old friend!

Friday I was up so early, that by 9:30, I was ready for a break from exam writing. I went to a yin class ready to sweat, and then found out its not the hot kind. I go into the studio, and there is Sandra! I broke my own rule of not talking in the studio, even though other people do, especially in this one, even the instructors! Loudly! It was so nice to see her and catch up a little, though. The class was good. I did shake, while holding some loong stretches and pushing myself, but I did not break a sweat, just gentle hip and hammy stretching.
Since that one was so easy, I went back for the later one. It was pretty good, but more weird, backward triangles and things I didn't get. My hamstrings and quads were worked and weak from the morning class. I could barely kneel at all. I poured sweat all over the place, in puddles around the mat. But it wasn't so hot, really. I enjoyed it very much. Finally, the pain is gone. Not limping, not aching in the joints. Five classes and I'm back to myself.

sweaty shaky

I was spewing out sweat tonight! I liked the less downward dogs, interesting super low eagle, and new way to practice camel that is easier to get into. Plank and side plank were harder than yesterday and I feel it in the sides of my ribs in front, it feels like someones chewed on the bones and they're bruised, but its nice, I know its a good hurt. We did some postures from warrior that were frustrating kneeling on one foot and keeping hips low and square that just huurt my kneecaps. I got the stretch, but meanwhile my kneecaps were shouting! Floor was too short, my knee did something weird in insect, and the twisted knee stack over to one side one is painful when it used to be such a release. Need to do those more often, I guess...so glad I went, good stretches, just hard to follow some of them.

stretching out the aches

Im back at yoga. I found another place in town where they use a warm room. My body is happy already. I've been to two classes. I am sore in the little muscles again, sore in the right places, not so sore in the big ones. My hip and back pain is backing off quick. Its taking me back to 2000 in my mind when I took yoga across the street from the coffee shop I worked at on Main and Broadway in a little tiny upstairs studio. I swear it was called the smiling buddha. I dont trust my memory from that era of skateboard head cracks to the pavement and hitting all the other wrong things hard, but I remember doing dragonflies and feeling pretty damn good about that.

Its back to the classics: downward dogs, ujjayi breathing, childs poses, planks and proper triangles. I'm working hard, but my shoulder is killing me, tonight it was my wrist. It isn't hot, but it is warm. It's a 'hot flow class', and its nice to sweat but not struggle. I challenge myself to my limit, and sometimes that turns to shaking muscle struggle, but not in the same ultra super lucky happy eights special extreme way as the Bikrams.

indoor day!

I went up to the pool this morning, cos my house is too cold to shower in right now. I am not getting into the groove of lighting fires, I don't know why I can't get the hang of it. I can light a campfire no problem, but I can't stack the wood the same inside this fireplace! Anyway...
I sat in the steam room for ten minutes, it was great. I was intense. It was magical. There was one man in there, and he was chanting, very quietly, but the echo combined with my sub par hearing made it pretty phenomenal. He chanted the whole time. It made a mundane and kind of difficult experience excellent. Thanks, chanting man!
Then I went into the gym and ran on the treadmill for 45 minutes. I went 5.4 kms. I ran slow. My knees ached a little, but it felt so good to sweat, and I didnt get out of breathe at all, even when I cranked up the pace. Then I went to meet with school project friends in the cafeteria.
I miss yoga, though. My muscles and tendons and ligaments are dying for stretchies! They hijack me and force me to stretch them at odd times. Soon, there is a bunch of equipment in there today. Soon.

oh no!

MASSIVE FLOOD in the yoga studio!
Luke is making fun of me because I am kind of freaking out! No yoga...for how long? Can they find an alternate place to do it? When can I go again? I am having awesome pain free skate sessions! I am learning new things! It cannot stop now! There is no way I can switch back to running right now with these arctic winds blowing through here. Oh dear...can't wait to see what happens next.

16

Yeah so I might have over done it a little tonight, or maybe I didnt. Its rare that I come out of the place with a pinch. But I pretty much bent myself right in half in the 'I'm flying!' one. I will live and go back Monday and fix it. I did pretty well tonight. I stood behind the super serious, but really good lady. I decided it was up to me to help her not be so serious and enjoy her yoga more. I had an awkward moment when I first got there, and I chose a new place to be, more in the middle of the room, about four spaces away from the side and in the third of four rows back from the front. I was expecting a capacity class, so I unrolled my mat fairly near to this other serious guy. He's the guy who gets there super early and does a practice before practice. I usually just fuff him in my head, and lay still and try to not notice him as I use the pre time to relax into the floor and get loose and calm and ready. Well he stopped what he was doing and watched me unroll. When I walked to the back to hang my pants over the barre, he picked up his kit and moved up to the front. I decided right then to confront him after class and kill 'eem wid kindness, brah. But I felt weird for awhile and had a harder time relaxing. Was I wrong to want to prepare for a crowd, so I could lay still until class started and relax without feeling space hoggy, and having to do the shuffle shuffle every time another person was trying to wedge themselves in? No I wasn't. But I am new. The etiquette is beyond me still.

Class went well. Ended up only being 3 rows. I moved my mat up a bit, and over, so I was staggered in between serious 1 and serious 2 in the mirror. New guy beside me, 2 newbies behind me. One of whom, I overheard feeling a little cocky about manning through the heat of class, cos "I was in Afganistan". Well, that made me eager to see if he would make it, didn't it? Schadenfreude, here I come!

Great class. I worked really hard. I had to. In front I had the seriouso's and behind I had people falling all over the place. Focus and struggle. I shook, and was so glad I wore a tank top. Last time I shook like that I was all jello in the tum and it made me want to barf and then eat and then barf, etc. Not really, but when you stand in front of a mirror behind someone who measures and weighs and portion controls like serious 1 and 2 quite obviously must, you get to feel a bit jiggledy, even when you look as rad as I do!

I cheered myself on, and smiled alot, and laughed and listened to the instructor's cheesy jokes, and sometimes very cool things to remember to tell myself, like "this is yoga practice, not yoga perfect". I stuck my butt out further in awkward 1. I see people that think they are awesome get super low, but lean way forward. Well, I could do that, but it is so much harder if I don't.Worked on form. I am starting to loathe triangles and also at the end where you hold your toes and pull. I might have tried too hard. Hence the current back owes. Oh well. I'm starving. I could go on. I was so present hat I actually remember it all. Important for me to remember:

-Engage abdominal muscles on all forward bends. It is nearly impossible for me to keep it tight, so thats one thing to work on, and it will remove the back owes. Too much strength in back, not enough in front is what is causing the mayhem.

- Fuckin' BREATHE! When I have to choke my throat, I dont want to cos it feels gross, but I must.

-Lock knee. Keep trying. It hurts, still. It shakes, and bounces itself out. It doesn't like to be locked, it tells me it hurts. Keep trying. I did it for a few moments in a few of the postures and felt an immediate difference in the strength and groundedness in the posture, it was like a concrete lightning bolt shot down my leg for about five seconds, and nothing could have moved me.

-keep smiling. It is helping.

fifteeny

I am losing count, and good things are happening. My PMA is kicking in full swing. I realised today that I was feeling pain in my hip for the first time in awhile-I never want to miss yoga again!
I can clearly see certain muscles-in my legs, mind you, no taut tummy for me, maybe ever, but she's lookin good:) Smiling comes easier now, during class. Sure, I had a little near pass out tonight, but only cos I rocked pulling bow. The whole floor series was a cinch tonight. Camel was no nig deal. It felt great! Bent back, looking at the wall. Couldnt find my feet to reach down, so I kept my hands firmly planted behind my hips. Just awesome.
Can't wait til tomorrow!

back in the mix

I took five whole days off yoga and went surfing! I started missing it on day 2. I have developed sores on the tops of my feet where I kneel for some of the floor stuff, and there is a dry patch under my chin from the same, weird to think I will develop a callous in both places pretty soon. In the meantime, my feet hurt! Five days wasn't quite enough to heal it, but it was close. I got a tattoo under my upper arm on day 2 away from yoga. I gave it 3 whole days of rest, and now I am sweating the scabs off in little black dirty looking juicy pieces that stick to my leg, and roll up into my armpit. Needless to say I was a mess at my first class back tonight. I even forgot to take my eye makeup off, and when I caught a glimpse of my scary red raccoon face in the mirror, I nearly fell down. It actually threw me off for all three of the awkward poses. I had no balance or control cos I couldnt quit thinking about how gnarly my face looked! hahah!

I did every standing posture. I tried to go lower down in triangle, and it felt better. Hard, but like I was getting the 'chest-opening' stretch thats been eluding me up until now. Get low. I got shooting pains in my left knee on tree to toe, when I tried to bend forward, so I just stood. I noticed a little bit of a rewind in my balance and strength, but my flexibility stuck around- a huge suprise to me. I rested my head on the ground in standing forward bend, or whatever the lovely feeling swan dive one is.

Camel...urg, it got me again. I feel like such a lump when I get to the front of my mat, just kneeling, and something in me reacts and violently revolts. I flop forward like a blob onto my towel while the whole row in front of me is contorting backwards towards me like wacky snakes, eyes watching me fail. Fuck you camel, tonight you won. I started to get nervous two postures in advance of it, and that kills me. Oh well, sometimes I am a nervous person. I am working on that.

