Around the Bay Race Recap

On Saturday afternoon I had a terrible headache and was convinced that I was coming down with something. I was seriously reconsidering running Around the Bay, even though I’d been looking forward to it for a while. But I decided to just take it in small steps. Very small steps. As in, Step 1: Drive to Hamilton. Step 2: Park car. I told myself that I’d see how I felt and that I could stop at any time. Although I wasn’t really sure how I’d get back to the start/finish if I stopped in the middle of the course, it still helped to think that I had the option.

Amazingly, I managed to get a good night’s sleep and woke up feeling well-rested. I ate two slices of whole wheat bread with almond butter (as opposed to my usual one slice) and half a banana, which turned out to be the perfect amount to ward off hunger, but not make me too full.

As I was driving in to Hamilton, I tuned in to the CBC and they were interviewing two guys at the start line for ATB. They were obviously talented runners, having qualified for Boston several times, but they had such a charming and humble attitude. Listening to them really lifted my mood and got me excited for the race. I remember one of them describing to the host how you get to run into Copps Colliseum at the finish and “feel like a real athlete.” The host laughed at this and reminded them “Umm, you are athletes” prompting the runner to say to his friend “Hey! We’re athletes!”

Copps Colliseum was packed when I got there. I went straight to the bathroom and then spent the rest of the time being shoved around and not knowing exactly which way to go. I quickly gave up on the hope that I’d see any I knew running, although I did keep scanning the crowd for familiar faces.

Just before the start I started chatting with a very kind man. He looked to be quite a seasoned runner, I’m guessing in his late 60s or 70s. He mentioned how lucky we were that it wasn’t raining. I agreed with him, and we got to chatting. He asked if I’d done ATB before and when I said no, he asked if I’d done any marathons. I told him that I’d done one to which he replied that we should trade chips, which made me smile. I always like it when I meet someone friendly at the start, it really makes a difference. We got separated by the crowds pretty quickly though, and I wish I had a chance to wish him a good race.

I actually saw my neighbour just as we were lining up, which was quite fortuitous because we run at roughly the same pace. I was very happy to find someone to run with. Unfortunately, our time running together was short-lived because I had to stop to use the bathroom at 4k. (Apparently my urge to go wasn’t just nerves like I had told myself – it was the water I drank that morning.) There was quite a lineup and this experience was definitely an argument in favour of wearing your own watch during races – I lost 14 or 15 minutes off the official time!

I figured that I would never catch up with Jim because I’d have to make up a lot of time, and I didn’t want to waste too much energy during the first 20k. I knew what was coming after that! Nonetheless, the idea of catching up to him kept me going, and was a nice non-race goal that occupied my mind. I actually did see him again at around 24 or 25k, which gave me a much-needed boost of energy just before tackling the last big hill.
Overall, this race was a ton of fun. There were so many enthusiastic supporters along the way, and I found all of the other runners to be very friendly. I actually felt that sense of camaraderie with fellow runners that is so often missing when everyone has their headphones. Maybe it’s the rolling hills over the last 10k that bring people together, but whatever it is, I certainly appreciated it. And, of course, I’d heard about the man who dresses up as the grim reaper and cheers runners on near the cemetery. It’s things like that which really make it a fun day. I’d also been told how great it feels to run through the tunnel into the stadium for the finish, but I guess it’s one of those things that you can’t quite grasp until you experience it for yourself. I didn’t really understand how running into Copps Colliseum could really make the previous 30k worthwhile, but there was something magical about it. There is so much energy from the supporters along the last stretch, and you really get a sense of what a history this race has. As I made my way down the final stretch of York St. I thought to myself what an enjoyable race this had been and I actually had the thought “I can’t wait to sign up for this next year!”

A "make it work" manifesto.

I had a “make it work” moment earlier this week. I went to the gym after class on Tuesday and even though it’s already February, I still spent 15 minutes walking around the changeroom looking for a free locker. When I finally found one (i.e. stalked a girl who looked like she was about to leave and followed her back to her locker and waited for her to change), I realized that I had left my lock at home. I was tempted to just call it quits and assume that “the universe just doesn’t want me to go to the gym today.” Fortunately, my friend ended up convincing me to bring my wallet with me and leave the rest of my stuff. Of course, given how hard it was to find a locker, it was no surprise that none of the treadmills were free either. But instead of giving in to my grumpiness and moping in the corner, I decided to make it work and ended up getting in a good strength training workout instead.

