The Early Bird Gets the Worm

When I go skiing with my in-laws, Gerry and Judy, they have a thing about rising very early and hitting the slopes before nine. At first, I thought it was insane, then shortly after, I realized why. Skiing first thing in the morning is glorious.

There are no lift lines and - more often than not- you get the best snow. If you're very lucky you'll even get...corduroy. Mmmmmmmmm! Overnight most resorts groom the hills and the machines they use create tracks that make the hills resemble giant pant legs of corduroy fabric. Along with fresh powder, corduroy is pure joy to ski on.

Okay, it's summer and what does this have to do with running?

Well, today I rose at 5 a.m. to do my 11-mile long, slow run. At first I hit snooze on my iPod Touch. Five more minutes. Just five more minutes of sleep. But I couldn't go back to sleep and in that five minutes I tried to find every excuse in the book to postpone my run to later this evening! (I'm sure I'm not the only one who's done this!) Seeing as I couldn't come up with a good excuse, I begrudgingly peeled myself out of my warm bed. The B was still sleeping so I was extra quiet.

I wanted to beat the heat and humidity. And as I ran I saw a few others doing the same thing. I realized that, like skiers who hit the slopes early and early birds who get the worms, morning runners get the best road. By this I mean virtually no traffic, reduced smog and less heat and humidity.

In the quiet and stillness of the morning, my senses were heightened. I ran to the tweets and twitters of birds getting their breakfast, the soft sounds of rolling waves hitting the beach and the rising sun gently peaking out from a few clouds. It rained last night and so the air was a bit damp and the ground a bit moist. I even stopped to savour the beauty of the reflection of the rising sun in a giant puddle. (I wish I had my camera!) Needless to say it was a beautiful and peaceful experience that erased the torture of an early morning wake-up call.

I did another negative split - thanks in part to my heart rate training and for the last mile, I was even able to kick it up a notch and ran close to race pace. I came home, sweaty and was pleased. I had managed to finish my run before the Lunchie got up.

Niiiice.

Baby Olympics

I've come to the conclusion, most runners I come in contact with are Type A personalities. That is, many are impatient (want to qualify for this or that race today); highly competitive (come on admit it, you follow other runner's sports stats and know the pace they've run in a race and what time they finished) and ambitious (well, I've already done Boston, what's next, oh I'll now aim for Kona!)

So when runners become Runner Mamas, it's an interesting combination. It's almost like all of the Type A fibers fire up at once! First it was, I've got to shed all of the baby weight now; I've got to return to my pre-pregnancy pace and training today; I've got to out race other Runner Mamas who have just had babies too.

And now, with the Lunchie 8.5 months, it's time for the Baby Olympics. (Actually, I'm trying not to play the game.)

Let me explain. According to Baby Centre, Baby Olympics may heat up now because individual children start developing at very different rates. Apparently, as babies begin tackling more complicated skills such as walking and talking - which can take months or even years to master - they all start developing at their own pace. So Baby Olympics is the term some doctors use to describe the notion of one-upmanship: when two parents get together and compare their babies' accomplishments.

And I'm REALLY, really fighting it. Read: I don't want to play the dumb game.

As a first time Runner Mama, I have to admit I do worry sometimes that The Lunchie is not developing and progressing along with other babies at the same age. However, my fears are quickly put to rest because: 1. I know babies develop at different rates, and 2. How many (typical and average) pre-schoolers do you know who are unable to crawl, walk or roll over? Exactly.

At this point, I actually chuckle when I look at The Lunchie as he lies on his back, still unable to roll over. He does love it when I roll him around like a Tootsie Roll though, but is unable to roll over on his own. And 8.5 months, The Lunchie is still unable to crawl. He does look like the hand on an old-fashioned compass sometimes, when he spins around on his belly, in the same spot. It's really cute and hilarious.

I know The Lunchie is growing normally. But I also know he's growing at his own pace. In his own time. One writer named David Kinne said it quite well in his blog post. He wrote that the "source of much of the unhappiness in the world is the word "should." People think things should be some other way than the way they are, and that makes them unhappy. The road to happiness is in accepting things exactly as they are, and exactly as they are not. Flowers bloom when they do, not when you think they should."

Each flower blooms in their own time.

And it's this same idea that I'm taking, not only with parenting, but also in my running. When we push and want too much, we end up injured, dissatisfied or worst, burned out. It's just not worth it. Life is far too short my friends.

