Races

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OTTAWA HALF-MARATHON

2012-05-27
1:19:35 position: 17^th 

So the big day, unfortunately I wasn’t really feeling it in the AM... not sure why, but at least the weather couldn’t have been much better: partially cloudy and only 20 degrees in the forecast. I almost missed the start of the race as the line-up to the washroom was huge, which also cost me my warm-up jog. Instead I had to sprint to the starting line to make it in time for the start, which I suppose may have worked as a warm-up..I got reasonably close to the front-of-the-line but it was to prove not really to be the case. Count down, loud-horn that went on forever, and just like that, we’re off and everyone is running like crazy..tried to keep it reasonable but opening mile was still a speedy 5:39 – too fast. I settled into target pace just over 6 min/mile and kept passing runners - obviously I had started too far back. I was mad, feeling I had scuffed it. I even momentarily entertained the idea of dropping out around Dow’s lake. However, then I noticed was coming up on a group of serious looking runners (if nothing else the sports sun-glasses is a give-away..) and thought maybe I can stay with them. No, they were running too slowly. Watch out! Now, I was finally getting into the race! 

So after the first mile, the splits for the next couple miles had been 6:01, 04, 08, 01. I then found myself pretty much in no-man’s-land. Well, apart from some guy who was running quite erratic, sprinting, slowing, spinning around, hi-fiving people then sprinting again. Danger! He is going to run me over! Luckily, turning the corner onto Wellington I left him behind once and for all. Wellington is pretty much straight and it was all laid open for me with plenty of crowd support. Well, almost all open: an old lady had decided to start crossing the road very, very slowly ahead of me right in my path. I could see her family and friends scrambling to avoid what they must have been fearing was the inevitable: me a torpedo quickly approaching its target ending with a direct hit and tumbling right into her.. Of course the road is quite wide so I just ran around her. I smiled and gave a wink as I kept going. I felt like I had hit a good steady pace at target pace, and it seemed too early to push on, so I was holding back just a little bit. The thoughts hit you: Am Irunning too slowly? Too fast?  Is my GPS watch off? Mile 6 was 6:05.  Soon I got pre-occupied with a different kind of issue. Out of nowhere, some dude shot up beside me then decided to draft off of me by running exactly right behind me!  Grrr..that was supposed to be my tactic! For the next couple of miles he was right there. 

Yes, that guy

Turning back towards town I felt the wind for the first time. I was surprised it felt so strong going into it. Thankfully, we turned onto Tunney’s pasture and kind of zig-zagged through the area so it wasn’t an issue. We reached the 10k mark with a timer ticking towards 38 minutes. Too slow! Stepped it up just a little bit for a 6:00 mile 7. We were catching a couple of runners now, which was energizing. But when we hit the parkway towards the museum the wind was there again. I slowed down just a bit and the guy on my back actually passed me and for a second it looked like he was going to leave me behind. However, there is a hill on the parkway and it slows you quite a bit. There, we caught a couple of French runners (how do I know? well, they looked really French, and they spoke French) and we stayed together for a few 100 yards or so.  Reaching the top of the hill, I was basically unaffected by the incline whereas the others seemed to have spent some energy. I left the Frenchmen behind but that guy was still right with me. There is a drinking station and a large crowd by the war museum, which coincided with the start of mile 9... wake up call, only 4 miles left! Sub 6 min pace, here we go! Heading into Gatineau, I passed the runner who had kept me company for the last 4 miles or so. I could tell he was breathing hard, good bye (he ended up finishing 2 min behind me)! Perfect pace now.. time to go, but in Gatineau there are hills; nothing major, but just enough to slow you down. Mile 9 was still a quick 5:56, and I caught several runners. One of them tried to keep up with me but I sped away on a downhill stretch. I was feeding off of the energy of passing people.

 In Gatineau, we also joined the marathon runners, which were an added challenge to navigate past. I was also thinking of Anais wondering how she was doing, hoping she was having a better time than me. Not that I was sucking that bad, I was going at a really good pace still and I was thinking I could make my time-goal. Then by the Museum of civilization I had a terrible water station mess up where I got stuck behind marathoners and lost some momentum, I almost got to a stand-still!  Mile 10 was still 6:02, but should have been faster. Suddenly, my legs weren’t feeling so fresh and negative thoughts entered my head (such as Sweden will suck in Euro 2012), which unfortunately coincided with the slowing bridge back into Ottawa. Yet, I was catching runners and I set myself a target some 100 meters ahead. I was aware that the pace was a pathetic 6:30 or so, but I pushed on, and on the hill by the Art Gallery I passed the guy I had targeted. Mile 10 was a disappointing 6:12, but not bad considering all the uphill running. 

Towards the canal, the crowd support was amazing. I was zooming past marathon runners. As for half-marathoners, there was yet another guy hi-fiving and winding up the crowd with various arm-movements. This guy is not going to beat me! When I reached the canal, I could see a number of scattered half-marathon runners ahead among the many marathoners. Mile 11 clocked at 6:02. My legs felt really tired and pushing any faster than 6:00 seemed impossible! Suddenly, the sun felt really hot too. I might not beat 1:19:00, but I’m going to catch those runners ahead! Giving it my all, by the Pretoria bridge I had passed the ones I had had in sight. The home stretch was a bit of mixed emotions. I had run well, but knew I wasn't going to make my goal of running below 1:19. I gave it a last push and raced home in 1:19:35 (the last mile in 5:56). I was delighted when later on I found out I finished 17^th (out of 10,000)! I went to use the washroom, walked slowly to cheer on Anais, who looked really good coming down the canal, and beat her marathon PR, yes!  

