Five runs a week!

The Maintenance Clinic is in full swing! We now have five runs a week to choose from, so hopefully there will be something to work with most Moms' schedules.

You can now run with us Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10am, Tuesday at 5:30pm and Sunday at 8am. Tuesday's run is led by Carey and Friday's run is led by Christy. 

I hope you enjoy the photos from today's run; Christy took them as we were heading through Beacon Hill Park on our way back to the store.

Please contact me if you have any questions about any of the runs; I really hope we'll get lots of new Moms running with us soon! It really feels like this group is starting to take off and I couldn't be happier.

Our First Fall Friday!

The following post was written by Christy Simard. Christy started running with Running Moms back in March. I've written a couple times about how Christy was my "not a runner," but now she is more than just a runner, she's a run LEADER. 

I didn't realize how seriously she took her new responsibility (I've been run leading for quite awhile and I seem to have forgotten how nerve-wracking being a new run leader can be!) until I read this post. Truthfully, I've just been so confident in Christy's ability to be an inspiring and motivating leader that it never for once crossed my mind that anything would go wrong. 

Simply put, Christy is the dictionary definition of what a run leader should be. I'm so excited for her and for the women who will soon be looking to her for guidance. Match made in heaven.

Let me start by giving you a bit of background... When Sara asked me to help out with Running Moms, I was so excited to help, and then the reality of it kicked in! I was scared, nervous and teetering somewhere close to regret.  

Let me explain. For those of you have not had the honour of running with “The Running Mom”, she has this amazing ability to push you without you knowing it. She is able to tell you stories that under other circumstances really wouldn’t be relevant. She has this welcoming aura around her that people can’t help but be drawn in by. She makes a 20km run seem like 15; she believes in you and makes you believe in yourself... So as you can see, I was feeling a wee bit inadequate. 

Now a couple of weeks have passed since then, and our first Friday run was quickly approaching, so again the reality hit me. I need to decide on a route to run; oh right, I need to plan. A few seconds of hyper ventilating... I finally decided on a route while we were running this week with the group. I wanted to pick the right route, one that would be a good run, but also not too much as we have a long run coming on Sunday. It was a tough thing for me to decide so I even planned a shorter route if we needed it. 

So today arrives... My day started with the filter in my coffee pot folding over and depositing grinds in my nectar!! Not a good start to any day. Second, it was raining. Dread sunk in, I had had it all figured out.  NO ONE was going to come. So with this feeling of butterflies in my gut, I packed my daughter into the van and we headed to the store. I found a parking spot (success). We got into the store and waited. 

Those were probably the hardest 15 minutes I have experienced in a long time. Around the corner Cristal and the girls roll. A few minutes later Ferrin and her daughter arrive! Yahoo, I will not be running alone!

We ran a similar start route to Wednesday, but ran back along Dallas road Dog Park... Everyone was feeling good, so we sped past Cook St. (our shortened route), and headed for Moss. It had started to rain a bit harder by now, but we were already on our way back. Some small hills, and a few crosswalks, we were heading back to the store. 

Once back, I broke out my secret weapon... homemade carrot cupcakes! A great reward for a wonderful run with great company! 

Thank you, Cristal and Ferrin for making it so easy for me. 

Maintenance Clinic Details!

This is a free clinic to bridge between the Half Marathon clinic we just finished and the one that will start in January 2012.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays @ 10am - These runs will change week to week and will be tailored to the Moms in the group that day. They will range in length from 5K to 8K. The Friday runs will be led by the lovely Christy Simard.

Sundays @ 8am - The Long Run. First week: 1 hour. Second week: 1 hour 15 minutes. Third week: 1 hour 30 minutes. Fourth week: back to 1 hour. And so on.

All runs leave from Frontrunners Victoria (1200 Vancouver Street).

Come with or without your kids! All Moms are welcome, whether your kids are little or have already left home. All levels, paces and abilities will be accommodated. 

Spread the word!

I love you all.

Four months of hard work, fun runs and great conversation all came to a head yesterday when Running Moms ran and completed the Goodlife Fitness Victoria Half Marathon!

It was an emotional and momentous occasion for so many reasons. It's tempting to write about the race as one long story with a beginning and an end, but I feel the need to write things in a list-like form because every story stands alone; every moment deserves to be read as it's own separate and unique moment.

We met up by the gear check at 7:15am (15 minutes before the race start) to take a few photos and wish each other luck. I am so happy we did, or we wouldn't have this fantastic photo:

L-R: Me, Christy, Carey, Laura, Adrianne, Cristal.
Yes, it says "Running Moms" on the back of our shirts. :)
Thanks again to Christy for getting them printed on time for the race!

