Kilometers For Kids - Day 3, Super Moon Run

A while back we decided to do a group run during every full moon this winter.  Today just happened to be full moon but also a "super moon".  This is when the moons eliptical orbit brings it closer to the earth.  This causes it to appear larger and brighter!!

Last night, the moon was amazing, even though it still wasnt quit full. I did my run in the morning so I didnt need to run in the evening.  Today however, the clouds started to roll in about 4PM and by 6PM the "super moon" was "super hidden" by thick cloud cover!!

But because we runners are stubborn people, we still went for our run!!  Six of us met out at Evergreen Park and conquered 5 kilometers of snowy trails.  Even though the moon was no where to be seen, it was still a beautiful night!!!

At the end of the 5 km run, my mileage for the month of December is 14 km.  Quite a bit higher than I expected for the first 3 days of my 31 day running streak!!!  My goal for the month is to raise $2,000 for "Kilometers For Kids" to purchase hats, mitts, and warm clothes to donate to the schools here in Grande Prairie.  If you would like to help me reach my goal, follow this link to donate or search "Kilometers For Kids" on Race Roster.

Support Kilometers For Kids!!!

"Kilometer For Kids" is now LIVE!!!

Starting December 1, will run every day for at least 1 km and yes, I will even run Christmas day and New Years Eve...!!!  I am estimating that I will run 80 to 100 km in the month.

The purpose of this run is to raise funds for "Kilometer For Kids" so we can purchase hats, mitts and winter clothes for elementary students in the Grande Prairie schools.

Every day, kids come to school without warm clothes to play outside.  The teachers give the kids hats and mitts to wear, when they have them, but supplies often run short.

You can support me in two ways. You can donate funds directly to my challenge by following this link.  Or you can challenge yourself and join "Kilometers For Kids" by registering here.  You can register and make donations any time before the end of December.

Once you have registered for the event, you can share the links with your friends and challenge them to get active or support your challenge.

Its simple, easy and FUN!!!  But most of all, we will help the kid enjoy their time outside at school by providing them with warm winter clothes.

Thanks so much for your support!!

Thirty Day Run Streak Fundraiser

December 1st I will be starting my first ever, 30 day running streak.  Every day in December, I will run at LEAST 1 km....yes, even Christmas Day and New Years Eve.  While it may seem like a crazy idea to some people; most of my ideas are well thought out before the are "made public".

The main purpose of the streak is to get me motivated and back into training mode for 2018 training season, but it will also be a fundraising event.  So I need YOUR HELP!!!

My wife works at an elementary school here in Grande Prairie, Alberta and has mentioned the number of small kids that come to school without hats or mittens.  Some even come without a warm coat or snow pants; even though they are expected to play outside during recess.

My goal is to raise $2,000 so we can purchase winter gear for as many kids as possible.  In order to make this possible, I am setting up an event on Race Roster, "Kilometers for Kids".  You will be able to pledge money to my 30 day run streak or you can join me and start your own challenge and collect pledges on your own.

You dont have to run a streak, but do something to challenge yourself....  Run your first 10 km run, do a 30 day WALK streak...whatever you like to challenge yourself!!  When you register your challenge with "Kilometers for Kids", you will then be able to collect pledges to support your challenge.

All the money raised will stay right here in Grande Prairie and with YOUR help, we will reach our goal, and more schools will benefit from this event.

I am hoping to have the event live by Dec 1.  All pledges and challeges need to be completed by December 31 so we can finish this project before winter is too far gone.

Keep watching my blog and Facebook for updates, or once it is live, you will be able to search "Kilometers for Kids" and find it on Race Roster!!!

Time Change Night Run!!

Most people dread Daylight Savings Time and the looming time change and all the re-adjustment it causes in the morning and evening.  To me, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to go for a run in the middle of the night, and since we were "losing and hour"....why not lose an hour out of the middle of a run??

Sometimes the best ideas happen at the last moment; or maybe I just like to be impulsive, but there was only 12 hours until start time of the run if we were going to take full advantage of the time change!!  Luckily, I had all of Saturday afternoon to spread the word on Facebook.  Michal and Daryl jumped at the idea of a middle of the night adventure, then Zanne got on board too.  We tried to convince others from the local run group to join us, but for some reason, most people had random excuses they were not able to make it.

Maybe it was because the daytime temperature was hovering around -20, but the forecast was calling for intermittent snow and -10 for the night.  Full moon was less than 24 hrs away, so if the clouds cleared, there would be no need for headlamps.

Saturday was a lazy day for me, and since Friday was the day after my birthday, Cheri made homemade pizza for supper and peanut butter cream pie for desert...and then there was wine and a movie top off the evening!!  It may not have been my best choice for pre-run nutrition, but it was meant to be a fun run, and I already had time on my side...

After the movie, everyone in the house was in bed shortly after 10PM.  In an effort to not wake up the whole house in my night time escapades, I prepared my running gear and post race meal....then looked at running shoes online.  There are so many options for footwear available!!  I will never have time to try them all out....how do you simply choose ONE pair of shoes?!?!

