On 16 April I tore my left knee meniscus [cartilage] while running Seaton Trail 52 km. At least I think I did. It was a brutally rough trail course and the weather conditions were cold, pouring rain, and very windy. About 2-4C. The course was river valley bottom and ravine hills. Swampy ceder groves and slick clay hill inclines. Out and back twice so we crossed the 8m wide river four times. I had slept over at my friend Leslie's place and got to Whitby school in time for the 7am start. I started off at the back of the pack and slowly over the next 6 hours 16 min made my way near the front. But not always by passing people, it was more a race of attrition. I can honestly say it was the worst race weather conditions I have ever been in. If I would have stopped I would have got hypothermia in minutes. But I was in fairly good shape so I was able to maintain a solid pace that generated a lot of body warmth [that quickly dissipated!]. But I felt good the whole way, other than becoming totally exhausted over the last hour.
I tripped and stumbled several times, but I recall one spot on a steep downhill trail section that was full of cobble stones. It was straight and going diagonally down. The trail acted like a water channel catching all the runoff rain along the slope. Half way down the 300m hill the path was about 1m wide and was essentially a gushing stream about 10cm deep, water rushing down the trail over the cobble stones. I twisted my ankle and started to fall but caught myself on a small tree. I twisted my right ankle and thought I was done. But I walked it out for a minute and continued on my way down the hill's river. I was about 8 km from the finish.
I think that is where i hurt my left knee. I didn't feel a thing. Running was fine. Just tired!
At the last 600 m you exit the forest and cross a field, up a hill to the school's track. You then run 300m around the track to the finish line. There was nobody ahead of me and the person behind me was a couple 100m. There was no way I was going to walk this one in. I crossed the line - they had erected a pop-up shelter so the timer with her clipboard wouldn't get too wet. A kind lady walked me into the school where i plodded to the change room to get warm dry clothes. I had come to the race by my self. I started to shiver uncontrollably and just wanted to lie down. I knew a few people at the race but they were all still on the course. Eventually I plodded into the change room and went into the shower, shoes and clothes and all. I was covered in mud. The energy drink wasn't kicking in yet and i was still dizzy, I just leaned against the wall letting the shower warm me up. Taking off my shoes was hard. I couldn't bend over with out falling over. They were tied on tight so they wouldn't have come off in the mud. Eventually they were off, and i scooped out the mud. Having a buddy at the finish line after a race like this is a god-send.
I finally got out of the shower and put on dry clothes, then walked to the cafeteria where the 29km runners who were finished were lounging. I went straight for the energy drinks as I couldn't stomach any food yet. It took me about another 20 min before I stopped shivering, then I got a banana and bagel.
The race organization was informal to say the least and there was not much going on. Slowly runners came in one by one as their race finished. It was going to be a long time before they started announcing results.
My knee was fine. I looked around and still really know anyone. So, well, after an hour of sitting and nibbling food, drinking hot chocolate. I decided I was done. I got up, slowly and painfully plodded to the car, and drove home in the rain.
I relaxed at home for the end of the day and finally felt hungry to eat. I still had no problems with my knee. All my muscles were sore and every bit of me felt beat up, but I was walking fine.
The next day at home I went out for a very slow run. I got 50m down the road, turned around, and came back in. My knee hurt too much to run. I thought it was a tendon thing or something. It wouldn't be until August when I had my MRI that i found out I had really hurt it.
31 January 2012
27 March 2011
Around the Bay 2011
I ran the Around the Bay 2011 today - a last minute entry grace of my friend David Brooks. He was able to transfer "Holly" of Guelph's registration to me. I ran ATB in 2009, my first time. I was very pleased to run it this year as a spring "warm-up" race for other ones to come.
I've been running fairly well this spring, just not often enough. The weather has been fine, but work seeps into my lunch hour running chance. And often it is just plain more fun to see Jacob's hockey games or picking up the girls from dance. I've got some 2x25 km weekends in over March, which was a bit of a jump from 3 days a week doing 10km.
ATB is a great race. It is well organized and the Copps Coliseum has all the resources for a good sign-in and finishing spot.
In 2009 my friend Scott and I headed to the starting line near the last minute and ended up being in the second row as we jumped the barriers. This year I was following the crowd but was delayed by the very slow line-up first at the washrooms. So following the crowd I was virtually at the back. I think there are over 4,000 runners so it is a very very deep chute. As we filed into the back of the chute the horn went off but we were about 200m back still. It took several minutes to even start moving forwards! Much like Boston and New York almost. I crossed the start line at about 5min and was packed in with many back-of-the-packers. Bless their soles it is great that they are out on such a beautiful for a very substantial 30 km race. I just wish I was a little further ahead.
