January 1, 2012...what are YOU doing?

Join us for the first race of the new series in Brantford, Jan 1st.
We have a 10 km race that I am running (ok I'm putting it out here...I'd love to run a 35:30, which would get me into the Vancouver Sun Run).
We have a 5 km race that my husband (fyi in his words, he is "not a runner") is running.
We have a 1 km fun run that our three kids will be doing (ok, someone will push Leah in the Chariot since she can't even crawl yet!).
See you there?
More info from www.brantnews.com:

Brantford’s Tournament of Races By Staff Report
Friday November 18/2011 at 09:30:26 AM

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Some of Brantford’s finest runners have thrown their support behind a new six-race series known as the Brantford Tournament of Races.

Olympian Kevin Sullivan, marathon mom Krista Duchene, rising track star Brock Timmerman and elite marathon runner Rick Mannen are just some of the names of successful Brantford runners supporting the inaugural 2012 event. The tournament has taken four existing events and added two more.

The inaugural run will take place Jan. 1 with the New Year’s Day Resolution Races, a new event to Brantford. The series will also feature another new event to Brantford, Summer Night Road Races on Sept. 6.

In addition to the new events, the series will feature the Brantford Rotary Classic on April 29, Great Canadian Trail Races on July 1, the Brantford Grand Trail Run on July 28 and Walk-Run for the River on Sept 23.

At the end of the series, the runner with the most points combined in individual categories will be declared the 2012 champion. For more information on the Brantford Tournament of Races go to www.likerunning.ca.

Spring in November?

The weather has been so springy lately! Really great for running, that's for sure!
I finished a week with 126 km (that included a 34 km long run). I took Thursday off (only biked) because I felt a twinge in my left hip but all is well! In fact, I feel better than ever. Hoping to log about 135 km this week.

Another Great Marathon Mom Story!

I love these articles. Will definitely be following McMahan at the Olympic Trials in January! A 2:35 marathon in 2008, a baby in 2009, and a 2:31 in 2011! Go, McMahan!

Successful Media Launch

Read about our successful media launch for the Brantford Tournament of Races.

A Typical Day ... With Three Kids!

Back in 2008 when I had 2 kids, I blogged about a "typical day". Seth was 8 months old and Micah was almost 2 years old. Here are the links:
Typical Day I/II
Typical Day II/II
Now that I have three kids and am at a higher training level, life is a bit different. People often ask me, "How do you do it?". That is an easy question w/ a difficult (long) answer! The short answer is that Jonathan and I communicate very well, and I plan every day, week, and month, working backwards from my goals. Here's a typical day now:
6:30-7:00 am Micah, Seth and Leah awake. I nurse Leah while the boys get a bit of tv (usually Wild Kratts).
7:00-8:10 am Breakfast, pack lunches and snacks, make coffee (often Jonathan does this before work!), unload dishwasher, clean up kitchen, check school calendar, say good-bye to Micah as daddy takes him to school.
8:10-8:45 am Finish clean-up. Drink a coffee (oh SO nice) while spending some time with Leah and Seth. Get ready to go to gym.
9:00 am Drop off Seth and Leah with Maureen and Jeanetta (they are AMAZING ladies) at Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre.
9:10-10:00 am. Swim, usually about 2 km.
10:10-11:20 am Run on treadmill or new indoor 200 m track, anywhere from 8-18 km.
11:20-11:40 am Weights, stretching, core.
11:45 am Pick up Leah and Seth. Shower. Nurse Leah.
12:00 pm Lunch (3 of us) and clean-up.
1:00 pm Put Leah to bed. Twenty minute power nap for me while Seth watches tv. Check email.
2:00-3:30 pm Spend time with Seth (puzzles, reading, etc.). Decide what to make for supper. Chores (laundry, cleaning, banking, etc.)
3:30 pm Pick up Micah from school.
4:00-5:30 pm Nurse Leah, make supper, referee boys.
5:30 pm Supper (daddy home!).
6:30-7:30 pm Family time. Usually I clean up from supper then I take Leah so the boys can wrestle with daddy. Read with the kids.
7:30-8:00 pm Kids' tub, teeth, toilet. Nurse Leah. Read to and pray with boys. All kids to bed.
8:00-8:30 pm Devotions, email, read mail/school letters, etc.
8:30-10:00 pm Time with Jonathan, tv, computer time.
10:00 pm Bed.

