Saskatchewan Marathon

International Running Guru to Headline Pasta Dinner!

2012-02-26T17:39:00.001-08:00

We are very excited that Running USA Hall of Champions inductee Bart Yasso will be our special guest speaker at this year's Pasta Dinner!!

Join fellow Saskatchewan Marathon participants at the Pasta Dinner on Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. at TCU Place. It’s your chance to carbo-load, shake those pre-race jitters, and share in the fellowship of other runners. And you’ll be inspired listening to our guest speaker as you prepare to run your very best race the next day.

Perhaps most notably, Yasso invented the Yasso 800s, a marathon-training schedule used by thousands around the world. You can predict your marathon time based on how long it takes you to run 800 meters. Don't believe it? The secret lies in Yasso 800s.

Bart is also an author, and using insight and humor, “My Life on the Run” chronicles the heatstroke and frostbite, heartache and triumphs he's experienced while competing in more than 1,000 competitive races during his nearly 30 years with Runner's World magazine. “Yasso's message is this: Never limit where running can take you because each race has the potential for adventure.”

He is one of the few people to have completed races on all seven continents from the Antarctica marathon to the Mt. Kilimanjaro marathon. For more information on Bart Yasso’s impressive list of accomplishments, check out http://www.bartyasso.com/

Get your pasta dinner tickets with your online registration (or you can attend the dinner even if you aren't running the race) for only $20.00 (maximum 4 tickets per registrant) http://www.eventsonline.ca/events/saskatchewan_marathon/

(I bought his book when it first came out--I really enjoyed it--I hope he'll autograph it for me!)

Hurry—early bird discount ends February 27

2012-02-19T18:27:00.000-08:00

So you’ve been thinking of running in the Saskatchewan Marathon, but haven’t got around to actually registering? Okay, it usually is the thought that counts...but in this case, you may want to register by February 27 in order to take advantage of great discounts in entry fees for all categories.

Fees for the Marathon are $70, Half Marathon are $55, and 10km are $45 (+GST on all fees). It’s so easy to register online at: http://www.eventsonline.ca/events/saskatchewan_marathon

As a participant in the Saskatchewan Marathon, you receive these great perks:

-run one of the most scenic routes in Canada, along the beautiful South Saskatchewan River

-receive an official 2012 Saskatchewan Marathon adidas tech fabric t-shirt

-run a Boston Marathon qualifying course (for marathoners only)

-entrance to the Health and Fitness Race Expo

-free Finisher’s Certificate (and free unique Finisher’s Medal for Half and Full Marathoners)

-live course entertainment

-a great time!

Stop thinking about it and come join us!

Cold Winter Running—and home renovations

2012-02-12T09:08:00.000-08:00

Okay, so we’ve been pretty lucky here in the prairies for winter weather. Other than that week- long cold snap in January (which sadly I missed due to a hot vacation J), it’s been very nice and mild for running outside. And then we had this week—started out nice but then all of a sudden it’s minus 30 Celsius. What’s with that???? Maybe we just got spoiled and this is what a regular winter is like.

So at minus 30, it’s not fun for me to run outside, so I turn to my trusty (no, not rusty!) treadmill in our basement. I find a movie to watch, or the cooking channel (which is sometimes deadly to watch this luscious chocolate cake being made while I’m slogging away), or I might put in a DVD. My husband joined me yesterday for a “run” in the morning—I was on the treadmill and he was on our basement couch and we watched “This Old House” together.

Some of you diehards out there probably still run in minus 30, and I tip my running cap to you. The key is to layer and monitor your temperature and perhaps don’t do as long as run as you normally would do. Here on the prairies we have a certain resiliency (insanity?) that takes us out running no matter what the weather. As long as we are active and having fun, it doesn’t matter what we’re doing. Heck, my husband and I got some renovation ideas while we were “running” yesterday, so we’ll be active in more ways than one!

Who Ran the Strip at Night?

2012-02-05T15:40:00.000-08:00

(Las Vegas Rock & Roll Marathon and Half Marathon, Dec 4/2011)

What happens when you take 44,000 runners, shut down the famous Las Vegas strip at night, and let them loose to run a marathon and half marathon? Absolute craziness and wild times!

I know a lot of Saskatoon runners went to Vegas. Congrats to Brian Michasiw, owner of Brainsport, who came in 10^th for the Marathon. Some runners had a super fun time (like me) but others’ experiences weren’t so great due to the really large crowd.**

The Las Vegas Rock and & Roll Marathon has been running for two years, and at the start line during its first year (early in the morning), the organizers realized that this extravaganza had to be at night. So they worked hard to convince the casino owners on the strip that this would be amazing if ran at night, and in 2011,dubbed “Strip at Night” the event doubled attendance to 44,000 and sold out (6,000 marathoners and 38,000 half marathoners).

What an experience running the strip at night—the lights, the sounds, the people. Unbelievable! And what about the other runners—dressed up as Elvis (largest running group of Elvi in the world; heck, there was even a web link where you could buy a tech fabric Elvis running suit—tempting...),ballerinas, Cat Woman, Superman, xmas lights on their heads—it was never boring watching those around me the whole time. There was even a run-through wedding chapel, where you could duck in for a 3-mintue ceremony to renew or take your vows (so of course, there were veils and bow ties on some runners. And at the finish line, one groom picked up his bride and carried her across the finish line!).

We started in the south end of the strip at Mandalay Bay at 5:30 p.m., starting the half marathon to the sounds of a rock band (the marathoners had Cheap Trick sending them off at 4:00 p.m.). The first few kilometres just flew past, as this carpet of runners proceeded north. We drew such energy from the lights and the 100,000 spectators along the route. In the north end, we turned into a light industrial area that was boring and empty. But once we turned back to go south on the strip, it got exciting again. And being a rock & roll sanctioned marathon, there was a band every mile along the course to keep our spirits up.

I’ve never run in a race that big (the newspaper said it was the third largest race in the States), and the pack never cleared out. I was constantly surrounded by other runners which made it hard to get into a steady pace (constantly dodging around people and people dodging around me), but it turned out to be my second fastest race time, so all that dodging paid off.

People cheered us all along the strip and held up signs, rang bells, and even had an unsanctioned beer station. And near the end, one runner has taken the theme “strip at night” to heart, and was only wearing his runner’s bib and a g-string. Crazy! The finish line was very congested, but what do you expect with that many runners crossing all at once. The finisher’s medal is heavy and even glows in the dark! How cool is that?

