One More Mile | Siobhan McCarthy.ca

My sister Julia is running 30K Around the Bay today and yesterday she called me on her way to the expo to pick up her bib and I obviously wanted to go. I told her to swing by and get me on her way. And I decided to document our adventure.

Meet my sister Julia:

Julia on the way to her package pick-up!

How crazy is it that she is running 30K?! I mean seriously– 21K is enough for me!

I LOVE RUNNING EXPO’S!

Can we please talk about how lopsided my sunglasses are? First I thought it was the arms of my glasses but more and more I am thinking my ears are just uneven. My regular glasses for distance do the same thing but I know those arms are bent because I fell asleep with them on annnd you can tell. But these bad boys do not have that problem. Ahh well.

So I started getting hungry before we even got there. (Typical). But lucky for me there was a farmer’s market right beside the expo! How perfect! I was going to get an apple but then I passed by the British booth and saw Empire Cookies and I was sold on them.

So, we became those unhealthy girls who walked into the expo with cookie crumbs ALL down our jackets as we shoved the rest of the cookies in our faces.

As we walked around I found my favourite store at the Disney Expo One More Mile. I love all of their hilarious products. Julia found this funny:

“I’m only doing this so I can post a picture on Facebook.”

And then I found the sentence that I was saying after I ran the Disney half and said I would never run another one again. And then I signed up for the Goodlife Toronto half.

“I know, I know- I said I’d never do this again.”

And then I found myself saying this sentence again when we passed the A Midsummer Night’s Run booth. Why? Well, they were having a special and if you registered that day for either the 15K run, 15K walk, or 30K run that is happening on August 20th, 2011 you get an awesome New Balance running jacket that day. As we were leaving the booth I was pretty much begging Julia to run the 30K. I know, 30K! Am I insane?! I think I was in the hype and jealous that I wasn’t doing the 30K Around the Bay. Julia insisted that the bay was going to be her first and last 30K but she would go over and look at the running route. As we got over and looked at the map I said, “it’s around the beaches of Toronto, it’s easy peasy! Let’s do the 30K!” So, I told the guy if he had a small enough jacket to fit this 4’9″ girl, I would register. I tried the small on, took a picture to see if it fit:

And- it did. I immediately said, “SIGN ME UP!!” And Julia followed. Muahahahhaha! 30K in August– hellls yes! I’m SO excited! It brings my two worlds together theatre and running. AHHH-MAAAAY-ZIIIING!

We continued to walk the booths and came across the finish line. I made Julia take a picture in front of it.

Julia casually at the finish line

How amazing is it that it ends in a stadium and she will be on a big screen running through the finish line?! Mainly more exciting for me and my bro in law Ken because we won’t have to freeze our butts off waiting outside for her to finish. I’ve never been a spectator at a running event before but I’m SO excited to cheer my sister on today! Wahooooo!

After the expo I was so pumped for my 14K run that I had on tap for the day. I suited up and ran High Park which is where my Harry run will be next week. I put some U2 on my ipod and hit jukebox shuffle and off I went. I ended up going through the park and detoured into the High Park Zoo. It’s so small that it only lasts about 1K. But I saw some animals along my way and took a photo for you:

High Park Zoo Run!

After running High Park I’m so confident for next weeks race. My only concern is picking what my happy pace will be. I only know how to pace for long runs and I’m a wee bit concerned for how hard I should go next week. But, I’ll figure it out.

Stats of the Run

Distance: 14.53 km

Pace: 4:31 min/km

I’m off to the 30K Around the Bay! Let’s Go Julia!! Wahooo!

Completing my first half marathon was such an accomplishment. After months of training and hardwork I can finally call myself a half marathon runner. Race day was like nothing I have ever experienced– especially with a 10pm kick off!

The morning of the race I went to pick up my race packet and swagga from ESPN’s Wide World of Sports with my sister- who was also running her first half marathon with me. It was fun to get the ID Tag and make sure it worked by walking over the example time marker and walking through the running expo. They had some pretty great gear that they were selling there for some amazing prices! I tried not to splurge but I did find a new running clothing line that I love: One More Mile. They have some very witty slogans on their gear- check ’em out!

After getting pumped for the run it was time to head back and chill out by the pool and try to take a nap. Yeah, that was hard to do. After 2 weeks of a vacation in Orlando and going to Disney World, Universal Studios, and playing my first ever nine holes of golf– sitting down and doing nothing became hard to do when you are use to the go, go, go! lifestyle for the past 14 days. But– I tried. Doing a race on the last day of vaca is not ideal but that is just how the schedule happened- so be it!

I put on my running gear, my mickey mouse pirate ears and headed for the start line at 7pm. 3 hours of breath, stretch, shake and taking pictures with Mickey and Minnie! Perfect, right? Waiting for the race was a lot of fun but I did seem to get yawn quite a bit and I just had that “I want to start already!! Feeling happen”. But I just kept waiting. And doing handstands…

ESPN’s Wide World of Sports (The Starting Line Location)

After visiting the 100’s of porta potties a few times from all of my power juice and water- it was go time! I had been placed in the last corral. Corral D because this was my first race EVER so I didn’t have a previous time to submit. I was fine with that. My goal was to finish a half marathon afterall- I wasn’t out to win it. That had to be my train of thought seeming as I just exhausted myself walking for 14 days! We gotta stay real!

As I took my place with the pack, we were both dead last. Not kidding. Standing at the back of everyone. As Corral A went to run fireworks went off at the start line and the DJ’s started spinning. 15 minutes to go until I reach the start line! I was so happy and I suddenly didn’t feel tired anymore. Off we went.