Of course there are other activities that occur during the week: volunteering at school, parent n' tot skating Tues and Thurs, groceries, diaper-changing, etc.
The "job" of Marathon Mom couldn't be any better. I love every day of it.

Send me an email if you are interested in learning more about Marathon Mom! kristaduchene@hotmail.com

A bright and sunny day

The whole family (decked out in orange) and I geared up and headed out the door at 8 am for the Casablanca 8 km race in Grimsby. It started out a bit chilly. Kids were in winter coats but they came off mid-morning. What a great day. Beautiful weather. There was quite a strong head-wind and my time was 28:48 (wanted < 28:00) but I'm happy with my 2nd place performance. I could see Lucy Njeri ahead but the 30 second lead was just too much. It's not like a marathon where you have lots of time to catch them! I decided not to wear my Garmin today, just my watch. I glanced at it a few times but it was so hard to determine my pace with the wind that I just ... ran. I had a few guys running with me, which was nice. Was great to see and chat with Tyler Lord, Megan Brown, Danielle Charbonneau, and Coach Ken. I've got some ideas brewing in my head...will have to sort them out before blogging!
Jerry Friesen was certainly honoured this morning. They had arm bands and bibs w/ his pictures and many great stories. Lots of energy at the race today, that is for sure. Apparently the number of people there was nearly doubled (runners, volunteers, etc.) from last year. One very special moment was when Jerry's daughter, Rachel came over to Leah, smiling at her. She later got a snuggle w/ Leah and I was able to offer my condolences.

Don't pee in my pool, I don't swim in your toilet!

^13th Tim Hortons Casablanca Classic 8k & Cold Stone 3k

In Support of Wounded Warriors.

Wear a poppy and remember our veterans and support our troops!!!

I've decided to run this race tomorrow (well, I really decided a few weeks ago). Sadly, this race will not be the same for many due to the sudden passing of Jerry Friesen (last week), the race director. It's been said that, "he was one of the most well respected running legends of our time". Jerry died suddenly Wednesday morning (Nov 2) while out on a run close to his home. "Jerry has been a race director for over 20 years and has been involved in organizing over one hundred races. He is currently the Series Director of the Subaru Niagara Running Series as well as Cruise to run.", says the Subaru Niagara Running Series website. Just a few days before he died, we'd been emailing about my entrance to the race. Wearing a poppy while remembering those who fought for us, and Jerry, will make for an emotional event.

As for my race, this should be interesting. I wasn't going to race again until 2012 but figure one a month is ok. These distances seem so short but I know I need to get faster at the shorter stuff to make the marathon faster.
So, today I did a shorter session on the track at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre to keep the legs fresh. It didn't go so well and I've been ranting about it all day. Here's what happened... There was a Midget AAA tournament w/ a lot of hockey players, parents, coaches, scouts, etc. So naturally, the track where I train, above the rink, was busy. Teams were warming up and people were ALL OVER the place. I'm all for hockey. I played my entire life (started at age 4), all the way up to varsity, and my kids are starting to play the sport. BUT, I was not impressed w/ the lack of respect these people showed, walking on and off the track with no regard to those of us using it! Several times I let out a little shout to get peoples' attention and still nothing. Often the same people were the ones in the way. REALLY?! Could they not read the signs, "Do not stand on track"? I guess (hope) it will just be a matter of time for people to learn. I suppose I could really make a scene and go on their ice since they're on my track. You know the saying, "Don't pee in my pool, I don't swim in your toilet."


L