Coastal Trail Series, Exmoor Ultra: Race Report

Posted on April 23, 2011 by ultrarunnergirl

Race: Coastal Trail Series, Exmoor Ultra (34 miles)

Conditions: Slightly overcast/then sunny, 13 degrees

Terrain: Coastal path, some technical trails, mostly grassy…but who had time to notice with all those HILLS??!?!? (“extreme” rating)

As any ultrarunner will tell you, there is no such thing as perfect race prep.

The last few days before a race, you are supposed to be feeling your best. In an ideal world, when you show up on the start line, you should be locked, (carbo) loaded, and ready to go. In reality, this rarely happens. This holds true across the spectrum of runners, from the novice to the elite. Ray Zahab, my fabulous coach and world record holder, once told me that he has never actually started a race or one of his epic global challenges feeling 100%. Sometimes far from it!

Leading up to the Exmoor Ultra last weekend, I was feeling a little like a creaky old 80 year old woman. Stiff joints, a bad hip, and a hairy chin. Okay scrap the last one – I had yet to start growing fuzzy facial hair, but yeah, the body felt a bit old. I went into see a chiropractor in South London, Dr Craig McLean at Putney Chiropractic Centre, for a much-needed crack of my geriatric back. He did a very thorough assessment as I nattered away about my “robust” injury history. After seeing the state of my right hip, he asked “So Stephanie, how are you going to run this race on one leg?” After replying that I hoped it would be a loop course, he went about his business, adjusting me from the neck down to the foot (for which I am very grateful!!).

The adjustments definitely helped, but there is only so much one doctor can do. My days and weeks have recently consisted of either running full steam ahead out in the English countryside, or sitting at my computer for hours on end typing out 18000 words of human rights law exams (ugh). Not ideal for the back. So there I was on the morning of the race, winging about the pain in my back and the stiffness in my right hip. I should have walked down to the race start with a blue rinse in my hair and peppermints in my purse with the way I was carrying on.

Luckily, my friend Alex Howarth, who would also be running the race, was not to be outdone by my pre-race complaining. He came up with a few good stories about BMF-related muscle tightness and his overall lack of running-specific training in the weeks prior. We both knew that we were just trying to come up with excuses ahead of time for why we might completely bonk on this course… Anything to keep our egos intact. And as we gingerly walked down the hill – the VERY steep hill – to the start, the excuses got louder and more elaborate. By the time we got to the registration table, Alex was questioning whether he was suffering from potential kidney failure and I was wondering if maybe I had early-onset osteoporosis. Or maybe carpal tunnel?

The Exmoor races, organized by Endurance Life, included a 10k, 21k, 42k, and, new this year, an ultra course. Alex, another friend Phil and I were really excited about doing the ultra, until we saw that just 34 people had signed up. And only 6 women. Clearly we were the nutters of the bunch!

We set off at 8:15 in the morning and within about 30 seconds of leaving the start line we were headed straight uphill. It would be the first one of many. Of course, we all tried to show a good effort at the beginning, charging ahead with vim and vigour. No mountain could get in our way! Well, our “vim and vigour” quickly retreated as we resigned ourselves to a slow climb upwards. It was going to be a long day…

Although the field was small, right away it was obvious that it was competitive – but in the “wow, I’m at the back of the pack” kind of way, not the “I’m worried this person is going to push me off the side of the cliff” kind of way. I really enjoyed conversing with the other runners during that first hour i.e. the only part of the race when I had enough breath to speak semi-intelligently. There was one guy who was not only running the Exmoor ultra, but also was going to attempt a DOUBLE London marathon the very next day. Rock on dude. Of course about 60 seconds after talking with this legend, I, a mere mortal, fell HARD on my geriatric rear end, instantly feeling the pain shoot all the way up to my neck. Rock on me :)

When I regained movement back in my neck (ha), I couldn’t believe the scenery in front of me. The course ran along the coastal path in North Devon, over the hills and countryside, across wooded paths and streams, through the “Valley of the Rocks”… It was like running an ultra through a slightly more refined Lord of the Rings movie set (this is England after all). Every once in a while we passed through a little village, including Lynton and Lynmouth, or the “little Switzerland” of the UK. As I was bounding down the boardwalk of these towns, staring up at the quaint little B&Bs and shops, I vowed to come back sometime when I could sit on bench, eat an ice cream, and simply enjoy the view. With peppermints in my purse, of course.

Coastal Path in North Devon

Quite a few of us were taking photos or videos during the race – it would have been a shame not to. These 55 km were some of the most beautiful I’d seen in all of the UK and I wanted to be able to remember it when the oxygen returned to my brain! I kept sending the images from my phone mid-race to those who I knew couldn’t be there that weekend, but that stopped as soon as I received a reply reminding me to stop acting like a tourist and start running like I meant it!  Neither snapping photos nor snapping my fingers would get me to the finish. Right. Keep calm and carry on!

