Scotty welcomes Blue Steel

As 2010 comes to a close I can’t help but feel lucky for the year I’ve had. 2010 has been somewhat of a defining year for me I think. In fact, I’d say the past 2 years have really shaped the person that I am today. I’ve had some struggles, but feel like I’ve come out on top, stronger and more confident than ever before. I became an Ironman. I formed a new bond with my sister (who I can now say is my best friend) that will be forever stronger due to our journey together. I’ve recently entered my 4th decade of life, and well, I’ve swam, I’ve biked, and I’ve run (A LOT!).

I was especially spoiled this Christmas and birthday and have welcomed a new member to my quiver of bikes. I’ve decided to call my shiny new Marinoni cross bike ‘Blue Steel’. While it’s not quite as flashy as Scotty (my road bike) it’s a great solid bike for winter training that will allow me to get out on the road without worrying about the winter dirt and muck. After a great (and chilly) ride yesterday with my Dad, I’m feeling really excited about training this winter (at least the bike portion anyway, haha).



Other than that, I’ve spent the last two weeks in active recovery mode. Training has been extremely low key and flexible and while I’ve enjoyed it (and needed it); I also know I’ve been eating way too much junk and have been feeling a bit sluggish for it. I’m looking forward to getting back into a more structured routine as we roll into the New Year. I will have new challenges ahead, first in my own training, as I attempt to gain some speed and see what I can accomplish over shorter distances. As well, I will be taking on the roll of run leader for the first time with Frontrunners Westshore, as I attempt to lead their Oak Bay 'Kool' Half-Marathon Clinic in the spring.

I’m looking forward to finding out what the New Year will bring, but for now, I shall sign off and enjoy the dwindling hours of 2010.

Until 2011...

I ♥ Swimming

I didn’t really expect to make another post before Christmas, but well, I couldn’t resist, because...

I had one of the best swims ever this morning!

Juan de Fuca is open again. I’m loving the fresh new lines on the bottom, the crystal clear water (that surely won’t last), as well as the fact that they haven’t got the temperature back up to normal lately so it’s more like Commonwealth’s competition pool than a kiddie pool. While it’s a little chilly when you first get in, it’s nice not to be sweating profusely from the lukewarm water within 50m.

But it wasn’t just the pool conditions that made this swim so great; it was the fact that I had one of those days where everything clicked – like really clicked.

I’ve been doing a lot of drills lately, and I actually think they are starting to pay off. Today was no different, I did drills, drills, drills, along with some “strong effort” 200m sets and, you know, I think I may have had some of my fastest times ever for 200m (and it was just a “strong effort” not even an all-out effort!).

It is truly amazing how having such a great workout can put you in such a wonderful mood for the rest of the day… :)

Really?

Wow…

2 weeks into December.
11 days until Christmas.
13 days until I turn 30.
18 days until 2011.

Really?
Wow… Where has the time gone?

Well, I suppose it’s gone to a good year of training and racing. To goals both set and accomplished. To a new job that I actually don’t mind going to every day. To vacations and fun times… and of course, to the regular old day-to-day that makes up life.

Overall, I think 2010 has been a pretty good year.


Anyway, onto the here and now…

This past weekend the LiveFit Crew had a nice little social evening and year end wrap up at Straight Up Cycles. Smart of the guys at the store to have us, as it made me realize a few things I had left off my Christmas list, which I (or Santa) will hopefully be back for soon. (Cross bike, new helmet, etc. etc.).

Other than the typical holiday build up (which I love) and the over consumption of treats (which I also love), there really isn’t anything too out of the ordinary to report on the training front. My motivation has faltered a few times over the last couple weeks, as I’ve opted to sleep in rather than head out in the rain and cold to run in the dark. (It was much easier last year to make myself do the workouts with the thought of Ironman looming). This December, however, I’m finding I’m being a little more lenient on myself, which I actually think is a good thing. On the whole, when I look at my training calendar, I guess aside from the odd missed run, I have still been managing to get most workouts in. It really has become habit at this point.

Otherwise, I’ve been especially enjoying swimming lately and have been feeling fairly strong in the pool. With Juan de Fuca closed, I've moved over to Crystal Pool for the month and am enjoying the 50m lanes. The only downside was waking up yesterday morning with yet another ear infection! Let’s hope Santa puts some earplugs in my stocking.

All that said, I am definitely looking forward to a couple weeks of easier, active recovery over the Christmas break and then really getting going in the New Year.

There are new goals to be set, new challenges to be had.



MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Gunner Shaw - Race Report

When I lined up to tackle the snow and ice covered trails around Thetis Lake on the weekend, I really didn’t know much about Gunner Shaw or the 26th Annual Memorial 10K Cross Country Classic that I was about to take part in (aside from a few stories about the massive puddles and the "lakeside" finish line). So, today, before writing this report, I figured I would do a little reading.

What I learned…
Gunner Shaw sounds like he was a pretty neat person, whose friends and family obviously loved him immensely. I imagine he would be proud of the event they have created to honour and remember him. [Visit here for some good articles from the Prairie Inn Harriers website].

I also learned that this is one tough race! (Although, I guess technically, I learned that on the weekend).


So, on to the race report.

The short version... I struggled!

The Long version... Well, it was a beautiful (but chilly) day and a really fun event that I will definitely do again (especially since they had to cut out the puddles this year due to the fact that they were shear ice that would have sliced and diced us), but I can’t say I necessarily felt that way at every point during the race. The trails were covered in a combination of snow, ice and slush which made finding a good footing for a novice trail runner like myself a bit of a challenge.

As the race began, and Kirsten and Tyler quickly escaped from my sight, I tried to settle into a rhythm with the 500 or so other runners jostling for space around me. Off the roadway and onto the trails, I heard a woman exclaim “well, the easy part is over now!” and you know, I think she was right.

