Races, races and more races

If there's anything I've learned about myself in four years of running, it's that I have to have a race booked to get out the door running at all.  Since rather unexpectedly beating my half marathon PR in Hamilton last November, Phil and I have been going nutty signing up for everything we could find.   He was already speedy fast, but the extra running I've been compelled to do have allowed me to improve in every race distance since that half.  Woot!

November 11 we ran a 5k in front of the Santa Claus Parade (inaugural year and net downhill!) taking me to a PR of 27:20.

December 26 we ran the Boxing Day 10 miler also in Hamilton.  I ran this a couple of years ago and only remember the "hill", which was actually part of the Niagara Escarpment, reminiscent of the cliffs that Wile E Coyote regularly runs off by accident.

Happily, they changed the course in 2013 and I got a big PR of 5 minutes or so at 1:41:17.

In March we ran the Around the Bay 30k and I'm still not sure why so many people are enamored by this race.  I treated it as a marathon training run and was shooting for 3:15, which I thought was realistic, but took 3:18 something.  I really need to do more hill work.  It was cool ending in the Copps Colliseum (I know it has a new name but am too lazy to look it up), but otherwise I wasn't loving it. I lost steam at about 22k -- mostly in my head since it was suddenly farther than a half -- and couldn't pick it up again.  Around 25k I had decided the May marathon wasn't going to happen and that I needed to email the race director to drop down to the half. In the finishing chute, a guy was proposing to his girlfriend, but I was so done with the race I didn't even give the scene a second look.  Hope she said yes!  Regardless, first time 30k race = PR and by the time we were back at the car, I had decided I would be okay to do the full marathon since it was a much easier course.

Famous Reaper in Around The Bay; I thought he was too far past the mega hill.
I was recovered enough by the time I saw him that I didn't believe it was the real Grim. 

Harry's Spring Run Off 8k, which didn't change the course to avoid the hills, was also a PR of about 3 minutes (49:34), but it didn't make me like the race any better.  I don't know what it is about that race, but it feels like a New Years Eve party, where people are forcing enthusiasm.

The under-an-hour 10k that I've been chasing for four years is also in the bag -- in April the Toronto Yonge Street 10k finally finally finally went my way.  With the nasty weather this winter, I got used to drinking less while running (too cold to carry the bottle) so completely ignored the water stations and came in at 56:09.  Woot!  Yesterday we repeated the course at the Sporting Life 10k with 27,000 people and I only managed 57:27; lots of dodging people the entire way and:

The Goodlife Toronto Marathon was just last weekend and we both got PRs -- mine was 15:45 minute improvement when I came in at 4:42:34.  So I'm okay with a slightly slower 10k the week after.  Phil ran with awesomeness also and got a 2 minute PR coming in at 4:06.  I still want to do a marathon under 4:30, and Phil was shooting for under 4:00.  Once I'd finished this year, we decided within 5 minutes to repeat this race in two years.  By the time we go to the car, we'd agreed on next year. May 3, 2015 here we come!

So happy, running down Yonge Street

Not so happy; running out to 35k

Yeah, baby.

We ran other races that weren't PRs, but generally I've been improving my pace, which I'm happy about.  The Chilly Half in Burlington in March was at about 2:15.  One race that didn't go well at all was the St. Patrick's Day Achilles 5k.  Our 17 and 15 year old boys had agreed to come to that one, until we woke up on race morning and it was a freakishly cold -11C/12F.  We had the cold weather gear, but they didn't, so they stayed in bed.  I wish I had too!  Something like 31 minutes.  They can't all be winners.  Still liked the chili and beer inside Steamwhistle Brewery when we finished.

We're able to go for short training runs again now that the marathon is over and it seems so much more manageable, especially with spring finally arriving.  Next up is the Streetsville Bread and Honey 15k (hoping for that last distance PR), the Runway Run 5k at the airport, and the very very very fun Pride Run 5k as a member of Team Beaverhausen at the end of June.  I'm starting to use the "Virtual Partner" on my Garmin to keep me running closer to 9 min/miles in training and will be doing hills and intervals to keep up the progress.

Winterman Half Marathon Race Report

We headed to Ottawa to run the Winterman half marathon last weekend. It starts at the Canadian War Museum and is organized into a 5.275km out and back -- four times for a half and eight times for a full.

There were PLENTY of things that I didn't like the sound of:

• February race date during our harshest winter in a very long time;
• Ottawa race city, which is typically colder and snowier than Toronto;
• Out and back four times?  Are you crazy?; and
• 8:30 start time.  In February.  In Ottawa.

And we signed up anyway because:

• there are precious few opportunities in February to race instead of doing a lonely training long run;
• I've long been embarrassed that I've only ever been to the capital once, and that was on business;
• the boys were willing to come with us -- they're 17 and 15, so there won't be many more times; and
• we were taking the VIA train, another thing I've never done.

