Adventures in Activites....

Race Season!

2012-01-28T16:20:00.001-08:00

Well I'm back in Victoria and currently not sure exactly where I'm going next or when I'm going so while I figure that out I've been planning this race season! If I stay here all summer I don't want to waste a perfectly good race season. So here is what it looks like: we have a team running the TC 10k at the end of April, it's a team composed of staff that work in establishments along Yates street, called the Yates Street Dine n Dash! I think it will be a great way to start the season. Then I plan on doing all five of the Subaru triathlon races. To see those, check out www.triseries.ca its a fantastic race series. Then we also have a team going to the Tough Mudder run in Whistler which I'm super pumped about. I love obstacle courses and this one is unreal! And after the triathlon season I want to run the Royal Victoria Marathon! So that should be enough racing for the summer. I'm SO excited!

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Holiday Tips!

2011-12-11T19:06:00.000-08:00

With the holiday season upon us, we all need a little help staying on top of our workout plans! Here's a few fun tips! The fun folks at Refinery 29 really know what's up!

Other Blog

2011-07-28T21:36:00.000-07:00

I just want to make sure that everyone knows that I do have another blog that has my adventures at work and abroad,so please go ahead and follow that one!! I post way more often and have cool things about Disney World!!! www.adventuresinroaming.blogspot.com

St. Augustine

2011-07-08T18:21:00.000-07:00

ROAD TRIP!!! As you know, traveling is just about my favorite thing, other than training! So with not much time left in Florida, I've got five days off and we've gone on a road trip!! As a fitness junkie, it's always a little worrisome to leave my gym and workout habits. BUT, I just got my new best friend in the mail, the TRX training system!! Check it out at TRXtraining.com!! It's amazing!! You can hang it from doors, or a tree, or just about anywhere that's weight bearing, and do a fantastic body weight workout. It's amazing. I just hung it from the hotel room door and had a killer workout! I've also become somewhat of a Nike NTC junkie. It's an iphone app and it has some amazing workouts when you're strapped for time, as I often am. The nice NTC lady even talks you through your workout and you use your own playlists and the more minutes you workout, the more cool rewards you unlock through the app!! Loving it!! So anyway, we are currently in St. Augustine, Florida which is a gorgeous town. I just love it!! It's actually the oldest town in the US, there's gorgeous architecture everywhere. There's even an amazing old fort that they do historical re-enactments at! We got to see them shoot a cannon today!! Anyhow, I'm off for a swim in the hotel pool, gotta get some cardio in! Here's few pictures of St. Augustine! Tomorrow we head to New Orleans!!! So excited!!

Beat the Heat

2011-06-17T17:48:00.001-07:00

So training in the super hot central Florida humidity is interesting. I went for a run last night at 10pm and it was still brutally humid out. Im adapting. Starting to get used to it, but I still prefer to stay in the gym if at all possible!!

A few of the concierge girls have been asking for exercise advice and the other day I instituted hourly cardio blasts in the lounge kitchen! So much fun, every hour we do jumping jacks, pushups, mountain climbers, knee-ups, and burpees. It's a great activity break in our day, I love it!!

I'm currently working fairly hard at gaining muscle mass before I get home. Once im back to really intensive triathlon training, it'll be a nice solid base to start back from. Plus it gives my body a bit of a change, switching it up is fun! I'm looking forward to coming home and training with all my favorite friends from Victoria!!

Norwegian Sky

2011-06-06T07:19:00.001-07:00

So I set sail with 3 South African friends from work for fun and adventure aboard the lovely Norwegian Sky cruise ship!! I've never been on a cruise ship so I was pretty excited! I've also never been to the Bahamas so it's a double win! The ship is amazing!! There's so much to do!! Ping pong, a driving range, bingo games, a spa, a gym, comedy shows, shops, a nightclub, and a billion places to eat. My favorite thing has to be the fresh fruit!! It's everywhere all the time! I haven't eaten so much fruit since I left Canada!! I sure do miss fruit!! I've taken a pledge to myself to take the stairs everytime. No elevator, no matter what!! I feel like it helps counteract the amount of food I've consumed!! The on board gym is amazing. Cardio equipment with tv's on them and full length windows that look onto the ocean! I keep getting distracted by the movies on the tv's and staying on the cardio machines for hours! Yesterday we dropped anchor at Great Stirrup Cay, which is Norwegian Cruise Lines private island. It's lovely. We got there nice and early and lounged by the beach, and did a bunch of swimming! Today we went to Nassau, which reminds me a lot of Martinique! I loved it. Tonight is our last night then back to Miami and the drive home!!

Adapting

2011-04-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest things about being away from home so often and for so long is that you lose your support network a little bit. I still keep in touch with all my really fabulously motivating friends from back home, but it's different when they're not here to kick my ass into gear all the time. So I've had to adapt and really work on motivating myself. Which isn't as easy as it sounds. I also don't have any built in triathlon trainers out here. So I made due, I use the resources that I have available to me. One of those that I'm loving right now is Triathlete Magazine, they have some really great articles and resources for everything I need to work on. Another thing I have to work around is that I don't have my bike here, so it's all about the stationary bike. The nice thing about that is that I can really work on my cadence, which is really tragic, so I've been working on that, using some workouts from "Workouts in a binder: For indoor cycling" by Dirk Friel and Wes Hobson. I'm loving this resource and find the workouts challenging, but still interesting enough that I don't get bored.

Here's today's workout:
• Warm Up: 17 minutes
5:00 - Pedal easy
12:00 - 3x (1:00 right leg, 1:00 both legs, 1:00 left leg, 1:00 both legs) Pedal mostly with one leg for a minute then pedal evenly, then medal mostly with the other leg for a minute
• Main Set: 30 - 60 minutes
30:00 - 60:00 Zone 2 (a fairly light effort during which you are able to speak comfortably) Do this workout while watching tv. Pedal at 95 rpm until commercial breaks; during the breaks, alternate 30 seconds of isolated leg training per leg
• Cool-down: 5 minutes easy at 90 rpm

I did this today and LOVED it. It really helped me focus on my cadence and trying to keep it more consistent. I'm working on building up my tolerance to training in the heat. It's HOT and HUMID over here, which I love, but training in it is a whole different monster. I've been trying to train in the morning and the evening, but eventually I'm going to figure out how to run during the day. Maybe.

back in action

2011-03-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

Well I'm now feeling totally settled here. I'm getting a routine down. Linds and I moved from one complex to another so now I'm further away from the lap pool but my plan is to run from our complex to Mickey's retreat, swim, then run back. I'm not sure how far it will be, but my Nike+ will tell me! I've been trying to get 20 mins of jump rope done in the mornings before breakfast. Great way to get my day started! And I really need to have my gym time in my life. My job requires very heavy guest interaction and by the end of the day, some time for myself is absolutely necessary. I also made it to a bookstore recently. So now I have some mental stimulation. I really needed books to read, my brain was starving!! I'm also switching my weight routine up. When I'm tri training I find I life weights to supplement my other training, but since I'm not racing, I'm lifting for definition now. Higher weight, lower reps, I'm liking it! I also have the expedition everest challenge coming up in may, my lovely friend T is coming here from Vic and we're in a team together!! Team Canada!! So excited. It's like a 5k bootcamp adventure challenge type of thing. It's going to be so much fun! Can't wait!

Loving the Heat

2011-02-25T02:11:00.000-08:00

Well it's February in Florida...which means highs of 80 degrees farenheit, I can't argue with that!! This weekend is the Disney Princess Half Marathon, I wish I were ready to race in it, but I just haven't been training enough and it would be silly to go and hurt myself this early in my work term. Disney has a lot of neat events that I can participate in while I'm here. If you'd like to check them out, head to www.rundisney.com for more info! I'm pretty fortunate to have a special staff recreation area right next to my apartment complex so I'll be able to start swim training again very soon. In fact, I should probably get back in the water on Saturday since I have it off. The weather right now at home is nuts. In the minuses and SNOWING in Vic. Thank goodness I'm not there, I'm not a fan of snow. I'm quite happy here in the crazy humidity thank you!

