My First Official Race Report! Island Girl - Toronto

WE DID IT!!

I have a great story to share about my first 5k race. And some pictures too!

We flew to Toronto on Friday night, and walked around our old neighbourhood. Stopped at Alexandros for take-out Greek food, and did about a 5k walk up Yonge Street and back down Bay Street about 11pm local time.

On Saturday morning we were up and on our way up the subway line to Queens Park at Bloor Street to pick up our race kits. Excitement was building as we checked out our loot bags and got our personalized race bibs:

For those of you that don't know, that's the shy friend who I convinced to take on this task with me.

We spent the rest of Saturday (de) hydrating and walking the city. My best estimate of our walk from Queen's Park to Yonge Street and then all the way down to Queens Quay puts it at about a 10km day. We did head to bed relatively early to prepare for our big day on Sunday.

We were up bright and early to catch the 7:30am ferry to Centre Island:

Poor Todd is taking the picture, so you can't see him!

There was a lot of spirit on the ferry, and teams dressed for the half marathon relay (or who were doing the half marathon together). We enjoyed the ride over and got off the boat ready to take on this challenge.

After getting situated with our running gear on, we were given lai's and our timing chips. I considered sending the timing chip on someone else's leg, but figured that was probably an illegal tactic at an official race.

Once we were ready it was time to join the crowd in the starting chute to do the ten minute warm-up routine:

The warm-up was a lot of fun, and went by pretty quickly. Almost too quickly. I'm sure there was a look of terror on my face as we waited for the 2 minute countdown to the start to end.

At this point, I was scoping out what individual I could surely beat to avoid last place in this race. There had to be one....

Before I could figure it out the gun went and it was time to run. My favorite picture is at the beginning of the race. We look like runners in this photo:

Granted we are running at the tail end of this thing, but nonetheless you can't dispute the fact that we look like we know what we are doing.

The first minute of the race was fast as everyone took off to prove to the spectators that they were all real athletes. I went a little faster than my usual slow pace and after about 90 seconds thought I should assess the situation to see how much I could slow down. When I turned my head to count the people behind me, it was a rude awakening to see that there was NO ONE there. Needless to say, I kept on running faster than my usual slow pace.

The race starts over a bridge that connects to the road on the island. So you run up one side of the bridge and down the other, around a pretty fountain and then away down the road. About three minutes in several ladies started to walk, and I finally got to move up from last place. I passed about five people during that first kilometer, and then started in on my steady pace for about three minutes.

After passing the 1k sign, Pretty Vegas came on and I picked up my speed again. I passed about four more people (including Michelle) and continued on my merry way. The first two kilometers of this race were the fastest kilometers I have ever run. 7:13 on the 1st and 7:37 on the second.

I made it to the 2.5k mark and the water station before goofing up. On most race reports I have read, the volunteers at the water station pass you a glass of water that you drink and toss as you continue running. I took my water and drank it, went to toss it and the next volunteer said "No, no - you have to put it in the garbage can over there."

So I had to backtrack about ten feet and cross the road to put my glass in the garbage.

I went back and continued on, and next thing I knew the guy was yelling at my again and Michelle was laughing at me. Apparently this was where you were supposed to turn around. So you were supposed to take the water, drink it while you made the turning loop, and then toss it in the garbage.

I'm pretty sure I lost at least a minute at the water station just screwing up where I was supposed to be going.

After that point, Michelle and I ran together for a few minutes, passing by several people who were quite a piece behind us. It was comforting to know that other people run as slow as I do, too!

We FINALLY reached the 3k mark and I was pretty sure I was never going to see 5k. My legs were sore, my ankles hurt, and I was thirsty from breathing through my mouth. That was all partly due to my lack of training for the last four weeks, due to my injury. Fortunately the ibuprofen and the physio had helped enough to dull the extreme pain that I had in the beginning.

Michelle and I played cat and mouse through the fourth kilometer and then came up with a plan of attack for the end of the race. We were going to pace ourselves and take our good old time during the first half of the last kilometer, and then when we reached the fountain we would pull out all the stops and look mighty fine crossing the finish line.

