Melissa's

MAN! I love the mountains!!!! The day dawned bright and lovely...there was a wind, but thankfully it was blowing East...there was a controlled burn on Nester Mountain, and I was worried about running in campfire smoke!! But it appeared to be a picture perfect day.

The three of us (H-woman and D.) are ready to roll. My caffeinated beverage was already long gone by this point. Weather was cool but sunny...most awesome running weather.

Sorry...freakiest glasses E.V.E.R!!!!

Lined up at the 9 min mark (and I ran just over 8 - yay training!). I was ready for this...felt good (other than the hips/knees/feet issues), but I was wearing knee sleeves and a new pair of my good old Asics. I just wanted to beat last year's time, and I've noticed such an improvement in my running, even since the marathon in May, I figured I could do it.

And we're off!!! This is down into the golf course...the joy of running the 22k over the 10k is that the 10k, while half the distance, run up a mountain! We run down and loop the golf course, and then meander our way back to the Cave and Basin. There are a couple of short hills, but no Tunnel Mountain!!

Have I mentioned that this is the prettiest run, ever???

11k down and going strong!

Again, how can you not love the views???

FINISHED!! 3:04:08 - almost 10 minutes off my time in 2008. Next year....sub 3 hours. And I still look like I'm enjoying myself.

Here come H-woman and D!! I feel bad for abandoning them at the 2k mark (we were running together) but when the mood to run strikes, grab on and go for the ride.

A much deserved pedi afterwards, although I wasn't sure I was going to be able to actually lift my leg onto the stool!!! But do these look like feet that have just spent 3 hours pounding along?! They felt like it, but they look good...

Again...why don't I live in the mountains (insert whine here)??? Is this not heaven??? I could live right here forever.

Made it to Boot Camp on Monday (surprisingly) and today, and the legs are finally starting to feel better. I do go for an adjustment tomorrow, and we'll see what they say about the IT bands. Today, the right one actually felt "normal"...then I ran trails in Boot Camp, tripping all over rocks and roots, so both ankles and knees are not happy right now!

Dinner was a quick lentil soup: brown onions, celery and garlic. Add one sweet potato, diced, and cook for a few minutes before adding broth (I went with Epicure Vegetable Bouillon, but you could use chicken as well), and cook till potato is tender. You're supposed to puree it at this point, but I like chunky soups. Add one can lentils, some cumin, Epicure Moroccan spice blend, S&P, lemon juice and spinach leaves. Enjoy. Even managed to leave some for lunch tomorrow. Debating a snack though, although it's all I can do to keep my eyes open. I think a glass of moo will do.

Hope everyone has a great week and reaches what ever goals they set out for themselves,

Later,

Tired...

Weekend in mountains awesome...did not want to come home....ever (except maybe long enough to pick up the furbabies).

22k run good - beat last year's time, which was goal.

Hips and knees punishing me for said faster time...dealing with it.

Very tired...going to bed. Will post pics and details tomorrow.

Later,

Mornizzzzzzzz.....

Because we are heading to Canmore this afternoon, we (H-woman) and I went to Boot Camp at 6 AM...yes...that was 6 AM. It was dark outside...H-woman, who is a morning person (they are eeee-vil) and Trainer Josh (also a morning person) seemed to delight in my pain! And I learned...I don't do exercise in the morning well. Heck, I have enough trouble with just putting one foot in front of the other. Does this look like the face of someone who enjoys mornings?!

I found the climb up the big-assed Edworthy hill extremely challenging, as I tried to wake up the legs, gets the lungs cooperating (needed an extra hit of Ventolin, so they did), and find my footing IN THE DARK!!! Did I mention it's still very, very, very dark at 6 am? That is not morning...that is NIGHT! Although Trainer Josh is very prepared, as he had headlamps for us all. After our work on the hill (add some weights, squats, lunges, shoulder presses, pain) we returned to our mats and then the picnic tables for some more leg work...I think specially for H and myself, as TJ knows we're both running Melissa's tomorrow. Thanks, man! Finished up with some more squats (can never do enough of those), some more upper body work and then on to our damp, dew soaked mats for ab work. Just as the sun was peering over the horizon, class was done.

