5 days left.
I get an email update and countdown from the NYC marathon and I waiver between excited and scared to death. I have one bag packed (for carry on) and a list of things to bring. I still need to pick up a 'throwaway' winter jacket and blow up chair to sit in (for the 5 hour wait from 5:00 am bus shuttle drop off til race start at 10:00 am). Everything has to be left at the side of the road when we start.
I picked up my American money today (ouch!!). Wish I had done that earlier. Oh well...
I ran my last long run today and I am ready (I think) for whatever comes. The Leader photographer took some pictures today for an article. I am excited and scared to death about that as well. I don't take a good picture but always remember my mom ducking out of photographs and saying that to everyone. Thus, we don't have too many photographs of her.
So I grin and bear it but can't believe I really look like that when I see the final photos.....
Good news from the neurosurgeon (got to drive to Vancouver for that today).
I will update everyone when I am done this marathon - one thing at a time.
And we are so close to our goal - I hope with the article in the paper that it will put us over the $10,000 mark!! Several donations have come in this past week.
And, please, keep sending all the wonderful notes and emails. Uplifting words, personal stories and crazy poems (thanks Shirley). I really love to read them and have been saving them all.
I am not sure if I will be able to update the blog before I leave on Friday but will keep everyone posted when I am done the marathon or at least when I arrive in NYC.
One final note: I read a book sent to me on Canadian marathons. Some amazing stories including a man who had a lung transplant and ran for charity. They all talked about the importance of spectators cheering them on and different motivations. The fellow with the lung transplant wrote the names on his hand in black markers of all who had died waiting for a transplant. Looking at that motivated him when he tired during his run. When mom and dad married, mom paid the 'crown' to split a 1959 half dollar. My parents both wore them on a necklace; now Dad has both halves. He brought me moms' ring and half dollar to wear for inspiration. It will be a definite motivator.
If you are looking for me when they televise the marathon, I am on the left and wearing the red hat....lol.
But above all, please take a moment to remember us on the 2nd!
Talk to you soon.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Returned from Alberta
Well we are back. Had a great week in Alberta visiting Rachel, Travis and of course, Julia.
Julia is walking now - actually full tilt 'running' and arms straight up for balance. She also climbs; if you don't keep her socks on she can pull herself up and over the back of the leather couch in minutes. With her socks on she just slides......Ralf was reading books to her all weeks. She was fascinated with the pictures. Rachel showed us how Julia plays a computer/tv interaction game. When told to 'push the button' to make things happen - she is quck to smack away at it. Amazing to see how much she has grown in even a few months.
I kept up with my training - ran around the lake/pond in Camrose for an hour - in the freezing weather got a good case of 'frost balls' in the nose. If you have never felt that sensation before I won't get descriptive; unfortunately I have felt that before. Luckily the weather warmed up during the week and I ran the wheat fields in back of the house with my nose left unscathed although I had two doggy companions who kept leaping around me. Julia got some spoiling from the grandparents (us) who fed her some of the candies we were decorating her birthday cake with. She even got a taste of the piped icing - like a little bird - she loved it. Too bad poor Rachel had to deal with her at 0100 hrs that night. Who knew? We sure had a great time - it was hard to leave.
Unfortunately we also had some bad news while away; a dear family friend passed away suddenly Tuesday night. Otto signed my marathon shirt and led the supper prayer at the benefit dinner in September. He gave the Bridal toast at our wedding as well as our 25th anniversary party. Otto and Vi celebrated their 50th anniversary together with friends and family this past August. He was a good man, one of my father's best friends and he will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Otto's wife Vi, sons Glen, Lorne and their families at this time.
I don't have too much to add - the NYC marathon is sending me a countdown. 12 days to go in case you didn't know - actually 11 now. (just looked at the time).
I got a letter last week with a nice medal enclosed. Apparently I placed first in the Masters Division for Women at 'Jog for the Bog'! There was a slight route mix up on the race day but my thanks to the Race Coordinators. It is a lovely keepsake.
I will keep everyone updated on the countdown and results.
Regards
Jan
Julia is walking now - actually full tilt 'running' and arms straight up for balance. She also climbs; if you don't keep her socks on she can pull herself up and over the back of the leather couch in minutes. With her socks on she just slides......Ralf was reading books to her all weeks. She was fascinated with the pictures. Rachel showed us how Julia plays a computer/tv interaction game. When told to 'push the button' to make things happen - she is quck to smack away at it. Amazing to see how much she has grown in even a few months.
I kept up with my training - ran around the lake/pond in Camrose for an hour - in the freezing weather got a good case of 'frost balls' in the nose. If you have never felt that sensation before I won't get descriptive; unfortunately I have felt that before. Luckily the weather warmed up during the week and I ran the wheat fields in back of the house with my nose left unscathed although I had two doggy companions who kept leaping around me. Julia got some spoiling from the grandparents (us) who fed her some of the candies we were decorating her birthday cake with. She even got a taste of the piped icing - like a little bird - she loved it. Too bad poor Rachel had to deal with her at 0100 hrs that night. Who knew? We sure had a great time - it was hard to leave.
Unfortunately we also had some bad news while away; a dear family friend passed away suddenly Tuesday night. Otto signed my marathon shirt and led the supper prayer at the benefit dinner in September. He gave the Bridal toast at our wedding as well as our 25th anniversary party. Otto and Vi celebrated their 50th anniversary together with friends and family this past August. He was a good man, one of my father's best friends and he will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Otto's wife Vi, sons Glen, Lorne and their families at this time.
