Building a Bridge - A Case in Favour For

Last Wednesday, I attended a mentoring conference in Vancouver, an event that I had been looking forward to as we are starting our own mentoring program at VIRCS. I always like going over to the mainland as there are friends and family there, as well as great eats and shopping.

My journey started Tuesday afternoon. I left the office at 1:30 to catch the 3:00 ferry. I wanted to arrive in Vancouver early enough to buy dinner for my grandma, who has had a nasty fall recently. Everything was fine until the bus broke down in Saanichton. Although the bus driver assured us that another bus was coming shortly, we waited about 15-20 minutes. You'd think that they would send two buses - one that would go through Sidney and another that would go directly to the ferry terminal - but no, they sent one bus, crammed us all in, and slowly meandered through Sidney. Those who rushing for the ferry were stuck watching in frustration as the 3:00 ferry sailed away from the terminal.

Two hours later, I boarded the 5:00 ferry. I arranged for my brother to pick me up at a bus station, but more delays occurred due to traffic and so on. I finally arrived at my grandma's doorstep at 8:00pm...SIX AND A HALF HOURS after I left the office. My aunt had already bought some takeout, so I missed my chance to buy dinner and my poor grandma had her meal well after her usual schedule.

Next day, the conference ended at 4:30. There was a wine and cheese reception after - a great networking opportunity - but I thought I would have a quick glass and then head off early so as not to repeat the debacle of the day before. At about 4:50, I left for the bus station downtown, thinking I had plenty of time before the 7:00 ferry. After all, the Vancouver buses only take about an hour or so to get to the terminal. I texted my brother to compare the times for the public bus and the Pacific Coach Lines, and decided to treat myself to the coach, but I misread his message and thought it left at 6:20. So I wandered around a bit and then made my way to the station. Suddenly I was hit with the sinking realization that there was no way that the coach would leave so late and started to panic. I arrived at the station at 5:50, but the coach had already left at 5:30! I had no idea that the coach would actually take longer than the bus. By now, it was too late to catch any bus, and I was stuck waiting 2 hours for the next ferry - again. Of course this time I had no one to blame but myself...although I am convinced that the long travel day yesterday must have addled my brain a little. I caught the 9:00 ferry and my other brother kindly picked me up so that I wouldn't have to take the bus. I arrived at 11:00...six hours after leaving the conference.

So, in total, I travelled about 12.5 hours. Let's see where I could have gone in this time:
Vancouver to Toronto: 6 hours, 20 minutes
Vancouver to London: 9 hours, 40 minutes
Vancouver to Tokyo: 10 hours, 25 minutes
Vancouver to Mexico City: 10 hours, 30 minutes (via L.A.)

Of course, I'd have to add six hours of travelling time to get to Vancouver...

Normally I would not be in favour of building a bridge. I like living on an island. But when it takes me more time to travel to Vancouver and back than it does to fly to Japan, I have to re-think it a bit. Some Islanders are worried about "city slickers" invading Victoria - but I am willing to risk it!

On the up side - and I can see the funny side of things now that a few days have passed and my blood pressure has returned to normal - I got to read a lot from The Know-It-All, a gift I received from my friend, Susan. It is a memoir of this guy who has read the Encyclopaedia Britannica from A-Z, micropedias AND macropedias.

This is an impressive feat in my eyes. Our family are also proud owners of the EB - I remember years ago, a salesman came to the restaurant and pitched to the books to my dad. My father, who has always regretted not getting a university degree, was seduced by the fancy leatherette covers. Hoping to provide the privileges for his kids that he never had, he bought a set. I also tried reading all the volumes, thinking that I would know everything at the end. I didn't even make it through Volume 1 - A-ak to Bayes - but then again, I was 11. That's the great thing about The Know-It-All; the author has compiled a kind of "Best of the EB" in bite-sized entries. I'm already on "T" in only a week!

