Dog running buddies

Totally random post. My brother’s Shiba, Riley in 2008 at 12 weeks old eating snow. I just wanted to introduce two running buddies. I run with them whenever I visit my brother or if I take them on vacation.

Riley doesn’t make that good a running partner. He LOVES to run. But when HE wants to. Not when YOU want to. He often prefers to take long walks and to sit atop of large stones, on a bench or at the water’s edge and ponder life.

And then there’s Bagel the Beagle (Riley in the background). She’s the best running buddy EVER! She’ll just keep on going and going and going, kinda like the Energizer Bunny. She doesn't even care to stop for water. Running, eating and playing catch is what she lives for.

Last minute Runners' Christmas Stocking Stuffer ideas

Wowsers! SIX DAYS till Christmas! Have you finished Christmas shopping yet? I sure haven’t! I’ve been been pretty busy with work, baking and attending Christmas social get-togethers and not running enough!

Here’s a list that might help you, if you’re freaking out a bit over gifts for the runner friend in your life. You should be able to find all or most of the items listed below at your local drugstore.

• A bottle of sports drink
• Odour eaters or shoe spray for those stinky shoes you trip over at the front door
• Hair ties, bobby pins, headband 
• Bubble bath
• A tube of Arnica gel for sore muscles. 
• Talking about sore muscles how about a bottle of massage oil so you can massage those sore muscles too!
• A health magazine
• $1 knit gloves 
• A little face towel
• Travel sized shampoo, shower gel & lotion & deodorant
• That deep-cold stuff (I don’t use it but your friend might)
• Little chocolates

Anything else I should add to the list? Hope this helps! 

If all goes well you will get reactions like these little guys!

Two-minute Ab Workout

Do it! Just do it!


Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

When I'm on a good roll, I'll do this two-minute ab workout Monday to Friday.

I'll do this work out at the gym after a good run. For the toe-touches I add a medicine ball that's 8 or 12lbs depending on how I feel. I've also added Russian twists and crazy Ivans with the medicine ball to the routine.

To finish it all I do some stretches and then rolling on the foam roller.

I used to live here

View Larger Map
I can’t believe how fast the years have passed since I left Osaka. I always thought that I would go back. Every now and then I really miss being there and want to go “home”

What made me think of Osaka recently was a get-together for a friend's going-away.

I met him just four or five years ago. I advised my boss at my old design agency to hire him. And that was it, he became part of my agency family. Since then he's had two kids, two dogs and got married. And now he's taking his family back home, to Japan.

I'll miss you Tak!

Maybe I'll run the Osaka marathon one day and keep running all they way up towards Tokyo and come by and see you! ;-)
(I had to post a running picture in here some how - Photo by hitthatswitch on Flickr)

Glico Running Man, Minami, Osaka, Japan, a photo by hitthatswitch on Flickr.

Runners' Christmas Wish List 2011

Today happens to be Black Friday in the U.S. and did you that Christmas is ONE MONTH AWAY! Yes, ONE. Can you believe it? No? Me neither, time flies by way to fast, right? Before you know it you'll be running around Christmas Eve like a madman, with money flying out of your hands!

So, here I am to help with my Runners’ Christmas Wish List 2012 edition!!! You can thank me later.. lovely husband, er... I mean Santa. Great gift ideas (with the exception of the shoes) that fit into my Christmas stocking. They're also light and won't weigh down your sleigh. Most of the gifts listed are also less than $100!

Dear Santa,
I've been a good girl this year. I've done a lot of running, incorporated yoga and spin into my activity. I'd like some new gear for the new marathon training season.

Road ID, I still don't have one. Wouldn't you want to know if I got lost and found?

New pair of running shoes - a girl can never have enough pairs of shoes. Nice bright ones, all the better for you to see me run!

Love these shorts lululemon run: speed short. Very comfortable and a flattering fit. (Size 6)

It's time I got a watch. So I can run faster AND get home faster to make you lunch!
I got a watch!!! I got a Garmin 405CX

Cashmere socks. I have discovered the luxury and warmth of using cashmere socks as my base layer sock for skiing. Get me these and you don't have to listen me whine about my cold feet. I love nice socks and I like warm feet.

