Christmas Wishes and a few Reflections

As we come to the end of another year, I can safely say that in running terms, I've had one of my best for a long time. Whether it's been due to reaching a milestone birthday or simply setting myself new challenges, I really don't know, but one thing's for sure - I've finished every race I've done this year with a smile on my face. Looking back on what I've achieved, I certainly can't complain; 1st lady at the Frozen Ass 50km, 1st lady at the Fast Trax 100km, 2nd lady at the Lost Soul 100km and 2nd lady at the Edmonton Marathon, as well as several race victories over the shorter distances along the way. The major thing for me though was running and winning my first ever 100 mile race in a shade over 21 hours.Even now I still can't believe I did it, especially considering how well I coped both physically and mentally with the distance, and I'm pretty certain that another 100 miler is on the cards in the not too distant future - it's just deciding where and when.

The final month of 2013 has been awesome, and hopefully the buzz I'm feeling now will continue into 2014 and beyond. I've managed to fit in some good quality training runs over the past few weeks as well as some races, all of which has helped to end the year on a high.

A couple of weeks ago it was the 5th race in the local cross country series. Having missed the previous race due to being out of sorts, I was raring to go at Silver Springs despite feeling a little cautious and not really having high expectations. Thankfully the weather had turned much warmer although there was still plenty of energy sapping deep snow to deal with which made things heavy going in places, and with the numerous ups and downs, the course certainly felt much tougher than what I remembered.

Good Friends at the Start of the Silver Springs XC

There seemed to be a few more new faces at this one, and I had a good tussle with another lady for the best part of the race. Fortunately my endurance won in the end, and as I sensed her tiring towards the end, I managed to pull away in the last 2km, finishing a very surprised 2nd lady behind the ever improving Kim. The good news is that although the legs felt heavy and tired from a hard week of running, I could feel some of the strength and fitness returning, giving me some confidence as I start to knuckle down and focus on my goals for 2014.

The following week was another good one, and with the build up to Christmas, it seemed apt to do a couple of festive runs to get me into the holiday spirit. Although considered "races", they were in reality fun runs with nothing particularly fancy about them except for the sheer joy of taking part and the fact that the entry fees went to a local charity.

I was really looking forward to running without the pressure of racing, but there was something that I needed to do if I was going to get the most satisfaction from both events.

People that know me well will know that my 2 dogs, Wilson and Brandy, mean the world to me - they always make me laugh and smile, and they're always there for me through thick and thin, no matter how good or bad things get. They've also been my best running buddies throughout the year, particularly Wilson who is a true lead dog and an absolute dream to run with.

I desperately wanted to do my last 2 races of the year with each of them and my one Christmas wish was that the organisers would allow Wilson to do the 10k with me, and Brandy the 6k. I wasn't to be disappointed and was so happy when I was given the go ahead for some 4-legged company at both events.

The Calgary Run Santa Run 10km started downtown outside the Eau Claire Market, a popular venue for a lot of races held in the city. It was pretty chilly outside but it was good to know that dogs were allowed indoors, and with the indoor market hall being awash with Santas drinking hot chocolate whilst the local choir were singing Christmas carols, it really was a festive affair. The presence of a couple of other dogs caused a bit of a commotion, but thankfully, as soon as Wilson was suited and booted in his new harness and collar, he sensed that we were off for a run and the other dogs were soon forgotten.

The start of the Calgary Run Santa Run 10km

Around 100 folks lined up for the 10k run and as requested, Wilson and I stood at the back of the field to avoid any trips or falls over stray dog leads. As the countdown to the start began, and the anticipation was building, Wilson  started his usual barking and howling, getting extremely excited and impatient to get going. Before we knew it, we were hurtling forward as Wilson started his frantic pulling and I tried desperately to keep up with him. It wasn't long before we'd made our way to the front of the field, Wilson looking up and almost smiling in joy as he passed each runner as he surged forward along the pathway.

The route followed the river and having trained and raced a number of times along this stretch, I was extremely familiar with where we were heading. The pathway was still quite snowy despite obvious attempts to clear it, and as we headed down a short sharp incline, I slipped on some ice and took a tumble, bashing my elbow as I fell and feeling it in my back. Thankfully there wasn't any serious injury and I managed to spring back up and keep going.

We'd left the other runners way behind by now and although Wilson had no idea where he was headed, he still led confidently and responded to all my commands, despite a few squirrels and a couple of birds scuttling around in the trees causing distractions. Heading alongside the highway close to the midway point, we got quite a few cheers and peeps from passing motorists - the happiness and pride I was feeling in Wilson was full to bursting point! As we hit the turnaround point and ran along the opposite side of the river, I could sense Wilson speeding up and he really was coming into his own - it was such an exhilarating feeling running a race together as we seemed to speed along.

Team Wilson Bilbo at the Santa Run 10km and heading for home

The race distance was just shy of 10km in the end and after around about 45 minutes of running, we saw the finish line ahead. On the approach, there was lots of cheering and clapping as we finished 2nd (and 3rd!) overall - 1st lady and 1st dog ;o) Wilson was so happy and excited, clearly buzzing on the endorphines and picking up on the atmosphere and my own excitement. We were awarded a medal, and whilst positions didn't really matter, we received a $25 gift card for our efforts despite my reluctance to take it due to having some assistance! Wilson accompanied me on the stage as I received the prize, loving the attention as his celebrity status in the running circles of Calgary grew, and he had his photo taken alongside me.

GOLD for 1st placed dog and 1st Female :o)

A quick change of clothes in to something warmer and drier, and then we were off to Canmore for the second event of the day - this time the Canmore Santa 6km Fun Run. The run started at 5pm and we arrived just as dusk was falling, with the sun casting golden shadows across the mountains overlooking the town which looked splendid in the evening light. The start area felt really Christmassy, and as the temperature started to plummet, we were glad of the fire pits which would later be used for toasting marshmellows after the run. The entry fee this time was a donation of a non-perishable food item for the local Food Bank, and once again, I was very excited that I would be allowed to run with some company, this time in the form of Brandy.

