And They're Off!!!

This morning is my last run at home for the next two weeks as we are off on Holidays! I have been hitting the weights pretty hard all week in anticipation of a full two weeks of recovery on account of no access to any weight training equipment. Given that I've been consistently going to the gym every week, and usually five days per week, since the middle of January I figure my body deserves a bit of a rest anyway (though I will miss it a little).

Anyway, I had a good run this morning even if it was tough getting up. As usual I stayed up later than I'd meant to and when my alarm went off at 5am I was totally zonked. Took me a long time to get up and by the time I was out the door it was almost 6am. Not good...

However, the run was not bad, all things considered. My legs were stiff and sore and I was a bit worried about how they would react on account of a near cramp that I experienced in my right hamstring just as I was trying to go to sleep. I ran a decent 15km at a steady and slow pace, which was what I'd planned. The ankle and heel on the right side are getting better, though at the beginning I felt pretty stiff and sore in those spots.

This weekend is a bit of a juggling act on account of our travel plans and so I will likely have to do my long run tomorrow instead of Sunday. I think I will manage, though arriving in Ottawa around midnight tonight might mean a late morning start.

Now we are off to this place!:

I have no idea how Internet access will work, or even if I will have a signal on my cell phone since we are going pretty remote, and so my blogging may also be taking a vacation. Nevertheless, I will be running and checking out the scenery. Should be a great mental and physical break from the urban jungle.

Vacation Report, Running Barefoot

So, as expected our short vacation in Prince Edward County was great, and wireless internet was not to be had. The place we were staying, having advertised "high speed wireless internet", was anything but ready to supply this convenience. The guy at the front desk seemed a bit put out when I asked him about logging on, and mumbling something about having problems with their service gave me the pass phrase for the wireless network for a Bed and Breakfast three doors over. The pilfered connection was not strong enough and so internet access was none...

Anyway, we had a great time on this short getaway. What with graduate degrees and such vacation days have been hard to come by, so our vacations seem to always be way too short and way too cheap. They are always fun though. Here are some pics of the place:

I'll spare you the requisite pictures of the kids frolicking in the sand and water, and the wife looking displeased that I am taking her picture... So domestic.

On the running front: We drove up on Tuesday and so the usual weights that I would have done that day were off, as they would be on Thursday. I did manage to get a run in on Wednesday. It was along the beach, barefoot! A nice easy 5km, with entertainment to boot: After about a kilometer and a half I came across an old man sitting cross-legged and completely nude. Before I could avert my eyes I'd seen too much, and was left with the thought that I'd have to pass him again on the way back. The beach then became rocky and I was distracted with the job of dodging rocks so as to prevent extra injury. In this mode I continued down the beach, running sometimes on any softer parts I could find and sometimes in the shallow water, and was quite content until I came across something that made the Jabba the Hut impersonator seem tame in comparison.

For the record, I am not at all passing judgement here and feel that if you are not hurting anyone do whatever the hell you like. However, on a public beach at least pay attention to who is coming towards you!!! The three gay guys engaged in an orgy were obviously too occupied to see me bumbling along, and I too occupied with dodging rocks, that we were not aware of each others presence until the very last moment. I mumbled something like "sorry" (for what I don't really know) and they "disengaged", for want of a better word and lunged for towels...

So, I still had another kilometre to go before my turnaround point, and now I had to face these three and Mr. Nude on my return path... Not to mention the rocks. My worries were unwarranted as the gay guys were well behaved as I ran past, and the nude Father Time was wading into the water about twenty metres out. I completed my run at a leisurely pace and was none the worse for the experience...

Garmin don't lie:



Today we returned early on account of a rainy and overcast day, and I managed a quick workout at the gym. Nothing special, felt weak, had no lunch, blah blah blah...
Tomorrow I up the mileage to 7km. Can't wait! Knee's still lingering, but I am optimistic.

Details:

• 10 minute stationary bike warmup


• Bench Press 12-12-10 135lbs


• Seated Rows 12-10-10 120lbs-140lbs-140lbs


• Military Press 12-12 95lbs


• Lat Pulldowns 10-10 145lbs


• Biceps Curls 12-10 65lbs


• Dips 12-12


• Bicycle Crunches 50-50-50

Weigh in: 195lbs!!! Not sure if this was because of the lunch I missed eating, or something else. I certainly did not maintain a great diet while on vacation... Anyway, this is how much I weighed when I started my current desk job, and now have lopped off about 16lbs since the beginning of the year when I was at my all-time heaviest.