I Love Fall Running!

It's cool and crisp, yet sunny! Who could ask for more?

7.89 km
1:02:23
7.5 km/h
531 cal

Now, must make lunch & dinner, shower my stinky, sweaty self and go for a massage before work!

Back to Work

*le sigh*

I've quite enjoyed my days off, even if they did fly by!

All weekend I was down at Prince's Island Park, soaking up the sun (and some rain) at the Calgary Folk Music Festival! It rained (poured, actually) on Friday night, but we stayed dry and warm in our lean-to. Here's me and my folking sister, Kim, and dad, Bill. We've been folking together for almost 10 years, and I love them to bits. Here's us in our lean-to:


And this was our view (the big screens were just off to the right and left and so we could see what was going on on the main stage):


Saturday and Sunday the sun returned and everyone rejoiced! Music! Dancing! Good food! Good friends! Old and new friends! Really, it's the best weekend of the summer, and it went by waaaaaay too quickly!

I had the day off yesterday, which was good, since I managed to get heat stroke on Sunday. Didn't teach yoga, just rested and caught up on Coronation Street.

This morning I awoke to pouring rain (so much for the forecast of 60% chance of showers this afternoon! Pouring rain before 9 a.m.? Sheesh! I wanna be a weather forecaster--the only job you can be wrong all the time and still keep your job. Oh wait, that could be my boss, too...)

Took the bus to the gym where I've been subbing for my friend, Sophie and taught for an hour. I came outside and lo and behold, the rain had stopped! I walked home (40-ish minutes) in the fresh air and I *think* I see blue sky out there now!

Off to work in a bit...maybe I'll play on my mat a bit first, though! Have a beautiful Tuesday!

Running Fool

Laura was right: You never regret the runs you do, just the ones you don’t.

I spent all day in a meeting with only a bio-break here and there. No food and only coffee (blech!). Needless to say, by the time I arrived home at 1430h, I was ravenous!! Breakfast (yummy pumpkin smoothie) was a loooooong time ago.

I made some bulgur and while that was soaking, rummaged through the fridge freezer. I found a cod fillet and a little a-ha! light bulb blinked over my head. I bought Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution cookbook last weekend and I seemed to recall a few tasty looking fish dishes. How does bacon wrapped cod with fresh rosemary grab ya? Yeah. TASTY. I had a serving of homemade Greek salad over the bulgur while the fish was sizzling away in the toaster oven.

There *may* have been a nap after lunch.

When I awoke, there seemed to be a big ball of fire in the sky! Good God, could that be the sun?! I hadn't seen it for so long I wasn't sure...

I laced up the runners and headed out while the window of opportunity presented itself. Have I mentioned how I dislike running at any time other than first thing in the morning? No? Well, I dislike running at any time other than first thing in the morning. Must have something to do with my circadian rhythms or something. Whatever. I added in this old friend, Three Post Hill, just for fun:



32:47
7:46 km/h
4.22 km
335 cal

It wasn't fun. It wasn't easy. But the weather was perfect and I feel great now that I'm done!

I'm munching on more Greek salad while the oven is preheating for my next Jamie creation: baked apples! Mmmmm....I was intrigued by the spice mixture (bay leaves?) and the addition of booze (how can this be bad?). I'm sure I won't be disappointed!

Happy Friday!

Sunday Run

After a relaxing cup of chai and pumpkin smoothie on the patio, I headed out for a quick, LSD. I've got a big day today: more trips to greenhouses (for me and mom), planting whatever we find, a stop at the big mall and then on to Red Deer and mom's house. I have an eye appointment tomorrow morning bright and early in Red Deer and then I'll hop on the bus back home in time to teach yoga.

But I digress. The sun is shining and it's a great day for a run!
31:31
4.10 km
329 cal
7:41 km/h

Ahhhhh, Spring!

How I love thee!

I just got back from a run and it was awesome! The smell of freshly mowed grass, apple and cherry blossoms and a gentle breeze kept me company. Not too hot, not too cold. All in all, a pretty perfect morning for a run!

31:20
7:45 km/h
4.05 km
315 cal

Slow and steady will get me across the Peace Bridge and across the finish line at the big falls!

Il fait beau aujourd'hui!

So I went for a run!

Yes, that's right. I put on my Nikes and headed out for my regular li'l loop around the park. The city had just mowed the grass along the path and it smelled spectacular! The sun was shining and it felt great just to be moving and outside. Yay, spring is here!!

