Brainsport Times July 20, 2016

A big thank you to everyone who helped celebrate Brainsport's 25th Anniversary last week - it was a great evening! In celebration of the big year, we have a very cool "Product of the Week" to highlight this week at the end of this edition.  

In this week's Q&A we're checking back in with Joey Lorer to get his thoughts on completing the Sinister 7 Ultra solo! But, before we get to that a reminder that Brainsport will be open during construction on the 600 Block of 10th Street East - it's expected to last three to four weeks. Now, on to our Q&A . . . Q&A with Joey LorerTara: Just a few years after committing yourself to running, you managed to successfully race the Sinister 7 solo, completing the 100 mile race in 27 hours 49 minutes and 23 seconds. What did it take physically, and mentally to get to the starting line?Joey: I found a training plan that was geared towards "entry-level" 100 mile runners so that covered the physical. Adding in some upper body work and physio to correct some old injuries, peak weeks I was spending close to 15 hours, which I think is a pretty significant commitment for a non-competitive athlete. My goal was simply to finish, so I made no effort to push the training or overdo anything. Really, up until two or three months ago I had been telling people I didn't expect to finish and that I'd be happy with anything over 50 miles. This can have a negative effect on you mentally, because by telling other people you're not going to finish, you are telling yourself the same thing, so I had to change that message to psych myself up even though at the time I didn't really believe it. But you know what they say - tell the same lie enough times and you'll start to believe it's true! I had some really great training runs in the last couple months, setting PRs at some distance almost every week, and those were always a huge confidence boost that made me start thinking that I really had a chance at finishing the distance. With easier training during my taper I stopped getting those confidence boosters and I started to get bummed out and feel a lot of doubt, but luckily I recognized the cause and went out for one last run a few days before the race to convince myself I was still getting better. I ran my fastest ever kilometer that day and that gave me the mental tune-up I needed.Tara: Getting to the starting line was just the beginning, what did it take - physically and mentally - to run the entire 100 miles?

Joey: As my approach was non-competitive, I tried to stay as far away from redlining as possible. Physically, it was just a low-level output for a really long time, much more tortoise than hare. I actually had no trouble keeping my brains together for the duration. I'd been warned about falling to the depths of hopelessness and misery but it didn't happen - I only had one really short episode around mile 54 where I got down and that was after coming out of some wind and rain and being really cold. I'm not sure I'll take too much credit for mental toughness though - overall the weather was as good as you could expect for 28 hours and that can have such a huge effect on your morale. Also, the course is so technical that you really have to stay focused, so that keeps the mind from wandering places where it probably best not go. The body takes a beating out there, but my slow approach at the start left me with enough gas in the tank that miles 98 and 99 were the fastest ones I ran all day.

Joey racing the 2016 Sinister 7 Ultra in Alberta's Rocky Mountains. 

Tara: What was the most challenging part of the race?Joey: Sometime around 70 miles in, you face about 10 miles of almost continuous climbing, in the dark, over really atrocious terrain. Any one of those on its own is hard enough, but all at once was punishing, both physically and mentally. The rising sun definitely gives you some new life after a stretch like that!Tara: Is there something that stands out to you as a highlight, or an overarching positive aspect of running this race?Joey: Absolutely. A few years ago when I first started learning about different 100 mile races, the whole thing seemed so absurd, which it is! I thought that only a tiny subset of elite humans could do such a thing, but there's nothing exceptional about me - I just decided to do something hard and did what was necessary to make it happen. Now, what I might have previously thought of as unreasonable or unattainable just seems like something that takes dedication. From my view, it opens up a lot more potential in life because so many things are recategorized from impossible to possible.Tara: Did completing the Sinister 7 get you pumped up to race another ultra-marathon? And, if so what do you think will be next?Joey: Of course! Naturally, you want to go back and see how much better you could do, but for next year I've got my eye on the Canada 150, a 150-miler in Eastern Manitoba happening to commemorate 150 years of confederation. It only happens once and sounds too good to miss.Tara: Is there anything else you would like to add?Joey: I'm really grateful for all the support of the people I run with regularly, who pushed me to do this. As well, my family has spent a lot of Saturdaymornings without me and I'm glad they put up with the absence. My wife, Vanessa, came out to crew me for the race and did an outstanding job, so a huge thanks to her! To everyone else - I hope this inspires others to aim high and just go for it, whatever it is! 

