I did it!!!!!

Ok so I did it!! and YES I RAN THE WHOLE WAY and it took me 2hr and 16min!

So the getting down there was ok. I took the train at 7:17am and I didn't buy my ticket the day before which I learned I should have cause when I went to buy my ticket the booths were closed!!EEEKKKK! Another person told me I could buy them from the machine but I only had cash on me....Oh man I was freaking trying to figure out what to do. Clearly I HAD to get on the train. So although the ride down was awesome and I got to see a beautiful sunrise I couldn't enjoy it....

I kept looking for the train guy to come check tickets and I was SO scared that I was going to get caught. At one point a girl with the GO train logo on her jacket came down the stairs and walked by and I almost threw-up. I kept thinking how people were going to ask how the race was and I would have to say, " I don't know I was in jail!!!'.........but I got down their ok and bought a proper two way ticket at Union, because that was the right thing to do :)

So I walk up the street to the start line and check my bag and find the purple coral that I was starting in. I realize after that for the first time I wasn't thinking, "OMG!! what are you doing!?"...."How did you get here!?"..." What are you doing!?"..."This is crazy!"....instead I felt right at home and was confident that I knew what I was doing :-D

There was 2200 runners!!! and it took me 11min to cross the start line. Good thing I started my own watch so I knew what my real time was (they start the clock as soon as they blow the horn)

It was pretty crowed to start with and I just keep at a steady pace passing people when there was a gap.In a way this was good because it made sure that I wasn't going too hard to start....the first 5k went really fast and I can't even believe that I am able to say, " The first 5k went great" It reminds me of my first 5k race, the Moon in June in 2010 where I was just dying at the end to finish that!!!

So with the music in my ear and all the other people to watch along the way and the crowed with signs, I was pretty distracted from the pain....and for me the pain starts at about the 7k mark. My hip flexors start to hurt and the quads start to get tired...but then at the 10k mark it kind of goes away....or I just get use to it.....

......however at the 15k mark the pain comes back...deeper....harder...and in more places...and it doesn't go away! :S Oh man my butt and mean ALL of my butt..from the bottom to the top was starting to hurt, my knees were starting to get sore and so where me feet.

So now I'm coming up to the 18k mark and I have to pee....in fact I'm starting to pee myself a lil bit already! (just being honest!)....so I decide at the next and last water station that is coming up I'm going to stop and pee cause it's really uncomfortable trying to hold it in and I want to be able to go full tilt at the end and not piss myself everywhere!

So seeing that there is no line up at the port-a-potty I run into one.....ok didn't really think this through well....my legs can hardly hold me up and there's piss ALL over the seat...so hover right! Well the legs say NO! and I start tipping over to the right and I put my hand down to catch myself then realize I have my hand on the edge of the mens urinal thingy!! GAG! GAG! GAG!!!....So instead I hold the door handle and lean back as best I could and pee. All the time I'm saying to myself, "OMG!! Gail just pee and go, just pee and get out of here!"...this all took probable about 30sec LOL!!!

So off I go once again to finish what I had started...now 3k is a run from my house down to the lake...that's what I kept saying to myself. Also what helped me to stay running is thinking about this week and how all my friends, family and clients will be asking me how I did and me responding with, "YES!!!!! I ran the whole way!" I must have envisioned that like a 1000 times on that last stretch, OH man!

Now running into the finish was good....if only if wasn't a steady UP HILL!!!! It would have been even better....but it is what it is. I thought that I would cry at the end, but instead I couldn't stop smiling and truly It hadn't set in what I just did.......when I got to my hubby and kids the first thing I said to my husband was, " I RAN THE WHOLE WAY!!!!!!"


It was SO great to have my Dad, hubby and kids there with me at the end. I even said to the kids on the way back on the train, " Thank you guys for coming to my race. It was the longest one I have ever done and it really ment a lot that you came".....my 5yrs response was, " You're welcome Mommy!" my 2yrs response, " Mommy race!?...go mommy go!" LOL!!!!....ok so now here comes the tears!

So yesterday my legs were SO sore even my toe nails were sore...and I'm not trying to be funny they really were sore from all the rubbing in my shoe. Today is not as bad....but I wear the pain with pride!


....and it's still sinking in, what I did......wholly shit I ran a HALF MARATHON!!!!!...2yrs ago if anyone had told me I would have done that there's NO way I ever would have believed them!




'Live in YOUR Awesome!'




*ive
*ove
*augh
*******

Check list....

Went down to T.O to get my bib and timing chip with the help of my father and two kids in tow.....CHECK!!






Wrote on the wall of people doing the race in T.O this weekend......CHECK!










Filled out the emergency information on the back of my bib number incase anything happens to me during the race.....CHECK (better to be save then sorry!)








Bought a new sparkly head band for the race....CHECK!!! ( A must!)












Drove part of the route that I will be running tomorrow, along Lakeshore.....CHECK!

Getting pumped for the race and the experience......CHECK!

