2013 Trail Running Clinics

Welcome to Peakprints Trail Running! Offering safe and fun clinics for those wanting to give trail running, and even racing, a try! The goal of these clinics is to introduce you to the exhilarating and self-fulfilling sport of trail running, expose you to the varied terrain and challenges of running off road, and prepare you for some or all of the trail runs in the upcoming 2013 Central Alberta 5 Peaks Trail Running Series!

Your two dedicated clinic leaders, Sandi Seto and Marisa Norona, are both experienced runners, on and off the road, are seasoned 5 Peaks race series competitors, and have a wealth of knowledge in the areas of sport training, racing, and well-being. Come on out and feel the joy of running in nature; join us for our 2013 trail running clinics in preparation for 5 Peaks or your other trail running adventures this summer!

Clinic Details

6 informative clinics will be offered this year from May to September. Each clinic will focus on a particular topic related to trail running and racing; we will begin each session with a short discussion from our leaders/guest speakers, then participants will have an opportunity to get out on the trails with the leaders, in a safe and comfortable environment, to give it a try. Clinic locations will vary between trails in and around Calgary and the local mountains. Clinics are geared towards beginners, however, all are welcome. Participants should have the ability to and feel comfortable running (at whatever pace) for 40 minutes on roads.

Drop into each clinic for $10 per clinic, or make the commitment to trail running this year and sign up for the Peakprints package: all 6 clinics for only $50.
Peakprints Package participants will receive a special 5 Peaks souvenir, and all clinic participants will have a chance to win a variety of fantastic draw prizes from our sponsors (free race entries, 5 Peaks souvenirs, trail shoe coupons, other various sports clothing and equipment)! Back by popular demand: a free 5 Peaks race entry will be given to the first 5 participants to register for the Peakprints Clinic Package, and all participants can use a special Peakprints discount code to register for any of this season's 5 Peaks events across Canada! Thanks, 5 Peaks!

Through our partnership with Strides Running Store, additional free casual trail runs (one a month) will be available to our clinic participants. These runs typically happen on the first Saturday of each month, starting in May. To get all the details and to be added to their trail run mailing list, email Strides at run@stridesrunning.com .

Grizzly Mountain Events, another one of our fantastic sponsors, will also be offering additional trail runs on Sundays starting in June out at the Canmore Nordic Centre, yet another opportunity for our clinic participants to get out in a group setting for more trail runs! More details regarding these runs will be sent to clinic participants as the information becomes available.

Sign Me Up!

Detailed information on each clinic will be posted on this blog site a few weeks prior to each clinic date. Sign up as a "follower" and check here regularly for all the details. You can "drop-in" to any of our clinics and just pay on the day. However, if you know that you are coming out, please email us at: peakprintstrailrunning@gmail.com so we can expect you and have you sign a waiver! If you are interested in taking advantage of our great "Peakprints Package" deal, please also email us, and we will sign you up. We will then send you a waiver and information form to complete and bring to your first clinic. If you have any questions or concerns about the clinics or package, once again, email us!

2013 Schedule at a Glance

NUTS & BOLTS OF TRAIL RUNNING
Friday, May 10th - 6pm (North Glenmore Park)

5 Peaks Series Race #1 - Saturday, May 18th - COP

CLIMBING & DESCENDING TECHNIQUES
Friday, May 31st - 6pm (Nosehill Park)

5 Peaks Series Race #2 - Saturday, June 8th - Canmore

BEAR SAFETY
Saturday, June 29th - 9:00am (Nosehill - DUE TO FLOODS)

5 Peaks Series Race #3 - Saturday, July 20th - Sundre

FUELING & NUTRITION
Monday, July 29th - 6:00pm (Bowmont Park, Silver Springs)

5 Peaks Series Race #4 - Saturday, August 10th - Fish Creek

STRETCHING & CORE
Monday, August 19th - 6:00pm (Cochrane Ranche)

RACE STRATEGIES
Saturday, September 7th - 9:30am (Station Flats, Br. Creek)

