Topo Athletic MTN Racer Review

I want to start the following review by stating I am a TOPO Athletic Canada ambassador. I will provide an honest review and this is my opinion on the MTN Racer shoes.

I want to start off by saying what I love most about these and most other models of TOPO I have used is that right out of the box they feel familiar. There is a less ‘breaking in’ period than with other shoes I have used. I feel I could wear a brand new pair of TOPO for a race.

Races I have used the MTN Racer

The MTN Racer is a shoe that I have used for several races now. I have used them for several training runs too. I feel they excel in a race setting like the name suggests. For a trail shoe they are very light and also offering a lot of protection on gnarly trails. This model has built on the recent models like the Runventure 2 and Hydroventure 2 and give a shoe that is comfortable, light and offer an agressive lug system that help with those hard climbs and slick trails. This is my go to shoes for trail running and trail races now.

On route to winning the Grizzly Ultra, two person team in the MTN Racer.

I have used this shoe for 5 races so far in total. Some 5 Peaks trail races in which I ended up 2nd in both winning the 5 Peaks Northern Alberta Sport Championship. For the Mount Robson Ultra, 12km distance where I manged a 3rd place finish. For the Grizzly Ultra 50km where myself and my teammate won the two man team event. I have also used them for numerous trail runs across a variety of technical trail, double track, single track, muddy and dry trails so they have been through a lot already and are holding up very well.

Taking home a podium spot at Mount Robson 12km!

Some stats

Another thing I really like about TOPO shoes is they are light weight. The MTN Racer  is 9.3 oz (men’s 9), 7.4 oz (women’s 7) and for a durable trail shoe that is very light. The heel to toe drop is 5 mm and as with all TOPOs they feature anatomical toe box to allow for natural toe splay offering a more comfortable run.

The description on the Topo Athletic website states ‘Performance tuned for trail racing and speed-hiking. Vibram® Megagrip outsole delivers optimal traction on any surface. Medial and lateral drainage ports enhance water release and quick drying. A 5mm anti-microbial Ortholite® footbed resists compression set and odor.’ In my opinion this is a very good description and explains the benefits of the shoe.

Looks

Simple but very cool look.

I love the slick and simple look to the shoes. Red is my favorite colour too so I knew I had to have a pair. The orange and black highlights add to the shoe and give a cool finish.

Conclusion

The MTN Racer is an excellent lightweight trail shoe.  It has good rock protection and has a competitive weight.  The fit is wide on the forefoot and locks in well at the heel. It is comfortable and responsive.

The MTN Racer is an adaptable shoe that does well in all weather conditions and different trail surfaces.  I use these shoes on all trail related runs.  I have used this shoe for mostly shorter runs.

Overall, I love the minimal lightweight feel to the shoe where I can feel the trail underneath me. The improved and deeper luges in this shoe compared to other trail shoes from TOPO have allowed for better grip. Like all shoes with deep luges it can lead to some mud build up in wetter conditions but this can be easily knocked off.  This is a shoe I would recommend to anyone who enjoys trail running.

 

TOPO Cor Review

I want to start off this review by stating I am a TOPO Athletic Canada Ambassador. I will still provide my honest opinion of the COR shoe from TOPO.

Wearing the COR on the 5 Peaks podium!

Description

The COR shoe is described on the TOPO athletic Canada website as COR is a simple yet innovative 0-drop, multipurpose trainer. It features an elasticized center gore and a secure hook and loop strap for easy on/off. Built on our soft and flexible ST-2 platform, with rubber only where you need it, COR is ideal for multipurpose gym training and natural running enthusiasts.

Below are the SPECS of the shoe from the http://www.topoathleticcanada.ca website.

This shoe is an everyday shoe or a gym shoe. It is very comfortable and really brings a soft feeling as you walk. I personally use these shoes as my everyday walking shoe and my feet have never felt so good. The COR is designed to have a wide forefoot to give the toes ample room for splaying naturally, I really notice the difference between this other shoes I have used previously for walking. The fit is adjusted with the help of a hook-and-loop strap on the midfoot. This gives it a snug and firm fit which is very comfortable.

If you were to use these solely as a lifting or gym shoe there is a 0-mm heel-to-toe differential which implies that the heel is placed on the same level as the forefoot. Such positioning of the foot helps it stay steady during high-intensity workouts and weightlifting.

The stack height of the midsole and the outsole combined measures at 16 mm. This thickness puts the foot close to the ground, offering better feedback from the surface. I feel this is a great feature of all TOPO shoes. Having ti in a walking or gym shoe like COR is a great advantage as it trains your feet and works muscles that you wouldn’t with more cushioned shoes.

LOOKS

I really like the look of this shoe and wear it usually with joggers or track pants. I have worn it with jeans too and it has a nice look. I love the simple one colour look, it is sleek and streamlined. The shoe holds up well and shape and fit is the same now as when I first go the shoes, thats with wearing it basically everyday.

