Tag Archive for: Marathons

The Days Before The Big Race

running-shoes_13602015Whether you are a seasoned runner or a first timer, here are some tips to help you stay organized and keep you relaxed… which will help you run a better race.

The days before the race:

  • Keep to your regular schedule, eat correctly, hydrate and get sleep.
  • Re-read your race package and double check that you have everything you need.
  • Will it be cold/warm on race day? Will it be windy or raining? Find out the weather conditions and follow the forecast in the days before the race.
  • Research the route you will be running.  Find out what type of terrain you will be running on, as well as how many hills there are on the route and when they happen in the race.
  • Have a good idea on the size of the race population so that you can prepare yourself to stand in a crowded race corral with hundreds or thousands of participates.
  • Expect the unexpected –  What if your shoe comes untied or you have to go the bathroom or you get a blister.  By preparing for these scenarios, you’ll have a specific plan in place.

The night before the race:

  • Make sure that everything you need for the morning is ready to go. Pack your race bag, lay out your clothes and runners and know what time you need to leave the house.
  • The night before,  go to bed at a reasonable hour for you to get plenty of sleep so that you’ll feel good the next morning.

Race day:

  • Allow yourself plenty of time to travel to the race start area,  check in, and warm up – factoring in the large crowds and street closures.
  • The race start area will be chaotic. At the start of the race there will be lots of people running shoulder to shoulder  in a small space. You will have to navigate around slower runners while faster runners are overtaking you. Being prepared for this, and do not get swept along with the crowd and start off at a pace that is too fast for you. Take a few minutes to find your pace.

After the race:

  • Cool down
  • Stretch
  • Hydrate
  • Celebrate!!!!
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Local 5K, 10K, & Marathons Happening in May & June

marathon-runners-580x387Victoria BC is known for its  scenic beauty and great temperate weather. So, if you are a runner, Victoria is a little slice of heaven.  There are Marathons, Half marathons, 10K’s, 5K’s, and Fun Runs almost year round. No matter what your physical ability: there is an event for everyone.

Below are a few of the runs that are taking place during May and June.

Harriers Elk/Beaver Ultras | May 14, 2016

The fast and flat 10 kilometer trail circuit around Elk and Beaver Lakes is considered as one of the premiere races of its type in North America. Runners complete 10 laps for the 100K division, 8+ laps for 50 Miles and 5 laps for 50K while walkers complete 4 laps for 40 km. The First-Time Marathoners will complete 4+ laps.

Oak Bay Half Marathon |  May 29, 2016

The Oak Bay Half Marathon is a Victoria classic! This run features a half marathon, a 10km route and a half marathon relay option.

Runners can expect to experience all that Oak Bay has to offer as they take on an extremely scenic course with a good portion of ocean front running. The race itself attracts a field of casual to elite local runners and has been steadily growing year after year.

Victoria Spring Sprint- 21st Annual Victoria Brain Tumour Walk | May 29, 2016

When you register and fund-raise for Spring Sprint, you join a nation-wide movement  transforming the future for brain tumour patients and families. This means funding critical research into the cause of and cure for brain tumours. It also means ensuring the 55,000 Canadians living with the disease have access to Support and information programs that are uniquely needed.

Victoria Goddess Run | June 5, 2016

The Victoria Goddess Run is a women’s running event with a 5k, 10k, and half marathon option. The three runs all happen on the same day and are the culmination of a three day Goddess festival featuring a number of speakers and activities happening in conjunction with the race expo and pick up.

CFB Esquimalt Navy Run |  June 19, 2016

The Navy Run – 10k, 5k and kids fun run is a family-oriented, inclusive community event. The Navy run routes start and finish at CFB Naden in Esquimalt. Runners follow looped courses that take them through the streets of Esquimalt. Even the kids can get in on the challenge! Involve the children and discover a fitter family lifestyle. Get excited about improving your health. Do it because you can!

