To start off I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Running Free for their sponsorship this past year. I had the fantastic opportunity to redeem myself from pulling out of the Hamilton Road2Hope Marathon last November at 26k due to medical issues. I had a bone to pick with this course, but I really wasn’t sure if I even wanted to do another Marathon, last years race really crushed my confidence. Through Running Free I coincidentally drew this race from the Lottery this year and I was terrified and excited at the same time. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity, but would I be able to do it?
I trained hard this past season not perfect, but consistent. We ended up taking a last minute vacation 3 weeks out from the race. That made me nervous, I just hoped it wouldn’t set me to far back. I did my long run the day before I left and still did some workouts but not the same intensity as if we were home as it was a balmy 44 degrees in Jamaica. Then came taper weeks. Those are tough, all of a sudden things ache, you worry you will get sick etc., all your fears surface. Then a few days before the race nervous excitement kicks in. We headed down the night before to pick up our race kits. Because we had been to this course we new the pickup was at the finish line at Confederation Park. It was so muddy and cold down there by the waterfront. I am so thankful the race wasn’t on Saturday, those poor people had that cold damp rain that gets into your bones. The race kit pickup was easy and uneventful, there’s no swag and if you are early enough you might get a shirt in your size if you’re lucky which is disappointing. At the end of the day I wasn’t there for bells and whistles, I was there to race and to prove to myself I could do it.
I went into this race with an unusual nervousness. I think because I had issues for the past year, I was still apprehensive of the course. I had never walked off before so it was a real mental barrier for me. The weather couldn’t have been better really, sunny and around 0 degrees. Like many people, I’m sure on Sunday morning they were as perplexed as I was with what to wear, I’m not sure the thermometer has been this low yet. Luckily I packed a lot and I opted to double up my pants since my legs tend to get cold and I figured once I was down to the waterfront portion it would also be very windy. I wore my CW-X Stabilyx tights with my Sugoi Piston 200 underneath, a Under Armour turtleneck with my Running Free vest over in case I got too warm. I opted for my tried and true Mizuno Creations to run in instead of my Mizuno Sayonara, as my ankles were hurting a bit on my last run in the Sayonara. Don’t get me wrong I love them, but didn’t want to mess with a good thing since the longest run I had in them was 21.1km. I digress……
I was fortunate enough to be joined with friends for the race most were doing the half, and my one girlfriend joined me in the Full. My one friend’s husband was not racing that day and volunteered or was maybe voluntold : ) to be our driver which was so perfect since he could drop us off at the start and meet us at the finish. Everything was a breeze and well organized. Parking was not an issue this year, last year was so chaotic, especially with the extra 250 entries. Shout out to the race officials for helping out those who had their hearts set on the New York race, by accommodating them but it did make for a hectic and late start with very limited parking. They changed the FREE parking to the Starlite Drive-In only 400m from the start line instead of at ArcelorMittal Park start line. We walked over, did a few stretches and then we were off, no time to get cold or for to much over thinking to kick in. I couldn’t believe how many people were in shorts! Craziness I tell you. I got myself in position between two pace bunnies hoping to keep the first in sight and not let the one behind pass me. The route was also changed this year for the Marathoners. I was quite encouraged by the change. No more train delay or double loop at the 30k mark which so many people found discouraging last year and I felt that the downhill portion was in optimal spot between 22-28k. Instead they added 8k to the top portion. I had to keep reminding myself once the gun when off to go at the pace that I had trained for and not get caught in the hype even though people were passing me. It was really hard and I still went out slightly faster than I should have but the pace bunny behind me was on my tail! I could hear him chatting away for those first few kms. I lost him in the end once my scheduled pace picked up. There were a few “bumps” between 5-8k but nothing worrisome. It’s quite nice if you take in your surrounding along the Niagara Escarpment. As I rounded the corner at the 8k mark I took my first gel, I hate the darn things but also finally realize they are essential for me at this distance. I found a new one that seems to work well. The Power Bar strawberry-banana, or the new tangerine the consistency is smooth and it goes down easy with my melon Hammer Heed or Water. The next 8k went by quickly with some encouragement from bystanders along the way, before I knew it I was turning back to the start line. As we passed the start line at 16k I took another gel and headed towards the Hwy portion. I was looking forward to this slight downhill portion of the race and thought I would be able to pick up some time. During the first km someone shouted out “way to go pace bunny.” I started to panic. No way! He couldn’t have caught me, I was too afraid to turn around, so I yelled over my shoulder “tell me you aren’t the -:– pace bunny” Turns out it was the pace bunny that was ahead of me needed a potty break. He told me he was 30 secs behind time and that he was catching up to the group ahead. I figured he was going the pace I wanted so we chit chatted a bit and headed down the 6km portion down the Red Hill Valley Pkwy. At 24k I took another one of my gels with some water. Once off the parkway there is a nasty portion for about 2.5km, I least I think so. You turn onto a trail with bricks and lots of 1/2 Marathon walkers. I wish they would be more courteous. They were 5 abreast going down a slight decline I had to come to a complete stop and walk onto the roughage in order to pass them. My legs didn’t like that much at all after the speed of the downhill. There are 2 “bumps” until you get to the bridge and whoila you are at 30km and at the Waterfront Trail. My husband was doing the half and was going to meet me afterwards at the 30k mark I was so excited to see him. Sadly he never made it there in time. I didn’t let it discourage me I just gave myself a pep talk and said it was because I was running faster than he expected, I knew if he could have been there he would. He’s my #1 supporter. I was still feeling good, but knew the tough part was about to begin. Soon I would be going into unknown territory. I hadn’t checked my time yet, just periodically checked pace. I seemed to be on track per my plan, I just needed to hold pace until 33k then if I still felt good I would maintain that as long as possible, before I would inevitably slow down I still had my eyes on the pace bunny ahead of me, so I was pretty excited that I would not only meet my BQ time but also my secret wish time. I held out for my last get until 34k, hoping that it would give me the final kick I needed. I was almost out of my Heed so decided to walk through the water station at 35k and take some water as I’m not very good at swallowing cold water while running. This is where I lost the pace bunny, so I sucked it up kept my eye on a fellow in front of me and carried on. My legs and pulmonary system were feeling pretty good, all things considered but I was definitely starting to tire. People were stopping and walking all around me I had to keep reminding myself that I had a goal to meet and friends were waiting for me at the finish. My mind was good the negative talk that usually intervenes kept quiet. Then the fellow I had been keeping an eye on stopped! I gave him a pat on the back as I went by and offered some words of encouragement, and he started up again and got ahead of me. Sadly a few kms later he stopped again, I told him to keep going as he was my pace bunny, he smiled back, but I never saw him again. I hope he met his goals that day. At 38k I didn’t have any Heed left so I again walked through the aid station and had some water, I was getting pretty thirsty and my pace through the last 7k was less then desirable but I decided at this point I had gained some time would run as fast as I could and I ran to feel without looking at my watch and just kept faith that the bunny behind wouldn’t catch me. There seemed to be more spectators along this portion of the race which is fantastic, all encouragement is certainly welcomed by all. I did my best throughout the course to thank the volunteers at the water station they were fantastic, and all the spectators in their wooly coats and hats that came out for support. Around 400m from the finish I spotted my own support team. Their cheers brought me to the finish line. I was so relieved to have beaten the pace bunny behind me and grateful that I had the opportunity to meet my goal. I would This is a very well run event and offers lots of aid stations I would highly recommend this race with the new parking and route improvements. It’s a fast course and there were PB’s all around for us that day. I’m happy to say that I met my time goal and my friend Em and I both got BQ’s. 😀
