I ran the marathon!

Well …. I did it!

After months of training, after enduring the cold and bitter wind, after the many early mornings looking out at the blowing snow …. I ran the Ottawa Marathon in a time of 4hrs 51mins.

Prior to the marathon I spent two weeks in Florida where I only ran three times. My first run was not very good with a fair amount of leg pain. But after some rest, the next two runs were much better. The heat was lovely!

When we returned from Floirda, I had one day to gather my things … then I was off to Ottawa. I flew up with Alice and Irene which was nice as we talked about our experience over the winter and how now we would finally get to run the marathon. On Saturday a few of us did the 3km Friendship run which was nice to do and good to get the legs limbered up. On Sunday, it was the big event. We all met and decided to start together, knowing full well we would not finish together. Craig and I stayed together for the first 26kms and then he pulled ahead and I just motored along. At about the 34km marker I came across Alice (who had planned for a 4hr finish) who did not look so well. I could tell by looking at her, she was not ok. It turned out that she has almost fainted and the medics were not going to let her finish. So I told her I would run with her and we could finish together. It took a while but eventually she looked more herself and she was talking more. As we neared the finish line I said “Ok Alice, start smiling – they are taking our picture, strong finish!” I looked past the line and there was Craig and Barb waiting for us … nice to see someone you know there. I was very tired but not broken. I finished standing straight, smiling and helping a friend. Truth be told, helping her took my mind off my legs so she also helped me!

There are things I would do differently, start slower – not carry so much – have a place to put my sunglasses – but I am so glad that I did it … now, how can I get into New York this November?

Week 20 – Sore legs and all ….

Week total: 6km

May 08, 2007 [6am]
Woke up this morning at 5:30am, no alarm clock – just woke up. Paul, Craig and I ran at 6am for 6kms. When we first started the old legs were pretty sore but once we about 2kms in, they were not so bad. We all said there would be no sprinting at the end of this run, but then Rowe went and pulled away from us as we got about 1k away from the finish. I am not sure what snapped in my brain but I said to Paul ‘let’s catch up’ and I started sprinting … we are just too competative! It was a great way to finish though, and 3 weeks from now – I’ll sleep in!

Week 19 – Lace em up ….

Week total: 51km

May 6, 2007 [8am]
32kms in 3hrs 27mins … the last 6kms tough. We ran the first 10 on the road and then 22 on a trail. It was a nice change but I could feel the difference in my legs! The nice part was the end, Maria, Grace, Angela, Mom, Dad, Tom, Nancy, and Emma were at the finish to watch us come in.

That’s the last 32km before the marathon, which is 3 weeks!

May 3, 2007 [6:10am]
I am starting to wake up now at 6am … must be all the early morning runs. I missed my run with the group last night, schedule conflicts seem to keep coming up on Wednesday evenings – jeeesh! So this morning, even though I had a lot to do before taking Grace to school for 8am, I decided to head out for 20 mins … better than nothing. I did the 3km route in 17mins. I felt good, strange really – such a short run!

32km coming up on Sunday … can’t wait! Turkey at Mom’s after!!

May 1, 2007 [5:15pm]
I missed my run this morning so when I had a chance to head out this afternoon, I took it. 10k in 53mins. Even though I was on my own, it was great to be out there. I was ready for a nap after all day but once I finished my run … I felt great!

April 30, 2007 [6:15am]
It has been almost a week since my oh so awesome run …. so this morning when I woke up, dragged my bones out of bed … thanks to Blood Diamond, I was up way too late … got dressed, and laced em up. Even as I was walking to my starting point, I was not sure how I was going to get going. The good news is I have been running enough that when I got to the stop sign, my feet knew what to do.

I ran a well paced 6km – in the fog and misty rain. There were some other runners out, good mornings and hellos … just good to be out at it again.

This weekend will be out last 32k before the marathon. Lots of rest, eating well and sleeeeeeeep!

Week 18 – Songs push you along

Week total: 10km

Worst.Week.Ever
A combination of bad weather and other committments made this the worst.week.ever for my training. When I started this, I knew that April would be a wet month … nothing you can do about that. But as I said to Craig, one bad week will not undo all the hard work and many many miles that we have put in getting ready for May 27th.

April 24, 2007 [6am]
Awesome run this morning!! Craig, Paul and I went out and did our 10km route in 52 mins!!! The sun was out, and half way through the run the jacket and hats were off. We did not do any walk breaks and went strong up the hills. I spent most of the run behind Criag and Paul … but at the 8.5km mark I dugg deep and passed them putting some distance between us. I have to admit, this felt good as normally once Craig kicks in, I can’t catch him. True to form, after a stretch Craig caught up and we finished with a strong sprint.

I broke in my new shoes this morning … and the legs feel great. Proper runners make all the difference.

A song that kept coming into my head was “Hold Tight by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich” from the Death Proof soundtrack. That beat just pushes you. I should break out my iPod and take it with me on the solo runs.

