tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58436531671156054082024-02-14T23:47:53.483-07:00Runner Leana (the retired blog)Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.comBlogger851125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-70336963075038134172012-02-22T22:31:00.001-07:002016-01-29T14:40:54.934-07:00Just a friendly reminder......that my blog has moved!<br />
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You can now find Runner Leana here: <a href="http://www.runnerleana.com/">http://www.runnerleana.com/</a>Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-34974460424426105712011-11-12T10:27:00.001-07:002016-01-29T14:41:13.791-07:00Blog on the move<div style="text-align: justify;">
After 4.5 years of blogging here I've finally decided to move to a new blog address: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.runnerleana.com/">http://www.runnerleana.com/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm sticking with Blogger but I think this address is a little bit more "me." Please update your Google Readers and your bookmarks and join me at my new home!</div>
Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-67541069120585054082011-11-09T17:32:00.001-07:002011-11-09T17:32:41.764-07:00Ironman Canada 2012<p align="justify">I have to admit that I have been rather cagey about this whole <a href="http://ironman.ca/" target="_blank">Ironman Canada</a> 2012 thing.  From the moment registration opened in August I’ve thought about signing up.  If you can remember back then (from the <a href="http://cdnrunnergal.blogspot.com/2011/08/confessions-of-former-ironman.html" target="_blank">only post I wrote in August</a>) I knew that signing up right when general entry opened was not the right thing to do.  </p> <p align="justify">I had so many questions I needed to answer.  I’d taken so much time off that running and working out was really hard.  I had no idea how difficult or how easy it might be to fall back into training.  You ask a lot of your body as you build towards Ironman and I had lost my base training that I had going into training for my first Ironman.  As I continued to get back in to regular training the legs came back and the workouts started to feel better and better.  I started to believe that I could be ready.  Thankfully I had quite a bit of time between when general entry closed and when the community fund slots would open up to gain confidence back in my athletic ability.  Friends and old teammates would ask me if I had signed up for Ironman and my response would be, “No, I’m not registered for Ironman at the moment.”</p> <p align="justify">With my body and brain feeling more ready came the next question to answer.  I want to train for Ironman <u>and</u> I want to be a good wife.  The first time I signed up for Ironman I was single so it was easy to be selfish and say “I want to do this for me and it isn’t going to affect anyone.”  I now know that signing up for Ironman is really not an individual decision.  During training you are busy, tired, grumpy and hungry!  It can be difficult to be the best friend/girlfriend/fiancé/wife during this time.  I’m going to do my best to ensure that I take time out for us during training.  The Husband is terribly supportive of me racing again (in fact it is one of the things he loves about me) so that helps to make this crazy journey a bit easier.</p> <p align="justify">So I’m sure you are wondering about why I wanted to sign up for 2012.  After all, didn’t I say that Ironman will always be there?  Why race in 2012 instead of waiting until 2013?  The truth is I really want to race with my friends.  Ironman is a big journey and having close friends going through it at the same time as you is huge.  My closest girlfriends and teammates Tara, Kelly and Pam are all racing in 2012.  I would have been really sad to miss out on this experience with them.  They certainly reminded me of how much they wanted me to race with them as well on a fairly regular basis these past few months.  It feels great to have such amazing friends.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlc0HR4AnNWRC4IwGPLPuPLIl1jg8dciXxJzyorEDIlTzELCHKDJhnjOhhnH1t_GKIZtU-A4fUk3FgPnPwHLpcZq0IWq5gJp4252BeDHoi-rr6oVGqSHOefE9v4fXuKJbRNU_aad6w3I/s1600-h/5-cocktail-076%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="5-cocktail-076" border="0" alt="5-cocktail-076" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_yQ6WbmWmdIgyaDE1ygGPN7j8k28DXYqoFsOpYSfpYp8RBJAynf1TT6QKpIeNri-Lqd4MA8-izzNiBa9GuPSqnvZqJsb_eAa2xCJDTfEIjr9a-92b7iLfcOch9M7diPeAknrkl4BbHA/?imgmax=800" width="554" height="369" /></a>Photo by the amazingly talented <a href="http://sakuraphotography.com/" target="_blank">Sakura Photography</a></p> <p align="justify">On August 26th, 2012 we’ll be on the beach together in Penticton…no doubt wearing decidedly different clothing.  I’m looking forward to it!</p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-71048189328443896632011-11-07T20:11:00.001-07:002011-11-07T20:11:52.349-07:00Here we go again…<p>There is so much to say, but I’ll let the picture do most of the talking for the moment.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwU5l5RHwO9jtY0wgh-2LHLXNVE0SAZG2Yq-nQFH1ZpmQaOyedbiRib25-OeNXa9ULYmAFoE76MUjRcEPcu6sQStWvWQaD7BGNWSM39oe7VM8Y5nk9RTmJMIzRVmAG-bgTTtMmswCswc/s1600-h/IMC2012%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMC2012" border="0" alt="IMC2012" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOawZiGlHUa3ttyOC0XbKUP_KJo8VackqOncc0z8wUU_6e0ly-vPGDyxQ7HfBEId55dLGYrvXZ9gtPeHi41jqg5X2XG3UzuwkdnduQHYtGAvs4Hb7MtxCr6UFMTY7xeZk2F_x25z6V70/?imgmax=800" width="704" height="327" /></a><a href="http://ironman.ca/" target="_blank">Ironman Canada</a> 2012.  Let’s do it!!  </p> <p>Immediately after registration the Husband said, “I’m so excited for you!”</p> <p>I said, “I think I’m going to barf!”</p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-41880753606636848232011-11-06T21:35:00.001-07:002011-11-06T21:36:56.863-07:00Banff Winterstart 5 Miler–Race Report<p align="justify">This weekend the Husband and I set out to Banff so that I could run the <a href="http://www.thetechshop.ca/WinterStartNightRun.html" target="_blank">Winterstart 5 Miler</a> on Saturday night.  The Husband was right in the middle of working night shifts and he managed to get one night off to come out to the mountains with me.  After he finished work early Saturday morning and had a bit of a nap we hit the road.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4Xwd-619LEqENZH2PXjq3VLspKT2gLlNww_GspBNGRHA8qHGOu-ax7NPCwhxezUEuTKJbDfS4b1EgA7LZX89IvEpzvRi78MB5GibO3uAVhAzGP1fru1YOEJyjnXW6OnSHZ0IKMKCgSM/s1600-h/DSCN6629%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6629" border="0" alt="DSCN6629" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8CE76kHAm8TpwOe6oFB9_WLilmmrElxdZ3YhKwn1PMqmsU-W1Wie5JwKi4OUEpM-aXd0hiFhoAQ5becUAPKLeo9vxxlHRZgY6K9XYHrUotju1I_KeOL9ApMalONxObqH41L69Ss1pVY/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>With the race starting at 7 pm I was in a quandary about what and when to eat.  A twitter friend suggested small meals.  I had oatmeal in the am.  When we hit the road around 2:00 we popped by Starbucks so I could grab an eggnog latte (maybe not part of the meal plan but boy is it yummy) and a cheese and fruit box.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLbsvGk5-5KRfBwA7XU6ANvcyYVqys-JpGefgL_apJrvzSQAGzTQDH2up8GJ4Z4Ccr7TPvDHp91UMeEmEsY9wFCKwTgibxPlGOpSum0qkVqfyixFcydORj6SFi_gq2QbGhlqhJiAgsdU/s1600-h/DSCN6631%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6631" border="0" alt="DSCN6631" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNJLsB6E5YFZYb5p22RnDxZ9OeHT1-voH8t4Fdv5yu5HAqjjMVOctQmISdYm76lZQbdFMQnOk50_iGSTf5OfCTpzhOSzfR1HopxzVhBDB3_b6jHg1RX8NtxZjm5xD2pAgqP5ZBgNGSS8/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>I had a couple pieces of apple along with a couple pieces of cheese – just enough for a little snack.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LThIIOesTKK8DzdLDjSwVTQ2Oz3QmWwWQ0Rd2veH7mkaKk5b6K7JXATKhK1JrKJK3iwrN-y7CwbPPYg-LLp6L6aFAlr7ya_4ZPTJKGzTZjOPow5wAUMMQu5YSOBNZg-IIuVEx3LJubQ/s1600-h/DSCN6624%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6624" border="0" alt="DSCN6624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDE4DksqilIwW9HRu12LWZstrsBu9lLMglkwKsIaCOrQs-7LxX-Owb0RKxVysBNpoqV9pUu4Iid_SWWmWFqf3fKt1X08C6GBxhGkwMJxZxn1PUfBHjuNXFwHSKuyDb9dHgF11zDr2AcI/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>Soon we were at the Banff National Park gates!  It was a gorgeous day…<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0_4-gmnQRcfq6PVlHFPfa-T21MMKFgFHpm4CmaxclVrf9Ca2UPDM8PhKdjpR1lAFczI6tJA7gJ4gZ_AlDfHmqIiekTnZBcLxQOOhySH1yOMiQw-Ho5u-0fqzu2bGxAyXBA3eZ0eKqK4/s1600-h/DSCN6627%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6627" border="0" alt="DSCN6627" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJFGmR3BLG7SHSbvN7S4f6qW_V3rDCxMUAWUDICjqXbniUp25a7y7T8BERm5sALt8sWrFBYY47TxWkg9avaY7eRatLr8TOUS4S1J2sfkVg4gdGAl5FkJkwUI00JmMSWXKlaoK1cQskXw/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>After checking in to our hotel we made our way to the <a href="http://www.elkandoarsman.com/" target="_blank">Elk & Oarsman</a> for a late lunch/early dinner.  I really wanted pasta with tomato sauce and chicken.  Thankfully they had that option on the kids menu.  Yup…33 and ordering from the kids menu!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWaLAhumU_TrNF0PUa7r4AEKtbEabKze8LhJIJagfDCJIV7QBSovz8mJrCyaGvccU7ZUv7gwwbNB1XajkP8D1Wx6nkhm8LL8xUltPzM8coIkm1sZ9ydxXXQzzzBSuxMxDqZEgx-394kM/s1600-h/DSCN6635%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6635" border="0" alt="DSCN6635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhaKdgEpp1rBYIge1U3lGeh6GvEBRCdLPVRr076QEwP0F6dqunkfa6LbImp4w-dOcrvQZLWl3VzyMxRwpp5B5bmpy0tq0BRpZZoSY5sk_7iy0d8NVsXxXQR-zMiIBaj956eGrhAvrbyc/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>Beer is carb loading, right?  And yes, I know.  The Husband and I are totally matchy matchy with our striped sweaters over white t-shirts.  That was not planned.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAXpUvnb7Xr2M0WLFI_U5oaREjPp55vT8B7Z557cX8uiurgBCqDoTizvqlgXbEmGb0NATMnL5EyVUmMZiUwCQMPXjaR7ba51kbs990g_2IJGq1DbILob30keLA59zFmNTyrrderj3bHE/s1600-h/DSCN6637%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6637" border="0" alt="DSCN6637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCbDe7BjajJMWOPOTeQQX9mgzRjtX_usprVTUFWUlONaWEKiaxTY9s0T9euc32lbFoq1r6TvmcBd6wOLCFx0L7FBzT-FvEiYINzPaSQnhR4MKC2WNCCnmhZHga6arjLa9qTIfOyS7c9o/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>I ate maybe half of my pasta and maybe half my side green salad.  It wasn’t amazing, but it hit the spot.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDwI4bUYXofxh6BSQZhiNR36yf89dxf4qheZzj7k_gpgdBb92vlqyX9ATPhmXNOQfFdfO4RqVbmPeZ0s2m-NQxTnTtx8N4y7HGY8lGcRtA53cj6d3uRFKhbk7ibbEM3idBQGhyLCXAMg/s1600-h/IMGP4335%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4335" border="0" alt="IMGP4335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5ReRJ0EI6Eo3gt_6Tvaqi5z900hdY3HbQePWofIz3ulOVFcDg6K8l8KYhcdloIbCmL8zhKb5mXDPQWPStQCbhcdewyvIBrAkguQ3UUlAsaT-AibHKWdXCOjaWzQgjxOSyRESMLQ2foM/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpv82JVl1ntMXhDug2AcZ1zmt7HF5rDOtdelKf_1olXHrFnJYCGR-ymIdmxExdrKE-6Gil_al73lAa2KyYquSApRI9SsYgEKv1zAUB7JH36VDRQlXFcR9O5HgaXR72YW6xuQyX1Fh8-c/s1600-h/IMGP4337%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4337" border="0" alt="IMGP4337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5fYdAA3WquHZG1XESdzHoEpbkJ18hhMeXHYt7WSWgvFoC1St669IuCYm0VHMu0azWtEf3phunrBvSLRiAeDGZEyufm6HMdvcJVcxBlyWd2YzA3tuLbeO2DDECtyO6Sk5R7In5S3mdbU/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a>I then had to make a quick stop at the packet pick up to change my race registration into my name.  I missed officially registering for the race but I managed to find someone selling their spot on the <a href="http://www.calgaryroadrunners.com/index2.php" target="_blank">Calgary Road Runners</a> website.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQ5VE-0sTv9qAaQ0a5v5JYE_tLZkoXWyDrvojfn0aECZj_vGQucnXnMOd_H-kJcXiox-ebgC3Hl2jPNTobBlSH6zkz4ZvUQ4oNYhFp1DgjUaSruF9zQA6xc1saIiWam2bXHyzaPrT57E/s1600-h/IMGP4339%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4339" border="0" alt="IMGP4339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtixpXzXZy5Vlu0b38_gGbCQ-zuLFI86c9Iw5uwbRKvWZL03llSOf5vCfvIvYH_oKDvqh78fYJR1u5mDaBmadmxUcMNNDkngMDLeJBE7OQyUPL-wPkFuP_QB23koy1zn-S1W-SRLOhSMk/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a>The host hotel, the <a href="http://www.bestofbanff.com/banff-caribou-lodge/" target="_blank">Caribou Lodge</a>, was decorated for the event with brightly spray painted running shoes.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNJJxHKTBy1Ky1B7mF2LXLCvWiZ8DYqNOWidbGSq6VfwarOdwyopniAu83Jhvsz5mtwrZGiDJFpCV-PTqcux9xvF1u404eTIuhRbtSrbOAoZAIs5-Ut-CsPnnN2Npw-NQ5WPWSF2EKUQ/s1600-h/IMGP4345%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4345" border="0" alt="IMGP4345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6DomLVnHBgyzg1Uu-gWJxihth5daYTomdPpsdEn3KrYecqU8nOiXo8PqIgSV-SOn9O7WARoHFT0tQPvhAW_qwiRHxCF0_nEtgx2UK1bkN568tyzLVY8IziZ06qjwrA5mBbxft0r1Uyo/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a>After taking care of everything we want back to our hotel, the <a href="http://www.bestofbanff.com/fox-hotel-suites/" target="_blank">Fox Inn and Suites</a>, to relax before the race.  Our one bedroom suite was awesome.  A huge and comfy King bed…<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98t7DfcYaHF17KxDjfyUe9Y5TYh8-qXM6RE2ZpKG_Rj-SxVq9ponTrZw5dFjpijDKTTacr9i8P8eSQDB2DB3dVeWeCAB_gB8dZG7XVo5y9t5l-TVukAlYdkDcPOsskaw1rUjkvSWAuTk/s1600-h/IMGP4326%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4326" border="0" alt="IMGP4326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwEkJe1ZpfRlbTzZqIMn1zOEnOVvabQSZ8Z9FZda0Pv5G7lxUGrlp2MIlRQKHNXGlRMOYnbP7p-ff3HLwVxTabIPygJbUaqMUgyhg3zuT7DISn0dmGWI5fpJrlaHdCHJks4IBEQ-EG-4/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a>…with a sofa, TV and kitchenette attached.  It was perfect for us since the Husband was on night shift time and was not ready to sleep at the same time as I was.  Anyhoo, back to the race report.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6C8ymUsyAiRcoRCaJtcA9VQL3m79fyuPbaJr_Cu_3YmmZwyTd4ibAaYlqDvaPMxLY5WMnMtuGWD5XMeGIpihouGhV7h6PSL2aTng0_Pkxmkr0HOFxSr2jgNCmvWstQ2bQzJ2EaSGw2E/s1600-h/IMGP4324%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4324" border="0" alt="IMGP4324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXdqMg_7apxRCsO7E-aV-kJxetkXFKTceAUnYq03sJyfr3ttoMj08JyTq22FaMG81hFLtL71QtpNAPU99eI70N1KgAi49P2vstE7oVmFxsUXr5nhUNhc8tJnfWk8O20LqHtBcvO3-EdA/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a>The sun set, it was about -6C and it was time to get ready for the race!  I layered up but I planned to wear my <a href="http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/women-tops/Run-Swiftly-Tech-LS-32870?cc=0847&skuId=3429269&catId=women-tops" target="_blank">Run: Swiftly</a> long sleeve tee, my Team Tri Life jacket (which is crazy warm), tights, <a href="http://www.smartwool.com/" target="_blank">Smartwool</a> socks, a toque and gloves.  I also brought along a bottle of water to sip on and a gel to eat 10 minutes before go time.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzotw-wO2S3XNuB5H2l1K9EjDDlwvAqPnsp_aaa3HDF5cStnMLjm5TiNdpuvSCe3GiZ6QemSXe09Z6UBC5jKL0P925yHp87ctWOVlsJ9hmtu12rmktIrX2CYVDOELGTf03U4TJ4mrYlI/s1600-h/IMGP4351%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4351" border="0" alt="IMGP4351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHOkKhyTpTnwwC_1SdzPR85AoMgzP71iuJlUy6G8vi-iLVIHXxn4LZA67pVBDsB2FjMwlscICes3T2Q24ZIM3XsSE7JxEeVTpjwqcDnT_ddJ5sWZ0-LQbwRzUuERrowsTvaHteAjJluE/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="504" /></a>Before I knew it, it was time to line up for the race!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEld2o6m_LYljJ1U5vmsULHT4QiHM5iQib49l8iI2oXz1nTZS53R0cuzPLGLSiUidUAcWQUYOXBrjvTVvsOV4Qj4srBtKyU3tlM4A23m1KS98-z5zr-4BRRQ2Bvfg0xJ5Bftqmsq-4zs/s1600-h/IMGP4358%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4358" border="0" alt="IMGP4358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQwysv9wG9awaYlV-FwPS6AVRyf6UfwCUXMzt4qAQgot1mQqzfNVMkzDDn6JIeqUoB6kb5a_m6TarnJW2UcKgHIbYrUC7HJ06k8C1wIXPU4cwDeEJcs0V6psr59BTzOTKsdTC8q4bQAk/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a>Winterstart is an out and back course.  You run 1.5 miles out of town, turn right to run up Tunnel Mountain for a mile, then turn around and run back.  I really wanted to run a sub-11:00/mi pace and to run that hill as best as possible.  I had to walk a couple of times but I felt pretty strong overall heading up.  I tried to take advantage of the downhill and wanted to keep going strong to the finish line.  I had a couple of walk breaks in there, but overall not too bad.  It was going to be tight to come in under that 11:00/mi goal!  I tried to pick it up over the last 1/4 mile…and when I crossed the finish line my Garmin said 54:45.  Sweet!  The Husband found me and we made our way to the after party in the parking lot of the Caribou Lodge.  I didn’t go in search of food too much, but I did find a post-race beer!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngNnCGSvmKgAAYBdNwDvW2iMXhYZAMBw72C5afCcJJ0Jz8ib7pS6l5qKiKIIMCUC4gQWmtcVeKYM383GicaUohAEtc-rq6QbCWatLqUIcWh4MCpVTmCpV6aelw0vrmSnxMgDKK0m6jo8/s1600-h/DSCN6643%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6643" border="0" alt="DSCN6643" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPT-8L6RTveweTZuhdAuzHAZ0cGBxaJ1FWvihwQ4KIei9Fgb1IPisdj3gz5Z8zhdlB8DRtHz5Jy3O4ndUTPLERFnC_pnFpKK3HzT3dHcfQdz2dtZNlG8EKzPHlV4-cVtvVt4NYdFknJOM/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>We hung out with some teammates for a bit, then went to the Chili’s in our hotel for a bite to eat.  The good news is my stomach felt great on the run so what, when and how much I ate obviously worked.  Unfortunately my stomach was not interested in any more beverages or food after the race so it was off to bed for me.  All in all it was a really fun weekend in Banff and I really enjoyed the race.  It was a nice little weekend away!