tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49961093630174626152024-02-07T10:21:39.689-05:00Swiss Miss Gone BadIrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-14285730276044918232013-11-13T23:21:00.005-05:002013-11-13T23:21:34.938-05:00Team Swiss Miss Badwater DanceIf you've ever wondered what my amazing Badwater crew is doing while they have to wait for me ...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxPulK9VSlqowyuB-vJcwLYgDCtaLhJhux3-JeYAcFc_CVkfGzKMOqIbb5_fREgaIRhbbbQdcwYjDlq5EvtGQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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... they are having so much fun! You guys ROCK! I have the best crew in the world!<br />
<br />Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-84295826762687255492013-07-30T21:07:00.000-04:002013-07-30T21:11:32.459-04:00<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For my family I'm always a winner even when I don't win... </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsuwpvc4UBpt5OfKTM7Abh5I31SXFNmMIJ8qHcDs-1kSwFEZINHCdtmppxeE8h1SLlb-PVF3GE3u8BrLxJDTZh_6q71X5xt4xKBWlgMBfSUZ7Rq34z9212wHtarE8xYHvXDoGyOPg6gMx/s1600/Frei+Postcard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsuwpvc4UBpt5OfKTM7Abh5I31SXFNmMIJ8qHcDs-1kSwFEZINHCdtmppxeE8h1SLlb-PVF3GE3u8BrLxJDTZh_6q71X5xt4xKBWlgMBfSUZ7Rq34z9212wHtarE8xYHvXDoGyOPg6gMx/s320/Frei+Postcard.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thank you Ayana, Yorik, Manuela and Bruno </span></td></tr>
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<br />Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-41066478979798580642013-07-25T10:31:00.004-04:002013-07-31T17:58:51.452-04:00Badwater Ultramarathon 2013<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Team Swiss Miss did it again! Badwater belt buckle #4 in the books! It was indeed "the world's toughest foot race" and we had to fight very hard for it but crossing the finish line (36:42) was absolutely amazing again. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBKFPkuti624QoF5gWxbWxq9PnKRh_A2NT2CmANAwnMusKlDzRVEneCrSuyeCFHSgtJlAxZNoh-1xrauo1xz9ESwgcooYdvHQRb3_1ToPsKcX0fzk1iuopQEtRvU2eUsYtEDNr8Z9Kfo4/s1600/9309587308_97ed2457eb_b+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBKFPkuti624QoF5gWxbWxq9PnKRh_A2NT2CmANAwnMusKlDzRVEneCrSuyeCFHSgtJlAxZNoh-1xrauo1xz9ESwgcooYdvHQRb3_1ToPsKcX0fzk1iuopQEtRvU2eUsYtEDNr8Z9Kfo4/s400/9309587308_97ed2457eb_b+(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Team Swiss Miss at the finish line (missing Monica Scholz)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thank you from the bottom of my heart to my amazing crew. I could not have done it without you! John, Jeff, Adam and Monica you are the best!</span><br />
<br />Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-40351185996034063242013-07-25T10:03:00.000-04:002013-07-25T10:03:07.219-04:00Peronin High Tech Food<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last year while I was training for the Irontrail 201K <a href="http://www.irontrail.ch/news-irontrails-1.phtml" target="_blank">http://www.irontrail.ch/news-irontrails-1.phtml</a> I did some online research of what kind of sports nutrition food is available in Switzerland since I didn't want to have to take everything with me from Toronto. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">While browsing online I discovered the website of a product called Peronin <a href="http://www.peronin.net/en/peronin-high-tech-food/" target="_blank">http://www.peronin.net/en/peronin-high-tech-food/</a></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It sounded very interesting and I contacted the company asking if I could get some samples to try before my race. They were very helpful and offered to mail samples to my sister in Switzerland since they don't ship to Canada.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I arrived in Switzerland a few days before the race and had some time to test the product on shorter runs. Peronin is an all in one food powder with </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">added vitamins and minerals that </span>you simply mix with water. Its taste is very neutral and it is very easy on the stomach which is important for high performance in long endurance events. It comes in three different flavors: orange, vanilla and chocolate. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Peronin has been used
successfully for years by extreme sportspeople on mountain and desert
marathons, Ironman, expeditions and in many other ultra sport and long distance events.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KZyElTkoNzbTLilMVe3_nBvg1f65LE0sroa-B3flX0Gy5D1-WA_Oixk4Qc9zBO30jQ2-Tnk7j395ebwjXc_oyzhqDZRvk5EJjWteCN0E9jOlgsG8fo9iBElQNU97bxVi5RqosQZUXGxs/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KZyElTkoNzbTLilMVe3_nBvg1f65LE0sroa-B3flX0Gy5D1-WA_Oixk4Qc9zBO30jQ2-Tnk7j395ebwjXc_oyzhqDZRvk5EJjWteCN0E9jOlgsG8fo9iBElQNU97bxVi5RqosQZUXGxs/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Peronin High-Tech Food</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Since last year I have been using Peronin on my long training runs and in long ultra running races, like Sulphur Springs 100 and this year's Badwater Ultramarathon. It works great for me as I prefer to stay on liquid fuel for as long as possible because it is easier to digest and it doesn't stress the stomach at all. I'm very glad I discovered Peronin and I can recommend it to all athletes.</span><br />
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Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-60899844192104468982013-07-02T23:04:00.004-04:002013-07-02T23:05:48.366-04:00Badwater Ultramarathon Charms<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got my first lucky charm for the Badwater Ultramarathon in 2009. Since then I got a lucky charm for every Badwater Ultramarathon. From left to right on the picture below: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjx5GjEeDUj9V2x-zsXz_yNJ7xNuCqyOGxqfMt4bjmTJQgxTCTIzw_c_IgSrjN72605edkHc42ppddMgnGrIT1alhoQd5Zm3FSBN1s6kY28BpOyaoTJxhTg44_t7uFWz4VqfDRpSWAIlkW/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjx5GjEeDUj9V2x-zsXz_yNJ7xNuCqyOGxqfMt4bjmTJQgxTCTIzw_c_IgSrjN72605edkHc42ppddMgnGrIT1alhoQd5Zm3FSBN1s6kY28BpOyaoTJxhTg44_t7uFWz4VqfDRpSWAIlkW/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Badwater 2009: Dragon - Symbol for Strength</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Badwater 2010: The Sword of the Amazon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Badwater 2011: The Wing (I would actually have 2 wings, if the second one did not get lost in the mail from Switzerland)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Badwater 2013: The Hand of Fatima and the "Swiss Heart".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you so much my best friend Susanne and my little sister Annette! You will be in Badwater with me all the way to the finish line. </span></div>
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Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-44790305805003060182013-07-02T15:25:00.001-04:002013-07-02T22:43:42.855-04:00Niagara 50K, Cramps and a Cold<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last 10 days have been very challenging in my Badwater training. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Niagara 50K did not go as well as I had hoped for. My plan was to run a sub 4:30. It was a hot day - the way I like it. I felt great for the first 25k and it felt like I was running effortlessly. My time at the turnaround was 2:18. Perfect, I thought, with a negative split I should be able to run the time I wanted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But unfortunately it wasn't my day. Shortly after the turnaround my legs started cramping really badly and I had to slow down a lot. I tried everything to get rid of the cramps, even walked some sections, and took one Aleeve but nothing really helped. I finished in 4:57, the slowest time in the past three years. Very disappointing! I knew I took enough Saltsticks and drank enough water, so that could not have been the problem for the cramps. After some online research I figured it was probably due to muscle fatique. I ran a lot of miles leading up to the race in preparation for Badwater. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoDE0Ad_itEVz9lEvt7_nW7vJvzb3G1TpEs8Snu6JIdHJVx7UayIOZM4tigZNoyXDc9Jjbm2H7qTtWrwvN0DsngbJ3cvGl7DvB9-2j4OXpwPQITLEWVb1-hl65jU9lcLZWeGVR1e3Co6i/s1200/Niagara+50K-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoDE0Ad_itEVz9lEvt7_nW7vJvzb3G1TpEs8Snu6JIdHJVx7UayIOZM4tigZNoyXDc9Jjbm2H7qTtWrwvN0DsngbJ3cvGl7DvB9-2j4OXpwPQITLEWVb1-hl65jU9lcLZWeGVR1e3Co6i/s320/Niagara+50K-2013.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Feeling great on the first half...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It took a few days till the soreness in my calves was finally gone and I was back on track with my training. But just when I thought everything is going great - BOOM another setback - I got a nasty cold last Thursday which knocked me out completely for a couple days. It looks like my body has its very own way to tell me it's time to taper. Only 12 days left till Badwater. I'm doing everything I can to get better and most important - stay positive!</span><br />
