Quebec City post 5

Went running today. Just 3 miles.  First time since I am here that I go 2 days in a row.  I had less pain so that is good.  It is very humid here and I forgot to bring water and that was NOT good.  I got dehydrated.  3 little miles....that is how bad it is here. Hot and holly humid!


I signed up for another race...because that is what one does while they are having groin pain.
The Awesome 80's Run!

I will run the 10k.  Cannot pass this.  It is in Pasadena and I love running there.  It looks like a lot of fun, I am a kid of the 80s.  The medal is in cassette tape shape ! 80s cover band entertainment!

My brother arrives tomorrow!  Looking forward to seeing him and my nieces!

We are having a party for Will's birthday at an indoor climbing place, should be interesting!

Last couple of days have been busy seeing friends.

I saw my close friends from High School last night for a gals only dinner.  That was nice, I never get to do that at home.  Bill was nice and he stayed home with the boys so I could speak just French and be with my girlfriends for a few hours.  We have been friends for 31 years!

Today I met Marie-Christine and her kids at a beautiful park.
Yep she is taller than me! 

Also today my cousin Genevieve arrived in town from Toronto!

She has 3 kids and they speak English so it is a perfect fit with my boys!!

The Cousins!!

I managed to loose 3 lbs since I have been here...who does that on vacation...someone with a terrible stomach that's who.

Happy Oh Canada Day to my Canadian friends!!!

Here in Quebec it is moving day!

Everyone who rents a place to live and wants to move does that on the 1st of July.  Yes It is nuts.

Quebec City post 4 - Visit to the awesome PT

First the most important part of today:My fantastic son Will turned 8 today!
He wanted to go to the Aquarium so that's what we did!
The weather has been terrible the last couple of days, lots of rain and cool. 

Here we are at the Quebec Aquarium.  In the back are the 2 bridges,  The one closer to us is The Quebec Bridge.  The bridge opened in 1919.  Constructions started in 1904 but the bridge collapsed twice before it opened.  "Construction was ultimately completed in August 1917, at a total cost of $25 million and 89 bridgeworkers' lives. On December 3, 1919, the Quebec Bridge opened for rail traffic, after almost two decades of construction. Its centre span of 549 metres (1800 ft) remains the longest cantilevered bridge span in the world and is considered a major engineering feat."

Last night we went to dinner with a group of gals I coached 14 yrs ago when they were in High School.  They were the best team I ever had.  I call them the "dream team".  We won everything that year including the Provincial Championship.  I had not seen them in 10 years and now most of them are moms!  They are now the age I was when I was their coach!  We had a blast at that dinner, I am so happy I got to see them.

Running:
First I want to appologize, I am behind on blog reading...I will catch up tomorrow!

I ran 4 miles yesterday.  It went OK.  Still feel the pain at each step.
In the afternoon I was lucky to get an appointment with the best PT for runners in Quebec.
His name is Blaise Dubois.  You can find his website The Running Clinic here.
He was great.  I got an evaluation and the diagnostic is: adductor tendinopathy.

He told me that I have to:

• 1. Reduce my mileage.  Already done that.
• 2. Walk 1 min every mile.  I can do that.
• 3. No need to reduce the number of days per week that I go running.  I like that.
• 4. No HILLS.  Fine by me.
• 5. Need to do some exercice using resistance tube.  All good.

I am going back to see him next week and he will evaluate my gait.  So I am optimistic!
I am just happy he did not say those words : "No running"!
He is a pro minimalist so I am expecting him to talk to me about my current shoes :)

Quebec City post 3

Went for 4 miles yesterday.  My longest run in over a week.  I still have pain in my groin,  it is not getting worst but also not better.  Today I rested.  I am so over all this extra rest.
Tomorrow I will know when I will see the PT.

We took the kids on a boat excursion.  They loved it.  It is a great way to see the city and get beautiful pictures.

1. Waiting to get on the boat.

2. We had a tour guide dressed as Louis Riel.

3. At Orleans Island and Montmorency Falls.  Those falls are actually 98 feet higher than Niagara falls.

After the boat ride we walked in Place Royale and Petit Champlain an historical area in Quebec where there's a lot of shops and restaurants.  Also many stairs and hills.

1. Place Royale.  Notre-Dame des Victoires Church is considered the oldest stone church in North America, was built in 1688.

Quebec is a HILLY town.

And we have lots of stairs! Escalier Casse-Cou means "Breakneck stairs".  It is the oldest one in the city, the original structure was built in 1635. 

