Author: Rosalie Smith

Your smart watch is lying to you.

Garmins, Apple watches, Fitbits, I-Phones, Electronic scales…all of them are culprits. My watch told me the other day that my performance level was at a negative 4. This was at the start of a 15-mile training run we CRUSHED.  While I know it’s ok to start a run tired, it was hard to shake the feeling that maybe I wasn’t running at my best, or maybe I was doing something wrong in my training or lifestyle.  I was being gaslit by my watch!  It’s easy to get hung up on stats and beat ourselves up when they aren’t what we want or expect them to be. Trust yourself and your training. You know the variables in your life that your devices don’t take into consideration. Remember that the tiny computer on your wrist, while an excellent training tool, is not nearly as smart as the person wearing it.

We had an incredible turnout at our first Pub Run of the year at Barrelhouse Brewery in Paso Robles on February 4th.  Sunshine and blue skies made for some great running weather and was perfect for hanging out in the beer garden afterwards.  Barrelhouse had fun too and wants us to do it again. (SAVE THE DATE FOR AUGUST 19th!)

Running Warehouse is kicking off their Pub Run Series this month in Avila Beach on March 28th at 5pm with shoe demos by HOKA.  They’ll meet up at Mulligan’s Bar & Grill and warm up with Movement for Life Physical Therapy.  (The first 100 people get a free drink on Running Warehouse!)  They came north with Brooks Shoes in January and joined us for our Hot Chocolate 5k at 15C in Templeton.  It was a frosty 28 degrees at the start but the company was good and the hot chocolate delicious!

 

TRC will be hosting Pub Runs all throughout North SLO County this year.  Thankfully the time is changing soon, and we’ll have more daylight to run them in!  Wild Fields Brewhouse in Atascadero has always been a favorite as well as Cal Coast Brewery in Paso Robles.

This month, we’re going to get loopy at Firestone Brewery. We’ll start and finish this (nearly) half mile loop course at the Taproom restaurant and see how many we can laps we can squeeze in! The Taproom will be open for food, drinks, and has the perfect patio for spectating and cheering on runners. The runner that makes the most laps in 30 minutes we’ll buy a beer (or a non-alcoholic beverage of your choice if you’re under 21!) Keep an eye out for more details on this FREE event!

Speaking of free, we can’t do what we do without help from our sponsors. As a non-profit community organization, we want to keep encouraging local runners of all ages to come out and give the sport at try. We are affiliated with the RRCA and USATF and would like to continue to keep our membership free for all to join.  A $200 sponsorship will not only help support our community and club, but you’ll get your logo listed on the backs of our 2023 shirts, your logo listed on the front page of our website, and several shoutouts on social media and in our newsletters.  Please contact me at rosaliesmith@templetonrunclub.com if you’d like to join our team!

As with last month and months going forward, we have another contribution by one of our club members, Jen Seay, with her thoughts on running and why she does it. Please reach out if you would like to contribute as well!

Rosalie Smith

rosaliesmith@templetonrunclub.com

Templeton Run Club

PO Box 522

Templeton, CA. 93465

 

Why I Run

by Jen Seay

 

Here’s a little bit about my running life:  I became a distance runner on a warm February day during my freshman year of high school. I arrived at track and field tryouts convinced I was going to be a sprinter. I remember the coach looking at me kindly and telling me to practice with the sprinters but to report back to him at the end of the week. When I came back to him a few days later he looked at me with a smile and said that he knew where I belonged….with the distance runners.  From that day on, I have not looked back.

I have continued to run for the 20+ years since I graduated high school but my running life hasn’t felt the same without a team. Through college and graduate school running became very sporadic with no structure or goal.  I would sign up for a race from time to time which gave me a target, but I would slide back into the same unstructured schedule.  That all changed when I joined the Templeton Run Club in the spring of 2022.  I happened upon the club by accident…I saw them meeting up at the park on a Saturday morning.  After some proper social media stalking, I signed up to join my first Saturday morning long run.  I immediately felt like a member of the crew and have been welcomed with open arms.  The club has been incredible for getting me back on track and provided me the structure I desperately needed.  They motivate me, they encourage me and they support me.  The TRC has been a welcome part of my life and the other members have quickly become friends and it has been my pleasure spending the last year getting to know this group.

 

I have been thinking about what running means to me and why I do it.  Running is more than just fitness or exercise.  It is a way to gain focus or gain perspective on the world around us.  My general attitude is better, I am more productive in my personal and work life and I am happier.    

Here are some of the things that I think about while on a run:

  • Planning my day. Some of my best planning occurs when my mind is clear during a run.
  • The discomfort.  On runs of all lengths there will be a moment when your legs or arms will be tired.  Pushing through the discomfort can be liberating and powerful.
  • Sometimes I actually think about nothing. This is a great kind of peace, just listening to each step and each breath can be relaxing and soothing. 

 

My journey to this point has been a great one and I can’t wait to see where running takes me.  There have been many highs including completing a marathon and competing for league championships with my team.  There have also been lows, such as recovering from a tough injury.  I know that I have a great group of runners to help me along the way and I look forward to the future.

