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!