Eleven runners, four strollers and five kids.

Eleven runners, four strollers and five kids. I just couldn't believe when I showed up this morning for our long run and (including Christy and me) we had eleven runners, four strollers and five kids! The biggest Running Moms group EVER. What a difference a year makes!

(two strollers and one child not pictured.)

The first thing I want to do is welcome our newest Running Mom Kristine and our first Running Dad Cory and their daughter Lauren to the group. Yes, Running Dad! I cannot tell you how excited I am to welcome a Dad to the group. I know full well that we likely won't have a tonne of Dads running with us, but I hope we will have a few here and there; it adds a great dynamic and personally I just love to see families running together. 


Of course I can't write that without acknowledging that Adrianne's husband Andy and Christy's husband Brad have both run in races with their wives and kids, but this is the first time a Dad has come out on a group run. Stoked!

Today's 12.5km run took us around 1 hour and 15 minutes (not including breaks). The group stayed together very well and only really started to spread out in the last four or five kilometres. This bodes very well for future runs because it tells me that as long as we keep the pace easy and steady (long, slow distance), we will all be able to run at very similar speeds and it will keep group confidence high. 


Although I know for a fact that as long as everyone stays focused and applies themselves to their workouts, long runs and recovery runs, the overall group pace will increase as the clinic progresses. ...and no one will notice until we point it out. 


I love it when that happens. Onward!

Happy birthday.

It was Cristal's birthday yesterday and Christy and I made sure we took her out for drinks to celebrate. Cristal brought along her Mom, Kathryn, and Carey met us at the pub. Heidi also made it out later on and it was a fun-filled evening with tonnes of laughs. ...and many drinks.

I'm so glad we got out for Cristal's birthday, but there was a big loud voice in my head saying, "You put the girls to bed and went out with friends for the first time, like ever. Why don't you do this type of thing more often??" Hmm. Going to have to listen to that voice.

And yes, we talked about our kids and our husbands and being Moms, but mostly we laughed with each other and talked about ourselves and other things unrelated to motherhood. Oh, and we definitely talked about running. That's a given, right?

Today Sonja saw some of these photos and asked, "Why'd you go out in the night, Mama?" and I laughed and said, "To celebrate Cristal's birthday. ...and because you and Haven were fast asleep. Daddy stayed home with you." She just nodded. No arguing with that I guess. And this from a kid who lately spends her whole day arguing with me. 


Like I said, need to do this more often. ...but next time, maybe a little less alcohol..? ;)

TC 10K Running Moms team; it's official.

We have officially registered a Running Moms team in the TC 10K! Want to join our team? We're listed as "2012 Running Moms & Friends" and anyone and everyone is welcome to join. Moms, Dads, friends and family; the more the merrier!

We will be fundraising for the amazing local-running group Every Step Counts. Not sure who they are? Check out their website, Facebook page and this wonderful article from Canadian Running Magazine.

Our first fundraiser will be selling chocolates in the shape of running shoes, just in time for Valentine's Day ...or if you're me, any day; I never need an excuse to eat chocolate. This is the good stuff: Bernard Callebaut! There are four to a bag (two pairs!), $5 a bag and you have your choice of milk chocolate or dark chocolate but supplies are limited; we have 17 milk chocolate and only 4 dark!

Please email me directly if  you would like to buy some of these chocolates for the runner(s) in your life (or yourself; you don't need an excuse!) for Valentine's Day: sarajoyerickson@me.com. Also please email me if you'd like a pledge form for raising money for Every Step Counts; I will email one to you.

Thanks so much and please pass on the info to anyone you know who may be interested. We will have a few more fundraising sales going on, so stay tuned!

Running no matter what.

After a long week of snow and cancelled runs, Running Moms finally ran yesterday ...in a gale. Well, it actually wasn't as windy as I had been expecting, but we definitely ran through some very forceful gusts that stole my breath and made it feel as if we were climbing a steep hill. But I'll tell you this: as long as the snow was gone, I was running no matter what.

So off we went, avoiding the waterfront at all costs to save ourselves being washed out to sea. Christy, Adrianne, Carey, Renee and I; all without our kids, all glad to be out even if we were being blown all over the road. We ran around 10K and even though I felt tired pretty much the entire time, I finished feeling incredibly happy for this group and all the great attitudes and amazing personalities we've gathered together.

This week brings a new hill workout on Wednesday/Thursday and our Sunday-run time will start to lengthen. I've always found Winter clinics to be more mentally tough than Spring clinics; not surprising, but I keep reminding myself that our half marathon is in May and the weather and daylight is only going to improve as the clinic progresses. 

