The Grimsby Runners Blog

The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure!! March 16, 2011

Who loves an adventure? We do!  Mix adventure with bikes near water and you have The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure.

According to the website, “July 2008 was the inaugural year of the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure, the first end-to-end tour of the Trail that is welcoming the public.  In 2002, partners of the trail, including journalist Kate Harries, rode the length of the route and documented their journey in a series of articles that appeared in the Toronto Star.”

From a few end-to-enders who have done their own tours to sharing the experience with as many people as possible, there is a true sense of pride and accomplishment in traveling along the entire 730 kms of the Waterfront Trail, plus it provides a unique experience of southern Ontario.  

Click on the images below to download for more information or check out the website to learn more: www.waterfronttrail.org

Click on poster to download:  

Click on the poster to download:

Post Race!!!! March 5, 2011

Hello everyone!!!

Hope everybody is enjoying a beautiful day and that those of you who ran last Sunday are also enjoying a well earned sense of accomplishment!

Everyone who ran on Sunday did a great job! For those of you who tried your first race- I’ll bet you’re hooked and for those of you who ran the 3K or the half as race “veterans”- I’ll bet you’re pretty happy with how it turned out especially after Saturday`s weather!!!!! I was very excited to see all the smiling faces out there even if you were nervous inside- GREAT JOB EVERYONE!!!!!!
 
On a business note, I wanted to clear up what our clinic fees are for and what you`re paying for when you`re a member of the Grimsby Runners. When you join the Grimsby Runners for either the year long membership or by session you get access to all of the following:

• any of the 7 runs that go from the gym (6 of which are structured runs if you choose)
• Doug`s instruction
• Doug`s vast running experience (i.e. all the mistakes he`s made so you don`t have to! J)
• advice on stretching, nutrition, injury prevention and motivation
• A place to meet and use of bathroom facilities
• programs to help you accomplish your specific running goals
• insurance coverage while you are running
• guest speakers on related topics
• discounts on product for the duration of the clinic, not just one time (and there`s more to come!)
• discounts on Niagara Series Races
• Grimsby Runners web page and blog
• Grimsby Runner’s Face book page
• and last but certainly not least, the camaraderie of a group of like minded people- there`s nothing like it!

If you join for $200 per year membership the fee is a little over $16 per month- That`s a pretty good deal!!!! I’ve heard that some people do not feel this is good value and unfortunately this the way the group evolves. We welcome new people who have worked up their nerve to try it and we bid a fond farewell to our graduates who choose to move on. The group is ever changing and I find that keeps it fresh! We do offer a `pay-as-you-go`card for people who want to run with us occasionally and it`s $30 for 10 sessions.

On a more personal note I would like to apologize for my emotional response to recent events. As anyone who has ever talked to me about running knows, I am passionate about it. You can’t be that passionate about certain things without being emotional about others. I have been quite upset with what I see as a potential division in the group between those who feel they have outgrown the group and those who feel they still have things to learn. By my reactions I fear I may have deepened the divide instead of mending it. I have trained close to 20 members to qualify for Boston in the past and countless others to cross other personal finish lines. I will continue to train any others who wish to do the best they can do and learn as I continue to learn. Let’s face it intervals are intervals and they’re boring. There is no other single workout that will make you faster more effectively than doing them so that’s why we continue every Tuesday! I also try to mix up the workouts so there is really something for everyone and it’s not quite so monotonous- variety IS the spice of life! So if you haven’t been out for a while- try it! There’s always something new!

Let me just tell all of you how I see this group evolving from here and ask for your assistance in maintaining a positive atmosphere.

Runners are being created here, wings are sprouting, dreams are being realized and personal goals are being accomplished. For the new members the group offers a safe and supportive place to try something new and discover that yes they can do it! The more seasoned runners whether they are marathoners, 5 or 10 K runners or Boston marathoners and qualifiers have all attained their goals on the crest of a wave of positive energy that the group sends as the members cross their fingers and hold their collective breath hoping that each of realize you dreams, whatever those dreams are. In turn the seasoned runners waste no time in reaching back to the `newbies` and saying COME ON! We started where you are too! This group will help you! It is a great mutually beneficial relationship and there is no room for negativity here.

We are all runners. Is it more difficult to hone your skill to finally do the time you want or to start out when you`re scared to death? I don`t know the answer but I do know that everyone who drags their butt out on a windy winter day is elite and this club is FULL of elite runners! Let`s respect and encourage each other! This club has always been and will continue to be a haven for people who need something positive in their lives. Had a tough day of bickering and backbiting at work? Problems at home? Come to the running club- we will pick you up, brush you off and tell you `you can do it!`

In closing, yes Jen helped me write this e-mail! :) Part of knowing yourself is knowing what you`re good at and what you`re not and words are definitely her thing! She has always been good at putting my feelings into the proper words.

