Las Vegas Marathon!!!!

Santa Run Start

Breaking through the wall
Triumphant Finish
Connor in the desert

So last weekend I spent in Vegas with DH, DS and MIL ... and I completed my 10th marathon ... AND I got to meet a whole pile of people from a message board I've been posting on for the past 2 years. That could have been really wierd or wonderful ... and it was WONDERFUL! Here's a report of the trip (and some photos!)



Thu Nov 29

• left home at 8 for 11 a.m. flight to Vegas


• crossed border with no issues


• flight delayed getting into Vegas due to headwind but non-stop is GREAT!!!


• arrive in Vegas at 2:30 and rent a car for the entire time we're there get to Mandalay Bay - BEAUTIFUL rooms!!!


• unpack, explore the hotel


• try to find a restaurant for dinner that someone on the board works at but can't find it - so we head to old Vegas


• see Freemont Experience - 2.5 million lights and 5500 watt stereo system


• enjoy 99c margaritas and 7.99 prime rib special


• back to hotel and in bed by 9:30 Vegas time

Fri - Nov 30

• up at 7:30 Vegas time


• Starbucks coffee in hotel - fancy places don't have coffee in rooms :-(


• breakfast at Ellis Island Casino coffee shop - I head about it from someone on theboards - it was good


• drive out to pick up Santa Run race kits for the boys which included a Santa Suit \back to hotel for race kit pick up for me - and meet up with folks from the message board in hotel and at expo - quite cool


• off to Hoover Dam with MIL - and it was torrential rain!!! - We did the tour of the place


• stop in Boulder City but it's cold so we decide to head back to Vegas


• Dinner in old Vegas again - more 99c margaritas ;-)


• back to hotel and in bed again by 9:30 Vegas time
  

Sat Dec 1 - Santa Run Day

• up at 7 to get ready for Santa Run


• quick breakfast in hotel based on provisions bought at grocery store on Friday


• Get to Freemont Street and we are besieged by Santas!!! There were 7500 of them! So we had to hang on to each other to make sure we didn't lose each other! There freebies galore too!


• post-race head back to hotel room for shower and rest-up and small snacks


• visit to Liberace museum - VERY cool - costumes, pianos, cars ... wow!


• Women to LV Outlet mall - nothing to write home about - and DH & DS to Bodies show at Tropicana - they won tix to it at the Santa race in the morning


• Pasta Supper with folks from message board - met tons of people I've only corresponded with - very cool - it was like a weird sort-of family reunion ...


• home and in bed by 8:30
  

Sun - Race Day

• up at 4:30 for quick bite to eat and heat out to meet message board folks in warm up room in Mandalay Bay Hotel


• 5:00 a.m. get to room and hang out with folks - decide to run with Teri from Chicago


• 6:07 fireworks for race start - it's cool maybe 38F - fireworks wake up DS, DH and MIL ;-)


• having fun on the strip - mile 3 blue man group is performing and Teri is hugging every cop she sees ;-)


• Mile 4 - we meet up with FimFam and Cpak from the board and exchange hugs


• Mile 5 wedding chapel - this time there were 50 couples doing it shortly after mile 5 Teri and I meet up with Huichi (dressed as Elvis) from the board and she joins our group


• Mile 5 - do we turn for the half or keep going for the full - we take the plunge and we're in it for the duration!


• Mile 6 - we pick up Don (also dressed as Elvis) and also from the Boards so now we are 4


• Mile 8 - we come up on PA Plodder also from the board and he decides to join our crazy group for more fun and frivolity I swear we took a photo with Huichi or Don's camera every 1/4 mile!!!!


• Mile 13 - we're half way at 2:52 - nice and slow


• Mile 15 - we hook up with Rob also from the board and he joins us for a while but he's having difficulty so he sends us on


• Mile 17 - pain spray on the course - works wonders!


• Mile 20 - the wall - and it was - they put a cardboard wall up on the course and we took advantage and took a photo of us "breaking through"


• Finish at 5:56 for a PW (personal worst) time but an PB for most fun in a race for sure! It was a blast


• After the race back to the hotel room for a bath and then we all went to a bar in the MB hotel for the 'after-party' and met more folks from the message board. And DH & MIL both said they enjoyed meeting folks - whew!


• Dinner at Roy's Hawaiian Fusion - still delicious and MIL really liked it esp the pineapple martinis!


• back to the hotel and bed at 9:30 ish
  

Mon - Dec 3

• up at 8 to pack


• check out of hotel at 10 then dinner at the - get this! - Egg and I (too funny eh) on the way to Red Rock Canyon


• it's a BEAUTIFUL day - sunny and warm unlike the time we were there - so we took our time and really enjoyed it ... lots of photos


• after Red Rock we stopped at the Whole Foods Market to get provisions for the plane


• take the car back and hang out at the airport - DH & MIL did a couple of slots for the first time on the trip and lost a whopping $20


• flight out to Buffalo at 5:15


• arrive Buffalo at 12:35 - get luggage by 1:10 and we booked in to stay over in Buffalo remembering how much fun it wasn't driving back last time


• get to hotel at 1:30 ish - ready for bed by 2:00 a.m.
  