Overall, totally successful class. I was worried I would talk myself out of going, but the results are immediate in my mind, so it's hard to try and tell myself its not worthwhile.

number 13

Tonight I swung my bootay like I had a tail! It felt good to walk like a girl! Most of the time I limp or am stiff in the hips. It usually hurts to walk, and takes effort and attention and care to keep from hurting. Tonight when I left the studio, I felt no pain.
I have been to yoga every day since Monday. I had two really great classes in a row. Monday was cooooooool cos it was half as many people. I ran over there after my skate lessons and got into a good spot. I gave camel my all, and didnt feel nasty one bit. I think the heat hurts me during camel, but I dont know yet, it could be alot of things.
Tuesday was a super hard day at school again, way out of my comfort zone. I forgot all of this heavy shit would come along with doing a program like this...The stressed out, tight-chested emotions that come with talking about family problems. The feelings get squished out of the recesses of my brain in an instant as we discuss violence and abuse, and images spring to mind...and then I want to nap. Right away. Tuesday we had to hug each other, the whole class one after another after another. It was hard not to run away. It was stressful. It meant connecting, which I'd rather not do in person.
That Tuesday class was great, relaxing, releasing. I have made it a habit to smile in between each posture, and shake it all out, if I feel like thats what I need to do. I wiggle my head alot, my neck gets stiff, then my chest and back, and then I am not breathing. So I wiggle and shake and kick it out. The smiles are forced most of the time, but they help to remind me that what I am doing is hard. What I am doing is good for me. What I am doing is an accomplishment. Each posture. Each stretch. Each muscle that I get to feel is one more than I felt yesterday.
Today's class was tough. I was in the back corner, smiling to myself and imagining how I looked as I did my stuff. I couldnt see the front mirror. Paula sent me a yoga newsletter that was funny. It mentioned that yogis lose it if they cant see the mirror, and also that they need to practice moving their spot around and not get attached and territorial with their places. I have been moving around, but maybe others aren't, and that is why I am getting dirty looks! I will just keep smiling back.
It got hot today! I think that the corner and maybe even next to the walls are worse hot than in the middle. I imagine all this hot, stale air just not rising. In my bad image bank head when I am having a hard time breathing, I picture this oppressive, weighted cloud of hot, stale air pushing down from above...and when they open the door or turn on the fan...it pushes it away, but into the corners, or out towards the walls! What a terrible picture in my mind...but if not, then why is it so hard to breathe!? I poured sweat tonight, it was fun.
I asked about bring a friend deals, Paula is coming tomorrow! They don't have any.
Oh well. It will be fun to do yoga again with P! Cant wait.
and then we go surfing! We are being chickens about the cold, but I know we will do it.
We will light a fire in our minds, and do it.

ten out of ten!

I feel really good right now!
I beat the downpour! The rain sounds like a giant fan outside my window blowing through the blinds.
Another full class, but good neighbors. I had the same starey mary in front of me who does postures wrong and cant just not look at me. Its distracting to find someone staring at you in the mirror. I decided it must suck to go through life as such a bitch, and focussed in on my meditation. It was a solid state today. I got there very early, and as soon as I laid down, my moind started wandering to how I did yesterday, what hurt, how I was going to do what today, and whetehr it would be a good class or not...etc. I stopped myself right there, and reminded my mind that today might not go as planned, no matter what I had in mind, and just to let it happen. I decided to make a point of smiling as much as I could, and reassuring myself as much as the instructors do. No one else is going to. "You are doing so great, you can do this", was my mantra, and after every single posture, I smiled at my face in the front mirror and told myself, "Good job!".
I made it through every single posture strong and a little more than before! I did not fall out of anything. I stared into my eyes, or at a random points in space, and focussed. I smiled during postures, amazed at myself. I didnt try to look at myself. I didnt half ass anything. I told myself I wouldn't try as hard on the next one, when I felt gross in between at a few points, but then I got into the next posture and fully went for it again.
Except for camel. I was gentle. I kneeled, felt like passing out, didnt, held my hands on my hips and looked up, up , up, breathing breathing, breathing. It wasn't good, it just was. I did both, and actually let my head fall back the second time. Better than before.
It was a happy class, and I am really proud of myself.
I thought about telling the instructors about how happy I am feeling, but thought I might cry if I did that. I can't get over how good my hips are.
And now, a dinner party.

9th gate

Tonight was a great class!
It was an inches away from your neighbor night. I got sweated on by two strangers, but it couldn't faze me. I worked hard. Really focused on my form, and saw a change in a few things. Really good things that carried me through til the end, smiling all the way, even when I nearly passed out on second triangle, and just about barf cried on camel. Cant stop me now. Right off the bat, with the breathing at the start, my crunchy shoulder made its squishy noises, but it didn't hurt, and my elbows actually point way way up not out anymore. Clearly I was in a mirror spot tonight. I like that. I like to really see that my hands are firm together, my arms are straight and strong in half moon. I like to be able to see the difference of when my knee really locks in standing head to knee, and where my hips and shoulders are when Im doing eagles. My favorite was in awkward, and eagles, too: really seeing my ribcage when I arch my back, cos that makes all the difference for my balance. I had an awesome, strong standing series, but got right fuckin dizzy a few times. I just focused on breathing and kept going. I am working really hard. I love feeling all of the stretches where the instructor says I should. I love pointing my toes to the back wall, and trying to touch the front mirror, feeling the line all the way across the tipping forward one, knowing I am a perfect, beautiful T. Even if I am ragged dragon breathing through my nose. I feel stronger. I notice more flexibility each class. I see my feet over my head in standing bow. I didnt think of much of anything in savasana. Wandered a little to how awesome I am doing now as opposed to when I first came here to the valley. Set my intention to keep getting better. I was a wet rag. I feel like no one possibly could sweat as much as I do. I sighed a lot tonight in the in between rests. I was grinding it out. Camel tried to fuck with me. The first one made me sick cry pass out. I said, no, I can do this, and for the second I didnt try quite as hard to do it perfectly. In fact, I just knelt with my hands on my hips, barely looking up, and decided that that is exactly what I'll do from now on. A little at a time. It will come.
At the end I couldn't get up for a long time. I was lightheaded. I felt proud and like a noodle. Weak, and still squirting out sweat everywhere! I just laid there until I was sure I would't fall down on my way out.
Bonus-Emily the instructor told me they are thinking about adding classes. Yes! There are almost 60 people doing the 30 day challenge, and only 2 classes a day on Fri-Sat-Sun.
Looking forward to getting wrecked some more tomorrow!
TV and sloth time.

8

I am trying really hard to not rhyme anything with the title.
I just finished grocery shopping, after just finishing smoothing my squash soup in the magic bullet and freezing it in school sized portions. After I'd just finished putting the laundry on, cos Im out of little yoga clothes, after I got out of the shower. After I said hey to Richie Brotze who's here for a visit, after I made it home through the never fading foggy windshield, after I made it through my eighth class strong and pain free!
I fuckin did camel tonight without totally failing, and I tasted those chemicals, and I breathed them out in my loud, dragony, panting nose breaths! Out, out chemical lungs! My floor work was solid, no half stepping, or half rolling on my belly, as it is.
My standing series was...not so great. I flooped down after first triangle. I am going to have to ask about those, I don't feel like I am doing it right, it just feels awkward. Do I bend at the waist to touch my toes? I don't get the impression that I do that, but if I don't bend my back, I am stuck in the middle of the air, feeling nowhere. Yeah, I was uncomfortable as hell tonight, and it killed me. I had to chill after that until they came to me on the floor. I tried to get up for tree, cos I love tree, and I nearly blacked out. I was up for the straight leg tucked chin, forehead to knee, two feet on the ground deal, though, and I came up strong, no pushing off the thigh tonight. I am getting my quad strength back quickly. I couldn't even lay down when the world went black, since there were so many people, the triangles went all across two peoples spaces at least. I couldn't see my form in the mirror, I went back next to the door to get air.
I asked before I went in whether they were opening more classes, and she said no, and I was kind of grumpy. Then 'she' was the instructor, and she was a great instructor. I felt like she was helping me especially, since I told her how I struggled last night in the busy, full-class-heat. I tried to smile alot during class. She is a beanpole, looks like the girl who won the half in Vic. Tall, and toned muscles all over. Damn, she had tummy muscles when she was relaxing! She is in the pictures that are on the walls. I liked her voice, she was very encouraging, and there was something she said...that was in just the right...tone of voice...for it to feel like it sounded...what was it...next time...
Anyways, I made it through, and I smiled, and I feel good. Loose still. Stronger still. Even if that is only in my head.

lucky#7

So last night I went for a skate, late, after hours, park all mine, music blowing my hair back, and I let 'er rip. The difference in my skating is huge since I started running, and now that I've added in this bonus of yoga. My world is changing FAST back into that one where you decide you are going to do something, and then you go and pull it off. I have been away from this world and in the land of I-think-that-will-fuck-me-up-pull-a-muscle-twist-a-joint-my-body-hurts-too-much-to-try-fall-or-fail-at-trying-that. Phew! Glad to be back!
Tonight was class #7. November 30 day challenge has started, and I am going to have to try to go in the a.m. Not that it was bad, but...it was bad! Where I thought the room was pretty full with 25 people, tonight I counted 49. We had to hover hands over each other's back for the airplane move. Glad I stuck to the wall near the door. It was also incredibly hot, and I melted just before standing tree. But, I touched my forehead to the ground tonight in the one before triangles! Yeah! Triangles still bum me out, I think I'm going to start going for it with those, it's too much mental hassle not to. The hovering, half bent thing I just don't understand, and I get discouraged. I'm learning that just the idea of not being able to do it kills me! Camel also made me die, what is up with that! I'm really getting tired of it. I steeled myself and tried for the second go, and barely made it to the floor to lay down. When I phlumped down, I tasted chemicals. I have toxins to get rid of! I want this!
I am so looking forward to rock to fakies, kickflip fakie rocks. I got solid tailstalls down, and some big fat punk rock grinds all for myself on a rainy Monday night in Courtenay. I feel it coming on.
Bring it!

