Could I ask for More?

Can you see me in there? Well not yet... but I'll be in there sandwiched between my fellow spandex-wearing-highly-developed-quad-powergel-eating people in 142 days from now.

Today I ran 30 km (18.75 mi) in 2:33:54 (5:15min/km, 8.2 min/mi). My cheeks are sunburnt. My kitties were sitting by the door waiting to greet me upon completion. My feet weighed 38 lbs each due to slush absorption into the gel cushioning layer of my Asics (Does that mean they are doing their job?). Clearly, this was the best day of my week... My life is perfect.

5 Minutes of Fame

As always, I dream of updating this blog daily, but it just doesn't happen... Could be due to various factors, largely revolving around my lack of spare time. C'est la vie.

For various reasons, this year has brought many new experiences to my life, one of them being that I have aquired a very small, low key, nano-sized amount of celebrity status in my very (VERY) normal non-celebrity life. I am going to enjoy every minute of it because I can garauntee that it is going to come to a very abrupt hault in the very near future. My start of star-dom began back in March when I was contacted by a reportor from The Calgary Herald, asking if she could do a story on me about teenage obesity, weightloss, inspiring stories, etc, etc, etc. It turns out my mom had accomplished her motherly duty and advertised my story when replying to an editorial about teenage obesity, they thought it was worth a story (who knew?) and I got a whole half page with a giant picture. You can read this story here: http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Marathoner+shares+lesson+healthy+living/2625818/story.html

Who knew that people actually read the newspaper? I showed up at both school and work that day and someone had posted the article on the wall for everyone to read. It's humbling to be the center of attention (not that I really minded it for a brief moment). Coincidentally, this article ran in the paper less than 2 weeks before we dealt with our condo fire, which was actually quite a story for Calgary. Craig and I ended up being all over the news (the media loved us cause we had a dramatic firefighter/kitten rescue and we had a pretty good sob story...10 days away from moving). The newspaper article brought about a shocking amount of attention, I got the most random emails and requests - how did people find me anyways? Someone asked me to run a race to support the troops in the middle east (what they heck? - the article was talking about teenage obesity, not my political opinions). I was asked to film an episode on "X-weighted" (aka Canada's low budget version of Biggest Loser), I never saw it air, but the thought of seeing myself on TV doesn't really excite me. Anyways, my fame simmered down until I was contacted by someone from Impact magazine wanting to do a story on me for their inspirational athlete's section. Again, I am humbled (and feeling ever so slightly awkward) cause my life doesn't feel very inspirational, it just feels like me, living my normal life, highly entertained by very simple things. My Impact story was in the Sept/Oct issue (I can't find an online link to prove it, so you'll just have to believe me). On top of all this fame (sadly, no fortune), I write a weekly nutrition article for this fabulous-high-traffic blog (it's my blog, I can advertise all I want): http://www.figandfennel.wordpress.com/ (I go by the alias Ironsister on here - as in, it's my sisters blog). THEN - I was recently contacted by someone on Calgary's CityTV to be on Breakfast TV. They scheduled me a few weeks back but I was bumped for a better story (I guess this is common for Z-list stars), as of now, I am reschedule for December 2 to talk about my opinion on staying fit through the winter months (from a normal person's perspective). If I get bumped again, I won't be offended. What on earth am I going to wear?

I say all this for one reason: I was brought back to real life this past week at a Mach 3 speed. I was quickly reminded that I am, in no way, shape or form, a celebrity runner. In fact, I am so far from it, almost like the equivalent of saying that Naomi Campbell and I are twins. Let me state the many reasons why: The world does not accomodate my running schedule. Not even a little bit. This could be seen in the fact that I work 12 hour shifts, that means I run at either 430 in the morning before a 12 hour shift, 730 in the evening after a 12 hour shift, 430 in the afternoon before a 12 hour shift, or 730 in the morning after a 12 hour shift. In Calgary, all of these options mean that it is cold and there is snow and it is dark (for 11.89 months anyways). If I was a celebrity runner, I would roll out of bed after a good long sleep in (till 630) and choose to do a run at my leisure. Next, the weather hates me. I can take the cold, in fact, I embrace it -bring it on! I can dress for it, and I have no problem looking like a complete idiot with frosted eyelashes and multiple layers, but the ice... I cannot fight it, it always seems to win. As a celebrity runner, I would live in a different climate and I would have a cleared 100 kms of private pathway to use whenever I chose. Further, senior citizens hate me. In fact they loathe me. I don't know why, but whenever I am out running and seniors see me, for some reason, they move in to the middle of the sidewalk, making it impossible for me to pass without getting a shoe full of snow (or mud puddle), and they glare the entire time. I try my very hardest to follow all of the courtesy running rules that exist, and when I see a senior citizen coming, I put on my nicest, sincerest smile ever (the same smile I give patients as I'm going in for a good deep tracheal suction), they still hate me. Also, I have come to realize that I actually yeild to pets. That's right. I have to leave the sidewalk so that another pedestrians dog can keep their paws dry and clean. I'm pretty sure that celebrity runners do not deal with this (well, I bet senior citizens hate them too, but they aren't subjected to running through seniorville on their way to the entrance of Fish Creek Park).

