Beating the Heat

Have retired to Lions Head To enjoy the breeze and company. Presently teaching Annie about the Internet.

Cause this blog needs more pictures of feet

Post Mishawah.

Limberlost 2011

Another little trail race in the blistering heat. I say little cause I only did the 28k not the crazy insane 56k- not cause the distance is crazy but the heat was intense.

I have been thinking alot about how hard I don't push it in races. How most of the time I am content to say I pushed it but really I don't think I did. I have excesses of why but really I think it comes down do I just don't want to. I think I have really got to want it to push it. BUT to get that point I have to had failures to focus on how I don't want to be feeling at the end of a race. I also need to focus on how good it feels to do well. How I love to tell Luke how good I did. Actually I fear his disappointment most of all.

So I didn't know how I was going to at Limberlost. I am soo not a hot weather runner. My thoughts were simply survival. I knew the winner from last year was coming back and I saw somebody at the start line who beat me at PYP .
So I'm running along about 3k in and I am in 3rd position and I remember Sheldon from running mania describing his race from last year and what his 14k splits were so my first goal was to beat his 1:32 for the first lap. I did it in 1:24. Meanwhile I had attached myself to a man in a blue shirt. Almost literally, when we went up hills I was 5inches from his behind. His clothing had been freshly laundered. My eyes were firmly on is ankles. When he drank water from his bottles so did I. He didn't stop at the aid station so he kept the pace and I caught up to him. Thus during the second lap my goal was to stay attached to my new friend Chris.... and a three hour finishing time. Did it in 3:02:25. Very pleased about it. A interesting highlight was the fact I used four gels. I felt fine which is great. I just know if I don't take in calories I fade. At Hailburtion I used all the fuel I had brought and the aid stations were far apart and I checked my belt several times looking for something so I know I need it..even if it is just physiological.

Great post- race meal.. like MEAL with salads, fruits and grilled chicken. And what made the day was on the drive out to the highway we saw a big black bear run across the highway. Anyrace where I we wildlife bigger than a dog wins!


This race was not without its drama, and I actually managed to get a woman disqualified. But I don't think thats a story for the blog cause I think the race directors handled it very well. Give me some wine and I will talk.

Pool

It was hot today, and so while Anne was away, the kids and I went out and got a new pool.
Much cool wetness was had.

Creemore Booze Fest 2011

Ran the Creemore Vertical Challenge July something. Improved my 25k time by three minute finishing in 2:26. Sixth female O/A.
Basically I can remember the heat. At first I thought it was going to overcast and no wind so somewhat tolerable. Maybe even a slight rain but around 6km in the sun came out. So it was sunny and no wind. That's joyful. So hot.... Some aid station had ice and that was bliss. Wore trail shoes which wasn't necessary. Ran a whole two kilometres in the lead and liked it but the fast girls came along, which is ok cause really they are faster. I am slightly (HUGELY) annoyed that the winner has a baby younger than four months. When I had a four month old my uterus would have fallen out and I would have had to keep a hand tucked there to hold it in. Soo anyways i got sixth. Some other people beat me too but I am just bitter about her.
There was exactly one puddle and I stepped in it. Would have really liked to have a lie down in it but I had to settle on the finish line where there is the Mad river. The finish line also had wine. I drank some. On a empty stomach. Ok I had alot and I couldn't walk straight and Luke cut me off and so I was taking beer out of other peoples hand when his back was turned. Soo my words were slurred but the trip to the conservative Christian Camp went quite well.
I still think I can do better on that course. There is just something about it.

Trespassing

While we were at Camp Mishawah, a super awesome thing happened....Ever learned to ride his bike without training wheels!! It actually took less than 100 metres and it rather alarming now good he is at it already. In fact the three year old was trying to pop wheelies they day he learned. I have high hopes him and I can form a mother son MBX team. Thus to celebrate his new skill we thought he would enjoy an endless strip of pavement to practice.... so we took him to an airstrip.
The abandoned airstrip was 2km and super fun to ride bikes on- even if it was getting overgrown.

This photo of an accident was not intentional, just funny. Maya will get mad at us for saying that when she is old enough to read this blog.

So just cause we thought it would be fun we let the kids also drive on the airstrip. Maya was scarred and couldn't do it herself but felt perfectly fine sitting in the passenger seat while her brother, half of her age drove the car! He actually did quite well did a corner himself. There will be no mother son auto racing team.

Right Again!!

You know those money making schemes/cults like ACN and Priamerica? Direct marketing? I just didn't get them. Why did people fall for them? But one day my insightful husband enlightened me.

" People just want money and they don't want to work for it."

Kinda like fitness. People want to lose weight but they don't want to work for it. SO they buy those 'toning' shoes. They promise to 'shape you up' while you go about your everyday walking.
Read the research  people, they just don't work.

11/7/11

What a great date today!!!!

Great to write and great cause it is lucky thirteen for Luke and I.
I would write something mushy gushy but well I am on nights so there is none of that going on.

Pop/Soda

OK I have been saying this for years, and nobody EVER listens to me. Perhaps now that there is a fancy tudy to back it up people will start changing their ways.

Running

Ok I feel like I want to run but I have too many obstacles lately...

