After a glorious summer of trail running, I've had a very rough few weeks with very little running due to extremely poor air quality from forest fire smoke blowing in from a neighbouring province. Then a crazy work schedule kept me at work more than home, so there was very little sleep and way too much stress resulting in very little food being consumed and even less water drank 😔. I have only managed to make it out to my trails once in the last 2 weeks, but did try running on a mountain bike course they are building in the coulee in front of my house for the Western Summer Games next year. It was ok to run, but nothing like the wonderful trails I've been tackling all summer.
So finally..... today I am not working, I'm not on call, I had a decent night sleep, and come hell or high water I was heading out to the lake to run my 10k race course for next week. I contacted my friend who was running with me this summer but who had to take a step back due to her daughter having some serious complications following extraction of her wisdom teeth last month. Unfortunately for her and her daughter, they had to bow out of the 50k race they had signed up for and step down to the 5k where there were still spots available. But, most importantly, her daughter is on the mend and should be able to at least walk the 5k course next week, if not run it. So despite not running for a month, my friend decided to come with me, but encouraged me to go on and run my own run if needed. It is an out and back route so we knew we'd find each other again without any problems, as long as we stayed on the same trails. I was focussing hard on not pushing it too hard today, but just trying to keep it a decent training run given the race is only a week away. We stayed together for most of it, chatting along the way and taking pictures as we saw fit.
We got to the start of the trail head and the wind was HOWLING! But, this could very well be what the conditions are like on race day, so wind? What wind? We're tough trail runners, we've battle ticks, mosquitos, biting nasty deer flies, snakes, have scared up deer and foxes along our runs, so we can handle some good Southern Saskatchewan wind! We need to climb a very steep hill at the start, run along the narrow ridge for a ways before descending down the backside of the hill and onto the second part of the run which was thankfully more protected from the wind. Running the narrow little deer trail ridge in 50kph wind was a challenge to say the least, as your legs are being pushed toward the edge and your fighting to stay upright, but we did it and didn't even lose our hats in the process (I hung on to mine and I believe Denise took hers off for that portion of the run). As we descended down the backside of the first hill, we could see the rain in the distance coming closer and the thunder started to roll. Hmmmm, what now. The hills and lack of trees in Southern Saskatchewan make us the highest point on portions of the run and it probably is not the smartest thing to be running the narrow little ridge we just finished on the back portion of the out and back during a thunder storm. But we power on, watching the sky with some alternate routes in mind if the storm actually hits. I was able to power up the second hill fairly well which resulted in us getting separated for a portion of the run today but I quickly met back up with her as I started on the return and we finished the run together. She wanted to show me something she came across that she felt would really help me next week on race day. They were 2 heart shaped rocks right on the trail we were running. The first, smaller white is to remind me that she is thinking of me and that she has complete faith that I'm going to nail this race. The second larger red on is slightly further up on the trail, right in a steep challenging part of this hill that is to remind me I'm almost at the top and continue to power through. She then went on to show me, that when I'm running back down the trail, they look like arrows, pointing me in the direction of home. What an amazing, dear friend and supportive running partner. Despite the frustrations she is feeling in not being able to run the race she had planned and take a huge step back, she is supporting me fully in my quest to nail this distance so I can feel comfortable enough to move on to tackle the 20k next year. I don't know if I could've survived running these trails, pushing through when I didn't think I had any more gas in the tank, constantly searching my legs for ticks when we ran through tall grass and then swearing like a sailor when I do find a tick on me, if it wasn't for her. I'm sad we're not running the race together this year (we ran the 5k last year together) but have loved every second of training we did this summer. So now, I'm a little teary and emotional, but feel so loved and supported, we fly down the second hill and reach the point were we need to decide....tackle the third hill, back on the skinny little ridges or take the gravel road back home. The rain has seemed to skirted around us and appears to be past the area we're running, so off we go, onto the third and final hill of the race course. It is one of those hills that is deceiving. It doesn't seem that bad, but it keeps going and going and just when you think it is going to veer over and give you a descent, it goes the other way and continues to climb, and climb, and climb. So needless to say, today, I walked more than I wanted on the third hill, but I managed to run a portion that was this skinny little deer trail that is on the side of the hill that I usually am too light headed and winded to actually run. So maybe walking more of this ascent was smart? We'll see what I do on race day. Anyways, we get back to the top of the skinny little ridge that we started on, the wind is still howling, but we run the undulating hills, reach the crazy steep descent which makes you find your inner mountain goat and finally hit the meadow for the final 400 metres home. Yay! We did it and despite the conditions and trying to keep it an "easy" training run, I managed to do it quicker than my goal time on race day! Whoohoo! I'm not sure if I'll actually be able to run it quicker on race day, given it is an out and back and over half of it is single track on narrow ridges where it is really hard to over take other runners and there will be 100 of us, all trying to do the same thing. Finding the right place in the starting line will be important. When I compare my times to last years finishing times, I should be in the top third, so will try and start somewhere around there next week. I guess we'll see what happens next week 🤞. I'm getting excited!!!! Can't wait 👏👏👏👏👏. Then it'll be onto some wonderful fall hikes on the trails before the snow gets too deep or the trails too icy.
