40 Races, 1 year.

Of all the reasons why I didn’t think that I would ever start a blog, the one that I had the hardest time getting past was the idea that nobody would be interested in reading what I had to say.  Do I really have anything interesting to write about?  I have a lot to be thankful for and I feel like my life is very fulfilling, but I think most of us feel that way.  I could write on a daily basis about all of the things that I love and appreciate; my blended family with 6 kids, my never-dull job as a Grade 8 school teacher, or even my feeble attempts at keeping backyard chickens.  However, instead, I’m choosing to write about my running adventures.  I know what you’re thinking “How original!  A blog about running.  Just what the internet was missing”.

If you are hoping to learn about proper running form, cutting edge training strategies, or healthy eating and supplements to improve your running, let me save you some time… you’re not going to find it here.  My goals for this blog are simple; I hope to share my adventures and hopefully entertain a little.  In reality, there is a good chance that you will learn something but it will likely be from my mistakes rather than my insights.

My running experiences in isolation aren’t special.  I rarely win races or make the podium.  I’m more of an “age-grouper” and I’m perfectly fine with that.  In fact, the only aspect of my running that could be considered unique at all is the frequency in which I race. In the past 7 years I have run more than 150 races.  Screw quality, I’m all about quantity. I race often because I love it.  It’s almost an addiction and I know that it isn’t always healthy.  I like the competition but love the camaraderie.  I adore my fellow runners and have become close with many of them.  I love the rituals such as pre-race downplaying and excuses (“I’m just going to take it easy today”, “I’m still tired from my last race”, “My achilles is a bit sore”).  I love experiencing new courses and new towns.  I have even learned to love that simultaneous feeling of nausea and the taste of blood as I red-line a 5k.  Although I would consider myself more of a trail runner, I also love the road.  5k, 10k, 50k, 100 miles… love, love, love, love!  I think you get the point.

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to join the Get Out There Magazine team of Race Reporters, which I have been doing for many years now.  Essentially, I compete in races and create a 2-3 minute race report video for the magazine’s YouTube channel.  Here are a couple of my more recent videos:

2018 is going to be a big year for me.  First of all, I’m finally getting married to the love of my life, my best friend, and my partner in life and adventure, Heather Borsellino.

In addition to this, we have started a new racing company called“Happy Trails Racing” and will be directing 4 races in 2018 with plans on growing more in 2019.

Finally, in 2018 I will turn 40.  Honestly, I don’t know how it happened.  It snuck up on me and it attacked my knees, my back, and my midsection.  However, I’m not going down without a fight and this, my friends, is the purpose of my blog; my mid-life crisis!  I’m not going to get a sports car (that’s not my style and wouldn’t fit our 6 kids) and I won’t start wearing a leather jacket or get a new tattoo (ok, I’ll most definitely get a new tattoo but not because I’m 40).  My mid-life crisis is coming in a different form and I’m calling it my mid-life races.  Here it is: 40 races for my 40th trip around the sun.  Wait!  There’s more.  I’m also going to race with something that is foreign to me: complete transparency.  I’m going to set goals and share them.  Real goals and complete honesty.  No downplaying and no excuses.  Hopefully there will be some good moments to share and there will certainly be plenty of ‘crash-and-burn’ moments. I would love it if you would get involved in some way; join me for some races or even just follow my progress by reading my blog from time-to-time. I promise that, unlike this one, my entries will be short and to the point.