Keri Vs The Hill

First I will tell you about last Sunday. We got together with Hardcore Suzie for a trail run. Didn't get too far into it and Amy turned her ankle(BOOOO) It always sucks when someone gets an injury. I just want everyone to excel. Injuries are hard on the body but really hard when the body is itching to perform! There were only three of us left with Suzie for the trail run. It was a great run. It was my first time trail running. Very different from road running. It is so much more beautiful and I found it a little more challenging as well. The body is manoeuvring through the woods. I really felt my core worked out harder on the trails. I need to trail run more.

Ok so ...Yesterday...OH MY GOD!!! We met at Mountsberg Conservation Park. It was quite the endurance challenge. We had to run and then bike and then run and then bike and in the middle of that we had to run up stairs 5 times, doing push ups every time we climbed the stairs. After the stair climbing drill we had to do 15 burpees! Then more biking. I really don't know how to describe how hard it was. To date I have run four 10 mile races and two half marathons. Neither of those races challenged me quite like yesterday. The running of course wasn't too much of a challenge. The stairs and burpees were painful. But the biking. OMG. This little body is made of endurance. But not alot of power. I need more power in my legs. The hills. Those big bad hills. Shane has been continuously telling me to change the gears. Granny Gear. I can get up the hill in granny gear. Yesterday I burned myself out by being in the wrong gear. I had to walk my bike up the hill. I was sooooooooo mad at myself. Shane and Amy were telling me to get back on the bike. I honestly felt like I was on the biggest loser. You know when Jillian is yelling at the contestant telling them to do more and they are yelling back "I Cant" that is exactly how I felt. I was talking to myself, cursing at myself, praising myself etc. It was such a roller coaster of emotions. I secretly cried. Not that I was sad. I was overwhelmed with emotion. So happy and proud of myself. Living in the moment. Even though I didn't do as well on the bike as I would have liked. I am so proud. I feel so alive. I enjoyed every bit of pain. I will endure more as I will conquer the bike. I am going to beat that bike of mine. I will get stronger and I will bike up that hill....and I wont stop till I do! I must say it was pretty sweet cruising down the hill. I was really good at that part!!!!

Thank you again to all my teammates who helped me along yesterday. So empowering. You guys help me believe in myself and not give up! Thank you a million times over.

Gear down KRod !!!

Sunday's are definitely my favorite day of the week. They haven't always been. It used to be Friday nights. Ever since the beginning of this Racedayrush experience Sundays have found themselves on the top of the totem pole.
Last Sunday (wish I forgot to blog about) was once again at Lasalle Park. I got my bootie handed to me by The Amazing Suzie Opie! Dang that Phat Chick really knows how to push me out of my comfort zone. As hard as it is , I LOVE IT. Again we had to do the dreaded burpee. Although I still am not the best at them, I was sooooooo much better than the first day we did them. Suzie also had us do Sprints. They are killar!!!! When I hear the word sprint....I wanna cry. I pushed and pushed and pushed some more. Just when I thought it was over we did two more! I am very thankful for the sprints. It is making me a better runner overall. I love running but I have been at the same level for about 2 years now. I think after this experience I am going to push the limits and train for a full marathon. After hanging with the Phat Chicks, Shane and Neil from RDR, I feel like I can do anything!

This past Sunday we headed to Hilton Falls for a biking and navigation adventure. That is was. We spend the first 40 minutes or so speaking to Brian about navigation. I learned some....but need to learn more. I am still a little confused. We broke up in to pairs and had to locate 4 fcolored balls in the woods along the trail. I was paired with Amy. Very greatful for that. Amy if you are reading this you are awesome . Thank you for all your support. Every time I heard you say "Come on Doll" my heart smiled and it gave me that extra "umf" to push through. I really found it very challenging at times getting up the hills. My butt was burning. My thighs were burning. Everything hurt. I wanted to stop. "Come on Doll".......saved me more than once.

I could have made it a little easier on myself by using the gears. GEARS ARE YOUR FRIENDS!!!! I was afraid at first to use them cause I thought my chain would pop off. Shane kept telling me "K ROD.....Gear down" "K ROD ...Gear up" Thanks Shane. The last 30 minutes or so I was gearing up and down and up and sideways and backwards. Love the gears. They ARE my friends!!!! After finding all the balls after some backtracking, myself and Amy cruised home. What a sweet feeling! We had no idea what place we were in, however we really didn't mind if we were to be last. We were working hard and getting fresh air. We ended up being the second team to finish. Not Bad Hey!!!!

Today I am a little sore, mainly in the butt area!!!!! Nothing I cant handle. I am getting so much stronger. I am so proud of myself.

