Looking Back on 2012

I find it so hard to believe that another year has gone by already. But, here we are again. As one year draws to a close and another begins, I am trying to wrap things up with my 12 in 2012 project.  My boys have gone to visit their Grandma & Grandpa for a couple nights and I am using this VERY QUIET time to Reflect, Re-evaluate and Resolve....and then tonight, I plan on dancing my way into 2013 with good music and good friends!

When I set out on this journey a year ago, I never could have imagined how it would all play out.

Running

I DID IT! I ran twelve half marathons in twelve months....and I still LOVE running!

However, I can honestly say that if I hadn't broadcast this goal to anyone and everyone and committed to it publicly, I would not have completed it. Running twelve half marathons was not only harder on my body than I thought, it was also harder to coordinate and justify than I had thought. It seems like a couple hours, one day a month shouldn't be too hard to organize, right? But, my life is just not as reliable as some and I have a busy young family. In year's gone by, when I've had a run plotted out and something else has come up, I have been quick to cancel my plans. However, because I had promised that I would complete these runs and had accepted monetary donations to charity for doing so, I felt that it warranted the extra effort that was required. It was nice because it made me make my goal a priority and I wouldn't have otherwise done that.

I ran 780 miles in 2012! I had set the goal of 931 (the required number to pass from the blue level to the purple level in the Nike Plus training program) and was on my way to well surpassing that when I injured myself. I am happy with 780 and I will give myself another few months to reach the next level.

Being forced to cut back my running (and actually not run at all for several weeks) made me realize, more than ever, how much I rely on it. It keeps my body from becoming sluggish, it helps me sleep at night, it helps me counteract my late night plate of nachos, it makes me be a better parent & wife, it forces me to take time for myself (even if I'm being supervised on the treadmill!), it keeps me happy.....

I run because I am the best version of me when I do.

It has been great to have the chance to repeatedly witness the power of running and the difference it can make. To watch someone start out unsure of themselves and then to push their limits, fight through adversity and progress to a point when they realize what they are capable of, is amazing. When I am at a running event, I feel like I'm in my element. The energy & camaraderie, the training & preparation, the butterflies & nerves. That is where I am most comfortable. I LOVE it!

Many times this year, people have said way to go with the weight loss, but I hate running or I'm not able to run for one reason or another. I think it's important to reiterate that while running is what makes ME happy, it's not for everyone. The point is, whether it's running, pilates, bootcamp, going to the gym, playing a sport, walking, bike riding, swimming.....is irrelevant. What's crucial is that you find what makes YOU happy and keeps YOU active & healthy. Once you find that, you won't feel like your workout is something you HAVE to do. It will be something you look forward to.

I have registered to run my next half marathon on May 5th. I am excited to take the next little while to focus on quality over quantity. I will choose to run shorter, better quality runs and save the high mileage for closer to the half. I believe in doing so, I may finally be able to come close to that coveted two hour finishing time!

The Canadian Cancer Society

I am not normally a fundraising person BUT the decision to try to raise money this year was easy. 

Cancer was something I grew up knowing. My mom worked at the Alan Blair Memorial Cancer Clinic in Regina for most of her nursing career; and more than that, her family has a dominant predisposition to breast cancer. Her mother, her auntie and her grandma all had breast cancer and finally we lost her sister, my Auntie Jean to the disease when she was only 40 years old. Now, as a mom, the thought of leaving my boys early is terrifying.

Then last Fall, my good friend Heather was diagnosed with cancer. She had been fighting a stubborn brain tumour for five years, and just when we thought she'd seen the worst of it, it mutated and spread. There were no treatments available to her, and she passed away January 8, 2012. 

The thing is, although Heather was a unique & special person (and in fact her cancer was a very rare type), stories like hers are not all that uncommon. The prevalence of cancer and its devastating effects, are what made the decision to fundraise for the Canadian Cancer Society so easy. I entered into this with no expectations, but I thought even if I only raised a couple bucks, it would still be more than they would have had otherwise.

I am THRILLED to say that together this year we raised a total of $14,598.00!!! I am very thankful for all of your support & generosity...without it, I'm just a mom who likes to run.

I know that my auntie Jean and Heather would be proud of me.

The morning of each half marathon this year, I put on the necklace that we gave Heather to wear when she was our Maid of Honour. Wearing the simple gold chain with a letter "H" pendant made me feel like she was with me as I made my way through the miles.

I have thought of Heather often throughout the year, but during these last few months I have found myself thinking of her even more frequently. We hauled out the old VCR on our anniversary and watched our wedding video with the boys...and there she was, beautiful and happy. A few days later marked the anniversary of her first surgery (which she always celebrated and made her mom buy her a special present each year!).

Heather LOVED Christmas! So last year while her parents had her out at an appointment, Myles & I helped her brother David decorate the house. She couldn't see it, but they had bought the most fragrant tree they could get so that she would be able to smell it. I couldn't help but think of her as we decorated our house for Christmas this year.

During one of the last visits I had with Heather, the Friday before she passed away, I apologized for having cold hands as I rubbed her sore hip and held her hand while she rested. Of course, she wasn't well at this point, but she was still quick to say to me, "cold hands, warm heart" and she gave me a big Heather smile. I've bought three pairs of new mitts this season because I can't seem to keep my hands warm....so I have thought of her quip often!

It's hard because it's almost been a year since she passed away and I still really miss her.

This year, the Stearns decided to avoid Christmas. They booked a trip to an all-inclusive, they didn't do gifts, they didn't want to decorate, they didn't want the turkey dinner...So, the week before they left for Cuba, Myles and I met Barb for lunch. We have seen each other often this year, but it was so nice to see her then and to know that she was feeling the same way. Together we can talk about Heather and our memories of her and of what she would think of that shirt or those shoes or that guy!!! And it makes us both feel better...like she's not so far away.

Heather's friend Kristen was supposed to have joined us for lunch too...but instead, she went into labour! Ben Vanderkooy was born Dec 10th and Heather would have been ECSTATIC!! It's nice to be able to focus on the freshness of new life; and, boy is he handsome!

When we were together, I asked Barb what her plans were for January 8th. She didn't plan on doing anything out of the ordinary. She said, "I miss Heather everyday. The 8th is really not that much different." But, a couple days ago, I realized that I have a soccer game that night. A year ago, I was supposed to be at a soccer game on the 8th too, only I didn't make it.

When I left for the city just before lunch, I took my equipment with me for my two o'clock game. I had received a text from Heather's sister-in-law Trina that said "you better come". I wasn't sure what to expect when I got to the Stearn's; however, as soon as I walked in the door, it was obvious that I wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. Being with Heather and her family when she passed away that afternoon was an experience unlike any other. I am thankful for that time I had with her. She was still alert enough that I had to be secretive when I contacted my teammate to say I would miss the game....I knew she wouldn't hear of it if she knew! We had a chance to surround her with good memories & love. It was beautiful and heart wrenching at the same time.

