Happy Trails: Alex Sproll Finds the Parallels Between Logging Miles and Making Wine

May 15, 2020

Alex Sproll, owner of Trail Estate, out for a run on a country road.

This is a great time to support a local business. Aside from all the great independent running stores across the country, there are several businesses owned by runners making great things. Trail Estate Winery is the baby of Alex Sproll, a Toronto based runner and almost accidental vineyard manager.

Trail Estate is currently doing deliveries across Ontario. Browse their selection and place your order here!

Trail Estate came into being around 2011 when Alex’s parents, who immigrated from Germany to Kitchener-Waterloo in 1978, sold the bakery they had managed for years and purchased the seven acres on which Trail Estate now stands.

Alex now splits his time between Toronto and Prince Edward County. While he handles “marketing, operations, and a little bit of HR,” Mackezie Brisbois, the only other full time staffer at Trail Estate, handles the winemaking.

Running, of course, is a metaphor for everything. In the years he’s spent managing Trail Estate and running, a few parallels and lessons have emerged.

It’s a slow process–and needs room to experiment

Trail Estate is a relatively boutique operation when compared to some of its larger Ontario counterparts. Alex explains that wineries usually measure their output by cases of 12 bottles. While some bigger wineries produce up to five million cases per year, Trail Estate’s seven acres typically tops out at about 1500.

That’s fine for Alex, who isn’t much interested in mass production. Each wine Trail Estate produces is an opportunity to experiment and build upon the lessons learned in previous seasons.

“A lot of breweries do experimental things and batches, whereas wine didn’t really do much experimenting back then,” Alex says. Trail Estate has therefore been built on a philosophy of low-intervention, refraining from manipulating or controlling fermentation or filtering so that every batch would yield the same result. By keeping batches small and experimental, there’s something unique to try at the end of each season.

There are lessons to take from competitors and contemporaries, but Alex concludes, “You have to be your own client. There are no data points, but if you take a little risk and do it well, people will eventually find you.”

In running, as well, there’s only so much that the numbers can inform the process and tell the story. We have to be our own coaches, even when we work with a coach, and know when things are working for us and when they aren’t. There may be some trial and error, but the results will find us.

Do something new when you can

Running is a great way to see your city. Alex’s favourite runs remain those on which he explored new streets in Toronto and on which he encountered colourful scenery, back when, in his words at least, “Queen and King West were still a bit sketchy.”

Alex adds, “When you go somewhere you can just go for a run and it’s a quick way to see a city. And it gets you into neighbourhoods you wouldn’t normally get into.”

While he still gets out on solo runs in Prince Edward County, Alex ultimately prefers the variety offered by the city. He explains, “People always ask if i love running in PEC, but I find it a bit frustrating when you’re used to running in the city there’s always stuff that you’re passing and stuff to see. In the country you go straight and you pass farms.”

That’s Alex’s advice when it comes to picking a good wine. We likely have a good sense of our own taste, but Alex highly recommends variety. That’s why Trail Estate takes some inspiration from the craft beer boom and adopts a sometimes experimental approach to winemaking and avoids sticking to just one thing.

“Go a little outside your comfort zone,” Alex urges. “We overthink it sometimes and it’s really just booze. My recommendation is to sample broadly and not get stuck on one wine all the time. Wine should always be different every year anyway.”

The best part is the community around it and the people you meet

“I never really ran in high school and only picked it up as I was approaching 30 as a way to take care of myself a little better,” Alex says. Like many who were new to running at the time, he joined a Running Room group.

Working as a graphic designer at the time, a skill he still employs when it comes to marketing Trail Estate, running was an escape from the long hours and monotony of an environment where everyone had a similar background and routine.

Unlike bigger wineries, which can produce millions of cases every year, Alex prefers small batches that allow Trail Estate to be more creative and experimental.

“I think what I love most about it is that it’s a community based scene. It’s interesting meeting people that have nothing to do with your field or people you went to school with,” Alex says.

