GTS - December 17th 2011 - Holiday Fun Run

Today we ran 10km.  Well, it was either 10km or 70 minutes, whichever came first.  I ran a little less than the 10 km but a little more than 70 minutes.  This is my longest and further run yet.  From now on, all the Saturday GTS runs will be record-breaking for me.

This was the Christmas fun run, so in the picture above we have some of our mentors and TNT staff, and I think some TNT alumni as well, and they are all decked out and handing out hot chocolate.  This was at 4km, and on the way back they handed out cookies. 

Just before we reached this point, we had to climb the biggest hill I've ever encountered since I started running....Côte St-Luc.  Coaches said to look at the top of the hill and that this is what works best psychologically.  Jodie said she prefers to look at her feet and that way she doesn`t see the hill.  I concentrated mostly on breathing.  I saw one runner stop running and walk about halfway up.  Jodie and I ran on.  Towards the top, I was really working hard, and actually starting to feel nauseous.  Jodie kept telling me we were almost there, and hearing her say it didn`t help.  I don`t know if she'll read this but ... I didn`t even have what it took to ask her to stop.  Then coach Isabelle came to me and ran alongside me and told me to take smaller steps and that I was almost there.  Again I could not react.  I just ran.  Then she pointed to an upcoming traffic light and told me to take a walk break once I reached it.  Later Jodie told me that alot of people stopped in the hill.  I didn`t even notice.  I don`t even remember everything.  Apparently the nausea comes from pushing too hard, but hills are not optional because our half marathon is in a canyon, and it`s uphill for a very long stretch (we are climbing 1000 feet) and then downhill the rest of the way.  There is not a stretch of flat land!

Before the run we had a sports psychology session with coach Brent.  It was great.  I think he could almost make me believe in Santa Claus.  He explained that it`s all about attitude.  If you go out thinking and telling yourself you can`t, then it`s certain that you won`t.  At one point he took out a sword and said that the little voice that says you can`t is your inner ninja and that you have to fight it.  Our coaches are amazing.  Our teammates who share their stories in missions moments are amazing.  Team in Training is a gathering place for alot of amazing people.  I look forward to the finish line, but I`m not anxious for all this to be finished.

An evening run

Since I started running, I've been running mostly in the evening in the streets of my neighborhood, or sidewalks I should say.  They say concrete is the hardest surface to run on and that it's where you have the greatest risk of injury, but aside from an issue with my knee after about the sixth week of running (August) I haven't had any problems.   Treadmill running just isn't for me, and I have yet to get a gym membership.  I'm pretty sure thought that there will be days when I just can't run outside, like when it's -30 celcius.  I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Anyhow, since the cold set in, I've started running at lunchtime.  I figured I'd have less chance of slipping on the ice if I can actually see it, and also the course I am going to be running for my event is not flat, it starts off with a semi-flat 1 mile loop, followed by a 1000 foot climb over a distance of 4 miles, and then it's downhill all the way.  My neighborhood is pretty much flat, so I run downtown because there are lots of hills to choose from.

It's funny because when I started running I said I couldn't run downtown because there were too many people on the sidewalks.  It's true there are lots of people, but they tend to move out of the way when you're running towards them, or I just jump into the street and pass them.  Some of them even reward me with a smile or some cheering on!  So the funny thing is how you realize that your "issues" and "reasons" for not doing something are really just excuses.

So - this morning I left for work with my running clothes, all ready to run at lunchtime.  Then when I got to work I realized I had forgotten my running shoes.  So, I had to run tonight, and it was nice to run around my neighborhood again.  But tomorrow, I have to get those hills in!

How it all started and why I'm doing this

Earlier this year, in July to be precise, following a move to a new neighborhood with my two boys, I decided to do something good for myself.  I didn't know if it was something I'd start and follow through on, or if it would just be something I tried and failed at.  I decided to start a running program called Couch to 5 K. 

The program was simple enough, I started off with running for 1 minute, and then walking for 90 seconds, for a total of 8 minutes of running.  It was hard!  But it got harder.  Then  before I knew it, I had reached the scary day where I had to run 20 minutes straight.  My son had a football practice so I decided to go to the field in my running clothes and run the track around the field.  It took guts because there were so many people watching.  I had to talk to myself alot...but I got through it.  That's when I started to believe. 

I should also mention that between that day in July when I put on my running shoes and took that first step and today...I've lost 30 pounds.  I don't plan to ever stop running.  I'm very grateful for what running has done for me and I decided to give back, by running for others.  My first 5K was at a race called "Pump it up for platelets", raising funds for blood disorders.  My mother was at the race to cheer me on.  She herself suffers from a blood disorder.  Then I did the CIBC Run for the Cure for breast cancer.  Then I heard about Team in Training on the radio and knew this was what I was looking for.

We've been training for over a month now, and we've been lucky so far with great weather, but yesterday was our first taste of winter running.  The sidewalks were icy and quite a few of us fell down, but most of us were not hurt. 

I've met some great people so far, and I just know this experience is one I will remember for the rest of my life.