Good to be Back

2011-02-10T06:40:00.000-08:00

I'm soooore today! Ha. It's nice to be back in the gym. It's pouring here today. Kinda feels like home!! We're still trying to decide exactly how to approach today, we were going to head to the Animal Kingdom but we may delay until the sun comes out. I'd just go to the gym now instead of later. There's a Disney Princess half marathon coming up here at the end of february and I'd love to run it. I'm too new to request time off tho, so we'll see. If I happen to be scheduled around the race then I'll enter. We get discounts on that stuff too, which is nice. Well, def time to stretch and have some breakfast! Looking forward to another glorious day in the park.

Getting Settled

2011-02-08T19:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm just getting settled here in Orlando. There's a lot to be done and not much to be done all at the same time. Which sounds wierd, but as hectic as it has been getting everything sorted out and learning my way around a new city and not knowing anything and being uncomfortable, it's actually less hectic than life at home. I have so much to do all the time at home, there's not a moment that isn't full of something. Here I get to build my life from the ground up again. I love it. And I really don't mind being uncomfortable. I like change. I guess if I didn't like being uncomfortable I probably never would have done a triathlon. So anyway, the moral of the story is that I'm back in the gym, and trying to balance it with work, school, and getting to know the parks. Since that's a big part of my job I've been going to the parks a lot trying to get to know them all!! I have a perfect sized pool for swim training which is awesome and once it gets hot that'll probably be my favorite option. There's great areas to run and the gym also has a treadmill. All I'm really missing is a bike. I was really hoping the gym would at least have a stationary bike so I could at least do that but alas, it does not. But I think that the gym in the other complex has one so I'll maybe start running over there and using that machine and then running back. So that should be a good start to getting back into tri shape. I'm hoping that T can make it down here in may for the Disney tri and we can race together. That'd be amazing!!!!

Mood Food??

2011-01-06T12:51:00.000-08:00

I found this really interesting article while I was stumbling today! It's about mood boosting foods!! I'm one of those people who has the 2pm slump where I can't pay attention and just wanna nap. I think they wrote this just for me!!

Fun!

2011-01-05T22:07:00.001-08:00

Sooo I know it's been forever, school has been insane and now it's almost time for leaving and moving to Florida!! Just thought I'd share this article with you all!! 51 fastest fat burners!! Fun!!

been too long

2010-11-20T17:33:00.000-08:00

omg. i'm so focused on school and co-op that I've really done not much since I've been home. I'm back to riding which is marvelous and really makes me happy but it's just so hectic for the 10 weeks of classes that I'm really focusing on school and work etc. I've got my winter co-op position all nailed down. I'm going to florida to do concierge in the Disneyworld resort. FOR TRUE!!! So excited!! It's such an amazing opportunity. To hear more about that adventure, see my other blog: www.adventuresinroaming.blogspot.com it's got all the awesome details and i'll continue to keep it updated while I'm gone. So riding is pretty much all I've been up to. I'll be swim training again soon, as I hope to be able to do some racing while in florida. I'll figure it out. But mostly it's all about horses. It's really nice to be back to riding. It really centers me and keeps me grounded and happy. my life is so amazing right now, it's just full speed ahead to the future!! I'm so happy!!

If it was easy, everyone would do it

2010-09-26T04:51:00.000-07:00

So after the Cause race, my knees hated me and almost relinquished their place on my legs. I took a lot of rest days, and by rest days, I mean I didn't run. However I did work a 19 hour shift and several 12 - 16 hour ones. So really I didn't rest at all, I just didn't run anywhere. Then this morning was the Melissa's Road race. I woke up feeling like I definitely shouldn't run, my knees ached and I'm overworked. However, like the crazy person I am, I thought that running it would be a good idea after all. Which I did. I was told afterwards that the Melissa's Road Race considered the toughest half marathon road race in Canada. Which means there were hills. Lots of them. They were not fun. Somewhere around km 13 my knee went pop and went from being numb to being excruciatingly painful. Not so good. Urgh. So i rested and iced and wrapped my knee before I went to work, it's feeling better now, but I must get to physio soon. Good thing I'm coming home to Victoria in a few days. I need some professional help ASAP. Other than that, the race course was gorgeous and I loved it. The wind was crazy, for a while there it felt like I was running backwards. Kristen is the best friend ever and brought me some muscle cream so I'm rubbing that in now and hoping it helps!! The swelling hasn't gone down which is unfortunate. we'll see how if feels tomorrow. I'm definitely going to wrap it before I go to work!

Tapering

2010-09-11T13:06:00.000-07:00

So I'm tapering down right now for the race tomorrow and all I want to do is ruuuunnnnn!!!! LET ME RUN....so tomorrow morning my lovely friend lucas has agreed to drive myself and my cheering squad to canmore, so that means we neither have to catch a cab nor rent a car. Which is dynomite...I'm getting some serious rest today because last night was the last night I'll have to sleep for quite some time. We have a huge group coming in next week and we'll be working non stop for days....and then Melissa's Road Race coming up in 2 weekends, right before I leave!! Then home to Victoria!! Hooray!!

Race day approaching

2010-09-07T17:11:00.000-07:00

So my plan to save my knees had been working. Vitrually pain-free!! Race on sunday!! So excited. it's getting freakin cold over here. I bought some cozy winter boots to tromp around in. I also get to go home in 20 days. Which is super exciting. I'm ready to go home. Today I did a quick run downtown and I'l do another run downtown on my way to see a movie with the girls. I'll make this second one a push run, do pushups and lunges on the benches on the way down the mountain. I've been checking out all the sweet articles and races on Active.com , so many cool ones. I really really want to do the Escape from Alcatraz tri at some point. It looks so frickin cool!!!

Knees

2010-09-03T22:08:00.001-07:00

So Im a deadbeat and I didn't ice my knees yesterday even a little bit. But I did change my run. I didn't run back up the mountain. I ran an extra loop of the track down by sundance and then took the bus back up the mountain. And today my knees are so much happier. So I think that if I plan on running as much as I have been then I need to stop running up the mountain. It's clearly not good for me and I don't need to aggravate anything. I have a nice line up of races in the next little bit. Sept 12th is the Cause run. Then Sept 25th is the Melissa's road race, then the Good Life Marathon on Oct 10th. Gotta take good care of my knees or I'm in trouble!!!

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30th Annual Los Alamitos Race on the Base | Los Alamitos, California 90720 | Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 8:15 AM

2010-09-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

AND THIS ONE!! OMG, I can't wait to move to the states, they have the coolest races!!

30th Annual Los Alamitos Race on the Base | Los Alamitos, California 90720 | Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 8:15 AM

MMRF Charity Team: Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon | San Francisco, California 00000 | Sunday, June 05, 2011 @ 8:00 AM

2010-09-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

How much do I want to do this!? Seriously. So amazing. It's on my list of races to compete in!!

MMRF Charity Team: Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon | San Francisco, California 00000 | Sunday, June 05, 2011 @ 8:00 AM

Cause

2010-09-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

I spent my whole run today thinking I was sucking and not being pleased with myself and then when I got home and plugged into the nike system and realized that my time was actually faster than I expected. So that made me feel better. Last night I registered for the Canmore mountain run for a cause. The Cause is for underpriviledged societies and it's a half marathon in Canmore. Should be super fun. I need to get my game face on because it's Sept 01 today and the race is Sept 12. GAME FACE!!

