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Niagara Falls International Marathon this weekend

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Niagara Falls International Marathon this weekend
The Niagara Falls International Marathon is back! It started out as the “Skylon Marathon” when it made its debut in 1974, and since then it has grown to be a destination marathon that crosses an international border, providing the runners with an experience of a lifetime. It is the only marathon that starts in one country and finishes in another.
This year, the Niagara Falls International Marathon is on Sunday, October 26th, 2014.
Race Date and Start Times
Sunday, October 26th, 2014

  • Marathon – 10:00am
  • Half-Marathon Run/Walk – 10:00am
  • 10km Run – 9:00am
  • 5km Run – 8:30am
  • 2km Run – 9:30am
  • School Challenge – 8:00am

Marathon Course (42.2 km)

The Niagara Falls International Marathon starts by the Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo N.Y. The first 6.5km (4 miles) of the race travel the beautiful majestic parkways of Buffalo before crossing the Peace Bridge into the historic old town of Fort Erie, Ontario. The route then follows the beautiful Niagara River Parkway and finishes at the magnificent Niagara Falls.
We are the only marathon in the world that starts in one country and finishes in another. The course is considered flat and fast and has hosted two USA men’s Olympic marathon trials in 1980 and again in 1984, along with the World Veteran’s Games marathon in 1995.
The Marathon course is a Boston Qualifier.
The course will be closed after 7 hours. By 4:00 pm, all participants in all races will be asked to move to the recreational trail as the roads will be open to traffic. Please note the marathon is officially over at 5:00pm; there will be no finish line after this time.

For more information on the Full Marathon, including a map of the route click here.

Half Marathon Course (21.1 km)

The Half Marathon starts at the 21.09km (13.1mile) point of the full Marathon. The runners follow the beautiful Niagara River Parkway and finish at the same finish line of the Marathon, above the magnificent Niagara Falls.
The Half Marathon course is flat for the first 17.6km (11 miles) and has a 55 foot drop over the remaining 3.36km (2.1 miles). It is considered one of the fastest half marathon courses in the country.
For more information on the Half Marathon, including a map of the route click here.

10km Run Course

The 10km race is an “out and back” course that will start at the Upper Rapids Boulevard parking lot and head north towards the Niagara Parkway. Participants will make a right onto the Niagara Parkway, cross the Chippawa Bridge, turn left onto Bridgewater Street and then make a loop at the 4.5 kilometer marker located just past Service Road 30 on the Niagara Parkway. Participants will then follow the Niagara Parkway back to the Finish Line located in front of the Toronto Power Generating Station National Historic Site of Canada.
For more information on the 10K race, including a map of the route click here.

5km Run Course

The 5km race is an “out and back” course that starts at the Upper Rapids Boulevard parking lot and will head north towards the Niagara Parkway. Participants will make a right onto the Niagara Parkway, cross the Chippawa Bridge, turn left onto Bridgewater Street and then make a loop at the 2 kilometer marker to follow the Niagara Parkway back to the Finish Line located in front of the Toronto Power Generating Station National Historic Site of Canada .

For more information on the 5K race, including a map of the route click here.

2km Run Course

The 2km race starts on the west side of the Upper Rapids Boulevard parking lot heading south, making a loop at Portage Road to then head back up the east side of Upper Rapids Boulevard. Participants will then turn left to follow the Niagara Parkway back to the Finish Line located in front of the Toronto Power Generating Station National Historic Site of Canada.
For more information on the 2K race, including a map of the route click here.

Buses to Start

 Marathon:
Buses will transport participants in the Marathon to the start line located at the Albright Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, NY. Buses will begin leaving from the Crowne Plaza Hotel (5685 Falls Avenue, Niagara Falls, ON.) at 7:30am with the last bus leaving at 8:00am. Those who arrive after this time will be required to find their own transportation. The trip takes approximately 40 minutes.
*Note: All participants must have a valid Passport, Drivers License or Nexus Card to enter the US and participate in the marathon. You will need to show your passport to cross the border on race day.

Half Marathon Run and Walk:

Buses will transport participants in Half-Marathon Run/Walk to the start line located at the halfway mark of the marathon along the Niagara Parkway. Buses will begin leaving from the Crowne Plaza Hotel (5685 Falls Avenue, Niagara Falls, ON.) at 8:00am with the last bus leaving at 8:45am. Those who arrive after this time will be required to find their own transportation. The trip takes approximately 20 minutes.

Post Shuttles 

Complimentary shuttles will be provided near the finish line area and are tentatively scheduled as follows:
7:30am – 12:00pm – From the Upper Rapids Blvd Bus Loop to Dufferin Islands and back
12:00pm – 3:30pm – From the Table Rock Bus Loop to the Crowne Plaza and back

Packet Pick-Up

Race kits (consisting of your bib number, timing chip, shirt and goody bag) can be picked up at the RunFEST Expo located at the Niagara Square Shopping Centre:
Friday, October 24 – 1:00pm – 7:00pm
Saturday, October 25 – 9:30am – 5:30pm
**Marathoners must clear Canadian Customs & Immigration before receiving their bib number (ID will be required at this time). You must be able to pick up your own number!
The Niagara Falls International Marathon has information on Customs & Immigration by clicking here.

On the Course

Runners will feel the excitement and enthusiasm of the many volunteers and spectators along the course, making them welcome to both the USA and Canada.
The Niagara Falls International Marathon will feature on the course:

WATER:

Water will be provided at the Start and Finish lines as well as kilometre 3.2, 6.4, 9.6, and every 1.6km after (miles 2, 4, 6, and every mile after).

GATORADE:

Gatorade is the official replacement drink of the Niagara Falls International Marathon and will be served at all 25 refreshment stations along the race route.

WASHROOMS:

Toilets will be provided at the start and finish lines, as well as every 1.6km from 9.6km onward (every mile from Mile 6 onward).

MEDICAL:

Medical units will be located at the start as well as mobile units along the race course. Official Race Vehicles, sponsored by GM Trucks will also be used to transport runners to the finish line who have dropped out of the race.

What Awaits You

Upon crossing the Finish Line, all participants will receive a medal, mylar blanket, water, Gatorade and food. Please take the opportunity to visit the Official Race Apparel Tent.

