Run Forest Run

This year my short term goal is to run the Up the Creek 10 K in Port Coquitlam, a trail run on April 14th. So far I am up to 9K in my training program.  My main goal for this year is to run my first half marathon and I am hoping to make the Port Coquitlam Trail River Run ½ Marathon on September 22nd, my first of many half marathons.

Over the past 3 months I have been working out on our treadmill to get myself trail ready. Other than my participation in the 5K Jingle Bell jog, all my runs have been on my home gym treadmill. I run 3 times a week and cycle 1-2 days on the stationary bike. 

In order to keep my routine in tact, I have been getting up early to work out before I have to go to work. I saw an article back in September about the Top 10: Reasons to Train in the Morning. I decided to give it a try since I never seem to have the energy or motivation after I get home from work and eat dinner. Incorporating the morning routine has definitely kept me on track.

One of the challenges I have found as my runs get longer is combating boredom on the Treadmill. I love listening to my iPod workout playlist but staring at a wall while running started to bore me. We have a TV but watching movies or TV shows makes it hard to lose myself in my runs. 

I tried watching LIFE and Planet Earth and that only partially made my runs more interesting. What I missed was the feeling of running the trails so I searched for running videos and found some for the treadmill and stationary bike. The videos are among a collection of nature videos made by ISIS Visuals and available through Amazon.ca (& Amazon.com). I decided to try out the following DVDs:

1. Fitness Journey: Through the Forest
2. Fitness Journey: Through the Forest 2
3. Fitness Journey: Forest and Bush Trails

I ordered the DVDs before Christmas and they just arrived yesterday. I had a long run this morning and I was able to try out the first DVD. I have to say that it definitely made my run more enjoyable. I found myself enjoying the scenery while I ran to my music, often using landmarks in the video to tempo my runs. There is something appealing about "visually" running to the end of a trail in anticipation of what's around the bend.

I can't wait until the weather warms up and I can start training outside but until then, I will be using these running DVDs to keep me mentally on the trails.

Below is an example of the video.

Year in Review - 101 Things revisited

Back on October 18, 2011 I put together a little list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. While I still have until July 14th, 2014 to complete the list, I thought it would be a good time to reflect back on what I have accomplished so far and review what I am still working on as I start looking towards the New Year.

101 Things in 1001 Days : 19 items Completed

9) Get a tattoo to commemorate the LG4CF June 1, 2012 See Blog post

 10) Get a pedicure- I've had a few but my first one after the Longest Game was April 11,2012 - when my poor hockey feet were finally healed
12) Wear my hair straightened for a week - April 11th, 2012 - Chemically straightened my hair. It lasted just over a week then my hair became very defiant again.
25) Get my cholesterol and blood pressure checked Nov 18,2011
26) Get a physical Nov 16, 2011
30) Exercise 5 days a week (not including dog walks) for a month. Including cardio and strength training. Continue as inspired Sept 24,2012 - present. Run 3 days, cycle 2 days, Hockey once a week: Still going strong...
33) Participate in the 5K Obstacle Course Zombie run August 4th, 2012 - The Zombies got me at the final stretch but I still got my medal :)

40) Go on a golf vacation - Dec 6th - 11th, 2012 (Mesa Arizona)

43) Take a Kickboxing class - June 18th - July 9th, 2012 
45) Plan weekly meals 4 weeks in a row - Since Oct 1, 2012
56) Make fresh bread in the bread maker for a month November 2011 (on and off since)
58) Make a crock pot meal - Slow Cooker Orange Ginger Beef - Dec 22, 2011 - Sooo Good!
61) No chocolate for a month - Oct & Nov 2012 (Yes, even with all that Halloween chocolate)
62) Clean the home office and throw out/shred/recycle any unneeded papers. File the keepers July 20th, 2012 - New home office!



65) Paint the bathroom (upstairs main) - Jan  2012

Before

After

      











67) Buy an iPhone January 17, 2012 - Love it!
68) Make an iTunes workout playlist of 180 minutes Nov 17, 2011: I've made a few more since
78) Rent a boat for a day and spend the day exploring Howe Sound http://www.sewellsmarina.com - Aug 8th, 2012



88) Attend a performance of the VSO March 3, 2012 Wicked Divas
94) Renew my passport May 11, 2012

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I have 12 items that are currently in Progress:

6) Make a list of 100 quotes that appeal to me - I have about 20 so far, including:   

          Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.  –Anonymous

 11) Get a massage at least once a month - I like this one so much I do it every 2 weeks
15) Get the necessary repairs done on my car - Only a few more repairs left
24) Reach my healthy weight- Almost Halfway there!
27) Keep a food and exercise journal - Using MyNetDiary.com
31) Run a 10K under 1 hour - Training for the Up the Creek 10 K run in Port Coquitlam in (April 2013)
32) Complete a ½ marathon - Aiming for the Trail River Run ½ Marathon in Port Coquitlam (September 2013)

39) Golf at least 25 rounds - Due to a shoulder injury during league hockey last season, I was unable to golf in 2012, except for the 2 rounds in Mesa (item #40)
57) Try 20 new recipes - About 10 so far
69) Make a list of 41 songs that were significant in my life - It's getting there....
90) Go out with a friend once a month  Every month so far.....

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In addition to my 101 items, the following are a few more highlights from 2012:

1) In June, my fur kids got me a Dragon for my Birthday. Not a real one of course but a very handsome statue named Monitore. I mentioned him previously in my Meet Monitore Blog.

Monitore dressed for the holidays

2) In July we finished the renovations for the Man Cave

3) In early November I went short.... I took the plunge and cut my hair, losing 2 pounds off my head

                
4)  In November I attended the premiere screening of "Lace Bite", the documentary about the Longest Game that I participated in back in August of 2011. I never thought I would see myself on the big screen, but what an honor it was to be part of the documentary and a player in the game. It brought back so many memories. Carmen and Sharron did a wonderful job on this documentary and I urge you to see it if you can. You can purchase a copy of the DVD, which is now available. Click below to link to the website.

Click here to purchase your copy of the Lace Bite DVD

5) At the beginning of December, my husband and I treated ourselves to a VIP evening at the Journey concert (with LoverBoy and Night Ranger). It was blast back to the 80's.....

David and I with Journey band members Jonathan Cain and Ross Valory

I thought I would do much better for #66 on the 101 list: Blog at least once a week. Looking back, including this post, I have Blogged only 8 times in 2012 but looking at the list of completed, in progress and added activities, I had a lot of material I could have blogged about. I anticipate that 2013 will keep me busy on the blog......

Wishing all my Blog readers a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

Cheers!