Thursday, October 29, 2015

Cape to Cabot - My Experience

Let me tell you a story about my Cape to Cabot (C2C) experience or as they like to advertise it as the "toughest race in Eastern North America." That should've been a red flag right there.  

When I first started with the club I kept hearing all the race talk, Tely 10, Huffin Puffin and Cape to Cabot etc..  With each new running goal that I set and achieved I got confidence to take on another. So I thought Cape to Cabot that sounds like a challenge I'll put that on my bucket list, at the very bottom of the bucket. 

Fast forward to registration day 2014 and I'm all pumped and can't wait to register and even talked Andrew Tobin into doing it with me, only 400 spots so the rush is on before they are all gone.  YES, there are 400 people wanting to register for this insane race and they always end up with a wait list; go figure.  So I happened to be at the mall all in a panic when registration opened, phone was ready to go, hubby was on the computer at home ready to go; my girls are eating pretzelmaker so as not to disturb this important event.  So many people tried to register at one time that they crashed the system; I know insane right.  Speaking of insane, I get a bit crazy when its race day registration especially when races are capped. The mall trip gets cut short, I have to go home to see if I was one of the lucky ones that was able to register. Whew, I made it, now for the fun part to begin....training. Let's see if you like those hill repeats now. 

That year brought a lot of training for me - Half Marathon, Tely10 and then right into Cape to Cabot.  A month before the race I found that the longer runs were leaving me limping with severe shin pain and on my last 18K I couldn't walk without pain for three day's.  So here comes the multiple doctor visits, the pleading to my GP to send me to anyone that's gonna tell me what I want to hear.  You don't understand I said I have a race in 4 weeks I can't be injured but "Nooooo" all I got was you really shouldn't run. Pffff what do they know anyway, I was like a child throwing a temper tantrum; health professionals must really dislike Runners. Finally my husband said I think you should listen to all the people telling you it's not okay to run; you need to make the decision so that you can mourn the fact that you're not able to do it this year - he's a brave man, I give him that. 

Hats off to all those that did run it in a hurricane though - ROCKSTARS!

After months of therapy and ortho appointments I was finally able to get back to running and Cape to Cabot was always in the back of my mind.  When the 2015 C2C race chatter started again a new rule got created in my house "NO Cape to Cabot talk." I guess I was told. :(

I was apprehensive in signing up again as I didn't want to be disappointed if I couldn't run.  On registration day I was up two hours before it opened still pondering if I should register as I still wasn't fully recovered. I reasoned with myself that the Tely10 was done and I felt good afterwards and I was registered for the Huffin Puffin Half, so why not. Decision was made, I just couldn't talk about in my house. LOL

The closer the race day came the more excited I got that I was actually going to get to do it this year.  Now I didn't finish the race in 1:18 like Ed Durnford but I finished and that was my goal.  That race was the most physically and mentally challenging race I have ever done and I learned so much about myself from it that in the end it was worth it.  The moment I ran out of Shea Heights and could hear all the people cheering was the moment I realized Holy (bad word) I just ran from Cape Spear, I became overwhelmed.  Kudos to Colleen Sager for helping me through the hardest 10K ever, you rock! The fact that I still had Signal Hill left could not have dulled that moment and when I got close to the top of Signal Hill and could hear the best cheerleading group ever cheering me on, I knew I could do it especially since they had beer!

Will I do it again? We'll see, I do know that the feeling of accomplishment was amazing and throughout the day I had several moments of "what did I just do" and felt like crying I was so happy.  Crossing that finish line and having my family there to greet me was fantastic, after all they put up with all my running craziness :)

I would just say that if you ever have this race on your bucket list, you won't be disappointed.  Anything is achievable and if at first you don't succeed, try try again.