6 still in the mix

Wow, I will NEVER forget to bring water with me to a class again! It ruined me for the night.
It was a tough class, with a different instructor, Julie. She is an older lady with a really defined tummy, but it kind of looks like she has had weird sugery, with the looser kid-having skin going in weird directions. As much as I couldn't stop staring at her rock hard abs, and defined muscles, I was repulsed by the strange way it looked.
I was nervous about the water at the beginning of class, but managed to focus and worked really hard through the first half of standing postures. After that I totally melted! The class was full full full, four rows instead of three. It got so hot, and she didn't turn the fans on when we laid down for the long savasana. All I could hear were the glug glug of people drinking water, and my eyes were starting to roll. I made it to crouching firm posture or whatever its called, and that was it. The reachy reachy kneeling one, rabbit, and camel I had to sit out while I fought passing out and my eyes rolled around in my head. It was all over so fast, though, and I was happy to run away and gulp water from the tap outside as soon as Julie left the room. Came home, showered, and pased out on the couch after drinking a litre of water. Wke up thirsty at midnight and couldnt sleep. Woke up this morning thirsty and with a headache. Taxed.
I'm on my second week, now. My muscles hurt a ton. Inside of my thighs mostly, and my shoulders. Hips still feel loose, and no pain in my backass that is always bugging. I know that after this week, the soreness will go away, but it makes doing some of the postures more difficult. Some of the postures are getting easier, already, though. I still get nervous before camel, I think that the anticipation of feeling awful in camel pose is worse than feeling the pukey, crying sensation itself. It will come...maybe I will just have to start crying in class! haha! That'll never happen.

five star

Whoa, shit.
Today I don't feel so hot. Totally have PMS, which explains the crying in the bank, and the straight past pukey to sobbing tonight at camel pose. Obviously not really me sobbing in the middle of a room full of people, that would never happen. But that's what I was trying to hold in. I had a grumpy practice today. Even though I was so looking forward to it. What threw me off? Really full full class. Two little teenage fancy girls literally throwing their stuff down next to me, really close, as I was trying to relax beforehand. I went in with lots of pain today, after a full four hours of weeding and scissorhanding at my last completed winter put down garden. I was celebrating! What happened? I am consumed by crazy feelings!
Whatever, its PMS, they are feelings on the loose, and like Ghostbusters crossing streams, I just have to keep them under control. Yeah, I was aggro! haha! The lady in front of me looked at me as we were turning around for savasana near the end and I wanted to what her. I was struggling by the last standing pose, had to lay down. I hate that I struggle with triangles now! I want to easy out and do them in wrong form like half the rest of the starey bitches, but I wont, I will do little weak hipped, hardly crouching ones until my hips can hold me strong, and bring me up on their own. I could touch my fuckin forehead to my shins in straight leg, too , if I bent my back over like that one and that one and that one...hahaha...I think I might like the second row better. I couldn't see the front mirror today at all, so my only focus was the blue hairtie of the girl in front of me. Or my eyes just wandered over the rounded backs of everyone that was faking that one.
For me, though, I did well. Yes, I had to lie down at standing tree, which then threw me the angry ball that I could get rid of, but I worked hard, and thats why I had to lay down. I shook and shuddered in my muscles. My knees held me for the crouch when they are squished together and you sink down. So what if they couldn't lift me up again...well, yeah, I guess that matters. But I am getting there and getting through...it just ended with me feeling...too much.
and now I'm home and emo...where's a good place to go to scream?

4

Class four!
Better than before!
Im waiting for the one where Im going to revert back to passing out. But so far, so good.
Tonight was welcome. The class was very full, mats were close together, and there were a lot already laid down when I got there. I really like the spot I had last week, back corner next to the mirror wall. But a girl was taking up a bunch of space there, her mat was way too far away from the mirror, but too close to squeeze in between, with a foot on each side. So I took the same line, one place away from mirror, onee row forward. Next to a girl who was very starey. I moved my mat up as so to stagger my mat, so we wouldn't touch hands when we were flying, and then went to pee. When I came back, she had moved her mat up, too! What a knob.
Class went great! I stretched deeply, but also paid very close attention to my form and shape. Dum-dum kept moving herself between me an the mirror, even though I purposely stood in the wrong places on my mat so that I would see myself. I used the front one instead. Went great. Laid down for the second set of leg stretches, and after almost barfing and feeling gross again trying camel. I laid down through that too. I got a little further before the barfy, though.
Feel great. Loose. Tomorrow is a break. My muscles are sore sore sore! And my poor foot. Nothing I can do for that, just go easy until it heals. I looked at a bone chart today, and it is my proximal phalange bone that has been messed since Aug.5th, only three months. Its not high up enough to be the metatarsal. Must have got it good.

three

Just came from class three.

The second went better. I didnt eat for three hours before again, and when I asked Emily the instructor why I might have been so passy-outy, she said that not eating for too long might be the reason! Ahhhh! I hadnt eaten again today for awhile! I went in an laid down, thinking, I cant go through all that passing out again! Then I remembered that I still had Sharkies in my bag from the marathon. I scarfed down three or four and made it through, only laying down twice...or was it thrice...whatever. I breathed harder, and without trying to be deep and regulated. I just let it rip: in through my nose, out through my nose; only not pretty flowy and timed like it sounds. Nope, I was basically panting through my nose! But it worked.
My legs would not lock for the balance poses. In all the triangles and hip benders, I had to help myself back up using my hands on my thighs cos my hips were not engaging. My knees hurt like hell, my ankles, my foot where I kicked the diving board bolt, all very sore. But I made it.
And afterwards, I felt energized. I ran a few steps and my hips felt loose in my bodybag for the first time since I was 16. I giggled and shook my knees and hips to feel it some more.

Today went better still. I made it through til the floor work. No passy-outy! I ate alot today, right up until 1.5 before. My hips still feel weak, my knees still arent locking. My foot is really sore. I can pinpoint it now, in the second last toe metatarsal. I panted through my nose again, and moved closer to the mirror on the side, I want to know my back is straight, my form is good. I want to learn these the right way, see myself progress. I loved feeling the sweat roll off me, dripping everytime I looked down, off my nose, my hair. Fingers dripping when I stand, elbows itching when they are bent. I love to sweat. I love that my heart beats like crazy, and I am barely moving. I love feeling the stretch in my tight old muscles when I hit the pose right. I am looking forward to getting bendier, but Im in no rush. I love it when I can feel that pull really deeply, like on the tendons where they connect to the bone and they havent been stimulated in so long, they are having a party when I hit their strings. I smiled alot today.

I bought a pass. I have a little keyfob now. I plan to go four times a week. Tues, Weds, Fri, Sat.
I cant wait for my next class!

no really, Im not running.

So I finished my marathon. Im done running. I set a goal and accomplished it. Good.

Its been two weeks since that finished, and I finally feel like doing some activity. But I dont feel like running. Not now. Not in the rain and wind and cold. I want to be warm and cozy and soaked cos of sweat. I dont want to not feel my toes. I dont want my cheeks to hurt.

I got a two day hot yoga pass. Ive been feeling increasingly stiff, the running is giving me strength in my muscles, but I cant stretch it out enough to feel like I wouldnt hurt myself if I bailed skating. My joints feel tight and full of stuffing, hard to bend. My hips and low back are totally jacked; sore and pinchy all the time. Im limping against my will. Only when I am actually running do they loosen up, then they go right back.

So off I went. Friday night. I let them know it was my first class and that I was nervous. The dope at the front desk laughs and tells me `thats the worst thing you can be, wait til the nausea hits!` Bitch! Ive never felt nauseous before!
I roll out my stuff, lay down and pretend Im in Mexico. Ahhhhhhhh.
I made it through the breathing exercise and some side bends. I felt sweat start running down my legs, arms, everywhere. Went for the sandwich, and thats the last thing I remember. I know that my ears went first, the room shrank or expanded, or something. The instructors voice went echoey. I couldnt see anything, and I felt sick. I crumpled up in a ball at the front of my mat, exactly where I had just been standing. I stayed there, all balled up, trying to get my head straight. She told me to roll over, lay on my back. I did.
I breathed. I waited to not feel dizzy. All around me they were doing poses I knew, I tried to get up, cos I like the eagle pose, I rock that! But I felt light when I sat up, so I laid back down. Waited. When I was sure I could stand, up I got we were tipping forward like Ts. Then we went to stand at the back corner...only my body wasnt having it, I was blacking out again, but struggling not to. I stood in the middle of my mat, and a nice lady next to me tapped my arm and showed me to the side of the mat for triangles, I zombie nodded, and moved over. I couldnt pick up my foot and move it four feet over! Ha! I was about to fall down! Echoes! Lay down. Eyes rolling around my head. Pouring sweat. Feeling it pool up in my belly button and pour out as I tried to take deep breaths. I liked that. I like to sweat. But my head would not stay on straight. I sat up, and laid back down.
Okay, now they are coming to me, on the floor. I was ready. Cobra. All over it. This crazy palm down shit. One leg, two legs, whatever, gimme something hard. The camel pose made me lightheaded again. For a minute. Made it through, but it was messy. I came out stumbling, soaked, and just put on my clothes over my wet clothes. I just wanted to get home. I felt like someone beat me up. Or I was drunk, high, or loaded. Uncomfortable and a little failed.
One thing I know for sure, though. Nothing worth doing is EASY.
So Im goin back.

gooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllll!

I scored.

I completed my half marathon goals for the year of 2010.

I am actually not suprised that I forgot to write about it. I was when I first logged in and saw that I hadnt, but my school term is taking up all of my minutes with reading and squeezing out papers in the proper style, with no swears or words I made up in them.

It went well, it was fun. I didnt try too hard, shit I hardly tried at all, I just got through it.

It was fun to be in a different city with Carrie and Amy and Paula for this run, it would be a fun thing to do again just for that, its exciting. Left the hotel in the darkness, walked the streets a ways to the start line, realised Id forgotten my Nike+ plug in the crush of our corral. Too late! Got going and tried to keep up with Carrie and Amy for four or five blocks, waved goodbye to them when my ankles started doing their thing, cant have that starting today. Slowed right down and enjoyed the first 8k or so. Butt explosion at 9k, so glad there were 20 bathrooms all along the course! I don't remember the middle, I remember alternating between no struggle and struggle, but mostly cruised up until 17k I remember being at 16k at 9:30 and thinking, hell yeah, 5k left, I can chill out, only takes me 30 or so, right on time, but 5k takes me 30 mins when Im only running 5k! My time was 20 minutes longer than the Vancouver BMO.

