15 going on 70

Ever have one of those days that tests every part of you.  A day that forces you to question yourself in every way possible. This week I'm shooting for 70 miles (112km), which is the most I've ever done in a week.   My goal is not just junk mileage either, I want quality.  Within that quality mileage there are workouts that must be done.  

Today was one of those days though.  Cold, snow, wet, and f*ing windy....Just a typical Canadian winter eh.  30 minutes of a continuous hill circuit, where every minute seemed to be running into the wind.  The kind of wind that damn near stops you in your tracks.  And that shooting wet cold that penetrates through your shoes when you step in a puddle, it just sucked.

But it tested me on every level.  And I succeeded.  I pushed through the pain, the cold, the wind, the wet and ran over 5miles of the hill circuit.  I held about 5:45 min/mile pace for the 30min, which on paper doesn't seem overly impressive but today was a mental game. Today was tucking my head down pumping my arms and cursing as loud as I could up Brimley Hill.  

Every workout has a purpose and today was that.  I throw that in the bank and move on to the next.  15miles today, and 32 in the past 3 days....on my way.

BRING IT!!!

What's Your Strong

 There are few things greater than the feeling of competition. The nervousness feeling as you prepare.  The doubting feeling that penetrates your mind, then immediately the belief in yourself.  The blood that is pumping hard and strong throughout your body.  Your mind racing faster and faster.  Oh man, even as I write it, I can feel it.  I love this sh*t.

However with all this, one thing that comes as close to that great feeling is the "RECOVERY WEEK".  It's a magical time in every athlete's life when they can ease off it for a brief period and just, recover. Typically you cut a % of your total volume down.  After weeks of putting in the mileage, the workouts, the weights, the....everything;  the recovery week has come. Mentally and more importantly physically I was ready for this.  Sunday I spent the afternoon/evening in a ball on my couch barely able to move from the exhaustion.  Everything hurt from head to toe.  And I loved every minute of it.  Despite being in the fetal position, I don't regret a thing.  It feels like I've accomplished something. That pain is success in it's own way.  Because each week that I push harder into that threshold, is another step closer to that end goal.

SO BRING IT!!!

THE BIG "O"....XXX censorship

WARNING: Shit might get crazy….

This past week the Carding list for Athletics Canada athlete assistance program came out, and troublingly I wasn’t on it.  It stung a bit.  I tried hard last season to best my times, push my body, and put myself in the best opportunity to achieve this and it didn’t pan out.  Athletics Canada has set up their carding criteria not based on the best overall athletes but a scale of an age and performance.  Their thought is not what you have done but what you have the potential to do.  At a certain age, a benchmark performance is set to be hit.  My age, to get assistance from the government I need to run 1:46.11.  For me to qualify for the Olympics and compete as a Canadian athlete I need to run 1:46.30.  So AC wants me to represent them on an international level at the Olympics before they'll help me financially.  Wait, what...isn't that what the support is suppose to do?

Another frustrating point is ages and events are not equal.  Based on IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) points, people are receiving funding with a lesser point score than me. Every event, every performance, for both men and women, has a point score that can be related to one another.  So a 1:46.85 in the men’s 800m, and a Women’s Javelin throw of 63.31m is worth 1118 points.  On the list there are people with personal best who points would be equivalent to me running 1:49.29.

But it’s not just me who feels this sting.  There are many who are in the same situation.  However, AC has standards that need to be met and I didn’t achieve them.  So, I don’t deserve it.  I understand this.  If someone doesn’t meet the criteria set, one doesn’t make exceptions.  Then a special person in my life sent me a message and reminded me of something. I won’t tell you who this person is but let’s call her “Scotia”.

I started running because it’s something I enjoy.  I love the feeling of pushing my body to new limits.  Carding is set up to helping us achieve our goals.  It’s just help.  I don’t need athletics Canada’s approval to do this.  I don’t need them to say this is what I need to run.  I do this for me and me alone.  Then “Scotia” reminded me of something great; why I do this.

 

Chasing the big O;  It’s what we all want in life, the big orgasm.  Those little ones are great.  The day to day ones feel good and keep you going.  It keeps you hungry for more.  The little ones are the steps to achieving the overall goal.  I’ve had some great success in my life.  Practices and races have been great points of reference to what I’m doing this for but I want the best.  The big O……OLYMPICS!!!  It’s what I’m shooting for.  I’m going to keep pushing for it.  I always want more and I always want the best.  What the hell, aim big and shoot for it all.    I have a great support staff with friends, family and a couple ambassadorships  (RIVALUS, SAUCONY) to help along the way, and I’m pumped for this season. 

What’s your Big O…I know what mine is and I’m going for it.

It's been a bit since I've written and I apologize, but I'm committing now.  This past month hasn't been too entertaining anyways.  Mostly long runs and battling sore muscles and stomach pains

Now, is time to begin though. Begin the serious training. My first batch of workouts have been sent out by the coach and it was off to the hills for my first day.  15min warm-up.  a hill circuit that is  roughly 3min in length that will be continuous for 20 min.  Whats this mean....TEMPO RUN BABY!!!  I hate tempos.  It's a continuous run that holds a high intensity pace such as race pace. Plus the kicker with a hill.  

I took the run to Brimley Hill which is a bitch of a hill and gave'r my all.  It sucked, but it felt good to up my intensity.  Thus far it's been mileage run, from 5-10miles in length so it was good to get some quality in.

Today's about weights and an easy run.

Quick Recap of whats gone on in my life thus far...

1. Got a job at Fed Ex for the morning shift....It's pretty sweet

2.  RIVALUS sports Nutrition picked me up as an Ambassador.  They are an athlete tested supplements, which means 100% legal. (I'm looking forward to sampling new products)...I get deals so let me know if something interests you

3. I just rocked out my second 5km of the season with another win.  Variety Village 5km.  Myself and  Kyle's She Devils had some great performances.  Congrats to all