ah, nothing like the end of the month to try to put out a great effort. 9k yesterday and 25k today. was hoping to do 7.2k more than that so i could make it a 400k month. but oh well.392.8 is pretty darn good conidering i could barely move for the first week!
yesterday was a bunch of short runs. today featured a near 4 hour workout that included a run, a swim then a long run.. same familiar routes. with the same brief intermissions to visit all my favourite ponds and lakes, and yes the ducks, seagulls, pigeons, and the goose were all very happy to see me.
i also managed a 1k swim yesterday and a 2.5k swim today.. as well as taking some time to watch some varsity volleyball and basketball.
well, only 28 days in feb. gonna get a head start on km with another long run tomorrow!
Jenn
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
January 28 & 29, 2009 - policy approved!
as previously discussed, in July 2009, i plan to participate in the World Outgames. The games organizers have accepted my policy amendment proposal to create a 3rd gender category for athletes who are 'in transition'. The policy was formally communicated on their January newsletter, which also includes a brief story specifically about me!
it can be viewed here: http://link.etyper.com/r/webversion.asp?TId=44827762288
i ran 11.4k yesterday but only 1.4k today due to snow conditions. i did get in really nice swims as well. 3.5k yesterday and 2.2k today. felt really strong throughout both swims. hopefully they will get the snow shoveled so there will be pavement to run on tomorrow!
Jennifer
it can be viewed here: http://link.etyper.com/r/webversion.asp?TId=44827762288
i ran 11.4k yesterday but only 1.4k today due to snow conditions. i did get in really nice swims as well. 3.5k yesterday and 2.2k today. felt really strong throughout both swims. hopefully they will get the snow shoveled so there will be pavement to run on tomorrow!
Jennifer
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
January 27, 2009 - stats of a different kind
this has nothing to do with running, but it's a very interesting statistic. since i love stats, i figured i'd share this with the world to read:
unfortunate news came today. i found out that i was one of two candidates recommended for a Government job for which i interviewed for a while back. but the Department elected to give the job to the other candidate. this is the second time this has happened to me in the past year..
Jennifer is now 0-6 in government job interviews, including 0-4 in Newfoundland Government job interviews.
make it 0-10 if you count the 4 promotions that were handed out to colleagues in my branch, for my current place of work over the past year, for which i wasn't even given a chance to compete for.
ironically enough, my former male self boasted a lifetime record of 5-1 in government job interviews..
also of note, i was 5-1 in government job interviews before i took up marathon running. i have since gone 0-6. not sure if there's a lesson in here somewhere..
anyway, i ran 10k yesterday and 11k today. also swam 1.6k today. might go out for a little more running tonight. very icy and slippery out there. i really wish the darn city would spend a few more dollars and plough the sidewalks properly.. it's very dangerous out there. people slip and fall on a regular basis.
Jennifer
unfortunate news came today. i found out that i was one of two candidates recommended for a Government job for which i interviewed for a while back. but the Department elected to give the job to the other candidate. this is the second time this has happened to me in the past year..
Jennifer is now 0-6 in government job interviews, including 0-4 in Newfoundland Government job interviews.
make it 0-10 if you count the 4 promotions that were handed out to colleagues in my branch, for my current place of work over the past year, for which i wasn't even given a chance to compete for.
ironically enough, my former male self boasted a lifetime record of 5-1 in government job interviews..
also of note, i was 5-1 in government job interviews before i took up marathon running. i have since gone 0-6. not sure if there's a lesson in here somewhere..
anyway, i ran 10k yesterday and 11k today. also swam 1.6k today. might go out for a little more running tonight. very icy and slippery out there. i really wish the darn city would spend a few more dollars and plough the sidewalks properly.. it's very dangerous out there. people slip and fall on a regular basis.
Jennifer
Monday, January 26, 2009
January 26, 2009 - so called off day... lol
ahh, 10K and this was an off day.. lol legs were quite stiff from the weekend, so it was only a couple of trots back and forth to work and the pond. funny how i can run to work then to the pond then home, twice a day, and cover 6k! there should be no excuse to not run at least 6k every day then! i also went out for an evening run in the brutally cold windchill. nice light and easy jog but enough to get a bit of a work out.
no swim tonight. felt exhausted as i did not have a good sleep. haven't had a good sleep in a while actually. been kinda down, strangely enough. it's great that my transition and athletics are going so well, but so many other factors in life are very tough to deal with.. i've found myself having nightmares about things in my past. it reminds me of how isolated and lonely i am living way out east here.. as much as i love it here, it's not home, and probably never will be, no matter how much i want it to be some times. oh well, i may end up back in one of my old stomping grounds one of these years. who knows?
