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...