hi, i'm jenn

Anyone want to know where I am during my race on Sunday Morning? Will anyone be awake that early even?

I have one spot for a phone number on my SMS list!! You’ll find out when I get to the 9k point, and when I finish. Of course, you can also pay to follow me but since I’m already going to be paying I figured I might as well offer up that last spot…

I’d really like to hook it up to Twitter, but since I don’t know what phone number the text will come from I don’t think that will work. Sigh.

The race is Sunday. 2 runs to go.

I am excited. Mostly to finish the race and eat a big brunch afterward. And maybe some ice cream. Is that so wrong?

I mean, everyone says not to wear/try anything new for the race, so I can’t be excited for my new outfit/shoes/hat…
My Nike+ chip broke (I might have spilled makeup remover all over it when travelling) so I got it replaced last Sunday. After 2 runs with it, I finally calibrated it and it was reporting that I was running about 25% more than I was. Even though I knew the distance of the routes I was running it was fun to pretend I had all of a sudden started running longer and faster than before.

I’m getting a little nervous for the race. I had a bad dream about forgetting to pick up my race package. So I’ve asked several people to remind me. Hopefully at least one person will.

Also, I’m planning to run with my fuel belt. People told me not to, but truth is i’m used to sipping out of my little bottles whenever i feel like it – I’m afraid to need to wait for a water station, and then gulp from a cup and get a stitch. Not to mention, the eload i’ve been taking is different from the gatorade on the course and everyone says not to change what you do for the race.

I’ve been told to put my name on my shirt so that people cheer. I know it will be on my race bib too, but I still think that would be fun. Since you’re not supposed to wear a new shirt for the race, I’m thinking about using a fabric marker on an underarmor shirt I’ve been wearing all summer. I’m not sure what to write. Maybe “Cheer for Jenn” or “hi, i’m jenn”. Yeah, that might work…

hello blogosphere, it’s been awhile.

too long probably.

and now summer is over. le sigh.

anyway, just wanted to say hi. and here’s a cool picture of me in front of golden gate bridge – i biked it AND i didn’t fall. wahoo!

I started taking energy gels when I do my long runs. Do I need them? Probably not – I know plenty of folks that run without them. Do they help me? Who knows. Do they taste good? Not really. But I definitely look at that as a milestone during the runs — the 45 minute point when I get to take my gel.  There’s the B.G. part of the run, and the A.G. part of the run. The A.G part is more fun, because it’s the second half – but also more sticky.
In any case, I’ve been buying them from the running room for $1.49 (for cliff shots) or $1.99 for Gu. I decided to search online – I can get Gu for $1 a pop from REI online (they have a discount of $.25 each if you buy, like, 12), and the cliff shots for less than $1!!! This is not fair.

(Yes, I know this is a problem that extends to more than just the energy gels. i’m just particularly frustrated about it right now)

Also, if anyone has an REI membership number they’d let me use to order, I’d be forever grateful!

Now G-d is here to watch over us all. Oh boy.

this weekend i did two things i’ve wanted to do for awhile: broke 10k AND found the beltline. i also wore my waterbelt for the first time (though only drank one of the bottles), and ate a gel during my run (note to self – the cliff shots are toothpaste thick)
as a bonus, I also found Cedarvale park.

and i wore my new running shirt to do all of this. teehee.

I skipped my run this morning. In an attempt to scare myself back into shape, I actually registered for the race.

Yup, you can even find my name on the race’s confirmation page. That’ll learn me.

last year i ran 10k. after the 10k in may, i stopped running outdoors.

now that i’m back to running outside 3 times a week, i’ve purchased the following:

1. three long sleeve running shirts (i’m a geisha)
2. two running skirts
3. a running hat (i had one from last year too)
4. new sneakers
5. 2 pairs of running socks (so now i have 4 total)
6. Nike+ so i know how far i’ve run (i stole noah’s nano so i didn’t have to buy that thankfully)

What I can’t believe is how the list keeps on growing. I now need to figure out what gel/gummies to eat midrun so that i don’t bonk (side note – I wish bonking was as fun as it sounded! it’s like the opposite of fun.) and how to carry water with me. I also need to get a geeky fuel belt. Not to mention a few more long sleeved tops so I don’t have to do laundry once a week. And now that I’m biking for my crosstraining, I am thinking about getting a pair of padded shorts cause man that bike seat hurts.
Really I will soon need to get a second JOB so I can pay for all this stuff.

That’s right. It’s time for me to commit:

I’m going to run the Scotiabank Half Marathon on Sunday September 29.

Now it’s on the internet, and I have to do it.

And for what it’s worth, this hobby is costing me a fortune.

161/365 – eat your veggies

Originally uploaded by jennschac

in may sometime i was at the grocery store and noticed a weird vegetable called a fiddlehead. they were so funny looking, and i had absolutely no idea what to do with them or how they taste. well, i ended up in line behind someone that was buying a whole bag of them, and decided to ask her. she told me you just steam them and that they taste like spinach. so i tried them, and while i can’t say i’m a huge fan of the taste, i’m amused enough by how they look and their texture to have tried them a few times. besides, they’re supposed to be in season for, like, a month, so no biggie.

anyway, i was in line with my bag of fiddleheads a few days ago, and the guy behind me asked me what they were and how you make them. teehee.