Brrrrr....

Nothing much to report, except that I bought my tickets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I leave on Jan 28th, and return on the 13th of February early early. Hopefully I beat all the Olympic fuss. Running back into the 2-3hr range. Trails are perfectly frozen. Not dusty, not muddy-just perfect and beautiful. I stopped on a footbridge today, as it was snowing, just to enjoy the peace of being in the forest all by myself. Pretty cold though and I feel a bit like a blimp all bundled up and running. Good thing I can't wimp out and walk because its too cold! Then my hydration packs water hose/mouth piece froze and I couldn't get any water. So thirsty. I'm sure there is an anti -freezing technique I just don't know about yet. So the next 3-4 weeks are going to be insane with training, as the countdown is near. Not long now! Yippee!

What I miss

I have really missed running. I have missed the obvious: fresh air, rain, the sound of gravel crunching under my shoes, and of course how I feel afterwards. Today I realized what else I missed. I missed my routine. I missed my pre-run oatmeal, filling my hydration pack, packing my truck with all before and after run essentials. I missed the feeling of fear as I wondered " Whats that noise", and "Hey, why are there two guys randomly walking out of the forest in the middle of nowhere?". I missed my recovery drink, my watch, I even missed power gels. I missed being with my thoughts for hours.
But what I especially miss is walking into Starbucks, dripping wet and covered in mud. Squelch, squelching into line behind a "I'm headed to Whistler princess". Then bumping into Mr. Dirt Bag that broke my heart, and saying "Afternoon-you just rolling out of bed are you?" Knowing what I have already accomplished by noon is priceless!

x-training

As I've been waiting for this hammy injury to heal I've been doing everything else known to man besides running on land.

One lovely x-training method:

Water running:
My definition: running my ass off in water getting absolutely nowhere fast.

"The goal is to keep your body afloat while allowing you to perform a running motion without stress to the body.
Submerged in the water you will have resistance on all sides. This forces opposing muscles to work equally. As you move your arms and legs against the resistance of the water you will get a great cardiovascular, as well as, strength training workout."

Yes all of the above is true. Website failed to mention how boring and demoralizing it is. I was rather embarrassed showing up at the pool at 6am on my first day. I was worried I'd look like a tool, flailing away in the pool. The pool was busy with the elderly doing various forms of Aquacise, while sharing stories of recent cataract surgery's, and complaining about their grand-kids and their "antics." Well here I am, jumping(no-I climbed down the ladder) into the pool, floaty belt on-ready to run. Awkward at first, and varoom off I.....go. The speed of my leg/arm rotations definitely aren't matching the speed at which I am NOT moving. I yell to lifeguard (who I know) " I'm running my ass of here! Am I doing this wrong?" Nope, doing it right all right. So I "run" circles in the deep end for an hour, forced into listening all about hip replacements. Good gawd, the time goes so slow, then suddenly I have 10 minutes left! I tell the lifeguard that I may drown, and to please keep an eye on me, as I take the floaty belt off. This is more of a trying to keep my head above water exercise. Oh the fun.
Water running is a great cross training activity, and I quite look forward to the sessions.

(sometimes)

Another form of x-training has been my bike. Sometimes you'll find me at the gym, or riding in my living room, rocking out to my A.F.I concert DVD, waking up my landlords at 5am, and sweating my face off as I usually forget to turn my free heat off. (usually set at 28 Celsius). Good heat training for Costa Rica!!!

P.S. I ran on land today pain-free!!!

Wise little sister.

Injury's are discouraging. My sister Dawn sent me this letter the other day:

