Sunday morning. Facebook status update: “@ Downsview Half/ 5k. Running everyone’s most hated distance.” “Oh, you are just (!) running a 5k this weekend”, I”d hear people say. “Well, that’s easy for you, after you’ve done all those crazy races.” Ok. Seriously? I never know how to respond. I’ve never run an easy race. Not a single one of them was easy. They were all hard. All hard in a different way. My first 5K was hard. I started out too fast, then faded 1km in, and struggled to maintain a reasonable pace for the rest of it. My fastest 5K was hard. I felt like I was going to barf the whole time - just like a good fast 5K should feel. I was 4th female overall. My first 10K was hard. I thought it would never end. I ran fast. My first trail race was hard. It was only (!) a 5k. After running exclusively on pavement, I had no idea what hit me. Hills, roots, mud - the only words out of my mouth at the finish line were: “What the fuck just happened?”. I made podium. My first half marathon was hard. The last 2km lasted forever. We saw the finish line and then had to make another loop all around the lake. I cried when I crossed the finish line and hugged my pace bunny. My first full marathon was hard. I trained for months and had to give up the things I loved. But I had a smile on my face the whole time, and finished strong. My first triathlon was hard. Getting into a wetsuit after a recent weight gain was humiliating. And humbling. And riding an old mountain bike and being passed by every single.rider was also humiliating. And humbling. My first obstacle race was hard. A Warrior Dash in Illinois. I wore loose cotton pants and a t-shirt, which resulted carrying about five extra pounds of mud after the first water crossing. It was blazing hot. My first Spartan Beast was hard. I thought I was almost done, almost at the finish line, and skipped a gel. Instead, we had to climb a freaking Everest of a mountain. I bonked hard. That race almost broke me. I came second. My first Ultra Beast was hard. Despite feeling strong on my first loop, heading out to do my second loop, away from my drop bin, away from dry clothes, and away from the finish line, to do everything I just did one more time was incredibly hard. My first Tough Mudder was hard. I ran it with a team of 20 people. While we had a blast, it was really difficult for me not to run at my own pace, but rather at the pace of the group. I still struggle with that. My last Tough Mudder was hard. It was freezing cold. Getting up that morning was the hardest part. I ran it solo in just over two hours. I was the first female across the finish line. A yoga student later that week approaches me, saying that he ran that Tough Mudder as well. “How was it?”, I ask. “Pretty easy”, he shrugs. “I don’t know what all the fuss is about.”. He was on course for over four hours. My first Death Race was hard. Still processing that one. If racing was easy, I wouldn’t be racing. Every single race is hard. That’s the point. They are all hard in their own way. If you thought a race was easy, you weren’t running fast enough. Run faster. Pick another race. Pick the one that scares you. The one you are not quite sure you can do. Aim for a finish time that is just above what you know is possible. Then do the race and send me an email to tell me about how easy it was. Something tells me I will not be getting too many emails... Always running faster, Solo

S.E.R.E. Performance in NYC. At 44, David has been a competitive athlete for most of his life. Raised in California, he now calls New Jersey home. After rock climbing for 14 years he and his wife, Angela (hi, Angela!), did a Spartan race in 2010 and were immediately hooked on OCR. They competed in the first Vermont Beast and the inaugural 2012 UltraBeast. In 2013 David completed 13 (!) S.E.R.E. Performance events, including the inaugural S.E.R.E. Assault, where he was one of the the only two finishers. When not climbing or running, he works as a psychologist in a maximum security prison and plays with his pugs, Dante and Loki. Without further adieu… Fuego y Agua 50K Survival Run For months I'd been preparing: I'd made Luna sandals from scratch and done long runs in them, I'd carved a survival bow, built a travois, studied the local plants, thrown a club at a target, and practiced making fire with a bow drill. And, most importantly, I'd just completed the Spartan Ultra Beast - nearly 30 miles with 11,000' of elevation - just two weeks earlier. My confidence going into the Fuego y Agua Hunter Gatherer Survival Run was high. I was prepared! After flying into San Antonio and driving two hours to Camp Eagle, the last eight miles of which involved driving down a dirt road, I pitched my tent and headed to the Pavilion for Package Pickup. As the "pure" Ultra runners received their bibs and bags of swag the Survival runners stood around edgily awaiting whatever task that Josue Stephens, the Race Director, had in mind for us. A short while later we learned that in order to get our bib we had to carry a log 2.5 miles uphill and carve our Race Number into it. No problem! *    *     * Up next - an interview with the race director Josue Stephens, the race winner and fellow Canadian Shane McKay, elite racer Isaiah Vidal, who biked from Texas to Vermont and completed both the Beast and the Ultra Beast only two weeks earlier, as well as a female perspective on the 50k ultra run from Kim Kendra who came 3rd in the 50k Ultra Trail Run. Signing off, SOLO *Disclaimer: Please note that Fuego Y Agua has not paid or compensated me or David Kalal in any way to cover their event or give them a positive review.

