"Pack Mentality", New Things, and Fun Times with the Pack!

I have recently done something that has surprised me - I've stepped outside of my comfort zone and have started my own YouTube channel. Filming myself and being in front of the camera doesn't usually sit well with me, but this past week or so, I've made a couple of short videos, and I've actually found myself enjoying doing them. They're far from perfect, but given I'm a complete novice with minimal quality equipment at the minute, I'm really pleased with how they've come out.

Working in media even in the hobby capacity is certainly a far cry from my role as a project manager at GE. I've always enjoyed being creative and I love writing, which is why I've kept this blog going for almost 12 years. I also enjoy making things, and I've done some pretty big latch hook projects in the past, which are sadly tucked away in a box in the basement rather than on display for all to see.

In more recent years, I've become far more interested in the lens, and sometimes I'm surprised by the creativity and eye for detail that I tend to have when taking photos with my good old Samsung! There's been many a time that I've wanted to become a professional photographer, and as a teenager, I always wanted to work in journalism, yet my choices in life led me in a completely different direction. Now, as a near 48 year old, I am unable to find employment, and I'm finding myself exploring old avenues, eager to learn and develop skills and knowledge that may take me on a journey to fulfilling the dreams and ambitions I had a teenager. Crazy right?!

Not surprisingly, my videos thus far have had a running or dog focus. Being with our 3 pups or out on run brings me so much joy along with a sense of achievement, and whilst I'm extremely self conscious pointing a camera in my face and talking to myself in public, I have no issues talking about these two topics given that they've made me who I am today.

I have so many ideas for videos, but I also have to be patient whilst I learn the ropes so that I can start to look a little less amateurish. I also need to seize opportunities, and when I 'm aware of an event or something that might provide good content for a video, I have to act on it rather than sitting around deliberating.

Last Saturday, I admit to having missed such an opportunity.

It was the Pack Mentality annual event - a trail run in the Edmonton river valley with some pretty interesting sections. I really wanted to try filming a "race review" kind of thing, but I was being joined by a couple of friends and I didn't want to slow them down by stopping every 20 minutes to film something. I also wasn't sure whether they would feel comfortable being on film, and not wanting to put them on the spot, I decided to leave the gear at home and figured we'd would instead just enjoy a lovely trail run on a gorgeous mild and sunny winter's day in Alberta.

Pack Mentality was a little different this year thanks to the pandemic, and our little group of 3 were sure to follow all event protocols to keep us safe - you know the drill - wash hands, wear a mask, keep your distance.

Map of the course for Pack Mentality

Although a warm day for December, there was still snow underfoot but it was great for running and nothing like what I'd faced when racing a couple of weeks ago at Chickakoo. The river was still frozen and huge slabs of ice hugged the river banks, making it look dramatic and interesting. The single track trail was like being on a roller coaster as the pathway twisted and turned amongst the trees, and they treated us to lots of dips downhill along with some climbs. 

Arriving at foot of "End of the World", the route became more technical as the trail tracked the river's edge, and some sections were extremely icy, with a slip potentially leading to a fall into the chilly waters. The wintry scene however was spectacular with the view across the frozen river looking like Arctic tundra.

The Quesnell Bridge marked the half way point and signified the need to cross to the other side of the North Saskatchewan River, before turning and following the north side of the river for the return leg.

We were all feeling really good and moving smoothly, catching some of the other "packs" that had started their run earlier than us. Passing through Buena Vista Park, we encountered some rambunctious but rather playful pups in the off-leash dog park, some of which ran alongside us eager to play, but as the dogs thinned out and the trail started to narrow again, we started our approach towards what would be the trickiest section of the day.

We had been warned that some parts of the route might be a little tricky, and as we were confronted by the steep icy downhills and random icy and snowy covered stairs, it was time to resort to some bum sliding. The lack of a defined trail meant navigating giant ice slabs whilst clinging to thorny bushes to maintain balance, and on some stretches, I was really wishing I had brought my traction aids with me. As I soaked up the views around me whilst scrambling alongside the river, it struck me once again just how pretty this river valley truly is. The colours reflecting on the ice from wintry sunshine were sensational, and I was thankful that we had at least managed to capture our time out there in a few photos, if not in a mini documentary.

We completed the 20km in a little over 2 hours which I think was enough to give our team the victory over 20km. Sadly, given current restrictions, the usual post-race visit to a coffee shop was put on hold with the three of us heading home to our families instead.

A good chat with Andy when I got home led to us making the decision to head out to Chickakoo Lake on Sunday. He had purchased some new gear for me to use when recording, and with me having already planned to do a short 5 or 6k trail run out there with Wilson, Tillie and April , we thought we could use the time as an as an opportunity to become familiar with using the new equipment, whilst also capturing some of the magic of running with our three dogs.

Not surprisingly, Chickakoo was very busy when we arrived mid afternoon, and in hindsight, I really do think it was too busy for what I had hoped to achieve with the recordings. But on the day, I had so much joy running along those trails with the pups, all in unison with eachother, and all of us smiling happily. Being late afternoon in December, the sun was already low in the sky, but it cast a stunning light through the branches of the trees and it looked magical.

The three pups did so well despite all the other people out on the trails, and there were plenty that had their dogs off-leash that caused a bit of mayhem when we tried to run past. It was also a magnificent feeling when I heard people commenting on how wonderful we all looked as we ran together, and asking if we were a competitive dog team.

But although we were really enjoying the run and Wilson, Tillie and April had their tails and ears pointed to the sky, it was a little too busy for us so we made a turn and switched to some single track. This made it much more difficult to run shoulder to shoulder, and as we positioned ourselves in single file, we kept tripping on each other as the pups jostled for their positions.

We somehow ended up at the scout camp and knew we needed to get back onto the main trail, so a bit of weaving through some deadfall brought us back on track, and I could see the smoke from the campfires just ahead which would take us back to the parking lot.

We'd had a wonderful run but I still hadn't quite got the footage I wanted which would accurately portray just how well the dogs run together. It was still far too busy at the parking lot so we decided to head over to the equestrian parking area instead, under the illusion that this would be much quieter. How wrong we were!

We spent another 20 minutes or so waiting for people to disperse so that we could have a bit of space, and as the sun was starting to set, we finally captured just a couple of those magical, quirky moments that show the true personalities of the pups. I was happy, the pups were happy, it was time to go home.

