Thursday, March 14, 2013

Why life is good - and a training PR!

"The day you decide to do, is your lucky day."  Japanese Proverb

"The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself." Douglas MacArthur

The first week of March was the school break over here and since my husband is a teacher, I also took the week off. That week, if I count the kilometers I spent snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, I completed a grand total of 82km (that's 51 miles). If you count only the running, I completed a total of 65km (or 40.3 miles). Yay! Then last Sunday, I ended the week with the longest long run of my program, which was 28km (17.4 miles). I'm really proud of myself. 

I'm glad that I didn't listen to the inner voice that often tried to keep me home to "rest" because I was feeling tired and even mildly nauseous on some mornings (it's a women thing). The voice that told me I was perhaps trying to do too much. The thing is, almost every time I got out there, I felt good and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

On Wednesday, I celebrated my birthday with some intervals on the treadmill and I felt great! I actually thought to myself, "How amazing it is to feel this strong at 54". Then Thursday morning I was meeting one of my close friends for some cc skiing on Mont St-Bruno and then a nice lunch. Again, once I got there, it was beautiful being out there and I felt so lucky! On Friday, Uber H and I were  going to Mont Orford with some family. He was going cc skiing and I was going snowshoeing with my SIL. Once again, an extremely amazing day...with perfect weather. We did 11km with a total elevation of 1,196 meters...and I loved every minute.

Beautiful day on Mont Orford!

Breathtaking views!

We carried our lunch in a backpack and ate up on the mountain in a small wood cabin that had a fireplace going...truly a wonderful day. I then did my one-hour run on Saturday, once again on Mont St-Bruno, on the trails! Then, I concluded my week with a 28km run on Sunday. The weather was quite nice, though cloudy and a bit windy, but I did it, completing the run in 3h08m49s, and I felt strong. I now use a 14/1 ratio, which is working really well for me.

So, the point of my quotes is that although I could just say that I'm so lucky to have these opportunities...I know that it's a question of getting out there and taking these opportunities. It's getting everything ready and then driving to the mountain and planning and organizing...but it is so worth it! 

I'm also thrilled because yesterday, the plan was to include 4km at 10K pace in my workout. However, it was going well and so I decided to try and beat my 5K PR...and I did it, completing in 28m56s! I was excited to break the 29-minute barrier :) 

And so it continues, I cross-train with spinning and a strength workout on Tuesdays and yoga on Fridays...along with lots of running. We all know, that we never know what can happen on race day...so I'm glad that I am enjoying the journey!

Of course, there's a little bit of luck in the fact that I am not sick, like Caroline, or injured or banged up from a pothole, like ajh...but you know what I mean :)

Cheers!

Get out there and make your luck! St. Patrick's day is coming up :)



13 comments:

bobbi said...

Gorgeous pictures and you just sound so HAPPY!! :)

So glad to hear that your training is going so well (and congrats on that 5k PR!!) - I hope it continues strong...you have big things in store this year :)

Kate Geisen said...

Happy birthday!! And congrats on a new 5k PR...such a good feeling! :)

Yes! I know exactly what you mean about TAKING opportunities. And, unfortunately, I have one of those negative little voices, too...but I'm getting pretty good at ignoring her. ;-)

Tina @GottaRunNow said...

Just like you said, since we never know what race day holds, I am enjoying the journey, too!

Happy, happy birthday to you!

Johann said...

Happy Birthday Anne! You are doing great! That is a fast 5k! All the distance is good for you. I feel dumb when reading about skiing and snow shoeing. Maybe I feel about that how you feel about desert running :) It is great to feel and be so strong at 54. Awesome!

ajh said...

Belated happy birthday! I am always tired after work but always feel better after my workout. People think I can't wait to go run but the opposite is true. I am always glad I did though.
Ha Ha! I just got to the part about me. Thank you for feeling my pain. Glad you are getting out there and having many great outings and I can enjoy it vicariously through you!

ajh said...

Love your new header too.

Darlene said...

Happy birthday! Congrats on the PR.

Robin said...

Sounds like a great way to spend your birthday! Happy Birthday. Nice training, you are doing great!! Very strong indeed.

Miles of the Journey said...

Your post reminds me of a quote:


"I had been my whole life a bell, and never knew it until at that moment I was lifted and struck."

Char said...

Happy Birthday for Wednesday. Seems we share a birthday even though I get to celebrate before you, being in a different time zone. March is a ridiculously busy month for birthdays.

Char said...

Happy Birthday for Wednesday. Seems we share a birthday even though I get to celebrate before you, being in a different time zone. March is a ridiculously busy month for birthdays.

Paul said...

Ah! Wonderful!
Getting stronger!

Caroline said...

Bon je suis en retard....
J'ai manqué la fete!!!! Desolee....joyeuse 55ieme annee!!

Caro est encore malade... Ahhhh les durs hivers Californiens c pas drole ca!!!!

Bravo pour le PR!!!