At 12:00, I started getting dressed in my running clothes.  The dog shuffled sleepily out of the bedroom and into the living room and stared at me dumbfounded as I was getting ready to go.  Even though he never runs with me (Shi Tzu's legs are FAR to short to maintain my pace...) he knows the drill and always watches with anticipation that MAYBE I will take him.  For some reason, he didn't seem to eager to join me tonight, and promptly fell asleep again at the top of the stairs while I was getting ready.

On the drive to the trailhead at Evergreen Park, the thermometer in the truck read -9 degrees; and just like the weatherman predicted, there was about an inch of fresh snow on the ground and it was still gently falling.  When I got far enough away from the city lights, I could see the full moon shining through the snow flurries and casting eerie shadows in the woods.

A quick pre-run meeting in the parking lot decided that the creek would be our final destination for the nights run.  That should give us 12 to 15 kilometres there and back.  At exactly 1:00 AM, we were running out of the brightly lit parking lot and into the darkness of the wintery woods.  Daryl and Michal lead the way and Zanne and I brought up the back of the group.  Im sure Zanne thought I was being nice, going slow and stay with her; but really, I preferred her pace over Daryl and Michal's pace.  This was a "fun run" after all!!!

The night time trails did not disappoint.  The snow flurries slowed then stopped all together, then the crisp moonlight illuminated the spruce forrest and brought out all the shadows.  Luckily I had Zanne with me for protection from any hungry bears that may be avoiding hibernation with hopes of the odd slow runner still spending time running the trails.

Randomly throughout the night Zanne would let out her "Bear Deterrent Call".  "WOOOOEEEAAAAAWWWW!!!!"  That roughly translates into bear language as "I-AM-BIGGER-AND-FASTER- THAN-YOU-AND-I-WILL-EAT-YOU-BEFORE-YOU-EAT-ME!!!"

The bears seem to understand what she was saying to them, because they kept their distance; but every time she spoke to them she also made me JUMP out of my skin!!  From my experience, that is also the sound that strange night time creatures make in the woods!!  I remember that sound from when I was a kid....

As we got closer to the creek, we started down into the thickly wooded creek bottom.  The dense spruce canopy blocked out any light from the moon.  I switched my headlamp back on to illuminate the roots that sprawled across the trail under the snow.

We hadn't seen Daryl and Michal in quite a while but they assured us they wouldn't go to far ahead.  I kept expecting to see the light from their headlamps as we rounded every corner....  When we got to the creek, I spotted something behind a log.  For a moment, it looked like an animals hungry eyes glowing in the darkness.  Then I realized that it was Michal crouching behind a stump....the reflective material on his running clothes gave away his hiding spot!!

"Zanne and Michal looking at 'something'
in the woods..."

Even though the run had been more focused on fun, rather than pace, we took a bit of a break at the creek.  Our GPS watches said it was 1:57.  In 3 minutes, we would lose an hour off our running time!! We took the opportunity to do another Facebook live update....surprise, surprise....no one was watching.  It seemed most people were sleeping.

After watching the time go from 1:59 AM to 1:00 AM, we were please that we were well ahead of schedule so we started back up the hill and the trail back to the parking lot.  On the run back, there was less chatter.  Zanne's "bear deterrent calls" came farther apart and the flat trail allowed us to fall into a steady rhythm, running through the freshly fallen snow.

Running through the moonlit woods, the quiet darkness seemed to take me back about 30 years; when I was running the sled dogs through the bush to check the our rabbit snare line.  I remember  leaving the house after school and not being able to finish the loop before the sun would dip below the Yukon mountains; the darkness would swallow up me an my dog.  Most trips weren't during a full moon like tonight and when I was young, I didn't have the luxury of a headlamp.  All I could do was trust Silver to stay on the trail and lead me home.

Zanne's yelling brought me out of my dreaming... she said she was falling asleep on the trail!!  It was past her bed time.  I agreed, it was well past my bed time too; but for some reason, I was very alert and drowsiness had not yet hit me.

"Im falling asleep back here, Phil!!"

The run along the power line was kind of mind numbing.  The short up and down oscillations from the ATV's in the sand, made for challenging running the the darkness with less than ideal depth perception.  When we cut back into the woods for the last portion of the single track trail, our pace naturally increased.

I could tell I was starting to fatigue (or I was running too fast) because my eyes couldn't process all the terrain and hazards that were coming at me.  I managed to make it back onto the wider trail without colliding with any trees or stumps.  Our pace slowed to a more maintainable speed when we got to the ditch portion of the run.  We ran intervals for the last kilometre or two because Zanne said her hip flexers were very tight.

Then, when the parking lot was in sight, she started to sprint ahead!!  Haha!!  I know THAT trick!!  The race was on!!  Daryl and Michal greeted us with high-five's when we got to the vehicles, then is was time to calculate our running time!!

We left the parking lot at 1AM sharp, and thanks to Daylight Saving's Time, we arrived back at the parking lot at 1:47AM....not bad for a 13 kilometre fun-run!!




 

Phil's Gear Guide: Osprey Hydration Pack

As my training distances got longer, my 500 ml waist bottle just wasnt sufficient hydration for runs much over 10 km.  With road running, it is easy to stash water along the route to refill, but with trail running, that is not always possible.

I wasnt sure what I was looking for in a hydration pack, so I went to our local running store, Walk Run and More and asked the staff what was the best hydration pack for my longer trail runs.

