Plagued by injuries, it’s been almost 2 years since Kiki’s last full marathon and I am very much looking forward to running her in for the last portion of her race as she has done for me in my past two marathons. She’s now helped me get my BQ (Boston qualifier) twice and I can’t wait to repay the favour.

A few weeks ago Kiki sent me a picture of her recent effort to keep herself motivated. She wrote down 20 reasons why she hates running. Yes you read that right. Why she hates running.

Her observations made me laugh out loud mostly because I wholeheartedly agreed with each one. There comes a point in every runners training schedule that they find they are frustrated, irritated, and fed up with running.

This is completely natural.

It is important to remind yourself of the end goal and why you fell in love with running in the first place. Whether you jot down your frustrations as Kiki did, or take a “time out” and break for a short time, it is important to remember that every challenge will pass and eventually you will find your runner’s high again. My favourite way to get over a training hump is to leave my Garmin at home and run completely free. No prescribed route, distance, or pace. I just go out and run for the fun of it. It is cathartic to feel the wind in my face and hit the pavement with no agenda other than to just run until I feel like stopping.

Without further ado I give you “Why I Hate Running: aka the joy of the long run” by Kiki French:

1. The more you run, the harder (not easier) it gets.
2. When you start doing high mileage, your body hates you and hurts everywhere. And just when you are feeling back to normal it is time to run again.
3. It’s like giving yourself a pep talk for 3 hours straight.
4. Most of the time you can’t find someone to go with which makes it boring AND painful.
5. How slowly each kilometer passes no matter how fast you are running.
6. How quickly you forget how much it hurt, so you do it again expecting a different result. Isn’t this the definition of insanity?
7. Hot days + long runs = Death. Am I moving? Am I still alive? Can I see?
8. Trying to train in different cities while out of town: Finding a route; No clue what you are doing; Getting lost; Taking too many breaks for tourist photos; Finding your way; Getting lost again.
9. When you get home after hours of running and the post workout pain somehow hurts more than the pain during the run itself.
10. How it looks so easy but never feels that way.
11. Trying to explain how 42.2.km isn’t just like running 10km x 4. Every kilometer after 25km gets exponentially more painful.
12. Friends think you are a certain level of CRAZY (I’ll meet you in a few hours…. I’m going for a run).
13. Getting scared before a long run because you know it will be agony. It is like mentally prepping to have someone punch you in the stomach.
14. Trying to move after a long run…. or even just laugh sitting still.
15. Leaving the house at 9am and getting back after lunch. There goes your day!
16. Tan lines: how it looks like you are still wearing shorts and a racerback when you are naked.
17. Chaffing: Just to make the run a little more enjoyable, lets add in some skin loss.
18. Running out of water when the public fountains have not been turned on for the summer yet.
19. Having to spend money on gel packs. It’s like spending $2 on each bite of gross warm jam.
20. Hungry after a long run but not being able to decide what you want to eat or even make it for that matter because your brain is fried.

So… Who wants to train for a marathon?

I’ve been fairly quiet since then as I didn’t feel I had much to say about what happened. It took a lot of reflecting over this past month to work out my thoughts and feelings.

I ran the race of my life. Finished proudly. And then a horrific incident occurred.

Thankfully I was lucky enough to have already reconnected with my support team (Kiki and my Dad) when the explosions went off. We were safe, a block away from the finish area in a hotel lobby staying warm and discussing our plans for the afternoon. We were also lucky enough not to witness the horrendous events in person. Hearing the loud booms and seeing people frantically running away we knew something terrible had happened and decided to move away to a safer location at a nearby Boston restaurant. It was here that the facts of the event slowly were brought forward on a local news station.

As a runner my initial thoughts were of the runners who had not yet finished the race. And of those who were unfortunate enough to be near the finish when the explosions went off. Knowing the amount of hard work, dedication, blood, sweat, and (sometimes) tears that go into training for a marathon, I instantly felt disappointment for the athletes that did not get to finish the most iconic race in the running world. As the severity of the situation sank in I realized how much anger I was feeling towards individuals that would commit such a senseless act.

It shook the running community and changed many lives forever.

Since returning home I have been able to separate my pride in my athletic accomplishments from my sadness over what happened that day. I was unsure of how to respond and act at first but I now wear my blue and yellow marathon jacket with pride and talk openly about my experience. And yet, my thoughts will always be with the families that were affected that day. It’s impossible to forget the devastation.

I have realized it’s okay to be proud of my accomplishments and still feel sadness for the victims of the tragic events that occurred that day.