My list could go on and on - but the truth is, no matter how many times I have a small brush with fame, I'm just a normal girl doing a normal (somewhat) hobby. Luckily, for me, I don't do it for anyone or anything else, and every mud puddle I run through, every glaring look I get from the 75plus population, every thermal layer and odd timed run is more than worth it for me. Plus, maybe my idea of a celebrity runner isn't totally accurate...

In other important news, the Boston trip is totally and completely booked, which brings me a sigh of relief and more excitment. Thanks to my travel agent cousin, we got some great flights, and decided to extend our trip by an extra day... There was just WAY too much to fit in to such a short time, so now we are going from the Friday until the Tuesday (race day is Monday). I found us a good hotel (by good, I actually mean affordable) that is about 4 miles from the finish line, it's not ideal (See! - all the celebrity runners will be staying right downtown in the Financial District of Boston where all the action is) - but that would have required lottery winnings to afford. Although the website makes this hotel look more than adequate, I have a bad reputation for Hotel bookings as it was my responsibility to book a Hotel for a Seattle Marathon trip a few years back - it ended up being a Howard Johnson that was literally attached to an S&M store in a exceptionally low-income area. We refer to it as the "HoJo in the Hood"... I thought I would redeem myself at the most recent Vancouver Marathon when I booked us in to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, with which we were upgraded to the Gold Club (can you say - "Way out of our league!"), but that actually made it worse because I feel like I could get used to the extreme posh-ness. Cambridge Super8 - please don't let me down.

As for training - well, I'm always in training (often for no reason). I think in January I'll think of a game plan to keep things exciting, until then, I'll stick with my usual 80 ish kilometers a week.

Tis the season for Cute-ness!

More Thoughts on Boston

It's a glorious 20 degree day in November, there are Christmas drinks at Starbucks and we gain an extra hour of sleep this weekend... There is really no reason not to feel great today, but I'm having one of those exhausted, burnt out, cannot go on for another second - moments. This happens to me periodically, I am thrilled with all of the things in my life that keep me busy and going for every waking moment - but I still have my moments. I think ultimately the shift work gets to me from time to time. I can't imagine doing an office job, or a mon-fri bankers hours type job, but the change over from nights to days, days to nights, late evenings to early mornings, 12 hour shifts to 8 hour shifts... takes its toll on my body. I may loose 10 years off my life (as studies have shown) thanks to this, but it's a worthy sacrifice, so I do my best not to complain very often. Today, I'm drawing very deep from the abyss within me to find some positivity... However, I believe the solution may be for me to take this time to meditate and reflect on the finer things in life... Primarily, Boston.



I've already documented my border-line obsessive lure to Boston, my passion to rule the roads with a Boston title, my dream for the last number of years. But there are more reasons that I am drawn to Boston. This is a top 5 list of reason's why Boston speaks my love-language:



5: I live for a challenge: Boston is a tough course, the weather is unpredictable, the 4 Newton hills are killer, Heart-Break Hill is named appropriately. I need something to keep me going, and a challenge like this is just what I need! I find that I have a certain type of personality, I like to refer to it as Type-J personality. This personality may require professional help at times, due to this sick and twisted need to accomplish random, painful yet self satisfying things. I recently purchased a book by Michael Connelly called "26 Miles to Boston" (by recently, I mean today), and as I cracked the cover with a flutter of excitement (perhaps that same flutter that I still feel after the successful procurement of blood when I do an arterial poke), my eyes welled up with fresh tears when I read the foreword by John "the elder" Kelley. Mr. Kelley is a spectator of Boston, two-time champion, 61-time participant and Grand Marshall of the race. He says this "The Boston Marathon in its present form is the greatest marathon in the world....No other marathon in the world can match the race for its color, longevity, glamour, prestige and history. This is the race that the best runners in the world want to win even above the Olympic Marathon". Dear John Kelley - I love you. You just spoke the most romantic and purposeful words that my heart has ever heard. Boston Marathon Challenge - Bring it on! Heart Break Hill - Eat your heart out!

