Okay, you’ll be happy to note that I have finally reached my fundraising goal and I can now stop begging you all for money. I have raised my goal of $6,100 for the Canadian Diabetes Association, so I’m officially going to Iceland to run in the Reykjavik marathon representing Team Diabetes!
I leave on August 17, I run the half-marathon on August 20 and I come back on the 22nd, and I am sooooo excited!
I just want to thank every single person who donated to this cause, even if it was just a few dollars. I was blown away by how supportive everyone has been, and I couldn’t have pulled this off without such a supportive community behind me.
I actually donated the last couple hundred dollars myself, because by the end of my fundraising, I swear, people would see me coming and unconsciously clutch their purses and wallets in fear. I have officially hit up every human being I have ever met for donations, so I figured it was only fair that I donate some money myself.
I must admit, I don’t know how this race is going to go, because I’ve run into a few training obstacles along the way. First off, that heat wave we had recently did not do me any favours. I found out that I am simply not able to run in the heat. Well, I still tried to do it, but ended up seeing stars, and with a blinding headache that lasted the rest of the day. I guess I am wimpier than I thought. I am so very happy that I chose Iceland as the locale for my run, because if I had chosen a hot climate...well, I don’t even want to think about that. I honestly don’t think it would be possible.
Then I was hit with a hip problem, which left me limping for a week. Every time I get to about ten kilometres, my hip starts throbbing, and then soon after my other hip starts throbbing, probably because I’m overcompensating. I guess it hadn’t even occurred to me that this would be so hard on my body.
When I first started out, I was asked what time I hoped to achieve, and I said I would like to finish the race in two hours. Oh, how very naive I was. I really had no idea, and took it for granted that I would become this elite athlete – no sweat. It seems hilarious now, and I now have so much respect for people who do FULL marathons, because I don’t think I would be able to do it. My new goal is simply to make it across the finish line, whether it takes me two hours, three hours or even four hours. Just to be able to say I successfully ran a half-marathon in Iceland, something I never, ever thought I would be doing.
I must confess that I hated every minute of the training, and had to force myself every step of the way. Apparently, running is just not for me, and I will be officially retiring after Iceland. I’m still going to give it everything I’ve got though. I’m actually kind of proud that I’ve been able to force myself to do the training, even when I’ve had a long day, am feeling lazy and would rather stick needles in my eyes than run a single mile.
Another plus is that I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in, I look ten times better in a bathing suit than I did before I started training, and I’m now determined to stay in shape after all of this is over - I’m going to take up tennis, swimming, walking...basically, anything but running.
My boyfriend is even coming to Iceland with me, which was not easy to pull off. Of course, his airfare comes out of our own pockets, and we have had a heck of a time scrounging up the funds to get him there. First he wasn’t coming with me, then he was, then he wasn’t, and now he really and truly is! It’ll all be worth it when we land in beautiful Iceland, and most importantly to me, when he’s there waiting for me at the finish line.
There was a time when we thought he wouldn’t be able to come along, and I was picturing me at the finish line, exhausted, shaky, with my arms outstretched...and no one there to hug me, watching everyone else celebrating with friends and loved ones. That would have been tragic, and I’m so happy he’s coming along.
It’s a rather long story, but my Team Diabetes coordinator Cara Humphrey played a huge part in helping us to get my boyfriend to Iceland, and I’m extremely grateful for that. All of the Team Diabetes people are so accommodating, and truly do everything in their power to make the experience as positive as can be.
I’ll definitely update you after the run, and of course there’ll be a full story with photos and all. I can’t wait!
