18 posts tagged “nike runner's lounge”

On October 21st @ 9:00 AM the Vancouver Nike Runner’s Lounge will be holding a 21KM run in support of the 15,000 women that will be simultaneously running in the San Francisco Nike Women’s Marathon, an event that will be raising funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

And if the half marathon is not your thing, we will also be holding 5K and 10K runs to add to the celebration.

The Experience will Include:
• 5k, 10k, 21k runs with Nike Run Leaders
• Run shirts for all participants
• Water station on route
• Bowerman Brunch
• Post-run massage
• Pedi-care stations to reward you feet

If interested in participating in this event please RSVP here, on Facebook, by phone at (778) 786-7463, or in person at the Vancouver Nike Runner’s Lounge located at 510 Nicola Street.

It would be great if you are interested to encourage as many friends to be part of the day as possible.

Thanks

Paul
Assistant Manager Nike Runner's Lounge

Today was gloomy, windy, and rainy; fall weather is starting to settle into Vancouver.  It's ok though because I enjoy running in the rain...and my whole run tonight was...an experience to say the least.  One that I will remember.

I went down to the Nike Runner's Lounge and ran along the seawall, around part of Pipeline, past the Rose Gardens, looped back around Lost Lagoon, ran up to Second Beach and continued running by the Inukshuk through English Bay to the Burrard Street Bridge and back. 

It was already fairly dark when I set out and the yacht's lights at Coal Harbour glistened against the calm water.  Stanley Park smelled more earthy than usual due to the rain and it was great to run through the trees a bit.  The beach was gorgeous, the sun was setting and a brilliant orangy-pink colour was peaking through the rain clouds and reflected against the water and buildings.  The sand was wet as the tide was just on it's way out.  On the way back I saw an injured raccoon, it's back leg was hurt and it was hoping around and looked so scared.  So I ran by the park station but it was closed...hopefully the poor thing will be ok.

As far as people go, there was hardly anyone else out there.  Most of the time I was alone, except for a few fellow runner's passing by.  It's like Vancouver runner's rainy day secret.

Running for cancer research

OK, so maybe I'm not THAT much like the energizer bunny; especially compared to those that run ultras!  I know I've been slacking a bit on the running posts, my sincerest apologies!

On Tuesday I hit the Runner's Lounge for a (what was supposed to be) easy 30 minute run.  It ended up being 42 minutes and about 8.5km though my pace fluctuated a lot during this run, which is quite unusual because I'm almost always very consistent.  I did have a headache and the running made my head hurt more sooo we'll blame that, haha.  It was a FABULOUS day though...very beautiful out so the run was much enjoyed!!

Wednesday I was supposed to go to the NRL again but I couldn't make it :: sniff sniff :: so I put in a thirty minute run around my neck of the woods.  Not much to report...these 30-40 min runs seem SOOOO incredibly easy now it's like brushing my teeth...I don't even really think about them much.

Fundraiser updates: Here's a link to the event (see above post) on facebook.  The Jeff O'Neil Morning show on 99.3 The Fox plugged it this morning thanks to Nathan!  Also, I just got confirmation that Molson Canadian is letting me give away some swag as well!

In other news, yesterday was another good run at the NRL!  I got there a bit late but caught up to the group.  We did a speed workout, five repeats around Beaver Lake (1k) with two minute rests in between.  It was good to try to push myself on.  My knee started to bug me a little bit so I iced it when I got home.  I tried a different pair of Nike shoes and they were actually ok and I didn't hate them, so that's promising, haha.  I also need to remember to bring water or Gatorade because even in the evening it's still hot enough out that I need to have something with me.

That's a whooooole lot of running.  Seriously.  I am in shock I ran that much and didn't collapse or anything, haha.  Wow.  It took a long time; it got to the point where the legs were feeling like lead.  Took a few extended stops (washroom, stretching, water/Gatorade refills.)  Still, I did it!!!!  I'm surprisingly not super sore, either (we'll see if that still holds tomorrow!) At the advice of one of my teammates I took an ice cold bath when I got home in order to reduce inflammation.  Then I took a two hour nap because I was pretty beat.  When I woke up I iced my legs on and off for an hour or so.  I just took an Epsom salt bath and am icing my legs again.  I'm hoping all this will ward off the stiffness for tomorrow.

The morning was looking pretty dreary: rainy, overcast, a bit chilly.  I decided to not take my jacket figuring the running would warm me up enough.  I'm glad I made that decision because it stopped raining and the sun came out and it was great weather for most of the run.

