Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Friday, June 1, 2012
Monday, November 28, 2011
Candace Sutherland
Back 2010 I blogged about this girl who was running across Canada (see June 3/2010 post) to raise money for SA, Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Diabetes Association and Cancer Society. The Winnipeg Barefoot Runners are suckers for runners with spirit. This girl has a ton of it so we couldn't help but cheer her on and cross our fingers that she would accomplish her goal. Not only did she succeed but she recently travelled to Parliament in Ottawa to be recognized for her efforts. Congratulations, Candace!
Click on the link....
My million-dollar cousin
Click on the link....
My million-dollar cousin
Thursday, February 24, 2011
THE LONG RUN
I just finished this book about what the amazing human spirit is capable of and want to share it with you. Matt Long was run over by a 20 ton bus...not hit....RUN OVER! After his amazing comeback he went on to create the I Will Foundation which provides support to others who are recovering from devastating illness or trauma. May his story inspire us all to live to our full potential.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Michael Franti-"I got love for you"
There is a little surprise in this video. Can you spot it?
This song has been on my running playlist (the faster version with the Spearheads) for the last year and I still enjoy it as much as the first time I heard it. what is your favourite running song?
This song has been on my running playlist (the faster version with the Spearheads) for the last year and I still enjoy it as much as the first time I heard it. what is your favourite running song?
Friday, October 29, 2010
Hope and Inspiration
We have been following this Manitoba girl since the beginning of her run and are rooting for her every step of the way as she completes her Cross Canada Run. The goal in itself is admirable, but her background story is incredible. Hope.
Recently Candace was in Winnipeg raising funds for her run. We were inspired by a radio interview which mentioned that she was in need of a new pair of running shoes. Wanting to show our support for her mission, The Winnipeg Barefoot Runners decided to buy her a pair. This may seem odd considering most of us don't wear running shoes and those that do, haven't bought a pair in years nor intend to. We decided to purchase them from City Park Runners as we have had good experience with them in the past (awesome customer service). The owner was so inspired by meeting Candace and hearing her story that he also bought her a pair! We would like to wish Candace all the best and send out a big thank you to Erik who has an awesome running store and for supporting her run.
Candace Sutherland
Recently Candace was in Winnipeg raising funds for her run. We were inspired by a radio interview which mentioned that she was in need of a new pair of running shoes. Wanting to show our support for her mission, The Winnipeg Barefoot Runners decided to buy her a pair. This may seem odd considering most of us don't wear running shoes and those that do, haven't bought a pair in years nor intend to. We decided to purchase them from City Park Runners as we have had good experience with them in the past (awesome customer service). The owner was so inspired by meeting Candace and hearing her story that he also bought her a pair! We would like to wish Candace all the best and send out a big thank you to Erik who has an awesome running store and for supporting her run.
My name is Candace Sutherland.
I am currently running across Canada to raise funds for 4 charities in a run I'm calling Vision4Hope. I began this run on March 20th and expect to spend the better part of a year on the road. See the map below for the progress I have made so far.
A run likes this takes money to pay for administrative expenses such as food, fuel, lodging, and vehicle repairs. Right now our funds are very low and we need support. To donate to my administrative account please click here.
Candace Sutherland
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Bag Lady
http://www.ecologyrunner.com/
It seems to happen that when researching something I come across a different subject which results in an entirely different train of thought. I set out to research the shoes in the above blog ( looking to replace the swim shoes that have stretched out and flew off my foot yesterday in mid stride). The picture of the Eco-Runner carrying a garbage bag was quite a sight. I pick up garbage during a run sometimes but this guy really goes out of his way and collects an average of 5 bags per run (1200 bags of trash per year)! Inspired, I stuffed a grocery bag in a pocket and set off to meet Nicole for a run. This is how much garbage I collected after only 14 minutes of running. Crazy!
It seems to happen that when researching something I come across a different subject which results in an entirely different train of thought. I set out to research the shoes in the above blog ( looking to replace the swim shoes that have stretched out and flew off my foot yesterday in mid stride). The picture of the Eco-Runner carrying a garbage bag was quite a sight. I pick up garbage during a run sometimes but this guy really goes out of his way and collects an average of 5 bags per run (1200 bags of trash per year)! Inspired, I stuffed a grocery bag in a pocket and set off to meet Nicole for a run. This is how much garbage I collected after only 14 minutes of running. Crazy!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Post marathon blues?
