I did it!

On Friday morning Mark and I headed off to the airport, to catch our flight to sunny San Fransisco. The captain on the Air Canada flight gave a shout out to everyone on board involved with team in training. It was very much appreciated because we all worked really hard to get to that point. Five long months of training and fundraising.

When we got to the hotel we checked in, had lunch and headed to union square to pick up my race kit. The race kit was pretty good, some surprising items, like coffee. We walked around the expo and then headed to a sight seeing bus to see San Fran.

Here's some of what we saw.

Saturday night, the night before the big race there was a team in training inspiration dinner. I'm not going to lie I was completely over whelmed. From the moment we walked into the building there were hundreds of people just cheering. This continued all the was down the escalators right to the buffet line. There were some great speakers and stories.

After the dinner I went back to the hotel to get everything ready for the next morning. I was a tad nervous and didn't sleep that much and was wide awake when my alarm went off. I had brought instant oatmeal to make in the coffee maker to eat before the race.

I met the team in the lobby and we walked over to the starting line together. we were there was too early and were standing waiting for over an hour before we actually crossed the starting line.

When my feet crossed that starting mat it was on, I took off! you can check out the professional photos here

It was a packed, tough and beautiful course. I felt like I was running and playing a game of frogger. There were a lot of walkers in front of me, which would be okay if they didn't walk five across. I stayed steady through the hills and the whole course. My ultimate goal would have been to finish my half marathon in under two hours, but I knew that wasn't realistic with the over 2000 feet inclines/declines. My goal time going in was under two and a half hours. Well I'm proud to say my chip time was 2:09:54.

It was great to have Judy, one of the TNT coaches run with me for a little bit, and to see Tiffany and Mark cheering me on down by mile 10. As I turned the corner and saw the finish line I booted it. There was a fire fighter in a tuxedo waiting to give me my Tiffany's finisher necklace. The finish line was really organized and after picking up all my swag I headed down to the TNT tent to stretch and pick up some more food. I had told Mark to meet me there. When I found him, he took these photos.

After these pictures I went down to the beach and went into the ocean. First I went into the water by accident, but then took my shoes off and went in up to my legs. It was a nice ice bath. My feet were sore, but the ocean seemed to do the trick!

The finisher necklace says "I run to be" and there's a spot to get in engraved. I'm still trying to figure out what to put, if you have any suggestions please let me know.

This was an amazing experience for me! I'm honoured I got to complete this run in honour of my mother in law. It was a challenge, but I did it!

Thank you!

Will I get to run?

I know I haven't blogged in a while, I haven't had a lot to say. So imagine my surprise when checking twitter I see that Air Canada Flight Attendants have given strike notice for October 13th. I'm scheduled to fly out with team in training for my first ever half marathon on October 14th.

I've just been getting over my omg I'm terrified for this race phase and into my omg I get to go to San Fransisco phase. Right now as I write this I have no clue if I'll be running, I'm not to optimistic at this point as I can't be flexible on flight dates. It will be beyond disappointing if I don't get to run as I won't be able to reschedule for another event as I won't have any vacation time. I've also been running my heart out, and although I've accomplished distances and times I never thought was possible I had a mission, and one I planed on conquering.

I know this blog post has been kind of run on and all jumbled up, but right now it expresses my opinions, and emotions.

Thanks for your support as always,

Stephanie

Am I Insane?

I'm getting really excited and gearing up for my first ever half marathon. Last week at my boot camp toning class I was the only one to show up and had lots of time to chat with my trainer. I asked him if I was insane to do my first half marathon in San Fransisco. He said yeah kinda, but it's good to challenge yourself. That's what this half marathon will be a HUGE challenge. I was always concerned with the fundraising aspect, but now I'm started to become nervous about the running, and the hills.

I asked my trainer what a reasonable time goal would be. I'm really focused on the number and want to challenge myself and do the best I can. He asked what my goal would be if the course was flat. I said I'd want to do it in two hours or less. He told me to add thirty minutes to account for the hills. To me personally two hours and thirty minutes seems really long. I know I have to be proud to just accomplish and finish this race, but I also really want a good time.

I was google mapping out the race to see the hills and elevation, and I'm scared. It's always good to have some nerves before a race it can help, but hopefully doing hill repeats this week will help build my confidence!

In other running news I ran 26.89km on Friday, 12km of that in the pouring rain. That's the furthest I've ever run. I did it just to prove I could. So naturally now I'm going to get a pretty new running outfit from lululemon... anything my heart desires!

Thanks as always for your support!