4: The trip: Not only does April 18th, 2011 appeal to me, April 16, 17, and 19th also bring so much excitement. Much like my Ironman experiences, it's not just the day that means something, its the whole trip. I am so excited that Alison and I are doing this together, it is fitting, and perfect in so many ways. Of course, I would LOVE it if all of my favorite people could come, that I could share this history making day with everyone in my family, but reality is, travel can be pricey, it's not the most ideal time of year, and it is what it is. Craig continues to be my biggest supporter, in fact, he deserves his own Ironman medal (x2) for managing to survive living with me and all that I have to offer (aka "my moods"). His support will always be one of my hugest motivations - But Craig and I will be saving our joint trip to Boston for a more NFL season appropriate date, where we can wear matching his/hers Tom Brady jersey's and cheer like maniacs at a New England Patriots game all while getting drunk on stadium Heroin Beer. The Boston Marathon trip must be reserved for my biggest supporter since the first day I laced up a pair of Asics. Alison, who has recently taken to understanding the finer things in life, like running, understands what draws me to Boston, she talks in runners lingo, and her day of Boston spectating is as serious an accomplishment as running the course. Aside from that, we shop the same (and there WILL be shopping), we eat the same (and there WILL be eating), we both like 6am (well... I like it, she tolerates it), we have similar interests (must get a picture of us at Harvard), we finish each others sentences (which makes conversations go so smoothly) - all around, she'll be my perfect travel buddy.

3: The Food: This sort of goes without saying much more (but...I will). Boston Cream Donuts. Never had one, I've been waiting for the real things for a real long time. It's gonna happen, and it's gonna happen soon. The truth is, I'm not really a donut person, for a few reasons (health, calories, fat content, blah, blah, blah), but I'm especially not a "cream/custard/jelly - filled" donut person. I just don't like em. This will change. I WILL be eating a Boston Cream Donut, and I WILL be enjoying it. I will also be finding a way to transport a fresh one back for Craig. Aside from the Donuts, there are so many other food related events that will be shaping our holiday in Boston - Alison and I LOVE markets, coffee shops, sushi, sandwich/salad/deli bars, health food stores, desserts, etc, etc, etc. A new place, new food, new places to go - I just hope that we have enough time to cover all of our bases. It's fine if we don't - we'll make the most of every available moment that we can. I must also find a way to smuggle some real, fresh, New England Clam chowder across the border (and on a plane) to bring it home for Craig (I'm a good wife like that!).

2: The Bragging Rights: I'm going to have to put my humility on the shelf for this season -it's gonna be tough, but I'm up for the challenge. Boston is common knowledge, there are pretty few people out there who aren't familiar with the road race. So, when I say I'm registered, it's hard not to sit back and enjoy the moment. Not just everyone is familiar with an Ironman, so it doesn't always mean much when I say I've done it. In fact, there was a time once when I was training for an Ironman, and some said this exactly "Oh yeah, my sister did one of those once, it took her 2 hours!" Ummm.... that's a sprint triathlon, they don't really compare - but is it really worth sounding like a total snob and correcting the unfamiliar? I don't think so. On this note, I am actually quite thankful that there is no "Boston Tatoo" that comes with this event. If there was, I would HAVE to get it, and as it stands, I already have two tatoo's (one being the Ironman tatoo, that I HAD to get, and the other being the result of 18 year old peer pressure that I HAD to get to fit in...). This is two tatoo's more than I ever intended on getting, it's not really my style and there are only so many places that I can tastefully get inked (that are also easy to hide), I've maxed out (x2) - I really don't want to HAVE to subject myself to more permanent body art. And... now the World Wide Web is aware about the secret snob that exisits in me... darn, I've been trying to keep that a secret.

