Borden Half Marathon

This weekend is the Annual Borden Half Marathon a nice low key half in a great setting. For more infor got to http://www.events.runningroom.com/site/?raceId=6770 Also the Borden race is looking for volunteers to look after registration and expo help on Friday and Saturday as well as Race volunteers for Sunday.To volunteer e-mail runbordenvolunteers@gmail.com

Another Busy weekend for Barrie RoadRunners with a number of races on the go. There was the Toronto Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon, Vulture Bait Trail races, Columbus Marathon and as usual a few crazed fools doing back to back Marathons in Hartford and Rhode Island.


The Toronto results: these searches were for Barrie runners, if you want to view a runner from another local community put that towns name in the search field.

Marathon results

Half Marathon results

Vulture Bait –

50k –
Dawn Hamel - 4:49
Lisa Van Wolde – 4:53
Nathon Brooks – 5:03
Keith Lascelles – 5:06
Kiriam Thompson – 5:26
Chris Battaglia - 6:06

25k -
Rhonda Stickle – 2:05
Joan Lascelles – 2:42
Mona Antaya - 3:19
Matt Forder - 3:28
Michelle Bannerman – 3:28
Nerina Black - 3:28

Columbus Marathon –
Karen Dennison – 5:10
Karen Caldwell - 5:27
Cindy Marcelli - 5:27
Joan Van Hilten – 5:28

Back to Back Weekend

Hartford Marathon – Saturday Half Marathon -

Kevin O’Neill – 3:15 Christina O’Neill – 2:37
Jim Tuttle - 3:59 Cindie Tuttle – 2:46
Rick MacLean – 3:59

Breakers Marathon (Rhode Island) – Sunday

Kevin O’Neill – 3:15
Jim Tuttle - 4:11
Rick MacLean – 4:11

NC24

Short Version:

I ran around and around and around and around and then I walked a little

Then I did it some more

And some more

And some more….

Long Version:

Back in January, some lunatics on RWOL forum brought up doing this 24hr event in Cleveland Ohio on Sept 17/18th. Seeing some of the awesome people doing this, I thought this was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. So I registered.

Lots of sharing ideas, tips and strategies in both the forum and FB

Training went well for the most part, several ultras and marathons, including some back to backs. Multiple races. Night runs, and lots of long runs.

One setback, after a couple of days off for recovery from one event, came down with a flu like bug, that kept me from running for two weeks, leaving two weeks to finish preparing for this race.

Finally after much anticipation, I headed for Ohio. Most of my gear was packed Thursday night and Friday I packed the last and hit the road at 7am. An uneventful drive, with a few pit stops and no troubles at the border, I arrived at my hotel around 2pm.

Met a few of the runners at the hotel as we headed out for an FE at the park where the race would take place.

I decided to make it easy for everyone to recognize me and dressed exactly as my avatar on the forum/FB.

Proving that straightjackets do come in tech fabric.

It was great, pizza and lots of snacks and a lot of new friends.

But we kept it to a reasonable hour, with the big race in the morning.

I managed 8hrs sleep Friday night and got up with plenty of time to get ready and eat my usual breakfast of Chicken Fried Rice.

7:30 we headed for the race site, which was only 5 minutes away, and dropped our gear at the RWBF encampment.

Picked up our swag, bib and chip and spent the next while getting ready and meeting the rest of our group, runners and crew, who couldn’t make it out Friday night.

Finally race time rolls around, we have the runners meeting, Susan, one of our group, sings the National Anthem, we line up and we’re off at 9am.

Some of the group head out fast, some decide to walk the first lap, I go out running at a moderate pace. I do the first loop in my straight jacket just for fun, and drop it as I pass through our aid station, just into the 2^nd loop, running in my RunningFree short sleeve shirt and compression shorts.

There had been lots of talk about strategies, 4 and 1s, run two loops walk one, etc. I go a little more aggressively, run 5 miles, walk .25 miles. As I passed through our aid station just before the walk, I would grab one of my handhelds from my cooler for the walk break. I had two handhelds, one for Gatorade and one for Perpetuem. Which I alternated each break. After the first time through I would alert the crew to which handheld I wanted, a lap before, and they would have it ready the next time I came by.