It was an experience I’ll never forget and one I’m so glad I did. You might to think about doing it next year—it’s crazy, wild, and full of fun. And as one t-shirt said, “What happens in Vegas, stays on Facebook”!

(**Note: from a race organizer’s perspective, I can empathize with the Vegas organizers—their event size doubled in one year and the race experienced huge growing pains, as it became the third largest race in the States. I’ve heard stories from other runners about course chaos, people getting jostled, and not enough food or medals at the finish line. The organizers were quick to send out emails apologizing for the disappointment people experienced and promised to make it better next year. That’s what all good race organizers do (ourselves included)— try their best to make sure you have a great time, apologize if things go astray, and improve for next year.)

2012-01-29T08:49:00.000-08:00

Not Sure How to Start? Why Not Try a Running Clinic

You’ve made the commitment to run in this year’s Saskatchewan Marathon. Congratulations! Now what, you ask yourself???? If this is your first 10k, half marathon, or marathon, you might be wondering how and when you start training.

Check out Brainsport - the Running Store. They have lots and lots of running clinics for all distances and all levels. The clinics start soon, geared to have you ready to run on May 27. Clinics are a great fun way to train with experts and fellow runners.

Here’s a brief list off their website (subject to change):

Marathon Clinic - Starting Tuesday, January 24 at 6PM - coached by Colin Federow. Cost $150 plus GST.

This 18 week clinic is geared towards people wanting to run their first marathon. Colin runs a great program to get you to the finish line happy, healthy, and confident.

Half Marathon Clinic - starting Monday, February 20 at 6PM - coached by Brandi Pozniak. This 14 week clinic is intended for people running their first half marathon. Cost $125 plus GST.

11 Weeks to a PB!- starting Wednesday, March 7 at 6 PM - coached by Brandi Pozniak. You already have experience running the half marathon or marathon and want to challenge yourself to run a personal best time. Clinic night will involve a workout followed by core strength exercises. Cost $125 plus GST.

10 K Clinic - Starting Thursday, March 22 at 6 PM- Coached by Brandi Pozniak. Cost $100 plus GST.

This 10 week clinic will be of interest to runners wanting to try the 10K distance or to improve their existing 10K times. If you have not run 10K before you should be able to run continuously for 25 minutes before starting this clinic.

Learn to Run Clinics are intended for individuals looking to make running part of their lifestyle for fun and fitness. This is a progressive program beginning with walk-run and by the end of eight weeks you will be running 30 minutes. Cost $70 plus GST.

- Starting Tuesday, March 6 at 6PM. Coached by Murray Gross. This clinic focuses on preparing for the Hope Cancer Centre Race for Recovery to be held Sunday, April 29.

-Starting Wednesday, April 11 at 6:15 PM. Coach to be determined.

This clinic ends the week of the Saskatchewan Marathon like our other spring clinics. Come out and watch your fellow runners or volunteer to help out at the marathon.

Great discount for Marathoners by January 15

2012-01-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

If you are planning to run the marathon this year, then get registered by January 15 in order to receive a $20 discount off your fees. That’s a great incentive to take the plunge and sign up.

Other race distances (10k and half marathon) early bird discounts go until February 28. And all race registration fees entitle you to:

-run one of the most scenic routes in Canada, along the beautiful South Saskatchewan River
-receive an official 2012 Saskatchewan Marathon adidas tech fabric t-shirt
-run a Boston Marathon qualifying course (for marathoners only)
-entrance to the Health and Fitness Race Expo
-free Finisher’s Certificate (and free unique Finisher’s Medal for Half and Full Marathoners)
-live course entertainment
-a great time!

What are you waiting for: click here to register now and join in all the fun: http://www.eventsonline.ca/events/saskatchewan_marathon/

Don’t think of it as a resolution but as a goal you WILL achieve

2012-01-01T15:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Last night as we were having a glass of champagne, my sister-in-law asked me what my new year’s resolutions were, since in her eyes, I already exercise/run regularly and eat fairly healthy. I said I like to set goals throughout the year and work on them as I go.

However, New Year’s is always a perfect time to reflect on your past year and what you see for the coming year—which of course, could include running in the Saskatchewan Marathon. It’s great to set a goal like that and start aiming toward it. Whether it’s your first race or your fiftieth, nothing compares to the thrill of accomplishing something you’ve set your mind to. Over the next few months, we’ll chat about the race, read about training tips, and share our stories as we journey together toward our goal.

2012 is going to be the year we achieve something great!

Did You Have Fun?

2011-05-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

I can’t hear you—did you have fun???? I hope so, because I sure did. After all those months of training and sacrifices, today was YOUR day. I hope you soaked up every moment. Here are some random thoughts I had as I tried to keep myself sane during the half marathon:

-the weather wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t raining, and it was a lot warmer than last year, though the head wind on the return trip was a little daunting at times. Overall, though, a good race day.

-kudos to all the volunteers and sponsors who made this event possible. A lot of behind the scenes work goes into a massive event such as this, and they made such a difference. A big thank you to all the set crews that got up at 4 a.m. to set up the course, prep the start/finish area, and deliver water to all the water stations. That’s tough work and we appreciate it.

-I saw a woman start the race running with a Tim Hortons coffee. Wow. How can she do that without spilling all over herself? You should see me have water at an aid station—I end up wearing most of it.

-what a beautiful course along the riverbank--very green and rolling hills.

-I saw a piece of hair extension laying on the ground at the 10K mark—gee, hate to lose that during a race!

-what a lot of fun stuff happening at the water stations—funny signs, cheers, entertainment, and well wishes. Thank you all—it made it bearable and was a good distraction.

-thanks to Hugh Culver’s inspiring speech last night at the past dinner, when he said “you have everything you need when you are at the start line”—in terms of training, nutrition, hydration, and mental attitude. He also said last night that “your future is determined by your focus” so don’t focus on where it hurts now, but to focus on the image of finishing. Boy, that sure came in handy when the blisters kicked in at 14k, and the slow uphill incline after the Circle Drive Bridge for the final 4k.

-thanks to the 2:30 half marathon pace bunny, who at the bottom of the evil Pinehouse Drive hill, said to us all around him “come you, you can do it, you will finish under 2:30, you’ll be done in 5 minutes.” I asked him to carry me at that point. But you were right—we got ‘er done.

