Running

This past weekend I ran the Rocky Mountain Soap Run in Canmore at the Nordic Centre.  It was the first time I had run the 10K race.  I joined my friend, Nichole, who has run in previous years with a group of girls who have made this an annual event.  Nichole and I drove to Canmore on the Saturday morning for the run and the temperature went from +16 in Calgary to +7 with clouds threatening rain in Canmore.  However, cooler temperatures aren't such a bad thing for a run but we were chilled starting the race.  We were grateful to see the sun peek out for our run.  It was a difficult route, being in the mountains.  We ran the first 5K and then looped back again for the second half of the run.  I am still not sure if not knowing what is coming is better or actually knowing what was coming the second time around.  It is true that being mentally prepared helps in these situations and I wish that I would have set smaller goals and visualized a little more on the run.  Something to keep in mind for the next run.  The other aspect of the run that I found difficult was the altitude that made it hard for me to catch my breath at times.  The run was amazing though and I would do it again.  The feel of running in such a picturesque setting with the panoramic views of the mountains is like nothing else.  I kept saying to Nichole how beautiful it was and realized just how much I had missed the mountains.  Looking forward to spending more time in the mountains when we move back this summer.  

My official time for the race was 1:02:01 which I was a little disappointed with until I did a reality check - mountains and altitude that gave me some difficulty.  So, didn't do it in less than 58 which was initially my goal, but all in all pretty good.

After the race, Nichole and I enjoyed a hot tub and steam before getting ready for some shopping in Canmore.  Love the little shops around there and enjoyed just a relaxing afternoon followed by a nap before we went out for a late supper.  We had supper at The Trough which despite it's name, is a fabulous restaurant and we had a wonderful evening of visiting and great food.  Such a nice weekend getaway.  Maybe this will become an annual event!

And tomorrow I am off to Calgary.  Hoping to get in a short run along the river, pick up my race pacakge at the expo on Saturday, and then my half marathon is Sunday morning.  I can't believe the day has come and I am not entirely sure I am ready.  I am so nervous but also excited.  I was reading on-line just the other day about visualization and it reminded me of Brian who leads our run group giving me some advice.  Aside from encouraging me and telling me to just enjoy running the race and not getting caught up with my time for my first half, he said to work on setting short term goals along your run.  Seeing a marker in the distance and setting a pace to get there and achieving it.  Then set another goal and so on and so forth.  He talked about the importance of long goals of registering, training, and finishing a race but how the run itself needs to be made up of the smaller goals to help you visualize and see you through to completion.  Hopefully with the preparation I have done to this point, it will be successful.  I will post sometime next week with my Half Marathon experience.  Wish me luck!

Pre-Race

Post-Race

 

 

The Trough - Enjoying our Bellini's