So training counts!

Sweet Paula stuck it out waiting for my turtle butt and so I got pictures of me finishing! They are pretty funny.

I havent hit the road since. No desire, really.

Am I done?

Its possible, I really cant do that to my knees, its just not nice.

We'll see...

pictures!

We are behind the red hat. There I am clapping, there`s Amy`s arm, and juuust Carrie`s face above the yellow cap and sunnies.

And there I am triumphant! Trying not to cry and pass out. Finished!

runnin sick

So I went for a ten k at what is supposed to have been race pace by the book, but I got another chest cold and it isn't quite over yet, so I just went with whatever felt good. After missing significant "training runs"and doing away completely with the speed training portion of my agenda, whatever happens, happens, and I just hope that I make it to the finish line.
Today was a beautiful running day. The sky is all blue, and the leaves are all falling. Ran down the tracks, and the end of the line near Wal-Mart looked like a tunnel through the trees. There was the dark shadow of a man on the tracks I couldn't tell whether he was coming or going. As I approached he seemed to just be standing there. I got closer and if it wasn't Mister Staggerlee, weaving and tripping two steps forward and one step back. Every third step it looked like he might fall all the way over, but he would right himself and shuffle step the other way. When I greeted him he made a joke about how fast I was going compared to his jumbly stumble, and my heart warmed to him. I wished him luck, and kept on through the tunnel to Fraser Rd. I decided that since Id been slacking on my hill and training in general to do a second lap back up the little incline fromt he highway to the tracks and back and that marked my halfway.
I got into the trail in the park by the water, and it was a yellow brick road of leaves. It looked like a place I'd never seen before and was fun to run through the piled up dry leaves a foot thick, tossing them around. The trees along the sides were decorated with christmas light orange leaves all through. The sun shone through the yellow at the edges and I busted through into it for the way back. Sun on my face and blue on my right. The music was epic as I came alongside the bay, and through the yellow grass, the seagulls were a mist above as they all turned in the sky and made for their landing, settling into a polka dot blanket on water that seemed more blue today with the sky in its eye. The song made the scene stretch out further and wrap around me, pulling me along and into it.
I felt like I was running pretty fast, getting this one over without too much effort. In the back of my mind the naysayer kept telling me that my ipod was calibrated wrong and I wasn't running as far as it said. Doesn't matter. I'm not running anyway. A seal popped out of the river with a salmon in its flipper hands and ripped off its tail right next to me, what a treat! Made a diagonal line from the water trail to my house at about 12th St. Just got home and thirsty.
When I finished running, the fountain started out of my nose. The whole run I had to breathe through my mouth, not cos I'm stuffed up, but because I have a runny nose, and I didnt want it spraying me. I coughed up a lot of shit, but I can't spit, but I tried to. Thats why I bring a bandanna. When I stopped I started to cough and didnt stop until I caught my breath back. Nut I feel even better now that its done.

runnin scared

I havent run in a week or so, can't remember when I took the last long haul, but it nearly did me in, what a drag. My knees were toast by 13k, and all I saw on the road were dead animals. A possum, a cat, a deer, and a frog. I nearly went back for their skulls, but dont have any good chemicals to burn their flesh off.
SO close to over, though, and then the rewards. The feeling of completion, and a goal reached, and then the something new I get to do instead. The not feeling like I HAVE to run, but going because I want to, or not at all and never again, ha! In one week's time it'll be the eve of Ididthis.
Todays was hard, I feel like I might be getting sick. In my throat. Going to grab some hummous and garlic and stuff to make a super garlicky bruscetta later. Fucking vampire illness, I don't have time for you.
Heading to work now.
Bam.

night sky

I fuckin love to run at night! I forgot that I did, and was so bummed out when I looked up from reading and making notes to see that the light was gone. I slumped around and lamented missing my long run, then reevaluated and decided that I can do my long run tomorrow, and it will be better that way. I put on my gear, even though I felt cold. Pulled out the long pants, zipped up the hoody, and set my ipod to ten so that I knew I'd make seven at least. I am certain now that there is definitely something funky going on, cos I ran the hell around this town. I know now that when my ipod jumps around in my pockets, it doesn't measure right.
Leaves are sitting around the corners of the intersections, yellow and orange even in the dark, I shuffled through four piles of them before I even got down to Cliffe. Followed Cliffe all the way to the end of town, this side of Millard Park, then followed the edge of the big mall lot. Passed a number of shifty fellows sort of lurking inthe dark shadows, not really going anywhere...and then a cluster of cop cars making some bust. Halfway through the run, the air went crisp and started to ring with the clear light. The halos around the streetlights fuzzed out into the blue and I saw Jupiter sitting next to the moon. When I finally started home with the moon on my back, I remembered how much the night makes me reminisce on my late Langley walks. What is cool about Courtenay is that I get to pass through all the quiet neighborhoods in one go. The wide open, empty parking lot malls, with the leaves turning crisp and stale, still hanging on the trees at the edges. The rows of warehouse and industrial space, with its beautiful mess of detritus, twisted metals, disposed cans and springs out back and empty of all life. Then the residential suburbs, with the chimney smell of smoke adding that spooky Halloween haze to the whole neighborhood, giving the trees their spirits.
I fuckin love the nights, roaming the streets in the little towns.
But the run felt really, really long. All the way back past the back Driftwood mall, then up to Piercy, past the tracks for the straight run through to the city works yard, then up to Willemar, and back down my go-to, fifth street.
A good run. Looking forward to the full on-ness of fall.

Terry Fox is My Hero

So it felt great to run in the 30th annual Terry Fox Foundation's run this morning. Even if it started late and was so disorganized. It was enough, people showed up, and alot of money got raised. I even did my own fundraising, albeit slightly half-assed through emails and facebook, collecting $720 from about a dozen very generous donors!
I did my best to not think of Terry during the run, because I find his story so damned inspiring and amazing that it always makes me cry. I thought about my dad, and my friends and other family, who really came through and helped me feel like I did all this training for a reason. I felt ready for next month's, and this year's final run, the Royal Victoria Marathon.
What was really cute was the warm-up. I don't usually stretch before a shortie and I've never been to a run where they borrow a fitness trainer to do some preliminary stretching and bouncing and marching in place. I thought it was so cute that I got right in there in the grass and went to it with everybody else, trying to not feel like a nerd, but enjoy the cuteness. When it was done they just said, okay, GO! I started off really slow, having just received the course outline, I knew I was in for a long, long hill up to Guthrie. The good thing about htat is that is was all downhill for the way back, and much sooner than I anticipated. I thought we would be coming down Anderton, so when we turned back on Pritchard it felt little, and I started trucking! I rocked back to the marina, choosing to not do the second lap of the same route, first because I had my hopes set on one big circle route that I could find out about and use as a practice tenK later, and second, with the late start, it would take me too long to get through the run and get ready for work at noon.
I found out my Ipod is calibrated a bit off, and that will add up in the long run...ha, I've never used that so literally before! Its off by 1.45 per 5km, so that will be 6kms further than I've been training for in the final! Which is a lot of extra on my knees if every 2k I add onto my long runs causes a ton of pain every week its the first time I've added those 2k on. I will have to add alot onto my 18 this and next weekend to get up to what I am really going to be doing in Oct! But at least I found out now and not the day of the half.
And now off to work!

fun run!

I tried to take the dog for a run on Weds. I got as far as 1.5kms and got tired of trying to keep him from speeding up so much, my arms were sore from holding the leash back, so I stopped the clock and just walked home, which was much easier, he walks great, he just runs alot faster than I like to.

Today I went for a nice six, and most of the run I thought about tomorrow's run. Woot! Terry Fox represent! I took my new route that I like for the big long hills that feel good to conquer. I saw the shortcut to the pipeline and thought about taking that for my 18k on Monday, run up to the highway and back.

Heading to bed, now. I like running more now that I am not working every day. After reading on the couch for seven hours at a stretch, it is so nice to get out and move!

two runs

I forgot to enter my last run, a six on a new route, which was very exciting for me for a few reasons, I am super bored with my standbys, I ran hella fast, and nothing hurt! I went up to Pwerhouse, on my hill running hill, turned down it, and trucked along there. It was dark, so I went fast, little steps trying to get back to the streetlights. I am stoked that when I run it again it will all be new! When I found the streetlights, at 1st, there was a giant downhill. I raced down it and sang the whole way. I was embarrassed to get caught singing to myself by lurkers a few times. It was exactly six. And nice and different.

