![\"Race](\"http:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_4290-Reduced-e1428086552767.jpg\")
<\/a>Race expo for the Prague Half Marathon. Found my name!<\/p><\/div>\n
Until 2013, my husband and I had only done one vacation. \u00a0That was a trip out east before we had kids. \u00a0Once we had kids we chose not to travel for many years. \u00a0The reason was twofold. \u00a0I chose to stay home for 5 years (a choice I would recommend to anyone if you can manage it, though be warned, it is the hardest job in the world!) and as a result we had one income. \u00a0We also did not see the point in dragging small children who still needed naps to new locations. \u00a0We wanted out kids to be old enough to appreciate and remember their\u00a0traveling adventures.<\/p>\n
We started traveling again in 2013 when I ran the NYC Half Marathon. \u00a0Our kids were 10 and almost 8 at the time. \u00a0I rediscovered my love of traveling and also discovered that our kids are amazing travelers. \u00a0They have no interest in Disney vacations. \u00a0What they love is exploring new places, looking at architecture, finding new trails. \u00a0From that trip we knew we had kids who would be happy exploring the world, and that was again the case when in 2014 we took them to the\u00a0west coast so I could run the Vancouver Half Marathon.<\/p>\n
2015 was an even bigger year in traveling and one that I will remember for years to come. \u00a0In March we set off to Europe so I could return to Prague, a city I had spent some time teaching in many years ago. \u00a0The main point of the trip was the Prague Half Marathon, but in the end it was only a small part of our adventure. \u00a0We had a phenomenal time as a family, not only exploring Prague but also spending a week in Nice. \u00a0Having a chance to run in these two beautiful cities was such a gift, but the bigger gift was having such a wonderful two weeks with my husband and kids – so many memories that I will treasure.<\/p>\n
After the finish of the Prague Half Marathon:<\/em><\/p>\n Enjoying the moment,<\/p><\/div>\n A family run in Nice , France:<\/i><\/p>\n Running in Nice.<\/p><\/div>\n As if that wasn’t enough, we actually managed a second family trip, this time to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island so that the four of us could participate in the Canadian Orienteering Championships. \u00a0Between events I fit in training runs in each of the provinces, meaning in 2015 I ran in a total of 5 Canadian provinces and two countries outside of Canada.<\/p>\n The kids at the Canadian Orienteering Championships:<\/em><\/p>\n An amazing morning orienteering on the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick:<\/em><\/p>\n A beautiful trail for running:<\/em><\/p>\n A gorgeous morning run in Moncton, N.B.:<\/em><\/p>\n Racing<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I admit I haven’t counted the races of 2015. \u00a0I know there were quite a few, though I am pretty sure not as many as in 2014. \u00a0I did run my coldest race ever when all four of us took part in the Winterman race here in Ottawa. \u00a0It was -40 C with the wind chill and there was no avoiding the wind since we were running along the Ottawa River. \u00a0It was one of my slowest 10k’s ever but it certainly gave bragging rights!<\/p>\n The kids bundled up alongside the Winterlude mascot.<\/p><\/div>\n The other big race of the year was my third go at a marathon. \u00a0I’m still slow (surprise!) but I did take off 4 minutes despite having a cold, stomach issues and the craziest head winds I have ever experienced. \u00a0I definitely recommend the Road2Hope Marathon and I will be heading there again this year, though I have not decided if it will be for the full or the half. \u00a0It was a well-organized mid-sized race with a great route.<\/p>\n The most surprising part of the marathon this time around for me was that I really enjoyed my training. \u00a0This is despite that fact that I spent 4 weeks of training with my hand in a cast and 5 days of training sleeping at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario while my youngest son was in being treated with I.V. antibiotics. \u00a0I really enjoyed the training plan I used and I will be using a modified version of it to train for this year’s Around the Bay 30k.<\/p>\n A highlight race was also the Sporting Life 10k when I had the chance to pace Evan for his first 10k race:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trail Running\/Snowshoeing<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n This year I stepped out of my road running box and hit the trails. \u00a0It started in the winter when I participated in the Mad Trapper Snowshoe Series. \u00a0If you ever get cocky about your running, strap on a pair of snowshoes and head out for a 5k. \u00a0Within a km you will wonder if you are coming down with some life-draining disease because surely you couldn’t be that exhausted after a mere km. \u00a0Snowshoeing is one helluva workout but one I highly recommend to change things up and to take advantage of winter.<\/p>\n I also participated in several trail events, plus hit the trails more often on my solo runs. \u00a0I had a blast at MEC’s trail running clinic for women. \u00a0I convinced some friends to join me at another women’s event, the Mad Trapper Power in Pink trail run and an amazing time was had by all. \u00a0I would do both events again in a second and I encourage all women to give them a try.<\/p>\n Finishing the Mad Trapper\u00a0NOOTR race, being greeted by my kids, who finished long before me!<\/p><\/div>\n Mad Trapper events definitely became the series of choice in our family. \u00a0We started with the snowshoe races at the beginning of the year, a rural road run with the 8k Pancake Prediction Run, then joined in on the trail races. \u00a0I probably sign up for these races as much for the awesome food and social time post-race as the race itself and have really enjoyed meeting up with new friends. \u00a0The kids and my husband are also hooked as all\u00a0of them prefer to be in the woods rather than running on the roads.<\/p>\n Perhaps my most “out of my comfort zone” event (even more so than a marathon!) was the NOOTR Race – the “Natural Obstacle Off-Trail Race”. \u00a0This one involved climbing rocks and steep hills, running through mud pits and streams and just generally having a blast in the forest. \u00a0I couldn’t keep up with my kids but I did strangely manage to come in first for the women.<\/p>\n Speaking of not keeping up with my kids, my favourite post race newsletter is definitely the one sent out by Mike Caldwell after the recent Hilly Snowshoe race. \u00a0We and others had put in a request for a 3k distance so our kids could come. \u00a0Ends up Luke and Evan were much faster than we thought they would be on snowshoes and they whipped through the course pretty quickly. \u00a0Here’s a portion of that newsletter:<\/p>\n The 3km option, is not for youth only. Meaning anyone can participate in the 3k event and youth 16 and under aren’t restricted to this race. Youth are welcome to compete in any distance they are comfortable with. \u00a0And if that means the kids will be stepping up and beating their parents…. then so be it! (Look out Raz family!)<\/em><\/p>\n Yep, our kids are going to be kicking our butts soon in snowshoeing. \u00a0Maybe I should just drop down to the 3k distance now if they are going to move up to the 5k!<\/p>\n I have to add these two trail running photos – my favourite before and after pictures. \u00a0Do you think it was a hot day?<\/p>\n Before picture<\/p><\/div>\n After – do we look a little hot?<\/p><\/div>\n Orienteering<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Orienteering has become the new passion of this family. \u00a0My kids are amazing at this sport and my husband is very\u00a0capable too. \u00a0I, on the other hand, well… let’s just say I am slowly learning. \u00a0As someone with a lack of spatial sense, this sport is a tough one for me but I am so glad we discovered it. \u00a0We are very lucky here in Ottawa to have an amazing club, Ottawa Orienteering. \u00a0It organizes regular B events throughout Ottawa\/Gatineau and it has been such a pleasure being part of the club. \u00a0If you want a family activity or if you just like heading out into the woods on a Sunday morning, I can’t recommend this sport enough.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n