This time of the year excites me! I love looking back and evaluating how the year went. Often, the year didn’t go quite the way I planned
. Through every experience, highs and lows, personal bests and setbacks or injuries, there is always an opportunity to learn and discover more about myself and, if I’m lucky, about others. This year was no different and through my injury I was connected to my now running coach and a ton of other great people.
2014 Year in Review:
Around The Bay and Ottawa Marathon were misses due to injury. My planned marathon for Calgary was downgraded to the 5K just so I could experience the race 🙂 My daughter and I volunteered and loved it, as usual, and I dressed up for the first time ever in a race to celebrate running through the decades. I started training for the Toronto Marathon as soon as my boot came off, and had a PB on race day. I ran my very first trail run, a 23K with the I2P run in Gatineau, QC, dressed up for the Ghost Run and ran one of my favourites, in the pouring rain, the Army Run!
My husband and daughter participated in their very first races this year (Strides for Ethan and Ottawa Foam Fest), it was amazing to do these with them. A few other smaller races and to top the year off I hired a running coach. Lots of firsts this year!
Setting Goals for 2015
This is also a time that I am looking ahead. I’m planning new race goals, distances, training schedules, and making arrangements for out of town events. Some events are still under wraps but staying true to myself, I am setting goals that take me beyond my comfort zone.
One of my goal races this year is The Ottawa Race Weekend Marathon. I originally planned on running my first marathon in Ottawa (and second) but due to injuries was side-lined from accomplishing this. I ended up running my first and second out of town. I am determined that 2015 is my year to run the Marathon in the city I call home.
I am so thrilled to have been invited to join The Ottawa Race Weekend’s Team Awesome. This is such an incredible honour for me. To share my love for running, encourage others to set race goals and connect with other runners throughout our journey to race day is something I’m already so passionate about – being able to do all of this as part of Team Awesome is a forever memory in the making!!
You can follow the entire Team Awesome on a variety of social media sites. We will be using #TORW2015 to connect and chat with all of you. We all have different strengths, personalities, interests and experiences so you’ll likely relate to more than one of us. Meet Team Awesome
If you’ve ran the Ottawa Race Weekend before then you know it’s a fantastic race and an incredible way to see the city. If you have not experienced this race for yourself, it’s a must and you should seriously register. Register Here
I also love volunteering for race kit pick up every year for Ottawa Race Weekend, as this is something my daughter and I do for numerous races in Ottawa. We even convinced my son to come with us for one event. This is such a great way for your kids to be inspired by others, share something with you that you love to do, and in their words, get cool free stuff! You’ll see me at Race Pick Up again this year – say hi if you see me!
Thanks for the share Patrick 🙂