Tues - Dec 4

• Awake at 7:30 flights are starting to arrive / leave from Buffalo airport


• breakfast in hotel


• hit the road at 10 with a stop at duty free


• home by 11:45 ... ahhhhhh

A SPECIAL half-marathon

So on Sunday I did my 3rd 1/2 in 4 weeks but it was special because I did it with DS!

We started off doing R3/W2 and did our first few K in 7 min/K pace ... we were doing AWESOME ... hit 10K in 1:15. Then at around 12K we hit a hill ... and then at 14K the ascent to the finish started. It was pretty well ALL uphill from there (stated 6% grade) including a HILL at 2K to go. The marathoners weren't happy with the hilly finish.

DS got TONS of applause ... people were blown away by him. In fact at the turn around hill a marathoner was coming up to him and I was trying ot encuorage him on ... the marathoner said "Hey guy, I'm having a bit of trouble can you run me up the hill?" How sweet is that? And then told Connor that he was awesome and that his kids never did anything like this! Connor was (I'm pretty sure) the youngest one out there today!

This was the first of this race ... it was in support of two charities in Hamilton - City Kidz working with inner-city kids and Joy and Hope of Haiti building schools and orphanages in Haiti. The organizers were hoping for 3000 runners in all events (5,10, 1/2 and full) and it looks like they got them! Way cool!!!!!

The lead marathoner did it in 2:22. Lead in the 1/2 was 1:04. Total purse for this event was $7000 ($1200 for the winner of the full and $600 for the winner of the 1/2) ... not bad for an inaugural event eh? A local running store was the organizers.

DS and I did it in 2:55! I was expecting a 3:30 finish.

Check out this link ... it has an elevation chart for the 1/2. HOLY MOLY!!! http://www.runnerschoice.on.ca/newsletter/2007-11-06.htm

Here's a pic of Connor and I coming into the finish ... how cool is that?!?

Toronto 1/2 Marathon Report

So I ran the Toronto In'l 1/2 Marathon as a Pace Bunny yesterday ... it was FUN!!

I stayed in Toronto with my friend Cathy in a room at the Sheraton we got at a good price by my brother (thanks bro!) Race morning we get up at 5 ... after fitful sleeping. We check the weather and its cool 9C with not much wind. We get our food and changed and head out at 6:20 to catch the bus to the start.

We wander around race start .. me with my HUGE pink bunny ears and sign ... a couple of people ask me smirking if I'm the 2:45 MARATHON bunny ... like I look like I could run a 2:45 full?!?

Then we find the start line ... a bunch of people come over to talk to me to see how I'm doing it and what it means to be a pace bunny. Cathy and I hug and wish each other a good race and she moves up in the pack.

Starting off I have a Scottish couple and another woman from NZ with me. I tell them I'm doing R3/W2 consistently and it works. The Scottish couple say they'll see how they do. The hub is having hip issues and it's the wife's first so she's not sure how she'll do. We hit the first K in 7:15 .. 30 sec ahead of pace! Then by the time we hit the mile marker it's 10:50ish instead of the 12:36 pace I'm supposed to be doing! The bad bunny syndrome is starting.
But we carry on ... we pick up a fellow who stays the whole race. He's run a bunch of marathons before and is getting back to it after injury. I'm still carrying my sign and in fact carried it the whole race. (Am I tough or what!??!)

By 3K we're 2 mins ahead of pace ... but everyone's feeling good. We hit Hogs Hollow hill which is the hilliest part of the course a approx 41/2K and walk up it ... we're having fun! I'm singing and talking ... asking if anyone needs groceries when we pass a grocery store and doing the math of how much we've got left.

At 8K we make a turn onto a lovely park-like area. And at this point I've got quite a pack of folks with me. Funny thing is that there were a bunch of other small groups doing 10/1 and we kept catching up to them! One woman doing 10/1 asked what we were doing and when I told her she didn't believe me until I did the countdown to a walk!

At 10-12K the crowd around me got quite quiet whenever I asked how everyone was doing so I started a new song and ask them to fill in the words during a walk break. I'd sign at the top of my lungs "We are Strong, We are invincible, We are Half-marathoners, half-marathoners". It was fun!!!

15K in and we're 5 minutes ahead of pace. I think to myself that this is a little quick ... so I decide to slow down my walk pace and not tell anyone. We carry on ... also around this time my baby toe on my R foot gets "hot" ... not a good sign.

Some folks have dropped off ... but there's approx 6 folks with me. We are carrying on and having fun. We hit 18K and one gentleman looks to me and says "thank you so much it's been great! I'm going to go" and I say ... my pleasure have fun! So he takes off.

The rest of the crew I tell them that when we hit 20K I expect them to take off and finish and everyone says that the R3/W2 is good so we'll see what happens then. We hit 19K and someone on the side says are you the 2:45 bunny? cos the 2:30 just went by not long ago! I say sheepishly "yep we're ahead of pace, I'm a bad bunny" and the folks with me say "no she's a great bunny!"

We're getting close to the finish ... everyone's doing really well .. the Scottish couple has been with me the whole time and the woman says that it was sooooo much better than she thought. She said to me "you kept us laughing and looked after when we needed to walk ... its been great" and the husband says "this is the best time I've had during a race"
So the bad bunny did it again ... 2:38:36 is my official time ... and it's my longest run since the achilles difficulty in JULY!

