xox,
b
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Marathon training: A recap
(a grainy blackberry photo of part of the marathon route)
Since blogging has been sporadic at best, you guys have missed out on the joys of marathon training.
As I’ve said before, I’m definitely not in this to win any races or be the fastest girl around. I had a goal to complete a marathon and that I (hopefully) will. That being said, marathon training should be 4-5 days a week of running.
I’m averaging about 3. Oops.
I did really well getting in all my long runs (marathon training newbies – short runs during the week, progressively longer runs on a weekend day) which is really important for being able to go all 42.2kms on race day without seriously injuring something. So yes, did well with those until my Iceland trip. Then I missed 2 in a row, and the one that happened when I got back was 10km short because I caught a nasty cold.
I was quite concerned about bouncing back from almost 3 weeks of no running (again, do as I say not as I do if you want to run a marathon) and did an extremely painful 29km run where I thought I was going to die for the last 12-13kms. I’m not usually a cranky runner but boy oh boy was I unpleasant to be around for that last hour and a half.
Last week, we did the longest training run (which you’re supposed to do twice in the cycle of training but the first one was one that I had missed) of 32kms which felt a million times better than the 29kms the week before. I was cheerful (almost sickeningly so!) and felt great. We ran the marathon course (stopping when we hit 32km) and it was great to get to see all the twists and turns of the course.
(post 32km run at Starbucks)
Today was 23kms. The last long run before the marathon. I mostly felt good (a bit sore from my weekday run where I went way too fast running to Lady GaGa’s You and I). I cannot believe the marathon is almost here!
Next week is a taper week which means we’re trying to decrease the amount of running we do leading up to the race so we can rest our poor legs. We’ll do 16kms and then 6kms on Saturday and Sunday respectively and then mostly a whole lotta nothing before race day.
I’ve been hopping into an ice bath after each long run (yes, it’s as awful as it sounds). I have to actually bribe myself to get into the cold cold water, but my legs always feel better after. I swear though it’s some sort of ancient torture method.
Marathon training hasn’t been overly kind to my feet either. I’m in a shoe that is bigger than my normal every day shoes, but just the way my feet are built means that I have a large number of black toenails. It’s quite attractive, let me tell you. I’ve got blisters and callouses and all around gross feet. Plus side though, I’ve got awesome legs and all that hill training means a nice butt too! 
So there you go. Marathon training in a nutshell. I’m aiming for a 4:30 marathon but I’m not going to kill myself over it. I want to enjoy the gorgeous scenery, good running friends and the amazingness of my body to be able to move that far under my own power. Also, I’m really in it for the massive amounts of food I can consume guilt free after. 
xox,
b
For lack of blogging time….bullets!
- Gosh, I can’t even remember my last post.
- I know I still need to post about Iceland
- and project food budget
- and probably about marathon training
- I don’t really have any excuses. I just haven’t been feeling like blogging lately.
- I was super sick when I got back from Iceland (someone told me the ‘plane bug’ thing is a myth. Anyone know anything about this?)
- My cough is finally almost gone (almost a month later! Ugh!)
- I ran 32km (20 miles) on Sunday as part of my last training run and amazingly it didn’t suck.
- I will run a marathon in 16 (!) days. Holy crap.
- My step-grandpa died on the weekend. Everyone keeps asking if I’m ok and I really am.
- It didn’t upset me in the least. We were not even remotely close and he wasn’t a very nice man.
- Now, I’ll be smoted or something for saying unkind things about the dead.
- I have to go to his funeral on Saturday.
- I hate funerals. When I die, no funeral. A party perhaps. (I feel like we’ve had this conversation the last time I was at a funeral)
- That’s it for now. Hopefully I’ll be back with something more substantial soon. One can only hope.
xox,
b
52 Pics Photo Challenge: Week 1
“Abandoned”
Since I don’t have enough challenges I’m sort of sucking at following through with (*cough*project food budget *cough* febphotoaday *cough*) I thought I’d join Heidi in her quest to learn to use all the buttons on her big scary DSLR (also, learning to use my camera more effectively is part of my 101 in 1001!)
This is my first attempt. The challenge was “Abandoned” and this guy is the king at making me feel like I’ve abandoned him. This is the pouty face I get as I’m putting my jacket on to leave.