The weather was beautiful, it likely warmed up a bit from the -13 I woke up to in Guelph, maybe -10. The sky was blue blue, and very little wind. For the first 1 km it was slow going. I knew several of my Guelph running friends were here today, but they'd be much further ahead in the chute. Much of the first kms were spent weaving between runners, and not weaving so much when several are running abreast. Two guys were doing the same and we moved onto the sidewalk. This really made it easier and we found our pace. Around 4 km it was still packed, but the road widened and bit and it got easier. We went through 5km in 23:28 [4:41 km pace]. Eventually we headed towards the industrial area where it widened up and the crowd had spread out fairly well.
Starting at the back of the pack meant that you are still moving through the crowd ahead continuously. The danger of this for me is that i get a little too focused on passing people to get in the clear and not focusing on pace. For 30 km that is important. By 10 km [46:07, now at 4:31 pace] we were going into the wind as we we headed north quite close to the lake. Some where in shorts and even two women tank tops. Burr, but looks good.
I like the stretch that runs west along the lake towards Burlington, not so pretty, and we can't see the lake we are so close to, but reminds me of what must have been a pretty lakeside community that was so pretty in the '50s [i wonder if the steel plants had made it polluted yet then]. This flat stretch is the prelude to the hills that were coming. I went through 15 km in 1:09:06, not so fast compared to my shorter race times for this distance split, but good enough for a 2:18 30km time. This split had me slowing a bit to a 4:35 pace. Maybe I was preparing for the hills to come? Normally it takes me 8-12 km to settle into a pace and I was feeling good here - I knew that I could hold this pace comfortably for another 15 km.
Around 17 km I saw a runner with a video camera and immediately recognized my friend David Brooks. He is totally into running and everything about excites him. Photos and videos of his friends is very cool. He had went out first with another Guelph running friend Geoff Linton doing the first 10 km in 41 min. David then stopped once in a while along the way to watch for other Guelph runners to film them. He and I ran for 2 km or so. He is a very strong and smooth runner he dropped off where we start to head south to do some more video.
At 18 km we start moving towards the toe of the escarpment hills. There were some gentle low rises foreshadowing about 3 or 4 serious hills. This is a very nice residential area and many spectators were cheering on the runners. Nice show locals, even for the biker house with loud rock and a bearded guy with a gut and black t-shirt was getting a kick out of it - great time for a beer on his deck.
I was continuously passing people, I really must have been in the back of the pack! Sure some where slowing, but I wasn't being passed by anyone. The water stations were really good, esp with the volunteers hollered out whether they had water or Gatoraide, otherwise you are left browsing the tables looking where the Gatoraide is. I felt really comfortable still and the weather was great. I was wearing two long sleeve shirts, a short sleeve shirt, and a wind breaker, touque, and tight thin running pants. I was carrying my mitts after the first 10 km. The runners were still quite dense - I always had about 10 within several meters of me, but it was easy to move forward through the crowd.
Then the first hill hits and you grind up to top and then is the 20 km timing mat. I crossed it in 1:31:31. I had been feeling great over the past 5 km and had picked it up to 4:29 pace. Not a blistering one for me, but for an early season run I'll take it. If I kept it up for a marathon distance I'd be done in 3:09 - that would be great!
One of my motivators in a race is chasing the ponytails. Don't read anything weird into this, but the swish-swishing is so obvious and in most races there are not many ponytails if any ahead of me at the finish line, so it pushes me forward as I know I have more work to do before the end of the race. It also breaks the race into small segment goals. The ponytails where becoming rather scarce now so I had moved part way from the back of the pack forwards [but there were many much faster runners then I well ahead of me finishing already!]
The hills became one long slogs up. There are two in particular that are long and somewhat steep. At the top of one it took me 100 m to recuperate and get back on pace, but I pushed through them all. I went through 25 km in 1:54:12, but there were still hills coming, the last one in particular is nasty, but I kept to a 4:32 pace still. Finally the last hill. The road here is nice, passing over a wooden bridge and at the Bay level. Half way up the hill is the only .5 km marker - 26.5. A little motivation I guess. But a shocker too when you realize it is only 3.5 km to the finish. 3.5 is just a weenie run - how hard could that be? Suck it up, crest the hill then burn the last 3 km to the finish.
Even with the nasty hill I did 25-29 km in 4:26 pace, with 1 km to go you can see Copps Coluseum and running only 1 km is easy so I pressed to the finish [and 4 more ponytails]. As soon as you get to Copps you turn a fast corner and fast down ramp into the arena. [take off the sunglasses as it is dark in there!]. And there it is - 25 m to the finish line at centre rink, right under the jumbotron. Last km in 4:17. I crossed the line 2:16:13.7. Felt great, and wondered if one year I'll enter the race in good enough shape for a sub 2:10. But I'll take 2:16 gratefully.