So, this year, I am going to play my soccer game and Barb is going to come watch. Although it won't quite be the level of soccer Heather played or that Barb is used to (she has gone back to managing the Huskie women's team), it won't matter. We'll grab a drink in the lounge after and remember and joke about Heather...it's what she would want us to do.

Shortly after our lunch date, Barb sent me this blurb to post on the blog. I am thankful for her kind words:

Heroism is a display of courage and self sacrifice for the greater good.  This is a pretty good description of Janaya’s Herculean task she set for herself this past year.  

Janaya’s determination to run 12 ½ marathons in 12 months to raise money for cancer was a labour of love. Through adversity, injuries, heat and cold, she trained and ran her heart out; as well as raising a lot of money for cancer research.  

Heather would have been proud of her on many levels: she loved fitness, good causes and mostly good friends. 

Janaya, Hugh and I thank you for doing this in memory of our daughter.

love 

Barb

Blogging

I really enjoyed maintaining the blog. Composing the posts reminded me how much I like writing! In university, I got good grades on my papers and I enjoyed working as a research assistant/curriculum developer at my most recent job. However, I hadn't had the chance to do much in the line of "scholarly" anything since I was laid off a year and a half ago. I had missed it and it's been nice to have the chance to re-visit that part of me.

We have discovered a way to print the blog into a book, so that is how I have been approaching it for the last few months. I've been including the parts of this experience that I want to be able to look back on and have my boys read about when they're older.

However, I don't feel like I remained true to my original intention for establishing the blog. Last winter I had drawn out a plan in a spiral notebook (old school pen & paper) for how I wanted the blog to develop. I linked each of the "baby steps" in my past struggle with my weight & fitness with the milestones throughout the current year. Somewhere along the way though, the focus of the posts shifted and centred primarily on my running events of 2012. While I have very much enjoyed sharing this running adventure (and as I said before, I am not sure that I would have been successful with the 12 in 2012 if I hadn't committed to it in public), I had set up the blog as a way to try to "pay it forward". As a way to try to say to anyone who is struggling with weight loss, health & fitness "Hey! I've been there. But, if I can do it, so can you!".

There are two main reasons for this deviation.

Firstly, writing & organizing the blog posts took WAY more time than I had anticipated. I am a busy gal and only have limited time to fit in anything "extra". The amount of training I was completing was using up the majority of this leisure time; and on occasion, I found it difficult to even complete the posts about the running events in a timely manner.

Second, for the first time since the birth of my oldest son in 2006, I have struggled with weight gain this year. During the summer months when my weekly mileage was at its peak, I gained between five and ten pounds. The literature all indicates that this is a common occurrence during marathon training and is a result of the long distance runs & water retention among other things. However, after I injured myself in August and was forced to drastically cut back my mileage & rest, I didn't lose that extra weight. In fact, I gained another five pounds or so. I didn't do a very good job of adjusting my caloric intake to compensate for my decreased activity. My friends were quick to defend me by insisting that I needed to disregard the scale. The reasoning was that the weight gain must be due to an increase in muscle mass from so much activity; but, I began to feel increasingly sluggish. Finally, as I packed to go to Vegas, I couldn't deny it any longer....I bought a jacket to wear with two of my favourite dresses only to discover that they no longer fit!

It felt hypocritical to be reflecting on the "baby steps" that had gotten me to a point that I was no longer at.

Then, I had the chance to talk to a long time friend. She made me realize that these were just a few more baby steps along my journey. I needn't be ashamed. Injuries happen. Grief happens. And we cope as best we know how.

I gave myself permission to finish up my runs and get through the holiday season while working out enough to avoid any additional weight gain. And now, it's time to take control and be done with weight loss once and for all. I've done it before and I'm confident that I can do it again. I am thankful that this time around I am starting out at a point that isn't so far gone. I am still relatively fit and capable of tackling hard workouts and my diet is relatively good too...it just needs a bit of tweaking....okay, maybe A LOT of tweaking! But, at least I know what I'm aiming for.

The Unexpected Things I Learned in 2012

I have learned MANY things this year. The following are just a few that readily come to mind:

• Injuries happen- There's always a lot of talk about injuries and injury prevention in the running magazines and online forums. Until this summer, I never felt like it applied to me....now I can sympathize.
• With a little practice I think I could be an alright public speaker.
• All-season outdoor running in Saskatchewan IS possible- I am extremely thankful that I tackled these runs during a year of good weather! I managed to avoid most foul weather (often times by a few hours!). 
• Running in a warm rain is fun!- My friend Andrea has been telling me this for years, but I've always avoided it. It wasn't until the last portion of my 20 mile run this summer that I was forced to give it a try....and she was right!
• Deep tissue massage is FANTASTIC!
• Burpees are HARD- I know that this is part of the reason the Burpees for Boobies fundraiser was so successful, but I'm seriously tempted to organize "Baking for Boobies" or "Backgammon for Boobies" or "Bachelors for Boobies" or "Badminton for Boobies"next year....There are a lot of other words that start with 'B'!!
• Sometimes all someone needs is to know that you believe in them
• Running a half marathon the morning after a really fun wedding is NOT optimal
• Almost everyone has been impacted by cancer
• My family & friends are fantastic!- This was more of a reaffirmation of something I already knew. But man, the support I received this year was overwhelming! And in some instances, surprising. I am SO thankful for the relationships that this project helped me foster and strengthen. I am also extremely thankful for everyone who helped me coordinate things and take care of my boys so that I could make it to all twelve of these runs and the other functions throughout the year. Thank you.
• My boys are compassionate & thoughtful beyond their years - I am so proud of my boys and the little guys that they are becoming. One of my most favourite things about my husband is the strength of his kind nature and I can see my sons following in his footsteps already.  
• One person can make a difference- I was SO nervous when I hit the "share" button last year, but I've never once regretted it. Although I was anxious, I really felt that I had nothing to lose in undertaking this....and I am so thankful for everything that I've gained in return. I am proud of this project and I feel like I made a difference (at least in a few small ways). 

Now, more than any other time in my life, I feel like I know who I am (and who I am not) and what I stand for and believe in. Being with Heather when she passed away really had a heavy impact on my perspective and all of this running has given me a lot of time for self reflection. I always struggle with feelings of inadequacy- my house isn't clean enough, I don't cook well enough, I should get a job, my clothes aren't fancy enough, I don't spend enough time doing crafts with my kids, I don't call my friends often enough, I forget birthdays.....but I've realized that there is always going to be something I don't have or am not good at or am just not interested in. And, I'm beginning to be okay with that. I'm trying to change the way I look at things. Instead of worrying about the things I'm not good at or don't have, I'm going to focus on and be thankful for my many blessings.

I had a funny moment while we were in Jamaica. We had arrived on the same plane, shared a shuttle and taken the resort tour with two young couples. After having the chance to visit with the one couple, we determined that the father of two of the individuals (a brother & sister) had flown them to Jamaica to surprise his wife for her 50th birthday. As is often the case at an all-inclusive resort, we saw the group many times throughout the week. It's funny because although the "children" were much closer to us in age, it was the parents that I could better relate to. They were such a nice couple and she was so happy to have her children with her on her holiday to celebrate her birthday.

