How you can tell it is spring in Canada

Runners wear capris and stop wearing socks.

Is it spring where you are running?

Why it's bad to not have a goal running race

Last year I had three huge running accomplishments
- my first 6 hour race at Tread
- my first 50k in Haliburton
- my first marathon at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

I could confidently say I was in the best shape of my life. Sure, there were jiggly bits that I was embarrassed of, but being able to run those distances easily (not fast, mind you) was an awesome feeling.

Now nearly a year later I cannot button up my shorts and I hate the way I feel. When I stopped distance running due to burning out, I started overrating. It's a vicious cycle, isn't it?

To be fair to myself, it's been a crazy last 6 months. After I stopped breast feeding my metabolism went in the toilet, a change in antidepressants threw me off balance for a while and now transitioning from being a stay at home mom to working part time (sitting down!) PLUS not having the cash to register for races has led to a perfect storm of muffin tops and shitty self esteem.

Good thing there is nowhere to go but up.

Starting today I'll start putting better (and less) food in my body. I'll commit to beig active and little by little I'll get my mojo back.

Springtime barefoot running

Kudos to the barefoot runners who go shoeless year round! All winter my feet were cozy in my Skora Forms, but two days ago I decided to leave them at the trailhead. Two very cold, muddy and absolutely awesome K on my favourite trail. So happy spring is here - are you?

Busy beavers and spring trail running in Canada

I have an embarrassing confession to make: I had no idea beavers didn't hibernate.

It's embarrassing because I'm Canadian and love the outdoors and should know more about beavers because they are our national animal. But when I came across several downed trees last week while trail running and saw it was the work of beavers the first thing I did was Google 'do beavers hibernate?'

(I'm less embarrassed about Googling trivia in the middle of the bush than I am admitting I don't know a lot about beavers).

Ends up they just slow down and spend their winters tucked away in their dams. When their food supply runs low they venture out and do things like this: toppling trees and dragging them back to their dams. It's the coolest thing I've come across while trail running.

What have you seen that is interesting?