Official Website

I did the Niagara Falls International Marathon last year in 2013 and wrote about my experience leading up to it, including writing about my post-marathon experience. It included my training leading up to it, right to how I got started running to begin with. If you wish to have a read, it’s broken down to a 7 part series of blogs:
Post-marathon experience
Blog#1 leading up to the Marathon.
Blog#2 leading up to the Marathon.
Blog#3 leading up to the Marathon.
Blog#4 leading up to the Marathon.
Blog#5 leading up to the Marathon.
Blog#6 leading up to the Marathon.
Looking for hotel accommodations?
We still have some availability that is going fast for this weekend’s race! You can walk to the bus pick-up in front of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in 2 minutes from the Comfort Inn Clifton Hill. Click on the photo below to be directed to our hotel site:

Christine Lynn

clynn@cliftonhill.com

www.cliftonhill.com

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Things To Do

Niagara Falls Events for the Fall Season

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It’s the beginning of Fall so it seems only appropriate to list some of the best upcoming Niagara Falls events for the Fall in 2014:
40th Annual Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival (October 10th – 13th, 2014) 

The Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival takes place from Friday, October 10th – Monday, October 13th, 2014 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and features over 200 selected artisans displaying and selling their creative arts, crafts, clothing and potteries.
This is one of the most popular Niagara Falls events for the Fall, and has been a Thanksgiving staple in this region, in its 40th year of the show. The Festival has become a long-standing, favourite tradition for both families and visitors who come from far and wide to experience the Ball’s Falls annual festival and its natural setting. You can enjoy the incredible beauty of this 19th Century hamlet, set amid the majestic Niagara Escarpment and the Twenty Valley. The event is a major fundraiser for the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA), with revenues from admission directed towards a number of NPCA’s conservation programs, magic shows and numerous heritage displays in order to keep visitors engaged.
From Toronto: Follow QEW Niagara bound to Exit 71 – Christie Street in Grimsby.  Follow Regional Road 12 (Christie Street becomes Mountain Road).  Turn left onto Fly Road; turn right at Victoria Avenue (Reginoal Road 24) – Follow Directional signs to Ball’s Falls.
From Niagara Falls/Buffalo: Follow QEW Toronto bound to Exit 55 – Jordan Road.  Follow Directional signs to Ball’s Falls.
Admission: $6 per person.
Seniors 65+: $4 on Friday only.
Children under 14: Free when accompanied by an adult.
For further information please visit www.ballsfalls.ca
Niagara Falls International Marathon (October 26th, 2014)

The Niagara Falls International Marathon celebrated its inaugural running in 1974. The race was known as the Skylon Marathon. Beginning during the first wave of the North American running boom, it quickly became a favourite as it was, and still is, the only marathon in the world that starts in one country and finishes in another. Today it attracts 6000 runners from over 30 countries from around the world…it’s a destination marathon that crosses an international border, providing the runners with an experience of a lifetime. Niagara Falls International Marathon is also a Boston Qualifier.

Event Information
Race Date and Start Times

Sunday, October 26th, 2014

  • Marathon – 10:00am
  • Half Marathon Run/Walk – 10:00am
  • 10K – 9:00am
  • 5K – 8:30am
  • 2K – 10:30am
  • Schools Marathon Challenge – 8:00am

Online registration is open for 2014.

Click here to register online and visit www.niagarafallsmarathon.com for more information.

Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights (November 15th, 2014 – January 12th, 2015)

Every year, Canada’s foremost illumination festival in the beautiful Niagara Falls captures the magic of the holiday season with the Winter Festival of Lights. It attracts over 1.5 million visitors and hundreds of motor coaches annually.  Recognized as a Festival of Distinction by Festivals & Events Ontario and a Top 100 Internationally Known Event in North America by the American Bus Association for the past several years, and was recently included in the Top 10 Canada’s best winter festivals by canoe.ca. Expect to view an array of over 120 animated displays made up of millions of holiday lights! This majestic display frames the most beautiful attraction of all, the Niagara Falls and all along the Niagara Parks “Winter Wonderland” and the adjoining tourist districts.
There is no admission fee to view the illuminations, but donations are gratefully accepted by Festival Ambassadors at the exit by Dufferin Islands. There is a suggested contribution of $5 – $10 per car and $1 per coach bus passenger. Proceeds are used to enhance the lights and displays for the future event that has becoming a world-wide known tradition.
For more information please visit www.wfol.com
Concerts and Shows at Fallsview Casino Resort

The Fallsview Casino Resort presents a wide array of entertainment over the duration of the Fall. Here’s a sample of upcoming shows and the links to obtain tickets:
Le Grand Cirque – September 18th – October 5th. Tickets start at $20.
Jennifer Hudson –  — Tickets start at $90.
Kool & The Gang – October 16th. Tickets start at $35.
Gipsy Kings – October 17th. Tickets start at $45. 
REO Speedwagon – November 6th. Tickets start at $35.
Kenny Rogers Christmas & Hits – November 12th – 15th. Tickets start at $35.
Fallsview Casino’s Christmas On Ice – November 20th – December 7th. Tickets start at $25.
Seneca Casino

The Seneca Casino also presents a wide array of entertainment up and coming for the Fall season — a little bit of everything into the mix. Here’s a short list of just a few of the shows rolling in and the links to obtain tickets:
Macy Gray – October 3rd. Tickets start at $35.
Alanis Morrisette – October 4th. Tickets start at $35. 
Santana – October 11th. Tickets start at $71. 
Gino Vannelli – October 10th – 12th. Tickets start at $35.
David Spade – October 25th. Tickets start at $25.
Roger Hodgson – November 7th. Tickets start at $35.
Steve Miller Band – November 21st. Tickets start at $40.
Diana Krall – November 29th. Tickets start at $40.
Stay connected to me for further Niagara Falls events!

Christine Lynn

clynn@cliftonhill.com

www.cliftonhill.com

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News

My First Marathon Experience!

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Yesterday I ran my very first full marathon and I want to share my marathon experience with you.

For those of you that have been following my blogs (1,2,3,4,5,6), I have been writing about my nutrition, training and general experience in marathon running from the time I signed up for the Niagara Falls International Marathon in July, until now. To sum things up, I have only been running for a little over two years, and since then I have run numerous 5K and 10K races, one 10-miler, seven half marathons and one 30K race — but this was to be my very first full marathon experience. I was never nervous signing up for this race surprisingly. I felt confident in my training and my abilities as a runner. I run often, and I run strong. As October 27, 2013 crept closer it started to hit me — but the nerves were stemming from everything leading up to getting to the start line. Will I sleep through my alarm? Will I forget my passport? Will I miss the bus? Will the lineups to the washroom be too long and I’ll have to run 26.2 miles with a full bladder? lol, these were my legitimate thoughts.

