Blackfoot Ultra 50-Miler - the Longer Version

Back in January, I was selected to represent Great Britain at the European 24 Hour Championships but about a month later, we found out that we would be making the move back to Canada. Having already done 2 international moves, I was well aware of the stress and chaos that accompanied these things and by the end of March, I had made the decision to withdraw from the GB team. I just felt that I wouldn't be able to give running my full attention which meant I wouldn't be at my best for an international race.

Although I had withdrawn from the team, I still wanted to do an ultra around about the same time as I needed a focus to ensure my running didn't take much of a back seat. I knew that the Blackfoot Ultra took place in May and being the same weekend as the Europeans, it fitted perfectly with my plans - I could still follow the same schedule but without the same pressure, and it really didn't matter if I missed some of my key sessions as I would be competing for myself rather than my country.

It took a couple of weeks to get settled in Leduc what with waiting for our belongings to arrive and then unpacking, but I was still getting out for runs and I was getting quicker. The only problem was that most of my runs were on pavement or gravel range roads, and being surrounded by farmland, the biggest hill within a 10 mile radius of home was probably just 100 metres long. I did manage to get out to the River Valley in Edmonton to find some climbs and proper trails, but race day was fast approaching and the benefits would likely come too late. I'd also been having trouble with my glutes thanks to spending 4 days in a car whilst making the drive north, and with Andy not being available to help me unpack, I'd done a lot of mauling and lifting on my own which only added to the tightness in my back, hips and glutes.

Needless to say, although the fitness was there, I probably wasn't in the best shape for an undulating trail race on forest trails and I really had no idea how the race would pan out.

This year, the Blackfoot Ultra hosted the both the Canadian 100km and 50 mile championships and the rumours were that some pretty speedy and experienced ultra runners registered for the event. I was unable to locate a list of entrants so had no idea what the ladies competition would be like but it really didn't matter - my main goal was to just run under 8 hours.

The venue for the race was at Cooking Lake which was just under an hour's drive from home. Thankfully Andy was able to make the journey back to crew me and look after the dogs whilst I was racing, but that wasn't without drama as he arrived late Friday night only to fly out again late Saturday so I barely had chance to hold a conversation with him! The good news is that even if Andy had not been available, there were so many good friends out there that I never felt alone, and I have to say a special thanks to Brayden, Dennene and Dave for their encouragement throughout the day :-)

The 50 miler consisted of 3 x 25k loops with a 5k out and back section at the start to make sure we did the full distance. Ailsa MacDonald was doing the 50 miler and I knew that without even trying, she would finish miles ahead of me. Unfortunately, she made the decision to drop from the race after the first lap for personal reasons, and being just a month out from Western States, she certainly has bigger fish to fry!

The day started warm, sunny and breezy and temperatures were expected to hit around 25 degrees which would make things pretty warm. The bugs were also biting quite ferociously and the buzzing of mosquitoes would drive you crazy if you didn't keep moving. 

Good to see old friends!
Olivia finished her first
50 miler today :-)
PC: Oliva

From the get-go, I was lying in second place behind Ailsa and was running comfortably. Earlier in the week, Tillie had decided to chew my watch so I was unable to use it during the race. I had no idea what my pace was so I was running to feel, trying to keep my breathing under control. Each time we hit a climb, I would ensure that I maintained the effort even it meant just jogging but the strategy seemed to be working as I kept overtaking folks that had set off too quickly and were having to walk the hills, particularly later on in the race.

I ran the entire first lap non-stop and was feeling great as I came in to the aid station at the start/finish area. It was here that I was told Ailsa had dropped and that I was now leading the race. I knew the second place lady was only a couple of minutes behind and there was still 35 miles to go - it would be tough to keep pushing and feel confident of holding on to the lead, so I tried not to think about it too much, the plan being to just run the second lap like I had the first.

I grabbed some pizza, tomato and a fruit cup, refilled by bladder and set off on loop 2, just as the second lady was running in to finish her first lap. 

The weather in Alberta has been pretty hot for the past couple of weeks which meant that the trails were extremely dry and great for running on. The course wound through the forest which was lush and green, and every so often we would enter an opening that gave wonderful views of some of the many surrounding lakes. I was looking out for moose and other wildlife, but I saw nothing all day and all I heard was the buzzing of mosquitoes and the singing of the birds.

