Way to Run

Tracey taking over again, for Michelle...

2009-06-28T23:07:00.001-07:00

Today was truly inspiring. We all rubbed the sleep out of our eyes and rustled our toddlers to make it downtown to watch you cross that line. It was wonderful to see you reaching for your soul to make it through the ordeal. You filled my day with strength, determination and the joy of victory. Thank you for running for the Way to Live. Maybe someday it can be a run all by itself to raise awareness for Wilson's Disease or transplants. You achieved an amazing feat today. I hope to be there running along side you next year.
With love and gratitude, Michelle

2009-06-28T14:16:00.000-07:00

I have now hijacked by blog back to give you what might be the final post in this journey of mine. Well I did it........ It wasn't easy nor was it pretty watching me slog through the run but I made it all 21 km.

I came through the finish line gate at roughly 1:58:45 today which is under my two hour goal. I struggled on todays run from about km 17.5 but dug deep and gave it all that I had. I am proud of myself right now for making it through in this time. Maybe next time I can run the race better but for now, having never run a race before I am happy with how it all played out.

Additionally we together have also considerably exceeded the financial goals that I set. It looks like the total today is $2780.00. Thank you all so very much for helping me raise this kind of money. It was because of all of you that this goal came true.

Thanks again to you all for the support, this was an amazing experience for an amazing cause.

All the best to you all.

Kevin

A hijack...

2009-06-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

That's right, I am hijacking Kevin's blog! Please read the post below this one, as it is way more meaningful...

I just wanted to personally induct Kevin into the "Amazing Person" hall of fame! Not that he wasn't there before, or all of you, but sometimes it's nice to see it in writing : ).
Kevin by far exceeded his goal of $2000! I will not share that number now, as even he doesn't know yet!

You're going to do great tomorrow Kev! And just to let you all know how big of a feat this will be, Kevin informed me today he has yet to actually run a whole 21km in his training! See you tomorrow at the finish line!

Tracey
friend, blog writer, music editor, blog hijacker ; )

2009-06-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well it is now less than 12 hours until I start this journey. I can actually say I am getting nervous as it is all of sudden getting very real that I have to run 21 km tomorrow morning. This will be the longest run I have ever done and probably the most physically demanding thing I have ever put myself through. What have I done........

To give you some perspective on how far 21km is that is like starting a run at Michelle and Jarv's house, running all the way through Ladner to the highway, take the highway all the way into Vancouver, over the oak street bridge and continue onto oak and 41st. At the corner of 41st you have just done 21km.

I want to thank everyone for all your support. Your words of encouragement have kept me going and you financial support has put me over my goal. From the bottom of my heart thank you for all your support as these funds will go to help a truly amazing person. Your support means a lot to me.

Looks like it is all up to me tomorrow to reach that other goal of doing this run in under 2 hours.

Here goes nothing.............

2009-06-23T18:13:00.000-07:00

Well it is now tee minus 6 days until I have to actually do this thing and run farther than I ever planned to run.

Over the past two weeks I haven't had to run any crazy distances but I did have the unfortunate pleasure of discovering what running clinics like to call speed work. Running relatively short distances is not too tough, doing it over and over and over and over and over and over and over is a completely different thing. Before you know it you have been basically sprinting for 5 km and praying for death.

Thanks to all for financial support and I know these funds are going to a great cause. Due to your generosity I am almost at my target and I think I will make it all the way there by the end of the week.

Looks like I have to live up to my end now and run longer and faster than I ever have. Well here goes nothing.

Run fat boy run.........

2009-06-06T09:51:00.001-07:00

Here is a link to the run that I am doing in 22 days, wow it is coming fast......

Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marothon

Tomorrow I get the pleasure of running somewhere around 18-20 km. This is going to hurt!

2009-06-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

Well it has been some time since I last updated this page so I figured it was time to give you all an update on what I have been up to.

In over the last week I have run roughly 46 km. I have been dealt two of the hardest runs that I have ever had to do. Last Wednesday we ran just under 17 km, 9.2 of that was running hills. I have a new appreciation for anyone who can do serious hill training, it is tough stuff. On Sunday we ran 17.5 km all over the west side of Vancouver. Let me assure you that there are some very hilly sections of the west side of Vancouver and it isn't too funny coming around a corner after running for 12 km to find a 1.2 km hill right in front of you.

This training stuff is getting tough and very real with these distances. We start speed training tomorrow night and have another big 18 km run planned for this Sunday. Running 21 km does not seem out of reach any longer!

26 days until the big run.............

