Nik’s Chicks is only a time and place to meet & a program to follow.  I cannot join you on every run.  If you are new to exercising, it is advisable to have a doctor’s OK prior to beginning. Please  sign my waiver (in “About”) and fill out the contact info sheet prior to your first run.

Quote of the Week:

We find time for the things that are important to us. Period.

Scott Douglas, Scott’s Original Miscellany, Running Times 

Hello ladies, here is the latest news from the “nest”!

Weekly Chirp: Happy New Year! 2012 is upon us and many of us use the change in the calendar as a catalyst for some change in ourselves.  Write these changes down. Tell your family or friends. Sign up for a race.  Do something concrete as incentive for goal completion.  We all have good intentions, but many of us falter on the follow through! On that note – welcome back to those of you who were on hiatus!!

I realized this past weekend that we are never too old to change!  Here is the story: Brogan and I went out for our run around 11:30 on Saturday because of conflicts with the 8am start time.  It was sunny, brisk and we decided to run down into the ravine.  After taking our gels we hit the trails.  They were a little damp in places but we were enjoying ourselves and chatting away.  As we got 4-5 km in, the trails seemed a little more patchy and wet.  Now, those of you who have been running with me for a while know that I HATE to get my shoes dirty!  So, on this beautiful run, I was experiencing a little bit of annoyance with the appearance of…muck. I urged Brogan to be careful like me as I weaved off and on the trail to avoid the worst of it.  Then as we got into the last 1-2km, Brogan pulled a few strides ahead of me and I noticed he was running though the more frequent greasy mud without a care in the world, without breaking stride and sending the mud up behind him. How could he be so oblivious to the mess? I then came to the simple realization that – it was only dirt and my shoes were washable.  Where was the harm in trudging right though it? So…I ran like Brogan!  I had a look of glee (mixed with disbelief) on my face as I tromped on through the muck and mire and actually got dirty!!  We finished our run with splatters up the backs of our legs and jackets and I told Brogan about how I got my shoes muddy. He simply said “Mom, it’s only dirt”.  How right he was!  We scraped the mud off our sneakers, threw them in the back of the van and headed for home.  I still had the job of cleaning both of our shoes, but the good news was that “it was only dirt” and they look like new again!! (Please note: you can throw your shoes in a cold wash but never put them in the dryer – let them air dry) I am pretty sure I won’t be entering a Mud Run in the near future, but I certainly won’t skip and hop around the wet patches as much as I have in the past…well…maybe just a little bit!

A big Thank You goes out to the ladies and kids who took part in the Christmas Carol Sing/Food Drive.  We collected enough food donations to fill a shopping cart and then some.  The donations were dropped of the the Fair Share Food Bank prior to Christmas and they send along their gratitude to you. We’ll do it all again in late December!!

New Learn to Run 5km: I will wait until the first week of March to begin another 5km program.  I already have 5-6 ladies waiting for this one! That’s not to say that you cannot join or come back to the group until then.  You are welcome to meet with the rest of the runners and follow the 5km program at your leisure.

Wetsuits: Try this code C-LTFMAG to save 202.00 on the 400.00 Xterra Vortex wetsuit at http://www.xterrawetsuits.com/index.php/home/canada

Road ID: I bought lots of Road IDs for family members and friends this Christmas.  Here is a coupon code for 1.00 off your purchase.  BG8683.  The link to the website is  Road ID.

Shirts:  You can take one home to try one on if you wish.  Total cost will be 52.00 each, taxes in (similar styles sell for 70.00 – 80.00). I have 3 smalls, 2 mediums, 4 larges, and 3 x-larges in stock).  Sam has a medium, worn once, to sell for 30.00 in case you are interested. Check out the Wasaga Beach Triathlon photos for a peek at the shirts in action. 

Races: At the pre-Christmas Social at my house, I asked you to give thought to your “race calendar” for 2012.  In the Upcoming Races link, I have put names beside the races that you intend to do.  I have bullied a few into trying something new…you still have time to contemplate!  Please email me if you have registered for a race, or if I am missing one.  Let’s have some new adventures together!

YMCA: There is a contingent of us who meet at the Y to workout and you are welcome to join us. M and F 9:30 weight training and 10:30 swimming and W-12:00 spinning and 1:30 yoga

 

This week’s workouts – (Meet 1438 Redwing Court)

Monday – Jan. 9 9:30 and 10:30

YMCA Weight Training and swimming

Tuesday – Jan. 10 8:15pm

Holding on 5km – 5km

Holding on 10km – 5km

Chilly 1/2 and ATB – 7km

Wednesday – Jan. 11 12:00 and 1:30

YMCA Spinning and Yoga

Thursday –  Jan. 12 8:15pm

Holding on 5km – 5km hill x 2

Holding on 10km – 5km with hill x 2

Chilly 1/2 and ATB – 7km with hill x 3

Friday – Jan. 13 9:30 and 10:30

YMCA Weight Training and swimming

Saturday – Jan. 14 8:00am (I am in Niagara Falls at a basketball tourney and won’t be out)

Holding on 5km – 5km

Holding on 10km – 10km

Chilly 1/2 and ATB – 19km

Have a wonderful week! Niki