The deets:
30:19
7:23 km/h
4.11 km
316 cal

And in other news, I have a hotel room the Saturday night before the marathon in Niagara Falls! Separate rooms for my friend, M., who is also running, and me, and my mom, who is fabulous race support. That means that no one's snoring shall interrupt anyone else's sleep the night before the race!

Off to run some errands before work.

May Long Weekend

AKA the start of summer in Canada!

Saturday was a glorious day: sunshine, good friends, good yoga and vino! Started the day on my local S'bucks rooftop patio with E. & C. Then I went to yoga--lots of twisting culminating in:

Parsva Bakasana (side crane)



Source

After yoga, C. picked me up and we headed over to E.'s house for some champagne (Congrats on the 30 year one-night stand!), food and girl talk.

On Sunday I got up and went for a quick run, just my Stanley Park loop (4.1 km). It was really humid, but felt good. Then I met some WW online girls downtown at Cora's for breakfast! They make a pretty good hashbrown (which is how a breakfast place is judged, remember). Then home and off to work.

Today Nerm and I have had a very quiet, relaxing day. We're still in our jammies at 2130h and have done not much more than the occasional yoga pose, knitting and catching up on Coronation Street. There may also have been a cuddlefest/nap, but I can't be certain. I seem to have lost about an hour and a half though....

It's been raining all day so it was a perfect day to decompress. I'm also excited for the week of rainy weather for a number of reasons:

1. These boots:



2. The various shades of green that pop out at this time of year. There probably won't be lilacs (my favourite flower, in case anyone ever asks) for the Lilac Festival next weekend, but for sure by the first of June! I'm excited for the first weekend of June because guess who's coming to town? This man: Noah Maze. And since my Barbados trip in November has been cancelled, I think I might take Immersion I with Noah in February...I'll check the vacation schedule tomorrow when I go to work!

3. To put out the wildfires in Alberta.

4. Knitting! I've made good progress today. And I got word from my friends in Oz that IT'S A GIRL!! Congrats to S. & D.! Now I'll need to find a quick baby project to whip up and send.

5. More cuddle time with Nerm. 'Cause there's nothing else like it. =)

Breakfast Outside

It's finally getting nice enough to enjoy the other room in my house: the patio!



Very excited for Friday night, big grad party for my friend who's just graduated from medical school! Here's what I'm wearing:



My hair is getting did (I think in hot rollers) and I'll be wearing my favourite purple cat eye glasses, too.

Ouch

My legs doth protest! But there was 8cm of snow overnight at Sunshine. The streets in the city look dreadful. There is a slight possibility of not teaching yoga tomorrow night...there could be more skiing in my future!

Egad!

Woke up this morning to inches of heavy, wet snow! I had to pick up Michelle at 7:30 and I've never driven her car in winter conditions--yikes. I'm a great driver, but let's just say there's more than a few people in Calgary who need some driving refreshers.

I went and got my hair did, too. The grey is no more (thank God) and I got a good 4 inches chopped off! Style, welcome back to my hair!

I've had a sore throat for the last few days so Nerm and I napped this afternoon (very strenuous). I've got my seat booked on the ski bus for today and tomorrow. Whoo hoo!

Under the Weather

And the weather is finally gorgeous!! I haven't been sleeping well, even with the drugs the doctor prescribed. I woke up this morning just feeling BLAH, for lack of a better word. It didn't get much better...

I had a dentist appointment this afternoon and was convinced that the fresh air and sunshine would take away the blah. Not a chance. And really, with all of the advances in modern medicine, why can't dentistry keep up? Yes, if you continually poke and prod my gums with sharp, pointy metal things, they will bleed! Although not so badly today. My former dentists got praise--apparently all my old fillings are holding up well (half are about 20 years old and the rest 10). Unfortunately, there's a new little one. But I can't complain--I've been seeing this dentist since I moved to Calgary and this is the first work I've needed to have done (we've been watching this tooth for the past two years). And now the time for watching is over and drilling must commence.

After the dentist I came home and tried to have a nap before yoga. Woke up and felt like I'd been slammed by a truck. Body aches and pains, headache...no yoga for me.

=(

A long soak in the tub with a cup of tea (fruity, no caffeine for this girl at this late hour!) and I feel somewhat human again. I'm going to shut down the computer, have another cup of tea, curl up with Nerm and a book and call it a day. Tomorrow I'm off for an appointment with a health study I've joined. Should be interesting!

