Euphoria

“Every child begins the world again...” – Henry David Thoreau

Wow, becoming a father is like nothing I ever expected and all of it better. I can’t begin to put into words the feeling that wells up inside when I catch myself reflecting on recent events; I think intense jubilation best sums it up.

Ally returned home from the hospital this evening and is recovering well. Pregnancy suited her and she continues to carry a cheerful smile.

Isla has figured out feeding and when not sleeps contently. She has spent the last two days in the special care nursery and with some luck, we’ll be taking her home on Thursday morning (pictures soon).

I had hoped to get out for a longer run this morning but my heart wasn’t there. I headed out on our hilly 10-mile loop and then looped around the lakes. I felt smooth and strong but after about 1h20 the temperature dropped and I found all the reason I needed to return home early. I had hoped to log the second of my scheduled 2h40 jaunts, but having missed both now I’m going to have to adjust my training (again).

Training:
Saturday: day off (unscheduled)
Sunday: hilly 46:30
Monday: 2:03:14 with 4-mile tempo

New Beginnings

“Mighty things from small beginnings grow” – John Dryden

The last 24 hours has been a complete whirlwind. On a very sad note, Ally’s mom passed away yesterday. She had been struggling the last few days and as sad as it was to see her go, she is in a much more peaceful place.

Today though couldn’t have been more different. The first contraction started at 4:30 this morning; six hours later Isla Aoibhinn was born. Ally achieved rock star status during the delivery (both babe and mom are fine).

More later…

Training:
Thursday: 1:47:20 with 25’ tempo (5’), 20’ tempo (4’), 15’ tempo (3’), 10’ tempo (2’), 5’ tempo
Friday: day off (unscheduled)

Choices

It has been a welcomed quite and relaxing evening. I’m sitting here now with a wee dram of Grant’s savoring a “deliciously complex, long, smooth taste” that I’ve come to love.

A few weeks ago, after getting sick on the heels of a near 100 mile week I decided (Seamus don’t shoot me) to revise my current training program. It wasn’t so much that I changed it, but I rather made an alternate version to accommodate for any lack of sleep, energy, desire or speed. As an example, rather than run a 50’ tempo, I might opt to choose 4x10’ tempo (2’).

So, given that I ran my long run on Monday I’ve been trying to decided where to compensate for the loss of a day. Yesterday was simple, I was tired and my feet hurt, it was 25’ or nothing. Today though, after consulting the schedules my decision wasn’t any easier as I had planned the same for both: Tuesday 90” with 6xstrides, and Wednesday 60’ easy… I compromised and headed into Mt. Doug for a soul rejuvenating jaunt.

To Seamus, Marilyn, Hicham and everyone else racing the Sun Run this weekend (a 10k race in Vancouver which as of Tuesday had 54,000+ registered participants) remember this quote from Pre, “Something inside of me just said 'Hey, wait a minute, I want to beat him,' and I just took off."

Yup, still waiting.

Training: hilly 1:09:25

Broken

Ally and I had to make it to the doctor on short notice last night (everyone is fine), which meant I was out the door and shuffling along the Lochside Trail two hours later than usual. With my stomach starting to eat itself, and flat legs owing to yesterday’s workout I started slowly and eventually wound things up to a blistering 7:23 mile/pace.

With Boston just over four days away, and me on the other side of the continent, I’ll be living vicariously through Brad and Mike this year. All the best guys and good luck!

I’ll leave you with the lyrics from one of my favourite Norah Jones’ songs, “He may move slow,but that don't mean he's going nowhere”.

Training: easy 25:50

Lessons Learned

The History
[spring 1995 and it was my first season as a triathlete; my early season goal was marathon, followed by a slow four-month build to Ironman Canada in late August]

It was Tuesday, May 2, six days before my second ever marathon. A friend, Norm, told me a bunch of guys were going for a ride that morning and wanted to know if I was interested. As I was racing the marathon that weekend, I told him I was game as long as the ride was no longer than 2h. I never trusted Norm again.

Bringing only one water bottle and no food, and in the company of strangers, I returned home after a 5h07 (143km) ride completely spent. That Sunday (and I quote), “Ran with Malcolm, paced at around 5’/km, split in 1:42:XX, felt good. From 21-34 paced 5’/km, steady, then progressively picked it up, felt fantastic, good kick – 3:22:02”. Not one to stay down, the following Sunday I rode back out to Jordon River, the same 143km passing in 4h42.

The Present
Not being able to run on the weekend, this afternoon I was given a get-out-of-jail-free card and after work took the opportunity to sneak out for a long(er) run. Again, not wanting to stay down, I reacquainted myself with the scene of last Thursday’s debacle. It was Karl Marx who said, “The only antidote to mental suffering is physical pain”, tonight I wound it up.

Ally continues to be a star, displaying only the patience of Job. On a sad note, her mom was checked into palliative care this afternoon…

Training:
Sunday: day off (unscheduled)
Monday: 2:20:08 with 55’ easy + 10x30” (30”) + 40’ MP (5’) + 15’ MP (5’) + 5’ MP

Sans Shirt

With the temperature today 7C warmer than it has been all year I eagerly anticipated getting out for an enjoyable jaunt. Still, anticipation gets you only so far and it wasn't until later in the afternoon that I was able to squeak out for a short run. Legs felt okay but that was probably because I was pushing the pace harder than I should've.

Still waiting...

Training: 45:55 with 4xstrides (1')

Anticipation

With the day hinging around one of two phone calls, I reluctantly got up early and was out the door far sooner than I would’ve liked. Although the legs were heavy or perhaps groggy due to the early hour, I was surprised that they weren’t sore from yesterday’s effort. I’ll take my blessing in whatever form they come.

I strolled down the Lochside Trail with the birds beginning to wake and the sun casting it’s golden rays upon a quiet dawn. Since moving to this neck-of-the-wood in October, I don’t know that I’ve ever had an early morning run that wasn’t in complete darkness. I welcome the change. Better yet, after moving the lawn this afternoon I treated myself to a rare midday Speckled Hen.

For better or worse, we didn’t receive either phone call today.

Training: easy 27:11 with 4xstrides