On our last day there, as we got organized for the return shuttle, the Mom was tearful as she said bye to her kids (she was staying an additional week without them). By this time, I was missing my boys and the scenario made me teary. When she was done saying bye to her kids, she came up to me and said, "I just have to tell you that you have the most genuine and warm smile." She said that every time she'd seen us throughout the week she couldn't help but smile and that we were just a great couple. Funny, she was a perfect stranger and I'll probably never get to see her again, but her words have stuck with me. As I thought about what she'd said, I came to realize that THAT is who I am or try my best to be. I may not be a list of other things, but if I can be warm & genuine then I'm happy with that. And, hopefully I will get the chance to celebrate my 50th birthday with my husband & grown boys and their partners and be as happy and thankful as she was.....hopefully in Jamaica!

So, here's to a great year gone by and to everything 2013 has in store!
Cheers!

The Reggae Marathon

The Scenario

Last winter, after spending a week in Jamaica, my friend came home and raved about the resort they had stayed at. The Couples Swept Away resort sounded like heaven. My husband and I had honeymooned in Jamaica in 2002 and it had been the perfect trip. We always talked about going back someday and after hearing Jaimie describe her trip, we started considering it more seriously.

Wayne & I decided that there could be no better way to celebrate our tenth anniversary than to be able to return to Negril together. So, Back when I was planning out the running events for the year, I was SO excited when I found the Reggae Marathon! It couldn't have worked out better that we were able to commemorate our milestone anniversary and be able to run the twelfth and final half marathon of the year at the same time!

So, in the wee hours of December 1st, we joined 1255 other runners from over thirty other countries at the start line. Although it was still dark, it was already warm. We wore light shorts & tops, slathered ourselves in sunscreen and had our sunglasses perched on top of our heads for the inevitable sunshine.

The Event

This was the twelfth annual Reggae Marathon. The Jamdammers, the local running club consisting of just over 100 members, started the Reggae Marathon Grand Prix Series with the overall goal of bringing middle and long distance running in Jamaica to world-class prominence. I think it's safe to say they've achieved that with registrants coming from so many countries to participate.

We picked up our race packages the Friday afternoon at the sports complex that was part of our resort. The nice shoe bag contained a couple nicknacks, our race bibs & timing chips as well as the cotton race t-shirt. That evening we returned to the sports complex for the "World's Best Pasta Party". As I said before, it was unlike any other and was a fun way to get into the race spirit (it's kinda hard to get in the zone when you're laying on the beach, sipping a drink and enjoying the sunshine!).

There were 626 people who ran the 10 km, 465 who covered the half marathon distance and 166 runners who completed the full marathon. The race was really well organized and I liked the course set up. It was a neat double out and back route where the start and finish line was in the middle. Runners came 5km out and then looped back (at which point the 10km participants crossed the finish line) and then we headed the other direction another 5km and then turned back around to finish. The full marathon runners did this twice.

The support along the course was great! At each mile there was water and the Jamaican electrolyte drinks (they were very tropical but so quenching!). Even toward the end of our run, the drinks were ice cold....which was amazing because we were HOT! They have a unique bagged method of distributing the drinks. You grab the bag and then tear it with your teeth and consume it however quickly you want. It seems weird, but it really worked for me and I found that I didn't have to slow down to drink, BONUS!

The Victory Beach Bash in the finish area was awesome! And  I LOVE my finisher's medal! I would highly recommend this run to anyone, although I wouldn't consider running the full. By the time the full marathon participants were done, it was HOT!

The Excuses

I am NOT a morning person. It's funny because my dad is not a morning person either. I remember once my mom teasing him because the only mornings that he is ever eager to get up are the days he is going hunting. For me, those days are my running days.

But, seriously, the Reggae Marathon started 'promptly' at 5:15....that's 4:15 at home! We had made arrangements to meet Jennifer (a gal who was running the full marathon and didn't want to make the walk to the start line in the dark solo) in the lobby at 4:30. So, there was no way I was going to get up early enough for my regular pre-race breakfast plan. Up at 3:30 (the Jamaican tree frogs were still croaking), we donned our gear and hit the continental breakfast for toast and coffee, but it just wasn't enough time before the race start.

As a result, around mile 4 my guts were churning. I considered running back into the resort lobby which was right there at that point on the course (and in hindsight I probably should have), but opted to wait and see if it would pass. It wasn't until just after mile 8 that we saw the next porta potty! Even though there were three other people in line, by that point I had no choice but to wait (who knows when the next chance would be!). Stopping cost us 10 minutes on our time, but I tell ya, I felt SO much better because of it!

It wasn't until we had stopped to stand in line at the biffy that we realized that we were DRIPPING wet! I have never ran in such humidity before. You could literally ring us out. An unfortunate side-effect it seems, is chaffing. I've suffered mild chaffing before, but being so damp meant that our feet blistered (I had four different toes blister), my sport bra left a mark all the way around my ribs, Wayne's shirt rubbed his chest and we both had chaffing from our short liners. While this all sounds very pleasant I'm sure, it wasn't really that big of a deal. We were definitely aware of the soreness and I'm sure it would have become more of an issue if we had had to continue much further, but by the next day it was mostly forgotten....mostly.

Unfortunately, my right IT band started bugging me about a quarter of the way through the race. I am upset with my body because I felt so good during the run in Vegas and had very little pain (if any) and that course was SO hilly and hard. Now here I was on a FLAT, much less challenging course and my knee wasn't cooperating. Running in pain isn't ideal, but it eventually gets to the point where the pain doesn't get any worse and you just push through it. I can see now that after returning from Vegas and receiving the thumbs up from my physiotherapist, I slacked off....and my finishing time suffered as a result.

BUT, this run wasn't about how fast we could complete it (although I would love to be able to go back next year and get a pb!). We were there to soak it all in and enjoy each second of the 2:25 it took us to finish.

The Best Part

EVERYTHING about this event was phenomenal! I have always laughed when people describe something as being epic (it seems like such a strong descriptor), but for me this trip was just exactly that.

We met Jennifer in the lobby and walked half a kilometre in the dark toward the sound of reggae music. The air was damp and warm as we gathered with the other runners. It was dark, but you could hear the ocean right there. It's impossible to describe how I felt as we got ready to run, I was just so excited and tried my best not to cry!

Just after crossing the start line with the reggae blasting, there were young Jamaican kids lining the road on both sides with tiki torches. Then, we headed off into the darkness toward Negril together.

We didn't have to go too far until we came across the first crowds of spectators. They were, no doubt, still out partying from the night before. It was a bit of sensory overload after passing through the second water station. There were groups of Rastafarians with dreadlocks and slouchy hats, blasting reggae music from giant speakers sitting on top of their vehicles, they waved and danced....and smoked. The smell of ganja was thick in the air. Everyone was happy!

