Larissa: It's our last post!

Paula: YAY!

Larissa: You don't mean that.

Paula: No, of course I didn't. I've loved posting on this site (grin).

Larissa: So full of lies. But given that I was the one that abandoned the posting during my Stats course I'm hardly one to point fingers...although I am Pointy McFingerson.

But can you believe it's our last post? So, was it worth it?

Paula: It was definintely worth it. It was extremely motivating knowing that people were watching our progress and making donations.

Larissa: Just re-reading our first post, I'm so struck by your story of not running more than 5 steps, and now you've run a whole 5 km. It really is amazing. You really did great!

I wish I had done better, but I did what I could and it could have been worse. At least I didn't do a faceplant, nor was I attacked by my running bra. So it's all bright side, silver lining, yeah?

Paula: We both did a great job. We've both come so far since we decided to do this race and we should be very proud of ourselves.

I keep thinking I haven't come very far, but then reading our first post really shows me that I've done a lot since then. The support of Volunteer Ottawa staff and volunteers, friends and family, has been amazing and is the one thing that helped us reach this goal.

Larissa: Very true, this is a great organization with awesome people in it. And, we were also hoping to raise $2,000 towards Volunteer Ottawa's community programs. How did we do, final count?

Paula: We reached our goal. We raised $2,110! Thank you to everyone for supporting Volunteer Ottawa and for cheering us along!

Larissa: No kidding. A big thank you to all of those wonderful people. Congratulations to Paula for an amazing job, and maybe we'll see you here again next year!

Paula: Congratulations to you too, Larissa. I'm looking forward to the 10km next year.

Larissa: Shut up! That would be amazing. Hey, why don't you go for the marathon? You've got a year, lazy bones.

Paula: Yeah, not likely, those marathoners are insane. But 10 km? Stay tuned.....

Paula:
Well, it's done! I ran the 5K, the only place I walked was the 10 steps at the water station while I drank. I've learned in the past that I can't run and drink, so I decided not to make a fool of myself trying ;-) I finished the race in under 39 minutes (OMG, there were so many people there! Over 6300 runners). Although I would have preferred a better finish time, I'm happy with what I did considering I was still sick and have been for almost a week now.

My son ran the race with me too (for school) and about 100 meters to the finish line, he passed me at a sprint, smiling back at me as if to say... "I'm gonna beat you!" and I did try to sprint too, but it only lasted a few steps before I had to cut it down to a jog or potentially pass out. I'm OK with him beating me... I mean, he's 17 years old, he should be beating me, right ;-).

Everyone at work has been so supportive of me over the past few months while I was training. You guys are amazing! Your praise and encouragement really helped and kept me going! Thank you!

I feel like the luckiest woman in the world, having the support of my friends and family. My parents, my sons, and my boyfriend Kerry were there that day. Kerry stayed by my side right up until they counted down to 5:00pm. You know, I have to admit that the happiness I feel right now isn't because I finished the race, but it's because of everyone around me that helped me through the whole process! It's a feeling that will I will never forget, thank you for that.

Larissa

Well, we're all proud of you, Paula! I was there and gamely gave it my best but knees...no. However, it was worth it to see you do it! We'll have to do a summary tomorrow. Congratulations and way to go!

Paula:
Ok, so I lied... I totally let the sickies get to me! I've been exhausted each evening, which seems to be when my cold gets worse too. I haven't done any sort of exercising since Tuesday. I'm still ready and anxious to get on with the run tomorrow, I just hope that I don't pass out halfway through it. OMG, it's tomorrow! Even though I feel horrible, I'm still very much looking forward to the race! Well, I've off to bed now. I've taken my nyquil and it's starting to work. I'll post my results here tomorrow or the following day!

Paula:
OK, so I'm sick. I knew this would come, but I'm surprised that it came this early... usually it would happen just before my big day (whatever that might be), or during whatever event it was that was making me nervous or stressed (nothing like expecting it huh...). Maybe this is a good thing, I'll get the sickies over with before the run so that I'll be perfectly healthy that day. I managed to bike to and from work today. I'm hoping to have a short run tomorrow, or even a quick walk, depending on how I'm feeling ;-) I will NOT give in to the sickies!

Paula:
I ran my last 5K before the big race! I took a new route, I like it much better. I think I'll use that one from now on (much more neighbourhoody, than big roads). I also got my confirmation e-mail with my bib# which will get me my run package for the day of the event. The countdown begins... I have some very exciting news! I have now reached my 60lb goal! I've lost over 60lbs, OMG... I'm certain that I'll fluctuate and may gain a pound or two, but I've finally reached it! Gee, it's only taken me... hmmmm.... let's see... almost 9 months... well, I didn't go very quickly, but I did it! YAY!

