Morning!

Last night’s swim/yoga/relaxing combo left me feeling well rested and oh so happy this morning. The sun’s shining and I got a special treat after yoga last night. My instructor, Kat (the one who has such oh so good insight in her classes), just got a puppy.

I’m not sure who is cuter–Kat or the little gal, June!

It’s really hard to be anything but happy when you see something this freaking adorbs.

Or when you have yourself a tasty bedtime snack (apple, almond butter, cocoa) – even if it looks ugly.

I started my day off with another omelette and an apple.

And some online purchases, namely event registrations!

When I was home last weekend, I got this postcard from my mom’s mail. It’s my time from the Huron House Boys Home race I do most years. They send you your time and an inspirational quote:

“Runners just do it. They run for the finish line, even if someone else has reached it first.”

At first I was hesitant to sign up for this 10k, but then I realized that I’m not hesitant because of an injury, because I can’t afford it, because I’m not feeling motivated, or for any legitimate reason. I’m holding back because I’m comparing myself with that time and with where I was as a runner last year. That’s stupid: I’m in a totally different (and better!) place now overall. Whether my time is faster or slower, I don’t need to make excuses. Nobody cares if I run slower or faster. People might not even care if I run at all. But if I go and am happy about being there, I’m part of the community. If I run with a smile on my face, I’m doing what I want to — leading by example, making training/racing/exercising something enjoyable, and being a part of something! This race is particularly special because it’s the first race I ever did. When I was in high school, I decided that I was going to do this. I’d never run. I think it was about March and I decided, with the help of a friend who’d also started running that year, that I could and would finish this race. So I ran a few times every week, as far as I could. I did the 10k in 1:04 minutes and I felt like a champion. I’m going to find that feeling again this weekend! If you’re around, you should join me. You can run, walk, skate, bike and there are 5k options. It’s along the water, it’s flat, and it’s going to be hot (always is!).

While the VISA was out for the registration, I also signed up for another race. This one is the Go the Distance 8k race that Runners Choice puts on in London. It’s next Friday night (this will be my first evening event ever!) and I am really looking forward to it. After a 10k, 8 should feel great, right? Ha. I usually don’t like shorter races because the shorter they get, the faster I have to go. But that attitude is wrong. The shorter they are, the faster I get to run! Like lightning. Or not. My coach signed up for this one too so I have some external motivation and the positive peer pressure got me to go ahead and dive in. The cool thing about this one is that you can get pledges (or pledge yourself, which I did) and the money goes to Hope’s Garden, which is the eating disorder resource centre in London. I got a lot of support from this centre and I think what they’re doing is SO important. The events they put on help so many people and I just love the opportunity to give back to them even if it’s small. You can pledge runners so if you’re so inclined I am going to link to the page–anything helps and the cause means so much to me!

Done and done. I am really looking forward to both of these events — and am going in with one main goal: to enjoy them! If you’re a crazy racer and you take your races uber seriously, I don’t judge you. But I have a knack for being a half decent athlete and having a really good time doing it, and I think that’s what I need to focus on this summer–>fun!

Are you doing any races this year? Either of these ones?!
Are you a dog or a cat person?