Tag Archives: Victoria

Help for a lonely runner?

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My longest run before the marathon is coming up on Saturday. I have to admit I’m a little apprehensive about it, because it will be a 32k solo run — about 3 and a half hours for me; it really sucks to be slow!

A friend is driving me out to Sidney, and I will run the entire length of the Lochside Trail to downtown Victoria. By myself. On a trail I’m not entirely familiar with, since I’ve only run it from the Blue Bridge to Island View Road. I’m hoping that by starting in Sidney, I’ll get the unfamiliar half over with first, while I’m still fresh.

Let’s face it: running for 3+ hours gets boring and it hurts. That’s why I join the clinics at Frontrunners: for the camaraderie and companionship. Other people take the edge off. There’s strength in numbers. Shared pain is more bearable, and actually feels like an accomplishment when it’s finally over.

I’ll be all right, I can do this. After all, I will be running the race solo (however there will be other runners on the course). I ran 2:45 mostly solo while I was visiting Regina a couple of weeks ago; a friend did join me for 5k or so, which definitely helped.

Is there anyone in Greater Victoria who wants to join me for a portion of my run on Saturday – either on foot or on a bike? I would appreciate the companionship and support, even for a little while.

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Running for the Truly Terrified

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Many of you tell me I inspire you and you want to run (for the first time, or to get started again), but you are Truly Terrified. You don’t think you can keep up with me. You think you’ll embarrass yourself if you take me up on my offer to get you started with running. You think you’ll get left behind gasping for air while I run ahead.

I am here to tell you that’s not the case. I am here to tell you I was once in your shoes. I’ve been there, I know how it is.

Compared to most other runners, I am slow as molasses. In all my races I don’t rank in the top 50 per cent of my age group, but I still do it, because I love it. If I can do this, anyone can. I want to help you get started running again.

I’ve convinced my friend Scott Garman to come out to Beacon Hill Park by the petting zoo, Monday night, May 31, 2010, 6:30 sharp, to start running. Slowly. Baby steps. Anyone is welcome to join in.

Here’s the deal: there’s an 800-metre loop that passes by the Children’s Farm petting zoo (map below). If I’m running fast it takes me about 4 minutes to get around it, but if I’m slow it can be 5 minutes or more – and believe me on Mondays I am slow – it’s a recovery run for me, and I will have just done a full-body weight workout. I don’t want to be running any longer than a total 20 minutes.

If you can do one lap, good for you! If you can do half a lap, good for you! If you can run 2 minutes, then walk 3 minutes, then walk 2 minutes — well good for you! I will be there to clap and cheer all along the way.

The point is – you just show up. Because half the battle for anything you do in life is just showing up.


View Run routes in a larger map

Couple of things though before you stop by:

  • Please don’t come if you have a health condition that prevents you from doing physical exercise safely. See your doc first and get the go-ahead.
  • I’m not a certified personal trainer, I’m not a health care professional, I’m just a passionate volunteer and I want to demystify this whole running thing.
  • I can’t tell you how to eat, run, lose weight, or find enlightenment. I just know what has worked for me, and that a thousand mile journey begins with a single step.
  • Therefore I command you to go at your own pace and don’t try and keep up if you’re not feeling it. Huffing and puffing is one thing, but wheezing and gasping are another. Take it slow, that’s the whole point of this exercise.
  • Likewise, muscle fatigue is one thing, but sudden acute pain in muscles or joints is another. We’re here to honour our bodies, not hurt them. If it hurts, stop.
  • I’ll be trying to do this every Monday night, and everyone is welcome, but it really helps to strengthen the muscles and support the joints before attempting any real running. If our little runs inspire you to keep it up and run longer, I recommend getting into a good personal trainer or boot camp to avoid injury.

So please comment below and let me know if you’re coming, or just – show up in your sturdy runners and some sweat pants.

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My 101st post is about workout music…

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Exercising in middies & bloomers circa 1915 (thanks to Cornell University Library)

In March I had a request for workout music playlists, so I posted this. Recently I had another request, so I decided to publish this post as a page too. After the jump, you’ll see a couple of my playlists. Apologies to those who (when I polled readers a while ago) told me they are not interested in my music playlists!

Now on to the music >>

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Race Plan – splits and cheering times

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I think I will be finishing in 4 hours, 30 mins, but I will be happy just to finish! Here’s a link to the course map.

Start gun is at 8:30 am. It will take me anywhere from 5-10 mins to make it to the starting line. (at Menzies and Kingston, Parliament Bldg). Then my chip will begin recording my time. SO my start time will probably be around 8:35 or 8:40 am. THIS IS ALL APPROXIMATE:

Mile             Split            Approx time            Approx location

1             00:10:18             8:50 AM Wharf at Bastion Sq

2             00:20:36             9:00

3             00:30:54             9:11 Cook & Park (toward Heywood, into Beacon Hill)

4             00:41:13            9:21

5             00:51:31             9:32

6             01:01:49             9:42 Dallas Rd at Ross Bay

7             01:12:08             9:52

8             01:22:26             10:03 Richardson at Cowichan (Mary!)

