Acura 10 Miler Race Report

I believe the last post says all that needs to be said about this race.  Too exciting.  However, I should probably have some record of what else happened.

We ran this very flat downtown T.O. race last year and it was the worst run ever.  Way too many bad things converged and I took over 2 hours to finish.  I had never run that slow, even in training runs, so I was miserable. 

This year, it was not as hot or sunny (though it was a bit muggy) and I wasn't an emotional cesspool. I was looking out for several celebrities like Jessica from Mommy Running Through, and commenter Dawn, who was running the 5k.  I didn't see them, unfortunately, but did snag a pick with cute-as-a-button Cynthia from Cynthia's Adventures.

We should not have been in the same corral
-- she is way faster than me.

Not often your race award is
a picture of yourself.



Oh, and did I mention I saw Reid Coolsaet?  And that he won again with a time of 48:24? And that he came within 9 seconds of beating the course record?  And that he set that course record last year, before our relationship started?

I managed a PR of 1:46:02 and I do believe I can do better next year.  I had a great sprint at the end, telling me I should have pushed harder for the previous 9.9 miles.

Phil also had a PR of 1:20:47 (19th in his age group of a gazillion) -- crazy fast if you ask me. 

Next up is the Midsummer's Night Run tomorrow.  I had signed up for the 30k ages ago, but was just too busy at work to train for it, so dropped down to a much more manageable 15k.  My PR for that distance is 1:37:01 at the Bread & Honey and I'm hoping to come in a couple of minutes faster since there are no hills.  Phil is doing the 30k, a new race distance for him, in preparation for his first marathon in October.  Go Phil! And good luck to Jessica, Cynthia, Laura and Samantha tomorrow too!

Edit:  I'm so behind in blog reading -- add Robin and Marlene to the list! Who else don't I know about?  Reid Coolsaet?  This could be quite the blogger-meet-op!  I'll be wearing pink and sending Phil off at the 30k.  Good luck!

Shamelessly Up Close and Personal

Erica's Wish 10k Race Report

This was another repeat race in Erindale Park in Mississauga.  Mostly flat on fine gravel except for one behemoth hill at the 4k mark.  This year, I was ready for it, meaning I planned my Gatorade break to walk up the thing.  Just being realistic. 

I really like this race.  It's quite small -- just 134 in the 10k, more in the 5k, and there's a 1k to start that kids and some of the survivors of osteosarcoma, including Erica herself, finish to great applause.  Very touching.

An ultra cool DJ led the warm-up exercises.

Others chose to prepare in different ways.

Soaked!

It was pouring rain for most of the race, but it was really quite refreshing.  Last year, it was super hot, so anything was better.  Huge lakes formed along the trail, but mostly runners just plowed through.

And though it wasn't a 10K PR for either of us, both Phil and I significantly improved over last year -- me by 6m28s for 1:04:29 and Phil by over 4 minutes at 48:xx.  I still believe I will break 1:00 for a 10k this year.

In other fabulous news, I'm hoping for another up-close-and-personal with my boyfriend, Reid Coolsaet next weekend at the Acura 10 miler.  He recently announced he would defend his 2010 title, and his friend/competitor Eric Gillis will be running too, so it should be a great race.

Pride & Remembrance 5k Race Report

That was so much fun.

Gay Pride 2011 is well underway here in Toronto (someone tell the mayor) and today was the 5k.  Phil and I ran this race last year and it was my PR, until the Runway Run 2 weeks ago (that's 29:04, in case I didn't spell it out then).  It's a pretty flat course, but it's no runway -- small inclines and more turns -- so I was just hoping to beat last year's time (31:12).  I've also been back to birthin' babies, so my sleep schedule, and therefore running schedule, have been outta whack.  Sounds like I'm getting ALL the excuses in up front.

Proud to be a member of 11th place Team Beaverhausen.
Next year, I'll wear the race shirt.