Having a glass of wine with friends serves the same purpose, carving out a little time for people who matter, taking a moment to share, and clearing your mind. Even as we’ve made something of a shift to socializing through virtual means, that time for connection and community still matters, perhaps more than ever, and still adds richness when our day to day becomes a bit tedious.

Best-Ever Turkey Bacon Burgers

May 15, 2020

With the long weekend kicking off, these burgers are worth getting fired up about. Plus this recipe is simple enough that even the kiddos can help out with the meal prep.

INGREDIENTS
Burger
1-1/2 lb (750 g) ground Ontario turkey
3 tbsp (45 mL) onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp (1 mL) freshly ground black pepper
Topping:
1 cup (250 mL) Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup (125 mL) mushrooms, sliced
6 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
1 green onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup (50 mL) mayonnaise

DIRECTIONS
ONE: In a bowl, combine ground turkey, onion, garlic and pepper; mix well. Shape into 6 patties. In a small bowl, combine cheese, mushrooms, bacon, green onion and mayonnaise, mix well.

TWO: Broil or grill burgers 4-6 inches (10-15cm) from heat on medium temperature grill for 10-12 minutes, turning once. During the last several minutes of cooking, spoon 1/4 cup (50mL) topping on each burger. Continue cooking until cheese is melted.

Recipe provided courtesy of Ontario Turkey Farmers.

iRun Radio

Why I Run

May 14, 2020

On this edition of iRun Radio:

We’ll talk to author Rachel Cullen about everything from how marathon runners might be better prepared for the coronavirus crisis to running every day with her daughter. We’ll talk to a runner who takes every chance he gets to run in the north, whether that’s in Canada or Scandinavia or Iceland. And a runner shares how much he is missing the races we would normally be running this spring.

A Childhood Dream, Postponed: a Racing Story told in Three Stages

Ben Kaplan

May 12, 2020

Boston 2020 was going to be her second Boston Marathon. Runner, teacher, and author Vanessa de Hoog reflects on the journey it took to get there and the impact rescheduling the race has had on her own personal growth. This is the first of a three part series. The author would like to dedicate this story to Fitzgerald—for inspiring her.

For as long as I can remember, being a runner has been a massive part of my identity. Behind each mile, black toenail, chafing scar, and worn out Nike’s is a story. Each step across a finish line, whether my face be painted with tears of pain or happiness, has shaped me into the individual I am today. More so than anything else, my journey in running has created the map of my life.

In September 2007 I had the privilege of crossing paths with Sean Clancy, my high school cross country and track coach. He has forever imprinted himself into my miles. Clancy is a three-time Boston Marathoner and during our two years together as athlete and coach, I looked forward to each anecdote he would share about his experience as a Boston marathoner. As I eagerly hung onto his every word, my own goal and dream to complete a Boston Marathon in his honour began to take place. Ten years later, in May 2017, I was toeing the line at Ottawa’s Tamarack Race Weekend as I made my first attempt to make that dream come true.

My first step in ‘training’ was researching the qualifying standard for my age/gender. At the time, qualifying for Boston 2018, required me to complete my debut marathon in 3:35:00. However, given the competitive nature of Boston, I knew that I would need a generous buffer to secure my entry. I set myself the goal of finishing in 3:30:00—hoping that this cushion would be enough. As a seasoned 5km and 10km road racer at this stage in my life my training had been focused primarily on speed. When I calculated that I would ‘simply’ need to maintain a 5:00min/km to achieve my goal—it was a welcome change of pace. Throughout my training cycle I ensured to stay in touch with my former high school coach. When schedules allowed, we met up for some long ‘easy runs.’ Despite the passing of time, I have never passed on the chance to log miles with Clancy and get his fatherly advice on running and life.

The night before the race my nerves were getting the best of me. Despite having had a solid training cycle with no injuries or illness, the fact that this was my first marathon had me doubt whether I could actually finish.

What if I randomly cramp up with a new injury?

What if the gels make me sick?

I’ve only trained up to 32km – how will I feel the last 10km?

