Race Wins and Dreams of Spring .........

With two race victories in just 6 days, it's safe to say that I've had a pretty good week, although saying that, I also like to think that I am realistic when it comes to my running. I know that had Alissa not twisted her ankle at the Frozen Ass 50k, and had Kim turned up to the race the cross country on Saturday rather than having to work, the best I could have hoped for in all honesty is 2nd lady at both races. Even then, there are some other speedy ladies that are always close on my tail these days - Joelle McDonald, Anne Landry, Joanna Ford to name just a few - but I've always been told to seize opportunities and that you can only race those that turn up on the day - put yourself on that start line, and the rest is up to you.

The 2 races couldn't have been more different. A 50km run on pavement during a Chinook, resulting in "warmer" temperatures just above freezing with glimpses of the sun that meant I got a bit of a sun burnt face - and then an 8km cross country race 5 days later when we were yet again blanketed in an arctic airflow, with light snow and stupidly low temperatures of -15 or less. Variety is the spice of life, right?

The Frozen Ass 50k is a fantastic event - well organised, very friendly and excellent value for money. You get a good quality hoodie to keep you warm through the cold winter months, a few other goodies, and of course pizza, home made soup and cakes afterwards, with an endless supply of hot coffee and tea - no wonder I went back for a second year! OK, the route isn't the most scenic, at least not unless you have a fascination for railway tracks, electricity substations and the traffic flow and road structure of the nearby Deerfoot Trail - but it is traffic free, it does follow the river up through Nose Creek and  it's a relatively flat 2 x out and back route which isn't so bad really. 

Frozen Ass 50km - at the start

This year I knew I had more competition amongst the ladies, so my main goal was to just run my own race and hopefully dip under 4 hours. Within the first couple of  kilometres, I knew that this was going to be a tall order - the pathway was covered in ice which slowed us all down as we tentatively picked our way through to avoid falling over. Thankfully, the really bad icy sections only caused a problem for the first 2-3km and again on the way back, but for the remainder of the route, it was almost plain sailing with just some minor sections that needed a little more care.

I was aiming to run around 4.45 - 4.50km pace but it looked like Alissa was also doing a similar pace and it wasn't too long before I caught her up. We ran together and chatted for a short while before we both got back into the zone and continued on our merry way. It was great to finally meet and speak to her properly even if it was under race conditions. She is a truly magnificent athlete with some pretty impressive race victories and course records under her belt, and indeed, at the Lost Soul 100k last year, I finished a good 90 minutes and 2nd lady behind Alissa who had not only won but also smashed the old ladies course record.

Although it had been quite cool when we started, it was beginning to warm up and I was starting to get a little too warm with all the layers I was wearing. I was also extremely thirsty despite carrying some water, but with feed stations 12.5km apart, and with the temperature rising, it didn't last long enough and I was just so relieved to see the turnaround point where I could refuel, remove some layers, and get going again. It was great to see my friend Alan there helping out, along with some other awesome volunteers, all of which gave up their time to give us lots of encouragement and made sure we had everything that we needed - I can't say thank you enough!

It had taken an hour to do the first section, so I knew that getting under the 4 hours was going to be tight. I'd edged slightly ahead of Alissa by this stage although I was convinced that she would be just behind and ready to pounce any moment, but I was determined to stick to my plan, stay focused and carry on doing my own thing. I was starting to tire and I knew that with having had very little breakfast (I'd been kept awake for most of the night feeling queasy due to too much garlic so couldn't eat much first thing - don't ask!), I needed fuel that was more substantial than a few energy gels, plus I was in desperate need of more fluids.

I eventually reached the icy sections again and was somewhat relieved as it meant I had an excuse to slow down, thinking to myself that maybe I would just do the 25k and call it a day. The last couple of km involved some uphill and it was here that I thought I would be overtaken by one of the other ladies, but as I ran into the next aid station and the turnaround, I was pleasantly surprised that nobody was right behind me and that I'd actually got a 2 minute lead over both Alissa and Joelle, the latter of which had moved strongly through the field and was now 2nd placed lady. 

