My first half-marathon!!

This past weekend I traveled to Ottawa to compete in my first half-marathon. After 5 months of training it all came to a close on Sunday morning after completing the race (21.1kms) in 2 hours and 28 seconds. You can see me cross the finish line at 2:06:18 on the official clock (I am on the left hand side in a yellow tank top and Andrew is just to the right in his bright orange shirt).

The race was definitely a challenge as I was pushing hard to hit my 2 hour time goal. The weather was a bit warmer than I was used to training in, and my adrenaline rush set me out a bit faster than I maybe should have in the beginning. I was feeling great up to the 10km point and started to fade around 13 or 14. By 18kms I was ready to start walking for good but kept on pushing. I am pretty sure I was close to hitting the wall but I persevered to the end and was very pleased with the outcome. My legs literally felt worse than jello after crossing the finishing line but I think I would be upset with myself if I felt any better.

Now I'm looking forward to next year when I can start the training all over again. Time to beat my current record (and my sister's first time of 1:59:47)!

ps. congrats to my sister for finishing her first full marathon this year in a time of 4:04.

And the Olympics too??!!

Funny how things work... I met up with a couple of friends today that I literally have not seen since we left highschool. We have stayed in touch through email occasionally
(ie. a few times a year) and somehow found out we were all in Toronto this weekend so we decided to meet for lunch. It honestly felt like we hadn't changed a bit. So weird.

Craziest part is, I was somehow talking about my ideas and options for where to travel this summer and asked them if they had been traveling themselves... As it turns out, my friend, Dana, responded with "why don't you come to Athens with me to see the Olympics?" Apparently she bought 2 sets of tickets last year when they went on sale and figured she could find someone to join. So... as it turns out... I'm thinking about joining her on that trip too!

Crazy how things come about...

Traveling to India?

I have an opportunity to travel to India with a friend for 3 weeks. She is going with her church to Calcutta where they are going to do work in Mother Theresa's home (freedomizeindia.com). She has to come back to work afterwards, but I believe that some others plan to stay and travel while they are over there. I am seriously considering this opportunity. Although I have yet to be hit with the travel bug, I am told by many that this is an opportunity that I should jump on and take it while I can.

A new erra... working at Second Cup?

Well, this is it I suppose. I am done school, and have "entered" the real world. Only thing is, I'm not sure I'm ready. I know that I'm glad to be done with the looming deadlines, numerous tests and stressful guilt each weekend I used to sit on my ass and do nothing when I really should have been doing something -- but I'm not so sure I'm ready to start with the next phase of my life.

One thing that I am sure of is that my degree has certainly left me with a broad range of options to choose from in a career. The biggest problem is that there are too many to choose from! Right now, as I search the internet for my "dream job" I realize how little focus I have. I am experienced and qualified to do a variety of jobs, and am also interested in a significant number of them as well. What I am trying to figure out is what it is that I really WANT to do and what I will be most happy doing. I'm still trying to figure out how to find the answer to this one.

For now, I have found myself a job working at Second Cup in Toronto. I interviewed last Monday and started 3 days later. So far it's going well -- lots of fun, I get all the free coffee and funky drinks I want, and I'm working my way to becoming a qualified barista! It's a great way to make a little extra cash while I hang out in Toronto with Andrew and make up for some lost time over this past year of our crazy lives.

If anyone can see into my future and give me some advice as to which direction I should head with my career, please send me the vibe!

Who knew graduation would be this confusing??!!