Friday, October 25th I had the honour of being invited to the Elements on the Falls restaurant for a VIP Reception held by the Niagara Parks as a thankyou for those that have helped piece together this year’s event. What a beautiful restaurant! I was the second person to arrive and within half an hour the restaurant was full of about 200 guests, speakers, bloggers, sponsors and (my personal favourite) the CEO and Founder of the Running Room, John Stanton was there. I was in awe! Elements on the Falls is located inside the Table Rock complex and is literally just feet away from the Horseshoe Falls. I quickly found the best seat in the house, giving me a gorgeous view of the illumination of the Falls. Hors d’oeuvres were passed around and a fantastic buffet was set up. I started my carb loading weekend in style!

*Me at Element on the Falls — feeling nice and toasty with a belly full of good food and white wine!*

Fast forward to race day! I did NOT sleep through my alarm. I had visions of the Seinfeld episode where Jean-Paul the Marathoner slept through his alarm because the volume was too low and I was afraid this would happen to me:

Our bus arrived at the Albright Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, USA  at 8:45 am where the start line is located. To my delight, there were about 20 port-a-potties set up and the lineups were painless. We were allowed to warm up in the art gallery and check out the exhibits before the start time at 10:00 am. This gave me time to sit back, relax, return some texts from friends and check my Facebook. I decided to throw caution to the wind and run without my Nike+ GPS. I knew my battery life wouldn’t sustain a 26.2 mile run, so I decided that I would find my pace bunny and try to keep up with him. The minutes quickly went by, and before I knew it, it was time to begin the race! It’s do or die!

Before you line up at the start line, you need to make sure that you place yourself accordingly. Assuming everyone has done their training already, you should generally have an idea of your finishing goal time and from there you find your “pace bunny” (the experienced runner assigned that knows what time he/she will finish in. They are decked out in bunny ears and they hold a sign with the goal time). I knew going into my first marathon I wanted to sub 4:00. It would be a feat –even for some experienced marathoners — but I felt it was doable and achievable when I factored in my last half marathon at a time of 1:42:05. Assuming my pace would slow down a bit past the 13.1 mile mark, I felt if you doubled that time and allowed time for slowing down and stopping at drink stations that would buy me a half hour to play with….so I found the 3:30 pace bunny and lined up behind him. Little did I know about the humbling marathon experience I was about to have…I am going to break this down in kilometres (42.2km) instead of miles as the majority of us Canadians are used to training in this way):

I was maintaining a great pace in the first 3 kilometres. So good in fact, that I passed the 3:30 pace bunny and stuck with the 3:20. Suddenly, I felt my legs starting to get tired so I slowed down a bit knowing that I still had 39 kilometres to go. I watched the 3:30 pace bunny go by, but decided to keep him within vision. It was around the 6th kilometre that we tackled the only fairly decent “hill” I would say in the whole race. This was when we went over the Peace Bridge into Canada. We passed customs before the race started, so NO we did NOT have to run through customs and declare anything haha. It was a surreal experience running over the bridge from one country into another.

*Running over the Peace Bridge. Photo cred: Corey Larocque, Niagara Falls Review. Read article here*.

I’m not going to lie, I went into this run almost too confident. The furthest I had ever ran up until this point was 30K, so I figured what’s another 12K? Those previous runs, I took electrolyte tabs that dissolve into your water bottle before the race and that’s all I would take throughout the run. No stopping at water stations, no electrolyte supplements along the way, no Gatorade — nothing. I thought I had it in the bag. The wall was coming — I just didn’t know it.

I passed the halfway mark (21.1K) at a time of 1:46:16. I was pacing right on track and I was feeling great. At this point we were well onto the Niagara Parkway and running alongside the Niagara River. This is when I started to really feel the effects of running against the wind. At 23 kilometres I lost the 3:30 pace bunny entirely, but the 3:40 bunny had yet to run by me, so I was still feeling good about my progress.

Then the wall hit. I have never felt the wall before. It sneaks up on you like a thief in the night. I wasn’t feeling pain, but my legs were starting to deflate. I knew my pace was slowing and I was starting to get tired. This was at the 31st kilometre. One kilometre past what I had ever done before, and 11.1 kilometres left to go. I felt like I was crawling — but I was still running. I knew my pace has substantially slowed down, but I was unsure of how much because if you remember, I was running watch naked.

The 35th kilometre was when I knew I was going to blow a 3:30 time and most probably a 3:40 time. I still hadn’t seen the 3:40 pace bunny fly by me, but at this point I didn’t care. I felt that achieving the sub 4:00 marathon time was still going to happen, but a Boston Qualifying time I knew wasn’t going to happen — and I was okay with that. This was my first marathon after all. For the first time ever in a race, I stopped at the drink station and had some Gatorade. My legs were heavy and I needed to stop for a moment. Thirst was setting in, and I needed it! Then I was off again.

From here on in until I saw the beautiful sign that read 40K, I stopped at every drink station for water. Coming up to the 40K marker it felt like I was running towards the volunteer holding out the cup of water in slow motion. I literally thought it was a mirage. I sputtered out “I feel like you are so far away”, and to my surprise even my words were slurred. It was like I was spewing out drunken words, but this time I was just drunk on running an insane distance and not on alcohol. I walked for about 100 metres after the 40K drinking station and then that’s when it happened. I saw the 3:45 pace bunny! Where the **** was the 3:40 guy?? I didn’t come this far to go neck-to-neck with the clock about to turn 4:00 — so I trucked it!

I had a goal in mind, and I hate to lose. Yes, yes, I know just finishing a marathon is amazing. Apparently only 4% of the population will ever be part of this elite group of runners — but I hate having to admit to myself that I failed at something that I truly wanted. So this was by far the toughest part of the run for me, both physically and mentally. I gave it all I had left in my legs (which was totally barren) and everything that I had mentally to give…which was also a total washout because I was all dizzy and inebriated. I wasn’t prepared for that.

When I saw the finish line and the people cheering me on, suddenly I ran like a Kenyan on a hot tin roof to the finish. And I did it. My finishing time was 3:50:02. I beat my goal time by 9 minutes and 58 seconds and only missed a Boston qualifying finish by 10 minutes and 2 seconds. So, of course, that is my next goal. So will there be more marathons in my future? Yes. Yes, there will be.

Thank you to the Niagara Falls International Marathon for such an organized race. I will definitely run this one again. Lastly, thank you to all my friends and family that have helped support me along the way — especially to my husband who is left home alone with a hyperactive two-year old little boy for an hour a day/5-6 days a week while I do my nightly training runs.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my first marathon experience — and if anyone else has any stories to share about their first marathon experience, I’d love to hear them. Please leave a message in the comment section of this blog.

