17 days to go...

Well, I've made it to NY and had my first run here on my own. I live just north of Central Park, and was able to run the north part of the park today - I saw a different part of the park than I have even seen before, and I have to say it was beautiful!! I actually prefer it to the south section actually, even though it is in a less desirable part of town - but it was great. Tough however - there are a lot of hills in the park, and I think it was the kind of training that I needed. So all in all a wonderful experience!

It's strange to have left Vancouver, and I already miss the people that I ran with. The night before I left I wrote a note to thank my teammates - here is a copy of it below. Thanks for reading today! :)

As I prepare for a new chapter in my life in New York City, it is with
sadness that I say goodbye to so many wonderful friends and memories that I
have
made in my journey with Team in Training. I have to say that this began
as a
personal journey to honor my mother who passed away of Leukemia but it
has
become something so much more than that. Training with the Team has
allowed me
to see that I am running to honor so many other people as well -
I am running to
honor those who have passed away from blood cancers and
those currently fighting
blood cancers, but I am also running to support my
team! I have such respect and
admiration for the dedication and hard work
that you have all given to this
cause, and I am humbled to think that I am
among such incredible individuals.
Each time I run with the Team I learn
more and more about each individual, and I
have to thank you for the
inspiration that has given me each km that we run. I
am proud of each and
every one of you - whether you have a personal connection
to blood cancer,
or are just running to be involved in something bigger than
you, I hope that
each and every one of you takes pride in what you have
accomplished.
Together we have raised an incredible amount of money, and
inspiring amount
of awareness, and have conquered what many of us though were
impossible
physical feats. So kudos to you all, thank you for your support, and
good
luck in your runs!

Day 98...21 Days to go!

OK...took a few days off from blogging because of packing, my garage sale, my last day at work, oh, and because my computer is packed, but my roommate has allowed me to log on to do a little update. :)

Ran my longest run to date! Check out the stats below...



It was actually nicely surprising that at about 25km I had lots of energy, my legs were ok, and I was enjoying myself! I bought new shoes on Friday, and re-calibrated my IPOD so the run is far more accurate, and I think the change in footwear really helped. However, at about 31km I just about died. My poor body - my cardio was fine, but my legs began to seize up - it was painful, and my last three km's were dreadful. I basically ran out of steam...but I finished it!

Today was the longest run that I will do before the run on Sept 16 - from here on in we begin to taper off, so next Sunday I will run only 21km and then the following is 15km. I am hoping to train with the team in NYC which will be a great way to meet new people and stay motivated!


Today was also my last run with the team. :( I'm going to miss everyone! I leave on Wednesday for NY, so it's sad to be saying goodbye. This has been such a great experience, and I am so proud of everyone and all that they have accomplished. There are some people that I won't get to see again because they are running in SF not on Maui...but there is a great group who I will see again on Sept 14th! I can't wait! It feels as though we are in the final stretch and I am really looking forward to both the run...and the cocktails in the pool afterwards!!!!

Well this is it for a few days - the next time I post I will be living in NY. See you then!

Day 94

It's becoming more difficult to do my blogs simply because it's such a royal pain without a proper desk! This will be my last blog for a few day because I am going to be packing up my computer, so it won't be as easy to access. A few things however - yesterday was my last run with a few of the team members before I go to NY. They will be running in San Francisco not Maui, so I won't see them again until next summer, or if they come to NY I have fingers crossed! I also e-mailed the Team in Training group in NYC hoping to be able to join them on their runs so I can continue my training with a group before Maui. I haven't heard back, but again, fingers crossed! I am still a bit sore from the run Sunday, and yesterday my calves began to really ache. Time for new shoes again...ugh. But better for my legs! I am meant to be running today, but I am going to postpone until tomorrow so I can get a little nap in and rest up my legs. This may be the last blog for a little while, but I will be back! :) Peace! Steven

Day 91 - 28km

DISTANCE: 27.91km
TIME: 3.07.01
PACE: 6.41/km

Today's Blog - oh, and a bad camera angle...




And how cool is this?! You can see the stats of my last five runs according to my IPOD!!!

Day 89

I've been slack at keeping up my blogging on a daily basis, simply because there hasn't been much to write. I've met my original goal of $6000, and I am simply training. I would love to attain my $10000 goal...and still hope to make it, but training and moving have taken over my life.

So...on the training front. I am meant to run a short run today, but I am taking another day off. My knee hasn't fully recovered so I am taking it easy. Sunday we are running 30km, so I have to be fully rested and ready for that. My knee seems fine, but then little things like stairs irritate it and it flares up, so I have to be careful, which is bothering me. But the big day is coming up so I have to take care! My diet has kind of been demolished today, but that's alright - I've been doing well for the most part.