As a number of you are gearing up for the upcoming run in Nicaragua, I’d like to share the perspectives of three more racers on the recent Survival Run in Texas. In this post, Kim Kendra, one of the few female racers, describes the course, the race winner Shane McKay shares his training regimen, and Isaiah Vidal, “the superfreak of fitness”, discloses a surprising career aspiration. KIM KENDRA “Lots of hills, lots of rocks, and lots of bushwhacking” is how Kim Kendra, one of the racers, competing in the “obstacle-free” 50k Ultra Run, describes the course. She podiumed as a 3rd female, finishing in 10 hours and 45 minutes. To compare – a 3rd female in a recent 50k in Ontario finished in 4 hours and 14 minutes. Despite (or maybe thanks to) the brutal terrain, it seems Josue Stephens is onto something – these events are addictive. “Less than a week after the Hunter Gatherer Ultra, and I’m already thinking about signing up for the Survival Run” says Kendra. *Time above – one hour behind due to staggered starts. Kim Kendra, a 32-year old from Sleepy Hollow, NY, is no stranger to gruelling events. Although fairly new to racing, she has been steadily amping up the length and difficulty of her events, quickly graduating from road running to obstacle racing, and finally completing her first 50-miler as well as S.E.R.E. Performance Assault Challenge in 2013. The latter event lasted 22 hours, and covered 48 miles. The racers carried their own water, food, gear as well as mandatory sand weight. They walked on the railroad tracks for miles. They invaded local eateries while covered in stinky mud, humbly asking to use the phone. Assault had only 2 (unofficial) finishers. Kendra was one of them. The other was David Kalal whom you may remember from a recent guest race recap. When she is not bushwhacking through the underbrush, Kim wears a white coat and goggles, and works on developing drug candidates for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and muscle disorders. SHANE MCKAY As I started talking to athletes and the race director himself about the Survival Run, every single one of them recommended that I talked to Shane. He was referred to as an “absolutely amazing athlete”, an “inspirational beast”, and a “super cool Canadian dude”. If that wasn’t enough, 53-year old Shane was the Survival run winner, and the only person to collect all 4 amulets (i.e. complete all the challenges) and finish the 50km in around 16 hours. I reached Shane at his small ranch in Invermere, British Columbia, and he was kind enough to share some insights into his training and his racing accomplishments. What is your main sport? I have played hockey my whole life but I’m taking this year off to focus on running and Crossfit training. I started running two years ago and since then have completed around 25 Spartan races and numerous trail races. What are some of the other races that you are proud of? My best races have been a second place finish at Spartan race Edmonton and 1st in AG in grizzly mountain marathon. You are the winner of this event. Did you enter 50k or 100k? Did you finish? How long did it take? At Hunter Gatherer, I completed the 50 km in around 16 hrs. I was told by race director Josue that I had won the race and it was not necessary to continue. He also said if I chose to go on I had his full support, they would man the obstacles and watch me closely. I started the second loop, but by the time it came back past the venue I had reconsidered. Nothing more from a fitness point could be gained, except, perhaps, an injury. It would also mean keeping volunteers on the course and if I were injured and required evacuation someone else’s health may be on the line. It would have been great to have more runners make the cut off and keep going. The race would be over and the real survival run could take place. What was the most challenging about the course? My biggest challenge was the swim. I have worked hard all summer and even practiced in sandals. I wasn’t sure how long it would be so I went slow a tried to conserve energy I would need it for the rest of the race. After being in the water for about an hr and a half I was starting to shiver, I still had about 200 yrds to go, I decided I would have to really pick it up and get out of the water. Also, I hadn’t been able to take in any nutrition while swimming and was starting to feel the result. As soon as I hit the shore I downed about a litre of Carbo pro mix and had a protein bar, it took a couple hrs before I felt good. According to the race director, “If I get lost, hurt or die, it is my OWN damn fault”. You obviously didn’t die. Did you get lost or hurt? Haha, I did not get lost or hurt either. I paid close attention to the markings and always backtracked if I was unsure. I paid close attention to my nutrition making sure I was consuming at least 250 calories per hr plus electrolyte and salt. I also kept a close feel for my feet, always checking and adjusting sandals as required and taking it easy on the rougher terrain. Would you have done anything differently to prepare for this race? I think I covered all the bases in preparation for this one, all the challenges I thought would come up I had practiced daily, from starting fires to cutting and lacing sandals. I hit my Crossfit gym just about every day in August to increase my strength and made some very long hikes in the mountains with extra weight to increase my long endurance. I tapered and rested through September. Shane will be returning to Nicaragua in 2014 to race either the Survival Run or the 100k Ultra. Meanwhile, we are on to our youngest Survival Run athlete… ISAIAH VIDAL Isaiah Vidal is perhaps best known as “that crazy guy who biked from Texas to Vermont and then ran the Beast AND the Ultra Beast”. It was only fitting that two weeks after the Vermont championships, this smiley 20-year old toed the start line in Texas, as the youngest Survival Run competitor. I chat with Isaiah only a week after the event, and he reports feeling pretty good, apart from his neck and shoulders that were completely ripped up by the 100+ lb log he had to carry for hours. What was your favorite obstacle? It took me three hours to make fire. I am a stubborn guy, and I didn’t care how long it took me. I would have rather run out of time that quit. When it finally happened, I cried. There were so many racers who couldn’t do it. And I did. I made fire! Why do you think the idea of a Hunter/Gatherer race may be appealing to the modern human? After all, to get fire today all we need is a lighter. This race teaches you to persevere. It’s about being outside of your comfort zone, being able to do something completely different from normal runners in a normal event. For example, making shoes of my own – I’ve never done that before. You have to learn how to be uncomfortable. You are in college. What program are you currently pursuing? I am stuck between kinesiology and theatre. I can be a good actor. It’s another gift that I have been given. I’ve done some casting, but would love to do more speeches, and work on stage. When it comes to casting, they look at me as a young jock, the football player. There are not too many roles like that. I would need to reshape my body in order to fit more diverse roles. But I don’t want to change who I am. I am also part of FCA – Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I want to share my faith with other people, and follow the Lord. I want people to be inspired. You just give me a mike, and I start speaking from the heart. We will see Isaiah on the extreme endurance racing circuit in 2014 or maybe on stage, acting. In either case, he will be pushing himself even further, no doubt. And that’s a wrap on the Hunter/Gatherer series of posts. At least for now. On February 5th, the Survival Run: Nicaragua will return. Last year there were only two official finishers. This year, who knows? Some crazies will attempt the Deadly Devil’s Double Challenge – a 75+km Survival Run followed by a 100km Ultra mere three days later. I’m looking forward to chatting with some of the athletes after the upcoming race in Nicaragua, and of course, bringing their stories to you. Journalistically yours, Solo *Disclaimer: Please note that Fuego Y Agua has not paid or compensated me in any way to cover their event or give them a positive review. Anything you read here is my independent opinion based on interviewing the race director and racers.