So, I'm just the gardener, tending to my little flower and savouring the miracle that it is each and every day. I've imposed a self-ban of the Baby Olympics.

Race Medals: What's the Point?

This morning I finished the Acura 10-miler. I didn't have a PB, but I did my first negative split in a race. Instead of using pace as my gauge, I actually used my heart rate. I stayed at about 175 bpm for the first part of the race and then I pushed it up a notch to about 185 bpm by the end. Though I didn't run my fastest race at this distance, I was very happy. I had enough gas in the tank to carry me swiftly over the finish line in 1:30. And I felt great. My split at the five mile mark was 47:21 and at the finish it was 45:25.

As I hung the (quite) heavy medal I looked at it and thought, "Gee, the proceeds for this race are apparently going to support cancer research. Wouldn't it be better if the race organizers actually gave the money that it took to make the medals to cancer research?"

I've done my fair share of races over the past few years and while I celebrated the medals at the beginning, they've ceased to mean a lot anymore. You see, every race I enter seems to give each runner a medal - not just the winners. (Also, but doing away with such needless bling, (somewhat exorbitant) race fees would actually come down.)

When I grew up in the 80s only people who actually placed in the sport they did got medals. They symbolized an achievement. There were no such things as "Finisher Medals." Today, many running races actually boast fantastic medals to draw the crowds. I remember attending one expo and marveled at the artistry that went into the medal for last year's Toronto Marathon and Half Marathon. I mean, you should see the marathon medal. This behemoth (and I call it this because as medals go, this thing really weighed as much as an elephant) actually had moving parts!

Okay, if you finish a huge race, like say, the Boston Marathon or an Ironman - perhaps a medal for your efforts. But honestly, a 5K, 10K, 15k or even a half-marathon race? Why? Do runners really need to feel that much validation? Do we really need to celebrate all our running achievements with medals? They give out medals at races now like they dole out pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. But honestly, having a closet full of them, makes them less meaningful. There are two medals that actually I do cherish: my first marathon medal and a 10K first place medal. Other than that, I could go without.

Again, what's the point?

Like many other Runner Mamas, I run because I love to run. Not because there's a medal at the end. Today's race was an indication. I love the race scene; I love the feeling of my heart pounding; I love finishing and knowing that I accomplished a great negative split. (Okay, I could have pushed a little harder at the beginning, but hey, this is a first for me.) But I really didn't need a medal. It was, after all, a 10-miler. Yes, I know for many this was a huge achievement. Great. Celebrate and bask in the glow of running the distance, not from the glow of a silly medal. (I admit, I was tempted to skip it, but I paid almost $70 for this race!)

While I do cherish my first marathon medal, it really wasn't necessary. Crossing the finish line knowing I did it; I completed 26 miles and 385 yards was good enough. Many of the races I enter actually donate money to valid causes. I'd much rather see the money that went toward making those silly medals given to charity - where it will actually be of greater value.

Recently, I watched a rather curious show, Toddlers & Tiaras. Perhaps it's the train wreck-like nature of this show that had me glued to my tube for the whole hour. What got me the most - other than making pre-pubescent girls look like little streetwalkers and overweight, helicopter moms who live vicariously through their kids - was that every child had to win something. The camera panned the stage and there they were, trophies - many as big or bigger than the actual contestants of these child beauty pageants.

Again, what's the point? What are we teaching our kids?

Segue back to running. I think we do our kids a disservice when they see us at the finish line collecting these silly medals. They should see that we get pure enjoyment with the process of running, not with the bling. Yes, I know I'm guilty of worshipping the bling too (after all, it is quite sparkly and nice!) but as adults, I don't think we need to get something every time we finish a race.

Today, it seems, we live in a world where we need to award everything and everyone. And everyone has to make the team. I was pretty shocked the other day to read in the news that a couple of families were suing The Greater Toronto Hockey League after their sons were cut from the team.

What the H-E-double hockey sticks?!

Though it's a different sport. A theme of entitlement seems to run through. To use the cliche, the world has changed. Perhaps in this realm, not for the better.

It's Hell Outside: What kind of Runner Mama are You?