In addition, every 3 hours I would walk a full loop, eating an energy bar from my cooler and drinking from my handheld, having grabbed those as I passed through.

The crew were great at refilling my handhelds from 2 liter jugs from my cooler. They were quite apologetic for having taken them from the cooler so that they could thaw out and be poured. They were still frozen from Friday morning. Of course it was nice having cold drinks as the day warmed up.

As it warmed up, I did a quick change to my RunningFree singlet and started drinking more from both the official aid station and ours. Also ate pretzels and later pizza (during a walk break) from our aid station.

Let it be noted when I say that it warmed up, I am referring to everywhere but the north side of the loop, where the wind off the lake kept it cool, almost cold.

At 8 hours in I made a planned sock and shoe change, no issues with the previous shoes, just wanted to change it up for the feet.

At 8.5 hrs swapped my Garmin for my ironman watch as I was getting a steady low battery warning. Forgot to turn off the Garmin and it ran for another 5 hours telling me I went absolutely nowhere (don’t think it would have lasted 5 hrs if it was still tracking laps).

As it got dark, I made a clothing change, switched to my RunningFree long sleeve shirt, compression briefs, knee high compression socks and light weight long pants. Also grabbed my knuckle lights for illumination. After a bit I only ran with the one knuckle light rather than the pair, as one provided enough light and it saved on batteries. I ran down both lights during the night, as well as one extra set of batteries.

For the first 15 hours I followed the same strategy of running and fuelling with energy bars, and the odd piece of pizza. At about his point I developed some discomfort in my left shin. As I had a scheduled shoe change at 16hrs, I decided to tough it out and leave it until then, but did increase my walk breaks to .25 miles every 3 miles. Mistake. Should have changed my shoes then.

As I did the shoe change at 16 hours my left ankle ballooned up as soon as I pulled the shoe off. Don’t know if changing the shoe an hour earlier would have prevented this, but it might have been a factor. Pulled on another pair of knee high compression socks, tied the left shoe up loosely, grabbed my RunningFree jacket and headed back out.

Now with the ankle swollen I had to adjust my running plan. For the rest of the night I would walk about two loops and run about three. Starting the walk break from our aid station and restarting the running from just past the hill as we turned onto the north loop just beyond our aid station. Sometimes on the first run loop I would also walk from the porta potties at half way to the top of the incline as we turned onto the south side. (The shin did not bother me after the first extended walk break).

During these longer walk breaks I also fuelled more, lots of potato soup and noodles from the main aid station. But his was more from a desire to get something warm into me, rather than a fuelling requirement. As the night progressed it got pretty chilly, but it was such a contradiction. As I travelled into the wind, especially on the walking loops, on the north side, I would tell myself, as soon as I hit our aid station, “I’m grabbing my heavier jacket and maybe my gloves”. But as soon as I travelled down the south side, especially while running, I was loosening off my jacket and thinking don’t stop for the heavier gear. As the south side lead into our aid station this thinking won out every time.

Contrary to popular belief, I did sleep. During three or four of my walking loops on the north side, I would doze off until I walked off the trail. Too many curves in the trail to get a good sleep, the trail I trained on at home is straighter (the group thought I was joking when I posted on FB that I would sleep while running).

Finally with about a half hour to go, I dumped my jacket and I was determined to run through until the end. With the brightening morning and the return of many to the trails, I continued to pick up the pace. As I passed through loop 101 I was given my block to mark my stop to carry. As I passed through the main aid station I grabbed a quick cup of water, while still moving. The aid station worker asked if I wanted coffee the next time around. I said “hell no, I’ll still be running”. I passed through loop 102 with 8:56 remaining on the clock and determination to get as far around as possible. I continued to pass runners as I travelled around and as I ran down the south side I heard the 1 min countdown begin. I opened it up as much as I could, rounded the corner onto the final stretch and was 30ft from the finish when time ran out. I had managed the last loop in 10m/m pace after almost 24hrs, 92 miles and on a bum ankle and I felt good.

I finished with a total of 92.72 miles. 54^th out of 186 (I lapped the guy in front of me in the standings on that last loop).

My goals had been: to break 100 miles; and although I came up short, I’m quite happy with the results, as I know if the ankle hadn’t swollen up I would have made that easily.

