Never underestimate how a cup of coffee can fix your running

I'm sure that like us,  you've all got crazy schedules that seem to make running a distinct memory some days.   Each of our individual lives are jam-packed with the kiddos extra-carricular activities and the every day challenges of marriage and parenting so we're sure you can appreciate that trying to merge our schedules just to get a run in together is a conundrum all it's own.

Then, just when you think all is lost, something magical happens and the run-gods bring everything into alignment and bada-bing bada-boom you get it together.   In our case,  instead of a run, it was a coffee date.........to talk about running.

Jess and I are the type of runners that in order to keep on track,  need a goal to move us along.   Ironically,  we spend most of our time texting each other just trying to figure out what that goal can be since  we can't manage to get a run in together......  we know......vicious circle.  

So as it worked out we were sitting in a warm aquatic centre with coffees discussing our potential run plan for 2014.

Now, if you'll remember from last year about this time,  we planned to do a bunch of Northern Ontario races in order to save ourselves some money and experience more of what the north had to offer.   It must be said,  we loved the experience.   By far our favorite new experience was the Run for Patrick.  It's likely that we will do this race again this year and would encourage any of of our followers to give it a go.

Seems like 2014 is going to be the year of  ROLLING HILLS,  REDEMPTION & RE-UNITING  (is it just me or did you hear dramatic theme music?)

Rolling Hills: The Ramsay Tour and The Huntsville Half have hit our radar this year and both boast a very hilly and challanging course map.  Let's see what happens!  We'll be sure to post our antics!

Redemption: For runners this means taking back an absolutely crap-tastic race that you know in your runner's heart that you could've done better if something hadn't derailed it. (see Lowlights)  You let it sour you for a short time but in the end you always yearn to go back and kick it's ass.   For Jess this is the Toronto Women's 1/2 Marathon  and it looks like we are going to be heading  back to Toronto to take on this course and show it who's boss.  Due to hot firefighters on the course........I am absolutely willing to help Jess in this endeavour!

Reuniting: Running is the sport that can bring complete strangers into hours of conversation about everything from that icky toe,  to great conquests in training,  to failures and of course the self-deprication that only comes from running.   We have had the great pleasure to make some great run-friends in our years together and this year we are going to try to reunite with them at various races.   This one came about because of a challenge that was thrown down to us on Facebook from the amazing Sharon Devellis of Yummy Mummy and Speedskating Mom fame.  Looks like we are Mississauga bound.  We are also trying to reconnect with a couple ladies we had the pleasure of meeting during our time with Team in Training at the Montreal  Rock n' Roll Marathon but we are trying to convince them they need to come experience the north.......Wish us luck!


If anyone has races that they think we should try please let us know here or on our Facebook page.  We'd love to hear from you!

Long may we run,

Denise and Jessica

Fall Run Season - It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I read somewhere that summer bodies are made from winter running.  While this may be true and I applaud the author for those words of wisdom,  fall running may not produce a bikini body but fall runs are like comfort food.  They feed the soul.

Running with the warm autumn sun on your face while the air is still chilled from the morning.  Maybe a little fog left on the horizon because the sun hasn't fully warmed it away.

Clicking away the kilometers as you notice the calm stillness of the lake (if you are lucky enough to have one to look at like we do here) and see the trees showing their full beauty. Getting to wear a long sleeve shirt instead of sweating to death in a tank top.    

Speaking of fall races ( I know great segway)

After having a conversation with another local runner about the lack of fall runs in Sudbury, we did some poking around and found out we actually have a lot to look forward to in Sudbury as we  head into October so we thought we'd share what we found with you and let you have at it.

October 5th    Run for the Cure     Venue:  Cambrian College

October 14th   Turkey Gobbler Run   Venue:  Walden Ski Trails

October 19th  The Northern Run    Venue:  Skead Community Centre

October 20th  Colours of Hope 5Km   Venue:  Lake Laurentian Conservation Area Trails

October 25th  Superheroes vs Villains   Venue:  Adanac Ski Trail

There's nothing quite like fall running but it is short lived in the north so take advantage of it while you can and get in a few races to round out your season.

Long may we run.

D

Ramsey Tour - Race Recap

What a great event!

Considering the weather the previous day I was a little concerned but as weather goes, it was just the perfect weather for running.  Cool to start but the sun was out to remind you that summer had just ended and enough of a breeze to keep you cool and not be considered a head wind.

If ever there was an underestimated race in the running season it's the Sudbury Masters Continental Insulation Ramsey Tour (Ramsey Tour for short ) The race itself is a grass roots type run that's been around for many years.  It's championed by the anyone who's ever run either the 5 Km or 1/2 marathon courses and the attendance is annually supported by participants from Sudbury Rocks Run Club and Track North.

The 1/2 marathon course is one of the most challenging courses I've run (and I've done San Francisco!) but it's one of the most beautifully scenic courses so you can forgive the difficulty.

This year I was very excited to see some of the same volunteers as years past but a few new faces as well and I heard they were up to 5 aid stations this year!  Big shout out to the volunteers,  they rock!

The route is as the name suggests,  a complete once around Lake Ramsey and to put it mildly, HILLY but nothing that would worry a Sudburian.  Except that lovely little ditty known as cardiac hill but really.....walk it.......there's no shame in it.  The "hilly" only lasts for the first 6 Km and then it's long stretches of flat or almost flat terrain that passes along Lake Ramsey for the better part of the remainder of the race.  The hills are forgivable.

