Race Day is weeks away. I don't know about you, but I have been finding training in our Alberta weather a little taxing. Do you feel a little behind? Or worried about your race readiness? First of all, RELAX! Take a deep breath.
 Perhaps I can share a few tips to help you over the next month. 

• Make plans to get out there and stick to it. Think of it as making plans for yourself. When we had particularly bad weather I went to a gym. In fact, over the past 6 weeks, I went to four different gyms and took them up on introductory offers to get in some workouts to help in especially inclement weather. This helped me get workouts in on those days I definitely didn’t want to get out! ​

• Find inspiration -- in friends, family, in signs along the road. I run to help keep my stress levels down. I enjoy the scenery and I look for beauty on the run. In bridges, signs, graffiti or just seeing other runners out there. Find whatever motivates you and get the job at hand done. Sometimes lacing up the shoes is hard, but once your workout or run is complete, you will be happy!
  

​​And most importantly on race day, come out and have fun. Soak up the enthusiasm of the volunteers, of fellow racers. And enjoy your time out there. 
 
See you on the trails! ​

​Follow Tina and her adventures in running and life here:
Facebook: crantina
Instagram: @crantina
Twitter: @crantina

I love running in Canmore! 

The Rocky Mountain Soap Women's Run is one of my favourites for a number of reasons. I love the air, the feel, the vibe. Running out in Canmore at the Nordic Centre just feels good. It is my #runhappy spot. I forget about what it SHOULD be and can JUST BE.

Living Smart with Wildlife

The bears in Kananaskis are already starting to come out of their dens for spring, and this means it's time to be extra WildSmart!

Here are a few tips to keep in mind while running in Bear Country this spring. 

• To help prevent encounters you can shout regularly to let wildlife know where you are. This will prevent them from being surprised and give them a chance to move elsewhere.
  
  
• A great way to avoid negative encounters with wildlife while you're training or racing outdoors is to remove your ear buds. When you wear ear buds, you are less aware of your surroundings and might not hear nearby wildlife that may be warning you of their presence. In fact, not only is it safer for runners and wildlife to not wear ear buds, but having your ears free encourages a stronger mental race and can better connect you with your surroundings.

• In addition to not wearing ear buds, wildlife officials and WildSmart strongly suggest you carry bear spray and know how to use it! If you need to refresh your memory on the proper use of bear spray, you can check out this informative video prepared by the Government of Alberta and WildSmart!

• Click here to sign up for our weekly bear activity reports and to stay informed on wildlife sightings in the Bow Valley

Learn more about living smart with bears or call us: 403.678.3445 ext 2.

Let the training begin, and we'll see you in Canmore!


Facebook: www.facebook.com/wildsmart

Twitter: twitter.com/wildsmart