Well, I did it! After previously attempting twice to run the Ottawa Marathon I was finally able to get it done. (Injuries took me out the previous two times, having me run two fall marathons instead).
The journey to race day was an experience I will cherish for a long time. I had the amazing opportunity to be a part of Team Awesome for the race, which was basically a group of runners, running a variety of distances, committed to connecting and encouraging other runners online on the journey to race weekend. It was fun and I met a lot of amazing people along the way who I hope to stay connected with as we all continue to chase goals and live life full of adventure.
The weekend started Friday night where I was able to connect with some members of Team Awesome at a casual event. 
It was great to see people in person who I’ve been chatting with online for months. It was a wonderful evening, ending with my husband winning a great door prize, a Beau’s Brewery Gift Package. 
He’s been so amazing supporting me in all my adventures so I was thrilled when he won this.
What a beautiful gift.
Saturday I decided to take in the 5K/10K races as a spectator and supporter. Being downtown on race day is electric to say the least. The weather was perfect and the atmosphere was a true celebration of a great weekend that all came together perfectly. The team at RunOttawa did an amazing job at making the weekend a lasting memory for so many people. Congratulations to all of you for the hard work and incredible success.
I was able to get up close to the finish line to see the elites come in and break many course records. You can view video here: Elite Runners Finish Line
Then witnessing the youngest and oldest runners complete their races.
Every runner crossing the finish line has a story and a reason to celebrate. Too often we look at the finish times, but honestly isn’t it the journey to get to the start line where the story really begins? It was moving to witness firsthand, up close and personal, many people achieving personal goals and victories as they crossed the finish line. It was motivational for me, as I was about to line up in the morning to accomplish one of my own personal goals of running the marathon in my home city, Ottawa.
I had not intended on being out so late on Saturday night, so getting the final things ready and off to bed was certainly later than my original plan. The morning came early, 4:15am early! I started my morning with oatmeal, my go to race morning breakfast. Coffee and some final touches on getting my gear ready and I was in the car and off to the race before I knew it. Of course, pre-race jitters required that I found a bathroom before starting. This was also the intention of many other runners preparing to start. I was still in line at 6:55, with a 7am start time for the race. I managed to hop in to a corral just in time (4 hr. pace, not my group 😉 ), with less than a minute to spare to set things up (music/running app).
We were off!
I settled in to my own pace early and managed to connect with a friend very early on in the race and we ended up running the entire marathon together. It was an experience I will never forget. The first half of the marathon was pretty decent, with the weather starting to heat up for the second half. By the time we hit 25K the sun was really beating down on us. I was very thankful for the awesome water stations, especially sponges that were being handed out. I have never soaked myself with water during a race before, but this time around I dumped water over myself a few times in an effort to stay cool.
The crowd was incredible throughout the race with so many people out cheering us on. 
Home owners had sprinklers/hoses out so we could run through them to cool off. Children were out handing out freezies, which certainly was appreciated by many.
Family and friends arranged to be out on the course around the 33K mark to cheer us on and provide extra treats and water if needed. Always special to see people you know along the route.
Often we can head into a race with a time goal in mind, usually to get a personal best. I had this in mind in the beginning as well, but along the way decided it was more about the experience and running with a friend that made the day memorable and one that I could be proud of.
Training continues for me as I am running the Women’s Nike Run in Toronto this coming weekend and my first Ultra Marathon the following weekend. Life is an adventure, sharing the adventure with others makes it a beautiful journey.
Have you run a marathon before? Have you ever ran one in your home town/city? I think it is one of the most beautiful ways to experience a city, the people in it and of course the landscape.
Happy Running Friends.
