The Waterfront Trail Double Crown,Burlington,On
Saturday Sept.11 2010
I decided to run this race to celebrate 6 years of running as it was the first race I entered as an adult back in ’04.This race got me hooked on running and the only reason I hadn’t been back sooner was because I’m usually in fall marathon training and running two fast races back to back never seemed like a good idea.This year taking a break from the marathon and concentrating on half marathons and 10 milers,the time was right to take take on the challenge of the Omni Foot Clinic Double Crown.At 8:30am the 5k starts.At 9:30am the 8k starts.How long you get to rest and recover for the second race is entirely up to you.I decided to go for it in both races and see what kind of shape I was really in.
The Waterfront Trail race was voted by Runners World as one of the most scenic races in Canada and I have to agree.Starting from race HQ at Emma’s Backporch on Old Lakeshore Rd. the race turns south immediately to the Burlington waterfront with markets on the starboard side and sailboats on the port side.After leaving the pier the course contains along shaded bike paths with glimpses of the sandy beach.The 5k turns around on the bike path and the 8k continues on to the pier that holds the lighthouse which signals the entrance into Hamilton Bay.
I ran hard both races and was pleased with a 17:34 in the 5k and 29:14 in the 8k,good for third overall in the combined results.The post-race breakfast was fantastic inside Emma’s,with a full buffet of scrambled eggs,sausage,bacon,fresh fruit,croissants and coffee.Emma’s also boasts one of the best patios I have sat on overlooking the lake.The prizes were top notch also as I picked up a gift card for a running store,a gift certificate for Emma’s and a bouquet of flowers!As I received my prize I mentioned to race director Kelly Arnott about this being my anniversary of my first race I was given the mic asked to give an impromptu speech!Like my race reports,I kept it short and sweet!
It won’t be 5 years before I go back to this race.
Cheers
