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.