Around the Bay 30 K Race Report!

Bib Pick-Up
Left work on Friday immediately and made the trek to Hamilton. The drive took 2.5 hours :-| With an accident on Highway 401 and Kipling, 3 lanes were blocked, I took city streets which was actually quite good. Traffic was slow on the QEW in Mississauga and Oakville.

Great that the race expo now closes at 7 PM. In the past, I would always get there at about 6 PM and had to rush to pick up bib, tech shirt, and time chip, without the opportunity to view the booths. Interesting, there wasn't much at the expo so I didn't buy anything. Walked twice to see each booth. Near the bib pick-up was a booth from McMaster University, conducting a respiratory illness survey. I completed the quick survey and was given a swab and tube of liquid -- to be mailed back if a cold develops -- I've read about the increase in developing a cold after long distance running. Hopefully I don't develop a cold so I can keep the $1.25 stamp. The doctor provided a complimentary hand sanitizer for my participation.

The drive back home was uneventful and rather quick :-)



Sunday Race Day!

It has been a busy week at work. I guess this is a blessing in disguise as I did not have any weekday run. The plan was Wednesday but there was about 5 cm of snow (!).

Left the house close to 8 AM -- wanted to leave earlier but had to comb Bud's coat as he's shedding due to the spring arriving. The drive to Hamilton was great as it's Sunday morning. Arrived in Hamilton at about 8:50 AM and spent about 10 minutes finding a parking spot. Good thing this year I read the brochure and got off on Main Street East as I found municipal parking for $4.00 :-)

As I didn't want to make the mistake once again of running in the wrong race, I checked runners' bib to ensure it said "30 K" on it. Although it was about -5C at the start (didn't feel like it), it was sunny -- couldn't ask for more!

I must admit the scenery for the first half wasn't interesting as it was old residential areas. It was organized with police positioned at major intersections. I had to watch for pylons as well as nasty potholes. Water stations were organized every 4 K or so.

- Tin Pan Alley -- the senior citizens are always there

- Life Bridge at 15 K -- the metal not good on the feet

- Stan "We Will Rock You" -- always nice to give him a high-five -- another regular who makes this race special

- Spring Garden Valley Hill -- 450 m, 18% grade -- walked it as there was no way I was going to risk damaging my left foot -- not to mention I was tired so I couldn't run it even if I wanted to

- Mr. and Mrs. Grim Reaper -- always a pleasure to high five!

- Very careful running into Copps Coliseum this year -- no way I wanted a repeat from last year

The first half was quite flat. From 15 K to 25 K, there were rolling hills -- love the downhill, sometimes walked the uphills. After the terrible hill at 25 K, it was downhill decline, but I had to take 15 second walk breaks as needed. With 2 K remaining, I did my best to run it through. Gave a "push" with 50 m left inside the Coliseum.

This year's time is 22 minutes slower than last year. Not an issue as I am thrilled I completed the 30 K considering the injury sustained during the March Break. Toronto Marathon is around the corner :-)

Start Time = 9:32:11
10 K = 1:00:41
15 K = 1:32:10
20 K = 2:04:26
Gun Time = 3:15:11.1
Chip Time = 3:13:00.2
Gender Place = 2283/2963
Category Place = 329/412
Overall = 3901/5878


YTD = 367.1 K

20 K LSD :-)

After the 1.05 K run with Bud on Friday, I wanted to take the doctor's advice and give it a shot this weekend at 1/2 what I did last Monday. I've been applying the drops to my foot and do notice its positive effect as when I walk, I don't feel any pain or tenderness.

Wore my new orthodics for the LSD today -- forgot to change -- fortunately, no issues. I would have "blamed" the injury on the new orthodics this past week but I was wearing the old orthodics.

Got in 20 K without much difficulty. I kept "worrying" about the left foot and the pain came at 13 K. I stretched the foot frontwards, backwards, and sideways and that helped. Thrilled I was able to run 20 K -- next Sunday's Around the Bay 30 K run seems like a reality. I will continue to apply the droplets 3X a day, do a 30 minute run on Wednesday, and that should set me up for next Sunday's 30 K race.