Nike+

2010-09-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

I am officially way to obsessed with the new Nike+ system. I got a new ipod nano and the nike+ system and have been tracking my runs online. AND they just came out with a heart rate monitor, that also syncs to the ipod!! SO COOL!! So now I can see exactly how far I've run and what my heart rate was the entire time and my exact pace the whole time!!! How cool is that!? Nike and apple are amazing. For true. The ipod links to a chip that gets inserted into the shoe and then my shoe and my ipod can talk to each other. It's amazing business sense. I've never been partial to a certain type of shoe, but now I will only be buying Nikes because I'm obsessed with tracking my runs. And obvi I wouldn't buy any technology other than apple, but now I want ALL the gadgets. I've also been wearing the nano as a pedometer during the day at work to see how many steps I've walked. The other day I walked almost 20,000 steps in a 9 hour shift. So crazy....I think I'm going to run this race in a few weeks: Cause Half Marathon. It will be a good warm up for me for the Royal Vic full marathon. My friend David is going to run the 10 km part of that race and we're going to bring a cheering squad to keep us motivated! Can't wait.. Train train train train!!

Run route!

2010-07-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

So I've finally got a few photos of the gorgeous area that I run through on my 20k loop. It's actually the marsh and hot springs that the Banff National Park originated around in 1885. And it's flippin beautiful. I'll just show you!

This boardwalk runs all the way around the marsh and the basin, it's wooden and lovely and I love to run on it!!

Taking a meditiative moment up by the basin

See, it's gorgeous!!

This bird blind is a neat little building that juts out from the boardwalk

The Bow River

This is where I live these days. In a park. It's just lovely!!

hmmmm

2010-07-25T19:47:00.000-07:00

So I had a lovely 18km run today, I really think I want to buy a new ipod nano so I can use the nike+ system with it, I'm already a nike+ member but I need the hardware. And that system tracks your runs, and here it's difficult to gauge exactly how far i've run. Also, I'm adjusting my summer goals. I'm having some difficulties with the 20km distance, and I think it's overly ambitious for me to be going up to a 30km run once a week. I think that it's more important for me to be comfortable at 20km than it is for me to push the distance thing. So I'm focusing on this distance for right now. We'll see how that goes. Altitude training has definitely been really good for me, I feel a lot faster and stronger. Even my lungs feel better. I've only had a few incidents with them closing up since I got here. Very pleased!!

long time

2010-07-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

goodness gracious me. it's been a while. It's because I'm working so much and training and when I blog I've been focused on my school blog, so I'm sorry for neglecting you, dear adventure blog! I've been going steadily on my marathon training. Loving the altitude training out here. So much hiking and running and mountains!! I'm up to a 20k and 3 10k runs a week. Getting ready to crank out a few 30k's in august. Definitely not going to be racing triathlon this year, I think I'm getting my parents to take my bike home when they come to visit. Just not ready and really, I'm enjoying the mountain life. In the winter I can focus more on tri training but for now I'm enjoying hiking and running and such. Obviously this will help my tri times anyway because I needed to work on my running. I did a sweet workout today with jump rope intervals, which, lets face it, might be my fave thing ever! hearts!!

20k revisited

2010-07-01T12:49:00.000-07:00

I totally forgot to talk about the 20k. It went really well, the last k is straight uphill, as I have to get back up to the resort, so I ended up walking that part, but this was my first long run of the year so I'm cutting myself a little slack. I think the mountain air has been really good for me. My lungs hurt quite a bit after the run but recovered quickly and I didn't cough up any blood or anything. So exciting. I got a letter from my doctor the other day saying that I have an apt with a pulmonary specialist when I get home in october, which is super exciting because maybe they'll figure out what's wrong with my lungs. Till then I'll keep pushing it because it seems to be working for me!!

20 k

2010-07-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

So I ran my first 20k of the summer yesterday. Well, it was almost 20 k, I have to perfect the route but it was close. I ran down to sundance canyon and back. So gorgeous. Also did the hike up Sulphur Mountain with some friends. It's SO beautiful. I just love it up there. And the gondola ride down is also super awesome. Here's a few photos just so you get the idea.

Yup, that's right. I live in a national park now. How awesome is my life!!!

That's us up on this crazy little stone hut that's on the top of the mountain where this guy lived for like 20 years studying cosmic rays and fixing broken power lines and being a hermit. So cool.

Trail Running!

2010-06-09T14:27:00.000-07:00

Photos from the trail that runs from the Rock to the Banff Springs, this is the trail that I use to get downtown from the resort. It's beautiful and I love to run it!!!

Oh hello patio

2010-05-30T16:09:00.000-07:00

Inside workout today. Gotta love the stationary bike. Nice view of the guest patio tho!!

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boo snow

2010-05-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

mediocre workout today....not so moitivated....was planning on running down the mountain but it snowed last night and we all know how i feel about snow....not so good....got supplements and vitamins while i was in edmonton so i'm feeling better and back on track as far as that goes....waiting for my mom to send my glutamine and glucosamine...i swear my joints hurt without it...ok, i'm gonna go away and listen to some music and dance and get more cheerful....more motivation tomorrow!!! (as long as there's no snow)

The Rock

2010-05-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

So, I've taken to running up and down the mountain. It's good times. Except for the running up and the danger of Elk. Which is always fun. I think they pretty much leave you alone as long as you don't touch them or steal their young or something, but still I cross the street when I see one. Its so amazing out right now that I just can't take the bus.

I took that this morning running down. So I figure its 4km to town and 4km (uphill) back up, if I run down and then run along the river for a km or so then that's a solid 10k run. Perfect for a no-brainer training run. I have to get my bike checked out so I can start riding again. i miss riding. Edmonton trip this week, should be super fun!!

hello yoga!

2010-05-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

So I love living in staff comm. I feel like I'm settling into an awesome routine. Tuesdays and thursdays there is a yoga class that staff can attend. I went yesterday and loved it. I think that keeping up with yoga is a really good idea for me because of all my injuries and aches and pains. The instructor is awesome, I really liked the class. I'm definitely going again tomorrow. Also last night, we snuck into the hot springs late at night. I don't think I ever want to go to the hot springs at a regular hour ever again. Only late night!! Squash is also my friend. I'm getting better!! The sun has been out in full glory the last few days...maybe I'll get a chance to hike sulphur tomorrow after work. This is sulphur mountain. There's a gondola that goes right to the top which I get to ride for free because I'm a local now. The hotel just happens to be halfway up the mountain, really close to the bottom of the gondola. So I plan on taking advantage of it for sure!!

SQUASH FACE

2010-05-07T17:13:00.000-07:00

I heart squash. Just got off work and got a text from my new squash friend saying she had the courts booked so I changed and ran downstairs and played a quick 45 mins of squash. I did a little workout and then headed into town and i'll head back later for the rest of my workout. I'm gonna kick it on the stationary bike for a while tonight, gotta get back into biking shape for the season.

Resort Gym

2010-05-04T23:58:00.000-07:00

So I got a membership at the gym in the resort. It's pretty awesome. There's a squash court and I found a girl who wants to play too!! Yay! The gym isn't spectacular but it'll do. And there's a pool and a hot tub and a eucalyptus steam room which makes me very very happy!!! Yay!! Once it gets nice and I'm outside most of the time I won't be too worried about getting gym time anyway but I think the steam room will be my friend for sure.

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banquets

2010-04-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

Banquets are definitely going to take up most of my life. Yesterday was my first day and it was a 12 hr work day. I think I may still be adjusting to the altitude. Every so often I feel a little lightheaded and dizzy. I'm beating myself up hardcore for not being right back into training but I guess I've only been here for a few days, I have to give myself some time to get settled. That being said, A is picking my up for a run tomorrow at 830am, which is awesome. Must run more. Once I'm settled into my routine it'll be much easier. I'm rushing myself. Which I guess is in my nature. I'm setting some goals for this work term. Other than work and school goals, I need to set some personal ones. Like I want to take time for me and have that be ok with me. I know, it's a stretch. But it's a goal. Must also not gorge myself on dirty banquet food, no matter how good it looks....that's gonna be hard. I've eaten so much in the last few days it's ridiculous. Run tomorrow and workout in the evening. that's the goal....that's tomorrow's goal anyway. sigh.

