Moonlight Run. I have written so many recaps of this race over the years. It is a Lethbridge staple in the running community. I am sure I have also referred to it as the “kick-off” to the running season. 8:00 pm start for the 10km…8:15 pm start for the 6km. Over 2000 runners. Twilight start, and moonlit ending. This race had everything. There has been years it’s been windy, raining, snowing, ice-skating terrain, mud….but this year was something special.

Our whole family was registered for Moonlight Run, and as the race day got closer, Andy just wouldn’t stop talking about it. He was very excited about it this year, as last year was his first time doing the 6km. But, it was in a full-blown blizzard! He ran in snow boots and snow pants! And the time was a chiptime of 58:13. Even after the terrible weather last year, he was ready for this year. We went as a family to pickup our race bibs and shirts on Friday night, and Andy was excited to put his shirt on at home that evening. But we would have a long while until the race began the next evening.

The interesting thing with race day for Moonlight Run is that you have the WHOLE DAY before the actual event. No early wake up, no needing to think really about your breakfast intake….you go about the day almost as normal, but don’t want to be doing too much in preparation for the race. Even a nap midday is helpful, and then having to plan an earlier dinner, but not too-heavy of a dinner, before the race.

And the nerves. They build. With it being the start of race season, I put a lot of pressure on myself when I race the 10km, as this sort of sets the tone for the season. Yes, it’s ‘just a local race,’ but for me (and probably many more of our friends) it is much more.

Andy was so excited about the race that he drove us bonkers all day long. He was acting silly, asking tons of questions, telling us the same thing over and over again about Moonlight Run, reminding us about running in snow pants last year…we were going to walk over to the race start, since our house is located very close to downtown, an we ended up just leaving the house earlier than planned since it seemed the anticipation was driving this kid nutso.

It is always very busy at the start area and lots of stuff going on to see. They had drummers and other performers, people congregating and meeting up with friends, announcements about race procedures. I ended up leaving Dan and Andy with our friends so I could do a quick warmup. I ended up stripping down my layers to put away in our backpack (which Dan would check eventually) along with my phone, and got into the start corral. After some announcements, pep talk, a draw for a free pair of shoes, and Oh Canada…we were ready to start!

My race plan all along was to start out hard and try to hold on best I could. I really wanted to just go ‘all out’ and challenge myself to achieve a 10km race time that I used to achieve. I also was ok with knowing that perhaps my legs would give out before heading back up Wendy’s hill. So I went out with nothing to lose. First mile I knew I would be going fast…and it’s downhill. I ended up clocking a 6:22 minute mile for the first one. OK…lets see how long I can hang on to something. My second mile was 6:55. Still a sub 7 minute, so that was something. I then set my mind on getting a great 5km time. We were now on flat ground and heading north in Indian Battle Park. We were starting to get more spaced out, so I just kept my focus on individuals close to me to try to catch up to people and not let them get too far away. By mile 3, I was at a 7:13. I was slowing, but I knew that would happen. I just couldn’t let that discourage me. My legs, particularly my quads, were sore (from the fast downhill pounding to the river valley) and I was starting to notice my empty stomach. I needed this to be done sooner rather than later so I could get some food, so my focus now went to just getting the thing done.

I was able to make some ground on people in front of me, even as we all got more spread out. I clocked a 7:18 for mile 4. I knew then at that point I had about one more mile of flat, then would have the rest of it uphill out of the river bottom. I was feeling strong, but I did slow more, but I felt powerful as I was able to make ground on people around me. I was at a 7:30 mile when I got to the biggest challenge of Moonlight Run-Wendy’s Hill.

Why is it called Wendy’s Hill? Well, there is a Wendy’s at the top of the climb out of the river valley! It is about a 1 km ascent from the river bottom to the top of this hill, and then still a slight incline all the way to the finish. At this point in the race, the 10km runners are also joining up with 6km runners who are on the same return (they just never headed out north like we did). This hill is well lit and the incline is fairly constant, so even though it is long, it doesn’t change drastically. I was able to stay strong as we climbed up and I kept focusing on my goal of hitting a sub 46 minute time. I knew I would be close, and not quitting on myself would be important.

I climbed out of that river valley and could hear the one pipe band playing near 7th st. I could see the crowds starting to build near CASA and the finish line. I was almost there. The time for mile 6 was a 8:47, which seems like such a drop compared to the other miles, but I know that incline out at the end is HARD. And I knew at this point I couldn’t slow down. Lots of people around me were trying to kick in for their last stretch, much like me in that photo at the top. I felt like I could sense someone gaining on me….no clue who it was…they could have been a 6km runner, 10km runner, older/younger….I didn’t care. I didn’t want anyone passing me in the final 100 m. I ran the last approximately quarter mile in around a 6:42 pace. I crossed the finish line in a chip time of 45:28, well surpassing my goal!

I may had finished my race, but I wasn’t done yet. I now quickly made my way to the bag drop to claim our backpack. I got out my phone and checked on the Garmin Live Tracker where Andy and Dan were. They were coming up Wendy’s Hill and were over half way done. I went down the course a bit so I could hopefully catch them coming in to the final stretch. The livetracker was so helpful as I refreshed it every 30 seconds or so to see their blue dot come closer and closer. With the darkness in the sky and the street lights and crowds, it was hard to sometimes pick people out. And lots of people were coming in now. I saw them coming and I just started taking picture after picture and yelling for them. They were doing awesome! Dan and Andy finished strong and Andy had an extremely strong finish time of 41:10….remember his time last year? 58 minute and change! What an improvement! Dan said Andy was AWESOME the whole race…it was very crowded and he listened so well and never walked or complained. Next year he is going to go for under 40 minutes!

This night went as well as we could have hoped for and exceeded our expectations. We got our slices of pizza after finish, bundled up and walked home. Andy got thrown in the shower immediately and emerged in his bathrobe and finisher medal. He went to bed then dad and I had snacks, beer and watched a movie. My body felt like shit the next morning, but it was a good shit. I earned it. And I was happy.

Here’s to the 2025 running season! And to showing myself that being 40 years old doesn’t mean anything! If anything, it makes me stronger than ever before!