I've since looked at some of the footage from Sunday as I try to piece together this week's upload, and I have to say that I learnt a lot in watching it back. I can see the strengths in what we did, and I can see some areas for improvement that I will work on for next time. But the greatest thing I saw in those videos is the sheer joy and happiness that being out on the trails with my dogs brings - I look happiest when I'm outdoors, I look happiest when it's just me and the pups, and when we are all out there running together as one, it truly is a magical experience that gets better and better every single time.

Turkeys on the Trails and Weekend Escapes

Last weekend was probably one of the best I've had for a while. It started on Saturday morning when I headed to Edmonton with the three pups and Andy, to collect my swag for and take part in my second running event in just a week. This time it was the Turkeys on the Trail (TOTT) 10k and I was excited to have Wilson, Tillie and April joining me for the entire run.

Due to Covid, it was hit and miss as to whether the TOTT would go ahead, but thanks to the amazing organisers Jess and Jay Kinsella, things went virtual which meant it was a definite go. 

There are a couple of reasons as to why I was keen to do this particular event. Firstly, it is a charity event, and whilst in previous years a non-perishable food item or a turkey has been the entry fee, this year it was a monetary entry fee, with all proceeds going to the Edmonton food bank.

Secondly, when I first did TOTT back in 2018, we still had our big pup Brandy, who was recovering from knee surgery at the time. That particular day I ran the 5km with Wilson and Tillie, whilst Andy waited at the finish line with Brandy. Whilst we were running, Brandy's legs gave way and she was unable to stand up. Although nothing else appeared to be wrong with her, we immediately made an appointment with the vets as soon as possible, the earliest appointment being Monday morning. We headed home, but that night, Brandy passed away and our little family was absolutely devastated at the sudden, unexplained loss.

From then onwards, I made a vow that I would run TOTT every year whilst I could, and I would do it with the pups in memory of Brandy. This year was no exception, and I admit to getting somewhat emotional when collecting my swag bag and when heading out on the trails.

The run on Saturday really couldn't have been much better. All three pups came with me, and even Tillie's little tail was held high in the air despite the chilly morning. I headed over in to Gold Bar with the pups as I knew there was an off-leash trail that we could use, and as soon as we'd crossed the bridge and approached the off-leash sign, off came the leashes and all three pups went wild!

It was a gorgeous morning for running, and even the trails weren't icy which made things much more enjoyable. Despite the dogs being off-leash, I was still running, and it was such a fantastic feeling having them running ahead of me in excitement, then running back towards me with huge smiles on their faces. I could tell they were happy, and they weaved in and out of the trees and down to the river bank, listening for squirrels and looking for birds.

We ran 4 miles out and back in the off-leash area and as we crossed the bridge that would take us back to Rundle Park, I could tell that the girls were getting tired from all the extra running they had done. Wilson meanwhile was still going strong despite being almost 10 years old, and I had no doubt that he would be able to complete the full distance. Andy was waiting for us on the other side of the river, so after a couple of quick "Team Pointy Snouts" photos, I left Tillie and April at the car to recover, whilst Wilson and I continued on alongside the river.

Much as I love running with all of my dogs, with Wilson for some reason it really is extra special. We've had this boy since he was just 7 weeks old, and he came to Canada with us as a young pup back in 2012. He has been through so much in his lifetime and as a result, the bond we have is so strong and unexplainable. He reads our moods like a book, and he is always by my side no matter where I go or what I do.

That last couple of miles with Wilson was simply amazing, and I felt so much love when he kept looking up at me and making eye contact as we ran along. We stopped for a few photos and before we knew it, we had completed our 10k which had taken us far longer than normal with 1 hour 15 minutes or thereabouts.

It was such a wonderful morning and all three pups had clearly had as much fun as I had, snoozing contentedly on the back seat of the car as we headed south towards Calgary.

Andy had some business to do in Calgary, so we had decided to spend the night there and then head out to the mountains on Sunday for a bit of much needed mountain therapy. We stayed at the usual Holiday Inn close to Fish Creek Park but other than that, we limited our contact with anybody else, ordering a pizza for tea and taking our own beers to drink that evening. We paid a visit to the Southland Dog Park for old time's sake, and it was fascinating watching how the girls reacted to being surrounded by so many different dogs in a location they weren't too familiar with. This dog park had always been Wilson's favourite when we had lived in Calgary, and I'm sure he remembered it from his puppy days.

I was meant to have been doing a 10 mile run on the Sunday morning but I'd only taken trails shoes to run in, and unlike back home, there wasn't as much snow here and the pavements were pretty clear. 10 miles on concrete in trail shoes was a recipe for disaster and I really didn't fancy giving my feet a battering. I decided to forego the run and instead, we would have a nice relaxing day just walking the dogs at the dog parks in Canmore and Banff, before doing a short walk along the river.

The mountains of course looked amazing, the dogs had tons of fun charging around an icy dog park at Quarry Lake, and then again running circles amongst the trees at the off-leash dog park in Banff. We grabbed a spot of lunch before heading to Bow Falls, and from there we would walk along the river and snap a few family photos. The weekend wasn't about mountain summits and impressive views - it was about spending time with each other as a family, doing simple things whilst we still can, and enjoying every moment being together.

We spent 3 or 4 hours there before we decided it was time to head home. All day we had been commenting on how unusual the clouds were that appeared to be hovering in the east, and as we drove home at the setting of the sun, the sky took on some stunningly beautiful colours which added such an amazing contrast to the surrounding snow capped peaks. It truly was breathtaking.

It was such a fantastic but simple weekend, and both Andy and I, and the three pups, all seemed to feel much more relaxed having had a break from home. I've mentioned previously how difficult it is somedays with not having a job to go to, and with Covid numbers increasing rapidly here in Alberta, we really don't know what restrictions will be imposed over the coming weeks. We needed that little break, we needed that time together, and we know for sure that it really has done us the world of good.

I awoke this morning in a much more positive frame of mind again, business ideas bouncing around in my head and me feeling eager to start putting things into action. I also did my 10 mile run that I missed yesterday. It felt good, I felt good, and I definitely felt happy :)

Bar-Ka-Koo Ultra

Shortly after the Backyard Ultra, a friend posted a link to a trail race that would be taking place at Chickakoo Lake Recreation Area, with the option of competing in the solo 55km race or as a member of a relay team. Unlike all other running events this year, this would be an in-person race capped at 100 runners, and it would strictly follow Covid protocols and local public health guidelines, to ensure the event could still go ahead safely. 

