theirs, not mine. That btw, is the actual name of the show. No joke.
(2) I did, at least, have some spiced rum on hand for her. It’s the small wins…
(3) There was a lot of bitching and moaning but I did it. I can wear the shirt without shame.

saddle sores

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In the words of Aerosmith: “I’m back! I’m back in the saddle again!” And boy does it hurt so good.

I’ve worked out everyday since Sunday (thank you KT, your let’s get back to basics week of pain has encouraged me to get out everyday) and I’m deliciously sore. The legs are tired, I can’t lift my arms over my head, it hurts to cough because I found my abdominal muscles last night and pummeled them, and I’m whipped. Love it.
Yesterday was the realization that TS is gone. She’s gone for the rest of the year and while I’m very excited to meet Baby G, I am sadface that my mentor and role model is out of the office… 
My BlackBerry Playbook tablet just arrived today! So happy she’s here! Pictures of my new baby to come.

time to get back to business. status: in progress.

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ran yesterday. the husband flogged my sorry out of shape ass for 5K at near race pace. I did not barf.

ran this morning. 5.36K at 9:30/M pace. felt good. better than yesterday. husband was not running with me.

sent fat pictures of myself over the internet to a stranger in order to participate in a health challenge. did I mention I’m wearing a bikini and they are unflattering fat photos? ick. I feel like Lindsay Lohan.

so back on the healthy food eating bandwagon as of today. I did not do myself any favours last night by having Swiss Chalet after cleansing for two weeks. my body hates me. must continue to make smarter choices.

note to self: pick some of this up for Thanksgiving.

*happy birthday to Great-Grandma H, CP, JMP of debsaidno.com, and CMcK.

Wasaga 2011 race report

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This year’s race was a significant improvement over last year and I’m quite pleased with the outcome!


I really wanted to take some time off the swim and I was successful in that venture. I also did my first race in my Fighting Koala’s unitard. That’s a bit interesting, not being able to quickly go pee if needed. And there are always nervous pees. Especially because I was really stressed about the swim.


The day was sunny but chilly in the morning. It was really perfect temperature for racing. The water was warmer than last year and it was flat. That was a huge relief after doing an open water swim in Sauble Beach the week before and getting motion sick from the waves rocking me back and forth. My nerves settled right down as soon as I saw that the water was calm and I had a great race.  I was a bit chilled to start on the bike, being wet and all but quickly warmed up. By the time I hit the run, it was sunny and warm and I was feeling good.



my results:
overall place 244/399     
time 1:35:35.3                      
age group place 17/39     
swim place 33/39 (I beat SIX girls out of the water!)  
overall swim place 337/399  
swim time 21:09  
time/100m 2:50
run up time 0:51 (there is a long way to run before getting to T1)  
T1 1:57
bike place 17/39  
overall bike place 254/399
bike time 43:04 
bike speed 27.9km/h
T2 1:15   
run place 15/39
overall run place 213/399
run time 27:22
run pace/km 5:29 


Compare with last year’s results:
overall place 252/355
time: 1:40:19  
age group place 16/25
overall swim place 321/355   
swim time 23:34
time/100m  3:09
run up time 0:42
T1 3:37 (um… was I blow drying my hair?!)
overall bike place 236
bike time 42:46
bike speed 28.1 km/h
T2 1:57
overall run place 212 
run time 27:46
run pace/km 5:34


Let’s analyze this a bit. I did very little training leading up to this year’s race because of the wedding. Last year I was coming off an injury so, while I had done a lot more training in the early summer, I’d been off for 6-8wks mid season. So I think fitness levels are probably comparable, yet I took almost 5 minutes off my time! Where were the gains? 
Swim – I took more than 2 minutes off here. This is a big deal because the swim is by far the hardest part of the race for me. 
Transitions – Again, another 2 minutes or so saving in much faster transitions than last year.
Run – 30 seconds. Not much here but still respectable. I’m excited about this because I want to run the Octoberfest 5K and a respectable 5K time after swimming and biking will hopefully translate into a quick race time.



cleansing

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I’m on a cleanse to cap off a summer of debauchery and over indulgence. It is seven days of taking those crazy horse pills and clean eating, four days of shakes only, and then three days of steamed veggies and protein and more horse pills to ‘re-populate the flora of my colon’. Nice. 


