Ice Baths

A.K.A as cold water immersion for exercises recovery(cryotherapy)

I hate being cold. Hate, hate, hate, hate, double hate being cold. Not even a little bit, not even for a short time, not here, not there, not anywhere. So I have never attempted the ice bath..until today. As this weekend was my biggest running challenge yet, with 4hrs Saturday, 2:15 today I thought I should get on this program. I fill the bath,with cold water. I dip my toes in a few times. It really is cold like ice. LIKE ICE! Websites suggest immersion times to be 5-10minutes, and sometimes up to 20 minutes. So I just do it. Just get in and sit. It hurts. I look at the clock, and 5 seconds have gone by. Well I can definitely rule out the "sometimes up to 20 minutes" because that is not going to happen! I sit. OMG how I wish I had a toque, gloves and winter parka on. SO cold-leg hairs growing by the second. Shivering and shaking. 25 seconds. Seriously??!! How is this helping? My grandparents HAD to take ice baths because they had no hot water. I have free hot water! Why am I choosing this, why?
Because maybe one day Mr. Mc-Ice-bath below will ask me to ice bath with him. And I'll be able to say " Yah no prob. I love ice bathing! Your place or mine?"

Back to backs

And the back to back long runs begin! Today 4hrs, tomorrow 2:15. Yikes, and its only August! Wonder what my back to backs will be in a couple months time? Today felt great, shoulder/back blisters again. I need a proper running pack ASAP! So I'm off to eat(again) and get a good nights sleep before tomorrows run :)

Mother Trucker!

Today was my 4hr run. I have ran 4hrs once in my lifetime during Stormy 2008. Today was different. I had a watch to compulsively check, and I had to pick my own 4hr route. The first hour was a watch checker, second hour I zoned out, third hour was spent re-thinking route and life in general, fourth hour was the "I will stop moving one day "countdown. I saw two human beings in four hours-really? Where is everyone in this supposedly active community? The clock hit 4 hours, and I was about 8 min from my truck at Brennan Park. That's Ok I thought, really whats another 8 minutes? So I keep moving, slowly. I round the corner at Brennan Park, heading into parking lot, pace near dead slow, dreaming of my recovery drink, and my orange I have ready to consume. Looking for my truck...looking...looking. Hmmmm?
Oh Mother of Pearl and other things not nice! I parked at Brennan LAST week, NOT this week!!!!! I now remember that my truck is at the smoke bluff parking lot. A mere 2km down the road, but at this point that 2km is the Boston Marathon. So I drag my you know what down the painfully flat, straight road to my truck. Man that orange, and my drink tasted so much better for it!

First road bike crash!

Survived my first road bike crash! Train tracks tripped me up, took my bike, and I kept going. I remember thinking "I wish my body would stop rolling on the pavement soon." Palm of my head was bleeding alot! Hip and right arm were hurting, but I couldn't see the damage. Started riding home, had a bit of a cry, and kept going. When I got home and took off my long sleeve(thanks goodness for long sleeve) I saw my arm, which was swollen and bloody. I panicked a little as there were some rocks embedded in skin as well. Called good old faithful sister who told me to get to hospital because they could at least clean it properly. Which they did. They removed the rocks, and some chunks of skin. They contemplated stitches, but went with steri-strips. Also I got a tetanus shot. Love shots! I really do. So I an check road bike crash off my list of things to do!!!

Stormy 2009 done!

We did awesome. Came 3rd in our category. 80km in 8hrs 55 minutes. I did my 34km in 3:47, Jude did her 46km in 5:08. Race felt awesome, stumbled lots near the end, as the trails were really dry. I had a weird moment when my left leg hit a root, and froze up. It wouldn't do what my brain was telling it. Paralyzed. Finally my toes wiggled, and I was off! So cool to be running with 100&50 milers. The 100 milers had been running since 10am the day before-and they're telling me great job! Jeeze. Love the Stormy. Next year 50 miler-solo!!!!

Waiting...

Waiting for my turn! I met Jude at 5:30am. She started at 6. I see her again at 9 mile hill, where she finishes and I begin. So now I wait. She may take 5 hours, maybe 6. So I wait, and try to keep my energy!

Stormy Tomorrow!!!

I'm doing the last 2 legs in the Stormy relay tomorrow, 35km-starting with about 6 miles of uphill logging road! Lucky the weather is cooler. The 100 milers start today at 10am. 50 milers and relay starts 6am tomorrow. Stormy is one of my faves-can't wait!