Fall

It's been cooler, like 5-9 degree area.  Which is nice, but it's been windy too.  Thankfully the sun and running keep you warm!

I've been using one day a week and running around this corn field, which I LOVE.  It feels almost primal.  And scary.  I've mentioned before how rural we are, and I do fear for bears.  Usually when I run around the field, I run half and turn back the other way-the 'other' side looks dark and is back against ANOTHER field. 
Today I only had time for a short run, (tomorrow is my parents anniversary and they are driving a distance for dinner and a concert tonight)  So I decided to do the full perimetre of the corn field.  Dodging corn husks and jumping over fallen husks, it's pretty fun.  And of course, the new side brought something different to the run.

Trail behind my grandma's to get to field

So pretty today--opening of field

It's a 2k distance the full way around, plus the run to get there and then back was only just under 4 km run but I had a blast.  Next week with more time, I will add more laps to it  AND bring my bear spray!  HA

Suck it up Buttercup

The past few months have NOT been my finest in running.  I feel stuck in a rut, the heat of summer, a cold, kids and life haven't been helping my mileage, training or speed work.

Then I get so concerned over quantity, I forget about quality.  I started thinking to myself, 'When was my last good hill workout, or speed workout?'
*Blushing*  I realized it's been a while.  Today I had been feeling better than I had felt in about a month, SO sucking it up, I headed to a larger STEEPER hill than I usually do for repeats and went for it. 
This is a pretty steep hill.  And usually, I can rock out a hill pretty well, but this one gets me every time.  So I ran up 75% of it, stopped for 5 DEEP breaths, and finished it.  5 times. 

What I love about where this hill is located, is that it has a nice flat road below the hill. So I ened up doing 6x200 intervals, with 200 meter jogs in between.  (the first 2 were walks)
1 km warm up
1 km cool down


I really need a 'schedule' and someone to tell me :  YOU NEED TO RUN THIS (XX) TODAY. 

The 75% (I did stay under 6min/km pace)
 

I lied

No long run yesterday, I tried, got 2.5 km in and was done.  Apparently hit with what the kids had, only I didnt throw up.  Just very weak and sore.  Layed on the couch ALL day.

Did a slow 10k today (1hr) thru the wind and even had to drag out a winter running coat!  BRRR!  9 degrees and cloudy, I waited till later in the day.  (Too busy bleaching my kids rooms) and I am glad because the rain stopped and the sun was fighting to come out.   What ever was hanging around, I sweated out, and feel much better!

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe

I really hate when you get on a great running groove and life gets in the way!

Coming off the Toad run, I had taken the Sunday off, except for a few km at the Run for the Cure.  I really felt good, minimal soreness and was able to start again with Monday, Tues, and Wednesday runs. A little slower, and I had a cold that was lingering, BUT good.  I was planning on running the 5 days, Saturday off for the fair with the kids, and then Sunday's long run to justify Thanksgiving dinner (wink)
 *screeching halt*
 Sick kid Thursday, unexpected day off.   Hmmm, OK make up a few miles on Friday, THAT was the plan, but with my cold and a toddler who HATES HATES HATES to sleep at night, I was tired and only did 5 miles.
Brooke tagged along for Sunday's run.  We run at different paces and different distances.  But it was good.  She brought her brothers puppy--and I did NOT think this dog would handle anything over a mile. Just because, I thought there would be some training with dog running or something.  Nahla the dog is a T.R.O.O.P.E.R. Seriously, ran the whole time! 
So Sundays long run was slower than usual, and shorter but SO enjoyable, we chatted, laughed, posed and it was nice to 'coach' Brooke a bit and get her over her 10k hump.  12.5km done. 

Then life took over again Monday ANOTHER sick kid....it's gone thru all 4 now (interesting weekend and a TON of laundry done. ugh)  So hopefully it's gone, unless Scott and I end up getting it.  *knock on wood we don't*   So Monday was a weight day, unless endless cleaning counts as cardio...... ?

Quiet road

On the fire truck ride

Ferris Wheel -he wouldnt move

6+ km turnaraound

Rail way track trail

Tuesday 3/4 are at school, I have no where to go -- long run will be completed.

Love my shoes!

Only took 6 tries for 1 half decent pic!!

FINALLY

In mid August, I ordered new in box Newtons (in pink of course) from Ebay.  85$+30 shipping.  Waited FOREVER (well 12 days) and they had come in, my hubby picked them up for me and had to pay 15$ duty. * steam out ears*

Scott brought them home, I ripped open the paper only to see a 10.5 on the outside of box.  WTFH!  I opened the box and a orange pair of mens Newtons. ARGH
I emailed the seller, how stated to send them back, she'd refund the shipping and send out the pink womens 8 I ordered.
I noticed she had sent them out the 19th September, but after the 20th there was NO update on usps.com.  Finally the 28th, there was an update they were in Canada. 