After a much discussed Survival Run in Nicaragua, the race director Josue Stephens announced that he was bringing a similar event to the United States. Survival Run: Hunter Gatherer 50k & 100k took place few weeks ago in Texas, and the social media outlets are still chattering about the brutal terrain. The races that Josue organizes are hot, hot hot – and not just in the temperature sense – do not go further than the Fall 2013 of TrailRunner. Alex Kurt in his feature article “Running through Fire” refers to Nicaragua’s Fuego Y Agua as “a trail-running experience like none other”. In today’s post, I am happy to present the man himself, as he talks about the origin of the egg obstacle, how he started organizing races, and what it’s like to grow up with 10 siblings. What is your name? Josue Antonio Stephens Where are you from? I was born in Burbank, CA, and currently live in Austin, TX. How old are you? 32 What is your background? Sport? How did you become a race director? I grew up living and traveling around Central America, Mexico, Canada and the US. Many times we lived in campers or tents in the mountains, forest or jungle. With 10 siblings living together in these types of situations and no TV, we were very outdoorsy. Growing up I trained for an ultra between the ages of 11 and 12 with my dad, played soccer in high school, rock climbed, mountain biked, hiked and did pretty much everything outdoors. In a nutshell, at the age of 25, I decided I wanted to get into ultras again, so in 2007 I entered my first. I then ran multiple ultras through the fall of 2007 and 2008, including winning and placing in the top 10 for several regional races. I have since run several ultras per year, 50k to 100 miles, a few marathons, Spartan Races (10th at Ultra Beast) and Joe Deckers SUCK event. I was hooked! I had been traveling to an island in Nicaragua since 2003 and immediately knew I wanted to do an event there. The terrain was brutal and the culture was intriguing. In 2008 I put on a “trial run” of the Fuego y Agua Ultras by doing a donation based entry. We had 27 people and a great time. After that I began putting the event on yearly with continued growth. In 2012, a good friend and inspiration of mine, Micah True, also known as Caballo Blanco, passed away. We had been in touch since 2007, and I had run the race in the Copper Canyons in 2008. Once he passed away, the big question was “who is going to keep this race going?” I decided with my experience, passion for Latin America and love of ultras, I would help continue the race. With the help of Micah’s girlfriend Maria Walton, who heads up the Norawas nonprofit, we have brought the race back and continued the traditions. Since then, I have been busy full time expanding the idea of extreme endurance events with a philanthropic twist. My goal is to create events that are much more than “show up, get a shirt, race, get a medal, and leave.” How many similar events have you organized in the past? How was this event similar to the Survival Run in Nicaragua? How is it different? I am on my 2nd year for Ultra Caballo Blanco in Mexico, 5th year for the Fuego y Agua Ultras in Nicaragua, and working on the 2nd Edition of Survival Run: Nicaragua. Survival Run: Nicaragua was the first “obstacle race” I directed, but you can hardly call it that. The idea for Survival Run actually began the first year I put on Nicaragua in 2008. The original idea was no aid stations, super tough trail with bushwhacking, carry all of your own gear etc. I called it Survival Run 100k when I sent the first email to all the potential participants. However, as the race details progressed, I wanted to make it more accessible to everyone, so I added aid stations and a 50k option. That’s how Ultra Fuego y Agua was born. In September of 2012, I finally decided to implement the Survival Run idea. I know the Nicaragua course like the back of my hand, so I stayed up all night writing out the ideas and essentially compiling the entire course. Everything was built on the concept of traditional daily life on the island, except for the egg obstacle, which was inspired by the Birdman Race (Tangata Manu) on Easter Island. As for the difference between the Hunter Gatherer and the Nicaragua events… I aimed for both events to have a practical and an educational components to them. For example, in a Survival Run, all the challenges serve a purpose – for example, you may climb a tree to get something that you need later. In Nicaragua, the runners had an opportunity to learn a little bit about life on the island. To summarize, Hunter Gatherer was more about true self-sufficiency, and survival skills. It definitely required some preliminary training. I chose Texas as a race venue, because the Texas Hill Country is rough and tough! Meanwhile, Nicaragua was more about adaptation and being ready for anything that happened. Wait… Rewind. The egg obstacle? Haha, sorry. I had the racers do the egg obstacle in Nicaragua. About 2/3rds into the race they went up the volcano (again!), swam into the crater lagoon and retrieve an egg floating in a basket. This egg had to be tied to their forehead using a bandanna from that point until the end of the race. If the egg broke, they could not get the last piece of their medal. This idea came from the Tangata Manu race on Easter Island, where, as a rite of passage, local young men had to swim to an island, retrieve the egg from a bird, then bring it back unbroken to the mainland. The first one back won the maiden’s hand in marriage. Of course we do not include that last part. However, it’s a neat story. [Solo’s note: Are you already putting the Tangata Manu race on your racing bucket list? Unfortunately, this traditional competition was suppressed by Christian missionaries sometime in the 1860s. Yay, Christian missionaries.] What is the demographic of the racers you attract? Why do you think racers are attracted to the idea of a Hunter/Gatherer themed event? As the second Survival Run, Hunter Gatherer really began to define exactly what a Survival Run is and who