When you think about it, there are so many things that can go wrong in a three and a half hour race. That night, I’m almost positive I mentally listed 99.9% of them. Eventually, at some odd hour over the morning, I finally fell asleep in my sports bra and red shorts—dressed for the success I was hoping tomorrow would bring.

I woke up to my alarm and the sun peeking in through my curtains. The weather had promised to be ideal and so far mother nature was holding up her end of the bargain. With my hair tied up, shoes laced, and my fists full of gels, I headed out my apartment door and began the short walk from my downtown residence to the start line.

Packed into my coral with other runners who were nervously (or excitedly?) bouncing on the spot, I scanned the crowd until I picked out the 5:00min/km pace bunny. I went over my race plan one more time in my head. Just hang on to that bunny until at least half way—then run by feel to pick it up to the end.

Starting pistol? Fired!

That day, the race gods were on my side. I stayed glued to that pace bunny until the 21km mark and had been feeling comfortable, strong, and intelligently reserved with the pace. I started pulling ahead from that pack and ensured to keep checking in on my pace to keep it manageable and on goal. Running in my hometown, I was very fortunate to have the crowd along the race course populated with familiar faces of teammates and friends who encouraged me from start to finish.

Entering the final kilometre, while running in an underpass, I checked my watch and knew that I had officially qualified for Boston 2018— including the planned buffer. The wave cheers and the realization of my accomplishment simultaneously hit and I was overcome with emotion. I felt a sense of euphoria, as though I was flying through that final stretch. Each step was fuelled by the energy of the crowds and my flashbacks to listening to some of the first stories Clancy had shared with me all those years ago. I crossed the finish line and tried to regulate my breath between the (happy) tears. I did it. I couldn’t believe it. The dream of racing the Boston Marathon was on its way to coming true.

Warm Up with Carrot and Ginger Soup

Anna Lee Boschetto

May 12, 2020

Ginger adds a hint of spice to this combination of root vegetables and split peas, while turmeric will boost your immunity. Make a batch of this soup at the beginning of the week and you’ll have a quick and easy lunch for your family.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups cooked split peas

2 tbsp sunflower oil (or another oil)

1 cup diced sweet onion

3 1/3 cups diced sweet potato

3 cups diced carrots

4 cups vegetable broth

4 cloves minced garlic

2 tsp ginger;

1 tbsp turmeric

Salt and pepper

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS:

chopped chives

fresh basil

plain yogurt

DIRECTIONS

ONE: If needed, cook dry split peas. Rinse first, and add dry peas to a pot of boiling water. (Use 6-8 cups water for every 2 cups of peas.) Simmer gently with a tilted lid until desired tenderness reached, about 20-30 minutes. Drain excess water (if any) and serve or store in a covered container in the fridge for up to one week.

TWO: Heat oil in a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add sweet potatoes and carrots, and cook, stirring occasionally, about 10-15 additional minutes. Add broth, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until vegetables are tender and soup is aromatic, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat.

THREE: Use an immersion blender to puree, or ladle the soup (in batches if needed) to a blender, and blend on high until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.

FOUR: Divide pureed soup between serving bowls. Stir in cooked split peas, and top with chives, basil, and plain yogurt if desired. Store in the fridge for up to one week. Enjoy!

iRun Radio

Why I Run

May 11, 2020

On this edition of iRun Radio:

We’re catching up again with Bart Yasso, who is now retired from being the Chief Running Officer of Runner’s World. Plus, an Ottawa woman who didn’t start running until her 70s and now she’s doing marathons. And we’ll talk to a runner who’s doing a solo marathon for the Shepherds of Good Hope.

The Lives of Mother Runners

Anna Lee Boschetto

May 9, 2020

Whether you’re an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, if you’re a mom, you understand that having children changes you as a runner. In all ways good and days when it’s all a little less than, being a mom who runs definitely has its moments. Let’s face it, life is what it is right now. We’re all having our moments. Running gives you something that is all about you, and the chance to give those you love the most (even when they drive you mad) that much more when you are all together. In honour of Mother’s Day, we asked these runners to share what motherhood has given them as runners, in one way or another, and here’s what they had to say.