......ooooo good thing I'm doing this check list I just remembered that I have to pack my Advil....hold on....................

Ok packed my Advil....CHECK!






Filled up all my bottles with Shaklee Performance sport drink for the race to have on my fuel belt.....CHECK!












Have my recovery drink from Shaklee ready and mixed.....CHECK! mmmmm banana flavour! :P







Packed a bag of snacks and lunch for the kids for hubby to bring....CHECK!

Packed all the diapers, wipes, extra pants, coats for the kids........CHECK!

Pack MY bag with all the extra clothes and food I'll need....CHECK!




Doing all the laundry today as I won't be able to walk up and down the stairs for the week......CHECK!

Have my pasta dinner ready to eat tonight in order to 'carb load' for the race.....CHECK!

Drinking TONS of water to hydrate today....CHECK!

Gone to the bathroom 5 million times today due to all the water I'm drinking,....CHECK! (In fact I'm trying to hold my pee while I write this blog :S )


Checked the hourly weather forecast for tomorrow.........CHECK! 10 and sunny! SWEET!!..........

Is ready to 'Live in MY awesome!'......CHECK!!!


Now even MORE pumped for this race!!!!............CHECK!!!!!


WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!

Hope I got it all :)....ok I got'a pee now :S LOL!





'Live in YOUR Awesome!'



*ive
*ove
*augh
*******

Because I half to....

....ok that's me trying to be funny with that title :)

Can you guess another blog about my half marathon that I am doing this Sun. Well it's a big race...well my Triathlon I did in Sept was a big race for me too I just didn't know it going into it.

So it's been an interesting experience for me training for this. First of all I have to run and run and run......so this started to become a problem because I started getting board with just only doing that. Also I ran into times where it was hard to go out to run. Like one Fri night my hubby was working late and now that it's dark so early I can't run, I don't like to run in the dark. So I was stuck at home with the kids. So normally this wouldn't be a problem, I would have just put them to bed and done a workout in front of the TV while catching up on all my taped shows from the week.......but I couldn't do that because I HAD to run. So I did the best I could and had my 4yr ride his bike and had to push the 2yr in the jogging stroller while I ran 5k....now I did need to go a further distance then that but that was the best that I could do that night. Plus I had 4 days where I didn't get anything but a core and arms workout in because hubby was away on a business trip....so I kind of was feeling that I lost a week of training. But then that Sat I ran my 15.5K and felt awesome doing it...so I guess it's all worked out in the end.

So I've done the best with what I was able to do and that's all I can really ask. Race day preps are starting this week and I am just going to do an easy 5K on Fri, plus I'm looking at the train times and maps of T.O so I can understand where to go when I get downtown and also the route that the race will take so that I can prepare mentally as best as I can......really looking forward to seeing my husband, sons and Dad at that finish line :-).....and if once I pass the finish line that means that it is DONE!!!! WOOO HOOO!!!!


Just wanted to share this quote that was in one of the pre-race newsletter that I was sent...



What is a Marathon?
A marathon is a race
without race.
Without color.
Without religion.
Without sex.
Without prejudice.
Without nationality.
Without hate.
A marathon is a race
where everyone starts
as an equal,
and everyone finishes
as a winner.
- Ad by John Hancock Co. at the Boston Marathon



Looking forward to finishing a winner! :)




'Live in YOUR Awesome!'







*ive
*ove
*augh
*******

Making the distance

Ok so hubby was away last week for work. The first time since we have had both kids....gesh! Let me tell you I have A LOT of respect for single parent households even MORE now!!!...So I only got in a 1hr workout while I watched TV one evening, but I didn't get in a run or my long run and race day for my first half marathon is in 2 weeks!!! eekk!

So I was getting worried and once hubby was home I went for a run on the Sat afternoon, it was nice and cool, breezy and sunny perfect! So I was thinking this was not going to be a good run because I did my race on Sun and then hadn't run all week!

But I was sailing and feeling awesome!! I started off on a route that was going to be 13k that's the farthest that I have run so far ( I ran that 2 weeks ago too) when I hit my first 5k mark I was at 30min which when it's not race day is a good time for me. So I was feeling good!

Now always around the 8k mark my hip flexor's and butt are like, "AHHH hellooooooo WTF!" LOL!! But I keep moving. As I was coming back to my house I just felt like getting in one more 1k and having a new farthest distance.....the race IS only in 2 weeks! So I cut across a path behind my house and went in and out of some streets. Then my RunKeeper App told me I was at 14k I thought lets get in ONE more 1k!!!!....what the hell was going on?! I have NEVER made my route longer then I planned....I have made it shorter....but I guess I was in a grove and going with it! So I keep weaving in and out of the streets by my house...my neighbours must have wondered what the heck I was doing! LOL!

So I said to myself that once RunKepper says I hit 15k I can stop and walk.....OH!! did I mention that I hadn't stopped to walk yet!!! :O

But it told me that I hit 15k just as I was running down the street past all the stores and the window to the gym. So I was like ok NO I'm not going to walk by...so I keep running, then I turned the corner to go up my street and I always say, "Let the neighbours see you leave running and coming back running what ever happens in between is my business!" LOL!....