 Canmore Santa 6km Fun run

The route was a 2 x 3km out and back loop along snow covered pathways and I was in my element running amongst the mountains as darkness fell. Brandy did so well considering she didn't have Wilson to follow and I was so pleased with her. A few distractions from other dogs and young children, and her wanting to play with them certainly kept her entertained, and she was fascinated by the flames of the fires and the sparks and embers flying through the air every so often. In general though, she managed to keep moving forward, and every so often would look up at me for a little pat and reassurance.

We eventually finished in 5th position and just as with Wilson earlier in the day, crossing the finish line resulted in lots of tail wagging and big smiles all round.

Days like that are hard to beat and I loved every minute of it - a combination of running, running with my dogs, and being in the mountains and the fresh air. It's unlikely that I will be able to do many races with Wilson and Brandy again over here - CaniX hasn't quite taken off in the same degree as across Europe and not surprisingly, dogs are not allowed in "normal" running races - but I know for sure that if ever it did come to Alberta, I would be first in line to sign up and take part.

For now though, I'm content with walking and running with Wilson and Brandy in a leisurely capacity. Over the past year, I've had some fantastic times with them both and I love the unity and bonding I get when I lace up my shoes, harness them up, and we step out of the door together - a sense of freedom, a sense of abandonment. I can't wait for 2014 - new goals, new challenges, and 2 awesome running pals to share my adventures with at every opportunity - it's going to be a good one I can tell, and there'll be no stopping us.

And so, with a new year once again fast approaching, I'm definitely ending the year on a high, and all that remains is to wish all of my friends and family a very happy new year, and the very best of luck, success, health and happiness for 2014 - may you too achieve your goals and aspirations.

Happy New Year Folks :o)

Wintry Runs and Streaking :o)

It’s strange the different things that motivate people - for me, it’s having a target race to focus on, where everybody knows about it, and there is no shying away from the training and commitment required if I want to succeed. This year however, a few other things have helped me along the way which probably explains why I feel I’ve had one of my best years of running for a very long time.

At the beginning of January, I joined the Trentham RC “Run 2013” Facebook group and set myself the goal of running 4000km (2,500 miles) by the end of the year to mark my 40^th birthday. I’ve been conscious of this goal over the months, keeping a record of all miles logged, and I’m happy to say that with just 3 weeks of the year remaining, I’m currently at 3866km and feeling pretty confident that I will exceed my original target.

Many of the km covered are a result of the ultras I’ve raced this year. I wanted to run well in the 2013 Alberta Ultra Series and having now come to the end, I feel extremely humbled and somewhat surprised to see my name at the top of the ladies competition. Ok, the series may no longer be the grandiose affair it used to be and there are no awards ceremonies these days, but even so, I was really pleased to have exceeded even my own expectations by "winning" the series.

Meanwhile, back in November, I put my name forward to be a Canadian Trail Running Ambassador in conjunction with The North Face. The announcement of the chosen few will be made later this month and whilst I don’t believe for a second that I will be one of the lucky ones, just having that slight possibility has certainly helped in planning races in recent weeks and ensuring I get out and about to explore.

As if that wasn't enough, last weekend we had a call from the Calgary Marathon Organising Committee. Following requests for volunteers, we had put our names forward to accommodate an out-of-town elite athlete for the 2014 event and it looks like we have been shortlisted. A house visit in January and final confirmation in February will seal the deal so to speak, which means I can’t afford to slack off from my running if we’re going to be hosting some super speedy elite from somewhere like the USA or even Africa next year!

I guess even with my usual positive outlook and general upbeat approach to life, I'm not immune from those gloomy days when you feel miserable, antisocial, and just want to hide away from the world.

A couple of weeks ago, I was meant to have been racing a 10km road race followed by 8km cross country an hour or so later. Normally, I would be up for the challenge and raring to go, but in the few days prior, things went a little topsy turvy. For some reason I can't explain, I felt tired, sad and a little cheesed off. Add to that the preliminary signs of a cold and I really was feeling blue.

I've no idea why I felt the way I did - the build up to Christmas and subconsciously thinking about family and old friends, the dark cold winter nights, or perhaps just feeling stale with no big races looming and therefore having lost a bit of direction. Whatever the reason, I decided to avoid both races which is unheard of in my world, but I knew I wouldn't run my best and certainly couldn’t handle the disappointment and frustration of a poor race result.

That same afternoon, I couldn't stand being cooked up indoors any longer, so despite feeling under the weather, I decided to head out for a little run with Wilson. We only did about 10km, but yet again without him even realising it, that little dog helped me to gather my thoughts and work through my gloom. I returned home feeling much happier and far more positive, so much so that  I now have a plan for next year with plenty of awesome races in the pipeline and every intention of upping my training to get in the best possible shape to meet my goals.

Excellent therapy when feeling a bit down in the dupers....

We’re now in December, and with the start of the 3^rd Strides Running Store Annual Streak where those that join agree to run at least a mile each day throughout December, there is an element of peer pressure to get out and run every day, especially when you see how well everybody else is doing. Thankfully, I’ve not missed a day yet and have ran 11 days in a row, although running in December in Calgary certainly offers a few challenges from time to time!

Last Monday night and into Tuesday, Calgary was hit by a full on blizzard that lasted well over 24 hours. The wind was howling, the snow was falling heavily, and with drifts of 3-4 feet deep, my attempt at a 15km evening run was cut short after just 7km of what can only be described as high knee lifts for almost an hour whilst trudging through the deep snow. I was beginning to think that the treadmill would have been a much better option despite the tedious boredom and the dark, damp coldness of our garage where the dreaded item is located, but I always find treadmill running a bit of a cop-out, preferring to toughen up and embrace the elements.

Blizzards in Calgary
on Monday evening...

....or the alternative to a cold snowy run outside -
erm.....no thank you!

