RunForJoy

A very powerful editorial about athletes and mental health.

Coming soon to a computer near you. run and move and walk and stay healthy!

Why Training is Meaningful Whatever your training or chosen movement is - running, walking, strength training, yoga, triathlon - one of the most helpful skills you can build is the practice of positive thinking every time you train. If you want to ensure that you will stick with your training, as motivation and energy ebbs and flows, and as life (and the pandemic) tries it’s hardest to get in the way, you want to strengthen your practice by associating your fitness with mean...ing. Then, happiness takes care of itself. As the season of uncertainty continues to progress you want to have a solid foundation of good habits. Things that keep you on the course, generally going in the right direction and not getting lost in the trees over and over again. Taking on this challenge gives you the opportunity to become a better emotional athlete. The full post can be found here: https://www.runforjoy.ca/blog

Banana oat chocolate chip muffins. Ready for a day outside in the woods.

Making the TC 10k training clinics virtual this year has been a creative project for my coaching skills and I am looking forward to helping a new cohort of runners and walkers discover or improve their training! Clinics start January 2021 and registration is open at TC10K through the website! https://runsport.ca/clinics

TC10K Virtual Clinics are open for registration! The virtual clinic will run from January to April 2021 and include lots of how-to info, support and guidance for runners and walkers - participants can train for the Virtual 5k and 10k event at the end of April! I will be the lead coach for the event again this year and help people keep moving while we get through the pandemic together. Head to @tc10k for all the information and sign up. #tc10k #frontrunnersvictoria #runthegardencity

Poet Kay Ryan on the nature of running and writing: Both require patience and endurance and humility. Both can be hard and unpleasant at times. But of the two, writing is much harder. When you go out for a run, you never fail, but you often fail when you set out to write a poem, even if you try your hardest.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Registration is now open for our RunSport Training Clinics. plus we are excited to welcome back Frontrunners Victoria as a Clinic and TC10K par...tner. Learn More Here: www.RunSport.ca/clinics We are thrilled to be a part of this iconic local event and continue our mission of supporting health and fitness in our community, stated Frontrunners Co-Owner Nick Walker. And as you can see from our video, Lucy Smith will be once again leading our Clinics. The 14-week training program will begin mid-January. Lucy has created a virtual clinic training program that will allow participants of all ages and levels the ability to train and achieve their objectives. Each week participants will progress in skill and fitness under the guidance of Lucy and our experienced clinic leaders. Your Training Clinic registration includes: a comprehensive 14-week training program, a training manual, constant advice and guidance from Clinic Leaders and Lead Coach Lucy Smith, a supportive online community to access and discuss training, and a technical training shirt. Registration is NOW OPEN for the RUNSPORT TRAINING CLINICS powered by Frontrunners. Registration for the Virtual TC10K will open on January 5, 2021. For registrants in the 2020 TC10K, you have been sent a special invite via email with instructions for registering for the 2021 Virtual TC10K. Come join us! In the words of Lucy, "We are all in this together, so let’s connect, train and stay fit together!"

I declare this National Cross Country Running Week in honour of all the Canadian harriers who would normally be sweating through their tapers, mustering strength and courage for what might be the toughest race of their season. These photos are at least 20 years apart. I learned a lot about competing from racing cross country, but I also learned to keep finding ways, over and over, to love running for the pure sake of running. More of what I learned can be found in the link in my bio. Colour photo @markbatesphotography

Resistance training has become the cornerstone of my training now that I am in my 50’s. If you’re into reading, if you are hitting your peri-menopausal years, or supporting women who are there, I have a new blog post about the personal thrills of growing up called ‘Becoming Older’. Link is in below. All I can say is that I can’t run a 16 minute 5000 anymore but I also couldn’t press 14 kg when I was 35. Cool trade off!

IT'S HERE! REGISTRATION IS OPEN. Participate from around the world in our virtual race, or sign up for an in-person race. www.navyrunesquimalt.com

Watching a little speedster flash past during one of our sprinting sessions in the park!

Seven days left to register for ‘Ready to Run’, a workshop for runners of all levels. Over a series of 4 one hour sessions we will cover and practice a multitude of skills - physical and mental - that you can use to develop your run training and run more efficiently and injury free. We will practice outside while social distancing, have some good laughs along the way and you will take home some motivation for fitness and health to head into the fall and winter. Please head to Third Space Movement (workshops) for registration and sign up. https://www.thirdspacemvmt.com/workshops

Great course to learn the basics of safe strength and kettle bell training!

When I say ‘Ready to Run’, I wanted to capture the basics of running skills in a workshop. What are your feet and hands and arms and legs doing. Are you running in the most efficient way for your body? How are you breathing? Being strong mentally and physically will help keep you motivated for your own training this fall, whatever that looks like. This 4 part series is a chance to get together with other runner folks, ask the questions you always wanted to ask about running and have a coach watch you run and give constructive feedback. I’d love to see you there! Registration through Third Space Movement A great place hang out with active people!