Megan, Bec and Meghan asked me some questions about running; they are – how did I get into running/trail running? Where is my favourite place to run in Kamloops?
I was putting off answering this question last week because it was a really bad week for me running-wise. I didn’t feel like running and so I only got in two runs all week. I felt kind of like a failure. Then I read this fabulous post that put it back into perspective for me: running isn’t always easy and it’s not supposed to be.
I’ve been dabbling in running my whole life – hockey, swimming and P.E. required a certain amount of running, but it was never something I enjoyed. In fact, I hated it.
Back in September, I had a lot of life changes. I moved to Kamloops and the university gym here had an indoor running track, which I much preferred to the treadmill, so I started running more often.
Then, I started blogging. I started reading all these fabulous running blogs (find some of my favs in my blogroll) and I was SO inspired by them. I mean, these runners were getting out there and running LONG distances – distances I couldn’t even imagine running (10 + miles). I wanted to do that too, I wanted to call myself a runner.
I signed up for a half-marathon on May 3 and started training. Check out this post – it links to several posts I wrote when training for my FIRST half, it helps put my running history into perspective!
Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with it. I signed up for another half and a trail race!
The trail running started from a freelance article about trail running I wrote for an outdoors magazine. I had to make contact with a local race director regarding the article. A few weeks later I got an email from him mentioning a group that was running trails in Kamloops every Saturday to train for the race – I decided to join them one Saturday, I was so nervous and SO sure I’d be the slowest one – I wasn’t quite the slowest and had a blast. I run with them every Saturday morning now!
Now, I can’t imagine myself NOT running. I like the runners high I get after and during a run, I like having sore legs, I like the feeling of accomplishment when I complete a double-digit run, I like how healthy it makes me feel, I like meeting and connecting with other runners, I like being able to call myself a runner, I like reading and writing about running!
Future Races: Half-marathon #3 in Kelowna on October 11 and a 10K in Salmon Arm, BC on August 16 – I’m super excited for my first 10k!
Favourite place to run in Kamloops? Well, as I’ve mentioned Kamloops has some GORGEOUS trails all around it. I’ve had the pleasure to explore almost all of them with the trail group and they are great. I’d definitely say trail running in Kamloops is my fav. As for road running – I posted on my old blog about Rivers Trail that goes along the river here, it’s beautiful too and one of my favourite places to go for a nice, leisurely after work run!
So if you’re a runner: how did you get into running and what’s your favourite place to run in your city? If you’re NOT a runner, WHY NOT!? Haha, jk, what IS your favourite activity and WHY??
Some photo’s of trails in/around Kamloops:
Barnhartvale (I’m the third one)!
Sun Rivers (we did this run again on Saturday)! In this picture I’m in the back, on Saturday I stayed middle-of-the-pack the whole time – so I guess I’m improving!
Stake Lake (I think it was called) – beautiful run around the lake!
Peterson Creek (don’t know why this pictures so small compared to the rest). This was actually the FIRST trail run I joined – the one I was so nervous for! It was also my favourite one yet – beautiful views of the city! We’re doing it again next Saturday, can’t wait!
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
i just started running cuz i needed motivation since with the CI, I found myself not really enjoying music. No music = no motivation to hit the gym. so i signed up for a half marathon, and that got me going and i finished my first half marathon. Now i’m freakin’ out cuz i’ll only have 2 months to train for the one on october 10th. I have been working out, but not so much running. and i freaked out a couple weeks ago when i went on the walk/bike path near my place, cuz there were some people there messing with snakes, and i’m terrified of snakes! so, now i won’t run the trail! ugh. so it’s gonna be urban running for me.
Oh my goodness, those pictures. are. gorgeous! I wish I had trails like THAT to run around! Wow!! You are so lucky!!
Beautiful pics! I’m glad my post helped – I think it’s important for people to remember/understand that every run isn’t fan-freaking-tastic. Some of the suck, but you gotta keep going. I wish someone had told me that when I started running!
