endorphin_junkie
Cathlete
Hi all
I posted this in the Cheetah check-in but wanted to share my experience with all y'all because I love hearing your stories and reading about other people's runs. The half was run through Prince Edward County Ontario (West Lake to Picton). It's a gorgeous island extending into Lake Ontario, it's surrounded by water, nature and I've had the pleasure of exploring it since I was a child. There are fine white sandbanks, historic farms and in the past 10 years they have replaced a lot of the apple orchards with vineyards. The setting has huge sentimental value to me so when my best friend asked me in May if I would run this with her, before I could think the word 'Yes' flew from my mouth and launched me on a 4 month journey that I loved/hated and wouldn't have missed for the world!!
I ran the entire course 2 weeks ago in 2:22:27 and thought that perhaps I could shave that down a bit some but it wasn't to be and I'm so very fine with that. I ran it in 2:27:14, not bad for a 44 y.o. who up until May had only run 5K less than a handful of times in her lifetime I suspect my waining cold, lack of sleep this week and going to a wedding the night before the race affected my results.
I woke before the alarm yesterday at 5:40, had a coffee and breakfast and headed to Belleville to my running buddy Ruth's place 45 minutes away so that we could drive to the event together. We talked about taking it easy at the start but, man!! that was much harder than I thought it would be, so much anticipation and energy at the start!! Once we made our way to the start line we had about 45 minutes before the gun to socialise (I was surprised at how many people I knew and it was festive and fun) I had a pre-event massage and when I came out of the tent they announced that the lead marathoners were about to come through, we gathered to cheer them, it was such a beautiful sight and I shed some quiet tears as I watched them breeze through. Then it was our turn, they called us to the start and before I knew it I was running with a wave of human energy the likes of which I have never felt before. The first leg of the race is gorgeous, smells of pine and cedar and the glory of the fall colours everywhere. Once I broke a sweat it was a fabulous start. We rounded a curve and ran along Lake Ontario Sandbanks and I was moved beyond words. My husband, 3 kids and I spent countless days at these beaches during his last year and a half with us (when he was in his words 'retired with children'). I felt him with me as the wind surrounded and cooled me and felt so grateful to have lived in his light. I was struck by the fact that had cancer not claimed his health I would never have seen my own health for the gift that it truly is. Through knowing him, loving him and sharing his life and death I have been given the opportunity to explore things that I never would have dreamed I was capable of. I choked up and it was hard to breathe so I shifted my focus and chatted with Ruth a bit. We could see the ears of the 2:20 pace bunny ahead of us and both thought it would be a good idea to stay close to that group. Well, the group cleared to reveal the rest of the pace bunny's fine physiqe and what a posterior physique it was!!!! We had some silly fun enjoying the view and fine form of our 'pace booty' and stuck with them for quite a while. I will say the first 13k of the run felt wonderful! Having the water stations every 2k really helped and the bell ringing, cheering spectators warmed my heart! Ruth started to pull ahead and I wished her well. I realised that I had started too strong and began taking walk breaks. About 2k before the finish the streets were lined and I joked with some people and had a lot of fun. Running through downtown Picton I felt like a superstar to hear all of the cheering, I was running out of gas and it showed, I never would have guessed that strangers looking me in the eye and saying 'You can do this', 'You're doing GREAT',...could mean so much!! I saw the finish line about 750m away and knew that my Girls and my Mom would be there, I thought 'I'll walk one more time so I can sprint', I started to walk and an angel of an older gentleman said 'keep running Girl, I want to walk too!' I smiled and picked up the pace and said 'I'll run behind you' and he said 'No, I'm running with you, I've got lots of friends behind me pushing me to finish'. Then I saw my 3 Girls on the sidelines running toward me and started to feel a wave of emotion. They were so beautiful, proud and LOUD!! I sprinted for, maybe 5 strides then started to cry (a HAPPY cry), the whole experience of the past 4 months and so many other things welled up in me and I couldn't hold it back. I finished upright and smiling on the inside but was crying the UGLY cry on the outside I felt so incredible I can't describe it. My running Angel came and gave me a huge hug and then I was off to find the Girls and Mom. It was such a fabulous day and experience and I am humbled to have been a part of it. It's an awesome thing, my training was predominantly solitary but yesterday I felt like I was part of something so big, positive and affirming. LIFE IS GOOD!!!
