Québec city!

"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together."

Erma Bombeck

This first part is not running related, but I spent the last three days in Québec city with my two sisters...and we had a blast!

Me, Cee and Iz

I was in Québec for a Psychology Conference. It was great to come back to my room after my day of very interesting, but relatively serious sessions and finding my sisters waiting for me. We had some wild laugh out loud moments.

A nice dinner together.

These conferences also have an Expo, where they sell psychology related books and tools. After being in Niagara Falls last week for a race, the difference in how I dressed and what the people around me discussed, was striking. They are really two very separate worlds and yet somehow, I fit into both of them comfortably. I have to admit I was tempted to wear my "Live Laugh Run" t-shirt, just to let people know that I am also a runner :) ...but it was actually too cold in those rooms! Then in the evenings, it was all about spending time with my sisters. But, since they are both in helping professions (Cee - coaching, and Iz - acupuncture) we sometimes talked about our work. I like it when my worlds collide and then merge!

I participated in the Run for Lupus Virtual race and THANK YOU Marcia, because I received my cool necklace from Tarma Designs.

The really cool thing, is that I was expecting to receive the "Heart" to Run necklace, which I really really like. However, I'll be honest and tell you that when Marcia told me that Tarma would be sending me the necklace directly, I almost emailed her to ask if I could get the running girl  instead, which I love. But, then I figured that was being picky :). So, imagine my surprise when this is what I received in the mail...

Yay! It's the running girl...I love it!

Happy!

Thanks again Marcia and Tarma Designs!

Cheers!

A few thoughts...

A few thoughts about my unplanned half-marathon:

“Other people may be there to help us, teach us, guide us along our path, but the lesson to be learned is always ours.”

Anonymous

• Cross-training really helps. While I could not run, I biked, and I realize this definitely helped keep me strong enough to complete this half-marathon, despite the fact that I had not run more than one 10K in the previous 8 weeks. 
• I intend to buy a trainer for my bike so that I can continue cross-training over the winter (I'll post a picture when I get it).
• My lungs are so much stronger now. I had a cold two weeks before the race, and that used to mean a serious deterioration of my lung capacity (asthma). Not this time, I got over it without even seeing my doctor. Running heals me :)
• Doing this untrained-for half, has really increased my confidence in my body's capacity to run a marathon (in May)! I am stronger than I thought I was. Yes, I too believe I can now say with pride, "My name is Anne and I am an athlete"! :) 

Cheers!

Niagara Falls race report! ...so many stories :)

“Take a chance! All life is a chance. The (wo)man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.”
Dale Carnegie

Niagara Falls downtown…Saturday afternoon. Ripley’s Believe it or Not…check out the “guy” going up and down the building on a cable.




We went to the expo…and bought a few things, including this cool t-shirt.

Then we listened to Kathrine Switzer give a short talk…this woman is very inspiring and it amazes me that her experience occurred in my lifetime. Essentially, I can train to run in an official marathon thanks to her.



 Then I went for a free massage…and this girl did a great job!

Oh…and when I went to register for the 10K, it was full. This is what the nice man said to me, “Well, either you tough it out and do the half or you wimp out and do the 5K” :) …yeah, okay. So I decided to go for the half…of course! Note that since my last half-marathon on September 5th, I was injured twice and had only run 10K once…no more. For three weeks I did not run a all and then I started back very slowly. Was I a little worried about doing the half…yes, a little. But, I felt good and I hoped that my base was strong enough. Also, I had already decided that I would play it safe, so NO to my Garmin and YES to my camera. How did it go…you’ll have to wait for it.
First, Saturday night fuelling…we shared.
 
After a relatively good night’s sleep, we had our pre-race breakfast in our room.

 Then off we went and while we were waiting for the bus, I had the extreme pleasure of meeting up with Marlene. She is such a gorgeous young woman, inside and out. Great personality…I’m really glad I got the chance to speak with her, as she reassured me regarding my last-minute switch to the half-marathon.

 Then it was off to the start line. Here’s the view in front of me…isn’t it beautiful!

 Here I am, on the run, near the beginning.

 Now here are a few pics of the water stations along the way.



 
 
Here I am around half-way…still feeling good.