Paula:
Kerry and I went for a nice long bike ride today! Next time we will have to bring a picnic ;-) It was such a beautiful day. I didn't do any running today though. Tomorrow is my run day, so I'll do my 5K then, it will be the last 5K that I run before the race... I'll be picking up my race kit this week, I can't wait to do that!

Paula:
I did a bit of running and a bit of biking today (before the rain, thank goodness). It is 5:27pm, as I write this, so in one week exactly I will be running my first ever 5K race. Yippee! I am very excited. We are going to watch the first Indiana Jones movie tonight...

Paula:
I biked to and from work today, it's getting easier and easier, it took an hour each way. I spent the morning in a charity law workshop and the afternoon watching part of Sound of Music. I thought I would be bored with the movie, but I have to admit that the movie is very interesting if you are watching it with the Volunteer Ottawa staff group. You guys are crazy!

Paula:
Just got back from my run. I only did 3K tonight, since I walked over 3K with the boys after work. Tomorrow we are watching "Sound of Music" at work. Opinions on this movie go in such different directions... 1/2 of the people I've asked about the movie say that it's the best movie ever and the other 1/2 of the people say... well...

I'm sure I'll enjoy every minute of it! I just have to get through the Charity Tax Return workshop in the morning first. Dear God, this movie better be as good as people say ;-) because after the morning session, I'll be on my way to a nap!

Paula:
It was a busy day today, so I didn't run. I went for a walk with my dad tonight though, our regular 5K. It was the second 5K walk he did today! Good for you! There is only another 1 and 1/2 weeks to the race... it's crunch time ;-).

Paula:
I biked to work today. Boy, it feels good when I get to work or when I get home, after I've biked. On the way home I ran across a woman who seemed to be having no trouble biking up the hills or into the wind, and I thought wow! she must be in shape! Well, I found out that she had a motorized bike. I never really cared one way or the other about those bikes before, but god I hated that bike today.

Paula:
I ran my 5K this evening. Then I went to Canadian tire and picked up a bike "seat" rack and bag... now I won't have to carry a backpack all the way to work! YAY! I'm looking forward to trying them out tomorrow.

Paula:
We actually didn't do very much today, we went for a nice bicycle ride this morning and then relaxed on Kerry's new patio swing... very calming, I think I want one of those for my living room!

I'm not going for a run today, my jogging clothes were in the wash this morning (every womans excuse huh?), they are now clean, but the moment for exercise has passed ;-).

Paula:
I rode my bike to work yesterday. If felt good to be able to ride again, it's the second time I've ridden to work so far this year. I want to try to ride twice a week (at least). There are so many reasons to ride a bike to work: exercise, environment, money. It doesn't get much better than that.

Today I didn't do any "training", but I did spend a few hours outside working, so I figure that I got my exercise in today. I'm hoping to go for a run tomorrow morning too. We'll see, being mothers day and all, maybe I'll just stick around the house and try to relax. HA! HA! Did I actually say relax??? HA! HA!

Paula:
I went for my run tonight after work. I've beaten my best time, so that is exciting. My first goal was to be able to run the 5K, and I really didn't think I could do it, but I did. Once I did that, my next goal was to be able to run it in under 40 mins and I'm able to do that now! YAY! I have to admit that I was surprised I made it back home without falling down and passing out. I was completely exhausted!

Paula:
I didn't have a chance to exercise today. It was just too busy. We went to mom and dads tonight to celebrate mothers day and dads birthday. I'll definitely be running tomorrow after work though... rain or shine! I have to work on improving me time.

Paula:
I had great intentions when I woke up this morning. I was totally going to bike in to work and I did get about a kilometer into the 17 km trip when I came across this rusty old nail sitting in the middle of my path, which my skinny little bike tire, just happened to roll directly over (I couldn't do that again if I tried).

I then had to turn around and walk my bike home (how embarrassing). After work, I was able to figure out how to take my back wheel off my bike, so I went to get a new tube and tire and replaced the ruined one... yay for me!

I did get my exercise in for the day, I ended up running this evening, it was a short run (just under 3K), since I did a big one last night.

