23 August 2006

Stage 2 - 15km Time Trial


Stage 2 of the Endurrun took place at Riverside Park in Cambridge, Ontario on 14/08/06 at 8am. We all started to arrive around 7am keen to be ready. I still didn't know everyone that well, and the fact that I needed to use the facilities, made for time to go for a walk with Steve and Bob to the washrooom and chat about yesterday, today, and a little about ourselves. Steve tells us of his ultra-marathon trail runs of 50km, 100km, and 50 milers. I'm starting to think that maybe I should have been training a little more for this event!. Steve's a very friendly guy. Bob is a little quiet though talks freely about yesterday's half marathon race. We talk about today's race on our way back to the starting line.
Elise hasn't made it to a race yet since she is totally exhausted and not feeling well. Poor Else!
Back at the starting line I chat with Kat. She was the first runner of the event that I actually had an opportunity to chat with [we finished and went for a cool down walk at the half-marathon].
We meet Jay too, he ran some of the stages last year. He is pretty gregarious and gets us all talking and relaxed.
The 15km course starts with a 1km loop around Riverside park, by the starting line, then onto the road. Shortly onto the road the course goes north and climbs a steep hill with a 30m vertical rise. At the top of the hill the road crosses the 401hwy and follows concession roads [now urban roads I guess] towards the Toyota plant. At 6km the course heads back south along aptly named Speedsville Rd. Over the 401 again then we turned east onto a nice footpath for about 2km, then doubled back. Back at Speedsville Rd. the course parallels the 401 and enters Riverside Park to the finish line.
This time trial race was a new experience for me. We started in reverse order of finishing the half the day before, but at 1 minute intervals. Lloyd called the runners to the starting line and briefed us on the course, the starting order, and last minute details. He clearly had directed many races as he was thorough but brief. A couple of guest runners and the relay runners started before me. Once they were off you could see them doing the 1km loop around the park. I had a nervous gut and wished a toilet was near by. Kat started off and soon was at the far end of the park. Gosh, I'll never catch her! she was going fast. So, my minute came and I started after Kat. While doing the loop, i wondered how uncool, now unrunner-like it would be to nip into the facilities again. I saw the next runner starting off and decided not. I was feeling good. The warm up jog and stretch must have worked. And I am decidedly not a morning runner either. The 30m climb was steep but it didn't seem to slow me too much. Over the 401 and I see Katrina and another runner up ahead. When rounding the corner onto Cherry Blossom Rd, a runner came past me quickly and was ahead quickly. I stopped for a few paces to drink gatoraide at the first water station. Just after 4km I passed Jody, then at 6km passed Kat. I had my fair share of being passed as Brad and Bob flew by. Down Speedsville Rd. the elevation drops 35m quickly and I tried to take advantage of it. I was working hard, I guess implicitly deciding that I didn't need to save too much for tomorrow's 30km trail run. My split times were around 4:11 to 4:17. Once I got onto the trail it was flatter with a few turns. From then on my km times were 4:28 to 4:30 for the next 6km. Afterwards I was quite supprised at how consistent my splits were. As I left the trail, I was feeling eager to catch a female runner who was ahead of me which kept my pace faster [4:06]. Near the finish line with no one too close I relaxed a bit and finished the run in 1:06:00 flat. My pulse was around 167-170 which is fairly high for me a long run, but still okay for 15km.

Here I am coming into the finish. I always look tired in my photos. At the finish line the runners cross the line relatively quickly since the slowest runners started several minutes ahead of faster runners. Makes for an exciting time - everyone gets a loud cheer.
The Price Chiropractic Clinic was all ready for us and their therapy was really making a difference. Mark practiced Active Release Therapy [ART] on my quads, quickly finding the knots and breaking them down.
Julie Schmidt and her crowd of volunteers had prepared an excellent meal of breads, cold cuts, fruit, and the highly favoured "salty things". Julie et al. really were doing an excellent job. She ask us if we had any suggestions/requests for food. But how could we want anything more than this. Well done Julie and team!
After spending time taking, Lloyd read out the results admist many cheers [everyone is a winner]. It turns out that Brad won this stage and would wear the yellow jersey for the 30km trail run on Tuesday. Congrats Brad!!!
Over the day I got to know the other runners, the volunteers, Bob's coach Ray, and Jeff's wife Joanne. This was so nice, friendly, and sincere for me. These people really are friendly, enthusiastic, and warm. I hated to leave as I wanted to get to know them more. But I had to get home for a shower and head to work. I could hardly wait till Tuesdays race where I'd be able to push myself on a 30km trail run, but more importantly to be amongst friends again. Too bad Elise couldn't be there to be able to enjoy herself with these friends of mine.
Tuesday's run didn't seem to daunting for me - I was feeling fit and not suffering from the two Endurruns plus the proceeding 5 Peaks day. My ankle was feeling okay and I was ready for one of the event's big days.

