It took 3 years but we finally got our finish line photo 👯♀️
After running 4 marathons in 2025 I was feeling a bit burnt out from structured training (and just life in general tbh). In 2026 I have mostly been running easy, logging about 45-55km of base mileage every week and putting zero pressure on myself to build fitness or attach myself to any time goals. But, until Sunday I hadn’t raced a half marathon since 2024 and have been wanting to take another crack at the distance for a while. The goal for half marathon #17 was simply to bust the rust. Tracy and I also discussed the goal of running a negative split - basically just as practice.
Not only do I feel kind of unfit right now, but I also of course developed a cold early last week, so I really was putting no pressure on this race and was approaching it more like a workout. That being said, I showed up on Sunday morning at the start line for the Georgina Spring Fling, ready to put in a solid effort and have some fun.
My hot racing weather curse of 2025 appeared to have been broken and we were greeted by PERFECT morning conditions for racing. I truly had no expectations, but the recipe for a good race presented itself.
What unfolded was one of those wonderful flow state days where experience, knowledge, teamwork, consistency, trust and course conditions come together flawlessly, even in the absence of proper training and racing fitness.
Tracy and I clicked away each 5km split, getting slightly faster with each one. We suffered too, there is no way to avoid that in a race, but we worked together through the tough parts, not giving into the pain. I didn’t look at our elapsed time even once and had no idea where we’d finish. But we were dialled in, and in full control. We finished hand-in-hand, covered in midges (well, mostly me) and I dry heaved over the timing mat (sure signs of a full send?) It was a surprise PB. More than that, it was a confidence boost and a reminder that we kinda, sorta, maybe know what we are doing now. 🤷♀️
4/12:
- Brings May Flowers
- Still the worlds snuggliest cat even in a cone 🥹
- same same but different
- when the grandparents are available to babysit and everyone is somehow free, a reminder that we are still fun
- 2+ hour catch-up, a Boston re-cap and trying new treats
- iced drink season returns
- always
- post-long run chit chat and ☕️
- just because
- April (torrential, sideways) showers
I have deemed 2026 my “self-care sabbatical” year and while I can’t deny the healing powers of an epic trip across the pond, my main goal this year is to find comfort (or maybe just acceptance) in day-to-day life and being okay in unknowns and in-between seasons.
The real “self-care” happens in the the unglamorous, in doing the things I’ve been avoiding, organizing my life (and brain, and space), disconnecting more often, reconnecting in person, getting more sleep and in doing the hard emotional work. I wanted to post more to help remember the small joys and comforts of every day life but truthfully, it’s just become another to-do on the never-ending list. I’m not sure how many more I’ll post of these but on that note:
12/52
1. Sometimes it’s okay to bribe yourself with a fancy coffee to get some work done
2. When you bring things home from a trip there’s no point in saving them for the perfect occasion that may never come so just enjoy them now
3. Do stars on hospital floors really make anyone feel better about being there? But really!? (I’m fine, promise! But getting your screenings done is self-care 101)
4. The satisfaction of 18g in and 36g out
5. A moment to appreciate leaving the gore-tex shoes in the back of the closet (and I think it’s time for some new machs!)
