Why Not?!

So...I had a crazy thought today - and of course this thought came to me in the most inspiring of places...THE SHOWER! haha. I am convinced that most great ideas are hatched here.  I was reflecting on the fact that in only 8 short weeks I will be lining up for my next milestone event when I found myself asking the simple question...

"Could we hit $10,000?"  

After a hugely successful fundraising effort last year, in which our Laceup4Lupus team raised almost $7000 I have spent the last 10 months quietly pining for what comes next.  Truth be told I had GRAND PLANS for the project - A bigger team with more ambitious goals...Of course, Oprah would be calling and I would be turning away mass media opportunities. So, that hasn't happened, but some pretty cool stuff has.

Following Stewart Mnt. Trail Run

1) I was selected to participate in the POLAR Ambassador program and have been spoiled rotten by this great company.  I've never been much of a 'tech-hound' when it comes to running, but I have become rather addicted to my heart rate monitor.

2) I had a summer filled with wonderful adventures, including some awesome trail runs in the Gutbuster events, run club outings to Hurricane Ridge and the Sooke Hills, the Victoria Half Marathon and Thetis Lake Trail Series!

3) I'm on my way to BERLIN & VIENNA to run my first races outside of BC! To add to that excitement I will be running them with my Dad.  You may recall that Dad and I did his first 5k together last April. Both his commitment and mileage have been increasing over the year.  This is a huge accomplishment and an opportunity I wasn't about to pass up.

Victoria 1/2 Marathon, 2012

SO...I figured, why not see what we can accomplish in 8 short weeks. Can we break $10,000?  I realize that many of you supported me last year, so please know that your continued support is greatly appreciated.  I haven't assembled a team and have no big plans for fundraising activities, b/c well...truth be told there aren't enough hours in the day. BUT...if each of you reading this can help spread the word I bet we can meet this goal!  

Lets get started, shall we?! 

All we need is $3000 in 8 weeks!

CLICK to:

DONATE NOW

I've left my previous posts up, so feel free to cruise around the site and learn a bit about this disease and what motivates me to Lace Up.

Time to Reflect - Part 1 / On Your Mark...Set...

So...After 4 long months of winter training, and over 900km logged, 

it's all behind me. 

This sentiment isn't really true, because running, much like life will always just be 'THERE'. It just that things won't ever quite be the same. It is true however, that the BMO Vancouver Marathon of 2012 is behind me, but with each step forward I carry the lessons learned (some harder than others) over those months.

I am sorry my wrap-up entry has taken me so long to write. In all honesty I needed some quiet time to reflect on the event. In the end, I know it was about so much more, I can see that, but on May 6th it was all about the Marathon and the questions...Was I ready? Was I fit enough? Was I tough enough? In my heart I know the answer to those questions was a resounding yes, but it didn't come together as I had so clearly visualized.

I headed to Vancouver a couple days prior to race day to spend time with family (some of whom had traveled a mighty far distance to cheer me on) and to get a little swept up in the hustle and bustle. The Marathon banners lined the streets and the forecast was showing nothing was sunshine and blue skies for race day.  Dad and I made our way to the Expo on Friday and picked up my race package - along with a pair of amazing pink socks that had RACE DAY written all over 'em.

Saturday, Kat and I took dad's Porsche for a cruise around the first 15km so we could get a sense for the elevation gain and we both felt pretty confident that the hills were no match for our training!  The rest of the day was spent getting my bags packed for the morning, and enjoying some quiet time reflecting on the past four months. 

 I also spent some time meditating on my 'words to run by'. 

The mission was simple, leave 'em all on the road. 

From SMILE to PERSISTENCE and COURAGE to CHAMPION.

FUNDRAISING UPDATE: $6,922

Kat, Shari and I

 In total LaceUp4Lupus had six runners taking part in the event!  Three full marathoners and three half marathoner. We all got together on Saturday night and were treated to box seats at the Whitecaps game where the seasoned runners talked strategy and pre-race meal plans while the first timers did everything to calm their nerves. It was a wonderful way for us all to share in the anticipation.

Cheerin' on the 'Caps

 After the game it was just about time to hit the hay, but not without a quick stop to see my cheer squad that made the trip over from Victoria earlier that day.  They sent me off with well wishes for a sound sleep and the promise of big cheers at the start line! I met Shari, Kat and Shari's sister Deb at our hotel and we shared some laughs in our pre-race rituals. I'm convinced the girls were all jealous of my magic food sac!

Just as I was tucking into bed for a totally broken, restless sleep I received the most wonderful gift. A text, nudging me to check my inbox...and there, waiting for me was a personalized video created by a dear friend back home with well wishes from some of my closest mates and of course Lee (who wasn't able to make the trip). I laughed, I cried, I felt loved. I promised to keep the video a secret to protect those who like to dress in costume, but the message was clear...GO WITH THE FLOW...JUST GO WITH THE FLOW!