will race it. However, the main group now seems to be the ultra endurance athlete or the obstacle course racer who wants something more. It is interesting watching the two worlds collide, the ultras can run but are a bit taken aback by challenges, the ocr runners are slower but take the challenges by storm. As Survival Run evolves into a unique event, outside of the standard Ultra, OCR or Adventure Race, it will develop its own breed of racer. Hunter Gatherer is the race that scared a lot of people away, the concept was so far out there, many people just did not want to even try it. Fashioning their own footwear was a huge roadblock for a lot of people, but those who made it to the race, had less of a problem with footwear than they thought. In racing, in life, we get to where we rely on our gear, our packs, shoes, electronics, gels, special drinks, you name it. The appeal of Hunter Gatherer was that it stripped you from your “blankie,” then it put you through one of the toughest challenges of your life. Everyone who toed that start line overcame a lot of fear to get there. Can you give me some numbers for your recent events? How many people applied? Registered? Showed up? Finished? Fuego y Agua Nicaragua started in 2008 with 27 people, we are expecting over 500 in 2014. Ultra Caballo Blanco had 585 starters. Our finish rate for the 100k in Nicaragua is always around 40%, and for 50k is about 70%. For Survival Run Only: Survival Run Nicaragua 2013, we had 130 applicants, 38 starters and 2 finishers. Survival Run: Hunter Gatherer 50k we had over 150 applicants, 23 starters, 13 Finishers, but only 1 who completed the course and received all 4 Amulets ( I – DID – NOT – FAIL). [Solo’s note: The one who completed the course is a fellow Canadian Shane McKay. Read on for some of his thoughts on this event!] Why make the event application only? Do you accept everyone who applies? How do you make a decision? Is there a cap on the number of runners per event? The event is application only because we do not want people going out and killing themselves. Nutrition, Hydration, navigating tough terrain, those are all things an athlete must be experienced in for a Survival Run. Ultra distance and obstacle course racing experience are required in these events. We also require our applicants to have volunteered at an event before, this way they are able to understand what goes into producing an event. I do not accept everyone who applies, but surprisingly, 95% of those who do apply, are eligible. I think just reading the race description keeps people away. I make a decision based on Ultra experience, OCR experience, and if the person seems they are missing the right amount of screws. After Nicaragua, we are overhauling the application process and will have a few additional criteria. As demand grows for these events, we will be turning more people away. I cap the Survival Runs depending on the course and what it can handle. This will always be a smaller and more exclusive event. Those who participate in Survival Run belong to a tribe of the select few who dared take on the challenge. Survival Run: Nica is capped at 100, Ultras are capped at 400 for those who only want to run. Do you race the course yourself? If not, how do you know that it’s actually doable? I have gone over each section multiple times, camped out on the volcanoes in Nicaragua, spent hours with a heavy pack marking miles of course, sleepless nights coming up with the obstacles, working out details, etc. I “test” the obstacles/challenges, and I master the skills myself. Since coming up with the Hunter Gatherer concept, I made bowdrill fires, learned how to identify medicinal plants, and how to make and shoot a bow. I ran. I swam with logs. The race challenges are built on the way I train at home or when traveling. I never have anyone do a tree climb I cannot do, and having done long endurance events, I am aware of human capabilities and limits. We have our first draft, where I come up with all of the challenges, then the process where we test for difficulty, scalability and logistical reality. The race we produce is much easier than the rough draft! What was the hardest part about planning this event as a director? What is your favorite part? There are always logistics to deal with, but scaling the challenges to work for multiple people is always tough. My favorite part is the camaraderie that comes from the event. Do you come up with all the obstacles yourself? Where do you find inspiration? I do come up with the obstacles/challenges. I draw a lot of it from my Dad, who always showed us new things and kept us thinking. As kids, we were very well read on indigenous tribes, how they hunted, and how they lived their lives day in and day out. My Dad is the one who inspired the egg obstacle from Easter Island’s Birdman Race. What kind of training would you recommend to a racer considering one of your events? Get out of the gym and into the woods. Hunter Gatherer does require some skills, but the premise of Survival Run is to be comfortable in natural environments, climbing trees and rocks, swimming, jumping, carrying, throwing, and adapting. What is your next event? I am co-directing a road marathon with a friend of mine, and then I go into full planning mode for Fuego y Agua Nicaragua (Feb 5-8 2014) and Ultra Caballo Blanco – Copper Canyon Mexico (March 2). Are you planning to bring the Survival Run back to the United States? Yes, Survival Run: Hunter Gatherer will be in the US again next year! We also have an event in Wales we are planning. * * * Are you booking your tickets yet? Wait. There’s more. In an upcoming post, the race winner Shane McKay shares his training regimen, and Isaiah Vidal, “the superfreak of fitness”, discloses a surprising career aspiration. Off to hunt (and maybe gather), Solo *Disclaimer: Please note that Fuego Y Agua has not paid or compensated me in any way to cover their event or give them a positive review. Anything you read here is my independent opinion based on interviewing the race director and/or racers.