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SaskAlliecat
Graduate10
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A fantastic post, Thankyou! I love the heart shape stones. Your friend is a marvellous support, you are so lucky. Sorry to hear her DD is not up to the 50k, wishing her a speedy recovery.
Good luck for next week’s race. Hope you really enjoy it and that the weather stays mild enough for you. We had nasty hot weather in southern Ontario again this week, but it looks as though it is on the turn. Fingers crossed 🤞
btw... what’s the protocol on the narrow paths in the race! If someone faster than you comes up behind are you supposed to move over so that they can pass ?
That's a really good question. They actually didn't address that in the informational email they just sent out. They discussed parking given our tinder dry conditions and fire bans, asking everyone to stay out of the tall grass, reminded us about the beer and poutine we get post race, warned us about the huge snakes we may see (but informing us they are harmless bull snakes) and talked about which pin markers to follow for your race. I remember last year, they combined the 5k and 10k so we had about 150 runners and it was challenging the first 2-3k, especially when you came upon someone wearing headphones that couldn't hear you tell them you were passing them on the (whatever side was safest). It's about picking and choosing the best time to pass. I'm lucky because I've ran the course lots this summer so know where there are wider paths to pass and what is coming up ahead. Atleast with them selling out at all distances but the 5k, they are staggering the start times for each race. Max will be 100 racers for the 10k.
Wow! I'm in awe of everything you'd done and achieved this summer and mightily envious of all that wonderful scenery you've been running in. You can keep the ticks though! What a beautiful friend you have too. No question that you are going to do brilliantly next week. We'll all be behind you too, cheering you on. Have a really great run, you deserve it xxx
Thanks FPF. I'm glad the ticks are pretty much done now. I spend a lot less time staring at my legs and sweeping them for ticks 😂. Today the obstacles were horse poop in the middle of many of the trails 🙄. At least that poop I recognize. There is this other poop full of berries I haven't quite figured out what it is from. At least we don't have bears, so I'm not really that worried about it.
Next week should be a blast! They run a great race with lots of wonderful perks (read: beer and poutine post race, physiotherapists giving free massages) and so supportive. it is supposed to be quite cool which will be a change from everything I've run this summer, but I'm sure I'll figure it out.
Thank you so much OF. That means a lot coming from you. I feel so blessed to have been able to run where I do. It really is gorgeous and takes my breath away (in more than one way 🤣). My friend lives out there year round and hits the trails all year so I'm hoping I can continue to meet up with her and enjoy it for more than just the summer.
Hi Allie, so pleased you managed to get out for your training run over your 10k trail course and how brilliant that you did it in such a good time... That should help your confidence a lot.
It is a shame your lovely friend and her daughter won't be sharing the 10k race with you, but they will be in your head and in your heart when you see those little stones pointing the way...
We are all rooting for you too, so remember to listen very hard for our cheers and cries of Go Sask Go!
Hopefully no thunder storms on race day, but take care on those slippery slopes and have a fantastic run!
Thanks Jan 😊. I'll be listening for your cheers in the wind. So far race day is looking fairly cool with the chance of rain showers. Hopefully the rain will hold off. It was quite cool last year (4degrees at the start) but I've learned from my mistakes and will not over dress this time. It doesn't take long to warm up climbing those hills 😅.