Stage 1 Pics

Andrew Pearson was one of the volunteers who help out in many ways. He always had a camera at hand. At the end of the event, he produced CDs of pictures and short video clips - an excellent job. Here are a couple of pictures from the starting line of the first stage of the Endurrun half marathon on 13/08/2006. Thanks Andrew!
And we are off. This was pretty exciting. I am behind Brad, who is in the centre of the picture wearing black.

Hey, I am not looking all that tired! I didn't run a strategic race, not knowing what my split times should have been. Next time I'll do that differently. In the distance you notice Katrina who made up 50 seconds on my on this last lap. She did well, she is a strong runner and always proved it with a strong finish over the week's runs.

18 August 2006

Stage 1 Endurrun - now ancient history!

My idea of a daily update for friends and family has gone by the wayside obviously. But I'd still like to let you know about the stages since this event has truly been a positive one for me. Each day has been a First for me, so let me tell you about them.
Stage 1 was a half marathon that started and ended at RIM park. A good location as it is on the outskirts of Waterloo and near very beautiful agricultral landscapes. I arrived early for the 8am race. I had never run a half before so I didn't know what I'd do, not would I know what pace to set. There was a large number of people who were coming for the 5 and 8km runs but we started a little earlier than them, so it was a small starting line of just 10 or 12 runners. I didn't feel tired from the 5 Peaks run and my ankle was feeling okay for a flat road run. I didn't know any of the runners so when we started off I thought I'd just stick with two guys who started off quickly. Another runner took off at a cosmic pace and the last I saw of him was dust after about 200m! As it turns out, i was just behind Brad and Bob. Brad is from Victoria BC, Bob from Rhode Island, USA. At the 1km marker i looked at my split and saw 3:55. I didn't even know I could run a km in 3:55, let along 20 more! I laughed at myself inside and figured that "I'll just let those guys go on ahead without me". So I quickly slowed down to a very fast pace for me and saw B&B take off too. Through Conestogo was pretty, and I suppose the Mennonites were on their way to church in their horse and buggies. After turning south in the village I went past the 5km marker at 20:43 min:sec and decided that this pace was way too fast for me. I did slow a bit, but still tried to go somewhat hard - who cares if I have 6 more big runs ahead of me this week! I was joined and passed by two other guys, one turned out to be Jeff who was running well and knew exactly what time he wanted to finish in - 1:29. Gosh, if i could stick with them, I'd be thrilled. Well, our rapidly growing separation at 7km suggested to me I wouldn't be doing 1:30. The course went by the Conestoga river and a golf course which was very pretty. The paved trail was nice. I passed 10km at 42:31, this is a 20 year PB for me! [I did a 38 somthing when i was a young'un]. A few little hills when we gained the road again. The second loop was started after passing RIM park. Lloyd and several volunteers along the way were very supportive and cheered us on. At this point they only knew my name and bib number [42] but their enthusiasm was warm. The second loop was slightly shorter than the first. Quite quickly the kms were disappearing and at 19km I was at 1:23:05 [4:45 km] and kept up the pace to finish at 1:32:29. Now I have a PB for a half marathon!
Back inside the RIM park arena building, I was treated to an excellent selection of food that Julie [Lloyd's friendly wife], an excellent massage by Mark. I had only had my first massage and ART treatments during the past 3 weeks while I was getting my quads and patella tendon fixed up. The treatment was excellent and I was amazed at how Mark found the problems in my muscles and worked them out. Afterwards I sat down and ate/visited with Katrina how finished just behind me and a couple of guys who ran the 5km [in 17 minutes]. I had a nice relaxing time and was very impressed with the organization of the race, the quality and care of the volunteers, and the therapy afterwards. I was convinced that the therapy would help very much for the next days' events. If only I had done this care after the Massey Marathon the month before, I wouldn't have had such super tight quads and sore legs afterwards [and no sore knee tendon!!!]. Now i know better. So, next stage is a 15km road/trail run that is a time trial.