 

*Me in my car just after I completed my marathon. Sore and HUNGRY lol*

 

News

Farewell Maid of the Mist – A Voyage Into History

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With the closure of one of North America’s oldest tourist attractions on the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls, the Maid of the Mist, it has brought some mixed emotions among Canadian residents — and especially those that live in Niagara Falls that considered the Maid of the Mist to be one of Niagara’s biggest draws in tourism. The iconic boat ride that first opened in 1846, set sail for the last time yesterday on Thursday, October 24, 2013.
CTV news did a story on the final voyage out of the Canadian side of the border, and this shot was taken aboard the Maid’s last journey out of harbour. View the story here. Photo cred by Aaron Lynett/CANADIAN PRESS:

The operation is run by the Maid of the Mist Steamboat Company which is owned by the Glynn family of Lewiston, New York since 1971. This family will continue to run operations from the U.S. side in the 2014 season.
The Maid of the Mist will operate from the U.S. side of the gorge and will depart from the dock just beyond the Rainbow Bridge. While the 2013 season was set to be over, the company has extended their operating days to October 25th and October 26th, offering free rides from the American side of the Falls due to the kickoff of the Niagara Falls International Marathon set to take place on Sunday morning.
History of the Maid of the Mist
As early as 1834, small rowboats acted as ferries passaging people, luggage and cargo across the Niagara River. It soon became apparent that a profit could be turned, and in 1846 the very first steam ferry they named the “Maid of the Mist” took sail across the River.

Everything went well for a couple of years, until 1848 when a suspension bridge was built making it easier for traveling from one country to the other. It was then that Niagara Tourism really flourished when it was decided to market the Maid of the Mist as a sightseeing venture, taking passengers closer to the Falls. It did great and second Maid of the Mist boat was built in 1854.
The original boats were coal-fired, wooden boats. Today, they carry up to 600 passengers per trip and are made with steel. They are diesel-powered ships for the half hour journey with seven boats total.

The Mist became well known for its role in the July 9, 1960, rescue of Roger Woodward, a seven-year-old boy who became the first person to survive a plunge over the Horseshoe Falls with nothing but a life jacket. The “Maid II” which was retired in 1983, was the boat involved in saving the life of the little boy and was a major news story at the time.
Here is excellent coverage about the Roger Woodward story via “the Vinyl Cafe with Stuart MacLean”:

Read the Roger Woodward story here, recounted in 2010 (50 years later) by the Star, complete with others that have survived the plunge across the Niagara Falls.
Hornblower Niagara Cruises will take over operations on the Canadian side, offering passengers state-of-the-art catamaran boats, extended operating hours, online ticketing options and even special event and group function rentals! Earlier this month, I sat down with Mory DiMaurizio, Hornblower Niagara Cruises (HNC) General Manager to discuss some general questions I had about the new operation. Read about the interview by clicking here.

While I look forward to the new upcoming season and will welcome the Hornblower Niagara Cruises, I am sad to see such an influential part of Canadian history go. Generation to generation, we brought our family overseas from England and would always make sure to take them on the Maid of the Mist. It was such a popular attraction of not only Niagara Falls, but around the globe. From Marilyn Monroe to Katy Perry, hundreds of celebrities have ridden the Mist and millions of tourists have had the privilege to ride what I considered to be one of the most successful facets of International tourism.
I will miss you Maid of the Mist!!

Christine Lynn
www.cliftonhill.com
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My Marathon Tips for Race Day for the Beginner

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Let me start off by saying that I have yet to have completed a full marathon, but that will change in 2 weeks when I run the Niagara Falls International Marathon. I have however run numerous races in the two years that I’ve been running — everything from 5K’s to the 30K “Around the Bay” race in March of this year (with a time of 2:31 and change). I have discovered that running is the one thing that I truly know that I do well — and this stems from my own personal marathon tips that I found works for me specifically. It’s still a learning process, but I find the more that I apply these marathon tips and they turn out to be successful, the further I improve as a runner. This improvement reflects in the cut in my race times, so I know for a fact that by following what I have learned I am setting out on the goals that I’m aiming towards. And for right now, it is to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
I would like to state for the record that these are my specific running tips. These are not marathon tips that I’m simply pulling off of training magazines or Google. This is just what works for me — and hell, if it works for me, it may work for you. Worth a read!
Tip#1: Run frequently, run often, run like Forrest!

Probably the most obvious of marathon tips out there. You simply can’t go from zero to 26.2 miles overnight and not expect to pay the price. Start off by running a 5K distance, then 10K, then 10-mile, half marathon and then gradually increase your mileage. Running a marathon is about endurance, it’s about stamina, and overcoming pain. When I initially started running it was to lose the baby weight so I ran literally every day, 10K at a time. I never took a rest and because of that, I suffered through shin splints and achilles tendon pain. Even through this pain I continued to run and then suddenly I was over-compensating on the other leg and getting pain on the other side as well. I visited a local chiropractor here in Niagara Falls named Joanne McKinley-Molodynia who specializes in sports therapy as she is a runner herself. She fixed me up and I was back on the streets again running in fine form! However, I will say this — running through the pain taught me how to mentally focus on getting through the hurdle of overcoming the discomfort. It is not recommended, but for me if it wasn’t for those multiple injuries and running through them, I wouldn’t have learned to take rest days, know at the first time of ache when to stop and most importantly, tap into the mindset that running long distances isn’t just physical — but mental too.
 Tip#2: Practice your nutrition before long runs, or pay the price.
What I have learned that is probably the most important of my marathon tips, or any long run for that matter — carb up the night before, keep it healthy, limit yourself to a banana or a granola bar a couple of hours before the race and drink plenty of water — with a dissolvable electrolyte tablet like a Nuun tablet. I have, through experience, ran long runs on empty and they haven’t been pretty. You need the energy of good carbrohydrates to carry you through your long runs and bust down the dreaded “wall”. Think whole wheat pasta. I personally overdue it on the oatmeal, but that’s just me. If you aren’t sure what a good source of carbs is for running, click here for ideas. On my oatmeal I throw on chia seeds, fruit or almonds for an extra burst.
The electrolyte tablet works just like a sports drink, minus all the added sugars that may or may not upset your stomach. Shorter runs don’t usually depend so much on electrolytes like distance running does. If you have run long distances before or work out really heavily, you will lose sodium which is a very important factor in maintaining muscle balance. The loss of fluid through sweat may cause serious muscle cramps which you want to try to avoid. This is why restocking electrolytes is important.
Also, if you are prone to stomach issues such as myself when you are training, may I suggest another marathon tip: Eat light a couple of hours before the race and leave it at that. Running causes blood to flow away from your intestines to other parts of your body, resulting in running for the nearest toilet (or bush!) during a race. Don’t let this happen to you!! I don’t want it happening to me, so I not only eat light but I take something to hopefully avoid the issue all together, like Immodium. There is a reason why some distance runners have run in diapers. Let’s leave it at that and move on…
 Tip#3: Stay motivated.
For me, staying motivated is by entering 1 race a month (whatever distance I choose) to stay on top of my training and also, by envisioning my son everytime I step outside for a run. I not only run to maintain my health, but to stay healthy for my son and encourage him that physical fitness is important. During the race, here is another marathon tip that works for me: run to music! It gives me that extra bump in my step, but it also blocks out noise. The sound of my own laboured breathing makes me physchologically think that I am more tired than I actually am. I also don’t want to hear everyone else’s breathing, coughing, spitting, talking, throat-clearing, farting lol, whatever. You get the picture. It’s distracting! BUT keep the volume low enough that you can hear cars coming. A lot of races will tell you to leave the headphones at home for this reason. I sneak them in anyhow. I need music.
I think I’ve touched on this on almost every single blog that I have written for the Niagara Falls International Marathon: If you have an iphone, download the FREE Nike+GPS App!! When I started adding other runners on there, I started becoming competitive and I always want to be within the top 5 in the leaderboard or I feel like a slacker lol. You can also challenge other runners to beating specific distances or pace — I love it! Currently, my friend Mike is killing me, but as long as I’m in 2nd, I’m happy.