I need more socks. Nike Dry-fit size small

Spa certificates! Massage therapy at the spa. Need I say more?

Gift Cards

You to come out to hold up signs and cheer for me at my races.

Because I love your support and we get to eat a big breakfast together after!

Love,
Winnie


ps. I hope you liked the cookies I baked for you and Santa, you're great!

Aggressive Time Savings Measures Act of 2010 & Ski Bum Soundtrack

I’ve got my Whistler Blackcomb EDGE card and I’m ready for winter!!!

Every other weekend, my husband, his bestfriend and I leave Vancouver early in the morning and drive up to Whistler for a day of skiing and snowboarding. The number one must-have for the drive up is a great play-list. So I'm going to be prepared! A drive-up-pre-ski playlist, a while-I-ski playlist as well as an apres-ski playlist. Time to make new playlists for the ski season!

A number two must-do for the drive is not stop to pee. Yup, you read that right, no pee breaks. No pee breaks!!! The “Aggressive Time Savings Measures Act of 2010” was enacted last year... by the guys of course. After a few weekends of stopping for a pee-stop and coffee in Squamish the guys had enough of getting up to Whistler later than they wanted. I was making them late. My small bladder was slowing things down. The Squamish stop on the way to Whistler was voted out of our journey.

So, I'm not allowed to have morning coffee anymore because I always have to stop in Squamish to use the bathroom. I like to buy snacks too since the guys don't seem to ever get hungry. If I want coffee I have to wake up extra early, drink it at home and make sure my bladder is empty before boarding the ski-bum-mobile. We must get as many hours and runs in as possible. This is the way it is for this girl if she wants to hang out with the boys. It's ok because I kick their asses on the mountain. I gotta give them something, right?

Anyway, here's some of the music I'll be adding to my playlists



Sleigh Bells - “Riot Rhythm”
MGMT - “Kids”
Foster the Kids - “Pumped Up Kicks”
Temper Trap - “Sweet Disposition” great for cruising
Yeah Yeah Yeahs = “Zero”
The Vaccines - “Wetsuit”
Arcade Fire - “Neighbourhood #1” walked around Paris listening to this
Florence + The Machine - “No Light, No Light”
Apostle of Hustle - “Chances are”
Metric - “Help I'm Alive”
Phoenix - “If I ever feel better”
Caribou - “Melody Day”
Stars - “Take me to the Riot”
Kate Nash - “Pumpkin Soup”
Metric - “Stadium Love”
Built to Spill - “Else”
M.I.A. - "“Paper Planes”
Brazilian Girls - “Good Time”

Hustle Hard

Things I see on my running journeys: Hustle Hard.
Spotted at Marinaside Crescent and Davie Street, Yaletown.

It's Sunday. Sunday long-run day. I haven't run in two weeks. Two whole weeks! I've been sick one week after another. Cold, flu, cough. Repeat. Heck, I'm not young and invincible anymore.

Woke up coughing. Probably asthma triggered by the cold & flu. Got up and got ready. Just gotta get out and run. Layered up, stuffed tissues and an inhaler into my pocket and headed out. No set distance in mind. Run.

Man, it felt good to run today. I thought I'd had to use my puffer, my legs would feel like lead and I'd have a miserable run in general. I felt light and I wanted to skip, leap and pirouette - while I ran! I did that in my imagination to save myself from tripping, falling on my face and then having to deal with the embarrassment and possibly a crowd surrounding the crazy-lady-runner star-fished face down on the seawall. BUT a lady did a dancey spin as I passed her! I got my pirouette after all - vicariously. Confession, I did do a bit of skipping. (I am young and invincible after all!!!)

It was a beautiful day for a run, snow on the mountains, clear water, crisp cold air - just perfect.

So what do I do now that I'm back running? Do I start over at week one with my training schedule? Do I skip up to week three? All I know is I'm going to have to hustle and hustle hard.