We went around Science World, through Gastown (where homeless people and the motorcycle show people cheered us on, lol.) Stopped at a Starbucks for a washroom break where the manager was really nice, cleaning up one of the washroom's for us.  As we were waiting to use them he asked me, "so how far are you running today?" to which I replied "oh, just 30 kilometres." (It came out sounding a lot more casual than I intended.)  I went into the washroom at that point and one of my teammate's said the guy looked at him like "holy crap?! 'just 30km?!' like it's a walk around the block...I'm going to go back to my espresso." lol.

We then ran through Coal Harbour, stopped at the Nike Runner's Lounge for some Gatorade, which was great.  The employee's were all excited to see us so I think that gave us a boost of energy.  They had a couple of massage therapists in there and I think everyone on the team was looking at them thinking "JEALOUS!  I want a massage now!" We were about half way into the run at this point.

We continued along the seawall and up Prospect Point, which is where some pain started in my left knee.  Finally made it up that steep (and seemingly endless) hill and stopped a bit at the top for a stretch to try to see if the pain would dissipate.  We continued on to Third Beach...Second Beach (stopped a couple of times for stretching/speed walk break lol)...to the Burrard Street Bridge. (Yes, that's right we went around the entirety of Stanley Park!!) May I reiterate once again how spoiled I am for getting to run along the gorgeous beaches, forest, and with the Rockies in clear view as a bonus?  Sooo incredible, as always.

I think the hardest part was after the Burrard Bridge because we knew we were sooo close to Granville Island but we had to take a round about way to get the distance in.  Followed Cornwall to Cypress, went down to Macdonald (which is quite a ways.)  Looped around up to another stupid (albiet shorter) steep hill  which REALLY hurt going up so we decided to walk at a fast pace up it because at that point the legs weren't going to pick up enough to run at a decent pace anyway.

Fortunately, it leveled out and we came back around to Macdonald and made a wrong turn, having to backtrack two blocks and then ran back to Burrard Street and over the homestretch to Granville Island.  It's amazing how as soon as you realize how little left there is left that you get a burst of energy.

It was definitely a tough run in the mental sense.  When we got to three hours of running we started laughing because it just seemed so ridiculous that we had been running THAT long, like "this is insane; we are insane" haha.  I think we knew we were crazy when we had been running for two hours and it seemed like no big deal. 

Endurance running is a funny thing because you get to the point where you're lungs and heart are fine running for 2.5-3 hrs but your body is just screaming at you while your brain is telling you to go faster.  I had some doubts at points and every time a tourist trolley went past it was tempting to  get on.  After walking for about two minutes I had to give myself a pep talk.  I've come extremely far and the end was in site...I knew I could do it but it was certainly hard to muster some extra inner strength when my legs didn't seem to want to do what my brain was telling them to.  At another point it was kind of like running fartlek's in the sense of "make it to that tree ok now to the saltwater pool" etc. (though I assure you no sprinting was being done at that point!)  Also, I think going from 24k one week to 30k is a pretty big leap and quite the accomplishment no matter how long it takes.

In terms of on-the-run nutrition and hydration I didn't managing that well today.  I brought along with me one gel and a pack of Sharkies.  I forgot to take the gel until over an hour into it and hated the flavour.  So I couldn't force myself to finish it even and didn't remember I had the Sharkies.  I had probably the equivalent of maybe 350mL of Gatorade and 500mL of water through the entire run.   At one stop I was able to get another gel and ate about half of that.  I did run out of liquid for maybe the last 8k or so which was a bit tough to deal with.

After the run I forced myself to eat a Clif protein bar and drink a bottle of water.  I wasn't hungry but I knew that I needed to replenish nutrients to help aide in muscle recovery.  I think I consumed around 500 cals with the gel, Gatorade, and energy bar.  I still only ate about 500 more cals today but I just don't feel hungry and had to force that still.  Which is not good considering I burned probably around 1,300 from the run anyway.  Does anyone have suggestions for this? (I know, lame that I am asking a nutrition question, haha.)

This post is really long as is so I think I will just end it here!  All in all it was an amazing run!!!

Wednesday I went to the Nike Runner's Lounge (NRL) for the first time in a few weeks.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day, sunny, not humid, and hot out at 32 degrees!  Three of us did hill repeats; it was a good yet hard workout.  We did a light run from Coal Harbour up pipeline to the long hill in Stanley Park.  There's a definite incline but it's pretty steady.

There was another huge running group (I'm thinking from the Running Room) of about twenty people also doing hill repeats.  I like how only other runners can understand things like hill repeats, haha.  The few tourists that passed by were looking at us all as if we were crazy.  For the first time in a while my lungs hurt and though that's not a pleasant feeling it was welcomed if that makes any sense.

After "we ate that hill for breakfast" (as one of the team members says) we did a light run around Beaver Lake and then headed back toward Coal Harbour and stopped at one of the bridges (kind of near the rowing club) and did a few more hill repeats there.  That seemed easier because even though it was much steeper the length was a lot shorter.  Then we took it easy when running back to the NRL.  I walked past it for a cool down and stretched some.  It was a great day!