If you live in the eastern part of North America, you must be feeling what I'm feeling these days: hot and sweaty! It's a heatwave in my neck of the woods and apparently the Weather Gods tell us we're to have more of them this summer. Thank goodness I'm not pregnant this year! I can't imagine what it must be like sleeping, let alone being active when you've got a tiny human along for the ride.

Anyhoo, I've totally wimped out this week. So much for my heat training. With the exception of running outdoors on Sunday for my 11-mile LSD run (which I actually ran at 5:40 a.m. to beat the heat) I've done all my training runs inside on the T-mill, including today's 40-minute tempo. (I was able to manage an average pace of 8:25 which I know I couldn't have done outside today.)

Yeah, I have a 10-mile race this weekend. Am I ready, despite my lack of heat training? I think think so. I'm looking on the bright side because the temps are forecast to be a "mild" 27 with only a humidex reading of 30 (beats last weekend when it was 40). I'll make sure to stay super hydrated and watch for any signs of dizziness and faintness.

Truth is, I would much rather go out and run in -15 degree weather than this, stinking hot inferno outside. Yesterday, driving home from my parents home at 10 p.m., it was still 30 degrees! What the HELL? (I think the use of this word is more than appropriate here!)

I'm curious what other Runner Mamas think of this weather. Are you heading indoors like me? Or are you among the folks who love this heat and humidity and bang out your sessions outdoors? Thoughts? Stories?

This is the way it's supposed to be...

Seven days until the Subaru 10-miler in Toronto and for the first time since the Mississauga Half Marathon, I feel ready and strong. I had a fantastic morning run today and actually beat the heat by running at 5:40 a.m. It was a bit tough to get out of bed at 4:30 a.m. (because I have to pump milk) but once I got on the road it was great.

No traffic. Cool breeze. Quiet streets. Fantastic.

And as I did on Friday, I did my 11-mile LSD run in my Active Zone 2, so within 128-149 bpm. What a difference this approach makes. Last week, I admit, I had a faster pace time, but was barely able to finish the 8-miler. Today it was a different story. I could have gone on forever because I felt so strong and my legs felt so light. It was euphoric.

A long time ago, a wise friend once told me that sometimes you have to take a small step backward to take a giant leap forward later. I think this saying applies here. Though I feel like I'm almost running too slow, I know that by developing my aerobic base and training my body to burn more fat verses carbohydrates, I'll benefit in the long run. Science doesn't lie and being the methodical person that I am, I will trust science and really work on developing this aerobic base.

Yesterday, I watched a very interesting documentary called "Marathon Challenge." I've embedded it below. It was inspirational and very moving. I love the idea of the 9-month challenge and I perhaps I will embark on a similar journey in the future. What I liked most about it was the notion that you can really train your body to do practically...anything- including running a marathon even if you've led a sedentary lifestyle most of your life.

Having gone through pregnancy and giving birth, I've come to really appreciate the complexities of the human body and have marveled at its ability to overcome adverse conditions. My point in all my inane rambling here is that we are always continuing to improve - provided we have the right mindset. Sometimes we have to take a few steps backward, but careful planning and patience will get us to our goals - be it a first marathon or a 100th. We humans are marvelous athletic machines- even though we may feel like fat tubs of goo at times.

Here's the doc I just spoke of. It's awesome.

An Epiphany: Back to Base-ics

In my quest to get back into my pre-pregnancy shape as fast as I can say "Boston," I've rushed things and perhaps cut corners.

In other words, I've done a few things wrong. I've made some mistakes in my training.

Yes, I had great results at my first half marathon postpartum, but you see, since that race, in May, my training hasn't been the same. In fact, I've been in a bit of slump. At first, I attributed it to the heat and the sudden surge in temperature, but now I think it's much more than that. In my haste I've forgotten that one must build their aerobic "base" before they work on speed.

Today, I had an epiphany. I realized that I really need to go back to "base-ics." Let me start from the beginning...

My running friends, Aaron and Cathy just got in the business of doing metabolic assessments. In lay terms it means that they've started a business for easily measuring a person's exercise metabolic rate and their resting metabolic rate. Okay, for the sports people, this means that they have a portable tool that can help you to: train your metabolism to maximize the total calories that you burn efficiently; increase your highest aerobic exercise intensity; and decrease your recovery time during anaerobic exercise. Out of these computations comes the all important VO2. For endurance athletes it's this number that not only gives you bragging rights, but also the capacity to work efficiently for longer periods of time. A person's exercise metabolic rate tells the story of how efficient their aerobic engine is. (Runners like Ryan Hall and Paula Radcliffe have very high VO2 figures, as does Lance Armstrong.)

