Woke up to the alarm at 5:00 am hit snooze a couple of times and finally got up at 5:30. The plan was to head down around 7:40 am so I had a good couple hours to eat, digest, and take care of any business that may come up.
So we get to Burlington around 8:45am with a 10:05am start time there was a lot of available spots in the lots by the start line. Free parking Sundays is always a blast as well, thank you Burlington. I was having a hard time deciding on how many layers to wear and changed about 3 times in the car. This was my first race wearing the running free colours and I have never noticed how many runners are actually at each race supporting running free. It was really nice to see.
9:30 warm up for a little bit and then make my final wardrobe change prior to lining up at the start line. I saw two starting corrals, 1:30-2:00 and 2:00+, so don’t expect people to be lined up in the right spot. The 1:45 pace bunny was almost at the line so I nestled between he and the start line. I was hoping for a 1:39:59.
10:05 arrives and we were off heading out into our 21.1KM journey. I was running with Andrew also from running free Orangeville and we were able to keep a fast but controlled pace for the first couple KMs. For the first 3K we heading south on Lakeshore Rd. which was nice since it seemed on a decline and also it felt like the wind was a little at our backs. At around the 3K point there is a turn around so it was an out in back. Some people hate seeing the people in the lead run by on an out and back, but I enjoy it. I feel like a spectator but also involved. So after cheering on the lead runners we saw a group of running free runners run by and it felt really good to see such camaraderie as they cheered us on as they went by. From that moment on I made a conscious effort to urge on any other Running Free runner I saw on the course. If this is what being part of Running Free is, sign me up, because it is truly inspiring to feel part of such a large and motivational group.
After making the turn for the out and back I was expecting to feel the wind as it was fairly strong, but with the large running crowd at the beginning of the race I didn’t even notice it. Just before 5K we make a turn and start heading NE on lakeshore Rd. and this is where I noticed my pace was more suited for a 1:35:00 than a 1:40:00. The problem was that it felt really good as I was talking away with Andrew the whole time. I said a couple times that maybe we should slow the pace, as I was a little scared of hitting 15K and just dying but the pace never really varied much. Andrew is a stronger runner than I am and he was running with me as sort of a hard training run for the ATB we have in a couple of weeks.
We continued NE along Lakeshore for KMs 5 through 13 and not much really to talk about. Legs felt great, breathing felt great and the pace stayed around the 4:32/KM range. At the 13th KM there is another turnaround so again I got to become a spectator watching the leaders go by. The guy in first place looked amazing, such a nice stride and had a huge lead on second. Sort of took my mind off running a bit as I watched people run by and cheered on those in the red. Hit the turn around and mentally felt that this is the home stretch. Usually KMs 13 through 19 are my toughest in a half marathon but today it just felt pretty easy. At KM 15 I told Andrew to take off and finish the race strong. So now I was alone, with only 3000 of my closes friends to run with. I picked up the pace a bit as well and started catching runners as I went.
At about 17K I caught a fellow Orangeville Running Free runner Ray. Ray is a very strong runner and he would probably beat me 19 out of 20 races, but today I could tell he was struggling a bit (He was running a bit injured). Stayed with him for a bit and tried to urge him forward as much as I could, as I know how you feel in the last 4K when you don’t have much left. At about 19K Ray was starting to fall a bit back so I continued on. My pace was now around 4:26/K and I started thinking that I could break 1:35. With the increase in pace I started to feel it a little and at around 19K I thought that this was not easy anymore. It took me 19K before I hurt so I definitely can’t complain. And then at 20K I got a cramp and starting cursing a bit. Luckily there was only a KM left, because it hurt. I kept checking my watch to see if 1:35 was going to happen and I knew it was going to be close. With 300 meters left we turned NW for the final stretch and we got hit with a wall of wind. I just have to say that if a large portion of this race had have been in this direction, it would have severely affected my time. I pushed through the wind and saw the Clock for the first time. 1:34:49, 50, 51… Not going to make it as I picked up my pace. Crossed the line at 1:35:13 gun time and 1:35:05 chip time. Set a new PB by 8 minutes and smashed my 1:39:59 goal time.
Race was very well organized and after race you could get a free bowl of chilli and Carlsberg beer from participating bars (Hand in the bottom section of your bib). The course was very flat with only rolling small inclines and declines. The only things about this race I didn’t like were the lack of correct starting corrals and the sharp turns for the turn arounds. All other aspects of this race were well done. Weather cooperated as well as there was not a single flake of snow on the road. Now on to the ATB in three weeks.
Happy Running
Jarrid Jensen
Well done Jarrid! Had you known there was chili AND beer at the finish you mighta cracked 1:30 hahaha 🙂