I'm A Forest City Road Races Ambassador

I am so excited!  My absolute favourite race is the Forest City Road Race, and I've been chosen as an ambassador for the 2015 race!    It's my favourite race for many reasons (see the blog post links below for my posts after each of my #FCRR 5k races), but it is, in my opinion, one of the best organized and friendliest races to run.  It is for people of all abilities and everyone is cheered along the course by the volunteers and staff.  


Read my recap of my experience of the 2014 FCRR (and how we missed the start!)
http://fitandhealthyjourney.blogspot.ca/2014/05/forest-city-road-races-5k-race-recap.html


This is my recap of my first FCRR (2013) & the reasons why it is SO special to me.
http://fitandhealthyjourney.blogspot.ca/2013/05/my-first-5k-race.html

#FCRR 

Keep watching here for posts about my training for the 2015 race - I need to really get at it because I've been off for an injury!  

I'll also be posting about the running analysis I am having done (this should be interesting to find out what I am doing right and wrong).

You can also follow me on Twitter at  www.twitter.com/envigeurfitness

My daughter & I running the FCRR in 2014

MEC 6K Trail Race

This past Mother's Day, my youngest daughter and I ran our first trail race and our first race over 5k. 

What a great way I spend Mother's Day, up early and exercising :)  Not everyone's idea of the ideal way to spend the holiday, but I think it is! 

I love to run on the trails around my home, and the rougher, the better!!  So, I was psyched for this race. It was at a local conservation area and by a river and a lake, and the scenery was beautiful. 

Unfortunately, a lot of the "trail" was grass and gravel road running which wasn't what I was hoping. I actually hate running on grass, and especially when the grass is wet. Ugh. There was only a small section that was what I consider a trail.  

All in all, it was a good race, just not what I was hoping.  The distance wasn't a problem, and I am hoping that eventually I can do a 10k. 

I don't think I will do another trail race here again, but then you never know, I might change my mind again. :)

     The start/finish line of the race 

My daughter and I at the lake after the race

It is beautiful there, a nice Mother's Day morning 

My Mother's Day breakfast. They had a flower for all of the moms who ran that day. 

Forest City Road Races 5k Race Recap

The Forest City Road Race is my must-do race, the one I just can't miss.  I must admit that I have only ran two so far, but they won't be the only ones - I will run this one every year as long as I can.  

Part of the reason it is so special is because in 2012 it was the first race my daughter and I had ever run (we caught the racing bug because of it!), and also because it is so well organized and the volunteers are amazing!!  All along the course the volunteers are there clapping and cheering you on; they keep you motivated and have such energy, it just seems to give you more energy to run faster.  

My daughter and I were excited to run this year's 5k race again (next year I'm aiming for the 10k!!).  I had my hubby drive us and he was supposed to drop us off close to the starting area so I didn't have to worry about parking.  Unfortunately he took a wrong turn and we got stuck in traffic that had stopped for the half-marathon group to run through.  With only 10 min until the start of the 5k, my daughter and I knew we'd never make it in the car, so we got out and ran/speedwalked to the starting area.  We were still a couple blocks away when we heard the starting gun go off.  Talk about disappointed!!  We kept on going, and got to the starting line and saw that they were tearing it down.  Looking around, I found a race official and asked if we could still go.  He just said he needed to take a picture of our race bibs and then we could go.  So, five minutes after the starting gun went off, we crossed the imaginary start line.

Our view of the field of runners after our late start.

Needless to say, we were already tired from the run to the start line (I calculated it later and it was about 2km that we had to run to get there), and to top it off, we  couldn't see anyone else who was in the race.  

It felt pretty bleak, and our motivation was low, but soon we saw a few of the walkers in the race up ahead.  My daughter would pick out a person, and that was our goal to pass that person.  We were NOT going to finish last!!  

Getting close to the end, we had already passed a few runners
Photo credit: www.zoomphoto.ca

So after passing each person, we'd set another person as a goal and try to pass them.  It worked, it gave us small goals to move forward and we slowly kept passing people.  I had planned to set a PR this race, but I don't think I did.  For one, all we had for a time was the gun time (our chip on our bib wasn't activated because we were so late) so I don't know how we did, and we had already tired ourselves out running the 2km before the race and stressing out about not getting there fast enough.  

Almost at the finish line.
Photo credit: www.zoomphoto.ca

Setting a PR doesn't matter, just being able to get to the starting line and running the race AND finishing it is what matters. Plus, my daughter and I did it together, motivating each other and sticking together.  Well, we stayed together until the home stretch where she made her dash like she always does.

