Running Free Newmarket

Crash Mclaren!

Today was a beautiful spring day, but the store needed to be opened so we debated between running in or taking our bikes. Well, we really need the seat time so we met at the trailhead on our bikes and headed in. Did I mention it was a beautiful day?

Along the trail we met George Biondic, the ultimate ultra runner and congratulated him on his new Canadian Record, over 900k in 10 days! What an accomplishment!

We rode along, dodging downed trees from yesterday’s wind storm and rode up to the trailhead at Timothy Street. It was the first day of the farmers market and it was kind of busy in that area of town. Glenis was ahead of me and disappeared around the corner. The next think I know, she is on the ground! Crashed! Dare I say – again! (Last year riding the trail she crashed and broke her toes.) She rode up to the trailhead and hesitated a minute too soon on where to go next, off the curb or a sharp right on the walk way. That little hesitation crashed her into a huge railroad crossing pole!

People came running! Oh boy, from all directions, almost cleared out the farmer’s market! Her hands were a bit of a mess and she rang her bell, but up she got. I grabbed both bikes and we wandered to the store. We had a look and realized she needed more first aid than was at hand so off she went to emerge.

She’s always smiling. (Wait until she tries to knit!) Broken hand and cuts. I did mention she better get a waterproof cast! Storm the Trent is only few weeks away!

Categories: #happydays, Cycling, Running Free Newmarket | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment

11/150 UKFAST Manchester 10k

Sunday morning Glenis ran the UKFAST UKFAST WE LOVE MANCHESTER 10K. That lucky girl is visiting the UK for a few weeks and decided she better run a little bit while she is there!

“The UKFast We Love Manchester 10k is known for its fast route and friendly atmosphere as well as its popularity in the region – commonly known as ‘the peoples race’. We welcome runners of all abilities, in this the perfect 10k event to beat your personal best, meet other runners and to raise money for charity, with over 3,000 entrants in 2016” according to their website.

It sounds like it was a lot of fun. She said it was a really hot day but I know Glenis, she loves the heat she would have been grinning ear to ear!

Glenis is having a great time visiting the UK, she has even taken a side trip to Spain.

I wish I was over there to run with my sister, and cheer her on. I know she missed me trotting by her side. She did send over a few pictures of her accomplishment!

Categories: #canada150, #happydays, Road Event, Run, Running Free Newmarket, Weekly Smile! | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Thursday Night Runners

I’m putting in a few hours at the store tonight. It’s cold out, really quite cold, minus 22 with the wind chill. There is a couple of groups going out on training runs.

 Hearty crazy runners! Lol, but then we’ll be out tomorrow morning and it will be even colder! I love running!

Categories: #happydays, Running Free Newmarket | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Happy days and Weekend fun!

Weekend fun!

We never know what we are going to find when we are out for a run.We were on a training run the other day battling the poor slushy footing and unplowed roads. The shoulders of the road hadn’t been plowed so we turned down a “dead end” road just to get away from some traffic. On this particular road if you look around you would think you were up north, the brush comes right to the edge of the road and there are only a couple of houses. Oh yea and there is Frosty, waiting for us at the Dead End sign, hiding behind the piles of snow left by the plow. Too funny, he was the last thing we expected to see. The rest of our run didn’t seem so bad after running into him!

In the afternoon, we donned our Running Free hoodies and headed over to the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Reunion at Pickering College in Newmarket. We set up a display of shoes and talk to the participants about proper foot wear.

The Relay for Life is one of the cancer society’s major fundraisers. In Newmarket the event will be held on Friday, June 19 at Pickering College. It is an evening event with lots of entertainment, food and an opportunity to walk or run 5, 10, 15, 21k to support cancer research. The event this past Saturday was an opportunity to past participants to sign up for this year’s event.

In 2014 there were 128,735 participants whose hard work raised 42.2 million. We all know that isn’t enough because they are doing it again! You can sign up on line as an individual or get your friends and family together and enter as a team here > Relay for Life

Of course there is a Blister Sister team and anyone can join us!

