Sask 50 KM Ultra Marathon

The Scenario

Saturday October 20th was the Saskatoon Roadrunners Association's Sask 50 km Ultra Marathon.

Back in May, at the pasta dinner the night before the Saskatchewan Marathon, I met Michyla. She was seated at the same table as Ang, my mom and I. As we introduced ourselves, she shyly leaned over and admitted to following my blog. She is a member of the Saskatoon Roadrunners Association and had read the write-up about me in the newsletter in March.

A couple months later Michyla emailed me to see which run I would be doing in October. She and a mutual friend Morgan were planning to train and run a half marathon and wondered what the options were. I explained that I had planned to try and complete the full marathon in Regina to 'count' as both my Sept & October runs; but, my backup if I wasn't able to would be the Sask 50 km Ultra Marathon Relay. I offered to be their third member if that was what they chose to do. They excitedly agreed and together we formed the "Moms on the Run" relay team!

In August, some of the girls who have been training to run the half marathon in Las Vegas decided to form two relay teams. The idea was that it would serve as the last good, long training run before we head for Vegas. Angela, Sarah & Mj formed team "Sam I Am" and Jadah, Kevin (Sarah's hubby) & Katy formed "The JKs".

Then, Morgan hurt her knee. She's been going for physiotherapy and taking it easy, but the Wednesday night before the run, she had to admit that she wouldn't be able to complete her leg of the race. Yikes! It's not easy to find someone who is able to run 15.2 km with only two and a half days to prep.....but, my friend Erica Weber agreed. She said she hadn't ran more than 6 miles since she ran the SPS 10km in April, but she would give it her best try!


As I said last week, I had a few reasons to be nervous about this run. Rather than worrying about the things which I had no control over (the weather, the way my body was going to react to the distance, etc), I decided to focus on the things I could control. I bought a snazzy new pair of running tights, I organized a fantastic FAST playlist, I went for my pre-race short outside run (I had to make sure the snazzy tights were going to stay put), I went for a physio appointment and I stretched.

We were lucky to have our dear friends Kathryn & Micheal and their daughter Julia spend the night at our place Friday. My husband picked up my race bib for me on his way home from work and I prepared the "classic" night before supper of chicken, pasta & broccoli. After enjoying a beer and a  well overdue visit with our company, I tucked in for a good sleep. It was nice to wake the next morning and get hugs and well wishes from three happy kids and three of my favourite adults.

So, together with the small group of runners and organizers, we nervously huddled together in the parking lot at the Mendel Art Gallery. The weather was cool and the sky was overcast as we got the first three girls started on their way. The remaining six of us piled in to Kevin & Sarah's truck and we set off to meet them on course!

The Event

This was the fifth annual Sask 50 km Ultra Marathon. You can participate in this event as an individual and run all 50 km yourself (yowzers!) or as a three person relay team. The route is designed in such a way that the three legs of the course start & finish at the parking lot of the Mendel. The organizers are upfront that this is a small, very basic event. They encourage runners to plan ahead and have friends and family available to support them en route and even ride bikes or run with you for encouragement.

The three legs of the relay differ in distance (15.2 km, 16.8 km & 18 km) and terrain. It wasn't until after the race that I realized how fortunate I was that I ended up running the third leg. While it was the longest, it was also a fully paved out & back course that had some nice views and a few gradual inclines. When compared to the second leg that I was originally supposed to run, it was literally a walk (or in this case run) in the park!

The running community is one that generally embraces anyone who is willing to lace up their sneakers and hit the trail; and, in my experience, runners are usually friendly and encourage each other at events. I found that was not necessarily the case on Saturday. This is my first Ultra event. Perhaps it is the extreme nature of the ultra distance, but the jovial support from fellow runners was not as evident as what I've become accustomed to. Erica noticed it too and she has had the chance to participate in many varied events....it didn't really matter though, we decided we'd still continue to smile and shout out support while we ran whether we received anything in return or not.

The organizers and volunteers were fantastic! The Saskatoon Roadrunners had the start/finish/relay exchange zone well organized and things seemed to run smoothly. There was a tent with heaters to allow us to warm up, there were a couple porta potties, a bag drop tent, a generator that powered a microphone and some fun music and the Girl Guides had a food tent where they were preparing pancakes.

Brooks sponsored the event and each registrant received a shiny, slick black running jacket. However, I feel like, given the basic nature of the event, the registration fees were high. Each person paid $65 ($55 if you're a Roadrunner member) whether you were running as an individual or a three person team. This seems steep to me. Also, given my predisposition of loving race medals, I definitely felt that the relay runners should have received a finishers medal. I get it that the individual participants ran further and that accomplishment is crazy cool, but a relay medal would have been awesome....especially since each team paid three times the fees to cover the same course. The registration form actually says on it, "Your entry fee includes a pancake breakfast after your run and a surprise gift which you will receive at the finish line when you complete your race!". There were pancakes, but no surprise gift. Anyway, I am willing to embrace the minimalist nature of this event, but I think the registration fee should reflect it.

While I am happy to have had the opportunity to participate in the Ultra, I wouldn't recommend it for a less experienced runner or anyone who is looking for a more conventional event....It's pretty hardcore.

The Excuses

I am just so pleased to have been able to complete this run, that I'm not going to give any excuses.

The Best Part


We did it!!!!!

I have only ever ran one other relay (the Banff to Jasper Relay with Erica last Spring), and I had forgotten how much fun it is! The ultra relay really gave a us a chance to come together as a group. I was excited to spend the day with my friends and be there to see them complete their legs of the race; but, I hadn't anticipated how much we would rely on each other throughout the process.

Going into this event, there was a bit of worry over the 'minimalist' nature of the race. Each leg only had one aid station that you passed twice. When you compare this to a more mainstream event where there are typically drink stations every few miles, it gave us cause for concern. So, at soccer practice last week, Ang and I devised a plan. We looked at the route map for the first leg and picked a couple spots where I promised to be waiting with Gatorade, water and a smile. Then, with my husband, I made a similar plan for my leg of the run. He promised to be at two spots that I would cross twice on course which would give me a total of six "aid stations" (including the two stops provided by the event volunteers).

It's funny how something that starts as a worry can turn into one of the best experiences! I had fun providing aid for the three girls running the first leg, and I LOVED having my friends and family support me while I ran!!!