This got me thinking about what it means to “make it work” and why this phrase appeals to me so much. Making it work is not about waiting for the perfect set of circumstances; it’s about doing your best with what you have right now. Making it work is not about perfect gourmet lunches served on Martha Stewart dishes; it’s about throwing together a delicious and healthy salad using whatever you have in your fridge. Making it work is not about waiting until you earn enough money to buy designer clothes or lose those last five pounds to feel good about yourself; it’s about taking pride in your appearance right now. Making it work is not about waiting to find that moment of pure concentration before you start studying; it’s about reading your notes on the train and absorbing as much as you can. Making it work is not about waiting until you have an entire hour free to chat before calling your best friend to catch up; it’ about calling her to say “Hi” while you walk home, or sending a quick email when you get the chance. Making it work is not about wishing for some ideal universe where you have all the resources you need to do everything you desire and you never need to make any difficult decisions; it’s about doing the best you can with what you have at this moment, at every moment.

Hills are my friend?!

No, I never thought I would say that either. But after last night’s hill workout, my attitude towards hill has changed. Something happened when I ran up that first hill. Something strange and wonderful. Instead of feeling terrible and out of breath, I felt, well, not terrible. Possibly even good. I ran up a hill without feeling like collapsing at the top and somehow this gave me the confidence and energy to tackle the next seven hills.

I think that this is the first time that I have every really felt progress or improvement in running. When I got to the top of that first hill I actually thought to myself “Wow, maybe my strength has improved!” I slowly started to understand what runners mean when they say “hills are your friend.” They’re your friend because they make you a better and stronger runner. They’re not your best friend that you want to call up regularly for a coffee date. They’re more like your “tells it like it is” friend who is always honest with you, even when it’s not what you want to hear. Not to get carried away, I’m sure I’ll still dread the nine hills that are planned for next week as they approach. But I’ll also look forward to the benefits they bring.

Hungry Hungry Hippie

When we came back home from the Christmas holidays we were craving salad and vegetables. So, for the past week I've been making a lot of what we call "Hippie Salads". I think these taste even better knowing that you can create something at home that you'd pay $10 for at Whole Foods.



It's really just a "whatever's in the fridge" salad. Here's what mine included today:

mixed greens
steamed Chinese cabbage and broccoli
cherry tomatoes
a handful of raisins
1/4 of a yam cut into cubes
a few cubes of avocado
a sprinkling of goat cheese

For the dressing, I just mixed together some olive oil, red wine vinaigrette, and mango chutney.

Other versions have included steamed kale (which I prefer over the cabbage, but we're out of kale), lentils, and chickpeas.

All told, this made for a happy and colourful lunch!

Crafty To Do List

I like the idea of keeping a Crafty To Do List. I really just love list-making in general, so naturally I’m a fan of this idea. Here are some things I’m hoping to make in 2011:

1. Baby blanket quilt for E.
2. A larger quilt for our couch.
3. A drawstring pouch for my stethoscope.
4. A slouchy knit winter hat (for me).
5. An engagement sweater.*
6. A sweater for my Dad.

I’m sure I’ll come up with some more things to knit or sew for fun as well, but these should keep me going for the time being.

*I think that I’m finally ready to get over the Boyfriend Sweater Superstition.

It's been a while

It’s been a while since I last posted. Almost a year, actually. But here I am again, back with the urge to keep writing. This time for real! Have I said that before? Probably. But this time I really mean it.

A new year calls for a new title, one that better reflects my current state of affairs.

When I started this blog last year, I was pretty miserable. I was struggling to get through grad school, uncertain of the future, and full of anger towards just about everything. Okay, not everything, but a LOT of things. The point is, I was grumpy and spent a lot of time complaining about my situation to whoever would listen, and I hated myself for doing this. I knew that my grumpiness made me unpleasant to be around, and I wanted to change that and get back in touch with the good-natured person I used to be.

I started this blog as an attempt to remind myself of the things that I still enjoyed in life. I wanted it to be a place where I could practice not complaining, because somewhere deep down I knew that things were not really so terrible. And that is why I chose the title “A Little Less Complaining.”

But a lot has changed since last year. I applied for and got accepted to med school, successfully defended my Ph.D., got engaged to the love of my life, ran my first marathon, and moved to a new place to start school (not entirely in that order). I’m no longer the miserable girl I was when I was in grad school. Of course there are new challenges, like going back to school in a class with people several years younger than me (who look confused when I make Saved by the Bell references), and living in a new place away from my friends and family.

