Angus Glen Half Marathon
Date: Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008.
Start time: 10:30am
Location: Angus Glen Golf Club, Markham
Race director Sara Sterling managed to improve an already solid event this year. The addition of a new 5km run enabled the more casual runners to take part. More importantly, organizers wisely rearranged the 5km start time so that the race would finish well before the half marathon and 10km began, and even gave the 5km participants their own post-race gathering area. This meant that the great race experience and post-race party of the half-marathon and 10km remained intact.
Team Running Free had a strong presence at this event, as a handful of our red team shirts were scattered amongst the 1,500 or so runners who took part in the three separate distances. Thus, I expect more than a few articles to be posted about this event — but I just have to contribute my thoughts on this event, which is rapidly becoming one of the top races in the GTA. (I’ll focus on the half marathon primarily here — see Greg Collett’s review of the 10km race.)
The event is well organized, and here are just some of the positives. The marshalling was flawless, there was minimal vehicle traffic on the course, volunteers (including Team RF’s Roger Hospedales) patrolled the route on bike, and the last two-thirds of the scenic country route was a single square loop on wide open road. Aid stations were consistently placed about 3km apart, and a large digital clock sits at the 10km mark for runners to check their pace. The buffet (complete with cloth napkins, real plates & cutlery and served in either a heated tent or banquet hall) is the best post race meal I have recieved — without having to pay extra for it.
There are only a couple pre-cautions to pass along about this race. The main one is that this is not an ideal half-marathon for beginners. The weather is usually chilly, and other participants noted the head-wind as a factor in yesterday’s race. The half marathon route includes numerous rolling hills on 19th Ave. and Elgin Mills, and can be punishing for anyone who did not log extensive hill training (see my 57 minute 10km split, and then 2:04:42 finishing time, as proof!) The other note: race parking is confined to a grassy field that is accessed only by a narrow, lengthy and somewhat bumpy gravel pathway. This is no problem if you drive an SUV or ‘winter beater’, but luxury sedan and sports car owners might want to car pool instead.
Aprt from these pre-cautions, I strongly recommend this event as a “Race of the Year” candidate.
Nice work out there Ben. It sure looked like a sub 2hr day for you, then I felt those winds at various areas while riding my bike and felt sorry for you and everyone else. I like this race too, but as you noted, the weather can beat you up.The winds can be chilly and brutal. Other than that, you can’t ask for much else from a race. Catch you there next year.