And to keep moving for the full 24hrs (minus, of course, the planned pit stops to change clothes and shoes). Which I accomplished.

I never had any doubts about doing this. Felt strong the whole time, no emotional swings, just a bit of frustration with my ankle.

Lessons learned:

I need to do other exercises than just running (ankle strengthening comes to mind).

Shouldn’t have gone out as aggressively. Shorter runs and longer walks to begin with.

That the RWBF runners, many of who I took time to run or walk with, are the coolest and great friends.

The Crew deserve an incredible amount of thanks for helping me and all the others get through this. They are the best. Some great friendships here too.

There was a lot of craziness out there this weekend. I had brought an extra straightjacket for the craziest in our group. I wish I could have brought straightjackets for all of them, they’re all a bunch of loonies.

One good thing with the conservative last 8 hours, was a quick recovery. After dealing with a few blisters and wearing a tensor for ankle support/protection I was able to get back out running on Tuesday. Looking good for my next 50k.

Pictures from the event: http://www.flickr.com/photos/goellnitz/sets/72157627573998317/

A weekend of Racing

It seems the fall racing season has started and there were some impressive results on the weekend. Brendan Kavanagh came 13th in the Run for the Grapes Half Marathon in St. Catharines in a very quick 1:21, followed shortly after by Darren Collins.In Cleveland, Ohio Chris Battaglia competed in the North Coast 24 hour event and completed 92 miles, blowing away all his distance milestones in one day. Congrats Chris on a great job.In Dayton, Ohio the Tuttles, the MacLeaniacs and Erin Barrie ran in the Airforce Marathon and half. Cindie Tuttle was our lone rep in the Half and ran it in 2:50,Erin Barrie finished the Full in 3:46, Jim Tuttle in 3:44, Angie Tuttle in 5:26, Rick MacLean in 3:46 and Tracy in 5:55.Well done everyone.

ENDURrun +

There are a lot of crazy runners in Ontario. In fact we have our own event. It’s called the ENDURrun.

The ENDURrun is 7 races in 8 days, covering 160km (99.4miles).

I, being a complete lunatic, decided I would also throw in a 6hr trail race, the day before the ENDURrun started.

So Friday night I have my usual wieners and beans and head to bed at a reasonable hour. Only to be hit with sinus congestion from a head cold I had been trying to fight off. This resulted in the worst night’s sleep I have ever had before a race. Finally out of bed and had some Chicken Fried Rice for breakfast and off to the race.

Race #1: Aug 6th, The Dirty Girls 6hr Trail Run. This takes place at Mansfield Outdoor Center. I have run here before and it’s a tough course. The route I’m running this day is different than my previous race here. Today’s race consists of 10k loops, with 6hr cutoffs at 2.1, 5 and 7.5k.

Swag for this race is nice, instead of a shirt we get sleeves. One with the super Dirty Girls logo and the other with, for the ladies: “dirty girl” and for the guys: “I did the dirty girls”.

8am and we’re off. I’ve taken sinus and allergy medication and breathing is good. I didn’t bother carrying water on the first loop as I thought the aid stations would be more frequent, approx. every 2.5k. But they ended up only having aid stations at 5k and the start/finish. It was getting warm and humid by the end of the first loop, so I grabbed my water belt and some partially frozen bottles from my cooler and headed into loop two. I was giving Perpetuem a try during a race for the first time. I had used it once during training and found it not very thirst quenching. This time I used the maximum recommended amount of water. So I’m carrying one 8oz bottle of Perpetuem and another of water. 2^nd loop is a little slower as I’m feeling the humidity, hills and lack of sleep. I started eating pretzels at the aid stations half way through this loop. Still on track to meet my goal though. Started the third loop be switching out my two empty bottles for two fresh frozen ones. I’m going through them a little faster now too, although I still have a little ice in the water bottle at the 5k aid station, where I top it up. Slower again this loop and finish with enough time to meet my minimum goal, if I don’t fade any further. Two fresh bottles and out for the fourth loop. Still struggling and thirsty, could be the Perpetuem. At the 5k aid station I realize I won’t meet my minimum goal (besides the next 2.1 cutoff is short of my actual minimum goal), I decide to dial it back a little and save some for the rest of the week. I finish the fourth loop in 5:53:00 and call it a day at 40k.

