Well that was another beautiful long weekend, great summer we’re having this year.  A number of our group were out racing on the weekend in Alberta.  Molly Bell and Dan Andrews are two Run Club regulars who were in Grande Cache taking on the North Face Canadian Death Race and from reports on Facebook they had a great time.  A little bruised but happily no one died.  

Some of our local triathletes were in Calgary for the Viterra Calgary Ironman 70.3.  BTW 70.3 is the total distance of a Half Ironman event in miles.  A relative newcomer to triathlon is 22 year old Alyosha Boldt and it looks like he is one to keep an eye out for.  Yoshi, as he is known to his friends, is a U of S Huskie Cross Country runner and I think may have just started triathlon last summer.  He placed a very fast  4:38:31 for 26th overall and second in his age group.  Official results are not yet posted as I write this but should be soon at http://www.ironmancalgary.com/results.htm .

GARMIN OFFER

If you are thinking about updating from an old Garmin Forerunner this might interest you.

GET $50 FROM GARMIN FOR YOUR OLD GPS FORERUNNER

Garmin is giving runners a chance to upgrade their current GPS watch, and help a great cause too. Old watches will be refurbished and donated to Girls on the Run, a program that supports a healthy lifestyle for young girls through running. 

Offer is valid for watches purchased between now and August 31st, trade-in submissions must be post-marked no later than Sept 15th.

There is more information available on Garmin’s website, at

http://garmin.blogs.com/promotions/2011/07/forerunner-trade-in-offer.html

FALL CLINICS

These clinics are scheduled to prepare runners for the Arthritis Society’s Jingle Bell Walk and Run on Sunday, November 20 and the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon on Sunday, December 4.  Here is what we are offering;

Half Marathon Clinic/Marathon - Starting Tuesday, August 30 at 6PM - coached by Brandi Pozniak.  Cost $125 plus GST.

This 14 week clinic will be of interest to runners who want to run either the half marathon or marathon in Las Vegas on December 4.  Runners should have experience at running the 10K distance before taking on a half marathon.  Experienced runners wanting a marathon training plan are welcome to join this clinic, training plans will be adjusted accordingly.

10 K Clinic - Starting Thursday, September 15 at 6:00 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 Clinic -  Starting Wednesday, September 21 at 6:15 PM.  Coached by Kim German  Cost $70 plus GST.

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.  Kim is a new coach to our roster.  She is a physiotherapist with Daniels Kimber Physiotherapy, is a graduate of our Learn to Run program, and has become a regular at Run Club this year.

EVENTS

This Sunday is the Frank Dunn Triathlon at Waskesiu.  If you happen to be up there come out and cheer us on.  This is my only triathlon this year so I have been cramming some good training in lately with a little help from my friends.

Sunday, August 14 - SRRA River Run Classic.  Half Marathon, 10K Provincial Championship, and a 5K Run/Walk. www.saskatoonroadrunners.ca  and our events page has the registration form http://brainsport.ca/events/list .  If you are not running but are willing to help I know the race directors would love to have names of volunteers sooner than later.  It is much easier on their health.

Saturday, August 27 - The Fin Island Trail Run at Battleford’s Finlayson Island.  5K, 10K or 21K.  Register at www.finislandtrailrun.com or contact Jes 306-937-6700.

Saturday, September 24 - Miles for Smiles.  Fund raiser for the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan.  5K run or walk and Half Marathon and proudly presented by the Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan.  For more detail go to http://medicine.usask.ca/miles-for-smiles-2011 .

MIZUNO ENIGMA

My online dictionary describes an enigma as “a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand, a riddle or paradox.”   We have brought in a new shoe from Mizuno called the Enigma and here is how Mizuno describes it "The new Mizuno Wave Enigma, designed for the neutral runner seeking maximum protection from their running footwear.  With a synthetic suede upper, and a blown rubber outsole, this shoe is soft in all the right places.  A composite Parallel Wave plate provides cushioning and stability simultaneously, with the ride that only a Mizuno can deliver."   Those familiar with the Mizuno Wave Creation will note that the wave plate comes into the forefoot similar to that shoe.

WALKING CLUB REVIVAL

There were a lot of comments at our 20th Anniversary party about “community” and how Run Club is a community.  We would like to extend that community feeling by including Walking Club in our Wednesday night gathering.  Walking is a great way to build fitness and health. We would like to see the Walking Club be as successful and fun as Run Club is.  We have two new enthusiastic members who would like to facilitate this revival of Walking Club.  Joy Ryan and her son in law Alan Carlson started coming out to walk while other family members run with the Run Club.  If you haven’t been out in a while why not come back and see what the Walking Club can be for you?  Runners, if you have a spouse or friend who doesn’t run but would like to walk and maybe join you for the weekly dinner gathering after Run Club, why not bring them along?

Just a reminder that Walking Club and Running Club get under way at 6PM on Wednesdays.  We will all meet for announcements and group assignments in BRAINSPORT.

FORMER RUN CLUB OLYMPIAN

Jake Wetzel ran with Run Club in it’s early days.  He went on to become an Olympic Rower helping his eight man team win gold at the Beijing Olympic Games.  Here is a note from Jake that was read out at our Anniversary party.  (photo Canada.com)

The running club was the first place where I truly learned what it means to suffer!  Going into the advanced group I found myself a boy among alpha males and for a long time finished every run well off the pace. Instead of getting discouraged I kept coming back each week and getting a little bit stronger until I was able to hang in.  I never became a top runner but that was not the point.  Having the chance to rub shoulders with older more experienced athletes in that formative time of my career was invaluable and played a big part in my development as an athlete and as a person.  I got the chance to be around adults for the first time and discovered that perhaps there was more to life than sport.  For me the running club was a launching pad into life and for others it is a crash pad that makes fitness accessible.  What makes it possible to be both is that Brainsport is community.  Happy birthday to the running club.  Thank you for all the help and support over the years!