First blisters

This morning I woke up to sore toes and a few blisters.  Terrible.  My toes are so sore and I can feel blisters starting on several toes.  Yesterday, I ran 15km, my longest run this year so far.  It was a fairly large increase but I was feeling great and wanted to do it!

I think I'll try increasing my distance a bit slower, I know there's the famous 10 percent rule to follow per week. 

So this morning I went to the Running Room and they were super helpful as always.  They showed me some rubber/plastic toe caps to prevent blisters on certain toes, or to protect blistered toes.  Everything there is expensive, so I thought if it happens again I'll go back and start using toe caps for long runs, but until then I just bought a pair of double padded running socks.  I need to buy more high quality running socks with padding in the toes!

I've already decided that I will NEVER be a runner with blisters, black and bruised toenails, or toenails falling off.  They say "it's not if, it's when" you get black toenails and blisters.  But I refuse.  If my toenail ever turns black or falls off I will cry.  That would be so embarassing and gross to wear sandals in warm weather!  So I will prevent these things before they happen. 

Aiming high!

Apparently I am aiming very high this year, as I've already signed up for 5 races this summer!  I only began running last summer, and I don't even know why.  Nathan always says, "you just decided you were going to be a runner one day!".  Last summer, I did a 10k and a 20k, but neither one did I train for very much or take very seriously. 

This year is different.  I've been running lots, and with a few friends each week too!  I've incorporated stairs and cross training, and yoga soon to come!  Any tips on yoga at home (tight budget)?

In May I will run my first full marathon in Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan Marathon.  Then in June, only 2 weeks after my marathon, is the Alberta Women's Challenge 10k with a few girls from work.  I'm aware that a race only 2 weeks after my marathon isn't smart, so I'm going to take it easy with my pace and not push myself too hard at that race.  I'm glad it's only 10k.  In July I have 2 races, the Color me Rad 5k with Janine, our boyfriends, and a few other people.  I am so excited for that one, especially to see Janine run 5k!  Then, Nathan and I will run the Moose is Loose 10k at Emily Murphy park.  I've heard this is a challenging trail race, I am going to be training him in the next few months each Wednesday when we do our stair workouts as well.  He's not a runner, and does not want to be, so after this 10k I am forcing upon him I will stop.  Unless he likes it...

August is going to be the best month of my whole year.  I can't wait.  I will be traveling to Vancouver to run the Lululemon SeaWheeze half marathon with Kara and Courtney.  It is a huge, popular event.  It appears that my $125 spent on the half marathon will be well spent--free manicures, pedicures, massages, Lululemon speed shorts, flip flops, food, an outdoor concert, and yoga by the ocean with hundreds of other runners.  Nathan is coming to Vancouver too, and we will make a 9-day ish trip of it by traveling to the Island, Seattle, and Kelowna as well. I love BC so much, we have a giant itinerary started already.

Here's to my spontaneous running year of aiming high!  I hope I am able to successfully complete all of my races and goals.

Running with friends

Running with someone is so much better than alone (at times). Even having a friend to run with once a week breaks up my routine and keeps me motivated so well.

I ran the science park hill with Kristen last week, and plan to again at the end of the month. Also, Kara and I try to run together almost every week. This week we are heading to the river valley for a nice 10k.

I hope to expand my group of running friends, but at the same time, sometimes it's just easier to go alone close to home and not have to meet up...takes more time out of my day. I'm happy Nathan has started too though, another person to add to my running friends who I see more often!

Stairs every Wednesday!

So we decided to start doing the wooden river valley stairs each Wednesday.  I have yet to find the ones closest to us (Capilano), so we just drive each week somewhere downtown to do a stair workout. 

Our first week, we followed a schedule of sprints, lunges, high knees, squats, and sets of stairs.  At the end we ran a huge, steep hill as well.  Needless to say, our calves were killing us for 2-3 days following!  This was only our second week, but it has been great working out together.  It was challenging both times and fun to do together!  This week we tried a new set of stairs, and they are much longer than the ones we did last week.  We also ran across the high level bridge and back on the blue LRT bridge (yes, Nathan ran too! 5 and 10k, here we come!), and I ran a few hills by the legislature at the end for my run training.  We decided that this set of stairs by the fancy, expensive Glenora gym and the blue LRT bridge would our "home stairs".  I looked it up, 202 stairs?!  Didn't seem quite that bad, but that would explain feeling like I was breathing through a straw and not being able to walk the whole set at once, let alone run them.  I feel incredibly out of shape suddenly.  Nathan was way better at it, I was so jealous!  Hoping to improve in weeks to come.

We were not nearly as sore this time...maybe it was the lack of small circuit training exercises?  Not sure, but I kind of liked the horrible soreness for days following, made it feel like we did something awfully good to our muscles without even realizing it at the time.  I think everyone should take an hour every week or so to incorporate stairs into their training!  I've heard this helps with my hill running abilities too.

Edmonton Canadian Derby 10k

August 18, 2012

Even though this didn't happen recently, I just want to document it for my information.  Last summer, I ran my first race ever!  Our 10k was part of the Canadian Derby weekend in Edmonton in August 2012, at Northlands and the Expo Centre.  I ran with my friend Kara from work and Margaret (walked).  My finishing time was 1:07-59. 

I consider myself a fairly slow runner, but hopefully one day, with practice, my time will improve.  After all, I only started running in the early summer of 2012, and not very seriously at that time.

My Running Journal

This is my first post.  I've decided to start this blog to keep track of my running progress, goals, and races I accomplish.  My lovely friend Janine recommended I start this!  The last time I tried blogging, I hardly even got started.  This time I'm excited to track my running journey and connect with other runners for tips and encouragement.

I'm not a marathon runner yet, but I plan to be by May 26, 2013! http://www.saskmarathon.ca/

That`s right, I am going to run my very first marathon this year!  Scary thought, seeing as I just started running seriously about a week ago.  That gives me less than 3 months less to train for it, but I will work my way up and train safely and quickly.  

I`m loving my new minimalist Asics--even though they look like a highlighter...

 Also loving my new XL comfy hoodie that Nathan bought for me last week!  I can`t wait to bundle up in it during and after runs and races (to show off).

 

More to come soon on my running progress and goals!