 Tip#4: Run outside.
There are several benefits to this I have found. Firstly, running on a treadmill is boring. Straight up. Running outside varies up the scenery — unless you stick to the same route, in which case, there’s still something new to look at each time. Also, it’s much too easy to be distracted on the treadmill by kids, your spouse, people at the gym that want to socialize, etc. Running outside means that if you run 5K from home, you still need to run the 5K back home again!
You also don’t have the assistance of a belt moving under your feet instantly propelling you forward. You have to use your own body weight to move, thus making it just that little bit more difficult running outside.
You get the added benefit of different surfaces to run on — putting your training just that hair above the rest. Concrete, asphault, trails, hills, you name it!
You are training in varying temperatures. You are running against wind, you are running against bitter cold temps and hot and humid temps. You are running in the rain, sleet and snow. You are used to it and you may even find yourself enjoying it.
Also, while I personally prefer to run alone, many people like a running partner and running outdoors allows you to do this. This marathon tip could also fall under the “stay motivated” category. Perhaps you need that little extra push that a running partner can do for you, or perhaps you get so lost in conversation that you just completed 13 miles without realizing it. Whatever it is, a running partner may be just what you need.
So, those are four of the main marathon tips that work for me and perhaps they can work for you too. If you have any additional tips that you would like to share, please I would love to hear them! Leave a comment and share what you have learned.
I would like to wish all the runners that will be doing the Niagara Falls International Marathon good luck on whatever distance they have chosen and I hope you reach whatever goal you set your mind to. Whether it be finishing in a specific time, trying to qualify for Boston, or simply just to finish the race and to say that you did it. For me, my personal goal is to complete the marathon in sub 4:00. My last half marathon was 1:42:05 so it’s doable! My bonus goal is to qualify for Boston which I would need to do in a time of 3:40 or less– it’s a goal to shoot for! Throw that one under the “stay motivated” category as well!
Lastly, there are many hotels in Niagara Falls sold out of rooms already. If you are looking for a great hotel, close to the finish line with standard rooms (2 double beds) still available at 15% off, the Clifton Hill Niagara Falls Hotel has some rooms left — but they’re booking up fast! Click here to reserve a room before they sell out!

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
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My Race Training Progress — 5 Weeks Until My First Full Marathon!

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I can’t believe how time flies! Yesterday, on September 22, 2013, I ran the “Run for the Grapes” half marathon, held in cooperation with the Niagara Wine Festival. This race was a good indicator to gage how my race training progress is going as the date draws closer and closer to the Niagara Falls International Marathon. I woke up yesterday with a sore throat and a runny nose, which as any mother with a child in daycare knows, if they catch it, YOU will catch it! I felt defeated even before I started. I did this course last year and I knew how hilly it was. The perfect battleground for any race training program. However today was not the day for challenges — or so I thought.
With a tissue in hand, I set off on the course to run the 13.1 miles (21.1 km), with the hope that I may not beat last year’s time of 1:44:07, but still hoping to place in the top 3 in the 35-39 age category. Whenever I run a half marathon I don’t fully relax until I see the “14km” sign marked. It’s usually at that point that I know that I will accomplish what I set out to do. Everything until that point has my mind in hysterics with “will I make it?” thoughts jumping around in my head. Anyhow, something happens to me when I run in that everything that my body is feeling simply shuts off and I zone out. The last kilometer in the “Run for the Grapes” is 80% uphill and, quite simply, it is hell. When I saw the finish line in view, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, next to when I ran the “Around the Bay” 30KM, the “Beamsville Bench” 5K and giving birth to my son — which, ironically, will come up in this blog in a moment. When I touched that mat with a chip time of 1:42:05 I was ecstatic! I not only beat last years time by 2 minutes and 2 seconds, but I did it while sick. I placed 52/213 overall, 8/90 females and 2/17 in my age group. I received the finishers medal, plus a silver medal for placing in the top 3 in my age group after all (my ceremonial car photo with my medals from this race is the featured photo in this blog).
This run gave me enough confidence to know that along with physical race training for the Niagara Falls International Marathon, that part of the training progress in running a marathon is also equally as mental as it is physical. You need to have that confidence and willpower to get through it. Think outside the pain, illness or any existing injury and just know that you can get through it. That faith in myself is something that I am pleased to say that I have when I run, and I think most runners that train for a half and/or full marathon will agree with me when I say that you reach a point in a long-distance run when physical becomes mental — which I compare to childbirth. The pain gets so bad that it doesn’t hurt anymore. I came across this blog last week that made me laugh called “10 Reasons Why Running a Marathon is Like Having a Baby“. I can think of a few extra additions to this list, but the comparison really is incredible! If you are a runner or training to become a runner, I really enjoy following www.ladyokieblog.com. Check out her blogs!

