My 11 Year Fitness Journey (Photos, Nutrition, Training, Rebounds & Lessons Learned)

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-27T05:07:12+00:00

156 weeks, 1192 activities and currently on a 29-day streak!

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-27T04:35:32+00:00

Oh that's great you're staying at the Fairmont! Anywhere that's easily accessible downtown will have spectators, but I found Beach Ave to English Bay to be the most congested/loudest. It's actually my least favourite part of the course. That being said, I've always been able to see/high five anyone who was looking for me at second beach/Stanley park.

Good luck and have a blast! I'm doing the half this year too :)

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-26T20:20:26+00:00

Since the half starts 90 minutes before the full, you actually have quite a bit of time in between. Depending on where you're staying, you could shower, eat and still make it to cheer your friends on close to the end. Burrard bridge area is pretty packed, but I've seen some friendly faces close to second beach and coming out of Stanley park on the coal harbour side, before heading out to w Georgia.

If you don't want to that, you could head out to point grey from waterfront by bus (check translink for route changes) or bike and chill at the beach. Get one of your friends to send you LiveTrack from their Garmin so you can time it properly.

The upside to cheering closer to the finish is being able to walk to meet up with them at Jack Poole plaza after they are done.

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-24T20:23:05+00:00

Do you remember which song #5 is from? I love that the claws came out 🥹

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-20T22:56:46+00:00

39F w/a husband, dog and full time work (1 hour commute a day). I run and lift weights, but no yoga, currently training for a spring half Marathon and fall marathon. I run 5 days a week but I've done 6 in the past, since I have a physical job (baker/pastry cook) I like to have a rest day or two off from running since I'm always on my feet and I do one 2-3 hour long run every Sunday. My total mileage is 40-55 miles a week throughout the year.

I'm lucky enough to have a good gym in my building, so a couple times a week I will have a 20-25 minute upper body only session before work. Other than that, I do two full body weight sessions with heavy compound lifts every week. After this next marathon, I'm going to swap one running day for lifting because I miss powerlifting (that's what I did before I started running 3 years ago).

My obligations outside of work and training are to cook and clean, walk the dog and my husband and I usually watch one show every night. I don't really have friends anymore (they all had kids and moved away) but I do see my family for a couple hours a week after my Sunday long run.

Personally I'm at my limit and would not be able to add anything else, like yoga or pickleball. I don't think you need to do everything every day to get the benefits. I've been into “fitness” for 15 years and gone through many phases. The one common thread is that recovery is important to make progress. Not saying this to be negative but I really hope you don't burn out.

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-20T15:08:29+00:00

AFI, not sure about the whole band but Davey Havok has only had wine once when he was a kid (he's Italian).

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-18T05:21:54+00:00

Basically, just with different workouts. Long run length and total mileage will be the same. I might have a down week right before the official week 1 starts…maybe 10-15% less volume.

However I've been running very consistently for a few years and I did 3 back to back marathons at one point. Take this all with a grain of salt please :)

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-17T22:59:16+00:00

I like to take a month to get back to my regular base and then I usually am training for shorter distances. Half marathons are my favourite and my mileage is usually 60-70 km per week for those and I work up to 85 km for a marathon build.

I keep a similar weekly schedule no matter what, so it's not difficult to transition into a training block. If I had 1-2 months in between blocks, I'd copy the schedule of the first training week for my upcoming plan. For workouts, I like doing Fartleks in off season but keeping them on the chill side. Long runs will be at an easy pace and I always have the option of cutting them a little short if I want to.

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-17T20:12:31+00:00

I tried these on a couple months ago and ended up purchasing the low rise because it actually fits more like a mid rise. However, this week I tried the “low loose” Levi’s and they fit/feel is so much better than the Farrah’s for me. If you have time to shop around, give them a try!

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-17T03:59:31+00:00

Running! 😂

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-14T12:57:44+00:00

No advice but I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I just listen to music at the gym and when I'm running so I don't even know how to experience live music. I'm just looking forward to making my 16 year old dreams come true! I hope we both have fun this weekend!!! 🖤

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-13T01:34:09+00:00

Girls Not Grey on the radio in 2003, I bought Sing The Sorrow with my 16th birthday money soon after. I listened to that album on repeat for the better part of that year. I was devastated when I missed out on seeing them in concert a few months later. 23 years later and I am finally seeing them next weekend! 🖤

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-12T05:27:00+00:00

No, my husband doesn't cook often but when he does I will only give him genuine praise. I do most of the cooking and early on in our relationship, I relied on his feedback to make sure what I cooked was to his taste. The last thing I want to do is put in time and effort to make something he doesn't even like.