Today I went for a twelve, which sounds little already. It was good, I tried another new. Going straight at Fraser, along the tracks all the way past the Kubota place on the highway, and could see Royston Rd about a km in front of me when I turned around. It was tough going, though. Really uneven in the middle, and steep on the sides, so I had to watch every step. I'm glad I didnt notice a giant pile of bear crap on the way out to six, it probably would have stopped me in my tracks, it was'pretty fresh, like this morning in the rain. That sped me up and got me back to my good ole familiar even ground before too long.
playlist was great:
Aw fuck this Ipod with its shake program! Lost the rest...
Have Love Will Travel the Black Keys
I Cry Alone the Black Keys
Night of the Living Baseheads Public Enemy
the Yeti Clutch
FGT Saviours
Inititiation At the Drive-In
Death or Glory the Clash
Don't Take That Attitude to Your Grave Ben Harper
Sugar Magnolia the Grateful Dead
HIp Hop is in the Building
Brazilica Beck
Touch of Grey the Grateful Dead
A nice cooldown. and now to work with books I hope I get a chance to read for school!

ring of fire

In my ankles.
Just finished my 16km long run. In hindsight it wasn't that hard. During the run, I felt differently.
Had a bit of the ankle burn right off the bat. It didn't get as bad as usual, but it didn't go away, either. Massive knee problems. My right knee this time, I'm pretty sure that usually its my left that's funky, started ache-ting up at 3kms, pretty early on. I went a new route, I bet that helped me tune out a bit. Ran out Headquarters, up past the ice rinks and along the Veterans Parkway, to the college and back. Sweet 16.
The hill is steep, but it was okay, felt good to get to the top, kept a really slow and even pace the whole run, around 7. Then there was that gravel path all along the Parkway. I was dragging my feet a bit, and the long hill was entirely full sun. I thought there were cobwebs on my elbows, but it was sweat hanging off. Aside form my knee just hating the walking parts, like when it was time to get going again, yeah, not so bad. For a time there on the last three kms, I was wondering if there is such a thing as a bum-bra. My lower back hurt like my upper chest does if my spors bra sucks. I was laughing but I am kinda serious. Maybe it was just my backache, but...just saying. Knowing that most of the way back was downhill helped me get home. And definitely the new route. Maybe next time I'll take on Back Rd. Keep changing it up. Only three more long duck dongs. Then RVM. I cannot wait to get it over with!

back in the game

Wow, I hated today's run, too!
I gave myself a break from running again, after my major huff last week. To be honest, I ran away from home in a frenzy of self destructive fear based mania, on a mission to obliterate my anxiety by drinking excessively and throwing my body at obstacles on my skateboard from great heights. I was absolutely successful on both counts, and might have even gotten alcohol poisoning, although I would not allow myself to throw up. That is crossing the line.
Either way, I got it out of my system just in time to begin school and a whole new routine. I went for a giant food shopping excursion and just now finished making little prepared snack bags. Four litres of soup are marinating in the slow cooker, dinner chicken is portioned and in the freezer, meals are planned, vitamins are lined up. I can't wait for school and work and homework to become a routine amended by running and yoga. I can't wait until the transition is through. There is going to be a painful adjustment, but I think the mind power I've gained from forcing myself to run through a bunch of wanting to stops will help me here.
I thought all about it as I ran with that exact same sprained feeling in my ankle that hit me at exactly the same point in my run last time that made me feel like crying and forced me to limp. I tried massaging it out. I tried yelling and swearing at it. And then I ran on it. Fuck you, ankle, this is what you get for betraying me. Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow...
It took me over two kms of wah-ing pain to realize what was going on. I have gotten used to running at a pretty fast pace, but since I have not been training regularly, that pace is just too fast for my weak little sticks. What a revelation! I slowed down, and after a short time, voila, no pain. Seriously, though, do you have any idea how difficult it is not to speed up? I got so bored I wanted to cry just as much. It was hard to let it go, I've lost half a minute per km, and that is just the way it is until I get back on top of this bullshit. It is so weird that I want to continue, but I do.
The last leg of my run (at a pace so slow I could have been walking quickly instead) was gorgeous. And my device told me I have logged 500kms on it, although when I plugged it in, it shows that I am 5kms shy. fuckin machine leading me on. Either way, it is a perfect time of year to run. Leaves are just beginning to change, and Im excited to be able to run anytime I feel like it instead of waiting for the night.
Almost done my list of things for today. Trying to soak up the feeling of spare time enjoyment while I still can.

not chips

So eat before I run, check.
I guess chips and a Sprite do not cut it for pre-running fare.
I hated this run. I hated how much it hurt my body, I hated how my tummy felt. I hated the way I am supposed to have planned my entire day around this stupid run, how every day has to be centered around when to eat and how to get my run in on time. I am so sick of the same places I am running. I already know I can run up six hills, the challenge is gone, and this time around there is pain on top of the strain.
I feel sick, and I have for the past hour it took me to run a measly eight kms. I made it up four hills, and I cheated the last 50meters on two of them, turned around, fuck this.
My ankles are sore from yesterday, and now they are sore again. My butt is cramped up and I am worried about being able to walk tomorrow. Have I proven whatever I was trying to prove to myself yet? I can't wait for the RVM to be over, and my goals to be completed and behind me for the year so I can just relax and do something else.
I am bored with running, being in pain again, and feeling wiped out all of the time.

eat first, then run

Went for my first run since the weekend break. What a fun weekend with my girls(and the boys)!
Had some serious trouble motivating with the crappy weather out there today. Its the first cold and blustery day since June. I am in denial still that the sun is not coming back with its full force of heat and draught to save me from fall coming and my having to go back to work mowing everyone's lawn again for the next two months.
Had my coffee and waited, actually doing house chores to avoid going out. Finally put on my running gear, first shpants day since May! Had a staff meeting to attend at the centre, so I figured I'd run there and back, the long way, as my run today, two birds, like.
Every Planet We Reach is Dead Gorillaz
Set out straight down the main street at an easy easy pace. Felt good. PMA on my back, and the shpants made me feel very Rocky-esque a few times. Did something to my ankle between racing for the light and turning into the path on the hill
When the Night Comes the Black Keys
Already my ankle was making me cry, it felt burning, like walking on a sprain that hasnt moved in four weeks, only I was running on it. This made no sense, my ankle is fine! I kept trying to run until I had such pain that I was limping. I made it to the 17th street bridge and had to walk for awhile, sure that it would ease off.
Non Zero Possibility At the Drive In
Started running to this song, down the hill on the other side of the bridge, past the boat and RV stores, looking out over the fields. So pretty.
Winters Wolves the Sword
Queen of Bees Witchcraft
I loved those two songs, but it hurt a lot to run. Kept going anyway. I made it to Ryan Rd, the long way around the bypass, then realized I hadn't yet eaten today, only had coffee. Maybe that's what was wrong!
HA! I remembered the sticky dehydrated muscles picture in my head, and obviously that carries to the rest of my body, I'm sure. Took off the headphones, paused the run and went to get some sushi! Ate it at the staff meeting and was perfectly fine on the run home after!
his was the soundtrack for the return.
Pacific Theme Broken Social Scene
Run To You Brian Adams
Harvest Neil Young
Skit Souls
Big Road Blues Canned Heat
When Things Go Wrong Canned Heat
Sorrow Evoker Sword/Witchcraft
I thought alot on the run to Shoppers about how terribly im treating my body this time around. I'm up to a 16km long run, and eating total crap! Last time around I was on a strict healthy sort of diet-not-diet, call it an energy food plan. I decided to step it up again, and went in to Shoppers to get the last vitamin on my list i'd been putting off-Iron. I even texted Paula to get the brand the pro runners use, which is silly, but, I was in an all or nothing kind of mood. The cheap ones were 60 pills for 12 bucks, I looked at them, and asked for the PROferrin(its even Pro in its name!Boy do I feel special.). I didn't look at the price or quantity, but it turns out that if I take their recommended dosage, I got ten days worth of pills for 25 bucks. Oops. SO now I am eating a billion pills every day, here's the list: Ibuprofenx2, Calciumx1, Magnesiumx1, Glucosaminex6, and Ironx3. This lady at the ice rink told me I ought to be eating Selenium as well, but I am already a little nervous about this crazy mix and feel that I should run it past a pharmacist or a naturopath before I go too far. Hmm, I've been meaning to do that for some time now...
I also am embarrassed to say I got some protein powder. Last time I was drinking boost. Same dif! So shut up! hahaha! I feel like a juicer! But I am determined to get back on top of this energy lack crisis I've stumbled into.
Onward and upward and 16kms tomorrow after lawnmowing!

Summer downpour

I didn't see the big black clouds until I'd started. It was nice enough out, and warm enough, I could handle a little rain.
Big Sky Reverend Horton Heat
White Wedding Billy Idol
It was hill day and I was on my way down hill number one when it started to hammer down.
Rio Duran Duran
Laserblast Fu Manchu
Let It Fly Duane Peters Gunfight
By the time I'd reached the bottom I was soaked through, still trying to tie up the hood. I gave up and let it swamp me, enjoying the warmth of the last of summer in the rain.
DARE Gorillaz
Rock de la Stet Stetsasonic
I got really into enjoying the rain; seeing it on my shins, running down my legs and pasting my hair down onto my head, then feeling it run down my face, and drip off my chin. It was awesome pretending it was all sweat and that I was working that hard when I wasn't.
Gut Feeling(Slap Yer Mammy) Devo
4ever my Beat Stetsasonic
I was on hill number four and thought it was funny this song came on. I also decided that this would be my last hill for the day since my shoes were full of water and squishing the shit out of the nasty new shoe back of the ankle blister buster.
Chanbara At The Drive In
Afternoon Tea the Kinks
Headed back down the strip to home and was showered and dressed before the crew arrived from the city to rock the weekend with me.
I Got Mine the Black Keys
There's a World Neil Young

14k

Decided it was time to go. 5pm. Wing night to get to after.
house of pain van halen
It hurt to get going, pains in my foot, my knee, my back.
brokedown palace grateful dead
GOt onto the train tracks, an old faithful route. I like this song, it reminded me to slow down.
gimme some water snfu
ALready over 1k, seeming to take forever, though, I want this done already.
2nd stage turbine blade coheed&cambria
Lookout for the stinging nettles! The side paths are overgrown with brambles, weeds, grass, and trees trying to come up. Makes it even smaller than the one track it is.
hearshot K coheed&cambria
back to basom ween
Aw, good, Im glad for slow songs, I don't want to run fast. My knee is still funky. I'm keeping a beat with the keys, cel, and ipod in the pocket on my back. Good pace.
til I get my way the black keys
shack#9 old crow medicine show
Only at WalMart. Serious? Only 4kms? I want this over!
skin & bone the kinks
all alone gorillaz
This is when it got fun. Finally. I like this song. I was hand dancing and enjoying the stretch down to the ocean, then back in to the trees.
start your digging big business
So good, through the trees is nice, so green. Haven't done this route in long enough to really like it.
drug train the cramps
goodbye babylon the black keys
The long waterfront stretch. I can't be almost at the Airpark, I've only gone 6kms! No! I want this done! I don't want to do an extra lap around anything!
more light j.mascis
runnin down a dream
Ugh, through the airpark already and out the other side.
own brain ian brown
I like this song. Was feeling home stretch like. But wasn't even close. About to start the long uphill grind to 5th and home.
420 duane peters gunfight
wonder what they're thinking snfu
harry rag the kinks
uuuuuphiiiiillllllll, booo.
can't I take this on j.mascis
Finally popped out on 5th and got a nice little down and flat. The stairs to under the bridge nearly broke my knees, though.
holiday the kinks
Didn't hear this, as I was grinding up that last hill.
8x over miss october clutch
white light gorillaz
Made the shocking decision to not finish my run early, at 11kms. Turned up 5th St, to make the last 3 happen on familiar ground. up to the school and back.
she's not on the menu SNFU
everybody wants to rule the world thompson twins
hard row the black keys
Half way to the end of the stretch I wasn't going to do. Kind of regretting it, but also pretty stoked that I will have accomplished my goal shortly. Knee is dying. I am limpy.
faith george michaels
That's right, just a little faith. I'll make it home.
down south blues old crow medicine show
back to the planet duane peters gunfight
And holy crap, I was groaning and moaning, it hurt the most when I stopped. Stretched it out, showered, and went for wing night to celebrate. Done and done.