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFaXP-J_f7lr6gs9SAlLYl0vX7r45ftDgD9MyQA20R-vkZsux3LmumaAzfXC-khipJZLQ6MMvkq34P_lG1O37nD38mTxrtV8Cym2kH3a01ESQ8AC7CDPvp7sHB4NzK3wo24MXAyNtPEs/s1600-h/DSCN6652%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6652" border="0" alt="DSCN6652" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MbiN8Uo59s6lLxg4wlUrherG80gGAAkA3QWI-p8UIJX9cuKzZGsSw-zvFpJqy21avcQoF3wsmfRpi-b4ll7-fehE6gK8FNJX-O0gd2c4lfACUnpGl0fLiS-emV04DXvxkQY2JmX5SCU/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>As for the official results…</p> <p>54:47 (10:58/mi) <br />Overall 1051 out of 1410 <br />F3039 243/330 </p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-55794177347956537452011-11-03T10:10:00.001-06:002011-11-03T10:10:51.581-06:00Three Things Thursday<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">One of my goals for November (that I completely forgot to write down) is to incorporate core work into my routine more often. I already get a few minutes of core at my Tuesday and Thursday strength classes, so 10 minutes after my Sunday spins seems like the perfect time to add some extra work in. The problem is - 10 minutes is a long time! And you can only do so many crunches. <b>What are some of your favourite and most effective core exercises?</b> Please feel free to share!</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlDkh32o7hSO_S8Vxvx2W33hR5sbqosoJ17p89pp4yIqvcJ55E8HrnX7H8O_HGzeZQnnGpghUcUyNCRYspQnLz79E943elkYMMTcZJK_LaCLpxGLNi1IZl7CwBxhZZW-VV6WuESmTJEk/s1600/fastabslolo200.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlDkh32o7hSO_S8Vxvx2W33hR5sbqosoJ17p89pp4yIqvcJ55E8HrnX7H8O_HGzeZQnnGpghUcUyNCRYspQnLz79E943elkYMMTcZJK_LaCLpxGLNi1IZl7CwBxhZZW-VV6WuESmTJEk/s1600/fastabslolo200.gif" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Image by Sarah A. Friedman/via <a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-263--13030-F,00.html" target="_blank">Runner's World</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li>Through the wonders of twitter last week I won a free Chef's tasting dinner from <a href="http://www.hometastingroom.ca/" target="_blank">Home Tasting Room</a> here in Calgary for the husband and I. We sat at the eating bar and got to chat with the chef about where he gets his food from and it was truly an amazing experience. Hot house tomatoes with wild arugula and local mozarella, bison tartare, slow cooked lamb shank with bone marrow mashed potatoes...it was all amazing. If you live in Calgary I highly recommend it! Because I was too busy scarfing the yummy food down to take pictures here's a view of their open kitchen.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5NCBIN3XI7TLY4S02_Eraxp4dUx8XyBMe8OwwAdBnQ3jnSuatNz_oUdG8PRrBleosLxNKWv9j2QoNzHOiYTGYm5JI95yXRLNnSmfNOLCpHLN4q3EcixZRZoZNdcXn5N_B7Ix2nnuOio/s1600/DSC_7359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5NCBIN3XI7TLY4S02_Eraxp4dUx8XyBMe8OwwAdBnQ3jnSuatNz_oUdG8PRrBleosLxNKWv9j2QoNzHOiYTGYm5JI95yXRLNnSmfNOLCpHLN4q3EcixZRZoZNdcXn5N_B7Ix2nnuOio/s400/DSC_7359.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Image via <a href="http://www.hometastingroom.ca/gallery/" target="_blank">Home Tasting Room</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li>I'm racing this weekend! On Saturday night I'm running the <a href="http://www.thetechshop.ca/WinterStartNightRun.html" target="_blank">Banff Winterstart 5 Miler</a>. I last ran this race back in 2007 (<a href="http://cdnrunnergal.blogspot.com/2007/11/banff-winterstart-5-miler-race-report.html" target="_blank">old race report here</a>). Back then I ran it in 51:30. I'm not quite back to low 10:00 miles (I don't think) so we'll see how I do this weekend.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NKsKGTjvq6i5JSz77vOct__uO3ob1NfE6z0wXVXi6apQV5PXPvtMGTRr1tmHDXGQuh0jDPTZJBLkrkdAhWL58A1zpmxOafw7mtuUlIBnRaL9m8ajUBTYPns9NGe_j0ehKPfQQrfvb0Q/s1600/winterstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NKsKGTjvq6i5JSz77vOct__uO3ob1NfE6z0wXVXi6apQV5PXPvtMGTRr1tmHDXGQuh0jDPTZJBLkrkdAhWL58A1zpmxOafw7mtuUlIBnRaL9m8ajUBTYPns9NGe_j0ehKPfQQrfvb0Q/s320/winterstart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Image via <a href="http://www.thetechshop.ca/WinterStartNightRun.html" target="_blank">The Tech Shop</a></div>
</div>
</div>Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-16313160967109335252011-11-01T12:25:00.000-06:002011-11-01T12:54:53.678-06:00October in Review, November Goals<div style="text-align: justify;">
Can you believe it is November already? Where has this year gone? It seems to be flying by in the blink of an eye.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My goals for October were to:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Continue to get comfortable with running again. I signed up for two 10Ks in October to keep me motivated.</li>
<li>Create a training plan that incorporated three days of running, up to three days of spinning and two strength workouts per week. Attempt to follow that plan!</li>
</ul>
<div>
I did a pretty good job of following the plan I laid out for myself and I felt great along the way. I wasn't sure if that many workouts would be asking too much of my body but I feel like every single one of my workouts has been a quality one. The spinning and strength training is definitely helping my running. I can tell that slowly but surely my legs are starting want to go a bit faster.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In October I:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Ran 57.82 mi in 11 hours, 33 minutes</li>
<li>Cycled 9 hours, 9 minutes</li>
<li>Went to 7 early morning strength classes</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
My hopes and plans for November are to:</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Start <b>building the mileage</b> on the long runs. It is time to start building to the Disney Half Marathon in January!</li>
<li>Keep on doing what I'm doing with <b>spinning</b> and <b>strength training</b>.</li>
<li><b>Focus on what I'm eating</b> a bit more. I'm eating out more often than I'd like. I'd really like to start doing a better job at meal planning and having things on hand so I don't have to resort to eating out as an easy fix.</li>
<li>Drink more <b>water</b>!</li>
<li><b>Monitor my health and wellness</b>. I've been using the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/sleep-cycle-alarm-clock/id320606217?mt=8" target="_blank">Sleep Cycle app</a> on my iPhone to monitor how much sleep I'm getting and its quality. I definitely notice a difference between getting 6 hours and 7 hours of sleep and the alarm system on the app means that I'm waking up at just the right time. I'm jumping out of bed instead of hitting snooze. I also recently ordered the <a href="http://www.withings.com/" target="_blank">Withings wi-fi body scale </a>(awesomely <a href="http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/05/withings-wifi-scale-in-depth-review.html" target="_blank">reviewed by DC Rainmaker</a>) to help monitor my weight. Of course all of the sleep and weight data then goes in to <a href="http://home.trainingpeaks.com/" target="_blank">Training Peaks</a> so I can see what happens with that and my training.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
What are your goals for November? Do you have any tips or tricks to help me with my trickiest goal of all - focusing on eating better and not eating out as much?</div>
</div>Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-275702981407965282011-10-30T09:16:00.001-06:002011-10-30T09:18:02.361-06:00Who doesn’t love a photo card?<p align="justify">Do you send out Christmas cards to your family and friends?  I love getting photo cards in the mail (my aunt sends one every year) and I’ve sent a few myself out in the past.  In fact, this was our card last year, courtesy of <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/">Shutterfly</a>.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD0kdpNVxcfo8b6tImcDxqmCiBrkdcmJpliQv8KvX6jt_rhRPb7G4uWiHoQJzrFWHqnv3L6IUDvVQrwwPGGgrY0LmwSPz_ihlGyOWZrDGnVDGP4PXQkPvNnGkIAed0JpIIoP6LHHTX1A/s1600-h/Picture2%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Picture2" border="0" alt="Picture2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ERi3qB37sUPHGhZIfvRrdhnEzZY5dZm379rD1dEY2WVH5SX1FtaTA6QS_3zDtOsfjJO0yQYDnmqElDyzcIP9nNGdBunBAVJJh6BPD4OhXykpzrHSN78HzfyuCJfxGkQjhQ7HQ3U7NyU/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a>The quality of the card is amazing.  The picture is vivid and bright and the cardstock is thick and great quality.  As someone who spent a lot of time thinking about paper quality for wedding projects I know what I’m talking about.</p> <p align="justify">With so many gorgeous wedding pictures to use, how about sending a gorgeous holiday card like this to our family and friends?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJZ8EDjXPWFMe5xRKNxrsXYZ1h-MBOOchAcxlXXiYiAHEL5lWHjsymtvE1_LI9LNm8C9Qnc8aGwkX1E9FmOT8MRqhMe4Cz6eWvGdxafWLyHzHOvMbKPl1b9u5vNEoPPxT-dxRBtSlECY/s1600-h/Picture1%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Picture1" border="0" alt="Picture1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A3XWIbkRclxxEMaVzufRixLi8qvhnLZ-nFNT-QzdxkU9y6Ey_xdLFjJRFmFlquZDAgvAy6IPkLpzzCx502WO5NpKkmQFAELxOJh59ilcLCnKUnP2HrF8nzojQcw1xHDS5Yu-JqdZ9X0/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="350" /></a>Or this one, that shows our first look in frame by frame detail?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShm9eWCeXIe4GIn3a3eR4JgBZYVtuqzlLVrMInaTqKdnNCsFEr3sOZ7hGg4ab9ujgIHnNB0D5a_NOtkO-RQKeFK_6Z6R6HHhIrMPJBUvA5-x_7a5z57xJ6LY3n9ew-tuiZbUOt9dUDqk/s1600-h/Picture2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Picture2" border="0" alt="Picture2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-PhuU5G6fAV2ftUeLI8hCyoSQUbiGkBwWjLcdlPJ3Hzb7XeNA1szm7cDHcW-o9EaFpLs7BysRS-NKUU-t5_p61r9N5veJhYxKcXbHvxVxau-wO-p-no-r5lLUqum_2XhxuztsyC3Mvg/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="262" /></a>Or how about this card that has a few more pictures to show what else the Husband and I have been up to this year besides getting married?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0p0urys012gPaZLHEVOJEruQRm1AQH7akUw0VRw2aZh6arW25vvQIVjFw7AyFr29b_qYHeahyEF9ewYlPtJB2MxqDmeTODOuOpCFS_cn8Fpdy1upnd_il4iFbVaOmM_779ypZ6q4yTg/s1600-h/Picture3%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Picture3" border="0" alt="Picture3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD68I9iWSy2vcT3c-erbxTONmiVCnmci51lZQeWcfQf41FmRHVHcclk6l1oI8WTKen_Ob7y4JDH7ZVIE_D8jnMNw5VzE-5_MnATnsyfOZca74MmSzmXUWR_H6kSpf0Tm0eB9it6OHl9b0/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="504" /></a>Or maybe my mom and dad would love an awesome picture mug to drink their coffee out of every morning?  (Because seriously, how cute is my niece, aka their granddaughter?)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJJvcM1bPk-k6_74A1HlszjTnfMTJD2R-ASoKWO_ufQf3FgXUp-V59u9yCD9cr1CTnzl4mjwwC_dwCYEzBf38ZdTJLqy1A1t01QvT85x_BHycrxn3GGzSuAFKFGtgVIFwjgoJoJAP4ak/s1600-h/Picture4%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Picture4" border="0" alt="Picture4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlUhxC3DNavsLiPipMCU3khjTTZb0g0rlcJKp4sDMUTn_LWUnkpTH0OtxvEEmWATHtmhnNLvxLcIKtwP_MTu0Q2kGgCs4aCAV0R3J66aXL7pSwCviC638uism72KK_86BZ4jey3p_q_Y/?imgmax=800" width="385" height="379" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7Or6QTjcwkAWSGE-_NWLutnJAdcSSOuLKhZ3VQUZeHMqC2kbX71Dk0SAyCA49TWMbpns4aAL9qvy6HhRquprsfnDQncl7vFGQpXh-MaUzNdV2_yUvWaZUJjJwY0fxq2TwA2zmLRFjvo/s1600-h/Picture5%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Picture5" border="0" alt="Picture5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOa93wwsS7HE3ggFG0MuW8z1vSYFEQjqexHNe-VbRmpGSXrM_4T5ZL_dcIcttcK-JxSw9CdxmTpy__PeJbaEPZnfDpguZ4O-UUZoCvfCRM69zRuNn-H0OULB-unoKGHzGlYwez4cyN8Y/?imgmax=800" width="385" height="397" /></a>So if you are looking for some fun and unique <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards">holiday cards</a>, <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards">Christmas cards</a>, <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts">gifts</a> or even <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars">calendars</a> go check out <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/">Shutterfly</a>!</p> <p align="justify">If you are a blogger and you’d like a chance at 25 holiday cards courtesy of Shutterfly, then go <a href="http://www.shutterflycards.com/2011/10/bloggers-25-free-christmas-cards-from-shutterfly/68/">here</a> to register by November 11th.</p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-16155867037968261482011-10-29T23:03:00.001-06:002011-10-29T23:03:56.854-06:00Halloween Howl 10K–Race Report<p align="justify">For the purposes of telling my story (and in the interest of full disclosure) I probably ought to fess up on what my race times have been like lately.  Since…you know…I casually forgot to leave that out of my <a href="http://cdnrunnergal.blogspot.com/2011/10/melissas-10k-road-racerace-report.html">Melissa’s race report</a>.</p> <p align="justify">Back on September 24th I finished Melissa’s in <strong>1:16:57</strong>.  Now granted, there was a huge hill to climb in the middle of the race and it was my first race in awhile so I’m not disappointed.  That was the fastest I could run that day and Kelly and Pam were amazing company on the race course.  I don’t think I would have wanted to race without them.  Quite honestly I was about ready to bail on doing the race until Kelly asked me to run it with her for fun.</p> <p align="justify">Three weeks later on November 9th I toed the line for the Thanksgiving Memory 10K run in Calgary.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFUzmTK-1phcmPDp6cAldWlSawPg6onFoeXMBIIytZFyAWmosPV_7wwRfRUhQPFn1jfnsXB3yPXjKsgTka0mWnyLLeKhbiKWw5YmOLJ94oqHcpbNryw0a2FtEHG46XLj1LcgxJyIARE4/s1600-h/DSCN6559%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6559" border="0" alt="DSCN6559" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJfS4ysT-w5FIe9IZvQkhMVZ-r-JI25eEY0ICZ1aBVMdykAWN2cikUFgQapmVWktOW3dgWGqMxYvizGuE1aF6SYjLepyBI93PYpw_8mLCQayfJgZWtnkSXhibsqHBStxUOEay3KS7cYs/?imgmax=800" width="285" height="379" /></a>Given that this course was a lot flatter than Melissa’s I just really wanted to do better than that time.  I didn’t really have a plan for how to race it but I knew there would be walk breaks in there.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivN5kYz1loDr7pkrnXeW3yFa9C9tRpbjeF3KxaKMgr6bdySFR2U2kV1S8R1Z8kUTFBz0R7RDmenk9mUrK8xkmd2V7JObez0F5eDhdPUBUjnvFZ5l1YuEItjpvSKN9xlBR6E86djZzygJ0/s1600-h/DSCN6563%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6563" border="0" alt="DSCN6563" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhJJ99FhlgV5kHcKg2CMqABLY13XWCqeqR9j-Q568AN4vw8xzANWX0LFdUHLCnR298rhbB31A0lFrZ7ifHX2jpZmvAY4zbEQcmGJbsq1jFmROIzmb6LDOT9YRQMzoE8HeGcWYpZ1sf7E/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>Starting out I was in with a big shmozzle of people.  There was someone who had evidently set up some kind of a workout or goal in their Garmin (be it following pace or heart rate).  Whatever they were doing, they weren’t doing what they were supposed to do and their Garmin yelled at them about every 30 seconds to either speed up or slow down.  Boy that was annoying to listen to!</p> <p align="justify">Anyhow, the route was a straight forward out and back.  I felt pretty good on the way out but I definitely slowed down and had to walk more on the way back.  I finished in <strong>1:12:02</strong>, a definite improvement over Melissa’s three weeks ago.</p> <p align="justify">Two weeks later it was back to the line to race the Halloween Howl 10K.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVcROqSk5aLaasTg9l8ru0uC8tz7M7XC9yG9yRCg1gGvl7ah5vwMFKhjPx96CysF47wlHqORpnyIhi503B4j0DfTxWy2i7x0uA_AWmSUloRiMAfhukbCUAnw13y0b7BJS6im_biSE9d0/s1600-h/IMGP4280%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4280" border="0" alt="IMGP4280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbF1x_tFo1Sn4DaLH2QOMqv34y4wEyq47Yhuuq6MVmXhYvNUcMBtCZCAMInUDGdj1US8V6e2CweqkfBrJsA7FSHMErbcg-TzHrXUQpYty9rH4ZUov4D4-VzovRUGos1xnlMluGD6gdGQ/?imgmax=800" width="253" height="379" /></a>The route would be almost exactly the same as the Thanksgiving race, except this time I had some friends for company.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2_grxIYpDrvX0WPuQc-jecQfahmOnoJpVo1m92A3CAeHRaM1k_Ta-wgAf361IGVVeNiGxfcdSLklHUgpV9O48sOrFXZQV4HAw-MBItm-KsXGDrKmt5XsQ3kEBD4UOcetbX_TeZudHhI/s1600-h/IMGP4287%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4287" border="0" alt="IMGP4287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9vGv5IJR6Gmp9m4T1TX6gcJRfvBokQD35AQ04GQKGsHEoDy7SInV0Pw9T2Gu5t-LY68a9nLVg_LViSKSiTIeg6ROvPb6hAvJigeLAcvUftNv0sOVaORsQUhTqNhW1inqv6HUebKLKk8/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a>Once again I didn’t start out with much of a plan, just goals.  Pam and I figured we’d hang out together and I figured I’d see if maybe I could keep up with Kelly.  Kelly planned on running 9:1s with her husband Mitch helping to pace her.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pij_k7xx3rkLKnlTqQFSthXBkq5vIEvLGWj28GMF55y0zvCDA_QOEWebcD688OZpxUXLcxP1e6k93M8NncB-kO7uDNUdlD2q3gNybauqNy97JmjxrG4eN2TxbWyEvE8rMDQLkfRtq_Y/s1600-h/IMGP4290%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4290" border="0" alt="IMGP4290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4_z17lQV6T0Rg76vrLdz08FThkeYl_DflglKidLmUqjzG1Z49MoRV_zdzZPIZLzbgG7fC1KZDryuiBT4-mEY3HgdRWZRXZcpLkR8tso6TtYuyflDu5hYKSJU5Yg0Gg8ZP1RzKzIlRIE/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a>I got a bit caught up in the excitement and the crowd and started a bit fast, but Pam reigned me in.  Soon we settled in behind Kelly and Mitch.  The pace was a bit faster than two weeks ago so I made it my mission to just hang with her and not focus on much else.  I felt strong on the way out but I was still a bit worried.  I fell apart a bit on the second half of my previous race and I really wanted to run the entire thing as consistently as possible.</p> <p align="justify">At the turnaround Pam decided it was time to aim for a negative split so she took off with our friend Danny.  Kelly, Mitch and I hung with them for a bit but then we decided to settle back in to our previous pace.  I think Kelly and I were both a bit worried about blowing up.  Pam and Danny were strong all the way through the second half of the race.