Official Results

The official timing chip results are in.

2:16 BABY!!!

[insert SUPER happy dance here]

21km later...

[insert happy dance here]

I did it!
Oh yeah!
I beat my own record!
Oh yeah!

Here are some highlights from my first half marathon:

• The weather could not have been more perfect for running
  
• I was so nervous during the drive to the race grounds. I think I butterflies for breakfast
• PANIC! I couldn't find the half marathon start line when the race started (I wasn't the only one)
• The adrenaline from frantically trying to find the start line gave me a good boost of energy (in hindsight)
  
• I wrestled with my tangled headphones and mp3 player for the first couple of km which was a blessing in disguise as it kept me well distracted
• The scenery was beautiful with all the fall colours
• It was quite a hilly course
  
• Did I mention the weather was perfect for running?
  
• I ran at a really good pace throughout the whole race and didn't feel out of breath or tired
• I was running so strong that I always passed the people around me when going up hills (boy was that a great motivator)
  
• Did I mention it was a hilly course?
• Here's the best part...I finished in 2:18 which is about 10 minutes faster than I expected to finish in !!!! (still to be confirmed once my timing chip result is up)
  
• Remember my 20km training run time (2:21) and compare it with my race finish time

[insert happy dance here]

I did it!
Oh yeah!
I beat my own record!
Oh yeah!

*more pictures on Facebook

Bring it on!

Yesterday I ran my last long run before the race. How far did I run, you ask?

Oh, just 20km.

That's right, folks. I ran 20 km yesterday. Do you know what that means? I only had 1 more km to run to finish a half marathon distance! My time was 2 hours 21 min. 22 sec. but I hope to shave off a minute or two during the race because yesterday I got stopped at a couple of lights.

How am I feeling?

My legs are utterly exhausted and my muscles are sore in some places, but I did it!

From now until the race, I only have to run short runs in order to keep my muscles loose.

21 km on October 12...bring it on!

A do-run-run-run, a do-run-run

I hit another milestone!! I decided to run home from work. I mapped the route and it would be a 15km run, the furthest I've run yet. Here's the best part...I ran it in 1 hour 39 min. 32 sec. To put that in perspective, I ran 14 km in 1 hour 44 min. last month but keep in mind, it was stinky hot when I ran the 14km so that slowed me down a lot. But still, I am so surprised because there are a couple of hills on my 15km route so I expected to run it in 1 hour 50 min. I even told myself to take my time and so what if I take 2 hours.

To put it in another perspective, I usually run 10km in about 1 hour 8 min. to 1 hour 10 min. I usually run 5km in 33 min. so technically my 15 km run should have taken over 1 hour 41 min. at least. But to come in under 1 hour 40 min....wow is all I can say!

I used two energy gels for the first time throughout my run. I think that definitely helped me out because my running was still very strong and steady during the final 5km. I think I had enough energy to tack on the remaining 6km to make it a half marathon distance. That really boosts my confidence.

In the running world, I'm considered a slow runner but for me, this is a huge accomplishment. I had a lot of people pass me while I was running along the canal but I tried not to let that bother me. I kept telling myself that I'm just a beginner runner and I've only been running for 8 months. Plus I kept checking to see if I was tired or not and I still feeling great so that helped motivate me to keep going. I think I even tackled the last hill at a good pace. I'm so happy. I'm on top of the world right now!

Proud of my Connor

Some of you don't know that Connor worked really hard earlier in the year studying to take an entrance exam to Ashbury College and was accepted. He's had a couple weeks of school and absolutely loves it. I absolutely love the small class sizes (I counted about 16 in his English class).

On Friday, he auditioned for the strings ensemble at school and was accepted! He is playing 2nd violin (the group of violins playing the harmony).

Oh, and in music class, he picked the oboe.

Proud of my Aidan

I am so proud of my Aidan that he deserves a post of his own. Today was the first day he ever sat in sacrament and listened to all the talks! He didn't pull out his doodle book to draw, he didn't try to lay on my lap to sleep. He actually listened to the talks and asked me some questions during them so he could understand what the speakers were saying.

This wasn't preluded by a lecture from us about being reverent and listening to the talks either. He just decided all on his own to listen like a grown up today.

I am so proud of my Aidan. He is such a good boy. I hope he does it again and again!!

Hot and Tired

It was hot. I was tired. I ran out of water. I stopped at a bagel shop to get a water refill. I ran really slow. It was really hard. But I did it. I ran 14km. But I did it in 1 hour 44 min. It was the heat. My body was hot. My body was tired.

I'm dreading next week when I have to do it again. I'm dreading the thought of having another 7km to run when it's time to run the half marathon.

I'm tired. I'm a little cranky. I don't want to run in the heat anymore.

I think it was past the 10km mark when I kept thinking I could call Sheldon up and he can come pick me up. It was a really hard run physically and mentally.

If I quit earlier, I didn't want it hanging over my head that I still hadn't accomplished 14km. That would have really put me in a bad place mentally. The thought of having to try the 14km again if I quit was the only thing that kept me going. I didn't want that hanging over my head.

So I struggled. Boy did I struggle.

But I did it.

And when I finished, I had Connor watching out for me at the window and Aidan getting me a cold glass of water with ice and a bowl of strawberries; waiting for me when I came in.

Thanks boys. You are my cheerleaders. You made me smile after a long and hard run.

Now I'm going to eat and pass out for a bit. Oh and I'm going to drink lots of water too!

PS...Aidan wanted me to edit this post to add that I also have a blister on my baby toe. What a goof!