Whitby Waterfront Races

Today was the Whitby Waterfront races.

These take place at the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences facilities in Whitby.

I made the hour and a half drive to Whitby, arriving an hour and a half before the start of the 5k, at 9am, and half an hour before I could pick up my kit. I did manage to get a parking spot real close to the start/finish. This came in real handy later.

Met up with a couple from my running group and killed time until the kit pickup opened.

There was a 1k kids run just before the 5k and a couple of their kids were running it. I went outside the nice warm building and watched them start out. I did loan a spare pair of mitts to one of the kids. I didn’t see any of them finish as I finished preparing for my 5k.

After the kids finished, the lady from the group and I lined up for the start and froze our assets waiting for the start. Race temp was -8 with the windchill. I was wearing tights, base long sleeve, tech long sleeve, vest, hat and gloves.

Finally we were off, on a 2.5k out and back. We were into the wind on the way out, with a little cross wind, on occasion, on the way back.

I did pretty good, considering I don’t run many short races, finishing in 24:11 (PB is 23:48 from last Dec). 13/77, 2^nd in AG. My friend chased me as a rabbit and set a PB and finished 1^st in her AG.

So a quick trip to my car and grabbed a change of clothes to warm up.

Chatted with one of my Team RunningFree friends.

Slapped on a new bib and lined up at 10am for the start of the 10k. A little more standing and freezing asssets waiting for the start. Race temp still -8 with the wc. I’m wearing a new pair of tights, a new base long sleeve, a short sleeve, a lighter vest, a headband to cover the ears and a fresh pair of gloves (it had been a little warm during the 5k when the wind was at my back).

Finally we’re off, same course, only this time 5k out and back. Wind picked up and shifted a little, but not really more significant than during the 5k.

I finished in 49:47 (PB is 49:11 from May of last year). 26/114. 5^th in AG.

A quick trip to my car and slapped on a new bib.

A quick bathroom trip and met up with several of my group. They of course politely asked if I was crazy. I did remind them where this race was taking place.

We then lined up for the 11am start of the 10miler.

A little more standing around and freezing assssets waiting for the start. Race temp had warmed up to -6 with the wc, but I didn’t have time to change any clothes, so I’m a little damp.

Finally we’re off, same course, only this time 5 miles out and back. No change to the wind, but we did run into one icy patch just after the 5k.

I ran the first 4k with one of my group. He had a good laugh as some of the marshals were cheering me on and counting me through the loops. But I had to let him go, as my left leg tightened up. (Had a little issue with it after the last marathon and it decided it wasn’t happy with me). It eased up a little about 9k, but not enough to make a big difference.

I finished in 1:21:56 (PB is 1:21:42 from Dec of 08). 38/121. 7^th in AG.

Some nice chicken noodle soup as well as some of the usually refreshments.

And some good company with my friend from the group who ran the first 4k with me and another RunningFree Team member.

Scored three long sleeve tech shirts (got one in DD’s size, the other two for me) three new bling (all the same, irregardless of distance). Purchased a vest to commemorate the insanity. And also picked up a good deal, $15, on a jacket from the marathon I did last May organized by the same group.

All in all an excellent day. Leg is much better now. And I’m happy with the results, all close to my PBs.