It’s time to be thinking about my next races and it ends up that the next two I am going to do are “new” in one way or another. \u00a0Both races appeal to me because they have incorporated some good ideas into their race days.<\/p>\n
First, I will be doing the Manotick Road Race on April 28th. This race will raise money for the Heart Institute. \u00a0 Apparently this is the third year for the race, though this is the first year I have been aware of it. \u00a0What I love about this event is that this year they have introduced an 18k run in addition to the 2k family run and 5 and 10k distances. \u00a0I love the idea of having race distances that step out of the box. \u00a0There are so many runners now of so many abilities. \u00a0Having a chance to try something other than the typical 5, 10, 21 and 42k distances makes sense. Recently on CTV news I saw the ladies from inStride Events who are organizing this run and they explained the 18k distance was planned to fit into the training schedules of runners for Ottawa Race Weekend. \u00a0Now there is smart planning!<\/p>\n
I’m looking forward to trying a new course, though I admit having seen the map, I am a little worried I might get lost in Manotick. \u00a0It doesn’t appear to be a simple out and back and my lack of attention to direction when running means I will need \u00a0some good signage or have a runner in front of me who actually \u00a0knows where they are going. \u00a0But it sounds like even directionally challenged runners such as myself have been thought of since this weekend there will be a practice run to try out the route. \u00a0If I can make myself get to Manotick for 8:30 in the morning this Saturday (somehow places seem much farther away early in the morning) I will be taking the running tour of the town. \u00a0Having just come off a “big”race, it should be fun to be part of a relatively new event and a new distance. \u00a0Now, if i can just convince them to hold a 30k event sometime. \u00a0Surely I am not the only runner who would love to try something between the half and the full marathons? \u00a0I think that is the next “new” distance we need to see in Ottawa.<\/p>\n
A couple of weeks after the Manotick run I plan to participate in Somersault’s “Day Before Mother’s Day Race”. \u00a0Every mother who is a runner deserves to have a race on her special weekend. \u00a0I ran the 10k last year and this year I hope to do the half. \u00a0There are a couple of “new” elements this year. \u00a0The course has changed and no longer starts at the Aviation Museum, though the Rockcliffe Parkway is still put to use for all distances. \u00a0But what I am most interested in is the addition of the “All In 5k Run”. \u00a0This event will include disability categories to make it a truly inclusive event. \u00a0This ties right in with my previous post about the inclusiveness of running. \u00a0I have always enjoyed taking my kids to the Somersault events because of the 1k \u00a0Wylie Ryan runs. \u00a0Having an “All In” race just adds to the reasons these races are great family events. \u00a0And of course that makes another reason to run loving – the whole family can take part in the event and come home with medals.<\/p>\n
To check out either of these races go to the following links:<\/p>\n