Giving Back - Cancer Care Manitoba

Well, the runs are getting longer again and the races are getting closer. The Grand Canyon Ultra is only 6 weeks away and I have only 2 long runs left before my 50 mile race.  The Spruce Woods Ultra is 2 weeks before GCU and Todd Baranoski of Team Manitoba Dawgs is doing the 100K event.  After these races, our team will be focusing on the Fat Dog 120 and 70 mile events.

Scott Sugimoto, Todd Baranoski and myself will be travelling to Manning Park, BC for the Fat Dog 100 race Aug 12-14.  Scott and Todd will be running 120 miles and I will attempt the 70 mile distance.  We have been enjoying training, planning, dreaming and trying not to, but generally obsessing about this race since at least December.

Ultra running can be incredibly all consuming and self absorbing, so at one point Todd came up with this great idea to use our race efforts to give something back.  We are SO GRATEFUL and feel so fortunate to be able to run the way we do.  For brief periods of time when we are injured or feeling niggles that hint of injury, we freak out and can't imagine not being able to do what we do.  There are people who are fighting much bigger fights, more important battles, battling for life and death.

We are supporting Cancer Care Manitoba through our training and racing efforts.  We can't think of anyone who hasn't been touched by cancer. If you feel impressed, please visit our Team Page to donate in support of this worthy cause.  Consider donating per mile or any arbitrary amount  - every little but helps.  We hope to raise $5000 for Cancer Care.

Thank-you and Happy Trails!

Race Plans for 2016

In the 6 weeks since my last post, a few things have happened.  I've signed up for a few races, and winter decided to finally arrive for real in southern Manitoba.  Both things have brought out a little crazy in me.

Starting with the races, 2016 is going to be epic.  My best running year yet.  Two races on the calendar, both equally exciting and challenging.  Training for both to be done in a FLAT place.  I like a challenge.

1. Grand Canyon Ultra 50 Miler - May 21, 2016
I am so stoked to be heading to the Grand Canyon as it's a place I've wanted to visit for years, and the best way to see it is up close and personal.  Even better, my bestest running bud Sarah will be coming with me.  When I left Vancouver Island last summer, we made a pact that we would meet up for one race a year, and this was the race we chose for 2016.  I can't imagine a better way to see the GC than on foot, supported with food all along the way, emergency medical aid available, and travelling super light.  I plan to take many many pictures and savour the whole day.  A day or two in Vegas afterwards with Sarah won't be too hard to handle either!

That's going to be me in May!!!

2. Fat Dog 70 Miler - August 12-14, 2016
Since moving to Manitoba, I have made some really great running friends.  Somehow I stumbled upon Todd and Scott, a couple of amazing athletes and solid humans.  Scott had Fat Dog on his bucket list of races and decided this was the year to do 120 miles.  He convinced Todd to come with him, and when I heard about them going to BC to race, I joked that I couldn't let them go without me.  This led to an official invitation to join them, so I found myself setting my alarm for 2am Dec 15 to get up to register for the race.  And the Manitoba Dawgs were formed.

Just breathe...

I definitely am not up for 120 miles, but I do have a goal to do a 100 miler in 2017 (when I may or may not be turning a crucial age). So doing a 70 miler this year seems like the next logical next step.  And again, I am fuelled by gorgeous vistas, the smell of an evergreen forest, gnarly trails and long climbs.  I simply cannot wait to show the guys some BC mountains - up close and deeply personal.

Training for and and running an ultra marathon can easily become an all-consuming and frankly, selfish, endeavour.  Todd suggested that we give back and use our run to support a good cause.  We decided that we will be fundraising for Cancer Care Manitoba as we train to run a total of 310 miles combined.  Why?  Let's face it - who hasn't been touched by cancer?  We are in the process of registering with the organization, but please stay tuned with how you can donate to support Cancer Care.

I also plan to do a few shorter races, including the Spruce Woods Ultra as part of my taper for Grand Canyon, and if I'm not totally wrecked after Fat Dog, I plan to do the Lemming Loop again in October.

We are 1.5 weeks into January and I'm into my second week of my 20 week GC training cycle. It's winter in Manitoba.  Check out the rest of the story in my next post: Winter Training.