Pre-run: Gluten-free toast with warm almond butter and black currant jam. Water.
During run: A sip of water from water fountain
Post-run: A nice, hot cup of JJ Bean soy latte. Mmm mmm! Water,1000mg vitamin C & 1000 I.U. vitamin D (just in case, don't want to catch another cold) Spicy pumpkin-coconut soup & a bit of leftover rice.
Notes: A little tightness in right IT between 5 and 6 mile mark. Runny nose.

What's in my gym bag?

I use this Goober Baby tote bag to hold my loose gym bag items like deodorant, face cream, etc.

   

Water bottle that I can use for post-workout shakes

Hair towel. There's towel service at the gym but the small towel provided by the gym is too small to wrap my hair up with and the big towel is wrapped around my body. I'm not the walk-around-the-changeroom-naked kind of girl.

Flip flops for the shower.

Headphones - if I'm working out on a machine I'll plug in and listen to the news

Socks

Running shoes!

Toque or visor.  If I'm going for a run outdoors.

Snacks. I recently recieved a Vega gift basket and tried these bars. I like them especially because they are gluten-free!

Electrolytes. I carry Nuun for the hot days or extra sweaty workouts. I find that the flavour is not too sweet and easy on my tummy.

And finally my favourite shorts, sports bra and racerback tank top. I really like the Lululemon cool racerback tank tops because they're so versatile. I can wear it for yoga, spin, or running and I can use it for layering or wear it under my sweater or suit jacket for work.

Often I carry 2 sets of workout wear because I'll do a lunch run and after work. Thank goodness my gym provides shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and moisturizer. My bag would be so heavy!

What's in your gym bag?

Some inspiration

Winter. The dark mornings and dark, rainy nights... it's cold, it's rainy, windy... it sucks. Some days I really need inspiration. This video does it.

I'm going to go out and run...


and be extraordinary.

Rainy day spicy pumpkin coconut soup

This long weekend was pretty cold and wet out, I was sick and had lots of spare time so I puttered around the kitchen, opened and closed the fridge door a few times, hoping to see something I didn't before each time. I did the same thing to the cupboards. I found a tin of organic pumpkin and coconut milk. SOUP. Soup is what I'll make with my spare time. A spicy, pumpking coconut soup.

14oz can organic pumpkin
13oz can coconut milk

1 medium onion chopped
4 cloves, garlic minced
some fennel
some cinammon
some coriander
some cumin
some galengal
lots of ginger
some chilli pepper flakes
1 cube veggie bouillon
2 tsp sugar
2 cups of black tea - I happen to be drinking tea so I used my tea... you can use water
oil

Sorry about the measurements for the dry ingredients. I don't really measure when I cook.

In the pot you want to cook the soup in, drizzle pot with oil, heat. Throw in the onions and cook for a few minutes and then the garlic.

Cook for about 5 minutes and then toss in the dry (minus the sugar and veggie bouillon cube) of the ingredients. Add more oil if it becomes too dry. I like to heat all the dry ingredients with the oil to bring out the fragrance. Cook on low for another 5 minutes, making sure not to burn the spices.
Add the rest of the ingredients and stir. Let simmer for another 5 minutes or so. Altogether this took about 20 minutes to make! Yummy!

Abstract Sunday LIVE-sketches NYC Marathon

I don't have much to post about but I did find this! Awesome.
Christoph Niemann (Abstract Sunday, New York Times Magazine) ran, lived-sketched AND tweeted his NYC Marathon journey. The post made me laugh and smile and forget I was wallowing in self-pity... (I'm still sick).

 Enjoy!

First Half Half Marathon 2012!!

Thanks to my crazy cat, I woke up at 5 a.m., registered and got into the 23rd "First Half" Half Marathon!!!
but...
Bah! or more like, waaaaah! Again! I'm sick! Again! I JUST got better from a cold... ugh. So I'm going back to bed.

I'm hope to have more positive and fun postings on my marathon training progress.

Music Monday

I run most times without music. Too often when a really good song comes on my iPod, I gotta stop running and dance. Sometimes you'll catch shake my shoulders a bit while run or slow down to shuffle my feet a bit. Here are a few songs that do that to me.



