Awards and Opportunity

Our workplace Run Club started from the seed of an idea: "I like to run at lunch; maybe others would like to join me."

Given the go-ahead and freedom to set up the club, we grew and expanded, connecting to the Ottawa running community and to elite runners, trainers, health care providers and nutritionists in Ottawa who were a source of inspiration and motivation.

The CEO coin of excellence award for the Run Club was a surprise gift to me from the Run Club members and Senior Management in 2012 after our first season.

In 2013, I was invited to present at the City of Ottawa's first HEAL forum. I received the City of Ottawa Public Heath HEAL award for being an innovator in healthy living.

In October, 2013, I was asked to speak at Ottawa's official Health Day. After the speech, there was a 5K run from City Hall.

Leading Run Club has been such a joy because I was given the freedom to run it as I wished: a very fulfilling task for a creative "Connector" whose forte is setting up positive communities of people from diverse backgrounds. Through our Special Speaker series, I have met some life-changing people who will always be my inspiration in times of difficulty. I am grateful for this experience and hope to continue to connect good people who make positive change in the world to each other.

Run Club T-shirts 2013

Our first Run Club T-shirt order is in and they look GREAT!!

What stunning T-shirts these runners have! Goes well against the lush green background.

Trend setting in Ottawa.

Here's where our YVR buddies run. Don't feel too jealous: there are vampires.

Looking Mahhhhvelous in Run Club T-shirts! These ladies rock the T's!

CATS...Atude! Peace, Vancouver! Looking good!

More photos coming at the end of November with our 2nd order

The Cool CATS...At HQ.

Now taking contributions for the CEO's Run Club shirt! Drop off a couple of looneys to Jenny during November. A jar will be at my desk and please sign the Run Club birthday card.

The Golden Running Shoe Award

It doesn't get ANY better than receiving the coveted Golden Running Shoe award! Thanks, Eric and Jason, I couldn't have done it without you!

For runners in the regions, yeah, it's a real running shoe. I believe Eric's wife is down by one shoe.

Gonna really miss this for the next few months, but a great end-of-season lunch was had by all. Gotta love Run Club peeps!

Run for the Cure 2013

Our workplace Run for the Cure team had an awesome run on Sunday, raising money for breast cancer research. It was a tad chilly, but at least the rain held off. Thanks, Captain J.Trimble (dude with the pink bandana on the left), for organizing this fantastic 10! Runners, thank you for participating and special thanks to those who fundraised!

Run Club Team, Run for the Cure 2013

We're putting together another fantastic team for the Run for the Cure on Oct. 6.

Team captain, Jason Trimble, is organizing our activities and has put together a team of 10 participants.To donate to our team, go to this site and help us raise money for breast cancer research. Please help. We appreciate every little bit--it all helps a great cause.

This year's team members include, but are not limited to:

Team 12P in Run 4 a Cause 2013

UPDATE: Team i2P has just been awarded $250 to donate to i2P for their work inspiring and empowering youth! Woohooo!! Run 4 a Cause organizers are awarding prizes to the top 5 teams and we were #5! Go Team!!

Run 4 a Cause is a 5K run in downtown Ottawa that celebrates charitiesof all kinds and the runners who support them. This year’s event took place on Saturday, September 28, on Parliament Hill where over 500 runners gathered on the perfect autumn morning.

Our Run Club put together a team representing Ray Zahab's organization i2P. Among our group members was Liz Perras along with her daughter and boyfriend. Thank you, Liz and company, for participating--it was great to see you again!

Those of us from Run Club who put together the i2P Team did so partly in gratitude to Ray for coming to speak to us, but mostly because, after he spoke, we were so inspired, we wanted to help him empower others.

We were joined by runners from Ottawa Public Health so we grew into a quite respectably sized team.

Team Good Guys Tri cheered us on because they also support i2P!

Note the matching logos -->

After the run, participants mixed and mingled on the rooftop terrace of the Rideau Centre

...where there were prizes, après-run yoga, socializing, photos, treats by Vega and…donations for the charity who had the most representatives at the run.