6. See organizing your life (start with the spaces, that’s the easy part. Also apparently spices expire…)
7. Leaning into hobbies and mastering new skills just because
8. New beginnings coming soon
9. What I would do to be able to sleep like he does
10. Perfect Ciele Sunday pit-stop with @culture.athletics
(A month late) Hard to believe that Huck is 10 😭🥹
Huck is the worlds biggest derp, basically a cat with 9 lives, the best little brother to his elder cat sibling, our vets “favourite problem child” (her words 😅) and the absolute joy of our lives. There are so many things about Huck that will never make sense, he’s basically a medical mystery, he only started to lift his leg to pee at 5, he doesn’t like any doodles or pugs (I swear he came to this conclusion on his own) and yet, adopting him and bringing him into our lives is one of the few things in this lifetime that has always made sense. In his old age he’s somehow healthier than he’s ever been, and while his greying face reminds me daily of the harsh reality that comes with pet ownership, I can’t imagine my life without him ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Happy (belated) 10th birthday Huckleberry. We are so lucky that you’re ours 🐶
11/52
1. London pastry scene is elite
2. London (and surrounding areas like Cambridge) residents are elite
3. Not mad about it
4. Cutie Paris hotel terrace
5. Wish we had more
6. Paris pastry scene even more elite than London pastry scene
7. All aboard! 🐶
8. Coffee views (and the 3rd coffee stop that day)
9. Arc de triomphe views
10. Reflections
11. If he doesn’t carry your shopping bag around all day, dump him
12. Turns out there is such thing as too much pistachio
13. Pre-run breakfast
14. Mid-run photo stop
15. Park hangs and real spring weather
16. A moment to pause
17. Eiffel Tower picnic mandatory
18. Next mid-run photo stop
19. Percy > Maurten to get through dreary Toronto jet lagged runs
20. Tater time! 😍
10/52
1. Bedroom views
2. Portree
3. Coral beach 😍
4. 🌈 farewell to Skye
5. Casual road side stop
6. Casual car shakeout location
7. Casual castle wedding for @moegenore & @jakenbharkins
8. ✌🏻🏴
9. Signs of home in London
10. Casual pub dinner
11. But who was the winner of the wedding day fun run?
12. I want everyone to know I shut down the dance floor
13. And still somehow was able to galavant around London all day afterwards
14. & 15. Signs of spring
16. It’s true, I do
9/52
1. I wish I had words to describe what it’s like to visit the Isle of Skye, but the only way I can sum it up is that my bones feel at home there
2. Backing it up to pre-trip appointments and little consistent comforts that I’ve come to count on
3. & 4. Cat crew
5. Revival post red eye
6. My grandmas house in Glasgow
7. Efforts to stay awake
8. Which were successful
9. Road trip fuel
10. Road trip refuel
11 & 12. We made it 🥹
13. Why is fun food in the UK just so much more…fun
14. & 15. Talisker Bay jog
16. Moody Carbost views
17. Awwww… wait…
18. & 19. Neist point
20. More fuel
8/52
1. ☀️🌴☕️
2. Cheers to “clear plans”, quite possibly the most comforting words I could hear right now
3. Exhale
4. Even the resort has more transit lines than the ttc
5. Running for the joy of it (in shorts and a bra!!!)
6. (Not so) subtle signs of a runner in the wild
7. Luxxe
8. But how
9. Lo siento
10. When 2 for 1 happy hour gets lost in translation and you each wanted one drink and to split the deal but you end up with 2 each
11. Which leads to drunk bingo on the pool deck bc you cannot hang anymore
12. Vidanta visor attire
13. Prepping for next year with the full squad
14. Honestly, this one is just a thank you to Dr. Beber
15. 🥰
16. More sunset
17. He had the worst time on this trip
18. The perfect spot to get lost in a book
19. Annnnnd back to this beach ❄️
20. Coati appreciation
7/52
1. It almost feels like a real beach
2. It’s all connected
3. Perfect is so satisfying (and sometimes perfection is in the small things)
4. We’ve almost made it to daylight savings. Hang in there.
5. Same as item 3
6. It IS the new standard
7. You really just never know what opportunities are around the corner
8. Delayed flight = epic sunset on the descent
9. to 12. We really fucking needed this
13. A REAL BEACH
Chix in 6ix: Six questions to celebrate community!
We joined Ali on the run (sorry, couldn’t help it) who chases big goals while dealing with a chronic condition. She shares the importance of having a supportive community and inspires so many with her journey. Thanks for joining us @squashingmiles 💕
You can read more about her running journey @irunnation .
#chixin6ix #chixrunthe6ix #inspiringwomenrunners #womensrunningcommunity
6/52
1. & 2. The morning a guy (who was smoking) told us running in this cold is bad for our lungs. And hopefully the last extremely cold run of this winter.
3. I’ve reached expert level 💁🏼♀️
4. Not trying to brag here but I’ve read 4 books this year (a vast improvement from the 3 I read in all of 2025 😅)
5. They live the best life
6. So I decided to join them
7. @neocoffeebarto make the best muffin in the city and no one can convince me otherwise
8. Same same but different ✨
9. You know you’re tired when…
10. Bday run for @jenlkeis 🎉
11. In exchange for this cookie? Yes.
12. That can’t be comfortable sir