I had to put this in here - the guys are too cute!


OR even better... when this song comes on. I just want to jump around and play air guitar! ... so what running style are you?

Sunday Long Run - Week 1

Sunday long run - 10 miles

I forgot to set my alarm clock. Texts from friends woke me up. One was a photo of cat graphiti my friend found somewhere and another was about Hawaii... nice... just in time to get up for my Sunday long-run... in the brrrr-cold.

Anyway, I woke up feeling foggy. Maybe I'm getting sick again. I usually get sick after being around big crowds. I was at the Vancouver Yoga Show yesterday, it was fun and it was busy!

Rolled out of bed, put some gluten-free bread in the toaster and got ready. Radio newscast says it's 1 degree celsius out. I chose my favourite running tights - the black ones with a strip of hot pink from the back zipper, an old race tech t-shirt, a long-sleeve shirt on top, and my toque. Almond butter and jam on my toast, drink some water and putter around some more. A bit of procastinating...I don't feel like running, it's cold, I'm cold... Maybe I'm over-dressed, or maybe I should take this yellow run jacket. Oh yah, maybe I want my heavier run jacket, the green Luluelemon one my husband gave to me the year we spent Christmas on Maui. He had placed a Tiffany's necklace in the pocket. I wondered why he was telling me to do so much with the jacket... Put it on! Zip it up! Does it fit well? Go look in the mirror. Walk around in it. How are the sleeves? Feel the jacket! Do you like it? Put your hands in the pockets... the first time he said that I just unzipped the pockets and didn't really put my hands in the pockets. "Put your hands IN the pockets" and Ooooooh! There was the necklace in the Tiffany blue satchel... :-)

I kicked myself out the door before I changed my mind and crawled back into bed. I met my neighbour in the elevator and he asked, "Oh you going out to run again?!" (He saw me go for a run yesterday too.) I replied, "Yah, I really don't feel like it but I gotta get a long run in" "Well, sometimes you have the best workouts when you don't want to... and you come back and feel amazing!" We talked some more, he pondered going back to yoga and maybe giving YYoga a try since it's so close by.

Route: Pretty flat route. I ran out to Granville Island and back over to Yaletown and out to English Bay and back to Yaletown.

It's been a long time since I've done a long run. Today's long run felt like it was never-ending. the miles took forever to pass.

Thoughts today while I ran: My nose is dripping. My big toe is starting to feel bruised. Huh, this is new... I hope I don't get a black toe. I just grew last ski-season't black toenail out! Why is this taking soooo loooong. My nose is dripping. Ugh... gotta change this music, why do I have such slow music right now? I'm getting passed... Oh when did I start walking? Run! Go! Hi little doggy, hey! these are my ankles, not yours! My nose is dripping. My tissue is falling apart. I wonder how much tissue dust I breath... no one's around, do a snot rocket quick! Ok, that was embarassing, thank goodness no one is around...

Finished with a soy latte treat at JJ Bean and picked up some groceries at Choices.

Pre-run meal: 2 pieces Udi gluten-free toast, almond butter & black current jam, water
During run: 6 oz water - didn't finish
Post-run meal: water, 12 oz soy latte, Glutenfreeda Vegetarian & Dairy Free Burrito, 2 glasses of orange juice and San Pellegrino

New training schedule

I'm going to try VERY HARD to stick to this marathon training schedule. This is just my run schedule, doesn’t include climbing, yoga, weight training, and all the other activities I try to squeeze in.

WEEK 1: 26 Mi

Tue Nov 1 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @10:01 Thu Nov 3 Tempo Run Dist: 6 Mi, inc Warm; 4 Mi @ 8:32; Cool Fri Nov 4 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @10:01 Sun Nov 6 Long Run Dist: 10 Mi @10:01

WEEK 2: 27 Mi

Tue Nov 8 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @9:58 Thu Nov 10 Speedwork Dist: 6 Mi, inc Warm; 3x1600 in 7:57 w/800 jogs; Cool Fri Nov 11 Easy Run Dist: 4 Mi @9:58 Sun Nov 13 Long Run Dist: 12 Mi @9:58