We got to the turn around at the 5km point in Negril in 29 minutes and then made our way back the same way we had come. 59 minutes into the run, as we reached the 10km (our halfway point) the sun started to come up. We passed back through the tiki torches and continued past the shoot to the finish line. By this time my knee was really being a bugger. We were on our way to being able to set a pretty good time, but I knew I was going to have to slow my pace to compensate for my IT band....not to mention that it was becoming more obvious that I was going to have to make a pit stop! I encouraged Wayne to go ahead and get the great time that I know he is capable of, but he refused. I wouldn't normally have settled for that, but I made an exception just this one time....I'm so glad he stayed with me. Having him by my side made everything so much more fun to process and share....maybe it was the second-hand smoke, but we laughed and smiled and joked our way through the run (especially that last quarter when the going gets tough & I get emotional).

The second half of the course was more quiet and scenic in a natural sense. We ran past the Sandals resort that we had stayed at during our honeymoon. It gave us a chance to think back....man, we've done A LOT in ten years!

The sun was coming up behind us and the ocean was beside us. There were a few more vehicles at the side of the road blasting Jamaican music with huge rooftop speakers and the aid station workers were very nice. The road that we were running on is the ONLY road in the area. They had it shut down completely which meant that the workers who were making their way to the resorts were forced to walk partway to work.  I felt bad, but they were happy and cheering for us....and it felt good every time we blasted past one of them! We knew they weren't runners, but still it felt like we were making progress!

As we turned to head back for the last 5km, the sun was up and shinning right down on us. Time to activate the sunglasses....trouble was they were wet with sweat and our clothes were too drenched to wipe them dry! Luckily, it was hot enough that it evaporated in no time at all!

We were both hurtin' units, but the finish line was getting closer. The last mile is Bob's mile. Bob Marley is such an icon in Jamaica and his music and the impact it had on the country were revolutionary. Throughout the course, the officials had posters with lyrics from his various songs.They sang true to me and the spirit of what we were doing there....I know it's just a run, but it was so much more than that to me.

We crossed the finish line and gave each other a giant smooch. We got our beautiful palm tree medals, had our timing chips removed from our shoes and headed past the misting tent, past the onion rings and straight to the Red Stripe station! Just as we cheersed and had our first sip of the most glorious beer ever, the announcers came over the intercom to let us know it was almost 8:00 am! 

Next we waited our turn for fresh coconut water. The man grabbed one from the pile and hacked into it with his machete....."No worries mon!".

We took off our runners to assess the damage. Soaked our tootsies in the ocean and made our way back to the resort along the beach. When we met up with Jennifer later, she confirmed what he had suspected, running the full marathon was a scorcher! But she finished with a great time. Way to go Jennifer!

When we told Owen & Myles that we were running in Jamaica, they thought maybe we'd be racing against Usain Bolt. 

Kinda, sorta, right!?!

It felt like our holiday really began that day. We had a nap on the beach in the afternoon and stayed up late that night dancing at the club!

We spent the rest of our trip reading, laying on the beach, swimming, snorkelling, eating, drinking and dancing. We made some vacation friends who we took a shuttle to Rick's Cafe with. Wayne jumped off the 35ft cliff...and lived to tell the tale!

We took the catamaran trip and swam in some caves and took in the local seawall sights.

We also enjoyed the sports complex and tried to fend off at least a few vacation pounds by working out at the beautiful facility.

Wayne had tried to teach me to play tennis about fifteen years ago and I it didn't go so well! We decided that it was time to give it another shot. We had a blast and even played during thirty minutes of pouring rain....the only time it rained all week and there we were on the tennis court!

We are so fortunate that we are able to go away together for a week to reconnect completely guilt-free. Our boys were thrilled to be at home with their Grandma & Grandpa Stevenson. In fact, they were convinced that we were getting the raw end of the deal! And Grandma & Grandpa did a wonderful job manning the fort and they swear that the boys were perfectly behaved! Thank you Fran & Wendy.

As the sun set on the beautiful Jamaican beach our last night there, I couldn't help but shed a couple tears.

So, here we are 12/12/12 and I've completed my twelve in 2012! This half marathon put my total distance to date for the year over the 750 mile point. Now, I've got twelve days to get my head in the game before Christmas!

Cool Running

We arrived in Jamaica yesterday. I love this country. The music, the people and the scenery all have such a beautiful vibrancy.
Tonight, we went to the pasta dinner that accompanies the race and it was unlike any other. We drank a Red Stripe beer and ate our jerk chicken alfredo as we enjoyed the performance of a steel drum band.
I am SO looking forward to running the half at the Reggae Marathon tomorrow!

The Beauty of Running

During the last couple months before the run in Vegas, most of us had at least a minor struggle with our training....my hip was being a bugger, MJ was having trouble with her ankle, Krista's foot was a mess, Sarah's knee was jiggered, Nicki was working lots and finding it hard to fit in her long runs, Ang felt like although she was covering the miles she was supposed to, they were not good quality runs, Shelley was fighting with her nerves.....Many times, as you near a running event that you have been training hard for, these setbacks happen. Your body is getting tired, the longer distance runs start to take their toll and it feels like the event will never get here....but then, gulp, it's suddenly coming up quickly and maybe you're not ready and how will you know you've done enough....

I tried to think of a way to encourage us all to take a step back from the training and remember the big picture. Running the half marathon would be monumental, but the personal changes we each experienced in the time leading up to it would be lasting.

So, I booked us in for a photoshoot with my friend Erica for after we would be back from the trip. I wanted the girls to know how thankful I was for their support. My hope was that they would each have the chance to feel as beautiful as I had when Erica had taken my pictures last winter. The act of running is not beautiful, but the transformation that occurs because of it, is.

We weren't able to coordinate it so that we could all be there, but it was a fun afternoon! As well as individual shots, we had a series of group pics taken. I'm so happy with them.

Upon receiving the disks from Erica, what struck me most about the pictures is that each of these women is beautiful. More importantly, each of them is as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.

Moms on the Run: Vegas Edition

When I started this project, I invited everyone to come along for the ride. Sarah, Angela & Jadah were among the first to jump on board....I suggested we aim for the Sask Marathon. It was Jadah who said sure let's do the Sask, but I would like to go somewhere with you for one of the Fall halfs...maybe Vegas!?! And thus, the seed was planted for the Vegas trip!

We put the invite out to our friends and when it was all said and done, there were nine of us that made up the Moms on the Run: Vegas Edition! We set up a Facebook group where we posted training & race info, inspirational quotes, costume ideas (at one point we were going to don tutus but decided the possible chaffing wouldn't be worth it!), travel deals and potential activities & shows for the trip. Although I knew each of the girls, they didn't all know each other. The facebook group and going through the process of training together gave everyone a chance to become acquainted.