I am happy to say, I didn’t have any major issues during the race (unlike the last one!). I made sure to keep eating, drinking, and I ran when I could and walked when I had to. I did start to have some cramping over the last 10 km, but by taking some electrolytes (Hammer Endurolytes) and eating some crisps for some extra salt, I was able to keep going without too much hassle.

The last 5 km were probably my best. I was definitely feeling it in my quads and calves, but relative to the few other runners around me, I seemed to be faring slightly better. I could smell the finish line (or was it that fishy coastal air?) and I was ready to be done!!!

I wound up in 11th place, which I was pretty happy about… Until I found out that this put me in the bottom half of the women’s field! Actually, I was just really impressed. There were three freakishly fast women at the front of the pack and I was slightly in awe. Not that I met them. Oh no, by the time I crossed the finish, they were long gone! Showered, fed, probably had time for a nap too… (just kidding).

Then came a little dose of post-race reality. I don’t know how I do it, but sometimes I really don’t feel pain when I’m running. This is a huge asset in a lot of ways, but sometimes it can lead to, er, nasty results. I had forgotten to bring my body glide or vaseline with me for the weekend, which I usually put on my back and hips to prevent chafing from my backpack. Sometimes I even pre-tape if I’m particularly worried about it. I’m extremely prone to chafing for some reason, regardless of the backpack, so you’d think I’d have learned by now… Anyway, I decided it wasn’t that big of a deal and I would just suck it up and deal with the consequences later.

As soon as I took off my pack, I realized it would be bad. And it was. OOOOOH the pain!!!! I had open wounds all across the bottom of my back, around my hips, and across my stomach. Even the inside of my belly button looked savage. UGH!!! Trying to shower after the race was completely out of the question. The salt that had built up on my skin from sweating during the race made the water feel like vinegar and even a drop made me scream out in agony. Yikes. Thanks to Alex and a some self-mummification techniques, we managed to bandage me up so that I could hobble over to the pub for post-race celebrations. I’m pretty sure he went above and beyond the call of duty on that one, so thanks Alex :) I’ve got your back (chafe) anytime!

All a part of the fun

All in all, a great race and a great weekend. Looking forward to the next one in just two weeks! Keswick 2 Barrow 40 miler….

Happy trails!

-Ultrarunnergirl

Filed under: Race Reports | Tagged: , , , , , | 8 Comments »

Moonlight Challenge (50km) Race Report

Posted on February 23, 2011 by ultrarunnergirl

BOOYAH!! Ultrarunnergirl is legitimately an ULTRA-runner-girl once more!!!
Our golden shoe trophies!

Our Golden Shoe Trophies!

This past Saturday, after months of DNS / DNF races, I finally started (and finished!) my first post-foot surgery race. And my first race with Speedy. The two of us headed out to the Kent countryside to participate in the “Moonlight Challenge” 50km night race (on a loop course), organized by the Challenge Hub. When I signed up for the race, I pictured silently running through farmers’ fields under the soft glow of yellow moonlight, listening to nothing but the sound of my breath and the crunch of the grass underneath my feet.  As Speedy and I drove towards Kent on the day of the race, however, I was forced to face the facts that the only moon I would be seeing that night would be from another runner’s mid-race bathroom break in the bushes. The rain was pouring down with no end in sight. Why did I think this would be a good idea??
My reluctance to start the race was strengthened when we got to the start line and registered. Speedy and I arrived at 5pm, about an hour before the race started, so we had time to order some food at the pub aka race headquarters. There was an open, wood-burning fireplace and warm tea served with mint chocolates… Who would want to leave that kind of comfort for the muddy hell that awaited out in the fields??  My mind raced to think of exit strategies. In a classic move of pure klutziness, I had fallen walking up some stairs about a week before (there may have been wine involved) and had bashed the heck out of my knee. Surely I could use that as an excuse?
Alas, I knew that I would never be able to back out and actually, deep down, I had to admit I really  was craving the muddy madness. The rain and mud would take the pressure off and any miles I completed, at whatever speed I managed, would be a bonus. Yup, it was time to suck it up and go for it. Also, I saw how nervous and jumpy Speedy was getting before the race and it made me realize how important it was for him. Sure, it was a tiny race – not even a race, a “challenge” – but he hadn’t properly raced in quite a while either and it was something we had both been missing. Badly. I wanted to run the race for me, but I REALLY wanted to run the race for us. Running is how we met and yet we hadn’t had the chance to race together… Rain or no rain, we were going to give this a shot!
What follows is our separate perspectives on the race – the gear we used, the training we did, our nutrition, what we were thinking during the race – so that you can have both the male and female accounts of the full 50 km. With the risk of ruining the punch line, I can’t help but mention that Speedy and I ended up taking the 1st place male and female titles respectively!!! (Speedy would like to mention that 1st place male is 1st place overall…not that he is competitive….)
Summary of Race Gear:

Speedy Ultrarunnergirl
Shoes Adidas adiSTAR Raven Mizuno Wave Elixir
Hydration system GoLite (with 2L water bag and waist pockets) GoLIte (with 2L water bag, and no waist pockets)
Socks Bridgedale Merino Wool run sock Orca compression socks
Tights Orca Killa Kompression Full tight Orca Merino Full tight (men’s version… I stole them from Speedy)
Base layer Orca High Neck Merino Wool Baselayer Orca Merino Fusion Athletic L/S shirt
Outer layer Orca Velo Merino Full Zip Jacket Stolen Orca Merino half zip L/S shirt (again from Speedy)
Second layer Are you crazy? It wasn’t that cold! Fleece vest leftover from UTMB!

