Race Number 8 - Niagara Falls Half Marathon

I contiunued with my training after the Highland Games 10k to prepare for the Niagara Falls Half Marathon.  This was a big race and a big weekend for me.  I went to Niagara Falls with most of the people who I had taken the clinic with.  We were all spending 2 nights in Niagara Falls.  We met up for the expo and dinner on the Saturday evening before the race and everyone responsibly turning in early for the evening.
We met up early the next morning to catch the bus to the start.  The half and the full marathons start at the same time, but from different locations.  The full marathon starts in Buffalo and finishes in front of the falls.  The half marathon starts in what feels like the middle of nowhere and also finishes in front of the falls.

My goal time for this race was under 2 hours.  My plan was to find the 2 hour pace bunny and stay ahead of them.  At the start I found the bunny. There was the usual crowded start line mayham and anxiety I normally feel.  I started out fast - too fast, and after 4k had to slow my pace down significantly.  By 10k I was hurting and that bunny was long gone.  I think around 16k I got passed my a walker, not just a walker - he had 'Deaf Walker' written on the back of his shirt.  Part of me was quite impressed with the guy - good for him.... but really really crappy for me.

I wallowed in self pity for a bit, but I kept running or perhaps it was shuffling.  The tricky thing about this race is the illusion of the falls.  The course is a good place to attempt a pb because there are very few turns and it is reletively flat.  The relitively flat aspect of the course makes the finish line seem much closer than they actually are.  It could be my mind playing tricks on me, but I think I remember seeing the falls for the last 3k.

At the 19k mark I saw I guy with two young girls about the age of my daughters waiting for his wife.  As I passed them they saw her behind me.  He jumped up and yelled "Girls there's mommy!" I have never missed my kids as much as I did at that point.  I was tired and I knew there was no way I was going to come in under 2 hours. 

At the 20k mark I saw Mike from the running store in the crowd.  I think he was actually on the course.  He was there with his wife, Linda.  They were both cheering for everyone from the clinic.  I remember having to fight back tears becuase I was so happy to see someone I knew and to know that this race was finally going to be over.  Finally, finally I saw the finish line.  I came in, but behind me I could hear this clomp, clomp.  I thought to myself - no freakin way is someone coming up behind me to pass me just before the finish line.  I picked it up but I could not get away from the clomp clomp.  As the person came up beside me, I looked - it was a 10 year old kid.  He wasn;t running the half.  I did let him go.  I'm not quite that pathetic.

I finished the race in 2:04 and change.  It took me a long time to find everyone in my group but we got some awesome shots in front of the falls.  I didn't feel too bad about my time... there was Around the Bay to train for next.

After the race in front of the falls

Tracey running the 5k race

New Shoes!!!

A while ago I wrote about having 9 pairs of running shoes and saying I was due for a new pair.  I was having a debate about whether I would get a new pair of Nike's or try something else.  I decided to completely abandon Nike's at least for the next little while because this happened to my latest pair.

If you look closely at the top shoe - I've been kicking my self.... literally.  Most of my shoes have wear in this spot.  But this is by far the worst it has ever been on a pair of shoes.  I have worn these shoes shoes less than 15 times.  The sad thing is I love these shoes I waited about 6 weeks for these to come in.  Nonetheless the shoes are now going to be used for short runs and step class.

So I went to Grand Riving Running and spent an hour having my gait checked and trying on shoes.  I still pronate so I need stability shoes.  I over analyzed this purchase so much that I went back after I had bought the shoes just to check out my second choice.  I went back and forth between saucony and mizuno shoes.  In the end the mizunos won out.  I've worn these shoes a few times and I love them.  So here's to not kicking myself and just running.

Sunshine and Lemonade

After my run last Saturday I went to our local farmer's market and while I was there I saw people walking around with lemonade that looked amazing.  My hands were full of produce so I couldn't buy a glass.  But I couldn't get the thought of lemonade out of my head.  I mentioned to my girls on the way home that we should make some of our own when we got home.  Of course for kids this spawned into "Let's have a lemonade stand!"

I worked on perfecting the best tasting combination of lemon juice, sugar and cold water while the girls created a sign.  They set the price at a whopping 5 cents per glass.  Business was a little slow on our street - we had to call in the grandparents.  I think its safe to say they made a profit.

The great thing about this recipe is you can make it with splenda.  I'm sure stevia would work too.  I used straight up white sugar - but like the old school packets of kool aid - you control the sugar.  I also added frozen raspberries for pink lemonade.  And as was suggested this morning during my post run coffee by someone in the group you can always add vodka.