My plan is to see how the blister is tonight and maybe drain it 'coz I'm going to a conference tomorrow and will need to wear hard shoes. Then do a little 5K on Wed/Thu and then on the weekend another 20K ... the 28th is the Niagara 1/2 where I get to do it again and I plan to tack on another 5K after it ... and then another 1/2 Nov 2 with DS and I'll tack another 10K on after it for my longest run before the full Vegas. It won't be a PB ... but it should be fun!

So it's been a bit ...

I'm a little bummed lately ... since I did the 10 miler my Achillies tendonitis has been acting up. (Read - I'm not running!) which is totally annoying!

I am getting out for long walks (last weekend was 17K) but it's not running! I really, really want to get back at it soon. The PT said not yet so I'm listening but it's HARD!!!

Also ... I have 3 1/2 marathons this fall ... Oct 24 I'm the 2:45 bunny for the Toronto Int'l Marathon, Oct 28 I'm the 2:45 bunny for the Niagara Marathon and then with Connor I'm walking the Hamilton Marathon on Nov. 2.

THEN ON Dec. 2 I'm doing the full marathon in Vegas and looking forward to seeing ALL my LVM friends. It's gonna be a BLAST!!!

Well ... all for now.

Cheers

Updates

so ... yesterday I did a 10 mile race. It was great fun ... and despite my achilles acting up lately I did okay. I picked up an achilles compression band to wear during the race and did an R2/W2 strategy and came across in 1:51:03 not too bad really! I know I could have been a good 5-10 mins faster if I was feeling good.

DS and DH also ran yesterday in the 5K ... DS did a 30:43 and DH a 34:18.

Also, I'm reading a GREAT new book ... PD James Children of Men. I'm really enjoying it. Yes it's the book that the recent movie was based on. I didn't see the movie but considering what I've heard of the plot the book is very different.

Check out the opening sentence ... Grabs you right away! "Early this morning, 1 january 2021, three minutes after midnight, the last human being to be born on earth was killed in a pub brawl in a suburb of Buenos Aires, aged twenty-five years, two months and twelve days"

Reallly good ... I've alreay got another PD James to read after this one!

Cheers

Good news and bad news

First ... the good news is that I am OKAY.

The bad news is that my lovely 8 week old new (to me) car is likely totalled. I was in a car accident last night ... in Hamilton not on the highway.

So ... reports filed, insurance contacted, car rental made,trying to contact witnesses and wait for adjuster to find out.The collision place said it's on the verge of a right off ... so we'llsee. And the insurance company said ANY fault on my part = 30% increase!BUT ... I'm OKAY ... that's the main thing.

Long and short ... I was pulling out of the parking lot to get into the parking lot across the street ... a car was stopped to get into the parking lot I was in ... she stopped ... I looked no one coming ... I went and a large Dakota truck smashed into me at high speed causing my car to spin. No airbag deployment ... apparently because of the spin. I was shocked ... cried (somewhat hysterically) ... one person said she thought he ran the light ... he’s 22 ...

Thank heaven for small (or isthis one large?) mercies.

My first ULTRA!!!!

So my first ultra is now complete. Hard to believe … 50 friggin’ K! I can say it was fun and gruelling and amazing all at the same time.

So the night before was the first home game (albeit pre-season) for my beloved TigerCats so I elected to go to the game and then get up early to head to the race. The game was great … our starting QB Jason Maas looked so much better than any time last year. And they won … I left at ½ time came home had a relaxing bath while listening to the game on the radio, got my gear ready for morning and then hit the sack about 9:30. At 11 my boys came home and told me about the win.

The alarm went off at 5:15. I got up and collected all my stuff and headed downstairs so as not to wake the boys. I put the coffee on and had my usual breakfast. Then at approx 5:40 I headed out the door. The race started in Niagara-on-the-Lake which is approx 45-1 hour away. Of course, on the way I stopped at Tim’s (J) for a coffee. I was amazed how much traffic was on the road at 6 on a Saturday morning!

I got to the race start at 6:45 with the race to start at 7:00. There were quite a few cars there as there was a ½ marathon and the 50K. Not a big race though. Picked up my kit which included a hooded sweatshirt. Get my sunscreen on and my bib on and head to mill around.

Talked to few people and then the race director calls everyone together and gives instructions. He says the course is all along the Niagara Recreational Trail and where there’s a curve there is black and yellow tape indicating where to go. He also says there are aid stations every 5K and if you decide to pack it in to stay at an aid station and they’ll come and pick you up. He also said that the volunteers at the aid stations will be keeping track of each runners time. Then he says if you do decide to pack it in tell someone! Apparently one guy decided to go shopping with his wife and didn’t tell anyone and they spend 4 hours looking for him!

