Into the Runner's Mind

My running buddy in Vancouver, BC Johnnee, has recently started up a podcast - Into the Runners Mind. Being as Johnnee and I are good buddies it is not the shortest of interviews (well, we don't get to catch up often!). Check it out at:

http://bcjohnny.podbean.com/

Martin Parnell's Marathon Quest Anniversary Run - Dec 31st, Cochrane, AB

You think you run a lot? Well did you run 250 marathons last year? Martin Parnell, a wholly unassuming Brit living in Cochrane, Alberta did in 2010, and all to raise funds for Right to Play. I had the pleasure of meeting Martin at Comrades this year andhave seen him a few times since and the more I have chatted to Martin I am amazed about his dedication to raise money for Right to Play through setting up amazing challenges without the aim of self-promoting whatsoever. He just appears to love to run and loves to inspire kids to be active.

Martin will be celebrating the one year anniversary of the completion of h

is Marathon Quest (250 marathons in one year) by....you guessed it, running a marathon! Everyone is welcome to come join Martin to run anywhere from

2.5km to the full 42.2 in Cochrane on Dec 31st. Personally I can't think of a better way to end the year :)

2012 Race Schedule...so far...

With needing to book vacation time off work and with ultras now typically selling out months in advance it always comes to this time of year and I start sitting down planning what races I might do next year. Of course, it is hard to plan so far ahead sometimes but in a sense sitting down and thinking about what I want out of my running year, what goals I would like to achieve and what courses I would like to experience and challenge myself against is a good thing to do for any runner.

The list I have come up with for 2012, now it is down on paper, looks pretty ambitious to me! If I do actually realize all these races then it will be an action packed and demanding 12 months for sure. Maybe I am trying to bite off more than I can chew, but on the other hand, if my body and mind are able to do all of this, it would be a dream. I have tried to choose races that complement one another, races that are a mix of old favourites with less pressure and more about sharing good trail times with friends, to big goals that I have no idea how they will pan out and even if I can achieve them. There are quite a few races which are repetitions from this year, which may seem odd but to be honest, any racer learns a lot from the first time completing a course and so some I would like to go back to with my new found knowledge and see if I can improve.

So, with no further a do, my 'plans' (race entries, body and mind permitting) are:

March 17th - Chuckanut 50km, Bellingham, WA, USA

April 7th - American River 50 miler, Scaramento, CA, USA

April 22nd - London Marathon, UK.

June 3rd - Comrades 89km (downhill), Pietermaritzberg to Durban, South Africa

June 23rd - Western States 100 miler, Squaw Valley to Auburn, CA, USA

August 31st - UTMB, Chamonix, France

September 29th - UROC (Ultra Race of Champions) 100km, Virginia, USA

... I also have 2 or 3 other races September onwards that I am eyeing up and have pencilled in, but will wait and see a little on those.

Oh, and as for Chile being my last race of this year.... all I can say is that I have zero will power, that Chile reinvigorated me to hit the trails and have pure and simple fun, so I look forward to lacing up my Montrails and seeing how I do in the Marin Headlands in 2 weeks time.

Happy trails x

Monday 28th November - Ultimate Fit Centre in Canmore - Winter Training Tips

On Monday 28th November I'll be speaking at Ultimate Fit Centre in Canmore about Winter Training. Come along for some useful tips and advice on how to brave the dark, snowy and cold winter months yet keep your training progressing. The evening runs from 6.30pm to 8.30pm with my talk, Q&A session and then a chance for some shopping!!

Hope to see some of you there, and if you know for sure you are coming, please comment on this post so we can plan for numbers!