Looking Back and "Across the Years"

As another New Year's Eve approaches, things are going to be a little different this year when the clock strikes midnight and we welcome in 2016, as I will be competing in my first ever 24 hour race - the Aravaipa Running Across the Years. For me, the race starts at 9am New Year's Eve and ends at the same time on New Year's Day. Across the Years was meant to be my last target race of the year, and I was hoping to target of 210km which if things stay the same, it would give the the B standard qualifier for the Great Britain Team at the World 24 hour Championships in 2017. Whilst I'm still hopeful of a good run, I must admit that the past couple of weeks have been somewhat chaotic what with moving house plus a drive up to Calgary over Christmas break as the sale of our house completed. My scheduled runs have suffered as a result and whilst I've still done some good runs and felt fit and strong, I have lost some of the confidence I had at the start of the month. I was also hit with a mild stomach virus whilst in Canada and it wasn't until the Monday just before race day that things settled down. Regardless I'm still intending to race on Thursday and will as ever do my best if only for the experience.

Looking back on the past 12 months I've certainly had another amazing year of running as well as lots of adventures with the family and friends, and I've certainly no cause to complain whatsoever.

The most memorable thing for me this year is our wedding back in February when we said our vows on the shores of Lake Minnewanka near to Banff.  It was such a special and magical occasion with just very close friends there with us, and of course Wilson and Brandy were there to celebrate with us too. It was freezing cold and snowy, but I wouldn't have changed it for anything.

Wedding Party at Lake Minnewanka (Wilson and Brandy out of shot)

Wedding Day at Lake Minnewanka

From a running perspective, I did set myself some goals, the first being to run another sub 3 marathon with the London Marathon being the target race in April. Although I didn't go sub 3, I did manage 3.02 which was only slightly off target. We had only arrived in the UK on the Friday with the race on the Sunday, and given the fact that we'd had a 9 hour flight and faced a 7 hour time difference on arrival,  I was more than happy with my run. It was nice to be back in the UK and meet up with old friends and to see family but it was also good to return to Calgary and back to the life we'd become accustomed to.

2 weeks after London,  I went back to Red Deer Marathon. I'd won Red Deer the previous year but being just 2 weeks after London I could tell I'd not recovered properly3.09 which was still quicker than my previous year's time and once again, I was happy enough with my performance.

2nd lady Red Deer Marathon

That same day Andy left Calgary to start a new job in Phoenix. We put our house in the market in Calgary and I stayed there on my own until the end of September when we finally had an offer on the house, and I too made the move to Phoenix along with our pets.

Summer in Calgary was awesome and with not having a full time job, I managed to do lots of hikes and trail runs with Wilson and Brandy as well as friends. I was also a last minute addition to the Calgary Road Runners Banff to Jasper Relay Team, and in the absence of Andy, I ended up camping at Lake Louise on my own with just the dogs just to make sure I could step in for the team, which was simply amazing.

Summit of Mt Indefatigable

Walking the trail around Lake Louise

Just another awesome run on Moose Mountain

Day out on Prairie Mountain

Mary Barclays

Wasootch Peak - double summit day with Mt Baldy afterwards

A hike with pups on Prairie Mountain

My next main race during the summer was the Transrockies Run in August and in order to prepare for it, I did lots of trail runs as training. I also managed to squeeze in a 50km trail race in the form of Rundles Revenge and once again I was happy to finish 2nd lady on a tough, hilly course on a scorching hot day - my confidence was high and I was ready for the TransRockies.

Rundles Revenge 50km

The TransRockies in Colorado was awesome and the 6 days of trail racing were spectacular.  There were highs and lows throughout each day but I exceeded even my own expectations by finishing 5th lady in the solo 6 day event against much younger competition.

Beautiful Colorado and TransRockies Run (Day 4)

I had no plans after TRR as I knew the move to Phoenix was imminent and so after much pondering, I eventually decided to do another marathon and aim for sub 3 again. This time it would be in Las Vegas and on arrival in Phoenix,my training was once again marathon focused. I still  sneaked in a couple of trail races on arrival in Phoenix which I used as part of my marathon prep, and was surprised and very happy to win the ladies race at both the ArizonaReg 10 mile trail race and the superbly organised Aravaipa Running Cave Creek Thriller 11k.

In the end, Vegas didn't go to plan and I ended up with 3.28 despite being on target for sub 3 hours in the earlier stages. The frustrating thing was that it wasn't my fitness that was the problem - it was the weather which was horrendous with very strong winds and rain. I tried so hard that day but in the end, I really couldn't see the point in putting in all the effort knowing full well that the conditions really weren't conducive to fast times that day. 

Las Vegas Marathon

I wasn't planning on anything after Las Vegas and was starting to make plans for next year, but when my friend Joanna suggested Across the Years as a way of finishing off the year, I agreed to do it, which is where I will be on New Years Eve :-) Unfortunately Joanna won't be there after all but there is still a good contingent of friends that ARE coming down from Calgary and I have to say it will be great to see them and celebrate New Year with them in a different kind of way.

So that's this year in a nutshell, but of course you are free to read previous posts if you really are interested in what I've been up to throughout the year. 

