February 2014 – RunningWell

Dressing according to my running mood

February 27, 2014/in Blog Posts/by RWadmin

Most people put a fair bit of thought into what they wear every day. Style works best when your clothing reflects your mood and what you’re trying to accomplish. For example, if you have a big meeting or presentation, you should dress sharply to remind yourself to bring your A game. On Fridays, however, when you’re a bit more relaxed, you might wear jeans as you ease into your weekend. As a runner, running clothes represent my wardrobe for a large part of each day (sometimes I linger in my running outfit a little too long before or after a run), so that is exactly how I choose which running outfit I’m going to wear each day; I mix it up depending on my mood and what type of run I’m heading out for.

When I’m doing a workout that involves speed outside in negative temps, I will always, always wear tights instead of something heavier, baggier and perhaps warmer (for example, windpants). Even if I start out a little chilly – wearing tights means I’m running fast. The tone for my workout is set from the beginning.

Hanging out pre-workout

The same goes for when I’m doing a hard tempo on the treadmill. No baggy shirt and soccer shorts – it’s my racing outfit all the way baby.

If I’m wearing this, I’m trying to run fast

I even have fast socks:

Obviously a speedwork day

Most of my runs however, do not involve speed or hills or tempos. Often times I’m just putting in mileage. For those runs I like to feel cozy and relaxed. I’ll even go as far as to wear sweatpants and a hoody for a run to remind myself that it’s an easy effort.

Not me, but the type of outfit I wear to remind myself to relax

Sometimes I need to mix it up a bit, and I’ll pull out some retro running clothes like I did for some runs to show my patriotism during the Olympics.

Heading out for a run during Olympic Fever

There are days when I feel like blending in and not have anyone look at me.

Feeling generic

Other times, I feel like dressing up a bit, and I’ll run in a tennis outfit instead of running gear (because, sometimes I like to pretend I look more like a tour tennis player than a runner – no offense meant to anyone!)

Channeling my inner tennis diva

I think you should be able to match any mood you’re in with your running outfit – it makes the most of your mood and your run. You’re a runner – you have many different sides, so let them show!

Running while hurdling the small obstacle of having kids

February 12, 2014/in Blog Posts/by RWadmin

Most runners I know are resilient, optimistic people who don’t back away from a challenge. Whether they became this way because they are runners, or became runners because of these traits, I’m not sure. What I do know is that although we may like to complain the odd time (like in training through this winter – OH MY GOD!), we very rarely allow an obstacle to prevent us from running long-term. This includes the “obstacle” of having kids. Yes, they make it less convenient, but if you manage your expectations and your energy, it is entirely possible to keep up your running regimen with small people in the house. Being a competitive runner, mom of a four and six-year old and a business owner, I consider myself to be in the trenches of trying to make it all work. If you have small kids and are considering taking up running, or are a runner and are considering having kids, here are a few gleanings I’ve gained and will share so that you can be prepared when the time comes.

1. Always leave yourself a tiny bit of energy after every workout for your post-workout workout. It is not wise to run yourself into a comatose pulp, as I learned last Saturday. I had just come in from a 20 mile run in deep snow and freezing winds to two kids who had been sitting inside for the past three hours and needed fresh air and exercise. So instead of spending the rest of the day napping and reading, I spent an hour on the toboggan hill and then another two at the outdoor skating rink. While this may sound exhausting, you’ll soon find it is less tiresome than pretending to nap while WWIII erupts around you. Suck it up and go and your post-workout-workout beer will be even better deserved.

Trying to tire them out post 20-miler so we can all finally nap!

2. Don’t be surprised when your kids get all competitive and throw your “running speak” back at you. My six-year old challenged me to a skating race the other day. I was cruising along beside him when suddenly he took off for the finish catching me off guard. “Mum, I sat and kicked”. Of course. Next time I’ll remember to box him in going around the last turn.

One kicking for the finish while the other two don't know they're racing

One kicking for the finish (the other two may not know they’re in a race)

3. Be prepared to have to buy a lot of food. This applies if you’re a runner or if you have kids, so if you are in both situations you just go through a LOT of food. Somehow I’m still shocked when I notice we’ve gone through the two loaves of bread, two litres of milk and bunch of bananas I bought three days ago. Sometimes it’s just survival of the fittest. Running makes you hungry, and there are times when you’ll have to sneak the last granola bar and hide it from your kids. Just remember that they have a keen sense of smell – like hyenas, really – so don’t talk too closely to them when you’ve just finished it or all hell will break loose.

Down to our last 4 boxes of granola bars – time to go shopping!

