Sean O'Brien 100k Race Report

PC: Howie Stern Photography​

Sean O Brien 100K

They don’t call it the SOB for nothin;)

My oh my, did that SOB take me on a wild ride! I ran the Sean O'Brien 100k in Malibu State Park, just about a week ago and since then I have been immersed in a ‘Blissology’ yoga and meditation retreat at 1440 Multiversity…and now the race feels like it was a hundred years ago! I must say, spending a week doing yoga and blissing out might just be the perfect post race recovery plan. I’m sold, that’s for sure! The day after the race, I drove up the California coast to Santa Cruz and so I had plenty of time to reflect and practice gratitude for each and every one of my 100kms in the Malibu trails. I write my race reports for me, to journal my experience so that I can learn and grow but I also write them for you. If you are reading this, I hope that you find what you need here today- inspiration, inside course info, racing knowledge or a good long run without having to get dirty hahaha. I will do my best to keep this one short (er) and sweet tho, because, really, I have a yoga class under a giant redwood tree to get to lol;) (OK- I just finished writing and have to warn you that this one is NOT in fact short but I like to think it is sweet lol. Warning! Proceed with a heavy dose of procrastination in mind!) And so…

4 Amazing, Short Trail Running Videos

Hello trail lovers!
Each week I look for inspiring adventure films to share with my Team ELM Online, and of course, to fill my cup and get me stoked for my own adventures;).  Every now and then a film comes along that sticks to your soul.  These 4 short films do that for me and I am sure that they will inspire you too.  There is no need to be a trail runner to feel the stoke that spreads from these...enjoy!

A Fine Line: Dave Macleod
Featuring my ultra buddy, Michael Tweedly, whom I had the pleasure of meeting on a long, bumpy bus ride back to Reykjavik following the Laugevagur ultra marathon in Iceland.


A Fine Line from Nevis Landscape Partnership on Vimeo.


Move. A (very) Short Film About Running: By Darcy Turenne
If you have't heard about Darcy yet, you will soon.  She is an uber talented film maker who is coming soon to a theatre near you.  Follow her for unique, inspiring content and stories that you won't forget.

MOVE - A (very) Short Film About Trail Running from Darcy Hennessey Turenne on Vimeo.


Wonderland:  By Salomon Running TV
Now you know why I play in the woods so much...see the forest through my eyes and the eyes of forest lovers:)  What a place to explore- this is a fun one;)




Trail Dog.  By Salomon Running TV
This is my all time favourite.  It fills me up and makes me cry every single time.  So simple.  But more powerful than you can imagine.  And the last line... soooooo good.




What are your favourite trail running films?  The ones that stick to your soul?  Thanks for sharing!
Happy Trails,
Sarah

Getting High in Colorado: Trans Rockies Run 2017 Race Report

Team ELM TRR 2017! L-R: Marion Bryan, Lynn Swift,  Erika Spearmann, Lisa Perry, Crystal Mather and Coach Sarah

These girls tho. I am so honoured and proud and beyond grateful to have shared this journey with these amazing, strong, resilient women. Big mountains and thin air are no match for these big hearts and magic smiles. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey and to support you as your coach and friend. My heart is full of love and you have inspired me more than you will ever know.💕Way to kick ass up high with those strong sea level legs, girls! You da best!

Team @elm_health rocks 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

How to attach poles to Salomon Vest

What's in my pack?

What's in my running pack? from Sarah Seads on Vimeo.
 

Summitting The Golden Hinde in a Single Day

I had been there before...but had never reached the summit.  My last trip to the Golden Hinde was a 3 day, solo walk-about at a pace designed to clear my mind.  This time, the pace was set to try and get to the summit and back in a single day.  Of course, it had been done before by many adventurous (and impatient) fastpackers.  But, I hadn't ever heard of a woman's single day time...

"Hey!  Wanna go for the Hinde on August 27th?"  

...And so...

#explorethevispine Shawnigan Lake to Lake Cowichan 49kms

 

Sandra on the Kinsol Trestle

Thank you for joining me on the #explorethevispine challenge!  This year I will be running ultra sections of the Vancouver Island Spine Trail as a way to raise awareness, support and resources for VISTA, the amazing team behind this truly visionary, 700km trail.  Be sure to check out the #explorethevispine page on this blog to find out more and to learn how you can join me in supporting this great cause!

#explorethevispine With Me!

Have you heard the news?  In case you missed my big announcement (which is going viral on Facebook woohoo!), here are the details about my upcoming Adventure Run...for a great cause!  Follow along via the new page on this blog called: #explorethevispine

I have a BIG adventure planned for 2016...and I am inviting YOU to join me...as I explore the Vancouver Island Spine Trail! 

Augerpoint Traverse Run Report

Magical moments in the mountains. Heading up Albert Edward.

