Another gorgeous day today!  We're so lucky. 

I went for a run today, 5k on the trail from Atwood torwards Henfryn.  I saw 4 groundhogs, a bunch of yellow finches, and some pretty butterflies.  Well, maybe they were moths, but they were still pretty!  That's one thing I love about running outside, especially on the trail, you just never know what you will see.  And smell - the last couple of months there have been a bunch of shrubs (not sure what they are) but they have been in bloom and smelled amazing!  That always puts a smile on my face!

New 4-Week Walk to Run Program, beginning in August ...
ALL participant fees are going to The Canadian Diabetes Association, CIBC Run for the Cure, or The Weekend to End Women's Cancers!

I've had a lot of you asking me when and if I'll be organizing another Walk-to-Run Program.  I decided on my run today, that I will offer a 4 Week Walk to Run program in August.  Since I had so much fun with my Walk to Run group in the spring, and since I'm FUNDRAISING -
 I decided that every cent I make from this new 4-week program will go to charity!!

Details

The program will begin on Monday August 9th at 6.30pm, and end on Friday September 3rd.    The meeting place will be the Elma Memorial Community Centre.  We will run every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (except August 13th - I'm away that weekend).  Each run will begin with a 5 minute brisk walk to warm up, as we walk to the beginning of the trail.  We will cool down and stretch together after every run. 

If you are a beginner runner, the first week, we will start with running basics, and just a bit of running.  We will gradually increase our running time, until at the end of the 4 weeks, you will be running most of a 5k!   I will also provide you with a package to review with all the information you need to get started, and answer any questions you may have.

If you are already a runner, and wish to join us, you are more than welcome!  We would love to have you.  If you would like to work up to a 7k or 8k run, I can place markers along the trail so you know where the 7k and 8k point are. 

Running with a group is truly inspiring!  I had so much positive feedback from all of my runners in my spring running group, and I've missed the group since it's been finished!  It's a great way to meet people who have the same goals as you.  And, it's a great bonding experience!  :)

The cost of this program will be $50 per participant - as mentioned it will go to one of the above charities that I am fundraising for.  You can let me know which one you choose!

As you may know, I'm training to run a Half Marathon in October.  I joined Team Diabetes for the GoodLife Marathon in Toronto on October 17th.  I'm going to raise $350 to participate.  To sponsor me for the marathon, and join the running group, please visit

https://ocp.diabetes.ca/Pledge/csPersonalPage.asp?tId=14447&oId=12325198 and donate your $50.  If you visit this page and see that I've reached my $350 goal, then

please visit my Weekend to End Women's Cancer site, where I have about $220 left to reach my goal of $2000.
http://www.endcancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Toronto2010?px=2993615&pg=personal&fr_id=1440

If I have already reached my $2000 goal, then first, Yay!!   You can give me your money and I will put it towards the $100 I'm raising to run 5k for the CIBC Race for the Cure on October 3rd. 

Speaking of the CIBC Race for the Cure, would you like to join me?  If you are going to join the August Walk to Run Program, and keep up your training in September, why not complete a 5k?  We will have so much fun!!   And, it's only at Bingeman's, so, not too far to go!

Last Thursday, on the day my son turned 15, I ran 10k for the first time ever!  It was a great day, and I happened to run past one of the girls from my spring running group on my way out.  She was just finishing up her run, and was going super fast!  Way to go, Sarah!  The first 5k was great.  After that though, it got a little tougher!  I should have brought some water with me, but didn't.  I stopped to walk for a minute at about the 7k point, then again at about 9k point.  Then I booted it as fast as I could to the finish.  My time for the 10k still ended up being an hour + 20 minutes, but I was just glad I did it!  If anyone ever told me on the day my son was born 15 years ago that I'd run 10k sometime in the future, I'd have said "You're CRAZY!", since I just never thought I would.  Just goes to show, you NEVER know what you can do until DECIDE to do it, PLAN and TRAIN, then DO IT!

I read a quote today from someone who said distance running is 90% mental, and 10% physical.  This is sooo true!  I find it much more of a mental challenge.  Sure, it is physically challenging too, but your mind is what's telling you to stop.  And your mind is controlling your body.  See what I mean??

If you would like more details about the new program, or have any questions, please feel free to post a comment to this blog, or you can always email me at dawnlinklater@msn.com