Jenn
no swim tonight. felt exhausted as i did not have a good sleep. haven't had a good sleep in a while actually. been kinda down, strangely enough. it's great that my transition and athletics are going so well, but so many other factors in life are very tough to deal with.. i've found myself having nightmares about things in my past. it reminds me of how isolated and lonely i am living way out east here.. as much as i love it here, it's not home, and probably never will be, no matter how much i want it to be some times. oh well, i may end up back in one of my old stomping grounds one of these years. who knows?
Jenn
Sunday, January 25, 2009
January 25, 2009 - Back 2 Back, well not quite!
well, yesterday it was 51K of running. today, it was sore knees in the morning, but i soldiered on and went out for another long run and swim to boot! 22k more of running, plus a very strong 3k swim. not technically a double marathon, but certainly the equivalent of such. 9 hours of serious endurance training in a span of 31 hours. not too bad for a comeback! if the weather wasn't so brutal, i'd still be out there running more!
what has become a weekly tradition for me on sundays this year, was another trip down to Quidi Vidi Lake to visit the many feathered friends that call this area home, including Barry the Goose! there was an older lady at the lake today, and she had thus huge plastic bag of bird seed, it must have been at least 10 pounds! ...and while she was distracted by a few of the duckies, Barry stuck his head right into the opening of the bag and munched on the seeds.. it was so funny! wish i had my camera for that! then shortly after, he wattled over to where i was and took a piece of bread out of my hand, then went back for a swim on the near frozen water..
running in the cold windy winters here can be quite the challenge, but visiting the animals certainly makes it worth it. they totally make my day!
well, after 73K of running this weekend, the legs are ready for a rest.. i think i will focus on swimming the next few days.. but wow, what a great confidence booster for me!
the other big news was my e-interview for the World Out Games website. they are going to do a featured story on me for their newsletter that will coincide with the release of their new policy that i helped write, a policy that will allow transsexual athletes who are 'in transition' to participate in the athletic event without having to be assigned to a male or female sex category..
i haven't officially registered for the games nor bought my plane tickets yet, but i will likely do this as soon as the policy becomes official. as many readers know, i no longer desire to be labeled as a 'male' but most athletic sanctioning bodies are unwilling to recognize me as a female as of yet until i meet the IOC's (International Olympic Committee) protocol. this new policy isn't perfect, but it is an interim solution that will allow me to participate (although not technically be eligible for sex category awards) with a label of 'not male.'
in addition to the marathon, which takes place on July 26, i am giving consideration to participating in their longest swimming event, the 1500m freestyle, on July 27. i am by no means a great swimmer, but in an endurance event, (not that 1500 is endurance, but it's the longest race they have) i feel i could at least post a respectable time. it would be quite a feat for me to register and complete a marathon and then a swim the very next day.
after this weekend's training, my confidence levels have skyrocketed. i have no idea how much weaker 6 more months of estrogen will make me, but if i can counter it by raising my health and fitness levels up a few notches, who knows how great i could be come July? it's definitely something to work hard for. i wrote the sports director and asked about swimming benchmarks. i don't want to swim unless i know there will be others out there at my level. the last thing i want is to become the next Eddie the Eagle Edwards, and go down in history as the worst swimmer in World Out Games history.. lol i've also written and asked about gender neutral change rooms for the swim facility. it will be interesting to see if they have thought of that issue yet or not!
wow, long post.. i'm in a talkative mood tonight!
Jennifer
what has become a weekly tradition for me on sundays this year, was another trip down to Quidi Vidi Lake to visit the many feathered friends that call this area home, including Barry the Goose! there was an older lady at the lake today, and she had thus huge plastic bag of bird seed, it must have been at least 10 pounds! ...and while she was distracted by a few of the duckies, Barry stuck his head right into the opening of the bag and munched on the seeds.. it was so funny! wish i had my camera for that! then shortly after, he wattled over to where i was and took a piece of bread out of my hand, then went back for a swim on the near frozen water..
running in the cold windy winters here can be quite the challenge, but visiting the animals certainly makes it worth it. they totally make my day!