The remainder of the week stayed exceedingly cold with temperatures barely rising above -24 even during the day, which meant the lying snow wasn't going anywhere fast. Being more of an evening runner and having a preference for the outdoors, I refused to let the even-lower overnight temperatures stop me from running outside, so  having dressed in several layers of clothing and hidden my face with a balaclava to "protect exposed skin from frostbite within 10 minutes", I hit the dark pathways around Mahogany and Aubern Bay later in the evening. I took Wilson with me a couple of times, suited and booted in his fleecy coat and running booties, and wearing a thermal buff to protect his ears from the cold. His little whiskers froze and he had tiny icicles hanging off them as he ran along, so I had to keep stopping every few minutes to rub his muzzle and remove the ice. I felt so snug and warm in all my winter gear, and yet my balaclava was frozen rigid, ice was forming on my running jacket adding extra weight, my thighs were tingling from the cold despite 2 pairs of thermal running tights, and my eyes became plastered in a not-so-fetching thick, white, clumpy, icy mascara as my exposed eyelashes absorbed the cold.

Post run on a cold winter's night
with Wilson :o)

I've said many times how much I enjoy running around the wetlands, even on a wintry night, so much so that the conditions didn't really bother me. The snow makes things far brighter so there's no need for a head torch, and considering we are only about 20 minutes drive from downtown Calgary, everything is so quiet except for the coyotes howling away across the lakes, hunting for food to curb their hunger, whilst Jack Rabbit flees back and forth, trying to avoid being their next meal. One night as we ran, the air was still and quiet, and as I looked up I could see ice crystals forming in the air, falling delicately down to the ground as they glittered in the orange glow of the nearby streetlights and making them look extremely pretty.

I did manage a run in daylight with Wilson the following weekend, even though we had just had the coldest day of the year with a crazy -39 including the windchill. It was a day made for running - gorgeous blue skies, brilliant white virgin snow, topped off by spectacular views of the mountains that appeared to be much closer to us that day. The air was so fresh and clear, Wilson was happily bounding through the snow drifts, his eyes bright, his tail wagging, and having a lovely shiny black nose. It was a fabulous run that both Wilson and I enjoyed immensely and we could have ran all day had we not got other plans.

We may still be in the city, but it was a
day made for running :o)

 It’s now started to warm up at last and with the next cross country race taking place at the weekend, the shorts and t-shirt may just make an appearance even though things are only just above freezing! I’m really looking forward to the run this time and whilst I’ve no expectations, I’m hoping to run well. With Christmas fast approaching, there are also a few fun runs taking place, and to get into the Christmas spirit, I’ve entered a 10km and a 6km , both on the same day. I certainly won't be taking them too seriously, and my only hope is that my Christmas wish will come true – I would love to be allowed to run both races with Wilson and Brandy to finish off a fantastic year of running. They've been my best running buds throughout the year, regardless of the weather, so it seems only fair that we celebrate things together and spread around some Christmas cheer :o)

Last Chance Half and Magical Runs :o)

Last weekend was the Last Chance Half Marathon and with things turning more towards winter as the days go by, I figured I would squeeze in this last road race of the season before the proper wintry stuff sets in.

I turned up at Eau Claire not really expecting anything spectacular. I certainly didn't have a race plan and the only goal I had was to run hard to help gauge my current fitness level and to determine how recovery is progressing following all the ultras I've done recently. With light snow falling and a brisk wind making it feel more like a chilly -18 degrees, conditions were hardly ideal for a fast time, and with a distinct lack of speed work for well over 2 months, I anticipated  finishing in around 1 hour 40 mins. 

Start of Last Chance Half Marathon

The course followed the river for a short while before turning back towards Eau Claire and heading out in the opposite direction past the zoo. I found that I was really enjoying the run although I was cursing myself for putting on far too many clothes, feeling the urge to remove some of the layers at around the 5k point despite the freezing temperatures. I was also holding on to a decent steady pace for about 10km, but a combination of "Crikey, how the hell do I keep this going in marathon?!" along with hitting the deeper snow on the pathway, meant my legs decided they'd had enough and went on strike. At this point, I was lying in 5th position in the ladies race, and frustratingly I could see the other 4 ladies ahead of me with the leading lady being not much more than 600 yards ahead. Normally my competitive streak would have kicked in and I would have given chase with no problem, but on this occasion, despite my mind firmly instructing my legs to get a move on, there was clearly some resistance going on in the old body as the legs refused to budge and had absolutely nothing to give. It was frustrating, but I consoled myself that at least my friend Kim was once again having a fabulous run and was hot on their tails and I was willing her to catch them so that at least she could be amongst the prizes.

Strangely, the last 6km or so felt much easier despite the strong headwind and dodgy footing, and I found that I was starting to speed up again, surprising myself when I eventually crossed the finish line in 1.35.59. Ok, it was nowhere near a PB, but the result gave me a good indication of things and I now know what I need to do to give me a decent chance of a good race at Run for L'Arche Half Marathon at the end of March.

By Sunday evening, it was still bitterly cold but at least the snow had stopped. I was feeling a little sleepy and the legs had gone a little achy from the unaccustomed faster paced race, and yet I felt the urge to head out the door again, this time for a short 5km run with Wilson followed by a 3km run with Brandy. I went my usual local route around the wetlands and had a completely different experience whilst running with each of them.

The 5k with Wilson was fast and frantic as he led me confidently around the pathways, knowing exactly where to turn, responding to my voice commands and tugs on the lead when he need a little direction, always alert and watchful for jack rabbit and any other wildlife he might see nearby. Brandy meanwhile was the complete opposite, running alongside me at a much slower pace, hesitant about  the pathway ahead and looking at me for reassurance. Each time she looked up, I ruffled her ears which seemed to give her some confidence as she bounded along in the snow once again, but the slightest unfamiliar sound made her stop and hesitate, looking back at me to check whether we should continue.