This year we had 5 water stations along the route so you can definitely run without the cumbersome fuel belt if you so choose but there is no gel station so remember to pack em if you got em'.  There are also no port a potties, so be sure to go at the start, because at this time of year you may not have the leafy privacy coverage you need. 

This is definitely a course you could try for a PB on,  the local runners do!  Although I have now resided it to be a Sunday LSD because with the great views and perfect weather they seem to get every year,  I want to enjoy every kilometer of the course  . With 50 participants in the 1/2 marathon average finish time was almost a 50/50 split in the pack with just over half finishing  this year's race sub-2.

I will definitely run this race again. It's hard to beat a race with great community support, a great course,  perfect weather and ice cream when you are finished!  

Two Deux Crazy Thumbs Up!
Oh yeah...and me?  A lovely little LSD brought in at 2:16

Long may we run,

D.  






SudburyMasters Continental Insulation Ramsey Tour

BOUNCE Energy Balls

 Jessica and I are always looking for a good post long run protein snack that we can get into us within 20 mins of our run that doesn't taste like chocolate cardboard and that isn't so big that we have to force the last half of it down in order to get the right amount of protein we need to recover.

Look what we found!

This little baby has 12g of Protein!

We first came across the Bounce Energy Balls while we were training for the Mississauga Marathon.  We happened to be at our local Bulk Barn looking for snacks and there they were in their pretty bite size packaging just begging us to pick them up and check them out.

PROS:

• They taste great!  They come in 6 flavours - I've tried 3 so far!
• They aren't filled with a lot of processed garbage that I can't pronounce and the are GMO free!
• The come in this perfect little package that literally fits in the smallest pocket in my run bag.
• The don't hit my stomach like a brick after a long run - I can eat the whole thing.

CONS:

• Of the 6 flavours available on-line only 4 are available in my local store.
• Jess can't finish the whole thing.  She now eats 1/2 as part of her recovery.

Just a side note:  We did a little research on the company to see what they were all about and I have to say that when a company's world wide question is "What Would You Do If You Had The Balls?" You just had to know that we were gonna love them!

Run Sudbury - Rave Runs in my city

People who are not runners or are run curious will often give me "the look" when I tell them that I'm training for a marathon - you know the one, it's a cross between: you're crazy! and where the heck to you run that much in Sudbury?  So I thought I would pass along some of my favorite run routes in and around the city to give you some insight of why you should run here if you get the chance.

 As always, there are some things need to know about running Sudbury:

 We have hills.  Lots of hills!  We are a city built out of a basin and most of the runs that you could do while staying with family or at a hotel will give you a hill within the first 2-3Km. 

Sudbury almost 200Km of beautiful trails that weave across the city. Runners can partake in portions of the trail system  during a road run or make a full trail run all on their own.  If you are a trail lover or just want to try something different make sure you check out what Sudbury's trails have to offer.

Sudbury has it's own marathon race weekend!  Sudbury Rocks!  Race, Run or Walk for Diabetes  This race offers a Marathon & Team Relay,  1/2 Marathon, 10Km, 5Km, and Kids 1Km.  

And probably most important;  Whether you are a first-time runner or a long-time runner, you will always have a route to run or someone to run with when you pop into the Sudbury Running Room  for their FREE Run Club. 

Here's a tour of  my favourite places to run.  Check em' out,  Come Run Sudbury!

4.4Km
This single loop run takes you through Bell Park along beautiful Ramsay Lake, past Science North and the Sudbury Art Gallery

9.9 Km
This loop goes through some beautiful south end neighbourhoods, along the Laurentian Path to the grounds of Laurentian University.

14Km
This loop runs toward the west end of the city, crosses into the downtown and rounds out by running along Lakes Ramsay.

18 Km
This loop runs along three of the main roads in Sudbury and crosses through New Sudbury and the downtown area

Long may we run,

D.

Running in Northern Ontario - Look what I found!

Now as most of you know, this running sport we love can be a wee bit costly and with the average race weekend out of town running as much as $400.00 for a weekend for race entry, gas, meals, and hotel (- think I'm crazy? do the math, I think you'll be surprised!) I thought it was high time that I started checking out races close to home.

For some reason, I thought that it would be harder to find races and places to run in Northern Ontario but it was really just as simple as going our local run club websit and lo and behold,  15+ races ranging from 5Km to Full Marathons! All within 2 hours of my home, all $60 or less (for the distances I was looking at) and all between May and December.  

So, I did what any penny-pinching part of a running duo would do......... I texted my running mate and told her how much money we were going to save and gave her the list of races to choose from!

Here's the list of races happening in the North in 2013 here is the Sudbury Rocks Running Club Website for a link to all the races listed below   http://www.sudburyrocks.ca/events.htm

http://www.sudburyrocksmarathon.com
http://runwalk4patrick.ca
http://tristyle.weebly.com/
http://www.friendlymasseymarathon.com
http://www.stjosephislandtriathlon.com
http://www.waldenxc.com  Turkey Gobbler Trail Run
http://www.sudburyrocks.ca/Events%202010/2012/Wiky%20Poster%202012.pdf
http://tristyle.weebly.com/zombie-run.html
http://www.hauntedhustle.com/default.html

We'll keep you posted on which ones we choose,  hope to see you at a race this year!
D