Do you know what I have been LIVING for lately?  There is a tiny little widget on my watch that shows me what time the sun rises and sets each day.  Every day since mid-December I’ve been watching that tiny little ray of sunshine add minutes of daylight to the time each evening and it makes me so happy! Today the sun set at 5:13pm but tomorrow it’ll be 5:14pm.  One. Whole. Minute…..which as all you runners know, can be a very long time.

I feel like most of us are looking forward to this break in the rain and it comes just in time! Our Hot Chocolate 5k fun run and walk with Running Warehouse and Brooks shoes is this Saturday, January 21st at 8am. Join us for a 3.5-mile fun run and walk around Templeton with complementary hot chocolate and raffle prizes after the run. We’ll start and finish at 15C Wine Shop and Bar at 624 Main St where they will have food and beverages for purchase afterwards.

For those of you that run or walk along Vineyard Dr. in Templeton, you have may have noticed that there is not one crosswalk in the nearly two mile stretch between Templeton High School and Vineyard Elementary School.  San Luis Obispo County is asking residents to share their input as they move forward with the Vineyard Drive Corridor Plan to improve safety, traffic congestion and access. When you have a few minutes, please take the time to fill out the survey and share your thoughts! (And mention that we’d love for them to include a safe place to cross!)

Finally, as promised in my previous post, we have opened this Blog up to run club members willing to share their thoughts, insights, and personal experiences with running.  Please email me if you would like to contribute!

Happy Running friends!

Rosalie Smith

rosaliesmith@templetonrunclub.com

Templeton Run Club

PO Box 522

Templeton, CA. 93465

 

 

Running for life!

by Angie Britton

 

As we enter the New Year, I am reflecting on my lifelong passion; running. 

I started running in 8th grade.  I joined the track team as a sprinter and a jumper (long jump, triple jump and hurdles) and I continued this trend through high school.  I started running cross-country when I was a junior, at the recommendation of my track coach.  He said it would improve my sprinting ability more than volleyball.  I guess I agreed with him, so I tried it.  I was only moderately good at distance running and I really don’t think I enjoyed it much.  Of course, we lived in the desert, and we ran at 3 o’clock in the afternoon when the temperature was usually hovering around 100 degrees.  …not ideal running conditions.  Once I graduated from high school, I continued to run because I enjoyed keeping track of my times and competing against the clock.

I got married and became a mom shortly after graduating from high school, and had two kids before I turned 20.  I ran early on in my pregnancies, but back then I was advised by my doctor to stop when my heart rate got above 120 – which basically meant I couldn’t run at all.  Try it sometime! It’s impossible to keep your heart rate that low!  This was in the 80’s, and luckily times have changed!  Now they have realized the benefits of continuing your fitness program when you’re pregnant.  Anyways, I was back at it as soon as I could be.  I used to time my runs with my trusty Timex Ironman watch with a lap counter.   It was the bomb!

In my late 20’s and 30’s I was busy with a high-stress career and by this time I had four sons, so I cherished my solitude while running.  It was my “me time”.   For many years, I would get home from work, lace up my running shoes and head out the door. I was free from the chaos of life for a few short minutes.  I didn’t need company and in those days we didn’t have iPods or cell phones to take our music with us, so it was just me and the sounds of my feet pounding the pavement and my rhythmic breathing.  I would spend this time pondering, problem-solving and praying.  It was my therapy. Luckily, my husband was VERY supportive.  I think he learned early on in our relationship that if I didn’t get my run in, we would ALL suffer!    Eventually, I moved into the 21st century when my husband (who’s a gadget guy) bought me my first Garmin.  I’ve had several versions over the years, but I remember the first one was almost as big as my fist!  Friends would suggest running together, but I wanted to run on my own terms at my own pace.  Except for the occasional 5 or 10k, I didn’t want to make running a social event.

 

As the kids grew older they all played sports.  Life after work became too busy to fit in a run, but I still needed the mental outlet.  That’s when I switched to running before work.  I would get my clothes & shoes ready the night before, so all I had to do was slip them on, brush my teeth, throw my hair in a ponytail and head out the door.  I discovered how peaceful mornings are!  Often, it was still dark, and I would get to watch the sunrise.  It was mesmerizing.   I would enter a race every now and then to motivate me to run faster, and I joined the San Luis Distance Club to keep up on the local races and monitor the times of the other runners.  I attended their track workout a couple of times, but it usually didn’t fit into my work schedule. 

In my early 40’s my husband and I decided that I needed to quit my job and stay home to finish raising the boys.  I grew up as a latchkey kid, so I am very familiar with the trouble that a kid can conjure up when left to his own devices.  Once I ended my career, I was able to run whenever I wanted, and however far I wanted while the kids were in school.  No more scheduling my runs around family commitments and work obligations.   I LOVED running and I LOVED the freedom!  It was not unusual for me to run six or seven days a week!  I actually had to force myself to take a day OFF from running so that I didn’t injure myself!  I was having the time of my life!  I was truly blessed to be able to run for so many years injury free! 

