Strangest experience...

Halifax Commons ball park where the tournament took place.

This past weekend was my softball league's ice-breaker fun tournament. We do this every year where all the players in the league show up and are randomly divided into teams - no more than 3 or 4 players from the same 'team' are together. It's great fun and this year was no exception. One of the best things about this day is of course the BEER!  Did I mention I play in a beer league? Sponsored by Labatt no less.  

You're probably wondering why I'm writing about a softball league on a runner's blog...?  Well I had the strangest experience at this ice-breaker, my first day of ball since I've started 'running'. After the first game I realized the closest bank machine was 2 blocks away. I didn't stop at one on the way to the tournament and I needed $$ for beer and lunch.  So, for probably the first time in my life, I thought "I could RUN to the bank machine!" - not because I was pressed for time, but because I WANTED to!!  So sure enough, I started off running across the ball field and down the sidewalk for 2 blocks...  After what was probably 3min of running, (felt like 15) I asked myself "Why am I running? This does not feel good at all!"  Soccer clets on pavement is not the ideal running gear, but then another strange thing happened - I kept running!  I didn't stop until I was short of breath (induced earlier than normal mostly due to the fact that I had already had one beer at this point...) and only steps from the store where the bank machine was.

It felt strangely rewarding to have done something that was so OUTSIDE my comfort zone! Another side effect of all this running, similar to my soccer game, I felt full of energy all day - jogging on and off the field between innings, even though we lost every game...

If you're reading this and have never been much of a runner - it's totally worth a try if you want more energy and enjoyment out of life!  Check with your doctor first of course - not that I did though, but I've been involved in sports my whole adult life without checking first...  Right there is another "Ah-Ha" - I've been involved in sports my whole adult life, but never felt so full of energy as I do now after running regularly!!  I encourage you to give it a try - what have you got to lose?

Just a quick hello - in VIDEO!

Check out my short video I filmed yesterday (Thursday) from the trail around Lake Banook. You'll notice I'm wearing my YMCA Strong Kids hat and my Blue Nose Marathon shirt from last year. I was wearing sandals and pushing my son in the stroller, hence the reason I *couldn't* run - even though I wanted to!

This was an impromptu take - the sound quality isn't great because of the wind over the mic and the cars in the background, so you may need to turn your volume up! One of the other Y-Champions had video on his blog and I thought it was too cool - wanted to try it out myself. Let me know what you think below!

What's next?

Two days since the Blue Nose Marathon event and I'm looking for the next event to participate in! My running partner is away for almost 3 weeks, but we have tentative plans to run in the local "Muffin Run" in Lunenburg, NS on June 14th. It's a 5km run around the historic National Park. Sounds intriguing. Plus our hubbys would be joining us, so hopefully we can find a jogging stroller that will hold our two boys (5yrs & 18mons) to borrow.  Anyone reading this in the HRM willing to offer, we would be very thankful!

Meanwhile, I'm going to try and get together for a run with my good friend Michelle (read about her running and weight-loss journey here). We've never ran together before, so I'm really looking forward to the new, shared experience!

As for my other activities - spring soccer has ended. We had our last game Sunday evening and we won 1-0!  One thing I've really noticed since this training is my increase in energy and speed when playing soccer. I love it!  My teammates jokingly say I should run 5k every game day!  I think summer season starts in a couple weeks.

Swimming is still going great. I can feel changes in my stroke that are bringing my form more streamlined and powerful. I really get a rush off the feeling of pulling my body through the water. I wonder, is there a "swimmer's high"?  With an average of 1800-2200m per night, two nights per week, I'm getting some serious cardio and strength benefits that I'm sure are spilling over to my running and soccer.  

Did I mention I play softball too?  That season starts with an ice-breaker fun tournament this Saturday!  I wonder if maybe I'm trying to do too much?  What do you think?

THANKS! And I did it!!

Thanks to all my supporters - I reached my $1,000 goal in support of the YMCA Strong Kids! Click on the link: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2103855 to see the fireworks!!