-I'd have to say the most beautiful site of the whole race was...the finish line! It was like an oasis in a desert...the light at the end of the tunnel...sheer heaven! After that evil hill, it geto flat and you could see the Finish Line in the distance and hear the music and the crowds. It was a lifesaver and I hope you crossed the line with a big smile on your face and arms raised in triumph!

-aren’t you glad the race and training are over? I can go back to having Starbucks and a glass of wine. I cut myself off this last week. It was tough.

-thanks to all our families for support. My dear husband Rob got up at 6 to take me to the race and cheer me on. And he kept the home fires burning while I was doing long training runs these past few months. When I crossed the finish line this morning , I asked him why I do this (as I do after every long run), and he said (as he always does after long runs) “because you’re insane”. I said if I get the idea to do this again next year, to talk me out of it! But that soon passes, and I’ll be back again next year, as I hope you will be too.

Finally thank you to the almost 2,800 runners who came out today. This was all for you and what a blast. I hope you achieved personal best, no matter what distance you ran. Enjoy the glow from today, as you have earned it. Take your medal or certificate to work tomorrow. Show them off with pride. Not everyone has just done what you have done. You are incredible!

I’ve enjoyed having this conversation with you over the past five months. From training highs and lows, and ugly winter weather, right down to race day, we made it—together. I’ll take a break over the summer from blogging, but we’ll be back late in 2011 to start getting you pumped for 2012. Let’s do this all over again.

Congratulations!

One Week to Go...I Know You Can Do It

2011-05-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

Wow—the race is a week away. When I was just on the Saskatchewan Marathon website, the countdown of 7 days made my heart stop. It seemed to me that time was always slow and it usually showed 300 days away or 60 days—something harmless. And even though I visit the web site every week, that 7-day alert made it seem real—finally.

And if you’re like me, you’re glad the race is almost here, as well as thinking “OH MY GOD, IT'S ALMOST HERE!”.

I think our guest speaker Hugh Culver, who’ll you’ll meet on Saturday, said it best a few weeks ago in one of the newsletters we email out to particiants: “It's the night before the big day and your stomach is in a knot. Have I trained enough, trained too much, what's the weather going to be? There are lots of details and worries that can keep you awake and distracted. None of it will help. Whatever you've done for training is perfect. You have what you have and now it's time to enjoy the day--you've earned it."

I had a few musings of my own:

-Let there be no wind—I’ll take hills over wind; of course if it’s a tail wind out and back, I’m fine with that!

-Let it be not too hot, not too cool

-Let me have a personal best—remembering to stick to my plan—and remembering that there will always be runners faster and slower than I am (of course, if you are an elite/competitive runner, you’re just hoping everyone is slower than you, but for the rest of the 99% of us, we’re realistic and know we will be passed. Don’t worry about it)

-Let me be injury free

-Let me conquer my mental demons out on the course

-Let me finish upright and with a smile

So come out to the Race Expo on Saturday and get your race package and check out all the interesting booths. Then enjoy a great pasta dinner with fellow runners and be inspired by Hugh Culver. Go home, lay out your gear for the next morning: lucky shirt, lucky shoes, socks, and underwear (hey, some people have lucky underwear!); charge your Garmin and iPod, sun screen, hat, bib, water bottles, food/fuel…then go to bed, check your alarm clock 50 times, and try to get some sleep.

You’ve done your bit—trained hard, eaten right, got into a good head space. Now go out there and have fun and make this the best race ever.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Chip is on Your Chest

2011-05-10T11:20:00.000-07:00

When that starting gun goes off in two weeks and you are waiting to cross the start line, do you ever wonder how we are going to time you?

Many, many races use timing chips that attach to your shoe with a zip tie—then when you cross the start line, you go over a large rubber mat, which has a sensor in it that records the time and your special runner number (the same number that is on your runner’s bib; you cross that same mat on the way back to stop the timer).

We used to do that for races in the past but we are trying something new this year—a timing chip in your runner’s bib. This should be an improvement for a number of reasons—one, you aren’t stuck with a chip that is useless after the race (sure it’s a nice souvenir to have). Plus you won’t be faced with the angst of where does it go on my shoe, do I have it upside down, what if it falls off, etc? And in some past races, the chips weren’t disposable so you had to stop right at the finish line, put your foot up on a chair, and a volunteer would snip it off your shoe!. And it also saves on the manufacture of thousands of plastic items. You have to wear a bib anyway (so we can identify you), so why not put a chip in it? Pretty clever.

(back of the bib showing the timing chip)

Speaking of identifying you, we have three different bib colours to differentiate the different race lengths you are all running. The 10kers have blue, the half marathon folks have green, and the full marathoners are in light red. This way, the race volunteers know what distance you are running, and can direct you to which route to take when the road turns off (but don’t worry, you’ll know the split off point—you can’t miss it). Also, when you full and half marathoners cross the finish line, a volunteer will know which medal to drape around your neck, as each race finisher gets a different coloured medal ribbon. And if you are a competitive/elite runner, you will be going by gun time versus chip time anyway. That means the really fast runners line up right at the very start of the start line. So when the gun goes off and the timing clock starts, that is what they are timed by. Most competitive races (i.e. Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, Olympics) judge their runners using the gun time not the chip. But luckily, most of the rest of us are happy with the chip timer, because as it takes a few minutes to get everyone across the start line, the clock will register 3 minutes in when you finally reach the start line, but your chip will start when you start.

Because of this, my husband always says it doesn’t matter if we sleep in on race day and miss the official start, as long as I have my chip on, I can start anytime. True……but I love the start of the race—thousands of excited runners all waiting to go, seeing old friends, feeling the electricity in the air, then the crowd goes silent for the playing of O Canada, and then the Mayor shoots off the starting pistol—I wouldn’t miss that for the world, nor should you. See you at 7 a.m. on the start line—and don’t forget to wear your bib!

p.s. don't forget to still check your chip at the Race Expo. You'll be reminded when you pick up your race package to go over to the Chip Timing Booth and they'll scan your bib/chip--just to make sure that the chip you are assigned comes up under your name.

