Marathon Madness!

This year's Manitoba Marathon was an incredible experience. I ran the 2.6 mile Super Run with my mom, and it was an honour to cross the finish line with her on her first official marathon race.

After we completed our run, my mom and I volunteered on the infield (Well, she volunteered and I took pictures at the finish line.) It was awesome to see all the runners and walkers complete their races. However, I must admit that I was rather jealous of the half and full marathon runners, as I was one of them last year. -- Not to discredit the run I had with my mom, but I really wanted to push myself into getting a better time for my half.

Up next my mom and I signed up for a 10k in September. Since my knee is still bad, I've already booked a physio appointment for tomorrow so that I can start training as soon as possible. If I can manage to get my knee in top shape, I will also consider the half marathon in Treherne on September 12. (I did the 10k last year and it was brutal. In all fairness though, I didn't train and I wasn't expecting such steep hills...This year if I go, I will prepare myself with uphill running...)

Oh I love marathon season!

I am disappointed that I neglected my running over the course of this year, but I am vowing to get back into it (even when school starts up again...) I want to be in top shape for next year's marathon, and perhaps the year after that I will partake in the full. (Completing a full marathon is one of the top items on my bucket list. I will do it.) In a couple of years I would also like to run in the Vancouver Marathon. I like a good challenge, and I love Vancouver.

This is my goal.

As for my mom, she says she is going to run the half next year too. I have no doubt in my mind that she will...She ran the whole 2.6 miles without even stopping! Terrific for someone who has never run at this capacity before!!

Congratulations mom, you did an awesome job!

My Mom: Going the Distance.

Lee McCarthy, Brandy Henry and I after completing the 2009 half Marathon.

This year my mom and I were slated to run the Manitoba half Marathon on June 20th. My mom worked really hard to accomplish this goal by training regularly and getting into top running form. She was motivated by her determination to accomplish this run, and nothing seemed like it was going to stop her. However, a few weeks ago she had a bad reaction to some of her medication, and was advised to forgo the 13.1 mile run.

Instead my mom and I have decided to do the 2.6 mile Super Run. It's quite a bit shorter than the half, but given my mom's situation, the 13.1 miles is out of reach for both of us this year. (To be perfectly honest, I have barely trained, so I am not ready either.)

I am excited that my mom and I are still taking part in the Marathon. I think that a 2.6 mile run is a great start to her running career. (Last year I started my running career with the half marathon, and I blew out my knee big time!) We've decided that even though we can't take part in the half this year, we will do the 2.6, and later in September do a 10K run as training for next year's half.

L-R: Dad, Me, Janet, Kennedy and mom at the 2010 MS Walk

After my mom was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS: a chronic progressive nervous disorder involving loss of myelin sheath around certain nerve fibres. It has different effects on everyone who has it, but it can result in loss of motor skills, and paralysis, among other problems.) she decided to take up running with the goal of one day completing a marathon, because she knew she faced the possibility of one day not being able to do this. Her logic was simple: she wanted to take advantage of her abilities before they were (possibly) stripped of her.

My mom is the true definition of a warrior. Though she has admitted that she is sometimes upset about having MS, she never lets it get her down. In fact, since her diagnosis, she has become stronger both physically and mentally.

On Sunday, June 20th, when my mom and I complete her first public run, we will celebrate by cheering on all the other Marathon runners that pass through that finish line. Though we are not able to participate in the race that we initially wanted to, I know that our Super Run will be a special experience for both of us.

I'm proud of you mom!

Another marathon under my belt!

I finished the 10k in Treherne this morning. I didn't get the greatest time, and I hurt my knee again, but it was an incredible feeling crossing that finish line!!

After a trip to the sports clinic, I hope that I can start training for next year's Manitoba Marathon ASAP! -- I know it's a long way away, but it's never too early to start...

10 kilometres of OH MY GOODNESS!!

A couple years ago, inspired a great deal by one of my good friends who ran both the full and the half Manitoba Marathon, I made a promise to myself (and to him) that I too would one day partake in the magic that is the Manitoba Marathon.

Fastforward to late last year, when my friend (with whom I will ad is quite the tyrant when it comes to marathon training) called me out on my previous whimsacle promise. -- It was late December, and my friend (the tyrant) told me that marathon training started in January, so I better get ready!

I initially scoffed at the notion of actually running in a real live marathon, but after a great deal of convincing (or, what I like to call "fantastic manipulation tactics"), I finally relented, and agreed that 2009 would be the year that I would run the half Manitoba Marathon.

I trained hard in the first month-and-a-half of 2009, going to the gym almost every night. My claves became rock-hard, and I developed quite the endurance!! However, I relapsed into my non-running ways after a week-long trip to Vancouver in February. (I had the greatest intentions to run while I was there...But dowtown Vancouver swallowed me whole, and I was far too enamoured to break free from it's spell.)

I didn't get back into a regular running routine until about a month (maybe a month-and-a-half) before the Marathon, and as a result my time and my knee paid the price.

(I still completed the marathon, and did a damn good job considering that I injured myself at mile four...But, my goal for the next Manitoba Marathon is to beat my 2009 time.)

Tomorrow, I am signed up to run a 10 kilometre in Treherne. -- I am not at all prepared for this run, and am scared out of my wits!! But, I booked the day off of work, and paid my entry fee (and the tyrant is driving me), so there is no backing down now.

I should have learned after this year, that I need to train better before I involve myself in these kind of events...

What the hell was I thinking?!?!

Oh yeah, now I remember...

I decided to tell all my friends (two of whom signed up for the Treherne Marathon) that I was going to run this thing, right after I crossed the finish line of my first ever half marathon in June!  (At that time I was drunk on endorphans, and had that "marathon feeling"...My state of mind was similar to that of someone who got into their parents liqour cabinet or something...) I wasn't being logical, planning to run a race during a time that I knew I wouldn't have time to train! Seriously, my decision making skills at that time
were compromised!

OH MY GOODNESS!!

I guess I should go to bed now. the tyrant is picking me up early, and I have to wear spandex tomorrow...This isn't going to be pretty!