Wilson and Brandy enjoying playtime :o)

I've been running with Wilson for well over a year now but it's only been a couple of months with Brandy, and I'd never really ran with both of them together properly. I've been cautious about running with both of them at the same time for  a number of reasons - Wilson is a smallish Whippet sized dog but due the Collie in him, he's solid muscle and very strong, whilst Brandy is a large dog but still a puppy - strong simply due to her size and she hasn't yet learnt to realise nor control the strength that she has. Together, it could spell trouble with Wilson running ahead, Brandy lagging behind, and me stuck in the middle yelling my head off and not particularly enjoying the experience. They can also be a little unruly when they get excited (which always happens when going out for a run!) and this can be a safety issue with the building work still going on around us in Mahogany - there are lots of trucks and the pavements are frequently blocked with building materials forcing us to run in the road until we hit the pathways around the wetlands. However, it's always been my intention to run them together at some point - it was just a matter of finding the right time.

Tuesday evening, Andy was working late. I needed to do an easy 10km run and despite the icy pavements and subzero temperatures outside, I really didn't want to run on the treadmill. Wilson was restless, sensing that I was heading out for a run at some point and clearly anticipating that he would be accompanying me, but it didn't seem fair leaving Brandy home alone. Seeing Wilson's excitement building and watching Brandy's pleading eyes as she watched us knowingly, I decided that tonight was the night - I was going to run them together.

I've had so much fun running with dogs over the years, and when in the UK, my old dogs Sam and Leo were extremely obedient and always ran with me off-leash. Wilson and Brandy are very different - Brandy loves people to chase her when off-leash and has frequently forgotten her name when calling her back to us, much preferring a game of chase when trying to get her back on the lead. Wilson is obedient (ish), but he's a sight-hound and if he spots movement of any type, he's off like a shot and is far too fast to catch, his natural instinct kicking in as he gives chase with no about of stern words or shouting his name making the slightest bit of difference. It was pretty obvious I would need to run both of them on leads, and I was somewhat anxious that as soon as I stepped out the door, I'd get dragged along and within seconds would end up flat on my face in a snow drift.

What followed was totally unexpected and I ended up having one of the most magical runs ever :o)

As soon as we stepped outside, Wilson took charge, howling excitedly as took to the front and surged along. Brandy, clearly caught up in his enthusiasm, took one look at me, jumped up just the once and wagged her tail uncontrollably, and then went shoulder to shoulder with Wilson, tails and heads held high, as they both ran along the path together. It was a wonderful moment and I really couldn't believe the effect Wilson was having on Brandy.

Within a couple of minutes, we joined the lakeside path and as we moved away from the street lights in to the darkness, everything was lit with a silvery light from the moon shining brightly in the night sky above. The stars were out in full force and I spotted The Plough and Cassiopeia amongst the many thousands of stars on display. It really was a beautiful evening for running - the air was cold and fresh, the snow and the lake shimmered in the moonlight, and the only sound was the deep heavy breathing of our little group and our footsteps crunching on the snow as we ran along.

I was truly amazed at how well things were going. I was feeling absolutely fantastic, and it was clear by the way they were bounding through the snow drifts, ears flopping, tails wagging, and both with lovely shiny wet noses, that Wilson and Brandy were having the time of their lives. Every so often, Wilson would take a sideways glance at Brandy, she would turn to look at him and sniff at his ears or tug at his lead, and then I would feel a slight tension on the lead as they speeded up. I was amazed at their strength and how fast I was running as they literally pulled me along, but I had to use a cautious "steady" when we hit the icy stretches, and was happily surprised when they both responded by slowing down slightly until it was safe to pick up the pace again.

We covered just over 10km in the end - the furthest that Brandy has ever run - and I was so proud of them when we returned home. They were both so happy, and it was clear that their pack instinct had surfaced and the 3 of us had bonded whilst out some pack adventure.

Another wintry run on a Saturday afternoon

I've since been running with both dogs again and even I'm still getting that shiver of excitement when I'm putting their harnesses on and getting ready to head out of the door. Wilson and Brandy will never be huskies nor will they ever make a sled dog team, but I can safely say that they have brought another element of wonder and enjoyment to my running. I really can't explain the feeling of unity and contentment when we run together - I feel safe, protected and  protective, a unique bonding and understanding with my dogs that I can't describe, almost as if a wild and adventurous part of me is being encouraged to come out, as if I'm going back in time to a place where you live to enjoy life and survive, where there are no modern day luxuries and you are more aware of your surroundings and mother nature, experiencing a sense of freedom, of having no hassles or worries, of being content with each others company where no words need to be spoken to understand what you mean to each other.

It's extremely difficult to explain how I feel but I'm sure many other dog lovers understand exactly what I'm trying to say - putting it simply, it's magical.

Me and my 2 best running buddies :o))

Winter has arrived...and time for Cross Country :o)

I can’t believe that it’s November already, but then since September, I’ve been pretty busy racing ultras and acting as a tour guide for UK visitors. It’s been a fantastic couple of months and it seems really strange and extremely quiet now that things have settled down and life has gone back to normal.

Beautiful autumn colours of Alberta

 Thankfully, winter arrived a little later in Calgary this year, prolonging the fall which I have to say has been absolutely beautiful. We had some balmy temperatures along with gloriously sunny days and gorgeous blue skies, and even in the city, everything has looked amazingly beautiful with the autumn golds, oranges and yellows on the trees. With living in Mahogany in the South East of the city, we also get to see some of the fantastic sunsets over the mountains, and with the development of the new wetlands progressing so well, it’s meant some fabulous easy runs over the past couple of weeks whilst I’m still recovering from my 100 mile race.

Sunset over the Rockies viewed from Mahogany

A week or so ago, we had our first snowfall of the winter. On the Saturday afternoon, I ran around the wetlands with Wilson in shorts and t-shirt as temperatures hit 18 degrees. Come Sunday, we’d had several cm of snow and my long Sunday run was much different with both myself and the dogs wrapped up in winter woollies to protect again a biting wind and driving snow.

