3 Cheap Runners: June 2013

Sunday, June 30, 2013

3 Cheap Runners' Weekend Wrap

Posted by CheapRunnerMike

While the 3 Cheap Runners enjoy their day off, here are a few of the happenings that caught their eyes during the past week...

Links we Liked

Here's the story of a school teacher who could be off to the World Championships
If you are looking for something to do this weekend, here are 5 ideas
Finding out if pronation really matters
Is it bad for runners to wear flip flops? It better not be!
5 tips to becoming a morning runner

This Week's CheapRunners' Posts

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Friday, June 28, 2013

I first want to start today with a comment to CRMichelle's post from yesterday.
We all have our own speed and when we say that we run "easy" or "rough" miles we are only comparing them to how we normally feel. I think when the definition says "fast runner" it is referring to fast for yourself, at least that is how I am going to interpret it.
Some days we feel and are fast, some days we feel and are slow for our own usual pace. Don't ever get discouraged because your times may not be as good as someone else's.
I started running for a personal journey. Not because anybody made me and I keep myself in check with that when I may get discouraged. I am running to prove to myself that I can do it, not for anybody else. It is all about running for the joy. Don't take the joy away from yourself by thinking you are not fast.
CRMichelle has done amazing at this running journey. She is dedicated and sticks at, even when she doesn't feel like it! I am so proud of her and what she has accomplished in running! Be proud CRMichelle!
Love you!

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Road trip started Sunday

Off to the lovely city of Kingston, Ontario (not Jamaica).

Although it was mostly work, there was still a little bit of time to enjoy a couple drinks...

Some food...

Have my first experience with gelato....

And even enjoy a walk down by the water...

On our way home, we had to make a pit stop and came across a La Senza outlet....

This was the biggest La Senza I have ever seen and the deals were amazeballs!!!

4 bras and 10 pairs of underoos for $42 buckaroos!!

It was a great ending to the trip!
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Planking was a chore to fit into my schedule this week and even forgot a day :(

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

It is a long weekend for us Canadians!

Happy Canada Day!

What are your plans for Canada Day weekend?

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Feeling Bummed Out

Posted by CheapRunnerMichelle

Sometimes I wonder...can I even call myself a runner??? Don't get me wrong, the blogging world is very supportive and 99% of the time is very encouraging...so I guess we're talking about the other 1% (that is purely made up in my crazy mind)

I read all these posts about "easy" miles (I don't know about you - but I don't have "easy" miles everyday when I run) or how people had a horrible run and were just dragging their butts and their pace suffered...meanwhile their crappy pace is a good 1-3minutes faster than my best running pace.

So can I consider myself a runner when I can't run as fast, I can't run as far, I don't run as often, and a marathon distance is (as we all learned the other week) is not on this gal's bucket list?!?

So I looked up the definition of a runner:

I gotta say - this didn't do much for my running self confidence - when I can't say yes to either one.

I buy all of the running "gear" so does that make me a runner? I buy the shoes, the GPS watch, the compression gear, the running clothes etc.

When I start getting all these crazy thoughts - I just have to remind myself that this is my journey - and not anybody else's...and at the end if the day I run for me. For the way it makes me feel and for the solitude it brings me during a run. I know I am never going to be the fastest or go the furthest...and I'm ok with that (well...most of the time ;-) )

And just in case there are others of you out there that have these same mental ~~craziness~~ thoughts sometimes - here's a few more words of wisdom for you:

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And in other news - I TOTALLY want to try this:

Any of you ever have bummed out moods from reading other's posts?

What do you do to overcome these thoughts?

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Countdown to Holiday Time!

Posted by CheapRunnerMike

Only three more days until my summer holidays YAY! I'll be off all next week and will be spending the week up at the cottage with the kids. It will nice and relaxing and our days will be filled with fun and good times with each other...though I'm sure Kennedy will be off playing with her friends the whole time (the busy social life of a 10-year old girl).

Morning coffee on the front porch...my quiet time

The kids love going up to Sunset Point, where the Kettles are located. They grab their water shoes and we all head out into the water as far as we can, hopping from rock to rock.

Making our way out one rock at a time

There are a few great Kettles up on the Point that the kids love climbing up on as well.

Up on a Kettle

It's also strawberry season and the market up at the corner is well stocked.

Fresh picked Ontario Strawberries...yum!

There's also bound to be plenty of time spent down at the beach swimming and playing in the sand...while Dad relaxes with his book.

Life's a Beach

So pretty much the plan will be to tire the kids out as best as I can so that Dad can crack a few beers and take it easy. I love to just sit on the porch and read when I'm on vacation, it is definitely my favourite way to decompress. There's sure to be lots of barbecuing, campfires and music as well...you just can't beat the cottage for nice, quiet vacation.

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I had a great week of training last week, with my highest mileage total yet. I ran 88km (55 miles) and I came through it all pain-free, despite melting in the 97 degree humidity for my long run. There hasn't been much relief this week either as the humidity hasn't relented at all.

How do you guys like to spend your time on holidays?

Anyone else have vacation time coming up?

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The Longest Run Ever

Posted by Anonymous

I didn't get my butt out of bed early enough Saturday morning to get my long run in before I had to get other things done for the day, so I found myself out running at 3:30 in the afternoon.

iPhone said it was 28 degrees, my car said it was 33. Whatever it really was, it was hot.

My training plan (thanks CRMike) said to run 22 km so I really needed to get this run in. I also needed to run this off from the night before.

As soon as I set out, I was already making excuses to myself about why I shouldn't run the whole distance.

The trails were empty, except for an elderly couple that I passed twice and both times they said "aren't you hot?" To which I responded "umm yes, my face is not usually this red and I don't normally sweat completely through my clothes" .

Anyways, 3 bottles of water and 2hrs and 6 minutes later I completed the 22 km I set out for. Not the time I was hoping for but I was happy to have it done.

It seriously felt like the longest run ever!!

Hope everyone is on track to finish the #plankaday challenge for June. Only a few more days left!

Who likes running in the heat?

Who else was running off a poutine this past weekend?

Monday, June 24, 2013

Time for Home

Posted by CheapRunnerMichelle

Since I'm flying back to reality today, instead of writing/telling you all about my work trip to Florida - I thought I would ~~steal~~ this pretty lady's idea and leave you today with a phone dump of my activities over the last 6 days.

First night in Fort Lauderdale

Beach time

How the other half live - penthouse on the beach

Dresses, dresses and more dresses

Dinner at the Yacht Club

Dinner with friends

...and I made sure to get my planks in

Sunday, June 23, 2013

3 Cheap Runners' Weekend Wrap

Posted by CheapRunnerMike

While the 3 Cheap Runners enjoy their day off, here are a few of the happenings that caught their eyes during the past week...

Links we Liked

Some tips to avoid blisters, CRMichelle take note!
The 10 types of male texters
Why some runners don't wave (I'm a big waver by the way)
8 things runners need to know about something near and dear to most of us...coffee
Runner's World takes a look at the impact of heat on negative splits at the Chicago Marathon