The Beauty in Running :)

Rose Valley Reservoir, near Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

This had of been the most amazing run I have been on this year.  28 trail runners all ran together for about 21km early one Sunday morning in April.  The views were stunning.  It's times like these that I truly feel blessed.  Most days I am just happy to be out in nature, soaking up what life has to offer.  Thankful that I live in a safe environment, and have the ability to run and experience all of it.  Sometimes when I am running and I'm not having the greatest run, I think of these runs, and just start to look for the beauty that surrounds me at any given time.  No matter where you are, there is always something that stands out, that makes you take notice, to soak it all up. 

Sunday mornings are a great part of my week.  I get to get up early and enjoy my morning coffee.  Often my husband gets up with me and he will make me a poached egg on a bed of spinach.  I love that!  I love being pampered  ;).  Then off I go to run with a wonderful group of people.  I always have so much fun.  I run five times a week and two of those days I run with my running group.  Sundays are our long run days and Wednesday we do either hill or speed work.  Here is part of the gang from our Rose Valley run.   

The entire 25km track has an elevation gain of just over 1100 metres.  There is one monster hill that really wipes you out, but the view from the top:

Makes it more than worthwhile.  And of course on the other side is the long downhill snaking down with lots of switcbacks, making you feel like you are piece of bubble gum rolling down that circular bubblegum track!!

A few weeks later I ran my first 25km race here in the end of April.  Check out the race details here.  Maybe in 2015 this could be a race for you!!

Shoes That Fit?!

The shoes you run in are probably the most important piece of equipment that you will have.  They need to be right for the terrain that you are running, and they need to fit.  But 'fit' doesn't always mean what you think it should.  Now I'm no expert here, but I've had my fair share of experience in the last 8 months of trail running.

I started running in Asics Scout running shoes.  These shoes fit me.  They were my regular shoe size of 8.5.  I was building up to 15 km in my first 3 months of running.   I chose them for a few reasons:  They were familiar in feel, like my road running shoes, they had a fairly aggressive tread and so they gave me confidence, and of course-they were pretty!!  I ran in these runners all winter and in the snow.  My feet got wet, but my merino wool socks insulated so well they were never cold.  They were comfortable, but they didn't hold up well.  The mesh outer started to rip early on, it may be mostly cosmetic but for $130 there are many other shoe choices available.

In March, after about 5 months of running in the Asics, I went to get a new pair of runners.  I was now building to 25km distance. Many people in my group run in Salomon Speed Cross, so I thought I would try those.  I went into the store and the sales person told me that the shoes fit large so I would probably want about a half size smaller.  So I tried on the Size 8, and in the store they were comfortable.  They were good for my first speed training session and then I ran in them for my first long run, and they were good until I started down the hill.  We were running 8km laps and by the 3rd one I was almost crawling down the decline.  My toes were killing me!!  When I got home I looked at my feet - 6 of my toes (three on each feet) were black!

I mentioned this to some of the runners in my group and they informed me that I should buy runners 1/2 to 1 size bigger than what I would normally use. I was pretty choked that I spent $150 for nothing (I mean I may as well have just thrown my money out the window!), that I pulled out my LaSportiva Wildcats that I had purchased the year before for hiking.  I refused to buy another pair of shoes - (Grrrr - sometime I can be soooo cheap - and so stubborn).  These shoes worked well.  They were light, had good grip on the downhill, and I really like the hard plastic reinforcment to help protect your toes from tripping over rocks and stumps (which I seem to do a lot of).  For my first 25km trail race that I ran here locally, I put on the old Asics, and by the end of the 25km my toes were quite sore again.  This 25km track has 1100 meters of elevation.

From top left:  Salomon Speed Cross, LaSportiva Wildcats, Treksta Sync and Asics Scouts

My solution to this was still not to buy any runners but to run only in the old LaSportiva since they were less worn out than the Asics.  Well my 50km trail run came up (having only ever run a max of 28km) and I ran it in my Wildcats.  They were good, except they were to small because they 'fit' me, and my toes are now totally wrecked!!  Only the big toe and the baby toe on my left foot have been spared.

OUCH!!

After that I knew I had to get new runners.  I bought two pairs.  First I bought the size 9 Treksta's.  They were so comfortable in the store, and I took them home and wore them in the house for 3 hours.     I was in heaven!!  So comfy and light. . .Then I went running in them.  The tread is not very aggressive, and the first downhill I went down, there was some loose gravel and I slipped - for quite a ways before I finally fell!!  On my whole run I had difficulty on the downhill.  I so don't like those shoes  :(

For my second pair I bought the Salomon Speed Cross again.  I love the aggressive grip on the shoe.  They give me confidence on the downhill.  It's funny that both stores I was in tried to talk me out of the speed cross.  The first guy was successful, the second guy was not.

So what do I have to show for all my lost $$ - Well I should have trusted my instincts with the Treksta.  I honestly felt that the grip was too low profile, but I listened to the sales guy that said it was fine.  Both sales guys were trying to sell me a smaller shoe.  They said 'you need a size 8.5'.  I showed them my toes and said NO I need a size 9 or size 9.5.  Both sales guys were trying to steer me to a different shoe - I'm not really clear about why that was - perhaps they had some runners that they were having trouble selling. . .Bottom line is do your own research, ask people how they like their shoes, what are the pro's and con's etc and when you go into a store keep in mind what YOU want.  Finally I can't stress enough that if you run downhill buy your shoes about 1/2 size bigger than you think!!  That is what fits!!

