Our first marathon is 3 days away. Eek! The Struggle Buster Trio of Stephanie, Anita and Tricia (that’s me) have trained for over 20 weeks to prepare for the Twin Cities Marathon. With the race fast approaching, excitement and nervousness are building exponentially. We thought we would share our pre-race thoughts with you now. Stephanie…
Exercising every day can be difficult to get in. The World Health Organization tells us that we need a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week for health. Even more exercise per week can ward off some diseases, such as cancer, liver disease and diabetes. But, in our busy lives, working and taking care…
Running is great exercise, but it is sometimes hard on our feet. Our feet are the part of our bodies that contact the ground first. This can apply forces of an average 7 times our body weight focally on each foot strike. So, a 150 pound person lands with about 1000 pounds of force on…
Training for our first marathon has peaked at Week 19, which had us running 20 miles yet again. The training so far has been a whirlwind of fun, laughter, friendship, pain and mental struggle. The Struggle Buster Trio of Stephanie, Anita and Tricia (that’s me) are feeling the effects of all this training. It is…
Is cooking our food giving us cancer? The World Health Organization has already issued warnings about certain cooking methods. Research has shown high levels of cancer causing compounds that are produced in some of the ways we cook our food. So, what are we to do? Is there a way to cook our food that…
Oh those hills! The Kakabeka Falls Legion Half Marathon has several steep hills that cause a runner’s mind to fill with doubt and dread weeks before the race. The tallest hill reaches over 980 feet evoking sleepless anxiety the night before. It is a tough course, balanced by beautiful views and tranquil stretches of road…
It is hard to believe that there are only 9 weeks left to race day. Stephanie, Anita and Tricia (that’s me) are now up into the high numbers for long run mileage. We are now running at least a half marathon distance of 13.1 miles for every weekly long run now. In fact, a half…
Anita wants to run a marathon. She is a busy woman, working 50 – 60 hours per week managing a local grocery store and taking care of her family. While her children are now adults, Anita is far from an empty nester. She spends as much time with her two daughters as she can. But…
This is my honest and heartfelt letter to anyone diagnosed with cancer. I was told I had cancer in the fall of October 2013. It devastated me. I found it tremendously hard to navigate my emotions, while trying to listen to the advice given by my medical care team. It is an immensely stressful time…
In preparing for our first 18-mile run, doubt and anxiety filled my head. This trio of first-time-wannabe-marathoners, consisting of Anita, Stephanie and myself, continue to train for our first marathon. We are now at Week 12. Running these new longer distances plays with your emotions. There are definite highs and lows. Those low times can…
Jim has run over 100 marathons and about 80 half marathons to date. He is working on completing 100 half marathons by April 2020. Jim is also the race director of the Kakabeka Falls Legion Half Marathon and 8 KM in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. He is the most famous runner you have never heard…
The 2019 Marathon Challenge Week Ten is done. I am finding it hard to believe that the Struggle Buster Trio, comprising of Anita, Stephanie and I, have progressed this far. We are now into the very heart of the long runs. This week had us running 16 miles, the furthest so far. The rest of…
The Black Fly Half Marathon is a great race that few have heard about. The race course follows a scenic route nestled in the hills of Wawa, Ontario, Canada. The route is both challenging and beautiful. It is a peaceful run with fun and friendly people. I am so glad we found this off-the-grid half…
Oh my goodness! Is it Week Nine of our 2019 marathon training challenge already? Time sure flies. My apologies for not blogging about our adventures sooner, but there has been so much other stuff to blog about lately too. I think we last left off at Week Four. Five whole weeks have gone by. Incredible….
I lost 90 pounds by not dieting. Establishing healthy habits was the key to my success. These habits allow me to keep the weight off. Once I lost the weight, I never wanted it to come back. Here are just 7 tips I used on my weight loss journey. Updated June 24, 2020 1. Do…
I discovered this little gem of a trail to run in Guelph on a recent trip to Southern Ontario. The Royal Recreation Trail North is such a beautiful trail to run that I thought it worthy to tell you about. I hope you enjoy my story as much as I enjoyed running in this beautiful…
June 2019 saw the second running of the Voyage North 5 K & 10 K Race in Grand Marais, Minnesota. My husband and I ran it last year during the inaugural run. Both runs were fabulous. Who doesn’t love free smoked salmon and craft beer at the finish? But let me tell you more about…
Muscle and body soreness are two questions that trainers are asked frequently. If you are just starting a run program or trying to improve your distance, pace and finishing time, you are going to have sore muscles. Pushing ourselves and moving outside of our comfort zone is the only way to improve. But, anytime we…
Muscle and body soreness are questions that trainers face on a regular basis. Those just starting a run program and runners trying to improve their distance, pace and finishing times are going to have sore muscles. Pushing ourselves and moving outside of our comfort zone is the only way to improve. But, anytime we push…
The Struggle Buster Trio are progressing well in these early weeks of marathon training. Week Four marks one fifth of the way through our training plan. The weekly mileage will now be steadily increasing. This week saw us running 12 miles, which is almost a half marathon distance. It amazes us that this will soon…
I am so excited to introduce two runners to you. This father and daughter duo went from couch to 10 miles in 18 weeks. Their story is so tremendously inspiring. It was such a pleasure to help them along in their journey back to health. Kelsi and Brian were looking for change Brian and Kelsi…
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