It's starting to sink in......finally!

Today when I got up to do my 20K run, I had several routes in mind and I couldn't decide which one to pick. Should I run from my house and do a 10K out and back? Should I go up Church Street all the way to the waterfront and then turn around? What about driving to the waterfront and then running 20K there?
It was a weird feeling not knowing what route to pick.

I decided to make a compromise. I drove to Valley Farm Road and Finch, the same spot where Ken and I saw the deer one week ago, and from there I ran to the waterfront trail and back.
With my location out of the way, the next thing to figure out was my walk breaks. Running alone, especially for 20K, is hard because at least with a group the walk breaks are easier to figure out. When I'm running on my own I find it harder to take regular breaks as I get "lost" in my thoughts and before I know it I'm running longer than I'm supposed to. I decided to run for 5K then take a 1 minute breaks. This worked well as the 5K mark was just at the start of the waterfront trail, at the bottom of Liverpool road, and there was a water fountain there which I needed on the way back. The 10K mark came just past the Pavillion and I took my gel at this point.

Running along the waterfront trail was amazing today and I saw a few bikers, runners and walkers along the way. All of them had smiles on their faces and you could tell that they were enjoying being outside so early in the morning. It was nice not having to avoid cars for a change.

My biggest problem, of late, has been running too fast during my long runs and then feeling sore immediately afterwards. Today, I wanted to feel like I could run another 20K after doing my run today. For that to happen, it meant slowing my pace down and I'm happy to report that that is just what happened.

As I reached my car I knew I could have gone longer because I wasn't going as fast as I usually do. As I prepare for my 50K trail race, I'm going to use today as I reminder of how I should feel after my long runs.

THIS is how a 50K run can be considered "fun!"

(Haliburton 25K, 2006)
During my run today, I kept thinking about my upcoming 50K trail race in September. Of all the places to do a 50K "trail" race I've picked the most difficult in my opinion.

To help ease the pressure, though, I've decided not to focus my attention on how long it takes me to finish. Instead, my thoughts are going to be on crossing the finish line with two other amazing runners who are also going to be doing their first 50K trail race on this day.

Even though I was running on the sidewalks today, I was picturing myself running through the trails and the many different hill climbs there will be. During a trail race, most of the the runners will walk up the hill and then start running the downhill part. There's no point in burning yourself out going up some really steep hills, especially when you know that you will be running for over 5 hours.

Now that I have committed myself to the race, I'm going to develop a plan that gives me the best chance to finish it.

Tomorrow I will be running 20K and I will probably do 2 long runs of 20K or more each week until the end of August.
I love running early in the morning, so 6:00 AM is when I'll likely start.

One of the most effective training methods for doing a 50K trail race is increasing endurance. These longer runs, especially if I can do them in the trails (Seaton or Rouge) will go a long way to prepare me for the Haliburton Forest.

My next major race

After re-discovering my love for trail running, I've decided to do a 50K trail race in Haliburton Forest on September 8th.(http://ouser.org/races/hali.htm)

Last year, when I did the 25K trail race there it was by far the most difficult race I've ever done. Even after doing my most recent 50K race in Niagara Falls, I know that the trail race in Haliburon Forest will be twice as hard as that one.

When I finished the 25K last year I said to myself that I couldn't see me doing that race twice. This year a few of my friends are doing it with me so that will surely help.

The training for this type of race will require longer runs as well as more trail running. With just 8 weeks before the race, I'll have to start the preparations for this race this week.

I may throw in a 1/2 marathon race in July, (Whitby 5000) and another trail run in August (Iroquois 32K trail test) , just to keep myself motivated but my ultimate goal is to finish the 50K in under 7 hours. It took me over 3 hours to finish last year's 25K so I believe that 7 is realistic.

Who knew that running around in circles could be so much fun?

Today I took my kids to Pineridge High School so we could run on the track there. This was a way for me to get some exercise and also allow my kids to experience running at the same time. I even found a pair of running shorts that I gave to my oldest son.
After, feeding them both a good carbohydrate heavy breakfast, we headed for the track. I was surprised to see so many people there. Along with a coach who was doing some running drills with a few students, there was also a football practice and soccer practice going on in the middle of the track.

