Sherry Lang-Laveau and François Laveau
Sherry Lang-Laveau and her husband, François Laveau, were two of the many runners in the Harry's Spring Run Off 5K in Toronto's High Park on the weekend.
"I did find it a really hard run because I've been doing all my training and running either in the winter or when it's been cold. Saturday, it was so hot, I found it was a totally different run," Ms. Lang-Laveau says.
The heat also proved to be unsettling for Mr. Laveau. "I find it's a lot better running when it's cold," he says.
After shaking one another's hands at the starting line, the two ran alone.
"I don't like running next to him because I don't like listening to him breathing," Ms. Lang-Laveau says.
Mr. Laveau was not offended, however. "I just get in my own zone and go," he says of the way he likes to run.
The race route saw runners do a loop of the park and finish with a steep uphill climb that proved to be a challenge for at least one person. "It's a real killer. There was a fellow that was in front of me. He turned his head and he threw up," Ms. Lang-Laveau says.
The race was good preparation for the Sporting Life 10K in May, Mr. Laveau says. "It's just kind of a warm-up," he says. "A lot of people say the 10K is a lot easier because it's all downhill."
It was also a great confidence booster for the couple. Ms. Lang-Laveau finished third in her age group. "I was very pleased with myself." Mr. Laveau was seventh in his age group.
But the route did present a challenge for Ms. Lang-Laveau. As she was climbing the hill just before the finish, her legs momentarily gave way. She had to stop for a moment to collect herself, she recalls.
As she took a deep breath, she found herself inspired to make a beeline for the end of the race. "I could see the finish line and it was just all of a sudden like Chariots of Fire and I just put everything in to it," she says.