The COR even helps you get your baby to sleep.

Conclusion

I will start wearing this pair in the gym when they get a bit more worn and I invest in another pair. I would love to see some more colour options in the future. I really recommend these if you are looking for a cross training or gym shoe. If you want an everyday shoe for walking this would be the top if my list.

5 Peaks Canmore Review

Licking my lips for the excitement ahead!

Wow what a day. Alarm set for 3.50 as we had to get a bus at 5am. A group of keen runners were making the trip down to Canmore Nordic Centre to race 5 Peaks Race 4. Thanks to Kevin ‘Houda’ MacDonald who arranged a bus for 5 Peaks enthusiasts to get their trail running on for the day. After a foggy bus ride down we made it to the Nordic Centre. The Canmore Nordic Centre is Canada’s premier cross country skiing and biathlon venue. Having hosted the Nordic and biathlon events of the ’88 Winter Olympics the Centre is host to regional, national and international events every winter.

Straight off the bus we all checked in got our race bibs and got ready to rock. I was doing the half marathon distance which would begin first. I had enough time to do a quick warm up with Kody (who was doing the sport) and then it was time to go.

Course Preview

Half marathon was a loop of Enduro and the Sport course

The half marathon course had a combination of groomed double-track & single track mountain bike & x-country ski trails. The half marathon distance consisted of a loop of the enduro course followed by a loop of the sport course.

2 Water/Aid Stations(1 at start / finish area, and 1 mid way through course). First Aid attendants at the Start/Finish area, at aid station and throughout course with radio communication. The Canmore Nordic Centre also requires all event participants to carry bear spray.

Race Review

This was an exciting course. The Half Marathoners would start first. i saw a few guys I recognized from social media and knew they were fast so I was in for a battle to place. I wanted to start slow and gradually build. Thats what I did. The first two kilometers however were downhill with open double track trails, it allowed for a faster pace but this felt easy on the down hill. We started a small climb through some single track at kilometer 3 and this opened up into double track, here was the split for Enduro and Sport course. The Sport would continue to climb the hill whereas the Enduro course went into more single track. I found myself in second position at this stage with a slight gap between myself and first place. i felt really good so far and was conserving my efforts on the uphill as I knew I would need the energy later on.

Trying to pretend my calves aren’t screaming!

With a little more climbing the true single track would start, it was a mix of uphills, downhills, technical trails which were full or rocks and tree roots. This was from 5 until 7 km with some short steep climbs thrown in. I rolled my ankle at kilometer 5 and felt a crunch, i thought it was very bad so I slowed right down for about 200 – 300 meters. This allowed 3rd and 4th place catch back up to me, it felt fine though so I continue pushing hard. At the 7 km mark this is where I fell back into 3rd as we had some long steep climbs a local runner from Canmore passed me but from here on in I wouldn’t lose any more places. We climbed substantially until kilometer 9. I had to stop to pee and the guy in fourth caught right back up to me, I put almost two minutes between us but lost it here. We reached the top of the course and the scenery had changed. The course was full of snow here. But we started to descend and it soon faded away. I really open up on the flat technical trails and downhills and my kilometer splits were getting quicker further into the race.

Making our way to the 12th km we joined back with the sport course until the finish home, being in the Half marathon instead of running to the finish line we turned left and went for a loop of the sport course to finish our race. The noise of the festival area was welcoming for a brief moment before heading out for the last 7 km. I put a gap between myself and 4th but could not see 2nd or 1st so I kicked the effort and pace up in the first few flat downhill kilometres to try and catch up. My splits for this first section of the course were as quick as the start of the race which I was happy about. We reached the splitting point for the Sport and Enduro, this lap we took the sport course and these were the steepest climbs of the day with a mix of single track and double track climbs. Once this was finished we had some rolling hills for the final 2 km all the way until the end. I checked behind me as I was coming into the finish line but 4th place wasn’t in sight. I was happy with my race and finish.

Stay focused?! Or at least fake it!

Just as I crossed the finish line I hear Houda shout and in 2nd Place Ben O’Rourke! What I was in third?? Later I found out the guy in 2nd went way of course so I finished second. this has happened me plenty of times and in fact 3 times this year. i was delighted to be able to take home second overall in my first trial half marathon.

Happy with 2nd overall in my first half marathon trial run.

The Experience

After the race we had the awards ceremony which was a lot of fun. A lot of the Edmonton people that travelled made the podium or age group podium which was great to see. We had about 3 hours to hang out after the race so we hung out had some beers and talked about the day and other running adventures. I want to thank Houda for organizing the party bus as it was such a fun experience and racing in Canmore is always great. The whole day felt like a party with a race in between.

X Warrior Challenge repped well at 5 Peaks. My two favourite races. 