My oldest picked up his MP3 player and we all started out running at our own pace. My youngest even managed to do a few laps and at one point I was running with him for a bit. They both seemed really excited as well as exhausted afterward. After completing about 20 laps, my oldest said he wanted to do one more with me. That last lap was probably my most satisfying of the day as we ran stride by stride and I kept encouraging him to keep focused and finish strong.

They both seemed to have a great time and I told them that on the weekends that I see them, we'll make a point of going to the track on Saturdays.

A nice ending to a long week

Today when I arrived at work I found out that I was voted the top nutritionist at all the Extreme Fitness locations across Toronto. All the trainers and managers made a point of congratulating me which was nice. Probably the best thing about working at Extreme is the people I work with. Most are quite younger than me but I never feel out of place there. It probably helps that while they can certainly lift more weight than I can, they know that I can run circles around them so we have a friendly competition at the gym.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend the awards ceremony as I had to watch my children, but it was nice getting some recognition nonetheless.

After dropping my kids off to their babysitters, I went for a 9K run. I'm looking forward to running with my kids tomorrow at Pineridge High School in Pickering. I figure I can get a little run in and they can play around in the middle of the track and/or run a little bit with me as well.

It's supposed to be very hot/humid over the next few days so any running I'm able to do will be done early in the morning.

Unbelievable

Those of you who know me understand that I try not to get too upset but for some reason what I saw on television yesterday really made me mad.

I was watching the sports telecast and one of the stories they "highlited" was a hot dog eating contest. Since when did this become a "sport." I couldn't believe the amount of time they dedicated to this. Is this what we want to see? I thought that sports involved some type of physical activity? There are many courageous stories I see at my local gym everyday that would inspire people to make healthy choices.

During my run today I kept thinking about why this bothered me so much. Maybe because it's something that I would never consider doing myself. Last week I was asked by the trainers at my gym if I wanted to participate in an egg roll eating contest. The look I gave them I'm sure made them realize that they shouldn't ever ask that question of me ever again.

At the end of this telecast the "winner" ate over 65 hot dogs and they stated that the "average" person consumes 65 hot dogs per year. If that's what "average" is then I'm proud to say that I'm not "average."

A perfect weather day for running

There was a "calm before the storm" air to the weather today as it felt like at any moment it was going to rain.
I was almost hoping that it would rain as it's been a long time since I've run in the rain. Unfortunately there was no rain but plenty of wind. This made the return part of my run a little challenging but also fun.

During my run I passed the same woman twice along different parts of the route. Whenever I see a runner I always give them that "runners nod" which is a way to say "good for you!" It's nice feeling part of something and with runners, I always feel like I'm in a special group.

I'll often get these odd looks from drivers or from people who are waiting for a bus. I'm sure most of them are thinking that this guy is nuts to be running this early in the morning. Then again, I'll often get honked at by people driving who I know and who appreciate what I'm doing. I think I feed off both of these responses equally well.

Raise your hand if you saw a deer this morning!

To sum up this morning's trail run in one word I would use "incredible!"

As I met my friend at 6:15 and we started out he spotted a deer about 10 feet away from us in the trails. He was just staring at us and it was an amazing sight to see. Most of you know that I subscribe to the "Running Gods Theory" so I KNOW that look in the eyes of the deer was meant for me. I'm sure he was thinking, "it's about time I saw you back on the trails again!" (or at least that's the story I'm sticking with.

After that encounter, I knew that this was going to be a great trail run. Thankfully my friend knows the Seaton Trail very well and even though I've run in them before, he took me on a route that I hadn't been on. At one point we were actually running on a railway bridge looking down at the water/trails. We stopped for a brief moment just to take it all in and then we were off again.

I felt more relaxed today even though the terrain was something that I hadn't been used to in quite some time. Running in the trails forces you to concentrate more on where your running instead of just trying to run at full speed. For me, that's just what I need.

