What is next….

Well a week after the Army Run Half-Marathon I am pondering my next race. I want to do one more race before the end of the season, as well as try to get a 5K PB. So obviously I am considering 5K races this time. I haven’t had the best luck with them this year because the races that I signed up to do I had to bring Max in the Chariot. It will be a long time before I can break 29 minutes with Max in tow!

So the two races that I am thinking about are Somersault’s Fall Colours and Ottawa Hospital’s Rattle me Bones. I have competed in Rattle me Bones before, but not Fall Colours. Fall Colours is one of the few Somersault Races that I have never entered as usually I am with my family on Thanksgiving.

Here are some deciding factors:

Fall Colours

- Never competed before (+)

- Not far from my house (+)

- Challenging course (hills) (+)

- Popular Race (+)

- Parking is a pain (-)

- Challenging Course (hills) (-)

- Somersault is getting very pricey (-)

Rattle me Bones

- Proceeds go to a great cause (+)

- Fairly flat course (+)

- Free Parking (+)

- Race is weeks away which means I have time to rest and then do some runs (+)

- Costumes are not only allowed, they are encouraged! (+)

- Race is at the end of October – it could be cold (-)

- I’ve competed in the race before (-)

- It is a bit of a drive to the Hospital (-)

- Run is at the hospital = boring scenery (-)

All in all, you can’t really go wrong with either race. I am strongly leaning towards Rattle me Bones only because it is in a month – not next weekend. My right lower leg is acting up and I think I need to take it easy for another week. I ran the Terry Fox Run at school the other day and because I went fairly fast, I think I aggravated my leg just a tad. Also there is a bit of a price difference between the two. I know that may sound corny, but when you do many races in a year – it adds up!

Anyways, I have decided to run Rattle me Bones on October 28th. If you wish to donate some $$ towards the cause, please my fundraising page and donate what you can. *Or* Even better – come run with me!! There is a 1K, 2K, 5K and 10K to choose from and children are more than welcome to run!

By Rebecca|running|0 Comments

Running Update

Well there is just over 2 weeks to go before ARMY RUN!

I went for a decent long run on Sunday and plan to go tomorrow for a very long run. Starting Monday, I have Cross Country, so I will occasionally run with them for the next two weeks. After this weekend, I may do one more long run and that will be it. Done, done, done! I attempted to go for a run last night, but my neck has been hurting all week due to working in a crappy chair all week at school. I need to remedy the chair situation quickly, as when I run it aggravates my neck and running becomes a chore. This isn’t something I need right before a half-marathon!

The long run felt great last week. Other than my knees hurting a bit, everything else was good. I was also very steady with my KM’s hovering at 7:30. P and Max went roller blading and went a bit further. I was just on my way back when they passed me. Apparently I was not too far back at the end as P said he was only home for about 10 minutes when I came back.

Some thoughts while running:

- The shorts I wore – ugh, never again! I kept having to adjust them as they were riding up and becoming annoying. For the Army Run, I will be wearing my standard MEC Running shorts that do not ride up at all, and have a pocket for the iPod

- Guy on a unicycle – well, it is Bike Sunday…..

- Warm water is not as satisfying as cold water

- Running with the iPod during the race will be a treat

- tank top for the Army Run for sure!

Alrighty, time for school. Everyone have a fantastic Friday!

By Rebecca|running|0 Comments

Running Update

There is less than one month to go before the Ottawa Army Run – Half marathon! I hope that everyone who is training for something is doing alright. In reading a couple of blogs this week, I’ve noticed that the “mommy-crew” of runners are struggling a bit with their goals/training schedule. This is definitely to be expected when you are training with an infant child. You do what you can!

I am definitely in the same boat. The longest run that I have done so far is 11-ish KM, and that was awhile ago. This Sunday, all I managed was 7K before it was time to go and feed Max lunch. It is not that I cannot run more than 11K, it is just some timing/traveling issues that have come up. I cannot just go for a run willy nilly at any time of the day. If I am taking Max (which I do 90% of the time), then it has to be in between feeding times and nap times. I also cannot go out with a high humidex reading, nor can I go out when it is raining (with Max, I can get wet!). Timing has not been a help!