CHECK BACK SOON FOR PART 2 - Full Race Recap!

 It's not too late to sponsor the team!  

CLICK HERE TO HELP US BREAK $7000!!!

A little inspiration

All smiles after the TC10K

As the Marathon draws closer I find it harder to strike a balance between sittin' back, relaxin' and enjoyin' the ride and getting caught up in the pressure and expectations I have been so keenly focused on for the past four months. What I know in my runner's soul is that at the end of the day, I will not be disappointed in how this all plays out. The success of LaceUp4Lupus, the unconditional love and support of friends and family and the deepened friendships that have come from this project have already made me feel like I've won this race!

With that being said...don't for a second think that I have lost my competitive edge. I will go to bed tonight and the night after thinking of one thing...Being strong! Race morning will be spent visualizing all the little checks and balances that will be nagging me for 42K.

Felt well rested and peppy for the TC10K

Last week's taper was really quite lovely. I had a dreamy experience at the TC10K and enjoyed a couple lazy runs with girlfriends. Between these runs I also had two radio interviews, which gave me a chance to chat about the project and the team. It felt so great to sing the praises of everyone's efforts and put it out there that we will be looking for runners to join in for Fall events.

FUNDRAISING UPDATE: $6547.00 | Donate HERE

Now...back to the task at hand - We've got a marathon to run folks! 

Allow me to list a few of the things that I draw inspiration from in the days leading up to the event.Yes, some are serious, some are silly but if it ain't fun, it ain't worth it!

What gets my Mojo going...

- This song make me feel that no matter what, I can still get 'er done

- The fact that I now have socks that match my sunglasses (and my shoes!!) 

- Just about anything said by this man
- Knowing that, although Kat, Tracy, Jen, Lori and Shari may not be running beside me on Sunday, they'll be running WITH me!

- A poster that feels like it was written just for me

I had a wonderfully simple text from a fellow runner and close friend this morning. 

Three simple words..."TIME TO FLY!" 

Need I say more?

In Taper we Trust

The TAPER...Simply put, this is a time when there is nothing more you can do to build your training. You must trust that up to this point you have done enough; Enough long runs, enough fast runs, enough hilly runs...Now we rest more than run.  As lovely as that sounds it is a struggle. I am confident though that I am as prepared as I could be and after my 38km epic adventure last week I am feelin' pretty darn good. That being said, the marathon always has the ability to plant a seed of doubt. But for now that seed is small and I will not allow it to grow one ounce.

I am going to keep the rest of this entry short and sweet as I am planning on a few more updates as we inch closer to race day. So...in a nut shell here are some of my highlights from the past two weeks.

• My 38km run was amazing. I felt like I was floating for most of it. Total runners high! I realized I might have been hallucinating when I started chatting to the unicorns and CareBears that were accompanying me, but whatever gets you through it, right?
• The run was followed by brunch to send off Jani to live her dream of running the London Marathon.
• LU4L team member Kristen Dibblee completed the Boston Marathon in the blistering heat and despite nearly double the average temperature I have no doubt she finished with a smile.
• I was contacted by the Vancouver Marathon, Media Relations Director regarding a story on LaceUp4Lupus!
• A run in the pouring rain with one of my closest friends.
• A couple of the LU4L members had some hard runs last week, but bounced back with really solid efforts! Woot woot...Like I said, better to get it out of your system now, then on race day.
• Fundrasing update: $6157.00

Shari and Sammy met me en' route for a Sunday run

 

It's not too late to donate!  Click here to sponsor the team.

 

 

REMEMBER...

"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. 

The hard...is what makes it great!"
-Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own

Wanna meet who else is 'Lacin' Up?'

So...It's official...less than 1 month until the race!  Feels crazy to say that, but I am getting pretty close to ready. Training over the past two weeks has been really consistent. I conquered my longest run two Sundays ago and logged 35km with my girls, Kat and Jani. It was a great day that saw us circumnavigate the southern tip of Vancouver Island!  My legs felt strong and I managed to finish just shy of my marathon pace, which was a pretty big confidence booster.

I am gearing up for my peak run this weekend which will be close to 37km.  I am planning on meeting up with a couple gals for the second half so I won't have to run it all on my own. My regular partner in crime, Jani is tapering this week as she rests her legs for the London Marathon, April 22.

What I wanted to spend some time chatting about today are the amazing pack members who have been supporting this project along the way. They all have their own events - from 5kms to Boston Marathons, but without their support LaceUp4Lupus would not have been such a success. Here is a brief description about these wonderful runners and what I have come to admire about each of them.