I receive my Dirty Girls super medal, have a burger, visit briefly with a few running friends and head out to Waterloo Ontario for the ENDURrun.

The ENDURrun consists of an Ultimate Event, consisting of 7 runs/stages. Patterning itself as a Tour de France of running. The first stage is a Half Marathon on the Sunday. This gives you your placing for stage 2, a 15k time trial. Stage 3 is a 30k Trail Run. Stage 4 is a 10 mile hill run. Stage 5 a 25.6k alpine cross country run. Stage 6 a 10k time trial and finishes with stage 7 a marathon. The male and female leader after each stage wears a yellow singlet. The male and female runners with the best combined time for stages 4 and 5 are awarded as King of the Hill and the male and female runners with the best combined times for stages 2 and 6 are awarded as Speed Kings at the end of the event. The ENDURrun also has a sport event consisting of the last three stages. A relay event , where teams of 2 to 7 compete through the 7 stages. As well there are limited entries for guest runners for each stage, where individuals can run various stages throughout the week.

The ENDURrun starts with an event meeting on Saturday night for all the ultimate runners, where we do a meet and greet as well as discuss some of the event details. Here we pick up our race swag, have light refreshments and receive an open invitation to use the pool and hot tub at the RD’s house, where this meeting takes place, throughout the event.

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011PreRaceMeeting

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrunPreRaceMeetingByRyanShootTheThrill

Stage 1: Aug 7th, the Half Marathon. 8am Sunday morning, a two loop course starts off pretty good but I just can’t get my quads to loosen up after the hilly trail race on Saturday. A couple of nasty little hills on the course, but I get through them okay. Pass a couple of runners in the last loop, without getting passed myself. Still ended up finishing almost 15 min slower than I wanted in 2:13. Lots of great food after burgers, tacos, fajitas’, salads, veggies, fruit and fresh made smoothies. Took advantage of the available massage and had them work on my quads.

2:12:55. 21^st out of 22 Male Ultimates, 27^th out of 29 overall

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage1HalfMarathonByRyanShootTheThrill

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage1HalfMarathon

Stage 2: Aug 8th, the 15k Time Trial. 8am Monday morning a one loop course with a tough uphill for 1/2k at 1.5k, with a corresponding downhill at 8k. A few rollers throughout the course, as well as a mix of terrain, mostly road, but some paved and gravel paths, grass and chip trails. We start off in the reverse order of our stage 1 finish, slowest first, followed at 1 minute intervals by the next runner. I start 4^th. I feel good and catch and pass the runners in front of me and at 2k I am in the lead. Unaware where any of the runners behind me are, I keep pushing the pace. Finally on a small out and back stretch, I see where my pursuers are. I get some good stretches for running and start pushing harder. I cross the finish line first, having held off all the faster runners, although many closed the gap. More good food, substituting rolls and cold cuts for the hot food. After a massage for my quads and right hamstring which was bothering me from the pace and camber of the roads. Then over to one of the crews house for a pool party.

1:25:48. 18^th out of 21 males, 23^rd out of 28 overall.

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage2ByAndrewPearson

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage215K

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrunStage2ByVickiShootTheThrill

Stage 3: Aug 9th, the 30k Trail Run. 8am Tuesday morning, a 6 loop 5k course, on a rainy day. Aid station at 2.5k and start finish. I was going to give the Perpetuem another try at 10 and 20k. Started off pretty good and the first two loops went pretty well, although my left hamstring which I neglected to have massaged on Monday started complaining. On the third loop I walked the biggest hill for the first time. Fourth loop started the same but I found myself having to walk the 2^nd biggest hill as well. I was also having difficulty recovering my breath after this hill, partially due to the rain sodden heavy air. On the 5^th loop, more of the same. I also walked one flat stretch for a minute or two, keeping company encouraging one of the other runners struggling badly. Managed to pick up a little in the 6^th loop and finished in 3:35. More good food, a massage for both quads and hammies. Stuck around until the badly struggling runner finished. And of course at this point the rain finally stopped.