Last Minute Details Before Our 2,500+ Guests Arrive

2011-05-04T18:49:00.000-07:00

Well, we just had our second-last Marathon Organizing Committee meeting before the race and everything is falling into place. You wouldn’t believe the details that go into an amazing event like this in order to bring you the most fun, safe, and wonderful race experience you’ve ever had:

(photo credit: Richard Marjan)

-first there’s the online registration that gets monitored daily and updates sent to the organizers. We have up-to-date counts of all you great runners and that way, we can plan accordingly for our 2,500+ guests

-you don’t want to miss the race expo the day before the race where you pick up your t-shirt, bib timing chip, race info, and view over 20 booths from exhibitors with really neat stuff for runners and non-runners alike (speaking of bib timing chip, we are trying something new this year—more in next week's blog).

-then there’s the pasta dinner which follows the race expo with inspiring guest speaker and ultra athlete Hugh Culver, so enjoy a great meal and a great speaker to pump you up for the race the next day

-let’s give kudos to our terrific course set up team who get up at 4 a.m. in order to put out all the pylons and kilometre markers so you know where you are going and how much distance is left (this is the culmination of many meetings over the year with civic officials and police to map out a course that is safe, has appropriate road closures, and lets cars and runners co-exist on the streets)

-then we coordinate hundreds of road marshals to steer you through the course and keep traffic at bay (and make sure you take the right turn)

-our bike marshals pedal many kilometres to guide the lead runners and bring up the rear

-we have great volunteers from the Saskatoon Amateur Radio Club who are stationed along the route to keep organizers in contact with what’s happening at every step of the way

-our water station volunteers keep you hydrated throughout the race with water and GuBrew (would you believe we get 50,000 cups for the race each year? There’s even a specific formula for mixing up the jugs of GuBrew—we have to get the proportion just right)

-we want to wow you with the incredible set up you are going to find at the Start/Finish Line—a food tent to give you a boost after the race, a bag drop off so you can safely leave your warm up gear and pick it up after the race, First Aid tent—just in case, race results posted often so you can check out your official time. I’m not even going to mention the porta potty dilemma—because we solved it last year—there never seems to be enough porta potties when you are nervous waiting for any race to start—we increased the number at the Start Line last year and it worked like a charm! And don’t fear—we have porta potties at every water station, just in case.

-and finally there are happy volunteers ready to greet you as you finish your 10K, and drape a medal around your neck and a blanket around your shoulders after you finish the half marathon or full marathon

Just a couple more weeks and then we get to entertain 2,500+ enthusiastic, excited, and awesome runners from across Saskatoon and Canada. We can’t wait to see you all!

Less than 30 days to the finish line--don't forget to train for this:

2011-04-30T14:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, your training is going well, you’re eating right, and you’re feeling great about the upcoming race. But don’t forget to train for the best part—crossing the finish line!

Now, you don’t want to just cross the line, barely alive and grimacing—even though you probably will feel that way. No, you want to finish strong, and happy, and upright.

So now and again in your training runs over the next four weeks (and visually in your head), practice crossing the finish line. Raise your arms in triumph—you deserve it. Smile and really believe it. Give a cheer. Pump your fist. Remember this is a huge accomplishment and you need to celebrate. And did I mention there are official photographers at the finish line, taking your picture (you can go online after the race and purchase that photo, and others they have taken of you along the route). So you have to look great for the shot!

Plus sports psychologists emphasize visualizing success before any competition—the brain and body will focus on the positive thoughts you are thinking, because thinking about it vs doing it, are all the same for the brain—my paraphrasing of their theories. So the more you visualize and practice, the more real it will be.

So see yourself coming down that last straightway, coming into the finishing line chute, family, friends and complete strangers cheering you on, your legs pumping and burning for that final sprint at the end, and the line is getting closer...closer...closer. Smile and you’re done!

The New Course is Here...The New Course is Here!

2011-04-24T06:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, you’ve all been waiting for it....the course to be finalized for this year’s race! It’s so exciting. I love knowing where I will be going in order to psyche myself up for the distance and hills (even though, relatively speaking, our course is quite flat).Check out the maps: http://www.saskmarathon.ca/course.html

The race course planners tell me that the course is improved from last year. The changes are to address the issue of going past the Pinehouse Drive turnoff on the return leg; to accommodate road work and bridge closures happening this year; and to reduce congestion at the start line. They spent hours analyzing the route, running the route, and creating the safest route possible (and once the snow is gone, they will calibrate it down to the last inch, to ensure it is fully certified as a Boston Marathon qualifier course).

The most exciting change is the new position of the start/finish line. It will be right on Pinehouse Drive, and not on that side road by the tennis courts. So we’ll line the runners up along Pinehouse for the start, and then when you are sprinting like a gazelle for the finish line (yes, sprinting after running up that brutal hill, but let’s not speak of that), you can actually see the finish line and know that the end is in sight!

Cole’s Notes version of the courses: 10K—basically the same as last year—so you run from Pinehouse through the neighbourhood to the river, split off at the Circle Drive Bridge, then head north past Pinehouse (sorry, you still have to go past it first), then a little past Lenore Drive and double back to Pinehouse and the finish line.

Half Marathon: after you split off from the 10Kers’, you will go south along the river all the way past the Water Treatment Plant, and then head’er all the way back to Pinehouse, and you get to run left at Pinehouse, so no doubling back. (yay, I’m glad I’m running the half marathon—nice route).

And for you full marathoners, you follow the same route as the half marathoners, but keep going past Pinehouse on the way back, then up and past the Wastewater Treatment Plant to Adilman, then back down, back and forth across the trails and bridges to the eastside of the river, then back to Pinehouse (check the route map because that shows it better than I can describe it!).

Download the route and go out and practice. Become “one” with the hills—embrace them as your friend. And have fun out there—the race is a little over a month away!

Mama’s Got a New Pair of Shoes!

2011-04-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

It was time. I’d come back from runs and hurt more than I should. I checked my old receipts and sure enough, it was time for my annual running shoe buying experience. Did you know that running shoes eventually break down with all the miles you are putting on them? It all depends on how much you run, but for me, generally once a year is fine. Other runners who do more miles than me, get them sooner; a general guideline is replace them after 550-800 km (so make a note in your training log of when you bought the shoes, and keep a tally of your total mileage over the next six month to a year). The shoes will lose their stability and shock absorbency, leading to injuries for you. I can tell that my shoes just aren’t doing their job any more. Sore, sore, sore.

And now is a good time to get them. You definitely don’t want to be buying a new pair of shoes the day before the race. While good running shoes don’t require a “breaking in” as you would with regular shoes, you do need your give your feet and legs times to adjust to them. Even if it is the same brand and type you always buy. So with about six weeks before the race, new shoes here I come.