Love this pic
Photo credit: www.zoomphoto.ca

We got our medals and felt great!  Tired, but great.  

We almost did 10k, I think we can do that next year.  That's the goal!

After the race and with our finishers' medals - we did it!

My shoes, bling and bib. 

First Race of the Year

This past Sunday was my first race of this year.  It was a last-minute entry (and right after I signed up, I fell down the stairs at home - click here to read about that), but it was a date that worked for all 3 of us running.  The weather called for rain all day and warm temps, but luckily it didn't rain at all during the race.  It was quite warm at 21C, which we haven't been accustomed to (and yesterday and today it snowed and is below freezing - crazy spring weather this year). 

I was unable to run the whole thing because of my still-sprained toes, but I was able to run/walk the whole course. My best friend ran her first race with us that day, and I made sure that she wasn't stuck behind with me and urged her to go ahead an enjoy her race :)  She did and finished with a good time and a sense of accomplishment.  I think I have passed the running bug onto someone else now :)  

My youngest daughter and I post-race

My toes and leg are healing, and I am training for my next run in two weeks time.  It will just be my daughter and I running that one, but that one is a special one to us.  It is the same race that was our first race last year - so I guess it will be our one year "race-versary"???  Sounds like a reason to celebrate!

Myself, my best friend, and my daughter

Upcoming Race & Injury Update

You might remember that I fell down my stairs last Sunday and hurt my left leg and sprained my toes/foot.  (to read the blog post click here).  Real smart move, as I had just signed up for a 5k the following Sunday.

So I haven't been able to run all week, except one small run/walk to test everything out.  I will do the race, but likely only be able to run/walk the race.  I am kinda upset with myself, but I don't want to push running too much and delay healing of my foot & leg because I have another race in just 2 weeks.  My daughter, the sweetie, said she'll stay with me during the race and we'll "run" it together.  :)

Wish me luck, and I'll let you know how it went.  Oh, and please pray for nice weather, they are forecasting lots of rain for Sunday.

Lola is very sad because we haven't been doing training runs :(

Ooops!

It was a beautiful weekend, it almost felt like spring!  Lola and I were excited to get out for a nice run to enjoy the weather.  It was beautiful, and I didn't even need a coat!  

Lola

Lola & I stop for a selfie

After my run, I was feeling great, and signed up for a race next weekend, and planned my training runs.  By doing this, I must have jinxed myself.   I was stupid, careless, klutzy, whatever you want to call it, but I fell down the stairs later that evening.  I'm lucky that I'm not seriously injured, but I am very sore and may only be walking my race now. :/   When I fell, I "slid" down the stairs with my left leg behind and under me, so from my knee right to my toes is pretty banged up, and I can't bend my toes.  Fiddlesticks!!  (Yeah, for those that know me I may have used more colourful language).

So for now, I'll use the stationary bike for cardio, and do some upper body strength training and hope my leg heals in time for me to run at least part of the race on the weekend.

Have you done something stupid before a race?  

Hurry Up Spring!!

This winter has been so long and nasty, that my runs (and truth be told there weren't as many as there should have been) all had to be on the treadmill.  So when this past week had two "nice" days (days above the freezing point), Lola and I took advantage and went for a run outside.  The trails are still too muddy, so we took the roads, but it was so nice we just had to get out.

Hopefully spring is just around the corner, and I can get back on the trails to train for my first race of the year in April!!

Lola - "come on mom, hurry up"!!

Kisses from Lola - thanking me for the run

Lola and I enjoying the spring-like weather.

Another reason for me to be anxious for spring to arrive, is that I won a Garmin!!  Thanks to Caroline at www.iheartrunning.com for the giveaway!!  I am really hoping that this weekend is nice enough to go outside for a run and test it out :)

My new Garmin I won from www.iheartrunning.com

Shubeez Review and a GIVEAWAY!!

I was recently sent samples of Shubeez to review and to do a giveaway.  I was so excited to received my package of Shubeez!  I love the fact that you can use them to motivate yourself, or to show others your motivation. You can also use them to show others your accomplishments!!

I chose the Believe for my shoe to remind myself that I can do this, I am a runner no matter how slowly I go.  I also chose the 13.1 because running a half marathon is on my bucket list :) :)  I have to believe that I can do it!

I was excited to get my package of Shubeez!

