Top 3 Questions

One thing that I appreciate SO much is when friends/family ask me questions about my training. It means the world when they recognize how much running means to me. It has helped me grow as a person, it has helped me develop confidence in all areas of my life, it has helped me develop focus, and it has helped me learn how much stronger we are when we support one another. I know that over the last couple of years the time that I spend training has continually increased. I know that with this, my social life has definitely changed. What fills my heart to the top is that my friends/family never make me feel bad about not being as social as I was at one time in my life. Instead, they ask me how things are going. They truly are the definition of support. Over the last few months, the following 3 questions have come up most often:

1.) How do you make time to train for it?

Outside of work, my life is revolved around my training schedule. Training is a non-negotiable. It is in my agenda just as a doctor appointment or meeting would be. This is the lifestyle I have intentionally chosen for myself at this time. It took me a solid year to stop viewing my many hours of training as selfish. What I have found is that my time put into training allows me to put forth so much more into everything else that I do.

I am a MAJOR fan of lists, and completely obsessive about my agenda. I have my weeks planned out a week in advance (this includes workouts, goals, tasks to complete etc), and it is a RARE occasion that I can fall asleep at night until every item off of my list for each day is complete. My agenda keeps me on track, organized, and it motivates me to use my time efficiently.

2.) Don't you get BORED?

I absolutely do NOT!!! Especially since I have started to add in so much cross-training this season! I will break down what goes on in my head in an average 2-4 hour training run:

8% - Imagining the feeling of crossing the finish line

9% - Thinking about events at work, planning in my head, and coming up with new ideas

12% - What I am going to eat after my run?

3% - Am I happy with what I ate before my run? (maybe longer if the answer to this question is no)

5% - How CUTE are Lukah and Prince? (SOOOO cute)

18% - How blessed I am (these thoughts include how: I have the most amazing boyfriend, wonderful parents, an incredible career, the kindest friends, and all of the love in the world in my life)

10% - Life things

14% - Being totally in the zone/focussed. NO thoughts except for the me and the music.

1% - Being annoyed that I can't figure out what I feel like listening to

5% - Moments spent in prayer

6% - My drive to raise awareness for autism, and how so many people face challenges that I will never even be able to imagine

5% - Goal setting/planning

4% - How amazed/blessed I am that my body is actually moving and functioning

NOW - my most golden runs and favourite ones are DEFINITELY the ones where I enter into the runners high. This could last anywhere from 37 seconds to 37 minutes. During this time, I have no idea where the time goes or what I am thinking about... maybe my thoughts are "have I just achieved nirvana?" haha! It really is the best feeling. It doesn't happen every run, but when it does there is nothing better.

3.) Are you ready?

AM I EVER!! I really could not feel any better or any stronger. I am ready to push out every ounce of power in my body to achieve the best time that I can. My goal remains 5:15:00 - and I will be the happiest human on planet earth if (when) I make it happen. Race day is a celebration of all of the hard work put in months before that precious day!!

I am praying for the sunshine, if it doesn't happen... well, THE RACE IS STILL GOING TO!! And I know that everyone out there will still be giving it everything they've got.

I cannot wait for Sunday to be surrounded by the ferocity of the other runners, the generosity of the volunteers, the energy of the fans, the pain in my body, and the fire in my soul. It is going to be EPIC!!!

Let's do this!! #rockyourstride #calgarymarathon #runcalgary #runyyc #runscotia