Beating the Blerch

September 14  Plan:  12k LSD  Actual:  12k LSD

Yes, you read that right.  The title of this post is Beating the Blerch. 

Here's what I mean.

Have you heard of The Oatmeal?  The guy who draws funny cartoons and stuff?  That guy?  Well, he's also a runner and has done a series about the Blerch, this character he devised on those days when he didn't want to get off the couch to run.  The Blerch would speak to him and tell him to stay on the couch, eat more snacks, generally be gross and slovenly and lazy.  I think we all can relate and have our own personal Blerch.  Mine wants to feed me chocolate croissants.  But I digress.

The Blerch became popular enough that they actually started a Beat the Blerch run (10k/half/full) somewhere out in Washington state where the guy is from.  I think.  That's my guess, anyway.  Otherwise why the fu(k would they have it in BF, Washington?  I digress again.

The race is set to take place on Saturday, September 20.  Then it was so popular and sold out so fast that they decided to run it all again on the next day.  THEN because so many people wanted in on it in one way, shape or form, they decided to sell virtual race kits so people could get the stuff and run the race on their own time, in their own necks of the woods.  Or they could sit on their couches and hang with the Blerch, who would know?

So I bought in to the whole thing and got my race kit a week or so ago.  Since I already have a race the weekend of the 20th, I figured I'd use this weekend's LSD run as my virtual 10k so I could, in good conscience, hang my medal up on my wall.  Nice bag of tricks, eh?  Wasn't cheap but I totally believe it's worth it.

So.  Original plan had been to run Saturday but got up that morning and it was raining so no dice.  I knew the next day was supposed to be better so I set my alarm for 8 or something like that and gave myself a bit of extra sleep. 

I was rather delighted that this week dropped back down to 12 instead of going up to a higher distance.  I know I'll get there at some point in the not to distant future but I'd be lying if I wasn't relieved to have fewer rather than more to tackle. 

Was going to re-run my last 12k route but as I passed Garrard Street I elected to turn down there and just run until I hit the 6k mark, at which point I'd turn around and come home.  Made it down to Rossland which left me a wee bit short so I plunked in a little side street on my way back up. 

All in all this run felt reasonably good.  Was happy to be in my newer shoes - that's still helping.  As is chiro.  Saw Matt twice this past week and he's got me working on some stretching and exercises and icing of my knees which seems to be helping overall.  

Was happy overall with my various splits.  Managed to keep most of my intervals intact so that was a good thing.

 And when it was all said and done, despite the distance I'd actually managed to shave 20 seconds per km off the average of my past 7 runs.  Not too shabby, I say!!








A few post run shots of the virtual race belt - no, I did not do my run with it - and the medal.  Apparently I was quite lucky to get the pi belt.  :)

And finally, one last pic, my medal now proudly on display since I've earned it.  Sure, I did 12 instead of 10 but I still Beat that Blerch so up goes the medal.  I even made sure to leave room for the one I'll be getting at next week's race. 

12k and it felt great

August 16  Plan:  12k LSD  Actual:  12k LSD

I was a bit nervous about this one, I'll admit it.  I haven't run anything more than 10.5 since the middle of June when I hit the 15k mark.  I know the kms are going to increase pretty rapidly now so 12 was the start of the climb. 

Last weekend's 10k damned near killed me so I was both stoked and terrified at the thought of 12.  I felt a bit better during my week runs so that was something but I really had no idea what 12 would feel like when I actually got out there. 

Saturday morning I set my alarm for 7 something and got out of bed after a snooze or two.  Had a cup of coffee, two pieces of toast with some peanut butter, and got all my gear together.

Loaded up my fuel belt with all three 10oz bottles, two water and one with lemon lime sport Mio for electrolytes.  I find that any run over 7k means my hands will swell up like crazy so anything I can do to try to keep my sodium levels in check I'll do. 

Still trying to find a balance on the nutrition side of things as I run.   Haven't tried any of the gels - quite frankly, they freak me out.  But I do have a good supply thanks to a friend of Clif Shot Bloks and those seem to do the trick for me.  So I popped three of the cherry chocolate ones into a ziploc bag, tucked it into my fuel belt, strapped on my heartrate monitor, and hit the pavement.

It was still rather early and pretty overcast and, therefore, the perfect conditions for running.  Truly, I loved almost every minute of it. 

When planning my route I was looking at different options nearby and decided to try something different.  Mapping things out I realized just how far 12k really can be.  I thought I'd start and home and run down Brock Street then get Micheal to come and pick me up once I was done.  Well, turns out my house to the frickin lake is only 8ish k!!  I would have had to run along the lake then up part of Thickson to actually make it to 12k.  Seemed way too far for me and way too much of a pain in the ass to coordinate a ride so I went for a straight out Taunton out and back.

By and large the run out that way is rather flat. There are a few inclines which, funnily enough, I didn't really notice until I'd turned around to come back home.  Didn't seem downhill on the way out but back, you sure did feel the uphill!  Had to cross Taunton a few times as there's no sidewalk for some reason in certain strips of the road but as always I made it work. 

At the 10k mark my lower back started to get sore which was a bit unusual but I'll chock it up to carrying so much liquid around that area for a longer time than I normally would.  Since it wasn't as hot out and there was some great cloud cover I didn't go through as much water as I normally would have meaning I carried it for a lot longer. 

All in all it felt really good to be out there, and I was delighted I was able to improve my pace even over 12k.  I'd been over 8 for a while and sure, 7:55 might only be 5 seconds under 8 but I'll take it after the week I'd had!!!