Wordless Wednesday

I met a wise woman

After a particularly craptastic day at work on Friday I decided to go for a ski just to relieve some pent up anger. I headed up to the park and headed out, but for some reason, not sure why, whether it was because I wasn't focused and still had my head at work, but I didn't have a very good ski.  I've learned over the years, whether it was schooling one of my horses or even while running, I give something the ten minute test and if I'm not seeing the results I want, I pack it up and try another day.

Saturday arrived and it was a nice day, once I got Lily a little more comfortable and got groceries purchased and  unpacked, I went back to the park.  There were quiet a few skiers out on the trails and I caught up with a very nice couple, we skied together for a little while.  The Wise Woman said to me "go ahead, I'm very slow and a little nervous", well, I'd hit Mecca!  Another skier just like me!!!

We skied along until we got to the first series of hills.  I told her, "don't worry about me, just go ahead".  She asked me if I was scared and I told her yes.  Well, out of the mouth of the Wise Woman came words I will never forget.   Don't follow the classic track, snowplough down the hill and if you fall it won't be as devastating.   I watched the wise woman do exactly that and lo and behold I tried it and it worked!  No fall, no stress, just a feeling of accomplishment.  I lost them along the trails and I never had the chance to thank her, but until I get some more confidence that is exactly what I'll be doing.....I've got your number Mr. Hill.

Sunday I was up at the butt-crack of dawn to volunteer at the Hypothermic Half Marathon.  We had to be there for 6:30am.  It is still dark out at that time people!  I received an email saying that they were desperate for volunteers so I coerced Nat into volunteering as well, so it was going to be a fun day.  After a 45 minute drive and two phone calls to Nat,  we finally met up.  Please go to her blog to read all about the race.  Thanks for the shout out Nat, I had a great time!!!  I can't contribute any more of what Nat wrote other than;

a) using a Port-a-Pottie in the middle of January takes "stones"

b) don't leave your camera and Nat in the car unsupervised !!!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

It's the weekend

This morning was an early start, ever since Christmas Lily has been feeling sort of punky and this morning she was sick again around 4:30am, so I got up to be with her.  She just hate being sick, she gets this look on her face as if she is trying to apologise.  While I was hugging her I got one of her cat hairs in my eye, gah that hurts, so I know look like I've been punched in the eye, it is so red and swollen but I was able to get the hair out by using my contact lens solution as a sluice.  Needless to say, both of us went back to bed because it was only 6:30 AM.

Well I'm up now and trying to organise myself, it is bright, sunny and cold and at some point I'd like to go for a ski.  Tomorrow I'm up at the freeking buttcrack of dawn because I volunteered to help at the Hypothermic Half Marathon in Ottawa.  Volunteers have to meet at 6:30AM....Holy F*ck....what's up with that?  No, really it is okay, the walkers start at 7am, so we have to be there to marshal traffic, cheer them on and make sure they go the right route.  Last year we ran 5 loops around the Arboretum, I'm not ashamed to say the race kicked my ass.  It was soooo cold and the wind picked up and I was definitely under-dressed.  I bailed with just a little over 5K to go.   Have I mentioned I really dislike winter?

So this year I figured the least I could do was volunteer, look for me, I'll be the one dressed like the Michelin Man.  Not really, but I will have so many clothes on I'll resemble him.

After the last runner / walker finishes we are all going off to the Arrow and Loon for breakfast.  It is part of the race swag, along with the coveted snowflake medal and race shirt.

That will be my last meal of the weekend as I have to fast for my medical tests on Monday.   Even though it is a rather embarrassing test, it is essential, colon cancer runs in my family.  And NO people you are not knocked out for this particular one....

Well there you go, oh, and an updated on my Ladybug.  She made an appearance on Wednesday and I feed her some apple and water droplets, but she was obviously failing.  She passed away on Friday and is now resting comfortably in the compost bin.

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

It's all about the day...

The alarm went off at 5:30, it was still dark outside. As I made my way into the kitchen to put on the coffee I looked out at the thermometer that hangs on the kitchen window, it was -24C, Yikes, that can't be right, so I fired up the computer and checked on-line with the local weather station and it said -16C, hmmmmm, someone was lying!

Glenda was to pick me up at 06:40 so we could make our way to the race location, park and make our way to "Building 85", which we thought would be a hall of some sort where we could change, leave our bags, use the facilities and head the start line that would be just out side the door.