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Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-25697653377399815312013-06-14T12:52:00.001-04:002013-07-02T15:34:57.420-04:00Sulphur Springs 100 Mile Race Report<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've done the Sulphur Springs 100 mile for the past 5 years and this year was the first time that I was a bit nervous before the race. Since the cancellation of Irontrail 201 last July I haven't done any races and this was the first race in a year - a true test how well the tear in my meniscus has healed since December and a status quo about the level of shape I'm in for this year's Badwater Ultramarathon race in July.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The temperatures for race weekend were much cooler than I prefer. Like every year we camped the night before at the start/finish line. Wow, it was a very chilly night and I got so cold that I woke up at 1:30am and could not get back to sleep. I was freezing and my feet were completely numb when I put on my Hoka running shoes in the morning. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLfUGZ30gapBEwMQJgHj5kTa08KIfCwiV2F7YZ1UxFly485rilwKwOAJ0D8f9wzqUNEdpBCmMnSnnbdV7dwPNBtt2HeO2jTyqMZUuuR6qR_gdX-61tSHo20bdtcQxTb6ORne5xYBdsQjb/s1600/Scott+Starting+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLfUGZ30gapBEwMQJgHj5kTa08KIfCwiV2F7YZ1UxFly485rilwKwOAJ0D8f9wzqUNEdpBCmMnSnnbdV7dwPNBtt2HeO2jTyqMZUuuR6qR_gdX-61tSHo20bdtcQxTb6ORne5xYBdsQjb/s320/Scott+Starting+line.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Race start at 6:00pm</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On the first two loops I was just trying to warm up. My feet were still feeling numb. I even sat down twice to take off my left shoe and sock because it felt like I had some small stones in my shoe. Wearing my colourful Dirty Girl gaiters I knew it was almost impossible but I didn't want to take any chances this early in the race.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbUkR6pYUw0G6a1uPSkCvdzgPNqr_OZyRPAlXgi5fBD9qzauhXyL3v0sC0BAhFV7nR6WDpYMyEyRZDCWe4FKtlteEd_dDXVojbBBoSLLGoF_Fh5h3fs0s_viGqHB7iHBJA664C_VeyY-P/s1600/Iris-Start+finish1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbUkR6pYUw0G6a1uPSkCvdzgPNqr_OZyRPAlXgi5fBD9qzauhXyL3v0sC0BAhFV7nR6WDpYMyEyRZDCWe4FKtlteEd_dDXVojbBBoSLLGoF_Fh5h3fs0s_viGqHB7iHBJA664C_VeyY-P/s320/Iris-Start+finish1.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Running through the Start/Finish area</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After the second loop I started to get cramps in both my calves. Wow, this was way too early to get any kind of problems! I tried to figure out what could have caused the cramping when I caught up to my friend Monica. She suggested that I probably didn't take enough salt pills. Since I didn't sweat I've only taken a couple salt pills since the start. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After taking a little more salt and getting a couple calf massages by my husband Jeff using his secret "poison" at the end of loop 3 and 4 my legs felt finally ok. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbHdFsK1PRAxS8hOl514hEsaFM2ahxIv49UedQR6FIEJuZ599KOUFqXEvfPYVXCcJcpemHdpJgkAz5wwu3dxVweAXvjCCNQjeYrDUNp5681itJgbchncg7wZLTiTcnYB6D658jHuHRXGC/s1600/Horse+ligament.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbHdFsK1PRAxS8hOl514hEsaFM2ahxIv49UedQR6FIEJuZ599KOUFqXEvfPYVXCcJcpemHdpJgkAz5wwu3dxVweAXvjCCNQjeYrDUNp5681itJgbchncg7wZLTiTcnYB6D658jHuHRXGC/s320/Horse+ligament.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Worked wonders for my leg cramps</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2plQPiEVTa0piaJzO8WOl6GS6iLdu-HtgFMJlOmVEIkk_470uThS49rnklwdfOLVt1yp5tgs6nyHNfmnrAwPkhBEvPLXDaGTfvPNZABHJ5Cb9q0XA0JGI9LCVCLOm1FekhbmnFUT2Apb/s1600/17640-126-19077022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2plQPiEVTa0piaJzO8WOl6GS6iLdu-HtgFMJlOmVEIkk_470uThS49rnklwdfOLVt1yp5tgs6nyHNfmnrAwPkhBEvPLXDaGTfvPNZABHJ5Cb9q0XA0JGI9LCVCLOm1FekhbmnFUT2Apb/s320/17640-126-19077022.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Flying downhill in my Hokas</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Usually I'm using liquid fuel (Peronin <a href="http://www.peronin.net/seen/peronin-high-tech-food/" target="_blank">http://www.peronin.net/seen/peronin-high-tech-food/</a> and Perpetuem <a href="http://www.hammernutrition.com/products/perpetuem.pp.html" target="_blank">http://www.hammernutrition.com/products/perpetuem.pp.html</a>) as long as possible in long races because it is easier on my stomach. But since the temperatures were much cooler this year I found it very difficult to get enough calories in from liquids only and I started using solid food after my second loop. I'm not a fan of Mac & Cheese but as "ultra food" it worked great for me. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74hWuSfGCvqvTdm9YUBMabBMwZhkHkce0b7cNikyD1II89lUZHBLSwWFCAoEoqr_4JqUo6_qKBEGlm2JackHjdaPPOViIdoufezH71-2NMt_AOG_WubeC3BF2J2VOEmjCXV8MeyL3ivFi/s1600/MacCheese.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74hWuSfGCvqvTdm9YUBMabBMwZhkHkce0b7cNikyD1II89lUZHBLSwWFCAoEoqr_4JqUo6_qKBEGlm2JackHjdaPPOViIdoufezH71-2NMt_AOG_WubeC3BF2J2VOEmjCXV8MeyL3ivFi/s320/MacCheese.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Chef Boyartdee's ultrarunner food</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80l1w6tkMf3-vj8iRD5V9MnOJHtmqX7d7cN8qKOne6QpO1i0ZG8iq6oV_MAGH1pjuGYcg0K8KuXwLsIQuJzEpBMZu0n1wgLU1sEjado_n27qmGTDpJyRqME1PpM6Vjo67mVy4kc2KLo-R/s1600/17640-767-19067518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80l1w6tkMf3-vj8iRD5V9MnOJHtmqX7d7cN8qKOne6QpO1i0ZG8iq6oV_MAGH1pjuGYcg0K8KuXwLsIQuJzEpBMZu0n1wgLU1sEjado_n27qmGTDpJyRqME1PpM6Vjo67mVy4kc2KLo-R/s320/17640-767-19067518.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Wish it would be a lot warmer</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Before heading out for the 5. loop I changed into some warmer clothes. All in all I felt pretty good and I tried to keep an even pace. The good thing about running on home turf is that I know the course inside and out and didn't have to worry about getting lost. I can just enjoy the run and relax. On the 6th loop it got dark. It was beautiful when the moon came out. I love running in the dark. It's very peaceful. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxOcchL7ARo5VZTu4u2JMWFR99uuIbplCezFQU2PBO5zyM1iA5uwscFFkqqgPbUCZOqCTmlZbA5-d8k57Z-WSqZ62eLguO8ifvJKTLNBuIj44E04dh-rFc0tjxk8-aR3yWXtYMviPIJmi/s1600/17640-568-19068893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxOcchL7ARo5VZTu4u2JMWFR99uuIbplCezFQU2PBO5zyM1iA5uwscFFkqqgPbUCZOqCTmlZbA5-d8k57Z-WSqZ62eLguO8ifvJKTLNBuIj44E04dh-rFc0tjxk8-aR3yWXtYMviPIJmi/s320/17640-568-19068893.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thinking of Badwater heat!