You decided to do this. You thought this would be an awesome thing to try to accomplish and a great way to get in fit and meet people and go back to Costa Rica. You thought, yes, let's train for this. I can make this happen. No one forced you to do this. You are not doing this for anyone else but yourself and that is how it should be. You have been doing the best that you can do while you train and you have been training HARD!! It doesn't matter what people do or say. The people that matter will never say anything negative about you and they certainly won't think less of you. And if they do, challenge them up the chief for chrissakes, you've earned this. You've earned it in spades. In all those mornings of early runs, and late evenings at the gym or on the bike or running again, you've earned where you are right now. All those times you thought "No, I can't go out and have a drink cause I have a run tomorrow" or "nope, can't buy that, I'm going to CostaRica" you've earned it then too.When you look in the mirror and think your butt looks fat?? Take a look back at some pictures and look at how far you've come. Look at the difference in your eyes, your skin, your happiness! Think of how many people you have inspired to get outside just because you do. They think, I want to be like her!!!So, yes, you are injured right now and starting to doubt everything and you are starting to get really nervous about whether or not you can do this. Don't. Think about how hard you have worked, how far you have come, what you have accomplished, what you can do now that you couldn't a year ago, how far you can run that you couldn't run that far two years ago!!! Think about how awesome it will be when you are in Costa Rica. And when you are there just think about one day at a time. Not all six days. Think about how there isn't any pressure about your performance-yes there is the time limits each day and the amount of kms...but you aren't defending a title. Yes, you have friends and family thinking about you while you do this but you aren't a defending champion or anything. Yet! All you have to do is look after yourself and do the best that you can. You are not out to prove anything to anyone or outdo someone. And if all else goes to shit and you don't make it to Costa or you make it there and have to pull out days in...you are not the first athlete to get hurt. You are not the first one to be injured or pull out of a race. These things happen and it will suck and it will hurt and you'll be disappointed but there are always other races. The loss in money will be the hardest part to swallow, I know. For that I have no solution. But don't injure your self more because you don't want to stop because of the money.All this is said in nothing but love and support for you so if it comes off as snotty, rude or mean, it's not supposed to be. I just read a little bit of the 4 agreements before I went to bed last night, mostly the "Always do your best" and it kind of struck a chord with me. Know that I love you and am so proud of everything you've accomplished and how far you've come.

Dawno

Hurdles

Well It's been a rough couple of weeks. I have a new hamstring injury that flared up shortly after the Victoria marathon. Its been hurting to run past 45 minutes. So Jen's had me on the elliptical machine, biking, and yoga. Shes also told me to take the next two weeks off of running to get this injury healed completely. So I'll be attempting water running instead! Should be interesting. Hard not to feel totally down when an injury prevents you from doing something you love. Also hard not to feel stressed about a 6 day running race, when one can't run currently. Going from running for 4 hours to barely making it through 45 minutes is a mental obstacle to hurdle! Jen got me re-energized and pumped the other day when talking about her experiences, and how amazing this challenge I'm about to take on will be. I'm still working towards the 6 day race, but also know the 3 day race may be an option. So lets see how the running goes in 2 weeks time!

RVM 2009

I just finished my second marathon! The Royal Victoria Marathon. My step-mom and sister did the 8k, and my Dad, Aunt, and cousin came out to watch! Great family weekend. My race was good. Well I can say that now. I always rush through the first 10k-hoping to find my place and let the crowd subside, then I can "relax." Throughout the next 32k I'm thinking "Why do I do this?" "42.2k is a REALLY, REALLY long way!" "I want to stop" "this sucks" and the final message to myself "I'm never doing this again!" Well I just took it km by km. Its too daunting to think of how far I have to go-so I think about the km I'm doing. 12, 12, 12, 12. 13, 13, 13, 13. Yes this is how I get through every km! I zone out repeating numbers in my head. I drank at every station, ate 3 power gels (forcing the 3rd one done-barf!) I ran without a watch, listened to peoples ridiculous conversations, and made fun of running attire along the way. The spectators were fantastic. I loved Elvis, the beer house(I did not partake), and the high school band. I did not enjoy the man dressed in an owl suit. Not funny. Not entirely sure if that was a figment of my imagination (saw it around km 38). The 5km countdown begins. Spectators yelling "You're almost there!" ALMOST???? I'm STILL not even freaking close! 3k away, people yelling "Only 3 to go!" ONLY! Oh ya, only 3k. Then at 2k buddy yells " If you push it you can make a 3:45 race!" REALLY? Is this what time I'm at??? !!!! Yahoo!!!!! So I push it! Push it to the finish-look for my Dad-wave and anxiously await the "beep, beep, beep" of my timing chip(and myself) running over the mat for a 3:47 time! The second, and I mean the second I stop moving I start planning the Vancouver marathon, and what my goal time will be! Boston qualifying time for a female my age is 3:40. So I might as well!

"It doesn't have to be fun to be fun"

Nice slogan! Should have backed out once hearing this!

The Rubble Creek Classic climbs from Cheakamus Lake trail up (2915ft) and across Helm Creek flats giving spectacular panoramic views along the way. With the final a knee jarring decent of 4015ft. to finish at the Rubble creek Parking lot.
Approximate distance: 26km.