Just how far have I run?

Looking back over the weeks and weeks of training for the Marathon, I have logged 520.8kms or 323.6 miles! Only 6 weeks to go … bring it!

Week 17 – 40 days to go!

Week total: 38km

April 21, 2007 [4:30pm]
Grace is singing during the scheduled long run tomorrow so I decided to head out today instead. It was a 27km run planned but I only had 2 hours so I figured I could get 20km in. I left my house, did the Stavanger loop and then went out Majors Path, down Logy Bay Rd, down over Kanaz Hill and the around the lake (the road route) and then back the way I came – which is 19.7kms, close enough to 20km for me. It took me 2hrs and 5 mins. I did 15 and 1’s, talked myself up the hills and really enjoyed the run. I did notice a fair bit of lower leg and ankle discomfort – but I think the new shoes will help that. I just didn’t want to break them in during a long run.

Craig went out after I did and also ran 20kms but a different route. He did a it in 1hr and 55mins ….. I can see that he will be taking off at the Marathon. I can’t let this affect me, as I have to run my own race and remind myself that the goal is to complete the marathon, standing up straight, smiling for the camera.

April 17, 2007 [6am]
Up again at 5:30am … looked out at the fog and drissle … waiting to see if the light would come on at Craig’s which would let me know I had to suit up, cause I was feeling pretty tired and could easily go back to bed. Sure enough, 10 to 6 the light came on. I got ready and went out into the fog.

We started off with a faster pace than usual … and that continued. I was slightly behind Craig but was determined to keep up. I had left my Garmin at home ( I am enjoying the runs so much more not checking it every couple of minutes ) so I didn’t know what kind of pace we were doing but my laboured breathing was an indication. Also my legs (especially my lower legs) felt tight. After 5k, everything started feeling better and my breathing was more normal.

Sure enough as we entered the last km, Craig kicked it up a notch … so I kept along with him and started to pass him … which he then pushed a bit harder. This is actually a good thing because I am running harder to keep up/pass him and he has to run harder to stop me!

In the end, 10km in 54 mins. A fantastic run!

I felt so much better once it was done … kind of like if you hit yourself in the head with a stick, if feels so much better once you stop!

April 16, 2007 [6am]
As Craig slept in … first for him … I was on my own. Again, I left the watch and Garmin at home and had another good run. Not a great one – it was freaking windy! 8kms in 50 mins.

Funny how quickly you change with the weather. After running in the freezing cold; snow; blowing snow … the sound of the wind this morning made me want to get back under the sheets. But as always, the thought of someone else depending on me got me to suit up.

I don’t mind running on my own. Often when the weather is bad, not much talking happens anyway. But god help me, the strangest things go through your head when you are out there alone – at one point this morning I was singing sections of Ebony and Ivory … where IS my iPod?

Joe is running the Boston Marathon today … go Joe!!

Week 16

Week Total: 20km

April 15, 2007
I missed our long run as I had to take Grace to the hospital at 7am and did not get back until 10:30am! She is fine, but was really not doing well due to a urinary track infection … meds are now working!

I am not too concerned at this point about missing a long run … there will be more!

April 12, 2007 [6:30am]
It had to happen … I slept in this morning and let my running partner down. My alarm went off at 5:30, I got up – looked out the window and then the next thing I remember is waking up at 6:25. Yikes! I looked out and saw Craig’s car was gone. I was tempted to go back to bed but suited up instead and got out on the road. I decided to leave my watch and Garmin at home and just run without watching time or pace.

What an excellent run! I did 10kms in 53mins. I increased my pace and finished with a tempo run. I just enjoyed the morning sun, said hello to people out starting their cars and tried on to concentrate on my aching legs.

I have since heard from Craig that he in fact did not go out this morning … it was Heather who went to the Y. His neck is still bothering him. But it was just the thought that he was out there running and I wasn’t was enough to get me out the door!

7 weeks till Ottawa … bring it on!

April 10, 2007 [6am]
Waking up to the sound of the alarm on my watch at 5:30am is not something I thought I would get used to. Standard procedure now is, wake up – turn off alarm – walk to window and take a look outside. This morning I really wanted to get back in bed. The wind was blowing snow down the street – ick! But I thought of all the other mornings we ran in much worse conditions and decided to stop being so soft and get out there.

Craig and I hit the street by 6:05am and by 6:10am we were back in our respective houses due to someone eating hot wings the night before! This will not happen Marathon day! At 6:20am we were back out, running into the wind. I found my legs to be generally sore and tired (mainly my lower legs) and I had limited energy. But I chugged along and we put in 5km with a tempo run at the end – which surprisingly felt better for my legs than my slower pace.

I am feeling very lucky to have come this far in this short amount of time without injury. The marathon is about 7 weeks away. I really don’t want to do anything now that would risk being able to run it. So I will pay more attention to what my legs are telling me; rest more; eat better foods and keep thinking positively.