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The 7. loop I always find the least enjoyable one and I was very happy my friend and amazing Badwater crew member Adam came out to pace me for one loop. We had a great time out there on the trails and Adam somehow always can make me run a little bit faster. We were just flying down on the downhill section in the lollipop loop when we suddenly stepped on a branch in the middle of the trail. The branch somehow got stuck between our legs and bam - I went down like someone tripped me with a hockey stick. Luckily I didn't hurt myself. Adam helped me to get up but it took me a while to get back into the running rhythm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On the 8. loop the adrenaline kicked in and I even could pick up the pace a bit more. I didn't want to waste any time at the aid stations and went in and out as quick as possible. Walking up the last steep uphill on Martins Road I felt pretty good. I crossed the finish line very happy in a time of 20:35, more than one hour faster than last year, 4. woman and 15. overall. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Since this race was a training run for Badwater, my plan was to run each of the 8 loops in less than 3 hours. It worked out great. My splits were pretty even: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Loop 1 - 2:15</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Loop 2 - 2:28</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Loop 3 - 2:32</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Loop 4 - 2:32</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Loop 5 - 2:42</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Loop 6 - 2:47</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Loop 7 - 2:40</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Loop 8 - 2:36</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9I8G19xzNJWP9GcQiI50pl7GkP3wqbFSMwMUH2I7ETJbMD66mZ7aVzXKnQ2Wa5_pMx6ucI7b0V-XBB4KoOozDTFEuEo8wPGeOpBUzsQTFTTlrPd1MPyJP2mydCBh_SsR931Xo8z4cM97/s1600/Buckles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9I8G19xzNJWP9GcQiI50pl7GkP3wqbFSMwMUH2I7ETJbMD66mZ7aVzXKnQ2Wa5_pMx6ucI7b0V-XBB4KoOozDTFEuEo8wPGeOpBUzsQTFTTlrPd1MPyJP2mydCBh_SsR931Xo8z4cM97/s320/Buckles.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mission accomplished! Sulphur buckle #6 in the books</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I want to thank my husband Jeff for crewing for me during the whole race. Thanks so much Adam for driving all the way from Thornhill to pace me for a loop. Thanks to all my friends and fans who cheered me on every time I came into the start/finish area. I heard from some of them that I would have won for cutest outfit :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And a big thanks to my sponsors Hoka One One <a href="http://hokaoneone-na.com/" target="_blank">http://hokaoneone-na.com/</a> and Drymax socks <a href="http://www.drymaxsports.com/" target="_blank">http://www.drymaxsports.com/</a>. Knowing that I won't have any problems with my feet gives me huge confidence going into every race and on all my runs.</span><br />
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Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-82306353619484801032013-05-21T16:50:00.003-04:002013-06-14T13:18:19.901-04:00Pick your Poison 50K<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was my first race since last year's cancellation of the Swiss Iron Trail <a href="http://www.irontrail.ch/news-irontrails-1.phtml" target="_blank">http://www.irontrail.ch/news-irontrails-1.phtml</a> and months of suffering from all kinds of injuries and pains. Most of the winter I was running on the treadmill to avoid doing any more damage to my bad knees (tear in my left meniscus) and calves, and to keep off the freezing Canadian temperatures. So running up and down some steep ski sloops was challenging, especially on the uphills.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CxxC_GUTq4EHytbo5wuNnx4hLiAiON2DnMXUgnT87Yb00TDtddJI6XU_-yxMEGBOtDJCUoJZlNG7zpwDMCzJHTQf4_XzpBfQQFcd_GfsXLFHCXd7eTyyf3d2Hd0OfJ5suwUGZ1gJFIE1/s1600/Start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CxxC_GUTq4EHytbo5wuNnx4hLiAiON2DnMXUgnT87Yb00TDtddJI6XU_-yxMEGBOtDJCUoJZlNG7zpwDMCzJHTQf4_XzpBfQQFcd_GfsXLFHCXd7eTyyf3d2Hd0OfJ5suwUGZ1gJFIE1/s320/Start.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">At the start of the race</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The race was a 4 loop course with still snow in some sections. My plan was just to finish and not to worry about time. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHjlc8tPud_uaBCAkdsCYrKW_4wcZNmTClp79ySGh5VkVrugXjVfiMSEQ6zGOf1eoIIeDJ0Dr3BjAwWAG0WJNXAPtJXvnE7g2sORa_Pr5XZ8P5fcxC-O9BwenjsbIgn1e4NDKN1-mThnf/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHjlc8tPud_uaBCAkdsCYrKW_4wcZNmTClp79ySGh5VkVrugXjVfiMSEQ6zGOf1eoIIeDJ0Dr3BjAwWAG0WJNXAPtJXvnE7g2sORa_Pr5XZ8P5fcxC-O9BwenjsbIgn1e4NDKN1-mThnf/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>My custom "winterized" Hoka Mafate were perfect for the course</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first 2 loops were slow but otherwise I didn't have any problems. That changed suddenly at the beginning of the 3rd loop when I started to get cramps in both legs and had to slow down even more.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Dt-ETDWizxdyZDVigqlU-c2W_tGluZIvXlV6jreSTDGpjSJjPU82TB9g_PiVr3tqD419O-cBiP3HmsPc2SEvHHfAX4l6csIMbhZMzWOESOlEQMfDbs5RnKAM_Z3Tpd-B4jtxqjEuduFV/s1600/Iris+uphill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Dt-ETDWizxdyZDVigqlU-c2W_tGluZIvXlV6jreSTDGpjSJjPU82TB9g_PiVr3tqD419O-cBiP3HmsPc2SEvHHfAX4l6csIMbhZMzWOESOlEQMfDbs5RnKAM_Z3Tpd-B4jtxqjEuduFV/s320/Iris+uphill.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Walking the uphill - still smiling</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When I came back to the start/finish line I wasn't really looking forward to go out for another loop. I couldn't really figure out what the cause of my cramps was - salt, dehydration or just simple tired muscles. It is very rare that I get cramps. The last time it happened was at the Dirty Girls 6 Hour race back in 2011.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since I still could move, even though slow, DNF was not an option. "Suck it up princess" and off I went for the last loop. During the entire race I was looking forward to have a glass of red wine with my good friend Gord England to celebrate my birthday. That really kept me going :) </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWu7fazZT00CUpY0y3oZY8buEfgEdk3GLNtPsL50ciqYkwv7Qq2JclgajcSW1uQJ7isNz4xVDZOsLBled3hiFgO6Z33dOOybISP6iQQz4F3-gMiSCajKGoXDACNdhq6tDej9KJzreuF3y/s1600/Iris+finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWu7fazZT00CUpY0y3oZY8buEfgEdk3GLNtPsL50ciqYkwv7Qq2JclgajcSW1uQJ7isNz4xVDZOsLBled3hiFgO6Z33dOOybISP6iQQz4F3-gMiSCajKGoXDACNdhq6tDej9KJzreuF3y/s320/Iris+finish.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>So glad I'm done!</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When I got to the finish line, Gord was waiting for me with a glass of Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon. How awesome is that! Thank you so much Gord! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My finishing time was 6:48:23, which was quite slow. However it was a good training run for my main race this year - the Badwater Ultramarathon. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was great seeing all my OUS <a href="http://www.ouser.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ouser.org/</a> running friends. The post race celebration was a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to the next race - the Sulphur 100 <a href="http://www.burlingtonrunners.com/index.cfm?pagepath=Club_Races/Sulphur_Springs&id=5711" target="_blank">http://www.burlingtonrunners.com/index.cfm?pagepath=Club_Races/Sulphur_Springs&id=571</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-38392575359039168042013-04-12T13:00:00.002-04:002013-04-12T13:00:35.513-04:00Badwater 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Team Swiss Miss before the 8:00am start</i></div>
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Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-16051331956265838812013-04-11T17:31:00.001-04:002013-04-11T17:31:09.463-04:00Badwater 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Team Swiss Miss on the way to Badwater</i></div>