Banff

2010-04-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

Well I'm here. And it's cold. Which i should have expected. Went for my first run in the cold yesterday. Must get gloves. The Banff Centre is so awesome, think I'll be getting a membership there. Climbing gym, pool, weight room, etc. So awesome. And I have met a friend to train with. He does Brazilian jujitzu and he's going to teach me and I'm going to teach him to climb. Which is awesome. Just moved into the staff accommodation yesterday, it's nothing spectacular but gets the job done. It's just K and I in there so far and hopefully there won't be anyone else cuz it's just the perfect size for the two of us. I've been really tired and i think i'm fighting a cold, also getting used to the altitude I guess. I work my first shift tomorrow morning and then I'll have a better idea of my schedule. I miss Vic, but once I start working I'll be happier to be here, I think.

Banff!!

2010-04-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

Long drive!! Good thing I had top notch company!!

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Relocating

2010-04-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

Well, i've arrived. In Banff!! It's lovely here. Cold....snowy...but wonderful. Staying with ash in the Rocky Mountain Bed and Breakfast for a few days and then on monday I go to the resort. Yay staff accommodation!! whoop whoop!! Kali should be here by tomorrow night which is awesome. I still don't feel like I'm moving here. I feel like I'm on vacation and will be going home soon. Which is entirely false! I'm here and Ashley has made me so welcome and introduced me to all her friends who have been equally fabulous. So now I just have to get settled back into a routing. I've made a martial arts friend who's going to teach me things and i'll teach him to rock climb. Friends are fun. Drove around Banff with ryan this afternoon and saw a lot of awesome elk. loved it. i think it's going to be a great summer!! I do miss my Vic crew sooooo much tho. Sad panda.

Can't Touch This!

2010-03-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

So here's just a few photos from the Dine n Dash last weekend. 2 teams, lots of laughs, giant sandwiches and cupcakes. Two of us puked and all the money went to charity. It was also rainy and freezing. But we still had so much fun. We were definitley the. Most enthusiastic group ever. So much fun!!

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41 days

2010-03-10T19:52:00.000-08:00

Well it's official, on april 26th I start my work term at the Rimrock Resort in Banff!! I'm excited. It's an amazing resort and I'll have all kinds of new places to train. It's very exciting. But it's in only 41 days. Coming up fast. I'm head chef at school next week and it's sucking up all of my time, so no time to write for now. Soon!!

back on track??

2010-03-05T10:50:00.000-08:00

Feeling better....the sun makes me much happier....have been really down lately and am finally getting back into a productive frame of mind. Got to see the specialist about my lungs finally. He wasn't very helpful....we ruled out asthma...so now i got back to my doctor and hopefully get a prescription for some antibiotics to try and clear up whatever is wrong with me.......i have been utterly useless i'm pretty sure i've forgotten how to run and I haven't even looked at my bike in weeks....sigh....getting on it!!!!! Not too much time left in school which makes me happy!! Co-op soon!! Actual location of co-op to be decided by next week......i'll keep you updated....

Blargh

2010-02-26T18:23:00.000-08:00

Not gonna lie, it's been a rough few days. No motivation, bad weather. Bad attitude. Blargh. I'm taking a few hours to myself this evening to sort my brain out a little. Pout pout. I'm pouty and I'm taking some time alone until I smarten myself up a little. Tomorrow is a new day and I think I might be a more cheerful person by then. I started my 3 months off drinking this week and I def miss tequila. I like tequila. A lot. The first two weeks is the hardest. Then I won't miss tequila anymore. Ok. I'm done pouting. Time to sort my life out.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

infrared

2010-02-15T12:59:00.000-08:00

i'm definately addicted to the infrared sauna.....I was in there for like an hour and a half the other day....i actually think I would like to build a bed in one and sleep in it every night....for serious....love love..... we're having a discussion at school about the male strippers on the weekend and it's very difficult to concentrate....i may have to write later....lol...

do it

2010-02-05T14:30:00.000-08:00

The sun is out and it's making me soooooo happy. I've got Rachel running 1km then walk 1 min, and she's going to be ready to run the TC 10 k....true story...i'm also recruiting her for the underwear affair 10k this year...such a fun event, I'm so thrilled I'll be in town to race in that one this year...I had so much fun last year!! Can't wait! I'm playing tennis tomorrow morning and I'm really excited about that too. Getting back into the multisport feel. Gotta get back on the bike this week....the weather makes it way easier and motivating....I had a book recommended to me by human kinetics called swimmers anatomy that I think I can really benefit from, lots of really cool training tips and suggestions for weight training to help with swimming, which is definately my weakness...gettin on that one pretty quick!!

squash

2010-02-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

I just played squash yesterday. I frickin love it. So much fun!! I think I'm addicted already. SO MUCH FUN!! I definitely plan on using it as my supplemental workout this summer.....totally loving Quadra 24 hour fitness!! I think I've gone in the infrared sauna every day since I've been a member. And I plan on using the squash courts a bunch....and volleyball....LOVE IT. Takin Ra Ro for a run at elk lake after class today, her first 10k. She thinks we're walking part way...she doesn't know we're running the whole thing..shhhhh secret...

ack

2010-02-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

Alright! It's time to get a move on!! Tri season is approaching fast...and marathon time...and I'm so not ready!! YIKES!!! school has taken over my life....however, i was chosen by my peers to receive a scholarship for school which is super exciting.....back in the water this week, and gotta get back on the road riding....PANIC....it'll be fine...phew....ok, got that out of my system...

yessssss

2010-01-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

I recieved my package from Sugoi a few days ago!! SO AWESOME!!! In LOVE with my Locust cami! I haven't had a chance to run in my Midzero tights yet but I'll write about the experience when I do! Bootcamp is a go today with Rachel. We're gonna check out the gym at Camosun so we don't have to leave campus. And after pub tonight I'm all about the infrared sauna!! I may possibly be addicted!! They are so good for you tho, so I guess that's a good thing to be addicted to! lol. Check out the reference page for all the heath details!! Thinking it a good place to do homework too!!

darn it all

2010-01-17T13:34:00.000-08:00

and now I have a cold. it's all James' fault, he gave me the cold. I'm such a miserable sick person, I hate it. i'm grumpy and sniffly and (not gonna lie) a little pouty....going for a run, maybe that'll clear my head...

.........

2010-01-14T00:53:00.000-08:00

On the mend!! Feeling about 90%. I've been back to training this week. Jump rope intervals and stair master kind of stuff. I haven't made it out to run yet, my lungs still hurt. The 2 inhalers the doctor prescribed help with the inflamation in my lungs seem to be helping. I had my voice for the first time today. YAY! I'm thinking Elk Lake on sunday, my lungs should be happy by then. Rachel's bootcamp is back in action too!! J-Lo booty, here we come!!!

what doesn't kill me....

2010-01-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

Well it's time to admit defeat to whatever has been plaguing my chest for the last 8 months and go to the doctor. The cough and chest pain has returned and I'm sick of it. I've been ignoring it for way too long. So, after a lecture from the doctor about how most triathletes go to the doctor "all the time" and how I'm an "abnormality" and I "should see the doctor more often," I'm sitting in a coffee shop next to the doctor's office because I need to get chest xrays and the line was so frickin long I figured I'd get somethings done while I waited. I also have 2 inhalers to get me through training until we figure out what's wrong. Appears to be a combination of exercise induced asthma and some kind of bacterial infection. Which is very pleasant. I'm hoping that getting this fixed will make my training less painful/easier. Could explain why I had so much trouble breathing during the tri season last year.

SO....the moral of today's story is....sometimes even invincible people need to go to the doctor.