I told them my budget, but they encouraged me to not make my decision based just on price but on how the pack fit me.  Each pack that seemed to fit well, we added three 500 ml water bottles into the bladder compartment for weight, then I ran for a bit on the tread mill to see if the pack bounced and moved, with me in motion.

My final decision was the Osprey Duro 6 pack!!  It was actually cheaper than comparable packs but had all the standard features.

 

This summer, I have put over 1,000 kilometres on the pack and have never had any issues with chaffing in any of my runs.  The 1.5 liter water bladder is easy to remove and instal even when not thinking correctly after long runs.

Description:

The front shoulder straps each have a long pocket that will hold a 500 ml soft flask or a large can of bear spray as well as a smaller pocket for salt tabs, gels, etc.  The LH strap also has a zipper pocket that will hold a large phone in a water resistant pocket.

The chest straps that connect between the shoulder straps are easy to connect and disconnect as well as adjust on the run.  The connecting clasps connect easily and I have never had a problem with them coming unhooked while running.

At the bottom of the shoulder straps, there is an elastic enclosed mess pocket that is large enough to hold a pair of gloves or a large snack.  While it takes a bit of coordination, the pockets can be accessed on the run without taking off the pack.

Back of the pack.

Front of the pack.

The water bladder is closest to your back.  This keeps the weight closer to the centre of your body to reduce the amount of side to side movement while running.  On the outside of the bladder compartment is a larger 5-6 liter compartment that will conveniently hold a jacket, pants, hat and gloves as well as some food.  On top of that compartment is a water resistant zipper compartment that I use for my first aid and any small items that I don't want to lose in the larger compartment.

Gear for a long run:  Wind Breaker, Hat, Gloves, 1.5 Liters of Water,
Snacks (Boiled Potatoes and Dates),  Salt Tabs, Toilet Paper, Bear Spray,
Space Blanket, and Matches.

On the very outside of the pack is a mesh pocket that is closed with to compression straps that connect to the top of the pack.  These straps help compress the whole pack, but it is also necessary to undo those straps in order to access any of the main compartments.  The mesh pocket will hold an additional water bottle or I sometimes use it to strap on a layer that I remove after I get warmed up.

Running poles can be strapped onto the top of the back right at the connecting points of the shoulder straps.  I did several runs with poles tied in place and they stayed secure and did not bounce or interfere with any body movement.

Pros:

• Ample pockets allow for exceptional organization of equipment.
• The surfaces of the pack that contact your body are all a mesh/foam material which provide for excellent moisture wicking.
• No chaff points.
• I machine wash regularly with no problems.
• All compartments (with the exception of the compartments at the bottom of the shoulder straps) are easily accessible and able to be opened on the run.
• The price is cheaper than most equivalent hydration packs.

Cons:

• If clothes are not kept in a bag in the main compartment, they get wet from sweat (I sweat LOTS) and condensation from water bladder.
• If the main compartment is full of gear, it is difficult to fully reinstall the water bladder without removing some of the gear.

Conclusion:

Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this pack to anyone.  The lower price makes it affordable for runners getting into the sport, but the size and features of the pack worked, well even on my longest runs of over 11 hours.

GPRC Wandering Wolf, 20 Km Race

I had pretty much retired my running shoes for the fall season.  Golden Ultra was still fresh in my mind and I have been busy planning my 2018 race season.  Helping to lead the weekly run group as well as hunting in my spare time, has kept me moving and still putting on some miles.

But, leave it to a running friend to get me back into running mode!!

Thursday night, Lisa from Walk Run and More, invited me to come run the Wandering Wolf with her.  She said she was still recovering from a race a few weeks prior, "so you will have no problem keeping up with me...."  I should have known better right then!!  Lisa recovers quickly, because she never even seems to tire!!  Even on the longest runs we have done together, get her on some single track and she is GONE!!

Knowing the Wandering Wolf course is mostly on wide ski trails, I assumed that I would be able to match her pace and agreed to sign up for the race.

Friday night, I had to force myself back into "race mode".  This was the first time since Golden that I had pinned on a race bib, and it was hard to shift back into gear.  Especially, with the race on such short notice, I didn't even have time to get pre-race jitters.


About 2:30 AM on Saturday, when I woke up from a restless period of "sleep-racing" (Yes, it is a real thing.  Its a self-diagnosed disorder that I have....) I knew that I was starting to get back into race mode.  I got out of bed for some hydration, then a PBJ for nutrition, then crawled back into bed.  I double checked that my alarm was set for 7AM, then quickly fell asleep.  For the rest of the night, there was no more "sleep-racing".....

Saturday morning turned out to be brisk, even in my dreams, I didnt expect it to be THIS cold!!  After letting the dog outside and experiencing the morning air for myself, I decided that I needed to add another layer of clothing.  With the exception of my hat and gloves, I ended up wearing nearly the same layers as I did at the Chilly Willy when it was -33 degrees!!!  Whose idea was it to run today anyway??

When I arrived at the start line at the Nordic Ski Centre about 8:30AM, there was no doubt in my mind, it was going to be a chilly race.  There was ice on the puddles in the parking lot and I could see my warm breath in the frosty air.  After picking up my race package, I got back in my truck and turned on the heated seat and heated steering wheel.  I was going to absorb as much heat as possible, while I still could!!

