Recently I read an article in one of our local newspapers about a young girl named Karissa, who is battling Leukemia. She's 7. SEVEN.
Life is so incredibly unfair, sometimes.
Please go read her story here. Karissa's Story
When I read her story, I wished, as I'm sure everyone else has, that I could DO something.
I'm a fixer, when I see a problem I fix it. When I don't know how to fix it, I get scared.
I've never met Karissa, or her family. But their story really hit me. How could it not?
With every half-marathon I've run, I have always dedicated that race to someone. Myself, my best friend, my kids....people who are special to me.
Well, that's what I CAN do. If this little girl can fight leukemia, then I can run a marathon. And I can do it for her.
When I run on Sept. 23rd, Karissa's name will be written on my right calf. I want the thousands of people there to see her name, and if only for a brief moment, send their prayers and healing thoughts her way.
That's what I can do.
Long before I heard Karissa's story, indeed, long before she was diagnosed, Denise and I decided to run to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Now, the reasons are clearer than ever.
I sent an email to Karissa's family through Heidi Ulrichsen, the reporter who wrote the article. I won't share that letter because it was for the Kruk family. It's theirs.
But if you could all join me on Sept. 23rd and send prayers, wishes, strength & healing thoughts her way, I would be so incredibly thankful.
If you feel that you can help with a donation to the Kruk family, there is information in the article about the fund that is set up for them. While donations to my fundraising effort are also appreciated, I'm sure the Kruk's could use some help with their current expenses.
Much love,
Jessica
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
The Home Stretch
" The Home Stretch"
Those three little words imply so much.
With only 4 weeks to go until our marathon with Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lyphoma Society this is a phrase I find myself saying or thinking quite often.
At least once per long run I will look over at Jessica as we are nearing the end of our run, when I know it's getting particularly challenging or when we are both getting tired and say to her "We're in the home stretch". It's usually when we have about 6Km to go and I think mostly to myself that I need to say something to get us to the end. I used to think I was just doing it for Jess to be supportive and encouraging as she challenges each new length of distance that is new territory to her (I am amazingly proud of her) but now, I think it's a bit of a pep talk for me too.
Let's face it, marathon training is hard. It's tiring. It takes a toll on your body, your mind and your spirit. It demands more of you than any relationship and puts limits on everything you do. To say that it takes a committment is an understatement.
BUT -there's always a but.
At the end of the day, when all is said and done, when you have completed all 700+ training kilometers, running dreaded hill repeats, eaten countless gels, fought with your spouse or children for the umpteenth time about squeezing in your run, scrutinized every last detail of what goes in your mouth for 16weeks, made the journey to the race, toed the starting line, and pushed yourself along the race course getting to the point where you think you just can't go any further.............the home stretch is what gets you to the finish line and your victory over what some see as nearly impossible and others never challenge.
So, as we near the end of our journey together Miss Jessica, at a time when it's getting the hardest to push through the miles and the tiredness I just wanted you to know..........we're in the home stretch :)
D.
Those three little words imply so much.
- only a bit more to go
- we're almost there
- you just need to keep your head on a bit further.
- we are going to make it.
With only 4 weeks to go until our marathon with Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lyphoma Society this is a phrase I find myself saying or thinking quite often.
At least once per long run I will look over at Jessica as we are nearing the end of our run, when I know it's getting particularly challenging or when we are both getting tired and say to her "We're in the home stretch". It's usually when we have about 6Km to go and I think mostly to myself that I need to say something to get us to the end. I used to think I was just doing it for Jess to be supportive and encouraging as she challenges each new length of distance that is new territory to her (I am amazingly proud of her) but now, I think it's a bit of a pep talk for me too.
Let's face it, marathon training is hard. It's tiring. It takes a toll on your body, your mind and your spirit. It demands more of you than any relationship and puts limits on everything you do. To say that it takes a committment is an understatement.
BUT -there's always a but.
At the end of the day, when all is said and done, when you have completed all 700+ training kilometers, running dreaded hill repeats, eaten countless gels, fought with your spouse or children for the umpteenth time about squeezing in your run, scrutinized every last detail of what goes in your mouth for 16weeks, made the journey to the race, toed the starting line, and pushed yourself along the race course getting to the point where you think you just can't go any further.............the home stretch is what gets you to the finish line and your victory over what some see as nearly impossible and others never challenge.
So, as we near the end of our journey together Miss Jessica, at a time when it's getting the hardest to push through the miles and the tiredness I just wanted you to know..........we're in the home stretch :)
D.
Friday, August 24, 2012
A Midsummer Night's Run
This was it. The race that was SUPPOSED to be my goal race for the season.
In May, when Denise and I attended the Expo at Mississauga Marathon, we saw the booth for the Midsummer Night's Run, and both exclaimed that we had ALWAYS wanted to do that run.
The next thing you know, we were both signed up to run the 30km ( a new distance for me), and my Mom was signed up to walk the 15km.
We're very spur of the moment, we three. We hadn't even run the 10km race Denise and I were there to run!
