Dear Running: Ya JERK.

Hey Running,

Today you were kind of a jerk - I mean, did our long run have to be THAT brutal?  For real - we might need to get my act together here, because I'm not sure I can handle another one like that.

I guess I can't TOTALLY blame it on you, Running.  If I'm really honest with myself.

When I look back at the races we have run in the past I have always done my training while I was teaching a gazillion fitness classes and my overall fitness level was kind of amazing and I had a bunch of extra free time every day. 

After our relay race through the mountains last week I am forced to admit that I pretty much suck right now. My mind thought I was in tip-top shape but my body proved me otherwise. Not teaching aerobics as much (pretty much AT ALL) lately plus the time constraints of a full-time job have really done a number on this body.  Add that to the fact that I'm not the spring chicken I used to be and my diet kind of (really) sucks for the distances I will be doing and it's clear I need to make some changes.

Today was my 10-mile run on the training program I'm following for my Lululemon half marathon in August.  I'm using THIS training program, in case anyone reads this or is interested...

I got myself all ready for morning, packed my fuel belt and loaded up my ipod and headed out early to get dropped off 10 miles out of town.  One of my FAVORITE running buddies Marla came out and joined me for the last 5 miles of my run AFTER working a 12 hour night shift.  Can I also mention that Marla is over 60 and a total MACHINE when it comes to running.  I was grateful to have her with me.

I was ESPECIALLY grateful Marla (THE NURSE!) was with me because about 8.5 miles in I was toast.  I was nauseous, light headed and my legs weighed a thousand pounds.  I remember hitting that same wall in my last marathon about mile 23, but hitting it at mile 8.5 today was pathetic and disheartening.  I hadn't eaten breakfast (I KNOW) which was the major contributing factor but it took everything I had in me to hit that 10-mile mark.  Luckily I have 4 months to make sure that never happens again.

The best part of the run was RIGHT as Marla and I hit our 10-mile mark a couple of town friends, Deedra and Kim, pulled up and leaned out and asked us if we wanted some fresh muffins.  Um, YES!  That helped a lot.  I also hit this awesome massage bed in town right afterwards which will help with my imminent soreness tomorrow, I'm sure.

After our BRUTAL experience today, Running, I texted my time to Stu, an awesome Personal Trainer I met  at the GoodLife Fitness in Burnaby the last time I was there for work.  Stu has been fantastic at emailing and texting me workouts regularly over the past 8 months and he has decided that he wants me to be amazing in my races, which will be a huge challenge but he seems willing to take it on.

Pretty much my goals this week for me is to work harder in my workouts and eat WAY more and WAY better...and not die during my 11-mile run next week - and be a little bit faster.  Stu has sent us VERY SPECIFIC plans to make sure that happens.

You and me, Running....we got this....ya jerk.

Becka
XOXO