2X5 & 3X4...

I've just started feeling a little better so I thought I would start running immediately. Getting back into running is hard... I'm struggling. I feel like I lost ALL MY FITNESS.... This is so discouraging... Tuesday I did 2 times 5 mins of running and Thursday I did 3 times 4 mins of running in the company of my lovely dog. He enjoys it a lot, I, on the other hand just think I'm slow and out of breathe... I am getting really worried about the Detroit half marathon. I think I can pull that distance even if it takes me 3h but do I really want to be that slow. I have really been looking forward to running on the Ambassador bridge and in the tunnel so I might do it just to tell people that I've done it....

San Francisco was cold and full of junkies and homeless people... at first our hotel was in Tenderloin which is apparently the biggest ghetto in SF.... oups!! That said we switched hotels and it was fine but I still didn't enjoy the trip as much as planned.... and I always wanted to visit California. I'm still shocked that I didn't like SF! When I kept complaining about the weather, people would said: "well this is Northern California, what did you expect" and "just go a few km in shore and it's 100 degrees there". Yeah well, I'm stuck in SF and it's cold and I hate it... On my last day, we rented a car and went to Muir Woods and the beach and it was A-W-E-S-O-M-E =) The water was very cold but I still swam in the Pacific Ocean and I was happy...

I dig my toes into the sand

The ocean looks like

A thousand diamonds strewn

Across a blue blanket

I lean against the wind

Pretend I am weightless

And in this moment

I am happy happy

-Incubus (I wish you were here)

Oh yeah, the conference went really well!!! I presented in front of my biggest crowd ever, about 100 people!! I was really nervous but once I was in front of the audience it did not show at all =) I even made them laugh 3 times!! I was so proud!! Who said scientist have to be boring?

I'M ALIVE!!!

And slowly getting better =) I have no longer any discomfort and symptoms left from the mono, except the extreme fatigue, but that's easier to deal with than all that I had. I've had some complications, swollen liver and spleen and had to do a series of more blood work and an ultrasound. Everything is back to normal now. But at some point, I felt like I would never get through this and that is a pretty shitty feeling....

As for running, the doctor said to get back to it slowly and take it easy. I miss it so much though, I really want to go for a run right now... But my mother who has been in town for 2 weeks now, helping me with my dog walking and house chores, is strickly forbidding me to run. I know I am 26 years old but she'S a pretty scary woman when she wants too! lol Seriously, I also think that it is better if I wait until I come back from my trip to San Francisco. I am leaving on Sunday for the AFS conference, I am giving a talk on Wednesday and I'm very stressed about it (it's not done yet...)

I kinda made peace with the idea that I will not PR at the Detroit Half. Just being healthy, running it and having fun will be enough.

Happy running to those who can =)

SURPRISE, SURPRISE...

I am still feeling very tired and I now have a sore throat so the doctor asked me to do some more bloodwork to check the difference with last week's. I had no clue what to expect when I got there and they said the nurse wanted to "talk" to me... The surprise is that the mono came out positive this time =( I still haven't talked to my doctor about it but I was quite shock to see it positive after it was negative last week. I am trying not to freak out about this and to take things slow. But it is very hard at the moment to work less, I am going to a conference in San Francisco at the end of the month and I have to prepare my talk.... One day at a time, right?

UPDATE FROM THE SICKIES...

Not our best week in the Melançon’s household. Rocky has been vomiting and has had diarrhea all week… yeah not fun! And I’ve also been pretty sick: nausea, chills, lymph nodes swollen, headache, fever, over tired and appetite loss (that one I can take! lol). The doctor thought I had mononucleosis and that really made me freak out! I mean I am trying to finish my Ph.D. here. I am leaving Windsor at the end of December and everything’s got to be done in the lab by then… so yeah pressure! I am happy to report though, that it is NOT mono =) They have no clue what I have, but whether it is viral or bacterial it should be gone in a week or so (I am on antibiotic). Phew!