When we pulled into the parking lot people were already parked and outside wandering around aimlessly with their running bags, no one knew where to go and there were no signs as to where we were suppose to go. It was freeking cold and where were we suppose to be????

A last minute decision was made to grab only what we needed, therefore leaving our bags in the car, we headed off to find Building 85, wherever it may be. Walking over a Km later we found the building. It turned out the be a public washroom, that was IT! Well, at least it was heated and for the time being we had somewhere to stand (not quite the ambiance I was looking for).

With ten minutes till the start of the race start we jogged our way to the new start line, which was at least another km away. Not quite 400 runners were standing and waiting for the race to begin. This was were we found out that the race route had been changed due to construction!!

Because so many people were still wandering around trying to find the new start line the actual start time was delayed at least ten minutes. We had been waiting almost twenty minutes by now and it was really cold out, the good news was at least there was no wind (yet).

With the change and delay we had the chance to meet up with a few of the runners we knew and our friends Brenda and Roger were there to wish us well, how great is that?

Finally the gun went off and we were on our way!


The route was four loops around the Experimental Farm in greater Ottawa, this in fact made for a nice winter run, you had the opportunity to go as quickly or as slowly as you wanted and always had help within sight!

Glenda and I stayed together for the greater portion of the run, we headed up the hill to the sharp right turn at the 5K mark, it seemed to take much longer than a normal 5K, but what does my Garmin know. We were heading straight into the wind, have I mentioned hate winter and wind?

The footing was not too bad at the beginning but with all of the runners, the snow/slush , drifting snow was being churned up by many running feet and became more of a challenge. Believe me, with each loop the challenges were different.

At the first loop turnaround, there were porta-potties, a water station and the many smiling faces of the fantastic volunteers! Thanks so much all of you, you are amazing!

(a picture of Man at the water station)
I'm not sure about you, but having to stop to use the facilities in -26C is just not something you want to dilly dally around. Holy doodle it was cold!!

It was at this point when I started to really get chilled. We continued on our hamster path, up the hill, sharp right into the wind, down a hill, loop back, up the hill, sharp right down the hill, loop around, up the hill, sharp right, sharp right and you were back at the water station and porta-pots.

(me and Glenda at the 9K mark)

By now the wind was picking up and I really wasn't consistent with my speed and actually at one point I was so cold I felt faint. My face felt frozen and a very nice man gave me some of his Vaseline to put on my cheeks and lips, mine had worn off. My PowerAde was turning to slush and my Sharkies were like bullets. Even though I had enough clothing on top, my thighs, and butt were freezing, a good pair of windpants would have worked nicely! (note to self, buy a pair!)

As with all of our events, we start off together, but run our own race, so I told Glenda to go on and embrace her race that she had trained so hard for. I was going to walk. Two very nice men stopped to check on me, thanks very much you guys! Many of my running friends stopped to make sure I was okay, even my running blog buddy Nat checked in on me to make sure I was okay, THANKS girlfriend!

It was at the 13K mark I just couldn't take the cold any further. I still had two Km's to go till the water station and all I could do was try to walk as quickly as I could. Glenda was at the turn around so I asked her for the car keys. When I made it to the loop, my running pal Rick was there and he ran out and gave me a big bear hug, it was exactly what I needed to keep going till I reached the next loop where the finish line was. Although I only had 6Km left to complete the race, there was no way I could have done it. I'd made my decision, I'm no hero and there are many other events to compete and complete,

When I got to the start/finish line, I wasn't sure how I would make it all the way to the van. (remember how far away it was?)

All I wanted to do was get somewhere warm. As I was trying to get my frozen brain to work, I heard my name being called out and it was Brenda and Roger. They had just arrived to see how we were doing. Luckily they had parked very close to the finish line and they hustled me into the car. I was so cold I couldn't open the car door!! What a wimp, but I was frozen to the core. Brenda had brought a thermos full of coffee and she poured me a cup, but my hands were so cold I couldn't hold the cup and Roger gave me his mitts to put on, finally I was able to feel my fingers (well most of them anyway), Brenda put some Baileys into my coffee and had the heat blasting in the car.

Glenda still had the last 5k to go, Roger went out the walk in the last kilometer with her and then bring her back to the car.

