OFSAA XC 2009

I actually raced last week (well on the 7th) but I've been too busy to blog or too lazy to blog. Let's just say this was the worst race of the season for me - approx. 5k = 24:14. I was predicted to be in the top 100 and I came in at 159. I didn't even make top half. I have to say it was pretty devastating though it is understandable - 2 weeks before racing I had a popped hip flexor hence inflammation so I had to knock down my milage - just wasn't at top 100% physically. I also didn't have the best of warm ups - up until 3.5k my leg muscles were contracting like heck and I even considered dropping out of the race (something that has never occurred in my mind). On the bright side, I did get a gorg. OFSAA hoodie:) I love it, so warm and just cute on me.

I took a week off (well in my mind it's a week, I last ran on Tues so I'm SUPPOSED to be off my feet until Wed but not running is a torture) and I just can't wait to get myself back onto the roads - I can't sit still and even my creativity is down - my English essay on the use of irony in the novella Mad Shadows was supposed to be done by Fri afternoon but as of right now I've written about 1/4 of a paragraph.
On Wed I hit the weightroom pretty hard for someone who hasn't been in there for a formal workout in months - I did overhead squats (love those) and these weird squats that had me hold dumbbells in my arms and squat down in a way that burned my glutes - had the hardest time even walking from Thurs - Sat. Also spent some time on the rowing machine - I did leg lifts last night (amazing for my core, I'm getting my mini sex-v back!).

On Fri, I had a bit of a melt down as I confessed the crushes I had so far this year to my frineds (J&K since I told D already). All 3 of the guys were on my XC team and one of them is totally out of my usual crushing range (like totally opposite from any guy I've ever liked). The other 2, I know I will never have a chance b/c we just so different in who we are - I know it's not a good idea to crush on them b/c I'll only end up hurting myself like I did with M. The said part is I think I might still have a crush on one of the three and I don't want that crush - b/c of one of my clubs I'm bound to see him at least once a week....I hope I get over him soon.

Italian word of the week: Avvitare
Translation: To screw
:). Enjoy.

OFF to OFSAA BABY

-originally posted Oct 22
HEADING TO OFSAA!!!!!!!!

XC SEASON: Cardinal Carter + YRAA

Last Wed I was at the Cardinal Carter XC meet (Pre-OFSAA) at BOYD Conservation Park. I have to say it was one of the worst races I've ever ran. It took me 23:42.72 to run 5k - yeah I know, slow. Granted the terrain was quite tough - huge hill, many smaller hills, MUD, and just rocky bits over the route. Not to mention I was sick and was blowing my nose every 2 or 3 min - note to self, sticking tissue into the waistband of UA compression shorts = inability to take out the tissue. I just couldn't get my act together that day, I was boxed in the whole race and at the end of the race I had so much energy that I just SPRINTED to the finish - I don't think I have ever sprinted that fast in my life. In the last 100m of the race I passed approx. 30-40 girls - no joke. Overall I placed 113 out of 574 (of those who finished). The placing wasn't amazing but it wasn't bad either but I do wish I had ran a faster race and hadn't been boxed in. Reflecting back I think if I had warmed up a bit more it would have been a faster race - but then I was boxed in the whole race....

Yesterday, I was at the YRAA XC meet which was the meet to qualify for OFSAA. Time wasn't all that great, I was scared I was going to run out of juice so I ran conservatively throughout the race hence 23:18.34. My final sprint could have been alot better, I passed about 5 people in the final 100 m (upon entering the chute) and 2-3 of them were pretty near the finish line by the time I entered the chute. I wish I hadn't been boxed in for the first 5-10s of the race, otherwise I would have been able to run with the lead group and have them set the pace. I have to say, being a distane runner really gives me an advantage both mentally and physically. As I was wrapping up the race I had a side stich but I was able to push myself to run faster simply b/c I kept telling myself not to be a wimp b/c if I can run a half-marathon then I should be able to run a 5k easy. Overall I placed 11th out of 130 (of those who finished). Our team was 3rd in senior girls and b/c YRAA is hosting OFSAA this year they were allowed to have a few extra runners to send to OFSAA (4 teams + 6 individuals instead of 2 teams + 3 individuals / category) hence ST ROBERT RAMS ARE HITTING UP OFSAA BABY!!!! I have to say when I finished and the coaches told me I was heading to OFSAA (as an individual at that time, 8 out of then 11 runners in front of me were from 2 teams) I thought they were mocking me and just joking around. It took them over 10min to convince me that I had made OFSAA. OFSAA is such a big deal and I had never in a million years thought I would actually make it. I can't wait to get one of those cute OFSAA hoodies!

I also ran the guys' 7k race yesterday b/c I didn't have time to run at home and it was amazingly fun. I wasn't allowed to run fast b/c I would "get into the way" of the guys - well technically I wasn't even supposed to run the race. But...I did passed about half of the guys even though I had raced earlier and wasn't even going at a full out pace - each time I passed a guy they were in shock "are you a girl or a guy or a hermaphrodite?" "I'm a chick, sorry to disappoint you babe." I had such an interesting convo on this with this really cute guy (totally would date him if he were faster) none the less he was complimenting me and saying that I must have passed a ton of guys:).

Took my 2nd day off this week, I was planning to run but after yoga my hip started to ache. I have promised myself that after my 10k next week and OFSAA the week after I will take some time off and go see a professional about this b/c I'm really scared it's a stress fracture but..I don't want to know yet b/c my season isn't' over yet.

School is basically killing me right now, let's just say my average dropped over 20% - if anyone is planning to take on IB I suggest you ask yourself if you're ready to take on unwanted stress and huge mark drops.