Week in Reflection

As runners who have run, have a Bucket List goal to run, or a lifelong dream to run (as for some of us, that is all it will ever be), the Boston Marathon last week, and the events within it, have hit a nerve within us all in some way.

Jon and I know many individuals, runners and their friends/families, who were there, in the midst of the turmoil. We spent almost 6 hours scrambling on the internet, Facebook and emails, doing our best to salvage some scrap of communication from them all, just to know they were safe, the race itself no longer important.  Although I can only imagine how heartbreaking it was for so many to come so close to the finish line, and not be able to finish,  I am not sure I will ever be able to understand how terrified they and their loved ones must have felt in the face of such tragedy. 
We in Guelph were very relieved to hear everyone in our 'running family' was safe.
Having stood with our four children and my mother-in-law no more than 100m away from the very spot of the tragedy in Boston, while anticipating Jon crossing the Finish Line only one year ago, the relief translated itself into tears for me.

This week for many of us, marked the beginning of taper time in anticipation for running either the Toronto Goodlife Marathon, or Mississauga Marathon, both on May 5th -- apropos perhaps to the events in Boston, it gave us time to reflect not only on what had occurred with our friends, but also on ourselves, and how our training has gone, how runs were completed, where we can envision ourselves on race day in a couple of weeks (well, 12 days to be exact...).

It gave us time to reflect on our hill training, our long runs, our relationships with our running partners and larger group of running friends, but also with our partners, spouses and families - to how supportive they have been of us during this long process of training for a marathon - how tired we are five out of seven days of the week, and the one 'recovery' day after the long run, even more tired still.  How understanding they have been of our needs, our goals, our accomplishments (some minor, but present nonetheless), and how helpful they have been during times of illness, recovery from injuries, family challenges and tragedies, and just plain tolerance of the new people we are morphing into as we become 'runners.'

Along with the events at the Boston Marathon, this week was further punctuated by a very dear member of our running family passing away after fighting a remarkable battle with Inflammatory Breast Cancer for almost 3 years.  As a Palliative home care nurse in my younger years, hearing of Lynn's move to our local Hospice late last week put tears in my eyes, 'knowing' that once an individual moves to Hospice, their time with us is not long.  Lynn transferred there on Thursday, and we were notified, with already heavy hearts, that she passed away on Monday morning.  Lynn's smile, strength and compassion will be remembered by countless many in the running community - her husband David an icon in Guelph, known to run our local Bootcamp sessions year-round. 

As our running 'partners' and our friends/families have done for us, we, as a running family must now, and always, step up to support our own, as and whenever they need it.  No, we may not be eloquent speakers (or bloggers...), or know the right thing to say, but much like 'what happens on the long run, stays on the long run,' we hope they know we are *always* there to listen. 
In the magnitude of the two events that happened this past week, both 'running nation-wide' and within our running family here in Guelph, taper-time has given us all some time to be able to reflect on how fortunate we are to have what we have -- the support and love of our immediate families and circle of friends, but also for the strength within our running family -- we encourage, persist for and support each other, like a true family.  If it takes carrying one of our own and pushing them across the Finish Line before we cross seconds afterwards, or extra time listening on a long run, then that's what we do.

A Day on the Beach...

I find it a little unusual that now having run a 27-32k run every weekend for the past five...including Around the Bay...that a) my injuries are almost non-existent (shhh, touch wood...), and b) that, although the distances have increased each weekend, I don't seem to feel the same level of soreness and ache the following day...could it be that I'm becoming a 'runner?'

I've come to finally be able to not only embrace the distance of the long run, endured and shared with friends week after week, but also seemingly, am better able to manage it physically afterwards.  As usual, we met at the Boathouse parking lot just outside of downtown...from there, we have measured loops for our runs, ranging from 5km around the corner from Janine's house, to 7km at the edge of Riverside Park, to a full 12k loop lapping around Exhibition Park, always returning back to the Boathouse for our precious water, Gatorade, and nutrition before embarking on yet another loop.

This week, it was the four of us, ready to help each other as we each needed running along.  Janine came to the Boathouse, Lisa slipped in at the last minute with John, and Laurie popped over the bridge, just minutes from home as well -- we were missing Melinda, as she is on a much needed vacation with her husband this week. 

As runners poured in from all over the city, hours before most people even fathom getting out of bed on a Sunday, we had a few moments to discuss each other's weekly routines, challenges, good news...and bad, and encourage each other on the journey of distance we were about to go on.  A few runners peeled off after 10-15km due to other commitments and Sunday plans, and Laurie and I continued on.  We had fully hoped (and expected?) to complete a 34km route...loops, over and over, but the weather was not terribly cooperative yesterday.  Admittedly, yes, we all conversed on Facebook only moments before leaving our homes, and yes, we did actually type that we considered returning to bed upon rising and seeing dark clouds and rain, but yes, we also bit the bullet, pulled on our capris, and headed out to the Boathouse, so as not to disappoint each other, but also, to be accountable to our goals.  Darn right we all wanted to slip back under warm covers with our loved ones curled up next to us...but we didn't, because as wonderful as it is to 'sleep in,' it is a much greater feeling to come home at noon knowing you accomplished (mostly) what you had wanted to...

The wind was angry on this day, my friend...by the time Laurie and I looped ourselves silly around Guelph, as announced by Lisa early that morning, the winds were gusting at 40km/hr!  This is how I felt running down Wellington Street on our final 2km back to the Boathouse....and likely looked no better!

Hips achy, feet sore, hamstrings singing "I need a shower," we were ready to finish for the day -- with winding trails mixed in with road, Laurie and I finished up 32.4km - yes, I unabashedly add the extra 0.4km as at this point, every little bit counts. Although fitness-wise, it is, at times, still a challenge for me to talk while running (I know Coach Blair, 'if you can't talk, you're running too fast'), Laurie is a great listener -- thank you for 'what happens on the long run, stays on the long run,' although admittedly, all of  us have heard each others stories, and helped encourage the other in our day-to-day challenges.
In prepping for Mississauga Marathon, I think we have been continually asking ourselves, "Can we do this?"  Could we have run another 10km yesterday, and finished a marathon distance of 42.2km?  Seemingly hard to admit, but I think yes.  With four weeks to go (27 days actually, not that I'm counting...), I think I could have.  We are not looking to break any records, and as it's our first time, all of us, our goal is to finish (somewhat) gracefully.  Sure, we likely all each have an internal time goal, unspeakable to the others, but we will run together, and we will finish together. 


The only thing we four still can't fathom, is how Melinda managed to get up, let alone finish her long run while here.....we hope you're having a wonderful time Mel, you two have earned it!!