DNS

We had a party last night and I had a bit to drink and didn't get to bed until midnight. I decided I would head out only if I naturally woke up early but also was spooked by the very icy roads last night. It turned out the driving would have been OK, but I wasn't up in time. So we ran four miles in the neighbourhood in 41 minutes and now are seeing a half price morning move (The Iron Lady)!

5K+ in Poor Footing

Yesterday's morning weather was much too wet and icy so I skipped my normal Friday run. I felt sore this morning from Thursday's upper body trainer led workout but headed out for 5K+ in somewhat icy footing. It was my first run of less than 6K in more than a month but that was the distance that fit with the group's coffee destination course. Tomorrow is the Robbie Burns 8K and if the driving is at all slippery I'm going to take a pass on it but otherwise it will be a go. From a temperature point of view it will be fine and way warmer than last year's -20, although high winds are expected. But a 50 minute drive each way to run for that amount of time won't make sense if the drive is difficult. We shall see!

Back to the Roads

I had some gum work done last week (see attached) and while it wasn't quite as horrible as I feared it wasn't pleasant plus I was told I couldn't exercise for the next three days. I missed yesterday's trainer session due to car problems so I was glad to head out during the work day for 45 minutes and get in 7K. It was mild and I got too hot fairly quickly. I wonder how I should dress for this Sunday's Robbie Burns 8K in . Last year was frigid and it is great that this year will be so different.

6K in the Cold

Not as windy yesterday but colder and sunny. Now at Tim's after my 40 minutes but I also will run home.

7K in Frigid Cold and Wind After a Tough Week and a Nice Birthday

On Wednesday night I was planning to go to my weekly cardiac yoga session but decided instead to join a family movie outing. While driving to the theatre I was involved in a collision. Nobody was hurt and that is the main thing, but I'd never had that experience before and it was awful. And time consuming. I thought it might ruin my birthday yesterday but it didn't. After work we went to the Beer Bistro (and used a gift certificate from Toronto Rehab to pay for part of it) and then went to the Raptors game where my name was on the scoreboard and I was paid a visit by the cheerleaders and bearing gifts no less! Too bad they lost at the last minute but it was a great game.

It was so cold this morning that none of the regulars wanted to go. I delayed by trying to fix things around the house and then eventually made myself head out. I did 7K in 46 minutes and feel a lot better now.

Egg Nog Jog Race Photos

Looks like I'm having fun most of the time!

No Long Run this Weekend

I was pressed for times both days due to work calls so I couldn't get in a 10K and in fact yesterday I didn't run at all. But this morning I did do 6K before work in 37 minutes with an average HR of 149 and a spike into the 160's. I thought I might go longer but between being tired and it being s. a work day I decided not to. I also decided not to yet roll out the new Garmin Forerunner 410 that I picked up on Saturday with my New Balance store gift certificate (earned as a result of some fundraising efforts) or the new shoes that I got in the same trip. (My current style is no longer made and I had trouble with finding the right replacement so it was a lengthy visit leading my daughter to use my own Twitter account to tweet to #torturemydaugjter.). I also bought a pair of lightweight shoes to try out for races. Should be fun!

6K More in Warm Sunshine

My physiotherapist yesterday gave me some suggestions yesterday as to how to improve my form and lo and behold today's 6K was much faster in under 37 minutes (36:49). My average HR was 150 and it spiked at 165 so that was high and I did feel tired. But glad to get it done and now, having finished a work call, brekie beckons.

Pre-Work 6K Back Hone

I clearly go faster in the cold (although it isn't THAT cold at around the freezing mark anyway). I opted for 6K and felt kind of low energy throughout, yet 39:00 is a somewhat fast non-race time for me. Monday in the heat was two minutes faster. Now for a longer one on the weekend. UPDATE: Another 1K thrown on the treadmill as part of a gait analysis and physiotherapy session.

2011 Totals

I ran close to 100K and see that that was about the same as last year, a result that surprises me, as I thought it would be more. I wasn't even that much less than 2009 when I ran a couple of halves as well. My biggest year was 2008 when I was more like 1,000 miles en route to my sole full marathon. We shall see what 2012 has in store!

Forcing One In

I have a bit of a bug and took off yesterday. Today I woke up feeling slightly better to I did a very slow 6K in 41+ which may be a record slow time when not walking. But the main thing is I got one in and have made it up to 10 sessions since I got here and around 75K. Today I forgot to wear my above the knee compression strap and still felt fine in that department. Tomorrow is supposed to be cold so if I feel ok it would be a good day for a 10K or more and then Wednesday is a travel day.