I desperately wanted to do the race but I wasn't sure whether I would be fully recovered from the BYU to be running a tough and hilly 55k trail race. It would also be taking place towards the end of November which increased the liklihood of freezing temperatures and deep snow which was sure to make things even more challenging. Not one to shy away from a challenge, I found myself signing up and started to look forward to the Bar-Ka-Koo Ultra and Relay :)

In the days leading up to the race, we had a fair old dump of snow, and most of my runs had turned into a slow slog in soft, powdery snow. I'd headed out to Devon a couple of times to get my legs reaccustomed with running hilly trails again - those training runs were tough, and I was wondering how the heck I was going to manage 55km on this type of terrain. Thankfully, those practice runs paid dividends and I am sure they helped to prepare me for the race last weekend.

The organisers had already said that they were a few Barclay Marathon traits to the event and I will be honest in saying that this was one of the main things that appealed to me. It consisted of 5 x 11km loops that started and finished at a green gate, each loop was ran in the opposite direction to the previous loop, and rather than collecting pages from a book, runners had to collect firewood at different checkpoints and carry it to the next where they would receive a stamp on their map as evidence that they had fulfilled this requirement. If the racer didn't finish with a set of 10 stamps on their map, they would be given a DNF. It may not have been the real Barkley Marathon, but I thought it was a great idea and added to the challenge by making it more than just a run.

Race day arrived and the weather was perfect for November with sunshine and blue skies and temperatures hovering around -5 degrees Celsius. The race had a 10-hour time limit and didn't start until noon, so I anticipated that it was either an extremely tough course, or else that was a rather generous time limit for a 55k race. Having ran and hiked at Chickakoo several times, I had some idea of the terrain, but having studied the map, the course looked to be predominantly single-track trails so it was likely that I would be heading out on some unfamiliar trails. It was also pretty much guaranteed that we would be running some of the laps in the dark - how many that would be remained to be seen, and with Andy not accompanying me to this particular race, I would be crewing myself and making sure I was fed, watered, dry and warm!

It was quite a low-key race with just 25 competing in the 55km solo event and something like 8 teams registered for the relay. With a waved start with 5 minutes between each wave, I was excited to be get going and at 12.05pm, I finally set off with my only goal being to keep the momentum going and to get to that finish line before 10pm.

Race bib and course map :)

I always find the first lap of a looped course to be a bit chaotic as everybody jostles for their position on the trail, and it takes a while before folks get into their own rhythm. The first mile or so was on snow-packed double track trails which gave plenty of space for everybody, but as soon as we veered off into the woods and hit the single track,  we encountered the deeper, softer snow and the hills started. The narrow trails led to the usual bottlenecks and as a few runners ahead of me were walking all the hills, I waited patiently behind them knowing there was still a way to go and that the real race hadn't yet started. It wasn't too long before we arrived at the first checkpoint, and we were greeted with several boxes of firewood. It was fun watching everybody trying to choose the smallest piece they could find as we then had to carry it to checkpoint number 2. Thankfully,the next checkpoint wasn't too far, and I dropped off my log, collected my stamp, and continued onwards into what would become the toughest part of the loop.

By now, we were probably around 3 or 4 miles into the loop and I had somehow got caught in the middle of a group and I was stuck. They were all moving well and keeping a good pace, but I knew I could go a little quicker if I could just get past them. The trail became much narrower with trees alongside which made it difficult to slip past. It had also now become much hillier with lots of twists and turns, the deep, soft snow making it hard to get any traction and even harder to find a good, steady pace. The haphazard pace was playing havoc with my plans and I was starting to feel pretty tired from all the stop, start, run, jog. I was craving my own space so that I could do my own thing, but the this stretch of the course just wasn't the place right now, and I just hoped that when I came back this way, the racers would be more spaced out so we wouldn't get stuck in these small groups. I tried to stay patient, but when my watched beeped and it showed a 21-minute mile, I started to feel a little frustrated. I really didn't want to be taking 2 hours or more to do just 11k and I knew that we needed to speed things up if we wanted to make those cutoffs later on in the race. Unfortunately, I had no choice but to settle in behind them, waiting for the next double track so that I could overtake. That finally came a good half hour later when we made the turn to the third checkpoint and the trail finally opened up on a nice bit of downhill.

I collected my next piece of wood, but on the return climb back up to the main trail, I was once again caught by the same groups of chaps. I had the choice of either leading the way and being pushed from behind, or else being stuck in the middle and having to walk whenever they did. I didn't want to be running too fast this early on so I decided to sit behind them and listen to their chatter which did become quite entertaining as we ran along.

It took around 1 hour 35 minutes to complete the first loop, and having checked-in, I quickly refueled and grabbed another gel and some water before taking off one of my layers off as I was finding things quite warm. I knew the remaining laps would be slower, not necessarily due to me slowing down, but more because I would need to spend time at the car which I was using as my own personal aid station. I didn't have Andy there to prep things for me and this all added time to my race, but now that I had seen the full loop I was confident that I could do sub 2-hour laps and was optimistic that I would meet the cutoffs. With that in mind, I set off in the clockwise direction for lap number two.

The second lap was much better for me and with fewer people on the trail ahead of me, it was much easier to pass and gain some ground. I was finally able to run the hills and only walked the ones that were crazy steep and slippery, and I found myself clinging to branches to drag myself up, and then using tree trunks to stop me sliding down some of those hills too quickly. The harder mid-section of the course slipped by very quickly, I successfully collected my firewood and stamps, and before I knew it, I was heading back along the double track with another piece of wood, ready to finish lap number two. I had spent most of my second lap on my own and I was in my element. I wasn't running fast, but I was steadily knocking out those miles and making progress. I had no idea what position I was in the race - all I knew was that I had met a few folks going in the opposite direction which may or may not have been relay runners, and whilst I had seen ladies ahead of me at the start, I hadn't seen another lady for a while now. I knew there were only 3 ladies in the solo race, but it was still a race and I still wanted to stay ahead if I could.