Leg 1

The route of the first leg was kind of a double loop. It went out by the water treatment plant and then back and over the University Bridge to cover the distance between it and the train bridge and back. We met the girls out at their first loop point. They were warmed up and running strong. We dropped Michyla off at the exchange zone (Erica was running fast!) and then met them a second time by the Diefenbaker Canada Centre on the U of S campus. It was fun to cheer for the runners! Ang had woken up that morning with a head cold, and it was making it hard for her to run. While she looped out to the train bridge and back, I peeled off my warm pants, popped a piece of gum in and put on my running watch. I was able to join Ang for the last bit of her leg and cover the additional distance I needed. It felt great to see her succeed and her kids were waiting for her at the finish line!

Jadah and her kiddos

As I had expected, Erica powered her way through 15 km despite having two days notice....she finished in one hour and twenty one minutes!

Leg 2

There was plenty of "action" that took place on the second leg of the race....we had a husband and wife race, less than optimal route conditions and an encounter with an overly friendly dog!  I didn't get a chance to get out on the second leg of the race because there wasn't enough time. Michyla, Sarah and Kevin had to run 16.8 km that went north of the Mendel and across the river via Circle Drive pedestrian bridge. They then proceeded through the off leash dog park and out the grid access road, ran along Central Ave and back the same way. Because Erica was so fast on the first leg, Michyla had quite a head start, then Kevin started twelve minutes ahead of Sarah.

It had been raining and the terrain was slick. The stretch of the course along Central Ave was also troublesome because it had the participants running in the ditch. It was during this area that Sarah wiped out hard. Not cool. Then as she made her way back through the off leash park she was tackled from behind by a big dog. More not cool. When the teams were deciding who was going to run each leg, I thought it was funny that a couple of the girls flat out refused to run the second leg because they were afraid of dogs....I guess they were right!

Despite the crudy course and terrain all three runners did extremely well and Sarah managed to set a personal best.

Leg 3

Michyla came around the corner with a smile, we tagged hands and I was on my way! As I set out and my music helped me find my rhythm, I felt good. I felt strong. I didn't go too far before I saw Sarah blasting toward the exchange zone. She had caught and passed Kevin! He wasn't too far behind and he was still smiling.

As planned, my family was waiting for me under the Circle Drive bridge with high fives and a swig of Gatorade. After I passed them, I started to think that I had too much distance until the next aid stop...not to worry. Halfway between, I came across Jadah waiting at the roadside. Perfect! Then I got to the "real" aid station at the park and just beyond that Sarah, Kevin, Ang & Jadah were there cheering. Then again at the next designated spot, they were all gathered and I could see my boys playing tag in the distance. I continued on as the course entered unchartered territory. The turnaround point was on a stretch of new trail up by the Silverwood golf course. It is an area with a beautiful view of the river. Right around here Katy caught up to me and her long legs carried her strong and fast to the finish.

After I turned around and started on my way back, I met Mj. She looked great and had her big smile! Soon after I came across Michyla! Wrapped in a blanket trying to stay warm, she was sitting by the trail waiting for me. I told her where the others were and by the time I got back down the trail, she had joined them.

Over the course of this year, I have run this river trail many times....in fact, I feel like I could tell you the location of each crack, ridge, divot and tree root along the way!! But, I found that knowing my boys, husband and friends were going to be up ahead waiting for me, really broke up the course and made the time pass quickly. It probably seems silly, but the boost that it gave me every time I saw them or they drove by and honked was just fantastic! I think we should do every race like this.

The final act of support was when I came to the train bridge and my husband and sons were waiting and ready to run the last half mile with me. I felt great as we crossed the finish line together at my last event on home turf of the year.

I saw this quote on Facebook this week:

Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                          -Rumi

I feel like the nine of us were on fire and our flames were burning bright as we worked together to cover the 50 km course! I am thankful that I have such great friends and family.

I am SO excited to have completed my tenth half marathon of the year! This run puts my total distance to date for 2012 over the 705 mile point. Now, I have two weeks to get organized for our girls' trip to run the Really Big Free Marathon in Las Vegas!

My Recipe for Half Marathon Success

Ready to tackle your first half marathon?

Here's my recipe for successfully making it through 13.1 miles. But, be forewarned, what works for me won't necessarily be what works best for you. Also, like many things in life, this is something that is constantly evolving for me. In just the last few months, for instance, I have changed quite a few things about the way I prep for and approach my half marathons. The most important thing is that you give yourself enough time to figure out what works best for you.

Actually, scratch that, THE MOST IMPORTANT thing is that you HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF. As long as you give yourself enough time to train and gradually increase the distance of your long run & you put in the effort, you can do it! If I can run a half marathon, anyone can!

It is also extremely important to note that I am in no way an expert runner. The following is just what I have discovered during my research and trial & error.

The training

There are tons of free online training plans, there are many books that promote this way of training or that way and lots of magazines run an annual half marathon edition that outline different methods. The various plans will differ in ways such as the duration of the training (the number of weeks from start to finish), the number of days you will run per week, the distances you will be required to cover, the rate that they increase the "weekly long run" distance & whether they incorporate speed work, hills or cross training. When I started out, I found it overwhelming and difficult to sift through all the options. What I have found is that no matter which plan you choose to follow, it needs to suit your schedule. If for instance, you are expected to run six days a week but you can only commit to four, that plan will probably NOT work for you.

Give yourself enough time. Running a half marathon is not something most people can "cram" for. Pick a training plan that starts at your current running level. If you are just getting into running, you may need to start with a "beginner" plan. When I started out, I first completed a six week 5 km plan, then I progressed to the 8 week 10 km plan and from there I jumped into a half marathon plan. Once you've found a plan (or series of plans) that will work, you can pick an event (or events) that you'd like to aim for. Then, use the calendar to come up with your plan of attack

Give yourself some wiggle room. It's important to pick a plan and follow it as closely as you can, but you have to be flexible too. You need to account for unexpected things like sickness. It's crucial that you listen to your body and take an extra rest day if you need it. If you are pinched for time, consider doing a shorter interval or goal paced run (these faster runs also have the added benefit of boosting your metabolism more than a steady run). Inevitably, you will miss a run here or there which I think is okay as long as you reliably complete the long run.

Give yourself a chance to avoid injury. The distance of the weekly long run should increase gradually. Upping mileage too quickly is a surefire way to hurt yourself. Cross training to strengthen your core and hips, stretching and resting (allowing your body to recover after the long runs) are also integral components of injury prevention. My physiotherapist says that it is a lack of strength that has led to my injury. Take it from me, prevention is much easier than being sidelined. One of my most recent  discoveries is the healing power of a deep tissue massage. Without a doubt, my registered massage therapist deserves most of the credit for my ability to complete the QCM and continue with my half marathon running goal. Her knowledge and skill are amazing.

