vancouver bike rave

Music, lights, dance parties and bikes, need we say more? This is becoming an annual summer event here in Vancouver and we’ll be sure not to miss it next year. Just watch this video from the 2011 bike rave and you’ll be hoarding glow sticks ‘til June.
(photo source: Steve Bosch via The Province)

pari rollers

If you thought rollerblading was out, you were wrong. Every Friday (all year round since 1994) a gang of skaters, better known as the Pari Rollers, hit the streets of Paris for a 3-hour, 30K night ride. The event has grown so big (attracting as many as 35 000 people) that the French police became involved to ensure safety for both participants and spectators. The ride starts at 10PM and is suited more towards advanced skaters (cobblestone roads = danger)!
(photo source - flickr user: rhymeorreason)

firefly run

Get your glow stick on (literally attach them to your bodies… everywhere!) and light up the night with this fun, touring 5k/10k race. This event promises to be a sight to see (you’d have to be blind to miss it) boasting live entertainment, costume contents and ‘amazing visual effects’. Chicago, San Jose, Atlanta and Houston, you’re in luck ‘cause the Firefly Run will be lighting up your cities in the next couple of months!
(photo source: The Firefly Run)

boston midnight marathon bike ride

We’re sure you’ve heard of the Boston Marathon but have you heard of the Boston Midnight Marathon Bike Ride?! Every year, while die-hard runners are fast asleep resting for what will surely be the race of their lifetime, hundreds of bikers are pedaling their hearts out and breaking in the route. As tradition stands, the mob of bikers take the last train out of the city and then make the 30-mile trek back in.

san francisco midnight mystery ride

Okay gumshoe – this one is for you! On the third Saturday of every month a meet-up location for a nighttime ride is announced on the San Francisco Midnight Mystery website. The group converges at 12:00AM and sets off, following a leader to some undisclosed mystery location. Like a well-kept secret, the website doesn’t reveal much more than this so you’ll have to give us an update if you make it to one of these rides!
(photo source: Midnight Mystery Ride)

Calling all other creatures of the night – what are your favourite not-to-be-missed night events? Ps. Be safe out there! Reflective gear is a must.

Elyse after her full marathon.

Was I nervous? There were the normal pre-race jitters, but I tried to keep them at bay as I went through my pre-race routine. Besides, I knew I wasn't really going into the race alone - I had much support from friends and training partners, and I was confident that my running coach, lululemon Ambassador Mike Hamberger, had me well trained. I was read to go.

I had two goals in this race:

1. to stay relaxed and have as much fun as possible, and
2. to run a 3:10 marathon

I knew what all of my split times had to be for each mile, and all of my training runs had shown that this was in the realm of possibilities. I lined up in my corral, and the gun went off. My first mile should have been a 7:15, but I ended up hitting the first mile split in 6:38. Way too fast! Instead of panicking I re-adjusted my pace, but I never ended up slowing down to that 7:15 pace. By mile 15, I was three minutes ahead of where I needed to be in order to run 3:10, and by the last 10k I was nearly four minutes ahead of goal, so I just held the pace until the end. I ended up running 3:06, over an eight minute personal best time, and finished 24th!

One of my favorite moments was passing the Philadelphia lululemon cheering section. It was definitely the loudest and most exciting! I was looking forward to seeing the lululemon crew all race, and hearing them during the last 10k was exactly what I needed to keep me on target.

For me, being able to run well and be myself at the same time is of the utmost importance, and this was a race where I really tested that. I am learning that I don't need to put a lot of pressure on myself to be a serious runner, but that I can be fun and my natural friendly self at races, while achieving new personal bests at the same time. I can be focused in a race and be taken seriously as a competitor, but still wear a cute outfit and pearls! I can finish in the top 1% of a major marathon and have the most fun doing it. I can smile at crowds cheering and still remain focused and in the moment with each mile. Hence, I ended up putting it all in stride, and really enjoyed each and every moment of the race. And all of the cheering for the girl racing in pearls didn't hurt, either!

Lastly, this was not a solo effort by any means. I attribute much of my success to many pre-race pep talks by my training partner, the guidance of my coach, all of the great training runs with the lululemon and Washington run clubs, and the inspiration of my amazing run mentors and friends!

Elyse's running journey has truly been inspiring. Read her first blog post back in April, there’s nothing like your first time.