So there’s a “go” and we’re off. It’s a small race approx 110 people. The group spreads out fairly quickly. There’s a bunch at the back and we keep in pretty close contact most of the race. I’m doing R3/W2 since it worked so well in Ottawa. I hit the 1 mile marker at 10:24 … oh my that’s a little fast! But I keep going. Feeling good … the course is LOVELY … you can see the Niagara River almost the whole time. Hit 5K at 32 … again too fast. Keep going … lovely homes along the way. Hit 10K in 1:03… again too fast. Shortly after I hit 10K I come to the turnaround for the ½ which started 30 mins after us … as I get there so does the lead for the ½ … what a way to remind me I’m slow!!!!

Keep going … just after this point we hit the HILL on the course. We have to climb a good distance to get up to the Brock monument in Queenston Ont. LOVELY town … BRUTAL hill … I walked it as did many others. As I’m walking up I’m talking to this fella Paul deBiasi who’s 72 and doing this one! WOW! We chatted for a while and then he says he needs to go for a leak and wishes me a good race.

Before I hit 20K I see the lead runners. These guys (and gals) are AMAZING. The led finished in 3:05! I hit 20K in 2:20 which is 10 mins ahead of pace and I’m feeling good. Coming up to the ½ way point which is at the crest of the Horseshoe Falls (how cool is that?). As I’m nearing the falls the tourists are out in force so you have to either weave in and out or walk. I hit the ½ way mark in 2:57 which is still ahead of pace J I ask the volunteer at the aid station if I’m the back of the pack and I’m told that there are at least 5 behind me … but that I had the biggest smile J At the ½ way a tourist nearby calls out to me “how long is the race?” When I respond 50K he gives me a look like I have 3 heads and says “WOW!” Just after the ½ I see 72 yr old Paul he’s doing well.

The aid stations are great … enthusiastic volunteers and they are stocked with PowerAde, water, Pepsi (EW!), chips, pretzels, candy, cookies, cheese etc. Nice. And they offer to fill up water bottles too. Toward the end of the race the folks just ahead of me I could see stop and linger for a few minutes at the aid station to “stock up”.

Carrying on … I hit 30K in 3:35 and I’m slowing down some. My calves are feeling really tight but I keep it going. I hit 35K in 4:09 I think one fella just ahead of me says “Thanks for chasing me!”. My calves now feel like ROCKS they are so tight so I decide to walk a bit. I’ve got 15K left in this thing. The sun is up and it’s a little warm now. Likely around 23C /72F. So I’m walking and start chatting with another fella. We are just around the Brock monument when Mr. 72 year old comes by. I think to myself I really don’t want him to smoke me so I start running a bit. Down the hill is relatively easy and then I start trying R2/W2 but that’s not working so I’m doing R1/W1 until 40K in approx 5:05 ish … After this point I realize that I’m likely walking the last 10K because I ran for a minute and felt my head go woozy. I’m so close to the finish that I’m not going to lose it now!

Shortly after the 40K mark I meet up with another runner … most of the crowd support came from other runners and water station volunteers as it was a small race. Richard and I walked pretty much the last 10K together. Chatting and talking … he’s done more than 60 marathons and another fella in the race Joe Cleary has done well over 100 … he’s done Canadian all provinces & territories and all 50 states and is now working on his continents! CRAZY!!!!

We hit 45K in 5:45 … and I start to choke up especially when Richard starts talking about women he’s run with who did their first marathon and were telling him that the feeling is close to the feeling after childbirth. I’m in “magic time” (aka longer than I’ve ever gone before) so I tear up … and say that the comparison is so dead on … the feeling of physical exertion and achievement is so close!

We are carrying on … and then we see the 1 mile marker … We’re almost there! I look at my watch and we’re at 6:12 and I say “Richard we’re gonna do a sub 6:30!” He says … I didn’t think that was possible by you’ve got one heck of a pace so I’ll take it! We carry on and see Fort George … both of us didn’t remember seeing it on the way out and then we see the finish. (The finish/start area was in a grassy field with 2 orange pylons) … I say Richard what say we run in? So we do … WOW … 50K done in 6:26:52! Hard to imagine!

AND I came in 96/104 … not bad indeed! Click here for a link to a finisher photo ... I'm thinking triumphant is a good adjective :)

The Next Challenge!

So being the fruitloop that I am ... I just registered for my first ULTRA marathon ... I'm registered to do the Niagara 50K on June 23. An out and back course that starts in Niagara on the Lake and turns around at the Falls.

Whatever time I do will be a PB ... so it's 7.8K more than the marathon I did in Ottawa in 5:05 but I'm figuring that last 7.8 will be tough so I'd like to do a 6:30 ... we'll see!

BTW my race photos are posted ... check them out! http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=16942&BIB=3218 I think I look pretty triumphant ... after all it was a PB!

Here's a link to DS's photos http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=16941&BIB=17871

And DH's photos http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=16941&BIB=17872

There's have some unknown people in them too ...

Cheers
~ Shirley

A new PB!!!!!!

We drove to Ottawa on Friday. Nice drive ... hot day. Went to the expo and picked up our kits (DS and DH were doing the 5K Saturday night). The ladies marathon shirt is BEAUTIFUL ... sleevelss in white with pink stripes. Walked around the expo for awhile to soak in the sites. Dropped by the RR booth to pick up a pace band for 5:30 and they didn't have any! So I went to the computer in the hotel and looked up a pace band and did my own.