Beautiful day for a trail race :)

It was just after 3.30pm when I started my third loop and I knew that unless something drastic happened, I was well on track to make the 6pm cut off for my penultimate lap. I was also aware that by 5pm, I would likely need my headtorch, so I was sure to take one with me just in case this next lap took longer than expected.

I had now become quite familiar with the course and had started to pick out landmarks to help me with my pacing. I recognized logs, tree branches, certain hills, and trail markers, and I was very happy to see that I was still maintaining a nice, consistent, steady pace. I was by no means speeding along, but just shuffling up and down the hills made such a difference to how much progress I was making. I was feeling good, feeling very happy, and as the sun went down, I was looking forward to running through the night. I barely saw anybody on the third lap, and it was only in the last mile that I encountered runners heading back towards me. It was well and truly dark by now but having not yet switched on my headtorch, I was still relying on my night vision and hoping I didn't fall over some hidden tree stump or a twig lying across the trail. I avoided looking at headtorches coming towards me, and I found that I was doing well running in the darkness although I certainly wouldn’t get away with this on my next loop.!

Night time is coming!

I finished lap 3 just before 5.30pm and I couldn't believe how good I was feeling. Yes, my lower back and my hips were aching and getting a little tight from running up and down in the snow, but in general, I was feeling great! I downed some coffee and the remains of my veggie noodle soup, and off I went again on my fourth lap.

It was dark by now and my headtorch was now out to show me the way. The snow made the light seem much brighter and the trail was easy to see thanks to all the footprints. I was kind of hoping that the snow would have become more compact by now from all the runners throughout the day, but it was still soft and sometimes exhausting, whilst it was getting harder to maintain balance on the hills as they became slick from all trampling and the cooling air. was loving it! As I moved between the trees, I would occasionally hear voices of other runners, but I never seemed to bump into them. As I meandered through those woods, I would see lights ahead of me, but each time they turned out to be the moon shining brightly in the night sky. It was so quiet out there, so dark, but there was no fear or anxiety about "beasts" or creatures of the night - my only fear was falling on a protruding stick or something and injuring myself! I was relishing the freedom of running out there on a cold winter's night, and given the year we've all had, it seemed a little surreal that I was competing in a real race! The night time seemed to have given me an extra energy boost and I was surprising myself at how swiftly I appeared to be moving and how quickly I was covering ground.

Shortly after 7pm, I hit the final stretch back to the green gate and the final checkpoint that would signify the start of my final lap. I never had any doubt that I would finish the race, but with only 11km remaining, I was so happy and excited. This time I grabbed a slice of pizza at the end of loop 4 rather than going back to my car, and I wasted no time in heading straight back out for my final lap.

I walked the first 100 yards or so whilst munching on my pizza, but when  a lady came storming in and gave me a hard, mean look, I honestly thought that she was competing in the solo race and she was out to get me. I had tried all day not to be too concerned about my position, but that look meant business and I wasn't about to give up any lead I might have gained at that point. I started to run whilst still munching on the pizza. I caught up with another runner who I think was also on his final lap, and we ran together for a short time and chatted briefly. It was the first person I had spoken to on course for the past 3 or 4 hours except for the checkpoint volunteers, and it was quite nice having a quick chat and getting positive vibes from him. He was using poles and seemed to be having problems with them so he beckoned for me to go ahead of him whilst he sorted them out, I felt a bit bad just leaving him but I was pretty sure he would be ok. I didn't see him again after that. I was so convinced that the speedy lady would be hot on my tail that I didn't want to faff around too much, and I worked really hard on that last lap.

I collected my firewood at checkpoint 1, dropped it off with the volunteers at checkpoint 2 and gave them a cheery thank you, before chugging onwards with determination, focused purely on getting through that tough mid-section of the loop and knowing that after that, it was just a couple of miles to the finish.

That mid-section didn't get any easier, and as I shuffled through the darkness, I once again heard voices not too far behind, one of which was female. I upped the pace as best as I could, and was pushing up those hills trying to open as big a gap as possible on whoever was following behind. I kept seeing the lights again, not sure this time whether it was a headtorch, lights from a house, or the moon, so I turned my attention back to the trail ahead and tried to avoid the distractions.

Reaching the top of the final climb before the steep, slippery downhill to the final woodpile, I knew that if I could get down and up this section without getting caught, I would make it to the finish line without being overtaken. I slid recklessly down that final steep downhill, I ran as quickly as I dared on the wider section and then slid dangerously down the last little slope before collecting my wood. It was such an exhilarating feeling - now all I had to do was get back up to the main trail, and I was on my way home.

Huffing and puffing back up the hill, I saw a runner heading down. Shit! It was a lady. But when she asked me if this was an out and back section, it was obvious that she was a relay runner - if solo, she would have ran down here 4 times already and would know the course. I responded yes, and as she passed me in the opposite direction, I scrambled up the slippery slope whilst heaving a sigh of relief. I didn't meet anybody else on their way down - I was in the clear!

Checkpoint and firewood :)

The final mile and a half were awesome, and it felt like I was flying along. My legs were still feeling pretty good, although the cold air was affecting my breathing whilst my back and hips were still complaining about the unaccustomed workout. There wasn't a soul around and I was thoroughly enjoying being out there in the dark on my own . I hit the double track that ran alongside the lake, and 5 minutes later, I was heading towards the green gate and the finish.

It was so weird as I came into the finish area. The firepit was still burning, but there was nobody around and it was so quiet. I headed to the tent for final check in and as I poked my head around the entrance, I was greeted with cheers and told that I was the first solo finisher - first overall! I was somewhat gob smacked as I was convinced there were men ahead of me, but I was also very, very happy to have won the race outright. It had taken me just over 9 hours to run 55km, but what an amazing adventure! When I originally looked at the time limit of 10 hours, I thought to myself that this was either going to be one hell of a tough race or else it was a very generous time limit - I now know that it was tough, just as intended. Out of 23 solo starters, only 6 finished the race with most folks timeing out and not making it back in time. .

1st lady and first overall :)

Having looked at my lap splits, I was pleasantly surprised by them:

Loop 1 - 1 hour 35 minutes (didn't access car on this loop, hence being the quickest)

Loop 2 - 1 hour 50 minutes

Loop 3 - 1 hour 52 minutes

Loop 4 - 1 hour 54 minutes (dark)

Loop 5 - 1 hour 51 minutes (dark)

I had been speaking to a couple of folks before the start, and they had asked if I was prepared for 2-hour laps. I didn't want to believe that it would take 2 hours to do 11km and yet it really did take nearly 2 hours to complete each lap. When I started earlier in the day, I was hoping I would be done by 6 or 7pm, but I was in ignorant bliss as to how tough the course would turn out to be. Yet I am so glad I did the race, so happy to have been challenged, and so happy to have ran a real race before the year ends.