 It was during these years that I discovered the joy of running when we went on vacation.  It was a great way to go exploring!  I eventually came up with the idea that I’d like to run a race in every state.

 It’s been slow going.  I’ve run in 16 states so far, and to date we have mostly just found a race to run wherever we happen to be vacationing.  I’ve recently decided that if I’m going to get this done before I’m dead, I had better start going to places JUST to run a race!  We’ve only done this a couple of times so far; the most memorable being when we flew to Denver in January of 2018 to run a 5k.  We got the oddest looks from people when we told them we were there just to run a race – IN JANUARY!!   One weekend 

I was able to knock out three races – one on a Friday night (a “moonlight run”) and then races on Saturday AND Sunday mornings.  That was back east, where the states are closer together, and the timing just lined up.  All my races have been small-town types of runs.  In I have found they are logistically less hassle.

Now I’m in my 50’s and my kids are all grown.  My life is relatively stress free, so the NEED to run for my mental health has waned a bit.  A few years ago I came to grips with the fact that I have slowed down.  It was a hard reality.  I guess it’s just one of the downsides of running for so many years.  Every runner peaks, but since I’ve been running for nearly 45 years, I peaked long ago.   Unfortunately, it’s taken a toll on my motivation.   

A couple of years ago, I put out a post to a Facebook Group inquiring if there were any “Turkey Trots” being run in the area.  This was in 2020, so most races were shut down due to COVID.  Templeton Run Club responded that they were having one – an informal run from the park on Thanksgiving Day for anyone who wanted to join.  I showed up that day and I was hooked!  Me – the SOLO runner!  I discovered that I LIKE running with others!  We don’t necessarily run together – but we warm up together, we take a picture, we discuss the route, and then we usually stretch afterwards together as we laugh and enjoy each other’s company.  I may or may not run with someone, depending on who is there and how fast and far we run, but we start together before we each settle into our own pace.  We are all ages and varied levels of speed and abilities.  I can run as far as little as I want when we meet – there is no pressure.  …but I know that they will be there cheering me on, just as I am there for them.    

My mother-in-law gave me a journal for my 29th birthday.  I decided to use it as a running log.  It has made it easier to keep track of my runs and I’ve been logging them ever since.  It’s fun to look back at the progress I’ve made over the years, and remember the races and places I’ve run in our travels, and at the different places we’ve lived.  Since joining the Templeton Run Club, I have fond memories of Ugly Christmas Sweater Runs, Pub Runs, ranch runs, runs in the rain and beautiful early morning runs with the sun shining through the trees and our noses pink from the chill in the air.  I am so grateful to my friends with the Templeton Run Club!  We come from all walks of life, but our love of running has created a lasting bond. 

See you at the next run!

Angie Britton

 

I’m not sure which is worse…cold, dark and 28 degrees, or sweating it out in 110 degrees in the middle of summer. I love running but even I can admit that it can be miserable under perfect conditions, let alone running in weather that makes your face hurt. The last few workouts I’ve done have been a STRUGGLE! Despite my best efforts in trying to talk myself out of going (and believe me, my excuses are quite convincing)…I go…reluctantly… because my friends are there, and it was a struggle for them to get there too.

Let me tell you about my friends. I didn’t know many of them before I started running with them. They come from all walks of life with enough stories and experiences to pass the time on countless miles. Their pace doesn’t matter nor does the amount of miles they put in. They know the pain of hard run, and they know the elation that comes from a great one! It’s a rare breed that’ll want to listen to your full race recap, down to the socks you were wearing and the shoes on your feet. And I’m grateful for them! They keep me motivated when it’s hard to do so on my own. Running (and this club) has brought people into my life I might not have otherwise met and my life would be severely lacking without them.

In looking back on 2022, I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish this year.

We coached youth athletes at our first Track & Field Camp with Templeton Rec and cheered them on at the Atascadero All Comers Meets in July. We ran in the dark from Morro Bay to Sierra Vista Hospital and Avila Beach carrying a flag on its journey from Canada to Mexico with the B. Supportive Relay. We had first time half-marathon and marathon finishers at Mountains to Beach in Ventura and the Wine Country Run in Paso Robles. A few of us had the privilege of running in the 126th Boston Marathon! Many of our runners are just getting back at it after running Cal International Marathon in Sacramento a few weeks ago!

 

 

We gained the support of sponsors like April Fehrer with ReMax, Tenet Health Central Coast, Hug a Mug Coffee in Paso Robles, Wild Fields Brewhouse, West Coast Auto and Towing, and Terry Lopez Dressage. Their contributions helped keep our run club free to all that wanted to participate! In addition to GH Sports and Running Warehouse, we gained a new community partner with Prescription Roasting Coffee in Templeton! Last but not least, we teamed up with Luis Escobar and All We Do Is Run to host the inaugural Tierra Redonda Mountain Trail Run. Not only was it successful in that the majority of runners enjoyed the race and no one got hurt, but the proceeds that Luis donated back to the club will fund our first high school scholarship in 2023!!

Speaking of 2023, January is chock-full of running events! But first!! We need all our members to renew their waivers. Please follow the link on the website to update your information. Better yet, print off a copy, fill it out, sign it, and bring it to a run or mail it to: Templeton Run Club, PO Box 522, Templeton, Ca 93465.

