The Cynical Runner

14km.. Can I go home now?

We finished our 14km run today. It was -17 with the windchill. Long. Cold. Icy. At this point, the idea of a January 30 race is laughable. We'd be crazy to be out running and moreover, who's going to stand in the cold to cheer us on?? Snowmen?

11 km.. done.

Today we ran 11km... I dropped down to a slower group and we finished in an hour and 9 minutes... easily. Which makes me think... if I actually managed to practice as much as we're supposed to, I could totally finish a half marathon in 2 hours. Yeah, like that's going to happen.

Into the negatives

Temperatures have officially dropped below freezing and my enthusiasm for running has gone off the barometer.... negatively.

Sleet in the City

Ok, I bailed on running yesterday. With a slick layer of freezing rain on the sidewalk and a sheet of thick icy pellets falling, there was no way I was going out. I did see one runner on Wellington. I scoffed, I'm not that crazy.

Man, it is dark dark dark

A quick 4km run tonight. I can't keep up with the 1:50 pace group. I'm dropping back to 2 hours. I'm ok with this.

Pancakes in my calves

Lesson learned - pancakes are not appropriate for 'carb loading' before a run. I had a couple before our long run this morning and it felt like I had eating lead pancakes that were being digested by my calves.

After about 4km, the feeling subsided, but I found it hard to keep up with the 1:50 pace group. Or maybe it was just a big jump from 4km on Wednesday to 9km today.

In any case, I'm putting full blame on the pancakes. They make an excellent scapegoat.

The Dwayne Quotient

So, tonight was our Wednesday group run. It was also the last group run before Halloween, so we were encouraged to dress up and the best costume would win a door prize.

I grabbed my cat ears to wear and headed out.

When I arrived at the Slater store, no one else was wearing a costume except for the store manager who then chided us for not dressing up. I donned my ears to prove I had read the email. Then Dwayne jokingly said, "That's not a costume!"

Mental retort, "It's two fecking more ears than anyone else in the room is wearing."

Dwayne, then proceeded to claim the door prize for himself and I got a round of applause for coming in second.

What.A.Jerk.

Opinion of the Running Room... low.

Me, myself and my 4 ears ran an easy 4km.

7km.. no problem

4 easy sets of 10x1s with the Sunday morning "run club". It was good to take those days off to let my left leg straighten itself out. Stupid leg. The reward was the raisin toast at the Lieutenant's Pump. Mmm.

Stupid skeletal system

I may have started with running too much, too soon. I have a slight ache on the inside of the left shin. I'm taking a few days off trotting to see if it clears up.

Clinic Night #1

It was the meet and greet night, but we did neither. The instructor rambled about the tight Ottawa "running community" then failed to get our small class to introduce themselves. I sent them an email about this.

Then we ran a quick 4km.

Beat Beethoven

1. I did not beat Beethoven
2. I did want to physically beat the smug running couple with the running strollers who told people to "get back at it" if they were walking. Perhaps they have not heard of the running room's 10x1 theory.
3. I sprinted by them. They should be disqualified for being so smug.
4. My total time was 43:13.. official timing click for result
5. 121 out of 224. I guess that's ok... considering I've been running a combined total of 7 days.
6. It's better than being last.

Plateau a go-go

Time: morning, 6:30pm, sunny! - dusk
Distance: roughly 8km
Clothing: t-shirt and shorts (shorts in October!)
Temperature: 19 degrees. Wake me from this tropical bliss.

Route: Bay - QE - canal - Somerset

Total time (including stop lights - stupid stop lights): 48:28

I'm noticing that at around 2-3km into the run I feel tired and "out of shape" and then I seem to settle into a nice stride and it's easy-peasy for the rest of the run. I'm not sure what to do about that.

Too sleepy, can't run

The weather is supposed to be sunny and 23 today. I'll put off a morning run and save it for after work. There'll be lots of people out along the canal tonight.

My training schedule calls for a steady 4km.

Also, welcome me into the runner's fold. I have my first black toenail. I feel so athletic.

According to...

In this week's Running Room newsletter, the top "running" songs are:

10 � Brian Adams Unplugged
9 � My Heart Will Go On
8 � Big Yellow Taxi
7 � Mama Let that Boy
6 � It had to be you
5 � Radio
4 � Band on the Run
3 � So Cal Loco
2 � Run, Run Away
1 � Forever Young

Those are the WORST SONGS EVER.

Ok - cynicism ahead

I registered for the Beat Beethoven run this Saturday after work yesterday. I left the Running Room, hopped on my bike and was cycling towards home when I nearly got mowed down by a passing car.

If that's not karma, I don't know what is. Maybe I should invest in a bubble suit.