In a bit of a fog as far as running goes...just did not know what to do. Was I going to get back into the form of a couple years earlier before the injury? 2013 was a tough year that needed direction. Or maybe it was okay to just meander about, run when I felt like it and relax when I didn't.
Afraid of Re-injury! Not wanting to push too hard. Not knowing how hard to push. Felt a little pain..."is that the injury coming back", "maybe I can't", "is this normal"? Who knows.
I don't know what happened and maybe my body was just not ready yet, maybe it wanted more time. Maybe I should start listening to my body instead of telling it what to do all the time. It is one thing to push yourself, but a whole other to push it too far. The challenge is finding that sweet spot between Pain and Gain.
May, June and July came with a tremendous fury. Pains gone, distance and speed increasing. Still no real rhythm or set schedule but I was starting to enjoy myself. I had a free entry into the Surrey International World Music 1/2 Marathon. Was just going to run it for fun...had not really trained well for it. There was no way I was going to come close to a PB. I know this sound very negative but I was being realistic. I always try my hardest, put my best foot forward and most of all manage my expectations. And so I continued working towards this race.
July was a great mix of running and cycling. Now when I say to someone "yeah, I am a runner!", they can be pretty sure and know that I am but when I say cycling...well that is me just out on the road bush-whacking along with my mountain bike trying to keep up to my mates (who actually have road bikes)...To be continued
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Rediscovering the Passion - Episode 1
A thought had passed through my mind that I was back and all would be as it was...obviously not. For what had seemed to be an almost idyllic time in my running career, I found myself once again floundering in my pursuit to recapture the passion. 2013 ended up being a rollercoaster ride into the unknown.
Although I finished the year with a respectable accumulation of 1600km this was overshadowed a couple months earlier by the grim reality that on Oct 8th my Garmin 305 recorded its' last workout. Barely able to hold a charge I frantically struggled with it for a few months until that fateful day. My friend, my colleague, my crutch, my coach! What was I going to do without this little marvelous piece of technology?
Although I finished the year with a respectable accumulation of 1600km this was overshadowed a couple months earlier by the grim reality that on Oct 8th my Garmin 305 recorded its' last workout. Barely able to hold a charge I frantically struggled with it for a few months until that fateful day. My friend, my colleague, my crutch, my coach! What was I going to do without this little marvelous piece of technology?
Friday, 22 March 2013
Injury felt like a life time but...I am back!
Well after a year and several months of recovery, I think that I am back. The end of 2011 saw me suffer through a Sportsman Hernia after the Victoria Marathon. I tired to continue running but the pain was unbearable. I wanted to avoid surgery like it was the plague and managed to stay away from running for 8 months and some...not always...intensive Physio and core strengthening.
I would like to say that I am fully recovered but strengthening exercises are really difficult to keep going and stay motivated. I manage to get to the gym once a week or so and find that while there, it really is not that bad.
Not runing really paid off as I felt the pain subsiding over time. One problem though...being that I had been running 50 - 70 kms per week, when I stopped running my intake was not reduced. I managed to put on about 12 lbs and boy can I feel it now.
I ran very short distances in the second half of 2012. My running mates were also sidelined; one with knee issues, another with broken ribs, a fractured arm and just when that healed...foot problems. My running was very sporatic and I wondered if I would ever get back the desire to work as hard as I once did...would I get injured again. I was afraid to commit. Haphazardly I trudged along doing what I could.
2012 saw me enter the longest day 5km race, not to race but to have an excuse to eat all the awesome food that they serve there. Certainly Gord and Dean could say a few words on this topic.
As I neared Jan 2013, I really started feel stronger and the desire coming back so on Jan 1, 2013 I ran. On Jan 2, I ran. And so I ran for the next 4 days. I thought, "I am going to run every day for the whole year". Then I got busy, or so I told myself. I tired to mix a run or two with a gym workout and a couple weeks would go by and I found that I had not run at all!