At 8:45, it was time to head to the starting area.  There were a few other brave souls standing in shivering groups as we waited for the official start time.  A running friend of mine says to dress like it  is 10 degrees warmer.  After you are running, you will warm up and it will feel that temperature.  I sure was hoping she was right!!

The mood at the start line was brisk to begin with, then the DJ started and we really got rocking!!  It was hard to stand still with the upbeat music, but I sure didn't want to waste any extra energy....I was just trying to stay warm!!  Lisa and I discussed what our target finish time would be.  She guessed 2:10 and I was estimating 2:20....so we opted for a compromising time of 2:15.  When the start horn sounded, it felt good to get moving, but the wind chill added a new level of cold to the situation!!

A small group of elite runners charged ahead (like they always do) and Lisa sprinted into her "nice slow pace" of 5:20/km....I was cold, so I kept up.  As we rounded the first bend in the trail, we headed down hill, lower into the valley.  I could feel the air get colder and the frost was thick on the grass and leaves.  That was more motivation to keep going, but after several kilometres, we came to our first hill and we slowed to a walk.

When I finally caught my breath enough to talk, I reminded Lisa that this was supposed to be a slow run, and last time I checked Strava, a 5:20 pace was NOT slow for me.  The trail looped around and we could hear the beat of the music from the DJ at the start line, it was a good rhythm and I soon had Lisa reined back to a more sustainable 6 minute pace.

About that time, we hit our first section of single track, and like true trail runners, Lisa was back at a sprint, and I was trying to keep up....and it was UP HILL!!!

From there, the chase was on.  Lisa set the pace, and I tried to keep up.  She told me stories of recent cougar sightings (the 4 legged kind) in the area.  It think it was an attempt to help increase my slowing pace, but really, I think it was an excuse for her rapid pace.  But either way, it kept us both motivated!!!

The race course wound its way through the maze of ski trails.  The course was very well marked but there was once when I yelled ahead to Lisa to ask her when the last time was that she saw a trail marker.  She stopped in her tracks and said "Really??  Its been a while.  Are we on the right trail??"  After thanking her for letting me catch up, I chuckled to myself and assured her that we were still on the right path.  (If you can't out run the competition, out-wit them....)

Nearing the end of the first 10 kilometre loop, we came onto another section of single track that descended down a thickly wooded ridge.  I remembered that section of trail from 2016, when I ran one of my FIRST trail races.  This was the spot, where I decided that trail running was what I wanted to do.  This was the beginning of a long journey that has given me many unforgettable memories.

At kilometer 10, we were back at the start/finish line and the start of the second and final lap.  A group of dedicated people had gathered there and cheered us on as we ran past.  Coach Krista was there and gave me an encouraging high-five.

High-fives from Krista!!

The final lap seemed more like a fun-run.  The trail was now familiar and we ran with people from the 5 and 10 kilometre races.  It always amazes me (and slightly demoralizes me) when a little 12 or 14 year old kid goes sprinting past while I push myself to keep my pace.  Their energy is contagious though, and it is fun to cheer them on.  I can only imagine what they are thinking about me as they yell, "Passing on the left!!" then pass me like I am standing still.

After passing the turn off point for the shorter races, it was up to Lisa and I to entertain ourselves again.  In the distance, we could here the DJ at the finish line. We began to discuss what songs would be best suited for us as we crossed the finish line.  My first thought was the theme song from Chariots of Fire; but when that song is playing, I have to run "slow mo"!!  That would never work to accompany a finish line sprint!!  Then we agreed that "Im Sexy and I Know It" would be he perfect song.  I pulled out my phone and text my request to Krista.  Lisa was in disbelief, and when Krista responded "I have connections here with the DJ.....", Lisa made plans to hide in the bushes while I finished the race alone!!  I assured her that I cannot dance, so there would be no embarrassing moves at the finish line, just a sprint.

We were laughing to hard even to pose for the photographer....  Good times!!

In the final kilometres to the finish line I seemed to have finally found my pace, but I also seemed to have found a few sore spots, my one knee was bugging me a bit and my lower back was sore for some reason.  Lisa was still going strong, but did slow her pace enough to stay with me.  When we rounded the final corner, the finish line was in sight and we pick the spot to start our sprint.  About that time, "our song" came on....

It was hard to sprint while laughing, but I managed to pull out all the stops and crossed the finish line just ahead of Lisa.  She commented that she didn't know I was going to sprint "like that" and I reminded her that I always save a little energy during the race, to use at the finish line sprint!!

The finish-line sprint!!

With Lisa's blistering pace we beat BOTH of our target times with an official time of 2:08:24!!  I finished 4th overall, and third in my age group!!  That is my best finish yet!!  There are no limits of what can be accomplished when people work together and motivate each other!!

Coach Krista

The best running partners are the ones
that stick with you and push you out of your comfort zone!!!

Record Blog Post!!!

Its crazy to think that I have had this blog going for less than six months and I just had one blog post get over 1,200 views in ONE WEEK!!!  Viewers are from all over North America as well as Europe, Malaysia, New Zealand, and as far away as South Africa!!

I wrote this blog about a run that took place in Kananaskis after posting on Facebook that I was looking for someone to take me for a run and show me some trails around Calgary.  Zanne, a lady in our local running group, put me in contact with one of her friends in Calgary.  Lisa picked me up at the hotel in Calgary and was my mountain guid for the day!!