Finally, before I finish I feel the need to share some really exciting news that some of you may not yet be aware of - and no, I'm not expecting! Back in early December, I applied to become an ambassador for Aravaipa Running which is extremely popular and very well known here in Phoenix and further afield. I wasn't selected to be an ambassador, but I WAS invited to join the Aravaipa Running Racing Team for 2016. Undoubtedly I was extremely flattered and over the moon to be given the opportunity to represent Aravaipa Running at trail races both in Arizona and across the US next year, especially after being a competitive runner for more than 30 years and this being the first time anybody has really acknowledged both past and more recent achievements. It seems apt therefore that I AM running the Aravaipa Running Across the Years 24 Hour Race to cap off my 2015 racing season, and that my 2016 racing season will start/finish with one of their races. I'm extremely honoured and proud to have been asked to join their team, and I'm definitely looking forward to racing through the night on New Year's Eve, and welcoming in 2016 with a smile on my face and raring to go for another exciting year on the trails.

So all that remains is to wish you all a very happy new year, and see you all in 2016. Happy running and happy trails folks :-)

Lake Minnewanka - Christmas 2015 with the ones that mean the world to me - Khayman too!

A Quick Look Ahead

I seem to have recovered pretty well from the Las Vegas Marathon and training has now recommenced in full force as I prepare for my final race of the year - Across the Years 24 hour race. This will be my first attempt at racing for 24 hours and I have absolutely no idea how I'll get on. I do have a goal in mind as I need something to aim for, but I'm not sure whether I am being  overly ambitious with my expectations. All I have to go on is the 100 mile race that I did a couple of years ago on the trails in St Paul, northern Alberta. I finished that race in just over 21 hours having spent considerable time running alone in the dark and during the night, with just the glow from my headtorch for company. The terrain was variable and followed open fields and forest trails up and down hills, as well as the occasional scrambling over fences and numerous gates, being guided by reflective flags that marked the unknown trails ahead of me.

Across the Years will be very different. The course consists of a loop that is about a mile round, and it is highly unlikely that I will be spending much time on my own. The aid station will be there with supporters every mile as opposed to every 10 to 15 miles, and I'm pretty certain that I won't be taking any wrong turns! I genuinely believe that I should be able to cover a minumum of 100 miles, but unlike the Iron Horse 100 mile ultra that I did, the terrain will be far easier with predominantly gravel pathways and I won't have to contend with steep, muddy inclines. Despite the course being "easier", I will no doubt experience fatigue from using the same muscles over and over for a full 24 hours. 

The race will also be more of a mental game - going around in circles and changing direction every 4 hours  - it could potentially be mind numbingly boring, and yet I get feelings of nervous excitement and anticipation every time I think about it, and I'm extremely curious to see how I'll cope.

Training for such a race is of course different from the marathon, and I've already started with the back to back long runs. These runs have been done on the local trails which are extremely rocky and steep in parts, and I've certainly been feeling tired in the old legs. It's been tough, but then I need to teach my body to keep pushing forward even when it's tired, to delay the onset of fatigue that I will no doubt feel at ATY.

Rocky trails in the desert - Deem Hills

I've done some pretty awesome runs and I am feeling fit and strong, so hopefully all will come good on December 31st when I toe that start line and brace myself for 24 hours of continuous running.

Aside from race preparations, life at home has been pretty busy. I'm still awaiting a work permit so at the moment, I've having to keep myself amused during the day. Last week, Andy was working over in Sweden which meant I had access to a vehicle for a few days, so I seized the opportunity to get outdoors for some hiking with the dogs and to explore new running routes. I'd heard about Apache Wash from a few running groups here in Phoenix, so last week I ventured over there and had the most amazing walk with the pups. It was far quieter than some of the other trails we've explored recently and it felt pretty remote and well and truly in the desert - it's certainly a place I intend to head back to more frequently over the coming months. 

Apache Wash Hike

Apache Wash on a hot winter's day

Whilst I was in the area, I noticed the number of new homes that were being built in that particular area. We were recently informed that our current landlady will be selling her house in the new year, so we've spent the past couple of weeks looking at various new build homes and property to rent. I found the residential areas close to Apache Wash quite appealing, and having taken Andy over there to take a look with me, we both agreed that the location was far more convenient and better met our needs. With having to move out of our current home just after Christmas, we decided that it was too short notice for us to purchase a property that we really wanted to invest in, and so instead we scoured the web for property rentals instead. Today we took a look at one of those properties, and whilst it isn't new, it felt homely and so we will once again be moving house in the next couple of weeks and will hopefully be settled in for Christmas.

With not working yet, I have been looking at volunteer opportunities that enable me to get invovled with the local running scene and to widen my social network here in Phoenix. Having being heavily involved in the running scene in a voluntary and competitor capacity whilst in both the UK and Canada, last week, I applied to become an ambassador for Aravaipa Running for 2016. I suspect that my application will be unsuccessful as there are so many other people more worthy than me for the role, and they will have far more knowledge about the local area than I do, but I'm always of the opinion that you shouldn't let these opportunities pass you by - there is still a chance that they may say yes!

In  addition to this, I have also registered with Beast Pacing to be a pacer for them at various races across the US. Whilst I have never been an official pacer, I have paced friends on numerous occasions in the past and having helped and observed them achieving their goals, it is something that I would like to do for others. 