What was your mentality going into the race?

Speedy: It was my first race since October so I was getting pretty antsy about the whole thing. I knew it was going to be a shock to the system cause I hadn’t run the distance in a long time, so my focus was just to run within myself and not overdo the pace.

Ultrarunnergirl: I was actually trying not to think about it, which is abnormal for me. Given my past track record of having to drop out of races due to injury, I just didn’t allow myself to get too excited about it. I was definitely excited to race again, but I think I was mostly apprehensive. I just wanted to get at least a race start under my belt again, so I tried not to worry about how the race would go from there. As long as I started, it would be a step in the right direction.

How did you train for the race? What was your preparation?

Speedy: Shamefully most training was done in the gym, with maybe one/two runs per week outside in the month leading up to the race. Don’t follow my lead. Can I blame work?

Ultrarunnergirl: I tried to be smart about my training. My main goal was not to injure something, so I didn’t push myself too hard. Four weeks before the race I dragged Speedy out for a 30 km run and two weeks before I finished 36 km, but that was my limit. For me, proper training is crucial not only in terms of physical preparation, but also mental preparation. I like to be able to stand on the start line of a race thinking that I had done everything I needed to do in order to get ready. Honestly, I don’t know how Speedy does it. He barely trains and just rocks up at a race… and wins. Blindfolded. Hungover. With smoke in his lungs. Okay, it isn’t always that bad, but seriously, the guy is pretty much invincible. *said with an equal mixture of wistful admiration and annoying bewilderment*

What was your strategy going into the race? Did you have any particular tactics?

Speedy: Ha! I kept joking about having strategy, but really I had no idea how my body would respond. When the gun (err…fireworks) went off I decided to run up next to the leaders to test out the general pace. I was lucky to find my natural speed a bit faster than the group, so I started to pull away. From there the strategy was just to keep the feet moving, and make sure I went as hard as I could within my limits. [Note from ultrarunnergirl: Speedy is being humble here. His strategy before the race was to sit behind the leader for the first lap and then pull ahead. He was just too fast from the start, so he threw his strategy out the window after about 5 minutes.]

Ultrarunnergirl: Nope. Nada. While I make sure to set some race goals, I rarely have a ‘strategy’ in terms of the other runners. I know that everyone else will generally start off too fast and then slow down, so all I tell myself is to concentrate on my own run and if I feel like I’m too far behind, I simply remind myself that I’ll catch up on the later laps.

What was your pre-race and race nutrition like?

Speedy: I’m a massive advocate of pre-race over the top hydration. For the week prior to the race I filled myself to the brim with a really dilute combination of Nuun + water. The excessive number of bathroom breaks is a downside, but it really works. I also make sure to take regular calcium/Magnesium tablets as well as multivitamins. Flax seed is also a beauty when you remember to take it regularly. Food-wise I do everything you shouldn’t do. I even had a burger at the pub an hour before race start, it was a questionable decision and I’m not sure if it helped, but it was certainly tasty.

Ultrarunnergirl: I didn’t do anything in particular before the race, except up my rice intake (see my previous blog post on gluten-free diets). During the race, I drank Accelerade from my pack, but also stopped at the water stations starting from the second lap so that I wouldn’t have to refill my pack. I add a package of biscuits every time I finished a loop (courtesy of the race organizers), which was about once an hour, and ate potato chips every hour on the half hour to make sure I was getting enough salt intake. I also took a caffeine gel (Gu, chocolate flavour) at the start of the fifth hour to give myself an extra boost. Even though it was at night and cold, I was still sweating quite a bit, so I constantly reminded myself to keep hydrating and eating – especially the chips. I mean crisps. Wow, that could have caused some confusion amongst my british readers…

Best moment during the race?

Speedy: Probably a close tie between finishing in one piece, and crossing paths with Steph on the 3rdtime round the course. For a girl with dodgy toe, and seriously bruised knee I don’t think I’ve ever seen her happier!

Ultrarunnergirl: Seeing Chuck – I mean Speedy – on our third lap. I had been thinking about him the whole time and cheering him on mentally, but to see him so far ahead in the race was awesome. With that one salty, muddy, mid-race kiss, I was pretty re-energized to finish the next few laps! [was that over the top? aww]

Worst moment?