Running Mojo Has Returned!

I think it may have more than a little to do with that big burning ball of fire in the very blue sky, but whatever, I'll take it!

3.16 km
23:50
7:33 km/h
249 calories

My legs protested a little, but after the 20K they did for me on Sunday, I've got to say I'm pretty impressed with how I did.

Now, to whip up some veggie chili and pasta sauce to stock my freezer with!

Just Another Manic Monday

Oy.

Went to bed late, woke up waaaaay too early (3:30), trudged to work in snow and nearly wiped out on the ice. Hoped work wouldn't be too busy--my cold from the weekend reared its ugly head again--but alas, it was not to be. Didn't make it to yoga (hacking up a lung and sneezing all over one's yoga students is not ideal) but lounged on the couch with Nerm watching a movie (Zoolander).

Like Derek Zoolander, I struggle with turning left (only while skiing, not on a catwalk). My friends thought I needed to see it so that I'd know I'm not the only one. I will never get those 89 minutes of my life back.

Now I'm going to soak in the tub with a book and hope Tuesday arrives at the more civilized hour of 6:00.

Oh, the yoga retreat was AMAZING. Did lots of really bendy stuff with plenty of introspection on the goddess Saraswati. I'm also registered for the next one at the end of April. =)

599

Seriously? I've made almost 600 posts? Huh.

I've been a skiing fool of late. Not that I'm complaining. My quads, on the other hand...

Yesterday was AMAZING. Literally the best day of the season. Although it didn't start out that way.
a) Effing cold outside.
b) Transit bus late.
c) City streets icy mess.
d) Fire trucks blocking major intersection my bus needs to cross.
e) Ski bus departs hotel as I approach lights to cross street.
f) Expletives *may* have been uttered at this point.
g) Almost have to heave man out of cab (who takes that long to pay?).
h) Cabbie does not understand urgency of situation. "Dude, you have 20 minutes to get me across the city before that bus leaves AGAIN. Faster!"
i) I got there (barely)!

Spent the day skiing with the only other person on the bus (till Canmore, anyway). We had an amazing day and I found even more runs that I like!

Today started out better than yesterday, but the visibility sucked. It snowed most of the day and when the sun did come out, there was a wicked wind with it. And like I said, my quads are tired! But I had a good day (any day sans wipeout is a good day in my books) and some good runs in.

And now I must sleep!

I guess this year it's a Lion

With a birthday at the beginning of March (Thursday, in case you're wondering. There are two shopping days left!), I know first hand of the "in like a lion, out like a lamb". Some years it was full on spring for my birthday, other years, like this one, freezing my bits off in the deep freeze of winter.

I don't care, I'm going skiing tomorrow. And Wednesday! It's snowing out there and I'm fast running out of ski days, since the entire month is all about me! For example:

- March 11-13: trip to Fun-couver with my mom to see the amazing Dr. Wayne Dyer and Marianne Williamson at the "I Can Do It" conference. There will be other fun things too, because, well, Fun-couver is FUN!

- March 18-20: yoga retreat in Golden, BC with my yoga teachers, Nora and Judy

- March 25-28: trip to Hamilton to visit friends and run Around the Bay (30K)

Not much time to hit the slopes, so I must take advantage while I can!

In preparation, I thought I'd make up a schwack of chili for lunch at the hill. I pulled out a few cookbooks and settled on Vive le Vegan's Cocoa-Coconut Chili. I was intrigued by the addition of cocoa, coconut milk, allspice and cinnamon to the traditional chili ingredients. The result: it's ok. It's not bad, but it's not the best chili ever, either. I thought there could have been more heat (I had to add quite a bit of hot sauce) and a squeeze of lime and cilantro helped bring out the flavours. Maybe when it's reheated...would I make it again? I doubt it. I can do better on my own.

Alas, I need to clean up the kitchen, pack the lunch (there may also be some *cough cough* Amarula and hot chocolate going in the lunch bag) and gather up my gear. I bought a pair of super warm long johns at Patagonia this afternoon to keep me warm on the chair lift!

Happy Monday!

Brrrrr!

Holy Mother of God, it's cold out there! It's -25C, which isn't *that* bad, until you add the frickin' wind chill. -35*C Damn you, Mother Nature! Just when I had found my running mojo again!