  • January 8th is the Running Chicken 2023 10k/ 5k Fun Run and Walk fundraiser for the Bitti and Brynn Foundation at Santa Margarita Lake. Come run “the wall” with us!

  • January 14th is the Castle to Coast 8 miler if you were lucky enough to get registered before they filled up! The event is a fundraiser for the Cuesta College Track & Field program.

  • On January 21st we’re teaming up with Running Warehouse for our first Hot Chocolate 5k fun run and walk in Templeton! This FREE event will start and finish at 15C and will include a complementary Hot Chocolate and raffle prizes with Brooks shoes after the run.

  • January 28th is the All We Do Is Run La Cuesta Ranch 10k/25k/50k Trail Run at the historic La Cuesta Ranch in San Luis Obispo.

  • Save the date for our first Pub Run of the New Year at Barrelhouse Brewing on February 4th! Discounted brews and raffle prizes after the run!

 

We will continue to meet for group runs Tuesday mornings, Thursday evenings, and Saturday mornings. After January 1st we’ll switch to our “winter hours” and meet at 8am on Saturday mornings. Run Club meetings will be held on the third Thursday of every month at Barrelhouse after the track workout. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate!

While I have enjoyed having you all as a captive audience over the last several years, I had the thought recently that I’d open this blog up to more than just my own random reflections and over shares. Starting this January, in addition to our run club updates, one of our run club members will write on their own thoughts and insights into running, a race they’ve run, struggles they’ve had or experiences they want to share. Please email me at rosaliesmith@templetonrunclub.com if you’d like to contribute!

Merry Christmas (and Happy Hanukkah) Runner Friends! See you in the New Year!

Rosalie Smith

rosaliesmith@templetonrunclub.com

Templeton Run Club

PO Box 522

Templeton, CA. 93465

 

 

Do you remember how to play kickball? I don’t remember playing as a kid, but I was also painfully shy in grade school and preferred to keep my head stuck in a book rather than risk embarrassing myself in a team sport or being picked last…again. I ran AWAY from the balls, not towards them.

Fast forward a few years…or thirty…and I’ve suddenly found myself in an adult kickball league and despite stopping a ball with my face the other night, have really loved it! (I wish that my 44-year-old self could give my 14-year-old self some pointers! …like learning to duck.) The thing with this kickball team, and most “team sports”, is that it doesn’t come down to just one player being good or bad to win or lose the game. The entire team works together. Cue the phrase there is no “I” in team!

While most people think that running is an individual sport, and often competitively it is, the people we train and surround ourselves with has a big influence on how our individual game plays out. I showed up to track last night, tired, grouchy, and lazy (sounds like someone you’d want to hang out with, right?) But by the time we finished our warmup laps, did our drills, stalled with a photo op, and talked about the workout, our little group had lifted me up. I did my workout (albeit a little shorter than prescribed) and hit the paces I was shooting for (thanks Tony and Jen!) All I had to do was show up and my team made me better for it.

This month our TRC team has gotten a little bigger. Prescription Roasting is a local coffee roasting company made up of three guys that not only love coffee, but also love to run. Their mantra is to provide fresh coffee, that’s responsibly sourced, while keeping an eye on our future planet ANND they want to help us reach our goal of being able to provide scholarships to high school athletes passionate about running!

Prescription Roasting will give a 5% discount to anyone that uses the code “TRC” and will donate 10% to Templeton Run Club. If you use the code to subscribe to a recurring coffee shipment, they will contribute $5 for the initial order and 10% of the sale, plus 10% on recurring orders. But wait there’s more! Subscribe AND you’ll get a welcome Running Gift Pack that includes Drymax socks, Squirrels Nut Butter anti-chafing cream, a Fluid active performance sample, and a Fluid recovery sample!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back at the summer, in addition to a successful 1st Youth Track and Field Camp with Templeton Rec and the Brian Waterbury 10k Rock to Pier Run comeback, we were able to meet up with SLO Distance Club in August for a group run down Santa Rita Road. We had such a great time and enjoyed the camaraderie the shared love of running brings.  As 2022 winds down and we start planning ahead for 2023, we’re looking forward to meeting up again!

 

These last few months of 2022 are chocked FULL of running events and opportunities! At the end of the month, Sunday, October 30th, we will have our annual Halloween Costume 5k Fun Run from Templeton Park at 8am. We’ll give out prizes to the top 3 best costumes and run down Main Street to show them all off.

Sunday, November 13th is the Wine Country 10k and Half Marathon in Paso Robles. If you’re not running it, come join us and the Templeton High School Cross Country Team at mile 11 where we’ll be passing out waters and cheering on runners.

The following weekend is our first trail run with All We Do is Run out at the Smith Ranch in between Lake Nacimiento and Lake San Antonio. This Tierra Redonda Mountain Trail run is a 10k/21k/24hr/48hr run on dirt ranch roads with runnable hills and incredible views. Sign up at Ultra Signup to run or volunteer or both! We’ll need help Thursday the 17th to get set up and mark out the route. All We Do is Run is donating a portion of the registration fees back to Templeton Run Club!