I'd subconsciously made a mental note of landmarks along the course - a woodpile here, a wooden shed there, a fallen tree just over the bridge. This really helped me to get around and gauge how much further I needed to go, how to pace myself. By now, I had started catching some of the runners from the other distances and it really helped to have somebody ahead to focus on and attempt to catch. At one point Dave Proctor caught me and we had a little chat as we ran along which helped to pass some of the time and it was great to see him looking so fit and strong.

There was a rolling dirt road section and even those hills didn't seem too daunting. Many folks were walking them and yet I was still jogging up them and gaining ground. My glutes were feeling a little tight and I could feel a blister forming on my little toe, but in general I was feeling pretty good. I'd been drinking Tailwind but was getting to the point where I needed just plain water, and I was also starting to feel hungry. Pushing onwards, I knew it wouldn't be long until I finished the loop and would start out on my third and final one.

As I finished my 2nd lap, I was still in the lead which was a huge relief but there was still 15 miles to go where anything could happen. As I came into the aid station, Andy wasn't there and I was a little frustrated. I had told him that I would hopefully complete each loop in 2 and a half hours and so far I was pretty much on time. But there was no use getting angry as it would use valuable energy, so I ate what I could, refilled my bladder with plain water as quickly and efficiently as I could, and then set off.

This time, the second lady was a little further down the trail and she was looking a little more tired than the previous lap. We both acknowledged each other gave some encouragement, knowing that now the race really was on.

The third loop was not surprisingly the toughest for me. The landmarks that had really helped now seemed too far apart, the guy with the bear bell was driving me nuts and I ready to throw the guy with the bouncy backpack in the next lake if he didn't either go past me, or stop using me as his pacer. A lady from New Zealand tried to talk to me and I quite rudely told her not to speak to me as I needed to concentrate and didn't want the distraction ( I did apologise to her afterwards), and the guy with the funny stride was making me feel tired just watching him. 

I had no idea how far ahead I was by now but I wanted that win. The hills were becoming mountains and the jog was becoming a shuffle. I would start to walk but then get angry at myself and force myself to run. I probably didn't drink enough on that last lap and I could feel my quads starting to cramp a little. The blister on my little toe was getting worse particularly when running down the hills, and my glutes were now so tight that I couldn't stride out properly.

To add to all the discomfort, at around 41 miles I stopped suddenly and had to throw up. I hadn't felt sick so it was somewhat unexpected, but once I'd finished, I felt tons better and was able to pick up the pace a little.

I'd now started to use the aid stations as I needed the calories but at the final aid station with about 5km still to go, I took a cup of coke which made me burp and with the burp came what little food still remained in my belly. This aid station was next to the equestrian area and I'm sure I startled the poor horses with the noise I was making as my body dry heaved and tried to bring up what little was left in there.

Those last couple of miles were hard work and I was convinced I had wasted so much time being sick that any time now, the chasing lady would come breezing around the corner with a big smile on her face and pass me. Fair play to her if she, but I really didn't want that. I very rarely look behind me in a race, but I may as well have ran backwards for the amount of times I turned around in those closing miles! It seemed to take forever, but finally I could hear the hustle and bustle at the finish line and a few minutes later,  I was running up the final hill into the finish.

I had somehow managed to hold on to the win and even more satisfying was that I had ran 7 hours 51 minutes which I was extremely happy about. I really couldn't have asked for more.

Almost finished!

Of course, being British I wasn't eligible for the Canadian Championships and for me, the most memorable thing was seeing the complete look of joy from the second placed lady when she was crowned the national champ - that really was priceless. I was happy, she was ecstatic and the third placed lady was also extremely happy to make the podium.

Top 3 Ladies, and all VERY happy :-)

For me personally, the result was a good indicator as to where I am fitness wise right now. I never thought I would run a "fast" 50 miler again, especially given that I haven't done hills in almost two months, so it makes my finishing time even more satisfying. I also know why I was sick. I usually graze during races to keep my energy levels up, but with not having a drop bag and not wanting to carry a ton of food, I crammed in what I could at the end of each loop and my body simply couldn't digest the food quick enough whilst also allowing me to maintain the effort of racing. The coke - well, there's a reason they say use flat coke!