So, while each of us undertook this challenge for our own reasons, it was nice to share the experience together. Here's what some of the girls had to say about their adventures in running:

Sarah

I am SO thankful to have had Sarah in my corner this year. She joined me virtually in January when we completed the Nike Women's Virtual Half Marathon and since then we have developed a friendship based on shared experiences & mutual support. It's been awesome to have each other to talk about the seemingly endless list of running topics and to help each other troubleshoot....running friends are a rare breed, lol! Here's Sarah's last post of the year:

I am happy to start this blog by saying I am honoured to have participated in 6 events with Janaya this year!  I can only tell you how strong she is to have completed 12 in a year, because just completing 6 for the year was a challenge for me….she is one of the strongest and most determined people I know.  Although we were soccer teammates prior to her project starting this year, we weren't friends that would text, call or hang out.  I am so grateful that her project has led us to become friends and I know that we will remain friends through running and our shared interest in many other things (or Brady's constant asking to go see Myles and Owen)!

The last two runs I completed were both with an amazing group of women each inspiring me in their own way.  I didn't realize it until the Ultra marathon relay in Saskatoon just 2 weeks before our trip to Vegas, but what had kept me pushing myself and logging so many early morning miles was the dedication that so many others were putting into their own running with the goal of completing their very first 1/2 marathon.  My leg of the ultra marathon felt like an obstacle course of ditches and dog attacks but physically and time wise it was one of my best. However, in the end my time and my race aren't what stands out.  What I remember was watching 6 other people (5 of the women and my husband Kevin) all pushing themselves through less than ideal weather conditions, not a great course, limited aid stations and some being under the weather - to cross the finish line - and each of them succeeded.  Relays are what started my running career and they are a great way for people to stay running and participating in events.  It is such a great feeling to rush to locations on the race route to cheer your friends and teammates, something you don't get to do when you are all running the same race at the same time.  

The relay was just preparation for the highlight of my year which was watching 8 other runners cross the finish line of the Really Big Free Marathon in Las Vegas.  I'm sure other posts will tell you about the terrible travel, lack of sleep, early morning, delayed start of the race and UNBELIEVABLY hilly course.  For me, all of that made it so much more emotional to watch Janaya, Jadah, Katy, Krista, Ang, Nicki, Shelley and MJ cross the finish line.  I won't lie, I felt nervous for each and every one of them as they had their work cut out for them with the number of less than ideal factors they were faced with - to be honest this race for me with all of those factors was the hardest and most physically challenging I have completed all year.  But despite my nervousness for them, I knew that they would all come through with flying colours and they did.  

I remember as I reached the turn around point (thankfully the end of a 6.55 mile climb up the mountain) I was so excited to see each of them as I passed them on the way back.  I remember thinking as I passed each one of them and unsuccessfully high-fiving them (kind of difficult with one runner going up hill and the other going down), how relaxed they all looked as each of them had a smile on their face like they were actually enjoying it! And yes Ang you were enjoying it, the smiling pictures at the end prove it!  I couldn't help but be jealous of each of them, as I know that when I am running I do not look like I am enjoying it - and I don't feel like I am running effortlessly like each of them looked!  

After crossing the finish line I cooled down a bit, took in some nourishment, talked to some local runners I finished with about how challenging the course was and then I waited wondering who would be across the line next.  It wasn't long after that Jadah found me - looking like she hadn't even gone for a run!  Next was Katy.  I then decided that I would start back up the hill to see where the rest were and to offer any final support that I could to get them across the finish line.  It was so inspiring to find each of them working so hard to accomplish the goal they had set for themselves.  It was the highlight of my running year to be able to run a couple of minutes with each of them as they made their way to the finish line.  Not a single one of them needed my support at the end and I don't feel like I gave them any - but what they don't know is they gave me a lot of insight into why I actually run.

I realized that my journey this year has not been about my running or pushing my limits and it has not been about the weight loss that I have previously blogged about and when I think it is I end up in a rut and my running tends to suffer.  My running this year has been about being a part of a team, a group of runners and something special.  In my own way I was working towards my own goal of running a race with each one of the girls I was traveling with.  Living in PA I miss the sense of belonging to a team, and this allowed me to feel that sense again this year (whether I realized it or not).  I know many people think I'm a "runner" but I don't see myself that way, prior to this year I had only run 2 1/2 marathons the rest of my runs (and only 4) were as part of relay teams.  So for me this year the running really was about being a part of a team.  I owe a huge thank you to not only Janaya but the other 7 women for all that they have given me this year and for inspiring me to push myself.

I am going to find it difficult to run now as signing up for races by myself would not nearly be the same.  But after this year of running, I know that I won't stop as a quote in Runners World sums it up "my days are tray when I don't run and although high mileage is not practical for someone with such little free time and logic says not to, I do anyways as it isn't free time or youth that are characterizing my running, it's motivation"…..and that motivation is running with others and allowing them to see that they can do it too!  So I will continue my running and we will see where the race trail takes me next year.  I can say this…….that whenever anyone is ready or looking for someone to run with, let me know and  I will do my best to be there.  Janaya and Jadah when you are ready to tackle your full I will be right there with you.  And this last trip to Vegas has made me look forward to the next running trip with a group of either girls or couples…..and I have no doubt that there will be another one!!!!!

I started with Janaya and I will end with her as well.  Janaya, good luck on your last race of the year, Jamaica will be a wonderful way to end such an unbelievable and amazing year.  What a perfect place to end your journey and celebrate both your year of accomplishments and your anniversary, and get in all the relaxing you can!  I know that this journey is coming to an end for you but I have no doubt that it won't be long before you have something else planned to put your never ending energy towards.  I look forward to hearing about it whatever it turns out to be almost as much as I will look forward to running with you again!  Congratulations and thank you for everything this year! 

Since Sarah sent this to me, she has ran another half! The same weekend that Wayne & I were running in Jamaica, she & Kevin ran in Maui! So, we started the year running virtually together and finished in the same way!

Maui has a neat race concept whereby they have courses mapped out and you register and complete them at your own convenience and then you meet up with a club member and receive your medal! The Maui Paradise Marathon is something worth checking out if you're planning a vacation, but be forewarned, Sarah said it was a course wrought with challenging hills that were amplified by the humidity....but, the medal is a beauty!

Angela

I am SO thankful to have had the chance to meet Angela and get to know her. Ang is the kind of friend that we should all aim to be. 

There have been many things this year that have re-affirmed my decision to undertake this project. Watching Ang push her limits and discover her inner strength is definitely one of them. 

Here's her story: 

“When I see a happy runner, I’ll start running.” This was my friend Brock’s favorite thing to say in University when we would pass some sorry soul out for a run. It became a game to us, we would spot a runner and it was a race to see who could say ”miserable” faster. Lighting my cigarette as we drove by the spandex clad “skinny bitches” I felt a sense of smugness knowing that I was evolved and didn’t need to torture myself running endless miles to nowhere to find happiness within. I was happy just the way I was…..wasn’t I?

And then the unthinkable happened, I met a happy runner. This is the story of my journey to completing a half marathon thanks to meeting the happy runner, Janaya.

