Climbing the CN TOWER

IT IS OFFICIAL!! I have registered to take part in an exciting charitable and physical event on April 17, 2010!! I am going to climb all 1776 steps of the CN TOWER located in Toronto, Ontaio Canada. I would love and appreciate your support in efforts of raising some money for a very good cause. All donations will be in support of World Wild Life Canada (WWF). For more information, visit their website.

If you would like to sponsor my climb, please click HERE!!! Any amount will be appreciated! THANKS!!

April 2010: Climb The CN TOWER!!!

Look at that skyline. It's beautiful, eh? See that tower? I am going to climb it on April 17, 2010!!
When I say, "CLIMB the tower", I have no intentions of scaling the sides of this incredible structure, I'm no Spider Man. The CN Tower has 1776 steps and there are a couple of charitable events each year where you're able to climb the tower for a good cause.

For those of you who don't know, this is the CN Tower located in downtown Toronto, Ontario Canada. It is a communications and observation tower standing 553.3 metres (1,815 ft) tall. It held the record for the tallest free-standing structure on land in the world for about 31 years. On September 12, 2007 the CN Tower was surpassed in height by another incredible structure somewhere in Dubai. The CN Tower remains the tallest free-standing structure in the Americas. It is recognized as the signature icon of Toronto's skyline, and a symbol of Canada, and it attracts more than two million international visitors annually. For more info on the CN Tower, check out this website (http://www.cntower.ca/).

One of my friends and fellow blogger, Kimberley from (http://the-phoenix-rises-again.blogspot.com/) suggested that I climb the tower as one of my goals in 2010!! I'm not sure if she was serious but I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, since she mentionned it!

Anyway, I did some research and I am going to take part in the "20th Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb for WWF (World Wildlife Fund)" which raises money to fight climate change (save the animals). I visited their website and registered!!! I AM GOING TO CLIMB ALL 1776 STEPS OF THE CN TOWER ON APRIL 17th, 2010!!!!!

I plan on dragging my friends along with me. One lives in Toronto and has no excuse!! You're doing it!!!! Maybe I can also get my other friend to come too (she's pregnant right now, but will have had her baby come April - and she lives close to Toronto so she'll have no excuses either - I might let her off because her baby would just be a little more than a month old!!!) As for Kimberley, the one who got me thinking about this in the first place - are you up for it??? :)

For those interested, there's a $75.00 registration fee (or minimum donation amount) and you can also raise money through donations. I will donate $100 and I'm also going to try to raise a minimum of $250 for the cause through a web page I set up on their site. It's secure!!

If you would like to sponsor me for this event, please click here. Type in my full name ( Joania Burnett) or the first letters of my first and last name, select my name from the list, and follow the instructions. You can pledge as little or as much as you'd like. THANK YOU!! :)

I am so excited!!! 2010 is going to be AWESOME!!! More details to follow...

Joania (Doing It in 2010!!!!)

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Just a quick note to wish all of you the very best of 2010!!!

I am working on some new fitness goals for 2010, which will include running a couple more 5K's. I definitely intend to run the CIBC Run for the Cure in October, but I think this year I will attempt to run another 5K at the Ottawa Race Weekend!

More to come...

Joania

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!! MY FIRST 5K in 43:48!!!!!!!!!

ME!!! After running my first 5K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!43:48!!!!!!!!! Click on the pix to enlargen!! My hair was messy but who cares, I JUST RAN A 5K!! :D


Wow!!! What a moment!! Crossing that finish line today was simply one of the best and most amazing moments of my life!! Tears ran down my cheeks as I saw that finish line and it was within my reach and I felt amazing, full of energy, no aches!! My legs felt strong and I felt like I could run forever! It was amazing!!! I was thinking of my mom and my son, my husband, and my friends and family and my trainer whipping me into shape and the blog and readers/supporters!! I just wanted to run!! There were so many people running for the cure!! All these people (strangers) cheering me on as I got closer and closer to that finish line!

"I'm running!! I'm running and about to cross the finish line of a 5K race", I thought to myself!! I was in disbelief and juiced up on adrenaline!! It was incredible. I looked up at the clock and it said 43:48 as I crossed. WHAT!!!!??? How the heck did I do that??In all the weeks of training, the fastest I ran the 5K was 59minutes. I did not run the entire thing either...there were moments when I walked..but the walks were brisk and short, I REALLY JUST WANTED TO RUN!!! I felt such happiness and pride finishing that race...truly awesome moment!

Okay, so you can tell that I am still on an incredible high here!! Let me back up a bit!! I woke up this morning feeling nervous and anxious about the run but determined non-the-less!! I put on my "runfit" (run + outfit = runfit) and headed to the run site. I took my iPod with me, seeing that I was running by myself, I figured it would help me to stay focussed. I was listening to Robert Ullrey's podcast (the C25K program). I was accustomed to the music so it was great! It really did help as I found that I zoned everything else out and focussed on the run, my form and my breathing!