That quickly led to us realizing that we would be running the 30km race at the exact weekend we would need to in training for the Montreal Marathon. Clearly, the only sane thing to do at that point was to sign up for that race too!
August came quickly, and found us all assembled in McCleary Park in Toronto, Ontario, ready to race. As always there are the pre-run jitters, but the weather was great, and spirits were high.
Midsummer Night Run has Pace Fairies, which really, is awesome. A whole bunch of runners wearing fairy wings, holding signs displaying the time that they will get you into the finish at. Denise and I were "only running it as a training run", so we looked for the 3:30 continuous Pace Fairy. I looked to my right and saw the 3:15 continuous Pace Fairy and said to Denise "I think that's Ed Mark".
Ed is the events guy for our Running Room district and attends most of our Sudbury races to help out.
Sure enough, it was Ed, who was hands down the most spectacularly dressed Pace Fairy. Kudos to him for running 30km in that outfit!
Midsummer Night's Run really is a nice race. The terrain changes a few times throughout and at times I found that difficult, particularly the many speed bumps. After those, my hips and groin were pretty unhappy.
To be honest, I struggled throught the last 7km. Thankfully, Denise kept me going, albeit much slower. It was definitely challenging running in the dark, from a psychological perspective. At least when you are running on your home turf, even in the dark, you have a good sense of where you are.
I just found it so hard to not be able to see. I definitley see the value of taking a look at the course before you run it, especially in that situation.
At any rate, reach the finish we did, in 3:23:22, still well under our hard goal of under 3:30, but short of our soft goal of 3:15.
If I were to the analyze the factors that didnèt go my way in the race, I would say I definitley wore the wrong shoes, and that I might have better prepared myself mentally for the dark part of the course. Additionally, I did not properly fuel myself with the right nutrition throughout the day, so I am going to work on that before the big race for sure.
My Mom finished the 15km walk in 2:33:32, and I am insanely proud of her. This was only her second event, and it was three times as long as the first event she walked. Circumstances meant that she had not trained much in the final weeks leading up to it, but she still rocked an average pace of 10:14 per km! That's AWESOME!
A nice touch was the prefilled stainless steel water bottles at the race finish. Eco Friendly, reusable, and full of cool water! All in all, we had a great time. Also, we must not forget the Steamwhistle beer garden and the fab BBQ food. I'd definitley recommend this race!
Jes
In May, when Denise and I attended the Expo at Mississauga Marathon, we saw the booth for the Midsummer Night's Run, and both exclaimed that we had ALWAYS wanted to do that run.
The next thing you know, we were both signed up to run the 30km ( a new distance for me), and my Mom was signed up to walk the 15km.
We're very spur of the moment, we three. We hadn't even run the 10km race Denise and I were there to run!
That quickly led to us realizing that we would be running the 30km race at the exact weekend we would need to in training for the Montreal Marathon. Clearly, the only sane thing to do at that point was to sign up for that race too!
August came quickly, and found us all assembled in McCleary Park in Toronto, Ontario, ready to race. As always there are the pre-run jitters, but the weather was great, and spirits were high.
Midsummer Night Run has Pace Fairies, which really, is awesome. A whole bunch of runners wearing fairy wings, holding signs displaying the time that they will get you into the finish at. Denise and I were "only running it as a training run", so we looked for the 3:30 continuous Pace Fairy. I looked to my right and saw the 3:15 continuous Pace Fairy and said to Denise "I think that's Ed Mark".
Ed is the events guy for our Running Room district and attends most of our Sudbury races to help out.
Sure enough, it was Ed, who was hands down the most spectacularly dressed Pace Fairy. Kudos to him for running 30km in that outfit!
Midsummer Night's Run really is a nice race. The terrain changes a few times throughout and at times I found that difficult, particularly the many speed bumps. After those, my hips and groin were pretty unhappy.
To be honest, I struggled throught the last 7km. Thankfully, Denise kept me going, albeit much slower. It was definitely challenging running in the dark, from a psychological perspective. At least when you are running on your home turf, even in the dark, you have a good sense of where you are.
I just found it so hard to not be able to see. I definitley see the value of taking a look at the course before you run it, especially in that situation.
At any rate, reach the finish we did, in 3:23:22, still well under our hard goal of under 3:30, but short of our soft goal of 3:15.
If I were to the analyze the factors that didnèt go my way in the race, I would say I definitley wore the wrong shoes, and that I might have better prepared myself mentally for the dark part of the course. Additionally, I did not properly fuel myself with the right nutrition throughout the day, so I am going to work on that before the big race for sure.
My Mom finished the 15km walk in 2:33:32, and I am insanely proud of her. This was only her second event, and it was three times as long as the first event she walked. Circumstances meant that she had not trained much in the final weeks leading up to it, but she still rocked an average pace of 10:14 per km! That's AWESOME!
A nice touch was the prefilled stainless steel water bottles at the race finish. Eco Friendly, reusable, and full of cool water! All in all, we had a great time. Also, we must not forget the Steamwhistle beer garden and the fab BBQ food. I'd definitley recommend this race!
Jes
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