From top of escalier casse-cou, me and the kids going down.  Old Quebec Funicular for those who are not brave enough to use the stairs on the right, opened in 1879.  Funny T-Shirt we saw in a store where we got the "Angry Moose" shirts.

Quebec City post 2 - Hilarious Shirts-

Today we took the kids downtown
Look at the hilarious shirts we found:

Do you get it?????!!!!!!!!!

Quebec City post 1

I am home.

The trip here was long and exhausting.  We took the red eye thinking the  kids would sleep. Well that did not work as good as I had hoped.  They did not sleep much and I slept ZERO.

We arrived Wednesday am in hot and VERY humid Quebec.
I did not remember how the humidity felt....not a fan of it.
It is making us be a lot slower...

I hope it cools down soon or that we will get some rain!
We went in the town last night.  In the old part of Quebec, the most beautiful part of the town.  Very hilly there..lot's of crazy stairs everywhere.  We went down to look for my niece who was there with her class on a field trip.  Took me almost 2 hours to find her but I did!

She is just 13! For those who don't know I am 5'11"!!

I ran twice since I am here.  Two short runs.  It is hard to run in the humidity! I am in awe of all of you who have to do this all summer long.  I still have pain in my groin.  It is mild but it is there.  I will see a PT who treats runners only while I am here.  It will cost me $80 but it will be worth it to see someone who is used to work with runners and who speaks French!

In other running news I now know that I am on Team NIGHT for Hood to Coast.

I also know that I am runner #1.
I am so happy.  This was my first choice.  
These are the others on my team:

Team Night: AfterNuun Delight
Van 1
Caroline – Canadian Runner in Exile: Legs 1, 13, 25
Lauren – Health on the Run: Legs 2, 14, 26
Vanessa – Gourmet Runner: Legs 3, 15, 27
Shanna – Smack! Media, Nuun Partner: Legs 4, 16, 28
Susan – Nurse on the Run: Legs 5, 17, 29
Robyn - run pretty run fast: Legs 6, 18, 30

Van 2
Emily – Sweat Once a Day: Legs 7, 19, 31
Katie – Katie RUNS This: Legs 8, 20, 32
Sarah – Running Starfish: Legs 9, 21, 33
Harmony – Keep on Keeping On: Legs 10, 22, 34
Megan – Nuun Employee: Legs 11, 23, 35
Kelsey – The Go Girl Blog: Legs 12, 24, 36

I am so happy that I will get to be at the top of Mount Hood to start!
If you have seen the movie, leg 1 is the one leg that Katie's Dr says she absolutely cannot run and later you see her at the start ready to go down the steep hill!!!!

More on the legs in the next post!!!
Hope you are all well
I am reading your blogs...sometimes just on my phone so it is harder to comment.

I'M GOING HOME

Almost Ready

Packing for 4..not my favorite thing to do.

I am not looking forward to the travelling part (taking the Red Eye out of Los Angeles) but I am looking forward to being home.

The one negative part of us going to Quebec is that I have to leave this gal

I hate to leave her for so long even if she will be in good hands.

Next time I post here it will be from Canada!
A bientot!!!!

New favorite running skirt

Before I get to the skirt....

Happy Father's Day to all the dads reading this!

Running...
So I had to take a day off today. A non scheduled rest day.  This sucks big time.
I ended the week with just 23 miles.
I have had pain in my groin for 3 weeks now.  I ran my last half marathon with this pain.  I remember that I felt the pain with each step.  .
I ice it.  I stretch it.  I even tried to foam roll it, that was not a great success..not the easiest body part to roll.  It is not better.

Of course I don't want this to get worst...so I was VERY mature and I rested.  To make sure that I did, I set my alarm for 7:30 am  when it would be too hot to go for a run already!

Groin pain experience anyone?  Advices are welcomed as always.

Ok I found the perfect running skirt.
It has all I was looking for:

1. It is not too short.
2. It has a back pocket WITH zipper.
3. It has no shorties.
4. Best of all it has a DRAWSTRING.
5. I paid $19.97

Cannot beat that.
I ran in it twice.  It stays in place.
It is PERFECT.

Want to see?  Kim I know you want to see it...:)

NIKE Women's Tempo Unlined Running Skirt
It is made with same fabric as their tempo shorts.
I love it!

(No Nike did not pay me for this post...I wish!... and no they did not send this skirt to me, I just wanted to share with all you gals who are still looking for a running skirt they like.)

Got a notice from Blogger telling me I am at max capacity for pictures.  Now I have to delete some if I want to upload new ones.  That means the ones I delete will also be deleted from my posts .   What do you do in that situation?