“My children have seen me get back up after setbacks and challenges. They have seen me beat the odds by doing what hasn’t been done. Through my running they are learning to keep aiming higher and plan for the next challenge. All this to say that, in time, seeing me run may influence them to do the same someday, whatever their life path may be.” — Krista DuChene, Canadian Olympian, Brantford, Ont.

“Being a mom has made me appreciate my running just a bit more. Running alone or with friends is cherished time that recharges me and makes me a better parent. Having my children has made me want to push myself because I want to show my kids the value of working hard and achieving your goals.” — Polly Moody, teacher Calgary, Alta.

“Being a mom and a runner at the same time has given me so much strength and perspective. I know she’s watching what I do every day, she already loves to run. My hope for her is that she can see I’m working really hard at something I love. She’s still too young to see it now, but maybe when she’s older. —Melissa Bishop, Canadian Olympian, Windsor, Ont.

“Becoming a mom has changed me not only physically, but it has also made me reevaluate what matters most. As a parent, my son has taught me to really be present in the moment and appreciate simple things, such as a good sleep, a solo run and a hot coffee. I’m also running faster to go back to my baby sooner!”—Sasha Barak, marketing manager, Toronto

“Running helps my parenting and my parenting helps my running. I love that my boys can be a part of my training and goals. We have made it a family lifestyle by choosing fun locations to run and then play and going on family trips to races that the boys can enjoy as well. Being a mom has allowed me to keep the process fun while keeping the priority on what matters most: Teaching my boys about physical activity, healthy living and having fun pursuing your goals.”—Malindi Elmore, Canadian marathon record holder, triathlete & coach

“I was a runner before I was a mother, even still, choosing to run as a mom sometimes has felt selfish when I felt I had to be selfless. What I now realize is that regardless of whether you think you’re selfish or selfless, your children depend on you to never lose your sense of self. Now, I am grateful for every run because each step reminds me of the joys in my life. Running grounds my soul to what is important and makes room in my heart to really embrace motherhood.” — Anne Chang, nurse, Calgary, Alta.

“Participating in road races is all about teaching my child the value of hard work. You must be disciplined and self motivated to train and get the job done. It’s also to show him the joy in one of life’s simple pleasures. Running is just one foot in front of the other, while inhaling and exhaling.”—Sabrina Young, iRun marketing solutions producer, Toronto

“Running is my free time away from being a mom so that I’m a better mom for my children. Running is part of my self-care routine. It helps me to de-stress and is my escape from reality.”— Lisa Sun, logistics manager, Toronto

“Whether I’m training for a race, or running to get outside, my daughters have seen that you can make time to do something you enjoy, no matter how busy your life might be. Making time for yourself and having fun is just as important as putting in hardworking when it comes to something you love. As they get older, I’m hoping they continue to pursue whatever activities make them become better versions of themselves, which continues to be my motivation to get out there and run.” —Anna Lee Boschetto, iRun contributor, Bolton, Ont.

Anna Lee Boschetto is a regular iRun contributor. She also writes about health, wellness and travel.

RUNNING WHILE BLACK

Rosey Edeh

May 8, 2020

A sunny Sunday afternoon in bucolic Brunswick, Georgia. 25 year-old Ahmaud Arbery sets off for a regular run through his neighbourhood. You know that run. A smooth jog, the pace, just enough to get your heart pumping faster, stronger, sending needed oxygen to your working muscles through blood rich veins. You have on a white t-shirt, like Ahmaud and long shorts, loose enough to let your arms and legs flow with ease allowing a rhythmic trot, yes, now you’ve got your flow on and all your cares have disappeared, your mind and body are one. Your jog takes you through familiar tree-lined streets. Like Ahmaud, you’re a former high school football speedster, so, you may pick up the pace from time to time during the run to challenge yourself. Every now and then you glance around during your run, admiring a bird perhaps or looking out for the odd automobile on your ‘easy like Sunday morning’ peaceful run.