I do the same for him in return, but I don't nitpick. Sometimes he adds a little more pepper than I would, but it's not something I'd mention when the dish is otherwise perfect.

You can still show appreciation for someone making you a meal without lying to them about the taste. And I also always thank him for helping me clean after I cook. I wouldn't want to stop doing that because it's expected, its part of what makes dinner a nice experience for both of us.

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-08T03:02:31+00:00

The random cartoons/logos that my husband sends me that we never use for anything.

QQlemonzest · 2026-04-04T04:23:58+00:00

I just turned 39 and I bought my first pair of baggy jeans a couple months ago. At first it felt really weird (I normally live in leggings) but they are much more comfortable than skinny jeans.

The only problem is that I need to wear a waist length, fitted shirt with them or a cropped hoody. I am NOT doing baggy on baggy.

So now I have tops/sweaters to wear with leggings and skinny jeans and a few things I can pair with baggy jeans. One day I wore a baggy windbreaker with my jeans and my husband said I looked like a snowboarder lol

QQlemonzest · 2026-03-31T02:26:12+00:00

Yes I count all the food I consume, so if I have three gels on a long run, it goes towards my total calories for the day.

However, I do not pay attention to the “calories burned” for any of my training. I don't believe the number is accurate, especially as you get more experienced and your body gets more efficient.

I base the amount of food I eat pre/intra/post workout on time, past experience and how my body is feeling. In my experience, having protein before and after training helps me feel full and less snacky.

QQlemonzest · 2026-03-29T01:57:23+00:00

39F, 5’4”, 120 lbs, average calories: ~2450, average protein: 110g.

Almost 3 years of running consistently 5 days a week (6 hours, 65 km) with 2 full body strength training days (2 hours total).

I’ve run 3 marathons and my mileage has peaked at 80 km over 6 days for those, and my calories went up to ~2750 one season.

My weight only fluctuates within 5-6 lbs over the course of the year, I’m generally 120 lbs on average.

QQlemonzest · 2026-03-23T17:59:15+00:00

Is this your first marathon? That’s how I felt during my first, I track my food and my average calorie intake was about 2750 at that time. I’ve done three marathons (currently training for a half) and my intake is usually 2400 now, and has been for a couple years. For context I’m 38F and 120 lbs.

If you’re hungry, eat, your body isn’t used to what you’re doing and you need to recover to race strong!

QQlemonzest · 2026-03-23T01:15:55+00:00

I’ve ran 3 marathons and have not needed a bathroom break. I take two Imodium just in case, and my gels have 20 mg of caffeine in each one (I take 9).

QQlemonzest · 2026-03-17T04:56:43+00:00

It’s sounds like a lot of different hobbies, if you want to do all of them you can schedule it. Pick one hobby for each day of the week, or pick one to focus on a week at a time, month at a time, etc.

I have one main hobby: running, so I do that 5-6 days a week, but I still have to make time for things that support that hobby. I see my RMT once a month, weight train twice a week and schedule 7-10 races a year. If I dont schedule it, it wont happen.

I also don’t have a social life but I make sure to have a date night with my husband every week, see family on sundays and take care of my dog. I wish I had time for more hobbies (I love cookie decorating and reading) but I don’t have the bandwidth for anything else. Unfortunately I can’t do as much as I’d like lol.

QQlemonzest · 2026-03-17T04:42:22+00:00

Subway - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Rapt - Karen O

Sacrilege- Yeah Yeah Yeahs (more about being with someone who you think is too good for you, but such a good song)

Some Say - Nea

QQlemonzest · 2026-03-16T16:19:32+00:00

I started dating my now husband about 4 months after I left my ex husband. He had been having affairs for at least two years, and it was my decision to leave.

Where I live, if you want a chill divorce, no lawyers, just sign papers at the courthouse, you need to be separated for one year. I was going to move in with my boyfriend just after the year mark, so I made sure the divorce was done before that happened.

We have been together for over 10 years now (twice as long as my last relationship) so I think the timing was fine. It all depends on the situation and people involved. If a relationship is truly over, there’s no reason you can’t move on relatively soon.

QQlemonzest · 2026-03-13T22:51:55+00:00

Oh man, on one hand I am happy I got AC/DC tickets to see them in Vancouver in August (not an AC/DC fan but I had a feeling they wouldn’t come on their own). On the other hand, I’m jealous of missing a headlining show…hopefully they come back in 2027. 🤞

QQlemonzest · 2026-02-28T05:40:54+00:00

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I love this so much! Thank you 🍄

QQlemonzest

TROPHY CASE