Puk On!

Last Saturday we went to my brother-in-law Mike's mother's funeral. Marie Haan lived a long, full life, raised 4 kids and was 97 years old. Her children talked about the dutch sayings she often used. One of them was "Puk On!" It means - tough it out and get going, you can do it, persevere, etc. Well this week at marathon clinic I had to tell myself to Puk On! several times.

I brought my head light this time like everyone else but still didnt look as cool. Maybe it was because I wore a cap with a fleece headband over top and then the headlight on top of that. Not cool I know. I even saw a girl in a car laughing at me as I walked in the store. I dont care, I rather have warm ears. I had forgotten my contacts and it was raining so thats why I had to wear a cap but I thought it was too cold for just a cap.

Before we headed out for another 10K tempo run the leader told us to MAKE SURE we did the first few kilometers as a warm-up. This is very important he said. Yeah yeah, I thought it was more important not to be last and proceeded to run way too fast at the beginning.

I pulled it off at first. I was sticking with the group. I was one of them. Then someone passed me, then another and another. Even these two tiny little ladies who I could probably stick in my back pocket and took tiny, baby steps passed me. How could they be faster than me? I was over dressed again and was so warm that I had to take my jacket off and in doing so got it all tangled up in my water bottle belt. Then the wind started. It got so windy I side stepped a couple of times. Thats when I realized I was last. Dead last. I almost felt like giving up. But I thought of Mike's mom and told myself to Puk On! I Pukked On running by myself in the dark up a long hill with the wind howling. I think I probably could have walked faster. I could see Ed ahead of me and it looked like he felt bad for me but the leader (Garth) told him to go ahead and he circled back to run with me.

Garth said I was doing great and he said it like he actually meant it. It helped. He talked alot which helped me get through those last kilometers. We werent that far behind the others but then we got stopped by a red light. Now I was dead dead last. He said he never worried about time but runs because he loves running. Although he did mention that he's done Boston AND now does ultramarathons, 100 kilometers! I dont know if I love running that much! He asked me about my goals and found out he's also turning 50 this year. It turned out to be a great run, even if I was dead last. I still got high fives from some of the front runners when I came in and Garth said I did great.

It doesnt feet great to be last and I've never felt so slow as I do with this group but I think I'll stick with it. These tempo runs are definately pushing me and can only improve my speed. I just have to Puk On!

Marathon Clinic Newbie

This May I am turning 50, yuck, and my goal is to run a full marathon in May and beat my 40th birthday marathon time.


For my 40th I joined a Running Room marathon clinic with a friend. It was great! We both "finished upright and smiling". (A famous and much used RR saying).


This year I've decided to join a Running Free store marathon clinic because first of all its free, (the Running Room is $70) and my brother in law Ed was joining. Perfect!


I went for the first time last night and noticed there is quite a difference from the Running Room people and the Running Free people.


First of all at the RR there are all different shapes and sizes of people and all different styles of running clothes and not so good for running clothes. Not so at RF. The second I walked in the door I realized these runners are hard core! Not one 'beginner looking' person in the room and nothing but top of the line running clothes and everyone had a headlight on their head. Ed had told me I should get a head light but I had never seen anyone run with a headlight before. The manager kindly gave me a small flashlight to carry and showed me the route on a huge map. Very nice but he might as well of stuck a Newbie sign on my forehead.


Everyone knew Ed. Hi Ed, hi Ed, hi Ed. I only knew Ed, but thats OK. An oppurtunity to meet new people right.

For the first night we were doing a 10K tempo run. I thought no problem, I run 10K everyweek. At the RR I was always in the middle of the pack. Not so at RF. I like to start off slow to warm up. No such luck. They took off and it was full speed, well at least full speed for me. One of the leaders ran with us slower people. I was worried that we were last but noticed there were 2 stragglers behind us. Great I thought but the leader told us they were "taking it easy" because they had run 2 marathons in the last 2 weeks. Seriously...what did I get myself into??!! Ed stayed with me, "the newbie". I told him he could run ahead but he said it was fine and wanted to take it easy too, sure Ed. Poor guy, stuck with the Newbie.

Even though we were second last I thought we were doing a pretty good pace. Thats until the leader said 'These first 5K are a warm up and then the last 5K you can give it all you've got" I whispered to Ed, I AM giving it all I've got already, I dont got anymore! This was about at kilometer number #4.

Running with other people did make the kilometers go faster. Im used to running by myself most of the time. Runners love talking about running and the races they've done but I found these RF hardcore veterans would ask me what races I'd done and before I'd finished they proceeded to list all their races. One guy listed his marathons and then said AND 2 Ironmans. I said I've done a sprint triathlon??.....yeah he didnt hear me.

Towards the end of the 10K I could see the RF store off in the distance. I decided to sprint the end to show I wasnt exhausted (I was) but unfortunately the store was a lot farther off than I thought it was. But I couldnt stop of course and look like an idiot so I pushed it until I got to the store. When we got there everyone was just finishing their stretching and eating the snacks already.
I stretched for abit and then went in the store. I could feel my face was bright red and all blothcy from sprinting at the end. What a Newbie face. I went to get some food but everyone was starting to sit down for the talk. Oh well, I didnt want any food anyway. The 2 leaders talked about nutrition and had a Q n A time. It was good but the whole time I was sweating profusely and peeling my layers off. Everyone else looked as cool as they did at the start....eating their bananas. I was starving!

