harvest half marathon

Probably back in May I registered for Calgary's Harvest Half Marathon 2012. Alex found it and told me to do it with her and since my goal is one day to do a full marathon, a half sounded attainable. In my training I even ran a couple of the same distances about two months in advance of the actual race.

About a month ago I went on a run after I hadn't for about two weeks and I noticed my knees hurt a little bit. I went on a run the next day and they hurt even more! What was going on? I gave my knees a couple days to recuperate and then I would run again with them hurting. I figured it must be my shoes. I bought those shoes two years ago and they have traveled well over 200 miles. It was time to retire those babies. I just couldn't find the time to go look for a new pair until the day before the race. I tried on many different shoes from different brands and none were suiting to my abnormally narrow feet. I finally tried on some Nike's (the ones that Lita had recommended to me a couple weeks back) feeling very panicked and they were a dream compared to all the others!

I forgot to pick up my race package the week before the race (which is quite a silly time to have a race package pick up if you ask me) so I had to be at the race start an hour early on Saturday, September 29 to punish me for my forgetfulness. I got up at 6, left at 6:20 and got there at 6:50. I waited around for Alex to get there, my only form of support until the race was over. Everyone else who wanted to come support us would be waiting at the finish line :D

Here is my beautiful sister and me waiting for the race to begin!

At the starting line:

And we were off! We ran through a bit of the city to get to Fish Creek Park. Once we got into the park, I was a lot happier. My knees weren't even hurting!

We had some pretty awesome scenery in FCP.

If only my finger didn't get in the way of this pic. If you look closely you can see a bunch of racers in the distance.

I was feeling awesome until about 10k in. My hip starting hurting really bad which was bearable but detrimental to my efficiency. I just was sooo happy that my knees weren't hurting. Then I hit the half way point and that's when things went downhill. My minute-miles decreased from 8:15 to about 9:18 within that time and people were passing me like crazy! I felt like I was going so slow, but according to my Nike+GPS app, I was going a pretty good/average pace. I swear it was all my hip! I feel like I could have done a lot better without the constant pain. I kept thinking, "The sooner you cross the finish line the sooner you can see Boonie, Kobe, and Lita!" It was a pretty good motivator, but the thing about pain is it's a pretty good motivator to go slower.

About 17k in there was a huge hill. I had heard about this hill from the Harvest Half's Facebook page and I was determined to run the whole thing. I did it. I passed a bunch of people on my way up, who then passed me when the ground levelled out. At least it would help my time. I still don't know which hill is worse, Harvest Half or Moonlight Run. They both have their ups and downs (bahahaha).

At the 18k mark Burns phoned me! I was waiting for that phone call and it made me so happy and encouraged me even more to keep going. 3k later, I turned a corner and there was the finish line! The moment I saw it, I put on my traditional last wind sprint. As I was sprinting and dodging other racers to get to that finish line, I heard someone yell my name. Burns wasn't there yet but Lita was there - she was the one who yelled my name. Thanks so much for coming, Lita!

As for Boonie, I had sent the poor boy on a wild goose chase. Because I had his car and I just didn't think to ask Lita to give him a ride, he took the C-train all the way down. I told him to get off at the wrong stop!!! I felt so bad. He and Kobe got there 3 minutes after I crossed the finish line.

Thanks so much for coming you two!

Alex did a great job! She was 4 minutes behind me.

My time - 2:00:40 placing 335/803
Alex's - 2:04:29 placing 397/803

Fastest male's time - 1:21:12
Fastest female's time - 1:32:31

My medal for participating:

Alex crossing the finish line:

That night I could hardly walk. I was hobbling around and I figured that is what old people must feel like. It was better the next day but still pretty bad and by Monday I was pretty alright. I even went for a run! I think I now know what all the pain was from. I did no core/girdle strengthening before I ran those long distances and my muscles were telling me very loudly that this was the case. I will be sure to do that now.