The Around the Bay Road Race is quickly approaching so let`s move on to our next big challenge and have a great race!
Happy training!
Doug

Spring is coming – no, really!!! February 12, 2011

HELLO EVERYONE!!!!!
I hope everybody is enjoying this nice winter weather! Brrrrr!!!!!
I just want to let you know in advance of our upcoming guest speakers so you can plan to attend any of the info sessions you’re interested in.
Feb 14th                Dr Tony Varsalona (chiropractor and ART provider) on stretching and the benefits of ART (active release technique)

Feb 28th                Shelli Wilmshurst (RMT) on running injuries and the benefits of massage therapy

March 7th             Jerry Friesen on his race series (The Subaru Niagara Running Series), how to enter a race and race day procedure (see www.instride.ca)
 
Everyone is welcome for these little chats at 6:30 on the specified nights. The clinic will proceed after the speakers have finished and answered any questions.
 
The recent “nutrition night” at Carolynn and Ted’s was a big success and they said they didn’t mind if I borrowed the idea so I’m planning a similar event at the gym where we can accommodate everyone who wants to come. I’m in the process of lining up some speakers in the nutrition industry so stay tuned to get the date on this event and plan to come out for some food, fun and info!
 
Spring is around the corner and many of you are ramping up your training for some spring events (or summer bikinis!).  Please remember that while the skeleton of the training schedule remains the same for runners training for races (and bikinis), i.e. Tuesday intervals, Thursday hills and Saturday long runs, I am always trying new methods within that framework to improve your performance.  Whether you are training for a 5K, a marathon or a swimsuit these techniques will help you achieve your goals.  Some days you may just feel like “going for a run” and some days that’s great but if your aim is to improve you need to do the work! Sorry! There just isn’t any way to sugar coat that! Please feel free to approach me when I’m available to talk about your personal goals. You’re paying me to help you- please come out so I can do my job! Even if you’re suffering from an injury there are ways to keep up your training so your post recovery is as quick as possible. There will always be something you can do to help your training and I want nothing more than to help you be the best runner/ bathing suit model you can be!!!!
Also remember that boot camps and personal training sessions are available to tweak your running and personal fitness.
 
I want to thank  all of you for your continued support of the group and each other. We have always tried to be welcoming of new comers and I appreciate your efforts to make new members feel comfortable and at home. Keep it up! We have a great group here and the more the merrier! You’re ALL elite!
 
Jerry will talk more about his race series on March 7th but you can sign up for the whole series or set yourself a goal race at www.instride.ca – members of the Grimsby Runners receive a discount on individual races so if you’re signing up ask me for the promo code. “membership has its privileges”!
 
So as the weather warms up so will the training. Continue your dedication! This might be just another winter to our more seasoned runners but our novices have showed fantastic dedication and will power to keep up the great work!!!!! I’m very proud of our veterans and “newbies” alike!!!!
 
Thanks!
 
Doug

Dream Maker Run For The Bus – 60 Mile Charity Run Update October 11, 2010

It was a huge success! Yesterday was the Dream Maker run and we would like to send a great big thank you to all family, friends, and community members who came out and showed support. The BBQ and clothing sales went well; the clinic members that helped to cook and sell did a great job. Even a few people driving by stopped to donate to the cause. There was not one lap that Doug ran alone. Someone from the Grimsby Runners family was always there with him – sometimes even people in the community joined in for a block or lap. It was great to hear that our community members are inspired and empowered to start running, even if they might feel a little nervous starting out or have some habits they would like to change. It definitely gave Doug the motivation he needed on his long (and painful!) run. After 12 laps, he was at the half way mark when his hamstring popped out. Yes, it was painful, to say the least! Determined to finish, he popped it back in place and continued on. Running with care, he was grateful to see the signs of encouragement that read “Go Doug Go” and “Happy Birthday Doug! Get er done” on lawns along the route. One offered water to cool down and drinks. Another placed 2 candles out to count down the last two of 24 laps. Sixty miles, ninety six and a half kilometres, and about thirteen hours and thirty minutes later, he finished the last lap with many of the clinic members and his son, Jacob, running by his side. We raised eleven hundred dollars for Run For The Bus!!

**Note**

We are still collecting pledges. You can hand them in to Doug personally, mail them in, or submit your pledges online. Thank you again for your generosity and support! 

We could not have done it without you – Thank you.

Doug Flis and Run for the Bus September 3, 2010

This write up from June 2009 was found on The Niagara Running Series site and we wanted to include it here since its Run For The Bus time again !! 

“Last summer Doug Flis of Runner’s Den Grimsby and a three time participant on Cruise To Run ran a mile for for every year of his birth. You will frequently see Doug running with his clinic members at Subaru Niagara Running series races. Doug has done this type of thing many times before. Last summer his purpose was to Run for the Bus. Doug and his wife Jennifer Johnston decided to do this after their trip on Cruise To run when they realized that many of the children on St. Lucia could not go to school simply because they couldn’t afford transportation.

Doug and Jenn and the friends and family who helped Doug on his journey raised $6,500 for the Run for the Bus.

Doug recently learned of the children he will be helping with his run. Nuage Ernest 14 yrs and Nathan Ernest 11 yrs. Their mother has passed away and their father is unemployed and blind and the children are not able to attend school regularly because of inadequate finances.
The family receives financial assistance from family and friends.Both of the schools that the boys are currently attending agree that the boys are well behaved students with great potential but are unable to be at school regularly because of the family situation.

Now the boys will be able to attend school.

WAY TO GO DOUG!!!”