L-R: Me, Heidi, Christy.

After a group hug, we all went our separate ways into the start crowd; I couldn't be more proud that we entered the crowd about one minute before the start time. I am teaching these ladies well. (I loathe standing around before a race start and will waltz up to the start seconds before the race - why stand around getting nervous, right?)

I wanted to use the porta-potty, but didn't have time. I have been inside a porta-potty when the race started, but didn't feel like doing it again. So I didn't have enough time to pee before the race, but turns out I didn't need it. Nerves.

A few minutes into the race, while I was repeating my "run your own race, Sara" mantra in my head, I realized that there was a good chance that some of the speedy women in my group were already ahead of me, caught up in the crowd. I tried not to think about it, but my pace started to quicken, as if I could go find them; the mother duck wanting to keep her ducklings from venturing too far into the pond. I had a chuckle about that one, slowed a bit and kept up my mantra. 

People were passing me by the dozens. I could hear a few of them huffing and made mental notes of them, thinking "there's a good chance I'll see you again soon." If this were a novel and I was the heroine, I'm sure my eyes would have narrowed into a steely gaze or some such nonsense. Instead, I marvelled at how good my breathing sounded in comparison. Yay for training!

Got tapped on the shoulder by Jeff King, the guy from CHEK News who did the fantastic story on Running Moms. He was originally meant to run the full marathon and switched to the half because he had tweaked his knee a few weeks ago and had to halt his training. I laughed and told him he was going to be so happy he decided to do the half. He smiled and said he remembered what I had told him. What had I told him? I told him that when I ran my first (and only) marathon, I was injured and ended up way, way at the back with all the people who were saying "I shoulda done the half!" Only a few of them were joking. 

I headed into Beacon Hill Park and thought about the dozens of times Running Moms has run through that park in the past four months. I was very deliberate in including some parts of the race course over and over in our training; these were parts of the course that I found demanding and I wanted everyone to be able to anticipate any rough spots. And even though the not-so-steep climb into the park happens early in the race, it's also a point in the race where you may not have sufficiently settled into your stride and may still be going too hard. That relatively easy climb can suck a lot out of you, with the majority of the race still left to run. I passed the washrooms and took a deep breath. "Run your own race, Sara."

As I was coming out of Beacon Hill, I passed Christy and her husband (Running Dad?) Brad as they were running into the park. They looked strong. I was so happy to see them!

Out of the park and onto Dallas Road, and I realized that I was ahead of the 5:00/km pace I was hoping for. I was feeling good so I didn't slow down; I merely thought of it as a buffer for later if the wheels started to come off.

Crossed the 10K mat at 48:01, six seconds faster than my TC 10K time in March. Did a small, low fist pump. 

No sooner had I crossed 10K than I saw the leader and eventual winner of the half approaching. At that point he was between 15 and 16K. I said to the woman running next to me, "Nothing like congratulating yourself on running a 48-minute 10K then looking up and seeing that!" She got it immediately and laughed.

I started really wanting to see some of my Running Moms. As I closed in on the turnaround at 13K, I was scanning the crowd already heading back, looking for our pink shirts. I soon discovered there were a whole lotta ladies wearing pink shirts. I was so intent on the oncoming crowd that I started to feel a bit dizzy, but I loved having something to focus on.

Once there, I said a silent thank-you to the race organizers for putting the turnaround at 13K. There is nothing better than heading back knowing that you are well past the halfway point of the race. Brilliant. It put a little pep in my step.

Finally saw Carey as she was nearing the turnaround. It was such a relief to see someone, if only for the split second it took us to pass each other. She looked great!

Moments later I saw Laura and she looked awesome too. Way to go ladies!

And then I saw Cristal! I was so excited I started chanting her name. Yes, I yell a lot during races; at other runners, at people I know on the sidelines, thank-yous to volunteers and people cheering on the side of the road. I love the distraction. 

Moments later I saw Christy and Brad again and they looked the same as they had at the park. A very good sign!

The only Mom I hadn't seen yet was Adrianne and her husband Andy (another Running Dad?), and at that point I knew I'd missed her although I was still scanning the crowd. Watching the runners coming toward you can be pretty hypnotic and I started to get a woozy feeling, so I moved to the outside of the road.

A funny thing happened once I'd seen the other Running Moms: I felt like I was done. Not that I was too tired to go on or anything, but that my work was done. It's hard to explain, but I actually had to tell myself to snap out of it, refocus and finish this thing. Just keep running.