Next year the party bus will be in June when we head back to Canmore for 5 Peaks Central Race 2. You don’t want to miss it, I wont.

TOPO Fli Lyte 2 Review

Pushing through that pain cave but at least my feet look good!

I want to start by saying I am a TOPO Athletic Canada ambassador. The following review will be about the TOPO Fli-Lyte 2 road shoe. This is a shoe that I have been using for over a year. I use the Fli-Lyte 2 for longer road races (anything 15km and up!). The Fli-Lyte 2’s cushioning is quite natural and has some good spring. A key benefit of the Fli-Lyte 2 over pretty much every other shoe is that it seems to be designed to fit the human foot. It captures some of the natural bio-mechanics and gives the foot some freedom. It like all other models allows for toes to naturally spread as you run.

Flashy but functional!

On the TOPO website the Fli-Lyte 2 is described as a soft, highly responsive and flexible ride, suitable for a variety of distances and speeds. An updated upper mesh offers additional structure and durability without sacrificing weight or breath-ability. The new platform is slightly softer and more flexible than our original, delivering a more natural feel.

My Experience with Fli-Lyte 2

Personally I use the Fli-Lyte 2’s for longer training days and longer race distances (anything from 15km and above). I feel they offer the right amount of protection and cushioning needed for a longer race while not weighing too much. Some of my personal highlights with the Fli-Lyte 2’s include hitting a Personal Best of 1.23.14 for a half marathon at the Servus Edmonton Marathon. A half marathon time of 1.27.28 at MEC Race 4 in St.Alberta, AB. I also came second at the MEC Race 1 in Edmonton for the 10km distance. This race was in March when there is still lots of snow. The Fli-Lyte 2’s worked great in the snow and on icy patches.

Laughing at her mistake off not having TOPOs!

Some stats

The Fli-Lyte 2 has a 3mm drop when loaded. It is quite flexible and has rubber out sole on most of the contact patches. The out-sole seems fairly thick, with no stone traps or other holes in the sole. The weight is 8.4oz for mens size 9 and 6.9oz for women’s size 7.

Looks

The grey version is sleek!

I love the fact the color scheme for the Fli-Lyte 2 varies a lot. You can have the modest yet sleek looking grey version or the flashier but just as cool Orange and Blue version, these colors will help you stand out from the crowd. The shoes don’t look too bulky but provide great cushioning.

Conclusion

I honestly love these shoes especially for training. My go to shoe for a race is the ST2’s but these shoes feel great for longer runs and recovery runs during training. I will be focusing on marathons next year and these will be the shoes I use. In my opinion the look and feel of these shoes make it a must try shoe

Edmonton Marathon – Half Marathon

Fake it till you make it!

Coming into the year I set some big goals for myself, they were mostly related to road running. A sub 18 minute 5km, sub 38 minute 10km and a sub 1 hour 23 minutes and 30 seconds half marathon. For me achieving them would be something I wouldn’t have thought was possible four years ago when I started OCR Racing. A few of my other goal races had already gone down, now it was time for the big one, The Servus Edmonton Marathon, I would compete in the half marathon distance. The lead up to this one was a bit special. I was chosen as one of 10 ambassadors for the race, something I was delighted to be part of. Going into this race I came off of a bad half marathon attempt so I was a little nervous. Friday night I attended the Pre Race Party at the Central Social Hall where a lot of the other ambassadors attended and some other participants as well as Running Room staff. There was a lot of talk about the forest fires in BC which caused a lot of smoke in Edmonton for the previous 2 weeks. There was some doubt surrounding the event still taking place. Luckily the smoke passed and the event went ahead.

Course Preview

Edmonton is a flat and fast course. There is little to no elevation change with no hills to speak of. This race starts out with a great run along Jasper Ave until 111th street where you take a right and switch onto 102 ave. From here racers run all the way until 137 street, a nice long straight section to settle your pace. A turn around point at 137 street leads you to a right turn onto George’s crescent before making your way to 142 street. Racers run all the way down to 85 ave before navigating some turns in residential areas. On the way back a few more turns into some residential areas lead you back to 102 ave and your are coming into the final few kilometres. The nice straight section leads all the way back to 111 st. Racers turn right on 102 ave and left back onto Jasper to run the final fast mile on Jasper ave finishing at the Shaw Conference Centre.

My Race

Going into this race I had several goals. A goal was sub 1.23, B goal was sub 1.25 and C goal to beat my previous PB of 1.26.26. Leading up to the race I had a lot of conversations with my friend Packie Kiernan about running and pacing together. Unfortunately he got terrible news of a stress fracture the week before the race and wouldn’t be able to race. Looked like I would pace by myself and as it turned out pick up a few other runners along the way.

