Route: Grand River trail out and back
Time: 31:34m
Distance: 3.09m
Pace: 10:13/m
Calories: 370
Weather: 22C, sunny, cool, beautiful fall day
Wildlife: wild golfers in carts!
Notes: ME and I ran tonight we both started out nice and slow trying to ease into it. ME said his one leg was tight and sore. My legs were aching and a bit sore, nothing that hints at an injury just tight and needed to warm up. We went out nice and slow, first mile was 10:41, second was 10:44, third was 9:26. I were both pushing each other in the final mile zooming to get home. Overall it was a good run – it’s nice listening to my body and finding out that it’s telling me that it wants to do more but my brain is smart enough to say hang on champ, let’s take it easy! You’re just getting back into all of this!

I’m still reading Marathons For Mortals. I haven’t picked a training plan yet but I’m sticking with the plan to get out and run Mon/Tues/Thurs/Sat/Sun with soccer maybe on Wed/Fri. Easy days are Mon/Sat for sure. Must write this down some where or put it in my BlackBerry.

Route: Runner’s Choice out to Lexington/University- loop
Time: approx 1hr
Distance: 10KM
Pace: unknown
Calories: unknown
Weather: 18C, sunny, cool, beautiful fall day
Wildlife: none but me and the other LH that I just met discussed bears
Notes: What a great time. We had a fun time and it was relaxed and casual. KT had her first run with the group and seemed to enjoy herself. I’m looking forward to Thursday!

Last night we danced the night away at K(M)P and EP’s wedding. KP and EP looked great, and had a beautiful wedding and clearly only had eyes for each other. We had a great time but there was a 5 year old that had an even better time. The Killer’s Mr. Brightside was played especially for her and all pretenses were sent out the window. This little girl was having the time of her life and everyone in the room was in awe of her. She was incredible! Her exuberance had all of us standing and wishing that we could abandon all of our inhibitions and dance like she was dancing.
Running and activity update for the weekend:
Friday night’s soccer game was successful 3-0 win in the first game of the playoffs. Played lots and ran lots. Calves were a bit of a mess. My left calf was particularly bad, stripping me of an ability sprint. It cramps like a charlie horse and I don’t know what’s causing it.
On Saturday, we had plans to run before the wedding but were running around trying to find me a dress and get fitted for new running shoes. (Thanks KT for the inspiration of your shiney new kicks!) No run on Saturday but lots of dancing!
Today there was no run, just a lot of feeling like a tubby sloth thanks to overindulgence last night. The new shoes haven’t had their inagural run which is a bit sad. They are so pretty sitting in their box… I’m sure that they will look even better in motion. No activity for Sunday.

The schedule of days to expect runs from me:
Monday – fun run group at Runner’s Choice 6pm
Tuesday – optional
Wednesday – Wednesday night group at Runner’s Choice 6:30pm
Thursday – fun run group at Runner’s Choice 6pm
Friday – soccer/optional
Saturday – trail run group (various locations) 8:30am
Sunday – long run from home

No run since Tuesday and I’m miserable. The book I’m reading right now advocates an easy start with lots of rest time to ease your body into training. Only problem is that I’m moody and grumpy because I want to run… Plus I’m just not feeling the love. There were plans Wednesday night and yesterday morning to run but other things got prioritized ahead of the run. Like sleep. I also get annoyed that I rearrange my schedule to accomodate someone else/something else and nothing gets done.

On a more positive note: The October issue of Runner’s World is here (September is MIA but has been re-ordered)! The book that I ordered Marathoning for Mortals is also here! And… I want my clothes to fit better, so I’ve got three very good reasons to get out there and RUN!

Today is haircut day. Nothing drastic planed, just a reshaping and blending of bad layers. All the same I’m looking forward to it. I also want to get a dress for KM&EP’s wedding this weekend. Two things I’m going to do, just for me. :o)

Soccer tonight, that should help. Up early tomorrow to watch hockey and then run, then wedding.