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8P7xhl-vtnykDj6BUb-B2BBXOJcEtcaV1sKPZvuDx5wqDQgvq5NbTvPT9nd2fMBxfsaEiqIn72DaL6LuwEd6_3yAABhYs3xBn0K2YpDaYXxWWm8D1j4FVyx7t-K0Gtw3NGGgNEhCzHg/s1600-h/IMGP4307%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4307" border="0" alt="IMGP4307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoGWZdn2COCgituV6ZNeijRGoAeiBJShXyPvQTHCn_HANYwyF6C517Xg0qM7xFsKa-rFKYKEaG9zY-XxCGCG_6-Wq9PleCf-a25uzP0XXS_IqfXtiis-cwYE1w0Q4i7e0Bq_P3aBnv04/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a>Kelly has been super supportive and encouraging and we’ve been running a lot together recently.  She thinks I’m back to my old speedier self although I’m not quite convinced that I’m entirely there yet.  As she started to struggle on the way back I wanted to stick with her and to try and encourage her as much as possible.  I tried to focus on remembering the great runs we’ve had lately and to try and emulate that same feeling.  I was hoping that she’d hang with me on the final sprint to the finish but unfortunately I think I took off a bit too much.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAARsr_OK_-L6g5a0JxqQahzf3oUI1-GWCdbs4avLvnZi2WKClwXxChlMtI9IEdugbvNVbqQ2DtFgPze9JA_EL53ejE_nSlsw6HHR6ca5wyN-7HqS8fN9NUxjtPhAWH-RrC5na6ALKqE/s1600-h/IMGP4316%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4316" border="0" alt="IMGP4316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNY3PFH2WQsKnoIbaHJ1cr6VzYa5XMqXBw1Xtahyk17OU4XohvAFmhSkszQw15eWUkjN85g_MbRkcnZH8nF7WUlKyXUDEvaju6FqM6JRK97qmuqHTxLCgHtXdflyaLveUJrBHEpXC9vTA/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_eVyEIXPP6m_x4NYk6LLW9ZraWwcwXJq0xfBe2-wQBvnN1JLv_Jg-Nwej2eZPJOrw27iPM2qhg1lQ9YsWxqQWYwDXekKRELEBk48Xz3FnzIpNWO87iQNWwOqJozyP8eKMKDpSRb7G8E/s1600-h/IMGP4319%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4319" border="0" alt="IMGP4319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKidA8L1dFz08JKZAbRNrLT30f2DoQ0uLM9hRc6tGGqzNfX4-YjlOhPF1vNL7FG31uyLW3IbY5_aWGxpIp5B_IqR8JWqYgV8lbyJEWUWRoXYRX0KwmiUBXh_P28-fpSm7t0anhCvRMqf0/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a>When it was all said and done I was really happy with my race.  I felt a lot better on this race than two weeks ago…plus I beat my time!  I finished in <strong>1:07:54</strong> which was a definite improvement from the Thanksgiving race.  I owe many thanks to my friends who kept me company along the way.  </p> <p align="justify">Next up is the Banff Winterstart 5 Miler next weekend!</p> <p align="justify">*PS – If you are reading this post in Google Reader I have finally updated my header and blog layout ever so slightly.  Have a look and let me know what you think!  Here’s the old header, so not too different….<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAIfd6hXnXOrAPZiq2TuhkLkF3FKvNMcYYFQmvnMEgOHa-Fm7SvtJNt7U4QHawdOoiWvrzWXzVSkMwieMB8kDmFkTRedx1rk9ikio7hykNqqHWrJSiDr9G3nNhZVOv6YJOKs3YwqwRg0/s1600-h/banner%2525205%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="banner 5" border="0" alt="banner 5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgean2_KxMeeVPztUUDhaxhyphenhyphenMtqQjrM5zhtA-IJLd_VqVACmAGsXUoaTjsyWV924HZWuCutRQAD8k3I4uaIpRvODdOvNuH7Om-Gwyn0do5cG9Bi-bzuvCueJRJrKPvNJ-byKpUu7gFtzbY/?imgmax=800" width="554" height="162" /></a></p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-67797801021999172082011-10-23T17:39:00.001-06:002011-10-23T17:43:00.809-06:00Testing the Waters<p align="justify">This week was a bit of a trial.  I wanted to see how my legs and body would respond to the training schedule I laid out for myself.  Here’s how the week went down:</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Monday:</strong> I met Kelly for an easy 45 min run at lunch, running 4:1 intervals.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Tuesday:</strong> I started the day off with a 45 min strength/body sculpting class that felt great.  In the evening it was back to Tuesday night spins with my old triathlon coach at Bow Cycle.  These workouts are never easy!  I was glad that I had been back on the bike a couple of times before this class.  Overall I felt pretty great on the bike and it was great to see my old teammates again.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Wednesday:</strong> Kelly talked me into joining her for her run workout.  It was a 10 minute warm up followed by 5 x (3:00 @ 10K race pace/2:00 recovery), followed by cool down.  I thought my legs would be zonked after a big day on Tuesday but I actually felt really strong on this run.  Our five intervals were all really consistent too.  Good stuff!</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Thursday:</strong> Another early morning body sculpting class followed by a short spin at home.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Friday:</strong> A well deserved rest day!</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Saturday: </strong>A 70 minute spin.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Sunday:</strong> The Halloween Howl 10K!  I hoped to do better than when I raced the Thanksgiving Memory 10K two weeks ago.  I’ve been feeling great and more like my old self these past two weeks so I figured that would be a good sign.  How did I do?  You’ll just have to wait for the race report!  (…although if you follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/runner_leana">twitter</a> you probably already know how it went…)</p> <p align="justify">All in all I felt great this week.  The only change I plan on making is taking out a brick run after my weekend spin.  It is just too chilly around here these days that I’m not feeling that motivated to bundle up and run outside after a spin.</p> <p align="justify">Run: 2:36:10 <br />Spin: 3:29:35 <br />Strength: 1:30:00 <br /><strong>TOTAL: 7:35:44</strong></p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-77303743068879786822011-10-21T07:00:00.001-06:002011-10-21T07:00:42.646-06:00Time for new shoes!<p align="justify">My poor ol’ <a href="http://cdnrunnergal.blogspot.com/2009/04/shoe-deal.html">cycling shoes</a> are a little worse for wear.  Way back in July 2010 I was at my Ironman Canada training camp on a ride from Penticton, up Richter Pass and Yellow Lake.  There was some construction happening on the highway we were riding on and we had to ride through a massive <a href="http://cdnrunnergal.blogspot.com/2010/07/team-tri-life-ironman-canada-training_27.html">mud puddle</a>.  I was covered in mud, there was mud on my helmet and my shoes were all dirtied up.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTBNpfvjGRajZviNx9mS7lyzWmqowr-EVYFwhpTVccUxldi_zjHpA6rIBn4aWsfDrlJ6vxQpaMxDuqiHKBOwABNYUFTgrTedSldF1TsY7E9Gy7kJIn76l8NVRLHbjmpag4D_2IFvHzNo/s1600-h/DSCN6596%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6596" border="0" alt="DSCN6596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnJAZGYgk0qU8zCsy8lb3kT0BatGMkUx4tbQVcfmnRAClPSQPR3VthoGXRocAAN3K88D1oWdbZPh_aCk7dqacdGfrODcEbI0PLvr3PAW2ikU8oxXAovhZR8AvZ9wImWeA1vT2_PytI88/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6W7EWK68h-nUaBf216-Di3gGFsz109yfrxuEUhYGt9pub-4Z-67i2PuqFJdnn4AAbS3Gq6a64yC7kTCGOi3HKOvOvDlmoB0CYGfA1LUzk2zTHJtl4kW-g3hEyEmyGlrpHPSHQ7Q9SO8/s1600-h/DSCN6598%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6598" border="0" alt="DSCN6598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcD-PMgA5jE12RK5FHvWls842fNl6EBb238xc7WqHZ_2gliKRZaEgkuKFp5grZkkf1hyphenhyphen_i_5HNHkt5cEdPcH9-rwrdW73vCbjstACFtfBUu71VWwbSV7GdHTI0vnwRHmIVBxRtambMrQ/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnta5krlkpoUgx8VX-tCAX3L2d9f8b1_S2FdCIbpnbgaatpacSCS3C_up7Nv_GlzVb0Om6K0P6g5n-Tk97KfUoLnBD6qFNwrbqwZolE2LUuBRSWV8o03ZW2YREH4oeAJH4qURTVjwk3DE/s1600-h/DSCN6599%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6599" border="0" alt="DSCN6599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSy-P9DIply9E-Bidgz47N4Ux3ywo1vnE_n1IXzl-H-FloQFN6oa-XRfFQ1BThWcLLdQpPbwOl7r70eDu_5epCPXr_G8NNcwY6GjqyWyUuKh5-MN_UcPQnOoYGzo3n6La5S4nnMyQ8GAk/?imgmax=800" width="285" height="379" /></a></p> <p align="justify">Most importantly I also came to the realization that my cycling shoes are also a size too small.  They fit fine initially but as my feet swell I can tell that they aren’t as roomy as I’d like.  It is time for some new cycling shoes!</p> <p align="justify">I ordered the updated <a href="http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/shoe_test.html#womens/tri/0/SH-WT52">Shimano WT-52s</a> from <a href="http://www.superflycycles.com/servlet/StoreFront">Superfly Cycles</a>.  Luckily they arrived just in time for our first spin class at Bow Cycle this Tuesday!  Aren’t they pretty?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxhXuS1QVgW6xLASeGkvPIMR3qFOwxO8EBuLFmNCn68dOKuIWGfVBpnegC17t3DWktDgR3pWUn5El4ZWERnnEctgUzI9Unl6f4qxmHHjUtdDiLavT23WwbYRG-Hkw4uhMist79e4m0yY/s1600-h/DSCN6602%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6602" border="0" alt="DSCN6602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZm-MXaGb9rH268mdnPN6QoB3AAh-1GDj8LR6mFK4izPvXbY2Mcr_m4VzTwkx_4rlX8x9unMBWdFBPPm-fq1Ewj2L7hvPfyqfM62rxN8FemkqC3Tfj5DNJt7F-ZMmmxogUnUWgr8YDTc8/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilv0k1GMBawaI9tnhgmZJbWVumGraXD0DqOuljjo1p_zz3WOlcm5Nf8g8MEF1Ccf1K53nNkFPuU_fukTotJPDaVVPsSLqRiDC7SJK5pe6eoFucimNC9YAciEquFl-98kqE4ErshrcZPHM/s1600-h/AcFBrWCCQAAruWm%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="AcFBrWCCQAAruWm" border="0" alt="AcFBrWCCQAAruWm" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-bqic9afLBitUR3jIfIRFkHKkZdV6FiGFPzy4pqwjfgFm8x4nWdulmmTL0Ccy-RamuollKJPB6Brb-9eOacRb1jUBGgQNX0m1Tp7atbGN-LI7wEYQ7_oyimbqW2X7j0q19uqbEQrVsc/?imgmax=800" width="379" height="379" /></a>They felt great at spin class and on the bike last night.</p> <p align="justify">Are you looking for some new cycling shoes?  Superfly Cycles has all of their 2011 styles on for <a href="http://www.superflycycles.com/servlet/-strse-Apparel-fdsh-Shoes-cln-Shoes/Categories">20% off right now</a>.  And if you are in Canada the shipping is super easy and pretty inexpensive.</p> <p align="justify">Happy Friday all!</p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-26454374616987498052011-10-16T21:35:00.001-06:002011-10-16T21:35:40.053-06:00Spin Studio: Resurrected<p align="justify">Ages ago I had set up a little <a href="http://cdnrunnergal.blogspot.com/2008/11/spinning-side-project.html">spin studio</a> in my garage.  I had a TV in there, a DVD player, a small player to plug an iPod into…  It was pretty sweet.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpwja814SdM8ZiSkU0-hlXszQszGc-l9HfqOGre3ZZMyG7G86BpwSLYgPUxu2TJ6j71oZnWI96Vnfjh9fUZ8aeEH60PytFkMVi6_2nXA9_n7Kc94W8s0IFFt35SjKH1iFKcoOnO6XBzw/s1600-h/DSCN2845%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN2845" border="0" alt="DSCN2845" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DySPZPb-UehY9w_QWJg89kzkFih6P-hr7RD37GRfmmXluiQx0OrqGq3-Acvs-bpoXBVygEyDwwVNwKtSOGgFG5olzHMvzR31FqrTaBiuGzXuiHZS14Sg5DMzlUjml1FV7FHycR6ch_0/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>When the husband moved in the spin studio disappeared as his moving boxes needed a place to reside.  When we had a garage sale a few months ago we took the opportunity to get rid of the TV and DVD player since I didn’t actually like watching TV while spinning.  Eventually all of our bikes just lined up on the side of the garage…the tires going flat from disuse (*tear*).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKvu74fW2GQbuC8R3nOvDoKrZVaBbUXbEzKwrn7yZodMXA13zwv1ZaAHyLk1nXoQdVm0-mUJNImVR2LVLDHWrk7w3shEVRvOL8bnCnF7ySp2eUvVTXBVjs-qQ1h-6M3vVEGrNE2ve2v0/s1600-h/DSCN6547%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6547" border="0" alt="DSCN6547" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdBhDWKPcsuSLgF9HWmNBnKrhTRFzw9-THqnp9JUR_zpUUaFPLMwRKsHB9QbC9D_-u-TMQEUrRsoFPBJHKYZ4k_lxUu01aQFJXYfUtQ3e0ioxOxLu9jQXiITHxpUdTGoZBsHVixfXGbs/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>I’ve still got my Ironman Canada number on the bike.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvCTWx6Xzf7HsOnrgzYInhjUXiZ8589-br5H5T5b1_r0kZgvV84QK0gcIgCP5nIJNW3QwihJV_1pq1mrWX0cVQJCbKe1DJb_-M74MzkmVQFo4yijlZepDjCf8uEhO_wMg-0VwOYQkUx0/s1600-h/DSCN6549%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6549" border="0" alt="DSCN6549" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBRJYvISSCNEfoNqVhaS2Jsv3xaaxH6HtFmrAs5mciDjCX2RMU-6vb-EvUIfoQPa_4nRBSn-c0pBSgvZXi4lj4Pm9-uR0hsk3zfPuNRaRY56onUT4Srx6lfwzrdBdG5v8itI9oyKs0-M/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>What on earth is in this bottle?  I’m afraid to find out given how long it has been in there (luckily it was just water).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_G5U9NUcQxWCzbUAD3oHs9r0W1p_e3PwZx3L4RkHZ5QpZsZ-de3BSoXgE6b5RmZfjrIs8QFVhyphenhyphenEtt0ASVepYheACW0DLFTsjbuEZ8pN0e3zfwZJEyiXCHsOQ66vke_Q8YzDLQuOxgXIc/s1600-h/DSCN6550%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6550" border="0" alt="DSCN6550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmx7ot3NL2WdrY0Z9EXbZt_cV68wxoqZtrnoBpyMfky_R0Tyi_iaNrdZbx1uwvdvV1bRislxLZ31QIX5mCytg6waYVxf6tQ49rzHyPXR_a5I_nqwImSlUzuTLZBfIGNpn4abm9ZhtZS4/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>My old spin studio.  Time to clean up!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXIYbqzogcJPcYyCZZF4GdISLIfTLHhdTNarZwFv_Rc_lgG37XEzSBGsBIEiM977cK9DQBVJ2HBWZNqb4n7kE9R5SDJU7K4OwJy8Ii52sAGw2xHEbMjrPFJDwmnYutN8_PYS4-YYNYK8/s1600-h/DSCN6551%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6551" border="0" alt="DSCN6551" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznq8wc8g0v8mWGANuhyjZ7xX3FtjeYoqir9EesALHz2Z8lhmDSzWXDWggA8JK2oq-jBPHmlS0GOegx1SdZ_1O7Qc2yto58MB95uvV5Rk1gDEQaHCR27pg0caWTtRZffJeUu6zOL_1OQc/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>I found my old gear check back from Ironman, with my bike helmet, gloves, CO2 cartridges, deodorant, Body Glide…<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KqWVxPVMr6NoB2U1dOav2_xnk7BaDCLbbvKu01PBQCfRm3W3xzelBsVL92uZvfVea7E3HngCqlqt3p_PCng-S7JbgpXl0zx6UY9CkGIyNXwc0IkAaY-uUUnmcjNtdnV7RYniE0MkyDc/s1600-h/DSCN6554%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6554" border="0" alt="DSCN6554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7EcAd6tA5tI_1tTPW05sade5tcZza-CJbQGUOs-fm-bpq7VcoCDZrVAqW8l_srkOZ6BMXnVw_0iPuMXFPWAQk3yGWjoLQBsOT6Ao-DtFQKiKP4rQjE4euyJKBIaxxijR91Rcy7rzx00/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>I swapped the rear tire out with my trainer tire.  I forgot how hard it was to do this!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4XjkUZsMcQH5HEYk1wBktlG2oLWfwNOCd0Xxe2hefGE56H9G3a3NkZ9ExLK7dnsPdYIpPcu9HjEsZegtcYpuJ0VDbw6tKC6uGL1ZS14pEborSzrm1cLtRzKagb-hAtBz5xhIZSPBtMA/s1600-h/DSCN6556%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6556" border="0" alt="DSCN6556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0tYq4EP600CJxXmhwCL1qt_xD3ajIFvb4zIih_GttPZ0sh2heis6xu5A6rZ4ovLxvCnHsu0lr-dIjSK2bGZQq2LU0r7b12UmewNjRBGcwONhtPXIvy58Zzqbmp6CHgIp6uHE_OFB5Rs/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>Finally the bike had been cleaned up, set up and ready to go.  I picked a short but sweet workout and I had forgotten how good it felt to be on the bike.  All done!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ge4gJLddSxW9e3HSpsWpFXUzFQlWuA2oS4P1eZnlRvdTzLTPjYtxTV8hjBjJOCY4RA98s1J5fwTVwZ9PTLKN6i_gYhW2JO3IOj-WN-VVg0vB0VpnzL31FsU6TS6gdWYAcUyAT5G7uZw/s1600-h/DSCN6558%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6558" border="0" alt="DSCN6558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZNrQv-M9mFeMcF9NOL9Tt-1vfcB3AtPjL9An92M0KPoQGXE0cQllkgeu7FlwHI1dmw_oXB-Zyf3Vmz6mRUGQ2olDOA9r8Pl_ScC7A3iwrKUcTRMDmOVP8a95UYm9RiQrC_ZqElHu3VA/?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a>It is almost hard to believe that fall is here and spin classes at Bow Cycle start up this week.  Bring it on!</p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-5539628234786582192011-10-13T22:27:00.001-06:002011-10-13T22:27:51.761-06:00A Goal Has Been Set!<p align="justify">I haven’t had a lot of time to blog this week but I have so many things to catch you up on.  I set my spin studio up again!  I raced a 10K last weekend!  But first and foremost, I’ve been working on a goal and a plan to reach that goal.</p> <p align="justify">If you’ve followed my blog for awhile you’ll know that I need to have something tangible to work towards.  That carrot on the stick for me?</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrQ58Jj73dEuNWWHpuKO0YWFMBIXQe5zXIYikiHh6K_CsckCjFvp-BInhl53mkgrMURAMgX4zOVKyV-bAfmIWup0iumYyV5zB0-y6JMiRZAEZcDR6tyKu12DCDL9VnIk_UkE5Kkac_as/s1600-h/DDmedal-532x800%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DDmedal-532x800" border="0" alt="DDmedal-532x800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqwhM9wJbdjCrnD-bwvmlhyphenhyphen7_QWa7Rh_PnN39mMGJAK5VTAR6p3Eu6sK8k0Eb8XBVJ8HGU7Z3_qj_Nr0IsZz68gdcPSo9rbAHv5GdJ8bvLxNJaW7xWSdE7dR8HF61EIBHA_h6Hl93mCg/?imgmax=800" width="222" height="279" /></a>Image via <a href="http://disneysportsnews.com/photos/2011/07/28/ddmedal/" target="_blank">Disney Sports News</a></p> <p align="justify">The 2012 Disney World Half Marathon.  My mom is racing the Goofy Challenge next year so I figured it would be fun to tag along for the Disney Half.  The husband has never been to Disney World before so this should be fun for the both of us!  I wanted to keep my goal tangible and achievable…hence running the Half.  I’ll just cheer my mom on at the full.</p> <p align="justify">I needed to come up with a plan to get me to the start line.  I spent quite a bit of time looking over my old programs where I was building to a half marathon under my old coach.  I followed a similar build in activity to my old programs.  I set it all up in <a href="http://home.trainingpeaks.com/" target="_blank">Training Peaks</a>.</p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9ktoUW1Qx4vWb6YeLbBOQr5UDOl8_TGuIlFakSqWmUYczQg4KAXYYiGKUw_yjpYy19HM9OntuOGKh_mG3ltVqTcTk13X0X_xtlecLZ06apwq-nstvxU2-gBc36OKQBB6QCMJB9bdptk/s1600-h/Training%252520Peaks%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Training Peaks" border="0" alt="Training Peaks" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotIS6op_6kuxYxrCta3Pna9lAR3b_SSwXnvykjzNWZYMlYtEYqCThXR5Daqx3jvMIqtPsQWw0dziNt5kgOFiCRm5fIL7cn_VkiArYxZv7IsIHmcaiKuJLgoBhB9Br3y532-vMN1DmKDQ/?imgmax=800" width="604" height="340" /></a>I planned to take September and October getting used to running and if everything felt okay I figured I’d be good to go for signing up for the race.  I then created a plan with three days a week of running (plus one brick run).  Two mid-week runs and building long runs on the weekend.  Three spins per week (including Team Tri Life’s Tuesday night spin class that starts next week).  