Where have I been?

Sheesh, it has been over a year since I last posted. I don't know where to start. 

How do people stay consistent with this stuff daily? 

Fall of 2013 leading in to the new year was a bit of a rough one. I spent from Nov - March recovering from a bad break-up. I can't say that I've ever been that hurt before. And god knows, I've been hurt! Lol 

That moment when life on the outside to every looking in (including myself) looks fantastic. And the next you are blindsided. Introducing the "perfect" couple... not so much! This was my favorite place with him and his kids. :-(

Time heals all wounds!

To deal with my hurt, I spent the winter really focused on the gym. I learned a whole new level of weightlifting. It was intense and fun. The goal was to compete in a show in 2013.  

But, in April 2014- my contracted wasn't renewed at my job. Because of this, financially I couldn't keep up with the costs to continue with the goal. I WILL conquer this goal one day! With the contract not being renewed, it threw me in to a bit of a tailspin. I've been off my "diet" and gym practices for too long. 

What next? Where do I start? Job searching is so much fun. NOT! I am still looking... Fingers crossed!

Day 3 - Plank Challenge - June 14, 2013

It was a bit of a crappy day today.I haven't been feeling good all week.    However, I still managed to get my plank done today. It was a struggle (probably because I did it on the hardwood floor and my elbows hurt) but, it's done. And longer than Wednesday. Bam!! 

Would you rather?

#1. Would you rather bike 100 miles or run 100 miles? This is a bucket list item so, I would definitely rather bike 100 miles. My poor knees would never make a 100 mile run. lol

#2. Wear too many clothes and then have to carry them because it's too hot or wear too little clothes and endure a little coldness? I pay close attention to the weather prior to leaving the house. However, if I feel like it might be cool, I would rather wear a thin, dryfit long sleeve light that is easy to wrap around my waist. I hate being cold!

#3. Would you rather run without your GPS or without your music? This one is easy... I need my music!!! Even if I am running with a buddy, I need one ear bud in.

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. Bob Marley"

#4. Would you rather run socially or run competitively?  I know how my Sister would answer this question for me... competitive! lol  I am very competitive but, I enjoy a leisure run where I am not thinking about anything but what I am passing by (trees, flowers, people). Now if it is race day, that's a whole different story! Up until my first 1/2 marathon, as soon as the race would start I would fly like a rocket. And then yes, hit  wall barely able to reach 10km. But, I have learned that if I want to reach a longer distance, I have no choice but to slow down. So I guess the answer is... Yes I am competitive but, I love the social aspect of running as well. I like to cheer other runners on and show support. If someone was injured, I'd likely be the first to stop and be sure they didn't need help regardless to what it would do to my timing. If I'm running a 5-10km race, I'm full speed ahead. 

Finish line is about 100 m away!

  #5. Would you rather start a race in the front or the back? The new me would rather start at the back and let everyone pass me so that I can pass them later once they burn out (that used to be me). See, I told you I was competitive. :-)

#6. Would you rather run a race to raise money for a charity or in remembrance of someone?  Don't these two kind of go hand in hand? I will run any race but, I do often run races that have the two related. Given my relationship with cancer, I have many friends that have passed on. And given my relationship with the Military, same thing. Fundraising is getting tough. So many charities out there looking for help.

Brain Cancer Run in Ottawa 2012 - RIP Nat! I miss you so much! 

Marcy, Nat and Me! We miss you so much Natty! You are an angel in the sky now. Xoxoxo - We lost a Super, Awesome, Fantastic Woman, Friend, Daughter, Sister and Mother Feb 2013. If I could have traded places with Nat, I would have! :-(

#7. Would you rather have an awful race experience and PR or have the time of your life and not PR? Again, the competitive side of me wants the personal record or personal best. For example: my first half that I ran a few weeks ago. I did have the best time ever thanks to Michelle (read my blog about my Niagara Falls race to find out who Michelle is) www.3CheapRunners.com. I was expecting to run/walk that run, and take about 2:45/3:00hrs to do it. BUT.. I set my unexpected best PR/PB because it was my first half marathon. If I crossed that finish line, either way I WON! I live my life one day at a time now. And I don't take anything for granted anymore. So at the end of the day, having the time of my life is way more important. 

