I’ve been putting off this post for 3 weeks now, because I’ve been trying to get to the end of April before my lead is completely eaten way by my husband’s miraculous biological predisposition to fluctuate his weight.
Tag: healthy-living
The Daily EO: January 5th, 2014
For Christmas, Emile gave me a 1 kg Dairy Milk Chocolate bar.
I know – that is not real chocolate to chocolate connoisseurs, is it? Real chocolate has to have limited sugar, no milk, etc. I don’t particularly like “real chocolate”, in fact, often when I spend more money on expensive milk chocolate, I am disappointed in the lack of creaminess. But, too cheap of chocolate – especially that stuff that turns white – makes my teeth ache. (Actually, a lot makes my teeth ache these days, but that is more about an unconscious decision to delay my trip to the dentist due to dental anxiety).
Anyways, Emile and I – as always it seems we are – are trying to be more healthy. We are heading to Costa Rica in March and would rather look fit and free of 1 kg chocolate in our belly (and other areas).
Nonetheless, this large chocolate bar remains in constant sight, but unopened. But it is touched a lot, looked at and last night discovered to have a small opening where the chocolate can be smelled. I – suffering from the last remnants of a cold – do not enjoy this as much as Emile does, but it nice to know in a couple of days time, it will be as wonderous as he seems to think it is.
But Emile and I both know the truth – the minute this chocolate bar is cracked, there is no turning back. Neither of us are people who take one small piece, savour, then come back later to enjoy another small piece. Well, I guess we are that kind of people, but the spaces between “come back later” are greatly diminished. In our house, 1 kg of chocolate will last 48 hours – and that would working days where we are out of the house for a large portion of the day.
January 5th, 2014 Extra-Ordinary: Anticipation is killing us.
The Daily EO: September 6th, 2013
Running with my husband is a gift and a burden. I decided to go for a run today, and Emile said, “Hey, I’ll come with you because I haven’t gone. . . well, I can’t remember when I last went.” And so we get out there, I my husband just skips by me – arms aflailing while he plays the drums along with what music he is listening to (trust me, it Is pre-2000 whatever it is). And that gives me a smile every time. And runs ahead. . . stopping only when he is just checking on me pulling up the rear.
What the hell? Why is it that he has this ridiculous natural stamina and endurance? Do I just drop into a walk much easier than him? Not as mentally tough? I don’t know. But suppose I like spending the time with him. Even if it is with his back.
September 6th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: Who runs to Rage Against the Machine anyways?
The Daily EO: July 9th, 2013
So, doing laundry tonight and I forgot to remove a couple of “hang to dry/lay flat to dry” stuff. That is always so annoying. Why do I buy these things? Oh, right – man-made materials for moisture wicking, etc. Damn.
July 9th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: So, if I shrink my workout gear, how to I lose weight fit into it again?
So weird. .. what happened to the first week of July? Oh well.
The Daily EO: June 23rd, 2013
Emile and I went to the ScotiaBank 5K this weekend. And it hurt me. My butt is sore, my legs are sore, my shoulders. My pride a little. What seemed like something I should easily do, was really difficult. But I did it.
June 23rd, 2013 Extra-Ordinary:
Scotiabank Vancouver 5K: Vancouver, British Columbia, June 23, 2013 (5K)
Emile Results:
Time: 26:14
Overall Finish: 99th
Gender Finish: 75th
Category Finish: 9th
Susan Results:
Time: 34:25 (weirdly tied with Chocolate Race Results)
Overall Finish: 517th
Gender Finish: 294th
Category Finish: 34th
The Daily EO: May 10th, 2013
Recently I attended an Operations Off Site Strategic Planning meeting. This is a meeting where you go off site to plan your strategic direction – just in case you hadn’t figured that out from the name. These meetings can be painful, are usually hot (hotels, please get your thermostat adjusted for goodness sakes) and usually involve a team building function of some sort. Ours was not so bad – and I am not just saying that because my boss follows my blog.
During our meeting, our boss presented us each with headbands with a saying on it that she thought represented each of us on the team. We had some laughs and posed for pictures. Mine was to reflect my commitment to getting it done – and my challenge to the rest of my peers to move beyond obstacles.
Recently, I challenged myself to run/walk 130kms this month and I must tell you I am sorely off target. As of late, I am satisfied when I eat celery instead of chocolate. Which is surprisingly often because I really like celery. There is something about it so crunchy and yummy. Anyways, off topic.
What I am trying to tell you is that I aimed high and I am missing the mark so far. Phew. I feel better already, confessing is always helpful. But it is time to brush off excuses and get moving. I promise myself I will pull myself together and get moving. I am taking a couple of days off next week and I am going to run. I am going to hike, I am going to eat celery despite the temptations of endless tapas.