Heading off for Lap 2 - thanks Joanna for the photo :-)

As I headed out for lap 2, both ladies were just arriving at the aid station, so I knew that now the race was on. I was dreading the second part as I was already feeling tired and I knew that it would now come down to a battle of wills - I had to keep pushing, I had to keep focused. Knowing that my strength and speed is strongest on the downhill and the flats, I used these sections to my advantage and tried to speed up to widen my lead, and when I hit the uphill, I just tried to keep moving and not panic. I was starting to overtake some of the men's field by now, and it looked like I was about 8th overall as I went through the feed station again at 38km. I grabbed some nibbles and downed some energy drink, coke and water, before heading off again, thankful that neither Joelle nor Alissa were anywhere in sight. 

By the time I saw Joelle again on the return leg, I figured I must have had at least a 5 minute lead over her and as we passed each other going in opposite directions, we gave each other some encouragement and big smiles. I was a little concerned that there was no sign of Alissa and did wonder what had happened, hoping that she wasn't injured or anything, and later found out that she had sadly dropped at 25km due to twisting her ankle and being in some pain.

With just 10km to go, I had succumbed to a bit of walking, especially when faced with an incline as my walking was becoming much quicker than my running pace. I overtook a few more men, and figured that now I must be in the top 5 overall which gave me a bit of a boost as I kept ticking off those km. But that last 10km seemed to go on forever, and even though I was familiar with where I needed to run, I was becoming frustrated as the path just seemed to go on and on and on, I couldn't remember seeing some of the landmarks, and the ones I could remember were taking far too long to appear.

At last, I saw the bridge over Deerfoot, and I knew that I only had around 3km to go. I knew now that I had won the ladies race, and I also knew that there was no way I would break 4 hours, so it became a case of just keeping going to the finish. The last few hills were taking their toll, and then all of a sudden, there was loads of shouting and cheering from a group of people at the top of one of the hills. They were cheering me on and it turned out to be good friends Adam, Kim and Joanna who'd come out to give all the runners a bit of support. It was so nice to see their familiar smiling faces, and with a high 5 to Kim and Adam whilst Joanna tested her photography skills, I got a bit more of a spring in my step as I headed to the finish line.

Yay! Finishing Frozen Ass 50km - 1st lady and 4th overall

I crossed the line 1st lady and 4th overall in 4.06.45, taking 4 minutes longer for the second half . It wasn't my best paced run, but I was happy and relieved with the win, and couldn't wait to get some food and drink into me to start the recovery!

I expected to be pretty tired and sore from the race, but the next day, I was thankful that I could still move around with no stiffness. Knowing I had the cross country the following Saturday, I opted for a couple of days rest, and then a couple of easy 5km runs with Wilson and Brandy. I felt OK on the easy runs - a little tired in the legs but generally OK - so I was looking forward to getting out for the cross country the following weekend.

Organised by our good friend Alan, the race starts at Glenmore and heads to Weaselhead. Unfortunately, the floods last year damaged parts of the old course, so this year it would be a two lap course but thankfully Alan had made sure we still got to experience the Jack Rabbit Trail.

I'd turned up to the race feeling pretty relaxed again and not feeling any particular pressure, but when I heard that Kim was unfortunately working, I realised that the race was open and for the taking. Joanna and Anne have both been running extremely well, and I'd heard a rumour of another speedy lady that was taking part for the first time, so knowing that this really could turn into a race for victory, I started to feel apprehensive and nervous.

The weather had gone much colder than earlier in the week, we'd had some light snow overnight, and it was still falling as we were awaiting the start. With the course change, I had no idea where we would be going and was rather hoping that it would be good underfoot without too much deep snow which can be energy sapping. 

As it turned out, it was good mix of everything, and whilst I was secretly moaning to myself about having to traipse through some deep snowy sections that swallowed my legs with every step and I couldn't stay up straight or get a grip, I loved the section through the trees where running was good and we could pick up a bit of pace. To quote Joanna, it was like a roller coaster with all the rolling hills but it made for a beautiful and interesting course and I loved it! Considering I'd raced earlier in the week, my legs weren't feeling too bad and I was making sure I was working on the hills. I was being followed by a couple of young lads - and I mean young lads - and they were putting me to shame at how fast they were going. They eventually overtook me, but they sure helped me to keep going and push ahead, and as I approached the finish line to shouts and cheers, I was absolutely chuffed to bits to have my second race victory in just 6 days.