Our Team i2P came in 5th out of 13 charities, thanks to the combined efforts of our group and OPH! We won $250 for i2P to continue their amazing work of educating, inspiring and empowering youth through adventure running. Next year, watch out: we're gonna blow Run4aC away with Team i2P 2014!

Here are a few vids of the event:

Montréal Rock n Roll Marathon

While those of us in Ottawa were running the Army Run last weekend, Andrée-Anne was in Montréal with some buddies rocking and rolling the10 K in the Montreal Rock n Roll Marathon event.

Army Run 2013

Cool temps, huge crowds (22,000 runners in downtown Ottawa!) and adrenaline like a haze in the air: it was Army Run 2013.

Our workplace had a good showing of runners at this race and some quite impressive times by our runners:

Eric Bazinet in the Half Marathon came in at 1:38:43.4
Leo Emond in the 5K came in at 0:21:09.4
Jason Trimble in the 5K came in at 0:25:03.3 (after following wrong route for a while--it can happen)
Nic Houle in the 5K came in at 0:25:49.9

Congrats to everyone who ran. We couldn't do a team for this race, but we all shared the awesome experience of running with tens of thousands of other people in a timed race for your own PB.

Vancouver Runners, the SOBs, Run for Charity

Pacific Region Runs the Vancouver Eastside 10K

On Saturday, September 14, five employees in the Pacific region formed a team, the SOBs, and took part in the inaugural Vancouver Eastside 10K run. The run brought together over 1,000 runners to raise funds and awareness about 3 organizations that are supporting the downtown Vancouver East Side community:

• Downtown Eastside Women's Centre,
• Watari Counselling & Support Services, and
• Greater Vancouver Food Bank.

The SOBs Team was made up of veteran runners and beginners: Hugh Black, Pierre Lajoie, Tracy Maloney, Stuart McDonald, and Michelle Mitchell.

Each member of the SOBs finished the race in their own time and the team celebrated their success at the end by showing off their medal.

Congratulations to each member of the team for running the race and supporting the community! The team would like to extend a special thank you to Stuart McDonald for organizing and facilitating the team’s participation

Week of Sept. 16

Hi Runners,

This week in Run Club:

Tues- We run!

Thurs-We run!

Fri-Noon: Pick up race kit

Sunday-ARMY RUN!!!

Army Run Photo and Video Shoot

Let’s meet outside the Lord Elgin for a few photos and short vid before the race. Please email me if you are planning to come for this so I don’t wait for you and miss my chance to get in the corral.

We’ll also get a photo of our runners wearing their Tshirts and dog tags on Tues., Sept. 24 .

T-shirts

This week and next week, I’ll be collecting cheques for the T-shirt order. The shirts will take longer to be produced than I had understood and I apologize for that. We will receive them around early to mid-October. For Ottawa runners, that means layers. YVR runners, I think you’re OK. Photos when we get them, though—we will look smashing!

Run for the Cure Team

Team captain, Jason, has put together a fabulous team of 10 for Run for the Cure on Oct.6! Thanks to: Leo, Yen Enge, Karin, Dina, Christina, Rosemarie, Jason, Jenny, Ruth and Erin for participating in this run for an awesome cause! We’re having a photoshoot on Monday at 11:30 so wear pink! If you want to donate to our team, please do so here. We are quite a ways from our goal this year so every little bit helps!

Run for a Cause, Sat., Sept.28 for i2P

Join me in running for i2P, Ray Zahab’s organization, in Joe Rios’s Run for a Cause (#r4ac) on Sat., Sept. 28. Joe is pulling together runners for all different causes into one gigantic 5K fun run for charities on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Parliament Hill. It’s free and it’s a good time. Last year I went, met a new friend, and got free Lululemon running socks. Not bad for a bridge-to-bridge run! Join me—we’ll try to get some publicity for i2P as a thanks to Ferg and Ray for joining us last week. Email me!

Prison Break

Well, it was indeed alot of fun! I’m still sore, though (all those walls and ropes require more triceps than I’ve got!) If you like a fitness challenge, this’ll do it.

Favourite obstacle: sliding on my tummy through the mud down a hill under barbed wire. Yep. Least favourite: either the ice water tank or balance beam over the pond (it wiggled).