There will definitely be a race report afterwards and hopefully a few pictures. I'm not much of a beer drinker but the beer is from a local craft brewery and they usually bring out some different flavours so I won't pass it up and hubby will get to finish what I don't. The poutine was amazing last year, but I definitely didn't burn enough calories last year to justify it. I'll be burning a few more this year atleast 😆
Have some extra poutine for me! 👍😁That's one of the few things I miss from my childhood; curds. I thought I'd remembered wrong until I finally went back in '16.
It's a huge serving so I'll definitely be having some for you and many others 😆. I don't ever have it because of how calorie and fat laden it is, but will definitely enjoy it after my race. They have more than the classic poutine because that is all they sell. Last year I tried their pulled pork poutine; I'm thinking this year I'll keep it classic 😋
Great post Allie! I was wondering how you were managing with the fires and smoke. Your times sound great. And you really have a gem of a friend there. Best of luck for next week’s race!
Thanks Decker. The forest fire smoke was pretty bad this year despite there not being any in our locale. But with over 500 fires burning in BC, a lot of smoke blew our way. I ran a few times when I probably shouldn't have and rescheduled a couple runs when the AQI was at 9 or 10+. I can't imagine what those that were near the fires must've experienced!
I wish I could've run the race a month ago when I was training more regularly, but at least it should be cooler for race day. The break was probably ok for my legs since I spent my last stint of holidays pounding out hill repeats trying to get better at those darn hills. They're still insanely hard, but I don't fear them anymore and I know what I can and cannot do on them. It's going to be weird this winter when I have to start running in town again on asphalt and city streets, but then I can start trying to build my distance back up (and maybe, just maybe, run one of the Hypothermic Halfs this winter)
Yeah I have a colleague out west who was telling me they had trouble seeing across the road on some days the smoke was so bad. With all your varied training you’ll be ready for anything soon! I for one am thankful for the cooler temps. Todays long run was so much cooler and nicer than Wednesday’s ‘oven intervals’
Oven intervals - isn't that the truth. There were times this summer I'd get up on the ridge and the wind hitting me would feel like someone turned the furnace on full blast. One extreme to the other. Gotta love Canada 🇨🇦
I think the extreme switches in temp are most prevalent out west. Here in Wed it was 34 and today it was 15 this morn. Harder to plan your run attire this time of year!
I know what you mean. It's been so hot this summer I was running in as little clothing as legally possible and on race day it could be single digits like last year. I finally ran in a t-shirt yesterday just to make sure it wouldn't chafe and tried to wear what I might have to wear on race day. I wish I could wear what I've been running in all summer, but I might freeze if I did that. But you never know, another heat wave could hit. We're 27 C today.
I know what you mean. That was my memory driving through the province as a kid on holidays and visiting family near farmland. I was pleasantly surprised when we moved here at the beauty of the area. Lake Diefenbaker is a flooded river valley (South Saskatchewan River) so we have many hills and valleys. When the guys developed the 50k race course, it is part of the sky runner series so they needed to reach certain elevation gain to qualify and we have it by climbing up and down many many hills. They've touted it as "hilly hard-as-hell" and they've succeeded. I think it catches a few people off guard. The 50k has over 2300 metre (7500 ft) of elevation change. The 10 is a measly 400m(1300ft) 😂. It pretty much feels like you're either going up or down. This is their promo video I posted before but it gives a good idea of what I've been enjoying all summer vimeo.com/243978688. My friend and I have had a blast running/hiking the trails this summer and are hoping to continue on into the fall. It's much nicer than the spring when the ticks are rampant.
It looks beautiful and you have a great friendship there Thank you for sharing your run; I enjoyed it from my couch. Good luck for next week's race and don't forget to tell us all about it
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've enjoyed running the hills this summer. It has opened up a whole new world of running for me. I'm planning on doing the 20k next year so my running kit is expanding. I've already got my poles and will be purchasing a hydration vest this fall. More gear! Yay!