Another area of volunteering that I have been involved with in a previous life is trail maintenance, and so I've been looking into volunteer opportunities with the Arizona Trail Association to assist with building and maintaining trails. I was delighted to see that they actually offered a training course for volunteers that are interested in helping out on the trails, covering everything from minimising erosion by selecting the best place for a new trail, to stone work and drainage amongst numerous other things, and with courses starting in January, this is something else that I am keen to get involved with.

Of course, I still miss running with my dogs and I think they too miss those special runs that we used to do together. Even during the winter months, it can still be too warm to run with the pups, and although early moring or late evening is more ideal temperature wise, it's dark at that time of day and so not feasible to take them out on the trails with them being so rocky and bumpy. Not wanting them to miss out on all the wonderful exercise they have become accustomed to, I've been trying to find activities for them to do that will keep them fit and healthy, and was really pleased to find a dog training school in nearby Cave Creek that not only has lure practices (which out two LOVE!) but also agility training and pool diving. Having discussed things with Andy, we've agreed to sign Wilson up for agility in the new year to help manage his passion for running and once trained, I'm hoping to compete with him at competitions when they come up. Of course, we also have Brandy who is far less agile that Wilson with being a larger dog, but she's happy to do the lure coursing and she will be there as Wilson's mascot when and if we manage to compete.

There is of course the need to find employment as soon as I am authorised to work here, and I've been giving this lots of thought in recent weeks. I'm still quite keen on setting up my own business and can see that dog walking and pet sitting seems to be in short supply where we currently live, and having spoken to folks at the dog park, many of them frequently comment that sometimes they don't have time to take their dogs to the park and they feel awful that they are missing out. I've also been considering doing freelance photography and covering the various sporting events here - both of the human and animal kind - and this is again something that I am keen to pursue over the coming months.

So unlike last month when I was at my wits end wondering how on earth I was going to keep myself entertained for much longer, I now have far more to look forward to, starting next weekend when I head back to Calgary for a few days. Our house up there is due to complete in December and there are a few things we need to do, but I'm also hoping to catch up with a few friends and get a mountain and snow fix or two whilst there.

Although I have lots in the pipeline over the coming months, I am of course a competitive runner and I have spent lots of time trying to find target races for next year. As previously mentioned, Across the Years 24 hour race is my current main focus, but after that, I am looking at doing another 100 mile race, this time in the beautiful Zion National Park. We went to Zion many years ago and it'll be great to go back and do some racing. I'm also looking at the possibility of doing a 50km trail race in Colorado followed by another 100 miler later in the year which is likely to be the more local Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stage Coach 100 mile trail race.

There are still lots of things that I miss about Calgary, but now I'm looking deeper in to what is available in Arizona and beyond, I'm excited about new experiences and new adventures.  There are so many things to look forward to if all goes to plan, and it'll be great to see how both Andy and I, plus Wilson and Brandy - and Khayman of course - progress over the coming months.

Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon Baby...Yeh!

If only I'd had the chance to check out the forecast at 3pm Saturday afternoon - I would then have seen the severe winds warning from the US National Weather Service for the Las Vegas area, which was due to arrive just in time for the marathon on Sunday evening. Maybe then I would have adjusted my goal for the race I'd spent the past 10 weeks working hard for, but up until the actual start of the race on the Sunday evening, I was blissfully unaware of what was coming and had no idea how it was going to impact on my plans.

We'd arrived in Vegas on Friday evening having made the 4 hour drive from our home in Phoenix. It was the relatively close proximity that had drawn me to the event, more so than the renowned attractions of the strip with its neon lights, amazing shows, and the selection of bars, restaurants and casinos. Las Vegas would be my 30th marathon - it would also be my last competitive marathon, so I was determined to make myself work for my 8th and final sub 3 hour marathon before I bowed out and turned my attentions back to purely running ultras.

We spent the majority of the weekend hanging out with our good friend Alan Lam from Calgary. Alan was the first friend I met when arriving in Calgary nearly 4 years ago, and he introduced me to the running scene there along with many of the other wonderful friends I made in "the true North". Alan was also in Vegas on a mission. He's ran close to 30 marathons himself and was hoping to get that Boston qualifier which has alluded him for a while now, and whilst we both knew that our personal goals would mean pushing to our limits, we were both ready to embrace the challenge, and hopeful of achieving our goals.

Alan and Del at the Race Expo

Race day arrived and as we headed over to meet Alan at the Mandalay Bay Hotel for the start, we noticed how much the wind had picked up. It wasn't just a breeze either. Palm trees were bending with branches and leaves breaking free in the gusts, litter was flying around, and the flags at the top of the flag poles were being whipped about  viciously as the strength of the wind increased. It was such a contrast to the past couple of days which had been calm, warm and sunny, but we had no control over mother nature and would have to either like it or lump it. 

For me, if I was about to do a trail race, it really wouldn't have bothered me as I do them for that very reason - to test myself against the elements and mother nature, without needing to worry about time and pace - but this was a road race, I had a time goal in mind, and everything needed to be perfect in order for me to achieve that goal. 

Although I had only mentioned this to Andy, I felt that 2.55 was within my reach based on how well my training had gone this past few weeks, but as the wind strength increased, I knew that was now a tall order in these conditions and yet I made the decision to go for that sub 3 regardless as I didn't want to be defeatist before I'd even started.

