BMO Vancouver Marathon: The Day Before

John and I arrived in Vancouver on Saturday afternoon, having taken the bus in Victoria, then the ferry, and then the bus and SkyTrain in Vancouver. We got to the hotel just in time for check-in and landed a 15th floor suite, with a balcony and a great view. We didn’t have much time to enjoy it though, because we had to head right back out to pick up my race package in time to meet my #yyjrun friends for dinner at 6.

I have to tell my lululemon water bottle story, too, because it just goes to show that life can surprise you! When we got off the SkyTrain in Vancouver, I stopped at the street entrance to the station to text my brother (he stayed with us at the hotel and I wanted to let him know we were on our way there). I put my favorite water bottle, my stainless steel lululemon water bottle, on the concrete ledge to send the text. I didn’t realize that I forgot it there until we checked in to the hotel and were just about to leave for the expo. John and Damian were convinced that it wouldn’t be there anymore, it being Vancouver and all, and they had to talk me out of going back to check. John and I took the bus to the expo and on the way there, we passed right by that SkyTrain station. I looked at the ledge and my bottle was still there! I made John jump out with me at that stop and we bolted across the street to get it. Then we managed to get back on the bus we were just on!

I saw that as a good omen for the marathon (having seen losing my bottle to begin with as a bad one — superstitous me!). We arrived at the expo, which was busy, but I didn’t have to wait in line to pick up my race kit. Had just enough time to wander a bit and look around, and see @kirstysheldon and @jonesee90 before we had to head to Joey Bentall One for dinner.

The #yyjrun dinner was fun! BothDamian and Lillian came down, along with @kirstysheldon, @jonesee90, @hopebombs, @briwifruit, and @jonsuk. The dinner itself was good; I had the lobster ravioli and a ceasar salad. I really wanted a beer, especially after John had ordered one, but I contented myself with a couple of sips of his. It was funny at the restaurant because we had two tables since there were so many of us; us Allen-Overall people (with partners) were at one table, while everyone else was at another. I didn’t mind because I was happy to catch up with Lil, but it was kind of weird to not really talk to the other #yyjrun people that evening. That is, until just about everyone left, but Jon stayed with us to watch the “end” of the hockey game,when Nashville tied it up with less than 2 minutes left, bringing the game into OT. We left after that.

Back at the hotel, Damian made fun of me because I laid out everything I needed for the race on the table, taking up most of it in the process. I mean everything, including pinning my number on my shirt and filling up my water and Gatorade bottles. I forgot my sunglasses last year and I didn’t want to do that again, so I must have re-checked everything at least twice. Then it was off to bed!