So without further ado - I present

Kick Ass Lemonade

1 cup white sugar
1 cup lemon juice (juice of 4-5 lemons)
1 cup water

Heat all three ingredients over medium heat on the stove top until sugar is fully dissolved.  Let cool to room temperature.

Add lemon syrup to 4 cups of cold ice water and stir.  Pour and enjoy!

Barriars - Real or Otherwise

This was in my way for a lot of my runs in July...

It was so absurd that someone would put a porta potty in the middle of the sidewalk and leave it there for weeks, that I had to take a picture one morning.  But the symbology of this image pretty much sums up my running and blogging for that matter for the month of July.

I ran a total of 98k in July.  When I was running my peak mileage weeks while training for the Ottawa marathon, I ran 98k in 1 week.  Wow!  I don't think that running less mileage has been a bad thing.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I needed it mentally and physically.

I have been debating what to do to keep inspired and to motivate myself.  I tossed around the idea of competing in a duathalon.  But I'm still not sure.  I think I may do an early fall half and .... oh that's right.... I'm running a marathon in Greece. The original marathon route.  That should inspire anyone.  I will be running the course with Rick and Tracey. Our goal is to run the course and enjoy it. No time expectations.

In the meantime, I think I will train to run a quick half while training for my marathon.   After a slow month of running, I finally felt like adding a bit more to my run this morning.  I'm taking that as a sign from my body that its forgiven me for my last marathon and is ready to run a bit harder.  I just need to find a race and then I'm committed.

  

Heat Waves & Quinoa Salad

The past week has been incredibly hot in southern Ontario.  So hot in fact that I have only found the time to run twice in the past week.  Running only twice in a week typically happens when I'm on vacation were running isn't really feasible or if I've been really really sick.  But now that I'm off any sort of running schedule I'm finding it difficult to get back on.  I am looking for a fall half marathon to motivate myself for and I have something else in the works that I'll talk about in a bit.

In the meantime, I've been eating a lot of salads and things that don't require much cooking to heat up my kitchen.  This salad is perfect, because it has a good carb to protein ratio and fills you up without making you feel too full.



Black Bean Quinoa Salad

Salad

1 cup quinoa uncooked
1/2 can black beans drained and rinsed
1 red pepper chopped
1/2 cup carrots chopped
1/2 cucumber diced
1/4 finely chopped fresh parsley

Rinse and cook quinoa according to package directions and let cool.  Mix salad ingredients together.

Dressing

2  tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp dried oregano

Add all ingredients in a jar, seal jar and shake well.  Pour over salad and toss.  Let sit for about 1/2 hour for the flavours to combine.

The Reasons I Run

I have been having trouble finding motivation lately when it comes to running.  I don't have a goal race, I don't have a schedule and I feel a little lost.  I've also been feeling quiet tired and run down lately which explains the infrequent posts.  I think we all experience stress in our lives. Everyone runs out of motivation and the last thing anyone wants to do is go and read someone else's whining about feeling tired, stress or unmotivated.  Its right up there with those people who say I'm so fat.  I'm a firm believer in if you haven't got anything nice to say then shut the front door.

That being said - tonight I was smacked up side the head came to the realization as to why I have stuck with running for as long as I have.  Its because of the awesome people have run with.  (Tear - you had me at hello).  Not only did I get my aggression and frustrations I have been feeling out on the track in 30 degree temperatures without the humidex.  I also got free medical advice from Tracey, therapy from Katherine (boundaries - got it), cheerleading and enthusiasm from Gina and jokes and eye rolling from Rick and Simon.

As I biked home I felt sooooo much better.  I don't know why I when I feel blah I think taking a break will help.  Pound it out on a road, the track or wherever and preferably with a group of friends who will cheer you on and make you laugh.

Warrior Dash 2011

This weekend my running group and I completed the Warrior Dash in Horseshoe Valley.  It was just over 5k of obstacles and insane hills.  The obstacles weren't that difficult, but the hills were another story.  All in all this race was fun and that was our intention before starting.

We picked a theme... Snow White and the 7 dwarfs.  We only had six.... sorry I was counting.  

 Everyone who was a dwarf got to pick out their own dwarf name and character.  We had Smiley, G.I., Pimpy, Hobo, Sleezy and Papa Ratzi dwarf.  In the picture above, I am offering our very innocent Snow White an apple. 

After, victorious and quite muddy.  I still have my apple.  Snow White never did eat it.  Maybe its because I stuck it in my bra when I needed two hands.  Some people are so picky.

 All cleaned up and showing off our battle scars.

 The medal wasn't enough for Simon.

We rocked it and congrats to my husband who ran his first race!!!  

Check out our link on youtube.