This Sunday jog, like the countless runs before, is a time for you to be one with yourself, like Ahmaud. You’re a purist, like Ahmaud, no phone or headphones to mess with the sanctity of your run. All you want, like Ahmaud, is to be out in the free air, living your life, running for your mental and physical health.

Sunday, February 23, 2020 has all the hallmarks of a perfect day. It’s 17 celcius, there’s light wind, hazy sunshine, why wouldn’t you go out for your usual run? What could possibly go horrendously wrong? February 23rd, Ahmaud’s run is violently cut short.

Ahmaud Arbery is running a couple of miles from his home, mighty oak trees seem to bend to greet him, or maybe, they try to warn him. Terrible, insidious, trouble lurks. Pursuing a career as an electrician, Ahmaud is curious and slows to take a peek at a home under construction then resumes his run. With steady breath and sure feet, Ahmaud Arbery jogs through the neighbourhood of Satilla Shores. Ahmaud jogs by a home, a man sees him and immediately determines he’s a threat. The man calls out to his son, they grab their weapons and set out in a pick up truck to confront Ahmaud Arbery in relation to a series of burglaries they propose he committed in their neighbourhood.

Georgia law states: “ A private person may arrest an offender if the offence is committed in his presence or within his immediate knowledge.”

To date, no series of aforementioned crimes have been reported to the local police and neither of the armed men witnessed Ahmaud committing any offences. There is one element the lynch posse did observe and that is Ahmaud Arbery’s black skin. The white men attest a series of break-ins were committed by a black man. A black man jogs by their home and the white men conclude the black man is guilty and must be brought to justice.

Ahmaud’s beautiful, peaceful run is abruptly interrupted. The pick up truck tries to cut off Ahmaud, but his fleet feet take him in another direction and he runs from the lynch mob hellbent on taking the law into their own hands. Ahmaud Arbery, continues his run, now the pace has quickened, arms and legs pumping, mind racing. A few moments later, back on the street running, perhaps Ahmaud Arbery is hoping to regain his perfectly peaceful Sunday pace prior to the threatening and troubling interruption, but that is not to be the case. Ahmaud Arbery comes face to face with his hunters, one, looming in the flatbed with a handgun, the other, exiting the truck with a shotgun.

Ahmaud veers into a yard, makes a sharp left and a violent tussle ensues. Ahmaud Arbery fights for his life trying desperately to wrestle the shotgun out of the hands of the assailant. A video, released May 5, shows the violent end to Ahmaud Arbery’s perfect Sunday jog. Arbery’s fit frame encased in glistening dark brown skin, falls forward following two cold shots that pierce his body—one cuts through his hand, the other gouges a fatal hole in his chest. In an instant of unchecked brutality and hate, a perfect Sunday run, a run we runners cherish, is stripped away from the avid runner.

Ahmaud Arbery bleeds out on the street and loses his young, hope-filled life because his skin tone ignited the wrath of men who prefer to cut down and destroy rather to live and let live.

What might the mighty oak trees say to Ahmaud Arbery now that he is amongst his ancestors? Would they tell him the men—upon no authority and no cause—who stole his life, have not spent a moment answering for their crimes against him?

10 weeks since Ahmaud Arbery’s killing and no arrests have been made.

The oak trees in Brunswick, Georgia, which offer sweet shade to Sunday runners bend in sorrow and shame for the horrible injustice inflicted on yet another innocent black body, mind and soul. Running while black should not be a death sentence. If you cherish the freedom, beauty and humanity of the right to exercise free of brutality and death, you should demand justice for Ahmaud Arbery. #runwithMaud

RunWithMaud.com

* Following release of this article, two arrests in the killing of Ahmad Arbery have been made.

Rosey Edeh is a 3x Olympian, NCCP Certified Coach, member of the Quebec and Rice University Sport Hall of Fame, journalist and freelance writer.

