Wintry Racing Frenzy

Having done 3 races in as many weeks, I now have a good idea as to how fit I am at the moment, and with just over 7 weeks until the marathon, I’m starting to think about a realistic time to aim for. The bad news is that the hope of a sub 3 marathon has completely gone out of the window – a harsh, long winter with endless days of sub-zero temperatures, ice and snow put paid to that – but the good news is that based on recent form, I think I can still achieve a sub 3.10 marathon in May. Yes it’s disappointing that my initial goal is unlikely to be met, but hey, with another few weeks of training behind me and a focus on trying to improve speed endurance, I guess anything can happen on the day.

Racing wise, I’ve managed to cram in an 8k cross country race, along with a 10k and half marathon both on the roads, and to be fair, I can’t really complain about the results.

The cross country was the final race of the grand prix series, and being held at Fish Creek Park, I desperately wanted to do it as it’s one of my favorite places to run close to home. Come race day though, I wasn’t feeling the love and in all honesty, I’d been feeling somewhat tired and a little cheesed off, probably frustration at the weather and feeling like a caged bird with my wings clipped and being unable to enjoy the freedom of running like I normally do. 

The weather had actually warmed up that day so it was back to shorts and t-shirt again, but I really wasn’t in the mood for a fast race and so turned up with the intention of treating it as a steady run whilst enjoying the scenery.

A slightly changed course this year meant an uphill start and I held back not wanting to face burnout when I still had another 7km to go. Although I’d decided to take it easy, when we hit the top of the hill and headed towards the trees, I was aware of another lady right behind me. She was there for the next couple of km whilst we twisted and turned through the trees, slogged along snow covered pathways, and when ascending the next hill. I already knew that no matter where I finished today, I would still win my age group and be 2^nd lady overall, and yet the thought of finishing 3^rd lady at the final race didn’t seem right. Before I knew it, my competitive instinct came to the fore, and I found myself picking up the pace and pushing harder in an attempt to widen the gap, overtaking a few chaps in the process. I could still hear heavy breathing and the soft footfalls of somebody behind so was relying on the encouragement from marshals to determine how close they actually were, figuring it must have been around 30 seconds.

1km in, and being closely tracked by a couple of other ladies
Fish Creek Park XC Race

Conditions underfoot had been quite good but as we dropped down on to the frozen river and ran along there for a short while, I found that it worked to my advantage with being flat and solid like a road, and was able to widen the gap further. My legs and lungs were burning like crazy, and although I loved the variety of the course, I was not enjoying the exertion and was extremely relieved when I finally saw the finish line ahead, finishing 2^nd again behind Kim who was now the overall series Champion.

Unusually for me, the race did knock the stuffing out of me and it took a couple of days to recover, even missing my long Sunday run as both my body and mind were telling me that I needed to rest. It did me good, but with a 10km race the following weekend, I needed to keep things ticking over.

The St Patrick’s Day 10k is organized by the Calgary Road Runners and has been going for donkeys’ years. I’d heard a lot of good things about it and with wanting to do a couple of 10k races before the marathon, it fitted in perfectly with my plans.

Conditions weather wise were pretty good on race day – cool but dry, no wind, and with the recent warm temperatures, the roads were clear of snow although there were still some icy stretches in places.

I was really looking forward to this race as I wanted to have a good blast to see how things were going. I  even woke up feeling extremely nervous which I took as a positive and was hoping that I would have a decent race as a result.

With the race being held as a celebration of St Patrick’s Day, lots of people were getting in to the spirit of things and I really could have done with my old Trentham vest to help me blend in with all the green on the day, along with a few leprechauns here and there. The atmosphere really was buzzing, and with lots of familiar faces there, it felt like one big party. It was great to see Dawn, Don and Mike who I haven’t seen for several weeks and I said quick hello, knowing full well that they would be well ahead of me once we started.