I'm definitely going to make sure that I run in the trails at least once per week, if not more. Today's run was invigorating and made me realize that my first love was and always will be trail running!
Thanks Ken for an amazing experience.

Doing the smart thing isn't always easy

Today I decided to take a day off from running and rode my stationary bike instead. Even after riding the bike, though, I felt like I should have run. My body needed the rest, so not running was the smart thing to do.

I picked up a new pair of trail shoes today at the Pickering Running Room and realized that it has been months since I've been running in the trails. I'm both excited and nervous about tomorrow's run but I know that once I get going, I'll be fine.

Starting the day off by running trails, (6:15 AM) is something that I used to do on a regular basis but I've replaced that with running on the roads. I'm hoping that the run tomorrow will kick start a great week.

What's next?

After working a 12 hour overnight shift from Saturday night to Sunday morning, I met up with a few friends for a 25K run. While some would call this cruel and unusual punishment, I couldn't imagine starting off a day any better than with a run.

Today's run was difficult as I was still feeling the effects of last weeks race and I'm sure the lack of sleep didn't help either. However, it was great running with friends today as most of the week I ran alone.

At times today I had to listen to my music just to get through the run but just having friends around, even if I'm not talking to them, can really help to stay motivated.

As we made our way back to the Pickering Running Room, several runners who were there, asked me what my next race was going to be. For the first time in a long time I simply said I have no idea. There are a few that I may do (Whitby 1/2 marathon, 50K Trail race and then the Toronto Marathon) but right now I'm simply enjoying the fact that I'm running.

I like doing one race per month as it keeps me focused but I also realized that since February, I've done 4 long races (1/2 Marathon, 30K, Full Marathon and 50K) so taking some time off would probably be a good idea right about now.

Trying to change people's eating habits one meal at a time!

Yesterday I saw a very good movie called Evan Almighty. The message in that movie was about trying to change the world by doing an act of random kindness one day at a time.

Today I did a nutrition talk at the Pickering Running Room in front of a small group of people who were enrolled in the walking clinic. During my run this morning I thought about how I was going to present my "philosophy" to them.

When I do my talks, I like to gather the group into a small circle so we can have an open discussion instead of just me lecturing. I find that the group learns better this way. Since today's group was small, this was easily accomplished. I was able to explain the importance of making small changes to their current lifestyles which will last them a lifetime. For some it may mean just increasing the amount of times they eat or having breakfast on a regular basis. It's amazing how these little changes can make a big difference.

It's always nice to speak to people who already have made the committment to exercise and whenever I have the opportunity to talk to the runners/walkers at the Running Room I'll volunteer my services. The Running Room has helped me accomplish many of my goals and I've been able to build great friendships with the employees there. I've often recommended to my clients at the gym, who are looking at doing something other than weights, to visit the Pickering Running Room and enroll in either a walking or running clinic.

Tomorrow I'm looking forward to running with some truly amazing friends and we'll be able to get caught up in each others' lives. This week has been one of my best running weeks and I think it has much to do with my relaxed attitude. With no races in immediate sight right now, I can just enjoy my running more.

Having "success" is contagious

This morning, two of my clients had personal breakthoughs and the smile on both of their faces was bright enough to light up the room.

One of them was so distraught just 10 days earlier, that I thought I may not see her again. When she arrived in my office this morning she was so happy to tell me that she had lost 4 pounds and that her clothes were fitting much better. When I met with her and went over the philosophy of my program, I could tell that she was having some doubt about whether this would work for her. She had been on many "diets" in the past and although she lost some weight on them, the weight eventually came back. This week as she went over the changes she had made in her "lifestyle" (including going for a walk every morning) she said how easy it was for her.

The second lady achieved her desired weight goal today and she also was thrilled with what she had done. In total, she has lost over 50 pounds. After returning from vacation and not able to exercise, she said to me that she realizes how important it is for her to get back to the gym/exercising on a regular basis. With some minor adjustments to her diet (adding more carbohydrates) she is confident that she will keep off the weight.