well, after 73K of running this weekend, the legs are ready for a rest.. i think i will focus on swimming the next few days.. but wow, what a great confidence booster for me!
the other big news was my e-interview for the World Out Games website. they are going to do a featured story on me for their newsletter that will coincide with the release of their new policy that i helped write, a policy that will allow transsexual athletes who are 'in transition' to participate in the athletic event without having to be assigned to a male or female sex category..
i haven't officially registered for the games nor bought my plane tickets yet, but i will likely do this as soon as the policy becomes official. as many readers know, i no longer desire to be labeled as a 'male' but most athletic sanctioning bodies are unwilling to recognize me as a female as of yet until i meet the IOC's (International Olympic Committee) protocol. this new policy isn't perfect, but it is an interim solution that will allow me to participate (although not technically be eligible for sex category awards) with a label of 'not male.'
in addition to the marathon, which takes place on July 26, i am giving consideration to participating in their longest swimming event, the 1500m freestyle, on July 27. i am by no means a great swimmer, but in an endurance event, (not that 1500 is endurance, but it's the longest race they have) i feel i could at least post a respectable time. it would be quite a feat for me to register and complete a marathon and then a swim the very next day.
after this weekend's training, my confidence levels have skyrocketed. i have no idea how much weaker 6 more months of estrogen will make me, but if i can counter it by raising my health and fitness levels up a few notches, who knows how great i could be come July? it's definitely something to work hard for. i wrote the sports director and asked about swimming benchmarks. i don't want to swim unless i know there will be others out there at my level. the last thing i want is to become the next Eddie the Eagle Edwards, and go down in history as the worst swimmer in World Out Games history.. lol i've also written and asked about gender neutral change rooms for the swim facility. it will be interesting to see if they have thought of that issue yet or not!
wow, long post.. i'm in a talkative mood tonight!
Jennifer
Saturday, January 24, 2009
January 24, 2009 - update
as anticipated, i went back out after dinner for more. another 8.8k in 66.14. slow and easy. knees a bit sore but not too bad. had a nasty spill on the ice but nothing major.
51K in total today! wow!
Jenn
51K in total today! wow!
Jenn
January 24, 2009 - Marathon!!!
yikes, what a messy day for a run here. the temp fluctuated between -2 and +3. so i got it all, wind, rain, snow, ice pellets, slush, puddles.. totally soaked by the end of it.. i think my running gear weighted over 5 pounds with all that water in it!
well, i decided it was time to put an official stamp on my unofficial return from surgery recovery by doing a 42.2k training run today.. and the run went very very well. i faded a little bit around the 30k mark, so i took a 10 minute break and munched down a couple of power bars and a bottle of boost, and some gatorade, and that gave me what i needed to get back out there and finish up strong! (yikes, i think i consumed over 1000 calories in one shot there! but it worked!)
this marks a new beginning. i went at a reasonably slow pace, but as fast as i felt i could.
my quarter splits were 1.02 1.05 1.10 & 1.16 (not including break time), and that's a run through sidewalks covered with snow and ice! i slowed down a bit, as i usually do in the second halfs, but overall, i felt much stronger towards the end than i expected.
i had plenty in the tank to spare at the end, and the legs feel pretty good. no reason i couldn't go back out there tomorrow and do it all again! in fact, i just might!
i celebrated by having a nice bubble bath. really relaxing.. and now it's time for pizza.. and after that, i just might head back out there for a run over to see the duckies. why not make it an ultra day?
Jennifer
well, i decided it was time to put an official stamp on my unofficial return from surgery recovery by doing a 42.2k training run today.. and the run went very very well. i faded a little bit around the 30k mark, so i took a 10 minute break and munched down a couple of power bars and a bottle of boost, and some gatorade, and that gave me what i needed to get back out there and finish up strong! (yikes, i think i consumed over 1000 calories in one shot there! but it worked!)
this marks a new beginning. i went at a reasonably slow pace, but as fast as i felt i could.
my quarter splits were 1.02 1.05 1.10 & 1.16 (not including break time), and that's a run through sidewalks covered with snow and ice! i slowed down a bit, as i usually do in the second halfs, but overall, i felt much stronger towards the end than i expected.
i had plenty in the tank to spare at the end, and the legs feel pretty good. no reason i couldn't go back out there tomorrow and do it all again! in fact, i just might!
i celebrated by having a nice bubble bath. really relaxing.. and now it's time for pizza.. and after that, i just might head back out there for a run over to see the duckies. why not make it an ultra day?