One of my favourite entries was about Sherlock Holmes. Watson, his assistant, was amazed that Sherlock was familiar with over 100 different kinds of tobacco, yet could not name the planets in the solar system. Sherlock replied that the brain could only hold a certain amount of information, and he chose to remember only what was useful to him; being able to identify tobacco could help him to finger a suspect, whereas knowing which planet is after Jupiter is completely useless. So there you go - all that information about how an internationally-trained engineer can get his/her P.Eng designation, or the licencing requirements for a crane operator has somehow pushed out any knowledge I had about bus schedules in Vancouver!

Ice-capades extravaganza

For my birthday, I wanted to do a fun activity, like ice-skating. I called up the local rec centre for the drop-in schedule, but that night was "teen night." While adults were welcome to join, I was warned that it might be a "bit chaotic." I really wanted to skate, and I thought to mysellf, "How bad could it be?" So I asked everyone to dress up in the clothes they used to wear in high school and show up at 7:30.

Wearing a hideous sweater that is eerily similar to a favourite of mine in Gr. 8, my brother and I went to the rec centre at the set time. To our surprise, there was a huge line to get in - and we were the only people over the age of 12! The noise was deafening. Still, it was really fun - and I only fell once!

At this point, my brother asked, "Why don't we go to the pub...now?"

Emily is pretty in pink

"I'm not too sure about this!!"

Ah, the 80s...age of the ugly sweater

Jillian's feathered hair, a Heather Locklear tribute

Post-race

Almost there! Get me to those cookies in the food tent!

Are those tears or raindrops streaming down my face? A little of both.

Slowly, slowly walking back to the house

Well, everyone had a good chuckle at my "penguin waddle" at work today. Going up and down stairs are still a bit of a challenge, but gradually my quads and calves are loosening up. The worse is getting up after sitting for a while. I should be ready to go in a few days! I'm already looking up marathons for next year - guess this means I'm addicted...or crazy.
I'm looking forward to getting together with the running clinic to see hear everyone's stories. I hear there were some tummy troubles, cramping, etc. Someone even had to go to the hospital to get an IV! So, I fared pretty well, I think! I am so proud of everyone for finishing and doing so well - a real testament to personal strength and excellent coaching.

Just for fun, here is a clip showing you how to recognize a marathoner:
http://completerunning.com/archives/2007/04/27/how-to-recognize-a-marathoner/

Yes, those are bleeding nipples in the clip, and YES it does happen! Usually to men, who don't have a bra to reduce the chafing effect of the t-shirt. Ouch. Let this be a lesson: always apply Bodyglide and "Nip Guards" (nipple-sized bandaids)! I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried!

Thanks again to everyone who made it out to cheer me on, wished me luck, ran with me, and supported me (and sorry to Hereity and Roy, who I missed at the finish line!). You guys inspire me!

3:56:24!!

Mission accomplished! I ran under 4 hours and beat my last year's time by almost eighteen minutes! Here's how the day went:

5:45 - time to get out of bed, eat breakfast and get ready.

7:30 - in the car with my dad, who misheard me and went down to Dallas Road instead of avoiding it. We run into quite a few detours and I'm starting to get a little testy with him (sorry, dad!)

8:00 - meet with the marathon group from Peninsula Runners. Nervous hugs and pats on the back for good luck all around. Feel a little ill, but at least the weather is clear - so far.

8:25 - John and I line up at the 4-hour finish start. The energy and excitement revs me up and I can't stop smiling.

8:30 - we're off!

3km mark - I see Katie and Linh J. walking down Cook St. Big cheers and smiles from both.

4km mark - I lose John at the water station. I can't see him through the crowd, so I push on.

9km mark - now we've left Beacon Hill Park and get on to Dallas Road. Weather is holding up nicely and I see a rainbow - upside down! I see Katie and Linh again and smile for the camera.

13km mark - starting to rain lightly.

16-17 km mark - light rain turns heavier and heavier. Wind is kicking up as well, but ocean view is beautiful. I see Rob, my coach, somewhere on Oliver I think. The hill starts near the Golf Club.

22 km mark - I start seeing some of the faster clinic members pass by on the other side. My right hamstring is starting to feel tight.

23 km mark - stop to wash down some ibuprofen.

26 km mark - see John running on the other side. Can you believe that this is his first race, ever? What chutzpah.