One of my great friends sponsored me with these awesome orange laces and all my pack members have been proudly sporting them for the cause.

My Laces

Shari's Laces

Shari Jonasson

We first met in 1987 and have crossed oceans to be together!  Many of our years were spent on the soccer field, but trust me when I tell you this girl can do anything she puts her mind to. Shari is taking on the Half Marathon in Vancouver and the Goddess Half Marathon with me three weeks following that. This lady is a Goddess in every sense of the word.

Kat's pooch Juno, sporting her laces!

Katherine Ahokas

This fleet footed ND has recently come back to Victoria and we have logged a lot of miles together as she gears up for the Vancouver Marathon as well. This is one tough girl who has completed, Boston and NY! Love will be sweepin' her back to Eastern Canada the day after the race. I will be sad to see her leave so soon, but am grateful for the time we have spent together. Kat makes me run faster than I thought I could. 

Tracy's Laces

Tracy Forsberg

Vancouver will be Tracy's first marathon and I don't doubt for a second that this Dr. is gonna surprise herself! Trace has had to log most of her miles on her own which speaks volumes of the strength this gal possesses. We met in 2002 through soccer and have been friends ever since.

Kirsten Dibblee

Bean-town is where is long-time athlete is headed. Kirsten is a two-time Iron Man finisher and qualified to run the prestigious Boston Marathon last year. We met through soccer and I am blown away by her dedication and commitment to training.

Lori's Laces

Lori Steffler

I was so excited when Lori came on board! Vancouver is where Lori now calls home, and I so wish I got to see her more often. We met at Uvic in 2001 and she has always held a special place in my heart. She has found a new love for yoga, but still makes time to get out and smell the roses as she trains for her return to the Half Marathon in May.

Margaret's Lace

Margaret Case

My office-mate totally surprised me by signing up to join the team, but it shouldn't have.  We became fast friends when she came to work in our 'shop' and I know she is someone I can count on 100%. Margaret has registered for the Gutbuster 12km trail run in Nanaimo, which will be her longest event to date!  Love it.

Jennifer Allen

Jenn's laces

The Vancouver Half Marathon will be Jenn's first go at this distance. With two young kids at home Jenn has had to make training fit into a pretty demanding schedule. Lots of runs on the treadmill have tested this lady's iron will. Can't wait to share in the joy of her accomplishment!

Dad's laces

Ian Kirkconnell

Dad was the first pack member to complete their event!  After admitting to not having run in over 40 years, dad began training in January for his first 5km - and on St. Patty's Day we crossed the finish line together to celebrate this huge achievement. He has been one of my biggest supporters and I know his strength will help me through the Marathon when I need it most.

Together these amazing runners have helped me raise $5872!! That is $1600 more than my original goal! I am super pleased with this number, but would LOVE to make it over $6000. I will be making a final push for donations in the coming three weeks, so if you haven't had a chance to donate yet, now is your opportunity.

Simply follow this link and show your support for these amazing runners who are setting and achieving their own goals all in the name of increasing funds and awareness for Lupus.

P.S. I would be remiss if I didn't mention my two honorary team members...
Jani Urquhart and Michelle Relf.

Michelle's laces

Jani's laces

Jani and I have logged countless miles together since January and getting to know her over the past four months has reminded me again that running gives so many gifts! I can honestly say her support and enthusiasm has been a huge part of keeping me on track. Jani has been doing her own fundraising as she fulfills her dream of running the London Marathon!
Michelle, has been recovering from a long standing injury and is working hard to get back to running. She is an amazing RMT and has been supporting me throughout my training with regular massages!  Her magic hands are a big part of keeping me on track.

Thanks for following along. Happy trails.

THE COUNTDOWN TO VAN IS ON!!

First time for Everything - Part Deux

Hello again!

For those of you who have been eagerly awaiting the second installment of this blog entry, wait no longer...It has arrived and in full technicolour!

So, lets pick up where we left off. My month of many firsts.

3rd First

Certainly the event that reigned supreme this past month way my trip to Vancouver to run my first event with my dad. For those of you whom I have had the pleasure of running with over the years, you will know there is no greater joy for me than sharing a run with someone.  I have logged countless miles with old friends,  new friends and total strangers, but rarely have I had the opportunity to run with family.

My dad is much more likely to dance his way through the streets than jog (click here for proof), but this was not the case last Saturday when we tackled the St. Patrick's Day 5K around Vancouver's picturesque Stanley Park.  We soaked in the late start and enjoyed a relaxing morning drinking our smoothies, planning our attire and pining on our race numbers; then headed down to the event with a good friend of dad's who was also running with us. The race sold out at 1500 entrants and of those, probably 1350 were in costume! 

