December 09, 2010Saskia’s 10k Trail Run in Her Icebreaker GT200 LS – Share and Save

The Share and Save Series is pleased to present

Me, my Icebreaker Women's GT200 LS and my 10k Trail Run

Saskia and her Icebreaker GT200 LS

A little bit about me

I am currently studying sport management and leadership. I have played on numerous sports teams my whole life, such as volleyball, basketball, and soccer etc. Last summer however I decided to give myself a challenge that I never even dreamed of doing… I decided I would train and do a triathlon! It was one of the most amazing, rewarding experiences I have ever had! I am use to playing on sports teams and relying on others to help reach a goal- but this was so different. It was me, just me. I have asthma and struggle with endurance activities, especially running but that just made me work harder. So that brought me to my next physical challenge: 10k Trail Race. This run includes many hills, jumping over tree branches, slipping over rocky paths, and finishing by running through the lake. I had never run anything over 5k and with my asthma had to work hard. For training I did gym training and cardio training. For gym I had a full body work out that was specific to the muscles I would need for this run. For cardio I did shorter runs during the week (treadmill and outside) and a longer run on the weekends. As one of my “short runs” I would run to a near by hill and run up and down that hill 5x without stopping.  I was unable to run the actual route prior to the race but was excited to give it a try.

Lead up to the race and review of the Icebreaker GT200 LS

I had been training for a 10k trail run that would be happening on November 27^th.  I live in BC and knew the weather would be questionable; sure enough we had days of snow, rain, and cold. I needed a layer that would keep me reasonably dry and warm for the hour race. I purchased the Icebreaker Women's GT200 LS. At first when I put it on I wasn’t sure how I felt about the wool itchy feeling since I am used to a more spandex or cotton long-sleeve. However saying that, the moment I started running I loved everything about this top. The merino-wool kept me warm, it wasn’t bulky, the zipper in the front helped  with temperature control and the thumb-holes in the sleeves made me feel like I was part of the long sleeve. I love this top because it’s great for layering- it’s great on its own or with a tank or t-shirt over top. I felt confident on my race day about my outfit having to run through snowy trails and finish with a run through the lake. This merino-wool long sleeve top served its purpose wonderfully for my race and I will be using it for future runs and activities!

Race Day

Race day came up quickly and I was very anxious to see what the day would be like. There were 400 participants, which made for a crowded start. I was near the back of the crowd and remained there the whole way through. Going up some of the hills, the trail was very narrow with absolutely no space to pass. Since I was in the back pack of people a lot of them walked up the hills which forced me to as well. I was a little sad about this for one of the hills especially because I knew it was coming and trained hard to conquer it. The run was very challenging and I constantly had to stop my mind from wandering and thinking negative thoughts like “ I could just walk.” To keep myself motivated I had drawn a happy face on my hand and would sing in my head “Eye of the Tiger”. Trust me, it helps! With only 2k left I could hear the crowd waiting at the beach for my arrival. I pushed myself and sprinted that last 1k. I splashed through the water and out to the finish line with a time of 1:07- my best to date!

I loved the run and how much more fun it was than just pavement running. The atmosphere was thrilling with every level runner, smiling volunteers, and family and friends supporting me! Conquering this distance run makes me feel like anything is possible. I used to be scared to run since I was only able to run 2k before I would have to stop due to my asthma. But now after hard work and determination I know I can reach the goals I set out for myself.

-Saskia

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