Prison Break is one of the newer obstacle race series, yet it has already been highlighted among three top rated races in the Impact magazine, along with Ontario Women’s Triathlon and Oasis Zoo Run. It combines an obstacle heavy 5k with capture-the-flag twist, where you “break out” and attempt to escape, all while keeping the three flags you are given at the start. This was definitely one of the races that underpromised and overdelivered – a great balance of well-spaced obstacles. I never felt like we were just running at any point. There was always something coming up, and “cops” trying to get your flag, provided a surprisingly intense intra-race sprint workout. I was training for my upcoming blindfolded Tough Mudder at the time, so we opted to run between obstacles, and attempt every obstacle blindfolded. Check out the footage of few obstacles below. SPOILERS: you get to hear me talk in chipmunk voice you get to meet the Big Red (once again) who made sure I didn't die, while doing Tough Mudder you get to see me DANCE. Possibly, for the first and last time, on film. I did not make the traverse wall. … and had to deliver 20 burpees as penalty. At the finish line, if you have at least one flag left, you are free. If, however, all flags have been taken away from you, you are sent through the penalty obstacle. At the Toronto race that meant waddling through a waist-deep water-filled dumpster. I would say the reinforcement of the penalty was fairly lax (which seems to be the theme in obstacle racing, in general), so if you were hell bent on not doing it, you could have easily kept walking. Bonus points for doing all the obstacles blindfolded. While most beginners often start entertaining the idea of Warrior Dash. I would actually recommend this event over Warrior Dash, which seems to be getting more expensive, and less obstacle-y every year. This race series is a great addition to events like Mud Hero and BadAss Dash. Three Prison Break racing weekends still await in 2014! Dates later in the season are definitely welcome, as most Spartan races wrap up by the end of July. Unfortunately, the race organizers have recently rescheduled Prison Break Ottawa, moving the original race date by a week, and leaving many racers frustrated. I, for one, can sympathize. August and September are prime racing months, and weekends are often planned months in advance. Hopefully, these dates will work for you: Upcoming races: MONTREAL Saturday, September 6th, 2014 Sunday, September 7th, 2014 OTTAWA Saturday, September 13th, 2014 VAL D’IRENE Saturday, September 27th, 2014 You can save 20% off registration by using the following discount code: *Disclaimer: I have received a free entry to this event. Under no circumstances have I been paid to write any positive reviews. Anything you read here is my independent opinion based on my own experience. Hugs, Solo

WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU WANT TO RUN TOUGH MUDDER BLINDFOLDED? That’s pretty much the first question I get. Here’s how this all started… A few years ago I started coming up with one word at the beginning of the year, that would reflect my mission for that year. Some of my past words were “explore”, “create”, and “trust’. [Read more here.] My word for 2014 is “LIGHT”. Light. Fire. Torch. Energy. It’s about finding the light within myself, and especially, within others. My 2014 is about helping others to find their light. From teaching yoga to coaching to writing to becoming one of the guides to Rhonda, a visually impaired ultra runner, who is currently running from Tobermory to Niagara Fall in an attempt to become the first disabled athlete to run the entire length of Bruce Trail (880+ km). In line with the year’s theme, I launched Operation Light Within – a charity initiative to raise awareness for athletes with disabilities. It’s a fundraiser with a twist. Coz that’s how I roll. Part 1. On Saturday, August 16th, 2014, I will run Tough Mudder Toronto blindfolded. This will be a practice run as I will aim to learn from my guides what kind of verbal instructions are necessary and most helpful. Part 2. I will guide Rhonda, a visually impaired ultra runner, in her own first Tough Mudder (New Jersey) in October. All other athletes are welcome to run on the team. If you are an athlete with disability and require a guide or assistance, just give me a holler, and I’ll hook you up. The charity I chose as a beneficiary is Achilles International. They are an organization whose mandate it is to “enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics”. HOW CAN YOU HELP? 1. Share this. Think this is all kinds of cool and awesome? Me too. Please tell your friends, send them this link and spread the word. If you are running Tough Mudder Toronto, and see me on course, holler! If you hear others wondering what the heck is going on, tell them more. 2. Run with us in NJ. Save the date! Team Operation Light Within will run Tough Mudder Tri-State (NJ) on Saturday, October 11th. We’d love to have you. 3. Donate. GoFundMe campaign for Operation Light Within has been set up, and I would appreciate your help. I would like to make a donation of at least $1,000 to Achilles International, an organization that works with disabled athletes. [Why a $1,000? It’s a bucket list item. :)] I am currently arranging free registrations for Rhonda and the guides for the October event, however, I am looking for any financial contributions to help with gas, hotel and food expenses for the team. This is something I’d normally cover out of pocket for myself, however, having a number of people involved makes this a bit more costly. Follow this adventure on my FB athlete page and on Twitter @k_solovieva. #operationlightwithin Lit within, Solo

This morning – I run Tough Mudder Toronto blindfolded. TEAM ROSTER: 1. SOLO Three favorite / notable / awesome races to date? Spartan Death Race 2013, Spartan Ultra Beast 2012, desert half marathon (Israel) Next race goal? Run for the Toad 50k Trail Race Anticipated challenges? Tight spaces (that one is always an issue), especially those filled with water. Something about not being able to see them, makes them that much more anxiety-provoking. Jumping off Walk the Plank. Electric Eel - crawling across the slippery surface, filled with electric wires. Having a blindfold on for that long - a mindfuck of its own. Not being able to run at full speed. Having to rely on others. 2. Stony Three favorite / notable / awesome races to date? Most notable “race” -Goruck Selection (2013), nothing else compares... Next race goal? My next goal is go back and complete what I failed at Goruck Selection. How do you know SOLO? Goruck Challenge, Class #191 Anticipated challenges? I anticipate indecisive wording as a problem as Solo tries to complete each obstacle, we have to describe everything around her so she can develop a picture in her mind of what’s to come, and trying to not bump her head off too many objects, ha! 3. Pamela Three favorite / notable / awesome races to date? Having just discovered OCR in the late summer of 2013 I've only done a handful of races to date. But my three favorites are: Mud Hero, 5 Peaks-Terra Cotta and GoRuck Light. Next race goal? My next race goal is Tough Mudder Tri-State (after this weekend's Tough Mudder Toronto, that is!) How do you know SOLO? I read Kate's blog and follow her on Facebook. When she posted about doing Tough Mudder blindfolded, I contacted her to share about my Vision and Hearing loss, and my desire to run Tough Mudder as well. Anticipated challenges? Being Legally blind (my visual field is less than 15 degrees) I think the biggest challenge in running Tough Mudder blindfolded is the complete lack of vision. You will have to put your full trust in others to guide you successfully over, under and through physically challenging obstacles. There is a fear of the unknown...There is a feeling of isolation...This is not a feat for the faint-hearted! 