Give me a Yahoo!!!

After 5 months of preparing, here it is my first half marathon. After that amount of time it wasn't a question of completing but a question of doing my best. Mission accomplished.

Morning of the race. Going through the first ribbon crossing the door of my hotel room. I did manage to get 6 hours of sleep. It was hard since the sun never set while I was there.
The half marathon team before the start of the race. Left to right: Chris, Kevin, Len, Karen, Moi, Shyla. In total there was 12 of us from Calgary. We raised 70,000. 980 team in training purple shirts in the crowd of 4000 runners. All together team in training raised 4.4 million for Leukemia and Lymphoma research for this race.
Then the rain came. This is Shyla, she and I ran a good part of the race together. We laughed and I kept calling her "darling" and "girl." She put up with my chatter and banter. Physical activity just brings out the crazy in me.
The first hour rained and rained. This garbage bag was my protection from the start till mile 2. Normally I don't run in the rain. When I ripped that garbage bag off it was like peeling the plastic off a hotdog.
Mid way picture moment. The first 10 miles went off without a hitch. "Did we just run 9 miles?" The Canada flag on my singlet got cheers. The whole run making a point to cheer all the purple shirts passing. This race wasn't about myself so much as it was for everyone. Collective goal!

Through the trees. We ran through earthquake park. What a name!!! The race then took us along the coast. The sun didn't come out for the first 2 hours.
Action shot. (Mile 8) It isn't visible in this photo but on the back of the jersey it said "GIVE ME A YAHOO" Every mile marker we YAHOO'd. Every time I started to feel tired, I yahoo'd. Every time I would get ahead of Shyla she would let me know where she was. It was funny because people only gave a yahoo when they were passing me while I took a moment to walk or stretch.
What surprised me during the run was how many people had frowns on their faces. I smiled my way...Come on it's a half marathon not major dental work. Give it a smile!!!

At mile 11 my left calf seized up on me. Stopping every 5 minutes to stretch. Not wanting to walk the finally yards. My muscle didn't want me to move any further. The last 100 meters were on a high school track. Each step was harder than the next. My smile forced me to the end. Giving all that I had. Hardest run of my life.

My grandfather who passed at the end of May was the first person to donate and support me. I called my grandmother with a mile left. She thought I was crazy to be running and talking. It is important to let those around you know how much they mean to you. Jack Cook, my grandfather was the most respectable upstanding citizen I know. He is missed everyday. 2 Hours and 26 Minutes and 37 Seconds.

Every step worth it.

The best run of my life so far.

In total I fundraised 6187 dollars.

Thanks for reading and donating.

Grateful,

Mathew John Chyzyk

Demain

Here we are. In 15 hours I will be in to the race.

Totally didn't listen to my coach, walked around town and then some. I figured I have walked all of Quebec city my legs must be used to it by now. Everything feels good.

Today I attended the life after treatment seminar. Amazing to hear all the stories. (Cried a couple of tears.)

Off to the pasta party. Then to have the possible sleepless night. Last night I had 8 hours of sleep so I should be fine.

Ready to do this. Thank you for reading and your support.

Mathew John and his half Marathon.

Running 20K!!

I dedicated this run to my Grandfather who is losing his fight with cancer. My strength, determination, and humanity is a fraction of his.


Here it is. All this training. All this work to finally reach my peak. 20K. This is the longest I will have before the big day. Call it the bachelor party of running. I was nervous the day before, the morning of. Once the shoes hit the pavement it all ended. This was happening. I could do it.
Here's the map that I put up beside the entrance. Notifying everyone. Lot's of people sent text and phone calls.