So, now that I am no longer complaining all the time, I don’t have as much need for a forum to practice not complaining (although I still think it is a useful exercise). I think that what I do need is a creative outlet. Lately, I’ve been spending most of my time studying and then when I take a break from studying I feel restless. I want to do something relaxing and creative, like knitting, or photography, but I don’t seem to have the energy. So, I’m hoping this blog will help motivate me.

I’ve decided to go with the title “Stepping it Up” at least for now. Mostly because it’s the best thing that I can come up with at the moment. When I used to watch America’s Next Top Model one of my favourite reality show clichés was the phrase “step it up and take it to the next level.” As in “Your photo shoot was okay this week, but you really need to step it up and take it to the next level.” This always made me laugh, because I can’t imagine how infuriating that would be to hear as “constructive criticism”. I mean, how exactly do you go about “stepping it up” and where is the next level and how do you know when you’ve reached it? But the girls would nod diligently in agreement and then confess to the camera “I’m really going to have to take it to the next level now.”

So, for 2011 I am resolving to step it up and take it to the next level. I am going to be fiercer than ever and Make It Work!

Base Training: Weeks 3-5 Recap

Total Distance:
Week 3: 27.3km
Week 4: 22.7 km
Week 5: 28.0 km

Highlights:
This weekend I was reminded of the benefit of having a training plan to follow. The temperatures began to dip into the negative twenties on Sunday, and the streets were slippery with freshly fallen snow. Without a schedule, I would have had the following conversation with myself:
Running Self: Let's go for a run today!
Lazy Self: But it's cold and windy and icy. Can't we just stay home where it's warm and wear pajamas and curl up on the couch for the day?
Running Self: Did you say icy?
Lazy Self: Yes, ICY! You could fall and get injured.
Running Self: We should probably avoid injury.
Lazy Self: So it's decided then, we'll stay in.
Running Self: Fine. But we'll try again tomorrow.

Instead, it was already decided that I would run six miles on Sunday, so the only decision I had to make was whether to run outside or on the treadmill. I really do dread the treadmill, especially for longer runs, but I psyched myself up for it, and it was okay. It helped that I had the "A Very Sedaris Christmas" episode of This American Life to listen to. And I felt great afterward!

Base Training: Week 2 Recap

Total Distance: 15 miles

Highlights:

Winter has been late to arrive this year, and I'm definitely not complaining. However, when the temperatures did finally start to drop last week, I was caught a little off guard. So when the winds picked up, I figured it was time to make a trip to MEC and stock up on some winter running gear. I got an insulated vest to wear as a midlayer on moderately cold days, and an insulated but thin hooded jacket to wear as a midlayer on very cold days. And I figured that on VERY very cold days I can wear them both together. (Or more likely, just run indoors.) I almost bought a balaclava too, but I figured that if it's -40 degrees, I will need more than the excitement of looking like a bank robber to get me outside.

New running clothes definitely give me a little motivational boost. Of course, this can become an expensive strategy if you use it too often, but I really was in need of some items to help extend my running season into the winter. Plus, there is something very satisfying about creating your own little microclimate to combat the cold weather.

What it's all about

I often have the urge to start a blog. Actually, I have followed through with this urge on several occasions. Once in my early twenties where I used my newfound internet voice to express my outrage at things like mesh trucker caps and ironic T-shirts. I kept this one up for quite a while. The well of my anti-hipster rage runs deep, apparently. More recently, a friend and I decided to start a blog that documents awkward situations. This one was a little more popular, but for one reason or another, we just stopped updating it. We still talk about resurrecting it, in fact, I’m thinking about it right now. (People keep asking about it, and it’s getting awkward.)

One thing I’ve learned from that experience is that I really do like writing and having a theme to adhere to did help me to be more disciplined about it. But having a theme can also be a little too rigid, especially when it comes to something that is essentially a hobby for me.

Since then I’ve been toying with the idea of starting a new blog with a different theme. (“This one will be different! I’ll choose a theme with endless possibilities. I’ll update frequently and keep it going, and achieve internet fame! I’ll get a book deal and finally be able to escape from my meager student lifestyle. I will drink fancy wines!”)

But, in all seriousness, my goal is not to become Internet Famous and get a book deal. My real motivation comes from the fact that I find writing to serve an important purpose for me – it helps me work through my thoughts and understand things better. I suppose I could get these benefits from a paper journal (and I do), but I also find that the internet can be a wonderful source of positive and inspiring people. I want to be more than a passive reader (and very occasional commenter) and become an active participant.

