Had anyone tried to tell me that I would one day run a 10k, get blisters on my pinkie toes so bad that I would spend an entire afternoon limping around like an arthritic senior citizen & that I’d like it… I’d have told them to put the pipe down and spend a good week or so sobering up.
But a few weeks ago, all of those things actually took place. And I felt AMAZING. I’m not kidding. I felt like a freakin’ Super Hero. I didn’t run fast. I didn’t even come close (1 hour & 24 minutes, to be exact). But I did, in fact, run the entirety of the route. I didn’t stop to walk and I enjoyed every single, sweaty moment of it.
Despite the agonizingly early start to my day (an alarm sounding at 5 am is unnecessary at the best of times… nevermind a Sunday morning) and the anxiety-inducing weather forecast (thunderstorms were predicted – NOT what a girl who’s already got blisters from training wants to hear; wet feet are not a runner’s best friend), the entire experience could not have gone more swimmingly. Well, okay, I could have scored a 48 minute finish. But let’s be realistic.
I can’t imagine a better route for a first time 10Ker than the Sporting Life 10K in Toronto. With the exception of a few hundred metres to the contrary, the entire 10 kilometers is DOWNHILL. How brilliant is that? And, in addition to the scores of good-natured folks who line the distance simply to cheer you on, there were live bands positioned along the way as well. And hearing a band break into a Primus song as you’re rounding into the final few kilometers, incidentally, is one HECK of a rallying cry – Adrenalin Ahoy!
Would I recommend this distraction to a friend? Without question. Would I do it again? Absolutely. In fact, I have another 10k scheduled for the weekend before I say my I Dos. Which reminds me: I must invest in some blister-preventing socks so I don’t end up having to hobble down the aisle.
Toronto’s Bridal Show & Last Bride Standing have joined forces for a 3-day event of tantrums, tiaras and bridal meltdowns. Okay, I don’t know that for sure. But there is a 3-day event. And I’m quite certain that there will be tiaras. The tantrums and meltdowns will be at the discretion of the attendees.
So, what is Last Bride Standing? According to their website, it’s: “a contest where Brides-to-Be compete against each other for over $100,000 in Wedding Packages including a free 250 person Wedding reception. All they have to do is BE THE LAST ONE STANDING with their hand on the wall.” God help us. (Apologies to fans of the genre, but Reality TV leaves a bad taste in my mouth… just sayin’.)
But a Bridal Show is a Bridal Show. And if you’ve got planning to do (or you just like the general atmosphere of weddings and all the accompanying trimmings), I say get yourself to the Toronto Congress Centre. Plus, if you’re into reality shows this is definitely the spot for you to let your tenacious Bride-to-Be colours fly!
The contest itself gets underway April 27 in Woodbridge, Ontario and runs until… well, the Last Bride is Standing. First prize is valued at almost $70,000, so if you don’t mind looking like a crazy freak show (and even if you don’t in real life, you’ll be playing one on TV after editing gets through with you) then sign yourself up!
The Last Bride Standing Bridal Show takes place April 30 to May 2, 2010 at the Toronto Congress Centre (which, technically is in Etobicoke – 650 Dixon Road, to be exact. Not exactly the downtown core.)
Show hours:
Friday: 5pm – 10pm | Saturday: 10am – 9pm | Sunday: 10am – 6pm
It goes without saying that Vera Wang knows what she’s doing when she slaps together a frock. With wedding gowns that can fetch up to $13,000, though, this isn’t likely to be what the more frugal bride is sporting as she waltzes down the aisle.
But take heed all you brides-to-be with Champagne tastes and Wine Cooler budgets! It was announced two days ago that a partnership between Wang and David’s Bridal would be launching a new bridal collection with gowns priced under $1,500. That’s a pretty remarkable price tag for something by Ms. Wang.
And, though we don’t have any David’s Bridal locations up here in Canada (by the way, David’s Bridal – what’s up with that?) word has it that the line will be rolled out to the Great White North by the end of 2011.