One of the things that particularly stood out for me at this marathon was the heavy police presence and the high levels of security. Even without the devastating terrorist attacks just a couple of days earlier, the US had learnt from the Boston bombings and were already taking things seriously to ensure everybody's safety at the event. It was certainly reassuring and yet also a stark reminder of the crazy world we live in these days, and with a moment of silence to remember all those affected by the attacks followed by a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner", it brought a sombre moment to the event but also a sense of pride and solidarity as the 30,000+ people from all over the world stood together on the roads around the Mandalay Bay Hotel, awaiting the start of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon.

Just prior to the start, they had warned us that it was going to be windy out on the course, but I wasn't quite prepared for how bad it actually got. Although I went through the first kilometre bang on pace, I was already breathing heavily and it wasn't until we made the turn that would take us back to the start line but on the opposite side of the road that I noticed that it was on a slight incline. The wind hadn't been that bad up to that point, but after that turn and for the next 10km or so, there was a very strong crosswind with gusts that threw me off my stride every so often. 

On "The Strip" and still focused on that sub 3

Running down "The Strip" really was amazing. The bright lights and the crowd support was tremendous, the bands were loudly playing out their tunes, and I was getting extra cheers and encouragement with being a lady. I absorbed the atmosphere as much as possible, but at the same time I was trying to remain focused on my race plan with the words of my coach Laura sticking in mind as I ran along: "Another sub-3hr is within your reach, just focus, remain consistent and let those legs fly!!" It became my mantra and I was happy to be knocking out splits that were keeping me on track with my 5k and 10k splits being spot on, and passing through 15km pretty much on target at around 63 minutes, and I was lying in 7th place in the ladies race.

On "The Strip" and still feeling determined

It was around about then that we separated from the half marathon runners and as we turned off the strip, things went much darker and far quieter, and the crazy wind had intensified and was really making its presence known.  I tried to see what pace i was doing, but with fewer street lights it was difficult to see my watch, and it was then that I realised that I hadn't seen any mile markers or timing clocks along the route. We later found out that they had all been removed due to the high winds and the risk of injury they posed to the runners and others on the course.

There were several out and back sections on the revised marathon route, and it seemed that no matter which direction we ran, the wind was pushing against us. I was still trying to maintain my pace but was finding it difficult to breath with the strength of the wind, and then I started getting a stitch which plagued me for the remainder of the race. My glutes and lower back also started to tighten a little as I leaned into the wind and I found my pace was gradually starting to slow. It was then that the rain came making the roads extremely slippery and whilst thankfully I didn't fall over, we all had to use caution when making some of the turns. Every time we passed an aid station, empty cups were being blown across the roads from all directions, whilst the poor volunteers tried to prevent the full cups from being strewn all over the floor at the same time as handing out drinks to passing runners.

Shortly before the half way point whilst doing a loop around a huge marquee with music loudly pumping out as the rain came down, I gave up the chase. I was battling against conditions chasing a time that I knew was quickly slipping away, I wasn't going to win the race, I wasn't going to PR, so why the hell was I putting in all this effort? I then heard a shout from the opposite side of the railings - it was Alan and he wasn't too far behind me. Seeing Alan gave me a boost and I was willing him to catch me so that we could run together and go for a 3.15 finish - if he could catch me up in the next couple of kilometres, that was still within our reach and at least then one of us would have achieved our goal.

the rain stopped but the wind was relentless and every step forward was becoming even more of a fight. We ran even more out and back sections, and every time I saw Alan, it looked like he was gradually edging closer. Despite the cool and windy conditions, I was still exceptionally thirsty, so I started to stop at the aid stations to make sure I was drinking enough. Where the wind really was strong, I was no longer willing to do battle and so stopped to walk, head down and eyes shut as dust, debris, road signs, garbage cans and goodness knows what else were strewn in the air. Once again I readjusted my goal - I was now targeting a sub 3.30 - but all I really wanted was to get to the finish line as soon as possible so that we could get warm and relax.I pushed forward, no longer even looking at my watch, becoming more focused now on the stream of runners that I could see in the distance - the point where we would rejoin the half marathon runners once again, where we rejoined the strip and the crowds, and the finish line at The Mirage.

I was so happy to join the half marathon runners. Despite me slowing even more dramatically over the last couple of kilometres, Alan had unfortunately still not caught me and I had spent a considerable amount of time running alone. Being surrounded by people with the party atmosphere once again kicking in as we rejoined the strip helped me to get going again as I knew the finish line wasn't too much further ahead. I struggled onwards and with around 3km to go, I felt a pat on the back - it was Alan with his happy smile and encouraging words, and despite me telling him to go ahead without me, he refused. We ended up running that final stretch together , The Mirage not seeming to be getting any closer, but finally - finally! - we were taking our last few strides and crossed the finish line of the Las Vegas Marathon holding hands. What an absolute star! 

Finishing with good friend Alan :-)

It would be easy for me to be disappointed with the run and yet I didn't feel any disappointment. Yes, it was frustrating that the weather had been against us but that's mother nature for you. When road racing, when aiming for a specific time, when training has gone well and you know you're in good shape, everything comes down to conditions on the day. You can be in the best shape of your life, but if the conditions are against you, there is only so much you can do. The winning lady finished in 3.08 - her half way split was 1.28 which shows how much her race was also affected. Times become irrelevant and it comes down to who best copes.