The start picture. I had all my friend prepared to meet me at different times with different running necessities
I did the first lap by myself. i had nervous energy and just had to go out and do it. On the second 5K lap. Aja joined me and my friend Laura bumped into us. Here she us running through the trees. My favourite part of this loop. (I save it for the end...like dessert)
Megan came out for 10-15K Good action shot. In the background is this cute cafe with 2.50 Dessert du jour.
After 15K I was kinda haggered. I was worried it would be the hardest part. The whole time I knew I could do it. Aja came back to run the last 5K. I always make her do ridiculous things. Oh boy do we laugh. Not so much running but any other time. Dang!!
Today i was the pied piper of running. Little Maya here was just heading out on her small run and I made her join Aja and I on the final lap. She made it to 4K and had her limit. I had to get the I did it photo!!!!
Aja's i did it photo. she ran 10K her longest distance ever!!!
The money I'm finished shot. 20K take that. Half Marathon is going to be conquered.
Afterward we spent the day laying around enjoy Quebec. Eating cheese and baguettes.

only 104 to my goal of 4900. Please donate:http://www.active.com/donate/tntcal/mathewjohn

Thanks to everyone for getting me this far,

Mathew John

Countdown...

On Sunday I have made plans to run my longest distance yet. Not sure the exact distance but it will be around 20. Possible but hard.

It has rained the last 2 days. Luckily I got out and ran hils yesterday morning before the grey took over. only 4 hills and I was ready to vomit. So hard. I guess I hadn't done that training since the stairs in Montreal.

Maybe a short run in the rain. All I want to do is nap!

Less than a month till my first half Marathon!!!

Mathew John

Without Computer.

Hello!!!!

It hard to be without a computer.
I sneak my blogging time when I should be practicing my french.

No Pictures for this blog.

The weeks are passing by. Since my long run just gone on a bike ride and a handle full of shorter runs around campus.

Finally my shoes broke the boundary of the universite Laval and made their way to the neighborhood. Down to the St. Laurent. Along the brick houses. I ran for 5 minutes up hill and the my right foot landed flat and it was over. I walk 4 minutes up the rest of the hill. I did take photos and will post them later. A very good route to add on even with the hill. It was only about 8 or 9K.

This week is a little bit more relaxed. Catching up on all the things I love that have been forgotten. Writing postcards, speaking french. The usual.

Hope all is well.

Right now!!!

I just got in from my late night run and watched TV on a friends computer. Opted out on eating cookie dough to just eat an orange. Doing great. Last Friday I ran my longest difference yet 18K.

These are the pictures from my journey around Montreal.

The angel is one of the most beautiful statues I have ever seen. She is my first hope for making it up the mountain.

I might be wrong but this is beaver lake on the mountain. Not quite Lake Louise. it's only 500M around. Add distance anywhere I can.

Another view of the city. When I got to the top I knew this was possible. I turned around at the cross came to the chalet. Filled my water bought some blue powerade took a deep breath. It took me just over an hour to run to the mountain and up it.

This is a map of the paths. Plans to utilise nose hill park on my return.

This is where I finished in La Parc de Fountaine. Another peaceful zone in the city. In the summer it is full of picnicker with their wine just enjoying life. Last summer it was my morning run to the park and around the fountain and home. All in all it took me 2 hours and 20 minutes. The longest time I have ever ran. YAHOO!!!!

This is my little 5K trail around the campus of Laval. Love running in the trees.

off to sleep,

It is 10:35 here and I have to be up for hills bright and early.

(If only I had my partners.)

Mathew

Not the City.

Bonjour,

I have been doing alot of running and very little blogging.

Just figuring out how to use the computers. I will post pictures on a later time.

I arrived in Quebec city on Saturday night. Up early on Sunday and took off from my residence. The rain became a down pour. After 10 minutes i turned around soaked.
Monday, first day of school and I was up and out before 7 for my run. Running the perimeter of Laval. Through the trees and by the church. A lovely run.
Today up again and off to the track for sprints. Countdown. 5 minutes run-walk 1- run 4-walk 1-run 3-walk 1-run 2-walk 1-run 1.

If any of you know great track training it would be a great help.
also soon I will have to run to vieux Quebec. Soon.

Working hard,

Mathew John