If you've ever experienced a test to attain your VO2 Max, you'll know that it is quite the process. It often involves tons of expensive, hi-tech equipment and puts you through a test that takes you to (almost) exhaustion. If I recall from my kinesiology days, this wasn't a terribly pleasurable process. But with Cathy and Aaron's technology, it's not bad. Actually, I quite enjoyed my experience! I did the test on a treadmill, wore a heart rate monitor and a face mask that had tubes connecting to a device that analyzed air, O2 and CO2 in each breath. (Once they get up and running I'll blog more, so keep checking running friends living in east Toronto and Durham!)

I discovered that my VO2 is actually good and above average (yay!). However, the program also told me that I should improve my aerobic base. The aerobic base is the maximum rate at which you burn fat and represents the body's ability to use fat during exercise. This is very, very important for endurance sports, like running because it is optimal to burn fat verses carbs. In order to improve my aerobic base I realized that I have to do more training within the heart rate zone of 128-149 beats per minute. In fact, to improve my anaerobic threshold, or my highest sustainable exercise intensity, I really have to focus on improving my aerobic base.

Bottomline: To run faster overall and run at a higher efficiency, for longer, I have to re-train my body and teach it to burn the optimal fuel of fat and less carbohydrates. That means I have to do more runs within a certain heart rate zone (Zone 2). By focusing on increasing my aerobic base and training my muscles to burn fat across a wide range of exercise intensities and heart rates, only then can I improve my anaerobic threshold.

SO, my next step is to rejig my training schedule. Starting tonight, I'll run three heart rate zone runs and two speed workouts (which includes tempo and hill/speedwork.) As I realized, running within my specific heart rate zone to improve aerobic base actually felt good. And at this point, I want it to feel good.

Why bother running if it feels bad? What's the point, right?

As I struggled tonight to keep within the zone, (I often go way too fast) I told myself - just like the Lunchie - I have take baby steps in order for me to eventually run faster and longer.

An Ode to Fathers and Husbands of Runnermamas Everywhere

There is nothing better than a summer rain shower after a sweaty-hot hill workout (I did 6 X 400M repeats.) Okay, there are some better things (!) but for me a summer rain shower post-run is up there on my list of Favourite Things. (I do like brown paper packages tied up with string and warm woolen mittens.)

I think I've really become a fair weather runner. In fact, I almost talked myself into doing speed repeats on the gym's treadmill this morning. Yes, I'm still doing my "Heat Training" but I do confess I'm a wimp and if I suspect it to be too hot, I'll opt for an indoor workout. When I did step grudgingly outside, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there was a nice coolish breeze amidst the hot, humid air. And the partly overcast skies sure helped, especially for the first three hill repeats. I came home drenched after a pop rain shower. It felt wonderful on my hot skin.

As I ran this morning, I realized that I missed a blog post about Father's Day.

This Father's Day was very special. For it was The B's first. Obviously I'm biased. Very biased. But I think The B is one of the best Dads out there. (My Dad is also tops!) If it weren't for his support and encouragement, I wouldn't have started my side photography business, nor would I be able to do all this running and training. I know I have a good thing going and am truly blessed.

I have a few friends whose husbands work a lot and/or travel extensively. While they do bring home the bacon, I often observe that these wives and moms are alone a lot caring for their kids. That's fine, but it must be tough to get some "Me Time." I know I've blogged about this before but this "Me Time" helps to keep (Runner) Mamas sane. I firmly believe ample amounts of "Me Time" helps to keep mothering fresh while also cultivating and maintaining some semblance of self, confidence; and fostering a sense of accomplishment.

I know "Me Time" is a very valuable commodity, especially for those with young families. While I love spending time with The Lunchie, I cherish all the "Me Time" I get. I know a lot of it comes because I have a wonderfully supportive husband. And so this blog post is dedicated to Daddy B.

Thank you Daddy B for everything - especially for all the "Me Time" you give me. When I finished my first half marathon postpartum, I know I didn't do it alone. During those very first tough weeks of my return to running and training, I was always "carried" by the supportive arms of The B.

Thank you a thousand times over.