This race is very casual. No bibs, markers, or aid stations. Oh and they said it was a good idea to time yourself. Ha! No start line, no finish line. "3,2,1, GO!" So I did. Not so fast though. The 2915ft climb stopped me dead in my tracks. Power hiked most of it. Wanted to cry near the top. Just wanted to be done with climbing. Crossing Helm creek was frosty, running on packed ice/snow. So pretty though. You keep running across looking out at Black tusk-cool! Some lakes to run around, and a large stream crossing. Then the decent starts. Along the hillside for the first bit, don't lose your step or you're in for a long fall!

The last 7.7k is a switch back downhill to the Garibaldi parking lot. Bone rattling stomp to the finish. Switch backs actually made me dizzy, and rounding them was sketchy-focus! Then all the yahoos hiking up didn't leave much room. Plus one was smoking! Gross. Anyways running downhill that long made my uterus want to come out, not to mention other things.
The body pounding finally ended at the parking lot where dude says" Hey whats your name?" I say " Shannon MacLeod" he writes it on his clipboard. I say "Am I done? Can I stop?" Then I beeline for the bathroom! Time:3:06 (give or take a minute) I forgot to press STOP. I really wanted 2:45. Drive back up to Cheakamus to retrieve vehicle was also a bone shaker. Something fell off my truck. I didn't retrieve it. Truck still works.

Rubble Creek 2009 done!

Thankyou Wise Owl

Wildlife. Its out there. I trail run for hours in the local forests with my friends the rabbits, toads, and plenty of snakes. No bother. But the other morning I did a road run. Early hours on the back road. Usually busy with early morning commuters, and the odd drug deal. I'm about 7 minutes into my run, enjoying the fresh air, morning stars, and looking forward to the sunrise. When WHACK, I feel a smack on the back off my head. It was hard. It hurt. For a split second I thought someone through a rock at me. Before I can process, I feel what felt like vice grips clamp my head, then release. I look up and see an Owl flying away. Really? Did that just happen? I turn to continue my planned run, when what is standing in front of me? A Bear!!! The bear didn't seem to fussed over the whole scene, and kept on his way. I continued my run, letting that odd series of events marinate for the next hour and a half.
My friend JC just informed me that she was attacked by an owl, except hers followed her for 5 minutes!
Now my father, AKA bird fanatic said that sometimes large birds will go for the ponytail thinking its a Squirrel. Well that makes sense.
My favourite quotes/lessons that came out of this experience:
Michelle Grey " The owl was probably thinking 'WTF is a squirrel doing on that chicks head! I'll get it!'"
Jen Segger (coach): " I think I assigned that as part of this weeks training - its about developing mental toughness and the ability to fight of the creatures of the forest - adventure onwards :) Just imagine what will attack you in Costa Rica???"
Dawn MacLeod: "The link I sent you on wikipedia talked about how the owl was a symbol for a number for a hieroglyph, and that was a clue in my crossword the next day!
I never would have gotten the answer if you hadn't been viciously attacked by the owl!"

Lesson:

Owl Totem:

Active at dawn and dusk owls are sometimes referred to as the night eagle, a messenger from the darkness and a guide through all the mysteries that it contains. It teaches us how to embrace our personal darkness without fear. Owls are sometimes thought to come to those that are about to die. This does not mean a physical death as much as it means the letting go of some part of yourself that is not serving you. Owls with their spectral senses help guide us through the dark tunnels of fear, change and uncertainty to the brilliant light shining at the other end. If the owl appears in your life thank it for its willingness to guide you through its shadowy realm to the other side of promise and joy.

Getting harder...

I did 3hrs Friday. Two hours before work 1hr after work. Saturday I did 5hrs out in the trails. The last hour of the 5 was power walking mind you, but still.
This week:
Monday: Double Chief
Tuesday: Road bike 1 1/2hrs
Wednesday: 1 1/2 hr flat run
Thursday: Technical downhill sprints 1 1/2hrs.
Friday: Rest!!!!
Sat: 3hrs Trail
Sun: 2hrs Trail

I still have 5 months to go-so its only going to get nuttier!!!!

Oh for the love of peas!

As my hip flexor rears its ugly head once again, its time to break out the peas. My good old faithful bag of frozen peas. With me through thick and thin. They even have their own travel bag with cooling system, so that post run I can sit in my truck, peas on my groin chilling. I drive with them, facebook with them, and read with them. Well the peas even came to starbucks and the drop-in clinic with me today. Sitting in the waiting room, with my coffee and my peas. This frozen bag has received more love and commitment than any man in my life. Oh how I love thee peas, to heal, not to eat!