Sat night the boys ran their 5K ... both felt great and thought they did a PB ... although the chip times don't reflect it. I'm sure they were longer than 2 mins to cross the start line. Ah well. They both felt good.Went for dinner at an Italian restaurant in a ourtyard. Lovely! Then back to the room for bed. Alarm is set for 5:45, race is at 7 and we're MAYBE 100 metres from race start.

Alarm goes off ... I get dressed in the bathroom so as not to wake everyone up and head down for breakfast. (The hotel had a free breakfast and was serving starting at 6 for the runners.) While at breakfast I chatted with a few people and then headed to soak up the adrenaline at the start. I LOVE the start of a race. I love the adrenaline, the excitement. Just great! They corralled people this year based on time and since I was predicting a 5:30 I was just before the walkers. I swear we were 500 meters back from the start line.

We start. I'm doing an R3/W2 and aiming for a 5:30 finish. We hit 3K and I'm ahead of pace by 3 mins! I decide its time to slow the pace. Then we hit 5K and I'm STILL ahead of pace (memories of Mississauga only it's not by 10 seconds!) this time by 4 mins. I say outloud that I'm ahead of pace and someone asks what was your aim to finish I say 5:30 and they respond ... You're ahead of pace for a 5 finish! We carry on ... at around 10K we see the lead women head by (they are past 1/2 way!) Everyone hoots and hollers! Then around 15K it starts to rain. The crowds have been pretty good ... small but people all along the way cheering. We're in embassy row and there along the way was our former PM Jean Chretien cheering on the runners!

I hit the 1/2 way mark and I'm at 2:31 ... ONE MINUTE away from a 5:00 finish. This is WEIRD. I'm feeling good tho' so I carry on still doing R3/W2.At 23K the 1/2 marathoners join in ... we're SWAMPED by them ... and they have relatively fresh legs as they are at 9K. At 24K I meet up with DS, DH and MIL who are working the water station. Michael (DH) says "you're ahead of pace aren't you?" I say yes ... around 15 minutes but I'm feeling good. A photo with DS and I'm off again. At 27K I check again and I'm still WAY ahead of pace for a 5:30. At 30K I check again and I'm at 3:36 (which is only 1 minute slower than my ATB time!) ... at this point I decide to throw away the pace band and just carry on. By now it is POURING rain. We are wet and the crowds are pretty slim ... just the odd person with an umbrella.

At 35K I look again and I'm doing well. Then I hit 37K I've got 5K to go and my watch is showing 4:30. I think to myself ... I'm in PB territory. I also meet up with one fella that I was chatting with in the morning. He's a clinic instructor in Peterborough RR and was looking for someone. He says he things she's way back and so he offers to run in with me. I decide that I'm going to try for that PB and tell Ralph this. I start doing R3/W1 and then we hit 40K and my watch is showing 4:51. I KNOW I'm in PB territory here. So we continue on ... walk break and we're at 750m. We run again and we're at 300 m ... I realize that my legs can't quite do it so a 15 second break and then run it in ... for a PB of 5:05:07 my previous PB was 5:08:08 in 2004! And that one I did R10/W1!

DH and DS had a great time at the water station in the rain. They had 1/2 and full marathoners coming through. Then after it seemed all runners had gone through they got it all cleaned up ... only to have THOUSANDS of families come through for the family 2K! Michael said it was like they were swarmed by all these little kids and buggies and parents!

So I feel great ... we came home last night because I felt so good. (We did stop 4x on the trip since it's a 5 hour trip) and today I actually walked down the stairs with only one hand on the railing! So ... there it is ... an R3/W2 in the rain for a PB ... who knew!?!?!?

Mississauga 1/2 Marathon Race Report

So last weekend I ran the Mississauga 1/2 Marathon as a pace bunny for the first time. I haven't had a chance to post yet because of the new job etc.

So here's the report and some photos!

It was a BLAST! And one of the best parts was that I ran it with a new friend! Cathy and I both post on the message board for the Las Vegas Message board and since she was planning on Miss 1/2 I invited her to say over (she lives in London) and we ran together. Such FUN and both our DH's thought it was kinda wierd that we were doing this LOL

So the morning of the race Cathy and I get up at 5:30 and get ready. We head out at 6:30 for the race start at 7:30 ... but on the way we stopped at Tim's for our morning java. It took a little longer than expected but we're on our way.

We get to the cutoff off the highway and there's a HUGE line up of cars ... and race start is in approx 20 mins. Cathy says you better get going since you NEED to be there and she'll park and catch up. So I speed off and get to race start which has lots of signs for where to position. I'm wearing my RR hat with pink bunny ears that say 2;45 and I'm thinking I hope no one things I'm the 2:45 for the full LOL!!!

I get there and there are people waiting. I talk to a few of them including Cathy's friend Mira and another woman Donna that Cathy and I know from the LVM message board. And folks who say they are going to run with me.The race starts ... it takes 9 (count 'em) 9 minutes for us to get across the start line. Cathy was able to park the car and get to race start before the start luckily! We start off with 3 women and we're doing an R3/W2 strategy. Hit 1K right on pace. By 2K one woman says she can't keep up so she drops back and we carry on.

