Jacob Puzey

I had such a memorable time with my Craft Sportswear teammates in Madeira. This short video will introduce you to a few of them & what makes our team of misfits so special!

BTS with PRO Trail Runners on Legendary Madeira! The Craft Elite Running team went to Madeira to explore the trail running on the island. We follow their camp as they are training for ultra marathon races s...

I’ve really missed race directing. It has been more than two years since we’ve been able to share these beautiful views with runners at TranSelkirks Run.

It was nice to revisit these wild spaces recently with a few friends, but it’s certainly not the same race day. Many sectors of our economy have suffered through the pandemic. Most of us have had to adapt & adjust the way we do business. While I’m grateful for many of the technological advances that have improved our lives, I think most of us would prefer to experience the beauty of wild places in person rather than through a screen or an app.

Races are gradually beginning to return, but many race organizations like mine (5 Peaks Trail Running & TranSelkirks Run) have had to go 2+ years without the ability to host in-person races. This has decreased revenue & increased costs.

It might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but if there is a race or a race organization that you really want to see make it through this rough patch, please give them a follow & encourage your friends to do the same.

Race sponsorship is often dependent on the number of social media followers an event has, so the more eyes that are on an event, the greater the sponsor support the event stands to gain which usually translates to a better experience for the racers.

Many thanks in advance!

Framing ideas & people in binary opposition to one another is a convenient way to parent, preach, pander, & control others. But we all know from experience that it’s overly simplistic, lazy, & ignores the nuance & diversity that add color & beauty to our lives.

Perhaps the most valuable framework I learned about in school was Hegel’s dialectic which suggests that history & ideas are the synthesis between two opposing ideas - the thesis & antithesis. Black & white. Light & darkness. Good & evil. Virtue & vice. Right & wrong. Left & right. Liberal & conservative.

As humans we are each in our own dialectic - a continuous process of becoming. We are each experiencing our own synthesis of ideas & experiences. Therefore, we are not fixed or limited, but rather capable of change.

Whenever I read or hear a polarizing idea, debate, new piece of legislation being proposed, or one dimensional description of a person or thing I try to remember Hegel’s dialectic.

Politicians & preachers & social media influencers are masters of hyperbole. And whether they are preaching from a pulpit or a social media platform, the very best they can hope for is to move the needle (the synthesis) a little closer to their side. And in return, their opponents will present equally as polemic ideas & proposals to counter them. Thesis vs. antithesis = synthesis.

Consequently, I try not to get too worked up about polarizing things that I read or hear in the news. I try to consume information from a variety of sources, but after the past year + I’ve tried to reduce the amount of time that I spend thinking & worrying about the news.

If & when I feel that there is a cause worth fighting for, I engage, but in many cases I think it is healthiest for me to be an ambivalent observer. Not naive. Not intentionally ignorant. Just intentionally disengaged.

I don’t want or need polarizing information designed to incite or inflame in my mind before bed so I’ve been trying to listen to & read more fiction.

If you have any book recommendations, please share in the comments below.

PC:

Black & white against a sea of color.

My wardrobe consists primarily of black & gray clothing, but that’s mostly to avoid decision fatigue. I don’t like to worry about what to wear - should I wear the black hoodie or the gray one?

But in life, I am grateful for the people & places that add color, perspective & different angles to my experience & worldview. A dear friend once explained that the brilliance of a diamond depends upon the light it lets in & reflects through its various facets. So too our lives increase in brilliance when we view life & let light in from a variety of angles & reflect the lessons we learn in our daily lives.

PC:

I like to think of myself as independent & self-sufficient, but if the past few years have taught me anything it is that we need one another.

I get nervous around crowds, but it really was uplifting to have people cheer at the Calgary Marathon.

The lead biker rode 50 m ahead of me for most of the race & told the spectators my first name. At first, I thought, “Wow! Calgary really is a nice place!” (which it is), but then I realized that the reason they were cheering specifically for me is because he went out of his way to individually build me up.

My friend has been out with a torn meniscus that he is rehabbing post surgery. He rode next to me & encouraged me along the way.

Eventual winner, Duncan Marsden, ran a smart, even paced race. I didn’t see him until the turnaround.

When I stopped to stretch & tried to massage the knots out of my legs, Duncan cheered me on & offered me a gel as he passed.

I thought I’d catch him & we’d race to the finish, but I was literally hamstrung & unable to walk. Duncan went on to win & I couldn’t be happier for him.