Raymond James Father’s Day Run/Walk for Prostate Cancer | June 19, 2016

Raymond James Father’s Day Walk Run is a fun, family-friendly event, hosted on Father’s Day, that raises awareness and funds for free programs and services for all Vancouver Island men and the families that love them. The event is a timed 10 Km Run and a 5 Km Family Walk / Run, followed by brunch and live entertainment.

MEC Victoria Race THREE | June 26, 2016

The third Victoria MEC race happens out at Royal Roads. This run steps things up offering the first half marathon of the season along side the usual 5k and 10k runs.  MEC Victoria, with the support of CRD Regional Parks, is pleased to present Race THREE: stunning routes through Royal Roads and surrounding area.

Regular running helps to reduce your risk of  heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke.  Running will also help  boost your mood, so get out there, start running and be safe!

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The GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon

running-shoes_13602015One of the biggest athletic events in Victoria; the annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon happens every October.

The marathon weekend features four different races: the Marathon, the Half Marathon, 8K Road Race, and the Thrifty Foods Kids Run. The race weekend also includes a Victoria Marathon Race Expo. The Expo is free and open to the public to view over 40 exhibitors featuring sponsors, souvenirs, merchandise, running apparel and accessories, nutritional and fitness products, samples, interactive displays.

Anyone who participates in an event like this, knows that the biggest task is the training and preparation that goes into the marathon months before. Marathon training is a big commitment, incorporating training that is mental, physical and emotionally demanding.

Below are a few must tips to achieve the goal of running a marathon:

1. Find a training plan that suits your needs, including the amount of time you are willing to spend

2. Train by how your body responds to the training and not a predetermined pace of training

3. Make sure that you cross-train and include activities such as biking, swimming or strength training.

4. Strength training and foam rolling are an important part of the process. Strength training is a key component of distance running in order to ensure good running form, and avoid injury, while foam rolling will allow you to give yourself a deep tissue massage after each training session which will help in your recovery time.

5. Remember to stretch before every run, but make sure that you use stretches with controlled movement to improve range of motion, increase heart rate and loosen up stiff muscles

6. Sleep is important to help your body and muscles repair and keep you healthy. On longer runs help your legs recover during sleep by wearing a compression sleeve or sock

7. Respect the rest days. REST don’t train

8. Mimic the course by finding locations to run that have the same topography as the marathon

9. Run a dress rehearsal. Four or five days before the marathon, complete a four or eight kilometer marathon-paced run in your marathon gear and runners.

10. Believe in yourself!

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Diary of a Want-To-Be Marathoner!

Diary of a Want-To-Be Marathoner! So, it’s been about 7 weeks since I began training with the Frontrunners marathon clinic for my first full marathon this October. I am still smiling. Still loving every minute. Still saying ‘Bring it on!’

I ran in the heat while I was in Winnipeg for a week, that was exhausting! 28C at 8:30 a.m. is just too much; actually, it felt more than a little foolish (read: stupid) to be running any real distance in that heat. Boy was I glad to run on the one morning of rain (used that for my long run), and even more glad to get back to more moderate temps in Victoria. And, even in my brush with celebrity (I sat next to a few guys from Canadian rock band Trooper on the flight home), we talked running – awesome!

Currently we are up to 2 1/4 hours of running at a time on our long runs, and are increasing the intensity of the workouts on our Wednesday evening meetups at the store. It’s still hard to find the energy for an intense run at the end of a work day, but totally worth it. And I feel like I am actually running LESS on the clinic’s set schedule. But likely running smarter. Last Saturday we ran 2 hours, and Silvia, our run leader, told me that I should run even slower. Guh. I may never finish the marathon at this pace.