WEEK 3: 29 Mi

Tue Nov 15 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @9:56 Thu Nov 17 Tempo Run Dist: 6 Mi, inc Warm; 4 Mi @ 8:28; Cool Fri Nov 18 Easy Run Dist: 4 Mi @9:56 Sun Nov 20 Long Run Dist: 14 Mi @9:56

WEEK 4: 23 Mi

Tue Nov 22 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @9:53 Thu Nov 24 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @9:53 Fri Nov 25 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @9:53 Sun Nov 27 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @9:53

WEEK 5: 31 Mi

Tue Nov 29 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @9:53 Thu Dec 1 Tempo Run Dist: 6 Mi, inc Warm; 4 Mi @ 8:25; Cool Fri Dec 2 Easy Run Dist: 4 Mi @9:53 Sun Dec 4 Long Run Dist: 16 Mi @9:53

WEEK 6: 32 Mi

Tue Dec 6 Easy Run Dist: 4 Mi @9:51 Thu Dec 8 Speedwork Dist: 6 Mi, inc Warm; 3x1600 in 7:50 w/800 jogs; Cool Fri Dec 9 Easy Run Dist: 4 Mi @9:51 Sun Dec 11 Long Run Dist: 18 Mi @9:51

WEEK 7: 34 Mi

Tue Dec 13 Easy Run Dist: 4 Mi @9:49 Thu Dec 15 Tempo Run Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 5 Mi @ 8:26; Cool Fri Dec 16 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @9:49 Sun Dec 18 Long Run Dist: 20 Mi @9:49

WEEK 8: 27 Mi

Tue Dec 20 Easy Run Dist: 7 Mi @9:46 Thu Dec 22 Easy Run Dist: 7 Mi @9:46 Fri Dec 23 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @9:46 Sun Dec 25 Easy Run Dist: 7 Mi @9:46

WEEK 9: 35 Mi

Tue Dec 27 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @9:46 Thu Dec 29 Tempo Run Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 5 Mi @ 8:23; Cool Fri Dec 30 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @9:46 Sun Jan 1 Long Run Dist: 16 Mi @9:46

WEEK 10: 37 Mi

Tue Jan 3 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @9:44 Thu Jan 5 Speedwork Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 4x1600 in 7:44 w/800 jogs; Cool Fri Jan 6 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @9:44 Sun Jan 8 Long Run Dist: 20 Mi @9:44

WEEK 11: 39 Mi

Tue Jan 10 Easy Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:42 Thu Jan 12 Tempo Run Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 5 Mi @ 8:19; Cool Fri Jan 13 Easy Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:42 Sun Jan 15 Long Run Dist: 16 Mi @9:42

WEEK 12: 31 Mi

Tue Jan 17 Easy Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:40 Thu Jan 19 Easy Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:40 Fri Jan 20 Easy Run Dist: 7 Mi @9:40 Sun Jan 22 Easy Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:40

WEEK 13: 40 Mi

Tue Jan 24 Easy Run Dist: 7 Mi @9:40 Thu Jan 26 Tempo Run Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 5 Mi @ 8:17; Cool Fri Jan 27 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @9:40 Sun Jan 29 Long Run Dist: 20 Mi @9:40

WEEK 14: 23 Mi

Tue Jan 31 Easy Run Dist: 2 Mi @9:37 Thu Feb 2 Speedwork Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 4x1600 in 7:39 w/800 jogs; Cool Fri Feb 3 Easy Run Dist: 2 Mi @9:37 Sun Feb 5 Long Run Dist: 12 Mi @9:37

WEEK 15: 22 Mi

Tue Feb 7 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @9:36 Thu Feb 9 Tempo Run Dist: 5 Mi, inc Warm; 3 Mi @ 8:05; Cool Fri Feb 10 Easy Run Dist: 4 Mi @9:36 Sun Feb 12 Long Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:36

WEEK 16: 36 Mi

Tue Feb 14 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @9:36 Wed Feb 15 Speedwork Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2x1600 in 7:37 w/800 jogs; Cool Fri Feb 17 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @9:36 Sun Feb 19 Marathon Race Day 26.2 Mi @8:37 Time: 3:45:47

Sick

I am one sick kid :-(

Neatest thing I've seen while running

A grey whale.

