Leading and Learning

It is a sunny but cold Sunday here in Ottawa but I headed out early for my 18k run and it was wonderful.  We had snow during the week and winter is holding on and I was not looking forward to running in -11 this morning. It was not too windy and I quickly warmed up and ran well, 10k to the Running Room and then another 8.5k with the 10k clinic.

I am really enjoying leading the 10k clinic, we are a big group of about 30 runners and love having the chance to share my knowledge and joy of running with them.  As in any  large group we have
 many different backgrounds and experiences, some fast, some not as fast, some who have run further, some who are new to this distance but we all support and encourage each other.  I really enjoyed today, waiting for the groups to come in and seeing the smiles on their faces as they finished.  Everyone had a smile on their face, we offered high fives to each other and special congratulations to those who ran their new longest distance.  I might be leading the clinic but I am learning so much from this group, so much about heart and determination, about never giving up after injury and how to write better directions so people don't get lost...oops.

Last week I had a great run in Hamilton at Around the Bay and while I did not PB the first 15k I came darn close even though it was not about time.  I have struggled with consistence this winter and was worried that my speed was not where it should be but I managed to beat my goal pace and whatever happens in Mississauga will happen.  I really want to break 2 hours for a half marathon but I think that will be a fall goal, my goal for May 1st is to run a good solid consistent race and try to run a negative split, something I have not yet managed to do.

Ottawa Race Weekend is quickly approaching and I am so happy to be part of Team Awesome!  Whatever distance you run, be proud of your accomplishment, you are a runner so be the best runner you can be, your speed, your race...just do it.

Around and Around the Bay We Go Again

Happy Spring...no wait winter...no I am sure it is spring.  I know it is Spring as I am deep into tax season and not blogging much but this too shall pass.  I am off to Hamilton Ontario this weekend to run the Around the Bay Road Race, the oldest road race in Canada and older than Boston (their tag line).  This year I swore I would not run more than a half marathon distance so I am doing half the 30k as the first part of a 2 person relay team.  My relay partner, Anita, actually has a 30k run on her schedule for Sunday so she will run the first half with me and then the last half on her own.  The weather forecast is terrible, cold, windy and possibly snow for Sunday but I am determined to have fun because last year the race was a disaster.

Last year I had the flu but my coach told me to run and run I did...for the first half anyway and then I hit the wall hard and walked in the last 12 km.  Not the best coaching advice I ever got but I did my best and tried.  This year I want to have fun and one day I will go back to do the full 30k and high five the  Reaper but not this year.

So this year I will run in my matching outfit with Anita, have some fun and try to forget about last year.  Our team name is Burgundy and Chardonnay so we will live up to our team motto at any rate...run now, drink later.  Enjoy your running and training and I will touch base soon, as long as the Reaper does not get me.