Whitby Waterfront Races 10 miler,Sunday Nov 21 2010
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences,Whitby
www.events.runningroom.com/site/?raceId=5599
What a day for a race.Not! I didn’t expect perfect fall conditions,but a temperature with a factored in wind chill of -6 or -7 Celsius and a wicked easterly wind were definetely cruel conditions for the 8th annual running of this popular Whitby race.I felt for the 5k’ers who went off at 9am and even the 10k people and hour later.At least as the day progressed it warmed a little.The race HQ was in the Ontario Shores Centre which provided a warm refuge from the wind and a comfy lecture hall/awards stage to change and store packs.My pre-race warm-up(haha) was done in full track suit and hoody but I decided to brave the elements and don half tights for the race.I also decided when I was out doing my warm-up and checking the wind strength that I would tuck in with the lead group and not do the wind breaking for them.The old draft!
So I stuck to my plan and tucked in behind a broader chap off the start and once we gout out of the wind at about 2k I upped the pace a little just to warm things up.At 3k as we found ourselves hitting the bike paths that surround the Whitby waterfront,I moved to the front to dictate the pace.My race season had been a good one and my legs were not feeling any fatigue whatsoever so A pb was not out of the question.Out and back on the bike paths with one hill to contend with and some short rollers for good measure.At the turn-around I had a small lead over the 2nd place runner and as we approached the hill just before the 6 mile mark I upped the pace to increase the gap.My increased hill workouts this year have been paying off in races and this would be no exception.When I snuck a peak back a mile or so later,there was noone in sight.Now alll I had was the clock to race and pushing the lead cyclist,none other than Ian Barron, along.I stayed strong to the end and set a nice PB of over a minute to take 1st place for the second time this year,both in Whitby and both races put on by the aforementioned Mr Barron!! Coincidence or what! In fact,the 3 races I’ve won in my 6 year career have all been Ian Barron races.He is my official good luck charm and I need to put him on my Christmas card list pronto!
Some hot soup in the Shores Centre,the awards in the lecture hall,where I picked up a trophy and IMAX gift pack and the day was done.
See ya soon Ian,I hope.
Cheers
