Running and Taking NSAIDs? Don't!

I read an article today in The Hamilton Spectator about runners who take meds like ibuprofen and acetaminophen.  I had no idea it was so dangerous.  I've taken ibuprofen once during a run when I had knee pain.  This article definitely makes me think twice about taking it, especially for muscle soreness after a run or boot camp, since it appears to impede recovery.  Good to know.

http://www.thespec.com/living/healthfitness/article/818621--they-haven-t-got-time-for-the-pain

Fall Colours for Motivation

It is so much easier to motivate yourself to run when it is cooler out and the sun is shining onto fall colours. I ran with my husband this morning and half way through we were admiring the orange leaves against the bright blue sky when a blue jay flew in and landed in one of the trees. The colours all together were amazing!

On top of that it is closing in on the end of October and we were still running in shorts and tank tops. A crisp fall breeze kept us at the perfect temperature. I love it when the universe aligns like this. Perfect running weather makes my day.

Now I just have to keep going for the rest of the week. I am trying to stay motivated and moving as we have just signed up for a race in November and I want to finish it in one piece. I am faltering a bit with my running, but I've kept up bootcamp pretty regularly so I shouldn't be in too bad a shape.

On top of that I am hoping to run my first marathon in the spring, well, a 50k actually. May as well go for broke!

Here's to continued motivation!

Bruce Trail Run in Hamilton: Beautiful!

We went for a great trail run today on the Bruce Trail in Hamilton.  We parked just off Sydenham at the bottom of the hill.  We took the Bruce Trail up Sydenham, up the escarpment, and went off onto the trail through the Royal Botanical Garden's Rock Chapel Nature Sanctuary.  We followed the trails along the escarpment, seeing beautiful views.  The trails were gorgeous, covered in all different colours of leaves.  It was a perfect temperature for the most part with a fabulous breeze.  We ran past Borer's Falls and kept going to the Thornapple Trail, where we turned around and ran back to the beginning.

I am continually amazed by the quality of trails in Hamilton.  We ran for over two hours today on trails we had never been on before.

We are so lucky to have the Bruce Trail and so many waterfalls in Hamilton!

Fitting in a Run

It can be hard to fit in exercise in our busy lives.  It's hard when you work full-time and have three kids involved in activities, and you're trying to fit in your own activities.

On the one hand, though, it has definitely gotten easier for me in the sense that it is a clear priority now.  I find the time.  I will negotiate almost anything so that I can work out. 

I know I have to do it, because otherwise my sanity will suffer.  And that's not good for anyone.  If I don't get to boot camp or go for a run, I feel much crankier than usual!  Ummm - that didn't come out right.  I mean, I just feel cranky.

This morning, however, it seemed like an impossibility to do any kind of exercise.

I was supposed to stay at home to wait for a new dryer to be delivered.  And you know how that goes.  They say, "You must stay home, completely immobile, for the next two weeks, give or take ten days, although we can't guarantee anything."

Since we both work everyday and there are activities at night, the only time we are at home is on the weekends.  Except even those are full.

For example, this morning, two children of the three had birthday parties to be driven to and picked up from.  A third child was at a play date who needed to be picked up eventually.  My husband had to be at a hockey practice.  I was supposed to be at boot camp as well, but because of the dryer I stayed home.

Luckily they delivered the dryer only 4 hours after the first time they said they would be there.  So I could drive my daughter to her birthday party.  And just before I was leaving, I realized that the place where the party was located backed onto a nature trail, so that I could run during the entire party!

I was so happy.  I did a 12 K run in an hour and 15 minutes.  It was a beautiful day with leaves falling down on me like confetti. 

At one point in the run I saw a doe walk onto the trail.  I stood still and waited, not wanting to scare her.  I thought she looked tired, and I soon saw why. Two fawns soon ran out of the forest cover to join her.  One of them started nursing.  I've never seen that before.  It was a great moment.

I got my run in, which made me happy.  And as they say, when mom's happy, everyone's happy!