Mid-Summer Night's Run - 30k Race - Toronto - August 17, 2013

The power of the mind is a fascinating thing.  This is a compelling statement, one that I could not relate to until this race. 

Running this race would be tricky for me.  I am a morning runner so running an evening race was going to be different for me.  My training included battling a hamstring/glute injury along with other issues (popped a rib in my back and an inflamed varicose vein).  I remember feeling very uneasy about even going to do the race the day before leaving for Toronto.  My trainer said to me, "You will be fine - you've got this.  Remember, you don't need your legs for running only your mind".  Laughing, I said, "right".  Little did I know how much that comment would mean to me later.

I convinced myself that I had done everything possible to run this race.  Training included running three times a week, cross training and strength training to help build my muscles.  My diet was consistent.  I am a believer in eating well 80% of the time.  It's important to treat yourself occasionally, but I fuel my body to exercise not exercise to eat.  Regular visits to my massage therapist and physiotherapist were common.  Who says only elite athletes have support systems to keep them healthy!  I joke all the time with my RMT and physiotherapist that they will have to come on the road with me when I race to help me recover.  If only I had the funds, I definitely would do that.

I hit the road with my running partner, Irene, and my best friend Karen.  Irene was doing the 30k as well, and Karen was doing her very first 15k race.  It was a great trip down - women never run out of things to talk about, so the trip went fast.

The race had changed venues to Toronto islands.  This race was normally held near the beaches in Toronto.  Unfortunately, this probably hurt the organization of the race.  Although you can expect some issues when you change venues, it was, unfortunately, extremely poorly organized.  Obviously, they could not close down the island to the general users, so you dodged people walking, on bikes and children appearing suddenly in front of you when you raced.

It was a beautify, sunny and hot day so there were many people heading across to run, picnic, ride bikes, etc.  The view of the city across the lake was very pretty.  It took us an hour to get across, so we headed off to the start line.  We wished Karen luck as she was starting after us.

We stayed positive and went on our merry way.  5kms in, pain started in my leg where I didn't have Physio tape.  It was proof that Physio tape does work folks - yeah!  I should have taped up both of my legs like a "mummy" then I would have been fine.  I thought to myself, "Oh crap, I have to run 25 more kilometers like this" and told Irene I was in pain.

Irene told me about a technique called "Mindfulness".  This is the heightened awareness of a current state or condition without judgment.  You are facing a negative situation, and you have to decide what you can do and what you want to do about it.  You have your brain acknowledge the situation not dwelling on it.  The more we focus on it, the worse it becomes because our brain is heightening that experience of it.  I thought to myself "Okay, you're in pain, do you want to quit?" - anybody who knows runners know we don't quit unless it is a real threat to our health - so no, I wasn't quitting.  "Do you want to finish?" - yes.  I acknowledged the pain, and then turned my attention to something else positive so I could finish my task at hand - getting across the finish line.  The pain went into a numbing state and then awhile later my brain would send another message saying to me "Hello, you are still in pain!", at which I said to myself "yes, I know" and again I focused on something else.  This went on throughout the race.  It was kind of like the "squirrel" line in "UP".  I needed a distraction.

I thought about a few things that brought me to this point.  Number one, I instantly thought of my trainer's comment "Remember, you don't need your legs to run, just your mind".  The other thing that was great was that on our race shirts was the comment "Race, not with your feet but with your Mind!", and on the back, it had "Mind over Matter".  Lastly, I had my running partner, Irene supporting me.  We have been running together for 2 years now, and we truly are a great team.  We talk, have fun, and support each other when needed.

I knew this race would not be a personal best for me, so I had to let go of that goal.  Irene and I decided we could run across the finish line together, arms up, united in strength.  It was dark when we crossed.  My finish time was 3:24:09.  Definitely not my best, but it was a race that I learned a lot about myself.

I was thrilled to see my best friend Karen waiting for us at the finish line.  Karen rocked her race, I knew that she would.  I am so proud of her.  Karen has grown in her running and strength training so much.  She is ready to do a half with me - I think I'll register her.  I tend to do that to her - smile -

It was unfortunate the organization of the race put a damper on our glory of finishing and enjoying the whole experience, but every race teaches you lessons.  I definitely learned a few:

• I won't run a personal best every time I race.  That was a lesson learned, and I'm okay with that.  Sometimes it's good enough to come across a finish line.  I have to learn to enjoy the "getting there" more than what time it took me to get there.
• The mind is a powerful thing.  We all have the power of our minds to get us through things.
• Lastly, you don't need your legs to run, only your mind, thanks John.