In terms of camera use, I get the very basics. Tv = fast moving things. Av= sharpness of surrounding objects. Other than that, I have no idea how to manipulate both at the same time to use manual. I also have seriously hard times figuring out the lighting situation. This photo is sort of the wrong colour. I have the overhead light on, a side lamp on and the window wide open. What else should I do? Putting my camera body flash on makes for really white photos.
Tips are greatly appreciated!
xox,
b
My week in blackberry photos
The wettest 5km run yet, the gorgeous vines looking very fall-esque and Gus, having a snooze.
Now? Finally snuggling with T, catching up on the internet and enjoying my little family.
Happy weekend.
xox,
b
Project Food Budget: Week 1
Emily over at Custom Made Life blogged earlier in the year about her food budget. I followed along with her weekly posts and attempted to curb our food spending a bit with a meal plan each week. When she posted that she was going to start up with the food budget posts again, I thought I’d join in this time! You can read about the project here and join in if you’d like!
My budgeting for the next few weeks is a bit tricky. We bought a CSA farm share in February and we’re at week 12 of 15 of our veggie delivery. Since the veggies are already paid for, I’m not including them in my total but for interest’s sake, each week works out to $25.
And for comparisons to all the other lovely Project: Food Budget bloggers out there, we are a family of two and I’m a vegetarian. T calls himself a flexitarian, although he eats as a vegetarian at home 90% of the time. The other 10% of the time he eats the beef in the freezer from the quarter of a cow we purchased in September.
My meal plan for the week looks like this:
Sunday: Black Bean Nachos with Salsa Verde
Monday: Lentil Soup with Kale (slow cooker recipe)
Tuesday: Greens and Feta Pie
Wednesday: Red Thai Curry with basmati rice and Thai Tofu (This tofu recipe is SO good)
Thursday: Marrakesh Vegetable Curry
Friday: Carrot Apple Ginger soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
Saturday: Leftovers
I must say that my cooking/meal planning habits have changed since I’ve had my CSA. I get my veggies every Sunday and make a new plan about what to eat based on what I’ve got. It’s fun and a lot different than the way I used to do it! It also means that often my grocery list is short as I’m trying to use up veggies and cupboard staples. This week, T went to Costco and picked up some staples (soy milk, cheese etc) so maybe we spent a bit more than normal there.
Budget: $100
Spent:
IGA $14.74
Corner Store: $10.25
Costco $58.04
Total: $83.03
Under budget by $16.97
Wanna see how other bloggers did? Check out all the participants here:
Mobile blogging?
Trying it out as I wait for T’s delayed flight to get in.
I suppose if I do this on a regular basis, I’m going to have to learn to be a more effective cell phone typer. Also, auto correct is hilarious.
Happy Friday!
xox,
b
Holy busy batman!
Sorry I’ve been so MIA lately. My school year is getting started at my teaching job, I’m getting prepared for my master’s degree and I’ve been working a ton. I thought I’d be a-ok (I function well under pressure) but I’m starting to doubt my abilities to manage everything and still find time to sleep, eat, and say hi to T occasionally. I have to remind myself to take a deep breath and focus!
My phone was dead all weekend (forgot to charge it! oops!) so there are no pictures, but T and I went to the drag race track (his favourite hobby), I went to work, farmer’s market, antique stores (on the hunt for a cool shelf and/or bedroom chair) and Ikea for a rug. It was a crazy weekend. I’ll show you the rug when there isn’t piles of stuff on it (when I came home I reorganized the closet and made a shoe rack so there’s piles of clothes that need a new home on the new rug right now).
So yes. Trying to find time to breathe.
How was your weekend?
Update
Thank you so much for all the comments, tweets, facebook messages and emails. You guys are so fabulous.
My brother miraculously did not break any bones after being hit by a car while on a long board. He had a brain injury but nothing requiring surgery. After being drowsy for a number of days, he was sitting up today and chatting, making jokes, texting with his blackberry. It’s still going to be a long road for him with his recovery but we are so incredibly thankful that he survived his injuries and is still with us.
It’s been a long, emotional weekend for me. I’m taking some time to recover this week so if you don’t see me around much, that’s why.
I feel like I know you all and I am so thankful for all your prayers, healing thoughts and positive wishes. I know they made such a huge difference for my brother and for me. Thank you.
xox
b
Prayers please
My brother was in a serious accident tonight and is in critical care at the hospital.
Any prayers, thoughts, healing wishing you can send our way would be greatly appreciated.
xox
b