It was a great day for a run, the race was really well organized. At the finish I saw my friend Art climbing out of the stands, I asked him if he had showered already but he smiled and said just changed his shirt. He has been in great running shape for the past year +. He came through in 2:05, a great time with a 4:11 pace.
I was quite keen to know if my family was going to a sugar bush where I was to meet them, so I got my food bag, got my duffle bag from the bag check, and checked my blackberry. No sugar bush so time to head home. I was getting out of my wet shirts with lots of stinging from chaffed nipples. Blood had streaked down my white t-shirt to my waist - I forgot the Bodyglide silly me. Dry shirts on, dry cap, packed my wet clothes and was off to the car and home.
Glad I ran it today. Glad David B was able to transfer a registration to me. Glad it was so beautiful out. Glad this is the start of my running season in ernest.
I've been running fairly well this spring, just not often enough. The weather has been fine, but work seeps into my lunch hour running chance. And often it is just plain more fun to see Jacob's hockey games or picking up the girls from dance. I've got some 2x25 km weekends in over March, which was a bit of a jump from 3 days a week doing 10km.
ATB is a great race. It is well organized and the Copps Coliseum has all the resources for a good sign-in and finishing spot.
In 2009 my friend Scott and I headed to the starting line near the last minute and ended up being in the second row as we jumped the barriers. This year I was following the crowd but was delayed by the very slow line-up first at the washrooms. So following the crowd I was virtually at the back. I think there are over 4,000 runners so it is a very very deep chute. As we filed into the back of the chute the horn went off but we were about 200m back still. It took several minutes to even start moving forwards! Much like Boston and New York almost. I crossed the start line at about 5min and was packed in with many back-of-the-packers. Bless their soles it is great that they are out on such a beautiful for a very substantial 30 km race. I just wish I was a little further ahead.
The weather was beautiful, it likely warmed up a bit from the -13 I woke up to in Guelph, maybe -10. The sky was blue blue, and very little wind. For the first 1 km it was slow going. I knew several of my Guelph running friends were here today, but they'd be much further ahead in the chute. Much of the first kms were spent weaving between runners, and not weaving so much when several are running abreast. Two guys were doing the same and we moved onto the sidewalk. This really made it easier and we found our pace. Around 4 km it was still packed, but the road widened and bit and it got easier. We went through 5km in 23:28 [4:41 km pace]. Eventually we headed towards the industrial area where it widened up and the crowd had spread out fairly well.
Starting at the back of the pack meant that you are still moving through the crowd ahead continuously. The danger of this for me is that i get a little too focused on passing people to get in the clear and not focusing on pace. For 30 km that is important. By 10 km [46:07, now at 4:31 pace] we were going into the wind as we we headed north quite close to the lake. Some where in shorts and even two women tank tops. Burr, but looks good.
I like the stretch that runs west along the lake towards Burlington, not so pretty, and we can't see the lake we are so close to, but reminds me of what must have been a pretty lakeside community that was so pretty in the '50s [i wonder if the steel plants had made it polluted yet then]. This flat stretch is the prelude to the hills that were coming. I went through 15 km in 1:09:06, not so fast compared to my shorter race times for this distance split, but good enough for a 2:18 30km time. This split had me slowing a bit to a 4:35 pace. Maybe I was preparing for the hills to come? Normally it takes me 8-12 km to settle into a pace and I was feeling good here - I knew that I could hold this pace comfortably for another 15 km.
Around 17 km I saw a runner with a video camera and immediately recognized my friend David Brooks. He is totally into running and everything about excites him. Photos and videos of his friends is very cool. He had went out first with another Guelph running friend Geoff Linton doing the first 10 km in 41 min. David then stopped once in a while along the way to watch for other Guelph runners to film them. He and I ran for 2 km or so. He is a very strong and smooth runner he dropped off where we start to head south to do some more video.
At 18 km we start moving towards the toe of the escarpment hills. There were some gentle low rises foreshadowing about 3 or 4 serious hills. This is a very nice residential area and many spectators were cheering on the runners. Nice show locals, even for the biker house with loud rock and a bearded guy with a gut and black t-shirt was getting a kick out of it - great time for a beer on his deck.
I was continuously passing people, I really must have been in the back of the pack! Sure some where slowing, but I wasn't being passed by anyone. The water stations were really good, esp with the volunteers hollered out whether they had water or Gatoraide, otherwise you are left browsing the tables looking where the Gatoraide is. I felt really comfortable still and the weather was great. I was wearing two long sleeve shirts, a short sleeve shirt, and a wind breaker, touque, and tight thin running pants. I was carrying my mitts after the first 10 km. The runners were still quite dense - I always had about 10 within several meters of me, but it was easy to move forward through the crowd.