So last Saturday, I headed to my favourite running store (Brainsport), and the most helpful people took care of me. Some tips for when you go shopping: take your current pair of running shoes with you—the staff will look at the wear and tear and it show how you run (perhaps your outer heel is more worn than your inner, etc). And take a pair of your running socks for the fitting. The certified fitting staff there will measure your foot, watch you walk, ask you how much you run, if you are training for a race, if your foot tends to roll out or in, if you are having any particular foot or pain issues, etc. And you should be buying a pair that is about half a size bigger than your regular shoe size, so your feet have room to move and there is a about a thumb width between your toe and the end of the shoe. You can give the shoes a test drive on their treadmill and then when you purchase them, try them on your own treadmill—and if they aren’t working for you, you can bring them back and try another pair. So go on in to Brainsport and let the experts look after you (and as an added bonus, Brainsport will take your gently used running shoes and donate to those in need here in Saskatoon, northern communities, and even as far away as Kenya, Mozambique, and Peru.)

I sure notice a difference with my new shoes. Firm yet comfy, and I don’t feel as sore after a run. My shoes are Asics gels and they change the colour every year. This year they are called White Lightening/Island Blue. Gee with a name like that, I’ll be flying down the course!

“Buck up and get up early!”

2011-04-10T14:41:00.000-07:00

That was the answer I got when I asked my esteemed running colleagues the question I received from other runners wondering how to adjust to running on race weekend. You see, our race starts at 7 a.m. on a Sunday morning. But many runners prefer running after work or at night, and don’t know what to expect running that early, or even how to train for that.

There are a lot of things to consider when running in the morning. First, you need to get to bed at a reasonable hour the night before, in order to get a good sleep and get up early to run. Then on the weekend, actually get up early and be ready to run (yes, I know that sucks because you want to sleep in, after getting up early for work for five whole days in a row, and your spouse is still sleeping away, but it’s just something you have to buck up and do). You're going to have to do it on race weekend anyway, so take the plunge now.

Then, you should practice eating –okay, let me clarify that because I think we all have that mastered—practice eating what you will eat on race morning. And you need to practice long before race morning, in order to get your body into that groove. Something light to eat, like a banana or cereal—experiment with what you like and what isn’t too heavy before a run. And finally, be aware of “bodily functions” in the morning—one colleague told us a story of being with friends who were new to running in the morning and they had to keep stopping and go to the bathroom!

So do all that, but then Saturday night is the night for cocktails and then sleep in on Sunday (or cocktails on Friday, sleep in on Saturday, and run on Sunday)! It’s all a balance.

To MP3 or not, that is the question....

2011-04-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

So how many of you listen to music when you run? The debate rages on that one. Some love the peace and tranquility of nature as they run. Others (like myself) really need those rocking tunes to keep going on the trails. My husband bought me a simple MP3 player just before I took up running a few years ago and I thought—what will I ever do with this? Well, as soon as I downloaded some songs (disclaimer alert: using, of course, legally purchased songs from legal music web sites!), I was doing aerobics all over the house. Then he bought me an iPod Touch, and boy, the quick tunes are great motivators. If you do listen to music, make sure you are safe out on the trails. Maybe wear just one ear bud, so you can always listen to what is going on around you in terms of cars, other runners, and cyclists. Some races ban music players, while others offer warnings. Another disclaimer alert, this one from our SaskMarathon website: “We strongly recommend that participants NOT use audio devices during the race. Although you may listen to music during training, you quickly become a hazard to yourself and others on race day when you cannot hear what is taking place around you.” (on a side note, how’s this for a weird convergence of worlds: I follow a quilting magazine blog (as I have just taken up quilting) and the authors had just finished publishing a special magazine issue and to celebrate, they went to see in Boston a band called the Dropkick Murphys. The blog had a short clip of the concert, full of rocking Irish tunes, and they even had Bruce Springsteen come out for a cameo, as he had on their latest CD. I think to myself, wow, great running tunes, I should download their album off of iTunes. But never got around to it. Then a week later, I read in the newspaper that the Dropkick Murphys are coming to Saskatoon in June to play. Eerie. Needless to say, that inspired me to buy the album and I ran with it this weekend—really helped keep the pace going. We might even go see the show!) So use your good judgement when you run and listen to music. Have fun and stay safe. p.s. take our poll on the right hand side of the page and let us know what you're listening to.

Two Months From Now...

2011-03-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

Two months from now, we will be running along the scenic South Saskatchewan River, do our personal bests in the Saskatchewan Marathon. A lot of things will have happened in those 60 days:

-the snow will have melted—hopefully!!!! It has got to. Mother Nature has us in her wily grasp right now and for some reason, she won’t let go. The temperature was minus 13 with a wind chill of minus 24. Ugh. It was so cold running that my water bottle froze. It has never frozen! My Gu chomp was rock hard when I took it out of my pocket, and my part of my lower lip kept going numb. It wasn’t pleasant—and it’s the end of March, for heaven’s sake—should not be like this.

-instead of the empty trails you see now, you will see friends, family, and complete strangers lining the trails, waving signs and cheering us on.

-you will be a different person—guaranteed. You will have trained a lot more. You will be stronger, fitter, and more confident in yourself. After all, you are going to be part of select group of people who can say they ran in the Saskatchewan Marathon.

Two months and counting...can’t wait!

Am I Too Late????

2011-03-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

Well, it depends on later for what... You aren’t too late to file your taxes—that’s April 30.

You are too late for Valentine’s Day—February 14 (sigh--so much for romance).

But you’re not too late to start training for the Saskatchewan Marathon—that’s May 29.

The discussion on if it’s too late to start training came up this week at my office. Four of the ladies I work with all wanted to do their first 10k this year at the Sask Marathon, and wondered if it was too late to start training (and I thought that if they had that question, then maybe some of you do too). So I checked with our experts at Craven SPORT Services, and here’s what they said:

“It is absolutely NOT too late to start training for the 10k! With regards to how much and how often, look for a posted 10k program to be posted in the next couple of days. It has a specific breakdown of daily runs and weekly plans with target intensity zones to better guide your training. The program has been set up to include 3-5 training days per week, but this could be modified slightly. http://www.saskmarathon.ca/training.html

For both the ½ marathon and the 10k race, it is a good idea to allow roughly 10 weeks for your body to properly adapt to the training loads required. As such, as long as the training begins within the next week (March 21, 2011), you are NOT too late to begin training.