A Chinook wind midweek caused the snow and ice to melt quite quickly, but winter was back with a vengeance by the following Saturday as another winter storm moved in over the mountains from B.C.

Now that the weather has turned and my “big” races are done for the year, it’s back to cross country every couple of weeks with the start of the Calgary Road Runners Grand Prix. I loved the series last year and finished 1^st in my age group and 2^nd overall, so despite still feeling a little tired and heavy legged following the longer races over the past couple of months, I was excited to be heading down to Okotoks on Saturday for my first cross country race of the season.

There was a new venue for this year’s race and on first arriving at the recreation centre, I had visions of something similar to Winsford back in the UK – endless laps around a flat playing field, and not really what I would consider to be “proper” cross country. If it weren’t for the extremely wintry conditions making things appear more challenging, I may well have been tempted to turn around and go home rather than face the monotony of a flat cross country course. However, that wouldn’t have been fair to the organizers and volunteers that had turned out to stage the event, and when informed just before the start that there were some “very narrow single track trails” when “running up the escarpment” that could be “quite messy due to the snow”, I began to think that maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Snow, hills and mud - PERFECT cross country running :o)

I wasn’t disappointed, and with 2 x 4km snowy, icy and muddy loops that included several steep and slippery climbs followed by some tricky descents through a lovely little woodland area, it made for an extremely enjoyable run.  I finished 3^rd lady behind 2 good friends – Kim and Anne – the former of which shot off like a rocket and never looked back, storming to her first victory and showing she’s a true contender for the title this year.

Although I quite liked the course, I wasn’t feeling as confident as usual – hesitant at going off too fast and burning up as I simply wasn’t used to setting off at such a pace, especially given that I hadn’t done any speed work for a while and recent races have been more about starting slowly and keeping it going. Thankfully, although the faster pace and shorter distance was still a shock to the system, I managed to keep going and whilst I wasn’t my usual sure-footed self and ran more cautiously that what I’m used to, I didn’t feel as tired or clumsy as I expected. Given a couple more of these races leading up to Christmas, I’m hoping that I’ll get some confidence back and will be able to “attack” the courses like I did last year and get some more good results.

Today, the weather in Calgary is still on the cold side and we’ve had a few more flurries since the cross country on Saturday. A couple of weeks ago, I registered for the Last Chance Half Marathon, so on Sunday, I headed out for a 25km run just to make sure I’m recovered enough to cover the distance for the race next weekend. It was still quite chilly with a gale blowing, and after a painfully slow and tentative 8km on very icy pathways, I decided to head for home and resort to the dreadmill of doom. Even with some good old rock music blaring out, the time on the treadmill seemed to drag and I found myself pushing the pace just to get the session over with as soon as possible to prevent the boredom becoming too intense. Normally I wouldn’t let the weather win, but I really want to use the race next weekend to help gauge where I’m at in terms of fitness so that I can structure my winter training ready for next year which I hope will be as good as 2013. It’s highly likely that conditions will still be poor underfoot but I at least want to get to the start line in one piece so that I can give it my best shot.

2013 has already been an awesome year of running for me and I’ve finished every race satisfied with my performance and with a smile on my face. I’ve learnt not to put pressure on myself and to just run to enjoy rather than chase PB’s that are beyond my reach these days. I still have goals for next year, but there are so many races to choose from and I guess I’m going to have to rely on some advice and recommendations from the many good running friends I have met since moving to Canada :o)

However, winter training is going to be somewhat more focused this year, and with my initial goals being to run good races at 2 of my favourite events – Run for L’Arche and Calgary Marathon, both of which are very well organized with fantastic support and are ideal for both elite athletes as well as beginners - I’m hoping they will get me off to a good start in 2014.

Calgary Marathon celebrates its 50^th anniversary next year, and being my local marathon and also one of my favourites, I have to be a part of the party and hopefully improve on my time once again.

Meanwhile, Run for L’Arche raises funds for a worthy cause, and due to taking place in March, it’s the ideal, perfectly timed race to blow off the winter cobwebs and to get an indication as to how to tackle the marathon later in the spring. Add to that the flat course along the beautiful Bow River, the free pancake breakfast and other goodies, I am certainly intending to race this one again next year and can certainly recommend it to anybody else that is pondering whether to take part.

But both Run for L’Arche and Calgary Marathon are several months away yet, and we still have at least 4-5 months of what is likely to be cold, icy and snowy conditions to contend with. The good news is that I love winter running, I feel more motivated than ever, and I’m looking forward to a good winter of training and racing that will hopefully help me to achieve those goals in the new year – bring it on!

And I would run 100 miles......Iron Horse 100 Mile Ultra....

It all feels a little surreal – did I really complete a 100 mile trail race at the weekend? I’ve got one blister under my big toe nail, scratch marks on my neck from where my backpack rubbed, grazes on my legs from barbed wire and bracken, and a swollen right ankle, but other than that, I’ve been in much worse condition after running a marathon which makes things even harder to believe. I’ve also been pretty sleepy since just after 4am on Sunday morning and I’m starting to think that maybe it was all just a dream, and yet I have my medal and I have my punched checkpoint card which can only mean one thing – yes, I did run/walk 100 miles and yes, I did cross that finish line.

Flashback to February 2013 – I reached my 40^th birthday and I was reminded of all those people that have a midlife crisis when reaching a milestone point in their lives, when they realize they are getting older and have the urge to do something outrageous to help them cope. I also had people telling me I needed to “slow down” at my age, take things easier, relax and chill out a little. No t wanting to disappoint, I entered my first 100 mile race, knowing that I would indeed need to “slow down” as it would be 38 miles further than I’ve ever ran before, and I’d also be relaxed and chilled doing what I love most – running some of the beautiful trails in Alberta and being at one with nature and my surroundings. And so it was that I signed up for the Iron Horse 100 mile ultra, to be held in St Paul in October.