Jennifer
Friday, January 23, 2009
January 23, 2009 - International Star?
big day for me. i completed an e-interview with the World Out Games (copenhagen2009.org)
for a featured article that will be about me for their newsletter. this newsletter will coincide with the announcement of their new policy for creating a 3rd gender category for athletes (transsexuals or others) who for one reason or another, do not identify as or do not fit the official criteria for competing as a male or female. this is something i am really excited about.
the weather today was tough for running. freezing and mega windy. i managed to get in 5.4k. it is due to warm up a bit tomorrow so i hope to get in a long run. thinking of trying my first 42.2k training run of the year.
i broke my goggles the other day, or actually, they just fell apart. will have to buy a new pair at the pool. probably will go for a longer swim tomorrow and/or sunday.
Jenn
for a featured article that will be about me for their newsletter. this newsletter will coincide with the announcement of their new policy for creating a 3rd gender category for athletes (transsexuals or others) who for one reason or another, do not identify as or do not fit the official criteria for competing as a male or female. this is something i am really excited about.
the weather today was tough for running. freezing and mega windy. i managed to get in 5.4k. it is due to warm up a bit tomorrow so i hope to get in a long run. thinking of trying my first 42.2k training run of the year.
i broke my goggles the other day, or actually, they just fell apart. will have to buy a new pair at the pool. probably will go for a longer swim tomorrow and/or sunday.
Jenn
January 22, 2009 - sad day
one of my dad's best friends is apparently on his last legs of life. really sad. you just never know when your time is up. never take life for granted...
13K for me, including a run to the dentist, which was a routine check up.
gonna try to make it 13k minimum for a while and see how it goes.. likely run longer on weekend days. no swim today but will swim tomorrow..
Jenn
13K for me, including a run to the dentist, which was a routine check up.
gonna try to make it 13k minimum for a while and see how it goes.. likely run longer on weekend days. no swim today but will swim tomorrow..
Jenn
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
January 21, 2009 - Back in the Groove!
3 days in a row with a decent swim and over 10k of running. 13k today to be exact and a 2.5k swim. i'm starting to get a handle on what my strength and endurance levels are like. i've come to accept that i am literally starting over here with a clean slate. anything i did in 2008 is ancient history. a new year with new challenges. marathon running and swimming won't be the same, but it will be a great challenge to see how good i can get in this post-op era.
i've got 3 marathons to run in 3 different states/provinces an 8 day period in april, so i've definitely got something to train for. something that will get me to a level 5 with the infamous marathonmaniacs.com critera, something that i use as a guide to plan my next mega-endurance challenges! three gender categories, not to mention: male in Boston, female in Waterloo, and 'unclassified' in Charlottesville.
hoping to make this 10k or more per day, a habit. and hoping to get over to the pool 7 days a week starting on sunday.. let's see if i can get a swimming streak going, as well as a streak of 10k running per day or more!
Jennifer
i've got 3 marathons to run in 3 different states/provinces an 8 day period in april, so i've definitely got something to train for. something that will get me to a level 5 with the infamous marathonmaniacs.com critera, something that i use as a guide to plan my next mega-endurance challenges! three gender categories, not to mention: male in Boston, female in Waterloo, and 'unclassified' in Charlottesville.
hoping to make this 10k or more per day, a habit. and hoping to get over to the pool 7 days a week starting on sunday.. let's see if i can get a swimming streak going, as well as a streak of 10k running per day or more!
Jennifer
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
January 20, 2009 - Interesting Stats
Hmmm, the Association for Road Running Statisticians have erroneously credited me with 2 marathon wins in the female category for 2008.
http://www.arrs.net/MaraList/ML_2008.htm
not exactly sure where they got this info from. the official race websites indicate that i ran the races in the male category. oh well, guess it goes to show that you can't always believe everything you read on the internet.. lol
anyway, another nice day for me. 11.7k of running and 1.6k swim. great to be running and swimming again on a regular basis. time to slowly work myself back into shape and try to tackle some mega goals!
Jennifer
http://www.arrs.net/MaraList/ML_2008.htm
not exactly sure where they got this info from. the official race websites indicate that i ran the races in the male category. oh well, guess it goes to show that you can't always believe everything you read on the internet.. lol
anyway, another nice day for me. 11.7k of running and 1.6k swim. great to be running and swimming again on a regular basis. time to slowly work myself back into shape and try to tackle some mega goals!