Speedy: I did give a driver the finger and tell him to $%&# himself on the home stretch of the last lap, so that was probably unnecessary (despite the boy racer speeding head on into a running race). [Note admonishment from ultrarunnergirl...tsk tsk]

Ultrarunnergirl: Truthfully, I’m not sure I had one! I had some spectacular wipe-outs during the race, but they were hilariously fun. I’m talking arms flailing over my head, a$$ up, mud down the pants falls.

What expectations did you have for yourself?

Speedy: I joked that my goal was to run my fastest lap on the last time round the circuit, but I’m fairly certain I failed miserably on that one. Other than that my goal was to maintain a pace within my limits and give myself some confidence to get off the lazy/erratic-training bandwagon and keep pushing forward to future races.

Ultrarunnergirl: Finish. Finish. Did I mention finish? And be happy for Speedy even if I didn’t finish. But ultimately, finish.

Did you have any expectations for the other person?

Speedy: I was really hoping that Steph would just get through with a smile on her face. With the drunken knee damage from the previous weekend the odds weren’t looking too great, so when I saw her buzzing along on the 3rd lap it was a special sight. She definitely exceeded any expectations, and I’m pretty sure she ran her last lap faster than I did (remind me never to run against her in a 100km race).

Ultrarunnergirl: Ah, I knew he’d finish in first place… it was hard not to boast about him too much before the start. Sometimes it is tough dating a real-life Rocky. (HAHAH, sorry Speedy, I had to throw that one in there.)

Did you hit a wall at any point?

Speedy: If you asked me what my ideal race was, I’d say 30km with massive climbs and long uber-technical descents. Given that this race was a dead flat and seriously muddy 50km, I wasn’t exactly in a comfort zone. In simple terms, I’d say:

1st Lap wasn’t so bad

2nd lap: oh look I’m getting a lead

3rd lap: do I deserve a little break yet

4th lap: holy crap my quads are feeling heavy

5th lap: seriously, I have another lap?? Damn, I swear I counted five?! Oh man this is gonna suck!

Ultrarunnergirl: I really just had a blast through the whole thing. I know that is annoying, but it was super fun. I finished my first lap in an hour, second in 1:02, third in 1:02, fourth in 1:06, and last lap in 1:05, so I was pretty evenly consistent. The last lap was the best because that was when most of the other runners were slowing down (including Speedy…wahahah) and I just kept trucking along. It feels good to get to that point :D

What kept you going through the low moments of the race?

Speedy: The lowest moment was definitely the entire last lap. I’m ridiculously competitive, so the idea of losing my lead was probably the single biggest factor in keeping going. I also broke the course down into 4 clear “stages” (road, mud, road, mud/homestretch) and gave myself 20secs speed-walk rest at the end of each “stage”.

Ultrarunnergirl: Beyonce?

How did you find the night running aspect?

Speedy: On the first lap it was more like being at a roller disco than a night run cause I had the pace car right in front of me with a seizure inducing rotating light. I was mentally threatening quitting if the car was sticking around for the whole race, but fortunately (or unfortunately) he pulled off after the first lap.. Other than that night running is amazing because you can really get into your own little world. I’d say it’s harder to judge pace, but for me it’s definitely easier to stay focused, and not get caught up in what others are doing.

Ultrarunnergirl: I really like running in the dark. It is easier to concentrate on your own race and get into the zone. It also makes the races seem calmer to me for some reason. However, it can definitely slow you down because you have to be more careful about your footing.

How did you find the competition?

Speedy: There seemed to be a nice mix of experienced ultra runners and first-timers. It was a pretty chilled out atmosphere and most people seemed more focused on their own challenge than anything else (although I’d be lying if I said I didn’t do a little bit of pre-race scoping out of the competition).

Ultrarunnergirl: Everyone was super friendly and I really wasn’t meaning to compete, so I didn’t really think about it!

Would you do it again?

Speedy: I would definitely do another race organized by Challenge Hub, although you’ll have to ask me later about doing the figure 8 route again.. It was really well organized all the safety and logistical issues were perfectly thought out. I would definitely recommend anyone to take part. I know Mike and team are organizing a 3 day self-supported A to B Ultra in Kent later in the year, so I might look at joining in for that one. The best thing about the race is that it was relatively low key and had a good community feel to it. The only pressure at the race was what people decided to put on themselves. Like we always hear “It’s a challenge, not a race”.

Ultrarunnergirl: Definitely. Mike, the race organizer, really made the race a lot of fun.

Happily at the finish

Final comments:

Speedy: Apologies to the very nice lady in the pink jacket who was doing her first ultra marathon. I didn’t mean to spill my entire hydra-bag full of water on you right before the race started! If you finished the race as wet and messy as I did, I’m guessing you got over it pretty quickly, but apologies either way. My bad!

