Tim Horton’s Grimsby 1/2 Marathon

17th Tim Horton’s Grimsby 1/2 Marathon
Grimsby, ON
Sunday, February 28, 2010
www.instride.ca
Well, there’s no doubt that this has been a great winter for run training. This was also a good weekend to race with only moderate 15-20kph winds. Let’s face it, for this time of the year that’s not too bad.
This was a really good race to run but a very big lesson to know the course BEFORE you develop a race strategy! I say this because I have been working really hard over the winter with both mileage and speed work. My goal for the Bay is 1:54-1:55 and for the Mississauga full is 2:48 which means a half time of about 1:19. So this was the goal for this half and my coach and I came up with a race strategy to achieve this time. At the start, don’t get caught up in a pace that’s way too quick, so 3:48-3:50 for the first 5k. Then from 5-16k work at 3:45-3:46 pace and for the rest, pick it up at look to pick people off. That’s the plan. No problem, coach!
Before the start, I picked up my race bib and chip, pinned on my bib and headed out for my warm-up.  On my way out I bumped into fellow Running Free Team mates Mark Cairns and Scott Mcdonell. I briefly spoke with each of them and wished them good luck.
The gun went off and away we all went. I paid close attention to my pacing and everything was going great, until 9km. Just prior to the start, race director Jerry Friesen announced to all to be careful between 9 and 12km as there was a bit of snow on the ground. OK, mentally noted. Unfortunately, what I didn’t realize was the reason for the snow was that this was a dirt and gravel back road that they couldn’t plow. It was hilly with very difficult footing. It really threw me off my pacing and both physically and mentally took a lot out of me.
Once out of this section, I spent the next 3 to 4km just trying to recover but to no avail. Soon the two other runners I had been pacing with had left me behind. I really just wanted to crawl under a rock and forget the rest of this race but just kept telling myself that you have to take the good races with the bad ones. I made myself gut it out and pick it up to at least make it a good effort. I think I did a reasonable job of this as I managed to finish in a time of 1:22:30 which was good enough for 16th overall, 4th master and 3rd age group (40-44). It was good enough for a 1minute and 16second personal best over last fall’s Scotia which was far better conditions. More importantly it really taught me 2 very important things. First, in important races be sure you know the details of the course before you decide on a race plan. And second, never give up even when you’re not having your perfect day as you just might surprise yourself.
My fellow Team mates Scott finished in a very good 1:20:19, 12th overall, 1st age group (40-44) and Mark Cairns finished in a time of 1:50:46. Well done boys, especially based on the conditions.  If there were any other Team RF’ers running this race, forgive me for not mentioning you as I simply did not see you there.
All in all a good race. Give it a go!
Mike