I got to the race site an hour early. Parked a few blocks away. I did last minute prep, dropped my bag off, took of my extra layers and now it was time to finish my warm up. i made my way close to the start line near the top of the pack. There was some elite athletes racing this race so standing beside them is always a great feeling. The National Anthem played and next thing I know we are taking off. I wanted to start out conservative and not let the occasion get to me or ruin my race. A 4.06 for the first km made me laugh because it was the same pace from the Lu Lu Lemon 10km. I panicked less cause I learnt my lesson and being a longer race the first km at a conservative pace wouldn’t kill my race, at a hard effort though it could.

Still feeling strong just over half way!

Running along Jasper ave is always a great experience, turning on to 102 ave, the best cheer station would be located at the corner. Lu Lu Lemon really encapsulate the atmosphere of an event and their cheer station really helped racers push through especially on the way back towards the finish line! We were now on 102 ave, another 3 or 4 runners were running with me and one of them introduced himself, asked my pace and he stated he was going for the same. This group stayed together all the way until 137 street. One or two of the runners picked up the pace but I held back trying to hit even splits. I had ignored the first 2 or 3 water stations but from now on I would grab water at all the remaining stations, something I don’t usually do but it defintley helped for this race.

Kilometers 7, 8 and 9 along 142nd street were all smooth, I was in between two groups here but felt comfortable running on my own, I took my first bit of nutrition here, I was using Cliff Gels vanilla flavor. Now into the first of 3 residential areas, I felt really strong and picked up the pace from kilometer 10 until 16km. However at kilometer 12 it feel like I had an indication cramp setting in. I had passed about 4 or 5 runners by kilometer 16 so felt good. Another kilometer around Georges crescent and we were brought back out to 102 ave so a long straight away until 111 street and two turns to bring you back on to Jasper Ave. I took my final 1/3 of gel here and threw the rest in the bin, the gel was sticky and hard to swallow so in future I am going to be using a different fuel source.

Pain was creeping in at kilometre 19!

17km in and there was some pain starting to creep in, my kilometres started dropping to 4.04 a km but I had run a strong 10km – 16km to afford some slower kilometres. Before I knew it I was back at the LuLu Lemon cheer station and it was just the boost I needed at the right time. I hit the power up sign, heard Packie shout ‘you’re right on time Ben’ and pushed on to my first sub 4 km in since kilometer 16. I was back on Jasper ave and into the final mile. another racer caught me and said lets go, he kicked on great and I up my speed but was defintley feeling it for the last 800m along Jasper ave.

I kicked on and ran under the finish line with a new PB of 1.23.14. I was delighted with my time and effort, hit a sub 1.23.30.

Race Experience

My sons second ever race, amazing experience to share with him.

I loved this race, it had a big event feel to it and always great seeing some of the best come out to compete. i got to talk to a lot of friends who either hit PBs, completed their first marathons or just really enjoyed the experience. It was great hearing such positive feedback and I was honored to be an ambassador for this race. After the half was finished I ran the kids race with my eldest son which has been postponed because of the smoke the day before. This was harder to run than the half because my legs were so sore but it felt even better running with my son for his second ever race. He was delighted with his medal.

Rugged Maniac Review

Coming out hot in the elite wave of Rugged Maniac. 

Rugged Maniac was back in Calgary for its fourth year. This was the fourth year I was coming back to this race. Its a fun, family friendly, party like OCR. Lots of fellow friends, Rampage Racing teammates and Hurtin Albertans would all be there. I knew it would be another great day.

Course Description

Course map for Rugged Maniac Calgary 2018

The course was a total of 5.2km on my Garmin Forerunner 215. There was a total of 25 obstacles spread throughout the course. The course itself was mostly on flat grass with some pavements and gravel trails thrown in here and there. The course had little elevation change with the only hills been man made mounds of dirt typically put in before and after obstacles to slow racers down. This course allowed for a lot of fast running and fast finishing times.

Preview

This was a race I was really looking for redemption at. The last 3 years at Rugged Maniac have not been kind to me results wise. I have finished 4th twice and DNF’d a guaranteed second place. The Rugged Maniac podium is something I really wanted especially after been so close years previous. Saying all that this is one of my favorite races of the year as most of the OCR community and some great friends show up to this one and usually hang out after the race for a good time.

This year there were several great racers and with years past Rugged Maniac always throws in some fast road runners that challenge for top spots. My OCR training this year has been lacking as I have been focused on my running times (road running) 1st and then trail racing. I was hoping my increased running speed would carry me over as the obstacles in this race aren’t too challenging.

My Race

I felt great going into this race and Kody and I had a few friendly chirps at each other ( I knew he would be so hard to beat). We started out at a decent pace (3.45 a kam) and there were several runners keeping up with Kody, Brayden Jessen and I. One guy went out at a blistering pace but we all knew this wasn’t a sustainable pace. Everyone hit the first 4 obstacles together (shoe catcher, barricade, commando crawl and quad burners) at the same time. This is when Kody and Brayden started opening a small lead. Next was the trenches and they were wider than previous years, it is where you jump across a hole in the ground. Unfortunately I miss timed one of my jumps and almost fell into one of the holes. I dropped about 4 spot here scrambling back to my feet and fell back to 7th.