PS . I was pouring wine for a guest at the restaurant
Guest " You work out don't you?"
Me "Who Me?"
Guest " Ya You"
Me "How do you know?"
Guest "I noticed your little guns"
Me " Woo Hoo....." Then I flexed for him!!!!!!!!

They may be little guns, but they are mine, and they are guns, and 2 months ago I didn't have them!!!!!!!

Sun, Fun and Canoe's

This past Sunday we headed to Kelso Conservation Park to canoe!!!! It was an absolutely beautiful day. The last time I was in a canoe was ....well...I don't even know it was that long ago. I have kayaked a few times in the past few years but I was alone and I just cruised along at my own pace. Much different than canoeing and working with a partner. It was very hard for me. Being a 98 pound woman I don't have alot of upper body strength, so digging deep to get the canoe to spin was hard for me. Of course I started moaning again. .When I did deep I moan! Still embarrassing. After about 40 minutes I already had two big blisters on my thumbs. I pushed through the pain as they hurt bad(still do). I managed to forget about the thumbs cause I was trying so hard to concentrate on the proper stroking technique. I think I got it down but it took a while to figure it out properly.

We had a race to see who could get the most balloons as they were tied to the end of the canoes. I thought we were doing great until I got excited and went to reach for a balloon in the water and tipped the canoe. It was great learning how to get back in . I did it. And rode all the way to the shore. The canoe was filled with water. It really was so much fun. Until of course I realized I had lost THREE sets of car keys in the lake. None of which were mine. I can't begin to tell you how that felt. So I wont.

Overall it was a great experience. I learned quite a bit about canoeing and how extremly important it is to work in a team. Being in the water made me very happy. It may be the Newfoundlander in me that loves that. I felt so alive. So happy. So content. I am grateful to racedayrush for every new experience.

No Training wheels!!!

WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO! I cant really put it in better terms than that. That is how I feel. What a Rush!!!! Last night was absolutely AWESOME. I will never forget it, for the rest of my life. Last night will always stand out for me...forever.

Last night was our first biking class. Last night was also my first time on the bike. I wanted to ride but was far to intimidated. Last night I threw myself into it. We started off with a warm up with Suzie. Suzie really inspires me......her presence puts my mind in a good place. I want to make her proud !

After the warm up we drove off on our bikes. I was honestly thinking "What mess am I gonna make of myself today?" Before we hit the trails I noticed a couple sitting on their porch. We waved at each other and I let them know its my first time on a bike in 20 years. The gentleman clapped his hands and said "You are doing great". A minute later I tried to pop the first curb and wiped out!!!! I turn around to let the couple know I was alright. God love em'....he was still clapping for me. Thinking about it today makes me laugh out loud.
I hopped right back on. Thanks Tracey for your support with the curb incident.
Every curb after I popped successfully!!!!! Woo Hoo. I am so impressed with myself!

I had another wipe out!!!! I think about that and laugh out loudas well. For someone who was so scared to get on a bike it certainly didn't show as I flew down the hill. What was I thinking? I landed on my back when I flew off the bike. I think my backpack helped with the fall. I am sore today but not really from the fall. From the whole experience. My butt hurts alot, my arms hurt even more. I LOVE THE PAIN!!!! I still cant believe I was biking last night. So proud of myself. I am so empowered right now. I never thought I would find myself on a bike, let alone be popping curbs and flying down hills!!!! WOOOO HOOOO. I don't even have a drivers licence..Never driven a car in my life........so to be in control of a moving bike was really foreign to me.

I had a bit of a time dealing with the gears. Thank you Shane, Neil and Matt for your patience. I kept finding myself in the first gear. I think I was turning it and not realizing. My chain popped off twice. Grrrrr. That was really frustrating for me. I was rearing to go and didn't want to stop. The cardio part wasn't hard at all for me. I did find my legs were getting tired on the ride back but it felt good and I loved every minute of it. Biking is definitely something I would like to carry on after this challenge is over.

I still have alot to learn. I am devoted to this and will do whatever I have to to get better at the biking. BRING IT!!!!!

Thanks to the whole team for your continuous support. I couldn't do it without your encouragement. Thanks for your part, in making last night one of the most memorable days of my life.

Back in the game

Well.....you haven't heard from me in a while. It has been a bumpy few weeks. Things fell apart for me for a little while with the passing of Meredith, our PHAT CHICK trainer. An awful tragedy. She was so incredibly beautiful, so incredibly alive. Even though I didn't know Meredith for a long time, her death really messed me up. I was angry and sad and confused. I didn't think I wanted to go on with this, I didn't think I deserved it. With many conversations with friends and family I realized I couldn't stop now. I had to push on, I had to dig deep and find the passion again. Over the past three weeks I have done a few workouts and had a few runs and every time I think of Meredith and it helps me. I feel her when the wind blows on my face, when the sun shines down and when the raindrops hit my skin. I feel her and I smile. I have gained strength from this tragedy. I now want to spend more time outside, I want to challenge myself and I want to be more like she was.