Although I’d never done this race before, I had done other events that had followed a similar route, so I knew it wasn’t a fast course. I was hoping to run around 41 minutes which I guess put some pressure and expectation on myself, but with the first 4km breezing by in a little over 16 minutes, I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, I could hit my target.

Start of the St Patrick's Day 10km with Dawn and Don

I was aware that I was lying about 6^th lady at this point, but I was starting to tire and all I was thinking was get to the 5km marker as soon as possible as I knew by then I was over half way and on my way home.  I was having a few stern words with myself, when up ahead, I saw a lady take a nasty fall on a big sheet of ice. I knew instantly that it was Dawn, and as I approached, I was extremely concerned and stopped to see if she needed help. A badly bruised hip and considerable pain seemed to be the main concern, and when a marshal headed over and took control, I continued on my way (NOTE: This was under Dawn’s instructions – wouldn’t want folks to think I’d selfishly abandoned her!).

By now, a couple of other ladies had passed me and although I tried to speed up and catch them, the ice for the next couple of km didn’t do me or some of the other runners any favours, and I finally gave up the fight. Having seen Dawn take a tumble, and having been injured myself earlier in the year through several falls, I wasn’t prepared to risk it. I slowed down dramatically on the icy sections, but even when we finally hit the clear roads, I couldn’t muster the speed nor the motivation to chase after the ladies who were only a mere 20-30 meters ahead.

I eventually finished in a disappointing 43.30 or thereabouts, was 8^th lady and 1^st in my age group so came away with a pretty impressive tankard which I knew would get plenty of use J Dawn had done tremendously well and had got back in to the race despite the injury, clawing back several places to finish 5^th about a minute ahead of me – superb!

I had already made the decision to run home after the race – a distance of approximately 25km just to ensure that I didn’t miss another long run. It was a lovely run from Glenmore back home through Fish Creek and I even got to see the ice cave and waterfall that I’d missed the previous week during the cross country. Despite a much warmer sun poking through the clouds, it was having no effect on melting the ice on the pathways and it became a chore trying to run and stay upright. I finally arrived home a couple of hours later feeling somewhat exhausted, dehydrated and even sun burnt!

It would be so easy to dwell on the 2 performances, and to worry about the lethargy I’d been feeling for the past couple of weeks, but I’m the sort of person that looks forward with optimism rather than backwards with regret, and with one of my favorite half marathons looming on the following Saturday, I found that the excitement was starting to build again.

I first ran the Run for L’Arche Half last year – it was a fabulous event and I loved it. Organised by friends Dawn and Don, I was happy to support the race again this year, particularly as the race proceeds go to a very worthy cause. With having such fond memories of the race, I was feeling positive about it again as I arrived at the start ready to race and give it my all.

No doggies at race today, so cuddle time at home instead

Earlier in the week, we’d had notification to say that the course was in great condition with very little ice and snow so we were hoping for some fast times at the sharp end of the field, but as the first day of spring arrived on the Thursday, Calgary was hit by a blizzard and once again temperatures dipped below freezing. The forecast called for icy conditions on race with temperatures around -12, but with a brisk breeze, it would feel much cooler. The organizers and the City of Calgary had done a grand job of working together to keep the pathways as clear as possible, but even then, there was some lying, compact snow with stretches of ice at the far end of the course along with a rather slippery bridge crossing.

The route follows the beautiful Bow River out of the city towards Edworthy Park and Shouldice Park, before turning around and heading back. Following pedestrian paved footpaths, it is quite a nice run for a city race, and in the summer months when everything is in colour, it really is lovely. On Saturday though, it was extremely cold and bleak and I already knew that going for the sub-90 would be a tall order but I was still willing to give it a go, although I did secretly give myself a bit of leeway and would be just as happy with around 1.31.