Two strength sessions.</p> <p align="justify">As another motivator I signed up for Amanda of Run to Finish’s <a href="http://www.runtothefinish.com/2011/10/holiday-bootie-buster-challenge-2011.html" target="_blank">Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge</a>.  If you are looking for something to keep you on track during the holiday season then maybe you should check out the challenge too!</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://www.runtothefinish.com/2011/10/holiday-bootie-buster-challenge-2011.html"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="HBBC2011-158" border="0" alt="HBBC2011-158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio87Kw-5039IKdwGVCC_sP5YC5NbXHEtXh_klvt19T-QbfqgTo2lgMqVlPbPWehYUMFvZ8asHYiXXItj4jM_ERVz8AwcBO7synylw_iSkP1QvAmgINlLaFPVE3DM0z01KRmoflc4fySdE/?imgmax=800" width="162" height="151" /></a></p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-71940351252755915612011-10-05T20:35:00.001-06:002011-10-05T20:35:44.458-06:00Cursing the Fitness Ball<p align="justify">Back in August the husband and I had a garage sale to make an attempt to clear out some of the clutter.  In the sale pile was my fitness ball that I hadn’t used in ages and couldn’t figure out how to pump up.  I sold my fitness ball that day for a whopping $0.50 along with a set of wine charms to a couple who assumed the wine charms were jewellery and not for alcoholic beverages (since they asked me what the heck they were after they paid me for them).  I’ll be honest, I’m kind of sad that ball is gone now even though it was flatter than heck.</p> <p align="justify">I really want to incorporate strength training on a regular basis as I get back to things.  In fact, strength training is taking the place of where I probably would have fit swimming in.  I have a membership to the gym in the basement of my office and they have a 45 minute 6:30 am strength class on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I have been to three classes so far and it has been a different instructor every time.  This Tuesday the regular instructor was back to teaching.</p> <p align="justify">She has this signature workout that involves using a stability ball.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ePQxKOk3geGCUjjzsm3JypFXeJhVwMKhdL7bIo_YB-7EJBGlMfuUCdfzkTvjCBZwhs9xoVdrGurwtKTZpUofk9HdzBGNbkxkdaYrBPzCCT3T3ZK5BITzTAIUCCYNN5Ie0Ce-Wm37t-Q/s1600-h/katie_underarm_300%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="katie_underarm_300" border="0" alt="katie_underarm_300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNEpC9FDLAAwMeAbGlX4F5y1saMiJpqyBDoDdqZaxwzTeGhu2J1XSBbUXAH3Fah-1ozGLJnh8cGX8fxz525t-H53Imriek81B9rAitkvaqIzIMMpDd6HjssDzzwD3yxmqLSgACXMUOI0/?imgmax=800" width="263" height="379" /></a>image via <a href="http://www.duraball.com/mediball-products.asp">duraBall</a></p> <p align="justify">You start off nice and easy, sitting on the ball.  Then you start bouncing on the ball.  Bounce, stand up.  Bounce, stand up.  Lather, rinse, repeat.  Fast.  15 seconds in and my legs are on fire.  Where has all of my leg strength gone?  This bouncing – reverse squat routine goes on for the entire duration of a Lady Gaga song.  The instructor is grinning and bouncing on her ball and I just want to sit on my ball and whimper.  I left class feeling a little dejected, like I hadn’t given my workout my all because of this whole bouncy ball routine.</p> <p align="justify">I have made it my goal to get this.  I know this is good for me!  And given that if I reach any kind of uphill on a run outside and my legs just die I know I need to get my leg strength back.  Between regular strength training classes and getting back on the bike I’ll get there.</p> <p align="justify">Oh, and speaking of this running/spinning/strength training plan thing I’m working on, I decided to check out <a href="http://home.trainingpeaks.com/">Training Peaks</a> for the first time.  I lost my entire online log when the Buckeye Outdoors server went down sometime in the past year so it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal to try a new log out now.  Did you know that you can a 3 month premium membership via <a href="http://trinero.com/">Trinero</a> for $24 ($49 value) right now?  There is a freebie option for Training Peaks, but I thought this would be a good opportunity to see what going premium gets you.  As for what this training plan is or is for…you’ll just have to wait for that one!</p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-53852180375772720492011-10-02T20:28:00.001-06:002011-10-02T20:28:17.618-06:00Melissa’s 10K Road Race–Race Report<p align="justify">Can you believe it – I have a race report for you!  I have run Melissa’s every year since 2007 so it feels like a bit of a tradition.  I signed up way back in February and almost forgot about the race last weekend.  Truth be told, I also contemplated not running it this year.  I was almost ready to bail when my friend Kelly asked if I would run the 10K with her as a fun run.  Who can say no to that?</p> <p align="justify">My friend Pam was swayed by the idea of a fun run and my mom also snagged a bib at the last minute.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WNdWTiYWBtnASEsji91dEarEqIFfnb0QAdX4ct5rjRFbDijvWh_mZ444C6zK2hi-WfQ-wWNnH6LPE7R34wDcYLAslqdbZA2Uq9DceGJgC0dFGCrZAqEtNmbw5SBiMvN2io0QcF8nS0Y/s1600-h/IMGP1996%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP1996" border="0" alt="IMGP1996" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyM_RGQRG8zTMQE3kUUHnaoTnS6K4oFTYtmge0brCjR7mPGdbAZzMz8xBWa9uIEymVTqpXI42bDjEWlS6zYDC5sKnt1qJN9AkVXMc1j4kb9aCaQ61eQwQGaO_5I20m4j8v-wfyOLOng_w/?imgmax=800" width="503" height="336" /></a>It was a gorgeous day in Banff – definitely the warmest I’ve ever seen at the start of the race.  We met all of our friends at the start and grabbed a quick picture between trips to the porta-potties.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZAdK-7l_FQBsdyZoKv9vplXYEbBMKi1h5m4Ma-oUR8PxhagyB9H6FVk7fsOo2bHz2HAzxAh6uFZo0yFZhyV5m75Q3W38WuQABBuMpnFne8LwkIIYbZhVWuhq3bFhz4ySoot4g-YpopU/s1600-h/IMGP1998%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP1998" border="0" alt="IMGP1998" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcybJwxbhaNX8ZlxYTsIWqnlxaI5gTORn9f5uIIB5hEvHZCDbK2CjlsMqu5YuLSd_YfmTqn9c_hO1SvokiZMtPcjRBqK6btWn98E1yLcuKkebxyz3gNMBVHQMuWmUQ3cX8PiEI0qWM5aU/?imgmax=800" width="503" height="336" /></a>Kelly was awesome.  To keep things fun she brought Pam and I baggies of gummy candies as little rewards for each kilometer finished.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkp6mWhbHGEJQaT94gkngZo539Plpq2IZem0-7j-NC3DE0jXyRC9AVLbnof_9d3x2FkwjTEXTThuvciC1FnycY8RexJtzNb2mzW7Ouu8xJDvmnWfFcoNo0Beu0Kmwo-kYiBFeUrI6uuXk/s1600-h/IMGP1997%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP1997" border="0" alt="IMGP1997" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU2x3D3fENMrNLN3FstL1K4i7rkVlMDRF59wji3cV7mdlwxTPH3L8fQ4gWdfEKAmPOdyNH3RptooFo5pQBgaCdqrVMKNnHYp_GEjr-495r2MdMLTUMOzDbSDxqdl10McsLoFvm7WFtDs/?imgmax=800" width="503" height="336" /></a>Soon it was time to line up for the start!  We had agreed to run 3:1 intervals and to walk the big hill.  Gotta keep it fun!  We were on our first walk break when I spied my dad with the camera so we picked it up to run for the photo op.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZedzXlDLbHYR69bKv47O55SOfQ7nuA8mk0EP-ZOACHlhvJbY6bCrGF1RVXOiE9AGAgLQ8uiiGCnewsbuz4W53YxrXY7Hm4XVTDKtcBz2BfXJY5ilYz62VJdef-kTOFITz8SZ23HwtHCA/s1600-h/IMGP2011%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP2011" border="0" alt="IMGP2011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinW8hpRZZbv8dFjAFYW5Rh3KBKV9VKt0qMNmFJ_bGo6bHj3802BarKcHgWlN5-Hpef58ohPdb7bOSBu14_LHWjxajhUH5m2At1r1peZpcWU37gozj88jwFNXAl1u_zKJcV8ssuB-h65Bo/?imgmax=800" width="503" height="336" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOIA0TybzmyOvfT1r60m8YuOE9LgorD9hhw6Yw0KgB8LPbR0ked7djSs0CWHFL-Xrixi1-l5hbW1CCQTgCvmeLP_gL-kRRe-cF7v6H_F_qrv-zUNjIqz8vBheqhFIttJrW83jvcd0uVo/s1600-h/W10509%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="W10509" border="0" alt="W10509" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8q-3ALwxI1Z_yui24-sZT0OJVsY3vJ5zr9wYZhQmqqiMskd3-ZTY34389GIr3kspnDAV3ez63c0sGcEyYsrz8i_BRMglxinvOw0TY3fNFYcvthZlMy86NABBpV8QQ1MolKXLODSqHf0M/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="469" /></a>The route was different from previous years with a different climb up Tunnel Mountain.  No matter how you slice it, the hike up Tunnel Mountain is a long one!  We agreed to run the downhill and to keep our minds occupied we started playing a game.  We all went through the alphabet, coming up with different foods we wanted to eat once we crossed the finish line.  Apples…burgers…quesadillas….x-tra crispy fried chicken!</p> <p align="justify">Before I knew it we were down the hill and I spotted my husband and my dad.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0C3zNChFsdrL1HkjDP7wSGtOy9CZXU5tzL7JO-vJBYdR4VM0omtMDyaOne7R7-gcoNIAhgjxZ0cbu6FD7xttwPYbTYDmutyKHGaCskGzrA7vonCaD9t2qqtc8GViaE5QA2mEWZ3HkTIM/s1600-h/IMGP2037%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP2037" border="0" alt="IMGP2037" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCXopiKq6KENyZ8vu3B5VmKDsjDeCkffdPZJSIFIvLll_NTLp9R9wscj1BSAeY1uQtQMRK2WfR3HlNiIHLTFmng3YJ2kyL567fvoX7ry7kruPVFtdj4wiC8vRMWjhmra4HZ3-unWnsHU/?imgmax=800" width="503" height="336" /></a>We had a short out and back section left to go, then it would be on the the finish line.  I was fading here.  How long has it been since I ran 10K??  A long time.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPhcIhJLO4YT2ISiyc4S4tIM2NZLWKTIstU8eyKzyWYWWpBt3yENP8_lT5yGLxCAD3R9lF-cwe12qHTVCmKL2Fl12bBeydX1rlpyySrnJluGwIMv6TOEgmYXPtyrxBwH3hdWZ6pXJh98/s1600-h/IMGP2055%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP2055" border="0" alt="IMGP2055" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxMwHTb4LxNQWPdeNBX0MWpAMzorkCoAoSbFmQWGaIP2IxHmrL5imeDlzLUQI7vQ7_ZwTcpurR8WOAzxoPwUWiNPHMfgFcmL_Ani_IxsP8hY9wLMIOpP3o37UkR3RmgsCSaawcRPObLo/?imgmax=800" width="503" height="336" /></a>The girls were awesome and we stuck together.  We would cross that finish line together!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArzTBuHZHNlQ5hzQJ_T5EmeC_nL4tKpXDeWRPXI5a58yjcM7ACUaS0otWCKFRwDNDN2AON2L7afzCnxLokcRBh2fliige_VBkvfDc8dlbEHC6h6zvqODNoNDemoXqyy8Oh916PfXTYmQ/s1600-h/W32410%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="W32410" border="0" alt="W32410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi496KwyOpf0wsBaGLPCe-Y4fDN_MJ2cOdQMV6OXMawumJCFo0eXazyLFybRlqDg-lh97QTzpihc92k7bYPW1jyjB_9Muo9b0HWniYmtKLt7kXJmrsNrZlvEtWP7oG3P-ewGwRt_r6PnNo/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="469" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTvBeJAC6c4EJi9sEXkpBp-bEO1d4iKQiOxoXd1vxmmqe-pqVaTxYDCIluSVTny90vrv_GQ46hh7bWZHe2Yy_SLdpp9zDH1rsKbbuqxvG2hgsQYBJRJ6QvbSLoqMYjEdfyjp-ueSosaw/s1600-h/W42306%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="W42306" border="0" alt="W42306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVkYoXZnWoGfZD-pT6OwewKdEhM5hC6L90975ZEqCsjA-b3Z73WgVKmQXv6qPDR2pkUEXDFYmCb0-0aqhhGsN9TOB2Oa00_l0uLVhDLjP9h_dMCLtOuov5HzPM42idy3364YcomWD_YE/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="469" /></a>After we were done we managed to find the rest of our friends, plus we found the beer line too…<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2zJLC935Vl_FmbGaJOmTg-4NTOvdFFeUBotfR-8q5bA6pSW78PNmuPjyTJJ9gSquq-auhzq5tMLZt2eBbyrNRLLsqxlxAjJAoFXafdlIQjMciKuUer5WMWyIWKgRfkdWd9tDpoH1U6o/s1600-h/IMGP2061%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP2061" border="0" alt="IMGP2061" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4zS4gxddjDcp6XBdJHrPpNStnMHxTE__KyaX8HN-x0frfmCkKa77ztAD4gf2WDL58LhYMXvcQgcj9hZenN8Glr7sq7T5LNYF0s-A3WnDILahOaQY5GgmPXVaj4IbVNInlEwjL4SFOqg/?imgmax=800" width="503" height="336" /></a>While I may be a long ways away from my 55:10 10K PR pace it felt great to race again.  In fact, I went home and signed up for a couple more 10Ks in October!</p> <p align="justify">Thanks again for making this race fun Kelly and Pam!  I really appreciated the company and motivation along the way!</p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-14327416813576972832011-09-28T22:13:00.001-06:002011-09-28T22:13:28.496-06:00Foretelling the Weather?<p align="justify">Knock on wood I’ve never broken a bone apart from a fractured nose when I was a kid (I fainted and hit my nose on my bedside table when I was pretty young).  I remember reading The Babysitters Club and one of the characters falls off a swing and breaks her leg.  From then on her leg aches whenever the weather changes.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjUS9VpB1LBd8noGVmvoUTagibinfDbN-Q7n78glflMV7H4xIVrJys7ZLv-flF2IAhUGA4SaNL489Z6-0w4KfjB7D_pxoNeeirh1WTTc3mUX4Spn3L4K0tPWf9x46tMSqinsW5Xu37u0/s1600-h/3201470%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="3201470" border="0" alt="3201470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8mJ9seWwUG04-ermwkxjGnNXkF6OOxaNoJf6Qm59KSwPc-yIYJP4jjaGcNV_2KWF-VfgvqQt81dv15zzwNN56I5KLZgAwIQqppe8d-35SKzrgIYRxyaC41tyvQe17vXr9mJLpoisvKk/?imgmax=800" width="215" height="304" /></a>Image via <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3201470-claudia-and-the-bad-joke">goodreads.com</a></p> <p align="justify">Just over five years ago I decided that after years of not running I wanted to train for a marathon that was five months away.  Guess what?  It was too much too soon and I developed a stress fracture in my right ankle.  Since then I’ve noticed that my right ankle gets achy when there is a shift in the weather.  Kind of weird, eh?  Now that I’m essentially starting at zero and trying to get back into running regularly I need to be really aware of not doing too much too soon.  I’m a little paranoid about hurting that same ankle again….so no speed work and no hills until I’m fully back up to snuff!</p> <p align="justify">Yesterday my ankle was so achy!!  Every once in awhile I took a look at it…any swelling?  What have I been doing…have I overdone it?  How would it feel the next day?  Is the weather changing or is there something else going on?  Thankfully I woke up this morning and my ankle was back to normal and it was grey and drizzly out.  Ah ha, the weather had shifted from sunny and warm to fall-like.</p> <p align="justify">So the ankle is all good but it is a good reminder to really keep my running build in check to avoid injury.  Have you every had a stress fracture before, and do you notice if it is sensitive to the weather even years after healing?</p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-35083039362160501582011-09-25T08:44:00.001-06:002011-09-25T08:49:00.767-06:00Running in Las Vegas<p align="justify">Last weekend the husband and I were in Las Vegas for my cousin’s wedding.  We were there for five days and it was quite the trip!  We got a phenomenal deal to stay at the Bellagio and I may or may not have tried the <a href="http://www.thetwentydollartrick.com/" target="_blank">$20 trick</a> upon check in.  This was the view from our room:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YYxgBc0iPBtTHq2rKw0FVv4OZTleZ9N1XBXD0iWrFHSSzKhyCE4rPVjcKE4RhUCQiUqAxZBu_jupuYC3iwe060Lk92dmLMMtApY3OhwN0gLdUjQxyZlI6PkDWEx9Xw_4NvXuTj38IiA/s1600-h/DSCN6443%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6443" border="0" alt="DSCN6443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggEzqlfHjI9R-nPXjXPsaZxMXgal1o-z-70iihmHoYD6Vv7OMR9dYTrl0j-pASJuqYS0ogkI_utmFqoL90O3tZR2TdETSKX2jL47MviIK5kTnqo8el0kaV1n6RUq9TZK2g2ttrVLeY_U/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>The hotel is gorgeous and the room was really nice.  The best part of staying at the Bellagio was being able to watch the fountain shows from our room.  We never ate at our hotel at all – instead opting for more casual meals at the Paris or the Forum Shops and fancier meals at other restaurants on the strip.  Probably our most amazing dinner was at Tom Collichio’s <a href="http://www.mgmgrand.com/restaurants/craftsteak-steak-house.aspx" target="_blank">craftsteak</a>.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyn4eriuiZl6VimdIdLFlbVXPWYB5-cg0VTnHnKYjCubNqsGmu5cpM4e_Rc7OsSnYnq0g7XxLoAaXsDg0idychLaCyXd_74OqnAbR9S8EwvEOYQwCRDQtkHefpphVgYv3kEJ4Yx6zmks/s1600-h/DSCN6265%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6265" border="0" alt="DSCN6265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqhdzh5bGxdvQxALkDIgIlrWkBaMGt4sLQWxzqxbPcOlpbCuv7RsKXs8NsxTSp6wkWBMBI860kTAWLuQbYUeOM9sztoCbwd0SjpBt-4N9KPaV-vw8j8aPwG6CnZ5WtZWBShSYeM2g920/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>I admit it, we are huge Top Chef fans and the head judge’s restaurant did not disappoint.  We also went to <a href="http://www.fireflylv.com/index.html" target="_blank">Firefly</a> on Paradise (delicious tapas and pitchers of sangria), <a href="http://www.scottconant.com/restaurants/scarpetta/las-vegas" target="_blank">Scott Conant’s Scarpetta</a> in the Cosmopolitan Hotel (delicious, highly recommend), and Thomas Keller’s <a href="http://www.bouchonbistro.com/" target="_blank">Bouchon</a> in the Venetian (also very nice).</p> <p align="justify">We drank delicious cocktails – I highly recommend the <a href="http://www.palazzo.com/Las-Vegas-Nightlife/Lounges/Fusion/" target="_blank">Fusion Latin Mixology Bar</a> in the Palazzo and our favourite, the second floor of the <a href="http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/experience/lounges-and-bars/chandelier.aspx" target="_blank">Chandelier Bar</a> in the Cosmopolitan.  There are three levels to the Chandelier, each very different.  The second level is where the bartenders get super creative.  Tell them your favourite liquors, if you like sweet, sour, savoury and they will mix a unique drink for you.