This year I have been training mostly running and trail running so my heart rate was spiking hard on even simple obstacles! The next three obstacles (Jacobs Ladder, Jump Start and Pull your own weight) had flat running sections in between so I opened up here and an encouraging shout from Kody to move my ass defiantly helped big time. By the time we got to the 10th obstacle, sled dog, I was in 3rd place. I caught up to Brayden at The Gauntlet and Claustrophobia but once he saw this he opened a small gap on me. We ran fast and actually caught up to Kody by obstacle 16 (Speed Trap) he saw this and stepped his effort up and he too opened a lead on us again.

After catching up to these fast dudes, they took off and left me in their dust!

The new obstacle Off the Rails was fun, it was like a zip line that was slanted upwards and you run slide along the zip line to ring a bell at the end. My first attempt didn’t work too well as I didn’t run to gain enough momentum, I slid back but nailed to with a faster harder run on my second attempt. By this stage I knew 1st and 2nd were out of the question with about a kilometre to go. I looked behind me after I got through The Ringer (suspended rings over a pool of water you swing from ring to ring to get across) and the Crag (an inflatable obstacle you climb over). There was nobody in sight which was a relief, I picked the pace up slightly as I knew there was only about 500m left and I had 4 obstacles to go.

The Ringer

No problem through anti-gravity, next was the warped wall that was attached to mount maniac and accelerator 3.0 (a big side to finish). I ran at the warped and slide down on my first attempt, the wall was slick from the morning dew. I panicked a little as I have had 2 fourth place finishes and one DNF in the past three years. I looked around to see if any other races were coming by and there was no one in sight, I had another chance to score the podium.

One deep breath and I gave it all I got, I chose the outside lane that looked a little dryer, sprint just as I approached the wall. Reached one hand up and just held on. There was a little cheer form the crowd as I  climbed up the wall and slid down the slide to take home 3rd place. My first official North American OCR podium. I was so happy with this finish and the support from my OCR team Rampage Racing was amazing.

My First Official North American OCR Podium

Afters

Gun Show! Repping X Warrior!

There was a party feel to this race with lots of vendors on site, a free beer with your race entry and Kody’s sexy celebration dance for his 1st place finish all made this event one of themes fun OCRs of the year. After the race I got to hang out with fellow racers at the X Warrior tent and it was a lot of fun. Rugged Maniac is a race that I will keep in my race schedule each year.

Rampage Racing

3 of the 6 podium spots went to Rampage Racing team but everyone on the team crushed their own race and we all had fun. It was great to hang out with a lot of the team members and the support we give each other helps with training, racing and life in general. I am delighted to be part of this team, we have had a strong year with new members added, goals crushed and overall a good time. Looking forward to see what the team does for the rest of the year.

Team Rampage Racing 

 

TOPO ST-2 Review

I want to start by saying I am a TOPO Athletic Canada ambassador. The following review will be about the TOPO ST-2 road shoe. This is a shoe that I have been using for over a year. I use the ST-2 for mainly road races and speed work.

Back in Black – ST-2 Stylish and sleek.

Ah I have to admit the ST-2 is my favorite run/race shoe I have ever worn. To me this shoe has the perfect combination of cushion, lightweight, comfort and style. It truly is a race shoe and I would recommend it for anything up to a half marathon but not more than that.

My Experience with ST-2

I have had many races with the ST-2 as my shoes of choice so I will pick some of my highlights. First off this is the shoe I have worn when aiming for my 5km Personal Bests and have been able to run an 18.05 minute 5 km in them aswell as an 18.14, 18.26 and 18.42 so I have been able to consistently hit sub 19 minute 5kms using this shoe.

Fast shoes = Fast Running = Hitting PBs!

Other races of note with these shoes are X Warrior Challenge which is an OCR Race based in Alberta. I used it for their stadium race and was able to take home a 6th place overall in 2017 and qualify for the OCR Race World Championships.

The ST2 always leave an impression when you race!

Some stats

ST-2 has 0-drop, a 16mm platform offers optimal foot flexibility and ground feel to encourage natural running and movement patterns. Like all TOPO model it has the wide natural toe box for that room the foot needs. The weight is 6.9 oz for Men’s size 9 and 5.6oz for Women’s size 7 so it is ultralight offering a fast but cushioned ride.

Looks

Another favourite – grey and orange for a great combination

This is personal my favorite shoe in the looks department. They are too bulky and the fit looks natural. I love the colour schemes where you can go from a sleek all black look to the flashy green and orange combination.

