I’m not really sure if I want to wear a shirt that proudly proclaims “Older than Boston.”  Will people get confused and think I am older than Boston?  After all when my son was five years old, he once asked me if I had seen dinosaurs when I was a little girl. 

But people in the running community in and around Hamilton know that “Older Than Boston” is a source of pride for us.  The Around the Bay road race is officially older than Boston.  And we even have our very own version of Heartbreak Hill.

I am really packing on training miles now.  Trying to get ready for the Bay.  It got me thinking about where it all began for me.  The running that is. 

The little bio at the start of my blog says I have been running two years.  Unoffically, it has been almost three, but I was sidelined for seven months with an injury that even the most seasoned of runners cringe at.  That is a whole blog in itself.

It started when I joined a running clinic at the Runners Den here in Hamilton.  And met the most amazing lady ever.  Her positivity is catchy if that is a word.  And she lights a room when she walks into it.  She has helped me and countless other runners to learn to run.  And to believe that we can achive any goal we set our minds to.  She will be there to watch “her” runners come in.

This will be the third Bay I’ve run in.  The first two I ran a 5 k.  This time around, the Gazelle and I will be running with another lady in the three person relay.  We will get an Older Than Boston shirt. 

And maybe I’ll even wear it.  Just once.  Only around my running friends.

I have a running friend. No, I correct myself I have a ‘hard core’ running friend, she can run full marathons, and is usually training for something or another. We got talking about what we dressed in to go running. At the time it was about -23 with the wind chill. So my daughter and I said we had long underwear, track pants, under shirt, shirt, sweatshirt, jacket, scarf, hat, mittens. As our list of clothing grew, she laughed harder and louder and through the tears of laughter she said ‘but don’t you get too hot??’. We said ‘hell no it is -23 out there’. I got thinking afterwards how very beginnerish we were in our layers and how totally NOT streamlined. Not being one to worry too much about what others may think, we did not change how we dressed for the cold, but we have eased up on the layers as the weather has nudged its way up towards zero. Imagine how fast we will be running this summer and how much more professional we will look in just shorts and a tee!!!

To take a clinic, or not to take a clinic… this is the question i asked myself… i have to say that i am not sure i could have done it any other way and stuck with it. Possibly if i ran with someone that was willing to take the time and motivate me through the process, but the camaraderie, the talks, the walks, the laughs, the struggles and the final run were worth every second of my time… I chose the clinic, but what ever you do, don’t do it alone because if the journey is worth doing it is worth sharing.

Some of my best memories and experiences have been because I did it as a group and we all worked towards the goal helping to push and motivate each other to get there. Oh yah, and when you pay for it, you are more likely to go and get your money’s worth!!

Knowing someone else is there to meet you for your run, or giving a speech or taking roll call, or going to give you that extra tip… makes you more accountable and gets you out the door. When you finish your run, you will be so glad you did, and then of course the beer, i mean recovery drink, tastes sooooooo much better after a good run!!  Change your socks, change your shirt and if need be, change your attitude: Life can be amazing if you want it to be. You are the only thing that is stopping you from reaching your goals so get out of your way and start moving!

TOTB: This tip will alleviate the challenges from the BOTB from the last entry, a group of my running buddies have started taking Imodium before our races to alleviate the need for a pit stop… for me, it works great but as with all new additions to your training, make sure you try it BEFORE the big race day to make sure your body adjusts accordingly…

BOTB:  When you are out on your run, be aware of who is in the vicinity… never spit without first checking who might be behind you, beside your or coming your way… video to follow in next blog…

STAY TUNED: I was out in the river valley catching unsuspecting runners with POOR RUNNING ETIQUETTE… stay tuned for those videos in my next blog… still getting the waivers signed…

Ok, so here it goes.  I was really hoping that I didn’t have to do this but I cannot see anyway out of it.  Just give me a moment to stand up, clear my throat and utter these 12 painful words….”My name is Tyler Chase and I am a fair weather runner”

(I can here the smattering of applause now as I take the first step of many to beating this condition!)

I know what you are all thinking. ‘How did he get in this contest’ or ‘He’s not a real runner’ or even ‘Hmm figures, he is a banker after all’. Before you pass judgment please let me explain!!  It wasn’t always this way; as a matter of fact one of my favorite runs ever was an 18km trek in the pouring rain!!  (This was back before I had proper running clothes and my cotton shorts were so wet they were hanging down past my knees and had soap coming out of them!!!) I have also run in -25 before and in snow and in wind, so I am not a total wimp! 

But things change, you get older, lazier, and heavier and then kids come along!  You find that amount of free time you have drops faster than an American Bank stock!!   Where before kids you had 128 hours a week of free time (168hrs in a week minus the 40 you are at work) you’re now lucky to have 3 minutes to yourself to go to the bathroom!  And before you know it any excuse you can think of to not go out and run becomes very valid.  Too windy, too cold, too wet, too late, too much snow, too slippery, too sick, too much to do around the house, not enough sleep, running clothes are dirty, and my personal favourite……..I’ll just go tomorrow, promise.

Yes I admit I have probably used all of these excuses in the last little while but that is not to say I have not been out running….just not as often as I should have. 🙂

But now that this contest has started it is very real, I have told many people about the blog and my goal of running a Marathon this year, so it’s time to take real action! No more excuses, no more putting it off to the next day or next week, just get out and do it!!!!  Here I go!!!!! 

Wow….it’s really raining here today…..maybe I’ll just start tomorrow….what’s one more day… 🙂

Kidding of course!!! I am off to run in the rain and believe it or not, I am really looking forward to it!

Grant:
I am WINTERMAN!
This weekend I was out at the Winterman Marathon in Ottawa.  I did the 10K.  What a great feeling to be out there with all the diehards.  This is the first year I have run consistently through the winter.  I’ve always been more of a fair weather runner and I always have to rebuild my fitness each spring.

You don’t want to hear a race report from the Winterman do you?  Boring.  So I’ll keep it short.
The night before I ate lasagne.  I ate about 3 times as much as I should have.  For dessert I ate about 100 jujubes.  In the morning I woke up late and ate another 50 jujubes for breakfast.  Parking was filled up.  I had to park a few kilometres from the start line.    By the time I had run to the start line I was bonking.

Look at how unhappy I look in this picture.

I own a standard poodle.  I am not ashamed.  The standard poodle, contrary to popular belief, is a great outdoor hunting dog and they love the snow.  So just imagine it…  I will give my poodle one of those very funny hair cuts with poofy heads and feet and the tail.  Then I will attach her to the bungee cord and I will fly around the Parc de la Gatineau in wild outfits.  The pictures will be ridiculous.

Vicky:
Wow!  Really, I mean how am I supposed to follow THAT!  My dog, Bambi, is a five pound Maltese…I’m pretty sure it would be considered animal cruelty if I tried that.

What matters the most to me is to get out there and run.  I’ve already lost so much time worrying about silly stuff like what to wear but I guess that’s normal for a beginner like me!