Give yourself the gear distance running requires. Running seems like a "basic" sport, but it's shocking how much stuff I need to do it! MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD PAIR OF SHOES!! I think this is the most important piece of gear any runner requires. I also have my favourite running bra, my headband (to gather my copious amounts of sweat!), my flat-seamed anti-stink shorts, my anti chafe stick, my Nike Plus running band, my iPod and water-proof earbuds (again, I sweat ALOT!), my jacket, kleenex, two sticks of gum and my foam roller. Like I said, it's a lot of stuff!

Give yourself the chance to enjoy your training. There will inevitably be times when you will struggle. Remember why you set out on this journey. When possible find someone to run with for at least a portion of your longer runs. If you are confined to the treadmill, rent a movie to watch while you log the miles. Make a new playlist. Get a snazzy new running top. Try to have fun!

The nutrition

It took me a long time to realize the important role that nutrition plays in my running ability. I started running as a way to lose weight and did so effectively (albeit very gradually) for a few years. I eventually found myself at a point where I had to pay closer attention to what I was eating to lose weight.

More recently, I have found that what I eat really has an impact on how much energy I have and how well I can run. Don't underestimate the power of your food choices. To run strong, it is important to consume quality food including lean proteins and whole grains. Losing weight and long distance running don't always go hand in hand. I found at one point that I was actually not eating enough to fuel my level of activity. BUT, it's also important that you don't overestimate how much you've earned. It can be quite a balancing act. I have found if I listen to my body, it usually knows what it wants.

I drink A LOT of water. You don't need anything other than water unless you're running for more than an hour. After that point, you'll need salt and sugar (carbs). Again, this is something I've only recently started to play with. I've always drank G2 when I run, but I was finding that my energy was running low at about the 10 mile point. The G2, while low in calories, is also as a result low in sugar. So, it gives me the salt and electrolytes I need, but not the sugar. I have tried in the past to use the GU gels, but I just can't handle the texture of them. Back in April, I went in and had a look at the other energy options. I found the Cliff Shot Bloks. I LOVE them!! It's like eating gummy bears! I was amazed what a difference it made when I started to incorporate them in my long runs. Three cubes are equivalent to one GU gel, so I use them accordingly.

The Taper

This year, I have found that as long as I'm able to get out for one long run of about 10 miles between the events, I've been able to maintain my ability to complete the half marathon distance. Typically, the longest run should be two weeks prior to the event and then the taper begins. The weekend before I go for a 6 -8 mile run and then rest Monday, soccer Tuesday, rest Wednesday & Thursday, a 3.5 mile run outside (to make sure my gear is appropriate for the weather) and rest the day before. I haven't always been home and able to control my pre-race meal, but my ideal supper the night before a half is: Chicken breast, gooey white pasta and broccoli. Play around with things during your training and figure what works best for you. Then I lay out my stuff and make sure everything is organized and batteries charged, etc. and I try to hit the hay early.

The day of the Race

DON'T DO ANYTHING NEW OR DIFFERENT THAN YOU'VE BEEN DOING DURING YOUR TRAINING!

My race morning "system" is also something that I've been able to recently tweak. I used to just get up eat my breakfast and head out the door....and then invariably I'd end up needing an emergency pitt stop about halfway through the run. I've found that I can avoid stopping (and adding minutes to my finishing time) by getting up earlier and giving my breakfast a chance to digest before I start. I wake up at 5:30 eat oatmeal, a banana and a cup of coffee. Then I sometimes lay back down for a bit. I get dressed, hook my bib on, drink my pre-race energizer (I've been using one made by Vega) and get to the event site early.

The one thing you can count on at all running events are the LONG line ups at the porta potties! Get in line early!

Make time for a stretch. Find the start line and squeeze in where you think you belong (if there are pace bunnies, find the one with your estimated finishing time). Take a big deep breath....this is what you've been waiting for! I ALWAYS get butterflies (I hope there never comes a day when I don't!) but they pass as soon as I get going and find my rhythm.

I take water and/or gatorade at every aid station and then I start with my Shot Bloks at kilometer 6. I take three at 6 km, three more at 12 km and again at 15 km & 18 km as required. I find my pace, try to enjoy the scenery, get in to my music, say thank you to as many volunteers as I can along the route and cheer for the "real runners" as they loop back looking strong. I occupy my thoughts by converting between miles & kilometres and figuring how far it is to the next drink point; and then, between miles 10-13 when I have to dig deeper, I think about my boys, my hubby, Heather and anything else that I can draw upon for strength. It's this part of the half marathon that makes me like it so much...it's HARD.

The Recovery

It's never long after completing a half marathon that I find myself planning for the next one. It's funny how as soon as the run is done and I quit running, everything feels better immediately. The endorphins kick in and I forget the pain....kinda, sorta, like childbirth....kinda.

I take time to enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from crossing the finish line. I stretch and roll everything out with my foam roller. I've found that if I can get to a wall to scooch my butt up to and elevate my legs (up the wall), it seems to help prevent the pooling of lactic acid. I ice anything that's sore, take ibuprofen and book a massage. I take at least a couple days off and start back only after I'm feeling better.....then the process starts all over again! And there's always something that could have gone better, or that I could have done differently, the excuses....the next time.


Happy running!

The Saskatchewan Credit Unions Queen City Marathon

The Scenario

Sunday September 9th was the Queen City Marathon in Regina. As I mentioned prior to the event, many of my family members and friends registered for the QCM.

My husband, his sister Lynn, her husband Evan & I had all registered together, back in April, to run the half marathon. We each approached our training a little differently.

I had been consistent in my running until the month leading up to the QCM. Being forced to 'rest' and barely run at all (never mind doing anything of any decent distance), I wasn't sure how things would end up. I had no choice but to put my faith in the fact that I had listened to the advice that I had been given....I was hopeful that I would finish.

Lynn had participated in a couple 10km events, but had rarely gone beyond that distance. She is a busy teacher and mom to two boys (my beautiful nephews!!), so she planned to wait until her summer break to focus on training for the event. Surprise! They found out that their summer would be a little busier than expected. They ended up moving from Yorkton to Regina and lived out of suitcases for the better part of a month! But, once they were settled, Lynn was able to get in a couple longer runs and was feeling decent about completing the half.