As I climbed the first big hill, the pace slowed to a walk – this was not necessarily of my own choosing, but well, if the person at the front was walking, everyone was walking. I will admit though, aside from nearly (and inadvertently) planting my face in the butt of the guy in front of me, I did enjoy the little walk break.

From there, I held a decent pace for a while, but eventually started noticing a lot more people whipping past me. Up and down, over the rocks and through some pretty thick mud, I trudged along. My stomach started growling horribly about 35-40 minutes in and my quads trembled slightly. I seemed to be holding my body in a rather tense position the whole race, trying not to slip on the snow, which made for an awkward gait and I think tired me out - both mentally and physically.

As I approached the last three hills before the finish, I could hear the roars from the spectators on the beach and knew what laid ahead… the big splash in the lake!

I must say, I think my shining moment of the day was my run through the lake (all those tri practices, entering and exiting the water really paid off, haha). I didn’t get too soaked and even managed to gain a bit of ground on the woman in front of me (granted, I think she may have face planted in the water).

So, yeah, I struggled… but would I do it again? You bet.

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

... But the fire is so delightful! Too bad I had somewhere to go ;)



This past weekend’s unusual November snowfall kept me from racing in the Bear Mountain 10k, (err, 6.5k - it was shortened due to the weather).

Living at the top of the Malahat, we tend to get a little bit more of the white stuff than everywhere else in the Capital Region. So, when I awoke Saturday morning, we had about a foot of powdery precipitation - and it was still coming down!

The roads were being ploughed, and I probably could have made it down the ‘hat and up the Bear, but being a born and bred Victorian, my confidence with driving in winter weather is not the best. As such, I spent the better part of Saturday morning humming and hawing about attempting the drive down... by the time I finally sucked it up and decided I should head down, I realized I hadn’t cleared the car off yet. As I began uncovering the heap in the driveway, I realized there was no way I was going to make it on time and so I called it quits – car only half uncovered - and played with Rusty in the snow instead (which I think he was quite thankful for).

I’m sorry to have missed the race, but have gotten over it fairly quickly as this weekend I am going to be racing the Gunner Shaw 10k at Thetis. Kirsten and I got out for a run around Thetis on Sunday in an attempt to see the race course. We may have made a wrong turn or two, but it looks like it should be a pretty fun one.

Here’s hoping the weather cooperates!

Maui Love

Late last night (well, actually, early this morning) I returned from a week of basking in the sun (and replenishing my vitamin D stores) in Maui. It was a somewhat impromptu trip, only planned about 3 weeks prior, when Shane and I decided to throw caution to the wind and join some friends who would be in the "aloha state" for a wedding.

We arrived last Friday night to a bit of a rain storm, but that was the last we would see of any sort of precipitation. The weather was phenomenal and the laid back vibe of Kihei town was absolutely amazing.

We snorkeled, we explored, we ate, we drank, we hiked a volcano, we boogie boarded, we surfed, we took silly sunset 'jump' photos, we didn't get attacked by sharks and we had more than a few beach days! It was pretty much everything you could ask for in a tropical vacation.



















I was also able to squeeze in a bit of training (turns out it is all I ever think about). Part of me would have liked to have done more, but it was a vacation after all. ;)

Leading up to said vacation, my desire to run had really been lacking, but it felt like as soon as we touched base on Hawaiian soil running was all I wanted to do! I was lucky enough to be able to get in more than a few great runs around Kihei and Wailea (which is very very hilly). The heat was often intense, but wow, it’s amazing how breaking such a fierce sweat can make you feel so good!

On top of running, I enjoyed a fun swim workout at Kihei’s outdoor community pool. It was so neat to be swimming laps in a pool and be able to look over and see a palm tree in your peripheral. I would have liked to have taken advantage of the pool a little more, but the schedule didn’t always work with the day’s activities.







The only thing that was missing was having a road bike to get out and explore the hilly roads of Maui... but, I suppose I had to save something for next time!

"Is that all you ever think about?"

"Is that all you ever think about?"

This was the text response that greeted me when I sent Shane a note on my way home one night and asked if he still wanted to go for a run when I got there. I think my very un-witty response at the time was something along the lines of, "no, not always", but in fact it should have been "Running? Nah, I think about swimming and biking too” [ba dum bum]

Seriously though, it is not all I ever think about, but triathlon (and fitness and health in general) do consume a good portion of my mind and thoughts. That said, lately, I’m finding it a bit difficult to get these thoughts on [virtual] paper. Maybe writing a ‘triathlon blog’ while in the triathlon off-season isn’t that easy? Perhaps, it’s the lack of races on the horizon; or maybe even the grey weather outside that seems to strip me of my desire to do anything but laze around in front of the wood stove and watch horrible television (oh, and workout and think about triathlon of course, haha).

That said, while my desire to write has been lacking, I have been keeping up with a pretty consistent training schedule in preparation for the Bear Mountain 10k on November 20.

Part of me dreads this race. Like a serious, full on, “why did I sign up for this” dread. The thought of ‘Baby Bear’ ‘Mama Bear’ and ‘Papa Bear’ make me cringe a little every time I think of them. But of course, another part of me remembers how fun it was last year. Sure, I took it really slow (treating it more as an easy training day than a race) and I even walked a little (which I plan NOT to do this year) but there is something about this race that really is appealing. Maybe it’s the challenge, or the thrill of competing in “Canada’s Hardest 10k” or even just the good old grass roots feel, or the fact that you get a Lululemon t-shirt this year. Whatever it is, I’ll be there. Ready to take it on as a race this year and not just an easy training day.

Watch out Papa Bear… I’m coming for you ;)