Day 12 - Hey Mr. Charlie go away!

Today was a short 3miler, 4.85 km in 31:19, avg pace 6:27/km burned 956 cal. Now that is what the watch said but I don't think I really burned 956 calories. That's double what it usually says so maybe today the watch was off a bit.
Lots of stretching before running this morning. 'Mr. Charlie' was in my left hamstring all night which made it really hard to sleep but at the normal 6:45am wake up I was up and getting ready for the run. I did two rounds of stretches, rolled and used the electric muscle massage machine to loosen it up my hamstring. I did as much as I could before going out. Once out on the trail it didn't really affect me or my performance in my run. Actually I improved my time by 2 mins...still need to get that time under 30mins for sure.
So who has some suggestions for additional exercises I could do to stretch out that hamstring? I find all the muscles on the back of my body, lower back, buttoxs, hamstrings and hipflexers are all really tight. All you runners out there what does your stretching routine include? Looking forward to a rainy weekend...

Day 11 - I've got the support I need but not the kind your thinking of!

After such a long day yesterday, up early to run and didn't get home till 10pm last night. I slept in this morning till 8am!! It was awesome, but put me a bit behind in my schedule today hence I did not writing my blog post till 8pm tonight. However, I couldn't go a day without reporting...and I have some goods news for you all! This morning I ran 4miles, 6.45km in 41:37, avg pace 6:28/km burning 573 cal.............isn't that awesome? I beat my 4 mile time by 3 minutes. Now I have a few theories for the great run this morning.
Theory #1 - I wore my famous Oprah Enell sports bra after Dan mentioned I should have some more support while running so I went and my sports bra and wore it for the first time in a long time and it was really different. It changed my whole posture and the way I felt when I was running. I'm guessing posture and basic body position is pretty important in maximizing performance as it is in any sport. Sometimes you forget that their are techniques to any sport and training with the optimal equipment is important. So, for any of you lady runners out their I highly recommend this Enell bra, it was on Oprah a while back and I bought it at my girlfriends' shop in PEI called Just Us Girls, but I'm sure you can find it online.
Theory #2 - The EVOLV Water I drank yesterday had to play a part in my performance today. Yesterday I had 2 or 3 bottles of this water and this morning I had more energy, felt more fit and stronger. Who knows what played the part in the success of my run today but it felt good to knock down my time by a 3 whole minutes. Now let's see if I can keep it up, it would be great if I could run the marathon in under 4 hours. I'll be calling up my EVOLV girlfriends for more water that's for sure! Talk to you in a few hours...

Day 10 - up with the sun this morning

Big day today, flat out till 10pm as I have my eWomenNetwork event tonight. I was up with the sun this morning ran 3miles, 4.83km in 33:27 avg pace 6:55/km burned 422cal. got to see the sun rise and met some ducks on the trail. Quick fast run this morning, now off to get ready for the long day. More tomorrow.

Day 9 - Need new playlist

Bounced out of bed this morning! Not sure if it's because I'm excited to go running or excited to get the run over with! :) Today I decided to bring my iPod on the run with me. I usually never run with music, I guess I come from the old school of listening to your body and enjoying nature while outdoors. So, the experience I had was mixed. The idea of being entertained by music while I run interested me because it can get boring out on the trail especially running the same route all the time. However, when I listen to music I am emotionally effected by it, as I'm sure many of us are. But when I listened to the music I have on my iPod I found it very hard to run to. Between, Celine Dion, Metallica, Classical and my audio books I was more annoyed than pleased to have music on my run. So I'm guessing I need a 'Running Playlist', something to get me warmed up, pumped up and safely to the finish line. Any runners out there have a favorite song you like to run to? If so, I'd love to know about it. I will build a new playlist and try this running with music thing again. But not until I think I have the right music to run to.
Today I ran 4miles, 6.43km in 44:26mins at an avg pace of 6:55/km and burned 527cal. broke the 45minute mark. I can feel that my muscles and joints are getting strong each and everyday. Still some hip joint pain and 'Mr. Charlie' is still there off and on in my left ham string but over all body parts are working great, body is toning up and I'm shedding the winter coat! Running has always been a great way for me to loose weight fast and it's a great way to kick start the spring season. I just might entertain a bikini this summer!
Oh and before I sign off, I want to say a big THANK YOU to all my supporters out there! I love all the little messages on Facebook, emails of encouragement and pats on the back. If it wasn't for you all I would of given up by now...just kidding! Dad I won't let you down! :) Reverse psychology has always driven me to succeed...see you at the starting line.

Day 8 - I'm singing in the rain, I'm running in the rain

Humid and wet this morning! At first glance outside this morning I saw wet grass and the remainder of the rain dripping from the eavesthrough . I got all dressed and ready to go, I couldn't find my running shell so I grabbed my rain coat and left for my run. Big mistake it was so warm I had to hook my coat on a branch on the trail at the beginning of my run and pick it up on my way back. The rain was actually a blessing, it kept me cool and it was actually really nice to have the rain on my face this morning. What's the saying 'one with nature'!
The beginning of week 2, I ran 3miles, 4.85km in 32.57, avg pace 6.48/km burned 384 cal. I remember when I could run 5k in 27 mins...not looking to acheive that right now. Slow and steady wins the Marathon.
I will need new shoes soon. The ones I have are pretty much dead as in no bounce left. I can't remember the number of miles you should run on a pair of sneakers but I definitely don't want to be breaking in a new pair of shoes the week before the marathon. My Saucony shoes have been treating me pretty good but I'm sure there is new technology out their for marathon running shoes. Any suggestions on a great woman's running shoe? Till tomorrow...

Day 7 - 1 week down 25 to go

Sunday is the long run! Today I ran 5miles, 8.06 km in 53.16, Avg pace 6:37/km burned 711 cal. for a total of 25 miles this week. It was a good run today, nothing out of the ordinary. I'm finding this a total metal thing, I felt really good running today but as soon as I knew I was getting close to finishing my run it's like my body said 'ok your tiered time to stop' I had to really push it the last 200 feet. I usually finish my runs with a sprint at the end, not sure why, maybe because Dad always use to get us to run our hearts out at the end of a race when we where young. So I always find some stored energy at the end of the race to pull me across the finish line, but today I rally had to go deep to find that extra energy.
This morning, I was the first one out on the trail. I can't remember the last time on a Sunday morning I was willing and able to get out of bed before 7am, must be the running fueling me with extra energy in the mornings. As my family would attest I'm not much of a morning person!
Running alone along the trail this morning got me thinking about safety. Safety for myself if I was ever to get injured out on the trail or if ever unwanted company came around. I'm going to start carrying my cell phone and of course brush up on my self defense skills! I need to cross train in another sport anyway. I make sure to do my ankle exercises every morning to avoid injury out on the trail. I have to be careful when running because even though the trail is cleared, it still has spots where the gravel gathers and it's easy to loose your footing. So all in all 1 week down and 25 to go...

Day 6 - just another day on the trail

Saturday morning and I think everyone had the same idea this morning because there was tonnes of people on the trail this morning, cyclist, runners, walkers with their dogs and 100s of birds signing a morning tune. Even though today was an easy 3 miler, all I could think about was that I have to run 5 miles tomorrow. Funny what we think about when we run. I don't run with music but I think I will do up a playlist of favorite tunes for tomorrow's run so I don't get bored. Today I ran 3.04miles, 4.89km in 32:54, Avg Pace 6.44km and burned 398 cal. I dedicated a good 20mins before and after my run to stretch. Now I feel great! I'll spend the rest of day mentally preparing for my long run tomorrow.