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!