After watching Beth run her marathon last year, Nicole and I decided to train for the Vancouver Marathon. We've joined the YMCA marathon clinic and we meet every Sunday at 8:30am at the YWCA (while the other Y is being rebuilt) on Hornby and Dunsmuir.
I ran a marathon in 2004 and was a bit disappointed with my time - 5hrs 23min. I've run 4 half marathons with times ranging from 2:03 to 2:12. Running the marathon kind of killed my running spirit and since then I've only run bi-annually in spring and fall 10k races. I've been happy that despite my lack of training I've kept up pretty consistent 60-70 minute 10k times. Nicole has run a few 10k races and each week of our training is breaking new distance records - it's pretty exciting and I'm glad to be running with her. :)
The clinic started the Thanksgiving weekend but instead of the 6 mile run scheduled, I ran the Turkey Trot 10k race. The following weekend was a 7 mile run and then I was away for 2 weeks in Mexico. I really did plan on running, but the altitude combined with a general sense of uneasiness at the thought of running alone kept my running shoes in the closet of our hotel room. I did make it out once to run in the Oaxacan version of the "Run for the Cure", but it ended up being only a 3km loop in the city. Oh well. The day after I got home I set out and put in 9 miles going around the seawall until where it was closed then up on the trail through the devastated forest. I hadn't been through there since the storms last year and it was amazing to see the destruction. It was a beautiful blue sky day and I was so thankful to be home and to be living in such a wonderful city. A perfect day for running.
The Y was closed for the Remembrance Day weekend so we met at the False Creek Community Centre and ran practically the exact same route I had done earlier in the week. This past weekend we were back at the Y and following a short talk on how to choose the correct running shoe we were off. Just like everyone else that day, we headed for the seawall - it's finally open all the way around again! Just in time for more storms? We'll see. It was a very nice morning and by 11:30 we had run 10 miles and I was back home having a hot shower.
A few things to point out:
- the clinic schedule counts our distances in miles. It takes a little getting used to, but it kind of ends up being a mental thing for me... I'd rather run 10 miles than 16km, or 26.2 miles (marathon distance) than 42.2km.
- I'm really happy to be doing the training this time around with a friend. I think it will make such a difference and so far that has been true! A partner will get you out running when you don't want to go and will keep you distracted on the long runs with good conversation.
- the weekday runs killed me last time. I was finishing my degree at UBC and not really enjoying being there and coming home and running in the evening was the last thing on my mind. I didn't run enough and it hurt me in the long run - it literally hurt me... I got stress fractures in both shins. This time around things have been good so far. I've been running 5km at least twice a week and trying to do some sort of cross-training once a week. A couple weeks ago Nicole and I rode bikes from her house on Capitol Hill to Deep Cove. It was great! (Except for the sore bum parts) Luke has been trying to get more exercise and so we are trying to get out together - I run and he rides his big unicycle. It's really nice and works really well.
- I'm doing way more yoga now than I was when I was training before and I think this will really help me. Running so many miles is hard on the body and yoga can be very restorative. I'm trying to keep up my 4-6 days per week of Ashtanga and looking to incorporate some Yin yoga as well which is supposed to be great for deep tissue opening and relaxation.
Anyway, I didn't mean for this to be such a long post, but I'd like to keep this blog as something of a training log for the marathon and I should have started a month ago so I had a bit of catching up to do. The marathon is May 4th, 2008 - 24 weeks away! :)
I didn't run today. The Mondays after the long runs are rest days. I did go for a long walk with the little guy I babysit in the stroller and was pleased that my legs felt pretty good. No stiffness, just a bit tired.
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2 comments:
Make that only TWO 10 km races (and I don't like to call them races - "fun run" is a much kinder term). I'm enjoying training with you too! I don't think I could do it alone. Of course, the old guys in our running clinic help too ;)
I thought it was more than two! Wow, good for you! Yes, I should have mentioned that once the half marathon group turns around it's just me, Nicole and usually 3 older men with A LOT of marathon experience. They've got lots of good advice and provide good motivation for us. If they can do it so can we!
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