Serenity

Running at 0630 am in Muskoka on a cool Fall morning.

The Day Is Here...I Can Do This!

26,000 participants.  About 4' celsius.  A 0845 start.

Yikes.

My cousin Jenny was there and she took this photo of Justine and me in the Green Corral waiting for the start.

My finish after 2:34:09 hrs....21.1 km....what an awesome race.

Two young gals I met in line to get our photos done post race.  It was their first Half Marathon also.

Justine and I at the end.

My Half Marathon running buddies.  Left to Right.

Heather, Justine, Steve, a friend of Sandy's, Cheryll, Sandy and myself.

In front our coach Angie and Karen.

My stats for the race.  Absolutely thrilled with my finish and my time.

Sore but very satisfied and proud of my performance.  Would I do another one?  For sure.

The Night Before in the Big City of Toronto

Got my Bib Number!!!!  It looks like a fast number?

Well...here I am.  It is the day before the Toronto Scotiabank Half Marathon.  OMG what have I gotten into????

Calm blue ocean....calm blue ocean.....settle down.

This was the view from my hotel room at the Sheraton Hotel.

I spent the evening with my son Rob and his beautiful partner, Stephanie at the Spaghetti House.  Pasta the night before....carbs.

Words of Wisdom from Nirm

I was extremely nervous the few days before the Half Marathon in Toronto.  Getting on the bus to head to the Expo, I was one of a group of about 20.  Some french gals from Quebec.  A few American travellers running their second Toronto Scotiabank Marathon.  And a group of about 4-5 gentlemen travelling from London, England.  I had the pleasure of sitting in front of Nirmal who was part of a running group called 'Sikhs in the City.'

He encouraged me with his words of wisdom having had already run in the Toronto Marathon before.

'Think of it as a training run....enjoy it.'

I did!  Best advise I ever received.

Am I Famous?

I made the local Recreation Guide....

This is a group of my running peeps from Bracebridge after the 'Band on the Run' 10 km run.  It was my very first 10 k and I was thrilled to have finished it with a time of 1:04 hours.

Keep The Training Up Even on Vacation in London, England

A beautiful sunrise in Kensington Park in London, England.  The last month before my Half Marathon we travelled to England.  Training has to continue, and it was wonderful running the streets and parks in London.

Out front of Kensington Palace with the statue of Queen Victoria keeping an eye on my progress.

Is that Kate Middleton?

Sure did look like her...but it wasn't.

Egyptian Geese....gorgeous.

Peter Pan tooting me along my journey.

I finished my 16 k run in London.  It was incredible.

Terry Fox Run....Celebrating 35 Years of The Marathon of Hope

"I'm not a dreamer, and I'm not saying this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles.  I have to."  Terry Fox wrote to the Canadian Cancer Society to support his run across Canada 1979. 

This is a stretch of highway between Nipigon and Thunder Bay, Ontario.....82 km on the TransCanada Highway was renamed in Terry Fox's honour.  After 143 days and 5373 kilometres Terry had to stop running outside of Thunder Bay because his cancer returned.  He died in BC just shy of his 23rd birthday 1981.

Sunday September 20th, 2015 marks the 35th Anniversary of the Terry Fox Run.  I can remember when he started...I was in my last year of high school at BMLSS.  But sadly, I also can recall exactly where I was when we heard he died.  Terry Fox didn't think anyone would support or donate to his cause.  A remarkable young man with incredible courage, determination and perseverance.  I ran the 10 k today in his memory and thought a great deal of him and how difficult, painful and daunting that journey must have been for him.

My team all completed the run.  Steve, Heather, Sandy, Cheryl, Angie and myself.  Our first team performance before our Half Marathon on October 18th in Toronto.

We made the local paper in Huntsville.  

My 10 k MEC Race in Barrie

This was the race that I realized my mental status has a great impact on my race outcome.  I had been organizing a BMLSS Class Reunion for my peeps from the class of 1980.  Planning for over a year all was great.  Unfortunately there were a few incidents that occurred a week before the Reunion and a few days before this race.  OMG!  My race was finished in the same time as my Band on the Run finish, but it should have been better.  This race was completely flat.  

Little Debbie preparing to cheer us on with cow bells.

My coach and friend, Ellen Yeo, Lynn and Krista and I.  Reunited in yet another race.

1:05 hrs finish time.  But I felt awful.  Wanted to throw up at 7 k???  Didn't believe I would complete it??  

Learning experience.  I require a clear head, sleep, no emotional stress if possible before the race, and to believe in myself.  Ways to accomplish this....yoga, breathing, talking......and deciding that I deserve to do this and feel good about myself for trying.

Next race:  The Terry Fox 35th Annual Race in Huntsville with my Half Marathon Team.

A 10 k "Band on the Run" Race in Huntsville.

The Band on the Run race in Huntsville is a well established popular event for racers.  It consists of a 5km, 10 km, and Half Marathon.  For me, there were so many friends who also were involved.  Just like old home week.

Amy, from Almaguin Camp Ground, has ran the Half Marathon 3 times.  Amazing considering the entire first half of the race are monster hills.

Catching up and reconnecting with Angie has been awesome this summer.  Not only did we know each other from the SMMH but she and her family are now seasonal campers at Almaguin!  Wow!

She and a group from her office all competed in the 5 km with a great finishing time!

An we are off!!!!!

Jan and Doug, and the little green arm waving is Nancy Pilon.

And I am finished....my first 10 k with an excellent personal best time of 1:04 hrs.  Loved it!

My BRF Karen, Jana, myself and coach Ellen Yeo.  What an awesome team.

And Amy finishes with a personal best.....YOU GO GIRL!!!!

Next race, is a 10 k MEC Race.

Spring Water Trail Race.....a 5 km.

Not my best race to date.  Trail racing is a whole other race method.  Roots, rocks, branches, etc.  Keeping your eyes on the trail is imperative.

Unfortunately, I took my eyes off the trail for a moment and down I went.  Oh nooooo.

Flat on my face I went.  Knees scraped.  Feelings hurt.  

GET UP!!!!  and I did.

Myself, Krista, Madison and Lynn.  My excellent running BRF all in it together.

Ultimately, I placed 6 out of 9 in our age group.  An ok time of 40 minutes.....not the best but I will take it.

Next race June 13th, BAND ON THE RUN in Huntsville.