My husband doesn't love running the way I do. He does it, but he goes as fast as he can so that he can be done! Once he got going with his training though, he started to enjoy the challenge. He pushed himself to go faster on his short runs and increased the distance of his long runs. This would be his second half marathon.

Evan took the cramming approach to his training! He got out for a few runs in the couple weeks before the event, but was not feeling confident that he could complete the half. He was a trooper though, he laced up his sneakers, donned the red shirt and lined up with us at the start line!

My friend Sarah was registered to run the full marathon. Her FIRST FULL! I really enjoyed sharing the ups and downs of her training with her and was SO excited for her to run the event!

My cousin Curtis and his awesome wife Nicole organized two teams to complete the relay event. Curtis's mom was my auntie Jean. She was my mom's sister and we lost her to breast cancer when she was only forty years old. We also lost a family friend, Ralph Thauberger the same year to cancer. The ten people that made up the teams, did so, to honour Jean & Ralph and to support me in my efforts to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society.

So, together with the approximately 4000 other runners, we lined up at the row of biffies in the parking lot at the MacKenzie Art gallery!  Ha, ha! Seriously, the line was SO long we nearly missed the start of the race! The weather was crisp and the sky was clear. It was the perfect day for a run!

The Event

The Credit Union Queen City Marathon is relatively new on the running scene. It's inaugural year was 2001. A group of local Regina runners decided that the Queen city should no longer be the only Canadian Provincial Capital without a marathon; and thus, the QCM was born!

My mom and I went to the race expo to pick up our race packages on the Saturday. I was pleased with the expo and surprised to see that they had quite a few interesting booths. They had some neat products being showcased. The race packs had mostly coupons and other advertisers. The race shirt is nice and fit well. I will definitely get some use out of it.

Despite it's large size, the QCM is really well organized. This year there were 475 people who ran the full marathon, 1 person completed the wheelchair full marathon, 169 teams (of 3-5 people each) completed the full marathon relay, 1601 registrants in the half marathon run, 214 half marathon walkers and 393 kids who participated in the mini marathon!

I ran the QCM in 2008 and I was glad that the course had remained the same. It is a nice route that loops around Wascana Lake and through the park. It goes across the Ring Road and through a residential area and then back in front of the Parliament Buildings to the finish line. It is scenic and FLAT! There were great spectators along the course. One cute family had set up an aid station on their driveway with posters, water and music blaring! There was a group that were handing out jelly beans and Sarah told me later, there were people handing out beer along the full marathon course! The official race aid stations were good too and spaced well. Regina is a city full of spirit!

If you've been following me, you will know by now how much I LOVE a finisher's medal! And this one is fantastic! 

The Excuses

Ah, I think it's clear that things have been a bit of a struggle for me over the last few weeks; but, you know what? When we crossed the timing mat and the race got underway, it felt SO good to be running!

Lynn and I ran together at a good pace until just after the 10km marker. At that point, I was forced to acknowledge the pain in my knee and slow down. Lynn was doing great, so I told her to keep going and kick butt! Before we parted she very quickly said to me, "It's okay if you don't finish. Don't hurt yourself. But, I'm sure you'll catch me near the end when I run out of steam." I really appreciated her support.

I slowed my pace a bit but never stopped running. That seemed to be the best way to balance my sore hip (that hurt when I walked) and sore knee (that hurt when I ran). It wasn't my most beautiful race, but it wasn't my worst either. I finished in 2:23.


The Best Part

Having the chance to do this event with the support of my whole family, was an amazing experience! Although it certainly isn't be my best personal run, it will definitely be at the top of my list of best events....ever!

Myles and I were able to go down to Regina Friday evening and get together with the relay team runners. They were gathering at Custis & Nicole's for a pasta supper carbo load to go through the relay instructions.  In addition to Curtis & Nicole, the teams consisted of Nicole's brother Darren Entner, his girlfriend Kim Skrypnyk, my cousin Barden's wife Sara McCullough, my cousin Chara Blair, my mom Joanne McGown, Ralph's daughter Christie Robinson (her husband Brad also ran the full marathon!!), a friend of theirs James Porter and finally my friend Andrea Schick.

I know, all of that is probably quite confusing, BUT suffice it to say, these people are all FANTASTIC and I REALLY appreciated their support. I really enjoyed having the chance to see and meet everyone before the event. It was awesome to be able to hear how training for the relay had been for each of them. How they had fit it in to their busy schedules. How they had enjoyed it. How they were nervous for the event. How they were excited to come together and work as a team and support each other as individuals!

Sunday morning, we met the relay team members and dropped mom off with them. But, it wasn't until the first relay exchange point that we saw them again. And when they saw us, their cheers were so encouraging!

Right before the 11 mile point in the course, Nikki came running up beside me and wished me well. Just a short distance later was the second relay exchange. It was OVERWHELMING to see not only the relay runners, but my Auntie Dot, my cousin Crystal, my uncle Larry and Evelyn, my cousins' little kids...they were all there. I knew then that I could make it the last 2 miles!!

After I crossed the finish line and received my medal, I didn't have to walk too far to find my dad and my boys. I was so happy to see them! They said that their dad had finished and so had Auntie Lynn.

My husband did a great job of his run and he finished it in 2:06. There was no catching Lynn. She finished strong in 2:18! Way to go!!

Dad hoisted the boys over the barrier and together we set out to find the others. We didn't get too far before we found my brother and his family.

Growing up, Gavin was one of my best friends (mom will tell you otherwise because, being only 18 months apart in age, we sometimes fought like cats & dogs). He still is. Even though we are both busy with our young families and we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like, we are still close.

Two weeks before the run, we got to go to Regina to welcome our second niece to the family. I think it is just great that my husband and I have two boys and Gavin & Brandi have two girls. I plan on spoiling Alivia & Violet with all things girly!

Gavin is NOT a runner and has NO interest in starting, but it was awesome to have him, Brandi and the girls at the finish line to support us.

In case you can't read it, his shirt says,

"when I'm feeling athletic, I go to a sports bar"

Despite his reservations, Evan made it through his first half marathon in 2:44 (and I hear he was even out running again just a couple days later....maybe it wasn't so bad!)!!! Shortly thereafter, we were re-united with the others and our nephews and Evan's sister were there too. We made our way through the food line and settled in for a picnic while we waited for Sarah and the relay teams to make their way to the finish line.

Sarah had predicted that she would complete her run in about three hours and fifty minutes. So when we were nearing that point, we made out way back to the other side of the finish line to see her come in. I am a very emotional person, but to see Sarah come over the little ridge and finish her first full marathon made me shed a couple tears. I know how hard she worked this summer and the setbacks she faced and overcame throughout her training. She finished strong and surpassed her goal coming in at 3:42:51....she was the ninth female finisher!!!!