30 km mark - I think I hit the wall about here...I keep looking at my arm where I wrote "Right to Play" to remind myself why I am running, and a happy face, to remind myself how lucky I am to be doing this. The awesome volunteers and spectators keep me going.

32 km mark - really starting to pour. As I pass Oak Bay, I see Blair and Yoshie, who seem to come out for all my races! Thanks, guys!

36 km mark - Emily, Sarah and Andrew from my workplace cheer me on when I most need it!

37 km mark - I hear my name being screamed and some loud ruckus - it is Meghan and Ayesha, my co-workers!

38 km mark - Again, my name is being called, and this time, it's Jim and Yvonne, my running partners from the half marathon. Jim, who has already run a half marathon, starts to run with me and talks me throught the "undulating" hills. The hills we did in training were much harder, but now I'm really tired and I struggle a bit. I see Randy, my coach, who cheers me on.

40 km mark - Meghan and Ayesha again! Jim continues to talk me through the last hills. My right knee is giving me some serious pain, but everything else is numb. I would have slowed down here, were it not for Jim.

41.2 km mark - only 1 more km. I turn up the heat, dig deep and push on forward.

42.2 - FINISH! I cross the line at 3:56:24 (chip time), 3:56:59 (gun time). I see Laura, another running partner, Randy, Emily, and my family at the end. I get wrapped with a space blanket and a medal around my neck. 5 months of training pays off!

Thanks, everyone who made this happen. I know sometimes I wasn't so fun to be around - obsessing about my training, aches and pains, diet, and in bed by 10 on Saturdays! Couldn't have done it without your support. Thanks to everyone who braved the wind, rain and cold and gave up their Sunday morning to cheer me on. It really, really means a lot to me! Thanks, too, to everyone who donated - you guys gave about $550 for Right to Play. And a HUGE shout out to my running partners and most of all my coaches, who lugged our water bottles, cheered us on, bought us popsicles on hot days, and were there every step of the way. I must be the luckiest runner in this marathon!

This is it!!

Yesterday, I picked up my race package, and as I was holding my race bib, I was suddenly hit by a wave of nauseous nervousness. I looked at the map and thought, "I am crazy to be running this!" I've been worried lately about what to wear, how to carry my gels, and whether or not I'm getting the stomach flu or not. But no matter what happens now, I'm going to be at the start line. It's been a great five months of traning - and now for that final push! I'm going to try not to get too nervous and enjoy the race - even if it is going to rain buckets! Here we go...

Three more sleeps!

The countdown is on! Three more sleeps until the marathon. We had our last workout yesterday - 4 x 400s - nice and easy. Felt light going around the track, and ready to go. Everyone seems a little nervous and excited. I definitely have butterflies in my stomach! As I'm not an elite runner, I don't feel any pressure, so I'm really looking forward to it.

It feels good to be running again after a little break. I just have to keep healthy from now 'til Sunday. I've been watching the Hokkaido marathon - thanks, Koji! - for inspiration, and reading Runner's World magazine. Can't wait to toe that start line!

Thanks to everyone who has been supporting me, taking an interest in the training, and donating to Right to Play! You have helped me raise over $500!

You know you're a runner when...

I've been fighting a cold, so haven't run since Saturday's 60-minute at-pace run and Sunday's Run for the Cure. Should be "up and running" by tomorrow though.

Just for a laugh...

You know you’re a runner when…..

1. You have a favourite flavor of Power Gels (vanilla-orange and banana-peach CarBoom!)
2. You’re proud of losing toenails
   
3. Saturday nights are restful sleeps before your Sunday run!
4. A neighborhood pool is started on your daily running streak
5. You put more time and work into your log book than filing your tax return
6. Your running shoe collection fills half your basement
7. You slip and fall, stop your watch and then check for injuries
8. You look into the mirror trying to see if you have a leg length discrepancy
9. Your vitamin a day pill is Advil
10. Your physical and massage therapist are on speed dial
11. You can correctly pronounce plantar fascitis and say “fartlek” with out giggling.
    

Thanks, Laura, for sharing!