The wind definitely adds another challenge. We're always so windy around here but at least on the trails you can often get a reprieve once in a while. My friend is so amazing. She's one of those people you may not see for a while but your friendship is as strong as if you saw each other every day. We've spent more time together this summer than we ever have and it has really helped build our friendship even more. I know she wants to try for the 50k again next year but my job is too demanding to commit to that so I'll stick to the 20k. I love exploring the 50k trails with her though. They are beautiful, hilly and hard. I have no doubt that "running" those trails with her this summer has helped my fitness improve by leaps and bounds for the 10k. Thanks, I will "enjoy" it.
Wow Sask?!! You certainly are a mountain goat and a Flippin brave one at that, you have got guts girl!!! I can imagine you teetering on the edge of ridges...what an exciting run, I was imagining the trail all the way through, I feel like I was right there! Great post, you really do bring it to life! God bless your lovely friend, she sounds like a real gem...I can’t WAIT to read about the race next week...you are an amazing runner x
Thanks MC. YOu're too kind. The part I didn't put in (but I'll share with you because I think you'll appreciate it 😉) is that I've been know to curse how much "I hate this f'n hill" but man do I feel strong and powerful when I reach the top. And then I forget about it and do it all over again. There is a video on their face book page of one of the ultra runners cursing the hills too as climbing up them so I felt in good company then 😂. I think it goes with the terrain 🤣🤣
Some, like the weather, are completely out of my control, but I choose to run these rugged conditions 🤪. It’s going to be weird to run the concrete jungle again. I guess i’ll have to pull out my playlists again. I don’t need the distraction of music when running my lovely trails but sure do in town. I’ve enjoyed becoming one with nature again. Unfortunately sometimes I got a little too close to nature.... tripping over rocks, misjudging the edge of a bog and getting bog foot, ticks... did I say ticks 😖
Yikes, you have it all! I might follow your example and run with music this winter. I hate it , but the monotony of running round this small town in repetitive circles might make it essential ☹️
That was a great read and great pics - hope the race goes/went ok.
I can’t believe how far we’ve all come, but your training terrain must have made it harder for you? I’ve done a couple of shorter trails and I’m constantly worried of turning an ankle!
It is definitely a whole different world, running on trails. I've tripped a few times on rocks and have turned my ankle a couple times (not seriously, thankfully) and have jarred my back stepping down into a dip I didn't notice but I love it. There is no expectation of speed or worry of continuous running because neither are possible on these trails. It will be a challenge running back in town again, but before I know it, I'll be navigating snow again 😕
Amazing post! Your trail run is on such rugged terrain. The. bad weather on your run means that you’re prepared for anything come race day. What a great friend you have. The heart shaped stones are such a kind and supportive gesture on her part.
Thanks Lavender. I wish I was able to train more the last month, but I'm as ready as I can be given my work schedule. At least I've been on the trails lots this summer and know what to expect.
I'm very fortunate to have such a supportive friend. She found another trail race a few hours from here next month that we're tossing around running together. We're going to get through our races Saturday and discuss it over our post race beer and poutine. I'm pretty sure we'll be signing up next week though 😆.
Beautiful post. So nice to hear from you, I don't check in to the forum as often as I should. The photos are amazing, I'll get out there to run sometime in the future once life allows for it. Sorry to hear you guys had the smoke as well, it really put a halt to my running. And ticks. Bleh.
Thanks RWD. Let me know if you make it out this way; I'd love to take you out for a run in my hills. The nice thing with this time of year, the ticks aren't much of a concern anymore.
I thought of you during the heaviest part of the smoke this year; knowing how bad we were, it was coming from your way so I can only imagine how awful it was for you. It curtailed a few of my runs and made some runs a lot more difficult than they had to be but am glad life appears to be getting back to normal. I hope you've been able to get back out running again.
It went really well despite some less than desirable conditions. I’m just waiting on my friend to send me some of her pictures then i’ll post a report. My hubby missed the finish, I was done faster than anticipated and it was so bloody cold he wasn’t standing out in the cold wind any longer than he had to.
Oh ya! We gobbled up our poutine and headed home, straight to the hot tub. Then the rain really came down and the thunder was just a rumbling. It sounds like that rainfall and thunder missed the lake though.
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What a beautiful friend you have too. No question that you are going to do brilliantly next week. We'll all be behind you too, cheering you on. Have a really great run, you deserve it xxx
Mixed up Monday 10k tarmac, leafy lanes and the trail by the riverside 
