sports – The Daily EO

The Daily EO: May 3rd, 2013

“Well, look up into the sky tonight and if you see blue streaks, you’ll know what I am saying.” That is my grandma told me tonight when I called to wish him good luck for Game 2 of the Shark and Canucks series. When my grandpa watches a game he is either sleeping in his chair or cursing at the TV. There is no in between.

I enjoy a game of hockey – like cheering for the home team – but I am not a rabid fan. Or a fan really. But it’s this time of year that I want to buy a jersey just so I can cheer along with everyone else. Most of my updates come from the television in my building’s elevator. But I checked the status of game 2 on the internet, and watched the sky for blue streaks. Bit my nails during the OT – hoping that in my grandpa’s life time the Canucks would finally get a Stanley Cup.

Sigh.

May 3rd, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: My grandpa says it is all over now. I wonder if he is right.

Run Today: 5.6 km
Cumulative: 10.1 km

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: August 14th, 2012

Good news, people! My sports doctor – yes, I have a sports doctor – ahem. As I was saying: My Sports Doctor says he doesn’t think I have compartmental issues (at least in my legs – I probably have them mentally, but no sports doctor is going to fix that). As you may recall, I was referred based on shin pain while and from running. The doctor listened to my symptoms and asked me a whole bunch of questions. I got nervous and sweaty – I really don’t know why – and tried to answer them to be best of my ability.

I felt foolish – who doesn’t experience pain while running? – if we didn’t, we probably wouldn’t have invented cars. And it’s wasn’t an obvious traumatic incident with bones sticking out, or crutches required. And with the Olympics wrapping up, I felt a little silly. I mean Clara Hughes broke her back and placed 5th in the cycling time trials! Paula Findley refused surgery on her hip and cried through an entire triathlon! Tory Nyhaug has his spleen removed to make it to the Olympics! Oh Poor Little Me. My shin twinges a little sometimes. Sally. Wuss. No Olympics will I be attending with my lack of grit and fortitude (And I had such a chance at the age of 38).

Apparently, you can’t just go out and start running. Did you know that? You can run wrong? Wha!? How can I run wrong? It’s it like eating, sleeping, or any other normal body function that you do? Well, after reviewing the soles of my shoes and my awkward hallway jogging, it appears that I run too much on the front of my foot. Which apparently is better than running too much on my heels. And good news, I am an efficient walker!

All this front foot running is causing my gastrocnemius muscle (the one on the inside of my lower leg) to try to contract and expand at the same time. Hence micro tearing, pain after extended use and couple days recovery.

I’m like a sprinter – not enough like an endurance athlete. Unless I want to reduce my daily workout to 10 seconds a day – and I do really, but that would defeat the purpose of exercise – I need to fix my running.

Now, I have to find myself a running coach to watch and assist me with running mechanics.

August 14th, 2012 Extra-Ordinary: Focusing on putting my foot down more in the centre. This is seriously jeopardizing my ability to chew gum and walk at the same time.

The Daily EO: July 27th, 2012

It’s my favorite time – it’s Olympic season. I see Brian Williams every two years and greet him like an old friend. I cheer on the athletes and share their stories with all that I know. I tear up at the commercials, I awake up and watch overnight footage. I become an export in all Olympic sports. I know the Olympians and their stories. And I truly believe that sport, commitment, honourable competition are something we should all strive for.

The Summer Games in particular I admire because there is no expensive equipment needed to get started. If you want to run – run. If you want to swim – swim. Get a ball and play. Dream. Strive. Go.

July 27th, 2012 Extra-Ordinary: The beginning of a next part of Olympic history. It’s you and me, Brian. Let the games begin!

The Daily EO: June 10th, 2012

Goals: Emile: 29:53 Minutes Susan: 34:25 Minutes

You should know I walked up that first hill. My adrenaline was pumping, my stomach was twisting, and I needed to try to calm down. So, I started out running, but walked the steepest part. I was passed by a man portaging a canoe, but I felt no shame. As I was being strategic – saving myself for the end. Watch out, Canoe Head. I’ll be coming for you.

At the top of the short but steep hill, I started running. I was able to run the next 1 km, but it was all generally uphill. At this point, I was questioning “Why do I do this?”. I could easily put $50 into something else. But if I could just make it to the 2.5 km mark, the race got easier from there. I stopped and walked briskly for 10 seconds. I started running again. I walked again. There was someone I knew at the corner, I started running again. Gave a high-five to the kid at the corner – made his day.

And that was a general summary of my race today – running quickly, walking quickly, running, walking. Running, Walking.

Emile and I did not start out at the same place on the race today – I didn’t want to be distracted by him or what he was doing. But, our racing styles are completely different – and completely reflect the way we face the world. Emile doesn’t worry or plan for all contingencies. He starts and keeps running until complete. No fuss. A solid and steady pace from beginning to end. I, however, plan, think, and strategize every step of the race. I concern myself with how I should handle everything. I need to have music and sunglasses. I get nervous, I fuss. But when I run, I run fast. Faster than Emile. But I also stop and walk because I can’t run 5 km at that speed.

I didn’t feel very good running this race – I felt slow, sticky, tired. But I kept going – but really what was the alternative? Was I just going to lay down on the road and await a medic? You just keep going despite your mind wondering why your lungs and legs hurt. When I crossed the finish line, I forgot to look at my timer, and forgot to look up at the race timer. I was just so glad to be finished. Why do I do this? Get me some water.

After minutes of recovery, I started wondering about my time. Here is the before and after Emile checking the chip times:

June 10th, 2012 Extra-Ordinary: Personal Best for both of us, wife of the 40-49 Male division Winner. I’ll never hear the end of this.

Emile Results:
Time: 25:26 (personal best, and -4:28 from target)
Overall Finish: 9th (OMG!!!)
Gender Finish: 5th (OMG!!)
Category Finish: 1st (with a medal and ceremony to prove it)

Susan Results:
Time: 30:39 (personal best and -3:46 from target)
Overall Finish: 33rd (!!)
Gender Finish: 22nd (!!)
Category Finish: 8th (OMG!!)