Otherwise I don't think I could have done anything differently either during my build up or during the race, and I'm happy with that.

My next race at the moment will be Iron Legs 50 Miler in August. I've done Iron Legs before and I know the course and know what to expect. There is A LOT of climbing so I really need to get out to the mountains as well as head to Edmonton river valley to get some climbing in, and I need to do strength work that will strengthen my climbing muscles. I also need to start yoga as this old body really isn't as flexible as it used to be, whilst finding a good sports therapist is crucial - I miss Mackenzie!

For now though, I'm enjoying my recovery and am planning a little camping trip with the pups within the next week or two with a couple of hikes thrown in, and yes, I'm looking forward to it.

Thanks as ever to all of you for the support and encouragement .... until next time, happy trails to one and all :-)

Road Racing Again - MEC Edmonton 15k

It's hard to believe that 6 years ago, I would happily have called myself a road runner and would have had no hesitation going to races with the sole aim of running as fast as I could. It would be a test of strength and speed endurance and I'd feel confident knowing that I could cope with the pace which could be anything between 5.30 and 6.30 minute miling which used to feel "comfortable".

These days I dread the thought of having to run fast, even for just a mile, but I know that speed work is a huge benefit to my overall running goals, whether long or short, road or trail.

When moving back to Canada, I was hopeful that I would continue to be coached by Adam. His plans over the past 18 months have been the perfect fit for me and I can say for sure that I've had a good streak of races where I've achieved or even exceeded my own expectations under his guidance. I wanted to keep that continuity and hopefully have some good race results here too - it's getting harder the older I get, but I still enjoy the competition and I still enjoy the challenge of pushing outside my comfort zone.

Thankfully Adam agreed to continue with his coaching role and after a minor blip due to our move back north, I'm starting to get some of the fitness back that I had a couple of months ago.

One of the sessions I complete at least once a week is the good old tempo run which I always dread. I find it hard these days to push the pace for a good 10 miles, especially if doing them on my own, so to make sure I don't slack off, I tend to do them on the treadmill where I'm forced to keep moving or else get thrown off. Mentally, 10 miles on the treadmill is mind numbingly boring but physically I find it easier to maintain a decent pace. 

My tempo runs are usually scheduled during the week, but this week it fell on a Saturday so I decided to browse the internet to see if there were any races that I could do. I was so happy to find that the MEC Edmonton were holding their third race in the road running series and were offering distances ranging from 5km up to the half marathon.  Even more pleasing was the option of a 15k race which fitted perfectly with my training schedule.

The race would start at Sir Wilfred Laurier Park in Edmonton and would follow the parkland pathways with about 2km on a gravel path. It was marked as fast and flat, but there were a couple of climbs, one of which was a good mile long and seemed to go on forever!

My goal for the race was to run 6.45 to 6.50 pace with a goal finish time of 65 minutes or less. I honestly felt this was achievable and in hindsight, I know it was.

I led the ladies race from the start and after a short but steep climb, I had completed the first out and back section of the course and was feeling strong and bang on pacing, opening up something like a 40 second lead over the second placed lady.

Taking the lead from the start of the race

There was some weaving between other runners for the next couple of miles as the half marathoners started ahead of us, but it gave me people to chase and I was running well. It was also getting pretty warm as the temperatures approached 70 degrees but I've still got a bit of Phoenix in me and wasn't affected too much by the increasing heat.

The problems started at around 5 miles when my mind started to wander and I lost focus. My glutes were also starting to tighten and I couldn't stride out as much as I wanted to - I was looking for an excuse to slow down and this was perfect! It got even worse when we reached the 10k turnaround. I thought we continued on further along the path but we were told everybody turned here - I wasn't convinced but turned anyway and for the next mile or so, I questioned why I was even bothering if I was going to get disqualified. The second lady was also still only about a minute behind by now but I figured it didn't matter as she would run the full 9.3 miles whereas I would now only run the 6 miles thanks to what I perceived to be a mistake on behalf of the marshall. It didn't help when a chap passed me who was also running the 15k and he questioned whether we were meant to have turned or not.