Happy Running :)


Monday, October 12, 2015

Learn To Run

This week its back to learn to run, only this time its with my 13 year old daughter. What a group of people, there is never a shortage of participants in the LTR program; they must hear about how awesome we are (wink,wink). It's so nice to see so many people come out and I applaud you all; you have a super group of leaders to take you through the program for the next 8 weeks. I wish I had a LTR group when I started running, my only company was the voice from my iPhone app "Couch to 5K" - which I could change from a male or female voice depending on my mood.

My daughter often expressed interest in running. I think it's more about following me than the actual running, but that's okay at least she's active. I have tried to encourage her interest and hoped she would catch the running bug too.  In the past I registered her for some 5K races like the Five and Dime, Uniformed Services Run, and the Santa Shuffle. However, conversations usually consist of "I have a stitch, can we walk, can you slow down" (said no one ever) - and that comment would actually feel good if it wasn't coming from my 13 year old. After the Santa Shuffle it was "don't ever ask me to do that again." Oops no Mom of the Year Award for that one. I obviously didn't scare her off - she's back for more.

The first week of LTR and we're off to Neil's pond.  I answered more questions throughout the run that she was almost done before she realized what was happening. I haven't heard I don't wanna do this anymore, I'm impressed! She's more interested in when she can get a PRC shirt and now she found a running buddy, thanks Connie for signing Kiera up.

So for all the new LTRs (my daughter included) keep going and with patience and hard work you will be running 5K before you know it.  Everyone has to start somewhere and this is just the beginning to a great running experience with the support of an entire group behind you.

Next week Cape to Cabot will be behind me (Thank Goodness) and I'll be a consistent member of LTR for the next 7 weeks.  Good luck on your runs and see you on the trails.



Monday, October 5, 2015

Running is my Therapy

Hi everyone, my name is Tina Barry and I will be writing the blog for October; as I was voluntold by Andrew Tobin.  Many of you know Andrew, he is the membership coordinator for PRC and was my friend - Past Tense LOL

Running has become such a huge part of my life and I love it. It is funny how I now plan my life around running with my friends. Things such as drink nights, children's activities, socializing; nothing interferes with run days.  Running is my therapy :)

I started running in 2008 and my first race was the 5K Centennial Cup race in Grand Falls-Windsor, time and pace unknown, as I was more concerned with making sure I made it to the finish line and didn't die. When I moved to Mount Pearl in 2012 I continued to run with a friend of mine until I joined the Paradise Running Club in February of 2013.  I found out about the club from a co-worker, who told me that she was going to join and I thought I should too. My hope was it would get me out to meet new people and motivate me to run more.

I went to the trusty Google search engine to view the website for more information and soon I had the date and time for the PRC Club registration.  Excitement and apprehension set in as I was still new to the area and did not know a lot of people, but I felt comfortable knowing I would know at least one person there.  Fast forward to registration day, where I find out that my co-worker didn't even register; oh dear what have I done.  Oh well, too late now! Armed with all the details of the scheduled run times and directions from Susanne Ivany Blundon, I set out for PBD. For those who know me, I'm a directionally challenged individual and 2 1/2 years later Susanne and my other running buddies are still providing me with directions. The common joke amongst us is don't let Tina lead and someone make sure Tina's knows where she's going!

"Happiness is running with a friend" especially friends who make sure you don't get lost :)

It's been an awesome 2 1/2 years. I can honestly say it was a great decision to join the club.  I have made fantastic friends, who I can't imagine my life without and I have pushed myself physically to places I didn't think possible. Since joining the club I have run several 5K and 10K races, the Tely10 x3 and just recently completed my first half marathon.  This would not have been possible without being part of a fantastic group, who support and encourage one another with their running goals.

One of my goals has been to run the Cape to Cabot, crazy I know, but I think it's the challenge that entices me.  I felt last year was my time to take on this crazy adventure, but unfortunately a month away from the race I got injured and had to withdraw; that's another story for another time. Here it is, one year later and the Cape to Cabot is right around the corner; here's hoping my training and the support of the club can get me through.

Happy and healthy running! I look forward to seeing you all on the trails or at the pond!