1: The Jacket: I have coveted this article of clothing for a very very long time. There are very few set things on our Boston agenda, in fact, there are only two. One - 10:30 am, April 18th, be at the start line, two - absolute first stop upon arriving in Boston - John Hancock Race Expo, Boston Athletic Association attire booth, purchase the brightest, most obnoxious Boston Marathon Jacket (by brightest I mean, most neon shade of pink available). I will be wearing said jacket in a permanent fashion from that day onward. I've seen people with these jackets before, I've been tempted to dis-robe and lay my clothes on the ground for these individuals in a sort of "Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday" type way. It is finally my turn. Finally! Don't worry, I won't expect the red carpet (palm tree) entrance - but I won't reject it either. I'll have to bring my dad a Boston Jacket back as well - he's kind of a jacket horror, so it's only fitting.

Yup, I'm feeling a million times better already!

Confirmation!

Life is busy for me, as usual, I just finished an 8 day stretch of work, one day off, then another 6... this is normal, so I'm well conditioned to it, and I don't have too many complaints. I have enjoyed every moment of the last two weeks, because I can honestly say that there has been very few moments where I haven't had Boston on my mind. I'm sure the novelty will wear off, and if it doesn't, I may stand to lose the remaining of my few friends (those who have decided to stick with me thru this ultra-busy year), as I'm sure they will be sick of hearing about everything-Boston.... But I think I'll reveal in the moment for just a short while longer!

Until a few days after the fact, I didn't realize how incredibly close to not registering in the Boston Marathon I had come! This year was a record breaking registration year... the entry's sold out in exactly 8 hours and 2 minutes. Apparently the norm is more like a few weeks, even two months before maximum capacity is reached... in fact, I know that the Las Vegas marathon is historically a favorite for Boston-wannabe's, it runs on the first weekend of December every year and is the last qualifying race for the upcoming April Boston Marathon. I guess if that is someone's plan this year, they won't have any hope at all. On registration day, I was actually working at 7am, the same time that online registration opened. Being the Boston virgin that I am, I didn't really know what to expect for the registration process. I didn't really think it would be a huge panic to register at 7am on the dot... but yet I didn't want to risk it. For my first Ironman, I lined up at 3 am, with a massive crowd of other hopefuls, and waited paitently until 9am when registration opened. That year, the 2007 race, was the 25th anniversary, so it was projected to sell out in record time. The stress of that Penticton trip aged me a good 3 additional decades! It's quite an emotional commitment (let alone financial!!!) to plan for these events, and I particularly loath things that I don't have complete and utter control of, so until confirmed confirmation is in my hands, I don't sleep, I have hot flashes and I feel particularly irritable. I sailed through the Ironman registration and was confirmed by about 9:15 (sadly the damage was done, as seen by the additional lines on my brow). As for Boston, I couldn't handle the stress of missing registration, so I got team-Boston leader Alison to fulfill her sisterly duties and register me. Alison is incredibly organized, worked as an executive assistant to a government cabinet minister, holds a Master's degree, etc etc etc. If there is one person in the world who won't let me down.... it is her! But she failed, and she failed miserably (luckily to redeem herself in glorious triumph). As an incredibly amazing turn in my fate, I was only working an 8 hour shift this day and I slipped out of work about 10 minutes earlier than usual, about 2:55. I have a usual routine when leaving the hospital (everyday), I turn my phone on for the first time after 8 or 12 hours, and before checking various important things (like facebook), I always call Alison. Usually to check in, debrief the day, sometimes I offload a million things (aka "bitching"), and mostly to hear if there has been any breaking news (on TMZ) in the real world that I missed while being consumed in my hospital world. When she didn't mentioned anything about Boston registration, I was a little bit confused, because I was certain that it is ALL that she thought about ALL day (just like me)... eventually we got there.... and for the first time in her life - Alison forgot to do something (potentially at my expense... panic... stress induced aging commences....). We hung up, she immediately registered me, called me back, we laughed about it, and then carried on with the more important details of the day. It wasn't until later that I learned that Alison was LITERALLY 4 minutes away from the cut off time. I just gained another wrinkle by writing that! The stress still sends me in to a third degree heart block - and my registration has actually been confirmed! Oh my gosh - I just re-read the sentence and I feel the skin under my chin sagging! The stress! Can you imagine!?!? I would still trust Alison to do anything for me - she redeemed herself (and more!) when I recieved this in the mail exactly two weeks later:




Arrived via first class mail, direct from Boston: the word's I have been dreaming to read my entire life. Let the celebrations begin, because it is official. There is no turning back.

My demographics - It states that my citizenship is American here, which has been since been corrected - otherwise those are the details that will forever be with me Qualifying Time: 3:35:17


Even the cats couldn't contain their excitment (as per usual daily routine when I pick up the mail and they immediately sit on it).