Well they arrived this morning.  Seeing as I still have a cold and I wanted an easy run, I took them out for a garmin free 5k.  NICE, I am very pleased with them.

Piper's fave part of the Run for the Toad

25 km RUN FOR THE TOAD

I came across this run when googling different marathon training plans.  Looked like a ton of fun, but having already committed to the Midsummer Run, I opted out of registering.  PLUS it was a 3 hr drive away. 

Lurking thru a running forum I frequent, I saw that another board member was selling her bib for less than what it was selling for from registering.  80$.  I took it as a sign that I needed to try this run.  Also, coincidently, my BFF Brooke's birthday was that weekend, and she wanted to outlet shop in Niagria Falls, an hour away from Paris Ont. 

OK, contacted the girl, bought her bib, info changed into my info! 

Then I started to stress over if I had the right shoes, how to run on a trail, etc etc.  I brought 3 pairs of shoes with me Saturday morning but ended with my regular distance shoe, Adidas Mana 5.

5 am came pretty early on Saturday morning, but wanted lots of time for getting lost, picking up Brooke (who went out to celebrate her birthday the night before), and picking up my kit.
I woke Piper, she wanted to tag along for the day.  She woke up with no grumpiness and off we went in the pitch black. 

Grabbed Brooked at her friends house in Oshawa, and GPS'd where we needed to go from there.  Laughing for the drive up, we were pretty happy and excited.  Brooke commented on how interesting my run would be considering that my nose was running and I was clogged with phlegm, 

Nearing Paris, we had a little mix up from where we needed to be, stopped and asked some locals who gave PERFECT directions and we turned in the conservation area the same time as 10 other cars...... and then into a line of 40 or more in front of us.  
After parking I walked quickly ahead to grab my kit, and I needed to get into my run clothes as well.  It turned out we still had 40 minutes to race start.  We people watched for a while and saw the 50k'ers off.
10 minutes later, I got in line, and had no idea what I was in store for!   It started off fairly well, hit the 4k mark at about 25 min.  My nose was very clogged and I was mouth breathing, so I needed to stop and blow.  Decided to take a sip of my water since I was already stopped.  Big breath, and carried on. 
At around 8 km, I noticed the difference in muscles it takes to trail run vs road running.  My knees and front leg muscles were throbbing, ankles were angry at the sight of another incline.  My nose continously needed blowing, and I couldnt seem to get a good 'cough' out.    I kept waiting for this steep hill, dreading it!

First lap was done, 1:20:35 . Part of me really considered quitting.  LOL.  I jogged off to the port a potties, peed, blew my nose, stuffed toilet paper in my pockets for more blowing on course,  took a gel and carried on.  I decided now I knew what to expect, I would walk the inclines and then I could speed up on the downhills and flats.  It was WAY more enjoyable.  Talked to a girl on course, and she had run it 4 times before, she laughed when I mentioned that this was my first ever trail run.  YOU CHOSE THIS FOR YOUR FIRST....WAY TO GO!   
I loved the trail parts, when there was a slope and jumping roots, that was really run, the small inclines, continously over and over.....not so much.  Especially trying to work around other people and herded together. 
2nd lap was 1:27:19  which I am sure the 7 minutes lost was the washroom break and the pep talk I had to give myself to carry on! HA.

A little stiff this morning, but shook that out at the Run for the Cure.  Which I only did 2km off because Steele and Paxton were cold and done.  Had 2 of them in one stroller and trying to push. Piper carried on with her gymnastics team, and we met her at the finish line! 

417   417 Pam Christie           2:47:54 SF30-39   54/116    175  6:43 2:47:22  1:20:35 1:27:19  Indian River   


Oddly, my bib number was 417 and I came in 417th place.   :D

Next year?  We'll see, BUT I am signing up for another (shorter, and closer to home) trail run for October.   

B&O Yorkville 5k

Nicci and I last minute signed up for this run.  And MIRACOUSLY were there about an hour early!!  HUGE for us. Usually we are racing for the run start.

Thankfully we were there early because somehow we were on the sign up sheet but our bibs werent there. So we had to wait at another table for them to make us new bibs. 

The run was held in a nice part of Toronto, had stylish black tees, on-site massagers, black bags, and GORGEOUS black and PINK medals!  I will SO be back for this one.  The proceeds went to YMCA Womens' shelters.

(pssst, there was a Lululemon RIGHT there, literally at the race start~ but didn't open till 11am on Sundays.  BOO!)
And of course, there I was aiming for a sub 25 minute 5k.......... 25:06 was my chip time, my garmin read 25:15 BUT was measured long.  5.14km, so my garmin timed me at 24:31 for a 5k, ummmm so I am taking it! LOL