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwC41p1_exQC59kOJv8Q1TOIVRqvBvB0-4p8aUm19OpBw70i5VHNxYxvaekD0bUz41jNumxJ8Prg3wyIhHs4KO7Zdq6UYNc5ZW8J-ciCFf5U7K1JtFEwYtgcilLFUwGsGp8s66ljsFY0/s1600-h/DSCN6308%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6308" border="0" alt="DSCN6308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4y2b_ozYw01jMPWIYTzwLYbSqGS1MIdYnY883NmGLC43CFRqLcfhH2jYtp2s55JbQ_Br1makiGM4W4W26mqd_RCVhDPV54eh0I5XWlCFpjIXqrSzIDeutWYabv7MXiZB2A-j9wZyUJ7U/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>We also took in a few shows (<a href="http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/o/default.aspx" target="_blank">Cirque du Soleil’s O</a> and <a href="http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/mystere/default.aspx" target="_blank">Mystere</a> – call and ask for <a href="http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/destinations/las-vegas/show-tickets-deals.aspx" target="_blank">Canadian resident discounts</a>), we walked the strip<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9k2IG3l0m6KcL7NTNMTM07FESVfk7pvPGEBd4OnnDrBZQ6uvcZmU4xjStk69xuml9kd-yISEjtSkC1burorvZvITi-17sphCCdAyR1JI5LxDKpb3ezKYK7fv5rloM93oGW46zuOJDFYw/s1600-h/DSCN6279%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6279" border="0" alt="DSCN6279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jT1gJcvQnjdYMHBYqa-0xn7YHPZIP1-a8GquNIgLqrNzaEy-TZeQS_imF9eUnfnrQENuo59fPssX5P0l4-QjYazNVtK0oRh6SpW-gzCSFi_a4e2Xq7LQrTjtfIm7GuWvec4SmLGDzvg/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a> and we went to the top of the Eiffel Tower.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_j3CLiIZDRqeQoOOUA8hFfvmCyLhLfqrgcZy_MGYhXwAQ2Bzg2ot5zwVaMRNLvEXlsD99nnZzUgYkIF-ZgYxXk-XjbH5VCsiuYM_vwL_EGfybNfaO7DRdShIV_VywxBALEBjcaM88bI/s1600-h/DSCN6418%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6418" border="0" alt="DSCN6418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-MD5HeYz2vYNkHKohDccyBuqtOJUCRvDHCkMDe_DEwDXHxLaKHqXHBHDDIWUf_FrEsmlL5M11lhgdJn-mJHt7dodiiQd7a02Dwc4OH5yfe-oyR8k0fGEY38_n42vUQmqzJsqbLvxEZk/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDytQThm18LM3ZZmh0EdpzaW4SU5szhm-AWkpg152jBABTorbTn0EHqQ7IHQ31cInlLcA1PcHleXCzy9GwMll8u1q9DOES2XUGFj7Ij-POaistHiQh8eoeCtme_g-81CWiWS5w8GbkVAg/s1600-h/DSCN6429%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6429" border="0" alt="DSCN6429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7EBVwk2KPyY1PmQXRgZO9JNS6k3XUjt25bz4Utk9UkU6ta9MeJVeDC868TUWwn6Ond7tmk4YSbg_qiMzA5qzkBdQTSo9IME5YmDQJeIF8iFpmhWDDF-UK5p840XBHZrcE36pwzv4XT4/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>We even spotted Elvis as he was officiating my cousin’s wedding.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1CEsJ__YYXkYO6W1E4Dmm1MjdIl6Yn-Dg8hDu2FkV0V96T-t4O1n_fYy_rz0XcN16ZgLval0AMbBKXjpkF6ecCyFks8Y_8ArT8aZkuLhdUgq0jCLjJnYs_ZEL2RlmynThyC3kudgjCA/s1600-h/DSCN6353%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6353" border="0" alt="DSCN6353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09WYAa3nX2dnBQKcUFN5LAK7G6vc2NmwXKMioBhcEUymhyi1R42NGJo2tjD5jnN4iSxT1uhXltab35nHBf67wDam-LEn-3jWJb3BwXHjOVpu7AZ7AOI2BhdyVCbFnfngmqXmpEcDr2HQ/?imgmax=800" width="341" height="454" /></a>We checked out the Welcome to Las Vegas sign.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rw2AuLdcFNfIskRPrJ9Q1GqXUnmxveqeABC6z37punTujg5TW5G-Z-nj0N1EZRsjUQ6TnxW0jK52QHVUNtmD2x9nPHlPysgH7w_6WiOnYTlZLY6MpjpjZQaSBz_EGyWz8Fb7hQGTQVE/s1600-h/DSCN6506%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6506" border="0" alt="DSCN6506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPL0gWHWmaxyDbSSP2Y5ypkDNQbukYK4Xy3RuudrNX2dG5PkqQiCI_oBhvGMvTylyEzjg1YgW0x-D0mufHBj7Q2CIVeG2yZC7ipBxzGjRnwYlWrnOdYBSf5FW-wp8gcs_bNvjOtR3EAk/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>And we ventured outside of Vegas by spending the afternoon exploring Red Rock Canyon (only 20 minutes west from Las Vegas).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4trXMdmmWCr4WszMTqJiWSZEsIkAF4h75kvGqFXBXMtP2aL_JnZS7EPGybFNlgTf0rl-wpcWN5pWHz2aJi4RnWVIH_6DUsy6m_akIoeWQRfooJSpp-5i36LAjf5nn-toY4jX5OsWc0O4/s1600-h/DSCN6511%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6511" border="0" alt="DSCN6511" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TyCHDDxZ7JcJ6fQab0bktFV5_kW7Coa7xvCAKTauK7M5bgzB4YBUlL32QngaLfIeqQT9gWLXS0mr3xc9YT3eToZG4CZNI81c-oUAxFqj2RYUWp5RKmN3wPLm2EKTonLdFvux9mjdWhw/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKz9VVFf4dnyKiBi3MsWuVn1gw3QqDDv4KRUONteZQBGz4w2bjtzaxWMOTB8zQ4cNJeAWCD70OPE_OH7EUMlTimyryb2sDupnAdY3wxi2P3DFN-gR3Ur9cIQJmq_jBRJiwcOmdRPD7uSM/s1600-h/DSCN6522%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6522" border="0" alt="DSCN6522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2J3Vml2bg_7_3Si59r8qn65MagxZYuJ4T2cJG5iN9zK4zPk9QRoNnQsiY-d0Z42uUfqlPH29G4IZX9Wu8Cizn1-s-V-zo3Rn-jsszfbN5K1mDOGW2hw2ETDNQHLD6jM3w-GQQlmhvD0/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_rDi87csK85ZSdnBJ-FAUAGSSGQNtEEv0LALIMTeBJKADrMupv8SYyVFG9X0ytFULjSsAaTVCC2ap8dkyznRKzmx-hMZbX_2s6M4cNM4-12qMCFUp7LwvT8V65voIaRrNrJItzrCu70/s1600-h/IMGP4227%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP4227" border="0" alt="IMGP4227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEPyjM6XEIkBHmOdSkqeQxmmaNqo-JlQoQBBRMD07TMC4_dXQaQs3UXKIL8ZICAUX_Z0hHoJuueotFte_GaFiypVfJHaGA9OeXcIIqOV6AC-ScjyfYSBcyBVajjosrSN_KkyhsD8YBRg/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a>I also took advantage of the fact that running shoes are so much cheaper in the US than in Canada ($140 versus $200…yikes!) and picked up a new pair of <a href="http://www.asicsamerica.com/footwear/running-shoes/gel-kayano-17-t150n-womens/">Asics Kayano 17s</a>.<a href="http://www.asicsamerica.com/footwear/running-shoes/gel-kayano-17-t150n-womens/"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="t150n_0005_f" border="0" alt="t150n_0005_f" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6piL9G2-71gHWQWnD6m3oZwjC-Bd84-g_Vw7HKgf2Jw1xaCEX7yrZ5LxpjgQs9Wf1DAlGWkYA4C3zk6TzFdVX73ZtqgA-FUy4XuOW2EsyDkNToVMljvjz45Yi7yB9V0ZGnvThSp92iMc/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="282" /></a>Then I put them to test while running the strip one morning!  I went out around 8 am when much of the strip was still shady, so even though it was hot out it was still relatively comfortable.  Outside the Monte Carlo.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02Gen1WL4CqnDRbO84JJnPtkeG_IRUUyJtL6hQXdlHueLVNcG8dYu16rDg2i6WjXSMBXftaM2qngqardurudagTQgdpGsn1Ar-WdU00Y0p9joZtES-z7qX_cZDFkvDWdHj-bRdAoWSY0/s1600-h/DSCN6463%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6463" border="0" alt="DSCN6463" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCBULv4eQwk52CjFxTr8iUPp3H3UxpZ2Kn4Yc4vDdHqICpsGRxt1DuAX2xOic7puAJg4yjuBNSSp4NxhCmNwi_XQS5izEgosEMg-igTuajCfoWc6PoqKBSqfKNX8U7rbU20Fa6JKflhE/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>Over the Brooklyn Bridge at New York New York.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXSsGbIIYASt7-qH-r83i5tMBZSOxobfn3EzOk67S6rsi0qk6_03kBROj88ubxc4yvEKUhHd4DQSuR2FKcVpYShOPX_qUOQVKPlIPjupWs8ZPv9UtaznOpMeCQPJIlocM9JudExrXeZY/s1600-h/DSCN6467%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6467" border="0" alt="DSCN6467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQgdNCPj5xXEc4ucWn1giMC1tZLDVWmwiqlk6ZCJbY-y6n2i27mpTxym3Xl7xBgZIHLDAvdAa8f2nC-ldNEUhnE10qsyAANyNfhqEznmIUP_1Eet-KcMN_eAT9sW3IPQUSx2DFtLxMas/?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a>On my way to the Excalibur.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NWVsyOpFhlhrp2jZ07xyLlYH7_yMBpn17XfBfB1qn9qQ_0BZ1zWqJZauYx3st-Z6Op3zJzCnxa9-j7FLqVkcmPRj6DSZCcOrEVcGb8duvQAoNZGFPWLdOtoKXc3lNcEc4xHkHUR7_6c/s1600-h/DSCN6472%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6472" border="0" alt="DSCN6472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiop71D9JR15U_KYj4j9CAdm9Pcmo7YfsEF80dAvPNIEAViL2fGXm3hO7i8MNSIxapujxMopNgZUy8PHFxN_rP2kH0wz3lfYq7XqEAvgyX71rtbxBXpSLf-jWKyiRyGmHBNDac889dIr5o/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>As I ran past the Planet Hollywood I realized I needed water.  I had hoped to find a bathroom and water fountain near the entrance of the shops but no dice.  Instead I ducked into the casino and drank out of a tap.  Blech, but you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do!  Then as I ran past the Flamingo we got detoured off the sidewalk and into the smoky casino.  That was interesting!  Outside the Venetian.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtwdpTRi11z6UHhaRrkALg_2IMw3LER2YGfwBI8YajzyeaRQd617oCaDTqQ-QoYvJxwK6cxy7i6AbMy4zprdF7sHcNbfqabv8qvKVcywBNEcMXqUdwSXcL2AZVjU1k0y5pQgnxGperIk/s1600-h/DSCN6480%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6480" border="0" alt="DSCN6480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GRZYD3XNkaXCb7K_m43SJsrohHLchyDtg9XCYK2ge1phAD21-qLzlaXBUV0ReEP_fwnW8j-SibAQ-mMgTnYLGkfWvm_MFbhjranXMSy4O_1Ln-yZr8WHMrUNYb81QLiMZxTL6nvfPMU/?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a>And the Palazzo with the Wynn in the background.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW5BMNuCzuLMd5Yd9_WTnX_MzoOumNUJNkQMiZRvsxb1UnJtyPHHaaj0AcA2tKLw4utWw3UwAreQGhAqn1SLFihO-rYhC_78ueNCSgv5S8boJF7hQ-6gTtmf59HUIrTWVjZc6we7bQfo/s1600-h/DSCN6482%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6482" border="0" alt="DSCN6482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0o-9Pzyk_8TwgPRksqgCz_9pNzMWX9N5_gRvb6Iqv7A-c1EykrJ2BQgFk4LpdD5-U_Dp7SZwnCjwQq2KC_F9TP7ichfCe_8Y1xt4s3OL-JwVhNff0nx-iC7OidB2OOvzRmnFLltPTmE/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>At Treasure Island – time to turn around.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywjoB-dknGD-qpxaVAfe2lCxXCrGxUEcJWK1gNnACr6h500RnYN-ySNA5tpnINXNYDNNChLFvTuF6buqEC5TyzJkZmhrOMl8SZUrfPtIQYWdmwi_6oRPmbLXrCFqvb6oJ334ya4lbwP0/s1600-h/DSCN6483%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6483" border="0" alt="DSCN6483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7uDPzXrTegwBgmnqPZql9tAIHVeL9VFz5qg6GbgL1rtCD69Zng6jorrXpG-4QIu_tbBjToQm1F9YZF7DLoXoELYaKY-iz-4SKeL62x_TkSl7dPdwiesxibAABMGYGvgxq9nGg0w5B4c/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>At Caesar’s Palace.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEV3WNSSh1EB1ig0Ty26KpWWy8gId9hWmiS1LUdwvs5Oam7G3lJZfPdBSM2vvfeJiyJiUBO3Nubwqx4CvI4Sly2XIKGlMSEuM7-byfXosCy7twYQE5yC9nr-GwEpAaoZbrh136jH-ASBU/s1600-h/DSCN6496%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6496" border="0" alt="DSCN6496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIdJcsFzMVZPhpNcGf-gOmPbjUe3VLLSQOeiVTWl7jI3MVuMhOQkMLenMlo9dTt4N4g0sxasLFq_CiLCafQ7jMKSR3BT4VzZrA7_1bu41YFmYUolk5vFkjLQu9n_Nzr_OlmorvTnCqv8/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>From the Bellagio down to the Excalibur, then up to the Palazzo, over to Treasure Island and back to the Bellagio was about 4.1 miles.  It was nice and quiet out there with tons of runners.  This was my first trip to Vegas where I’ve actually been up early enough (and motivated enough) to go out for a run.</p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-8344607948435995582011-09-14T00:00:00.001-06:002011-09-14T00:17:07.580-06:00Hiking: Tower Lake and Rockbound Lake<p align="justify">On Sunday we decided to tackle a slightly longer hike in Banff National Park – <a href="http://hikealberta.com/hike/rockbound-and-tower-lake-trail" target="_blank">Tower Lake and Rockbound Lake</a>.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JigZ_cZ6W9I8h_kDNfqzLOHgeQnVdZHHQcQXXo4Wl4q2SoO-QPbcBFFAuolCEfRB27DaCGTX1_YwYR3__tI7RuI0ER_R4HbaXjLnyXotVdqsWa691FCb0jAS6TZX-ZqBuZUzQqzjweA/s1600-h/DSCN6086%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6086" border="0" alt="DSCN6086" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnj9spWKH6a3syjG9y-qOpEDeDh8mcEn65LPOroFm6xo3Ld1497fjLa70d4t5W4p24O3H9OeJzXTDbnjgVvDFySzrXJXbcdbELfgw66l3mNzw1d2zOiDPZheDLhflfM438Hfr3UrB61Q/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>The first 4.5 km is a good climb on on a wide path through the trees.  Every once in awhile you get a fleeting glimpse of the mountains through a break in the trees, but otherwise it looks like this for the first half of the hike.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0uZMYmWmZCXiv2N4238N_nWbct7NRxd-ppwLZfacD8SS8OYRiCcUTsdqGuTFAvEOQ815vcNKPXKn1NKblFAUuFgsiJQdHYo3_5M7y-aPqMVaFEugU-AbYUSdk8G-991vHpFcmPzkuz8/s1600-h/DSCN6095%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6095" border="0" alt="DSCN6095" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4572WcmgG1yyKtEaii4Nj0_4UuXJQAJF2HsQTaP8252ImXXN821wsb5zUjFro8eKDq2cTCfOFr9O37UiFfREKsW6Q4NhvEKefkEXoHSBec50H4W72uAiU-eXn5loGmGP19g8a6iKwGXc/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="447" /></a>As you keep going you start to see some neat improvements that have been made to the trail in some of the wet spots. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5Kxaymn0jW3JSUG6dETQaxKOoBNcaUwbughQXS1vvNp3icY9AGUt9Rk7zSKgWhVt0l-QNWKr3T8TsySqWxDUKj-UrQ4sgQ-Rko9FQ7FWfwP-3P12-JOmW2RRMhkyuOGm-MUxEOYNtvc/s1600-h/DSCN6110%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6110" border="0" alt="DSCN6110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEadMNttlVG2IImvLB6EcURF7OtqHSeUt_VwnPgPvnFZd6YeJKNCFmuViDvmLpnE9tVlaa_LE1ZG11Ov6BeIF9k7ZqWS7NN8X3s1OqJdEj-uXtuyFk-WbGXHZqgLfiZtuGK58ILhOlHw/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="447" /></a>Eventually the pathway narrows.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjM7THZoFkpOJ-dYc5mCsIC3JXSKr5RLlSygqnJS5deng2cS8Vl6wKFXGB8F3o7rPzxpLHh1UhLGiX28Yr2DGnGBuDtIQOXH3MnUaUaNr7IP0D6PhnaWwsyf0CnfdqDXQtYypM_yQBJkk/s1600-h/DSCN6111%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6111" border="0" alt="DSCN6111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwwKPN2vJ7U0xPrBHikGdvDafVOUtzrw4nZqqswxkH6J-z6TXDbkM0sYxYu3keECSDL4OyK6XrCof4NxiqzXS42IVK71HG9s3ZI4TfciLHhqGWS32PJYH_SUPOHbHqumc90QLYsusyE8/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>The trees give way to meadows and views of the mountains.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEd3d0uTRBrvWU_egv4KuGDhkl9Ag5n42n4YB0U5RreravtJNouKNzHXmAppakrvHl_rcXEC-SW_yv-aM4_M7_nGUjAcovqtmyd6NTkalYPFd6X5k3iP6FtzbnAptxncFaqG6V3L8WAg/s1600-h/DSCN6114%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6114" border="0" alt="DSCN6114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZOWJffBFMKWkzTyKK0MYaKDmuEzL3dnYihfAiDo6kQa4MlIx8EQgG98Wk67G2UCKDE0VY9RRkWeuoSh82-u5GZGrwUj3pitiBkRO6qZqLPt5KMyFvCl51CY5uTOo1iDb2wd1Q8Iy1Xk/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="447" /></a>And wildflowers are in bloom.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeY7GzSgf7isg2mTVDXQo-H4D4EWx2W0CzhZ5yM-WaIwFOPH_o0DxxuwSxKjgz66Z8LaCrW-FW-BqY66aIBuk6W5KW3ckWtwDJnGsREAGwcsO_ygjQoBvNaRqQxrfCW5BIFVjA_FiDsg/s1600-h/DSCN6092%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6092" border="0" alt="DSCN6092" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTeJ6qdFSKzOGzSr7mbI2X6yX0jXCG1GXTyCQY4YsLD90MffovclPuOthYggBMdc6axkXOEkkHSVlm1hV9GWg2Io2SeQQlo01TnAppA7XYqqtikwA6PEwtNEhzS8Rsp1tPkT5LChrnsw/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca4Y9hWW-Bg_fucS5QrMtxKgUxvx_TyX7MupwfILBu0_vcBmVVVDKmIH4Orl8ZDIO9CLhMGZ3XZl-tLdyW7efxljoEKLN7RalOQypWPnyEg9O9vSzvJP3mzI49-jR-enqVsRSA0VOaeQ/s1600-h/DSCN6136%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6136" border="0" alt="DSCN6136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mo9R0kmqxW8eucyth70SJB1r7bJ8Ii_AgK8gwCPlDLZ4N0Uz9OrgsHz4vGKG1TzWMjsPVmImqgi9QlyUqkdOlK2hm_p3zijWxmon3qlRbg5Htyvo74uxY9cEaXA-va92JBq60LxIpzU/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="447" /></a>Finally 2.5 hours in at 7.4 km (4.6 mi) we reach destination #1 – Tower Lake!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuNZoStold8ht9AXc46iRUosYSJHbu3cIB1S9GsDS2-8L0Jh6q18rM8UyrNKEqrxxwkVIIWzXZzrbT6M0yqRnNtAtyZ6QV4QSBuYurfFgsEftVAl3Ud-JKSsEeZsCIt6U6l7GhyphenhyphenSgaLE/s1600-h/DSCN6141%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6141" border="0" alt="DSCN6141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFfj6XdknGDLRGP0CTajACQo2MtkmWdQJXiM8JMtMBfs73EdQPsOxgztgrzceXZiCf4X5rbjAs90Y7IiJLIGyHrss_xcNSStkzQpEvThmuvDZMNdlRvKdYth-8nu0mF6GSNyIFTzCDh0/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>At this point we were ready for lunch!  We picked a comfy spot with a good view and spread out our picnic.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUS6IkEKwjkEZls5oODi8ef22wGM0UJ-VA6Fj7e8fB4s-4w5Xwf3Gm8Mui9EXs_CENtdbP5OyXoiMB2KQuqbcsBHNWWYYNDxrnJIhqPJIRoAwRnHCVBH05H8J5eSgtdZ9vqUdkhClCpA4/s1600-h/DSCN6144%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6144" border="0" alt="DSCN6144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhvTY9BqRPVj6x1jxdKG4SW-4CdPBFOgzc1AJfxtxpsoE_tgHoJ6dydwu_wTE6klo7P-E9zCTuuErhK0HF6ywBOJp17t-Rc6H1uXZ_YmGp5uqNmOzy1iVBVwZyHkgudwvDXTScrEIxO0/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>We had my father-in-law over for dinner the night before and we brought some leftovers for lunch: grilled beef tenderloin, fresh buns, roasted eggplant dip, pita chips and some sliced red peppers.</p> <p align="justify">With fuller bellies it was time to continue on to Rockbound Lake!  Only 1 km left to go!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5uTaWM249yXhoCfTtiFBeCK103lIiBO5ZI2eH19FCb5TTVjlb4zsZLxzriln4k5WT2akL98hri-tZ3y3oLSk1nxpp7tNfngD-HrSHT_UibnKpQxBddlmkx5Ge2Z9Wt_GgXgtRaCqsso/s1600-h/DSCN6157%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6157" border="0" alt="DSCN6157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQbwBGFnRQwET8EZsAZVuNYfOQx-mKEcGR6_z6OnZdvj0BS9yHUEp00amWobb666BIpTxlo8hXnC8ir5rgIklqdXbsLHIKsopqgIQV0_Wst7W1Z6mSIGOEYNHRA2P5JhdIf4eW_bbyNU/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="447" /></a>Check out the view of Tower Lake on the trail up to Rockbound Lake.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIyVAErCqpMBqVCW9gM8QwomnwXecyK70ZjgulL50d05zVUOIXDwC59n3wf6ZcHs5a7GN2Kw53VwBHPxCZUN9Jeccu_-8B34_c_jr1fb59lJdyG1JzX7A4d6JFpErEulv9RIyNoyUb_Y/s1600-h/DSCN6164%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6164" border="0" alt="DSCN6164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Pk8Gon5Fxq7oduqz99bpo5qLwnnhihqyMza-7JjrLIlbeYBFUXkrSumjTeomwKFmnmL_OpyQPQTKlvbTFyfiSWwrfr3FRSkNkhMqQPEsOLQNhHTDQ5yGKhd6wbqlaZw8nlHsBjYoeIo/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="447" /></a>The trail definitely gets more difficult on this final stretch.  In fact, just after this point I said that Rockbound Lake better be beautiful because it was certainly tough work getting up there.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19Z49rrC_nohm4j7GJwyWQlUm_xfvAQwu3EunX1niaBr8opyz3HD1yCK_kRcKOgYkvYeJ1uEee-3OndLK0eFh4jl_TLy9_x9sUb7Or7VgmgLADMgs0291pMaAz9PaE27_M6Ydlw3-bk4/s1600-h/DSCN6163%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6163" border="0" alt="DSCN6163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5mAWBbw5giV08JD6Bluo5yGk9lwiZWmGHyruaBIZJiHsV-lhirGlT1aiP6Ee7bsltllEeAfbnm5hjogFIXua6UqT2OcRlOWEVfv18XenuZxhA9wvIS1U1wyzP7PVQDBrFb5U75BDiO4/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="447" /></a>Finally, we finished climbing, entered a meadow and Rockbound Lake came into view.