At todays race, the 20 km Wandering Wolf, I had THREE people come and introduce themselves to me, saying they follow my blog and were happy to finally meet me!!! That means so much to me and keeps ME motivated!!

You all are the reason I write this, and why I run!!  During the race I told the lady I was running with, that I needed to run today, just so I had something to write about!!  (I will write about the race in the next day or two.)

I really cannot thank everyone enough. The support in the running community is INCREDIBLE and while I am no expert, I SURE enjoy talking about my races and sharing my tips with you all.

Thanks for keeping me inspired, and keep watching for upcoming blogs!!!

Powderface Mountain, Kananaskis

When I found out I had most of a saturday to spend in Calgarywith nothing planned, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to go for a run in some new country and meet some new runners.

I made a post on Facebook that I was looking for a running partner and guide in Calgary to show me some new trails.  At the recommendation of a fellow runner from Grande Prairie, I was in contact with a lady who used to run in Grande Prairie but now lives in Calgary.  After a brief chat session on Facebook, the plans were made!!

Lisa picked me up at my hotel at 10AM and we were on our our way to Kananaskis.  About an hour later we were at the trail head for Powderface Trail.  It was an 8 km trail which ended at the summit of Powderface Mountain.

There was a light skiff of snow on the ground when we left the vehicle, but as elevation increased, it got colder and the snow on the trail got deeper. I was very happy I packed my winter shoes, just in case there would be snow in the mountains.  As we got higher the wide trail turned into single track and the loose rocks that were hidden under the blanket of snow made for challenging footing and a slower pace. 

About 6 km in, we arived that the saddle. This is a common turnaround point, even though the summit was just a few kilometers past.  After calculating our time back down the mountain and the drive back to Calgary in time for my meeting, we made the final push to the summit. 

I have yet to be at a summit that is a disapointment, and this summit was no exception!!  While it was not my highest summit, the views of the rugged mountains to the west were a harsh contrast to the foothills and prairies far to the east.  

The wind was typical for any mountain summit so after a few quick pictures, it was time to start the descent back down the mountain.

The snow covered rocks and roots on trail made for an exciting run down the mountain.  Luckily, our slower pace coming up allowed us to take in all the spectacular views.  Going down, was 100% focus on foot placement on the slippery trail to prevent a wipeout!!  

As we got closer to the parking lot, we started to meet more people who were out for a walk on the trail. The warm temperatures at the lower elevation made it feel like spring time. The melting snow and wet leave and grass made the air even SMELL like spring!!!

After completing the 16 km trek to the summit, the cool air seemed to invigorate me, but on the drive back, the warmth of the heated seats brought out the drowsiness.  After ariving back at the hotel ahead of schedule at 3:45, the plush hotel bed was a welcoming spot for a well deserved nap....

Run Group - Who is Inspiring Who...??

Most people have heard of Post-partum Depression....but who has heard of the Post Race Slump???  As a father of three amazing children, I am familiar with Post-partum Depression, but no one warned me of the struggles after running an ultra marathon distance race!!!

For 9 months leading up to Golden Ultra Marathon most of my awake hours (and some of my sleeping hours) were focused on the upcoming race.  Training runs, nutrition, running gear, adjusting running schedules with family events...EVERYTHING, seemed to lead towards race weekend.  Then, in 15.5 hrs of running spread over three days, it was done.

There was nothing to plan.  No long runs to complete and no recovery days to remind me of my previously successful run.  The last two weeks have seemed mellow and flat to say the least.... no emotional highs of completing a long run, or the complete exhaustion of hill training.

Last weeks run group was the first run in this session, and the first time I have run since Golden.  This time, I have the honor of running with the 5 km intermediate group as a leader.  The energy in the room as everyone met for the first time caused a buzz of excitement and the energy today was no different.

After the 2.5 km run today with the group, I was hoping for a running partner to join me on another 5 or 10 km run.  Throughout the week, I have felt like I just need to run again!!  I wanted to feel that exhaustion and get my blood flowing; work up a good sweat!!

As the runners from the other groups started to come back in, I was chatting with them about setting goals for 2018 and which races we should do in the future.  All the while,  looking for volunteers to join me for a post run, run tonight....

Finally, Michal came in with his 10 km group and agreed to go back out with me for a loop through the trails before it got too dark.

We talked the WHOLE time, even though his pace seemed to be faster than mine....I tried to block him in on the single track, but we ran side by side on the wider trails and he got me to pick up my pace. While we ran, we discussed race plans for next year and how we planned on training to succeed.

By the time we completed the 8 km loop, my head was back in the game!!!  My Post-race Slump had been beaten, and I had that fire in me to run more!!!

The next few weeks, Ill run with the weekly run group, but my spare evenings will be spent hiking, looking for elk and deer to fill the freezer for the winter.   Then Im going to train for the 25 km River Valley Revenge in Edmonton.  May or June, I need to find a 50 mile or 100 km race which will lead me up to the 125 km Canadian Death Race.

Yes, it may seem like an agressive summer of running, but with my Post-race Slump beat, and the inspiration of the run group and my fellow runners....I can do anything I set my mind to....watch me go!!!

Golden Ultra Marathon - What Can I Say...??