Congratulations Glenda! You did it and you got your Snowflake Bling! Way to tough it out!

We all went back to the race luncheon that was being held at the Arrow and Loon Restaurant and had a nice buffet lunch which was included in our race entry fee.

Thanks everyone for your help and concern, both at the race and on Facebook, I am okay, but trust me, once I get through the marathon training for the race in May, this will be my last winter of running outdoors!

Lessons learned:

• no matter how many layers you wear, you need wind protection,
• carry extra gels, sharkies or whatever you use on the inside of your jacket against your body so they stay pliable,
• carry a tube of Vaseline with you, don't leave it in your gym bag,
• if you are cold, STOP, get out of the wind and somewhere warm,
• hypothermia can be devastating to your health and well being.

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

And so it is back...

About 03:00, I'm lying in bed listening to the rhythmic rumbling of a deep noise, when it came from the recesses of my memory....

Snowplow!!!

Oh crap!! What am I going to face in the morning! Not quite the amount of snow showing in the photo, that photo was from last winter, a few short months ago and now it is back.

After braving the cold and wind for both Saturday and Sunday's runs, snow means that the temperatures are warming up. Okay, I'm trying to rationalise this .... humour me!

It was wicked cold on Saturday, the wind was blowing straight off the river, it was bitterly cold. Sunday's run was a little warmer, I drove into town to run with the group. I always find great motivation when the weather is appalling to go into town to get some moral support from the other crazies who are training for either the Winterman Marathon in February or like me, training for the Hypothermic Half Marathon in January. It was a nice easy 12K along the Trans Canada Trail.

The Hypothermic Half is not going to be one of my most favourite races, it'll be more like a training run really, as it consists of four loops around the Arboretum, in snow, hopefully not ice, and not too cold. Since I'm all about the bling I signed up for it because the medal is a super cool Snowflake, plus, we will receive a really nice winter running toque and gloves and if that wasn't enough to feed my running palate, we will be supplied with a nice hot luncheon afterwards! Perks, I'm all about perks & bling!!

Speaking of perks, I am truly excited to mention that I have the great opportunity to be part of "The Shirt That Races", Nikemom came up with this brilliant idea back in October, where the shirt is worn in a race, washed, the race documented on the back (or somewhere) and then it is passed along to the next participant. I am truly honoured, although I might not be fast, I'll certainly be wearing the shirt that races proudly on January 25, 2009.

As I look out my office window to the winter wonderland of snow and drifting snow, I suppose I should get back to work. Luckily I got a really great workout at the gym yesterday, so today, I'll just dogsled it home and have a nice cozy evening with a nice warm veggie dinner along with red wine and be stalking all of you!

Run safe!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Thanks for the inspiration!

Thank you so much everybody for your "kick in the butt loving" you all gave me from yesterdays post, that is just the attitude I need from you to "keep my head above water" as I fight off the affects of SAD.

Thanks too for being a part of my life for the past 200 posts!!!

Yes, this is number 200!! (chatty aren't I)

So with that said, there are a couple of races that are in my area....

Sunday, October 26, at the General Hospital.

Rattle Me Bones raises vital funds for patient care, arthritis, and orthopedic research at The Ottawa Hospital.

I've just put out an "all call" to the Wooo Hooo's to see if anyone else wants to join me. Blogger Nat will be there with some of her "brunch bunch".

The other race I'm anxiously waiting for is the Hypothermic Half Marathon in Ottawa in January. (Last year I ran the Half Marathon at P.F. Chang's Rock 'n Roll Phoenix, too much fun).

The 2009 race date hasn't been posted yet but this is from last year...yes, the medal is a large snow flake and usually they give you something really very nice along with your bling. Last year it was a fabulous running bag with a thermal running bottle. Handy to have in our cold winter of running.

The race is posted as "Brave the cold in Canada's capital to run as part of a group of 300 participants running or walking the half marathon", it is a small out and back loop race, just something to shake the cobwebs out of you after Christmas. Oh, oh, that "c" word just keeps creeping up in blogs everywhere!!

The sun is shining this morning and beckoning me to get out and "suck up" all the Vitamin D the sun has to offer, so I'm going to strap on my kicks and get out for a run and maybe later, hop on Ruby Red and go for a spin!

Have a great weekend everyone, thanks again!! Good Luck to everyone competing this weekend....

Life's fun if you don't weaken!

Lily