Angus Glen 10 Miler
April 5, 2009
Angus Glen Golf Course, Markham
By Landon French
Running on a golf course is usually frowned upon, however at the recent Angus Glen 10 Miler running was the only way to get around and it was a lot of fun. This was my first experience at the 10 mile / 16km distance and my objective was to relax and work on maintaining my pace for the entire race. Running on paved cart paths throughout the golf course, the race was capped at 200 participants and the conditions presented sunny skies, cool temperatures and a slight breeze.
Things began by sending racers off in groups which made setting and keeping my pace much easier. Off the mark I settled into the second group and caught up with another Team Running Free member as we took off down the driveway. The first kilometre allowed enough room for the field to thin out then we hit the cart paths at the first tee on the North Course. Those who have played golf at Angus Glen would be challenged to find a flat spot anywhere on the golf course. The natural terrain and river valleys have been augmented by berms and rollers that keep golfers honest and give spectators to the major golf events held there a good view of the players and their play. As a runner the terrain made the experience more interesting and fun. As a golfer it was cool to think back to the times I put the ball in the water or on the green as I zipped past a particular hole, or to think of which PGA tour pro made what shot when I was at Angus Glen as a spectator here not too long ago. I was quite proud of the fact that I didn’t stop to pick up errant balls which could be seen in the grass along the path (I’ll get them later!).
Twists, turns, ups and downs met runners along every hole and while there were a handful of steep sections, no terrain change provided the kind of challenge that would kill your legs. To keep my legs fresh and my energy levels up I usually consume some version of GU gel to keep me going. This time I tried the new GU Roctane and it was great. I didn’t feel fatigued, ran my race, consumed two shots of Roctane and lots of water, didn’t feel like I’d just consumed a brick, and finished in a respectable time of 1:22, just a second behind another member of Team Running Free. (GU sidenote: recovery was a breeze this time…usually I’m toast for about a week at this pace/distance – I was back on the road three days later with no problem. I’ll be loading the Roctane for my next race for sure.)
Overall the course kept everyone on their toes (although I don’t think running with headphones on was a good idea for some folks on such a tight course) and was a great tune up for other races to come next month. The bonus from this race was that it was not crowded like the fall half marathon and everyone had a great time. I will be participating next year and you should too. Now if only I could play 2 rounds of golf in less than 2 hours…
Roctane Ingredients & Benefits
(info taken from http://www.guenergy.com/products/gu-roctane)
Roctane takes athletes’ top choice for an energy gel, GU, amplifies the original recipe and then adds new ingredients to boost performance in sustained, high-intensity efforts. Here’s how it’s done:
We start with original GU’s superior mix of complex and simple carbohydrates that provide quick and sustained energy, electrolytes for replenishment and caffeine to tap more power and diminish pain.
From there we increase the amount of histidine, an essential amino acid, to act as a buffer and slow the energy-sapping lactic acid build-up in muscles.
We mix in higher levels of citrates (potassium citrate, sodium citrate, and citric acid) to help speed the conversion of carbohydrates into energy molecules and, like histidine, help mitigate acid build-up.
We also add more of the branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, valine and isoleucine to serve as another fuel source, aid in recovery and help maintain mental focus and reduce fatigue by limiting the central nervous system’s production of serotonin.
Finally, we add a new ingredient, the amino acid complex Ornithine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (OKG) which limits the body’s tendency to break down muscle protein tissue during extremely hard training and racing days. OKG keeps you going longer and promotes a speedier recovery.
ARE YOU A ROCTANE ATHLETE?
If your idea of training or racing is giving it your all in a multi-hour adventure or you’re competing in multiple racing heats during a day, then Roctane is for you. For all other training and racing, the original GU energy gel will keep you fueled like a champ.