So we jogged along for what seemed like forever, passing Chelsea Beach, finally took the left turn and headed for the fountain. This time the fountain seemed more annoying than pretty, since it was an obstacle that I had to run AROUND in order to get to the finish line. We had our finish line music all set, and I chose Holding Out for a Hero for the end of my race.

We started up the bridge and as we came over the top and down the other side, the cheering started from the spectators and half marathoners who were waiting to start their races. We started around the turn towards the finish line and the crowd was really supportive:

We kept pulling for the finish line, and together we crossed the finish line with a chip time of 41:20. This was a personal record for both of us!!! (Yes, it was our first time officially running 5k).

And great news! Michelle and I tied for first place in the Atlantic Canadian division of the race.

After we walked off the course, we were given medals and trophies:

These great awards were provide by our husbands. There were many envious women on the Toronto Islands after that race, let me tell you!

And the glamour shot:

All in all, it was a great event and we were really proud of ourselves for accomplishing out goal. As soon as she was done, Michelle suggested that we should definitely do the Run for Wine in Wolfville in November. Guess the full 5k didn't scare her away from running!

What happened to me - I disappeared!

So you are all probably thinking I have fallen off the face of the earth. And to an extent I have, although I have been fighting to keep this running thing going.

Three weeks ago yesterday I developed a lot of pain in my legs after running. I thought they were shin splints and took a full week off to give my legs time to heal. I went out two more times without any issues, but the third time I went out after 8 minutes of running I had to stop - the pain was too bad.

I walked home and took another 5 days off. By this time, I was starting to get antsy. The big 5k race day was two and a half weeks away and I had not run MUCH in the last two weeks, AND I couldn't seem to shake this pain. I ran Thursday and Saturday, both days doing a VERY slow run and still experiencing pain.

Sunday was the worst. The pain had settled in my legs and my feet, and my arches were incredibly sore. On Monday I went to the doctor. She thought I might have plantar fasciitis, and definitely an issue with my leg, so she sent me to physiotherapy.

I started physio yesterday with a great lady. She spent 90 minutes with me, assessing where I was having pain and the type of pain I was having. Then she told me that the sore legs and feet are not the issue. They are the resulting symptoms but not the issue. The issue was sometime else, likely a back issue. So she spent some time assessing my running shoes and if they were doing their job (which she felt they were), and then took me to the gym and put me on the treadmill to assess my gait.

Bingo- she quickly found the problem. Apparently Wanda can't walk correctly. Or run, for that matter. My left stride is shorter than my right stride, my right side (including my arm) swing more than my left, and as a result I have a weird pelvic twist that requires my left calf to overcompensate and is likely the reason for the significant pain in my left leg and foot.

I blame my years marching in a pipe band, pushing a drum with my left leg while swinging my right arm. Who would have thought??? And I might never have known that I walk weird, if I hadn't started running.

That was the easy part. Then she taught me some exercises to do to work on balancing out my body and my pelvis. And she taught me how to walk better, and not twist my pelvis in this funny way.

So between now and Monday I am to do these exercises and practice walking correctly. If I get comfortable with the correct walk posture then I can advance to a faster walk, and only if I'm good can I move to a slow run.

My legs still hurt too much to run anyway. She did electrical therapy of some sort and that REALLY helped my arches, they feel much better. My legs are still quite sore though.

Now that I am home and able to practice this correct walking form, I am having trouble remembering what I am supposed to do, because let's face it, it feels really awkward to me. So last night I was googling walking form to figure out what I am supposed to do. I found some articles on Chi Walking and Chi Running and they seem to refer to the pelvis and what it is supposed to be doing, so I think I will use that site to help me figure this out.

So what about the big race? (not to be last....)

Well, it is ten days from today. I have yet to run 5k - the closest I have achieved is 4.25 km.  I am not allowed to run till I perfect this form.  And I have run only 4 times in the past three weeks. My goal to not be last is seeming harder and harder to achieve.

I have added pressure because I convinced my best friend to take up running and do this with me. Imagine if we arrive in Toronto and while she takes off at the starting line with her best run, I walk. She might kill me.

