March 31, 2010 - sunny 14 degrees

I honestly don't remember when there wasn't any snow on the ground on the last day in March. Today was beautiful!!! They said high of 14 but that usually means around 4pm, but at lunch today the temp was definately above that. So my long pant/long shirt combo was a little warm! I had my first canal run of the spring and it was great. The skating huts are still in and there's no water, but there's a certain feeling about running along the canal. Just over 3.5k in 21mins.

View from the Street:
Ottawa is no different from any other Canadian city that gets really cold winters. The moment the warmth returns everyone ventures outside and that's no different for runners/walkers. They were out in droves today. The outfits ranged from what I was wearing to skimpy tanktops and short shorts. Above all it was a good run, warm with the sun but the breeze was cool.

The Music:
Sadly my iPod got left on so it was dead and I forgot my sunglasses. I've forgotten how much harder it is to run without both.

No work training tomorrow, so maybe a 5k at lunch. It's suppose to go up to 20 degrees!

March 30, 2010 - cloudy with some sun 10 degrees

Back on track!!! Spent the day in an advanced writing skills workshop and was sitting in a way that to see the facilitator I had to turn my neck. After two weeks with a sore back/neck, this didn't help the healing process. It would have been so easy not to run, so I asked Rob to pick up the girls after work. That way I could go straight home and put on my gear and head out. Which is exactly what I did!

The greatest part of the spring is that I can run on the cart paths of the golf course near our house and the dog can run free and chase the geese. 3k in 18mins!

View from the street/golf cart:
Just me and Dartagnan out by ourselves. Not a lot of runners on the golf course. Lots of Canadian Geese though! It hasn't got to the point where you're dodging goose poop or being charged by a really pissed off mommy goose. The biggest challenge is keeping Darty out of the water because there is nothing worse than wet dog. Especially when he runs in front and I'm down wind.

The Music:
Uprising - Muse
Rock DJ - Robbie Williams
In Her Eyes - Josh Grobin
Help I'm Alive - Metric
Saturday's Night Alright For Fighting - Nickleback

My goal is to get out for a short run at lunch tomorrow. It's suppose to be nicer tomorrow, here's hoping the weather guy is right!

Until then!

March 29, 2010 - cold, wet, plus 6 icky!!!

ok another not so great run. about 5 minutes into my run and my ankle started to bug me, I slowed down on the treadmill and it seemed ok so I sped up again. At 8minutes my ankle was excrutiating and then rolled. Makes for a little excitement when trying really hard not to fall off and look like nothing happened! Not exactly the best start back from holidays!

View from the Treadmill:
Terribly fit sweaty guy next to me. He runs almost everyday but never outdoors only on the treadmill. It's impressive to watch at 15km/h on the treadmill for over 45minutes, but also kind of disgusting when you get hit with someone elses sweat. They also had muchmusic on two of the tv's. Why do they call it a music station when they never play anything but teen angst teledramas????

The Music:
Poker Face - Lady Gaga (ran)
Exo-Politics - Muse (walked)
Invincible - Muse (almost fell off treadmill)
Meet Me on the Equinox - Death Cab for Cutie (walked aimlessly through the gym hoping to find motivation, but alas NO :( )

March 24, 2010 - Sunny 15 degrees

So I know not all runs are great, but today's was especially crappy. It didn't help that the music was against me. The weather was gorgeous and the route flat, but at 20mins I wasn't enjoying it, in fact it was probably the hardest and most emotional run I've had in a while. The last 48 hours haven't been so great. I had a fight with one of my best friends, another friend's mother went into the hospital and knowing that our vacation is coming to an end brought me down. The half bottle of wine with dinner last night and dehydration in general made for a craptastic run! I think if I was new to running I would say I'm done, but I know to just keep running because these runs are less frequent the more you go out.

So today was my last run in Sarasota, so that makes 4 total. A couple less than I wanted, but at least I got out there. Tomorrow we are off to Disney and to see "the castle". Can't wait to see the girls reactions!

View from the Street:
There were a few people out and about today. The locals are very friendly. Everyone waves. On my final kilometer a deer ran out in front of me, scared the crap out of me too! Was kind of cool, don't see that very often at home. At least they run away at home, they are much more domesticated here.

The Music:
I had to skip a lot of songs, b/c all the depressing ones kept coming up.
Misery Business - Paramore
Bad Romance - Lady Gaga
Poker Face - Lady Gaga
United States of Eurasia/Collateral Damage - Muse (skipped)
Uprising - Muse
Done All Wrong - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (skipped)
Mamma Mia - Meryl Streep
I Belong to You - Muse (skipped)
Monsters - Hurricane Bells
Human - The Killers
Tremble for my Beloved - Collective Soul
Assassin - Muse

It's depressing when the music that keeps you motivated is the really poppy/dance stuff

So no running until we get back to Ottawa, but tomorrow I'll probably walk 10k at Disney park.