Conclusion

Again this isn’t the best shoe for longer distances but TOPO rightly advertises them as a ‘Light, fast, and versatile, the ST-2 is engineered to deliver a lightweight and secure sock-like fit, ideal for speed work, racing and fitness training’ so you know what you are getting before you purchase them. Used in the right circumstances they are the ideal shoe. The ST-2 packs down flat, making it an amazing travel shoe.

I’ve always loved how Topo focuses on the things that matter most to serious runners and aims to do them well. This shoe is always ready in my arsenal for a fast track session or a short intense race.

Canada Running Series – Edmonton 10km by Lulu Lemon Review.

Fast people = Fast start

The Big One! A race that sold out in less than 14 hours. 5000 participants would take to the street of Edmonton for the biggest race the city would see. Billed as party or an event and it showed. From the easy race packet pick up, the baggage drop to the little things like tote bags for your post race snacks (including that Donut Party donut!) every ran smoothly and the experience was second to none. Leading up to the event, it was clear to see on social media how much work was put into this event.

This was a huge race with some nice prize money up for grabs for the winners. It attracted some of the top athletes from across Canada including 2 time Olympic games athlete, a Pan Am Games 1500m bronze medalist, a reigning Canadian Marathon champion, a national marathon team member and a national 10k road champion. On top of this some of the top athletes from across Edmonton and Alberta showed up so this was going to be a fast race.

Course Description

• Starts on 106th st, between 96th ave and 97th ave
• North on 106th st to 97th ave
• West on 97th ave, through the Alberta Legislature Grounds underpass to 109th st
• South on 109th st and across the High Level Bridge
• West on 88th ave to 110th st, then north toward Saskatchewan Drive
• Northwest along Saskatchewan Drive, then south to 87th ave
• East on 87th ave, then loop around Windsor Park back to 89th ave
• East on 89th ave to 117th st, follow 117th st north-west to 118st
• North on 118th st to Edinboro Road and back out to Saskatchewan Drive
• Follow course back along Saskatchewan Drive and across High Level Bridge
• On north side of the bridge, stay right into east lanes of 97th ave
• South on 106th st, then west on 96th ave
• Post race area at the South Bandshell Park of Alberta Legislature Grounds

Taken from the Edmonton running series website (http://canadarunningseries.com/edmonton-10k/event-info/#race-distances)

My Race

The start of the race came quick, the baggage check in was so smooth and quick, the festival area had many vendors, a big stage and a party feel to it. There was a mass warm up, I opted to do a quick jog with Packie Kiernan and his dad Pat who had arrived the day before and was going to take on this race too. Everything about this race was already great.

After a few disappointing efforts in other goal races I really wanted a good performance here so I was a little nervous going into the race. However, the start line was buzzing and this actually settled my nerves because everyone seemed so excited to be there, it put me at ease. After a few announcements, the elites joined at the top of the pack and we were been counted down to go. I wanted to have a good start but not go out too hot so the first km was conservative. Actually too conservative and my watch read 4.05 for the first km, not the start I wanted. I panicked and said to Packie ‘oh crap over 4 mins for the first km’, he said ‘its ok’, this settled me and from there we picked up the pace. The next km brought us across the high level bridge on the road which was an amazing experience to see runners overtake the bridge instead of cars, a bit of a head wind here and then on to the biggest hill of the day. This next km was a lot quicker at 3.40km and truly settled my nerves.

Packie and I decided to float this race instead of run it!

All this time Packie and I were neck and neck, pacing each other and this is where we started to pass fellow racers. At the top of the high level bridge we turned right and joined on to Saskatchewan Drive. We maintained a 3.45 a km pace here and the first major cheer station with battling DJs was along this section, it was a cool experience and helps with motivation when there is about 50 people screaming at you to keep going. We pulled ahead of another female Elite running here and started hunting down two more wearing Running Room race singlets. We were approaching the half way point, that first km seemed so long ago and we positioned ourselves for a sub 38 minute 10km nicely. There was a loop by Windsor park that would send us towards Saskatchewan drive onto the back half of the course. This is where we passed the Running Room athletes and held a strong pace with them all the way on to Saskatchewan Drive.

When we got back here, the rest of the race was making their way out on Saskatchewan Drive on the opposite side of the road, we passed the dueling DJs again. There was many cheers and shouts from all the runners encouraging myself and Packie. Come on the Irish was my favorite! From here it was back to the high level Bridge and down the hill this time, I picked my pace up here a bit to make time up that was lost at the start. I put a little gap between myself and Packie but on High Level Bridge he battled back and caught up with me, he said his legs were dead, I said lets push on and he showed grit here and we ran hard for the last mile. We came to the last downhill of the day under the tunnel at 95th ave. Packie mentioned there is only 600m left, a lap and a half of the track. With 400m he kicked on strong and finished with a time of 37.15, I finished with a time of 37.40. Two huge PBs and two sub 38 minute 10kms, we officially joined the sub 38 club.

