I'M IN LOVE!

Now before you go flipping the switch, calling for a wedding planner or throw yourself off a cliff, let me qualify why.

Today was the Richmond Road Race = Awesome!!  It was flipping cold and windy, but really fun nonetheless.  I've learned over the years that at this time of year, I'm loving the 5K run!  It was an out and back on slippery snow covered roadways, but a really fun race and exceptionally well run by the Run Ottawa Club.  You are greeted with pumping music, the smell of chili and homemade soups cooking, freshly brewed Tim Horton's coffee and a gymnasium full of 500 runners!  (I think my race time was somewhere around 33 or 34 minutes...I forgot to turn off my garmin, total brain freeze).

Let's back up a little first.  Friday night I met some friends at Dows Lake to skate what was open of the world's largest skateway.  It was an awesome night, cold, crisp, -16C with little wind.  You skate along past some of the oldest private residences in Ottawa, needless to say they are stately homes with wonderful landscaping and many still had up their Christmas lights.  It was stunning just gliding along listening to the sounds of the other skaters whisking their way past us.

I have to admit I was nervous and tense but having fun nonetheless.  We skated 5km and decided for the first time out that was going to be good enough considering we had to skate back for a total of 10K.  It was when we turned to head back we realised we were head first into the wind.  Brrrrr, that is when I realised that my long underwear were getting a little old and not doing their job quiet as well as they had in the past...fast forward ....

Saturday arrives to our first real blast of winter snow and I had an hours drive into Bushtukah where the Road Race kit-pick up was.  I had volunteered to help out, so I couldn't let the other volunteer's down.  Off I went.  It was a busy spot what with 500 runner's picking up their race bibs and beautiful running shirts, aren't they GREAT?



After my shift was over, I had the opportunity of scouring the store to see all the products and items that are now on sale....so much to see, so little time.

This is where I started my love affair (shameless solicitation) with....Icebreaker Pure New Zealand Merino long underwear!!!

A very informed young man told me the pro's and con's, the this vs that and suggested that instead of purchasing the same brand I had been wearing for years I try Icebreakers....Well, I'm in LOVE!  I purchased a lovely 260 long undershirt and 260 long underwear!  Along with some matchy - matchy merino wool running socks....

All I can say is Winter, Look OUT!  I'll kick your sorry arse this year!!!

Icebreaker even informs you where your wool came from by searching your special unique BAA Code (isn't that a hoot?  A Baacode) on each item, it will direct you to which Sheep Station in New Zealand your items started off from.  Well, those who truly know me, know it doesn't take much to entertain me, so once I got to see where my items came from, I'm hooked.  My lovely new aubergine top came from Lindis Peak Stations, baacode.  Amazing!  Now I'm totally hooked and will likely purchase a few more items from Icebreaker before the end of this kickass winter because I'm in LOVE!!!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

work out, keep moving, run and blogging

Yesterday was the final day of my Christmas vacation.  It was an interesting vacation, days spent with family in Toronto, visiting friends far and near, along with catching my annual winter cold.

Now that I'm back to work and back to running, I've been visiting some of my favourite blogs (yes, you are all my favourites), but one struck me in particular.  JoLynn at Single Track Junkie, hit the very cord of inspiration I was looking for.  

Move every day!!!

Wow, that hit me like a ton of bricks...I had slipped into a very comfortable, non-motivated state that I call Slothdom.  Now all that is gone.  I've had two very comfortable 2.5 and 4K runs, which will prepare me for the first race of 2011.  The Richmond Road Race.  This is one of my very favourite races to kick off the new year!

2011 may not be a year of many races, there are a few family issues ensuing, which of course will take priority, but at least I'll make a point of moving every day!!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Tuesday already?

Holy Yikes, time is flying. It has been busy, crazy at work (which is good because I was getting a little nervous last week).

The weather has tanked as far as cross country skiing is concerned, I can’t remember a winter this mild...yes, you can thank me. I’m guessing it is because I bought all that ski and snowshoe equipment. You’re welcome!!

Sunday was a GREAT day as far as running was concerned....it was one of the best, mildest running days in the 28 year history of the Richmond Road Race.  I had a blast meeting up with old and now new friends...yes I finally got to meet Yannick of EndorphinBuzz.  He is a speedy speedster and super nice!!!

Since the Wooo Hooo’s were running in the 10K,  I ran the 5K with my friend Treena from Bimble. 

(I ended up #58 of 96 women at a 6:41 pace finishing up at 0:33:23, this was not a chip time, just the old fashioned right it down on a clip board, which is just fine with me).

The representatives were there for the Kilt Run in June and believe it or not I know a couple of the organiser’s....I think I’ll need to get a hotel room in June for after, there will be adult BevERages involved after that race, I’m sure of it.... 

Anyway, I’m here stealing company time so I’ll leave you with the photo links of the race...I can’t scoop any photo’s, they got all high tek and I can’t copy any photo’s....*sniff*  but look for me....bib number 323!  I'm killing myself laughing (as usual)...oh and that's Dave running in his kilt....

Have a great day and remember,

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Cravings, Bodily functions & a Road Race...

Cravings, Since Christmas I have been craving salt!  I haven't used salt in anything other than what is forced on me through packaged foods in over 30 years.  What's up with that?  When I eat rice I have to include soya sauce, if I have sweet potato fries, I'm adding table salt.  My eyes are beginning to  look like two pee holes in the snow!!!  Anyone got some answer's here?


