Marathon clinic catch-up

Garrath, our illustrious leader, planned a get-together at the local pub last night, so those who ran Vancouver last weekend could regale us all with their tales and triumphs. It was great to see everyone, although it was waaaaayyyyyy fewer than the original 80 who signed up for the clinic! I'd say there were about 30 of us there, and some showed up later after going for their usual Wednesday night run. I did Boot Camp instead, which will be my Wednesday routine (sorry Garrath) until June 16th, just in time for the new marathon clinic to start on June 22nd. Yes, I haven't even run Calgary yet (16 days, 2 hours, 30 minutes and counting) and I'm signing up for another clinic and another marathon (Goodlife Fitness Toronto, October 17th) in 157 days, 11 hours, 28 minutes and counting! It's official...I'm hooked.
We congratulated everyone who has run, most Vancouver, but there was a couple that ran Eugene, Oregon (said it was a beautiful race) and even one lady who returned from Paris!! That one is on my list...Paris, Dublin, Marathon to Athens (come on...how freaking cool would that one be?!) and one day (this I vow!) Boston! I did eat at the pub, since I came straight from Boot Camp (which was killer, as appears to be Trainer Josh's norm these days) but I had a relatively healthy Satay Chicken flatbread "pizza" (satay sauce, chicken, tomatoes, mushrooms and cheese on a 6" naan) with a tossed green salad on the side. All right...there were 3 pints of Guinness consumed, but I'm scheduled to donate blood on Tuesday and need to make sure my iron levels are up!!
Luckily this morning, my head didn't feel like I consumed 3 pints, and it was off to work. I decided to do my Steady run at lunch, so I could have another evening off from everything (and turns out I needed it - again) but I knew I couldn't do the scheduled 10km in the hour (I have a great boss, but even she has her limits) so I did 7.5 (Crowchild loop) instead. Took me 53 minutes...my steady pace, which is supposed to be 8:37 for a 5:30 finish, clocked in at 7:05. Seven-freaking-o-five!!!! Seriously...where is this coming from?! It was a glorious run today...+15C along the river at lunch, passing geese and their babies, and watching the bald eagle (spotted the tell-tale white head) slowly circling over the river looking for lunch...if it weren't for the sirens, exhaust and millions of other people walking/running/biking/blading/strolling, you wouldn't even know you were in the city!!
The day was going along swimmingly until I received the phone call from another doctor at the hospital, this time a palliative care specialist. We appear to have moved past nursing home right into hospice...that usually means less than 3 months...have I mentioned that I really don't want to be a grown-up??? We will talk more on Monday, as they want to do a more in-depth analysis tomorrow, and then we get to figure out where we're all going from here. Sigh...I was prepared for this, but so not at the same time. And while all I wanted to eat was batter-dipped, deep-fried salty badness, I refrained and had some cheese tortellini with a tomato & sausage sauce (only 2 points for the sauce) for dinner. Although another bag of TimTams somehow followed me home, and are currently sitting here beside the keyboard, taunting me. I do have great support around me though, and many wise souls to turn to for guidance. For that I am truly blessed and thankful.
Finished a glass of milk (there really isn't anything better than a big glass of milk, is there?) and am actually thinking bed would be a good thing. I do have an inkling of a headache, so I think some Advil is in order and then off to try and sleep. One more day of work and then the weekend. What will that bring me, I wonder?
Boot Camp tomorrow night (hopefully I can move my arms by then...can't right now!), hospital afterwards, while Saturday I will be getting the summer tires put back on the car, so Calgary is doomed for one more snowfall...sorry, everyone! I also want to get at the lawn for my building and at least get the flower beds turned out. I also have some summer bulbs to plant. Then I should head to Mom & Dad's and do their beds as well. They have a guy that does the lawn, but no one does the flower beds, unless it's me. It does look like it'll be a glorious weekend though, around 22C. Hoping that holds out for May, as the marathon is on the 30th, and trust me when I say this...we have received many, many, many inches of snow in May before!! I do not want to run 42.2km through snow! Sun, yes...snow, no!
That's all I've got...thank you all for letting me vent. I really do feel better for doing it.
Later,