Would I do Bar-ka-koo Ultra again? Absolutely! It was so well organized, so friendly, a great course, fantastic volunteers, original and unique, a great time of year to be properly challenged, and more importantly, it raised $1000 for a local charity. It was a great way to spend the weekend, and I'm still feeling on a high today :) Next weekend, I will be doing the Turkeys on the Trail 10km run in memory of our beautiful pup Brandy. Brandy passed away when I first did this event two years ago, so I plan to run with Wilson, Tillie and April, in Brandy's memory. It's not a race per se, but it is a running event. Usually we would donate food to the Edmonton food bank, but due to Covid, that isn't possible this year. Instead we have paid a small entry fee which will be donated instead, and I'm happy with that. I have no idea when my next proper race will be but whilst I may not be doing anything like I did last weekend any time soon, I am still looking forward to this coming weekend, and spending some time running with my pups doing something that we all love :)

Race day goodies and 10 race day stamps collected :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter's Arrival :)

It's now been 5 weeks since I was laid off from work and I have been keeping myself busy updating my resume and LinkedIn profile as well as scouting the local area for jobs. I must admit that the lack of structure to my days is getting difficult and it is getting to the point where weekdays are merging with the weekends and there is no defined difference. It doesn't help that Andy has been in quarantine again and has had to keep himself locked away following his return from a business trip in Brazil. Thankfully, he has been back for over a week now and is still feeling well - only 5 and a half days until his release and we can finally resume normal life together again.

Although not working at present, I am being quite disciplined in planning my days and I set aside 3 hours a day for online training courses and job searching during the week. I'm also still walking the dogs 3 times a day, the only difference being that they now go to the dog park more than once a day, and of course, I am still running and following a training plan.

Recovery from the Backyard Ultra last month has gone well and I already feel like I am back to a decent volume in terms of weekly mileage. I event did a 5km time trial just 10 days after the event where I ran just 25 seconds slower than I have done for the distance already this year - I was happy with that.

I also registered for a couple of events a few days ago to give me something to focus on for the next few weeks. The first of these is the Bar-ka-koo 55km Trail Race at nearby Chickakoo Lake Recreation Area on November 21st, and then the Turkeys on the Trail 10km virtual event the following week. The latter holds great meaning to me in that the first year I did it, our wonderful dog Brandy passed away unexpectedly that same day. As a result, I promised that I would do the event every year from here onwards in her memory so my plan is to head out to Devon with Wilson, Tillie and April, where we will run together on the trails out there, and remember the love and happiness that Brandy brought into our lives during her short time with our little family.

To help me to plan a route for the Turkeys on the Trail, I headed out to Devon last weekend for a bit of trail running. The weather was beautiful and so warm for early November and I had a wonderful 12 mile run along the Devonian Trail from Prospector Point out to the Botanical Gardens via Bunchberry Meadows and Tuckers Field.

It was such an awesome morning and I met so many dogs whilst out there that all came over to say hello along with their friendly, chatty owners. I was also fortunate enough to have seen a female moose on the trail. She just stood there looking at me for a moment or two before casually walking off into the trees. I've seen several moose in my time, but never out in Devon and it really did make my day.

Trail running in Devon on a beautiful November day :)

I had a couple more great runs last week and it really helped that the weather was on my side when it came to the faster paced ones. However, we have been spoilt with the gorgeous weather so far this autumn, so it was inevitable that winter would soon arrive. Overnight Friday and all-day Saturday, we had a winter storm which brought heavy snow and dumped around 30cm of the white stuff here in Leduc. With the snow came plummeting temperatures and a strong, brisk wind which made things feel more like -17.

I still had runs to do this weekend and given that I really enjoy winter running, I was still quite happy to run outside. I threw on the layers, put on the thermal running tights, and brought my Salomon Speedcross trail running shoes out of temporary retirement before heading out of the door for a 10-mile run around Telford Lake. The snow was coming down sideways, the roads and pavements were a mess, and when I hit the paved trail around the lake, I was greeted by snowdrifts that were already coming up to my knees. Yet I absolutely loved it, and I couldn't shake the smile from my face as I ran along.

Winter has well and truly arrived, which kind of makes me happy :)

The snow really did last all day and into the overnight period, so when I awoke this morning to get ready for my 30km run, it looked like a scene from "The Day After Tomorrow" outside of the window. The back deck was under 2 to 3 feet of drifting snow, whilst the snow on the front steps would have swallowed the poor dogs whole before I'd even have chance to take them for their morning walk. It was bad! 

I had arranged to meet up with and run with a friend and it took a good 40 minutes to "run" the 2 and a half miles to our rendezvous point. Any attempts to run were thwarted as I hit the snowdrifts, some of them coming up to my knees forcing me to stop and walk. It was impossible to see where the pathways were, and I stumbled a couple of times when a hidden curb crossed my path, or I hit an unseen pothole as I crossed the roads.

In the end I managed 21km instead of the 30k I had planned, but I was happy enough with my efforts. It had taken 3 hours in that snow, a distance I can normally do in half that time, but I could definitely feel the fatigue in my legs due to the extra effort of raising my knees almost like doing step-ups for the entire 3 hours! That tiredness made me feel like I had accomplished something though, and I knew that I could relax for the rest of the day without feeling bad.

Sunday slog in the snow :)

It’s now Sunday evening and a few snow flurries are coming down again, and we are expecting more snow again by Tuesday. I really don't mind though as I know that whilst deep snow may hinder speed and pace, it helps to build strength and flexibility instead. When I do need to do those faster paced runs, I shall pound the treadmill or the indoor track instead. 

I always see the winter months as an opportunity to work on my weaknesses whilst keeping everything else just ticking over and I know that it will benefit my running come spring next year, when the pavements and trails are clear, and we can run freely again. 

 

Big Dog's Backyard Ultra - World Championships

It's been over a week now since I represented Team Canada at the Backyard Ultra in Kelowna and I admit to still being a little bewildered by how well the race went for me personally. Of course, it was by no means a solo effort, and that sense of teamwork was faultless throughout the entire weekend.

