Two-fer Weekend: 5k on Saturday & 5k on Sunday

This was a busy weekend!

Saturday morning I ran a 5km race with 4 of my best girlfriends (wish you were there with us Angie!)

Karen & Cindy (first 5km race for both of them!), Corinne, Shauna and me!

This was the very first race I ran last year. This year was no personal best time, but I had fun (and I was faster than my time last year, so that kinda counts).

I kinda love the day-glo yellow shirts... they were ideal on an overcast morning!

Some of the girls from my Crossfit boot camp did the run as well! (for info on Crossfit training in East Hants, NS check out Core to Extremity Fitness!)

Me, Emily (it was her first 5km race!), Kristi and Jennifer

I'm so proud of all of us! We train and complain (okay, *I* complain) together but we are all working on bettering ourselves and our health so every achievement should be celebrated!

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Then Sunday morning I participated in an event called the IWK 5km Run in Memory of Jessica which is a fundraiser event where the monies raised goes toward the local children's hospital and helps babies and children in critical care.

This weekend, the annual fundraising telethon for the hospital took place and it was a banner year! I'm so glad I got to be a part of it! This year, the run raised $38,675 which formed part of the $6,270,346.07 total raised for 2015!!!

My cheering section was there to support me this morning... best mom ever!

The start of the race! I actually had a new personal achievement this morning even if it wasn't a personal best time overall. This morning I ran consistently without walking for a full half hour, one of these days I will finish the full 5k race in that half hour!

Seeing that finish line is such a motivator! I ended up running with a former coworker for a while near the end and when I said I saw my mom at the finish line she said "sprint for the finish!" and I took off! I'm so glad she was there to give me that final push. The picture my mom got of me in a sprint is one of my favourites...

Fully airborne!

Two weekends ago, I managed to give both ankles a lateral sprain and the left one is recovering quicker but both are pretty sore. When I finished running this morning I sat down and took my right shoe and sock off to asses the soreness... at which point a St. John Ambulance volunteer came over to check on me. She kindly scolded me for running and told me to go home and ice my ankles... I've been re-freezing some peas this afternoon :P

Mmmm peas...

I don't have a lot on the go this week, so I plan to rest the ankles as much as possible!

No pain, no gain right?!

** I AM A RUNNER BECAUSE I RUN **

Dear Cancer: EFF YOU

I have been looking forward to making this post...

A month ago today, my mother underwent surgery to have invasive ductal carcinoma (breast cancer) removed.

From the moment she found out a breast biopsy came back positive for cancer, we met an incredible collection of doctors, nurses and other professionals who are incredibly supportive and wonderful in dealing with the care and treatment of a breast cancer patient.

A mere week after meeting her surgeon at the incredible IWK Health Centre, mom had surgery to remove a tumour and some lymph nodes.Today we went back for the follow-up. I was there as her support system just in case (God forbid) the news wasn't what we were hoping for. But today we received good GREAT news... the surgery removed all the cancer. WOO-FREAKING-HOO!!!!

My family is blessed to have such a genuine, caring, compassionate group of people in our lives. My own circle of friends have been such a bolster when I needed to share, and I am grateful for each and every kind word and hug that has been offered. Thank you.

And the friends in my mother's life are bar-none the best, and I am personally thankful for each and every one of them. From calling or dropping by to sit with her and talking about her current situation, to bringing her flowers/food/visits after her surgery, she has been surrounded by such love. The heartfelt outpouring of goodwill makes my heart swell. Thank you so, so much.

My mom's road to recovery is ongoing, and an upcoming appointment with a radiation oncologist will determine her future treatments, but I have two cousins who work as radiation therapists in the hospital where mom will be receiving treatment and I am confident she will be in incredibly good hands.

Me and my mom Valerie - Mother's Day 2015

Nine days from now, my mom and I are participating in the Sole Sisters Women's Race, and this year we will have such reason to celebrate!

And as always... make sure you take the time to check your own breasts for any changes or abnormalities and if you should find something concerning, talk to your doctor!

One foot in front of another

This morning I ran my first timed race of the year. It was the Benny Bulldog 5k that supports a racing group called Girls Gone Gazelle. The race took place at a park in my hometown, and while the trails were mostly in good shape, they had to re-route to avoid some snow on the trail. Snow. It's May 2nd. Snow on the trail at this point in the spring makes me want to weep.

But back to today's run. It was not my best. It was not my worst, but it was dang close. My feet hurt and my calves hurt. Basically my body reminded me that I need to dedicate more time to training! BUT, I earned my medal and it now hangs with all my others.

At the end of it all, I had fun... and isn't that really what matters?