Categories: #happydays, Road Event, Run, Running Free Newmarket | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

#100happydays Day 72 The Rockstar

#100happydays Day 72 The Rockstar

Another great day volunteering! You might have read before that the Rockstar is our favorite adventure race and it still is! Today we were stationed at CP31, the stand-up paddleboard station. As with all but a couple of mandatory check points, CP31 was optional. Teams came to us either on foot or by canoe and one racer in the team was required to stand-up paddle board through a course about 30-40 meters long. During the paddle they were required to pick up a flag from a floating buoy and bring it back to us before they could punch the CP completed.

Paddle boards

Paddle boards

Everyone who did it said it was challenging. Considering they had just ridden their bikes 25K and then either run or hopped in a canoe to get to us, their wobbly legs were put to the test. Many of them told us their feet cramped just trying to grip the board

Sorting out canoes

Sorting out canoes

It was great to see all the young kids out who were participating in the 4 hour race. These 10-12 year olds really put their parents to the test. Those who tried the stand-up paddleboard were great.

A younster waiting for her Dad to paddle in.

A youngster waiting for her Dad to paddle in.

After 7 hours at our station we had about 50 teams go through, had a lot of laughs and got some great photos. Phil, the photographer, stood in the water up to his waist for the entire time anyone was on the course. He must have been out there at least 6 hours. We did take a little break during a lull in the middle of the afternoon to attempt a game of beach volley ball. We are not Olympic contenders. You will be able to see Phil’s photos on philjarvis.ca in a few days.

Phil the Photographer

Phil the Photographer

As usual, Bark Lake’s staff pulled together an excellent dinner for all the racers and volunteers. No, yogurt cups and bananas here, it was lasagna with salad and ice cream Sundays for desert. After dinner we gave race director Sean a hug and said good bye to all our friends to leave the racers to enjoy their evening. They all stepped outside their comfort zones today and deserved the great after party.

The Blister Sisters

The Blister Sisters

Explaining the course

Explaining the course

It really is a beautiful place to paddle.

It really is a beautiful place to paddle.

 

Click HERE to see more of my pictures from the day.

Categories: #100HappDays, Adventure Race, Running Free Newmarket | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

#100happydays Day 71 Packing up for the Rockstar

#100happydays Day 71 Packing up for the Rockstar

A lot of things happened today, but the packing up for the Rockstar was the most fun! We are going with a fun beach theme, even though the weather tomorrow isn’t idea for the beach.

Packing up for the Rockstar

Packing up for the Rockstar

My hubby and I stopped into the dollar store for a few props they it was off to Glenis’s for the last minute pick up of signage and seating. Tomorrow morning should be a quick pack-up and off we go to our next volunteer gig at the best adventure race in Ontario! Stay tuned for pictures!

Categories: #100HappDays, Adventure Race, Running Free Newmarket | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

#100happydays Day 70 Annual Customer Appreciation at Running Free

#100happydays Day 70  Annual Customer Appreciation at Running Free

Yup, it’s that time of year again. Mid summer, time for the Annual Customer Appreciation at Running Free. Lots of great deals and best of all we get to see all our running friends when they come in for those great deals!

Glenis with some of that staff and Running Free team athletes who came in to help at the sale.

Glenis with some of that staff and Running Free team athletes who came in to help at the sale.

Categories: #100HappDays, Running Free Newmarket | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

#100happydays Day 65 The Warrior Dash 2014

#100happydays Day 65 The Warrior Dash 2014

Another muddy day for the sisters! Only 6 days after the “toughest 1/2 marathon” we dove into the mud at the Warrior Dash!

Before and After!

Before and After!

Buses, crowds and lineups started the day but we were prepared for that and we just went with the flow. Before we knew it we were ready to run. It didn’t really matter if we were running at our 11:15 time, the race wasn’t timed. Just a free for all!

