Dreams and Mangled toes

I had a dream the other night, that I was visiting with an old friend.  In real life I havent seen this person or talked to them in 12+ yrs.   In my dream, we were washing dishes.  I do dream often, but I really remembered this dream vividly for some reason.
When I went thru a dream dictionary :

To dream that you are washing dishes suggest that you are moving on and planning for the next thing that comes your way. Alternatively, it represents your daily routine. Perhaps you are in a rut.

To see your childhood friend in your dream signifies regression into your past where you had no responsibilities. Things were much simpler and carefree.

After reading that, I think back to my post the other day of feeling burnt out and questioning WHY I run.  But then a rest day Friday, and I remember why I run.  I crave it. I love the feel of the ground beneath my feet, the cold rush in my lungs and the job of controlling my breathing.  Pushing thru the wind, jumping puddles or potholes, being aware of every leg muscles as I trot up hills.  I run becasue it's my drug.  And a day without my fix, Pammie goes stir crazy. HA!

Other news, I giggle, my feet are not so pretty anymore.  I finished my 20km today, and rested my feet in Scott's lap.  His response was how I have been beating THE HELL out of my feet. My toenails are misshaped, callouses on the ends (and sides) of my toes. I havent lost any toenails (thankfully) .

Oh well, until they make an open toed runner-- my feet are hidden from publics eye.

Burn out?

Do you ever have runs where you feel like WHY do I do this?  Yesterday I went out for a short 9km around the block.  It was rainy, windy, gray and cold.  I had to stop numerous times to blow my nose (I have been on the verge of a cold for a while) , needed to move over to the side of the road to the dirt shoulder for cars, which felt like sink holes in some spots. And I just felt defeated. 

I followed my run with a hot shower and decided I was going to have to reevaluate my training, find some new routes and not let one bad run overtake my mindset.

Today I went back out.  I did intervals and hills.  Different hill then usual, and did my intervals by time, not distance. 1.25 w/u , 6x5min with 1min rest, then 5 hill repeats, and 1.25 min c/d.  total of 11.72 km

I felt strong and it was nice to do something different.

Virtual Runs!

How fun are they!?!?!  I have been loving them, it's a fun way to spruce up your regular training run, and you can do it on your own time!  Being so far away from most 'road races', I generally have to be up at the a$$ crack of dawn to be somewhere for the run start!  YAWN!

So another virtual run is coming up on Mother's Day! 19.50$ for canadians, and a chance at some GREAT prizes! 

The Jelly Bean Run was fun, and I opted to do 3 out of the 4 distances.  (I dont have a bike, so I was out of the 21km ride!)  No crazy costumes for this gal though!

Easter weekend

I did my 20km on Saturday which was a tough run.  It was VERY windy that day, and it was a follow run to 2 S.W.A.T workouts, PLUS they regraded all the roads so it was all loose gravel and cars travelling for Easter. 

I took 2 days off after, BUT did more S.W.A.T workouts, and just overall enjoyed some family time and BFF time!  My bestie Brooke was down, and had bought a new Canon Rebel T3. 

This camera ROCKS!



So we played outside at her parents farm and took pictures with the camera.  Actually think it's the first time in a looooong time that we havent went shopping when she's down!!

Unofficial PB!

I set out Tuesday for a run, and decided against a tempo, but just a run.  The roads around my area are drying up and have reopened up a new set of roads for me.  (I've been limited to the highway and have been getting pretty bored.)
The rural roads are pretty hilly, so I was just 'running' and taking in the sights to see what had changed in the last few months.  I chose an 11 km route. I came out of a back road at 5+km and it was just under the 30 min mark. I stopped my garmin to blow my nose and cross across the highway.
Continued on and was watching some farmers work on a tractor.  Ran a few km down the highway and did a quick glance over my shoulder to see if it was safe to cross  back down another rural road, looked down and was right at 7km and 38min.  Knowing this route pretty well, I knew this road was 3k long and after one incline was FLAT.  So I pushed it, to see where I could at 10 km mark.
TA DA~

:) UNOFFICAL, BUT IT'S THERE!!

My last 'raced' 10km was 55 min, and after hitting the 10km mark at ATB in 54min + (according to sportstat)  I was curious where I was.  Even yesterday with the hills, I wasn't *pushing* myself, it's nice to see that improvement is there. 

FOOD FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD!

 I am a vegetarian, not a vegan because I really love dairy!  MMMMM cheese, yogurt!  YUM!

When I first started not eating meat when I was 17, I thought it was all about eating pasta and bread.  Then salads. I wasnt too imaginitive.

When I started lifting weights and protein was da'bomb, I started letting eggs and tuna back into my diet.  But strangely I hate eggs, and would eat them then have to eat something else to get the taste out of my mouth.  I couldnt watch TV when I was eating, incase something gross came on ( I have a weak stomach) and I would just eat them fast to get it over with.
Tuna as well, would leave a bad smell on my hands and breath.  I completely gave up both (tuna almost 4 yrs ago, and eggs 2 yrs ago)
Now with running, I am less nazi-ish about calories and I have opened my palette to newer foods and trying new things.

Veggie pizza

I made this last night and it was SOOOOOO GOOD!  Light rye bread, with some pizza sauce and cheese, toasted in toaster oven, I grilled the mushroom and red pepper before adding to top and then added spinach.
I've been doubling the dose of spinach in my smoothies in the morning, and adding it to other foods whenever I can.  Trying to do away with taking iron pills daily, and maybe only once a week.  I am still 'low' on iron from my last blood test in February, but not depleted as I was last yr.

Jelly bean run.

Jelly Bean DONE, feeling fine!

I ended up running 21km today (well just shy  20.60k) for my part in the Jelly Bean virtual run I signed up for.  Since it wasnt a 'timed' run, I decided to go out and have fun, and get my long run in. 
Plus coming off a prior weekend ATB, I didnt know how I was going to feel.  Answer: GREAT!

I had a really enjoyable run and pretty sure most of the local barn yard animals now know the words to "Lighters up" and  "Love the way you lie".

There will be some hardcore gangsta' horses out around my town.  And pretty sure I saw some smirking on my air drum rolls as people drove by.
It was wet, muddy in areas, hilly but I was literally smiling my whole run and was done in under 2 hours!