3:36:20. 20^th out of 21 males. 26^th out of 28 overall.

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage330K

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage330K2

Stage 4: Aug 10th, the 10 mile hill run. This race is scheduled for 6pm on Wednesday night to allow a little recovery from yesterday’s trail race. This race is an out and back that takes place on Wilmot Line, home of Horror Hill.

Legs feel the best they have all week, although I do get a small twinge in my left hammie as we start off, but it quickly passes. I start off with one of the younger runners and we push the pace for first couple of k. Finally he loses me at horror hill as I have to walk it. I do manage to “run” all the other hills. Although pathetically slow and am passed by several runners. However I have great strength on the downhills and pass all but one of the runners who passed me as well as a few others. I manage to make up enough ground on the downs, that I can hold off the other runners on the final uphill. Massage again for quads and hammies. A BBQ after leading into a rest day on Thursday.

1:29:26. 17^th out of 21 males. 21^st out of 28

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage410HillyMiler

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrunStage4ByRyanShootTheThrillPt1

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrunStage4ByRyanShootTheThrill02

Thursday I meet with some of the group for lunch and beer, although I passed on the beer float. Hot tub and pool and generally relaxed.

Stage 5: Aug 12th, 25.6 alpine cross country run. 8 am Friday, a 5 loop 5.12k course at a local man made ski hill. We start out in the chalet parking lot, quickly transition into some grass running followed by some mountainbike trail. This leads us to our first climb, up a dirt access road on the back of one of the ski hills. This road is deceiving, as just as you think you’re nearing the top it rounds a bend and more up, twice. Across the top of the hill and into a small loop of more mountain bike trail on the backside pf the hill. Back up and the first major decent. Straight down the ski slope. Across the bottom and then straight up another ski slope. Straight down another ski slope and then back up on a mountain bike trail that wraps around the end of the hill. Probably the easiest ascent , but definitely tougher as the day progressed. Finally straight down a last ski slope and into the loop finish. To do it again 4 more times.

Despite the early start it was getting quite warm as the day progressed, especially on the open ski slopes. At the end of the third loop I grabbed my sponge bandana from my cooler and draped it around my neck. It certainly helped especially on the uphill ski slope, where I would wring it out over my head. Then I would dip it in a sponge bucket at the aid stations. Still struggled on the uphills and was flying the downhills. Massage for the quads and hammies after then up to the RD’s for hot tub and pool.

3:23:46. 16^th out of 21 males. 20^th out of 28

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage5265K

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage5265KPart202

Stage 6: Aug 13th, 10 k time trial. 8am on Saturday on our only point to point race. A couple of small rollers but a net downhill run. This is the most popular race and gets the most guest runners. Based on our accumulated time, and the projected times from the guests, we again start slowest first. As I also had a couple of good hill runs I’m starting further back this time. It’s also strategy time. My closest rival is about 6 min behind. Do you go all out to try to widen the gap or do you save some for the marathon tomorrow. I start the first 5k hard and pass my rival in 3k (he is having gi troubles allowing me to catch him quicker). After pushing the first 5k and widening the gap, as well as passing several other runners. I dial it back for the next 3k. 2k to go and I try to pick it up again, but the legs are getting fatigued. I don’t catch a few runners in front and with half a k to go I get passed by one of the faster runners. I pick it up for the last half k but can’t catch him. This probably is a mistake leading into the marathon. Although I did gain another 4 min on my rival. This race ends at the RD’s house, where we’re served brunch, get our massages and some people use the hot tub and pool. Later that night we return to the RD’s house for a wrap up BBQ and use the hot tub and pool once again.

52:50. 19^th out of 21 males. 24^th out of 28 overall.

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage610K

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrunStage6ByRyanShootTheThrill

Stage 7: Aug 14th, the marathon. 7:30 Sunday Morning (although 6 runners, including my rival, opt for a 7 am start). A 2 loop course. Race starts and right off the bat I know I’m in trouble. Left hammie is aching and doesn’t want to loosen up, plus just general fatigue in the legs. I know I can finish, so I just have to keep on moving. Frequent aid stations and I’ve stashed frozen bottles of Perpetuem at a couple of them. I finished the first half only a couple of minutes faster than my half to start the week. I cross the lines with my hands in the air as if I’ve just completed the marathon, telling the race photographer to get my finish picture now as it won’t be pretty at the end of the second loop. 2^nd loop is more of the same except warmer, so drinking lots more and getting slower. Finally round the corner to the finish with 100 meters to go and see that I have a chance to beat 4:30, so I give whatever I have left and cross the line at exactly 4:30.

