Race Review: Tim Hortons Half & 5km (Grimsby)

Date: Feb. 22, 2009

The Tim Hortons Grimsby Half Marathon and 5km often goes unnoticed to many of us who live north of Hamilton. It usually happens to fall on the same day as the reputable YMCA Half Marathon in Peterborough, and usually within a week of the increasingly popular Chilly Half Marathon in Burlington. I can finally say I participated in all three of them, and Grimsby’s race did not disappoint.

I was one of five Team Running Free entrants present on the day, but I was the only one that ran the 5km. Those other TRF runners could speak to the half marathon course better than I could, but from what I saw, the course was on par with the other winter half marathons. The flat 5km route would have been a decent ‘Personal Best’ candidate in warmer weather. However, a PB was the furthest thing from my mind that day, as a long injury-induced rest — combined with fresh snow squalls that day — ensured I ran my slowest 5k race time in years.

Curiously, I did not recall seeing a water station on route. While water stations are not overly necessary for a 5k, it would have been a bonus to have one at the half way turnaround point, given the extra energy the runners had to use on trudging through the fresh snow.

Parking is plentiful at the local high school, and the school’s gymnasium and cafeteria provide a spacious and warm pre/post race refuge. Registration was generally well organized, food and washroom facilities were plentiful. About the only things I could complain about were the long drive, and February’s winter weather — neither of which the organizers have any control over.

Congrats to my team mates who finished the half, and sorry I was not able to stick around to watch you finish!