There are so many other 100 milers that I could have done and I’ve been blown away by the stories and pictures of friends here in Canada that have done some amazing (and indeed enviable) 100 milers in the mountains of both Canada and the United States over the past year. But whilst I love adventure and don’t shy away from pushing myself to the extreme, I’m also cautious, much preferring a “flatter” 100 mile race at my first attempt, to give me the confidence that I can do the distance and learn from the experience, with the intention of going for greater things the following year.

St Paul is located in Northern Alberta, an area renowned for its lakes and endless miles of rolling hills and farmland. It’s not flat but then there are no mountains in sight, and the town itself is better known for the first UFO/Alien Landing Pad (apparently there were numerous UFO sightings back in the 1960’s which prompted the building of the pad), and of course the Iron Horse Trail. The race itself used parts of the old Iron Horse Trail, as well as gravel roads and private farmland, and with around 3000ft of ascent throughout the route, it couldn’t exactly be called hilly although there were certainly some testing climbs at points where really you could have done without them!

The race started at 7am Saturday at the Reunion Station in St Paul. It was still dark and a little on the cool side with a slight frost on the ground. Considering the small field of 120 runners or so – most of which had opted for the 100km or the relay – there was still quite a buzz in the air.

For me, I was scared as hell and was going through a serious bout of paranoia about the Good Lord having it in for me today – I would collapse from exhaustion, be attacked by a pack of wolves, end up in hospital on a saline drip, be abducted by aliens and goodness knows what else. I’d also heard about people that had started to hallucinate in some of the longer races, particularly when darkness falls and the fatigue has well and truly set in, and whilst I can think of worse things to be chased by than a giant Mars Bar, I was a little intrigued and worried by what images my mind could possibly conjure up later on in the day.

Waiting to start and scared as hell!

Another concern for me was the distance. My training hadn’t been typical for 100 mile races and I had certainly not done any back to back long runs. I’d done a 100km race and a marathon a month or so before along with a couple of 50km training runs, but in reality, my weekly mileage had only peaked at 156km with my weekly average hovering around 100km – and here I was, intending to cover more than that distance in just one day!  Thinking about it made my stomach churn and sent me in to panic so I blocked out the distance and focused instead on getting from one checkpoint to the next, trying not to think much beyond the 20km or so between them. The only thing I could be certain of was that I knew I would get to 100km, and I knew that I could run for over 13 hours – beyond that was unknown territory and only by carrying on would I know if I could do it.

120 runners all set to go :o)

There was no rendition of “Oh Canada” this morning – instead we were greeted by rapturous applause and cheering as we all set off on our own personal journey along the Iron Horse Trail, led by a police escort through the town until we veered off away from the roads and hit the gravel pathways.

The first few km were flat and I found I was relaxed and comfortable running solo at an easy 5.30km pace.  It felt terribly slow, but I knew that I needed to pace myself if I had any hope of finishing, so I settled into the rhythm and enjoyed the scenery around me. As the dawn broke and the sun started to raise its head above the horizon, the whole landscape became blanketed in a golden glow, further enhancing the already beautiful colours of autumn in the trees. It was truly beautiful, and I was glad of the slower pace as it enabled me to absorb my surroundings and fully appreciate the countryside around me.

We took a path off to the left, and as I climbed to the top of the first steep hill, I was greeted by an expanse of openness – farmland stretching into the distance, cattle grazing in the fields, birds awakening and singing their morning chorus whilst the dew on the grass made things a little slippy in places and highlighted the spiders weaving their webs that glittered in the morning sunlight.

After a short while, I was caught by some other runners and as we started to chat to each other, we made our first mistake. The route was marked by little green flags approximately 300 metres apart, but we missed one of the flags and carried on down a farm track for a good 5 minutes or more. Realising we’d made a mistake, we trekked back the way we’d come, our error costing us an extra 2.5km on the overall distance! We’d also been warned about a considerable amount of climbing over barbed wire and as we experienced our first ordeal of clambering over a fence into dense woodland without tearing our skin or clothes to shreds, the fence was wobbly and the wire rusty, but thankfully we scrambled over unscathed.

Despite our unintended detour, I got to the first checkpoint at Edward Ville just 10 minutes or so off schedule but thankfully Andy was still waiting for me to make sure I refueled. I was conscious that I needed to eat, and whilst I wasn’t yet hungry, I forced some food down me and guzzled a bottle of chocolate milk and some energy drink before setting off for leg 2.

End of Leg 1 - Edward Ville

I completed the next leg ahead of schedule and missed Andy but rather than wait around, I restocked my backpack with food and drinks, forced more food down me, and carried on. A herd of stampeding cows caused our little group to stop in our tracks as they charged across the pathway ahead of us, but as we continued, we lost sight once again of the green marker flags. We retraced our steps but had no idea where we were headed so followed some blue and white flagged stakes instead (we later found out that the cows had trampled the original markers, and that the stakes had to be used at the last minute!) After about half an hour of running and praying that we hadn’t gone the wrong way again, we finally saw the familiar green flags.

Leg 3 through to Elk Point was quite tough for me and I hadn’t even reached 50km when I started to struggle. It was now around midday, the temperature had risen and the sun was shining. I still had a long sleeved top on, and I think I was just overheating, needed more food and more to drink. The last 7.5km into Elk Point just went on and on and on, and I had the urge to start walking. I was still trying not to think about how much further I had to go, and forced myself to focus on just getting to the checkpoint where I knew I could change my clothes, refuel and refocus.

It couldn’t come soon enough, and I flopped down in the seat whilst Andy grabbed me some soup, a cheese sandwich and a cup of tea. He really was a star. Although hungry, I really didn’t fancy anything, but he forced me to eat, and despite my grumpiness, he perservered and I gave way. Sure enough, after 10 minutes or so I had my mojo back, and having changed some of my kit, I was on my way again feeling much better and much stronger. The next time I saw Andy, I would be well over 80km, and over half way – that in itself was enough to cheer me up and put a spring back in my step.