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJzbHlS4BLp70MR39qsVnW7nio9VX5-6w9n8WWQbMF3kVovsvuzllbBZ-dlT8NnFLVDmdXl3ayExpQDGIRJeVze1SHY87qCv7x34QIVY_lazVzP5SWal3wyTi8jGOknufmPus0rFF3Ts/s1600-h/DSCN6187%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6187" border="0" alt="DSCN6187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg0fTOb20pKgT0FsGDnjz0bfCbg06neeOVs6kJ1dATyJoMMiwo-xdXFK5EIG9sd_vgYkUScXpT5OAVXxB-b1EHem10eacqzwgN7Sk9drwiqxOpeB2JEhKh_cR5l5KjFKU79YkOK2flq0/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjSET-U8dsH7moyVGgPkqIw2_-1N-eLT26KfAorEiNeI3lelST0FnNUmf6p697i-T-ZWuHbqce_pDDXz2ydrc3C7X3c8pzakG1KMyrPhDS7AMqbyUibR0qKfbNZbuty3rUNN31UE4uZM/s1600-h/DSCN6178%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6178" border="0" alt="DSCN6178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcMbmJi48aMyCugXAjj2472lMxPb7FX0QDxn_cl1cFr0b9WbMOyMaHz28IJtFnXGgYpcPrYZsbOG7DkYu-240q0v_n512tfAHGvXPVO48QTUnlZBZvKCTMx8sTiAU2YIrzzBqWQb5e9U/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>It was well worth it!  It was such a beautiful clear day and it was so stunning.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDKDOe1nO1tbviJ6RvDexl9_c_aCT8L7D4J0y_xdoFxXwrCh4_t1mKqBRGQ_WhQ4rX1p3lnv7EE8a_wGmeSXQFoxjoRvR2LrufdL3wh0El-Bjflk5biuWUj057Fx61i7IcuVxeGNzNs0/s1600-h/Rockbound%252520Lake%252520Panorama%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Rockbound Lake Panorama" border="0" alt="Rockbound Lake Panorama" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCLZ9qrlnTZ6vkfTtjdp6ipB3GttbOyLBQllzsTyhiaDXuhYKkLKTzkemOfjamU4UVf8kGksWa-YGmdspGlzCywX7XO0pmXBa1aL2pryeTnHtgKfIDsOKVjqKRwA3X5a_bICN0wBiS5E/?imgmax=800" width="804" height="209" /></a>We couldn’t stay too long as we wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to make it back to the car.  All in all, it was a stunning and amazing hike on a beautiful day in September!</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Tower Lake and Rockbound Lake in Banff National Park, AB <br /></strong>11.69 mi (Round Trip) <br />3,956 feet of elevation gain <br />2.5 hours to Tower Lake, 3 hours to Rockbound Lake, 5 hours 20 minutes round trip (not including our lunch break)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU8uX6RICn9e3P3DpPArJDFzF8kLKkmg8SZNRzpcJRvwDpQ1BdHmAreAq7C055OfEA_Uw8aYDE67tv5_HbbO5ypg0yDRm01oGVypbvJyXcuqfi41NGPxk2OBqXx3IyXe_HXohV1l1d-k/s1600-h/Tower%252520Lake%252520%252526%252520Rockbound%252520Lake%25252011-09-2011%25252C%252520Elevation%252520-%252520Distance%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Tower Lake & Rockbound Lake 11-09-2011, Elevation - Distance" border="0" alt="Tower Lake & Rockbound Lake 11-09-2011, Elevation - Distance" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfnmKTTumXHibQVVUfKE-nEqo2qSb-OeFWxVG8mTBJA78P2fbdZoV325kaRCYyqy3Lyq54_iu-YQmWVHVamHfLwWQMaObr84Wn4IVQ-9E4Qsleuk3-M2PvQ92XOggRrGHqiEW6Q_gdMo/?imgmax=800" width="604" height="364" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFaofWpNugiexJIR9pcZcj4gCHRko29cDhG3RGyHYnaUTU7FxZVujxul1zGuEL1Y6RN_s41elNgdwRvnhH78-Y64eqsrNqm7KfSgKkzSnkocgSmR2zI7GBKMSbqknYcupIFoPRDegJEo/s1600-h/Tower%252520Lake%252520%252526%252520Rockbound%252520Lake%25252011-09-2011%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Tower Lake & Rockbound Lake 11-09-2011" border="0" alt="Tower Lake & Rockbound Lake 11-09-2011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFt0jAagRbG3fZnzxW-n65Xb8q_UKwScp8_efsDG04Eu2p7O4ZPDlzxjr-jRhKkkpMzZY3IdLfQ6X9_LTqk7n_o4F3VZiUiWINIbxamUgLNQ61WN5WXtRf0v1QgF0vk5w1JKx8t4oTHc/?imgmax=800" width="604" height="308" /></a></p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-45377771773018272802011-09-12T20:30:00.001-06:002011-09-12T20:30:46.058-06:00Breakfast of Champions<p align="justify">Now that I’m working hard to get back into things I know I really need to pay attention to what I’m eating.  It all starts with breakfast.</p> <p align="justify">I definitely eat breakfast every day, but I generally wait to eat until I get to work.  I want something healthy and filling because if I just have toast I’m hungry 30 minutes later.  I soak some oatmeal overnight in double the amount of milk, along with some cinnamon and a touch of dried fruit.  At work I pour the oatmeal over half a diced apple and some almond butter.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxDyH7axzuqjGa1GBUnHxip5ZigJQXbpIX-mYCUcR-uke6Nb6vki_9cBb52INBdCEq5qiIDa819XfIlSKsaB-C6zOaEL_T150QWcEuU_eL9vaNuKNukHicq1_y72EZ5xFkP_7Hy0qG7o/s1600-h/DSCN6083%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6083" border="0" alt="DSCN6083" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltaRD1CojuCBsw2aWoMdhtMFTdiT8nVF50GSU61XxGv6kJCoUF7ymv9VZ1AaJQfw0JEw9ylHf7VucvmH_wg_9JzlfwgCiXK1J31toNYMk1u1-VbwMAwbV06o6JIqKjTuKyztK7h6T7mw/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>It keeps me full all the way until my lunch time workout so that cuts down on my desire to run and grab a coffee.  I view that as a success so far!</p> <p align="justify">I’m curious though, what is your favourite healthy breakfast?  Do you have any tips to share with me?</p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-55288504664479507732011-09-06T20:48:00.001-06:002011-09-06T20:48:59.808-06:00Hiking: Sulphur Mountain<p align="justify">On Saturday morning the Husband and I decided to tackle a relatively short hike right in Banff, the hike up <a href="http://hikealberta.com/hike/sulphur-mountain" target="_blank">Sulphur Mountain</a>.  You can hike up and down, or you can decide to take the gondola down from the top instead.  You have to buy your ticket down from the base.  This was our lucky day, the ride down from the top was free (normally $15 I think).  There is a short walk through the parking lot for the gondola before you reach the trail.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLBajfhduBGTUzzcGS9HmtkMCb-7MNlRBsZHc3Ioo4dIrpIQSiPMZ4gdVXhPGVn9imJblsD9KEORN1M70HngjIYH8QNAoPqRyJw-Ejdk5qa8VqavpDfexw2dpZNK0uPL1hNDHtnWg4AE/s1600-h/DSCN6040%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6040" border="0" alt="DSCN6040" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_9peLrDJkYm8LP1ZgvCAllJ9qVmBbgZMgEQ7T180DU3gWEjHp4USMkXO8LzVXFr4vkyoX8Kax_j5nK_9az3X2kB0sadK-ZwmJPQmYjqYYLhgHKG2_I12EPeKAFpybaQlY1vAxZu1wvY/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>There were some great views from the parking lot!  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJ7tdMR9bz1pZlCrkZBb4noEKSyo6E1gdHw2ooPF1O3adzatAjvfwk4GRKJkyp8xThn8S3rySDZJPbJLdLEKd5KdUS3JJy82G5Lzj5K4Sei9c0ATc2OGyj6qrOUhrxV2xacpamX-q6KA/s1600-h/DSCN6042%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6042" border="0" alt="DSCN6042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40ffMRMqiJlfeB1e43nczZXI61BXpHFGeIAwZbpIFRAtiHgqYJ0ZpL5Nj7Sv6LxZdUEBjwYvkK_gr5kbA3NJnmQ2g6S6PBHkw8kbiPL31xs1cD1JAbCPMjmmu4oTMv5EmfLtSR81FYVo/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>The trail goes through the trees, following a bunch of switchbacks up the mountain.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYAVvNMd8VXohGCOI4DzsbYTdftdKbMZIP0s3VVedMg-F3dP_k-vGkP_Em49UM-cPLwIF_nU3q3bXnWxMUqEsQTkxwL_Dm0CAKab4djS1veA9AhBo24oyuf82_tZW_5XBpHUMCdi97UM/s1600-h/DSCN6045%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6045" border="0" alt="DSCN6045" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81UCu2jK3MSv9Gd04cBghM9zjRpQ9v1yCKT2R-r8lYSiOB03229EoUaYg_MXVeRXFflmrnnpqosA4SECxRuUP1Y7UN4NxBsn6tmfXAMUbE_4S7XHCDsAD3vFm6cow6RzZYw_LqWcLLSw/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>Every once in awhile the trees clear and you can see the gondolas passing overhead.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzh4tDGkbsFt34zIF-Ut_F7I2fOoQZwYiusVuhTHOZjQqHhtPAZznOkySiwMcE73Gw2v_W1jitqLObdHhP4OEauEyQ_ctEyHdtO34OQvI_AciUyJ2_Q16ivdGA-V83iRCroNA8QbViVZk/s1600-h/DSCN6046%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6046" border="0" alt="DSCN6046" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_nMbY5lcnPaShyYuo9isY21T_4HcRaDk5HiO0tzXWBfhp32cTj5yeVMDQT_4PRlZzNGTCwSqP7iNLj_VbFFF_LiI73LmOiZo5qGcwFzapPN_keKhkiiiFFlr-t53QnQewtiwSkRA64c/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="447" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiovqNZ0lGG2zs1pzxLgCcbvFWkkktOk8Qxpz76xCiiQOoJQQkxGgj7fa0Jw8sJJxxW7-CO5wpLJjbFVDRDGBPfW1yxyvigywvpGMX4p122OaaZH3ODVt1biwXh5JQ2158VdZLUVszAs/s1600-h/DSCN6055%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6055" border="0" alt="DSCN6055" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseCvL0YnHf0yOg6Lkp0gjBKLrIB2nBUlt2AAYJZlp29_vhpbQcG1Hz5T83PED3wT4QvSBcfinnvC7DQjJXvQ7Eni8uSWOzzY2wMkMpdjJ1SPAEK6qQe6XHYRQgM1NwE1r_BlzO6mq74Q/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>The trail is a pretty popular one and there were a couple of groups ignoring the “please keep on the trail” signs.  This miffed the Husband and I a little…<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjid7KmsPp7iUuWlyoPMBSLBMCedpLoLeF7wQOTST1lekZHhskBFwFUzdxI3BkRIs2yQgwUlLKawHdLYZObOOGDKOnfzxP3uXMJQp9nsGM6ymU7bZZRdUptTkX-R2KGWXb9HBKCrp7kvvo/s1600-h/DSCN6050%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6050" border="0" alt="DSCN6050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbG8olfJVpgHeH1F5kyWs9hZlH8T4xcZmxo5b2fo2Z6Xurb6bz9-tDmd5rVEpV00l-BNOmyO6m_Iw8dMZVXN3HyLaGn-qu58cQndgAlu40sjO6BidPiViALetrw2GI97AgH7cddcCojQ/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="447" /></a>Finally, we made it to the top!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HS1lHTHfUrvvU3u_NF1AeasVkv3kAbige22twiJZTbI95yyOWHfzS_t1Z4xe5oTuxeDm6m0WusESICsZwOHwZuTmK13ZerucisItBHvVH629oMR3DM4cHKP2gR0I5sI35OQfC9nZBAo/s1600-h/DSCN6057%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6057" border="0" alt="DSCN6057" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKUMbx_D7qdDU2LEHV0EGoXNY6irJB_OE0FnazO0Chh0aYsTEDiebQpA3VWZTOoshSnMPlTxZRcY-avAFS2_ChZD48h-TjYJYbbiMD-YhP4V11GZOkvWcAlzvhrE9VrfxlqzRb52NSAI/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>Thank goodness for the snack shop at the top – those salt and vinegar chips tasted amazing!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqaS9VPrQU5fZR8q3WK26xZRsnuyQiBjBUp4Vl73DoC-VfUiVRtSOfmmwlwRlaXZqjrEUk09BfaTmOa6vWDY71W2p_b7-GiQsnuGvznfxHEUOno2N5p_DF96cSK4ViI-3as17n9b7PU4/s1600-h/DSCN6063%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6063" border="0" alt="DSCN6063" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixASUjsrriDoA1hcHRbtDTZpWuFWMq5THB9gmLMCnGFQSUnfRcS_rBJFxKQpPPwew1trLiqcQhZSV6f3Roo6WgMbRLU9QzKJZfdnm6BBzUGaodompEnN6s86M464I1DleEYEM1hWkCp2w/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>Check out the views from the top!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfJVJw9DLRQroA8ZwdPpFCvWmgXOmy4tHySIok-kIY0N1Q5PqRqp1gq4vZ6CLpo-qCdFXlN5PffnQ6-aeSVEQBpKqWChUN6Ck8vQ7e6n1cwQshdSgkAXb1iTBUBfWNJ7R8zwrJk_E88o/s1600-h/DSCN6069%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6069" border="0" alt="DSCN6069" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vOxHYx4_zLZYo8E4W990lfRV3d7pNSxFkY97y8IwHD4is3VzLn2sR9MAiFuvRtcuSI325NhT6_RygAesiePsZSXZy50DYhAgzKxfYHBOdgSVFj6sEiLljQ3HnYqZSz2ET-C3ITT8-fE/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>Shall we catch the gondola down??<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqY5KPVCeJJhDwZQY4FWT4x5tVjLP9KZJjuzIo_QMoqagGazfKzGJqwaCyAPi__xZyqNfQO3ifgbB-d4GT_mYLXqf4O7GAxRZMegAzfCBDiSMSFLy_ctrhAnTDvKeSj1Rw0X07HUajQA/s1600-h/DSCN6071%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6071" border="0" alt="DSCN6071" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfNVgCDPxHkivy_BS4z7M_oI0cRCCT4K01bZhC_kCw0mdSBnA88iMlfIjWibC_UJ8xJlJi4auWwSOnW5exy_5DoIhrC4HggKs2ICjXB7OABis4RV2wQ0xq-PDykq5qjLQr5jFmKQCSe0/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6V3cpgyUjl9w5AjGhpItmq8G7mS284FEYEVaMMDtwryBDqJFilETgSb24rlmdIDCYdJDf6Q38qkqXFxU3eQMcnrAscZmPVhoZR1mkijfx7sS7Ed-LYbt2O26V2eGYXq1BB64nKMiRbFU/s1600-h/DSCN6076%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6076" border="0" alt="DSCN6076" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRazWfASyLVk-vxKmdQJ1__u_f-mNBOIqnn2nOZnSzKDNkJTMtkbSf_UCzS8Wl4BpBAkfkelrHfSry_xC8ywbROEaIKdIHsUXDSvHu7J_rQYhcwSy2V0eART0L4EZRngikDQtN08q-ksA/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><strong>Sulphur Mountain in Banff National Park, AB <br /></strong>3.56 mi trail (one way) <br />2,400 feet elevation gain <br />1 hour, 45 min (one way)</p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3J9vZKgZF_J5zp-wI0fhb_BF5tu-PwqOtE2FGM0NibYuHOk_O2wLavkgiOELJy9C7jfORb584V2LeyPeMPOHUdhGQC2ZKbte0aynC0mM7tQkoVVnPY_0wjTOFoMA2lqVbfisLsdPUXa8/s1600-h/Sulphur%252520Mountain%252520Hike%25252003-09-2011%25252C%252520Elevation%252520-%252520Distance%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Sulphur Mountain Hike 03-09-2011, Elevation - Distance" border="0" alt="Sulphur Mountain Hike 03-09-2011, Elevation - Distance" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofi-PPWsq4sM8n1kkQxAgwIQWch6dqI0Z7kyKnY7XmP7e31pqGXLrUEfP2odFYEZTn9Bugcke1RHNC2ZV4-EwaW-sRAyqwrT-gbZ1xUP441PdRRhyphenhyphenaW0XeBcc_Ac6go2nL5FC7unbEgs/?imgmax=800" width="599" height="361" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpQe3Wt0ZVfa4gUHkWCpeeFBwK_H_7i0AN-qtoCaB3yp1ozavTjfXes0pQqAZDpd18n2HcAcdH1O31oapp5fdG7IvD7pXNo8T0HvEkdzDIlRYRvwXSefPZW2HcCpDh4sibKzih67ormw/s1600-h/Sulphur%252520Mountain%252520Hike%25252003-09-2011%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Sulphur Mountain Hike 03-09-2011" border="0" alt="Sulphur Mountain Hike 03-09-2011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qFLcryjpoVJqM0ImQ5Y0HwVcN7Y7DiCAPyCftvPIifcK4y6pxoVP_MLCmiei16x_mHAXOTscoQigx5tjUidhwokG9Ua0RdFZNKzZXNqwAxJODXF1t7VgtzC4sAxysrxjoC1gZmbipzc/?imgmax=800" width="604" height="308" /></a></p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-79152199185919021802011-09-05T17:31:00.001-06:002011-09-05T17:38:54.645-06:00Hiking: C-Level Cirque<p align="justify">Just because running isn’t that easy right now doesn’t mean that there aren’t other ways to get my fitness back, right?  The Husband and I were out in Banff for part of the long weekend for a friend’s wedding and we figured this would be a great opportunity to get in a hike or two.  We didn’t have much time so we couldn’t venture too far so we opted to revisit a hike we had done before – <a href="http://www.banff.ca/activities-events/summer/banff-hiking/c-level_cirque.htm" target="_blank">C-Level Cirque</a>.</p> <p align="justify">We first hiked this in <a href="http://cdnrunnergal.blogspot.com/2007/10/4-mi-12-mi-c-level-cirque.html" target="_blank">September 2007</a>.  It was actually the first hike we ever went on together.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4Qba_JMgg6_hP_NSE4Css8SwilVZC_68SUbJ3VCNHYrBGkr5SC7l0zbE9nCWb0zVuFNooCYMtYbEd11-DxvS693WMX0JG1W_zFfLyU0Rv93u9ddGg9h6ZwGNiA6ESpCW2jCdda8uI9E/s1600-h/C-Level%252520Cirque%25252009-07%252520010%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="C-Level Cirque 09-07 010" border="0" alt="C-Level Cirque 09-07 010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkzFlKWPoxWud31i0feii9uFBW2gyhhnkaxCwfg8z2FH-uBoDZVqGwvgRLYfNoHA3wTddX4FztYZ23PCIkZsM2PIdRFIF-wX6F9NitYgxAAPPlfG_97L8WSp4E5pEX2Lg9RK2rvMQBS8/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>Us, way back in 2007<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7dR5DZ3lOrz0U5TOFIQZ-c36gKIumaoQy_Y-G23ey9Elci2fux1_mkxTWhmWJxBiJznUAeJLJK8gNmzU6kHxg_SuEZhLpHC0rUjP1htApGNXswmb1NAamiA09wRP2OkpfoCm3UntG10/s1600-h/DSCN6021%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6021" border="0" alt="DSCN6021" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3632DjJzMS5PxMLZY7ajSKUF1-5bp92n4JPTtmR11IKc7phwhGrIVmPq6TOhk5dbCHVV5Rt3Lcw-8uKhFQYuGyZE9PFmciBhHrTD-LOoLPBJf8zS20VxsZbeUT890r1AmtJ9AFaN0Xmo/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>Us, in 2011</p> <p align="justify">Back then the trail was covered in snow, today it was beautiful and clear.  It was also a lot steeper than I remembered it.  Funny how those things tend to happen?  When did this trail get harder??</p> <p align="justify">As you hike up you pass these old abandoned mine shafts, plus the old building you can see in the picture above.  Just past the old building there is a short trail off to the side that gets you to an amazing lookout.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJd7wh9MxyUTOg5bQFqca9RERQLuKVcJfULQOowEICj2ecINzwBlVaQMS4x6PjzcXaM3jkFXVOrYhukYw7y7RlZwzpxAaR-86-cNlDkA-HKfCYdNiFtYK7XbjtTDLMCXGLAGK97L5zBU/s1600-h/DSCN6024%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6024" border="0" alt="DSCN6024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJai1YwlaO_3NkmtnNyOC3k03GRrNj6KD_2J0xRPyZsPvThNHCMHCXvLDSjGgt1ZzVOoCUkv_yKjQLCVBmQuhii-x0AEWItFvk6sMPJYgxEHVrIRo2S9RMqsBOW4TkaF11DPgE7UdXaF8/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a></p> <p align="justify">You are otherwise in the trees the entire way up and it isn’t until you reach the very end of the trail that you get another glimpse of some amazing views.  Here is the actual cirque (an amphitheatre-like valley head, formed at the head of a valley glacier by erosion – courtesy of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirque" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEp_b70mCSLGiG6hzHNd6uuuVOQrjnbBSWbcjb4sJXyACHwbj6VAUnjqLhO8is-AHpxMidrKLAOYNvYOO24ZPmZaLSCgXd6jTXCUuBm3HZUKxlruEORC3tW6FCdztZ77e2eUwc1lne5c/s1600-h/DSCN6029%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6029" border="0" alt="DSCN6029" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFZvk1Xkk9pFHfm63bs7LbVckA0afNtxmmNp0994SXe3gVIUePLJN58LMuCIHAnrJbr-CUazbk6yL3yfgHVS0Psvjde7moYhsgBGVeIqWAx3G2Bc0jLUfQhGhyoibFaw0YuzZ1dpFXZs/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="447" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8T2PRoA0cSQFxlKgk6t2eJ1BqFMChvZP038sb0CxtNC9Ekr0vdPmbVkb6wziPZKbUtCGEEwjxq6JJJG2mjpVKOGQysNcQ7Ha9nTVLefu_Yhoc96WZ3og5a1zeGCCtQfVW1Rh7JEYcjA/s1600-h/DSCN6031%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6031" border="0" alt="DSCN6031" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj430wULETf62x6ttp-e-yvW3hKYe1-zL_0SK-QZS5unlG08Of24iu7ee3Uh-cxKcCwEj_EA_5DKip76eUuB3SwXcdGIeZ2igJw4bFSDtbq8yRR7mWF-T-eqzl8TWrGb1nYy5Y7NKUReBo/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>The views were so different this time, compared to when we were there in 2007.