Enjoying Jack Rabbit Trail at Weaselhead XC  and
leading lady - Thanks CRR for the picture :-)

So yes indeed, it has been a fabulous week of racing and I'm really pleased that things still seem to be heading in the right direction. The winters are long here in Canada and the long range forecast is showing sub-zero temperatures for at least the next 10 days. Running in the cold, in ice and snow, it is so easy to want to give up and walk away, but I'm fortunate to have met and got to know so many motivated people here, that get out on the roads, trails and mountains regardless of the weather and so long as it's safe. Even today, I had the pleasure of a 25km run with Alan and Kim despite it snowing and being a bone-chilling -21, but it makes things far more easier when you have somebody to run with. I love it here and I do enjoy winter running, but I have to say that with the lighter nights becoming more noticeable, I am starting to dream of green meadows filled with spring flowers, of accessible trails filled with the sound of birds singing, the bears out and about with their cubs and all the other wildlife with their young, the sound of bubbling brooks and raging rivers as the snow starts to melt, and things once again come to life. Spring has always been my favourite time of year, and I'm hoping that I really can knuckle down when the proper warmer weather arrives and hopefully have another big smile on my face at the Red Deer Marathon in May.

Dreaming of spring ..... :-)

A Chilly Nose Hill Cross Country

Calgary is in the throes of yet another “deep freeze”, the type where those that venture outdoors become encrusted in ice after a short period of time, with eyelashes and eyebrows freezing, hair and clothes becoming rigid with ice, and even the ladies end up with beards and moustaches as their faces freeze in the cold air. The good news is that despite the cold, the snow hasn’t been too frequent in recent weeks and most days we are greeted by the bluest skies and brightest sunshine which certainly helps to make the long winter months somewhat more bearable. We're also fortunate to experience many natural wonders – snow capped mountains, icy rivers, sightings of wildlife searching for any scraps of food they can find beneath the snow and ice, as well as “sun dogs” that are formed by ice crystals in the air that reflect off the light to create beautiful golden arcs and rainbows around the sun. I tried to photograph this phenomenon whilst out on a run recently but couldn’t quite capture what a wonderful sight these are and the beauty they emit.

Del's photo attempt of a Sun Dog - just about see halo and rainbow effect :-)

Not surprisingly, racing in such chilly temperatures is tough – breathing becomes even more laboured as the cold air hits the lungs, and the whole body feels like a lead weight as the blood thickens, making it more difficult to fuel the muscles when running at an effort. When waking up on Saturday morning with full intentions of running a cross country race, I knew that it was going to be hard work.

We’d been spoilt at previous cross country races this winter as things had been much warmer – we’d even raced in shorts and t-shirt at the previous 2 races - but with a maximum of -16 expected for today’s race at Nose Hill, it was going to be the coldest race this season and so the race director’s warning the night before was kind of expected:

“ ….. just finished flagging the course for tomorrow on Nose Hill. The wind is extremely extreme! We made the decision to make the course two loops in consideration of the volunteers and staying closer to the cars. PLEASE wear lots of layers tomorrow. There isn't much ice but if the wind is anything like it is right now, BUNDLE UP!! ….”

Being a former Girl Guide, I was definitely prepared, and yet despite arriving at the start in 2 pairs of thermal running tights, 4 top layers, 2 pairs of gloves and a balaclava, I could still feel the cold, with my fingers and toes already feeling numb before we had even started.

With a 2 lap course this year rather than the usual 1, it wasn’t going to be as hilly although there was still a good hill to climb at the start of each lap to take us to the top and on to the plateau. I was feeling pretty relaxed about the race today and after a swift start, I settled into a steady pace up the hill. Conditions underfoot were pretty good with just small sections of deeper, softer snow and patches of ice, but in general, it was good running and it really helped me to pick up the pace, pleasantly surprising myself with a few 4.30 km splits. I overtook a few chaps once I’d hit the top, although it was hard to tell the boys from the girls as everybody was dressed like a ninja and barely recognisable from previous races, but I figured I was 2^nd lady as I could still see the bright pink jacket of Kim just ahead. I knew that I wouldn’t catch her – particularly with another jaunt up the hill at the start of the second lap – so my main aim was to keep the pace going and hope that I didn’t get caught from behind by another lady.