Bushtukah Bras and Bikes

Need a new sports bra or a bike? Bushtukah sent us info on their upcoming Bras and Bikes event.

Prison Break Ottawa, 2013

Over walls, under barbed wire, through tunnels & sewer pipes, up ropes, across planks, through ice water, down mud slides (belly first), over bonfires--this was a challenging, but fun, course!

and here is the first challenge: up over the wall of hay into the field full of prison guards:

I managed to get a few bad vids before the race. Fwiw, here's one.

And here's my new buddy, Tanya. We overcame mud slides, prison guards, sewer pipes, barbed wire, ice tanks and fire together. If that's not good for bonding, what is?

Week of Sept. 9 in Run Club

Hi Runners,

This week in Run Club:

Tues- We ran (well, JT and Leo did, anyway J)

Wed-I’m doing a make-up run if anyone wants to join me (canal run). Email me so I wait for you.

Thurs-NOT TO MISS!! Last Special Speaker talk of the year and it’s DA BOSS!! Running legends Ray Zahab and Ferg Hawke talk to us about ultras, mental strength and helping youth realize that they, too, can do the impossible if they set their minds to it.

Sat-Prison Break at Vorlage. I’m going. Must be crazy: chased up a mountain through mud pits up rope climbs and over walls… and I PAID for this! Pics and updates to follow next week.

T-shirt order is IN!

Woohoo! Can’t WAIT to take some pics of us in our new T’s!!

Army Run

If you are doing the Army Run, let me know. I’d like to get a pre-run photo and vid on site of Run Club members ready to race. Also, a post-run pic back at 99 Bank the week after with everyone wearing their shirts and dog tags would be great!

Vids of special speakers on P drive

Thanks to our Lync expert, Jason, we have a number of this year’s presentations recorded and available for Run Club members to watch at their convenience. Email me for info.

If you missed Ryan Grant’s talk last week on the biomechanics of running, it’s avialable, too. Awesome talk: Ryan knows his stuff. Here’s his blogif you’d like more info. Also, I have his cards at my office: feel free to grab one and contact him for any questions on running form.

Special Event by SoleFit (Nov.2—mark your calendars)

SoleFit is putting on a special event on Nov.2 called Running Without Boundaries: The Limitless and Limiting Mind. It will be at the Museum of Nature from 5 to 9 pm.

Eat to Cleanse Your Body

Linda Houle Robert’s latest newsletteris out. If you are interested in eating better and proper nutrition, she’s an amazing resource. Check it out.

Sports and the Brain

If you are interested in how athletes can keep pushing themselves the way they do, check out the fascinating research on the Sports Information and Research Centre’s latest newsletter on Sports and the Brain. I know one of the reasons I run is for mental “cleansing.”

Ray Zayhab at our Workplace!

This is one presentation you do not want to miss! Ray will be joined by Ferg Hawke via Lync! Two running legends at one presentation!

Ray Zahab is an international legend, a motivational speaker par excellence, the founder of an organization (impossible2Possible) that educates youth through adventure learning and expeditions, and an inspiration to thousands of people across the globe.

A former pack-a-day smoker, Ray now performs amazing ultramarathon feats beyond what even the most intrepid runner can imagine. He has run across the Sahara Desert (watch the trailer for the documentary on it: Running the Sahara), 3 coastal trails of Canada (400K), the South Pole (1100K solely on foot), frozen Lake Baikal in Siberia (650K), Atacama Desert (1200K), Death Valley (237K), and this summer, he ran over 2000K across the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.

Ferg Hawke, another running legend (nicknamed “The Running Man”), will be joining us via teleconference. Ferg was overweight and unfit at 30 years old, but within two years was running triathlons, then ultras and winning them! Ferg is renowned for placing second in the Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley twice. He also holds the second best time by a North American in the Marathon des Sables, a gruelling 150K course through the Sahara Desert. Like Ray, his mental strength and determination are amazing!

Come meet Ray and Ferg and be inspired to change the impossible to possible!

Thursday, September 12

Noon

Training Room

Brought to you by Social Committee Run Club. Be motivated. Be inspired. Run with us.