We treated ourselves to business class on the train, which included a pre-boarding lounge with free coffee (my favourite), preferred seating and a meal.  We left Saturday morning and arrived about four hours later; not much slower than flying if you count the airport security and runway lineups.  Add in free wifi and no cell phone restrictions and I think it's my new favourite way to travel.  

We stayed about one kilometer from the Museum, so Phil went to get the race kits on foot.  Swag bags were pretty standard, and included long sleeve shirts that are unfortunately cotton, but look kinda cool.  We were set to go out for dinner and I thought it wise to check our gear to make sure we didn't forget anything.  We're not used to these destination races, and can get away with last minute organization since we're usually at home.  I was proud that I had remembered my watch, earphones, sunglasses, layers of wicking clothes, extra warm SmartWool socks, toque, neck warmer and mittens.  I had even packed spiky shoe things in case the course was snow covered.  I'm so smart.  Except I forgot my running jacket.  For a February race in Ottawa.  Awesome.

It was after 6:30pm on a Saturday and Ottawa pretty much closes when the sun goes down.  We asked at the front desk if there was a WalMart or Target nearby, hoping that those chains stayed open later everywhere.  The hotel lady wrinkled her nose as if the mere suggestion of discount shopping smelled bad and asked what we needed.  She suggested going to the Rideau Centre instead, a short walk away, and was sure it was open until 9pm.  In fact, she "checked" her handy computer to verify this.  So off we went to the mall -- discovering that it was open until 9:00, except the stores in it all closed at 7:00.  We arrived at 7:05.  Awesome.

Love you, Walmart.

The Rideau Centre is along the Canal, so we set the boys up to skate on the famous ice rink while we hightailed it by cab to Walmart.  I've never been so happy to seen an "OPEN" sign in my life.  The best option was a small man's running jacket, which left enough room for two or three layers.  24 bucks.  We also found fleece gloves/scarf/hat combo packs on sale for 5 bucks each -- too good to pass up!  Also grabbed some yogurt and fruit for breakfast and were completely relieved.

We woke up bright and early Sunday and immediately checked The Weather Network; it was -17°C.  Awesome.  We put on all the clothes we had, and I added one of those Walmart scarves on top of my neckwarmer.  And we took a cab the one kilometer to the start -- please don't judge.

We stayed inside the Museum until the start, which was nice and warm.

 It seemed like everyone else was dressed much less warmly than we were -- I guess we're the Toronto wusses.  I'm okay with that.  We sang O Canada (always makes me catch my breath) and the race started with the VERY loud and real live cannon firing at the end of a count down. 

I thought I would hate the repeated out and backs, but it wasn't so bad.  It was hilly, but at least you knew what to expect after the first lap.   It was a little tough mentally finishing the third lap and heading out for another as many were veering left to the finish, but that's distance racing for ya -- there's always the low point.  

The volunteers were amazing.  There were water/Gatorade stations at the start and turnaround point of the lap, and by the 3rd lap you felt like the people handing out drinks were family.  I chose to take Gatorade or water only at one end, so every 5k ish, as that's my plan for fueling the marathon in May. You also knew where the photographers were, so could plan your expressions.  I can't imagine doing it 8 times for a marathon, but 4 was alright.  I had the right number of layers too -- there were warm spots and cool spots, and it stayed cold but the sun was shining, so I was able to put my hood up or down and take my gloves on and off throughout.  There was, as there inevitably is, a guy running in bare legs, but his skin looked sunburnt it was so red.

Top 10 coolest medal.

I treated this race like a training run, and though I pushed myself harder than I do running solo, I wasn't expecting a PR.  Even so, it was my second fastest ever half (2:19:13), only slower than Hamilton, which has a gradual downhill to flat.   I am getting better, slowly but surely.  I came THIS close to placing in my age group too -- fourth out of eleven -- so there's a reason to return.  Phil was happy with his 1:52 finish.

You can't see it, but there were ice crystals in my hair.

I will definitely do this race again.  It was incredibly well organized and, while there weren't a huge number of supporters, the repetitive course allowed for the same few to cheer for you again and again.  It was very clear where to go, even though there were shorter turning points for a 5k and 10k.  Perhaps a bit crowded at the start with all the races going at the same time, but it stopped me from going out too quick.

Next up:  Chilly Half in two weeks, a favourite 5k for St. Patrick's Day (ish) that the boys have also signed up for, and I'm hunting down a bib for the Around the Bay 30K on March 30.

Go home, Nike. You're drunk.

"The Nike Tadasana Women's Training Capris feature sweat-wicking

 stretch fabric and a loose fitting inseam for maximum comfort and

freedom of movement during your workout".