Ouch.

Took another week off following my amazing 5Peaks trail run. My left knee felt about to blow all week, and my foot, the whole top around my pinky toe is still yellow from kicking some bolts concreted into the pool deck and just awaiting the arrival of the diving board during my super awesome vacation time.
I am now on the counting down side of my training, 8 weeks to go. Past the halfway point and really getting nervous about the amount of training Im supposed to be doing versus the amount I am actually doing. I barely made it through the last half marathon. Hopefully I will get through this one on the strength of just having been running for longer now than before!
I ran at noon, the sky is covered, and rain began spitting down on me. I loved it. The air is changing over to cool, and I'll miss the tank top and shorts at night, but it is nice to not boil inside anymore, and to be able to run whenever again, not just at either end of the hot day.
Today was a short 4km, to get ready for tomorrow's 14. I know that I can run 14kms, but my knee today was telling me that maybe I shouldn't? It worries me a lot. At 2km I was limping. Last thing I need or want is to be incapacitated right before the beginning of my first year back in school since 1994. I need to be all there, ready, set, go. And I know that running can help me be there, sharpen my physical and mental strengths. But if I'm not careful, it could be a rocky start. Ease on down the road, Em; there's a lot of it to go!

run of my life

So when I was telling some people I was going camping at Golden Ears and was looking forward to a run in the woods, this 5Peaks thing was brought up. I searched it out on the internet and printed out the map for the sport course. It looked like an achievable challenge. Difficult, but doable.
http://www.5peaks.com/schedule.asp?p=bc
The Golden Ears run went down in April.

I set off at 5:30, having learned my lesson of no new trails in the darkness. I had to drive down to the start place, much too far from the campsite to consider adding onto the 8.8kms it already was. Plus, I didn't know what to expect.
I clutched that map in my sweaty palm the whole way, and still got a little lost right at the start, through criss crossing trails surrounding the day use area. Once I was going, though, it was golden. Through the forest, lots of ups and downs, and twists, and rocky, rooty challenges. My body was not used to all of the elevation changes, I am spoiled by the flat surface in my road runs. It was glorious. Steep climbs, muddy gullies, a bog, little bridges, and open forest floors, covered in my favorite ferns. I loved the feeling of climbing.
I run faster in the woods, I know this without having my Ipod tracker thingy. I had to slow myself down to keep pace with my heartbeat. I loved the idea of how intense the training must be for this kind of running, as I was listening to my heart thump in my ears. My stamina is definitely not yet up to par for this course.
I was getting tired already at 4.5kms, and questioning my motives in doing this, as I came to the bottom of the 'Mike Lake Trail'. I stopped and looked up the path. It wasn't so much a path as a steep rocky gully that disappeared straight up a hillside, into the treetops. I got very nervous, considering the dangers of getting hurt out on this one, with no one really knowing just where I went. I went ahead, in spite of my fears and doubts that I could make it up the next 1.5 or so kms- which, on the course map showed an elevation gain of about one foot per foot, or 125m. I gathered up my mental strength and went forward. Upward. Onward. Into the creepiest woods, empty of everything green, just brown poles, and brown ground, with lots of windfallen trees laying between the living ones. As if I needed any reenforcement that this was bad ju-ju, there was the forest around me appearing haunted.
I focused on the path, and gave it my all, until I felt like my heart would bust out of my ears, exploding my head with the incredible volume of blood that was causing this molten lava red face. I got lightheaded and slowed to a walk, but a fast walk. I was not going to stop for anything, I was trucking, and determined. I saw a marker, 0.5, on a tree. Seriously? That's it? Fuck.
Keep climbing. Rocks slipping under clumsy feet, echoing through the empty ghost forest I was trying to sneak past. I put myself out of my mind when I could not imagine going any further, and just kept taking steps.
A waterfall! A summit? It made a sick, gurgling, slurping sound as I hiked past it, barely able to breathe. The path seemed to ease out a little and I forced my self to run. I turned a corner, and it was all downhill in front of me. A toad startled me. I had nearly stepped on it. In this forest, it was so likely a thing to see, but I was immeasurably happy to see another living thing, I grabbed onto the idea of it as my spirit helper. I was also pretty amazed at myself. I had had a moment of complete crumbling, a feeling like I would die if I went on, and I passed over it.
I really came face to face with myself on this run, and I don't give a fuck if that sounds cheesy.
I carefully hopped down, down, down, until I reached the road and crossed it again, back into familiar territory, back into the easier terrain. I was cheering myself on all the way down.
My knee was squishy, that was definitely a result of the difficult coming down. It was tricky to keep my feet and knees and body all stable and engaged so nothing would twist or strain, and that knee always gets swelly after six K. It hurt, but at this point I was happy to get home, and I ran. I ran fast! Through salmon berry bushes that were trying to eat the trail, up and down rolling dusty, gravelly, and muddy tree lined pathways, where other people feet had sank up to their knees, I floated over, knowing that I had done it.
I got back to the beach area, still very occupied my day trippers, and walked to the water's edge. I didn't give a crap any more, I stripped down to the sports bra and undies as I they were made for swimming in, and dove right in, ducking under and floating and stretching and smiling.
Hardest run so far.
And also the best run ever.

in the woods

Set out from the campsite, actually, directly from the outhouse. No walkman, dead Ipod, no tunes, no tracker, no plan. Picked up the new shoes in Maple Ridge, and I can't quit grinning the whole way to the path, they feel great, and look grandma sharp.
I made for the 'Interpretive Forest Trail', really really hoping to see some people in the woods striking pained 'trees reaching for heaven' poses. I guess they had gotten off of work already, I was alone and it was at least 7:30. It was beautiful, the forest floor covered in rich green ferns below the mossy fir poles. It turned out to be a very short trail, so I took a left, onto the 'Fallen Giants' path. There were no such giants, but the trail was rooty and rocky and demanded my attention- a cool new challenge. I was spat out at the 'Ampitheatre', which sounded like it was going to be awesome, but was a letdown, with four or five rows of brown wooden benches on a slight slope, no grand cathedral here.
Kept on, deciding to go down towards the water, through the other camping area we accidentally-wrong-turned into earlier and got lost in, not realizing until we passed the same pink child's bicycle for the second time that we could have gotten lost in the matrix, here. My plan was to hit the beach, and then back up the trail to our own campsite that we'd hiked earlier. On the map, they connected. I guess, once I got down the long driveway into the Alouette Campground, I took an immediate wrong turn. I looped around the entire perimeter, watching for a 'beach this way' sign. Maybe I just ran right past it. Either way, one full loop. No big deal, I had wanted a longer run today. I finally came upon the sign, a trail marked only by a great dane's head with a slash through it. OK, no dogs.
I jumped into a pretty dark forest, but knew this trail was a short one. I jumped and jigged, down the steep path, loving the challenge of a not so well marked path and having to really use my legs and core to stabilize my descent. I couldn't look up, and barely slowed, just kept going down, down, down, to the waters edge, I could see the last light from the sky shining on it through the branches in my peripheral. I was suddenly held up by a treetrunk that had falled across the path with only about 3feet of clearance underneath it. I though that was pretty weird for the main trail to te beach to have something old people would have to crawl under...and then I looked around. As I was catching my breath, I saw that there was no trail here at all. I stared at the light on water below, and at this log that I was not at all comfortable crawling under inthe darkness. There was something the size of a small leaf suspended in front of my face. I watched it, really hoping it wasn't a spider, but pretty sure those were legs. Ran away. Up the way I came, I thought, then across the ridge above the water that got steeper and darker and thicker. Then I felt like I might be circling, so I stopped to quell the moment of panic that rose with that thought.
It is not possible for me to get lost in this sliver of woods between the lake and a campsite with 400 people in it, even in the middle of the night. I laughed at myself when I heard someone nearby walking their dog. So close I could hear the little furball panting. I bumbled through the brush and popped out onto the main trail, possibly causing distress to the elderly dog walked but more concerned with getting the spiderwebs and resulting spiders off of me. I'll never be Indiana Jones, I guess.
Over a bridge, along the beach, out the other side. I had planned a longer loop, down another wooded path, the 'Gold Creek Lookout', bu when I got to the mouth of the path, it looked like a black hole back into the wilderness. I sat on the rocks at the waters edge and looked out over the water. Sweat slippery on my thighs, I rubbed them and watched the sky fade some more, mentally absorbing the calm I would need to make the massive hill up the white chip rock path to my campsite. The right path.
Emma learned: No new paths after 8pm!

