WELCOME to #goingGabi ROAD TO BVU
I decided to create this blog to keep a track on my training for my first 100mile race. I want to share my journey and maybe inspire someone else to do the same. I've been sharing stuff on my IG account but I can only share so much there and I'd like a bit more detailed info to look back at. I tend to forget lot of things pretty quickly and so I hope this would help with that too. I wanna be able to look back and see the progress I've made. I wanna look back on those tough moments and see how easily I've overcome them. I think this journey will be one to remember...and I want to collect all the memories.
WHY #goingGabi
This hashtag was created by one of my running friends Jeff. When I was part of Motivated In Motion, we had group chat where we talked about a lots of stuff :)). I wasn't always following my running plan and most of the times I'd add extra rep/extra hours/extra KMs when I was in the mountains. And that's how this hashtag was created. #goingGabi meant to go ONE MORE, to do something crazy, out of ordinary, out of your training plan, do something you thought was never possible, do it just because you wanted to :). It is who I am.
BUT WHO AM I REALLY?
Just a girl who loves the mountains, exploring new places and pushing my own limits.
I've started running just 2 years ago. January of 2023. At first it was just once a week to do bit more than just going to the gym for boxing classes twice a week. Few weeks later is became twice a week. And then in April I broke a bone in my hand while hiking and had to stop boxing. Running was the only option how to stay in shape and accountable. I started running more and more and then had this idea that I should try and train for a half marathon. I've done one before, in 2014. I signed up for the Calgary Half at the end of May, downloaded their training plan and followed it. I PR'd by 8mins and was pumped. But also after that I had no goal and really no desire to keep running. So I went and bought my first pair of trail running shoes in hopes that maybe one day I could try and run some trails. In the middle of June I did just that and never looked back :)). It was an amazing summer full of new adventures, summits and places I thought I'd never reach. I did my first trail race too. And ended it with the Canmore Triple Crown. I haven't stopped since.
I did lots of races in 2024. Road half marathon again, 10K, my first big trail race at Meet The Minotaur and then I went Gabi and signed up for a 60K race week before the start of the race. I didn't tell anyone, not even my coach at that time. I just went for it because I wanted to. It was the best experience of my life to date. I loved every second of it and I was most proud of the fact that I did it all by myself. Nothing like finishing your first ultra. And then few more races after that.
I have no athletic background. I would say I've always been active. I danced competitively for 4 years when I was a kid and then continued to do few other sports like aerobic dance or whatever you call it here, I've skied since I was 4, I also rode horses but nothing was very structured. I did kickboxing for 2 or 3 years. And for the first time I started running in 2013 which lasted till I moved to Canada in 2014 and then I stopped. I tried to come back to it every year or so but never lasted more than few weeks. Through the winter I'd be snowboarding every weekend and hiking a bit in the summer. I've started to hike way more in 2018/2019 when our dog was old enough to go for bigger adventures and then I was out all the time, but still just a weekend warrior.
In the end of 2022 I knew I have to change things around, I gained lots of weight, I was so unhappy in my own body and that's when I finally went and started boxing again. And then running...and that's why we are here right now :).
WHY 100M race?
Honestly, I don't know. I just see it as another limit to push. Another big challenge to achieve. I've seen films of people doing 100M races and I was like WOW, that is amazing but I don't think I'd ever be able to do something like that. Maybe one day but definitely not anytime soon. After running 60K and 50K races I was like there is no way I could do more. When they announced there will be new 100M in my own backyard I was like Hmmmm...maybe? But no, I can't do that right? But again, like with the IronLegs 60KM I just couldn't stop thinking about it. And then they shared more info like you gonna need at least one 50M race to be able to sign up. So I signed up for a 24hrs looped race to try to get 50miles just 3 weeks after my 50K race. No real prep or training, again, just me. I knew I could do it. And I did. And then there was no way back. I didn't run almost 100K on a 500m loop UNDERGROUND - in a coal mine - for nothing, I'm doing this 100M race! It's ON! Now to get ready for it...
WHY A COACH?
I knew I cannot do this one on my own. And I wanted to get as much help as I could to have the best chance of finishing this race. I had few people in mind. Evan was recommended by few people already. He was definitely on the top of my list. I wanted someone from here, who knows the trails and who knows the course. I wanted someone with lot of experience too, obviously. And I wanted someone who is bit like me. Who is not afraid to do things that hasn't been done before and who is gonna get my "goingGabi". I wanted someone who I can look up to. So I was very happy when everything worked out. So far, it's been great and I'm excited for this journey...we have 33 weeks to get ready!
SO LET'S FUCKIN GOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
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