Monday, April 12, 2010

Cool encounter & She's comin' along!

"Chance encounters are what keep us going."
Haruki Murakami

While at the book fair yesterday, I had a really cool encounter. It's one of those situations that I am sure was just meant to happen. I'm standing talking with my sister and I suddenly feel the need to check out the book on a table to my right. The title of the book is, well it's in French, but it translates to "A mother on the summit of Everest" and the author is right there.
I feel myself pulled to this book and I begin having a discussion with the author, Sylvie Fréchette (no, not the synchronized swimmer). She's an extremely nice and very inspiring woman, who climbed Mount Everest at the age of 45, and she is the mother of three daughters. We talked about self-actualisation and I was telling her about my journey to hopefully run a marathon one day. Of course I bought her book and when I was in line waiting to pay, she called me over to introduce me to her brother, who has run 5 marathons. I thought that was so sweet. She wrote a nice message in my copy of her book: "To Anne, Self-realization through marathons. Bonne route. Bonne réussite" (too complicated to translate the whole thing), but you get the gist. She gave me her card so I could check out her website and she asked me to please email her and keep her posted on my progress. When I got home, I checked out her website and I couldn't believe it! This woman is from Val d'Or, Abitibi (which is a small town in northern Québec) and which is where I'm from (no one is from there :)). I found that incredible...AND, she has worked as a psychotherapist with children, adolescents and adults. We were totally meant to connect...I love these chance encounters :) 

Running and asthma update: What goes up, must come down...after the prednisone high, we have the prednisone low. After a few days off prednisone, my body is feeling the withdrawal and I am quite tired these days. About 20 minutes before heading out for my tempo run today, I was feeling a bit nauseous and tired. I ate half a banana and an apple, which made me feel better and then I got ready and headed out. Today: a 5K tempo run. My expectations were naught, especially considering the low energy. However, when I reached 3K, I realized that if I pushed it a bit, I might be able to get in under 32 minutes, which would be a PR for me. WELL, my last K was at 5.30min/K (unbelievable!!) for an overall average of 6.11min/K...which means I completed my 5K in 30m57sec. YES! I am so close, I can smell that under-30 minute 5K :) So, despite feeling tired, my lungs are good and I guess I'm in pretty good shape!

Have a great day...Cheers!

27 comments:

Melissa said...

Good work! How awesome that y'all are from the same small corner of the world.

Amy said...

What a wonderful chance encounter! Don't you love when things like that happen, like they were meant to be? And great job on the run, I'm so glad it went well - bonne route, indeed!

teacherwoman said...

Sounds like a great woman! And she's from where you are from! Crazy!

Hi! I'm Erin said...

Love it when things like that happen!

Also, thanks for letting me practice my French :-)

You'll get that 5K under 30 in no time, I can feel it!

Marlene said...

Wow, what a cool encounter and wonderful coincidence! You'll have to let us know how you like the book.

Congrats on your successful tempo run! I know you could achieve a sub-30 in a race situation!

Tricia said...

so neat!

JenLo said...

Thanks for stopping by and offering your congrats! You will LOVE the feeling of finishing your first half. Good luck!

Laura said...

Awesome work knocking two minutes of your PR :D that's fab! I love going out for a run not expecting it to go well and knocking your expectations out of the water, well done!

ajh said...

INteresting about the book and the author!

Meg said...

I enjoy those "accidental" meetings. You just know it was meant to happen at that moment in time!
Nice job on the tempo run!

Miglena said...

how cool is that! Did you tell her you come from the same place?

Heather said...

What a great experience!

Nice job on your run . . . you are so close to sub-30!

Beth said...

It's great to read that your lungs are good. Wonderful that you had a good run. What a wonderful encounter you had and it sounds like you inspired each other. Yeah!

Jamoosh said...

Look at you - kickin' the prednisone booty and getting a PR to boot!

Sherri said...

That was a cool meeting experience! Some of my best friendships have come from chance! I want to read that book! I love Mt Everest books, I am kind of obsessed! Probably because I am afraid to even think of something like that!


Your runs are all coming together! It is exciting! Your ready to race BIG and you'll be under 30 ..."NO PROBLEM!"

Jennifer said...

Very Cool. Sounds like it was meant to happen! Good job on pushing through the run. Keep it up, it only gets better. Cheers!

AM-GoalsfortheWeek! said...

now that's a great book/author momment. That would keep me going for sure.

and you WILL do a marathon. ;-)

Johann said...

What a fantastic time for your 5k! That is awesome! Your encounter with the author is really fascinating.

Julie said...

Hi Anne,
You did awesome girl!! Way to kick it into high gear on that 5k:) I am happy for you!

Ulyana said...

wow, pretty cool! agreed, totally meant to be :)

Lily on the Road said...

The Universe works in wonderful, albeit mysterious ways....wonder what the future holds for you two....

Giorgio said...

Hi Anne,
I have never run a 42 km race and like you I hope that I'll run a marathon one day. Glad you have improved the time taken on that 5 km running.

Wifey said...

What an awesome encounter! And congrats on the 5K time! Loving your blog. Looking forward to reading more.

Winks & Smiles,
Wifey

Mel-2nd Chances said...

That is so cool! Glad you got a chance to meet someone so inspiring!! Congrats on the 5k run, you're doing great!

SeeGirlRun said...

What a great run - how EXCITING! And your chance encounter - what a coincidence. I always think there are purposes behind coincidences. Are you supposed to climb your own version of Mt. Everest now? Too deep for a Thursday morning. Need more coffee.....

Laura

Jill said...

That's so cool about the encounter!! Maybe you were meant to climb Mt. Everest?? Eeks. I'll be cheering for you if you do!! Hang in there, hopefully the running will get easier after you get adjusted to the no medicine - you're doing great! Happy Weekend!!!

Anne said...

That really is a close - and cool - encounter, especially being from the same small town.