Mind, Motion & Matter

The good news – I had a fantastic track workout on Thursday and the bad news, I was unable to do my long run this weekend.  Marathon training is all about balancing three key components, speed, long runs and tempo (steady state or threshold) running.  In the past I’ve been fastidious about injecting speed into my training routine in small increments because “speed kills”.  However with over two years of  easy running and no speedwork, I seem to have a lot to prove to myself.  Foolishly I completed a massive 36 X 150 meter workout at a pace suitable for an 800 metre race.  Three days later, I am still in recovery mode.  I went out this morning intending to run at least two hours but managed only an hour due to the residual stiffness and soreness in my legs accompanied by greatly reduced stride length.

My target last week was 57 miles and I did 55 miles.

This week the target was 61 and I did 44.

One of the pitfalls of doing track work with a group is the risk of doing other people’s workouts to your detriment.  |The desire to do what your peers are doing is strong.   And, was I influenced by the appearance of the U of T Varsity Cross-Country teams, football team and women’s hockey team in the vicinity?  You betcha . . . never too old to exhibit foolhardy bravado.

Limp, hobble, sigh . . .

After a summer of vacations and irregular schedules my long run group, Smart Men & One Fast Woman convened in full today. Having blown out my legs at the track on Thursday, I had to ditch my plans for a Saturday 18 miler and do a gentle 6 miler. How unfortunate that on this beautiful late summer day with an abundance of good company, I must defer to Sunday, running solo, rain predicted.    😦

Publication of a full photo of the group is pending approval from legal counsel.

p.s. The middle set of legs belong to my husband.

In order to maintain my 18 day posting streak and lacking inspiration I post for your enlightenment photos of some treats that I have been able to enjoy thanks to my marathon training. And, debut my 5 star rating system for sweet things.

Friday, September 3, Drake Hotel

MAPLE CRUNCH ***

Wednesday, August 25, Aroma Espresso Bar

ALFAJORES **** 1/2

Sunday September 5, Mandarin Restaurant

FLAN, RICE PUDDING & LEMON CAKE ***

Saturday, August 21, Cafe on St. Joseph's Island

COOKIE WITH DATE FILLING *** 1/2

Lake Ontario at Queen's Quay and Spadina

Just got back from the track where I did 36 X 150 meters with a 50 meter walk recovery. I averaged 29 seconds for the first 34 and 28 and then 26 seconds for the last two. Nobody did the circuit training because we were just beat.

Yesterday I ran with a neighbour who declined to have her photo taken on such short notice. She is the one that took this photo of me at one of my favourite turnaround points, the pier near Spadina and Queen’s Quay by the Music Garden and the Empire Sandy.

Last Thursday I ran on the new varsity track just west of the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) on Bloor Street.  I love that stretch of Bloor, as I have fond memories of taking my son to the RCM for piano lessons for many years.  We often had ice cream at Greg’s which used to be across the street from the RCM.  At the time my son would tell me regularly how I was ruining his life, however he plays very regularly now and much enjoys it.  I think one of the highlights of motherhood was waking from a nap to hear him play some Erik Satie.  I did feel as though I had died and gone to momma heaven.

The evening of the track workout was hideously hot.  Were I not a person who is almost pathologically stuck on keeping to promises even though others may not care.  I probably would have skipped the workout.  However, I told the coach that I was going to give it a try.  That coach as it turned out was away on vacation that day.

Masters track, with Toronto legend, Dr. Bob Moore (2:14 marathon PB)

Thankfully, that group was small and the ambiance very relaxed.  I was assigned a 10 X 200 meter workout with a 200 meter jog rest.  I had no idea what to expect and was thrilled to easily run 44-48 seconds per 200 meters at a modest effort-level.  We then moved on to the stair bounding.  Again, I was surprised to do half the workout quite comfortably, 5 times up the stadium steps, two steps at a time.  The hard part was not tripping ,due to the hypnotic visual effect of running up the stairs so quickly.  I could have done another set of 5 but did not want to overdo it the first time out.

Then came the mysterious circuit training.  Now that was tough.  I consider my upper body strength to be pretty good however there is no way in hell that I can do 25 full body push-ups.  I was told by my 45 & 55 year female workout mates that it was okay to do knee push ups.  Then a round of  planking which was about 4 times as hard as my usual plank workouts, more ab exercises and finally, push-ups with the legs raised about 20 inches.  “Isn’t that harder than regular push-ups?” I asked, incredulous.  And yes, was the answer.  Much of this was done on a wet synthetic infield that felt like plastic mesh against bare skin.  Yuck!  Finally, an exercise involving balance which I was unable to execute.  From a seated position, one leg is raised off the ground and with your arms folded in front, you use your other leg and glute muscles to rise on that one leg and then sit down.  I tried this one a few days later at home in bare feet and it was a lot easier to maintain balance.

My legs were heavy the next day but not sore.  I guess my lower leg weightlifting prepared my body for using the muscles needed for fast running.  In spite of my seeming lack of overall body fitness, I’m going back tomorrow and my goal is to do 2  full body push-ups.

Onwards and upwards!

p.s.  I’ve been to a couple of concerts at fabulous Koerner Hall in the RCM including Penderecki Plus.  Penderecki was visiting composer at U of T last year.  The acoustics at Koerner Hall have a higher rating than the Four Seasons Opera House.

Dawn on the lake, Tuesday, September 7, 2010, 6:45 a.m.

An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.  Henry David Thoreau

I had intended to run to my usual 6 mile turnaround, by the Empire Sandy  to take photo there for part 2, however I started a new job today and feeling pressed for time, cut back to 5 miles.  I was too early for the sunrise but a beautiful time of day, nonetheless.

I have been taking photos of the route I most often run.  However there are far too many for one post.  So, to start I’ll say that one of the things I love about my runs is that for about 9 months of the year, I get to see the lake 5-6 times a week.  I left the house around 6:25 a.m. and ran 5 miles at a very easy pace.  The halfway mark / turnaround point my 5 mile run to the lake, is pictured here, just west of the island airport ferry terminal.  As always, I stop a moment to think of all the good things in my life, the appreciation of which is heightened by the sunrise on the lake.

Sunday, September 5, 2010, 6:45 a.m. I give thanks!

The run today was longest I have done in 2 1/2 years.  It was very tough mentally to get out the door as my usual long run pals, the “running philosophers”  are running tomorrow and our annual family gathering takes place tomorrow.  Our default day is Saturday.   I’ve tentatively named the group, “Smart Men and One Fast Woman”.  I will refrain from revealing too much about them, until they have had a chance to consult their lawyers about confidentiality and copyright issues. But I will say that they are wonderful company and I appreciate their companionship.

Route description: Start and end point is the West-End YMCA at Dovercourt and College.  Run west to High Park, enter at High Park Boulevard, up Centre Road to a path that circles the park.  Run counter-clockwise on the mainly shaded, wood chip trails and exit the Park at Colbourne Lodge drive.  Short jog south to the Martin Goodman trail and east to the end of Marilyn Bell Park, turn around and head west along the lake, over the Palace Pier bridge, through the butterfly garden.   Enter the spit-like, Humber Bay Park East on the path that goes by the monument that honours the victims of the Air India disaster.  Circle the park and then double back and run the same route to Colbourne Lodge Drive.  Enter High Park and run through the southeast quandant, exiting at High Park Boulevard and returning on the same route for the home stretch.

URL for this route is: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4014984

A glorious day!   More later . . .