But I think I just realized that this is my body giving me a sign that I am not a super human. I cannot achieve everything and there will be more opportunities for me to concentrate on running. I have to listen to my body and I think it’s telling me that I am doing too much. I wanted to go with a Half-marathon training program of 12 weeks-5 days a week of running but I think it is more reasonable for me to downgrade this to 9 weeks-3 days a week… I am taking a full week off and maybe more. I’ll see how I feel. Right now I sleep 12h a night and nap 1-2 times a day…. I am disappointed but I can’t manage everything right now.

AS I'M SITTING HERE

At home, shivering with a fever under 2 blankets, the only thing I can think about is if I'm really that sick that I can't go for my 3 miler tonight.... what is wrong with me??!!

STUPID WEEK-END... ALREADY OVER!!

I am sad that the week-end is already over... 3 days to spend with my BF was not nearly enough. For those who have ever been in long distance relationships (eh Yumke) you know how much separation sucks... Anyhow, the week-end was awesome. We had gorgeous weather and we had a great time at the wedding. We nearly missed the Mass at the Church, we got lost on the QEW/403... We got in at 5h05 as she finished walking up the aisle, phew!!! =)

The Newlyweds leaving the Church:

And here is me with my FABULOUS dress and my Man =)

We spent the week-end in Niagara Falls and visited Jackson Triggs winery in Niagara-on-the-lake.

As for running, we ended up being too busy to run! So, I did my 3 miler on Sunday night after spending 6h in the car and eating chicken wings and fries for lunch.. I was tired and it was not my best run!

I ate a bag of cheese curds for dinner at around 9 PM and still wasn't sure I was going to race that 10K the next morning. I saw that the race was at 10:30 AM and that kind of sold me up! I get to race and still sleep in: awesome!

Carb loading with chicken wings and cheese the day before and barely drinking any water. I knew this was not going to be a fast race and I didn't mind much. I was very tired when I got up. I was suppose to do this as a LSD but I did not want to finish last!! Windsor races always have really fast paces with 75% of the participants finish in 60 mins or less for this 10K!!

Its the first time I race without my garmin and it felt really weird. I had no clue how fast I was going. I tried to keep it comfortable for the first 5K and push for the remaining of the race. I think its a good sign that I passed 4 people in the last half =) Final chip time 1:06:05 (10:38 min/mile) which is better than what I expected! And I am glad to say that I did not finish last! :D

I am taking a day off running tomorrow and will resume on the schedule Wednesday!

Happy running week everyone!

WEDDING WEEK-END!

Not mine.... yet ;-)

I am going to my first wedding tomorrow and it's on a Friday. Church at 5 and then reception at 7 PM. It's going to be a sticky one in Burlington (32 feeling like 39)... It's good my dress is light!

The best thing is that my BF is flying in from St. John's to be my date! =) That also means I have a running partner for my 3 miler on Saturday. I am considering doing a 10K race on Monday morning (holiday here) as I have a 5 miler plan and I don't think I can squeeze it in on Sunday... anyway we'll see (I know I said no more races, but I don't think I can do it!!)

Have a good and hot week-end everyone. I'll post some pictures when I come back, my dress is F-A-B! =)

NO GARMIN, NO MORE =(

Yes, you read right.... my Garmin died yesterday.... Or it looks like it did... Buttons are not responding, can't turn on can't turn off but then when I plug it to recharge the battery it turns on, but I can't do anyting!! So, frustrating!!!! I AM TOTALLY DEPENDANT ON THIS LITTLE THING! I feel like my puppy died....

Sonia's Garmin

R.I.P.

16 July 2006-1 August 2007

(Yes a few days after the warranty ended....)

This week's training so far:

Tuesday: 3 miles @ 11:06 min/mile

Wednesday: 5 X 500 m @ 8:15 to 9:10 min/mile (Garmin is dead I am trying to remember!)

Thursday: 3 miles @ 36 mins (First run without Garmin... SO FREAKIN HOT)

I need a new garmin of find a solution to my problem...

PREOCCUPIED

As some of you noticed, I haven't blogged in a while. I've been very busy with school, writing my second scientific article at the moment. And I've been in a sort post-marathon running blues all over again (even though the marathon was back in May!). The fact that I will not race all summer is also affecting my motivation to get out the door. Hi, my name is Sonia and I'm addicted to racing.... With no perspective of racing, my spirit is down! I'm not remotely joking!