Until next time!

March 22, 2010 - Sunny 17 degrees

So no running yesterday because the sore shoulder combined with not golfing since last summer equals no movement. Plus a kid with projectile vomiting and thunderstorms meant not a lot of leaving the house.

Today however, I got up with happier kids and sun. So off I went and ran 5.35k in 34mins, not bad but had to walk a bit due to the heat. I'm feeling much better today, but still have a sore shoulder. Here's hoping it gets alot better before the long drive home.

View from the Street:
Not much actually. I saw a few golfers and that is about it.

The Music:
iPod died before I could get full names and bands/musicians so I'll guess and update later

Ill Scarlett
Map of the Problematic - Muse
Metric
Meet Me On The Equinox - Death Cab for Cutie
Angels - Robbie Williams - cool down
Full Moon - The Black Ghosts

March 20, 2010 - Sunny 24 degrees

Well the weather here in sunny Florida actually feels like Florida! I didn't run today but I did golf 18 holes. And by golfing I mean I followed a stupid little white ball around 18 holes and hit it way too many times. I still don't know the fascination. Ah well, it was fun because we were with good friends!

I have been introduced to muscles I forgot I had with all that swinging! I'm sure tomorrow when I do run will be interesting. I'm also burnt to a crispy, forgot about that too!

Anyway, no view or music today!

March 18, 2010 - 17 degrees and sunny

and really really windy! So I got up this morning and didn't think. Just put on my running stuff and headed out. It was a great run, same route as yesterday but way more wind and no matter what direction I ran, I was running into it! How is that????

My shoulder is still killing me and exhaustion is overwhelming as I finally fell asleep around 4:30am. Yup, you read right. Our 4 year old, Abby, had a little too much yesterday and had projectile vomiting in the car. That was about 6pm. Then every hour after that until around 4am, good times!!!!!

Every day I think it's going to get a little easier to do this, but life seems to get in the way. I still went out and feel the better for it! 3.56km today 22mins

View from the street:
Well not much around except for more deer. Those humans I did see out and about were all bundled up like is was freezing out. I was wearing shorts and a tank top! LOVE IT!!!

The Music:
Breathe - Nickelback
Does Your Mother Know - Christine Baranski (Mamma Mia Soundtrack)
Nothing Special - IllScarlett - great running track!
February Song - Josh Groban
Misery Business (Acoustic Version) - Paramore - fantastic version
Elephant Love Medley - Moulin Rouge

March 17, 2010 - Florida grey skies but 13 degrees!~

So I know it's not Tuesday but after 3 days in a car I had the worst pain in my back to the point where moving wasn't happening. And to be honest I wasn't going to run today either. But after Rob went for his run this morning and then talking to my sister and she asked why I hadn't blogged yet, I got my motivation. I'm not going to lie, my back is killing me and doing shoulder checks when crossing roads took the whole body turn, but in the end I ran 3.55km , out and back. The grey skies and the nice breeze made for a delightful run. The out and back wasn't so bad because I'm not completely familiar with the run. The last time I ran here was a year ago for the pre-run to the Disney Princess Half Marathon. It was a good run, felt great to get out despite the pain. I shall persevere!!

View from the street:
DEER!!! and lots of them


The Music:
Audience of One - Rise Against
I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas - great running song!
Your Song - Ewan MacGregor - a little slow but hey it's Ewan!
Jai Ho - A. R. Rahman
Right Round - Flo Rider - check me I'm hip...or not!
No One Loves Me and Neither Do I - Them Crooken Vultures

Until Tomorrow!

March 12, 2010 - grey 3 degrees

Ok, I wimped today. But only because I know that in 4 days I'll be in warmer weather in Florida. I should go, I know I should go, but I'm having one of those days where I just don't want to. I could lie and say it's because my back hurts, or I'm too tired, but really I'm just not feeling it. I am feeling the fact that I'm officially on vacation for two weeks and plan to do a whole lot of relaxing which will include a morning run or two. My plan is to get out at least 3 times each week and do the 5k circuit around my parent's house in Florida. Can't wait. I can wait, however, for the 4 days in the car. Now it won't be straight down, we are stopping to visit family on the way, but it'll be alot of sitting on my ass and eating not so great food. So the incentive to run it off when I get there is huge! Plus I'll be seen in a bathingsuit and that's motivation enough.

Ok, enough of my rant! Until Tuesday.