Then the first hill hits and you grind up to top and then is the 20 km timing mat. I crossed it in 1:31:31. I had been feeling great over the past 5 km and had picked it up to 4:29 pace. Not a blistering one for me, but for an early season run I'll take it. If I kept it up for a marathon distance I'd be done in 3:09 - that would be great!
One of my motivators in a race is chasing the ponytails. Don't read anything weird into this, but the swish-swishing is so obvious and in most races there are not many ponytails if any ahead of me at the finish line, so it pushes me forward as I know I have more work to do before the end of the race. It also breaks the race into small segment goals. The ponytails where becoming rather scarce now so I had moved part way from the back of the pack forwards [but there were many much faster runners then I well ahead of me finishing already!]
The hills became one long slogs up. There are two in particular that are long and somewhat steep. At the top of one it took me 100 m to recuperate and get back on pace, but I pushed through them all. I went through 25 km in 1:54:12, but there were still hills coming, the last one in particular is nasty, but I kept to a 4:32 pace still. Finally the last hill. The road here is nice, passing over a wooden bridge and at the Bay level. Half way up the hill is the only .5 km marker - 26.5. A little motivation I guess. But a shocker too when you realize it is only 3.5 km to the finish. 3.5 is just a weenie run - how hard could that be? Suck it up, crest the hill then burn the last 3 km to the finish.
Even with the nasty hill I did 25-29 km in 4:26 pace, with 1 km to go you can see Copps Coluseum and running only 1 km is easy so I pressed to the finish [and 4 more ponytails]. As soon as you get to Copps you turn a fast corner and fast down ramp into the arena. [take off the sunglasses as it is dark in there!]. And there it is - 25 m to the finish line at centre rink, right under the jumbotron. Last km in 4:17. I crossed the line 2:16:13.7. Felt great, and wondered if one year I'll enter the race in good enough shape for a sub 2:10. But I'll take 2:16 gratefully.
It was a great day for a run, the race was really well organized. At the finish I saw my friend Art climbing out of the stands, I asked him if he had showered already but he smiled and said just changed his shirt. He has been in great running shape for the past year +. He came through in 2:05, a great time with a 4:11 pace.
I was quite keen to know if my family was going to a sugar bush where I was to meet them, so I got my food bag, got my duffle bag from the bag check, and checked my blackberry. No sugar bush so time to head home. I was getting out of my wet shirts with lots of stinging from chaffed nipples. Blood had streaked down my white t-shirt to my waist - I forgot the Bodyglide silly me. Dry shirts on, dry cap, packed my wet clothes and was off to the car and home.
Glad I ran it today. Glad David B was able to transfer a registration to me. Glad it was so beautiful out. Glad this is the start of my running season in ernest.
02 November 2008
Spectacular event
Finished in 3:18. Very amazing run, route, and city. I am really sore now and want to sit down, but still a good ways to walk to the Y to get my stuff. Then to the airport to go home to my family.
via BlackBerry
via BlackBerry
Before the start
The sun just came up. I was waking every hour sine I was worried that I would sleep past 4am. Got a hurried ready and headed to the subway. Got on the bus with Jim from El Passo. Got off the bus Stanton Island in the dark, and it was pretty chilly. We tip-toed over bodies into the middle of a big tent. Nice and warm and dry. We sit next to Mike from Sacramento. Nice chatting, and now the sun is coming up nice and bright.
As it turns out we are in the pre-race religious servicce tent. A cheery preacher just told us a service that will warm us up will in 45min, includinf stretching and warm-ups!! Gosh, might be worth while staying for this.
Still another 2:40 untill start time.
Should be a nice start with me on the top deck of the bridge, along with 17,000 other people, and another 17,000 on the lower deck of the bridge.
Hilarious - loud rocking religious music in our tent.
via BlackBerry
As it turns out we are in the pre-race religious servicce tent. A cheery preacher just told us a service that will warm us up will in 45min, includinf stretching and warm-ups!! Gosh, might be worth while staying for this.
Still another 2:40 untill start time.
Should be a nice start with me on the top deck of the bridge, along with 17,000 other people, and another 17,000 on the lower deck of the bridge.
Hilarious - loud rocking religious music in our tent.
via BlackBerry
31 October 2008
Off to New York City for last marathon of the season
Got up at 3am (!!!) (So did Emma to make sure I didn't sleep in, then went to bed again - sweety!!) and got ready, and out the door. Sure is nice to drive into the city before rush hour.
