The Dragon Boat Race Pictures and results are in. This was the debut appearance of the Benders and we came third in our category. Awesome work to the benders who participated and all those who came to cheer and all the backend supporters… 🙂
Benders with their hard earned medals:-
Merry Christmas!
Twenty three runners were out spreading Christmas cheer in the final group run before the holidays. A special thanks to Rob and Grace for hosting a fantastic Christmas eve day run.
Hope everyone has a happy safe holiday season. Enjoy your the company of family and friends.
Merry Christmas wishes to everyone!
2017 is winding down pretty quickly, this is the last week of regular running unless Christmas and holiday parties are filling up your schedule. Should be a nice way to slid into the holiday season and bank a few extra km’s before that the 3rd helping of turkey, fixings and bottomless eggnog takes its toll. Looks like we’re getting a break from those nasty temperatures we saw last week. Congrats to all those that braved that full on winter weather last week.
Time to start thinking about your goals for 2018? What will it be? Will you be moving up in distance? Got your eye on some new race(s)? A destination race? Improving your pace and form or targeting an overall goal of Km’s run for 2018 (2018Km in 2018?). Whatever your goal, you should start making plans now and moving towards realizing it.
Both the half and the full clinics at Bramalea Running Room start on Tuesday January 2, 2018 and both are being instructed by Benders. These clinics will take your running to the next level with formal seminars and guidance from seasoned runners. Great for those looking to step up in distance, improving or just need that formal structure to reach their goal race.
As we move towards the holidays, here are the runs this week:
Have a great holiday season!
Great Bender Christmas get together last Friday. Good people, good food, good time had. Nice to see so many Benders! Feel free to send your pictures to Mike B and we’ll share them on the website. Thanks to Michelle B for organizing.
Sunday saw many Benders up in Terra Cotta for the Egg Nog Jog, many Benders running and cheering (Thanks for the bell ringing Karyn and Grace – near the end when we were getting exhausted). That warm tent and soup at the end were much appreciated. Be sure to check out the pics here.
Looks like it’s time to break out the winter spikes. Lots of snow expected in the forecast, bundle up stay warm. Dress in bright colours and be seen.
Weather definitely got the memo for this year’s Egg Nog Jog. As if on cue there was a dusting of snow that set the mood for the 10.8K loop around the Terra Cotta Conservation Area. Celebrating it’s 35th year with a sold out race, 18 Benders towed the starting line. Cheered on by those who either waited too long to sign up or were nursing an injury. 
Participants scored a fantastic medal and personalized bath towel as well as enjoyed a great post race celebration.
Be sure to sign up early next year to avoid disappointment as this race always sells out.
*photo credits – Gallery and header – Carlo, medal – Sue Sitki
Welcome to the second week of December. The weather is still holding out favourably.
Well done to all the runners this past weekend. Samantha in Cayman Islands Marathon, Jackie, Belinda, Yasmin and Marcia who rocked the Reggae Marathon in Jamaica. We are waiting to hear your stories. Also congrats to all who participated in the Tannenbaum 10K
This Friday, don’t forget our Bender Christmas party at J Red Co at 6:30pm. If you haven’t already, please let Michelle know if you are coming. It’s looking like a great turnout.
For those folks wanting core fitness training, Maria is holding Workouts this Tuesday and Thurs at 6:30 sharp at St. Rita School (Mayfield and Summer Valley Rd). Its a great way to stay in shape.
Tuesday – 6:30 – Tim’s at Shoppers world….all the Christmas lights are out in downtown Brampton, and we will enjoy them.
We had another fantastic turnout for the practice run of the Egg Nog Jog course at Terra Cotta this past Sunday. We’ll be heading up there for one last trip before the race the following week. Be sure to come out and stick around for the tailgate afterwards.
Lights are up in the city. Be sure to join in the group runs through the week to get out and see all the great lights in the city. Routes that run by City Hall and Gage park are on tap.
This Week
Hope everyone’s weekend went well.
Sunday morning we had a great turnout at Terra Cotta, cold, but the weather co-operated. No rain!! Sunny (sunglass conditions), counted 16 Benders. We missed a few from last week….the Laura’s, Gina, Ben, David, Annette….Where were you all? A great tailgate afterwards, thank you for the Grand Marnier Firmo! And thank you all for all the treats.
Come on out if you can next sunday.
Dont forget our Bender Christmas party Friday night. Dec 8 at J Red and Co.. more details to come from Michelle, and a very tasty food menu. RSVP to Michelle please.
Nashville in April….a big Bender road trip is in the works. It will be a hoot. A marathon, a half, a 5 km, something for everyone. And lots to see. So far we have a dozen Benders going. Sign up. We will send you some links.
s week:
Great conditions at Terra Cotta doing the Egg Nog Jog course. A good turnout – 20 Benders. We enjoyed the 10.8K Egg Nog Jog route and the tail gate and treats afterwards. We’re going to do this run again soon, in preparation for the Race in December.
In Vegas, hope to hear soon about Jackie, Yasmin and Belinda’s trip from the Instagram posts it looks like it was a blast.
Tom has found a 5 k race you may be interested in: www.teamunbreakable.ca Tom saw it at the gym he goes to. It is a 5k on December 2 at 9:00 am Heart Lake Secondary school. It is in support of youth mental health.
Bender Christmas get-together. Mark it down – Fri Dec 8. More details to come from Michelle B.
Bender Store, make sure you get your orders in by Wed.. If you need assistance navigating the site, check the tutorial prepared by Karyn or contact her by email.
Egg Nog Jog coming up Dec 10. Its sold out now. 18 Benders are registered. If you missed out, come on out anyway and cheer!
Lots of things going on this week and coming up that a mid-week update is needed.
Boy, what a change in the weather. possible snow tomorrow….what’s going on. We will just have to dress warmly.
Best wishes to Jackie, Belinda and Yasmin, who are heading to Las Vegas this weekend. Besides all the fun, they will be participating in the Rock and Roll Half and 5 k races. Make sure you guys go to Mickey Gilley’s restaurant and ride the bull. And send pictures. That’s a real fun place.
Mark your calendar for Friday Dec 8, for our Bender Christmas party at J Red co. Stay tuned for more details to follow in the emails.
Don’t forget that the Bender Store is still open! We also have a discount code BLACKNOV2017 gets you 15% off your order. Don’t delay, the store is only open to Nov. 15th. Having trouble with the website? Follow Karyn’s great walk through of how to use the store.
For Sunday, It’s looking cold but lets head over to Terra Cotta Conservation area for a practice run on the Egg Nog Jog course. It’s 10.8 km, we can all do it, run or walk. We’ll meet at 9 am in the conservation parking lot. Bring some snacks for after the run.
Directions: Head north from Brampton to King St. Turn left (West) and go to Winston Churchhill. Turn right (north) for about 1.5 km to the entrance to Terra Cotta on the left. And head in to the parking lot. About 20 min north of Brampton.
14452 Winston Churchill Blvd., Halton Hills L0P 1N0
Condolences to Michelle B, who’s mother passed away earlier this week. Services were held on Wednesday, several Benders made the trip to show their respects. Showing again that being a Bender extends being a group of people that just run together. We extend our deepest sympathies to Michelle B and her family during this time. Flowers were sent on behalf of the group.