17 August 2006

Endurrun 2006 website - first posting

RunChris!: 11.2004
I am quite behind in posting my adventure with the amazing Endurrun. First, here is the website [www.endurrun.com]. Lloyd Schmidt is the director and, with his super nice family, this race has got to be an all-time favourite event of mine. I have run 5 of the 7 stages so far and I am loving it! [and more importantly: I am completing it better than I thought].

Drat, sore knee - catch up

Well, I know a blog should be updating you on the most current info. And I like to use this to let you know how races and runs go, but here I am sending you old news! But I still want to record my knee problem and the great help I got.
After the Massey Marathon on the 16 July and some sore quads, I went for a 10k trail run a week later once we were back from Temagami. That night I had a very sore tendon below my knee cap. The stairs were painful as was walking. I wanted to register for the Endurrun in Waterloo and area. But my knee could kill that. So Tuesday I made an appointment at the Health and Performance Centre at the University of Guelph. This is an excellent centre specializing in sports medicine. {It has physio, chiropractors, nutrition, pedologist, massage therapist, ... They are a accredited centre for olympic and carded athletes, and for ordinary guys like me!}. I got in right away and the doctor recommended care for my left quads. They were still very tight from the marathon the week before. The chiropractor, Marco, practiced ART [Active Release Therapy] and I also got a massage from Kelly. It took several days before my knee started to feel better. I tried a 7km run on Friday, and it felt okay but was sore afterwards. I tried a weekend run and since it was not too sore I ended up doing 21km. I felt it a little, but not too much. So that night I registered for the Endurrun. It was a little pricy, but then considering the number of runs it was actually quite fair. I registered before the price increased but the next day my knee was still tender. Icing at work helped a bit, but not enough. Still more therapy at the H&PC. I was getting anxious over the following week since the Endurrun was only another 2 weeks away. I still wasn't running. Marco [of the ART] told me to run and try it out, but the first few nights I couldn't because we were invited for dinner at our friends and the next night was soccer coaching and I was too tired to run once the kids were home and in bed. So.... now a week before the Endurrun and another 5 Peaks trail run, I finally made it out for a 10k run. My knee was actually not to bad! So, having not run for 3 weeks now, other than just those 3, it was time to start my taper?!? Oh well.
Is that a run-on paragraph?
Elise had started to get sick with a bad cough and very tired. She had wanted to do a 5km race close to her 40th birthday. This weekend's 5 Peaks at Mono Cliffs Provincial Park was to be it. With her cold she couldn't. I went myself and meet up with Patrick and Suezanne there. Elise felt terrible. She was disappointed but she'll run the next 5 Peaks in September!
So, running a 11km trail run the day before I start the Endurrun? Pretty crazy, but I love the 5 Peak events and the locations are always beautiful places to run. Patrick was wanted to run the half marathon with me at the Endurrun, but his tummy had been sore for a while and he decided not to run it. He felt pretty good at the 5 Peaks run. Next year I definately think he'll run the Endurrun. He was very jealous and I really would loved to be doing the event with him. We run most of the same events and we have a lot of fun doing them together. Hopefully this blog will keep him posted and feeling a little bit a part of it.
Oh, a slight problem happened at about 9km of the 5 Peaks! Over a fairly technical section, all of a sudden I twisted my left ankle!! Drat! I had just passed a few guys but this hurt! I limped along for a 100m only to have to decend a cliff full of switch-backs. That was quite painful and those guys passed me again. That past, the course was pretty much downhill, soft, and smooth so I started running again as my ankle was okay as long as it did not twist left or right. I had been having a good race so now I opened up for the last 1km to regain my place. So, go-go-go, and crossed the finish line - got ice right away. I had 160km more to do this week!
Oh, and a postscript about the 5 Peaks draw prizes. I finally won something! After 3 years and 11 events, both Patrick and I won a prize [a nice 5 peaks tee shirt that I'd give to Elise].
Now... off to the Endurrun!

My brother the runner?


EDIT!! [old version : With a beer and look like that, looks like he has to get on his mountain bike again. He should start a northern Ontario mountain bike event! ].

New Version!! Matt has taken up running even though he is as busy as ever.
Check out this new photo of him! I am sure he is not giving up the beer though. Carbs and hydration!
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