a place in my heart

   Scotland has to be one of my favorite places in the world.  The picture on the front of my blog is a shot of the William Wallace monument.  The monument is located just outside of Sterling.  In fact, if you are touring Sterling Castle – you can stand along some of the castle’s outer fortifications and look directly across – although a bit of a squint even on a cloudy day - and see the monument with the naked eye.

   It was about this time last year that I went to Scotland to run the Loch Ness Marathon.  The marathon was actually in early October.  I usually run a couple of marathons throughout the year but a few years ago I started a little tradition for myself… run one international marathon a year.  Just pick a place, and go.

   And I have.

   My first international marathon was in Tromso, Norway. 

tromso norway

   It was called The Midnight Sun Run… and to make a long story short, it was amazing!  The Norwegians were delightful – the town was quite small and very remote - in the extreme northern part of the country… in fact, just inside the arctic circle.

   Last year I did the Loch Ness.  This Sunday I will be doing the Montreal International Marathon.  Visiting a foreign country and running a marathon on their soil is a very humbling experience.   Humbling – but yet quite thrilling at the same time.

   I am excited to discover what my Canadian experience will bring…