Breaking My Runners In: Saucony Trek or Treat Night Trail Race

So back when I did my very first race this year, the Waterfront Trail, my friend Ryan was supposed to run it with me. Unfortunately, God love her, Ryan’s grandmother passed away the day before. Disappointed that she didn’t get to do the race I told her to pick another and we’d do it. Ryan chose the Saucony Trek or Treat Night Trail Race.

My training the week before the Trek or Treat was a bit spotty so I was nervous. During Saturday’s run I ended up getting a cramp after 4.5k and had to come in early. I know that I didn’t eat much nor drink a lot the day before so I’m thinking that was the problem. I have been very careful with my water intake since then. Sunday I ran with the dog. While I love running with Gordie, he stops for far more poos and pees than a person would. He also likes to stop and say hello to anyone else out there....not something that I do much. Tuesday I went out and killed 5.5k at an average pace of 5:29! I’ve never been able to get my average below 5:33 so I was super excited. Unfortunately with the crap weather we’ve had this week that was it for my prerace training. Let’s hope it’s good enough and that I’ve figured out what is causing my cramps, the very thing that doomed me in the Waterfront Trail.

Ryan and I arrive at St Volodymyr Cultural Centre and it’s crazy. Cars everywhere, decorations, people running all over the place in costumes, it’s totally nuts. We even see some guy in a big Pikachu costume! Not sure how he plans on running in that, but I’ll tell you one thing- I’d better beat him! With this being Ryan’s first race, and my third, I lead the way. LOL Up to the table we went to get our bibs (they were Halloween themed), and then over to the chip station, and then over to the....wait a minute! No goodie bags?! What kind of cheap ass race has no goodie bags? Oh wait, there’s the t-shirt table.....oh.....only the first 200 registrants get a t-shirt, but if you’d like one it’s only $15. Seeing as I’m coveting race t-shirts I fork over the cash and stuff it into my pocket. Off to the starting line we go. I am hoping to see some kind of bag/coat check on my way out there. Due to the 8* temp I wore my vest, but obviously don’t want to run in it. Guess what? Along with no goodie bags there’s no coat check. This could be a problem because I really overheat while running. Oh well, not much I can do now. At the start line we put on our sexy headlamps and get ready for the gun.

And here we go........wait. There’s some sort of technical error, false start. Ok, here we go for real this time. The beginning of the race is very bunched up because there’s not a lot of room on the single lane road, but after about 500m we lose the dead weight and fall into our pace. I quickly realize that my stupid sexy headlight isn’t tight enough because it keeps slipping down. It seems every 10 steps or so I have to readjust it. This is going to get old fast! Somewhere around 2k I lose Ryan and focus on passing all of the angels, cheerleaders and super heros ahead of me who’s costumes are slowing them down. All of a sudden my phone starts ringing! WHAT?! Who is calling me right now? I let it go to voice mail and carry on. I pass the water station, grab a cup, accidentally spill it all over myself and keep going. Around 3k my legs start feeling heavy. EEK! I feel like I’m slowing down, but my RunStar app is telling me that I’m keeping the same pace so it’s ok. I am really regretting this vest now too because I am SO HOT! The sweat is pouring off of me. Fortunately the headband for this stupid sexy light is collecting it all. The course is a bit hillier than I had planned; they said that it was flat, but it’s not that much unlike the trail that I run through Sherwood Park on so I’m ok. I plod along on my heavy legs, sweating and adjusting and then look UP and realize at the top of this hill is the finish line! YES! I can see illumination from a headlight behind me so I put my head down and run for all I am worth. This person is NOT passing me on the home stretch. And it had better not be Pikachu! I blast through the finish line (with my phone ringing again! WHAT?!) at a clock time of 26:46, give up my chip and wait for Ryan. She comes in not far behind me at a clock time of 27:48. We walk it off for a little bit and look around for water and see that there isn’t any. It must be inside.......nope. They are serving coffee and hot chocolate to wash down your complimentary slice of pizza (no thanks). WTH? I know that it’s cold outside, but who wants a coffee right after they run. I’m realizing that this race is totally ghetto and won’t be doing it again next year. All in all, I’m happy with my performance and Ryan says that she wants to do another race, so apart from all of the things that this race didn’t have it did give us the taste of competition and sense of accomplishment that we were seeking so at the end of the day not a total waste.

Next up....Resolution Run on New Year’s Eve with my running mentor Sarah!

Oh, and if you’re wondering, it was Noah calling to see if he could sleep over at his friends house. Did I mention he also called in the middle of the Run for the Cure? Kids!

Our Full Results

Sam: Place52/299 Clock Time26:46 Class Placing(40-49F) 5/64 Gender Place25 Average Pace5:22

Ryan: Place67/299 Clock Time27:48 Class Placing(30-39F)11/76 Gender Place33 Average Pace5:34