4. Jamie Three favorite / notable / awesome races to date? World’s Toughest Mudder Championships 2012 – My first major race World’s Toughest Mudder Championships 2013 – A personal best in distance Fuego y Agua: Nicaragua Survival Run 2014 – By far the toughest challenge I have ever faced. Next race goal? 2014 Hunter Gatherer Ultra Survival Run & 2015 Fuego y Agua: Nicaragua Ultra Survival Run How do you know SOLO? First time I saw Solo was at the 2013 Mudnewton Race where she was wearing a frilly prom dress and carrying a cake the whole race. I was impressed and intimidated all at once. Anticipated challenges? The biggest challenge will be that the guides' verbal directions need to be descriptive and enough to help, not hinder your movements. I remember the hail bails at “Prison Break” and your poor nose… sorry. 5. Ryan Ryan is the gazelle is the team. He is fast. Like... if we forget something at the start line, and we are half way through the course, he can jog back and catch up with us, without bringing his heart rate up too much - fast. Notable / awesome races to date? World’s Toughest Mudder Next race goal? World’s Toughest Mudder 2014 6. Karen Notable / awesome races to date? Spartan Sprint two years ago - my first obstacle race - I'll never forget it. And Tough Mudder 2013 - met a lot of cool people there. Next race goal? Army Run in Ottawa (22 Sep, 2014) - road half marathon How do you know SOLO? Yoga Tree - she was my yoga teacher. Anticipated challenges? Guiding you correctly, so you do not smash yourself against anything. :) *Papa SOLO is joining us as well for his first ever Tough Mudder! He said that the biggest challenge he anticipates is persuading my mom that he will come home alive. I guess I should not tell her that he'd have to sign a death waiver. Follow this adventure today, August 16th on my FB athlete page and on Twitter @k_solovieva. #operationlightwithin Curious why I’m running Tough Mudder blindfolded? Read more here. **************************************** Operation Light Within is a charity initiative to raise awareness for athletes with disabilities. The charity I chose as a beneficiary is Achilles International. They are an organization whose mandate it is to “enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics”. Part 1. I will run Tough Mudder Toronto blindfolded. This will be a practice run as I will aim to learn from my guides what kind of verbal instructions are necessary and most helpful. Part 2. I will guide Rhonda, a visually impaired ultra runner, in her own first Tough Mudder (New Jersey) in October. All other athletes are welcome to run on the team. If you are an athlete with disability and require a guide or assistance, just give me a holler, and I’ll hook you up. HOW CAN YOU HELP? 1. Share this. Think this is all kinds of cool and awesome? Me too. :) Please tell your friends, send them this link and spread the word. If you are running Tough Mudder Toronto, and see me on course, holler! If you hear others wondering what the heck is going on, tell them more. 2. Run with us in NJ. Save the date! Team Operation Light Within will run Tough Mudder Tri-State (NJ) on Saturday, October 11th. We'd love to have you. 3. Donate. GoFundMe campaign for Operation Light Within has been set up, and I would appreciate your help. I would like to make a donation of at least $1,000 to Achilles International, an organization that works with disabled athletes. I am currently arranging free registrations for Rhonda and the guides for the October event, however, I am looking for any financial contributions to help with gas, hotel and food expenses for the team. This is something I'd normally cover out of pocket for myself, however, having a number of people involved makes this a bit more costly. Lit within, Solo

The racers registered for the Survival Run to take place in the Wales later this month received some bad news in their mailboxes this morning. The race is off. "To All Registered Celts Runners, I regret to announce the cancellation of The Celts 25k, 50k and Survival Run in Porthcawl, Wales UK on August 23, 2014. This was a very tough email for me to put together, and as a team, everyone on this project worked very hard to push past any obstacles to make this race a reality, but today we were forced to make the cancellation a reality. Unexpected land access, insurance and regulatory issues in South Wales ultimately prevented us from putting on the event in the originally planned location. In addition, our Regional Director became extremely ill at this crucial time during the development of these issues and has been bedridden for well over a week. With the accumulation of these issues, we realized there was no way to move forward with the event. We were fully prepared to go over budget to make the event happen, and we sent members of our team on a race reconnaissance trip to explore all options. As a last resort, a change of race venue was proposed and explored, but with just over two weeks before the race, we were unable to make it a reality. We value and respect your commitment, and we know a lot of you have been to several of our events. Please understand this cancellation only applies to The Celts and does not affect any of our other events in Texas, Mexico or Nicaragua. All other events are confirmed and have no regulatory issues. Nicaragua is on its 7th year, Hunter Gatherer on its 2nd year and Ultra Caballo Blanco on its 13th year. We are offering these options for your registration refund: A refund on your registration fee via Paypal or check by mail. An entry into any Hunter Gatherer Event on October 4, 2014. An entry into any Fuego y Agua Nicaragua Event on February 4-7, 2015. As a growing company in a small and innovative racing niche, we suffer from “learning experiences”, but our utmost commitment is to continue to produce awesome events and to bring together awesome people. Again, I offer my sincere apologies. Email me directly to josue@fuegoyagua.com and let me know how you would like to handle your refund or transfer. Sincerely, JOSUE STEPHENS Fuego y Agua Events LLC. Events Director I have spoken with Josue Stephens, and he added: "We canceled only because we ran into issues that prevented us from putting on the event in the originally selected location. We had issues with communication from our local RD, part of this due to his being very ill the past few weeks. By the time we found out many of the local landowners had pulled out from the agreement to use their land, it was too late to switch to another venue. We tried everything before cancellation, but, ultimately, it was the last resort." “Shirts were printed, medals made, none of those can be re-used for us”, Josue says. “Yet our responsibility is to get the racers their money back. Unfortunately, we cannot refund their travel expenses”. He reiterates that NONE of the other events are affected by this. The Celts was to be Fuego’s first event in the UK and the race organizers are very sad it did not work out. Yet, Stephens remains optimistic. “We will live to fight another day!”, he chuckles. “If I were doing this to make money, I would not have quit my day job”. While the race being cancelled is hardly anyone’s fault, it is a good reminder to those registering for a race – any race! It’s always a risk. Shit happens, and in the best case scenario, the race directors take full responsibility and a sizeable financial hit, as they provide full refunds and possibly transfers to other racers. In the worst case scenario, the racers never see their registration money again. This IS the best case scenario. I loved how Shannon Hulme, one of the racers registered for this Survival Run, handled the news: “Am I disappointed? Sure am. But given the amount of work that has clearly been put into the event I am confident Josue would have did everything possible to see the event go on. It’s clear by the fact that he is refunding entries and likely taking a huge financial hit that he isn’t out to screw anyone. So instead of crying about how horrible it is why don’t we all step up, go over and have a good time anyway? What draws us to these events is the obstacles and unexpected challenges, so let’s use this as an opportunity for self-supported training”. Hugs, Solo