back atcha

So I've missed another week of running due to having an awesome summer.
I am not too bummed about it, but am ready to get back on track and even have the opportunity to get some runs in on new ground. Today's 8 was a 4, but I tacked on a few to help me catch up. In my head I've got a thousand km goal for the year, and I've got to stay on track if I am going to make that. What a great feeling that would be!
I threw on the Black Keys and let my mind wander.
Some things I thought about:
The new shoes Paula and I found for me at the Running Room. I'm in trouble with these. They'll be nearly $200 after tax, and we only went there to get sized properly, find out why I lost my toenail. They gave me these to put on and there really is no turning back now. My glass slipper. My whole body relaxed as the balls of my feet sank into the cloudy cushy softness and my toes spread out to hug the shoes. I had to fight against my body to get them off my feet and hand them back to the salesperson. My plan was to find the most similar shoe to the one they suggested, at the half price sport market. But as I tried shoe after shoe on, looking for the best match, it became clear there was no comparison, I am screwed. Sold. Shit.
Second thoughts: Today I am in Langley, very near Aldergrove, where I grew up. I ran towards the Evergreen Market, a marker I used to pass every day on my 20km drive to my special fundamental school; we travelled far to learn our three R's like pro's! I also remember deciding to go for a long distance bike ride to this market when I was six, from 256th and 48th, to 242nd and 56th. I brought my neighbor, my best friend, and her parents found us along 242nd, after we'd already spent our entire allowance on candy and were heading home, so we were set, and all the shit we got in was worth it. I was trying to expand on this memory, but all I could recall was the Sour Lemon Blasters, and that when we got home, we set up a stand at the end of the driveway to try and sell them.
Other thoughts: Golden Ears. I am going camping there later, and am looking forward to doing some running up there. Kerri mentioned a 5Peaks run, so I am looking that up to find a trail. Ow my knees. The whole first half of this run was a gradual uphill, and when I turned onto 242nd, I was faced with a crazy wall. I swore at it and took it on like a champ. No problem. I've come far.
I thought of Paula at home with her screw in her ankle, and ran faster, farther, and kept an eye on my path.
When it told me I was halfway, I went a little further, the red flashing light at the 4 way stop was calling me. I never noticed the market, I was thinking hard about taking the twisty route back down the hill, coming around back to Sam's house by way of 232nd. I hurried back but I didn't see a sidewalk or much of a shoulder, so I kept to what I knew. It was a good and quick trip home, my pace increased thanks to the easy downhills, and I made up a little time. At 2k to go, my toenail started hurting me. For the wedding I went to, and just for a fun outing with the girls, I got my ruined big toenail remade by technology, and the girl made it longer than usual. It looks very pretty again, no longer black and yellow and in half, ut it was hitting the front of my shoe, pushing down onto the rest of the toe, I had to scrunch it up to keep it from doing that, but I made it.
Somehow the distance didn't work out evenly, I finished at just under eight, sweating from everywhere, even my shins and elbows were sweating, and it felt awesome.
Till tomorrow! On a mountain!

Wildfires

The sun was just a glowing copper coin behind white curtains all day. Smoke hung in the air at the edges of the fields, at the edges of my vision. Looking across the river, I couldn't be sure if I was really seeing smoke, or...was it a storytime mist, as if someone was about to tell all about Once Upon A Time In A Kingdom Far Away...or It was A Dark And Stormy Night...
At one point when I looked toward the hills I could barely see the glacier. The only fire I'm aware of is burning in the Okanagan...seriously a good five hours east of here, if you could drive across the Georgia Straight and through the Coast Mountains. What the hell is going on? I debated whether running in it would wreck my throat or hurt in my lungs. After a disappointing workday with too many cancellations, two swims, and a fair amount of sunbathing at the riverside, I felt I ought to accomplish something.

She Is Free Jeff Buckley and Gary Lucas
I love this song, but it is a little sad for me. Makes me want to go home right now and happily surrender all so called freedom. It was a nice slow start to the run, down McPhee.
Oceans and Streams The Black Keys
Had to fiddle with the Ipod a bit, since I purposely set it to that song first, then no more. I forgot how much I liked this Sugoi top, it has a big, baggy pocket on the back, between the shoulder blades, which saves me having to wear my crappy sportband, or hide a key.
Pandy Fackler Ween
Running up the hill to the park, across the tracks on 17th, still taking it easy. Passed another runner coming towards me. We kept looking away just to miss saying hi. I waved anyway.
Absynthe The Gits
I felt my pace quicken to this song as I set up Cumberland Rd, but it didn't last very long, I got so breathless so quickly. Slowed my pace, sang along, and felt good.
Rude Boy Abroad Bedouin Soundclash
Coming back toward Lake Trail Rd on I don't know what street through the Willemar ghetto, I saw four, 4! drug deals going down, and got nervous since it was the same car each time, and it appeared to be following my path, or I was following its path...I really didn't want to see that shit.
Mr Freeman Skit Souls of Mischief
I finally turned the right corner to leave that shit behind, and laughed at this skit, that guy sounds exactly like him!
Rental Car Beck
This was such a perfect, mellow beat, that I just enjoyed it and paid attention to my footfalls, trying to roll my whole foot, trying to use even pressure on each step, and not absentmindedly limp as I have a habit of doing. I couldn't get that shit off my mind, though, so I recounted all of the awesome stuff in my life today that I have worked so hard towards, and imagined what my future will look like, so soon, when I get to say it's been YEARS since I did that shit. I practiced saying it out loud, it felt really good.
400 Bucks The Rev
Quicker pace, I was at the corner, and I wanted to get home. Just stuck with the beat. Remembered that someone owes me about that much, and laughed because it was so much like the song. He was so sweet that day.
Wurkin Fu Manchu
Yes! This was the last straw, last km. I am totally into Fu Manchu lately. I got my fists pumping and pushed with my feet. The only lame part about my Nike+ is that when I run faster, my stride length is longer, and my footfalls fewer, so it doesn't actually register that I am speeding with the wind blowing my hair back and the sweat coating my arms and legs and face and shoulders getting a cool breeze and actually chilling me. I concentrated on my breathing, keeping it even, but shallow, and not worrying about it. I did not tire like I thought I would.
Insecurities The Gits
Excellent. I kept up the pace, and even managed to sing along, rocking the last stretch home with
such grit I impressed myself. Sweat was pouring down my cheeks, I was labouring a little in my breathing, I felt like my face wanted to grimace, but I did not want to be seen making that gross face, so I kept catching myself and shutting my mouth...hahaha, sounds funny, but I noticed, and then didn't, and then noticed, and then forgot, etc...
I didn't care that my long strides would register as me slowing down, it felt great to have no pain at all and be rocking like that without dying from the effort. An amazing finish for me. No records beat, but definitely the best feeling run in a long time.
Awesome!

weird one

Okay, I couldn't write this in last night because I was feeling like a loony.
I went back out, to climb the 1km hill over again after I finished covering about 18kms of ground. My legs felt funny and my glutes were cramping up a little. I couldn't stop thinking of these hunks of yarn I ran past on my way up the hill. They looked like flowers that had been attached to a wedding car or something. That's what I imagined in my head when I saw them. Flowers. Made of yarn. Cool! I could not possibly leave them in the ditch! It was 9:56 when I left here, and the sunlight was fading.
I parked well back from the bottom of the hill. I couldn't remember where I had seen them. First I'd seen an autumn colored moth in the sand on the side of the road. They came after that.
I walked along the side of the ditch, scanning the ground in the quickly fading light. i found the moth, and picked him up, and thought, okay, one down, two to go, they were just past here. I hadn't started up the hill at this point. I carried this little moth by its wingtips, and kept thinking he'd come back to life. I set him in front of a stop sign halfway up the first hill, at Arden Rd. Still no flowers...I was so sure they were here. I kept on, up the hill. It was becoming so dark that I could tell when I was entering the glow of a streetlamp, and could actually see it fade away behind me, I had to hustle or these yarn flowers would be lost to the night!
This is where I began to really question my sanity, because, so what if they were gone? It felt like a big deal, I had to find them, rescue them. I thought, I should have found the first one by now, as I passed the school in between the two long hills. Maybe someone had scooped them already, damn! Then I thought, they wouldn't have noticed the second one! I will find it! And I trucked on, toward the start of the second incline.
My butt was killing me at this point. When I stopped my run to cool down in the river, I had not submerged my hardworking butt muscles, since I figured that would make the last 1.5 to my house unbearable, wet pants and all. So only my legs got the treat, and as my legs unwound, my glutes wound up, still collecting blood to distribute to the thirsty sinews that weren't drinking it anymore. What a gross picture in my head. I am totally bananas.
As I had just given up, and was now just going to walk up the rest of the last hill so that I would not wonder if I had only just missed seeing them, I saw it. A hunk of something in the dim light between streetlights that was not a clod of grass. I ran to it...or something like a run, a limping Humpback of Notre Dame type of run, maybe. Anyone seeing me in the darkness might have shot me at that point, in that neighborhood, when I bent and clutched the 'flower' in both hands, groaning with the effort of bending. I knew there was one more, though, and finished up to the top of the hill in the pitch darkness. There were no more streetlights. The light from the sky was only in the sky now, and behind the trees, a pale blue. I clumped back down in the darkness, feeling very strange to be seen holding a lump of ratty yarn to my chest like an eager bridesmaid. Because it wasn't fashioned into a flower of any sort, it was only a lump of yarn. And so my mission was a bizarre one, but as I came back down the hill, peering over the edge of the ditch into tangles of grass and thistles, I saw the other 'flower' and grabbed it up alongside the other one, and was infinitely glad. Such a fuckin weirdo. I completed a mission that for no reason at all, meant a lot to me to complete. Some midnight art project that I had to finish...
Fuck, it was a long walk back to the truck, though.
Here they are, my little yarn flowers:

yarn flowers

I got it into my head that I wanted to run a new loop for my long run today. I figured that maybe it would be nice to run up past Stokem to Forbidden Plateau Rd., over to Dove Cr., and back down to Condensory. I drove it in my truck to gauge the distance. The speedo rolled from something-something-something-598 to something-something-something-606. Yep, it's in miles, but that's about 13kms so I figured I would just walk more at the start and the end.
Yeah a new route!