Today’s to-do list:
> sign up for a target race.
> post a schedule and upcoming race list
> communicate my expectations

thanks avd. you made my day :o)

Route: trails and roads past Jim B’s, and almost colonial acres neighbourhoods – loop
Time: 29:51
Distance: 3.01 m
Pace: 9:56/m
Calories: 358
Weather: 18C, sunny, cool, beautiful fall day
Wildlife: none, unless you count the woman hiding in the bushes off one of the paths…
Notes: Tonight felt great! Blue shorts were great, blue shoes were great, no tummy issues, legs felt generally pretty good. A bit stiff to start and calves are a bit achy now but pretty good all in all. Perfect temperature for a run in a long sleeve. It was like bounding out there tonight; I thought I could go forever. I was pretty chuffed when I thought I’d done a 8:42 mile but… then I realized that ‘lap 4’ was 30 ft long, not a mile… but I did those 30 ft at Boston qualifying pace!

Tonight I felt like the running gods were smiling on me. Makes me want to go out for more!

Today, I read about the Tri-City Track Club. Not sure whether I’m ready yet but it’s definitely what I need to improve. I really enjoyed structured practices (way back) in highschool and I’m competitive. The combination of practices, structure, and teammates would be a great combination for me but right now I don’t think I’ve got enough of a base to make the jump.

There is a new knitting project on deck for this weekend if I can find some suitable yarn in time. Tomorrow is stitch ‘n’ bitch night so must run in the am. LM, hope you feel like running!

Note to self – get some ColdFX ASAP possible.

Route: trails through eastbridge and lexington neighbourhoods – loop
Time: 27:23
Distance: 4.19 km
Pace: 6:32/km
Calories: 312
Weather: 26C, humid, light rain at end of run
Wildflife: one suicidal bunny that ran out in front of a kid on his bike; one enormous spider (ew!)
Notes: ME is 2 for 2 and was much more loose than I was. Quads very sore from yesterday. Wore blue shoes again. No knee pain. Downhills really sucked with the sore quads.
Wore my green shorts that I got myself as a goal achieved present. I had a goal of completing my first 10K in under 1 hour. I finished in 55 mins. I bought myself these bright green shorts but I haven’t worn them much recently. They wreaked havoc on my inner thighs. It was like there were needles in the seams! This experience makes me want to go bottoms shopping > I want a running skirt! There’s a whole article in Runner’s World about them and I think I know what I want: spanky unders, wide waist band, modest length, and a pocket.
I’m still undecided about this schedule thing. Do I go by minutes or by distance? How many days a week is realistic for me? Must do some more reading tonight.
So I’m feeling good that I ran twice (twice!!) this weekend and I’m looking forward to getting a running skirt. Tomorrow is a day off from a structured run but I’ve got the gym in the am with LM as well as an indoor game tomorrow night. Not much of a recovery day.
I’m taking ME on a date tonight so I should stretch and get some dinner together before we go. The date destination is a surprise so sorry, nothing about it until later!

Route: Grand River Trail – 20 mins out and -ve split back (18:41)
Time: 38:41
Distance: 6.4 km
Pace: 6:03/km
Calories: 473
Weather: 20C, light to med rain
Wildflife: 6-7 wild turkeys coming up towards Grey Silo GC
Notes: Convinced ME to come with (yay!). Wore my blue shoes. L knee felt weird, not painful, just weird. A bit stiff to start but was loving the first 25 mins of the run. Pushing through the uphills on the way back, chasing my negative split were sucky but not too painful. Wear hat/absorbing head band next rainy run. Feel awesome for having run!

Today’s other goals:

• Target race –> signed up for the Resolution Run 5K Jan 1st. Talked w/ ME re: doing Chilly Half in Burlington 1 March 09, then Around the Bay in Hamilton 29 March 09, then he can do Boston and I’ll do Ottawa or something. Still TBD.
• Schedule –> firming up the target race priority.
• Research running shoes –> did a bit, plan is to head in to Running Room and get fitted.