We hit 4K and 2 other women drop back and we pick up another woman. She's run 4 marathons but at Disney was pulled off the course. she stays with us for a while but then says she can't keep up and she drops back.

We pick up Rick who stays with us to the end. We hit 7K and we're a few seconds ahead of pace. At 10K we pick up another woman who's doing her first and really emotional. She is totally in her head and psyching herself out so we talk to her and she stays for a while. Shortly after 10K we go by a house blasting the Chariots of Fire theme so I couldn't resist and do a slo-mo run by. It's kinda cool at the water stations 'coz the high school volunteers all cheer for "the bunny". After a while Rick and Cathy start teasing me about my "princess" wave to the adoring crowds. LOL

That's Rick just behind me!

Now as I check my pace at each Km marker, we keep adding 10 secs a km despite trying to slow down. So by the time we hit 18K we're 2:30 ahead of pace. I talke to Rick who's doing really well and will DEFINITELY do a PB ... we decide that since he's the only one in our group we'll run him in ... and as we hit 20K we do our final walk break. We round the corner and Rick says "is that the finish?" we answer "yes" and he says "see ya" and sprints to the finish. Cathy and I continue and finish in 2:40:59 chip time ... 4 mins ahead of pace ... but not bad really.

Finish line ... see the quad muscle?

After the race Disney girl, emotional girl and Rick and his wife all come up to say thank you. It was just great!

Cheers

~ Shirley

The Times They Are A-Changin'

So ... things are changing for me ... on May 7, 2007 I start a new job with Sun Life Financial in Kitchener. I'll be Program Director, Organizational Development which is a promotion :)

It will mean a 45-60 minute commute each way but my Mom lives nearby so she's thrilled to bits. I'm sad to leave the hospital as I've truly enjoyed the work I've done there and the people I have met. But leadership issues remain constant and it's time to move on.

So I am sad about the past and exicted and trepidatious about the future.

And ... I was sent this GREAT story recently ... enjoy!

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water, at the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

The moral of the story: Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. We need to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

Spring ? Run Off!

On Saturday my boys (DH and DS) and I did the 8K Spring Run Off. It was rather mis-named because it was DARN cold ... at the start it was -4C with a windchill of -10C!

The race is in the middle of High Park in Toronto which has quite a few hills. The boys wanted to do a sub 60 ... and I'm pleased to report I paced them thru it ... R4/W2 was the strategy as it was their longest race to date. DS (who's 12) came in at 57:41 and DH at 59:14.

At 6 1/2 K DS wanted to run ahead ... I said to wait for DH as the plan was to run across the finish line together ... DS said "screw that plan!" ... someone nearby said "you've got a great kid!" ... so he took off and I hung back with DH ... it was his birthday! I was yelling ahead to DH saying "Connor ... you rock!" and a woman nearby said "you've certainly got a lot of energy for this point in a race!" ... DH answered "she's a marathoner ... this is NOTHING to her!" :)

I was pretty proud of them! So now i'm trying to convince them to run an additional 2K in Ottawa and do the 10K on Saturday night instead of the 5K.

I did another 12K on Monday to "makeup" my long run ... DH said I was showing off :)

Cheers

Shirley

Well my 4th 30K Around the Bay Road Race is done!

The day started out … tired. The alarm went off and I thought “ugh” … but I got up. I stepped out to catch the bus to the start and thought “man is it cold!” … it was supposed to be up to 13C that day but I don’t think it climbed to more than 4. I was chatting to a fellow on the bus who was also doing the Bay and he was hoping to come in sub – 2:00! … AMAZING! My best is 3:27! I got downtown and headed for Tims to get my morning coffee :) … While at Tims I was chatting to some ladies who were walking the 5K for St. Josephs. They were asking how I was going to do the 30K and how long it would take. I said how sometimes I like to find newbies and help them finish. They said so look for us along the course and help us … I said if I saw them I knew I’d be REALLY off course :) After the coffee, I hung around soaking in the adrenaline. Then to get warm I dropped by the church and soaked up a different kind of feeling.

The race started and I’m off … doing an R5/W1 pace. Feeling pretty good. I hit the 10K mark and I’m 4 minutes ahead of pace for a 3:30 finish time. Feeling pretty good. Then at around 13-14K I start “noticing” my Achilles tendon / hamstring. This is not good … these are important for the hills that are coming up.

So I decide to slow down my pace to an R3/W1. I hit 20K and I’m still managing to keep up 2-3 mins ahead of pace. Then come the hills. I decide to walk up and run down. … Shortly after 20K I meet up with someone I know who’s walking the race. I stop and chat for a short time and then continue on.

At 21K I got a “burbly butt” feeling … I need a porta-potty and SOON! I spy one ahead … stop and wait for a bit … get in and … pass gas! For this I waited 2 minutes!

Now we’re at Valley Inn Road. Just before I got a high-five from the dwarf who’s always just before the hill cheering on the runners with “We are the Champions” blasting. Very cool … although this year he has a cane which he hasn’t had before. Now the hill … I’m walking … and yet I see people running up it … I call out “you guys are machines!” There’s a older fellow who tells me that his friend beat him years ago by walking up this hill and he himself ran it … it goes on forever … then we’re at the top.