My original plan for October was to have a good race at the Grizzly Ultra 50km in Canmore and I was enjoying getting out on the trails in nearby Devon and the Edmonton river valley to get myself prepared. I knew I was being overly optimistic that the Grizzly would still go ahead, and it was inevitable that it too would become a victim of the Covid pandemic.  My training had been going well, I was starting to feel fit again, and when the announcement finally came that yet another race had been cancelled, I desperately needed something to fill that void.

It was then that I recalled a friend asking if I had considered putting my name forward for the Canadian Team at the Backyard Ultra. At the time, the Grizzly was still in my sights and the two events were too close together for me to even contemplate doing both, but with the cancellation and having a blank calendar stretching far out into the months ahead, I started to think that maybe this was exactly what I needed.

I had never done a backyard ultra before and the challenge of doing something completely different intrigued me. I had no idea how well I could do - all I knew was that I had ran just over 129 miles at Across the Years 24 hour race almost 3 years ago, whilst I had gone without sleep at the Mogollon Monster 100 miler for over 30 hours that same year. Combined with many years of ultra-running experience, this gave me the confidence to reach out to the race organisers and throw my name into the hat in the hope of being selected for the team.

A few days later I received the message - I would be heading to Kelowna in British Columbia and I would be wearing the Canadian shirt at Big's Backyard Ultra World Championship - whooohooo!

For those who are not familiar with the format of a backyard ultra, the race continues until only one person remains and that person must then complete one final solo lap to be crowned the winner. Everybody must run 4.17 miles every hour on the hour - if you are not in the starting corral by the time the bell rings, you are out. If you fail to complete the distance within the hour, you are out. The race isn't about who is the fastest, but rather who can last the longest. In that time between finishing one loop and starting the next, you are free to do whatever you like - eat, drink, go pee, change clothes, change shoes, or even sleep if you have the ability to power nap. It really is a unique type of event, and I have to say that I loved it! 

Unlike previous years, things would be a little different with the race this time, thanks to our dear friend Covid - instead of just the main event taking place in Tennessee, there would be events taking place in 21 countries around the world. Each country would be fielding their national team of 15 runners, and each event would be taking place simultaneously with each other, but remotely in their own country.  This format introduced the team element with each nation competing against each other to be crowned World Backyard Ultra Champions of 2020. The different time zones meant some countries would be starting in the early morning, others around lunch time, whilst the remaining would be starting later in the evening - Team Canada's event was scheduled to commence at 5am and we would be ready to roll!

In the days leading up to the race, we took part in some virtual team meetings, and I admit to feeling like a bit of an imposter. Although we left the UK 9 years ago and have been living in Canada as permanent residents for most of that time since, there has been a delay on our citizenship application due to the pandemic.  We consider ourselves more Canadian these days than British despite still having a Stokie accent that makes us stick out like sore thumbs - the last thing I wanted was somebody having a moan about me being on the team, so I did feel a little self-conscious. Thankfully all those concerns were completely unfounded, the team were absolutely brilliant, with both Andy and I  - and the pups - being  warmly welcomed by all, and I felt proud and honoured to be wearing the Canadian shirt alongside these folks.

Before heading out to Kelowna, I had chatted with Andy and my coach Paul about my expectations. Given my performances at ATY and Mogollon Monster, I suspected that if all went well, I could stretch things out to 30 hours and I vowed that I would try not to stop prior to this unless it was a medical emergency. If I made it to 32 hours, this would not only give me a distance PR but would also exceed the maximum amount of time I have ever gone without sleep. I didn't know how I would feel by then as I really would be in unknown territory, but I figured that if I could get to that point, I would find something inside of me to push for another 4 hours to reach my ultimate goal of 36 hours - 150 or so miles, or 241km. 

An early start on the Thursday morning saw Andy and I hit the road for the long drive out to BC, dogs in tow along with a ton of camping gear. The hardest part was deciding what to take for a race format I had never done before and ended up airing on the side of caution, preferring to take too much stuff rather than regretting leaving something at home. The car was jam packed - tents, blankets, sleeping bags, chairs, heaters, camp beds, cookers, food to feed any army, tons of warm clothing, spare shoes, spare rain jackets, hats, gloves, hundreds of pairs of socks - you name it, we had it. It seemed like we were overly prepared when in hindsight, we should have squeezed even more stuff into our car given the amount of rain and the chilly temperatures we encountered in the overnight period! 

On the road to BC :)

Fantastic views on the road to BC :)

Sleepy pups and a long drive to BC! :)

By Friday afternoon, the team had finally met in person and spirits were high and having set up our individual crew areas, some of us headed out to do a reccie of the course. I personally thought it was an excellent choice of course and I knew it would suit me perfectly - mainly flat with crushed gravel underfoot, a couple of inclines to give those leg muscles a break, and a very picturesque pathway along side the river, followed by some pavement at the end of each loop, which would take us back to the transition area. I was excited as I went to bed that night and was looking forward to pushing my limits and seeing just how far my body could take me over the next couple of days.

Friday afternoon set up and lovely sunshine :)

My crew area for Andy and the pups :)

Saturday morning soon came around and I was already wide awake well before my 4am alarm call. I had my usual bowl of porridge and a cup of coffee, and 20 minutes later we were at the start area ready to go. It was still dark and wouldn't be light for another couple of hours, and there was a distinct chill in the air that made me undecided about what to wear for the first few hours. Thankfully, the rain we had been expecting overnight hadn't arrived, but I think this lulled us into a false sense of security as to what we would face later on.

4.30am Saturday morning - almost go time!

I really can't recall all the details from the 36 hours that I spent out there at the race, but there are some things that do stick in my mind. I remember team captain Dave P having a team chat with us all and the words he used resounded with me: "I am because you are"  and "ubuntu". That speech got me quite emotional as it embodied the spirit of team work, and I felt so humbled to be amongst such incredible athletes and being able to call them teammates.

