And at the end of the day. I have to remember what my original goal was in my first Ultra Marathon...To Complete and NOT shit my pants.

This is my last entry before the race. Tomorrow is race day and to say it gently. Im totally overwhelmed with excitement, disbelief, anticipation, kindness of words from friends and others...It has been great.
But before I get into that, here are a few photos from the past few training sessions I enjoyed.

The four below are from the start of our taper...we started in Horseshoe Bay and ended up in Cleveland Dam.
I had heard about Black Mountain before, but not to date had experienced it.
I figured it would be challenging.
It was just that and then some.
Personally, never experincing "mountain climbing before (surprising for a Mountain Goat I know) welll, lets say it was Rock climbing...wish I had brought some rope and clips. Hopefully I will remember the helmet on race day...

 Here are a few of the lads with their fit little smiles at the top of Black Mountain. Supposibly a spectacular view should be seen from here they said...(I thought I was taking one :)

  
Oh, oh....this was the view they were talking about...hmmm. doesn't look like much does it.Wait until race day, should be worth the price of admissison....

Humble berry pie...well, I must say I was a weeeeeee bit disheartened by looking at my Garmin and seeing that at the Cleveland Dam I was at 04:23 hours. ugh, REALLY?
SERIOUSLY??? Half friggen way?

Ok, well after a quiet ride home pondering my own speed demond dispair I came to a theory...It was the steepness was something new, the snooooooooow felt like it went on for at least 40 minutes (I think) Pret-ty sure...
So, come race day; hopefully I can shave a few minutes off...hopefully....

OUR LAST UNOFFICAL RUN
Our Unofficial last Wednesday run was from Cleveland Dam (the half way mark) to Lower Cypress look out.
What a spectacular prize indeed. Had to push over a bus full of cannon cameras to get in there for a shot, but totally worth the wait.



View of Vancouver and as far as the eye can see.



Our last Sunday Official Training run was Lynn Valley To Deep Cove. We ran accross the Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge (Which isn't on the Official Route; but a very fun way to start a day)



 As ususal I enjoyed the company of various new friends I have met along my little mountain goat journey.  It was a short little run, only the last quarter. Which, was done for me in 01:43 hours. Light and fresh.. A great way to finish...

This is a photo of what a typical training run looks like as we all meet in the beginning.
(see how clean everyone is?) Amazing!
We have had some great people guiding us through instruction (even if I do tend to get lost...It isn't like they don't actually explain it...just that I don't RETAIN it...)

Here we are. Big smiles and enjoying another beautiful finish...Hope I can look this fresh on race day.

WHICH happens to be in hours....

 Well, here are my final thougths....
Last night, I was telling the kids that I would see them at the race as my fantastic family is taking care of them after camp today until I see them at a few of the stops along the way tomorrow.
I said so I figure we should assign Mountains. What do you think?
They agreed but couldn't decide on whom should be which mountain.
This morning I was driving them to camp, en route to my job (as I haven't won the lottery yet) and said I think we should have Sophie be Cypress, as she was first born. I will be Grouse as I seem to need to stay neutral and you guys usually put me in the middle anyway. And Rowen, my little guy...you can be Mount Seymour. Because Im going to need you to get me through that last leg...

Sophie then said "So wait, are you giving me the toughest part?" I said yep.
She then sat for a moment in the back seat, and in true Sophie form piped up and said,
"Is that because I put up with listening to all of your running stories? And when you are done talking about running, you talk about it a little more and I always listen?"
OMW.
I burst out laughing and gave her a sympathetic sigh with an apology attached. Yes Soph. And I am sorry about that.

I have ask the kids to try and meet me on the pavement before I run through the finish. Because it wouldn't be right doing it with out them.

The reason I run and share is not to boast. It is to encourage, enlighten, hopefully educate and show passion. I am new at this so sure, maybe thats part of it...but when you love something, you want everyone to love it because you love them and want them to feel as happy as you do.

The lessons along my training part of the journey have actually been endless and priceless...
but a few of them are:
Be good to yourself
Ask for help if you need it.
Live a passionate life.
Everyone has a story worth listening to.
I love my family and friends.
I have more goals to come.
Anything is possible.
Be a good person and if there is a way to do it, then you should do it.
If someone were to ask you at a coctail party that you have never even met "What is YOUR passion?" What would you say?
Can you answer it?
I dont think I had one for a few years. Maybe even longer than that...

It doesn't have to be running...it can be education, or sailing or reading...but do you even know what it is? Many of us loose it. Or never dig to find it.
Now that I have tasted it, I crave more. We all deserve it.

There is no manual for parenting. Well, okay...there are many actually...but Im not a big reader so I would rather show them that dreams are unimplimented goals. Goals can be achieved with work and passion and that with guidance I hope that one day they will achieve what ever their heart desires.

Thanks for reading my blog thus far.
Thanks for anyone that has helped me through any of my journey...babysitting, or whatever...
I wish fora really great race tomorrow, feeling in great mentally and physically...That I remember to take it all in, enjoy the fantastic volunteeers and the beautiful viewswithout soiling my pants. Because at the end of the day, that was my original goal. To finish without shitting my pants.