Tales of Trails, Mountains and Rocky Roads

So, in brief, last weekend’s 10km race went far better than planned. I expected to run a time and pace similar to previous races in recent weeks and had even penciled in a target time of around 41.00 to 41.30. Needless to say, I was absolutely gob smacked to finish in 40.13 and win the ladies race again, although I’m pretty certain that Anne and Joanna were both hot on my heels throughout the run! A flatter course along the river was in my favour and with the first 6-7km feeling   comfortable at around 3.55km pace, I honestly believed that maybe, just maybe, I could dip under 40 minutes for the first time in about 4 or 5 years. For some reason, I’d felt quite relaxed and fairly confident about this race, and yet I struggled mentally whilst racing and the kilometer markers that usually came swift and fast seemed to go on forever. The legs started to feel heavy in the last 3k – probably a result of the recent marathon training - and I found my pace slowing to around 4.10 pace wi...

With just 3 weeks remaining until I take part in my second Calgary Marathon, I’m really pleased with how things have gone. I’ve managed to get in more long runs compared to last year, and with a few good cross country races during the winter months, followed by a couple of 10k road races, a half marathon and a 50km race since January, I am starting to feel much fitter and stronger. Whilst I would like to do well in the marathon and intend to target a 3 to 3.10 marathon time, I also have my 100km trail race in Edmonton just a couple of weeks later, so I need to make sure I don’t drain the batteries too much so that I can recover quickly from the marathon and ensure I’m feeling strong for the 100km too. With competing in such a variety of distances over different terrain, my training has to be quite varied, and so I’ve been mixing rep sessions and 10k tempo runs on the flat, with runs of up to 40km on hillier terrain, as well as trying to do a bit of off-roading to prepare my legs f...

Now is the time of year where runners have usually completed weeks of training through long dark nights and wintry weather, and they are buzzing with anticipation at running a spring marathon. And yet, following events in Boston earlier this week, a dark cloud lingers over things, and what happened on Monday will be in people's memories for a very long time. Plenty has been said in the aftermath of the atrocities that hit the Boston Marathon, but if there is one good thing that can be taken from it all, it is that the running community across the world is strong, with runners standing united against this act of violence and refusing to let it impact on the enjoyment and freedom given through their chosen sport. The London Marathon takes place this Sunday, and for the past 15 years or so, I've been looking forward to running there every April. I have some very fond memories of the event, nothing more so than when running my 2.47 PB back in 2006, when I was a member of N...

Well what a week it’s been. Last Monday we had some bad news – some friends of ours had lost their dog to a cougar up in the Bragg Creek area. Jake was an outdoor dog and had been for the 10 years or so that he had graced this earth, so it was a most unfortunate and very sad way to leave it. Our little dog Wilson had spent many hours playing with Jake since our arrival here 12 months ago – swimming in the lake, chasing the squirrels and generally having a great time together - and he was one of the most gentle, loving, friendly and playful boys you’d ever like to meet. He will never be forgotten by either his family or his many fans that met him over the years, and from our point of view,we will always fondly remember the good times he had with Wilson. Wilson at Jake playing at Bragg Creek only last Christmas  It seems a little inconsiderate, but the past week has also been spent trying to find a new live-in playmate for Wilson. Prior to the sad news about Jakey Boy, we’d...

Things over the past few weeks couldn’t have been better – running and racing has gone well, the weather has started to warm up a little despite a couple of heavy dumps of snow, and of course, things have been moving along swiftly with our new house with things due to complete on 29 th March. I’ve been feeling really happy and positive about things, and having read today that male grizzlies are likely to start coming out of their dens over the coming weeks, it already feels like spring is on the horizon. Better still, on April 4 th , I will be celebrating my 366 th day living in Calgary – a full year since I left the UK to start my new life. However, despite my obvious happiness, there are a couple of things to overcome this month. March 13 th marks the first anniversary of losing our 17 year old dog, Sammy. He was too old to move overseas with us and prior to our move last year, under vet advice, he went to live with his nana and grandad Smith who he’d spent many happy day...

The past couple of weeks have been absolutely brilliant, and I’m feeling so positive about my running at the moment. A couple of race victories and some good training sessions are certainly the ticket for putting a spring in my step, and I’m feeling motivated and focused on the months ahead. The good news is that I’ve rekindled my passion for ultra running, and with the Canadian Rockies as my playground as well as the wonderful city of Calgary, I’m pretty sure that I won’t have any problems finding suitable routes to pound out the miles. I’m also very lucky to have met a great bunch of runners here – in fact, the word “great” doesn't do enough justice, and I guess I’m just grateful to call them my buddies. No doubt over the coming months, we will share our running tales and woes about racing and training as we hit the trails and pavements together. In terms of race plans, it would appear that I’m subconsciously trying to become some sort of “Iron Maiden” or "Iron ...

I can't believe that we're coming to the end of February and already I've competed in 9 races! The good thing is that the majority of them have been 10k or less, and with being shorter races - most of them cross country - they've really helped to build a little strength, speed and stamina over the weeks. I'm starting to feel fitter and stronger and after what seems like a very long time, my confidence has finally started to return. Of course the other thing that has given me a new lease of life was turning 40 last week. Looking back to when I first became a lady veteran 5 years ago - or "master" as they call us these days - I was running at my best, and moving in to another age category gave me the motivation to chase new records and set new goals. Now I've moved up into the LV40 category, that excitement and anticipation has returned, and I'm eager to get out on the trails and roads to see how I fair over the next 5 years. My first test c...