I have managed to go out at least every other day on weeks that we have been home. I am just running distances between 4K and 6K (which is fine). The long runs are barely happening. They take longer (hence the name long run) and requires more planning. We also go to church now on Sundays, so that has hampered my ‘Sunday Long-Run’ plans as by the time I get out it is 11:00-ish, hot and Max is getting hungry. This Sunday was a fairly hot and sunny one, and when I was in the sun I felt like I was in an oven. I do not want to repeat that again next week – so I either have to go out on a different day, or not sleep-in and go at 6:30am.

Last week I went for:

2 steady runs at 4K each

1 ‘long run’ at 7K

At least I am running!!

I am sure that the Army Run race will go ok. I plan on doing some serious running for the next 3 weekends. If I can get up to the 16K mark, I know I will be fine. The last 5K of the race is the same 5K route that I’ve been on several times. My plan is to do 10 and 1′s (10 minutes running, followed by 1 minute walking) and just have fun.

It should be about having fun right?

By Rebecca|running|0 Comments

Half-Marathon Training Update

Good Friday Morning to you!

The first week of August is now over, which means that the Army Run Half-Marathon will be here before I know it. The organizing folks at Army Run just released the route that we will be taking on September 23rd. It looks similar to last year, fairly flat route that comprises of running in both Ottawa and Gatineau. The ending of the race is the same 5K ‘along the canal’ route that I have run on several times. Overall it looks like a good route.

I have jumped back on the training wheel this week after missing most of last week. I did manage to get a 1.5K hilly-run in last week, but that was about it (too much to do at camp). My long runs have sucked lately because I just simply do not get the time to go out for more than 1 hr running and if the heat is bad, I am NOT bringing Max along in the Chariot. To further complicate things, Sunday mornings are now church mornings. By the time church ended last Sunday, it was baking out, so I only managed to run in the evening.

I can comfortably run for 10K without a problem. I am not fast by any means, but I can do it. I would like to focus in the next 6 weeks on going past 16K. More long runs will have to happen!

Training this week:

- Sunday – 4K Steady Run

- Tuesday – 6K Steady Run

- Wednesday – Track workout (3K in total)

As long as the weather somewhat cooperates today, I will go on a 6-7K run today with Max. Although I am going away Friday night – Saturday Night, a long run WILL happen no matter what, rain or shine.

By Rebecca|running|0 Comments

This week in training

It is another hot week here in O-town. Because I am by myself I have to be a little picky about when I go out. However, my Mom is flying in today to watch Max while I go to work, so I shouldn’t have a problem going for evening runs this week after Mr. Poopy goes to bed.

Last Week:

I am following The Running Room’s Half Marathon program (to finish in 2:30). I think 2:30 is a very reasonable goal. I am not fast/it is my first half, so my focus will be to complete, not to PB or anything. Because I have already been running this season I started the training schedule at week 5, rather than starting at the beginning (where I wouldn’t get to the end before the race). I am also modifying the program a bit since I cannot go running 5x a week right now – it is just too hard. As soon as P gets back, I might be able to do it. My focus is on 1 long run, 1 tempo run or hills (1 of each if I can get 4 runs in) and 1 steady run.

I did not get to do a long run last week. I did have a race on the Saturday, so a long run did not happen on the Sunday. Nor did it happen this past Sunday as I was a wee bit busy with Canada Day festivities. I will be going on one next week.

I managed to do one tempo run and one steady run (well, and the race). The one thing I will say about going at the 2:30 pace, is that my pacing for training is a bit too slow for my liking. Honestly, I am probably going to hover more at the 2:15 pacing. My long runs are supposed to be around 8:00-9:00 per KM…..that is really slow/pretty much my walking pace. The 2:15 pace is at from 7:20-8:20, which is a bit more to my liking. We will see how this goes. The distance of the workouts is essentially the same, so really I am doing the 2:15 pacing…

For the tempo run, my average pace was right on the money. For steady run, I was a bit faster, however that run was only 3K

So far the training is going well. I do know that some of those long runs are going to suck. There are quite a few Sunday’s where timing will be an issue. That and as I’ve noted several times – I don’t like the heat. I will have to go early, perhaps after I feed Max in the early AM? At least P will be home to watch him. Long runs in the chariot (especially when we go past 8K) are just not going to happen.