Nearing the end of March, I have managed to go out running 26 times for total distance of 195 kms...not a bad average (32% of the days and 7.5 kms). However I am at 50% of my volume this same time period from 2011. I have some work to do. I have signed up for the Surrey International 1/2 Marathon in September. This shall be my motivation.
This month I have run 7 times keeping with my average but I have seen an increase in my distance, averaging 10km per activity, impressed myself! Today I managed a long Easy run, that ended at 17kms. My longest run this year. It felt great! No pain! I think "I am back!"
I would like to say that I am fully recovered but strengthening exercises are really difficult to keep going and stay motivated. I manage to get to the gym once a week or so and find that while there, it really is not that bad.
Not runing really paid off as I felt the pain subsiding over time. One problem though...being that I had been running 50 - 70 kms per week, when I stopped running my intake was not reduced. I managed to put on about 12 lbs and boy can I feel it now.
I ran very short distances in the second half of 2012. My running mates were also sidelined; one with knee issues, another with broken ribs, a fractured arm and just when that healed...foot problems. My running was very sporatic and I wondered if I would ever get back the desire to work as hard as I once did...would I get injured again. I was afraid to commit. Haphazardly I trudged along doing what I could.
2012 saw me enter the longest day 5km race, not to race but to have an excuse to eat all the awesome food that they serve there. Certainly Gord and Dean could say a few words on this topic.
As I neared Jan 2013, I really started feel stronger and the desire coming back so on Jan 1, 2013 I ran. On Jan 2, I ran. And so I ran for the next 4 days. I thought, "I am going to run every day for the whole year". Then I got busy, or so I told myself. I tired to mix a run or two with a gym workout and a couple weeks would go by and I found that I had not run at all!
Nearing the end of March, I have managed to go out running 26 times for total distance of 195 kms...not a bad average (32% of the days and 7.5 kms). However I am at 50% of my volume this same time period from 2011. I have some work to do. I have signed up for the Surrey International 1/2 Marathon in September. This shall be my motivation.
This month I have run 7 times keeping with my average but I have seen an increase in my distance, averaging 10km per activity, impressed myself! Today I managed a long Easy run, that ended at 17kms. My longest run this year. It felt great! No pain! I think "I am back!"
Sunday, 4 September 2011
Marathon Training...Mountain Running...
A little late but it seems that this past week was just a blur and I am just getting to put thoughts to paper...so to speak on another hard week of training. I feel that I am truly starting to push my limits and getting stronger for it.
Saturday August 27th marked the efforts of our group (Greg, Walter, Chris, Antonio, Ken, Dean and myself), as we started out on the second half of the Kneeknacker (http://www.kneeknacker.com/race-info-course/). The full course is a 30 mile race that stretches from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove, Climbing 8,000 feet and descending another 8,300 feet, following the Baden-Powell Centennial Trail up and over several mountains that grace the north shore of Vancouver.
The first half was accomplished back on July 30th and was my first real run on Mountain trails. We started out at Horseshoe bay and finished at Cleveland Dam at the foot of Grouse Mountain (15 miles).
It is not every day that you can experience the agony of mountain climbing, the thrill of running through wilderness trails, pause and witness the awe and beauty of nature as you stand some 4,000 feet above the world and take in all the sights to behold.
The second 15 miles was just as exhilarating, inspiring and really put into perspective our place on the Earth. With a few stops along the way to discuss how we were all doing, take in food and water, clean up some cuts and scrapes from some tumbles and gather the group in; (we tended to spread out along the trail as the technical difficulty of it would dictate who could lead and who would follow), we made it to Deep Cove in just under 4 hours. Amazing run!
With other engagements calling, some had to depart while the rest of us joined by some other family members embarked on the Grouse Grind (2 km hike straight up) and stretching the limits of our abilities even further considering the run we had just completed. Another round of training in the books and some good fun with friends too!
