Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

If this doesn't spread a lil Christmas spirit I don't know what will!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

This is our Christmas morning waffle breakfast!!

Riverbend bum

Had a good weekend, plenty of holiday happenings which made it extremely busy for Lisa and I.  Especially since two of them were at our house!!  Despite all this craziness I managed to run every day on the weekend and get 6 runs in for the week and almost 40 miles.  Exactly what I wanted to do. 

I keep meeting the Riverbend Bum(homeless guy) too!!  It's actually quite hilarious as I think he recognizes me now and we play this game where one of us says somthing witty directed at the other.  Since it's usually a quick meeting ie. he's on his mountain bike, or we're running/walking opposite directions and one of us is the first to spot the other, so there's not much time to say much, you gotta be quick on the draw!!  One of the first meetings/Witty remarks was in summer when he rode up behind Lisa and I walking.  He burnt me really bad, I was actually a little miffed by this.  I just happened to be either scratching my butt or pulling the underwear out of my crack?  He yells as he rides by somthing like "Stop scratching your ass!!"  So from that point it was on!!!  Almost every time we meet, which is really often, who ever gets the first word in gets the upper hand.

I'm actually looking forward to the next time as I'm gonna get him good!!  This last week it was kind of a chain reaction.  Wednesday on that epic run with Curtis I see him trudging along the trail along the river with an accustic guitar.  It was weird, but I managed to spot him first so the moment we were in ear shot range I shout out, "Play a song, play a song!!"  ha ha damn I yelled too early as he got in somthing like, "Nawwww you guys don't have time"  touche Curtis and I make time!!  So this weekend Saturday I'm at the gym running on the treadmill, the treadmills are facing the windows.  Guess who walks by on the sidewalk along the strip mall.  My buddy and he has this big grin on his face, he knows he has me where he wants me.  He chuckles and gestures for me to come run outside.  Aughhhhh well I wasn't moving and he stayed there for me to gather my response.  So I point at my watch and mouth the words, "No time, no time!!"  He continued grinning from ear to ear so I try to explain that I will join him outside tomorrow!  Anyways that was the latest installment.  For the record I did run outside the next day, but didn't see him.  Next time I will get his name, wish I could also get a picture and put him up on my blog.  I've seen him everywhere in the Riverbend area, even at the public library.  Once I even saw him with a rake or somthing attacked to the frame of his bike so I know he must do some odd work for people?  Also thought of bringing him something for Christmas, I think I know where he sleeps.  Anyways till next time Mr. Riverbend bum there will be pay back!!

DP

Epic Run

Yesterday Curtis and I finally got out for another run.  He's extremely busy these days so we had to schedule it for the evening at 9:30.  We only left my house at somthing like 9:45.  We have loads of runs at times like these(in years past), even in winter.  We are alike that way, both night owls, both like the night time runs.  It was only about -9 and we headed south along the bow river around my favorite 11-13 mile loop.  Took the long way which gave us 12.3 miles.  Most of it was actually scraped, but it seems the scraped part is almost more dangerous as it can have melted/frozen water on it.  The good part is last night it was super bright outside.  I brought my head lamp that I got for sking but didn't need it cause it was so bright outside you could see the path well enough without it.  We met several deer and scare a few hundred ducks crossing the footbridge by the dog park.  The only hard part was the hills and the single track before the dog park.  My hips/legs are a bit sore from that as you get thrown a bit back and forth and have to tighten up each time that happens to compensate.  Thanks for the run Curtis,

DP

Merry Christmas from Bailey the Unknown Reindeer

Progress

I had a good run yesterday.  It was snowing and about -12 so I decided to do the long run on the tready.  Last winter I ran most of the time outside even up to like -25(just temperature)?  This winter since I have the treadmill option so close I'll probably be using it more.  As long as they don't kick me out of the gym for hogging the treadmill for hours at a time. 

On a side note, when they gave us the gym tour our guide mentioned that the treadmills stop at 1 hour.  Then she casually mentioned that it's not a big deal, who runs for a couple hours anyways??  lol I said ahhh I do(I should have kept my mouth shut) but yeah it's not a big deal starting over at 1 hour.  Then she also mentioned that the eliptical could be a tougher workout than the treadmill.  I kinda rolled my eyes, but kept my mouth shut.  lol I don't want to get into a debate, but seriously eliptical vs treadmill???  For what I need it for?  Actually running races?  Not that she would know that.  Not her fault, for a workout sure it's a great tool.  But to resemble or mimic any type of natural movement ie running?  Nope it doesn't cut it.  Anyways side rant, sorry. 

So I did my 13 mile run indoors and today my skin in various places is/are chafed raw.  OUCH!!  My running is comin along great, and that one pace that I always set the dreadmill up to is becoming quite easy.  Yesterday I wore my hr monitor and could see my progress.  I'm a ways off from where I was during the summer, but it'll happen.  Gotta be patient.  My weight isn't coming off yet, I have to be patient with that too.  Last week I ran 5 days, this week probably 6.  I'll keep a journal so I can keep track of my runs and make sure I'm not doing too much too soon.

I've decided to follow a plan by Pfitzinger, linked here http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=4432&CategoryID=&PageNum=5.  I'm sure it's ok to post it since it was posted online at runningtimes's site.  So my plan is to build up my mileage to the start of the plan.  If I count the weeks backward it would start on Jan 24th and I want to be doing the correct mileage by then so I can step into the plan and not get injured.  Right now I'm building with out doing any speed work.  I'm resisting the urge, although I really want to increase the speed, and or do some intervals.  In my opinion the miles have to be built up before you add the speed.  That way your body is already used to the stress that running gives, and will recover faster when adding the speed work.  Plus hopefully I'll be leaner so my legs will be able to handle my body weight. ha ha.  While that plan is very close to what I've done in the past I may have to change some things around as I'm different and my life is different too!!  It's ok, I'm just using it as a starting point.  I feel I need the schedule and goal for each day.  It keeps me motivated and on days where I have none, it reminds me that I'm headed out for a run anyways!!  Happy running folks

DP

What the heck are ice pellets?

Are they really triangular shaped like that?  That could hurt!! 

Back running

What can I say, I'm a runner at heart.  I absolutely love running.  It doesn't matter on the technique, or equipment, my income, or maintenance(other than on my body).  All I do is head out the door and put one foot in front of the other rinse and repeat right Cam?  I tried sking a bit and I really do love it too, but it's just not running.  For the sking I have to take more time to do it.  It takes longer to get ready, then I usually have to get to the trail(if there is a trail), and to get a good workout in I have to do an hour minimum.  So yeah, I'm gonna hit up the running again.  I want to ski a couple times a month though, it is awesome cross training.  But I def. won't take it as serious as I at first planned on doing, and probably won't be doing the Berkie like I really wanted to do.  I dun know, maybe I'll change my mind again, stay tuned I guess.

So what will I do??  I will run, and tentatively do the Calgary marathon.  I've never done my home town race, the full that is.  I need to get over my fear of the marathon.  My last two marathons didn't go well and I'd like to get the confidence back that I can go the full distance... at "race pace" what ever that means.  lol  Then after that, I'm still looking at ultras, I may sign up for a couple and let my body decide.  They're cheap compared to Ironmans, if I sign up for a couple then end up not starting it won't kill the pocket book too badly.  :P

Last year I ran mostly outside during the winter, with some key workouts on the tready/track at the talisman.  This year I signed up at a gym in my neighborhood.  It's actually 24 hours so I could run at midnight if I want.  So I will combine outdoor when it's warmer, indoor when cold or I want to run in the light.  :P  Cheers,

DP