So, I hadn't run for 10 days after the Nissan 10 miler in Toronto (finished in 1:46:03) when I finally was so crabby and so depressed that I knew a run would be the only thing to cheer me up. I did a slow 3.5 miles on Wednesday in Windsor heat. I have to say that what really pumped me to return to running was the 2 posts below by some fellow bloggers!

Michelle tagged me as a Rocking Blog Girl
Here is what she wrote: "This girl runs A LOT! I mean, I've read about her doing 20-mile training runs like it was nothing. Seriously, I am impressed!! "

And then Laurel also tagged me and said: "Like a true Canadian, this girl is as friendly as they come no matter how many miles she is running. Her laid back attitude is contagious and makes for feel-good reading. She is the kind of person you feel like you have known forever I always leave her blog with a smile on my face."

These comments made me get out of my lethargic state of mind (and body!). And there again I was this running machine. =) So, thanks to you both lovely ladies for making me smile!

Here is my turn to tag some other Super-Awesome-Blogger-Running-Girls
Jelly-Pepper: Who always makes me smile with her running stories
Amanda: Who never gives up on running
Shelley: Who inspires me the most with her 7th Ironman in 7 years!

Next week is Week 1 (out of 12) of my Detroit Half-marathon training! I've decided to go back to Hal Higdon's training schedule. It helped me get 12 mins PB when I followed it last Winter and I'm hoping it will work again this Fall.

Happy Running everyone =) And thanks for reading!

BACK FROM BEAUTIFUL NEWFOUNDLAND

This is truly a gorgeous part of our country, if you have a chance to visit do not hesitate. There is lots to do and people are really very friendly. It is definitiely not the warmest spot in Canada but you can't have everything. I was very unlucky weather wise, it was pouring rain the whole time (5/7 days). I ran once, 3.5 miles in pouring rain at 6:30 AM after a night of drinking on George Street.... so not my best run. Did I mention it is hilly there? Well, even on what they consider "flat" ground felt like a hill to me! I think this city must be full of strong runners as they are doing hill workout whether they want it or not.

I'm going over to Toronto this week-end to race the Nissan 10 miler. I was happy to see that Yumke, Fran, Amanda and Jelly will also be there and we'll try to meet for brunch after the race. I'm just hoping to run this race at a comfortable pace (10-10:30 min/mile) and enjoy myself.

This is probably my last race of the summer =( Money is so thight now that I will have to cancel some races I really wanted to do but hadn't registered (Run from Cancer organized by Shelley and Crim Road Race). Oh what kind of sacrifices you would do to travel half the country to see your BF...

100th POST!!!

"I run because it's my passion, and not just a sport. Every time I walk out the door, I know why I'm going where I'm going and I'm already focused on that special place where I find my peace and solitude. Running, to me, is more than just a physical exercise... it's a consistent reward for victory!"

-Sasha Azevedo

This sums up why I keep on running and why I will never stop.

I wasn't sure I would keep this blog after my 1st marathon training but I realized that I found lot of friends here and a great support system. Everytime I finish a nice training run or get a personal best, I want to come back here to celebrate these successes with people who understand the feeling, my fellow runner friends. Thanks for always coming back to read my blog and leaving me comments, it means a lot to me =)

Happy Running everyone!

P-S I'm off to Newfoundland for a week and will catch up with you all when I come back

A PB IS A PB...

Even if it is by a few seconds! I finished the 10K HBC Race in 1:01:10 so a big 4 sec faster than 2 weeks ago! Not the under 1h I wanted but I found myself starting too fast and missing the nice kick-ass finish I had at my last 10K. Here are the splits:

Mile 1 -9:10

Mile 2 -9:40

Mile 3 -9:39

Mile 4 -9:56

Mile 5 -10:10

Mile 6 -10:07

Mile 0.28 -12:10 (oh my god! never been so un-motivated to reach the finish line!)

I was a bit overwhelmed with the the price of this race (43$) but the technical t-shirt is awesome and the medal is just crazy! You would think we just ran a marathon. =) I had an awesome time and next time: " I'll get you sub-1h 10K!"