I don't have too much to add - the NYC marathon is sending me a countdown. 12 days to go in case you didn't know - actually 11 now. (just looked at the time).
I got a letter last week with a nice medal enclosed. Apparently I placed first in the Masters Division for Women at 'Jog for the Bog'! There was a slight route mix up on the race day but my thanks to the Race Coordinators. It is a lovely keepsake.
I will keep everyone updated on the countdown and results.
Regards
Jan
Monday, October 13, 2008
October
Happy thanksgiving everyone!
What a busy and amazing month.
I finally sent out the thank you/update letters following the fundraising dinner and emailed the extended family. In the letters we advised everyone that we had reached the $6500 mark but in the past two weeks we received almost $1,500 more in pledge donations with more on the way. We have raised nearly $8,000!
I find myself repeating this line over and over but what an absolute honour this fundraiser has become for me. Thank you for the support you have shown for what I am trying to do. Thank you for the honour you are showing my mother, my grandmother and all those who have dealt with M.S.
I have also been blessed by many people who have taken a moment to share a personal story with me; thank you for the emails, letters and cards as well. I have put them all together for a special 'memory' box that will hang on my wall when the marathon is finished.
So what else is happening in my life? Well I am running.. a lot. My treadmill motor finally gave out but the upside of that is that the weather has been nice for running outside and some people have commented on my tan face! Besides Iuliana my dad has become my other 'trainer'. We set up for my long pratice runs on the Tsawwassen dykes with Dad riding behind me on his bike. We have become very official! He will ride ahead and hand me a water bottle (which I get to drop) so that I don't stop and keep me updated on interval times. I have two 30 km/~ 3 hour practice runs under my belt; my remaining runs will be limited to 10 or 15 km until the marathon.
I can't lie - the runs went fine but I am feeling a little pressure right now to 'excel' on this run (that competitive Fox gene). I am still working through a sciatic nerve problem. So a warning to the three people that read this blog; don't be surprised if my times are (waaaay) over the 4 hour mark. I will use the excuse I have used quite well recently, I am old!! :)
Other than that my big excitement is heading to Alberta with Ralf on the 14th to visit Rachel, Travis and Julia. We will help Julia blow out her first birthday candle - where did the time go?
Eric and Annie had a great Thanksgiving in Ottawa. Between classes Eric made his first turkey dinner with all the fixings for his sister and she was very impressed.
Everyone else is doing fine. Ralf didn't spend his usual Thanksgiving weekend fishing, but he was at the Vedder on Saturday long enough to rescue a young woman who fell out of her kayak. Fishermen were yelling and Ralf waded out, barely catching the edge of her sleeve as she went past. He pulled her to shore and thankfully she was okay but badly shaken after being swept down the river. So he is my hero (and most likely hers!)
So take care everyone - next update later this week. Feel sorry for me as I run the secondary highways out by Tofield all this week - too many big rigs..and please, let there be no snow!!
Talk to you soon
Jan
What a busy and amazing month.
I finally sent out the thank you/update letters following the fundraising dinner and emailed the extended family. In the letters we advised everyone that we had reached the $6500 mark but in the past two weeks we received almost $1,500 more in pledge donations with more on the way. We have raised nearly $8,000!
I find myself repeating this line over and over but what an absolute honour this fundraiser has become for me. Thank you for the support you have shown for what I am trying to do. Thank you for the honour you are showing my mother, my grandmother and all those who have dealt with M.S.
I have also been blessed by many people who have taken a moment to share a personal story with me; thank you for the emails, letters and cards as well. I have put them all together for a special 'memory' box that will hang on my wall when the marathon is finished.
So what else is happening in my life? Well I am running.. a lot. My treadmill motor finally gave out but the upside of that is that the weather has been nice for running outside and some people have commented on my tan face! Besides Iuliana my dad has become my other 'trainer'. We set up for my long pratice runs on the Tsawwassen dykes with Dad riding behind me on his bike. We have become very official! He will ride ahead and hand me a water bottle (which I get to drop) so that I don't stop and keep me updated on interval times. I have two 30 km/~ 3 hour practice runs under my belt; my remaining runs will be limited to 10 or 15 km until the marathon.
I can't lie - the runs went fine but I am feeling a little pressure right now to 'excel' on this run (that competitive Fox gene). I am still working through a sciatic nerve problem. So a warning to the three people that read this blog; don't be surprised if my times are (waaaay) over the 4 hour mark. I will use the excuse I have used quite well recently, I am old!! :)
Other than that my big excitement is heading to Alberta with Ralf on the 14th to visit Rachel, Travis and Julia. We will help Julia blow out her first birthday candle - where did the time go?
Eric and Annie had a great Thanksgiving in Ottawa. Between classes Eric made his first turkey dinner with all the fixings for his sister and she was very impressed.
Everyone else is doing fine. Ralf didn't spend his usual Thanksgiving weekend fishing, but he was at the Vedder on Saturday long enough to rescue a young woman who fell out of her kayak. Fishermen were yelling and Ralf waded out, barely catching the edge of her sleeve as she went past. He pulled her to shore and thankfully she was okay but badly shaken after being swept down the river. So he is my hero (and most likely hers!)
So take care everyone - next update later this week. Feel sorry for me as I run the secondary highways out by Tofield all this week - too many big rigs..and please, let there be no snow!!
Talk to you soon
Jan
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