Breakaway!

Every race that I do I usually give myself a theme. It's usually a catchphrase I've heard that is symbolic with where I am with my running and life, for that matter. It's not something that I can search for, it's something that just hits me at a special time in my training. For my 78K trail race on April 19th, the song "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson, really sums it all up for me.

It's hard to believe that it's been almost 3 years since I did my first trail run through the Greenwood Conservation Park. It was a run that literally change my life. That run catapaulted me to want to do more trail running and eventually I did my first two 25 K trail races in the span of 3 weeks in Setember/October of 2005.

While I was happy with doing the 25K trail races, there was always something inside of me wondering if I could do more. At these trail races there were people doing 50k, 50 Mile and even 100 Mile races. Whenever I finished my race, there were lots of people who were still running. At that point I made it a point to train harder and try to do a 50 K trail run.

In 2006 I accomplished two things, my first marathon and my first 50K road race. I also competed in the OUS 25K trail series and was pleasantly surprised with my 3rd place finish. While I was happy with these accomplishments I still wanted more. It wasn't until last year that I was able to complete my 50K trail race in Haliburton.

Now, almost three years since my first trail run, I will be trying to finish my first 50 Mile trail race. I'll be using this song for my inspiration. To me, the song represents never giving up. It also represents my validation that I do belong with these trail runners, many of whom I have looked up to for years. They all have been so supportive and I know they will be cheering me on on race day.

Here are the lyrics:

Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray (I would pray)

Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I prayed I could break away

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes til' I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I love
I'll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway

Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jet plane, far away (I will)
And breakaway

Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging around revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but
Gotta keep moving on, moving on
Fly away, breakaway

I'll spread my wings
And I'll learn how to fly
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway, breakaway, breakaway