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Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-27346649646011983722013-04-05T16:36:00.001-04:002013-04-11T18:48:49.517-04:00Race Review 2012<span style="font-size: small;">After having such a great running year in 2011, last year was the worst year in my running career so far with a big disappointment and lots of injuries.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">My main race for 2012 was the Irontrail 201K in Switzerland <a href="http://www.irontrail.ch/index.php?t201-english" target="_blank">http://www.irontrail.ch/index.php?t201-english</a>. My training went well all winter but got to an abrupt end on Good Friday during a trail run at Sulphur, when I suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of my right knee. The MRI result showed a tear in the ligament and I couldn't run at all for <span style="font-family: verdana;">more </span>than three weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>May 12: Seaton Trail 50 Mile</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b>Nevertheless I decided to run the Seaton Trail 50 Mile and just run it as a training run for Irontrail. Well, it was my worst race so far time-wise <span style="font-size: small;">(12:45) </span>and I finished DFL (last!). I usually make up all my time on the downhills but with my injured knee I was not able to run very fast. In addition, I got lost on my way back from the second turnaround because the volunteers had already removed the course markers. Luckily I made it back before it got dark. Looking back now, it was still a lot of fun and I especially enjoyed the "Running Free" aid station at the turnaround. Great job guys!</span><br />
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<i>Testing my hydration pack and poles for Irontrail</i></div>
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<i>What I'm not done yet?</i></div>
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<b>May 26: Sulphur Springs 100 Mile</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">G</span>oing into Sulphur my knee felt a lot better but I was nursing another injury (strain in my left quad) and my training wasn't where I wanted it to be for this race. I knew a sub 20 was not possible and I decided just to go out and run an easy steady pace and hopefully <span style="font-size: small;">not </span>slowing down too much at the end.<br />
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<i>Flying downhill in my Hokas!</i><br />
<i><i>(Photo credit: Ryder Photography <a href="http://ryderphoto.ca/" target="_blank">http://ryderphoto.ca/</a> )</i> </i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It definitely was a lot <span style="font-size: small;">harder than my race there <span style="font-size: small;">the previous year were I felt strong from the <span style="font-size: small;">very beginning till the end. After a few <span style="font-size: small;">hours the pain in my quad started to get worse and I took one Aleve. Usually I'm not taking any pain <span style="font-size: small;">killers but <span style="font-size: small;">my thought <span style="font-size: small;">was </span>if I <span style="font-size: small;">don't finish this 100 miler there is now way I will be able to run the Irontrail<span style="font-size: small;"> 201K in Switzerland at the beginning of July<span style="font-size: small;">.<span style="font-size: small;"> That rac<span style="font-size: small;">e was my main goal and<span style="font-size: small;"> I know I had to do <span style="font-size: small;">all the training I can in order to have a chance of finishing such a long race in the <span style="font-size: small;">high <span style="font-size: small;">altitudes</span> of the Swiss Alpes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<i>Taking a walking break</i><br />
<i>(Photo credit: Ryder Photography <a href="http://ryderphoto.ca/" target="_blank">http://ryderphoto.ca/</a> )</i><br />
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During the whole race I tried to keep an even pace and not to slow down too much, and at the same time not to do anything stupid to make my injury worse. That plan worked out quite well even though I felt a bit<i> </i>tired throughout the whole race and needed to take a few more Aleeve to keep the pain under control. </div>
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In the last two loops I was very happy to have a pacer. Adam came from Toronto to pace and was a bit late to catch up with me at the start/finish line, so Ken offered to pace me and I accepted thankfully. As soon as we got into the Gatehouse aid station we saw Adam in his car. Adam took over the pacing duties and Ken drove the car back to the start/finish area.</div>
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It's great to have company during the night and the last two loops went by a lot faster with Adam's help. He really pushed me hard especially on the last loop. He wanted me to finish in sub 22 hours which I did (21:49). Thanks so much Adam and Ken. I could not have done it without you.</div>
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<b>June 23: Niagara Ultra 50 K</b></div>
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This was the last race before our departure to Switzerland. It was a beautiful day, sunny and very hot. The course is an out and back and the turnaround is right at the famous Niagara Falls. I love the view to the falls but running and avoiding to bump into hundreds and hundreds of tourists made it tough to race and I could not wait to run back.</div>
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I knew my training was not up for another PB like in the previous year (4:24) and my goal was to finish in under 5 hours. I finished in 4:45 and celebrated with some free beer at the finish line.</div>
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<b>July 6: Irontrail 201K</b><br />
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This should have been my main race for 2012! I always wanted to do an ultra race in the Swiss Alps and combine it with a visit to my family. When I found out about this new race, called Irontrail 201, I was very excited. They offered 3 different distances: 81 K, 141K, and 201 K. The cut off time for the 201 K was 56 hours and I knew it was doable. In my training runs I was wearing a fully packed backpack with the mandatory gear and I was also running with poles to get used to them.<br />
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Living in Switzerland for most of my life I know about the importance of acclimatisation to the altitude for a race that took place at an average height of 2100 m above sea level. On the race website they recommend to arrive at least 4 - 7 days before the race. Ideally would be 8 - 14 days before.<br />
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We arrived in Pontresina 5 days before the race. We spend the days with hiking and shorter runs on the trails to get familiar with the first sections of the race course. The weather hasn't been great in Switzerland in weeks and they had lots of rain. Also the temperatures were lower then usually for this time of the year. <br />
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On Thursday we went to the race kit pick up and we found out that the race course had to be changed due to lots of rain which made the glacier crossing section too dangerous to run. So instead of 201 K the race was now only shortened to 154 K. Bummer!<br />
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The next morning we were all very excited for the race to start at 8:00am when we found out from the RD that due to bad weather the race start will get delayed and that we will get updates by text messages. Luckily we had a late check out booked at our hotel which was right at the starting line and so we went back to our room, waited and tried to relax.<br />