If asked 3 1/2 years ago, I would never have imagined that I would be doing something like this. I think that we are all so much more capable than we know, than we give ourselves credit for. Find passion in whatever you do...in your family, your children, your spouse. Find passion in what interests you and just go for it! Pour in your soul and give it everything you have in those moments. You will never ever regret a single day!
Both of these runs, really added some good mileage for the marathon but even more so, it was the time spent on the legs. Getting used to the time is critical. The speed will be there, the breathing and conditioning will be fine...endurance in all of this is key. The week prior set a new personal best in distance trained, topping out at over 90 km for the week. This week saw another 60 km travelled. 5 weeks to the Victoria Marathon and I think that I am right on track. Today, Sunday Sept 4th would normally be a long run day but I figure a days rest is in order and the long run will happen tomorrow. Let's see what 31 km will do to me then.
Until tomorrow...I can't wait!
Saturday August 27th marked the efforts of our group (Greg, Walter, Chris, Antonio, Ken, Dean and myself), as we started out on the second half of the Kneeknacker (http://www.kneeknacker.com/race-info-course/). The full course is a 30 mile race that stretches from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove, Climbing 8,000 feet and descending another 8,300 feet, following the Baden-Powell Centennial Trail up and over several mountains that grace the north shore of Vancouver.
The first half was accomplished back on July 30th and was my first real run on Mountain trails. We started out at Horseshoe bay and finished at Cleveland Dam at the foot of Grouse Mountain (15 miles).
It is not every day that you can experience the agony of mountain climbing, the thrill of running through wilderness trails, pause and witness the awe and beauty of nature as you stand some 4,000 feet above the world and take in all the sights to behold.
With other engagements calling, some had to depart while the rest of us joined by some other family members embarked on the Grouse Grind (2 km hike straight up) and stretching the limits of our abilities even further considering the run we had just completed. Another round of training in the books and some good fun with friends too!
If asked 3 1/2 years ago, I would never have imagined that I would be doing something like this. I think that we are all so much more capable than we know, than we give ourselves credit for. Find passion in whatever you do...in your family, your children, your spouse. Find passion in what interests you and just go for it! Pour in your soul and give it everything you have in those moments. You will never ever regret a single day!
Both of these runs, really added some good mileage for the marathon but even more so, it was the time spent on the legs. Getting used to the time is critical. The speed will be there, the breathing and conditioning will be fine...endurance in all of this is key. The week prior set a new personal best in distance trained, topping out at over 90 km for the week. This week saw another 60 km travelled. 5 weeks to the Victoria Marathon and I think that I am right on track. Today, Sunday Sept 4th would normally be a long run day but I figure a days rest is in order and the long run will happen tomorrow. Let's see what 31 km will do to me then.
Until tomorrow...I can't wait!
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Sunday Long Run - Breaking Down Barriers
Well it came and went and thank you for last Monday's recovery day. As mentioned, Sunday capped off a hard week of training only really to be paused for a moment before this week took over. It was a welcomed relief that Monday brought a day of no running. Although no matter how tired, how sore or fatigued you feel; even on a recovery day it seems as though you should be out there running.
Dean and I ran a good 33 km on Sunday that had its' share of hills, road and trail. I felt pretty strong as we trotted along at a decent pace. I have been struggling this year with the Psychological aspect of running. Trying to break down the negative thoughts that want me to stop when I feel tired or a little uncomfortable. Even a couple weeks ago nearing the end of another long run, I stopped short of 34 km and walked a bit before picking it up again and finishing off the run 2 km later. I let my mind get the better of me. This week I could feel those same thoughts coming which really gave me an odd feeling. I can vividly recall thinking to myself at around 27 km "I feel great, strong, this is easy" and no sooner had those thoughts gone through my mind, I questioned their validity! Why did I want to defeat myself? How could I come up with two opposing ideas on how I felt in almost the same instant? Confidence maybe?...Maybe!
