Conquering my health and the Toronto Women’s five kilometre run

My sister Nancy and I are close. We talk almost every day despite living in different time zones. We’ve flown across the continent to spend birthdays and vacations together. She’s the first person I call when there is important news in my life.

However, as with any relationship, my sister and I have our share of problems, a major one being our hyper-competitiveness when it comes to running. Though we live in separate cities Nancy and I have managed to train together, regularly comparing our speeds and distances against each other.

Earlier this year, I got carried away with our rivalry, directly insulting her fitness and running ability.

“I bet I could mop the floor with you, if you ever had the nerve to run with me,” I wrote in an email to her.

Unfortunately, my sister, who is in far better shape than me, accepted my challenge. We will be participating in the Toronto Women’s five kilometre run this May.

With the summer fast approaching, I need to start training more regularly and watching my diet.

Moreover, now is a good time for all Canadians to make lifestyle improvements. Canadians are heavier and weaker than they were 28 years ago, as reported by a Statistics Canada survey released earlier this year. Furthermore, researchers from Columbia University and the City College of New York recently found that obesity is the primary health threat plaguing Americans. Canadian experts agree, according to a Vancouver Sun article.

During the next few weeks, I’ll be breaking in my running shoes and this new blog. This site will feature helpful advice from running experts, descriptions of the best running routes in Vancouver and much more. Stay tuned and happy trails.