A grey whale had come into English Bay last summer (2010) for a visit. I ran and followed. I felt to blessed that day to have had grey whale as a run buddy that day.

Neatest thing I've seen while running

Three surfers walking with their surfboards on the seawall. It was winter and there were strong winds. They were hoping to catch some waves... I smiled and wished them good luck.

Running with boys

Makes me run faster

Shit my husband says - muffin

[16:43] Taquito Coordinator: you look glorious
[16:43] Taquito Coordinator: like a rising sun
[16:43] Taquito Coordinator: or a rising muffin, glistening in the oven
[16:43] Taquito Coordinator: also there are sprinkles on the muffin. they do not glisten.

Seriously, where does he come up with this stuff?
Sorry this post has NOTHING to do with running.

Sh$t my husband says...

I really should start a new blog called “Sh$t my husband says...”
Sample email from today:

From: AF
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 1:45 PM
To: WY
Subject: how would you feel if I ran this 1/2 marathon instead?
North shore?!?!! Might as well be Albakerky!!!!
Can't you just run to the kitchen and get  me a sandwich several hundred times? :P
 -------------------------------------------------
From: WY 
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 1:31 PM
To: AF
Subject: how would you feel if I ran this 1/2 marathon instead?
It's here. We only have to go to the North Shore, no flying, no staying in a hotel… http://www.runthenorthshore.com/qs/page/13262/13256/-1

Music from tonight's long run.

I haven't put in headphones while I run in about a year but tonight I wanted to just float through my run, just get lost in my run. Here are a few songs that popped up on random from my iPod.

Started my run with this song,



Then this came up somewhere in the middle of my run reminding me to keep it slow and mellow



This song came up on my iPod as I was finishing my run tonight. I loved it so much I repeated it three times.



Then I "mmm-bopped" home to this. You might have seen me walking with a bit of a "bop" all the way home. 

I've been kinda busy

Ok ok... This one person with too many computers is a bit much. My husband's moved the iMac into his office so I only have 2 laptops to work with! I only played music on the iMac anyway. Yah, so, sorry for the lack of posts.

I have to admit though, I haven't been running as much as I'd like. But I have included yoga and spin into my training.

I also spent 10 days up on the Sunshine Coast running and swimming almost everyday. Three of the 10 days I was able to spend in silence. Yoga, meditation and silence. Perfect way to re-center myself. My husband and our friends came up later to join me for some fun in the sun.

Look! I even have proof of me swimming!

Smoothie Kick

It’s summer. It’s hot. And I’ve been on a smoothie kick.

Here are some recipes I’ve adapted from recipes found online and made up myself.


Breakfast Buzz!
4oz chocolate almond milk
4oz cold coffee (I add a little bit of the coffee grounds too)
1 tbsp crunchy almond butter
1 frozen banana (I slice up and freeze over-ripe bananas)
Blend!

Green
3/4 cup loosely packed kale (just the leaves)
6oz almond milk
1 tbsp crunchy almond butter
some frozen banana slices
Blend!

Sunday long-run treat
frozen mango
some frozen banana slices
coconut water
Blend!

I think some people call this a sunrise
frozen strawberries
frozen mango
frozen banana slices
6 oz orange juice
2 tbsp yoghurt
Blend!

Running and bears

Every year my husband and I spend some time on the Sunshine Coast at his family cabin. This summer there have been several reports of bears on the property and in the general area.

We’ve been advised to take more care with ourselves, garbage disposal, etc...

So I shot off an email asking my husband advice on what I should be doing for my long and lonely runs.

Here’s his reply:
“we should avoid having anything on our property that will attract them.”

So I guess I should take this poster down?

Do you have any advice on running and bear safety?

Some days, things just don't go your way.

Here's an email I sent a co-worker that sums up my race.

Half marathon totally sucked. I was so sick. So sick. It was such a mental battle and all I wanted was to go home but my body wouldn't let me run faster to get home faster. At the end I was so frustrated I wanted to cry and I hurt so much.