Unless you have already established a good aerobic base and adapted your body to the loads of running, it would not be a good idea to start training for the full marathon now (approximately 10 weeks to go!). For ideal training timelines, you should try and allow for 16 weeks to properly train for a full marathon.

The key thing to remember when starting any training program is to listen to your body and gradually increase your distance, volume, and speed. The result of improper training progression is injury.

Signs to watch for:
• A localized pain or ache during a run is often a sign that you are overtraining and potentially causing harm. If this occurs, reduce your training to the last painfree session. Stay at this level for the next few sessions before beginning to rebuild. It is also a good idea to seek assistance from a physical therapist to address the issue and prevent further injury as well as reduce the impact on your training.
• A general soreness following your runs is often associated with higher volume training. However, there are a number of ways to minimize this soreness using active and passive recovery techniques (see website training tips) including a good warm-up and cool-down. Before your next training session, this sensation should have subsided indicating that your body is ready to train again. If not, allow your body more recovery time with active rest or light cross-training activity.”

So there you have it—there’s still lots of time for training...and taxes!!!!!

Dear Mother Nature

2011-03-13T12:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Mother Nature: Please take this letter in the spirit it is intended, with much love and respect, but ENOUGH ALREDY! We are a tad tired of winter and tired of running outside when it is sub-arctic cold. Sure we runners are a hardy bunch, and most winters we can get through by chanting to ourselves: “just dress in layers and you’ll be fine”,” it’s a dry cold”, “at least it’s sunny”.... But those clichés are wearing a bit thin. We love being outside and we love running along our beautiful r riverbank, but can you please give us a break? We endured a cold and wet summer, followed by a cold and slightly less wet fall, and then winter came. Let us not speak about winter.

Perhaps you couldn’t find us earlier due to all the snow (boy did we get snow—my husband spent all day yesterday snowblowing the three feet of snow away from the house foundation, so when, not if but when, spring ever comes, the melt won’t go into our basement). So Mother Nature, we’re going to help you find us. Every runner in Saskatoon is going to wear a Hawaiian shirt over their running gear from now until the snow melts. I’m not kidding. That way, you can see us easier and bring spring over. Sure, you could use Google Maps, but let’s make doubly sure with the shirts. It will be a sea of reds, pinks, yellows, greens, blue cascading along the riverbank trails—what a sight to behold. We’ll be so bright you can’t miss us. And it will make us think of spring.

Now we don’t want to sound completely ungrateful, because you have teased us with a seasonal temperature now and again these past couple of months, which was wonderful, we just need you to do that again and on a more permanent basis. So if we wear the shirts, you bring us spring. Sounds like a fair deal.

See you soon!

Love
All the runners in Saskatoon

P.s. I may write you again during the Saskatchewan Marathon race week, just to ensure you can bring us nice weather—not too hot, not too cold, and definitely not too wet!

Another Marathon Meeting

2011-03-06T07:05:00.000-08:00

So when I say Marathon Meeting, I mean we had another Marathon organizing committee meeting this week—not that it went long like a marathon! Yes, we are still hard at work behind the scenes, getting this great event ready for you in just 83 days! Yikes.

The flurry of the early bird deadline has settled down. Wow—there sure are a lot of you coming out to run with us on May 29! And if you missed the early bird deadline, don’t worry—you can still register any time before May 27 (but there are still discounts if you register online between March 1 and April 30).

Things are well under way—posters are at the printers; t-shirts are being manufactured; new medals are designed and getting made; the course is being finalized and will have to wait until the snow melts to be officially calibrated (we are optimistic the snow will melt by May, but gee, it’s minus 27 today; one day spring will come!); the Race Expo is getting filled with booths; our online database for signing up volunteers is almost finished, so those of you who don’t want to run but still be a part of this amazing event, please check back so you can sign up; and we will start finalizing the menus for the pasta dinner and the runners’ food tent at the next meeting—ummm...choosing food—one of the best times of the meetings, but also the longest as everyone chimes in with their favourite food requests.

Actually food and t-shirts discussions do consume a lot of our time at meetings, so when they appear on the agenda, you know it’s going to be a marathon meeting! :-)

Running with Glasses--so your martini won’t spill

2011-02-27T13:14:00.000-08:00

(and don't forget the Early Bird Deadline)

Okay, this blog isn’t entirely about running and drinking (due to all those wacky things call laws and regulations, etc).

However, it is about running and eyeglasses. Ah, yes, those kind of glasses!

How does one keep from fogging up???? I was running this morning, and when it’s minus 20 outside with a windchill of minus 5000, I started fogging up pretty much as soon as I got outside. My hat and scarf create some sort of weather rift that funnels hot and cold air onto my glasses, making an instant ice rink on them.
So try running with three quarters of the surface area covered with ice. I can peer out of the top of the glasses, sort of keeping an eye on the road. But try and read your running watch—you have to do a weird peer and bob manoeuvre. And what about seeing road hazards? Splat—oh, just hit a curb. Splat—just hit a parked car. Duoh.

Do those anti-fog sprays work? Does anyone have a solution? Let the rest of us know.

And don’t forget the early bird deadline to register for the Saskatchewan Marathon is tomorrow, Monday February 28 at midnight. Register early to great a great discount on your entry fee and enter to win an adidas miCoach Pacer!

Never mind about the glasses—my eyelashes just froze shut. Argh, where’s my martini????

Early Bird Deadline Only a Week Away!

2011-02-21T13:26:00.000-08:00

I hope your training is going well. Can you believe that the early bird deadline to register for the Saskatchewan Marathon is just a week away? And the race itself is only three months away?! Yikes. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait!

So if you haven’t already officially registered yet, what are you waiting for? There are geat discounts on the registration fee if you go online by February 28. Here let me help you with that...here’s the registration link. http://www.eventsonline.ca/events/saskatchewan_marathon/

Plus anyone registered before March 1 is entered to win one of two adidas miCoach Pacers courtesy of adidas Canada. http://www.saskmarathon.ca/

And if you need more incentives, if you are a member of the Saskatoon Road Runners Association, you also get a $10 discount on your online registration fee.

