Tales of Trails, Mountains and Rocky Roads

Last Sunday, I had the most superb time at the Blitz Duathlon. The weather was absolutely beautiful with one of the most awesome blue sky days, and I spent time with some good friends whilst competing in a sport that I really hadn't got a clue about. A day with good friends at the Blitz Duathlon Running is so simple - a decent pair of running shoes, a shirt and shorts, and it's just you and the open road there to explore. Admittedly some runners do go all technical and start talking about what backpack they used, the socks they wear, what percentage of moisture their shirt wicks away - you know the kind of thing - but for me, running is a pure sport where a 3 gram weight difference in a pair of shoes really doesn't matter to me,  and so long as my choice of clothing doesn't rub  and cause chaffing, I'm a happy camper. I know that with running, I don't need to worry about gears and braking systems and such like, and the only advantage I get on the ups an...

The final race of the 5 Peaks Trail Running Series went better than expected and I actually walked away as series champion in both my age group and overall. I won't deny it - other than my single victory at the Glenbow Ranch race a couple of months ago, my best placing was 4th lady and my worst around 17th. I knew that I was leading in my age category, but to win overall was a complete surprise and I know that it's only as a result of the faster ladies not having done enough races to qualify. On arriving at the Canmore Nordic Centre on Saturday morning, it was extremely misty and definitely on the cool side which suited me immensely as I usually have far better runs in cooler conditions. It was only September, and yet earlier in the week, the whole area including Calgary had been hit by a snow storm, and although daytime temperatures had since recovered, there was still snow on the ground in Canmore making the course even more challenging. Pre-Race Mist - Canmore Nord...

I really can't believe that we are in September already and having already had some snow in the past couple of days, it's a sure sign that we are heading into autumn and the dreaded "W" word won't be too far behind.  I actually love the autumn. It's always been my favourite time of the year when the days get cooler and we are greeted by early morning dew and mist lingering in the valleys and alongside lakes and rivers. I always feel more alive at this time of year - I thrive on being outside, amazed by the vivid colours as the leaves start to change, watching the animals preparing for winter and the birds flocking together to make their journeys south to warmer climes. It also signals the start of the cross country season and I'm already looking forward to the first event in early October at River Park. I'm lucky to have already done some pretty awesome races this year, but I have to say that the past few races have blown the others awa...