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Finally we got the message that the race will start at 4:00pm. So off we went to the starting line again. Everybody was very excited when the gun finally went off. The sun even came out and it looked like a great day. After a few hours into the race on the first major uphill climb the clouds came back. It was very windy and it was raining at the top of the mountain where the first aid station was. On the downhill trail to St. Moritz (aid station 2) the rain stopped. I took a longer break there, ate and changed clothes for the next long uphill climb to Piz Nair. The weather was still bad, actually it got worse with snow and fog. Nevertheless I felt great! I was wearing a waterproof jacket, felt warm and was listening to "Move like Jagger" while climbing up the slippery trails. When I got to Corviglia, which is about half way up to the top, a race official came to me and informed me that the race got interrupted due to bad weather and no runner was allowed to continue until further notice. Bummer! I was guided inside a building where a lot of runners were already waiting. After about 40 minutes a race official told us the race course got changed again and instead of climbing up to Piz Nair we supposed to take another trail over a different route. Nobody really knew where to go. We just followed each other. I was happy to hook up with some runners from Germany. After a few more hours we saw some lights which turned out to be another race official who told us the race was officially canceled due to very bad weather conditions. Huge bummer! After that information nobody felt like running anymore. We walked for hours till we got to Bever from where a bus took us back to St. Moritz.<br />
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This was the first time I could not finish a race and I was very disappointed like many other runners who came from all over the world for this race. It took me a while to get over it. In the meantime I understand that the safety of all the runners and volunteers was more important than to finish the race. And I also know that I will go back and run the Irontrail another year. <br />
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<i>Beautiful Engadin, one of my favourite places in Switzerland</i></div>
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<i>where I used to live for 8 years</i></div>
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<i>Real "Swiss" mountain washroom</i></div>
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<i>Restaurant Segantini Huette </i></div>
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<i>With Jerry at the starting line</i></div>
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<i>Starting line - and off they go</i><br />
<i>(Photo credit: Jens Vieler <a href="http://www.jensgehtlaufen.de/" target="_blank">http://www.jensgehtlaufen.de/</a> )</i><br />
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<i>First very long and very steep climb</i><br />
<i>(Photo credit: Jens Vieler <a href="http://www.jensgehtlaufen.de/" target="_blank">http://www.jensgehtlaufen.de/</a> )</i><i><i><a href="http://www.jensgehtlaufen.de/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"></span></a></i> </i><br />
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<i>First aid station at Fuorcla Surlej</i><br />
<i><i>(Photo credit: Jens Vieler <a href="http://www.jensgehtlaufen.de/" target="_blank">http://www.jensgehtlaufen.de/</a> )</i> </i></div>
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<i>First long downhill on the way to St. Moritz</i><br />
<i><i>(Photo credit: Jens Vieler <a href="http://www.jensgehtlaufen.de/" target="_blank">http://www.jensgehtlaufen.de/</a> )</i> </i></div>
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<i>Yes, the runners are still on the trail</i><br />
<i><i>(Photo credit: Jens Vieler <a href="http://www.jensgehtlaufen.de/" target="_blank">http://www.jensgehtlaufen.de/</a> )</i> </i><br />
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<i>Irontrail 201 K Profile</i><br />
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A short video about last years race - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvhQ9HjFM8k" target="_blank">Irontrail 2012</a><i> </i></div>
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Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-60756725220296833052013-02-07T16:59:00.003-05:002013-02-20T10:13:33.876-05:00Race Review 2011 - Part 2<div>
<b style="font-family: verdana;">August 6: Dirty Girls 6 Hour Trail Run</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">And then there was Dirty Girls again! My friend Diane, the race director always adds a very special touch to the race, starting with the race kit, the finisher medal, and the arm sleeves or race t-shirts with the ambiguous imprint (for the male runners only) "I did the Dirty Girls".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">In the previous four years I did the 12 hour race but this time I decided to run the 6 hour race as a "tapering" run for the Beast of Burden 100. The course is a 5 mile/8k loop, with time measurement at the 2.5k, 5k and 7.5k marks. The weather was perfect - hot the way I like it! I felt great until the last loop when suddenly my legs started to cramp. Even though, I felt still strong I had to slow down and I could hardly lift up my feet. To make matters worse I hit a root and took a hard fall down the side of the trail. My whole body cramped up and I was screaming when a lady from Houston who was in third place passed me. She looked at me and just kept going without even asking if I was ok. Usually trail runners are very friendly people and we help each other. So I could not believe she didn't say anything which made me really angry. I pulled myself up on a little tree, stretched out my legs a bit and started to run the downhill section to the 7.5k time station. No way this woman was going to beat me. All I have to do was catch her before the time station and I ran downhill as fast as I could. I passed her with a few meters to spare and finished 7 seconds ahead of her. Yes! I have to say even though I had to walk back to the start/finish line because my legs started to cramp again, it felt pretty damn good! Sometimes even a lady can be very tough! </span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697623936184315602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_LyQyMftHKxXfzrb-Lv0RdFEPr6Ii6e6paASQnmAyIJ-pwm5AfACjr1rr8crxLXjM5NQdn-wamQnzQBlHxkriYP5ebqCUCvzlu-P0Xj4KKymYIPZABeEsjhaqO3kKusPIEI3axvRO9ce/s320/Iris+HiRes.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></div>
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<b style="font-family: verdana;">August 20: Summer Beast of Burden 100</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Two weeks later I was ready for the Beast of Burden 100 - another hot weather race! Friday evening before the race we got together after dinner with Kino whom I met at the Jerseyville 100. He introduced us to his friends Marco, Brian, Jacky O and Jacky C. It was very nice to make some new friends and to talk race strategies.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">The next morning, before the start it was great to see two of my Badwater friends (Tony Portera and Lisa Smith Batchen) again and to get a chance to catch up.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">The Beast is a flat 25 mile out and back loop course, and there is no shade at all. The race started at 10:00 because according to the website, the race director likes to sleep in. It was a hot and very humid day and the humidity was definitely a challenge. I have to say I prefer the dry "Badwater heat". Nevertheless I felt pretty good for most of the race and thanks to my lovely husband who was crewing and pacing I was lucky to finish before the thunderstorm and the rain started, and finished in 18:03 my 3rd fastest 100 mile time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>At the beginning of the race with Charlotte Vasarhelyi</i></span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697621930705415506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierr_tPpNlBC4VjLku7UbOn3FDqKGtBC8fpZOcg1UMjb8gPzGkYQMpZmjIiLi5nkabMPligg9HKtZCAL-jB5zmDX_YqjmR_WG6J0PaI74n9byrSvelAZQLL5TB26uOR7Z1N3HKtFeClxR1/s320/Brian+Iris.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><i>Winners with a big smile. