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MEC Victoria Race THREE 2018
In front of the Hatley Castle on Royal Roads University Campus after I completed 10K with MEC Victoria Race THREE. This morning was my third 10K race and first time running without kids/running stroller. It turns out I can run nine minutes quicker without all the distractions from my kids. My last 10K race, 2018 Blueshore Financial Mothers Day Run took 1:12:37, probably because I stopped every couple kilometers to check on my kids. My goal for this run was +/-1:05:00 and I surprised myself when I completed the run in 1:03:44 (chipped time).
Okay guys, you should probably stop reading here because you might not want to hear what I have to say next. I totally leaked on the run. That’s right, I had a nice wet stain on my navy blue shorts and thank goodness I was wearing a longer shirt. But you know what? I don’t care, I’m going to own it because I’m a mother who gave birth to two children in less than two and a half years. So, yeah, I’m totally going to leak because things are not what they use to be down there and I’m terrible for doing my Kegels. Others ran past me with sweaty backs and soaked shorts from swass (sweaty ass) which made me feel better. Absolutely nothing wrong with that right?!
The 10K race route from my Garmin Vívoactive 3 Smartwatch. MEC Victoria Race THREE 2018 took place at Royal Roads in Colwood, BC (Greater Victoria). The area is known for the Hatley Castle and the Royal Roads University. If you want to read more about the Hatley Castle, click here. Movies such as Deadpool, X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men 2 and many more have been filmed at the castle so it’s kind of a big deal. The race started along the lagoon which was such a nice spot other than how chilly it was. I didn’t want to take off my long-sleeved shirt and many other runners looked cold. I sucked it up and left my long-sleeved shirt in the car and ran in shorts and a tank. It didn’t take long for my body to warm up and the first half of the the run was sheltered from the breeze. Each kilometer was marked out along the way. The route was a mix of trail and road with 116m elevation gain (according to my Gamin Vívoactive 3 Smartwatch). There were aid stations every 2.5-3.0K through the race providing water and electrolytes.
There was plenty of parking when I arrived at 8:15AM (10K race started at 9:00AM) with $1.00/hour parking (except we were all lucky and received free parking because the machines weren’t working). The volunteers for the race were awesome and so were the pre-race and post-race snack and drinks provided by sponsors.
I paid $15 for the race which included a bib and 10% off all regular-priced MEC purchases (excludes clearance, markdown and Blundstone items) during in-store bib pick-up times. All you needed to do was show the cashier your bib to receive the discount. I was really impressed with the MEC race and I would highly recommend trying it out if you haven’t already. It was my first race with MEC and I plan on registering for more in the future!
Race Day Timing results from my last two races. Note: the 2018 Blueshore Financial Mothers Day Run – 10K was with a running stroller. -
2018 Global Running Day!
One of my running buddies Happy Global Running Day! Today is a worldwide celebration encouraging everyone to get out and move. Everyone has a different reason for running: de-stress, increase energy, weight loss, postpartum depression, staying fit, etc. Whatever the reason may be, it’s all about the individual and how running makes them feel. Did you know you can join a virtual race to celebrate Global Running Day between June 4 and June 10 at NYRR Virtual Global Running Day 1M? It’s free to sign up and to participate, you need a Strava account (which is also free).
Running has been an on and off activity for me. When I’m finally out and running, I love it and ask myself “why don’t I do this more often?” Finding time is one thing but if you think about it, we can all take 30 minutes to do something out of a 24-hour day. I am the queen of excuses when it comes to physical fitness for myself. However, reality had finally sunk in and I am no longer able to squeeze into my loose baggy shirts, I am no longer playing ice hockey 2-3 times a week and I am no longer a server at a restaurant which requires a ton of running around. Instead, I am 10 months postpartum with two children, married to a surgical resident who is always working, I eat when I remember to which means shoving junk food in my mouth when the kids are napping or distracted for a few minutes, and I can barely get myself and the kids dressed by 10:00AM. I am mentally and physically exhausted by the time the kids are in bed and the last thing I want to do is leave my partner who I haven’t seen all day to go out for a run. Plus, we all know the cleaning I shoved off to the side from earlier in the day for “later” is finally here and it isn’t going to clean itself. My life just over three years ago didn’t require two small children and a dog all under three years of age to depend on me.