Moments I will always remember about my trip to Boston:

• The friendliness of the city’s residents including the lululemon athletica Newbury run club that welcomed me with wide open arms!
• Enjoying the beautiful Charles River running trails.
• Taking in a game at Fenway with my Red Sox “Superfan” father.
• The electricity surrounding Marathon Monday.
• Keg parties along the marathon route – yes at 10am!
• Kisses from the Wellesley College students in the “Scream tunnel” at the halfway point.
• Meeting up with my support team – Kiki and my dad – at mile 18.
• Kiki’s constant motivation and support as I clambered up Heartbreak Hill. Folks – it really is heartbreaking!
• Rounding the final turn from Hereford onto Boylston to see the finish line.
• The deafening cheers and support from the residents of Boston throughout the entire route. It never let up and my ears are still ringing!

Despite the horrible events that will forever change the Boston Marathon, I cannot wait to go back next year. And if I am lucky, hopefully a few more times after that!

Boston Strong.

 With the amazing lululemon Newbury run club.

Along the route and with my awesome support team!

Rounding the second last turn onto Hereford and after finishing my first Boston Marathon!

Feeling relief and pride after finishing and re-qualifying for next year in a time of 3:31:56.

After three years of hard work, injuries, goal setting, long runs, disappointment, and triumphs, it is finally here. I am about to run the 2013 Boston Marathon.

I have been hashtagging this trip the #epicbostontrip13 because I arrived last Friday morning to watch the World Synchronized Skating Championships at Boston University. Qualifying for the marathon this year was a big deal for me because I would be able to combine my two passions into one epic trip. Worlds were a blast – we loved decking ourselves out in red and white and showing our Canadian pride. The Boston community totally embraced us and we were treated like royalty. Team Canada 1 won the silver medal and Team Canada 2 finished a strong 6th place out of 20 teams from 15 different countries. Part 1 of my #epicbostontrip13 was a success!

We had fun getting to know Boston and were even able to take in the Red Sox Home Opener at Fenway. Cheering on the lone Canadian on the team (relief picture Ryan Dempster from BC who didn’t get to play but was introduced at the start of the game) we once again got lots of attention from the Boston fans. I didn’t mention that I am a Jays fan…..

We had fun at a local pub on Saturday night (again decked out in red and white) and danced the night away to local coverband Crunchy Monkey. They played tribute to their new Canadian fans with a cover of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.”

These past few days I have been playing the part of a Boston native. With my final board exam in order to become a Registered Holistic Nutritionist coming up next week when I return, I’ve been spending lots of time in the beautiful Boston Public Library.

I have absolutely fallen in love with Boston! Everyone has been so accommodating and friendly. It seems no one is in a bad mood. I love the architecture and the history of this town. There are so many interesting and beautiful neighbourhoods and I have loved exploring. The best part? This city totally caters to fitness and healthy living. The running trails along the Charles River are beautiful and I even stumbled across an outdoor gym space that was packed with runners and fitness enthusiasts completing strength workouts outside. CrossFit Fenway welcomed me with open arms and finished the WOD with a “26.2″ cheer to wish me luck in the marathon. The hype surrounding “Marathon Monday” is infectious. You can feel the excitement and there are signs everywhere welcoming runners.

While I love my beloved Toronto, something tells me this won’t be my last visit to Boston.

People have been asking me over the past few months what’s next after Boston for me. To be honest I still don’t know. This was such a huge goal for me to make it here, I have never been more proud of an accomplishment in my life. I am trying very hard to take everything in and enjoy my moments here. As my friend Alice advised me:

“Have an amazing race. Take it in. Boston is your wedding day. ENJOY!”

And I am doing just that.

See you Monday!

For more information on the Boston Marathon:

General
Route
Results

But is this really the answer? Are we all allergic to dairy?

It is important to first note the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance. By definition:

Allergy: Hypersensitivity (immune) reaction to a common / harmless antigen.

Intolerance: An inability to absorb or metabolize something (ie: lactose). This is not an immune response and therefore not considered an allergy.

Food Sensitivity: Umbrella term for allergy or intolerance.

While a food intolerance is an inability to properly digest certain foods, an allergy produces a full on immune response.

What is histamine?

When an individual is exposed to an allergen, histamine is released from mast cells (part of the immune system) which causes:

• Inflammation (swelling, edema, and congestion)
• Vessel dilation
• Decreased blood pressure
• Smooth muscle constriction (specifically in respiratory tract).

This response occurs in order to prevent more allergens from entering the body. It’s your body’s “safety” mode.

Antihistamine pharmaceuticals act on histamine receptors so that there is no inflammatory effect on the cells. While these can help ease symptoms of an allergic response, it isn’t getting to the root of the issue in that something in your environment (food or otherwise) is triggering this response.

Think of your immune system as a bucket and allergens as a leaky faucet. The first few drips won’t cause any damage, but over time the bucket will get fuller and fuller with each exposure. Eventually the bucket might overflow and you will get a “response.” This is an allergic reaction. It explains why some people claim they weren’t allergic to certain foods or environmental allergens until later in life.

