Runner Leana

...sometimes with a little swimming and biking thrown in...

Last Long Runs Before the BMO Vancouver Half

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First up, congratulations to Kristen who won my 6th blogiversary giveaway!

Things have been going really well on the workout front lately.  It is hard to believe that the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon is next weekend already!  Last Saturday was my longest run in the training cycle – 2 hours.  I ran an out and back along the Bow River towards downtown.  Since Saturday was also when there was a big Calgary event organized to run for Boston I wore my best blue and yellow colours.

IMG 2405The weather on the run started off nicely, but about 15 minutes in the wind really started to kick up.  You could see that our weather would be changing really soon!  The run on the way back was tough and into a really strong headwind.  To my surprise I was pushing it really well as I was getting faster!  I passed the Calgary Run for Boston about 20 minutes before the event was supposed to start.  Already there were hundreds of people there!

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I only had five minutes left and running into the wind had taken a lot out of me.  I needed to hurry up, finish my run and get warm so unfortunately I didn’t run the official Calgary Run for Boston event.  But I had spent the majority of my run thinking about what happened in Boston along with how the running community across the world had really banded together to show support.

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This was a great, confidence boosting run.  A negative split with the back half of the run into crazy wind is a huge win in my book!
Because of a weird travel schedule this week I had another long run on Monday – 1:15 to 1:30 if I felt okay.  The only way for me to get the run in was to run around my neighbourhood crazy early though!  I was out the door and running by 5 am.  I figured this was a perfect excuse to try the new nuun Cherry Limeade sample I got in my April StrideBox.

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It has caffeine!  Perfect since I needed a bit of help waking up that early.  Since it was dark out when I started I donned a headlamp, my uber reflective lululemon gloves, my RoadID and my light up slap bracelet that I also got in my April StrideBox.

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My legs were feeling heavy after Saturday’s run and a big bike workout on Sunday too.  It took about 50 minutes for them to shake off the fatigue and for me to feel like they were turning over decently.  Unfortunately since I was running before work I had to call it quits at 1:15 though.  There was time for a quick shower, get dressed, and then hop in the car to head off to work.  

I knew I needed to refuel quickly and I had forgotten to grab the usual supplies for my breakfast over the weekend.  The best thing we had in the house were eggs, so my husband boiled up a couple of eggs for me that I could eat in the car with an apple and some toast.

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Normally after an early morning long run I feel pretty fatigued at work and it takes some time to shake the cobwebs from my brain.  This breakfast was awesome though!  I felt full all morning and really alert.  I may have found my new favourite breakfast.

And to help with recovery I wore my purple ProCompression socks, well hidden under boots and a maxi skirt.

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What are your favourite foods to refuel with after a hard, early morning workout?

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Comments

  2. 2

    I usually eat an apple and a small handful of nuts for breaky but eggs…I like! I might have to try eggs a few days a week. Usually after a run, I drink milk for my recovery then eat a normal lunch. Well, it all depends on when I run. Some runs are before breakfast and some are after. I’m training with my 15 yr old daughter for our first half and I’m trying to find a good balance for us. I need to go early but she needs to go later..I want to keep her interested..so we compromise a bit. I’ll be thinking of you in Vancouver!

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