I am so proud of both of these women and the many others that I see at the gym on a regular basis. Once you see some positive changes take place within yourself, it makes you want to continue to see results take place. What's important to remember is that these changes may not always be what's on the weight scale. I talk to my clients about looking for things like improved digestion, energy levels and sleeping. Once I get them to not focus so much on the scale, I see them relaxing more and they realize that how they feel is more important than how they look.
Congratulations to both of you, you made my weekend start off on the right foot!

Do "heatlhy" addictions exist?

Exercise, even though it is a positive activity, can also been as a negative if it starts to interfere or create an imbalance in someones life. I found this particular part of an article very interesting so I thought I would share it with you.

"Positive addiction is that state of mind that allows a person to pursue a seemingly boring activity until it is no longer boring. All aerobic sports are based on that concept. Explanations of the mechanism involved include addiction to the fabled endorphin- induced "runner's high," addiction to increased self-esteem due to the myriad physical and psychological advantages running provides, and tapping into an individuals natural obsessive-compulsive nature. Long-distance running has, for some, served as a positive addiction replacing a recently-shucked negative addiction such as cigarette smoking and alcoholism. For long-distance runners, the sport and lifestyle often complement other aspects of their lives. For the exercise-addicted, the sport and lifestyle of long-distance running are their life"(1)

I think this is a dilemma that I deal with on a regular basis myself. Trying to remain "balanced" is something that I spend a great amount of time talking with my clients about. One particular client who I met with recently, exhibits these classic signs and at times he reminds me of myself when I was his age. Some of my clients exercise everyday for hours and hours and what I try to get them to understand is that you want to find something that you can do not only in the short term to reach your goals, (weight loss for example) but also throughout your life. Is it realistic to work out everyday for 2 hours for the rest of your life? I think there is a small segment of the population that has the time for this but for the majority of us this becomes a challenge.

Personally speaking, I know how much running means to me both physically and emotionally so I need to ensure that I remain healthy enough to continue doing what I love. It also means that I need to start looking at other sports which, even though may not satisfy all the things that I get from running, will give me the physical benefit that I need. I used to love to play tennis and I'm going to start playing next week.

With regards to my clients, what I worry most about is settting too high expectations and then when these expectations are not met, a free-fall takes place. In the case of exercise, I've seen some clients work out religiously day after day without taking a break. Then "life" gets in the way and they cannot workout for a period of time. They feel guilty for not working out and then they begin to choose unhealthy foods to deal with their depression. Luckily, many of my clients bounce back, but there are others who I haven't seen in months and who I know are too afraid to start over again because they see themselves as "failures." These same people would have benefited more by starting out slowly and finding their balance.

So, do YOU thik that you are an exercise addict? Take the test and find out:

"An addiction self-test
Where addiction to running stands in your life

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the strongest, weight each of the following statements as they apply to you and your running. Then total your numbers and check the interpretations at the end of the test. Fill out the test in pencil, or make photocopies so you can retake it periodically.

___Running is extremely important to me. I'm positive I'll be running for the rest of my life.
___A day without a run is a day without sunshine.
___If it becomes downright impossible to get my workout in today, I can always double up tomorrow.
___Until I get my workout in, I'm a real bear as in unbearable.
___A little pain indicates there's serious progress being made.
___If two aspirin/ibuprofen are good, four are twice as good.
___Warm-up and cool-down are important, but it's what comes in the middle of a workout that counts.
___As far as running goes, more is always better.
___A string of running days must remain unbroken.
___Quality without quantity is impossible.
___Of course I know how many miles I ran last month_
___Unless you've run a marathon, you're not a real runner.
___The more marathons you've run, the more serious a runner you are.
___Rest is for the weary, not for the strong.
___Discomfort exists to run through, not to be an insurmountable barrier.
___All my friends are runners, and I wouldn't consider befriending a nonrunner.
___Many running-related pains can be gotten rid of by running through them.
___If a shirt doesn't boast a race logo, it isn't one I want to wear.
___It exhibits their inbred weakness if people don't want to hear my step-by-step re-creations of races I've run.
___If I have a piddling injury and a sports medicine expert says I shouldn't run, it's obviously time for a second (or third) opinion.
Where does your total fall?