Jennifer
Monday, January 19, 2009
January 19, 2009 - Swimming Again!!!! :)
well, the cold is almost better and the wound has essentially healed up, so it was finally time to hit the pool again. it was a 39 day break between my last swim so it was a very emotional return for me. i took it slow and easy at first but quickly realized that i had energy! i swam fairly strongly for 37 minutes non-stop. the arms were a little rusty, so i didn't want to over do it. i'll definitely be back in the pool tomorrow!
also ran 11k today. 4 separate short runs. including runs to the pond and to the pool.
definitely a good start to the week!
Jennifer
also ran 11k today. 4 separate short runs. including runs to the pond and to the pool.
definitely a good start to the week!
Jennifer
Sunday, January 18, 2009
January 18, 2009 - Still Sick but good enough to run!
30K in fact! but i still felt weak this morning, even after a 16 hour sleep! i forced myself out for a 12k run in the morning, then a quick refuel for lunch then back out for another 13k. i really felt awful out there but managed to struggle thru it. i felt a little better than yesterday. got down to the lake and saw my bird friends and had some bread breaks.. then got out for a couple of short evening runs to top off the day.
even after a long day with several hours out in the -12 degrees winter, my energy levels actually feel good. i'm quite confident that when i shake this cold and get fully recovered from the surgery, i will be ready to take my running back up to where it was last year in terms of distance and endurance. the speed is really going to be the interesting learning curve.. with 3 marathons in 8 days to plan for in april, i'll have to get myself in a position where i know what to expect.
tons of snow in the forecast this week, should make it interesting running conditions. but at least it will be slightly warmer.. as in zero degrees C warm.. lol
Jennifer
even after a long day with several hours out in the -12 degrees winter, my energy levels actually feel good. i'm quite confident that when i shake this cold and get fully recovered from the surgery, i will be ready to take my running back up to where it was last year in terms of distance and endurance. the speed is really going to be the interesting learning curve.. with 3 marathons in 8 days to plan for in april, i'll have to get myself in a position where i know what to expect.
tons of snow in the forecast this week, should make it interesting running conditions. but at least it will be slightly warmer.. as in zero degrees C warm.. lol
Jennifer
January 17, 2009 - long run and long nap
well, i ventured out into cold windy snowy atmosphere yesterday and ran for about 2 hours. 17K in total. it felt pretty good. then i took a nice bath and then sat down for what was supposed to be a nap, but i ended up sleeping right into the night! guess the run took more out of me than i had thought. oh well, 16 hours of sleep later, and it's now Jan 18, and i am ready to start my day!
Jenn
Jenn
Saturday, January 17, 2009
January 16, 2009 - Sick
haven't been feeling very well the past few days. only 1.5k run over 3 days.. i've been lucky enough to just have enough energy to make it into work. everyone seems to be sick there!
oh well, feeling better now so hoping for a great weekend of running!
Jennifer
oh well, feeling better now so hoping for a great weekend of running!
Jennifer
Thursday, January 15, 2009
January 15, 2009 - 3 marathons, 3 gender categories!
ok, the title isn't quite as catchy as last year's infamous "2 days 2 countries 2 marathons", but i am pleased to announce that this year, it will be 3 marathons in 3 states/provinces in 3 gender categories! (in 8 days).
One of my 2009 goals was for the Boston Marathon to be my last ever in the male category, and with that in mind, i have aggressively pursued acceptance into either female or 'other' categories by race directors, so i may continue to run during my transition while being labeled in a way that is dignified, and it is now official, in addition to running Boston on April 20 (as male), i will run Charlottesville, Virginia on April 18 (as unclassified) and Waterloo Ontario on April 26 (as female). it's going to be a stressful, yet exciting challenge to prepare for.
I ran 10 marathon training runs in 17 days back in August/08, and that almost killed me.. lol ..and that was pre-hormones and pre-op. so i am expecting this to be much tougher. it won't be a question of if, but a question of how slow and easy will i have to go to ensure i have enough strength and endurance to complete all three runs.
i am very close to being fully recovered from my surgery so i will begin to take my training back up a level or two in the near future.
It's nice to see 2009 off to a good start!