I took my gear to work last night to run the stairs on my break, but we (me and Sam, my co-worker/friend/stamper-slash-card-maker-extraordinaire) did some yoga instead! I did actually have to go down to the basement to get some reagents, so did one set of stairs. I thought I was going to die. And in the stairwell? What a way to go! Note to self: remember to take inhaler to work!

Tonight the gear is going back and I'm spending at least 20 minutes powering up and down those stairs. If I can't run outside, I can at least work on my endurance and hill training inside where it's warm!

It's Official!

1. Going to Hamilton to run the Around the Bay 30K road race March 27. Flights are booked!

2. I've found my running mojo--just got in from a little jaunt around my 'hood. 4.13km 32 min 327 calories. I felt pretty good, but must find my inhaler...it's around here somewhere....

3. My Monday night yoga girls ROCK! I just got some great feedback on my classes. I heart them all.

4. Day 3 of the Chopra Centre Winter Meditation Challenge is under my belt. It's all good. Shanti Om.

5. Mother Nature is in a good mood--the sun is shining, the sky is blue and it's freaking beautiful out there. Perfect weather for a run. Not so perfect to have to go to work inside...

Is it Friday yet?

Hmpf! Didn't think so. But tomorrow's my Friday, so I just need to get through till then!

Last night I met with my Course in Miracles group. My take-home message: If your life is only a seven, it's 'cause you're only showing up as a seven! It was a lovely evening of good company, good tea and spiritual nurturing. Just whatchya need in this frigid cold we're engulfed in! Did I mention it's currently -33*C with the windchill?? (Good thing the forecast for the weekend in the mountains is good--I need to hit the slopes--Sunshine's got a schwack of snow since I was there last Monday. I'm planning on going on Sunday and Tuesday, & maybe Wednesday too--we'll see how my quads are feeling.)

Wasn't sure what to have for dinner tonight, so instead of wandering the aisles of Safeway aimlessly, I hopped on the bus and headed to Sunterra. There I gathered ingredients for a Greek salad and got some Mediterranean stuffed chicken breasts. After unloading the dishwasher so that I could reload it again, I started to work on the salad:

-cooked a cup of quinoa
-chopped a red and a yellow pepper
-chopped a cuke & a pint of cherry tomatoes
-chopped 1/4 of a red onion

Made a dressing with:
-3 TB EVOO
-3 TB Epicure Greek Salad Dressing
- red wine vinegar, lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, crushed

Toss it all together and let it sit at room temp to let the flavours meld. Mmmmmm! Make it a complete meal by adding a can of drained, rinsed chickpeas.

Now I'm going to clean up my kitchen, pack lunch for tomorrow, make a pot of herbal tea, roll out my yoga mat and have a quiet, restorative practice. Afterwards, I do believe a soak in the tub with my new book, A Thousand Splendid Suns, is in order!

To Ski or Not to Ski?

That is the question for tomorrow.

Pros:
-It's currently snowing at Sunshine Village AND they've had 25 cm in the last 3 days!
-It's supposed to snow tomorrow, too.
-It's skiing!
-I have the $$ to pay for a lift ticket.
-I wouldn't have to drive (that's why God invented the Sunshine Coach)
-They make a tasty hot chocolate and peppermint Schnapps in the lodge by the fire...


Cons:
-The wind chill is brutal out there and on the mountain, it's even worse.
-I'm physically tired--my yoga practice has been pretty intense for the past two weeks.
-I need to plan my class for Monday night.
-Did I mention it's cold out there?
-I haven't had a day where I did nothing since before I left on vacation (I think Dec. 6 was kind of laid back...)


Verdict:
I'm going to stay home and have a jammie day with Nerm. It's supposed to keep snowing all week, so I'll go next weekend instead! AND, I get more than a few days off, so I'll go more than once!

The Countdown is On!

One more sleep!!

I've made a huge dent in my to-do list, but there's still plenty left. With that, I must start my day with a run! It's currently -2C and 74% humidity. In Honolulu, it's already 18C and 94% humidity!!

Forecast for Sunday: low 22, high 23, 20% chance of precipitation and it'll feel like 30C. Works for me!!

I have wi-fi in my condo, so I'll keep you updated. And you can track my progress on the Honolulu Marathon website on race day. Either way, please send speedy vibes my way on Sunday!

Aloha!