Got to the airport and going through customs thought I spotted teacher/friend Julie L. Sure enough, there she was, flying to california. Enjoyed coffee together then boarded for NYC.
Sky was dark at lift-off, but beautiful orange sky towards NY - a good omen? Over NY state there is snow on the grownd. I am really looking forward to this adventure. Too bad my family isn't here.
Landing shortly.
via BlackBerry
Got to the airport and going through customs thought I spotted teacher/friend Julie L. Sure enough, there she was, flying to california. Enjoyed coffee together then boarded for NYC.
Sky was dark at lift-off, but beautiful orange sky towards NY - a good omen? Over NY state there is snow on the grownd. I am really looking forward to this adventure. Too bad my family isn't here.
Landing shortly.
via BlackBerry
21 October 2008
Toronto International Marathon
I ran the Toronto Marathon and had a great day. The best part is that I ran 35km with Art Kilgour of guelph - a super nice guy. My legs are a little tired, but i finished the last 5km strong and felt good at the finish. I am very excited about NY. I can hardly wait. The only drag is missing Hallowe'en.
But here is my short TO marathon story for everyone... We went up to New Liskeard area for Thanksgiving, then on the way down, Elise dropped me off at bus in North Bay where i went to Ottawa, Elise and kids to Guelph. I had a 4 day pilot course on biogas systems we were evaluating. I got back late Fri night. I was so busy i was not really thinking about preparing for marathon weekend. i was going to stay with my friend Leslie at Young and Shepard near the race start. On Sat at 4:20pm i came in from closing the pool for the winter, working on side entrance of house. Ready to head to Leslie's then it dawned on me [I'm a little slow] that i didn't get my race kit. My sister couldn't pick it up for me at the last minute. i was all cheesed off that i couldn't get my kit and could not run. So i figured maybe nice that i am finally home with the family after being away so many days. I posted on facebook Sat night my unhappy state. Sunday morning i am up early and my friend Peter of mynextrace.com had sent me a message saying "go to the start, ask for Marc or Steve", i packed my bag, jumped in the car, and dashed to Toronto yesterday morning at 8am. I got to Leslie's at 7:50 and she drove me to the start. I got to the race timers and with my race email confirmation and the message from Peter, they gave me a bib and chip 2minutes before race start. Put them on, looked at the pack to mush myself into and I saw my friend Art. 5 second count down, and the race was on!!
He and I are about equally paced, so we ran very consistent they whole way through TO and out along the Lakeshore west. It was great running with him as we chatted, and kept a very consistent pace. The race conditions were excellent, perfect temperature and no wind, nice sun. I saw my sister and her daughter Erica at Young and Lawrence area, which was fun. At km 26 he wanted to walk and rest a few seconds at a water station. Neither of us were watching our watches, but our km splits were very very consistent. good when running with a friend! The course through the city was really nice. Going out westward along the Lakeshore trail was nice. We kept wondering when we would see the leading pack heading East back to the finish, but the race leaders were really relatively slow. We were not that far behind them.
I saw a Japanese friend of mine who passed us [i later caught up with him and passed him]. i also saw an endurrun guy Steve and his wife working at a water station. Saw Holgar too - another endurrunner.
Art needed to run his own race at his own pace. While i said i'd stick with him, i knew that if i kept with him he may be feeling obliged to not run the best pace for him. Regretfully, i moved on and he took some wise rest stops through water stations. It was great to have such a running comrade.
At 38km a very nice spectator was handing out oranges and pretzels [in a little cup]. I know that pretzels are a favourite running munchy, so i tried them for the first time. The water stations along the course were not as frequent as I would have liked, esp on the second half. With 5 little pretzels in my mouth, and being dehydrated, there was no way i was able to get them down, they were a thick ball of dry carbs. I was chewing for about 1km !! Eventually i had to get rid of them, but didn't want to spit them out with a crowd around, could be looking like i was spewing a gall bladder! I discretely spit the dry mass into my hand and tossed away. But now my mouth was SOOOO dry! And no water station in sight. Ran on several minutes longer, and an enthusiastic cheering girl on Bay Street had a half full water bottle on the ground next to her. I motioned that i wanted it and she gladly gave it too me. Looked clean to me. That was great as I only had less than 2km left - 7min or so, but really needed it.
Up the long climb of University and you could see the Queens park building. Unfortunately you can see it quite aways away. No matter, just kept running along to the finish. I saw my friend Duff [endurrun guy] at 41km. So up around Queens Park and the the finish line. No glorious finish, just a comfortable finish across the line. Felt perfectly fine at the finish. I waited for Art to come through [6min after] and we walked over to the water. I got a quick stretching in the massage tent which was helpful [as i could feel my legs getting a little tight]. Then, basically grabbed some bagels, banana, granola bars, and headed off to the subway on Young St. Got up to Leslie's place, wee visit there, got my car, and headed tp home sweet home.