Stephanie

I guess I'm a runner....

Today on a lovely Sunday run with my friend Jenn we got to talking about how I started running and my feelings on running then. It was almost two years ago that I started running. I joined a learn to run clinic with the running room. I would go out and practice running one minute running one minute walking, building up to running ten minutes and walking one minute. I use to go over to the track to run, because I was worried about looking like a fool walk/running through the streets.

I remember running around the track thinking I don't know how people do this? I don't think I will ever do a 10km race, I don't know how people run for an hour. Two 10km races later I thought I'll never do anything longer than a 10km I don't know how people run for that long. Now having run a 15km race, and having run 21 and 23 kilometers I'm starting to wonder if I'm going to want to do a marathon.

Now I've always said running a marathon is my definition of insane, but at the same time I've had a personal goal of running a marathon on the great wall of China (go big or go home).

This week I want to go run 25km just to prove I can do it. My reward will be some new work out clothes, and maybe a running skirt!

Today it finally hit me.... I guess I've become a runner....

Fundraising thus Far

With 35 days left until my big race I thought I'd take some time and update you on my fundraising progress. There are several people that without their support this race would not be a reality for me.

My biggest donor has been my parenting weighing in at a whooping $900. Both my parents made donations, then my dad gave me $50 of loose change. They topped off their donations with selling a set of car tires they no longer needed and donating the profits. Part of me thinks they donated soo much because they didn't think I could do it on my own. I'm happy to have their support and happy that because of it I will be able to run my heart out!

My cousin Alex is another huge supporter! She held a loose change fundraiser on my behalf and vowed to match donations up to $100. She did amazing, asking co-workers, friends, family and strangers for donations tipping the scale at $243.43. Her donation was the one that put me over my fundraising minimum of $3500.

As you know my fundraising events didn't go very well, and I wasn't able to actually be successful with any of them. I'm thankful for everyone that sponsored me. From $1 to $900 I appreciate every single donation. Its helped restore my faith in people and help me know that I can do this race!

If you were considering sponsoring me and haven't yet, please do, there's still time!

Each dollar you sponsor keeps me running! And run I do! 23km on Saturday afternoon!

Thanks, as always for your support!

Stephanie

Weekend Update

Hey guys,

I wanted to update you on how I'm doing. I'm doing really well. As I've mentioned before my cousin Alex was hosting a fundraiser for me. She had a bucket at her desk at work and asked for loose change from friends, co-workers, family and strangers! She did AMAZING! She managed to collect $173.43 in change.... in change! That's pretty freaking amazing. The best part was she agreed to match up to $100 so the grand total was $273.43!!! I'm really thankful for all Alex as done, it really means a lot!

My mother in law also dropped off a bag of change she didn't think it'd be much but it was $26.50. If anyone has change they want to get rid of, I'll gladly take it, and add it to a great cause!

Now that I've surpassed $3500, I'm trying to get up to $4000 or above, so keep the love and support coming!!

My running is coming along, but I have a confession, I've been getting my miles in but I haven't been doing hills. My goal for the week is hills! I need to get them in now so that it makes my race easier. You can't cram hill training I know, but I'll do my best to get more in.

I find I'm really getting into a groove when I'm running, and I'm *gasp* starting to love it. I'm becoming a runner.. and saving lives!

Thanks as always for your support.

Stephanie

Update

Wow! I haven't blogged in a while, but at last I am blogging instead of lying in bed, that's commitment! Ever since I signed up with team in training my biggest fear and concern was fundraising. I didn't know if I could do it, it really seemed like an impossible task. I'm happy to report I'm gonna destroy my fundraising minimum and decided to raise my goal up to $4000. Now I'll be the first to admit if my parents didn't donate $900 I wouldn't be this far ahead. But what can I say they hate cancer!

I have two fundraising events this weekend and would love your help/support! On Saturday I have a tag day. That's where I stand outside of the LCBO at Eglinton and Laird and ask people for money. I'm not sure how it will go but I need people to help me! I can't/don't want to do it alone! On Sunday I'm having a loose change party, I'm not sure if anyone will show up, even my husband RSVP'ed maybe, but maybe a person or two will show up. I'd love to show off my condo and amazing roof top patio, so hit me up if you want the details!

On Saturday I went out for a morning run and ran 21km. I'm shocked, it wasn't hard, it wasn't difficult, it was nice. I am shocked to say I actually enjoyed it. I may be a runner....

That's all for now, but I hope to see you on the weekend!

Thanks, as always for your support!

Stephanie