At this moment, I decided to break down the wall that was really keeping me from succeeding this year and continued on in despite of those demons. The power of positive thought should never be underestimated. We are all truly capable of way more than we know and should trust ourselves to break down those barriers even if we are wondering or questioning at that same instant, our ability to do so! The answer is yes. Yes we can.
I finished the run strong, and was looking forward to another hard week of training.
Dean and I ran a good 33 km on Sunday that had its' share of hills, road and trail. I felt pretty strong as we trotted along at a decent pace. I have been struggling this year with the Psychological aspect of running. Trying to break down the negative thoughts that want me to stop when I feel tired or a little uncomfortable. Even a couple weeks ago nearing the end of another long run, I stopped short of 34 km and walked a bit before picking it up again and finishing off the run 2 km later. I let my mind get the better of me. This week I could feel those same thoughts coming which really gave me an odd feeling. I can vividly recall thinking to myself at around 27 km "I feel great, strong, this is easy" and no sooner had those thoughts gone through my mind, I questioned their validity! Why did I want to defeat myself? How could I come up with two opposing ideas on how I felt in almost the same instant? Confidence maybe?...Maybe!
At this moment, I decided to break down the wall that was really keeping me from succeeding this year and continued on in despite of those demons. The power of positive thought should never be underestimated. We are all truly capable of way more than we know and should trust ourselves to break down those barriers even if we are wondering or questioning at that same instant, our ability to do so! The answer is yes. Yes we can.
I finished the run strong, and was looking forward to another hard week of training.
Saturday, 20 August 2011
In The Beginning
Well maybe not the beginning...I will save that recap for another day, but thought I would describe where we are right now.
Another day of training has gone by as I, along with Dean set our sights on the Victoria Marathon in October. We are nearing the end of the Aerobic Capacity phase of our training and though this week was supposed to be one of recovery it has been anything but. Thanks to 4 days vacation last week at the trailer, smores, hot dogs and the ever popular buffet restaurant, Four Seasons I found myself a victim to temptation. It was well worth the distraction though, we had a great time playing in the pool, lying in the sun and visiting the scenic Fairhaven, WA! Fairhaven Village Fish'n Chips...awesome! And can you believe 50 flavours of soft serve ice cream!!
Knowing that you really can never make up the lost kilometres, I decided to make this a bit more of a hard week than was scheduled after missing out on a combined 4 hours of running. I feel so guilty, no really I do...it's a sickness I know!
Running since Tuesday, I have accumulated 53 km. With our Sunday long run tomorrow of 34 km, it will push the total to 87 km. This is certainly something that we are used to, so there is not much concern about fatigue or injury at this point. We'll see what happens next week as sticking to the schedule means another very hard week leading up to more specific marathon training. With 7 weeks to the Marathon, it's crunch time. No more giving in to temptation! Well maybe a little...
Another day of training has gone by as I, along with Dean set our sights on the Victoria Marathon in October. We are nearing the end of the Aerobic Capacity phase of our training and though this week was supposed to be one of recovery it has been anything but. Thanks to 4 days vacation last week at the trailer, smores, hot dogs and the ever popular buffet restaurant, Four Seasons I found myself a victim to temptation. It was well worth the distraction though, we had a great time playing in the pool, lying in the sun and visiting the scenic Fairhaven, WA! Fairhaven Village Fish'n Chips...awesome! And can you believe 50 flavours of soft serve ice cream!!
Knowing that you really can never make up the lost kilometres, I decided to make this a bit more of a hard week than was scheduled after missing out on a combined 4 hours of running. I feel so guilty, no really I do...it's a sickness I know!
Running since Tuesday, I have accumulated 53 km. With our Sunday long run tomorrow of 34 km, it will push the total to 87 km. This is certainly something that we are used to, so there is not much concern about fatigue or injury at this point. We'll see what happens next week as sticking to the schedule means another very hard week leading up to more specific marathon training. With 7 weeks to the Marathon, it's crunch time. No more giving in to temptation! Well maybe a little...
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