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><i>Congrats Brian Hsia! First place in your first 100!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Note: Ultrarunners are some of the most amazing and nicest people out there. I would like to share a very special note I got after the race. Thanks so much Brian. It means a lot to me.</span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">"Thank you Iris. Truly you are the Swiss Miss and what your skirt said was true. I was fearful of the Swiss Miss (even ask the aid station people). I was in and out fearing you would come at me. Thank you for the competition, you brought that out of me as I was trying to have fun with the race and experience what being an ultra marathoner was just about. I hold you all up in high regards: Valmir, David and yourself, you guys are running legends and gods (mere mortals) of this sport and you exemplify what running is (body, mind and soul)...the best thing about it was all of your personalities. Thank you for allowing me to have a memorable experience that will live with me forever and I look forward in seeing you at other races again..."</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>September 10: Haliburton Forrest 100 Mile</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">This was my 5th time at the Haliburton 100, my favourite race in the Ontario Ultra Series, and I was hoping to run sub 24 hour again. The year before I just made it in 23:52. This time I wanted to run a little faster than that. Having such an amazing running year, I was confident I could do it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was a beautiful day and I felt g<span style="font-size: small;">rea<span style="font-size: small;">t <span style="font-size: small;">from the beginning.<span style="font-size: small;"> The trails were pretty muddy d<span style="font-size: small;">ue to the rain in the weeks before the race<span style="font-size: small;"> but that didn't <span style="font-size: small;">take away any of the fun. <span style="font-size: small;">At around 90<span style="font-size: small;">K I<span style="font-size: small;"> caught up to my friend Kinga and we ended up running <span style="font-size: small;">together all the way to the finish line<span style="font-size: small;"> and finished <span style="font-size: small;">in a time of 22:45<span style="font-size: small;"> (1. women, 7. overall). Tha<span style="font-size: small;">nks so much Kinga! I had a blast out there with you<span style="font-size: small;">!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Finishing together with my friend Kinga Miklos - girls rock!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>October 1: Run for the Toad 50K</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">George and Peggy do a fantastic job year after year organizing the Run for
the Toad. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For anyone who is looking to do their first ultra this is the race. The course is not technical and the atmosphere is a lot of fun. Before the race start I got the chance to meet one of the top female ultrarunners - Ellie Greenwood. What a an amazing woman!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was hoping to finish in under 5 hours but missed it by 8 minutes and finished second in my age group. All in all I had a great time out there. At the award ceremony I also got presented with ACU award for my new 100 Mile age group record I set at Jerseyville 100 (17:33). Thank you Nadeem and Armand! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>October 15: Vulture Bait 50K</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">This is the last race in the Ontario Ultra series and also my last race for the year. My plan was to finish in under 5 hours but this time I missed it by 9 minutes :) Nevertheless I had a great time out there! </span><span class="st" style="font-size: small;">Now it's time to take it easy for the rest of the year and give my body the well deserved rest. See you next year!</span><br />
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Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-57160022437694408322012-01-14T17:27:00.062-05:002013-02-20T10:02:06.215-05:002011 Race Reviews - Part 1<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last year I had my best running year so far: 4 wins in 100 mile races, 3rd and a PB at the Badwater Ultramarathon, and PBs in the 50K and 6 Hour. Each race was very different and a wonderful and unique experience on its own. I have learnt so much which will help me mastering any obstacle that may lie ahead of me and I'm looking forward to the next adventures!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b style="text-align: left;">April 23: Jerseyville Fat Ass 100 Mile</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">After a long and hard winter of training and putting in a lot of miles I was ready for the first race of the season - The Jerseyville Fat Ass 100 Mile, a race </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">organized by my good friend Monica Scholz (yes the famous Monica, world record holder for the most 100 mile races in one year and also one of my running heroes). I went into the race with the goal to break my own Canadian 100 mile age group record of 17:52, and hoped to run under 17:30. The key to succeed was to run a steady pace on the flat 5k out and ba</span>ck course. I felt great for most part of the race, though a did have some low points were I had to walk. I won the race overall and finished in a time of <b>17:33</b>, a new Canadian 100 Mile age group record. Thanks so much to Monica for organizing the race and <span style="font-weight: normal;">to Sharon Zelinski for measuring it out for the ACU (Association of Canadian Ultrarunners).</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>On my way to break my own 100 mile record</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>April 30: Pick your Poison 50K</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After a few days of recovering from my 100 miler I was at the starting line of the Pick your Poison 50k. It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed being out there with all my running friends and with no pressure to run a fast time. It took me 6:51 and it was a lot of fun - every minute of it. After the race we sat in the sun and celebrated with a beer. Thanks Jim Morrison!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>May 28: Sulphur Springs 100 Mile</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This was my 4th time at the Sulphur </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sp</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">rings 100. I really like the 8 loop course and it's close to home. We had a lot of rain in the weeks before the race and the trails on race day were very muddy and slippery. Nevertheless, I was looking forward to the race and also to see my friend Keith Straw (the Tutu Man) again. It was a lot of fun and I had an amazing time out there. </span>The only low I had was during the end of my 7th loop when Ken Niemimaa lapped me on his last loop and I realized that I still had another one to go. However, as soon as I was on my last loop the low was gone and I felt strong till the end, and finished in a time of <b>20:44</b>, my fastest time here so far (4th overall, 1st women). And it was the first time I didn't have a pacer during the night. Yes, I'm not a "chicken" anymore!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697627061220269458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2E7haddabtQ1DR2bE2AQS8F5j7qrOsdl-d0XqHEEpocN0l9pFzE2ugu5SEFkFSOKVErWqc4YvOu4yZtDmO-ad4zEHBAXYltX3UH56vwJhVtyd7GQjLjZ-8a6MhZRSf0sjm1HgAXmcDnI/s320/Iris+4.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 214px;" /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Walking the uphills</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">June 11: </span>Sri Chinmoy Self Transcendence 6 Hour</b><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">The last 3 years I ran this race in preparation for the Badwater Ultramarathon. The course is a 840 metre paved loop along Lake Ontario and around the walls of Fort Frederick in Kingston which makes it </span>the perfect race to test different types of fluid and nutrition. It is usually hot and humid with no shade which is another bonus if you are training for a race in the heat. This was my 6th time here with the most kilometers in 6 hours so far: <b>62.554</b> (5th overall, 2nd women).