Paving My Path Into New Territory

Week 12 of 24

Total KM's this Week: 46.5

I am so excited to be heading down this new path!!! On Monday morning Julie & I got up at the crack of dawn to conquer 23km. This is a distance we have never before run. I was very excited but also a little scared...what if I can't do it, what if I injure myself, will my body hold up???? Valid questions for sure, but I haven't done all this training for nothing. My body has been trained to be pushed a little harder each and every week, and I WILL DO SO for another 12 weeks! I will admit about 5 min. into the run I had some knee pain and was starting to panic. My knee had a tracking issue that was easily corrected and we continued on.

23km was long, but I loved every minute of it! I must admit my favorite part of the training is the long runs. I really do look forward to them every week. Who could not love the beautiful scenery, minus the dead roadkill on the side of the highway and the peacefulness of an early morning, minus the fast paced running tunes pounding in my ears! Those long runs seem to allow me the opportunity to do my best thinking.

Julie might not have loved the run as much as I did but she was right there with me at the end. She insisted before we ran that morning that we needed to take a before and after picture to prove we made it. We did make it, a little stiff and sore but are looking forward to taking on the next long run.

One thing I have learned over the past few months is the need to start listening to my body. Every week for the past month and a half I have been seeing a couple of massage therapists to help me get through some of the aches and pains. I have to laugh, cause I go in to see them so they can fix me back up so I can head out and do it all over again. I feel a bit like Humpty Dumpty! However, I won't be able to run this marathon if I don't continue to see them and I'm sure they appreciate the business. Now if I can only get Julie to do the same we could have a team support staff.

As we continue this journey there will be great moments to celebrate and I look forward to paving my path into new territory!

Chillaxing in Quesnel

Week 10 of 24
Total KM's this week: 38.5

We're here, we're here! We are on our first big camping trip in the trailer. We headed up Hwy. 97 to Quesnel to visit with some great friends and spend some time relaxing! I must admit I am loving the life of running and hanging out...I think I can get used to this! The weather was a bit cold and rainy when we got here but today was smoking hot!! The weather I LOVE!

Even though I am on holidays the training doesn't stop. Got up at a decent hour this morning and headed out for my hill run...Ugh, not something I am motivated to do on my own. Away I went not knowing where the heck I was going but managed to find a decent looking hill to train on. I have found this great app for my iphone that uses gps to trace my runs. Once I was back from my run I checked it and it turned out to be the exact amount I needed to complete. Yeehaw!!

Got to spend the rest of the day soaking up the rays while the kids played in the water park. Ahhhh the life! Back at it again tomorrow morning then off to take the kids to the fair for Billy Barker Days.

I think I may have a hard time leaving this place!

Winding up to Wind down

Week 9 of 36 Total Km this week: 36

What a crazy couple of weeks! This is the first time I have been able to get on and blog. Well that's not totally true, I did make an attempt earlier this week but wasn't in a the most positive frame of mind. I figured I'd spare you all from my whining. To be honest over the past couple of weeks I have struggled with my runs, first with shins slpints that turned out to really be Compartment Syndrome and then with my motivation.

Last week we started with our hill training. That means that every week one run will be running up and down a hill over and over and over! Who does that??? Not my favorite run but I value the importance of training hills especially when I will be running a Marathon in San Francisco. I will admit my competitive side came out when I saw Julie grinning ear to ear running up the steepest hill in Clearwater like it was the easiest thing she has ever done! She has to be completely insane to LOVE running hill repeats as much as she does, but it's getting me up those hill so THANKS Jules! We have done Candle Creek hill repeats twice so far and I will admit they are getting better.

On Canada Day Julie, the Walker family and I held a fundraiser at the celebrations on Dutch Lake. Julie and I sold cold drinks while the Walker family sold deliciously decorated cupcakes. I think the only reason why we sold so many drinks was because everyone could help but buy a cupcake they looked so good. I can't thank the Walker family enough for all their hard work and support!

My twins had their 6th birthday party on Monday after Julie and I finished our long run for last week. My parents came up the following day. It was nice to have them up but I feel bas as I didn't get to spend as much time with them as I would have liked. I was run off my feet with organizing the 2nd Annual Strawberry Fest 5km Fun Run/Walk that took place today. The run was a success although many of the previous runners were unavailable this year.

On July 8th a couple of close friend Sarah and Amber organized a charity hockey game held in Maple Ridge in honor of my run with all proceeds going to LLSC. 22 players participated in the event and everyone had a great time. When Sarah phoned me the next morning and told me how much they raised she had me in tears! I cannot thank them enough for all their hard work and amazing support they have given me. I only wish I could have been able to make it down to play in the game and thank everyone personally!

So now what...the craziness is almost over for the time being. Now it's packing up the trailer to head to Quesnel for a week of sun, fun and relaxation.

NEXT UP:

"Pub Crawl" ...Why walk when you can crawl?!

Sat. July 17th

Bus depart at 2:30pm from CSS (we'll be crawling for approx 4-5hrs.)

Tickets: $25/each includes transportation and a couple of prizes along the way.

First come first serve as space is limited. Let Julie or I know if you want tickets
Of course all proceeds go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.