Category Archives: nike+

April Showers Bring New Goals

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After running my first race of the season without any real goals, I decided after my first date with my Garmin today- it is time to set some goals. I’m also about to make them official by telling you all about them. Get ready for it!

The thing is, I started getting really nervous about my GoodLife Fitness Toronto Half Marathon that is coming up on May 15th. I was all fine and for it until I realized how far off my nike+ sensor was. Seriously, telling me I ran 9.67 km when I only did an 8K race- that is a scary thought when you are training for a half.

This would mean that my nike+ sensor would tell me that I ran 25.43K when really all I ran was 21K. And that extra 5K would add about 23 minutes to my time. And so– I freaked. And said, “am I seriously going to be ready for this race?” (Yes, I asked myself that while running.) And obviously the answer is YES, YES, YES! Of course I will be! I have 37 days to continue my training and according to my Garmin I ran 7K yesterday at a pace of 5:25/km. And I’m OK with that. My legs were heavy, I wore too many clothes, and it was my first date with my Garmin. so I was nervous and constantly looking at my pace and time. I came home and took a look at my training plan and after reviewing it, I’m feeling confident. I can do this and I gave myself 3 goal options:

The First:  1:40 
The Second: 1:45
The Third: 2:00


And how will I push myself to do it? By these simple words that I found on Christine’s blog bun&borough.

My mantra? I think so! I’m going to be my own cheerleader and tell myself that I Run To Be FIERCE!
It’s perfect and I can do this. Bring It On Toronto Half! (I told you I was going to be my own cheerleader!)

And- my Garmin was a success! Take a look at these stats from yesterdays run:

Pace vs Elevation
Pretty cool, right?! Yep, I’m in love! And- I love a good challenge. 
I’m no longer scared of my half, I’m pumped for it! 
What races are you pumped for? 

Call Me Vein.

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Thank you for clicking “follow” friends!! You guys are ahhh-maaay-ziing! I know this because I stalk your blogs whenever I have a free moment.

I decided to document just how hot and sweaty I get after a run by documenting some before and after pictures for you. Yes, I do kind of feel like a Jenny Craig ad model. But wait until you see the after shot!

Let’s start with the before:


Before

 Not too bad, right? I had to tame my bangs with a hair band and I look pretty ready for a run. I went for a 7K and had to slow my pace down because my food was not digested in my stomach. Ugh, I hate that feeling. So, I went with it and yet again it was so hot running the t-mill. When I got to the locker I saw this beauty looking at me:


After



Yes, that is quite the attractive face. Seriously, do you see it?! I have two veins that decided to come out and play after my run. And, they are in the shape of a “V”. I felt just like my fav, Kristin Chenoweth. Apparently we both get blood rushing to our head sometimes.

Kritin Chenoweth

I’d like to think of it as my body telling me that I had a great workout but really it’s just because I have a veiny forehead. You really do learn something new everyday!

For this run I didn’t pick a playlist. I just put my ipod on a jukebox shuffle starting with Dolly’s 9 to 5 and off I went.

The Playlist
9 to 5- Dolly Parton
Magahlena- Sergio Mendes
Your House- Jimmy Eat World
Basket Case- Green Day
Learn To Fly- Foo Fighters
Driving Me Crazy- Sam Adams
I’m Real- Jennofer Lopez

Cool Down/Stretching
You’ve Got You- Eric Hutchinson
Dancing With Myself- Glee Cast

Stats of the Run
Distance: 7.01 km
Pace: 4:30 min/km
Incline: 1%

CHALLENGE ALERT!
Nike+ is having a mileage contest over 30 days! For every km clocked, different companies will donate $10 to $100 to Japan! Join me in the challenge HERE!

Thursday’s Thoughts: Sale El So

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It’s funny how much life can change in a year. After having my yearly check-up at the doctors, I have been in a reflecting kind of mood. I logged on to my nike+ account and read about my run on February 9th, 2010 and found out that I ran 9.39 km run at this time last year with an average pace of 4:20 min/km and at a 0% incline. And now I am pulling average paces of 4:11 min/km on a 1% incline. Thank you boot camp, speed intervals, and hills you are making me better, faster, harder, and stronger!

And it’s not just running that I feel stronger, it’s as a whole. I can honestly say that I dreaded going into the doctors office. This time last year when I was told that I might have skin cancer, breast cancer, and too much protein leaking from my kidneys I became a ball of emotions. After appointments with different specialists I only had skin cancer. I know, ONLY right? But seriously, it was no biggie. I called myself Heidi Montag made a new friend with my lovely plastic surgeon and now I am 100% cancer free with a 15 stitch scar on my nose to prove it. The best part? No one can even tell that I have a scar. Seriously Dr. Catherine Haywood, you are magical. And I couldn’t have done it without my huge support system. Thank you family, friends, and marathons of How I Met Your Mother that kept me smiling the entire time. OK, not the entire time. I definitely cried when I looked in the mirror 2 days later to see how cut up I was under my bandage. Yep, 2 days. I’m positive that is the longest I have gone without looking in a mirror.

I also accomplished my goal, to run a half marathon. And I did it with my sister in the most magical place in the world: Walt Disney World.

Julia, Minnie Mouse, and Me

Julia is also the one who got me to sign up for Harry’s Spring Off on April 2nd and I think I may have convinced her to do the Sporting Life 10K on May 1st!

Leaving the doctors office I couldn’t be happier knowing that I just need to start taking Vitamin D and get some blood work done to see if I am low in iron.

Shakira’s new music video Sale El So couldn’t have come out at a better time then during my reflection post. She sings the line, “No hay mal que dure cien años ni cuerpo que lo aguante” which for my non-spanish speaking friends means, “There is no evil that lasts a hundred years or body that supports it.”

Thank you body for healing so wonderfully!

Cuts Like A Knife.

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Yesterday I went on a date to see my plastic surgeon. OK, so it wasn’t a date but it felt like one because I brought her flowers to say “Thanks for fixing my face!” After a loooong wait in the waiting room (reading, checking e-mails, reading blogs, playing brick breaker…etc) I finally got in to the room where I would wait again until my doctor came in. It’s just like Disney World really. You wait in one room and move along the line and you feel like you are somewhere different because there is a new look to where you are but essentially- it’s just another waiting room. After all that I got some great news! My 13 stitch scar on my nose has been healing beautifully minus the little bit of scar tissue that has caused a bump where the end of the stitches were but lucky for me- I get to say goodbye to the little guy. After spending a glorious nine months with it (just like a baby in the womb) it’s getting cut off! Wahhhhoooooo! Next week actually. It’s another little surgery but it won’t be as bad as getting the basal cell carcinoma removed and then 13 stitches. This time it’s just those dreadful freezing needles (lets hope it’s not 10 this time) a little cut and 2 stitches. And then I will be sporting a nice band-aid on my nose maybe decked out with pearls? And accessorized with two little stitches! Amazing! I can’t wait. And honestly, the bump really isn’t THAT big. But to me- it feels ginormous. Make-up can cover a scar but it can’t hide a bump. So, I’m bumping the bump next Friday!
YA! YA! YA!


As for that nike+ I figured out that I just have to “Link it.” Obviously, right? Ohhhhh Siobhan!


It’s weight training and stretching for tonight and a run tomorrow. Perfect.