Jennifer
One of my 2009 goals was for the Boston Marathon to be my last ever in the male category, and with that in mind, i have aggressively pursued acceptance into either female or 'other' categories by race directors, so i may continue to run during my transition while being labeled in a way that is dignified, and it is now official, in addition to running Boston on April 20 (as male), i will run Charlottesville, Virginia on April 18 (as unclassified) and Waterloo Ontario on April 26 (as female). it's going to be a stressful, yet exciting challenge to prepare for.
I ran 10 marathon training runs in 17 days back in August/08, and that almost killed me.. lol ..and that was pre-hormones and pre-op. so i am expecting this to be much tougher. it won't be a question of if, but a question of how slow and easy will i have to go to ensure i have enough strength and endurance to complete all three runs.
i am very close to being fully recovered from my surgery so i will begin to take my training back up a level or two in the near future.
It's nice to see 2009 off to a good start!
Jennifer
January 14, 2009 - off day
major snow storm here today. and i was literally stuck in the office all day too. didn't get out for a run at all. oh well, maybe tomorrow!
Jennifer
Jennifer
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
January 13, 2009 - brief update
ran 13K today. several short runs, sorta part for the course it seems! got the external stitches out of my wound today. there are apparently some internal ones that will stay in there indefinitely..
running went well. there is still swelling in terms of scar tissue that is still a bit uncomfortable. this will be an issue for another 4-6 weeks apparently.
Jennifer
running went well. there is still swelling in terms of scar tissue that is still a bit uncomfortable. this will be an issue for another 4-6 weeks apparently.
Jennifer
Monday, January 12, 2009
January 12, 2009 - Busy Work Day
well, i was literally running around the confederation complex area today from one building to another to get to all my meetings. also managed a run to the pond and back to the office in my abbreviated lunch break. about 4.5k in total, all run in winter boots due to the foot of snow we had here last night.. lol also spent about 30 minute shoveling snow today, so a nice overall work out.
i came home and took a double dose of my antibiotics and it essentially knocked me out for a few hours, so i canceled my evening run.
off to see the doc again tomorrow to hopefully have my stitches removed. the wound has really healed up over the past few days so that has been a good relief..
Jenn
i came home and took a double dose of my antibiotics and it essentially knocked me out for a few hours, so i canceled my evening run.
off to see the doc again tomorrow to hopefully have my stitches removed. the wound has really healed up over the past few days so that has been a good relief..
Jenn
Sunday, January 11, 2009
January 11, 2009 - another city tour!
just got back from a 19.2k afternoon run in the cold sunny wind. at least it's not raining or snowing. much like yesterday, i took a few short breaks to throw bread at the duckies. wanted to run further but felt a little pain and swelling in my injured area, so i decided to walk the rest in. i'm fine now and feeling good. i think the past week has really been good as i have started to build back some strength and endurance after being essentially out of commission for a few weeks there. the wound appears to be closed up now. no blood or puss all day.
i ran almost the same course as yesterday but i took the trail instead of the roads to get down to the lake. always fun to see the duckies and the infamous Barry the Goose down at Quidi Vidi Lake.
back home for a rest now but may go back out there tonight. watching some NFL football right now. hard to believe all favourites have lost so far!
Jennifer
i ran almost the same course as yesterday but i took the trail instead of the roads to get down to the lake. always fun to see the duckies and the infamous Barry the Goose down at Quidi Vidi Lake.
back home for a rest now but may go back out there tonight. watching some NFL football right now. hard to believe all favourites have lost so far!
Jennifer
Saturday, January 10, 2009
January 10, 2009 - City Tour
well, it was a lazy start to the day. i slept in fairly late and lounged around the house all morning. finally got out around 1 pm for a run. wasn't really sure where i would run or how far i would go. i ended up running all over the city! stopping for breaks at a total of 4 ponds and lakes to visit with duckies, pigeons, and other feathered friends! i covered a total of 18k, which took me about 140 minutes of running, over a total time of about 220 minutes. i suppose you could call it a really slow long distance run.. i was completely exhausted by the end of it. but it was nice to know that i could at least get thru that much without any pain from my wound.
i feel pretty good tonight and hope to get outside again tomorrow for another run of this type.
Jennifer
i feel pretty good tonight and hope to get outside again tomorrow for another run of this type.