Sarah met up with Kevin and her boys and then came back to join us as we waited for the relay teams to finish.

The first team blasted past to the finish line. A short while later, the second team crested the ridge. My mom was completing the last leg for that team, and she looked pale as a ghost. Without giving it much thought, I ran out to join them and make sure she was okay. Myles had run out after me and I hoisted him up on my hip, so we ended up crossing the finish line with them. I remember the announcer saying, "here comes the 'Mom on the Run Supporters' relay team and Janaya Stevenson". It's funny how it worked out. Great job guys!

We gathered the two teams together and met up with Auntie Dot, my cousin Crystal and her baby Chyler, Gavin, dad, my husband and boys. What a great morning!! 

I am excited more than anything, to have finished my ninth half marathon of the year! This run put my total distance to date for 2012 over the 660 mile point. Now, I've got until October 20th to get rested up and ready for the Saskatoon Roadrunners' Ultra Marathon Relay.

A Half + A Half = A Whole....Except in Running it Equals a FULL!

I decided to tackle a full marathon. GULP! I have always had the thought that one day I would maybe try to run a full marathon....one day. I'm not sure when I thought that day would be, but I DIDN'T think it would be this year!

Three consecutive weeks after we ran the Saskatoon Police Services Half Marathon in April, my friend Sarah posted runs of 16 miles, 18 miles & 20 miles. I 'liked' the first one, made a 'comment' on the second one and finally after she posted that she'd blasted through 20 miles, I sent her an email. I asked her if she had a marathon in her sights. I suggested that she register to run the beautiful flat course of the Queen City Marathon before it sold out (it was June 3rd and the half marathon had sold out in April and the marathon was already 75% full). Her response? If I upped my registration from the half marathon to the full, she would register too!

To blame Sarah isn't entirely fair. The seed had already been planted a long time ago, but she definitely gave me the little push I needed.

There were many reasons that I thought that it sounded like a good idea:

• I LOVE Regina! I have always thought that the QCM course would be perfect for a first marathon attempt. Mostly because, as I said, it's FLAT!

• The timing would work out beautifully. I would have the whole summer to dedicate to training. Also, I was having a difficult time finding a half marathon for October that I wouldn't have to travel to. This way, I figure surely to goodness we could count the full as two halves. Also, it would give me a nice break to recover after the marathon before I needed to be ready for an event.

• The thought of training for the extra distance of the full marathon gave me butterflies, but the good ones! I realized that I hadn't really followed a training plan in quite a while. I mean, I always have a plan, but I had been running to maintain my ability to run the half marathon, but not really driving myself beyond that. It was probably time that I take my own advice and have faith in my abilities and push myself to the next level.

• Many of my family members are going to be there running in the half marathon and as part of two relay teams. What better time to do it than when I have the support of my family, in my hometown, during this wonderful year of running!

However, there were a couple reasons that really caused me to hesitate:

• I had NEVER ran further than the 13.1 miles of the half marathon. I had no idea how my body would react to the extra distance. The last thing I wanted to do would be jeopardize my ability to complete my twelve half marathon this year by hurting myself. 

• I had registered for the half marathon months ago with my husband, sister-in-law and her husband. I didn't want to do anything that would take away from their experience running their first (my husband's second) half marathons.

• 42.2 kms IS A LONG WAY!!

So, at first I replied to Sarah. I convinced her that she should still register, but as much as I wanted to, I couldn't join her. I gave her my reasons why I couldn't and blah, blah, blah, blah....that night I lay awake and couldn't sleep. I WANTED it.

The next morning, a friend of mine posted this picture on facebook:

So, I wrote an email to the race director explaining my situation and asked if there was any way that I could be granted some leniency. I held my breath as I hit send....wouldn't you know it, he replied that, yes, they would be more than happy to give me until the end of August to upgrade my registration if my training was going well!!!

OKAY, SO THAT WAS THE FIRST STEP....NOW WHAT!?!

Ha, ha! I was excited! 

The second thing I did was discuss the training requirements with my husband. Unlike the prep for my half marathons, I wouldn't be able to fit in my long runs without his help. They are too far to do on the treadmill and even if I could mentally handle it, it wouldn't be fair to the boys. He was TOTALLY on board! He could see how excited I was at this prospect and as always he has supported me 100%.

Together, Sarah and I each put together our training plans and decided that to do a proper job of this we would have to also do the required Maintenance. We had faith that if we put in the work, our plans would get us across the finish line. Actually, Sarah had WAY more faith in me than I did....until I ran my first LONG run! 

The weekend after running at the Mogathon, I got up early Sunday morning and hit the road. I welcomed the overcast weather that was unusual for Canada Day. It meant that I was able to make my way around and around Warman without the fear of overheating. I was aiming to go 16 miles, but kept going to 18 because things were going so well! I felt great when I got home in just under three hours and fifteen minutes!

Two weeks later, the Sunday before my half marathon in Edmonton, I did my first 20 mile run! Again, the weather was overcast and perfect for running. The clouds opened up and I ran the last 10km in a beautiful rain. I was a soggy but extremely happy mamma when I finished....and I felt strong and confident that I could have kept going for the additional 10km that the full marathon would require!

The last thing I needed to do was call my sister-in-law and make sure that I wouldn't be making her feel bad if I switched distances. Lynn didn't hesitate for a second when I asked her what she thought! She supported me 100% if I wanted to run the full marathon.

So, things were looking pretty good.

Then early in August, I tweaked my hip during a soccer game. I didn't think much of it, but I had also been pushing myself pretty hard with some speed work and interval runs during those couple of weeks between my July and August events. After the River Run Classic, my left hip was VERY mad at me so, I didn't run at all until the following Friday. I iced, stretched, rested and foam rolled my hip in preparation for my long run. That Sunday, I was hesitant as I set out on my scheduled 20 mile run; but, with the full marathon only three weeks away, I had to get in my last long run before I started to taper.

I was shocked when the discomfort in my hip wasn't what affected my ability to run that morning. My opposite knee had been tender after the River Run, but after icing and resting it for a couple days, it had felt recovered. It wasn't. Five miles into my run, I realized that if I kept going, I would do more harm than good. I stopped and walked a mile home. I have NEVER had to do that.