Today i feel fine, legs a bit tight, but actually quite good.
that's it! Hope Art is feeling good today, both his legs and his spirits. A solid run!
... and a 4o'clock massage. Then, getting ready for NYC marathon in 2 weeks. Then take a break for the season.
My time : 3:14:12.6. Boston was 3:15:21 in April, ENDURrun in Aug 3:11:42, Scotiabank Waterfront in Sept 3:14:25.4, Run for the Toad 50km trail 4:41:52.
chris
But here is my short TO marathon story for everyone... We went up to New Liskeard area for Thanksgiving, then on the way down, Elise dropped me off at bus in North Bay where i went to Ottawa, Elise and kids to Guelph. I had a 4 day pilot course on biogas systems we were evaluating. I got back late Fri night. I was so busy i was not really thinking about preparing for marathon weekend. i was going to stay with my friend Leslie at Young and Shepard near the race start. On Sat at 4:20pm i came in from closing the pool for the winter, working on side entrance of house. Ready to head to Leslie's then it dawned on me [I'm a little slow] that i didn't get my race kit. My sister couldn't pick it up for me at the last minute. i was all cheesed off that i couldn't get my kit and could not run. So i figured maybe nice that i am finally home with the family after being away so many days. I posted on facebook Sat night my unhappy state. Sunday morning i am up early and my friend Peter of mynextrace.com had sent me a message saying "go to the start, ask for Marc or Steve", i packed my bag, jumped in the car, and dashed to Toronto yesterday morning at 8am. I got to Leslie's at 7:50 and she drove me to the start. I got to the race timers and with my race email confirmation and the message from Peter, they gave me a bib and chip 2minutes before race start. Put them on, looked at the pack to mush myself into and I saw my friend Art. 5 second count down, and the race was on!!
He and I are about equally paced, so we ran very consistent they whole way through TO and out along the Lakeshore west. It was great running with him as we chatted, and kept a very consistent pace. The race conditions were excellent, perfect temperature and no wind, nice sun. I saw my sister and her daughter Erica at Young and Lawrence area, which was fun. At km 26 he wanted to walk and rest a few seconds at a water station. Neither of us were watching our watches, but our km splits were very very consistent. good when running with a friend! The course through the city was really nice. Going out westward along the Lakeshore trail was nice. We kept wondering when we would see the leading pack heading East back to the finish, but the race leaders were really relatively slow. We were not that far behind them.
I saw a Japanese friend of mine who passed us [i later caught up with him and passed him]. i also saw an endurrun guy Steve and his wife working at a water station. Saw Holgar too - another endurrunner.
Art needed to run his own race at his own pace. While i said i'd stick with him, i knew that if i kept with him he may be feeling obliged to not run the best pace for him. Regretfully, i moved on and he took some wise rest stops through water stations. It was great to have such a running comrade.
At 38km a very nice spectator was handing out oranges and pretzels [in a little cup]. I know that pretzels are a favourite running munchy, so i tried them for the first time. The water stations along the course were not as frequent as I would have liked, esp on the second half. With 5 little pretzels in my mouth, and being dehydrated, there was no way i was able to get them down, they were a thick ball of dry carbs. I was chewing for about 1km !! Eventually i had to get rid of them, but didn't want to spit them out with a crowd around, could be looking like i was spewing a gall bladder! I discretely spit the dry mass into my hand and tossed away. But now my mouth was SOOOO dry! And no water station in sight. Ran on several minutes longer, and an enthusiastic cheering girl on Bay Street had a half full water bottle on the ground next to her. I motioned that i wanted it and she gladly gave it too me. Looked clean to me. That was great as I only had less than 2km left - 7min or so, but really needed it.
Up the long climb of University and you could see the Queens park building. Unfortunately you can see it quite aways away. No matter, just kept running along to the finish. I saw my friend Duff [endurrun guy] at 41km. So up around Queens Park and the the finish line. No glorious finish, just a comfortable finish across the line. Felt perfectly fine at the finish. I waited for Art to come through [6min after] and we walked over to the water. I got a quick stretching in the massage tent which was helpful [as i could feel my legs getting a little tight]. Then, basically grabbed some bagels, banana, granola bars, and headed off to the subway on Young St. Got up to Leslie's place, wee visit there, got my car, and headed tp home sweet home.
Today i feel fine, legs a bit tight, but actually quite good.
that's it! Hope Art is feeling good today, both his legs and his spirits. A solid run!
... and a 4o'clock massage. Then, getting ready for NYC marathon in 2 weeks. Then take a break for the season.
