Since I can no longer count down the days, but only the hours, until my race, there isn’t much left to say. I’ve finished all the training, eaten all the pasta and picked up my race bib. I can only try to get a good night’s sleep and hope that all the work I’ve put in comes together tomorrow.

It is now our second day on the island and we’ve been trying to get in a little touring without taxing my legs too much, which is hard because there is so much to see and do!

My friend Catherine and I arrived at the Victoria Airport at 8:26 yesterday morning and after picking up our rental car we headed to Sidney for a quick 30-minute run to get used to the altitude and loosen up our legs after the flight. It was a misty and cool but absolutely beautiful run along the coast.

We don't have many views like this at home.
We don’t have many views like this at home.

I then had an amazing sandwich at a cute little lunch spot called Toast and we headed to the Sidney aquarium. To give my legs a rest we took an extra long scenic drive down the coast, covering part of the race route. After driving over a few significant hills and starting to psych myself out, we ditched the race route and checked into our Airbnb.

Jellyfish!
Jellyfish!

Today I took it pretty easy and just picked up my race package, went for lunch and later tea, and attended one of the race expo lectures. I got to see Darrell Fox, Terry Fox’s brother talk about Terry and where the Terry Fox Foundation is today. It was a great lecture that put my own small speed bumps into perspective.

Left Photo: Darrell Fox delivers a lecture during the Victoria Marathon race expo. Right photo: Myself in front of Mile 0, a monument to Terry Fox in Victoria.
Left Photo: Darrell Fox delivers a lecture during the Victoria Marathon race expo. Right photo: Myself in front of Mile 0, a monument to Terry Fox in Victoria.

 

I am now settling in for the night and prepping all of my race stuff for tomorrow. However, the nerves are starting to settle in as well.

Tomorrow, at 8:45 a.m. I will be starting my run from this intersection at Menzies and Kingston. Here we go!

Ready, set, panic!
Ready, set, panic!