Competitive – this is the word I would say most people would use to describe me, and I was.  I started gymnastics when I was 3 and competed at the provincial level until I was 16. I played soccer from the time I was 4 or 5 until I was 18. In 1996, I moved away from home to attend UofS, I stopped playing sports, and gave up exercise altogether thinking that it wouldn’t affect me. Of course I could blame my hectic university schedule or work for taking me away from sports, but the truth was it was fear. Fear of not being good enough to play Huskie soccer, fear of not making friends if I did make a team, fear of not succeeding.  Fear was also what caused me to decide that those runners my friend and I passed were miserable. It was easier to decide that they were unhappy than to admit to myself that I may not be successful. 

During the next 10 years, I gained a lot of weight, started smoking heavily and was pretty much miserable. After my second child was born, and I tipped the scales at 174lbs, I joined weight watchers and lost 40lbs in about 6 mos. After losing the weight, I decided that it was finally time to stop being afraid to fail, and join a soccer team.  I started playing with the Coderunners in the summer of 2006 and have never regretted it.  Along the way, the team has lost and gained some players, which is where I met Janaya, the happy runner.  

Janaya had posted her initial blog entry on facebook, in January of 2012. I read her post and related to it on so many levels. I’ve even included a wedding picture to show said camaraderie. I had also struggled with my weight over the years, and I thought to myself, this is it, my chance to tackle running without fear of failure. I honestly felt after reading it, that if she could run 12 1/2s in a year, I could start running too. Plus I never turn down an invite to anything. 

I messaged Janaya quite quickly after and said that I would like to join her on one of her runs.  Of course Janaya was her ultra supportive self and was instantly excited for company.  My intentions at the time were to participate in a shorter distance run during one of her halfs. I looked at the SK Marathon in May and decided I would run the 10Km.  

Shortly after that, I injured my ankle quite badly in soccer making it impossible to train.  Janaya, being the ever optimist that she is, assumed I would be running a half as well, and took my ankle injury as a hiccup in my goal, not a sideliner, so in early March, she sent me a text asking me if I would consider joining her in Vegas in November for a half.  At that point, my ankle was improving, and she assured me that 8 months would be plenty of time to be ready for a half.  So I hesitantly looked at the race site. 

The Really Big Free Marathon offered a chance to register for $50 with the option to cancel up to 3 mos prior to the race.  I figured that was the insurance I needed to back out if necessary.  So I signed up for my 13.1Km half marathon thinking I was in for a long 8 months, but that if I had planned to run the 10km in the SK Marathon, I could handle 13.1km with a few more months to train.  I can almost hear you all rolling on the floor laughing as you are reading this.  I did learn a few weeks later that the actual distance was 13.1miles, not Km, which is when panic started to set in.  But from now on 13.1 Km will be known as the Yule Half for most of the members of our soccer team. Watch for coming details of the Yule Half 2013. ;)

Training began for me shortly after my 33^rd birthday in March with a Saturday morning drive out to Warman to run with “Moms on the Run”. I can’t even explain to you how nervous I was about that first run.  I had spent the day before with my Mom shopping for some pants to run in, along with shoes, jacket, mitts, etc.  The list of stuff you need is endless.  Although the changing weather during training always provided me with new inspiration after buying some new gear that I needed to try out.  So we met for our first run together.  There were a few of us that first day, all varying in our levels of running, but we made it work.  I struggled for the first few weeks completing that 2.5 mile course, but I kept coming back, mostly because I had told family and friends that I had registered for the 1/2 in Vegas, and I knew for that reason alone, I had to complete my goal.

In May, I decided to run the 10km in the SK Marathon as I had originally planned.  At that point, my ankle was still giving me some grief, but I had been running for a few weeks and figured I was ready.  Boy was I wrong.  I had followed Janaya’s morning routine that day and arrived at the race site a bundle of nerves.  I met up with Nicole and MJ prior to the 10km start to watch the girls take off for the ½.  Nicole and I shared a pretty important moment prior to the race when we both admitted that we had made fun of runners in the past because of our own fear of failure.  Nicole and I ended up sharing multiple moments in the next 6 mos after we became regular training partners, but I definitely think this was the beginning of our bond.

So it was our turn.  We excitedly lined up ready to begin our first race.  The gun went off, and I was all adrenaline.  That adrenaline took me to about 4km, and then I wanted to die.  It was around the 4km mark that my friend from work happened to meet me on the path.  Lindsay helped me through to the 6km mark and then gracefully bowed out for me to finish.  It was around the 7 or 8 km mark that I started to doubt if I would make it, but then I started to meet the runners who had passed the turn around, and I started to experience the “team-ness” of this very individual sport.  Passing the other girls from our soccer team who were also running the 10km inspired me to keep going, and then the same feeling of togetherness hit when I started to make my way back from the turn around and met with MJ and Nicole. Just knowing that they were out there struggling too made it seem possible to continue.  And then I hit my wall.  At the 8.5km point, the little voice in my ear said to me, “congratulations, you have reached your goal of 10km”. It was my Nike run app telling me that I was done, when I in fact had 1.5km to go.  And the reality of that moment hit me like a ton of bricks.  If the app thought I was done 1.5km before I was, that meant that my training run distances had probably been off too.  I was in way over my head. And then the next voice in my head was Kelly Clarkson. “Stronger” pretty much became my running anthem after that moment.  It would have been a movie ending if I would have crossed the finish line to that song playing, but it took me about 4 more songs to get to the end, but when I did, I understood why people run.  There is almost nothing that compares to the sense of accomplishment that you get from crossing that finish line. 

I’d get to experience that four more times this year. Once at the Bridge City Boogie in the pouring rain, on a crazy 10km trail run out at Cranberry Flats that MJ convinced me was a good idea, once in the SK 50K Ultra Marathon relay race battling a sinus and chest infection, and of course at the Really Big Free ½ Marathon in Vegas.  Each race offered different challenges along the way, but the SK Marathon was still the most difficult for me. 

I spent the next 6 months after the SK Marathon training pretty religiously.  After being so ill prepared for the SK, I was determined to make sure I was ready for the 1/2 in Vegas.  Nicole and I ran our long runs together once a week alternating between Martensville and Saskatoon, becoming better friends along the way. We met up with MJ and Janaya a few times as well helping to keep us inspired.  I used my treadmill when I needed to, but I found that running outside was so much harder for me, which to me, meant more beneficial. And then the strangest thing happened…..I started to like running. Not only did I like it, I almost craved it.  If a few days had passed and my life had taken me off schedule for running, I would find myself driving to work thinking about running. And I was happier.  I was nicer to my kids after I had a good run, more focused at work and for once in my life, liking how I looked. 

