The 10K Route

You all know my motto is "You are stronger than you think you are." The reason I tell myself this all the time - and ask you to do the same - is it's true. My body continually surprises me with what it can do.

My 10K was this past Sunday and well, I did great! Smashed my goal of 1:45 and really proved to myself that when I want to, I can achieve a lot more than I think.

Chip time (each bib was outfitted with a timer): 1:35:09
Place: 123 (out of 262 entrants, 227 finishers)
Gender place: 84 (out of 167 female finishers)

This isn't bad, in my opinion, in a race that featured competitive walkers. It was also my first attempt at a 10K. I'm pretty pleased with these results. My only complaint was the timer at the finish line seemed to be off. When I crossed the finish line, the time I saw said 1:30:21. I was REALLY happy about that! So when I saw the chip times posted, I was a little disappointed. Still a good time, but not what I'd originally thought.

When Erich and I picked up my race kit the day before the race, they took one look at me and said "You might want the 2X. The shirts are fitting small." Excuse me? LOL! I registered for the women's XL and the guy was right; I ended up with a men's 2X, not the women's 2X (which is smaller). These were the tiniest, tightest, most unflattering shirts I've ever seen in my life. Like they wanted us to channel Lance Armstrong or something, in his yellow Tour de France jersey. Here's me before the race (ignore the desperate need for a tummy tuck):


It was cold on race day but the sun was shining. No rain, as was forecast. I swear....you'd think that as time goes on, advancing technology would enable weather forecasting to be more and more accurate. Erich and I both think the opposite is happening. You can truly have no faith in the forecast. Just wait and look outside. Don't make plans based on what the weather guy says!

The course was very hilly. After about the 4th hill, I grumbled "Jesus, who mapped this course out??" All I kept thinking was I had to do it all over again because the 10K was essentially two loops of the 5K.

Halfway point:


It took me 45 minutes to get to this point. To put that in perspective, it took me 47 minutes to do the Father's Day 5K in June...and I jogged for some of that. WTF? I was seriously surprised at my time. But I didn't think I could keep up the pace because of those hills.

But I did! Well, pretty much, anyway! I don't mind saying I was really proud of myself. As I crossed the finish line and they put that medal around my neck, I could see Erich there with the camera pointed at me, huge smile on his face. I went straight to him and got my hug & kiss. My husband rocks.

Finish line:


Red face, as usual:


My knees held up fine during the race, but it was a different story when I got home and the next day. I was pretty sore. Lots of ice and Tylenol Arthritis. Sunday night, I went to my coffee meeting that I wrote about in my last blog. I nearly fell asleep and had to leave early. Wiped out!

But by Tuesday, I was pretty much back to normal. My body bounces back quickly now and again...I am stronger than I think I am. It's very important to push yourself because trust me, you are capable of a lot if you just believe.

Our brains tell us lies, and if we listen, we cost ourselves surprises. - Andrew Zimmern

I have another 5K this Sunday, the CIBC Run for the Cure, an event that benefits the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. I did it last year and I have no doubt that I'll beat my time. Forecast is for rain and cold again. Suuureeeee. We'll see!

I Run For Life

Last Sunday I participated in the CIBC Run for the Cure, which benefits the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. My original intention was to run what I could of the 5K and walk the rest. My knees are totally shot due to a lifetime of obesity. And while losing weight has lightened the load and therefore lessened the day-to-day pain I used to endure, it certainly is still present. I can run but not an entire 5K at this point.

Well, on Saturday morning I turned around in my kitchen and nearly hit the floor like a safe. That small movement somehow twisted my right knee and I clutched my kitchen counter for dear life, saving even further injury. I started to take a tentative step and the knee said "Nuh-uh." It scared the crap out of me and OMG....so frustrating!! This happens the day before the run? I thought, "Are you kidding me? Like....are you kidding me?" I wrapped it up and tried icing it but the ice seemed to make it feel worse so I abandoned that plan quickly.

Crazily enough, the pain was worse when I was stationary; if I moved around on it - with the brace on - it didn't bother me too much. So I knew I would still be able to participate in the event but I would have to walk the entire length. I was pretty bummed about that as I was looking forward to pushing my body and seeing just how far/long I could run.

Since I only decided to participate on the previous Tuesday, imagine my shock when - by event day - I had raised a grand total of $640.00 including online and offline donations. My and Erich's co-workers, YOU my beautiful readers, our friends and family really came through and I am so touched and so proud to know all these wonderful people who chose to support both me and such a fantastic cause. My Aunt Betty would be very pleased. I've received a couple more donations since then as well. Donations can be made until October 31, so if you'd still like to give please click HERE.