So here we are, two weeks after the Trehern marathon. It seems to have gone by slowly. There has been so much information about how to train, the Internet is full of training plans. Although I have found very little info on recovery, and what little I have found is extremely vague. I was happy to hear that there was some info on "post marathon blues". This is something that I have experienced, but never really have heard people talk about. G told me she had found some info on it and I was so happy to think that I wasn't quite as insane as I had previously thought. Apparently this is some thing that has been documented, although not well. It seems that an after race plan is something that helps out in this area, a recovery time and future plans keep you moving through this 'down time'. It is interesting how everyone talks about the 'runners high' and no one really talks about the after effects of achieving a goal and getting to the 'now what?' phase of running.
Running is so varied form one person to another, it is so individual, it keeps us all learning about ourselves and our environment. Each run, training or race, is so different and ever changing that there are a variety of guide lines for how to train for different events, and they later become more narrow per runner, as to what works for that one specific person. There are so many ideas and schools of thought, which keeps it all interesting and I don't think I will ever get board trying new things. Although now, with trying a new distance I find comfort in the thought of something less varied, a training plan I can stick to, something concrete to follow, one that is specific to this new distance. Call it a starting point, a diving board, something to expand on in the future. We are looking at the last marathon as part of our training plan for the next adventure, Vulture Bait 50k. I am currently working in an after plan, especially knowing how I can feel 4-5 days after the high from completing a marathon. Not something I'm liking.
Experimenting with nutrition and distance has taken up a large part of running this year, each long run has brought out new snacks (Jeannie's chocolate cake was a nice touch back in Feb.) new ways to hydrate in different temperatures (water and Gatorade freeze well in -20C). Where are we going to feel exhausted? How far until we need to refuel? How are we going to refuel? We have discovered that the 'long run rounds' are great cookies for spring summer and fall, but get too frozen in the winter. The home-made protein bars are best in winter as they are better frozen, and get too soggy in the spring and summer when it is getting warmer out.
I guess the lesson is to plan what you can, then roll with what ever falls onto your path, and to always keep getting up. As I write this though I see Gail has a way more awesome post... so I'm gonna stop here and take her advice to keep motivated....
See you tomorrow morning.
Nicole
Running is so varied form one person to another, it is so individual, it keeps us all learning about ourselves and our environment. Each run, training or race, is so different and ever changing that there are a variety of guide lines for how to train for different events, and they later become more narrow per runner, as to what works for that one specific person. There are so many ideas and schools of thought, which keeps it all interesting and I don't think I will ever get board trying new things. Although now, with trying a new distance I find comfort in the thought of something less varied, a training plan I can stick to, something concrete to follow, one that is specific to this new distance. Call it a starting point, a diving board, something to expand on in the future. We are looking at the last marathon as part of our training plan for the next adventure, Vulture Bait 50k. I am currently working in an after plan, especially knowing how I can feel 4-5 days after the high from completing a marathon. Not something I'm liking.
Experimenting with nutrition and distance has taken up a large part of running this year, each long run has brought out new snacks (Jeannie's chocolate cake was a nice touch back in Feb.) new ways to hydrate in different temperatures (water and Gatorade freeze well in -20C). Where are we going to feel exhausted? How far until we need to refuel? How are we going to refuel? We have discovered that the 'long run rounds' are great cookies for spring summer and fall, but get too frozen in the winter. The home-made protein bars are best in winter as they are better frozen, and get too soggy in the spring and summer when it is getting warmer out.
I guess the lesson is to plan what you can, then roll with what ever falls onto your path, and to always keep getting up. As I write this though I see Gail has a way more awesome post... so I'm gonna stop here and take her advice to keep motivated....
See you tomorrow morning.
Nicole
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Training
Wow! what a week!
From one thing to the next, and there was time to schedule things that I never thought I would have the time to do. At these times in our lives we find our priorities. What is really important, what needs to wait, what can we start and hand off to be finished (delegation I believe this is called), and what needs to be finished. Who do we need to see, spend time with, care for.
After all this talk about Fargo and then making a commitment to Vulture Bait I'm left thinking that I really need to suck it up and get with the program! Running Sunday mornings at 5am is not necessarily by choice, it just happens to be the time that is available to run. If we want to go for a 4 hour run then that is the time we must start, all the time knowing that 4 hours is going to be 5 hours and there must be coffee along the way or at the end of trail. Gail had mentioned in a blog about getting more serious about the running. Really giving more of that inner athlete effort, giving it her all..... you know.... the end of the race where you collapse and fall over because there is nothing left in the tank? This has inspired me to see how much more I have for these runs.
