new goals

I saw the best sign at the race on Sunday:

"I run so my goals get bigger and my belly gets smaller."

How perfect is that one?

One of the local gyms had a body composition analysis thing that you could get done for free at the race expo. All I heard was "free". So I jumped on.

Let's start with the bad news...my body fat mass is like, really high. I was a bit surprised by this...the machine is supposed to be very accurate and I stood and challenged the young gal interpreting the results for a good 20 minutes and she sounded like she knew what she was talking about and I guess numbers don't lie...

Shitty!!

My muscle mass was low-ish.

What does this mean? It means I should seriously consider eating much MUCH better...and start some resistance work so these numbers flip. Basically I can run forever, but I am not very lean. Any recent picture of me can attest to these results...I have already come up with a weight workout program...

Game on.

The good news is that this little test has totally motivated me to get my ass in gear and make some changes. Life changes. New habits. New thinking. New...New...NEW!!! And that my arms have apparently lots of muscles in them as their lean analysis went off the chart...thanks to the years in the pool...?

I'm kind of excited!!

I already have a plan and a partner in crime to make me accountable and taunt and challenge me...I WILL DO THIS!!

And...OH....I registered for the FULL MARATHON in September in Regina...time for a little marathon redemption...after the disaster last year...this time, I am doing all the work, no excuses!

Sask Half Marathon Report...and other stuff

Wow. I had a good, good run! I am very pleased. My legs are telling me tonight that they could not have given anything more...that's when you know you gave all you had for that day.

The training has been not so consistent. Have had a real problem staying motivated and I have trouble sleeping, so those nights that I don't sleep, I don't run. Makes it really hard to do any kind of training. I just never know what the week will bring and sometimes it takes me days to recover from not sleeping an entire night. I have been on melatonin for many months, it works sometimes, I have had blood tests done and we shall find out this week if those show that something else is going on.

But back to my run. Got up early today after a night of feasting at one of my Saturday run buddy's houses last night. They have a group superstition that if you eat Maryann's brownies, you will have a good race. Of course I can't be left out of that...so I had my share!! Was a very fun evening. Home to bed in good time...but woke up a 3:30 and did not sleep after that. Out of bed finally at 5:00am and had my oatmeal and got dressed and out the door shortly after 6. The plan was to meet the gang at the London Drugs and walk to the start line together. I was there early and it was freezing and I had to pee in the worst way. Michelle came next and I said I had to get to a potty...quick! So I missed the group picture...again...bummer!! Did not see them again at the start line but that was okay, saw lots of other people to chat with.

The race started and I felt really good. It was very cold and my hands were freezing but not for long. I just ran and visited and chatted and enjoyed the morning. I had also warmed up for quite awhile before this run as I did before the Policemen's Half Marathon...there is something to be said perhaps, to warming up...anyway, I felt pretty good but was running quite slow as my goal was to pace a run better than I do and not blow up at the end, like I tend to...

We got to the turn around point and its always fun to see all of the runners...my watch said exactly 1 hour at the turn around. Great. I have one hour to get back to the finish! Let's do this!

I honestly felt I could run all day. It was easy and fun and I felt awesome! I caught the 2 hour race bunny at around the 15km mark and then ran like I was being chased...there is a nasty hill in the very last km and it was all I could think about those last few kilometers. The bunny caught me at the bottom of the hill...argh! I had to take a few walk steps up the hill as by that time, my legs were really tired. Came into the finish at 2:01. I was super happy with this.

Given that when I ran my PB of 1:55...I was 10 pounds lighter...I was on my bike 2-3 times per week...swimming twice per week...runing lots and running lots of intervals (the plan I was following called for a ton of speed stuff...I got very little of that in (boo)...long runs, yes...but very little fast or hard stuff) I was seriously in very good shape. I will take this 2:01 as bit of a miracle and I don't feel like I really deserve it BUT with all the work I did a few years ago and the time that was put in for 6 minutes? I say...good for me!! That's all I had on that given day!

emotions

I got my long run in yesterday. If I could pick a fave run of the week, its the long one. Pure Kelly time. Pure thinking time. What a gorgeous day it was. I love our river bank. It was calm and sunny and warm. How lucky am I to be able to do that??!
I did do some "speed" work last week. Have been very loosely following a training plan...so I put speed in quotes as I am not very fast...nor will I ever be. But it does feel good to push this body every now and again to see how fast it can go...I did 4 miles...each under 8 minutes...JUST under 8 minutes...so I am happy with that! And yes...I know...that's not really speed work, but it was all I had time for, so its my version of speed work.
My sister's buddy lost his battle with cancer. Such a shame. He was 38. His birthday was last week...he made it 3 days past his 37th birthday. He really was a great person. One we did not need to loose so young. I read the obit before I went for my run and cried several times over the next 16-ish kms. I hate you, cancer!
I am volunteering at a beginner's triathlon race today. My job is the bike dismount line. Hopefully I have a voice when the morning is over! These gals have been so keen and motivated and its been fun being around them. Kind of almost makes me want to do another triathlon. But not quite yet. I am enjoying my running and not being scheduled out of my asshole to get the training in for a triathlon.
In other news, we took the kids to see "THOR" last night. Some dude kept checking his phone for texts. How annoying. Movies are alot of money these days and we went to the special 3D version...where the seats vibrate and move around to the action on the movie screen...which was extra dough..so I was not so happy with this loser. And dude...I could read your texts! You are totally cheating! DUMBASS!!! At least I didn't miss the scene with Thor and his shirt off...wowzers...

gone for a run

Keeping up with my runs...for the most part. My last long run was on Sunday...18km...and I swear it took me 4 days to recover. It was cold and rainy and miserable and windy. Thanks to the Universe for sending me Maryann and Michelle to run with me! They bailed at 10.66km...but at least I got that out of them.

I had flown to Calgary on Saturday...just for the day...so that 4:00am wake up call and busy day of meetings and trying to find my way around Calgary and then home again by suppertime...was really tiring! But got up Sunday...and pounded out my 18km...and had a 2.5 hour nap afterwards...It WAS Mother's Day afterall!!

Tonight I will get another hour in with the Just Tri It group. I have volunteered for a new triathlon in town on Sunday....a childhood buddy of mine lost her Mom to cancer a bit ago and asked for my help as the race is in honour of her Mom. Busy with that this weekend...along with Luke's 5th b-day party and general errands that have to get done on the weekends.

We are busy...busy...busy with soccer season right now. Luke had his first game this week. He is very aggressive on the soccer field! Lil bugger scored 5 goals. (We aren't supposed to keep track...but I can only be me...) Some kid told him he "sucked" so at one point he came off the field in tears. On the way home he says "Mom...I just kept running and scoring goals!" Ha! He was really bothered about it. Dad had to give him the "don't worry about what others think" talk. But do they get it at age 4? Cause last night at yet another soccer game we saw the kid that was mean and Luke pointed him out again and says "Can't wait to play him again Mom...he was easy to beat!!" Maybe they do get it...

Shaun is coaching Matthew's team. We had the first game last night. They got creamed and I had a hubby in a very bad mood last night. "Every time they don't listen, I am going to make them run a mile!" But of course the rule book says you can't single the kids out...blah blah blah.

And some parents just don't get it...yes...at age 8, they have practices. Please try to make it. "He only wants to play the games." Wha..? I guess that's why hockey is so expensive vs soccer, they want to make sure cheap parents like me get my kids to the rink after all the money we have spent!