The End

lets play a game

2009-12-27T14:12:00.000-08:00

After an EPIC boxing day celebration at Touch last night and what felt like very little sleep, I was awoken by an amazingly fabulous 'wake up Erica' dance from my sister. It was unreal. I wish I had it on video so I could share it with the world. So up I got and we played a ridiculously competitive Wii marathon. Not gonna lie, my shoulders might actually hurt a little bit. I haven't laughed that hard in a very long time. So much fun. I had an amazing ride as well. I feel like I've finally had a chance to settle my brain a little and actually remember how to relax. I needed to spend some quality time with the horses. My horse time really saves my sanity. They focus me. I feel fabulous!!

shiny pretty things

2009-12-26T13:22:00.000-08:00

I made it to the gym, still have to work 2 horses but I managed to find time to place a new SUGOI order!! Even though it's not really that cold here, I find myself lacking in the warm running tights department. So the star item of my order this week is the Sugoi MidZero tight. I'm super thrilled because I need to demolish my last remaining excuse for not running....."i'm cooooooold." Not anymore. Also had to get another Brand Champion fizz tank because I'm so in love with the one I already have that I feel like it needs a friend to keep it company!! I love pretty new things!!

oh ya

2009-12-26T09:17:00.000-08:00

So I didn't end up making it to Elk to run. Xmas never really goes as planned, does it?! I did, however, get to go to Butchart Gardens, which is possibly my favorite xmas activity of ALL TIME!! True story, I love it there. And we got to go skating and ride the carousel. It was super fun! It was really lovely to see all my cousins and have a chance to catch up.

Also, I may have played Wii Mariokart for somewhere around a hundred billion hours yesterday. Love that game. Tomorrow, Wii Boxing!! YESSSSSSSSSS. Getting pumped right now for boxing day at Touch. Pretty excited, I have a new dress. Well, lets be honest, I have 6 new dresses. They were 2 for 1. What else was I supposed to do?! Anyhoo, gonna run to the gym right now before things get crazy and get some super fun jump rope intervals done!! wooo. This week's goal, back in the pool!!

So this is Christmas

2009-12-25T10:10:00.000-08:00

it's xmas everyone!!!! And I'm trying to decide when I can fit in a run, I have to pick up the relatives at 1:30 for lunch/dinner at 2 then walk the dog then take them back to the ferry with the fam. So I'm thinkin I can hit elk lake after the 2nd ferry trip...we'll see.....

Merry Festivus and all that Jazz

2009-12-23T08:16:00.000-08:00

Well well well, the holidays are slowly slipping away. I've been catching up on SLEEP....which is unusual and very welcome! I'm getting old I guess, but sleep seems more important than it ever was before! Speaking of getting old, we had a little birthday party on monday at Touch that went amazingly. Crazy party, so many awesome people came out, it was wonderful. There was even a cake, which is wicked cool!! Because the holidays are so hectic, especially considering I'm in the middle of moving, the gym has been a little lacking. I've been doing 20 mins cardio then jump rope intervals with weight training and then 60s of jump rope in between each set. That way I get everything in as quickly as possible and still feel like I'm accomplishing something!! It seems to be working. Marathon in february in seattle. I guess that means I should be running more. fml. ok. I'll do it!

back on track

2009-12-15T11:58:00.000-08:00

well, it's been a long few weeks of projects, missing group members, late nights, serving gala dinners, working and making big decisions. it's been really stressful but it's over til january now. yay!! i start this weekend at a new job also. Touch Lounge on friday and Sugar on saturday. Change is good. back to the gym tonight and get team rachel going again so she can kick Chris's ass in the biggest loser HMGT....good times...

the biggest loser HMGT

2009-12-02T11:37:00.000-08:00

SO! in my class there's a guy who wants to be ripped like the wolf guy from twilight and a girl who wants to look like J-lo...so we've created a "biggest loser HMGT" group. They have until march 1st to reach their fitness goals!! And guess who the trainer for Team Rachel is.....MOI! Funsies!! I love new games. Rachel killed her first workout on monday and yesterday I took her and Quinn for our first HMGT Team Rachel bootcamp!! So much fun!! It was a success, they're both sore today and I'm so proud! Stay tuned for fun updates from Team Rachel!!

hilly

2009-11-22T10:22:00.001-08:00

Well the Bear Mountain 10k was yesterday. Now I know why they call it the hardest 10k in Canada. Cuz it is hard. And hilly. I had some extensive chiropractic work done right before the race and I must remember never to do that again. One of the areas he worked on must have been inflamed or irritated because I was in excruciating pain for the entire race and then most of the day after. The usual things that hurt didn't hurt tho, which was amazing, We'll see how it is today, headed out after work for the usual sunday run with Vic.

almost that time

2009-11-17T09:11:00.000-08:00

so it's race day on saturday...yay bear mtn 10k....goooood times. hopefully it doesn't kill me. hills hills hills...yay fun!! looking at taking a little road trip to seattle in the new years to run another marathon, that'd be fun.....29 days left til my last exam!! then winter break, move in with my sister and all kinds of good times. Doing some renos at the club so I get 2 weekends off, which is ok because I've got5 5 shifts a week at the golf course since jay's in mexico...so it all works out. Should be fun to get to go out with the crew!! I'm excited....

fighting the infection

2009-11-10T16:07:00.001-08:00

Just sitting in buisness class with L-Hutt, avoiding doing a question. This class makes me sad, it's at the end of the day, and 2 hours long and I'm sleepy....and the sun goes down so early...I blame the recession...anyhow, that's all the complaining I'm gonna do! Work tonight and then tomorrow off school! Yay!! So exciting! 11 days til the Bear Mountain 10k!! Yay!! Run run run!! Alright, back to work!!

my quads hate me

2009-11-08T23:44:00.000-08:00

sprintervals.....they make my legs sore...i like it....might end up being awake for the rest of tonight working on school stuff.....yikes...focusing on the work!!! Hill training and sprintervals are more fun than school!!!

avoidance

2009-11-05T22:52:00.000-08:00

feeling good....foot is a little tweaky after my workout today, but not painful, just kinda achy. 10k tomorrow will be a good test of it's healedness.....which i don't think is even a word.....

currently on the couch, avoiding taking my post-workout supplements....because my liquid iron tastes like garbage....
well, not garbage, like cold chicken broth. that's exactly it, cold chicken broth. it makes me wanna vomit every day. So i avoid it. It takes me a good half an hour after each workout to work up the bravery to take my iron....blargh....ok ok ...here i go,
iron time
ugh

back at it

2009-11-04T23:43:00.000-08:00

back at the gym, makes me very happy!! running outdoors for the rest of the week and some good solid gym time to keep the rest of me happy! foot feels fabulous.....Bear Mtn 10k is comin up fast...train train train...school is lovely...getting close to the end of this semester.......so much fun...i can't get over how fabulous all of my cohort is...they're all so wonderful! would really like to be getting to bikrams more often, it makes me a much happier person...and is really good for my racing...it's just really hard to get it into my schedule...GOAL! my goal for november/december is to get to hot yoga twice a week....

Goals are the backbone of training
and training is the shortest distance between fit and unfit......

true story

blahhhhh

2009-10-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

SO once this week is over I'm back to training for the Bear Mtn 10k. This is crazy pub week, I don't even have time to ride my horses....at school all day every day....until thursday...YAY....once this pub is over I'm going to have a huge weight off my shoulders....but it is going to be super fun!!! week 8 of 12.....and i'm getting fatter every day! yikes.....foot feels awesome tho...feeling totally confident about getting back to running...maybe I'll fit a run in tomorrow...that'd be sweet....

Grrrr

2009-10-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

stressed about school.....it's our pub this week, feeling behind on my costing and menus and stuff....ACK...it'll be fine..wish I didn't hafta work tonight...moooo.....it'll be fine...run on sunday, up finney, down the back and back up again...that'll get the stress out...it's gonna be fine....

can i run yet?.....how bout now?

2009-10-22T00:07:00.000-07:00

so.....remember how much I hate running? well somehow whilst training for the marathon, something magical happened....did I start to love running? no....did I get good at it? not really..just faster....I got hooked. I'm totally addicted to running. Kinda like I got addicted to triathlons. I still hate it just as much, but I hate not doing it more....it's wierd....I've been off, nursing my injured foot and realized that after the 3rd day I was going mental. I'm going to have to go for sure on friday or I might go completely nuts.....wierd. I have no idea when that happened, but it sure did. School is super crazy and I need to run to regain some clarity in my brain. It's becoming a little cloudy in there. Just a little!

taking it easy?

