Long Runs

As usual Saturday was family day (our weekly family day not the Stat holiday) and so I took it as a rest day from running. Although "rest" is a bit misleading. There was skating, gymnastics, groceries, kids haircuts, snow fort building, and then my brother-in-laws birthday dinner at The Keg. I had worked hard all week with the intention of indulging at the restaurant. Unfortunately dinner was terrible! Like bordering on inedible...so disappointing. It also arrived 90 minutes after we got there so in the meantime I drank two keg-sized bellinis and demolished the majority of a loaf of table bread...mmm

 Instead of hanging around for cake we decided to hit up DQ on the way home. Dinner was a bust but I figured this new treasure I found wouldnt let me down... This thing might literally be the death of me. I only order a mini which comes in at a meager 6oz. Less than 1 cup in total and costs over $5 dollars and has 520 calories. Ridiculous right...? Ridiculously freaking delicious! This might top Nutella in the Jess's kryptonite department.  I live, work and run right by one of these stores...this could get dicey :)

Sunday I woke up and headed out for my long run. The plan was to do 2.5miles warm up, 10 intervals of 0.25M fast with 0.75M recovery, 2.5miles cool down. I brought one running gel with me to split and eat half at 5miles and the other half at 10miles (GU- chocolate peanut butter- my current favourite!). Normally I might pack 2 for a 15 mile run, but that Blizzard and Keg meal was still fresh in my mind...and body!! I wasnt sure how it was going to go because last time I tried to do a similar run with 8 intervals of the same I was too tired to do the last one. 

The run went really well though. There's something to be said for a well fueled body! I had some good tunes and just kinda zoned out. The intervals are short enough to go really hard, but still be manageable. I maintained a sub-7mins/mile average for all 10 which I was pleased with. 

Sunday night the kids stayed at my dads so I had the chance to get out for a second long run on Monday morning.  I love bonus long runs! I ended up waking up at freaking 5:05am though!! I have zero ability to sleep in...

I was sitting on the couch googling when sunrise was to figure out how long I had to wait before I could head out! I planned to go to Westwood Lake for 8am and knew I would have about 2hrs before I had to go pick the kids back up. It was pretty cold out and I couldnt find my running gloves so I borrowed Tegan's #LOVE mittens.  They were so cute and made me smile every time I looked down at them :)

I hate being cold and it was -2 still. I knew I wasnt going to run for speed so I put on a lot of layers. I packed a caramel machiato GU and hit the road.  

I got to the lake and the trails were completely covered in compacted snow and pretty icy. I was able to jog a lot of it, but some of the steeper bits I had to stop and walk. It was actually pretty nice though. I set my RunMeter App to run for 2 hrs and just went out without a care as to how fast I was going, which is so unlike me :) It was liberating and fun!

 I stopped often to take pictures, but it was hard to capture how beautiful it was.  The sun was rising on the frozen lake and looked amazing. I loved the brightness and enjoyed the sun shining down on me and warming me up. It was so different from the past few weeks and gave such a feeling of optimism!

Up on the lookout...I dont know quite what it is but this place makes me so happy. 

Maybe its cheesy, but I think it's good for my soul :)

I ended up getting almost 9 miles in which was nice for a bonus run. But it was more about getting out and enjoying the beautiful morning. 

I also did my weekly weigh in this week and came in at 135.6. I feel pretty good about that. Closing in on my happy place of 134 and below :) Just gotta keep up the running and pick my indulgences carefully.