To sum up, I was also tricked by my GPS watch as I thought I had been right on 6:00 pace, but the distance of the race showed 13.25. Someone explained to me that the extra 0.15 miles likely represented the added length due to the fact the race isn’t completely linear and the corners and tangents add about 200 m to the running distance. So basically, although I had actually run faster than target pace (6:02/mile for 1:19:00), the added distance brought me over my goal time, ouch! Next time I'll destroy 1:19!

 Reports to follow:

MINTO RUN FOR REACH 10k  (Queen Elizabeth, Ottawa)

2012-04-15

35:55 

position: 4th (2nd in age-category)

Perfect running conditions, unexpected time.. just delighted! Anais cheered me on to a new PR!

Presented with 2nd place medal by Running room founder.

OTTAWA ST. PATRICK'S DAY 10k  (Colonel By, Ottawa)

2012-03-17

37:31

position: 10th

PR early in the season.. woot woot! And in "freezing fog", whatever that means! Glad all the running throughout the winter in the snow paid off!

SANTA SHUFFLE 5k  (Tunney's pasture, Ottawa)
2011-12-03
18:49
position: 1st 
I suppose winning a race ahead of Santa and people dressed up as elves isn't that difficult but it was fun! First race that I received a winners medal!

Sporting bling bling with Aaron....And yes, I know we look cool... (it was colder than it looks).  Although one could be forgiven for thinking so, identical station wagons in parking lot were not presented to the winners.


RATTLE ME BONES 10k (Hospital, Ottawa)
2011-10-23
38:11
position: 12th (3rd in age-category)

Happy breaking sub 40! Received a pair of Mizuno running socks for 3rd place - my first prize! I could live off this running business.

ARMY RUN HALF-MARATHON (Ottawa)
2011-09-18
1:27:08
position: 86th

Run fat boy run!

LA SCRAPINATA, MONTESCUDIO  10-12k?  (Italy)
2011-08-11
Summary: I just had to join Anais for a local race in the village of Montescudaio, Italy. Hills, hills, hills, hills, hills, and the added excitement of not knowing how far the race is...we kept being told it's a 10k, it's a 11.5k, no it's a 12k..Anyhow, I guess it is part of the the charm, but it was a lot of fun.. A bottle of wine as finishers' prize is only an added bonus.

Is that a wallet in your pocket or are you just happy to see us?

NATIONAL CAPITAL RUN  10k (Hogs back, Ottawa)
2011-07-30
41:04
6th
Summary: Had shin splints but decided to run a difficult course nonetheless, which of course finished in disappointment..

NO FRILLS 10 MILER (Experimental Farm, Ottawa)
2011-07-20
1:08:47
4th
Summary:  30 degrees heat, but really looking forward to this run, I started off conservatively around 7 mile pace. Stepped it up gradually, and as others were faltering in the heat, I kept progressing and ended up finishing up within 5 seconds of 3rd place. Had a really good time!

BUSHTUKAH CANADA DAY ROAD RACE 5k (Kanata) 
2011-07-01
18:36
28th
Summary: Canada day!!! Let's run! I felt good.. started off conservatively and stepped it up. Happy with the race in the heat in spite of finishing 28th. Apparently Canada day brings out the best of us... just don't look downtown..

Holmen paper does it: Sprint to the finish in the heat. 1:05 is the 10k finishing time, which was going on at the same time.

ALTERNA DO IT FOR DAD 10k (Colonel By, Ottawa)
2011-06-19
DNF
Summary:  After a couple of successful 5ks I entered the world of 10k running with much optimism. After a promising start, my shoe laces came undone, then I needed a washroom break.. I bowed out for the DNF, sadly, not quite ready.

BARRHAVEN RUN 4 ROGERS HOUSE 5k (Barrhaven, Ottawa)
2011-06-19
18:52
7th
Summary: Turned out I started off too far back in the pack as there was a bottle-neck 200 m from the start. Sprinted to catch up with the lead pack, but once I did I had nothing much left in the tank. Fun race, but disappointed with finishing time.

Red pom pom hair is the fashion in Barrhaven

OTTAWA HALF-MARATHON

2011-05-29
 2:10:28
Summary:  The big day was humid and wet. Our first half and we did it!

MAKE A WISH 5k (Queen Elizabeth, Ottawa)
2011-05-08
18:38 
1st
Summary: My first 5k. Anais and Amber run too. Wasn't sure what to expect but targeting sub 20minutes as my goal. Since this was a "fun run" without official timing, it may have scared off a lot of runners, nonetheless, 2 k into the race I found myself in the lead. I kept pushing in the final 2k and finished around 18:38, safely under 20 min. 

 

Walking in the background to cool-down after the race.. No official timing = exhibit A: 

 I finished way before 19:37