While I am normally eager to put my race thoughts into writing, tonight I fear this report will unveil a hidden gem.
For those who have read my blog entries over time, you know I love spending time at the Mill of Kintail. I run the trails during the summer months to escape the sun and heat. Our family visits on a regular basis to hike the trails, swim in the river, and picnic. Duncan has even started attending the Wildlife Watchers Camp. All told, it is no surprise the Mill of Kintail is included in the Seven Wonders of Lanark Country tour.
With this in mind, I opted to run the “Burn Your Bra for Bev” Trail Run at the last minute. This low-key, annual event, offers a 2K, 5K, 10K or 15K… and no registration fees! In return, participants are asked to fundraise or donate to the BYB4B Cause of the Year, which is Rogers House in 2012. The best part? To ensure all funds raised go to the cause of the year, everything for this event is donated by locals. Tubman Funeral Homes supplied the water, a local family supplied coffee, bananas, oranges, and granola bars, Out of the Woodz supplied prizes for every participant, and the Mill of Kintail supplied access to the trails and the stellar R. Tait McKenzie “Joy Of Effort” medallion medals.
Right from the get go, this race promised a good time. Kids galore, all eager to show off their running prowess. I was so happy when Michael Gauthier posted this photo, as it sums up the moment: kids eager to take flight, while adults listen very carefully to the course instructions. See the concentration on my face? Yep, I now take race instructions seriously!!
In terms of the race, the trails were in great shape for this time of year. Trillums and Wild Leeks abound, and the mossy patches were vibrant. Granted there were muddy patches, plenty of loose rocks and surfaced roots, but nothing out of the ordinary. I would venture to say the Mill of Kintail trails are in better condition than the Cataraqui Trail at Spring Fling.
Overall, it felt great to savour the sights and sounds of nature. I loved being able to chase the next generation of runners, and helped a few out of muddy situations. By 3K, a couple of us “nice old ladies” had to help three young lads (back at you boys!) work through the dreaded side stitch.
Turns out I had a solid 5K Trail Run in 25:03 according to the manually timed clock (25:04 on my Garmin) – and this beats all my 5K Road Races to date. I suppose there is something to be said for being in the moment, and experiencing “The Joy of Effort”.
Brand Champion