Day three of the Golden Ultra Marathon is finished!!!  It was a challenge that pushed me mentally, physically and emotionally harder than I have ever been pushed before!!!

If I have learned ONE thing this weekend and over the past 20 months since I started running, it is that you really CAN do anything you set your mind to!!!  Surround yourself with positive people, never say "I cant do this" and keep doing your best!!

It all started 2 yrs ago when my brother, Steve convinced me to sign up for the half marathon in Vancouver in May of 2016.  After finishing that race, running got in my blood. I completed the a halft marathon in Edmonton as well as Emperors Challenge, my first trail half marathon throughout the summer.

In the fall, I decided to run my first full marathon in Calgary in May 2017.  Training started in January and I completed the race, with my brother Steve in a dead sprint at 4 hrs 42 minutes.  (He could have done it much faster, but chose to finish with me!!)

During my marathon training, he told me about the Golden Ultra Marathon and said we should do the Half Pint.  (Day 1: 3 km, Day 2: 30 km, and Day 3: 10 km).  I looked at it online and saw there was a FULL Pint too!!!  If we are gonna be crazy....lets go FULL on CRAZY, so I signed up for the full ultra marathon!!

After a 2 week recovery period from Calgary marathon, I joined the run group again.   This time, I hung up my road shoes and bought a pair of trail shoes!!!

The last 4 months of training have not always been easy...actually, very rarely was it easy.  Coach Krista would get me going, then the rest of the team pushed me when I didnt think I could do it.  Every one of them help me and taught me something.

Sometimes, it was just the shear drive and determination to watch one of them fight through 10 km of hill repeats.  Or watch someone loose thier lunch after sprints, then go back out and run again!!!  I was surrounded by incredible people!!!

This weekend was no disappointment either.  The 5 km hill climb on day 1 was a good warm up and a great way to get out the racing jitters.

Day 2 I analyzed and studied in great depth.  I knew all the details for each of the 5 legs on the 60 kilometer mountain course.  I knew what I had to do to be successful, and I knew I could do it!!!

I will admit, day 2 was not easy.  Everything went pretty much as I had planned and I had a finish time of 11 hrs, 31 minutes!!!  The course up the mountain was definitly a grind, and tested me to core.  But not once did I ever think of quitting. I KNEW I could do it physically, and if I didnt finish the race it would be because I didnt make one of the cut off times.

Leg one was pretty much a breeze.  The 13 km track was relatively flat and my body was fresh.  Leg two started out the same way.  Then the course became a bit more technical and roughly 6 km into the leg, the climb started!!  The majority of it was under a dense cedar canopy and the trail was powder dry.  The climb to the next checkpoint at kilometer 25 seemed to never end!!

After a quick stop at the aid station to refill my water pack, I kept going. I hadnt eaten much yet in the day, but my stomach was feeling slighly upset so I didnt want to put too much into it.

About 3 kilometers after the aid station, the real climb started. It was all rock and the trail was very technical and steep. Fortunately, there was no wind. The sparse trees were stunted and swisted and would have provided no wind break. From kilometer 30 to 33, it was pretty much all rock and out in the open with no protection from the weather. I put on a warmer hat and gloves that I had with me and pushed on to checkpoint 3.

It was snowing lightly when I arrived and the wind had picked up a bit. Kevin, whose wife Rachel was also running in the race, was crewing for her so he and his daughter helped me out too!!  I sat on the steps and added some vaseline to my one heal, while Kevin refilled my hydration pack and got me some warm vegetable broth.  I had a few snacks then started the steep decent down leg 4.

The trail wound its way down through a large open bowl. The first 4 kilometers were very technical with lots of rock but still some muddy sections from the snow that was melting.   After I hit the bike track for a kilometer or two, then it was onto the gravel service road.

At this point in the day, roughly 9 hrs in, the road was mind numbing!!!  There was nothing to focus on, just keep moving forward!!  Luckly, I had caught up to Shari from our run group.  Her knee was slowing her down, so I was able to go her pace on the few uphill portions but could go a bit faster on the downhill. About a kilometer from aid station 4, I ran ahead so I would have some time there to eat before she arrived.  About a minute after I sat down, she ran into the aid station.

After she got her knee taped up, we headed out together on the final leg.  It was 15.5 km of rolling hills in the same terrain as leg 1.  My watch died just as we were starting the leg so I was not able to track our kilometers or my pace.  The leg had a lot of hills and switchbacks.  I couldnt keep up to Shari going up the hills, but I could make up a bit of time on her on the down hill portions, but soon she moved ahead of me and I was running solo.

The last 5 kilometers of the race were pure mental.  I didnt know exactly how much farther I had to go. I knew by the clock on my phone that I would definitly make the final cut off of 12.5 hrs, but I had nothing to keep track of my distance.

Finally, I broke out of the bush and onto the paved road!!  I knew the finish line was only 2 km away!!  I was finally back into good cell service, so I did a Facebook live update as I had been doing periodically thoughout the course.  As soon as I started to talk, it was too emotional, I didnt know what to say, I didnt know how to say how I felt.  Words couldnt describe what I was feeling.

The last 1.5 km were on the side of the road. Every passing vehicle would honk, cheer and wave. Just these simple jestures from complete strangers stirred up the emotions each time.