We have been through all the different workouts on Wednesdays, and I was very surprised to find that I *really like* the hill training, and *love* the tempo runs. It is a new challenge to introduce these things into my other, shorter runs, and I know that it will make me stronger. And I can keep doing them, even when I’m not ‘training for a marathon’. Oh, and my running group has decided that we are going to do a half marathon race in place of one of our regular runs in September. Aaaaahahahahahahaha! That’s like saying ‘half marathon for fun’. I think I have crossed the line.

However…. True confession: I still haven’t signed up for the marathon. But before you give me that knowing smirk, it’s not about ‘if’, just about which start time. I’m a bit afraid that I will go out too hard if I start with the masses, and then not be able to finish; starting early on the other hand (the other option, for walkers and slow runners) means getting up even earlier to start in the dark but it will definitely be cooler and there will be waaaay less people to contend with. But for the early start you have to estimate a 5h30+ race time… I don’t know if I can even entertain the thought of running that long. Ultimate goal: to finish the race, period. Oh, and have fun doing it!

Carol works for a local coffee roaster and compensates for her excess caffeine (and love of bacon) by running as far and as fast as she can in her free time, when she’s not singing in a choir or knitting a sweater.

Running Clinic by Victoria Frontrunners

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Diary of a Want-To-Be Marathoner!

Diversified Health would like to welcome Carol Schwall as she blogs her way through the aches and pains, and her experiences as she trains for her first full marathon  in October, here in beautiful Victoria BC.

I’m a runner.

I love running, I never have to force myself to go for a run. Sometimes I will forget for a moment that I just went for a run, and feel ready for the next run already soon after. Running in the pelting rain is my favorite. I enjoy the solitary factor, with just Runkeeper and a playlist to keep me company. I say that I’m a runner, and yet, I still don’t feel like one. I guess it’s like people who have been overweight for a long time and then slim down a lot – they still identify as ‘fat’. Well, I still feel out of shape, even though I have shown myself that I can sustain bipedal forward motion for over 2 hours at a time. Go figure.

Diary of a Want-To-Be Marathoner! I’ve only been running for 21 months (that’s 1 3/4 years). Over the last year I ran 2 half marathons, a few 10k races and a handful of other, shorter races. It seems like the time has come for me to challenge myself to a full marathon. That’s right, 26 miles. 42.2 km in Canadian. Until now, sheer persistence and willpower have edged me past the 10k mark and into the 21.1 km races. No real training, just running a bit further each time. But I know that to be able to run 42.2 km sustainably, I will need real training. So on the spur of the moment I joined a 16-week running clinic. We meet to run twice a week – Wednesday after work and Saturday at 8:00 am – and there are 2 easy, short ‘homework’ runs. We will do hills, stairs, speedwork, and just plain distance running. See, that last one is the one I like best. No problem getting out there and just running. It’s the hard work that I balk at, so that’s why I’m training with a group led by experienced long distance runners.

This past Saturday we had our first small group long run. This time there were only 3 of us. We are the slowest marathon group in the clinic, but I don’t care. Our run leader, Silvia, has done several Ironman triathlons, and is a regular marathon and ultra trail runner. She goes on 5 hour trail runs for fun. She knows her stuff. As we ran for one hour, we chatted about pace and negative splits, about carrying water and what ‘recovery run’ means. We covered about 10 km, choosing our route as we went. We start these runs at 8 am, but I still think it may get too hot on the longer runs, as we inch closer toward the marathon in October.

This evening we did about 8 km, with 5 long sets of stairs smack dab in the middle. That’s the hard work part. But I didn’t whine, nope, I just trudged up and down with the rest of them. Mind you, I chose to do only 4 repetitions, because my lunch was long used up, and we still needed to run back. But I feel great, and certainly earned my dinner.

This is going to be fun! Heck, it already is! And the 42.2 km? I’ll get there in time.

Carol works for a local coffee roaster and compensates for her excess caffeine (and love of bacon) by running as far and as fast as she can in her free time, when she’s not singing in a choir or knitting a sweater. 