5 Peaks Series Race #5 - Saturday, Sept. 14th - Canmore
BLITZ Duathlon - Saturday, Sept. 21st - Bragg Creek



2013 Peakprints Trail Running Group

Mar 7, 2010

Clinic # 3, April 26th - DESCENDING TECHNIQUES

What goes up must inevitably come down. Although, you would have felt "the burn" in your lungs and legs at the previous Ascending Techniques clinic, it is often easier for many than making the descent. In trail running, descents can often be on loose gravel or very technical, requiring good eyes, quick footwork and a steady focus. We will spend time in this Monday evening clinic beginning to build technique for moving downhill both quickly and safely. Clinic will take place at Nose Hill Park in NW Calgary, and there will be no shortage of hills to descend! Date: Monday, April 26th, 2010 Time: 6:30pm, sharp Location: Nose Hill Park (NW Calgary) Length of session: 90 minutes (run 60 min max.) Drop in Cost: $10 (cash or cheque) Directions: Meet at the Edgemont Blvd parking lot off of Shagganappi Trail http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/parks_operations/nosehill/nose_hill_map.pdf What to Bring: *Running shoes (road shoes are fine, however, as time goes on, you may want to try a shoe specifically designed for trail running) *Water and a snack (bars or gels are good) *Extra layers *Gloves and a toque/beanie *Change of clothes/towel for afterwards *completed waiver/information form (will be emailed to you if you pre-register)

Clinic # 2, April 17th - ASCENDING TECHNIQUES

A trail run/race just wouldn't be so without at least one or two good climbs. In this clinic our aim is to help you work on learning to climb most efficiently and comfortably with a few simple techniques. Luckily, with a little practise, this will equate to climbing faster, as well! Of course we cannot eliminate gravity, but we most certainly can use less energy as we work towards overcoming it's force. Join us on April 17th as we conquer some good ole hills in Weaselhead! Date: Saturday, April 17th, 2010 Time: 9:00am, sharp Location: Weaselhead Park (Glenmore Resevoir, SW Calgary) Length of session: 90 minutes (run 60 min max.) Drop in Cost: $10 (cash or cheque) Directions: We will meet at the north parking lot, located at the main entrance to North Glenmore Park at the corner of 37 St SW and 66 Ave SW. http://blog.talkaboutwildlife.ca/park/where-is-weaselhead What to Bring: *Running shoes (road shoes are fine, however, as time goes on, you may want to try a shoe specifically designed for trail running) *Water and a snack (bars or gels are good) *Extra layers *Gloves and a toque/beanie *Change of clothes/towel for afterwards *completed waiver/information form (will be emailed to you if you pre-register)

Mar 4, 2010

Clinic #1, April 10th - NUTS & BOLTS OF TRAIL RUNNING

Welcome to the wonderful world of trail running! In this very first clinic, and the first in a series of four prior to the COP 5 Peaks race on May 22nd, we will focus specifically on the differences between running roads vs trails.
When running off-road, we need to be more mindful of such concerns as variations in terrain, obstacles, trail conditions, wildlife, etc. It is of utmost importance to assure we are familiar with our route or course, and that we are prepared for any sudden changes in weather. This will help prevent us from getting lost and will keep us comfortable and safe throughout our runs.
We'll spend the first 10-15 minutes discussing road vs trail in more detail, then get out on the trails to give it a go!

Date: Saturday, April 10th, 2010
Time: 9:00am, sharp
Location: 12 Mile Coulee (Tuscany, NW Calgary)
Length of Session: 90 minutes (run time 45-60 minutes, max)
Drop in Cost: $10 (cash or cheque)
Directions: Heading North on Stoney Trail from Nose Hill Drive, take the next exit for Tuscany Blvd. Upon exiting, turn left at the set of lights, going under the Stoney Trail Hwy you just exited. Turn right at the next lights and follow the road about 500 m, then turn left into a gravel parking lot in front of an appartment complex.
Note: Check "Comments" link below a few days prior for trail conditions*

What to Bring:
*Running shoes (road shoes are fine, however, as time goes on, you may want to try a shoe specifically designed for trail running)
*Water and a snack (bars or gels are good)
*Extra layers
*Gloves and a toque/beanie
*Change of clothes/shoes/towel for afterwards
*completed waiver/information form (will be emailed to you if you pre-register)