Completing the 1/2 in Vegas is a moment in my life that I will never forget.  It will forever be on my list of unforgettable moments in my life, like the birth of my 2 children, obtaining my Nursing Degree, or marrying my best friend. The fact that I got to accomplish this goal with some of the most inspirational women I have ever met, made it that much sweeter.  I have learned something from each of the girls that I ran with this year. They are each remarkable women who are struggling with the everyday demands that being mothers and working women brings, but they all took the time to focus on themselves for a brief time to complete this race. I think if we can do this, anyone can. I believe I can achieve anything I put my mind to thanks to the support of the happy runner, Janaya. I thank you for inspiring me to conquer a lifelong fear and to help me see the many benefits of running. 

As I reflect back on the last year of my life, I realize that I owe a gigantic thanks to my Mom and my husband who could not have been any more supportive if they tried.  My husband works on the weekend in order to be at home for the kids during the week, when I am at work, which meant that all those weekend runs that I did I needed my Mom to watch my kids.  There was never a time when she said no. She was supporting me any way she could, shopping for new running gear with me, taking the kids to the finish lines, or just asking how my runs went. I always knew that she believed in me. And then my husband, who never asked me to skip a run to make his life easier, who made me an awesome playlist to run to, and who came to Vegas along with 7 other women to support me running the 1/2 (and to attend SEMA of course). I will be forever grateful to the two of you for your support of me this year and always.

I have to admit that since the run in Vegas, I have not been as dedicated to those training runs, and have come across many reasons to put off my run until tomorrow, but I also know that registering for my next 1/2 is what I need to get my butt off the couch and find my happy. Here’s to 2013 and all the many miles it will bring.

Thank you Ang! I can't wait for the Yule Half Marathon 2013 and look forward to many more adventures together!

Nicole

I got the chance to get to know Nicole when I started playing soccer. She is enthusiastic and vibrant! Last year, shortly after one of my first posts wherein I confessed my past obesity, Nicki thanked me for my honesty. She said that the post had motivated her to be more healthful and she felt like if I could do it, so could she. Nicki said, "I'm not a runner, but I can watch what I eat and workout"....but, it didn't take too long until she decided to give running a try and was a total convert!

Here's what she has to say about it:

What is running to me? I never knew until I started running how empowering it was! I never knew I could actually do and learn to love it! I realized running was a race against myself!

I did my first 10 km in May for the Sask Marathon. I ran a hand full of times prior to the 10 km and thought hey that should be good! Then I ran the race! I realized at that point how vital it is to train. I felt every muscle hurt, my lungs were burning but my determination didn't stop! The feeling I had to cross the finish line was indescribable! I know I ran with a whole bunch of people but in the end  the race was with myself! That is the day I became addicted!

Then came Vegas! Janaya asked me if I wanted to come and cheer them on in Vegas or maybe even run! I thought why not, then the running began! When I looked at the 10 week program I was overwhelmed! I thought how am I going to do this! Thankfully Angela Yule was in the same position and we started running together. She kept me motivated when I didn't think I could finish, she got me off my butt when I didn't want to run and she became not only my running partner but a great friend!

The training made me do a lot of self reflection. Push myself to limits I didn't think I could do! The support from my family and friends was amazing! Running gave me a piece of myself back. Sometimes you find yourself a wife, mother, employee, friend but you forget to take care of yourself! Running gave me time to think, reflect and gave me a positive attitude! 

Then came the week before the race! I realized then that it was not really about the race itself but all the work that had went into getting there! It was bitter sweet, I had just found out we were expecting our third child a couple weeks before we left. I hadn't ran the entire week before the race. With all the panic that went into flights being cancelled, getting our race packages and getting to Vegas on time, it allowed me to take my mind off the actual race.

The race day finally came, early morning and all! I felt nervous, I felt can I really do this .... All the things that go with prerace jitters, I was going through. When it was our turn and the horn went, it began! All the hard work and effort was for this very moment! Every mile was an achievement and I had my running partner at my side, we pushed each other every step of the way! 

I can't say the hills weren't hard but being motivated by all the other runners was awesome! Finally at mile 10 is where I hit a rough spot! I urged Angela to go on! I was tired,cramped and I really didn't think I could finish. I hit up a water station next and all I could remember is Angela saying "we worked so hard for this don't stop now!" So I picked up the pace and kept going! 

When I neared the last mile and Jadah and Sarah joined me to run the last few minutes, that gave me a boost just to keep up the pace! What great friends to keep you motivated! 

When I crossed the finished line I didn't know what to do! I felt amazing, I couldn't even talk to the other girls because I was so built up with emotion! At that moment I knew I became a runner and I thank all the people that kept me motivated, that built me up, that encouraged me and supported me!

Way to go Nicki!

MJ

My friend Marjorie wrote a post for the blog back in August after she ran her fourth 10km race at the River Run Classic. Shortly after that, her ankle started giving her grief. When she sought advice at a medi-clinic, MJ had the unfortunate experience of dealing with an arse of a doctor. But, rather than let him impede her progress, she healed her ankle through rest and TLC and then she continued to tackle her half marathon training.

Here's what MJ had to say about our run in Vegas:

To say I was nervous was a bit of an understatement.  Being my first half marathon, I was not nervous about finishing, but I was running my longest distance in a different climate and terrain.  (I'm used to cold and flat, this was hot and hilly).  I knew I could finish even if I needed to walk on cold and flat; but, on hot and hilly, I wasn't sure of my time and if the heat would get the best of me. 

It started out with a nice long, slow, uphill run in sun and shade.  Nice, nothing like setting a precedent right off the bat!  After that, the hills seemed to go on and up.  

I started out pacing with Krista, and we were pretty well paced, but after a mile and a half or so, her long legs got the best of me and I fell back at a more conformable pace.  I was totally ok running the first half (running to the turn around point).  I found a girl who was a little faster than me and her and I kept passing each other.  I doubled my gatorade at the station after the turn around and ran past her longer and faster to set some real distance between us. That was the last I saw of her.  She must have been struggling by that point too, because the second half I was much slower.  It was then when the heat started to climb that I was walking more and more.  As I adjusted to the heat, I gradually I started running more and walking less.  

I was running this race for my friend Janaya, who's last year of racing was enough to inspire anyone.  I was running this race for my friend Sarah, who trains every morning at 4:00am because it's the only time she can between working a full time job and raising 2 amazing boys.  I was running this race for my Grandpa, who would have been proud and was cheering me on from above.  I was running this race to prove to the idiotic doctor that said I was too overweight to run not 5 months earlier.  But more importantly I was running this race for myself, to prove that I could...  And I did... and I'll do it again.  

Sarah met me with a little under a mile to go and helped me stay at a strong pace to finish.  I sprinted down that last hill that I fought to get up at the beginning and coasted down to the finish line where the girls were waiting.  Very few things in my life have felt as good as crossing that finish line.  

I look forward to the next half.  It may not be this year or even this winter, but I will do it again.    

MJ, I was SO thankful to be able to be there when you finished your first half marathon! Your ability to complete this run is not only a testament to the hard work that you put into your training, but also to the power of your spirit and determination. Way to go!