Special Speaker, Ryan Grant- The Biomechanics of Running

Ryan Grant is a certified pedorthist, an elite runner, former professional triathlete, and co-owner (with his sister) of SoleFit, Ottawa.

Ryan recently returned from 3 weeks in Ethiopia volunteering at Ya Ya Village, a training facility for endurance athletes.

Come out and learn from Ryan about the biomechanics of running and how to improve your running form.

Wednesday, Sept.4

Noon

Brought to you by Social Committee Run Club. Be fit. Be social. Run with us.

More Run or Dye

Run or Dye weekend

Here's Christina and me after Run or Dye. Check out our vid of the starting line (below).

Week of Aug. 26 and Labour Day weekend

Hi Runners,

Here’s what's going on in Run Club this week:

Tues- We ran (Eric and I did and I have to say it was hot, humid and I nearly died. Eric seemed fine.)

Thurs- Special Speaker, Strength Training Lara Winnemore gave a fantastic presentation! So much to know about how the body works in sync and how to train so it stays in sync.

Fri-Make up run from Thursday—Bring your gear! I'm hitting the hills by the locks.

Sat-Christina and I run in the Run or Dye fun run out at the raceway. We’ll have pictures next week!

Wed.,Sept.4-SPOILER ALERT: Ryan Grant will be our special speaker on the Biometrics of Running and Improving Form (see Special Speaker page on this blog).

T-shirt orders

The order goes in at the end of this week, beginning of next. Then we run as a group with matching shirts and attitude!

Sports Information and Research Centre

Setting goals is one of the single most beneficial aspects of sport as it provides the foundation for how coaches and athletes go about practice, training and competition plans.

It has been proven over and over again that goal setting is one of the most effective techniques for enhancing motivation and performance.

Check out this great article from SIRC on goal settingand here’s another on setting goals for athletes by coaches.

Have an awesome LONG WEEKEND (need more of these!) if I don’t send out another message before then!

Run Club member in Ottawa Citizen!

Hi Runners,

Leo took a breather at the NAC during a Wednesday noon run and was photographed by the Ottawa Citizen.

Keep running, Leo! He's one of our prodigy runners. Last spring Leo was a non-runner. Now he's running 10Ks and doing 5K in under 25 mins.

Special Speaker, Lara Winnemore- Smart Strength Training

Lara Winnemore is a certified personal trainer and Stott-trained Pilates instructor, a 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher and a runner. Lara also teaches running clinics and develops running-specific strength training programs for her personal training clients.

Cross training, restorative care and listening to your body are some of the issues Lara believes in strongly. She specializes in core conditioning and corrective /post rehab exercise. A certified Fascial Stretch Therapist™ with the Stretch to Win Institute in Tempe, Arizona, Lara brings a host of expertise to her instruction and training.

Lara loves to help optimize movement not just to improve sport performance, but for everyday life.

Come out and find out more about how to train smart to strengthen your own body.

Thursday, August 29

noon

Brought to you by Social Committee Run Club. Be fit. Be social. Run with us!

Week of Aug. 19

Hi Runners,

We’re getting into serious training for fall runs now. I’ve been actually doing hills Land push ups L L.

Here’s what we’ve got going on this week:

Tues- We run!

Thurs-We run!

Run Club T-shirts—please order one!

We are back into the fray of T-shirt orders. So far, I have 8 people signed up for T’s, but we need 4 more people to buy before I can place the order. Think about how cool it will be to go out for a run with a whole group of people all wearing the matching red T’s.

Please order one today if you haven’t yet done so. I’d love to get them while the temps are still warm.

Special Speaker, Lara Winnemore, Strength Training

Lara had an unfortunate issue last week and had to re-schedule her presentation to us. She’ll be here on Thurs., Aug. 29 at noon to talk about strength training and off-season fitness so mark your calendars! Regional runners, let us know if want to Lync in or have us record it for you…or both.

Next week, we'll have to move our Thursday run to Friday so bring in your gear on Friday the 30th.

See you Tues., 12:05 in the lobby!