What shoes would you recommend?

Why I Chose to Run an Ultra

I started trail running in October of 2013.  So I'm a newbee to the sport.  I don't have much running history, but I love being outside.  I've done quite a bit of hiking, and in 2012 I trekked in the Nepal Himalayas for 5 weeks.

It is really my trip to Nepal that got me here to trail running.  There is a lot of poverty in Nepal.  Poverty that I had never really witnessed before.  It's one thing to see it on TV, or see photos in magazines, and it's quite another thing to see it right in front of you with your own two eyes.  When I returned back to Canada in November of 2012 I knew that I needed to do something.  I had so many thoughts and ideas about what I could do, but they all involved a lot of risk.  So finally, just about one year later I came to the conclusion that the best thing I could provide was money to a well run organization that was already organized and focusing on things that I thought were important.  It was at this time that I thought that ultra running could be my vehicle for raising money.

That has been my motivation and drive.  The event is the Squamish, BC, Canada 50km in August of 2014.  I will run it as a fundraiser for Room to Read.  An organization that focuses on educating women and children across the developing world.

What I didn't really expect to happen, is how much I love trail running.  When I'm out running, either with a group of people, or on my own, I feel freedom.  I feel happiness.  It's not the running,  (because I could care less to run on the road for any distance), but the combination of running, physical activity driving me to the extremes, being outdoors, mountains and a sense of adventure that draws me to this sport.  Love it!!  Why do you run?

Woot Woot!!

Well I did it!  Despite my feelings of anxiety and unpreparedness I completed my first 50 km race at a respectable 6:15.

I was really afraid of hitting that dreaded and still (for me) mythical 'wall''.   But you know I never got there.  I ate regularly and hydrated often.  Before I knew it, I was at the finish line. . .  :)

OK maybe it wasn't quite that easy.  But the run at Sun Mountain near Winthrop, Washington was beautiful.  It was really important for me to finish thus run.  I'm doing Squamish 50 Km in August as 'the run' for 2014.   I planned to do this run is October 2013 as a fundraiser for a charity, as of yet not yet solidified.   I needed to build confidence by completing this run.  So basically I took it easy.  I ran slower but stready!

Did I have issues?  Yes I did and no I did not!!  I have intense pain in my right si joint/hip socket/ glute area.  It's hard to pinpoint.  You know I had 'issues' about a week before the race and didn't deal with it.  I started to feel it before the 20km mark.  Today, the day after it felt better when I woke up, but this evening it was excruciating.  I had an issue with my water bladder, and after the third aid station at about km 37 it was leaking.  I was drinking yellow gu brew and I'm sure it looked like I peed myself.  It was gross and sticky.  :(.   But overall nothing during the run that I can 'complain' about.)

Honestly I loved every second of it!  I never turned on my head phones once.  Generally I reserve this to 'cancel out' negative thoughts and emotions.

I've built a tremendous amount of confidence.  I've had help from my running coach Rene C. Unser from P.A.C.E. Fitness located here She is an amazing athlete and inspirational coach that carries you through to your goals.  Feeling accomplished!!

H-

What Have I Done

This weekend in Canada is the Victoria Day long weekend.  I am running my first 50km Ultra at Sun Mountain in Winthrop, Washington.  (Here's the link to the website:  http://sunmountaintrailraces.blogspot.ca ) I don't know what to say .   .  .  To be completely honest I am totally freaked out.  And here's why:

1)  I started running in October of 2013 - I decided I was going to run the Squamish, BC Canada 50km race in August of 2014.

2)  While I've been diligently training - my longest run to date has only been 28km.

3)  Don't worry says everyone - it will be fine - it will be more of a mental race than a physical race!! What the hell does that mean!!  I mean honestly.  Physically I've been doing my best up to this point, but I don't recall taking any mental training .  .  .

4)  I realize that I've been running my running program, but I've paid no attention to what's been, shall we say, "going on".  I don't know what my pace should be for a 50 km run, I don't know what my heart rate should be.  I have a heart monitor, in my drawer, still in the package.  I have been running, but I have not been paying attention. . .

I've received some great advice and inspiration over the last few days from a lot of people.  So that is what I am armed with:  'pain is temporary, accomplishment is forever',  'you ARE going to feel bad, and when that happens, do nothing and keep running',  'you can do it!',  'have fun!, as our mothers used to say, - the most important thing is that you are having fun!', 'eat every half hour or more if you need to', 'whatever you do, don't stop just make sure you are always moving forward'.

My biggest source of inspiration come from my mother, who at this moment is trekking a religious pilgrimage from Sivelle, Spain to Santiago de Campostilla.  She is 75 years old and trekked 35 km the other day.  Surely at 46 I can run for 50km .  .  .

At any rate, this is training for Squamish, my goal run this year.  Finishing it would give me so much confidence.  I'm looking forward to the challenge (she said trying to convincing herself ;) )