We’ll celebrate our 3-year Anniversary on Saturday, November 26th at 8am! Join us at Templeton Park for a team picture, short morning run and celebration afterwards with cupcakes and TRC swag!

We are also working with Running Warehouse to put on a Hot Chocolate 5k tentatively scheduled for January 21st in Templeton. More info to come soon on this one!

Thank you again to our sponsors, April Fehrer with ReMax, Tenet Health Central Coast, Wildfields Brewhouse, Hug a Mug in Paso Robles, and West Coast Auto & Towing, along with supporters like All We Do is Run, Prescription Roasting and GH Sports who have given us a big kick start in covering operating costs and offering support and donations for events like our youth Track and Field Camp, scholarship program and our upcoming trail run. We couldn’t do it without you!

 

Happy running friends!

Rosalie Smith
Templeton Run Club
PO Box 522
Templeton, CA. 93465

 

Back in January as I was scrolling through my Instagram page, I came across my horoscope for the new year. Now keep in mind that while I’m not a big believer in fortune telling, they are fun to read and think about. Mine read that I would be focused on learning, improving knowledge, on studying something or teaching. Not so far off since my kids often joke that I’ll be taking classes until I’m 80 years old!

 

 

Fast forward a month or so and our talks started with Luis Escobar about hosting a trail run out at the ranch. We’ve never hosted an event before but Luis has hosted plenty. The Tierra Redonda Mountain Trail Run will be held at the Smith Ranch the weekend of November 18-20th. Not only will part of the registration fees for this event go back to Templeton Run Club, but we’ll learn from the best about what it takes to put on a race. Bring your campers, RV’s, and tents and let’s make a weekend out of it!

The focus of Templeton Run Club has always been about promoting health and wellness through running. We saw the benefits meeting up several times a week was having not only on our physical health, but our mental health as well. There’s something about running conversations that makes it easy to untangle thoughts, learn something new about your friends and share things you may not have normally shared. Other times it’s just a great time to rant! There’s a great quote about running being the most underutilized antidepressant and it’s free!

Templeton Run Club is a USATF and RRCA affiliated club, but unlike many of the clubs with these credentials, we do not charge a monthly or annual fee to join. I dread asking for money but because I love this club and believe in our purpose, we’ve started a campaign to build sponsorships to cover our annual operating costs. We are very fortunate to have obtained a few generous donations over the last several months to help us do so!

 

 

Life-long central coast resident and full time real estate agent April Fehrer with ReMax was our very first sponsor! Tenet Health Central Coast the parent company of Twin Cities Hospital and Sierra Vista Hospital became a sponsor last month and more recently Hug A Mug (the drive through coffee kiosk on 13th Street in Paso Robles owned by Templeton residents David and Paula Ross) has joined our team! Last but not least, Wild Fields Brewhouse has not only been one of our favorite pub run stops in Atascadero but they are now also an official sponsor! Help us say a big THANK YOU by supporting these local businesses as our “ultra-marathon” sponsors!

Albert Einstein once said that “if you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself.” We may not yet be able to explain the fine art of running to a six year old, but how about an eight year old??

Templeton Rec and Templeton Run Club are teaming up to offer our 1st Annual Youth Track and Field camp in a few weeks for all incoming 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders! This four day program will go over warm ups, offer a brief introduction to track and field events, play some fun running games, and stretching. Camp will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 28th and June 30th, July 5th and July 7th at the Jack Allen Field at Templeton High School from 9:30am-11:30am.

Some of our Templeton High school track athletes have volunteered as student coaches and will be there to help offer support and guidance to our young athletes! Registration is $100 and will include a t-shirt, snacks and swag bag at the end of camp! (Shout out to GH Sports for donating a few fun goodies to the bags!)

Any funds raised will go back to the Templeton Rec Department and Templeton Run Club to put towards future community activities. Click here and go to youth sports camps/clinics to register or swing by Templeton Rec Department Tuesday-Friday from 9am-6pm!

 

Love Templeton Rec?? Show your support and join us for their 5k Beer Run at Barrelhouse on Saturday, July 9th at 8am! Sign up before July 6th!

Can’t make that one? The following weekend is the 52nd running of the Brian Waterbury Rock to Pier 10k! Join us on July 16th at 8am for a point to point race held completely on the beach (hard packed sand) from Morro Rock to Caycos Pier. There will be a shuttle back to the rock where they’ll have a post race breakfast!

 

Last but not least, we’ll be running leg 57 of the B. Supportive Relay on June 21st at 7pm. This relay started on June 4th at the Canada border and is on it’s way down to Mexico in support of Health Care Heros and the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

We’ve signed up for the Central Coast section and will be running a full marathon (broken up into 3 mile legs) from Morro Bay to Avila Beach, with a quick flyby Sierra Vista Hospital.

There is still some time to sign up and join in the fun! We’ll run this “Ragnar” style where we have 2-3 runners on each leg and leapfrog them to cheer them on! Join our team at bsrelay.com! Don’t want to run but still want to support the cause? You can make a donation in our name to the Challenged Athletes foundation HERE!

