Happy Birthday / Hallowe'en / Half-a-Half!

Sunday, October 28th was a super-special day - Cheyanne's birthday! ...oh, and it was also the Shawnigan-Kinsol Half Marathon and Half-a-Half! 

Running Moms had ten runners in the Half-a-Half: Christy, Aleshia, Cheyanne, Nicole, Angela, Tori, Doris, Sarah, Sebastien and me. Most of us ran in small groups (dressed in Hallowe'en costumes!), and all of us finished with smiles; no easy feat, considering the hills throughout the course, particularly near the end of the race.

The highlight of the race course is running out and back across the gorgeous Kinsol trestle. I have to say that this race offers one of the most beautiful courses I've had the pleasure of running. I definitely plan on making this an annual event and I hope our Running Moms keep up the spirit and continue to run the race in costume. It was a really fun day.

(L-R) Sara (me) and Aleshia.

Birthday Girl, Cheyanne!

Christy and Nicole.

Angela and Tori.

Sebastien.

Sarah's daughter Julia ran into the finish with her Mom.

Sarah.

Doris.

Julia, proudly wearing her Mom's finisher's medal.

We did it!!

Not only did everyone have a great time, some of us also placed in our age groups! Aleshia was fourth in her age group, and Cheyanne and Tori finished third and fourth respectively in theirs. Wow! Way to go, Ladies!

Aleshia: fourth place!

Tori and Cheyanne: fourth and third!

This sure was an incredible way to end our clinic. Thank you to all the amazing people who joined our group and made every workout, long run and race so much fun... 

Thank you for the conversation and camaraderie, and of course all the coffees after the run. I know I speak for most - if not all - of us when I say that as much as I love to run, it's always the people I run with who make running something I look forward to each week. 

I love you guys!

Amazing and special morning.

Hands down, the best fall weather I can remember. It's changed in the past couple of days but up until then, Victoria had been nothing but dry and sunny since August. Our Running Moms clinic has had some of the most glorious running weather of any clinic I can remember.

A few weeks ago, during one of our last long runs before the race, we ran one of my favourite routes: out along West Bay Walkway and through Macaulay Point Park. The weather was perfect; not a cloud in the sky.

I think we're going to have to make a Running Moms rule: every time we run the West Bay Walkway, we must stop and take a group photo in this exact spot at the end of the walkway, underneath this tree. We've taken so many great shots here!

Seriously, look at the weather, look at these pictures. Doesn't it make you wish you'd been with us? An incredible morning, for sure.

Sunday, October 7th was the Goodlife Fitness Victoria Marathon, Half Marathon and 8K. We had runners in the 8K and the Half. We also had several team members, family members and kids cheering us on from the sidelines. What an amazing and special morning; one I will never forget.

At the last minute, I decided I wanted to run the race with Christina. We, along with fellow Half-runner Renee, had come down with colds in the week leading up to the race and I just knew the whole day would mean more to me if I could really share it with my team. 

Christina and I were so lucky to run a good portion of the race with Cristal, who appeared behind us at around 8 or 9K. ...and we also ran with a terrific woman named Robyn, who was in town from Quadra Island. We had a great little group out there; awesome conversation and lots of encouragement. 

We weren't the only Running Moms group out on the road that morning; Christy and Cheyanne ran together in the Half, Doris and Sarah ran together in the 8K, and Angela and Tori also ran together in the 8K, along with Christy's husband - and honorary Running Dad!  - Brad. 

Some of us ran personal bests, some of us did not, but I think it's safe to say it was a very successful and enjoyable event.

As Christy, Doris and Sarah pointed out, our words of encouragement to each other during the race were heard by many other runners out there and we actually helped and motivated some of the people around us. I can't think of a better memory to take away from this day.

How I ever got so lucky to be blessed with so many incredible people in my life, I don't know. But I am so, so grateful. 

I'll see you out on the road, my friends. Just keep running.

The brain is a trickster.

We are closing in on race day. Some of our runners will run the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Half Marathon and some will run the 8K Road Race. Both races are October 7th. We've been training since June and although it's the point in the clinic where people start to feel nervous (including me!), the training has gone well and I know we're prepared. The quote in the photo above always comes to mind when race day is inching closer... Because when you're standing on the start line, all you have is now. 

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. On my best days, this has resulted in personal triumph. On my not-so-great days, it's been a consolation and reminder that even with the utmost preparation, there are no guarantees. Truthfully, I think this unknown quantity in running and racing plays a big part in what drives us to continue training and pushing ourselves. As much as I daydream about killing every single race, I know that battling back and refocusing my efforts holds a hell of a lot of appeal from a self-empowerment standpoint; who am I am as a runner is based as much on my ability to muster as it is on my desire to improve.

Still, the brain is a trickster. My head is always trying to bargain against suffering and I've already started preparing myself for the constant conversation I will have in my mind during the race. My legs will be pushed onward and all the while the voice in my head will be trying to make deals to be able to stop. It will be a litany of just-for-a-minute's and how-'bout-now's that will threaten to drive me nuts and as usual, my needy grey matter will start to see a small crack opening up at around kilometre 16. Listen, Brain... We've done this a lot. I'm onto you. Shut it. 

To my incredible and dedicated clinic members: we still have work to do before race day. We'll run it together, even when our brains are trying to convert us to doubt. Don't buy into it; just because our brains want us to be lazy doesn't mean we have to listen.

Summer running.

Ah, Summer running. 

We are so very lucky in Victoria; even our "hot" days are balmy compared to the unbearable heat waves hitting a lot of North America. That being said, the last two Sundays have been pretty darned warm and I definitely appreciate that we run at 8/8:30 in the morning (half-marathon group starts at 8am, 10K group starts at 8:30am)!

Last week, August 5th, we ran one of my favourite runs along West Bay walkway. It was a really good choice, since there was a very pleasant breeze along the water; once we left the walkway, the heat was stifling. 

This run was 1:45 for the half-marathon group and 1:15 for the 10K group. It was a successful outing; gorgeous scenery, great conversation, and one more long run under our belts. 

This past Sunday, August 12th, we ran at Elk/Beaver lakes; the half-marathon group ran twice (21K), regardless of how long it took and the 10K group ran 1:30, regardless of how far they got in that time.

In the end, some of the half-marathoners ran the 21K in 1:59 (a 6-minute improvement over last time!) and some ran the distance in 2:30 or so. We had two 10K-ers out on the course and they both finished their 1:30 with smiles on their faces.

I'm a proud run leader / mama bear. For sure.

We also had two strollers on the trails (only one loop for the kids) and it was so awesome having them there when we finished our run. Nothing like ending a run with a big dose of cuteness. 

Recovery week this week and then we build again for three weeks, ending in running the entire race course. Bring it on!