My time : 3:14:12.6. Boston was 3:15:21 in April, ENDURrun in Aug 3:11:42, Scotiabank Waterfront in Sept 3:14:25.4, Run for the Toad 50km trail 4:41:52.
chris
2008 Run for the Toad 50km trail race
This was a tough run. It was the second year I ran the 50k here, but given that i had run the Waterfront marathon only 6 days earlier, i certainly felt my legs being fatigued into the second loop of 4. I finished 4:41, 12 minutes slower than last year. But I finished. I'll try to write more about this later. chris
ScotiaBank Toronto Waterfront Marathon
I had a great race there, but it was a while ago, and I am forgetting some of the details, i will check my old emails to see if i can fill in more info here later.
chris
chris
ENDURrun 2008
Hi, I have had a busy summer and fall season of running. I don't have much to report on the ENDURrun, but placed 3rd and i was very happy with that. I was sub 12hrs, and I felt that was pretty amazing. That is a 4:27 pace overall. Go to the website and check out the results, the YouTube videos, and other info. Pretty neat stuff there. I might relay more info, but for now, that is it.
15 July 2008
Getting ready for ENDURrun International
Now that i have a good base of about 100km / week [including 65km weekends] i am finally now hitting the track for speed and tempo workouts. Also, during the week I make one of my 10km runs a nasty hill run over at Centenial Highschool. There is a short but steep hill that after 15 reps makes one remember why no one likes doing hills.
less than 1 month from ENDURrun. Getting nervous! Or is that excitement?
chris
less than 1 month from ENDURrun. Getting nervous! Or is that excitement?
chris
24 June 2008
Boston 2008 Race Stats
Well, I finally put my Boston times in my spreadsheet to figure out splits, pace, heart rate.
After 15 minutes, I remembered to stop my watch, but interesting that my ticker slowed down to a more pedestrian 112 beats per minute.
| Time | Heart Rate | Time Elapsed | Km | Mile | Pace (min/km) | Pace (min/mile) |
| 04:35.4 | 04:35.4 | 1 | 0.6 | 04:35.4 | 07:23.2 | |
| 07:22.9 | 163 | 02:47.6 | 1.6 | 1 | 04:35.2 | 07:22.9 |
| 14:29.4 | 160 | 07:06.4 | 3.2 | 2 | 04:30.1 | 07:14.7 |
| 21:45.6 | 170 | 07:16.2 | 4.8 | 3 | 04:30.4 | 07:15.2 |
| 0:22:29 | 5 | 3.1 | 04:29.8 | 07:14.2 | ||
| 28:55.5 | 174 | 07:09.9 | 6.4 | 4 | 04:29.6 | 07:13.9 |
| 31:37.1 | 173 | 02:41.6 | 7 | 4.3 | 04:31.0 | 07:16.2 |
| 36:05.1 | 166 | 04:28.0 | 8 | 5.0 | 04:30.6 | 07:15.5 |
| 36:17.3 | 169 | 00:12.2 | 8.0 | 5 | 04:30.6 | 07:15.5 |
| 40:38.2 | 169 | 04:20.9 | 9 | 5.6 | 04:30.9 | 07:16.0 |
| 43:31.5 | 167 | 02:53.3 | 9.7 | 6 | 04:30.5 | 07:15.2 |
| 0:45:08 | 10 | 6.2 | 04:30.8 | 07:15.8 | ||
| 1:05:23 | 164 | 21:51.5 | 14.5 | 9 | 04:30.8 | 07:15.9 |
| 1:07:42 | 15 | 9.3 | 04:30.8 | 07:15.8 | ||
| 1:12:40 | 169 | 07:17.0 | 16.1 | 10 | 04:30.9 | 07:16.0 |
| 1:19:57 | 172 | 07:17.0 | 17.7 | 11 | 04:31.0 | 07:16.1 |
| 1:27:13 | 170 | 07:16.0 | 19.3 | 12 | 04:31.0 | 07:16.1 |
| 1:30:23 | 167 | 03:10.0 | 20 | 12.4 | 04:31.2 | 07:16.4 |
| 1:34:39 | 172 | 04:16.0 | 20.9 | 13 | 04:31.4 | 07:16.8 |
| 1:35:25 | 21.1 | 13.1 | 04:31.3 | 07:16.7 | ||
| 1:41:56 | 172 | 07:17.0 | 22.5 | 14 | 04:31.5 | 07:16.9 |
| 1:49:19 | 172 | 07:23.0 | 24.1 | 15 | 04:31.7 | 07:17.3 |
| 1:53:15 | 25 | 15.5 | 04:31.8 | 07:17.4 | ||
| 1:56:32 | 172 | 07:13.0 | 25.7 | 16 | 04:31.5 | 07:17.0 |
| 2:04:04 | 172 | 07:32.0 | 27.4 | 17 | 04:32.1 | 07:17.9 |
| 2:11:52 | 169 | 07:48.0 | 29.0 | 18 | 04:33.1 | 07:19.6 |
| 2:16:52 | 30 | 18.6 | 04:33.7 | 07:20.5 | ||
| 2:19:33 | 169 | 07:41.0 | 30.6 | 19 | 04:33.8 | 07:20.7 |
| 2:27:33 | 170 | 08:00.0 | 32.2 | 20 | 04:35.0 | 07:22.6 |
| 2:35:41 | 169 | 08:08.0 | 33.8 | 21 | 04:36.4 | 07:24.8 |
| 2:41:11 | 35 | 21.7 | 04:36.3 | 07:24.7 | ||
