The post about training hard, my abdomen and Canadian Running

A sunroof selfie from last week. I just like this picture. And the filter almost
eliminated my crow's feet. Almost...

• Yes, I know. Two weeks. Two weeks since I blogged. This is likely going to be picture heavy because I don't have too much to say. Easter came and went very uneventfully. I had my family over to my house for Good Friday. I made Salmon, Haddock, broccoli and perogy. Guess what I didn't have? My family loves perogy and it was a staple during holidays in my house while growing up. My mother was Polish. I used to make them homemade, but since I no longer eat them, I buy them from a Polish bakery. Such a cheater. They still taste pretty good according to my brother. 
• We spent Easter Sunday with my in-laws. Julien was spoiled with money. Lots and lots of money. Italians love to hand out cash. He got a basket from the Easter bunny which is never easy to fill because he doesn't like chocolate and very little candy. Just gummies and suckers. There's only so many gummies and suckers you can get a kid. He eats a bit the day he gets it, then forgets about them. So he got a video game and books. He was happy and is still at an age where he doesn't care or notice that his video game was previously enjoyed. Score, and another cheat

My very "optimistic" training schedule for the rest of April.

• I've mentioned that I am currently training for the Niagara Falls Women's Half Marathon. Again, one of my favorite races to date. A well organized event and I got to run it with my running mentor Carol. I didn't personal best for the Around the Bay. Not even close. I still haven't looked at my official time. I know it's about 12 minutes slower. I would like to PB for this race. So I am training hard. I'm running 5 days a week including hill repeats, Cycling up the escarpment twice per week, yoga twice per week, and taking two additional classes for lower body strengthening through the week. I'm also doing squats, clam shells, monster walks, negative heel lifts and major stretching daily as per my athletic therapist's instruction. This past week was my first week and I stuck to my schedule except for the additional strengthening classes because acupuncture and physio appointments happened instead. And I know that having such a full schedule could result in burnout. So I'm listening to my body. If I need a rest day, I will rest.
• Athletic therapy is going well. My AT is knowledgeable at what he does. He treats all the McMaster University athletes and me. I hang out with a bunch of university students who are hoping to one day be Olympic bound. Then there's little ole me. Talk about feeling intimidated. I'm hoping to dazzle them with my quick wit and humor. Hoping for an invite to the next keg night. Back to my therapy. I have to run on the dreadmill, a lot. But that's when he screams direction at me to correct my form. He's a screamer and a toucher. When he yells, I listen. Right now I'm building up my glutes, hamstrings, quads and calves. And I'm leading with my knees instead of my nose like I tend to do. Thank God there are no mirrors in the treadmill area.

Coffee time? I don't even have a 2 pack yet...

• One of the most asked questions I get via my blogger email, Instagram and Twitter direct message is if I've had skin removal surgery. I've not talked about this in a while so I'll divulge this information once again. I mentioned in my last post that I plan on getting an upper arm lift this coming fall. That is the area that was most noticeably affected by my weight loss. I have areas to tighten and tone, but that will happen in the gym. If I had unlimited funds, I'd get the upper arm lift, a breast lift (not enhancement), and some lipo on my outer thighs and lower abdomen (above c-section scar). The outer thighs and abdomen can be made better in the gym. Of that I am certain. So that is what I will do. It takes hard work to get results and as much as I hate the gym, I have to build up my lower body anyway for running performance. I might as well get some abs while I'm there. So the answer is no. I've not had skin removal surgery. 
• Right now I am focused on dropping a bit of weight. I want to get leaner before I start to build muscle. Last summer when I went hard in the gym for a couple months I got bulkier. That's not what I want. I want to get rid of the excess fat and then strengthen and build up muscle. I've been chasing ketosis all week. Eating only protein and veggies grown above ground. I check my urine every morning. Nothing. But I did lose 4 pounds from Monday to Friday. So at least the scale is going in the right direction. And I can feel a difference in my clothes. Once I drop 10-15 pounds in total, I'll start with the weights again. Exciting times!!!

One of my last wine times (with Tanya) before going very low carb again.

• I've not mentioned this yet even though it happened a couple months ago. My best running gal Tanya has moved home. Remember how heart broken I was that she moved to Stockholm? Then I went all the way to Stockholm to run a half marathon with her? Good times! Well she is back and we are reunited. We still need to run, and that will happen soon.  We are going to do some races together. The Meredith Hagan Inspiration Run in Mountsberg Conservation Area on June 20th for one. I've run this race twice. It's mostly trails and a great run. Meredith Hagan was a triathlete who was killed in a cycling accident with a car. The Meredith Hagan Foundation holds this race every year around her birthday to raise money for a local charity. This is near and dear to Tanya's heart because her hubby went to school with Meredith. 
• So, something exciting happened yesterday. I swung by Coles to pick up a couple copies of Canadian Running Magazine. Because lo and behold, there is an article about me in there. Editor-in-chief Michael Doyle and staff writer (and Twitter buddy) Noel Paine wrote an awesome story about how running has changed my life. LOVED doing this interview. Mostly because I got to talk about something I'm passionate about. Running, running and more running.

Yep, got the cashier to photograph me in the store. I was the only customer there!