treadmill = rat in a cage

Ran 15 minutes on the treadmill this morning before my power class ... I have now reached the point where I enjoying running outside much more than running inside ... felt like a hamster on a wheel! Looking forward to a fast, cold, windy 5km this afternoon OUTSIDE!

a little snowy LSD - 14km

So last week I joined up with the running group out of the Commerce Court Running rooms and yesterday was my second run with them. It was quite lovely and dare I say near enjoyable. We had a great 14km route that took us up Jarvis to Mt. Pleasant, through Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, across Younge down through Forest Hill, Yorkville and then back to downtown. Only 2 hills on the front half and pretty much all downhill on the back half - just the way I like it. It started "snowing" well really, flurries as we ran through the cemetery - it was peaceful and beautiful.

There are about 15 - 20 runners but we spit into different pace packs - for the second week in a row I ran with the same 2 ladies and I think they may be instrumental in me learning to love running.

Hills to flat

Today I had all good intentions of doing 6 hills ... but as the bell rang and I shuffled the kids into school, the pellets of snow/sleet/rain started falling. I ran 2 hills but the slippery conditions (blame it on all the fall leaves) pushed me up to Kingston Road and I finished out a total of 5km today. On a positive note - I hate hills so much that running the last few KMs flat was actually enjoyable ... a little bit! I don't want to complain about the weather after the great weather we have had - but today was the wake up call that I have a long winter of winter running ahead of me!

I don't love running

I don't love running. I don't even really like running. But I run. I used to run years ago ... when I ended the relationship with the guy that wanted me to run - I pretty much swore off running. Now don't get me wrong - I am a gym rat of sorts - I love the gym - I have had my fascinations with all sort of group fitness ... recently I love spinning and group power (lifting weights in a group setting). But I've done them all - aerobics, step, body pump, body sculpt, pilates, yoga ... pretty much everything except this new Zumba fad.

So, this past spring my husband started running and convinced me to enter my first running race - the spring sprint 5km. I had't run 5km in years - I ran it, I beat him by a minute or so. I was hooked. See, i don't love running ... but I do love races! I had already found the love of races a couple years ago - when I walked 2 half maratons (Ottawa and Toronto Waterfront) as well as a 15 km (Midsummer's Night). But running was different. I was hooked.

So now, my journey is to actually love running - and I am going to journal via this blog my training over the next little while. My next race is the Tanabalm 10km here in the Beachs in Toronto. Then the Disney Half Marathon in January and if I can find by love of running - the 30km Around the Bay in March. I ran my first half Marathon on October 17, 2010 wiht a time of 1:51:15. So from here on it's about PBs and goals. And of course, finding the love of running!