Rehydrated, got my massage and enjoyed one last good meal. Congratulated all the other runners. Today we had our first drop out, a runner who’s knee went in the first half and dropped from the series at the end of the first loop. Hopefully a quick recovery and he tries again next year. My rival finished in 4:31 so I maintained my lead/placing.

4:30:00. 19 out of 20 males. 24 out of 27 overall.

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrunStage7ByRyanShootTheThrill

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage7MarathonPart2

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage7Marathon

There are also 4 videos here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGgZp6IxCFM&feature=youtu.be

With more to come

ENDURrun Overall, 160k 17:31:35. 19^th out of 20 males. 24 out of 27 overall.

The awards ceremony was done and a couple of us headed back to the RD’s house for one last soak in the hot tub and pool before our drive home.

Monday, I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck. As the cold I was fighting at the beginning of the week has returned.

I hit 39,000 lifetime miles during my run this morning. (It took me almost exactly 13 years to run that many miles.) And so I give you … 39 lessons learned from 39,000 miles. 1. I think the “secret” to why I am a successful high mileage runner is I did not rush into running long distances early in my running career. Running is a sport that rewards those who are patient. It is not really a sport for those looking for immediate gratification. For the first few years of my running life, I ran moderate mileage and focused my attention on excelling in the shorter races – up to about 10K. It was not until I had been running for four years that I began running even half-marathons, let alone began to tackle even longer distances. It takes time to build your bone structure, time to build up your tendons, muscles, etc. These things don’t happen over night; they happen over a period of months and ultimately years. I absolutely credit not rushing into running longer distances for why I have been successful running high mileage for many years with relative lack of injury. 2. You will never truly appreciate running until it is taken from you. Understand and embrace the concept that running is a gift. Appreciate it. It can be taken from you. 3. It’s about wanting to make the time. It may mean running at the crack of dawn, but if running is a priority to you, then you will find, or make, the time. 4. You don’t really need fancy technical clothes. You can run just fine in a cotton t-shirt. 5. The old Adidas ads from the late 90s early 2000s about runners being different … Very true. Runners are different. 6. This is an unfortunate fact, but it is very true. Runners can get sick. Just because you are young, or have a resting heart rate of 35, or can run a 2:45 marathon doesn’t make you immune to having a heart attack. Or being diagnosed with cancer. If your body is telling you something is wrong, do not ignore it. And do not let doctors dismiss you because you are seemingly the healthiest person they’ve seen that day. Delays in diagnosis can be fatal. 7. If you do happen to win the bad luck lottery and you get cancer and you are a hardcore runner, then you should make sure to ask your oncologist, “Doc, can I keep running?” If he answers you by saying something to the effect of, “If I told you not to run, we both know you’d just run anyway,” you will know you have found the right doctor. 8. Always keep a sense of humor about your running. 9. No matter how right you are, you will never win against a car. There’s a phrase: “Dead Right.” You don’t want to be “Dead Right.” Run defensively and assume every driver you encounter is inattentive and a moron. Let them prove you wrong. 10. Ninja night running is not cool. It’s dumb. As a runner, I’m much more aware of pedestrians than the average driver, and even I’ve nearly run down people who insist on wearing dark clothing with just a tiny bit of reflective striping. Wear bright colors, wear a headlamp, wear a reflective vest if you’re running in the dark. Give the drivers at least a chance to see you. 11. When you race or are around other runners, be a good citizen. Look before you spit or blow your nose. Don’t just stop dead in the middle of the course for your walk break. Don’t throw your cup of water into another runner’s path. Don’t cut in front of others in the chute if they are tearing off tags for placement. Be a good sport. Cheer and encourage the other runners. 12. If you’re not competitive or don’t enjoy races, then you don’t need to race. You’re no less of a runner. 13. Take pride in your running, but don’t become a haughty arrogant arse towards others if/when you’re successful. 