April 09, 2007 [12:15pm]
Craig and I met up at lunch time for a short ‘recovery run’. With the 32km run on two days ago, the legs were feeling mighty tired rather quickly. Although we only did 5kms it still felt good to get out and ’stretch’ my legs. Run, run, run.

Week 15 … and then the rain came

Week Total: 36.5km

April 06, 2007 [8am]
32km … again!
Craig and I went out with the MTG and ran 32kms in 3hrs and 30mins. It was a good day – overcast, not too cold and not too warm. I started by running at my 6 – 6:30 mins per km. Overall that was an ok plan, but the last 7kms – well that is when the energy just left me. I mean, I had nothing. Once again proving, proper rest and eating well SEVERAL days before a long, long run is very important.

The group is excellent, lot of support for one another. Two of the girls were injured on the run today (ankle injuries) – so I hope they can recover soon. We also have a couple other out with injuries, Lisa being one of them. She is now worried about not getting to Ottawa. I found a lot of inspiration in her, hopefully she can work out her hip problem and get back on the road.

So overall a good run, Craig and I have something planned for our next (and last) 32km before the marathon. I think it will be great! Also, I am hoping Maria and Grace will come down to see us come in – as they will not be at the marathon.

April 04, 2007 [7pm]
Craig and I ran with the MTG last night, in the rain. It was an ok run, I was tired and did not eat before the run, so my energy levels were pretty low BUT at the home stretch I used my visualizations and dug deep – pushing myself to catch up with the lead group. Certainly, the running in Philly was much better!

We were supposed to run on Tuesday but I draw the line in slush, sleet and driving winds.

We are doing our long run (32kms) on Friday – as it is Easter weekend. I just have to keep telling myself I did it once, I can do it again.

Week 14 … free falling

Week Total: 30km

March 31, 2007 [8am]
20km … excellent run. You know the kind of run where you feel like you are floating over the ground? It was kind of like that. I started off tired (we have been walking 3 -5 hrs a day here ) and not sure how would do, but once I found my pace it was excellent. The route I had started thinking it was 5 miles turned out to be 10 (which worked out well as I thought I had to run it twice when it was 5) and there was a lot of activity going on – lots of rowers, other runners, etc.

I didn’t have any of that heavy foot that I sometimes get where I feel like I am pounding the pavement .. and at the end of the trail I ran the Rocky steps (ok they are the ones for the Art Museum but they were made famous in the Rocky movie) two at a time all the way to the top – felt really good!

Now I need to prepare myself this week for our 32km long run – which is rumored to be happening on Good Friday instead of Sunday!

March 30, 2007 [7:30am]
10km in Philly!
After being totally shagged from the flight down here and a good nights kip, I got up this morning and headed out … tall buildings do not make my Garmin happy! But after running for a bit, I did find an excellent trail that took my down by the river. On my way back I found the entrance to the trail and it turns out to be a 5mile trail … so on Sunday, I will run it twice, that with the distance to and from the trail – it should be close on the 22.5 I need. Feels good to be out in the no-snow-no-cold-wind running. I did where my winter running gear (minus the under layer) thank god I brought it or I would have froze this morning!

This week started out with a snow storm that has gotten in the way of my run ( add to the fact that Maria is out of town this week … making my early morning run – unpossible! ). I emailed my running group and asked if anyone else was feeling drained, and they responded with all kinds of encouraging words. BUT what turned it around for me was moving the lumber that was delivered today. By the time I had it all in the house, I had a good sweat going and felt good to have done it. So while I did not get a run in, I felt like I did something.

Week 13

Week Total: 18.7km

March 26, 2007 [4pm]
Worst.Run.Ever
I got little to no sleep Saturday night, so I did not run Sunday morning. Instead I went out in the afternoon with Lisa and we ran a pathetic 5km. My legs were like blocks of wood the entire time, everything from the knees down felt tight – and we did 10/1’s!!

Lisa is recovering from an injury, what’s my excuse?

I now know it is true, it only takes one bad run to take away your condidence.
Worst.Run.Ever

March 23, 2007 [6am]
After missing our Wednesday night run, cause we had a pot luck at my place (which was a blast!!) – I decided I better get back on the road this morning…. only problem is the wind was enough to knock you down! When I was running into it, I was almost on a 45 degree angle leaning into it – and when it was at my back, I felt like if I just jumped a little it could carry me down the road. So I ended up just doing 5kms this morning, but that’s better than nothing at all, isn’t it?

March 20, 2007 [6am]
Craig, Paul and I headed out for a 9.7km run … having run 32km a couple days before – I felt like I was running on two sticks of wood instead of legs …. so after about 4km I announced that I was going to cut my run short (first time ever) … but once I reached the top of the hill, I decided to keep going. So in the end, I did a little less than the lads but not much. It was a great morning to be out – I have grown found of these early morning runs!

Quote of the day from Paul: “It’s not what’s in your legs, it’s what’s in your heart.”