Interested in Running the First 10km of Montreal-New York?
As you have been following me over the last few months, you know that the start of the Montreal-New York City Challenge is just a few days away. I am SO excited to live this great adventure! I don’t know how things will go, but I am anxiously anticipating every privileged moment we will all share together.
If you are interested in joining us for the first 10kms and live the thrill of this adventure with us, you are welcome to join us on May 30 in Old Montreal. Just click here and sign-up for a great 10km.
Have a look here to capture a glimpse of the high energy this challenge can give you (even if the video is in French, the image are well worth watching). Maybe this can be the start of a great adventure for you:
Featured on iRun.ca
I am very happy to share that I’ve recently was given the privilege to contribute to the iRun Magazine website. After registering for the Ottawa 10km last year I received a copy of iRun magazine. I really loved what I read and saw. Now every month I look forward to receiving the next edition.
Contributing to the Running for a Reason section on the website is a great honor. You can read the article here.
Shin Splints
Pain down the front-side of my legs with each step taken during the run. The pain not going away after a run. Tightness in my lower legs while running. The sensation that my calf muscles are about to tear apart. These are some of the not-so-fun side effects that have been affecting me in the last few weeks. After having had enough of the pain I decided to go see a physiotherapist (I’m hard-headed so it took me a while to finally make up my mind to go seek care). Diagnosis: Shin splint in each leg.
apparently this is a fairly common injury for runners – actually somewhere around 15% of running injuries are shin splints. Knowing that this is common for many runners and with proper treatment runners recuperate and get back to running after a little rest period is comforting. Having the upcoming Montreal-New York City Challenge date moving closer and closer the needed rest period is not so comforting.
My physio told me that if it weren’t for the Montreal-New York City Challenge she would want me to completely stop running for a few weeks in order to bring down the inflammation and properly heal. I negotiated a 6 day stop. After another physio treatment this past Monday I got the ok to test things out and go for a small jog Monday night. That 5km must have been one of the toughest runs I’ve done so far – only the run after the prepatory challenge was as tough physically as this one. Each step was a struggle. The pain in the front of my legs not going away. Tightness there throughout. At some point, after trying to speed up my pace a little, I could not help but let go of a few tears. Tears of physical pain, but also tears of fear. How will I manage to get through 8 relays of 10kms when I could barely get through one 5km slow run?
I don’t know what will happen up until and during the final challenge. I hope I will be able to run all 8 relays. I want to run all the relays. In the 15 days until then I will do everything I can to make it. Ice, stretching, foam roller, physio, mental visualization.
If nothing else this challenge has taught me that we are individually and collectively capable of achieving great things. I’ve seen others in the challenge achieve things they thought impossible. I have also found the strength to keep going because of the team pushing me forward. As a result, I am taking it one day at a time until the big day, and I continue to have faith that everything will workout for the best in the end.
Working Out Alone…How Hard Do We Push Ourselves?
Being a runner most of my workouts are done on my own. I run with my ipod and wave to other runners that pass by me. But, I’m on my own. No one is there to push me and challenge me to go further, harder or demonstrate more intensity.
On Sunday, towards the end of my 10km run I realized I was running at a comfortable pace when I crossed another runner who seemed to be giving it her all. She was huffing and puffing and sweaty. I, on the other hand, was breathing fairly comfortably. I have been struggling through some leg pain during my last few runs, and as a result I have maybe given into the temptation to take it easy on my runs. Sunday was supposed to be a Tempo run. By my 5km split I was more at a Slow run pace than a Tempo run. Yes it was hot, my legs were hurting and it was my 2nd 10km in 24 hours, but was I really giving it my all?
The running girl who past me in my last 1.5km stretch made me realize that maybe I wasn’t pushing as hard as I could during some of my workouts. Why was it during an organized race 2 weeks ago I ran a Personal Best 10km and now I could barely get past the Slow run pace?
I don’t naturally push my limits beyond their limits. I’m a play-it safe kinda girl. However, the pressure of performing in front of a group makes me give that little extra ounce of energy that makes all the difference – whether it is during an organized race, or a team workout. The lazy part of me sometimes means that I’ll opt for the easy instead of pushing my limits, but in front of others laziness is thrown out the door.
I’m also currently struggling with the toll all of this training is taking on my body. I’ve never worked out so much in my life, and my body is feeling it. A big worry for all the participants in the challenge is to avoid injury before the big 3-day 80+km challenge. How hard should we really push ourselves without injuring ourselves? It’s tough to make the distinction between pushing yourself and preventing injury.
I have an appointment with a physiotherapist later this week. Pending the results of this evaluation I will see if my body can still take some abuse. If so, I will think of the Running Girl I crossed on Sunday and try to make a conscious effort during my next workouts to push myself a little harder.
How do you make the distinction in your workouts between pushing hard and over-doing it?
When Should I Start Running? NOW!
Running changed my life. It’s that simple.
I started running more seriously almost exactly 1 year ago. I had jogged a few times before, but I never took a serious interest in running until last year when I signed up for my first official 10km race.
I’ve invested a lot in running in the last year, but I’ve received much more than I thought I would. It’s allowed me to focus on keeping active. It’s given me the self-confidence that I can push myself beyond my limits and achieve milestones I never thought possible. It’s given me something to be passionate about.
By registering in races, like the Montreal half-marathon (this September will be my second), or participating in charity races like the Montreal-New York City Challenge I’ve been able to stay focus and stick to this great sport.
If you’ve ever experienced the desire to see what running feels like or if you’ve ever been curious about this sport that so many are passionate about, now is the time to start exploring. There are so many distances you can run – 5kms, 10kms half or full marathons, ultra marathons. Different types of races (Color Me Rad races, Spartan Races, etc…) are popping up everyday.
There is a race, a distance, and a reason for anyone and everyone to start running.
Statistics clearly demonstrate that participation in the sport has been on the rise for the last few years. There’s a reason for that: running has the potential to change your life!
I encourage everyone to give this sport a chance. Start small (there’s absolutely nothing wrong with alternating running and walking, for example), stick to it for a few weeks and you will see…you will be able to run longer and faster. You will want to push yourself to achieve more. You will start to crave that feeling of accomplishment that comes when you complete a particularly good run.
Start running NOW!
D5 Creation