Tired and only 50k in!

Shortly after Elk Point, the 100 milers and the 100km runners split, and as I waved bye bye to my new found friends, I headed off in the opposite direction. I really was on my own now and I knew I needed to be alert for the flags if I wanted to avoid getting lost. A number of narrow woodland trails caused a wee bit of a problem, but eventually I found the route and carried on through. I remember an extremely boggy section, I remember scrambling over yet more barbed wire and being scratched to pieces as the fence wobbled and caused me to stumble into a pile of thorny bushes. I remember talking to myself but I don’t recall the conversation, I remember stopping to treat a blister that was forming, I remember a dog running out to chase me but then it decided it wanted to play, and I remember my legs starting to tire and making the decision to go under the fencing now rather than over, preferring a face full of cow dung rather than anymore scratches to my legs and arms. Other than that, it’s a blur.

Beautiful autumn colours on route

I had already been on the trail for around 10 hours when I ran in to Fort George. The trail leading to the checkpoint was carpeted with leaves from the trees and the colours were spectacular, which heightened my positive mood. I was 88km into the race and feeling fantastic. This time, I willingly ate a cheese sandwich, a cup of soup, and a Canadian version of a Pot Noodle, along with a small bottle of coke and chocolate milk. Dusk was now setting in and the temperature was starting to drop, so as I prepared to leave, I made sure to have an extra layer of clothing and my head torch.

Happy and feeling good at around 80km +

I waved another cheery goodbye to Andy, telling him I’d see him in a couple of hours at Lindbergh at which point, I will have covered 103km - the furthest I have ran in my life. Psychologically, I needed to reach that point as then it was “only” 57km to the finish – I could cope with that.

Still running solo, I headed down to the river and followed the pathway before the flags led us back up the hill and across yet more farmland. With no defined path, it was difficult to know whether I was on the right route, especially with some of the grass being exceptionally long causing the waymarkers to be hidden from view. Thankfully I didn’t make any mistakes and found my way, feeling more and more confident as time went by.

It really was starting to go dark by now, but I didn’t want to rely on my headtorch just yet. I could still see the flags alongside the path so wasn’t too worried, continuing on with my head down and desperately wanting to reach Lindbergh.

As I hit a road section, I saw a runner heading towards me and I realized it was Bert, one of the chaps I had been running with earlier. He’d left me at Elk Point and I hadn’t seen him since, so I was surprised that I had actually caught him. He was in a bad way – not physically although clearly both of us were tiring by now – but mentally, and the negative thoughts were starting to creep in. He’d not seen a flag for ages and he was not happy at having to double back. I personally hadn’t noticed a turning off the road although admittedly I hadn’t seen a flag for a while either, so I headed back up the road just to reassure him that we were ok and on the right track. Convinced that we just needed to follow the road ahead, he ran alongside me for the next few km and sure enough, a flag appeared some 10 minutes later, leading us down to the dirt track trail which would eventually take us into Lindbergh.

Heading into Lindbergh, the flags headed off in the opposite direction despite the lights of the aid station being just 200 yards ahead. I had an inkling that we were expected to do a loop of this small hamlet first, but my companion thought otherwise and continued to surge ahead, only for us to be told we were going the wrong way. It was really hard trying to help him stay positive, to reassure him that we could do this as we both succumbed to the darkness and our head torches made an appearance.

At last, the warm flames of the firepit greeted us along with the smiling faces of the volunteers and cups of hot chicken soup which I wasn’t about to refuse. Once again, I made sure I had plenty of food and drink. I was feeling fantastic – tired, but pretty damn good. I was over 100km, there were only 2 checkpoints left – I was almost home.

Feeling happy at 105km ish - almost there!

The night time running added a completely different perspective to things. The trails became much harder to see, and I became far more reliant on looking for the flags which were now reflected in the beam of my headtorch. To some degree, it made finding the way easier as I looked for the red glow ahead, but where the trails twisted and turned and there wasn’t a clear view, it took a little patience to spot them.

Bert had set off before me from Lindbergh, but I soon caught him. I wanted to stay with him, to support him, but I also now had a goal in mind – I wanted to finish in 21 hours which – depending on the rest of the course and how I coped in the dark – I really thought was a feasible possibility.

The next stretch back to Elk Point was once again flat and I made up a lot of time as I ran along. My torch beam picked out 2 sets of eyes in the bushes ahead, whilst the movement of a branch made me jump but I was relieved to see that it was just a couple of deer going about their business. I turned my torch off for a few moments and it was pitch black – not a sound or sight of anything, not even a moon, and yet those stars in the night sky above looked absolutely fantastic. I spotted a shooting star as stood gazing up, and picked out all the constellations I’d learnt about as a child. It really was an amazing sight.

Leg 6 was soon over and as I ran into Elk Point, the warm glow of the fire lured me in and I was greeted by the cheering and clapping of the spectators. Andy was doing a brilliant job in making sure I was fed, and now that the temperature had dropped, I was really noticing the cold and he made sure I was warm enough given that I would likely slow and end up walking from here onwards. I was now at around 125km with less than a marathon to go, it was after 11pm, and I really was starting to feel far more confident.

2nd visit to Elk Point and feeling much better
even after 125km!

I spent a good 15 minutes at Elk Point, making sure I had food and a warm drink, by which time Bert had caught me again. He was still struggling so I made the decision to run with him for a wee while, partly to help him out, but also from a selfish point of view in that I figured 2 headlamps would be better than one when trying to find our way around the next part of the course.

I ran with him for about 10 or 15 minutes before he dropped off the pace. I felt absolutely awful but I left him. I’ve done far too many ultras in the past where I’ve given up on my own goal to help and support others but tonight, I really wanted to achieve what I wanted, and feeling the buzz, I carried on.

