90th Annual Boxing Day 10 Miler,Sunday Dec 26th 2010,Hamilton,On
And I thought it was cold for the Whitby 10 miler! Man was it cold on Boxing Day this year. -6 Celsius and a wind chill factor dropping it to double digits.But who can miss the challenge of the Harold Webster Memorial? There’s no better way to keep a runner from over-indulging over Christmas like a 10 mile race on Boxing Day! Well thats how I justify it anyway!
The change to a 12 noon start didn’t help at all,though that sun made a couple of valiant efforts to appear.The race begins on Hunter St behind race HQ at the YMCA and almost immediately we hit an uphill.Turning onto Bay St for a long stretch toward the harbour.I watched eventual race winner Rob Watson and the other elites fade into the distance and settled into a 6 minute per mile pace with thoughts of the hile just past the halfway point and then the biggy… an approximately 1k climb up to the Chedoke Golf Course.The cold air was hurting my lungs at the crest of the first hill and I wasn’t taking enough air in through my nose and the inevitable happened as I topped the second hill.A stitch in my diaphragm.My pace slowed and I was caught by the eventual winner of my age group.Finally, after forcing myself to take air in through the nose and out through the mouth, I started a 2 mile push in an effort to get close to the 60 minute mark and the coveted GOLD Snowman finishers medal.
Alas it was not to be,but I was well pleased with a 1hr 26 sec. finishing time,a huge 90 second PB on this course and a second place age group finish.The usual fare of bagels and bananas and of course tomato soup awaited inside the “Y” along with numerous draw prizes.
The race season is truly and finally done! Time to over-indulge in some Xmas goodies!
Cheers & Happy Holidays.
