Posted by: Karen | December 23, 2008

Does Running to the Bus Stop Count?

I guess it counts for keeping warm on the way to the bus stop. Our temps have been below -20C most mornings this last two weeks. I want to get where I’m going outside as quickly as possible, even if it means waiting when I get there. Those cross country running skills are coming in handy in on the icy, snowy, bumpy sidewalks and streets of Calgary lately.

Otherwise, I haven’t run for at least a week, so there’s not much to report, unless you’re interested in my knitting. Check out this little number I finished up last weekend, before I went out Christmas shopping! I’m looking forward to wearing it to my next race.

I have eaten way too much chocolate. WAY too much chocolate. There will be a reckoning soon.

On that note, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a surprisingly amazing 2009!

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Posted by: Karen | December 18, 2008

I HAVE run recently…

… I just haven’t blogged it yet. Granted, I’m barely getting in two runs a week. I’m kind of in a rest cycle. That, and when it’s cold out it’s really hard to put down the knitting and put on the running gear. Not that I’m accomplishing a lot in the knitting department yet, but I’m learning.

Earlier in the month I enjoyed a nice birthday run with Sarah, Jason and Carla.

A couple of weeks ago I ran 4 sets of stairs indoors at the Olympic Oval – and then 2 days later my legs reminded me why I should always begin stair-running season with a maximum of 3 sets. <creak>

Last week I ran for an hour on shifty mashed-potato snow-covered sidewalks on our 10k group’s Christmas Light run. We retired to a pub for pizza and a happy round of visiting afterwards.

Last weekend it got much colder, and we’ve been in the deep freeze ever since. I ran the Silver Springs XC in gorgeous, snow-covered Bowmont Park, photos here. No race report yet – I’ll get to that later.

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Posted by: Karen | December 16, 2008

Running on the Inside

Sometimes during my runs it seems I’m more conscious of what’s going on inside my head and my heart than what is happening outside them.

Running is still a physical activity in which I savour the fresh air, negotiate challenging terrain, and struggle to keep all the biological systems involved in the movement in harmony with each other. I have days when, once I achieve a comfy momentum and my breathing settles down to a hypnotically sustainable rhythm, my awareness of the physical world fades as the part of me in charge of it goes on autopilot.

I have mentioned before that I really enjoy the hyper-focus that a trail run brings. Often I don’t think of anything else but making sure I get past the next root or rock or ice patch, but at the Okotoks race in November, even the gorgeous, snowy route through the ravine was not enough to distract me from my inner meditations.

In the weeks leading up to that race, I read two books that reminded me of how lucky I am to be living in this place, in this culture, in this time; Three Cups of Tea and Kabul in Winter. The first book gave me hope and inspiration about what one person can do to make a global difference. The latter one grounded my thoughts with concise history and a bleak view of how and why westerners’ aid attempts there have been less than successful.

I realize you probably came here to read a race report, but my efforts on the course that day merely provided a scenic backdrop to the wrangling going on inside myself.  It was a good race. I enjoyed hanging out with my friends. The snow, hills, and encouraging volunteers made the run challenging and enjoyable. It was a cold day, but not nasty-cold – just cold enough to make the soup and cookies afterwards taste great.

The books reminded me of a local organization, Light Up The World, whose founder regularly frequents our cross country races. As it happened, I got to chatting with Dave before and after the race. I didn’t really know what I wanted to ask, but those of you who know Dave understand that his passion for LUTW shines brightly through any opening one might give him.

Dave gave me some good stuff to think about. I’m not sure what I’m going to do about it, but I’m looking forward to finding out. 

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Posted by: Karen | November 11, 2008

Edworthy Park 8k Trail Race

Little Runner and I arrived at the race in good time to visit with a few folks while we registered out in the parking lot. LR said “Sure” when I asked if I should sign her up for the kid’s race, yet in the short walk from there to the race start, she changed her mind to “Nah, maybe not”. Then a couple of her friends talked her back into it, and off she flew with the other munchkins when their race started. Liesbeth from our 10k group led the kids through their 1 km course. She had to work hard to stay in front of them!
 
This race starts up on a plateau which leads to a big steep descent into the river valley below. At the beginning, the course meandered close to the edge of cliffs much more than usual, so there was no gazing at scenery for me – I kept my eyes on the course.
 
There was still some snow on the ground from earlier in the week, but I wasn’t sure how icy the paths on the trail would be. I thought there would be more mud than ice, so decided to leave the Yaktrax off and just run in trail shoes. It turns out this was one of those races where one just needs spikes.
 