By now I was running 7.30s. I was enjoying the run and being outside, but in all honesty I had lost the motivation to speed up. We were by now heading back the way we had come earlier and as we approached the junction to the start and finish area in the opposite direction, I saw the sign that directed the 15k runners to the right where they would commence the mile long climb to the top of the hill. I was so happy and relieved that we hadn't been turned back early after all, but of course it now meant the race was back on and I desperately wanted to win.

With a long climb ahead, I resisted the urge to walk up the hill despite glutes that were tightening even further with every stride. I was hoping I could hold on to my lead but having slowed over the last couple if miles, I knew my lead had like been reduced and that the chasing ladies were likely not too far behind.

There was another turnaround at the top of the hill which gave me the opportunity to see how far ahead I actually was - it seemed to be less than a minute, maybe just 100 yards, and so with around 3km to still to go, I had everything to race for.

We retraced our steps back down the hill and I was thankful that it gave me the opportunity to pick up the pace and use it to my advantage. I was working so hard in the final mile to retain my lead, managing to maintain a much quicker pace with legs and lungs burning, but I was able to keep it going and therefore secure the victory.

1st place lady :-)

I really enjoyed the race although a finish time of 1.06.43 was slower than I'd hoped for. However, I know that I allowed myself to "give up" part way, something I rarely experience - if indeed ever - during ultras. That sub 65 minutes was within my reach but my passion for road racing isn't quite the same as my passion for the trails and I allowed myself to slack off.

The good news is that I now know that I still have some pace in these old legs but I also realised that my climbing legs need to come out of retirement. Whilst I didn't struggle too much on the climbs today, I didn't feel as strong as normal and I know it's because I've spent the past month running on the flat roads and trails in Leduc. 

I have a 50 mile race in 2 weeks time and I know there is lots of climbing. It's not a mountain race but I'm sure the hills will take their toll on me. The good news is that I still feel relatively confident about a decent race despite the hills. Ultra running brings out the stubborness in me and being out on the trails means that maintaining a set pace doesn't really matter. I'm really excited about racing Blackfoot Ultra and whilst I do have a target, I'm also realistic about my current strengths and weaknesses. More importantly, I know that regardless of what happens during the race, I will have fun out there and I pretty excited to take on the challenge and looking forward to seeing what I can do :)

Doggy Fun!

Those that know me well will know that I have 2 passions in life – my dogs and my running – combine the two, and I am completely in my element! That’s why last weekend was probably the best I’ve had in a while.

A couple of months ago, I became aware of a Canicross event that was to be held in Canmore, and all proceeds would go towards the Canadian Coalition for Sled Dogs. For those that don’t know, Canicross is a big thing in the UK and across Europe. As the name implies, it involves trail running with dogs and it can be competitive with championship events held throughout the year with distances ranging from a short couple of miles to 10km or more. Whilst I used to run with my old boys Sam and Leo when living in the UK, I never competed with them, and when Wilson arrived on the scene, he was just a young puppy that wasn’t physically mature enough to run at the time. We then moved to Canada when he was just 12 months old and whilst I started to run with him whilst living in Calgary, Canicross was non-existent over here at the time.

Fast forward 6 years and Canicross is finally making an appearance in Canada. It is gradually growing in popularity as more events pop up across the country and people become more aware of its exitance. It is still in the early stages which is demonstrated by the fact that the Canmore event is currently an annual event for the time being. There was a limit of just 30 dogs and the distance was approximately 4km with the start and finish at the Millennium Park and the course being an out and back on the riverside trails through the town of Canmore, giving some splendid views of the surrounding mountains.

I could have ran with Wilson, Brandy and Tillie which would have been fantastic, but they do run at different paces – Wilson is simply crazy, Tillie is new to running with humans, whilst Brandy is such an easy-going pup that she will happily sit down and sunbathe for 5 minutes in the grass and will then just plod along in her own time when she’s ready. Much as I would have loved the experience, it would also have been a little chaotic but thankfully there was a solution – I had two friends that I knew would have no hesitation in saying yes to racing with the dogs, assuming they were free that weekend.