I don’t really know what got me started on running. When I moved to Minneapolis, I started running around some of our lakes, and I guess it just caught on! Then I trained for my first half in the spring of ’06 and while I was training, I thought – I can totally do a full. So I signed up for the Twin Cities marathon. Unfortunately I ran that race the first semester of grad school, so once it was behind me, I totally stopped running. Which is too bad. But now I am back at it again and am trying to be patient w/ my body. I can’t wait until I can run double digit runs on the weekends – right now I am peaking at just a measly 4 miles, but that will soon change when I started my 1/2 training on Aug 10th.
My favorite place to run in the Minneapolis area is around the lakes that we have in South Minneapolis. They have a walking/running trail & it’s such a beautiful place to run. I prefer to run by water if at all possible – it takes me to my happy place, I guess!
Good luck w/ your first 10k! That will be a fun distance for you. I’ve never done a 10k, either!
I am so jealous of these beauitful running trails/areas you have. I think that is part of my lack of movement and exercise. The area around my house really isn’t condusive for walking/running on the side of the road and we do have wonderful trail system but I don’t feel safe to do it alone. There have been several reports of men jumping out at women, and since it is secluded, I won’t do it without a partner. I am sorely lacking any friends in town, let alone people to excericse with me!! I was hoping on rollerblading tonight, but it is pouring and the “slightt” showers they called for yesterday, make it look like this may be an all day thing!
I go back and forth with my running. Sometimes I freakin’ love it and can’t get enough of it. Other times, I can’t stand it… but once I start again, I’m head over heels in love with it and can’t stop. It’s definitely addicting. The only thing that holds me back now is that I do have some back problems that complicate matters a bit but I try to push forward and do my PT exercises to stay strong!
I’m sure if I had beautiful trails to run on, I’d be a happier, more aspiring runner =)
You’re not a failure…it’s just that some weeks suck. Then you move on and have better weeks. Keep up the good work!
I think the first half hooks a lot of people! I’m glad you have another one coming up to keep going!
the 10K will be super fun t0o – it’s so nice to run the shorter ones here and there.
I’ve always been a runner due to playing soccer – but didn’t Really enjoy it until college. Became a lover while training for my first half – that was 1 1/2 years ago and I have NO plans to stop now….
Trail running is pretty great. Keep at the track and keep putting in those miles and you’ll hit 2:05 no problem!
It’s surprising how many people run a half before a 10k! I didn’t end up running the 10k back in July because of work
but I hope to soon…. right now it’s just been so busy… but there I go again. Making excuses!
I’m so jealous of that beautiful scenery in your area! So freakin gorgeous!
I’ve just never really enjoyed running just to run. I think part of it is because I played soccer, so just running was more of cross-training or a warm-up or even a punishment. And then there is the fact that I have awful feet, so the impact of hard ground really bothers them. I know I should enjoy running more than I do, but I just can’t get completely into it
oh how I wish I had your enthusiasm for running. I have to say, I do hate running. I have asthma, which makes it more even more difficult to make me want to run. I find it very difficult to control my breathing. BUT when I was in PE in college I had to run pretty often and we had to, as part of the class, complete a non-stop 40 minute run. Which probably doesn’t sound like much to you (ha!) but I was freaked out when my teacher told us that was the part of the “final exam” at the beginning of the semester. But running each week in the class really helped my lung capacity and stamina and I was able to complete the 40 minute run, albeit jogging slowly
still, I felt very proud of myself. I guess I should try to remember that feeling the next time I think, ‘hey, maybe I should go for a run.’ maybe then I won’t talk myself out of it, haha.
Hey! I would buy the Jack Daniels book. It would be really hard to do all of the workouts without knowing their purpose and there’s a ton of good information in there that’s beyond the plan. I think it’s only 15 or so on amazon and it’s usually in stock at bookstores. Plus, there’s tons of tables that are useful and some good stuff on race strategy. Good luck!