and I’ve done it!

Today, I completed my first road race! As I mentioned previously last week I didn’t have much time or notice to train for my first road race ever. I had the option to choose between a 2.5km, 5km, and 10km run. I wanted to start of small so I registered for the 5k right after work on Friday afternoon, so I couldn’t back out of it when I said I’d register on race day. They had a 2.5k loop around one of the University’s and around the park which is just my backyard pretty much! So when I was practicing I did two loops (= 4.01K) in 5 days. In order to make it the full 5K we had to do a lap each time around the track surrounding the football field. I didn’t practice that because I don’t think we’re usually allowed in there?

My first lap was pretty decent, online it tells me I did it in 14:11 where as my second lap is what slowed me down, but that’s okay I still made it in 15:49 which made me get a time overall of 30:05 (gun time). My chip time was 30:00, which is what I wanted to beat. This is only my first of many races to come in the future. Start small, go big. There’s another 5k & 10k road race in October. I think the BF will run the 10k and I’ll put another 5k under my belt. BF thinks I can get my 5k down to 26 minutes or so. Hope he’s right, I’ll definitely be training more outside now that it’s cool and not as humid here.

So.. you guys ready for this? After all that, I placed second in my age group!!! Wonderbarrrrr. Wasn’t expecting that at all, of course I was totally stoked when they called my name. So happy. I wore my medal the whole 5 minute walk home, posed a few times in the field while BF took photos of me. It was so great to hear someone cheer ME on regardless if I acknowledged his presence during my run haha. Usually I’m the cheerleader for BF.

Dah da da daaaa.. photos!

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One of the 7 deadly sins…

I bought my plane ticket home for Christmas a little over two weeks ago. Not long after I used up my two weeks vacation, does my boyfriend come to me and say he’s going to ITALY. Guess you can say that I’m a little jealous right now, and perhaps wishing I could go with him? Yeah. He’s part of Team Canada in the World Championships for Duathlon. He received all of his Team Canada clothing in the mail all this week, and it looks really professional and super great on him. Seeing how I couldn’t go with him because I don’t have the funds, nor the vacation days to hop on a plane with him to see him compete… in ITALY (sigh!), I told him I wanted some presents. hehe. Italy is like one of the main places I want to visit before I die lol. Italy, Greece, definitely Paris just to see the Eiffel Tower and definitely Singapore … I could go on. But ITALY. I need not be jealous. It’s not healthy lol.

Soooo anyway. I leave you with some photos that were taken last weekend at the half Ironman race. Yippee!

Swim 1.2 miles
Bike 56 miles
Run 13.1 miles

70.3 MUSKOKAAAA

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It’s been six months…

Six months today was when you couldn’t call me brace face anymore. I was no longer calling myself ‘shark tooth’ or ‘metal mouth’. Though, I am what you would call a tooth snob now. I can’t help it. I wear my retainer during the night time, but when I’m out around on the streets and I see people who have crooked teeth, I want to rush home and pop that blue retainer back in my mouth. These babies cost me an arm and a leg but was well worth it. I have silly reoccurring nightmares that my teeth are denting in, moving back to their old places, chipping.. etc. It’s very strange.

Do you know how many new types of chewing gum comes out in 18 months? A heck of a lot! (Somehow I managed to get my hands on a complementary, well designed and very impressive package of Stride gum – which really does last a ridiculously long time. Have you seen it? It almost looks like you’re opening up a mini pack of cigarettes. Cute. Then there’s the old lady favorite Wrigley’s 5 that has the same flavors as Stride but doesn’t last ridiculously long and pomegranate by Trident. Damn that stuff has a strong smell on it. The flavor? Doesn’t last 5 minutes!).

Chewing gum and sticky candy are a few of the things you should really stop eating when you get braces on. But my goodness the delicious new flavors and brands of gum out there … unbelievable. If you haven’t tried the Denytne Blast (Wild Winter is a personal fav), I suggest you do. When you first bite into it, there’s a gush of cool mint that surrounds my mouth like nothing else. I’ve been chewing gum like it’s been going out of style, for the last six months, mainly at work because I don’t want to snack and get a huge bum. I guess I’m making up for it now (chewing the gum! Not the big arse!), I actually buy the jars of 40’s and it lasts me about a week. It’s my sugar–free vice, and could be a lot worse, right?

Thinking about getting braces? Here is the run down:

  • Orthodontic consultation: Free (I’m not sure if he was just nice, or if it’s always free.)
  • Two teeth extractions with a visit from the dentist: $200
  • X-Rays, molds of bad teeth, photos of face, and initial cost braces being put on: $630
  • Monthly payments of $160 x 2 years: $3840 (Even though I had braces on for 18 months, the contract said 24 months. BOO!)
  • TOTAL COST: $4670.00

I got things done quickly once I moved to Ontario. I graduated school in June 2006, and flew straight to Ontario 3 days after. Initially I wanted to purchase a car but I thought that since teeth will last forever, I’d get that over with and get my pretty smile fixed. I’m glad I did. Those 18 months flew by, and even though I liked every moment checking out my teeth in my hand held mirror, watching my shark tooth go back into place with all the rest of my bottom teeth – I’m glad they’re off. I don’t smile any less or anymore than I used to, despite what others say. I never let my teeth get the best of me. I didn’t have low confidence about showing my teeth off. I just wanted straight teeth, is all! Seriously. My teeth didn’t look bad except when you looked at them at certain angles, and boy did I not know what angles they were when the camera was shining on me. Har har.

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