I couldn't do anything. Totally sucked.

Some days, things just don't go your way, and this day was one of those days. I had one of my worst races ever. EVER! Don't get me wrong. It wasn't the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon, it was me.

I'll post more later. I promise!

I jumped right in

Yup. I did it. I got married. We went to our favourite island and got Maui'd.

Nike Women's Marathon 2011

I got in!!!! I’m in, baby!
I am running the 2011 Nike Women's Marathon San Francisco!!!
Race day: October 16, 2011

I am up to the challenge of running 26.2 miles.
I can’t wait to hit the streets of San Francisco.
I am fiercely motivated by the thought of 20,000 women doing this together.
I want that Tiffany’s finisher’s necklace so bad I can taste it.

Last year I left my heart in San Francisco and on October 16, 2011 I’m running to get it back!

BMO Vancouver Marathon quicky post

This will be a quick, short post. I'm just a bit tired. I ran the BMO Vancouver Marathon today.

Today I PB'd my half marathon time 2:01:36 - shaved almost 7 minutes!!
I also PB'd my full marathon time!!! 4:23:15 - chip time: 4:21:13!!! Over an hour my first marathon time was 5:32:19.

No 4:15 pace bunny showed up. I believe one was pulled from the half marathon bunny group at the last minute.

Seeing the 4:15 pace bunny gave me false hope. He was late. I found out when he called out that he was at 4:20 so I tried to jet. :-( I need to get a watch that works.

In running sometimes you have to make sacrifices. Today, I sacrificed my little pinky toenail. Wow! Never had that happen ever. What do I do?

Somewhere around Stanley Park they played one of my favourite song, "Kids" by MGMT. Made me think of skiing, snow, powder, air and lots of speed.

Along the run some water stations ran out of cups I skipped most of them except for one where I asked the lady to pour the water from the jug into my mouth.

Brought 4 gels, ate them all and one more from the Gu gel stations. Wanted to try the chocolate mint out. It was pretty good!

Great DJ around the 33km mark.

Edit: Strangest site during run: I passed a guy running in a robe holding out a cross while running in Stanley Park. I passed him again later on the way back towards the finish too. 

Marathon Thoughts

Pre-race routine

TWO days to BMO Vancouver Marathon!!! I'm nervous and excited. Butterflies are fluttering in my tummy.

The chatter in my head: Do I have enough gels? How many gels should I bring? How many Fuel Belt bottles should I carry? 2 or 3? Should I get a new fuelbelt? Should I wear my jacket? Which shoes should I wear? Not the grey/purple Nike Frees, I like the orange ones... oh but I've been having really good runs in my red ones... but the orange pair will be so jealous! Oh and will I need anti-chafing balm? Chafing?!? Ack! And the weather! It's been cold for most of my training and now it's going to be 15°, that's going to feel like summer! Will I be able to sleep... it goes on and on...

Race-kit: Pick up race-kit with Monique.

Dinner: Most runners will do a carbo-licious dinner while I like to do a large carbo-licious rice pasta lunch and have a lighter dinner.

Breakfast: Gluten-free toast, almond butter and jam and granola with almond milk.

What to wear: Hat, gloves, Nike Frees, tanktop, lululemon speed shorts, Fuel belt, sunglasses and favourite socks, maybe arm warmers.
I typically lay my run clothes and gear out on the floor the night before like a child would the night before the first day of school. Above is what I wore for the 2010 Nike Women's San Francisco Marathon. Those are my little blue BMO gloves!!!

I also pack a backpack with a big towel, change of clothes and jacket that I give to my fiance to meet me with after the race.

Hydration: 2 or 3 Fuel Belt bottles, 2 bottles with water and Nuun, 1 bottle with plain water.

Energy: 2 or 3 energy gels. I know a runner who is bringing 8. This makes me nervous. Am I bringing enough?

Visualization: Like skiing, I always see myself going forward and succeeding. Running with a smile and crossing the finish line. If I can I run, bike or drive the run course to help with the visualization.