My first official race this season was the Sulphur Springs Trail Race. I did the shortest distance possible – 10k, and this race was everything that my last race was not. Strong. Consistent. Rest days rock. Course: A+ Gorgeous is one word to describe it. While some trail races have you running on the pavement for a bit, here we were in the forest right away, and we stayed there the whole time. Trail – hilly, with lots of muddy (read awesome!) sections. It was not too technical though – many people ran in regular road running shoes without much trouble. You can watch the Get Out There race report from last year below (it gives you a good idea of what the course looks like): A full out sprint downhill to start of course meant that we had to climb that baby right before the finish line. If you have done Harry’s Spring Run-Off 8k in GTA, you’ll know the feeling. Organization: C+ There was no event website per say, however, the Facebook page specified Dundas Valley Conservation Area as the location for the race. We only arrived to the entrance to find closed gates, and absolutely no signs of life. After driving around for a bit, a kind local resident pointed us in the direction of the community center where the race started. How we were supposed to figure that out by ourselves, I am not sure. Food after the race included fruit, fresh (!) muffins and juice. Runners doing 50k and more also had sandwiches and wraps. Results were promptly posted. I finished 5th in my age category, and 17th woman overall. Would I do this again? Well, now that I know where to go to pick up my damn bib – absolutely. The gorgeous course made up for any glitches with finding the place. This would be a great first trail race – not too far from the city, moderately technical course, late enough in the season to train for, yet early enough to get a feel for your own fitness and plan the rest of the year accordingly. Looks like I worked hard – consistent heart rate in 170s, which is about 85% of my maximum heart rate. And I got to introduce a friend to trail running. More than anything, it was just an amazing way to spend a Saturday morning. Hugs, Solo

Warrior Dash Toronto was very much a last minute decision – I did not register until Wednesday of last week. I have not done a Warrior Dash since my very first obstacle race in 2010 – Warrior Dash in Illinois. We drove out with my brother and my dad, as there was no such thing as Warrior Dash in Canada at that time. There was no Spartan either. In fact, you pretty much had to drive to the States. I cannot compare this year’s event to 2013 and 2012, as this is my first experience with doing Warrior Dash in Canada, however, I am somewhat disappointed. While the race offered a great courses, the obstacles were few and far in between. By the 2.5km mark, we have only had two or three obstacles. The course was a hilly trail loop, a bit short of 5k. PROS: great loop course on the trail – there was no running up and down the same damn mountain. Well designed. Definitely, a trail runner’s course. can be a great option for beginners – no penalty for failed obstacles, also, no “difficult” obstacles that some may struggle with – monkey bars, heavy bag carry. [Although there are so many better options out there, that I’d be hesitant to recommend this one]. free bag check location. The race was held at a resort, just barely off the highway. Clear signage made it easy to find. CONS: $10 parking fee (although this is fairly standard, I still cannot wrap my head around paying this after shelling out over $100 for the race registration) lack of variety in obstacles – walls to climb over, couple of over-and-unders, a cargo net, a mudpit with barbwire at the very finish, a balance beam, a fire jump, a barbwire… run? (the wire was stretched out at about chest height – I barely had to duck). lack of difficulty in obstacles – definitely no “oomph” obstacle (the one you remember, the one you talk with your friends about: Remember that…? Nope, nothing like that.) lack of… obstacles – I enjoyed the course, as it was a nice trail run (some sections off-road were especially fun), however, I have plenty of nice trails right next door. I ran this one pretty hard (the heart rate chart below agrees – at least 80% of the maximum heart rate for the whole race). Came in 9th woman, despite feeling pretty weak, especially on the uphills. As always, the best part was the people. The amazing Morgan Mckay, whose enviable posterior I had the pleasure of chasing for the whole duration of the race. Could we be more photogenic? [The answer is: No. No, we could not.] My frequent partner in mud, Karen: CONCLUSION? Although Warrior Dash Toronto 2014 was a ton of fun, and I enjoyed the course (mostly due to awesome company), I would not pay over $100 for this race. Races such as BadAss Dash and Prison Break provide a much better value for the money. *Note, that this may, indeed, be an awesome event for many. I do come with a blessing and a curse of being able to compare this event to many (many, many) other events, and have a fairly well-developed OCR palate, if you will. P.S. I am leaving you with my best impression of the thoughtful unicorn. Hugs, Solo

Another article by yours truly sees the light of day in a recent issue of Trail Running Canada (p.24-25). If you have ever had a goal that scared you a little (or a lot), you’ll appreciate the sheer size of the undertaking by my friend Rhonda. Click on below image to see the article: Full text below: Have you ever had a goal? A goal so big it made your heart hurt, and your soul tremble? A BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal)? Well, Rhonda-Marie Avery has such a goal – she wants to run the entire length of The Bruce Trail, spanning over 890km, in 20 days. I first met Rhonda at the Salomon Toronto store get together, where sponsored athletes come together to chat over a plate of nachos, or possibly a pint of beer. It may be the only time we see each other in clean outfits. The rest of the time, the hair is back, the running tights are on, and bright Salomon trail shoes are laced up tight. Rhonda looks up and smiles, as we are introduced. Then she proceeds to almost spill her beer, and laughs at her own awkwardness lightly, just like I have done many times in the past. Yet, as we all get up to walk across the street, she takes out a pair of dark glasses, and holds on to someone’s elbow. And it dawns on me. “Is she… is she blind?”, I ask a fellow runner