My kids are finally napping in the stroller Thanks to my partner who was willing to support me through my stroller purchases (even though he thinks I’m crazy), I went out and purchased a multi-sport stroller, mainly used for running with the kids and dog during the day. I have my kids with me all the time so the stroller with my kids and dog are my running buddies who all deserve some recognition on Global Running Day. Sometimes my toddler is screaming and crying because she doesn’t want to be sitting strapped in a stroller and other times she is napping away next to my 10-month-old who is also napping (if I’m lucky). I don’t run all the time but I’m trying to get out more often with summer around the corner. We all start somewhere right? It has helped me with my mental health and energy levels which is why I plan to continue down this path. Also, my partner is working in Victoria, BC for the month of June so it’s a bit hard to stay indoors with the beautiful ocean view.
I would love to hear what motivates you to go out and run (walk or get out in general). If you don’t get outside, what’s stopping you?
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SeaWheeze Half Marathon 2018 registration
Within the 5 years of living in Vancouver, one of my goals is to run the SeaWheeze Half Marathon. The SeaWheeze Half Marathon is 21.1km (13.1 miles) around the city including the seawall. This year, they set up a non-guaranteed entry draw that opened on Thursday, January 25, 2018 10:00am PT until Friday, January 26, 2018 10:00am PT for 9,500 spots in the race. An email was sent out on Friday, January 26, 2018 4:00pm PT to randomly selected participants who had until Saturday, January 27, 2018 11:59pm PT to register for the race or their spot would be given away. This means those who didn’t receive an email may still get a chance! Emails will be sent out every other day at 4:00pm PT daily until all spots are claimed (according to their Facebook page).
In previous years, they would open registration at 10:00am PT and thousands of runners and individuals who didn’t want to miss out on the craze sat in front of their computers and crashed the site, refreshing their browsers and clicking register until they got onto the registration page (or the waiting room which is where it took you before the registration page). Yup, I was one of many last year and I got in! Unfortunately (and fortunately), I got pregnant and my due date was a week before the run so I obviously didn’t run. Here’s my second chance! The run costs $173CAD and here’s what you get:
* A finisher’s medal and gift
* Runner’s package
* Special edition SeaWheeze run shorts
* Training program
* Post-race brunch
* Water and fueling stations with aid
* A ticket to the SeaWheeze Sunset Festival
* Yoga with thousands of other yogisI know what you’re thinking, this is a super expensive race. It’s the experience that counts right? I’m excited! For those who didn’t get selected to register, you still have a chance and I wish you luck!
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The Great Climate Race
This morning, we completed our first 10k run/walk together at The Great Climate Race! The race was around the Stanley Park Seawall in Vancouver, BC and it was beautiful! We couldn’t have asked for a better day for this run/walk. I jogged most of the way with a few walking breaks every couple kilometres. We also stopped for a bathroom break 5k into the race. Below are some photos I snapped during our jog:
There were a total of 608 participants (some were virtual) in the race. Our official time was 1:14:01 and chip time was 1:12:21. I had no Personal Best (PB) goals for time in the race— I only wanted to complete it and we did! For jogging with a stroller, jogging 10k with absolutely no training, and starting second last because I had a stroller, I am extremely pleased with our results and I couldn’t care what place we got. It was all about having fun and participating. We look forward to doing it again next year!
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The Great Climate Race – Vancouver, BC – October 30, 2016
Blake and I are ready for our 10k run/walk! The Great Climate Race, a 10k or 2.5k walk or run takes place on Sunday, October 30th, 2016 in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC. It is a 100% solar, battery and bike powered race with zero waste (bring your own water bottles because there are no cups). This is the second annual Great Climate Race created to crowdfund for renewable energy projects. How did I find out about The Great Climate Race? Groupon! I was browsing Groupon and found a deal for $30. The last time I ran any distance was the Irongirl back on August 7th and that distance was only 5k. I was hoping by signing up for this 10k run, it would motivate me to start running— which it didn’t. For those who know me well, you’ll know I like to wing it, and make things happen whether I’m ready or not. I’m not physically trained to run a 10k and I don’t suggest to others to wing it as well. Whether I walk or jog the 10k doesn’t really matter— this race is about climate change and crowdfunding for renewable energy. Currently, raised funds will go to two solar projects announced on the website: OcraLab (remote island by Alert Bay, BC) and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (North Vancouver, BC). For more information on The Great Climate Race and what they’re all about, visit their website here.