A lady I work with ran the Boston Marathon in 2010, and told me not to worry about it. She was not able to run or train for the entire month before Boston due to an injury. And yet she was able to run the marathon without any trouble, her body remembering what it was supposed to do.

That is encouraging - but to be frank she is in much better physical condition than me...obviously since she qualified for Boston and I am just trying to run my first 5k.

What's my plan? I am going to go with the flow. It's my usual approach anyway.

Finished of the Couch to 5k Program

So, one day last week I went out and did the last day of the C25k program from Cool Running. Had a great run and between my warm-up walk, my 30 minutes of running and my cool down walk I managed to cover the full 5k.

I AM A COUCH TO 5K GRADUATE!!

I've got a bit of work to do before the 5k race, but that's okay. I've got some time.

The first problem though is the 'hurt' I did to my legs on Wednesday night last week. Got on the treadmill (it must have been raining out or dark, I can't remember which) and after ten minutes of running I had to stop because my legs hurt so badly. I'm not sure what I hurt, but I definitely did something to my lower leg on the inner part. Both legs are sore, but the left WAY more than the right.

I waited it out till Friday and they just ached all day at work, so Friday night I started icing the sore spots two or three times a day. The icing is helping and there is definitely improvement, but they are still sore by times.

I golfed eighteen holes today, and apparently riding along in the golf cart didn't help because they are very sore tonight. I am about to pop a few Advil and start the icing process again. If they are settled down tomorrow then I MIGHT try going for a walk to assess if I can maybe start running again Wednesday, which is a full week off!!

This isn't good for the 5k training! But this too shall pass....

The 5k Wine Run

That's right - I have found another run to consider. It's in Wolfville the first week of November at the Muir Murray Estate Winery and provides water AND wine during the run.

Now, I know it will be chilly in November, but if I can have a glass of wine every 2.5k how cold and cranky could I possibly be?

I think you need to seriously consider doing this fun run with me. How fast could the expected pace be? We're gonna drink wine every 2.5k (and afterwards!). And....you have eleven weeks to train, plenty of time to do the Couch to 5k program. And...you could have the pleasure of being at a run with Michelle and I (supposing I can convince her that her health depends on her participating in this fun run (after all, wine is good for your heart, right?)

I did week 9 day 1 last night, 30 minutes of straight running. Had to use the treadmill because Todd was out with friends and I didn't want to leave the kids. My legs were sore afterwards but are surprisingly fine today AFTER I got moving a bit. The first 10 minutes weren't so pretty.

I made it 4.5k in my 30 minutes of running plus 12 minutes of walking.

Think about the wine run!!

Lessons Learned from Running (and NOT running)...Take Two

Last night I finished week 8 of the couch to 5k program. This week I move in to week 9 and will graduate from the program a week from today.

The last two weeks have not been without their challenges. This has caused me to spend some time thinking about this running business, and whether I really want to do it. Eight weeks in, and here's what I have discovered.

Running is hard! When you have to run for a long period of time (aka 28 minutes like this week, or 25 minutes like last week) it is really hard to do it.

WHY?

Well, when I have been doing these last six runs, I have realized some things about myself. First off, my muscles don't generally hurt THAT much when I am out running. I did have some unusual calf muscle pain last week, but I think that was because I actually pushed myself to cover some distance (as opposed to nearly running in place which is sometimes what it feels like when I am running).

Second, breathing isn't really ALL that difficult, unless it is hot and humid. Or if I am pushing myself a bit too hard.

I have learned something big about running. 

Your ability to run is not dependent on your physical ability or your lung capacity. Running success isn't impacted by the brand of running shoes you are wearing, or even how quickly you can cover your target distance for the outing.

Running is a mind game. Plain and simple.

And maybe you achieve the elusive 'runner's high' when you overcome your mental limitations, block out your thoughts and allow yourself to achieve a successful run. The 'Just Do It' of running. Whether it's a beginner's run....like the lady I ran past last night who 'was just trying to get through ten minutes of running' (trust me honey...I've been there and if Wayne saw either of us he would have opened the truck door to put us out of our misery). But is it misery???  