Words: Back straight, shoulders loose, head up, look ahead. One foot in front of the other. Breakfast!

Imagination: Sometimes I tell myself stories while running. There's a wolf chasing me or if I don't get to the next mile marker fast enough the road beneath will crumble and I'll fall into an abyss... or worse, I don't get the big breakfast I want if I don't get to the finish on time!

In the race corral: Line up at the loo, go and line up again, repeat. Jog on the spot.

Smile: I like to enjoy my run and a smile always helps.

The beginning of a beautiful friendship

I love Emir Kusturica



Also... I post this because I know a lot of runners who are very comfortable talking shit. Literally. Poop. Ahahahaha!

It's true! Even way back in the day when I lived in Japan. I had a runner roommate from Minnesota who loved to tell me his poop stories!! Tom, if you ever come across this post, I remember you for your long legs, running and poop.

ABC’s of me!

Sooooo, I was going to write a race report for last week’s Sunshine Coast April Fool's Run Half Marathon, but I procrastinate and write about the ABC’s of me. Just like Neeks did on her blog. I also need to write a ditty on my trip to China too!


Age: Early 30’s
Bed size: Queen
Chore you hate: Cleaning the bathroom!!! Ugh! Ew! But no one else does it :-(
Dogs: My parents got me a white Lab when I was 7 or 8. It got stolen from our backyard a few weeks later.  I cried and I cried. So later when I was 8 or 9. My parents got a German Shepherd that my mom named "Along" which translates to "Wild Dog" in Chinese. He wasn’t a cute puppy, he was a BIG dog, he had a tough bark, sharp teeth he wasn't shy to bare and no one stole him from our backyard!
I got my brother a Shiba Inu puppy after his dog passed away. A year later my fiance and I him a Beagle named 'Bagel'.

Essential start of your day: Soy latte and sunshine.
Fave colour: Pink and yellow
Gold or silver: Gold!! Bling bling!
Height: 169 cm
Instruments I play: Piano and violin. I got to play with the mandolin, bass and guitar in school.
Job title: Webmaster, Graphic Designer and online marketing, a little bit of everything
Kids: Nope
Live: Vancouver, BC; I lived in Osaka, Japan.
Mom’s name: MooooooOOOOOOooooooooOOm!! Mom! Mom! MoooOOOoooom!
Nicknames: Windex, Winster, Winner, Winnie-bee, Winnie-bagel, Winnie the Pooh.
Overnight hospital stays: A few times.
Pet peeve: Lying  
Perfect weekend: Saturday: A great run on the Sunshine Coast finished with a jump into the lake for a swim. Sunday: Skiing! Fast! Beer, nachos and hot tub! So, who has a helicopter and wants to take me? And who can make it summer on the Sunshine Coast and winter up at Whistler Blackcomb at the same time? I'm going to need to think about this one. Maybe I need to change the Sunshine Coast location to California... hmmm...
Quote from a movie: E.T. phone home
Right or left handed: Right
Siblings: 1 brother. I had a twin brother but he passed away from cancer.
Time you wake up: 5am in the summer 6am in the winter and I snooze lots
Underwear: Of course
Veggie you dislike: Bitter melon or any over-cooked mushy veggies
What makes you run late: Even though I wake up early. I'm really still asleep, just with my eyes open. I stumble and I bump into walls for at least an hour. I forget my keys, my wallet, my lunch... or I decide just before I leave the house that I don’t like my outfit...
X-rays you have had done: Teeth, ankle
Yummy food you make: Everything I make is YUMMY! ...when I do cook. Haha!
Zoo: Favourite animal: Beluga! And unicorns!

Riley and Bagel

Panik Panik!

Despite my zen-like ways... the calm that I seems to project... it's not really there. I am so like, OOOOOHHHMMMM....
Inside I really feel more like this...



It's 2011! I've got lots of places to see, things to do and so little time ALREADY! I gotta travel, I gotta run, I gotta plan and then I gotta get married!

Happy New Year!

Hello 2011!

My friend Angie and I at the Polar Bear Swim.

 Air temperature 0°C, Ocean temperature 6°C.