I also remember Race Director Ryan saying at the very beginning that no matter what you are doing, when you hear that one-minute whistle, stand up and make your way to the starting corral. I followed this advice and after the first few hours, I was already behaving like one of Pavlov's dogs and was conditioned to stand up as soon as I heard the 3 minute whistle, let alone one minute. It was valuable advice and it definitely worked for me later on in the night when I was soaking wet and freezing cold, snuggled up under a toasty warm sleeping bag by the heater and not wanting to move because I was so sick and tired of the rain - yet when that whistle blew, I jumped up without any hesitation and was ready to go,

As we all started the first lap, I really didn't know what pace I should be doing. Too fast and I would fade, too slow and I would find that harder and more tiring than running a quicker pace. It took a couple of laps to find my groove, and I settled into a comfortable 10.40 to 11 minute-mile which seemed to be working for me. I was consistently averaging 46-47 minute laps which was giving me plenty of time to go to the bathroom and to eat and drink properly, and oh my goodness, did I eat! I usually struggle with my nutrition, and yet I ran every single step of that 36 hours without feeling queasy or being sick. I was eating mac 'n' cheese, I had chicken noodle soup, I was eating broccoli and humus, I had turkey breast, crisps, cookies, energy gels, cups of tea, cups of coffee, coke, donuts, breakfast sandwiches from Tim's, more porridge, jelly beans, Tailwind - it was crazy how healthy my appetite was, even if the food I was eating would give a nutritionist cause for concern! I was peeing every hour so I knew I wasn't dehydrated, and I was even pooping throughout the day which of course meant the food was digesting. It felt so good to do a race where I was properly fuelled and I can't recall any point where I felt my energy levels dropping off.

The hours were also flying by and I recall looking at my watch and thinking how quickly those 8 hours had gone! Even as darkness started to fall, everybody was still in such good spirits, being supportive, being encouraging, and working as a team. I know I used my headphones for one of the laps, but Robbie Williams blasting out "Let Me Entertain You!" in my ears had me speeding up far too much, so I dropped the headphones and allowed myself to be entertained by my surroundings instead.

Sometime during the day :)

Getting ready for the bell for "one more lap"

Feeling gooood!

Around about 10pm - 17 hours in - Andy mentioned to me that rain was on the way and we could expect it to arrive within the next couple of hours. I was still running well and feeling great but there was a good 10 hours of darkness ahead of us, and I remember thinking that a bit of rain would provide some distractions and mix things up a bit - I was looking forward to having a couple of showers just to make some of those laps a little different. 

Sometimes I really wish those weather gods didn't listen to me. By midnight, steady rain was falling, everybody was sopping wet, it went extremely cold, and the heaters we were using in the tent weren't giving off enough heat to warm us up nor dry out the wet clothes that I was changing out of pretty much every other lap. Some members of the team had flown in from out east and had been limited on what they could bring - they were borrowing clothes from crew members to keep warm and using plastic bags in their shoes due to being so wet. I had 4 pair of shoes with me and every single pair was sopping wet and covered in mud, my thermal running tights were steaming at the end of each loop as I stood in front of the heater trying to dry them a little before heading out again, and all the rain jackets I had taken with persistent rain and freezing temperatures that lasted for hours and hours and hours, was really affecting us physically and mentally, but we persevered through the long, dark, wet and cold night. It wasn't until several hours later that we got any reprieve and even then, we encountered spotty showers throughout the day as the start and finish area transcended into a mud bath.

And it rained and rained and rained ....

Nice weather for erm ... ducks?!

The arrival of daylight made such a huge difference to our mood and it gave me a huge mental boost and cheered me up, We had now been going for over 24 hours, we had passed the 100-mile mark, and whilst we had had a couple of people drop, most of the team were still smiling, still battling on, still moving forwards. The results were showing that Canada was holding its own, and for a long while we held on to second place in the team championship - "one more lap for the team" became my mantra ...

As we approached the 30-hour mark, there was no doubt that I was going to exceed my minimum goal and I was buzzing! I was still eating and moving well and I knew I still had a few more hours in me. As we all made it through to the 32 hour mark, I was even more ecstatic - we had now ran around 133 miles and for me, I had set a new distance PR. From here onwards, I was in unchartered waters but I was still holding a decent 11 minute mile and was doing good which instilled some confidence that I could keep on going.

By 34 hours, I was starting to feel a bit of tightness in my left knee and my left hip was starting to give me a bit of gip. I had taken some painkillers an hour or so earlier so it was too soon to take any more. I decided to tackle the next lap a little differently, opting to run for 5 minutes and then walk for 1 minute - the lap would be slower, but it would hopefully provide my knee and hip with some relief. It seemed to help and I completed the lap in around 47 minutes although my body was now starting to feel the miles and the fatigue was setting in.

Lap 35 I fell behind everybody else for the first time since we had started. There were just 5 of us left at this point and due to the out and back part of the course, I could see how far behind I was. Since I had started, I had been setting time limits on how quickly I was to arrive at different landmarks on course. This had really helped with my pacing, but now I was a good 3 or 4 minutes behind target and I knew it was getting tight to finish in the hour if I didn't pick things up a bit.

I started to run again,as much as possible and I gradually caught up with Kevin. He looked to be in far more pain than what I was probably feeling, and I was so inspired by how he was still pushing forward, We ended up running/walking together which as a huge help to me, and as we finally hit the pavement section, we knew we'd make it back in plenty of time.

I finished lap 35 and without even thinking, I said to Andy that this next lap would be my last, My body was starting to complain, it had already been pushed beyond what it was used to doing, and I think subconsciously I was ready to stop because I knew I would hit my A goal. It was starting to spot with rain again and my clothes still hadn't dried out from the earlier downpours - things were terribly muddy in the transition area and all I could think is that I didn't want to go through another night like last night  - the thought of putting on cold, wet clothing again just was not appealing.

I dragged myself out for lap 36 knowing that just finishing this lap would make me very happy.  I positioned myself at the back of our little group again, but this time they opened up a much larger gap and I seriously began to wonder whether I would make the cut off. But if I'm nothing else, I'm a determined and stubborn runner, and as I reached the turnaround point in just under 30 minutes, I knew I needed to get my ass in gear to make it back on-time.  Digging deep, I managed to drag my body back to life and somehow put out a couple of 9-minute miles - my heart rate was climbing, my breathing was becoming more laboured, and my knee and hip were causing me considerable discomfort, causing me to limp quite badly. I was fighting with everything I had to break through the mental and physical barriers that were appearing before me, the limping now causing me to change my gait, and with that, I started to feel some friction on my toes and knew that a blister was now starting to form. I gritted my teeth knowing that if I could just keep going, I could get Andy to deal with it for me once I got back.