Or a slightly more experienced runner attempting her very first 5k, thrilled at the starting line to be one of the group and realizing when the starting gun blasts and the others all take off and leave her behind that she isn't as experienced as she thought...but then overcoming that mental wrench and cheering the significance of her accomplishment as she crosses the finish line after running FIVE ENTIRE KILOMETERS.  

On Saturday I went out to run day 3 and after 3 and a half minutes of running I called it quits because my legs hurt. I started again a few minutes later and managed to run another minute before my legs hurt again. Four minutes of walking and then I decide I have to do this so I start to run again. Three minutes later and I can't breathe properly and give it up again. After walking for about 8 minutes I try again and manage to run about five minutes. I gave up when some sciatic nerve pain kicked in and I walked the rest of the way back to the trailer. Feeling pretty miserable about myself. Questioning why I am even trying to do this. And if I really CAN do it.

After enjoying some beach time and some family time, I returned home last night thinking I should try it again. I turned up beer with the neighbours because I knew I had to try this again (I know that's hard to believe!). And I walked out the door and started day 3 over again.  For the first 15 minutes of walking and running, I almost turned my brain into a chant machine. If I wasn't singing the song on my ipod, I was repeating: "I CAN DO THIS". And then, after 15 minutes of running, you can't stop because you are past the point of no return.

I can't stop now...that would waste all of the good effort that I just put into the first 15 minutes of running.

Even the slight hill in front of the Magnolia didn't slow me down. Shake It came on for the last three of my 28 running minutes and I hit my stride, full on with long legs extended. I can cover a lot of ground when I do that! And then it hit me...the feeling that I REALLY can do this, that I really can do anything....the elusive runners' high.

Well, until the three minutes of sprinting ended and then I had a near death experience. *LOL* ...but that only lasted for about 25 seconds.

And then as I walked through my cool down, I lavished in the feeling of accomplishment and knew that this whole running thing is a mind game. And I am going to keep on trying to win.

And another race idea....

Hello....in spite of the pouring rain last night I made a special visit to the treadmill in my basement to complete Week 8 Day 2 of the C25k program. I knew if I moved some junk around and cleared my way past basketballs and the mini-hoop net I would find a treadmill in that room somewhere. ;-)

I spent two hours Wednesday night making a special playlist for myself at the beat per minute rate that I figured out is somewhat comfortable but also challenging for me to run to. I am still striving to get to 5k so I need all the help I can get.  I headed to the basement last night with my new playlist loaded on my ipod and off I went.

Here's my new playlist:
 Warm-up walk (7 minutes):
     One Week - the Barenaked Ladies
     Pink Cadillac - Natalie Cole

 Running Music (28 minutes):
     Jump (for my love) - the Pointer Sisters (135 bpm)

Two minutes in and my calves started to hurt for the first time in weeks. What's with that???

     Beat It - Michael Jackson (135 bpm)
     Pretty Vegas - INXS (136 bpm)
     Rio - Duran Duran (142 bpm)
     That's Not My Name - the Ting Tings (146 bpm for 5 whole minutes. Youch)

This is about the time the sweat was rolling over my lip and likely splashing the floor.

     Thunderstruck - ACDC (128 bpm)
     Shake It - Metro Station (150 bpm for the last 3 minutes)

I was pretty sure I might die before that last song ended. Of course, Abby was standing beside me watching every gasp for breath that I made.

And then the cool-down walk to U2's Beautiful Day.

I managed to cover 4.5km during my 40 minutes of exercise. That was very exciting! There is hope that I might manage to do 5k yet!!

Tomorrow is w8d3 and then next week is my final week of the Couch to 5k program. Can you believe I am almost there? I can't. It's not that long ago that I couldn't run for 90 seconds at a time, let alone a half hour.

I found out this week that there is a race in my hometown on Labour Day (September 5th). The Jimmy Hawboldt / Fred Lays Sr. Memorial Road Race offers a 1 mile course and a 5 mile course. So I think I might enter it with the kids and do the 1 mile race (cause there's no way I am running 5 miles by then!!). They also have kids races in the park and stuff, but I know Noah and Abby can outrun me so they can come with me in the 1 miler. My first race, and doing it with my kids! Wish me luck!
    