Despite all the pain, I had a good time.

whitewater rafting horseshoe canyon

If you recall, Burns turned 25 back on July 1st. I got him a few little gifts, but the big adventure this year was a whitewater rafting trip. Since it would expire on September 9th, we figured the only possible time for us to go would be the day after we got back from house boating. I extended my time off work to Tuesday, August 28, to accommodate our adventure needs. We had to be at Nakoda Lodge (close to Canmore) by 8:00am so we had to get up pretty early to make it on time. The rafting trip is Horseshoe Canyon with Chinook Rafting.

It was a gorgeous morning with no wind. Burns and I were one of the first couple of people to arrive. Slowly more and more trickled in and orientation began. We then received our freakin' awesome wet suits and booties. We had the option of taking a splash jacket, but Burns and I were HC and didn't wear one. The only other person out of the 40 people there who didn't wear a splash jacket was a giant of a man. I felt like a true Canadian.

We then took a crazy bus ride up the river to the starting point which was a little bit past Seebe. We had to hike down from the bus to the river.

Aren't we so cute?

Oops....I mean...

Aren't we so cute?

Burns and I ended up being in a raft with two or three Japanese people who didn't understand very much English. Rafting terms were not included in their limited vocabulary. Oh and our guide was from Peru with a thick accent. Plus he talked very quietly and I intentionally sat at the back with Burns just so I could hear our guide's instructions. Other than those little setbacks, we had a lot of fun!

We even got to go cliff jumping with the group!

I would have refused to jump if I hadn't been in line. It was like a cattle drive. "1, 2, 3, jump! Next! 1, 2, 3 go! Next! 1, 2, 3 alright! Next!" If I had had the chance to stand there for even a second longer I would have out thought myself and not jumped. Not thinking is a good way to do things that you're scared to do. I think it was the highest cliff I have ever jumped off of. It was really nice having a wet suit and boots, especially in the Bow River.

Burns

Me!

This is how intense it got sometimes:

The highest class of rapid is Class 5. Our trip had class 4's.

This is our raft. Burns is in the back with no splash jacket. I'm beside him but you can't see me.

We got stuck in a rapid for what seemed like a very long time (it was probably about 30 seconds long). That was the funnest part of the trip haha.

Look, you can actually see me in this one:

There was a rapid that the guides were "surfing" in, but we got knocked out of the rapid by another boat so we didn't really get to experience it. Oh well, I think it would have been the most fun for the guide anyways.

At the very end coming up to the shore, Burns and I jumped in. It was pretty cold.

We portaged our rafts up a steep hill, and then we headed back to the Lodge for some cookies and hot chocolate. Because I bought the rafting trip from WagJag, I got all the sideline pictures for free. It would have cost $30 to get it.

Super fun trip and I can't wait to go on another Boonie Birthday Adventure next year!

enchanted forest

 If you go house boating at Shuswap...or even if you're just passing through on your way to Victoria or something, MAKE A STOP AT THE ENCHANTED FOREST!! Especially if you have little kids with you. It's in between Revelstoke and Sicamous. PS if you have a chance to drive around Revelstoke, do it. It's absolutely gorgeous there! We stopped by on our way hom

The Enchanted Forest

We so excited!

Three frogs in a pond:

 Horse races with Nitty:

I think Burns told me not to post this one...but he didn't specify where he didn't want me to post it. I think he meant Facebook ;)

Cute lil fam in a cute lil house:

 There was an old lady that lived in a shoe. She had lots of kids and a wicked slide too:

I guess Burns is Prince Charming:

Okay I love Burns' expression here:

 Follow the yellow brick road!

In the world's tallest treehouse:

Burns, Joe, and Navy are down there.

The best part of the whole forest? The row-boat pond. No one to tell you what to do, where to go, how to do it, no line up. Just a sign with instructions and "use at your own risk" written. Grab a life jacket, choose a boat, and go!

We were the only ones there which made it extra amazing.

 The scenery was absolutely gorgeous!

 Rowing through the lilly pads was pretty tough.

Isn't this family the cutest?

Alex, thanks so much for the idea! Burns and I would have never gone if it wasn't for you! I would definitely go again and I highly recommend it to all!