The weekend in Las Vegas was lots of fun and maybe one day I'll go back for the party, but for now my competitive marathon running days are over. I ran my first marathon 20 years ago and Las Vegas was marathon number 30. In those 20 years, I've gone sub 3 hours 7 times and have a PR of 2.47. Of those 30 marathons, I've won 6 of them and finished top 3 in several others. I've ran 5 of them for charity and raised money for animal charities close to my heart, I've ran most of them in the UK but I have also raced in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Cologne and now Las Vegas, and as a result of my marathon running, it got me into running ultras which led on to even greater things.

I'm not saying that I won't run another marathon - I'm happy to run for fun or to help pace others to their goals if I can - but I won't be putting pressure on myself to chase times. For now, I'm back to mainly ultra running which means running more slowly and running much further - that's where my strengths are these days, and I intend to make use of them whilst I can.

Way to party dude!

10 days to Go........

With just 10 days to go until the Las Vegas Marathon, I'm starting to feel even more excited and fairly confident of a good race in "Sin City" on November 15th. 

Since completing the TransRockies Run back in August of this year, Vegas has been my main focus and I have to say that training has gone extremely well - even with a move to Phoenix and experiencing 100 degree temperatures when first arriving which was during a crucial point in my training program. I was feeling fit and ready for TransRockies after a summer of running on the trails, but marathon training has meant a switch back to mainly roads with lots of speed work and tempo runs, but it would appear that my body has adjusted pretty well and I have found that my average pace on my easy runs is now half a minute per km faster than it was a few months ago.

Although training has gone well, it has also been extremely tough, especially the long weekend runs, simply due to the desert heat. Back in Calgary, I could happily run 20-25km without needing to take on board too much fluid, but here in Phoenix, even on a 10k easy run, I'm finding that I need to drink a good litre of water to make sure I reap the benefits of the sessions and to ensure that I don't overheat and become dehydrated. During the 30km + runs, I've had to choose routes where I know there is a water fountain so that I can refill bottles or my camelback, neither of which are ideal when some of those long runs have involved elements of speed work. It's not so bad carrying a backpack when running trails and I have tried to stick to them as much as possible, but with training for a road marathon, road running is a necessity to prepare my body for the trauma it will face when running on tarmac for 42km - carrying a backpack alters my running style and sometimes I have woken up the following day with achy muscles as a result of attempting to pick up the pace when on road.

A few weeks ago we bought a treadmill to help get the maximum benefit from my speed work. I'm not a great fan of the dreaded treadmill as I much prefer to run outdoors and battle the elements, but I have found it a blessing this past month or so and feel as though it really has helped with my preparation for Las Vegas. I've been able to run with air con and a fan to keep me cool (although I've still been dripping in sweat!), and I've had drinks to hand throughout which has meant I can focus on just running instead of worrying about running out of water and wondering when I'll next be able to refill my water bottles. The furthest I've done so far is 2 x 18km tempo runs, and I was really pleased that yesterday's 18km tempo was 3 minutes faster than a couple of weeks ago.

Runs with Pups :-)

My easy runs are still done outdoors and in a previous life, I would take Wilson and Brandy with me on those runs as they were generally at a pace that both dogs could cope with. I haven't been able to run with the dogs as much as I would have liked since I arrived in Phoenix, but earlier this week, a storm system moved through the valley which brought 2 feet of snow to the north of us in Flagstaff, and cooler temperatures and rain for us here in Phoenix. It was still around 65-70 degrees but with the cloud cover and a cooling breeze, I seized the opportunity and headed out with both pups for the first time in over a month, 

As soon as Wilson saw his running harness, he got really excited and his usual howling and barking started which set Brandy off with her crazy darting backwards and forwards around the house. They both knew what was coming and there was absolutely no doubt that they were extremely excited.

We ran an 8km out and back route to Deem Hills and although they still found it on the warm side with tongues lolling as they trotted along beside me, I could sense that they were extremely happy and were enjoying every moment. We stopped for water at Deem Hills as the ice in their neckerchiefs was almost melted, and I gave them a good dousing with the cool, refreshing water whilst they had a good drink, filling a poop bag with water and carrying it with us so they could have more if they needed whilst we were heading back home.

A warm Brampster

It was so nice to run with them again and all 3 of us were beaming with delight and happiness on arriving back home an hour or so later.

Today's run was another easy run but although the weather was still cool, it was too far to take them with me, so instead we spent some time at the local community park. Unlike many other places here, this park has a huge grassy area and whilst dogs are not allowed off-leash there, we still had fun running backwards and forwards and playing with a ball even though they were on leashes. Wilson and Brandy loved it and they spent considerable time rolling around and cooling off in the lush green grass before we headed home where they then slept and groaned in contentment as they nodded off.

It's certainly been a great couple of days - I've ran with my pups and I've had some really good speed sessions as I now move into the final week of my preparation for Las Vegas. It's now taper time, my body and mind are feeling ready, and I'm just hoping that the positives thoughts and the feeling fit, strong and healthy last so that I get the result I'm looking for in Las Vegas.

Enjoying the cooler weather

Happy boy :-)

Adapting to New Things...or Not!

Today marks a month since we left Canada to start a new life in Phoenix. I’m surprised how quickly a month has passed by, but I have to admit that the transition from Calgary to Phoenix has been difficult – far more so that moving from Stoke to Calgary almost 4 years ago.

