I have a half marathon under my belt

*photos to come*

I had a fabulous first half marathon this morning! The gun went off at 7:30 am.  The weather was cool, but bright. I felt great! What a thrilling experience to run with SO many runners etc. Wow. I highly recommend the Royal Victoria Marathon/Half Marathon! Victoria, BC is just beautiful. I look forward to racing here next year! I hope Cliff can run the half, and I can run the full! Bring it on!!

My official chip time for 21.1 km was 1:53:36 with an average pace of 5:24 km. I now have the racing bug that is for sure. I have plans to run one more half marathon in February 2009. And then, it is time to train for my first marathon.

I just wanted to say congratulations to my running buds who ran so well! I am so proud of all of you marathoners, and half marathoners. Way to go! 

I especially want to say a special thanks to my darling husband Cliff for supporting me, and watching all of the kids so I could go out and do my thing! I love you! And thank you to Cameron and Courtney for cheering me on too! I have had the best weekend!

RVM here I COME!

Well, I cannot believe we leave tomorrow for the race! I am so full of emotion! All good emotion! This race is so big to me! I am FINALLY reaching a goal I have had in my heart for several years! 

I have everything purchased, the kids are organized, my husband is organized. We had a setback with my daughter Catie jumping off the couch and putting a huge gash in her forehead last night. She required 7 stitches to close up the hole. I have never seen so much blood. Thankfully today she is 'back to normal' with everything. Just wound  care. It could have been SO much worse.

Anyways, so today we rested with Catie, ran errands and got our stuff ready. Tonight, after the kids are all in bed we will pack and get our stuff all ready to go. Cliff has a dental appointment in the am and then we head! 

I am unsure of what to run in, but I heard the weather will be beautiful so I will pack everything to do with running! LOL. I also bought a throw away shirt with hearts all over it, and I bought myself a new set of bottles, and a race number thinger. It is cool. Anyways! Mentally I am so there, now the pack up and we are good to go!

I have big list, but it will be easy to pack up because I am prepared!  We will bring my new camera phone, and perhaps take a photo or two of the weekend away.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

This Sunday

I am running my very first half marathon. I have been wanting to do this distance of race for about three years now. Finally, it is the week before. Six day until I make my mark at the start line. 21.2 kilometres. 

I am a jumble of emotion, nerves, excitement. Woo! And, tomorrow is my 37th birthday. What a great way to start off my 37th year! 

I am just thankful to have legs, and a strong body that carry me day to day. Run while I am able. I try not to take for granted the gifts I am given.

I am blessed.

My run yesterday morning

I went for a 14+ km run that started out with thunder and lightening. Then a huge downpour of rain. More thunder and lightening, then sun! That was the most different run I have ever done LOL.

I have been keeping very well. My runs are getting longer, next Sunday I run 16 kms. This week a straight tempo 6 km on Tuesday, and on Wednesday is hill training. We are up to 6 hills.

My race day is about 8 weeks away. But, I am thinking weaning Courtney is not going as smoothly as I had hoped, and this race is not local. I have to go on a Ferry, and stay in a hotel. We were planning on staying for 2 nights (sans children), but now I am thinking I may not run the official race. Just keep with the training. I will be eventually running 20 kms so that will be a huge accomplishment for now. But, I have already paid 70 dollars to go there and do it. SOOOOO. Not too sure. We may just go on the ferry, with Courtney, sleep over, I race and then come home. Only one night. Just get it done!

Or, I continue on with my running. I join another half marathon training that starts end of October (I was going to do this one anyways) and do the Historic Half right in my town. It is on the Valentines Day weekend in February 2009. My breastfeeding will be over by then!! That might be a better scenario. Although not what I really wanted right now.

What to do. What to do. My husband has put on 20 pounds, so September 2nd I am going to try to help him get back on track. I know he is not happy with this gain, but his life has been pretty stressful since his Dad died. So, I am sure there will be some more bloggin' going on around here in the next little while.