I reached 16K, which was partway up a badly-placed hill. It's possibly the worst place for a hill in the history of hills. We've had many talks, this hill and I, during many races over the years. I don't like the hill and the hill doesn't like me, so I usually pour on whatever I have to get it over and done and yesterday was no exception. As I passed the sign for 16K, I looked at my watch and discovered I was a full three-minutes ahead of my goal time and wasn't feeling too much in need of a buffer. I suddenly loved the badly-placed hill and the hill didn't know what to do with itself. Awkward.


I started to recognize some of the people I was catching up to: they were the same people who had sprinted past me at the race start. If this were a novel and I was the heroine, I'm sure I would have ran proudly past them, chin up, gaze set straight ahead, or some such nonsense. Instead I thanked the people cheering on the side of the road and kept my pace. Yay for training!

After the badly-placed hill lurk a series of long false flats. Very gradual ups and not-too-satisfying downs. They continue that way for over a kilometre until you reach a much needed, long downhill. But you have to be very wary of this downhill because if you take it too fast thinking you'll make up some time, it can rip up your tired quads and make the series of short climbs and turns to the finish seem like a never-ending gauntlet of misery. I believe this may have been the first time I have benefitted from this downhill and run it at perfect pace during a race. I actually shook my head in disbelief. 

I started to psych myself up for the finish. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I knew I wanted to finish as strong as I possibly could. I practically growled as I climbed the little hills and gritted my teeth as I passed the signs marking the number of meters to the finish. As I entered the finishing chute, people were flying past me as if shot out of cannons. I know I sped up, but I also knew I wasn't going to go much faster. 

I finished at 1:42:13, over three minutes faster than my goal time of 1:45:30; I was elated. The first person I saw at the finish was my friend Jim, who was taking photos. Jim is a coach and has won his fair share of races. He looked so impressed and congratulated me on my race and I was humbled. To receive such a genuine sentiment from such an accomplished runner was incredible.

Race director, and my boss, Rob Reid was (as usual) shaking hands at the finish line and he gave me a huge hug. Best. Boss. Ever.

I was so stoked that I impulsively ran up to the crowd and asked if I could get a picture with them. These two guys were happy to oblige:

I stayed with Jim at the finish for awhile, hiding from the volunteer who was trying to get me to leave. I saw Carey finish and soon afterward Laura. By that time, I had to keep moving, but I wished I could have been there to take all of their photos. 

Adrianne came in soon afterward, then Cristal, then Christy.

Their official times are:

Carey 1:47:08

Laura 1:52:03

Adrianne 1:53:44

Cristal 2:01:20

Christy 2:02:09 (according to the results, Christy beat Brad by a second - that's a bit of a joke to Brad from me)

And now a word to my Running Moms:

I just have to say that I am so proud of all of you. And I feel justified and proud of myself too, because I knew, I just knew in my bones that all of you guys had it in you to finish where you did. 

I knew during training that Carey, Laura, Adrianne and Cristal were all capable of finishing somewhere around or even under 1:50. I've never been so happy to be right. 

Carey, you were a dream to coach; I love to hear "I always finish races feeling like I could have pushed myself harder." Usually you work on teaching people to conserve, so when I heard that, I was like, "Well OK then, let's do this!" You looked fantastic out there and I hope you are feeling very proud.

Laura, I know you were a bit uneasy after not being able to run much in the past month, but you are one of those runners who has so much ingrained experience and strength that you will always know how to dig deep. And I look forward to getting you out on a track again during the next clinic; a joy to watch.

Adrianne, my Summer-absentee Mom who came out and ran long distances like it was no big thing. You seriously made it look easy. This was your first half and I hope you are patting yourself on the back right now. You killed it.

Cristal, I know you didn't finish at your goal of 1:48; abdominal cramping and leg pain prevented it, but I still believe that that goal is attainable and we will work together to achieve it. I meant what I told you in the medical tent. Don't you dare ever forget it.

And Christy, my "not a runner" turned "I am a runner", you were always the wild card. When we started, I know you didn't believe you would run a two-hour half, but I did (and so did Brad, but I was nicer about it - that's a bit of a joke to Brad from me ...again). I'm so glad you came to believe it too. Onward!

Finally to Heidi, my non-Mom, who came in under her 2:30 goal at 2:27:37: you are a beautiful delight! You'd better come run with us some more or I'll be seriously offended. Oh, and in case you needed more proof, that medal you got at the finish line means you're a runner. ;)

I love you all. Thank you for everything you have taught me. Let's do it all again soon.