Happy training to the rest of you!

By Rebecca|running|0 Comments

Race Re-cap: Emilie’s Run

Emilie’s Run is a women’s only run in Ottawa, held in June at the Aviation Museum. The race is named after Canadian Marathon Olympian, Emilie Mondor who tragically died in a car accident in 2006. It is a fast-race with cash prizes. Some big names have run this race, including Tara Quinn-Smith (whose record was beaten yesterday by Mary Davies). As mentioned, it is a women’s only race….except yesterday as Max “raced” too, haha.

So, I wasn’t too sure whether I was going to make it to the race or not. We ended up renting a car so I would have a way of getting to the race with Max (if Max wasn’t with me, I could have easily biked down). Having Max in the Chariot was not what I was planning on, and since I haven’t been running much, and definitely not much with Max, I knew I wouldn’t be PBing. Max is now 15+ pounds and with the chariot…I’m pushing 20lbs at least. Also, because of the nature of this race, I had to be in the back of the pack. Normally I stand close to the front for this race.

So I got to the Aviation Museum in plenty of time. I had to pick up my bib number and t-shirt. This time the race kit came with goodies, including a Camino chocolate bar and Werther’s Original chocolate caramels (my fave of the Werther’s brand). The t-shirts this year were white, pink and blue (better than the yellow last year). That all happened fairly quickly, so I had enough time to feed Max and sit in the shade while waiting. I ate a Cliff’s energy bar (Mint Chocolate, yum!) and drank some water. I then went to investigate the washroom situation, and after that promptly turned around as there was a massive line.

When it got close to race-time I headed up the hill to the start line. So much fun with the chariot! I got Max somewhat settled (he loves to pull the stupid UV shade on his chariot). I stood waaaaaay in the back with some of the walkers/slower runners. The main pack of runners was just way too squished. Plus, Once the race gets going, I find it difficult to not run into peoples feet

The gun went off and we were outta there pretty fast, unlike the bigger races where you spend 5 minutes walking to the start. Only took me about 3 seconds to get to the start. I did wear my Garmin watch this time, but I turned it around so I couldn’t see the pace times. I only glanced at it during the KM markings. I ended up doing something to it that turned off the time-counter, so I really didn’t know my exact time until the end, but I knew a rough idea due to my KM times.

The first KM for me was pretty slow for this race. I was definitely lagging behind with the slower group. Last race, I flew down the hill with Max, this time I couldn’t really do that. I did start moving past some people though. First KM was easy and was done in 6:15, almost a whole minute slower than my 5:20 first KM in the Mother’s day race. I thought to myself ‘oh well’ and just trucked on.

The next KM, the sun was bearing on me and I started to get a little overheated. I did have a couple of conversations with people, mostly about the chariot. Max was up and just looking around. I saw the lead girls whiz by at one point, including a 13-year old girl! Some other people yelled at me ‘go mama!’ at some point. I got through KM 2 in 6:20. I go to the water station/turn around point and quickly dumped some water on my head. When I turned around, I grabbed another water to drink. I did not stop this time for water and just kept going. My legs were feeling fine (yay no more shin splints – thanks new shoes). However, just before the 3K marker I had to do a full-on dead stop and adjust Max. He started whining and that UV screen was literally on top of him. I had to stop for about 40 odd seconds there (KM 3 was 6:56). Boourns!