I was making good progress, but after 10-15 minutes of running along a straight gravel road, even I started to get irritated. I was looking for the field that we would shortly have to cross, but that field was taking far too long to arrive and I was impatient. Being so dark, I couldn’t see too far ahead, and the road just seemed never ending - I just didn’t seem to be progressing at all. The reflective flags eventually led me over a wire fence and up a hill into the field. I couldn’t run as there were too many rocks on the pathway and I just kept stumbling, so I know I lost a little time there. I then entered a woodland which heightened my senses as I heard trees creeking in the breeze and rustling in bushes. I again saw a set of eyes reflecting in the light of my torch, but whatever it was didn’t move and from the dark shadow it looked like it was an owl sitting on a branch ahead.

I was heading to checkpoint 7 at Happy Hill, although why anybody would call it Happy Hill I don’t know. It was an extremely steep climb through the woods, impossible to run through with it being so boggy and covered in tree routes and boulders. I could see the aid station ahead, but the path just kept going up and down up and down and it seemed to take forever before I made the final ascent into the aid station. I didn’t need as much food this time, and after a short rest and a quick cup of tea and some nibbles, I set off for the final 19km – 141km done, feeling pretty good, and impatient to finish.

Heading away from happy hill, the other support crews were heading down the road, and as they drove past, I got plenty of cheers and applause which really helped. Bert was nowhere to be seen and having spoken to his mum at the feedstation, she was concerned about him as he was refusing to eat or anything.

The next few km were once again on gravel road, but I really didn’t mind and figured that the more time I spent here, the closer I was getting to the finish. The route eventually headed down a steep hill before heading into more woodland, where I found I needed to concentrate again to ensure I kept on track.

I’m not sure if I had my first hallucination here. For some reason, I thought I saw a small human skull in a tree, and although I knew that was stupid, the image kept flickering before my eyes for the next few minutes. Clearly it was a trick of the light and having laughed at myself for being so silly, I made my way up and down the rutted pathway as best I could in the dark, not wanting to trip and injure myself so late on in the race. I eventually found myself coming out of the woods and back on the Iron Horse Trail and stupidly I thought there must only be another 5-10km left to go – whoo hoo!

I was trotting along and feeling so great, convinced that I might even break 21 hours at this rate if the remainder of the course stayed on the trail, but nope – we turned off – again – up into some trees – again – up a hill and over barbed wire fences – again – and I was angry at myself for getting complacent and letting my mind run away with me.

It was tough running up that final hill, and although my legs were still functioning, I was undoubtedly tired. I fell climbing over the wire fence, and so at the next one, I tried to go under and tore my backpack and clothes. We reached the top, and I really really thought that we MUST be near ST Paul by now – but it was complete darkness, and all I could see was a dark track ahead, no lights, no nothing. I persevered, I picked up the pace, I saw a stop sign ahead and thought we would be turning now and heading back into town, but no – we crossed the road, and just kept going.

My right foot had started to ached somewhat by now, so I started to alternate between running and walking, but the walking just prolonged the agony of heading down that same township road, and still there were no lights. I eventually saw a runner ahead of me and as I caught him up, he was one of the guys that had been doing the 100k. I asked him how much further he thought there was to go and he responded at least another 5km – that knocked the wind out of my sails and I was gutted.

The negative thoughts started then, and I started to moan to myself – “when does this bloody road END??!!”, “How much bloody further??!!!”,  “Bloody hell, this is ridiculous!!!!” My moans and groans were greeted with the howls of coyotes in a nearby field – they were clearly having a great time, and it took my mind off things for a short while.

Eventually, the lights of St Paul appeared and I speeded up, but they just didn’t seem to be getting any closer, and I was still on that same straight road. I started to blub – all I wanted was something to break up the monotony of running down this same road, but there just didn’t seem to be anything. I wanted to see Andy, I wanted to see Wilson and Brandy, I wanted to finish.

And then, at last, the street lights came upon me unexpectedly and I entered the town and civilization. I could see the Reunion Station ahead, and I figured there was only about a mile to go. At almost 4am in the morning, I was the only person on the streets of St Paul, and I was thinking of all those lucky people tucked up in bed, oblivious to those still out there on the trails chasing their goals.

The little green flags guided me back onto the iron Horse Trail one last time, and as I saw the finish line, I was overcome with emotion and relief. I started to run and whilst it wasn’t exactly a sprint finish, I felt pretty good. Andy was there and it was so good to see him – 21 hours 9 minutes and 10 seconds later, I had finished the Iron Horse 100 mile Ultra – 1^st lady and 2^nd overall. Mission accomplished.

After a couple of hours sleep in the car, we headed back into the station for breakfast and the presentation. What a fantastic and friendly atmosphere, with runners, spectators and volunteers sharing their stories and adventures. Our little “gang” from earlier in the race had all gone on to finish the 100km, whilst Bert bless him eventually finished 45 minutes behind me – what a star to keep going, when I knew he was struggling both physically and mentally.

New found friends - kept me company for about 40km :o)

And so, as I write this in the comfort of my own home, there is still much to tell about my first 100 miler, but I’ve probably bored you to death already. It was a fantastic experience, and I am now more certain than ever that whilst being physically fit can get you through an ultra, it’s your brain that wins it for you. It is much harder to train the brain, but thankfully it’s something I’m managing to do. I’ve also learnt that good nutrition is the key to success and I think I got it right this time – no dizzy spells, no cramps, nothing. Finally, the most important thing of all is planning things out and having the best support crew you could wish for. Andy was fabulous, and he was there for me throughout the whole 21 hours, he made sure I was ok and he looked after me, he said all the right things, and he even made sure I gave Wilson and Brandy a cuddle when he knew I needed to see them too. What an absolute star.

I loved the Iron Horse and it was the perfect event for a first 100 mile race but whilst it challenged me and I now know what to expect, I’ve already found myself looking for something that will push me even harder next year. For now though, 4 ultras, 2 marathons, a half marathon, numerous 10k races and several cross country races later, I think I need to give my body a bit of a rest …. Well, until the beginning of November anyway – there’s an 8km cross country race in Okotoks that is calling my name ;o)