2009-10-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

So!! Went to the doctor. He said the foot isn't broken. YAY!! He thinks that I've torn/sprained a tendon/ligament and that it should be better with rest. Rest eh? hmmm. not so good at that one. So I'm not going to run all week. See if that helps. Do a light run on friday and see how it feels. Hill training will proceed as soon as the foot feels good. It actually feels better today than it did yesterday and I'm getting ready to head to the pool. Gotta get back to the swim training and that'll be easier on my foot as well. Next race is the Bear Mountain 10k, known as the hardest 10k in Canada due to the hills...can't wait!! November 21st. It's on. Marissa is going to train and run with me. Katie too. Should be goooooood times!!!

here comes the rain

2009-10-17T13:14:00.000-07:00

Well it's officially fall in Victoria, which means it's rain season.....ugh...i'm still all sensitive and spoiled and don't like the rain....give me a week and i'll be perma-damp until march...foot is feeling better-ish....still considering getting xrays, but that sounds like a lot of work....lol...i know, i know, i'm going to do it....20k tomorrow with Vic, we'll see how that goes....I'll tensor wrap it and that should hold it together...in theory...OH..excited for rain running!!! that, my friends, is what we call a silver lining....feeling uninspired...more later...

Definately Maybe

2009-10-15T23:46:00.000-07:00

First run post-marathon went well. Just a little guy, did the Gorge route, tried to take it a little easy, ended up pushing my pace and doing bench sprintervals, I can't help it, the Gorge route just makes me feel the need to interval train. Everything felt decent, foot was achey but fine. And then I took off my runner after and my foot felt like it was going to explode. I think I need to get an xray. It's not getting better. I'll tensor wrap it before I run tomorrow, that should help. It's making wierd grinding and crunching noises and it just feels wrong. yuck. Training now begins for the Bear Mountain 10k. Lotsa hills. ugh. Printed out the course map today, giving it a try with Marissa tomorrow.
Sidebar: I don't feel good about Starbucks instant coffee. I know, I know, I haven't tried it, but it just seems fundamentally wrong. Although instant coffee has gotten a bad rap. Maybe I should give it a try before I condemn it. However, my first reaction is to feel not good about the whole thing!

RVM

2009-10-14T23:11:00.000-07:00

So lucky to have awesome parents who showed up at the finish line to take photos of me!!!

RVM

2009-10-14T23:08:00.001-07:00

How beautiful is the background of this shot?!

RVM

2009-10-14T23:05:00.001-07:00

Here's me approaching the finish line at the RVM...

Recover This

2009-10-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

I am the queen of recovery!! Feeling great today....foot sore still, but not as bad as yesterday....quads still hating me, finding wierd aches and pains, knees, ankles....etc. But moral is good and I'm thrilled I did it. Gonna head to the gym tonight and get some stretching done. A little upper body workout sounds like just what the doctor ordered!!

This is What We Came For

2009-10-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

Marathon day was yesterday....it was hard, long, painful....and I can't wait to do it again!! All things considered I'm pretty proud of myself for getting it done. I was unprepared for the the full. With the amount of training I had done, it would have been more appropriate to have run the half. But when I went to register the half was full, so I said screw it and went for the full, but I did register for the early start time (6:30am instead of 8:30) which gives you 7 hours time limit instead of 5 hours, which is the regular time limit. Which I'm glad I did, but that doesn't mean I was properly prepared, considering the furthest I've ever run is 20k, 42 was a bit of a stretch! After work on saturday night, I went home for an hours rest, slept in, and missed the early start time. Not to be deterred, I just decided to go for the 8:30 start and hope I made it in 5 hours. As per usual, the first kilometer sucked. But once I found my pace, the first 26 went by pretty quickly. My hip started to go after that...i told myself some funny stories, zoned out on my music and kept going...by the time I got into the 30's I was hurting...my knees and bad hip were hating me...i had to take a few walk breaks but ran most of the way....if you're not someone who's as crazy as I am, you won't know what happens to your body when you run that far....things hurt...EVERYTHING hurts...especially if you aren't prepared....even my skin hurt.......my feet cramped....my back spasmed...hip dislocated...but you run through it...my Sugoi fizz tank is the best performing piece of clothing I've ever owned.....no chafing or moving...it was amazing. Other race highlights include:
- making new friends along the way...when you have the same pace as some people you spend a lot of time with them...you've got 5 hours to chat..
- the cheerful cheering volunteers along the way....they really are motivating
- whomever put the motivational posters on the trees along the side of the road during the last km, you are my god!! "you started this.....now finish it", "you own this" and other such posters really made the last km not so bad

The only lowlight was the volunteers on the side of the road who were sleeping, or looking grumpy, or yawning....seriously? Are you really sleeping in front of marathoners? Really? If you're gonna sleep, you should have stayed home. All my friends had the courtesy to sleep far away from me....

At the end of the day, 5 hours and 16 mins later....I crossed the finish line....aches and pains and all.....my mom and dad were there cheering, which was amazing....i'm so proud of myself. Best training run ever. Just another stepping stone on the road to Ironman Canada....

1 more day..

2009-10-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

hooooly crap......it's almost that time...MARATHON TIME!!!! this time tomorrow I'll be drinking a bloody mary at the local and eating a soft pretzel with hot mustard sauce....as a reward for having run 42 frickin kilometers....ack....i can do it!! I was BORN ready.....doesn't mean I'm not a little scared....that's a long way to run...today is the fun part...CARB LOADING!!! yay!!! loves it!! at the end of the day, the marathon distance is just something I have to start doing if I plan on making it to ironman canada, which i do.....so I have to look at this as training, not the end result...somehow that makes me feel better...not sure why...i guess i need to justify why I'm doing this when I hate running so much....i'm a triathlete, not a runner....that makes it ok....picking up marissa in a little bit, we're doing a nice lil 10k, just to work out the kinks....i know that apparently you're not supposed to run right before a race but my body responds better to constant abuse...rest, not so much...lol...or at least thats what I tell myself.....wish me luck!!!! marathon countdown is ON!

soooo soon

2009-10-08T07:28:00.000-07:00

well, it's thursday....the marathon is on sunday. I really feel like running is a cataclismic battle within my brain where half of me is yelling to keep going and half of me is yelling to stop....it's festive in my head, I tell ya. But, I'm doing this, for better or worse....my winter training goal is to work on my running and that is what I am doing...Bear Mtn 10k in November, should be delightful....I know that all this work will make me a better triathlete, but that doesn't make it any more fun....at least I have some fantastic friends who are helping me along the way!! Marissa and I have a scheduled weekly run in between classes on weds and I will be running 20k with Vic every sunday (other than race days, of course). Having happy, motivated people around you makes you more happy and motivated!! It's a scientific fact!! My sugoi order arrived today....sweet new Brand Champion tank and Picadilly armwarmers...love my life!! Getting back on the bike on thanksgiving monday...SWEET!!!!

Sneaky Run!

2009-10-07T10:16:00.000-07:00

I'm in computer classs right now....finished my assignment....made me feel inspired to do wierd things like make letters large and colorful....lol....we have a 2 hour break before the next class...going for a run....at the Interurban campus today so it's awfully close to Elk Lake...Marissa is coming with me.....yay for running!! Almost marathon time.....yikes....

Creepy Mc. Scarealot

2009-10-05T22:02:00.000-07:00

Kickin it at the golf course....all night....all alone...well except for the ghost...it's a long story, suffice it say that it's worth my while to be here til 5am, checking the attic for fires.....CREEPY!!!! It's a good thing Doris (the VGC ghost) and I are buddies...she'll take care of me! The cleaners arrive at 5:30am, which is when I get to leave. At that point I'll go pick up Marissa and head out for a lap of Elk Lake before school. I wish there was more time for sleep in there but I can sleep when I'm dead. Hoping to keep the 10k time under an hour...which means we'll have to keep the pace up....marathon on sunday!!!

