Oh Canada.....

Just got back from a week-long training jaunt to Canada. I felt I had peaked with my coaching in the U.S. and could learn some new techniques in the Great White North. You know, really hone my craft with a variety of tips and styles. . . . or was it that I just went to visit my in-laws in Toronto for a week and got some runs in while I was there? I forget which.


Anyway, it was a different feeling running there. First, what a temperature difference! It was unseasonably cool (even for Toronto). End of July and it was actually a little chilly at times. Not great for swimming, but it was perfect running weather.

I did all sorts of different routes over the course of the week - one that was all city streets, one that was in a city park, one that followed the Beltline (thank you Kay) - which is a nice wide wooded trail, and even one that was primarily through a (huge) cemetery. Got significantly lost twice....one on my long run, which was mentally painful. To realize at mile 9 that I've gone a couple miles out of my way. . . . oof. Running along the waterfront was great though. One of these days I'd love to climb the CN Tower (the steps, not the outside); I think you can do that.

I missed running with other people - I've definitely gotten used to that. I looked up a running store in the area to see if I could at least get one run in with a group. Unfortunately, their run on Sunday didn't start until 8:30 in the morning and we had plans that morning at 10:30. I stopped in there to get some gels on Friday and while chatting with the girl at the register, mentioned that I had wanted to run with them, but it was too late a run.

Cashier: Too LATE? It's at 8:30! (imagine a nice thick Canadian accent here, eh)
Me: Yeah, I guess you don't have the temperature problem here. In Atlanta, the runs have to start a lot earlier, or you get laid out by the heat and humidity.
Cashier: Our runners go out Saturday night. It's all we can do to get them in here at 8:30...

So Canadians are apparently not as hardy as their American counterparts.... :)

Another odd thing. In Atlanta, as in every other place in the States I've run, runners acknowledge each other as they pass on the streets. Usually a wave, maybe a nod, but a shared spirit type of gesture. In Toronto, at best runners completely ignore each other. A couple times, my smile was met by a flat-out scowl. That said though, when I got completely lost (as I tend to do whenever I leave...oh, my bedroom) and walked up to some unsmiling Torontonian and asked for help . . . . it completely changed. They were super nice and super helpful (each time). I guess you just have to ignore the facade.

Glad to be back to my groups and my hills though...

P-ache-riotic 4th

Interspersed with the 4th of July festivities this weekend, I worked in a 5 miler on Saturday and a 9 on Sunday. I enjoyed the BBQs and the fireworks...but I can't say I enjoyed the runs. It was a tough weekend running-wise.

I ran the 5 with a friend who is definitely a faster runner than I am. We just came out way too fast, especially on a very hot and humid day. It wasn't his doing though; it was all me acting stupid. I think part of it was not wanting to slow him down, and (a big) part of it was misjudgement. I've been running mostly on hills and this was basically a flat run, so I figured I could really turn it up. Between the heat and a day that I had already spent mostly in the sun... I didn't get the run I wanted. Not that bad though, I got in the mileage and hit the average pace I wanted - even though it was heavily weighted toward the first part of the run! The bad part was I was really aching that night; both my legs were just tight and throbbing. I was also exhausted - I don't think I was such good company for fireworks. In hindsight it makes sense. I was running late, so I skimped on the stretching - and then took off too fast right from the start. Not a recipe for bouncing back afterwards.

I got up early on Sunday and was still feeling the effects of the Saturday run. The first couple of miles I was working out the kinks in my muscles. After that, it was just a plodding type of run. Parts were good, parts were bad but I got in the miles, which is what matters. I had a scare when my knee twinged, funny enough almost at the exact spot in the run where I had a real problem back in November, that ended up with me taking off almost all of December. I stretched it out and it was fine though.

That's my biggest fear right now; I do not want my training derailed by an injury. I can come up with enough excuses on my own, I don't need a real one! I'm glad this is a back off week; I think it's coming at a good time for me.

Wednesday Mini Breaks

Man, it was HARD getting out of bed this morning for a 6:00 AM run! I briefly considered pulling the covers over my head and going back to sleep...but that's the beauty of a group run. Knowing there would be other people there gives me that extra tiny bit of motivation to get dressed and going.

Despite the pain of getting out of bed that early, I look forward to these Wednesday morning runs more and more. The neighborhoods around West Stride are really hilly, so it's never an easy run, but the people are just awesome. Just when I'm thinking that I need to stop and walk, I'll get involved in a conversation and the miles churn off. Plus, there's something wonderfully relaxing about hanging out and drinking coffee outside after a hard run first thing in the morning. It's like a mini-vacation right before the day starts. I come into work in a great mood. Am I becoming one of THOSE people?

The other benefit of these runs is I think it's helping my time - and that's definitely a good thing. I'm really trying to stick with the conventional wisdom of not setting a time goal for my first marathon - finishing it should be satisfaction enough. That said, I know me . . .by the time it rolls around, I'll have a goal. OK, I do have one now, but I'll keep it to myself since it isn't at all realistic...