A few line ups

A few line ups

It’s always fun to do an obstacle race, usually mud is involved and to be sure the first thing we ran into was shoe sucking mud. There must be a secret recipe to make mud that thick and sticky. There was lots of slipping and giggles and then hills, hills, hills. We expected that after all we were at Horseshoe Resort which is know for its skiing. Most of the obstacles were easier than the hills but there were a few that made me look twice. Anything that involved balancing on a thin board suspended above the ground freezes me up. Glenis on the other hand is fearless and could probably do cartwheels over all of them.
This is my fear, anything that is off the ground and I have to walk on it. So I crawled!

This is my fear, anything that is off the ground and I have to walk on it. So I crawled!

I do pretty well when I am on or under the ground!
I'm almost through the tunnel, had to crawl sideways because my legs were too long to crawl on my knees.

I’m almost through the tunnel, had to crawl sideways because my legs were too long to crawl on my knees.

I’m kind of proud that we made it walking up the wall since we are both dealing with shoulder issues. 
The cargo net was a piece of cake, check out the selfie from the top! 
We just had to take a selfie at the top of the cargo net, it just so happened that Phil took a photo of us taking a photo! Too funny!

We just had to take a selfie at the top of the cargo net, it just so happened that Phil took a photo of us taking a photo! Too funny!

Check out more pictures on philjarvis.ca

Check out more pictures on philjarvis.ca

Phil was great taking a heck of a lot of pictures and just waiting around for us to finish. Have a look at more from the Dash!
Here are the “Official” Warrior Dash photos!
The Warrior Dash organization really knows what they are doing, organized chaos happens but they get it done. There is always a refreshment area with beer and turkey legs, haha, and this year they had a great band playing. The firefighters were there hosing people down with freezing cold water and there were huge dumpsters for shoes and other bits of mud clumped clothing. 
Ah, a nice shower!

Ah, a nice shower!

The only thing that would make it a little better would be a tent for a change room, it’s tough changing wet clothes under a bath towel with 5000 people milling around you.
Yet another wall to climb. Glenis is a warrior!

Yet another wall to climb. Glenis is a warrior!

Categories: #100HappDays, Mud Run, Running Free Newmarket | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

#100happydays Day 54 Our fellow Bandaid and Brooks Women

#100happydays Day 54 Our Fellow Bandaid and Brooks Women

Great evening with our friend Jean, where the runners tonight were able to test drive the new Brooks Glycerin 12 and the Adrenaline 14’s!  I loved loved loved the new Glycerin the fit is amazing.  Jean also helped properly fit some women into the correct Moving Comfort Sports bras.

Incredible Intense sky when Jean and I were leaving the store!

A selfie of Jean and Glenis

A selfie of Jean and Glenis

Intense Main Street Sky

Intense Main Street Sky

Categories: #100HappDays, Running Free Newmarket | Leave a comment

#100happydays Day 47 Happy Canada Day from the Blister Sisters!

#100happydays Day 47 Happy Canada Day from the Blister Sisters!

 

We had a great day today celebrating Canada Day. We started it with a HOT, HUMID 12k trail run followed by working at Newmarket Running Free.

Canada Day Run - HOT and Humid

Canada Day Run – HOT and Humid

Yup we had to work today but we had great company with some of our team Running Free athletes coming in to help out.

Working with some of our great Running Free team on Canada Day!

Working with some of our great Running Free Team, Stephanie and Jeff, on Canada Day!

The Town of Newmarket had party on Main Street to celebrate Canada Day with a bands playing loudly and lots of vendors on the street. With friends coming in to chat and new visitors to the store it was a busy, fun day.

Glenis was a flower on Canada Day

Glenis was a flower on Canada Day

Canada Day friends stopping by.

Canada Day friends stopping by, hi Christine!

Main Street Newmarket was a party.

Main Street Newmarket was a party.

Plug in the wall

Helping the band!

Main Street was all red Nd white for the Canada Day celebration.

Main Street was all red and white for the Canada Day celebration.

Categories: #100HappDays, Running Free Newmarket, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

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