20k

2009-10-04T23:53:00.000-07:00

sooooo Vic and I ran 2 loops of Elk Lake today....20k...and by ran i mean ran most of the way and walked some of it....but the name of the game is getting the distance in....the most exciting part is that my cardio was awesome. Felt like I could run forever...HOWEVER, my hip gave out on me...stupid injuries....i feel like it will get better...when I first started training the 10k distance my joints hated me....and I pushed through it and now the 10k distance is easy.....now this is a new distance, new pain to push through.....so i feel like it'll get better....in all fairness I made a huge training distance jump..it's only fair that my body takes some time to hate me for it....so this week is tuesday 10k, thursday 15k and then sunday marathon!! sounds like fun, doesn't it! No? I didn't think so either.....

nutrition

2009-10-03T20:20:00.000-07:00

i'm becoming more and more aware of how much I suck at nutrition for distance training. I'm all good when I'm just strength training and what not but this whole marathon training is making me realize that I need to sort this out. Yesterday I climbed Finlayson in the morning, went to school, rode 2 horses and the ran 10k. I had a protein shake and a sandwich and that was it. Almost died when I had to work at the nightclub. That's not enough food. I must eat more!! Must remember to carb load. Tried to be better today. 20k run tomorrow. NO DRINKING at work tonight!!!!!

week 4 of 12

2009-09-29T20:05:00.000-07:00

well....school is ridiculous...we've already had one person drop out of the program...people are starting to go a little crazy from all the assignments due....and it's only the beginning of week 4....however its the beginning of week 4!!!! That means that this semester is 1/3rd finished! YIKES!!! I should get some more stuff done!! Actually, I'm doing pretty well. Most of my projects I'm ahead in! Horray! Training, however, not so much. Marathon is coming up! AHHHHHHHH that's a LOT of running....as we've established before.....lots and lots of running.....ugh...and you know how I feel about running....booooooooo. 10 k tomorrow....10k friday.....20k sunday....it's ON!!!!

still running

2009-09-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

so, you know how you do something over and over and you get better and better at it and you like it more and more?? well that's the exact OPPOSITE of the relationship that I have with running. Don't get me wrong, I'm getting better at it but I still hate it just as much. However I just have to keep on doing it. Marathon in 2 weeks today. Yuck. So much running. Boooooo.

Slayed it!!

2009-09-24T21:51:00.000-07:00

Today's run was EPIC. but first....a little about my recovery from the 20k run. I was surprisingly unsore, just a little quad tightness. I was however, SUPER drained. Super tired. I definately didn't do enough carb loading the day before, and should have eaten more on sunday after the run as well. So for this week I must be more careful about my nutrition. Big pasta meal on saturday night for sure and NO DRINKING AT WORK!!!! So anyhow, back to today. Had a super solid run. Ran with Vic and we really are quite a good running pair. She tends to rush and burn herself out before the end of the run and I'm good about pacing so I make her pace herself as well. And she keeps me running when I feel like walking. We ran the whole loop at a steady pace. It began to get dark in the treed part of the trail and that definately kicked us into a higher gear as well. Checked the pace and slowed a little going up the last hill, which was great. Coming down past the rowing club we upped the pace a little, not out of our comfort range but definately a good pace. Feeling awesome. Another 10k tomorrow, then rest day then 20k. This week Vic is going to do the full distance with me. It's gonna be tough, but judging by the quality of todays run, we'll be ok as long as we can pace ourselves. Super busy with school right now so gym time is sparse. Focusing on the marathon right now, gym time comes later!!

20k

2009-09-21T21:10:00.000-07:00

So I ran 20k yesterday. 2 loops of the Elk Lake trail. Vic ran the first loop with me and then she took off and I ran the next one alone. Not gonna lie, I walked a good portion of it. I'm mostly interested in getting the distance in, getting my body used to that much run/walking. Had a great chat with a golf course member who is also a gym teacher and fitness instructor guru guy. He made a good point. I was planning on running 30k next sunday but he thinks that going from 20 to 30 k is too big a jump in distances. Which is a good point. If I up my distance by that much so soon I have a way bigger chance of stress fractures, injuries, etc. It'd be more beneficial for me to be comfortable at 20k and then increase by 5 or so. He's also a big fan of the taper method of training. Which I don't really like. I find I like to continue to train right up until race day. Otherwise I get even lazier than usual! Surprisingly enough I'm not even that sore today. My quads are a little sore but that's about it. More than anything I was really tired today. And hungry. Must be careful to make sure I'm properly carb loading and depleating. The harder I train and the further I run the more aware I'm becoming about exactly what my body needs to function at this level. It's pretty cool.

Progress

2009-09-19T17:53:00.000-07:00

Had a great training session with Chris. He gave me some awesome new core/stability excercises to help me keep me injury-free during my training. Lots of cool cable excercises and stuff! And the PISE facilities are UNBELIEVABLE!! I love it there!! The gym is just unreal. Ran the Elk Lake loop again yesterday and it went much better than my wednesday run...tomorrow I go 2 loops. 20k. Yikes! Vic is going to be joining me for the first loop and I'll continue on alone. Also gonna hike Finlayson with Christina tomorrow morning, just to really tire myself out. haha. So this week is will have a run every 2nd day, with another 20k on wednesday. Then next sunday it'll be 30k. And that will be the real test. Marathon in 21 days. I can do this!

Mediocre at Best

2009-09-17T01:06:00.000-07:00

Well, my run today was not so great. I guess in all fairness, I'm still recovering and 10k is quite a bit to push for this week. We did run/walk intervals and got the distance done, which is the important part, and better than nothing. So I'm still not 100% after the egg retrieval, which is understandable. They told me to lay off the excercise for at least a week and it was a week on tuesday. I still feel some cramping in my ovary but nothing major, and it was definately agrivated by the running. But, I made it out, did the distance, that's all I can really hope for. Next run will be more running, less walking! Gave myself a day off the weights because I'm hoping to go train with Chris from PISE tomorrow evening so I want to be fresh for that. Not really sore today from my workout with Shorty except for a little soreness in the head of my bicep. Tomorrow is run, train, school. Love it.

owwwwww

2009-09-15T00:40:00.000-07:00

Dinner and the evaluation for school went well. Good times! Workout was epic!! Got 20 mins into my run and Shorty showed up so off we went to workout. Bi's and tri's were on the agenda. We traded our favorite excercises and I MAY DIE tomorrow!! Shorty showed me a few new sweet cable exercises for both muscles groups and I got her to do some excercises on the bosu. We have two very different training styles. I tend to gravitate towards total body exercises because with all the triathlon training I don't have time to focus on any one body part. Shorty does a lot of weight training and is more focused on training an individual muscle group in each workout. So for us to share and combine training techniques is really beneficial and a really interesting variance to my regular workout....therefore....i'm gonna be SORE tomorrow!! Horray. Did another 10 min run after our weights so that's 30 mins running total which is about 5k. Which isn't far enough. 10 k tomorrow and Elk Lake weds. That's the goal!!

Running

2009-09-14T18:52:00.000-07:00

So, I'm focused on running right now....no triathlons throughout the winter and due to my recent procedure I'm not allowed to swim for another week so I'm totally focused on training to hopefully run the Royal Victoria Marathon. Which might be pushing it. We'll see. I was supposed to train with Shorty last night but I wasn't feeling well. So hopefully tonight instead. I like having someone to push me because sometimes I get lazy. So, here's the plan:

Monday: run (treadmill) weights

Tuesday: 2 horses to ride, weights, run (treadmill)

Wednesday: Elk Lake 10k

Thursday: run (treadmill), weights, climb Finlayson

Friday: 2 horses to ride, Elk Lake run

Saturday: run (treadmill) weights

Sunday: long run, Elk Lake, 2 loops

So, in theory I'm going to make it up to 20 k runs this week, which I'll need to do if I plan on making it to the marathon. Headed to dinner with a classmate to get some school stuff done...then gym!! More later!!