Now there’s 4K to go … I’m trying to R3 but can’t sustain it the whole 3 … feeling tired, and my baby toes are now making themselves known. Blisters forming for sure. So I’m walking a bit and running a bit as much as I can. Now we’re at 29K … yippee the race is nearly done.

Although I see a poor woman with blood down the side of her shin. I stopped and asked what happened she said she has ‘foot fall’ and that she’d spent the last 10K hitting her ankle. I ask if she wants me to stay with her to finish … she says she just needs to get herself together but htanks me for stopping. Now I’m heading down into Copps … watching for the mat at the bottom since I DON”T want to fall again! Then I’m running across the finish line hat in hand … yippee! I did it in 3:34:58 … not half bad all things considered! Splits 1:10 at 10K and 2:21 at 20K.

As well ... I didn't mention that once again things at work are THE PITTS!!!!! So I went into this pretty darn stressed! Next up … Mississauga ½ marathon … and then the full in Ottawa … altho’ the boys and I are doing the 8K spring run off in High Park on April 7 … that should be fun!

Cheers

Powerful Story ...

I heard this story last week ... quite powerful ... enjoy!

The Old Man and the Children
Once upon a time there was an old hermit who lived near a village. There were many stories and rumours about the hermit. These stories all spoke of the wisdom of the hermit. The children of the town enjoyed visiting this wise man and would spend countless hours trying to think of ways to stump him. They were never able to stump him.

One day they were determined to find a question that he could not answer. They captured a bird and said, "Now we will go to the old man and ask him what we have in our hands.” They did not think he would be able to tell it was a bird. But if he did they would ask “Is it alive or dead?’

And if the old man replies that the bird is dead we will uncup our hands and the bird will fly away and the old man will be wrong. If the old man replies that the bird is alive, we will simply crush the bird to death, and the old man will still be wrong."

The boldest of the children knocked on the door. The old man answered. The boy holding the bird said “What am I holding in my hands?” The old man watched carefully and saw a small feather wafting behind the boy’s back and so he answered “It is a bird.” The children were amazed! The boy then asked the second question, “Is it dead or alive?"

After a moment of deep thought, the old man looked at each of the children and stopped at the boy holding the bird. Looking into his eyes, the old man replied, "Young man, the answer is in your hands."

Exciting Week!

So the upcoming week promises to be pretty exciting!

Why? I hear you asking? ... Well I have 2 interviews this week ... and one I'm particularly excited about.

I have an interview today with World Vision Canada (www.worldvision.ca) ... they are a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. The position is Director of Organization Development, Human Resources. Right up my alley ... sort of a "missions by proxy" ... oh, so cool!

I also have another interview on Friday with Sunlife Financial ... that one also looks interesting.

That said, I'm truly enjoying working on the Values Based Code of Conduct ... it is soooooo rewarding to see people understand the concept that everyone is worthy of respect regardless of their role/job. It speaks to me on so many levels both personally and professionally.

Well ... wish me luck!

~ Shirley

Chilly 1/2 Marathon Race Report

The Chilly 1/2 Marathon 2007 is now history. This was my 4th Chilly and my 11th half-marthon since I started running 4 and a bit years ago.

I got to the race at 8:30 so I could pick up my race kit early. The race itself didn't start until 10:05. It was completely sold out ... so there were TONS of runners hanging around the Travelodge hotel in downtown Burlington.

I got a cup of coffee (the race sponsor was Tim Horton's the patron saint of Canadian caffeine) and tried to stay warm(ish). I talked to a few people and then headed to the start line at 9:40. I really and truly wasn't expecting much ... just a finish. I was hoping for maybe a 2:30 finish but really not sure if I could do it.

My training had been rather lackluster ... not getting in the weekday runs but getting in the long runs on the weekend. Plus I'd been taking it easy on my long runs ... R5/W1 or even R3/W1 when the wind was up. And ... to add insult to injury I had my period.

So ... we start. I saw a few pace bunnies but decided I was going to run on my own using an R5/W1 strategy. I'm going along at a good pace feeling pretty good ... and I pass the 2:20 pace bunny. I hit 5K mark and I'm 2 1/2 minutes ahead of a 2:30 finish pace. But I'm feeling good .... so I say to myself ... okay try and slow it down a bit since you don't want to overdo it.Then I hit 10K and I'm 6 minutes ahead of pace ... and still feeling good. Now the funny thing is I usually have 2 gels with me on a 1/2 and I didn't check how many I had at home ... so the morning of the race I find I have one Tangerine Powergel with extra caffiene. I usually use Cliffshots Chocolate ... at around 11K i do the gel ... but I don't do all of it since it's not my usual gel.

I hit 16K ... and I'm 10 minutes ahead, still going and still feeling good ... and I STILL haven't seen the 2:20 bunny ... I realize I'm going to beat my 2:30 time ... I continue on ... 18K and i'm still going ... legs starting to feel a little tired but okay ... 19K ... look at my time and I'm at 2:05 ... I push on ... and finished in 2:20:49. Last year I ran with a bunny to pace me at R10/W1 and finished in 2:21:38 ... and I'm sure I was better trained last year.

The race gods smiled down on me ... so now ... bring on the ATB!