Jennifer
January 9, 2009 - set backs
well, the doctor decided that the wound hasn't healed up enough yet to warrant removal of the stitches. there's also a trace of infection going on there, so it's gonna be another few more days with stitches and some powerful anti-biotics, that will practically knock me out.. oh what fun.. lol
quite the emotional day overall. i took a drive up to both topsail and middle cove beaches, my fav summer spots. being there really brought back summer memories from 2007-08, both of my enjoyable times swimming and sun tanning, as well as the many runs to and from these beaches. i can only wonder how much more challenging it will be in 2009 to pack a 20 pound back pack and make the 40k run to and from topsail for the day.
it was also my 8th trip to the laser place to have my face lasered. i seem to have lost about 85% of my facial hair, which is great. but it also appears that the laser is not going to get it all, so i may be faced with several more dollars and hours to have this resolved via electrolysis.
i also had a long chat with my new boss at work. things have been quite challenging at work as both me and my colleagues deal with the struggles of getting used to my ever-evolving physical and emotional personna. the social learning curve of becoming Jennifer has definitely not been easy, and i know that we are all struggling with it.
i went out for a gentle 5k run tonight. i still plan to run every day as i continue to battle this infection, but i till be more gentle and careful to ensure i don't jolt the wound and risk opening it up.
looks like a cold and snowy weekend ahead. not quite sure what it will bring. hoping to get out for some short runs, and perhaps get over to the unviersity to watch the women's volleyball game. and definitely spend some time glued to the tv for NFL playoff Quarterfinal weekend! i smell some big upsets coming this way!
Jennifer
quite the emotional day overall. i took a drive up to both topsail and middle cove beaches, my fav summer spots. being there really brought back summer memories from 2007-08, both of my enjoyable times swimming and sun tanning, as well as the many runs to and from these beaches. i can only wonder how much more challenging it will be in 2009 to pack a 20 pound back pack and make the 40k run to and from topsail for the day.
it was also my 8th trip to the laser place to have my face lasered. i seem to have lost about 85% of my facial hair, which is great. but it also appears that the laser is not going to get it all, so i may be faced with several more dollars and hours to have this resolved via electrolysis.
i also had a long chat with my new boss at work. things have been quite challenging at work as both me and my colleagues deal with the struggles of getting used to my ever-evolving physical and emotional personna. the social learning curve of becoming Jennifer has definitely not been easy, and i know that we are all struggling with it.
i went out for a gentle 5k run tonight. i still plan to run every day as i continue to battle this infection, but i till be more gentle and careful to ensure i don't jolt the wound and risk opening it up.
looks like a cold and snowy weekend ahead. not quite sure what it will bring. hoping to get out for some short runs, and perhaps get over to the unviersity to watch the women's volleyball game. and definitely spend some time glued to the tv for NFL playoff Quarterfinal weekend! i smell some big upsets coming this way!
Jennifer
Thursday, January 8, 2009
January 8, 2009 - finally getting back in the groove!
hehe, i've begun to realize that visiting the duckies has become just as much of an important part of my life as running. i seem to be over at the pond at least twice a day lately.. it's really exciting that they seem to recognize me now. they have finally reached a comfort level where they eat bread right out of my hand and even let me hold them!
anyway, onto the running at hand. quite a busy day. 4k run to the doctors office this morning, then a series of short runs throughout the day. then a 10k run at night. 20k in total today!
i see my family doc tomorrow to get my stitches removed and i am hoping to get the all clear to proceed with running faster and harder. i am really going to take things seriously over the next few months to get as much weight off as possible and so i can enter the spring capable of taking on some major endurance challenges (thinking about trying to run 3 or even 4 marathons over 9 days)
hmm, we have a real problem here in the city of St. John's. the city doesn't feel the need to clear snow and ice off sidewalks. i had a nasty spill while running today and hyperextended yet another finger. i think i am going to follow up with legal authorities to find out what sort of obligations this city has in terms of keeping their sidewalks safe. sadly, it might take some law suits before the city takes snow clearing to a level of seriousness that i feel is needed.
gee, i'm quite talkative today.. lol
Jennifer
anyway, onto the running at hand. quite a busy day. 4k run to the doctors office this morning, then a series of short runs throughout the day. then a 10k run at night. 20k in total today!