I’ve been gravitating towards two types of themed blogs lately: knitting/sewing/crafting blogs and running/healthy living blogs. I often get inspired and think “I want to be just like this person and knit beautiful things and then write about them in a sweet and endearing manner on my blog!” Or “I want to cook delicious and healthy meals and then share them with others!” However, I’ve come to realize that as much as I love knitting, I am not consistent enough to have an interesting knitting blog. And as much as I love running, I can’t see myself writing about it on a regular basis (at least not in a way that would be interesting to read).

All of this is a long-winded introduction to what I hope will be a unifying theme in this, my very latest and sincere attempt at having a blog. I will try to write about the following:
1. Things that make me happy/things I enjoy
2. Things I knit
3. Things I love about running
4. Things that help to keep me running
5. Things I learn along the way
6. Things I want to learn (projects!)
7. Things that don’t fit into the above categories

I’m hoping that this gives me enough structure to be disciplined about writing, but also enough flexibility so that I can keep it going.

Base Training: Week 1 Recap

Distance: 10 miles

Highlights: On Thursday I did my four miles in the rain. I actually really love running in the rain (within reason of course). During this run I was reminded of a nice thing that happened recently. I was in Boston for a conference and my roommate and I really wanted to run along the river at least once while we were there. The one morning we woke up to run, it was pouring. We decided to go out anyway. On the way back to our hotel, a passing car honked at us and the driver gave us a thumbs up. This little gesture actually made my day.

I don't drive often, but if I ever happen to be driving in the rain and see a runner, I'm going to do this. Sometimes a little "good for you" from a complete stranger is all the encouragement I need.

Not Yet New Year's Resolutions

Running
I want to run a marathon in the fall of 2010. Here’s my plan:
1. Start base training and work up to 35 miles per week over the next 20
weeks.
2. Maintain mileage (cycling between 20-30 miles per week).
3. Start Hal Higdon’s marathon training plan.
4. Post weekly training updates. I’ll try to find at least one thing I love about
running, or one strategy that helps me run each week.

Eating
I tend to fall into a routine and eat the same thing every day just because it is easy. Even if I choose the same healthy things every day, I think it’s safe to say that I could benefit from some increased variety. So, my plan:
1. Try at least two new recipes each month.
2. I’ll post recaps on the recipes I try (ideally with photos) and reviews of how I
like them.

Things That Work

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about “things that work” - those little habits or behaviours that can make your day run a little smoother and help you reach your goals. One thing that really works for me is checking things off of a list. I am bizarrely motivated to do almost anything that I’ve written down as part of some sort of To Do List. I also like to track things, like the number of kilometers I’ve put on my running shoes. Yes, really. I used to wonder what was behind all this neuroticism, but recently I’ve come around to the fact that it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that it works. So, with that in mind, I’ve decided to use my list-making/tracking compulsion to my advantage. I’ve realized that if I combine my love of list-making with some sort of internet-based accountability (i.e. this blog) I could truly take on the world. Or at very least accomplish a lot of the things I always talk about, but never quite get around to doing.

Next: I will list (!) all those things that I want to do with subsets (!!) detailing how I will do them. Then I will track my progress here. It could be terribly boring, but more importantly, it may actually be effective.

Lace, Scones, and Early Mornings: Three Good Things

It's been a while, but I've accumulated three good things:

1. I finished the Lace Ribbon Scarf from Knitty. I knit this one for a friend, but I'm so pleased with how it turned out that I can't wait to make one for myself. I think I'll make mine in mint green.



This is the first real lace project I've done, and I may be addicted. There is something so gratifying about blocking lace. One minute all you have is an uninspiring lump of wool , but after a quick soak in the tub and laying it out overnight, you awake to a scarf you'd be proud to wear. It's the knitting equivalent of Christmas morning!



2. I had a wonderful and decadent afternoon with my dear Mom today. We met for high tea as a special treat, and it really was. We indulged in all kinds of delicious pastries and mini-sandwiches, while enjoying each others' company in the comfort of velvet chairs. I don't think this is the kind of thing that you can do every day, but I certainly wouldn't complain if I had to.



3. I've fallen in love with running in the morning. I never thought this would happen, even in the summer, but somehow it has. My favourite part is that I never have to worry about fitting in my run (something I used to spend a bit too much time thinking about). I really hope to keep this up, even when it gets darker out in the mornings.

