Time to Sizzle!

Well here we are, on the eve of my next half marathon. We are having some mighty hot weather right now, with humidity, so they have made some changes to the run starts for a few events. They pushed the 10K today (Saturday) back till 7pm to avoid some of the heat, and they have pulled in the start for my half tomorrow morning from 9am till 8:15am. They are also adding more water stations, some misting stations, some ice stations, and even a few air-conditioned buses at the first aid locations around the course for those that need to take a short respite during the race. The organizers are very concerned about people pushing too hard in the heat. The temperature high is still sitting at 31 Celcius, but will be higher with the humidex, Nothing like what some parts of the world get and folks run in, but here we had frost and 0 degrees just two weeks ago, so not much time for runners from around here to get accustomed to running in the heat yet. Plus the marathon event is also an official Boston qualifier (if I recall correctly- I am not up to marathon levels yet), so some are sure to be pushing even with the heat and the warnings to go easier.

For myself, I have done what I can, having done some runs during the week at noon to try to experience the heat and try to handle it. I will run with a wet sponge in my hat, and my wet cooling cloth across the back of my neck and over the tops of my shoulders, inelegantly tucked under my bra straps to keep it in place. I will take 2-3 cups of water at every water station- one for my mouth, one for my head, one for my neck and back.  I will take my chews for electrolyte replacement.  I am prepared to go slower, and even walk if needed.  Yet, if  I have to abort, I will do that too. I want to finish the race, not myself. :)   I will try and enjoy the race; the scenery, the people, the cheer stations, the music, and yes, even the weather. I will smile despite now having to get up earlier in order to get in and park and get to the Team in Training meetup before heading to the start corrals.

I am once again the top individual fundraiser for Team in Training for this event. So a huge thank you to all my sponsors! I could not do it without you!

Ok. Time to finish eating, have some more water, and hit bed early. I will be up before 5am in order to do final preps, get my before race food ready, and then get into Ottawa.

Almost there!

So here we are with less than a month to go till race day on May 29! So little time left!  That said, things are going well. My fundraising goal is within sight, and the training is progressing on track. With spring now here, the days are just packed, so I am actually looking forward to a bit of a rest after the race. Ok, maybe the week after the race as I am registered to do the 6K Mud Hero on June 4th. Then the Perth Kilt Run at end of June. Maybe that rest will be a bit further off than I might like. LOL  Oh well.

The personal training sessions are continuing. We've moved into doing mostly strength training on Mondays, and some cardio kickboxing on Wednesdays. I still follow both workouts with some additional cardio. I mix it up with the rowing machine, the elliptical, and the bike. I go for ~3k walks on these days at lunch most weeks, and I have decided to run at lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Nothing far (~4-5K), but since my time has been not entirely my own these days, its about the only window I have found to fit in the running I need apart from Sunday mornings. Speaking of the Sunday morning long runs, I have now run 15k without walk breaks! I have also set personal best times for 10K for the last 3 weeks in a row! Fingers crossed that this holds through race day too! For last weeks 15K I did it in 2:03. Previously that had taken me at least 2:18 to do, so that's about 15 min better, or a minute less per km pace.

I have been running for 2 years now, and everyone has been telling me that if I keep at it I will get faster. I had been thinking they were nuts, as it was not happening for me. Till now. I am nowhere near fast. However I am visibly better this past month and I have been feeling so much stronger. I am actually excited for race day, and seeing what I can achieve. My goal is still finish injury free, but if I just run as I have been these last few weekends, I am optimistic that I will have a personal best finish for a half marathon.

Looking back on my two year journey so far, its been quite amazing what I have been able to accomplish. The journey is far from over, but sometimes its motivating to stop and look at how far one has come. From couch potato to run/walking half marathons, to running 15k without walking, and still going. If I can do this, what else can I do?

If I can do this, what can YOU do if you set your mind to it?