The first half of the race went superbly – certainly much better than I had anticipated and I was indeed on target for around 90 minutes although it would be very close. I was feeling pretty good too – certainly much better than I had done at other races in recent weeks. I went through half way in just under 45 minutes and was in 3^rd place in the ladies race although there were at least 3 other ladies not too far behind and I knew that with 6 miles or so still to go, there was every chance that one of them could easily catch me. I didn’t panic – I just stuck to my game plan of running my own race – and just focused on looking ahead and getting to the finish line.

The return leg was much tougher as we ran into a biting head wind that completely froze my face. My pace had dropped from around 4.15 to 4.25 per km and I could see the sub 90 minutes slowly slipping away with every step I took whilst battling the wind, but I was determined to stay ahead of the chasing ladies regardless of how tired I felt or how painful things got. One of the most remarkable things about the event was running past the awesome volunteers who were standing around handing out drinks and offering encouragement to each and every runner, and I was in complete admiration and very thankful of their dedication in such cold conditions, greeting all of us with encouraging vocal support and smiling faces.

With just 1km to go, I knew that I was safe, and as I attempted a sprint to the finish, I could see that my time was around 1.32 as I crossed the line as 3^rd lady. I really couldn’t have done anymore and I was actually really pleased with how things had gone and delighted to have made it on to the podium. I was even happier to see several friends at the finish line, including Kim who had just won the 5 mile race – whoo hoo!

As if success at the Run for L’Arche wasn’t enough, we had further celebrations later that evening as we headed off to the Calgary Road Runners Cross Country Awards Banquet. With “pot luck” for food, the menu was certainly diverse and tasty and we had a fabulous evening amongst friends. Kim finally received her Maori Cross Country Champion Trophy, whilst the rest of us collected age group and iron person awards, and it was so nice to see so many people receiving their unique awards with pride.

Great to see friends getting their awards :-)
Calgary Road Runners Cross Country Awards Banquet

On the Sunday morning, I once again needed to do a long run, and having spent most of Saturday in the company of friends, I felt like I hadn’t spent much time with my furry family, so I opted to do 20km with Wilson to see how I felt and if ok, I would finish off with 15km on the treadmill.

It comes as no surprise that once again, running along snowy pathways with my little boy wonder leading the way, I was overcome with that familiar warm fuzzy feeling. Wilson was bounding through the snow drifts and dragging me after the rabbits whenever he saw one bounding across the snow, and every so often, he would slow down and turn to look up at me with something like a huge smile on his face, with bright eyes and a wet black nose. Daft as it sounds, I chatted to Wilson about my recent races and how I felt they’d gone – I even discussed with him what I needed to do to help me to have a decent run at the Red Deer Marathon in May.  He didn’t interrupt and just listened like all dogs do, looking up at me reassuringly every so often and making me smile and laugh every time.

If there’s one thing that little dog has taught me whilst we are pounding the pathways together, it’s that the most important thing about my running is the fact that I CAN run and I DO run, and that quality time with friends and loved ones far outweighs the need for fast times and winning races. He’s a wise young lad for a 3 year old – and I am so blessed to have both him and Brandy in my life where we can share those special moments of unity and put the world to rights.

  

Pre-Race Nerves

In just under 3 weeks time, I will face my first real test of how winter training has progressed and I have to say that I'm feeling a little apprehensive. That sounds a little crazy, especially when I've got 30 years experience of running and racing behind me, but I guess even the experienced amongst us have our moments!

Last year at the Run for L'Arche Half Marathon, I dipped under 90 minutes for the first time in a very long time, literally by the skin of my teeth (21 seconds to be precise!) The result was a massive 10 minutes slower than my PR, but it felt great to go sub-90 again and it gave me a huge boost of confidence leading into the Calgary Marathon, where I had one of my best paced runs ever and set me up for what would become a fantastic year of racing.

This winter has been somewhat different. Training has generally gone really well and compared to last year, I've ran similar times at the cross country races give or take a few seconds, and even completed the recent Frozen Ass 50km at a similar pace. When it comes to mileage, I'm slightly ahead and my speed sessions have been far more intense with more structure than the previous year, but thankfully my body appears to have coped well with the demands I've been putting on it.