Running Clinic by Victoria Frontrunners

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The Problem with Running & Walking in 2012…an Evolutionary Point of View…by a Natural Health Practitioner

The problem with running and walking in 2012…  an evolutionary point of view…by a natural health practitioner

– Written by Nick Milton

For those of you who like to run or who have chosen a sport that involves running, it’s getting to that time of year when you’ll be increasing your activity more and more as the ever elusive spring gets closer to arriving.

From working with various athletes over the years I’ve become accustomed to seeing a wide range of problems in the upper and lower extremities.  When it comes to running, either in sport, or as a hobby in itself, it’s important to remember that some precautionary measures are vitally important, after all, we weren’t evolutionary designed to be walking or running on hard surfaces.

Fundamentally our feet and ankles work at their best walking or running on sand, vegetation and earth.  Hundreds of thousands of years ago we were running barefoot whilst hunting to survive, much as some tribes in Africa still do today.  These surfaces have more shock absorbing qualities and allow for the curves of our feet to mould around whatever we are stepping upon.  This in turn, takes the stress off our joints, their articulations and the muscles and ligaments which support them.  The truth is our bodies have not developed any new strategies to cope with all the hard surfaces which are common place these days, so we need to use our common sense to prevent it becoming a problem.  Even simple standing or walking for your job all day can cause problems in the long run.

The Problem with Running & Walking in 2012…an Evolutionary Point of View…by a Natural Health Practitioner

Photo Credit: paherald.sk.ca

Of course, doing an adequate warm up and being diligent about stretching pre and post activity will all help, but there are a few other things you should bear in mind.

As most healthcare practitioners and the more serious runners out there will tell you, it’s vitally important to have high quality and supportive footwear which can absorb some of the energy created whilst you’re pounding the pavement/concrete/tarmac.  If you are really serious about your sport I also highly recommend investing in custom orthotics which allows your individual foot shape to work at its absolute optimum.  The common misconception about orthotics is that they correct bio-mechanical problems when in fact they merely are designed to adapt to your particular foot shape and gait.  These things need to be assessed by a qualified individual who has access to the newest technology.  Orthotics off the shelf will simple not suffice, they are in fact (in my opinion) not likely to help you at all.

If you would like to prolong your activity in running or any other sport it is also extremely important to have your feet, ankles, knees, hips and spine checked for any bio-mechanical dysfunction.  It’s no different from having your teeth checked or taking your car for a tune up.  Please don’t be fooled by thinking that if there is no pain – then everything is fine, this thinking will increase your chances of injury and will prevent you from reaching your full potential.

The nerves which control the lower limb and its various muscles and joints originate from the lower back,and any pressure on them as they exit the spinal cord (which could be caused by something simple like poor posture) or on their course down through your pelvis and legs can cause a wide range of problems.  It’s highly important to insure this is not the case before embarking on prolonged periods of physical activity, as this will improve your co-ordination, proprioception, strength and reduce fatigue.

Did I also mention chiropractors don’t just specialize in backs? We recognize and advocate that it’s definitely a huge part i.e. to release pressure from the nervous system for best communication between brain and body.  Please understand that we also have very thorough training in orthopaedic problems and we spend years learning how to release tension from the joints, muscles and nerves of the extremities as well as the spine.  I promise you’d be surprised by how simple and effective our treatments are for these kinds of problems.

Here at Diversified Health we are well trained and superbly equipped to help you with all your health requirements whether that’s rehabilitation after an injury or prevention of it in the first place.  I certainly know which one I prefer!!

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Make the Switch to Natural Running Shoes

No matter your body type, fitness level or experience as a runner, the biggest factors in increasing your running performance and reducing common overuse injuries is learning how to run naturally, and wearing shoes with nearly level profiles.

For the past 30 years running shoes have been designed with thickly cushioned, built-up heels. This type of shoe forces the body to balance itself in an unnatural, backward-leaning position. Your toes are pointing downward, your weight is shifted rearward, and your back is arched back slightly. Basically, you’re body is trying to maintain balance while compensating for the lifted heel.

