Well, I have this ‘original’ idea of running a marathon distance since my partner and I missed the latest Good Life Toronto Marathon. He had groin and knee issues and several missing training runs, so we agreed to pass on this one. The thing is that I did train and I ‘thought’ I was pretty much prepared for a second marathon. So I decided to run it by my own. The same day. At the same time. A different city (we live in Montreal) was only a tiny detail, right?
I wouldn’t think of running 42.2 kilometers all alone (at least, not without the crowd, the cheering, the no traffic streets, and the several pit stops) but it was a challenge I had to tackle. A kind of a little experiment I had to do, all for the love of running.
St-Lawrence river is one of the most beautiful rivers in Quebec, so I chose one of my favorites routes which goes all along by it. It is not car-free, but the scenery is dazzlingly beautiful.
I have to say that my husband ROCKS!... and that I absolutely LOVE HIM with all my heart! Well, as a runner himself, he understands the great deal of a well hydration so he nicely offered to stay with me the whole ‘race’. He waited for me every 5 k with a bottle of water and constantly cheering me up. THE-BEST-Pit-Stops-EVER!
The weather, for instance, was not that perfect for me; a chilly 7 C (45 F), rainy, but at least, I was gifted with a beautiful dawn over the river.
Because I was my own cheering crowd along with J, I ran with my ipod on (lots of merengue and latin rock, si!!) and also for the first time, I ran with my camera to witness this magnificent event (but only for a few kilometers - not a fan of running with things in my hands).
Now, the last half of my ‘marathon’ was a bit different. It helped me dearly that I knew I could constantly count on my hubby, but I had to come back by the same route and although is nice, I mentally have a problem seeing the same view. So I began to feel kind of wasted, plus the rain and the awful wind, all that invited my friend Lactic acid to make its gracious entrance to my day.
Unfortunately for my marathon goal, I could only ran 35 k that day. It sucks that they were only 7 more kilometers to go. But that was my finish line. Despite I felt discouraged at first, a nice warm hug from J was the best and most beautiful medal I could get.