4. You should invest in a heavy duty washing machine. I’ve blogged about the laundry requirements of winter runners before, and if you add kids to the equation it is almost impossible to keep up. If you’re in potty-training mode, god help you. You’ll just have to get used to the piles sitting around your house. Try to think of them as modern art so as not to feel constantly behind.

Will somebody PLEASE fold this?

5. Try your hardest to coordinate sleep schedules. This is a must for me. I love my sleep. I try (with varied success) to get everyone to bed early. Warning: kids who go to be early wake up early. Therefore so will you. If they go to bed late they may sleep in, so if that works for your schedule and you can sleep in as well, great. But if your kids don’t go to bed until 10 p.m. and you have a 5 a.m. run scheduled you will be short-changed. I have no idea what happens when they turn into teenagers. Stay tuned – I’ll blog about that in ten years.

If this is happening at 9 pm, you’re probably not going to be asleep by 9:30.

None of these things are game-stoppers in terms of preventing you from running. They are just small additional obstacles, but you’re a runner – you love a challenge. If you manage your expectations properly, running and having small kids can be a delightful combination. Good luck and enjoy!

Appreciating the skills of our Olympic athletes

February 4, 2014/in Blog Posts/by RWadmin

As a competitive runner I love watching other athletes compete at the top of their game. Watching top level runners is one of my favourite things because I can understand exactly how good they are relative to me, and it gives me a huge sense of awe and appreciation of their abilities. For example, in the 2012 Olympic final in the Women’s 5000m, all 15 runners ran between two and two and a half minutes faster than I ever could. Finishing place aside, I love watching that level of athleticism and think every one of those athletes are amazing. I want to take that same approach to my viewing of the winter Olympics starting this weekend. I know these athletes are the best in the world, and in order to fully appreciate just how good they are, I like to picture myself doing their sports. Luckily I have a little bit of background or experience in some of them so I have some sort of reference point.

Hockey
I actually played hockey competitively and quite seriously until University. I got as far as I did because I could skate. I could back-check like crazy and was always able to put myself in the right position at the right time. However, once the puck landed on my stick it was another story. I could never make it go where I wanted it to and often ended up giving it to the wrong team. These Olympic hockey players combine the skating skills and power of speed skaters and figure skaters with the eye-hand coordination and precision of archers. I am in awe.

Hayley Wickenheiser putting it all together

Cross-Country Skiing
This is another sport with which I have some familiarity. I cross-country ski raced for a number of years, and started to think I might be good when I came first in the City Finals in high school. However, once I made it to the Provincials, I realized that coming from an urban centre, I had just risen to the top of a very small pool by virtue of being a competitive runner who owned a pair of skis. It turned out that “real” cross-country skiers weren’t just runners who were coordinated enough to compete on skis. These were hardcore athletes who trained year-round for this sport, and reached a level of fitness and skill I’d never seen before. I went from first-place in my city to fifty-something in my province. These top level athletes deserve a huge amount of respect.

Aerobic beast Sara Renner skillfully scaling a hill

Freestyle Skiing
In terms of downhill skiing, I’ve only ever skied recreationally. However, that didn’t stop me from attempting cool-looking aerial moves over any bump I could find. I worked hard at this, and I may be dating myself to admit that my biggest feat was to pull off a Daffy. Actually, I may not have landed it. Most of the time I did Spread Eagles, and about fifty percent of those times they were by accident. Now when I watch the freestyle skiing at the Olympics I can’t even get my head around the moves they are doing. I don’t know any of the names of the moves now, but I am duly impressed.

Jennifer Heil performing … something amazing

Bobsleigh
Okay, I have no experience with bobsleigh, but I have tried to push a car stuck in the ice, and let’s just say you wouldn’t want to have to rely on me in such a situation. Also, ever since I turned 30 I have been deathly afraid of roller-coasters. Finally, my six-year old can beat me on video games that involve driving at high speeds. If those three things combined have anything to do with bobsleigh skills I am nowhere close to the Olympic competitors so I will just sit and watch in silent fascination.

Kaillie Humphries finishing a run (I would still be trying to launch my bobsleigh)

Curling
I have tried curling, and I was so bad that I could barely even finish a session even though it involved drinking beer. Hey wait – maybe those two things are related. Regardless, I would put the skills of curlers into the same category of those which I am lacking with a hockey stick. The constant mental discipline and focus required with no aspect of pushing through physical pain makes it a sport which is not suited to me. This is not to say I can’t enjoy watching it – I think just the opposite. I appreciate the different skills these athletes have, and as I watch them compete at the top level I have nothing but admiration.

Fierce, focused athleticism

I plan to watch, cheer on and be inspired by all of the athletes in the games next week. I may not have a full understanding of exactly how hard it is to do what they do or what it’s taken to reach their level in each sport, but the little I do know makes me believe that they are all incredible athletes. Go Canada!