May 10th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: I’m going to do it. Though part of me is thinking “What’s with the daffodil?”?
Cumulative May Total = 26.8 kms
The Daily EO: May 4th, 2013
A gorgeous day and a forecast of more to come. I awoke determined to find both more items to throw out of my warehouse AND to get outside to run run run. I did the first while I waited for my running partner to get out of bed and get ready. Emile is good at being on time and reliable, but given a fluid schedule, he is the best futzer I have ever met. He could stretch anything into a 4 hour event. But nonetheless we finally got out of the house.
I should mention here that I changed my rules for my running month of May. I am not going to run every day – honestly Self! You are a Materials Manager you are busy – but instead run a cumulative amount for the month. This seems more realistic as I can definitely spend more time on weekends exercising then I can on my 12 hour days spent commuting and working. So, my goal for the month is 130 kms.
But back to Saturday. What a Day! Sunny. No Humidity.
But the Sea Wall was crowded. Really Crowded. I took a picture to show you:
Okay – that actually was a picture of my view at the Vancouver Sun Run, but you get my meaning. There were a whole bunch of people pouring of off the cruise ship and everyone was out enjoying the weather. It made it feel like a race picking your way around people. But I got in 9.2 kms.
Okay – that is another lie. I am a liar. I cannot claim 9.2 kms today. My shins. My poor poor shins. They hate me after pushing through the Sun Run and having recovered yet. So, I probably ran about 6. or 7 and then had to walk – at a lively pace – but walk nonetheless for the rest of the day. There comes a point that pushing yourself is stupid if it is going to result in injury or longer lasting pain.
But it was such a beautiful day that we decided to register for the BMO marathon on May 5th. Because we could. Because we were right there.
Okay – that is another lie. God – what is wrong with me?! There was never any intention of signing up for the marathon or the 1/2 marathon. Instead, we were going to do the 8k, but for some crazy reason whoever was in charge of the race – and it must not have been a sane person – scheduled it to start at 6:30 am. Wha?! The only thing I do at 6:30 is get out of bed into a hot shower. So sorry BMO – and all the charities that you fundraise for – forget it. I am keeping my shins in bed along with my 50 bucks. Because I always sleep with my shins and 50 bucks. Always.
But – the best part about not signing up for the BMO marathon was enjoying the “Expo” and getting free things like health bar samples, yogurt, weird BMO gloves that look like those gloves you buy for exfoliation in the shower rather than real gloves. I must say the Vega booth was pretty cheap on their samples though – you had to go up and request that they cut a little piece of a bar or give a little sip of a drink. If you are giving free samples – then don’t be cheap about it. That’s what I say! Put them out there – share your stuff. Don’t make them beg for it!
Any hoo, back home where somehow it was already 4:45 pm (I blame Emile with his futzing not my walking) to shower and eat healthy things like kale.
Another LIE! I am out of control! Instead, we used my hidden credit card and coupon to buy $2 sweet fries at A&W and since we were there you can’t not have a diet root beer or apple turnover while sitting in the sunshine. (not that I have a hidden credit card normally, it was just tucked away in my running shorts).
So, off we ran to see “The Manor” all the way across downtown as part of the Doxa film festival. It was good – but I found it hard to watch sometimes as I wonder how the director was able to show his family warts and all. (including his own warts). The filmmaker was there, and we joined in a lively discussion after the movie to learn more of his story, and went for drinks with the producers after the show.
Okay. Yep. That too is a lie. We left immediately afterwards – alone – and headed to Chill Winston’s (best location in Gastown), sat outside, had a beer and wine and shared a pizza and watched the world go by.
And that is no lie.
May 4th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: The best day of my life! Okay. No. Really, what I mean, is there are no regrets moving to Vancouver today. And Oh! That heat lamp at Chill Winston’s was pretty freaking awesome with the sun setting and the temperature dropping. And the wine was excellent.
Run Today: 6.5 kms
Cumulative Total: 16.3 kms
The Daily EO: May 1st, 2013
I’ve not participated in enough exercise to merit the results I got in the Sun Run. When I looked up how fast I should have been able to run it based on my fitness level and training level, I got “the average time for runners to complete a 10K race generally falls between 75 and 80 minutes”. Not only that, based on a bunch of internet “calculators”, etc, considering my best time on a 5K (running regularly), my time was pretty darn good for a 10K (um, also considering it was the second time *ever* I have run a 10K.) considering the lack of training. 75 minutes is quick average and I feel pretty good about this.
So, I started thinking about what if I was actually training? What the hell would I be able to pull off then? Whoa. I could be sub 1 hour. That’s crazy talk I know, but . .. hmmm. . I wonder. . .
