the big day

I had been trying to train for the 10k on September 23rd since I successfully finished my first full 10k race in Ottawa at the end of May. 

A few days after we finished our Ottawa 10k, Valerie and I set a goal of completing the Montreal 10k in September in 1hr 10 minutes or faster.  Unfortunately several circumstances out of my control (sprained ankle, kidney infection...) threw a major wrench into my training program. I pushed myself when I could get out there and train, but the amount of down time I was forced to take made it feel as though the 1:10 goal we had set may be an impossibility.

On the morning of the big race I woke up feeling awful.  I have recently been accused of over sharing, so sufficed to say that I believed my ailment to be directly related to the previously diagnosed kidney infection.  I decided that although I was feeling less than 100% I still needed to do the race.  Valerie was a huge motivator, and I am so glad she was by my side.  We finished without a single walk break in 1 hr 10 minutes and 52 seconds! With all the obstacles in my way I still finished and met the goal time we set.  Imagine what I could have done had I been able to train consistently!! Here's a few blurry pictures from the big day:

After the race I got home and felt so awful that I went to the hospital.  They assumed that I needed more antibiotics for the kidney infection and sent me on my way.  5 days later the symptoms were back and I felt even worse than before.  Back to the hospital I went.... while I was there I passed (and I'm quoting the nurse here) "two massive ginormous kidney stones - the biggest I've ever seen". 

I stayed at the hospital so they could run some test, blood work, ultrasound xrays... but I am feeling a lot better now.



I just had to take a picture of the needle in my arm for Nathaniel



So, just to review:

September 15th - Energizer 5k Night Race with two massive kidney stones... CHECK

September 16th - Grande Vadrouille 5k race with two ginormous kidney stones... CHECK

September 23rd - Montreal Oasis 10k race in record time with two massive ginormous kidney stones... CHECK

Melanie being a total bad ass... Check Check Check.