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Wordish Wednesday

The bonus of a self-supporting ultra marathon is that you can bring your own crew (which, yes, is also true of a sanctioned one…). The extra bonus is that if your husband’s hobby is photography you end up with amazing pictures even if you don’t look so great! This is the turnaround at 25km on 1 January 2012. Recap to come soon!

Posted by lovemyrunners | January 4, 2012 | Categories: Club Fat Ass, Fat Ass 50K, ultramarathons | 2 Comments

How A Fat Ass Celebrates New Year’s Day!

Posted by lovemyrunners | January 2, 2012 | Categories: Club Fat Ass, Fat Ass 50K | 4 Comments

Happy New Year!

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Posted by lovemyrunners | December 31, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Blog Survey – Play Along!

I found this survey-of-sorts on Kim’s blog (Just) Trying Is For Little Girls. She got it from another blogger and, since I’m at a loss lately about what to write, I’ve blatantly stolen it.

How often do you update your blog? Not as much as I used to/want to/probably should! As I said above, I’m just not motivated to write posts right now. I’m sure that has a lot to do with not training for anything at the moment. I can’t imagine that anyone wants to read about my slow, average runs so I don’t bother posting about them.

How long do you spend writing each post? Depends on the post. If it’s a quick Three Things Thursday then only a few minutes. A race report can take me a couple of hours to a couple of days. I seem to have a good memory during races so it takes a while to get it all down.

How long do you spend reading blogs each day? More than I should. I try to keep up to date on my favourite blogs. Since I’m a SAHM I find myself drifting back and forth to the computer throughout the day.

What other social media sites do you use? Facebook and Twitter. I use fb mostly for personal use. My blog’s page is relegated to notifications of new posts. I like Twitter for keeping up with running related stuff. I find it easier to follow companies there as well as other blogs.

What is the first blog you started reading? Jill Will Run. I was looking for a review on a hydration pack (which I eventually purchased). I think the second one I followed was Mom Vs. Marathon. Most of my early readings were found through Kerrie’s blog – I just stalked her blogroll.

How do you read blogs? Phone/iPad, dashboard, Google Reader…? Blogger Dashboard. I scroll down until I find the ones I’ve previously read and then open all the ones since then. I’ll click on links from Twitter and Facebook too.

How many blogs do you follow? 74. However, I need to do a purge again as some of those are dormant. I don’t really like unfollowing blogs, but if I didn’t I’d have a couple hundred and that’s just too many!

You’re on a week-long vacation. Do you a) pre-set posts for the time you’re away, b) blog every day on vacation, or c) organize guest posts in advance? Maybe A. Usually I’ll just say that I’m out of town and ignore the blog for a week. If I know I’ll have limited computer access I might just post an “it’s going well” kind of thing, but sometimes it’s nice to be out of the loop.

Have you made money off of your blog? No. I’ve won some sweet stuff though.

Would you quit your job to be a full-time blogger, if it meant cutting your salary in half? No. I don’t make much working weekends as it is. And I get a kick ass discount that I’d have a hard time giving up.

Posted by lovemyrunners | December 31, 2011 | Categories: Blog Survey | 4 Comments

A Runner’s Christmas Loot!

Merry Christmas everyone! A late wake-up call from Spud (staying up late after church might have had something to do with it), lots of fun opening presents – 95% of which were for Spud, and lots of great gifts for this quasi-runner have made for a super relaxed morning. Colin’s parents will be here in a while and then we’re off to my parents’ for dinner. I hope your holidays are going as well as mine.

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Posted by lovemyrunners | December 25, 2011 | Categories: Christmas, Presents For Runners | 6 Comments

Catch Me Up

I have been so completely out of the loop for the last week or so. At my job on Saturday (cashier at a sporting goods store, in case you’re new) I probably looked like this:

Well, her attitude, maybe. Perfect makeup, not so much. And thank goodness I don’t have to wear an apron! It was a nice short shift, crowds were steady, but not crazy, and I was off at 3:30pm. However, when I phoned Colin and asked if he was picking me up in the ~~stupidly insane~~ parkade or off mall property he informed me that he thought I was off at regular time (5:30pm) and was still close to home, which is a good half hour away. Sigh. At least I got some shopping done.

Now that it’s Thursday I’m tired. I don’t usually work during the week, but had the opportunity to pick up a few extra shifts (re: money). The catch? I work after Colin’s off for the day. So it’s been 3:30pm-12am; 7pm-12am x 2; 6pm-11pm; and tonight is 7pm-12am again. I never say TGIF, but I will be shouting it from the rooftops tomorrow as Colin and I both have it off!!! Should be able to sleep in a little if Spud is agreeable.

I am excited that I have Friday off as the 23rd is generally really busy and looks an awful lot like this:

Anyways, the whole point of this post was to ask how you’re doing! Any milestones, PRs, or other important things to report? I haven’t been around much and therefore not very up to date on my blog reading. Things will get back to normal in the new year. I’ll be running and posting more frequently as I begin training for my 3rd full marathon on 3 January 2012.

Posted by lovemyrunners | December 23, 2011 | Categories: Busy, Out Of Loop, Work | 2 Comments

Three Things Thursday: Spud’s Christmas, Longer Runs, and A Five Fingers Question

1. Just got home from Spud’s playschool Christmas “concert”. There were only 4 kids there, he being the only boy, and they sang a few songs for the parents/relatives that were able to make it. Super-freaking-cute!!! He sang some of the songs, pouted though the ones he didn’t like (“I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas”), and yelled at the top of his lungs during their final song, “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.” For a boy who whined that he was too nervous to perform in front of so many people – his words; there were about 10 – he did very well. Once he figured out that people would laugh when he bowed after every song he hammed it up. Kind of makes me wish that I posted pictures and videos of him on here…

2. Did a couple of long runs earlier this week. Many thanks to my friend Gina who had Spud over for a playdate even though it was her birthday! As much as I didn’t want to run after 25km on Monday – it had a 2km hill that gained 5ooft in elevation right at the half way point – I put on my big girl running pants and went out to run 11-1/2 more on Tuesday. Needless to say, compression was my best friend on Wednesday. Didn’t get a run in today due to Spud’s do, but will hopefully get out tomorrow if it’s not too gross out.