161-200: Running addiction personified. Get help quickly.
121-160: Leaning toward running addiction; beware.
81-120: Neutral.
41-80: Fitness with a mellow bent.
20-40: Approaching terminal mellow; better sign up for a race."
(2)
________________________________________________________________

1. Richard Benyo, Exercise Addiction, when more is less, Runners Club of America
2. Richard Benyo, Exercise Addiction, when more is less, Runners Club of America

Remembering my first trail run

It was about 2 years ago, around this same time of year, that I was first introduced to trail running. I remember clearly the feeling of euphoria I felt immediately after the run was over. Throughout the run in Greenwood Park, I remember running cautiously as I really had no clue what to expect.

The person I was running with was a very experienced trail runner and she obviously had no problems. Not wanting to look too out of place, I tried my best to keep up with her but I'm sure I stumbled and was awkward throughout the run.

The air quality was so much better in the trails and I remember feeling at home running in them. It brought me back to a time when I was a child and would go running in the forest with my friends in Montreal.

As I became more familiar with running trails, I realized that I needed to have the proper shoes. They felt so awkward at first but really made a difference especially when trying to climb up some of the steep hills.

The trail races that I have entered have all had the same peaceful feeling to them. There is so much support for all the runners and the volunteers are amazing. I remember one trail race (Haliburton Forest) where there was a large bonfire at the end of the race. All the competitors gathered around the fire and waited for all the runners to finish. I'll usually see the same 10-20 runners at these races and I'm lucky that they have welcomed me into their fraternity.
While some road races have this feeling, the majority tend to be so large that you lose some of that "family" atmosphere.

I can't believe that it's been 9 months since my last trail race (Vulture Bait, October 2006) and I'm looking forward to doing at least one per month for the next few months.

As I ran my 8K this morning, I kept thinking about how nice it was just to run without having to worry about how fast or how far I was going. In fact, I'll probably switch my training to run more for overall time (1 to 2 hours) instead of running for speed. Running trails requires more endurance than speed, as the nature of the course dictates that you will be running longer than you would in a road race. I'm deciding between doing the 25K or 50K trail race in Creemore next weekend. My preference would be to try the 50 but I'll have to see how my body feels at the end of this week.

Feeling satisfied!

Yesterday I completed my 50K race and I was very pleased with my performance. Here is a recap of how my day went.

I woke up at 3:30 AM and picked up my friend at 4:30. We then met up with another two runners and drove to Niagara Falls. We arrived at about 6:15 which gave us plenty of time to pick up our race kits, mingle around and make a few pit stops before the race (bathroom breaks).

The race started promptly at 7AM on a grass field. This was different than most of the races that usually start on pavement. The funny thing is that except for the first 500M, the rest of the race was run on asphalt.

It was a great day weather wise and the 4 of us started out together. I was feeling good and started to push myself a little earlier at around the 8K mark. For me, this race was more about battling my own personal demons. I wanted to accomplish 2 goals:
1) Have a better race this year than last year
2) Have a "cramp" free race

I'm happy to report that I was able to accomplish both of these goals. At the 35K mark at this race last year, I had nothing left and those last 15K turned out to be the hardest 15K I've ever done. This year, while I still had some mental barriers to cross, It was not until much later in the race and by then, I knew that I was going to beat my time from last year.

With regards to the cramping, it was interesting how it would almost start to come on but then slowly it went away. This happened several times towards the end of the race. I think this is why I wanted to push myself a little bit to see if the extra supplements I was taking were going to make a difference. While I did experience cramping after the race, it is much easier to deal with than during the race.

Each race brings with it several interesting stories and I have a whale of one. With 1 mile of the race left I was chasing down a runner. At this point I was using him as motivation to keep going. During this race there were long stretches where I didn't see any runners. I am probably the worst one when it comes to getting lost and coupled with the fact that my brain wasn't exactly functioning properly, this wasn't a good combination. I followed this runner but he ended up going off the course and we both got lost and did an extra 3KM's. Initially I was very upset as I didn't get to run through the finish line but as I look back today I can chalk it up to a funny story that I can tell people about.