Two of my teammates had an event last night to raise funds, and while the final tally isn't in just yet they believe that they raised almost $4000 hosting a Bachelor/Bachelorette auction! It was a huge success! I missed the event, but arrived afterwards to show my support and have a glass of wine to toast the evening!

Day 87

Well yesterday wasn't exactly as planned, however I had an amazing run! I went with my friend Morris who I hadn 't seen in some time. He is used to short fast runs of only 20 minutes or so, and I had planned a 45 minute run. He set the pace however, and the 7.5 km run was done in record time - in fact I had my fasted km yesterday AGAIN running 1 km in 5.22. Not too shabby. Today was a planned run with members of the team. I was tired from little sleep and a lot of activity today (ie selling all of my worldly belongings and working) but it was a good run. We did hill training today...and I know I am going to feel it tomorrow!

Great news - one of my team members got a donation of stocks - 5000 shares in some company that resulted in a $7000 donation!!!! Way to go Andrea!!!!

And other news...only one month till I run!!!

Cabaret Moment - Louisa O'Keane

Finally had the chance to edit this for your viewing pleasure - it's Louisa O'Keane singing "The Girl in 14G"

Day 86

For the first time in recent memory I was in bed before 11!! In fact I was in bed by 10:30 - shocking! So here I am, it's before 8am and I am done checking e-mails, and getting my blogging in for the day. Wow - I had forgotten what this was like. I love it!

So I haven't been training in a few days. It's been exactly what I needed. My knee feels absolutely normal today, which is great, because I am going to test it out. My plan is to go to the gym and do an upper body workout, and then go for a LIGHT bike ride to loosen my knees up before I go running this afternoon with a friend. The bike ride will be the test - that's where I injured my knee in the first place, but I will take it slow, and hopefully everything will be all right.

I spoke with one of my teammates, and apparently I missed the 25km on Sunday...and now this Sunday we are jumping up to 30km!!! So I have to really take it easy and make sure that I don't injure myself again so that I can continue on the right path to success!

In other news, I had a great day yesterday. I had a callback for a London Drugs commercial that I think went well, and I have fingers crossed that I book that - it films right before I go to NY and a) it would be great money and b) would be just one more thing to put on my resume. I also did something that I have been thinking about for oh, only 5 years now, and I recorded my voice reel! One of the producers from the station agreed to help me out - he does amazing work, so I can't wait to hear the final product! I am hoping that when I am in NY I will be able to get voice work which will help me out while I am there. Yahoo!

Day 84

Saturday was a bit of a write off - I went to a wedding, and any kind of diet that I was sticking to was destroyed. Then I drank too much (as happens at weddings) and slept in my car (par for the course - I didn't bring a tent like everyone else - it was a country wedding) and woke up this morning both hungover and sore. My knee has been sore all day - I think it was a combination of running Friday when I should have rested it, and also dancing last night. Needless to say, I missed my long run today. It's the first long run that I have missed, and I am really choked about it - I am running in four weeks, and I need the training, however I don't want to further injure myself, so I have to take it easy. I'm not happy about it...but it's what I have to do.

Day 82

DISTANCE: 6.91KM
PACE: 5.38/KM
TIME: 39.02

Well, a bum knee didn't keep me from running today, and brilliantly it actually helped it. It was a glorious run - it was so beautiful today, and I ran a different route than usual right along the ocean with the sun shining down on me. I am going to miss this when I am in NY. That said, I really love running along the West Side Highway there as well. It's just going to be different. Today I ran my personal best for the 1 minute mile according to the voice on my Ipod. Today it was Lance Armstrong. :) And apparently since I have as of today run 260 km using my IPOD! Wow - that's a lot.

I am in the process of going through all of my things and sorting out what I am selling and what I am keeping. It's so freeing! Just knowing that I will be free of so many material objects is really nice, and it's also nice to know that I will be starting off fresh. Changes. They are welcome!

Day 81

Damn damn damn! My knee is still bothering me from yesterday. Today is a rest day, which is great, but tomorrow I am meant to run - I will have to see how it is tomorrow - I don't want to overdo it otherwise Sunday will be impossible.

In the meantime I have a lot to do. I have to pack up my place, and I am starting tonight. Went and bought some good boxes, and am going to begin the process of going through all my little knick knacks an deciding what is going and what is staying. It's going to be interesting, but I can also imagine it will be liberating. Can't wait!