Thank you, Mr. Postman!

I'm finally at that age where I associate mail with bills, and welcome days when I come home to an empty mailbox. But every once in a while something good arrives, like the Dream In Colour wool I'd ordered.



Is there a better thing to receive in the mail? I'm sure most people would answer that yes, they would prefer to receive money in the mail. Although, I would most likely use the money to buy more wool, so really, this is much more efficient.

Night table reading

I’ve always loved short stories, and found short story collections to be a great (and low risk) way of getting acquainted with new authors. When I’m at a loss for something new to read, short story collections are my typical fallback. These collections are also perfect reading material for those stretches when you don’t have a lot of time to read for pleasure. While good stories are still compelling, they don’t demand the level of commitment that novels often do.



I picked up the 2004 edition of the Best American Short Stories a couple of weeks ago, edited by Lorrie Moore, one of my enduring favourite authors. I’m four stories in right now, and so far her taste is as impeccable as I was hoping it would be – not one miss yet.

On a related note, I’ve recently joined Good Reads http://www.goodreads.com , which is a great site for many reasons, but most of all it appeals to my obsessive love of list-keeping.

Weekend Escape

Every once in a while it's nice to get out of the city, even if only for a weekend. I find that being physically separated from work really helps me to take a mental break too.



And then, of course there's the diet of chips, beer, and smores. While not a great idea for the longterm, it can be pretty enjoyable for a couple of days.




The truth is, I usually find it a bit of a challenge to relax completely, and I often feel at least a little guilty for lazing about. But this weekend, I'm pleased to report that the only worrisome thought I had was how Carrie Bradshaw can possibly afford to shop at Dior on a writer's salary.

Summer Pleasures

Patio season is one of my favourite things about summer in Toronto. Today was the first truly warm day in a while and I was happy to meet my Dad for an after-work drink. It was so nice and sunny that as soon as I got home, I picked up my camera, and headed back out.

Of course, once I got back outside it was overcast again, but I managed to get a few shots of the ROM - something I've been wanting to do for a while, but kept neglecting, despite living pretty much down the street.

Evening walks

I've been craving more evening walks these days, probably in response to studying during the day. Now that the days are longer, it's also been a great chance for me to take some more photos - another resolution that I've been working on.



I love walking past the local flower shops and seeing all the colours on display, although I was a little too late this time.

Half-marathong training: Week One

I love it when conventional wisdom turns out to be true. I suppose it often is, it just takes me a while to realize that not only is it true, but that it also applies to me. I’ve often heard the advice that in running (as with other things in life) it helps to have a goal to keep you motivated. Amazingly, after all these years of running and struggling to keep motivated at times, I’m only just now putting this advice into practice.

Today was my first day of training for a half-marathon in the fall. I decided to go for my run in the morning, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much easier it was to get out the door just buoyed by the knowledge that I’m starting a training plan. I’m sure some of this excitement is a first-day thing, and that there will be challenging days ahead, but still, it was nice to know that every step was a step towards a specific goal.

As for the training plan, I’m using Hal Higdon’s novice plan. I looked at a few plans and this one seemed like the best fit for me. Plus, I find his writing to be so friendly and accessible that I sort of imagine him as my friend guiding me along the way.

As I was running this morning I thought about the last (and only other) half-marathon I’ve done. I was nineteen at the time and had just finished high-school a semester early and had the luxury of the kind of free time I’ll probably not know again until retirement. I didn’t even have the idea of a half-marathon in mind when I just started to run a little farther each day. On my birthday I thought it would be a fun tradition to run my age in kilometers every year (which is the kind of thing that sounds fun when you’re nineteen and ageing is just something that older people talk about, but not a concept with any personal relevance). It may have been my Dad (also a runner) who noted that 21 kilometers was only two more than nineteen. And with that simple calculation it was settled. We both registered for the waterfront half-marathon which we ran later that fall.

I guess when you’re nineteen the only logic you need to keep you running for two hours straight is that 19 + 2 is 21. Nine years later my motivation and my methods may have changed somewhat. I guess I’ve always been a little reluctant to take up any kind of training plan, because it seemed at odds with my ideals of recreational running. I thought that if I had a schedule to adhere to I would no longer be able to turn to running as a means of relieving stress. I’m happy to say that so far (after one day – perhaps a little premature), the opposite has been true – having a plan has allowed me to enjoy running in a new way. And that is something to be thankful for.