The bottom line is that I know how I did and the overall time that I did it in really is insignificant. This race has taken some pressure off of me and I can relax a little more and plan out my races for the fall. I've erased the bad feelings from my Marathon and from the 50K race from last year.

Beyond even that, though, I have an amazing memory of running and spending time with some truly remarkable friends. One of the best parts of the whole day was the feelings we all shared immediately after the race. This continued as we drove home and culminated with a great bonfire in the evening. Running this race really made me appreciate the fact that I can and should enjoy my running more and not focus so much about my time. I think the running Gods were watching again because the pin holding my Garmin came off as I was "high fiving" one of the runners in the middle of the race.

I'll continue to do more races and will still keep Boston in my sights but I'm also going to go back to running trails a little more. The people who run trail races are not concerned with their time as much as they are concerned about having a good time and enjoying the fact that they are running. In the end, you can't ask for much more than that.

Let the race begin!

There really isn't much else left to say.

I have my bags packed, both sets of alarms set for 3:30 AM (we have to be on the road by 4:45), my music is set, water bottles are chillin in the fridge, gels and electrolyte supplements are packed in my bag.

My last meal tonight was my traditional pasta meal with some Parmesan cheese. I'll be heading to bed shortly so I can try and get as much rest as I can for tomorrow.

By this time tomorrow I'll be hobbling around the house and loving every minute of it. Here's hoping for a cramp-free race.
Thanks to all of those who have emailed me with their support, you don't know how much that means. I promise a full race report.....as soon as I can hobble to basement to write it on my computer.

PAIN

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pain has both physical and emotional components.

This is a definition I found today while searching the Internet. As I drove my son to his babysitters today, we talked about my upcoming race. Having witnessed a few of my races, he knows how his father will be feeling after the race. Walking upstairs will be challenging for the first few days and my knees and hips will be sore.

I remember after one race when I made sure that I had everything I needed from upstairs so I wouldn't have to make more than one trip on the stairs. Finding a comfortable place to sit will be difficult and getting up will be even tougher.

Most marathon runners acknowledge and accept the fact that they will have to experience some real pain during and immediately after the race. The more I "push it" the more pain I will feel in my hips and thighs. Even if I decide to run rather than race, this weekend, my body will be pounding the pavement for 5 hours (maybe less). There really is no escaping this type of pain.

This type of pain is physical, but overcoming the emotional/mental pain is the thing that runners excel at. Keeping your mind from getting "bored" or from wondering why you are doing this crazy activity, is something that is more challenging than the physical pain. I'll think about everything I can during the race to keep my mind focused. If I concentrate too much on the running then I'll probably come to the realization that I have a long way to go and then I'm finished. Having great friends to run with this weekend will certainly help, but we will each have to keep motivated, and that has to come from within.

So, given all this pain, why do I run? I think part of it is pushing my body to limits that I didn't think I could. Having goals and then accomplishing them is a feeling that is hard to describe. I'm fortunate that my goals are attainable for me and that there are so many goals to achieve with regards to running. I'm already thinking about my next races even though I haven't even finished this one yet. Running not only gives my body a physical workout but also pushes my mind to new limits as well. Another reason I run is because of the amazing people I've met and continue to meet.

This weekend will be a return to my "roots" so to speak, as I'll be running with plenty of trail runners who I've run with during my trail races from last season. I haven't done many trail races this year but the people who do trail races are so nice that I'm sure I'll get a warm welcome back from them this weekend. They'll also probably say, "where have you been?"
My response will be, "running of course!"

My last run this week

This mornings run (10K) was my last until the 50K race on Saturday. I kept thinking about how I didn't want today's run to end but also told myself that I needed to rest to get ready for Saturday.

On my run today my Garmin's strap came undone as the pin that was holding the strap snapped off. I ended up running the last 3 KM's not knowing how fast or how far I was going. Maybe that was a sign from the Running Gods for me not to worry too much about time/pace etc. and just run. It's funny how routine oriented I've become with regards to my running. I find it very difficult to run without my Garmin and my music. If either one of these isn't operational, I find it hard to keep motivated.

