Week 17 - A Surprise Visit from the Mobile Support Crew and Cheering Section

Sunday was a long run (25 km) and about the 20 km mark the 'mobile support crew and cheering section' aka my family rode out on the bike train to see how I was doing and cheer me on.


Finnegan was interested to know why I was listening to bird calls on the headphones as I jogged along with Ollie. I'm trying to learn various songs in an effort to volunteer for the Bird Studies of Canada Prairie and Parkland Marsh Monitoring Program this spring. I think we will easily have two aspiring birders besides mom pretty soon!


They stuck with me the rest of the way home along the Meewasin Trail. It was good fun to have them following along with me!


I was, however, very glad to be home.

Week 16

This week was a 'rest week' and I was glad to have it! There is obviously something to be said for giving your body some time to recover. This recovery week involved, swim on Monday, 3 km run on Wednesday, swim on Thursday, 8 km run on Friday and 10 km run on Sunday. In November I never would have consider that a 'restful' week! Of course when I say "run" I really mean "jog" or more appropriately "plod"...slow as molasses is still how I like to describe my movements. But it's certainly way more than could do just a few months back and it seems I have developed enough of a habit, and even enough of a like for it, to hopefully keep up with the running when the marathon is over. I know the only reason I have managed to keep up with the 'schedule' so far is because I am doing this as a fundraiser for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and by having this goal, it has really helped to keep me motivated.

Week 15 - Half Way There!

This morning I walk/jogged for 21.1 km! After the first 4 km returned home for a change of clothes (I was way too over-dressed...it is almost spring after all!) and change of backpack for carrying water. I stopped the timer for the minutes spent indoors and started it up again once we were out again. Ollie has been passed out for much of the afternoon and I wonder if he's feeling as sore as I am and how we will feel tomorrow? It's funny now how I can look at the schedule and seeing that next weekend is a 10 km run, think "What a relief. That will be an easy run."...when just a couple months back the idea of even 10 km was daunting. The full marathon is still pretty daunting to me (especially with my foot giving me grief today after a half marathon) but I'm still feeling positive about finishing it. As I was lying on the bed this morning before the run, not feeling too motivated to get going, Finnegan said to me, "You better get out there and practice if you want to win the marathon!". Indeed, I've got quite a lot of practice still ahead of me!


Tired doggy.

Fundraising Raffle for Cystic Fibrosis

We officially have a raffle license and I've printed, cut and stapled 600 raffle tickets....just need to number them all now!

Thanks again to all the sponsors who have contributed to this fundraising raffle for cystic fibrosis in honour of my niece, Alivia.


If you are interested in purchasing a ticket for this raffle which will be held on May 30th, the day of the Saskatchewan Marathon, and also the CF Great Strides Walk, please contact me. Thanks!!

Week 14

I've been out for a 16 km walk/jog today and feel good about it. There were a number of times that my leg was irritated but the walking really helped out - by having a rest every 5 minutes or so I was able to go the distance. At my slow-as-molasses-pace, I am hopeful that this marathon will be achievable! I had a great partner to jog with, giving encouragement and spicing the run up with humour and enthusiasm - our friend Chris from Edmonton - was here for Tim's gaming weekend so it worked out well for jogging on Sunday.


Chris, Ollie and I ready for the run!


And heading off down the street.....

I took part on Friday night with my HOTT chick army and on Saturday night where we had a basement room full of 11 people playing!

Thanks so much to all the gamers who donated to the CF raffle on Saturday - it is greatly appreciated!!

Week 13 - Saskatchewan Marathon - rain or shine!

My leg has been feeling much better and I've started some walk/jogging. On Sunday I managed a 5 km walk/jog with Ollie, went to a yoga class and then rode a bike in the basement (mag trainer) for close to an hour while Keira watched a movie. I'm certainly sore today after nearly two weeks of inactivity - but at least my injured leg seems pretty much pain-free. The big news for the week is that I have gone ahead and registered for the 2010 Saskatchewan Marathon! So now, no matter if I end up jogging, walking or crawling...I'm going to get across that finish line. I'm hoping there will be at least 3 smiling faces waiting for me at the end - shouting "Go mommy!" - even if everyone else has gone home by the time I finish.

Week 12

Wow - I've gotten behind with the 'weekly' posts. Not much to report however from week 12 as I didn't do any training!!! Unfortunately I injured my ankle and knee (while climbing, not even running!) and was not able to run during the week nor complete the anticipated 18 km on Sunday. It was very discouraging to be thrown so abruptly off the schedule - which up until then - I had been sticking to like glue. Very disheartening indeed! Luckily I got an appointment at Craven Sport Services and Melanie was quickly able to assess what was wrong and get me on the road to recovery!