Jadah

You met my friend Jadah back in May when we ran the Saskatchewan Marathon together. We don't get to see each other often enough, but we played outdoor soccer together this summer and supported each other as we ran in October at the Sask Ultra Relay. I really value Jadah's friendship. She has a warmth and kindness about her that just makes you feel like you're special. In this time of fast pace, frantic, texting, email, instagram, cyber, busy, busy, busy, there is something to be said about taking the time to really listen & focus on people when you're with them. The constant connect sometimes results in a disconnect at the most basic level. I admire Jadah's resistance to that.... Don't get me wrong, as a working mom of four, she is busy! But, she is grounded and tuned in to those around her. 

Oh! and did I mention she's A LOT of fun (not just anyone would flip their eyelids inside out to try and scare the creepy guys outside the Goratorium!)!

Here is what Jadah had to say about the Vegas trip:

In the weeks prior to leaving for Vegas, I was trying to prepare myself both physically and mentally. In my mind I was hoping to achieve my goal of 2 hours, but physically I did not put in the proper training that I desired. It’s funny when you have a 10 week training plan and you think you have all the time in the world…then, in what seems like the blink of an eye, you have 1 week left and you have to cram it all in that short time. Well, that’s what it was like for me. On the Monday before leaving I did an 11 miler and on Wednesday I did a 6 mile run. I had to be assured that I could at least complete the distance. 

Well complete it I did and it was like my earlier race…a rush and a total sense of accomplishment. Sure, the course was grueling and the hills seemed to be unending (uphill both ways in fact). Yet, the view and the scenery is still etched in my mind. When it’s all said and done it was so much fun. And totally awesome to do it with a group of great girls! 

Before going to Vegas, both my husband and I had said that we never really cared if we ever went there. Now that I have been, I must say that it was great to see, the race was incredible, I enjoyed the shopping, but truth be told it’s not up there on my places to go back to. But, I wouldn’t turn it down if I got the chance to go again. 

Thanks Jadah!

Katy

I met Katy Shoemaker over 5 years ago when she, her husband and their two kids moved to Warman. A short while later they moved to another community for a few years, but, thanks to Facebook, we never really lost touch.

By the time Katy & Chris moved back to Warman, their family had grown and they now had four kiddos. Despite being a busy mom, Katy is dedicated to keeping fit & healthy. It's been really fun getting to know each other over the last few months!

Here's what Katy had to say about the run in Vegas:

I ran my very first race in August, the River Run 10K.  It was on my “2012 list” – I was so very nervous that morning but it went so well that I knew I wanted to do another race.   

Soon after, Janaya invited me to join her “moms on the run” group on a trip to VEGAS to run a half marathon!!  I was so happy to be included in something so awesome. To be honest though, my first thought was there is no way I can run that far!!!  But after talking it over with Chris & getting encouragement & advice from Janaya, I decided that I would do it.   

When I looked over the training plan I was a bit overwhelmed but as I got into it – I found that it really wasn’t that difficult to add more miles & I started to look forward to my long runs.  Those long run days gave me an opportunity to reflect on my life & I spent a lot of time thinking about how lucky I am – lucky to have an amazing family, great friends & a strong, healthy body.  

Two weeks before the Vegas run, our group took part in the Ultra Marathon which would be my last long run before the “big day”.  It was such an amazing day for me, I really felt like we were a team.  The ladies (and their families) provided so much support that it made the miles fly by!  I was so confident that the Vegas run would go just as well.  I was in for a shock as the course had more hills than I could have ever imagined!!    

Running those hills was the most challenging thing I have ever done!!  What kept me from quitting was meeting up with everyone along the course.  Each familiar face I saw gave me a little boost & pushed me to keep going!  It took me a little longer to finish than I had anticipated but I am ok with that, it gives me something to work towards for next time. 

I am so very proud of ALL of us & so very glad to have met so many great girls!  I am especially proud of Janaya -she is truly an inspiration!!  She has run 12 half marathons this year, organized many fundraisers that raised a ton of money for cancer, organized a super fun trip to Vegas and has been a great support for our group & our individual running goals.  I would have never in a million years pushed myself to run a half marathon – so thank you Janaya for inviting me to join you!! 

Thanks Katy!

Krista

I've known Krista for about five years. She went back to school between the births of her two children and got her nursing degree. Krista now works full time as a registered nurse at the Cancer Centre. Her kindness & compassion make her great at her job. Last year, when my friend Heather was fighting cancer, Krista understood what I was going through. She was a great source of support. When I started this project, Krista was one of the first people to encourage me. I was so pleased when she was able to come to Vegas to run. Here's what she had to say about it: 

This race wasn’t something I had hoped to do or even dreamt of doing. The past year I have been trying to lose some weight and get a strong, healthy body. I love to work out and spend a lot of time at the gym. I like to run on the treadmill, but have never loved running outside! In the summer, we spend almost every weekend at the lake and I don’t have the luxury of a gym or exercise equipment when at the cabin. So, because of this I decided to take up outdoor running during lake time. Much to my surprise, I actually started to enjoy my morning runs off the treadmill. It was a great way to start the day and I guess you could say I got hooked.

When Janaya asked me to go to Vegas with her to run a ½ marathon I dismissed the idea. However, when we chatted a few weeks later she suggested it again she was very encouraging and convincing. I talked it over with my husband and he was supportive and also encouraged me to do it. I decided I didn't have anything to lose, and stumbled upon a my new goal thanks to Janaya. 

So with 13 weeks to prepare, Janaya gave me some great advice on running, provided me with a plan and I started my training. I trained really hard (probably too hard) in the beginning and ended up injuring my foot. I tried to take it easy and was forced to hop on a stationary bike to keep my endurance up. As my foot healed, I started running again. I kept it to shorter distances fearing I would hurt my foot again and have to back out of the race. 

I was extremely nervous the day of the race. I had never run a 5k, 10k or ½ marathon before. I woke up the morning of the race thinking maybe I should have set my expectations a little lower. I kept saying to myself and everyone else that I would be happy if I just completed the run, even if that meant I had to run/walk the whole way. However, I am a fairly competitive person and knew all along that I wanted to do better than that. 

I went in with a plan....I had a great playlist, good advice from all of my runner friends, and I decided I was going to run at my own pace, split the race into thirds, slowly increasing my speed and walk up to every water station. I have to admit I did everything they say you shouldn’t. I tried a whole bunch of new things, new drinks, energy gummies, and a new running belt...Luckily for me everything worked out great and I didn’t spend the whole race sick!!

It’s hard for me to put into words how I felt during and completing the race. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had!! The scenery was beautiful, the run was challenging, but easier than I thought a ½ marathon would be. I think the adrenaline and sheer excitement is what helped me push through. The best part of the race for me was crossing the finish line and celebrating with my friends, and cheering the rest of the group along. I feel very fortunate to be able to experience my first race with such a great group of girls...It is surely something I will never forget!! Thank you to Janaya for inviting me along and supporting me during my training and on race the race day!!

Thanks Krista!