All Downhill From Here

I’m downing my Vitamin C and Echinacea and Hot Lemon Brandy, and I’ve even gargled with that nasty medicine the in-laws gave us. Oh, except we’re out of the “medicinal brandy” so I’m cutting into the eggnog’s Captain Morgan’s rum supply – harrgh maties!

Hubby let me make dinner since he kept the kids alive all day while I was at work. Then Little Darling remembered that she wanted me to teach her to play Battleship.

“Mom! Don’t look at my ships! You’re cheating!”

“Darling, I’m not cheating, I’m teaching. And I DID sink your ship, you didn’t put the peg in!”
Oh yeah, that was great for my struggling voice and patience…

Since I’m sick though? Hubby made me a hot lemon rum (harrr!) and the Boy made me a Nutella and banana sandwich for a bedtime snack. G’night!

Brit tagged me with some great questions in the midst of my pre-Christmas hysteria, and now that things are settling down a bit I’m finally getting to spend a little more time on my computer.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot cocoa, made with milk and with a teaspoon of decaf instant coffee added. And if there’s Kahlua around? it kind of slips into the mug too.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Ours borrows whatever wrapping stuff we’ve got left. This year he used up some extra gift bags hanging around. Sometimes we’ve left out a little scrap of leftover stuff and he’s magically st-r-e-t-c-h-e-d it.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Coloured. I would choose red or blue and white or blue and green, but I don’t put them up, and am content with Hubby’s choice of red and green.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? I’ve thought about it, but if I want a kiss I pretty much just go and get it.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Sometime in the first or second weekend of December. This activity MUST include noshing on Pot of Gold chocolate and drinking a token rum n’ eggnog.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Mashed Potatoes WITH TURKEY GRAVY. I always have seconds of this!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Christmas at my Grandparents’ on the farm when I was about 6 or 7. I remember the grown-ups playing board games and us kids playing hide-and-seek in Grandma’s cupboards. I was blessed with a very happy childhood.

8. What is your favorite 2005 run?
If I have to stick to a non-race run, then I think I have to pick… this one.

9. What is your favorite 2005 race?
Another tough choice, so I’m giving it two categories.
Favourite Road Race: I’m tempted to say the Stampede Half, because it was my first and I felt GREAT at the end (plus I got to see Little Runner finish her mile immediately after), but it’s tied with the 15k that I ran in Tampa with Carlene.
Favourite XC race: these have a whole different version of euphoria, and I have a three way tie; October’s muddy Waldorf, December’s Silver Springs and March’s Fish Creek.

10. Snow! Love it or Dread it? To add to Brit’s comment – how can you not like snow? – Snow around here usually means it’s XC series season. And I love snowy XCs! Plus it’s SO BEAUTIFUL when I’m not slipping around in it on my way to work. Check out these snowy, frosty pictures Kathy Taerum took of our recent Silver Springs race.

11. What was your most favorite running purchase this year? The only things I BOUGHT were shoes and races, and one pair of Coolmax running socks at the Gasparilla expo… Oh! I’ve got it! Chocolate Powergels. I love these things. Yes, I’m warped, but I love ’em.

12. What is your favorite piece of running apparel purchased in 2005? My Roadrunner shorts – or did I buy them in 2004? Can’t remember.

13. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Chocolate cake. It’s not really a Holiday Dessert, but I like it better than plum pudding or brandy-flamed fruit soup. I also hugely enjoy nibbiling on Nanaimo Bars.

14. What are your big training plans for 2006? a) Train for and complete the Burnco Calgary Marathon in July. b) If I survive this well enough, train on trails through August to complete the Moose Mountain long trail run. a) is very important. b) is very, very optional.

15. Name one thing you like about blogging: Just ONE? Well this great community of runners and bloggers gives me a fabulous, understanding audience for my need to ramble on about running and life. (that’s kind of two worked in there, but who’s counting?)

This is a long one, with lots of links to past posts, so if you’re in the mood for some reminiscing with me, get yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy the review. Hopefully in the next day or two I’ll post my 2006 goals and how far away Frostbite Falls looks to me this January.

Here are my goals and your comments from last year. The following is my reaction to how I did (the points I’m giving myself are kind of arbitrary, like in the theatre-sports type show Who’s Line is it Anyway.