....so I kept running!!!! As I got to my house I feel on the front lawn and almost started crying because for the first time I felt good about my half marathon and knew that I could run the whole 21.5k WOOOOO HOOOO!!!!!

So today...I can't frigg'n walk!! LOL!!! Oh man my quads are so sore and I wear it with pride!...I am SO pumped for my race on the 16th now and really looking forward to having my husband, kids and Dad waiting for me at the finish line. And I just have this vision of when I'm done crying in my husbands arms and saying, " I did it!!! I ran the WHOLE way!!" :-D





'Live in YOUR Awesome!'




*ive
*ove
*augh
*******

The Island Girl race......AWESOME!!!!!!

So I did the Island girl race today and it was AWESOME!!!!! I did the half marathon relay with a girlfriend Steph who has gotten into running herself. So we each ran 10.5k....so to date this is the longest race that I have done.

Now I have been having issues these days with negative thinking while running and REALLY not liking it!! Especially since I have to do a lot of running these days to train for the half marathon that I will be doing in Oct. I was talking to the 'big guy' (God) the other day about this problem and clear as a bell a I just heard a voice say, "Run with me!'.....I thought, "Huh! run with God eh! " Guess I don't have to do it alone if I don't want to.

So Steph went out first so I had sometime to hang out for a bit. The race was on T.O island and I went and sat on the beach and looked out at the lake (it was a beautiful day!! Sunny but with a nice wind) and I did a little praying again.....what came out of it was a few tears and plea from me to the 'big guy'....." I don't care about doing good! I just want to FEEL good!".......

So the run was AWESOME!!!! The warm up of the first 3-4k wasn't so bad as I just started the run with a chillaxed attitude of, "What a beautiful day!...let's go for a run!"......when I got to the 6k mark the route was right beside the water all down the board walk. You couldn't ask for anything better!! The sun was shinning off the water, there was a great breeze and the view of T.O was breath taking........That part of the run saved my butt!!! I was sailing along faster then I thought I could...I even was passing people!!! Now normally in a race I pass people at the start but then later get passed by everyone!!! But this time, I was never mind catching up to people and passing them, but I stayed past them!!!! They never caught up!!?!?!? OMG!!! When I hit the 10k mark my time was at 56min!!! That beat my last best time on a 10k of 60min! I was pumped and feeling good!



Before the race started Steph said to me that she would meet me just before the finish line and run in with me.....I got a little teary eyed I never had that before I had always crossed the finish line by myself.

We hope our finish line picture turns out well and I will post it once they send it out.

I have to say, this was JUST what I needed!!! I feel great...great about my running, great seeing other woman out there and giving me hope today who were running the full half marathon on their own and confident in my abilities with what I am doing and what I will be doing.....just what I needed :-))))))





P.S. Check out all the awesome free stuff we got in our kit! If anyone is thinking of doing a race I HIGHLY recommend this one!!! Because it's all woman it's SO friendly and the route is flat and so nice.....I'll be out there next year doing the full half marathon :-O







'Live in YOUR Awesome!'



*ive
*ove
*augh
*******

Janet's then & now-----> check this girl out!!!!

So I had to share this! Janet has given me permission to show her pic of her then and now. She is a client that I started working with at the start of the summer. So with a mixture of getting her butt kicked by me and doing a running clinic, working out on her own and checking out a bootcamp not only has Janet's looks changed but so has her attitude and self confidence!!

Way to live in your awesome Janet!!!!



'Live in YOUR Awesome!'




*ive
*ove
*augh
*******

Half way thru the challenge!!!

I realized that it was the 15th!!! We are half way through our 30 day challenge...how is everyone doing?
I have remembered everyday to take my vitamins I have them lined up and ready to go in a bowl by my phone cause that is where it will remind me every morning. As the kids are eating I check my phone for work e-mails...it's worked out great!! I even order a bunch more vitamins that I should be taking from Shaklee. I was brought up on this stuff and it has been around for over 30yrs in Canada and even longer in the States. Plus my Dad sells it and is able to tell me all the right stuff to take. If you check out his website and have any questions or want to order something just let me know and I will order it for you at my cost and not the marked up cost....but shhhh don't tell my Dad! LOL! And on a plus side I have also been remembering to give my kids their Shaklee vitamins too!!


So the 30min quit 'me time'... one day I missed it and I am pretty impressed that it has only been one day! I have had 'me time' in the form of, doing my nails, reading the paper rather then just opening it and grabbing the flyers, reading in the afternoon, having a nap (that's my fav) even sitting down to dinner on my own and reading a magazine...instead of gobbling up my food and moving on. It was nice to just stop and enjoy for a moment :) I find it's now become part of my day and I find myself asking "what am I going to do for 'me time' today?"






'Live in YOUR Awesome'



*ive
*ove
*augh
*******