i see my family doc tomorrow to get my stitches removed and i am hoping to get the all clear to proceed with running faster and harder. i am really going to take things seriously over the next few months to get as much weight off as possible and so i can enter the spring capable of taking on some major endurance challenges (thinking about trying to run 3 or even 4 marathons over 9 days)
hmm, we have a real problem here in the city of St. John's. the city doesn't feel the need to clear snow and ice off sidewalks. i had a nasty spill while running today and hyperextended yet another finger. i think i am going to follow up with legal authorities to find out what sort of obligations this city has in terms of keeping their sidewalks safe. sadly, it might take some law suits before the city takes snow clearing to a level of seriousness that i feel is needed.
gee, i'm quite talkative today.. lol
Jennifer
January 7, 2009 - no title.. lol
a couple of runs to and from work today.. 4.8k. i am running at a slightly faster pace. the wound has pretty much sealed up so i can start to run more aggresively without the fear of causing more blood. there's still some swelling so i have to still be careful.
hoping to get in a fairly long run this weekend in the 20-25k range at a fairly slow pace.. should be very interesting to see how my endurance is..
Jennifer
hoping to get in a fairly long run this weekend in the 20-25k range at a fairly slow pace.. should be very interesting to see how my endurance is..
Jennifer
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
January 6, 2009 - day off
well it was cold, snowy, and very windy out tonight. i was planning to go for an evening run but never made it out the door.. lol too busy getting caught up on e-mails. oh well, a day off now and then doesn't hurt!
Jennifer
Jennifer
Monday, January 5, 2009
January 5, 2009 - double digits in one shot!
first non-stop 10k run since the surgery tonight. slow and easy, but at a consistent pace. felt great. even after all this time, the upper left knee still feels a bit sore. i'm convinced there's a minor stress fracture in there.. anyway, i'm going to try to do 10k every day this week, then hopefully pick it up a notch or two beyond that.. it's still only been 19 days since the surgery and the wound is still not 100% sealed up. hopefully that will improve this week and i will get the go-ahead to remove the stitches and get back into the swimming pool next week.
Jenn
Jenn
January 4, 2009 - series of short runs
well, i couldn't get enough of the outdoors today. three separate runs over to the pond to visit the ducks. two of which i ran a couple of laps. slow and easy but productive runs. 14.2k in total!
Jennifer
Jennifer
Saturday, January 3, 2009
January 3, 2009 - long walk last night
well, i managed to sneak in about 2.6k of running at lunch yesterday then ended up having a nice long walk in the evening. probably around 8k! including a trip to the lake where a wild goose came up to me and ate bread right out of my hand, how cool! then it was home for a long sleep, 14 hours in total! it's been a long, tiring, emotional, and exhausting holiday season for me. hoping to get out for a short run today after i munch down breakfast!
Jenn
Jenn
Friday, January 2, 2009
January 1, 2009 - off to a slushy start!
well, with Penn State ahead 31-7 at the half, i decided it was safe to abandon the Rose Bowl and go out for a run in the cold wet slush. i managed to get myself down to the pond, did a lap around the pond, feed the duckies, then get back home. after a rest and a change of clothing, i went back out for a few more k. totaling 7k on this first day of the year. i wasn't even going to run at all, given my excitement from the 5k yesterday. but luckily, no blood from my wound all day, so i decided it was safe to give it a go. i had feared that the wound might be getting infected, so it was a nice relief to see it sealed up.
5000K in 2009 is a lofty goal, an increase of 34% from last year (already off to a rocky start with goal setting, as annual increases are only supposed to be 10%, but if i do most of this extra running at a slow and easy pace, i should be ok.) to do this, i will have to average 100K per week, that's 10K every day for 6 days, then a full marathon on my long run on the 7th day..
again, i will be getting behind the 8-ball here as i will be running on reduced mileage for a while until my wound completely heals. oh well, i have also set goals of running 7 marathons in 7 days, as well as 3 marathons in 1 day, so if i can have these types of days, i can afford the odd reduction!
Jennifer
5000K in 2009 is a lofty goal, an increase of 34% from last year (already off to a rocky start with goal setting, as annual increases are only supposed to be 10%, but if i do most of this extra running at a slow and easy pace, i should be ok.) to do this, i will have to average 100K per week, that's 10K every day for 6 days, then a full marathon on my long run on the 7th day..
again, i will be getting behind the 8-ball here as i will be running on reduced mileage for a while until my wound completely heals. oh well, i have also set goals of running 7 marathons in 7 days, as well as 3 marathons in 1 day, so if i can have these types of days, i can afford the odd reduction!
Jennifer
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