You will feel funny, but you will survive.

Seriously, where does the time go? I blinked and six days are gone; I should have written this post at least four or five days ago. Three days tops.


I volunteered to be a model (six words I never thought I would string together unless I was writing a piece of fiction) for a calendar of local runners, with all the proceeds going to cancer research. I said I would do it if I could run with my kids in the Chariot, since that's such a huge part of who I am as a runner these days. The wonderful woman who is producing this calendar agreed and so I showed up at the agreed-on location last Saturday with two kids and a Chariot. We waited awhile for me to get my makeup done and I kept thinking, "Yes, you need makeup; everyone will have makeup so that their features show up in the photos. You will feel funny, but you will survive." I haven't worn makeup since I was married in June 2007. Before that... high school? So let's say 1988 or 90 at the latest. A long time.


I have to mention that both Sonja and Haven were impeccably behaved considering that the spot where the makeup was being done had a railing overlooking a ten-foot drop to the water on one side and a staircase going up to a parking lot on the other side. We waited well over an hour and no one fell into the water or was hit by a car, so everything went smoothly.


We were third in line to have our photo taken and by that time Haven was past her nap time. Translation: Mama was getting a bit stressed. And it's weird, because I don't normally get too stressed about that stuff since Haven is not a wee Babe anymore, but I think it was because I didn't know anyone (off of Twitter that is) and I already felt really nervous about having my photo taken (not a big fan outside of self-portraits). So when I was asked to slow my running down so that the photographer could get a better shot, I wasn't surprised. I just thought, "Oh great, so now they might think I'm trying to look fast or something." All things you can't properly articulate when you don't know people that well, your kid is about to lose it and you're a ball of nerves. Sigh. The fact that none of my photos have appeared on the calendar's Facebook page makes me think that none of them were any good, but who knows.


I need to explain a little further about why I felt uncomfortable: I put my hair in a ponytail. Sounds run of the mill for a runner, right? Not so for this runner. I always wear a hat when I run, but I didn't want the brim to hide my face in the photo. I thought about leaving my hair loose, but I  didn't want it to look all strange. So I pulled it back into a ponytail, but I have thousands of tiny short hairs from all the hair I lost after having my kids, so I used some pomade to try to slick them all back. I ended up looking like a reject from Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" video. Even more so once my makeup was done; I just needed the short black dress and black pumps. Don't get me wrong, the makeup was nice and the woman who applied it was lovely and talented, but I am simply not used to makeup at all. 

By the time our shoot was done, the girls were at the breaking point. I started running at full speed back to the car with Haven screaming the entire way. I had to call Peter to tell him that I wasn't able to come meet him downtown as I had originally planned; I needed to go straight home to put Haven to bed. So as I was running over the Selkirk trestle, I called him to let him know what was going on and then I realized what I looked like at that moment: slicked-back ponytail, full makeup, talking on my pink-cased iPhone while pushing my kids in my high-end Chariot. Just put a chihuahua in a basket on the handlebar alongside a cup holder with my skinny latte and I could easily belong on the streets of Yaletown. I definitely got a few looks. All I could do was laugh.

There's one thing I know for sure: I'm my own worst critic and most, if not all of these observations were made only by me. Having never met me before, the wonderful folk involved in the calendar saw nothing strange about my hair and likely didn't know how nervous I was. I guess if they're reading this, they know now and I hope they see the humour in it. Most of all, I hope the photos don't suck; I'd really like to get a couple of them to spruce up my blog!


This calendar is going to be awesome. Please check out the Facebook page to find out when and where you can buy one, even if my photo doesn't make the cut. ;)

_______________________

Last Sunday Running Moms ran seventy-five minutes for a total of around 12 km. Tomorrow we will run 10 km in around an hour and it will be our last long run before the Half Marathon October 9th. Everyone is getting excited and I imagine more than a little nervous. 


The last week before a race can be tough, since even though you know in your mind that you're ready, you still question whether you're ready, because you've been tapering and somehow you feel like taking it easy for a couple weeks will make you unfit. In fact the opposite is true: your hard work in training is behind you and no amount of hard work in the last couple of weeks before the race will gain you any fitness. 


Truthfully, the last thing you want to do is tire yourself out in the two weeks before the race; if you step up to the start line feeling rested, you're more likely to have the energy to push through any rough patches.


Breathe. Rest. Hydrate. The race will be what it will be.