I freaked out for awhile getting ready. Worried about my old shoes even before I decided to push it. It really is time for new shoes, the other day when I left them in my truck a piece on the back of the heel just peeled right off. I repainted them gold before I set out. They were on my feet already when I did it. It felt a little moist but cool and good. I was feeling like doing an extra awesome run anyways.

I set out and walked for half a km. Got bored, decided to run. Ran up both hills, and onto Comox Logging Rd. There was a lovely dead moth, and two sort of flowers made from yarn in the ditches...I might have to go back for those.
The Logging Rd. was sketchy, everyone speeds down there, and there isn't any shoulder for the first half. I trucked onward, it was nice, but the kms were rolling up there pretty quickly.
It fucking ruled to run across the bridge at the potholes with the sun shining off the top of the water. I really did want to jump in, and imagined flying down into the coolness.
The stretch between there and Forbidden was really long and hot. Things started to get achy, knees swelly. But there were golden fields full of sunshine and grass to look at.
At 9kms there was a nice downhill stretch. I rocked down there, and then nearly lost it at 12.
I was at 12k, feeling broken, pretty much, an still not quite at Condensory Rd. I know there is three kms at least to the bridge from there. I let myself walk, for as long as I want, I told myself. I took the One Spot Trail. I got a little wigged out, and decided to run the rest of it, kind of hurrying to get back onto the road. Ah, whatever works.
I kept allowing myself walks, but found after a bit of running, that it hurt less to sort of lope along kind of walk-run/ speed walk style, my heels were dragging a bit, so I got alot of gravel in my shoes, but I didn't stop until I got to the bridge.
Using the handrail, I lowered my stiff legs down to the riverside, sat on a rock, took off my shoes and socks, and waded in. I haven't felt that good in so long. Relief, cool waves of relief. I stood in it for five or six minutes, holding my shorts up and watching the tiny fish clear the surface all around, jumping out at the sky. When I got out, my legs felt so light, but that didn't last very long, an I slogged my way up through town to home.
I am brain dead right now. I forgot to save my music stuff. That was a long run...16kms.

little3

I couldn't breathe!
I don't know if it was the yogurt I scarfed when I woke up from my sun induced coma-nap or what, but I felt like I just could not take a deep breath in. But I kept trying to.
Fast Car- Tracey Chapman.
I remember that. I set out at sunset, nice beams coming out from behind the only bits of cloud in the sky. Same route, same stretch of road. Not boring, although I did manage to zone out. I don't remember the middle, just watching traffic, seeing the same yards go by, same trucks parked in same driveways. At The Drive-In....something.
The Kinks-a couple of songs here.
Turned around past the school, walked for awhile trying to catch my breath. Followed the single track path around the outside of the field, remembered the persistence hunters of the Kalahari, felt like one for a minute. Until I nearly barfed yogurt.
Another Beautiful Day In The Pacific Northwest- Big Business.
I love this tune, when it comes on I don't want it to end. There aren't too many songs I get that way about. It brought me home, down the side street with my eyes closed.
I stretched outside, pulling my calf muscles on the tires of my truck, enjoying the sweet smell of the summer fading into August. I feel it already, it's right on time. There's a chill, the crickets are calling, and everything seems to be tinted orange.

so hard!

Okay, summer doesn't get any hotter, here. It's nine at night, exactly as humid as the rest of the day was. I got off work early tonight, I had every excuse not to go for my 5k tempo lined up and executing themselves through my loudspeaker. It's too hot, I worked too hard today, I already taught a skate lesson, I got my cardio chasing my mower, I sweated too much, I will dehydrate, my shoes are worn out, my feet are worn out, my knees are worn out, my toes are sore from the harsh manicure I gave myself, I'm so stiff, I'm so tiredddddddddd, I'll just add it onto tomorrow's/next day's/next week's, no biggie, I wanted to scale them back a bit anyways.
I threw some popcorn into the micro, and started planning my crawling into sleep rituals. As the corn was popping, I found myself gathering up my Ipod and armband, putting my shoes on, setting the distance, putting FU Manchu , the "Go For It" live album on to play me through, and then I was in the road, groaning, "Nooooooo, I don't wanna gooooooo."
But I was off.
It was hot.
Everything hurt.
I had no energy.
The aches and swellies came on before the first km was done.
I was tired.
My mouth was so dry.
I was so sweaty.
I hated most of it.
But I had a moment or two where I was so glad I went.
Now sitting typing and listening to the new Gwar that plays like a funny comic book in my head, I can't wait to go crawl into bed and sleep satisfied that I made my way today the hard way.
I won.
I think my popcorn tastes better for it.

make that 260!

Long run tonight. Was dreading it by the time it was go.
Hottest day of the year so far, and I worked through the thick of it, bent over tugging out Shasta daisies and blackberry roots. Sweating buckets. I tried to swim when I was done, but although the river was a perfect cool, it smelled like wet dog and piss. I got half way to my sunny rock and quit, floating back down to the rock ledge and leaving before I got my fill.
So I set out.
Strange Times Black Keys
Down the Main Strip, always a little embarrassed to be seen.
Be Stiff Devo
Over the bridge, into the park, I like running to this song, it has a good, stiff beat.
Nobody's Fault But Mine Ben Harper
Junesong P Coheed & Cambria
Two Kms. I got to walk. I was on Headquarters Rd, just past the old folks home. Everything okay so far. I was thinking about how Michael gave my number to someone who was traveling. I hope he calls, it's been awhile since I got to show this place off, and I always enjoyed being a skate tour-guide. It gives me an excuse to go to parks not in my town, and someone to go with. Plus it just feels good that someone passed my name along as good peeps.
Countdown Black Keys
ONEtwothreefourfivesix.seven-EIGHT-nine! My total today! Lucky song.
That'll Be A Better Day Old Crow Medicine Show
TV Set the Cramps
Haha, eyeballs for dials, I always picture it clearly, I can feel them like grapes. What can I put eyeball dials onto?
Are You Ready for the Country Neil Young
This was funny, I was just coming up on the left turn that leads out from the high school and busy road, to the country fields and one lane bridge.
Death of a Clown the Kinks
Hello to the pretty horses. I think they must be deaf, they did not return my greetings.
Love Like Laughter Beth Orton
Eek, a slow song! I debated skipping it, but I tried to make myself zone out instead, off of the music, out into the world around me. Birds were chirping, but only halfway which made me think my knees were creaking. It was almost in perfect time with my old joints movements.
198d At The Drive-In
The turn towards home, ahhh. It was just at 6 my foot started to feel out of whack. Like, as if things were out of place., I had to limp a bit, favor it, which is no good. I considered walking, but I had just done my walk...fuck it, it had to go away.
Remember When Black Keys
New Kind of Kick the Cramps
No Trust Black Keys
Coming up on the corner, my foot issue went away at 7! But my knees started doing their owes about then, so...
Save It the Cramps
NY State of Mind NAS
Down the last stretch of Condensory. I startled a raccoon that was hiding in the deep ditch grass, and it startled me launching up and away from me, into the woods. I launched away from it, into the road. Glad that wasn't a skunk, and that there wasn't traffic.
Slaughter of Bruce The Gits
Coming over the Condensory Bridge I was considering getting in the water. Soaked. My knees were complaining like hags.
Apocalypse World Split Saviours
This got me up that last hill, grunting, moaning, gritting my teeth, pumping my arms and shoving with my chest. That was fuckin' hard today, I wouldn't have run it without this song on, I would have fully wussed out without the metal to anger me on.
It All Dies Anyway The Gits
Past my new favorite downtown house with the wrap porch, and I was done. 9K. Fuck yay.
I Got Mine Black Keys
Walked me home.

250Km's!

Glad I got out for my run tonight. I've got a long distance one tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to it in some strange way, even though it will probably hurt. Also, Lance Armstrong told me tonight that I have covered 250kms since I got the Nike+! Holy Shuyza! Good for me!!!
Benatar We Belong
Ran past a couple of really fragrant gardens, saw some of the boats I saw at the lake earlier on their way home.
Fu Manchu Wurkin
Still feeling good, saw that it is time to trim up the Love Bug garden.
Beck Chain Reaction
Ran up towards Lake Trail School, imagining how nice I would make that Chevy truck look, and thinking of what errands I need to get done in Nanaimo next weekend other than the thrift shop mission. I have to get new runners there, the shops here haven't got my favorite Asics in my size.
The Kinks Here Come The People In Grey
Making the loop at the end of the field, I'm half way, and starting to feel the brownies I just made and couldn't not taste before I left on my run. It is not pleasant.
The Kinks Kentucky Moon
Thinking back on the camping in the gorgeous hayfields, under the bright full moon, next to the river last night. So nice. So fun. This song got too slow.
Black Keys Just Got To Be
Da nananana na nA nunnn...better! Saw a bush with little pointed clusters of tiny white flowers, Summersweet?
Dan Auerbach My Last Mistake
Walked the last block. There's apples started on the tree in the yard, cool.

cake

SO today was supposed to be a long run for me, 9k this week. Well...I missed Friday's run, then yesterday's as well, so I figured that with no run up to the long run, it might be a bad idea for me to do it today...okay, truth is I am feeling lazy. I just didn't go yesterday...and for no reason...I did NOTHING yesterday. I skated for an hour at noon. Then I sat on the couch for the rest of the day, doing a few house chores here and there. I felt I needed a recovery day to gather my thoughts.
The only reason I finally got off the couch to do this run tonight is because I promised myself a slice of cake at the end. I figured I'd do 5k, hit Thrifty's, and walk home with my cake. Hahaha!
I think I have PMS. Glad I also have PMA.