-My feet hurt- like really I have started taking Magnesium in the hopes it helps the soreness.
-I am sick to death of running anything around here. The mental energy to run the same place over and over is dragging me down.
- My ipod otterbox died, then my ipod died. AND it turns out my sweaty hands and the nano we also have does not mix. I can't just buy a shuffle and stuff it down my bra cause I will fry it too. I hate arm bands. I ask what to do on Runners Mania and everybody just me makes fun of me. At present I am thinking touch with otterbox. That's alot of fricken cash.
-I had a really good run with a friend the other day and I think I need more of these.
- I am really bummed it is going to be hot at creemore this w/e. I mean the reason I am doing this year instead of making things easy on our first day of camp is because I wanted to run the course on a non sauna day.

Smarties

I got Maya aa box of smarties to celebrate the last day of great two.

And WTC why did they change all the colours?? and they don't taste the same as when I was a kid??
Why can't things stay the same?

Hair

Annie says everybody should cut their hair short once.

When I point this out to Luke he say that will be the beginning of the end and soon I will have a spiky hairstyle.

I still want to.

10k- A race that is now considered to Short and Fast.

A few years ago I completed the first edition of a race put on by the local flashy gym. A poor put together affair. Today, I saw improvement. Still missing some key components of a race, but to be fair they don't call it a race it is a 'run'. Although they did advertise it being "professionally chip timed" which kinda confused me as it was a girl with a stop watch and tear off portions on our bibs.  So do they want it to be fun or competitive? They need to make up their minds. Cause if it is competitive those in the top three would like a metal please.

Anyways you know how your day is either good or bad? Races are 60% good days. 40% bad days. Yep had another bad day. Just had to work every step. Felt heavy which could be related to the chocolate bar sale at the grocery store. Spent half the race fiddling Maya ipod touch cause mine has died. Touch screens and my sweaty hands do not mix. So I didn't get the win but somebody who has always wanted to beat me did so I'm really happy for her.

After the race spent some time sneaking granola bars into my bag to take home and catching up with my kindergarten teacher. This was actually really awesome cause I got to thank her for committing time and energy into cross country while I was in puplic school. It is for that I am a runner today.

Shoes

I got in trouble by Maya.

She saw a shoe box in the car and exclamied "MORE SHOES?? Another pair of running shoes? You do not need a new pair until you grow out of all yours."

Just for the record I only have five pairs in rotation now. I just know there is that perfect pair somewhere.

End of the day

You know its getting to be Ever's bed time when he finds a quiet corner to read.

Beach

We went to Southampton and Port Elgin today for some family fun and to check out bikes for Anne.
It was a excellent day (despite the fridgide water) and the weather was awesome.
We rode about 5km on the trail to Southampton which both kids enjoyed very much. It's sooooo nice that Ever can ride so well on his own now. We just need him off those training wheels....

Circles

This is Ever's Sun. He is wearing his cape so everybody is aware of his superhero status.

On another circle note, I BP my 400metre time at the track by 10seconds tonight. I think it is a BP, in any event it is the fastest I have ran 400metres this year. 1:28. Fast by my standards.

Bruce Trail Rule

• Take the distance planned for the day. Calculate the amount of time you think it should take you. Double it and add a hour.

And that was my day. 36.38 completed. Time- 7.5 hours!!!!

Ran from Cape Chin to Barrows Bay with the help of best friends husband John. The ability to leave a car at the end point and not having to involve a bicycle or a hitch hikers thumb is most welcome. Very thankful.

Problem was large portion of the trail was not runnable due to the large rocks, boulders and roots. Runnable sections could have gone better if I had not had a empty battery ipod two hours in. Spent maybe half hour total talking and standing/around with other hikers. They were all impressed with me running. I was impressed with the through hiker I met. Although I think he is taking maybe a tad too relaxed approach to the trail considering I came across him while he was having his second nap of the day.

Drank water from the bay, hope I don't get a parasite.

All this Bruce trail running is part of my attempt to complete the Peninsula section of the Bruce trail this year in day runs.

Paddy Dash

Participated in a little charity duelathlon today. 2.5Run/ 15kBike/ 2.5k Run. Done in around 55:23.
Ended up being 2nd OA, 1st Female.

So I guess I can say I won a race now. Although there was no prices nor acknowledgement of how anybody did so I don't think it really counts. 

You know how 'they' say the bike will help you on the run but not in reverse? Well I think that's crap cause I had not been on my bike since last summer up until this week and I still rode well. So something had to have helped.

Sad

There is is a blog I read about strangers lives. People I have never met.

I have been reading it since 2005, so when that happens you kinda feel invested in these peoples lives.
This couple happen to attend the New Tribes  in Durham which prepares people to become missionaries, specifically unreached tribal missions. I have been with them as they completed their two years of training  , a year of raising support, and their overseas deployment. I sat on the sidelines as they battled culture shock, shared in the joy of a new baby, and was saddened to hear of a death in the family.

I sensed that all was not well across the water. I read between the lines and wondered if the blog posts were less frequent because of facebook and twitter or something else?

I wasn't really surprised to read that it was over, that they were coming home. That the choice became stay or leave and save the family.

I feel devastated for this couple. Knowing that for half of their lives overseas missions was their dream and their calling  and now what? They have invested everything education, money, and heart......and now what??