I'll take the next few days off, reluctantly, and try and get some rest. Perhaps I'll read one of my many books on running or watch an inspirational movie or two. Some of my favorites include Remember the Titans, Rudy and Rocky.

The excitement is growing inside!

With just a few short days until my 50K run/race, I went out for a very nice 9K run today with one of my best friends. I count myself very lucky to not only have friends, but truly amazing friends, and I'm so thankful that most of them are going to be running with me this weekend.

We all have our own personal demons that we must overcome on race day and for me it will be cramping. This is something that I have no control over so I'm trying not to worry about it. I've tried just about everything so far so we'll see if this works for me. There are other elements such as the heat which may effect some of my friends. Because we have no way to plan for these, there is really nothing that we can do about it. With only one more day of running until the race, I will no doubt spend plenty of time reading about cramping and electrolytes, once my last run is completed tomorrow morning. I've yet to have that "perfect" race and I guess that's why I keep running.

Beyond just the running though, the whole day will be one that I'm sure I'll never forget. It starts with the early morning drive up to Niagara Falls (4:45 AM) and will end sometime in the afternoon as we drive home. Along the way, though, there will be memories made that will last a lifetime and that is what will make the day so special for me.

We all have the determination to do whatever we want, whether it's to lose weight or finish a race. Having a belief in yourself is something that you need to discover if you haven't already done so. This belief needs to be so strong that it acts like an armour surrounding you. It should keep all negative thoughts, actions and people away. When things get rough and you start to doubt yourself, you should be able to draw upon the inner strength that we all have to carry you through.

One of my favorite sayings about running marathons, or in this case an ultramarathon, is "If were easy than everyone would do it." What this means is that there WILL be pain/discomfort and maybe even self doubt at some point along the way.
My friends and I will have stories about how certain parts of the race were more challenging than others. In the end, as we look back at our accomplishments, we will turn to each other and say we did it!

Weekend recap

This was probably one of the better weekends I've had in a long time.

After taking Friday off from running, I decided to do a 10K run on Saturday morning. I told myself to just wake up on Saturday and decide then what I wanted to do. In the end, though, it was a "no brainer" and as soon as I started to run I knew that I had made the right decision. It was a little cool early Saturday morning and I was a little stiff but when I finished I felt so refreshed.

When my run was finished I decided to volunteer at a race that was being held at the Ajax waterfront. It was nice seeing so many familiar faces and volunteering allowed me to be right amongst my friends. My job was to clock in the finishers as they crossed the finished line. There were some truly remarkable times for both the 5K and 10K races. A big part of me kept thinking that I should have raced it to see where I stack up amongst these runners. With my race only days away though, I made the right decision to volunteer instead.

After working an overnight shift on Saturday (11-7AM), I met some friends for a 10K run at 7:30. Most people would have been opted for something else to do, but for me, it was once again a "no brainer." I was able to run with my closest friends, share some great conversation and talk strategy about our race at the same time. It seemed like a long time since we were able to run together but like true friends, once you get talking, it's amazing you quickly you can pick up where you left off with no effort whatsoever.

I took my kids for a run later in the afternoon and they seemed to enjoy themselves. If you have a couple of kids with lots of energy, try taking them out for a run and then see how their energy levels are afterwards. Both my kids were exhausted after their run but after refueling and re hydrating their energy levels quickly returned. It would be nice to have the recuperating powers that kids have wouldn't it?

Today I rode my bike for just over 45 minutes and tomorrow I'll be running in the morning followed by another run on Wednesday and then that's it for the week. I made one of many pit stops at the Running Room today to pick up some gels for the race. Before tomorrow's run, I'm going to try a new gel that has more sodium in it than the one I usually take. If it produces no stomach discomfort, then I'll make the switch for Saturday's race. Trying to avoid cramps will be one of the many goals I have for Saturday and if I can avoid them then the other goals I have should follow suit.