The road was marked with pylons every 100 meters or so. I would run 2 pylons, then walk 1 pylon.  By this time, by run was more of a shuffle, and probably not much faster than a power walk, but I seemed to be going faster.

When I rounded the final turn into Spirit Square, coach Krista had run out to meet me.  I turned my shuffle almost into a run.  The entire running team was standing along the fence holding out thier hands for high fives and cheering me in as I ran to the finish line!!!

More high fives and hugs, and a few more tears, and my first ultra marathon was complete!!!  The faint thoughts of doubt and "What if....?" in the back of my mind were gone.  I had FINISHED it!!!!  After 11 hours and 30 minutes of running, 60 kilometers and 2800 meters of elevation gain, I had reached my goal that I had been training for.

Rachel bought me a 30 minute finish line massage.  As I laid there on the bed, I tried to recap all of what had happened throughout the day. It was simply too much to understand or comprehend.  The big day was finished, but there was still day three to complete the weekend.

My legs and joints were quite stiff when I woke up. The plan was to power walk the entire 19 kilometers.  Shari's knee was not in any condition to run, so I agreed to power walk with her for the day.

The first cut off was at km 5 at 10AM. One hour into the race.  About km 3, Shari wasnt sure if she could make the cutoff so told me to run ahead to make sure I didnt get disquallified at the first cut off.

By now, my body was loosened up and I was able to make good time. I made the cut off with 13 minutes to spare.  I didnt even slow down at the aid station. The next cut off was at km 10 at 11AM. I wasnt sure what the terrain would be like, so I just wanted to make up as much time as I could.

At roughly 10:45 I started looking for the aid station that marked the cut off.  I started to panic a bit as the time ticked on.  By 10:50, with no aid station in site, I was running as fast as I could. Down hills, around switchbacks, up hills and through the rock slides. I passed numerous people who must have though I was crazy for running so fast, but I was not about the get disqualified half way into a half marathon!!!

Soon I noticed I was at km 13, and it was shortly after 11:00. I hoped the timing on my watch was off... it was my only hope!!!  Kilometer 14, and I ran into an opening and could see the aid station. I wasnt about to stop, but asked them if I made cut off.  "Oh yes" they said, "you are way ahead of schedule...." Such relief!!!

I still dont know what happened or where the 10 km cut off was, but it sure put a panic in my run!!!  I didnt even take any pictures the whole run.

The remainder of the course was down hill on a bike trail.  We came into town about 4 km from the finish line.  Then it was flat road running all the way in.

It gave me a lot of time to think and reflect on the weekend and the past months of training.  When I first started running, I couldnt run 3 km without stopping....over the past 3 days, I had just run 83 kilometers in just under 16.5 hrs!!!

After crossing the finish line, I asked about Shari, she had made the second cut off and was on her way to the finish line!!!  She was going to make it too!!!

It didnt take long for the realization to settle in that I had really finished my first ultra marathon.  For the past 9 months of training, all my focus has been on this goal.  My diet, my sleep, my days, my weeks; running and training was always in the front of my mind, now it was finished. An odd sense of completeness, but lack of focus filled my mind...what do I do now? What is my next goal? What can I set my mind to do next?

I still plan to keep on running. Id like to run a couple times a week.  Not just because I do love to run, but I also dont want to loose all my conditioning.  Hunting season is in full swing so I will focus on that for a while, but I do have to set another running goal.

At supper tonight with the run group, Krista envited us all to come run with her new Thursday night run group. Fifty one new runners, training for 5 or 10 kilometer runs....thats what I want to do!!!  Inspire other people to do MORE than they ever imagined they could do!!

Tomorrow we drive home. Christine is riding back with me. She has run many ultra marathons, including running the Canadian Death Race twice.  I think by the time I get home tomorrow, I will probably have set another goal for me for 2018.

It might be a 50 mile race, maybe a 100 km race... or maybe even to solo the 125 km Canadian Death Race.  Whatever I set my mind to do, I KNOW I can do it!

60 Kilometers!!! Golden Ultra, Stage TWO....Finished

Words really cannot explain that look on my face....expecially right now. It was a day of highs and lows, and moments of emotion too!!!

Stage 2 of Golden Ultra Marathon is finished!!!   60 kilometers; 2800 meters of elevation gain; 11 hours, 30 minutes, and 53.1 seconds of running/hiking time; 79,315 steps; 8,062 calories burned!!!

Now its time to eat, drink, eat, drink, drink, get ready for 19 km race tomorrow, then sleep!!!

It is very slow uploading pictures onto the blog, here in the campground. Ill post them on Instagram and give a full race report tomorrow!!

Golden Ultra - Stage One....FINISHED

(My appologies for no pictures on this blog.  For some reason, the wifi is slow tonight and I am not able to upload them.  Ill post them on Instagram and link them to Facebook.)

It was over far too soon!!!  A breakfast meeting with the running team turned into a strategy planning session. It turned out, I didnt really change anything from my original plan, but we had a good discussion none the less!!

At noon while we we registering at Kicking Horse Resort, the sun broke out of the clouds and the day warmed up.  But as the afternoon wore on, it proved to be a false hope.

After registration, and more strategy with the team, I headed back to the camper and got down to business, getting ready for the race!!