Shubeez has additional shoe tags available on their website.  They now have 5k, Beat Cancer, Team In Training, Hope (for breast cancer awareness), Pi Day, and Run for Boston tags.  Go to their website and check them out. 

You have a chance to win either a 13.1 or 26.2 Shubeez for yourself.  Instructions on how to win are listed below.

My new Shubeez!!  I <3 them

For your chance to win either a 13.1 or a 26.2 Shubeez, leave a comment below about what your running goals are.  It doesn't have to be any specific distance, can be any goal :)

Entries will be accepted until October 12th, and winners announced on October 14th.

Good luck!!! 

If you can't wait to win one, you can go to their online store at http://shop.shubeez.com/

I was provided a free sample from Shubeez in exchange for a review. I was not monetarily compensated nor required to provide a positive feedback.  The opinions expressed in this post are solely my own. 

My First Color Run

THE COLOR RUN

My daughters and I recently did The Color Run, the "happiest 5k on the planet".   We had been looking forward to this race (my oldest daughter's first race) since we saw that it was coming to Canada.  

I thought it was going to be a large race, but I was surprised to find out there were 7000 people there!!  That's a lot of people in one small space!
We were lucky enough to be the second wave of runners to start the race.  I am not sure how many waves there were, but I think quite a few.

At the starting line

There were runners and walkers and even children.  Lots of people dressed up (seeing guys in tutus was pretty funny) and it was a very festive atmosphere.
It wasn't a timed race, so it was a more relaxed feeling.  We walked the race because my oldest daughter is not a runner, and we were there to get covered in colour, not to beat a time :)

BEFORE..

BEFORE  and....

AFTER

Some advice if you're thinking of running a colour run, put your phone or camera in a zip-up plastic bag.  You can still take pictures with it (although not as clear) and it will be protected from all of the dust. And there is a lot of dust, and it gets everywhere!! :)

Am I colourful enough?

We had a good time, and that is exactly what the colour run is all about.  If they come to our city next year, I think we'll be back for another run!! 

After the pink station and the blue station.

 

A very colourful finish line

My oldest daughter and I. She has asthma, so wore something over her nose
when we were being sprayed with colour

Two thumbs-up from my youngest

At the finish line everyone had a packet of coloured
powder and they were throwing it everywhere.

I was slightly dirty after. The green was
hard to get off

We were a tad colourful ;)

The colourful mess after the race 

Summer Night 5k Race Recap

My fourth race this year (my fourth race ever) was the Barking Frog Summer Night 5k.  I was looking forward to this evening race all summer, but as it got closer to the date, the summer heat and humidity kept climbing.  I am a new runner, and running in the heat is a struggle.

The heat and humidity made the run very very hard, and the thunderstorms
happened as I crossed the finish line.

So excited to use my "new" Garmin during the race.

I recently got a "new to me" Garmin just days before the race, and was excited to try it out during the race.
I love gadgets, and it's just one more toy to use when I track my runs :)

All ready to go!

The whole race was a struggle for me.  I was hot and sweating even before the race started - it was that hot and humid out.  I did a lot more walking during the race than I have ever done in a race, but I went with how I felt and figured it was better to finish the race on my own two feet than to be carried out on a stretcher (someone did leave via ambulance I was told later). 

As I was running the last half kilometer, I could hear the thunder booming behind me (good motivation to keep moving faster).  I was lucky that it started to rain only as I was coming up to the finish line (you can see rain drops in the pictures if you look closer enough).  Right after my finish ( I can say I was not last, I was slow, but not the slowest), the heavens opened up and there was a giant downpour and lightning.  My family and I had blocks to run to get to our car.  We made it safely, but totally drenched (which felt awesome after running in that heat).

Crossing the finish line.

My next race is in August, and it is the Colour Run.  I am so excited!!  I have never done a colour run (or anything like it), so I am not sure what to expect.  It should be fun, both of my daughters are doing the run with me - both the runner daughter and the non-runner daughter :) :)

I'll be sure to blog about it!!

The clouds opened up just as I was crossing the finish line.
Raindrops are actually visible in the picture.

My daughter crossing the finish line!

I'm Going To A Colour Run!!!

I am so excited that The Color Run is coming to Canada, and to a city very very close to me!!  This August my daughter and I will be running it.

This is one of the things (along with a tough mudder) on my "bucket list". I am too excited for words! 

Does anyone who has raced in a Colour Run have any advice?  I'd love to take pictures, but I am afraid of what the powder will do to my camera.  Any other suggestions?

Thanks!