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b style="text-align: left;">June 18: Niagara 50K Road Race</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is my favourite 50k road race not just because of the free beer at the finish line. The scenic course follows the Niagara River Parkway from Niagara-on-the-Lake past Fort George and on to Niagara Falls and back. At the turn around you get a full-size view of the stunning Niagara Falls. I've seen the Falls many times before but every time it's still breathtaking.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the beginning I felt a bit tired and had to walk the uphills but I kept myself going knowing all those uphills will be downhills on the way back. Yeah! With about 5K to go I realized I had a good chance to break my previous 50K PB of 4:25:49 set back in 2003 and the andrenaline kicked it. I pushed myself as hard as I could and finished the race in <b>4:24:25</b>. WHOOOAAA!! More than one minute faster than 8 years ago (5th women, 17. overall out of 162 runners). This was by far my best time at the Niagara 50K, and the beer at the finish tasted better than ever! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>July 11: Badwater Ultramarathon</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This was my absolute best Badwater Ultramarathon so far: 29:52, 10th overall, 3rd women. Team Swiss Miss rocked! Thanks so much to the best Badwater crew on the planet: John, Jeff, Adam and Bernie I could not have done it without you!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://swissmiss-iris.blogspot.ca/2013/02/race-review-2011-part-2.html">2011 Race Reviews - Part 2</a></span></span></div>
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Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-36843911792325201462011-11-06T23:31:00.011-05:002012-01-14T18:44:16.169-05:00Badwater Ultramarathon 2011 - Memories IV<div><span><br /></span></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyCV_1G6fkCMS-GE1Fs4s_8WieOHOLGXSmg_h1rNKYkZgSA0Q0AIskmF2BrZCJoE2RzuIOcGAO8QaJ1rtPnOA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span >8:00 am Start - Part 2</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Video by: John Rennison</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div>Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-62444783924526669302011-10-27T17:36:00.003-04:002011-10-28T09:48:56.765-04:00Badwater Ultramarathon 2011 - Memories III<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwMKQOlU9ZiDBGX2rz_jNDgqV9F9QxIMApESEaXFDKLrpK4_2hsd4se-FqRUKQwJo2ALoVJ6SjZB2qOjjdDmw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >8:00 am Start - Part 1</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Video by John Rennison</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-79662126398257382272011-09-19T23:53:00.003-04:002011-09-19T23:56:16.354-04:00Badwater Ultramarathon 2011<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; ">Team Swiss Miss on Swiss TV. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the best Badwater crew on the planet. John, Adam, Bernie and Jeff I could not have done it without you.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; "><a href="http://www.videoportal.sf.tv/video?id=fd133557-77ec-4fcf-9dd0-84ff1bea51d8">http://www.videoportal.sf.tv/video?id=fd133557-77ec-4fcf-9dd0-84ff1bea51d8</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-77059975933116379262011-09-15T11:21:00.006-04:002011-10-23T17:35:41.112-04:00Badwater Ultramarathon 2011 - Memories II<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKqKdW_mP7KODXNsFqkUbNaobPL9wOfofqI4-KWVPz1cnyqDMOCowBt3KgGpuCmJXYh3Ap1xUORM0iBLRdpiRwGTl7gLz-LnH6wzwU0r9kDbIC2dDuctsTk2_aRRkfl8dGSdJEN_abAQn/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKqKdW_mP7KODXNsFqkUbNaobPL9wOfofqI4-KWVPz1cnyqDMOCowBt3KgGpuCmJXYh3Ap1xUORM0iBLRdpiRwGTl7gLz-LnH6wzwU0r9kDbIC2dDuctsTk2_aRRkfl8dGSdJEN_abAQn/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652607412654204626" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span">This is one of my favourite views during the Badwater Ultramarathon - going up to Panamint Pass. Simply breathtaking!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Photo: John Rennison</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div></div>Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-79989391225092722972011-09-14T11:40:00.009-04:002011-09-15T11:49:13.782-04:00Badwater Ultramarathon 2011 - Memories<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzSsjl_nAKoSxouC4qPyn0FYecdRC_F7LAyLBUwsejeV-3SpHtXTwHhYbq0zVGCPjSsLxbYt7373Hthtu0qTg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Manfred Steiner aka "Stone" is explaining the special "cooling system" of his Lederhosen, and Mimi Anderson aka "Marvellous Mimi" at the start of her Badwater Double. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Video by my crew chief John Rennison.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div>Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-69607251511220099942011-09-05T11:58:00.006-04:002011-09-15T11:45:09.805-04:00Badwater Ultramarathon 2011 - 8:00am Start<span class="Apple-style-span" >It seems such a long time since Team Swiss Miss was at the starting line of the Badwater Ultramarathon 2011. My favorite race once again is over but the memories will last a lifetime.<br /><span><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/AdventureCORPS#p/u/4/cZzS0R1gwJg"><span>http://www.youtube.com/user/AdventureCORPS#p/u/4/cZzS0R1gwJg</span><br /></a></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><br /></span>Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-61827201130053755522011-07-18T12:35:00.004-04:002011-09-15T11:43:56.076-04:00Badwater Ultramarathon 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z4esJHpaMQI3QAqulX2j8eK-CGIa81IAk0nL18IeaM3bmkhuSFrLGztFfzp-vHwbXiYQ7deGECTj1mYPhhRyKpYBL74PtV6COwISP7Ac5_fU6HldbzksRCvmdoVC-r-YEOBINRkEZDmi/s1600/Finish-03.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630732057917723842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z4esJHpaMQI3QAqulX2j8eK-CGIa81IAk0nL18IeaM3bmkhuSFrLGztFfzp-vHwbXiYQ7deGECTj1mYPhhRyKpYBL74PtV6COwISP7Ac5_fU6HldbzksRCvmdoVC-r-YEOBINRkEZDmi/s320/Finish-03.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>Team Swiss Miss rocked at Badwater - sub 30 hours! Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart to my crew, John, Jeff, Adam and Bernie. You are the best crew on the planet! </span><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div>Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-72771272748084068792011-07-07T22:57:00.005-04:002011-07-07T23:09:41.552-04:003's a Charm<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Allt the training is done and I'm ready for another great adventure. Thank you all for the good wishes. Badwater here we come!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBme1-hMpasY_uNkzBX5FXe_43I1gse1_qsh2hjCV65BurDXM32ZoiwiRJD1e6t7W3kgTtvZeOwjsdqXkaQN_GRmv6v-5JzPFjjmGVXQPn6yVEt3zi4VEpjuFx_kVUfjQmr1354Hpb3Fl/s1600/charm.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626811203665500354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBme1-hMpasY_uNkzBX5FXe_43I1gse1_qsh2hjCV65BurDXM32ZoiwiRJD1e6t7W3kgTtvZeOwjsdqXkaQN_GRmv6v-5JzPFjjmGVXQPn6yVEt3zi4VEpjuFx_kVUfjQmr1354Hpb3Fl/s320/charm.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><em>My lucky Badwater charms. Susanne and Annette thank you so much. It is something very special</em>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span>Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-61660861459829026912011-07-03T22:08:00.010-04:002011-07-03T22:39:16.155-04:00Team Swiss Miss Badwater Songs<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">This year Team Swiss Miss will have 2 Badwater songs to cheer up my fellow Badwater Ultramarathon runners!