This August, alongside two super gals, I finally ran across the spine of Vancouver Island.  The Augerpoint Traverse had been on my list for a while but not in the traditional sense.  Most people take 3-5 days to hike the Traverse, but I had my mind set on finding out just how quickly I could cover it.  I spent a few trips scouting out the route from both ends this summer to get a better picture of the terrain and approximate times for each section of the route.  Once I had it pieced together, I waited for a free day and a few crazy friends and we went for it! 

ELM Runners are 'Ultra' Fit

  Ultra runners, running to the finish at the Fat Dog in Manning Park.  Image: Brian McCurdy

ELM RUNNERS ARE 'ULTRA' FIT

Over the past two weeks, 6 local trail runners have made their mark on ultra distance trail running events around the Province. Coached by Kinesiologist and owner of Equilibrium Lifestyle Management (ELM), Sarah Seads, runners are finding a new challenge and sense of accomplishment with ultramarathon distances.

Singletrack Mind

"If you know wilderness in the way that you know love, you would be unwilling to let it go." 

~ Terry Tempest Williams

This feels like the first moment that I have stood still in two months.  My laundry is folded.  I have groceries in my fridge.  My house is (as good as it gets) clean.  My shrivelled up plants have been watered and are returning to life.  The last of the blueberries are picked.  My big toenail finally fell off.  I'm ready to sit and ponder and reflect for a moment. 

July and August have been a wild and wonderful ride. I need to take a moment to unload the thoughts and images that have been rolling around in my singletrack mind...  I have been posting snippits of mountain moments in the little square boxes of my Instagram account (LOVE my new insta family!)...but I'd like to revisit some of them and reflect on this fantastic summer spent playing in the dirt...so far... Here are some (not so deep) thoughts, by Sarah Seads, on this lovely August afternoon... 

Fat Dog 50 mile Race Report

Fat Dog you've been a long time coming. 

My Fat Dog initiation was an epic adventure complete with monsoon rains, wasp stings, a Lynx encounter and a suprising finish.  It was quite the wild ride, but it was well worth the wait.  If you want to read the last page, you can check out the race results here and photo galleries building here.  If you want to avoid doing chores or some boring data entry task, then feel free to read on.  Warning: my race reports are my personal journal and a way for me to relive the adventures...80k is a long run so get comfy...

Run BC Project

Girls + Mountains = Rad

Over the past week I have driven 1800kms of winding roads, run close to 130kms of pristine alpine single track and climbed a super dose of elevation in the mountains of BC alongside 11 rad women. The inaugural Run BC Project was an epic road trip to remember and I am grateful to have been a part of it!

Miwok 100K Race Report

 Ultra Sisters:)

"Did you say MEAT-WALK??".  Ha Ha, my friend Shea, now THAT would be an awesome name for a 100K foot race.

Miwok 100K...  It's always so surreal, coming home after these big adventures.   Was I really just running through endless meadows of wild flowers and massive stands of Redwoods in California?  Did I really push as hard as I could at the end?  Was the pain really that bad?  

Ultra Bag of Tricks: Self Care and Miwok Prep

This is it.  The miles are in the bank.  The taper has worked all of her magic. My bags are in the cargo hold and I am a mile high above the endless Oregon coast.  Soon we will be picking up our race bibs and spreading our gear out on the floor one last time.  It's Miwok100k time baby!

Ultra Gear Review: Trail 'Food'

Almost anyone can run an Ultra- so long as they actually want to.  Long distance events are 90% mental.  "Whether you think you can or think your can't, you're right"...so true! 

Taperland

Miles and miles and miles of single track under my sneakers.  Hills and hills and hills tattooed into my quads and calves.  Endless rhythms of breathe and footsteps and arm swings.  All of the uphill slogs and downhill smiles have blurred into one beautiful, miserable, soggy, sunshiney, wonderful run.

Ultra Gear Review: Salomon S-Lab Sense 4 Ultra Soft Ground

More Salomon Reviews: Ultra Gear Review: Salomon S-Lab Advanced Skin 5 Running Vest...

Salomon S-Lab Sense 4 Ultra Soft Ground

I REALLY REALLY love these shoes but...

Ultra Gear Review: Salomon S-Lab Advanced Skin 5 Vest

Running for 5-7 hours at a stretch is a great way to test gear, try fuel, and practice mind games.  Chaffing, blisters, running in the mud, running in the rain, running in the sun, numb feet, upset stomach, nasty gels, delicious bars, magic tape on my calves, duct tape on my shoes- you name it I've experienced it over the years!

The Gifts

Training for 100kms takes up a lot of time.  But, in a strange way, it also gives you a luxurious amount of time in return.  A four, five or six-plus hour run in the woods adds up to more 'free' time than I would normally see in a week, let alone a single day.  I like to 'do stuff', so my days are normally crammed from dawn to dusk with work, work, fitness, home projects, work, projects, fitness, work or sleep.  I am getting better at relaxing and have learned to appreciate the rewards that come from 'doing nothing' and 'free time'.  (Who knew relaxing and watching a movie could be so rejuvenating?)