It was absolutely FRIGID outside on Sunday! About 42F, 6C with a biting wind. Everyone was bundled up as best they could. I registered and signed the 'Wall of Fame' for participants then Erich and I wandered around looking at everyone's get-ups and trying to stay warm! There was a photo booth where everyone could get a free memento of the day and we listened as survivors shared their inspirational stories. I was so into these women's moving words that I forgot to take pics of them. But I got a few shots pre-startup:







I made a button with Aunt Betty's photo on it to wear. I also stuck on a couple buttons they were giving away to participants at the event. And, although you really can't see it because it's so small, I wore my small gold Centurion Club pin, the one I received from Henry Ford Hospital for losing at least 100 pounds. I pinned it up on the collar of my t-shirt.

If you look closely at the photo below on the left, you can see on my t-shirt where it says "Betty - My Aunty" on the left. I tell you, when I saw that it made me cry. Fate, right? Amazing stuff. The shirt also says "Uncle Bob" - who was Aunt Betty's husband. It also says "Cousin Lisa" - Aunt Betty's oldest daughter. She spells her name "Leesa" but wow, right? Crazy.



I was more than ready to get started, if only to get warmer! Poor Erich stood around and waited for me to finish, so by the time I was done, he was pretty much a Romanian popsicle.

Me at the starting line-up:

When we started, I teared up at bit. Me, participating in a 5K. It would've been unthinkable a couple years ago. And my dear Aunt Betty, one of the most wonderful women I've ever known. Her spirit was with me and I could feel her pride. It was moving for me.

I can honestly say I more than held my own in this walk. I was trotting right along like I always do when I exercise, the tunes on my mp3 player helping me keep up the pace. I was passing people all around me during the first leg, when we were walking on pavement. I brought a camera with me to snap a few pics along the route.



There were two routes to take: One was paved, straight and non-hilly and one was on the nature trail surrounding the campgrounds/park where the event took place. When I came to the fork I hesitated a second before choosing the nature trail. My knee was feeling fine so I decided to go for it. It was definitely more challenging, especially downhill. The knee that was not braced cursed me a few times. Plus it was more difficult to pass people on the narrow trail. And a word of advice: LEAVE THE DAMN DOGS AT HOME, PEOPLE. I am not a dog person in the first place but those dogs constantly getting in my way was really pissing me off.

Pics from the trail:


Between the rows of people blocking the narrow trail and the stupid dogs all over the place, I went a little slower than I would've liked. But I still finished in just under an hour, which everyone tells me is pretty good - average, at least. "You were going at a pretty good clip," my boss told me. He and his wife were there as she is a breast cancer survivor. They ran some of the way, he said. He is in super shape and regularly participates in long-distance biking events. He told me they finished about five to seven minutes ahead of me. And I could see there were lots and lots of people behind me.

I once yearned to be average so I should be happy about that, I guess. But next year, I'll kick average's ass.

Me crossing the finish line and afterwards:


We got the hell outta there ASAP in order to thaw my husband out. All in all it was a wonderful experience that I will definitely repeat next year.

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to give their money or words of encouragement to me. I so appreciate it, you have no idea!

The song that inspired the title of this blog:


It took me a week to get this blog out because this has been Hell Week for me. I'm still not sure why any of what happened this week occurred, but that whole thing is another blog in and of itself. I'll churn that out tomorrow since I'm off work for Thanksgiving. See you then.

Run for the Cure

I have decided to participate in this Sunday's CIBC Run for the Cure, which benefits the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. There is a choice between a 1K and 5K run or walk; I have entered the 5K event.

I would love to say I'd run it, but my knees just won't let me do that, not for 5K...I can run then walk, run then walk, etc. That's what I do normally when I exercise. If I run too much I definitely feel it the next day...or next week. So I'll be walking. The last time Erich and I were in Ohio, we got knee braces for me (for about 80% less than we'd pay in Ontario) and I'll put them on just in case. But it's all good. I've walked a 5K many, many times in the gym. I'll finish.

For years I've sat on the sidelines, wanting to take part in something like this. My father's sister - Aunt Betty - lost her battle with breast cancer over a decade ago. I spent a lot of time with her growing up and her daughter Leesa is around my age; we were buddies as children.

Aunt Betty:

At almost 450 pounds, I was never fit enough to pay tribute to her in any physical way with a cancer walk, ride or run. But this year, I'm gonna do it. I'll do it in her memory but also for myself; a celebration of my own good health and a reminder to never take it for granted.

Terribly late in the game for fundraising, I initially thought about paying the $40 entry fee and not bothering. But then I thought HEY....I have a lot of friends out there! The goal to waive the entry fee is $150. Surely, I thought, I can get 15 of my friends to give me $10. So I went for it. And raised the $150 pretty much overnight. WOW! Well, I do have very cool friends!! So I upped the ante and raised my goal to $300. Almost there!

C'mon now, you know you wanna help me raise money for this wonderful cause! Everyone knows someone touched by this disease. Click HERE to donate to my fund. The festivities start on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. The walk itself starts at 10:15. Erich, bless his heart, will get up at what is for him the middle of the night, to cheer me on. I'll let you all know how it goes!