H dropped me off, where I promptly went back to bed for an hour snooze, and then up to pack for the weekend. Think I've got everything I need. Probably too much, actually.

Going to pick up our race stuff, then home again to change the litter, and tidy up for the nice lady down the hall who's going to come over and feed the babies and give George his shots, and then we're out of here!

No computer so you'll have to wait till Monday for an update and recap.

By the way, this is what 3500 people at a BBQ look like! It was fun, ran into some people I haven't seen for ages (and got sooooooo many compliments...once again, Boot Camp ROCKS), ate a fabulous meal (the Westin ROCKS), listened to a bit of music and then came home.

Have a fabulous weekend where ever you are and what ever you're doing.

Later,

Kicked another 3 to the curb...

And it's all thanks to Boot Camp. It's the weight training, I swear. I have lost more than 20 pounds since June 11th, yet sat stalled at the same number for over 3 YEARS before I joined up!!!!! I am almost at my lowest WW weight since I joined 11 years ago. I know...some of you are thinking "ELEVEN YEARS?!?!" Give it up, already, lady!!! I'll admit...I love food, I didn't know how to properly exercise and I'm stubborn! Only 16 pounds left to goal weight. I will treat every day like I'm on "The Last 10 Pounds"...I will not give up now.

Getting ready to head out to a company BBQ...with 3,499 of my closest peeps! Yes, that's right. For the Alberta leg of our company's cross country BBQ tour, there are 3,500 people expected tonight. One place, one time. But 54-40 is the band (not country and from my era...I'll actually know the music), the Westin in catering and we get three free drink tickets each. Yahoo! The company is busing and flying people in from all over Alberta and Saskatchewan...apparently at the BC party (the entire province, including the island) had 5,000 people at it. KA-RAZY!!!! Should be fun, and I've just found another pair of jeans in my closet that fit nicely on the new bod. Too bad I don't believe in dating coworkers...oh well, they can look, but they just can't touch.

That's it for now. Off to get ready.
Later,

Melting

It's hot...very, very, very hot. I can barely handle heat in July and August, let alone the FIRST FULL DAY OF FALL! It's almost 33C (90F) out there...oi.
Between my achy legs and the heat, I didn't get a very great night's sleep...add the late night on Monday, and it's official...I'm old and crabby!!!
Dropped in on one of Trainer J's other Boot Camps last night (it was only in the high 20's / 80's!) - I think he thinks we're stalking him! But it was a good little group...only 6 of us. However, it's out in the 'burbs, in a school field, so no shade! Yuck...we did run up some stairs, tucked in between the houses, which was cooler, and then by the time we hit the field, the evening shade started in (the class started at 6pm)...I don't think I could do the 6pm class consistently...it's too late, and by the time you get home, way too late for a full supper. In fact I ended up having a whole wheat pita spread with light cream cheese, a bit of Miracle Whip and a cucumber. That's all I had the energy for!
Today was my last day of work for a well deserved long weekend. And the timing was great, because I officially finished every report, graph, chart, analysis and one-off requests that came my way this month. I was about to be very bored! Walked (and tested out the new orthotics) 5.5k at lunch, going over to my pharmacy to refill some meds. Add Boot Camp tonight, and my shins are quite achy right now. I'm going to find some ice, which will feel good, and try to settle them down for the evening. I also have an adjustment booked tomorrow, so I should be in fine form for Melissa's on Saturday. Oh well, at the very worst I finish where I did last year. As long as I'm upright and smiling, it's all good.
Breakfast was a Starbuck's raspberry bran scone and my 5-shot latte. Lunch was a burger loaded with tomato, lettuce, pickles and mustard (the deli in our kitchen doesn't have grills or fryers, so everything is baked or broiled...slightly healthier than normal) with a large side salad. No dressing...why would you ruin the way fresh, crunchy veggies taste?! A PB Larabar on my way to BC, and then after sweating (ran the Douglas Fir, and I ran further than I have for a long time, despite cranky legs!) for an hour, came home, walked to Safeway and bought a slice of veggie quiche, 4-bean salad and broccoli slaw from the deli. As long as it was COLD! Not bad, actually, and I only ate half of the salads.
As I was driving to Boot Camp, I was letting my mind wander (I HATE traffic...I have no idea how people do that every day! I'd probably hurt someone...seriously!) - I had a bunch of compliments head my way today (the new hair!) and one girl compared it to a picture I did for marketing on my desk. She commented on how different I look now, and that got me thinking. See, right now I weigh 193 pounds. Not shy about it...but in high school, where I loathed myself, and thought I was this huge hippo thing (and I went to high school long before anorexia and bulimia were even heard about - good lord, almost 30 years ago now) and yet, my top weight in high school was 180. Funny how the shape you are in is the shape you are.
Okay...ice bags beckon, as does the couch.
Have a great night,
Later,