The sun was shining and the only thing bigger than my smile was my sunglasses. I loved every minute of it. Turns out, not only was this dads first 5K, but mine too. I rarely run this length - because it feels more like a 20 minute sprint. We had a great time and I think dad surprised himself with his pace. We crossed the finish line together (although I should mention that dad's official time was faster than mine) arms raised!

Getting ready for our first 5K

After our run, the three of us enjoyed a wonderful brunch at Sharmaina's house; then the two of them drove me to the ferry...on my way towards another first. 

Don't be fooled by the costumes.This is serious business!

Post race picture

 

4th First 

My final first of this installment was my first double event weekend and in two separate cities at that!  It was also, my first time running the Comox Half Marathon and my first road trip with my training partner, Jani!  I am starting to realize that most days are filled with a first 'something' we just have to choose to look at it this way.  

Pictured below is the terminal at Horseshoe Bay. The ferry to Nanaimo is so spectacular - I fall in love every time I am on it.

Jani met me in Nanaimo and we headed up to Nanoose Bay for a sleep-over with my aunt and uncle. We were were treated to a wonderful dinner, 'Top Secret' dessert and even foamy coffee in the morning. 

We hit the road and arrived in sunny Comox at 9am. Jani had a wonderful race and honestly, barely looked like she broke a sweat.  I on the other hand, had a bit of an 'off' day...Rarely do I struggle to find enjoyment in a half marathon, but Sunday was not my day. I came up with a thousand reasons why (which poor Jani had to listen to on our drive home), but the gist of it is...it just wasn't my day, and in running, the sooner you accept that these days are inevitable (once in a while) the easier this love affair will be. 

The long rural roads that stretched out for miles made the run feel more like a marathon. The minute you find yourself counting down the kilometer markers you know you are in for a long haul and on Sunday I started counting down at the 6K mark...yeah it was a long haul!

Nonetheless, I still finished a respectable 3rd in my age category and Jani beat her goal time!  We were treated to a wonderful feast and to top it off I won a new Timex watch. wootwoot. 

There you have it, a wild month filled with an abundance of firsts! 
Thanks for reading. Happy Trails. :-)

Crossing the finish line...thank Gawd!

Jani and I relaxing at the wrap up

CLICK HERE TO DONATE to LaceUp4 Lupus TODAY!

First time for Everything - Part 1

This seemed like an appropriate title for this entry, since the past two weeks has been filled with lots of firsts for me.

But before we go down this road, I have to take a minute to pass on the most exciting news of all (click here for drum roll please...) 

LaceUp4Lupus has met and exceeded our fundraising goal!

As of today we have raised over $4700. I have been hesitant to post this as I was worried that the support would slow so, I decided to do what any athlete would do when they reach a goal...I set a new one! $5000, here we come.

If you haven't donated yet, now is your chance to help push us over another
big milestone.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!

My 1st First

Tuesday nights are usually my 'club' runs.  I have been training with the Prairie Inn Harriers for the past two years and have really felt like I have found a club that fits me perfectly. Generally speaking, these guys and gals are NUTZ, which suits me just fine because the more I hang out with them the saner I feel. I have made some great friends here and have felt totally supported on this running/fundraising journey; which is why it came as no surprise that they allowed me to speak about LU4L at their club meeting two weeks ago.

I was pretty nervous about this...I speak in front of groups quite often, but rarely about myself, and certainly never about Lupus. So this was a big step -my 'coming-out' if you will. I put in a lot of hours on my presentation. I wanted it to be engaging, informative and of course needed it to motivate people to donate. Well, I think I accomplished all of the above. My intimate presentation was well received and I managed to walk out of there feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was nervous about flashing up huge pictures of myself with my rash and swollen hands and feet (I don't like to look at these pictures myself) but felt it was necessary to 'show' what the disease looks like and in the end it was all worth it b/c the donations came rollin' in that night.

I am happy to share this presentation with you. If you would like to view it simply follow the link below and press the "Play" button to scroll through each slide.

LaceUp4Lupus Prezi

My 2nd First

Hot on the tails of my presentation night was another first for me. My first full magazine article! Which once again, put me and Lupus right out there for the world to see.  The article was written by a close friend of mine which made it even more meaningful.

My mom and dad are my biggest supporters and have literally stashed away piles of the issue! Reminds me of Jr. High a little, when your sports team got featured in the local paper. Mom and dad would have it cut out and on the fridge in lightning speed. love it. xo

You can read the full article here, or pick up a copy of IMPACT at most local running stores.

I have lots more 'firsts' to cover but wanted to give you a taste of what has been keeping me busy these days. 

Training has been going pretty well...feels a little little like the dog days lately though. I am going to channel Florence and the Machine in the coming weeks and hopefully they pass soon. More on training to come in Part 2.