I Can’t Think of a Better Reason

3 Comments January 26, 2016 drworobec

I’ve been running a bit more lately, as I’ve registered for two half marathons this Spring. My first race is on Sunday, March 6th- it’s the Chilly Half Marathon in Burlington, and it’s got a start line that I can now walk to, since my family’s move this past Fall. I registered myself based largely on that fact alone; a pedestrian life makes me happy. My second race is at the end of May- another half marathon, this time a women’s-only in Toronto, that I’ve entered with two dear friends.

But as the date of my first race draws closer and my confidence starts to dip, as it always does before a race, I am shifting my approach and calling it a training run instead of a race. I’ve been less than perfect with my long runs, and since I’m only running once/week, that’s an important piece that’s been neglected. I have been consistently going to the gym four times per week, and throwing in some hot yoga for good measure, but the actual running mileage on my legs is very low. When I was in my prime long-distance-running years, I was logging 100km+ each and every week. I ran for the University of Calgary’s cross-country and track & field teams, and following that, running helped me to channel my energy through the intense demands of my Chiropractic degree. I got on some podiums, set some personal bests, and even won some money. I ran against the clock, against my strive for perfection, against my constant drive to be faster and better and better and better.

I still approach most things in life like this, and I’m nothing if not self-motivated. But now I’ve learned to control it. And the deep, dark truth is that running, or more accurately, racing, doesn’t always bring out the best of my psyche. There’s a fine line where my self-imposed pressure can become unhealthy, and black-and-white race times have the ability to play with my head.

I had my first child in 2009 and ran a 10-mile race ten weeks post-partum. In hindsight, this was a terrible decision, as my body was completely unprepared for that intense energy demand. But I needed to get back out there, I needed to feel like me again, and a big part of me is running. And from this race, I gained a positive despite the physical negative; that 10-miler changed how I saw myself. It showed me that running can be a subtitle in the story of my life, rather than the headline.

Throughout the past seven years, the expectations I’ve placed on myself and my running has exceedingly changed. I’m realizing that people don’t care about my race times. People don’t care if I win my age group or run a four-minute kilometre or (gasp!) have to slow down. People don’t care that my half marathon will be more than twenty minutes slower than my personal best and that it will likely take me three full days to recover.

And the most important person that doesn’t care about this stuff anymore is me.

I run to focus, I run to de-stress, I run to think. I run because I LOVE TO RUN.

I can’t think of a better reason.

This is my run from two days ago. It’s probably ten minutes slower than it would’ve been in years past, and I’m okay with that!

Project Winter

2 Comments December 8, 2015 drworobec

My kids are now 6 and 3, rounding the bend to 7 and 4. Beyond the baby stage, there’s no more naps, no more diapers, no more babies in our house. And while I may or may not have cried when we took down the crib last year, I am excited for what this new chapter of parenthood brings. Enter skiing.

I grew up in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains and skied many times a year. But I wouldn’t say that it ever became a passion of mine; I do love the outdoors and the exercise and the scenery, but the actual skiing part is a medium on my list of loves. And lately, my distaste for Winter has grown. You would think that an Alberta-girl would be used to sub-zero temperatures, but my theory is that I got my quota of Winter as a child….. these days I freeze solid in November and don’t thaw out until April. “Embrace the winter,” my mother says, “there’s nothing you can do to change it.” Sigh, I’m trying.

You probably already know my views on keeping kids active, and skiing seems like the perfect way to accomplish that goal through our long Canadian winters. Plus it’s a great lifetime sport, a way to have fun together, and a justifiable excuse for hot chocolate in a ski chalet. So we’ve made the investment. My husband and I just purchased full ski gear (Merry Christmas to us!) that we hope will last for many years (as did my previous 1989 Salomons), and we plan to rent equipment for the kids for this, our inaugural ski season.

I’m calling it “Project Winter” and we’ll see who wins the battle between myself and Mother Nature. We’re embarking on the ski-family journey of two hours to get ready, three runs on the bunny hill, forty-five minutes to complete a bathroom break, and sleeping kids on the drive home. And if you see my husband, ask him about the time I left him stranded on a ledge at Sunshine Village in Banff….. on the day he proposed…..

Movement is Medicine

Leave a comment November 3, 2015 drworobec

My friends. Fitness is not a short journey. Fitness is a daily choice. And fitness is a very large, very important component of health. I saw the above graphic on Twitter a couple of weeks ago, and it really got me thinking; and from thinking comes blogging.

So here we go.

While the above information is American-based, I would guess that it likely applies to the Canadian population as well. And although ‘The Huffington Post’ is not exactly an evidence-based journal, I would venture to say that the above stats are well within the ballpark of truth.

The Public Health Agency of Canada released new physical activity guidelines in 2011; they recommend 2.5 hours per week of activity for adults, “focusing on moderate to vigorous aerobic activity” and incorporating activities that “target your muscles and bones.” This is only 21 minutes per day. I’ve already blogged and complained about their guidelines being drastically low for children, so today I’m going to say the same for adults. Following these activity recommendations are like following the Canada Food Guide for nutritional guidance; the research has changed and so should your views.

I believe in fitness. It’s a big part of who I am, and a big part of what I enjoy. So it’s hard for me not to stand on a soapbox and preach about this topic. Forgive me for ranting and raving….. such is an element of passion, and passion for this topic I have. Fitness changes everything from your quality of life to your functional abilities to your life expectancy. I’m not going to tell you to park your car further away from the mall entrance or to take the stairs instead of the elevator. I’m not, because you need to do more than that.