Although the 5k race is just a small part of the 10-day long celebrations, it is extremely well organized.  Gender specific tech shirts, chip timing, water stations and hugely good food at the after party including individually packaged pasta salad, bananas, yogurt, coffee (my favourite thing) and CAKE!  Several different varieties of CAKE from Dufflet Pastries. 

And so many things to take in, not seen at most races.



enthusiastic teams



hyper-friendly mascots



a jock strap booth



It's also the most incredibly welcoming, inclusive, supportive race I've run, with the absolute best cheering crowd at the finish line.  I hope I can run this one many more times.


Looking good, Tim.
Spain has cars, though, right?

Mel and Steve came with us this year, and the race also marked the return of Tim!  Last month, Tim walked across Spain (I know...what?) and unfortunately re-injured himself, but still had a great time.

Phil managed an outstanding PR and broke 22 minutes, coming in 8th in his age category.

Mel shaved 20 seconds off her 5k PR.

Steve sailed across the finish line 36 seconds faster than ever before.

And me?

Well, I beat this guy:



but not this guy:



or this gal:

But I did beat my Runway Run PR. 



28:49.  W00T!

I still cannot believe it.  The course wasn't even short.  My new season goal:  sub-28-minute-5k.  You saw it here first.

Happy National Birthday weekend, everyone!





Sweating My Thorns Off 5K

I managed to haul myself off the couch to run I am Boring's second annual Sweat Your Thorns Off 5k today.  Negative splits and everything.  Really helps to start out uphill and coast down to finish. 

I really was a sweaty mess at the end.

Where's my medal?

Runway Run Race Report.

Now THAT was five kays. Very cool race on the runway of Toronto Pearson Airport (when did they change the name?) while real live planes were landing and taking off right beside us.

Mad photo editing skills.



I thought we were all going to do the airplane.  Embarrassing. 
If I had concentrated more, I might have beaten Steven Spielberg there.

You know what else was cool about running on a runway?  There aren't any hills.  You know what happened because there weren't any hills? 

5K-under-30-minute goal smack-down!

But the real star of the show?

No, not this guy.

This guy!



That's right. He's Number 2! 

And Number 1 Dad. 

Happy Fathers' Day!

Bread and Honey 15k Race Recap

It was beautiful day  to earn a medal in the shape of a frickin' bee!  This 15k was part of Streetsville's weekend long Bread and Honey Festival.   There was also a 5k, which Mel and Steve ran, and did VERY well in, then had to wait around for us. Luckily, there's a Starbucks on every other corner in Mississauga.



My boyfriend sent his van
to cheer me on.


This was our first officially timed race last year, and Phil and I both wanted to improve our times.  I remembered it being very hilly and was obsessing a bit about it this week, so we went out last night and drove the route.  I was relieved that it didn't seem so bad at all -- I guess a year's worth of running makes hills look smaller.

From the car.

In real life, there seemed to be a constant uphill slope.  But a year's worth of running really did pay off:

Phil and I both managed to best our past performances, which is going to make it a little easier to strap on the shoes for the next run.

Here's my 2010 result:





...and 2011:

That's a 4:47 improvement!  At this rate, as long as the other women in my age group don't improve, I'll be placing in about 15 years.  Woot!

I don't know that Phil wants his results posted in such rich detail, but the guy finished in 1:14:41, a full 5:08 faster than last year.  I'd be slathering those results all over the internets if they were mine, but he can use his own blog for that.

And you know who else did really well?  This guy:




That's Andrew, Running Man Wannabe, of course.  My stalking skillz this weekend were mad...I managed to pester him even before his family could congratulate him.

I'm sure his race recap will be much funnier than mine, because he's a funny guy.  He'll probably remember more of the race too.  It's all just a blur to me.  I have a great picture with his lovely wife and daughter, but thought I probably shouldn't be willy-nilly posting pictures of other people's families.

So this race is definitely a keeper.  Not too far away, somewhat challenging but not killer and they give out bees.



...and great scenery, too!