Lap 36 was of course the hardest but I finished in around 51 minutes which would still have given time to refuel and prepare myself for the next hour. Sadly, I felt done. The extra burst of speed had sapped the energy out of me, and as I flopped in the chair back in the tent, I just closed my eyes wanting desperately to rest and sleep. I didn't drink anything, I didn't eat anything as I had no intentions of going out again. Andy tried desperately to get me to move but I really couldn't, but then Ryan came over and tried to convince me to go out for "one more lap". My emotions were high - I was spent but I really didn't want to let the team down, and after a battle of wills within myself, I reluctantly dragged my lazy ass out of that chair and made it to the starting corral for one last time, with just seconds to spare. The bell rang to signal the start of the 37th hour, and off I went.

Oh my goodness, what a shuffle it was. My brain had now appeared to have lost communication with my legs and they steadfastly refused to move faster and do as they were told. I remember thinking that if I could just shuffle fast enough to the first bridge, I would see the others and I knew they would give me the encouragement that I so desperately needed to keep me going. It took me 10 minutes to do just one kilometer - I still had nearly 6km to go and try as I might, I could not conjure up anything to move me any faster. I knew I was going to time out. I debated with myself again whether I should just carry on and hope for a miracle, or whether to turn around and head back. I started to get upset again, feeling tired and cold, and it was then that I sent a message to my good friend Dennene to let her know I was done. Even in my tired daze, I think I knew that Dennene would either message straight away or call me in an effort to keep me going. Maybe that's what I subconsciously wanted, and when Dee did call, she did her utmost best to move me, telling me to just walk whilst we talked, telling me to just get to that bridge and keep moving. She really believed in me and I desperately didn't want to let her, nor Andy nor the team, but I knew I had nothing more to give - whilst the will was there, my body had other ideas and had gone into shutdown.

I made my way back to the start with mixed emotions - happy that I had hit my goal but gutted that I hadn't got more in me to help the team. With 36 yards completed, I accepted my DNF.

The elusive medal  .... :)

It seems like such a long time ago now that we did the Backyard Ultra, and I know for sure that I want to do it all over again. The team was awesome, and I think we all pulled together tremendously which helped us to finish on the podium in 3rd placed team behind the US and Belgium. Our Canadian Champion Stephanie went on to win with an outstanding 43 yards and I am so proud of both her and the team for what we all achieved that weekend. I have never been a part of such an amazing team, and the love I've felt from complete strangers across this wonderful country since my race ended has been overwhelming, It's hard to express how this has made me feel and how proud I am to have worn the Canadian shirt and represented this country that we call home.

From a personal point of view, I know I had a good race, but as with everything, I found myself wondering whether I really could have done more. I really don't think I could have done more, but I do think that I could have been better prepared. Looking back, it was my body that let me down. I know that I have weak glutes and hips, and I know that this leads to me having knee trouble when running these longer distances after a given length of time. For the past couple of years, I've been receiving physio for that very reason and I've been told time and time again to keep working on building the strength in these areas by doing the assigned exercises. I also very, very rarely do routine strength work  or stretching even though I know I should. I firmly believe that had I gone into the event being stronger, I could have gone longer. 

I also thought I was well prepared with all the wet weather gear - crikey, I'd even prepared for snow! But I was not prepared for 12 hours of continuous rain, we didn't have enough heat in the tent to dry things out, and I now know that it was my mental strength on the day that let me down, just as much as the physical. I love running at night, I love running in the rain, but I did not want to contend with another night of being wet and cold, I did not want Andy having to stand there looking after me for potentially another 12 hours as he too was having to deal with those conditions. I personally think I got too far ahead myself and should have stayed in the moment and focused on how good things were going, rather than thinking ahead and dreading the conditions before they had even occurred.  

But then hindsight is a wonderful thing, and we can always look back and say we could have done  things better. I know for sure that my expectations have already risen since last weekend, and I know that when I do my next Backyard Ultra, I will be hoping for that 40-hour mark. Of course, if  I make it to 40 hours, I may as well go the whole hog and do the full 2 days. That really IS a stretch target for me, but never say never eh?!

Before I close, there are of course thanks to be given to so many people. To Ryan and Dustin, thank you for organising such a superb event. You did such a fantastic job and everything really did go like clockwork, and you made us feel safe in our Team Canada bubble for the entire weekend. To Greg, thank you for coming up with such a fantastic course - it suited me perfectly! To Dave - thank you for being such a motivational team captain. I have so much respect for you and what you have achieved - maybe leave the speedos at home next time though, eh?! To Terri, Dave, Scott, Jeremy, Myron, Wayne, Greg, Mike, Viktoria, Dave S, Kevin, Chelsey, Matt and of course our Champion Stephanie - thank you so much for your smiles, your encouragement, your support, for just being yourselves, and for making me feel like a huge part of the team. You are without doubt the most humble people I have ever met, and you are tremendous athletes that have earned my utmost respect. Thank you also to the support crews that were onsite, who sat waiting for us all to come in at the end of each lap, who stood in that rain both day and night, to offer us all that encouragement and support we sometimes so desperately needed to just keep on moving - we all know that we couldn't have achieved what we did without you.

Closer to home, thank you Julie for suggesting I put my name into the mix, thank you Dennene for being the awesome friend I turned to when I needed that push at the end, and for being "on call" and offering support and advice in the middle of the night. Thank you to all my other friends both at home and overseas - I am always humbled by how many of you still follow me on this crazy running journey and I have and always will appreciate your words of support.

To my coach and sports massage therapist Paul - thank you for getting my training right, for pushing me when I think I can't do things, and for believing in me. It is greatly appreciated and makes the team work.

And finally, the biggest thanks of course must go to my husband Andy and my three little pups, who are always at my races, standing by me and never letting me down. When things go downhill at these races, when I'm truly in that dark place and ready to throw in the towel, Andy is always there to pick me up, telling me he believes in me and I can do it. He's not only there during the race, he's there during the planning stage, making sure I have everything I need before I even start. He's also there in the aftermath, consoling me or celebrating with me, listening patiently to the same stories over and over again when I reminisce about races gone by. He truly is one in a million, and I really couldn't - and probably wouldn't - do many of these things if it weren't for him - saying thank you just never seems enough 💖