After stopping, this group of ladies who I passed earlier had gone past me. I spend KM 3-4 catching up to them, and finally doing so just before the 4K marker. My goal was to not let them pass me. KM 3 is slightly downhill so I started to pick it up a bit. I did take a very short walking break (about 40 seconds) at one point to catch my breath. I did KM 4 in 6:33. KM 5 was pretty quick. I took another short break (another 40 seconds)just before the short incline that I knew was coming up. If I didn’t have the chariot, it wouldn’t have been an issue – but pushing the chariot sucks hardcore.The first 2.5 KM of this route is downhill…and since it was an out and back race, you have to go back up it.

I charged up the hill and then decided to pick out some runners to pass them. There was this one lady who I’m pretty sure said to herself around KM 2 “I’m not letting baby pass me!” and zoomed away from me. I ended up passing her and a few others. I was trying to catch this lady in baby pink, but she was just about out of reach. I finished the last KM in 6:16.

I finished the race in 32:35 Garmin time, but 32:46 race time. That is a quick steady run pace for me. Normally I do my 5K steady runs with the chariot between 33-34 minutes. Not bad, considering that I had only gone out running a handful of times after my 10K.

My goal was to simply pass as many people as I could. I started in the back with maybe 20-30 people behind me, and according to results – I passed about 70 more people. I wasn’t tired after the race (ok – I was at the finish line…but not after) nor was I sore or anything during the rest of the day. I had zero problems with my shins and only a bit of tightness in my ankle. I think the big goal for my half-marathon training will to take it slow. I’m not running the half to PB/race, I’m running for completion! I really need to look at my pacing time and do some slow runs

So when looking up Emilie’s last name, I noticed that the Ottawa Citizen had some pictures up from the race. Well it seems that the chariot got a little attention, and I am in one of the pictures. Take a looksie at the pictures via this link:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Photos+Emilie/6831507/story.html

(ha, you can just see the lady that tried to not let me pass her behind me)

Next race is the Warrior Dash – Which is just for fun!

By Rebecca|Max, running|0 Comments

Manic Monday!

Here is another week! It is a slightly busy week, but manageable. Mostly track and field, but at the same time it is slowing down.

Coming up this week:

Track and Field

Practices are pretty much done. Just a practice today and that is it for the week (if the weather holds up). I am down to 5 kids, 4 of them being Ottawa Lions kids who practice in the evenings. We are just going to be working on jumps for the entire group (the runners will get their practice via the Lions).

We have East OFSAA on Thursday/Friday. Looking at the performance listing, all 5 have the potential to move on. Alexia and Kevin will have to PB to make it, but they are literally right there. Both can do it though! Only thing I’m worried about is Alexia did the 10K on Saturday, and Kevin competed in his first decathlon. But maybe that will help?

Other Stuff

Pretty low-key week here. Nothing on the agenda until Saturday. I don’t plan on doing much other than applying for Max’s passport, taking some clothes back to Winners and actually making dinner.

Training

I’m not running this week, and I will not be running until I get fitted for proper shoes. My next race is Emilie’s Run, a fast 5K. So therefore my training will be focusing on getting faster. My goal for this race is an overall PB. My last PB set in the Army Run of 2010 was 28:55 and I plan on smashing that. Emilie’s Run is the same course as the Mother’s Day 5K I just did, and as you might remember from my re-cap post: the first KM is downhill and fast. Given that I will not be running with the chariot this time, the plan is to charge up that incline at the end.

So basically, training for the next month is just focusing on speed. I already have the distance down pat.

After that race, I have the Warrior Run, which is just for fun. It is a 5K race with obstacles. I do need to do some upper body weight training though! I have such weak lil arms!

After that, I am done racing for the summer. However one of the things I said about the 10K race I just ran was that if I didn’t hate it, I would run the Army Run Half Marathon this year.

So…..

I am running my first half-marathon coming up in September!

By Rebecca|running|2 Comments

Ottawa Race Weekend – ONE MORE DAY

It is the eve before the Ottawa Race Weekend 5K and 10K Races.

Who is excited?

This runner is….

As Kristen mentioned in her blog, this is a race where is feels like everyone you know (who runs) runs this race. Good luck to her as she runs the 10K as well tomorrow! Her sister, Heather is running a half in Calgary this weekend…her first big race post-baby. She is going to rock it!

