Word's can't even begin to describe.

So friday finally arrived, and after biking home from work, packing my bag, and hoping in the car we were off to St. Kitts for the weekend. This wasn't your normal weekend, this weekend included my FIRST FULL MARATHON.

Once arriving to st. kitts we checked into our hotel and picked up our race kits, as well as meeting with my uncle. We went our for dinner, I ate delciious pasta to give me the carbs that I will need. After dinner, we headed to the hotel to discuss the race, have some snacks and pack our bags for the following morning. We checked the weather one last time, then headed to sleep. (amazing comfy hotel beds = love)

Saturday morning arrived and arrived fast. I awoke to an alarm at 5:45am. Very early yet I was pumped with excitment I woke right up and began getting dressed. Put on the usual. My running shorts, sports bra, double layered socks, and a technical shirt. I applied bodyglide(for those who don't know; bodyglide is like a stick of deoderant that you apply to area's to prevent chaufing and blistering), got together my running waist waterband filled with 2 bottles powerade and 2 bottles water. Then after putting on my shoes I began to eat....the usual breakfast before run a banana and a bagel. By 6:30 we were out and on the road.

After arriving at the kingsmen scout hall, we picked up our running chips, and I visited the bathroom (like usual of course) then we waited. Our start time was 7:30. At 7:00 we watched the 50km runners head out then we headed towards the line. As the race instructor announced 5 minutes to start I began to get really worried. 42km is a long distance, and I really wasn't sure if I would be able to do it. As I started to worry, tears started to fill my eyes. I started crying and thinking that maybe this wasn't a good idea. Yet, I was glad to have the comfort of my uncle, my mom and my dad to calm my nerves yet still the thought went through my mind. 7:30am approached the whistle went and off we ran.

As I started running, I began to forget the nerves and I just ran like I was used to. Like I enjoy, and I began to feel alive. My uncle and I talked about all kinds of things and paced ourself knowing we had 42km to cover. As we started running, it started to rain. Let me restate that, it wasn't rain. It was complete downpour!!!! We got soaked, puddles formed all along our running path, that there was no way to avoid it. So we ended up just running straight through.

We ran past fort george all along the Niagara Parkway, past winery after winery. Ran past the Laura Secord house and the Brock Monument. Ran through bike trails past the big floral clock, and the hydro water Generating Station. We ran past Niagara glen, past Great wolf lodge and made our way to just outside of Niagra falls near the Whirpool Bridge Area, to then hit the 21.5km mark and have to make out way back to the finish. Still getting soaked from the rain and running through puddles we treked out way back hitting the refresment stations along the way. Gaining fuel from water, gatorade, banana's and anything else they have to offer. THEY EVEN HAD M&M'S AT THEIR STATION!!!!!

After running the way back and reaching the entrance to fort george I knew we were almost there, I began to pick up the pace and began to forget about the pain I once had and just give it everything I had. As I picked up the pace I left my uncle behind, we began yelling back to each other I love you and give it all you got. I started to sprint. I gave that last 100 meters everything I had in me. As I could see the finish line and all the people, tears began to stroll down my face. The excitment was unbelieveable. I can't even begin to describe how I felt, or the thoughts going through my mind. I felt on top of the world and more alive then I had in ages. When I crossed that line I didn't even care that I was recieveing a medal or that there was refreshments inside. I had the biggest grin on my face from ear to ear, and was heaving because of my tears. As I looked back, I began screaming. GO UNCLE GARY!!!!....as he came running across the line I knew from that moment, we did it. We just ran 42km.....a FULL MARATHON.

So after all of this....I ran the marathon in 4:41. I placed 48 out of 76. I was the 13th female out of 27 females overall. I placed 7th in my age category of 39 and under. But that stuff isn't even important. The real importance to me was just accomplishing the race. I didn't walk at all during the whole thing, and there was no need for bathroom breaks (yeah no pooping). My feet were completly pruened by the end from running through puddle after puddle, but who cares.

Even a day later, I still don't even know how to react. I am more proud of myself then any other accomplishment. I never thought I would have seen the day, and I don't even think I can describe how it feels. It is one of those things you need to experience yourself to gain the feeling.

1 week remaining......and Shout outs!!!!!

So today is Sunday June 14th and that means there is 6 days until the full marathon. It's hard to believe this date has come so soon. I still do not feel prepared enough. I think I am more nervous for this then I was for my drivnig test (which I did indeed pass...yipppee). Anyways, as this week went by I got a few really good runs in, mixed with some easier runs.

- Ran 14.1km
- Ran 23.76km (this was hill day....oooh boy did it kill me, and my knees)
- Ran 12.61km
- Ran 22.21km (got a dirty blood blist...poo, stupid wrong socks)

Still no 32km to show which gets me worried. I'm hoping that I have the strength and determination to pull through on Saturday or else at 29.2km I'll be stopped and not able to continue. Anyone got any advice for this last week, besides taking it easy)??

Also shout outs to Heather for starting to run. Apparently I have inspried her she says, so a few times this past week and the week before we have headed out on nice and easy 30 minutes runs...with a walk 1 minute, run 1 minute approach. This week we increased to 35 minutes of walk 1 run 1. Till adventually we can swtich it up and run 2 walk 1, then run 3, walk 1.....etc... Her goal is to adventually be able to run a 5km by the end of the summer. So here's hoping. I know she can do it, and I shall help every step along the way.

2 weeks till the run.

Still counting down days till June 20th, and still increasing the long runs kilometer by kilmoeter. After being away monday and tuesday at an overnight camp training I felt behind in my running. I know I needed to step it up if I want to be able to finish this full marathon without massive amounts of pain.

So here it goes:
Tuesday: I ran a solid 15km.
Wednesday: I ran a nice enjoyable 15.03
Thursday: I ran 18.33km
Friday: Decided I would switch it up and biked 33.31km.

We shall see what runs I accomplish on saturday and Sunday as I'm heading off camping, but none the less, something will get done at some point. I still need to get to 33km and the furstest i've ran is 29.2km. So in two weeks here's hoping. I also have desperatly discovered I need new shoes. I can slowly feel the lack of support in my mizuno's now. After a while on long runs, I can start to feel some pain in the bootom of my foot. So not only am I counting down the days till the marathon, but also till I can buy some new shoes haha.

Any suggestions of recommened shoe brands? Or should I just stick with my one love mizuno shoes.