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This past weekend was one that I had been looking forward to for a few months.  The back to back race weekend that promised to be filled with lots of running, and lots of fun.  It did not disappoint.

Saturday December 1^st was the Santa Shuffle where Valerie, Alana and I had committed to run the famous Mount Royal in Montreal.  I woke up Saturday morning to the disturbing news that I would be running in -20 degree weather.  At that moment I was ever so slightly regretting the decision to participate in the mountain run and was very much looking forward to a nice hot shower even before I had stepped foot outside.  The good news is that although it was a cold and tough run Valerie and I ran side by side through the whole event and crossed the finished line with Alana, Mom and Dad all cheering us on. There was no official timing at this event for some reason, but we finished in approximately 35:20. 

  

Sunday morning my alarm went off at the ungodly hour of 5:45am and I headed out to meet Alana and Ryan for our trip to Burlington Vermont so that we could participate in the RiRa Santa run.  Just 24 hours after the freezing Santa Shuffle and I was now standing amongst 2000 Santa’s getting ready to run in full head to toe Santa gear with temperatures in the range of 10 degrees.  With the weather being much more comfortable and having just completed what I thought was the toughest race of the weekend the day prior I was set to take off and enjoy the festive atmosphere.  Not even half a kilometer in and I realized that I may have been ever so slightly unprepared for the race.  By my estimate at least 4K of the 5k race was up hill.  I am not just talking about a slight incline.  The hills in this race were by far more exhausting than those we faced on Mount Royal the day before… and that was a Mountain!  My legs felt like led, I was overheating from the damn Santa suit and I was tired, but I finished with an official chip time of 34:57. 

The next race is a little more than a week away, but I am comforted by the fact that at least the course will be flat.  Although, I did commit to doing a 10k… indoors on track… without my GPS watch… without my iPod.  Wish me luck!

1k !

I know what you’re thinking… 1k… one messily kilometer.  That doesn’t warrant an entire blog entry unto itself.  But alas I am not referring to my running escapades this time… On Sunday I swam one kilometer.  40 laps in the 25 meter pool in Beaconsfield.  Of course I still need to improve on my endurance and my speed but since this was only my third time in the pool so I will celebrate this little victory.  What is that old saying? “It’s about the journey, not the destination”.  I still have seven months to prepare for the triathlon so I’m feeling great about my early start on the training. Here’s hoping the journey makes the destination a little less daunting.

In other news, my big race weekend is just a few days away.  Saturday I am running the 5k Santa Shuffle with Valerie and Alana.  Normally a 5k race isn’t any cause for concern, I usually push myself to try and break a personal best time however Saturday’s race is on “the mountain.”  The race is taking place on Mount Royal so will most certainly be a little “hilly” to say the least. A challenge that I am looking forward to taking on with my two favorite running partners.

Sunday Alana and I are venturing past the Canadian boarders through to Burlington Vermont to participate in a race that we just couldn’t refuse.  The Ri Ra Santa 5k.  The catch… everyone has to wear Santa suits!

Off to the gym again tomorrow.  Setting the treadmill to incline level “crazy ass mountain” and will run like hell.

Melanie's Arc

It was another gym day today and I had big plans to try the intriguing machine that I stared at for 45 minutes while I did the stationary bike on Tuesday.  I had seen the Arc Trainer on The Biggest Loser before, but never in person.  It looks like an elliptical and a treadmill had a baby:



Nope, that's not me



The gym I go to is by no means fancy so this by far one of the most impressive machines in there, and they only have two.  I loved it! It provided a great workout and I can imagine that my legs will be impressively sore tomorrow… there really isn’t a feeling quite like those of sore muscles from a good workout session.

Off to do laps at the pool tonight…  The only way to improve is to practice.

Thirty-four

Thirty four laps.  My first time in the pool doing laps in years and I did thirty four.  I am pleased with myself although I wasn't able to do all thirty four laps non-stop.  I would do a few, then grab the wall, breath for a minute and get going again.  During the triathlon there will be no walls to hold onto, or time to stop and take some breaths.  I obviously still have training to do, but that's the beauty in knowing the race is still eight months away.  Sigh of relief.