Vacation?

2009-09-07T15:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been on semi vacation for the last week. By semi I mean I went to Penticton for a wedding, which was amazing! I had a chance to chat with some really inspiring Ironman athletes, since Ironman Canada had just finished the day before. The buoys were still out in the lake and everything. Really exciting.

Goal: Complete an Ironman by the time I'm 30.

Thats the goal. Ideally I'll do one before then, but that's the deadline!

The wedding was fabulous and magical and I had a great time, but I didn't get to train. I got to do a lovely beach run or two but other than that nothin much. So then I was home for 1 day, within which I worked a double and then flew to Toronto the next mornng at 6:40am. So now I'm in Toronto. I've been doing a few stair intervals but other than that, nothin! Mostly because all the hormones that I've been on for this whole egg donor buisness have been killing me. I've been lethargic, bloated, etc. Plus apparently I'm very affected by the hormones, I'm hyperproducing eggs. Yikes. So therefore, I'm soooo not ready to race in Sooke. So I'm just going to focus on the Royal Victoria Marathon. Which means I need to frickin run. Stupid running....boooooooo. October 11th. It's on.

moooooo

2009-08-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

Love my new gym!! it's so super awesome!! Working out whenever I want is just fabulous! However, the hormones that I'm on right now for the egg harvesting are really kicking my ass. They make me sooo sleepy! I'm leaving on sunday to go to Clancy and Caelins wedding, which should be SO much fun!! I can't wait!! Then next week it's off to Toronto! Yay! Just did a photo shoot with Darren Stone...so much fun. We got some really sweet shots!

New Gym

2009-08-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

I'm making the switch!!! That's right, I'm switching gyms. I've been at the Y for the last year because I need a pool. Well I don't really end up swimming there. I swim at Oak Bay Rec. I don't really like the change rooms at the Y and the hours suck. I feel like the Y is trying to make me conform to their wierd unreasonable hours....well NO MORE! J works out at Odyssey and told me to try it...I frickin love it there!!! New equiptment, a kettleball station, huge tv's right next to my fave cardio machine...and...the best part.....24 HOUR ACCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's right. You heard me. I worked out at 1am the other night. Loves it. So I have to go to the Y today and tell them to beat it. Which should be fun. C is away right now so I'm the mattress showroom queen!! Classes finished this week, so now I have a little break before my crazy crazy september hell time begins. Also, hormone treatment for the egg retrieval has begun. Yup, I'm donating eggs. For realsies. I have to inject myself with hormones everyday. Pretty intense. I go to Toronto for the harvesting (not sure if that's the most appropriate word) sept 4th - 8th! yeaaaaa

2009-08-13T20:17:00.001-07:00

Sooke triathlon is sept 13th.....gotta get training!! I'm getting flown to T.O. sept 4th-8th to donate eggs to an infertile couple...love my life...

I hate being Sick

2009-08-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

Sooooooo sick. Haven't been able to train, sleep, or breathe for days. Chest cold....booooooo. Hoping to get back in the pool today. In other news, I'm getting super pumped for co-op next year. I have my heart set on Switzerland. Can't wait. I figure I'll just buy a new bike when I get there. Europe is like bike heaven. Very gloomy today...rainy, etc. Grrrrrr....hope I'm all better tomorrow. OH! New bike came home today!! It's the sweet Norco that B found for me. I think I'm going to name him Fernando....Nando for short...not sure yet tho...I definately feel like he's a boy bike. Currently on a mission to plaster my life in Oak Bay Bikes stickers. It's a respectable goal, I think!

2009-08-03T01:49:00.000-07:00

We let down the team....had to pull out of self-transcendance....B's back was acting up and I'm horse-showing all weekend so it just worked out better to not go....the chest pains that plagued me during the Vancouver tri have not abated....very annoying...must see a doctor........hoorse show is going super well, Femo is being such a good girl. I'm thrilled with her, couldn't have asked her to be any better...tomorrows our last day of showing so hopefully her good behavior continues through to tomorrow.....

Really?

2009-07-23T01:50:00.001-07:00

Seriously? Really? I STILL can't put on a swim cap by myself? That's right. I said it. I can race in a triathlon but don't expect me to put on a swim cap without some serious assistance. I'm trying. My new non-latex swim cap is just divine, BTW, super warm for ocean swimming....yea....i like it. Latex allergies are no good. Rode an extra horse today, which was lovely. SO hot out, it was nice to spend some extra time with the horses. Managed to swim 1200m after work which is getting easier and easier...gonna do it again tomorrow after work. Must go to the bike shop tomorrow and make sure the team entries are all filled out for Self Transcendence....DON'T LET THE TEAM DOWN. lol...that's the goal....everyone's gotta have goals...school in the morning...it's our Hell's Kitchen challenge lab today.....i'm blue team...pretty excited...learning is fun...BLUE TEAM GO!

Photo Contest!!

2009-07-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

Won the sugoi photo contest!! yay!! SO EXCITED!!!! Apparently I won by almost 100 votes! So I get some sweet new bike kit from sugoi which is super awesome!! Gotta get out to the pool....still training for the Self-Transcendence Elk Lake Tri. Tryin not to let the team down. Or really, not letting the team down by makin sure B doesn't let the team down is more appropriate! lata!

It's On

2009-07-15T10:13:00.001-07:00

Upped my daily swim distance to 1km yesterday. Actually, I swam 1.2 km yesterday.....kinda by accident...I'm really working on my strokes and strength in the water because that's a weak spot for me. I really don't want to let my team down on Aug. 2nd so train, train, train!! The courses for the Self-Transcendence Tri are up so I think B and I are going to do a few training days using the set course, which will be good. In other news, tomorrow we're riding the horses out to the beach! Fun fun times!! Off to work!!

Sometimes you gotta run around in your underwear

2009-07-13T22:23:00.000-07:00

Spent the weekend in Van. Saturday night was the Underwear Affair, the 10k run through downtown Vancouver, dressed in underwear. All the fundraising proceeds go to cancers 'below the waist'! It was such a great event! Fun booths for underwear decorating, games, free things! And people in crazy crazy outfits!! It was so much fun! T and I rocked out in our jager gear and had a killer time. I finished in 1:02, which is not great. As per usual, my hip starte giving out on me, definately not as bad as it has before, which is promising. The slow pace was just fine because I had to race in the Vancouver International Triathlon the next morning. It was a tough one, my first open ocean tri!! I fully mangled the swim, but made it. There were a few people who gave up and turned around after like 25m. It wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. Going to have to jack my swim distance up to 1 km this week because I have to swim the 1.5km as part of a team for the Self-Transcendence Triathlon on Aug 2nd.

Let's do This

2009-07-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

Alright....so .......I'm just gonna race on sunday...open ocean scares the crap outta me. Not cuz I'm worried about sharks or anything...it's just gross and stinks and there's waves and whatnot. And it tastes like garbage and salt......it'll be good for me....B found me a sweet norco that was hiding in a box in the depths of the shop...gonna go try it out today...sounds pretty sweet....heading out to ride Phoebe, love my horse time!

Perhaps??

2009-07-06T20:07:00.001-07:00

So now I'm thinking that I really should just race on sunday........I'm already going to be in Van to race in the Underwear Affair 10k so it just makes sense that I stay the night and race sunday morning. But am I ready?? That is the question....
I was born ready! I can totally do it....it'll be my first open ocean triathlon which is a little frightening but I think T and I will be doing an ocean swim tomorrow and I'll hit the pool tonight. Hmmmmmm
My photo in the Sugoi Photo Contest (rockin out in my Brand Champion wear, rock climbing) is currently leading in votes which rocks. The winner gets full bike or running kit. Fingers crossed....voting closes July 17th so I'm hoping I can make everyone I know vote by then!