There was snow and slush filling the single track in some parts, and there was mud of various consistencies, from sticky to sloppy in a lot of places. My Yax would have filled up with mud, but my trail shoes without them slipped somewhat in the snow. I didn’t fall, but I had to be more careful than usual.
 
Towards the end my left ankle tried to give out on me like it’s done late in races when I get tired. I didn’t roll all the way with it this time. Thank goodness, because I was running along the edge of a steep ridge and a fall overboard would not have been pleasant. I also had a rabbit within sight, pulling me towards the finish. I didn’t catch her, but she was very motivating.
 
I think I ran (rather than hiked) much more of this course than I usually do. The endurance training I did this summer seems to still be helping me feel better during and after runs. Plus, when you’ve run up a mountain, there is just no excuse for whining in an inner-city 8k.
 
After high fives with my rabbit and Dawn at the finish line, we headed in for soup and dessert. Usually for dessert I bring a pan of brownies or something like that, but this time I brought a couple of big chocolate Penguins my mom gave me at Thanksgiving. It was fun offering those on the dessert table! 

I didn’t linger much after lunch – we’d all be back at the hall again that evening for the Roadrunners annual meeting, and I had a few things to do in between.

 

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Posted by: Karen | November 7, 2008

Fluffy White Rain

Tuesday night I stayed late at work for a seminar, then took the train straight to the University from there to meet up with the 10k group. I had packed enough gear to run either inside or outside, as the weather forecasters promised wintery precipitation. When the group showed up (wow, I was there first, for once) most of them chose to run outside – the didn’t want to miss running in the first real snowfall of the season.

I locked up my work stuff in the free lockers downstairs at the Olympic Oval and trotted out with the group. Most of the group did 700m repeats back and forth in the park east of the Children’s Hospital. Meaghan and I ran the same route back and forth without much concern for time or VO2 Max.

The route we ran was a paved pathway through a nice little park. There is a slight elevation change throughout, but it’s not really a hill. The path goes past a pond that will be perfect for skating later this winter. We got to cross a little wooden bridge that had become quite slippery under the fresh snow, but that just made the repeats more interesting.

The trees were covered in sticky white stuff, which highlighted their beauty in the light reflected from street lamps. My glasses got all wet and I began to see rainbows around the lights. Ah, nothing like a psychedelic evening run!

By the time we came back inside I was soaking wet, and melting snow dripped steadily off the brim of my running cap as I headed back downstairs to retrieve my stuff.

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Posted by: Karen | November 6, 2008

Knitwit Runner Unravels

I shouldn’t have postponed my run to so late in the day on Saturday, but finally got myself out the door with the promise that I’d accomplish a few other things along the way. I ran along my bus route to the train station to see how long it might take me if I ever decide to run home from there instead of wait for a bus. That took me 23 minutes (net downhill).

Then I carried on past the station to a mini-mall which contained a multitude of distractions:

  • An exclusive bookstore – I kept going past it
  • Bernard Callebaut chocolates – I hesitated a little but kept going
  • A coffee shop
  • A convenience store
  • A knitting store. Oh no. I needed double pointed needles and yarn. I had to stop my watch. Couldn’t decide on which colours, which thicknesses, oh dear. I eventually bought some stuff and told myself I was “Christmas Shopping”.

Then I carried on past the

  • German bakery – keeeep going
  • Dance clothes store (that was easy)
  • Tattoo parlour

…to Speed Theory, the triathlon store. Since I’d already spent way too much at the knitting store I wasn’t tempted to buy anything, but introduced myself and asked about spin classes, prescription swim goggles, etc.

That’s when Hubby called my cell and reminded me that we had tickets to a football game at 3, and we needed to leave soon, and where was I? I had him pick me up at the bakery. When he got there I was munching on a pretzel.

It was a great football game – close, high scoring, and we won. Go Stamps! We sat way up at the top of the stadium, so I wasn’t so concerned about cutting my run short.

I managed a much more productive (and far less expensive) 45 minute run the next day, on dirt TRAILS, with no debit card handy and no stores along the route. It was a gorgeous weekend to get out there. I savoured the experience, as soon the paths will be icy and due to the winter darkness I won’t be able to visit them as often as in the warmer months.

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Posted by: Karen | October 28, 2008

Confederation Park 3 x 4k Relay

I teamed up with Derek and blog buddy Sarah to race the 3 x 4k at Confed this Sunday. Little Runner and her friend came along to sop up the race vibes, but they weren’t up for racing.