My race time this morning was 32:50 (gun) and 30:15 (chip - actual time) and I placed in the top 25% for my age/gender group (45/187)!! You can see more details on the SportsStats website - www.sportstats.ca - search for "Blue Nose Marathon 5km"  and "Rake" as the surname to see how I did!  Jill and I shaved a whole 6min off our training run from last weekend!  And I can't say enough how awesome Jill did - she pushed her 8-month-old DS for the FIRST time and it was all I could to do keep up!  She was like the Energizer Bunny.  Jill, YOU ROCK!  Thanks for being such an awesome running partner.

Thanks again for all your support! Can't wait to do it again next year!
Corinna

P.S. In case you were following along - I DID get up at 7am to go running with Jill Friday morning. We had a great final training run, finishing our 7+km route in 56min!

14% left to raise and 3 days to go!

The COUNT-DOWN is ON!! 

Less than 4 days until the big race!  Jill and I plan on taking a brisk walk tomorrow afternoon around the neighbourhood with the babies and then one last training run Friday morning - early! I'm feeling pretty good. Had my knee checked out tonight - Thanks Dr. Ellefsen!  He said it was sore from over-working it - so Saturday I'll be taking it easy to make sure I'm good for the race - no stairs or running for me!

Reflecting on this whole experience, I'm surprised at how my whole attitude about running AND fund-raising has changed... matured even. The two best things I've gained from this process are:

1. Steps towards overcoming my axiety of asking people to help support something I believe in. Thanks to all who have contributed, you have given the YMCA Strong Kids program a great boost and the kids will be the benefactors of all your support. If you haven't contributed yet, PLEASE help me reach my goal (only 14% to go!) and DONATE NOW. Remember, every $10 brings me 1% closer.

2. Enjoying, and actually looking forward to/finding ways to go running!  I never would have thought I would be willing to get up at 7:00am (believe me - this is a HUGE deal!) to go running like I will this Friday with Jill.  Of course my hubby is skeptical that I will get up, but in my mind, there is no question.  I guess Friday at 7am when my alarm goes off will be the true test!  

Do you think I'll pass the test and get up when my alarm sounds on Friday morning?  Leave a comment below!

You can help me reach my goal in support of the YMCA Strong Kids by making a secure online donation using your credit card. Click on the link: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2103855

Thanks for your support!
Corinna

Race route - what a breeze!

Today Jill (she's back - yay!) and I went over to Halifax with the families - left the boys (daddies included) to fend for themselves at the Commons playground - and picked up the official Blue Nose Marathon 5km race route at Cogswell and Ahern. Jill has the baby jogging stroller now, so she wanted to practice with it, empty for the first run.  It was a perfect day - about 15 degrees, overcast and a cool breeze.

We started out at our usual pace. The first part was a long, gradual incline. We made it to Bloomfield and down to Gottingen in our first 10min interval - WOW! We couldn't believe it because we figured it was at least 1/3 of the route by that point. We walked 2min then jogged another 10min which brought to just before the hill where the 'finish line' will be next weekend. Again, we felt amazed at how little we had left to go! Past the finish line and around Citadel Hill, we were running along Ahern towards Cogswell with 3:30min left on our - could it be? - LAST 10min interval!  With a final burst of long strides at the end, we finished with 1min left in our interval, and a total time of 36:30!!  YAY US!  We're so PUMPED for next week's run now!

FYI - after we got home, I entered our training route around Lake Banook on MapMyRun.com and discovered that we have been training on a 7+km route - so double-YAY for us! It makes the 5km seem so short.  It also explains why our time today was so drastically short compared to our "happy if we finish in an hour" times from training.  :-)

You can help me reach my goal in support of the YMCA Strong Kids by making a secure online donation using your credit card. Click on the link: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2103855

Thanks for your support!
Corinna

YMCA Strong Kids program - what's it all about anyway?

First, Thank You for the generous donations in support of the YMCA Strong Kids program as I continue this journey towards raising $1,000.  Currently my total raised is just over 53%, with only 7 days to go!  Every $10 donation brings me 1% closer to my goal. If you haven't already contributed, please consider what you can give and use the link below, or I can arrange to pick up cash or cheque (made out to The YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth) from you within the HRM.

