The races so far. Part 2

The Acura 10 miler in the takes-itself-too-seriously-Distillery-district in July didn't go so well.  I was going into it in a very emotional state that had nothing to do with running and should probably have just cheered for Phil and our friend Tim.   Heat + sobbing + wanting to yak made for an unfortunate performance. Finished in 2:05, about 10 minutes slower than my slowest training run.  Redemption is mine next July.

Ugliest medal ever. Might have been my attitude.

Summary:  Personal suck fest.

Brush with greatness:  Mr. Peanut and winner Reid Coolsaet (fastest Canadian marathoner on Canadian soil or something.) 

July's Erica's Wish 10K in Mississauga to support osteosarcoma research and kids with cancer was started by the family of young Erica Scharff, who seems to be doing well in her fight, and is held every year in Erin Mills Park close to her birthday. It had that family-run feel, and most of the volunteers seemed to know her, but was quite professionally done.  Could have done without the mile long 45 degree hill in 35C heat at the half-way point (my perception may be off here) but coming back down was nice.  Finished in 1:10 and I do blame the heat and hill.  There's always something.

 

Very cool necklace in lieu of medal.





Phil and Tim, with his first banana ever. Really?

Summary:  Nice race through a park but mostly on fine gravel.

Brush with greatness:  Erica!

Speaking of suck-fests, Phil and I, with our sights set on killing the Scotiabank Waterfront Half Marathon in September, decided that we should do a practice half first.  Unfortunately, the only one we could find on an off-call weekend was the inaugural Bayshore Race in Owen Sound August 29 (about 2 hours from Toronto).  Up we went, dragging the boys with us and stayed in the only hotel in town with a swimming pool, so they wouldn't hate us too much.  I was sick with a virus the week before and thought I was better, but it all came back about half-way through the race.  Finished a disappointing 2:40 something (I think I was 95th out of 100, but refused to look it up); Phil was in at 1:56:xx.  No medal, just a commemorative towel.

That's me loving the timer malfunction.  I guess they didn't believe
anyone would take more than 2 hours to do a half.

Summary:  Beautiful 1st half, hilly 2nd half in full sun.

Brush with greatness:  Not so much.

Ah Scotiabank, how I loved you. We used Phil's hotel points to stay at the Marriott right at the start/finish line of the September race instead of fighting for a downtown parking space. Phil travels endlessly for work (Platinum member no less) and the hotel decided to upgrade our already free room to give us the Presidential Suite.  Holy cow.  Three huge rooms, full fridge, TVs in 2 rooms so the boys didn't have to go to sleep at 8:30 when we did, and a 12-person dining table which converted for billiards. Sweet.  Oh and the weather was perfect, the course was flat, it was in the best city in the world and I beat my goal of 2:25 by 3 minutes.  Phil had a PR too coming in at 1:54:xx.

Our boys Sam and Charlie staking out a good spot. 

  Summary:  Couldn't have been better.

Brush with greatness:  Outgoing Toronto Mayor David Miller and the elites at the turn-around on Lakeshore.