I'm running for the mason bee!

It's been a long, long winter no matter where you are in Canada - except if you happen to be lucky enough to live in BC. But here in Calgary, we've had a winter of record-breaking, historic snowfall. With Calgary's Chinooks, not to mention that Calgary doesn't plow its streets, that's meant a dense packing of snow, followed by melt, followed by ice and more snow.

In total, I think I've made it out for about five wintry long runs this year - if that. Add to that a handful more surreal runs in shorts and tank top while surrounded by snow, and it hasn't been my most productive winter running season.

That is, up until a few weeks ago, when I decided to sign up for the Calgary Marathon, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. And to top it off, my colleagues in the Calgary office of the Nature Conservancy of Canada have decided to start its own Charity Challenge team. We've now got a team of runners ranging from first-time 5kers to 10ks and a few half marathoners (I've joined the latter group).

So two weeks ago I printed out the schedule, tacked it up on my wall, and jumped onto the training schedule in week 7 of an 18-week training program. Up until today, I've managed to make every single run except one. And today, I was all set to head out with colleagues for a training run and to encourage them to get started, only...

I forgot a very important item...

My running tights!

Red mason bee (Photo by Wikimedia Commons,
Sandy, Bedfordshire UK)

Chalk it up to just another day and a missed run. I'll catch up tomorrow. But now that I have a goal - raising funds to help protect rare landscapes and the species that live in them (like the mason bee...I'm a huge fan of bees and what they do to help grow our food), I'm more motivated than ever before to stay on track.

The bees are counting on me!

In weeks to come I'll post information about our fundraising events and website, as I have more information.

Just 9 more weeks till race day! Plenty of time to tune up and get ready to stand at the starting line.

How's your winter training going, runner friends? Hope the snow has been kind to you!

~ HRG