<br /><br />The first one is already known in Death Valley from last year - Hey Baby! by DJ Otzi<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNsmiqmaEWo"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNsmiqmaEWo</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /><br />And the second one will be famous after Badwater - "Stahn uf!" by Baschi, Bligg, Ritschi, Seven and Stress<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgfeqzfQrfs"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgfeqzfQrfs</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Translation of chorus: "Get up and do exactly what you want! Don't give up! You're the only one who can help yourself!"</span> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span>Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-66089283995187954972011-07-01T17:37:00.015-04:002011-07-01T18:26:12.641-04:00Badwater Training and Races<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">It has been a while since my last Blog post. I was a very busy runner for the past few months. My training for Badwater and the races I've done so far went very well.<br /><br />My first race this year was the Jerseyville Fat Ass 100 Mile on April 23, hosted by the amazing ultrarunner Monica Scholz. Last year my time there was 17:52, which was a new Canadian age group record. Based on my training I knew I had a chance to break my own record. The course is perfect to run a fast 100 mile time - flat 5k out and back. Despite the heavy rainfall in the beginning of the race everything went well. I felt great most of the time and I finished first overall in a time of 17:33 which is a new pending Canadian age group record.<br /><br />One week later on April 30 I was at the starting line of the Pick Your Poison 50k. It's a very hilly four loop course on ski hills in Horseshoe Valley. The weather was beautiful. Spring was in the air and I had a blast, especially running the downhills in my Hoka Mafate. I finished the race in a time of 6:51 which was good for 28th place out of 52 runners. I can't wait to go back there in the winter and fly down those hills on my snowboard.<br /><br />The next race after PYP was Sulphur Springs 100 Mile on May 28. The weather leading up to the race and most of the spring was quite bad, cool and lots and lots of rain. On race day the runners had to challenge some very muddy and wet trails. The course is a 20k loop and some sections of the trails were knee deep mud. After every loop the conditions got worse but at the same time it was also a lot of fun. I had a great race, felt very strong and finished in 20:55 which was a new PB on that course even with the slight tougher course change and the very muddy conditions. I finished first female and was 4th overall out of 66 starters.<br /><br />Two weeks later on June 11, I did the Self-Trandencence 6 Hour run in Kingston, Ontario. I ran 62,554k / 38.869 miles which was good for second place female and 5th overall out of 50 runners.<br /><br />Going into the Niagara 50k race one week later on June 19 my plan was to finish it in less than 5 hours. The course is a 25k out and back, following the Niagara River Parkway from Niagara-on-the-Lake past Fort George and on to Niagara Falls and back. Last year I had very bad cramps at the end of the race and had only 29 seconds to pare to break five hours. This year I felt a bit tired on the uphills going out but on the way back I felt great and passed many of my fellow runners. I was flying in my Hoka Bondis, and with a time of 4:24:33 I finished much better than I expected and is a new PB.<br /><br />All in all I have to say I'm very pleased and happy with my race times so far and the way my training is going. I think I am ready for Badwater and can't wait to put my feet to the starting line. Less than two weeks to go!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span>Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-41078959458783657352011-04-09T19:21:00.005-04:002011-09-05T11:56:22.773-04:00Badwater Training and Race Schedule 2011<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My training for the Badwater Ultramarathon 2011 is going very well so far. Even though I much prefer running outside, the long and very cold winter in Toronto made me choose the treadmill a lot more frequently than I normally do during the winter months. Running for hours on the treadmill next to the fireplace was still way more enjoyable than running in the freezing cold on icy roads or trails. All in all I kept increasing my weekly mileage and March was my best month ever – 402 miles!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">My training schedule till Badwater looks something like this (except for race weeks):</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monday: 5 – 10 miles easy recovery run</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tuesday: morning 10 – 15 miles; evening 5 – 10 miles</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wednesday: 10 – 15 miles hill repeats, intervals or tempo run</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thursday: morning 5 – 10 miles, evening 10 – 15 miles</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Friday: off</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saturday: long run</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunday: long run</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’m also doing weights 4 – 5 times a week, and will add heat training (sauna sessions) the last two months before the race in July. In addition, I’m planning to do some races before and after the Badwater Ultramarathon.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">My tentative race schedule for 2011 is:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">April 23: Jerseyville 100</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">April 30: Pick your Poison 50k</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">May 28: Sulphur Springs 100</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">June 11: Laurel Highlands 77 miles or Kingston 6 hour</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">June 18: Niagara 50k</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 11: Badwater Ultramarathon</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Aug 6: Dirty Girls 6 hour or 12 hour</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Aug 20: Summer Beast of Burden 100</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sep 10: Haliburton Forest 100</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sep 24: Ottawa 24h</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oct 8: Oil Creek 100</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I will be a very busy runner this year and hopefully it will be another great year of running with Badwater as my highlight again!<br /><br /><br /></span></span>Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996109363017462615.post-71222330788026106102011-03-09T19:57:00.013-05:002011-04-09T19:08:25.278-04:00Ultrarunning Magazin - March 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRz_nFqRcgo2CGHL5lmwaYQr6z8b8CqOs16uC2D8gJk3Gl__9u4oEHbc8d6LNSQOC6S_qPVVqZgvzImie2WZVaBmBTh-6vbxHeKclwp_w1OFkgbKa_-EGfs34Uo646Z0OjCJkUyD9oplM/s1600/img050.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582249888146286514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRz_nFqRcgo2CGHL5lmwaYQr6z8b8CqOs16uC2D8gJk3Gl__9u4oEHbc8d6LNSQOC6S_qPVVqZgvzImie2WZVaBmBTh-6vbxHeKclwp_w1OFkgbKa_-EGfs34Uo646Z0OjCJkUyD9oplM/s320/img050.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">My PB at the Jerseville 100 in April 2010 made it to the 11th place of the "2010 TOP 100-MILE TIMES -WOMEN in the Ultrarunning Magazine. </span><a href="http://www.ultrarunning.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">http://www.ultrarunning.com/</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> I just missed the top 10 by 4 minutes but I am very happy to see my name behind some of the best American female ultrarunners.</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><b><b></span></span></b></b><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span>Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15793293012454929447noreply@blogger.com2