I dont know if I fit in with these hardcore athletes. They all know their stats and talk about tempo runs and hill work and PRs bla bla bla and their fancy shmancy running clothes and high tech pants that are supposed to make you run 0.005 seconds faster. I just like to run because I love it. I listen to my music and take in my surroundings and dont worry about my time and my stats. Then again.... my husband has a headlight I could borrow. And if Im last I can only get better. Who am I kidding. I cant wait till next week!

My New Motto

My new motto for the last couple days has been "I'm going for a run and nothing is going to stop me!" Not darkness, rain, snow, a hungry family, a messy house, laundry, stinky running clothes, Christmas shopping, etc. Nothing is stopping me. Once I let a little doubt creep in...I dont go. So Im being tough.

Last night it was dark, raining hard and it was already 6 o'clock with no supper started. But whats my motto? "Im going running and nothing is going to stop me!" I told my son to start supper.

I shut everything out of my mind except running and put on my running clothes. I was ready to head out the door when my daughter called. She needed a ride home from work. My baby was standing in the rain and needed a ride. What could I do? This is not stopping me, just delaying me abit. I will not give in. My daughter was glad for the ride but not very encouraging about running in the rain. She said I was crazy. Not stopping me. As soon as I got home I was out the door.

I started running and was wondering myself if I was crazy. My face hurt at first because the rain was pelting it so hard. As my body adjusted to the weather the rain actually started to feel good on my face. Listening to "Switchfoot" (0ne of my favourite bands) as I ran made me feel so happy. The Christmas lights in the rain were so beautiful! What a great night for a run! I thanked Jesus for my health, daughters, sons, rain, Christmas lights and a great motto.

Great Morning Feeling

I finally gave in and renewed my gym membership. It feels great to be back at the gym. Its my escape out of my small house with 6 adults. I like running outside better than on the treadmill but its great for the winter. The gym is filled with people too but when I step up on the treadmill and put my earphones on Im in my own little world, in my own little space and I block everything else out. Just me and my music and running. This morning I was listening to a singer named "Lights". It was very inspiring. "I just want to run to you, and break off the chains and throw them away." It felt great and very freeing. I thought of how I need to focus on Jesus and give Him all my chains and He throws them away and makes my burdens light. When I was finished at the gym I stepped outside and it was beautiful, snowy and mild outside. It felt great to be alive. It felt great going to work this morning showered and coffee in hand and done my workout.

God Is Bigger

Last week was a sad week. News of the death of a 21 year old daughter of friends and her unborn child, and a week before a death of a friend's only sibling who died days after getting married....plus some hard family issues.... it was just a very sad odd week because I had to fit birthdays in between it all and all I had on my mind was sadness. I didnt exercise or run all week. I had life to deal with.
Sunday morning was Mother's Day and I really didnt feel like celebrating it. What I really needed to do was go for a run. I got new running shoes for Mother's day and my birthday so I was determined that I was going to go for a run before church and put my mind at rest and just enjoy my gift and some time to myself.
I borrowed my daughter's Ipod and it had some beautiful praise music on it. There was a strong wind blowing as I ran and it reminded me of a song that had been on my mind all last week. "Consuming Fire" and one line is "come in like a rushing wind." I suddenly felt such love and praise for God. I just had this sense that God is bigger than all our problems and sadness. Im thankful for God and running.

First Long Run

Im back on my blog again. Hello old friend. As I said before my goals this year are improving my 10K time and lengthening by running distance. I havent run farther than 10K since my injury. Well on Saturday I ran 13K. woo hoo. But I went really slow. I just plodded along pretending I was Forrest Gump. It took me about an hour and a half! Thats slow. I didnt think 3 more kilometers would make that much difference but I was really feeling it. My injury (groin area) was feeling really tight and sore. I iced it when I got home and put heat on it when I went to bed. It was quite a funny site actually. I had frozen fries on my groin area while I was watching TV. Thankfully none of my kids saw me. I will try and do 15K next weekend and I am soooo excited its supposed to be beautiful weather on this long weekend!

Can I Train Without a Gym Membership???

I have been trying to save money and not renew my gym membership. Ive survived since September. Its very hard for me because I love the gym. Ive managed to keep up my running (except December) but not my weight lifting. It is getting harder to get out for a run with the snow and freezing temperatures though. Its hard to motivate yourself to go outside when its freezing and the winds blowing. I just have to put my running clothes on and not think about it because usually thats the hardest part. Just getting out the door. Once Im out there it feels great and it only takes about 10 minutes to warm up and feel comfortable. Sometimes when Im running at night and its snowing it feels magical.

But its a different story with lifting weights at home. When I go to the gym I do all the different machines and I spend more time lifting weights. Also being in a small house with 6/7 people in it, its nice to get out. Also with other people around you tend to show off and train harder.

I may just give in and renew my membership. I thought of just getting a membership for the pool and the indoor track but its not that much cheaper.

Anyways...this Sunday it was easy to get out because it was a beautiful winter day, sunny and crisp. I ran 6K and when I got home I did weights with my arms and also sit-ups and stretching.

I'll see how I do this week.