Man Checks into Hospital, Thought He Was Dead. Walks a Virtual Marathon, Instead.

Ben Kaplan

May 7, 2020

Daniel McGlinchey, 66, is in the malignant hematology unit at the Ottawa Hospital, and he gets emotional when we talk. “I just didn’t know if I’d ever see my kids again,” says McGlinchey, a runner, who has done half marathons in Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Burlington and Montreal. He trains with the Running Room, and those runners have become something more than friends. “The things we’ve done together—once you start running with your community, you just know you don’t want to quit.” On May 7, McGlinchey walked the virtual Ottawa Marathon—467 laps of his 0.09K wing—to complete his race, just a few days after his forty-sixth anniversary. Ben Kaplan caught up with Daniel after he ate some cookies, and crossed his finish line.

iRun: Daniel, how do you feel?

DM: I’ve been in the hospital since April 20 and when I checked in here, I thought I was dead.

iRun: What do you have?

DM: A lot of health problems. So they’ve been doing chemo and radiation treatments, spinal taps, everything.

iRun: How does somebody go through all that and run a virtual marathon?

DM: The race weekend in Ottawa is virtual this year, because of COVID, and I was just sitting here. For five days, I couldn’t move, but I got some strength back and started walking around the hall. It’s good to exercise.

iRun: It’s good to move around. I don’t know how many people would do a marathon.

DM: I just kept going. I knew about the virtual race and since you go at your own pace, I did 44 kilometres in four days. I’m in Six East, and one rectangle loop around is .9 kilometres, so I did 44K.

iRun: It’s never a good time to be in the hospital, but now must be especially hard.

DM: It was our 46th anniversary on May 4, and it’s pretty frustrating because up on the fifth floor, I can’t see anybody and my wife couldn’t come in and so you’re really isolated in here, you wonder if you’ll ever see anyone, your wife, your kids, ever again. But the nurses and doctors were so nice. My wife couldn’t make me homemade cookies so the nurses brought me three boxes of President Choice chocolate chips. Excuse me, sorry I’m breaking up.

iRun: It’s OK. Small acts of grace in challenging times can mean so much.

DM: The whole team here, really, it’s just hard to discuss.

iRun: Talk about your running.

DM: I’ve done three Army Run Commander Challenges, 14 half marathons; I did the half marathon in Toronto, the Chilly Half in Burlington, Niagara Falls, a couple races in Montreal.

iRun: What is it you love about the sport?

DM: Three years ago, it was minus-30 and I did a half marathon. I’ve had two blood clots, so I can’t expose a millimetre of skin to the sun, but I did the Commander’s Challenge in 30-degree weather. I wore a kilt and long sleeve technical shirt, a Tiley hat—all of these things, but you know what? We get it done.

iRun: How do you manage not to do what so many of us are feeling right now—just curl up into a ball and weep?

DM: I just have to take it day by day. On top of the lupus and blood clots, I have a rare blood disorder and I’m on day twelve of my first round of radiation. I have no immune system. And still, I’m pretty happy. I held my same pace for my entire 44 kilometres.

iRun: Can you describe that incredible feat once again?

DM: Hospitals are pretty flat and each loop passed the nurses station, and they were such good motivators. Every lap, they’d be applauding and they had a nice finish line—there were 25 people at the finish line and that caught me by surprise.

iRun: You run with the Running Room?

DM: Yeah, the location at Kitsilano in Ottawa. I like going out with the people. We used to go five times per week when I first joined, we were gung-ho. It would be minus-30 and sleet, and we’d be there. Now, we’re older. Too many people kept falling. But we go to races all over the place and it’s a social thing. We go to dinners and coffee at Starbucks after our runs and chat for an hour.

iRun: You know, you sound pretty upbeat given all your ordeals.

DM: Only because sitting in the hospital I thought I was a goner. Once I got some energy, started walking around. I felt better, maybe it’s the endorphins. It’s very nice of you to call.

iRun: It’s my pleasure.