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae6uka3TJq3Yt5DcRzvJdI3m0iJGDsW5NpTTXBwSdkSTb3uI_0ynrsrhdABoJUr3n_r3p3BXNzCNetuJngIE5CE18hN7SnfWUxZ70jBd7GorKutZXswE_jxAQL5G86jhOdMtqDspQuMo/s1600-h/C-Level%252520Cirque%25252009-07%252520025%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="C-Level Cirque 09-07 025" border="0" alt="C-Level Cirque 09-07 025" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuo9cBcAy9I2IwSyNxicQhi8dyELRcKv8butl0bEKKWqljczC08vo_9kmZ4Z3vdPdAoHVGYZWDuV68_9J0Nz6hKS1DlI5msWRqKk4G_G0mvv3pak52paKlM-OpBjfcokEndZJlDlX_1k/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>It felt so much bigger and impressive since we could actually see the top of it this time.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPugwk1v0uiN8HP_Pm-wcdPSBFyX3ADOB0ru-8f51dnaWDRtt2ipPPaCf8s3Cd9EbJlN05T8RygmrUOhj1vXoLphplpmt_iuFU_tbO4mHCCkqF7_QR2iMhefIT5eTAXKqyxk_55xDAyE/s1600-h/DSCN6032%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN6032" border="0" alt="DSCN6032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXwtEwjFbZfT3fnRBlWz3d4ZstYCD5lt9k8G-qApc0XdKrJv7kJXBS0HRYdwIWqivNbkhVyH2GLvCelQyiK7xK666P-Ydg6SNtD_fXWR0O7oS7Tb64bmIKYsmKKMwAgP2mVkgRH25Poc/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a>All in all, a great hike!</p> <p align="justify"><strong>C-Level Cirque in Banff National Park, AB <br /></strong>2.28 mi trail (~4.6 mi round trip) <br />1937 feet elevation gain <br />2 hours, 15 min<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOsHimls_LJClt-T9z7bO7B4lnVy290DZQJn_WcxObi2b7Y2_bGERLtZUV-DTUhDSU39w65Zaw5wHZE_BNyq-_CtPenfKh7NNG97V5j-74PVo3ijTo8XOHcgBRIsi0iq_ZqVHAL7zqNo/s1600-h/C-Level%252520Cirque%252520Hike%25252002-09-2011%25252C%252520Elevation%252520-%252520Distance%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="C-Level Cirque Hike 02-09-2011, Elevation - Distance" border="0" alt="C-Level Cirque Hike 02-09-2011, Elevation - Distance" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHRinJkd7yFff3l3hs916aS2fdGqZS2zfkSnjlmFLbZg3b2-RODhF8DkxIoHS0GBQQsAuVzHGq65QFtMDrumxcTb62EJbM97oUynHHuu9JdFK_xNYjF1AQCbUoI2MVsYN_sBDvI37iWk/?imgmax=800" width="604" height="364" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozvZfSZaCoQRvu9FJK8NQiS7f8o7bFgVMbRLnmFt_qSc0twamqyfORBPqr_mBOWjvdkTfyff8kpjJs_YJOtE6yPbhnCtjoH8RLXhh43OKAF_Qdv7rqvaoGy4pQyVmS_b4qjhyHujcql8/s1600-h/C-Level%252520Cirque%252520Hike%25252002-09-2011%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="C-Level Cirque Hike 02-09-2011" border="0" alt="C-Level Cirque Hike 02-09-2011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4xEMfXMySYUK-Mfzwp30AvC5a-Yn6GWMOwpRwnkVk2BKK0FM71s5d2CfRrB8IoxdXPz5XDolsApnPVKEIUsQa3292O8o8ne_maAQ_Mcq51RSES9NQbzN8PWs5jVQGrYtQcMYgI5zCco/?imgmax=800" width="604" height="308" /></a></p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-37704110283662637562011-08-30T08:37:00.001-06:002011-09-12T20:02:09.147-06:00Confessions of a (Former) Ironman<p align="justify">Tap, tap...is this thing still on? Dear blog readers (if there are still any of you out there), it has been seven months since my last post. I've been pretty busy in those seven months...planning a wedding, getting married...the time has flown by! <br />You know what I haven't been doing in those seven months? A lot of running. I can honestly say that I have not had a good run in over a year. Ugh. When those good runs weren't coming very easily post Ironman in 2010 it became easier to stop running. Now when I try to run my shins hate me, my knees hate me. I'm back at square one. Bummer. Um, it probably doesn't help that I've definitely gained weight in the past year. That would make anyone's joints hate them as you attempt to pound the pathways, right?</p> <p align="justify">It is pretty hard to believe that a year ago yesterday I finished Ironman Canada. For the last few months I have not felt a burning desire to do an Ironman again. I just want to be able to train and enjoy the process, so I need to figure out what will get me back to that point. Then on Sunday I watched the live feed from Ironman Canada online. I tracked my friends that were racing and virtually cheered them on. I felt emotions well up inside of me as finishers crossed the line, arms raised in triumph, as I remembered how it felt when I finished last year. God, that was the best feeling. I went from saying, "I never want to do an Ironman again if I am going to fall off the wagon as badly as I did after the first one" to saying "I think I need some redemption on the Ironman course."</p> <p align="justify">Then I found out that my previous training partners in crime for Ironman 2010, Kelly and Tara, signed up for 2012. And my good friend Pam, who I really want to train for an Ironman with, also signed up for 2012. And I soooo want to sign up. <br />I have a million reasons not to, the first one being that starting at square one and going to an Ironman in one year sounds like a ludicrous prospect. I really think I should focus on losing that weight I managed to put on and just get back to training and seeing how it feels. I need to have faith that if I do that the good runs will start coming back. Ironman will always be there and I want to enjoy the process to get to the start line. I'm not sure what it is going to take to get that mojo back, but I believe I can do it. It is time to start trying.</p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-15137220364143067712011-01-26T20:57:00.001-07:002011-01-26T20:57:15.867-07:00Disney World Half Marathon–Race Report<p align="justify">The fireworks went off and it was time to get going on this half marathon!  </p> <p align="justify">I tried a couple of new things in this race.  I wore my Garmin on my left wrist and my Timex on my right wrist.  I had the Timex set to beep 4:1 intervals as I knew that would be my key to get through the race.  I also decided to wear my iPod.  I haven’t raced or even ran with music since…oh…2006?  But I figured the music might be helpful if the going got tough.</p> <p align="justify">I wanted to make it my goal to get as many pictures with characters as possible, so I was pretty delighted when I spotted Eeyore and Tigger on the side of the road.  I shoulder checked, ran across to the other side of the road and nabbed a picture.  Eeyore is my favourite Disney character ever, so I was happy that he was the first character I saw.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfXack0ZdSySOz-F8kCW-n5DHi7eFHsvDun7NvJbgpgPPM2zJccj4sDF0cUj18H8F3pyAkd9De7LvT1FfG56PUknKboA_oHC-ZlNeQn2EROIPrVKZGBbt-bxKEuJKIfmGxIREPlzWjzQ/s1600-h/DSCN4643%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4643" border="0" alt="DSCN4643" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFQCK4aK_qFDoiov8yBisYEZW2dSfXU0dSTB_z8qEScbGFyWs78I_pL6J3nfLPs_WrbyWXEJq1zY3BfXBzOL0VsMRsthwKljEFvO5DbqDPAFTuexkCkSFU12B6aUUYTX1i8ACOWzQ2vQ/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>I was feeling pretty warm so I had tied my heavier top around my waist.  As I ran toward the Transportation and Ticket Center I hoped that I’d see my parents so I could pass it off.  I also knew that my friend Maddy would be around there too, but I didn’t manage to spot anyone I knew there.  Gotta love running through there though as there are so many people and it is so loud!  You also don’t have to far to go to the Magic Kingdom either.  Which…I probably should have remembered for the next day, but oops…</p> <p align="justify">I was keeping on schedule with my walk breaks and taking in GUs every 45 minutes and I was feeling good.  On to Main Street!  I was again trying to scour the crowd for my folks here but no dice.  I remember running down Main Street and Christmas carols were playing.  A lady in front of me complained, “Why do they have to be playing my least favourite carol as I run down the street?  I hate I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas!”</p> <p align="justify">On to Future World and there was Buzz Lightyear!  Also one of the best things about arriving in Future World is the opportunity for a real bathroom with flushing toilets and running water.  Yeah, I stopped – thumbs up for bathrooms!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbecJsYgcN8ISfno5r1R0-nhIXYGEMn0S5Bjr6tN0iiHRI1iiDW37Mh4FMv1W3TvHrcEISwP-vLS59lkbmusb17FwsbagemLN8axsZcXl0Tba8XFKH_tvp3Nnc2_2kJJjPqm6njDtR3Vw/s1600-h/DSCN4644%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4644" border="0" alt="DSCN4644" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhGgU_l8D6z_VQ9Nhi7pTXziawiwgHmpf73b6oT3-eKPA4hb4XOgKc6JtlAhEQO8fdWhZ5NzAFm6fQrMy31dLFANp1AWgXajBT_69j1qzpaPyFnc4V1d64Gn7lfPRlrJw0zyos7E1Nc4/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>I then had my first character picture fail as I missed the Alice in Wonderland folks by the Tea Cups!  The line was long and I didn’t realize it was a line up for characters until it was too late.  Oh well, on to the next folks – Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook and Smee!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKzIoVE7SU9VXRWSCB3FiOONdc70RojIt4BbJ14kmA2PG3vYeEqlXHUnVaIuRDwUyTzZW_uo0u0Aa2qJ-2rRFsXTpdGT3eQi325HKXE4s7mlLQxGepfaqFfAlptlStkNDiz9m2BiiSwU/s1600-h/DSCN4645%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4645" border="0" alt="DSCN4645" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyCTE5pwWLzYPK4xEgiaFfoh1IbtmD8Nkf6x_rYWpCL8QIvek_jDBavp8CXh_sRkYrT4pZY3pPIQICur4HIVGXLKDz2atJmWe9fPyph_eweYMvnzBUd7nvtoG947iXYCN9P-ef3RRYEc/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>Then around the corner where there was a lot of action by the castle.  The Fairy Godmother!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGaFd8I3Sv5urFInHK-8DyJjXr07beCpkpHLnsCx6noYy-8GlRhRk5kHe2jGTRUgU_y6f5crRgIeS57RAtZwDD3ldjQtENQTxdvTYHDZpXZ3cvkDYUkvzAT6S7LGzGyzvvu1zN_-7gPI/s1600-h/DSCN4646%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpCgTHx3V7iNYqkt33THUseDPvkw0I79S4hIGQvUeBXRie_Fyny4snlM1XJ3skmRUf6L5227yuE-GJTCAYjyxoPWD7KOO4ROKx1UplvVAj-cf759vT9iWOJAfXGe-cVhw-45QO25JXFE/?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a>The Trumpets!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqL5_7LtjKjwkCMbX9Xr7cdSouQG99hNeSs_r-qylmuPvn1nahaYlJtdT2jdJ2nnWgM5tx8pQxRIFHkTSuaFN3kWwRyHT-a92LT67BVkY56Rd2E45-02RIGllgDsiKQXIJXwDIgI8MTDc/s1600-h/DSCN4647%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4647" border="0" alt="DSCN4647" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8EvdGubXsDH4V2UPKHwJsVZ5LKW3hWmJZ-o5mKp7b9Detlaz6RnIWkVzcPfEJdSy-ax-goeDMcrueWGZ3Znu6LGmFWonOSBk-yJjAxGCfJhyV0Po81SsA-5ZSw410e8ajttPQ0K6qqM/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqVW7kOL2BZ6HUbjBgrNJBhb_HnhttKeZIVRpkKx6uJgzpGHQwpRjMe0AZDb7fRYT6JYif6cb9fJcgjJo58hFMghmQCCeWwPDYlNevQC5FYSTZxTVe_hYCP94mXFYzP6zDwcA6UGOREs/s1600-h/DSCN4652%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4652" border="0" alt="DSCN4652" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBSdBSXVUQELrmLQJ_U9LZdRvIZFTPlF_u_HMyU0SFHNr56-wRO25l1ifudIEph_45wfTAhKDzs7XZgVAo4tDsopP7NzoXSaVI-g4RJ4jnLHVL1PUL7QVbzHYPArF1Sr5CBQErtFdsco/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>The Ugly Stepsisters!  I’m so sad that this picture is out of focus. <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioj4tDwvc38OfJSLwQCSx2gDxV4ZcfPp5QfrxQBg0RcsEjEZeZtB740BaYXy2ly1rdhtdteZ1r7GZ7tvb4ptgivNXnuLs758NXoBQmr9KLKKi40bqU35jc9SXj9QjgevM8ulGYYhNoBqw/?imgmax=800" /> I think it was one of my favourites from the day.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYX1CKQjT33iKRMK07C5pxZJzI1L8r92kR4FIBdVj4jcOp7CTJeT2Zm12euyLAj538TRF-Zqzzf8Dw_wPupfO5wUc6h0lO9QgBpaqCfYvfKBSuQ2LH79cKqoQSjoOguLa3E9ddM-wN0QE/s1600-h/DSCN4648%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4648" border="0" alt="DSCN4648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPRgdETXGRF2h42UwkBiFqGKNcaln9KF_3lH-8iGfkGuClIjLsF42C21g6OM-NJO9FTla-_LsEHQp6n9dVBJC9p5obp-V-bpI_xs0dCNLkq-pBc_k9rP_a0aitTsFXteYvh1mS6_iiao/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>And finally, Cinderella and Prince Charming!  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeZWvnr6srZzUcFLHlbraODilVkirbzK5KUgWApaLv5NgY-6QcQsTNtIpF2obbuQT0bUF8ktiyawo6EP-3isEypSOfeUF8zkkuxz8aBAvMcx4DuS9IXZ5h80esR4gRBWJAHctHYmc7h0/s1600-h/DSCN4653%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4653" border="0" alt="DSCN4653" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjng2ot8d3JwCKKWViENgJRrIMc7wla1zxta7OzChStJRya1LC5lUcDVIgGoj5PJWf6OxJ__Gm0dfGsCDWPrnnYuMQyQjP6c3n9XVkXxXmTt1XSpnxvRo0PEARrnhGF_uE3rBCav-lAxd8/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>And then it was time for the highlight of the race – running through the castle!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qUdK3-89keDVslUa_29cMWcgCxOBkujzLMb1tizwPGSt2ucBsg7koVtleSxkTbOtym_UamWbWyGtSe5Lyr_vwcr0FwfV3HNY4YXogLuiiX1Kk1CkfFC6Jdp1o56ObyGanw2joAF2kPE/s1600-h/74486-270-018f%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="74486-270-018f" border="0" alt="74486-270-018f" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-nnpMPx6AwZfeUqQit6oQOGgdzh4qBQjwlkjVYUOmd4wNFdgcJTqQgAf9m-gtTS7RUua8g_X_h6hVDbD1ueswf1wwZWpAae9uWT0eY-Eq415azHcZZA8eZyvQ_uubCGRWJ-d68UcjIQ/?imgmax=800" width="254" height="381" /></a>Then I spotted my parents.  Let’s run over and say hello!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWbJLmw2zp_v1m5NsrYf5emXkytizzCeW3nH5jBCF5FDa5kza5Xpp0TJQGNsyJRbKDTrsWi9m-Xm1IDJZU_cSEfIilQd0ofBfuHQdybu26cJ4P4kRaicNLN99QSNgHyN6c3ZMRrZ1N-E/s1600-h/IMGP1405%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP1405" border="0" alt="IMGP1405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-M6yO0uZTpqT_u9-JmzhEtoiGY3gigxVaMfe07M_39HcXC2jo7Dix7y1HIJcpChqQY-YR2ICqsNzIiAdfpxdzvi9FZgjAGT-JsOS2yFaH9BU2ZgBrw8kyWx1uL-ZQUTSaFw7_dZyR-U/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="336" /></a>Oh, and I can pass my long sleeve top off as well!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJ5_wveNDE0cswncml3YyVUNBCDYJ3DozdCxaaVhg6SVHYGnKpx3CyNEZC2k_lIPLeCv61h2azbk2CwkG4f4VYNqfKEgoGIcjWoXzSjGu0c3RiDdFQ3zlEOA0pC-JZkcfTVfVcCTZeOY/s1600-h/IMGP1408%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP1408" border="0" alt="IMGP1408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZx7unc_wUJxYNv_7PgiRJsNKZc6j-jwe-50Haj07ZNQ244kPeyjj_HXKFM0fwQhwT1NRyuL4kYcBOo6ZDu_56rAu5lGBZmXoUw4Iz7uKo3feqxvDE1Sy8z0yyNSqaOeS3r5wjnbGgMa0/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="504" /></a>Then the woman in front of my parents was telling me to move out of the way since I was apparently blocking a picture for her.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhW7d0KUQyH8BWED0yuFJ1gsSWcoAH4t0BP-7jGtX_XAC7XMOqKT1HvcxpfQm1s35jqFSxB-kvUzh620sZ-ebWn47_qGNSttHugDGd69Vfeo9yiqhebT_sJ5b9EXUdjm4prt5Tg2oKH0/s1600-h/IMGP1410%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP1410" border="0" alt="IMGP1410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tL3wgKWmZQ9aYkUVb4P-z332aTBT4J3FcvayTdx6KGGAtzcki1f3JksNaooG-dIT5gHDZK3_nHB6EvCMI_hX2HsQkIMb81pFN4B7XfB4Zlq5tGQRgwKM2J89RIDL1EPkj2b_TgB6jwc/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="504" /></a>OK, pass the top off, time to get going again!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0NjKgaOCmpK3RJsWx4fgqtLIJkoLDCS_tkbKoWViZgey6mK0hDLvppnKVJsn98yCECu3Pn-YciRn24hQOXWNtSRi7VnaYK5DaKl070LGP75viCmeoSQCHxatkkuHkSekBhRForyLBt0/s1600-h/IMGP1411%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP1411" border="0" alt="IMGP1411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieECgoKo1Ie2ZywIIN2i6xwSW1AOK3ZJVfoLtS3ovGCfHAdLdcQzwgd_ihaknPgm-AoIK2b0yBzCChDZUCny12WL0Ljh9rfr2v0UEQdnkS3-EYVTlcBusaheQEdCLiwlC2JUSzYQtrxu4/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="504" /></a>Ah yes, I did just post a serious of rather unflattering pictures just for your enjoyment!  Time for more character pictures.  I’m going to guess that is Tiana and Prince Naveen along with Louis the Alligator from Princess and the Frog.  I haven’t seen the movie yet (although I do own it on Blu-Ray) so yes, I had to google those character names just now.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtfUhE-Ddo2LeGV-eHXAaY5PBUTlXA7BQNlwv1Kt03Rb41zxm-dc82MdXu0Vmnk0pLah19AofbzdXY_dXFPkEA9RtNxhbVZY-IsaSpLqR5Pr7YL2ijdJJogxtzHusClCsNpTg34HiM44/s1600-h/DSCN4654%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4654" border="0" alt="DSCN4654" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21ZN4GQTQCeSV_RC5YfjILpi13BRMWSlx8eBU-j9WWUiH9wGRxZYij8mhAaEWcaZzsTUgH9rq21lB5o7qBJdeADxChUrQYtGBcr9jE_6KY1Oojnm3-6zoeHazCx1qQBRFB0782ZYolTQ/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>Now on to Frontierland and a couple of characters from the Country Bear Jamboree.  I totally felt like how they looked…<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLVQYAZ5tP_uAJV6QzFol1Cv65WgLO-iZAeFUOsgnLf3GcmZj2U9k2f42Lke-m3BXAkkQeAZhcyW3jmrguZ4Mpe2A5ISEKTVFCOK_e4Taz6e8fj1pmt16BhUz32ky__qymaxcWpj7LFw/s1600-h/DSCN4656%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4656" border="0" alt="DSCN4656" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2cUhJRqKrWAkA8NxqfjKyFxqcI2XzYe9ViyvYipQw6gVXuTRyBolS8W2cggUQVsJqcJxD1K5HR4NDPn5VB2YSMoZSdXoL9_8MYZ0zPkncy1J8zq8zk2ik1ZiB6MnX22YafhSpv1l9lU/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>Then on the way out of the Magic Kingdom I paused for a seat on the front of the train.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxa7oGOkqdh-dknjKX1xBm3uLFM2syf6Jp64_nxIBqzho_DIl2sZgs9C6eIAYlDQB0-_s2EoEl56gLpCHkABP7k1HYEqLCJiPKmsJTvVMKikeBPFJ66nSoD3pzdqmGV3NSuGQDWe-S32A/s1600-h/DSCN4657%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4657" border="0" alt="DSCN4657" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIk5oJwWLDXcZdaFm1zwlnCiLhN0aKp0uDNQtIONm8z5k_egH7kv1NgKO2CNKfi0vVd79Fu6LxOCwfalCpN7VkDXIZ8KMfto2YHbj5yz7U6ME-cRk6LUnXiB_HZ4-Z8B-xDgpjUbOPA0/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>Time for the hard part!  After you leave the Magic Kingdom it gets a bit tough.  You are on such a high running through the park and now you are on a pretty darn boring road running past the the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian.  I had another character fail as I ran past Mary Poppins.  I was on the wrong side of the road and it was just too crowded to cross.  Luckily I had plenty of time to spot Donald and Goofy up ahead though.