Kortright...The first rainy and cold race of the series for me. When Maria, Kate and I arrived, we discovered the toasty-roasty indoor visitor centre with it's indoor washrooms. We couldn't stay inside forever so made our way out to find the girls. It was just drizzling thankfully. I wound up running this one with Leanne, Maria and Kate and know I slowed them down (I was still recovering from my 50K #6intheSix bike ride and half marathon), but since we were all out there for fun, they said they didn't mind (and I know to believe my friends when they say that now!) 

Upon finishing we got changed (now it was raining so I chose to not put on my dry pants, and yes, was asked repeatedly why I was wearing flip flops and shorts) and headed back to the finish to cheer in the Enduro girls. 

The crowd thinned drastically as the weather got worse and most of us huddled in the shelter. This is when I noticed a jar of pickles with only juice left. I pointed it out to Michelle and said maybe they would let her take it. She honestly looked like she'd won the pickle lottery! And that jar did not leave her hands even when accepting her awards or when Eric asked her to do some prize draws. I didn't snap a photo of it, but we were all sure that she was in heaven with a jar of pickles in one hand and the microphone in the other. 

Despite a rainy day, it was a great way to close out the season. 

Thank you Eric and Sue for and the whole 5 Peaks team for an awesome season! This girl is definitely buying a season's pass next year! 

It's been a year of trying new things in running. In the dead of winter I tried my first indoor track races. I joined the Ontario Masters Athletics and competed against myself and others in mini meets, and then the Ontario and Canadian championships. In April I realized that running through mud and puddles was easier than around them in my very first trail race with 5 Peaks. In May team Endorphriends ran 300+ kilometers from Cobourg to Niagara as part of the Ragnar relay. Then in September we did it again but on the trail.  As part of the OMA I ran extra races that were part of the road race series. So, when fall arrived and the chance to try a cross country race arose, I decided I had nothing to lose. 

Looking back I realize that had I not have tried track and trail racing prior to doing my first ever cross country race I would have likely dropped out. According to this newbie I'd say that cross country was a combination of the gut wrenching effort on the track but on a trail environment.

The fact that the race was a short bike ride from my house definitely helped convince me to sign up. It was fun seeing many of the familiar faces I'd seen during the track season. It helped to make me a little less nervous about trying something totally new. Unlike any of the road races I'd done, everyone lined up in a huge, wide pack at the start. The interesting part about starting in this way is that you can see just how much faster the front of the pack truly is! The route went across a park and then down into the Taylor Creek trail system. After the crowd thinned in the first two kilometers, I was honestly shocked that I had anyone behind me. The fact that I passed another runner and then kept the handful of runners behind me felt like a win! It was a hard run. I know my heart rate was soaring. The last kilometer featured a grassy hill that tried to take anything I had left. And of course at the top of the hill is when you know everyone at the finish can see you as you are wanting to keel over! While I definitely walked a good chunk of the hill, I managed to regain my pace at the top and finish with what I felt was a good time for my first cross country race! 

So when you sign up for Ragnar road or trail, you look at the distance and difficulty of the three legs you'll be running to judge how you'll do and feel.

What I never factored in were the 'extra' kilometers that weren't on the race plan. The kilometers of walking to and from the van. To and from the campsite. To and from the washroom. To and from food. And all of these extra kilometers? Every step is for the team, for the fun, for the experience. 

​Worth it? Absolutely.