A little while ago, as I was considering an ultra, I decided that I know I'm not fast so I wonder just how far could I go. Mostly as a runner I feel I'm the turtle. Slow and steady... At Fargo I completed my first full marathon and kept my pace very steady for the first 18 miles (about a 12 min mile), with a little struggle to get to the 20 mile marker where things really started to slow down. (finishing with a 13 min mile average) Now I'm wondering if I could get used to the distance and keep that steady for the whole 26.2+ a few more? Maybe one day double the distance, keeping the pace of course?
Training is where I think I need the help, as we have mostly been building up the mileage over the past year, as well as getting used to the less cushioned footwear. We started road kill this week and I so enjoyed being pushed (mostly as I tried to keep out of the way). Now I know that any of the speed training I was trying on my own has not really been done correctly. I know of soooooo many people who have done the personal trainer stuff that I thought I would maybe look into this. There are so many gyms, trainers, boot camps, where to start? I have been involved in one or two programs over the past couple of years. There is something I have missed, not sure what it is, but there is a piece or two to this puzzle that I just have not quite found yet.
A friend of mine recommended that I check out Elite performance center, this is where she trains and she loves it. (Not to mention how awesome she looks, and in an extremely healthy way!) So I did. My inquiries led me to an application process that surprised me in the thoroughness of information that was required. It made me look at how I was eating (still too much processed junk food) and drinking (not enough water?! or wine for that matter?). Unfortunately this was a week that I took off after the Fargo run so I did no activity, but it made me think about how I want to track my training over the next little while. (I can't wait to see Gail's training book soon as she has the neatest ideas) Then there was a fitness assessment! WOW!! I'm not sure how to describe this hour, but it told me allot!
This is a really great place, everyone was so friendly, kind, and excited to be there..... and this was the staff! The lady who conducted the assessment was great in recognizing my unfamiliarity with a gym set up and was helpful in showing me what I needed to do and what she would be doing to assist me if I needed. Aside from her friendliness, she was motivating, in a positive, make you want to go the extra mile kinda way. I think I'm most grateful that she didn't break out laughing as I attempted to do a chin-up (which was me hanging there), but instead created a situation where I felt comfortable and motivated to not give-up. Then she assisted me in continuing on and trying to accomplish one with her help. I can't remember when I ever really wanted to do a chin-up,.....oh yeah it was Wednesday! Again I was surprised by the thoroughness of the assessment, and two days later I could still feel every muscle covered in the workout! After taking notes on each thing there was measurements to do as well, then she helped stretch me. This was interesting?! The small things really stand out, she took the time to explain that I would be sore the next day and that ice would be helpful (I was prepared with a massage booked for the next morning) and that was normal. Apparently it is not uncommon to need to vomit during this assessment as well (glad I didn't know that going in).
I was impressed with the depth of inquiry, and knowledge as well as the attitudes and helpfulness, and of course how comfortable I felt while I was there (this is unusual for me in any new environment). After the assessment was over it was time to book an appointment for coming back to see what the program was going to look like. Jeff Fisher came over to talk with me and wee sat and he mentioned what the time commitments and costs would be. It was great to see the level of commitment needed to accomplish his program. I would need 4 days a week with around 60-90 min each. Unfortunately I have been unable to find the time to commit to this schedule, but there will be a time where I will be able to train this intensely.... I can hardly wait! On the top of my goal list, training at Elite has been added. Currently I have only found 3-4 days where if I can fit in a 30 min, an hour and a long run at 4-5 hours.... I'm ahead. I found the website to be interestingly intimidating, but have enjoyed fish's blog, he really loves what he's doing and it shows though in the blog and the culture at the facility.
So now I can see where what I'm doing has not been working as effectively as I would like. As it has mostly been cardio, I am looking to change things up, get more serious (will still be stopping to take pictures) and plan more early morning work outs with more weights as well.
Have a fantastic week!
Nicole
From one thing to the next, and there was time to schedule things that I never thought I would have the time to do. At these times in our lives we find our priorities. What is really important, what needs to wait, what can we start and hand off to be finished (delegation I believe this is called), and what needs to be finished. Who do we need to see, spend time with, care for.