 If you’ve been running this way for years — and most people have — it’s likely the muscles and other soft tissue in your feet, lower legs and core will need to adapt before completely transitioning to a more natural gait in flat shoes. In particular, you will need to give your Achilles tendons and calf muscles time to adjust to level shoes.

The Achilles tendon acts like a large rubber band that stretches and recoils with every stride. If you’ve been wearing shoes with an elevated heel — including your everyday work and casual shoes — your Achilles tendon along with the calf muscle group is conditioned to a shorter range of motion. When you begin running in a level shoe like a Newton Running shoe, the Achilles tendon and calf muscles needs to stretch to accommodate for the 10-15mm distance that used to be taken up by an elevated heel.

If you abruptly transition from an elevated heel to doing all your mileage in a level shoe, you’re likely to feel some Achilles and calf muscle soreness. Instead, make the transition gradually: run less than a mile at a time just a couple of days per week. Work on your form and build strength in your feet, ankles and lower legs with the following tips:

Make the switch to natural running shoes

Make the switch to natural running shoes

Work on strength and balance:

  • Go flat as often as possible! Ease the transition on your Achilles and calf muscles by walking barefoot as much as possible. Wear flatter shoes even when you’re not running.
  • Do balancing drills. Stand on one foot with a mostly straight leg, lift the other foot off the ground at a 90 degree angle and close your eyes. If you can maintain balance for 30 seconds with your eyes closed on both sides, you may have enough strength be begin transitioning to level shoes. If you lose balance on either side, make this drill part of your daily regime. (Be sure to work on each foot.)
  • Do barefoot heel dips on a staircase. While holding on to a wall or railing, balance yourself with your metatarsal heads on the edge of the stair even with the ball of your foot. Slowly dip your heel below the plane of the stair, feeling the stretch in your Achilles and calf muscles and then slowly raise back up.

Increase the flexibility and range of motion in your feet and lower legs:

  • Do common wall stretches. Lean into a wall with your hands while flexing the lower calf with a flat foot. Do this with both a straight and bent knee and repeat a couple times per day after the muscles are sufficiently warm.
  • Increase the flexibility of your plantar fascia. While sitting in a chair, cross your leg over your knee and firmly push your fingers or a thumb into the center of the sole of your foot. Maintain that pressure and point your toes up and down to stretch the plantar fascia.
  • Focus on running form. Most runners have been overstriding and landing with a heel strike. A common mistake for people who are adjusting is over-striding and landing on the forefoot or toes in front of your body. This still causes too much braking and impact on the feet and lower legs. Try the following instead: march in place and notice how your foot lands relaxed under your body. You are lifting your foot and leg off the ground with your core muscles. Now simply fall forward,  lifting quickly. Shorten and quicken your steps, balancing on one leg at a time as you move forward.
  • Be relentless with running form drills. Accentuate specific aspects of good form drills and train your body to repeat specific movements while you are running. Skipping, bounding, high knees and butt kicks are easy form drills that and don’t take a lot of time. Don’t ignore these once your workout is complete.
  • Watch yourself run. Having a friend video your stride in your traditional shoes, your level shoes and while running barefoot on grass. Notice how your body moves differently in each scenario. Pay close attention to what you do while running barefoot. Are your feet landing under your mass? Are you running with a quick cadence and relatively short strides? Are you running with upright but slightly forward-leaning posture? Are you carrying your arms close to your body at about a 90-degree angle? Adopt this form in your new shoes.

Written by Danny Abshire: Danny Abshire is the author of “Natural Running” and the co-founder of Newton Running, a Boulder, Colo.-based company that makes shoes that promote an efficient midfoot/forefoot running gait. He has been making advanced footwear solutions for runners and triathletes for more than 20 years. For more, go to newtonrunning.com.

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