So, I have not posted anything for over a year. Mainly because I am lazy, and busy with life. That's not to say I have not been out there, running! So let me catch you up on what I have been up to since my first half marathon and last post.
After the Toronto Waterfront half, I did my best to stay motivated and running throughout the winter. It was tough running in snowy cold Ottawa, but I managed to get out 1-2 times a week, and if the Sunday longrun was often more walk than run, well at least we (my running buddies and I) were out there and being active. To help motivate ourselves, we signed up for the Winterman 10K race, in February. This is traditionally held on the last weekend of Winterlude, and in 2015, this also happened to coincide with the coldest spell of the entire winter. The morning of the race, it was -29 celcius with a -40 windchill. The wind was whipping, and snow was blowing up the embankment to the road the race was held on, blasting our faces and covering the road in snow. I did the race wearing 4 layers on my legs, 5 layers on my top, down mittens, a thick fleece hat, and a fleece face mask that covered my nose, ears, and neck. My lashes were covered in ice when I got done, and many participants had to be checked for frost bite. However, I finished! Slow, but since a lot of registrants chickened out, I ended up fifth in my category. Made it seem like I was way more awesome than I am LOL.
Winterman Bling!
Those of you that have read my blogs so far know that I had signed up to do the Tinkerbell Half in Anaheim California in May of 2015. Well, I did it! It was a tough race, as I came down with a shin splint around kilometer 15 or so, and had to walk most of the rest of the race. That said, it was so much fun. So many participants were in costumes, and running through the Disney park, including some of the areas behind the scenes, was truly a treat. I finished the race only a few minutes slower than my first half, which I was pleased with given the walking.
Meeting Tinkerbell
Past the Disney Castle
Photo-op with some Fairies
Finished!
The Bling!!!
I had to rest a bit after this race, but I still felt up for doing the Perth Kilt Run, in Perth, Ontario in June. This is an 8 km race, and all participants must wear a proper kilt. It holds the Guinness record for most kilt wearing runners in a race. I walked a lot of it, as did not want to overdo my leg while it was healing, and also it was dang hot running in a kilt! I still finished looking strong and fast :) For finishing, I got a spurtle, some shortbread cookies, and beer. What a race!
Historic Perth, Ontario
Looking fast, but not really.
Finishing!
Since many of my friends and supporters had commented that I should run a local half marathon, I signed up for the Army Run half in September 2015. Training went very well, and I was optimistic that I might finally finish a half in under 3 hours. However, I put my back out a week before the race. It felt fine after a few days, so I opted to run. I set a PB for 10K and was pacing with the 2:45 race bunny. But my back was not happy and by just after half way, I was forced to start walking. I walked dang fast, and kept pushing. I finished in a lot of pain, but set a new PB for a half marathon, despite the walking! Needless to say, I holed up and did nothing for several weeks after the race, to allow time for things to heal.
Coming back from the QC side
Heading to the finish, despite the pain
Finishing!
Next up will be the Winterman 10K again next month (Feb 14). I am hoping for better weather than last year heheh. I will not be fast, as I have been fighting some virus thing since before Christmas, but I will get out there anyways and do my best.
Then I AM BACK FOR MY SECOND TNT RACE!!!! That's right! I have registered with Team in Training again, and this time will be doing another local Ottawa race, the Tamarack Ottawa Half Marathon!. End of May is the time frame. So here I go again, raising funds, and getting myself in shape in order to support the cause that got me started with running.
As I write this, its coming up on two years since Kerry passed away. I am sure many of you want to know how that part of my life is going as well. It's going okay. Actually, some might say better than okay. I am getting out there and doing things I have always wanted to do, and living life. Kerry wanted me to keep going, wanted me to enjoy myself. Knowing that, how could I do anything else without disrespecting his memory? I did the Tinkerbell race, and went to California by myself. Yes, I went to Disney by myself too and had a blast on the rides! I took a three day performance driving course, and drove cars at speeds in excess of 200kph!!! I am doing another course this summer, and likely will hit the local track in my own car for some fun too. I am headed to Italy for three weeks this coming fall. I am dating again. I am singing with a choir group and will perform again this year at Bluesfest (yup, I sang at Ottawa Bluesfest last summer. How many of you can say that? :) ) I smile often, and laugh lots.
Does the above mean I have forgotten Kerry? No. Not even close. I miss him every day. The hole is still present in my heart. I believe it always will be. However, I am finding that I am dealing with the pain better and better every passing day. The hole is there, but I am building up some amazing things around it. Do I still cry sometimes? You bet I do. Particularly right now, as the memories of our last days together rear up vivid and urgent. Yet I feel that I have to live, and live well, or else all that he and I had together would be for naught. Moving on without him is not something I ever thought I would be doing, or anything I wanted to do, however, that's precisely what I have to do in order to give meaning to our love. Its like I have to live for two now, and most of the time, I am living fully, joyfully, and for every moment.
No comments:
Post a Comment