Happy Running Friends!

Rosalie Smith

rosaliesmith@templetonrunclub.com

Templeton Run Club

PO Box 522

Templeton, Ca. 93465

When I worked as a nurse in Critical Care, I would frequently take care of patients after having major abdominal surgery. One of the most critical parts of their healing, and often the most painful, was for them to get out of bed and go for a walk. This often happened in steps. First, just sitting up on the edge of the bed. Next, getting from the bed to the chair. The next day, getting from the bed to the chair and then taking a few steps. I remember telling a patient one day about my running adventures and her telling me how easy it must be for me to do what I was asking of her. I told her, everyone’s marathon is a little different. For me, yes, it was 26.2 miles, but for her that day it was 26.2 steps. It takes time, hard work and an incredible amount of patience to meet the goals we set for ourselves. It doesn’t matter how big or small our dreams might be, only that we have determination to chase them!

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February was an exciting month in meeting some run club goals. We met with Luis Escobar, the founder of All We Do Is Run (and a runner himself,) and started our planning for a local, fall trail run! His group will put on the event, we’ll be there to help and learn about what it takes to put on a race, and a portion of the registration fees go directly back to Templeton Run Club! The Tierra Redonda Mountain Trail Run will take place the weekend of November 18th-20th. This event will feature a runable 10k, 21k, 24 hour and 48 hour run on a dirt, single track, loop course out at our ranch! (Located in North San Luis Obispo County in between Lake Nacimiento and Lake San Antonio.) Bring your tents or travel trailers and let’s make a weekend out of it!

Other goals for the next few months include reaching out to potential run club sponsors as well as working with the Templeton Rec Department to start planning a kid’s summer run camp! If you are interested in either becoming a sponsor or want to help plan the run camp, please email me at rosaliesmith@templetonrunclub.com. My time is dedicated to the Templeton High School Track and Field Team right now but I’d like to get back on track (ha!) with getting some of our run club ideas rolling!

The 126th annual Boston Marathon is right around the corner and while many of us are finally starting to taper, there are many more of us that are gearing up for Mountains to Beach Marathon and Half at the end of May. I ran Boston in 2016 and while it was an absolutely incredible experience, I struggled with the training leading up to it and that was reflected in how I felt during the run. Some of you that have known me for a while have read this before, but I’ll leave you with this Boston Marathon Race Recap I wrote on the plane ride home.

Katie and I were laughing about my race experience on the plane ride home…..so if you have some reading time, here’s my 2016 Boston marathon race recap!

 

Mile 1: Oh no! What have I done?? I’m in NO shape to run a marathon! …oh man…25 to go…

 

Mile 2: It’s hot out here! Why is it so hot? My left shoulder is hurting…am I having a heart attack?? So soon?? I didn’t fill out the emergency info on my bib…I wonder how long it’d take for them to get to me….

Mile 3.1: Enjoy the down hill…enjoy the downhill…but not too much….5k done!! …how many 5k’s in a marathon? Wait scratch that…it’s just 5 miles 5 times…5 miles 5 times…

 

Mile 4: Ashland…this is a cute town…oh look…kids! High five kids! Whoa and adults …and more kids….move to the center! Move to the center!

 

Mile 5: First five miles…Honey stinger time…five miles five times…what does that make that? Just over 20 miles to go…ok just stop counting…

 

Mile 6.2: It’s still hot! Rosalie–you like the heat…suck it up…ooo ooo guy with the garden hose! Over here! …NOW it’s 20 miles to go…20 miles!!!

 

Mile 7: This is the “easy” part…pace under 9…if I can just keep this pace…keep this pace and you can stop at mile 10…

 

Mile 8: I like mile 8…I don’t like THIS mile 8, but I like 8…this is my 8th marathon…8 is my favorite number…geeze I’m still not feeling this! I usually feel good by mile 8!

 

Mile 9: Mile 10 Mile 10 Mile 10

 

Mile 10: YAY! 10 miles!! Break time! Where did all these people come from?? I can’t stop now! You go town of Natick! Look at all the cool old buildings!

 

Mile 11: Is my knee hurting? No…my knee isn’t hurting…really?? Nope…not hurting…

 

Mile 12: What’s that sound?? Ooohhhh….Wellesley….already?? I thought these girls were later….hi hi hi girls!

 

Mile 13.1: HALF WAY THERE!!!!! (Glances at watch) ugh…under 4 is going to be tight…

 

Mile 14: Mile 15 Mile 15 Mile 15…..

 

Mile 15: GU time!! Bleh…oh my gosh I just breathed water…seriously?? I have water up my nose during a marathon! This is not a swim Rosalie!

 

Mile 16: ok…just a few more to go until mile 20…THANK YOU headwind! I think I’m starting to feel like I can run this thing…

 

Mile 16.2: stop looking at your watch…

 

Mile 16.4: you’re slowing down…

 

Mile 16.8: seriously?!?!!

 

Mile 17: ok…mile 17…all downhill until mile 17…bring it on Newton…oh hi Santa Claus…whoa he really looks like Santa!

