It’s here!!!! PEI Marathon weekend is upon us Maritimers and I’m one of those lucky ones running the half! After an adventurous year of injuries, multiple treatments, 4 missed races and lots of tears, I’m excited to run this race.
Yesterday (my only day in the office) I managed to squeeze in a quick 5k at lunch and I’m so glad I did. I needed the fresh air and sun on my face. It’s nice to have a few last runs before the big day. I’m hoping that after my 4.5/5 hour drive today, Saï and I can go for out for a short run…a run date if you must 😉 {Sai…get your running gear ready}.
Goals
I’d love to say I have some lofty goals like a new PB (2:05:10) but for this race my main goal is to run the 21.1 pain free and feel good the whole time. Don’t get me wrong, if a PB happens, I won’t turn it away but I can honestly say I’m not in that kind of shape….and THAT’S okay. If I’m having a really good race I might be able to pull off 2:10 but I’m feeling like I’ll be around the 2:15-2:20 and again, I’m okay with that. No A, B or C goals for this race.
Emotions
I have butterflies floating around my stomach as I write this and a few tears forming….gosh, it was such a shitty running year for me for so long. I’ve cried periodically on my runs for no reason at all. At the beginning, in the middle and sometimes when they are over. Maybe it’s the fact that I can vision myself running the distance, maybe it’s just because I want to run the distance so bad and seem to have fought hard to get here. I dunno. When you want to do something and you physically are held back it can become such a mental game. It can also become something you work hard for…..really hard for.
Runner’s Life
You jump out of bed at 5:45 am to make sure you are up and ready to meet your running buddy for a long run. You follow your training plan or mix it up depending on what life decided to throw you that day. You take a rest day when you really shouldn’t but your body and sometimes your mind just needs it. And you do way more laundry then you’d ever expect! Oh, and you struggle to get up at 6:30 am on your work day….yeah, that’s real. I strongly dislike getting up on a work day but leap out of bed on an early morning run day.
{Random Finish Race Photo from last week’s Valley Harvest Marathon 10k}
Sorry, that was too good not to share. I’m unsure of the photographer who took the photo but Thank you!.
For my 3rd half marathon, I’m just going to run. Run for me. Run for my girls and husband. Run for my friends. Run for the various running groups and communities I belong to. Run for the races I’ve missed. Run for the many races I volunteered at this year and run for the love of sport. That’s what it really comes down to, I do love to run.
Race Updates
I can’t promise a race recap on Monday as I’ll be spending most of the day in the car and the remainder of my day/evening with my girls. Plus Canadians will be VOTING Monday {Don’t forget to vote!}. I will keep my Instagram and my Facebook page updated so you can check out how the race went that way….if you want a sneak peak 🙂
Good luck to all those running the PEI Marathon (#peimarathon); all distances – Charlotte, Andrew, April. Good luck to those running the Toronto Waterfront Marathon (#STWM).
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Cheers, Piper.
Piper's Run 
SO FREAKING EXCITED FOR YOU! Good luck!!
Thanks! It was a blast!
HAVE FUN!!!! Just run and ENJOY it, wish I was going to be there. Hope it’s all wonderful, pain free, and perfect!
Thanks buddy!
I am so excited for you. Have a great time and just enjoy yourself. Sometimes just being back is awesome enough in and of itself!
Thanks! It was awesome!
I am sooooooo happy that this weekend is here. You have waited so long to get to run a race – I know you paced, but this one is all about YOU! You worked so hard to rehab your injuries. You’ve had such a positive attitude. Don’t underestimate the power of a good attitude on race day! I think it’s good that you are going in with no expectations but I think you are going to truly have a wonderful race and surprise yourself. Go get it, sister!
It felt like it took forever for this weekend to come around! It was awesome…I did exactly what I wanted to do. (Recap to come).
I’m so excited to read it!
I’m proud of you for pushing through all the struggles. I’m wishing you the best of luck, run according to how you feel and you will be happy with the result knowing you did your best. I would love to be the volunteer to give you your race medal, but it would come with happy tears. Have a great weekend, can’t wait to hear all about it.
Thanks Tracey, it sure has been a frustrating year! You know what, I don’t even have a clue who gave me my medal this time around… ha ha, I was happy to be done!
Good luck! So happy for you that you’re back at it!
Thanks!
Good luck and have fun this weekend! We’re all rooting for you 🙂
Thanks! Hope you had a great weekend as well…gotta catch up on your blog this week 🙂
You will do great. Enjoy the course and time with your hubby. Can’t wait to hear all about it. Good luck (but you won’t need it)!
Thanks! It was a great weekend!
I said it last weekend – love your story. A true reminder that we are all real in one form or another. Love your perseverance.
So go kick some ass this weekend! Can’t wait to hear all about it in your re-cap.
Thanks Sandye 🙂 It was a great weekend, I ran the race I wanted to run. Recap to come soon!
Anna I am so happy you will finally get to run you HALF MARATHON!!! You have certainly had a year of many challenges and still kept smiling the whole way. Good luck this weekend! PEI is on of my favourite events 🙂
Thanks Heather! It sure has been a challenging and frustrating year! I had a blast this weekend!
Eeeek! So exciting!! Best of luck out there, I’m sure you will CRUSH it!!
Thanks! It was awesome!
Good luck- have a great weekend!!
Thanks! I did 🙂
That is a brilliant picture! 😀
Best of luck with the half – I’m looking forward to reading all about it. 🙂
Thanks!