Shirley

The Gift Economy

I came across this concept recently in my travels. It completely appeals to me ... and as a Christian I think it has inherent Christian overtones and invokes the basis of the early church really.

Here's the definition from (appropriately) Wikipedia :)

A gift economy is an economic system in which goods and services are given without any agreement for immediate or future compensation. This differs from a barter economy - in which there is an immediate or expected quid pro quo (the Latin term for the concept of "a favor for a favor").

Typically, a gift economy occurs in a culture which emphasizes social or intangible rewards for generosity: karma, honor, loyalty or other forms of gratitude. In some cases simultaneous or recurring gifting serves to circulate and redistribute valuables within a community. This can be considered a form of reciprocal altruism. In other cases, gifting is done without implicit expectation of reciprocation.

One of the possible benefits of a gift economy is that it can provide for the needs of some who have no current means with which to reciprocate. For example, if some in a society are so poor as to have nothing material to barter and no goods or money to bring to market, they can still receive charity if sufficient resources exist. Similarly, in the vast majority of societies, parents support their children at least in early childhood (and, in some societies, into adolescence and adulthood) without any explicit negotiation of what is expected in exchange.

Isn't that wonderful???

~ Shirley

Guess I've been quiet lately ...

I've been quiet on my blog lately ... I plead busy ... school and work ... I'll try to post more.

But I did want to post this ... I "rediscovered" this song last night. It's from a WONDERFUL CD called "Voices from Heaven" and this song is sung by Andrea Bocelli. It was written by the French composer Eric Levi and is his "Hymn for the World". I never ceases to make me cry because it would be sooooooooooooooo wonderful if it could be achieved.

I remember when I heard this song just after September 11, 2001 ... it seemed completely unreachable.

Enjoy!

I Believe
One day I'll hear
the laugh of children
in a world where war has been banned

One day I'll see
men of all colours
sharing worlds of love and devotion.

Stand up and feel
the Holy Spirit,
find the power of your faith.

Open you heart
to those who need you
in the name of love and devotion.

Yes I believe

I believe in the people
of all nations
to join and carefor love.

I believe in a world
where light will guide us,
and giving our love
we'll make heaven on earth.

Really Great Article

I read this article by Bruce Mau in late December in the Walrus Magazine ... amazing.

I'd love to know your thoughts.

Shirley

Christmas Questionnaire

I saw this on another blog ... nod to Jason :)

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg nog
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrapped of course!
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I prefer yellow lights on a tree but since you can't get them anymore we have white on the tree and red in front of the house
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No
5. When do you put your decorations up? Early December
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Ummm ... not sure really
7. Favorite Holiday Memory Getting an engagement ring from Michael for Christmas.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Not really sure ... just sort of came aware of it ... likely around 10 ... I'm slow sometimes.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? NO! Wait until Christmas morning!
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Lights first ... then the ornaments which are pretty much all small wooden ornaments with some glass. No tinsel or garland. It's a simple REAL tree. And there is NO theme!
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? LOVE snow at Christmas
12. Can you ice skate? Haven't in 25 years or more!
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My engagement ring
14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? The reason for the season - Jesus
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? trifle
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? going to church Christmas Eve
17. What tops your tree? A Star
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Giving. Shopping for just the right gift ... love it. And the past few years we've sponsored a family through Mission Services so we shop for each child with thier requests, get something for the parents and supply Christmas dinner. It's SUCH a great feeling!
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? What Child is This for traditional and for more contemporary It Wasn't His Child.

Welcome to 2007!

Well out with the old and in with the new ... it's now 2007!

Christmas and New Years are now done ... hard to believe. Hope you had a good Christmas we did ... and I even got a new digital camera for Christmas so I'll be able to post pictures ... YIPPEE!

Christmas Day we spent at my SIL's ... it was lovely and relaxing. Great fun playing with my niece and just hanging out.

Boxing Day I ran the annual 10-mile race and managed to do it in 1:51:22 despite having a brutal cold virus for weeks. This time was only 1:15 longer than my time 2 years ago.

New Years Eve we had our "annual" Pre-Party and this year over 40 people came! Yes there was a round of open houses in the neighbourhood this year so everyone was invited to ours as well. There's a reall sense of community in the neighbourhood which is really cool.

Resolutions ... I have a few:

1. DS, DH and I are going to do a "streak" ... we will walk or run at least 1 mile each and every day of 2007. So far we're good :
2. I will lose 5 pounds. I weight in at Weightwatchers on Dec 29 for my 5 year anniversary and I'm proud to say that I've stayed within my goal weight for 5 years. However over the past 3 years I've gained 5 lbs so it's time to take it off.

I've also figured on my race calendar for the year ...

March - Chili 1/2 Marathon and Around the Bay 30K

April - Urban Burn 1/2 Marathon (?) or the Mississauga 1/2 - I haven't decided

May - Mississauga 1/2 Marathon (?) and National Capital full Marathon

August - Edmonton 1/2 Marathon

September - either Scotiabank 1/2 Marathon or 25K Run for the Toad

November - Hamilton 1/2 Marathon

December - Las Vegas Marathon

Should be a full year eh?

Cheers

Shirley