Ultrarunnergirl: Can’t wait for the next race with Speedy. Hopefully something longer than 50km so I can give him a run for his money :D

Click here for the Run247 report.

-Ultrarunnergirl aka Stephanie Case

Filed under: Race Reports | Tagged: , | 13 Comments »

Top Ten Tips for Surviving a Trade Show

Posted on February 13, 2011 by ultrarunnergirl

I must admit, I love sports-related trade shows.  They are the debutant balls of the sports industry when every brand, store, and entrepreneur puts their best and brightest on display in an attempt to catch your eye. You can float down each and every aisle, lingering over the stands that sparkle and twirling quickly passed the ones that bore, trying sample products to your heart’s content. Every vendor has a something different to offer as one of your potential ‘suitors’, and they are all eager for a space on your dance (aka credit) card.

Whenever I go to one of these things, I can’t help but get carried away in the magic, filling up my dance (credit) card perhaps more quickly than I should have.  When all is said and done and I am walking away from the expo laden with bags of gear, the magic starts to wear off.  Suddenly those bright green compression socks seem a bit, er, loud. The year’s supply of pina-colada-flavoured protein powder doesn’t seem as appetizing. And those biodegradable elbow warmers… I mean really? As the doubt starts to sink in, I feel a little like a uni-slippered Cinderella standing in front of her pumpkin of a carriage, wondering if I should have skipped that dance with Prince Charming and whisked myself home before things got really out of hand.

So what is the deal with expos anyway? Do they really offer good deals or is it all just a gimmick? Do the vendors really bring the “best and the brightest” that they have to offer or is it mainly last year’s stock they are trying to get rid of in a hurry? Are they worth it?

Me and Speedy at the Orca Stand!

This past weekend I had the opportunity to work for Orca at the TCR (triathlon, cycling, running) show at Sandown Park outside of London. It was the first time I had been on the vendor side of things at an expo, rather than as a customer, and it really gave me some insight into how these things work. As this particular show boasts the title of the “UK’s No 1 multi-sport exhibition”, I thought it would give me a good chance to talk to some other retailers and find out the real story. Based on what I saw, heard and learned from other vendor’s and customers alike, here are ultrarunnergirl’s top ten tips for successfully surviving a trade show as a customer:

(10) Make a list ahead of time

Have you ever gone to the grocery store to pick up, say, frozen chicken breasts, toilet paper and a pint of milk and come back with cheerios, apples and dish detergent? It is pretty easy to get distracted by all the flashing lights and shiny objects inside, so if there is something specific you fancy, write it down on a list and tick it off as you go along.

(9) Sketch out a general budget… but leave some wiggle room for treats.

Give yourself a maximum budget, but in two categories: (1) the essential category (shoes, wetsuit, socks etc… the boring stuff you’d buy some other time anyway) and then the ‘treat’ category (for things like biodegradable elbow warmers… if that floats your boat). You are virtually guaranteed to find something that you absolutely love – or something that at least intrigues you enough to want to buy – that you hadn’t expected. This is what the real essence of expos are about anyway: finding out all about the the next ‘new’ thing.

(8) Pick the right time to go

If there is a particular item you think you might want, go on the first day a couple hours after opening. There is really no need to be there right when it opens and you will just end up standing in line anyway. Nothing will sell out in the first couple of hours (unless the vendor really messed something up). After the initial morning rush, the vendors will be into the swing of things and any glitches will be sorted out, so it is a perfect time to swoop in and buy that doohickey you’ve been waiting for.

However, if you just want to check things out and are looking to score a deal, I would suggest heading over at the end of the expo, a couple hours before closing. Sure, there might not be as many colour or size options left, but vendors will want to reach whatever sales target they’ve set for themselves for the event, which might make them more willing to quietly slash the prices a little more during the final hours. You never know. Smaller retailers or individual entrepreneurs may be more willing to do this in order to get more exposure whereas bigger retailers will probably stick to their price. That being said, it never hurts to try a little side deal bargaining. Worse thing they will do is say no!

(7) Bring a sturdy backpack

Otherwise you’ll end up buying one to carry all the other stuff you pick up, freebies and purchases alike.

(6) Go on a scoping mission

Do one full ‘sweep’ of the venue first before buying anything. Sometimes the same products are on offer at multiple stands, and there may be a better offer/size/colour/style from a vendor at the back of the room as compared to the deal you see from a vendor who is placed right next to the door. It is good to get a sense of what is out there before laying down the plastic.

(5) To eat or not to eat…

If it is an expo before a race, don’t eat anything you haven’t tried before. When is the last time you said to yourself a night before a race, “y’know what? Now is the perfect time to try out that new chicken curry recipe…” (please say never). Any runner knows that a change in your normal diet can really spell disaster out on the race course. Same principle goes for free food samples at an expo. There are usually multiple brands of protein, fruit, and energy bars on offer, all with tiny samples out for the picking. Then you add on the energy drinks, protein shakes, gels… if you aren’t careful, you could easily try 20 news products that your stomach has never coped with before, all in the span of a couple of hours. Believe me when I tell you that it isn’t smart! (My stomach still hasn’t forgiven me for my pre-Boston marathon protein bar buffet).