2009-05-16T22:43:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a bit since my last post but I thought I let you all know where I am at. Running solo is tougher than I thought but I have been doing my best to keep on top of it. I am traveling for work right now and have completed a few runs. Got a 10k done in Helsinki Finland earlier this week and ran about 15k yesterday here in Gothenburg Sweden. I have done a couple of other smaller runs in between these but not too bad for a weeks worth of traveling. Off to Hanover Germany today and will try and squeeze a couple of runs in there during the next week.

It is hard to run solo but it is even harder to run when every night you go out drinking.....

Cheers,

2009-05-03T21:49:00.000-07:00

Well today I set a new personal best; 14.5 km run. According to the trainers at the running room we are on pace for a sub 1:50 time to do this 21 km run. These longer runs are getting harder but they feel that much more rewarding when you get them done.

Once again today we found new hills in Vancouver that I had no idea were there. How I long for a very flat city to run in.

Looks like we will be on pace to run close to 30 km this week.

Cheers,

Kevin

Keep on Running

2009-04-26T16:57:00.000-07:00

So apparently if you have a blog you are supposed to update it...... so here I go

Today I set a personal best in terms of distance. We ran 12K today and from what my running group is saying we are on tempo (yes using fancy running lingo now) for a 1:50 1/2 marathon time.

I can tell you that there are a lot more hills in Vancouver than you think. I have discovered that I am only a fan of going in one direction when it comes to a hill and up is not it! Despite all the belly aching you just raise the head figure where the hill flattens out and dig deep as you know that eventually you will find the top.

I can say this though, I am actually really enjoying running and training for this half. Next training day is Wednesday and it is a all hill session. Wish me luck!

Way to Run Begins

2009-04-20T20:31:00.001-07:00

It is good to have goals in life and to push your own limits. I have a great friend who is pushing her own limits in the fight of her life right now. To help make a difference in her life and the life of her family I have chosen to push my own limits run the Scotia Bank Vancouver half Marathon (http://www.canadarunningseries.com/svhm/). I am doing this to help raise money for a cause that I know can change lives and in my mind is the most deserving cause I have ever contributed towards.

My goal; to run this ½ marathon in under 2 hours and raise over $2000.

A very dear friend of mine, Michelle Way, is living with a life threatening genetic disease called Wilsons disease. Wilson's affects the body's ability to process copper and overtime internal organs can become badly damaged, and in Michelle's cause her liver to start failing. Michelle was officially placed on the transplant list in November 2008.

Michelle is a truly amazing individual and I consider myself a lucky person to have gotten the opportunity to get to know here over the years and call her a true friend. Michelle is married to one of my oldest friends Jarvie and has a two year old son Nathan. To find out more about Michelle and her condition please go to http://michelle-waytolive.blogspot.com. Another friend of our puts together this blog to help Michelle tell her story and keep in touch with everyone.

Every day Michelle deals with the struggles of living with this disease. It is taking a toll on her physical health and though she puts on a brave face we can still she the pain that she lives with on a daily basis. Michelle is a real trooper, she never complains, she rarely asks for help and she is always smiling. To me Michelle is a real inspiration and testament to what the human spirit is capable of. She is without a doubt one of the most amazing people I have had the privilege of getting to know.

As Michelle lives with pain on a daily basis, so shall I for at least the next few months. My pain comes in the way of training for and running a half marathon in Michelle’s honor. For those of you who know me, you know I am not built to run; especially long distances. I am running to help raise money to help offset Michelle’s growing medical expenses and make a donation to the Canadian Liver Foundation in her honor to help others who live with liver related illnesses.

I am asking everyone I know and everyone they know to help me reach or exceed my goals. I will take care of the running bit but I need your help to meet the financial goal. Dig deep, donate anything you can and help me make a difference in the life of someone who is truly special. Remember no donation is too small as together it all adds up to a much bigger number. Together we can make a difference in Michelle, Jarvie and Nathans lives and I ask for all support that you can offer. Please send this link onto everyone you know, the more people that learn about this and learn about how wonderful Michelle is the closer I can come to meeting my goals and hopefully exceeding them.

Cheers,

Kevin

April 19 Run

2009-04-20T20:18:00.000-07:00

Didn't do the sun run, but did run over 10 km on Sunday with my running group. I am not built for distance running, or any type of running for that matter but I must say as the weeks past it is getting a bit easier.

Just in case you have ever wondered, the hill going up to the top of Queen Elizabeth park is really steep, especially if it is done half way through your run!

Wednesday's run here I come! More hill training in store for this lucky guy!