The past month has been good and I certainly can’t complain. Phoenix is a really nice city, there are plenty of regional parks with lots of trails to hike or run on, and I’ve even found some decent running routes close by. The dining out is fantastic, people seem to be friendly, and we even found a dog park that was just a 10 minute drive from home that Wilson and Brandy frequent at least once daily.

So what’s making things difficult for me at the moment? I guess the easy answer is that Calgary felt like home. I loved the house there, I always felt safe, the weather suited me – yes, even the crazy cold winters and snow! – I was able to get out for runs with my dogs more frequently and even if the days were warm, there was guaranteed rivers or lakes that they could swim in to cool off. I was able to go to the mountains almost weekly for hikes or runs, I had friends in Calgary albeit far fewer than I had whilst living in the UK – but in the short 3 ½ years in Calgary, I had lots of fun with them and they are one of the reasons where I felt completely settled. Some of those friends were extra special and they helped to make our wedding day the most perfect day ever when they witnessed Andy and I exchanging our vows on the shores of Lake Minneswanka on a cold and snowy February day earlier this year.

Of course, there were lots of other happy memories, and even looking at the many photos of us north of the border, I can still recall the joy and happiness we felt living so close to the “great outdoors”. I love mountains, forests and rivers, I love how the thought of bear and moose conjure up images of the wilderness, and thinking back to everything I love in life, Canada fitted the bill perfectly. I’d always dreamt of becoming a Canadian citizen, always dreamt of swearing my allegiance to this great country that I has fallen in love with many years ago when studying travel and tourism at college, and we were thrilled when we were recently granted permanent residency – except it came too late. We’d already packed up our things and arrived in Phoenix along with all of our belongings. Had PR come through sooner, I’m pretty sure that things would have been different., but having received notification on Wednesday that our house in Calgary had finally sold and that the contract of sale was complete, it really felt like the door was closing on our lives in Canada which made me feel extremely sad.

This past 3 or 4 days, I’ve gone through a bad patch. Andy has been working away – ironically in Medicine Hat, Alberta – and I was so wishing that I was there with him. I’ve been at home alone for the past week, and whilst I have applied for a work permit here, it’ll take up to 3 months before I get a decision. In the meantime, I can’t work and so I have to keep myself entertained everyday. In Calgary that wouldn’t have been a problem – the house belonged to us as there was always gardening or cleaning to be done. Here we are renting a property that is already furnished, so apart from our clothes and a couple of other items, we don’t have any of our stuff here with us. Not working of course means no contact with anybody, and as yet, we haven’t been able to build up that social network that makes you feel like you belong. We never see the neighbours – they are hiding indoors because it’s too hot to be outdoors – and the only contact I’ve had with people has been at the dog park which usually consists of people chatting about their dogs rather than really getting to know each other.

In Calgary, it was never too hot to take the dogs out, never too hot to go for a run, never too hot to go for a hike in the mountains. Here in Phoenix, it’s too hot during the day to do anything so running and walking with the dogs has to be done very early morning or in the evening. Being up very early makes the days exceptionally long, and after an hour or so of walking or running, I’m stuck indoors until early evening when it’s cool enough to go out again. Come the spring and summer, things will only start to heat up even more, and of course we then have issues with the wildlife – snakes and lizards, spiders, scorpions – you get the picture. It’s bad enough being paranoid about being stung or bitten ourselves, but with 2 curious dogs in tow, it’s even more stressful worrying about their welfare at the same time. The critters are out morning and evening – the time of day when I want to run with or walk the dogs – I won’t deny, I am so scared of one of the dogs being hurt, and I’m getting so twitchy and stressed out trying to protect them. Wilson has already been stung by a scorpion in our own house – and there are no end of stories about rattlers and other snakes turning up in people’s back yards during the summer months. I have looked into snake avoidance training, but whilst I’ve tried to contact people to arrange a date for the dogs to be trained, nobody has yet got back to me.

That’s what else upsets me. Wilson and Brandy have always been free to wander outside in the back yard, having a roll in the grass, go for lots of walks regardless of the time of day, and I the only concern I ever had was making sure I kept them on leash whilst in the wilds to prevent them from harassing wildlife, or from the wildlife harassing them. Here, regardless of whether they are leash or not, they can still get hurt, and I cannot control things and protect them like I used to be able to. I feel cruel that their lives have had to change too, even though they never asked for it. They trust us to know best, but I know I will never ever ever forgive myself if anything happens to them now we’ve moved here.

I suppose I’m being a little melodramatic here, and I know that you have to give things time to know whether it’s the right thing or not. But what if it isn’t? What if I find I can’t settle here, that I do want to move back to Canada? That’s where I’m torn. Andy is very happy in his work and for him, it’s the happiest he’s been for a long time. He gets to travel both in North America as well as Europe and the Far East, and even though he started his job in May this year, he’s probably only spent a month of that time in Phoenix. So where does that leave things? If Andy is working away a lot, and I’m not feeling settled here, what do we do? All our stuff is here and it isn’t practical to move it all back to Canada again so soon.

I guess all I can do is give things more time – at least until after Christmas when our lease on the rental comes to an end. By then hopefully I will know where I want to be, and hopefully in that time all of us will stay safe and well. The thing is, Phoenix really is a great city with some fantastic running and hiking. Admittedly from my perspective, it doesn’t come close to the Canadian Rockies but it’s still beautiful nonetheless. 