 

Mile 18: O.M.G. That hill sucked…Quick check…breathing?…mediocre…knee?…not hurting (what the hell?? Do I make this stuff up??) …legs? Kinda crampy…feet? Think I have a blister…or 4…so much for toenails!

 

Mile 19: ok…almost to mile 20…stretch break at mile 20…ahh! Is that a sprinkler tunnel??

 

Mile 20: Stop to stretch…(race volunteer checks on me…you doing ok ma’m??) Yep just stretching! Wow…these guys are on top of it!

 

Mile 21: Heartbreak hill time!! Where is it……Wait…is this it?! Woo-hoo! Downhill coming up!!

 

Mile 22: FOUR more miles!! I want to stop SO bad but this crowd is AMAZING!! Just keep running..doesn’t matter how slow…3 more miles til Joe and the kids…

 

Mile 23: oh my gosh my legs hurt!! Will I make under 4?? Not likely, but keep pushing just in case!! 3 more miles!! No no random stranger…not 3 and a half…3.2…are we still moving downhill???

 

Mile 24: Someone just said “welcome to Boston!”…I’M IN BOSTON!!!

 

Mile 25: Where are Joe and the kids?? Maybe I missed them….one more mile… one more mile…the freaking longest and best of them all….oh there’s Joe! Hi kids!!! Hi!! ONE MORE MILE!!!

 

Mile 26: oh my gosh…oh my gosh….oh my gosh….this is so freaking awesome!!

 

Mile 26.2: YAAAYYYYY!!!! I made it!! (Knee…how you doin??…still walking…not hobbling around! Woo-hoo!!) THIS CITY IS AMAZING!!!!

 

Official time 4:03:17….not a PR but considering the challenges in training, by far the smartest and most inspiring race I’ve run!! So so happy!!

Happy Running Friends,

Rosalie Smith

rosaliesmith@templetonrunclub.com

 

Templeton Run Club

PO Box 522

Templeton, CA. 93465

Anyone want to run a marathon with us?? There are a crazy few of us that have already signed up for Mountains to Beach Marathon (deferred from last year of course) and are going to start training this month. The race starts in the mountains of Ojai and is a net downhill run to the beach in Ventura on Sunday, May 30th. (Don’t feel like running 26.2? They also offer a half marathon and 5k race the same day.) It sounds like they have a solid refund policy in case they have to cancel…and if that’s the case, we will either find a replacement race or put on an independent TRC marathon/half marathon. 

As we start training, you’ll notice our Saturday long runs getting longer. That does not mean you have to run the entire distance, especially if you’re just starting out. We always include options for shorter distances with information for loops and turnaround points. Check out our maps on Strava! Bringing it up on a desktop instead of your phone gives you a little better picture of what the route entails….ie. elevation profiles, segments, etc.

With the Salinas River flowing and our river crossing washed out, we’ll be running a few more loops into Paso this month (…looking at you Kiler Canyon!) As always if you have some favorite routes that you want to try out with the group, let us know! We love our tried and true, but always have fun running something new.

 

Have you seen our new hoodies?!?! I am SO excited with how they turned out! They are light enough to wear as a warm up or cool down and are comfortable enough to run some distance in…and I’m totally biased but they look AWESOME! They are sized a little large so I’ll be placing another order for some smaller sizes. I currently have Mediums and Larges available for $35. If you’d like a long sleeve shirt, let me know as well. We’ll be able to add on small quantities to this next order!

Good luck to everyone running Buzz Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k this weekend!! Can’t wait to see you all out there!!

Happy Running (and Valentine’s Day!)

Rosalie Smith

rosaliesmith@templetonrunclub.com

Templeton Run Club

PO Box 522

Templeton, Ca. 93465

 

As many of you already know, Mountains to Beach was canceled for 2021 and left us with the motivation to train, but no race to run….at least not in California!! Several of us have signed up for the REVEL Sun Valley Marathon/ Half Marathon in Sun Valley Idaho on June 26th and 27th. The event is capped at 499 runners per day (Saturday is sold out) and COVID precautions will be taken throughout the race. Because this race is now 15 weeks away, training starts NOW! You’ll notice our long runs getting longer, but do not feel like you have to run the entire distance if you’re not marathon training. We would still love to have you join us! The routes we build on Strava will always have turn around points or alternate routes for shorter distances.

As we look ahead for 2021, we would like to continue training for and participating in local events. Registration is currently open for City to the Sea Half Marathon and 5k to be held in SLO Sunday, September 12th. As races slowly start to come back, we’ll be adding them to our race calendar and crossing our fingers that COVID conditions continue to improve! If you have a race in mind that you want to participate in or think we’d love, let us know! (There is a trail race in Lake Tahoe October 2nd we’ve been eyeballing as well!)

If you are interested in purchasing a TRC Hoodie, men’s long sleeve or ladies long sleeve email me your sizes by March 26th! The more we order the cheaper they’ll be! The hoodies run large (so consider sizing down), but the long sleeves seem true to size. The hoodies were $35 the last time we ordered but if we order smaller quantities they might cost a little more.

