Week 20: One week to go! Focusing on inspiration and strategy!

Total kms this week:  23.5kms
Total kms in 20 weeks: 784.5kms

Longest run: 11.5 kms

Other training: walking, yoga

Fundraising to date: $4,905

One week to go. One week until I'm in San Francisco celebrating with my husband and TNT flex teammates, having completed my sixth marathon - at least, I hope so!

Though my training runs felt great this week, the tapering gremlins were busy.  Every twinge, every ache, every scratchy throat a cause for panic until I reminded myself (again and again) that it's normal to feel this way.  It's normal to have trouble sleeping, to feel a bit tight and achy, to be afraid that I've completely, totally and absolutely forgotten how to run any distance longer than 10 or 12kms.  Everyone feels like this just before a marathon. No need to panic. I've trained well. I'm as ready as I can be.  Now, I just have to wait. And rest. And try to think positive thoughts.

In order to keep my mind off all the things that could go wrong next Sunday (nausea, dehydration, muscle cramps, knee pain - to name a few), I've focused on two main things this week:

(1) My inspirations: All the people I'm running for - the people I know who have been touched by cancers, my teammates and their honourees, Gregor Gillis, and most of all Jon and Kirsi.  (BTW, there are still a few spots on my inspiration band if there's anyone you'd like me to think about as I climb the hills of San Francisco.)

(2) My mantra for the race: "Fun, Form, Fraternity". Given how tough the course is, a PB ("personal best" time) is unlikely so I might as well enjoy everything I can - the crowds, the entertainment, the beautiful views of San Francisco Bay and the company of thousands of fellow TNT runners.  In order to do that, I need to pay close attention to my pace and form. I want to start the race at a really comfortable pace and speed up only gradually in the second half if and when I feel ready. The last thing I want to do is push too hard in the early miles and give my knee an excuse to lock up like it did in June.

Week 19: Two weeks to race day!

Total kms this week:  33kms
Total kms in 19 weeks: 761 kms

Longest run: 12 kms

Other training: walking, yoga

Fundraising to date: $4,530

Two weeks.

It really doesn't seem possible that two weeks from tonight I'll be celebrating my 6th marathon (I hope!) in San Francisco.  I'm almost sad that my latest TNT adventure will be over so soon. It's been good to have an all-consuming project on which to focus these past few months - good to be reminded each and every day that life is precious and that there are so many kind and generous people in the world.  

Friends are already asking whether I'll run another marathon next year. I'm not sure. A lot depends on how this one goes and how my body feels afterwards. If things go well, I think I may tackle one more long race (a 50km "ultra") early next summer in celebration of my 50th birthday.  If not, perhaps I'll concentrate on shorter distances and see if I can run them a little faster instead.  

Fundraising

The total my sponsors have contributed continues to grow for which I'm sincerely grateful. This past week, a number of colleagues from work donated and several others told me they intend to - so I'm still hoping to reach $5,500 before I board the plane for SF. Coincidentally, one of my colleagues went to school with Jon in Fredericton and remembers him as fondly as I do. What a small world!

Training

This week's runs felt good and I kept faithfully to my schedule - which was hard because my body wanted to run farther than my coaches recommended. I took their advice though and kept the distances short, concentrating on quality instead.  I must say it was a confidence-booster to feel so relatively strong and energetic. And last night - for the first time in months - I managed to sleep 8.5 hours in a row - which I hope means my body is finally getting the message that it's time to rest up for race day. 

There have definitely been times this week when I felt the edginess that comes with tapering - but, on the whole, I'm still feeling okay. So long as I eat right, get lots of rest, finish breaking in my new shoes (don't worry, coach, they're coming along nicely!), and avoid getting sick, I'll be as ready as I ever have been to run a marathon. And I can't ask for more than that. 

Thanks to all who have already sponsored me. Your encouragement and support have meant more than you'll ever know.

If you haven't sponsored me yet and would like to, please visit my on-line fundraising page at www.tinyurl.com/not-about-the-necklace. Thanks so much!

Week 18: Three weeks from today...

Total kms this week:  38.5 kms
Total kms in 18 weeks: 728 kms

Longest run: 20 kms

Other training: walking, yoga (2 hours)

Fundraising to date: $4,251

Three weeks from today I'll be finishing my sixth marathon in San Francisco (I hope).  I can't believe it's so close!!

I'm writing this in the Porter lounge at the Ottawa airport, having just spent a terrific few days attending a meeting for work and relaxing with Husband. Despite a fairly frantic schedule, I managed to squeeze in two runs this weekend - a mellow 20kms along the Rideau River on Friday and a wonderful 12kms at "race pace" today. It felt great running through the old "hood" and it was a special treat to have Husband along for company for portions of both runs. It's truly impressive how far he's able to run with so little training!  He keeps in shaping cycling and whatnot, but still... amazing!

Anyway, this was my last moderately big week of training.  From now until race day, I'll focus on doing shorter runs at race pace, making sure I eat right and get enough rest - while putting on a final fundraising push.

Speaking of fundraising, I was very pleased when two old friends and a new friend I recently met through my local running club stepped up to support me this week.  I feel blessed to be surrounded by such warm and generous folks and am genuinely grateful to all who've sponsored me so far.

One of my supporters asked me this week whether I had a time goal for this marathon. Truthfully, I'm far too type A not to have one - though I'm trying not to be too ambitious given how hilly the course is. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish in something under five hours (as I have in my previous 5 marathons). If I have a really great day, with no repeat of the "cranky" knee I had in New Glasgow and Chicago, maybe I'll even pull off a personal best. Frankly, if I run anything in the 4:30s, I'll be thrilled.

