Gear

My new running socks:



See my previous post on sock shopping. Plus, try to say that three times quickly.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Just say no.

My feet and ass are in denial about all of the races coming up, especially the half marathon in Kona.

What was I thinking?

Celebrity Moves

Yesterday, I ran my umpteenth half marathon. I love stories about the rituals of running and thought I would share some of what I do in the days, hours preceding a race. Please know that despite admitting to being a slow runner, I am always slightly disappointed in my performance. I slowed down during the Toronto Women's Half Marathon to take this picture. I am not good with estimating distances (or height, weight, age etc), but at the 15k mark, my feet responded well to the advice:

 

A couple of weeks before a race:

1) I consider ramping up the training to include at least a few 12-15k longer runs.

2) I shop for a new pair of socks.

3) I find myself in weird conversations about the state of my feet.

4) I often think about my weight and wonder how it can be that after all of these years (and we're talking decades, folks), I can't drop 5 pounds to be lighter on my feet, and be so much faster.

5) I actually do hill training and my version of a fartlek or two. 

I've definitely acquired the vocabulary of running, if not the physique.

A couple of days:

1) I wonder where the time has gone.

2) I realize that I didn't do enough long runs.

3) I think about not doing the race at all.

4) I shop for new socks.

5) I screw up the taper.

The night before:

1) I end up staying up too late.

2) I remember sometimes not to cut my toe nails.

3) I make sure to have gum, GU, lip balm and bus fare (and i.d. & healthcard) ready to stow.

4) I lay out my gear: race belt, clothes, music, headphones, hat, and the socks that I have paid way too much for...

5) I consider not doing the race.

The day:

1) I get up one hour before I have to leave, which is often 4:00 a.m. 

2) I have a giant cup of super strong coffee and chase this with an advil or two.

3) I have one banana.

4) I plan to get to the site 30 minutes early to line up at the porto-potty, whether I have to go or not.

5) I consider not doing the race.

So far, I have always finished the races started, which I should probably celebrate a little more than I do, but perhaps the running takes on the qualities of the runner. Wouldn't running be boring if it didn't? 

The curve

I struggle with perception: my own mainly. What do I know about how other people think? Rhetorically and really...zero, zip, nothing, nada. I do know, though, that the discipline of running gives me a kind of mobile meditation.

This morning I had to make/take the decision to not run the Goodlife Toronto Half. I fell down in a movie theatre a couple of weeks ago in Chiang Mai (seeing Oblivion, I add) - a spectacular wipeout with no witnesses. I have been limping and nursing a tender ankle ever since. I erred on the side of caution today as I figured best to avoid more serious injury. Right now, I feel perfectly fine.

Irony is very irritating, but I don't believe in regret.

On a short High Park outing the other day to test the ankle, I ran into these guys:



Also, the cherry blossoms:



- Posted using BlogPress and an iPad mini and a little bit of willpower and a lot of humility.

Run for your life.

I do not take any of this for granted. The Boston bombing has left me bereft.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thai Training

This is a picture of a sun rise. I took this about two weeks ago as I walked in silent meditation as part of a recent ashram trip to South India. The silence was almost as difficult as running. Almost.


This is the beach my husband and I ran on this morning:




It is in South Thailand, on long beach Koh Lanta: Andaman Sea. The natural beauty is exquisite, but I must confess that I am a little worried about the next race I have in Toronto on May 5. I think I will finish it, yes. It will hurt this time, though.

Also, I keep almost losing everything on this trip: left all of my valuables outside of the bungalow last night... and I do mean valuable and everything.



That was breakfast, post run. Very blessed for the sabbatical and Paul. Now, off to a massage... Pinch me to see if I am dreaming all of this. Wow.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.

Location:Sala Dan,Thailand

Twin Parks

Two days ago, I went running in High Park Toronto:




This morning, I ran in Lumpini Park, Bangkok:



I don't normally write about races I almost ran, but there is one in Cambodia this coming weekend that very nearly caused me to rearrange my itinerary to India. I will not say that I should have...just noting it here. That's all.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad mini.

Location:สาทร 16,Silom,Thailand