Month: March 2019

Hilly Runs

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 5 Comments

I used to love running hills. Sometimes even repeating them over and over again.

That’s not my current mood. However, running is hard for me right now. I struggle to run 5k. True story! No pun intended but running has its ups and downs and I’m feeling more in the downs lately. That’s okay, as I know if I keep at it those hills will get easier and I might enjoy them again.

While in Halifax last night, I decided to go for a run since I had the time. Well, if you know downtown Halifax, is that it’s ALL hills. I literally started my run on a massive hill. This might have been a bad idea but ah well.

I was secretly thankful for traffic light stops and took the time to catch my breath. Clearly, I needed the break.

I had no plan to my run but was hoping I’d survived 5k around town. I saw so many runners out and ran though a group of runners. Not going to lie I felt intimidated, especially as I ran in the opposite direction of most runners I saw. Was I running he wrong way? Nah, I was just running my way.

I ran up Citadel Hill and thought I’d die at the top. Then on e up top, I ran around it and then back down. I wasn’t keeping track of my km and hit 5k and was finally feeling good (after all those hills). I decided to run a little further away from my hotel and then back towards it to finish off for 7k.

My route took me all over. Many roads I’ve run before during Bluenose Marathon (5k,10k, 1/2, kids run) so they weren’t a surprise to me, I fact I probably chose them since I’ve run them before.

Running is hard sometimes. Hills aren’t fun sometimes. But, you keep moving forward anyway.

Anyone else not loving hills right now?

Anyone else struggling right now?

Do you avoid races with lots of hills?

Friday Five K

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 1 Comment

The last day of March Break took my kids to an art camp (which they loved) and gave me, most of the day to do whatever.

Laundry, deep clean the house, groceries, maybe just maybe even read a book. Well, I did none of that and went for a run in the rain after I dropped off the girls at art camp.

It was cold ( 1°C ) and raining which made for muddy trails. There is still some large spots on the trail covered in ice/snow and not traversable….unless you want to be like bambi. No thanks!

It wasn’t a pretty run and I barely forced the pace. Carmacks wasn’t with me so I had no help in the speed department. However, I don’t need or want to run fast all the time.

I’m thinking the next few weeks back into running are going to be hard and not pretty but that’s okay…..I’m getting back at it. Now I just need to sign up for a race!

Anyone running today?

What’s a race you are looking forward to this spring?

Parkrun is now in Nova Scotia!!! Anyone going?

I Needed That Run

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 2 Comments

After four weeks not not running, minus a handful of soccer games, I went for a run. And it felt great!

We’re on March Break so I’m off with my kids all week. We also haven’t had much on the go the past few weekends so we’ve been able to wake up and just go wherever the day takes us. The has allowed for some fun adventures but also some headaches of kids fighting with each other and not listening very well….you know kids being kids.

Anyway, Monday was a rather frustrating day in which we did nothing because, well…you can’t reward bad behaviour with fun adventures. At least we can’t. There’s a line and it was pushed a bit too much so my girls missed out on some fun things. However, it just left me frustrated and deflated.

After dinner my husband said “you should go for a run” but i want having any of that. I haven’t run in four weeks, I felt deflated, frustrated, sad we missed out on family fun time, bummed. Running want what I wanted to do (but clearly I needed a run). The girls were just out of the bath and I blurted out “I’m going to go for a run”.

Shut, I said it out loud and my husband heard me. Shit. He heard me and said that’s a great idea…go. Shit, now I had to…but also wanted to. As I got ready, Carmacks or dog saw my running pants and started getting excited. I had wanted to run alone so I ignored him. As he sat there staring at me, I gave in and said he could join me. Talk about a happy dog!!!

We left the house and ran our normal route where I barely have to tell him “Gee” (right) or “Haw” (left). As we cruised into the first km I saw 6:12, woah boy we are running fast.

Carmacks makes me run way faster than I think I can. He pushed me when I won’t push myself. He knows just what I need during a run when I dont.

We ran 5k in 30:27 which is rather fast for me especially since I haven’t been running. I totally lost my interest in running over the last few weeks but hopefully got it kicked started again.

Yes, I’ve been skiing (oh my guads), playing soccer (sprint, recover, sprint, recover), going to yoga (happy muscles) and skating (tired calf muscles) but running is a whole other workout. I also threw in some glute and ab exercises while I was stretching because I need to strengthen those to avoid some part injuries. I hurt yesterday all over, Haha!!

Sometimes you need a bad day to kick start something else. So thankful I got out for a run with Carmacks and looking forward to my next run. We are off skiing today….its officially spring so why not!

How’s your running going?

Happy its officially spring?

Is running a go-to destresser for you?

February Mileage

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 1 Comment

Oh February, we weren’t really running friends were we?

I only ran twice outside but managed 27.03 km of running between those two runs and my soccer games. So my legs got in some mileage.

We (family) skied twice, I had three soccer games, we skated outside twice and I made it to three yoga classes.

Though I didn’t run a much, I still had an active month with other winter activities. I also walked my dog 2+km most days of the weeks, so lots of walking.

I’m still far away from signing up for any spring races but think I need to start training to run a 5k or 10k race. At this point a spring half is out the door. And that’s okay.

How was your month of February?

Did you rech any goals?

Spring race fever or “meh” feelings like me?