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfExNWxMmY_bbSWMYUxa_RiX8tME-d6DtJ_PipxEmwyKLy_7DLbQ2Y7JBkCYXb_KBkERU7rKvsxYT2IHNqhMmfXI30PzlF3htWVw30sN9JgF-aMfmy6qvcqeaHdSClRObfVdyciEWy_uc/s1600-h/DSCN4659%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4659" border="0" alt="DSCN4659" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqa25mQszQbGQoFsE1X1C-Ed1e8H3EX75txyWnBh0fIxGD7aPMqktq7SyVrrbdjriD_1ItkiiLrazMefh4JU2IGO2NL4S8K-KK2miHg2OrXSx6deWG3nwFZS5akGylsPSVEU6nhhusjE0/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9KgFM7f9e8-4zUFPq6Xpfh4bQgI5ZU1Na9QFsgaBO_HjgI9E2ftFRx6j3WIx8dM4w8XTtHoFt4rWBGUk37z4_HLKD9m1Eg2D5LeMxi6xiGVmPc33qWJ-w-zSRLGivjGf0ZduYdSPiL0/s1600-h/DSCN4660%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4660" border="0" alt="DSCN4660" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhl-Aq5AqC7LGtDqHOo0Zf6DLvl67Zec0J0xxYxOgOoOHzsSTtXmcSkMfrI9y3Jw4fRUgwTTTefvEzd_98kqD2v_iwCDB3geQ13M9lFnVchdv3I5JoxkrxMA4QzGySU465y-jQ8VyN6R4/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>Somewhere after here I was starting to hurt.  My legs were saying, “Yeah, you remember all of those long runs that we DIDN’T do?  Yeah, we aren’t so happy anymore.”  My quads were feeling pretty stiff.  As we made our way back on to the highway the sights were becoming few and far between.  This hot air balloon shaped like Epcot was pretty cool though!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWfvUxqlZcaKwvBgs1ozaQZSw88FBZwaA23DP2PA27NdvvuniTmsK9vWl_Mv13mdGqtdCRNiIJ4Q9yMnp_hMP6X4M5jh4Oxk8NdjSNdJi2JFKu7pkx1UNVNnvo_sCqsaBgHvV4LtE2U4/s1600-h/DSCN4661%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4661" border="0" alt="DSCN4661" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXS3jjw7hAqfZ6L090womLkstYXhHMIuqdI_JdbJZa3GE7r8ygSQ7-enLO4YtWDujA9XycN0OSr8z4vXNgIx-IWVEca5Q02q9YpnlUzUjKXhbksnlo6uPaJr_PA1yYoNJvMkaza_Iu1Y/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>And the green soldier from Toy Story was a hoot as he tried to motivate the us as we ran past in his own unique way.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8l_2-aas6d_Kq-C2hJTBuPOrmIymVmm9-9KHQcXARaio5a2oY4uIXGt8YoWOdo7uX4QS3s6MmRJO5ZXx3DvEM-Grsj6sAufdyT6xLIfx4LbFr2nd_2RdkIJAaRWvtP_VKiSS61mwL-U/s1600-h/DSCN4662%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4662" border="0" alt="DSCN4662" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJyzJNlh1dVKVYkjhCV1M4mNOIA2-rbrxZQSfXtIfcUr_yEXrVMZCe1ggAczTrXTn30wqW1C1lRv2-ZntLvHsEYl6t-EtXeeFkHvTCeaWejczY39mPqODh05ygQ_xE54rAQ13RYksQC4/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>Mile 11 – guys on stilts!  No clue where these guys are from, but I was hurting (and mostly walking by now) so I was happy to stop for a picture.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6p4SHQoDVdThUJtQNQyKYnwrHDOBiLya6k-mOLaMfRB1qgT_InfEXf2H1-c_yMb6idPmSfcVpMDbFM3eQa7S95BMxa-WveDm9N4HMPiLc1GbpCHV-EQyZjsc2Mdg6H-7_osVuOWbGdA/s1600-h/DSCN4663%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8j49Ph48ixRAlGn3seMVjC8s_3z9VEtEpWQ84lh_NT5p-r5OHy93UhqlR3FiBXfu05ZTJjkqviWqPg0hG2b_Qwj0H4mGUDwG98fP88oyURXdHoCTFK3okpq827xObKj2j0b1A8xWTITM/?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a>And the last characters on the course!  Guess what, I have NO IDEA who they are!  I just really wanted an excuse to stop forward motion for a bit.  I’m pretty sure they must be friends with Tinkerbell but that’s about it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7LJpfLl76AsvC_FAYUKcUzHeZyup2zZejMV_DBdLsRNq9nBUFtqIMsC6VCSYqOWSh8UtCE0FbVIsug3bvsXf2CqHgJzFCRm6OnqsO9SWaORJh4DfGjNwo4keW30LgsIh_IPscF3eUj8/s1600-h/DSCN4664%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4664" border="0" alt="DSCN4664" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmORTeS6unD_dlK1bc7k2txYZoVTQc33r7Ts5YvmxWVaSCxEeRKlrEMz9OhHaGoogcsp7UIJPziT8QLwlkvRJQXjYVqB23hy-Q2S6HS2YJmJkrh324WjEJe-YW8aoomqu3Wq6BhRIcuX4/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>Finally, mile 12 just before we entered Epcot.  By this point in time I was not only dealing with tired and hurting legs but I had hot spots on both of my feet.  Sure, maybe I could walk the marathon with sore and tired legs but those hot spots were completely unpleasant.  There was no way I would attempt the full marathon if I wasn’t going to have fun so I knew in my heart of hearts that this was it for racing.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0yF72lI7Zz9HthZDLC2A9swe7RugwqoAYlTKqN76bxYbTTzs-sq99gbI1SiI-dKFsvgsA2fAYoQtNdPoMeJ7tH7m6PmF9RpWtSoqq-jYc1NrLiYuaOcUiAO2Juqbtdm-bbMSINzKxfI/s1600-h/IMGP1426%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP1426" border="0" alt="IMGP1426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBAnzj3nkGqptOdDKhudmHXA2saRynxQl1vfu_4d_XowBh4zxT6zBM8b38HsV_ZcLY7_n3yWtCgxuiLe4yrUoMN65ldsFMLPX06jnnAtpWwyj8m3XDO4z459gf3nio-43ul_X_UJWjdE/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="504" /></a>I attempted to run a bit more as we entered Epcot and then finally, the finish line was in sight.  I high fived Goofy and then finally…I was done!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOEHgInG95_2v9tXUC5Zkn3OEk3P90jQMMcEFKRB_jKRyk2mIYq0X-WmjdPBGsln5C24KkwmCFo2uxe8xJtvc_t2xP3eiuKtsZXu2YS-ZEaxJwqr3MDOi6pR0n8pRGtfLzO8fTTBUk2s/s1600-h/74486-5083-006f%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="74486-5083-006f" border="0" alt="74486-5083-006f" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OAqqow4xBTGPy46xk1Y-D6-23SMyj13NI7zsimu5D-1M5IMuWBqjexHYw01zhVowcsjRVD3GxWWS1jf7cbJwLnU650vPXvhREalqW4n3vFgkpvDVcxo_H5_i2dJFI5_NSnLFzn7yshM/?imgmax=800" width="224" height="336" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMclLQGg3vnB_19eREjglHrkcp3xRzIOe2Q-ZYy_cfUlf5CplFQYp0g2R2-xLygPae-VZO-Eh_yVIOTTgBzB0eUEC-vZaOIrsyJyVffzhck9Zo81MT_-zmA-rI2E0sNeJeDzTH8G8KKUQ/s1600-h/IMGP1435%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP1435" border="0" alt="IMGP1435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VAi4F-be1sFKuR3_R7BC2kc5jio1xckRQJp-LrLYDn_90I-WtxINQnuUhp4c_NhItYDc2X5HL6wx7gmFKCJ_NtU5K3T7YpcuthxW6O2xQKp9QsID-FQ8ZczfV3eyCwRnX1lwXgJVhtE/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="504" /></a>I managed to set a new Personal Worst as I clocked in at 3:15:57.  BUT I did manage to get a lot of pictures with characters and I did have fun.  That being said, next time I will definitely make sure I train for something like this.  Bad Leana for falling off the bandwagon so badly this fall.</p> <p align="justify">Anyhow, stay tuned because the stories aren’t over yet.  I have one heck of a dramatic spectator report for my mom’s marathon.  </p> <p align="justify"><strong>It involves a plan, a major math error, transportation malfunctions, beer and a black eye.  </strong>Really!</p> <p align="justify">I’m also hoping my mom might write a guest post with her marathon race experience for me too.  Plus I have so much to talk about what I’ve been up to lately and where I’m going this year!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlAxK_gX7kBi64uwB_dvMm3ox0V8z0FTbrqI0m0NclWHVHJuzj8WegxQVF8eK6WL_3tHIgfFOXX-ERXhSLV59T7Rkw2hLhU8-UIPcx-prWlms26Ll9gWbgIQPaE1GqV3iHSgeg4GWBL8/s1600-h/DSCN4600%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rIJKmxUTbAPdKBSIchaKFRd1Upb2GX1PXEUYLrNpZkOMaVEpgQqXKGVQF5car9zePucvmT3R4KfLO6LmVAOG2pKbkLnkH6wQHMVBotrtJCoUtXZ-KzBPxQEsFrzRn3ppzwuD1osEr_Q/?imgmax=800" width="336" height="447" /></a></p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-27519330684543805432011-01-18T21:55:00.001-07:002011-01-18T21:55:21.028-07:00Disney World Half Marathon–Before the Race<p align="justify"><font size="2">Boy oh boy, Disney races start so early…  The half marathon was going to start around 5:35 I believe and they wanted you through bag check by 4:30.  Craziness!  I figured if we left the hotel at 3:50 I would be at bag check soon after 4 am, I could meet some blog buddies and then be in my corral in time for the start.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">Um…yeah…that is not what happened.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">We turned out of our hotel and made out way to the main highway to get to Epcot.  We ran into the most insane traffic I have ever seen.  We were barely moving.  I watched the clock tick.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">4:30 came and went and I knew my blog buddies were now making their way to the start.  We were still really far away.  Inch, inch, inch towards Epcot.  Finally at about 5:15 we were on the edge of the parking lot.  Dad slowed to a stop and I jumped out of the car.  I left my sweats in the car, raced through bag check and hit the porta potties on the other side.  While I was in there the announcer was frantically telling us to get to the start as the race was about to start.  And oh yeah, I was supposed to be in the second wave so I was pretty sure I’d miss that opportunity.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">From the porta potties I raced the long way to the start.  I found the final corral but I wanted to see how far up I could get.  The fireworks went off signalling the start for the first wave.  Crap!  I managed to make my way near the front and spied the B Corral.  I was able to make my way through to the back of the corral just a moment before we were supposed to start.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsZxMYpZ3OQ_FAihBz31xfVU6HbgDsxbMrjcorHL43XVApsPCRfFwiShpRrK17anXA95OS6sLqGnyiic-VutoX21rsYnYKmvzGB3RmM3RT9zh5lW6sLi0USXrn8iDqkeOiy0vc6pBII0/s1600-h/DSCN4642%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4642" border="0" alt="DSCN4642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIQ4FTvCo2vW68vBfLvYP0nLc2y9sfRlKjZ7i7_b3LCrHla4BEzvHaaz9abghXa8CZgNUu3nlVyDY3hwSNHVrKUbRzJuScXyVgdTHxICNsqYI13lslk2ZqGTi_WYvDUtulyuOF7VVKI4/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">Alright, time to run a race I hadn’t really trained for…</font></p> <p align="justify"><em>By the way, I’m not sure if there were too many people on the road or what was going on, but I was quite disappointed that traffic control was not in place to help move traffic into Epcot before the start.  It shouldn’t have taken us over an hour to drive what normally takes less than 10 minutes.  My one gripe from the weekend.</em></p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5843653167115605408.post-85038553054831457432011-01-18T06:09:00.001-07:002011-01-18T06:09:15.548-07:00Buzz & Woody’s Best Friends 5K<p align="justify"><font size="2">The alarm clock went off bright and early at 5 am on Friday morning.  It felt pretty chilly outside (even for this Albertan), so I dressed in capri tights, a long sleeve top and a midweight base layer.  My plan was to leave my top at the bag check, but the bag check was right after you got out of your car.  I wasn’t quite ready to give it up yet so I decided to race with it.  I hit the porta potties, started taking a couple of pictures, and then the announcer told us to start making our way into the corrals.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItSNarbng2CtKGNla9ioV0DYEqMAs5KfVQt9W849foliSQ7HARioum86rPdKuFJ_dAzfdA9gkHG6ok2U4uYMtPYFtnJ3z4h7qa5z6xTTonvF0bsMePSNLQSx70etyQGBDbcyhSaTf-I8/s1600-h/DSCN4606%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4606" border="0" alt="DSCN4606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3R8GQSV13wyRavjylnirRzmCJjIRFdWgZi69CtiabpX9Eb15dtBlC3QXLptFmxMnQZtvjyIzNcoEeOWYfRkETFiBKOhhsvf4RjgFh8NtMN6Z1nE0yMWdFd4Wy9kxCpUStCp2JZWG2-9Y/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvITJ-wo9xSncHHH60YQ09hkjTy39toAerD9y-lR1mYM_kdOKGYYE1a5c6EoYyzl9a0PudfZQ0ZtfJtllau0J9k3t-IW6HAB-j9-xs879SRpVeU1sAcasEPhZAQQpoCKqyzu36JHWNgE/s1600-h/DSCN4608%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4608" border="0" alt="DSCN4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iL-my_00tF8efKgTUvPAgPscs0I8hvdnHyl2pUqa4PhbzgAHktit4kE5UTBpk71pvNDjq6ajI7HISKnl5YRm-ZSD51DbTq3ruxw6WqN7XpkHLsS-GW1ge09vxI_8iShzkkz7Eqy-mJ4/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">The corrals were crazy busy!  At first there was no getting in a corral as they were just too full.  Finally a barricade near the front was removed, a few people moved up and I was able to make my way in.  Yes, I was still cold…<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipS5xPLx-M_4LUgwEfxnLKzKRxED1ZqYAg5DovPa4-XFrdeJHzmwGH9IpJRcz7ZCDrsWJ7ET8UHWE0ah-xEcspEWTI1QQtpGOZKEAuTkgvN2H5Q7qIJy43UejCmqZ_TSBSqG9dKVCW0Bs/s1600-h/DSCN4611%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4611" border="0" alt="DSCN4611" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLPGCnT5ApMhbYUomvRIU4Arl39FxILir25LSwlnc7aEK64R0Zvh4TUqttEwahTPawegjBdImAJSRqJHPFt-PM_DQ05p8NB64aXALvA2Vnl3UUS9SQM6JwvPPED1SMi73j6Ejd9AGjd0/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a>As the race drew closer Buzz and Woody came over to the start to cheer us on.  Then at 7 am we were off!  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_pZpaeS4SZPJHVQx1uUcSYI7qqn4YEohFr1r1g8ELn5nM5Fn7KXSvQ2WTcjfcH3eL_D7Le5Vj64RQK3XVSLWQmb-JPL5l0nh4x1gX4DFwAUZQRMn4Kz1askRbWNSQDHD-Ige2zxE2_Q/s1600-h/DSCN0844%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN0844" border="0" alt="DSCN0844" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC-cU1a5A_gYlsvHKoW4KJbJqTXYfaf06WnOijjiSRpRFqwCoHF3lYav-CnXCXhcNIPmT0ujhCQWcTpBxaV60ntlHtNkiuC2kFIvq4v1e6pv7rq6C_ai_nDyA9NzKQNnJtXPROERxzFE/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a>The course was so crowded to begin with.  This was a non-timed fun run, but you were asked to line up by pace.  A bunch of walkers set themselves up near the front of the race causing quite a bit of congestion for the runners around us that wanted to get by them.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">We started through the parking lot and back lots of Epcot, then made our way into the park right by the Mexican pavilion.  There were several characters out along the way.  I saw Mulan in China and Minnie was waving to us from the Japanese pavilion.  My dad spotted Chip & Dale there when he went by.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUNHU9yWnVSJcK_lT4Bv7LpJynpHrg_bsdvlycvfHFC0YvqLUeKozrrX4n5k0GX-NqVBBO3GSrz2sh0lkfSBGKN3KTf0WyWPfcI_A6_2Iqe3ucgTtKOp5VOsE1Ii4jk50JVddQ4dvgm0/s1600-h/DSCN0845%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN0845" border="0" alt="DSCN0845" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxvUthsqo7aquKb9QRTySeOb5sQpAJNqypJ3Di71fimepDttOHd1_LD7G9Jhf9AY_gmUDFjx5xV9at3YMi0H1oSm1DuKx6J0pU0IRCpZWkyoJyhMOMBXJf33HINzIg4zqDJpakciHJ_8/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a>When I saw Remy in France I had to stop for a quick picture.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMENit2mJFUGkp_D4Tf8sTynlzfdCJh-XneCacijNbGMKOnSwAvdKqethd7D8kUyYuKSa_cVNsfmrvFs0-oodnWgWrX8_q3lF09gANgcIiz-8TKhhNi8T4qEM0XsRMuO7PE8yVrG3V-Mw/s1600-h/DSCN4612%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLrrTXVYSuNGvwfiWabCrXy-A-_cQDWUMnZHp6q0mLxiRegjGe1dgcio8CkIc9HkdtFuoADlJeg3TtUKoWA1MDU4ZyeT9VPrt0dM0rUuSoP10rcpw59bvrubDJQ2QU11cs3Hecte-cGw/?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a>I absolutely love running around World Showcase in Epcot so this was a pretty fun 5K for me.  Finally it was back towards Spaceship Earth, then out of the park, into the parking lot and on to the finish line.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaYqA6Oic0CWEqMJPKUKZP3KqCm8cXaSoVlEzAU40XhdGs44s8zYtJVmi9WvhffSnRT4QsiRp4ogJB9DT8S2shQceF-YMSwZ6UrKg1NfAJ1aX7BmzeS07_w2OWYDxkfNasKHxjSDHFhI/s1600-h/DSCN0846%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN0846" border="0" alt="DSCN0846" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw18nZLhgpYWVioAIeGZWYcrfb8j7DGR6y0fXtDW3OxuypqT7O954_NJwiTy4GIRKAABx9W4emWahi0uHSJhWUyrsaZBia1c9p4fVVtB1nvyMH-LYqRPdbHHmIcKV_DHbogJPCbEjO7Mg/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a>I crossed the line in 35:47.  I got my first medal of the weekend and then waited for my mom and dad to cross the finish line.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdRPOiI67kSYSGaUK6O6y6RmyWbeWsC7n6ETFAxsty6OBUbgsrixRk-6_W0yY_O-LDF_RlY1GiOZt_sPquIbCYSafbzOjTsgR0LA5uWV9HDnbuxxB0g3J1PUjYh-PhbUpVB2XxgzDqm4/s1600-h/DSCN4615%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4615" border="0" alt="DSCN4615" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYwB8U-n7ZA_47GQKmdI-embpTQ15xyeBOJuOvOl5bpQoJt0VT9fuJruQn_p5b6ykYqQGVC5rywZdj1rliSHjwqadFlZNR46t32Q4TCGg5BOwUHVCAtccyNm-6Tuj_MtFAdXPBBnrY5E/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCkvW9RtC4GtCf4JwAvmRRAFNWbGbiNR1ZwBfWrY_3ulSSVPV4bEjv3q3AlAyDWh_k8mKAeBlmQT5F7Fp310H55RjX5VgDwyON4g02OrYaRS-1k2rK5WCY-3cLij3ECQHvVO1I5BXmA8/s1600-h/DSCN0848%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN0848" border="0" alt="DSCN0848" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwURPNaxhTh1OBrF6Ay-s18Ntr3oGroCVvEeYVI3CUGp-qdlQWHeEqN_PahoDnSI5PnbbH9DIZ-QQKF0gP0Zt39u7tADra8kMxYhpEdYjQrybvsjsCml4TNbCTHDXHNZ1Z8h9Dko4lX8/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a>Once the race was done we figured we’d get an early jump start on the parks and head to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  We wanted to ride Toy Story Midway Mania before it got too busy.  Yes, I was that cold that I was wearing the many clothes while standing in line!  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSWbhZjg5nC59xOlHFzKAVKSOVilwfWOd30LOIHTXpn5ch57DdM5DITVNrz_DBsWx59FEv_CkOYk1pet06JetEy7ttgX_v4heZJWCD0aY2GJyNsCZEE0axxiPBxpGcaZLqO2OpKgjox8/s1600-h/DSCN0850%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN0850" border="0" alt="DSCN0850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_Z6wtFSd4lFsXF1Z_fnPHPn4Ni7Q0VZlDAnRaRHOZBu8MvsX2_658j1FQ2AiZTW8vavB7yVZeOuFlqSb2PrXjghZluDxTPTc-KmnVu0NawTviLObmKs_4ZiOelXxh7duAuYqSyOKmqc/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaFViWGf2cEYNRnG9guXosTGYrR__r4lCjA-YYiljLW19sOB6G1MmjDjZtcb3zg6S_NwgnueJcTq8KeoG18l0iKOa-2j0RUKk65Fhn5vR1bp7OYG9oooOdGUMVqkKDxGz14ooMhc8hgM/s1600-h/DSCN0852%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppICCiApjH_oE8houK6VUEzyLkHRjWTBYTmeNgPIHwOETZGukE2rI-1nbYggGcfVhlf8sjQSXMbHnvE9L95o1ORIPjAGSlJ6xnzf_Uk607os-wQon_U5XlKQsnIF-TGvMlaPUsS8uXNQ/?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a>After two rides on the midway and a turn on Aerosmith’s Rock n Roller Coaster we had done everything at the park we were keen on.  We left for a quick lunch of fish and chips at Raglan Road, then back to the hotel where I wound up conking out for a 2 or 3 hour nap on the couch.  Half marathon tomorrow!!</font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTKQ_SH7WSTp7KXStsMOZKpi9WJwacO88M0tTTtzhLfWajbWvWedKvOurpXJy4fHhbafI8bbK-aouz3ScksusDmy3ViCz-T52sGu0xmqFrlxFJtkISn6r_R9hSVV42buIOCTFXTuIkXg/s1600-h/DSCN0855%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGD9I08GYMRdNQ-ZD0V8ftFqWYx4i6mNKGdq1xGb9A-bFCn2lSM0RPiHQ9qnf8zhBk1eVkbWm95OrEIjbd_8R_bIExCC9l2Pnfa7xMobX-4mYeTv7CdqdbyWZpxcHd7q_XYTvhVmcSs9M/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="309" /></a></p> Runner Leanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.com5