Today I forced myself to go out for the 15km run that my coach had given me as part of my prep for my forthcoming marathon. It was a gorgeous sunny day if a little hot, and I headed over to nearby Deem Hills to hit the trails. I've ran here regularly since I found the trails and it really is a great place - close enough to houses if you encounter any problems, but gives you the solitude needed for some deep thinking about the meaning of life. The views were once again exceptional and I was grateful that I was able to live and run in such amazing places.

Clearing the mind at Deem Hills today - but still too much going on in there!

I’ve had so much thinking time this past week and have thought through so many different scenarios, coming up with different solutions for each of them, but with nobody to discuss them with at the moment, all it’s done has caused restless nights and tears of frustration. Andy is thankfully home tomorrow and I’m hoping that we can sit down and talk things over. One thing is for sure though – I don’t want to lose my Canadian Permanent Residency and I have to spend 2 years over the next 5 years in Canada. On that basis, I’m either going to be moving back at some point, or will be spending a lot of my vacations up north!

Cave Creek Thriller Trail Race

Last Saturday called for a 10km easy run on the trails, and with me still working on getting my bearings here in Phoenix, I once again opted to register for a local trail race that was just a 30 minute drive away. This event was organised by Aravaipa Running which are pretty big here in Phoenix, and with a choice of 4 distances of which one was 11km, it once again fitted perfectly with my training program.

The race took place at Cave Creek Regional Park just north of where we live, and not surprsingly, we were again treated to outstanding views of the Sonoran Desert and its many peaks stretching out into the distance.

Some of the amazing views at Cave Creek

In the couple of days leading up to the event, we'd been told to expect thundery rain, but instead we were greeted with warm temperatures and overcast skies. The cloud cover was a blessing as it gave some protection from the burning sun, but it did little to curb the air temperature which was already around 25 degrees even at 8.15am when the race started.

I knew very little about the race in terms of the course although having seen a profile on the race website, I knew there were a couple of beastly hills that would mean a fair bit of climbing both at the beginning and during the mid part of the race.

The great thing about racing here at the moment is that I don't yet know my competition. Regardless of who turns up, I have absolutely no idea where I'll finish nor what kind of time I can expect to run. I thought it would be interesting to look up the rankings on ultra signup which are always way off the mark but at least it would give me a very loose idea of what time to expect as a minimum - they had estimated my finishing in just over an hour based on my previous results, and when compared to the other entrants, that would place me in the top 3 ladies race.

Not wanting to rely on that too much (they really are way off the mark, seriously!), my plan for the race was to once again just run within myself so as not to jeopardise things for the Las Vegas Marathon. However, if I was within a shot of finishing top 3 towards the end, then I would push on and fight for that podium position.

There were about 100 people in the 11km race and with a narrow start for the first half mile or so, it was pretty tight on the trail. I'd seen a couple of ladies ahead of me and another passed me we started the first of the steep climbs up the hill side. I wasn't too concerned and was thoroughly enjoying the surroundings and the spectacular views. The trail twisted and turned as we followed the contours of the hills and finally, after about 20 minutes of running, it levelled off for a short while before heading gradually back down hill into the valley.

Out on the course

The ladies were still ahead of me, but with the descent came an increase in my pace, and before I knew it, I was gaining on them as well as passing some of the men. The trail was pretty sandy in places but my legs were feeling pretty good and I found i was making really good progress, opening up a gap of around 100m on the other ladies, and by now, I figured I must be in 2nd place. It wasn't until we started the second of the steep climbs that I found out I was actually leading, and I have to say I was extremely surprised.

The second climb was far steeper than the first and it became more rocky as we followed the switchbacks up the hill. I'd had a bit of a bad chest for a few days earlier and I was still coughing up some rubbish and that climb resulted in me wheezing a little as the legs started to get a little heavy.  I started to walk and it was then that once again, I slipped back in to 2nd place as the other lady passed me at good, strong steady pace. 

The hill continued for another couple of hundred metres and having taken a quick glance behind me as we climbed the last of the switchbacks, I knew I was well clear in 2nd place. The problem was, we only had about 2km to go with most of that being downhill, and whilst I hadn't really wanted to get in a race today per se, I couldn't let a race win slip me by, especially when the current leading lady was only about 20 seconds ahead of me.

As we crested the summit of the hill, I went for it. I had no idea whether I was opening up a wide enough gap to secure a win, but I was doing sub 4 minute km pace over that last couple of km, skipping and jumping over rocks and just doing what I could without injuring myself. I could see the finish area in the distance, trying to focus on that rather than getting distracted by the amazing scenery surrounding me. 

I won the ladies race with a gap of just 55 seconds over second place, and was in 9th position overall. Even more surprisingly, I discovered that I was just a minute off the course record - had I known, I may have pushed a little harder up that final hill. In all fairness though, I had never intended to race flat out - I'm saving that for my target races - but it sure was a good feeling to secure a victory in a respectable time on the trails without going too crazy. At the presentation, I was awarded the most amazing hand painted clay trophy of a skull - I've won lots of trophies over the years, but along with my bronze stallion from the 50 mile Sunmart Texas Trail Run, this one has got to be my favourite.

This event was truly amazing and I'm really pleased that I decided to do it, albeit a last minute decision. The organisation was outstanding, the course challenging and interesting, and with a mix of good competition and a few beginners, it was suitable for everybody. I shall certainly be back for more in the future, and I'm really pleased that the 24 hour race I have planned for December is organised by the same people - it's going to be awesome!