Coming in hot to hit that sub 38 minute 10km!

I have to say we ran a perfect race, we have been friends for over 20 years, played soccer together, had many a beer together and now we both have found running and have a huge passion for it. We paced each other well, fed off  each others energies and helped each other accomplish a huge goal. It was one of the happiest achievements in my short running career and I was glad to share it with Packie.

The Afters and Results!

After the race, you got a cool medal and a free Lulu Lemon Tote bag. You took it to fill it with post race snacks (Kind Bars, Bananas, juice boxes) and best of all you got a Donut Party donut, the perfect post race treat! There was also event mural to get a post race picture, there were two group lead yoga sessions in the festival area, two physio stations to help with recovery and lots other giveaways making it worth while to stick around after the race, it added to the party atmosphere of the day.

Kody and I after crushing PBs about to crush some donuts!

There was great excitement at the finish line with many people hitting PBs and getting age group awards. Including Packie’s Dad, Pat who took home the gold in his age group, adding a National medal to a great running career, my fellow Rampage Racing Teammate and friend Kody O’Brien smashed his 10km PB by over 5 minutes and came in with a 38.40 time. Talking to a lot of other people in the run community, everyone seemed delighted with the race and event. I, like everyone else can’t wait for next years event.

Conclusion

The Irish are coming, two PBs and a gold medal!

The minute this race was announced there was a buzz on social media like I haven’t seen before, this was proven by how quickly it sold out. The route, website, promotion and everything leading up to it just got better and better. On the day, everything ran very smoothly which is great to see as it was obvious a lot of hard work was put in. Thanks to all the race organizers and volunteers for an amazing event. I’m excited for what next years event will bring.

5 Peaks Race 3 Sunridge Review

5 Peaks ambassador and Need For Speed repping well.

The 3rd installment of the 5 Peaks Northern Alberta took place on Saturday July 21st at Sunridge Ski Area. There was plenty of storms leading up to this race meaning the running surface would offer its own challenges to racers. The weather on the day was perfect for running a race. There was a special buzz about this race and it seemed everyone attending was in a good mood and ready for a fun race day. The course itself had changed from previous years and offered new challenges.

Course Description

Ski trails with a mix of double and single track. Bring on the HILLS!!! The course begins with a 300m pavement section followed by a single track downhill to the edge of the river. This is immediately followed by a three step climb from the bottom to the top of the bank. There, a crowd will be waiting to cheer you on into the next section of technical single track. This section has plenty of twists and short climbs and ends with a blazing descent through the trees. From there you break out onto a short section of pavement and are greeted by the first Aid Station. After that, you face a 1.5km section of rolling single track along the river’s edge. This is follow by a grueling uphill that will take you to the top of the bank and into the Nordic ski trails. The ski trails are 1.5km and are a mix of double and single track with a few punchy up-hills. This section concludes when you reach the top of the Chairlift and make your way into the Down-hill ski section. This area will have a number of slalom descents and off-camber traverses mixed in with some switch back climbs. The last section of single track is as wild as it gets. Be sure to follow the markers here my friends because you will see people running in every direction! As you break out of the trees from the mind-bending single track the course concludes with a run-way finish.

(Taken from the 5 Peaks website; http://www.5peaks.com/shop/sunridge).

My Race

I was going into this race hoping for a podium but also wanted to conserve some energy for the LuLu Lemon 10km race the next day where I was shooting for a Personal Best. Like with any race this plan immediately went out the window. The pace started out quick but nothing ferocious which I was happy about. At 5 Peaks races both the Enduro and sport distances start at the same time so its hard to know your placing with the mix of both racers. This is a positive change though as it means the faster sport athletes don’t catch up with Enduro athletes half way through the course.

Getting ready for the battle and MUD!

We started the downhill section which already made our shows muddy and the footing was loose your feet. I took this section a bit easier to ensure no falls. Next was the biggest climb of the day. There was a king of the hill competition for this part, first male and female up would win a free race entry to the next race. Tyler Gamblin made a dash for this and won for the men, Sonya Jongsma Knauss took the king of the hill for the women. This was a fun and added to the competition but most people stuck to their game plan. On the uphill section I took my time as footing was unsteady and the mud made it slippery. Packie Kiernan took the lead at this stage and wouldn’t let go of it for the whole race coming out on top of the podium. When we got to the top of the hill we cut left into a long section of single track, this is where I made my moves passing all sport athletes (apart from Packie) and several enduro athletes.