After a couple of km in the open, we dropped down into a clump of trees to follow a narrow, snowy pathway, ducking and diving between tree branches and trying to stay upright, before hitting the main pathway for the start of lap 2. Sadly I didn’t see the porcupine this year, although apparently he was lurking in those trees and was spotted by several runners as they ran through.

Freezing cold Nose Hill XC Race and heading through the trees - still smiling :-)

The second lap was pretty much the same – I was feeling good and could tell that my marathon training and speed sessions are already starting to pay off. Kim had by now opened up a good lead and so with no other ladies to chase, I focused on trying to stay ahead of the men and trying to catch any in front of me.

A fast downhill finish gave me 2^nd lady and 17th overall, along with one of my fastest paced cross country races for a long time. OK, the course suited me with some good flat and downhill running, but it still gave me confidence that training is going in the right direction and that the pain and effort is worth it. The result means that I’m currently lying 1^st in my age group this year and 2^nd lady overall, and it’s highly unlikely that these positions will change with just 2 races remaining. 

Next weekend I have the Frozen Ass 50km which I won last year in 3 hours 56 minutes. I already know that there are some far speedier ladies taking part this year and assuming they still turn up, I don’t expect to “defend my title”. With so much treadmill running over the past few weeks, I really have no idea how I will cope running outdoors for that sort of distance on the roads, and as ever, much will be dictated by the weather and pathway conditions on the day. What I do know though is that the cross country has given me a little more confidence and I’m hoping that I’ll have a good run in the 50km that will give me a good indication of my current fitness level. I’d love to run a little faster than last year, if only by a minute or so, but whatever happens, I fully intend to enjoy the racing and giving it my best shot – after all, that’s what running is all about.

Past, Present and Future

The past couple of weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind and I have to say that my mind has been all over the place. Thankfully the things clogging my brain up have been running related, although I do feel like things have become a little muddled with the past, present and future.

Shortly after the new year, an old friend from the UK posed the question - how would people feel about a Potteries Marathon revival? I don't think anybody could have anticipated the reaction to such a question, but with at least 1000 followers now supporting the idea, it looks like 2015 will see the return of "The Potts".

Potts Marathon Momentos

I've so many fond memories of my old home town marathon. It was the first marathon that I ever did at the tender age of 23 - I finished in just under 3 hours 47 minutes off the back of just 2 x 16 mile runs and a couple of 5 milers in training. After that first marathon though, I was hooked. I felt an affinity with the distance and to this day, it is still the marathon that I am most comfortable with. I ended up doing a further 7 Potts over the years with my best performance being 3rd lady in 3.19 back in 2003.

With all the recent talk about the Potts Marathon, I've found myself reminiscing along with hundreds of others about the event. It's felt strange talking and thinking about Stoke-on-Trent and the old marathon route, especially as I left my birth place 2 years ago and have been living overseas ever since. Yet there was - and still is - something warm and comforting that I get from the discussions - an old familiarity talking about places and street names that I've put behind me, and I've enjoyed sharing those memories with old friends, knowing that such discussions are meaningless to friends here in Calgary and something to which they cannot relate. 

Realising a dream - winning Snowdonia Marathon

In addition to the Potteries Marathon, an old running club that I used to be a member of celebrates it 50th anniversary this year and although only with Newcastle (Staffs) AC for around 18 months before I moved back to Trentham Running Club, I actually ran some of my best races and achieved the majority of my PBs when competing for Newcastle.  I have many happy memories of my time there, none more so than winning team gold in the National Marathon Championships at the London Marathon when I also ran a 2.47 PB. I also achieved one of my life time dreams when winning the Snowdonia Marathon in 2006 whilst donning the red, white and blue vest of Newcastle.

Needless to say, my thoughts have been elsewhere, reliving old memories of race victories and fast times, celebrating success with friends and family  in years gone by, so much so that I was starting to lose focus of what's ahead in 2014.