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Mommy & Baby Yoga
Blake at her first yoga class. I went to my first mommy & baby yoga class on Wednesday at Semperviva and I had mixed feelings beforehand. To most of us, yoga is about relaxing, discipline, meditation, and so on. I had previously attended a prenatal class with Teresa (instructor) and it was very different than your average yoga class. There was laughter, dancing, bum shaking, everything you didn’t expect from yoga. Every person I’ve met who has had Teresa as an instructor loves her and raves about her. She’s enthusiastic and great! I can see what the hype is all about. Teresa also teaches the postnatal yoga classes. I’ve heard from some people postnatal yoga isn’t great when you have your baby with you. I decided to try it out myself and it was amazing! This class is about you and your baby (if baby wants to join). This was the very first time in public where I didn’t feel the need to hide in a bathroom to breastfeed. Everyone around me was a new mom and they totally get it. Babies are sleeping. crying, nursing, everything you expect from a baby is in this room. You could be doing yoga or/and attending to your baby. It was all acceptable and no one was judging you. I think everyone needs to give mommy and baby yoga a try!
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Chariot Cougar 2
The Chariot Cougar 2 with the strolling kit (two smaller wheels in front) In April, we bought a used Chariot Cougar 2 (a stroller used for jogging, cycling, skiing, and hiking) off Craigslist for $585 (included a bike attachment). In hindsight, I should’ve negotiated a lower price for a used stroller. Sometimes I’m so nice, I forget to negotiate the price because I think I’m already getting a good deal. I really hope I didn’t overpay for a used stroller but as long as I use it enough, it shouldn’t matter how much I paid. On top of the $585 we spent on the stroller, I had to buy a jogging wheel at MEC for $130. The Chariot Cougar 2 fits two children, or one child and a dog (in my case) which is why I got the Chariot Cougar 2 instead of Chariot Cougar 1. It’s in fairly good condition and I’m excited to use it. Unfortunately for me, my friend Karly has the same one and they only paid $180 for it… she mentioned it’s in rough shape but $180!? What a deal! It’s $800 new and after GST and PST it works out to be $896 excluding the bike and jogging attachment. Add a bike attachment $100 (+GST/PST $112) and jogging wheel $130 (+PST/GST $146), a new stroller would cost $1,154. Calculating everything out, I feel a bit better knowing I paid half the price of a new one.
The Chariot Cougar 2 taking up our walkway entrance in our tiny condominum. However, this stroller is a bit too large for our 750 sq ft condo. I’m going to have to fold it up every time I go through the door frame and I feel like it’s a bit too wide for sidewalks by our place. My husband, Miles is going to be very disappointed with me if I don’t use this! I thought storing it in the bike locker in our parkade was a good idea except it’s a bit too big and I can’t find a good place on the stroller to put a lock on. I think these strollers were made for people with garages and backyards. In addition to buying a jogging wheel, I had to purchase an infant sling (fits 1-10 months). They retail for $100 new and I bought one off Craigslist for $50 used.
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Irongirl
I couldn’t have picked a better community to experience my first pregnancy. Located in Kitslano, Barefit and Pregnant, owned and ran by Susi Kerr, is group fitness for prenatal and postnatal women. I’ve met a lot of friends through Barefit and Pregnant and my prenatal experience was much more enjoyable thanks to these classes. My friend Jolène, Triathlon enthusiast, has motivated many moms to train and participate in a sprint triathlon, Irongirl on August 7th in Vancouver. Irongirl consists of an 750m swim, 20K bike and 5K run.
My fitness experience is 15 years of ice hockey and several years of ball hockey with many, many team sports I like to dip and dab in (whatever keeps me fit right?). There was one time in my life where I regularly went to the gym. Those days are long behind me and these days with a baby and a husband who works 24/7, the gym isn’t happening! I’m drawn to team sports for many reasons: I love meeting people, time flies when you’re engaged and running around, and I don’t want to let my team down so I’ll show up. When it comes to the gym, it’s up to my mood. Do I feel like going? Oh I’m hungry, I’m going to eat. I better wait for my food to digest before I run. Oh look! It’s rush hour, I’ll go when it’s over. Nap. Wow, is it already rush hour again!? I’ll wait till it’s over… dinner time… better wait to digest my food. Gym is closed. This is the story of my life when it comes to going to the gym. What I DO KNOW about myself is I’m more motivated to workout first thing in the morning or it will unlikely happen.
To prepare for Irongirl, my main goal was to work on swimming. I’m a mental mess when it comes to swimming. I’ve gone snorkelling, scuba diving, and swimming in the water without a life jacket. Heather, doesn’t everyone basically go in without a life jacket? Ummm yeah, except for me. It’s the moment I’m in the water and I realize I have no flotation device as an aid, I panic and immediately swim to the closest thing to hang on to. This would be my biggest problem for the Irongirl (aside from being completely unfit for swimming) which is why I decided to do a relay Irongirl. I’ve teamed up with another mom who will be swimming the 750m while I bike 20K and run 5K. We are signed up and ready to go!