This past weekend I went to Montreal with a few friends to celebrate my upcoming birthday. Every once in a while I just feel like I need to get out of the city, even if that means spending some time in another city. Leading up to my trip I was really anxious because traveling can really take a toll on your body. I had been working really hard making good food choices and keeping to a regular running schedule. I didn’t want to undo a month of hard work in a weekend! I was almost at a point where I didn’t even want to go on this trip that I had planned to have fun with my friends, because I didn’t want to sabotage a weigh-in. But you can’t live your life that way, so I just promised myself I would be careful, and I would attempt to exercise somehow.
Saturday morning I woke up in a nicely decorated three-bedroom apartment in a nice enough neighborhood in Montreal. I had decided that I was going to go for a run first thing, while my friends were waking up, to at least combat some of the inevitable calories coming in the day ahead. I did get up and I did go for a run, but it was an amazing misadventure. There were a few things working against me.
Number 1: The massive plate of 1am poutine that I ate before bed.
As if french fries weren't unhealthy enough, we like to add cheese curds and gravy sometimes.
Number 2: The weather. It was 40 degrees and pouring rain.
Number 3: My Couch to 5k app quit 10 minutes into my run.
I went on a horrible two mile run on a belly full of poutine, absolutely frozen in the pouring rain, with no music, and no direction. I couldn’t get into a rhythm at all the entire time I was out and no part of me was happy to be doing so. I got back to the apartment and was very angry. I was so excited to get out and go for a vacation run, and just ended up being really disappointed that it didn’t go well at all. I felt like I was back on my first run ever, and every step felt so forced. I guess I should be glad that I made the effort to go for the run at all, but I felt like such a failure.
All in all, the weekend was quite a success. A great time was had by all, and even if my run sucked, I ended up going on a 3 hour walk, and I also ate poutine 3 more times.
(Left to right) Steve, me, Eric, and Rachael at the top of Mont Royal
Going out and getting a run in the books is the most important thing. It doesn’t really matter so much how it goes.
The fact that you planned on going out for a run while on vacation is amazing — you never would have done that a year ago, or six months ago, or whatever. The fact that you actually put your shoes on and went out and DID IT is even better.
What Dave said is so true. So now you take a few lessons away with you – ALWAYS charge your phone before you leave (I actually skipped the gym one day last week because I left my head phones at home and my phone only had 30% power – I was so disappointed with myself) – Just get back on track. How did you ever eat THREE poutines?! One looked like it could kill you!
Poutine! Oh I love that stuff.
At least you got out and attempted a vacation run.. It may have been only 2 miles but how many other people are dedicated enough to go out and run when they are on vacation. Especially after all that poutine.
I’ve never even heard of poutine – and very grateful for that! Now fried dough with maple – in Ottawa, that’s another story and so worth it!
Running in the rain…be careful…you are acting like a true runner 🙂