Just keep running, just keep running, just keep running... See you Wednesday, Ladies.

First run in the snow.

We ran our first long run of the new clinic this morning ...in the snow! Christy and I agreed that snow meant no strollers; the thought of a stroller slipping and sliding around on snowy roads and sidewalks made it a no-brainer.


The plus side was that the six Moms who ran this morning were kid-free! Many thanks to Adrianne's husband Andy for watching Sonja and Haven while I ran; they had far more fun with you and Finn then they would have had in the stroller anyhow.

And a HUGE Running Moms welcome to our Moms who have joined their first Running Moms Half-Marathon Clinic: Lisa, Renee, Michelle and Jennifer (who wasn't able to run with us this morning, but who was on my mind). So far we have nine Moms (including Christy and me) running the clinic and I expect that we may get a couple more.


Interested?? Check out our Run With Us! page and/or send me a message: sarajoyerickson@me.com It's not too late to join!

OK, I say this every time, I know, but I am super excited for this clinic. What a great group of people! See you all for the workout this week. :)

New Clinics!

The Half Marathon clinic starts next week! Can you feel the excitement??!!

Here's the same info you will find on the newly-updated Run With Us! page:

NEW Half Marathon Clinic!

(also for runners wanting to run the TC10K!)

BEGINS JANUARY 11TH! - $100; payable by cash or cheque.

Training Schedule emailed by January 15th.

Training for the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon (May 6th) or the Oak Bay Half (May 13th). ...and we will also be training for the TC10K; join our Running Moms team!

This clinic is open to ALL MOMS, whether you run with or without your kids and whether your kids are small or grown. Step-Moms and Grandmothers welcome! 

All paces and abilities will be accommodated.

Requirements: ability to run one hour (interval running included; example: 10 and 1's).

Workouts: (choose one) Wednesday mornings at 10am or Thursday evenings at 5.30pm. Workouts are generally 30-60 minutes, including warm up, cool down and stopping for instruction.

*Please note: You are welcome to stick to a specific day (Wednesday or Thursday) or run Wednesday one week and Thursday the next, but only one workout a week. 

Long Runs: Sunday mornings at 8am. First long run will be around one hour. 

**If you are training for the TC10K and not planning to run the Half Marathon, your long runs can be adjusted in length, but you will still run with the group starting at 8am.

OPTIONAL: Recovery runs Mondays and/or Fridays at 10am. Run one or both or none at all; it's completely up to you.

Run Schedule RECAP:

Mondays: Recover / No-Pressure Run - 10am

Wednesdays: Workout - 10am

Thursdays: 5.30pm

Fridays: Recovery Run - 10am

Sundays: Long Run

All runs leave from Frontrunners Victoria, 1200 Vancouver Street.

To join the group, please email sarajoyerickson@me.com. This ensures I have your email address so that I can send you the Training Schedule and any and all updates.

NEW The No-Pressure Run! 

Not sure if Running Moms is for you? Want to try it out, but worried that you may not be able to keep up? Looking for new friends to help you reach your fitness goals, but unsure of your ability? Then Mondays are your day! Join us at Frontrunners Victoria at 10am for a no-pressure run. All levels, paces and abilities will be accommodated and the distance of the run will be dictated by the runners who show up for the run. 

We've heard every reason not to join; your time is NOW!

Cheers!

Happy New Year to you all!


2011 went out with a bang and 2012 has started strong. Running Moms were represented at the annual Run Through Time at UVic at 6pm on New Year's Eve. Christy, her husband Brad and their daughter Elise ran the 5K course (Christy pushed Elise in the Chariot). My husband Peter accompanied Sonja and Haven on the Kid's 1K course and I ran the 5K. And as happy as I was to run the 5K stroller-free, I really wish I could have seen Sonja on her 1K run. 


Peter said she ran the entire way and was completely into it. She was saying things like "I'm running so fast!" and "I'm gonna win!" So cute! As it was, it was incredible to pass them during my run and have all three of them cheering for me; the best feeling in the world.


So how did it go, you ask? Very well, by all accounts. Christy and Brad ran a personal best (for Christy at least, I can't speak for Brad) in 28:25. While pushing a stroller!! And I improved on my PB from last year (22:55), coming in at 22:29. I now know the pace I have to run to run a 45-minute 10K. ...and I also know I'm going to have to train pretty hard; that 5K definitely hurt. 

Elise and Brad, post-race.

I've always said the best way to start a new year is with a good run. Well, this year got off to a stellar beginning; Adrianne, Cristal and I ran a very satisfying 10K on New Year's Day and I couldn't have been happier. Thank you, Ladies! 


Here's to another amazing year for Running Moms!