This is where I attached my ears to my amphipod. My head was getting tooo hot!

It was a lot of running past people saying a polite, “excuse me” but I got sick of that and by passed everyone by running on the grass. Then one of the mc’s yelled in his mic, “watch out for the brunette!” I laughed. I was running past stilt walkers, disney characters, amazing live bands, and DJ’s along with Disney staff yelling “almost there! Doing great!” I did feel great. I had my ipod playing but it was so different to be running a race with a whole bunch of people and working around their pace until you could reach a nice spot where you were running at your own pace. I didn’t hit this until about 7 miles. That made my time a lot higher but as I said, I just wanted to finish!

Running through Hollywood Studios

The amount of hills in Disney were incredible. I couldn’t believe how many there were! But running through a theme park made it so much fun! Until you got to a path that was very narrow and you had a whole pack iof runners trying to squeeze their way past people. It was like 4 lanes on a road going down to 1. Those were not so fun parts because people tended to take these as walking breaks and I just wanted to keep my pace. But I went with the flow. I cam across Buzz Lightyear and decided I might as well take a photo op break! i mean how many times can you run past Buzz Lightyear and not have to wait in line?! It was perfect. At 8 miles I started to feel the, “omg 5.1 miles to go?! Seriously? Can I do this?” So, I popped some sport beans and I was feeling like dynamite. My energy just went from zero to hero. Amazing! I grabbed a powerade from the staff on the side lines and just kept swimming.

Entering Hollywood

I noticed that my ipod kept telling me that I had been running a lot farther than all of the markers. I also overheard other runners checking their garmin and saying that their devices have said they have ran farther too. So, I am really interested to know if I ran farther than 21K on that run because my time was no where near where I wanted it to be. But- I’m still happy with the outcome. Afterall, your first race sets your Personal Best (PB) so it’s only up from here! Sprinting through the finish line was great! I felt really proud of myself for completing such a huge goal!

The Finish Line!!

As I received my medal and food package, I was out of breath and ready to eat the food from my after race snack that was handed to me. I took one bite of my banana and did not feel so good. I was nauseous and just wanted to sit down. So I did. Then I went to the bathroom and there were a good amount of people throwing up and hugging the toilet seat and then I became one of those girls. Not so good. I tried to drink water and replenish myself and get that powerade into me but my body just could not handle it. so into the line I went to the baggage claim. After getting all of my items I threw on my start up jacket and started walking to find my fame in Epcot. We were suppose to meet somewhere in England or between France and Morocco. Too bad I couldn’t see them and walked around the world twice trying to find them while making a stop in Mexico to do a little vomit. I couldn’t believe it. never have I felt this way after running a half marathon length. I got up and kept moving and luckily my family happened to walk my way. At 3:30am we left the park. Only to wake up at 7am to leave for the airport. I woke up, still in rough shape and tried to stomach some food and lift my luggage to the car. My luggage never felt heavier. With my compression socks on I headed for our plane. At that moment, I had no desire to run a half marathon any time soon. But now- I could definitely do it again! Not after a 2 week vacation mind you but definitely on a more rested level!

Overall, I had an amazing experience and I am SO glad I experienced my first half at Disney!

The Disney Half Marathon! Playlist:

Forget You- Cee Lo Green
Hollywood- Michael Buble
I Like It- Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull
That’s How You Know- Amy Adams
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic- The Police
We No Speak Americano- Yolanda Be Cool feat. DCup
U Can Have It All- JRDN
Take It Off- Ke$ha
Check It Out- will.i.am feat Nicki Minaj
Stereo Love- Edward Maya & Vicka Jigulina
Nothin’ On You- B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars
Say Hey (I Love You)- Michael Franti & Spearhead
Halo/Walking On Sunshine- Glee Cast
Beggin’- Madcon
Somebody To Love (Remix)- Justin Bieber feat. Usher
Letting Go (Dutty Love)- Sean Kingston feat. Nicki Minaj
Could You Be Loved- Bob Marley & The Wailers
Real Girl- Mutya Buena
All Dressed in Love- Jennifer Hudson
Ridin’ Solo- Jason Derulo
Pump It- Black Eyed Peas
Bulletproof (Dave Aude Cherry Radio Remix)- La Roux
Teenage Dream- Katy Perry
Dynamite- Taio Cruz
Fire- Glee Cast feat. Kristin Chenoweth
Kiss the Girl- Ashley Tisdale
Little Secrets- Passion Pit
Laces Out- USS
Black or White- Michael Jackson
Sex On Fire- Kings of Leon
Bang a Gong (Get It On)- T-Rex
Part of Your World- Miley Cyrus
Break Your Heart- Taio Cruz & Ludacris
Love Sex Magic- Ciara feat. Justin Timberlake
Club Can’t Handle Me- Flo Rida feat. David Guetta
Fire In Your New Shoes- Kaskade feat. Dragonette
Ever Ever After- Carrie Underwood
Just A Dream- Nelly
Just The Way You Are- Bruno Mars
Got Your Back- T.I. feat. Keri Hilson
2012 (It Ain’t The End)- Jay Sean feat. Nicki Minaj

Stats of the Run:

Distance: 21 km
Time: 2:35:04

Placed in my: Division: 127th out of 331

Gender: 1836th out of 4602

Overall: 3530th out of 7286
5K Split: n/a
10K Split: 1:08:32
15K Spilt: 1:46:20

Siobhan McCarthy.ca

An adventure through her soles.

Category Archives: One More Mile

I’m doing a 30K?!

My First Half Marathon!