Lovely Blog Award and a Winner

Christine from the blog Dream Big Runner and Elle who blogs at Eat Run Sail both tagged me for the Lovely Blog Award.

Simple rules:

1. Thank the person who awarded the award : Thank you Christine and Elle!!!

2. Tell Seven random things about yourself that no one knows....well I don't know about the no one part...I do have some people in my life who do know a lot about me...

3. Pass on the award to 7 blogger pals.

I am starting with the 7 people I will tag for this in random order

1. Sandy Boston Bound Brunette

2. XLMIC Taking it on

3. Kate Super Kate

4. Stefano Black Knight

5. Nelly Nelly on the run

6. Katherine Neon Blonde Runner

7. Corey Schnoodles of fun

Ok now the 7 things about me most people do not know...

1. I do not like shopping..except for books.  That I love to shop for. 

2. I don't like people who lie, are rude or intolerant.

3. Those are my favorite flowers (these came from my backyard)

4.  I left home when I was 18.  Looking back it was not the smartest decision of my life and I hope my sons will not do the same unless it is because they get a scholarship to go there:

5. I think men should not be allowed to wear white pants..including white jeans!

6. I still buy Real CD.  The last one I bought is John Mayer's Born and Raised and I love it.

7.  4 more days until I take a plane to go there...

The winner of the My Memory software is......lucky #9 : SANDY!!!!!

And this one for  my hockey fan pals...BDD and Shawn ...

Mizuno Mezamashii Project!

The Mezamashii Run Project is an effort by Mizuno to help create a more euphoric running experience — a more "brilliant" run — for more runners everywhere. The word "mezamashii" means "eye-opening" or "brilliant" in Japanese — it's a word that captures the euphoric feeling of a brilliant run.

They picked 600 runners to be the founding members of this project and I am one of them.  I feel very lucky and also honored.  This was not a contest, we did not need to send any type of applications.  We were just chosen.  I love that Mizuno did not pick only elite runners or BQ kind of runners but they also picked  unknown average runners like me.  They don't care that I have yet to run a marathon..all they care about is that I run.  This will sound so cheesy but it makes me feel special and accepted in the huge and diverse running community.

I was contacted via email by Chris (Chris, if you are reading this, thank you again so very much for finding me!)  He asked for my home address and promise this was legit and would be something "good".  I only knew it was a Mizuno project and the rest was a secret.

A few weeks passed and then this showed up

Mizuno believes their shoes can help runners achieve this mezamashii feeling more often, so they sent special invitations to the founding members to receive a free pair of shoes and join their quest for the brilliant run.    

This from the beautiful invitation I received from Mizuno:

‘Instead of spending millions of dollars on advertising to talk about our shoes, we’re putting our money where your feet are — by giving you a free pair.’

Of course I am happy and grateful to receive a free pair of Mizuno shoes!  I think this campaign is very clever. 

I have ran 7 of my 10 half marathons in Mizunos.  First I had Nexus 4 and I changed to the Wave Inspire 7.   I liked them but I did not feel those were THE ones.  The other stability shoe they have is the Nirvana 8, they are expensive shoes and I could not bring myself to spend so much money for running shoes.  So you can guess what pair I requested for this project...the Nirvana 8!   When I called to order them I was told they were out of my size (11) and that they were changing the color (from pink to blue) so I would have to wait until the end of July to get my shoes.  Well I am waiting of course!  End of July will be perfect timing, one month before Hood to Coast!

After selecting my shoes the next step was "Invite the Worthy".  I got to pick someone who would also be receiving a free pair of Mizuno shoes and join me in the quest of the brilliant run! 

I picked a more than worthy runner.  Her running resume is impressive and she also used running to do good for others. But there is more than that.
I picked someone who has been nothing but supportive of my running progression.  She knows I want to run a marathon and she believes in me more than I believe in myself I think.  Because of her and her huge heart I was able to convince Bill to give the OK for a marathon.  Why do I need the OK from my husband for that? Because of that race here.  He said OK because she offered to run (well run for me and I guess trot for her) all 26.2 miles with me. 
Sacrifice time with her family.
Sacrifice a race.   
JUST FOR ME. 
JUST SO I CAN MAKE ONE OF MY DREAM COME TRUE . 

So it was easy for me to pick my "worthy".

I look forward to go running with my new Mizuno Nirvana 8 in July!
I will write a review on them later this summer!

Thank you Mizuno Running!

Hockeytown

We pause this running blog for this one post...because well it is mandatory tonight to post something about this historic sport moment!