After this there was a break on a pavement section and about a 1.5 – 2km section along the rivers edge which was flat, wet and muddy but allowed runners to open the pace a bit. This is where I caught up to Packie and another Enduro racer. We then immediately turned left and went up some gnarly climbs that were slick, muddy and made for more scrambles, hands and knees climbing than anything else. I lost ground here on Packie and the Enduro athlete and actually got passed by another Enduro but I knew I was in second place for the Sport distance. I kept a comfortable pace for the final single track sections, broke out of the single track, asked my friend and fellow Rampage Racer Kody O Brien who was course marshal was I second or third, he told me second. I drop the pace and coasted in the last 200m. Packie took first, I took second and Nathan Eriksson took 3rd, a familiar podium!

Shared many podiums with these guys.

This was a fantastic race and as I mentioned the festival area was buzzing with everyone sticking around for giveaways competitions and to cheer fellow racers over the finish line. A great event, you don’t want to miss the next one on Saturday August 11th in Chickakoo. Get all the details here;  http://www.5peaks.com/shop/chickakoo-race-4

More medals for Rampage Racing!

 

 

MEC RACE 5 Review

Trying to focus on the goal at hand!

MEC Race 5 was held in St.Albert, at Lions Park. This would be a great course to try an chase a PB as it was relatively flat with a couple of rolling hills but no elevation to really talk about. On the day the weather was perfect, a little chilly to stand around in but perfect running weather with a little wind resistance.

Course Description

ROUTE SUMMARY:
•       Runners leave Lions Park west. (Left).
•       Runners stay on the multi-use trail that runs adjacent to the Sturgeon River.
•       Continue and past Riel Recreation Park.
•       The turnaround point is located just past Ray Gibbon Dr.
•       Return past Lions Park (5 K runners return to the start now) and along the multiuse next to the Sturgeon River and pass under Boudreau Road
•       The 10K turnaround is located near the spray park.  Runners return to Lions park.
•       15K & 21K continue to the foot bridge to cross over the Sturgeon and onto Otter Crescent.
•       Marshals will direct you across the street and onto the multiuse (Coal Mine Road)
•       The Turnaround is roughly 400m into Coal Mine road. This is the 15K turnaround and runners will return to Lions Park.
•       21K Return along the marshaled path until you reach Boudreau Road Bridge at the water station. Cross the Sturgeon River again.
•       After crossing, enter the multiuse that follows along the north side of the Sturgeon River.
•       Follow this path past the marshal and follow right along Mission Avenue.
•       The 21K turnaround will have a marshal and is before the grain elevator.
•       Return along the same path and cross Boudreau Road Bridge once again.
•       Head west along the multiuse and return to Lions Park to complete your Half Marathon.

My Race

I did the half marathon course with an aim to beat my PB and possible get a sub 85 minute half. This was going to be a time trial for me with my goal race, the Servus Edmonton Marathon (Half Marathon Distance) on Sunday August 19th.

It started out so well.

The race started out great and I took an early lead with about 2/3 guys chasing closely behind. My plane was to stick to a 3.55 – 4 min a kilometer pace for the first half and see if I would stay there or try and push the pace faster. Spoiler! I did NOT push the pace any faster. About 4 kilometers IO moved to second but was closely following the guy in first. We opened a small gap on the chasing pack and I was feeling good at this stage and my splits were nice and even. We kept pushing this pace for the next few kms and this is where everything started to go wrong for me.

At about km 10 there was a small dirt/loose gravel section and my pace really slowed down here and I lost about half a minute this kilometer, from here I started to bonk and was fighting to keep my pace quick but I was starting to hurt. After about 13km the guy in 3rd passed me with ease and a smile on his face, I was fading quick. I tried to rescue myself with some CLIFF gel but nothing was going to help me pick my pace up at this stage. I was hoping to hold on for the final 8km to hitting a PB (sub 85 minutes was out of sight) and hold on for a podium finish. Neither of those things happened.

The struggle was real.

Another 5km down and I was still in 3rd with 3km to go. My running form at this stage was breaking down and my calves on right hip were so tight ( almost to the point of crap). Thats when disaster struck and the guy in 4th passed me and surged past with 2 km to go. This played with me mentally and I coasted in the final 2 km in 4th place with a time of 1.27.23. A respectable time but defintley not the position or race I had hoped for.

This was a learning race from me, I have no excuses and ran what I was able to on the day. I know I am capable of a much faster time and I am looking to cut off at least 3 minutes off of this time. I also have to remember that at the end of the day this is a hobby for me and shouldn’t stress me out. I have my family and friends that are there to support me through disappointments. Best thing to do is dust myself off and try again.

On the plus side Need For Speed and Rampage Racing all repped well hitting podiums, PBs and dominated the day. Its always good to see friends crush races and goals. It is very motivating.

It started off so well!

Need for Speed repping well. 

PBs and Podiums (not the guy in the middle!)

Next up was 5 Peaks Race 3 at Sunridge and the Lulu Lemon 10km by Canada Running Series on July 21st and July 22nd. Reviews for both those races will be up shortly.