A little past the halfway point, I felt myself getting tired and quickly gave myself a little pep talk (in my head!!) which went something like this, "you're running a 5K, you registered and actually showed up, you didn't chicken out!! you're doing it, YOU CAN DO THIS, you told everybody you're going to do this so DO IT, NO PAIN, NO TIRED, NO EXCUSES!!!" It was amazing, I felt the energy racing through me. I just can't find the right words to explain the feeling!!

Throughout my 5K training, I truly felt that running was not for me. I didn't find it enjoyable and usually was spent after each training session so I was really worried about how I would perform today!! After today's race, the way I felt - and I don't know if it was a combination of nerves, excitement, adrenaline and determination, but I liked it!! I LIKED IT!! I felt strong and fit!! It was just great!! That "running switch" finally went on!!So will I continue running?? YEAH!! I WILL!! I will definitely continue running because I LOVED the way I felt today!! So to all my runner friends/bloggers who kept encouraging me to keep at it...YOU WERE RIGHT!! If this is the feeling you were referring to , I can definitely get used to it!!Incredible!!

Anyway, today was an awesome day!! I've just completed one of the items on my bucket list!! This gives me great hope that I can achieve so much more. 9 months ago prior to setting out on this incredible journey, I could barely walk to my car, muchless dream of ever running a 5K race. The possibilities are endless! I'm so excited for the future!! AMAZING

Oh, the only bad thing (not really bad, bad), but because of the amount of people participating in CIBC Run for the Cure race, it was difficult to get pix and impossible to get one of me crossing the finish line... WHO CARES??? I JUST RAN A 5K RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH BABY!!!!!!!!!!


Until next time...
Joania (2KMINE!!!)

My First 5K ~ IT's TIME!!!

Well here we are!! Time sure flies.

This morning I woke up and took a nice long walk - it wasn't too strenuous, just enough to get the heart going and blood flowing!! Tomorrow morning, I will attempt to run my very first 5 K race and I must tell you, as I sit here reflecting on the past 9 months of my life, I'm a bit emotional and a little anxious. I CANNOT believe that I am about to embark on this part of my journey.

For years, I've watched people jogging, running and used to just wish that I would be able to do it!! Well now, I know I can and I have been doing it!! I'm about to run a 5K race!! Now I'm not sure that I will be able to RUN the entire distance, however the sheer thought of me being able to finish this race is enough to amaze me!!

I went to the Running Room this morning to register for the race. I was given a "Run Kit" which consists of a T-shirt and 2 bibs; 1 with my race number (which is 2358) and the other bib is for me to write down the name of the person/people that I am running for. This is the CIBC RUN For the CURE. All proceeds raised will go to breast cancer research! My mom passed away 17 years ago from Ovarian cancer, so I will be running in her honor and for myself!

I will of course be back tomorrow evening to post pictures and an update of my day tomorrow!! I want to take this time to sincerely thank The Veg Next Door for guest writing on this blog. The information you provided was extremely helpful and very much appreciated - THANK YOU :)

That's it for today...
Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!)

5K!!!! Only 1 Week Away

Hey guys,

Well my first 5K is only one week away!! By this time next week I will have finished the race - I hope!!

I will be registering on Friday. I am still quite nervous and really don't feel that I am as ready as I should be. I must be honest and say that I have NOT been as diligent as I should have been with the training. I have been working out regularly (weight training and cardio) but just not so regular with the running training. I'm not sure if I will be able to RUN the entire 5k but I am going to try. Thankfully, I have the option of walking it as well. Realistically, I think it will be a combination of running/walking...my goal is to FINISH (first and foremost), but also to do more running than walking.

At this point, I'm not too concerned about my time. I am hoping that I finish under an hour though!! Even if it's 59.9 minutes, I will be thrilled. Just the thought of being able to FINISH a 5k race, something I'd only dreamed about just a short while ago will be great.

I will take pictures and post them for sure. So that's it for now. I will more than likely post again prior to the race. Start praying for me people!!

Until next time...
Joania (2KMINE!!!!)

Race Day Essentials

There are a few more topics that I want to cover but I decided to cover the Race Day Essentials topic because it is that time of year when people are participating in runs or races. So here goes...

Pre-Race Preparation

 Pick up your race package before Race Day (make sure safety pins are enclosed for your bib)
 Experiment with nutrition products (if using any) in the weeks leading up to the race not on race day. Find out from the organizers what products they'll be using
 Set out your race clothes and all equipment the night before the race. Be sure to pick clothes that you have worn before so you know how they fit
 Hydrate and eat well in the two days preceding the race (it's not necessary to eat a box of pasta the night before)

Race Day Essentials

 Runners
 Favourite socks
 Water
 Hat/Visor
 Sunglasses
 Watch
 Heart rate monitor
 TorsoPack
 Sunscreen
 Body Glide
 Nutrition product
 Pace band
 Race number and bib with contact and health information written on back

Race Day

 Relax – You can do it
 Arrive early
 Include a warm up
 Start slowly
 Drink water
 Stay positive and be courteous to other runners
 Finish upright and smiling