Hello, iRun runners !

Good Morning, everybody ! My name is Aleks Spalvins and I am honoured to be one of the three people in Canada selected by iRun Magazien to take part in their “experiment”  to help me to run better, faster, higher, longer …ohhh…you get the idea. 

Truth to tell, I am SO excited but a bit terrified, too !  By the time I run my first marathon, I will only have been running for 2 years…yep..that’s all and I feel like a real newbie. In fact, it has taken me all of this time to even call myself a runner and for the first year, I felt like an imposter; what am I doing here with these people ? They are probably alot better runners than me etc.  But, I persevered, and realize now that runners come in all shapes and sizes, all ages, all demographics and all educational backgrounds but they all seem to share one thing : the love of running ! I had no idea that running could be so gratifying – it’s my sanity; my connection to my physical self and my stress reliever.  Now, I’m hooked and thinking that I have gone as far as I can on my own and needing  some help to “take it to the next level”.  That is where Tania Jones and iRun Magazine come in and I can’t wait to see what unfolds on this journey that we are embarking upon together. 

So far, I have gleefully accepted my new shoes and clothes from Adidas Canada (thanks, Adidas!) and also their miCoach, too.  I am set in the gear department.  I also speak to or e-mail Tania Jones on a regular basis – every day – are you sick of me yet, Tania ? – and I am SO glad that she is in my corner. The most important thing to me right now at the beginning of this training is that I know that she supports me and thinks that my running goals are attainable.  I cannot emphasize enough how much of an impact that has upon a new runner – knowing that someone is backing you and they are NOT your friend/ husband/ wife/ sister/ family etc – they are a professional that has been running their whole life and have seen many many other runners and see the potential in me. Wow ! It makes me want to train even harder. 

While the weather in Toronto has been pretty bad lately (snow, rain, warm, cold, wet, slush) all in the space of seven days, I know that springtime is around the corner and that there will be lots of time to run in good weather. So far, I am running four times per week and will go to five times per week very soon.  Watch out, Danforth ! Get outta the way ! Aleks is running ! LOL

Stay tuned for the next update…..