 Nearing the Finish line…
 
 I DID IT!


It seems that my base is solid enough and my injuries are truly healed! I was careful to walk whenever I felt any discomfort and I was careful with my form. I felt pretty good considering the lack of training and the fact that I just got over a cold last week. My time: 2h21m14s :) I’ll definitely take it! BTW, the cool black rain jacket I am wearing is what we got instead of a t-shirt…I love it!
The weather was perfect, between 12 and 18 degrees Celsius (high 50’s to low 60’s Farenheit) a peak of sunshine, a few raindrops and minimal wind. Uber H and I were happy…speaking of which. 
Now for the second part of this story…the main reason we came to Niagara Falls this weekend…Uber H was running his first marathon. I am so freaking proud of him! His goal was to try and come in under 4 hours.
 
 His time: 3h59m06s…Woot woot! He freaking did it and he was so excited.
I am so proud of him!
Celebrating :)

Finally, here are a  few pics of the Falls…breathtaking view.

 
 

Overall, a wonderful weekend…

Cheers!

Foto Friday :)

"If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon."

Kathrine Switzer

Inspiration! Such a nice lady...and fit!

"Anne - Running gives us everything - Go for it!"

K. Switzer Niagara, 2010

Cheers!

We're off...and rainy run

"One already wet does not feel the rain.”

Philemon Turkish Proverb

Well, so far, the weather forecast for Niagara Falls this Sunday is...

and windy...

I'm sort of glad I'm not running the marathon as I can be there to support Uber H...maybe give him some dry socks and a dry t-shirt around half-way. As I've read on a few blogs, "You run the race you're given"...I can only agree.

As for me...I hope I can downgrade to the 10K. They do say we can downgrade to the half-marathon, so I hope the 10K is also allowed. I was all excited because the last 10K of the circuit are downhill...until I realized that we are doing an out and back from the start/finish line. So, uphill the first 5K and downhill the second 5K...oh well :) My 5K run this morning went really well. But, it was...

..in the rain. Good practice for Sunday...

What a strange looking early morning pic...

I was by this cool place that sells water plants and is full of ponds and bridges.

See it wasn't dark anymore, I took both those pictures within seconds of each other...

I have had no time to comment over the last few days...but, I'm bringing my computer and if we have internet access...you'll be hearing from me :)

Niagara Falls, here we come...I really look forward to meeting up with Marlene, one of my running bloggy heroes...yay! 

Cheers!

Another blip...but, I'm ready

"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards."

Vernon Sanders Law

Just as I was feeling no more foot or knee pain...just as I was letting the idea of the half-marathon float around in the back of my mind...another blip! Last week I ended up with a cold all week and basically spent Tuesday and Wednesday either sleeping or working. Not running. Okay. So, I was back to wondering if I'd even be able to complete the 10K.

Today, I figured I'd try and run 10K in order to test where I'm at...and although the lungs are not 100%, they're getting better (without prednisone...yay!) and I did it. I took very short walk breaks almost every Km, but overall, my pace was at 10:38 min/mile, which I'm feeling good about. Most important, no pain! So I'm ready for the 10K in Niagara Falls next Sunday...and I'm excited to be there to support Uber H who will be running his first marathon! I can't wait to be there for him, taking pictures and encouraging him with a cool poster :)

Cheers!

Is this a mini brick?

“You can't make bricks without straw”

Proverb

Ready to go on this beautiful fall morning

First, I went for a run and completed 6K (3.7 miles)...this time my run/walk intervals were 10/1, definitely getting there. The best part is that my foot felt great...no problemo! I then came home, put on a jacket, grabbed Frida and off we went. BTW, I wore my biking shorts under my capris, so I was ready quickly.

Frida...patiently waiting for me

I met up with Uber H (who was out doing his 23K). My brother had joined him and my super SIL, who is injured, was also on her bike...so I joined them and off we went for a total of 17.75K (11 miles) of Sherpa biking :). 

A run followed by a bike ride...is this a brick or an inverted brick? BTW, I hate really don't like swimming pools and well, swimming, so don't go getting any TRIdeas :) ...sorry for the bad humor (yes, I'm a little tired today - it was a wonderful, but busy weekend).

Cheers!