In the two weeks since then, I have been for physiotherapy, I have had two painful but very effective deep tissue massages, I've been to my doctor and she did X-rays to be sure I didn't have a fracture, I've rested, iced, stretched, foam rolled, done yoga, drank water.....if I thought it would make a difference, I would stand on my head!  Yesterday morning I was feeling good. I hopped on the treadmill ready for a slow run. But, it soon became obvious that despite my best efforts, I am not going to be able to complete the full marathon. In fact, I'll be lucky if I can make my way through the half.

Part way through the morning, my doctor's office called with the results of my X-rays. My knee is fine, but my hip has arthritis. I don't know much about arthritis and I sure wasn't expecting that. I'm sure I'll get it sorted out, it just comes as a shock.

To say that I'm disappointed, is a bit of an understatement. Hindsight is always 20/20, but I see now that I got greedy and pushed myself too hard to reach a time goal that I'm just not ready for. I wish that I had stuck to the cautious and conservative plan that I had mapped out for myself in June....but I didn't.

So, the saying was right. I couldn't see that this is where the staircase would lead me, but I am definitely thankful that I took the first step. Now I know that I am capable of pushing myself beyond the 13 mile distance and I am confident that I will complete a full marathon...one day. I just blew it for this go around.

The River Run Classic

The Scenario

Sunday, August 12th was the River Run Classic. I had asked my friend Sarah if she would come run this event with me and help me try to finish in under two hours. She happily agreed. Our mutual friend MJ was registered to run the 10km distance, so on her way through from Prince Albert, Sarah picked us up in Warman.

My friend Katy was running her first 10km. My friend Sheila, who I know from working at the Headstart in Cumberland House, was running her first 5km. My cousin Becky was back in the city with her friend to complete the 5km. I knew a few other people who were registered to complete the other distances and was happy to have a chance to say hi to them before things got under way.

Together we met up with the other runners at River Landing. The weather was a bit brisk when we got there around 7:30, but I knew that by the time we finished it would be substantially warmer and I wouldn't regret wearing my shorts.

The Event

The River Run Classic is presented by Ernst & Young. The Saskatoon Road Runners Association organizes this annual event that offers 5 km, 10 km (this is the 10km provincial championship) and 21.1 km distances. The charity of choice is the Meewasin Valley Authority. Three charities and one non-profit group ran the water stations to raise funds for their causes as well (Parkinson's, breast cancer, leukemia/lymphoma & the Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association).

This event was really well organized and I really liked the route! They changed the race location from previous years and I appreciated that the course maps were available online prior to the event so I could familiarize myself with the details.  It is a smaller event with 84 entrants in the 5km, 157 in the 10km and 108 in the half marathon, for a total of 349 participants.

I think that this race package is my favourite to date! The race directors definitely decided to go for quality over quantity and I think it paid off! With registration in the event, participants received a nice tech shirt, a pair of running socks, a finisher's medal and a couple snack samples.....and on the back of the bib, there was a voucher for 25% off your entire purchase at Lululemon!! Way to go River Run organizers!

The Excuses

This was the second hardest run I've ever done (second only to my first half marathon ever!).

Two weeks prior to the run, I asked Sarah if she would come down and pace me. I felt like if I focused on my speed and time throughout the race, I should be able to finish under two hours. It wasn't until after she agreed to run with me, that I actually printed off a pace chart and realized how much faster I was going to have to go to reach that goal. Gulp! I had bitten off more than I could chew. So, I trained hard for two weeks, running intervals and doing pace runs.

I follow two female runners who have written a couple of good books. You can check out the Mother Runners website for a wealth of information. Recently, I have been listening to their podcasts. In their discussion of goals, they recommend setting a couple goals for each running event you do. They suggest a primary goal (that would be attainable if everything lines up perfect on race day), a secondary goal (something you'd be happy to achieve if the day is less than optimal) and they may have mentioned a third option that would be more like the worst case scenario.

Going into the River Run, my primary goal was to finish in under two hours and my secondary goal was to finish under two hours and six minutes and forty seconds (my best finishing time to date).....I didn't really entertain a third option.

I was trying my best to approach the event with a Zen attitude. I tried to have as much faith in my abilities as Sarah did. However, by the time I got through the line at the biffy and got organized, I didn't have any time to do a proper stretch and I was frazzled. Our plan was for me to set the pace for the first mile and then, using her Garmin, Sarah would run the rest of the race at the pace required to complete the run under my goal time....and I would do my best to keep up!

The race started and off we went! The route began with an uphill section going across the Broadway bridge, so when we got through our first mile and Sarah told me how FAST we had been going I was shocked! I don't run that fast...ever. She was pumped because she thought that my training had paid off, but I shuddered. I've read about this happening before, getting caught up in the excitement of start line atmosphere and taking off faster than you should only to have it kick you in the pants later. Oh well, I was determined to give it my best try.

After we hit the three mile point Sarah said our speed was slowing a bit and we had to pick up the pace. Enter phase two of the plan. She ran at the required speed and I tried to keep up. Slowly, we got further and further apart. Each time I grabbed a water at an aid station, the gap got wider. I know, that probably doesn't sound like fun; but, it was a great opportunity for me to see how seemingly small things add up to make a big difference. Sarah represented the goal of finishing in under two hours, and running with her gave me the chance to see exactly how far (or maybe how close) I am from that.

By the time we got to the 10km point, it was obvious that I wasn't going to be able to catch Sarah. She waited the couple minutes for me and we carried on together. Instead of being disappointed in me, she continued to encourage and push me for the rest of the run. I don't know if it was the quick start, the fact that I had been pushing myself so hard during the two weeks prior to the event, the hot weather or if something else was at play, but the last half of that run was a STRUGGLE!

In an attempt to cut a bit of time, I quit slowing at the aid stations. This was probably not the best idea. It was a HOT day, but by the 11 mile point I was shivering and had goose bumps. I sweat too much to not drink water en route....so, although the water breaks cost time, they aren't really optional for me.

The last two miles of the route were hard. My left hip hurt. My right knee hurt. And the toes on my right foot felt funny. Sarah stuck with me and pushed me not to stop.

When we crossed the finish line, the time clock said 1:57. I'm not sure what caused the discrepancy, but I'm thinking it probably had something to do with the fact that the 10km event (which began ten minutes after the half marathon start) was the provincial championship. I knew it was wrong, but that is how hard it felt like I had run.....and you know what? If I had finished in 1:57, I probably wouldn't regret pushing myself as hard as I did. But, our finishing time was 2:05:57. I had met my secondary goal, but I wasn't as thrilled as I should have been.

