If I can do it…

I want you to sign up for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Wait… don’t click away from this page. Hear me out.

I’m not asking you to run a marathon. Well, you can if you want, but you could also sign up for the half-marathon or you can run, or even walk, the 5K.

I want to motivate you and your colleagues, friends or family members to sign up for the 5K walk or run, the half-marathon or the full marathon on October 20th to support North York General.

Still too daunting? Let me share my story.


Lessons from a couch potato

I am not one of those people who love to run. I don’t get the runner’s high. For me, it’s a lot of hard work. I get out of breath quickly, I sweat profusely, and my face turns bright red – it’s not a pretty picture.

I’ll take a glass of wine and a comfy couch over running shoes any day!

But on Sunday, May 12th, I crossed the finish line of the Sporting Life 10K. Trust me when I tell you that this was a major accomplishment.

Let me explain why I did it:

• It’s something I always wanted to do, like that time I decided to climb the CN Tower for some reason
• I hadn’t worked out since before my daughter, Eloïse, was born 18 months ago and I wasn’t losing the baby weight
• My husband inspired me by running his first marathon
• I’m not a physically active person. I want to change that so I can be a positive role model for Eloïse

I ran three times a week for eight weeks. I used the treadmill available at work and on weekends I’d run outside. Then on May 12th, Mothers’ Day, I ran 10K for my daughter and for myself.

I’ve already registered to run the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in October. I challenge you to find your own motivation and sign up to run or walk the next race with me. If I can do it, so can you.

Plus this year, North York General is on the list of charities we can fundraise for, so select our Hospital when you register and the money you raise goes directly back to help patients and families in our community.

Will you join me? Sign up here!

Noemie