However, if it is a stand-alone expo, not connected to any particular race – like the TCR show – eat and drink to your heart’s content. I’m all about the free samples.

(4) Talk to the vendors

Normally, I like going into a store and being left alone until I ask a question or specifically seek a salesperson’s assistance. Trade shows are different. Get over it and get used to being bothered and bothering. Vendors are usually really excited to show your their stuff and especially with the more independent/smaller retailers, you can often get an interesting ‘back story’ on what went into their products. Vendors are an important – albeit biased – source of information, so stop being skeptical and use them!

(3) Test things out!

Often at these types of shows, vendors will bring ‘demos’ of certain products to allow you to test things out before buying. You may not get this opportunity in store and you definitely won’t get the chance online, so take advantage! For instance, at the TCR show this weekend Orca had its entire range of wetsuits in every size out for people to try on. These days, most stores charge a fitting fee of up to 20 pounds to try out a suit in order to prevent the cheeky cheapskates who try things on in store and then run out to buy them online. However, at the show, it was free to try on ANY of the suits, free of obligation, and yet some interested customers still didn’t bother. I can’t figure this one out! There was even a tank there to try out some of the suits in the water. No brainer to me.

(2) Know a deal when you see one

At the TCR show, there were some serious deals to be had. While I can’t say for certain, I assume that other expos would be similar. I had always wondered whether vendors jacked prices up for the shows so that they could falsely claim “20% OFF!” and still keep their margins (such a skeptic I am…). This simply wasn’t the case. The deals I saw on products at the show were genuinely much better than normal, generally ranging from 10% to 30% off (some higher). And we’re not talking about last year’s stock – we’re talking about the new stuff!  Plus, what I didn’t realize is that retailers are not only eager to impress you, they are also just as eager to impress their competitors. There’s a lot of ego going on under one expo roof and fortunately for us consumers, it ends up working to our advantage.

(1) Don’t leave empty handed

Take the free samples, take the flyers, take the promotions, and buy at least one new thing you can have fun testing out. Go on – you’ll feel better :D

 

Enjoying some Nuun with the dynamic duo behind the product!

 

Coming soon: Product Reviews!!!

Working the show this weekend allowed me the opportunity to chat with the people who are behind some of my favourite brands, such as Nuun, Accelerade, Muscle Milk, Gu, Clif Bar… And I also got to check out some brands I’d never heard of before, like Somnio (customizable shoes!), Balega (a top-selling American running sock brand that recently came to the UK) and a few other unique products. Over the next little while, I’ll be testing out and reviewing some of these products so that I can pass this information on to you. If there is a particular product you’ve been interested in, comment on this blog and let me know!

 

Filed under: "Life" (aka misc.) | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Race to Australia: Part FIVE, Darwin to Kununurra

Posted on April 22, 2010 by ultrarunnergirl

“Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving safely in a pretty well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming… WOW! What a ride!” – Hunter S. Thompson I want to send out a HUGE thank you to Deni and Anthony from Air North. Two shining stars in my ever-expanding book of people who have helped me cross the globe under this dark cloud of volcanic ash… In Singapore, I was able to change my flight from Darwin to Kununurra to today (Friday) instead of Saturday. Absolutely stellar. Yet when I arrived at the check-n desk in Darwin, I was informed that Qantas had already issued me a ticket for Saturday’s flight and I would have to buy a whole new ticket to get on today’s flight… I must admit once more that I started to crumple. I just feel like I’ve been fighting on this journey every step of the way and, well, the PMA (positive mental attitude) is hard to keep up for 5 days straight on little sleep! However, Deni and Anthony saved the day. Unlike many of the other airline employees I have dealt with in person or over the phone the past week, these two were empathetic, understanding, and frankly, soothing!! Right off the bat when Deni tried to check me in, she noticed I was born in Kingston and immediately freaked out (in the way that, say, my mom would freak out if she ran into Bobby Orr on the street. Okay maybe not THAT much of a freak out…). She spent 15 months living in good ol’ K-town back in Canada and gave me a high five as she rattled off her old address and fav hangouts. THIS was someone I could trust. Similarly, Anthony got on the phone and proceeded to call Orbitz and Qantas to sort out my tickets. With his Australian charm he worked his magic and half an hour later I had a boarding pass! I’ve given Deni and Anthony the race website and my blog, so I’m hoping this won’t be the last I hear from them! I’m thinking I’ll like Australia….. Now, onto more important things. Like buying all sorts of food! With Oz’s strict import requirements, most of what I’ll be eating next week during the race will have to be bought from airport stands and perhaps the hotel gift shop? If it is fatty, salty, high calorie and dense, I want it!! I’ve also consumed enough food these past 12 hours to feed a small but obese army. I feel like a goose getting fattened up for the slaughter. Probably not too far off – with everything I hear about the course, it may indeed be a slaughter…. ONE MORE LEG TO GO!