July 2013… I’ll tri

In August 2012 I sprained my ankle and was forced to take a break from running for several weeks.  When I consulted my physiotherapist he advised me to start running in the pool and even swim as a means to strengthen my ankle.  As a bonus it would also serve as a great cross training option while I was temporarily off my feet. 

Perhaps I allowed myself to get swept up in the euphoria of successfully completing three laps in my backyard pool, or perhaps it was the oxygen deprivation.  No matter the reason I decided that next year I would agree to try a triathlon with Alana. 

I’ve agree to register for the Sprint Triathlon which involves a 500 meter swim followed by 20km’s on the bike and finally a 5k run.

Just a few key concerns about this commitment that I have made:

1)      I have not participated in any kind of swimming other than recreational splish splashing about since doing the mandatory gym class pool laps in high school

2)      I only own a mountain bike... an old, heavy, rusty mountain bike

The first step is to continue with my running.  Obviously improving upon my running is still my number one priority and my continued training will only better prepare me for this triathlon that is looming.

The second step is to re-introduce swimming into my work out routine.  Running I can do, riding a bike I can do it - maybe not super fast but I can do it.  Swimming is the big fear here because technically I can drown. Eeek.  My first swimming session is on Sunday and that will eye opening I’m sure.  I’ll be able to see how  long it takes me to complete 500 meters and it will be a great way to measure any improvement over the next few months.

The cold weather is upon us again so I have started back at the gym.  The goal is to clock some time in on the stationary bike to prepare my legs for the 20km distance in July.  The stationary bike is going to have to me my best friend since I doubt I’ll have much practice time on the open road in the spring.

 I have committed to this triathlon so I want to make sure that I do what I can to prepare and to be pleased with my overall performance when the time comes.  And when it’s done, I’m getting myself a new mug!

the big day

I had been trying to train for the 10k on September 23rd since I successfully finished my first full 10k race in Ottawa at the end of May. 

A few days after we finished our Ottawa 10k, Valerie and I set a goal of completing the Montreal 10k in September in 1hr 10 minutes or faster.  Unfortunately several circumstances out of my control (sprained ankle, kidney infection...) threw a major wrench into my training program. I pushed myself when I could get out there and train, but the amount of down time I was forced to take made it feel as though the 1:10 goal we had set may be an impossibility.

On the morning of the big race I woke up feeling awful.  I have recently been accused of over sharing, so sufficed to say that I believed my ailment to be directly related to the previously diagnosed kidney infection.  I decided that although I was feeling less than 100% I still needed to do the race.  Valerie was a huge motivator, and I am so glad she was by my side.  We finished without a single walk break in 1 hr 10 minutes and 52 seconds! With all the obstacles in my way I still finished and met the goal time we set.  Imagine what I could have done had I been able to train consistently!! Here's a few blurry pictures from the big day:

After the race I got home and felt so awful that I went to the hospital.  They assumed that I needed more antibiotics for the kidney infection and sent me on my way.  5 days later the symptoms were back and I felt even worse than before.  Back to the hospital I went.... while I was there I passed (and I'm quoting the nurse here) "two massive ginormous kidney stones - the biggest I've ever seen". 

I stayed at the hospital so they could run some test, blood work, ultrasound xrays... but I am feeling a lot better now.



I just had to take a picture of the needle in my arm for Nathaniel



So, just to review:

September 15th - Energizer 5k Night Race with two massive kidney stones... CHECK

September 16th - Grande Vadrouille 5k race with two ginormous kidney stones... CHECK

September 23rd - Montreal Oasis 10k race in record time with two massive ginormous kidney stones... CHECK

Melanie being a total bad ass... Check Check Check.

Although there were a few incidents outside of my control which made a significant impact on the amount of training I was able to do this summer, I'm starting to feel a bit better about the upcoming 10k race.