If you made it this far thanks for sharing my experience
Take Care
Laurie
I posted this in the Cheetah check-in but wanted to share my experience with all y'all because I love hearing your stories and reading about other people's runs. The half was run through Prince Edward County Ontario (West Lake to Picton). It's a gorgeous island extending into Lake Ontario, it's surrounded by water, nature and I've had the pleasure of exploring it since I was a child. There are fine white sandbanks, historic farms and in the past 10 years they have replaced a lot of the apple orchards with vineyards. The setting has huge sentimental value to me so when my best friend asked me in May if I would run this with her, before I could think the word 'Yes' flew from my mouth and launched me on a 4 month journey that I loved/hated and wouldn't have missed for the world!!I ran the entire course 2 weeks ago in 2:22:27 and thought that perhaps I could shave that down a bit some but it wasn't to be and I'm so very fine with that. I ran it in 2:27:14, not bad for a 44 y.o. who up until May had only run 5K less than a handful of times in her lifetime I suspect my waining cold, lack of sleep this week and going to a wedding the night before the race affected my results.
I woke before the alarm yesterday at 5:40, had a coffee and breakfast and headed to Belleville to my running buddy Ruth's place 45 minutes away so that we could drive to the event together. We talked about taking it easy at the start but, man!! that was much harder than I thought it would be, so much anticipation and energy at the start!! Once we made our way to the start line we had about 45 minutes before the gun to socialise (I was surprised at how many people I knew and it was festive and fun) I had a pre-event massage and when I came out of the tent they announced that the lead marathoners were about to come through, we gathered to cheer them, it was such a beautiful sight and I shed some quiet tears as I watched them breeze through. Then it was our turn, they called us to the start and before I knew it I was running with a wave of human energy the likes of which I have never felt before. The first leg of the race is gorgeous, smells of pine and cedar and the glory of the fall colours everywhere. Once I broke a sweat it was a fabulous start. We rounded a curve and ran along Lake Ontario Sandbanks and I was moved beyond words. My husband, 3 kids and I spent countless days at these beaches during his last year and a half with us (when he was in his words 'retired with children'). I felt him with me as the wind surrounded and cooled me and felt so grateful to have lived in his light. I was struck by the fact that had cancer not claimed his health I would never have seen my own health for the gift that it truly is. Through knowing him, loving him and sharing his life and death I have been given the opportunity to explore things that I never would have dreamed I was capable of. I choked up and it was hard to breathe so I shifted my focus and chatted with Ruth a bit. We could see the ears of the 2:20 pace bunny ahead of us and both thought it would be a good idea to stay close to that group. Well, the group cleared to reveal the rest of the pace bunny's fine physiqe and what a posterior physique it was!!!! We had some silly fun enjoying the view and fine form of our 'pace booty' and stuck with them for quite a while. I will say the first 13k of the run felt wonderful! Having the water stations every 2k really helped and the bell ringing, cheering spectators warmed my heart! Ruth started to pull ahead and I wished her well. I realised that I had started too strong and began taking walk breaks. About 2k before the finish the streets were lined and I joked with some people and had a lot of fun. Running through downtown Picton I felt like a superstar to hear all of the cheering, I was running out of gas and it showed, I never would have guessed that strangers looking me in the eye and saying 'You can do this', 'You're doing GREAT',...could mean so much!! I saw the finish line about 750m away and knew that my Girls and my Mom would be there, I thought 'I'll walk one more time so I can sprint', I started to walk and an angel of an older gentleman said 'keep running Girl, I want to walk too!' I smiled and picked up the pace and said 'I'll run behind you' and he said 'No, I'm running with you, I've got lots of friends behind me pushing me to finish'. Then I saw my 3 Girls on the sidelines running toward me and started to feel a wave of emotion. They were so beautiful, proud and LOUD!! I sprinted for, maybe 5 strides then started to cry (a HAPPY cry), the whole experience of the past 4 months and so many other things welled up in me and I couldn't hold it back. I finished upright and smiling on the inside but was crying the UGLY cry on the outside I felt so incredible I can't describe it. My running Angel came and gave me a huge hug and then I was off to find the Girls and Mom. It was such a fabulous day and experience and I am humbled to have been a part of it. It's an awesome thing, my training was predominantly solitary but yesterday I felt like I was part of something so big, positive and affirming. LIFE IS GOOD!!!
If you made it this far thanks for sharing my experience
Take Care
Laurie