My nerves definitly started to get to me, as I was getting my pack loaded and getting my bag together with dry clothes for supper at the resort after the race.  Everything was set, and I felt good as I left the camper and started the 20 min drive to the base of the mountain. It was now covered in cloud and the sun was sinking lower in the sky. It looked cooler and I had time to spare so I returned to the trailer and put an extra pair of pants in my pack...just in case. Id rather have too many clothes with me than not enough.

Waiting in front of the resort for start time, we compared everyones resting heart beat...to see who REALLY had the nerves going already. Suprisingly, my heart rate was in the low 60's; not much above my normal rate.

Finally the race started and we were off!!!  The firsy 20 feet we a slight uphill grade, then it got steeper, our slow jog turned into a power hike!!  For the first 3 km, it was a steady grind, straight up a ski run. It was nothing but methodical plodding along, one step after another...keep going....

Soon after the 3 km mark, the trail cut to the right and onto single track.  First it cut through a big boulder slide then into the trees and onto a well worn path. The steep sections had flat rocks placed in a stairs pattern.

This was a HUGE mental boost, and I was able to pick up my pace. It wasnt long before I caught up to another runner (Shari) from our team. I warner her that this meant we were going to have to sprint it out at the top.  She replied...in disagreement so I just continued to follow close behind her.

When the finish line was in site, I started the sprint and tried to pass her. Her sharp elbow in my ribs nearly sent me plummeting over the steep rocky cliff to our left, but I managed to recover and pass her at the finish line!!

I really didnt know what to expect for a finish time. I knew I could do it in less than 2 hours so I would be happy with anything less. My official time was 1:21:50 and place 101 out of 178!!!  Five kilometers with 1,058 meters of vertical - stage one DONE!!!

The best part, is my legs still feel good!!!  No problem going up and down stairs!!!  I need to get my drop backs and pack ready for tomorrow, then eat some more!!!

Stage two with 60 kilometers of trail and 2800 meters of elevation gain starts at 7:30AM.....

Travel Day....Get Ready Golden!!!

Sleep was actually pretty good Thursday night!!  Everything was all packed and I was in bed by about 11.  I did wake up before my alarm, which was set for 5:45, but I felt well rested.

The other two ladies that were travelling down with me showed up right on time at 6:45 and we were on our way to get gas at 7AM!!!

Overnight, it had stopped raining, but the roads were still wet.  First stop was at Crooked Creek to get our last supply of "race food".  No race road trip is complete without donuts!!

As we continued east to Mayerthorpe then south to Rocky Mnt House, the rain started to fall then turn into snow.  By the time we got to Rocky, there was several inches of snow in the ditches, but there was very little snow accumulating on the road.

Heading west from Rocky, the closer we got to the summit, the lower the heavy snow got in the mountain tops.  Soon our conversation changed from discussing Shari's WIDE variety of race snacks that she had packed, to our clothing strategy for race day.   Luckily, I threw in my winter running shoes at the last minute. I was prepaired for anything Mother Nature had in mind for the weekend!!!

Starting the decent into Golden, the snow accumulation in the ditches lessened, then disapeared all together.  We started watching the navigation screen on the truck to see when we would be able to see our targeted summit ahead!!!  There were several mountain tops that were heavily loaded with snow, we hoped those werent the ones we were going to be climbing.

Soon we rounded a corner and could see a mountain across the valley with distinct ski runs etched into the mountain side!!!  Thats the one!!!

After dropping off the ladies at the hotel, I found my campsite and set up the holiday trailer.  It was a small camp site right along the Kicking Horse River, with the running trail for day three right behind the trailer.

Once the trailer was set up, I went for a quick 3 km run down the trail to work out all the travel kinks.  The trail followed the river and lead me into town with my first view of Spirit Square and the start/finish line for day 2 and 3.  Then it was time for a few pictures along the river and mental preperation for the upcoming weekend.

After a hearty supper of salmon, sweet potatoes and peas, followed by a protein shake for desert, it was time to roll my legs, then attempt to sleep!!!

Suprisingly, sleep came quickly, about 11:00 in between the rumbles of the frequent trains across the river.  At 7:00AM I woke up well rested and ready for Day One of Golden!!!

Goin' to Golden....

I always thought the marathon started at the start line!!!  Turns out, it started quite a while ago, but now the food is all prepped, clothes are packed, the trailer is loaded, and as long as no one sleeps in, we will be on the road at 7AM.

I have planned and rehearsed day two.  I feel like I comprehend it all. Ill have a drop bag at station 3 and station 4.  

Im packing all my own food rather than using what is at the aid stations so that takes extra planning too.

Ive broke down each leg of the race and made me a cheat card that I can take with me.  It has all the data of each leg plus what my target paces need to be for each leg in order to do an 11 hr finish for day day 2. 

There is supposed to be live tracking on Saturday if you want to follow me.  Go to www.goldenultra.com and look under the results tab.  There will be a link there.

It seems all the rain we have gotten has turned into snow, so that might add some excitement to our trip tomorrow.

When I tucked in the girls and said goodnight and goodbye, Nicole said there was a note under my pillow for me.

Even though they will be at home on Saturday, they will still be in the front of my mind.  They will keep me going for sure.

Tomorrow is definitly the start of another adventure. One that wont soon be forgotten....