“1. Maintain a long-run habit of a minimum of 10 miles once every 2-3 weeks all year, with the exception of perhaps one step-back month yet to be determined. “

Running 10 miles every three weeks means I should have 17 x 10 mile runs in my log. I can only find 10, which gives me 58%. I did, however, get in 6 x 8+mile runs over the course of the year, for which I’ll give myself some points: .8 x 6 = 4.8 + 10 = 14.8/17 = 87% In balance to my reaching for the 8 mile runs, I’ll resist giving myself extra points for the 4 x 11+ mile runs I did in preparation for the July Half Marathon. That feels better…
Total 87%

“2. Smash through my 59:59 10k goal in a certified-distance 10k race. I will plan ahead and work the plan, and the plan will involve regular hills and speed repeats. I will train diligently for and race in at least one, maybe two March 10ks (Frozen Nose & Toes & St. Patrick?s Day). I?ll also race the usual Mother?s Day 10k and probably a June one as well. Other 10ks to be added as necessary.”

I did not work hard enough on the 10k thing to achieve this goal. I clocked in at 1:00:16 at the St. Patrick’s Day race, and didn’t try beyond that. I’m claiming family and financial obligations for not pursuing this goal harder, but I could’ve if I’d really wanted it. I just didn’t elevate it enough on my life-priority ladder. I’m not beating myself up over it. Considering the lack of speed training I did last winter, and the fact that my family is still in one big, loving piece, the PR I set at St. Patrick’s Day is fine with me for now.

Oh yeah, points:
0% for smashing through the 59:59 time.
0% for not doing speed work in training for the Run Walk n’ Roll & the Catch the Elves 10ks.
49% for keeping pretty darn focused and achieving a PR in the St. Patrick’s Day race.
I’m not averaging these points out – it’s straight addition here.
Total: 49 %

“3. Other Race Distances: Depending on how my 10k training goes, also train for a half *M*. Which half *M* is yet to be determined. I will race the 15 km part of the Gasparilla Classic as part of the Chick-a-Fil relay in Tampa, Florida in February. I will race either the Robert Hamilton 10 miler in August or the Moose Mountain 10 miler in September.”

Okay, this is more than one goal, here. Remind me when I set the 2006 goals to set one goal at a time! For the sake of points, I’ll break it down into parts.
a) Gasparilla 15k in the relay: Nailed it! Not only that, but I had an awesome time running with Carlene and received Bessie as an award! How cool is that! 100%
I give myself an bonus 100% for travelling to my first destination race.
Total of a) = 200%
b) Robert Hamilton or Moose Mountain 10 milers: Achieved neither: 0%. I was sluggishly slow in recovering from a road-rash incident in July and I let it zap my motivational momentum for the summer. I did volunteer at Robert Hamilton and had a darned good time, though.
I will average these points, for a total of 100%.

“4. Depending on when I achieve Goal #2, commence training for a local road (not trail) *M* and complete it. Do the aforementioned upright and smiling, on the same day, without seriously injuring myself.”

I’m exempt from this goal, as I didn’t achieve Goal #2, so I’m deferring it to the 2006 roster.

I did, however, train for and complete my first HALF Marathon distance instead, with resounding success, and on the final weekend of my residential move, to boot. I’m boosting my marks with this one as follows:
Training for the Half: 100%
Completion of the Half: 100%
Still being able to see Little Runner finish her Marathon Mile: 100%

I’m averaging the above together for 100%, and adding in a bonus 100% for Changing Residences at the same time.

Total: 200%

“5. I will ride my bike for a minimum of 10 miles at least once a week and maybe more frequently beginning in May, as soon as the mondo snow storms subside.”

I should not make summer-cycling goals in the throes of winter. I do remember getting on the bike a few times, but for no more than 6 km at a time.
11 miles of logged biking / 520 goal miles = 2.1%
Ooch.

“6. I will read the G.I. Diet book and think seriously about cutting down on my sugar levels, right after I finish all of the chocolate I received for Christmas. (so? sometime around March?) I will motivate myself to strengthen on my abdominal and upper body muscles. Results of this will be measured by my eventual need to buy Size 10 pants and sleeveless shirts.”

Apparently the influx of chocolate erased this goal from my consciousness. I actually found the book lying around yesterday, I still haven’t read it. Although I did buy new pants this year, they’re no smaller than last year’s, and these abs and arms have done no more than is absolutely necessary to keep my balance in XC races.

0%. Nada. Zip.

Average of my marks? 73%

I realize that much of my saving grace came from my emotional attachment to some bonus grades. I also said the following about my attitude towards goals in the comment section last year: “…I need to be flexible and forgiving with them. I can?t beat myself up over them if they don?t work; they are tools, not torture devices.”

