This past weekend in Ottawa we had a huge event – the MDS Nordion Ottawa Race Weekend. It happens every year in May and people from around the world come to participate in many of the races. We have a marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k and a 2k Family Fun Run. This year an Ethiopian won the 10k and a Kenyan won the marathon. And I participated in the 5k run!
Let me give you a bit of my personal running history. I have been running off and on for about two years. Mostly off. My interest in running started with my co-worker, Paula, who constantly talked about runnin
g and other fitness things when I started working at Rogers TV almost three years ago. She talked about it enough for me to think, “Hey! This sounds rather rewarding. Perhaps I should try it!” Okay maybe not in those exact words. So I ran. And I stopped. And I ran the 2008 Ottawa Race Weekend 5k. And I stopped. As winter started last year and I ran my last 5k of the year in the Somersault Series Fall Colours last October I made a decision. I’m going to stop running. Forever. Yep, no more stop start stop start stop start for me. I was going to stop the flaking out before it started. Again.
Well I’ve never been good at keeping self promises. And I suppose this is one of few situations that it’s a good thing. As soon as the snow started to melt and I watched more
runners get out and I felt an itch. An itch turned into buying brand new running shoes – proper running shoes. Proper running shoes turned into running up to 15 minutes at one time. Fifteen minutes at one time turned into 30. And that is how I decided to participate, for the second year in a row, in the MDS Nordion Ottawa Race Weekend 5k Race. Generally I’ve been running without stopping (something I’ve never done before the winter) somewhere between 34:00 to 36:00 for 5k to maybe just a little over 5k but in this year’s race my chip time was 32:34 (Official Time: 34:04)!!!! That’s amazing for me!! And hearing other runner’s stories is just so inspiring! One co-worker of mine used to be an inactive teenager. He’s turned that around and ran his 26th marathon!!! TWENTY-SIX!!! That’s just crazy!!!
I have already decided that I would like to up my distance run but this story has inspired me to do it sooner rather than, “yeah someday I’ll do it.” I’ve signed up for a 10k this fall in Toronto! Guess I better get training. I’ll definitely let you know how things go.
I just want to say too, that next month, June 21st I’ll be running my 6th 5k: the Walk Roll and Run for Rogers House. A little info:
The Direct Energy Walk, Roll & Run for Roger's House will benefit the many children, youth and their families of Roger's House. The event is a morning for families, friends, neighbours, classmates, organizations and teams to walk, roll & run 2 km or 5km routes in an effort to raise money for Roger's House, the charity of choice of the Sens Foundation. Roger's House provides a comprehensive pediatric respite and palliative care program with elements of outreach, residential hospice, pain and symptom management, grief & bereavement counseling and research. In its first year of operation Roger's House had more than 550 admissions. Please support me with your pledges so together we'll be supporting the children and families of Roger's House.
I hope you will consider sponsoring me for it. I hope to raise $250.
Here’s where you can donate.
Thanks for your support!!
When I was in my outdoor phys-ed class in high school, I couldn't go tobogganing. I CHICKENED OUT FOR TOBOGGANING!! Yesterday I went bungee jumping! When I got to the crane, they harnessed me up, told me they were going to count me down and I was to just jump and don't hesitate. Strangely that's what I did!! And as I stepped off the platform, all I could think was, "Why the hell am I doing this?" Still, it was totally worth it! 
I was a little worried because they also told me to keep my chin tucked in but as I was flying through the air, all sense of logic was lost on me so I didn't so much do that as I did the opposite and watched as my hands plunged into the water (I was also worried it would be more than that) so my neck was a bit sore and stiff all evening but I put some heat on it before bed and thankfully I was able to move my neck when I got up this morning. I also ran my best time for 5k ever this morning.
I CAN DO ANYTHING!!!