So, with just 4 more weeks or so until we head to Vegas for the marathon, I'm growing in confidence and really hoping that I will get the result I'm looking for :-)

ArizonaReg 10 Mile Trail Race

On Thursday evening, I caught wind of a trail race that was taking place in nearby Scottsdale at the McDowell Mountain Regional Park. There was a choice of distances ranging from 4 miles up to 10 miles, and with having a 15km easy trail run scheduled in for that day, I decided to enter the 10 mile race and give it a try.

At the minute, I'm building up to the Las Vegas Marathon which takes place in mid-November although after that, the plan is to get back out on the trails and return to ultra running. I currently have a 24 hour race planned at the end of the year which will be my first attempt at a 24 hour, and I'm also contemplating running a 100km in February- the Black Canyon Ultra which is a point to point race in nearby Anthem and which will also be a qualifying race for the Western States 100 miler in 2016.

With that in mind, I thought doing the ArizonaReg 10 Mile Trail Race would be a good introduction to trail running in Phoenix, to give me an idea about the organisation and the types of trails used for racing, as well as seeing how well I would cope under "race" conditions in the heat. The list of entrants showed that there would be just under 30 runners registered for the various distances so I figured it wasn't going to be anything too serious. This fitted perfectly with my plans - I could run it steady without being dragged into a full blown race that was not on my agenda, and I knew it wouldn't screw things up leading up to Vegas.

The event was being held alongside the State Mountain Biking Championships and the Arizona High School Mountain Bike Championships with the trail races starting first, but with a 10.35am start time, it was quite late in the morning given the intense heat that we are still encountering here in Phoenix at present. Although I was feeling pretty relaxed about the run, my main concern was how I would cope in the heat, so I was curious to find out how my body would hold out.

We wandered over to the start area, only to find out that it was actually the mountain bike races that were starting on that side, and with just 5 minutes until the gun, I gave Andy and the dogs a brief hug as I sprinted back across to the other side, joining the other runners as they started the 30 second countdown before we headed out on to the trails.

The entire race would be run at the McDowell Mountain Regional Park which sits in the lower Verde River basic. The area covers over 21,000 acres with some parts of the park rising to 3,000 at the base of the McDowell Mountains. There are spectacular views of the surrounding Sonoran Desert which stretches out for miles, and the park boasts some 50 miles of trails to explore which I was excited to see in order to give me ideas for other places to run on my own during training.

Being such a low key race, the start was far less erratic than others I've experienced, and although my first km split came in at 4.15, once the shorter distance racers split from the 10 milers, things settled down and I found I was running well within my means at a nice and steady, comfortable pace.

The trails were simply beautiful. Hundreds of Saguaro Cacti lined the route, along with low level bushes and a variety of other cacti amongst them. The trails twisted and turned, climbed up and down, and were very dry, sandy and dusty as we meandered through the desert landscape. It was nowhere near as green as the gorgeous trails and forests that I've been used to in Canada, but this place still held its own magic and I found myself lost in my surroundings, enjoying the stillness and the quietness, except for the sound of my footsteps as I ran along the trails.

McDowell Regional Park Pemberton Trail - Photo TripAdvisor

One of the things that I was very much aware of more than anything was the exposure to the sun. There was absolutely no shade at all on these trails, and although there was cloud cover today, it was still very warm with temperatures in the high 80's. Thankfully, I had taken a drink with me as I didn't know how far it was until the first aid station, but the lady ahead of me didn't appear to have anything, and whilst she was still looking strong, I could also see that she appeared to be struggling. The gap between us was closing even though I hadn't increased the pace, and as we finally arrived at the unmanned aid station at 5 miles, I caught her.

Pemberton Trail - Photo credit Edward Munrad

I was surprised that a local was saying how hot it was and how unprepared she had been for racing 10 miles in desert conditions - she seemed to spend ages at that aid station whereas I quickly swapped my empty bottle for a full one, dunked my hat in the iced water, and then continued on my way. I was feeling fantastic - warm yes, but coping far better than I thought I would - and I somehow managed to put a good 5 minutes or so between me and the other lady by the time we'd finished.

This now meant that I was leading the ladies race and was currently second overall, but with so few taking part, it was nice to just maintain my steady pace and not worry too much about chasing others or being caught. The trail flattened out for a couple of miles at this point but with that, it brought far more sandy trails which meant that with every step I took, my feet were sinking into the sand. It got in my shoes along with bits of gravel and it became apparent that when racing here, it may be a good idea to wear my running gaiters next time!

A short while afterwards, we merged with the shorter distance racers and it was just a couple of miles to the finish. Things started to get a bit more undulating again but I was still coping ok and running comfortably, and as I approached the "1 mile to go" sign, it was only then that I picked up the pace for a strong finish.

The distance in the end was just shy of 10 miles and I finished in around 1 hour 17 minutes, 1st lady and 2nd overall. Being such a low key race, there were no fancy prizes or presentations but I did walk away feeling satisfied and far more confident about committing to longer trail races out here now. It was a great experience and was very happy with how it went - I know I can now look forward to some good races again next year :-)

Post Race

For now though, I am still focused on having a good run in Las Vegas in around about a month's time - back to the roads for now!

SAGUARO CACTUS PHOTOS