Online registration takes only a couple of minutes (I just did it myself!) and then you’re done. And don’t forget to click to purchase your pasta dinner tickets too—you don’t want to miss the evening—it’s all part of the experience! http://www.saskmarathon.ca/dinner.html

So sign up, lace up, and eat up (my favourite part of training!).

Announcing Our Speaker at the Pasta Dinner

2011-02-13T17:40:00.000-08:00

A tradition of most races is the pasta dinner the night before the race. People come and eat lots and lots of pasta with the goal of carbo-loading for the big day (you probably should be carbo-loading over the course of the week or two prior, but the dinner is an excuse to eat, socialize and share nervous excitement with your fellow runners). Usually a speaker is brought in to inspire the runners for the adventure that awaits them in just a few short hours.

At the Saskatchewan Marathon, we have certainly brought in some great speakers: Dick Beardsley, Rosey Edey, and John “The Penguin” Bingham to name a few. Their stories have made us laugh and cry and cheer in support.

As a committee, we start bouncing around ideas pretty much the year before, as we consider people who would be motivational, fun, inspiring, athletic, and appeal to our participants. We approach them or their agents well in advance, hoping to snag a spot in their busy speaking schedule—some are booked three years in advance.

And we are delighted to announce this year’s speaker: Hugh Culver. His bio and video clips are highly entertaining and we feel you are in for a real treat. The pasta dinner is Saturday May 28 at TCU Place, and tickets are only $25 (available on the Saskatchewan Marathon website) for a great meal and a great speaker.

“Hugh D. Culver is an Ironman Competitor, Mountain Climber, 10 time Marathoner and successful businessman. He is a past demonstration skier and nationally ranked whitewater kayaking competitor, has climbed the highest peaks in both Canada and the United States, holds the running record for the Chilcoot Pass in the Yukon. His powerful keynote presentations and training programs are thoroughly researched, content-rich and delivered with a passion for creating lasting change in audience’s lives. As the past owner of the world’s only tourism company in Antarctica, Hugh’s best-known keynote presentations are based on incredible stories of adventures, misadventures and successes that even include golfing at the North Pole!” http://www.hughculver.com/

The Accuracy of GPS vs Course Calibration

2011-02-06T11:30:00.000-08:00

Okay, so who’s been out running in this lovely warm weather this week? It started out with a minus 45 windchill and by the end of the week, it’s plus one. Only in Saskatchewan!

And if you’re running outside, chances are you have either a running watch with timer or a watch with GPS built in so you can track time, pace, and distance. There is often a debate over the accuracy of a GPS watch versus the accuracy of a race course. The attached link reveals the ins and outs of GPS watches and how race courses are calibrated (courses are accurately measured by someone riding a bicycle with a special attachment on the wheel that measures the course. That’s why we can’t measure the course until spring when all the snow is off the roads and we can cycle on them).

The article suggests that course calibration is slightly more accurate than a GPS watch—so if your watch says you are almost finished the race, don’t be surprised if the course is just a bit longer—hang in there!

http://www.hamptonrockfest.com/hamptonhalf-GPS.html

Training While on Winter Vacation - Part 2

2011-01-30T07:53:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have a couple of more tips for training while on a winter vacation that I didn’t have time to mention in the last blog post:

1) Before you leave on vacation, do an Internet search for running routes of the city where you are going. Often fellow runners will post good routes or even the city’s local running stores will have that info, as well as any races that are happening while you are there. (See the photo below—we were on a shore excursion in Aruba, when we passed the finish line for a 10K race they were having—I admire their spirit, because is was 28 degrees out and hot to run in!)

2) Ask the hotel/resort concierge for good, safe running/walking routes in the area.

3) Check out the hotel/resort gym. They will have good workout machines and sometimes ones that you haven’t tried at home. And the resorts also offer fitness and aqua classes—a great way to mix up your workout.

I’ve been running on our sea days since we got on the ship. I’m still trying to find out how many metres the upper running track is, in order to calculate kilometres. The first time we cruised a few years ago, I wore my Garmin running watch, which has GPS. After my first lap I looked at the watch and I had done about 2 km! What the heck? Then it dawned on me—the watch is tracking not only my distance, but the ship’s as well! Duoh. So that’s why I need to know how big the track is. In the mean time, I’m just doing it by time, so estimating my usual pace and what running so many minutes will be in terms of distance. It does get a tad tricky when the ship is really rocking from side to side and the wind is whipping, but still kinda fun. And necessary—they tell us that on average, a cruise ship passenger will gain a pound a day. I believe it—all the meals, snacks, drinks, midnight chocolate buffet, etc.

Non-running/geek alert: For those of you who might be interested, I’ve also posted a pix of our journey through the Panama Canal--the first set of locks. I have always wanted to go through the Canal since I was little (don’t know why, but always fascinated by it), and my husband is also very interested, as he is an engineer. So enjoy!

Training While on Winter Vacation - Part 1

2011-01-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

As your hard working blog writer, it’s my job (well, it’s more like a volunteer gig, as there are no paycheques…but I digress), to bring you important information as you prep for the May Saskatchewan Marathon. I must diligently research all sorts of topics so you can be your best for race day.

That said, I’m researching how you can continue with your training when you go on a winter vacation. Yes, most Saskatchewan people take them, as it is one of the best ways to get through minus 35 in January and February.

So, we have taken the plunge and headed south. Right now, we are in Fort Lauderdale, and later this afternoon, we board a cruise ship to the Panama Canal. Yes, it’s a tough life but all for the sake of research.

So some vacation training tips (and there are many more out there, but these are the highlights):

1) Adjust to the weather conditions. It’s 28 degrees here with a moderate humidity, so long runs during the day aren’t a good idea. It is nice on the muscles though, as they warm up a lot faster than in winter! I’ve been running early in the morning on the promenade along the beach, and even at 7:00 a.m,, it’s quite busy. We’ve seen people running at 10 p.m. too, but they must be locals. (And in one these pictures, you’ll see a bunch of wooden structures. The City of Fort Lauderdale has installed a fitness circuit along the promenade on the beach—each wooden structure is some sort of training exercise with instructions and activity—really neat.)

2) Don’t forget to hydrate. Drink lots of water, because as mentioned in #1, it’s hot out there.

3) Wear a hat and sunscreen (refer to #1)

4) Some books say running in sand is a good strengthening exercise, but to be careful, because it’s unstable, but that’s where the workout is. Use your best judgement.