This past Saturday was the Energizer Night race (5k), and Sunday was a Circuit Endurance race (5k) and I was able to participate in both.  Not only that, but my kids participated in the 1k edition of the Circuit Endurance!

I adore the fact that they love participating in the races at such a young age.  It is a great supportive environment and I simply love it.

So after two races this weekend I took Monday off as a rest day.  After two back to back races my legs were sore and begging for a break.  Back at it Tuesday with an 8k morning run before work.  Felt great, felt strong and made me ever so slightly more comfortable with the idea of running a 10k this coming weekend. Although I have a feeling that this time around Valerie is going to be the one encouraging me not to give up.  Thank goodness we'll be together.

the 11th hour

With the run of bad luck I seem to have had it's no wonder I am starting to get nervous for the 10k race in just over a week.  This weekend I had a dream that it took me 47 minutes to finish a 5k race because children kept giving me heavy school bags to carry for them.  Clearly a manifestation of the anxiety about whether I will be able to perform.  

I decided I was feeling well enough to go run a 5k this morning.  It went well in the sense that compared to the struggles I have been having, this time I ran continuously.  I really wish my time was better than the disappointing 34:42. 

The most disturbing part of the whole thing was that once I got home I started to pee blood again.  I'm going to see my doctor tomorrow who has assured me that the running did not cause further damage.  This is good because it's the 2nd annual Energizer Night race on Saturday and since I firmly believe that all participants signed up to help me celebrate my birthday, I mustn't disappoint them by sitting this one out.

Hopefully with some new antibiotics tomorrow I'll be able to kick this damn kidney infection and do some last minute cramming to get ready for the 10k next weekend with Valerie.

falls, sprains, kidney infections OH MY!

The big 10k race is in two weeks and I am getting a little nervous.  It seems that every time I start getting any kind of routine down and improvement going I get knocked down.  I ran 8k on Monday and on Wednesday last week.  When I went to get up and go on Friday morning I just didn't feel well.. my back was hurting and I felt miserable.  Promising myself that I would get up and run on the weekend I decided to sleep in a bit and rest.  As the day progressed I noticed that I started to pee blood.  Never a good sign.  After 8 hours waiting in the emergency room yesterday I was diagnosed with a kidney infection.  I need to take a couple of days off from running and hope to be back out and training mid week, but with two weeks to go I fear that it may be too little, too late.

Building back up

Yesterday was not a great first day back for me.  The pressure to be ready for the 10k is definitely present and my performance yesterday left me feeling very scared about how well I would perform.  

The alarm clock went off this morning, I laced up my running shoes and hit the road again.  It was better than yesterday, but I still have a long way to go.  5k in just under 37 minutes is a terrible time in my books, but as I take into account a sprained ankle (which is still painful) and limited activity over the past three weeks I am hopeful to build back up to an acceptable time, endurance and eventually distance again soon.

Repercussions

So depressing... I haven't run in about 3 weeks due to the unfortunate sprained ankle incident at the beginning of August.  I was doing so well with my training prior to that. I was trying to be totally and 100% prepared for the upcoming Montreal Oasis 10k at the end of September.

Three weeks off the roads doesn't sound like it would cause too much damage, but it feels like it has.  I wrapped my ankle this morning and went for a little "trial" 3k run to see how it would feel and to see if it would cause any pain to start my training up again.  Although it was a little awkward running with the ace bandage around my foot and ankle the main problem was that I felt a huge loss in my endurance. Perhaps it was just an "off" day, but I am really going to have to keep a consistent training schedule to get back on track.

Excuses vs. Reasons

Last week was a rough week.  I got in a few runs, but it was tough with Jarrod working overtime and Abigail having a fever of 104.  It was a rough week to miss out on some runs because the Circuit Endurance was starting back up for the second half of the season and the next race was on Sunday.

My goal at the beginning of this year was to run all of the Circuit Endurance races again, with an extra goal of trying to beat my own race times from last years races on this years 2012 race circuit. 

Unfortunately as I was going into the Pharmacy on Friday to get Abigail some Tempra and Advil I rolled my ankle, then fell off the sidewalk and landed on it again, falling to the floor with Abigail in my arms.  I sprained my ankle and was unable to participate in Sundays race. 



