Race: Around the Bay 30k
Location: Hamilton
Date: March 24/13
I was so looking forward to running Around the Bay for a second time as I was injured in my first go a few years back. We decided to stay over in Hamilton and, unfortunately, it was not a good sleep but it never is before a race. It was a bright, sunny morning and as I toed the line I felt great as I was excited to get out there and post a time under 3 hours. I started out at a comfortable pace and was feeling good, not only because I was racing but I was running with my friend Marcia. Our plan was to run 10 and 1’s but because we were feeling so good we decided to run through the first few. Our first real break in the action came not because we wanted to stop….but because the dreaded “ATB train” decided to show up and delay our race for more than 4 minutes (race organizers have since re-designed the race course for 2014 race to avoid the train-tracks all together!). With the train behind us we continued on our way and started to tick off kilometres. At around the 18k mark I was told by Marcia to go ahead and take off so….I did! It was not long after that I had a “lump in my throat” moment on the race course. Race day was also Palm Sunday and we passed a church where the steeple bells were ringing away and the church choir was out front cheering on all the runners. It was beautiful. What wasn’t beautiful was when my IT band acted up at 24k but I was able to push through. I rocked the “BIG HILL” and finished the last 5k strong. I totally surprised myself by finishing in a time of 2:58, shaving 18 minutes off of my previous time. Hopefully the next time I come to Hamilton to race Around the Bay it will be part of my marathon training schedule!