Also, if you haven’t signed a waiver for 2021 please fill one out and bring it to the next run! I bring blank ones with me to the runs so let me know if you need one!

Feel free to reach out with any questions or ideas for runs and routes! You may have noticed we added a few trail runs to the calendar this month. We’d like to continue with a trail run at least once a month (this Saturday will be at Santa Margarita Lake) and are hoping to add an occasional Wednesday and Friday in April. Keep an eye on the calendar! We’d love to see you!

Happy Running!!

Rosalie Smith

rosaliesmith@templetonrunclub.com

Templeton Run Club

PO Box 522

Templeton, Ca. 93465

 

 

Don’t blink! Our beautiful green hills won’t last for long. As unfortunate as it is that we haven’t gotten more rain, these warm sunny days have made for some spectacular runs. If you haven’t been out for a run lately, GET OUTSIDE! You’ll thank me later. If you follow the club on Strava and received the 20 event notifications, then you’ll know our April calendar is up to date! There are some great runs planned this month! Check Strava for starting locations and times, route maps, and mileage options. If you bring it up on a desktop you can also check out the elevation profile of the route you’re running. Although don’t let it fool you! Sometimes those steep climbs are not that steep…..except Ridge..…that one is steep…maybe the Santa Rita Road climb too…

Other than the random Wednesday we have planned next week, our run club schedule will remain the same. This month’s runs are Tuesday mornings at 7am, Thursday evenings on the track at 6pm, and Saturdays at 8am (no group run on April 10th.) We will continue to work around high school sports and will alternate between the Templeton and Atascadero high school tracks. Starting in May, our Saturday runs will start at 7am to beat the heat. For those that are currently marathon training, we’re planning a supported 20-22 miler to Cayucos on May 22nd starting from Templeton Park at 7am. We’d love you to have you join us!! There will be plenty of options for shorter distances. Please be sure to RSVP so we can plan ahead!

In some other exciting new, Templeton Run Club is now a non-profit organization under the RRCA (Road Runners Club of America)!! This was one of our first goals in creating this club and I am so happy that it’s finally coming to fruition. We would love to eventually put on local races and anticipate having to reach out to local businesses and community leaders for support. As a non-profit organization, contributions towards our club and events will not only be tax deductible but also increases our ability to apply for government and private grants. So excited for this opportunity!

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the club or are interested in joining us. Our membership is free, other than the time spent filling out a waiver, and we’re really not as scary as we look…not all of us anyways!

Happy Easter Running!

Rosalie Smith

rosaliesmith@templetonrunclub.com

Templeton Run Club

PO Box 522

Templeton, Ca. 93465

 

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There is nothing like a good pair of shoes. Comfortable, form fitting, stylish, light, supportive…you name it. The right pair of shoes can boost your confidence like no other. As runners we become slightly obsessive about them, and for good reason! The right fit will prevent injuries and keep us running longer. I took personal offense when Saucony upgraded their Kinvaras a few years ago and my favorite style no longer fit the same. Brooks saved the day, but now their Revels are new and I’m in the same predicament as before! If I was writing an Instagram post, I’d hashtag this #firstworldproblems! What a fortunate problem to have! I found a new pair btw… Cotton candy pink, incredibly light and fit like they were made for me. I feel like my son when he was little, “hey mom, check out my fast shoes!”

And yet now I have a new problem…a closet full of beautiful running shoes that despite being worn for a few hundred miles, are still perfectly good shoes. I can’t just throw them away. I still have the shoes I wore at the Boston marathon. I’ve kept the shoes that carried me through the footsteps of the elites and had tears spilled on them through hard runs and across finish lines. It got me thinking. Who would benefit from these shoes?

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Soles4Souls is a non-profit organization that creates sustainable jobs and provides relief through the distribution of shoes and clothing around the world. This June, Templeton Run Club will be holding a shoe drive to collect gently worn shoes to donate back to this organization. Since 2006, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 53 million pairs of new and gently-worn shoes in 127 countries around the world to provide relief and create economic opportunities. We hope to collect at least 200 pairs of shoes (I have five in my closet right now!…195 to go…)

From June 1st until June 30th, you can drop your clean, gently worn shoes off at the following locations:

Templeton:

ARC Physical Therapy

Templeton Recreation Department

Twin Cities Community Hospital in the Founders Pavilion

Paso Robles:

Kennedy Club Fitness

Atascadero:

K-Man Cycle and Run

San Luis Obispo:

GH Sports (permanent drop off location!)

You can also bring shoe donations to any of our group runs throughout the month. (Please make sure your shoes are tied together by their laces or bound by a rubber band.) Speaking of next month, June will be a busy month for us! Kids are graduating high school and some of our runners will be wrapping up training for the Sun Valley Marathon in Idaho.

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Keep an eye on the calendar as some of our regular group run days will be postponed. Also, if you’re running over the Memorial Day weekend, be careful out there! Get out early and avoid those busy roads!

Happy Running friends!

Rosalie Smith

rosaliesmith@templetonrunclub.com

Templeton Run Club

PO Box 522

Templeton, Ca. 93465

 

Run club agreement