UPCOMING EVENTS 

Miles for SmilesThe Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan is hosting its 13th annual fundraising event onSeptember 10, 2016 - Miles for Smiles! Come out and run/walk 2.5K, or run a 5K or 10K (chip timing is available). All funds raised will go to the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. For more information on the event go to: http://miles4smiles.usask.ca/.

Folkfest Torch Run

In celebration of this year's Olympic Games, the Greek Pavilion is putting together a torch run for opening day of Folkfest, on August 18. There will be an opening ceremony at the Greek Pavilion, followed by a torch run through all the pavilions involved in Folkfest 2016! The torch will be run all the way to City Hall, and the raising of the Folkfest Flag. If you are interested in carrying the torch email Brian at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The Ultra EthnographyTrail runners, here's an interesting opportunity! A graduate researcher out of Calgary, Ian MacNairn, is doing a study exploring the community of ultra-running. Our friend Ian Colvine brought this to our attention. The study has just moved into the online portion and would like your participation. To do so you will be guided through an online interview and questionnaire hosted through Survey Monkey. Ian (MacNairn) is hoping to have as many people as possible from the community participate and complete this online It takes approximately 1 hour to complete.The link to the interview and questionnaireis: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ultraethnographyemail. To learn more about Ian's project you can visit the website at: www.theultraculture.com.If you are an ultrarunner, a retired ultrarunner, an aspiring ultrarunning, or participate by any other means in ultrarunning, e.g. as volunteer, race director, crew, pacer, fan, documentarian, etc. he would love to have you join!Crown the King Openwater Swim RaceOn September 5 a king will be crowned at Trippes Beach on Waskesiu Lake! Registration is throughRegistration Logicsand thePrince Albert Triathlon Club.For more information visit the Crown The King Facebook page or emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Beaver Flat 50 - Ultra Trail MarathonSaskatchewan's first ultra trail marathon will get underway on September 17 at Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park. With more than 2500 metres of vertical gain across 50 kilometres, there's nothing really flat about this race! The Beaver Flat 50 is a tough get-your-feet-wet, wreck-your-shins, and roll-your-ankle kind of run. For more information clickhere.Brainsport Free Stroller Walking Club
Stay-at-home-parents, and caretakers we have a great opportunity for you to come out and meet some new people, enjoy the outdoors, and fit in some exercise. Our free Stroller Walking Club is underwayon Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weather permitting). Everyone will meet at Brainsport before heading out! 


SRRA Trail Race SeriesRace #1 Saskatoon April 28 at 6:30 p.m.
Race #2 Cranberry Flats, July 17 at 9 a.m.
Race # 3 Blackstrap, September 18 at a.m.
For more information on all the races visithttps://srratrailraces.wordpress.com/.

16th Annual Saskatchewan Credit Unions Queen City Marathon

The 16th Annual Saskatchewan Credit Unions Queen City Marathon takes place the weekend ofSeptember 10 & 11 in Regina. This event includes races for people of all paces. Runners and walkers are welcome in the 42.2K, 21.1K, 10K, Team Relay and 5K events. Kids, as young as three-years-old, are encouraged to participate in the Mini Marathon. For more information or to register please visit:http://runqcm.com.
Product of the Week

25 Years Running Stickman T-Shirt



To celebrate Brainsport's 25th Anniversary the Stickman is back! These limited edition t-shirts are available at Brainsport while supplies last. 

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Thanks for reading the Times this week . .  gotta run . . .Tara