Digestive Enyzmes

Have you ever found that you suddenly develop reactions to some of your favourite foods that you’ve eaten your entire life? This is often the sign of a food intolerance. Your digestive system requires specific enzymes to break down food groups. By overeating a specific food (i.e: dairy) you are depleting your body of that specific enzyme. Eventually your body will be unable to replenish enzymes quick enough and you will end up with undigested food in your digestive tract resulting in a reaction.

Celiac disease has been a hot topic lately as people continue to pursue wheat and gluten free diets. For individuals suffering from Celiac, it is more than just an intolerance to wheat. It is an autoimmune disease with an allergic component. Antibodies attack the microvilli of the intestinal tract which results in malabsoprtion. Not everyone who has an intolerance to wheat / gluten has celiac disease.

Elimination vs Rotational Diet

If you suspect a potential allergy or food intolerance there is testing available through your family doctor or naturopath. These tests can sometimes be costly and don’t always test for all possible sensitivities. Alternatively you can identify potential triggers through an elimination diet. Essentially you eliminate all potentially reactive foods for several days and introduce them one group at a time to check for negative response.

The top 5 suspect foods are:

1. Dairy
2. Gluten (wheat)
3. Eggs
4. Corn
5. Night Shades (Tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and potatoes)

People are often surprised that night shade vegetables make this list. Tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and potatoes are known for triggering the inflammatory response which makes them suspect as potential sensitive foods. On an elimination diet you should first keep a food journal and eat regularly for one week. Make note of any symptoms, changes in mood, and energy level. Next remove all 5 food groups from your diet for 7 days. Following this reintroduce one food group per day. Eat something from that group several times in one day and wait for a response. If no reaction occurs you can keep this group in your diet and introduce the next group on the next day. If a reaction does occur, remove it from your diet and continue to reintroduce the next food groups.

A rotational diet is more of a lifestyle change that helps to avoid overeating potentially reactive foods and therefore preserving enzymes. This is applicable for someone with a food intolerance as opposed to a food allergy. You are allowed to eat certain food groups every 3-5 days and must avoid them the rest of the time. It is extreme and makes grocery shopping difficult but it can prove to be effective especially if you find you are sensitive to several food groups.

What about leaky gut?

Another popular term these days is leaky gut. It is thought that stress on the digestive system in the form of allergens, toxins, Candida, and undigested food,  can lead to holes in the small intestine. Undigested food can leak through these holes and enter the bloodstream resulting in a physical response such as congestion and skin irritations. Avoiding the reactive foods is important but you also need to heal the gut to avoid future reactions.

Overall it is important to always consult with your family doctor or naturopath before trying out any new nutritional program. Our bodies are extremely individualized based on our genetic makeup and the environments we are exposed to. What worked for your neighbour may not be ideal for you!

But that certainly does not mean I’m giving them a break…

Check out the full body strength workout they’ve been tackling like champs. All you need is a set of 15 pound dumbbells and a kettlebell. I use a 20 pound kettlebell but you can scale / increase as needed. Spend 10 minutes warming up doing light cardio and dynamic stretching.

4 rounds for time of:

15 Thrusters
15 Kettlebell swings
15 Push-ups
15 Sit-ups

Always finish with a full body stretch to cool down and speed up recovery time.

Enjoy!

Tonight at 8pm EST CrossFitters around the world will be anxiously watching as the first of the CrossFit Open workouts is announced. This is the first step towards qualifying to compete at the 2013 CrossFit Games.

So what is the Open all about?

The Open consists of 5 workouts over 5 weeks and serves as qualification for Regionals. The Open workouts are top secret and are released every Wednesday.

Games hopefuls perform weekly workouts at their affiliate gyms or send in videos for verification. Scores are tallied and the leaderboard is updated after each workout. At the end of the 5 weeks the top 48 men and women and top 30 teams from each region advance to their respective regional championships where they will compete for coveted berths to The Games.

Canada East Regionals are being held in Mississauga, May 24 – 26th.

The best part about the Open is that anyone can give it a try! It’s a fun way to see where you rank in your region. In order to compete you must register, complete the first workout, and submit your score by Sunday March 10th at 8pm EST.

Last year the first workout of the Open was as many burpees as you could complete in 7 minutes…. so who knows how they’ll top that this time around!

Follow the Open and the journey to The Games at:

games.crossfit.com | Twitter | Facebook

As I am 6 weeks out from my big goal for the year (ahem Boston Marathon) I won’t be partaking in the Open this time around but hope to give it a go next year!

Wishing best of luck to everyone competing in the Open! Special mention to my friends Jeff Larsh, Eric Condron, Matt Lefave and everyone at Reebok CrossFit Liberty Village.