Thursday I did some weight training so that was good...not much else to report on that.

Yesterday I went to the NRL again...and I had forgotten that they are closed on Fridays.  RAWR!!! Which I was really disappointed in because I was looking forward to my run.  The funny thing is that I was thinking about doing 1200's at the gym's track but decided I'd go for a trail run instead.  So I figured I'd throw my gym bag in a bush and go for a run anyway but I was too worried someone would take it so I just ended up taking a long walk around Lost Lagoon, Second Beach and then all the way up to downtown.  Because of a bad car crash on the Lion's Gate Bridge transit and traffic was at a stand still for over two hours so walking was probably faster anyway.  When I got home I did some pilates.

I think my brain went on holidays today! So I wasn't feeling any pain in my shins while walking and when putting pressure on them they still didn't hurt.  So I thought I would try out an easy run being that it was an incredibly beautiful day.  So I went to the Nike Runner's Lounge (to which I will now abbreviate as the NRL) and headed off.

I warmed up really well by walking for ten minutes and then once I got to Lost Lagoon I started to run (figured it would be best to avoid pavement right now.)  I was going at a pretty decent pace; kicked it up because my Dr. said the faster you go the better it is on the shins.  Then around ten minutes after running I could feel a dull ache in my left shin, right where the worst one was.  So I walked and then stopped at a bench to stretch my calves and shins.  Then I walked some more. 

At this point I was on a trail in Stanley Park that not many tourists venture into. It was very quiet and thanks to all that rain last week the smell of the leaves and soil were more apparent than usual.  I love how the massive trees create a canopy overhead and the sunlight trickles through in spots.  My leg was feeling better and I thought maybe the walking and stretching had helped.  So I went full speed but only for about two minutes because the dull ache returned.  It is not bad and normally something I would have run through; I just wanted to stop at any sign of discomfort because I believe that means it isn't fully healed yet and I'd rather not risk further complications.

So instead of turning around I walked a bit farther into the forest and laid down on one of the massive tree stumps.  It was very meditative and relaxing to let my thoughts go and just be.  I usually get into that state while running and was happy that despite the run wasn't as much of one as I hoped that I could still release my stressful thoughts.

Then on the way back I sprinted once I was at the seawall through the throngs of tourists back to the NRL.

These are the reasons I was scatterbrained today:
- It was 27C out, even with the shade I should have still brought some water or Gatorade with me. IDIOT. Don't do that again!
- I've been stressed the past couple of days. My caloric intake for the day has been a meager 617 calories (including a post run gatorade) It seems that I have turned into one of those people who don't eat when stressed (I used to be opposite.) This is NO good. Both are bad habits and I need to pay attention more to this.  Passing out = not good.
- I brought my camera with me to the NRL so that I'd be able to take some pictures along the trails.  I forgot to use it.

Random:
- The Propel water grape flavour reminds me of the grape medicine you used to get as a kid. Gross. It was free though so I drank it haha.

Running for cancer research

Wow, I need a haircut, haha :P

So today while running I decided that I need to give myself more credit.  I've always been the type to push myself harder and harder and have never taken compliments well.  I've come extremely far in terms of personal growth but it is always still hard for me to take positive comments from others.  It's not that I don't think I deserve them - it's just that I'm always striving for perfection.

As I was running I got into a "my calves are tight..I can't run fast enough and we're supposed to be doing a speed workout" thought cycle.  So I decided I would just go at the fastest pace I could for the day.  Because that's what training is...you'll have some great days, good days and other ones won't be so hot but they all prepare you to run your race well.  So I just started to enjoy the run :)

At my second speed lap a guy walking in the opposite direction exclaimed, "now THAT is commitment, way to go!!!" and gestured to my hand.  I laughed and said thanks as I ran past but then it hit me...I am running injured.  I have my hand all wrapped up in gauze, a splint, tensor, tape, etc. and I've been running with it above my heart (to reduce swelling and jarring) for the past week.  So yes, I may not have had the best run today but I still got out there and did it.  Previously I've dismissed my broken hand because it's not a leg, ankle, knee...you know - a body part that takes the immediate pounding.  Also, I shrugged it off as no big deal because my broken hand compares like nothing to those going through chemo but I am running for them, I'm running for myself, I'm running for the sake of running.  I'm still going and trying my hardest so I think this was why I was able to run my fastest lap for the last one and then back to the runner's lounge at a decent pace...I finally gave myself some credit that I deserved.

Perhaps running is my perfect imperfection.

I love that I am a runner.  I love that I am training for a marathon.  I love that I am helping others while training.  I'm PROUD of myself and how far I've come thus far.

!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!

Running for cancer research