Day 80

Short run, 40 minutes, was all good. Then I got on my bike to come home and my knee popped. It's sore...so hopefully nothing major, but I have to rest it now. Damn. Just another excuse for more ice cream I suppose!

Feeling a little stressed at the moment as the moment to move comes upon me so quickly. I can't believe that I am moving to NYC with such short notice. Now I have to sell my belongings, my car etc and pack up and move. But I'm scared. All of this on top of work, and training. I am feeling as though training is taking a bit of a back seat. I am still running, but with all the other things on my plate I don't feel as though I am focused as much as I would like to be. That said, I am still feeling good, so that's a positive.

You know what? I feel as though I am getting a little dull in these writings. Nothing much new to say...but I suppose just being able to run at all is a good thing. The date is quickly approaching - only five weeks to go!

Day 79

Fastest one minute mile so far! I only know this because some woman's voice came on in my IPOD and told me. I think I was supposed to know who she was because the last time I had a message on my IPOD it was Lance Armstrong. This IPOD Nike + is the COOLEST invention EVER!!! In any event, it proves the point that rest is key. This was the easiest run I have had in ages, and I haven't been running since Sat morning. But it does confuse me a bit - I have been good about diet and restricting alcohol these past few months...then all of a sudden I have a weekend of too much alcohol, horrible fried food, and my run is a breeze. What the?!

Cabaret Press

I just received an e-mail this morning informing me that my cabaret was in the local 24hours newspaper! Click on the picture to get the full image and read up!

Day 78

Well, certainly this has been a busy weekend! It was Pride Weekend in Vancouver, and as a result I worked most of it. Thankfully we did our big run on Saturday rather than Sunday, and now I am back to my regular routine. This of course means that I have an extra day of rest in between runs...which am thankful for. My legs needed the rest given that I have also been on my feet running around the restaurant like a mad man. In any event, today is catch up day and I am getting all the loose ends tied up after my cabaret. Hopefully even get a few more videos up!

Steven Sings Rainbow Connection

I dedicated this song to Gregory Whyte.

Day 76 - 22km

DISTANCE: 22.1km
TIME: 2:25:34
PACE: 6:35/km

We were meant to do a 24km run today, but one of my teammates was having a rough go of it, so we cut it short a bit. I was ok with that. :) I'm exhausted, but it was a good run none-the-less. I love my team - they rock! It's Pride weekend, so we ran a day early so we can watch the parade tomorrow and have a little fun on the weekend. Yippee!

Life is...Slideshow

This is the slideshow that I had playing all night on all the screens around the room. There is no sound, but the sentiments are still the same.

Kerry O'Donovan at the Cabaret

Kerry is an incredible performer, and very talented. He was the musical director of a show I did years ago, and I feel blessed to have had him there that night. California is an original song that he wrote.

Wendy Bollard Performance at the Cabaret

This is Wendy's amazing performance of Choo Choo Ch Boogie. We worked together a few years ago in a workshop of an original musical in Vancouver. I think she has a wonderful voice, and an amazing spirit.

Day 75

Yesterday was the 13th anniversary of the death of my mum. I had a call from my Grandma last night and she sounded very emotional. It's always a difficult day for her. I found that I was alright. I have been honoring my mum so much as of late that the day wasn't much different than any other. I say that because a part of my doing all of this work has been to finally recognize that she is still with me and to accept that I have wonderful memories, and that I am still making them. I miss her a lot, but I know she is still watching. The wonderful things that are happening in my life are because she is making sure that it all works out.

Day 74

Nothing to report on the training side, but a lot to report on the fundraising side! I just got a report that family had sent money directly to the society and so I have now just edged above $8400 in donations! Thanks again to everyone.

Must sleep...very important.

Day 73

Kerry O'Donovan, Myself and Peter Jorgensen at the Cabaret! More photos can be found at: www.urbanmixer.com

Well, I ran yesterday and today, and my legs are pretty exhausted. But it's nice to be running and not having to worry too much about making my minimum. The $10000 will be a bonus, but I'm just happy to know that I am now officially going to Maui regardless of what happens!

Yesterdays Run:
DISTANCE: 5.06km
TIME: 30.08 min
PACE: 5.30/km

Todays Run:
DISTANCE: 6.79 km
TIME: 37.31 min
PACE: 5.31/km

So on my short runs I am averaging the same pace - I think my long runs are averaging about 6.30/km, which isn't bad at all.

I've had a lot of great feedback about the cabaret - it was such a wonderful evening! I won't have time this week to do anything with the video, but next week I will have video up here to show everyone. I hope also to get a few pictures as well!