Tippy Toes watching over me as I ice my ankle


Since Nathaniel had the same goal as me, completing ever single race on the 2012 Circuit Endurance race calendar, we all went together on Sunday to cheer him on!

I was sad to miss the St Anne's race, and have even accepted the fact that I may not be able to participate in the next race either which is scheduled in a week and a half from today.  But I need to get better fast so that I don't miss out on the Energizer Night race in Montreal and the 10k Montreal Oasis with Valerie!

Physio tomorrow for me.

Until then, getting rid of the swelling is top priority.. even if that means freezing it in a bucket of ice!

sweet jesus that's cold!

going willy-nilly

I'm still doing great with my running routine.  I got my butt out of bed on Monday morning even though the rest of the house was sound asleep.  I also decided to live on the edge and just run randomly without plotting out a route first.  It was really a great experience and a welcomed change of scenery!

It was a tough run.  It's been hot out and my new willy-nilly route seemed to be for the most part on a constant incline.  By the time I got back home I was drenched in sweat, but I felt great!

"I don't know where to look, so I will stare into the distance deep in thought"

I'm still disappointed with my lack of improvement time wise, but I hope to see that improve throughout the next few weeks.

The second half of the Circuit Endurance is starting on Sunday.  St Anne De Bellevue race, here I come!

Humidity here I come

Getting back into a running routine feels great.  I ran with my friend around Centennial Park on Friday night, what a great place! In fact, I spoke about how much I enjoyed running there so much that Jarrod wanted to come along and give it a shot as well.  So, Sunday we went and did a couple of loops around the lake together.

The big running routine test is always on the weekdays though.  This morning I got up and out and did a terribly awful 5k.  Terribly awful because the humidity outside was a killer, I had to stop several times which isn't my usual style. That being said, I'd rather be admitting how terribly awful my 5k morning run was than writing that it was just too damn humid out to go running this morning.  That's what I call progress!

After a tough workout this morning, I dropped the kids off at daycare, drove to work feeling proud of myself and enjoyed a great after workout Kronobar.  Yum!

Round and Round I go

Although I recently blogged about no more excuses, I'm afraid the stomach flu took down my whole family and I haven't had a chance to get out there and start my running routine up again. 

Good news though, tonight I'm meeting up with an old friend and we will be running around Centennial Park:

Centennial Park is a a beautifully scenic loop that runs around a little lake in DDO.  I truly love going there. It is very peaceful, plus it's a trail run so away from cars and concrete.  The loop around the lake is only 2k so you have to go round and round, but it is such a nice break from my typical asphalt pounding, car dodging runs that I always look forward to it.

That being said, tonight marks the beginning of my new training regime.  29:59:59 here I come.

29:59:59

Confession time... Ever since the ever so amazing Ottawa race weekend my running schedule has been less that admirable.  Yes it's been hot and humid out, yes I've been tired, yes I've been on vacation and yes yes yes I am full of excuses. 

The running circuit is starting up in just over three weeks and I am feeling utterly unprepared.  After the last Circuit Endurance race on June 3rd I was very motivated about getting my training schedule back in order.  I was disappointed in seeing little to no improvement when I compared my race times to last years and I wanted it to change.  A lot.  Clearly that motivation fizzled...

At the end of the race season last year I was 57 seconds away from breaking the 30 minute barrier and joining the runners who can finish a 5k in twenty something minutes.  My goal was set then and there, in 2012 I would have a best 5k time of 29:59:59 (or better)... It's hard to sit here, mid way through the 2012 season, and admit that so far I have not even come close to achieving my goal. 

I need to renew the commitment to myself, and I need to get up and run.  That way, even if I don't make my goal of finishing in 29:59:59 or less I will at least be able to look at myself, be proud and know that I tried.

Ottawa Race Weekend

A little late, but better late than never.
 

