One to One Health and Fitness Centre 5th Annual Cancer Walk/Run

[Cathy]

With gray skys darkening and rain pelting down I arrived at One to One and was greeted by numerous smiling faces, several of which I knew.  Race kit pickup went smoothly.  In the warmth of the building people were gathering in anticipation.  It wasn?t long before Carol joined my then shortly after her Petra and Sue.  We had a tour of the new facilities there and were really impressed.

We didn?t have too long to wait for the start of the walkers and with good conversation what time there was left before the runners started went quickly.  It wasn?t raining too hard at the start and by the first corner the pack started to stretch out and I was getting warmed up.  There were lots of cars beeping along the route, with people taking your picture and just so many people with strollers, walkers with dogs, children on bikes,  it was hard to tell who was apart of the run and who was just having fun helping us along.   

It was a good course.  Fairly flat and easy to follow the lead runners and volunteers along the way.  Wasn?t long before we hit the loop at Albert College and back to follow our tracks home.  Smooth sailing.  By this time I had both of my jackets off and was running in shirt sleeves.  But once I hit Palmer Road again, there was such a chill in the air I had to put them both back on.  Looking down the road toward the finish the sky was breaking and the sun was shining.  What a lovely sign.  After crossing the finish I waited for Petra and Carol who were right behind me and not long after was Sue.  She was so intense that she didn?t even hear us calling to her or for that matter congratulating her at the finish. 

I managed to get a few shots.  The Ladies in Blue were lovely as we headed back to One to One where cookies, mini muffins, bananas, juice, water, coffee and icecream awaited.  Yummmm .  The awards were held shortly after with $10,000 being raised through everyone?s efforts.  That?s pretty wonderful.  Petra and Sue came away with a bit extra besides their t-shirt.  They both won a prize.  Thanks ladies for a great morning and I hope to be running again with you all soon.

BTW,  next time I take pictures of prizes being given out, I promise to stand.  Sorry ladies for those odd angle shots.

[Jane]

I was looking for a report from someone at the One to One event off and on earlier today. I KNEW I could count on you Cathy, to write something, and I wasn't disappointed.  Great review of the run!!  It sounds like you guys had a great time.  Sorry I missed it, but I have come to the conclusion I can't be in two places at once.....  And I very much enjoyed the little get together that Elizabeth had for her half group's final run, and for Amanda's impending wedding (I can say it now that it has happened and the surprise is over!).  But hopefully I will get there again next year. 

The weather did clear up and I was thinking of you girls and how lucky you were (Sandy and I ran in the pouring rain earlier) that it was getting better.  The food sounds delicious like usual!  The photos are good too!  Petra, is that a yoga mat I see you holding????

[Cathy]

OK, afterthought

After crossing the finish line we gave our names to the girl there with a stopwatch.  She asked me the dreaded question.......

Are you Cathy Warren the runner?????

[Jane]

I hope you said YES I AM!!!

[Cathy]

So in response, I denied everything.  Told her that it wasn?t me that had just crossed her finish line and that I really hoped that she could find out who it was.

[Cathy]

What kind of a network do these runners have anyways.  How do they get your name and seem to know all about you.  Even more than you know yourself.  We also met a girl that gives massages.  She knew all about the group of us as well.  Strange.

 

[Cathy]

Sorry it did take me a while to get the report on Jane. But you know how long it takes me to download my pictures.  And those are sometimes the best part of the race report.

Darn dialup

[Cathy]

Sounds like you ladies had a good morning with Elizabeth's group after your drenching run with Sandy.  Now how cool is that, a shower after your run

[Sue]

Even though the skys were gray and it was cool, a great time was had by all!  WOW 10,000 raised today was awsome! It was so nice to see Cathy,Petra,Carol and Sandy this am.  Enjoyed your company immensely!  Great report Cathy, and I promise I will  see you next week at the finish line!  Thanks for the lovely pics too! Especially that one of me and my award!  Oh my! Scarey!!!   Looking forward to next weekend!
Sue

[Jane]

What did you win Sue? 

Cathy, that would have been Barb, our massage therapist and sometimes our mental therapist too, I think!!  She knows all about us because most of us go to her!!  Sandy found her and Sandy introduced us to her!  She is amazing!!!  And that was her very first 5K race today!!

  That is funny - your comment about the shower after our run!  Well, we had showers during and after today! (that's what you meant, wasn't it??)

[Sue]

I won Belleville Bulls tickets for next season,my husband and son were pleased.  My son Ryan played baseball and minor hockey with one of Bulls players, Jeff Leavitt(a really nice kid).  His Mom is also a runner.  I ran into her at the PEC Marathon last year.  She was running her first half marathon as well.
Too funny when the bald fellow won the gift certificate to Studio DK .  I think he ended up with a exercise mat in the end though. They had great prizes!
Sue

[Jane]