The Best Part

I am REALLY thankful to have such amazing support in my friends and my family. Not everyone is lucky enough to have someone like Sarah who is willing to help them try to meet their goals. MJ is a great Cheerleader and she smashed her previous 10km time!!

Having my hubby and boys waiting at the finish line was wonderful. They don't care how long it takes me to finish, they are always smiling and happy when I get there!

We took a couple minutes to catch our breath, grab some grub at the post-race snack tent and then I quickly borrowed Sarah's small foam roller to work out the kink in my knee. And we were off! I jumped in with my family, we stopped at my husband's office so I could quickly shower and then we made our way to the lake.

It was great to be able to spend a handful of days together enjoying the quality time and activities that the cabin has to offer.

We even managed to take in the Stanley Cup parade in Yorkton! The boys were thrilled to see it!

After the race, when I took off my shoes, I found this beauty of a blister! I drained it and it quickly healed. Unfortunately, as the week progressed it became more and more obvious that my hip was not going to be as easy to repair. I didn't attempt to ski or ride the tube and my family was patient with me as I hobbled around. I stretched and stretched and iced and rested, but it didn't seem to be getting any better. In fact, if anything, it was getting worse. It is a weird kind of pain. It's not really in my muscle. It feels like it's coming from somewhere deeper. 

I am excited that this half has put my 2012 total distance to date over the 630 mile point. I'm two thirds of the way done for the year! Now I've got 3 weeks to get feeling better before the Queen City Marathon in Regina September 9th.

My Fall Lineup

I am happy to finally have my Fall running events set!

In October, I am going to team up with two great girls to run the Saskatchewan 50k Ultra Marathon in Saskatoon. I met Michyla at the pasta supper that was held in conjunction with the Saskatchewan Marathon in May. She is friends with Morgan who also lives in Warman and I had happened to have met up with her at one of the kids' playgroups. As a team, we are going to relay our way through 50 kilometres of river trails.

This week I finalized the travel arrangements for both of my last two events. I am SO EXCITED for these trips!!

In November, I will be joining a great group of girls as we tackle the Really Big Free Marathon in Las Vegas! This will be a first half marathon for many of the girls and it is really exciting to be able to watch them train for the event and improve their running abilities. It's going to be a BLAST!

Today, I booked our trip for December. My husband and I will be going to Jamaica to run the Reggae Marathon. We will be celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary this Fall and we honeymooned in Negril. I am thankful to have the opportunity to go back to Jamaica and run my last half marathon of the year together.

I am looking forward to to what the rest of this year has in store for me!

The Moose is Loose 2012

The Scenario

Sunday July 22nd was the Moose is Loose in Edmonton. My husband's cousin and her husband had registered for the 10km run. However, they were unable to make it when they managed to sell their house & buy a new one just days before the run. So, I ran this event solo, but, it was awesome to have my family there to support me.

We had an action packed, fun day yesterday!

In an attempt to set my mind at ease, we mapped out the route from the hotel to the race start point. When we got there, I was happy to see that the beginning of the trail was a sort of double wide bike trail with crushed gravel. We tootled around the park a bit, threw some sticks and rocks into the river and enjoyed the views. Then we spent the rest of the morning at the West Ed mall taking in the sites (unfortunately, the only shopping I actually managed was Bath & Body Works!) and then headed back to the hotel after the Sea Lion show to hit the water slides again!

Despite our trip to scout things out, I was still feeling ill at ease for the run. I worried that as I made my way through the course, the trail would become more of a difficult single lane goat trail. I had also started to fret over the availability of water and biffies. When I had picked up my race package the night before, I hadn't looked at it's contents until I was back out in the vehicle. It was only then that I realized that it only consisted of my shirt and bib....I had expected a more detailed route map, but there was no such thing. The only map that the race directors had provided was an online satellite image that didn't indicate where the aid stations would be or if there would even be any. 

I decided that worrying was getting me nowhere, so I phoned back to the Running Room to inquire. Although the person I spoke to didn't know anything about the terrain or the course, she was at least able to tell me that there would be seven aid stations along the half marathon route. So, it would seem that I had all the information I was going to be able to get and I would just have to have faith that I would be fine. 

We had planned to go for supper at the Olive Garden (HELLO CARBS!), but when we got there the wait for a table was over an hour (in all the times I've been to Edmonton, I've only managed to actually eat there once....so I wasn't really that surprised that they were lined up on a Saturday night, lol!). After a little tour around the area, we decided to return to the West Ed. We thought we'd see what the wait was like at the restaurants down Bourbon Street. 

It's funny how sometimes things work out so well. While the Olive Garden would have been nice, Owen & Myles much preferred Jungle Jim's! Their menu was on the back of a mask, they got fruit slushies to drink, there was lots of crazy crap on the walls to look at and their meals were served on a frisbee! The food was pretty good too.

Happy boys at Jungle Jims

Needless to say, bedtime was pretty easy....the boys were beat!

Once they were to sleep, I laid out all my supplies for the next morning. I prepped the coffee pot and got my breakfast organized. Got the kids' outfits and necessities laid out. Set my alarm for 5:30 and then we relaxed with a nice cold beer.

So, this morning I met up with the other runners at Emily Murphy Park. The weather was beautiful! When we arrived at the park just after 7:30 the temperature was 16 degrees Celsius. I wore my shorts, the tech shirt that I received in my race package, my headband and my sunglasses. The use of earbuds was prohibited, so I sent my ipod back to the truck with my family (I had thought I'd carry it with me and then pop in one bud once things thinned out; however, as the race director gave the directives before the run began, he said anyone caught using earbuds would be disqualified.....yikes!).

The Event

The Moose is Loose is an event that is organized and hosted by the Running Room. I can't find much information about the event and didn't think to ask anyone when I was there. It seems like it's been a regular on the Edmonton running scene for a number of years. The proceeds from this year's event go to the Uncles & Aunts at Large program.

There were right around five hundred people that participated in this event. 277 completed the half marathon (260 runners & 17 walkers) and 216 finished the 10km distance (190 runners & 26 walkers). By spacing out the start times for the four event categories, the organizers were able to eliminate some of the inevitable congestion at the start line. With 260 people starting out at the same time, things are bound to be a bit squishy, but it didn't take too long for things to space out.