As you know I am Canadian.
Back home hockey is a religion.  I am not kidding.  We HAVE to love hockey.
And I do.
Growing up we had one TV in the house and on every Saturday night "La Soiree du Hockey" (Hockey Night in Canada)  was what was on.   The Montreal HABS was our team until we had our Quebec Nordiques join the league for several years.

Now that I live here, the home team are the Los Angeles Kings.
I went to see them a couple of times when Luc Robitaille was still playing.

I never thought of LA as a hockey town...I am pretty sure nobody did.
But tonight....tonight it sure is.

History has been made.
I love those kind of sports moments.
Big ones, with facts and first times
First Cup in 44 years.
First 8th seeded team to win the Stanley Cup.

I watched the game tonight with my kids.
Did you hear me scream??!!! :) It was a shower of goals!!!
Guess where my husband was during that game....in a sports bar...
in NEW JERSEY! HA HA!!
I called a few times.....it sounded like dead town there....I dared him to stand up on a chair and shout "Go Kings!" ..but he did not bite....booo hooo!

So Congrats to THE LOS ANGELES KINGS!!!

What a ride!

This guy was a superstar! (Jonathan Quick, Goalie)

Simon Gagne, a French Canadian like me. 

He is actually from my hometown of Sainte-Foy!

 and Luuuuuuuuuuuc!!!!! The great Luc Robitaille (another French Canadian) who is now

The Kings President.

Tomorrow I will go get the kids some Stanley Cup Champ t-shirts....they will be wearing that to arrive in Quebec next week!!! That is going to be funny!!!

Did you enter my Giveaway?  Go HERE!

GIVEAWAY!

Win a FREE photo-scrapbooking digital software!!!

This is a digital scrapbook software. It is very easy to learn how to use it. I installed it on my laptop and started using it right away. With My Memory Suite you will be able to create all kinds of projects using pictures; books, cards, calendars, posters, slide show with music, videos, gifts tags. One of the thing I love about this software is that each page you create can become a jpg file. You can make really nice pages using your pictures and print them as a picture of any size you like on your own printer no need to order through any websites. If you choose to use a website to print your pages that is also something that you can do. You would upload those pages just like you do with your regular pictures. It is VERY EASY. 

You can also have full scrapbook pages printed.  Costco offers this service and other website I found also for very good price.  You can build a big scrapbook with those pages like you would do a regular one but without all the glue and cutting and stickers.

My Memories Suite Scrapbook software comes with templates pages, several different background papers and embellishments. You can change the shape of your pictures, frame them in any color you want, add text to them, add a shadow, special effects, you name it!! You can make a lot of things without having to buy anything extra but if you want to add to what comes with the software you can download more templates or embellishments on the www.MyMemories.com website. There, you will find a lot of fun stuff! They even have a section with FREE downloads! You can find all kinds of monograms and templates for everything; Christmas, Sports, Kids, School, Seasons etc.
Want to see some examples of things I made using this software?
Just look at my blog header! 
Also all the slides on my Hood to Coast video application were made with this software
you can see it here

I also used the software to make my son's "Star of the Week" poster at school:

And to make birthday party invitations:

So who wants a free My Memories Suite Scrapbook software ($40 value) ???

HOW TO WIN:
Mandatory:
1. Be a follower of my blog. One entry.

2. Visit www.MyMemories.com. and tell me what is your favorite digital paper pack. One Entry.
EXTRA entry for:

3. Like MyMemories on Facebook here. 1 entry.

4. Share this Giveaway with your followers, it can be on your blog or twitter and leave me a comment here.  For Twitter include @carotabi in your message so I know you did it. 1 entry for each.

So one lucky person will win a free software and for all the others I have a special coupon to give to you
$10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!

This is the coupon code: STMMMS86809


Winner (choosen with random.org) will be announced on June 15!

My Trademark

Again.....
I get these from the race pics.   It has now become a classic for me I guess.
I did raise my arms up in victory right before the top left one was taken...
Where is that picture Mr Photographer??

Ran on the machine all week.
Not my favorite kind of running but better than no running at all.

Mon 5 miles
Tue 4 miles
Wed see below
Thu: 4 miles
Friday: 5 miles

Headed outside tomorrow and Sunday.  It is supposed to be REALLY hot so 6-8 miles max.

National Running Day was a rest day.  But I did some different kind of running.
It is the "mom running" kind of running.
I ran after my kids at the Los Angeles Zoo!!!
That has to count for something!!!

Next Post: GIVEAWAY!!!