9             01:32:44             10:13 Oak Bay at Hampshire/Monterey

10             01:43:03             10:23 Oliver and Central (Monterey School – Rena!)

11             01:53:21             10:33Beach Dr. – Just passing Victoria Golf Club

12             02:03:39             10:44

13             02:13:58             10:54 Beach Drive at Bowker

14             02:24:16             11:04

15             02:34:34             11:15 Beach Drive at Lansdowne. Turnaround is on Exeter

16             02:44:53             11:25            Just past Cattle Point (on way back)

17             02:55:11             11:35 Passing Oak Bay Marina/Turkey Point

18            03:05:29             11:46

19             03:15:48             11:56 Beach Drive at Oliver (back past Rena again)

20             03:26:06             12:06 PM Mitchell at Oak Bay (please don’t say “Almost there!”)

21             03:36:24             12:17 Richardson at Lawndale – 34 K the farthest I’ve ever run

22             03:46:43             12:27

23             03:57:01             12:37 Dallas approaching Clover Pt just past Ross Bay cemetery

24             04:07:19             12:48

25             04:17:38             12:58             Dallas at Pilot. NOW you can say “Almost there.”

26             04:27:56             1:08               Erie and Dallas

FINISH 04:30:00 – 1:10 PM – in front of Parliament Building facing Inner Harbour

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Race Day Crew wanted

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Each morning I lie in bed and listen to the song “Love Like a Sunset Parts 1-2″ by Phoenix and visualize myself running the Royal Victoria Marathon next Sunday Oct. 11, crossing the finish line, hugging my daughter. Because If I were to make a video of my marathon, this would be the soundtrack.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8c3CUNKQ2Q&hl=en&fs=1&border=1]

I think I’m going to need some help on race day. So here’s the roll-out, portions in red are where I need friends to “crew” me in the race:

7:30 – I start walking from my place to the start line at the Parliament building. Depending on the weather, I’m in layers: pants over shorts, sweater and garbage bag over run gear, run mittens over glove liners. Hat, sunglasses (if I need them), hydro belt with gels inside. I’ll be nervous, and when I’m nervous I shiver, hence the garbage bag and extra sweater. Besides it might rain.
7:50 I get to the start line and go to the biffy. Again.
8:00 I meet up with my run buddies somewhere near the start. and we go line up near the back of the marathoners.
8:25 I hand extra layers to a friend at the start line. I may visit the biffy again, but the line-up will probably be long.
8:30 Start gun. I may be in the biffy, but that’s ok because I’m wearing a timing chip on my shoe that doesn’t start my run time until I cross the sensor pads at the start line.

8:30 – 1:00 – I’m running 42.2 km. The race map is here, as well as details about road closures in downtown Victoria that day. I will need cheerleaders especially at the last half and three quarters of the race. Halfway is on Beach Drive just before Uplands Park/Cattle Point, but the turnaround is farther on, at Exeter.

My daughter will be at Cowichan near Richardson at the 13 and 34 km marks, and then she’ll be making her way to the finish line. I can stash extra layers with her if I need to (or grab an extra one.)

Good cheering points: anywhere along Dallas Road, Oliver (Rena, my boss lives on Oliver-31 km point-and I will stash an extra gel or two with with her), Mitchell & Oak Bay intersection, Hollywood and Dallas on the way back.

The 30 – 40 km will probably be the toughest. When I reach 40 km or so with the finish line 2.2 kms away, I’ll know I’ve made it even if I have to hobble. But that’s not going to happen, I am finishing strong. I think I am probably going to cry when I cross it, but that might not be the case – when I was pregnant with my daughter, my last baby (a difficult, high-risk pregnancy after losing Sarah) – I visualized myself giving birth to a healthy baby and I always cried with relief. But then when she was born I didn’t, I was just tired and ecstatic. When I had my dream about running with Sarah 17 years ago (that story is here) I was calm and serene.

So all bets are off. I just know that I’m ready and I’m going to finish at about 1 pm. I might cry, I might laugh, I might puke, my daughter might let me give her a hug (she usually doesn’t when I’m all sweaty from a long run).

Then I’m going to go home and have a long bath and I’m going to need someone to invite me over for a huge meal.

Then the next day is Thanksgiving and I’d really like someone to invite me over for a large dinner.

Because this year I’m not cooking the bird.

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3 handy tips for running hills

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Tonight we ran the Seven Sisters in Victoria: Hill workout! The Seven Sisters slay me: Fairfield; Oakshade, Gonzales, Lotbiniere, Robleda, St. Charles, Moss. I learned (re-learned) a few things:

  • eat more than oatmeal for breakfast and a few pieces of sushi for lunch. It will feel much better being fueled.
  • it’s summer – bring water! It took us over an hour to do that route. Um – er – yes I forgot to bring water. My bad.
  • You know that energy gel sitting by your computer? Take it before you go running. That’s what it’s there for, duh. (I guess I was too focused on picking up my car from the garage and handing them $674 for new wheel bearings. Aieee. There goes my new sofa.)
  • Bonus tip: keep going even if you feel like puking. It will pass. (At least this I managed to do tonight.)

All in all – great to be back on my feet with little to no pain what-so-evah! Woot!

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