It’s funny how at any point during the year, you can look back on your New Year’s celebration and know despite any plans or expectations you held about what the next 365 days might bring, you never really knew what the next year had in store for you. Sometimes the trials life throws at you are amazing and other times they’re heartbreaking.

As I quietly rang in 2015 at home with my boyfriend Chad, and my leopard gecko named Scales, I had no idea that I would soon be training for a marathon. What I also didn’t know was that this year I would lose one of the most important people in my life. On May 19, at the age of 95, my Nonna Marjorie (Madge) Contenti passed away.

I took this photo of my Nonna in 2012. She's so beautiful!
I took this photo of my Nonna in 2012. She’s so beautiful!

Just over a week after having a bad fall she peacefully left us while surrounded by family and by the beautiful hills of Drumheller she loved. Even though she lived to an age many of us will never see, it was still a bit of a shock to have to let her go.

My Nonna WAS life. Every bit of her embodied vitality and joy and peace. She could be recognized most easily by her infectious smile and her enthusiastic laughter. As a child she was the kind of Grandma who always had gum, who would sneak you butter tarts before dinner when your parents weren’t looking, and who was always happy to put you to bed with a good story. Growing up, she was the silent leader. She didn’t preach or lecture, but subtly led by example, teaching you lessons that often you didn’t understand until you were older. As an adult, those lessons become more clear and I learned wit, modesty, acceptance and that, sometimes, a coat of pink lipstick is all it takes to brighten up a day.

While she didn’t live extravagantly, she knew how to make the best of all life had to offer and to find joy in the small things. Whether she was on a trip with family members, at dinner with friends or spending the day bird watching at home, she found beauty in everything.

Appreciating the people in my life as well the things around me is something I have been trying to do even more since she passed, because that’s what she did.

Sunday, July 5th, would have been her 96th birthday. It also happened to be the day I ran my first half-marathon. Having registered for the race months ago, I only came to the realization that these two events would land on the same day in the last few weeks. The pain of losing her is still very real but I know the best way to honour her is follow her lead and live my life as honestly and passionately as I can.

Sunday morning I woke up and I put on a bright purple running shirt (one of her favourite colours), and I raced my heart out. My parents, two brothers and my boyfriend were all there to see me cross the finish line, completing the 21.1km in 2:14:49. I was aiming for closer to 2:10 but thanks to a mid-race pee break and a few strong headwinds I didn’t quite make it. But that’s OK. I was running this race for Nonna and I know regardless of the result she would have been proud of me.

While I already miss her dearly, it’s hard not to see her all around me. Her impact on every one of my family members was great and her positive influence shines through them. My Dad’s humble leadership, my Mom’s strength and compassion, and both of my brothers’ senses of humour all remind me of her. So when I ran past my family 14km into my race, and saw my parents cheering and my brother holding a sign with a picture of a llama and text that said, “Run Tina, you fat lard,” (no offense intended, it’s sort of an inside joke), that was more than enough to get me through the race.

Here I am crossing the finish line of my first (but surely not last) half-marathon. My lovely family is cheering me on in the background and my awesome talented boyfriend Chad is behind the lens.
Here I am crossing the finish line of my first (but surely not last) half-marathon. My lovely family is cheering me on in the background and my awesome, talented boyfriend is behind the lens.

Now more than ever, I am proud to have taken on the marathon training challenge and am incredibly excited for what’s up ahead. We’ve reached the mid-point in our training and the Stampede Road Race was my last competition before the marathon. From here on out the focus will be on training, training, training. So stay tuned…

Of course I can't forget my amazing UofC Marathon Training Program family! Here is just a few of us after the race.
Of course I can’t forget my amazing UofC Marathon Training Program family! Here is just a few of us after the race.