14. It’s a race. It’s ok to run as hard as you can. And yes you’re supposed to try and out kick the other runners at the end (if they get mad at you for it, they’re the poor sport, not you). Just don’t sandbag just so you can launch a big kick at the end. And don’t hotdog it. That’s being a poor sport and that’s lame. 15. Runners like routine. But runners need to be adaptable and flexible too. 16. Non-runners don’t care about running. They think running is boring. You should generally avoid talking about running with non-runners. Also, resist the urge to try and “convert” people to running. If a person expresses an interest in running to you, of course you should try to encourage them and help them. But don’t become some sort of running evangelist. 17. Non-runners who do take an interest in running will frequently obsess over the health of your knees. They will also be liable to tell you that you are too skinny. It is best to simply change the subject and try not to reason with non-runners. 18. If you are a woman runner, you probably will at least occasionally encounter unwanted attention from “men.” I use the term “men” loosely because real men don’t hoot and holler at women and treat them as objects. The best advice I can give you is to ignore them. They want attention, and if you flip them off or interact with them, you’ve given them what they want. I have found running first thing in the morning avoids most of the problems. 19. Running is not always an easy sport to love. Sometimes running needs to sleep on the couch for awhile. 20. Learn to distinguish the difference between discomfort and pain. The line between them is often subtle. Running fast or hard causes discomfort. Real, actual pain means something is wrong. 21. If you run, then you are a runner. It’s really that simple. I promise. 22. Enjoy and take pleasure in the successes of your friends who also run. You more than anyone else knows what it takes to improve at running. And running is better enjoyed that way, really. 23. Never stop learning about the sport. Even someone who has been running for many years can learn stuff. Read about running and learn something about physiology so you can train more effectively. Be willing to try different things and mix up your training. 24. Never start a running streak if you have an obsessive personality. The streak WILL eventually control you. 25. You will make mistakes as a runner. Everyone does. That’s ok. Just try not to repeat them and try to learn from them. 26. Take the opportunity when you have it to learn from more experienced runners. 27. Your body is not a machine. There are a myriad of factors some you control, some you don’t control, that affect how you run on a daily basis. 28. Sometimes you will just have a bad run. Everyone does. It’s ok to try and figure out why, but if you can’t figure it out, don’t obsess over it. Just move on and try again tomorrow. 29. Make running a part of your life, but don’t let it rule your life. 30. The shoe company will change your favorite shoe. And not for the better usually. It is inevitable. That’s why it is always good to have a few shoe models that you like. 31. Mud. Every runner should occasionally get muddy. It’s good for the soul. 32. We’re each an experiment of one, especially when it comes to stuff likes what to eat or drink when running. You need to find what works for you. 33. There will always be someone who is faster than you. And even if you are the fastest, your time will pass. 34. Motivation and drive ultimately has to come from within. 35. I worked with a vet at a racetrack in high school. I learned that horses are beautiful, but they also are big and many of them are quite, uh, how can I put this nicely … dumb. When encountering a horse on the trail, always give it a very wide berth and don’t make any fast moves. 36. Yes, you can run in the winter. Yes, you can run over snow and ice. You just have to slow down. And be careful. And be smart. And be flexible. 37. You will not melt if you run in the rain. If it’s chilly, dress a little warmer (5-10 degrees cooler). Put on a baseball style cap. And just go. That said there are few things more miserable than doing a run in a 35-40 degree driving rain. You have my permission to run on the treadmill at that point. 38. Hills are good for you. Seek them out. However, know that if a hill has a name, it’s probably going to be a BIG hill. 39. Runners run for different reasons. Your reasons may change as your life changes. That’s ok. This entry was posted in Running, Running Stuff. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

Simcoe Shores Relay Results

Finally the results are out for last weekends Simcoe Shores Relay. A great day was had by all in a mix of weather conditions. Barrie was well represented

The FOGS were 5th over all and 3rd in the Open Over 45 age group,Barrie RoadRunners 2 were 16 and 6th in the same age group. The Sole Sisters 1 and 2 were 2nd and 3rd in the womens group, Barrie Dashers 2 and 1 were 4th and 5th in the Mixed Over 45 group.