Runner's High??

We've all heard about it....the mythical Runner's High.  Is it real??  I'd like to think so.  Today, I'm not feeling that high.  Despite running longer and farther than I have in a long time, my body did not enjoy this run.  4.52 miles almost killed me tonight.  Since I started using my Nike+ app I've accumulated over 30 miles of running...I forgot to turn the app on one day, so my official total is at 26.93 miles.  I'm not gonna lie, I've enjoyed every mile of it, until today.

Being sick yesterday really took the wind out of my sails.  Slowed me down a lot, and my breathing is super wheezy tonight.  Chest feels ultra heavy, which probably isn't a good sign.  Might be time to take a day or two off and let my body catch up on rest.  Yeah, I know, that was a funny thought.  Take time off from training, as if.

I want to feel that Runner's High again, as I so often do...even when I come home totally exhausted from a run, I feel good and know that I deserve that nice hot bubble bath that follows most runs.  Every once in awhile I force myself into an ice water bath, as it really does help keep any troublesome inflammation down.

Why do I run??  Running gives me a sense on control, in a world where we have so little control over anything.  The thoughts running through my head while I run vary everyday, but at least half of them are "If I turn left here I could cut a few blocks off my run and be home sooner"...to which I reply "Not a chance dummy, you came out to run, so run."  Yes, I do realize that I talk to myself while I run.  I also decide what to have for dinner, and what to wear to work the next day.  It's a fairly productive time, while not doing anything but running.  Running puts me into a different head space, where nothing seems as bad as it did while I was sitting on the couch, it gives me the freedom to just escape if I need to.  I can't tell you how many miles I've run without realizing they were going by...because my mind just wanders.

I look forward to my run everyday, and while it isn't my only activity of the day (I bike 4km to and from work everyday) it is by far my favorite.  Knowing that my own strength and willpower is enough to keep me going is a great feeling.

And now it's time for food!!

Day One of Forever

In the words of Hedley (no, I don't care if you don't like them)....I can do ANYTHING!!  

The past year of my life has been full of curve balls and struggles and freedom and learning.  And I wouldn't change a thing about it.  I've been given the opportunity to get to know myself...all on my own.  I've discovered who I am.  

The greatest thing I have discovered in the past year is my passion for running.  And a desire to make a difference.  I've run before, and I can tell you it was not something I ever thought I would be passionate about.  It was uncomfortable and painful, mostly because I was overweight and out of shape.  I also never had a goal to reach.

I've set a goal.  The Edge to Edge Marathon between Tofino and Ucluelet.  That's right, I'm going to run 42km, and try not to die doing it.  I had originally planned on running a few small races in Victoria this year, including the Times Colonist 10km in April, and then tackle the E2E in June of 2015...lots of time to train and really get ready, and of course, slack off if I felt like it.  I asked my friend Maria to join me in my goal.  She agreed, but with one crazy change...we had to do it this summer, not next.  I am pretty sure I cried when she told me.  

It took me a few days to agree to the new super fast-forwarded plan, but I did.  That being said, I fully believed that I had six and a half months to train for the challenge.  Not so.  Early December brought freezing rain to Victoria, which inevitably meant I would wipe out on my bike and smash up my knee pretty badly.  I'm still recovering from that crash.  And of course, another bike crash that landed me a mild concussion and dislocated shoulder just before Christmas put another hault on the training.  

So, today marks day 1 of my official training for the marathon.  I've got 159 days until I conquer my goal.  I've never been so intimidated by such a small number before.  

Back in late November, a friend of my sister's (therefore automatically a friend of mine) suffered a massive stroke...at the age of 37, Kori's life came to a standstill.  It didn't take me long to come up with a plan.  Since I'm going to be working my ass off training for my race, I may as well raise some money and awareness for a good cause.  I found the Stroke Recovery Association of BC and discovered that they have a branch located in Nanaimo, where Kori and his wife, Mary live.  I'm in contact with the Executive Director of the SRABC, and we are working on a fundraising plan, which should be in place by February.

I got off my ass tonight, determined to get a run in on the first day of 2014, and had my most consistent run ever.  Helps to start off strong.  

And with that, I am off to bed.  Work starts early tomorrow, and my brain is too mushy to write anything else tonight!