Yay for the Running Room!

I would like to thank the people of the Bank St. Running Room store for caring for my Garmin watch while it was missing. They hid it from prying eyes, asked who it might belong to, and cosseted it while it was alone.

Long story short, I thought I'd put my Garmin watch in my bag three weeks ago, when I apparently hadn't. The Running Room staff found it, and put out the word that a precious (and runners consider their running watches very precious) Garmin watch was missing its owner, and they couldn't understand why the owner hadn't claimed it in three weeks! However, most of my running had been indoors, and I figured it was somewhere around the house (as I usually do). Fortunately, my Garmin and I are gladly reunited, and I won't have to spend $200 in Alberta for a new one!

The run today was a long, slow 7k of wondering if I was going to finish the route. My legs were tight, and it was -14C, with a windchill to -20C, so I bundled up in four layers: a skin-tight layer, my long-sleeve half-marathon wicking shirt (for inspiration), my 'warm' layer, and the wind-breaking coat. It did the job of keeping me temperate, but I was concerned when the wind would pick up and I'd feel the chill through my entire body.
On bottom, I wore my usual outdoor running pants, but I have found that all of my regular running socks don't cover my ankles, leaving a gap where cold wind can blow and freeze my skin.
So in light of the deficiencies in my garb, I have gone and spent another sheaf of money at the Running Room, investing in a warmer winter mid-layer which can double as an early spring/late fall layer, a pair of socks that cover my ankles, and a cute pair of evaporating running gloves. All ready to hit the roads in Alberta when I go home next week!

I have discovered a slight issue with SparkPeople's nutrition and fitness plan: if I were to try and follow it while training for a half-marathon, I would fall over in exhaustion. The problem is that runners need to consume a lot more calories than SparkPeople is advising. I am thinking that I will consider the SP advice on days that I am not running, and use good sense on the days that I am.

However, tonight's meal regime is a bust: it's Superbowl night.