Aside here, am I the only one who 2 days after a race forgets the pain and only remembers the glory and starts looking for the next race? Really, how many technical tees do I need?
Anyways, since I really hate May for many reasons – though the Spring melt is not a May problem here in Vancouver, loving that – I thought that I need to do some exercise and training. So for the month of May, I am going to try to run every day (a min of 2 kms). Today I started out with 4.6 kms (shortened from 5k only because I was distracted by a big event in Victory Park with police presence and torches, and flags, and ambulances! I couldn’t take the long route home – I had to Check! This! Out!)
May 1st, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: A challenge to keep my superstitious mind occupied, and my ass a little tauter.
May 1st: 4.6 km
May Cumulative: 4.6 kms
The Daily EO: April 21st, 2013
Today was the 2013 Vancouver Sun Run – a 10k run through Vancouver’s downtown and Kitsilano areas. I signed up about 30 days ago, certain that it would motivate me to get running and exercising. It didn’t. And since all I have been doing during the last week is blowing my nose or coughing, I was uncertain of my ability to join the run and actually make it through without stiffened sleeves due to . . . well, wiping my nose the whole time. (sorry about the graphic image)
I was still toying with skipping when I awoke this morning, but cheapness and knowledge that I would regret not making it spurred me out of bed to the longest and hottest shower I could stand. I took a Drixoral, ate some oatmeal and greek yogurt, had a sport drink (with caffeine), blew my nose for the 15th time that day, stuffed my pockets full of kleenex and hit the road.
I am glad I did. I can’t explain what it feels like to walk from your house and see almost everyone around you sporting numbers indicating they are doing the same thing you are. It’s like this weird sense of community that makes you say “Hey! Me too!” to everyone.
I’ve only run a 10K once before and logged in about 1:22. But I was determined that I was not going to break the rules of my colour which was runners between 1 hour and 1 hour 15 minutes. Could I run that fast with my snotty nose slowing my pace? My strategy was to make up a lot of time in the early part where most was downhill, then I could slow up and walk during the other portions.
I use an ap to track my pace and generally it is fairly accurate – it lets me know every 2 minutes and every 1/2 kilometer what my pace and time are. So, as I bolted out of the starting gate – well, it felt like a bolt – I was blown away to hear after two minutes that I had a pace of 3 mins 40 seconds. What?! That’s crazy town. Maybe I did bolt! Look at me go! Then as I passed the 2 km mark, my ap announced that I had moved 2.5 kms. Sigh – little GPS problems somewhere I think.
The sport drink I had consumed earlier now wanted out, but I would be damned if I was going to wait in a line and hurt my time, so I held it for 8 kms.
False information, kleenex stops and full bladder aside, I pushed through and did feel a twinge – well, wave – of sadness passing the 5K mark where I usually would be finished. Oh, god, I have to do the same distance again!
My left ankle hurts, my right shoulder hurts, my shins hurt, I have a headache, and I am starving (yes, weirdly I get hungry during and directly after exercise). Surely, I can’t be too far now. Oh, good, here’s the last bridge.
I have a rule in all races or runs I undertake – I have to run across the finish line or the end regardless of how I feel. So, as I came down off Cambie Street bridge and could see the finish line in sight, I spurred my aching body on. For the first time in my life, I felt nauseated due to exercise and I thought I was running on a sprained ankle. I think I had a bit of a bladder accident too, but I’ll be damned if I wasn’t going to cross the finish line running.
April 21st, 2013 Extra-Ordinary:
The Vancouver Sun Run: Vancouver, British Columbia, April 21st, 2013 (10K)
Emile Results:
Time: 1:01:24 (current personal best)
Gender Overall Finish: 9089th
Category Finish: 822th
Susan Results:
Time: 1:14:53 (current personal best)
Gender Overall Finish: 11535th
Category Finish: 1122th
And now for some sweet cream and rhubarb ice cream.
The Daily EO: March 18th, 2013
For a couple of weeks now I was pretty certain I was going to enter the Vancouver Sun Run this year. That was until I found out it is 10K not 5K. I’ve never run 10K, I’ve moved 10K certainly. I’ve run 5K, and I have run/walked 7K. I have walked 17 km continuously and I’ve worked several 12 hour shifts serving that included only one 15 minute break.
So, can I enter the Vancouver Sun Run? And run/walk 10K? I have not got enough running in for the last month for a variety of reasons, so I am nervous. The race is only 30+ days away. Can I be physically prepared for such a race?
Even as I type this, it for some reason seems to be a bad idea. I asked Emile if he would do it with me, and he said – unfortunately – that he would.
I just checked the balance of our bank account – we can afford it.
March 18th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: Running out of excuses, we are now registered.
The Daily EO 