Sunday was our first workout with Suzie. I missed it. The Mississauga marathon had me stuck in traffic and I didn't get to Kerns Park until the end. I cried in the car as I really really really wanted to be there. When I did finally arrive , I immediately felt better. I got some sweaty hugs from the girls and that made me feel good again. I thank you all for that. You ladies rock and I am so glad that I am apart of this circle.

When I got home I did my own run. Of course I only wanted to run for 30-40 minutes but I ran 60 minutes. It was a slower pace than usual. I felt so incredible. This evening I did my homework and I must say I struggled. It is harder to do it alone than in the group. I did break a sweat about 5 minutes into it. I always want to cut it short but I always remember that I am only cheating myself. It feels so good when it is over. I swear my little muscles are getting bigger!!!! My stomach feels stronger as well. I feel stronger.

This Thursday will be our first biking class. I am scared but I cannot wait. I am really looking forward to it.

OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!

Sunday was a great day! Loved it...every minute of it. Didn't care about the weather. There is no such thing as bad weather. Weather is weather. I embrace it. My favorite time to run is when it rains.....so why not get my butt whipped in it! It makes it more intense for me. Hard to describe. I am sure all you reading this think I am crazy!!!!!
It was so hard. It was harder than last week.....and easier at the same time. Maybe any day is easier when Burpees are not involved. I just felt stronger.
We worked our core doing reach ups and side sit ups. It hurt . Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! I couldn't believe I could keep up. I didn't let it enter my head that I couldn't do it. I think that made a difference. I had to dig deep. I told myself. I AM STRONG. The power of positive thinking. Powerful thing.
I am know known as THE MOANER! I cant seem to push myself without letting out grunts and groans. It was a little embarrassing at first. Shannon had a good point. If I ever fall behind.....I will be missed. As soon as the moaning stops .......it will be time to find the little one!!!

I was supposed to do sprinting yesterday. Never happened. I was lucky enough to walk my dog for 90 minutes. Wasn't our usual fast paced, on a mission walk. But none the less..was a walk. I honestly ached from top to bottom. I still do. My core is so sore. It feels like I am bruised. I cannot touch my rib area. I have never ever felt like this. I LOVE IT.
I did my sprinting today. It was just as hard as day one and I cursed it just as much. Took a few extra sneakers to the park , laid them out and did my best. Between sprints I did push ups and tricep dips. Push ups seem to be getting a little easier. Will have to try some man ones next time.
I wanted to do some core work but It just isn't possible. I am hoping tommorrow the pain will be gone and I can get back to the reach ups etc!!!!

So excited about Sunday and being on the bike. Just excited in general to see everyone. I starting thinking today....when this is all over .....I am really going to miss this. Falling in love with the whole situation!

Sweet Pain

Holy Monkey ! What a week. I did my first run this week on Monday. It went well. I only planned on running 30 min but I ran 50. Felt way to good to stop.
The next day I did my cardio blast at home! OMG. Super hard. Burpees are really really really hard for me! I only did 8 a minute (again). That is o.k. I can handle that. There were a few moments when I was doing the cardio blast that I started laughing. I couldn't remember what a few of the exercises were ie. (sitting V) So I just started jumping around like a fool. Luckily no one was watching!
I did my second cardio blast yesterday. Once again.......so hard. It actually seemed harder than the first. My body was so sore. Especially my upper body. I love the sore feeling though. Really makes me feel good. Makes me feel strong(even though I clearly am a wimp)
Today I did my second 30 minute cardio. Unlike Monday I did NOT pass the required 30 min. I did exactly that. It was a hard run. My body is stiff and sore. My legs felt like lead. They felt so heavy. I didn't think the run would ever end. It did and now I feel tired. I also feel great for completing it. Wanted to cheat. But I would only be cheating myself. SHAG THAT!
My eating has improved. Loving the Kashi go lean. I add a teaspoon of flax to it everyday. I also eat a big spinach salad once a day. I am growing to love it. On a great note I have given up my daily dose of chocolate. Every night around 10pm I would have a box of smarties. I have been doing that for a few years. No more. It has been a week since I have had my late night smarties and I am doing just fine. I still think about them though!!!!!!!!
Cant believe tomorrow morning is another workout session. I hope my little body can perform.
Look forward to seeing the Team