50
MOUNTAINLIFEBLUEMOUNTAINS
SUMMER2016
ML:
Tell usa littlebit abouthowyougot started
asacompetitive runner.
I started running in 2009 for a number of
reasons. First, I went to the Green Living Show
and they did a spiel about howmany cars can
be taken off the road by going vegetarian. I
went vegetarian for a week as a pledge. During
that week they were looking for vegetarian
runners to run the half marathon. My momwas
freaking out askingme how I was going to get
my protein and iron. I decided that I was going
to show her that I could be vegetarian, healthy
and
active.
I had a cancer scare a few years before that. I
was worried about my health so I was pursuing
yoga, meditation, organic food, juicing, anything
that was a healthier choice. Running seemed
like a natural progression. Little did I know
where that first half-marathon would lead. I
swore I would never race again. I crossed the
finish line in somuch pain with a time of 2:05
and I haven’t stopped since. I laugh at what I
felt that day and where I’ve ended up nowwith
endurance running. My time is down to about
1:23 for the half marathon.
What are thebiggestdifferencesbetween road
and trail racing?
Because you’re dealing with different terrain
and hills and gravel and rocks and roots,
you’ve got to be more focused. On the road
you can zone out because you don’t have to
worry about those things, but whenever I’m on
the trails I almost feel like a deer. You have to
constantly be on the lookout. Slowing down
the pace helps and to be honest, you’ll never
match the pace you set on the road. You need
different gear too and more nutrition with
you. I always bring a hydration backpack with
snacks. On roads you’re dealing with traffic
and residential areas but on the trails it’s so
beautiful. Often I’m stopped in my tracks by a
family of turkeys or a deer. You have to slow
down and enjoy it.
FROMTHEROAD
TOTHETRAIL
HOWTHEENDURANCECHALLENGESENTMINDYFLEM
ING
RU
NNINGFORTHEWOODS
By Allison Kennedy Davies
TheNorthFaceEnduranceChallenge takesplace July 16-17atBlueMountainResort.Oneof six races in this
trail-runningseries, theBlueeventmarks theonlyCanadianstop. Runnerscanopt for theGORE-TEX50Mile,
the50km, amarathon, ormarathon relay. Akids' fun runadds to the festiveatmosphere. In2014,when
MindyFleming linedup for the50k run, shehadno ideawhat shewasgetting into. Flemingwonher inaugural
trail raceand isnow training for amarathon-lengthNearDeathRace inAlberta thissummer.Wecaught up
withMindy togetherperspectiveonhowandwhyanathletechooses topush their limitsso faron the trails.
The climbs in thesunwere
definitely thehardest forme.
You’rehot, you’re tiredand
there’snoshelter.
Mindy Fleming runs theEnduranceChallengeat BlueMountain. ULTRARACEPHOTOS
TRAILS