Filed under: "Life" (aka misc.) | Tagged: | 3 Comments »

Race to Australia: Part Four, Singapore to Darwin

Posted on April 22, 2010 by ultrarunnergirl

I’ve got 9 minutes left on this airport computer to type out an update… I had to leave Salvador and the spanish crew at the singapore airport this afternoon when we landed. They were going onwards to Perth and I to Darwin. Salvador said “see you tomorrow” and I whimpered, “no, see you in two days…” I started to think how crazy it was that I had to wait 24 hours in Darwin. Surely there was another flight! I went online and sure enough, there was a flight that still had spots for tomorrow from Darwin to Kununurra. Hmm, I suspect it was more expensive which is why I wasn’t booked on it in the first place.

Well, no stopping me now! I got myself a seat on that flight tomorrow and managed to get a refund on my non-refundable hotel booking for Darwin. Booyah! I should really consider switching careers.

I must admit, I am really breaking down now… It has been four full days of non-stop travel using every mode of transportation other than a camel. And don’t think I didn’t consider camels at one point. So I booked myself into a fish spa and got myself a massage, foot scrub, and fishy sessions on the toes. For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, there is this weird craze in Asia to dunk your feet in pools of special fish that eat off your dead skin. I know, it sounds gross. And to be honest, it actually is. But what the heck, it can’t really get any more surreal right now… so why not have some little fishies help prepare my feet for the next 7 days of slaughter? Stay tuned for the video of the feeding – those little guys went to town on my ugly ultrarunner feet!

I feel absolutely awful, but I’m sure it’ll only get better (right??). I am so looking forward to seeing everyone. I land in Darwin at 4:30am tomorrow….

WISH ME LUCK! And keep those donations coming!!!!
xx

Filed under: "Life" (aka misc.) | Tagged: | 1 Comment »

Race to Australia: Part THREE, Madrid to Singapore (via Doha)

Posted on April 21, 2010 by ultrarunnergirl

We arrived in Madrid at about 2:30am this morning (Wednesday) and finally the motley crew had to say goodbye to one another. A few got dropped off at the airport, determined to catch earlier flights out. I was the last to be dropped off and made it to my hotel at 3am. I was hoping to save on the cost of yet one more night at a hotel, but with 4 more days of traveling ahead I thought I should grab some kip wherever I could!! For a bargain price of 97CAD, I had a room for the next 6 hours… Brilliant. And even better, the hotel was fully booked so I got my own suite! Two bathrooms, two beds, and a living room. Shame I had to sleep and miss all the fun ;)

Before I checked out this morning I got a stroke of genius and grabbed the fuzzy bathroom slippers from the hotel room.  In my midnight packing frenzy on Sunday, my flip flops for wearing around camp didn’t make it into my bag… But I figure if I cut the toes off the bathroom slippers that will do the trick! And they are lightweight too! SCORE!

I got to the airport SUPER early – almost 4 hours before my flight – and as I was standing in the check out line I suddenly became overwhelmed by the past few days of journey and, okay fine, the tears started coming… I crumpled purely out of relief. And then all of a sudden I heard a noise behind me… IT WAS SALVADOR CALVO!!! My partner-in-crime from Racing the Planet Vietnam (the male winner and also the winner of RTP Namibia)!! I threw my arms around him and squeezed him tight, much to his, um, surprise I’m sure! I was so happy to see him. He had been writing me on facebook about how desperate he was to get out but couldn’t get a flight. BONUS!!! Ana and Lourdes (volunteer) showed up about half and hour later and we spent the next few hours chatting in spanglish. Well, they spoke in English and I chickened out trying to use Spanish. I’m not sure what we chatted about all of the time, but I did pick up ‘cajones’, which I think says it all.

Salvador is not only one of the best runners I know, but also THE most humble. More on that later.

We made it to Doha and are now stuck here for about 6 hours. Once we get to Singapore we will split ways. The three Spanish fighters will go onwards to Perth and Kununurra, arriving at 12:25pm on Friday. Unfortunately I have another 6 hour layover in Singapore and then a 24 hour layover in Darwin, arriving finally in Kununurra at 7:15am on Saturday. BUT WE’RE MAKING IT!!!!

xoxox

Filed under: "Life" (aka misc.) | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Race to Australia: Part TWO, Paris to Madrid

Posted on April 21, 2010 by ultrarunnergirl

I’ve made it to Madrid! IT is 3am and my alarm is set for 6:30…I want to make it to the airport in plenty of time to check into my flight! Online check in isn’t possible, but it appears my flight is still scheduled (!!!!) so let’s hope! Heathrow opened but as the BBC says, “Travel chaos persists”!! I think I’m incredibly lucky to have this flight.  Spain is definitely where it’s at!