          Smile and let loose! 

#8. Would you rather run on the right side of the road during a race or the left? Here we go again with the competitive side of me. So, I was trained by a guy that runs long distance races all the time to stick to the inside of the road at any given time to cut my time down. So, I'm always back and forth across the road depending on which way the curve is coming at am.

#9. Would you rather shower and take a nap after a long run/race or shower and be productive?  I must shower right away. But, I will most likely stretch for a good half hour and depending on what my day has in store for me, is what I will do. Probably shower and be productive.

#10. Run with your significant other or your friends? I can only pray that I find a significant other that loves to run as well. That would be my perfect scenario.  I would never ditch my friends either.

Day 2 #plankaday challenge. Not bad for day 2. 3:23:7 mins. Core is getting stronger every day! The past year of working out has paid off. I haven't done planks in a long time. 

Please feel free to copy the questions and respond with your answers below in the comment box or in your own blog, status, notes etc... Just let me know where they are so that I can read your answers. :-)

Plank and Ab challenge. Who's in?

Okay so, time to get back on track. I have been a little lazy since I ran my first half marathon on June 2, 2013. I need to get moving!

So where do I start…

How about a plank  and an ab challenge? Just so happens that I crossed this challenge on Facebook through somebody's fitness page. Unfortunately I can't remember the page or I would share that information with you   Anyway, it is exactly what I was looking for. 

I will post a picture of me doing the plank with the time stamped on it. Thanks for the great idea Rhoda! :-) 

My goal is to be able to hold the plank position for minutes by the end of 30 days. 

Are you up for the challenge?

          June 11, 2013

 

6 weeks away - Niagara Falls Women's Half Marathon

I work for a magazine called iRun. Have you heard of it? Awesome magazine I must say. Www.iRun.ca

Back at the beginning of April, my co-worker and I got talking about running. As I mentioned in my last post.. I've been trying to run again. Since my surgery back in December, I've been back hard at the gym (doing a program i never thought I could do. I will save that for another post) and I have ran a couple of times. 

So, Lisa mentioned the Niagara Women's half marathon and says she might be running it. I then get this bright idea that I want to do this run. A few weeks pass by, I don't hear anything from Lisa... At this point I kind of forget about the possibility of participating in this race. Until one morning Lisa comes in to the office and says... "Oh ya, are you still running?" I get stupid excited until I realize the race is in 6 weeks. Oh crap, I can only run about 7-8 km. That's a long ways away from 21 kms. *insert scary face here* lol time to kick my training in to high gear!

Run run run!    May 2013 Thank God for my friend Kate. She has run so many runs. She gave me tons of tips am keeps me motivated. Especially over the 6 weeks leading up to my race. 

June 1, 2013 - I'm in Niagara Falls for my first half marathon. 

I get up early to take a short 1-2  km run so that I can stretch. I run about 50 feet and I get this nasty pain stream through my right calf muscle. OUCH!! I was literally walking down Victoria St looking down at my calf saying out loud NO NO NO!!! This is not happening the day before race day! I was so upset... Ice, stretch, laying on my back with my legs raised is how I spent the night. Lol

June 2, 2013 - race day is here and I have only ran about 13-15 km at once. According to my running friends, they kept saying "don't worry, you are going to be just fine. No worries." 

Stressed out about my calf muscle, tired because the people across the hallway partied all night, I'm as ready as I can be to run this run. Plan of action... Walk/run and do the best I can. GOAL: to just cross the finish line in one piece. 

I'm ready! 

Start line... Let's get this race started!! :-)

Start line - (I know, you see finish line) with my eyes closed... Here we go! Who knows what I was thinking. Lol

1 or 2 km Into the race I meet a really nice woman. She starts chatting with me by saying "you look like you're running about my pace (7.09 I think was the average pace), do you mind if I run with you?"  We both agree that having someone to chat with, will make the race that much easier. Off we go!! 

Meet my new running buddy, Michelle! You can follow her, her husband and friend's Blog at 3cheaprunners.com. This Was Michelle's second half marathon. Go Michelle!! 