right next to me. While the retina of most people contains two types of photoreceptor cells – rods and cones, Rhonda’s retina only has rods. Rods are responsible for night and peripheral vision, as well as motion detection, while cones are responsible for eye’s color sensitivity and visual acuity. As a result, Rhonda only has 8% vision, cannot see colour, and must rely on her night vision to get around. Rhonda is also an ultra runner. A mother. A friend. A sister. Optimistic. Smiley. And stubborn. Incredibly stubborn. And a sure way to get her to do something is to tell her she can’t do it. Yet, what she is attempting to do in August of this year, will be a challenge even for her. The Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath, runs along the Escarpment from Niagara to Tobermory. The trail is protected and maintained by The Bruce Trail Conservancy – a charitable organization, and one of Ontario’s largest land trusts, preserving over 8,000 acres of land. This year, Rhonda will become the first disabled runner to run the entire 890km. HOW? Ten minutes at a time. You can do anything for ten minutes. “Ten minutes until I will let myself walk again. Ten minutes until I have to start running again. Ten minutes until the race starts. Ten minutes off my last PB time on this course. Ten minutes for the next mile.Ten minutes to the next aid station.”, Rhonda muses on her blog. “Ten minutes until I see my tent again, my crew again, civilization again. Ten minutes I might lose my mind in. Ten minutes to change the world. Longest ten minutes ever. Don’t give up.” This adventure will take many minutes. Minutes of training, minutes of thinking, minutes of planning, minutes of doubting, and, most importantly, minutes and hours and days and weeks and months of outpouring of support. From relatives and loved ones, from friends and strangers. WHY? The biggest question behind any crazy goal is why. Why do this? Why plan, strategize and obsess for months? Why recruit friends and strangers for help? Why canvass and fundraise? Why run, and run, and run, and then, run some more, for days? In conjunction with Achilles Canada, Rhonda wants to bring awareness to persons with disability, the world’s largest minority group, focusing on athletes with disabilities. Achilles Canada is a non-profit organization that encourages people with various disabilities to participate in running and other athletics. Their mission statement is to “empower you, through running or walking, to take control of your health, to increase your self-confidence, to become more involved in the mainstream world, and to reach your full potential”. Starting on August 4th, Rhonda, accompanied by two guide runners, will travel at least the distance of a full marathon (42.2km) per day along the Bruce Trail, with the goal of completing the distance in 20 days. On August 23rd, Rhonda hopes to cover the last 5km of the trail as part of a public walk, where all are welcome to join in and help her complete this adventure. [Can you make it? We will all walk together, starting at 12pm at Queenston Heights Park, Niagara Pkwy, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario) “Each day is bringing us closer to the end”, says Rhonda in her blog. “Each day we are setting out to show the world that disabled athletes are out there, trying, investing, training, focusing, and looking forward to the next ten minutes. Every minute is a gift. Whether or not it was wrapped in beautiful paper and bows, or mud and twigs – it’s still a gift.” Ability to run, ability to walk is a privilege. We hope to see you there. On the Bruce Trail. Walking. Running. Ten minutes at a time. You can learn more about this project here. *********************************************************** *Have you heard? On August 16th, 2014, I will be running Tough Mudder Toronto blindfolded (yes, blindfolded!) in order to raise awareness for visually impaired athletes and to become a better guide runner. In October, I will be guiding Rhonda, a dear friend, an ultra runner and a visually impaired athlete through her very first Tough Mudder. Please read more and donate to the cause! Hugs, Solo

I have this love-hate relationships with airports. On one hand, being at the airport means you are going somewhere. Hopefully, somewhere exciting. On the other hand, the pain in the butt line-ups (for some unlucky ones – literally), the humiliating experience of security, having to have your bags checked, taking your shoes off always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I like Pearson (Toronto’s airport) quite a bit, although my favourite airport is Amsterdam’s Schiphol. I love that place. The friendly spirit of the Dutch is in the air (take that as you will), and a 30min train ride will land you straight downtown. This trip’s first flight: Toronto to Calgary. A tall, round attendant with glasses and curly hair announces that there has been a change of plans, and that we are going to Maui instead. As couple of people look up in surprise, I realize this is the very first time I’ve ever witnessed a flight attendant express any sense of humour. That’s new. She introduces the crew. “On my right hand side, you will see the Marvelous, the Magical Moreen”, she says with a completely straight face. “I am Magnificent Mary, and I will be your MC today”. Safety instructions are next. I find myself actually paying attention. “In case of emergency, look up – and Magical Moreen’s phone number will fall out. Yes, guys, she is single, and likes long walks on the beach.” “And now I will ask you to place your seats in the most uncomfortable position, as we attempt to deliver you a flight experience that will meet and exceed your expectations. And if it won’t, we suggest that you lower your expectations.” It’s almost time for take-off. Every time I look out of the small round window on to the pavement below, I know that the next time I will see this airport I will be a different person. That’s what travel does. It changes you. New places, new experiences, new friends. Some small changes, some big changes. But without fail. Every. Single. Time. Each time you travel, you have to face some difficult questions: Where am I going? What is my destination? Why? Where is home? Who am I? “I remind you that this is a non-smoking flight”, chirps Magnificent Mary, “if you would still like to smoke, we kindly ask that you step outside”. I like her. The engine revs up, and the plane jumps forward. It’s that unmistakable sign that you are, indeed, leaving. I’m gently pressed into my seat by the force of acceleration. As the picturesque scenery of the pavement, parking lots and industrial hangars zooms by faster and faster, I hold my breath, trying to catch the exact moment when the nose of the aircraft points upward, and all the wheels lose contact with the earth. As this big beautiful hunk of metal cuts across space, and floats effortlessly, defying gravity, I let out a sigh. I’m in awe. Every. Single. Time. We are flying. We are actually flying! Few productive hours later the wheels touch the ground in snowy Calgary. “If you are a smoker”, announces Magnificent Mary, “you have now gone without smoking for four hours. So we suggest that you just go ahead and quit.” She then proceeds to remind us not to forget any of our belonging, unless we “don’t mind the flight attendants selling those belonging on eBay for some extra cash”. I’m almost tempted to leave something behind. YOUR TURN: How do you feel about airports? Love’em? Hate’em? Do you have a favourite airport? Hugs, SOLO