This morning I opened my email to find this from iRun...

WAIT--that's me! The emailer linked to the RBC Race for the Kids ambassador page with my profile and those of my fellow race ambassadors. I am truly honoured to be featured and sincerely hope that it will help raise awareness for the race and important cause. 

I've had such an incredible experience working with the RBC Race for the Kids,Sunnybrook Foundation and New Balance Toronto teams since becoming an ambassador last year, and then again for 2016. I've seen the huge impact the funds raised for the race can make in helping youth experiencing mental health distress.

Honestly, it's very easy to be a cheerleader for this race even beyond the charitable cause. It's extremely well organized, offers three distances, is both family-friendly and timed for those wanting a true race experience and the party after is like no other race I have been to. If you'd like to learn more, have a look at the website or contact me, I'd be happy to help. 

If you aren't a runner but just want to support a great cause, you can donate to support my racehere. 

2016 was the first year the Heart and Stroke Foundation added a run/walk race to their very popular Becel Ride for Heart cycling event. I was one of several race ambassadors brought on board to get the word out about this new addition. 

On race day several of the ambassadors gathered in the VIP area to chat, have some snacks and grab a photo or two. Before we knew it, the announcer was calling for the 10K race participants to enter the corrals. A few friends were racing or walking the 5K and a few others had gathered to cheer. There was lots of energy in the air even though the event had started many hours prior for the cyclists. The number of people participating in this event was incredibly impressive. An estimated 25,000 people had signed up to participate and funds raised towards heart and stroke research. We wandered towards the start along the highway on-ramp. We could see cyclists in the westbound lanes crossing the finish. The runners and walkers would be taking over the eastbound lanes. As we approached the overpass start area, we saw a drone filming the scene from above and huge heart balloons on the bridge. People we cheering and soon we were off! 

After a kilometer or so I remembered that I was running on the raised highway, something that has never been done before! I couldn't help but stop and take photos along the way. I had had thoughts of trying for a PB time, but with such a unique race, I wanted to enjoy the scenery, people and vibe. Unfortunately at some point it seems that someone moved the 10K turn around sign but left a long line of pylons, so the runners didn't know where to turn and wound up adding a kilometer to their sight-seeing race. Upon our return west we saw a staff member frantically moving signs and pylons around. Hopefully if anyone had been going for a personal best they had passed prior to the mix up. We continued on and then met up with the huge crowds of walkers going the other way. A few more photo opportunities and then it was back down the incline to the finish! My friends were on the sidelines cheering loudly which gave me the boost I needed to sprint to the finish. One of my slowest races, but it was definitely one with a lot of impact.

We made our way through the long exit to Heart Park, medals, food, music and more photos. We relaxed here for awhile, meeting friends, eating, taking photos and enjoying the atmosphere. It was a great morning.

​Thanks to all who supported me in raising funds for the race and to the Heart and Stroke foundation for having me as a race ambassador! 

Recently I started focusing my efforts on shorter distance races. With the flat route of the Toronto Women's 5K course, I'd hoped to come close to my PB time from earlier this spring at Achilles. Unfortunately an early heat wave moved into the province blanketing it in dangerous temperatures. The race organizers recommended participants treat the race like a fun run and even shortened the half marathon distance to 12K and eliminated any age awards to try to discourage people from racing hard. 

I felt really good heading into the race. The Don Valley was nicely shaded when I arrived, parked and did my warm up. I lined up at the start and decided to stick to my plan and bail out if the heat started to affect me. My first kilometer was mostly shaded and felt good. Four to go. The second was slower but perfectly in line with what I would need for a PB. Although I'd pre-hydrated well, my throat started to feel very dry and raspy. I had it in my mind that the water station was at the turn around point and but alas it was closer to 3K. Between the turn around and the water station my energy started to diminish and my quads started to ache which typically never happens to me in a race. With each of the next three kilometers, my pace slowed slightly. My effort remained the same, but I just couldn't hold the pace in the heat.  

I managed a final burst at the end and crossed the finish line. Everyone else crossing looked the same...hot and exhausted. I downed some much welcomed water, a banana, chatted with a few friends and then made the trek back to my car and cranked up the AC for the drive home. 

Another learning experience. In talking with my coach Michelle about running in the heat, she reminded me that our bodies are programmed to protect us, so will only let us push so hard before waving the caution flag.

There is always next time--and hopefully it won't be as hot! 

--I've come to realize runners are constantly learning and evolving. My coach Michelle is an excellent example of this. On Monday we met for coffee and she shared her story of running the Ottawa Marathon and capturing her Boston Marathon qualifying time. You may remember that I cheered for Michelle this winter as she crushed the Canadian Master's W40 indoor track record for 5000M.  A marathon and indoor track 5000M are two very different races! Since meeting Michelle, she's raced various distances on the track, several road distances, trail and cross country.  She's been running since childhood and I found it interesting to see how much her interests and abilities evolve. 

In my first year and a half of running, I tailored my training around stepping up my race distances: 5K, 8K, 10K, 15K, 10M, half marathon and 30K. The next year I focused most of my efforts on 10K races and a fall half marathon and managed to get a PB in each. Heading into this year my only race requirement was that the distance wasn't further than a half marathon due to the amount of time required for training and risk of injury. I signed up for two spring half marathons, Chilly and Mississauga. Looking back on those races I can't help but remember the struggles I had during each. Yes, I'm still looking forward returning to the half marathon course I know and love at STWM this fall--but I've started wondering if maybe those longer race struggles are telling me something. 

When I ask myself which races I am most proud of--the answer would be my 10K at Toronto Yonge Street in 2015, and the Achilles 5K this spring. Why do these stand out?  They were painful. But the pain was different than the pain I feel when I start to fade on a half marathon course. In both of these races I'd pushed incredibly hard leaving no doubt that I could have run any harder.  I held on for as long as I possibly could. I felt confident. And when I crossed those finish lines I was doubtful that I'd ever be able to better those times. That was a pretty good feeling.

Over the past couple months I've been comparing the feelings and results of my longer vs shorter race distances. While so many of my running friends are adding marathons and ultras to their calendars, I've suddenly got speed and short distances stuck in my brain. A few weeks ago the winter dome was removed from my local track. I was literally overjoyed to return, even know I knew the pain those laps would induce. I sent Michelle a message after my workout, telling her I'd just run my fastest 400 meter rep ever. She was impressed. So was I!

So I learn, I evolve. Maybe focusing on shorter distances that result in better times and feelings of pride are better for my confidence as a runner--at least for now.  There's something empowering in going for it and finishing knowing I've given everything I can.