June 16, 2012

Run Run as Fast as You Can!

How's everybody's week going? Mine is going great!  I have starting training for a 10 k, which will be in October/November (which I would like to have a personal best in), organizing my apartment, cooking and relaxing!  All things that I love to do!

I decided to train again after talking to my friend, Britta!  She told me she is training for her very first half marathon (GO BRITTA) and I thought to myself, well I should train too!! I had been thinking about it a lot lately but hadn't thought about it too seriously until now.  I am happy to be training again and for a much shorter distance.  I have trained enough to know what I should be doing and on what days I should be doing it!  No need for a program this time!

Even though I say I am training...I am not going to be as crazy as I have been in the past.  I used to be SO strict to the point where running just wasn't fun anymore...by the end of my training it felt like a chore.  The reason I was like this was because I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to do well in the race - even though if you follow your training you will be amazed at what your body can do.  So this time around I am going to take it at my own pace and just have fun with it.  If I have learned anything about training, it's that you should always trust your training schedule and try and enjoy the journey.  Don't stress yourself out - it isn't worth it!

That being said, on Tuesday morning I got up nice and early and headed out for a run.  I thought I would do a short 6 k run, but after about 4 k I thought, well, why not do 7, after I got to 5 I decided to do 8 and then when I got to about 6 I thought, why not do the 10 k loop (which I haven't done in MONTHS).  So I did.  And you know what? It was awesome! It was difficult at all.  I guess the short, fartlek training that I have been doing has paid off!  It's definitely hard as a runner when you are used to running long distances and then you don't keep up with your intense training (because it's nearly impossible) and aren't able to run the same distances anymore...but I was shocked and beyond happy that I was able to do it! In a really  good time too!

After I got home from my run I whipped up an old favourite.  Chocolate Banana Smoothie (which tastes more like a milkshake - I kid you not)!



Chocolate Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 frozen banana
1/2 almond milk/soy milk/milk of choice 
1/4 cup silken tofu
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1-2 tablespoons honey

Instructions:

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

I obviously had a HUGE jug of lemon water to go along with it.  I made a few of these on Monday night.  I filled them up with my fruit of choice, squished all the juice out of it with the back of a wooden spoon.  Filled with water and refrigerated over night!


Lemon lime and watermelon blueberry!  In the morning I poured them into a glass without the fruit.  I just didn't have the patience to do this with my first one, obviously ;)


One other thing I did this week was cleaned all of my fruit and berries in warm vinegar water.  Fill up your sink with hot water and about 1/4 cup vinegar.  Allow to soak.  Rub gently and rinse thoroughly.  The amount of dirt that was in my sink after I finished with this was quite disgusting...

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On Wednesday I went for another 10 k run because my run on Tuesday was just so awesome.  I did about 20 minutes of a slower pace to warm up, followed by 2 minute fartleks with 1-2 minute slower pace in between to rest.  I did 6 sets and then ran the rest of the loop at a slower pace.  

After my run (which was in the later afternoon) I stopped at the grocery store and picked up a few things for dinner.  I broiled a very simple salmon stuffed with garlic, topped with salt and pepper, lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil.  Broiled on high for 15 minutes.  We had fresh asparagus (YUM), beets (not so yum - not in season) and brown rice.  The salmon was okay - not my favourite.




Now, back to running.  No matter what I've been training for, my schedule has always said Tuesdays and Wednesdays are intense training runs (fartleks, hills and intervals) and Thursdays run is meant to be a steady, easier run.  And trust me, after 2 hard runs, Thursdays runs feel so so good!  So today I ran a steady 8 k (at a slower pace) and it felt great.  I was a little sore (because of my runs and going to the gym with Francis) and tight in my calves, so a slower run was just what I needed.  It was such a great way to start my day - especially since people who are out walking their dog, or running are always so friendly and happy.  Can't always say the same about people in the afternoons or evenings.  YIKES.  Sometimes I wonder about people...especially when you say "hi" and flash them a smile and they don't say anything back even though they clearly heard you.

Anywho - I better get going and finish up getting ready.  I am meeting a friend, Alyssa downtown to do a little bit of shopping!  It's pretty decent out there today so it will be nice to walk around a little bit!  Have a great day everyone!

xo

4 comments:

  1. That chocolate smoothie makes me drool every time I read the recipe!! I feel like you don't even need to train for the 10k cause you're already doing it for fun! You're gonna rock it this Fall, I'll be cheering you on all the way over in Ottawa ;) And btw, you're so right.. I've been stressing over this half marathon thing, and I should just have fun! Hope you picked up a bunch of goodies shopping today (a stop at Aritzia I presume?!).

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  2. Well you'll have to make it after your E-diet right away!!!! I'm hoping that i'll rock it for sure! But it's also fun to train ;) I like having a schedule to follow! And yeah, just have fun with it...enjoy yourself! I did look at Aritzia (for a dress) and found one but then I found one at Still Life for Her on Johnson st. SO i'm super super happy with it :)

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  3. LOVE that store, I still get emails from them from time to time, oh shucks! Cant wait to go shopping there when I am in Vic.. and make a pit stop at Willie's Bakery ;)

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  4. SO SO good! I love it there :) We are definitely going to have a couple VERY full days of fun while you are here ;) WOO HOO!

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