To bring me back to the here and now, last weekend I took stock of the races I have already entered for this year and having switched my brain from racing in Stoke and the UK to racing  in the Canadian Rockies, I couldn't quite make the transition and get my head around things. Eventually, the memories receded to the back of my mind whilst the excitement was building when thinking about making new ones.

At present, I'm entered for 15 individual races, along with the likelihood of 2 relays - the K-100 and the Banff to Jasper Relay - and the possibility of another 100 mile race in the fall. With a mixture of road and trail, short and long, training is certainly going to be interesting again over the coming months as I try to avoid becoming a long distance plodder by incorporating more speed into my schedule and reduced mileage.

My goals this year are more time focused and I'm currently following a schedule that will hopefully help me to achieve those goals. I'm now 4 weeks into the program and despite conditions not being ideal for running outdoors every day (we still have 2 feet of snow in some parts of Mahogany and where there isn't snow, we have sheet ice!), I'm managing to do the session with a mix of slower runs outdoors and speed sessions on the treadmill. It isn't easy and I'm making my body work harder and faster than it has done for a long time, but with each session that I successfully complete at the target pace, I'm growing in confidence.

Last weekend, with no races planned and only easy runs scheduled in, I finally managed two successive days of running outside. Despite wearing traction aids, I had yet another fall on the ice earlier in the week, so I bit the bullet and spent a few extra dollars on some khatoolas and decided to try them out that afternoon. As Brandy and Wilson needed a walk and I needed to do a "hilly 10km cross country run", we headed to the off-leash park at Nose Hill in the north of the city where Brandy opted for a walk with her dad, and Wilson opted for a 10km run with me.

Running with Wilson at Nose Hill

 It was a beautiful day albeit bitterly cold, but the sun was shining, the skies were blue, and from the top of the hill, we had the most magnificent views of downtown in one direction and the mountains spanning the horizon to the other. I've only ever been to Nose Hill once before and that was for the cross country last year, so I was in my element exploring and running around with Wilson in tow. Being an off-leash area, Wilson had his freedom and he sprinted ahead, bounding through the snow and hunting for rabbits and mice as he went. At one point in a clump of trees, he stopped in his tracks, ears up and alert, gave a small bark and starting to run forward at which point I noticed 2 coyotes lurking in the bushes ahead. Not wanting a confrontation with the local wildlife, I shouted him back and immediately put him back on his lead whilst the coyotes ran in the opposite direction, turning every so often to check on us, before eventually disappearing from view, their tracks in the snow the only evidence of their presence.

Lovely views from the top of Nose Hill

It was pretty icy up there, and once again, even with the khatoolas, I took another fall, this time tripping on the uneven ground beneath the snow rather than slipping on ice. I came away with cuts and bruises and a rather stiff IT Band, but thankfully nothing too long lasting.

Having had a fantastic run on the Saturday, I was looking forward to the run on Sunday, and having already agreed to meet my friend Alan at Fish Creek, I knew it was going to be another good run.

With having a 50km race in a couple of weeks, I've been trying to do some longer runs to help me prepare and so had every intention of doing around 30-35km on the Sunday. It was once again freezing cold with temperatures around -15, and yet I barely noticed how cold it was as we ran through the park area, through the trees and alongside the river. We didn't rush, we ran relaxed, and somehow managed to keep talking for the whole duration of the run, having some fascinating conversations about life, the universe and everything. The time flew by, and when looking at the distance after we'd finished, I was pleased and surprised to have covered around 38km and even more pleased that I was still feeling pretty good.

It was great to run outdoors again after so much treadmill running in recent weeks, and it reminded me and made me appreciate once again what a wonderful city Calgary is - with so many parks and open spaces, it really is a runners paradise, and that's before we've even added the mountains into the mix. Yes, I have many happy memories of running over the years and I will never forget them or the many friends I met along the way. I'll definitely be there for the Potteries Marathon when it goes ahead in 2015 and I fully support the BiB team over in Stoke that are trying to make its return a reality - but I also know without a doubt that THIS is home now, and this is where I belong.

old friends, good times, never forgotten :-)

old friends, good times, never forgotten

Old friends, fun times, never forgotten :-)