Whatever happens, I promise to post results as soon after the race on October 16th as I can.

Thanks again to all my sponsors!

 

BTW, the two pics above were taken today as Husband and I enjoyed a delicious post-run supper outside. It was a lovely warm day - more like summer than fall - so we decided to make the most of it!

Week 17: Honouring Terry’s Memory

Total kms this week:  62.5 kms

Total kms in 17 weeks: 689.5 kms

Longest run: 35 kms

Other training: walking, yoga

Fundraising to date: $4,001

Done. My hardest week of training is behind me so I can now focus on resting and healing fully before race day – exactly 4 weeks from today. 

The high point of my week was participating in the 31^st Terry Fox Run this afternoon. For those who may not have heard of him, Terry is one of our great Canadian heroes. When he was just 18 years old, he lost his right leg to bone cancer.  Determined to make a difference, he decided at the age of 21 to run a “Marathon of Hope” across Canada (from Newfoundland to BC) to raise funds for cancer research.   

Sadly, he wasn’t able to complete his journey.  After running 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles) – nearly a marathon a day - the cancer returned as he was running through northern Ontario and he was forced to return home to BC where he died less than a year later.

Terry’s death was a tragedy but his legacy lives on. Shortly after his death, his mother, Betty, organized the first Terry Fox Run. Runs are now held annually around the world and it is estimated that more than half a billion dollars has been raised for cancer research. Betty kept her son’s memory and mission alive until she passed away herself in June of this year.

This is why we taper...

I'm just home from another 8km run at race pace.  It felt okay for the first 5km but I have to admit the last 3km felt tough.  Last night's 8 km run with my friend Sue felt much the same.

I'm trying not to panic.

I know it's normal to feel tired at this point in marathon training. That's why tapering's so important.  After four months of hard training, my body simply needs some rest to prepare for race day - and I'll just have to see it gets it.

Somehow.

Curbing my type A tendency to do "just a little more" training will be a big challenge, as will the demands of my various work, family and volunteer commitments over the next month.  But I'm optimistic. After all, once this week is behind me, I'll be running fewer kilometres less intensively.  So long as I eat right, get enough sleep and remember to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, there's every chance I'll finish my 6th marathon "upright and smiling" having raised a bunch of money for a great cause and honoured two very special friends.

I hope so anyway.

Week 16: Five weeks until San Francisco – savouring my blessings

The last kilometre of my 33km run yesterday!

Total kms this week: 62 kms
Total kms in 16 weeks: 627 kms
Longest run: 33 kms
Other training: long beach walks, swimming
Funds raised to date: $4,001.00

It’s hard to believe but, if things go as planned, I’ll be running the final miles of the San Francisco Nike Women’s Marathon five weeks from now. With just one more tough week of training ahead before I begin tapering, I’m excited and relieved the finish line is in sight. 

I really love running so I’ve mostly enjoyed my training this summer.  Nevertheless, it has begun to take a toll.  It will be nice not to have to plan every weekend around my training schedule. This weekend, for example, I ran a total of 41.5 kilometres (almost a full marathon!) over two days - 33kms yesterday and 8.5 kms today – which didn’t leave time for much else.

Of course, since today is September 11^th, the tragedy of the attacks on the US and the death and destruction that's followed (and continues) are top of mind.  However, I've decided to avoid the special reports on radio and TV and honour those who've died by savouring my own life and many blessings instead.

Week 15: On vacation…and getting ready for two final weeks of tough training

Total kms this week: 38 kms
Total kms in 15 weeks: 565 kms
Longest run: 17 kms
Other training: long beach walks
Funds raised to date: $4,001.00

It’s been a mellow week. I’ve been on vacation and focussing on eating well and getting as much rest as possible before I launch into two more weeks of tough training. It’s been lovely in many ways but it’s also given me a taste of what my taper’s going to feel like. Icky. After all these months of training, even a day or two without running makes me feel antsy as heck. Thank goodness for other things to keep me occupied.

Today, it was a long walk along the coast between Broad Cove and Green Bay, where I took the picture above. It was a spectacular hike even with the fog rolling in. The wind was wild and the waves rolled large rocks against the shore making a sound I haven’t heard since our trip to Newfoundland several years ago. Truly breathtaking. We’ll be back for another hike soon.

Now that I’ve had a bit of breather, it’s time to kick back into full gear. On the agenda for this week – 3 or 4 short runs of between 5 and 10 kilometres each, followed by a 32-34 km run on the weekend. The forecast looks good for next Sunday so I’m thinking another hilly route is in order and there’s a 5k race in Lunenburg on Saturday that looks like fun.

Unfortunately, it’s been a slow week on the fundraising side because, for the most part, I've been off-line. Besides, I knew that people were just finishing up summer holidays and preparing to go back to work but, hopefully, there’s time enough to put on another push once folks have got their feet back on the ground. It would be great to raise another $2,000 before I head for San Francisco in six weeks (gulp!).

Thanks to everyone for their support so far – especially to my very patient and loving husband for all his encouragement and for taking such great care of me while he’s been in Nova Scotia this summer. Thanks too to all those who inspire – Jon and Kirsi, Gill and Gregor, Jane and Brent, Michael and Maeve, Christine, Jack and many others. I couldn’t have done any of this without them.