The map of volcanic ash…key is avoiding the red!
I just can’t believe my luck. I mean, some might few this whole trip as BAD luck, but let’s think… I just HAPPENED to pack on Sunday night/ Monday morning JUST IN CASE I needed to leave early (which I did suddenly). Then, instead of booking the flight through Bangkok that I was looking at, I just HAPPENED to book one through Singapore… Now that Bangkok is undergoing political protests and a state of emergency has been declared, I’m so glad I didn’t arrange to fly there!!!  And then while waiting in line for train tickets, I just HAPPENED to meet other stranded travellers who wanted to get from PAris to MAdrid. And they just happened to be as determined as I was to get there.
Everything is working out so far. Part THREE of the grand adventure to follow tomorrow! To Doha, layover for 6 hours, and then to Singapore, arriving Thursday afternoon. Another 21 hours of travel ahead….
My motley crew of travellers in the Paris Gare du Nord train station

Filed under: "Life" (aka misc.) | Tagged: | 1 Comment »

Race to Australia: Part ONE, London to Paris.3gp

Posted on April 20, 2010 by ultrarunnergirl

Filed under: "Life" (aka misc.) | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Race to Australia: Part ONE (and a half)….musings from Paris.

Posted on April 20, 2010 by ultrarunnergirl

The support that is pouring has me shaking my head in disbelief. I am so touched by all those who are reaching out – it is really helping me push on and not give up! I’m not sure how many would go to these lengths to run this race… emotionally, physically or financially (EEP!), but at no point have I questioned whether I was making a mistake. This is just something I feel. I am determined to get to Australia. But Steph, won’t you be exhausted once you make it to Australia after 6 stressful days of constant travelling? Even if you get there, you won’t be able to run a good race! Isn’t it time to give it a rest? To those who have asked me that — and those who have thought that but been smart enough not to ask! — I will answer with a quote (and thanks to my good friend Myles Estey for reminding me of it): “Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest. If you’re going to while away the years, it’s far better to live them with clear goals and fully alive then in a fog, and I believe running helps you to do that. Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that’s the essence of running, and a metaphor for life” -Haruki Murakami

Filed under: "Life" (aka misc.) | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Do you think this is worthy of a donation??

Posted on April 13, 2010 by ultrarunnergirl

Since January 1, 2010…


4 months of training everyday – sometimes twice a day
50 lbs spinach consumed
16 large cartons of protein powder ingested
14 pairs of running shoes tested
1 melted mastercard
250+ hours of cardiovascular activity
1 femoral stress fracture
6 sessions of full-body freezing down to -135 degrees (really)
16 strength training sessions with a 250 lb Northerner
270 needles stuck into my muscles
1 steroid injection
3 nervous breakdowns…last week
20+ lbs I will be carrying on my back
250 km of sand, rocks, and crocodile-infested rivers I will traverse

Living off of cheesecake guilt-free when I finish the race…priceless!

And if that doesn’t convince you to donate, just look at what I will be doing to my feet (photos courtesy of Racing the Planet Namibia last year – yes, they are mine!)



With less than two weeks to go before my 250 km self-supported footrace in the Australian outback, it really is down to crunch time! Training has been particularly brutal, but I’m hanging in there and feeling strong for the race (and nervous!). I really want to thank everyone who has shown their support for cancer research so far… I will think of each person who has helped me along the way during the race and it will help get me through! But I must admit, fundraising is going slowly! I could really use your help! Cancer has intimately affected my family as it has for many of you as well, and your donation would not only mean the world to me, but it would also go a long way towards helping eradicate this deadly disease. Even a small donation counts! It really, really does! Please take a minute to consider showing your support for this worthy cause. Details on how to donate (and get a tax receipt!) are below.

But wait – there’s more!! I would really love to get messages from you during the race. Yes, you can write me through the website and follow along with my progress as I stumble through the outback. It should be entertaining so please follow along! All the instructions are below.

Thanks SO MUCH everyone and I’ll see you on the flip side! I will be updating my blog through the Racing the Planet website everyday, so please have a look and see how I’m doing! Find it through here: http://www.4deserts.com/beyond/australia/rtpnmb.php?SID=3&SBID=RC2 

Go here to sign up for breaking news updates: http://www.4deserts.com/beyond/australia/rtpnmb.php?SID=8&SBID=N2  


Go here to email me during the race! Yes – I CAN read your messages if you send them through the website! Inspirational quotes, negative reinforcement, teasing – all welcome! http://www.4deserts.com/beyond/australia/rtpnmb.php?SID=3&SBID=RC14 ;

Go here to donate! 
Canada: www.canadahelps.org/gp/6518

——————————————————–
http://www.canadianultrarunner.blogspot.com


Thank you to the following people and organizations for their incredible support!

Filed under: "Life" (aka misc.) | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Next Page »
  • RacingThePlanet
  • Polar Heart Rate Monitors
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 227 other followers