Jan 2014 – C. Bernard Blog
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Happy New Year!
This is the year I will run my first marathon at 47 years of
age and I am so proud that I can do it for World Vision, in Calgary at The
Scotiabank Calgary Marathon on June 1st.
And I was delighted to be asked to sit as the Honorary Chair for this Golden Anniversary event on June 1st, 2014. It is my hope to motivate more people to not only run, but run for a charity they support.
And I was delighted to be asked to sit as the Honorary Chair for this Golden Anniversary event on June 1st, 2014. It is my hope to motivate more people to not only run, but run for a charity they support.
“Go Big or Go Home” is our motto for this journey to the
finish line of the Calgary Scotiabank Marathon, but truly I had no idea what
“big” meant!
It means running and running and running. I know, obvious
right? But when Alicia and I conjured up this plan – it seemed pretty do-able,
in November, in Ottawa, with no snow. But then back home in Calgary the snow
began to fall and it hasn’t stopped since then! And I had given little thought
to the difficulties of running on ice, snow and in wind and sleet. It’s just
not nice!
I did however head to San Diego with my family for 2 weeks
at Christmas and that was where I started to get back into running. And I have
to say, I was pretty impressed with myself down there. I ran some easy 3 mile
runs, then a couple 6-7 mile runs. I had very little stiffness and my cardio,
was really quite good!
Then I returned to Calgary. To the snow, the ice and cold. I
spent more time the first week back shovelling our driveway than I did
training. But then a chinook hit and I grabbed my snazzy new runners, mittens,
ear warmers, face masque and the dog (definitely and unwilling participant in
this training regime) and headed to the Bow river pathway – to go for my winter
run.
I was so hard! It was windy, cold, slippery and the dog
thought we were running from something or someone the entire time – he was
missing our nice leisurely walks. But he worse part was my breathing! The
elevation in Calgary compared San Diego makes a big difference. I must say I
was a bit disappointed and a little bit concerned about my jumping in feet
first to run this June 1st marathon.
But then I remembered the “why”. I am doing this to help raise awareness for the vulnerable children who walk 6 -10 km a day just to access clean drinking water. 42 km seems like a minor commitment compared to that. It’s the thought that I will continue to focus on these next 5 months while I train and I think it will make the difference.
But then I remembered the “why”. I am doing this to help raise awareness for the vulnerable children who walk 6 -10 km a day just to access clean drinking water. 42 km seems like a minor commitment compared to that. It’s the thought that I will continue to focus on these next 5 months while I train and I think it will make the difference.
So join Cheryl and her Team World vision and run for something you
want to support – it will make all the difference when it gets tough!
Cheryl Bernard
Follow Cheryl @TeamBernard
/ cherylbernard.com