DM: I want to stay alive. I find inspiration in my kids. I’m pretty active and you know, you go in one race and you want to go in another one. I want to get back. Sometimes, you want to give up or don’t feel like training, but every time when it’s over, it lifts your spirits.

iRun: What do you want to say to people right now?

DM: Every kilometre makes a difference. Start with baby steps. And finish your race.

Training for the Unknown, by Lanni Marchant

Ben Kaplan

May 7, 2020

By now, I know, this isn’t the first article you have seen or read about how to stay motivated during uncertain times. We have all been patiently waiting to see what the World is going to look like for weeks—months. We have all had our target races cancelled or postponed. And are now accepting the possible reality that our fall races too will be pushed away from us to some uncertain date.

It’s frustrating. Trust me, I know. After battling my body since the 2016 Olympics—yes, nearly four years—I was finally ready to start toeing the line and clawing my way back to the upper ranks of Canadian Distance running. I went from an unmeasurable and uncontainable amount of motivation to counting three kilometre runs with my pup as “training.”

At first it was easy for all of us to stay motivated. For me, just celebrating being able to run healthy was enough to get me through the first month of the earth being closed. But like anyone, that celebration slowly stopped being enough. I am hungry for more and not being able to lace up and race due to circumstances completely outside of my control is not a scenario I mentally prepped for during all of those years of surgeries, rehab, and rebuilding.

Through the past few years I’ve tried to force my body to run the mileage I used to do mindlessly. I’ve not run for months at a time to focus on cross-training and fixing my weaknesses. I’ve lined up to race with essentially no proper training. I’ve had perfect training blocks only to end up either needing another surgery, or as was the case this past December, developing a femoral stress fracture and having to start from scratch.

I remember being frustrated last year that I couldn’t really get more than 4-6 weeks of training without having some sort of setback. It wasn’t until my chiropractor reframed things for me that I became more patient with my body and the things that are outside of my control. He told me to look at each of those 4-6 week blocks as mini-builds. That yes, I used to be able to build a season that lasted months and had large lofty goals associated with them, but for now I have to look at what I gain in each mini cycle. And that eventually those 4-6 week blocks would become 6-8 weeks and so on. It seems like a simple enough concept, but it was a total game changer.

It helped me take the pressure off of chasing after race schedules and timelines, and instead focus on what I wanted to accomplish in the short term.

It’s a mindset that is helping me stay the course right now. I can’t let myself worry about what other runners are doing—some are still doing big workouts, others are running by feel, some aren’t running at all. Instead, I just focus on what I want to accomplish every few weeks—and not all of my goals are running related. For those that follow my social media accounts I am currently in a three week to three kilometre time trial challenge with another runner based here in Colorado because we both were hurting for motivation and wanted something to build towards. I haven’t raced a 3k since my early 20s, so I have no “Olympic Lanni” measure to hold myself to. After we “toe the line” on Sunday, I am going to shift my focus to something else for the next few weeks. I really want to be able to do a single leg pistol squat again, so maybe that’ll be my next challenge.

I guess that’s what I’m trying to say here. That during these uncertain times we can still train and have goals we want to accomplish. But make it fun. If you haven’t been running, join an online challenge or sign up for a virtual race to get your bum out the door. If you’re feeling a bit burnt out, then find a Netflix series and allow yourself to enjoy it—and for real, guilt free. When was the last time you did a handstand? Or practiced yoga? Do you have two trees in your backyard? Instant soccer net right there to practice some coordination and movements outside your standard running gait. Forget the pushup challenges we keep seeing on Instagram—grab a beer (or a pop) and see how many push up planks you can do taking sips. I am not trying to sound ridiculous. I certainly haven’t given up on my lofty goals of making my way back to Olympic level running. I just recognize that maybe the past three years have given me an outlook that is keeping me happy and healthy during these scary and isolating times. We are runners even if we aren’t racing. Taking some down time does not make us lazy or weak. Finding new challenges does not mean we are giving up on our actual running goals.

The World is a little weird these days – might as well join on in. Stay safe. Train smart. Be happy.

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