The End of this story.

“This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

Winston Churchill 

I started blogging for a few reasons. A friend encouraged me to, saying that with my asthma perhaps I could help others who wanted to improve their health. Also, I thought a blog would be a great way to track my journey from running a few kilometers to a full marathon. It also ended up being extremely motivating and inspiring. The plan was to continue blogging at least until I'd reached my goal of running a marathon and I had no idea how long that could take. 

In case you're wondering. I started blogging on January 3, 2010 (I was 50 years old) having just completed my first ever 10K training run. 21 months later I completed my marathon (I am 52 years old). I had been running a grand total of 2 years and 3 months. 

Training run - January 2010

First Half-Marathon - Ottawa May 2010

Third Half-Marathon - Niagara Falls October 2010

Marathon - Montréal September 2011

  

Over the course of this blogging experience :

• I completed one 5K; two 10Ks; four half-marathons; and one marathon.
• I infected many people with the racing virus. Some directly and some through others. It is now a family affair when we go to races! :)

• The longest I went without prednisone is 143 days. Which is excellent, but I want to go longer and longer.
• After switching my blog address, I went from 191 to approximately 50 followers. Yet, I still had about the same number of comments. So, you are my real followers and I appreciate each and everyone of you! 
• This is my 209th post.
• I won some really cool things and got to review some great stuff.
• I injured my right knee; my left foot; my left groin; my right ankle; my right foot; and my left knee. My PT could have put my name on his lease I was practically paying for it at some point (Being in my 50s and corticosteroids may have had something to do with this). Thankfully, the last two injuries did not require PT and I was able to run cautiously through both. Finally, I am currently uninjured doing well!
• The above led to cross-training so, I started biking and I even got a trainer for winter (BTW, that photo is the only time I ever tried to read on the trainer...I quickly switched to TV).

• I stopped going to the gym and started strength training at home (hmmmm it's been a while...must get back to it - that may not have been the best move. To be reassessed).
• I was chosen to be part of a book on first time marathoners.
• Of course, I learned tons of stuff about running!!
• Last, but certainly not least, I became a grand-mother :) :)

There is so much more that occurred over the course of writing this blog...so much that I gained and learned. Every once in a while I would get an email from someone who was asthmatic or dealing with some other chronic illness, telling me that I inspired them. I remember googling high and low trying to find out if anyone had ever managed to wean off prednisone and I never found anything encouraging. So if I could help even one person believe in their ability to take control of their health, then I've achieved my ultimate goal. 

So this is the end of the beginning. The goal is to keep running for the rest of my life. Running is going well once again and I will be running a 10K with my little sister, my brother, my Super SIL, her brother, his wife...well, you get the picture...on November 5th in Oka. Other goals over the next year include some trail running and the winter Pentathlon in Québec City. Uber H is on sabbatical starting at the end of January and this seems like the perfect year to do this. The winter Pentathlon includes five winter sports and we will do them as a team (Biking; running; cross-country skiing; skating; and snowshoeing). I will do the running and skating (In another life, I used to figure skate :)). There will be other races and there are plans to go to Philadelphia in November 2012 with some members of the "Lacets rouge". 

Therefore, this will be my last post for this blog. I will have it printed into a book, which I will keep as a souvenir of my journey. I will still read your blogs and comment once in a while. Also, I will be on Daily Mile and so if you want to stay in touch, you can always connect with me there. For those of you already on DM, you know that I usually write in French, but I promise to alternate and write some of my training comments in English :) 

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

FOR ALL YOUR WONDERFUL FEEDBACK AND ENCOURAGING COMMENTS. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS IN MY PROFILE, SO NEVER HESITATE TO BE IN TOUCH. PERHAPS WE CAN ORGANIZE TO MEET AT A RACE! 

THE BLOG WILL STAY UP FOR A WHILE AND I'LL BE CHECKING IN WITH YOU ALL.

CHEERS!!!!!!!!!!!!