Road Running Rule#1. Don't finger a red neck.

Today was a planned 3hr road run in preparation for the May 1st Vancouver Marathon. I was actually looking forward to the tedious out and back workout. No cougars, no snow, can start at an early hour, and no hills! I also forgot how much distance you can cover in 3hrs! (27k in my case) I live in downtown Squamish and ran out to the Paradise Valley. That's regarded as a far drive let alone run. I kept waiting for the watch to hit 1:30 so I could run home! But no, just kept running farther and farther from it. Not sure I actually knew everyone who honked and waved, but I smiled and waved back. I fingered one guy. He drove so close to me even though both lanes were free. Not surprising the truck was missing its muffler and the driver was smoking. I know he's just jealous that I'm all athletic, fit, and healthy(kidding, but kinda not) but that gives him no reason to scare me off the road. So I fingered him. Not really the smartest move for a Blondie on her lonesome, early in the morning on a less than busy road. I waiting for the sound of screeching breaks...but he didn't come back for my head, so I live to tell the tale. So in the end I didn't see any cougars, just a hungover bitter redneck. *judgemental pants coming off*

#70 "Because it motivates others to be more active."

Local athlete and author Margreet Dietz just completed her book "A Hundred Reasons to Run 100km" I'm reason # 70 "Because it motivates others to be more active."

Excerpt of A Hundred Reasons to Run 100km

Shannon MacLeod has inspired the entire daycare centre where she works. A relatively novice runner, she boldly signed up for the six-day 226-km Coastal Challenge footrace in Costa Rica and trained hard for seven months. When she registered for the race, she'd yet to run her first marathon. Six months later she ran her second marathon as a training day for her multi-day event. Many people told her she was nuts. Others, especially her colleagues at the daycare, thought she was amazing. And the little kids thought it was pretty cool, too. She organized a special Costa Rica-themed week during which the daycare's children learned more about the country bordered by Nicaragua and Panama, particularly about its animals as it's one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world. Many kids drew her good-luck pictures and there was a party when she came home to celebrate her successful finish. Because all the children at the daycare followed her progress, many have told their parents they want to run in Costa Rica too when they grow up. Maya Teleki, a friend and former colleague from Bloomberg News who's recently begun running with her 10-year-old son, told me how enthusiastic she was about my 100km race because it reminded her of the ultrarunning teacher she had as a youngster. “I remember having a substitute teacher in either high school or junior high who had done a century run—he had this massive belt buckle on that said 100. It made a big impression then, and still does.”

The books blog:
http://ahundredreasonstorun100km.blogspot.com/

Back on the Grid

Well I must say I've been away from blogging for far too long! Partly because I have no Internet, and partly because I had taken a break from serious running and training. In January I signed up with Jen Segger again. For personal training, and as a member of her new Challenge by Choice studio, located here in Squamish BC. http://www.challengebychoice.ca/ I think part of the reason I've been keen to run again is the studio. 3-4x a week I'm doing a spin, or C3(Strength/Endurance) class there. Keeping me on track, and giving me a chance to be social. I'm also excited about racing again and have jumped back into it. Goals for 2011 are:
March 12-Dirty Duo 25k(done-blog to come)
May 1st-Vancouver Marathon
June 4th-Whistler 1/2
June 26th- Comfortably Numb
August 6th- Stormy 50 miler.

Big list of fall races too-but I'll get to that in the fall.
Other than that I'm so ready for some clear, rain free trails!