Well, i got my goal. This was hard. I had set out at an aggressive, faster than goal pace to see what I had. I was ahead of the 1:55 pace bunny until about the 14k mark. Then i really had to use the porta potty. I was starting to feel pretty fatigued and knew this was going to be a challenge. I was in and out of the toilet within about 2 minutes. Then i started to get that side stitch thing and i was thirsty.

At km 16 i grabbed water and gatorade and walked a bit to get them down. I was really battling with myself to keep going but Lisa Bentley was in my head saying a slow jog is better than walking. So i walked to the next light and picked it up again. I am happy to say i squeaked at 1:59:30. I was hoping to go faster but obviously that is outside my fitness at the moment and I am happy I tried.

The day was much warmer than my training but i did grab water for a few sips at most stops. I only skipping the one at the top of the Hogg's Hollow hill. I was way too out of breath to get water.
Back to km 16 i grabbed water and gatorade and walked a bit to get them down. I was really battling with myself but Lisa Bentley was in my head saying a slow jog is better than walking. So i walked to the next light and picked it up again. I am happy to say i squeaked at 1:59:30. I was hoping to go faster but obviously that is outside my fitness at the moment and I am happy I tried.

I think I executed decently for my goals. I think it is mostly mental. I had the realization that I am just not fitness-wise even close to where I was after I had the first baby. I had baby 1 only 10 months after doing an ironman so there was lots of latent fitness. Not so much of that with baby 2. I have done lots and I am not out of shape by any means.

It is really about forgetting where I was and striving for what i can do today - so i did pretty well!

Walked pretty much right through the finisher area after getting food to find my family. There was reportedly beer at the finish line but I didn't see it. I found them after some walking.


Rebuilding fitness post-partum. I need to spend some time working on my core in particular.


I hadn't done the Toronto Marathon since it moved the Fall - and running down yonge st is pretty cool, but it is definitely definitely not flat. it's net downhill but there are still quite a few climbs.

It's a scenic race for Toronto (which tends to have everything down by the waterfront) - for me it is very convenient to get home. But the point to point aspect has its challenges