The Home Stretch

" The Home Stretch" 

 Those three little words imply so much.  

• only a bit more to go
• we're almost there
• you just need to keep your head on a bit further.
• we are going to make it.

  With only 4 weeks to go until our marathon with Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lyphoma Society this is a phrase I find myself saying or thinking quite often.

At least once per long run I will look over at Jessica as we are nearing the end of our run, when I know it's getting particularly challenging or when we are both getting tired and say to her "We're in the home stretch". It's usually when we have about 6Km to go and I think mostly to myself that I need to say something to get us to the end.  I used to think I was just doing it for Jess to be supportive and encouraging as she challenges each new length of distance that is new territory to her (I am amazingly proud of her) but now, I think it's a bit of a pep talk for me too. 
Let's face it, marathon training is hard.  It's tiring.  It takes a toll on  your body, your mind and your spirit.  It demands more of you than any relationship and puts limits on everything you do.  To say that it takes a committment is an understatement. 

BUT -there's always a but.

 At the end of the day, when all is said and done, when you have completed all 700+ training kilometers, running dreaded hill repeats, eaten countless gels, fought with your spouse or children for the umpteenth time about squeezing in your run,  scrutinized every last detail of what goes in your mouth for 16weeks, made the journey to the race, toed the starting line, and pushed yourself along the race course getting to the point where you think you just can't go any further.............the home stretch is what gets you to the finish line and your victory over what some see as nearly impossible and others never challenge. 

So, as we near the end of our journey together Miss Jessica, at a time when it's getting the hardest to push through the miles and the tiredness I just wanted you to know..........we're in the home stretch :)

D.

Doing my Best

I knew going into this that it would be time-consuming. I don't think I truly understood, though.

It's easy to quantify. You look at the training schedules and predict with a fair amount of accuracy how much time a week you'll spend running, stretching, and rolling out the achy parts with a foam roller. You know you'll spend time, most likely after your weekly long run, sitting in an ice bath, reminding yourself through chattering teeth, that this is all worth it. (ice baths are a post for another day. Coles Notes: They suck; They work).

But I don't think you can really prepare yourself for it qualitatively. How suddenly, the simple decision to step up from training for and running half marathons to training for and running a marathon, changes everything.

I used to schedule my runs around my life. Now, I schedule my life around my runs. If, as Denise and I have chosen to do, you decide to raise money for charity, then more time is spent on fundraisers, seeking sponsorship, calling family and friends and asking for support. I wouldn't say that my family is suffering because of it. They are some of my biggest supporters. But the mom guilt! Oooof!

I keep wondering if this was the best time for me to decide to do this. I could have waited until the kids were older. I'm only 38, I hope I've got many more years of running in me! But, what if I don't? It's possible that one day my body will say "Look lady. I've had enough. I've done enough".

So of course I'm doing it now. Every fibre of my being is telling me that I HAVE to. I learned a long time ago that when all signs point to GO, then that's what you must do.

Don't get me wrong...I am loving, cherishing and embracing every moment of this journey. I know I am lucky to be able to do this.

I'm hoping that the time I'm spending away from these two adorable boys, is made up for with the lessons I hope they learn from watching me set goals, and work hard to achieve them.

From watching me raise money for a deserving charity.

From seeing that life isn't about BEING the best, it's about DOING your best.

So, for now, I will just go on doing my best. I know that when I cross the finish line on September 23rd, that I will be proud. I sure hope the kids will be too.

Donations Welcome!

So, here's the crux of it all.

We each need to raise $3000, to participate in the Montreal Rock n Roll Marathon with Team In Training.  This is totally doable - with YOUR help.  So, please visit our fundraising pages and send us a donation!

Its that easy. 

If you aren't comfortable with donating online, please don't hesitate to contact us.  We will be happy to work something out with you.

Jessica's Fundraising Page

Denise's Fundraising Page

If you donate by giving us a donation personally, or through our fundraising page, you get a tax receipt.  So many positives to that:

1) You support a great cause
2) You pay less taxes
3) We run a marathon and feel good about it
4) Prime Minister Stephen Harper gets less of your hard earned money. Woot!!

However!  This is NOT the only way to donate.

Indeed, we will be having a few fundraising events throughout our FUNdraising period.  As you can tell from the very subtle title, these events will be FUN, FUN, FUN!

So keep visiting our site.  We will try to post at least once a week.

Remember, we couldnt't have come as far in our running as we have without your support, and we definitely need it now!

Thanks!

Denise and Jessica