Then there is the CW-crew: Good luck to all the teachers who are running it. For a few, it is their first race. The students are also running tomorrow. It looks like we have close to a 100 runners running either of the races, including Alexia and Nathan from the track team. Those two have strict orders from the coach (aka me) to take it easy….jogging for them, not running. Coach C, is running his usual back-to-back races tomorrow….crazy!

Not sure whether P will actually run tomorrow. Otherwise it is a fast walk for Max and Daddy tomorrow. They will join all the other Chariots and BOB strollers in the 5K race.

There are also some others that I know from the Ottawa area running the race. Good luck to all!

—————

Training Report:

I haven’t run since the weekend in order to get rid of the shin-pain that was happening. Rest worked, as they feel fine. I also think that it was definitely the muscles hurting, not stress fractures. I also haven’t run this week because I spent Wednesday and Thursday on my feet. I did get tons of walking in on those two days! As I mentioned before I am not too worried about it.

Goal:

The goal is to finish in order 65 minutes. Given that means a 6:50 KM pace, I think that is totally do-able (I generally hover in the 6:00-6:20 zone). I might try and go a bit faster, but we will see. I am really unsure whether I can keep my 5:50-ish race pace for 10K at this point in time. It really depends on how I am feeling tomorrow evening.

What will I be wearing:

Orange, Orange, and more Orange. Clearly, orange is my school colour….

I haven’t decided whether I will wear my school’s track uniform or my Joe Fresh orange tech shirt. Both will be in my bag regardless. I am going to wear my traditional racing shorts and headband. My MEC sunglasses are key (they don’t move at all) as well as the Garmin.

I will not be bringing an iPod along this time. I did not listen to music during the Mother’s Day 5K, nor have I really trained with music at all. Ottawa Race Weekend is a little intense in terms of the cheering crowds, so I am preferring to soak that all in rather than be in my own little world listening to Lady Gaga or something.

Final Thoughts

This race will not be a walk in the park like a 5K is. I am so used to running the 5K distance, that I can run it without really training for it (I just won’t get a sub-30 time). The 10K however, is longer (duh) and requires a bit more thought and training. From some running friends, I’ve heard that the 10K is a bit more comfortable to run. I would say that is mostly true as I am not sure it is whether I am just paying more attention to training or simply liking the longer distance more – but I am more comfortable running 8K than 5K.

I am a little nervous, but excited at the same time. I have looked forward to the race weekend every year since I moved to Ottawa. 2 years ago, this was my first distance race ever, so I think I am come a long way since then!

Another thought – I think the sprinter in me is finally gone…..

By Rebecca|running|2 Comments

First Race this weekend

I am going to my parents house for the weekend as P and his students are traveling to Waterloo for the last robotics tournament of the season (thank goodness!). I am not “traveling with the team” this time as they go with a giant group from the school. I am renting a car to avoid taking the SUV of death aka the Jeep. It is really pricey gas-wise and the whole death wobble thing is not something I wish to worry about on the 401. By the time you work gas in, it is pretty similar in price (I can barely get to Toronto on a tank in the jeep, but in a regular car it takes about 1/2).

So I looked for a race to do in Toronto as my parents can easily watch Max for me. You are probably asking why that matters? Well, P works all.the.time, which includes weekends so it is hard for me to do other races. I don’t really want to bring Max to most of my races either (it is too complicated). So I will be doing a 5K in the Toronto Beaches on Sunday morning. Since poopy-head enjoys getting up at 6am, I will feed him, put him back down and escape. My Dad wakes up really early so if Max wants to play he will have a buddy.

The course is very flat and it is a smaller race (couple of hundred vs couple of thousand). Oh, and it comes with a tech shirt, not a cotton shirt! Bonus! I’m obviously going to try and PB my 5K, but that might not happen quite yet. I have not had a good running week since I’ve had too many commitments in the afternoon. Even though the weather is looking cold for tomorrow I am going to go for a small, steady run regardless!

Alrighty, I’m out of here for a few days!

By Rebecca|running|3 Comments