Well we did it.. We did it on May 26, 2012.  Valerie and I competed in and completed our first ever 10k race.  What a great experience.  There thousands upon thousands of runners flooding the streets of Ottawa.  The spectators lined the course from the start line all the way to the finish cheering on all the runners. 



Valerie and I waiting for Alana to complete the Ottawa 5k race



Valerie and I had a goal to finish in under 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Although we expected our starting position to be fairly far back in the corral of runners, we would never have anticipated the crowd we saw.  It was overwhelming and truly an amazing sight. We both wished we had a camera to capture the magnitude of it.  The sea of runners was so great that it actually took us 6 full minutes from when the start pistol went off to get to the start line.  And then we were off.

We had a great time.  The weather was hot, and the crowd caused for some difficult running conditions.  We are by no means the fastest runners, but we were constantly having to dodge and pass people throughout the entire course which caused us to expend more energy than we would under normal circumstances. 

Our official chip time shows that we finished the race in 1:13:15... Our next goal is to complete the Montreal Oasis 10k on September 23, 2012 in under 1 hour 10 minutes... Challenge, accepted!

Various shades of red

Valerie and I decided to get together to knock out our first 10k run together.  With only a few weeks until the big race day we needed to do a test run to see how quickly we could complete a full 10k together.

It was a beautiful sunny morning and the weather was cool enough to be comfortable, but warm enough to wear minimal layers (I opted for my new snazzy running socks, shorts and a long sleeve sports shirt).  Valerie and I are the perfect match when it comes to running because we each excel in different areas.  Valerie seems to consistently have a faster pace than my regular race pace, yet I tend to be able to have a little more endurance.  Running together is not only great quality time, but we push each other to run a little faster, or a little longer than we would normally do on our own.

After today's run I am confident that we will be pleased with our Ottawa race time.  Our first outing for a 10k together and we were both pleased with our time.  1hr 12 minutes... that's nothing to sneeze at.

We will make time to do another long run (perhaps a 12k) before race day.  And although we just finished our 10k today, I am already looking forward to my next running excursion with my sister. 

On May 26th Valerie and I will cross the finish line of the 10k Ottawa race with the same ridiculously red face that only the Medza sisters can attain, and we will be proud to have finished it together.



first 10k

On Sunday I did my first 10k practice run.  Before that my longest run had been the 8k training runs I had built myself up to.  Finished in 1hr12minutes, which I was proud of.

I have been having a hard time finding the perfect schedule to balance my sleep, gym days and my run days... In the end it has ended up being sleep in days.  Tough to admit, but I have to start pushing myself a little harder to stick with the fitness plan I had layed out for myself so that I can start seeing positive changes.

The Chocolate coma

Easter is done and I have been able to escape relatively unscathed from all the chocolate floating around at home.  Although I was able to put up a bit of a fight against my chocolate addiction, I did end up being a little lax on the excercise side... Got back at it this morning though.  Another 8k down.  Gym day tomorrow.

Well I am feeling pretty good today.  Got up... after hitting the snooze button a few times (but who's counting).  Got through my first 8k run, with a time that I am happy with.  My max run distance so far has been 6k so jumping up to 8k and maintaining a reasonable pace of 6:57 was cause for celebration!

After this mornings experience I'm a little less weary of the 10k coming up at the end of May. 

2 down, 10 to go...

Nathaniel and I had our race day yesterday, and as per our usual luck it was a rainy cold day.  Hopefully this is not a trend that will continue throughout the rest of the season.

Both of us did well.  I completed the 5k race in 33:12, and Nathaniel completed his 1.5k in 14:17.

My goal this year is to finish my 5k in under 30 minutes. That being said, 33:12 isn't a bad starting point to head towards that goal.  Besides, it's already an improvement from the first race which was finished in 36:04...

Rx Epsom

By the time afternoon rolled around yesterday my leg muscle was feeling super tight again.  I think perhaps I will have to force myself to do more stretching at the end of my longer runs in order to avoid this discomfort. 

In the meantime, I opted for a good old fashioned soak with my Epsom salts.

