My bucket list........

[SaskAlliecat]

This race vimeo.com/243978688 is what prompted me to start running again in the spring. It is a race started by 2 local guys a couple years ago who wanted to bring an ultra marathon to Saskatchewan. It is ran through the hills adjacent to the Sask Landing Provincial Park on Lake Diefenbaker where I spend my summer. It is deceivingly called the Beaver Flat Fifty but is anything but flat with 2300m/7500 feet of vertical gain. Canadians think of Saskatchewan as bald-@$$ prairie where you can watch your dog run away for days 😂 but are in for quite a surprise when the come to this area. I did the 5k Try a Trail last year and am looking forward to the 10k Trail Blitz this year (although my heart really wants to do the Dam Hard 20k, my brain and husband tells me the 10k is the more responsible stepping stone). My goal is to do the 20k a few times with the hope that I can do the Beaver Flat 50k by the time I'm 50. I just turned 44 so I have a few years 😅. We don't have many local races here but this one is very well run and has won accolades in the Canadian Running Magazine. I'm a proud Saskatchewanite and a proud Canadian and had to share this wonderful video that they just put out from last year's race. I'm in envy of all the great races you guys have and wanted to show what I have to look forward to.

vimeo.com/243978688

[C3PO Marathon]

It looks amazing! I think it's a great goal.

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to C3PO]

Thanks. It's our own little hidden paradise. I hiked the back half of the route this summer and was astounded by the beauty. I've lived here 10 years and never realized what a gem I had in my own backyard. This race will definitely open people's eyes to what we have here, and will hopefully result in permanent marked trails for all to use.

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Wow that looks like seriously hard core trail running! I love the thin trails along the hill edges. You're not kidding about the hills too Great race to plan towards for sure!

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

It's pretty spectacular. There is definitely walking involved because some of the hills are hard to hike; I can't imagine running them. Even in the 5k we ran along the top of a thin ridge after climbing 100 m over the first 1k, then got to transverse a thin goat trail on the side of a hill before meandering back through the meadow. It was a great introduction to trail running and has peaked my interest. I only wish our ticks weren't so bad in the spring and early summer so I could hit the trails sooner. Fortunately they are all done by the time the race comes in the fall. We don't have the Lyme disease here yet so it's more the eww factor. In a training run this summer before they had the trails groomed, I got a tick on me and my running partner got a shock as a stream as expletives came out of my mouth and I came flying up her backside, yelling.....we laugh about it now 🤣

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Ha - I never even thought about the ticks! Yes that could be an issue. With all those hills I can see why some people use the walking sticks like ski poles. This makes me want to try a trail run now!

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Haha! That was my intent!

I'm not so sure about the poles yet. I'm a klutz and will likely impale someone. The middle portion of the 10k is one of the marked hikes in the park so I doubt I'll worry about trying to master the skill of using them until I run the 20k.

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Lol sounds like something I would do. 😁I saw a fellow with poles doing the 10k race I did. It was a road race but he really motored!

[C3PO Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

I was also wondering about the ticks when I saw the people in the tall grass.

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Wow!!! I want to do that too A great goal, hope you have loads of fun hitting it!

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Thanks! It'll be a challenge. My hubby thinks I'm crazy for thinking about the 50k but I'm sure I'll get him on board when the time comes. I've got time to wear him down. He doesn't enjoy running in town but enjoyed our coulee runs this fall. Maybe I can convince him to run the 5k and he'll get hooked too 🤔🤞

[misswobble Marathon]

Looks great! Trail running is just fab! I have a Vesta Vest on my Christmas list. I spied one on the film 🤓

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Sweet! I'm thinking I'll be having to up my running gear as I get closer to my goals. I'm probably set for the 10k (other than some new trail shoes next year) but watch out after that 😁🎁😍

[JaySeeSkinny Half Marathon]

That's a lot of elevation in one run! But it does look really lovely and makes my feet itch to watch! Can't imagine running with poles - actually I never even thought about it😎 But it really looks like a great thing to aim for and you're very lucky to have all that countryside on your doorstep.

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

There is some crazy hills, especially for "flat" Saskatchewan 😆. Even the 10k is 400 m elevation gain that they describe as "This is an up and down, up and down, up and down out and back. Nothing to it." My short term goal for this year's 10k race will be able to run most of the second "up and down" which is longer and not as crazy steep as the first "up and down". Baby steps 😅

[Millsie-J]

Wow, just wowl

You can do it!

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Millsie-J]

Thanks, I sure hope so. My motivation has flagged this month so I needed a little reminder of what I'm working toward.

[misswobble Marathon]

The Tarahumara run with poles as per a film clip on here. Dare say, not posh poles, rather homespun ones

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I googled this. Wow, those people are amazing. My feet hurt just watching them run...

[misswobble Marathon]

The film that Bazzer out on here was fascinating. There’s an interesting book about the best trail runners in the world racing them Scott Jurek has beaten them It’s all fascinating stuff. 😃

[ju-ju- Marathon]

I live your plan and sounds doable too. What a fab place!!