Early morning quickie...

Not THAT kind of quickie!!!

- The Tragically Hip were great, but way too loud last night. Performing in the Jubilee should have been an acoustic treat, but they had the sound way too loud, and it was all muddy and distorted. Too bad.
- Gordon Downie is a bit hyper...that's all I have to say! He'd be a blast at a wedding, I think.
- went for the orthotics appointment yesterday afternoon, and I'm picking them up at lunch today! I could have taken them home last night, but I was waiting for a transfer to go through. With my benefits coverage, I'll only have to pay $50, and I may be able to run pain free on Saturday! What a concept!!
- going to bed at midnight (long concert, and even longer trying to get out of the freaking parking lot!) and getting up at 5:30am is not fun.
- Fall arrives in Calgary just after 3pm and the temps are supposed to hit +29 today and +30 tomorrow...just as long as it's nice on Saturday.
- looking forward to the weekend, and not just because of Melissa's, but because it'll be a mini-vacation. Going up Friday and returning Monday. I'll be post less because I do appear to be the only person in Canada without a laptop! You'll just have to wait till Monday for a race recap.
- Time to get ready for work...

Have a great day,
Later,

Sunday walk

It appears that the sprint work we did on Friday not just buggered my legs, but really buggered my already buggered legs!!! I woke up about 4am almost in tears, thinking it's too early to call and bail on H. for our run today. Last long run before Melissa's, and I can barely walk from my bedroom to the kitchen for more painkillers! But I managed to get settled down, and when I woke up at 7:30, they didn't feel bad. Not great, mind you, and so not ready to run, but not bad.
Had a quick brekkie of oatmeal (oats, milk, craisons, almond butter) and the leftover latte from yesterday. Picked up some knee sleeves at Walmart yesterday, as I thought they couldn't hurt. With all the IT problems I've been having, anything is better than nothing.
Got to H.'s and after hobbling out to the street, we (okay, she - I am rather stubborn/stupid in this sense) decided to walk the 8k, rather than run it and risk further injury. So we walked our usual route through Rideau, past Stanley Park, over through Parkview (??) and to the edge of Sandy Beach. Turn around and return. The rain had stopped for a bit, but started again at about the 5K mark...at least it wasn't horrible outside, and although it was a cool +8, we were both saying we were warm under our rain jackets. I do love this time of year though, as the leaves change, and all the different colours are around, and the air is crisp and clear. I Heart Fall.
Did not bad for time either, all things considered. We maintained an average pace of 9:19/km, which is only a minute slower than our long run last week. I hope to have everything in good working order by next Saturday, so that I can aim for decent finishing time.
Which is what, exactly?? Last year we finished near the end of the pack, at 3:13, only beating 4 others to the finish line. So any time faster than that will be perfectly wonderful this year. I'd like to match my PB for a Half, which is 2:40, but we'll see if the body cooperates. Interesting though, as I read a blog earlier today where the writer bitterly complained about her pathetic run and time of 2:23 for a Half...wow, perspective is different for us all, huh? I'd be thrilled to run that fast and she's acting like it's the end of the world.
Cooling off now, so I think I'll go forage for something warm for lunch, start some curry in the slow cooker for dinner and head out and run some errands.
Later,