Counting down...

2 more weeks to go. Yikes!

We are hard-core man... Hard-core!

Hard-core also hard·core (härdkôr, -kr)adj.
Definition: Intensely loyal individual; die-hard or .....
people crazy enough to go outside in the pouring rain, 50km winds and run for 3.5hrs.

What makes this sick is that we did all of this laughing, chatting and ok with a bit of bitching. But ... at the end of the day we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
(More proof that we are still riding the crazy train)

Today's run was 32kms and also our last 32k until the big day. Which just so happens to be exactly three weeks from today. Yikes! Today was very wet and at times miserable, but for the most part I was just happy to be out with the girls, running without pain and I can now say that I have officially run my fasted and longest distance to date.

To celebrate -- Cora's Restaurant! Woo Hoo!
I have attached photos for you to see what kind of breakfast you get to eat when you burn 2049 calories. What you don't see in the picture is the yummy Cup O' latte that washed it all down. Mmmmmm...










I have also included pics of my very happy, now dry and content running pals. I couldn't have done it without them. xo.















Today was a great day!
Time for bed. zzzzzzzzzz
Meg

Last 32K!!

Starting to feel nervous... tomorrow is our last 32km run.

This week started off a bit rocky but I am happy to report that I did get four runs in (THANK YOU JoAnne), survived two physio appointments and even added a skate in there.

With only three weeks left till the big day, I am just trying to remain positive and praying that my IT/knee cooperates.

And yes I may have to wake up at 6am tomorrow but looking forward to the breakfast with the girls afterwards seems to make it all a bit easier.

Time for bed?

28 days and counting

till the big day and what a day it was!

I started the day early with a 6am wake up. (Yes. I did say 6am and on a Sunday. I know!)

Even though today's run was a distance that I have completed a few times before, today's run had a special buzz to it because we were running 29kms of the official 42km marathon route.

Running the route is not an easy task. Hence, the 6am start. Well worth it. This was a great way to prepare for the race and for me it was also a way to take away some of the anxiety I had about going up and down the Mississauga Road hill. I was also curious/praying that my ITB would hold out.

Now, in order to run the route ment starting and ending in a different location and requires a bit of logistical planning. We met at the Running Room store at 7am, carpooled to the finish spot (Port Credit arena) and then carpooled to the starting point. Complicated? Yes a bit. But I did what I was told while praying that I would just make it back to my car.

Packing last night, Patrick very subtly and sweetly said "Just make sure your phone is charged" and this morning when he rolled over and looked at the alarm clock at 6am he mumbled "Have fun?!?" I seriously don't know how I would have ever been able to come this far and commit so much of my family time without such a supportive partner. Don't get me wrong, I definitely think there have been times where he thinks this is all crazy. Especially on the days when he watches me hobbling down the stairs. Patrick is famous for saying "So glad you are doing all this to feel good". But Patrick has never made me feel guilty, not once for taking all this "Me TIME". I am very "Luckie".

So today ... it started off dark, overcast and cold. But an hour into the run, I was stripping off my coat, enjoying the warm sun, saying Good Morning to the hoards of fellow runners and bikers that came out to join in on the fun. Even the car/drivers seemed to be more pleasant than usual. I must say it was pretty cool to see and follow all of the road closure signs that had been put up to prepare the locals for the race day delays. Starting to feel very real!

My start was a bit slow. I had a bit of difficulty going up and down the U of T hills but it was manageable. Could it be the $20 ITB band I was wearing? All the additional stretching? Or could my legs just be getting better? Who knows. Either way - I was just happy not to be walking. I ran relatively pain free till the half way point, which was a Tim Hortons. So Canadian eh?? But, this was no normal Tim Hortons, this Tims had a hidden cooler filled with water and gator-aid. The cooler was hidden by one of our group members Anne and stationed for the group to replenish our liquids. After having a quick washroom break and having the Tim Hortons staff say "Keep it up!" We were back on our way.

20k marker... still going. A nice run through Jack Darling Park and the with the CN Tower in site, I was starting to feel like I had been running for hours. Oh yah. I was! Then the 25k mark... still hanging on. Finally, back on the lakeshore and in the homestretch. Over the walking bridge and then I saw it ... the parking lot. The same parking lot where I left my comfortable car hours ago. And if seeing the car wasn't enough to bring a smile to my face, I also saw the rest of my running group in the parking lot, car trunks open and waiting with a medley of drinks and munchies to celebrate another Sunday done! Woo Hoo!

So what's next? Speed work! 3 Sunday runs, a 32k, 24k, a blissful 6k taper and then ... 42kms!

Breathe...

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it...

A good friend shared this poem below with me today. Couldn't be more fitting, so I thought I would add it to the blog to share with you. Thanks BOB!

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run –
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!- Rudyard Kipling


Weekly Update: Sun - 30K Mon - Boot camp, Tues - 6k, Wed - 10k (7hills), Thurs - 10k Tempo, Fri/Sat - off and Sun - 20 (Grand total of 76K in eight days) No wonder I need ADVIL and icy hot.

Today was a beautiful day for a run. Couldn't ask for better weather. I ran with my good friend Mary and ran a 6.4 min/km. Then around the 12k mark my ITB started to flare up again. Argh! How frustrating when your body wont cooperate with your mind. I did push through, dreaming about the Starbucks chat at the end and the bottle of ADVIL waiting for me when I got home. Technically, I was ok as long as I didn't stop running. Which does make for an interesting run when you can't stop, for stop lights or cars.

Well, I am glad to say I finished and I made it back to the store, even if the end wasn't pretty. I have now gone for a walk with Paige, watched the kids play baseball and am very much looking forward to a steak dinner and glass of wine tonight!

Till next week,
Megan

What's your favorite?

I had no idea what a conversation starter that t.shirt slogans would be. So it only fair to make this into a game of course.




Here is a listing of the shirts with slogans that I can purchase at the EXPO to wear for my race. I have selected my top five, correction ten, but don't let that influence your vote.

My top favorites:
1. "I'm only doing this so I can post a picture on Facebook."

2. "Slow is the new fast"

3. "If it wasn't for me - you would have nobody to pass"

4. "Only ONE More Mile -
Back: Dear God, please let there be someone behind me to read this."

5. "You think I run funny? Back: Wait till you see me walk tomorrow!"

6. "OK! Who moved the finish line?"

7. "This IS my race pace"

8. "This sounded like a good idea, a long time ago"

9. "In my dreams, I am a Kenyan"

10. "Find your happy pace"

More...


"I took the road less traveled, and now WHERE THE HECK AM I?

"Does this shirt make my butt look like fast?"

"It's all about the medal!"

"May the course be with you"

"Canadians Do It Metric 42.2"

"I know I know… I am almost there"

"I know, I know - I said I'd NEVER do this again."

"Will run for wine/chocoate and coffee"

"Toenails are for sissys"

Finally...

FRONT: You know you're a runner when...
BACK:
You can recite the dialogue from chariots of fire.
Your vacations are planned around marathons.
You lube up to get into your clothes to prevent chafing.
Your friends don't call you anymore to go out on Saturday nights.
The majority of t-shirts in your closet have sponsors and race dates on them.
You consider gels a food group.
You consider a half marathon a good "training" run.
You can say fartlek without laughing.
You buy advil and Epsom salts in bulk.
You can correctly spell plantar fasciitis.

Looking forward to hearing your pick.

Slogan of the day - You can throw in the towel or you can pick up the towel and use it to wipe off your forehead and keep on running.