Bodily Functions, yes you read that correctly, a daily (I hope for your sake) function NO one wants to talk about.  Well, I'm up for the "big" check up in a couple of weeks, so with that said, I haven't been able to take some of my vitamins, especially vitamin C nor drink orange juice for the last three days.  Apparently this is normal before the faecal occult blood test which is a prelude of the "big" check up ~ the Flexible sigmoidoscopy.  Depending upon the results of the sigmoidoscopy, it will determine if I require an actual colonoscopy.   Ahhhh aging, ain't it great?  But you know what?  With a history of colon cancer in my family, I don't care what "Embarrassment" I may feel, I'd sooner be safe than sorry, it's all about covering your ass!  If you've never had this check up, I would highly recommend speaking to your doctor about it.

Now onto the next blog topic,

Richmond Road Race, I'm looking forward to Sunday, it'll be a not so fast 5K trot!!

this is what it looked like last year....

The weather predictions are all over the board, yesterday they said sunny and cool ~ today's forecast for Sunday is cloudy with 40 percent chance of showers. Low minus 4. High plus 1.  I suppose we will know exactly what we are getting when we open our eyes on Sunday morning.

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Richmond Road Race Report

As mentioned, we were experiencing extremely cold temperatures last week and it didn't look as though it was going to give us a reprieve anytime soon. It is a well know fact that the Richmond Road Race is usually held on the coldest and windiest weekend in January.

Hardy are we Canuks, we just add another layer of neoprene and go. The only skin you'll see is when we are back in the school gymnasium and people are shedding their layers. It is not uncommon to see runner's with duct tape over their shoes to prevent the cold, snow and slush from getting into their kicks and thus the risk of frostbite. Also unusual and yet a very Canadian plight, only in Canada, would the policemen move out of their way to make way for people dressed like terrorists running within 10 feet of the seat of power of the nation, while running downtown...glad to be in a free country.

But, back to Richmond.

Sunday dawned to snow, snow and more snow, my drive to Richmond was slow and treacherous, with nary a snowplow to be seen, HELLO City of Ottawa, it is winter here! Get the damn plow's out!!

The drive is usually at least 40 minutes, so I left extra early and I slip, slided my way to the school and headed for the gym, most of the 10K runner's were making their way to the start line and I knew I had 15 minutes before I had to line up for the 5k. This is a very fast race, held by the National Capital Runners Association. They are hard core speed runner's, unlike me who goes out and lopes along.

The gun went off and we were on our way. The footing was very snowy, which was turning to slush with all of the runners ahead, we headed down one of the main streets past the school and we were channeled into one lane of the road, the footing was very slippery and some runners were really starting to slip and then walk. I kept my even pace, although slower than I would normally start off, this actually paid off because the road we turned up hadn't been plowed at all. By the time we got to that road some of the 5k and 10K runners were headed back to the school, (told you they were fast!!).

I ended up running this part with a great lady, she had me laughing the whole time we were together up the snow laden road, we hit the turn around and made our way back to the main road and straight into the wind. The 10K runners were really flying at this point, so I picked up my pace, said so long and headed towards the finish area. You wouldn't believe the support we had for this race, there were so many volunteers out on the course it is amazing. Spectators lined both sides of the roadway as we neared the school. It is truly unbelievable to have so many people cheering you on in subzero temperatures.

This is always a fun run for me, I was slower this year due to the footing and I really haven't been training all that much (even though I have a Half Marathon on Sunday), I was happy with my time 32:41, not too bad.

I headed back to the gym to warm up and changed out of my running gear while I waited for the 10K Wooo Hooo's to come back. The scene in the gym was incredible, there were runner's and running gear everywhere, there was hot soup, plates with muffins, cheese, banana's along with drinking boxes and hot coffee, all handed out by the never tiring group of volunteers. Hats off to all volunteers, for without them, we wouldn't have races!! While the girls were changing, the race director was handing out door prizes, race prizes and recognition to those who had made this race possible. This is a such a great race to kick off the new year!

But we had to get going, as with any race the Wooo Hooo's attend, we had a party to go to! Yes, you should know by now, there is always a party, food and usually the odd adult BEvERage after our races!!!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Through no fault of its own...

The Shirt that Races did not race!!

So, I'll fill you in on why;

The Shirt that Races arrived mid week from Nikki, who lives out in Langley, British Columbia (thank you Nikki)!!

I was so excited that it was here and in time for my 5K race, **The Richmond Road Race. After battling the freezing cold temperatures all of last week, we could only hope that Mother Nature would take it upon herself to grant us, at least on race day, milder temperatures.

Sunday dawned to snow, snow and more snow and yes, a little warmer temps. Although it was still cold out I started to layer up for the race and tried on the Shirt that Races.

Well, lets put it this way, I did take a picture, but it will never be posted, in fact it has been deleted from my camera, but it went something like this...

My (Anna Nicol at her heaviest), body just didn't fit the little shirt that is travelling across North America!!!

Now, Sports Fans, I'm considered *Rubenesque, and "the girls" just didn't fit the shirt!!! Needless to say, the shirt was not going to be seen in public nor would it be comfortable to be worn under any of the other layers of long underwear!

I almost considered asking one of the other Wooo Hooo's to wear it, but they were all ready to line up for their 10K race when I arrived in Richmond. So, although the little shirt made to the race, it, truth be told did not race.

I HAVE FAILED the Shirt.....

I do not feel worthy to sign the shirt nor document my race time (32:41), help, I need guidance on this!! Do I? or Don't I???

Help....

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

*yes, I'm tall and of large stature and yes, most of you are little peeps....

**the race report to follow