Afterwards, took Bud to the local PetValu and got him his birthday present. I bought some dog biscuits but it's the Large Marrow made out of cow that he really wanted -- he was licking it at the petstore so I got him one. That will keep him busy for hours.

Injured...March Break

What was I thinking last Monday running 32 K??? Yesterday, visited the sports medicine doctor who prescribed me Pennsaid 1.5% Diclofenac Sod 1.5% 60 mL. Very fortunate to get a same-day appointment as he reported nothing fractured -- tibialis anterior tendinopathy

Ran 1.05 K with Bud. Everything went well :-) Need to be conservative...but the 30 K ATB is just over a week's away.

Interesting...have been training for full marathons for 3 years now...and 3 spring visits to the sports medicine doctor. The fall training goes well.

32 K LSD on Pi Day!

Today is Pi Day. March 14 or 3.14. Pleasantly surprised the Toronto Star featured an article on page A1 at the bottom as well as on page A2 :-)

32 K LSD today. Planned to leave the house at 9 AM but was shocked (!) to learn my Garmin was "low battery". Must have forgotten to turn it off after yesterday's 1.05 K run with Bud. Let the battery charge for an hour (got some organizing done) and then was out of the house by 10:15 AM. Weather began as -5C and warmed up to 6C at the end of the 4 hour run. Ran north on Yonge Street until Steeles and then back home. Was thrilled to have run up Hogg's Hollow! This was after there was some uphill runs -- e.g., north of York Mills to highway 401. With 4 K remaining, I had to walk when it was uphill. Next time, I'm going to run the 32 K along the Martin Goodman Trail. My legs are still sore!

On March Break so hope to get in runs this week as ATB 30 K and the Toronto Marathon are not that far away.

YTD = 316.08 K

getting ready for LSD

Yesterday stayed a few extra hours at work to organize the mass amounts of paper -- not done yet, seems never done, as this is an on-going to clear paper and organize. Actually, stayed almost 3 hours on Thursday as well. So 5 hours at it.

After work, Bud and I ran 1.00 K. This morning, we got in 1.05 K.

YTD = 283.0 K

Looking forward to LSD tomorrow. Want to get in 32 K -- north and then south on Yonge Street. Marathon is 2 months away ...

No runs this week since Chilly half marathon. Been raining yesterday and today. Got in 1.05 K after work with Bud (no rain at the time). Next week is March Break so I'm looking forward to lots of running :-) The little man is going to be happy I'm home!

YTD = 280.98 K

Chilly Half Marathon

Drove after work Friday to pick up bib and tech shirt. As usual, it took over 1.5 hours.





3 cm of snow fell over night. Driving conditions on the highway was not good but also not bad. Fortunately, traffic was at a minimal on Sunday morning.

I should have read the map closer. I lined up with the 5 K and actually did the 5 K race. My chip time is 29:28.7 (gun time 30:20.4), placing me 16/21 in age category and 127/189 in gender category.

At the 4 K mark of the half marathon, I entered it. That would mean I would not get an official time and I would run 22 K instead. Good thing this race wasn't my "A" race as I would have been very upset and disappointed at the same time. I made the best of the situation and raced it to prepare for the ATB 30 K in 3 weeks.

The roads were slushy. Still can't believe what I did! I only figured it out when there was a turnaround at the 2.5 K mark. Oh well...live and learn.

I think I had a strong race, considering the weather conditions. Since I left my Garmin at home, I have to estimate my finish time. I crossed the finish line at 2:21 for 22 K. Subtract 6 minutes that leaves me at 2:15. Subtract 29 minutes from that leaves me at 1:46. Hmmm... something's wrong. I will never know how long it took. As I said, live and learn.

Banana, orange juice, and chilli at the finish line.

And my favourite pictures:

Week in Review

March 2: 4.27 K [after work]

March 4: 1.00 K [with Bud!]

March 5: 1.15 K [with Bud]