What a terrific weekend...being with your best friend as she completes her first half marathon, hanging with your Running Room buds as they complete their first marathons and getting a PB!
Our trip to Toronto began with Lindsay, Megan and me driving to Toronto and hitting the expo. It was small but great. Lindsay and I even found our Chicago shirts - funny ones - stay tuned to see them. We then drive to the hotel, had a pasta dinner and walked around the start/finish of the race to get use to the sights. We all went to bed and woke up excited.

I really wanted to get a PB so I set my sights on 2:49 - I wanted a 2:4??? So what would it be? I hadn't run all week as I was very burned out from last weekends 35km so in my mind I had a few doubts. Megan, our friend Madeline and I started out running together and the weather was perfect. I chose not to run with my water belt and I had on a new gel belt that I always wanted. It was holding my chews, Kleenex, camera and Tylenol. We crossed the start line 7 minutes after the gun.
We ran quick and I felt good. The crowd spread out so there were no problems with crashing or having to pass a lot of people. I knew from my pace band that I needed to hit the 10k mark at 1:18. We hit the marker and the clock said 1:24 - perfect even 1 extra minute to spare. I decided that I would move ahead as Megan and Madeline were chatting and I was in the zone.
All of a sudden I was at 13km, then 16km then 20km and running up Bay street - holly smokes - I feel great and I see signs along the street saying 500m to finish, 400m to finish etc. I hear lots of people cheering and calling my name (my name was on my bib but I didn't care). I see the finish line and the clock is at 2:50 - are you kidding me??? That means my time is great - I throw my arms up in the air like Rudd at the Running Room taught us and hit my watch - 2:43:01 - holly smokes - I, of course start crying but realize Megan is behind me so I have to turn around to see where they are. I wait a couple of minutes and there she is smiling and crossing the line at 2:46 - fantastic.
Megan and I got our blankets, medals and photo taken and I spot my cousin Laird and his wife with signs cheering for us. We snap a few photos, find Lindsay who had a great race, and head back to the hotel room to shower.
We came back to the finish line a while later so we can see our friends complete their marathons. I was crying the whole time as they all passed us to complete. Everyone finished, looked great and we are so proud. I can only imagine in 13 days what it will feel like.