Week of Aug.12 in Run Club

HI Runners,

Weather is a bit dull today, but we’re going out anyway. Here’s what we’ve got going on this week:

Tues-We run!

Wed- Yoga on the Hill

Thurs-We run (I will be at an appointment, but run for me!)

Can you believe it, but we are:

· 2 weeks away from Run or Dye (Aug.31)

· 4 weeks away from Prison Break (fear has set in!)

· 5 weeks away from Army Run

· 7 weeks away from Run for the Cure

Speaking of Run for the Cure, we are looking for MORE people to join in this great cause! Here’s our TEAM CATSA from last year—we had a great time and everyone there was into the whole fun-run-for-a-great-cause mood! Let Jason know if you are interested in joining—he’ll set you up.

Week of July 29

Hi Runners,

You can’t get better weather for running than this! Come on out at noon for a bridge-to-bridge or canal run!

This week in Run Club:

Tues-We run!
Thurs-We run!

Ray Zahab finishes his 2300K run across the Gobi Desert

Ray Zahab did it!!! If you have been following him, it’s been an amazing journey from start to finish! Check out Ray Zahab in the Singing Sands of the Gobi Desert and his final 300Kwith an injured back (Every End is a New Beginning).

Ray will be coming to visit us in September (the 11^thor 12^th) to talk to us about running, challenging yourself and making the impossible possible.

Karen Meades presents at Women of Influence

Karen Meades, one of our Special Speakers in May will be presenting at the Women of Influence Luncheon Series on October 3 at the Chateau Laurier from noon to 2:00 p.m. Take a look! We were so fortunate to hear from her first here at our own workplace!

Articles for athletes

Sports Information and Research Centre has articles on elite athletes, knee osteoarthritis, aquatic exercise and more. Research-based and informative, this is an excellent newsletter for athletes.

July 16- Girlz Summer Run

Here we are-- the intrepid four who took on the sun, heat and humidity at noon for a great social run along the river. This is the before picture. After picture never happened. Great run, great company!

Week of July 11 to 19 in Run Club

Hi Runners,

It’s a *beautiful* day for a RUN! Come on out and enjoy a canal or bridge to bridge run in the sun and perfect temps!

This week and next week in Run Club:

Today-We run! 12:05 in the lobby. Smile, I’m taking photos—it’s a gorgeous day!

Next Tues-We run!.

Thurs., July 18-We run!

Run gear on sale

Bushtukah’s 20% off Summer Sale is ON until July 14 (Sunday). They do have a lot of cool gear.

See you at 12:05 in the lobby!

Jenny

Week of July 2 in Run Club

Hi Runners,

Happy July! Here’s what’s on this week in Run Club:
Today-We run (rainy, but not torrential, so fine for running)
Wed-Yoga on the Hill, weather permitting (meet in lobby at noon, but shoot me an email first)
Thurs –We run!

Welcome new member

We have a new regional member in Montréal! Please welcome Jérôme Bastide de Grave, a marathoner with an impressive collection of international marathons to his credit. Check out his run blog to see what runs he’s been doing. He’ll be following our blog and catching our Special Speakers via Lync (thx, Jason!)

Sports Research

Lots of information in the SIRC (Sports Information and Research Centre) e-newsletteron training, nutrition, motivation, coaching, etc. if you want to sign up for it. This month, there are articles on motivation, knee injuries, and hill training (thinking of Yen and Monsieur D., here).

Stawberry lime smoothies and more

Special speaker, Linda Houle Robert, has a new e-newsletter out that you might want to sign up for if you’re interested in nutrition and eating right. Check out “Eat well with Linda—7 reasons to eat strawberries” and more!

Wanna dance?

Check out Thursday evening Salsa on Sparks St. If you’re keen on something with a bit more funk and groove, try Tuesday night “Luv2Groove”classes in Westboro for a mere $15/ lesson. I’ll be there tonight for those who like to attend when they know someone else who’s going.

Run Club T-shirts

We haven’t forgotten. Logo is in the works. Will send it round once it’s finished and we’ll take orders, get our T’s and run around downtown, looking fab.u.lous in our new Run Club T’s.

See you at 12:05 in the lobby!