Sporting Life 10k and Virtual Marathon race report

I didn't know so much awesome could be packed into a Sunday morning. 

Phil and I ran this 10k down Yonge Street with Mel and Steve.  This is a huge race compared to what we've been doing lately - 15,000 people or so with corrals and waves.  It also, sadly, meant a 5:00 wake-up to get speedy Phil on the right shuttle bus to the start line.  I guess spring really is here; no more 10:00 race starts.

We waltzed onto the bus from the parking with no problem.  It was chilly, but happily we were able to go into the Sporting Life store near the start line as we had about 40 minutes to kill before the gun.

I was also completing my Virtual Marathon a la Barefoot Neil Z.  I ran 5 miles Monday, 5 miles Friday and 10 miles yesterday (yes, before a race as I'm not very smart) meaning that this 6.2 mile run would complete the marathon distance on the right day.  I made a bib with a moosehead, in honour of Neil's city of Calgary, where I understand they keep moose as pets, and gave myself the number 43, as my 44th birthday is in a few weeks and I'm holding onto 43 as long as I can.

The race was 95% downhill (my kinda route!) and for the first time ever, one of my miles was under 9 minutes.  Woot!  Most of my miles were under 10 minutes.  Double woot!  From now on, all my races MUST be downhill.  I was dreaming that I would break my 2011 goal of under 60 minute 10k. In real distance, I did it by a hair, but officially, as always for me, the course was longer since I don't run the tangents well, and I came in at 1:01:30 -- which is still a 3:38 PR and I'll take it!

Phil smashed his 10k PR too, coming in at 46:33; Mel bested hers by a whopping 8 minutes + and Steve, who has only been running for a little while, posted his first 10k faster than my time.  I hate that.

Then the real excitement started.  After about a half hour of searching for my party, and taking about 200 pictures for other people because I was standing around doing nothing, I found Phil and then -- be still my heart -- my boyfriend Reid Coolsaet, winner of this race and future Canadian Olympian.  We cornered him between two trailers at the post race party and he really had no option but to take a picture with me.  Sigh.



Those people in the background are so jealous.




Winning!  (the right way, Charlie)



Speaking of stalkers, mine was there too (see picture at left as evidence).



PRs all around!



Next race is the Mercedes Benz 10k in Oakville next Sunday.  I've been told it's a flat course, but after today it will feel uphill all the way.  The medal is a Mercedes logo, so I can't lose!