In my last blog post “My Marathon Running Progress — 7 Weeks To Go!”  I mentioned that I was trying to incorporate more morning runs into my regimen than my usual evening runs. I will admit, I failed that one miserably lol. While I do enjoy getting the workout out of the way, I can’t seem to get past the routine that turned into evening runs that I’ve been doing more 2 years now. I like the stress release that it gives me after a day of work and my muscles don’t feel that “morning ache”. I’m not saying that I’ll never do morning runs again, but I cut them down to just Sunday mornings for my long, slow distance (LSD) days as part of my race training.
Now, how many runners out there have entered a race and struggled with the “where will I put my car key while I run?” question. I know I can’t be the only one. Most of the time when I enter a race I don’t take anyone with me so I never know where to place my car key when I start the race. I do own a couple pairs of winter pants from the Running Room and Lululemon, as well as Winter running jackets that have zippers specifically for keys, but in the Summer and part of Fall I always find myself in the position of shoving my car key into my sports bra — and it hurts. I can finally say that I dropped $6.99 at Sport Chek and purchased the NiteIze Key Rack & Bottle Opener. It’s a key ring specifically for clipping onto your pants/jacket or wherever you see fit — with an added feature of a bottle opener to celebrate finishing your marathon by opening a beer lol! Go figure, such a simple purchase, but essential as part of my race training.

If you are currently training for a marathon as well and have some tips to share, I would love to hear from you! This will be my first full marathon and I would appreciate any advice that you care to share. Please write a comment in this blog and please feel free to share my blog with any other new runners. I’m looking forward to tackling this stepping stone in my race training and I’m ecstatic that I will be doing it in my home city of Niagara Falls with the Niagara Falls International Marathon!

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
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My Marathon Running Progress — 7 Weeks To Go!

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With only 7 weeks to go until the Niagara Falls International Marathon, my marathon running progress feels right on track. My fear has turned to excitement, as the big day comes progressively closer. As I stated before in my previous blogs laying out my marathon training progress ( see blog#1, blog#2, blog#3), I don’t follow a set marathon training schedule like many people do to prepare for such a strenuous achievement. My training regime for marathon running stems from listening to my own body, and pushing myself slightly more on different terrian, using hills one day and flat surface the next, and varying up my distances to what my work schedule, my husband’s work schedule and my child commitments allow. I have essentially become my own personal trainer leading up to the Niagara Falls International Marathon. While I still maintain running five days a week and strength training one day a week (I need to do more!), I have gradually increased my mileage from 10km to 12 km thorugh the week, I take one full day off (from both running and strength) and I make Sunday’s my LSD (long slow distance) day. Anyone that knows me, knows that I am an evening runner. It’s my way to unwind after work and free myself of any stresses that day brought. However, since my previous post a couple of weeks ago, I am trying to incorporate more of my marathon running training runs in the morning for three reasons — 1) I like the idea of getting my workout out of the way for the day. 2) Most races (including the Niagara Falls International Marathon) start in the morning, so I want to get my body used to the idea of racing schedule. 3) I have a very sensitive stomach and to run first thing in the morning before there is any food in my system, I feel like I can fully concentrate on my running and not whether my last meal will agree with me or not. Also, when you run first thing in the morning your carbohydrate stores are depleted, meaning you’re more prone to burn body fat over stored carbs (which your body needs for energy). I enjoy reading “Runner’s World” and “Running Times” Magazine for tips and inspiration, and this article from “Running Times” Magazine I found to be very interesting on the pros and cons of running in the daytime versuses the evening. I will say this — my morning runs are a work in progress. I feel stiff in the morning — it takes awhile for blood to get pumping. You can compare it to gravy. You let gravy sit (in our case, sleep) overnight, it develops a thick film on the top. Once you stir the gravy, it disappears. The same goes for your blood. That’s why that first 1-2 km always feel like you’re running like the Tin Man. In any case, it’s a challenge to get somebody like myself, a self-proclaimed night owl, to suddenly jump out of bed at 5:45 am for a run…but I’m getting there.
I also purchased myself some new Asics, my “go to” brand. I typically replace my running shoes a couple of times a year; statistically the average lifespan of a shoe should range between 300-500 miles depending on the weight of the individual and the surface that you run on. I always get my feet assessed by the specialists at the Running Room. This time I purchased Asics Gel Cumulus 14, slightly different from my previous pair of Asics Gel Nimbus 11 shoes. For my marathon running I feel the Nimbus edges out the Cumulus in comfort. When I run, I tend to land mid-sole and there is more gel cushioning in the midsole of the Nimbus. That being said, the difference is only slight between the two pairs, and I have yet to find a brand that competes.
My last half marathon distance was in March, so I decided on Thursday to run 21 km to see if I improved. My best half marathon time was 1:44:25. I ran a 1:31:44! I was super stoked! That was a huge improvement and accomplishment for me. On September 22nd I will be running the “Run for the Grapes” half marathon in St.Catharines, so I will use that distance as another predictor and motivator in preperation for the Niagara Falls International Marathon. I find that by entering races, whether they be 5K to half marathons, they push me to stay on track on my marathon running goals. There is something about entering a race that pushes you a little harder and (at least for me) when I place in the top 3 in my age category it makes me feel empowered and confident in my ability to set running goals. My FREE Nike GPS app for iphone is what I use to track my runs — and here is my proud moment:

This past Saturday I also ran the Waterfront Trail Double Crown race in Burlington, ON. I came in 2nd overall female and 1st in my age category (35-39). The header image in this post is me with my two medals (the finishing medal and my age group medal). I feel more and more confident in my ability that I can and I will get through my very first marathon on October 27, 2013 at the Niagara Falls International Marathon. I’m sure that I will be sore afterwards and I still have much more work to do (primarily getting in some more LSD runs and practising with fuel in gels, tablets and finding the right carb source for energy the previous evening of a long run). However, I know that I will push myself through this run with my family waiting for me at the finish line.
The marathon is now 80% full, so if you wish to register, register quick by clicking here!
I would like to finalize this post with something I found at the Fun Factory on Clifton Hill here in Niagara Falls, just a 2 minute walk from the Falls itself. I thought these were cute. They are called “Shwings” and they come in various different colours for $8.99 +tax. They come with eyelets and you tie you laces through them to “make your shoes fly”. I love them — and bought myself a pair!


Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
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My Marathon Training: Only 9.5 weeks to go! Oh My!