This morning was supposed to be gym day, but due to the unfortunate night terrors of my beloved Abigail I was too exhausted to get up and out at 5:30 (considering I was up from 2 to 4 with her).

5k Race day in LaSalle on Sunday.  Nathaniel will be taking part in the 1.5k race portion of the day. 

so close!

The goal was to complete my morning 6k in under 40 minutes.  Anything under 40 minutes. 39:59:59 would have been cause for celebration, but no. I just missed it!

So frustrating because as I hit kilometer number four I was feeling tired so I slowed to a walk.  Not for long, less than a minute really.. perhaps even 44 seconds.  Damn it, had I just pushed through I would have probably achieved my goal.

Gym day tomorrow then the Circuit Endurance LaSalle 5k race on Sunday... Let's hope for good weather and an even better time!

Katniss and I

The alarm went off at 5:35am this morning and I got my exhausted butt out of bed and made it to the gym.  I feel good about the workout this morning, but I can tell that I had not been in a couple of weeks.  Usually my transition from one exercise to another is smooth and natural, it felt a little more lost. But nevertheless, a good workout and a good sweat and a well earned protein shake when all was said and done.



One of the highlights of getting up and out to the gym is that I get an opportunity to listen to my iPod. I had been getting tired of listing to the same play lists over and over at the gym and while out on my runs.  I tried out a couple of podcasts, and they were a nice change - I particularly enjoy Aisha Tyler's "Girl on Guy".

Recently, however, I have started listening to "The Hunger Games" and I am in love. It's a great source of entertainment while I am out for a run or working out.  It's almost like having a friend talking to you and telling you a story.  A great distraction from actually counting down kilometers as they go by, or counting down the minutes to the end of the workout.  Actually, now that I have been sucked into The Hunger Games, I find myself wanting to stay at the gym a little bit longer, or extend the run just far enough so that I can find out what happens next.

And lucky for me... tomorrow I have 6 more kilometers to spend with Katniss Everdeen.

va·ca·tion / vāˈkāSHən/

Actual Noun:   An extended period of recreation, esp. one spent away from home or in traveling.
My version:    Being away from home and eating far too much crap food

Why is it that every single time I go on vacation I use it as an excuse to overindulge? On the day of departure I leave with the best intentions... "I will not eat like crap this time, I will make healthy choices..." However, it seems like as the distance grows between myself and home, the more carefree I become with my food choices.

Today I am back.  I feel guilty about the choices I made, but I will not let that hold me back.  My leg feels great now... thankfully the rest and rub A535 did the trick which means I am back on the training plan!

And what better way to start a new chapter in my training than with awesomely fun running socks! That's right... they have arrived:

I will be getting up early tomorrow morning and knocking out 6k... The goal is to complete in under 40 minutes.

I can't believe the 10k is 9 weeks. Yikes!!!

start...stop...start

It seems as though every time I start something, I get stopped just as I'm getting into my groove.


I started my training program to prepare for my first 10k race that is fast approaching.  May 26th to be exact.  The plan called for me to run on Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.  I woke up Wednesday morning with a what I can only describe as a pulled muscle that ran up my inner thigh into my groin. Sigh.  I'm giving myself a few days of rest, which combined with the overuse of the delicious smelling rub A535 will hopefully alleviate the discomfort and allow me to get back on track.


I have lost some speed and endurance over the winter months and look forward to getting back to where I left off in October of last year.

Although I still have some time to work on my endurance for the 10k race in May, I am participating in the "Circuit Endurance" again this year.  The Circuit Endurance is a circuit of 12 races through 2012.  The first race took place on a cold day in February (pictured below)

The Ile Bizzard race was disappointing time wise (36:04), but will hopefully be a good starting point to mark what will hopefully be a record breaking year for me. 

Perhaps I should clarify, I am by no means a super star runner.  My best time so far is 5k in 30:57... Something I am very proud of, but I am also very aware that in general that is not really a brag-worthy time.  The goal this year is to get a 5k in under 30 minutes. Ultimate goal is 5k in 25 minutes.  My pulled muscle better heal ASAP so that I can get on with my training!