3. Anyone have experience fitting Vibram Five Fingers? I measured my foot, purchased a pair of Bikila’s at work, and brought them home to try on. According to the site, once I add the 1/8″, I should fit in a 41. However, they seem way too big. My big toe has lots of room (the end of my toe barely reaches the part where the sole wraps over the top of the toe) and the others just float around with a good finger width at the end. Now, my feet are big, but my toes aren’t, so maybe this has something to do with it? My big toe is my longest toe. Colin refers to the rest of my toes as “cocktail wienies.” Are Five Fingers made for people with finger toes? Should I just go down a size and see how they work out? If you have a pair how much room do you have at the end of your longest toe?

Posted by lovemyrunners | December 16, 2011 | Categories: Bikila, Christmas, long run, Vibram Five Fingers | 2 Comments

Tooting My Own Horn

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I am finally over 1000km for the year!

That’s like running from my house to Portland, OR, and back!

Posted by lovemyrunners | December 9, 2011 | Categories: milestones | 6 Comments

Follow-Up Friday

Thanks everyone for your kind words regarding my last post. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who has struggles! I love the blog community for being so supportive.

Random thoughts:

I’m 2 for 2 in December. No this is not going to be a streak – my weekends just don’t lend themselves to runs – but I did have a couple of great runs! Yesterday it was cold, but got sunny for my hour long run. And today I got to run with my friend Gina. Good conversation, weather cooperated, and so did Spud!
I’m just shy of 1000km for the year! Didn’t quite make it today since it didn’t fit into Gina’s training plan to run longer, but I’ll get it next week!
Good luck to all of my friends (in real life and online) who are running Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas tomorrow! Can’t wait to hear all about it and see pictures. Pretty sure what happens in Vegas is going to be splashed all over the blogosphere come Monday…
Colin and I get to go see this movie tonight – it figures that it’s running related:

Have a great weekend!

Posted by lovemyrunners | December 2, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Confessions From The Queen Of Excuses

I am my own worst enemy when it comes to my running. In a perfect world I would want and get to run every single day. I would never get injured. Every run would result in the elusive runner’s high. Unfortunately life is decidedly not like that and won’t be anytime soon unless I win the lottery. Of course, I would have to buy a ticket, but I digress…

The reality of my life is such that I should be able to run as often as I want/need to. I’m a stay at home parent. We don’t fill our days so full that there is no opportunity to run.

Recently, however, my brain is not allowing me to realize this. Someone out there must feel that they identify with the following excuses ~~at least one; please tell me I’m not alone!:~~

It’s too cold (seasonal – sometimes it’s too hot).
It’s raining too hard.
It’s too early/late/dark.
Spud is heavy in the stroller.
Spud will only sit still for about 20 minutes – if I’m lucky – before he wants to get out to run.
I just don’t feel like it.
I feel like I’m holding other people back since I’ve lost all my speed.
I’m self-conscious about the weight I’ve gained over the summer and how I look in my running clothes (I’m not overweight, but am not comfortable with my current weight).

I am stuck in a vicious cycle. I make excuses, don’t run, feel fat and lazy, still don’t run because I don’t see the point, and all that serves to do is perpetuate those feelings. I know that self doubt and a lack of motivation are my main issues. If I don’t have a desire to haul my butt out the door I won’t go. Eventually to get back on track I’m going to have to ignore the extremely loud voice in my head that is telling me I’m not good enough and that I should quit. Short of a frontal lobotomy I’m still trying to figure out how to effectively do that.

There are excuses I need to tell to shove it right off the bat. Weather can’t be an excuse. I live in Vancouver, BC, for Pete’s sake! It’s going to rain and it’s going to rain often. My weight can eff off too. Yes, I’m feeling bad about it. Mainly because I am comparing myself to how I looked back in May after a full marathon training cycle. I notice it far more than anyone else and am my worst critic. I need to get back the mentality I had when I bought my first pair of tights. I cannot see myself running down the road. So what if things are moving about? If anything at least I can say that I made an effort to get out and better myself.

The time of day is a huge issue for me simply because I can’t go out early or late on my own. Neither Colin nor I are comfortable with it. We don’t live in a terrible neighbourhood, but prefer that I don’t take the risk. If any of my friends reading this are interested in either early, early or post-kiddo-bedtime runs message me!

My struggle really lays with the oft-cursed stroller, the expectations of a 4-1/2 year old, and my willingness to deal with both. It is far too easy to say it’s too much effort to get everything together for a >1 hour run. And yes, it is easier (and warmer, drier, etc) to stay home. But I’m only doing myself a disservice. In the long run – totally unintentional pun – no one cares if I run but me (well, maybe Colin, but that’s because he has to live with me).

What I need is to be held accountable. Ask me how my non-training running is doing. Come January ask how my marathon training is progressing. Ask if I sucked it up, threw on the rain cover, and took Spud out with me. Essentially, continue to give me the kick in the butt I so obviously am in need of.

The best I can do is try, but I know that I need to because, at the end of the day, it’s about taking care of myself and setting a good example for Spud. It’s about what I do and about how I feel about myself.