I'M A BAD BLOGGER!

Well sorry folks for not being the best blogger around.... with the marathon training over, I just don't have much of a structured training schedule right now. I ran only 2 times last week..... Wednesday (4 miles) and Sunday (7 miles) but I biked 20K again on Saturday. I can tell you that I feel pretty sore today!!

I'm going to race another 10K on Sunday, the HBC Canada Day Run. The weather is very humid here so I am not getting my hopes up on a personal best, you cannot PB at every race (although I'd love to do a sub 1h)!

A while back I was tagged by Michelle to post 6 weird facts about me.... so here we go:

1) I love perfume, I own at least 3 dozens bottles of them. I put perfume even before I go to bed.

2) Before I run, I love to eat my banana with maple syrup

3) My dad and I have been doing these unconventional Dad-Daughter activities together since I am a kid and we usually go fishing or see a hockey or a football game

4) I am not a girly girl but I will never leave the house without at least putting on some make-up

5) Before I go to bed, I have to check if my door is locked and the alarm is on, at least 3 times... sort of a compulsive thing

6) I talk to my dog in French and in English, there are commands he knows in French (assis, reste, viens ici) and other commands he knows in English (stop, let's go, NO!!, be nice, good boy)

Not sure its all "weird" but at least entertaining for you guys!! I'm hoping Yumke, Fran and Shelley will play along too! =)

Happy Running everyone!

GREAT BUSY WEEK!

I've been very busy work wise this past week. I worked all week-end too.... but there is something very nice about being able to work on my balcony and using my laptop so I'm not complaining too much =)

My goal this week was to run Tues-Thurs and Sat-Sun well I almost achieved it =)

I ran 3 miles on Tuesday and 4 miles on Wed and Thursday. There was a race in Windsor on Saturday evening which I have been eyeing for a while but wasn't sure I would do it. I had no car to drive to the race so I just decided to bike there (20K total). It was good to try the bike-run-bike as I'm looking into competing in my first duathlon at the end of the summer (run-bike-run though)!

I did the same race last year, it was my first 10K and I ran my 2nd last night. Thank god it was a lot cooler this year compared to last year. Nothing much to report about the race itself, I had a good time and a nicekick near the end. I passed 3 people in the last 0.5K so that made me feel good =) Official time is 1:01:14 so about 7 mins faster than last year! Isn't amazing what a PB can do for you spirit?

Happy running all!

BACK TO OUR REGULAR SCHEDULE.....

Okay.... I admit it, I slacked off, big time last week. Only one 3 miler on Wednesday. But this week is a new beginning, I'm commiting to run on Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday-Sunday.

I tried to get up early, like last year's 5AMs, but I can't do it this time around. So, I decided to run in the evening. By the time I finish work and walk my dog, I'm out the door for 6h30-7PM. It was hot tonight, 33 oC, but I had a great 3 mile run (3o mins). I'm pretty happy with my time considering the heat, I felt thirsty after 5 mins of running and I had 3 L of water during the day... Very important to stay hydrated in such weather!

I am so in love with my running skirt, I dunno how I ever did all summer in capris last year's. I took a pic for those who were wondering what it looks like. Sorry about the cut off head but it is hard to take a full body shot with the camera timer... :o)

Happy running everyone!

TROT TO THE BEACH: HALF-MARATHON #4!

I drove to Blenheim on Sunday for a small town race with about 50 half-marathoners total! The course was very interesting, a mix of dirt road/gravel, pavement, trail and beach/sand running. The good thing is that it was mainly FLAT! I mostly run on pavement so the first half on gravel was something new for me! Rural anf farmer roads where the smell wasn't always of nice flowers ;-) It was very hot and humid (high 30's) but at least it was overcast, I'm not sure how I would have done it with the sun over my head!

I was racing with a friend and she wanted to PB with a finish of 2:05-2:07. I said to her that I didn't think I could do it, but I would try anyway and stick with her for as long as I could. Having run only 4 times since the marathon I wasn't too optimistic! But sometimes you can really surprise yourself!

