A Focus on Recovery

My mindset is changing this week as the Hong Kong 100km gets closer and as I get excited for the big season ahead. I know there are some things that I need to start addressing.  My training hours and run miles have been ramping up significantly over the past few weeks and its critical that I keep on top of everything, body, mind, nutrition, sleep, injuries etc.  Maybe after 10+ years of racing and training, I'm finally wising up a bit (at least I'd like to think so :)

These last 2 weeks have forced me to train through lots of snow and slush. Mentally, I can take it as really, I have no other choice. But during my runs, I can feel little twinges here and there in my calves, knees and hamstrings. I'm so grateful that RMT Di Adams of www.diadams.com has come to my aid, taking an active role in the massage that I so desperately need.  I've been seeing Di off and on for a few months and she knows how to work amazing wonders. I'm fully putting all my trust in her and the knowledge that she has to treat my body.  I got a bit slack with massage ever since Ultraman finished, telling myself that it was my off season and that I didn't need it on a regular basis. Well, as I sit here tonight working, I know more then ever how much better I feel and how well my body responds.  With that said, I'm ready for the week ahead now as I've planned a great training camp in San Francisco for the weekend.  Di spent lots of time today working my low back and tibialis anterior. It's feeling so good tonight, I can't wait to run tomorrow!  The achilles drama continues on and off but I have a game plan for tackling it once again - its' called torture IMS.


I'm committed to using my foam roller as well and really, I have no excuse not too! We have 10 of them at the CBC studio and I stare at them daily.  I'm on it now from this day forward and will be saving an extra 10mins at the end of my workouts to lengthen out.  I'm testing out a new yoga mat too made by Vernice Vita Yoga Mats.  Ummm, who ever thought that a yoga mat could be so comfortable? Well, I'm thoroughly impressed already so that alone gets me stoked to get my stretching game back on.  And for me to say that, you know it must be cool!

Exactly 1 year ago today, I was racing through the heat and beauty of Costa Rica at the TCC 6 day staged race.  During my time there, I fell in love with a post run drink of coconut water provided by the locals, straight from the coconut!  It was the ultimate recovery drink.  We obviously don't live in the tropics but I'm really excited to have welcomed aboard for 2012, Coco's Pure Coconut Water.  Great taste, pure coconut water, I'm loving it!  I've long known the amazing nutrition that comes from the coconut so I'm really excited to add it to my daily recovery routine.  Coco's Pure will also be a sponsor at my 3rd annual Women's Tofino Running + Wellness Camp this year so 16 amazing woman will get to incorporate this great product into their camp recovery!

I've also gotta address sleep.  I used to function on 5hrs, maybe 6 a night. Times have changed and I'm loving and needing 8+hrs now. I'm striving to make this happen each night now by getting off the computer earlier and drawing a cutoff for responding to emails.

Nutrition and fueling is going really well and I will write a full blog on this soon. Have been 100% off all gluten/grains etc and have never felt better. The stomach issues have long subsided and energy levels are up.  Why did I wait so long once again? I've been reading and researching and things are making much more sense now  I'm having fun playing with Manitoba's Harvest "Hemp Flour" but oops, my coconut energy bars were a total flop this past weekend! I will have to work on that one before I post my recipe.  

More to come.........