I want to thank everyone who supported me for this race; it truly has meant a lot.  My body needs to recoup this winter.  I will be cutting back on my running and concentrating on other things so I can come back stronger to race next summer and/or fall.  I will be focusing on my strength training and swimming this winter.  And as for my mind, it's always ready to Think Strong, Be Strong and Finish Strong for my next physical challenge.

Everyone should set a goal - big or small.  Onward and upwards folks!

The Big One - my first marathon experience



Niagara Falls International Marathon, October 2012

Many people, as they approach “the big 5-0” feel compelled to do something momentous before they get “old”.  I wanted to complete a marathon; not because I was turning 50 this year but because I love to run and I felt I was ready and prepared to complete one.  My mantra is “Age is a State of Mind”. 

I was not new to running, but even though I had often completed 5-kilometre and 10-kilometre runs, I had never tackled a longer distance.  I was encouraged to train for a half- marathon by my friend Jessica Valiquette.  Jessica and her friend Denise Clement are experienced runners and I enjoy reading about their adventures on runningsidebyeach.

In 2011, I completed my first half-marathon, at the Scotia Bank Toronto Waterfront event and discovered that I thoroughly enjoy running long distances.  What a thrill to have run in the same race that 100-year-old Fauja Singh completed!

Naturally, I progressed to the Around the Bay Road Race the following March- a 30 kilometre race held in Hamilton.   I knew I was ready to run a full marathon when I finished this race.  I was remarkably relaxed and had a lot of energy left.    

I settled on the Niagara Falls International Marathon; the only marathon in the world that starts in one country and finishes, in another.  It was a chilly, but sunny start on October 21, 2012.  I did not have my running partner, Irene Nizzero, at my side, and my nerves were starting to escalate.  The participants were bussed across to Buffalo, New York, where a customs officer clears you for entry into the U.S.  Your racing bib is essentially your passport and must be visible when crossing the bridge back into Canada.

Most long distance races have pace bunnies.  Pace bunnies are great because they help one finish the race in the time they are pacing.  They tell someone when to run and when to walk - if it is a run/walk pacer.  Desperate to find a pace bunny, I searched until I found him just before the start.

Off we went, but I was not able to keep the schedule he was setting, so I broke off from the pack after 10 kilometres.  Intimidation set in as I was now on my own, except for my trusty iPod shuffle, but I just kept reassuring myself that I could do it.  I heard my trainer’s words “you’ve got this” playing over and over in my head. My strategy was to tackle the race five kilometres at a time, and I soon found my groove.

My supporters, which consisted of my husband, best friend, and her husband, stood out with inspirational signs starting at the
30-kilometre point.  I felt fantastic when I saw them, and they made me laugh.  My favourite saying was “Humpty Dumpty had wall issues too”.

Five kilometres away from the finish line, I did feel like Humpty Dumpty, and I had hit the infamous “wall”.   Everyone experiences the wall differently, but for me, I felt sick to my stomach, my legs had a hard time turning over and I had totally lost my confidence.

My best friend approached me to see what was wrong, and I said “I do not think I can finish”.  She reminded me that I had been training since June and that I was prepared to do this.  She encouraged me to keep running, and when I heard the crowd, run as fast I could.

So I did.  It is hard to describe the power of cheers from people when one gets close to a finish line.  Near the end of a race, your adrenaline kicks in and one gets inspired to finish as strong as possible.  It is almost like you do not want to let the crowd down, so you get the courage to keep going.  When I heard the cheers, I sped up and passed people as I approached the finish line!

John Stanton, the founder of the Running Room was announcing the finishers and what a thrill it was to hear “Wow, look how strong she is coming in!”. For those of you who aren't familiar with John Stanton check out the video.

Five kilometres away from the finish line I had been saying to myself "I will never run a marathon again" but as soon as I finished I was saying "I wonder which race I will do next".  It is a strange feeling you have, once you finish a marathon.  Denise describes it well on their blog, runningsidebyeach, as being "lost".  I totally agree.  You invest so much time in training for this momentous event and then it is done, you wonder "what now?".  I have found that setting goals works for me.  If I have a goal that I am working towards, then there is a greater chance of me achieving it.

For now, I am training so I will be stronger and racing smaller races along my journey to my two ultimate goals.  My ultimate goals are to run in the Boston Marathon and to run the Goofy Race in Walt Disney World.  The Goofy race consists of running a half-marathon one day and a full marathon the next day.  Some people say runners are crazy and maybe we are but nothing beats the rush.

Happy running everyone!