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It has been just over 1.5 months since I decided to take the plunge and begin marathon training for my first ever full marathon. To do a full marathon has been on my bucket list since I began running only 2 years ago, but I actually assumed it would be 4 or 5 years down the road, even after completing a few half marathons and the “Around the Bay” 30K road race just this past March in Hamilton, ON. The reason being? Running has become a lifestyle in that I have followed the same routine of running to stay fit 5 days a week, 10K at a time. I have never decreased or increased my mileage — even on the days leading up to my big races! Last year, I saw pictures of the Niagara Falls International Marathon and vowed to do the half marathon. Then I got thinking about it. I love the feeling of crossing the finish line…the rush, the excitement, the sense of accomplishment. There’s no time like the present right? And so began my marathon training. This is my third blog pertaining to my marathon training for the Niagara Falls International Marathon. Here are my first two:
Niagara Falls International Marathon: My Journey to take on 42.4 Kilometres
Niagara Falls Running: 14.5 weeks to go until the big day!
As you may have already read on my previous blogs, I loosely follow marathon training guides. I will say this though — when I ran the “Around the Bay” 30K road race I felt like walking by the 26K mark. When I crossed the finish line my legs cramped right up and I needed help to get up off the ground. It was then that I discovered the importance of staying hydrated to avoid muscle cramping. When you run any kind of great distance it is inevitable that you will be sore, but in long runs you need fluid (whether it be from water or sports energy drinks) to keep in optimal performance. The warning signs of dehydration include muscle soreness, feeling faint or light-headed with standing, rapid heart rate, sunken eyes, dry mouth, feeling very thirsty or a dull headache. Here is a tip that really helped me, that I will share with you in determining how much water you roughly will need to consume during your marathon training:
*Estimate your sweat rate by weighing yourself nude first and then run for 1 hour at your expected race pace. Do not drink during this run, so keep it within 10K or so. At the end of the run, strip down, towel yourself off and reweigh yourself nude. The difference in your weight in ounces is your estimated sweat rate. No more than that amount of water that you lost should be replaced within each hour of your race.* For me, this advice has helped a lot. I am fueled adequately, while not over-fueling either. There is nothing worse than water sloshing around in your stomach during a run.
Since my previous post a couple of weeks ago, I have added a few more tweaks to my marathon training. Firstly, while not completely adjusting my diet as I already eat fairly clean, I added chia seeds into almost everything that I cook. The chia seed is a high quality protein source, and if you are a vegan or eat primarily a diet composed of fruits and vegetables (like myself) they are an excellent addition to your diet. It contains soluable and insoluable fiber, which aids in digestion. It is also highly rich in antioxidants and is one of the most concentrated sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids. It has been labelled a “superfood” for many reasons, and click here for an article via Huffington Post that breaks down 10 benefits of chia seeds. I get my seeds from the Bulk Barn. 2 scoops cost me $16, but it’s a small price to pay for the benefits of the wonder seed.
I do not use the fact that I have a wild and crazy 2 year-old at home get in the way of my marathon training. Sure you have to make sacrifices such as perhaps shorter runs than you anticipated or more cross-training days than running days that you can do from home, but I do what I can, when I can do it. For me, I have been doing 10K-12K runs 4 days a week in the evening when my husbands gets home from work. I set aside approximately 1 hour to get this done — with most runs averaging between 45-55 minutes long. Sunday mornings at 7:30 am when everyone is still asleep, is when I do my long run of the week. One day of the week I do weight training. I don’t have a gym membership, I simply use free weights at home for approximately 45 minutes.
Again, this is what works for me. The Running Room has an excellent customized training program for every distance you are training for, if you wish to follow a set training guide and can stick to it. I just found that between my work schedule, my husband’s work schedule and juggling a very active toddler, I became my own personal trainer.
I leave this blog with a little inspirational video that was sent to me from a friend that I loved. I hope for anyone thinking of registering for the Niagara Falls International Marathon or any race for that matter — 5K to an Ironman, that it helps put a little mojo in your step too.
If you have enjoyed this blog or feel that it may help to encourage someone to give running a go, share this blog!
Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing my marathon training experiences with you.


Christine
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Niagara Falls Running: 14 weeks to go until the big day!

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Well, it’s been 1.5 weeks since I decided to take my Niagara Falls running to the next level and register for the Niagara Falls International Marathon. My previous and first post on this subject gave a little history on how I began running two years ago, so I won’t go into any depth about that except to say that the reasons that have kept me engaged with running have gone further beyond wanting to lose the baby weight — it is now part of my almost daily routine. Ask anyone that knows me about the two things in life that I can’t live without, and they will tell you a) my son, Kaidyn and b) running. I am addicted to the endorphin rush and the sense of utter relaxment, calmness and euphoria when I finish on empty. This is why I truly believe in the term “runner’s high” — because it happens to me on every single run. Niagara Falls running is a key motivator that keeps me from getting bored because I happen to live in a region with one of the most beautiful backdrops to run by — the Niagara Falls. Running on the trails in Niagara-on-the-Lake, little towns within the Niagara region (such as Jordan), and finding my “happy spots” as I call them in my hometown of St.Catharines keeps me focused, engaged, and challenged every time I step out the door.
I would be lying if I told you that during this past week and a half that I made the decision to jump to a full marathon, that I decided to stick to a specific marathon training plan. I did not. I am stubborn in that I like to train my own way and I kind of took on the notion that I am my own personal trainer. I refer to the book “Running: The Complete Guide to Building Your Running Program” by John Stanton as a general resource for my training. If you read my first post, you will know that I have done several half marathon races, and this book that you can purchase at the Running Room is an excellent tool for the beginner runner and for the seasoned athlete. My favourite chapter in the book breaks down a training guide for whichever type of race you are planning on doing (in this case, a full marathon) and even caters to whatever time you aim to finish in! I love this because my average half marathon finishing time is at the 1:45 mark, so you can up the ante and follow a 1:40 guide.

In any case, with this book I personally use it to keep me on track, but I don’t follow it every day as a specific set schedule. Some people choose to, and that’s great, but I like to colour outside the lines a bit and do my own thing. This past week, Niagara Falls running has been a challenge with the heat. A few days in a row we saw temperatures at the 32-33c mark, with the humidity making it feel more like 40C, and in some cases even higher than that! This didn’t mean that I fell off my training plan though! I made sure to hydrate properly and I ran with water. I don’t like to wear anything around my waist when I run, so I don’t use hydration belts. I keep my water bottle in my hands the whole time. The first day of our heatwave last week I found that even though I kept myself hydrated, my muscles were sore and achy throughout my whole body. I violated one of my own running tips…in extreme heat carry ELECTROLYTES! An “electrolyte” is any salt mineral that carries signals between cells allowing them to react properly. It regulates blood pressure, heart rate, water levels and muscle movement. If we don’t have enough electolytes, our body doesn’t perform as well. In extreme heat this tends to suffer and products that carry electrolytes (especially on longer runs) will benefit your performance. Gatorade for instance, is a an excellent source of a drink containing electrolytes. Races will usually have water and Gatorade stations set up every few kilometres. I really like Nuun tablets. They are flavoured tablets that disolve in water and they are easy on my stomach. Other popular brands of electrolytes are Gels such as Gu, in which you swallow back a pouch before or during your run and it gives you the extra “lift” that you need to keep going. Practice your tolerance for an electrolyte source well before your big day to see which product works for you — you don’t want any unnecessary “surprises” the day of. There’s is nothing worse than having to make a pit stop at a port-a-potty when you are trying to beat the clock! That’s all I will say about that.