March 10, 2010 - sunny 5 degrees

Today was a run day. It was beautiful out. I needed a little encouragement to get out there from a co-worker but once I was out, it was great. I'm still getting use to running outside again (wind, sun, hills!). I ran the bridges again. I only stopped once but that was to take off my jacket. LOVE IT!!!

View from the street:
Well more and more are taking to the streets with this weather. It's a great feeling. Nothing prophetic to speak of, more of a statement. I really hate it when you get passed by someone who makes you feel like you're standing still. I was cruising along and swish, a very tall streak of black running gear wizzed by. It's a little defeating to say the least. But after I lost sight of him and started to pass a few runners myselt, I felt much better.

The Music:
Savior - Rise Against
Roslyn - Bon Iver and St. Vincent
We are Broken - Paramore
Bring Me To Life - Evanescence
No Sound But the Wind - Editors
Jai Ho - A. R. Rahman
Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins
Speechless - Lady Gaga
Can You Feel It - Jackson 5

Until Next Time!

March 9th - Sunny 6 degrees celcius

So today was a work out/gym day. Nothing inspiring and hardly mentionable. My work out was rushed due to a late running meeting. Hey, at least I got there. Not even a little eye candy for motivation. Today it was packed too. A little warmth and everyone is trying to get their swimsuit body ready.

View from the treadmill:
Today a stick figure was running/preening on a treadmill in front. She was wearing the shortest white running shorts, if you can call them that, that were so low on her waist, it left nothing to the imagination. As she ran, while reading some sort of magazine, the shorts would start to ride up. The guy next to me nearly fell of his treadmill as she stopped to re-adjust to just above the crack line. I think he tripped on his tongue and went purple because I guess I laughed out loud.

The Workout:
Just so you are aware, my weights workouts are based on Free Form Fitness's 30min personal training program which I took part in last year and have continued to use on my own.

5 min run at 10.0km/h on treadmill warmup
Dead lift (3 x 8reps) @ 60lbs;
Leg extension (3 x 12reps) @70lbs;
Back extensions (3 x 10 reps)
Captain chair knee up (2 x 10reps)

The music:
New Moon on Monday - Duran Duran
Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
All These Things That I've Done - The Killers
Interlude with Ludes - Them Crooked Vultures
Born for This - Paramore
Pacino - Ill Scarlett
Something Beautiful - Robbie Williams

I make no apologies for my music, it is what it is!

Until Tomorrow!

It starts today - March 8th, 2010

It's 2010 and it's the last year of my 4th decade. I never gave much thought about getting older but today on my lunchtime run I decided I'd take stock of what I had and write down the thoughts of the year I decided to run a marathon. So my goal is to write about each of my runs from now until January 9th, 2011 where I will take part in my first and last marathon at Walt Disney World in Florida.

I've never really wanted to run a marathon. I'm not even sure I can.

So you ask, why now? Well to be honest I'm not sure. It's not on my bucket list, in fact I don't actually have one. My life is great. I have a husband I adore and two beautiful little girls. I may not be in my dream job but that's only because I haven't figured out what that is, but I do have a job I like. I have an amazing group of friends and the best family you could ask for. So my incentive, basically, why not. I'm turning 40, it seems like a perfectly reasonable task to take on. 42.2kms in my 40th year.

I won't be running alone. I have a great friend to run with me. I shall try to keep her out of it, but no guarantees.

So what I plan to do.

My goal is to write about this journey. A personal safari using running as the outlet. I'm not new to running, I've already run 7 half marathons, so my base level is there. I've also taught a few learn to run courses at the Running Room in Ottawa, so I do know the basics.

Each day I run I will post how it went, where I ran, random thoughts created whilst running, give any advice to training and my play list. My iPod is always on shuffle, so the songs will be random and sometimes obscure. I won't be running everyday, but will comment on gym workouts occassionally. I will be honest and blunt hopefully making this journey of running easier because the idea of running for 5 hours straight has no appeal to me what so ever. At the end of this race all I want is my Mickey Mouse medal.

So the journey begins.

Todays run - March 8th, 2010

It was beautiful out. 7 degrees and sunny and for March in Ottawa, that's awesome! I ran the bridges in Ottawa. For those who live here, that's the Portage Bridge over to Gatineau and return on the Alexandra Bridge back into Ottawa. My starting point was the GoodLife Gym on Queen Street. The run is just under 5k and it took about 30mins. It was slow and steady. Much better than last weeks attempt which was painful and reminded me that yes parliament hill is actually a hill. The only thing today that struck me was to start this blog and I think that's a good place to begin. I did't run with my iPod because I left my arm band at home. It really does make the hills that much longer.

Until tomorrow