Guess What I Did?

Saturday was a beautiful fall day. A beautiful sunrise amid some big clouds led to a crisp day of sunshine and temperatures in the low to mid-teens. So, what's a girl to do but run. This is a picture of me during my 50 km run on Saturday!

50 km is my furthest distance ever on the road. I ran in the Club Fat Ass Seawall 100 miler. Yup, a 100 mile run on pavement. Only one person attempted the full distance, overcome by a bout of sanity and abandoning after about 14 hours and about 70 miles!

My running time was 4:44, with my marathon split being 3:55. My pace was comfortable and easy, just out enjoying the day. I wasn't pushing it at all, and really wanted to go further than 50, but decided it best to save my legs for Seattle. I ran into Millie, Bax, and their dad along the way, out for a stroll on the seawall, and also helped to capture a run away beagle in the west end! You may recall that my Boston time was 3:58, so even my easy long runs are faster than that painful experience at Boston.

My 50 km has given me the confidence to have a Seattle objective of a PB. My best so far is 3:43 at Haida Gwaii, but I think I'm ready to better that (and maybe even go sub-3:40!). Bouvier will be joining me in Seattle, where he'll wait for me in his "heavenly bed" in our view suite at the Westin Hotel.

Rainy Thanksgiving Day

Today I kept it mellow and just ran a 5km to shake out my legs from yesterday. Lucky me, I wasn't even feeling yesterday! It's sure a good feeling to have a weekend day to spend, knowing you did a big run yesterday so don't hae to go crazy today.

I also finished up a weekend shopping spree with a bag of puchases at Banana. My new job requires a slightly more polished wardrobe than the job I had for the past couple years, so I put a good dent in getting that new wardrobe this weekend.

Finally, had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with my dad and brother Hugh at Rain City Grill. Bovier continues to struggle onwards :)

Long May I Run.....

What do you have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend? I'm thankful for the beautiful, sunny, crisp fall day that was bestowed upon us here in the lower mainland. It was a day made for running....so I had to make the most of it. Today I ran from Brookbank Street in North Vancouer, across the Second Narrows, along the harbourside in Vancouver heading downtown, around the seawall, across the Lion's Gate Bridge, and back through North Van to my car. I ran a total of 37km!! Yeah!!!

That is the longest run I've done since Boston, and the second longest since my marathon in Haida Gwaii last August (14 months ago). I'm feeling good. Great in fact. Better, stronger and more confident than I've felt running, maybe ever. That said, I retain my humility and acknowledge my vulnerability - at my age an injury can happen at any moment. I fully appreciate how lucky I am to be able to run as I do.

The one problem I'm having is that I have a new model of Mizuno shoes, as my previous ones were heavier and heavy duty on the control. My feet slide around in my new shoes and I may have bruised my toenails today. (incidentally, bouvier also has a toenail problem, which has cost me about $800.00 so far!) Mizuno decided last year to give into the expanding US market and widen their shoes, so they're just too wide for me. I've tried Asics (got injured) and Nike (got injured) recently. Mizuno seems best, except for this width thing, which really sucks, so, looks like I'll have to head to the running store tomorrow for a trying on shoes session.

Seattle or Sacramento?

So, it's been a while since I've posted anything to my blog. (Bouvier borrowed my disposible thumbs and held them hostage all summer, so I've not been able to type). I guess last time you heard from me I was on my way to Boston. Well, Boston was fabulous - a great experience for any runner. I really liked the city too. We stayed in a hotel next to the T (subway) so could get around quickly. The city seems like a permanent fun zone. In the 5 days I was there there we 2 hockey games, 2 baseball games, a basketball game, the women's olympic marathon trials, and of course the Boston Marathon. (Pics are just pretty, nothing to do with the conent of this post).

My run was hindered by a calf pull I suffered 6 weeks prior. The calf pull meant I could hardly run leading up to Boston. I think I did 3 runs (up to 10k) and in those 6 weeks, and two run/walk sessions at the track. Not the training you want leading up to Boston. Well, I ran regardless and it hurt like hell. I was in pain at 20k and it just got worse. As I turned the corner for the last 300m down Boylston Street, I stopped and walked. It didn't seem possible to do another 300m. I walked a bit and then ran, and ran across the line. I ended up running 3:58 which is 15 minutes shy of what I'd normally run.

It took me about 45 minutes to find my way out of the finishing chute and to find Guy. He helped me back to the hotel, about 2km walk away, and ran me a bath which did my legs wonders. But, my legs were in bad shape. They've never been so sore. I was not able to sit down. I had to stand to pee for a few days. I'd never run so unprepared again. I did it for Boston since that could have been my only time to ever run Boston, but I'd never again run so unprepared.

In the end, I move up an age group next year and only need to run 4h to qualify...which I did despite the difficulty at Boston, so I'm in again and heading back next year to attack that Heartbreak Hill.


So, I'm registered for Boston in April. I've been working up my mileage to run a marathon in late fall, to regin my confidence for Boston. I'm feeling really strong with my running and in a couple weeks plan to run 40-50k in a Club Fat Ass run, to regain my confidence. Aside from that I'll start working on my speed and be ready to try Boston again. I did some good trail running this summer, an awsome backpacking trip, and have been cycle commuting to work, so feel strong. Still, Bouvier thinks I have to lose a few pounds to perform optimally.

So, for a late fall marathon I'm thinking of either Seattle or Sacraento. Seattle is much easier logistically, being a short drive away, but Sacramento seems a better scene, likely better weather, a fast course, and a city I've never seen. I'm leaning towards Sacramento, and Bouvier wants me to do Sacramento, but do let me know which you think I should do.