It's that season...

It's that season again.
The one where my running takes the back burner, and I find winter sports a welcome replacement.
(Not that I should...with the Half and Full Marathon in the near future....)

But a change is as good as a rest they say,
and one can ever say no to an Outdoor Adventure.


~Not one's with Skies like this:

~Or when there are Trails to be made in new snow:

~Not skipping corners:

~and Never forgetting to drop everything to capture it all with cell phone camera:

Yeah~ It's THAT season!

{Listed as: Winter Workouts that I Love most}
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh the Places We'll Go

I've been humming over my 2012 Race Schedule for months now.

The truth is- races scare me!

I get pre-race jitters worse than the average person. Really.

But I know I need to do things like that, for a few reasons:

*We only live once.

*I would rather say I tried than not do anything at all.

*It's good to break out of my comfort zone every so often.

*A race set on my calendar pushes me to keep moving/training.

*Once I feel I want to do something -even in the tiniest way- I can't get it out of my head until I try it.

So....

March ~ Hypothermic-Half marathon.

May means my very first Marathon!

June ~ my annual Sprint Triathlon with my boys.

July ~ a one day 185km Bike Tour in northern Alberta.

August- my very first HALF IRONMAN~ Boulder, Colorado.

August also means a 42km Trail Race up and down and around a mountain.

September/October ~ thinking to end off with a couple of 10k or half-marathons.

One never knows what lies ahead, but if all goes well this is what the new year looks like for me.

Here's to many hours on this thing over the winter months:

And for some of my running, I'll be using these new things:

And if Santa is listening....I'll also be needing new race wheels for the bike, cycling shoes,  a new swim suit and goggles, a few boxes of GU gels;), and a few massage appointments:D

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

Run on!

"Second Place is not Defeat"

I signed myself and my 4 kiddos up for a 5km Fun Race a couple of months ago.

We ran it last week.

I have to say races are so much more enjoyable and fun when there are people in it 

that you know and love and enjoy being with.

We good~naturedly all  tried to outrun the other...through the dark of the evening, over ice, through snow drifts, waiting at stop lights,

inspiring each other in a competitive way to run just  a bit faster.

Of course, I didn't come in first- 

(but I like to think it was close;)

~Post-Race Photo of 4 of my favorite running partners~

~~~~~

So I guess the quote for me after this particular 

race would have to be:

“Second place is not a defeat. It is a stimulation to get better. It makes you even more determined.”

Carlos Lopes quotes  (Portuguese Marathon Runner Olympic-gold-1984,