After all this talk about Fargo and then making a commitment to Vulture Bait I'm left thinking that I really need to suck it up and get with the program! Running Sunday mornings at 5am is not necessarily by choice, it just happens to be the time that is available to run. If we want to go for a 4 hour run then that is the time we must start, all the time knowing that 4 hours is going to be 5 hours and there must be coffee along the way or at the end of trail. Gail had mentioned in a blog about getting more serious about the running. Really giving more of that inner athlete effort, giving it her all..... you know.... the end of the race where you collapse and fall over because there is nothing left in the tank? This has inspired me to see how much more I have for these runs.
A little while ago, as I was considering an ultra, I decided that I know I'm not fast so I wonder just how far could I go. Mostly as a runner I feel I'm the turtle. Slow and steady... At Fargo I completed my first full marathon and kept my pace very steady for the first 18 miles (about a 12 min mile), with a little struggle to get to the 20 mile marker where things really started to slow down. (finishing with a 13 min mile average) Now I'm wondering if I could get used to the distance and keep that steady for the whole 26.2+ a few more? Maybe one day double the distance, keeping the pace of course?
Training is where I think I need the help, as we have mostly been building up the mileage over the past year, as well as getting used to the less cushioned footwear. We started road kill this week and I so enjoyed being pushed (mostly as I tried to keep out of the way). Now I know that any of the speed training I was trying on my own has not really been done correctly. I know of soooooo many people who have done the personal trainer stuff that I thought I would maybe look into this. There are so many gyms, trainers, boot camps, where to start? I have been involved in one or two programs over the past couple of years. There is something I have missed, not sure what it is, but there is a piece or two to this puzzle that I just have not quite found yet.
A friend of mine recommended that I check out Elite performance center, this is where she trains and she loves it. (Not to mention how awesome she looks, and in an extremely healthy way!) So I did. My inquiries led me to an application process that surprised me in the thoroughness of information that was required. It made me look at how I was eating (still too much processed junk food) and drinking (not enough water?! or wine for that matter?). Unfortunately this was a week that I took off after the Fargo run so I did no activity, but it made me think about how I want to track my training over the next little while. (I can't wait to see Gail's training book soon as she has the neatest ideas) Then there was a fitness assessment! WOW!! I'm not sure how to describe this hour, but it told me allot!
This is a really great place, everyone was so friendly, kind, and excited to be there..... and this was the staff! The lady who conducted the assessment was great in recognizing my unfamiliarity with a gym set up and was helpful in showing me what I needed to do and what she would be doing to assist me if I needed. Aside from her friendliness, she was motivating, in a positive, make you want to go the extra mile kinda way. I think I'm most grateful that she didn't break out laughing as I attempted to do a chin-up (which was me hanging there), but instead created a situation where I felt comfortable and motivated to not give-up. Then she assisted me in continuing on and trying to accomplish one with her help. I can't remember when I ever really wanted to do a chin-up,.....oh yeah it was Wednesday! Again I was surprised by the thoroughness of the assessment, and two days later I could still feel every muscle covered in the workout! After taking notes on each thing there was measurements to do as well, then she helped stretch me. This was interesting?! The small things really stand out, she took the time to explain that I would be sore the next day and that ice would be helpful (I was prepared with a massage booked for the next morning) and that was normal. Apparently it is not uncommon to need to vomit during this assessment as well (glad I didn't know that going in).
I was impressed with the depth of inquiry, and knowledge as well as the attitudes and helpfulness, and of course how comfortable I felt while I was there (this is unusual for me in any new environment). After the assessment was over it was time to book an appointment for coming back to see what the program was going to look like. Jeff Fisher came over to talk with me and wee sat and he mentioned what the time commitments and costs would be. It was great to see the level of commitment needed to accomplish his program. I would need 4 days a week with around 60-90 min each. Unfortunately I have been unable to find the time to commit to this schedule, but there will be a time where I will be able to train this intensely.... I can hardly wait! On the top of my goal list, training at Elite has been added. Currently I have only found 3-4 days where if I can fit in a 30 min, an hour and a long run at 4-5 hours.... I'm ahead. I found the website to be interestingly intimidating, but have enjoyed fish's blog, he really loves what he's doing and it shows though in the blog and the culture at the facility.
So now I can see where what I'm doing has not been working as effectively as I would like. As it has mostly been cardio, I am looking to change things up, get more serious (will still be stopping to take pictures) and plan more early morning work outs with more weights as well.
Have a fantastic week!