Paula:
I ran my 5K today, I'm not going ANY faster than I was... I hope to improve my time during the race... we'll see. I plan on riding my bike to work tomorrow, but I'm going to keep an eye on the weather, then I'll make up my mind ;-)

I had an ultrasound appointment this morning. Who ever thought up the ultrasound (I shouldn't complain, because it's a great way to look inside and find problems)??? But come on... they make you drink all this water an hour before the ultrasound and then when you get there, they push on your bladder with a machine thingy and do this for about 10 mins... meanwhile, you are trying everything you can NOT to pee... I was a little worried a few times... That is one job I would hate... I can't imagine how many people can't do it... I bet they have a chart where they keep track of how many lose the battle. It's a good thing I don't take these tests regularly, otherwise, I would very possibly add to that count. This time I was lucky, but next time... I'm not sure...

Larissa

Thanks for carrying the blog while I've been in class, Paula!

Yeah, you know, I haven't taken statistics since undergrad psychology and that was long enough ago that I'd rather not get into it. So taking a full length stats course in 7 days is painful and...no, just painful. I have a study group now, and we've chipped in to "buy" a tutor for our next session...and did I mention this class is happening over SEVEN DAYS?!?! I'm going crazy.

However, at one point we learned about a type of probability (yes, I know it's not really a "type" of probability but I'm not in the mood so keep it to yourself). What was my point now?....Yes, probability. Well, this is represented by a symbol called, seriously, P hat. It's the letter 'p' with a little open bottomed triangle on top, the hat.

I hear this, and I'm thinking, "Now this I can get behind." So I'm imagining these stats symbols with funky little clothes. Lepard print when the probability is so out there, it's WILD! WILD! And then maybe we can have Z value wide leg cropped chinos. And t distribution low heeled sling back sandals. So many possibilities......but it still sucks. Which I accidentally said out loud. in class. LOUDLY. Luckily the prof is a good guy, and of course I apologised profusely. However, he had the last laugh when I asked him if, while marking assignments, he would consider giving marks for creativity. Apparently not so much with the creativity support in stats. Go figure (ha ha haa, you see what I did there?)

This poor prof, though, I'm sure he's going home every night and crying himself to sleep. On Monday he was trying to give an example of something (I have no idea what, it's not like I'm actually retaining anything) and he was saying, "Okay, let's apply this to something..." and I, of course, pipe up with, "Unicorn dung and the exploitation of fairy dust! I don't think you heard me! I SAID UNICORN DUNG AND THE....oh, the distribution of tree heights? That's almost the same thing, sure. Perhaps then we can apply the most boring thing in the world, stats, to yet ANOTHER boring thing! I'm sure there's something even more boring than trees! What's that? The relative tensile strength of fencing jackets? Seriously, this guy is trying to kill me."

The thing is, my friends, he ain't kidding. We spent a fairly long time working out problems using fencing jackets as the example. Unicorn dung? No, too "out there". Too P hat in lepard print. I did enjoy, however, the mental image of grabbing a fairy and shaking fairy dust out of it like it's a little winged salt shaker. Then someone (won't name names...JANE) suggested a pepper mill and...well...

Paula:
I didn't run today or do any exercise for that matter. Well, it's the first day in over 6 days, so I'm not too upset. I really don't have too much to say today... except that there are only a few weeks to go before the run.

Paula:

The ride home last night wasn't nearly so bad as the ride into work. I was about 10 mins from home when it started to sprinkle rain... I got a bit worried, but in the end, I didn't get really wet.

I'll be going for my run soon, it's a short one today, then I have a few errands to run. Alex had a friend sleep over last night (my youngest son - 13)... we'll he's very much into wrestling and he's already broken one sofa... at about 11:00pm I hear a big bang, and guess what! There goes another sofa (well, not the whole sofa, but the leg is destroyed, so now I have to find another leg)! OMG! God help me, but this wrestling stuff is just too much for me!

Paula:
Oops, I missed yesterday! Well, I ran my 5K last night after work... I ran just about the whole thing, but met up with an old friend that I hadn't seen for a while, so stopped just around the corner from my place... it was so close, I consider it a full run ;-)

Today was the first day that I biked into work this year. My god it was windy (and cold)! I almost turned around about 15 mins from home, but decided to trudge on, and every 15 mins or so I would curse my decision, loudly (luckily there was no one around to hear me). The wind was so bad that it was really hard to bike... there is this one hill and it's about .5k long, last year, I would coast down it and actually have to use my breaks since I'd be going so fast, but that's not what happened today... I actually had to peddle the whole way down since the wind was blowing so hard it was slowing me down... I'm expecting the wind direction to change sometime during the day so that when I go home it will be still blowing at me.