Running into the Unknown: My First Half-Marathon in Whistler
Truly, I thought I’d write a whole series about this journey — the ups, the doubts, the slow Sunday runs. But life happened, and as often is the case, I had to shift my focus elsewhere.
Still, the story deserves to be told.
Because even if I didn’t write about every training run, I showed up for something that felt impossible once. And that’s worth pausing for.
Back in January, I signed up for the Whistler Half-Marathon. Six months later, I stood at the start line, surrounded by trees, mountains, and strangers who, like me, were chasing something quietly personal.
I finished it.
In 3 hours and 7 minutes.
And I’m proud of that.
I know, it might sound slow to some. But for someone who never thought she could enjoy running—let alone run that far—this is a big deal. Actually, it’s huge!
January: The Treadmill Begins
Winter in Winnipeg doesn’t exactly welcome runners. We’re talking -25°C and knee-deep snow. So I started on the treadmill. It felt clunky and slow. I wasn’t thrilled, but it was a start. I reminded myself that showing up matters more than stats at this point.
February: Building the Plan
I went deep into YouTube rabbit holes trying to figure out how to prepare. Eventually, I found the Nike Running Club plans—one for 12 weeks, another for 14. I chose the longer one. Not because I was feeling ambitious, but because I wanted more space and more time. I needed it to feel possible.
You can follow me on the Nike app or Strava.
March & April: Outside Again, Finally
As the snow began to melt, I laced up for my first few outdoor runs.
Those first warm days — they felt like a gift.
10Ks became a regular thing, and I even surprised myself with a few new PRs. My confidence started to grow.
But then, life pulled me in another direction.
Running paused.
May: Trying Again
Travel, distractions, and still no running until halfway through the month. I started to worry I’d lost my base and wouldn’t even finish before the race cut-off.
But when I finally laced up again—I was faster. Not 5K-PR fast, but close. And considering everything, that felt like magic. My body hadn’t forgotten everything. I just needed to show up.
June: Rest, Reset, Race
With the race at the start of June, I didn’t overload myself with last-minute training.
Instead, I rested. Mentally and physically.
I spent time in Squamish and Whistler with friends — laughing, hiking, not overthinking. It was exactly what I needed.
Race Day: The Morning of the Run
I woke up at 5 am. It was cool, quiet, and calm. We packed everything the night before, so the morning felt almost slow. Like I had time to arrive fully.
The race itself was beautiful—soft, cinematic even. The route took us around Lost Lake, through gentle woods and open paths. I wasn’t chasing a time. I just wanted to be present, and I was.
I crossed the finish line in 3 hours and 7 minutes. Tired, emotional, proud.
A Few Thoughts After Crossing the Finish Line
This wasn’t a performance. It was a quiet promise to myself: You can do hard things. You can come back, even when things get messy.
If you’re reading this wondering if you can run your first half-marathon, I promise you can. Maybe not in perfect conditions. Maybe not with a flawless plan. But you can start, pause, restart, and still arrive at that finish line.
And when you do, it’ll be enough. More than enough.
Your Turn?
If you’ve been thinking about doing something that feels too big or too late — maybe this is your sign.
You don’t have to be the fastest. You don’t have to train perfectly. You just have to begin.