Nicole
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Vision4Hope
Candace Sutherland is a 17 year old Metis girl born in Winnipeg who is currently running across Canada to raise money for 4 charities (Salvation Army,Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Diabetes, and Canadian Cancer Society). I first heard about her in one of our newspapers in March '10 and was deeply moved by her story. She was born in poverty and just when she was about to be taken away by a government agency at the age of 8, her aunt and uncle came to her assistance and moved to Bissett where her family roots are. Around that time she discovered running and eventually decided she would like to run to raise awareness to what is happening to her people due to poverty. The poverty that exists in our aboriginal populations is disgraceful. Many communities have no proper sanitation, they are crammed into houses, have poor nutrition, and as a result of this poverty, TB still exists in many of these communities. That a 17 year old girl can recover from her childhood hardships and then run across Canada to help her people absolutely blows me away.
She started her Trans Canada run in March from St. John's Newfoundland with her uncle by her side. Unfortunately she has not had much media coverage (why not???), and now the Quebec police have told her she is not allowed to run on the Trans-Canada Highway. This has a familiar ring to it ( Terry Fox experienced problems with running on Quebec highways back in the day). She is requesting that people write to thegazette.canwest.com to request media coverage for this Quebec portion of her run. I encourage everyone to check out her Vision4Hope cross Canada run at candacesutherland.com.
She started her Trans Canada run in March from St. John's Newfoundland with her uncle by her side. Unfortunately she has not had much media coverage (why not???), and now the Quebec police have told her she is not allowed to run on the Trans-Canada Highway. This has a familiar ring to it ( Terry Fox experienced problems with running on Quebec highways back in the day). She is requesting that people write to thegazette.canwest.com to request media coverage for this Quebec portion of her run. I encourage everyone to check out her Vision4Hope cross Canada run at candacesutherland.com.
"When you run on the earth and run with the earth, you can run forever".
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Looking for motivation....
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12:1
So I found this quote on the Fargo Marathon site tonight as I am trying to motivate myself to get out of bed early for the ability to get a run in. Looking ahead to this years challenges, and it is early so I am apprehensive to sign up for things in case of injuries but I don't want to wait too long for fear that I won't get in in time. This happened last year as I waited too long before I signed up for Regina's' Queen City Half Marathon and I was very torn up that I was too late to get in and they were full. So here it is January and I am looking forward to this upcoming year and I wonder what will be too much.
I only ask about too much because I did three half's last year in one month. I figure if I'm training for one, why not do them all. If I can do the distance once I should be able to keep it up. I had hoped that eventually the distance of 13 miles would be less daunting if I could do it over and over again, and so it is, less daunting. This year I look forward to the challenges of distance, weather, altitude, and I'm sure there will be others I will find along the way.
Distance: first marathon
Weather: first winter half marathon, in Canada
Altitude: first mountain area half marathon (not yet sure if I will have the time for this one, but here's to hoping)
I have decided that I will recognize that I am not a fast runner, although I have yet to find how far I can go. So this year will begin a new journey in running where I will learn new lessons along the way to finding new distances and challenges.
So I guess this is a "See you in the morning, along the road" answer to the question of "just how crazy are you feeling tonight?"
Keep thinking of what you would like to accomplish this year and let me know. Once you say it out loud it feels like more of a commitment, it keeps us accountable to ourselves and each other.
Nicole
So I found this quote on the Fargo Marathon site tonight as I am trying to motivate myself to get out of bed early for the ability to get a run in. Looking ahead to this years challenges, and it is early so I am apprehensive to sign up for things in case of injuries but I don't want to wait too long for fear that I won't get in in time. This happened last year as I waited too long before I signed up for Regina's' Queen City Half Marathon and I was very torn up that I was too late to get in and they were full. So here it is January and I am looking forward to this upcoming year and I wonder what will be too much.
I only ask about too much because I did three half's last year in one month. I figure if I'm training for one, why not do them all. If I can do the distance once I should be able to keep it up. I had hoped that eventually the distance of 13 miles would be less daunting if I could do it over and over again, and so it is, less daunting. This year I look forward to the challenges of distance, weather, altitude, and I'm sure there will be others I will find along the way.
Distance: first marathon
Weather: first winter half marathon, in Canada
Altitude: first mountain area half marathon (not yet sure if I will have the time for this one, but here's to hoping)
I have decided that I will recognize that I am not a fast runner, although I have yet to find how far I can go. So this year will begin a new journey in running where I will learn new lessons along the way to finding new distances and challenges.
So I guess this is a "See you in the morning, along the road" answer to the question of "just how crazy are you feeling tonight?"
Keep thinking of what you would like to accomplish this year and let me know. Once you say it out loud it feels like more of a commitment, it keeps us accountable to ourselves and each other.
Nicole
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