“But I’m tired,” I moaned and huffed as my mother and I arrived at a crosswalk with the red hand flashing.
“There are no red lights in marathons,” my mother would say.
“Keep jogging on the spot!”
My mother, Gabriella, transformed her life through running. At times, it seemed that running was the new love of her life in place of me, her daughter. I would wait in the early mornings for what seemed like forever for my mom to come back from her long runs. I would be the last one to be picked up at birthday parties due to her running.
The Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend continued its status as a double IAAF Gold Label event, along with both the marathon and 10K events serving as the Canadian Championships. Over 32,000 participants from around the world ran, walked and rolled to the finish line in events including 2K, 5K, 10K, 21.1K and the sold-out 42.2K.
It was the final race as Race Director for John Halvorsen, who is leaving Run Ottawa to return to the high-tech world. A former two-time Olympic finalist in the 10,000 metre event, John was honoured at the President’s Reception for his work to build this weekend into a world-class race. John will soon be inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame as a Builder and an Athlete, both richly deserved honours. Continue reading “Tamarack Ottawa Marathon”
On the shores of Lake Ontario, the sun rises on a calm, brisk fall morning. A certain energy falls over the streets of Oakville, where runners and walkers take their place in the Start Line chute. They are waiting to put their summer training to the test at the 13th annual Nutrience Oakville Half Marathon on October 5-6, 2019. The horn goes off and participants set off on their 21.1K journey through the streets of beautiful Oakville.
This fall must-run event will take participants through the most scenic areas of Oakville, with a brand-new route that begins and ends at Shell Park. The new route presents runners with the opportunity for new personal bests, with sights including Coronation Park, the Lake Ontario waterfront and Bronte Harbour. When surveyed, 90% of participants said they will run the event again, and we look forward to welcoming them back this year. Continue reading “2019 Nutrience Oakville Half Marathon”
In May 1999, eight women set foot—or rather, running shoe—into the Bank Street Running Room in Ottawa, for the first day of the 10-week 10K training program. The goal? To run and complete the Rattle Me Bones race. Each of the women had an individual reason for joining this clinic: lose weight, run faster, set a personal best time, meet new people, and so on.
The clinic leaders welcomed runners, both new and veteran, and outlined how the evening and next 10 weeks would unfold. Every week, participants would be greeted by then-store manager Phil Marsh as they arrived. Runners gathered around clothing racks, perused the latest styles and eventually huddled with those of equal running pace while they waited in anticipation for the session to start. The weekly routine entailed a guest speaker and a breakdown of the evening’s workout—followed by packs of runners taking over the Rideau Canal path for their scheduled group run. Continue reading “Say Hello to the Run-elles”
The body has hundreds of muscles of various types—slow twitch, fast twitch, skeletal, smooth and cardiac, to name a few. Muscles provide their power by contracting and relaxing, thereby generating a force that causes movement. Running muscles require a strong anchor (where one end of the muscle attaches to a bone or ligament) and the other end of the muscle connects to the flexible part of the limb. When that muscle contracts or shortens, movement of the joint is produced.
The science behind this muscle contraction and relaxation is very complex. It involves proteins called actin and myosin, along with various other elements including calcium, potassium, sodium and water. This is why it is so important to supply the fuel (water, electrolytes, etc.) for the muscles to work while you are training. Continue reading “Muscle Strains”
Racing in a different city or town can be exciting—however, changes to your food choices or eating schedule can lead to stomach issues and under-fuelling. With a bit of planning and preparation, you can optimize your fueling strategy and be prepared to perform your best on race day.
Before You Go
During the week leading up to your departure, do some advance research. If travelling on a plane, check if food and drink will be allowed onboard. Re-read the details of your accommodations to confirm if breakfast is included. If yes, see when it is served and if this aligns with your pre-race schedule. Find out what kinds of items will be provided, particularly if you have allergies or specific dietary needs. Do an online search to locate the nearest restaurants and grocery stores. Continue reading “Nutrition Tips For Destination Races”
My name is Stephanie Thompson and I run to raise awareness for mental health.
My friend Sam Chefero and I are from Aurora, ON. Together we recently conquered the Oakville Half Marathon with an added challenge: I was running blindfolded tethered to my running guide, Sam. I was running in the complete dark for the entire 21K race. For me, this blindfolded experience symbolized what it can feel like struggling with mental health; alone, consumed by your thoughts and surrounded by darkness. Continue reading “GTA Women Runs Oakville Half Marathon Blindfolded”
Humility is hard to find. When you encounter someone who has it, it is like a breath of fresh air. Lucas McAneney is such a person. I met Lucas a few years ago, as a customer of the Running Room store he managed. We chatted and compared notes about races we had in common. Imagine my surprise when I later found out that this friendly store manager was actually an elite runner who has won the Mississauga Marathon, won the Oakville Half Marathon, won the Ottawa Marathon, placed fourth at the Buffalo Marathon, competed in the Pan Am Games, and many other elite running credentials. Continue reading “Learning From Lucas”
Here is one more update on the Running Room Athletic Club’s success in the last few months.
The RRAC men and women both picked up wins at the first event in the 2019 New Balance Run Alberta XC series. Lisa Stewart was 2nd in the lady’s race while Charles Allen grabbed 3rd spot on the men’s side. Leonard Chesoo won the men’s race representing his university here in Edmonton.
Tom McGrath was victorious at the Stoney Plain half marathon while Savanna Boutin did the same at the Regina Queen city half. Kirk Sundt claimed top spot in the 10K in Stoney Plain. Kirk also picked up the win at the St. Paul Rodeo mile here in Alberta back in August.
On the “other side of the pond” Vanessa Trofimenkoff continued her strong summer racing with a 3rd place at the Dingle Half marathon in Ireland.
Photo: Ian Pelly
Kerry LaBrecque picked up a win at a 14K tough trail race at Mont Set Marie and got the win at the Ottawa Army Run 10K.
At the NBXC series race #2 in Red Deer, the RRAC ladies picked up their 2nd victory with Alecia Kallos leading the way in 3rd place overall. The men were lead by Mike Nishiyama in 3rd place but the team could only manage 3rd place on the day. Leonard Chesoo picked up his 2nd victory in the series running for Concordia University of Edmonton.
Alex Ricard continued his strong summer racing, picking up two more wins on the left coast: he won the Valley to Peak 23km in Whistler and the Grouse Grind in Vancouver.
When shopping for running gear, you’ve likely seen or heard about “moisture wicking” as a desirable feature. But what does that term really mean, and will wearing this type of clothing actually help your training? Don’t sweat it—we’ve got a quick lesson for you about this impressive textile technology. Continue reading “Moisture-Wicking 101”