If you live locally to Niagara Falls and you plan on registering for the Niagara Falls International Marathon , I would like to share with you one of my favourite Niagara Falls running routes. With all the chaos of raising a two-year old and everyday daily stresses I find it relaxing to get out for a trail run and I love the nature. This route is in St.Catharines and it’s the Merritt Trail. This trail begins at Bradley Street in south St.Catharines and continues through to Martindale Road in west St.Catharines and connects with the Green Ribbon Trail. The length of the trail is 11 kilometres. In the past week alone I have seen a massive tortoise, three beavers and just last night when I turned the corner I came face-to-face with a gorgeous deer! I have attached the pictures below as I always carry my iphone with me on my runs to track my GPS route through the free Nike+ GPS app. Please excuse the quality of my pictures. I took the picture of the deer so quickly!


In general, my training this last week and a half has been more about a test of will and strength in this heat than focusing on mileage. I have stayed consistent with running a 10K distance on average while keeping 2 days a week open for crosstraining, in which I choose to lift light weights and stregthen my core through abdominal exercises, planks and squats. My advice to you is to not avoid exercising in extreme heat, but to embrace it, while of course taking the necessary precautions. It is training in weather like this that may give you an extra edge over the opponent if you are competitive, but will also make you a stronger runner because the only person that you need to compete with is the person that you were yesterday when it comes to improvement. That’s the whole point in marathon training, right?
If you have enjoyed this blog or feel that it may help to encourage someone to give running a go, share this blog!
Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing my Niagara Falls running experiences with you!


Christine
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Niagara Falls International Marathon: My Journey to take on 42.2 Kilometres

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If you had asked me 2 years ago if I would become an avid running addict, I would have told you that you were crazy! I just gave birth to my son and had zero motivation. I had post-pardum depression, I had 35 pounds to shed and a newborn baby that drained all of my time and energy. Now I’m just 15.5 weeks out of running 42.2 Kilometres (or 26 miles to my American friends) in the Niagara Falls International Marathon on October 27th, 2013.
I had my son, Kaidyn, on March 27th, 2011 and it was on August 1st, 2011 exactly that I decided enough was enough and it was time to get moving. I went out and bought a good pair of running shoes — Asics Gel Nimbus 13. To this day, I swear by those shoes. I began walking with Kaidyn in his stroller after 2 months, so by August 1st when I decided to step out the door, I felt I was ready to do the next step — run. I didn’t realize then that I would be documenting my experience leading up to the Niagara Falls International Marathon just a couple of years later, nor did I know that I would shed all the weight plus an additional 16 pounds, improve my health and fitness and find a natural remedy to overcome post-pardum depression, without any kind of medical intervention. I downloaded the Nike GPS app for iphone — it’s a completely free application in which you enter your stats (height, weight, sex) and from there is tracks calories burned, mileage, your route and your speed. You have the ability to share it on social networking, which I do on Facebook. If you are competitive by nature — like myself haha — you can also race against your friends and try to beat their mileage week by week which is a further push to try and nail the Niagara Falls International Marathon.

Here is a video of the exact shoe that works for my foot specifically that I swear by, right down to the colour — but please have a professional assess your feet and running stride for the best shoe for your specific foot type! Places like your local Running Room will do this for you.
http://youtu.be/0odUtsBcfp4
The first thing I did to avoid the temptation to give up and stop running completely, was sign up for the Road 2 Hope Half Marathon on November 6th, 2011. That gave me 3 months to prepare. I slowly increased my mileage from 5KM runs to 10KM runs. I went from running everyday to running 5-6 days a week with one day devoted to Jillian Michaels. For super cheap, I bought 2 DVD’s: Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones and Jillian Michaels: Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism. I bought free weights in 1 lb, 3 lbs, and 5 lbs and got to work. Each DVD is 45 minutes. I learned that strength training is vital to maintaining proper form and increasing speed, stamina and the core strength needed for running. At the time, in preperation for this race, it was more important to me to finish the race than to garner a great time. I finished in 2:08:25. I was beaming! I felt accomplished, I felt like I could conquer the world. It was at that exact moment (without sounding poetic) that I fell in love with running. So here’s my first tip to keep you motivated….sign up NOW for the Niagara Falls International Marathon! By doing this, you will keep yourself accountable to keep moving. When you constantly sign up for races, you are continously staying on top of your game. You can only get better.
Here is my photo after my first race — the Road 2 Hope Half Marathon in November, 2011:

Fast forward to now — I have done 16 5K, 15 10K races, 6 Half Marathons, 1 30K race and the Warrior Dash. I have 34 medals — 25 of which I placed in the top 3 in my age group. My most recent Half Marathon was in a time of 1:43:17 — shaving off a considerable amount of time from my very first Half Marathon due to determination and persistance. I also have it in the back of my head that I am doing this for my son as well…to be the best mom that I can be by staying healthy enough to keep up!
My goal with this series of blogs leading up to the Niagara Falls International Marathon is to not only further motivate myself, but to encourage other runners and new runners that signing up for a full marathon doesn’t have to be as daunting as it seems. I am not a professional runner, I have NOT been doing this for years, I have lack of time, I have lack of sleep and I sometimes eat things that I shouldn’t, I get injuries, I run too late at night, I suffer from embarrassing running issues that no one ever wants to admit or talk about and I have no idea why Kenyans are so fast and why barefoot running is beneficial. I am just a regular runner looking to achieve something that statistics say that only 4% of the population ever acquires — to run a marathon!
Please follow my journey with me over these next couple of months as I document my personal experience and hopefully motivate you to give running a try! I will also write about my experience at the Niagara Falls International Marathon afterwards. The good, the bad, and the ugly! I will share my mileage, my nutrition (keeps me accountable!), trails and routes that I like and anything else I choose to talk about. I will leave this blog with my favourite running quote, made into a tattoo on my wrist:

If you have enjoyed this blog or feel that it may help encourage someone to give running a go, share this blog!
Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing my experiences with you!

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
Facebook: Clifton Hill – Niagara Falls Fun
Twitter: @cliftonhillfun
Google+: Clifton Hill Niagara Falls