I think this B grade is pretty generous, considering the big fat 0’s in there, but overall I’m feeling more confident about distance running now than I was a year ago. I like that. I think I can set some better, more achievable, yet still challenging goals for 2006. We’ll see!?

I got out for about an hour on Tuesday for a good, solid run around the neighbourhood. Since the Chinooks have melted most of the snow and ice lately, I was even able to work in a kilometer or so of hilly dirt trails before spending the rest of the run on dry streets. I felt surprisingly strong and energetic in the last 20 minutes and enjoyed keeping a steady 10k pace going.

Later in the day (since there’s no snow for sledding) Hubby and I took the kiddos out to a big wave pool and we spent a couple of hours playing in the water, climbing up stairs, zipping down water slides, and relaxing in the hot tub.

We went late in the afternoon, at about 4 p.m, and the pool was not very busy – perfect! Of course we were starving on the way home and stopped for burgers. I hope my kids remember happy days like these when they grow up.

I’m sitting around in new fleecy pink jammies that have penguins on them, thinking I should get out for a run pronto. I haven’t run since last Tuesday, I think. No, wait, my son pushed me out the door on Christmas Eve day for a 20 minute jog. Even though I had lots of stuff to do, he knew I needed to get out, and I’m glad I did. The weather’s been gorgeous for running and driving- but the lack of snow around here is taking away from it feeling like Christmas.

Christmas Day, Little Runner and I got out for a nice hour outside, which involved walking about a kilometer to a playground, her playing while I dozed in the sunshine on a bench, and then strolling home.

I haven’t had to cook supper three nights in a row now, so I’m getting rather spoiled. I did bring a couple of dishes to two of the meals, but otherwise I’ve been very pampered and am really enjoying the season.

Hubby has a couple of days before he has to go back to work, so we’re going to do some fun things with the kiddos and we’re rather enjoying not having to rush anywhere. We avoid post-Christmas shopping with a passion, so there’s no stress on that front, either.

Time to get out the door in my running shoes before I become a total blob!

I think everyone who has just finished their Christmas shopping must stand up and do a little jig. At least, that’s what*I* felt like doing after I thought I had finished my Christmas shopping yesterday! When I got home I realized I have one more thing to pick up, so I’ll just pop into the store right now, on my way to work.

But otherwise? I’m DONE. Let the wrapping and dancing begin!

Tuesday night we showed up to run at Gord’s for his annual pre-Christmas run. The route was flat and short and went past several prominent, beautifully decorated homes overlooking downtown.

I didn’t spend too much time looking at the lights, because I ended up looking for Krista. I didn’t see her leave the store, and couldn’t find her out with the group. At one point I decided to run back to the store to see if she got locked in, and Gord gave me the key. Nope, no Krista there, so I locked up and went back out again. I met several of the group on their return, and one of them had seen Krista head off in a different direction.

I ran back in with Dawn and Chris, and was actually thankful I hadn’t been trying to keep up to anyone faster, as my legs were still tired from Saturday. We waved to a couple of buses of folks enjoying the Christmas lights.

It later turned out that she’d gone out at a blistering pace, trying to keep up with one of our faster Penguins, Philippa, and when she lagged behind had unintentionally taken a different route back.

All’s well that ends well, though. After the run we all went to Gord’s house for a party. Gord’s wife had graciously cooked up a hearty pot of chili, and we all brought snacks and dessert. I brought a tin of mocha slices, a light, skinny, chocolatey cookie that looks like a very flat biscotti, but is not so hard.

Tuesday night we showed up to run at Gord’s for his annual pre-Christmas run. The route was flat and short and went past several prominent, beautifully decorated homes overlooking downtown.

I didn’t spend too much time looking at the lights, because I ended up looking for Krista. I didn’t see her leave the store, and couldn’t find her out with the group. At one point I decided to run back to the store to see if she got locked in, and Gord gave me the key. Nope, no Krista there, so I locked up and went back out again. I met several of the group on their return, and one of them had seen Krista head off in a different direction.

I ran back in with Dawn and Chris, and was actually thankful I hadn’t been trying to keep up to anyone faster, as my legs were still tired from Saturday. We waved to a couple of buses of folks enjoying the Christmas lights.

It later turned out that she’d gone out at a blistering pace, trying to keep up with one of our faster Penguins, Philippa, and when she lagged behind had unintentionally taken a different route back.

All’s well that ends well, though. After the run we all went to Gord’s house for a party. Gord’s wife had graciously cooked up a hearty pot of chili, and we all brought snacks and dessert. I brought a tin of mocha slices, a light, skinny, chocolatey cookie that looks like a very flat biscotti, but is not so hard.