I’m at day three and a half.

Currently feeling: tired.

Today, I fell off the bandwagon and ate Arby’s and I viciously paid for it. 
Tonight, spaghetti squash and sauce. 
Back in the saddle.

do ya think I’m sexy?

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apparently these:



aren’t welcome in bed. who’d a thunk it? I hear a resounding ‘not sexy’ from the audience.


went to visit the awesome people at Runner’s Choice last night after our brick work out. ME was in need of tri shorts and he found some awesome Zoot shorts. I picked up these bad boys, some gels and chews. now I just need to make an effort to get into the pool…


last night’s workout:


~15K bike – nasty head wind
~4K run – 9:30/M


the calves were protesting when I came off the bike. likely that is the result of me not getting enough water or electrolytes throughout the day. must remember to hydrate better over the next few days.

Wasaga Beach Sprint Triathlon race report 2010 and run up to 2011

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yet another tardy race report for everyone (as in almost a year tardy)!


in September 2010, I finished my very first triathlon. it was a sprint distance tri, so slightly longer than a try-a-tri but nowhere close to the Olympic distance. it was still a big leap for me because it was a 750m swim. I knew I could do the run and bike distances but the real wild card was the swim. I can swim but certainly hadn't done proper training for the distance. I think I'd been in the pool 5 times all summer. not to mention that there's that pesky knee injury I'd sustained about 8hrs after the duathlon in June. that kinda slowed me down all summer long and since I'm moody and whiny, I didn't get in the damn pool.




anyway, I had three goals for the triathlon:




1. don't drown.


2. don't lose your shorts when you whip off your wetsuit.


3. finish.




I can tell you that all goals were completed successfully! I love it when a project goes so smoothly!




well... at least the run and bike portions. I kind of had a major meltdown on the swim. the air horn went to signal the start of the race and me and the 40+ men started. it was cold in the water but not hypothermia inducing. I was shivering anyways b/c of nerves. 







hoodieruns              1:40:19 


age grp  16/25     


swim 23:34     


T1 3:37     


bike 42:46  (avg km/h 28.1)   


T2 1:57   


run 27:46  (pace/km 5:34)







now I'm four days out from the 2011 race and I'm nervous. the husband and I did an open water swim in choppy Lake Huron on the weekend. I was motion sick after 10-15mins in the water. hence the nerves. what should I do? Koach and another friend both suggested ear plugs. other friend also suggested non-drowsy ginseng gravol. meep!





I know that this year is going to be slower due to the absence of any training all summer long. the wedding consumed my attention and time. but that's ok. this year's goals are to finish and to do the swim faster than last year. will let you know.

			

	


			
				


			
				


	

							
Montréal Weekend
						

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Well – a bit late on this week's post but here's a synopsis of my weekend two weekends ago. 


Friday afternoon was spent snoozing. Evening we got some CC and then went to Peel Pub for dinner and pitchers. Home to the Sheridan for more CC. I fell asleep. 


Saturday morning we hit jBloom and I purchased a super cute pair of cream pumps. Then off to Simon's for clothes and sunnies. ME bought some crazy man undies that put Bjorn Börg to shame. 


In the afternoon, we went to La Cage Aux Sports – Saturday afternoon to watch the Habs beat the Rangers 2-0. (SQUEE!!) Evening activities included more shopping for a short sparkle skirt and a jacket and tie (Happy Birthday ME!). Then off to Dundee's Bar and Grill for dinner – School House Cab-Sauv was yummy and smooth. 


Sunday was spent doing more shopping and then… HABS GAME!!!! So much fun! They lost unfortunately but we had a blast! The Bell Centre was a great atmosphere and cheering in French and English was cool. Afterwards we booked it to Peel Pub to watch to Super Bowl. We came home with random new caps (LNH!) and a silicon collapsible bowl. #canyousaytoomuchtodrink?


Monday we slept in and the jetted home. 


Above are a bunch of photos from the weekend. 


Up next: a new job, a birthday prank and Las Vegas. 


(Koalas training and eating well… Fallen off that bandwagon. The long sorry crawl back up will be coming soon too!)