And so it was that on Sunday morning, we met up with our very good, close friends Glady, Michelle, Nenette and their families, with the plan being that Glady would race with Wilson, I would race with Tillie, Michelle would race with Brandy, and the rest of the family – including Andy! – would be the support crew, cheerleaders and photographers for our 3 teams 😊

Glady and Wilson

Michelle and Brandy

Del and Tillie

There were 30 dogs entered for the event and on arrival at the park, to say the dogs were a little raucous is an understatement! As soon as Wilson saw his running harness, he went crazy which of course led to the girls getting somewhat boisterous and excited and it became a military operation trying to get them to calm down so we could put their running kit on them.

Dogs galore! Getting ready to start :)

With so many dogs competing, it was a staggered start with 2 dogs starting every 15 seconds. For out part, Wilson headed out first with Glady, then Brandy and Michelle, and I followed several minutes later with a shy and timid but no less excited Tillie.

Wilson was off like a bolt of lightning, and watching him and Glady sprinting off into the distance made me so happy and proud. I knew that Wilson would have a great race under the guidance of Glad so it came as no surprise at the end to find out they had finished in 2^nd place, missing out on first simply because Wilson was fighting the urge to jump into the river and kept stopping to sniff at deer poo – that boy really needs to focus!

Brandy and Michelle also had a great run and made such a lovely team. Brandy was excited to get going and followed Michelle with no problems, but after about 1km, she apparent sat down and wouldn’t move. It was only when I ran past with Tillie that she finally got moving again and tried to keep up with us for a short while before tiring and slowing to a trot. Considering her size and the fact that she had been struggling with a sore leg a few days earlier, Brandy did amazing with Michelle and they finished strongly in 16^th place.

For Tillie, she set off with me at the start not really knowing why we were running. Unlike Wilson, she didn’t pull like crazy but she was certainly trotting along ahead of me and was so happy as she ran along the riverside trails. She was mesmerized by the mountain views and the river, she was excited to see the birds and squirrels in the trees, and every time she saw a dog ahead of her, she would put on a little spurt of speed to catch up before gracefully passing them, tail and head held high and what appeared to be a huge smile on her face. Not once did she falter as she ran along although she did jump up at me a couple of times in her excitement. When she saw Brandy sitting on the trail, they had a little play tussle with each other before she got back in to race mode which encouraged Brandy to start running again. It was so touching to see that beautiful relationship these girls have with each other.

Tillie Mid-Race and Loving It!

At the turnaround point, Tillie almost seemed disappointed that it was time to head back but her enthusiasm didn’t wane, and coming into the finish her tail was still held high and she was loving every step, as was I.

We had passed several other dogs but I never really had any expectations with Tillie – I just wanted her to have fun, so I was completely and pleasantly surprised to hear that we had finished 4^th and had won a huge bag of doggy treats and biscuits – an ideal prize for a little pudding of a dog that really does like her food!

After we had finished, Wilson was still running around with our friends with his endless energy, dragging them to the river for a swim and running around the park playing with sticks and goodness knows what else he could find. Tillie and I waited for Brandy to come in, and when she did and she saw us, she sprinted to the finish line with a very happy, smiley Michelle right behind.

It’s hard to explain the euphoria and joy I feel when running with my dogs on the trails, surrounded by mountains. The bond we have becomes even stronger and I get the sense that they feel wild and free being able to run in the outdoors and enjoy the fresh air. The sheer look of joy and happiness they have in their faces is such a wonderful thing to see, the spring in their step, their lovely wet noses and bright eyes, their tails held high as they trot along.

After the presentation (yes, there were prizes for all!), we headed back to the river for a walk with friends, followed by lunch and then headed up to the off-leash dog park where Wilson, Brandy and Tillie had even more playtime and even more fun, wrestling with each other, chasing sticks and wallowing in the mud and the nearby stream to cool off. We were blessed with such a wonderfully sunny and warm day and the dogs were taking advantage of being near to water!

Cooling off in the Bow River

coolin g off in the Bow River

We really did have a most amazing day and it was so good to see our friends again and allow them to share in the joy of running with the dogs after such a long time.

I’m really hoping that there are more events like this for the dogs and that Canicross continues to grow here in Canada. I love to see that interaction between dogs, I love to see how some react to the competition whilst others just bumble along, having just as much fun, and I love how it brings dogs and humans together socially. I know for sure that for as long as I can run, and for as long as the dogs enjoy it too, we will definitely sign up again next time.

Cuddles after the race

Relaxing after the race