We were kind of disorganized relaxed about registration had a hard time coming up with a team name. At the last minute I found a latin translator on-line and decided to register us as “Quondam notus ut Penguin” (formerly known as Penguin). Some Roadrunners I know keep telling me I have to give up the Penguin branding since I seem (to them) to be running faster. I keep telling them Penguin is a state of mind, not a pace, but whatever…

Derek finished in under 18 minutes I think. I cheered on Derek as he crossed the creek near the finish.

I tell you, the hills get smaller every year. I don’t think I went any faster than I usually do, but it felt like I did. I’ve got something under 23 minutes on my watch, but the official time might be higher as I missed Sarah coming in and she had to kick my butt out on the course.  I don’t know how I missed her finish. I was right there near the clock, cheering people in. She must have snuck in when I was watching Carla take off after Karin’s finish. I saw Dawn‘s pink in the distance coming from the creek, and then suddenly Sarah came at me from the finish chute and shocked me out of my shoes.  

There was a sharp cold breeze, which had us hopping around trying to stay warm at the start. I had planned to take off my warm hoodie when I could see Sarah coming to the clock, but missed her approach and had to quickly strip and run. My mitts stuck in the hoodie sleeves so I left them behind and then it took a good 15 minutes of hard running for my hands to warm up. I think the adrenaline from the surprise and the cold really helped my race.

Usually the first time we cross the creek I teeter on rocks and stay dry. This year my rocks weren’t there and I got my feet wet at both crossings. I did a great flying leap past a tentative racer into the second crossing, but she still passed me before the finish.

Dawn snagged a few photos of me running and eating out in the sunshine. Here are the results and more photos.

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Posted by: Karen | October 24, 2008

Running Errands

Last night I ran around the neighbourhood for half an hour before heading over to the bank machine and the grocery store to pick up a few things. The grocery store is less than a mile away and the bank is even closer, so I just included them in my run.

It was hard to run with a 4 liter jug of milk on the way back, so I settled for a brisk walk while propping the jug up on my head.

I finished early enough to hug a kid good night before settling down to knit during Survivor:Gabon. Yes, I’m back watching Survivor again – I got caught up on Youtube over the weekend and I’m looking forward to following it through.

Coming up on Sunday is the Confederation Park 3 x 4k relay. This is historically one of the most social runs of the year. There’s a small, muddy creek crossing and all kinds and sizes of runners come out to enjoy the fun. Last year 3 teams were randomly drawn to carry a raw egg through the hilly course – all three eggs made it back intact!

If you don’t have a team, come out anyway. Maybe we can find you one. Spectators and course marshalls are always welcome as well.

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Posted by: Karen | October 22, 2008

Indoors Already

Since it’s getting dark early in the evenings, our 10k group has moved our meeting place up to the University where we can meet indoors and even run inside if we choose. Last night we had a guest speaker come for a chat before the run, so we stayed inside.

The speaker, a physiotherapist, gave lengthy presentation designed to help us prevent or deal with knee pain in general. I learned a new stretch to hate – it must be good for me.

There wasn’t much time left for a workout, but we sandwiched a quick speed ladder between an abbreviated warm up and cool down:
200m – forgot to set my watch
400m – 1:47 (whoa nellie!)
600m – 3:02 (decent)
800m – 4:27 (about right for me)
400m – 1:57 (still good)
200m – 50:99 (wheee!)
 
A strange thing happened during the faster, first 200m sprint – I ran smoothly. My legs pumped like well-oiled pistons but my torso stayed steady – hardly any up/down bouncing at all. Cool. I spent the rest of the workout trying to repeat it.

Meaghan, a high school soccer player, ran with me because she could, and she forgot her watch. She talked, I didn’t. I couldn’t outrun her, but it was fun trying.

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Posted by: Karen | October 10, 2008

Quick Catch-Up & Happy Thanksgiving

I have been running some in between races – more like twice a week instead of my desired three, but it will do for now. Last Thursday I showed up with the Motley Crue for a hill run up through Edworthy and around the top of Douglas Fir park. Our total run time was 1:11, and most of the time I worked hard to stay with the group.

On Tuesday I made it out for speed work with the same group. We worked through a timed interval ladder of 2, 4, 8, 4, 2 minutes in between a warm-up, cool down, drills and calisthenics. I didn’t totally push it to the limit, but worked hard and it felt good. Extra bonus – Sarah and I kept up with each other and it was most excellent.

NOTE – NEW MEETING PLACE: 
After Thanksgiving the group will start meeting at the U of C Olympic Oval, near the registration desk. We’ll still run outside until the ground ices up, but it’s a warm place to meet for the colder darker months.

 

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