The course was really well marked, I never worried that I was going the wrong way and the marshals were friendly and encouraging. The aid stations were well spaced and each offered water and gatorade. The tech shirt fits good and I like that it's navy. I was also really happy with the finishers medal. It is a solid, weighty chunk of a medal. My husband laughs at me, but I LOVE the feeling of accomplishment when I cross the finish line and there is someone there to put a medal around my neck! Unfortunately, it wasn't until I got home that I realized that they had draped me with the wrong medal....I had a 10km finishers medal. So, I've sent it back to be exchanged and don't have a picture of it to show you. You'll just have to trust me, it's a beauty!

The Excuses

Last night, I decided that I would have to go with the flow today and just accept where the route would take me, the kind of terrain I would encounter and the aid I would be provided. Obviously, this is NOT how I usually approach things! Generally, I take time to figure out the course and the distance markers and the locations of the drink stations etc. Then, as I run the event I use that information to make mental deals with myself (for example: my legs are tired and I want to slow down, but I will keep running until the next aid station...then I can slow long enough to grab a drink). However, this was hard to do today because I didn't know how far that distance would be. Thankfully, I was feeling strong and I didn't have much need for my 'mental games'.

The only other downfall of not being familiar with the route, was that right at the very end, I didn't know exactly how much further I had to go. The hills made my Nike+ distance a little inaccurate, so when I thought I had 1 mile remaining, there was actually 1.5 miles. This might seem minor, but it meant that I ran full out for half a mile more than I had anticipated. When I crossed the finish line I was spent!

I also found it a bit of a struggle at times, to run without my ipod. As I've said before, the speed of my music has a direct impact on how fast I run. That, and I didn't realize how loud I breathe! Good grief I was huffing and puffing, lol! Although I totally understand why the race officials have the rule in place (it makes it too hard on a trail run to hear other runners & bikers approaching and accept directions from people along the course if you're zoned out), I still missed my tunes.

Around the 5 km point, there was a group of Lululemon girls cheering and holding encouraging signs. After looping back, about 16 km into my run, I encountered them again. I really appreciated their spirit and energy! It seems that it takes me the first 5 km to find my groove, I blast through the middle 10 km and then have to push through the last 5 km....so their placement was perfect for me. It's funny what a boost their encouragement gave me.

The Best Part

I feel great to have completed this run!

This morning as I sat in the quiet hotel room eating my oatmeal & banana and drinking my coffee, my nervousness returned. I woke my family up just before 7:00 (I felt bad waking them after such a busy day, but it's probably only about the third time my boys have ever had to be woken up in their lives!). As we made our way to the park, I was so nervous I actually thought I could be sick. When my husband asked me what I was so uptight about I said I wasn't entirely sure other than the fear of the unknown.

It was great having my family there to stand with while I waited in line for the port-a-potty and listened to the instructions. After a smooch and hugs, I was on my way.

It only took a couple minutes for the butterflies to flutter away. Once I got going, I knew I'd be fine.

The route was BEAUTIFUL. I ran through four different parks, through forests, up inclines, through mud, across paved bridges & wooden bridges & plank bridges. I was almost always near water and the scenery was fantastic! The trail stayed wide and manageable. As expected, I found it more difficult to run on the rough trail terrain than on pavement (this was confirmed during the couple of paved sections on the route), but it was still really manageable.

As I ran, I was thankful for the shade the trees provided. By the time I finished my run, the temperature was up at 26 degrees. It would have been a scorcher if it had been a road race!

After leaving me at the start line my family returned to the hotel for breakfast and then went on an expedition to explore Rexall Place. The boys were thrilled to see where the Oilers play and the statue of their dad's favourite player, Wayne Gretzky!!

I had guesstimated that I would finish my run between 2:15-2:30 so they got back JUST in the nick of time as I crossed the line in 2:13:29. I was so happy to have them there cheering me on!

Part of this year for me is about pushing my limits and I feel like I definitely did that today! It feels good to have conquered my anxiety and run my first trail run. Last week when our plans changed, it would have been extremely easy for me to bail on the trip and just head out for a 13.1 mile run at home, but I'm glad I didn't....that would have been too easy.....and  I would have missed out on the awesome medal! I mean, the quality family time, ha, ha!

I am excited that this half has put my 2012 total distance to date over the 570 mile point! I am looking forward to spending more time hanging out with my family and enjoying everything that summer has to offer. Now I've got three weeks to prepare for the Saskatoon Roadrunners Association's River Run Classic on Sunday August 12th.

Setting Goals for the Second Half of 2012

Last Sunday, while I was out for my long run, I used my "chatter-free" time to brainstorm some plans and set some goals for the second half of this year. Of course, some of these goals are related to this project.

I can't believe how fast this last month has gone and that I haven't made the time to update the blog since just after the Mogathon! It makes me realize that before I know it this year will be done....so I better get my buns in gear!

My boys and I have really enjoyed the few weeks of holidays since school has finished. I got to spend an hour each morning for the last two weeks sitting on the pool deck watching them during their swimming lessons. We've been to the farm & the cabin for a few nights. We've played on the trampoline, gone to the spraypark, participated in the book camp at the public library, had playdates and coffee times with our friends. We've done crafts and puzzles and watched movies and played games. We've sorted and organized the whole house from top to bottom (we are at the stage where we can start to give away our baby 'stuff' and it feels great!). And, of course, I've been running & playing soccer.

Enjoying the Geology building at the U of S

So it seems that after all this activity during the day,once I get Owen & Myles snuggled in at night, all I want to do is tuck away with my book! It's a good book, but I'm just about done it...that will free up my time for blogging. So, I am going to try to set the goal of make a post at least once a week for the second half of the year and we'll see how it goes. That, and I will get back to the real purpose of the blog, not just to talk about this year of running half marathons, but also the baby steps that have gotten me here.

Tonight, I am sitting in a beautiful hotel room in Edmonton! We had a change of plans yesterday and the boys have come with us for the getaway. We decided to make it fun and booked a room at a hotel with a waterside near the West Edmonton mall. So far, Owen & Myles are having a blast! And so are we.

We pulled into town right in time to pick up my race package for Sunday's event. It made me nervous...but,that was short lived because we then had to coordinate supper and hit the watersides!

The Moose is Loose will be my first trail run ever. The weather forecast is for rain. I'm not familiar with the trail. This makes me anxious. But, I'm looking forward to going tomorrow to find where the race starts and check out the path it will be on. I'm confident that I'll finish the race and I'm not aiming for any specific time. I'm looking forward to it.

Mostly, I'm going to focus on enjoying my time with my family. Tomorrow is going to be a fun day! And of course, another bonus is that I'll get to soothe my tired self in the hot tub after the race on Sunday!