I don't know how to thank Michelle. Because of her, I made it through this race. I learned so much from her in a matter of a couple of hours. I also had the pleasure of getting to know her as well. So thankful that she friended me along the way. Unfortunately blisters creeped up on her feet and slowed her down a little. I felt so bad leaving (she insisted) her and I didn't want to lose my rhythm. I think we parted ways about 15 km into the race. I couldn't believe how good I was feeling. As each kilometer passed, I just kept plowing through. 

Feeling strong! I think I'm about 15/16km in the run. But not too sure. 

. 

With just 200 m away from the finish line, I come around the corner ready to sprint. And as I tried to pick up speed, the wind hits me so hard that I feel like somebody's holding my shirt from behind. 

About a 100 m away from the finish line... Push Bren, PUSH!!

The END...

Somehow I manage to run this entire run. With the exception of stopping at the bathroom, to take a sip and a minute walk in between to catch my breath. 

CHIP TIME: 2:30:11!!! I am so proud and SOOOOO HAPPY!! 

Weather: It started out cold, WINDY and wet but, it warmed up as we got in to the run. Mother nature was very good to us. I am so thankful that the rain held off. Unfortunately the wind didn't let up at all. 

MY STATS:

My next long run... Ottawa Army Run Half marathon in Sept. 2013 with my beautiful Sister Lisa! GOAL: 2:15. I'm hoping to do a couple short runs before that. 

WHY DO I RUN????

Because I can! I'm a 5 year Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer SURVIVOR. And I had back surgery (to remove a cyst from inside my pelvic bone) Dec. 2012. I am blessed with my health! I don't take that for granted! 

My first half marathon medal! 

The past 2 years summed up as short as I can make it...

 Since grade school, I have always been "athletic" and running was always a part of that. In high school I joined the x-country team. My best runs were always the runs that made the way in to the trails. There is nothing better than the smell of the trees and the rough trails that move in all directions under my running shoes. After high school I still ran here an there. I would enter random races but, never any consistency. 5 k runs were never an issue. I think my fastest 5 k was around 24 mins. The gun goes off.. and I bolt. (I run fast). 

10 k runs... A little different. I could never seem to hit that darn 10km mark. Gee, I wonder why!? "Slow down Brenda" I used to hear my friends say. Slowing my pace down was never easy for me no matter how hard I tried. 

Over the past two years, I have been trying to find my mojo for running again. I remember flipping through a newspaper or magazine a couple years ago and crossing an ad for the Lymphoma Foundation. I called the Ottawa location to gather some info on how the run worked. What a perfect idea I say to myself... Seeing as how I am a lymphoma survivor. During this conversation with the girl on the phone, I find out that registration just happens to be free at that time. After discussions on how the event works, I sign up for the San Diego race. A fundraising (need to raise $5000 I think it was) and training we will go... I started training but, I was having a lot of pain in my low back. Some days I had no problem running. And the next day I could barely walk. I raised over a $1000 to get started, I have events planned to raise the remainder of the $4000 and then one day I get a phone call from the Lymphoma foundation. Before I move on, let me just say that I had this conversation prior to signing up for the race (I thought we were clear). The foundation continues to tell me that I need to either re-schedule myself to another race or I am going to loose the money I already fundraised. I can't run the San Diego run unless I have the $5000 or I give them the balance on a credit card (which I discussed previously that I didn't have a cc). 

Anyway, enough about that. Bottom line is I didn't do the run. Since that, I have had it in my head that I would do a 21km run eventually. 

Back to the sore back... Trying to run with a sore back is not that easy. A year or so ago, I decided to hit the gym hard to see if strengthening my core would help with the sore back. Not completely. So, off to my Doctor I go. She sends me for an MRI and long story short... Dec. 2012 I get a phone call from a specialist office. They wanted me to go in the day after this call. A week later.. I'm in the Dr.'s office, he's reading my X-rays... I question something he says to only hear him say back "well as a cancer specialist"... What???? WTF am I seeing a cancer specialist for? Ya, my family Dr. Didn't share that very important piece of information with me. Moving on... I have had a cyst growing inside my bone since god knows when. I had an MRI done 2009 and it shows up there. With that said, I chose to operate to have it removed. Dr said 2 days recovery. Nope, 4-6 weeks later, I'm still in pain. I had a new respect for a walker and the new upper body strength I now have. Thank god for all that training I did over the past year. 

6 months later... TBC