Here are some interesting facts on how your donation is used:

A gift of $35 will help a 3 to 5-year old develop strong bones and muscles through a preschool program session while learning to share with others.

A gift of $100 will help youth 6-12 years of age learn skills at camp such as canoeing, swimming, camp craft, environmental studies, and at the same time developing social skills to work in a team environment.

A gift of $240 will assist two siblings in getting physically "active" 7 days a week through an annual health and wellness membership.

A gift of $500 will provide a child or young adult with an “experience that lasts a lifetime”—a week at Canada’s oldest residental camp, Big Cove YMCA Camp.

A gift of $1,000 will ensure that boys and girls can be safe and well cared for in a structured environment while their parents are working away from home.  

You can help me reach my goal in support of the YMCA Strong Kids by making a secure online donation using your credit card. Click on the link: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2103855

Thanks for your support!
Corinna

Runner's High - does it exist?

Saturday morning I was supposed to go running with my friend Michelle on the boardwalk in Fisherman's cove. I was looking forward to sharing with her and the other ladies in the joys of training (really? well, not quite... Mostly I wanted company and Michelle has made some major life changes that include running regularly - I was looking forward to learning from her and sharing the experience - a thought that never would have crossed either our minds 2+ yrs ago!)  Well, the weather didn't cooperate, so the run was cancelled. It was probably for the best as I had stayed up ALL night Thurs. trying to get my taxes done and my parents & niece arrived for a 4-day visit Friday night. Needless to say I was worn out, exhausted, felt like I was coming down with something and just wanted NEEDED to sleep.

As Saturday wore on, a funny thing happened - I had the urge to run! So much, in fact, that I decided I would take advantage of my parent's presence to watch the kids and join my hubby and Ryan on their run Sunday morning - at least until I couldn't keep up - which I knew wouldn't be long!!

We headed out around 10:30am after a large breakfast (don't recommend) and as per their usual routine, Will and Ryan start running right away - straight up the steep hill on the way out of our neighbourhood... Jill and I always WALK to the top and start our running time on a more level place.  I noticed the gap increasing as I fell behind more and more towards the top - 3min into the run, at the top of the hill, I was DONE!  I waved them off "have a nice run" and started my first walk interval, very slowly, by myself again (Jill, I'm not liking the solo runs! Can't wait until you're back...)  Surprisingly, my heart rate wasn't over 150, but my chest was heavy and my legs felt like they weighed about a ton each. For the next 5min I seriously debated turning around and just doing the 1km loop in my neighbourhood.  

Somehow I convinced myself to keep going - I thought about the Strong Kids and how this all started - I thought about how badly I want to be able to run the entire 5km on race day, no walking - and a LOT about the fact that I had a soccer game later that evening, so why did I need to do this whole run? (I definitely need some tunes next time I go solo - too many thoughts in the brain...) By the time I reached the lake, I had run a total of 13 min, walked for 7min and had a whole, two-sided conversation with myself. 20min to the lake was the same as with Jill - which surprised me, but also encouraged me that I hadn't lost time to all the walking it felt like I was doing.

One thing I'm really focussing on is keeping my pace up when I'm walking, to keep the heart pumping. I managed to run for 5min - walk for 2min for the rest of the lake and up the first little hill. Surprisingly, even with less running, my overall time was showing improvement. I guess the speed walking was helping! So much so, that by the time I had speed-walked my way to the top of the dreaded hill by the mall, I was at least 5min ahead of past runs! As I rounded the last corner to begin my descent down the steep hill in my neighbourhood, the same hill that nearly finished me earlier, my time was 52min. I desperately wanted to finish in less than an hour this time. I kept my pace in the steep part, then towards the bottom, where it flattens out for a block before a more gradual downhill, something happened...   All of a sudden my stride became longer, my legs started to seemingly 'float', my arms pumped harder, and I felt like I could go on like that for another hour!!  Which brings me to the title question - is there really a "runner's high". Is that what it feels like?  If so, I think I might be hooked!!  

Oh, and my final time was 56min!!  WAHOO!!  :-)

You can help me reach my goal in support of the YMCA Strong Kids by making a secure online donation using your credit card. Click on the link: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2103855

Thanks for your support!
Corinna