So why do I feel so apprehensive? At the risk of repeating myself for the umpteenth time, the difference this year has been the weather. I really don't mind running in crazy low temperatures, blizzards or deep snow - bundle up, stay warm and just enjoy what the elements throw at you. Some days it may be bitterly cold, but we are rewarded with some pretty awesome sunny winter's days, with the bluest of skies and fantastic views across the city to the mountains - and yet I feel like I haven't ran outside very much at all this winter.

Beautiful sunny winter days

This time last year, I was running home 3 times a week following a 15km route on snow-free pathways pretty much all the way to Chaparral. This year, we are now living in the developing community of Mahogany where the pathways have not been cleared, and my old running route through Fish Creek was washed away by the devastating floods last June, so I have very little choice but to stay on the roads. The pavements have  been consistently covered in ice and when they're not icy, they've been covered in several centimeters of snow. I've fallen on the ice countless times this winter, so much so that when I took another tumble last week bringing the count up to goodness knows what, I actually plonked myself down in a big pile of snow and cried, whilst my already battered and bruised knee throbbed away and splurged blood out of a relatively deep cut. When I'm not falling over, I'm getting frustrated at not being able to pick up any speed for fear of falling, or because the snow is too deep to get into a proper stride.

I - along with many other runners across Alberta and in many other Canadian provinces - have been almost forced to run indoors, going mental whilst pounding out endless kilometers on the treadmill - rest assured, the dreaded machine has got alot of work to do if it wants to be my new best friend and compete with the outdoors - even in the depths of winter! Yes, you can get a decent session in, but I always feel that treadmill running is easier - being pushed along by the belt and being forced to keep that pace going. Yes, your legs have to keep up, but in reality I know that I would never be able to keep that pace going outside no matter how many times I go on the treadmill.

-30 but a beautiful day worthy of a smile :-)

I also find it much harder to discipline myself on the treadmill. An 8km easy run at 4.50km pace seems so long and tedious when you're just staring at a wall, so I find myself gradually increasing the speed just to get the session over and done with as soon as possible - 32 minutes is NOT taking it easy, and I know I need to recover from the previous day's hard session. I've even managed a couple of 30+ km runs on the thing, only bearable thanks to some very loud rock music blaring out or by watching some good old British comedy to keep me entertained (thank goodness for Carl Pilkington and Lee Mac!) In all honesty though, I don't feel like I have really tested myself this winter, and whilst I'm sure I've had some fantastic runs outside, they've been slow and sometimes hard work, and have now become distant memories.

So to some degree, I suppose that is why I'm somewhat nervous about doing a half in a couple of weeks. I so desperately want to go sub 90 again at Run for L'Arche, I want to feel that confidence again that tells me that things have been going well, and I want to feel positive as I head closer to the Red Deer Marathon in May. I have no idea how fit I am at the moment. Can I transfer 4.00km pace from the treadmill to the roads in 2 weeks time? Will I be able to keep it going for 21km,  following my 1.26 treadmill half last weekend? I really don't know simply because I've not had the opportunity to test myself properly and it makes me nervous about setting off too fast or too slow, about letting myself and other people down.OK, I've done the cross country races and have felt pretty good, but the terrain is very different and the pace slower than what I would probably do for a half. Indeed, even running a 50k is a completely different kettle of fish.

Don't get me wrong, I'm ever the optimist and always believe that what will be will be, so whilst I may be nervous, there is also an element of excitement about finally getting to race properly too. It isn't just me that has been affected by the long, cold, snowy winter - everybody else has too - so I guess all I can do is what I do best - regardless of the conditions on the day, when that gun goes, go for broke and give it my all - I'm the only person that can influence my result on the day, so no excuses allowed - I intend to get out there, run hard and enjoy the ride!