She started out way to fast for me (9:30 min/mile) so after 2 miles I was not able to keep up so I told her to go ahead. After I slowed down I started to feel better, I kept repeating to myself that time wasn't important and you can't PB at every race. So, it was hot and the bugs were eating me alive but I finished in 2:19:52! My second best half time so I'm pretty happy about that. I won a super door prize, a 32 feet extension cord... I was very excited! :P

Here is a picture of Trixiee at the finish line (after we changed)

I hadn't been able to see my "official" marathon picture as the website of the photographers were down for the past 2 weeks.... but finally they are back online! I decided to order a frame of my picture because I like it so much and it was such a hard race too for me. I should have it in the next 28 days! =)

Have a good running week everyone!

IT'S OFFICIAL

I am NOT running a fall marathon...

"Thank you for submitting your entry for the October 21, 2007 Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon: Half-Marathon. ALL ENTRY FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE AND NON-TRANSFERABLE TO ANOTHER DATE, PERSON OR EVENT. NO EXCEPTIONS."

I made up my mind today... after putting all my marathon training on a calendar, I was just so overwhelmed! I wanted to try a new program from this book I read 4 months to a 4h marathon with a higher mileage per week and long runs go up to 24 miles. So, I would have to do a 21 miler when I will be in a conference in San Francisco and another 23 and 24 miler in the summer heat of Windsor.... I am not ready to commit to this with the end of my Ph.D. being so close (defense planned in December).

I really wanted to run the full but I cannot see myself devoting all that time to training when I know it is going to be hard for me to write my dissertation! I'm telling myself that there will be other opportunities to run fulls when I am 100% ready to run them. Nothing like doubting the full and getting to race day with no confidence and no desire to run the entire 26.2 miles. You gotta really want it.... I don't think I really do, not now, I think I need a break from intense training this summer!

The thing that "sold" me too, is that the half does run on the Ambassador Bridge, in the tunnel and the finish line is in Ford Field like the marathoners... so I am not missing any of the "cool" parts of the race.

I am racing a half-marathon in Blenheim on Sunday, not sure I am ready for this, but I will try to follow a fellow runner friend who is trying to PB and see if I can follow her!

***Toenail update***

It's gone! It has fallen on Tuesday and there was another smaller toenail fully grown underneath! =) I can wear sandals! YAY!

MY FIRST...

Toenail loss!!!! hahaha I feel silly just writing about how proud I am to be losing a toenail! But I really feel like the hardcore marathoner right now! It never turned black, it just hurt a lot and then started to "peel"... it's hanging by a side right now... will probably lose it very soon... ok, I will save you all the gross details (and will not include pics!).

More to come on my awesome trip to Vancouver... I definitely fell in love with the city and the green surroundings! =)

VANCOUVER!!!

Going to the West Coast! =) I will be gone for a week and will be internet-less! I'm excited to run in Stanley Park and try my new running skirt! I ran only once this week, 2 miles on Thursday, my IT band was really tight and my feet felt weird. My feet is still a bit shaky but I'm hoping this will clear up as we're going to do lots of walking in Vancouver!

Have a good running week everyone!

I DID IT AGAIN!

I ran another marathon! It took me a while to have this sink in! Sorry for the late race report but since Monday I have a visitor from out of town at my house (my Newfie) so it’s been hard to write about my experience!

I arrived by train in London on Saturday, took it easy, went to Starbucks to read and enjoy a latte. When my room was ready, almost an hour later than the official check-in time! I had no time to take a nap and chill before the Maniacs Meet and Greet. We went to a restaurant that serves pasta in giant (huge) bowls!

Here’s a pic of our table (pic taken by Brendan Reid/qmp maniac)

The night finished early and I was happy to get back to my room for 8 p.m. I watched tv all night, spoke on the phone with my BF and prepared my clothing and breakfast for the next day…. I went to bed at 10:30 and felt asleep right away… I was up around 12:30 for a bathroom break and then started getting nervous about the race! I tossed and turned for the remaining of the night, not my best sleep!! But, I was up by 5 AM, got my breakfast in 2 h before the race and relaxed. I was out the door at around 7:30, I didn’t want to wait to long outside as it was a bit chilly in the morning.