Back from Vacation and BIG NEWS!!

Hey there everyone! After a two week vacation at the beach, I've got some tales to tell and then I've got some big news to share.

We hauled the trailer to Gulf Shore Campground two weeks ago today, July 25th. It was a beautiful day and after getting situated we swam in the Northumberland Strait for a few hours. The water was warm and I couldn't believe my two week beach vacation had finally arrived.

If I had known then that it was going to rain for 11 of the 14 days I would be at the beach, I would have swam MUCH longer.

That week at Gulf Shore was warm, even with the rain. I completed week 6 of the C25k program on the road along the Gulf Shore, mostly cursing the hills but occasionally the heat as well. It was very hilly along the way there, and even smiling at Anne Murray as she drove by me one morning wasn't enough to cheer me up about how HARD it was to run on that road.

We had a great week at Gulf Shore, dining and visiting with the Porters and then with Michelle and Wayne, too. The Richards (complete with Mama Richard and Emmy from Quebec) also visited at Gulf Shore, and joined us in the wait for the sun to shine. At this point in time I was wondering how much rain you could get on your beach vacation - it couldn't last forever, could it?

On Sunday the 31st we moved along the North Shore to Brule Point, at Sunset Watch Campground. It was a nice day and in all the excitement about the sun I forgot sunscreen so I managed to get a sunburn. First thing Monday morning Todd was out of bed for his walk. He was back in no time, swiping at bugs, out of breath and warning me about the crazy Brule morning mosquitoes. He ended up running most of the time he was gone, and seriously recommended avoiding running up the road and past the field.

So I went back to sleep and at 8:15 decided I would go into Tatamagouche to run. I didn't map out a route beforehand, so I kind of went by feel. The sidewalks are awesome in Tatamagouche, and I had a good run.  I struggled twice on hills and had to walk for about a minute each time, but otherwise felt better about running in Tatamagouche than on the Gulf Shore Road.

This was the last day of sunshine for MANY days. Wednesday was very overcast with intermittent rain, but I went into town and measured my route BEFORE I ran it. Did well with the 25 minute run, but still had those two 60 second walks in the middle.

On Friday, the morning dawned bright and if not warm, then at least not cold enough to require the heat be turned on in the trailer. This was Michelle's day to return to running after her Gulf Shore injury. We drove to the Mennonite Bakery and set off for our respective runs. The shy friend is FAST...I couldn't keep up to her! The run along the Brule Shore Road wasn't as easy as in Tatamagouche, the pavement is falling apart in spots and it would have been very easy to turn an ankle. Anyway, we finished up and went to the Bakery for more sticky cinnamon buns and home made bread and coffee. Yum.

Friday afternoon turned out to be sunny but cold due to a strong northerly wind along the shore. Thanks to the Porters, we got the heads up about seeing the Northern Lights over PEI and ran out from the 45's tournament to see them. That was really neat.

Saturday was beautiful, the morning dawned with blue skies and seals playing in the bay, jumping like dolphins and then lounging on the rocks. That was really cool!

The hottest and nicest beach day of my two week beach vacation was Sunday, the day we had to pack up and move the trailer home. Some things in life just aren't fair.

Today I started week 8 of the program and ran 28 minutes straight, covering 2 miles (3.2km) during that time.  I had to run on the treadmill for the first time, since it was raining so hard today. But I must look on the bright side...I am all set for my birthday 5k. It's September 25th and takes place on the Toronto Islands. And my shy friend Michelle is coming to run it with me! The 'Island Girl' Marathon Weekend is for Women Only, and is a Caribbean themed race. Of course, the supportive husbands, Todd and Wayne will be there to cheer us on.

http://www.islandgirlrunning.com/gallery.html

So I've got to get my act in gear and get some better distance in on these runs. Distance training starts two weeks from today after I finish the C25k program!

Happy Monday everyone!