News & Releases >> 2004 >> Sep 21 2004
NEWS Sep 21 2004
Vancouver winner of trip to Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront looking forward to 'the complete marathon experience' in T.O.
VANCOUVER. 21 September 2004.
Vancouver's Kristie Congram always intended to run a marathon one day, but after becoming the lucky winner of a trip for two to the Toronto Waterfront Marathon at last year's Scotiabank Vancouver Half, it has happened a little sooner than she originally planned.
Concerned about attempting her first ever marathon at this year's STWM away from her home, family and friends, Kristie did another Canada Running Series event this Spring, the adidas Vancouver International Marathon, to prepare. "I was pleased with my 5:47 as I walked the last 8 miles or so with an injury, and met two wonderful women who for their own reasons walked as well. But I'm really excited about doing an out of town marathon now. Adds to the whole experience!" notes Kristie.
She continued her preparation by signing up for the Doit Sports online clinic for the STWM. "It's been a blast," she says of her training. "My goal is to have a good time (as in fun) and finish."
A lot of that fun will be happening outside of the run itself. Kristie has only been to Toronto once before, but for this visit "everything is about the marathon". She and running buddy Marie Rivard are going to do the Friendship Run, the Pasta Dinner, the massage afterwards—basically, the entire marathon weekend experience. This will be Marie's first marathon. "She did her first half this year and her first tri so it's going to be a great year for her. She wasn't going to do the full marathon but decided that since she was coming with me to Toronto it was better than doing the half by herself, and that way we would both have someone to train with," explains Kristie.
Her family and friends have been enthusiastically supportive of her goals. "My husband hasn't seen me anywhere near as much as normal but has encouraged me every step," says Kristie. "Friends, both running and non, have been wonderful." She has also received great advice from those who have done marathons and great support from "those who can't imagine why anyone would."
When asked if she will be running for a charity at STWM, Kristie's response was "Not this time. Does that sound like I might come back?" Encouraging words from someone who had never run more than 11km and figured on walking the second half of the 2003 SVHM—but ended up running the whole thing—where she won her great Toronto prize trip.
Now of course, all Kristie can think about is..........winning the trip to Hong Kong.