6) Remember, you are on holidays, so if you miss a workout, don’t worry. Relax and have fun!

The T-Shirt Saga

2011-01-16T09:30:00.000-08:00

We had a SaskMarathon Organizing Committee meeting last week, and let me tell you, nothing stirs the juices more than talking about race t-shirts! Let me explain.

When you sign up to run in the Saskatchewan Marathon, you will receive a gorgeous adidas tech running shirt (as long as you sign up before the April 30 deadline). But even if you sign up before April 30, we can’t guarantee you will get the size you put down. Why not, you ask, since you met the registration deadline.

Well, we have to order the shirts way back in October of the year before the race. So in October 2010, we placed a gigantic order for t-shirts. It takes that long for the fabric to be ordered and the shirts to be made, then shipped to Saskatoon in time for you pick it up with your race package. So we have to make an educated guess on how many people will sign up and roughly what the size breakdown will be. We base it on last year’s numbers, and then add in a bit more for increased registration numbers (and it’s a fine balance, because if we order too many, then the extra shirts are wasted).

As a committee, we passionately debate the colour of the fabric, the tech fabric type, (a technical shirt is lightweight and designed to wick moisture, not a regular cotton t-shirt), and what colour the logo and printing will be. This year’s debate also included whether to have shirts—but don’t worry, we will. And let’s not forgot we have a new logo this year, so the layout will be different from last year. We started putting little sayings on the backs of the shirts a few years ago, and that makes it fun for the people running behind you reading it. Our Saskatchewan Marathon shirts have been seen across Canada and even in Hawaii. We get calls from other races asking where we got our great shirts. But to note, when you register for the race, we ask your shirt size, and tell you that these particular shirts fit on the small size—we’ll post the t-shirts measurements on the website soon.

Long story short, you will get a shirt as long as you register before April 30, and as you can see, we do our very best to get you the size you want so you can wear your race shirt with pride.

So this was the t-shirt saga. Wait till I tell you in future blog posts about planning the race route, or designing the medal, picking the food for the post race snack, or even deciding on the number of porta potties we rent—you wouldn’t believe the details we grapple with, all to bring you the best race possible!

Some Helpful Hints to Get You Started

2011-01-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

Okay, you’ve made the commitment to run in the Saskatchewan Marathon. Now what? First, don’t panic! This is going to be fun.

If you’re an experienced runner, you probably will start your regular training program. But if you are just starting out, or haven’t done that much running, here are some general tips to get you going in the right direction. (I’m not going to give you specific running tips because I’m not an expert and everyone is different, but these are tips that usually can work for everyone).

1) Join a running group at Brainsport or any local running store. You’ll meet all types of people with all levels of experience, so you will be able to find a group that matches your level. You’ll get practice runs, tips on running and nutrition, etc. If joining a group isn’t your thing, check the internet for training programs, read books, or talk to other runners. People in the running community are so helpful, so just start asking questions.

2) Make sure you have the right gear. Again, your local running store can help you find shoes, shorts, running bra, and winter gear (if you’re crazy enough to run outside). Having the right shoes makes a world of difference—these puppies are going to be carrying you a long way; you want them to give you the support you need, so toss out the old runners you wear when you paint and invest in a good quality pair. Your feet will thank you.

3) Keep a running journal. Get a notebook and write down every time you run, your time, your speed, and generally how you felt. You chart your progress as you go. Writing it down just seems more real and keeps you honest!

4) Find a running buddy. There’s nothing more motivating than meeting a friend to go for a run—you can’t jam out if you know you’ll be letting someone down. Plus it makes the time go by as you catch up with one another and keep each other going, especially up those tough hills.

5) Take a look at what you’re eating. You need to fuel your body with good nutrition, since you are using up more energy.

6) Train well and avoid injury. This is supposed to be fun, so do it right and keep yourself safe. See point #1 to keep you on the right track.

This was a long one, but we want to arm you with all the info you need to get started. Happy trails!

Make Your New Year's Resolution With Us!

2011-01-03T14:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

In this time of setting goals, why not set a goal to run in the Saskatchewan Marathon this year? Go ahead and circle the date of May 29 on your calendar right now. Go on, you can do it! I read somewhere that the hardest part of any race is getting to the start line--so now the hardest part is over.

Set the goal to run your first 10K, or to move from 10K to a half marathon, or to improve your time in the marathon. It doesn't matter what your goal, the key is you set a goal and aim toward it.

Working toward a goal is a blast as you train and get stronger and learn more about yourself. But reaching that goal is even sweeter! You'll be amazed at how you break through barriers you thought you could never get through.

Over the next few months, we'll be here to inspire you, share tips, and take you behind the scenes of how the event of a marathon gets organized. So lace up your shoes and let's get going!

Just in time for the holidays...Registration is Officially Open!

2010-12-14T19:29:00.001-08:00

That's right, online registration for the 2011 Saskatchewan Marathon is officially open! The 2011 Saskatchewan Marathon will be held on Sunday, May 29, 2011 7:00 a.m. and will feature 10 km, Half-Marathon and Marathon event distances with a course accessible for runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes.

Register online today for one of the most scenic marathon races in Canada at www.saskmarathon.ca

More than 2800 participants registered in the 2010 event - jump on board and be part of the fun and excitement in 2011! All participants who register by April 30, 2011 will receive a souvenir technical fabric t-shirt (sizes not
guaranteed). Make sure you register carefully as the information you submit is used for your category on race day. Remember, too, that there is a fee to switch categories.

Get your tickets to the Pasta Dinner
Join fellow SaskMarathon participants at the Pasta Dinner with another fabulous special guest speaker to be announced in January! The Pasta Dinner will take place on Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. at TCU Place.Get your ticket with your online registration for only $25.00 (maximum 4 tickets per registrant).

***A Saskatchewan Marathon Registration Makes a Perfect Christmas Gift***

Merry Christmas from all your friends at the SRRA and the 2011 Saskatchewan Marathon Volunteer Organizing Committee:

Lorrie Dobni, Cathy Seed,Kendrick Hamilton,Dave Stark, Jill Cope,Peter Goode,

Lynn Cushway, Linda Hamre,Theresa Aubin-Singh, and Adi Garg

And the OPLI Marathon Team: Kim, Shad, Kara, & Sue

Coming Soon - News about Sask Marathon

2010-11-15T16:55:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendar - May 29, 2011