The volunteers on course were very attentive. At one point, I was asked if I needed medical attention because the charly horses were so bad both hamstrings locked up & I crumbled to the ground. It was humbling & embarrassing, but they didn’t make me feel bad for requiring assistance.

zn had planned to make a day out of cheering all runners on, but when I passed her she could tell that I was not well. She asked what she could do to help. I broke down & cried & tried to explain that I could not keep running. She hugged me. I didn’t want her to let go. She has the ability to make time stand still & take away all of my pain with her hugs. She offered to ride next to me at a pedestrian pace with several breaks to stretch & fuel. She played music for me from my brother .j.legrand to lift my spirits. Together we made the slowest trek I’ve ever made back to the Saddle Dome.

It wasn’t pretty. I didn’t break the tape. I didn’t set a course record, but I’m really proud that I finished & even more grateful to have such amazing people in my life!

Many thanks for the support on course & from afar!

I’ve spent most of my life in small towns, but I savour the opportunities to visit new places & explore the art & science that go into creating beautiful cities.

I’ve only ever lived in two major cities & neither of them is in my country of origin. Both places introduced me to cultures, languages, music & cuisine that I now love.

What is a city you’d recommend I visit?

What is a city you’d like to visit?

PC:

I received a new pair of Race Rebel shoes & I’m excited to start training in them.

Based on my first run in them, they’ll be in my arsenal 🖤🏴‍☠️

PC:

One thing I enjoy about the 50K is that the half marathon, marathon, & 50K all start together.

This makes it hard to run even or negative splits, but it also makes it fun to get caught up in the excitement of the other shorter races & mingle with the racers competing for the top spots in the marathon & half marathon.

I enjoyed catching up with eventual marathon champion over the first few miles & watching him duke it out into the headwind all the way to the 27K marathon turnaround spot.

From a coach’s perspective I’d probably say that it was reckless to start with those running shorter distances with aspirations to run much faster paces than I have in training any time in the last 2 years, but I figured I might as well throw my hat in the ring & see where I’m at. Running cautiously wouldn’t give me accurate feedback. Running aggressively told me exactly what I need to know - as humbling & as painful as it is to experience it. I’m fit enough to run ~ 25K without fuel, but when the glycogen & electrolyte stores run out (as they inevitably do) the wheels fall off in dramatic fashion.

The final 25K were filled with regular stretch stops, walks, & convincing myself to stay on course & finish. It wasn’t pretty. Voluntary death march is a bit more accurate, but I am grateful I got 50K in & actually feel quite good just a few days out.

Over the next six weeks I’ll make a more concerted effort to practice fueling early & often on my long runs.

PC:

It was a painful pleasure to return to racing

I learned a lot, was reminded of a lot, & plan to build on this experience as I prepare for

I’ll share some of these insights in the coming days, but for now I just want to say THANK YOU to the volunteers, spectators, friends, family, competitors & race officials that made this such a positive experience!

PC:

Stoked to run 50K through one of my favorite cities

It has been a really long time since I lined up, laced up my racing shoes , pinned on a bib number, & tested myself in a race.

I honestly have no clue how it will go, but if the past 1.5 years has taught me anything I’m going to run with a heart full of gratitude. Gratitude for life. Gratitude for good health. Gratitude for my family. Gratitude for the opportunity to run, coach, and race direct for a living. Gratitude for supportive friends, family, volunteers, fellow race directors (thank you ), & competitors! Gratitude for the opportunity to live at a time & in a place in which this is even a possibility!

I’m confident that if I run with gratitude regardless of the time or the place it will be a victory!

All the best to those toeing the line tomorrow in-person or virtually!

PC:

Race day Scotiabank Calgary Marathon] is one week away.

I’m still feeling the run from a week ago.

I’ve been doing my best to recover - hydrating, fueling well, cycling, using my & tools & soaking in water, but my legs are still heavy.

I cut my run short today because my legs still hurt, but I still have a week to recover & this ain’t my first rodeo.

The first time I ran Scotiabank Calgary Marathon] our daughter was born prematurely a few weeks prior to the race & we spent most of our time leading up to the race in the NICU.

I’ll be doing my best over the next week to continue to recover & get my mind & legs ready to race.

I look forward to pinning a bib number on & seeing what I can do. And it will just be one more brick 🧱 in the build toward

Why do weeks after holiday weekends feel like such a long, slow slog?

I’m feeling the long effort from over the weekend. I’m still grateful for the opportunity to explore such a beautiful place … and I’m really hoping I can work out the soreness & get some snap back in my legs before the 🤦🏻‍♂️

What are some things that you do to recover after a long effort?