| 2:43:04 | 170 | 07:23.0 | 35.4 | 22 | 04:36.3 | 07:24.7 |
| 2:50:53 | 173 | 07:49.0 | 37.0 | 23 | 04:37.0 | 07:25.8 |
| 2:58:34 | 165 | 07:41.0 | 38.6 | 24 | 04:37.4 | 07:26.4 |
| 3:05:02 | 40 | 24.9 | 04:37.6 | 07:26.7 | ||
| 3:06:11 | 174 | 07:37.0 | 40.2 | 25 | 04:37.7 | 07:26.8 |
| 3:15:21 | 179 | 09:10.0 | 42.2 | 26.2 | 04:37.7 | 07:27.4 |
| 3:30:10 | 112 | 14:49.0 | post race, moving through shute | |||
After 15 minutes, I remembered to stop my watch, but interesting that my ticker slowed down to a more pedestrian 112 beats per minute.
19 June 2008
Matt the runner
Matt has taken up running! He is looking quite buff now and likely would take me in a race - I'm the old geezer, he is the young buck still. Way to go Matt, keep it up! The running is even giving you a special halo [with bunny ears]. You are taking on the runner's "glow"!
14 June 2008
Mercedes Benz Classic Mile
We are here watching the Classic Mile in Cambridge. Very exciting! As we entered the spectators area we were standing right next to Ed Whitlock!! He said he hasn't run since last August because of knee problems. Gained 15 lbs! But you'd never know it as he was looking pretty slim, even with those 15 lbs. Very cool to meet him. I told him he beats me in every marathon we run together!
And as we sit down a man sitting behind me asked if the "Older than Boston" was the Around the Bay race. Yes, I said. "Well", he said, "have you ever seen St Ralph"? Of course, I say. He says, the boy is my son." I asked if he still runs. He said NO, he is not a runner at all, he is an actor.
Chris Duke
And as we sit down a man sitting behind me asked if the "Older than Boston" was the Around the Bay race. Yes, I said. "Well", he said, "have you ever seen St Ralph"? Of course, I say. He says, the boy is my son." I asked if he still runs. He said NO, he is not a runner at all, he is an actor.
Chris Duke
04 June 2008
The Perfect Storm - and how to really experience it
Sandy Hale approaches the Perfect Storm and is encouraged to do stupid things by videographer Nick Grayson. The others in the van certainly are not discouraging being a lightening rod! Kids - don't do this at home.
Downpour #3 - Ridiculous Eyewitness News Report
Sports and weather reporter Nick Grayson of Eyewitness News on course at the Shore to Shore relay, video featuring the running of Stephen Kilburn of Van 1. Van 2 guys are either crazy or need a little more sleep.
Downpour #2
Art and Nic created a previous video of Luke running hard in the Saturday morning downpour. And then it starts to hail! Here is the next video.
team sole mates video
The women's team from Guelph, Fergus and elsewhere makes their final run at the finish line of the Shore to Shore Relay. One of the "Sole Mates" (the female team with some Guelph Runners, including Sue Wahlroth of The Running Works) crossing the finish line.
Note : The Running Works was a very generous sponsor for our team Chariots for Hire and we gratefully acknowledge their support. Now we are all going off to buy our next pair of shoes there! [we do that anyways!]
Note : The Running Works was a very generous sponsor for our team Chariots for Hire and we gratefully acknowledge their support. Now we are all going off to buy our next pair of shoes there! [we do that anyways!]
shore to shore blasts off
Nic and Art start off with video of the 3rd wave start. On your mark, get set ... (this is the "third wave" at 10 am friday -- 10 runners only -- the other 55 teams left in earlier waves). Stephen K is our starting man.
02 June 2008
Live weather running report by Nic
Excellent video of Luke H blistering along during a heavy rainstorm during the 4th last leg of the Shore To Shore Relay. Way to go Nic and Art!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