On my way to the starting line, I meet this dad and his handicap daughter (in a stroller/wheelchair), Amanda, they were racing their 9th marathon together and wanted to finish in 3:40! They had run Boston twice already together! Impressive team! I was happy to talk to them, I wished good luck and was on my way to meet some maniacs.

The time was almost up to the race so we all took our place near the starting line, I went on my own to have time to myself before the gun went off... I felt the same as I felt for my last race, a bit teary, still couldn’t believe I was about to run for that long again! I knew this race was going to be different as my dad could not be there and he was such a great help for the last one. I was thinking about him a lot. I knew my friend Flashy and her BF would try to see me around 38-39K so I was holding on to the thoughts that it would be good to see someone I know along the way, especially when things start to get hard!!

My plan was to race at a pace that would have me finish with a 4h33 time (10:26 min/mile). I didn’t want to start to fast, which is always my problem, and I was very proud when I saw that I could pace myself properly and that was going very well (for the first 8 miles anyway).

Mile 1 10:16
Mile 2 10:26
Mile 3: 10:32
Mile 4: 10:18
Mile 5: 10:38
Mile 6: 10:22
Mile 7: 10:15
Mile 8: 10:23

The end of Mile 8 and the beginning of Mile 9 was quite hilly, I slowed down a bit so I don’t exhaust myself but that’s when my hip started to “feel funny”. It started to hurt when I would climb hills and disappear when I would be on flat ground. So the next 7 miles were done trying to forget about the hip and enjoying the ride. I was thanking people on the side of the road and the awesome volunteers!

Mile 9: 11:02
Mile 10: 10:19
Mile 11: 10:41
Mile 12: 11:05
Mile 13: 11:23 (half-marathon at 2:21:26)
Mile 14: 11:15
Mile 15: 10:42
Mile 16: 11:08

That’s when I switched to Plan B, which was a 4h45 finish with average pace of 10:55. I knew I wouldn’t be able to maintain a fast pace for the remaining of the race as I could feel my hip more and more. But then my knee started to hurt too and that’s when it started going downhill… I started to take walk breaks, hoping the knee/hip would miraculously recover... I was losing time and I was in pain. I was trying to tell myself some motivating speeches: “Pain is temporary, pride is forever”, “You’ve done this before, you know you can do it again” etc. But it wasn’t working, I was losing my “mental thoughness”!!

Mile 17: 11:37
Mile 18: 11:27

Around Mile 19, I started to cry, I was exhausted and I didn’t understand why it was going so bad and why it was so hard. Even though, I kept repeating if it was easy everybody would run marathons! I tried to straighten up my act for the next few miles.

Mile 19: 13:22
Mile 20: 13:01
Mile 21: 12:49
Mile 22: 12:27

Then by Mile 23, I lost it completely, the tears, the sobs and then I had difficulty breathing… a bad sight. I was already disappointed of myself for losing it and I was beating myself up instead of taking that energy to run a bit harder. My own fault, my mental wasn’t as strong as I thought it was… I really thought I wouldn’t finish at this point… Every time I would stop to walk, my body was telling me it didn’t want to keep going and starting to run again was so painful… But I guess I was strong enough to shut these thoughts and “just keep fuc’ing Running”!

Mile 23: 13:24
Mile 24: 13:24
Mile 25: 12:49
Mile 26: 12:30
.2: 11:01

The rest of the race was hard, I knew that I was going to miss Flashy at 38-39K at this point, because I told her not to wait for me too long there, if she wanted to see me finish in 4h30. That was harder than I thought it would to not have the support from my dad like at my first marathon, I appreciate even more today that he was there for me in Toronto!!

When I turned the corner and was able to see the finish line, tears came to my eyes again, I knew my friends would be there and I was happy I made it through another marathon. I crossed the finish line and hugged my friend Flashy! I started to cry again, it was hard but I made it, I learned a lot on myself….

Thanks to everyone for reading, I am happy to have such a great bunch of people for support! I am not done with this marathon business… ;-)